NEWS: A new announcement, an exciting development.

It has been a while since I had time to share news of developments on here, after 3 years of testing and re-testing a system that now delivers excellent Microlearning tools in the EdTech sector across K-12 Schools, Colleges and Universities, it is with great pleasure and rapturous drum solos I present Blending Education LLC.

As digital access has grown across the USA and Europe over the past decade, technology has become more widely embedded in education at school, work and home. Just ask Alexa if you don’t believe me.

During a three year beta-testing period in a respected Russell Group University, Blending Education LLC has seized this opportunity to build an incredible array of thousands of peer reviewed and resourceful tools, and is leading the way in Microlearning; Blended and Personalised Learning Systems across Science, Mathematics, Humanities and Social Sciences. With many more subjects to follow quite soon.

Recognising the large school, college and university market now beginning to engage with high digital penetration, we are seeing an over due trend in institutions becoming connected to EdTech in one way or another. Just spending a week at BETT 2018 in January earlier this year opened our eyes to the 800+ companies exhibiting with us and over 40 presentations from Education leaders from around the world; it proves that the market is saturated and fiercely competitive, but moreover that our products and services are clearly attracting international recognition. 

With contracts confirmed and a growing connection in the state and private scholastic sectors, it is a colossal move in the right direction for such a young international business. 

Something we look forward to immersing ourselves in at ISTE 2018, in Chicago in June. 

Having devices and broadband as standard in a vast majority of classrooms gives teachers the chance to take advantage of new learning tools, well designed systems and resources that reinforce what teachers do best and ultimately what this generation of students (and their families) demand.  

High school, college and university systems can also act as a fertile ground for EdTech entrepreneurs. For example, university students and professors increasingly prefer blended learning experiences – where learning is delivered via a combination of in person / class time and remote digital methods.

Although the education publishing industry has taken some serious knocks over the past couple of years, for example – established academic and educational resource leaders such as Pearson, recently having to sell off large departments and recognise that online and OER are becoming much more attractive than expensive and outmoded textbooks and coursework – they have in turn, inspired many global collaborators and entrepreneurs to create tools and resourceful systems that work towards removing the pain points and frustrations of contemporary education and research techniques. 

This is primarily what supported our determination in identifying the needs of both academics and students. Fundamentally, creating thousands of digital tools to successfully harness the demand for content driven resources in one easy to use online library has been at the core for our EdTech startup.

Similarly, the decision to research and develop our products and services in the UK – the digital marketing hub of Europe, allowed us to consider the importance of establishing a global business. 

Having our development hub and distribution centre in the USA and a presence in both territories, we decided to start the year by establishing a company built on a direct-to-consumer model and can leverage local expertise to build best-in-class microlearning systems, identifying the most efficient channels to acquire customers and scale over time.

With this, we are over-joyed to announce our partnership today with The State Education Technology Directors Association (SETDA), the principal membership association representing the U.S. state and territorial digital learning leaders. 

Press Release

Being part of the sixth successful cohort of innovators from across the nation is a tangible high point of our formative years, the challenge of being selected out of this fiercely fought application is worthy of it’s own article. 

We will be therefore attending the Association’s AGM and Emerging Technologies Forum next month in Chicago, Illinois where we will be privileged to present and network our business and services to the great and the good of US Education Leaders. My excitement is growing and so is the interest in our Microlearning products. 

We are very much looking forward to working with education technology leaders to explore ways that Microlearning, a way of delivering content in small, manageable units, can open up new possibilities for personalising learning for each student and for us, create a deeper awareness of how people learn in this century. 

The partnership with SETDA announced today will open up new opportunities for us to share more broadly the student benefits from micro and blended learning.

Like all global businesses, the best EdTech startups will need to expand internationally regardless of where they start out. Because the UK has some similarity to other large English-speaking markets – (distributed decision making in schools, similar purchasing power from consumers, large global corporate players), products developed in the US and the distribution techniques developed for the world are more likely to be portable to either market.

This is not to say that internationalisation is easy. Many companies, both established and startup, have floundered on the road to global conquest. That said, the rewards for companies that can make the transition are huge. We have successfully mapped out a system that will allow us engagement at a national level and offer opportunities to further engage with international customers.

The social impact of our business is key to our ongoing development and further understanding of how we can adapt to suit the needs of every student. Our Microlearning systems have allowed students to learn at their own pace, anywhere, anytime, on any digital device. This supports the teaching staff in many ways and effectively reinforces what they plan for each year. 

