Ed Sheeran belongs to a group of those British artists who have a lot to say, a lot to sing and shout about, and have the talent to do so, but do not really care about the charts and fame, which is what has always attracted me to such artists. With other talented singers he makes a true statement in one of the songs, called ‘Radio’:

I never had a playlist in my heart, oho
Now I need an A list just to chart
but I’ve been famous from the start
How am I gonna make my mark
Are you gonna play me, though, song was never meant for the radio
I get …radio spin, I’m just doing my thing, and I don’t have time for a playlist
How much will you pay me though? the song was not a hit on the radio, oho, oho, oho, oh

For this reason I have not been listening to radio for a long time…. I’d rather dig out good music and get addicted to something that is of value.

Here’s a song that makes me thing of the films I once wrote about here ‘Adulthood’ , ‘Kidulthood’  and ‘This Is England’ – as you can see, the reality these films refer too is not one that will change anytime soon and the riots that happened last week were a living proof of the morality or rather lack thereof that permeates the youngsters in Britain.

Yes, I know it happens in many other countries and not just Britain. But, not many other countries put themselves up to mentor those in the third world (or developing, as I should put it to be more politically correct), for example.

If a Britishman is singing:

‘London calls me a stranger,
A traveller Ohoohohh,
This is now my home, My home,
Oh Woah..’

… then what can an expat to Britain say? This is my home and this is precisely why I allow myself the freedom to talk about the reality here the way I see it and the way it is.

In a beautiful and moving way, Ed tells true life stories of many anonymous citizens Great Britain who may not be finding their life here too great at all…..

What can I say, I am grateful singers like Ed Sheeran use their talents to do what the government institutions fail to do so often – to notice what is seemingly ugly, taboo, unnoticeable!

Keep up the good work Ed, I’d say! I am surely your fan!

]]> http://anglopole.wordpress.com/2011/08/17/music-can-change-the-world-because-it-can-change-people/feed/ 0 anglopole http://anglopole.wordpress.com/2011/04/04/a-thousand-beautiful-things-and-more/ http://anglopole.wordpress.com/2011/04/04/a-thousand-beautiful-things-and-more/#comments Mon, 04 Apr 2011 22:15:44 +0000 anglopole http://anglopole.wordpress.com/?p=473 ]]> Yesterday was a mothering Sunday in the UK and I too was celebrating it. One of a few gifts that I received from my lovely children was a CD, ‘The Annie Lennox Collection’, which I have wanted to have for some time now. One of the songs on this CD is:

As I was listening to it in the car, I realized that this is exactly what I have been doing for some time now. Everyday, I set out with a camera (be it my professional toy or the one in my mobile), regardless whether it is to relax or work. I know that wherever I go I will find a lot of things that are worth capturing – a thousand beautiful things and more. Life is much more interesting with an attitude of a ‘beauty hunter’!

Today I parked in the centre of Bedford and there, behind a toilet, far away from any supermarket was this lonely, abandoned trolley:

I didn’t have my camera with me, but I had my multifunctional mobile phone and so I had to, I simply had to snap a picture of that, some might say, ugly sight. As I was looking at the trolley I was thinking about the UK – there are many,  many things that have been misplaced and abused here, like in any other country, but the worst thing that can happen is to go past them without any notice… pretending that they don’t exist. I have had many comments on this blog that were rather hostile in nature, simply because I dare to describe reality as I see it and my impressions may not always be positive. Yet, the most important thing is that I want to see things and I want to give them my attention and try to understand why they are the way they are. In the process of my observations I learn a lot and am blessed with countless objects, situations, sights that make my eyes and mind smile….

Everything around is worth putting in a frame… even if it’s just a piece of green field….

