Vote rigging of one sort or another has been in the news recently, so an article about the Spice Girls caught my eye yesterday. The girls are all geared up for a world tour, and have very generously left one date free for fans to vote on a venue near them. The winning arena, church hall or farmers field will host the girls on that spare date.
So guess where is winning so far......Baghdad!!
Now there are two schools of thought here about how the voting has been targeting such a place. The sympathetic theory is that the locals need a bit of cheering up and, together with the GIs in the city, they have voted for a bit of glamour. Now whether Scary Spice is really that in light of all else that is going on remains to be seen, but if the locals want them, thats fine.
The conspiracy theory on the other hand is that the rest of the world think Baghdad is the best place to send the thirtysomething has beens, and true music lovers would not take issue with that, would they?
My person experience of vote rigging was centred on the work local in Croydon, which some of my older IBM colleagues may be able to relate to. The local brewery wanted to rename the pub outside East Croydon station and asked for names to be put forward against which the locals could register a vote. One such IBM employee suggested 'The Sweaty Sock' and upon hearing this was a nomination there was a mass vote by the IBM staff. It won hands down, but the brewery refused to accept the name for the pub instead choosing 'The Porter and Sorter', the name under which it still trades.
The BBC Sports Personality of the Year vote has suffered from tactical voting in previous years, with fishermen, non-league football players and sumo wrestlers all featuring in the voting process, although none of them have ever made the final five. Last year was a particularly disappointing array of talent to choose from though.
This year could be a bumper year for nominations although people are indicating that the racing driver Lewis Hamilton, will drive away with it. There is, however, a world athletics championship and the small matter of the Rugby World Cup to potentially throw up a name or two, and lets not forget Ricky Hatton should he floor Flloyd Mayweather II in Las Vegas in December.
That fight provides more bad news for the Spice Girls who are scheduled in Las Vegas the same night. Word has it they have been dumped from the MGM Grand into a smaller venue to allow the boxing to take precedence. 'Say you'll be there' could well be their tour slogan.
Friday, 3 August 2007
Tuesday, 31 July 2007
Dastardly and Muttley
I was out in Brick Lane at the weekend, a marvellous collection of neon lights which celebrate the culinary delights of the local Bangladeshi community. The restaurants stretch as far as the eye can see , and the pukka wallahs stand outside every establishment trying to entice locals and tourists alike into their curry house. It was huge fun.
As I had walked my wife round half of Shoreditch, however, she was not best pleased we had past the turnoff twice without going down it. I was fortunate, therefore, to be able to offer her a seat in a traditional East End boozer, The Spitalfields Arms. Here I was presented with my beer drinking nightmare as they had both London Pride and Doom Bar on tap. Doom won , as I can get Pride anywhere these days, and a fine drop it was particularly as it had to travel all the way from Newquay.
While drinking, we discussed the range of 'Little Asias' we now have at our disposal. The Rusholme curry mile on the outskirts of Manchester is by far the biggest collection of curry houses I have seen, and Birmingham has its own Balti Boulevard in Sparkbrook courtesy of the large Kashmiri population who live there. The Birmingham outlets are mostly BYO but I suspect the restaurants all own the offie next door to ensure maximum revenue!!
Closer to West London of course is Southall with its varied and excellent curry houses, Ritas Cafe being one of my favourites, and Ealing has a few goodies as well. I remember in my student days going into Whitechapel on a Wednesday evening and always having chicken on the bone, as it was 50p cheaper. That seems to be a option no longer offered in most places.
So, where did we end up eating? Well our first choice, the Monsoon, reminded me of Groucho Marx great expletive, 'I would never join a club which had me as a member' as the place was populated with the East End equivalent of the post rugby crowd out for a lively time. So we moved to the Chat, a bit off piste, but well regarded. Sadly as we got there the chef had a dippy fit and walked out so no chance of food there then!! Third choice was a very pleasant Southern Indian outlet where we feasted well on the usual diet of too many main courses and an over abundance of sides......but it all got dusted off.
