Enjoy the Christmas meal

It's the day for the company Christmas meal, so we're off to London for the afternoon with a meal to follow in the evening. We're meeting up with some friends who run another business.

It's a time to eat our fill and toast a glass or two of wine to a prosperous 2011.

2010 has been tough, but you just have to get on with it, find new prospects, keep your current clients happy and always be looking to move your business forward. Plans have been made for 2011 which, if met, will push the business forward a notch or two. There's no point in planning for less.

But all that can wait for a few days. For today, it's time to relax and enjoy a relaxing meal with colleagues and friends in the buzzing surroundings of the capital.

Catch the eclipse of the moon if you can

There's an eclipse of the moon this morning.

That's when the shadow of the earth passes over the moon. It's not as spectacular as an eclipse of the sun (when the moon passes between the sun and the earth), but is still a fascinating astronomical phenomenon. You can see "a chunk" taken out of the moon as the earth's shadow comes across, turning the moon a purple hue. The moon doesn't usually totally disappear during the event.

The eclipse will last from 7.30am until 8.54am so there's plenty of time to catch it, but, of course, we need a clear sky. I live in the south of England where the forecast is for fog and snow throughout the day, so it seems unlikely that I and people around here will be able to see it.

Shame. Like so many other things these days: thwarted by the weather!

First Call lead the way for transport and logistics solutions

It's Friday, and every Friday I advertise a local business that I use, know, support or like, or all four.

Today it's First Call Employment Services of Ripley in Surrey.

First Call is a market leading supplier to the transport and logistics industry, providing temporary and permanent staffing solutions 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

They are a very reliable small business in a village not far from Guildford in Surrey.

If you're looking for transport and logistics solutions, give them a call.

And if you're looking for employment as a driver or another logstics role, give them a call too.

01483 210130

Say No to football at the Olympic Stadium

I'm a football fan, but the thought of a football club taking over the 2012 Olympic Stadium after the Olympics are done and dusted fills me with horror.

Both West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur have their eyes on the prize.

But I believe it would betray athletics and the the promise of a legacy made when the games were awarded to London.

Olympic athletes, including Kelly Holmes and Daley Thompson have sent an open letter complaining about plans for football to take over the stadium in north east London, and get rid of the running track.

"We urge the decision makers to ensure the track remains post 2012. [It would] bring to life a sporting promise made to a whole community for generations to come."

The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) is the organisation responsible for the long-term management of the Stratford site.

Tottenham's plans are for an 80,000-seat stadium without an athletics track. That would break the original pledge for a world-class athletics venue after the 2012 Games.

West Ham's plans involve a 60,000-capacity arena for football, athletics, concerts and community use in a collaboration with Newham Council, a bid endorsed by UKA.

Wouldn't it be great to have a truly world-class athletics stadium in London? However, no doubt economic reality dictates that it's just not possible.

The West Ham option is better, but it would be even better if they both left well alone.

X-Factor winners are tossed away like Christmas wrapping paper

The problem with the X-Factor is not really for music lovers; it's for the poor winners of the thing.

The show comes in for a lot of (justified) criticism for its freakish route to apparent stardom for the contestants. The people that sing do not, say the critics, do their music apprenticeship. They don't play the pubs and clubs - they don't "put in the miles" as do bands who trudge round the circuit, plying their trade. These are the bands who really can play their own instruments and actually add something to the world of music by creating something new.

Who was the last X-Factor winner who wrote his (her) own song?

But the music industry will plough on, creatively, in spite of Simon Cowell's one-man marketing show. The fact is that the X-Factor adds little to the music industry, and takes little away (except the chance of someone else being Christmas number one (2009 being a notable exception when Killing In The Name by Rage Against The Machine enabled people to rage against the machine!), and who really cares who's number one in the singles chart any more?).

The problem with the X-Factor is the hopes and dreams it creates for thousands of would-be singers. Except that many of them are not would-be singers; they're would-be celebrities. "I wanna be famous," they shout, with arms crossed in X style, "a star on the screen." [Drive My Car - Beatles]

And the hopes are usually dashed. It is because we can all name Leona Lewis that makes her the exception. Where now for the original winner (2004) Steve Brookstein? Turning on the Christmas lights in Woking, dressed in his donkey jacket, followed by a tour of Caffe Nero - that's where. Shayne Ward (2005)? Three albums, each one sinking lower than the last. Leon Jackson (2007)? Dropped from hsi record label within three months.

