Hello everyone.

Just to let you know it’s your last chance to get tickets for the Christmas lecture with Loyd Grossman! It’s taking place on Tuesday 1st December at Norwich Cathedral’s new Hostry building.

Tickets are £10, £5 for concessions, with some extra special tickets priced at £15 which includes entry to a reception after the lecture here at Hungate Medieval Art. You’ll get the chance to meet Loyd and there will be complimentary wine and mince pies.

If you’d like to come along contact Dale at Dale.Copley@hungate.org.uk, call 01603 623254 or pop in today!

In other news (I haven’t updated for a while!) we have a workshop going on downstairs at the moment. People are making some lovely stained glass Christmas decorations, I wish I was as well it looks pretty fun! We are also preparing for our ‘Deck the Halls’ event which is taking place next weekend. If you’d like to help us decorate the church pop in between 10 and 4 next Saturday, it will be as medieval as we can make it!

Come to the Norwich Theatre Royal most years and tonight was the night. The Rambert Dance Company (proper title) are the best things on legs and we are most uplifted. (This post is intended to provoke a certain amount of outrage from OS regarding roots betrayal and the depravity of middle-class gayness to which I have sunken.)

i am so hate dering at shaw trust in norwich, when i have get in touch with tanya (bob marsh helper) and said i have an interview for the 26th November (today is 25th Nov) which is short notice for me and they didnt sort out a signer in time!!

so lame!!

also for the NHS norwich admin training on the 30th nov 2009 and which they had not enough funding for a signer too not even from access to work too!!

what the hell going on with you PEOPLE!!

last warning!!

Last Thursday me and the other Graphics lot took a visit to London, to look at the LCC. I have to sayy.. I was very dissapointed. In my opinion, they prided themselves too much on how many people apply, and how many people are’nt lucky enough to get in, other than trying to make a good impression on the open day. Maybe its because I have been to other friendly institutes such as Norwich and Lincoln, but I don’t think I am expecting too much.

I might apply anyway, just to see if I actually had a chance to get into a University like that, but we will see. I just think that it was a great shame, as I was beginning to grow on the idea of actually staying in London, whereas I wouldn’t have given the idea a chance before.

At the moment its a toss up beween NUCA and Lincoln University, but I think I will have to decide closer to the time of interview.

I’ve had a chance to sample the Climate Research Unit hacked email. Some
of them are very bland. Some are collegial and friendly. Some are quite disturbing.

Disturbing becasue of the self-evident closeness with NGOs who have a political agenda as can be seen below:
From: “Wallace, Helen”
To: “‘t.mcmichael@xxxxxxxxx.xxx’” , “‘m.hulme@xxxxxxxxx.xxx’”
Subject: Letter
Date: Thu, 21 Aug 1997 18:21:04 +0100

Dr. M. Hulme
Climatic Research Unit
University of East Anglia
Norwich
NR4 7TJ
Note that the solution they are offering involves an oil company.

What’s also concerning is the lack of respect for the UK’s Freedom of Information Act (FOI):

From: Phil Jones

To: “Michael E. Mann”
Subject: IPCC & FOI
Date: Thu May 29 11:04:11 2008

AR4 is a key report produced by the IPCC in 2007 on Climate Change

If you’ve lived in East Anglia in the last 6ish years or you’ve studied at the University of East Anglia, you will know about Connected Wednsday nights at Optic and how they are, without exception, the best club night in the region by a long, long way.

They started back in Sept 2004 when good friend and fellow promoter David (Smiley) and I decided that Norwich was missing a forward thinking urban club night (literally at this point everywhere played souful house or cheese) and we put our thoughts into action by launching in Freshers week. Entry was £1 and drinks were £2 all night. We had 600 people through the door on our first night, which any promoter will tell you is a job well done. But anyone can rent-a-crowd for a night the difficulty is in longevity, but we had near capacity or capacity nights week in week out every week.

When we were searching for local resident djs, we came across a BBC news article for a lad called Joshua Roberts who had just won an under 18s national DJ competition, judged by Tim Westwood & friends. He was 17 at the time but we thought, what the heck let’s have a chat. We did and it went well, we watched footage of his competition and a live UK Garage mix and he was faultless. Technically, very high enery and his hidden gift too we discovered was his microphone ability – he can seriously hype a crowd better than any other person I’ve worked with. Too many urban nights these days neglect good hosts btw.

Josh had the garage and club classics covered, so we turned to another friend ‘Big Shaz’ for the Hip Hop, RnB & Grime. Now, Big Shaz was a promoters dream – he had a loyal and consistent following and a detailed music bank even though he wasn’t technically gifted, he still tore the roof off those early Connected parties.

It was at this point that I made a concerted effort to learn to DJ and Smiley soon became familar with the microphone too. Shaz stayed with us for about a year until he moved away and Josh was our weekly headliner for about 3 years and only departed because his hectic schedule meant he was constantly abroad, so Smiley and I took over musical duties with the help of UK Garage legend and dear friend, ‘MC Wicked’. Over the years, other djs and hosts have been involved including most recently UK DMC Champion ‘DJ Cable’ and Ipswich’s Lexus but I can’t forget the musical efforts of Beepers, Johnbwoy, Justin, Jason, DJ@War, Brett, Dutty Menace, Sunisa and many others along the way.

We’ve also had some great guest performers at Connected events over the years including Tinchy Stryder, Skepta, JME, Jammer, Bashy, Ghetts, Devlin, DJ Semtex, DJ G Child, Aggro Santos MC Creed, MC Kie & dozens more who I cannot remember right now.

Optic Wednesdays aside, we’ve also had a few of super sell-out events at the University of East Anglia as well as a 2 year residency at Bar Mission in Yarmouth. They’ve been good, but in all honestly, they’ve not come close to Optic Wednesdays.