Hello hello! In case you have been wondering, I am alive and well, very well actually. I am very very sorry I have neglected my blog, but life has been very hectic for me ever since I learnt I passed my DPSI exams. Yes, you have read well, I have passed my exams and now am registered with NRPSI (National Register of Public Service Interpreters). I get more and more busy with my work, as a result of being fully qualified, which is good news. Somewhere along the way last year I also started engaging in photography more seriously and hopefully you will see some of the results of this very pleasant obsession of mine! Surely, my family is in the very centre of my very busy life and anyone who has young kids will appreciate how much attention they need…

Anyway, enough of all these excuses, however sound and true they are, and they are so, indeed!

I am pulling myself together and shall start posting here again!

Thank you for waiting patiently for news about Anglopole’s life in the UK!

Aren’t you glad the longest winter in the century so far has come to an end????? I sure am!

photo taken last week in RSPB The Lodge Reserve near Sandy

Here are some photos to illustrate my big day in June:

my train to Bow Church is arriving

I'm on that train heading to Canary Wharf to change again...

Canary Wharf, a station nott very far from the O2 Arena

Cutty Sark, Greenwich - I'm heading to the university

Greenwich University - the whole area around it is a lovely

close to the university there is the famous Maritime Museum

the university again, as seen from the premises of the museum

After the exam I kept on strolling in the area to chill down and enjoy the rest of the afternoon before going back to Bedfordshire. There were a lot of tourists, students and even a film crew working on a picture of some sort:

it looked like an Asian soap was being filmed there

opposite the river bank there's the Greenwich Museum

the Thames and the City of London on the other side

Cutty Sark market

on my way back to King's Cross

Needless to say I came back home pretty exhausted. I do hope I passed the exam, but even if I failed, the day in Greenwich was definitely enjoyable and I will surely go there again.

However difficult for me and my family, harsh winter and nasty infections, I feel, have not been the greatest disasters that happened in the first quarter of this year. The earthquake in Haiti was the cataclysm that really shook the whole Earth a few months ago. Horrible as it was, it did melt many hearts and the humanitarian relief has been pouring in there ever since. Like many other nations, the British too got involved in helping Haiti recover after the disaster.

Almost every day we hear about a British soldier being killed in Afghanistan and I do not think I am the only one questioning the justification for the Western armies being kept in this country. I may be wrong, but from all the reports we are fed with, it really does not look like the war in Afghanistan is going to end any time soon.

What happened on 10th April just blew my mind and the minds of most Poles back in Poland and here in the UK. What is now known as The Smolensk Tragedy has touched the whole nation of Poland, her rather disliked neighbour, Russia and millions of people around the world individually.  Also last week was marked by another black cloud, not in figurative terms this time – the volcanic ash coming from one of the Icelandic volcanoes that came back to life has covered the whole Europe, which had an impact on the state funeral of the late President of Poland and his wife, as many foreign delegations gave in to fear of the volcanic ash and decided not to come to Krakow, where the funeral was held on the 18^th of April. Interestingly enough, the dignitaries from Central and Eastern Europe and also countries like Morocco, Azerbaijan somehow managed to make their way to the celebrations in Krakow. Ironically, it was in the British media that we could hear explanations that only military and government planes are equipped to fly in conditions like the ones caused by the volcanic ash – It is, therefore, hard to believe that Prince Charles was unable to make his way to Poland in order to personally express his condolences over the loss of so many leaders in the fatal plane crash.

Well, as the English proverb says: a friend in need is a friend indeed. I was enormously inspired by Mikheil Saakashvili’s attitude as he made a truly epic journey in order to be present at the funeral of his friend Lech Kaczynski – he governs a country with far far fewer resources than the USA or EU leading countries and still he wasn’t fazed by the notorious ash cloud. Where there is a will there is a way, right?

Oh, I must not forget about the earthquake in China – 2000 dead! :-O

What’s going on with this world of ours?!

Anyway, I want to believe that the remaining 3 quarters of the year 2010 will be better that what we have seen so far.

