2007 - A year in review

Is it really New Years already? The festive season has crept up so quickly this year, it only feels like yesterday that I was writing about the start to my Annus Horribilus - where I my organisation was seemingly inept. The time just moves way too quickly these days!

But to be fair, the awful start to the year did not carry further into the following months and I was lucky to have a fairly good year overall. Although I spent all year moaning how I couldn't get a job, I embarked on some volunteer work at Sustainable Wales in May and in the past few weeks, I have been offered a full time position at the organisation. I look forward to going back in January to take on an exciting role. Our annual holiday this year was to Mexico, which was simply fantastic. I have seen some brilliant gigs this year, inclduing the Foos, Stereophonics and the Manics who never disappoint. TTFE has had a great year too - be it singing Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau on St. Davids Day or dressing up in Hawaiian outfits for the 100th recorded game, the organisation has been pretty eventful this year. The TTFE Xmas party was also good fun, and my TTFE history was well-received too.

Here on One Man, I have also tried to keep writing consistently over the year. Apart from November and December, I thought I was pretty good at it! I have written about the horrors and sequential collapse of ITV Play, the Welsh smoking ban in April, the meteoric rise of 5-a-side football in society and even the value of what's free over the past year. I promise more of the same next year!

The Knave

A poem that I wrote a while ago, one that I am quite happy with. Enjoy.

The Knave

The knave, who finds himself at the edge of a sword,
Finds relief in profusely pleading for his life.
His desperate lies, his empty promises,
Each word of weakness measures the sweat on his brow.
His face, a glowing shade of yellow,
The man's next of kin, irrelevant in his mind
Those cowardly eyes speak of incompetance
Foolish ways, a stolen valour of man once slain.
This pauper was in haste to murder another,
Now he lies in wait at the iron grip of justice.
In this man's world, everything has a price
Pride is a mere shilling or too, power proves costly
But honour is to be taken from a broken man.
A naked throat exposed to a cold, metallic consequence
With the a sheath of dirty honour to save his life.
No matter how many men slain, the caged bird always sings
Mercy is the only avenue for those of inferior cloth.
A rogue proclaims his freedom from the knife
A life on rent from the righteous,
But borrowed honour will enslave this man forever.
If only he could accept death like he could accept life,
He could be free and have honour for himself.

Beating the Honesty Box : I just can't do it

It was a long time coming but when it came the idea still hit me for six. With Prince giving away his latest offering via a Sunday newspaper tabloid and the Charlatans new album soon to be available as a free download from the XFM website, Radiohead’s In Rainbows album shouldn’t be too much of a shock in comparison. The album is now available for free from their newly branded website. However, this album isn’t just free. In contrast it is you- the loyal fan, the musical connoisseur, the first time listener – who has a choice of what to pay.

Now we are faced with a moral dilemma. For the first time, we hold the fate of the band in our hands through our own philanthropy. The ‘honesty box’ on the Radiohead website allows anyone to place any amount they wish, how much they think the band deserve, how much they can afford, all in one act of swift judgment. The thing is if something is free and we are told it is free, then we have no problems in accepting it’s free. If a CD costs a tenner in the shops we often moan and grumble, but we know that certain factors have made it that price; such as CD production, the record company’s cut, the band’s cut and so on. But what they are asking us to do is to consider all that and make us decide what we deem a fair price. It’s not free; but it is if you want it to be, or if your conscience would let it be. That’s the conundrum and the internal struggle.

I haven’t tried the site out yet but already I am thinking of a price I could offer. Why can’t I just get it free I hear you ask? It’s the damn box – the opportunity of a free download is always irresistibly tempting to me, but I just can’t put three noughts in those boxes. It just doesn’t seem right. That’s the genius of it though isn’t it; when faced with the band you appreciate directly through their own domain, you just can’t rob them blind. If you download illegally through a third party I guess you could feel rather better about yourself. Maybe there are a lot of people like me out there; too gutless to say to the band that they’re stealing your music from right under your nose. It’s like trying to take the whole chocolate cake from the table before dinner when your mother isn’t looking; then to your shock and amazement, your mother returns to offer the whole cake to you willingly. We, the confused children, can only take a small slice or even nothing at all, because we think something is afoot; or we know that mother is gonna be pissed if we now decide to take the whole cake. If you have the balls to take the whole thing in her face before eating your roast dinner, I salute you.

This isn’t to say that Radiohead will shop anyone who is downloading for free. This isn’t what they want to do. To be honest though, I don’t know what they plan to do by doing this. Are they making a statement about the music industry, about how it has forgotten its real artistic roots for the sake of a quick buck? Are they trying to revolutionise the way in which we listen to our music, by further manipulating the internet and the download trend? Is Thom Yorke going off his rocker even more than usual? Probably not; my hunch is that with frontman Yorke, being as intelligent as he is, there must something we are missing here. Never one to shy away from making a bold statement, I’ve a feeling he knows exactly what he is doing with this box. I wouldn’t be surprised if this album, fully realised by the band before hand, was not up to scratch with OK Computer, Kid A or The Bends; and was subsequently a B-Side album in an A-side album guise to be given away in a sensational, traditional breaking manner. The critics have already said this album possesses no Street Spirit, no Paranoid Android, no Creep, no No Surprises. If this is the case, Yorke is conducting a very interesting social experiment; one in which I am deeply fascinated to hear about.

Is the intention to see how honest we are? A test of moral fibre if you will? Are we being prompted to think about how we conduct ourselves in obtaining our music? Surely too moralistic! I could choose to join the cynics and ask ‘is he being just plain selfish’? Going back to the whole ‘in it to stop illegal downloads and possibly make more money’ argument, touched upon briefly earlier in the child and cake scenario, if more downloads were carried out in this way, the illegal downloads would soon decrease as they would just not be needed. Bands themselves would soon be the face of the downloads, not download sites. This way, the band gets something out of it; well mainly from those who fall victim to their consciences. Oh and of course from those who are easily swayed into buying a CD and DVD twin pack made available next year for a massive £40 or so. That too.

But maybe it isn’t about tackling the problem of illegal downloading by offering an honesty box. Please excuse the egoism here, but as much as I like to think there are lots of people out there just like me, there aren’t. I would imagine that a fairly large amount of people will end up entering zilch, nada, dim byd in the In Rainbows online payment box. The question is: why pay more, when you don’t have to? That cheeky Del Boy attitude is infectious here in the UK and is something we shouldn’t necessarily be ashamed of, where a nagging, silent morality sometimes takes a back seat to make way for the financial nous. Of course, we do this in small doses to avoid the risk of becoming too obsessed with making money at whatever cost, like our friends across the Atlantic pond. For many, the cost dodging is justified in a talentless pool of mediocre music. Many people are sick of paying well over the odds for a weakly made CD these days, where albums have only one or two strong tracks.

So for those who beat the honesty box, I salute you, just like the child who took the whole cake. But remember one thing – nothing in life is free, just like the 45p album card handling fee upon placing the three zeros will clearly demonstrate.

Tick Tick Boom

Can't for the new Hives album. Should be awesome.

October 1st

I could have named this post after anything remotely interesting. You all know how much I love my witty, often alliteration ridden titles. Today however I have decided to dedicate the day to the very date which it is commonly defined - October the first.

Today has been important on so many levels in the realm of current events, as newsrooms had a field day with all of these significant happenings. Today, we observed a severe hike in fuel prices, with the price of diesel topping and overtaking the pound mark. No surprise that the Haulers United will soon rise again and convoy back down the M4. Today, the Sustainable Development Commission released their report into the Severn Barrage proposal - a monumental environment 'see-saw saga' which is begging for a swift and definite solution. It is clear that this report will have a massive effect on which way this project is going to proceed, with both the government and pressure groups in locked horns over what to do. Today, the minimum legal age that one can purchase tobacco in Great Britain has become 18 - meaning that all those nicotine-addicted 16 year olds should feel cheated towards what is clearly an unsympathetic ruling, but at the same time, they should feel appreciative at the prospect of avoiding the Big C many years down the line.