As they say, all good things come to an end, and the end is now. I’ve been in Norwich for 6 years now and whilst I’ve enjoyed my time in N town, I’ve moved back to London because I miss it. Connected in East Anglia is no more. I’m concentrating on Djing, giving promoting a break for a short while. I dare say I’ll be back to DJ in East Anglia soon, and I might even do some more Connected events should the right offer present itself to me.

When you look back at something you’ve done for 6 years, it’s impossible to remember to thank everyone who has helped you along the way, so I won’t even attempt it, except to thank Tom for his insight and wisdom into running club nights and to Gary for believeing in me in the early days and continuing to allow me to use the venue to do something I loved doing.

Optic is still open on Wednesday nights, and whilst I believe the music had been tailored away from the underground, the club, the people and the vibes are still rocking. Check it out.

Bored of the blockbuster?

Want more than just passive consumption?

The Socialist Party of Great Britain presents a season of film and discussion. If you’d like to watch and discuss film which has something to say about society, the way we live and the way we could live please come and join us at:

The Workshop, 53 Earlham Road, Norwich, NR1 3SP. Restriction free parking is available from where Park Lane and Earlham Road meet or on Havelock Road, 4th left from the Workshop if heading out of town.

Last Saturday of the month, January to March 2010, 2-5pm. ADMISSION FREE

Capitalism and Other Kids Stuff (2005)

Saturday 30th January, 2-5pm

This is a thought-provoking education into the world we live in. Nobody ever watches this movie without leaving highly moved and inspired. It explains how the world’s economic system operates in terms of a crazy and very unfair game that children are playing, and so it captures the imagination of its viewers. A fantastic movie to help understand the politics and economics of our global society, with an aim to establishing an alternative society based on meeting needs, on cooperation rather than competition, and on democratic forms of decision-making instead of top-down hierarchies. This is a movie on the forefront of those who wish to save this planet from worsening global warming, incessant wars, and either widespread physical poverty or profound feelings of spiritual poverty despite our rapacious consumerism. Its alternative is a very realizable future ready for the taking, not a hodge-podge dream. A movie not to be missed! Perfect for showing to groups of people, including high school or college students, the politically minded, and pretty much anybody who wants some answers, as a very unique economics lesson that won’t be quickly forgotten!

The Story of Stuff (2007)

Saturday 27th February, 2-5pm DOUBLE BILL

From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It’ll teach you something, it’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.

Manufacturing Consent (2009)

Saturday 27th February, 2-5pm DOUBLE BILL

Not to be confused with the 1992 film by Noam Chomsky this film by Kapitalism 101 is based around the earlier book with the same name by Michael Burawoy which  from first hand experience analyzed the way in which the labor process generates its own consent.

As the economic crises deepens people have begun to question some of their preconceptions about capitalism. But people have questioned capitalism before. What keeps people from radically challenging our economic order? Why do we consent to the rule of capital? Why do we consent to our own exploitation? This video seeks to offer some insights into the origin of this consent.

Like any other economic order capitalism is a system of social relations- social relations between people as they produce things in order to meet their needs and desires. If we understand that economic orders are not magical, that they aren’t endowed with mystical powers or god-given impermanence, but that economies are social relations of our own creation… if we understand that then we have already taken the first step toward figuring out how to change the world.

Zeitgeist III (TBC)

Saturday 27th March, 2-5pm

‘Zeitgeist, The Movie’ and ‘Zeitgeist: Addendum’ were created as Not-for-Profit expressions to communicate what the author felt were highly important social understandings which most humans are generally not aware of. The first film focuses on suppressed historical & modern information about currently dominant social institutions, while also exploring what could be in store for humanity if the power structures at large continue their patterns of self-interest, corruption, and consolidation.

The second film, Zeitgeist: Addendum, attempts to locate the root causes of this pervasive social corruption, while offering a solution. This solution is not based on politics, morality, laws, or any other “establishment” notions of human affairs, but rather on a modern, non-superstitious based understanding of what we are and how we align with nature, to which we are a part. The work advocates a new social system which is updated to present day knowledge, highly influenced by the life long work of Jacque Fresco and The Venus Project.

Simon Whaley is determined to repay the faith shown by Bantams boss McCall by giving him a chance. The midfielder completed his loan move earlier today after McCall had confirmed at the beginning of the week that he was looking for reinforcements after a heavy list of injuries began to accumulate

The former Preston man has spoken about his fustration after moving to Norwich in the summer and finding his first team places hard to come by since Bryan Gunn was sacked earlier in the season.

More on this story can be found here.

Bradford have made their second loan signing of the season. Midfielder, Simon Whaley, has joined from League One side Norwich City until January 2nd next year,

The former Preston man has already been out on loan at League Two rivals, Rochdale. However they were unable to agree a new deal and the Bantams swooped for the 24 year old.

For more on the signing of Whaley from the official site click here

image by Lorenzo Marvulli

Local bands Rocket In Your Pocket, Red Rash Rosie and newcomers Beaks of Eagles, pathed the way for passing-through art-punk duo, Violet Violet on Wednesday night at Bristol’s gig-a-night venue, The Louisiana.  In the midst of their “The City if Full of Beasts” album promo tour, the girls are no strangers to these parts and drew an impressive mid-week crowd out of hiding.  Opening with the lyrical spelling test, V.u.l.t.u.r.e.s., after a much needed scream and smash around the kit, at no point during the ensuing set do these two retreat into themselves for quiet and introspective contemplation.  Their approach is brash and unrestrained and their objective is outspokenly reached. 

