I heart ulcers

Do you look for signs; indications perhaps from a higher power that you should be undertaking a specific course of events? It’s a tool often used in comedies where a character may plead “God, just give me a sign if you think I’m doing the wrong thing!” Only to receive several and ignore them all because they want to carry on …

I’m not really like that. I’ll admit to trying to repeat the circumstances that may have surrounded previous successes – lucky cricket socks, for example.  But I’m not one to see things in front of me as significant prompts to act in a particular way.

My attention was grabbed though by the door below, which I presume gets very little use as an entrance to an old industrial building on the route I often take from car to office.

I’ve walked past it hundreds of times, but the writing is either a recent addition, or I’ve only just noticed it.

This was a warm morning.  The kind of start that was going to turn hot and uncomfortable for office workers.  A rarity in Huddersfield, but not unwelcome.

At lunchtime I decided to do something I’d never done before.  I took my lunch and a book up to Greenhead Park, sat in the sunshine and took a proper break.  Away from the busy town centre.  Away from my desk. Away from the computer screen. For an hour.

And I’ve thought about the door a few times in the past week or so, most of which I’ve spent on holiday.  I love many aspects of my job.  But you’ve got to look out for warning signs of imbalance haven’t you? Maybe I’ll start saluting magpies …

2012
06/07
CATEGORY
Health
Peeps
Work
8 comments

Start spreading the news. We’re leaving today …

Jacob, Miller Bear, Thomas – Don Valley Stadium 5/5/12

On Saturday 3 May 2008 my Dad and eldest son Thomas came with me to Millmoor for the last time.  For over 100 years the shabby old ground had been the home of our beloved Rotherham United F.C. But this was to be the end.

The club’s financial difficulties and disagreement with the Booth family, who owned the ground, meant that the match against Barnet was a significant occasion. Although the club’s departure was only confirmed in the following days and weeks by Tony Stewart – Rotherham’s Chairman and saviour, we all knew it was coming, so the game was poignant.

There was the slightly surreal sight of TV Chef Jamie Oliver addressing the crowd at half-time as part of his ‘Ministry of Food’ “pass it on” challenge.  The good people of Rotherham responded in kind by questioning Jamie’s parenthood and pointing out that his waistline suggested he might eat a little more healthily too.

“Two meat and potato pies please!”

The game was a success, a season-ending 1-0 victory for Mark Robins’ young and promising team, and we walked out of the gates, having lingered a good while.

A few short months later, our tenure began at Sheffield’s Don Valley Stadium.  The Millers had come to an agreement that meant we could survive and continue to play whilst Mr Stewart tried to arrange the return to Rotherham.

Last Saturday – 108 games, 51 wins, 155 goals and 4 years later, the Don Valley adventure came to an end.  Next season, Rotherham will play in Rotherham once more.

In terms of performances it’s been a chequered 4 years, with 4 different Managers in charge of the team.  4 seasons in League 2, the bottom division – where we have now been for the longest continuous period in our history, with just the one flirtation with promotion in that time.  Wembley was a good day out in May 2010, but a huge disappointment.

And now, Steve Evans, the 4th of those Managers has recently been appointed, to get the club off to a flying start next season and deliver promotion.  There were allegedly over 60 applicants for the job and the Chairman believes Evans is a winner.  We’ll see.  I’ve made no secret of the fact that I am sceptical of Evans and his approach.  If you have the time, have a read of fellow Rotherham fan David Rawson’s brilliant piece about his feelings on the matter.  I know it moved my Dad.  It’s all still a bit raw and we’ll see what happens.

But, in spite of the equaliser conceded to Northampton in the last minute of injury time, it was a pleasure to go to the match on Saturday and say thanks:  To Tony Stewart, without whom there would be no Rotherham United; and to Don Valley for providing us with a temporary home whilst we managed to build a new one.

And what a magnificent stadium we are moving into.  Whenever I drive past I bristle with a shiver of pride.  I cannot help smiling.  There is a sense of disbelief that it is actually there, a proper modern stadium in a town that has struggled for years.  Can this really be happening in Rotherham?  I often do a couple of laps of the dual-carriageway between the two nearby roundabouts just to make sure.  Well, yes it can.

In a bold move, the Chairman and Board have named it The New York Stadium.  There is some logic – the area of Rotherham in which it is being built was once known as New York and the Guest & Chrimes steelworks that stood on the site is famous for manufacturing all of the fire hydrants in Manhattan. It could turn out to be a shrewd marketing move.

The expectations are high.  As Frank said:  If we can … make it there … we’re gonna make it … anywhere … it’s up to you, New York, New York!!!

Yes, on the same day that Sheffield Wednesday were promoted, he chose to wear this shirt to the match. I shall overcome.

2012
05/10
CATEGORY
Family
Peeps
Sport
6 comments

They’ll never take that away

Whatever happens for the rest of their lives, eleven children in the current Year 6 at Lound Junior School will always be able to say they were football Champions of Sheffield.

