About this blog….

I needed an outlet for my ramblings and here it is.

Hopefully my friends (my friends… my friends …….. my friends ………….) far and near will be able to keep abreast of my current goings on but more importantly there are so many good things to share!

Who knows what content will be covered? I would imagine music, LP covers I love, arts, marketing, conspiracy theory, science fiction rubbish, the West Midlands and a few personal bug bears will pass this way but why nail a flag to the floor when you don’t have a floor?

Poetry Pressure

I was really delighted to be challenged on the fact that I cannot just write poetry whenever I want. I always thought that I could only deliver when the mood would take me or when the full moon washed down upon a white goat traversing a rope bridge at midnight … but suffice to say it appears with the correct level of quiet and contemplation prose is availabe in my repetoire!

Artist in resident, Nick Ripley, a performance poet and amazing photographer introduced this to me and two fellow workers in what became and inspiring and s

My Daughter…

When we found out we were expecting our second child both me and my partner wondered how we would find enough love for another beautiful liitle being.  How could you find or share what we had been experiencing with our first child. I think this is a common feeling that parents have when they start to understand that they will have to divide up these moments that the first born has only ever known.

I wondered how the first would react with this vastly decreased attention. I felt as though I was a traitor and depriving my first child of all the things that he had come to love. Finally I worried that I might not have enough love to share around…

… how silly this now seems now my lovely daughter has arrived. At first you spend the first two weeks trying to do everything … and then it just happens .. you find the family pattern and you realise that you will always have more than enough love to share with your beautiful family.

Amber is so different to Wilson – she has patience, she is tougher, less sensitive and has grown up sharing the massive amounts of love our family generate. She has grown up differently – with the second you realise how difficult you made it,  what is important and what isn’t and you start to get that children who’s every need is catered for immediately do not nesscessarily make the most rounded children.

Amber doesn’t have as much 1-2-1 attention that Wilson had but she has just as much love and the same special place in my heart…

Big Daddy

Yesterday it was time to view  some primary schools for my little boy. Time has flown so quickly … he still seems so young.  So with our best intentions in mind off we went. When you are new to an area and this is your first child it is a hard thing. Ofsted reports, school results, how religious, atmosphere, distance from home, head teacher, creative elements, music, diversity… the list goes on!

The weird thing is that everyone has an opinion and it is also very political when you live in a small village. We have gone for viewing large numbers but this just makes things worse. The ofsted report doesn’t match to the results, the results don’t match to the quality of teaching and the ethos of the person showing you around doesn’t match to the happiness of the staff or children.

To a certain extent you need to go on gut instinct but it does make you wonder why the government operate ofsteds when the experience simply doesn’t match.

There is something to be said for dynamic staff who have not feel into the local authority … I just get paid for doing this.

In the end when you visit the school you love you just know as soon as you enter. Most people think that Primary is not as important but a good Primary teacher who is inspirational will open up a child to a path of possibilities for life!

I’m following my instinct and as a parent no report can deliver what this primeval guide delivers when you make your final decisions for who has responsability for inspiring your child.

May the force be with you!

Marketing Street Art

I’m loving my job at the moment it provides a unique challenge every day. Today was a good day. When things swing your way and strategic partners buy into your ideas it feels really sweet.

In Coventry CVOne everything in the inner ring road for the council and in my experience do a great job. From city centre marketing, street cleaning, conferences and retail development they pitch in really well.

I met with one of their team this morning who run with a quite wacky idea and saw the potential for the city. As a museum and gallery marketing team we are going into uncharted territory promoting a street art exhibition.

The very nature of the artform means that many of the artists are any establishment. Therefore getting approval for marketing images within a brand identity has been challenging.  However it has provided some unique opportunities that I look forward to sharing through this blog as it unfolds…

Art Fund Prize …. It’s all about the audience

It’s been an amazing 12 months at work. We have increased visitor figures from 80 – 320,000 visitors, won the Guardian Family Friendly Kids In Museums Award and been short listed for the Art Fund Prize 2010.

It’s not beyond us to go all the way if we are the type of museum the judges fancy… We struggled to keep up with the quantity of votes for the other venues but the quality was quite astounding … we find out on Wednesday.