Violet Violet are two luscious ladies from Norwich, Cherie (guitar, effects and vocals), whose stature and piercing eyes compliment her theatrical facial expressions and are comparable to that and those of Nicole Kidman, and Fliss (drums and vocals), whose lovely face we seldom see behind dark, swirling hair, which adds to the drama of her own performance.  Their combined flare, prowess and dominance are an impressive trio of virtues and there’s no warm up or messing about with equipment.  Their set is tight, rehearsed and, for just two people, explosively captivating.  They don’t sing about boring politics or rubbish feelings; they sing about animals and sambucca.  And seriously, who’s to stop them?  Someone needs to cover these important niche details in life.  Riffs and rhythms are weaved together with simple and catchy lyrics and while they may not rehearse scales, rudiments and harmonies as a ritualistic form of daily worship, their mathy uniquness gives them something over such formulaic convention, fit for any alternative crowd.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again; come back and visit soon, ladies!

Este fin de semana, del 13 al 15 de noviembre, fuimos Raquel, Simon, Kiko y yo a Londres. Llevábamos planeándolo mucho tiempo, ya que Norwich está a dos horas de la ciudad en cuestión, y nos decidimos por fin por esos días porque acabamos de entregar los trabajos de la semana 8: la traducción de un texto de la Reina Boudica (de la tribu de los icenos, pueblo de Britania que combatió a los romanos), un assessment y un dossier para francés.

I had a fucking great time in London. It rained a little bit and we slept in a shabby (cutre) hostel the four of us, but I laughed so much and we visited so many places in three days that it was well worth it. We even went to places we didn’t expect to go to like King’s Cross or Covent Garden. Raquel and I get on well with one another (she’s so different from me but so similar in the important things that being with her is really nice), Simon is fucking hilarious and Kiko kept looking after me (more than I would have wanted to, actually), so the trip was awesome. I hope we do another to the coast of Norfolk. Btw, I was the guide again. I’m starting to know the tube of London by heart.

MOMENTOS DEL VIAJE QUE PERMANECERÁN EN LA MEMORIA:

-Laura: London, baby! -Y sus variantes: Stansted, baby! Appendix, baby!

-Laura: From now on, I’m not going to speak a single word in Spanish. -Simon: Bullshit. -Laura: No! I’m serious! [Un rato después] ¡¿Tenemos que esperar una hora por el tren?!

-Laura (a Simon): Oh, have you been to NY? (he nods) Wow! Did you take a taxi? (“yep”) One of the yellow ones? (nodding) Did you call it like in films? (“yep” and nodding) Oh my God, you’re awesome!

-Raquel (a Laura): You’re like our mum. [5 minutos después] Mu-um! Tengo pis.

-Simon y Raquel: Mum, we’re tired!

-Laura (subiendo las escaleras con moqueta rota del hostal, en el que vivíamos en el 5º piso sin ascensor): Esto parece una academia de baile cutre.

-Laura: ¿Me estás diciendo que no hay papelera ni en el baño ni en la habitación? -Raquel: Y la ventana está a punto de caerse a la calle. Ah, tenemos que ir a comprar unas chanclas porque en las duchas puede haber hongos.

-Raquel (en el KFC echando ketchup a la hamburguesa): [Voz tierna] ¿Quién quiere ketchup?. [Voz tenebrosa] El pollo muerto quiere ketchup.

-Simon (a Laura, por la noche, en la litera): [Voz cavernosa] “Sweaty” dreams, mum.

-Raquel (a Simon, por la noche): Cuando quieras, tírame de la cama.

-Irlandés sucio y mal vestido que hablaba español y estudiaba económicas (en el metro): I mean… no sé, I mean… supongo.

-Raquel (mirando a Simon hacer una foto con su súper cámara): Y ahora es cuando Simon hace la foto del siglo. Yo haré la misma, pero la mía será cutre y la suya quedará absolutamente perfecta.

-Raquel (a Laura): Mum! I can’t sleep! And I can’t count sheep ’cause they’re uncountable!

-Laura (observando que la parte de delante del nórdico está sucia y la de atrás es el final): I have a problem. This is the end.

-Simon (por la mañana, cuando vino de ducharse): Good morning, sunshine!

-ESCENA DEL KFC EN CAMDEN TOWN: 1. Raquel: ¿Has visto la cola del baño? Yo creo que toda esta gente está aquí únicamente para ir al baño. Para eso hicieron el KFC. -Laura: Jajaja, sí, primero había un baño y después decidieron construir alrededor un KFC. Pusieron las paredes… Fue muy rentable, realmente.  2. Raquel: El caso es que la habitación no está tan mal comparada con el resto del hostal. -Laura: Tiene que haber algo raro en la habitación. No es normal que esté tan bien. A lo mejor hay droga que nos coloca y nos hace verla así. -Raquel: ¡Claro, por eso lo único que vemos mal es la ventana! ¡Porque al estar rota, entra el aire y dispersa los polvos!

ESCENA DE LOS BAÑOS DE LIVERPOOL STREET: Raquel: ¿Has visto cómo mola el secador? ¡Tienes que meter las manos en ese hueco! -Laura: ¡Qué guay! Esto ya vale los 20 peniques que hemos tenido que pagar. En realidad, primero estaba este secador, y como la gente se meaba haciendo cola para probarlo, construyeron alrededor unos baños.

-Raquel (a Simon y Laura, sentados los tres en una de las literas de arriba y mirándonos al espejo de enfrente): Parece que nos acaban de operar de apendicitis.

-ESCENA DEL PRIMARK (grandes almacenes): Laura: No, eso está mal, estamos en Picadilly Street. Sorry, in what street are we? -Señora: In Oxford Street. -Laura: WHAT?!

-Kiko: ¿”Fuckingly” se puede decir? -Raquel: ¿no crees que ya se pueden hacer suficientes derivados con la palabra “fuck”?

-Raquel (en Camden Town): ¿Me compro la camiseta del gorila con plátanos en las orejas o la del monstruo de las galletas esnifando rayas de galletas? -Laura: … Es difícil elegir.

-Raquel (emocionada hablando con Laura de arte en el British Museum y la National Gallery): Creo que estamos pasando de la raja de Simon y Kiko.

