The current British Airways television commercial http://youtu.be/a4JdQi60an0 gives me goosebumps. We all know that throughout history planes have crashed and that, in more recent history, the glamour and adventure of flying have been replaced by terror punctuated with tedium and hassle. Also that, particularly in times of war, it was the chaps who went off and left the wives and children at home.
The thing about this commercial, is that probably very little of it applies to today's flying experience. However, the spirit of the thing is one which, as a nervous flyer, I embrace wholeheartedly. It speaks to me in a language that, I imagine, speaks also to people who are looking for adventure when they fly. People might jet off to experience white-knuckle rides in far-flung places; but they don't really want a white-knuckle ride whilst they're getting there (or back).
Most of all, it speaks to me in my mother tongue. In flying, more than anything else, language and communication are paramount. When I was flying home from a holiday several years ago (on a British Airways flight, as it happens); we hit a patch of turbulence, which was very scary. The slightly posh English accent of the pilot assured me 'We'll get through this'; and I immediately got a visual picture of someone who had been properly trained (possibly RAF with a handlebar moustache); and, momentarily, was calmed and trusting.When we landed, I wanted to hug the pilot. I certainly did that 'kissing the tarmac' thing.
I am sure that other national airlines offer the same 'usp' to their customers. However, in making this ad, I think British Airways must have been thinking of me.
My thoughts are with anyone who is flying today. Happy landings and safe returns!
http://youtu.be/a4JdQi60an0
Sunday, 25 September 2011
Friday, 26 August 2011
Maths GCSE. It all adds up at any age...
You probably read about the six-year-old girl, who gained an 'E' grade at GCSE mathematics, when the results were published yesterday.
Good for her. It has taken me a lifetime of avoiding maths and being taken for a 'duffer' at everything else; before 'confronting one of my demons' and sitting my Maths GCSE for the first time in June.
Of course, now that I have passed; at the requisite 'C or above' grade; I can say, as many young people do, that I could have got a higher grade. Yes, I could have got a higher grade, had I done more work; and also if I'd taken the course over the recommended two years instead of the one which I'd set aside.
Still, the good thing about my grading, is that I never ever have to do Maths again if I don't want to.
However, the little girl who got an 'E' grade still has to continue with, what she admits, is not'her favourite subject'. She will need to get that magic 'C' grade in order to give up the subject completely, like me. Or to pursue her other ambitions. With her current track record, she could be on course to get an 'A' or a starred 'A' before she is very much older; unless she goes off the subject entirely. Which I would not recommend; otherwise she could find herself in my position.
Still, never too late as they say....
Good for her. It has taken me a lifetime of avoiding maths and being taken for a 'duffer' at everything else; before 'confronting one of my demons' and sitting my Maths GCSE for the first time in June.
Of course, now that I have passed; at the requisite 'C or above' grade; I can say, as many young people do, that I could have got a higher grade. Yes, I could have got a higher grade, had I done more work; and also if I'd taken the course over the recommended two years instead of the one which I'd set aside.
Still, the good thing about my grading, is that I never ever have to do Maths again if I don't want to.
However, the little girl who got an 'E' grade still has to continue with, what she admits, is not'her favourite subject'. She will need to get that magic 'C' grade in order to give up the subject completely, like me. Or to pursue her other ambitions. With her current track record, she could be on course to get an 'A' or a starred 'A' before she is very much older; unless she goes off the subject entirely. Which I would not recommend; otherwise she could find herself in my position.
Still, never too late as they say....
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
I've got my 'Silly Season' hat on!
Sitting in a waiting room this morning, I picked up an issue of 'Hello' magazine, dated 26th July, 2010.
From this, I was able to glean that Prince William and Kate Middleton were 'living as man and wife' before they were even engaged - shock! horror! They were apparently 'rumbled' when they stopped off to buy groceries in a North Wales mini-market. It is a well-known 'fact' that Royals and Celebrities never carry anything so vulgar as cash or credit cards; so Kate had to pay by credit card, thus revealing her identity. (No doubt the footman or lady-in-waiting carries the credit cards now).
