Smoking Ban

Back in September I wrote a blog about Smokers Logic in which I talked about one of my favourite artists David Hockney who believes that smokers should not have been banned from public buildings.

A couple of days ago I was involved in a debate about smoking on another blog. The debate centred on the belief the blog owner held. I'd just like to outline it because I was quite surprised by it.  She (I'll call her Jane) believes that smokers should be able to have smoking rooms within pubs and that the smoking ban has restricted her choice to smoke. Jane made claims that the government has taken away her choice.

Jane then extended her thoughts to explain that there was a secret conspiracy between the pharmaceutical companies who produced nicotine patches and the government to promote non-smoking in order to sell nicotine patches and anti-smoking aids. She called these "antis" . She believes that these chemical pharmaceutical companies are funding research to find links between smoking and cancer. She also believes that they'd funded research to find links between passive smoking and cancer.  This funding, she claimed, was therefore weighted in that it showed links between cigarette smoke and various diseases. She didn't believe that those links truly existed.

The blogger believes that the government and the big pharmaceutical companies had been brainwashing everyone in the world for the last 30 years with propaganda that stated these incorrect scientific findings and encouraged the general population to give up smoking. The aim of the 'antis' was to create a smoke-free society, not for a better more healthy population, but at the cost of providing a remedy to help giving up nicotine.

She believed that smoking wasn't an addiction, despite me quoting the dictionary definition of "addiction" where it actually used as an example a smoker!  She said it was a habit and to reinforce this, she said she could give up anytime she wanted with no withdrawal symptoms.

The debate continued when Jane stated her belief that smoking was a part of her culture, be it that she was Italian and she had a right to exorcise that culture wherever she saw fit.. including smoking in the presense of other people!

Any scientific evidence that I presented to show that cigarettes were a health risk, she and other bloggers debunked by saying that my evidence was out of date and that it wasn't true.   When I asked if they could prove that smoking and passive smoking was completely harmless, one of the bloggers said that I was asking a loaded question and how could he prove a negative!?

Jane continued by stated that believed she wasn't being selfish in putting her cigarette smoke before other people’s health!

She said that her issue was that people should either be allowed the choice of smoking rooms or ventilation in pubs, or a blanket ban! When I said to her that it would be impossible to ventilate to the standard the government required for clean air, she didn’t want to accept it. Clearly she wouldn't accept a blanket ban, and smoking rooms without pubs isn't going to work.  Nor could she accept that choice meant that she had to smoke outside. 

Jane is very strong minded and I respect her enthusiasm for her cause. She believes that smoking is as much a part of her as her limbs are. "Why should I give up?" she said.. "it was a free choice to smoke!" I agreed it was a free choice to smoke, but public buildings are filled with other people and their freedom to not inhale her smoke surely comes BEFORE her right to smoke.

Half way throught the debate Jane told me that being able to smoke was about freedom and choice. She said that people had given their lives so that I could be a vegan! I said that with freedom and choices comes with responsibility. Choosing to smoke is fine, but the responsible act is to not force secondary smoke on other people.

After over a day of debating and posting well over 100 comments on her blog I realised that there was no way she would ever see the other side to the arguement. Sadly all of her other blogger friends rallied round her and insisted that every statement I said was wrong and that I'd just been brain washed and/or was a victim of this pharmaceutical propaganda. I felt so frustrated that I decided to delete all my comments from her blog.

In the end, after she'd denied that passive smoking kills, I commented that even if she didn't believe the evidence surely she should just err on the side of caution and not smoke infront of other people just incase. However all she only cared about the fact that she had to stand outside in the cold to smoke and made constant references to feeling like a Jew in Nazi Germany!

My views on smoking are really simple. It is your choice to smoke and I don't have a problem with it. I don't think it's right for a smoker to smoke in an enclosed space where other people are at risk of breathing in poisonous toxins. The answer isn't to set up a smoking only pub, because there are bound to be people who are working there who don't smoke. The governments own health and safety law should provide protection from dangerous toxins in the work place (not exclude pub workers!)  No ventilation system will remove smoke from the air to satifactory levels and even if it could some of the pubs in the UK are hundreds of years old and listed buildings - those buildings just can't have ventilation systems inserted into their framework. The only real option is for smokers to not smoke inside the building.  I don't feel sorry for smokers, no more than I feel sorry for someone who likes to walk around with headphones blasting out music in a library.

*The name of the blog owner has been changed to protect her privacy.

