Last night I watched the final episode in a three part series on Channel 4 called “Married at First Sight”. Channel 4 is often a good source of inspiration when I am in need of a blog post and once again I came away with material.

The expression “no pain, no gain” springs to mind though because watching this programme was frankly excruciating.

A brief synopsis – a group of “experts” (and I use the quotation marks for sarcastic emphasis) profile 1,500 single (in terms of relationship status) volunteers to determine decent marriage matches. The selected candidates agree to marry a complete stranger and the first time they see one another is at the altar.  In theory, the appliance of science could make a valuable contribution to the institution of marriage by offering more thought-through matches based on known compatibility factors.

Experts included psychologists, therapists, anthropologists and even a clergyman (maybe God knows why Reverend Nick Devenish thought he should participate).    

And no surprise…

…the entire experiment proved to be farcical. 1,500 people profiled, three potential matches, two couples made it to the altar and one couple are still married after five months (the other marriage crashed and burned in four weeks).

In a rhyming coincidence, Married at First Sight was more or less total shite.  

What a total waste of time, money and effort. The scientists achieved less success than us mere mortals achieve without any of the personality profiles, DNA testing and other assorted pseudoscientific crap. The UK’s divorce statistics make far better reading.

I wasted an hour of my life last night but there are bright sides; one, I get a blog post out of it; two, it could have been worse (I might have watched all three episodes); three, old-school beats high tech (and that so works for me). 

If you missed the series, count yourself lucky!

If you find yourself at a loose end and fancy shouting at your telly, then there is always Channel 4OD.

And if you have a burning desire to get married and settle down, for God’s sake don’t consult an ologist.

Bye for now.

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On the 12th July I attended the 2015 VBOA National Rally at Billing Aquadrome. Regular readers will know that this outing is an annual treat for me – in fact this year marks my 20th consecutive year of attendance.

Previous outings (at least since this website was launched) have also been documented (see earlier article list below) and so sharing something particularly revelationary presents a challenge given that the format for the event hasn’t changed since the VBOA took over arrangements in 1997.

The same car clubs were present, all had the same pitches as in previous years, many of the same cars were on display, the same master of ceremonies presided over the same show ring etc.

But familiarity doesn’t breed contempt, instead it gives a degree of comfort – for me the format works, it is reliable, I know where to find things and the mantra (though Manta would be more appropriate in the circumstances) – “if it aint broke don’t fix it” applies.

Article differentiation aside, there are some cool photos, taken during my wanders, to entertain and inspire. In traditional fashion, I strolled around taking pictures, chatting to other event stalwarts and looking out for souvenirs.

On that subject, just days before Billing, I read with sadness of the death of Patrick Macnee. At 93 he had enjoyed a good innings but his demise marked the departure of yet another of my seventies TV hero types (John Steed). This digression is relevant because I bought the 1977 New Avengers (not Hillman Avenger; that would be all wrong) Annual you see before you from a fella with a stand in the autojumble. £1, because that is all the book cost me, was well-spent in my opinion.   

The subject of demise is also relevant because it has not escaped my attention that over the last few years the number of HC Vivas, Magnums and Firenzas (these are my favourite rides and I have owned a few over the years) on show at Billing has declined. The volumes of vehicles on the Viva Owners Club and Droop Snoot Group pitches these days do not match those seen in the late nineties and early noughties.  

The weather on Sunday was a bit patchy and maybe that was a factor – during the afternoon it poured with rain and for those that treasure their motors, a poor forecast could be a no-show matter.

As the years pass though, I suspect that more cars (and their ageing owners for that matter) fail and get harder to fix (spare parts may well be unavailable) and the cost of repairs might not be recovered in post repair valuations. I fear that some Viva HC derivatives may have been purged from the road by the Government’s scrappage scheme of a few years ago. Whatever the causes, the effects are fewer cars being displayed. And that is a shame.

I haven’t owned a classic Vauxhall for a few years now (Zafira just doesn’t count) and every year Billing reignites my passion to have another seventies car. But with Viva HC prices, for anything in a decent condition, sitting at circa £2,500 (and upwards – evidenced from a quick web check), I confess that I am reluctant to invest. That means that when it comes to the volume of cars on display at Billing, it pains me to admit, that I am part of the problem.

To those that make the effort to maintain their cars, drive them to Billing and share them with me, I am grateful. Without these enthusiasts my world would be a drearier place and the VBOA rally would be rubbish.         

