A classroom day - I haven't had one of those since 1977 and I found it seriously tough. Teeline in particular: I loved it, I know that I need to do it and I want to do it, but that doesn't mean that my ageing brain cells found it easy. I don't often feel middle-aged but every so often something happens that makes one wonder whether it is as easy to assimilate knowledge when one gets past 50 - I suspect it probably is but it just takes practice.
What did I make of the law session and, more importantly, what did I learn? Somewhat surprisingly, I found McNae's to be a decent and easy read - at least the first chapter was. I now better understand the structure of the legal system, what freedom of expression is and how it is limited. I understand the significance to a journalist of the rule against prior restraint, and where our law comes from. I've always been uneasy about the concept of 'public interest' as I think that too often it's just an excuse for the press to poke their noses where they shouldn't really be poking them - is that sacrilegious? Does a free press have a responsibility to respect people's privacy or does anything go? Is pandering to the lowest common denominator and the public's baser instincts what journalism is really about? In the case of the 'Red Tops' it seems to me that it too often is, and I look forward to further exploring that issue and being put right!
As someone who once spent three days being rehearsed by counsel as a potential witness in a trial where one company was sueing another for a very large sum of money, I was already pretty clear about the respective roles of barristers and solicitors. Amusingly, it was a company owned by a very well-known and extremely litigious public figure whose name cropped up in the session! The less said about that, the better!
I also look forward to the sessions on defamation and libel as I have long held the (possibly ill- informed) view that avoiding being sued is just a matter of common sense. However, I accept Ian's point that the pressures imposed by the speed of modern-day journalism can potentially lead to errors being made. However, I'm still to be persuaded that a dose of common sense wouldn't prevent those blunders.
That's all for now as mastering the Teeline alphabet is tonight's fun task - I need a stiff drink after today but I think that will have to wait until I've got the various dashes and squiggles cracked,
Thursday 30 September 2010
Tuesday 28 September 2010
The wrong brother
It took me a while to actually join the Labour Party - I'd supported them for many, many years but hadn't ever taken the step and paid my dues. I finally signed up on the day of the General Election defeat in May - I watched Gordon Brown speaking to party activists as he bade them farewell and screamed at the set 'Why couldn't you have shown that eloquence and passion before now?'. The prospect of a government led by Slick and Slicker filled me with such horror that I went on-line and joined the party.
However, look what Labour has gone and done! There were only two brothers to choose from - how hard could it be to pick the right one? For me it's really not about their policies but one simple question: which of them is the more likely to defeat the evil axis when the coalition implodes...as it surely will? The answer is blindingly obvious - Ed looks unelectable to me, and David looked very electable. Cameron and Clegg must be rubbing their hands in glee at the prospect of facing the younger brother.
What's a man to do - stick it out or cancel the membership subscription? I haven't yet decided, but living in Winchester there's an even tougher dilemma heading my way, and that's how do I vote at the next election? Last time I voted LibDem purely and simply because it was my democratic duty to do whatever I could to prevent the Tory getting in. Next time that isn't an option because of Nick Clegg's deceit and treachery - how can anyone say what he said about the Tories and then form a coalition with them? His shameful pursuit of power will probably result in his party being destroyed the next time the public has a chance to vote, because I reckon a lot of their 'support' was actually an anti-Tory vote. I'll never, ever forgive him and his party and I don't think I'll be the only one thinking that way. To get back to the question about what should I do, the answer will depend on how often I have to listen to Union bosses rambling on - every word they utter sets back the prospects of a Labour government being elected next time around. Pretty depressing stuff, isn't it?
However, look what Labour has gone and done! There were only two brothers to choose from - how hard could it be to pick the right one? For me it's really not about their policies but one simple question: which of them is the more likely to defeat the evil axis when the coalition implodes...as it surely will? The answer is blindingly obvious - Ed looks unelectable to me, and David looked very electable. Cameron and Clegg must be rubbing their hands in glee at the prospect of facing the younger brother.