2009 Playlist

Using my Last.fm, account I've tracked my most played musical artists of 2009, for each I'm going to list my most played tracks and show which albums they came from. Bet you can't guess who my most played artist is during 2009 and which album?

10. Blur

The most played 'Blur' tracks this year were 'End of the Century' and 'Coffee & TV' from the albums 'Parklife' and '13' respectively.

'Parklife' was a landmark album from 1994.  I heard it in 1995 but only connected with the single, didn't buy the album.  Then I heard it again in 2005 and realised what a tour-de-force it was. Its themes and innocence had really stood the test of time, unlike its contemporary - 'Oasis' ('What's the story, Morning Glory?') which seems to have dated.  The standout tracks are 'End of the Century' and 'Parklife', but also 'London Loves', 'Clover over Dover' and 'This is a Low.' 


9. Band of Horses

The most played 'Band of Horses' tracks are 'The General Specific' and 'Ode to LRC' as well as 'Is there a Ghost?"

Cease to Begin was my introduction to Band of Horses. A recommendation from Bux.  This has been the slow burner of the year. It opens with the spooky 'Is there a ghost?". Cease to Begin has its roots in American indie rock; the Horses have been on my playlist for several months with every play I'm discovering something new from them.



8. Datarock

This Norwegian band  have made a new entry in the line up. Most notable tracks are 'The Pretender' and 'Give It Up' and 'True Stories'  For their album Red, 2009, they have only used sound equipment from between the years 1978-83 and referenced pop culture from those years too.  Which immediately takes me back to my childhood. Songs about Molly Ringwald and name checking Talking Heads tracks as well as C64's and BMX'ing is great to hear again.  Another Bux recommendation and Christmas present. :)




7. Electric Light Orchestra

The most played Electric Light Orchestra tracks from 2009 on my Last FM list were from the number one 1981 album Time.  The tracks were; 'The Way Life's meant to be' and 'Here is the News'

I've been playing this album for 28 years now and I'm still not bored of playing it.  Certain tunes draw my memory back and this album contains a lot of those sounds. If you've not heard the album it's concept album that borrows a music structure from 'The Beatles' 'Sgt. Pepper.'  However, unlike a circus or brass band, Time tells the story of a time traveller who is trapped and is remembering his old life in another age.  Jeff Lynne at his best.  I used to stare at that album cover for hours as a child thinking what a brilliant design it was.

6. Empire of the Sun

My sixth most played musical artist in 2009 was 'Empire of the Sun', with their infectious 70's/80's disco kitsch electro-pop album 'Walking on a Dream'. This is another recommendation from Bux (who is doing well in spotting the trend waves of music this year and allowing me to surf them!)

The most played songs on this album were 'Walking on a Dream' and 'We are the People' both great tracks with fantastic 80's retro videos. I also loved the CD cover with reminded me so much of early 80's film posters.


5. a-ha

I got into A-ha in the mid 80's, and followed everything they did until the 'Greatest Hits' came out in 1992. I knew they were recording but they were not getting airplay and I'm ashamed to say I abandoned them. Then earlier on in the year I got a copy of their 2005 album 'Analogue' (from Bux!) and found it was a complete return to form. From then I started to listen to the 'Savoy' material and the solo work by 'Mags' and 'Morton'. My most played tracks from this album include 'Don't do me any Favours', 'Analogue' and 'Keeper of the Flame' In truth the whole album is just as good as the opening tracks. Analogue is a true master class in song writing.


4. The Beatles

I didn't expect 'Magical Mystery Tour' to be album that featured my most played tracks. If anyone asked me to name my favourite Beatles album, I'd usually say either 'Sgt. Pepper' or 'Abbey Road.'  It is surprising for me to find out the Beatles tracks I've played this year reveal I've played 'Magical Mystery Tour' more than other Beatles albums. When you discover the tracks it becomes clear why I've played this album the most. 'I am the walrus', 'Strawberry Fields Forever' and 'Penny Lane' are all key tracks and songs which I adore.  'Abbey Road' is a very close second place.  I'm also surprised The Beatles are not number one in this chart of most popular musicians I've played this year.