A squad of one girl and ten boys won all their regional group games, before seven of them, including my son Thomas, went to this week’s finals day and won each of four close matches to lift the trophy.

It wasn’t easy.  There are 134 primary schools in Sheffield.  But this is a group of children with a significant amount of collective skill and a huge amount of heart and tenacity.  They were only behind once; about eight minutes from the end of their final game, which they turned around amidst the rising tension.

It was fantastic, but it was also quite warming.  They clearly had a lot of fun, which is sometimes hard to see in the higher pressure of their Sunday league matches.  I have no doubt it helped the outcome.

So, there they have it: something to remember and take into the challenge of transition to Comprehensive School in the Summer.  Competition for places in the Ecclesfield team is going to be high!

A local press photographer was there and we’ll be looking out for the story this week … and buying multiple copies for the grandparents.

Thomas - back row, furthest right.

2012
03/24
CATEGORY
Peeps
Sport
2 comments

Scooter boys

Bunny hop, Whiplash, Tailwhip, Bronco, Briflip, Power slide – apparently these are all to come … with a little more practice.  For starters, getting moving, leaning into the ramps and sliding off the sides was the focus for the boys in Millhouses Park.

Scooters are ‘in’.  Lots of the children at school have them and Thomas finally decided to splash some of his Christmas money on one last week.  The choice of colours was very important.  Pink is very popular at the moment, amongst both boys and girls, and green came into the reckoning too.  But in the end he went for a ‘SLAMM Rage II Limited Edition’ in ‘Hazard Red’. Sounds impressive eh?  Well putting it together wasn’t an impressive sight!

It arrived and was assembled last Monday.  I had another attempt at securing the handlebars on Tuesday … and Wednesday.  I then decided to wait until Saturday for a further go, because if I had tried on Thursday we would now need a new lounge window too.  Saturday turned out to be a success – hence the photographic evidence here.  Tom was able to try out his new ‘machine’ and Jacob enjoyed using the simpler one they’ve had for a while.

Talking of Scooters * shoehorns in gratuitous link * … if you have the chance to see The Muppets at the cinema, I suggest you take it, particularly if you liked them as a child.

Scooter, the backstage organiser, was always one of my favourites.  I took the boys a couple of weeks ago – for some reason their Mum wasn’t interested – and I have to admit I grinned all the way through it.  Well, apart from when they sang ‘Man or Muppet’, when I was laughing out loudly. The song won an Oscar recently you know.  Well deserved :-)

2012
03/06
CATEGORY
Days out
Family
Peeps
Sport
4 comments

A very good week for an 8 year old

Our youngest son has gone to bed with a large, satisfied smile on his face.  After spending yesterday evening and this morning playing with good family friends, Jacob came third in his Cubs swimming gala race this afternoon, which exceeded his expectations.  For a modest chap, it was nice that he received a certificate and the plaudits of his pack. He is discovering his own interests and strengths now and it’s lovely to see.

It’s actually been a great few days for Jake, which started with the trip to the IMAX cinema that I wrote about last week.  He was really taken with the story of the Hubble telescope and has been writing and drawing all about ‘Space’ at home and school, when he has had the opportunity.

He’s channelled this interest into his play too, rebuilding the various Lego space sets we’ve accumulated and spending a few pounds of pocket money yesterday on the small moon vehicle that he was missing. I predict he will turn to rocket launch animations this week, with the Flipcam that we bought a year ago because of its usability by all ages.

On Monday he had another pleasing moment when he performed a street-dance routine, on his own, to the packed scout hut audience (leaders, children and parents), having volunteered to take part in the annual show. He was a little scared beforehand, but fair play to him, he got up on stage, followed the music and surprised one or two people.  He’s usually pretty quiet and keeps in the background.  But, like his brother, he’s developing a level of calm assurance which will stand him in good stead.

His first stage appearance was in November, after a few sessions at the Nikki Lynam School of Performing Arts. Jacob had shown an interest in street-dance a year or so ago and we saw it as a good chance for him to have a go at his own thing.  He loves it and has started an additional weekly tricks class; hence the headstands that he is now regularly practicing.  He hopes one day to reach the level of ‘The Future’, a troupe who go to the school and have recently been on the live semi-finals of Sky’s ‘Got to Dance’.

Isn’t it brilliant when you see a young mind hooked by subjects with many possibilities?  It always leads to the most fun and the best work. Lessons for all of us …

2012
02/26
CATEGORY
Family
Peeps
Performing
Sport
2 comments

Chronicle (2012) – my take

The ‘difficult’ teenage years have always provided rich pickings for screen writers.  There is an immediate connection with an audience eager to be understood and the licence to roam great distances in imagining what might happen if one or two things were added to even up the obligatory injustices. Like giving the power of telekinesis to those who are bullied for example.

