Just been to see Cirque du Ciel's Shanghi. AWESOME!
In fact awesome does not cover it. If you have a liking for stunning acrobatics, mind boggling tricks and death defying stunts, then this group is well worth a watch. As far as I could see there were no safety lines and they only used crash mats for the rope dance and the monkey poles. I'm not sure about the evening performances but the matinees had children doing some of the stunts, including throwing themselves of the top of the monkey poles and trusting the adults to catch them. The level of trust between every member of the team was awe inspiring.
What I particularly liked about it was that there was an equal division of the performances between men and women, with some men having their own acrobat come ballet routines and some of the women having a chance to play the drums in one of the big drumming numbers.
I have to admit that the hat juggling number was a favourite of mine. How do you have a hat on your head and one in each hand and make them rotate positions without either speeding up the passes as you go or having a third arm?
Grant still have to say that the hoop routine and the monkey poles were the best of the show.
Definitely one to watch out for!
Friday, 13 April 2012
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Nppf
Just read about the National Planning Policy Framework.
Is any one really taken in by their babble about development only bringing about the lost of habitat only if "the need for, and the benefits of, the development in that location clearly outweigh the loss"?
Who decides if the "needs for" and the "benefits of" the development "clearly outweigh the loss"? The local people who don't want more housing? Who have said as much in their meetings and petitions? Who don't want more people moving into the area until there is work enough for the people already there? Or the developers who have the bank balance to buy the solicitors and the opinion of the government? Who have the money to keep putting forward application after application until the local people have not the money or the will to fight it any more?
I'm not a betting woman but I know who I'd put my money on.
And while habitats can be bought and sold for the money gained when the houses are built, the woodland and farm land of England will continue to disappear. After all, if all else fails they can always slap a compulsory purchase order on the land like they did to the farm that used to be were Thorpe Marriott now stands.
However, all is not lost.
If you feel like standing up and telling the Government and its money bloated cronies were to sling their collective hooks, then the Woodland Trust does charge a large amount of money for membership. And the money you give them will go to buy the woodlands up before the developers can get to them. What is more, once the land is owned by the charity then compulsory purchase orders cannot stick.
Lets show the government the meaning of the words "The voice of the people is the voice of God!"
Is any one really taken in by their babble about development only bringing about the lost of habitat only if "the need for, and the benefits of, the development in that location clearly outweigh the loss"?
Who decides if the "needs for" and the "benefits of" the development "clearly outweigh the loss"? The local people who don't want more housing? Who have said as much in their meetings and petitions? Who don't want more people moving into the area until there is work enough for the people already there? Or the developers who have the bank balance to buy the solicitors and the opinion of the government? Who have the money to keep putting forward application after application until the local people have not the money or the will to fight it any more?
I'm not a betting woman but I know who I'd put my money on.
And while habitats can be bought and sold for the money gained when the houses are built, the woodland and farm land of England will continue to disappear. After all, if all else fails they can always slap a compulsory purchase order on the land like they did to the farm that used to be were Thorpe Marriott now stands.
However, all is not lost.
If you feel like standing up and telling the Government and its money bloated cronies were to sling their collective hooks, then the Woodland Trust does charge a large amount of money for membership. And the money you give them will go to buy the woodlands up before the developers can get to them. What is more, once the land is owned by the charity then compulsory purchase orders cannot stick.
Lets show the government the meaning of the words "The voice of the people is the voice of God!"
Saturday, 17 March 2012
Faith
It has been said that a belief in an all-powerful deity is childish, unscientific and in some cases, out right harmful.
I beg to differ.
First of all I must point out the differences between faith, which is a belief in a something beyond our mortal understanding and religion, which is the belief of some humans that they can make other people do as they say, using a fear of Divine retribution as their beating stick.
I have, I hope, a fair amount of faith. I also have, I hope, absolutely no truck with religion.
To me, faith encourages kindness and compassion. The act of going to a place of faith is an act that draws the community together. When that happens friendships and concerns are shared, people become more inclined to help their neighbours and people are encouraged to learn the art of conversation with those they don't know. In short, the best part of communal worship is just that - the community.
If one is encouraged to take this if view of faith then it becomes a way of breaking down barriers and encouraging co-operation. Makes me wonder what would happen if our national leaders were made to express their professed faiths together.
And finally - if there is not a God, those of us who believe in him have lost nothing. However, if there is a God...
I beg to differ.
First of all I must point out the differences between faith, which is a belief in a something beyond our mortal understanding and religion, which is the belief of some humans that they can make other people do as they say, using a fear of Divine retribution as their beating stick.
I have, I hope, a fair amount of faith. I also have, I hope, absolutely no truck with religion.
To me, faith encourages kindness and compassion. The act of going to a place of faith is an act that draws the community together. When that happens friendships and concerns are shared, people become more inclined to help their neighbours and people are encouraged to learn the art of conversation with those they don't know. In short, the best part of communal worship is just that - the community.
If one is encouraged to take this if view of faith then it becomes a way of breaking down barriers and encouraging co-operation. Makes me wonder what would happen if our national leaders were made to express their professed faiths together.
And finally - if there is not a God, those of us who believe in him have lost nothing. However, if there is a God...
Saturday, 10 March 2012
Successes
Having just received some very good news, it puts my in mind that many writers complain about the rejection letters, so I thought I'd have a review of my past submissions.
So far I have submitted forty five pieces of my work. Of them I have only had five successes. Of the other forty I have only received two rejection letters, both within the last two months. That means thirty eight submissions without a please, a thank you or a whistle down an exhaust pipe.