The US has just short of 130,000 schools and 4,500 universities with similar levels of digital adoption. The EU has 40% more school students and a similar number of universities to the US, making it a huge, if more fragmented market opportunity for education innovation. With its strong tech economy, high demand for tech skills and quality broadband infrastructure the UK, Europe and the US makes a great launching point for Blending Education LLC looking to go in both directions across the Atlantic and into Australasia.

EdTech may still be at a relatively early stage compared to other more established tech sectors, but it has a clear opportunity to take a responsible role, leveraging its considerable strengths to lead the charge in permeating the global market. Its reputation for supporting higher education, a high digital penetration across all territories, strong local industry partners and powerful global position make it a contender to be the leader in fulfilling this sector’s specific Tech potential. One that we feel privileged to be part of.

Scientia potentia est

 

Kegs with legs (a ReDux)….

A little light [beer] relief in a week we find our nation yet again in a state of flux, one consistent beverage we can all rely on is a fine craft ale.

The recent phenomena and the dearth of micro brewers and privately / co-op managed ale houses is a good thing in my mind. The seasonality and historical regional flavours offers any visitor to the area an option to choose something made locally, with care, love and attention to hand made recipes.

With the thousands of imaginatively named IPAs, stouts, amber ales and porters to choose from in many areas of the country, it is often a challenge to find something that sticks out for the duration of the time at the bar or in a local bottle shop.

This also is a good thing, hopefully lining up for the removal of bland, insipid mass production brown liquid, offering only the guarantee of a hang-over from hell the next day, mainly due to all the additives and preservatives. Thankfully no more terrible TV ads for hooligan Lager full of clichés and less than clever macho strap lines.

Living in the convergence of both Manchester and Sheffield’s commuter belt, bordering the Peak District National Park, one would be happy to know we have a healthy and happy collection of local brewers hard at work each day making and mashing their delectable brews.

Having a small brewery on one’s doorstep is yet another reason to support local businesses that serve us with something so much more than the ambivalence we expect from many of the inner city hipster bars.

It is quite evident that these stalwarts of single mindedness, mavericks, revolutionaries and masters of individuality are the future of our enviable brewing industry and with the current shenanigans in Westminster, exporting our wares will start to prop up the economy as much as our fading bars. One observation of the growing number of Bottle Shops and Tap Rooms opening up across the Iberian Peninsula, with growth felt across Barcelona, Madrid and Malaga this year, many of our European cousins have seen just how important small and Micro pubs are to our consolidated communities.

If you find yourself in the Peak District this year, make time to enjoy the new line of ales from Whaley Bridge Brewery, the innovative methods Mike (Master Brewer extraordinaire) explores with the finest hops and the excellent clear waters of the Peak District combine to produce a very irresistible result.

You will be first attracted by the creatively designed packaging and labels, a nod to a much more contemporary rather than hairy eared trad design. Each beer is named after an area of this historical town and visible landmarks form the high hills around us, and each offer a completely different flavour and gravity.

The two new ones to the growing collection are Crow Hill and Mount Famine. Crow Hill being a very fine American Amber Ale, offering an explosion of caramel maltiness, refreshing citrus fruits and the bitterness from the excellent hops Mike doesn’t scrimp on. So if its the hell or high watermelon you like in a lovingly crafted beer, using a combination of alchemy, science and experience, this newcomer to the market is for you. This ale is one for a lazy summer evening, swallows darting over head, enjoying the fading summer sun after a great day on the hill.

Mount Famine is a totally different brew – a little more lively ale that offers an instant hit of Tropical Fruits – including Passion Fruit (how he does this is beyond a laymen such as I) and more robust bitter notes, this triple hopped beer offers an excellent session ale for any occasion. I found to my delight it was a fine accompaniment to some Stilton and a borderline offensively ripe Brie.

They join the WBB family and will be found on tap or in 1 pint bottles when Mike and his Wife Jill manage to get through the painfully long planning process with our local Borough Council. Any of you that has been at the painful end of the whipping stick all Borough Councils own, you will understand and sympathise with them both. Not to mention the hundreds of people who are waiting for this place to open.

Recently, Mikes’s ales could be found in a growing number of ale houses and pubs in the region.

For those of you lucky enough these past 12 months to have visited the National Trust’s Eyam Hall courtyard, The Eyam Real Ale Company, right next door to the Hartington Cheese Shop, to anyone living in the area and knowing the latter – a perfect match I am sure you will agree.

Goyt Wines in Whaley Bridge, The Tickled Trout, Barlow near Chesterfield, the Beer Dock in Crewe and Barley Hops in Congleton, Cheshire; the newest ale shop to populate the High Peak, Beer District in Buxton (4a Colonnade, Buxton), starring amongst others, the four Whaley Bridge Beers. They now offer a growing number of excellent beers, ciders and spirits to discerning locals and visitors to the Spa Town.