Prince Beatrice was pictured jumping into the sea in the South of France, whilst on holiday with her boyfriend. Whilst in the same issue, Cheryl Cole's mum was pictured pushing a trolley round the supermarket to buy 'healthy food' for her daughter, who was pictured blubbering into her scarf. No change there then.
Karren Brady had escaped 'The Apprentice' firing line for a family holiday in Mauritius; and Gethin Jones and Katherine Jenkins were 'loved up' in some distant destination.
Victoria Beckham looked as miserable as sin, pictured with her husband and three sons. Apparently, she is 'over the moon' now that she has a little female ally to take to the footie with her.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth Hurley was shown plugging her organic food label in rural Gloucestershire. I wonder if that's given HRH a bit of competition (with the food, I mean, not the publicity: obviously Liz would win 'hands down' there!)
Not to be upstaged, Carla Bruni is pictured at some state occasion with her husband demonstrating some 'Gallic charm' by kissing her hand as she sits regally amongst the invited guests. Obviously, it worked a treat as she is now very pregnant.
I seem to remember, some band was singing 'I predict a riot' quite a lot last summer. Or was it the summer before? No matter, as you can see, 'plus ca change'.
And remember, you did NOT read here it here first!
From this, I was able to glean that Prince William and Kate Middleton were 'living as man and wife' before they were even engaged - shock! horror! They were apparently 'rumbled' when they stopped off to buy groceries in a North Wales mini-market. It is a well-known 'fact' that Royals and Celebrities never carry anything so vulgar as cash or credit cards; so Kate had to pay by credit card, thus revealing her identity. (No doubt the footman or lady-in-waiting carries the credit cards now).
Prince Beatrice was pictured jumping into the sea in the South of France, whilst on holiday with her boyfriend. Whilst in the same issue, Cheryl Cole's mum was pictured pushing a trolley round the supermarket to buy 'healthy food' for her daughter, who was pictured blubbering into her scarf. No change there then.
Karren Brady had escaped 'The Apprentice' firing line for a family holiday in Mauritius; and Gethin Jones and Katherine Jenkins were 'loved up' in some distant destination.
Victoria Beckham looked as miserable as sin, pictured with her husband and three sons. Apparently, she is 'over the moon' now that she has a little female ally to take to the footie with her.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth Hurley was shown plugging her organic food label in rural Gloucestershire. I wonder if that's given HRH a bit of competition (with the food, I mean, not the publicity: obviously Liz would win 'hands down' there!)
Not to be upstaged, Carla Bruni is pictured at some state occasion with her husband demonstrating some 'Gallic charm' by kissing her hand as she sits regally amongst the invited guests. Obviously, it worked a treat as she is now very pregnant.
I seem to remember, some band was singing 'I predict a riot' quite a lot last summer. Or was it the summer before? No matter, as you can see, 'plus ca change'.
And remember, you did NOT read here it here first!
Monday, 25 July 2011
Fry's English Delight and the Art of Appropriation
Just been listening to 'Fry's English Delight' on Radio 4 (which will soon be available on 'Listen Again' for another week). I always enjoy this programme and, this week, Stephen Fry was dealing with the gentle (and sometimes not so gentle) art of persuasion. He talked about the subject in terms of every area of human activity - from Politics, Economics and Commerce to Love and Emotion.
How far are we all persuaded by the clever marketing and advertising of products and services? Or the 'propaganda' (or corporate communication) of the big company? Or the political 'spin' woven by the ubiquitous 'spin doctors' in the speeches they write for the politicians; and the policy documents which they edit?
It's an old story, well-documented in books like 'The Hidden Persuaders'; and, by now, a subject of daily interest in the media.
Mr Fry is no stranger to the arts of persuasion himself. He has become almost synonymous with 'Twitter'; and one of the main celebrities people associate with the 'Twitter' brand.
