Some news

Well, I got a full-time, short term job yesterday, working for LloydsTSB. It's not a career building move, but may help the bank balance. As in NZ, bank tellers/salespersons get rewarded for hitting targets. I am to check that those 'remunerations' are accurate. A boring job I think, but it ends in December and is at least a steady income. I got no work at all this week, so we desparately need me out and earning. I start at mid-day today. Oh god... what to wear?

The car struck problems on Js way to work yesterday - just what we need at this time. However, it may not be as serious as we first thought. The car was overheating and apparently our radiator is badly rusted, but we filled it with Stop Leak and will see how it goes. We also discovered a slow puncture in one of the tyres, so that will need repairing too. And I think the MoT (WoF) is overdue...

Last night we watched NZ lose to the Aussies in the Indoor Cricket World Cup. I have to say that I saw better players than some of these back in Christchurch, so I wonder whether the selection criteria was simply "Who can fundraise $5000?". In contrast, the Aussie U19 team was extremely sharp, and would have beaten any team in the tournament I think. They played some of the best indoor I've seen. The semi-finals are tonight, with NZ playing SA and Aus playing England, but there's Rugby on so we'll watch that I think. Seems strange that they'd put the ICWC on at the same time of year. Perhaps they thought they'd get some spillover coverage - "Rugby's not the only WC being played. Here in Bristol blah, blah..."

There was minor interest outside the window yesterday as a local office block got evacuated. They all assembled down our street which must be a block away from the office. Just as the last people arrived the all clear went, so those people didn't even stop walking.

Enjoy the games. Both should be close.

Quiet days

No work so far this week, but an interview this afternoon for an admin job, and yesterday I got invited to an interview for a job supporting PDAs in three schools around Bristol. They are trialling using class sets of them as aids. I must say that the ones I saw at John Cabot were fancy but completely underused, with only a few teachers picking up on the possibilities. They just seem to be free MP3 players for the students.

In my battle with Col. Blimp I asked if a document I signed that supposedly explained charges could be faxed through to the CAB. If it is as airtight as the Army thinks it is, then presumably my argument is overruled, and he'd hear no more from me. Here's the response:

Mr Rowe.
I am disappointed to see that you have failed to take note of my 3 Sep 07 notification to you. I will wait for instructions from the Museum's Solicitor in regards to the release of the copy of the document you signed on 18/12/06.

R.J.Seymour
Col (Rtd)
Director

You will recall the tone of his "notification". What an obnoxious person this man is.

We haven't seen any of the recent RWC games, but I do see that W is ranked in the mid-500s in the Virtual RWC. That's bloody awesome given the number of players. Well done W. (J is still beating him in the Virtual NPC, so she's happy enough.)

Walks, balloons and sporting Sundays

J ensured we continued our explorations and this time we did a ramble around Flax Bourton, which is near J's current school. A wander through fields took us around a curious area that looked very much like a military installation. It was marked as a 'depot' on our map, and had signs up for a construction company, but why would they need underground bunkers and a railway siding of their own...? When we got home a quick Google found that it is part of a huge underground gas and petrol storage network that dates partly back to WW2, but was still in use during the Cold War and even now in parts.

We also saw that lovely English countryside and ye olde villages, so that was pleasant. After the ramble we drove around Portishead near J's other school, then sat in a pub for a tea/coffee and a delicious Sticky Date and Toffee Pudding, while looking up the Severn to the bridges and over to Wales. We walked it off around the Marina where we watched the lock being opened to let 5 boats in. I've never seen a lock in action up to now so it was interesting

On the way back we took a detour to Ashton Court where we hoped to catch the balloons taking off. There were 3 so we got to see the whole procedure from unpacking to take off. It's very colourful and quite a spectacle.
Today we got up and rushed off to the Indoor Cricket World Cup which is being run in Bristol this year. We caught New Zealand v Aussie, which was a good game even if we lost (we were up to 40 runs behind at one point, but lost by only 5). We stayed for the Aussie v SA Under 19s which was won convincingly by Aussie who played some fantastic indoor cricket. We didn't hang around for the next NZ game because we wanted to watch the rugby.