Besides those events, there's been a few changes and new beginnings closer to home. Today I started my second work placement in Porthcawl, working for Sustainable Wales. Today, I looked outside my bedroom window and realised that the torrid and harsh rainfall against a darkened morning sky ended any hope of a much needed Indian Summer. Today, after work, I drove home from the seafront with the winter blues slowly coming on, despite the best attempts of Katrina and the Waves on the radio to keep me thinking of sunny Mexico only a few weeks ago. Today, I knew for the first time that summer had finally disappeared and Christmas (or should I say seasonal?) lights will soon be glowing in the hallway.

Today, I just feel different. I think I know why too. Today was also the first taste of university lectures for many newly enrolled students across the nation. Of course, the younger ones had gone back to school a month ago. The date however, isn't important. The point is - whether it is September or October in which the younger generation begin their studies, it's clear that to them the scholastic year is the calendar which just feels the most natural. January to December maybe the default year we all reflect upon and use clearly for establishing one numbered year from the other, but just like the awkward and disjointed football season runs from August to May, it feels right to treat each scholastic year the real one to plan the 'year' by. In September and October, I make plans for the next twelve months if it is possible; I certainly do not plan my year in January - and if I do, it is only the crappy New Year Resolution which I barely maintain until Valentine's Day. Even the tax year runs across two numbered years - from April to March - which is the most important timetabled record you can think of when it comes to earning your bread. So I ask - does anyone actually think of a year, as a year?

Well I don't. Therefore it makes complete sense that I decree this day, October 1st, the very first day of the year. Which means a new start and all that - quite appropriate really, considering what this day has served to represent for many students, environmentalists, smokers, SAD sufferers and lorry drivers. I say with complete and utter confidence; this day will be the first day of the rest of your life. Or failing that, can I take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy new year?

I have very little time to blog this evening, in between writing the match reports for the TTFE league team and finding time to sleep. I have however found time to jott down some lines I wrote on the train the other day. The world can sometimes seem so different on a train and I guess thats where this came from. Enjoy.

Petty/Beautiful

This dream; mysterious and vain, echoes beauty in bouncing tones.
Each tapping the real and entrapping the mind
A glorious green which I had never seen before
With a herd of glowing sheep all fleeing and being so kind.
This beauty does not strike one in the face
It is a silent spectacle - the dormant damsel;
Taken away from your grasp at the first sign of rapture
Stripped, broke down, evaporated even
into a jar to sell.
Back and forth, to and fro, stolen and giveth again
Like the hot potato of horticulture in my hands.
Yet, Tall trees tell tales of age and wonder
But they are lost in the forest of their own making
Their own beauty, the ripe red and free fruit
And it all makes sense in the event of my waking.
These elegant lies sent to sky before your puzzled eyes
The dark clouds of day, the busy sounds of microwaves and motorways;
They've no place in a one second sequila paradise
And the images we see are only ours to give away.

----------------
Now playing: David Bowie - Life on Mars?
via FoxyTunes

Hate drives the hunter

What a film. What an even better trailer. They should do trailers just like this nowadays!

Back home

Its been a while but if you are an avid One Man fan you will know where I've been. For the last two weeks Jenny and I have been in the sunny lands of Mexico, enjoying some much needed holiday time. Although my initial response is the typical British gripe about the scorching heat and the extreme weather conditions, it was great to see the Mayan ruins of both Chichen Itza and Tulum, whilst the all natural Xel Ha waterpark was absolutely breathtaking. The holiday was just so unbelievably different to any I have been on before, considering the long haul flight of 9 hours each way, the crystal blue Caribbean beach water and the interesting Mexican culture. We took 400+ photos, some of which can be seen on Jen's Facebook profile but I will put a few on here to give you a glimpse of what was a wonderful holiday.


With that said, its always good to come back to enjoy the fruits of this nation once again. I know I couldn't live in another country because I would just get homesick way too quickly. But now I'm back - ive been all too quick to moan about the weather and the usual grind at work, and all too quickly Cancun seems ever so tempting once more! One just can't win when it comes the old trip abroad.


One aspect which is even more frustrating however is jetlag. I read that for every time zone you have passed through, you can expect to feel the affects of jet lag for that same number in days. Cancun was six hours behind the UK, so I'm not really too thrilled about the prospect of a screwed up body clock for nearly a week!! All ready I get tired at the wrong times - like at tea time instead of night time and I find it hard to get to sleep at night. Here's hoping some good quality sleep tonight will put this madness to bed (excuse the pun).


Besides the jet lag, the holiday has offered some post-trip benefits. For example, after some time off in a different environment you come home a with renewed focus on things and a mind refreshed. Before leaving for Mexico I felt that I was becoming not only drained physically from working every day, but mentally also. It became hard to think things through rationally, with the day to day rountine becoming seemingly banal and leaving me with little time to reflect on what I want to do next. I guess after a while I felt like I couldn' really blog, because my brain was slowly turning to mush. But now I have taken chicken soul for my mind I am ready for more job applications and rejections over the upcoming festive season.


I would write more but the lag is kicking in now. Nite.

Dr. Steadman can't fix 'em all

Well it has been a while since Mark Delaney has graced a Welsh shirt - almost a year in fact. He stood out as the excellent defender he is against a strong Czech side on their own turf and although the 2-1 defeat in Teplice still hurts me and many Welsh today, it was a performance to remember from Mark. Sadly, that will be his last game for Wales as he has announced with heavy heart that after a torrid campaign of injury after injury, he could no longer rest his hopes on a return. During his absence from playing for Aston Villa and Wales he has even visited the expert sports knee specialist, Dr. Richard Steadman, who was also seen by fellow Welsh international Craig Bellamy not so long ago. However despite the hope that Mark would return to bolster a young defence, it now seems that one of Wales' finest defenders will only be watching from the stands.

Delaney's journey to the Premiership is one which amazes me every time I hear it. Straight out of Haverfordwest, he played for Welsh Premier team Carmarthen Town before charting a meteoric move to the capital playing for Cardiff City. He soon found himself playing for Premiership Villa and quickly became a key figure in the side. He was also a favourite among the fans and won the approval of the managers who came to and fro over the years through the Villa Park revolving door. The Birmingham team's latest boss and managerial genius, Martin O'Neill, had particular respect for him and it was a shame that he was never really able to include Mark in his plans. He was enthusiastic to play for Wales and wore the red shirt with a particular sense of pride and purpose. He played in the historic 2-1 win over Italy at the Millennium Stadium and played a blinder then too.

I was already longing for his return especially as next month we face both Germany (home) and then Slovakia (away) and he would have inspired a fine performace from what is currently a largely young and inexperienced back four. Gabbs and Delaney were always the real bosses in the defence during the Hughes era and to see one of them leaving the game now when Wales are starting to take shape in the Toshack years is a real blow. But we are Wales - Cyd Chwarae, Gorau Chwarae - we will play on. But here is a big thanks for you Mark and all the best for you in a potential coaching career. Get on the blower and have a word with Chris Coleman in San Sebastian- I'm sure he'll hook you up and I hear the weather is nice!

I'll sleep when Im dead

Hello all, as my Facebook profile predicted my August will have very little blogging, so here is a progress report just in case I lose touch. I am still working in Porthcawl and happy to see some sun. Its good to see this seaside town baking in sunshine, it needs it. Im now preparing to work 26 days in a row - which shouldn't be too hard, but I have had trouble in getting sleep earlier so I am trying to get that sorted before it will grind my daily routine to a uncomprehendible halt.

Just went for an interview, I think it went well. Soon to be going out for a meal to Old Orleans, which I also hope will go well. Glad to see Fowler is a Bluebird and Im glad the Shambo issue has been resolved finally. Hate HSBC for changing the student/graduate overdraft conditions. The TTFE league team have made it two wins out of two and in a recent football tournment in which the Argos weekend team entered, we sucked quite hard.

Still reading Dostoyevsky; trying to fit it in around this new working lifestyle. I am also still working on the TTFE history, which i am still knee deep into the second chapter and writing sections whenever I can. I still think I will have it ready in time for Christmas. Its 'sod's law' isnt it - I started writing it when I find work, not when I had nothing to do!! Jen and I are looking forward to going to Mexico and are booking various excursions like the Chichen Icha and the Xel-Ha waterpark. Can't wait to go now.

Shabba over and out.

