Arcticterntalk.org

The blog of a travelling psychiatrist and football lover. Who happens to be a halfway decent photographer. Takes a cynical view of the world

Archive for the tag “vacation”

Flowers and Macro Lens


Just a few flowers from the garden shot with a macro lens. Everyone needs a macro lens.

Wild crocus

Wild crocus

Wild crocus

Wild crocus

Wild crocus

Wild crocus

Wild crocus

Wild crocus

Wild crocus

Wild crocus

What is going on at Brentford and what is needed right now


After the farcical events of the last month we need to briefly recap.

  1. We employed an unknown manager and he has been sacked after 8 games.
  2. The results were not the issue but other factors which have not been specified.
  3. Mitigating factors include an unforseen series of injuries
  4. The new manager given the role till the end of the season does not want the job permanently.
  5. Brentford are heading for the relegation places, potentially this saturday.

What has gone wrong? Last season the fans were all together as a unit. Crowds were growing. The ground was sold out most games. Away travelling fans increased in numbers. This season that is all in reverse with 126 fans travelling to Middlesboro for a midweek game. My own view is this. The results have been poor but the performances poorer. A definite lack of tempo compared to last season ( this translates in my language to lack of effort), lack of leadership on the field. Would any away fan during the game be able to spot who the captain was? The quality of the play has been poor. The new players have mostly failed to be as good as the departing ones and certainly not better. And the defence has got worse, and frankly it was bad last year. Brentford are regularly conceding two or more goals each game.

So we need this

  1. A clear statement from the board about the long term managerial situation
  2. A statement from Matthew Benham regarding these matters, his plans and an explanation for what has happened
  3. A new captain on the field.
  4. A new defensive coach
  5. A far higher tempo to the play
  6. some stability for the next 6 months such that we can avoid relegation.

Anyone who thinks we are immune from relegation please think again. We have beaten only two of the poorest sides in the division so far and lost to sides that frankly are mediocre. But importantly we need to see something from the players. management team and board that we as fans can identify as an explanation for what has happened. We need to be able to get behind the team again and give them support. This is not easy when we have no clue what is going on.

Putting out the fires at Griffin Park?

Putting out the fires at Griffin Park?

Putting out the fires at Griffin Park?

Putting out the fires at Griffin Park?

The sun going down on Brentford dreams?

The sun going down on Brentford dreams?

Reflections on Essen – a small town in Germany


Essen seems a pleasant enough town with a nice shopping centre and nice cafes. The striking thing about my visit related to the trains and the people on them. So maybe a photographic treatise here is better than so many words. But two questions. Firstly, how common is it to not wear any shoes on a train especially in the rain? Secondly, what wonderful graffiti both on the train and around the station. Far from imagining this as a negative thing I became convinced that it is a positive thing and added value to both the train and the station. Not everyone’s thoughts maybe.

Essen is the 9th largest city in Germany with a population just under 0.6 million. Although it is the (in total) most indebted city in Germany,  Essen continues to pursue its redevelopment plans. Notable accomplishments in recent years include the title of European Capital of Culture on behalf of the whole Ruhr area in 2010 and the selection as the European Green Capital for 2017.

The train station is an important hub.Of the Rhein-Ruhr S-Bahn net’s 13 lines, 5 lines lead through Essen territory and meet at the Essen Hauptbahnhof main station, which also serves as the connection to the Regional-Express and Intercity-Express network of regional and nationwide high-speed trains.

Essen it can be said is not an obvious mecca for high quality football.The biggest association football clubs in Essen are Rot-Weiss Essen (Red-White Essen) and Schwarz-Weiß Essen (Black-White Essen). Rot-Weiss Essen is playing in the fourth tier of the German football league system, Regionalliga West, and Schwarz-Weiß Essen in the fifth tier, Oberliga Nordrhein-Westfalen. Other football clubs are BV Altenessen, TuS Helene Altenessen, SG Essen-Schönebeck.

Tourism is not such a large aspect to the city but commerce certainly is. At international trade fairs and public shows and exhibitions, Essen international trade Fairs welcomes over 14,000 exhibitors and up to 2 million visitors each year.

There are however some interesting things to see, presumably for those shoe wearing denizens of Essen. The Soul of Africa museum is one such place.

http://www.soul-of-africa.com

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Supermoon 2015 In Sequence.


Supermoon 2015 UK Copyright Chris Bushe

Supermoon 2015 UK Copyright Chris Bushe

Supermoon 2015 UK Copyright Chris Bushe

Supermoon 2015 UK Copyright Chris Bushe

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The Last Redcurrants of 2015 from UK


One single plant has produced around £100 worth of redcurrants this year. I was somewhat amazed to find a few more the other day at the tail end of September. Tasted amazing. Thoroughly recommend a redcurrant plant for 2016.

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Is this the most ridiculous cat in the world?


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A Gentle Hand


Gentle Hand Copyright Chris Bushe

Gentle Hand
Copyright Chris Bushe

Painting of a Dead Bird by Vincent Van B


Vincent Van B is one of the most unique artists and British painters in the UK.

Painting of Dead Bird. Vincent Van B.

Painting of Dead Bird. Vincent Van B.

Painting of Dead Bird. Vincent Van B.

Painting of Dead Bird. Vincent Van B.

Slovenia- A Beautiful Country


There is little doubt that Slovenia and the capital Ljubljana are two of the more beautiful places to visit. A few photographs from a recent visit just to demonstrate a little of this country. Even the graffitti is beautiful and stylish!

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Views Flying Over Slovenia


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