3. The Shins

Third most played artist of 2009 in my last.fm charts (compiled from actual number of plays) is 'Oh, Inverted World' by 'The Shins'

I became a massive Shins fan last year, after I was told about them from Bux. Initially I didn't really think much to them, but song by song James Mercers lyrics and catchy melodies began to eat away at me. I started with the 2007 CD 'Wincing the Night Away' and then got the other two albums which I have played to death this year. I'm really surprised that 'Wincing' hasn't been listed as the album that most tracks I've played have been taken from as I feel I've played that over and over. Yet Last.fm has calculated I've listened to tracks from 'Oh, Inverted World' more. Tracks including; 'Caring is Creepy', 'One by One All Day' and 'New Slang'. This is such a great CD in many ways 'Wincing the Night Away' is The Shins showing off their technical musical brilliant, but there is an naive quality about 'Oh, Inverted World' which catches me off guard.

2. Kaiser Chiefs

I'm suprised I've played the Kaiser Chiefs 'Off with their Heads' album as much as I have. It doesn't change the fact that I've played tracks from this album over 200 times in total this year. It is a stunning third album, I hope that the next one they do is just as good. I think Mark Ronson has really helped them pull out a masterpiece. Although I did like the second album 'Yours Truly, Angry Mob' it just lacked the punch that the first album did. 'Off with their Heads' extra depth to it which rejuvenates the chiefs. My most played tracks are 'Good Days and Bad Days', 'Always Happens Like That' and 'Tomato in the Rain'.. Kaiser Chiefs deserve all they get, they are a fantastic live act! This is true summer album.


1. Elvis Costello & The Attractions

Why do people love Elvis Costello?  This year is the year that I've really understood why. I was introduced to him (again by Bux, is there no end to her musical influence on me!) and I've got to say, Why have I never listened to his music before?  Elvis is a lyrical genius.  The tracks I've played this year the most are his and they come from his 1986 album, 'King of America'.  With lines like..

She said that she was working for the ABC News

It was as much of the alphabet as she knew how to use
Her perfume was unspeakable
It lingered in the air
Like her artificial laughter
Her mementos of affairs
"Oh" I said "I see you know him,
isn't that very fortunate for you."
And she showed me his calling card
He came third or fourth and there were more than one or two
He was a fine idea at the time
Now he's a brilliant mistake

Taken from 'Brilliant Mistake.' Artists writing these kinds of lyrics should be studied in schools. Another favourite of mine is 'Loveable' a great little 50's style rocker and 'Indoor Fireworks'. Anyone who likes poetry, words, Leonard Cohen, you will love Elvis Costello.. In fact, just go buy this album you will love it.

Switching Cards

I've had a Paypal account for years now, and enjoy using it. The account makes purchasing so easy when using ebay.

In order to use Paypal however you need to register your bank account and your debit/credit card. The process is simple. Complete an online form, Paypal then deduct £1 from your account and give you a 4 digit code, once you input the code they refund the £1.

Two weeks ago I was sent a brand new card, instead of my usual Switch card; this was a MasterCard Debit card, not to be confused with a MasterCard Credit card. I don't have any credit cards.

I used the card to top up my petrol and it worked perfectly fine. Then thought I'd better reassign my Paypal details to fit with the new card. I went through the process and the £1 was deducted from my account. When I checked my statement an additional £1.50 was also deducted - and there was no 4 digit code. I thought it was an error and I waited a day before trying again, achieving the same results. £5 has now been withdrawn from my account. No 4 digit code.

I rang Paypal, they told me that they don't charge anything extra than the additional £1. I contacted the bank, they told me that Paypal have set up my details incorrectly and has identified my card as a "Mastercard Credit" card therefore they have charged me. I rang paypal back - They told me that they don't charge for Mastercard be they debit or credit! I asked them to write an email to that effect. I then rang the bank who told me that the extra £1.50 was charged because the Paypal purchase was an overseas transaction!

Unbelievable, so the upshot of all this is; If I was buying something in the UK on Ebay and used Paypal to pay for it, I would be charged an extra £1.50 by the bank! This is because it's seen as an overseas transaction - even though I would not be buying from overseas!

Update: Both the bank and Paypal have told me that they haven't charged me. However the bank have said that they are having problems with retailers putting the Mastercard DEBIT card through as a CREDIT card - Paypal being one of them.  The bank have told me that Paypal have charged me, Paypal have said the opposite.  I asked the bank to cancel my Mastercard debit card and send out a plain debit card that I can use with paypal!. I'm not happy with either Paypal or the bank. Someone has charged me. I don't know who.

Simply Red

I'm deciding whether to change the colour of the walls in my living room. They are currently white and have been for two years.  Increasingly I've been adding furniture that has moved away from the black and white theme I originally wanted.  I mocked up a couple of rough images on photoshop to see what it would look like.. Opinions?