Graduation... revisited

Christ has it been two years already? I cant believe that in 2005 I got my last degree! This week I attended my graduation for my MSc Econ in Poltical Theory, thus also ending my academic career for the immediate future. Although that could change if I am successful in some of the jobs I am applying for, as they offer studentships in Housing at a Masters level. Im keen to get into the world of work and get cracking on my mountainous student debt, but also the opportunity to learn more and receive another qualification gives a warm feeling inside. I have often siad that I started to embrace university and the life that goes with it way way too late, and now I am trying to grasp it all over again.

But enough about potential university courses. For this post is a reflection of those years gone by and possibly my last tie with anything related to tertiary education. The graduation ceremony was predictable but enjoyable, with a host of honourary fellowships up for grabs. In my last graduation I had no other than Mike Ruddock, the grand slam winning Wales rugby coach, to give a rousing speech which was supposed to gear us up for life. Of course, it was littered with references to his own experiences and the famous Six Nations grand slam win of 2005 - where Wales overcome the odds and achieved the seemingly impossible. In this ceremony, we had three fellowships but only one of them had really caught my attention; the fully fledged environmentalist-journalist- novelist, George Monbiot.

I admit I hadn't heard very much about him before my stint at Sustainable Wales, just who he was and what he stood for really. It is funny how one day you know very little about a person, then all of a sudden their life is thrusted straight in front of your eyes! I first spied one of his more recent books, Heat, which outlines his thoughts on how to stop climate change without creating too much discomfort to our extravagant lifestyles. I then noticed on the BBC website his strong thoughts on the proposed Severn Barrage and how it would not have the desired effect predicted by the planners of scheme. It was then I started to read his blog and then I realised how addictive his comment can be. Then, out of the blue, he appears at my graduation ceremony and delivers a ballsy, meaningful speech which I think I will remember well for years to come. He said that in today's society we are faced with choosing between liberty and security, and although security presents the illusion of a safer world, it is not a free one. In addition to this point, he distinguished the need of doing things that you want to do, not what you compelled to do.

Very simplistic point - but at this stage of our lives, it carries a heavy message which all would be wise to follow. To lose sight of what we are through working that job which would clear the debts and get the lifestyles we need would be a travesty to yourself. Many people settle for the life they always said they was to be temporary, as they become fixed to their new lifestyles and to coin the phrase, 'slaves to the wage'. What Monbiot was saying was getting through to me perfectly clear - because it was the very thing I tried to do myself. I'm in the position where I don't have to rush to get a job and although I moan about doing nothing, I will bide my time and wait for something I want to do to come along. And to those who have no choice but to work in any job they can, I appreciate it can be hard to keep looking down the line of that vacancy of choice. But like the man says, remain true to yourself and I'm sure that you will prosper.

A big well done to Jen, who also graduated this week and she will now go on to do a Masters in Computing. Lets hope it will not give her too much grief!! It looks like before long Jennybear.co.uk will be undergoing a revamp so check it out over the summer!!

I myself will be working at Sustainable Wales over the summer on a placement, so it is finally good to get a job on the go in an environment I enjoy working in and one where I am also learning so much. So please don't expect a lot of updates here on One Man, but don't switch off completely. Shabba never disappoints his audience.

The future of football has arrived

The TTFE League team c.2006 pre-match at the Gol centre (left to right, Dale Thomas, Chris Phillips, Gareth Jenkins, James Pugh, bottom, Dave Weller). Taken from Chillout Central (thanks again Dale!)

Sunday mornings, dog mess littered everywhere, oranges in halves and quarters at half time and the occasional walker who stands to admire twenty-two men trying to emulate their idols. These are the things you associate with when you think of park football, a tradition which is as a British as the red telephone box. Yet football stands at a crossroads - evolving into something quite different. Today is the golden age of five-a-side football; a game which before was condemned to the school gym halls, the local leisure centres and the city arenas when Masters Football is in town. Now the roots of this game are embedding deeply into the very foundations of our society, creating a new craze for everyone to enjoy and a new niche market for entrepreneurs to exploit.

The discussion of this topic is brought on by the opening of the new Powerleague 5-a-side arena here in Cardiff later this month. Powerleague, a new chain which is slowly building its footballing empire across the country, claim to host the hottest and most modern football stadia around, trouncing the competition with its state-of-the-art pitches and plush sitting areas with a fully licenced bar. They will boast a massive nine pitches for general use and to host their own tournaments and leagues, not to mention that the latest in astroturf technology will be used in each. The brochure could wow any self-respecting football enthusiast. The leagues are open to all and anyone can set up their own team and compete against others in the hope of winning their own trophy.

This however is not a new idea. Leisure Leagues first came to Cardiff over five years ago and their arena has proved to be real success, opening up leagues on almost every day of the week. Gol opened their arena roughly two years ago and have tried to muscle in on the dominance of Leisure Leagues in Cardiff, by enticing teams to try out the new ground technology used by none other than Real Madrid. Other minor places have even tried to emulate the success of Leisure Leagues and Gol, but have so far failed to rival them. Now that Powerleague is on the scene, things in the 5-a-side market will undoubtedly get a little heated. With three major players in the city all crying out to host your teams, the race is on to see which one will be crowned champions and which one will be relegated into oblivion.

So why has this type of football proved to be so popular? Complete and utter convenience. By playing in a 5- a-side league you have control over the team, not some over-zealous coach who wants to relive his playing days in the dizzy heights of the WPL. You can pick the day you play on, you can pick which mates you want to play with and you can decide your own team name. Not many pub football sides can offer that type of freedom and flexibility. In some places, the commitment doesn't even have to be great - you can quit instantly and walk away if things go pear-shaped. You can start up teams with workmates, schoolmates, uni mates, family etc. and represent places of work, institutions and so on. With more people liking this idea of a more 'casual football' which fits easily into everyday twenty-first century life, it is easy to see why this type of football is inundated with requests of new teams very week. There seems to be no saturation point either at present.

It is also no surprise that this surge into football is so great, even here in the Welsh capital, the very centre of what is still classed as a rugby nation. Football, unlike rugby is a big market to tap into from any angle, whether it's selling scarves on Queen St. before a big clash in the Millennium Stadium, or even using tired old cliches and corny innuendo on gimmick t-shirts such as 'I like to score', 'have you seen my balls?' or 'back of the net'. Football, very much like sex, sells. It amazes me how much advertising is based on using some kind of football associated item to flog a shaver, a crate of beer, or even ethical issues such as the stamping out of bullying. Football is powerful - and the 5-a-side craze rides the wave of this hysteria in the media quite happily. The government's drive on keeping the nation fit also does the business many favours.

Which brings me onto the image of the 5-a-side football arena. The beauty of the industry is that it is incredibly two faced, but not in a deceitful way might I add. In one light, these arenas display themselves to be a service to the city, delivering facilities in sport which the council can only dream of. I know this because I play at the outdoor 5-a-side facilities Sophia Gardens every week and it fares very poorly to the pitches of Gol. Yet, they are primarily cold-hearted businesses, which does its utmost to blow the competition out of the water and increase profit margins. This latter point I have no problem with, but from the constant pressure which can placed upon slightly interested parties to sign up and leave their current league can be little unsettling. Business is business, just like football is proving to be nowadays, but when one place is egging you on to quit one arena for another you get an idea of 'cut throat' this industry is proving to be. Cut throat? I guess it is - in a world where one badly officiated game can give you doubts about the integrity of a venue, it is no wonder people tend to jump ship to find the fairer green.

Which of cause, means it is essential to grab punters and keep them. But it is even more important to pay the bills and in 5-a-side football, there is no denying that the whole business can be a fairly hefty financial venture. Consider the mass capital one must provide to create an arena and the facilities which accompany it. It quite simply must succeed quickly or face the wall if it has no real financial backing behind it. Llanishen Arena felt the pinch after it faced closure - failing to get the interest it needed to survive. Gol received a grant and both Leisure Leagues and Powerleague are safe as they are chain businesses. The mighty Powerleague is even sponsored by technology juggernaut Microsoft. As a result of this tremendous support, the economies of scale would soon kick in and I can imagine the rewards would be massive. With match fees around £21-£25 and the size of some of the leagues, on average around 24 teams paying each day you can do the math. Although it maybe expensive to maintain a football arena I find it hard to accept that these companies are making little profit. Powerleague will charge a £25 match fee here in Cardiff, but in other places in England they are known to reach the £40-£50 which again begs the question of who the real winner is in this game.