Here's their site: http://www.actionsportuk.com/news_cricket_worldcup_2007.php

After changing into something warmer as it was raining, we wandered around Bristol trying to find a pub that was showing the All Black game. The problem was that Man U were playing Leeds so even if the game was being shown, there was no commentary. It was a bit disappointing to say the least and we had to retreat home and listen to it on the Net. We couldn't even watch the neighbour's TV this time as they've moved their room around. (Perhaps they read this blog - if so, Hi! Sorry. Could you move your TV back so we can see it, at least until the WC is over?) Lots of errors in the game but a 40 point shut out is still good. Will France be the only Northern team to pose a threat?

Here are some more pics around Bristol.
http://picasaweb.google.com/Italythenandnow/FlaxBourtonWalk are of the country ramble.
http://picasaweb.google.com/Italythenandnow/Balloons have some colourful shots.
http://picasaweb.google.com/Italythenandnow/SeeBristol are some of the open day

More Rugby

Jeeez, it's all starting to blur now. We watched the Tonga-Samoa match on Sunday which was entertaining for its close score, even if it wasn't the running match we'd expected. I wasn't sure who I wanted to win, but I'm sure Samoa will be very disappointed they didn't finish off a 13 man team.

I had work at John Cabot Monday, Tuesday, nothing Wednesday and work again today, Thursday. That'll help the bank balance. After school today I dashed back into town (as much as you can dash on a bus) and had an interview for a job with LloydsTSB. I thought the interview went well, but we'll have to see. They are sprucing up their branches (now called 'stores') and need a team to administer the project. It would be about 6 or 7 months work if it goes anywhere to plan. I like the fact it is not going to go forever, and it ties in well with our next trip to Italy. Of course the pay isn't anything like teaching, but it is more regular, and the office is just across the harbour.

Probably at JC tomorrow, but they never call until the last minute (7:30). The routine is setting in already...

Rugby, by Horus

I had the day at Wyvern and the kids were shits. (Calling your child Damien has got to be asking for trouble doesn't it?) I have Monday at John Cabot which is better, but I hope one of these other positions come through.

We watched the English get well beaten on Friday. It was expected of course, but to score no points was a disaster. We faced one of those ethical teasers in that the bill for dinner came with our drinks missed off. We'll go the interactive route where you get to use the comments to say what you would do in the same situation. Service had been OK, and the food was reasonable, so certainly no reason for complaint if that is something that that you might take into consideration.

Today we wandered over to the city centre and were quarter of the way through the Kiwi match when the bar manager turned it over to the lead up to the soccer. When we protested she turned it back but only until the game started. Bloody rude I thought given we were the only customers there! Anyway, we drank up and moved on as it was already 30 something to 3 and not much of a contest. We wandered in and out of the shops - which C will enjoy far more than us - then had lunch in the Gourmet Burger Kitchen, a chain started by a Kiwi I believe. There we met two more Kiwis, from Balclutha. They've been in the UK a while, and are now just out of Bristol. We had lunch together (Kiwi burgers all round except vege J), and talked about what was good and bad about living in Bristol and the UK. We swapped contacts, so may join them to watch the next Kiwi game.

After lunch we visited the Bristol Museum for the first time. There is an Egyptian Room now that has some good displays though is smaller than expected. More work is being done though. Apparently my Egyptian star sign is a Wadjeb - the regrown eye of Horus. J's is Isis. That 'done', I spent an hour or so in the Geology room while J saw it and every other room in the same time. Still, it isn't going away, so no need to hurry.

On the way home there were 7 hot air balloons in the air at once. We are going to have to have a go sometime when we are rich.

After getting home we settled in for the evening, but while washing the dishes I noticed we could see the Ireland v Georgia game through the window of a flat in the next block. We turned on the radio coverage and watched the game like voyeurs. They had a large screen, but it was like sitting in the Gods at a large venue (top of Jade Stadium for example). It was most disconcerting when one of them got up and especially so when the cuddling started, and we had to resist the urge to yell "Siddown in front!" every time they got up for something. Anyway, it was an exciting game and Ireland will be as disappointed as England and France for their efforts. There seems to be a massive gap between the north and south in this tournament, more so than at any other time I can recall.


(BTW, if you read the sign in the first photo you may see why I posted it.)

Just in the nick of time

What a strange expression when you look at it. What is its origin, I wonder?