At the Car-wash

Landscapes look different when something is taken out of them, a building knocked down or altered can effect your memory.

In the mid-90's I used to work in a pub in the centre of the city and every week all the staff would go out to a club after work. Tuesday night was "car-wash" night at Lexington Avenue (LA's), all the 70's classics were played, dancing competitions were held for the cheesiest dancers. I used to love going. We'd start off in Circus bar then end up in LA's. Anyone from Hull will know of or have been to LA's at some point.

I never used to drink, I'd go along to just enjoy the music, dance and laugh with my friends. I've never really felt able to do the "dance" thing that other people can do.. but in LA's, when everyone is drunk, I realised that no one would remember what I did or how I looked so I just went for it. I felt truly free.

There were a number of clubs in Hull at that time; Eclipse (my first clubbing experience) where all the kids went. Tower where all the "chavs" went.. although we called them "townies" then, LA's usually for 30 somethings and Waterfront for anyone older. Spiders for the goths and Silhouette for the indie crowd. This wasn't the strict code of conduct, and when Tower (for an hour) shut, the townies moved in on La's and Waterfront.

LA's was a brief moment and a great memory for me. We'd all tumble out of the club at 3 or 4am, ears ringing, and covered in sweat from dancing, stinking of smoke and cheap lager, and then stagger to the burger van then either home or to the taxi rank. I'd get home lay in bed listening to my ears still buzzing from the great night. 

Today I drove through town and noticed a space in the street and for a minute couldn't remember what used to be there. It was like someone had crept into my head and stolen those moments. A couple of minutes later I realised they'd knocked LA's down. The memory was gone.

Wanting to write a blog on the subject I searched online for some images and discovered there was a FaceBook group set up to remember LA's with loads of pictures of it (sadly I'm not on any) some of the images show the club in the cold light of day.. Strange how different a place looks with the lights on, without people and smoke to fill your memory.  However, check out this video it just about sums up student night in the 90's.

Out On The Tiles

Earlier on in the year I noticed a leak in my bathroom, as I detailed here. When I took out the old bathroom airing cupboard I noticed a leaking pipe so concluded the leak was from this. The pipe was fixed and my father and I rebuilt the cupboard, plastered the wall and ceiling. Later in the year there was a torrential downpour and the bathroom wall (inside the airing cupboard) was again drenched. There was a leak coming from the roof.  The picture (above left) looks like my roof.. but isn't.

Not really knowing who to contact I picked up the yellow pages and a guy came out from "Action Roofing and Felting, of Hull" He seemed genuine. He looked at the roof and said it would cost £360 to fix. Not being able to see the problem I left the judgement call to him and paid him to do the work. A few months later the leak was back. Thinking he'd not fixed the job properly I spoke to another builder who lived opposite me. He erected his ladder and looked at the job. Telling me that the previous bloke had ripped me off and he could fix the damage for £200! Not really knowing what the issue was and not wanting to pay out another £360!! I said ok

The leak persisted. In frustration I rang the first roofer back and complained. He said he'd come and sort it. He went up on the roof and told me someone else had been up there and disturbed all his work, therefore it would cost another £360 to put it right and repair the damage! I couldn't believe it, but again, not really knowing what the problem was I thought ok. I'll give him the benefit.

I'm sure you are reading this and thinking how stupid I must be to keep allowing them up there.

Last week I noticed the wall was again leaking, this time it had gotten really bad. A neighbour of my father’s was having some council work done on their house, so I managed to get hold of the builder (who was council approved) He came and had a look at the roof and said to fix it would cost between £200-£300. The builder told me he wouldn't take any money from me until it was proved the leak had stopped, also if I was not completely satisfied I was well within my rights to go to the council and complain. The council would then take the builder off their work list. He told me that 80% of his work comes from the council so it's imperative that he does a good job and doesn't ever rip anyone off. I was really impressed with this.

The builder is coming next Monday I'm really hoping the leak gets solved. Although it does open up a whole new can of worms. As the internal bathroom wall will need re-plastering.

To add to the never ending repair work on this house I've noticed an area of rising damp downstairs. When can I live here without having to pay out for something?

If you are looking for a builder and you live in the Hull area of the UK, DO NOT use Action Roofing.