This post may seem like a vendetta against this new capitalistic breed. But on the contrary, I play regularly in both Leisure Leagues and Gol, and will soon be representing my Argos store in a retail tournament at Powerleague. I have no problem with them and I must admit, I enjoy playing in each to have an idea of what they are all like to play in. I have never won a trophy in my five years at Leisure Leagues, nor have I ever won anything at Gol. I am not a great player, but I can claim to be a 5-a-side veteran who has witnessed the game at first hand, day in day out each week for five years. With this experience I can only say that the golden age of football has arrived. But will it be the end of park football as we know it?

God is in the rain

(Picture is courtesy of Chillout Central)

Well it has been a while. I can now talk in depth about my struggles with One Man and dispel any theories and rumours about my prolonged web absence. Indeed, I have not blogged properly since May and it is now July. But my reason for such One Man neglect has been purely technological as I exceeded my disc quota and so I was unable to blog until I off loaded some old posts to make way for newer ones. Therefore if you want to look at anything from 2005 I'm afraid for now you are out of luck. I am in talks with our generous sponsor Plasmo to secure some more space for One Man and hopefully a hiatus of this kind will be thing of the past. But anyway, how are you?

I myself am fine. June may seem like a lost month now, but I do remember it very well. Above you will see one delightful image of the hijinx typical during the TTFE Pub Golf outing, where most of us dressed in golfing attire and attempted to complete 18 holes (pubs) each with a fiendish feature - a different alcoholic drink! I played it safe by missing the shots but I still felt the aftermath very clearly in the morning! It was a great night and was enjoyed by all, especially Karl who had to play catch up on the sixth (Gassy Jacks I believe)!! For more pics from the night, check out Dale's site here.

June is more rememberable however for the volunteer work I had been doing at Sustainable Wales in Porthcawl. I have enjoyed my time working for a charity with such a good cause, met some really nice people and I have learnt a lot about how the work in the third sector is carried out. Not only that, it was finally good to be doing something again. As you may have guessed I have had no luck in finding a job - but since last time I posted I have been asked to attend some interviews which is at least a step into the right direction. Next week I have an interview for a student scholarship at Cardiff University through Newport Council in the field of housing, something which does interest me greatly. My fingers are crossed.

Jen and I will also be going to Mexico in September (have I told you that already?) and I am now pretty excited about that. My first transatlantic flight and my first long haul flight all in one! And of course those firsts apply to Jen too! Cant wait!

My title comes from V for Vendetta - my current favourite film. I have watched it several times lately and am hooked. Have watched An Inconvenient Truth again too in sync with the whole Live Earth hysteria (or lack of it or the negative press) and once more it is a thought provoking heart-squeezer. Also Election - another brilliant film. Just got Hundred Reasons' most recent album Kill Your Own - so far not a bad listen. I have also got back into some vintage Offspring too - Ixnay on the Hombre is a brilliant album which I can listen to from start to finish. The new Artic Monkeys album is also predictably pretty good.

Well that's your lot for now - I'm merely waving to you from behind the window in this encounter. Maybe next time I will open my curtains, undo the latches and unleash some proper literary delight into the open sky with my next exciting post. I know that I want to blog about Porthcawl and the new niche market of 5-a-side stadia pretty soon, but for now you'll have to settle for my rather constipated look above. Enjoy!

Intermezzo

Expect a catch up post soon... I haven't forgotten about One Man! Please for now admire one of the greatest pieces of music ever written; it is the Intermezzo taken from composer Pietro Mascagni's masterpiece, Cavalleria Rusticana. Watching the end of 'The Godfather Part III' made me remember how beautiful this music really is, when I was lucky enough to be in the Welsh National Opera's production of this brilliant piece of theatre. Enjoy!

No Surface All Feeling

What a song. As you can probably tell, I've tapped into the Manics again. Big time. Review of the new album coming soon!

Yesterday I finally broke through what has been an inpenetrable barrier for weeks and weeks - I have actually been called back by a company for a further assessment for a job vacancy. It was for a graduate trainee job at the Vale of Glamorgan council, and I am glad because it was one of the main jobs I really wanted. It was the assessment centre day yesterday and I am hopeful to get to the next stage, the interview. Here's my fingers crossed - but if anaything, at least I have the confidence I once had instilled back into me. There was a time where I honestly thought no-one was even giving me a chance, but now I hope that with this opportunity I will go on and work harder at improving my approach to vacancies in the event of not making the grade here.

This is a post in dedication of Dale who requested that I write another blog as it has 'been a while' and I should take the plunge and go 'daily'. I have a lot of respect for those people who regularly maintain their blogs on a daily basis, but I just can't do it! I know I have discussed the role of my blog on One Man once before but I just don't 'blog' like that. I try to post every week without fail, mainly with an anecdote of the past seven days or maybe some topic I have been thinking about which I a particular urge to write about. I'm sorry Dale, as much as it has indeed helped with the TTFE history project, I just cannot do what you do with an log of every day events!

One topic which has got me down was the announcement that the 'rainbow coalition' in Cardiff Bay has been shot down by the Lib Dems. Lembit Opik... oh wait not him, despite being the Welsh Leader of the Liberal Democrats he is an MP... Mike German, announced late last night that the party's interests now lie in the opposition and not in government. Even as a conservative, I did think that the rainbow was the way to go - Welsh politics needs to enter a new era after eight years of pitiful Labour rule at Crickhowell House. Now it looks like Mr Morgan will get his throne and septor back, we can look towards another four years of pitiful rule. Thanks a lot! If one good thing has come of this it is the Conservatives renewed attitude of the Welsh Assembly. Their unanimous decision to support the coalition is an example that the Welsh Conservatives have finally come around to the idea of the assembly, and that it is here to say. As a real advocate of Welsh devolution this can only be a good thing for Welsh politics and the healing of a Welsh Conservative party in a land still scarred by Thatcher.

Before I get any stick concerning the 2007 Champions Legaue Final I will get in first - it took a deflection to beat us? C'mon, we dominated the game! We just didn't take our chances and maybe Bellers should have had a go. But I do concede that Pippo was on fire last night and his second goal was pretty sweet. Just like revenge really.

To end this 'weekly' post I feel that in the spirit of the filming of the 'The Edge of Love' in New Quay (yes there is a space, I'm talking about the Welsh one in Ceredigion!) I should really pay homage to Dylan Thomas, one of Wales' finest poets. You may have heard that beauties Sienna Miller and Keira Knightley have recently been in the coastal town filming for the new film, based on the love triangle which surrounded the fine wordsmith. So here for your literary pleasure, here is a poem from Thomas which I particularly enjoy:

-----------------------------------------------------------------

To Others than You

Friend by enemy I call you out.

You with a bad coin in your socket,
You my friend there with a winning air
Who palmed the lie on me when you looked
Brassily at my shyest secret,
Enticed with twinkling bits of the eye
Till the sweet tooth of my love bit dry,
Rasped at last, and I stumbled and sucked,
Whom now I conjure to stand as thief
In the memory worked by mirrors,
With unforgettably smiling act,
Quickness of hand in the velvet glove
And my whole heart under your hammer,
Were once such a creature, so gay and frank
A desireless familiar
I never thought to utter or think
While you displaced a truth in the air,

That thought I loved them for their faults
As much as for their good,
My friends were enemies on stilts
With their heads in a cunning cloud.

By Dylan Thomas

Dw i eisiau bod yn Gymro

Jen and I enjoyed watching a excellent programme of 'O Blaen dy Lygaid' where it described the extraordinary relocation of Chris Cope, an ordinary American man from Minnesota, who had learnt Welsh online and fulfilled his desire to move to Cardiff. The programme looked at the highs and lows of such a giant leap into the unknown, from starting at Welsh degree at Cardiff University and the prospect of being the 'outsider'. His courage to do something of this kind is truly astounding.

My failure to complete the same course a few years back when compared to this gentleman's efforts certainly puts me to shame. I have mixed feelings about dropping Welsh at university. I am glad in a way that I dropped it to pursued history greater in depth and as a result, I have taken a further qualification in politics, which i probably wouldn't have done. At the same time, I have let my desire to learn Welsh wane and wane, too frightened to use it as my confidence is still rocked from the experience. But overall, I feel sorry for myself - I walked away from a challenge; turned my tail and ran when I needed to stick with it and overcome my fears to get something. I failed myself.