Coventry has what many would describe as a non traditional museum and art gallery visitor demographic, the country’s highest rate of underage pregnancy and some social and economic challenges. We have worked with these preconceptions and met the whole of the community we serve with a cultural experience that should resonate with them.

Fingers crossed the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum may just win the hearts and minds of the judges as it has the local community and reward the hardwork of the staff and thank the most important people in all this … the audience.

For getting over their fears, for engaging with us when they might have thought it was not for them, for taking risks, being both inspired and inspirational and for helping to bring Life to Arts and History… fingers crossed for the people … www.welovetheherbert.co.uk

Word

Is Shit. Let’s face it how many times has it changed that paragraph above your cursor to times roman and changed the font size without you asking. Shit I tell you. Amen.

Practicality vs Theory

Oh my oh my… I’m a pragmatist. Mock me. Shock me. Tell me I’m impulsive, short sighted and not strategic.

Oh my oh my … You are a theorist. You can’t get anything done. You have your head in the clouds. Your talk is noodling twaddle.

For the record I find the above simplied example of shortsighted pragmatism such a bore. I am indeed a pragmatist but having worked planning communications strategy for many years can use this experience to work strategically when required without the crutch of the aforementioned plan.

 The main problem with us pragmatists is that we are far too busy delivering work (often based on the considered needs of others) to explain the theory or reasoning behind our actions.

Result: things get done, are effective but leave some people feeling unheard and the pragmatist open to criticism.

The alternative is what. Well we could spend time debating the way forward, examing different theories basied on personal opinon, best practice and being inclusive and choose a way forward.

Result: The same – that’s what we pragmatists do anyway - we just don’t have time to discuss this into the realms of infinity.  

…. Not sure what I’m trying to illustrate here as obviouly I have not planned it out …. so with my compulsive, impulsive torrent of unsubstansiated mindless drivel over … I better get on with some work.

Beyond Skin – Nitin Sahwney

 

One most must agree with here. Well known and well played this album rocks. What appeals to be personally isn’t just the diversity of urban, classical asian, hip hop and desi beats but more the accomplishment of the tracks collectively as an album.

Listening from start to finish the album takes you on a morale thought provoking journey whilst keeping your head nodding, brain engaged and illustrating intelligent insight into modern asian britain.

It’s also worth praising the wonderful instrumental elements (especially those beautiful piano riffs)

 

Loveley stuff

Genius LP’s Lookin In – Savoy Brown

I first came across this band when I was perusing a record collection inherited from my father. The cover looked of heavy metal origin and this didn’t fit his Blues and Folk man ethos.

So I opened up the gatesleeve. Wow! What an amazing bunch of white weird wonders.

I make no bones about this – this album rocks.

Electric Blues and Boogie Guitar from the 70′s that has real balls. Slow to medium in pace, up and down on the power guage I defy you to not Blues Rock out to this over a game of poker. 1970 Original Issue

Genius

When it rains it Ike’s

Why is it with when it rains it pours (Ike’s). Over the last 3 months I have had my car broken into twice, my window subsequentky repaired twice, my son has had four high fevers through teething his entire set in the course of 2 months, key snapped in lock, partner ill with mystery bug, dimmer switch broke in bedroom, petrol ran out due needle stuck on signal, rose got blackspot – I could go on …. but I won’t because I am in a transitional period of self awareness.

I have decided to choose my attitude, to have a playful demeanor (I’m loving Dupo at 5.15am these days), to be present for my son, family, work and responsabilities (this one’s been an ever present) and to make someones day everyday.

Question Have I been watching cheesey development videos?

Answer Yes

Question Is there truth in this philosophy?

Answer - Most definately.

However you might want to phrase it ‘it pours when it rains’ because you let it. You become more atuned to all that is grim around you and in turn it becomes attracted and more interested in you (like Araf in Dark Materials I suppose)

When you choose the enlightened route in times of hardship you are blessed with humour, when you make someones day you share their joy and when you are present you vanquish your worries. Most importantly when you play you get better value out of buying your son Duplo.

Here endeth my sermon…