-Laura: I’ve lost £ 5. -Simon: Of weight??

-Simon (haciendo una broma sobre otra amiga, Jen, con la que quedamos de vernos en Londres): Jen, meet us in London. You know, in the corner of the street. Where there are cars, and buses, and there’s sky, and clouds… where they make bread…

-Laura (mirando el bolso, después de que un chico choque con ella): Y ahora es cuando me roban la cartera.

-Malabarista de cuchillos con falda escocesa en Covent Garden (su ayudante era Chris, un señor sonriente): DANGER! NUDITY! … And Chris!

-Kiko (hablando de la tarjeta con la que viajábamos en metro y en bus, llamada Oyster Card): FBOyster.

-Laura (mirando la foto que nos hizo una chica en la que se suponía que tenía que salir la catedral de St Paul): ¡Y no ha sacado St Paul’s! -Raquel: Vete a buscarla y dile: “¿tú ves St Paul’s aquí? ¿Lo ves?”

-ESCENA DEL RESTAURANTE CERCA DE BUCKINGHAM PALACE: -Camarera: Españoles, ¿no? ¿Qué queréis de beber? -Simon: What did she say? -Laura: You can speak English. He doesn’t understand Spanish. -[5 minutos después] Raquel: No me puedo creer que hayamos tenido que pedirle a una camarera en un bar típico inglés de Londres que hable inglés.

-Simon y Laura (tirados en la litera, bebiendo cerveza y escuchando a los Beatles): Hey, jude… Don’t make it bad… Take a sad song… and make it better… -Laura: Oh my God, this is so depressing…

-Laura y Raquel (rodeados de españoles en una pizzería): Se quedarán con Gibraltar, pero no con Pizza Hut.

-ESCENA DE LA TORRE DE LONDRES: Laura: Sorry, when does the Tower close? -Guard: At 4. -Laura: Can we go in? (refiriéndose al paseo que se abría más allá de la caseta) -Guard: What time is it? -Laura: Er… 7 o’clock. -Guard: [Silencio. Mirada británica] So… -Laura: Ok! Thank-you!

-Raquel (buscando el andén 9 y 3/4 en King’s Cross): Por alguna razón estoy tan nerviosa…

-Laura: Westminster Abbey is the building the most difficult of taking pictures… The most difficult building of taking pictures of… HOW IS IT?!? -Simon (perfecto acento americano): Westminster Abbey is the most difficult building to take pictures of.

-Raquel (en el London Eye): ¿Y si no salimos? A lo mejor nos sacan con un gancho como el de los socorristas.

-Laura (esperando por el bus a Stansted): ¿Doblas los billetes de bus? -Raquel: Me gusta correr riesgos.

-Simon: Norwich, baby!

Driving home from “The Music House”, I started singing what became a new song titled, “Summer Girl” I think what I enjoyed most was going beyond verse, chorus, bridge and brought into it a jazzy instrumental pick where I am visiting some new chords (to me).

In preparation for this “The Gatehouse”, I kept thinking of a song I wrote, which I called “Song for Josh” ; which was a tribute to the late Josh Sithole, who like myself enjoyed playing on the streets as well as in pubs and restaurants. (etc) Well, after searching through some unpacked boxes (after 2 years in England I am still unpacking LOL) I located the Mother Load and by that I mean a pile of songs, handwritten mostly which have already begun to go brown and some are even fragmenting.

*)(**)(*

Shigechiyo Izumi - Lived 120 years

Most of us will not live as long as this guy. We can only hope that we live long enough to learn wisdom enough to pass on to the next generation.

( The Dead Sea Scrolls and Biblical Authority )

*)(**)(*

The rain and cold meant a poor turnout and I am sure anyone reading this blog, who lives in Norwich (UK) will know exactly what I mean. For most it is better to stay indoors and not venture forth, but for those who made the effort it was a fun evening.

I forgot to play ‘Song for Josh’, but I played “Summergirl” twice, and during the early part of the evening, I ventured into some early Crosby, Stills and Nash, in particular “Southern Cross”, “Just A Song Before I Go”, “Woodstock”, “Marakesh Express” and “Wasted On The Way”….

Listen to my playlist: Strings We Are Many

Among the many songs I dug out of my back collection dating back to 1987, which is when I first ‘hit the road’, were “Mr Soul” – one of Neil Young’s early tunes, from Buffalo Springfield days,

…..and I played “Out On the Weekend”

…as well as his nail biting, “kEeP oN rOcKiNg iN tHe FrEe WoRlD”…

I wanted to play “Lazy Sunday Afternoon”,

…….but that will have to wait as I am again searching for a new place to play….”Guitarman” (Bread)

To book me: katoikei@googlemail.com

pEaCe!

Eric.

Norfolk Non-Aligned Association is an organisation soon to be launched for all those who are interested in the formation of a campaigning group that aims to take on the uselessness and  impotence of government, be it local or national,  aswell as the self-serving political organisations that our councillors and so-called leaders belong to.

We are not a political party and have no interest in the vestiges of power. We may however stand in elections if it is determined to be of benefit to and by working-class people.

We describe ourselves as being non-aligned. In simple terms that means we have no links with, or answer to,  any political party be they left wing or right. Neither do we owe any allegiance to the left or right. Our interests are solely in the representation of working-class people by working-class people.

When we work together we leave our own ideological and political differences to the side as much as possible and concentrate on what we have in common, and as a result are able to work better towards our goals, which we see as anything that advances the well-being of our own class-the working class, who we believe do not have a voice and are not represented. Neither do we believe we ever have been or are likely to be represented while the current political pantomime is in play.

We are always open to direction from like-minded people with a focus on member consensus, as opposed to a hierarchical top down form of politics that is so prevalent in the political landscape in this country today. This means we have no leaders or positions of authority but obviously appoint people to carry out certain roles due to their own life skills that can be of benefit to this organisation.