Your involvement and ability to share will of course speed up the process and bring us all closer to opening a very worthy community hub and as it has been over 100 years since Whaley Bridge has had a micro enterprise such as this, a well over due addition to the high street of this small rural town I am sure you will agree.

This is where you can make a difference. Support, like and then share with all your friends, as the delay in Council processes has put them back from the initial launch date but nonetheless it will happen, however not without community assistance. Please do what you can by spreading the good word. Sharing costs nothing and brings Mike and his family closer to expanding their brewery business. You will be part of a happy future and an important social hub to our growing town.

Please click non the site below, support and share:

http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/whaleybridgebrewery-micropub/?

Remember, it is people like Mike that make the world a better place, a happier place, and for every pint of Carling or Fosters not sold this week, we can all applaud those who get up at the crack of sparrows each day to pint-by-pint remove this despicable drink from our pubs and replace it with something made from simple ingredients, not stakeholder pension plans.

Life is far too short to drink cheap flavourless beer.

Cheers!

Drink responsibly.

Ian.

Smallholding issues…

The future of Smallholding in many counties of Britain is under a great deal of scrutiny and many would say it is an industry opportunity that is being decimated by tenancy Smallholdings and farms being sold off to developers or anything less than 10 acres with a modest house in any rural county finds itself marketed as a desirable residence only or second home.

The rising number of people wishing to engage with a smallholding practice and agri-business outweighs supply, with some counties having no desire, nor interest in offering county owned tenancy smallholdings. The issue on closer inspection is going to have a catastrophic effect on nationally grown and produced “local food”. Food with better ecological resilience & credentials, provenance ; and offers a broader range of sustainable businesses in the sector.

 

So, what can be done for the short and long term success of the British Isles rural food and farming sectors?

Almost every farm has something it could be doing to diversify..

There have been many articles written and infinitely more conversations had over the metaphorical farm gate that Farmers and Landowners should look at their farm as a collection of revenue generating opportunities, rather than as a whole, when looking to diversify their income, farmers often concentrate on the part of the business which interested them most when there could be a better opportunity for investment and a return.

It is far too easy to suggest that those with properties on the fringes of towns and cities would only consider one of two options: Selling to a developer or renewable energy initiative. Despite a still-faltering residential market in many areas, there is strong demand for smallholdings with anything up to 50 acres. The issue is common sight around the small Peakland town I call home. There has been a community outcry and a Borough & County Council issue over two sites acquired by a land brokerage company. Both these sites would easily offer excellent Smallholding opportunities to both mixed and forestry agri-business. Since the issue of the two debated building sites are still being fought from each side of the equation since 2012; I believe in the time it has been rapped up in laborious and undemocratic paper shuffling both sites could have become very healthy Smallholding enterprise sites by now. Both would have managed the land better than adding c.250 new executive homes over two sites to an already stretched community, made much more of a positive ecological impact to the land and with suggested tree planting secured the soil and potential flood issues in winter.

In addition, a site in North Yorkshire agreed the sale of three holdings for 12-acre, 19-acre and 20-acre holdings around Thirsk and 40 acres in the Walden region of Wensleydale. Buyers are diverse – the prospective owner of the Wensleydale holding is retired professor of science who wished to build a home on the site and use it as a private green field estate.

With the growing number of enquires and an increase in people wishing to spend an excess of £1m for a plot of farm land, this has driven up the cost of an acre and as a consequence made tenancy farming in my county less attractive. Is some areas of the country £12,000/acre is quiet the norm.

Increasing land prices for “Grand Designs” are pushing up the value of land and pushing out the opportunities of a smallholding, exacerbating the cost of any start up to be out of the reach of anyone in the market for a tenancy smallholding.

So why would they not consider being more of a pioneer or part of the community which they play such a huge part in and address the balance of land availability? The much easier planning laws linked to rural and farming properties offers a much more versatile way, but certainly not unique to this country. Why not develop a site for a start-up smallholder, this tenancy would be regular income through rental and with some land owners in more southern counties accepting this as a much more viable option for many crumbling buildings, barns and semi derelict buildings, many rural business incubation centres and smallholdings; Smallholder co-ops [ such as the successful enterprise in Essex –  The Ecological Land Co-Op ], forestry, tourism and community farms have grown in some areas, only to be shunned in others.