Well done Chris - I hope that one day in the future I can emulate the same courage and get the hiraeth again.

Bored in the month of May

Its been an interesting May so far I guess. We have elected a new Welsh Assembly, but so far we have no idea who will actually run the country as the coalition talks go on and on. There was no way we were ever going to oust Lorraine Barrett from her seat here in Cardiff South and Penarth, but at least it was a close contest here in the constituency where the Senedd actually stands. So another victory for Labour, but at least their support here is not completely unwavering. Well done to all those who did vote by the way!

The new Manics CD is out and I am still undecided on it to be honest. I'm going to review it real soon.

I am still looking for jobs and as the title suggests, the search has taken its toll on me. I am just so bored now, and becoming almost robotic in punching out form after form, CV after CV, attached with covering letter after covering letter. This rambling is not new for any of you I'm sure but to be honest, it isn't new for me either!

It is this boredom which has prompted me to do something else whilst I plod on with the job hunt. I am currently writing a dissertation/extended essay on the history of TTFE, the beloved football institution and community that I have been a part of for just over three years. It all started when I dug out one of the old forums we used in 2004 and noticed how things have changed. Being the historical enthusiast and political animal that I am, I decided to embark on a project into how TTFE has changed over the years - complete with the debates, the attitudes of the times and the new faces that we have welcomed over the years. So far I have written the first chapter and have written a good 5,000 words, but I know and my next two chapters will be substantially longer than that, not to mention the conclusion and the several appendices I plan to include! Everyday this essay is turning into a book and its life span keeps extending with each passing paragraph. But this is not to say I am daunted by the size of the project - no no, its been liberating; I have really been able to keep my writing skills fresh, not to mention the prospect of improving them (looking at the old forum made me realise how bad my writing used to be). It has also been met with the full support of TTFE which has also made me all the more eager to get on with it. Check out the progress at the home of the TTFE.

What a maniac!

Here's a great clip with Jen in mind. She adores Top Gear and I though of her when I saw this great skit about how law enforcing speed cameras really are! If you are interested in some 'speed camera politics' from the Top Gear Trio, click here. Enjoy!

A Weekend In The City

This post is entitled after the recently released Bloc Party CD which is ab fab. Silent Alarm was a breakthrough album which blew my mind so to hear A Weekend In The City and admit it is perhaps even better than their first offering, it must be good. It is sooo in-depth, so melancholy, yet so real and hard-hitting, and topical. The Prayer and Song For Clay are just brilliant songs. The 'City' in question is actually London, which was funny really because....

...that's exactly where Jen and I went last weekend for a theatre break. It wasn't long ago that I ordered it for her Xmas present! My my, how time has flown by! We stayed in Greenwich in a very nice hotel and we tubed it in (by the way, the tube was new to me so I was amazed by the whole experience) whenever we went into Central London.

Firstly we went on the London Eye - a fantastic experience not for the faint hearted! It was an incredible view at the top! Then we went into Madame Tussauds, which I thought was going to be massively tacky - if you are indeed an avid One Man fan, you will know my thoughts of celebrity on this island. However I was swayed by the wonderful craftsmanship of the figures, especially the Michael Caine, the Sean Connery and the Tom Jones! I had mixed feelings when Jen finally met her dream husband too, the lovable rogue that is Captain Jack Sparrow. But she seemed to be happy anyhow! After that we wondered around Covent Garden and I began to appreciate how relaxed London can be.

The next day we head straight to the Tower of London to beat the crowds and I think we timed it just right busywise. It was very interesting with lots to see; we could have easily spent a day there! I particularly enjoyed the roleplay the actors played out involving Gryffydd ap Llywelyn, one of the last Welsh princes, who was being held in the tower. When Jen and I announced that we could speak Welsh they kind of ignored us, assuming that the actor who played Gryffydd was English! After that we ventured over Tower Bridge (saw it open up too) then went to Regent St and Piccadilly Circus (Jen got to look for bears in Hamleys!), and then a quick whistle stop tour of Marble Arch and Buckingham Palace before we got ready for the show in the evening. The musical we were to see was 'The Sound of Music', which i admit I had watched only once before. The show was brilliant - Connie Fisher, the winner of the TV reality show, was very good. However you have to give it up for Lesley Garrett on her last night and the Von Trapp children who were also very good.

On the Sunday we left for home with a few detours on the way. Firstly we went to Windsor where had a good walk around and picnicked in the sun with some food we bought in Lewisham. Eton was not just expensive in price - it felt expensive. It felt wrong walking down the streets, like someone was going to spring a road tax on you or something! The castle was great too. After that we meandered down the M4 corridor and at my request - and mine alone - we went to my ancestral home, the mighty town of Newbury. Yes if I was English, I would live here. And I would be mayor. But as a patriotic Welshman, I turn my nose up to my inherited lands and live it up in Cwl Cymru. It was nice to see the place before considering I've never been there and as true Argos employees it wasn't long until we sniffed out the Argos there either!


In what is turning out to be a bumper post, I have an apology to make for everyone and myself. Two years ago I used One Man to spread the good word of the franchise to all. This year I have paid very little attention to the assembly elections here on One Man, and for all political enthusaists who have been keen to get my view, I am deeply sorry. This is not to say I haven't been following the elections or lost any faith in Welsh democracy. Far from it, I have been reading the blogs, following the media, in what is the most informative age in political history. So many opinions, so many political pieces to read - it just shows how hard it will be to vote.
And yet, polling day is 30 mins away. In what seems to be rather appropriately placed event, Jen and I have just gone to see The New Statesman stage show in the New Theatre this evening, and good old Alan B'Stard was as devious as ever. It was a great show, which I suggest everyone with an interest in current affairs and politics alike should really check out. But has the ultra right-wing charlatan affected my vote? Time will tell.....

But please on a serious note, if you are reading on the May 3rd, go out and vote. It is your vote and no-one can take it away from you. You have the power to change things. Use that power this Thursday.

Go get your gun

When I was 11 years old and nearing the end of my time in primary school, I remember our headmaster, Mr Brown, gathering both Year 5 and Year 6 in the school hall each week for what he called a 'debating session'. What he proposed was something which was done more frequently in schools in the mid twentieth century and across the Atlantic. A controversial topic was chosen and two people were told to research one side of the argument, whilst another two pupils were asked to argue the other side. After a week to prepare, they would then be asked to present their arguments to the rest of the class and take any questions about their viewpoint. Then our headmaster would take a vote and the pupils who argued their points most elequently by grabbing the most votes would win the debate. It was a great opportunity to talk about current events which the curriculum would not cover and I guess its something you develop, and you cannot simply teach. When the floor was open for topics for discussion, I remember suggesting as an example something like Northern Ireland (the question resembled 'should we give it back to the Irish' or something along those lines). On the very first occasion however, the topic was centred on whether or not everyone should be able to own guns, and depaite the topic I was chuffed to bits to be asked along with my good friend Chris to argue the case for uninhibited public gun use. My reservations were felt as I had no real conviction in this argument. I knew Chris more pro-gun than I was, so I knew he had a better idea of why people needed guns. To be honest I cant remember what we argued, but I bet it was something along the lines of they gave people a greater sense of security if used properly, or that they can be good fun within the limits of the law. I can't remember who won the debate either, but again I could probably guess we lost because let's face it, despite the male vote and the bravado which comes with guns in popular culture, we had to fight the glaringly grim fact that guns actually kill people; a fact not blurred even when you're ten or eleven years old.

What makes me think about this moment in short history is that this is a time long before the tragic school shooting of Columbine and more recently, the Virginia Tech massacre last week. But it wasn't too far away from a recent gun tragedy. As primary school children we argued the cases for and against general gun use in 1995, and then in the following year, Dunblane happened. I was in high school when that happened, and it rocked our world. It then became obvious how easy it is for someone to do that in schools up and down the country. As a result of the shooting in Scotland, that very primary school where I spent my years now resembles Fort Knox; complete with bars on the windows, on all the doors, and an intercom system at the main entrance. On a visit back to see the teachers one time, I remembered how easy it was to walk in and out of the school compared to when I returned, dear old Mr Brown was even apprehensive over letting me through the doors to the place where I learned my right from wrong.