The trouble is that the X-Factor is like a Christmas present. Unwrapped, marvelled at for a few moments, and then tossed aside as we open the next one.

How is Prince Charles connected to tuition fees?

However much one may agree with the right of students to protest against the rise in tuition fees - and we must protect the rights to freedom of speech - there is no way anyone can condone an attack on the car carrying the heir to the throne and his wife.

A window of the vehicle carrying Prince Charles and Camilla was smashed and paint thrown was thrown at the car as the royal couple made their way to the London Palladium to see the Royal Variety Performance.
Clarence House later said the royal couple were safe and attended the performance as scheduled.

What on earth has the royal couple got to do with tuition fees?

Sadly, this demonstrates the propensity for violence of large groups (mobs?), and the likely scenario that some of the protestors were bent on causing trouble from the outset, and probably couldn't care less about tuition fees or student debt, but just want to stir up trouble for the coalition government. Smashing up shops in Oxford Street is hardly going to bring them sympathy, is it?

If there is any group who should "ConDem"ned it is these worthless troublemakers.

Lennon's legend will live forever

Yesterday (8 December) was the 30th anniversary of John Lennon's assassination in New York. This, of course, has been covered in much more detail and in much higher places than my humble blog, but I thought it worth touching on.

Lennon was one of the Fab Four - the Beatles - whose music and style changed youth culture in Britain and the world forever. Culture may have changed eventually, but it did so in the Sixties, and the Beatles were one of the main catalysts.

Within the Beatles, Lennon was - just about - the leader, with his own music and personality having great influence on the band itself.

Some of his best work actually came after the Beatles - Imagine, Woman, and at this time of year, Happy Xmas (War is Over) - but he will inevitably be remembered primarily for his work and times in the group.

His campaigns for world peace - songs, sit-ins, lie-ins, were well meant - but he'd still have to do the same now, 30 years on.

Lennon was taken from us too early, too cruelly. But you can't remain untouched by John Lennon, even in 2010.

Lennon's legend, and his music, will live forever.

Go Stacey - a refreshing winner

You know the most refreshing about Stacey Solomon winning I'm A Celebrity on Saturday night?

It was that this "working-class" girl from Dagenham, previously famous only for failing to win X-Factor last year didn't play on any of that class nonsense.

As Richard Dreyfuss's character Matt Hooper said in the 1975 film Jaws, "I don't need this'working class hero' crap." Hear, hear to that!

Stacey has no airs or graces; she has no pretences; I'm sure she'd like to be successful and famous, but she's not calculating, and didn't play on her background to win this reality show. She was honest, likeable, and, although probably not academically brilliant, showed a caring wisdom beyond her years. She didn't aspire to anything greater than having fun, and being grateful for the opportunity; "Fank you," being her stock phrase.

Even when she had won, she felt most comfortable hugging her fellow contestants, Ant & Dec, and apologising for her breath - stale after three weeks in the jungle. "What the hell just happened?" was her comment on being crowned.

Never was there a more deserving winner!

Natural, inspirational photos

Kelvin Hudson is a Dublin-based photographer with a flare for natural, inspirational photos.

Originally from Surrey, Hudson moved to Ireland many years ago and set up his own photography business. He works mainly in the commercial area and has provided photos for many adverts you may have seen over the years.

Find his website at KelvinHudson.com.

Today it's the weather and the World Cup bid

There are only two stories out there today: the weather and the World Cup bid.

It seems that the news channels will be following the FIFA World Cup vote throughout the day, interspersed only by bulletins about how bad the weather is and the travel chaos it causes.

Our endless fascination with the weather in this country is amazing. We appear to love seeing pictures taken from a helicopter of a white screen, cut by dark lines - white fields, dark hedgerows! The kids get up early on snowy days - but only to check the local websites to see if their schools are closed! The parents hope the schools will be closed to avoid the dreaded school run on icy roads.

But after a few days we're fed up. Snow is either a slushy mess or compacted to ice; the kids are restless; the heating's been on too long; and we all need to get back to work to earn some money. Bring on the thaw!

It would be nice to think that our mood in the UK (well, England, anyway) will be brightened shortly after 3pm by an announcement that England will host the World Cup in 2018. We'll see.