Fixed-Gear Charity Bike Ride, 130km…It’s Gonna Hurt

As you may know, my mother Peggy MacNeil, who was well known in Lewis and across the airwaves on Isles FM, passed away in August 2011. She spent her last weeks in the amazing Bethesda Hospice and Care Home in Stornoway, and the staff were just brilliant: so caring, helpful and full of humour. They made my mum feel very much at home, and I can’t tell you how much that meant to her friends and family.

A photo of my Mum when she was young.

Now I want to give something back by raising some money for Bethesda. On Monday 7th May 2012 I plan to embark on a sponsored 130km bike ride from Ness, in North Lewis (top of the map), to Leverburgh, in South Harris (bottom of the map, just past all those scary hills). This would be a gruelling ride anyway, but I am going to make it extra challenging for myself by doing it on a fixed-gear bike – which means you can’t change gear or freewheel; you have to pedal literally every inch of the way – even downhill! And going uphill? That’s even tougher than usual as you can’t change gear – there isn’t one to change to!

I’m already in training for what will be the hardest day’s cycling I’ve ever done. And it will all be worth it – Bethesda is a wonderful place that improves the quality of life of so many. I’m hoping that by undertaking this epic ride, I’ll be doing my bit to help the staff continue making such a difference to patients and their families.

And this is where you come in. I’d be so grateful if you would sponsor me. I know money’s tight for most of us right now, but this is a truly worthwhile cause and I would hugely appreciate anything you can give.

Thank you!
Kevin
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With the bike I’ll be using.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Everyone

“Hate is not conquered by hate. Hate is conquered by love. This is a law eternal” – Buddha

Enjoy this virtual mystery Valentine. Just – ahem – ignore the ‘Received by self’ part!
Now I just need to find out who Ily is. What kind of a name is Ily, anyway? I guess it will just have to remain a mystery.

Polygon/Birlinn – Edinburgh’s best independent publisher

http://issuu.com/birlinn_ltd/docs/spring_catalogue

The new Birlinn/Polygon catalogue is here! Does the cover look familiar to you? It should! The paperback of “These Islands, We Sing” is coming very soon!
Click on the link to leaf through the Spring 2012 catalogue.
This picture (below) is of the hardback front cover. The paperback cover has a quotation from England’s greatest living poet, Simon Armitage. I’ll post an image of it when I get one. The hardback had great reviews and has sold well. Onwards!

Buddha of the Week

A brahmin once asked The Blessed One, “Are you a God?”
“No, brahmin,” said The Blessed One.
“Are you a saint?”
“No, brahmin,” said The Blessed One.
“Are you a magician?”
“No, brahmin,” said The Blessed One.
“What are you then?”
“I am awake.”

(“See the truth, and you will see me.” - Buddha)

Buddha of the Week

Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world. -Buddha

Patterns: great drama

Since childhood I’ve had a fondness for the work of Rod Serling. I loved staying up late at night to watch The Twilight Zone, loved being transported to that eternal black and white realm of anticipated resonance and crafted imagination. Remember this?

You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension – a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You’re moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You’ve just crossed over into the Twilight Zone.

Serling himself is an intriguing character. I’ve wanted for many years to read or see his acclaimed drama, Patterns. Why? Here is what Wikipedia has to say about it:

Patterns was the first major breakthrough of Rod Serling when the live television drama received critical acclaim as the January 12, 1955 installment of the anthology series Kraft Television Theatre.
Directed by Fielder Cook, the intense big-business drama starred Richard Kiley as up-and-coming vice-president Fred Staples. Ruthless corporate boss Walter Ramsey (Everett Sloane) attempts to edge out aging employee Andy Sloane (Ed Begley) to make room for newcomer Staples. Ramsey uses every opportunity to humiliate the fragile Sloane, while Staples sees Sloane as a professional who makes valuable contributions to the firm.
Serling’s celebrated script tore apart the dynamics of the business world and earned Serling his first of his six Emmys for dramatic writing. There was a rave review from Jack Gould of The New York Times who suggested it be repeated:
Nothing in months has excited the television industry as much as the Kraft Television Theatre’s production of Patterns, an original play by Rod Serling. The enthusiasm is justified. In writing, acting and direction, Patterns will stand as one of the high points in the TV medium’s evolution. Patterns is a play with one point of view toward the fiercely competitive world of big business and is bound to be compared with the current motion picture Executive Suite. By comparison, Executive Suite might be Babes in Toyland without a score. For sheer power of narrative, forcefulness of characterization and brilliant climax, Mr. Serling’s work is a creative triumph that can stand on its own. In one of those inspired moments that make the theater the wonder that it is, Patterns was an evening that belonged to the many, not only to Mr. Serling. The performances of Everett Sloane, Ed Begley and Richard Kiley were truly superb. The production and direction of Fielder Cook constituted a fluid use of video’s artistic tools that underscore how little the TV artistic horizons really have been explored. Patterns was seen from 9 to 10pm Wednesday over the National Broadcasting Company’s network; a repeat performance at an early date should be mandatory.
Gould’s request for a repeat was an unusual suggestion, since in that pre-videotape era, live shows were not repeated. Surprisingly, NBC took Gould’s suggestion seriously and made plans for another production.

Thanks to youtube, I finally got to see what the fuss is about. You can view the drama here, all 58 or so minutes. The video and sound quality are a bit creaky, which is either frustrating or charming according to your tastes. The acting – remember it was broadcast live – is superb. Patterns is as good as I had hoped. I won’t say anything about the adverts/recipes for such delights as a meal made by melting processed cheese into some indiscriminate tinned tomato soup. That’s one meal I will leave solely in the realms of imagination.

Rod Serling

Buddha of the Week

Meditate. Live purely. Be quiet. Do your work with mastery. Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds! Shine. - Buddha