Allen Carr

Was just reading BBC News Online (as I do pretty much every morning to procrastinate!), and came across this link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6194670.stm. I don't think I've heard of Allen Carr before today, but from reading this article he seems like a remarkable man. Cutting your smoking from 100 a day to nothing is no small achievement, and for him then to go on to centre his life around helping millions of others to quit is, well, inspirational.

I've detested smoking and everything about it all my life. Have never even had one puff on a cigarette or joint, which is kind of surprising in this day! Until a few years back both my parents smoked, and as a kid/teenager I was forever berating them for it, and to be fair they would always go in another room to light up (although of course that didn't stop Sam and I inhaling passively!). Of course, as soon as I moved to Birmingham and stopped having a go they decided to quit (typical! Maybe some of what I said actually got through). Thank God they did though, it's so nice to have a house that DOESN'T smell of smoke, or to go on a long car journey without them lighting up. Hopefully they've done their bodies some good. Although I don't intend to be a barman for long, I can't wait for the smoking ban to come in (is it next May?). Not sure on the whole "right to smoke" argument - there are a lot of flaws in it.

According to the article, Carr helped establish over 70 clinics in 30 countries to help people give up, and was willing to be in many a smoke-filled room if he was to help others. Like I say, an inspiration, and proof that giving up can be a truly fulfilling experience. I suppose it helps you focus on the REALLY important things in life. And we all know why smoking hasn't been banned in public areas earlier or even illegalised (I'm guessing that's a word!) - it's all to do with taxes and multi-national corporations' influence on politicians. Apparently that's more important than the right to life and human dignity.

Let's make sure this disgusting, filthy, harmful, and selfish habit is banned once and for all.
x

Durham, technological cock-ups, burqas and singing!

Yo
Well...have had more of an eventful life since the last post!
Firstly, went up to Durham to see Lara from 10-13th, which was great...we get on so well and she's as crazy as me - house and fire spring to mind. On the first night we went out for some drinks around the city (apparently it's a city and not a town!!) and met up with my mate Jon from primary school, who I've kept in touch with. Good to see him too, and went to his Halls. He's up there studying for his Masters in something to do with European political integration, I always forget...Lara had to work at the Body Shop for a few hours on the Saturday and Sunday, so I did some shopping and also went to Emma's (another school friend living with Lara) basketball game...or was it volleyball? Whatever the female version is called, me and Dave (Em's bloke) had a fun hour making very sexist remarks...I should be ashamed, but it was fun! Went with Lara and her housemate Tom to see Saw 3 - very gory and whatever, but nothing new. Same old formula. Have only passed through Durham a couple of times before, and so realised just how nice it is...wouldn't mind living there for a bit one day.

Have worked every night since then, which is tiring but keeps the bank manager happy. Last night, one of the busiest I've ever worked, was particularly interesting as all the tills were broken/frozen, so had to do everything manually. Shows us how dependent we are on technology and how buggered we are when it goes wrong! Was tricky trying to keep track of people's tabs and orders etc, but Nick (Ops Manager) and I coped pretty well considering. Also, one lady gave me a tenner tip for serving her the last couple of nights - cashback!! I hope they've sorted the system by tonight as there's a big function on and they'll be screwed if it isn't fixed...luckily I won't be there!!

Rox is holding a party at ours tonight in celebration of her 22nd, which was actually nine days ago, Helena's 22nd (which was on Tuesday), and Jess's birthday (Rox's housemate from Berlin) - got all that?! Looking forward to a night off with friends and a few brewskies.

Had an interview with the Birmingham Rep Theatre last Wednesday and have managed to get some usher work in December - ok so it's not much but it's a step in the right direction, fairly good pay, plus the opportunity to meet some important people...and speaking of important people, met a couple of senior Tech guys from Live Nation, which puts on shows all over the UK, including the Alexandra Theatre in Brum (they also organised Live 8). They were nice enough guys so got their e-mail addresses, and hopefully next week they'll pass on my details to whoever in Midlands area. As soon as one of them had said to me "We're in the theatre industry" I thought "Right, got to talk to these guys!" Very glad I found the courage to go over and have a chat with them.

I feel very uneasy about the Dutch government's plans to ban the burqa in public places. Promoting tolerance and integration is a necessity, but how that is to be achieved through prohibiting people to practice their religion as they see fit? Isn't that going to have the opposite effect and increase resentment towards the West? I agree that all religions should be treated equally, and I understand some of the social and security concerns associated with the burqa, but these can be overcome. Asking someone to lift the veil for a moment at an airport is by far preferable to banning the clothing altogether. Perhaps veils in schools aren't conducive to a good learning environment for non-Muslim children, but still, they really haven't thought this through. Every day it feels like we're heading closer to Samuel Huntington's concept of a "clash of civilisations". I guess elements from both "sides" are to blame.