Now, if I were to stand for, and be elected, Mayor of London, one of my pledges would be to rid London of pigeons. This is an action which I think would be a great vote winner, and its importance to Londoners was brought home to me when I awoke the next morning to find my car once again covered in the remains of the pigeon equivalent of a fruit vindaloo and special fried rice.
This gave me an idea. Curry houses were oft thought to be responsible for procuring cats and dogs off the street to embellish their dishes with. Isn't it high time that they started to turn their attention to the vast pigeon population and by so doing start to maintain their supply chain in case a new epidemic of bird flu hits the UK and wipes out our chickens. I am sure the residents of tree lined streets in Manchester, Birmingham and London would be delighted to see the little blighters exterminated in this way, and with a bit of Massala sauce you would never tell the difference.
Which got me thinking, why do you never see a baby pigeon, or Squab to give it its correct name?
As I had walked my wife round half of Shoreditch, however, she was not best pleased we had past the turnoff twice without going down it. I was fortunate, therefore, to be able to offer her a seat in a traditional East End boozer, The Spitalfields Arms. Here I was presented with my beer drinking nightmare as they had both London Pride and Doom Bar on tap. Doom won , as I can get Pride anywhere these days, and a fine drop it was particularly as it had to travel all the way from Newquay.
While drinking, we discussed the range of 'Little Asias' we now have at our disposal. The Rusholme curry mile on the outskirts of Manchester is by far the biggest collection of curry houses I have seen, and Birmingham has its own Balti Boulevard in Sparkbrook courtesy of the large Kashmiri population who live there. The Birmingham outlets are mostly BYO but I suspect the restaurants all own the offie next door to ensure maximum revenue!!
Closer to West London of course is Southall with its varied and excellent curry houses, Ritas Cafe being one of my favourites, and Ealing has a few goodies as well. I remember in my student days going into Whitechapel on a Wednesday evening and always having chicken on the bone, as it was 50p cheaper. That seems to be a option no longer offered in most places.
So, where did we end up eating? Well our first choice, the Monsoon, reminded me of Groucho Marx great expletive, 'I would never join a club which had me as a member' as the place was populated with the East End equivalent of the post rugby crowd out for a lively time. So we moved to the Chat, a bit off piste, but well regarded. Sadly as we got there the chef had a dippy fit and walked out so no chance of food there then!! Third choice was a very pleasant Southern Indian outlet where we feasted well on the usual diet of too many main courses and an over abundance of sides......but it all got dusted off.
Now, if I were to stand for, and be elected, Mayor of London, one of my pledges would be to rid London of pigeons. This is an action which I think would be a great vote winner, and its importance to Londoners was brought home to me when I awoke the next morning to find my car once again covered in the remains of the pigeon equivalent of a fruit vindaloo and special fried rice.
This gave me an idea. Curry houses were oft thought to be responsible for procuring cats and dogs off the street to embellish their dishes with. Isn't it high time that they started to turn their attention to the vast pigeon population and by so doing start to maintain their supply chain in case a new epidemic of bird flu hits the UK and wipes out our chickens. I am sure the residents of tree lined streets in Manchester, Birmingham and London would be delighted to see the little blighters exterminated in this way, and with a bit of Massala sauce you would never tell the difference.
Which got me thinking, why do you never see a baby pigeon, or Squab to give it its correct name?
Monday, 30 July 2007
Smoke gets in your eyes.
An article in the Daily Telegraph at the weekend indicated that Stuart Hall was nearly 78. He will be remembered by most people as the linchpin of the 'Its a knockout' television programme, a roll he shared with Eddie Waring . Eddie was primarily a rugby league commentator and made such phases as " he's off for an early bath" and "an op and under" into household sayings.
