About Me

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Worcestershire & Cumbria, United Kingdom
I am a far-travelled outsider & real estate fashionista looking in at the human congregations that are The City of Birmingham and Cumbria. An original child returned to the Metropolis that has changed much, as have I. I promote local communities in the development projects that are likely to affect them most and encourage their voice, investment and greater influence. I hope I can some shed light, spread a little happiness and provoke some thought in all who deliberate, visit and spend time here. To those that are abusive, thank you for your contribution, for it to is also art in its own way.

Monday, 22 March 2010

Classy Political Move

No matter what your persuasion or your views on subsidised state healthcare you have to admire the political courage shown by Obama in his brave stance on USA's healthcare reform bill.

It seems the ill informed prejudicial minority haven't thought out the full implication for the USA economy of this grandest and brilliant of plans. The 'Redneck Gun Toting' voters that so willingly vote to trash Iraq at great tax payers expense and loss of life, don't see the positives of Obama's wisdom. If only their anger was trained to focus on Wall Street where the greatest thefts have occurred.

With 32million American people poorly for in the privatised system, what a clever way of finding localised money in a national network of rejuvenated healthcare expenditure.

Presumably spending on new infrastructure, building programmes, training, contracts, services through thousands of localised expenditure programmes will have a great effect on ensuring local investment and stimulation on service demand. The legacy has the potential to be long lasting and have great social equality credibility.

When over critical middle America sees the money flowing their way, they may yet realise the merit of the plan. When the impoverished out of work numbers reduce,with the created employment they will have less to waive wagging fingers at, and when their Granny's & Grand Pappys start getting older and in need of these same services, with reduced pension plan payments, they might actually appreciate its caring benefits also.

Saturday, 6 March 2010

Are we brave enough for a Kapoor?

World reknowned artist, Anish Kapoor, offers excitement, movement and asks questions, everytime a new piece of his work is unveiled to an awaiting public in all parts of the globe. Some would have him a genius, some a good publicist and others just resent his talent and success. I'm in the former category and would love Birmingham to embrace his abilities. Trying to focus on the future, when the current looks bleak takes a little good art occasionally to distract and offer hope. Surely, it has to be so much more satisfying and rewarding than having to watch and pay for the marginal skills of another drastically overpaid athlete confess to to his marital indiscretions in a tabloid newspaper.


Thursday, 4 March 2010

Matterdale & Patterdale

As part of some consultancy work for the YHA, this was my privileged 'office view' this morning, staring across the end of Matterdale Church towards the fells around Ullswater. Some days you get some really rotten places to go for your work - this wasn't one of them and I am jolly lucky man. Not so the fate of Patterdale Youth Hostel, which despite being a great/terrible example of 1960's architecture (depending on view point) with a cool retro- 1970's makeover is as effective as a colander in fending off an Asian Monsoon. The Manager Warden, Dave and his Partner Charlotte, could not have made me more welcome, but they are truly battling the elements in keeping the Patterdale YHA watertight, prayers for good weather are more effective than blobs of new bitumen and buckets. I wish them all luck and fortune.