Website launch

A large number of my fellow Trustees and I attended the launch of the new AVOW website in Gresford today. Although it will be just a few more days before the new site takes over from the old one, I must say I was very impressed by the new layout and I think it will serve us well in delivering for our voluntary sector and developing our communities.








nick

The end of an era

Sadly time affects us all and despite always being in the bunch sprint, the victories have eluded Erik Zabel recently and gone to younger men. My view has been that at his height, Erik would have left many of today’s riders in his wake and consequently I felt a tad saddened that he continued to ride. Today at the age of 38 he announced his retirement.

We’ve met him on several occasions and he kindly signed the promotion card displayed here on one of those meetings. A nice guy with a superb palmarès including 12 Tour stage wins and 6 Green jerseys. I hope we still see him connected in the future with the sport and thanks Erik, for some great memories for this fan.

nick

Van Gogh museum, Amsterdam

Still on the subject of Dutch culture, though this of a much more artistic variety. Last Sunday I was lucky enough to spend part of my birthday in the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. Until that day, I had never been fortunate enough to view any of his work in the flesh. I found this beautiful work titled 'Almond Blossom' to be my favourite of the 200+ items on display. Van Gogh painted it in 1890 upon receiving a letter from his brother Theo announcing the birth of his nephew, also named Vincent in honour of his uncle. It symbolised the beginning of life. The younger Vincent growing up to eventually donate his father's collection to the nation.

Whether Vincent senior would react favourably to visiting the museum that houses his works today is an interesting topic for debate. Personally I think that the man who understood and respected the hard lives of labourers and peasants, would shudder at the crass stupidity of anyone visiting the museum shop and buying a ballpoint pen priced at a measly 250 euros! Considering he used his paintings to pay for necessities such as Absinthe and a roof over his head, it does seem bizarre and just a tad obscene.




nick

Sexy football

As I hoped, I got to see Feyenoord play in this Centenary season. Julie and I went on Saturday evening to watch them overwhelm FC Volendam 5 – 0. Jon Dahl Tomasson had scored two penalties in the first half, which was a frustrating scoreline because Feyenoord deserved better from open play.



Second half was different gravy, Feyenoord looked brighter and classier than their visitors and Diego Biseswar doubled the lead with two peaches from either side of the pitch, each curving into the far corner. He is a top class prospect for the future and he created the fifth by passing from the goal line for Michael Mols to tap in.



Sadly the De Kuip’s days are numbered. In December the city announces its chosen option for a new 80,000 seat stadium. I hope to visit both on a frequent basis.
Tottenham kan mijn vrouw zijn, maar Feyenoord is mijn maitresse!




nick

Brunstrom's officers have low morale shocker!!

So morale amongst the rank and file North Wales Police officers isn’t where it should be according to a survey carried out by the Federation. That’s sad news because the general public need to feel both protected and served by officers who are 100% committed to their task.

It doesn’t help when the assistant chief constable says he is ‘surprised’ by the suggestion that morale among staff was low.That's finger on the pulse stuff! Whenever I speak to former colleagues who are still serving, the leadership qualities of senior officers or rather lack of them are what gnaw away at morale. Every time the Chief Constable has to apologise for a latest gaffe (we all know them, so I’m not going to write the list out yet again), the men and women at the pointed end are those who bear the brunt of the sarcastic comments from the public. While the Force’s press office is issuing media friendly responses to placate journalists clamouring for Brunstrom’s resignation, it’s the officer attending a burglary who weathers the anxieties of the stressed citizen who doesn’t see the rationale behind ‘Arrive Alive’ when their home has been violated. When that frustration gets voiced time and time again, eventually it takes it toll. A pal of mine tells me he is tired of copping the flak for management and has consequently become a ‘day-counter’. Ticking each one off to his retirement.

Of course I’d be labelled a dinosaur these days and I probably wouldn’t last a week in the current regime. ‘No fun’ is how someone described it to me recently, ‘you’re watching your back all the time and that’s before you go out and meet the public!’ I wish the Police Federation every bit of luck they can get to put this deplorable state of affairs right. They could always start by petitioning to have officers actually LOOK like officers, not dressed like some quasi-paramilitary outfit more suited to be patrolling the streets of a South American country ruled by a military junta. Baseball caps and Batman’s utility belt might look good in Hollywood, but not in Holywell. Feeling good about their appearance on the street would go a long way towards improving morale.


nick

Crossroads North Wales

We have a shiny new website which I hope you will visit and see what's going on and how we're helping Carers across North Wales.








nick

Straight out of the 9th century to get her finger on the button!

So “The McCain campaign and Palins asked for respect for the family's privacy” regarding the announced pregnancy of Palin’s daughter. Of course the press will be hunting in packs to sensationalise this story and get it into the Presidential arena. Especially if it fully exposes Mrs Palin and her hypocrisy of privilege. For a start, would this ‘social conservative’ be so caring if the young mother happened to be a 17-year-old African American girl living in Inglewood, Compton or Camden NJ? Oh no, not then. She’d be spouting her strong support of abstinence-only education to prevent unplanned pregnancies among teenagers. That’s the same hypocrisy that sees her support capital punishment for murderers and rapists, but refuses to allow the victim of a rape the right to abort any resultant pregnancy.

Last year we were in Monterey, California and stopped at a street stall to speak to some Democrat activists busy working on getting voters to register and selling Obama pins etc. Their desperation to see the end of George W’s miserable term of office must be matched by their dread of this appalling woman becoming a heartbeat away from the Oval office in November.

Come to think of it, God help us all if she ever gets to put her finger on the button!


nick