OK, I suppose that technically I should begin at the beginning, but I find that reverse chronological order messes with people's brains in a much more pleasing way to me.
So let's begin with this morning. Firstly, I've just been informed that I must wear a formal jacket for chapel. I've read and re-read the staff handbook that I was given at the start of the year and there's no mention of this. Since I don't have one today, then I shall have to forego my attendance at chapel. Weird thing is, I wear shirt, tie, and jumper everyday and I've been to 2 formal chapels and nothing has been said - and, more importantly, nothing was said yesterday when I could have brought in a jacket this morning. One thing more than all others that annoys me is being told I should have done something a different way after I've already done it; or being told the day something is happening when yesterday I could have changed it.
Secondly, this morning and yesterday evening, people have seem to forgotten simple rules of the road. Specifically, indicating prior to manoeuvering, giving way to the right at roundabouts, slowing down approaching a give-way line, if cars are parked on your side of the road giving way to oncoming motorists, not blocking exits on roundabouts or junctions, reversing onto main roads, cyclists staying 1m from the kerb at all times, cyclists riding line astern, observing one-in-one-out during busy periods, and most importantly for me, trucks not overtaking each other on dual carriageways and keeping up with the moving traffic.
Thirdly, Pupils who seem incapable of engaging with learning or making the most out of every lesson especially when parents are paying for their education.
Fourthly, Pupils who seem to think that mocking me while I'm there, or being rude and sarcastic to my face. I don't mind if I'm on good terms with them. If not, then I have a problem with it.
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Sunday, 21 September 2008
The wrongness of (some) parents
Yesterday was a very strange day for me. I visited Shugborough Hall in Staffordshire - a lovely working museum. There were things there I was very interested to see, the working farm , gardens, smithys; and others I wasn't, the grand house. I don't like social inequality at the best of times, and I suppose that the best way to describe my view of money and social status is the true Communist model (or the Robin Hood principle) of take lots from the rich and little from the poor, average everything out and supply people what they need. But the whole experience was largely enjoyable and, with a spot of pig herding excepting, a largely uneventful day.
I did catch myself at several points during the day wishing that working the land and working with animals could be a viable lifestyle for me having as much food as I can eat as well as making a small profit to pay for the luxuries in life as well as the bills and the mortgage, and my regular visits to GW to buy things and obtain those wonderful painting projects I'm so keen on. I even asked the farm manager how I get hold of some Silky chicken eggs to raise some rare breed chickens for a regular supply of fresh eggs. Ah, the wistful wonderings of an idealist.
In the midst of this musing about the rural idyll I caught two phrases that juxtaposed this beauty. Consider that Shugborough is a short drive from Rugeley, Stafford, Birmingham, and Cannock Chase (for those uninitiated those areas have high concentrations of Chavs and parents you usually see on Supernanny.) and the majority of accents I heard were Brummie (ugh!) and most of the kids were so exicted that they ran everywhere and shouted. The two phrases I heard were "If that [frisbee] hits someone, I'll hit you" (mother to her 5 year old son.) and "She [daughter] hit him [son] so I [mother] hit her."
Now, I ask myself the following questions:
1) How did the relationship between parent and child break down to threaten or bestow violence on one you 'love' unconditionally?
2) Do some parents merely tolerate their children rather than love them?
3) Since when has it ever been acceptable to engage in tit-for-tat with a child?
4) What exactly are the parents expecting the children to learn here?
I say nothing and I walk on as the problems involved in raising children this way are bound to become evident as the child grows to later life. I was then witness to another incident where a family (mother, father, daughter, son) were stood in a square in the grounds and the family wanted to go back to the car. The son wanted to run a different way, but the parents and daughter walked the quicker way. The son hung back then 'cried' (the first tentative wail to see if anyone comes) then ran after shouting 'mummy' (trying to convince her her course of action was incorrect) and then, JUST as the child was learning its lesson (you can't always get what you want - Rolling Stones) the mother gave in and went with him. All because the child pestered her saying 'I want...'
Is it any wonder in this day and age that the teenagers as so adamant to do things their own way and can't be reasoned with when the boundaries of acceptable behaviour have not been grounded since the child could speak? More so, when parents act like children, how can the children respect them or follow their advice? And isn't it strange when these parents are the same ones on the TV complaining about their children running rampant or terrorising their neighbourhood?
