Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
An Album A Day
It's been a musical afternoon with several plays of Elbow's A Seldom Seen Kid, some Muse, some Turin Brakes and other assorted tunes. But the album of the day today is:
March 13th: Foals - Antidotes
I missed seeing Oxford band Foals at Truck a couple of years ago because they were in the barn and it was full past capacity and I couldn't get in. Amazingly though I've heard the odd track by them since, I've never got round to listening to the album. it's an interesting one, this - very hard to categorise, quite dancey, very quirky, definitely artrock. I reckon it will take a couple more plays but this could soon become a favourite.
March 13th: Foals - Antidotes
I missed seeing Oxford band Foals at Truck a couple of years ago because they were in the barn and it was full past capacity and I couldn't get in. Amazingly though I've heard the odd track by them since, I've never got round to listening to the album. it's an interesting one, this - very hard to categorise, quite dancey, very quirky, definitely artrock. I reckon it will take a couple more plays but this could soon become a favourite.
Reply from Ed Vaizey re: Axe the Beer Tax campaign
I'm impressed - Ed Vaizey MP has replied to my Axe the Beer tax email already! Here's my original email (auto generated by the site), his reply and my response:
Dear Edward Vaizey,
I am writing to you to make sure you are aware of a campaign to save the
British pub. As my MP, I want you to sign up to the campaign to show
your support for pubs up and down the country. I would also ask that you
write to the Chancellor requesting that he stops the planned rises in
beer tax which could ruin the brewing industry and sign up to EDM 10
"Campaign to save the British pub".
This is the last time to be considering tax hikes. The current rate of
pub closures is running at 39 per week, nearly 6 a day! Pub landlords
are facing a fall in beer consumption, with beer sales at their lowest
since the Great Depression. And, the Government already takes a third of
a pint in tax.
Yet, despite the economic slowdown the Government plans to further
increase taxes on beer! A nine per cent beer duty increase was imposed
in the 2008 Budget, and through a tax 'escalator,' the Treasury wants to
impose above inflation tax increases on beer in each of the next three
Budgets. On top of this the Chancellor has recently announced a further
duty increase. This takes the total increase in beer tax to 40% over the
next four years.
This could well be the final nail in the coffin for many more of
Britain's much loved pubs.
The Axe The Beer Tax campaign has five demands:
1. Axe plans to increase beer tax by a third 2. Enforce existing laws,
not create new ones, to deal firmly with irresponsible drinkers and
premises 3. To end the irresponsible promotion of alcohol in
supermarkets, pubs and elsewhere 4. To trust responsible adults to make
informed choices about what they drink, not to punish them for the
actions of an irresponsible minority 5. To support the British pub as a
vital part of social life in local communities
I hope you will support these demands. To do so, please visit the
campaign website www.axethebeertax.com to register your support and help
us save the Great British Pub.
Yours sincerely,
Alison Neale
--
Dear Alison Neale,
Thank you for your recent correspondence about public houses and the
difficulties faced by pubs.
I agree that British pubs are an important part of our communities and
our heritage. A survey carried out by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA)
found that 84 per cent of people feel that a pub is as essential to
village life as a shop or post office. Pubs are, however, under
extraordinary pressure at the moment, and the most recent figures
suggest that six pubs close every day.
Instead of looking at what can be done to save traditional British pubs,
the Government has added to their problems by increasing taxes and
regulation. You may be aware that a third of the price of every pint
goes to the Chancellor in beer tax, a figure that ministers plan to
increase even further. This penalises responsible drinkers and
landlords, whilst doing little to tackle the dangerous binge drinking
culture that is developing in our towns and cities.
Conservatives are committed to helping the pub industry through this
difficult time, and have launched a campaign entitled 'Save the Great
British Pub'. We are urging communities to get behind us by signing an
online petition to show how much we all value our local pubs. For more
information on this, visit www.conservatives.com.
Our campaign also calls on the Government to save pubs and safeguard
jobs by cutting tax on low alcohol beer and cider, paid for by
increasing tax on problem drinks (principally high strength ciders and
alcopops). This would target binge drinkers, but ensure that responsible
drinkers and traditional pubs are not penalised.
I believe that the Conservative approach is a better way to tackle
problem drinking and offers greater support to traditional British pubs.
It is for these reasons that I do not feel able to sign Early Day Motion
10.