Wednesday morning brought a call from the Agency and I have three days work. Given our poorly finances this is just in time. That day was at John Cabot, so wasn't too bad, although not much work was done. Today and tomorrow were/are Wyvern, a different kettle of fish. I had a couple of Y7 classes, the first nice, the last rowdy but OK, and an average Y8. The two Y11s were 'orrible. In one a kid smacked another for no apparent reason so he was sent out, while a girl wandered out and never came back. In the other, the kids were rude, inappropriate, and did f... all. Just why I love teaching so much now. L100 less tax.

After no calls for two weeks, I get three on the one day. 3 days of teaching, and two possible positions in offices. One of the latter, for only L7 p.h., was filled before I could see them, but I'm not sad about that at all. The other, paying a little better, I will hear more about tomorrow I think. I have sent off about 15 applications and some bounce back pretty quickly, but there are one or two interesting ones still waiting to close off.

The good news is that I am allowed a beer or three, which will be most pleasant while watching the rugby over the weekend. Last night we watched England beat Russia in the other football. England played well which makes a change.

Weekdays

J is off to work again, while I languish. I have applied online for about 20 positions and now have to wait for them to close before getting the flood of "Sorry, but..." responses. Some sites even pre-empt this by starting with a "Sorry, but..." but contacting you if you make a shortlist. Actually I get some reading done, some writing, explore the Internet (hence the Kiwi vid link in a previous post), Photoshop some photos, read more, do the occasional chore when J leaves a list, and so on.

Perhaps I will photograph some of the photocopied material I have so that I can send it to JP. It is a problem getting what I find over to him sometimes. The sheer quantity means a stack of CDs is required as I can't write DVDs and memory sticks don't offer significantly more capacity as yet.

Open days, Rugby and castles

The 'See Bristol' day was great, and in fact it should be extended to a full weekend. We had a look at the mines under Redcliffe first. They are quite extensive and only about a quarter of the complex is open. It's odd to see tree roots from underneath, or new building foundations cutting into tunnels at odd angles. There's something intriguing about unexplored caves, perhaps going back to childhood tales of treasure.

We watched the New Zealand vs Italy game at our closest bar, and were the only ones doing so, so not a very collegial atmosphere. Even J didn't watch the second half as it wasn't much of a contest. While it is nice to see a good win, I had hoped that Italy would put up more of a fight after several years in the 6 Nations. I hope they (Italy) do OK in this pool.

After this game we looked at some of the archeology being done around Bristol. With so much development going on the UK has made archeology a competition where businesses quote for exploration work prior to any new buildings going up. It seems a recipe for quick and superficial work to me, and a far cry from the traditional methodical digs I had supposed were used. Bristol seems to have little regard for its heritage: the castle is hardly visible, and certainly not a tourist feature; there are few information boards for any buildings of historical interest; new building quickly covers any historical remnants, and so. One day a year they let the citizens in on some of these little known secrets. We all know it is a matter of money, but some cities realise their heritage can actually bring money in if it is properly marketed.

We saw Bristol from the roof of St Mary's, including looking into our own windows. We're very used to the opposite sight of course. We could have rung the bells had we been earlier, but both of us would probably have considered cutting the ropes instead...

The England-USA game was on so we thought we'd better see how our host country went. Not very well, it turned out. I had been allowed a beer (one and a half actually) during our game, but this game was dry. At least the crowd was a little more interested. Actually, the football was on at the other end of the bar (England vs Israel) so there were competing cries of encouragement or disappointment. As England won the soccer 3-0 at least that crowd were happy, and the rugby watchers could gain some consolation.

The next day was the Bristol Half-Marathon so the streets were awash with people. We had popped out to the slow-food market only to find we were a week late, and saw the last of the walkers coming in. The roads were still blocked off when we had decided to drive out for a picnic, but by ignoring cones and tape we managed to get into the queues of cars heading away from the city centre. Perhaps we could have put some Canadian flags on the car and pretended to have been an official convoy, but it's probably not too convincing in a single Vauxhall Astra. We did eventually get to Blaise Castle in west Bristol, and very nice it was too. Since summer is over the sun has been out nearly every day and we had a lovely picnic and walk around the grounds.

So that was the weekend.