Many of these tried and tested methods offer an excellent way to free up cash to invest in the farm. Farm diversification was recorded to be worth £560million in 2016, and having worked in and with the agri-sector, mainly from the view of a photographer for many years; I do however, have experience working with local mixed farms. Notwithstanding having hill farming in my family for a number of generations, it stands to reason that I agree that I am yet to visit a farm that does not have something it could be doing to diversify.

I understand that the core business of any farm or agricultural estate is the most essential part of the business, therefore the enhancements of any value to its assets is often considered only by impact, any further development or restoration; re-use or re-purposing land / property may have a debatable effect on the core activity of farming.

I have spent the past 3 yrs speaking to farming communities in the north of England and they agree and enforce that if any diversification is governed by desire to enhance their land and the community, it will only enhance their enterprise with income and investment for there own future expansion plans.

Traditionally Multi-genrational Farms often need to ensure ownership and efficiently managed before going down the route of diversification or land & property leasing, however with growing fragility in the industry and types of land that is no good for one use is potentially good for another – this is where I stand in this debate.

What is there to offer Farmers and large Estate Owners who are able to offer a modest home and >10 acres to a growing number of start up smallholders on their land, who will add to the estate rather than compete with the land owner?

Co-Op’ed sites are popping up across Europe and even a couple are gathering momentum in the South East of England, so what will it take to engage with the larger county wide farms and estates, who are very much missing out on an ecological and sustainable business boom?

Initial examples that have been staring in the press recently have been:

Forestry

For many this is far less attractive and viable, yet with a little imagination and further understanding of just how much forestry has been traditionally part of the industry and how it has been enjoying a renaissance, much more than that of the industrial revolution. Biomass is one sure fire way of utilising poor value timber and commercial forest waste. With recent news of Willow plantations and borders becoming grant attracting diversification methods, where applicable, it is driving up the abilities of using UK grown fuel for industry and housing. Not forgetting the current Gov. grants for felling and replanting of indigenous broadleaf and evergreen trees to offer a chance to make a positive return on assets ad bring woodland management back into productivity.

With construction still being the largest market for timber, UK softwood has increased in value to approx. £44/cu.meter, enjoying a 13% increase on the year. Plus, the UK Timber production is still increasing its numbers and since 2007 has sold a further 1.2million cu. meters. Much of this is down to un-grazable or unfit land for arable crops to be put aside for Forestry.

There is also the production of indigenous fruit to the UK, Apple Orchards are lost or in a decayed state, other fruiting trees that have a value and high survival rate in our climate not only increase the revenue but add to many biodiverse habitats for pollinating insects and ultimately bees and the plight of the British Honey Bee come into the equation.

Tourism and Diversification

Traditional tourism ventures on farms are mainly focused on holiday cottages and farm shops, but many have recently looked to make use of their farm’s unique characteristics in more innovative ways. Examples such as Wedding venues, Music Festival sites, Outdoor pursuit centres, Micro Breweries / Cider Farms and and the incredible successes of supporting the community at the growing number of Farming Life Centres. Locally, we have seen over the past five years an up surge in successful rural events, such as the now world renowned Eroica Britannia vintage cycle festival. In the first few years it was staged and held at the Bakewell Show Ground, this year it is to be held at a sprawling farm in the south west heartland of the Derbyshire Dales.  I have recently been asked if I know of anyone in the Peak District with a Barn that they wish to have repurposed into a Recording Studio for a record label based in Manchester.

Tourism-based diversification has grant funding available through the Rural Development Programme for England’s growth programme. However, Grants are locally led and have local priorities which differ throughout the country. This has highlighted the areas of the UK, region by region, that offer unique attributes and the individuals running the sites; it has by process ruled out those who are just after funding to develop an old building, however, it does not protect our rural business sectors from larger agriculturally viable plats being used as multi million “dream home” concepts or poorly designed estates of commuter homes.

Barns and traditional buildings

With relaxed planning laws on rights to convert agricultural buildings (GPDO – 2014), they have effectively permitted conversions of unused farm buildings into dwellings and commercial use property. Granted these do not apply in SONB or National Parks, but with the recent increase in sq. m. allowances in January 2017, it now enables many unused, unloved or unaffordable buildings to see a new lease life for generations to come.

All these options have one underlying opportunity to the thousands of people seeking a career change, expansion or start-up enterprise to call home as much as there place of business. Sustainable, with ecological credentials, viable and offering something new to the area. Ultimately producing hyper-local food for a growing and demanding population and sites of rural and farming business incubation, creating sites that attract SMEs and Micro Business with specialisms in this sector and encourage future generations to consider this as a viable career future.

