Toys for boys

Sometimes I can't help myself: I had seen these bike computers advertised recently and I knew that until I had one I could not be truly happy. Anyway, this tempting toy is the Garmin Edge 500. It weighs about 2 ounces and measures over forty things during a bike ride. Then, when the bike is put away, this remarkable toy sends all the data to the internet and all the details are set out on-line, some on graphs, others on google maps. It also records my heart rate from a strap worn against my chest. Here is just some of the data the toy records: speed, average speed, time, moving time, ascent, descent (both calculated using air pressure), cadence (the rate the pedals go round), plots the route, the route profile, heart rate, average heart rate, maximum heart rate, calories used, temperature, average temperature, will up-load routes, and other stuff too numerous to mention. I have already successfully used the toy for two weekends; the geek in me will find plenty of interest in this little device in the months to come. I am sad to say, however, that the toy does not make good toast.

The Garmin Edge 500 set in scale against my Blackberry. The tiny Garmin weighs just 2 ounces.

The Mostyns of Mostyn

Tonight I went to an excellent lecture on the history of the Mostyn family in the 16th and 17th centuries. It was given by Shaun Evans in Llanasa Village Hall. Shaun's presentation was first class and reflected real scholarship on his part. It reminded me of the power the Mostyn family has exerted over North Wales since medieval times. Their influence is still apparent in Mostyn (obviously) but also widely across the region, especially in Llandudno. The Mostyn family came about as a result of the union, through marriage and inheritance, of five aristocratic Welsh families in the later middle ages. This meant the family controlled lands from Caernarfon to the border counties. Papers belonging to the Mostyn family are deposited at the National Library in Aberystwyth: they are being used to extensively as part of the Mostyn Project - a joint historical and literature venture between Bangor and Aberystwyth universities.

Mostyn Hall today: still rather grand.

Talk about the weather

No wonder we British are obsessed with the weather...just twelve months ago we experienced some of the coldest winds and iciest conditions I have known. The cold spell lasted until after Christmas. ITN even did a special snow report from Caerwys. My weather station recorded minus seven on a morning before the end of November. We may yet be in for a shock, but so far this autumn it has been unseasonably mild. However, last weekend cycling along the prom in Rhyl and Prestatyn people we were wearing their shorts and T shirts and playing games on the beach. The last three winters prior to this have been (with good reason) labelled severe; it will be fascinating to see what this years weather will bring.

A History of Falling Things.

During the Second World War the Caerwys amateur dramatic society put on a remarkable play that reflected the zeitgeist by examining the cultural influence of Germany. This evening the present generation of local thespians performed an equally daring version of a History of Falling Things: a play that examined the power of social networking and indeed psychoanalysis. The two characters fell in love with each other despite the fact that their only contact was across the internet. They had in common a fear of falling things, especially satellites. Of course this created incredulous humour. But perhaps secretly we all fear irrational things, so the fact of one satellite falling made their phobia almost understandable. The performance and set were impeccable. The added use of projectors made this, for me, the cleverest production I had seen in Caerwys. I was not here in 1942.

A tour de force by the two leading performers.

Wartime productions challenged prevailing attitudes; drama in Caerwys still has the power to make one think.

The Age of Choice.

Historians like to add labels to a period of time: Age of Reason, Enlightenment, Industrial Revolution, Renaissance and so on. I wonder if this era will be labelled the Age of Choice.

Giving people choice has been the largely uncontested political mantra of the past three decades or so. It reflects a time of prosperity and growing educational opportunity. It is in stark contrast to the age of rationing and austerity that our parents were born into in the mid decades of the 20th century. Our age of 'choice' also I think contrasts equally with the state planning and nationalisation of the immediate post 1945 governments.
In theory, of course, choice is a wonderful thing. And for many things choice works - when one wants a new shirt or coat it is good to have a range to select from. Similarly with wine, and other good things in life. Choice with these items is not critical; selecting the wrong shirt is not life changing. Not liking a bottle of wine is merely an experience not to repeat.

However Choice is not always appropriate, or a positive thing. In education, health, and supply of major utilities (electricity, gas and the like) Choice has proved to have negative effects. We are not sufficiently able or informed to make those choices. It simply becomes a lottery. It increases division and inequality within society. Where competition and choice are appropriate let us have capitalism, otherwise where there is a natural monopoly, let the state take responsibility. The dividing line between the two is up for debate. To paraphrase George Osborne's slogan, we should be 'all in it together'.

Autumnal cycling

So far we have had a pretty good autumn; the met office reported that October was one of the warmest on record, and this first weekend of November has been spectacular. The air is perfectly clear and skies often blue, with some beautiful early evening sunsets. The lovely weather has made for excellent cycling conditions; this morning I rode down to the coast, and later came back to Caerwys via the long climb from Prestatyn and Gronant. With a light tail wind it was all rather easy cycling, despite the challenging gradient. The views from Rhyl were excellent. I stopped for a while to photograph my bicycle on the promenade; the colours of the railings, the sand, the sea, and blue sky were stunning.

Easy autumnal cycling

Male Voice Fest.

Yesterday evening Caerwys Male Voice Choir took part in a joint concert with Great Sutton Male Voice Choir. St Michael's Church was full and the whole event proved to be a great success. The Caerwys choir showed the progress that has been evident under our new musical director. Comparisons are often invidious, but the Caerwys choir sang without copies, whereas Great Sutton used black folders. Of course for complex pieces copies are essential, but it certainly helps if the choristers can focus on the conductor. The finale saw both choirs crowded together at the front of the church sing two popular male voice pieces. And then the whole church engaged in a spontaneous rendition of 'We'll Meet Again'. Hopefully we will.

Great Sutton on stage: photo shop stained glass filter (maybe it doesn't work)