Posted on March 6, 2019 by talkaholics
Systematic selection As technology continues to herd us into a convenient mass to maintain its influence, let’s spare a thought for the poor sods struggling to survive under the thumb of the ‘wimps’. These previously insignificant little buggers now rule cyberspace. Such folk were once the dross of the school system; in those days ‘average’ set the standard for academic achievement, above or below that attracted unhealthy attention. Thus the more active thugs were labelled ‘misfits’ and those unable to fit in either slot were deemed to have a ‘nervous disposition’ i.e…. Read More
Posted on November 9, 2017 by talkaholics
Step back in time I’ve been thinking a lot about my school days recently and, in particular, the two years I spent at sixth form college between the ages of 16-18. Having left my secondary school, which really was a mixed bag of youngsters, I then moved to a rather exclusive college which was full of ex-private school kids who had bags of money, attitude and posh accents. Strangely, I immediately felt at home there and thoroughly enjoyed making new friends and having fun. Oh, and writing the odd essay or two,… Read More
Posted on April 19, 2017 by talkaholics
Dear Schoolteachers It is some sixty-odd years since you attempted to shape my mind and I thought my recollection of your efforts might be of interest. Despite your forecasts, I never quite made it as a delinquent; I lacked the stomach for deprivation and, as was the norm in those days, for physical punishment. In an early attempt, I remember standing around a pedal organ with three other snot-nosed street urchins belting out ‘Jesus wants me for a sunbeam’: I became fascinated by the organ stops: they were black and shiny with… Read More
Posted on October 5, 2016 by talkaholics
In the middle of bustling Newmarket, between some stylish shops and a multi-storey carpark, there is a hidden gem which you might drive past time after time without noticing the entrance to it. It’s the beautiful villa of Highwic, home to generations of the Buckland family from 1861 to 1978 and now run by Heritage New Zealand as a historic house museum. I went there this morning with a lively bunch of children of different ages and we had a very good time indeed. Victorian fertility Alfred Buckland and his wife Eliza… Read More
Posted on January 20, 2016 by talkaholics
I’ve always had a bit of trouble remembering what the difference is between Art Deco and Art Nouveau, but since visiting Napier in Hawke’s Bay NZ earlier this month I’ve got it clear: Art Nouveau was inspired by natural forms and structures, particularly flowers and plants, reflected in the beautiful sweeping curved lines which aimed to reflect the natural environment. Its forms had dynamic, undulating, and flowing lines, often asymmetrical, whereas Art Deco combines traditional craft motifs with machine age imagery and materials. The Art Deco style is characterized by bold, symmetrical,… Read More
