Cameron's Happiness

Cameron wants to gauge our happiness. On the radio yesterday there was a piece from a reporter questioning a handful of MPs about what made them happy. Singing in a choir, cooking, music from classical to Elvis Costello, walking with family and friends.

The Arts and creating seem to rank high. Whatever the work, it's creating something often with others.

Think we need to tell David that this is therefore what should be encouraged. What we need to make us happy are activities that make our hearts sing. Put the funding into community choirs, music groups, libraries with all the activities they house, free art galleries and they events they encourage, sport, cooking, drama, art and music in schools, villages, towns and cities across the country. Every country.

This and getting the basics right. We don't need the trimmings. We need the basics and the magic and the rest will come. Simple. That's where I want my taxes spent.

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.

Coastal Erosion

What would you do?

What?

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

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...

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.