Literature / Money / Information

Literature: It's amazing how much reading can be got through with unflinchingly regular bed-time story-time.
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Recommend a book, or books, that would stand a chance of enrapturing a bright seven year old boy.
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Money: 'I wouldn't count on it', 'Don't bet on it', 'How much are you willing to put on that?', and so on.
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Horses, dogs, the dollar, the weather, politics, where bears choose to excrete... Literally or metaphorically, what would you bet on?

Information: Given the circumstances, I suppose the phrase 'Too much information' would seem a bit harsh.
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What are you grateful for?
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Good week to you.
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Travel / Politics / Sport (or otherwise)

Travel: It is likely that, soon, it would seem like the right thing to do to visit a good friend and his wife and the person that currently resides in the wife's tummy bump, in Cornwall. The idea of driving is not appealing. Recalling the same journey, by rail, got me thinking.
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Do you have a favourite rail journey? If so, which is it?
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Politics: You are presented with the opportunity to ask any question to any contemporary mainstream political figure, with the promise that you will get an open and honest response to that question.
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To whom do you pose your question, and what is it?
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Sport (or otherwise): In England this week, one of the most over-used phrases has been 'There's no such thing as friendly, when these two teams meet'. The point being that we are assumed to loathe all things German, rather than dare to admire such qualities as good organisation and marshalling - as is so often evident in their football team. This got me thinking.
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Is there, in any context - sporting or otherwise, a team or individual that or who you are often keen to see defeated? The notion strikes me as, well, just not British. Then again, if one tries hard enough, and does a bit of lateral thinking...
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Good week to you.

Entertainment / Film & Current Affairs / Titles

Entertainment: I read that the rock music ensemble, Guns N' Roses, are about to release an album that was 17 years in the making. Thinking laterally, I fell upon the thought that I'm looking forward to this year's new episode of the David Renwick comedy-drama, the fantastically formulaic, Jonathan Creek.

In entertainment, what are you looking forward to?

Film and Currrent Affairs: Last night, on Newsnight Review, some people had a chat about creating fictional movies that are based on ongoing war-related real-life situations. I think the underlying questions - which weren't asked - were:

How do you feel about the Hollywoodisation of matters related to ongoing military operations in places like Afghanistan and Iraq? And, what ambitions - other than to entertain and to create wealth - is it reasonable to have for such productions?

Titles: Also last night, I got to see the latest 'no brain required' contribution to the James Bond catalogue, Quantum of Solace - a film that was popcorny, not as bad as some reviews did suggest, but ultimately - a film that completely lacked any credible reference to its own title. This got me thinking: Which were the Bond titles that got away? For example, that one where Bond goes undercover at Newcastle United Football Club: 'Three Points Are Not Enough'.

Generate your own alternative James Bond title.

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'?

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.

Time / Television / Tonic

Time: Yesterday, just as I began to imagine what today's tasks would be, a friend and colleague mentioned that she was taking a day out from her usual routine. She would travel to Manchester, in search of good food and relaxation.

Let us imagine that today was to have been different from your usual routine (such that there might be one). How would you have used the day differently?

Television: Just this week, publicist Max Clifford mentioned that had he been advising the minor British celebrity, Kerry Katona, that her television appearance - with slurred speech and questions over her well-being - would never have happened.

Do you recall any television moments (any genre) that - had you been advising - would never have happened?

Tonic: I'm on earl grey. I might have a bottle of Cobra, later.

What can I get you?

Art / Economics / Names

Art: In the north west of Trafalgar Square is the Fourth Plinth (since 1999, a space for contemporary art).

Suggest one or two things that would be worthy additions to the Fourth Plinth.

Economics: Credit crunch, inflation, soaring fuel prices, multilateral cuts in interest rates, banking crises, secure savings, overseas investments, financial reserves...

Have you learned anything (big or small) or been surprised by anything during the recent and ongoing higgledy-piggledy in the markets?

Names: I can't get the name Barbara Broccoli out of my head - it's just too good a name.

What would be your food name?

Places / Damage / Entertainment

PLACES: There's a Slippery Lane not far from here.

Do you have any favourite street or road names? If so, what are they?

DAMAGE: I just scraped the passenger-side car door along a concrete pillar.

What was the last thing that you broke or damaged?

ENTERTAINMENT: And now, a question from Vegas Velma.

For one night only, you are to be a star burlesque performer. What's your stage name?

Consumerism / TV / Ideas

CONSUMERISM: Domestic, exotic or just plain baffling…

Is there anything that you have to buy or acquire in the next few days?

TV: You’re bang to rights on this one…

Do you have a favourite TV detective or ‘cop show’? If so, name names.

IDEAS: I usually wash the pots with radio discussions burbling behind me.

What was the subject matter of a really interesting, recent discussion that you heard, but that you did not take part in?

Bidding you a week of waltz, with minimal schmaltz (I didn't know that).

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?’

Politics / Music / Internet

This week’s preponderances:-

POLITICS: This question comes from my hearing commentators speak of the Liberal Democrat leader - Nick Clegg’s - efforts to avoid sounding like a Conservative during his main party conference speech.

