Tuesday 30 November 2010

The article says...

Not sure you can read the article from The Yorkshire Post dated Saturday November 6th 2010. Article by Simon Bristow, photograph by Gerard Binks.

" They say an Englishman's home is his castle.
And an elderly couple from East Yorkshire are proving there is truth in the old adage by refusing to abandon their home to coastal erosion.
Land on the coast at Aldbrough between Hornsea and Withernsea is now so unstable that East Riding Coucnil has moved a concrete barrier 10 metres inland to prevent vehicles falling over the cliff.
But the move has left Edith and Brian Grantham trapped in their bungalow in Camp Lane. Their only access is through a privately-owned caravan park whose owner does not want them to use it. The council has offered alternative accommodation but they prefer to stay put.
Mrs. Grantham, 76, said: "We don't want to be moved, we want to stay in our own little homestead. We are comfortable, we've got a lovely home and I'm not shifting. The alternative is to move to a council house but I don't want to live in a council house."

Paul Allison, general manager at Aldbrough Leisure Park said he could only give customers access to the park because of insurance and health and safety reasons and he had offered to sell the council the dividing land.
A council spokesman said: "The council is continuing to investigate the feasibility of several alternative access options for affected residents of Campsite Road."

Could be two of the characters in 'Erosion.'

People living on the edge


Again, what would you do if your home was worthless to everyone but you? Where else is there to go? What if you don't want to go? Can you be forced? If the authorities can force you out of your home but you don't want to leave what can you do? What are you capable of?

'Erosion' explores the dilemma of people living in a coastal Chalet Park with nothing left to lose.

Monday 29 November 2010

Thursday 25 November 2010

What?


What are you thinking when we talk about other people dying?

Thursday 18 November 2010

I love Birthdays


Today I feel very calm and happy but from the corner of my eye I can see something lovely is going to happen. It's in the air all around, but there's more...

Tuesday 9 November 2010

Chorlton Book Festival

The Book Festival has already begun on a cold November night. A crowded, warm library is just the place to be.
I attended a few events last year. A memorable event was the talk on a group who took part in the spanish civil war. Very interesting, both from the talk and the people who attended. Vibrant. And I wanted to know more.

This year, there is a variety of events. Some great sounding workshops as well. I gave an afternoon talk last year about Meeting Coty. Think I should have talked more about general publishing too, but ran out of time. It was a sunny afternoon. A good way to spend a sunny November afternoon.

I love that places are having their own festivals and events and venues are used. Chorlton Library is an excellent venue. David Green there, loves books. And Writers and encourages others to love books too. Go and see. Check the website - or just google it.

Tuesday 2 November 2010

Remakes


BLOOD SHOULD BE SPILT
I've just heard that the excellent film, "Let the Right One In" is going to be given the Hollywood remake treatment.
Why doesn't Hollywood come up with new ideas of their own? What gives them the arrogance to remake a great film? Instead, why not back the superb original?

You'd think the powers that be in LA would have learnt from the flops of past remakes. I remember how I flinched on hearing they were going to remake the black and white, "The Women" I suspect most people haven't seen this brilliant comedy starring Rosalind Russell, Norma Shearer, Joan Fontaine.. not one man appears in the film, oh yes, at the end, Norma Shearer's husband's legs and feet are running down a flight of stairs to meet her.

I think, finally, finally, Hollywood did remake this film, but from the poster, it looked more like Sex and the City. I didn't go to see it.

What's that phrase? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Don't even touch it.