Stuart, however, has been something of a cult hero since the programme ended as he continues to provide summaries on Radio 5 Live for Saturday afternoon sports listeners. He has been providing commentary for almost 50 years, and will be continuing that service during the coming season. In the article it mentions that his first ever game was Sheffield Wednesday v Leicester in 1958, a match which ended 4-4, and was played almost entirely in fog. He had no idea what was happening so made everything up. It clearly served him well.
Fog has also played a part in embellishing the folk law status of the Kop terracing at Anfield, home of Liverpool FC.. A match was played there once and visibility was so bad that when Liverpool scored at the other end the Kop had to chat "Can you tell us who just scored, can you teeeelll us, who just scored?" A reply came back through the fog "Kevin Keegan, Kevin Keegan" to which the Kop replied paraphrasing the famous Scaffold hit single "Thankyou very much, thankyou very, very, very, very much".
Years before that at the time Stuart Hall was just starting out, England rugby teams used to be selected after a traditional game at Twickenham between the Probables and the Possibles. On this occasion fog again conspired to play a part to the extent that the selectors needed to run along the touchlines trying to see who was doing what, or listening out for shouts of encouragement to help them decide on their international side.
Throughout the game they heard such phrases as 'well played Johnston-Taylor', or 'good tackle Johnston-Taylor, or even ' excellent play Johnston-Taylor. Faced with such comments the selectors had no hesitation in selecting said player for the upcoming Five National Championship. It was only some years later that Johnston-Taylor was gracious enough to admit that it was indeed he who had called out praising himself throughout the match. His cunning stunt being rewarded with several subsequent caps.
Stuart, however, has been something of a cult hero since the programme ended as he continues to provide summaries on Radio 5 Live for Saturday afternoon sports listeners. He has been providing commentary for almost 50 years, and will be continuing that service during the coming season. In the article it mentions that his first ever game was Sheffield Wednesday v Leicester in 1958, a match which ended 4-4, and was played almost entirely in fog. He had no idea what was happening so made everything up. It clearly served him well.
Fog has also played a part in embellishing the folk law status of the Kop terracing at Anfield, home of Liverpool FC.. A match was played there once and visibility was so bad that when Liverpool scored at the other end the Kop had to chat "Can you tell us who just scored, can you teeeelll us, who just scored?" A reply came back through the fog "Kevin Keegan, Kevin Keegan" to which the Kop replied paraphrasing the famous Scaffold hit single "Thankyou very much, thankyou very, very, very, very much".
Years before that at the time Stuart Hall was just starting out, England rugby teams used to be selected after a traditional game at Twickenham between the Probables and the Possibles. On this occasion fog again conspired to play a part to the extent that the selectors needed to run along the touchlines trying to see who was doing what, or listening out for shouts of encouragement to help them decide on their international side.
Throughout the game they heard such phrases as 'well played Johnston-Taylor', or 'good tackle Johnston-Taylor, or even ' excellent play Johnston-Taylor. Faced with such comments the selectors had no hesitation in selecting said player for the upcoming Five National Championship. It was only some years later that Johnston-Taylor was gracious enough to admit that it was indeed he who had called out praising himself throughout the match. His cunning stunt being rewarded with several subsequent caps.
Friday, 27 July 2007
Genesis 2:1-3
I notice the second test between England and India is delayed by the rain. I find it strange that a test match in England is scheduled for a Friday start anyway, although I am told it is because players need three days rest between back to back test matches. Once again it seems players needs are put before those of the paying public.
I remember the uproar which occurred when the traditional rest day, Sunday, was abolished for test matches. The players would rather play right through was the reason given, although I suspect it was something to do with the TCCB feeling they could get a bigger crowd on the Sunday than on the following day. What of course got overlooked in all this was the fact that the rest day was really for the spectators who had spend three days on the lash and welcomed a day of rest to prepare them for work on the following Monday. But hey, the players have to come first, right?