What's a man to do - stick it out or cancel the membership subscription? I haven't yet decided, but living in Winchester there's an even tougher dilemma heading my way, and that's how do I vote at the next election? Last time I voted LibDem purely and simply because it was my democratic duty to do whatever I could to prevent the Tory getting in. Next time that isn't an option because of Nick Clegg's deceit and treachery - how can anyone say what he said about the Tories and then form a coalition with them? His shameful pursuit of power will probably result in his party being destroyed the next time the public has a chance to vote, because I reckon a lot of their 'support' was actually an anti-Tory vote. I'll never, ever forgive him and his party and I don't think I'll be the only one thinking that way. To get back to the question about what should I do, the answer will depend on how often I have to listen to Union bosses rambling on - every word they utter sets back the prospects of a Labour government being elected next time around. Pretty depressing stuff, isn't it?
Friday 24 September 2010
Morecambe
Last night I saw 'Morecambe' by Tim Whitnall at Winchester's Theatre Royal. Sadly the theatre was less than half full, presumably as a result of the ticket pricing: £24 for an adult and £22 for concessions is a bit steep for Winchester! However, I'm glad I forked out because it was a wonderful evening.
Bob Golding, nominated for 'Best Actor in a Musical or Entertainment' at the 2010 Olivier Awards, for his performance as Eric Morecambe, was sensational. Not only does he have Morecambe's physical characteristics off perfectly, but his energy simply shone through. For those of a certain age, the Morecambe and Wise Christmas show was the highlight of the festive season, and attracted audiences as high as 28m - in other words, half of the country was watching! My daughter's generation see the Dr Who Christmas Specials as a key part of their Christmas, but it gets a meagre 10m or so viewers. Now, I know that the world was a very different place back then, and that now there are hundreds of channels competing for audiences, but 28m is a pretty specila number by anyone's standards.
The show brought it all back - the one-liners, the physical humour, and the sheer affection that the nation had for Morecambe and Wise. Ernie was played by a ventriloquist's dummy, and the moment when Eric put him back in his box for the final time, paused and kissed him, was much more moving than a man kissing a doll should ever be. Around me the sound of sniffing was unmistakeable, and the old cliche, not a dry eye in the house held true.
When the show won its Fringe First at the 2009 Edinburgh Festival it ran for just over an hour, whereas last night it had expanded to two - if there was padding then it certainly wasn't noticeable. Its run in Winchester ends tonight but if it then comes to a theatre near you, don't miss it.
Bob Golding, nominated for 'Best Actor in a Musical or Entertainment' at the 2010 Olivier Awards, for his performance as Eric Morecambe, was sensational. Not only does he have Morecambe's physical characteristics off perfectly, but his energy simply shone through. For those of a certain age, the Morecambe and Wise Christmas show was the highlight of the festive season, and attracted audiences as high as 28m - in other words, half of the country was watching! My daughter's generation see the Dr Who Christmas Specials as a key part of their Christmas, but it gets a meagre 10m or so viewers. Now, I know that the world was a very different place back then, and that now there are hundreds of channels competing for audiences, but 28m is a pretty specila number by anyone's standards.
The show brought it all back - the one-liners, the physical humour, and the sheer affection that the nation had for Morecambe and Wise. Ernie was played by a ventriloquist's dummy, and the moment when Eric put him back in his box for the final time, paused and kissed him, was much more moving than a man kissing a doll should ever be. Around me the sound of sniffing was unmistakeable, and the old cliche, not a dry eye in the house held true.
When the show won its Fringe First at the 2009 Edinburgh Festival it ran for just over an hour, whereas last night it had expanded to two - if there was padding then it certainly wasn't noticeable. Its run in Winchester ends tonight but if it then comes to a theatre near you, don't miss it.
Wednesday 22 September 2010
The inestimable Mr Marra
To anyone other than a Scot, the name Michael Marra is unlikely to be a new one, but it's one that you should take the time to investigate. A genuine polymath from the dreich city of Dundee, he is Scotland's greatest living songwriter - our Randy Newman - and an accomplished actor, working widely with the excellent National Theatre of Scotland. He also paints, writes stories and occasionally does a wonderful collaboration with the poet Liz Lochhead, entitled 'In Fragrant Delicht' which has played to packed houses throughout Scotland as well as in the US and Australia.
