Flicking and Poetry

Well it's been another delightful day. I've managed six days in a row in the gym and now intend a rest day tomorrow when we hit our second port.  Today's workout was 30 minutes of uphill walking on the treadmill at 5km per hour speed and 5% incline. That's great on both accounts as on each of the last five days I have been slowly building up from 4.5 speed and 4%. The plan tomorrow morning is to relax and enjoy some personal space time, maybe a watercolour or a pastel drawing and a coffee and a read of a brilliant book that I am enjoying regarding the birth of the Tudors.  Our onboard daily regime seems to have settled into a healthy breakfast of cereal, and a glass of orange juice and water. Coffee seems to be inevitable, and sea day art class at either 1030 or 3pm depending on how I feel.  Gym late afternoon, and then into the jacuzzi early evening for a long soak before changing for pre-dinner drinks.  Today was a bit special as we enjoyed our usual on deck lunchtime sandwich, and then saw 'the Theory of Everything' in the stunning and spacious cinema. 

The morning art class resulted in this effort. The poem was written just after I sat down and saw the image that we would be interpreting, and was written as I was sketching the outline for the painting.

Pen-y-Fan

As well as the onboard watercolour Art Classes, I've brought along my Schmincke soft pastels travelling set, 3 Sennelier soft pastels that I bought in Cardiff the other month, and a small set of Derwent pastel blocks. The latter aren't the best pastels in the world, but I bought them second hand (and unused) and they have a few different colours that are useful. I also have some card for pastels. So after breakfast this morning I headed for the coffee shop and completed this offering.  I also managed to pick up some Bristows 'natural hold' hairspray, no not for me, but to 'fix' the drawing.  Completing the artwork, made for a good talking point. There is at least one thing that I would do different if I know how.  I don't know how; so at this moment in time, this is as good as it gets folks.  

Ps I had the common sense and good manners to clean up after me, and to go outside onto Deck 7 to spray the drawing.

Tin Bath

You can dress it down anyway that you like, but it's a bath.  Yes, it may be a similar size to the tin bath that we had in Aylesbury Street when I was a child, but nevertheless it's a bath. And at 7 a.m. this morning it was a very welcome addition indeed to our cabin layout.  We always have a shower when holidaying, indeed several a day, and rarely have a bath.  So you can well imagine my delight, when having retired at just gone midnight, I woke up at 6 a.m. and lay there wide awake until it dawned on me that we had a bath. Yes, this was a result. 

Midnight Ramble

Dinner was a casual dress affair last night, and the post dinner show in one of the theatres was fabulous.  It was like an Abba spectacular, and there we were tucked in a corner, and feeling as if we had our own private box.  We had a great evening to cap off a great day in Gibraltar.  We even managed to assemble an alcohol free day.  Now we don't drink as such.  Wifey may manage one, and after three I am anybody's.  But the thing is, we all know that alcohol in excess is bad for you, and we also know that when you are on holiday it's relatively easy to slip into bad habits.  So we planned an alcohol free day.  We had done the same on Thursday, but had failed.  I succumbed to a Peroni while waiting for Pauline to change for dinner (I always get ready and head out first to give her space) and then post dinner I went for two Cosmopolitans.  Not together mind you, I'm not a lush.  No, I separated them with a suitable time gap.  But that was the previous day, and this one involved no alcohol.  It was two cans of pop, coffee and water; spread over the whole day for both of us.  It probably helped the bank balance and probably was a contributory factor as to why we stayed up so late.  Especially seeing that we had stayed up late the previous night and got up early that morning.  So having already had a great day; Pauli suggested a nighttime walk on deck as we retired towards our room.  Well, exercise is always a good thing, so I seized upon her idea and agreed.  I had intended to put on one of the two jumpers that I had brought with us.  But at the last moment grabbed and carried our coats as we headed for Deck 13.  Now I don't know what I was really expecting; was it rain, or a cool wind.  I mean, it was a reasonable assumption given that it was by now past midnight.  The heat hit us as we ventured outside, and instantly reminded me of my short break in Africa.  It was astonishingly warm and the coats were an unnecessary burden to carry around the deck.  We enjoyed our ramble and then took a more private route back to our cabin.  Probably sub consciously to avoid those awkward gazes, you know the kind, that when others see you carrying a heavy coat while travelling in the Mediterranean in Summer.

More Art

I'm smiling a lot on this holiday, probably because the 1 hour Art Classes are lasting 1 hour 30 minutes and I'm learning lots about using watercolours.  I'm also smiling because I have hit the gym hard, four days running.  While refusing to have a full breakfast on each of the cruise days so far.  Today's breakfast was scrambled egg on two slices of toast with a glass of orange juice and water.  Lunch was a sandwich and chicken from the chilled cabinet.  So all in all, I'm exercising my body, while also exercising a degree of common sense.  Wifey is doing the same.  In fact Pauli even walked the 20 minutes from the Port into Gibraltar this morning.  So good stuff all round, and with that in mind, the waitress is approaching with my evening coffee and I need to sign off and settle down.

The photograph shows today's artistic effort.

Transatlantic

The P&O Aurora is a lovely ship.  Even lovelier than suggested at first impressions. The reason being apparently it is a Transatlantic vessel with a keel rather than the usual flat bottom of the larger ships.  This means that the Aurora comes across as being remarkably stable.  Now that may be a simple illusion, and the reality of the calm Bay of Biscay, was simply the fine weather. Well, whatever the reality of the situation, I am extremely pleased to be on such a ship, only having to cope with the gentle rocking during my sleep time slumber.  Gibraltar is done, but unlike five years or so ago, on this occasion we spent more.  I've at long last picked up a TTL flash gun for my ageing camera.  Not an all singing Canon jobby with its mega bucks price tag, but instead a more simple affair.  It's a Metz with a pop on diffuser and a full tilt head.  I'm glad to say that it didn't cost a Kings Ransom, and the lovely chap in the shop in Gibraltar gave me a 1:48 exchange rate, a 50p discount, and threw in a full set of Duracell batteries.  So all in all I think that I came out of the deal with a smile.

Dining on Board

They have put us on 'Freedom Dining' which was not a choice.  I need it would never have been a choice having previously endured 'Anytime Dining' with another company a few year ago.  You see, we like to meet people and chat and thereafter build upon the relationship.  Whereas with 'Freedom Dining' you have to queue for a table and can end up sitting by anyone and in various group sizes.  But, in all fairness it has worked out fine so far.  On the first night (with casual dining) we sat by a lovely couple from Liverpool and an elderly lady travelling alone from Yorkshire.  On the second 'formal' evening we by chance ended up sat by the aforementioned Liverpudlians and were joined by two others from that fair city along with someone from the North of England who now lives in Wales.  Wherever they were from, they would never have suspected the turmoil that I caused by travelling without my dress shirts that fit.  Indeed, if it wasn't for Pauli, we would have ended up dining in the cafe.  The onboard shop assistant said that those hung up on display were the only shirts, and with no sizes suitable, we were about to leave the shop when Pauli spotted another display with packed items.  Phew, a lucky escape, and yet another gold star for Pauline.

