Angkor

One of my ambitions in life is to try and visit all the World Hertiage Sites so when I was offered the chance to visit the Angkor Archaeological Park in Cambodia I obviously jumped on it!

The Khmer Empire's architectural accomplishments (9th-15th centuries) are remarkable and so inspiring. Much of the site which spans 400 square miles is still being discovered and UNESCO have set up a huge programme to safeguard the temples from the mass of tourists that now obviously descend.

Angkor Wat, just one of the hundreds of surviving temples is the most famous and was built as a 'temple-mountain' as a spiritual home for the Hindu God Vishnu. A mountain it is - I was so surprised at the sheer size of the temples and with a fear of heights climbing up the huge stone staircases was fine, coming down - a little more of an issue! It was worth it though, every corner you turned was a treasure trove of scultpures, engravings and views. As the whole site is now in ruins you did have to stop... and try to imagine how this city must have looked before the rulers abandoned the site and theives could enter to strip the beautiful temples of just about everything.

My favourite temple was one of the smaller ones - Ta Phrom deeper into the forest. Here you can see how the years have taken its toll on the stonework and the trees have grown up, on, through and down the temple. It soon becomes clear talking to the locals that apart from safeguarding the structure from completely falling down, they will let nature take its course - I can see why, it is just breathtaking to see nature at its best.

Wherever you are - things that inspire?

I know this is getting coverage everywhere from Chris Evans' Breakfast Show to the Daily Mail and elsewhere but I need to throw in my two penn'th.  Gareth Malone's Military Wives Choir was one of the most inspirational pieces of TV I've seen in a very long time.  I so nearly didn't watch it as I thought it would be a bit cheesy and my musical taste doesn't normally run to the choral.  But I did watch it and am so glad I did. From start to finish it was beautifully made, sensitively edited, insightful and uplifting.  

I know that as someone married to an ex-soldier and the mother of a serving one it could be argued I am biased and, yes, the military aspect of it was of course moving, but what got me was to see the unbelievable change that came over this group of ordinary women (the wives and girlfriends of Royal Marines and soldiers serving in Afghanistan) over the course of the programme. The growing confidence as much as their singing ability.  Most of all to see a young woman go from a nervous wreck stammering sorry at every moment to leading the choir in a solo at the Royal Albert Hall in front of Queenie and screened to millions on the Beeb was something special.  

Their song 'Wherever you are' is being released on December 5th and there's a campaign to get it to be the Christmas Number 1 to raise funds for the British Legion and the SAAFA - in my mind, there's no contest.

So like them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MilitaryWivesChoir

Follow them on Twitter @Milwiveschoir and use the hashtag #MWC4XNo1

And buy the CD!

Something to cheer you up on a Friday afternoon

This has been doing the rounds on various Social Networks this week and I heard about it on Tuesday whilst listening to the Radio. I'm sure by now most of you will have heard of Fenton or, as many people are saying, Benton the "runaway" dog and the near heart attack he caused his owner whilst out on a walk through Richmond Park last weekend. If you haven't, this it is bound to make you laugh. I still do everytime I listen to it or watch it.

I've read that this was filmed by a young lad who was watching the Deer with his Father and I love the little chuckle at the end. The owner of the dog at the moment remains annonymous and I'm sure his own running and shouting didn't help matters!!! It made my week......... ;-).

This is curtousey of YouTube.com and of course the person who captured this magic moment. Enjoy............................. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmpONxJ7JSw&noredirect=1

Bantering bins, shouty signs and behavioural economics

Interesting to see recently how two different councils are approaching behaviour change campaigns.

Our own illustrious council ran a campaign recently to encourage people to bin their chewing gum. The ad features a frankly alarming c1980 illustration of a giant hand thrusting towards the unsuspecting potential gum litterer telling us to “bin it” or pay loadsa money (£80 to be precise)

Perhaps they should have wised up on behavioural economics as ‘The power of now’ principle frequently shows that immediate outcomes outweigh future or delayed outcomes. Take speeding cameras for example. Studies show that a smiley face as a reward for keeping within the speed limit (or a frown for not) is more effective than the threat of a fine weeks down the line.

10 out of 10 for one London council then, as they are about to launch a trial of talking bins that reward their good citizens with a verbal pat on the back from a variety of celebs. Forgive them their rubbish (sorry) choice of celebrities - Phil Tufnell and Amanda Holden are rumored to have been lined up, (although I can’t imagine most celebs being that chuffed when they get the call from their agents to say "hey buddy, crack out the Bolly - you've just gone and landed yourself a job as a talking bin") at least they are giving BE a good old go.

PS I am now chuckling imaging where this could be taken – a Bin Laden “Thanks for your rubbish Infidel”, a whole pavement rigged with the voice, of say, John McEnroe alarmed to go off on dog poo impact “You cannot be serious” or Mr T from the A Team “Get your poo off my pavement fool” oh I could go on all day….

Inspiration of a quiet and gentle kind

Aung San Suu Kyi on Radio 4's Today programme this morning.

Listening to her talk I was struck by her calm, gentle dignity and strength. Most strikingly how she is embarrassed when people talk about her "suffering" - for example prevented from being with her dying husband, separated from her sons for years and unable to lead a normal life due to house arrest.

She does not recognise this as suffering. She asks how can she be considered to have suffered when many have died for the same cause and she's still alive.

Those of us who are alive, she says, have no right to complain. What a brave and noble woman and what a great example to us whingeing masses.

Van graphics we have witnessed (No.4)

Continuing the popular blog series from Mr Wilson I couldn't drive past this van without first leaping out of the car and taking a quick snap - sorry to all those cars on the M1 last week, but sometimes these things have to be done.
So another clever little graphic full of hidden meaning. Not least of all what the company Green Apple actually does.
So you'd guess it would be a fruit wholesaler or a grower, perhaps a juice maker.

But no, Green Apple is..... any guesses anyone?

Yes, that's right they are interior designers and specialise in glass tables.

Of course, we'd all got that hadn't we?! http://www.greenapple.co.uk/