Bull Ring

Clare and I went into Birmingham to do some shopping today.  Whilst heading through the Bull Ring we came across a protest outside Topshop.  A handful of demonstrators who are unhappy with the tax avoidance of the company and want to draw attention to the fact.  As we got closer we saw security staff try to physically remove them.  They told the protesters that they were on private property and that they would use reasonable force to eject them.

I saw one protester grabbed around the throat by a security operative whilst another started pushing him in the chest.  An elderly gentleman who was just passing, but tried to intervene when two security staff started dragging a woman across the floor, was also pushed in the chest by security before being dragged out (it took two of them to attack an old man).

A lot of shoppers watched or filmed it but most were outraged at the level of violence Bull Ring security staff used.  I also saw a family of shoppers (mom, dad and daughter) escorted from the centre after they tried to complain about the violence the staff were using on what was basically a small group of women.

When we left the centre the police had arrived but, as expected, took the side of the security staff. 

I've just been onto the Bull Ring website so I could contact them regarding the incident but it seems they do not want people to get in touch as the page does not exist.  All I can say is that the Bull Ring and their staff are a disgrace and are quite happy to use violence against women who, regardless of what you believe, are doing nothing more than causing a bit of a nuisance.

Owls

Having cooked a meal for Clare we settled down to watch Mr Nice starring Rhys Ifans. It tells the story of Howard Marks who was, for those who don't know, an infamous Welsh drug smuggler.

The film was OK.  Not much to write home about.  I liked the way it was filmed but think I prefer the book.

Anyway, about halfway through we heard an owl.   It seemed quite close so we turned off the lights and looked out the window.  We saw it sitting in the tree outside.  Not long after we spotted it it flew to another tree on the other side of the garden.  It was calling to a female who we could hear replying from somewhere close by.  There was also a second male calling and as the one we were watching flew off the second flew in and  landed where the other one had just departed from. 

After a good few minutes the second owl flew off and we returned to the film.  It was brilliant to see and as I'm writing this I have one ear on the garden just in case they come back.

Below is a quick clip of what the male hoot and the female reply sounded like last night.
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male and female tawny owl mp3

Episodes

Episodes is the story of two English writers, Beverley (Tamsin Greig) and Sean Lincoln (Stephen Mangan), who move to Hollywood to remake their hit UK TV series. 

Having won an award in the UK for their series they are approached at the after show party and offered a lucrative deal to remake it in the US. Sean can't wait but Beverley is reluctant to move.

They arrive in Hollywood and it seems that the studio can't do enough for them but when Matt LeBlanc is cast in the lead role they realise that they have little or no control over their programme. Things between Beverley and Sean deteriorate as he embraces the lifestyle and becomes friends with Matt LeBlanc (who insists his character should be more like Joey from Friends).

There were seven episodes and it ended last night with the studio commissioning the series.  Hopefully this means that there will be another series of Episodes itself.

This has been a great series.  Mangan and Greig have a chemistry that comes over on screen and their Englishness is the perfect contrast to the over exagerated characters of Matt LeBlanc and John Pankow (Studio Executive Merc Lapidus).  For once an Anglo American comedy that works!

Paul

I went to see Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's new film Paul yesterday.  It's pretty much what you'd expect from these two.

The story is about two comic book enthusiasts (Pegg & Frost obviously) who are on a journey of a lifetime in the USA.  Having been to a comic book convention they hit the road to visit all the sites of major extra terrestrial importance (Area 51 etc.).  Not long into the journey they meet Paul.  Paul is an alien who has escaped from the government and needs their help to get home.  Pursued by inept government officials they head north to the alien rendezvous point.

As with all their films it is filled with in-jokes and little nods to the genre they are sending up. I probably missed a lot of them but still enjoyed it. 

The cinema was quite full, I hadn't seen it that busy for some time, and the film seemed to be well received.  I don't think it will make any Top Ten lists or win any awards but it's not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Bargain Hunt

Clare had some shopping to do yesterday and so we headed to Leamington.  It turns out it was my day to get a bargain.

Having caught the train before I'd had a chance to have breakfast, first stop was The Cafe Regent.  Having had my 3rd veggie breakfast in a week and a couple of cups of coffee I was ready to face the shops.  If we are in Leamington we often use this place as it's cheap and cheerful and the staff are friendly enough.