The photograph shows me on the third option dining night: that of smart jacket.

Cruise

Well this is a lovely experience indeed. Here we are on a P&O cruise ship having a fabulous time! We were unable to have good Summer Holiday last year and this folks (on first impression after a few days) appears to be as good as it gets. We are extremely fortunate to have such a holiday this year.  The bonus to add to the fabulous service, ambience, and standards; is the availability of Art Classes.  Those who know me, know that I depend upon my weekly Art Class at MIND Aberystwyth, so to find that there are twenty Art Classes during the cruise, simply means that I am in seventh heaven.  Wifey is pleased as well.  So pleased that I even managed to get her into a jacuzzi for the first time ever.  Pauli is having a whale of a time, and so folks am I. 

Here is my water colour at the end of the third lesson.  It is A4 size on professional water colour paper using Winsor & Newton Artist quality water colours.  It took about one hour fifteen minute and ties in nicely with a piece that I am working on at home. 

Jeremy Corbyn

The best thing that Labour have done in years; is to have Jeremy Corbyn in the race for Leader of their Party. The best thing that Labour could do for the years ahead; is to elect him. 

I have voted Labour in the past, just as I have voted Liberal, Liberal Democrat, Conservative, and Plaid Cymru. My vote has been about what is best for my community and who is a credible potential winner.

I was in despair when the four declared, as it came across as the same old same old.  Labour was going nowhere, and then, in the depths of despair, Jeremy Corbyn's name appeared on the ballot.  With Jeremy Corbyn at the helm, Labour could become both a true Opposition and potential future General Election winners.  Jeremy Corbyn may become our next Prime Minister, but without him, Labour are destined to a decade or more in the wilderness.  That is, if they don't totally implode during that time.

Vote Jeremy Corbyn and give Labour a fighting chance.

iPad photos and memory

Eyes down and look in lovely iPad users as this is an extremely important post. 

My iPad is several years old and is one of those 68GB jobbies. I know that Apples GB hungry software eats into the capacity, along with those GB munching Apps. I like to store lots of photographs and had set up a few albums in the iPad photo App. 

Please hang in there and stay with me, because trust me, this storyboard is worth the journey. So, hungry GB munching things; meant that it came as no surprise to see my iPad GB reduce to a miserly 186MB. 

At this panic induced point, I decided to trawl through my Photo App and delete images that weren't needed. This meant sending quite a few to friends via Social Media so that the pics weren't lost for good, and making sure that my Dropbox was up to date. I also realised that any album created in the Photo App was just a duplication. So, other than one or two special albums (such as my 'artwork ideas' and 'art') the bulk of my albums got deleted, safe in the knowledge that my images were in 'Camera Roll' and in Dropbox. More importantly, there was no longer 2 of everything on my iPad.  I also cleared out my 'recently deleted' album. Normally this clears itself out after 30 days have elapsed after an image is deleted, but I done it manually because I had just deleted a lot of stuff. I also turned off and restarted my iPad so that all of thes deletions were recognised.  

This meant my 186MB panic system, increased to a nice 8.1GB

Which of course, those of you in the know, also know is good. And this story could have stopped there, but it doesn't. 

You see, over the years the iPad hasn't been keeping up with my photo deletions.  The difference between what the 'System Usage' and 'About' says that I have stored as photos, and what I actually have, differs by some 5,000 images. I have 2,000 something photos and an empty recently deleted album, and it says that I have 7,000 something images on the iPad.  Well it did up until a few minutes ago.  As of now I have an awesome 38.1GB available on my iPad. Yes, you read it correctly, 30GB more than a few minutes ago.  How you ask? Well, simples actually;

Open your Photo App, go to 'recently deleted' and delete any images sat there

Close the Photo App

Now go to Settings and find 'Date and Time'

Deselect automatic 

Take the date back 2 or 3 years (I went back 3 years)

Leave the 'Date and Time'

Open the Photo App and check the 'Recently Deleted' album

I found almost 5,000 images sat in mine although a few minutes earlier it was empty

Delete them and when done close the Photo App

Go back to settings and 'Date and Time' and set to automatic and then enjoy your iPad

. . . You're welcome 

Victoria Cross

Just read that today's Tory Budget contains a new provision for all living holders of the Victoria Cross and the George Cross to receive a stipend of £10,000 per annum. That is blinking great news, as each and every one of them deserves both the recognition and the financial security that should accompany such selfless acts of valour!  

This news has made my day.

Watercolour Apple

I've been enjoying using the watercolours and this is this week's effort :-)

Watercolours

So the posty delivered all of the Winsor and Newton water colours from the various sellers, and they were all as good as I had anticipated.  I'm well chuffed, but now of course I have to learn how to use them!  With that in mind I trundled off to the Botanical art course that I mentioned in my last Blog post.  It was far better than I had expected, and I can truly say that the university under sold it.  I'm not so sure that 'Botanical 2' will ever be needed, as this initial course is all about tonal work and water colours.  The good point is that there is no pressure.  The lessons are easy going, there's no exam and the dates are well spaced out with significant gaps.  I've even managed to practice at the MIND art class that I attend. I'm not very good, but I certainly feel as if I'm getting better at water colouring. Maybe I shall upload something, if indeed I manage to paint anything worth uploading.

Happier Days

Righty oh, Mr 'B' AKA Yours Truly, who I hasten to add is currently struggling with a pen and ink drawing of a building; is now signed up for a 'Botanical illustration 1' course with the Art & Design department of Aberystwyth University.  

The art course starts tomorrow and is spread over four very well gapped days with the last day due to take place on the 18th June.  I like the course brief; "ideal course for those wishing to . . . develop their fine art skills'.  Yep it's about botany, but it's also primarily about art.  Another course aptly titled: 'Botanical illustration 2', seems to be about watercolouring techniques and tonal modelling.  So that's going to be one for the future, especially given my recent spends on Winsor and Newton Professional Watercolours.  Plus of course I'm really excited, not because of tomorrow's course, but because I'm sat here with a coffee waiting for Mr Postman, who happens to be carrying several hundred pounds worth of water colour paints that I ordered online from three sellers for the bargain basement price of £40

Oh happy days. Now, back to that pen and ink drawing. . . 