Here are a few of  the events, gadgets, , institutions, people, etc. in the UK that I will always associate this first decade of the 21st century with:

1. 2004 Poland and other countries from the Central and Eastern Europe entered the EU:

One of the many results of this event was that a visa-free movement became a reality for Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, etc. AND doors for legal employment were opened in the UK, not surprisingly to a great delight of hundreds of thousands of migrants tired of poverty. I had always wanted to live in the UK as you may remember from the introductory posts of my blog, and so I too welcomed the whole EU thing and all that it meant for its new members.

2. Terrorism threats coming closer and closer.

I can’t say I feel totally comfortable in the tube whenever I visit London…. Also, I wasn’t at all happy for our family to be searched when travelling to Poland on a few occasions after the 7/7 bombings. Baby food jars being opened in search of suspicious substances, nappies being opened, the buggy being carefully scanned…. all accompanied by a cry of two tots not knowing what’s going on…. such a total nuisance. I just wish the customs officers used some common sense in applying all the security measures… but hey, it’s a bit better now, so I shall stop moaning about it now. The terrorists, however, did achieve their goal in a way – many freedoms of common citizens have been limited due to all these threats..

3.  Year by year Britain was (and still is) becoming a real ‘nanny state’.

It can be very very annoying and just makes one wonder what the modern definitions of democracy and freedom of speech or expression are. Only a few weeks ago during a nativity play in my son’s school I wasn’t allowed to take pictures of him as I might also capture the other children in them and I might just be one of those sickos who publish photos of kids on various wend sites :-O Where’s the common sense? I will ask again. We will get a DVD from the performance which was made by the school and it looks like the authorities of the school forgot such a DVD too can be abused or misused just like pretty much anything in life… I can’t stop myself from buying a nice gadget, for example, only because it may be stolen…. and such logic seems to be behind many ‘nanny-like’ decisions made by the British government. Here are more examples: The New UK Census.

4. Reality shows dominate the British TV.

- Big Brother

- X-Factor

- I’m a celebrity get me out of here

- Britain’s got talent

- Strictly come dancing

…. that’s to name just a few shows that are broadcast here pretty much every year, simply because they are popular. I am not going to attempt concluding why they are popular – they just are and I watch some myself.

5. Recssion = filthy rich bankers + filthy rich MPs taking a LOT of money from what really belongs to the public. Shall I comment on that one? Nah, you’re right. No explanation necessary!

6. iPhone – it’s probably THE gadget I will associate with the past decade. I still remember the day they were introducing it in the British market. Hundreds of people were queuing for hours to get one and, as you probably know, it wasn’t exactly the cheapest electronic toy then (still isn’t really).

7. Slumdon Millionaire is my favourite British film of the 00′s, though the list of others that I should mention is longer.

8. Christians being mocked and Muslims feared – it’s probably one of the signs of times. Inasmuch as Britain is still a country where there’s a freedom of speech and expression, it does seem that Islam is a lot more privileged than Christianity or at least I see it this way.

9. ‘Snow disaster’  paralysing Britain in winter I’ve never seen a few inches of snow causing so much havoc all around the country…. Btw. the global warming was (and is) one of the hottest subjects discussed by the politicians in the past 10 years BUT winters in the UK get colder and colder…..

10. Tony Blair was probably a person most spoken of here in the 00′s, especially that he made at least a few controversial, and costly for Britain, decisions

There were much much more people, events, items, media productions, etc. that shaped the last decade in Britain. I just mentioned a few.

Let me round off by saying, what I should have said last week really:

and

HAPPY NEW DECADE!!!

In mid-October, then, I went to Bedford University Campus to start my part-time, post-graduate studies. Since then I have had 4 sessions and I like the course itself. Having done most of my studying at Wroclaw University, Poland, I was a tad disappointed with the location and the Bedford University Campus buildings. I had used to pass by the place many times and never realized it was a uni as it just looks as a complex of office buildings – doesn’t have this… erm, university atmosphere, if you know what I mean.

