You cannot be serious!

Robin Hood without Robin Hood?

Any film or TV series about Robin Hood can hardly be called historically accurate – as far as we know, Robin Hood never actually existed. Yes, there are records of outstanding archers from around 1200 who had periods as outlaws, but not as leaders of outlaw bands.

But Robin Hood remains one of England’s folk heroes – like John Henry (US), William Tell (Switzerland), Rummu Jüri (an Estonian Robin Hood) – and has a well established folklore.

That folklore, of course, has been bolstered in the modern era by films (from Errol Flynn to Russel Crowe) and TV series from Richard Greene to Jonas Armstrong.

I first watched the Richard Greene series in the 1950s (OK – that dates me) – and it may be one of the reasons I enjoy archery now, particularly the longbow.

The latest BBC series has been criticised for its changes to the legend – new and different characters, the role of women – even the wrong bow – but has been an enjoyable diversion nevertheless.

However, the last episode of the current series managed to kill of the Sheriff of Nottingham (in a major explosion that also destroyed most of Nottingham Castle), his right hand man (Guy of Gisborne), and Robin Hood himself. The writing team must have wanted to start from fresh!

Yes, there is someone to step forward to lead the band (also reduced by the death of Alan A Dale) but Robin Hood without Robin Hood?

This isn’t the first time this has been done, Jason Connery (Robin of Sherwood) took over in series three of that – and there are shows such as Taggart where the named character is long gone.

The only saving grace is that Archer (the new character) does shoot the longbow rather than the Mongolian Recurve. The majority of films and TV characters have used the longbow, though one or two American ones are reported as using flatbows.

If you want to try your hand at archery, there’s going to be a club nearby. City of Cambridge Bowmen is the one I shoot with, and for a day out Robin Hood Events is difficult to beat.

Latest news: Its not clear which came first, that ending, or the decision to cancel the programme totally. However, that is what has just been announced by the BBC.

The end of an era

Did you take pictures before the digital era?

If so, the colour film that you might have used was Kodachrome. Processing was included, so once you’d finished the roll of film you’d put it in the post and back would come the results. Kodachrome is also unique for having a song written about it (by Paul Simon (of Simon & Garfunkel)).

If you also read the National Geographic magazine, you will have seen many images taken on Kodachrome, including the amazing picture of the Afghan refugee girl, from 1973. That’s featured at the Kodak tribute, and also in a gallery of amazing images showing the amazingly rich colours that this film delivered.

As we all turn to digital photography, demand for roll film has declined and on 22nd June, Eastman Kodak Co announced the end of production.

Map the Fallen

My professional specialism is mapping, and also the web, but from time to time I am amazed at the investment of time that people make, and what they can make happen for the rest of us.

To start with, there’s a site with the details of all the casualties in Afghanistan and Irag – it’s icasualties.org. It records the men and women from 22 countries that have died in the campaigns.

What then happened was that an American student (now an employee of Google) took that data and started mapping it. That lead to Map the Fallen. That’s got a link to a file that can be imported into Google Earth. You need Google Earth 5, though earlier versions do work to some extent.

Here’s a snapshot of the UK to March 2009:

Heroes, every one of them. If you want to help, join with others who are supporting Help for Heroes.

Re-elected

Each year the Parish Council holds an Annual Parish Meeting, and an Annual General Meeting.

The Annual Parish Meeting is for the Parish – yes, its organised by the Parish Council, but its a chance for residents to raise any parish related question, to look at (and challenge if they wish) our spending.

A small number of residents attended – and raised questions. Not on our spending, but on improving play equipment at the Recreation Ground, noise barriers (why are the travellers in Milton to get one when our residents won’t) and whether Anglian Water is doing everything it should (including upgrading pumping stations etc) to deal with “the drains”.

Good questions, we’re already working on an application for funding for the play area at the Rec, and will be following up the latter two. Whether anything will come on the subject of the noise barrier before the A14 is widened is another matter (we expect not). We’re working with others (Girton, Histon) on that – and meeting an expert in July who may be able to help.