Please read the other posts, there are some great motors featured in those too (no duplicates). Of course you’ll up my viewed-page count and that will make me feel special.

Previous Billing articles
2012 http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/annual-vauxhall-pilgrimage-washout.html
2013 http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/vboa-all-car-club-rally-2013.html
2014 http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/that-petrol-emotion

Other related posts
http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/the-droopsnoot-celebrates-its-40th-birthday
http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/vauxhallrsquos-heritage-centre-ndash-a-nostalgic-trip-to-luton.html
http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/a-vauxhall-event-reminder-and-a-billing-plaque-saga-update
http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/the-omoc-comes-through-for-me.html

Links
VBOA
Viva Owners Club
Droop Snoot Group
Billing Aquadrome

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I have found myself thinking about cancer quite a lot of late and this rather challenging/sobering topic is not an easy one to write about.  In fact, this post was in “draft” for weeks whilst I stressed over what to include – I really didn’t want to create something crass (and fingers crossed I haven’t).

Anyway, the cancer related introspection began as a result of a watching the drama on the BBC with title of this post. Whilst the programme was aired a number of weeks ago now; it actually took me some time to get around to watching it because Mrs Baldwin wasn’t keen on spending time viewing something that would upset her.

In the end, I watched the drama on my own via the BBC iPlayer and just before the window to do so closed. The programme told the story of Lisa Lynch, a journalist in her late twenties diagnosed with breast cancer – though she referred to it as “The Bullshit”.

I’ll come back to Lisa’s story in a moment.

Cancer has been on my mind for other reasons too. An old work colleague of mine recently died as a result of breast cancer and the news of her death depressed me more than I thought it might. Like Lisa Lynch, Liz Royal was in her twenties when diagnosed. She was young, attractive, bright, genuinely nice and extremely brave/positive in facing all the challenges of mastectomies, chemotherapy, surgical reconstruction etc. We were connected on Facebook but to be honest after I was made redundant from Masterlease in 2011, our paths hadn’t crossed.

Another friend of mine who is a director of a marketing business I worked with for a number of years has been facing similar challenges and has had surgery. Thank God though that her prognosis is good.

Over the last few weeks, an old Masterlease work colleague connected with me on Facebook – it turns out that his wife has a brain tumour that is inoperable.

Bruce Dickinson, the singer from Iron Maiden - one of my favourite bands - is recovering from treatment for cancer that was discovered on his tongue. Following a seven week course of chemo and radio therapy, he was given the all clear, such as it can be with cancer, in May.

Leukaemia (cancer of the blood) has also figured in my thinking as a chap I know (coincidentally a former singer of one of my favourite punk bands) collapsed at work and was hospitalised, irradiated and is undergoing stem cell therapy to help replace his bone marrow.   

In recent weeks I’ve even been consuming every episode I can of Breaking Bad (care of Spike) and Walter White, the main character, has lung cancer!

The effects of cancer have been felt much closer to home too; though to protect the innocent, this is not the right environment to share those developments.

Prior to watching The C Word, I had never heard of Lisa Lynch but having seen the drama, I went to find her, perfectly titled, blog “Alright Tit”. Over a number of days, I read every single post in chronological order.

Though the drama was visual, the blog gives one so much more insight - but then isn’t the book always better than the film? Lisa’s posts were/are well written, honest, hopeful, often humorous and entertaining (even when the subject matter couldn’t get bleaker). She wrote in a conversational way that works for me because that’s the way I write.

Having only just discovered her blog, for me (as it could be for you if you’ve never read it), it was all the more poignant because I knew the end before starting at the beginning.

A number of Lisa’s observations resonated for me, in one post she wrote about the cathartic qualities of writing, it was her way of taking some control back from The Bullshit. She shared her belief a few times that she was more eloquent and interesting in words/blog than in person. And let’s be frank here – as someone that finds solace/comfort/entertainment in writing - I’ll admit to having similar thoughts about blogging and concerns about my own life-and-soul-of-the-party status. 

Lisa shared her joy (and that of her family) when the blog gained enough momentum for others to become aware of it and contribute their comments to her posts. It would appear that not even the lows of cancer can affect the pleasure a writer gets from knowing someone is actually reading, enjoying and taking the time to respond to their work.

She wrote one piece that made me smile about her take on ageing…

“And, until cancer came along, I'm sure I'd have dutifully plodded along and checked off the other predictable items on the to-do list: buy a house, have kids, get National Trust membership, retire...”

Damn, I suddenly feel rather dull! By that observation, I only have retirement left to achieve…

…and death of course.