Frozen Shoulder

With the thick frost and snow outside it's ironic that I woke up 2 days with a "frozen shoulder" (and I don't mean a lovely joint for Christmas Day!). My left shoulder and upper arm were in extreme pain. I usually sleep on my back or on my sides. I concluded that sleeping on my side must have caused it.  Reading up on the condition I'm unsure if I have the real thing or just some symptoms of it.. but I was unable to move my arm and I struggled to get dressed. I began to have real sympathy for those less fortunate than myself who are unable to dress themselves on a daily basis, as I cursed the design of a pair of woolly socks. Putting a t-shirt and pullover on was even more problematic as I'm unable to raise my arm above a certain angle. Yelping and wincing I managed to get dressed.

Eventually I took a couple of pain killers, like most men, I thought the pain would go away if I left it.. That night I didn't sleep at all.. Just lay in bed in acute agony. Simple things like gripping and applying pressure, or getting out of the bath, washing my hands provided near impossible without exclamations of pain or restricting my movement in hopes of containment.

The next day I purchased some Ibuprofen Gel and Paracetamol tablets. Thankfully my father helicoptered in some groceries. I didn't want to drive the car, my left arm feeling like a dead weight, I'd be unable to change gears. I slept a lot better last night, only waking up three times.

Rubbing the cream in 4 times a day and taking a painkiller has helped, and today - (day 3) the great thaw has started and the pain has eased. I'm really hoping that by tomorrow mobility in my shoulder will have returned to 100%.

My father telephoned this morning and proudly announced that everyday I’m getting more and more like him!

Going Snow Where

My little car has been surrounded by the recent snow fall.  I've not used it since it started snowing, I'm trying not to.  It looks rather bedraggled in this photo...

2000-2009 Personal Review

In an attempt to recap on the main moments of the last decade I thought I'd detail them here. I've not included all the details because I wanted to protect some people. I haven't mentioned names either.  It's been an eventful decade.

2000

• Moved back to Yorkshire from self-exile in Lancashire, before which I took a holiday and visited friends in Wales.

• Returned to full-time education, enrolled at Huddersfield Uni and studied for a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education. Made a lot of new friends through the course and had a much better social life than I had on my degree.

• Started painting again - close up images of a found object; scrap metal ring from an old washing machine which had a piece of string wrapped around it.

2001

• Graduated the course and offered a job at a private school teaching Art & Design. Loved the job, loved the kids. Sadly it was a short term contract.
• Held a big party in Hull for all the friends I'd made on the internet.
• Broke up with long term girl-friend. Dating someone else for 2 months - fizzled out.
• Started doing some supply teacher work, but hated every minute of it.

2002

• Decided to put all my energy into setting up as a freelance graphic designer. Managed to get a grant from the Princes Trust and also built up a small client base. At the end of the year found myself really struggling, with limited amount of clients and no work coming in.

• Dating again, another girl for a couple of months - seemed like "2 months" was becoming a bit of milestone!

• Moved on to painting vegetables, produced a triptych of close up tomato pictures - 3 foot square on canvas.

2003

• Struggled on designing the odd leaflet, until I really had to start supplementing my graphics work with something else, I decided to go back to supply teaching, signed up with a different agency. End of the year couldn't make the business pay. Limited work from agency forced me to sign on as unemployed. No jobs in Further Education.

• Started taking driving lessons.

• Dated another girl for 4 months! - new record!

• Produced two oil paintings of a close up of a slice of cucumber 6 foot by 3 foot, on canvas.

• Celebrated 5 Years being a Vegan.

• Passed my theory driving test.

• Had an argument with my father - We stopped speaking.

2004

• Job Interview at Grimsby College of FE. Didn't get it, however met a girl, we went out on several dates, got past the 2 and 4 month barrier.

• After 7 failed attempts I finally passed my driving test.

• Bought my first car - a ford fiesta.

• I was offered a job working for a vocational training company teaching basic skills to the unemployed.

• Applied for The Apprentice TV show and was interviewed in Manchester; didn't get selected.

• Went to Leeds/Reading festival. Saw Kaiser Chiefs, The Damned and Franz Ferdinand live.

• Went camping in London.

• Returned back to supply teaching with new agency. Worked at better schools this time and it seemed easier this time round.
• Continued painting string images, creating a pixelated version in oils on canvas 5 foot by 3 foot.

2005

• Enjoyed a Holiday in Glasgow and a camping trip to London.

• Moved in with girl. Together we started renovating her new house.

• Considered buying another property but rejected the idea because of job insecurities.

• My first car was smashed up. It was parked at the side of the road when a joyrider sped past, skidding into the back of it. No one was in the car, but it was written off.