Life should mean life

According to the BBC online News Service; "Colin Pitchfork was given a life sentence in 1988 for the rape and murder of 15-year-old schoolgirls Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth, from Leicestershire." I recently watched an excellent two part docu-drama about the pioneering DNA work that caught Pitchfork, along with the excellent police work that caught the person who pretended to be him and took the first DNA test, that in turn allowed Pitchfork to roam free for longer.

Pitchfork was convicted of two heinous crimes, and Pitchfork should die in prison.  

To release Colin Pitchfork would be a travesty of justice and a shameful indictment of the low value now placed on human life by our society.  I don't care about perceived risk to society, as Pitchfork could be a bedridden 90 year old and I would still believe that such a person should still be in prison. 

The only reason to release someone who was convicted of the rape and murder of two human beings, is when technological advances or other evidence subsequently proves that the convicted person was innocent.  That will not be the case for Colin Pitchfork.  If a person is guilty of such heinous crimes, then that convicted person should die behind bars. 

Well Wednesday didn't happen

Nope, the DIY painting didn't happen, as Wednesday was a wash out in the pressure stakes.  I spent the day mooching around town instead.  Whereas Thursday was about exercise and an enjoyable Trail Run at the fabulous Nant-yr-Arian. So the decorating was simply put on hold.

So on Friday I cracked open the paint tin that has been hanging around for quite a few weeks, and took a laborious 6 hours to apply one coat of emulsion to four walls. Yep, they need a second coat, but alas that means more pressure, so that idea has been parked for a while.  And Nope, the walls aren't large.  I just think that it was a case of not being up to the task. Maybe they will be painted next week or indeed the week after, who knows.

Thankfully not all tasks are the 'your face pressure stuff' that I try to avoid.  Avoidance strategies work, and are an important defensive mechanism.  Another defensive mechanism is to flitter from one thing to another.  So using pastels is good fun, but that fun mustn't diminish.  Hence the pencil drawing, and the watercolours.   Mix it up, and the pressure is reduced.  With that in mind; I'm trying to complete a pen and ink and watercolour as a gift for two friends of ours who are getting married.  It's slow, and has to be set aside and picked back up, but it's enjoyable.  It might look good, but then again it might not.  But I suspect that they will be grateful.  Albeit it's likely that the finished item will be handed over well past the marriage date.  There was a time, a long time ago, when I would have worked slavelessly to finish to a deadline. Not any more, as deadlines are now something to be avoided at all costs.  I'm not really that fussed when and how I do something, and I simply don't set myself the target.

Seascape imaged

So this is how the seascape (shown in an earlier Blog Post) eventually ended up looking like when using Winsor and Newton professional quality Watercolours applied onto Sennelier Pastel Paper. The watercolor painting is approximatel 25cm high by 63cm long. It's our intention to mount the Artwork using White Mounting Board and to surround that with an Oak Frame ready to hang above the bed in our Guest Bedroom. 

The restricted space between the Dado Rail and the Bedroom Ceiling in that part of the room; is the reason for the deliberate narrowness of the image. Some of the colours were used for the Watercolour to compliment the color of items bought for the room make-over, now that the room has become vacant. 

As usual, I can't put myself under too much pressure when doing these sort of tasks. So the redecorating has already taken many weeks, instead of a day or two.  I've managed to fill the holes, and today I got around to eventually painting the ceiling.  I now have to build myself up to painting the walls.  We are thinking, take tomorrow out and instead do some art at 'MIND Aberystwyth' and go for a coffee, and then see how I feel on Wednesday.  If not Wednesday then Friday might be a DIY Day.  But Wifey understands that Friday could even turn out to be next week or the week after.  But in between all that DIY and pressure sort of stuff, I shall try to complete a Soft Pastel Drawing image of the same scene and using the same type and size of Pastel Paper. But I am enjoying using watercolours and I am already on the look out for some new Kolinsky Sable Art Brushes. I also intend to buy a sheet of watercolor paper, having today been told the difference between 'hot press' and 'cold press' paper.  I want to paint some butterfly's and I'm also keen to paint eight or ten leafs (in two rows, one above the other) without a background. Don't ask me why, because I simply don't know.  But there you have it, this is where the art direction is going at the moment. And before you know it, the art will probably be placed back inside a box (metaphorical not actual) and I shall move onto something else. Which of course is what we do when we need and use such defensive mechanisms. 

 

Imaging the SeaScape

Today was the day that I should have been settling down to that much looked forward to 'Imaging the Landscape' using Pastels course. I was particularly excited about that pastel course as mentioned in a previous Blog post. 

Indeed, I am still smarting about the course being cancelled two days before its intended date. Worse still they had cashed my cheque and sent me joining instructions. So although I had been forewarned by others that they often cancel adult learning courses, the cashed cheque and the joining instructions meant that I didn't see the negative outcome that was looming.

Maybe the cancelled Pastel Art Course was the catalyst for this temporary change from my recent determined flurry into the world of Soft Pastels.  It seems to be onwards and upwards and onto a new medium.  So the artist quality soft pastels have been set aside, and we are now indulging in a watercolour journey.  I deliberately chose to use Pastel Paper (that was kindly gifted to me by my friends at the Art Shop) and set an intentional panoramic view by cutting the paper in half along its length to end up with a 25 x 63 cm sheet.

This is the just the start of the image.  It's from an idea that Wifey found online and wants for one of our rooms.

I'm using 'Winsor & Newton' professional quality watercolours bought from the Art Shop on Pier Street, Aberystwyth, along with a 'Winsor & Newton' Kolinsky Sable art brush. Kolinsky Sable brushes hold more water than other types of art brushes and therefore allow longer strokes and cut down on the 'drag' that occurs with cheaper brushes. I have had quite a few Sable brushes in my tine, but to my shame, most of them have been used with modelling acrylics when painting massed armies in 1:72nd and 25mm scales. Oops, now that was a tad foolish wasn't it? 

Coastline Art

This is another one, in my so far mini series of Coastline art images.  Artist Quality Soft Pastels were drawn onto A3 size Watercolour Paper.  This means that some of the watercolor paper ridges show through.  A combination of Schmincke, Rowney (out of production narrow sticks) and Sennelier soft pastels were used. I waited a few weeks for the Sennelier set to arrive before finishing off the foreground of this image.  My main problem at the moment is working out how to sign completed artwork.  Soft Pastel sticks are too broad and clumsy to form letters and numerals, whereas various grades of charcoal pencils from Soft to Hard, seem to break away in their wood when the charcoal pencil is sharpened using a normal pencil sharpener, or a pastel sharpener, or a knife.  For the darker images, a white Pastel Pencil fairs no better.  It is pretty frustrating in this so far 'teach yourself' course of artistic development; that I am having more problems with signing rather than completing the work.