I also understand your concern about the operation of 'pubcos'. A
number of organisations, including the Federation of Small Businesses,
accuse them of charging high rents and high stock prices through
contractual 'beer ties'. In contrast, the pubcos argue that they offer
their tenants a number of benefits, chief of which are lower rental
rates than those paid by tenants renting free houses.
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) investigated this issue in 2002 but did
not recommend remedial action. It is my belief that, as an independent
body, the OFT is best placed to deal with such issues. On this basis, I
am unable to sign EDM 715.
We propose enforcing existing laws to deal firmly with irresponsible
drinkers and premises, trusting adults to make informed choices instead
of punishing them for the actions of an irresponsible minority and
making clear that we support the role of pubs in local communities.
Thank you once again for writing to me.
Yours sincerely,
Ed Vaizey
Shadow Minister for Culture and MP for Wantage and Didcot
--
Thanks for your reply. I knew you were on board already because I've had a sneak read of your April column in Community Times magazine ;) but thought it was worth contacting you anyway.l It's a shame you're not willing to sign up to EDM 10 though - this is an issue that would benefit from having support from all parties, rather than fragmented support from each party individually!
Glad to hear you are in support in principle though
Alison
Dear Edward Vaizey,
I am writing to you to make sure you are aware of a campaign to save the
British pub. As my MP, I want you to sign up to the campaign to show
your support for pubs up and down the country. I would also ask that you
write to the Chancellor requesting that he stops the planned rises in
beer tax which could ruin the brewing industry and sign up to EDM 10
"Campaign to save the British pub".
This is the last time to be considering tax hikes. The current rate of
pub closures is running at 39 per week, nearly 6 a day! Pub landlords
are facing a fall in beer consumption, with beer sales at their lowest
since the Great Depression. And, the Government already takes a third of
a pint in tax.
Yet, despite the economic slowdown the Government plans to further
increase taxes on beer! A nine per cent beer duty increase was imposed
in the 2008 Budget, and through a tax 'escalator,' the Treasury wants to
impose above inflation tax increases on beer in each of the next three
Budgets. On top of this the Chancellor has recently announced a further
duty increase. This takes the total increase in beer tax to 40% over the
next four years.
This could well be the final nail in the coffin for many more of
Britain's much loved pubs.
The Axe The Beer Tax campaign has five demands:
1. Axe plans to increase beer tax by a third 2. Enforce existing laws,
not create new ones, to deal firmly with irresponsible drinkers and
premises 3. To end the irresponsible promotion of alcohol in
supermarkets, pubs and elsewhere 4. To trust responsible adults to make
informed choices about what they drink, not to punish them for the
actions of an irresponsible minority 5. To support the British pub as a
vital part of social life in local communities
I hope you will support these demands. To do so, please visit the
campaign website www.axethebeertax.com to register your support and help
us save the Great British Pub.
Yours sincerely,
Alison Neale
--
Dear Alison Neale,
Thank you for your recent correspondence about public houses and the
difficulties faced by pubs.
I agree that British pubs are an important part of our communities and
our heritage. A survey carried out by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA)
found that 84 per cent of people feel that a pub is as essential to
village life as a shop or post office. Pubs are, however, under
extraordinary pressure at the moment, and the most recent figures
suggest that six pubs close every day.
Instead of looking at what can be done to save traditional British pubs,
the Government has added to their problems by increasing taxes and
regulation. You may be aware that a third of the price of every pint
goes to the Chancellor in beer tax, a figure that ministers plan to
increase even further. This penalises responsible drinkers and
landlords, whilst doing little to tackle the dangerous binge drinking
culture that is developing in our towns and cities.
Conservatives are committed to helping the pub industry through this
difficult time, and have launched a campaign entitled 'Save the Great
British Pub'. We are urging communities to get behind us by signing an
online petition to show how much we all value our local pubs. For more
information on this, visit www.conservatives.com.
Our campaign also calls on the Government to save pubs and safeguard
jobs by cutting tax on low alcohol beer and cider, paid for by
increasing tax on problem drinks (principally high strength ciders and
alcopops). This would target binge drinkers, but ensure that responsible
drinkers and traditional pubs are not penalised.
I believe that the Conservative approach is a better way to tackle
problem drinking and offers greater support to traditional British pubs.
It is for these reasons that I do not feel able to sign Early Day Motion
10.
I also understand your concern about the operation of 'pubcos'. A
number of organisations, including the Federation of Small Businesses,
accuse them of charging high rents and high stock prices through
contractual 'beer ties'. In contrast, the pubcos argue that they offer
their tenants a number of benefits, chief of which are lower rental
rates than those paid by tenants renting free houses.
