Elvin's latest blog

Sat 10th June
Tame Game, Spectacular Stadium

Yeah, so, Day 2 of the 2006 FIFA World Cup and England get off to a winning start! OK, so the game wasn't as spectacular as the translucent roof that spreads the excellent Waldstadion and maybe the most memorable action was when English keeper Robinson managed to kick the ball against the screens that hang majestically across the centre of the pitch. As my mate said, "do you think he won his bet?" However, England won. I am sure even the Scots and Welsh would agree, that's all that really matters. (YES! I am joking!) Fingers crossed we get even luckier as the tournament goes on!

Sat, 3rd June
Paris…and ‘That Tunnel'

I was up with the lark this morning. Caught the 0453hrs train to Waterloo, as I had a Day trip to Paris with my good friend from Eurostar, Bob Kemble. We arrived at the light and airy Guard d'Nord in Paris at 1059hrs and spent the next 9 hours delighting in one of the world's most remarkable cities.

After taking the walk from the station to the Montmartre area, to see the magnificent Sacre Coeur, we met with our friends Mariann and Eoin, who had travelled in from Luxemburg, and took in the sights of: the Eiffel Tower (one big mother of a structure! The curved, glass wall entrance to Richard Rogers Channel 4 TV Studios was designed and installed by the same company, ‘Eiffel'); the Arc De Triumph and the Champs Elysees. We also took in the Hotel George V, because back in the early 1900's my Grandfather, who I am named after, worked there. Apart from a couple of hours spent enjoying the local wine, beer and absolutely delicious food, we happily strolled the streets of Paris and I am certain my old grandfather would have been just as impressed with the glorious capital of ‘La Belle France' as I was! It is timeless.

They say the beauty of Paris is that its life is lived on the streets. I found this so true, especially on such a wonderful summers day. The city has space, style and an inherent vibrant passion. It is like another world.

The highlight though was upon entering ‘The Sainte-Chapelle' and viewing its famous stained-glass windows, much of which is original and dates back to the 13th Century, with the bright sunshine streaming through. A peaceful, reflective space that will hopefully be enjoyed by the public for generations to come.

It is funny you know, that after all the fuss caused when the Channel Tunnel was being built, regarding the cost and time overruns, that in actual fact you hardly notice travelling through it whilst you are on the Eurostar! It does its job admirably. I wonder if the stadium currently being built in Brent will enjoy the same subtle epitaph?

Tues 6th June
Bristol's creative legacy

Well, it was the 06/06/06 today, but I never caught sight of the ‘Beast' himself, or any of his infamous devilish skulduggery come to think of it. I was in Bristol to undertake a speaking engagement at the rather splendid Bristol Golf Club. Quite apart from boasting a 6111-yard championship course, set in 200 acres and built to USGA specification, it also has a club house that benefits from magnificent views over the Severn Estuary and surrounding countryside. Especially so on a beautiful summers day, which it most certainly was today.

The gig went absolutely swimmingly, with the audience participating in full. Raucous laughter filled the room when my noble volunteers played the game ‘Die!' (No hesitation, repetition or deviation, or else the audience shout ‘Die!' and you leave the stage) as they managed to escape ‘death'!

Home of Wallace and Grommet creators, the triple Oscar winners Aardman, Bristol and the Southwest is a veritable hotbed of creative talent and ingenuity. A fact discussed at length over a Guinness or two in the clubhouse after the show. A local headmaster was explaining to me how he would now be taking some of the material from my show and getting his staff and children "into this comedy development malarkey". He could see the direct link it has on developing communication skills and was keen to nurture his part of the Southwest's budding creative talent.

Bristol currently seems a wash with construction and the city centre's Broadmead retail redevelopment takes pride of place. I have no doubt it will be impressive when it is complete and shall enhance the local area. That said, it will have a job to match with what is renown as "the symbol of the city of Bristol" that lies just a few miles away; the utterly fantastic Clifton Suspension Bridge. Spanning the beautiful Avon Gorge with awesome power and grace, Isambard Kingdom Brunel's first major commission is a thing a rare beauty. On my drive back to the Hotel, I passed it. So I stopped and went back for another look! It was the first time I had seen the structure at night and illuminated it is just incredible. Bristol's creative legacy in all its glory, splendid!

So, 06/06/06 passed without a hitch, I had a fantastic visit to Bristol and many thanks to the simply charming Bridget Grenville-Cleave and her team for organising the Gig at Bristol Golf Club. A return visit to this most understated part of England would be most welcomed…

Thurs 1st June
Deconstructing Wembley

I was amazed, although maybe by now I should be getting used to it, when I read in today's Guardian the latest update on the Wembley project; a flat refusal to guarantee that the new national stadium will be completed in time to host the 2007 FA Cup final.

What? Has anybody involved in this project got the slightest notion what so ever, of when the stadium will actually be ready to host the events it is being built for? Within the nearest millennium will do.

The thing that really interested me with the article though, was the stated quotes from Wembley National Stadium Limited's (WNSL) chairman Michael Cunnah. Readers of my blog will recall I have been entertained by the ex-Guinness plc man's ‘Cunnahism's' before, when quizzed on the seemingly never ending construction development. (See ‘Are You Up For A Sol?', 10th February) This time though, our ‘Mikey' really has surpassed himself, stating in his own inimitable media-savvy way, why deadlines are low on WNSL's list of priorities.