As usual, All Rights are Reserved: Roger Bennett 2015

I was due to start a three day art course called 'Imaging the Landscape' tomorrow, but alas, the course was cancelled due to what appears to be a lack of numbers.  It looks as if it was two of us.  Which is pretty sad as I had built myself up to attending this pastel art course and was really looking forward to the three days spread over several weeks as being part of my springboard to better pastel artwork.  Worse still I had been forewarned by several others that this particular institution often cancels adult learning courses due to poor uptake.  I don't know if that's true, and I don't for one moment suspect that such last minute cancellations are deliberate, but I do wish that they get their marketing act together and go ahead with this intended high end stuff.  It appears in a prospectus, but the bottom line is that adult learners probably don't look in a prospectus like an intending University Undergraduate.  We probably rely more on posters and advertisements being placed in the right places and in a timely manner.  It's not much use putting up a poster a week or so after the early bird discount date, that sorts of misses the point really.  So as you can see, the artwork is developing, but alas I am bitterly disappointed regarding the last minute cancelled pastel art course that I had paid for last month.

Meanwhile, I need to get back to practicing how to sign my finished pieces, before I go and cause a calamity and ruin a piece at the last hurdle.  Mmmm, I wonder if 'Imaging the Landscape' would have taught me how to sign my name? 

Sutton Medieval Bridge Pastels Snow Scene

The last piece of original artwork that I uploaded was a Pastel Pencil drawing of the Sutton Medieval Packhorse Bridge in the village of Sutton, England.  That pastel artwork was completed on thick 160g orange pastel paper (see earlier post).  The pastel paper colour was allowed to show through when representing the Sutton packhorse bridge and other parts of the pastel pencil drawing.  The second piece that I completed over Easter 2015 was another A3 size image of the same bridge (shown below).   This new image was constructed using soft pastels (a combination of artist quality Schmincke, Jacksons, and now out of production narrow Rowney pastel sticks). This representation of the Sutton Medieval Bridge has a slightly different perspective than the image that I completed earlier over this Easter weekend, and of course unlike the Summer scene in the former, this one is in the grip of winter.

Sutton Medieval Packhorse Bridge, Sutton
Soft Pastels on Red Pastel Paper
A3 Size

Like all of my artwork and poetry; all rights are reserved.

Sutton Packhorse Bridge

This is my first attempt at using Pastel Pencils instead of recent move towards using Soft Pastel 'sticks' for a piece of artwork.  It  was drawn using various Derwent Pastel Pencils from a wooden box set of 48 that I recently bought for detailing the broader strokes of the larger pastel sticks, but alas pastel pencils seem to have a harder binder to hold the pastel inside the wood of the pencil, and therefore the pencils are not that good in my hands for detailing, as they indent into earlier strokes.  This artwork of the Medieval Bridge at Sutton was drawn onto Daler Rowney 'Murano' 406x305mm size 160 g/m2 warm colour pastel paper with the chosen base colour allowed to show through in the final piece. 

The Medieval Sutton 'Packhorse' Bridge and ford, in the village of Sutton in Bedfordshire.

Funeral

I attended a funeral today.  Not family, and not even a close friend.  But nevertheless a terribly sad and for me, an emotional affair.  I really had to get out of there as quickly as possible.  And that's all I have to say about that. 

MIND

I don't mind admitting that I am a member of the mental health Charity MIND. I have mentioned before that I find art therapeutic.  But of course, like many things, I also find it stressful.  I can't work to deadlines, and unsurprisingly I can become compulsive. There's a lot more that I could say, but I won't bore you with the detail.  Anyway, I started Art Classes at MIND, and I am extremely grateful, both for these classes and the drop in sessions that I have attended. 

In one of the Art Classes we were asked to create a ship that was representative of our life. My Charcoal sketch took 50 minutes to design and execute.  The two birds and the break of cloud cover is representative of a glimmer of hope.  At the start of the next Art Class during the following week; we were asked to write a few words regarding our artwork.  This is what I came up with.  The sketch was done on the 3rd February and the charcoal was fixed yesterday.  Interestingly enough the 'facilitator' was kind enough to buy and bring in hairspray for that purpose, and was kind enough to take my sketch outside and fix it for me. What a lovely person.  

The words were written at the start of yesterday's art class, before moving onto a new piece of artwork.  That new piece is not particularly spectacular, the idea was, but its execution wasn't.  The 'Ship' in this post is a photograph of my original piece that was slightly bigger than A3 size.  Another one of the facilitators at MIND was kind enough to photograph my sketch on the 3rd and hand me this photograph when I arrived for the class on the 10th.  Ps 'the victim' is in the water, just to the left of the hull. 

Taffy

This pooch is my first attempt at using Charcoal. The artwork (including the pencil outline that I drew to help guide me), took all of about forty minutes. It's a gift for two good friends, and the owners who live in Sutton in England are thrilled.  I tend to over analyse my artwork, and usually take a very long time starting and finishing a piece.  It takes time to get around to starting the intended work, and that's probably down to the mental ill health, and then a long time working on, putting down and picking back up.  My last oil painting took two years, and the pen and ink and watercolour of a Hyundai i30 about eighteen months.  I'm not a prolific artist, so it was nice to sit down and spend an enjoyable short period thinking about light and dark and thereby come up with this.  Yes, it's not great, there's a lot wrong with it, but it's mine, and I'm proud.

'Taffy', Charcoal on paper. January 2015

Model making

I have updated the Monaco Layout section. Click on its title above, and then scroll down to see the text (as the page doesn't look as if it changes when you select any of the tabs).  You simply have to scroll down to find the detail.

Prayers

I pray for Pauline Cafferkey daily, and will continue to do so.

The Stupid Stuff

How does someone returning from West Africa suffering from Ebola get back into the UK with ease? We have lost the plot. We don't do enough to contain the spread of this killer disease when it could have been contained, and now someone gets back to the UK yesterday, with ease across our border. I pity all of those exposed on the flight, through customs either side, on public transport and who may have come into contact with the person who is now seriously ill. I also pray for the victim, who if international efforts had been better, may never have been exposed to Ebola. Can someone in our government please stop pissing around with the stupid stuff AND instead please start dealing with the important stuff

Malala Yousafzai

So Malala Yousafzai becomes the youngest recipient ever of the Nobel Peace Prize when the joint award was announced today. Okay, so I was out by a year when I uploaded the following blog post in October 2013, but nevertheless the receipt of the award for me was always a given. 