Still, maybe one day they will learn. Or maybe it will take someone standing up and saying "It's all your own fault so change it or shut up!" to make it happen.
I did catch myself at several points during the day wishing that working the land and working with animals could be a viable lifestyle for me having as much food as I can eat as well as making a small profit to pay for the luxuries in life as well as the bills and the mortgage, and my regular visits to GW to buy things and obtain those wonderful painting projects I'm so keen on. I even asked the farm manager how I get hold of some Silky chicken eggs to raise some rare breed chickens for a regular supply of fresh eggs. Ah, the wistful wonderings of an idealist.
In the midst of this musing about the rural idyll I caught two phrases that juxtaposed this beauty. Consider that Shugborough is a short drive from Rugeley, Stafford, Birmingham, and Cannock Chase (for those uninitiated those areas have high concentrations of Chavs and parents you usually see on Supernanny.) and the majority of accents I heard were Brummie (ugh!) and most of the kids were so exicted that they ran everywhere and shouted. The two phrases I heard were "If that [frisbee] hits someone, I'll hit you" (mother to her 5 year old son.) and "She [daughter] hit him [son] so I [mother] hit her."
Now, I ask myself the following questions:
1) How did the relationship between parent and child break down to threaten or bestow violence on one you 'love' unconditionally?
2) Do some parents merely tolerate their children rather than love them?
3) Since when has it ever been acceptable to engage in tit-for-tat with a child?
4) What exactly are the parents expecting the children to learn here?
I say nothing and I walk on as the problems involved in raising children this way are bound to become evident as the child grows to later life. I was then witness to another incident where a family (mother, father, daughter, son) were stood in a square in the grounds and the family wanted to go back to the car. The son wanted to run a different way, but the parents and daughter walked the quicker way. The son hung back then 'cried' (the first tentative wail to see if anyone comes) then ran after shouting 'mummy' (trying to convince her her course of action was incorrect) and then, JUST as the child was learning its lesson (you can't always get what you want - Rolling Stones) the mother gave in and went with him. All because the child pestered her saying 'I want...'
Is it any wonder in this day and age that the teenagers as so adamant to do things their own way and can't be reasoned with when the boundaries of acceptable behaviour have not been grounded since the child could speak? More so, when parents act like children, how can the children respect them or follow their advice? And isn't it strange when these parents are the same ones on the TV complaining about their children running rampant or terrorising their neighbourhood?
Still, maybe one day they will learn. Or maybe it will take someone standing up and saying "It's all your own fault so change it or shut up!" to make it happen.
Friday, 19 September 2008
Games Day 2008
Hello to all.
Well, this years Games Day 2008 was a little flat. I've been going for the last 3 years and enjoying the cameraderie and all other things that make this hobby worth doing. This year, was a little different.
Departed home at 7.15am to pick up my 2 passengers with a view to getting to Games Day at 8.30am. The plan? Get my models as high up in the Golden Daemon cabinets as possible. Arrived at 8.30 and got into the Golden Daemon queue. Doors open at 9.10am and models in the cabinet by 9.30am - at least 15 minutes earlier than last year.
The Games Day (GD) organisers this year wised up to the fact that Golden Daemon (GDa) entrants rush straight for the sales stands. Last year I put this to great effect to get my copy of Descent of Angels and my Armoured Spearhead Apocalypse formation (I still have 2 Land Raiders to build and 1 to paint.) This year we were all held in the pavillion until the main doors opened. As a result the crowd bottlenecked at the stairs and then stampeded for the sales stands to pick up books and Space Marine goodies. Which is what I did. A drop pod, Redeemer (another Land Raider), and a Land Speeder later I went straight for Black Library. It was here I was to spend another 5 hours.
Not before a tour around the Pavillion and a lovely look at the upcoming Warriors of Chaos models (Chosen, nice!; Knights, nice!; Marauders, nice!; Stat lines for the characters - eh? How good?) a look at the modular gaming board (I want 4!) and at some of the awesome battles going on on the brilliant tables supplied by GCN members. I did want to get some tips from the girls from 'Eavy Metal, but I'm not good at talking to new people unless I make myself.
