Poetry to Ponder

I was listening to radio 2 today and they read the following poem as part of their poetry week.
It was chosen as a life changing poem, and on reading it a couple of times you will see further into it's meaning.........and they say there aren't boys like him any more.....



'Timothy Winters

'Timothy Winters comes to school
With eyes as wide as a football-pool,
Ears like bombs and teeth like splinters:
A blitz of a boy is Timothy Winters.

His belly is white, his neck is dark,
And his hair is an exclamation-mark.
His clothes are enough to scare a crow
And through his britches the blue winds blow.

When teacher talks he won't hear a word
And he shoots down dead the arithmetic-bird,
He licks the pattern off his plate
And he's not even heard of the Welfare State.

Timothy Winters has bloody feet
And he lives in a house on Suez Street,
He sleeps in a sack on the kitchen floor
And they say there aren't boys like him anymore.

Old Man Winters likes his beer
And his missus ran off with a bombardier,
Grandma sits in the grate with a gin
And Timothy's dosed with an aspirin.

The welfare Worker lies awake
But the law's as tricky as a ten-foot snake,
So Timothy Winters drinks his cup
And slowly goes on growing up.

At Morning Prayers the Master helves
for children less fortunate than ourselves,
And the loudest response in the room is when
Timothy Winters roars "Amen!"

So come one angel, come on ten
Timothy Winters says "Amen
Amen amen amen amen."
Timothy Winters, Lord. Amen


Charles Causley

Nearly There....

Its a week to go to the launch of Daybreak...
there are a few odds and sods to tidy up ( ! ) before we are ready,
but I'm ALWAYS up for a challenge.

I've got a feeling that its gonna be a long FUN week !
I love Telly....

T W 3

That was the week that was !
Am I showing my age ?
If you immediately thought the top line of this post when I called it TW3 then I'm not alone ;-)

Had a couple of weeks on the contrasting island of Lesvos, hired a little car and spent the time racing around various sights, towns and resorts. Interspersed with lazy times by the swimming pools ( all 7 of them !) and having long chats with the very sensible hotel owner's young adult kids whospoke great english and who have decided on great careers.

But back to work for both of us and although the texts and emails didnt stop whilst we were away, things have really stepped up a gear at the London Studios.
The Smart Glass has been fitted in the studio, the majority of the electronics have been installed and final tests and tweas are being made, at the same time as we are still outputting GMTV for the final few weeks.

I wont post any photos until we are on air, but I want to write an article for The Guild of TV Cameramen towards Christmas so I have been taking plenty of pictures.
After long days all week my final job yesterday was to hang a time lapse camera in the ceiling of the studio to see the set going in this weekend !

Here goes , heads down for a mad rush to the end of GMTV and the Start of ITV Daybreak !

Last Chance Wednesday TEXTUS ROFFENSIS !

The Textus Roffensis , an Ancient book over 900 years old has been on display in Rochester Cathedral Crypt this week and Wednesday 28th July is the last day you will have a chance to study it for a while ! I saw it within an hour of it going on show and was amazed by it's condition, and the fact over 100 people had visited it during the first hour.

The book is the earliest example of written english in existence and is actually two books bound together. The book is that old that the Magna Carta was modelled upon it !
If you have an hour spare go and have a look, or study Rochester Cathedral's website by following the link..

http://www.rochestercathedral.org/textus/

The Perfect Friend....

Got a Perfect Friend ?



Someone who no matter how long or short a time passes between seeing them, they welcome and chat to you like the last time you met was yesterday. They still trust and value your friendship and think of you with kindness.

Someone who is prepared to listen to you, not to judge you, to give you advice from the heart. and yet to respect your feelings..

I hope ( I am sure ) I can slip into both these camps in different relationships I have with other people, some of whom I don't see as often as I would like, but who I still think of nonetheless.

Being a friend is all these things and many others to people we love and care for.



I popped this picture of Snoopy on the Blog, as it ties in quite nicely my thoughts on friendship and also the fact that as Governor at Rainham Girls School I went along to see a little production of Snoopy the Musical they put on last night. It was good fun and the girls put a lot of hard work into it, rehearsing, behind the scenes, and performing on the night...I think they were a good bunch of friends to put the show on ! Well Done.

Local Telly

Had a mad , hectic and fun two days shooting a weeks worth of competition items for GMTV at Hempstead School and at Home !
Total Mileage for 2 days: 1/2 a mile !

A Shameless Plug for GTC

So I am now on the Council of the Guild of TV Cameramen, A fine organistion for Professional Television Camera Operators whose aim is to futher the knowledge and quality of camerawork on Television and the Media.

Coupled also with embracing new techniques ,technology and manufacturers developments.

THe GUild Produce a glossy magazine, ZERB and a newsletter type publication INFocus quarterly. They also run workshops regularly and produce an Awards Event Annually.

TV Cameraman ? Not Already a member ?

Click the link to find out more !

www.gtc.org.uk