Though I am older, male, tit-less (though occasionally a tit) and a non-cancer sufferer (so far - the bullshit may nail me in the end too), the observations above evidence that Lisa’s blog has a value as an insight into someone’s life. Cancer gives Lisa’s blog focus but there is much more to it than the disease – don’t feel that you can’t get something from it just because you aren’t in the demographic.   

Alright Tit became a huge, celebrity endorsed, worldwide success - but I never came across it whilst Lisa was alive. That reflection was a little depressing for me because whilst I had read some utter shite, like “Fifty Shades of Grey” (just to find out what the fuss was about), I had missed something far more significant.

To be frank, Lisa’s blogging/publishing achievements dwarf anything I will ever achieve with my hobby-efforts but nonetheless, I still want to add my own endorsement to her literary legacy. If you want to read something about coping with adversity, or using the written word to find strength/purpose, you should follow the links and get reading too.

If you know anyone with cancer and you want to have some idea what they are going through – read Lisa’s blog. If you don’t know what to say to sufferers, get some hints and tips from Lisa.

The C Word is available as a book, the DVD of the drama is available and Alright Tit is still operational.

Though Lisa’s life was short, she achieved more than many that reach their four score years. Her no-bullshit approach to writing about cancer will help other sufferers (and their friends and family) for years to come.   

Whilst writing this post, I read news of some scientific breakthroughs that might help more people live longer with cancer.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-32969833

The shame is that the immunotherapy advances are too late for Lisa.

Alright Tit 
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On Wednesday night, I was delighted to get approached by a visitor to my website. Roland had taken an interest in the print by P. Lightfoot entitled “Autumn Ash” and featured in my gallery. It turns out that his parents own the original painting.

How cool is that?

Roland was interested in what I knew of the painting, its potential value and the artist. Here’s an extract from my response:

Thank you so much for getting in touch. With regards to P. Lightfoot though, I am afraid that I can’t offer any useful insight at all. I spent some time searching the internet for details of this artist and his/her work…

…and I am afraid I drew something of a blank. I know there was a least one other print from the “Ash” collection (image below) but I don’t know what it was called.

What is the original painting worth? I really don’t know. My guess is not a significant value given the difficulty in finding anything out about Lightfoot – but I am just a bloke that likes seventies stuff and that makes my point of view worth even less.

Value aside, it’s a great picture, I love my copy and am pleased to have it on display in my home. I am chuffed for your parents owning the original, and more than a little envious, if I am honest. I hope that they love it too and that it has pride of place on a wall somewhere.

I am delighted that you managed to find me and engage in some dialogue. This is the kind of interaction that makes running my own website worthwhile – you have made my day.

If you are able to send me a picture of your parent’s painting, I’d love to see what its colours are like.

Good luck with your investigations. If you find anything else about the artist or his/her portfolio, I’d love to know what you discover.

For me it’s slightly surreal that my old copy of this print (and small-space website article) has resulted in me discussing the original with the owners’ son - the internet really can make the world feel like a much smaller, more interesting place.

The exchange though didn’t end at this point, Roland and I have traded a few more emails since.

But first, a brief digression, if you will indulge me for a moment. In August 2014, the image I refer to (shared below but mentioned above in the note to Roland) was sent to me by another visitor that had found my site and asked if I knew the name of her print. I didn’t…

…but I may learn it in due course…

…because it turns out that Roland’s folks own the original of that print too. That’s even cooler!

And Siobhan, if I find out the name of it, I’ll be getting back in touch.

I have been advised that Autumn Ash was painted, and the picture presented to the Rogers family, when Roland’s sister was a baby. That dates the original painting to 1976, a fact that I am pleased to know bearing in mind that I had only guessed that my print had its roots in my favourite decade.

Though there are no guarantees, if I get any more insight about Lightfoot, or am sent photos of the original painting/s, I’ll share the details in due course.  

As I state in my gallery post, Autumn Ash has a bleak feel about it. It is a real shame to report that Roland’s approach has an equally bleak aspect to it too. His mum recently passed away so, as thrilled as I was to be contacted, I am equally saddened that it is under such circumstances.

Desperately trying not to be crass; I once heard an Aston Martin owner make the statement that “one didn’t so much own an Aston as look after it for the next generation”. Art is like that too, all of us move on eventually - but art endures.

My thoughts are with the Rogers family as the members deal with their grief.

March 2016 update - the title of the print above is "Stepping Stones"