• Went to the Virgin Music Festival stayed in a really dated looking hotel in Birmingham. Saw Morrissey and Oasis

• Continued supply teaching.

• Discovered my dad had an hereditary muscle wasting disease.

• Visited Cornwall and the Eden Project, 2 weeks after the Live 8 concert.

2006

• Bought a new car, Corsa

• Celebrated my 33rd birthday in Liverpool, visited all the Beatles places (I remember), and loved every minute of it.

• During the summer went to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and saw loads of brilliant comedians including Ed Byrne and Bill Bailey.

• I was offered a job at a sixth form college, no students enrolled so the offer was rescinded.

• House began to take shape.

• Proposed to girlfriend, she accepted and wedding venues were looked at,

• Moved to my mum's to take stock and get some money together to buy a new house.

• Grandfather died.
• Discovered girlfriend was cheating on me! We broke up.
• Re-established relationship with my father.

2007

• Moved into new house on the 5th of January. The new place is around the corner from where I used to live as a child.

• Uncle (on mother’s side) died.

• Aunt (on father’s side) died.

• Started redecorating, front and back bedrooms.

• Dated a new girl, didn't get past a month!

• Still doing supply teacher work.

• Made a new deep friendship with someone who inspired and gave me a lot of confidence.

• Had my first car accident, was rammed into coming out of a street. Claimed on the insurance but incredibly managed to keep my no claims!
• Bought new monitor.
• Sold TV and sent back TV licence.

2008

• Still working as a supply teacher

• Spent the majority of the year decorating the house, doing DIY repairs, putting back original features of the bedrooms in my house.

• Bought new PC – Dell Inspiron 530

• Tripped at work and needed 4 stitches.

• Collaborated in an art project with an old friend. Art was exhibited at Leeds Uni, however the friendship broke down as a result of the collaboration.

• Inspired to self-publish a book which currently selling on Amazon.

• Had an operation on my big toe. In growing nail was removed, couldn't walk properly through-out the summer as nail healed.
• Cleared garden space of rubbish that was left behind by previous owners.
• Came out of two-year fixed mortgage deal, in a recession, was forced to pay off £13k from my mortgage in order to get a new deal with the bank! Borrowed cash to do it.
• House value dropped a staggering £24,000!
• Sister diagnosed with the same illness my father has.

2009

• February. finally paid off money I'd borrowed.
• Started this blog.

So this is Christmas...

I'm not religious. I don't have any faith or believe in a higher being, yet every year I see the customers stocking up for the holidays and wonder just how much more commercial Christmas can become? Last week I visited my local Asda (supermarket) and it was packed to the rafters with people buying everything, shopping trolleys overloaded with food, chocolates, drinks and gifts. The opening times clearly stated on a sandwich board outside. The store would be closed on Christmas Eve night until the 27th. There are 3 days that people cannot buy food, but to look at the trolleys you would be forgiving for thinking that people were stocking up for a nuclear winter.

When I was a child I don't remember it being like this. Sure my mum bought food, however much of the stuff we ate was made at home; cakes, buns, treats, Yorkshire puddings, the Christmas dinner, the Christmas pudding everything was handmade. My mum would be slaving away for months beforehand. There would be a freezer full of cakes and buns ready for the big day. My dad made wine and beer with his home brew kits. My sister and I made trimmings and crackers at school which decorated the tree and the house. It was a big event but one that was based at home, one that was made at home, not by Mr. Kipling, not by Aunt Bessie. I'm not saying we didn't buy anything in, of course we did... but it was a lot less than today.

It feels wrong to go to Asda and buy Christmas off the shelf. I crave those days when the excitement of Christmas didn't start in mid-October with shops announcing "Christmas Sales Now On", but started with the advent calendar and build up to a festive crescendo on Christmas day. I miss the days of home-made cakes, homemade wrapping paper, decorations and simple food. The days of MB board games, cards, 3 channels on the telly, Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music are a memory now. I really miss being a child and having that awe to look forward to on Christmas day morning. That feeling that kept you awake at night and opened your eyes bright the next day. I miss the feeling that something special was given to me, and I gave something back.

I'm not religious and I don't believe in a higher being. Seeing the swarms of people consuming goods doesn't encourage me.

"So this is Christmas - What have we done?" Sung John Lennon. What have we done?

Coldest Place in the Solar System!