‘Chronicle’ is the tale of three late-teens who gain superpowers through an encounter with a force lurking down a mysterious hole in the back woods.  This is Seattle, known not only for Microsoft and Frasier, but also grunge and teenage angst.  The friends are initially careful in developing their powers, mostly for their own entertainment – moving cars, flying above the clouds, performing magic shows. But you know it is ultimately going to go wrong.  It’s just a question of when.

Before jumping down the ‘rabbit hole’, Steve – a fully grown Michael B. Jordan, a.k.a. Wallace from ‘The Wire’, is a popular school president in the making.  Matt is a likeable, relaxed, growing philosopher .. if a little bumbling.  Andrew, played by Dane DeHaan – a dead ringer for a young Di Caprio – is a good kid, but he is weedy and pushed around for not being cool. His abusive father beats him and doesn’t care for his terminally sick mother.  Andrew’s wish to record everything on his out of date video camera adds to his unpopularity.

When he discovers that as an “Apex Predator” he no longer feels physical pain, you wonder how long Andrew will be able to avoid using his powers to address that which hurts him emotionally.  It’s a thought that increasingly worries Steve and Matt. They know he is damaged. Will their friendship survive and at what cost to them and others?

Director Josh Trank’s relatively low budget piece has been described as ‘Carrie vs Blair Witch’ and you can see why.  Potentially irritating, the handycam-view works well, allowing a different perspective.  We are a presence in the scene, chronicling that which is happening, but helpless to influence the impending horror.  This is something of a departure from the typical superhero movie, compounded by the understated use of CGI until the final twenty minutes.

The combination of the budget and the freshness of Max Landis’s screenplay add an ‘independent’ quality, reminiscent of ‘Reservoir Dogs’, or ‘Shallow Grave’, without being quite in their league.  You don’t have to be a teen to enjoy ‘Chronicle’ and you get the feeling you will be hearing more from Trank and Landis.

My rating: 4/5

2012
02/18
CATEGORY
Film reviews
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Take it to the Max.

To have an emotional reaction to anything you have to be there, ‘in the moment’, giving yourself over to the experience.  If you’re distracted you’re not really present and no matter how hard you try, you will not enjoy it as much.

That is my problem with 3D cinema.  Until today.

I’ve seen a few films in 3D, but rather than enhancing the experience, the effect usually detracts.  I put most of this down to being a regular wearer of glasses, over which the 3D ones have to be placed.  They never quite fit and leave the screen slightly out of focus, which adds eye strain.  So if there is a choice I’ll go for the regular 2D version.

However, as it is school half-term and I have a couple of days off, we have been to the National Media Museum in Bradford.  In the process I ticked off something that could have quite easily been on my list of 40 in the year of 40 quests.

I’ve written before about my love of the cinema and I am part way into a blogging challenge for 2012 that involves going more often and writing about the experience.  Today’s trip was a little more ‘spur of the moment’ though; an addition to the expected entries.

The National Media Museum, previously known as the National Museum of Film Photography and Television, opened in 1983.  Its most distinguishing feature then and now is Britain’s first IMAX screen – five storeys high, with terrific sound.  It has to be done.  So why did it take me nearly 30 years?  Well, probably for the reasons above.

The actual film filled the screen

We arrived shortly after the museum opened, which was a very good idea.  They have a Moshi Monsters exhibition for half-term that has clearly been very successful, so much so that by the time we left, three hours later, the queue was snaking down the street.  Fortunately for us, the boys decided to let their monsters slowly starve a few months ago, so they were quite happy to head straight into the IMAX before we saw the rest that was on offer.

The museum currently has three different 3D films during the day.  We chose to watch the one about the Hubble telescope, what it has recorded, and the NASA missions to launch and maintain it.  Put simply, it was stunning.

We were taken through the astronauts’ preparations, the footage that they shot in space and the many stars, galaxies and nebulas that have been captured.  For the first time, I had the full 3D experience.  The screen is so large and the glasses so accommodating that I sat there and really felt the screen come to life.  There were no gimmicks trying to jump out at me, or scare me.  The effect was just there, glorious and believable.   When the shuttle blasted its way up through the atmosphere, I was taken aback.  I was present. I squeezed Jacob’s hand and noticed that he was trying to touch the stars.  His jaw had dropped.

The film lasted for roughly 45 minutes, which was enough.  The other exhibitions awaited and we needed to explore.  We had a good time discovering the story of television and photography, with the children particularly liking the interactive sections.  An all round success.  I think we’ll be back at some point for another film.

Ironically though, it is even more likely that I will avoid other 3D films in smaller auditoria.  They just won’t be as good and I know I won’t really be there.

Not knowing Bradford, we had an unsuccessful walk around the city centre looking for somewhere to eat.  It was tempting to think ill of the place, but I know this was just a lack of local knowledge.  I hope a few of the Bradfordians I know will point me in the right direction (walking distance from the museum please!), before we go back.

A gold star if you can name this chap ...

2012
02/17
CATEGORY
Days out
Family
Film reviews
Peeps
5 comments

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