Occupy.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15524483

I'm not religious. In fact I probably border on anti-religious, however, I've always maintained a degree of respect for the Church of England largely staying out of my way, being ever so slightly less judgmental and more open than their Catholic counterparts. However, I've been disappointed with their handling of the protesters who've taken up camp outside St Pauls Cathedral in London.

This Church, a select few might say, the backbone of English soceity, a fore bearer of witholding old traditions of family and communities has shunned the principles of the protesters. The Cathedral's handling of this has been dire to say the least. There was no need to close the Cathedral, and due to the Cathedral's objections the Protesters now face eviction. I'm appalled that, in 2011, peaceful protestors are being prevented from stating their views- no huge suprise under a Tory government, you might say, but if anyone should be backing these protestors rights to expression, and their sentiment, the Church of England should be. I would have thought, unlike the corrupt, controlling Catholic church, that the Church of England would have stood by these protestors and agreed with their cause of anti-greed. What's up chaps? Afraid of pissing off your Tory regulars?

The Church of England, and St Pauls' should be ashamed of itself.

Good on Dr Giles Fraser, the Canon Chancellor, who has resigned though and stuck to his principles.

Jersey and other things.

I just got back from a much needed break in Jersey for the weekend. It was beautiful. A bit cold and windy, but generally beautifully bright and crisp. It's a gorgeous place, lots of fusions of cultures and influences.

I took less photographs than I intended to, mainly because it was so windy and cold, but I'm pleased with the few I took. I miss photographs. I miss the thick heavy gloss paper and the smell of them straight from the developers. I know there's still no reason why I can't still pay to get them developed and put in albums... and I still do sometimes, but generally it's a shared online album- a poor subsititute despite it's far reaching range, appearing on friends computer screens the world over in a matter of minutes.

Still. I have them. And I want to start getting them published into proper photo books rather than sitting on a disk unseen. Another project for next year when I have a bit of money to spare. IF. I guess it's always IF.

I feel a bit out of sorts today. I'm in between coats of paint on the lounge chimney and so, decided to upload my Jersey photographs from my camera. I tagged an extra days holiday onto my weekdn since I was feeling so ground down at work before I left on Thursday. I feel better for going away. I always intend to chill out on my days off- but I have to do something or I get bored or worse, get bugged by this sense that I'm wasting time when there's so much else I should be doing be it round the house or garden or whatever chores need doing. I think it's the one thing about having a house I dislike the most- that vague, perfectionists-nightmare sense that there will ALWAYS be things to complete around the house... a never ending list of work to do. I also took delivery of three prints for the house yesterday so I'm chuffed to bits with those and can't wait to start hanging them... except I keep changing my mind about where they're going to go.

Lots coming up in the next month or so... couple of gigs, few friend visitis etc. I'm well aware that Christmas is sneaking up too. I look forward to the business of this time of year... I hate the dark mornings and evenings, but it's worth it for the crisp, cold, sunny days under layers of warm clothes, gloves and scarves.

Perspective.

Wierd day.

One of our Officers was killed in a road traffic accident off duty last night. Very sad to see the loss of such a good, well rounded, honest Officer who did his job exactly as an Officer should. Tragic.

I'm still not feeling well so I've had to book to see my doctor next week. It didn't stop me coming home and eating the remnants of a failed cheesecake attempt at the weekend. It's basically a bowl of whipped cream and melted white chocolate, which I scraped onto digestive biscuits in big, fat wodges. Just as good as a cheesecake.

Sickness and dog parts.

I have a five day weekend starting today.

I don't feel well. Whatever I have, I've had it on and off for a week now. Bouts of fainting, upset stomach, cramps and just generally not feeling 100%.

Still, I've taken some time today to do a bit of sculpting. I'm working on a new niche which there seems to be a demand for. Albeit for me to judge what people want sculptures of. I'm working on sculpting two dachshunds for a client. I've struggled a bit since it's my first attempt at sculpting dogs from photo's. It's harder than sculpting likenesses of people, because it's slightly harder to pick up on features, plus the photo's I've been given to work from aren't great either. I'm doing my best though. I have a feeling this client is going to be hard to please as he's a bit of a dachshund fanatic... and I'm not exaggerating when I say fanantic either. I think a whole floor to ceiling office wall of dachshund photo's is enough to warrant good use of the word fanatic. At the price I'm doing it for- it'll be a matter of getting what you're given I'm afraid.

I've set myself up in my kitchen with my Sonos, laptop (screen full of dachsunds), my sculpting tools and clay. It's dark and chucking it down with rain outside. Under these LED spotlights catching flecks of rain water on the windows as it beats against the glass, I'm listening to Bon Iver and feeling reflective. I think it's because I'm not feeling well but I'm feeling a bit teary. It's probably because the night's are drawing in now and my body's noticing the lack of light hours.

Better get back to sculpting dog bits.

Tory Bullshit Pt 2.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15171917

It spoke today.

The person responsible for the worst employment figures for many years; the person happy to write off generations into poverty and a lifetime of financial misery; the person whose methods and reasoning for the destruction of the country's public sector have consistently failed and been revealed as completely misguided; the person happy to make cuts to peoples incomes without thought, care or consideration; the person responsible for destroying the police service; the person who created the perfect boiling pot for riots, anger and misery has come out from his gold encrusted hole today to tell us all to buck our ideas up and not be gloomy or afraid.

David, your plan is wrong and it is failing.

The whole country is gloomy and the whole country is afraid of losing their jobs. Unless you're an MP or a banker of course.

This idiot's idea of good leadership is to fail at every step of the way of your so called plan, and to smile at the poor people losing their jobs while telling them to be optimistic.

Apparantly part of his planned speech was encouraging us to pay off our debts. Economists, and just about the rest of the country with half a brain, were quick to point out that a degree of debt is healthy and vital part of the economy as banks make alot of interest on this, and it would also mean a dip in consumer spending. Idiot. How about this- leave to your means. That includes you MP's not raping the taxpayer of their hard earned cash to decorate your second mansions.

Legalising gay marriage though? This will never happen under a Tory government full of homophobic old toffs. Unfortunately, this is a lame attempt, just like "increasing the speed limit to 80mph on motorways" is an empty, pathetic attempt at cheering up a discontent, unhappy country. You're not kidding anyone- you're not a people party.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15171917

To coincide perfectly. If I have a job in a few months time it looks like within 18 months it will be privatised. This, against the interests of the community and the force, will mean that the Police Force will no longer employ non-operational staff. These are sad, depressing and frightening times for all- as it is just impossible for this to NOT have a detremental effect on Policing.

If I could leave this country tomorrow- I would.

Tory Bullshit?

Interesting article circulating at work today:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/oct/01/police-pay-review-chief-report?newsfeed=true

Potentially very explosive if this is proven to be true... and further hard fast evidence that these cuts are rushed, senseless and completely without any foundation. How an attack on such an institution is being ignored by the public majority I don't know.