Having wandered around for a bit we ended up at Head Records.  CD Albums at 99p were buy one get one free. An offer I couldn't refuse.

Afterwards we hit the shops again before heading to the Sozzled Sausage for a drink and a snack.  Again this is a regular place for Clare and I and, like the cafe, is cheap and cheerful with a friendly welcome. 

More shopping then home.  My stash for the day was 8 x CDs, 4 x 7" singles and 3 x books.  Total spent - £13.50. 

Oh one last thing, on the way back to the train station we passed The Pump Room Tea Rooms. The sign in the window made me laugh.

Eating Out

Tried the new place in Touchwood yesterday, Giraffe.  I believe it opened at the end of last year.

I popped in at lunchtime and it seemed quiet but filled up quite quickly.  I'd not heard of it before but my friend had eaten at the Milton Keynes branch and said it was nice.

I had the veggie breakfast off the Brunch Menu and washed it down with a coffee. The food itself was fine but at over 7 pounds it was a little on the expensive side.  For my money I got 2 x veggie sausage, scrambled egg, a small dollop of beans, 3 mushrooms and some potato wedges. On top of this were 3 small pieces of toast. The coffee, however, was lovely.

One the plus side side the food arrived quickly and the staff were polite, friendly and helpful.  All in all, not a bad experience but if I want a decent veggie breakfast I think I'll stick to Cherry Reds in Kings Heath.

We Won!

In a surprise U-turn the government have abandoned their plans to sell off England's forests!

The move to sell 40,000 acres of woodland has been abandoned by Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman claiming that the government has listened to the people.

I like to think that campaigning can and does work but I'm left with an underlying feeling that there wasn't enough of a fight.  Don't get me wrong, I'm chuffed the government has ditched the plan but it just seemed too easy and that worries me. Perhaps I'm just cynical. Anyway, here's what the Woodland Trust have to say about it.

Save England's ancient forests

It doesn't end here...


Whilst welcoming Government intentions to abandon plans for disposal of public forests, the campaign to protect and restore England's ancient forests must go on, warns the Woodland Trust.


We welcome the opportunity for a more considered approach to the future of our much loved woodlands but our campaign continues. Whilst we welcome the removal of threats to public access, there is still an acute need for better protection of Ancient Woodland, our equivalent of the rainforests, and restoration of ancient woods planted with conifers.


Even if there are no sales of publicly owned forests, the worst of all worlds would be for there to be no change to the loopholes that have allowed 850 ancient woods to be threatened by built development over the past decade. Ministers have made strong commitments over the past few weeks to increase protection for ancient woods, and we will be holding them to these commitments.


As I write, there is a proposal to water down protection for ancient woodland in the planning system. We need your help to defeat this proposal by 28th February.

We must not let public passion and support for our woods and forests die down and now that ownership is no longer an issue, we must not lose sight of the need to increase protection for ancient forests and restore those planted with conifers, a once in a lifetime opportunity for woodland conservation.


Our campaign will continue and we urge everyone to continue to sign our petition and transfer their passion about who owns England's public woods to ensuring that all of England?s woods survive in the future.


Thank you for your continued support,

To sign the petition just click on the link below.

http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/campaigning/Pages/woodland-trust-campaign-continues.aspx

Let England Shake (some more)

There's something nice about getting an album on the day it is released. Yesterday I found myself in Kings Heath and so popped along to Polar Bear and picked up a copy of PJ Harvey's Let England Shake. I toyed with buying it on vinyl but in the end opted for the CD.

Despite having heard quite a lot of the album prior to release, you need to sit down and listen to it in it's entirety to get to see what it is really like. Having only played it through once, my first impressions are good. Only time will tell as to whether it's a classic.   I have no doubt it will feature heavily in the end of year lists judging by the reviews it is getting. I wonder if it will make mine?

Tewkesbury

Yesterday, Clare and I met some friends at Cherry Reds in Kings Heath for breakfast.  The cafe was busy but it didn't take long before I got my veggie breakfast and lovely it was too!  It was a really nice way to spend a Saturday morning.