Michael's songs are superbly crafted and show the hand of a master at work. He loves incongruity, as songs like 'Frida Kahlo's visit to the Tay Bridge Bar' and 'Dr John's visit to Blairgowrie' show. In the former he has the Mexican painter killing time in his favourite Dundee pub while she waits for St Peter to unjam the pearly gates. Frida had what Michael describes as a 'part-time' husbad in the somewhat overweight Diego Rivera, and the chorus 'There will be no more lies and no more tears, no more listening through the fat man's ears, no more tears and no more lies, and no more looking through the fats man's eyes', sounds deceptively simple but a lot of time and effort goes into song-writing of that quality.
Michael has written the music for a number of stage productions, including 'The Mill Lavvies' about the Jute mills in his native city. It includes his song 'If Dundee was Africa', which attempts to explain to one of the not-so-bright characters in the play exactly where Africa is, and is yet another piece of remarkable writing. The list of his wonderful songs goes on and on: 'Reynard in Paradise' describes the day a fox ran on to the Parkhead pitch during a Celtic v Aberdeen football match, and his alternative Scottish national anthem, 'Hermless' never fails to bring the house down, as does his a capella song 'Muggie Sha' about a fearless and terrifying specimen of Dundee womanhood!
At the recent Edinburgh Festival Fringe awards ceremony, Michael was awarded a Herald Angel award for his performances over the years, and that followed on from his Honorary Doctorate from the University of Dundee - he may not be big in England but the Scots know exactly how good he is.
Thankfully, Michael has a website www.marra.me.uk/ where you can hear samples of his songs and decide for yourself what sort of a rare talent he possesses. He tours down south from time to time and if you ever get the chance to see him live, don't pass up the opportunity.
Michael's songs are superbly crafted and show the hand of a master at work. He loves incongruity, as songs like 'Frida Kahlo's visit to the Tay Bridge Bar' and 'Dr John's visit to Blairgowrie' show. In the former he has the Mexican painter killing time in his favourite Dundee pub while she waits for St Peter to unjam the pearly gates. Frida had what Michael describes as a 'part-time' husbad in the somewhat overweight Diego Rivera, and the chorus 'There will be no more lies and no more tears, no more listening through the fat man's ears, no more tears and no more lies, and no more looking through the fats man's eyes', sounds deceptively simple but a lot of time and effort goes into song-writing of that quality.
Michael has written the music for a number of stage productions, including 'The Mill Lavvies' about the Jute mills in his native city. It includes his song 'If Dundee was Africa', which attempts to explain to one of the not-so-bright characters in the play exactly where Africa is, and is yet another piece of remarkable writing. The list of his wonderful songs goes on and on: 'Reynard in Paradise' describes the day a fox ran on to the Parkhead pitch during a Celtic v Aberdeen football match, and his alternative Scottish national anthem, 'Hermless' never fails to bring the house down, as does his a capella song 'Muggie Sha' about a fearless and terrifying specimen of Dundee womanhood!
At the recent Edinburgh Festival Fringe awards ceremony, Michael was awarded a Herald Angel award for his performances over the years, and that followed on from his Honorary Doctorate from the University of Dundee - he may not be big in England but the Scots know exactly how good he is.
Thankfully, Michael has a website www.marra.me.uk/ where you can hear samples of his songs and decide for yourself what sort of a rare talent he possesses. He tours down south from time to time and if you ever get the chance to see him live, don't pass up the opportunity.
Me
Let me introduce myself - my name is Colin Boag and I live in Winchester. After 28 years in IT, 21 of them with IBM, and the last few as MD of a software business, I retired a few years ago and started to carve out a 'portfolio' career, coaching senior people who want to - or have to - change jobs, setting up an on-line olive oil and Italian food importing business - http://www.bellapuglia.co.uk/ , and increasing the amount of rugby and horse-racing journalism that I do. I've just started an MA in Journalism at the University of Winchester.
I'm widowed with one daughter, aged 17, who is in her final year at the local sixth-form college.
My interests are music, keeping fit (tish), rugby, horse-racing and cooking. I'm also a proud Scot with an English accent - never judge a book by its cover! I have strong opinions on most things and look forward to ranting - sorry, I mean blogging - about them in the coming months
I'm widowed with one daughter, aged 17, who is in her final year at the local sixth-form college.
My interests are music, keeping fit (tish), rugby, horse-racing and cooking. I'm also a proud Scot with an English accent - never judge a book by its cover! I have strong opinions on most things and look forward to ranting - sorry, I mean blogging - about them in the coming months
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