If there was a magic wand to waive in the county of Derbyshire it would be used to highlight the issues of vacant and unused land that could be utilised and managed well, with bio-diversity and ecological methods at the very forefront of its use, property that could be best used to develop much needed affordable tenancy smallholdings for families who wish to develop their own agri-business.

The need to live and work in the countryside should not become the reserve of the economically well off, nor should it be wasted on linear building projects to benefit the few.

Our search continues.

WHY ARE WE STILL DOING THIS?

A $Multimillion high street fashion retailer has responsibilities both to avoid slavery in manufacturing – see Nike, and how it presents its brand to the buying public.

A $Multimillion high street fashion retailer has responsibilities in how it promotes gender equality. I am casting shade over The Gap and I am sure many more will be joining in this campaign of shame today on social media.

Who agrees on this garbage and lets it fly? You can’t patch it when it is out there. This is not an ad for this brand, it is a decision to boycott until they stop making all girls “the talk of the playground”.

 

 

kegs with legs…

A little light [beer] relief in a week we find our nation in a state of flux, one consistent beverage we can all rely on is a fine craft ale.

The recent phenomena and the dearth of micro brewers and privately / co-op managed ale houses is a good thing in my mind. The seasonality and historical regional flavours offers any visitor to the area an option to choose something made locally, with care and attention.

With the thousands of imaginatively named IPAs, stouts, amber ales and porters to choose from in my area of the country, it is often a challenge to find something that sticks out for the duration of the time at the bar or in a local bottle shop. This also is a good thing, long gone are the days of bland, insipid mass production brown liquid, offering only a guaranteed hang over from hell the next day, mainly due to all the additives and preservatives. Thankfully no more terrible TV ads for hooligan Lager full of cliches and less than clever macho strap lines.

Living in the convergence of both Manchester and Sheffield’s commuter belt, bordering the Peak District National Park, one would be happy to know we have dozens of local brewers hard at work each day making and mashing their delectable brews.

Having a small brewery on one’s doorstep is yet another reason to support local businesses that serve us with something so much more than the ambivalence we expect from many of the inner city hipster bars.

It is quite evident that these stalwarts of single mindedness, mavericks, revolutionaries and masters of individuality are the future of our brewing industry and with the current shenanigans in Westminster, exporting our wares will start to prop up the economy as much as our fading bars.

If you find yourself in the Peak District this year, make time to enjoy the new line of ales from Whaley Bridge Brewery, the innovative methods Mike (Master Brewer extraordinaire) explores with the finest hops and the excellent clear waters of the Peak combine to produce a very irresistible result.

You will be first attracted by the creatively designed packaging and labels, a nod to a much more contemporary rather than hairy eared trad design. Each beer is named after an area of this historical town and each offer a completely different flavour and gravity.

The two new ones to the growing collection are Crow Hill and Mount Famine. Crow Hill being a very fine American Amber Ale, offering an explosion of caramel maltiness, refreshing citrus fruits and the bitterness from the excellent hops Mike doesn’t scrimp on. So if its the hell or high watermelon you like in a lovingly crafted beer, using a combination of alchemy, science and experience, this newcomer to the market is for you. This ale is one for a lazy summer evening, swallows darting over head, enjoying the fading summer sun after a great day on the hill.

Mount Famine is a totally different brew – a little more lively ale that offers an instant hit of Tropical Fruits – including Passion Fruit (how he does this is beyond a laymen such as me) and more robust bitter notes, this triple hopped beer offers an excellent session ale for any occasion. I found to my delight it was a fine accompaniment to some Stilton and a borderline offensively ripe Brie.

They join the WBB family and can be found in a growing number of ale houses and pubs in the region.

Recently as this week, you can find all four of the collection in 500ml bottles at the National Trust Eyam Hall courtyard, The Eyam Real Ale Company, right next door to the Hartington Cheese Shop, to anyone living in the area and knowing the latter – a perfect match I am sure you will agree.

Goyt Wines in Whaley Bridge, The Tickled Trout, Barlow near Chesterfield, and as of yesterday, the Beer Dock in Crewe and Barley Hops in Congleton, Cheshire. With a pending launch event, the newest ale shop to populate the High Peak, Beer District in Buxton (4a Colonnade, Buxton) will be opening the first week of July, starring amongst others, the four Whaley Bridge Beers. Once they get the shop fitting complete, they will be offering a growing number of excellent beers and ciders to discerning locals and visitors to the Spa Town.

I would expect to see this collection of delightful beers in an ale house near you quite soon.

Remember, it is people like Mike that make the world a better place, a happier place, and for every pint of Carling not sold this week, we can all applaud those who get up at the crack of sparrows each day to pint-by-pint remove this despicable drink from our pubs and replace it with something made from simple ingredients, not stakeholder pension plans. Life is far too short to drink cheap beer.