Our friends suggested a bit of trip out and after some deliberation we settled on Tewkesbury.  We all piled into the car and headed off.  I can't remember if I've been there before and as we looked for somewhere to park I was looking forward to having a wander around the antique shops and delicatessens.

Unfortunately, as we didn't arrive until the afternoon, our time there was limited.  We browsed around some of the antiques shops and I bought a couple of chilli sauces from a deli.  The one, Spontaneous Combustion, actually has a warning printed on the bottle!

After having a look around a great antiques place (fantastic assortment of vinyl records - I could have spent a fortune!) we found ourselves in the bar at The Bell Hotel.  A lovely little place that dates from around the 17th Century.  As time we getting on, after a quick drink, Clare and I popped over the road to have a look at the Abbey. 

The Abbey was consecrated in the 1121 with further works in the15th Century.  It boasts the largest Norman Tower in the world at some 14m square and 45m high.  On the inside it reminded me of Hereford Cathedral albeit a bit smaller.  It's an impressive building and I stood and watched the sun going down behind the West window. It was a beautiful sight to see, the sun in the bottom left hand pane, the rest of the stained glass lit up. The window itself dates from 1886 and was made by John Hardman  and Company. It depicts the life of Jesus Christ.

The grounds around the Abbey are lovely and after a quick walk around we popped back over the road to have a look at the river. Unfortunately the view wasn't as nice as I'd hoped.

With the shops closing it was time to make our way back to the car and head home.

True Grit

I found myself at the cinema again on Friday (twice in one week).  This time to see True Grit. 

Based on a novel by Charles Portis it tells the story of Mattie Rose (Elizabeth Marvel), who in her quest to track down her father's killer, hires US Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges).  Rooster is a ruthless killer with the law on his side and at first turns Mattie down.  Eventually he accepts her money and strikes out to track the killer down.  He is joined by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) and also Mattie (despite his protestations).

The film, directed by the Coen Brothers, is closer to the book than it's prevous big screen outing (Henry Hathaway, 1969 starring John Wayne), and has an air of authenticity about it.  The dialogue is of the time and at the start I struggled to understand some of it. The soundtrack is also of the time and works well with the cinematography which shows the washed out beauty of the harsh landscape.

The Coen Brothers have made another great film.  I'm not usually a fan of Westerns but I thoroughly enjoyed it!

He's Gone!

Just a quick update to my last post.  Yesterday, less than 24 hours after he said he would not stand down, Hosni Mubarak resigned as President of Egypt. The country is now in the hands of the military until elections can be held.

Today the people were once again on the streets, this time to clear up!  They were even replacing the cobbles, that only a couple of days before, they were using as missiles!

When the announcement was made I was in the cinema and didn't know until later that evening.

Fire In Cairo

Last night I watched the protests in Egypt (along with a TV audience of millions).  The January 25th movement seemed to have achieved their goal.  A speech by President Mubarak was expected to be his last, in which he would say he would stand down. 

As the crowds in Tahrir Square waited the rest of the world watched.  Twitter was alive with rumours that he was about to step aside.  Eventually Mubarak appeared on state TV. As he spoke it became clear he wasn't going to go.  He would stay until fair and open elections could be held. It seems that he had been set to go but then changed his mind.

Today, the crowds are still there (their 18th day) and it looks like there will be further blood shed (300 dead since the protests began).  Mubarak has been in power for 30 years but the people have had enough. Unemployment and poverty seem to have been the catalyst. Western leaders talk of democracy but behind the scenes are worried as Mubarak has kept Egypt stable. 

In the late 80s and early 90s there was a growing sense of change.  In the space of a couple of years we had the 1st Gulf War. The end of apartheid  which saw Mandela released after 25 years in jail. The fall of the Berlin Wall and, here in England, rioting on the streets helped see an end to the Poll Tax and with it Margaret Thatcher.  As events unfolded last night I felt that same sense of change in the air. This time the war is in Afghanistan and regime change in Egypt and Tunisia. At a time when there is unrest amongst the British public over government spending cuts it could be a very interesting couple of years indeed.

Let England Shake

I haven't posted any music for quite a while now and with some great things due for release in 2011 it's time to rectify that.

PJ Harvey's eighth studio album, Let England Shake, is due for release next week (14th February) and from the bits I've heard it sounds fantastic. Taking two and a half years to write it was recorded in a church in Dorset over a five week period in April/May of last year.

