Books 2010 - In Office Hours. by Lucy Kellaway

I became a massive Martin Lukes fan after mum bought me Who moved my blackberry? for my birthday a couple of years ago, and I started following Lucy Kellaway/Martin Lukes much more closely in the Financial Times. So I was really looking forward to her latest offering, In Office Hours which sounded vaguely like it might be a bit like chick lit, but I hoped that some of the Martin Lukes style humour and pisstaking hilariousness might have also seeped through.

I was disappointed. Yes it’s an easy read in a very vaguely interesting way- i.e. because you do want to know what happens at the end you will finish it. But it’s not brilliant and nowhere near half as funny as Martin Lukes escapades.

The way it flits between the two characters ‘Stella’ and ‘Bella’ and the synergies in their lives and office romances, despite their vastly different status at work and the disparity between their class and cultural differences was a bit cheesy. The truth is I didn’t actually care about any of the characters or what happened to them. The thinking woman’s chick lit? Not for me thanks. (note: I only found and read this Guardian review after I’d typed this blog post out, and it’s funny they also refer to it as chick lit).

The Trinity and Water in Dallas

Many visitors to Dallas may not realize that Dallas does have a river running through it, The Trinity. But unlike some cities and towns with rivers, there is no attractive waterfront; there are no pretty river side walks, cafes, views etc. Even some Dallas residents may not be aware of the Trinity’s significance in the history of Dallas. For many of today’s Dallas-ites the Trinity is at worse an embarrassment and at best an irrelevance.

The Trinity has played an important role in the history of Dallas. Despite appearances the Trinity has also had a big impact on local politics and planning. Not only in respect of today’s “Trinity River Corridor Project” but historically also.

The historic art deco Fair Park (another often neglected gem in Dallas), home of the Dallas Museum of Nature and Science hosted a presentation with KERA, the local NPR (National Public Radio) station of the film, “Living with the Trinity” . This affectionate and beautifulfilm looks at the history of The Trinity in the Dallas Fort Worth area and more particularly focuses on the Trinity River Project of the 60’s and 70’s. We enjoyed the glimpse of Dallas’s history and in particular with respect to the Trinity, an often forgotten and forlorn river in the Dallas and Fort Worth area.

In association with the film presentation the Museum of Nature and Science have a special exhibition entitled, “Water". This informative and lovely exhibition is a traveling exhibit from the New York Museum of Nature and Science. I repeat the optimistic hope expressed in the introduction to the film that everyone in the Dallas and Fort Worth area has an opportunity to view the exhibit. Many people may not realize and appreciate the importance and scarcity of water in today’s world. This exhibition clearly highlights these important issues. “To go Green, first you have to go Blue”.

Picture Courtesy of: Trinity River Authority

Partisan v Coalition politics

It has been a few weeks since the historic results of the General Election in Britain, the dust has settled somewhat and it does appear as if it is back to "politics as usual" in the land of Westminster. Except, however, for one minor hiccup. Britain has a coalition Government for the first time since the 1970's, and how that will fare, only time will tell. Over the last few years I have witnessed two "historic" elections and I have been pondering on the various forms of modern democracy. (Traditional definition here)

Party politics, coalitions and partisanship are all heavy words and especially so in today's politics on both sides of the Pond. In the US, I don't think you can even call the Big Two, political parties. Maybe the correct term is, "umbrella organizations" as they try to incorporate so many various views. One of the results of the umbrella organizations is that no one feels that they are truly incorporated or represented by their "party".

Then in Britain we have the Coalition, which on the face of things could blaze a trail for compromise and "working together for the common good of the county". But on the other hand it could be the death knell for any hope of electoral reform in Britain, as the main party advocating reform looses it's identity by being swallowed up by the bigger fish.