Another aspect to bear in mind is the hospitality business. The Thursday and Friday are the traditional biggies, with fewer people wanting to go on the weekend. Well that's our own time isn't it, not work time when hospitality always feels that much better. This weeks Friday start has diluted that marketing opportunity as well.
Cricket is not alone in turning a blind eye to the needs of the spectators. The 'old farts' at the RFU and elsewhere modified the Five/Six Nations format a few years ago to do three things, all for the benefit of players and television. Some games are now played on consecutive weekends so making attendance, particularly away from home, less achievable. The fortnightly schedule at least gave some weekend time at home with the family.
Next, they have introduced Sunday games, the drawback of which mirrors the cricket problems above. After attending a game, home or away, the thought of having to go to work on the Monday is a real turn off and is starting to force many long term supporters to select their fixtures more carefully.
Finally there comes the question of kick-off times, with usually only one game of the three kicking off anywhere near 3pm. Just don't bring this matter up with supporters of premier league football teams, who only get to see their team kick off at 3pm in pre-season friendlies.
I remember the uproar which occurred when the traditional rest day, Sunday, was abolished for test matches. The players would rather play right through was the reason given, although I suspect it was something to do with the TCCB feeling they could get a bigger crowd on the Sunday than on the following day. What of course got overlooked in all this was the fact that the rest day was really for the spectators who had spend three days on the lash and welcomed a day of rest to prepare them for work on the following Monday. But hey, the players have to come first, right?
Another aspect to bear in mind is the hospitality business. The Thursday and Friday are the traditional biggies, with fewer people wanting to go on the weekend. Well that's our own time isn't it, not work time when hospitality always feels that much better. This weeks Friday start has diluted that marketing opportunity as well.
Cricket is not alone in turning a blind eye to the needs of the spectators. The 'old farts' at the RFU and elsewhere modified the Five/Six Nations format a few years ago to do three things, all for the benefit of players and television. Some games are now played on consecutive weekends so making attendance, particularly away from home, less achievable. The fortnightly schedule at least gave some weekend time at home with the family.
Next, they have introduced Sunday games, the drawback of which mirrors the cricket problems above. After attending a game, home or away, the thought of having to go to work on the Monday is a real turn off and is starting to force many long term supporters to select their fixtures more carefully.
Finally there comes the question of kick-off times, with usually only one game of the three kicking off anywhere near 3pm. Just don't bring this matter up with supporters of premier league football teams, who only get to see their team kick off at 3pm in pre-season friendlies.
Dib dib dib
The last post was my 50th, so as I reflect on a milestone reached, it is time to pay tribute to another which is headlining this week.
Today is the start of the Scout Jamboree in deepest Essex, which commemorates the centenary of the Boy Scout movement. Scouting is now a merger of traditional Boys Scout and Girl Guide packs, so the organisers of the event are hoping for an excess of 50,000 participants this week.
From an initial gathering in 1907 on Brownsea Island the event has grown and grown, and the target figure for this week could rival the record of 1929, when over 45,000 scouts assembled in Arrowe Park, near Birkenhead to celebrate the 21st anniversary. That event was nicknamed the 'Jamboree of Mud' and all the rain of recent weeks has had organisers worried that not only would the attendance record be broken, but that the levels of mud would far out do the traditional swamp which is the Glastonbury Festival. I am sure, though that a bit of mud will not dampen the enthusiasm of those attending.
Lemar and Liberty X headlined the opening concert last night, and Prince William is due to put in an appearance during the week. Peter Duncan, of Blue Peter fame, is the current chief scout and he welcomed everybody to the jamboree, a word which derives from the Swahili , Jambo, meaning 'Hello'.
Two of the S-club are helping out this week in the Splash section, when they plan to put 4,000 scouts on the water each day for four days......raft building, kayaking and sailing are some of the activities involved. The helpers were briefed earlier in the week to expect a certain number of deaths, and that the number of free condoms they give away will still not be sufficient to eradicate totally any of the unwanted pregnancies this event has traditionally produced......I wonder what badge you get for that then?