But here I digress - I only mean to show here that Dunblane did have an impact on our lives, just like the other school shootings of Columbine and Beslan did. What happened in Virginia will certainly do the same; It will make us run the same debate that we argued back in primary school. It will make us think about whether we should have guns in public hands, whether our schools are doing enough to protect our children, whether we should be banning all kinds of potentially lethal objects from their pockets. If we take the guns away, we may solve the problem. But before that, isn't there an underlying issue which everyone is forgetting? Why do these maniacs carry out these heinous acts in the first place? If they are mentally unstable, why are they being allowed to purchase guns? I am not ruling out the role of guns completely here, but it is clear that something else is at work here which makes America the school shooting capital of the world.

It is not a strictly an American phenomenon, but it is certainly one which America has to accept a particular unwanted monopoly of. Critics have now placed much emphasis on the effects Columbine has had on a generation of gun-toting teenagers and because it keeps happening and gets notoriety in the press, it will keep happening. Britain isn't a gun-free paradise itself as gang warfare is on the rise, but here it just doesn't happen to the same scale as it does in the States. The most disturbing thing about these shootings is that kids are often the shooters - at kids, by kids. Whe Dunblane happened, we made sure we took steps to rid our streets of guns so another massacre like that could ever happen again, by appealing to everyone to simply give up their guns. In the States, that just isn't going to happen.

For me its the complete arrogance of the Americans when it comes to the issue. In the States, the very notion of not having a gun is just uncomprehendable. They argue it is pretty much their God-given right to have one, to protect their interests and their property. If that argument fails, they wave the Constitution in your face like a wet fish stating that gives them total justification to have that Gloch in their back pocket. The debate I experienced in school would just not happen, because the law gives the right and sets it firmly in stone. For Americans who love their guns, their conscience is eased, or never even envoked by a law made over 200 years ago. And to think 200 years ago, we thought slavery was great for the economy. But slavery soon became to be considered inhumane and wrong. Why? Because it felt wrong. If a piece of paper said it was right, they knew in their hearts deep down that something wasn't right about it. Their moral conscience spoke up and overturned any law that was in place. So why should Americans hide behind their piece of paper - if they can prove that they can have guns, they should do it not by saying "But the Constitution says we can". One excuse was that some people would rather take things into their own hands because they don't trust the government or the police. Maybe more energy should be placed into making the public trust their government and the poilce force. Easier said than done, but a step nonetheless.

To some, this problem is just about getting rid of all the guns - no guns, no way kids can massacre other adolescent teens. Guns do of course represent a large part of the problem, but underneath, we seem to forget that these people shoot for a reason, and in addition, because they can. Family problems, broken homes, kids who don't fit in - yeah they all have their role in this too. But their regular, usual and unordinary raging hormones are given a real chance to flourish into a horrid evil with immense power at their fingertips. A British kid may beat up some poor sod who walks down the street, an American kid pops into K-mart with a fraudulent ID and soon has a rifle to play 'cops and robbers' with. It is a moral question which Americans do not understand - in a land where liberty often overrules the ethical and the right, no real intention will be paid to gun control unless the Bush adminstration act upon it. And with financial incentives in consideration (see Bowling for Columbine for further details), I'm sure it will be a long time before America wakes up.

Giving It Both Barrels

One of the greatest comedians of our time, Al Murray here displays his loud and British proud alterego, The Landlord, in good form during his recent Giving It Both Barrels tour. You have to love his hatred towards students, the French (and everyone else non-British really) and everything else which interferes with his traditional view of a British society. He just loves the Welsh as you will find out! Here he talks about the wonder of the Scots, the Geordies and the Scousers, and the concept of how we as the British are not confined to a single identity. In fact we are Brit....iiiiiisssssssh!!!

Every Little Helps (build your supermarket empire)

There was no surprise that this week when it was announced that Tesco has now amassed profits as large of £2.55 billion. There is no sign of it stopping either as they look to expand the business and go multinational, supposedly in Japan and the States. Tesco is now the UK's biggest retailer and their market share dwarfs the share that Asda, Morrison and Sainsbury's have, despite a small increase for them. If you are vigilant in watching supermarkets pop up all over the place the Tesco revolution will be familiar to you. What I consider to be more interesting is the meteoric rise of Tesco and how they have proven to be a lot more ruthless in what resembles a quest for world domination.

It is not just this announcement which has provoked a post from me today. The Echo recently featured a piece on how two Tesco shops (one Express and one Metro, supposedly makes all the difference) which are no more than a mile apart charge different prices on certain items like bread and milk. This aspect is not new news to me - I once watched a Trevor McDonald 'Tonight' programme on the rise of the supermarket juggernaut on how Tesco says local, smaller shops have to charge more money for some goods due to different costs in running the stores, i.e. lighting, rent, etc.. Which means that even though you may have a Tesco Express near your doorstep, don't necessarily think you will get Tesco prices. But what worries me is the sheer monopoly Tesco has this Western area of Cardiff - where three stores operate, in addition to two of those stores being on the same street. Is there any point of having these stores so close together? No - it is just complete exploitation of the area and will surely have an effect on the small businesses which strive so hard to survive despite already tough competition from Somerfield. On a national scale other examples of Tesco's choice of location have been known to have giant superstores closer together, which again borders on the region of pure greed. The reason why £1 out of every £7 pounds you spend on the high street goes into Tesco's piggy bank is that they have now conquered the superstores, but they make sure they stay dominant in the towns and recently, in the suburbs and mini shopping centres in the likes of Grangetown and Whithchurch.

Some might say fair gain. If there is an empty space in the high street which could be better off giving the locals their morning paper, then why should anyone object to it? Tesco in competition with the other supermarkets will always give the customer the benefits - as they play off each other we stand to gain from the price war carnage in the shopping aisles. So why do I have a problem with Tesco? There is something very cold about shopping in a Tesco, which is a feeling I get and I find hard to explain. But here goes: Tesco can assure me a bargain, but the whole shopping experience is marred by the fact that 9/10 times I shop there I am treated like a moronic ghost at the checkouts. For me, Tesco is not about being 'happy to help' at all - I think as a whole the company could do more for customer relations. Maybe I'm being incredibly biased because of my Argos loyalties here, but its what I see, what I think and I know others have agreed with me.

And yet, I still go back. Shopping in Tesco is too often a guilty pleasure for me, one which I feel wrong for doing but its something I do anyway. Call it an addiction, call it chocolate cake, call it a drug; I just can't help but be pulled in by the ease of parking, location, convenience and choice. Yes I am a 21st century boy - spoiled and captivated with 24 hour shopping and I have a 'I want it now' attitude. I know what Tesco does to farmers and how it hurts the rural community. I know how Tesco really couldn't give a damn about me and just wants my money then wants me to leave and then come back again. I guess I shouldn't moan - after all, its only a shop, providing a service which the average consumer certainly enjoys. If everyone else thinks its ok, surely it must be fine? With a mentality like that you could fit right at home in Nazi Germany.....

[spunge]

I failed to mention in my last post that on Easter Sunday I went to see the ska-punk legends [spunge] in Cardiff Barfly with Plasmo, Mike and Dave. It was great and all....

Now you know me by now. I can't leave a post like that!

This gig was a great reminder of some awesome gigs I went to in the year in which I blown all my earnings just to see any glimmer of live music. 2002 was a great year muscially for me, I went to Ozzfest in Donnington Parkand notably saw System of a Down, to the Reading festival and saw my punk legends The Offspring, and I had the chance to see Green Day in Coopers Field, which at the time was totally mind blowing for our generation. People stepped back in disbelief at the very thought of Billie Joe, Tre and Mike coming to Britain, let alone Wales! On that sunny July day it was [spunge] who had the honour of opening up, and I only caught a small bit of their set because we had problems getting in at the gate. But I'm sure I saw them before hand as I ended up going to good few ska punk gigs around the time and I sure they did a few shows in the circuit. They had the world at their feet in regards to the rock media, interviews, music videos on Kerrang and of course, the chance to support on the world's most popular and talented punk bands.