Out and about

I went and showed my face to the agencies again, but still nothing concrete. Still, it was a lovely sunny day, so I sat and read the Times Educational Supplement with the sun on my back, and very pleasant it was too. A beer would have topped it off but apparently I'm not allowed one until I get work.

We went to hear the speaker and while it had potential the mix of speakers wasn't great and the format of the evening left us unsatisfied. He made some good points about how the new 'democratising' web (some call it Web 2.0) is actually filling with dross. There is currently no way in which the good can be sorted from the bad, or the good be rewarded for its quality. He points out that the new web seems to have no respect for intellectual property either, so far from artists making money from the collapse of the existing structures, they will now no longer have any mechanism to gather revenue once a work is 'out there', unless it is made from physically being there - like a band touring, or a painter doing commissions. Of course there is more to his argument than this - enough to fill a book, called Cult of the Amateur, which was for sale, but which I haven't read. There were two other speakers and a 'host'. The second speaker was trying to make a point about new media being an interactive experience that allowed connection between people in different ways to the traditional, and that people would work out ways to handle Web 2.0 once the 'rules' were known. At least I think this was her point as she didn't make it very well, and came across as a lightweight (probably unfairly). The third stood for the opposite of everything the first speaker thought so a better debate would have been just her vs him. She was of the opinion that breaking down the traditional structures allowed more people to express themselves, and lowered the hurdles to reaching an audience. I think this is actually his point, but he thinks this is bad and she thinks it's good. Sadly the compere did a poor job of marshalling the debate by not keeping it on topic, and by throwing in his own tuppence worth. In the end the speakers just looked bored, and too little time was left for the audience to question the panel. I think it will all come down to how discerning the new generations of users will be, and the third speaker and I disagree on how savvy today's kids are. J said there was an article on the radio where a father put a clip of film on the web showing his daughter singing badly and it was viewed a million times. This, he would argue, shows that what is being rewarded is poor quality, but perhaps amusing, entertainment rather than good, or thought provoking or educational entertainment. Much like reality TV in fact.

We thought we'd missed the France v Argentina game by the time we got out, but there were still 30 mins to go so we made it in time to see a very different beginning to the World Cup than expected! I do feel for France, being at home and with high expectations for that, but I did predict Pool D would be the most interesting and it already is. So now the Ireland v Argentina game could knock the hosts out of the World Cup at the pool play stage.... who'd a thunk?

A final piece of news is that After the Battle have allowed JP and I to expand our book from the smaller 'Through the Lens' format to a full 'Then and Now' treatment should we wish it. I believe the battle deserves it easily as much as the Bulge or Anzio, and that we can get enough pictures and matches to do it. I hope JP agrees! (The smaller format didn't have as much room for matches, concentrating on the original photographic record. The enlarged format allows for a full treatment of the battle, with matches were possible, so making better use of all my work.)

So with neither the speaker or the game quite what we expected, we'll see what the open days bring us.

Ciao

Do nothing layabout

Being unemployed is boring. Even J's task list doesn't fill the day. The most exciting time has been the visit of the plumber to see why the unit below had mushrooms: it turns out we had two elements going in the hot water cylinder so it was continuously boiling, and the overflow seems to have leaked instead of flowed. That probably won't help the power bill, but then we haven't received one of those yet for some reason, despite at least one call. (Two as of one minute ago.)

We went to a nice movie last night - 2 Days in Paris - a comedy about a couple's relationship. It's worth seeing as it's funny, pretty well acted and the story hangs together OK. (There go any pretensions of being a reviewer.) This weekend sees open days at many of the buildings around the city. I want to see inside the Redcliffe caves, the Clifton tunnel railway and some of the churches, (and whatever J wants). We'll have to allow for a few World Cup matches of course, and may have to nurse a pint through the opening match on friday night, our time. (It's easy - just buy one of their horrible ales and you can make it last all night.)

Tomorrow there's a talk on the need to have curation and mediation of Internet information. The speaker's argument is that there is simply too much crap out there and that if the Internet is to avoid drowning in it there will need to be a return to mediated/reviewed/curated sources. (The experience of Wikipedia might tend to support this.) It might be an interesting debate.