"So Malala Yousafzai is favourite to win the Nobel Peace Prize when the Winner is announced this coming Friday.  Well, there is no surprise there then.  Especially if you had read my Blog Post of the 03 September 2013 when I commented upon the madness of the decision to cut the broadcast of one of Malala Yousafzai's speeches in mid flow."

Maybe the BBC can now respond by repeating her astonishing speech of 2013 in full. 

Relief

My friend Adam described my poem 'the vote' as "five lines of relief". Yep, I can't argue with that.

The Vote

Welcome back Scotland 

I am really glad

That you chose to stay

In our old Union

This September Day

Roger Bennett

19 September 2014

All Rights Reserved 

Chess

I scored 3.5 out of the 9 Rounds of Chess in Cardiff. Two of my opponents were in the stratosphere of my Rated Opposition, so with those games aside, I managed 3.5 out of 7 from the remainder. This included 5 draws, 4 of these were in a row, which is the longest run of draws that I have ever had when playing over the board chess. My tournament result was not great, but the outcome is lovely. 

I enjoyed the games, and enjoyed the week away.

NATO

Is it wrong to write about the NATO Summit being held in South Wales? We can't afford a holiday this year and are staying in Cardiff after a kind relative offered to lend us their place in the City while they are away. So with the support of my good friend Adam, I am chancing my arm at the South Wales International Open Chess Tournament. A six day chess extravaganza held in the centre of our Capital. 

Although at the moment it is not the vibrant cosmopolitan city that I know; not with all of this security fencing and vehicle barricades dotted about everywhere.  You can't even escape the intrusion when strolling or jogging through what is normally the lovely Bute Park. Nope, for the last five days, I have felt quite intimidated and feel as if I am in the Middle East rather than in South Wales. The worst part is, I thought that the NATO thingy was taking place in Newport.  Gwent get the Summit, but South Wales get the expense. And what's this 'working lunch' malarky? I've dined in the Castle many years ago, and with that standard of quisine, there's not going to be that much working going on.  Unlike me at the chess board, slogging it out for a few hours at a time.

To be quite honest, if it wasn't for Adam, it's highly unlikely that I would be here at all. Well yes, I would be here drinking coffee and strolling around, but not playing chess. You see, the aforementioned friend sort of acts like my 'second'. Of course it is quite unheard of for a club level chess player like me to have a 'second', but the support is essential with my mental ill health. 

Adam researches chess ideas and themes, researches my opponents and preps me as to what chess opening to expect, and then analyses each of my chess games in detail following each round. I wake up in the flat to a ping on my mobile phone, and that is a text or email from Adam informing me who I am due to playing etc., Following the game I photograph my chess scoresheet and then email it to Adam for analysis. We also met up several times prior to my jaunt to the fenced off City. So while other people do a lot of work, I just have a lot of fun, and the pressure valve folks is wide open. 

So thank you Adam, because you are helping me to live my dream, but bugger off NATO because you are making me feel vulnerable and intimidated. 

Next time, please host your Summit out on a ship or away in the countryside. 

Oh the chess, how is it going you ask? Well I lost in Round 1 to an International Master (so no surprise there then) and somehow drew the next four games. Part of this unusual string of draws, is risk aversion, and of course lack of confidence. The other part must be down to my aims and objectives, the primary one being enjoyment. I mustn't care about the result, but I must ensure that I do enjoy playing.

Swotting

Well Friday came and went and no swotting occurred for the British Chess Championships Week 2 AM Open Competition. There was alas (and still is) lots of sweating with this heat wave currently engulfing Wales and the rest of the UK but no swatting. So here I am, feet up, watching the TV and wishing that I had the money to install an air conditioning system. It's times like this that I wish that I was on a long drive, because at least the car is cooler. 

Although I did pay a visit to the main playing area today, and I must say that the room appeared to be really cool. The Championship organisers had also put on lots of water. But even the cool water and the cool room wasn't as cool as the cool commentator in the Commentary Room.  Now he seemed to be shrouded in his own personal air conditioning system, and I must admit by the manner in which he commentated on the games; he had certainly done his swotting.

British Chess Championships

Well that's a strange but rather interesting turn around. Having been treated to the 'Chess Menu' at the Gwesty Cymru restaurant yesterday evening by our good friends Adam and Nia, I went and made the plunge and entered the Open tournament AM for Week 2 of the British Chess Championships. 

Now. Haven't played competitive chess since I had my first mental health breakdown in 1998. So the big question for me is quite simply: can I wrangle my way out of the opening five days on the trot next week?

Will I have to resort to 1. b4 the Polish opening when white, and some strange fianchetto when black? Or do I play 2. f4 irrespective of what my opponent plays, while revisiting the chess openings with some swatting on Sunday? Quite a lot to consider, and seeing that I need to avoid stress, it's quite likely that the plan won't be formed until Sunday night and very little or even 'no swatting' will actually occur. Meanwhile I look forward to relaxing tomorrow in this heat, running on Saturday, and doing very little on Sunday.

Welsh Parkruns, next the UK :-)

So that is Challenge No.1 to run all of the current 5k Parkrun's in Wales, completed. The next challenge will be to run one Parkrun in Wales (done), England (done), Scotland (TBA) and Ireland (TBA)

My BEST 5K TIMES for each Parkrun in WALES:

Aberystwyth Parkrun 31:01 (2014)
Pontypridd Parkrun 31:38 (2014)
Pontypool Parkrun 32:28 (2014)
Bryn Bach Parkrun 34:19 (2014)
Newport Parkrun 35:14 (2013)
Llyn Llech Owain Parkrun 35:25 (2014)
Cardiff Parkrun 35:28 (2013)
Colby Parkrun 36:48 (2014)
Porthcawl Parkrun 42:44 (2013)

Ps if you would like to sponsor me, then any money raised is shared between the British Heart Foundation, Tenovus, and the Firefighters Charity, unless you use my JustGiving link (www.justgiving.com/Roger-bennett1) at which point any money to the JustGiving page is donated straight to the British Heart Foundation

Oh Happy Days

My Preseli 'Beast Bach' trail race t-shirt has at long last arrived!  Oh happy days.  That was a tough run indeed, and it's great to now be able to wear my Beast Bach t-shirt with pride

Supporting the British Heart Foundation

My www.justgiving.com/roger-bennett1 page is one way of donating money to help the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to continue their sterling work researching to fight heart disease.