What, if anything, do you feel there to be missing from the mainstream political landscape (as you perceive that)?

MUSIC: Next, a question borne of the Last of the Summer Wine theme tune:

Is there a musical instrument that sings for you, in ways that other instruments (played well) just don’t quite manage?

INTERNET: The next question emerges from my Facebooking the fact that for practical reasons I’m going to have to join one of those social networking sites.

Have you landed on any websites recently that have really drawn you in – more so than do most newly landed-upon websites?

More frippery next week.

Environment / Film / Language

Environment: Recently, I've been scrutinising the city where I live.

In the village, town or city where you live, which single feature of the natural environment most appeals to you? And which single feature of the built environment has most appeal for you?

For me, in Stoke-on-Trent, I most like the woodland at Trentham and Hanchurch. Also, the big hills that are dotted about afford really good views of the city. Of the built environment, it would have to be some of the big industrial buildings along the railway sidings, just to the north of the station. It's also visually pleasing when a bottle kiln seems to appear out of nowhere.

Film: This comes from my thinking about industrial landscapes (above).

Have you ever twice seen a film at the cinema? If so, what did you see?

I've done this only twice. The first occasion was when the Stoke Film Theatre were showing the original Get Carter - it was good for recalling home. More recently, I returned to the cinema to see The Dark Knight - I wanted to properly focus on the make-up, sound and physical tics of Heath Ledger's Joker.

Language: This one comes from hearing that a local secondary school have dropped the teaching of all modern foreign languages.

At the click of a finger, you will be afforded the ability to fluently speak an additional language. Which language do you choose?

Having had virtually no direct experience or interest in the country for just over 30 years, I've recently gathered an appetite for Spanish.

Literature / Film and Sport

The latest incarnation of A Post Box follows, thus: I aim to post only once per week, with between 2 and 5 questions offered up for response, dissection or rejection. Play along, pass it on, stick it in your pipe, and so on. It's A Post Box, it's a public Post Box, and so all links and flaggings up are appreciated. So, we begin. Again:

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LITERATURE / FILM: I note some discussion of novels or ‘literature’ that are adapted for television and film. On a similar theme,

Are there any novels, novellas, or other pieces of writing, that you would like to see adapted for stage or screen?

Stephen Fry’s ‘The Hippopotamus’ always struck me as a particularly filmic novel, in a great British ensemble cast sort of way.

SPORT: I've recently been pondering the values that are implicit to introducing young children (the young hound, Jack, 7, in particular) to football (specifically) at the corporate end of the spectrum over the lower (local) level teams - Newcastle United over Newcastle Town, Manchester United over Macclesfield Town, kind of thing. Only very loosely related:

Is there a sports event or venue that you’ve not ever been to, but that you would like to experience in person, one day?

Counter to my above pondering, I've never been to Wembley, but would certainly like to - a football play-off final or a competitive international would be ideal.

Objection

An email has been received. See below. And so a review of the review is borne.

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To the Chief Post Master.

Dear Sir,

I am writing to complain about the closure of my local Post Box on July 8th.

Being a gentleman of creative disposition, and indeed having been described by more than one acquaintance as "a man of letters", I am wont to unburden myself of my authorial juices from time to time in a generally epistolary vein. In this electronic age my emissions occur more rarely but I dare to say are of ever more refined and distilled wit and wisdom. When the Muse so moves me, I have found my local Post Box to be a singularly convenient receptacle for my observations on life, the universe et cetera.

Imagine then my chagrin this evening on repairing to the said Post Box, aflame with ideas and opinions, to find that it has been closed, without so much as a wherewithal or mock "stakeholder consultation", purely on the grounds of some soi-disant "review of commitment".

Was this the spirit that saw us through the Blitz, the Cold War and eleven years of Thatcher?

I beg to move a review of your review.

Your pessimistic but watchful tax-payer,

**** * * ****** (GLTA and bar, particularly the bar)

A Post Box - Closed

We agreed to run this blog for six months and to then review our commitment to it. Six months have passed since we got the ball rolling with a discussion regarding values, content and format. Now, reflecting, we feel that we have done as much with A Post Box as we can. It is a side project that served its purpose. We wanted to try something new, and so we did.

To those who have dropped by and commented, regularly or otherwise, thank you. Your responses were well worth reading. To those who return regularly but don't comment, well, er, hello. Speaking for myself, the experience of generating so many unique morsel-like posts has been enjoyable. But sometimes, that's not enough.

A Post Box is closed.

Much wellness to you.

Tell: Squirm

Tell us about an occasion in the past month that has made you squirm.

Debate: Politicians

Politicians need to spend as much time on their public image as on their public service.

Or do they?

What do you think?

Right Now: Stretched

Outline one way in which you are being stretched.

Experience: Let's Party Like It's...

Was 1999 a party year for you? Or a work year? Or something else? What was your overriding experience of 1999?

Picture Response #20

There's something a little bit different for this week's picture response post (and not just that I remembered to make the post early).

The image above is from a new novel. As yet, the novel is without a title, a storyline, plot or any characters. So, bearing in mind that it's a 20 chapter book, what's the last line of Chapter 19?