Those of you with broadband might like to watch this animation: http://www.topyoutubevideos.com/movie.php?go=B3

Thanks for your comments on my rant. The CAB thinks at first glance my case has some merit so they're looking into it further. I'd love to publicise this somehow but then I think that would be exactly the vindictive behaviour Col Blimp has accused me of. The thing is, what if others have had similar poor communication? How do you find out about them? Sigh.

Another day older and deeper in debt

The sun shines on Bristol town today. The beach is being slowly demolished after its brief moment in the sun. It's unclear where the sand will go, probably trucked as far as the river and tipped in to be flushed away with the tide.

Speaking of which, we enjoyed a full moon last week and J and I saw the bottom of the Avon for the first time so far. 10 shooping - shooping? Let's try shopping - trolleys, 2 bikes, one large boat, and various items of building waste. (No bodies, although, sadly, one was fished out opposite us while we were away.) There was of course an extremely high tide as well and although we didn't see this it must have been quite a spectacle judging by the high water marks. There would have been a difference of somewhere over 10 metres I reckon. You can imagine the havoc this would have caused among the moored ships before the floating harbour was built.

I've done the shopping and shooping as well, so I'll try to write some more. I've covered two parts of the Cassino battles so far: the 28th Battalion attack on the Railway Station and the 26th Battalion/19th Regiment attack on the same. They must have been desperate to catch that train, huh? If anyone would like a preview just ask and I'll send it through.

Perry vs Army Museum Archives

This may turn out to be a rant so I would strongly advise that you don't read it. On the other hand sometimes you feel when you have been poorly served that the more people who know, the better. Take your choice - you have been warned.

In December last year I visited the Kippenberger Archives at the Army Museum, Waiouru. The Army treated me well on the whole but there was one issue that I found unacceptable and have been pursuing since.

In a year of correspondence leading up to my trip, on their website (since updated) and even while there (with one important exception which I will discuss later) no mention of charges was made. No other Archive that I have used (and that is now quite a number, but include PRO, NARA, NZNA, ATL, Hocken, and more) has there been a charge for what is called reading room services (that is, work done while on site). Charges are made for "remote research requests" and quite reasonably. Part way through my visit it was announced that the museum would close a day early. At the end of this shortened visit a $500 bill was presented, halved to $250 for whatever reasons.

I paid the bill (foolishly, but I was in shock) and later wrote complaining that the fee was unreasonable as unexpected. The Army has persistently focussed on their right to charge while willfully ignoring that I concede they have a right to charge, but that they gave no expectation of a charge and therefore it was unreasonable, and should be refunded.

The correspondence has continued since December last year, and for various reasons has passed through three Army officers' hands. After the last one failed to write I sent this email:

"Hello
Col. Reynolds presumably passed on my remaining concerns to you to deal with but I have not heard anything from you in over a month so wondered whether you had had an opportunity to review my complaint?
Perry Rowe
Dunedin"

to which he responded

"Mr Rowe.
I do not know you and nor have you ever communicated with me but naturally as the Director of the Army Museum I have read a lot about you and your persistent behaviour. Be advised that I have no intention of communicating with you by this medium nor by telephone once I have released this email. However I look forward to meeting you in the Tribunal Court if ever you wish to purue your issue. I do not wish to see you waste your time and resources but have the distinct impression from your vindictive behaviour that you not interested in my free advice. As I indicated I am not going to open any further communication with you. Your solicitor can deal with the museum's solicitor a mr cunninghame of luke cunninghame and clere.
And one other point Mr Rowe. Whilst I read your churlish comment about not being welcome back into the Army Museum - and I wonder how on earth you could have come up with that conclusion - are you feeling ashamed at your relationship with us? But seeing you have sown a seed in my mind, I will now most definitely consider a Trespass Order. But in the meantime, you should note that since I have come on board as the Director, there have been some rule changes. No one will get accommodation within the military camp. No one will get rationed in the military camp. No one will get public or private transport to uplift them from the bus drop-off point to their destination and no one will ever be permitted to take their cellphone into the archives. Oh, yes, there is one other point. When everyone who uses the archives and sign the document pertaining to the costs and the rules of the organisation, as I see you did, they will find that ALL the charges have increased dramatically to keep up with inflation. There will be no exceptions!
You can congratulate yourself for raising the issue of our charges which have prompted the revision upwards of our fees.
And to conclude Mr Rowe I will reiterate what I said in my first paragraph. Any further communication via email from you will be deleted, unless it is through your Solicitor to our Solicitor. I have too many important things to deal with and many appreciative researchers to accommodate in our Archives than to put up with your childish behaviour.
R.J.Seymour
Colonel
Director

Now, I am prepared to accept "persistent" but I view that as a virtue, as my right. "Vindictive" hurts and I leave you to judge just who might be so from the letters above.