The BHF are world class leaders in their field, and as a world class charity, their work is shared worldwide and not restricted to the United Kingdom.  If new research pinpoints a new method, new medication, or new solutions, then those outcomes become available for everyone and not just British citizens. So think of the BHF as a world class organisation, that funds world class research into reducing heart disease.

Another method for making a donation if you are located in the U.K. is to text an amount via the details shown in the photograph in this Blog Post.  Apparently the texts themselves are free and the only thing that is taken, is the amount that you choose to contribute.

The British Heart Foundation; world class for everyone.

The British Heart Foundation

The British Heart Foundation is one of several charities close to my heart. I can't do much to help the BHF, but I can do a bit. Can you do anything to help them?  I ran the Aberystwyth 10K last year and raised some dosh for the BHF. Not much, only a few bob, but then again every little helps.  I hope to run the same race this year and try to complete the Cardiff 10K as well. 

I don't like asking people to sponsor my running, as things are tight for so many people these days.  Asking always seems awkward and intrusive.  We all have chosen charities, we all have our own story, and for many people Charity must start at home.  That's not them being selfish, that's a case of real need.  The local foodbank helps so many people, and foodbank usage across the U.K. is so high, that it's almost a national scandal.  Low hours contracts and even zero hours contracts mean that people don't have stability and money is tight.  Private landlord rents gave risen, the cost of food has risen, and things are tight for so many people.  So if you can help the British Heart Foundation and or the many other charities that are out there, then please do so.  But when you do so, please don't leave yourself short.

Bowe Bergdahl

You don't decide whether or not someone lives or dies due to their alleged behaviour.  Instead you do your best to bring your people home alive.  

Well done President Obama.  

And if Bowe Bergdahl did voluntarily leave the camp; then five years as a captive in Afghanistan or Pakistan is punishment enough.  More importantly please question how on earth he was able to do what has been alleged, and thereafter put in place systems to prevent others from doing the same or similar in the future.  But don't under any circumstances, question his right to life, or question his parents patriotism, or question any of the loving community who prayed for the safe return of Bergdahl throughout his ordeal, or question President Obama for making sure that this young man didn't burn on his watch.  Being a Statesman involves making decisions.  This was the right decision for the right reasons. 

The Preseli Beast Bach

You 'little' Beast,

With hidden claws,

Waiting for me,

As I turned for home.

The music played,

Before you sprung,

Your deadly trap,

With drum bands and whistles.

My strength sapped,

By that quarry,

The winding road,

And those long desolate fells.  

Cold and hungry,

Me not you,

As I climbed,

Your back at Foel Cwmcerwyn.

Only to drop,

Once more to,

The Beasts Lair,

And the boardwalk to home.

Roger Bennett

May 2014

(All Rights Reserved)

A short poem about The Preseli Beast Bach 10.5 mile off road race, the Beasts Lair, and of course the highest point on the Preseli Mountains; Foel Cwmcerwyn

Preseli Beast Bach

Well the running has taken on a whole new level! Forget the idea of 26 miles, as I have stepped on up to a much tougher event. Last Saturday I competed in and completed, what was for me; the arduous Preseli Beast Bach in 3:21:55 

Yes, I know that this isn't a time to write home about, but when you have been as unfit as me, and have dreamt of doing a Fell Race, then getting around one without stopping, in any time, however long is a huge achievement.  

There were hills, more hills, steeper hills, streams, more steams, mud, bog, Fells, woodland trails, muddy trails, more trails and all out fun. I bought a Salamon Agile 12 and took along the Welsh Fell Runners Association Mandatory equipment along with 1.5 litres of SIS orange flavour GO drink, quite a few energy bars, and emergency supplies of food (nuts, dried fruit, jelly babies, and jelly beans). That of course meant an extra 0.5 stone of weight on my already oversized frame. Albeit that frame isn't as oversized as it used to be when I was 22 stone.  Still, maybe I should have bought the smaller Salamon Agile 7 Hydration Pack. But of course it's difficult to make choices at the time of purchase when you don't know the products.  You can read reviews, but we are all different, and maybe we are all looking for something different. For me at 18 stone, small is better, and as good as it is, the Salamon Agile 12 ain't small.

The best part is, this would also have been a stunning event to use that Action Camera that I have been thinking about buying. But when money is tight, there tends to be a lot of thinking and very little actual buying.  The one that seems to be the established market leader at the moment is simply too expensive, whereas I'm not sure that I can manage and use the Mobious 1082 cheaper option, and of course I would also need to buy the waterproof housing. I suspect that either camera would clip onto my Salamon Agile 12 hydration pact.  So it was going to be a simple choice between 'A' or 'B' and then Garmin go and release a new product that seems to be a lot cheaper and more user friendly than the 'established one' and my cheaper option.  Better still, those that have read this Blog also know that I am a keen photographer, and the Garmin thingy seems to have certain functions that assist the photographer. So now there is a serious third contender.  Which of course means more thinking, but at least for the moment it doesn't involve more hills, more streams, or more bog.

I have put myself down as a potential Garmin (specific product) tester.  That's not a job, it's just a situation whereby they lend you an Action Camera, and you try it out.  The unfortunate part being that you have to give it back at the end of the period.  

If I manage to snaffle up a loan product then I will let you know what I think of it.  But if I don't make the cut, then maybe one of you lovely readers will send me a message and spill the beans as to what you think of the Garmin Camera.  Oh while you are at it; can you also let me know about the Garmin Foreunner 220 and/or 620 with heart strap watches, as if I ever manage to save enough dosh, then I want one of those as well :-)

ROYGBIV

Richard of Leicester Gave Battle in Vain 

This is the lifelong pneumonic handed down to me by one of my Primary School Teachers some 45 years ago, and was used to remember the Colours of the Rainbow. Which we now know to be RED ORANGE LIME GREEN BLUE INDIGO VIOLET.  There was a YELLOW in there somewhere, but some fool thinks that Richard is from Leicester and not York so to help future generations I have had to transpose the true YELLOW contained in a Rainbow into the so far unknown rainbow colour of LIME. 

It's so confusing when people mess with the truth.  Millions of people know where King Richard was from. So can we please bury him where he and his then family would have wanted him buried and not put him on show where he was found? 

Richard of York (yes folks it is York) gave battle in vain. 

RUNNERS WEEK

Well except for Circuit Training on Tuesday evening this has indeed been a 'runners week' for me. It all kicked off at last weeks post Parkrun coffee session whereupon I (maybe foolishly) offered to take one of the other Parkrunners to the Red Kite Challenge at Devils Bridge for the early afternoon and in doing so compete myself having just done the Parkrun. 