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) investigated this issue in 2002 but did
not recommend remedial action. It is my belief that, as an independent
body, the OFT is best placed to deal with such issues. On this basis, I
am unable to sign EDM 715.
We propose enforcing existing laws to deal firmly with irresponsible
drinkers and premises, trusting adults to make informed choices instead
of punishing them for the actions of an irresponsible minority and
making clear that we support the role of pubs in local communities.
Thank you once again for writing to me.
Yours sincerely,
Ed Vaizey
Shadow Minister for Culture and MP for Wantage and Didcot
--
Thanks for your reply. I knew you were on board already because I've had a sneak read of your April column in Community Times magazine ;) but thought it was worth contacting you anyway.l It's a shame you're not willing to sign up to EDM 10 though - this is an issue that would benefit from having support from all parties, rather than fragmented support from each party individually!
Glad to hear you are in support in principle though
Alison
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Axe the Beer Tax - Axe the Tax
Nice to see my magazine got a head start on something that has become a national campaign ;)
I ran a feature in the January issue about The King and Queen pub in Longcot, Oxon. Having been empty for several months a new and enthusiastic landlady had taken over the lease and ploughed her life savings into the pub. Pubco Punch Taverns made her all sorts of promises about support and investment but it wasn't forthcoming and less than 6 months after opening, they put the pub up for sale and gave her 30 days notice. Broken hearted, she shut up shop and moved out before the deadline, leaving the village publess. Fortunately another brave soul, Ian "Smithy" Smith has taken over the lease but on terms that give him only 7 days notice to leave if a buyer is found. It's a crazy situation, especially as this pub is the only one in a village with no shop, post office or community centre. (For full details see the Feb and March issues of Community Times in The Vale magazine.)
So when I came across the Axe the Beer Tax website I could hardly not respond. This site is campaigning for government to reduce the tax on beer in order to encourage more people to make the most of their local rather than staying in with a supermarket can. Fill in your postcode and the site will generate an email to your local MP. I've done my bit and sent an email, though I'm pleased to say that my MP, Ed Vaizey, is already on the case - look out for his column in the April issue of CT In the Vale!
I ran a feature in the January issue about The King and Queen pub in Longcot, Oxon. Having been empty for several months a new and enthusiastic landlady had taken over the lease and ploughed her life savings into the pub. Pubco Punch Taverns made her all sorts of promises about support and investment but it wasn't forthcoming and less than 6 months after opening, they put the pub up for sale and gave her 30 days notice. Broken hearted, she shut up shop and moved out before the deadline, leaving the village publess. Fortunately another brave soul, Ian "Smithy" Smith has taken over the lease but on terms that give him only 7 days notice to leave if a buyer is found. It's a crazy situation, especially as this pub is the only one in a village with no shop, post office or community centre. (For full details see the Feb and March issues of Community Times in The Vale magazine.)
So when I came across the Axe the Beer Tax website I could hardly not respond. This site is campaigning for government to reduce the tax on beer in order to encourage more people to make the most of their local rather than staying in with a supermarket can. Fill in your postcode and the site will generate an email to your local MP. I've done my bit and sent an email, though I'm pleased to say that my MP, Ed Vaizey, is already on the case - look out for his column in the April issue of CT In the Vale!
An Album A Day
I've fallen behind a bit in recording what I've been listening to, mainly because I've had the lurgy and haven't been online as much as usual. So here's the last few days' albums:
March 12th: VNV Nation - Futureperfect
I love this band. This particular album is a few years old now but still one of my favourites. I'm looking forward to their new one which is out later this year.
March 11th: Placebo - Once More With Feeling: Singles 1996-2004
Placebo are much underrated in my humble opinion. This singles collection proves just how strong their particular sound is.
March 10th: The Race - In My Head It Works
The Race are most definitely my favourite band at the moment. They're from Reading and In My Head It Works is their second album and was out on Monday (though I'm a stakeholder in the band and got my special copy a few weeks ago. It's fantastic - and this band are even better live. A standout track is Moorwood, which almost makes me cry ...
March 9th: Elbow - Cast Of Thousands
Woop woop I'm going to see Elbow next weekend! About time I caught up on their back catalogue. Love this album, especially Fugitive Motel.
March 8th: Doves - The Last Broadcast
I haven't listened to this album for years and had forgotten just how good it is!