Therefore, I say to the people receiving rejection letters - please spare a thought for those of us who are wallowing in the realm of ignore-dom. If you have been flinging your work into the ether for so long without a reply, that you are on the verge of giving up all together, a rejection letter is a good thing. It means that you are moving away from the place were the adjudicator/agent/publisher takes one look at your work and throws it out without a word.
If you take this point of view, a rejection letter is only one step away from being successful.
So far I have submitted forty five pieces of my work. Of them I have only had five successes. Of the other forty I have only received two rejection letters, both within the last two months. That means thirty eight submissions without a please, a thank you or a whistle down an exhaust pipe.
Therefore, I say to the people receiving rejection letters - please spare a thought for those of us who are wallowing in the realm of ignore-dom. If you have been flinging your work into the ether for so long without a reply, that you are on the verge of giving up all together, a rejection letter is a good thing. It means that you are moving away from the place were the adjudicator/agent/publisher takes one look at your work and throws it out without a word.
If you take this point of view, a rejection letter is only one step away from being successful.
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Thoughts on Snow
Just had a snowy beginning to the week and once again England is in chaos with everybody complaining about the roads, the rails, the airports. I agree that once again the system has messed up, however one must consider the point of view of British Air.
(Sarcastic speech). Preparing the airports for snow, which may not arrive, is costly and time consuming, thus irritating to the share holders. Therefore, it is much better, financially, to not prepare for the snow and just deal with it when it does arrive. After all, if lots of passengers are booking in but their flights are cancelled, not only do you claim the money from their tickets, they also spend money in your airport, thus providing you with a greater profit margin. In short, the share holders prefer airports that do not prepare for snowy weather because it gives them a larger quarterly statement.
(Sarcastic speech). Preparing the airports for snow, which may not arrive, is costly and time consuming, thus irritating to the share holders. Therefore, it is much better, financially, to not prepare for the snow and just deal with it when it does arrive. After all, if lots of passengers are booking in but their flights are cancelled, not only do you claim the money from their tickets, they also spend money in your airport, thus providing you with a greater profit margin. In short, the share holders prefer airports that do not prepare for snowy weather because it gives them a larger quarterly statement.
Monday, 30 January 2012
Christmas: A Time of Year or a State of Mind?
My sister and I were away in Oman December 2011 visiting our father. Because of that we could not celebrate Christmas with our Mother in England for some very obvious reasons. Therefore we are celebrating Christmas 2011 now. Starting from the twenty fifth of January we have been celebrating our Christmas at home and I have to say that so far it has been one of the best Christmases we've had in years. This fact made me start thinking.
There are lots of songs that are played around about the Christmas season that include lyrics about how good it would be if Christmas could last all year but many people seem to put a lot of effort into making one specific day a year special 'family' time and let it go the rest of the year. Having been made to celebrate Christmas a month late has made me realise that Christmas is in fact not a question of a time of a time of year, rather it is a question of care, compassion and forgiveness. In short, Christmas is the time of year when we are inclined to share time with our family, putting aside all the grievences that we normally harbour and going the extra mile to make sure other people are happy before we look to our own happiness. Whether this time of year happens to be the twenty fifth of December or the first of June should, to my mind, matter not at all.
So here is a new challenge to my readers. This year try, with other putting up the decorations and giving presents, make a Christmas day every month and just see how it affects the way your family lives together. I hope that you are pleasantly surprised.
There are lots of songs that are played around about the Christmas season that include lyrics about how good it would be if Christmas could last all year but many people seem to put a lot of effort into making one specific day a year special 'family' time and let it go the rest of the year. Having been made to celebrate Christmas a month late has made me realise that Christmas is in fact not a question of a time of a time of year, rather it is a question of care, compassion and forgiveness. In short, Christmas is the time of year when we are inclined to share time with our family, putting aside all the grievences that we normally harbour and going the extra mile to make sure other people are happy before we look to our own happiness. Whether this time of year happens to be the twenty fifth of December or the first of June should, to my mind, matter not at all.
So here is a new challenge to my readers. This year try, with other putting up the decorations and giving presents, make a Christmas day every month and just see how it affects the way your family lives together. I hope that you are pleasantly surprised.
Friday, 13 January 2012
Respect
Just had a highly interesting and fun Christmas holiday in Oman and it got me thinking. One of the best things about Oman is that, as long as you wear a T-shirt that covers your shoulders and chest and longish shorts, they don't mind women not wearing the complete body cover and as long as you are not obscene in public, they are very tolerant of other peoples customs. Their attitude is 'they do what they do, we do what we do'.
It appears to me that if more people in the world would cultivate this attitude in themselves and others, we would stop fighting so much about our differences and start talking more about our similarities. It would also mean that we would have more access to some of the beautiful places in the world to visit. However, part of this idea rests on people being tolerant and respectful of other peoples beliefs and attitudes. This means not forcing our beliefs and ways of government on other people. If we give respect, eventually respect will be give in turn.
To start this change in the attitude of the world, the first place to look is your own home. Do you give respect to the other people of your family?
It appears to me that if more people in the world would cultivate this attitude in themselves and others, we would stop fighting so much about our differences and start talking more about our similarities. It would also mean that we would have more access to some of the beautiful places in the world to visit. However, part of this idea rests on people being tolerant and respectful of other peoples beliefs and attitudes. This means not forcing our beliefs and ways of government on other people. If we give respect, eventually respect will be give in turn.
To start this change in the attitude of the world, the first place to look is your own home. Do you give respect to the other people of your family?
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