We have members who believe in the electoral system and those that have given up on it.  That does not mean these members have no voice. On the contrary, we aim to get back on the streets making all our voices heard loud and clear and to hold accountable all those in positions of power who supposedly represent working class people. They tax all of us irrespective of political preferences!

Norfolk Non-Aligned Association has no interest in working alongside the liberal left who cry racist at the drop of a hat. Some people are concerned for example, that ‘cheap European labour’ can make it impossible for individuals in our community to ‘compete’ in the jobs market. Whether one agrees with this or not, just because somebody brings the subject up does not make them a racist. Ignoring contentious issues is of no benefit to any of us.

Likewise we see Labour’s multicultural experiment as having been divisive and has caused major difficulties in our community. Well meaning or not, problems with this particular political model are plain to see.

Sickeningly there are also many individuals and leaders of ‘communities’who seem to be profiting from multiculturalism.

As one political commentator, Paul Stott, put it…

“If there is such a thing as a black community, or a Muslim community, or a Vietnamese community, there is by definition surely a white community. And just as ‘community leaders’ emerge to represent the Muslim community and to lobby on its behalf, we cannot  proclaim ourselves to be shocked when someone steps up to say they represent the ‘white’ community. Whatever THAT is.”

Another, Theodore Dalrymple writes…

“Multiculturalism has created an informal system, like the late Ottoman empire’s millet system, in which various groups receive their privileges but are expected to live separately and distinctly from everyone else. This serves to prevent the various groups from developing any common identity and stimulates the ascent of political entrepreneurs whose power depends on the maintenance, aggravation, and inflammation of supposed grievances.”

Norfolk Non-Aligned Association is only interested in one ‘community’, our working class community and THAT community has no colour, black or white.

We are not interested in being politically correct only to end up becoming politically impotent. If our opinions and views upset some people’s middle-class values then we are quite possibly on the right track!

However, do not be confused. We have no time for organised hate groups spreading derision, fear and racism in our community no matter what colour they claim to represent.

Norfolk Non-Aligned Association aim to turn it up a notch. Sitting back and accepting the fact that most of us have to break our backs just to get by, while the wealthy barely notice the economic downturn, is no longer acceptable to us.

Neither is it acceptable that no council housing has been built by the state for well over a generation. This simply has to change, and if it means us camping out in the gardens of local MP’s and councillors then so be it. We no longer plan to be out of sight and out of mind.

If you have news or an issue you wish to discuss, or are simply looking for advice on benefits, housing or any other problem that involves local government bureaucracy, please get in touch and we’ll do our best to help.

Yo!

We’re happy to announce that we’ll be putting on a series of workshops, live events and club nights in the new year! These will be pitched at the younger crowd, aged 13-19.

However, we have other things in the pipeline for those of you who are 18+ ..keep an eye out, we’ll update you as soon as we can!

The events for 13-19 year olds will hopefully be held at Open in Norwich, the new £12 million youth facility in the city centre! As soon as we have the go ahead and a date set, we’ll update you!

Should be exciting stuff!

Popwich, pour survivre dans l’environnement hostile décrit dans l’article précédent, pour évacuer la lourde pression qu’elle a sur les épaules en ce moment et les multiples tentatives d’assassinats de la déesse greco-anglo-chinoise Athéna (voir article de Popwich), avait besoin d’un animal de compagnie. Forcément ! Quelque chose qui ne serait pas encombrant, quelque chose de mignon, de doux, quelque chose de calme et de reposant. Et ce quelque chose, elle l’a trouvé !

En effet, courant dans les environs de Poplar Avenue, Norfab et Popwich découvrirent une prairie enchantée (alors qu’ils n’étaient absolument pas essoufflés, note pour Laurent), peuplée de petits quadrupèdes trapus, velus et hennissants. Enchantés de cette découverte, Popwich se mit instamment à inspecter chaque habitant de cette prairie de rêve… Exit les trop grand, les trop grosses têtes (un article sur Gandalf à venir), les pelages rugueux ou, plus simplement, les vilains.

Finalement, après un long tri, elle découvrit enfin celui qui allait l’aider à relativiser…

Et ce quelqu’un a déjà un nom. Je vous présente… Fluffy !

Les photos parlent d’elles-mêmes.

Publié par Norfab

Ce soir, je lance un cri d’alarme sur l’état de pauvreté avancée de notre “cul-de-sac” (prononcez keule-de-sac), voie sans issue des plus démunis, terminus de tout espoir, impasse des comptes créditeurs. Je vais faire un petit rappel géographique avant tout, les Crésus locaux que nous sommes ont pu commander une vue satellite de la scène, Poplar Avenue :

(nous vous faisions coucou au moment de la photographie prise il y a 5 ans)

Comme j’ai l’esprit économe ce soir, et qu’une image vaut mille discours, voici quelques clichés de notre keule-de-sac. Âmes sensibles s’abstenir. Veuillez écarter les enfants de moins de 12 ans des écrans. Voici des images… terribles.

Un état de délabrement alarmant !

Des arbres... pour cacher une misère palpable !

Et voilà une Jaguar... Volée certainement !

Le choc a dû être intense et, comme vous pouvez l’imaginer, vivre dans cette petite rue verdoyante, calme et paisible n’est pas simple tous les jours quand on est encerclé par cette pauvreté. Mais nous survivons, slalomant entre les jaguars, dans cet environnement très inquiétant.

Rassurez-vous, tout va bien !

Publié par Norfab

I try to eat at locally owned restaurants and I try to shop at locally owned businesses. I accomplished both things this Saturday. A gold star for me, I suppose.

Wife L and I took advantage of the terrific weekend weather and drove south, first to Bowman Lake State Park, which is west and south of Norwich.