Fast forward to 2007, and I admit, I haven't given [spunge] much of sniff as I have branched out into other types of music, mainly indie. In fact, it wasn't really until I was living with Plasmo last year I really remembered how good they were. I even dug out my old 'Compunktion' CD complete with Britain's finest ska-punk bands - the likes of King Prawn, Capdown and Farse, and not forgetting local talent like Shooting Goon. To avoid any disappointment therefore, I went along with an open mind and no real pre-conceptions of what these gigs were like.

When we arrived it was clear that the scene hasn't really changed; tipsy adolescent kids with Carling lager cans at hand, dressing up as alternative as possible complete with makeup and badges on their baggy jeans, and toking on pristine rolled-up cigarettes they all made in avid preparation. In fact, despite being known for complete randomness and spontenaeity, the formula of a punk rock show is incredibly preditable. If the bill has 3 bands it goes like this - the first band, pretty much unknown, probably young, will also probably suck and try to work the crowd unsuccessfully, but they will never be short on effort. The second band in support will be a bit better, will possibly get a good pit going at the front, will work the crowd much better and will most likely be a more 'experienced' band - a bunch of 30 year olds who live off touring all the time. And of course, the headline act will be the real reason everyone is there. There was no surprises in this gig. If there were any eye-brow raisers at all it was the quality of the second band, who really got the crowd fired up.

However there was outstaging [spunge] themselves, who played a good set and certainly set the place on fire. They had so many songs to choose they couldn't fail to disappoint - Kicking Pigeons, Jump on Demand, Ego, Skanking Song, Roots.. the list goes on. The pit in front was also really electric too. Their famous cover versions of Down Under (Men at Work) and No Woman No Cry (Bob Marley) were also pretty good. The only drawback that both Plasmo and I agreed on was the fact that the newer stuff was not as good, which suggests to me maybe (only maybe) that their heyday is in the past. Yet despite our thoughts and the very suggestion that [spunge] are reaching their rock and roll retirement, this gig was a sellout with ticketless people being promptly pushed away at the door. Are [spunge] still fresh in the hearts and minds of the rock proletariat, despite having gone underground and kept a low profile for many years?

But on reflection of the evening, maybe this massive rapport is not about the band. I mean I have seen some crummy bands in my time but I have still been up for going to a gig based on the type of music being played. Half of the people in that gig (mainly kids or over 14's as I should specify) probably only heard a few songs by the headline act or no songs at all, but like the genre. And looking at the swarms of people who go in groups, its most likely more to do with the social aspect of the gig - making new friends, seeing old ones, seeing ones which you wouldn't see anywhere else other than that type of gig. Its about getting drunk, having a good skank, but most of all and I can very much vouch for this, they are about growing up. This fact sometimes holds me back from wanting to clamp some unruly 17 year old who is throwing his water into the air - he is only growing up and he is finding his sanctuary in the world which mocks him for wearing the 'wrong' clothes.

So if theses type of gigs are about growing up, in retrospect it should have been no surprise that the people I used to see at these gigs were no longer skanking hard. Whether they went to uni and whether or not they changed their music types, you know above all that they have matured and simply have grown up. I think that's one thing which shocked me the most, but perhaps was the most obvious fact after all these years - everyone grows up.

But don't get me wrong - I still moan about 'mini-moshers' and 'teenboppers' alike. For one thing they sure made me feel old!

An Easter Post

Easter - a time for rest, a time for reflection, a time for eating ridiculous amounts of chocolate. But for me, only the last of those activities is carried out as I regularly undertake a work-a-thon over the Easter weekend. This year it was even more important to me, considering that I am still in the hunt of a full time job; the interview I mentioned on a previous post went well, but ultimately unsuccessful. I am still pumping out application after application, and now I have arranged an assessment session with CardiffWorks, the council's 'temping agency'. So hopefully things are on the up in the employment front.

But back to Easter, and I decided to work Easter Sunday and Easter Monday this year. Good Friday was fully booked staff wise, so I bummed around and waited to go out with Jen on a night out scheduled by Nathan. It was full of good pub food (although Jen was convinced her chicken meal made her sick, and notably took its toll on her over the whole weekend, poor princess!), a good old natter and Lithuanian beer. On Easter Sunday the store was closed, so the 8 of us who decided to work (and get paid, instead of having it off as one of our holiday days or having it unpaid) were given cleaning duties. Namely, buffering the stockroom floors - all day. Therefore the glory of Christ's ascension was not the only thing was rising for me on this most holy of days (take that as sexual innuendo if you must), but I was also worshipping of the ascension of the deeply encrusted dirt which inhabited within the filthy tiled floor. Jen, who also decided to work, was just as unimpressed by the day as I was, as it proved to be a complete waste of time the following day. Already our hard work seemed to be fading away, becoming blackened with the dirt of the day. It was okay though, as the Steed Unit was in on Easter Monday and his diligence and hard work re-energised me and made the day go that little bit quicker.

I hate bank holidays. Yeah they pay well, but they just throw my week. Before I know it after a bank holiday weekend, my week is cut short and already I'm sorting out the QVR team for Tuesday. We suffered a dreadful defeat also last night, which may have cost us promotion into Division Three. In a quick nutshell, with all that and a glimpse of the new Doctor Who (hmm still undecided) that was my Easter 2007.

Fags' Last Night out

Our pub quiz team, appropriately titled 'Fags' Last Night Out', had just lost the weekly Deri Inn pub quiz by a good 16 points in what was perhaps one of our most forgettable performances. Yet this night will not be quickly forgotten by us all because of this dismal score. For myself, Jen, Tom, Emma, James and Leighton, witnessed history in the making in a simple Rhiwbinian pub. For Sunday April 1st, was the final day in which people can legally smoke in public places here in Wales.

For those hardened draggers who may have been living under a rock over the past few years and had returned on that very day, they would not be wrong in insisting that this ban was a cruelly played April Fools joke. I say this because it even baffles me how attitudes towards smoking in public have changed in the 21st century. Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that now everytime I go out into a pub I can now escape the heavy blankets of smokey filth, which was slowly destroying my lungs and making me smell like an ashtray. But it was not long ago that smoking was considered to be cool, a bit rebellious and was a major staple in establishing the social order. If you didn't smoke, you were a square. The dangerous effects of cigarettes and tobacco were not being explained properly and people had continued to suffer the effects of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. It wasn't too long ago that tobacco advertising was banned in this country, and that all fag packets had to have clearer warnings on them to explain the danger. Yet we were still well behind the likes of California where smoking bans had confidently been put in place, and we dismissed it as an excessive idea. Truth was that Britain had, and still has, a real love affair with the cigarette. It has always been revered as the appropriate partner to a cup of coffee, or a pint of lager. Its a British tradition which no-one was willing to separate.

And yet today, the Parisians have now started to call time on open smoking in their own public places. Paris was certainly another place where cigarettes where commonplace in bars and cafes - I'm sure if you had to conjure up a French stereotypical bloke in your mind, he or she would have onions around his neck, a french loaf in one hand and an unfiltered cigarette firmly between his lips. Scotland have had their ban in place since last year, we have followed suit, whilst England will make the Great Britain smoke free in July.

So why the change in attitudes? Perhaps because more people are waking up to the silent killer which they have no control over. Passive smoking is being proven to be almost as deadly as direct smoking itself and quite rightfully, the public doesn't like this fact. I know as a passive smoker for 23 years that my life may be significantly shortened as a result and that it is now I've started to take a stand when I am around my mum and dad, who both smoke. I don't want to be near them when they smoke, I blatantly open windows even when its pouring down or freezing cold, I make bellowing gestures with my hands and other types of resistance. I do anything to convey my utter disgust at the habit, since reasoning through science had no effect. I did the old-breathe-into-a-cotton-wool-ball trick and it had no effect whatsoever. And although I realise its tough to quit or cut down, the fact is that those sticks are playing around with people's health around you. It is just plain disrespectful. Im glad to say something has gotten through however, my mum will now leave the room when she lights up and even if she is watching something on TV, she will stand by the door and smoke.

Sadly there are bound to be people in society who aren't so considerate, who are too selfish and still live in the stone age to see that smoking has an effect on everyone else. I've met them - and I'm glad to say that their defiance is just the perfect example of their stupidity. These people will continue to light up in pubs, because its what they do, its what they always done and no-one will tell them otherwise. But this ban and the attitude of the majority of the people of Wales shows quite clearly that YOU are a dying breed. In more ways than one.