And what of proportional representation, does it really reflect the true will of the people? The risk appears to be that compromises have to be reached and so "your party" no longer stands for what you thought it did and your policies may get lost in the shuffle. Another risk is that the coalitions have so much invested in them that if and when a deals breaks down, the domino affect can ensue and the whole house of cards collapses due to, "irreconcilable differences" leaving the country without a Government and political parties become almost seasonal.

I fear for modern day politics as the majority experience political apathy and witness the continuing rise of personality and issue specific politics. It appears as if the people in the middle loose out as the people on the outer edges shout the loudest to be heard against all the other "noise". It feels as if increasingly, polices and people are defined by what they "stand against" as opposed to what they "stand for"; more people can get behind what they disagree with than what they agree with. Only in this way can the political parties attract numbers both in terms of people and money. This "negative politics" has a persuasive and partisan impact, as politics drifts to the edges to gain an identity. The extreme affects of such partisan politics can be seen in "hot spots" all over the world.

People like stability and they like to see results, but they also like to feel that their voice is being heard, the two seem almost irreconcilable. So, Democracy? And what other choice is there? It could be a perfect ideal, but the imperfections are in the details. Sir Winston Churchill sums it up best: "Democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried."

Edited by Walraj Singh Gosal

Commuter Gripes

On most weekdays I have some kind of moan about my journey to work. Before I start this moan let me put on record what I already realise. I’m very very fortunate – I live in zone 2, in an area that’s incredibly well served by public transport – within 10 minutes of my flat there are three train stations that with frequent trains that take between 9 and 12 minutes to get to London Bridge. There are another two stations that are about 15-20 minutes walk away. There are also SO many buses that are literally on my doorstep which go all over the place, from Old Street to Paddington. So I do benefit from the great public transport in London and live in a well served area (TFL, Southern and South Eastern).

“What’s the problem?!” I hear you cry. Well that’s just it. I’m English. We do like to moan. And one thing that can really get on your nerves is public transport. So I am introducing a new tag to the blog: commuting. Using this tag I’ll unpack some of my problems and moans. Here's one for starters.

People who get on the train and stand in the doorway whilst others get on behind them.

Why do this? just MOVE DOWN. You do know that you are making it so much harder for everyone else to get on the train don't you? whats the point? this is particularly irritating when I change trains at London Bridge for a Charing Cross train. its always heaving and its such a short journey it makes no sense at all when people get on and just stand there whilst there space behind them and to the left and right down the aisles. It's just so ludicrous. There should be some kind of rule to get these people to move.

Books 2010: Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell – Susanna Clarke

I love this story. It’s probably the third time I have read it all the way through and its quite a hefty tome – but don’t let that put you off. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell are the English Magicians who ‘bring magic back’ to England in the early nineteenth century. Practical magic, real magic - not the tricks street sorcerers do for a penny and not the theoretical study of magic that was a ‘noble’ occupation.

Susanna Clarke cleverly weaves this tale with lots of background and careful use of funny and useful foonotes to help with context! She introduces characters slowly, building them up that you feel you really know them – and throughout there is a constant thread of political and military history.

This extract from a letter that Jonathan Strange wrote when he heard the book was to be published sums up how I feel about novel reading (although I can only wish that I had a servant to bring me tea!).....

I for one am proud to declare myself a novel-reader. It is of all pleasures and pursuits the most delightful to me. One may sit quietly by the fireside and be transported around the world. One may pass through the most terrifying dangers; be entertained by all the diversity of which humankind is capable; be saddened, amused, uplifted - all within the space of a page or two. The next moment one hears the sounds of one’s servant bringing in the tea-tray, and one is instantly oneself again, drinking tea and eating toast in the most tranquil fashion imaginable. I only hope that this book (I mean the novel about English Magic) will not be too solemn. I detest books that have no jokes.

I actually only picked this book up because I had a friend who I often saw reading this at the train station a few years ago, and as we had similar taste in many books I decided to give it a go. My copy is now quite battered and I am already looking forward to reading it again. I love love love it.