Bowman Lake

It was quite a find for us. A gorgeous lake that has a nice little beach for the summer months. We found a trail that brings you around the lake; a bit mucky at times, but a nice stroll. We were too late for the fall leaves, but the sun threw diamonds on the water, putting us in a warm frame of mind as we fought off the breeze that had just a bit of bite to it.

There is a boathouse, with kayaks, row boats, and paddle boats on standby for summer. The campsites seemed well-kept and varied, and it looked like a great place to hole up for a few days come warmer weather.

After our walk we wound our way back to Norwich and found ourselves, quite happily, at  Nina’s Pizzeria and Restaurant, which sits on the west side of Route 12.

Colleague C had recommended Nina’s  some time ago, and we finally had a chance to try it. We thought it was great. Good Italian food and good prices. We had a baked ziti and a rigatoni with meatballs. We both thought the sauce was terrific, which is huge when you’re talking Italian. The portions were huge, and we had plenty to bring back to Daughter B for her dinner.

A nice crisp salad had started things off nicely, and warm bread was a solid accompaniment. Our entrees were around  $8. Quite a bargain considering the quality and quantity. 

I found a couple of bargains across the street, too, at McLaughlin’s Department Store. This shop has been in Norwich since 1975 and it is still in the McLaughlin family.

I’m a horrible shopper. I’d almost rather be at the dentist. I hem and I haw, and I tug at clothes and ponder many deep thoughts before making a purchase. I admit it’s painful to watch and painful to experience. That’s why I make shopping excursions as often as the swallows return to Capistrano.

But McLaughlins came through for me, as a snazzy winter coat is in the closet waiting for the onset of another CNY winter, and a Columbia long sleeve shirt is poised in the closet, waiting for the first cross-country ski trip.

I had felt compelled to send a cell phone photo of the coat to Daughter B before making the decision to buy, to get an objective appraisal.  A texted thumbs up sealed the deal.

Gold stars all around.

Últimamente, no sé por qué, prefiero contar mi vida valiéndome de listas. Quizá porque digo lo mismo pero de forma indirecta. Haré un resumen de la semana que termina.

-Trabajos para la próxima semana: 3
-Trabajos hechos: 1 y medio
-Profesores que tengo: 4
-Profesores odiados: 2 y medio
-Pares de botas comprados: 1 (40 libras bien invertidas)
-Idiomas hablados: 6
-Palabrotas usadas: unas 20
-Veces que Sonia me ha reñido por decir palabrotas: unas 7 (procuro evitarla)
-Uñas que me he mordido: 9
-Veces que Kiko o Sonia me han pegado en la mano por morderme las uñas: 17 (tienen la extraña idea de que cada vez que me llevo la mano a la boca es para morderme)
-Chicos que me gustan: 2
-Chicos a los que les gusto: 2 (sólo uno coincide con lo anterior)
-Chicos a los que he rechazado: 1
-Chicos de los que me estoy enamorando: 1
-Veces que mi corazón ha sufrido un vuelco, que he temblado o tartamudeado: 37
-Veces que he deseado que me venga la regla: 8
-Veces que he creído que me había venido: 2
-Veces que me ha venido: 0
-Veces que me han dicho que no me pueden poner la vacuna: 5
-Vacunas que me van a poner: 0
-Años desperdiciados de vacuna: 2
-Eventos a los que hemos asistido: 3
-Eventos que nos hemos perdido: 6
-Veces que he escuchado “Faraway” de Apocalyptica: 12
-Veces que he pensado que es una canción orgásmica: 15
-Tardes en la biblioteca: 4
-Veces que he dicho “PDF” en lugar de “Power Point”: 7
-Películas en inglés: 2
-Películas en francés: 1
-Libros en inglés: 60 páginas (qué? es por placer)
-Libros en francés: 1
-Libros comprados: 5
-Viajes fuera de Norwich: 1 (Cambridge) y la semana que viene otro (Londres)
-Días que he escrito en mi diario: 3
-Veces que me he saltado una página en mi diario: 2
-Personas de mi familia que necesitan operación: 2
-Personas de mi familia graves: 0
-Veces que he llorado: 1
-Veces que he tenido hambre: 30
-Trozos de chocolate Cadbury: 15
-Crêpes: 1
-Compañeros de piso con los que me llevo: 12/14
-Compañeros que me llaman cuando hay fiestas: 0
-Noches en las que estoy en mi habitación cuando hay una fiesta: 0
-Momentos incómodos / violentos: 6
-Borracheras: 3 (ninguna seria)
-Borracheras en las que he tenido que beber cada vez que hablo español: 1
-Veces que he jugado a “Ring of fire”: 9
-Veces que me he disfrazado: 3
-Veces que he imitado a un ornitorrinco (“platypus”): 5
-Veces que he tenido que beber sin parar hasta que termine “God save the queen”: 2
-Veces en las que me he cagado en el himno inglés: 6
-Veces que he tenido que ponerme una cacerola en la cabeza y obedecer las absurdas órdenes de mis amigos: 1
-Veces que me he cagado en los ingleses: 17
-Veces que he escrito algo por placer: 0 (qué me pasa?)
-Veces que he llamado a Simon “English tool”: 5
-Abrazos que he compartido con Raquel: 14
-Veces que hemos traducido “fucking” literalmente: 25
-Veces que he dicho la frase: “no quiero puto irme de aquí”: 50

Ellie, Fan, Raquel, Simon y yo en Cambridge

i have been trying to find an job and failed…

here an list:

Sainsbury - when i got an job interview at sansburys, long water lane, norwich

when they ask you about question about Imagine you working in sansburys as i think those questions are noesy about what u doing in thier supermarket..

so lame

also when i dont got an job their and i phoned up and they put i am nervous, but i am bloody thinking!!!

what an pain in the ass

sence in dereham – i been invite for an interview in dereham which takes me around 30mins to drive there and been asking with questions that for apply that job and takes me an while to understand all those questions they been asked… then i have an email saying i didnt get that job (waste 30mins to dereham from aylsham and waste of time!!!)

norse in norwich – i been sending my application form via email and been waiting for weeks for reply and nothing.. they rang and they said sorry didnt have time to send all emails that not meet the jobs that they looking for..(REPLY ALL EMAIL YOU LAZY SODS!)