March 7th: My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
Okay, this one is a bit of a cheat - we went up to MK for a family do and listened to my MP3 player on the way - my daughter was choosing the music so we probably had about half this album, but I have heard the rest of the album a few dozen times too!
March 12th: VNV Nation - Futureperfect
I love this band. This particular album is a few years old now but still one of my favourites. I'm looking forward to their new one which is out later this year.
March 11th: Placebo - Once More With Feeling: Singles 1996-2004
Placebo are much underrated in my humble opinion. This singles collection proves just how strong their particular sound is.
March 10th: The Race - In My Head It Works
The Race are most definitely my favourite band at the moment. They're from Reading and In My Head It Works is their second album and was out on Monday (though I'm a stakeholder in the band and got my special copy a few weeks ago. It's fantastic - and this band are even better live. A standout track is Moorwood, which almost makes me cry ...
March 9th: Elbow - Cast Of Thousands
Woop woop I'm going to see Elbow next weekend! About time I caught up on their back catalogue. Love this album, especially Fugitive Motel.
March 8th: Doves - The Last Broadcast
I haven't listened to this album for years and had forgotten just how good it is!
March 7th: My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
Okay, this one is a bit of a cheat - we went up to MK for a family do and listened to my MP3 player on the way - my daughter was choosing the music so we probably had about half this album, but I have heard the rest of the album a few dozen times too!
Friday, March 06, 2009
An Album A Day
March 6:MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
I've heard this band's name mentioned so many times but only knew one song by them, Time to pretend - though having listened to the album now I also knew kids but didn't realise it was the same band! Hmm not sure what to make of the album - the singles are definitely the stand out tracks but I would listen again.
March 5: Portishead - Dummy
Another of my bargain buys in the Woolies closing down sale. I never really got into Portishead at their prime but saw Beth Gibbons at Glastonbury in 2004 (I think) and was blown away by her. This album was a great showcase for her haunting vocal.
I've heard this band's name mentioned so many times but only knew one song by them, Time to pretend - though having listened to the album now I also knew kids but didn't realise it was the same band! Hmm not sure what to make of the album - the singles are definitely the stand out tracks but I would listen again.
March 5: Portishead - Dummy
Another of my bargain buys in the Woolies closing down sale. I never really got into Portishead at their prime but saw Beth Gibbons at Glastonbury in 2004 (I think) and was blown away by her. This album was a great showcase for her haunting vocal.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
An Album a Day
I just stumbled across a blog where a guy was listening to a different album every day for a year and that sounded like a really cool idea, so I thought I might give it a go. Except that I know I won't manage it every day - when I'm out and about I listen to music but my MP3 player tends to be on shuffle rather than a specific album. But I see no reason, especially now I've found the awesome Spotify site, why I shouldn't listen to an album every day I'm in front of the computer for any period of time - which is generally at least 5 days a week. So I'll keep a list and perhaps comment now and then and we'll see how this goes.
The full and updated list is here - and all albums are, of course, available to buy on Amazon
unless otherwise specified!
RULES:
1. Listen to a different album, every day, for a year.
2. Of those albums, 50 of them have to be ones that you haven't listened to before.
3. Of those 50, fifteen of them have to have been released this year.
Feel free to recommend any particular albums you think I would like to listen to!
Bold means I haven't listened to this album prior to this year
Italic means it was released this year
The first four days:
March 4: Black Kids - Partie Traumatic
I heard the current single "I'm Not Going To Teach Your boyfriend How to Dance With You" on XFM and loved it and the album, on first listen, doesn't disappoint, I'll definitely be adding this one to my collection.
March 3: Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
The latest album from one of my favourite bands is stunningly good and they definitely deserved their recent Mercury prize. I'm going to see them at Wembley next week, can't wait!!
March 2:Kid Rock - Rock N Roll Jesus
I bought for £2 in the Woolworths closing down sale! Hmm, quite entertaining as far as sweaty honky tonk rock and roll goes, don't play it with the kids around though as some of the language is a bit coarse, to say the least!
March 1: Mew - Frengers
Mew are Danish and I simply adore them ... the singer's voice is haunting and magical and this album showcases it superbly.
The full and updated list is here - and all albums are, of course, available to buy on Amazon
unless otherwise specified!RULES:
1. Listen to a different album, every day, for a year.
2. Of those albums, 50 of them have to be ones that you haven't listened to before.
3. Of those 50, fifteen of them have to have been released this year.
Feel free to recommend any particular albums you think I would like to listen to!
