Christmas cards and a UWL talk

Ha Ha - away from the tyranny of all things RED - (but if you've got 20 minutes or so take a look here or at the bottom of the page).

Christmas cards

A selection inside

The Way in

Ealing's 'per-annual' and annual  Christmas Card Shop opened yesterday and nice to see something that's been running for over 30 years still bringing out volunteers, civic dignitaries (Steve Pound MP, Rupa Huq MP and a former Mayor all spoke) and supporters .


If you're in West London (Ealing) buy your cards here (Christ The Saviour Church)  - your supporting charities. (100% of the price paid goes the charities).

Claude Littner revealed (as a nice guy).

Claude in conversation with Torrin Douglas (Mirroring?)

I'm not a big fan of The Apprentice (UK or USA versions) but do recall having seen the CV/Interview episode from one of the UK series and remember it as being the interview from Hell.

Well yesterday I went along to Ealing's University for one of their 'Public Lectures'  to hear the guy, Claude Littner  who conducted the interview talking about his life in business, his relationship with Lord Sugar and what he's doing now.

In fact Claude was revealed as a nice guy who had started his career doing a business  sandwich course at what was at the  time (I think) Ealing College - the 'meat' of the course (perhaps) was work at Lucas (who manufactured for the car industry) in nearby Acton - as he spoke about the petty management (while 'stealing' of stock was rife - reminded me of the old style of work.

Claude has now taken over from Nick on the Apprentice and relaxes more but he was  an incredibly focused individual he now actively supports the business school at UWL which takes his name.

After the talk he signed copies of his book (Single Minded)  - there was a long queue- so business was good

Another Uuniversity of West London Professorial lecture (Tourism), Scandal stories and Red 202

The UWL Ealing campus

I find the series of UWL Public Professorial lectures  really illuminating for a whole range of topics I'm either partially or totally ignorant on.

Yesterday the subject was one where I perhaps have a passing knowledge as the talk was around Air travel but with some economics/business (I've done the MBA thing).

What I got from Professor Papatheodorou was a very much a practical view of the interplay of the three elements that made up his Business Triangle and how important it is that the parts work harmoniously together (more here).

The Triangle model  (but no Kate O'Mara)

The three parts of the Triangle described  being Destination, Airport and the Airlines (Typically working on a budget model).

Having spent some in his home country of Greece working in this area of business  it was obvious that there were some frustrations in not seeing the relevant agreements on the Tourism side.

A very competent delivery by the Professor

Hearing about the importance of destination chimed with what I know of unsuccessful Airports in the UK (perhaps the UK's  Robin Hood Airport is an example) - with the best will in the world even if you make the flights almost free there's little point running regular services if no one wants to go there.


There were some good questions from the audience and Andreas cleverly avoided giving too much of a direct answer when quizzed about his view on the merits of Heathrow Airport expansion.


 As always the UWL were hospitable with coffee before and nibbles and wine after, I look forward to the next public lecture at the University.

Media Cohorts

Are clouds looming for the Gov't?

So the John Whittingdale MP story has finally appeared in the mainstream press not perhaps too much of a scandal but it adds to the feeling that we've got some serious judgement issues amongst our leaders and a real problem the way the Brexit debate is being framed.




Feels odd that this story now appearing in our Newspapers (and on TV)  but the Celebrity Couple in threesome scandal are still unnamed South of the border.

Red 202

As in it's no longer a Fire Station

A guide to Creative Thinking (UWL) and Red 270

Late Afternoon/early evening yesterday I went along to what is now the University of West London to learn a little about 'Creative Thinking'.

UWL Ealing - Looking like the 21st Century

The celebrated John Ingledew is at the forefront of what must be a most important area in our creative industries - making the idea of thinking outside the box second nature.

It's fair to say I think that not all ideas that are different are necessarily good and I for one found the idea of a presentation being made from behind me with screen in from slightly off putting - but worth trying I guess.

At the end of the session I was minded to look at things from a different angle(!) and was severely tempted to buy the new book - A Guide to Creative Thinking at only £10 it looked a bargain - also impressed at how the former Ealing college has been revamped!

The youngest of the Stones is an Ealing old boy

And creativity today (yesterday?)

Red 270

Unusually in this slot  this is not my photo but one from The Tate  -credited below (I found it in a tweet).

I couldn't resist it as it is - Miereles the Brazilian artist has done something which I think is quite amazing, using the power of 'Social Media' to source all the elements in this room

Cildo Meireles Red Shift I: Impregnation (detail) 1967–84

Photo: Tate Photography
Collection Inhotim Centro de Arte Contemporânea, Minas Gerais, Brazil © Cildo Meireles