The line for Black Library sales area was still quite short at that time, but it got longer throughout the day. The queue for the tills however was MASSIVE! From there to the Authorium.
I have this habit where I don't like to take up too much time with the authors and although I'd love to sit and discuss the books in detail, and talk about the craft of writing (I'm starting out at 32 - I have a book in the offing!) I'd rather just get my stuff signed and make way for someone else. I queued up at Sandy Mitchell, and did just that after shaking his hand and thanking him for Ciaphas Cain (what a dude!) I headed for Ben Counter and Neil Roberts (born 1 day before me - all the best people were born in September.) Ben spoke to me for a while (no queue, no guilt) about the book - for an avid Smurf hater, it was fab - and about what was coming up; then Neil again I got talking to about the artwork and then signed me a copy of the Galaxy in Flames cover. I missed out Mr. Swallow principly because xhalex kept him talking long enough to get a long queue behind her and I had my book signed by him last year. Then to the queue of Dan Abnett.
I love his books, I love his writing, and I wish I had so much more time to read his back catalogue (and the money to get it!) What I loved the queue for was meeting xhalex. A person more random than I am, and we talked for ages and I loved it! So much so that I've sought her out on here, and Mr. Abnett's blog. Curses!
From there to Graham's queue and little talking, but a bit of hand shaking. Then dipping out of the queue to see Mike Lee, and Jon Roberts. Didn't know Mike Lee was an American, and should make Nagash the Sorcerer and interesting read. From there, it was out to catch my breath and collect my ForgeWorld stuff that I'd reserved.
By this time it was 2.15pm - and I was knackered. Food was had and my losing Golden Daemon entries collected (BOO!) then back to the Authorium to get my Harback of Horus Rising signed by Neil Roberts, who just happened to be presented with his birthday cake as I got there - a copy of Horus Rising with his name and 'Happy Birthday' in the title area. Then a skulk around the Pavillion one last time before collecting my passengers, leaving, and disseminating the day.
So, all in all was it fun?
Well, being in queues for 6.5 hours was not the best time in the world. I think there are improvements to be made, and I shall pass these to the Events team.
Like:
1) Employ the queuing system at the retail stand for the new purchases by using snaked barriers and a call-forward system manned by security.
2) Expand the FW section, and add a snaked queue there aswell, and put more staff on. Hire temps if needed.
3) Have a pool of GW customers who are willing to work for the day for a discount on stuff (say 25%) in lieu of pay in the retail areas.
4) Have 2 queues for each of the retail areas: 1 dedicated cash only; one dedicated card only. The cash queues will move quicker.
5) Bring the entire stock of new stuff to GD, it will sell!
6) Stick to the rules. If the rule is go to the Space Marine section to buy Space Marine stuff, stick to it! So many people were buying it from LotR.
7) Queue Dan Abnett and Graham McNeill separately to the rest of Black Library. They are popular draws and need lots of room.
8) Allow reserves to be made on GD only releases at the main sales stand, and a Mail Order style pick up similar to FW.
That's all I can think of right now, I hope you enjoy.
Nibble Pibbley,
Tim
Well, this years Games Day 2008 was a little flat. I've been going for the last 3 years and enjoying the cameraderie and all other things that make this hobby worth doing. This year, was a little different.
Departed home at 7.15am to pick up my 2 passengers with a view to getting to Games Day at 8.30am. The plan? Get my models as high up in the Golden Daemon cabinets as possible. Arrived at 8.30 and got into the Golden Daemon queue. Doors open at 9.10am and models in the cabinet by 9.30am - at least 15 minutes earlier than last year.
The Games Day (GD) organisers this year wised up to the fact that Golden Daemon (GDa) entrants rush straight for the sales stands. Last year I put this to great effect to get my copy of Descent of Angels and my Armoured Spearhead Apocalypse formation (I still have 2 Land Raiders to build and 1 to paint.) This year we were all held in the pavillion until the main doors opened. As a result the crowd bottlenecked at the stairs and then stampeded for the sales stands to pick up books and Space Marine goodies. Which is what I did. A drop pod, Redeemer (another Land Raider), and a Land Speeder later I went straight for Black Library. It was here I was to spend another 5 hours.