If you have an event or wedding looming in the Peak District, do your bit to support a local trade and give Mike a call.

Cheers!

Drink responsibly.

Ian.

defiance

Culture is defined as “a set of attitudes, values, beliefs, and behaviours shared by a group of people, communicated from one generation to the next via language or some other means of communication” (Tanaka Matsumi).

Hate is a four-letter word, a four-letter word that means the same thing across the globe. In every culture, you will find hate against one thing or another. There are in-groups and out-groups, the in-groups are accepted while the out-groups are targeted for attack. Openly known and publicised Hate Groups in the United States have risen at epidemic rates in the past 16 years. In the year, 2000 there were 602 hate groups openly operating in the United States; in 2012 – 1018 hate groups, and 1274 anti-government groups that they claim were formed because of a hatred against President Obama, “because he is Black”.

In a nation where culture is supposed to converge and become a melting pot of social mobility and the American experiment of multiculturalism, hate is growing more and more each day. Hate is an attitude and belief passed down from each generation, powered by media soundbites steered by people similar to the melted Ken Doll of extreme capitalism, those who precede and currently support this conservative and ultra right wing attitude, and Trump himself. Understanding the culture of hate can lead to social policy and intervention, similarly it can combat hate and the epidemic of hate groups. Understanding if hate and the reasons why people join such groups is cross cultural and leads to generic intervention programs that stretch across culture and across societies spanning the planet, ultimately making better places for everyone to move without fear and social imprisonment.

Whether the hatred is between Palestinians and Jews, Japanese and Chinese, Neo-facist groups and pretty much anyone who doesn’t have white skin (and were not born in their nation), hatred is a cancer that eats the very soul of any culture. Culture is defined as a group of people with a common background, religious belief, ideology and behaviour…so why is it that in a decade where we have successfully sent machinery to Mars, discovered new methods of prolonging life, filtering the toxins from our seas, harnessing energy from the sun, wind and the waves; the hundreds of applications to Graphene and that a growing number of us have enough data stored in our phones to fill the Bodleian Library, we as a race of humans still cannot get past the dogma of religious and media filed hate against each other? Just because some men enjoy the company of other men, some women enjoy the company of other women and those who look forward to finally having the body match the mind of the gender they find happiness in.

At what point do we as a “culture” turn the other way when groups of British Passport owning men stripped to the waist cultivate pitch battles with other nations over a ball sport, because their fathers and older brothers did it in the 1980s and 90s; or stand by the ones who have free will and encouragement to enter into a building and kill with mindful intent and accuracy? At what point are we as a planet going to wake up and stop trying to deal with things we cannot accomplish and invest more in education, science and love. Education makes us more powerful than any politician, Science allows us to live longer and live a richer, more creative life and not give a hoot about religious doctrine. And love? Love can make us all much better people. Love makes us happy.

My thoughts are with the family and friends of the ones who lost their lives in Orlando the other night. I was less than a mile away from the Admiral Duncan in 1999 on that fateful evening in London. When criminal acts such as this are cited against religious groups it is something even our political spinners use to sway the public consciousness, even as far as effecting our boarder controls and fuel prices – yet when people of all secular and religious beliefs come together to celebrate their own social lives, on their terms, with their friends, and then have them cut down because they are gay is still [in 2016], it appears a forgettable crime, a difficult to understand act because one’s sexual orientation appears to be the business and control of others and still kept in the realms to hate by a growing number of people.

A reported 4000 people attended a moment of reflection in London yesterday, this vigil was part of a global response to these 49 lives lost. Within minutes of this significant show of solidarity 15 other countries publicised their support – including Israel, Afghanistan and Qatar. So, linking this atrocity to anything other than hate is an act of a fool.

 

rules of engagement

Since the mid 1990’s I have either politely smiled or viciously walked out of agency meetings with the hump after hearing those fateful words – “its good for your exposure”, “we are a very powerful brand and it would help your career”, “I need to use your studio to test with a well known make up / fashion brand / record label / virgin airlines” or my personal favourite – “next time we need someone like you, we will be sure to call you back and pay you”.

Please forgive the tone of this little rant as I must admit recently I haven’t had to hear this from anyone, nor have I had to get the hump with anyone asking me to fix a problem or find a solution for their own company’s issues, large or small. Maybe it is because I have learned from making such mistakes and the value of the word “No”. I have also stopped agreeing to work with habitual testing companies or those who have excellent ideas on paper yet don’t have the acumen to carry them out. I suppose I have gained enough trust from those who I have worked with recently, however, it is still something that plays on my mind when I am asked (at least once a week) by graduates, people who have recently gone freelance or those who have been looking into attracting new clients.