After the APM, the AGM started with the annual election of the Chairman, and, as has happened for the last few years, I was re-elected, and Brian Ing re-elected as Vice Chairman. We will continue to serve Impington Council, and residents of Impington to the best of our ability.

Expenses

As our Parliament is going into meltdown, it can only be a matter of time before other areas where public money is spent come under scrutiny. Council Chief Executives appear to be the next to have to publish their claims.

Whilst I work in Local Government, and am part of that through the Parish Council, I have to believe that Local, rather than Central Government will come out of this rather better.

For one, local government accounts and books, whether they are at the Parish, District or County Council level are open for inspection by the public in the period running up to the annual audit.

Secondly, Councillor allowances and expense claims are published annually. County and South Cambridgeshire District figures are published online, as well as in the press. Some Councillors,  such as David Jenkins, have taken to publishing their expenses in detail as well!

Finally, at the Parish level, payment of expenses is always a decision taken by Councillors – and the Councillor claiming is never present when that decision is taken.

Yes, I do claim expenses – but apart from a nominal contribution to telephone and Internet costs only against receipts, or if travelling some way from the Parish. I’m a volunteer – I’m trying to make a difference for my community – I don’t get an allowance, and am happy to cover most of my costs!

Norwich – a fine day – by magic

Norwich - catheral, statue, trees - in the spring

Its a fine day in Norwich, the trees are in bloom, and before I sit down to some work (Parish Council work, among others) I went out with my camera.

But hang on a minute – isn’t there just a bit of magic here? No wires (courtesy of Vodafone 3G), instant pictures, instant (almost) distribution to the world.

I understand the technology – just – but there’s no need – the incantations work, it happens – yet we’re taking for granted something that would have been tricky 10 years ago, and impossible 20 years ago.

But hey, its like the trees in bloom each spring – its magic – enjoy!

Gurkhas

It feels odd to be getting mail from Joanna Lumley – having been watching her this week on the New Avengers – a flashback to my youth – getting a mail from her, really special.

But Lumley’s father served with the 6th Gurkha Rifles, and she has taken a real interest in the Gurkhas, and how we are treating – or rather mistreating them.

As a people, they have fought alongside our soldiers in every campaign – fought and died. But they can’t settle in this country after their service is over. The High Court said that the Government needed to change the rules – that they did, and the rules announced on April 25th appear to be an insult to common sense and decency.

There’s a campaign – Gurkha Justice – I’ve signed up to it – if you feel that you can support them – they’d welcome your support!

PS The mail from Lumley – that was acknowledging my signing up to the campaign

Last frost?

Our magnolia is in bloom – there are a number around the village and this is (no skill on our behalf) pretty good and gets lots of comments.

Each year, though, it’s usually hit by a late frost which turns the flowers brown.

But not this year – for the first time that I remember – it may be global warming, or it may just be a difference this year. Whatever, the magnolia will appreciate it!

Happy Easter – and enjoy the chocolate!

Easter Day – celebrated by Christians to mark the resurrection of Jesus – is also marked today by the eating of chocolate eggs.

How did we get here – the egg, of course, marks the beginning of new life, and has been used a symbol for years. For centuries, real eggs have been used – decorated in many ways – and then Faberge made a real art form from them.

But today – certainly in the UK – chocolate is the thing.There’s lots of debate as to whether chocolate is good for you – though pretty much unanimous conclusion that milk chocolate (as we call it) isn’t that much good.

However, there has to be a real question as to whether chocolate is good for the world. Growing demand by the developed world is pushing the planting of more cocoa trees, at the cost of native rain forest, the spread of monoculture and the rise of diseases.

As with all, in moderation, both for our health and the health of the world.

Enjoy!

Inflation – 0%?

Well – not according to Stagecoach, that is.

Earlier this year the Megarider (a week’s worth of travel) went from £10 to £11, and on Sunday, the Dayrider (a day’s worth of travel) went from £3 to £3.30 – that’s 10%

Stagecoach are, of course, a business and they have to return a profit. And since deregulation in the 1980’s, there’s little control or external influence over them. What is more, according to a recent press article it looks as though they are “in the driving seat“.

Wouldn’t it be great, though, if there was just a little more competition?