Anenomes

IMG_1829, originally uploaded by nogbad the bad.

ink

ink, originally uploaded by nogbad the bad.

At the end of the day

At the end of the day, originally uploaded by nogbad the bad.

End of the pier

IMG_1587, originally uploaded by nogbad the bad.

This is from a Flickr set of shots taken in Brighton last week. I make no apologies for using some more as a few came out well.

Brighton

IMG_1617, originally uploaded by nogbad the bad.

Another image from the Brighton set. This is artistic - the test is that it doesn't look like anything

West Pier

West Pier, originally uploaded by nogbad the bad.

Brighton's West Pier

Lovely day

IMG_1613, originally uploaded by nogbad the bad.

On the bus

Not quite the same as "I'm on the train" but similar.

Tea!

Tea!, originally uploaded by nogbad the bad.

Not sure if you'll see the time on my watch but this was before six this morning. The phone is the duty phone as I was on back-up last night and the tea is the second cup of the morning. That's residential school for ya!

Reflections

Just enjoying a few moments peace.

AMF 9

IMG_1081, originally uploaded by nogbad the bad.

Here at the Uni of Sussex someone had been clearing out their office and these bowling shoes were neatly arranged on a low wall next to the bins.

Newport (Ymerodraeth State of Mind)

Make sure you check out the lyrics....

Meaningless news from the BBC

Scots 'drink a quarter more alcohol' than other Brits

The headline is a link to the story and I've left it in the same font as used on the BBC news site; I think it's horrible but that's not why we're here. Let's look at the story in some more detail. The claim in the headline talks of drinking more yet the first line is about purchasing – I’m not suggesting that it’s being poured down the drain but they aren’t synonymous. It’s also a comparison; they are buying/drinking more than someone else which need not mean it’s a problem. That I drink more than my mother is because she’s abstemious; it doesn’t say anything about my likely health outcomes. Unless we know something about the artefact used for comparison how can we know anything about our subject?

Scots like to drink at home and this is based on purchasing patterns. So what? What is it about this that makes it newsworthy? Surely they aren’t the only section of the population who have spotted the price differential between pubs and supermarkets? £4.40 will buy enough cider to exceed the government’s recommended limit of 21 units/week for a man. That’s interesting but it doesn’t mean that every Scottish man is out spending a fiver on White Lightening does it? I'm half Scots and I still find that I can pass a supermarket without falling in and grabbing a couple of litres of Woodpecker. Many people like to drink at home. It's a nice way to wind down after a day at work, it's enjoyable to have a glass of wine in the garden with a book. This report seems to suggest that drinking at home is somehow wrong and to be condemned.

Would I appear cynical if I suggested that this story is simply slack journalism which meets the simple agenda of pandering to stereotypes? It also coincides with the "nanny knows best" mentality which has gripped us for years - even the scientists involved in alcohol research agree that the 21 units/week number is plucked from the air. Are we better served by being told off repeatedly or by being treated like adults? Psychologists (and others) might be mouthing the term "transactional analysis" around about now (although some psychologists might be mumbling incoherently about a nice lunch of dim sum or some such which). I'm not suggesting that the BBC is "dumbing down" but this really is a dreadfully written report.

Eeeek!

Van

Van, originally uploaded by nogbad the bad.

Upper Crisbrook Mill

Upper Crisbrook Mill, originally uploaded by nogbad the bad.

This is just along the valley from where I live; it's beautiful and across the road is a mill pond.

You can just be one banana

See?

Don't stop believing

Sainsbury's

Got to get some shopping - strangely drawn to the pastry-based products.

Live Aid

"It's twelve noon in London, seven AM in Philadelphia, and around the world it's time for; Live Aid ...."

Twenty five years ago today - "The day the music changed the world". Poor digital communications, an estimated 2 billion viewers across more than 50 countries, Queen spent three weeks rehearsing for a 20 minute set, no web site for giving money so it was all taken by telephone - it supposedly increased to £300 per second after Geldof's rant which exhorted people to "give us your fucking money". Total monies raised is estimated to be in the order of £150M.

It's still a very powerful film and a very powerful message and there are still parts of these world where children are starving but Live Aid made a difference; it raised money and, more importantly, it raised awareness. It wasn't the first charity concert but it spawned any number of "Something Aid" gigs and led to Live8 in 2005.

'Cos you wear it well

Love this song, heard it today for the first time in ages

Anyway, my coffee's cold and I'm getting told

That I gotta get back to work

So when the sun goes low and you're home all alone

Think of me and try not to laugh

And I wear it well

I don't object if you call Collect

'Cos I ain't forgetting that you were once mine

But I blew it without even tryin'

Now I'm eatin' my heart out

Tryin' to get back to you

I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you

Oh, yeah

After all the years I hope it's the same address

Since you've been gone it's hard to carry on, oh no, oh no

Old times

Old times, originally uploaded by nogbad the bad.

Today Jemma and I went to Aylesford. I love old postcards, they are so evocative. This, of course, is a photo I took today.

Paddling

Took this yesterday when driving through the village.

Bird watching

IMG_0351, originally uploaded by nogbad the bad.

We went to Dungeness as planned - lovely day

Plan for the day

Off to collect child number 1 and my favourite son. I'm then taking them to Waitrose to get a picnic and we'll find adventures. New camera will be in attendance so some bits will be digitally documented. I heart the sun!

Reflections

Lavender

IMG_0078, originally uploaded by nogbad the bad.

Pretty innit?

Woodland walk

Woodland walk, originally uploaded by nogbad the bad.

This charming little pond is on the woodland walk and I pass it when heading for Friston building here at the Uni of Sussex.