At the moment I'm in love with Orson's No Tomorrow. What a great, optimistic song - really makes you cheer up and smile. Have been playing along to it on guitar, a lot of fun. I can sense myself getting better, slowly but surely. Helena's been giving me a bit of singing tuition - along with being able to play guitar and act, to be able to sing is one of my life ambitions, and who better to teach me than her? So far we've done a few breathing and humming exercises, and it's something I'd really like to work on. As with the guitar, if I'd started playing when I was younger, I wouldn't have had the self-motivation to practice, hence why I gave up the piano. But I'm now more willing to work for things I'm passionate about. I hope so anyway..!

That's all folks...
x

Work, parents' visit, apple bobbing, blogging, The Beatles and Che Guevara!

So more of the same for me.
Working most days or evenings - had a busy one last night as there was a function (as there usually are on Thursdays) in the Horton Suite, a long bar and conference hall used for companies whenever they have their annual do's. Last night's was for a media and advertising company, although I'm damned if I can remember the name. It looked great cos they had a stage set up, lights, a sound system, and they presented it like an awards ceremony, handing out trophies to teams that had achieved the best adverts etc. They had hired a cameraman, techie team - the works...looked really fun. And I suppose if a career in theatre goes south side for me then there are always live events I can work at...There are gonna be plenty more of the same events as the hotel gets busier in the run up to Xmas - already...

Parents were up on Sunday, took me out for a nice meal at The Bell just off Harbourne Lane. It's a lovely pub, and you'd think you're in a stereotypical sleepy English village if you didn't know you're only a few minutes from a key inter-city road! Anyhow, it was great to see them as always, and as per mum brought up enough food and supplies to keep me going for a long time!

Was at Adam C's the other night for a gathering, and this was the night that I was to attempt apple bobbing for the first time! And to be fair I was fairly adept - whereas others went for the gentle "see if I can get a grip on the apple" approach, my tactic involved swooping in and attacking the unsuspecting fruit like a shark may go for its prey. Now why was that the first simile that sprang to mind...?

Good to see Alec has started a blog (www.alecsammon.blogspot.com) he's a very deep-thinking guy so has a lot to share I suspect. Although like me I guess too much thinking can be a dangerous thing...that's what I told myself whenever the uni library got too dull. I never intended for mine to be a day to day account of my life, more a means of keeping distant friends apprised of what I'm getting upto, hence the lack of updates sometimes!!

Afraid there is to be no song of the week this time folks, simply have not been at home too much to listen to stuff. If anyone's looking for something new to try out, I recommend the Walter Trout Band (got their Greatest Hits off Geth). Have been practicing The Eagles' Take It Easy, and will attempt John Lennon's Jealous Guy when I'm slightly more proficient! Ah! Just remembered I've been listening to The Beatles' Revolution a fair bit - a fairly aggressive song considering the tame earlier hits that made them superstars. Interestingly, although Lennon is often remembered for being something of a socialist demanding change in the world, Revolution is a stark warning to those seeking to actually instigate mass change - "But when you talk about destruction/Don't you know that you can count me out...You say you got a real solution, well you know/We'd all love to see the plan...If you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao/You ain't gonna make it with anyone anyhow". As aptly demonstrated by Stalin's reign of terror, revolutions tend to come full circle - Lenin's Bolsheviks wanted to end Tsar Nicholas II's despotic rule, revolted, leading to the "dictatorship of the proletariat", in which Stalin exploited his position as Secretary of the Communist Party to isolate any opposition.

Incidentally, why the hell do people wear shirts with Che Guevara on? You could argue that one man's freedom fighter is another's terrorist (and I can lean to the Left on a lot of issues), but he was nonetheless a guerilla terrorist, guilty of mass murderer, and certainly not a suitable symbol of liberation if you ask me. Cuba is a relatively safe country (and its health and education services are pretty solid – no university fees! Cheers Wikipedia…), but there are still many serious problems. Had he lived he would be there with Fidel Castro imposing restrictions and committing gross human rights violations. These revolutionaries all have the people in mind until they get into power, and then they cling to their power. Absolute power corrupts absolutely...

But then again something tells me the world is focussed elsewhere these days, oh I don't know, maybe somewhere in Asia...

J x