Keys in aylsham – i been speading 2 days on writing an form to apply that job + short interview (20 mins) and fail to meet the points for to face people and they are lazy to get an support worker for to work and they are rushing!! lazy sods!

Yes, its November, and I think today its made it pretty clear that Winter has settled in. I haven’t really got much too share with you in terms of imagry, so its just a quick update on what projects we’re dealing with right now.

CD DESIGN
This is a typography project, so I’m hoping I can get some pretty good ideas across! After last years project on designing my own type, I have really gotten into typography. I’ve had a few ideas, but nothing thats got me terribly excited as of yet. I’ll post good ideas as they come to me I guess.

Personal Development (Uni Stuff)
Went tooo Lincoln on Saturday just goneee, and went to look at the University there. I quite liked it, so I’m thinking its going down as a second choice, cause I still think Norwich is the one for me. It has nice accomodation, and from what I’ve heard the studios are nice too. I didn’t stay too long as I wasn’t feeling to great! Going to the UCAS fair with College in a couple of weeks, and then the day after back to London to see the LCC.

Book Cover Design
Our joint group with the photography lot, we have to make three Book covers, based on three random searches on Wikipedia. Mine was Laguna, RAF Squadron and New Your City Subway. I took some pictures of newspapers today to support my cover on New York City Subway, and like some of the results.

From the Financial Times, lol

Adverstising
Last but not least, it advertising on a Friday. We’ve been set a new brief to create an advert for a charity of our choice. I’ve got a few ideas, but kinda want to work them out before putting anything on here. But will do soon, promise!

In the week off, I tried to do as much work as possible, but found myself decorating my brothers room. Also, driving is going well, so I’m hoping that it won’t be too long till I can take my test. More updates soooooon

image by Lorenzo Marvulli

I am instantly drawn to the friendly bearded face of Sam Taylor and scarlet-haired Hannah Richardson on the balcony at Bristol’s Watershed.  Their welcome is shy, but inviting as they appear as pleased to be making my acquaintance as I am to be making theirs.  Although I haven’t seen them on stage yet, I am instantly fond of these two as personalities and particularly to Sam’s crimson, crushed-velvet blazer.  However, I keep this little truth-nugget to myself as I’d never be able to wear it with the same ease and nonchalance.  Adelaide’s Cape have been writing and playing together since 2006, and specialise in acoustic and folk music with variations in percussive accompaniment, but that’s just fact and I want juice.

I press record, take a sip of tonic water and Sam tells me that although he originated from Scotland in an accent that has received a remoulding of sorts, he has been in Norwich for the past eight years.  Since Adelaide’s Cape’s conception when they were still at school, the duo have undergone many changes in dynamics and stage appearance with Sam and Hannah standing their ground as the two constant members.  I instantly want to know how they manage to generate and sustain a presence in Norwich, London and now Bristol, the “Spacious Triangle” as I put it. As it happens, the two now live and study full-time in neighbouring Bath.  Trains.  Trains, trains, trains.  Two hours later, laden with bulky and occasionally heavy instruments, they’re doing what they do best on another patch of turf.  It’s all too common to meet bands who start out concentrating and end up stagnating in the locality.  These two, doing it for themselves, seem comfortable with their life choices and are content with the results.

Having listened to their recordings on the myspace page (insert link), more than two instruments are sounding so I’m keen to know who is making all the ruckus.  Although Sam is a keen guitarist and vocalist and Hannah a trained percussionist with an assortment of celtic and tribal influences, they speak highly of a long list of collaborators who continue to make their way in the music industry in different parts of the country.  The duo tell of plans to recruit Hannah’s new housemate as bassist and Sam’s mate on accordian.  It’s all go, go, go, and with the Oxjam festival in Norwich, immediately followed by a recording sesh to nail the EP, Sam continues and tells me that the forthcoming Christmas period is going to be particularly busy with a tall order of gigs in London along with a recording session for the BBC.  Although, in his exicted state, the initials BBC trip over his tongue sounding like “Cbeebies” and I question their intended demographic.  A shared cachinnation later, and it turns out that they write and perform for all manner of human people and everything else.

I put a couple of influences to them to gauge their reactions and Nick Drake strikes a particular chord.  They both laugh as they frequently hear such post-gig comparisons.  I also venture a similarity in Sam’s voice to a young Damien Rice, and he isn’t at all offended so we move on.  A natural departure from such an interrogation is what their first musical selections.  I nod politely as Sam offers the Stereophonics’ “Performance and Cocktails”, but grunt and have to contort my face as Hannah surprises me with Destiny’s Child debut.  She swiftly justifies the revelation by reminding me that Beyoncé is a cool chick (which I interpret as “sexy”) and a compromise is reached.

On the origins of the band name, I am told that it is better than the previous suggestion, but not what that previous suggestion was.  Hannah passes the question to Sam, who explains that while the significance of the words isn’t overwelming, the pleasing assonance of them is.  There’s a meeting of the minds as we all recall the Cellar Door scene from Donnie Darko and I permit the name.

image by Lorenzo Marvulli

Although the cape have recently moved to Bath to follow their academic dreams (Hannah dreams of events management while Sam ponders poetry, prose and stirring narratives), their favourite venue remains the Arts’ Centre in Norwich.  That said, the decision to hit the south-west was partly fuelled by Bath’s proximity to the artistic hub of Bristol where a line-up of many future gigs are to follow.  In particular, the enthusiasm for the prospect of free noodles as performers at Mr Wolf’s is justified and genuine.  We hope that the Bristolian bohemia is enough to suspend their excitement and entice them over again and again.