So...

J thinks I should drop it. I think their attitude outrageous and wish to carry on until I get an apology and a refund.

Now I'm going to throw it open to you, dear readers, so add a comment explaining why I'm a dick and should let it go, or alternatively why I should continue. Any lawyers reading? 8-)

PS. I have promised J that if the CAB decide it is not worth following up then I will drop it.

Bristol days and Bristol nights

It is the start of the English school year and all positions appear to be full. At least, I have not had a hint of work as yet. I have applied through several normal Agencies for office work without anything coming of it of yet, so I am beginning to get rather worried, as is J. She of course, starts work on Monday in a new school, but a similar (well paid) position. The coffers are starting to look a little low...

We got a visit from the Building Manager to say the person downstairs is growing mushrooms in a wet patch on his kitchen ceiling. While this might be a convenient place for mushrooms, it is not welcome so we have to try to find the leak. There is nothing apparent in our own kitchen immediately above (although the bathroom floor is wet but distant) so it is a job for the plumber. We'll keep you posted.

The week passed quitely as we got used to Bristol again. The temperature is somewhat lower, and summer seems to have skipped Britain altogether. Now that it is officially autumn here I guess we can't complain about the grey skies and rain we got yesterday...

We visited the Organic Food Festival on Saturday and got our money's worth of free samples and tastings. We returned the favour by buying organic chocolate. I am one who can't taste any difference in the flavour of organic produce in most cases, so it seems to me they have to sell it on the basis of either health, ethical, or price considerations. The first I would consider, the second I weight lowly, but being the Scrooge I am I'd have to see a very competitive price before buying regularly.

The Amistad is in town. This is a replica of the boat featured in Steven Spielberg's film of the same name about a slave revolt. Bristol and Liverpool in particular are making a big deal of the slave trade at the moment as it is the 200th anniversary of the (de jure if not de facto) abolition of the slave trade. While I certainly agree that we should examine our past behaviour and try to avoid the same mistakes, I think they go to far when they cover up a statue of Colston here in Bristol with another artwork because he was a major figure in this trade. Perhaps we should cover every building built on the proceeds? Close every road? After all, the citizens of Bristol benefited directly as a whole as well. No, I think the better response would be to create some artwork adjacent to his statue that highlights what we consider bad about him and reminds the public that we have moved on and (hopefully) learned.

That night C & M took us along for dinner and night-clubbing. The pizza dinner was at a trendy restaurant and was very nice. I even found a dark lager (like Speights Old Dark for example) to drink: they are rather rare in the UK, most dark beers being ales. After dinner we went to a nightclub called Oceana, that is a complex of 6 or 7 bars/dance floors. I can't post pictures, mainly because I didn't take any, but even had I done so they would R rate my blog! Short hot-pants are de rigeur so there was lots of leg showing - that's all I'll say or J will box my ears again. I think she has posted a link to their official site herself so you can see what it's like when empty.

Yesterday (Sunday) we went to the kite festival. It was lovely and colourful and we watched some very skilled fliers at work. I was a bit dubious about this, thinking perhaps 'synchronised swimming', but it was almost as good as an airshow where crashes don't kill people. They did various manoeuvres to music and they all involved a serious amount of work from the fliers themselves which I didn't really expect. The day was very windy, and gusty so the flying was quite demanding. There were also 'inflatables' which are shaped kites rather than aerodynamic ones. If they are cleverly designed their movements can look quite natural, and the cherub and mermaid were my favourites in this regard.

We have been sleeping rather well with no dogs barking, although last night we both had our worries. J's new job was always going to raise butterflies, but I know she'll be fine once she gets started. My own have been about work and about an issue I've had with the Army which I'll post in a separately so you can all skip it.