Below I have utilised, in a very loose fashion, the ‘Deconstruction' approach originated by Algerian-born French philosopher Jacques Derrida. Academically, this is a method of exposing the implicit values in our thought, speech and action. In lay-man's term's, it assists translate the ‘Spin' so expertly performed by Cunnah:

• "For us the most important thing is not to hit a particular date."
• For us the most important thing is just to get the stadium built!
• "The England matches can be played around the country, which has been very successful,"
• Thank God we have excellent stadia across the UK already, the England team would be up the creek without a paddle if we didn't!
• "and the cup finals have a very good home down in Cardiff."
• The Millennium Stadium may have been the undoing of dear old John Laing, but it has certainly saved the F.A.'s bacon!
• "The important thing for us is that the stadium is built to the right quality and for the price that we can afford."
• The important thing for us is that we don't end up splattered across the Courts by the Health & Safety Executive and Multiplex's lawyers!
• "From that point of view, time becomes our variable and, although we were very, very disappointed not to have the FA Cup final here, it is more important to get the stadium that is going to be here for 100 years."
• So, to hell with how long it actually takes to complete, too bad Liverpool and West Ham didn't have ‘Wembley' as the backdrop to their classic Cup Final, because inside 10 years this whole debacle will be forgotten!

Was my deconstruction, albeit with my tongue rammed hard inside my cheek, that far off the mark? Do Mr. Cunnah and his fellow board members really care if our new national stadium takes another 12 months to be opened?

Please let me know, I'm intrigued if there really is more to this construction soap opera than meets the eye…

Wed 25th May
Leeds, Gleeds & Looming Lumiere Tower 1

Had a great time today, because just like those arch rock n rollers The Who, I was ‘Live at Leeds!' Granted there is 36 years in between their celebrated Gig in this fine Yorkshire city and my less well publicised airing, plus the fact their performance was recorded for prosperity on vinyl (black plastic stuff, used before CDs and downloads) and of course their audience ran into 1,000s. That said, I could not have asked for a more warm, vivacious and engaging group of people to fill out our small, but perfectly formed venue within the Open University's Regional Office in Trevellyan Square.

Prior to the event, I had my customary walk-around the local area and was mightily impressed at the size and statue of the buildings, and there are more in the pipeline too. St James Securities and Landmark Development Projects £60 million Bridgewater Place, being designed and built by Bovis Lend Lease, will be Leeds' tallest building. I had to crank my neck to view this mixed-use development, as it rises some 110 meters into the Leeds skyline. It is quite an awesome sight. I have to say that the site is very impressive and my congratulations to all involved, it looks like you are doing a good job team!

My hosts informed me later, that Lumiere Tower 1, with an estimated build cost of £225m, is planned for a 2010 completion. At 52 storeys and scaling over 170 metres, it will loom over the horizon as not just the tallest building in Leeds and northern England, but the whole of Europe too.

I have to concur with the local perception that Leeds has really exciting, innovative development in progress and is an upbeat, vibrant city. Little wonder then, that its City Council is somewhat miffed to have been overlooked by near neighbours Sheffield in the short listing to host the UK's first Las Vegas-style super casino.

Yeah, so, to the show! Buoyed up by the positivity of my stroll around the city centre and connecting easily with the hospitable and definitely up-for-it audience, the event was a complete joy to perform at. Keith Griffiths, a Partner with one of those ‘grand old names of QSing', Gleeds, (see QS News, 24/02/06) got the evening off to a flying start with a hilarious heckle regarding my portrait on the QS News website! Keith was also generous in his praise for QS News in general, highlighting the first podcast featuring Phil Clark discussing the do's and don'ts of communicating with renowned voice coach Susan White.

Other notable highs from the show included South Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority Director's Helena Fuller and Ken Lawrie performing some wonderful ‘Human Sculptures' during the improvised comedy demonstration, plus local Cartoonist Ivor Tymchak's encyclopedic knowledge of comedy. Bravo!

Enjoying the statutory alcoholic beverage, après show', I got chatting to Peter Ramsden, a Director with Paramount Learning. Peter very kindly introduced me to a cool new e-mail format; ‘MyVideoTalk' streaming video. Peter sent me a sampler and my initial concern that it would be like watching a re-run of the old 1980's TV Programme, ‘Max Headroom', all judder and stutter, were quickly dispelled. High DVD quality video messaging that is a neat way to communicate internally and externally to an organization, all via broadband e-mail.

If you would like to know more about this new technology, or indeed inform me of other similar offerings currently doing the rounds, please just respond to this blog. Many thanks in advance!

My eternal thanks then, to Tim Hatterley of the JTH Practice and his hardworking team for organising and hosting the Leeds gig so admirably. It was a joy to perform for you all and I am looking forward to a return visit already! In the meantime, why not check out The Who, back in Yorkshire's capital city this Saturday to kick off their 2006 world tour at Leeds University.

For webcam views of Bridgewater Place in particular and other views of Leeds in general, click here:

And finally…

"An activist is the guy who cleans the river, not the guy who concludes it's dirty."
Ross H. Perot