I hit the duo with a small collection of random questions in order to create a firm mental image of who they are aside from their music.  Both Sam and Hannah agree on cats over dogs and green over red.  Winning me over with these two crucial details, they soon become divided – Sam’s a cheese man, where as Hannah represents chalk all the way.  On discovering that Sam is a tight-leg over loose-breif kind of guy, Hannah brings this line of interrogation to a sharp but necessary conclusion when retorting, “that’s a silly question”.  Yeah, but I curtsey them to this moment for humouring me.

As the two are on the brink of signing to Norwich based indie label, Barefeet Records, all eyes are to be kept peeled for further releases coming soon.  So, it is on this tuneful note that I decide to close things with a fill-the-blanks question as everyone loves them.  At least those who aren’t giving the answer love them.  “We make *blank* for *blank*”, I propose, and after several attempts, I’m content that both blanks are filled with the word “folk”.  Sam’s exploits and endeavours into creative writing are indubitably going to cement themselves into the minds of his attentive listeners and fellow lyricists, while their combined musicianship and talent for acoustic song-writing will move even the more passive listener.  Look these two up and venture a hello as it will be received with gratitude and friendly banter.

Hurrah. This weekend sees the return of the 18-wheeler ploughfest that is Sparks in the Park in Earlham Park in Norwich. I won’t be there. The older I get, the more I value my sanity. That’s not to say I haven’t been there before. The last time I went was about 4 years ago when, as usual, it was a little big too cold, wet and miserable to be spectacularly enjoyable anyway, but even then, it was like something out of a waking nightmare. The peculiar sensation of being herded into an enormous pen, in the dark, with about 20,000 loon-faced ankle-tagged troglodites gurning into cans of special brew, the bonkers lighting of the travelling fairground shining off their large shiny foreheads, is one I choose not to experience twice. I caught sight of a friend who had moved down to London and had just come up to visit with his wife, just as he slowly sank out of view between the teeming mass of Fiveways escapees, mouthing the words  ‘help me’, with a cold stare of inevitability writ large on his face. I never saw him again.

Its not so much the experience on the night which turns me off the whole event, its the aftermath, relayed nightly, in aghast detail, in the Evening News. It looks like it will be a perfect November evening on Saturday, with just the right combination of damp and soggy ground, so that when it comes to packing all the travelling toys back in their boxes and trundling on to the cheese fair in Chelmsford, or whereever these thing go, the conditions will be ideal for ploughing. That is, ploughing up Earlham Park with articulated montrosities, attempting hill starts up a greased-up grassy 1 in 5 in the rain, like something out of Its a Knockout. I can almost hear Stuart Hall cackling away as great tracts of once-usable green space are flung around by the spinning wheels of a 1983 Volvo truck, hitting passing dog-walkers and families on a Sunday stroll. The state of that park after the tractor-pulling event is over is more like a great war re-enactment than a place where I can use jumpers for goalposts and have a nice cup of tea in a shed, looking out over the B1108 for stolen Vauxhall Novas.

I’ll be nibbling home-made carrot cakes and locally sourced sausages in buns, as I warm my hands around a crackling little community fire, oohing and aahing at the delicate little explosions put on for the benefit of the select few friends of the Plantation Garden, counting the Mini Boden wellies, and sharing stories of planning applications. You’d expect nothing less.

PERHAPS the most important result outside the top two divisions so far was at Elland Road, when Charlton took just a point from Leeds.

Perhaps it’s too soon to be billing that game as a title decider but, to my way of thinking, that’s exactly what it was.

Leeds are by far and away the strongest side in the division and the Addicks might well regret their failure to rein in Leeds’ early lead, even just a little, more than they might currently suppose.

League 1 seems to become more competitive with every passing week, particularly in terms of the resurgence of the three former Premier League sides relegated last season.

Charlton have already caught the eye this season, pressing Leeds at the top of the table, but Norwich and Southampton increasingly look like they might have a say on what happens at the top of the table, even if they might not be making their own claims for promotion.

The Outlook Index and our forecasted final table show the position nicely, with Leeds a country mile ahead at the moment.

They are currently also the most in-form side with an impressive +11 Trend figure, the highest in the division.

Taken with their 24-point advantage on the  Index ratings, Leeds, as I’ve already said at least twice this season, are as close to nailed on for the League 1 title as any side in England at the moment – even if, as we discovered this week, we don’t actually know who owns the fallen Yorkshire giants.

The notional battle for second place also has its fair share of fallen big boys with Leeds and Norwich both seeking an immediate return to the Championship.

Southampton are the exception, given that they have had to clear the ten-point deduction they received for going into administration.

On the plus side, like fellow south coasters Portsmouth, in the short term at least, they seem to have staved off the threat of closure.

Looking at the Index ratings at the end of last season, it’s interesting to see how each has fared since dropping down, without the distortion of the league table to mess with our perspective of current affairs.

Given the state these sides were in at the end of last season, they must all be fairly pleased with the first part of their seasons.

Norwich might have lost a manager along the way but the worry for all three clubs must have been that after dropping into the mire, they would have kept on falling, a scenario that does not currently appear likely.

However, that form has largely been a continuation of what we saw at the end of last season when Charlton, despite relegation, actually ended the campaign with a +6 Trend figure.

For the other two sides the picture was more cloudy.

Even now, Southampton are labouring with a negative Trend figure which will probably prevent them recovering from the points deficit fast enough to reach the play-offs.

But, while they remain anchored to the bottom of the table, the conversation among less evolved types is always going to be about whether they can avoid a second successive relegation.

My points forecast is quite conclusive in its finding that the Saints will not start next year in League 2 which makes me wonder if there’s a chance to lay them to go down.

Liquidity is low in this markets but there has been plenty of short money matched on them dropping and I can still see the opportunity to oppose Saints for the drop at around 6.