Retail: Despite the fact that not enough people have been buying from Woolworths, I hear that it is - was - one of Britain's favourite high street fixtures. As grim as the unfolding collapse of that business has been for its staff and their families, this has made me wonder about whether I hold any affinity for any high street brands. I think I'd feel sad at the disappearance of Marks and Spencers, as it reminds me of my grandfather.
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Are there any high street names that you feel attached to, in a loosely emotional sort of way?
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Words: A novice writer is stuck. She needs help to complete the following sentence: 'As Clive opened the front door, the last thing he expected to be greeted by was...'
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What comes next? What surprised Clive?
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Honours: The very BBCish Sports Personality of the Year award for 2008 will soon be determined (best of a particular version of British and all that). My guess is that it'll go to the swimmer Rebecca Adlington. Talented as the whole short-list undoubtedly is, I wonder whether there are any prizes that would be equally - but differently - worth winning.
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Name a really worthwhile prize - British or otherwise - that has yet to be inaugurated? (The kind of prize that would be really worth winning and that would capture imaginations.)
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Showing posts with label Words. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Words. Show all posts
Thursday, 11 December 2008
Thursday, 6 November 2008
Entertainment / Ideas / Words
Entertainment: Just last night I was reminded of the occasion when, as a youngter, a rocket firework shot up into the air, did its explosive thing, and then limply fell upon a burger van amidst a big crowd at the Spennymoor Fireworks Display.
Briefly recount a memory, from childhood, that featured either a bonfire or fireworks.
Ideas: I'm guessing there's something a bit creative about you. As I dropped my young friend (step-son / spiritual advisor / fellow magician) off at school earlier, an idea occured to me for a short story that would be based around two adult characters who meet at the edge of their children's playground.
Have you had any energising ideas recently - for writing, for home decoration, for things to do, for recipes, for anything?
Words: I recently listened to a gorgeous, simple interview with Guy Garvey, of the band Elbow. Amongst other things, the naming of the band was discussed. The name 'Elbow' came from a line in Dennis Potter's 'The Singing Detective', in which a character suggests that elbow is the most sensuous word - to speak - in the English language.
Do any other contenders spring to mind for this title of 'Most Sensuous Word to Speak, in the English Language'?
Briefly recount a memory, from childhood, that featured either a bonfire or fireworks.
Ideas: I'm guessing there's something a bit creative about you. As I dropped my young friend (step-son / spiritual advisor / fellow magician) off at school earlier, an idea occured to me for a short story that would be based around two adult characters who meet at the edge of their children's playground.
Have you had any energising ideas recently - for writing, for home decoration, for things to do, for recipes, for anything?
Words: I recently listened to a gorgeous, simple interview with Guy Garvey, of the band Elbow. Amongst other things, the naming of the band was discussed. The name 'Elbow' came from a line in Dennis Potter's 'The Singing Detective', in which a character suggests that elbow is the most sensuous word - to speak - in the English language.
Do any other contenders spring to mind for this title of 'Most Sensuous Word to Speak, in the English Language'?
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Words / Sport / Animals
Words: A couple of people from the BBC Talent list have, this week, faced waves of criticism over a radio discussion that maybe went a bit too far. Noises of contrition have emanated from the BBC, though as I write this, at least one of the offenders has remained rather moot. This got me thinking about the things that people say, that they come to regret.
Have you ever said anything that you've come to regret? [Essays must come in at no more than 1500 words]
Sport: There are comebacks that seemed doomed to fail, and there are comebacks that raise people's spirits - 'One last chance', 'Can't afford to fail', 'Those days are behind me', and so on. This week, in football, there have been a couple of notable comebacks. I want to feel good about them both.
Do you recall any comebacks - in Sport or elsewhere - that have particularly pleased you?
Animals: As I post this, I'm in London. More than the great shopping opportunities, the plethora of arts and cultural opportunities that present themselves, and the kicking back with lovely people that avails itself, I'm most pleased about being able to visit Richmond Park, to see the stags and does.
Are there any animals that - the sight of which - fill up your senses?
Wishing you the best of weeks.
Have you ever said anything that you've come to regret? [Essays must come in at no more than 1500 words]
Sport: There are comebacks that seemed doomed to fail, and there are comebacks that raise people's spirits - 'One last chance', 'Can't afford to fail', 'Those days are behind me', and so on. This week, in football, there have been a couple of notable comebacks. I want to feel good about them both.
Do you recall any comebacks - in Sport or elsewhere - that have particularly pleased you?
Animals: As I post this, I'm in London. More than the great shopping opportunities, the plethora of arts and cultural opportunities that present themselves, and the kicking back with lovely people that avails itself, I'm most pleased about being able to visit Richmond Park, to see the stags and does.
Are there any animals that - the sight of which - fill up your senses?
Wishing you the best of weeks.
Friday, 26 September 2008
Travel / Words / Arts
TRAVEL: Literally or metaphorically,
'Think of a journey that felt rather long. What was that journey?'
WORDS: Complete the line,
‘You’re only as good as your…’
ARTS: This morning, I awoke to a news reference to ‘sporting hero Sebastian Coe’. By way of opening the Cultural Olympiad, he’s to take part in Martin Creed’s ‘Work No 850’ at Tate Britain. This got me thinking:
‘What would be an interesting and inspiring way to launch a four-year arts and cultural programme?’
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