Here we are only eight days later and my runs have consisted of 3.1 mile Parkrun, 6.2 mile strenuous Red Kite Challenge Trail run, 3.1 mile Parkrun route easy, 5.1 mile hills, coastal path and woodland, 6 mile hill trail and a small section of road, and a 3.1 mile Parkrun. That folks is 26.6 miles unless of course my maths is wrong.

So we now know that I can do the 'Marathon distance', and it's now just about the time span from start to finish along those 26+ miles. Currently the time stands at 8 days, so the next target has to be to reduce that time down to 8 hours, and in doing so maybe reduce my Parkrun time down to sub 30 minutes.

It gets worse

It gets worse regarding Michael Wheatley as according to the BBC early today (7 May 2014) not only was he one of two people 'detained' "on suspicion of conspiracy to commit armed robbery." but "He has gone on the run twice in the past and each time staged a series of violent robberies before he was caught and re-jailed."  Blinking heck, when is someone in the government or the judiciary / prison service going to be sacked, that is absolute madness.

Lifer Michael Wheatley

Can someone please explain to me and to the rest of society which fool allowed a person who apparently received 13 Life Sentences in 2002 to be kept in an Open Prison only twelve years later? And having place Michael Wheatley in such an easy going environment, then allowed him to walk out of the front door with the vague hope that he would return? Absolutely crazy or what. Someone or some persons in both the government and the judicial system should resign or be sacked.

Mo and Roger

'Mo and Roger' I wish, can you just imagine doing a few training miles with Mo when you are this size and this slow? It would be my dream, but would probably be his worst nightmare! 

The 6th May will be the 60th Anniversary of the first recorded sub 4 minute mile, achieved by Roger Bannister when he crossed the line in 3:59.04 at the Iffley Road Sports Ground in Oxford back in 1954. 

That's quite a few years ago, but it's right and proper that we still remember the achievement. In part because of the current trend of poorer performances by English runners compared to historical data; but also to gather inspiration as we try to push ourselves harder at all levels of the sport, be it short or long distances. I managed 10:33 minute miles yesterday in training.  My fastest mile time over 5K is exactly 10 minutes. Roger Bannister must have been going like a rocket when he set that blistering standard 60 years ago.

It's not the only achievement in running that has been in the news of late. But somehow this next bit was not so widely published.  Mo Farah was mistakenly thought of as having somehow 'failed' at London recently. How his success can be regarded as failure I simply do not know.  Charlie Spedding had held the English Record for the Marathon with a time of 2:08:33 since 1985 and then Mo Farah came along and eclipsed it.  To put this Marathon Athleticism into context: not a single Briton has recorded a sub 2:10 Marathon time since 2005, that is until Mo Farah came along at his debut marathon.

Mo and Roger, I doff my hat to both of you, well done.

Locke 2014 Tom Hardy Review

Locke: One newspaper review commented that the 2014 film "... Locke is played by Tom Hardy, who effects a rich Welsh delivery that I could listen to all day" Yeah, if you want your ears to bleed. 

We thought that the accent was poor, so poor in fact, that after 10 minutes, my eldest daughter turned to me and enquired "is he supposed to be Welsh", which left me quite perplexed as I thought he was Norwegian.  The Christian name done it for me, the confusion that is.

Locke is probably a great film if you haven't spent a few hours driving earlier that day. Mind you, if you have been driving, then at least you can have a kip while the film is playing.  This folks is the first time in my life that I have ever walked out of a film. And trust me, I have suffered some dreadful cellulose, with dreadful acting, and dreadful directing, but never ever has a film previously had the same effect as sleeping tablets.  If Locke was a pharmaceutical company, then it would make a mint.

Ring, ring

"Ifan here, Ifan from Tonypandy in Scandanavia, but if you can't pronounce my Welsh name properly, then you can call me Ivan.  I know it's confusing, some people think that I'm Ivan the Terrible from the cold countries, instead of Ifan from wet Wales. You see butty, it's all in the pronunciation.  It's Ifan as in bee-van without the 'b' you see.  

"Hi Ivan, it's Gareth: how's the the game going, do you know the result?"

"It's a cool game this concreting business, almost as cool as movie making. But I'm not in a cool movie at the moment, instead I'm stuck on huge blinking motorway with all these paying patrons" 

"Well, I just want to tell you, you're sacked"

"From the film Locke, or as a Welsh impersonator? Oh sorry, I have another 432 telephone calls coming through and I have to shout at Dad"

Ring, ring, yet again

"Ifan here, Ifan Locke, oops, I meant to say Ivan Locke"

"Hi Ivan, it's your one night stand, can you help me?"

"My name's Ifan not Ivan, but seeing that we only met once so maybe you didn't quite get my name.  But don't worry, it's a YES, I'll fix it! I made my decision"

"Good, when will you get here?"

"Well almost everyone in this auditorium hopes that I get there pretty blinking quick"

All in all, that was 18 minutes of my life wasted, let along the ticket cost.  I can recuperate the money, but those 18 minutes are lost forever.  

Mountain Warehouse

I am so impressed by Mountain Warehouse that I'm not too sure where to begin.  

Repeat custom, is all about customer service. I tend to patronise a coffee shop called 'Baravin' these days, and that's all down to their excellent customer service.  I can only assume that the folks in the Mountain Warehouse head office in London, have at some point visited Aberystwyth and the aforementioned Baravin and that is where they learnt their excellent customer service ethos. I'm quick to complain when things go wrong and it's only fair and proper to praise when things go right.  On this occasion, better than 'right' and as such I am really grateful to the Mountain Warehouse customer services team and their manager.  I had a problem, they listened, they were polite and friendly, and they considered the options fairly, and then put the matter right. Indeed, the customer services team went a few steps further than needed; and that folks breeds customer loyalty.

Good products, good customer service, fair prices; what more do we as consumers want?  

Remember that when you are considering your next outdoor clothing or equipment purchase. You can buy anywhere, but where will you turn if things go wrong?  It's a given that things occasionally do go wrong, and more often than not in my life, when they have gone wrong, I have been left high and dry.

But on this occasion I am soaking wet, and very happy about it indeed. 

Roll Up FREE excellent quality Coffee served by lovely staff, roll up, roll up

. . . and this folks is what FREE coffee looks like. Costa is 5p in the £ with a few enhancements for coffee club members but none of it is worth writing home about. Caffe Nero and Coffee No.1 is one stamp per drink = 1 drink when stamped card is full. The exceptional Coffee Barker in Cardiff is a cake and drink when their stamped card is full.  BUT these mothers were handed to us free in a coffee shop in London while we were awaiting a decision and had popped out for a break.

