Images of Rome

Just a few:

St Peter's Square and basilica.

And St Peter's Square from the top of the dome.

Gorgeous views, lovely day in June 2014.

Rome - the eternal city

I've just been to Rome on holiday and seen sights as magnificent as the Colosseum (above). It's 1,934 years old.

Do you think Wembley Stadium will still be standing in 3941? The last incarnation lasted less than 80 years!

And what about the Pantheon?

St Paul's has lasted since it was finished in 1720 - that's getting on for 300 years. But the Pantheon in Rome is 1,888 years old.

Rome - the eternal city - marvellous. If Wembley lasts till 3941 the Colosseum will be 3,861 years old!

Guilfest returns in 2014

Guilfest was last seen in the wet summer of 2012. It was replaced by the anodyne, corporate 'Magic Live' last year, but Guildford Borough Council wisely saw fit to bring back the music festival to the slopes of Stoke Park in Guildford.

YES, Guilfest is back!

The line-up consists of:
The Boomtown Rats, Kool & The Gang, The Human League, Naughty Boy, Sam Bailey, Sigma, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, The Enemy, Soulfly, Norman Jay MBE, Friction ft. P Money & Linguistics, The Sugarhill Gang, The Farm, Ms. Dynamite, The Blackout, Gallows, Space, Sham 69 (original line up), Buzzcocks, Boney M, The Fureys, Dreadzone, Slim Chance, Public Service Broadcasting, Shadow Child, The Other Tribe, Ruts D.C., Feed The Rhino, Canterbury, Itch, Chelsea, The Skints, Hannah Wants, B.Traits, Fred V & Grafix, Kidnap Kid, My Nu Leng, Jamie Lenman, Shane Richie & The Prelude, Ward Thomas, Gnarwolves, The Correspondents, Mak and Pasteman, Mr B., The Vibrators, Imperial Leisure, Jedward, Arcane Roots, I See Monstas, The Algorithm and many more…

"Many more" includes my own band The Serial Thrillers.

On the weekend of 18 - 20 July, it's going to be an exciting occasion. Why not come along?

http://www.guilfest.co.uk/index.php

Why 'No Junk Mail' is not helping the economy

I know that not everyone likes "junk mail" - those unaddressed envelopes that come through your door, those exhortations to take out a loan from your bank, the shiny supermarket leaflets that fall from your free local newspaper.

However, I think this 'No Junk Mail' kind of thing is unhelpful to the economy:

- especially with regard to leaflets posted on behalf of small local businesses.

I sometimes deliver leaflets to help out a friend who runs this business: Just Deliveries.
It is frustrating when you walk down a driveway to be confronted by such a rejection.

But how does it affect the economy?
1. The fewer leaflets we deliver, the less we are paid.
2. It's less advertising for the small businesses on whose behalf we are delivering, meaning less business potential.
3. It will result in less printing for the local printer.
4. Further down the chain: ink, paper.
5. Down a different chain: shoes for the deliverer; a break at the local independent coffee shop.

So, think again before you hang up your sign:

Indeed, consider the future, when you may be running your own small business and may need to advertise it with leaflets. You'll quickly remove your sign then!

Big companies must now show compassion to flood victims

When our backs are against the wall, that's when the British usually show their best.

Well, now - with floods affecting so many people across whole swathes of the country - is one of those occasions.

And we hear heart-warming stories:

• Yorkshire farmers - who have donated animal feed and bedding to farmers in the south
• The army - inevitably doing a fantastic job
• Prince William and Prince Harry - lending a hand to pile up sandbags in Datchett
• Many neighbours and communities coming together to help others through the situation.

Let us hope that institutions that hold many of the keys will be similarly helpful. These would include:

• Water companies
• Electricity and gas suppliers
• Insurance companies

For once, show some compassion to people who need help, and don't just think of how you can turn other people's misfortune into profit.

Who knows, perhaps a kind deed or two might stand you in good stead.

It will be bye-bye to the Co-op

Of course, it all started to go downhill in 2008 with the financial crash and all that.

I had an account with Britannia Building Society. All fine.

Interest rates dropped of course, but we all took that in our stride.

But then Britannia got taken over by the Co-op Bank. Colours changed (red to blue) - not a problem at all. Then I noticed on my visits - probably once or twice a month - that the old staff weren't there any more. Who were these new cashiers?

Soon got used to the new staff, I guess.

Late last year they suddenly changed the Saturday opening time from 9 to 9.30. Not very helpful to us early Saturday starters.

Then last Friday came a letter saying they were closing my local branch in April. Final straw.

I went in on Saturday morning (after 9.30) with intent to complain (with some sympathy) to the now familiar new(ish) staff. But even the new staff were gone. Was it a coincidence? Were these new new people temporary, or plants from head office? I didn't bother to say anything.

Action will speak louder than words. I'll be closing all my family's accounts with the Co-op.

Charity should begin at home for flood victims

It's tragic to read and hear about people who have been affected by the latest floods, mainly coastal this time. The same goes for previous flood victims - many not far from where I live in Surrey.

I hope that insurance companies can help them out - after all, this is just the kind of thing that we all pay into the insurance pot for.

Whether councils can or should do more to help victims or even take preventive measures, I don't know, but, again, I hope they are doing all they can to help people out.

What events like this in our country do bring to mind is the amount of money we often send abroad to victims of natural disasters. That is all very well and I wouldn't like to see that stopped, but do we ever send money to victims in our own country?

If not, we should do. Charity should begin at home.