Not before a tour around the Pavillion and a lovely look at the upcoming Warriors of Chaos models (Chosen, nice!; Knights, nice!; Marauders, nice!; Stat lines for the characters - eh? How good?) a look at the modular gaming board (I want 4!) and at some of the awesome battles going on on the brilliant tables supplied by GCN members. I did want to get some tips from the girls from 'Eavy Metal, but I'm not good at talking to new people unless I make myself.
The line for Black Library sales area was still quite short at that time, but it got longer throughout the day. The queue for the tills however was MASSIVE! From there to the Authorium.
I have this habit where I don't like to take up too much time with the authors and although I'd love to sit and discuss the books in detail, and talk about the craft of writing (I'm starting out at 32 - I have a book in the offing!) I'd rather just get my stuff signed and make way for someone else. I queued up at Sandy Mitchell, and did just that after shaking his hand and thanking him for Ciaphas Cain (what a dude!) I headed for Ben Counter and Neil Roberts (born 1 day before me - all the best people were born in September.) Ben spoke to me for a while (no queue, no guilt) about the book - for an avid Smurf hater, it was fab - and about what was coming up; then Neil again I got talking to about the artwork and then signed me a copy of the Galaxy in Flames cover. I missed out Mr. Swallow principly because xhalex kept him talking long enough to get a long queue behind her and I had my book signed by him last year. Then to the queue of Dan Abnett.
I love his books, I love his writing, and I wish I had so much more time to read his back catalogue (and the money to get it!) What I loved the queue for was meeting xhalex. A person more random than I am, and we talked for ages and I loved it! So much so that I've sought her out on here, and Mr. Abnett's blog. Curses!
From there to Graham's queue and little talking, but a bit of hand shaking. Then dipping out of the queue to see Mike Lee, and Jon Roberts. Didn't know Mike Lee was an American, and should make Nagash the Sorcerer and interesting read. From there, it was out to catch my breath and collect my ForgeWorld stuff that I'd reserved.
By this time it was 2.15pm - and I was knackered. Food was had and my losing Golden Daemon entries collected (BOO!) then back to the Authorium to get my Harback of Horus Rising signed by Neil Roberts, who just happened to be presented with his birthday cake as I got there - a copy of Horus Rising with his name and 'Happy Birthday' in the title area. Then a skulk around the Pavillion one last time before collecting my passengers, leaving, and disseminating the day.
So, all in all was it fun?
Well, being in queues for 6.5 hours was not the best time in the world. I think there are improvements to be made, and I shall pass these to the Events team.
Like:
1) Employ the queuing system at the retail stand for the new purchases by using snaked barriers and a call-forward system manned by security.
2) Expand the FW section, and add a snaked queue there aswell, and put more staff on. Hire temps if needed.
3) Have a pool of GW customers who are willing to work for the day for a discount on stuff (say 25%) in lieu of pay in the retail areas.
4) Have 2 queues for each of the retail areas: 1 dedicated cash only; one dedicated card only. The cash queues will move quicker.
5) Bring the entire stock of new stuff to GD, it will sell!
6) Stick to the rules. If the rule is go to the Space Marine section to buy Space Marine stuff, stick to it! So many people were buying it from LotR.
7) Queue Dan Abnett and Graham McNeill separately to the rest of Black Library. They are popular draws and need lots of room.
8) Allow reserves to be made on GD only releases at the main sales stand, and a Mail Order style pick up similar to FW.
That's all I can think of right now, I hope you enjoy.
Nibble Pibbley,
Tim
Welcome notes
Hello to one and all. It's been some time since I posted anything up on my blog, so much so that the powers that be have decided to remove my entire back catalogue.
So here it it, make of it what you will, and I hope that there are some people who at least find some grains of truth written in my random and pseudo-wistful musings.
Ra, ra, and indeed, boom-ti-eh!
Tim
So here it it, make of it what you will, and I hope that there are some people who at least find some grains of truth written in my random and pseudo-wistful musings.
Ra, ra, and indeed, boom-ti-eh!
Tim
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