This is where I study now:

and this is where I did my degree:

I am sure this is just another example of a known cliché that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. I find all the old or having a more classic look buildings far more attractive to study in, as opposed to the modern, character-less architectural monstrosities. It’s not just the building of the uni in Bedford that distracted my attention from the course. Yes, I am going to treat you with a little more moaning. We were all a little surprised that, despite paying for the course we have a limited access to basic facilities such as toilets, refreshment bar or a shop, library or information desk where someone is actually there to assist with any queries that students might have, let alone technical support for the tutors who sometimes get confused about the configuration of laptops and projectors.

Because I’d gained my education in a country considered as less developed than the UK, I expected the local uni to be of a much higher standard in every way than what I’d experienced before…..

At least, letters of complaint addressed to institutions are often taken seriously here, so things are likely improve in Bedford Campus. I hope this is not wishful thinking, though! Anyway, I intend to make most of the course despite all the hiccups and pass the exam run by IoL.

]]> http://anglopole.wordpress.com/2009/11/15/back-to-uni/feed/ 8 anglopole bedford uni univerek http://anglopole.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/so-who-are-the-racists-in-the-uk/ http://anglopole.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/so-who-are-the-racists-in-the-uk/#comments Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:10:30 +0000 anglopole http://anglopole.wordpress.com/?p=421 ]]> Yes, it does look like it’s a follow-up to a post I wrote some time ago about ‘This is England‘, a film I had watched and found thought-provoking, indeed. For the past few weeks I have been stumbling on the subject of racism in the UK either  on  internet forums I visited, or when watching news, or listening to real-life stories told be people I met here and there.

Racism has been in the world forever…. that is a fact. Also, one might think that everyone would know what it means to be a racist since the problem is as old as the world itself. It seems to me, however, that the whole notion begins to be more and more blurred, mis- or over-interpreted. I’d say, often people are simply tactless or stupid rather than racist.

“Racism is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.[1] In the case of institutional racism, certain racial groups may be denied rights or benefits, or get preferential treatment, while Reverse discrimination favours members of a historically disadvantaged group at the expense of those of a historically advantaged group. Racial discrimination typically points out taxonomic differences between different groups of people, even though anybody can be racialised, independently of their somatic differences. According to the United Nations conventions, there is no distinction between the term racial discrimination and ethnic discrimination.” (Wikipedia)

A good example of this definition of racism is, of course, the nazi movement both the original one from the last century and its current continuations under many different names and in various countries. Only last week we could see an English Nazi movement in action; “Anti-Islamists target Palestinian rally in central London“. Such riots start more or less like this:

Now, I know of a few Englishmen who claim it’s only the immigrants in the UK that are racist, but, somehow what we can witness in various towns in the UK, both as eyewitnesses and viewers of various news channels, is angry Englishmen tired of being politically correct about what they truly think of equal opportunities, ethinc minorities or their own superiority over everyone who happens not to be a white British.

I too was accused of being racist after sharing my thoughts on how I perceive various things here in the UK – it is rather stupid and ignorant not to see the difference between a criticism of things you don’t like in places you visit and an irrational,  patronizing attitude making you feel better than people of other cultures!

Inasmuch as I am not in favour of cherishing prejudices or stereotypes, I am sure nobody is free from possessing prejudiced opinions about other nations. Yet, the fact that consciously or not we hold onto silly stereotypes, doesn’t have to mean we are racists, or does it?

It amazes me how words, sentences, or comments get taken out of context and misinterpreted here; Recently, I have read a conversation between a few Poles and some Brits. One of the Poles quoted another person who allegedly had said that ‘Asians smell or do not pay much attention to personal hygene’ or some such. Taken out of context such a statement is not just an unfair, prejudiced opinion but indeed could well be perceived as racist. Quoting what someone else has said for the sake of a argument doesn’t prove that the person using the quote agrees with the message of the cited sentence….