The name of the programme itself, 'Fry's English Delight', has been appropriated from the advertising campaign for Fry's Turkish Delight, the chocolate bar with the pink, gelatinous centre. The original 60's television commercial for the product featured a scantily clad and very Western-looking blonde lady, who prances barefoot across the sand from her tent in the desert to profer her delights (the chocolate, although you could be forgiven for thinking other delights were on offer) on bended knees to her 'Master' (a very 'Lawrence of Arabia' type character).The1984 commercial is recast to use a cast of characters, who were more in tune with the times; and therefore, more believable to the audience. The dark, swarthy male character is still there; but the woman is also dark and mysterious and dressed in more of an Eastern-looking outfit. The background music has some of the flavour of 'The English Patient' and the male character shows gentleness and affection to the female, whose face emerges, like magic, as he brushes his hand along a shape buried in the sand. The 'packshot' at the end involves the man slicing a bar of Fry's Turkish Delight into two with an enormous curved weapon. Then a snake wiggles along the sand. The snake suggests sex is involved; so I don't know whether the woman gets half a bar of chocolate for 'afters'; or if the swordmanship is a sort of threat, in case she doesn't do what he wants. Obviously there is room for an update which reflects the political and social mores of our times. Was I imagining things? Or did I see such an update recently? I could only find the 60's version and the 1984 version on 'Youtube'. If anyone knows of a later version, please tell me where I can see it.
In any case, the advertisers have paid substantial sums of money over the years to promote their product. And that is what I think about when I see the words 'Fry's English Delight'. I now also think of a very entertaining radio programme; so that's very clever of Mr Fry.
How far are we all persuaded by the clever marketing and advertising of products and services? Or the 'propaganda' (or corporate communication) of the big company? Or the political 'spin' woven by the ubiquitous 'spin doctors' in the speeches they write for the politicians; and the policy documents which they edit?
It's an old story, well-documented in books like 'The Hidden Persuaders'; and, by now, a subject of daily interest in the media.
Mr Fry is no stranger to the arts of persuasion himself. He has become almost synonymous with 'Twitter'; and one of the main celebrities people associate with the 'Twitter' brand.
The name of the programme itself, 'Fry's English Delight', has been appropriated from the advertising campaign for Fry's Turkish Delight, the chocolate bar with the pink, gelatinous centre. The original 60's television commercial for the product featured a scantily clad and very Western-looking blonde lady, who prances barefoot across the sand from her tent in the desert to profer her delights (the chocolate, although you could be forgiven for thinking other delights were on offer) on bended knees to her 'Master' (a very 'Lawrence of Arabia' type character).The1984 commercial is recast to use a cast of characters, who were more in tune with the times; and therefore, more believable to the audience. The dark, swarthy male character is still there; but the woman is also dark and mysterious and dressed in more of an Eastern-looking outfit. The background music has some of the flavour of 'The English Patient' and the male character shows gentleness and affection to the female, whose face emerges, like magic, as he brushes his hand along a shape buried in the sand. The 'packshot' at the end involves the man slicing a bar of Fry's Turkish Delight into two with an enormous curved weapon. Then a snake wiggles along the sand. The snake suggests sex is involved; so I don't know whether the woman gets half a bar of chocolate for 'afters'; or if the swordmanship is a sort of threat, in case she doesn't do what he wants. Obviously there is room for an update which reflects the political and social mores of our times. Was I imagining things? Or did I see such an update recently? I could only find the 60's version and the 1984 version on 'Youtube'. If anyone knows of a later version, please tell me where I can see it.
In any case, the advertisers have paid substantial sums of money over the years to promote their product. And that is what I think about when I see the words 'Fry's English Delight'. I now also think of a very entertaining radio programme; so that's very clever of Mr Fry.
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
Carl Bernstein is right: 'The British Public has lapped it up'.