I read this today on the BBC website, apparently scientists have discovered the coldest place in the solar system is situated on the moon!! Temperatures can drop as low as -234°C.  These scientists want to come to my kitchen about 2am! they'll know what cold is then!

-234°C pah! that's the norm for me everyday, I have to jump out of bed and run around getting dressed before I die of frostbite.

Late Mark

Usually, in my job, I'm standing in for a teacher who maybe ill, the odd person who fancies a long weekend or someone who is attending meetings, marking work or away on a course. Over the last few years I've worked regularly at one school covering a teacher who was ill with "stress". Every year he came back and taught for a month, then left "on-sick" again - this went on for several years. The school were unable to sack him, as he was a union rep and was blatantly playing the system. He retired last year - after nearly a decade of pulling a sickie!

Last year I covered a teacher who had retired. In his desk he'd left all his school possessions, name badge, mark book, pens and pencils. He was a geographer and his room had 25 years of learning resources he'd collected. Since he'd gone the posters on the walls had become dog eared, the rock collections had been disturbed and moved, dust had gathered on old maps. I felt a great emptiness in that room.

In a great many cases I don't get to meet the teachers I'm covering for, but a couple of years ago I met an ICT teacher, who was brilliant at teaching, he'd regularly cycle 9 miles into work and 9 back. I met him at the start of his illness. He had MS. Eventually he had to retire. In the final meeting I had with him this previously fit and healthy man was using crutches to aid his mobility. He was 38!

It's can be very sad sometimes, when children tell you about their previous teacher, how great they were and how they've died. I'm covering for someone at the moment that is very ill. My thoughts are with him.

That's a bit Rich!

With an average salary of £26k a year I think most couples should be completely fine living on a combined income of anywhere between £30k - £52k a year. I read this article today that just shocked me into realising exactly how greedy some people are.

The article states that people who earn £100k a year feel poor and in order to feel rich they feel they'd need to earn £150k.

The article also stated that around 2,500 families where living in households with combined "wealth" of £100k or over. When these people where asked what they would need to have in order to feel rich, they responded with a luxury car, a second home or a work of art! er.. If I was earning £100,000 a year and I wasn't able to afford a luxury car! I'd be shocked!! Another example of people who are well off having no understanding of the value of money. What exactly are they spending their money on!?

I really wonder how these people feel when they consider my wage (under 20k a year) do they think I'm on the poverty line. I also thought it was interesting the actual number of families living in that range - 2500! I wonder how many more are living on an average of £50k.

Shattered Dreams

I work for an agency. I'm a supply teacher.

I've worked for my current agency for 5 years now, but work is now getting thin on the ground. I trained as an FE teacher, and graduated in 2001. I had high hopes of working in a sixth form, teaching students who wanted to be there. I was lucky enough to get my first job in a private school. It was a short term contract. Afterwards I tried, without success, to get a job in further education. Even though I have an FE teaching qualification, that only means I'm qualified to teach in post compulsory education, not in schools. In a school I'm classed as unqualified. My experience in a private school however, gave me a step into working as a supply teacher in secondary education.

I have worked in pretty much every school in the city, with very positive results. All the time however, I was glad to leave at 3.30 without marking, without stress and without worry that I'd missed a meeting. Occasionally I would get offered long term placements at schools for 3 or 6 months. I have my favourite schools which I accept work from all the time and really enjoy. Some of those I've mentioned in earlier posts.

Recently the agency offered me a job working at a Sixth Form College; I couldn't believe my luck and jumped at the opportunity. Initially it was for 2 weeks, which turned into a month and then into 6 weeks. Over this time I've really felt more stress come upon me than I ever have in teaching before. I am truly shocked by the behaviour of the young adults I'm teaching. Some days (like today) I really don't want to be there, and could quiet happily walk out. I know this is just a phase people go through in adjusting, I know that I've worked in schools for a really long time and have learned different ways of dealing with students. I know that they are used to working with someone else; someone who knew the projects inside out and I'm just picking it up and  lurching running with it.. but I really feel that I'm fighting a losing battle.

Every day, the girls (who are 16-19) in the group argue with me, trying to find the best way to get out of the classroom without me knowing, and the lads (again, similar age) sit there either ignoring me, or taking the Mickey out of me. Some of this animosity may come from the fact that the students recognise me as being "the supply teacher from school" as I've taught a lot of them in that environment. Some of it is because they think their old teacher is coming back, therefore aren't going to motivate themselves but rather wait for their previous teachers return. Most of them just cannot be bothered and I question not only why they are there, but why I am there.

