Tom Roper's Weblog

Disaster recovery as it happens

One of the libraries where I hot-desk was flooded at the weekend and, so that others may learn from our experience, there's a blog written by the head of service, describing how we deal with the damage and keep the service going. Have a look at Worthing Health Sciences Library Flood 2012 

The significance of the date in the blog title is that this is not the first time we have been flooded. It is, though, the worst.

Irish 2,000 Guineas

I find it hard to make a selection with much confidence in this race. I arrived at a shortlist of Parish Hall, Trumpet Major and Takar. Of these, Takar is unrated on anything faster than yielding ground; Parish Hall may not like a mile, so Richard Hughes's mount, Trumpet Major looks like the one to carry the children's tuition fees fund.
Haydock 230: Archbishop
Haydock 300: Bated Breath
The Curragh 315: Trumpet Major
York 345: Secret Witness

Department of Health launches its information strategy

The screen-shot sums it up:

1,000 Guineas

I've been remiss in blogging my selections recently. I'm not sure why: reluctance to add to the slag-heaps of trivia on the internet perhaps, but no one else shares this, indolence, who knows? For today, however, I am back in the saddle. Yesterday I backed Camelot in the 2,000 Guineas. For today I hope Aidan O'Brien can repeat the success with Maybe in the fillies event. 

Newmarket 205: Ithoughtitwasover
Newmarket 235: Timepiece
Newmarket 315: Maybe
Newmarket 350: The Confessor

 

Sussex library tweetup: Wednesday 16 May, Brighton

I have, under the leadership of Rachel Playforth, author of the Toast in the Machine, and more besides, become involved in the organisation of the first ever Sussex library tweetup, in the Prince George pub, on Wednesday 16 May.

See http://tweetvite.com/events/susslib for more.

The Grand National

The public need wait no longer to know my selection and, as is customary, for those of the family.

I go for Synchronised. The Burra Mem has picked Seabass. My son choses Shakalakboomboom, my daughter Weird Al and my son's girlfriend Chicago Grey.

Haydock and Musselburgh

Haydock 225: Suburban Bay
Haydock 255: Hada Men
Haydock 330: Owen Glendower
Musselburgh 350: Bronze Angel

For Marcus, 1956-2012

Fear no more the heat o’ the sun,
Nor the furious winter’s rages;
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages;
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

Cymbeline, Act IV, Scene II

The Spirit of Schubert

The Spirit of Schubert continues to please me; I have yet to switch on the radio and think, 'oh, no, not Schubi again' (I am grateful to Alexandra Loske for this colloquial diminutive). Of course, I have not listened to it all, or anything like, but even the fragments are interesting, even that fugue subject that lasted a few seconds. I was even inspired to make a Schubertiade for the cats in the comfort of my home, based on an iTunes playlist of everything I have by him, songs and piano music. It only lasts a day and five hours.

What is even better is the use the organisers have made of social media. I have mentioned the @franzisiunwell Twitter account before, but there is also a splendid Tumblr. Today was the day of the wanderer; tomorrow the theme is classical or romantic.

Seaford seafront: a missed opportunity

Advertising the exhibition

 

It is one of the clichés of Seaford conversation that the town neglects, indeed is almost ashamed of, its position on the coast. The sea-front, as I hope this picture conveys, is hideous. The town prefers to sell off the few amenities that might make it more interesting, such as the only pub on the front, to property developers.

An exhibition at the weekend, which might have offered some hope, was infected by the same disease. Supposed to show the town some ideas for development of the seaside, it only ran for two days, in a cramped space. Although University of Brighton architecture students were involved in preparing some of the designs, the only thing the organisers put online was the YouTube video below, with tedious music, and more appearances of the Union Flag than a Conservative Party conference c. 1959. It conveys nothing to the viewer.

What a pity. If the organisers had spent a little time in thinking about how to convey their ideas to the town's population, online and face-to-face, something more productive would have emerged.