Oh, and the site of the jamboree in Arrowe Park is now a golf course and is just down the road from where we live. I have hacked round there many a time....
Today is the start of the Scout Jamboree in deepest Essex, which commemorates the centenary of the Boy Scout movement. Scouting is now a merger of traditional Boys Scout and Girl Guide packs, so the organisers of the event are hoping for an excess of 50,000 participants this week.
From an initial gathering in 1907 on Brownsea Island the event has grown and grown, and the target figure for this week could rival the record of 1929, when over 45,000 scouts assembled in Arrowe Park, near Birkenhead to celebrate the 21st anniversary. That event was nicknamed the 'Jamboree of Mud' and all the rain of recent weeks has had organisers worried that not only would the attendance record be broken, but that the levels of mud would far out do the traditional swamp which is the Glastonbury Festival. I am sure, though that a bit of mud will not dampen the enthusiasm of those attending.
Lemar and Liberty X headlined the opening concert last night, and Prince William is due to put in an appearance during the week. Peter Duncan, of Blue Peter fame, is the current chief scout and he welcomed everybody to the jamboree, a word which derives from the Swahili , Jambo, meaning 'Hello'.
Two of the S-club are helping out this week in the Splash section, when they plan to put 4,000 scouts on the water each day for four days......raft building, kayaking and sailing are some of the activities involved. The helpers were briefed earlier in the week to expect a certain number of deaths, and that the number of free condoms they give away will still not be sufficient to eradicate totally any of the unwanted pregnancies this event has traditionally produced......I wonder what badge you get for that then?
Oh, and the site of the jamboree in Arrowe Park is now a golf course and is just down the road from where we live. I have hacked round there many a time....
Wednesday, 25 July 2007
Bingo
The house market in W4 seems to have tailed off since the last interest rate rise, with the number of viewing reducing accordingly. Our situation continues to be hampered by neighbours putting their homes up for sale. Following our next door family moving out, we now find that number 45 has been placed on the market. Theirs is a four bed but unlike us, they have already built into the loft to accommodate the extra bedroom. The price they are asking is close to ours so I am not too worried on that score.
More interesting is that they have an agents board outside which will indicate to any prospects we get, that there is another property available close by. To counter that I have now instructed Hamptons to put their own sign up, two can play at that game.
All it needs now is for 39 to go to market, which they have indicated could be a possibility, and that will be four properties sold in a line. Our newbies at 43 will definitely know they got a bargain.
We went to see Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward theatre last night, Scarlett Strallen as Mary and Gavil Creel as Bert, were first rate. To move this house selling business along I think I need a bit of luck, maybe I should find a chimney sweep and shake his hand too......
More interesting is that they have an agents board outside which will indicate to any prospects we get, that there is another property available close by. To counter that I have now instructed Hamptons to put their own sign up, two can play at that game.
All it needs now is for 39 to go to market, which they have indicated could be a possibility, and that will be four properties sold in a line. Our newbies at 43 will definitely know they got a bargain.
We went to see Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward theatre last night, Scarlett Strallen as Mary and Gavil Creel as Bert, were first rate. To move this house selling business along I think I need a bit of luck, maybe I should find a chimney sweep and shake his hand too......
Monday, 23 July 2007
"The batsmans Holding, the bowlers Willey"
The third Saturday in July always means a day at the Lords test match, that's cricket for anybody viewing this from abroad. Its an institution I have been a part of, for almost as long as I can remember.
I first went with my dad in 1962, to see the famous West Indies side captained by Gary Sobers, and including the mighty fast bowlers Wes Hall and Charlie Griffiths. England's Ted Dexter stood firm against them to score 86 runs and it was an innings widely regarded as worth more than the hundred which eluded him.
