Alan Gandy

Archive for the ‘Ramblings’ Category

We don’t know – but we are about to find out soon, well as soon as we’ve read the books. Every dog owner we know is incredibly impressed with Cesar Millan – and my dad is hooked on the TV show – so – with the recent addition of the new puppy we thought it’s time we knocked Guido and Pepper into shape…

The major problem at the moment is house training – he’s pretty good all round and will sit, stay and come when you want him – not bad with food either – but can he manage to pee in the right place – NO! We were assured by the people we got him off that he was house trained – not sure what their idea of house training is. But I’m damned sure it doesn’t match mine…!

We bought two books How to Raise the Perfect Dog and Cesar’s Way – so I plan to come back to this topic occasionally and report on the progress of the boys as we attempt to make them perfect….

Will the books work – or would they be better put to use beating the dogs into compliance? I’ll let you know….

You might think this is the Guido. But it isn’t – this is Pepper – he is currently on probation as to whether he joins our household. In for a test run so to speak…

Guido is – we think – is a Labrador and Beagle cross (mostly), he looks very Labrador though with a few Beagle traits and the litter he came from apart from him were all marked like Beagles. We didn’t believe it when we first got him 3 years ago but a Labrador Beagle cross is an official hybrid breed called – wait for it – a Beagador. He’s smaller than your average Labrador cross, and a little nervy at times, but great fun, and a lovely natured dog.

This chap is a bit different Read the rest of this entry »

Last night I was sat listening to the Muslim prayers – the Salah on television, and it struck me how really quite poetic they are. It reminded me of a time I walked into the Anglican cathedral in Liverpool and heard a choir rehearsing parts of Mozart’s Requiem, which was extremely haunting especially with the choir out of site. I stood and listened for what felt an age.

I’m not religious, I am seriously not religious – I have loathed organised religion since I was capable of free thought. I can’t stand the notion of faith in a higher being, I can’t stand the way it is used to control people, and I really can’t stand that its followers actually believe that I’m the stupid one. But hell, I can give as good as I get on that score. However, I have to admit that the various religions have given the world some things of real beauty in terms of architecture, art, poetry and music. It’s a pity they couldn’t have done the same for society. Read the rest of this entry »

One thing not that few people in my current circles know about me was that I originally did a degree in photography – but never chose to follow it as a career. I’ve taken on the occasional project over the years (usually under duress), and have taught the subject (far more appealing to me than the pressures of professional photography) in higher education both in the UK and US… I still keep my hand in for my own pleasure and amusement and sell the occasional image through photo libraries.

I recently wrote about Geoff  Holt’s bid to become the first quadriplegic sailor to cross the Atlantic having met him a few short weeks ago. Over dinner one evening this came up in conversation – a couple of days later Geoff and his PR company asked me to take the official departure pictures of the crew and the boat to be distributed that day to the press. Read the rest of this entry »

It will probably make me sound like some kind of Scrooge character – but, apart from my kids (and my dad this year who’s staying with us) generally I don’t buy Christmas presents. It seems like a total waste of money to me – and I’m more that a little tired of all the Christmas marketing that seems to start earlier and earlier each year. I tell people not to buy for me but some still do – but I insist if they must that they don’t spend much money.

Christmas has  just become so over-commercialized it’s beyond belief. It seems that people all over the world get themselves into financial difficulties because of the intense pressure to spend placed on them by stores and their own family as they feel the need to equal the spend of better off family members.

I also don’t buy into the ‘good will to all men thing’, why the hell can’t we be nice to each other all the time…? And just avoid the people we don’t get on with Christmas holidays or not… The religious aspect is meaningless to me – I’m an atheist – so do not feel the need to celebrate the birth of a fictional historical character. I loved Christmas when my kids were young, but now they are teenagers it’s lost it’s charm!

To tell you the truth I’m not sure what it means to me any more – perhaps all it is to me is a great meal, an excuse to close business down for a few days and take a break, and a bit of time to spend with family (the ones I like), and friends.

As I write this, people the world over buying things they can’t afford for people that in many cases neither need or want their gifts – getting themselves into financial difficulty – whilst elsewhere other people starve.

Christmas! What a load of crap…!!!!

Why not use the money to help people less fortunate than you instead…

Recently, I wrote a bit about Geoff Holt the quadriplegic sailor preparing to set out to be the first quadriplegic to sail the Atlantic unassisted. Well this morning he set out at 10am local time to do just that – and plans to arrive in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands in 17 days time. As well as the challenge of the expedition, this is a bit of an emotional journey for Geoff as it was in Tortola that Geoff had the accident that caused his disability in 1984.

We only met Geoff a couple of weeks ago – he’s a fantastic guy, great sense of humour, and has a warmth to him that leaves you feeling like you’ve known him for years…

Suffice it is to say that we wish Geoff and his team (personal assistant Susana and cameraman Digby) the best of luck and a safe journey across the pond!

If you’d like to know more about Geoff you can read his story in his book Walking on Water

Each British generation has it’s wars that affect our lives. For my Grandfather it was WWI and WWII, for my father it would be WWII onwards through Northern Ireland to the present, for my generation the Falklands onwards through Bosnia, the Gulf and others – and for the current generation it is now Afghanistan and Iraq (again)…

Whatever you may feel about the politics of current situations – we should never forget those young men and women who have and still are willing to put their lives on the line for your freedom, your safety, and your right to free speech.

Come home safe boys and girls!

In peace the sons bury their fathers, but in war the fathers bury their sons

I went to Thorpe Park recently with a friend and two of my kids. Nice day out – with all the usual things you’d expect from a trip to a theme park – expensive, long queues, screaming kids, and any excuse taken to get a little more money from you… We expect that – so nobody is surprised or disappointed by these things….

However, there was one thing I took exception to. On entering the park there is quite heavy security – understandable in this day and age – where guests are selected for additional checks and have to go through a metal de. Read the rest of this entry »

Every now and then I stumble on a real gem – today’s was Kiva. A site distributing micro-finance to mostly third world countries.

If you don’t know what micro-finance is – very simply, it’s a small loan – usually from a number of investors to small business owners. Its a way to help people and get most of your money back… It doesn’t get much more sustainable than that.

From just US$25 and make a real and lasting difference to someone who needs your help!

Visit the Kiva website and see how easy it is.

I recently watched the Channel 4 programme “How the other half live”. I have to say – it was a fantastic show. Reality TV at it’s best.

I think when people moan about reality TV they forget that some reality TV is enlightening for the viewers, and in this case especially the participants.

Mention reality TV and we think of the likes of…

• Big Brother – stick a bunch of weirdos in a house until they go nuts
• I’m a Celebrity – which should be called “I used to be a celebrity, please revive my career”
• Celebrity Love Island – place a load of wannabes and has beens and an island in the hope they shag each other..

Reality TV at its best like this  show can be fascinating…. Can’t wait to see the rest of the series. Well done Channel 4!