Bold means I haven't listened to this album prior to this year
Italic means it was released this year
The first four days:
March 4: Black Kids - Partie Traumatic
I heard the current single "I'm Not Going To Teach Your boyfriend How to Dance With You" on XFM and loved it and the album, on first listen, doesn't disappoint, I'll definitely be adding this one to my collection.
March 3: Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
The latest album from one of my favourite bands is stunningly good and they definitely deserved their recent Mercury prize. I'm going to see them at Wembley next week, can't wait!!
March 2:Kid Rock - Rock N Roll Jesus
I bought for £2 in the Woolworths closing down sale! Hmm, quite entertaining as far as sweaty honky tonk rock and roll goes, don't play it with the kids around though as some of the language is a bit coarse, to say the least!
March 1: Mew - Frengers
Mew are Danish and I simply adore them ... the singer's voice is haunting and magical and this album showcases it superbly.
Win a wedding!!
I'm running an amazing competition in the March issue of my magazine, CT In The Vale* - the prize is an entire wedding worth over £15,000! More details of the prize are available here or visit the CT In The Vale website and click the link on the right to enter. Good luck!
*The competition is also running in all the other CT magazines ... so the winner won't necessarily be from my area.
*The competition is also running in all the other CT magazines ... so the winner won't necessarily be from my area.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Gym Sunday 26th october
Sundays there's an hour when kids can go in to the gym so the three of us went in. Luckily Katie and Dan were fairly sensible so I was able to do pretty much the whole CV programme, plus a couple of weight machines!
Treadmill - 10 mins at 5.5km/hr, gradient 5
I concentrated more on my breathing today and was able to keep my heart rate below 161 so no nasty warning lights, and I actually felt a lot more comfortable doing this than i did two days ago! I think I'll go for 12 mins next time. Amazing how much easier it feels already.
Cycling - 7 mins, programme 6, effort 3/4
Felt much easier than on Friday - in fact, I actually increased the effort level from 3 to 4 for the last few minutes. I'm meant to keep to about 60 rpm but find a speed of 70ish more comfortable - but for the last minute I really went for it (in a bid to beat Dan distance-wise!) and touched 100rpm! Next time I'll go for the full 10 mins on level 3.
Rowing - 1000m
The kids and I "raced" the 1000m and all finished about even - they had a faster stroke rate but I covered more distance per stroke. As with the other exercises, this also felt a bit easier and I didn't really start struggling till the last couple of hundred metres. Next time I think I'll try and go for two lots of 750m.
Lat pull down
3 lots of 12 reps with 15kg
Leg ??? (have to check the name of this one)
because of the problems with my right knee I do each leg separately on this one and managed the 3 sets of 12 with 5 kg on the right and 15 kg on the left. Scary how clicky my right knee is though.
Wave - 1.5 mins
Pathetic!! I find this machine difficult anyway and was pretty knackered by now. I think I need to do this one much earlier on in the routine in future.
Treadmill - 10 mins at 5.5km/hr, gradient 5
I concentrated more on my breathing today and was able to keep my heart rate below 161 so no nasty warning lights, and I actually felt a lot more comfortable doing this than i did two days ago! I think I'll go for 12 mins next time. Amazing how much easier it feels already.
Cycling - 7 mins, programme 6, effort 3/4
Felt much easier than on Friday - in fact, I actually increased the effort level from 3 to 4 for the last few minutes. I'm meant to keep to about 60 rpm but find a speed of 70ish more comfortable - but for the last minute I really went for it (in a bid to beat Dan distance-wise!) and touched 100rpm! Next time I'll go for the full 10 mins on level 3.
Rowing - 1000m
The kids and I "raced" the 1000m and all finished about even - they had a faster stroke rate but I covered more distance per stroke. As with the other exercises, this also felt a bit easier and I didn't really start struggling till the last couple of hundred metres. Next time I think I'll try and go for two lots of 750m.
Lat pull down
3 lots of 12 reps with 15kg
Leg ??? (have to check the name of this one)
because of the problems with my right knee I do each leg separately on this one and managed the 3 sets of 12 with 5 kg on the right and 15 kg on the left. Scary how clicky my right knee is though.
Wave - 1.5 mins
Pathetic!! I find this machine difficult anyway and was pretty knackered by now. I think I need to do this one much earlier on in the routine in future.
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