Working for free, albeit an oxymoron is one of those assumptions that all creative agencies, screen companies, and now Supermarkets feel quite comfortable with. A rather well known Screen Agency insists that any intern be working without wage for over a year before they be considered for a base level intern on any feature film shot in their county. Only to have their name on the credit roll as their way of payment. Could this be due to the past decade of the people listed above falling for the lies and confidence tricks that belie so many young and talented people?

With my experience of working for such super-rich clients, they often employ agencies such as TBWA, McCann or much larger international companies to come up with cultivating a plan of how they can increase attraction and develop a long list of stills images, motion picture or a three dimensional items for any publicity and promotion. Anyone knows that. They act as a buffer and make it easier to get paid, in essence, this is often the point in which the house of cards begins to collapse. The long list of talent then gets the call and the money gets filtered through once the job is done. Dissemination of income is a blessed job if given to the right people. But do we have those kinds of people in this sector? Stand up and be counted, stand up and be recognised for you are angels amongst us all.

Artists and designers, photographers and videographers are still quite often seen as Firemen, they leap into action when the call comes through, they make your problems go away, they often tidy up after themselves and like Firemen, they are often thought to have a second job to fill in the income gaps between “playing with cameras and pencils”. Quite wrong, quite wrong indeed.

It is for many a job, just like any other. Just like a Plumber, a Meteorologist, a Taylor, a Chef, a Barber. They come in all shapes and sizes, ages, genders and colours. And they all need paying for the work they do for you.

On reading this little cutting – from where and when I cannot say, the uncertainty of this being factual is as anything found on Twitter et al, sketchy at best, however I would not be at all surprised to hear this was indeed a legitimate newspaper column.

I would suggest that Ronnie or Claude be ready for a week or two of eloquent abuse.

First of all, the employee issues that Camden branch of Sainsbury’s is experiencing appears to be near cataclysmic and some would take from this advert that they employ nothing but sociopaths. Asking someone to create an oasis of calm for their unhappy staff is not anyone’s problem but Sainsbury’s. Or have I missed the point? As a leading UK retailer, one would trust it would spend time (and money) creating a comfortable and happy place for their staff to work – as investing in people has been at the forefront of their mission since 1998. According to their website.

So to ask a member of the west London creative community to design an interior for no wage and not for the eyes of anyone but their highly stressed staff that require a realm of relaxation is a reflection on how it supports the immediate community and the arts.

Maybe next time you visit a Sainsbury’s you should ask for a weeks worth of groceries and say “I will not be paying for these today, but I will be blogging about the juiciness of your Cantaloupes and crustiness of your baguettes in the morning, pinky promise. Thanks.”

Pithy – yes. but it does grind a little that this was a) agreed on, and b) published.

Alternatively, I suppose any artists or interior designer currently between jobs could do with the Nectar points. How many would one get for painting a chair a lovely calming pantone green 363?

 

genius lurks in chaos

Nigh on 16 months of development and over 6 years of research and cultivating data into a number of ambitious & expansive plans have, since January last year found me in front of policy makers, politicians, professors and professional pundits – each one suitably wowed by the designs, my efforts and determination to see some, if not all my plans come to fruition and become part of the day-to-day shenanigans up here in the north of England.

With that in mind and with a growing number of backed up RAID files and NDA protected documents of considerable weight and caliber, I am in need of a system that you may currently use with excellent results.

I need to broaden my skills in document house keeping and reduce the amount of space I use for such virtual paperwork on my ageing MacBookPro. I use it only for desk top, no films and limited images are stored internally, much of the drive is taken up with the written word. Many, many written words.

Your assistance in this is gratefully received.

Many thanks,

Ian

 

Wax on, Wax off

Good afternoon all,

I have a question to ask all whom own and somewhat cherish their cars, for those of you looking to market to sell or just get the old motor ready for winter.

Have you ever thought of having the body work brought back to showroom condition? Headlights gone misty? (an MOT Failure) Or have you had a go at waxing your car this summer and it looks like it needs doing again?

Usually it can take 3 or 4 days to get any car, classic or modern up to a standard most of us would marvel at. However there is an alternative. All work can be done in one day and if you have cover (garage) access to water and a plug socket the car doesn’t necessarily have to leave your sight.

Any of you out there connected to classic car clubs, any of you out there that need to or know of anyone trying to market a car, or those of you just wishing to have a newly detailed car then contact me. This guy is a gem and you need him in your life.