Carl Bernstein, one of the journalists credited with exposing the 'Watergate' affair, has described the recent phone-tapping fiasco, as a 'British Watergate'. This may or may not be shown to be the case, in due course. However, he is surely right in his assessment that 'The Gutter Press' and other media are not entirely to blame. We, the consumers of newsprint and footage, also bear some responsibility. I don't know how many copies of the last issue of the 'News of the World' were sold; reportedly, for 'charity'.However, I wonder how many 'deductions' for expenses have been/will be made before that charity donation is actually made.
We also hear that MP's are delaying their holidays for 'one day' so that they can meet to discuss this issue. This will mean more expense for the rest of us. No doubt, those 'honourable persons' will be claiming for delayed and cancelled travel plans (possibly upgrading to Business class for the inconvenience - if they weren't already). And they get 'Brownie points' into the bargain!
Well, not from me! It's bad enough that we have to put up with them all for the rest of the year. Send them away on their hols immediately I say. Then the rest of us can settle down to enjoy the 'Silly Season' in peace.
We also hear that MP's are delaying their holidays for 'one day' so that they can meet to discuss this issue. This will mean more expense for the rest of us. No doubt, those 'honourable persons' will be claiming for delayed and cancelled travel plans (possibly upgrading to Business class for the inconvenience - if they weren't already). And they get 'Brownie points' into the bargain!
Well, not from me! It's bad enough that we have to put up with them all for the rest of the year. Send them away on their hols immediately I say. Then the rest of us can settle down to enjoy the 'Silly Season' in peace.
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Art with Soul at Tate Britain
On the week-end, I spent a wonderful half-hour watching Mark Wallinger's wonderful installation piece at Tate Britain; called 'Threshold to the Kingdom'. I'd seen it before, but I hadn't sat through the whole thing previously (about 12 minutes). You can find a couple of versions on video sites, but I wouldn't recommend them. You really need to see the piece itself, at the Tate; as it is so site specific as to be rendered meaningless without its context. I won't spoil it for you by describing the artwork, other than to say that it's rare enough to find art which is so thought-provoking and clever. However, it's even rarer to find art which is also so utterly moving.
Ok I will describe it - but I can't do it justice: You are sat in a part of the Tate which looks and feels like a high-domed cathedral. You are looking at the 'International Arrivals' gate at a London airport and listening to the ethereal strains of the famous 'Miserere' by Gregorio Allegri. As people of all types and nationalities emerge from the arrivals gate, and stride towards you in slow motion, you feel as if you are God welcoming your people into the Kingdom of Heaven. The latterday St. Peter, on the left of the screen (pearly gates?), watches each batch of new arrivals; and you half expect him to get up and bar some of them from entering. That doesn't happen (hope for us all?).
The whole experience is so meditative, I could sit and watch it for hours. If you've seen it already, I'd just like to remind you that it's worth visiting again. If you haven't seen it, I would urge you to go and see it (and let me know what you think).
Ok I will describe it - but I can't do it justice: You are sat in a part of the Tate which looks and feels like a high-domed cathedral. You are looking at the 'International Arrivals' gate at a London airport and listening to the ethereal strains of the famous 'Miserere' by Gregorio Allegri. As people of all types and nationalities emerge from the arrivals gate, and stride towards you in slow motion, you feel as if you are God welcoming your people into the Kingdom of Heaven. The latterday St. Peter, on the left of the screen (pearly gates?), watches each batch of new arrivals; and you half expect him to get up and bar some of them from entering. That doesn't happen (hope for us all?).
The whole experience is so meditative, I could sit and watch it for hours. If you've seen it already, I'd just like to remind you that it's worth visiting again. If you haven't seen it, I would urge you to go and see it (and let me know what you think).
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Gaga over Venus in tennis whites...
Although I'm not a great tennis fan, I've half an ear on the commentary today; and just heard that the extremely stylish number being worn by Venus, has been designed by the same person who creates stuff for Lady Gaga. Obviously a very winning number!
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