This ban will be hard to enforce now, but its clear that this is a measure for the future. It will teach the next generation that smoking in pubs and other public places is something we were ashamed of, and we want them to turn up their noses in disgust at the very idea. We want them to stay healthy, we want them to live without the worry of one particular type of cancer lingering over them. Not that its too late for us of course - I can now enjoy a pint without having to worry about my breathing.

As we quizzed on that joyous evening, it was ironic that a couple smoked quite happily next to us. Smoke filled the air and it was thick as fog, and they seemed as though they were smoking to save their lives considering the rate they were puffing away. And yet, I wonder if tomorrow, or indeed next week when we quiz again at the Deri, they will be there with Marlboro's at hand. I wonder whether they will be feigning ignornance or expressing utter defiance just to continue their dirty habit. I wonder if they will be dinosaurs trying to outlive their time.

A Sunny day

What a week it has been. I have been able to keep myself occupied thanks to working in Argos and have got a few apps off to places too. Productive to say the the least! Its just a shame I have a million things to do at home, like tidy my car, replace my indicator lights, find out the source of my home wireless network problem and bring some order to the clutter which lives in my bedroom. I could have got a real good start on it today but I wimped out at the thought; instead I had a lie-in and decided to spend a few hours in Penarth where I bought some books and had a nice haircut.

I don't know whether it was because today has been really sunny and fine, but walking around the small, fairly quiet and tranquil town of Penarth really makes me consider it to be somewhere to live in the future. I know what some of you may be thinking - I better be prepared to dip my hand into my pocket - it just seemed right. I always have liked Penarth and I often consider it a refreshing place to shop as an alternative to Cardiff. For the moment though, I must be able to afford to live somewhere a bit more in my current price range. At this rate, the Rhondda is calling my name. Llwynypia perhaps?

In other news, I face my first job interview tomorrow. It is for a job which I never thought I would be applying for, but it is certainly not one which will put me at a bad financial situation. Nerves haven't kicked in yet, but I'm sure they will take ahold of me some time this evening! Above all, this interview brings relief and hope to what has been a very blighted job seeking campaign. Since searching from November, I havent had a sausage from anyone at all and my morale on the whole thing has slowly hit rock bottom. I'm just hoping after this interview I have a bit more luck on the job front, or if we are looking for the best case scenario, a job!

Finally, the mighty Wales effectively bowed out of Euro 2008 qualifiying with a lacklastre defeat against the Irish. I originally planned a Dublin trip last year and now I'm thoroughly glad I didn't go through with it! I didn't see the game but from all the reviews, our Dragons were just plain awful. I had real hopes we could pin something from this game especially as Ireland have been self-exploding in particularly bad fashion lately, turning on manager Steve Staunton after a woeful 2-1 last minute victory against the San Marinese. With Steve now off the hook and a bit of breathing space, the pressure is now on John Toshack to deliver. I have always been a supporter of Tosh, mainly because of his immense acheivements in Spain and Turkey, and I think he has the tactical know-how to push Wales forward. I also agree with the FAW that he is undergoing an overhaul of new youth players who need to be blooded while some of our older players are stil there to guide the way. But that game has rocked my confidence slightly. I mean, two attempts on goal? With Bellamy and Giggs? I find it hard to believe that we couldn't take the game to them a bit more. And at the centre of it all, is a very hollow midfield which still bears the scars of the absent Savage, Thatcher and Oster. Don't get me wrong, no-one's ego should ever be bigger than the team but has Tosh burnt too many 'bridges' that we need to qualify? I hate to say that - I just really hope that results against San Marino on Wednesday and the Czechs in June will expel these doubts and restore my faith in the Welsh gaffer.

The Quickening

If the mighty Kronos knows all and sees all
I would have had my existence refund paid long ago.
For all the days I have laid looking at the bedroom wall
And for all the naiveities I still hold and know,
Too many cornflakes can embitter the soul
Just like too much daytime TV can rot your brain
Everyday stuck in a banal, virtual hole
Of the daily afternoon post always returning the same.
Above it all, I am sloth, I am my worst enemy
I am eighty percent becoming of what I never wanted to be.
And time just... moves... so... slowly....
Twenty percent feels like that's all I'm ever going to be.
And yet, the world moves at the quickening
No time to find your Valhalla when the seas are fraught with doom
And your search becomes chaotic and most sickening
As your prided long boat is sinking; your great asset you once presumed.
To be idle, you are slain, but in this battle
Even the good ones find themselves on their knees
To miss the tide with waffling and prattle
Are not the right words for your bargaining pleas.
And all this, to put bricks to your house, fuel to your car
And get the very things you think you lack,
And now a month has passed, have I come this far?
Can I please have my five minutes back?
So tomorrow brings another lazy, work filled day
And if you don't take heed, you will be in danger of being late,
As the seconds of eternity are frittering away,
They keep up frantically with Wall St. at an hourly rate.

Been a long time since I have written a poem, just wanted to clear the cobwebs a bit on the creative side of my brain! Those who know me well can probably guess the main subject of it, despite it not being directly mentioned, but what I tried to convey here is that time can move slowly and quickly at the same time; a feeling that I have harboured recently.

If you are interested in other poetry that I have written, please visit: http://allpoetry.com/janstar

Bobbies on the Beat

Before I went to work yesterday I watched Sunday AM at the 'glance at the papers' section for a quick idea of whats happening in current events. There was one story particularly caught my attention, however I was unable to get the name of the paper to have a real good read of the article. It basically reported that bureaucracy in the police force has gone farcical and that there are roughly 53 pencil-pushers behind every single bobbie on the beat. As you can possibly agree, that is completely ridculous! I'm now glad I didn't get that job in the police, if that is the accurate state of affairs! What we are seeing here is the highly politically sensitive issue of street policing, and the broken promises made by governments alike of putting more policemen and policewomen on the streets, to directly stem the flow of crime where it matters.

The issue of policing always makes me think of the time Jen and I went to Tunisia, on an excursion into the cities of Kairowan, El Djem and Monastir. We were very lucky to have a highly interested, funny and intelligent tour guide who was also a Masters graduate in International Relations. This guy was therefore in a position to give us information about anything in Tunisia, in a very coherent and knowledgable way. What I could hear from the fellow Brits whispering around me, and was something I had also considered, was the heavy presence of policemen on the streets in each city. We must have thought 'ah, African country, must have a real problem with crime'. But when one tourist asked the guide why there were so many policemen on the streets he responded with another two questions. "Why not?", he said, followed by "why don't you in your country?". It was here that the guide shown great clarity on the subject. He said that despite Blair going to war on the rest of the world, our PM failed to understand that if there is a risk to your own people in that same war, they need to be protected. The guide went on to explain that in Tunisia, crime levels are fairly small mainly due to its insular nature in international politics and the visable presence of police on their streets. But what sold me was the more simple phrase of "why not"? I mean, its fairly simple really isn't it? More street police, less street crimes like muggings, theft and violence.

This Labour government stated that it will get tough on the causes of crime to bring down lawlessness in this country and has seemed to ease the police presence on our streets. It will probably argue therefore that it will look at cracking down on drug dens, prositution rings and illegal slave trades as they are the roots of more petty crimes associated with it like theft. In addition, Labour have also done something towards getting more police on the streets, even if it seems like a real copout (no pun intended, honest) by getting the public to act as policemen and policewomen. They have brought in 'community wardens' as junior members of law enforcement, but despite this move, they still remain to be scarce when I drive around. Maybe I just drive into the wrong places. But I'm sure you could relate to this observation.

Or maybe the lack of street police is down to something a bit more psychological. Just like we Tunisian tourists thought, with policemen on the streets we automatically assumed that there must be a problem; that the streets must not be safe for such a strong presence. And with a North African backdrop removed, I'm sure the general public would have the same fears back home. With more coppers around, people may feel safe, but the sceptical side of their minds must feel as though to have more coppers around, something must be afoot in our great, law-abiding British society. If the government were to implement more police around, one rather weak criticism which could be raised by some is that it would be making smoke without a fire perhaps. But sadly, as the knife killings in London and gang killings in Birmingham show, maybe there is a fire. Maybe also it is time to wake up and realise that some of those 53 bureaucrats must be reduced if we are going to going to get tougher on crime.