Here she is performing the title track on the Andrew Marr Show, last year, in front of Gordon Brown (then Prime Minister) who was a guest that day.

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake MP3

Brighton Rock

Clare and I popped along to the Electric last night to see Brighton Rock and had a really good night, getting there in time to grab a sofa and have a quick drink.

The film itself is dark in content and drab in appearance but is thoroughly enjoyable. Based on a novel by Grahame Greene it tells the story of a small time hoodlum, Pinkie Brown.  After the murder of his boss, by a rival gang, Pinkie takes over control and sets about seeking revenge.

Rose, a waitress at a nearby cafe, becomes witness to the final moments of a rival gang member. Pinkie needs to make sure she won't talk and so takes her on a date. Rose subsequently falls in love with Pinkie and as the truth as to what he is really like dawns on her she vows to stand by him.

The film is based in the sixties (Mods and Rockers fighting on the beach) and has an all star cast including Dame Helen Mirren and John Hurt.  However, it is the two lead characters that steal the show. Sam Riley (Pinkie) and Andrea Riseborough (Rose) put in great performances that keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.

The Kenilworth Greenway

I went walking with friends earlier.  The Kenilworth Greenway is a disused railway line that runs between Berkswell and Kenilworth.  It is also part of the proposed route for the HS2 High Speed Rail Link.

We met at a friend's house in Balsall Common and headed over a couple of fields before joining the Greenway.  The walk itself is straight and flat, flanked on either side by trees.  The weather was blustery but mild and the trees provided some cover from the wind.  There were plenty of birds flitting amongst the trees and a Green Woodpecker flew in front of our path. 

I'm not sure how long the path is (between 4.5 and 6 miles depending on which website you use) but it took us a couple of hours to reach Kenilworth. 

Once we reached the end we made the short walk to Kenilworth Common and found a fallen branch to sit on while we ate lunch.  Whilst the others finished their food I wandered around and came across a Treecreeper. 

Another couple of hours to walk back, arriving home in time to watch the second half football scores roll in.  A record breaking day in the Premiership, 38 goals from 7 matches with Wolves v Man Utd yet to kick off!

Back to The Kenilworth Greenway.  I never knew the place existed until today but it seemed very popular with walkers, cyclists and others just out walking the dog. There were people of all ages, from families with young kids to elderly people.  I know that it's original purpose was that of a railway line but I feel it would be great loss if the government drive a high speed rail link through it.  This is place to get away from the real world, a place where kids can learn about nature, a place where you can ride your bike without fear of traffic. It's a place where dog walkers stop for a chat and where wildlife thrives (Purple Hairstreak butterflies can be found close by in Crackley Wood).  I have been opposed to the HS2 since it's announcement and having walked a stretch of the route today I am certain that I made the right decision. 

Below is a link to the HS2 website and also a link to the Stop HS2 petition.

http://www.hs2.org.uk/

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-hs2/sign.html

Shopping and Green Spaces

Clare and I popped into Birmingham for a bit of shopping on Saturday, with lunch at The Green Room.  Clare was disappointed that they had changed the menu but the food was still good.  According to the waiter it is about to undergo some changes and will be expanding in the not too distant future.

Sunday was a lazy day.  A relaxing morning was followed by coffee and sandwiches (with my parents) at the cafe in Brueton Park.  Afterwards we went for a short walk before heading home.  Prior to heading out, there had been an influx of birds into the garden.  I counted 5 x Redwing, 2 x Song Thrush, 3 x Greenfinch, a pair of Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Great Tits, a Robin, a Long Tailed Tit, a Chaffinch and a Jay.  They seemed to all arrive at once and left just as quickly. 

The weekend was cold and although there is still someway to go Clare saw the first signs of spring, snowdrops and daffodils.

Whilst on the subject of nature, I'm sure most people are aware of the government's plan to sell of the nation's woodland. The Woodland Trust is also worried that a lot of our ancient forest will be sold and conservation work will grind to a halt.  If you believe that the government should be preserving our forests then you can help by signing the petition below.

http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/campaigning/save-ancient-forests/Pages/fc-disposals-act-now.aspx