Photo Blog

In my infinite wisdom, I have decided to set up a photoblog so that I can display some of the photos that otherwise only clutter up my hard drive. I'm not sure the quality is as good as some I have seen on other blogs, but maybe someone might enjoy seeing them. I have to promise myself that I will not publish the real rubbish.

History

Well, I have done a bit of research and have found that the family actually have 3 possible crests. The key ring I bought on holiday last year didn't tell me that when I bought it. However, it was one of the ones that apparently attach to the name so I suppose that proves that someone else did the same research and came up with the same answer. Most impressive.

Does this family crest have any significance in my life? It does mean that when I have the car serviced they no longer have to put a name tag on my key ring, although they don't give me any sort of discount for saving them all that trouble. I've never really got beyond the key ring stage though; I wonder how long it took Prince Charles to make the next leap forward. I am not sure how many Coats of Arms he might have, apart from the feathers that he seems to use mostly. Too confusing with multiple key rings I suppose.

I am not too sure what the birds are on mine though; at least they don't seem to be crows. Not sure I could live with that if they were. Mind you, magpies are quite handsome creatures, although again the image could be a bit spooky. I think I might imagine them to be nightingales, until I learn something to the contrary. It does seem that at some time I might have an ancestor who could have been a knight in shining armour. Just hope it wasn't Don Quixote.

The Family Crest

The Family Crest

I have always fancied having a family crest, and so here it is. I shall now have to do some research and find out what it all means.

Prince Charles, eat your heart out!

Christmas Cheer

Am I really getting so old, or is Christmas really becoming so unbearable. It's now 7th December and I am thoroughly fed up with the whole thing. It is almost impossible to do anything without having to listen to Christmas music of one sort or another, and if I hear any more references to Rudolph or Winter Wonderlands, then I think I will scream.

We went to a garden centre the other day, you know, the sort of place that sells Christmas cards, Christmas cakes, Christmas trees, Christmas decorations, Christmas lights, Fibre Optic Santa Heads, the ubiquitous poinsettia, Animated Long Leg Santas, Christmas candles - you get the idea - and if you are lucky, the odd plant or two. We actually wanted a few violas to replace some dug up by the squirrels, and yes I do realise that maybe gardening is not top of the agenda at this time of the year, but a garden centre did seem a good place to start. To be fair we did eventually find some, but their condition was not pristine, hence they were only half price; perhaps enough to pay for squirrel food.

The shops are all complaining that there are not enough customers buying this Christmas. Perhaps they would do better if the first Christmas displays had not made their appearance in early October so that by now everyone is so sick of it all, or else long since bought all their presents, that they really cannot face another retail shopping experience. Just how much junk does a person need to buy. Call it cynical if you like, but I rather feel that an awful lot of effort is wasted in buying presents that people either don't want or need, whilst those same people send time and effort looking for things to buy you that you would never dream of buying for yourself. I suppose that the whole prosperity of western society is based upon creating the need to keep buying ever more things to replace the things that replaced the things the time before.

I don't begrudge the money spent, or at least I wouldn't if I didn't think so much of it was pure waste of the world's resources. What also worries me is the amount of debt that some families must get into in trying to do what they feel is required of them. Advertising campaigns aimed at children are particularly offensive as the companies concerned all know that parents will be emotionally blackmailed as a result, and feel that they cannot let their kids down. Our grandchildren are only 4 and 5 years old, but they are already very precise in their brand requirements, and anything less will not be well received.

Anyway, enough of moaning. Here is what I reckon to be a seasonal picture taken recently on a walk around Bosworth Field. The simple pleasure in life take some beating.

Bosworth Field

Reality TV

I have to make my annual apology for watching “I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here” in spite of making a determined effort not to be drawn into it. I blame my wife really, because obviously I would never allow myself to sink to such depths. Unlike Alan, we do watch television at some time on most days and are able to find something acceptable on most occasions, albeit with some difficulty considering the number of channels from which we have to choose.

Coming back to “Celebrity”, I once again have to admit to quite enjoying it now that the numbers have been reduced to people that I mostly actually recognise. Why some of them would want to put themselves through the hardship and humiliation though, is hard to understand. Maybe it would be better if the programme was renamed “I’m not a Celebrity, Get Me Into Here” and then it would make more sense. I find myself feeling very sorry for the animals and other creatures brought into the programme for our entertainment. Some of it verges on the disgusting, and I do feel guilty for participating in it; some is very funny, but again I still find myself with feelings of guilt. Not enough it would seem to stop me from watching the show!

One programme I have watched, once only, is “Hard Spell” which I really feel is exploitation at its worst. Seeing children in the glare of the spotlight being grilled publicly is upsetting to my mind. Mostly you would have to blame their pushy parents who crave the attention that their offspring will bring to them. Admittedly, the spelling powers of some was impressive, but does it really matter, and can any amount of success of the few justify the utter sense of failure felt by the many as they are paraded for the world to see. As adults, we should be protecting our young from this, not bullying them. In the same category was “Junior Mastermind” and I think John Humphreys should have known better.

Another celebrity programme that I had initial doubts about is “Strictly Come Dancing”, but with this one, I can see some cause for enjoyment. The format is excellent and the adults taking part are there of their own free will and it is interesting to watch the week by week improvement of the participants. The one unfortunate aspect of this show is that the voting of the public seems to be based upon their public familiarity rather than their dancing ability. How Julian Clary succeeded above Aled Jones, I just do not know, and how Denise Lewis seemed to be in danger over losing out after dancing so brilliantly, I cannot understand. Obviously, the gay vote is greater than the either the cultural or the athletic following.