Let’s have a look at something else. Not long ago BBC reported that British property agents are keeping out East European tenants (funny enough, in Poland the English, the French, the Germans are never referred to as Western Europeans…. after all each nation has its own identity!) . Favouring one nationality over another in letting houses for rent is an obvious display or racism and prejudice. Nevertheless, some people say it is the landlords right to choose who they let their property for rent to….

Racism exists in the UK and, even though many migrants are racists as well, the real problem is with some attitudes manifested by the citizens of GB. Pointing fingers at ethnic minorities and accusing them of being racist not only doesn’t solve the problem, but makes it even worse….

]]> http://anglopole.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/so-who-are-the-racists-in-the-uk/feed/ 21 anglopole Luton riot http://anglopole.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/london-luton-airport/ http://anglopole.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/london-luton-airport/#comments Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:01:59 +0000 anglopole http://anglopole.wordpress.com/?p=418 ]]> Luton airport is the closest on to where I live (about 18 miles away) and getting there is pretty straightforward, which is convenient. The thing I am not impressed with is the prices for long-stay parking! Last time I travelled from Luton was two weeks ago and I chose to get a lift from a friend rather than leave the car in the airport car park as the price for it was higher than my return ticket to Poland! What a rip-off! On my way back I caught a bus going to Hitchin and then a local bus to my town. It was an experiment really and I would never recommend relying on public transport in the UK and I mean the local one mainly. I was coming back on a Sunday which meant that buses from Hitchin to Bedford were going every 2 hours! :-O

Anyway, Luton airport is fairly big but nothing compared to the main UK airports, for sure. When I was travelling the gate I was supposed to check in was shown 5 minutes before boarding time, which meant everyone had to rush through the long corridors to get to the gate. That was a new procedure which I found ridiculous as large crowds were swarming around the few monitors in the waiting lounge and then hurrying to their gates…. informing the passengers which gates their airplanes would be at earlier would allow the people to choose when they want to stroll to the particular gate rather than be kept in suspence, so to say!

Another ‘interesting’ change at Luton airport is the charge for drop-off! Now, I understand this is supposed to reduce the traffic at the airport itself. But then, one has to ask, what the purpose of building new roads leading to the airport was? The two seem to contradict one another…

Anyway, it’s the budget airlines mainly that fly from Luton and so, one shouldn’t perhaps expect luxuries for free at this airport. I will keep on flying from Luton as I just couldn’t be bothered to go anywhere further just to experience more comfort during my journey!

When we finally got to the museum we were shocked to see hundreds of people queuing to enter the place through all doors available there (there are no fees for entering the museum, which probably causes such queues)! So, we had plenty of time to admire the surrounding houses and the magnificent building of the museum itself.

Natural History Museum (side view)

Natural History Museum (the main hall)

Natural History Museum (the main hall from another angle)

Well, frankly speaking, I am not a fan of crowds of people, especially disorganized and insensitive ones. Yet, the museum itself is an absolutely amazing source of 3D information about the world of nature. My little man enjoyed seeing all the animals, dinosaurs, and wondering around the butterfly jungle, especially the playground created next to it for kids. All this is a perfect environment for educational explorations!

the best way to learn is through fun, isn't it?

On our way back we took a bus again, but via a different route. It was a lot less jammed with cars and buses!

looking down on everything and everyone!

After lunch we did quite a lot of walking in the less known streets of London where you can spot interesting landmarks, like this one:

As it appeared we couldn’t get on a train back before 7 pm (Ididn’t realize I had bought a return off-peak ticket and would have to upgrade it to an in-peak one for £13, and it was not worth it) and so we popped in a local Starbucks for a coffee (for me and a friend of mine) and pudding for my little offspring.

Before getting on the train to Peterborough, which would take us back to Arseley, we could relax in an airconditioned waiting lounge, which was nice on the horribly muggy day!

Needless to say I was knackered when we got home, but my son was still full of beans and excited after having seen all the many attractions in London and we only saw a tiny fraction of what one can visit in the capital of the UK.