Lovely staff, spotlessly clean and spacious venue, and great coffee to boot. Yes we made a donation in a charity container, and yes we would go back without hesitation when paying the full price. Praise indeed to the manager and the staff as you opened our eyes to another Brand when we had been operating inside our comfort zone. I suspect that the cafe was located on Fetter Street adjacent to Bream's Buildings, but I also suspect that you will get the same friendly service, spotless venue, and excellent coffee at all of their outlets, albeit you will normally pay the full price.  

The long hard slog

I know how hard it is running a 5K Parkrun let alone slogging it out on the road for several hours, so I've just sponsored Elaine Rowlands and you can help Elaine raise money for both 'Ty Hafan', and 'The Stroke Association' too by donating at www.virginmoneygiving.com/ElaineRowlands 

All I ask is that you mention this Blog in your donation message at virginmoneygiving.  And if you are feeling really generous then my justgiving page can be found at www.justgiving.com/roger-bennett1 but unlike Elaine; my runs are small and pale into insignificance.  But if you are really rich or have a spare one hanging around, then you could send me a Canon 5D Mark III to help me take better photographs :-)

Liswerry 8 Part II

Well there was no 'reeling in' nor '700th Place' in last weekends astonishingly good 'Liswerry 8' 2014 road race.  When we reached the last mile, there was no way that I could catch 'Emma from the Rhondda' let alone pace maker 'Tom of the Chepstow Harriers'

76 runners who had paid their entry fee stayed away due to the atrocious weather in South Wales that weekend, and for my part I managed a credible 607th out of a field of 624 runners that included 4 who did not finish the Liswerry 8.  I even managed constant 11 minute miles.  Well to be exact, 11 minutes and 2 second miles.  I also managed to squeeze into an extra tight black bin bag to try and keep a bit warmer before the off.  By squeeze into, I mean my shoulders and chest, the rest of me remained exposed.  The 'squeezing' bit reminds me that the weather was so bad, that I squeezed the rain water out of my gloves just before the Starting Gun.  But running helps mental ill health and I wouldn't change my experience of the Liswerry 8 for the world.  It was a great, albeit very tough, day out.

If I could afford one then I would buy a Garmin 610 or preferably the touch screen, training advice mode, easy data upload Garmin 620 GPS watch.  

But meanwhile I will have to continue using my sub £50 Polar Heart Rate Monitor and an ordnance survey map, and bin bags.  Unless of course a very rich reader of this Blog wants to gift me a Garmin 620 complete with Garmin Heart Rate Strap and a Canon 5D Mark III camera?  At which point I could run and take photograpgs, now that would be a nice idea :-)      

Liswerry 8

Someone that I know has faith in me and suggests that I'm not going to come in 700th on Sunday at the 'Liswerry 8' as I am to focus on a runner in front in the last mile and hook them and then start to reel them in. 

This folks is an extremely good strategy BUT question: what do I do if they are 1.2 miles ahead at that point?



NB The 'Liswerry 8' (check it out on the Web, but remember to enter early for the 2015 event, as 2014 'Liswerry 8' was sold out extremely fast) 

Canon 5D MK II or III

Well Bloggers, Christmas has come and gone and either Santa couldn't afford the "Canon 5D Mark III (or the older MK II) in any legal condition" that I referred to in my last but one Blog post, or more realsitically, the said Santa was awefully confused by the lack of a chimney on our home in an estate.  For you Horse and Hounds folks, by estate, I mean a housing estate, and not some sprawling mass with grouse shooting, parties, and fields.  

Well hey ho Santa, you could have left it by the front door or even asked the postie to deliver it.  

So it well and truly looks as if the squeezed Bennett finances cannot stretch to the Canon full frame camera.  But not all is lost to anyone thinking of the poetry and eternal gratitude bit; as my Birthday is looming in only a few days time.  So get your skates on Bloggers, and if anyone out there is (a) super rich, or (b) has a spare Canon 5D MK II, Canon 5D MK III, or a Canon 6D lying around unused in a drawer, then you know of a poor Blogger who would be really appreciative of the gift. 

Not Guilty

Congratulations to Elisabetta and Francesca on what appears to me as an outsider looking in; to be the corrct verdict.  I wish you both a very Merry Christmas, and hope that your health fully recovers in the not too distant future! 

WANTED

WANTED: Canon 5D Mark III in any legal condition.  Will exchange eternal gratitude and free Poetry.   

Please note that the Canon 6D is a suitable alternative even though it lacks a swivel rear LCD screen (which has become essential after using a smaller sensor 600D for while).  I promise that the Camera will be given a very good home and kept in a smoke free environment (I have nothing against smokers if you are a smoker and are just about to gift me a camera) and a pet free home (again, I have nothing against pets or their owners, they are all lovely, especially the Canon 5D Mark III owners who are about to upgrade to the 1DX and the Canon 6D owners who curse the lack of a rear swivel LCD and are upgrading to the 5D Mark III).  All poetry will be written in English.  Eternal gratitude shall be of the timeless variety i.e. you can bask in the knowledge that I am truly grateful as I can't afford either full frame camera myself and to be quite fair, I have been a very very good boy all year.  Well, other than quite a few bouts of anxiety and depression.  But then again, that is why I find the poetry and the photography so useful.

POUGHKEEPSIE

Here is one for my Cousins from across 'The Pond' (four feet per line with rhyming A, B, C, D, between each stanza): 


POUGHKEEPSIE 

Gliding towards that bend of death,
Unknown to those who are onboard,
The Poughkeepsie train to New York,
Gently clatters that Dark Sunday. 

Very soon four shall have no breath,
As the Metro North falls starboard,
Pushed on a bend and not a fork,
The cause of this crash who will say?

Not Donna lying there in death,
Nor Kissok Ahn shall sound the chord,
Neither James are able to talk,
Because they are no more this day.



Roger Bennett
December, 2013
All Rights Reserved

FALLEN

I wrote this poem this afternoon. Why are we flying crewed helicopters above major cities, when lightweight drones could be remotely flown. Police helicopters don't put out fires, or convey medical emergencies. It is inevitable that air ambulances over remote areas are needed, but crewed police helicopters over major cities are not. 

FALLEN

Falling sharply from the sky,

That wingless bird on patrol,

Then preying on those souls below.

No longer able to fly,

Dark silhouette and that hole,

Nine have died is what we know.

But why should anyone die?

Will this be the final toll?

What is left from this to show?

What can truly justify,

A wingless bird on patrol,

With thousands at rest below.

When lightweight drones do fly high,

Remote flight and with no soul,

And less risk to those below.

Roger Bennett

02 December 2013

All Rights Reserved