When the West Indies batted, Conrad Hunte, Roland Kanhai and best of all, Basil Butcher stroked the ball to all parts of the ground. I was fortunate to meet Sir Gary at a golf event in St Lucia a few years ago, and found him a pleasant, approachable and humble man. Struggling now with arthritic knees, he was still able to swing a golf club in the same relaxed manner with which he batted and bowled. He and Botham, who was also playing golf, still have it in all rounder terms for me, well ahead of Freddie Flintoff.
And in my 45 years (groan) of going to Lords, I must have seen them all. Great batsmen from all countries pitting their wits against equally great fast bowlers. Catches, sixes and subtle cricket have all been a joy to behold.
I have been privileged to watch several times from the boxes in the old grandstand and be treated to lunch and tea in relative luxury, but more generally I have been there in the company of good friends, both male and female.
This weekend my wife was there as she has been for neigh on 17 years. It was our first date then, and the first date in the diary now, ahh, and we joined with Figs and Goodwin for our traditional lunchtime going into teatime session. I met Figs about 30 years ago when we were both working in Croydon, and although he has been 'our man at Wimbledon' for a long time now, we still try to do the Lords gig as we have always done. I met Goodwin through Figs when he kindly put me and Neil Brown up in Singapore when we were doing the Far East in about 1982. That though is a story for another day.
The cricket is still the focal point , but the whole social event which surrounds it is equally important these days. Test matches are the ultimate test of skill and courage as epitomised in the past by Brian Close and David Steele, and the crowd are made up of true aficionados of the game.
While it is good that 20/20 cricket has wafted a breath of fresh air through the game, and embraced the younger generation, the fifty over side of things seems to be struggling to keep pace. The recent home Ashes series has shown how equally exciting the five day game can be and good cricket, good banter and above all good friends will keep it top of our Summer social calender for many years to come.
I first went with my dad in 1962, to see the famous West Indies side captained by Gary Sobers, and including the mighty fast bowlers Wes Hall and Charlie Griffiths. England's Ted Dexter stood firm against them to score 86 runs and it was an innings widely regarded as worth more than the hundred which eluded him.
When the West Indies batted, Conrad Hunte, Roland Kanhai and best of all, Basil Butcher stroked the ball to all parts of the ground. I was fortunate to meet Sir Gary at a golf event in St Lucia a few years ago, and found him a pleasant, approachable and humble man. Struggling now with arthritic knees, he was still able to swing a golf club in the same relaxed manner with which he batted and bowled. He and Botham, who was also playing golf, still have it in all rounder terms for me, well ahead of Freddie Flintoff.
And in my 45 years (groan) of going to Lords, I must have seen them all. Great batsmen from all countries pitting their wits against equally great fast bowlers. Catches, sixes and subtle cricket have all been a joy to behold.
I have been privileged to watch several times from the boxes in the old grandstand and be treated to lunch and tea in relative luxury, but more generally I have been there in the company of good friends, both male and female.
This weekend my wife was there as she has been for neigh on 17 years. It was our first date then, and the first date in the diary now, ahh, and we joined with Figs and Goodwin for our traditional lunchtime going into teatime session. I met Figs about 30 years ago when we were both working in Croydon, and although he has been 'our man at Wimbledon' for a long time now, we still try to do the Lords gig as we have always done. I met Goodwin through Figs when he kindly put me and Neil Brown up in Singapore when we were doing the Far East in about 1982. That though is a story for another day.
The cricket is still the focal point , but the whole social event which surrounds it is equally important these days. Test matches are the ultimate test of skill and courage as epitomised in the past by Brian Close and David Steele, and the crowd are made up of true aficionados of the game.
While it is good that 20/20 cricket has wafted a breath of fresh air through the game, and embraced the younger generation, the fifty over side of things seems to be struggling to keep pace. The recent home Ashes series has shown how equally exciting the five day game can be and good cricket, good banter and above all good friends will keep it top of our Summer social calender for many years to come.
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