All types of cars considered, including 4×4 and even VW Campers if you are going to put them to bed for winter. Testimonials and images of recent work can be gained on request. This service is by appointment only but will not break the bank, hell if I can justify the service, anyone can.

Let me know if you need to make a booking I will pass on his details.

Regards,

Ian

International Rescue…

With the delights and demands of work and time spent away from home this summer, it has come as no surprise that I am not at all ready for the planned distance hike I am doing this month. So time to get the boots dubbed and waterproofs nik-waxed, find my tin cup and get the expedition tent out of moth balls.

Some of you may already know, I received a call on the evening of the 13th of May a call we all dread to get, the call that someone you love is in hospital fighting for their life due to an accident.

When we first heard that my brother-in-law had been involved in an RTA whilst on his motorbike there was a lot of swearing, second guessing, jumping in cars and heading through the night to Nottinghamshire and that he was possibly driving without care (though that isn’t his style – not on a bike at least). Rushing to the QMC in Nottingham it unfolded that he was in fact the victim of the reckless act of careless driving, a driver had lost control and ran him over whilst he was stationary in traffic on his new Ducati motorcycle.

As my wife stared down at her oldest brother, whilst hooked up to every machine the NHS have at their disposal, saying to the Medical Team and Police that yes this was indeed her brother Karl. A terrifying situation and one she was unsure of what would happen next, distraught at the thought of him seeing this hunk of metal coming at him at speed and unable to do anything about it, and the horror and the colossal pain he must have felt.

He was unable to breathe on his own, with two punctured lungs, two broken legs, lacerated spleen & liver, broken elbow, wrist, collar bones, shoulder blade, nose, numerous ribs and untold brain damage, the prognosis did not appear good.

The important thing though was that he was there, in hospital, receiving treatment quickly because of the actions of the Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance Team (LNAA) – had they not been there to assist in his immediate and essential care, he most definitely would not be lying on the bed getting amazing 24 hour care from the team at QMC in Nottingham.

As the weeks went on we saw Karl progressively get better. From the first breath he took independently – which was as wonderous as watching our own children breathe for the first time, to the first squeeze of a hand, then onto the opening of eyes, the first look of recognition even though he couldn’t speak and then onto the random stream of words and slowly moving to organised speech, if only to be filled with profanity that would make a Merchant Seaman blush (but who can blame him?). The most special of days came when out of the blue on a visit he saw Rebecca, clung on to her and said how much he had missed her, asked about the children by name and asked where I was. I can’t describe the relief and joy after skype-ing Rebecca that evening from her Hotel room, he was going to be OK.

Nearly 4 months have passed and he is moving himself about in his wheel chair, working on walking independently (with a frame at the moment) and is nearly his old self again-just the memory of a preoccupied goldfish to sort out.

Now that he is out of the woods, so to speak and proving to us the wonder of medical science, the amazing staff at Lincs&Notts Air Ambulance, the diligence and phenomenal bedside care of the nurses and surgeons of QMC; and human spirit, it is time for us to give back.

It comes as no surprise that it costs to get this Helicopter up and saving lives, £3000 every time the air ambulance gets that call. With this in mind we’d like to raise as much as we can towards that figure so that others can be saved by such an unparalleled and selfless service.

Rebecca and I are undertaking a long distance challenge walk taking in the Derbyshire Peak District. 60 miles in 4 days (yes, that’s 60 miles) up hill and down dale, fording rivers and scrambling over scree; this is going to be a major undertaking as I am not as fit as I used to be, in fact if I were a horse, I’d be gluing your Sneekers by now; for Rebecca the challenge will be how to move past the ice cream shops and to not fall asleep in the stone circles.

This is not subject to the stunning weather we have had this summer, (discounting today’s floods and possible thunder storms) we have been honed from years of dashing up Mountains and carved from decades of rain strewn fells to let a little August rain hamper our progress.

If however you’d rather forgo the blisters and join us on a leg or two, map reading or just getting eaten alive by midges, please donate what you can to this great cause, anything you can give would be highly appreciated. We have received in the past three weeks an amazing amount of money, with only 23 donations we have almost hit the £600 mark. Such generosity is moving and inspiring in equal measures.

This accident was the act of carelessness, and has resulted in a long and worrisome time for my family – wrong place, wrong time. It could happen to anyone and knowing a service is out there that can make the difference between life and death is certainly one that we should all support. So if this valiant yet small gesture can raise enough to cover the cost of the life saving act back in May, we can all be rest assured that all of these services can keep flying.

Thank you

If you wish to donate please follow this link to the Just Giving site –

Please CLICK HERE thank you.