I've got to be fair here, this is only one particular group, and the rest of the classes are great. I found out today that the position I'm covering is officially going to be advertised. The head of department informed me of it, I asked him if I stood a good chance of getting the job considering the work I've done with the kids already, he said it depends who else applies! I have to say it doesn't exactly inspire me to apply. The head of dept's closing words today were "at least you know the timetable and groups!"

Do I apply for the full time position (which might be temporary until Easter) or do I leave it? After all this time spent dreaming of teaching in a college, I have realised over the last 6 weeks how much I really want to do another job entirely. I just haven't got a clue what!

Virtual Places

I first connected to the internet in 1999, I immediately did what everyone does now, searched for friends.  There were hundreds of chatrooms then. This was the infancy of social networking, long before Myspace and Facebook.  One of the most popular was Excites' "Virtual Places". I remember spending a lot of time there learning how type fast and how to use photoshop.  In the chatrooms everyone had an Avatar (picture of themselves), for those who didn't have one, others would offer to make them. The images that people presented always impressed me. I started to create very distinctive avatars for myself, until eventually I was asked to make some for other people.  For these creations I manipulated images of models, adding names and effects, cropping and altering. Along the way I learned the ins-and-outs of photoshop.  Below is a selection of images I made. Most of these were created 10 years ago.

Elitism

Does it matter what school you go to? I've been thinking about this today. Earlier I watched Brian Cox on TV, talking emotionally about how The Conservative Party, if elected, would signal a return to an elitist society. Brian showed as evidence the Tory party website which details the academic history of each politician. All of the private schools (like Eton) have been omitted, yet politicians who attended comprehensives have been clearly labelled as such. The Conservatives obviously don't want to draw attention to the fact that many on their benches have graduated from the most privileged schools in the country. Recently John Prescott pointed out that 7% of the population attend these kinds of schools, and interestingly 80% of those end up in public office.

The college I'm currently working in enrols students from the schools in the surrounding area. Having worked at most of these schools I would say that there are about 3-4 good schools and the rest have really bad behavioural issues. It's interesting that of those good schools; those who attended generally have a better chance at passing higher level examinations, are generally more committed and have higher attendance at college.

So why doesn't everyone receive the best education? The current government states that students are passing more exams at higher levels than ever before, yet my experience working with children in the north of England doesn’t reflect that. Every teacher knows how to get a student to learn.

1. Smaller class sizes - currently class sizes are anywhere from 29-36. In my home city, some schools are experimenting with teaching classes of up to 60 children at once!.. Why? It has been proven time and again that smaller class sizes are more productive. The main Teaching unions all agree that class sizes of under 20.. (10-15) is optimal for learning!

2. Smaller schools - More schools are being built every day, my home city has a new Building Schools for the Future initiative, which is hell bent on knocking some schools, relocating children, then building a super massive school and having 1500 students on one site. Why? Why would anyone want a school with 1500 children in one place? I have worked in schools where 2000 children study and it becomes a horrible, small city, where no one knows anyone, where teachers don't know students and students don't know teachers. Surely a return to smaller schools of 500-700 is more appropriate, where every teacher knows every student. Smaller schools are places where friendships and relationships can be fostered.

3. One-to-one support in the class room. No matter what subject, every class needs a teaching assistant. More than ever now teaching assistants are used to support disabled and/or badly behaved students. Teaching Assistants support the teacher and the students.

4. Behaviour, Head teachers need more power to exclude students who continually misbehave. Schools are fined for every child they fail to provide provision for! That kind of thinking isn't going to work, smaller class sizes would help to prevent bad behaviour, as they are inherently easier to control. Given that behaviour is still an issue, parents should be fined. Every time a detention is given, parents lose some child benefit. I can almost guarantee children would be on their best behaviour then.

5. Clear rules, always enforced. Currently many senior staff members including head teachers don't back up
the teachers who face the children every day. The cliff face of rights of the teacher is eroded away only to be washed up on the shoreline of the student.

Yet these simple changes are never introduced, because of one small detail, how much it would cost. Those 93% of people who fail to be able to attain top job in the civil service because they were not in the correct school, know the right people or their face didn’t fit will never have a chance at that equality. Money will always stop them. Ironically it’s our own tax that could pay for the future workers of this country to have the best education.

Is it the case that private schools produce go-getters because they have smaller class sizes, better resources, and better discipline? Yes of course it is. So why isn't every school adopting these strategies? CASH. We, as a nation, don't value education.