My favourite Member of Parliament

I am guessing but I don't think you will have heard the name of my favourite Member of Parliament, but then again do you know the name of your own MP - never mind what he or she does as an MP. Anyway I digress, my favourite MP is Sir Ian Bowler.

Why is he my favourite? It is not because of his views on policy or his ideology, as a staunch right wing conservative he doesn't match my centre-left social leanings. The reason he is my favourite is his willingness to be honest and open about shortcomings and hypocricy that other people in public life or indeed in government policy. Intensely loyal he doesn't attempt to curry favour by snipping or harping on about these failings, simply he doesn't ignore them rather he tells them how they are so we can consider these in light of policies to the contrary.

Never one to shy away from the limelight he regularly 'speaks' to the electorate via youtube and I share a few of his videos here. Enjoy...

Re-booting the blog

It's been too long since I dared look at this blog and think of re-starting it. I don't even know if all the links will still work, I guess I will have to re-learn it all.

I drew this - S Hunter 2015

But today I have been inspired to try to be creative again by a little interaction with a colleague for whom I produced this masterpiece - it's a 'card' wishing a "Happy Moving Day", as she moves from one office to another.

It is a silly little thing but it's important to me.

I feel able to do silly things again.

This blog is entitled fingerinalthepies, so named because at the time I started it my job and life was summed up by that phrase. I think I am in that place again and able to write about my world as I see it.

Thank you A!

Public Speaking

Ze Frank is an American online performance artist, composer, humorist and public speaker who produces the most inclusive, touching and engaging monologues along with incredible interactive/interconnecting internet activities. He really is one of a kind. If you haven't checked him out go to either:

His website: a show with zefrank - http://ashow.zefrank.com/  OR  his Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/zefrank1?feature=watch

But for all my friend who speak in public or may need to in the future watch this collection of ideas and encouragements on how to speak in public - really listen and you will be better!

Paralympics Day 9 - buggies and a big win

Yesterday I was allocated Eton Manor gate and therefore I have collected the full set of team colurs/areas. I have now done blue, green, red, yellow, orange, pink and black - these comprise the four gates and the four pedestrian zones (the eagled eyed will have noticed 7 colours and 8 gates/areas, this is because victoria gate is staffed out of the world square pedestrian zone). I hope you are paying attention there will be a test. Eton Manor is another really quiet gate apart from when coach parties arrive and then it can be quite manic. Today we had a party of 130 children arrive and then leader of the group presented us with a stack of 130 tickets in one stack! So we had to get the organised into form groups hand out the tickets then scan them all. They appeared to be a couple of tickets short but rather than hold them up for another 10 minutes we told them (we probably miscounted) and if so there might be someone who didn't get in to see an event but we didn't want to hold them up for that.

That was the extent of the rush and the gate then became very quiet once again. So it was time for some fun and games. We had a paper aeroplane competition which one of security guards easily won with a brilliant throwing technique. Then I persuaded the mobility guys to let me have a go on one of the scooters (picture left) which was great fun. So the morning was almost over and the long slog through to the afternoon was ahead we the day became unforgetably brilliant. My name was chosen in the stay lottery and I was told I had won a ticket to the Olympic Stadium. So I ran almost all the way to the stadium (over 1.5 miles from Eaton Gate) to enjoy about an hour in the stadium - I'll write more about my stadium visit another time.

Coming out of the stadium I had some lunch then made it back to the gate just in time for the end of my shift. All in all a pretty good day.

Serendipity Saturday - 21/04/12

So you need to cut down that tree in the garden, what are you going to do with the stump? Here's an idea that I  came across in a local garden.

As I walk around in the world (and cyberspace) I try to keep my eyes really open. Open to noticing new things, strange things, things that make me stop and think. I am sharing some of these serendipitous finds with you. Serendipity means a "happy accident" or "pleasant surprise"; specifically, the accident of finding something good or useful without looking for it. (and its one of my favourite words!)

Serendipity Saturday - 31/03/12

I came across these wonderful tape sculptures, made from clear sellotape and placed in ordinary spaces creating provoking and amusing works of art.
They are the work of Mark Jenkins. Do check his website which is wildly creative and slightly disturbing(in a good way).

As I walk around in the world (and cyberspace) I try to keep my eyes really open. Open to noticing new things, strange things, things that make me stop and think. I am sharing some of these serendipitous finds with you. Serendipity means a "happy accident" or "pleasant surprise"; specifically, the accident of finding something good or useful without looking for it. (and its one of my favourite words!)

Serendipity Saturday - 17/3/2012

One of things I try to do is walk around in the world (or indeed in cyberspace) with my eyes really open. Open to noticing new things, strange things, things that make stop and think.
I decided I will try and share some of these in a hopefully/possibly regular feature I'm calling Serendipity* Saturday.
So to start a picture of the strangest named store I have ever come across. Sneezums of Bury St Edmunds.

* Serendipity means a "happy accident" or "pleasant surprise"; specifically, the accident of finding something good or useful without looking for it. 

The best of 2011?

Just for fun I thought I would list my most popular posts, in terms of pageviews, in 2011. They were in reverse order:

5. I join the smartphone crowd (341 pageviews)
4. Book reading update (559 pageviews)3. I can do that (188 pageviews)2. Communicating Vision (631 pageviews)1. Admin Lessons - Planning (947 pageviews)

What has been your favourite post on finger in all the pies? I would love to know what has been memorable to you.

Doppleganger update!

Just a quick blog post to make an official statement:

"Steven Hunter would like to clearly state that Not Steven Hunter of @notstevenhunter and now facebook.com/notstevenhunter is an independent voice and in no way controlled by or associated with (except through imitation) Steven Hunter."

That said, Steven Hunter would like to welcomes Not Steven Hunter onto facebook and thank him/her for their continued following of my posts and tweets - you often bring a smile to the day and that in itself is worthy of praise. I do wonder though how long before the blog Not Finger in all the Pies is up and running!

Dopplegangers

There is a saying, "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery", well I feel very flattered indeed.

I, like many people, have a twitter account @fingerpies and during August somebody created a fake Steven Hunter account @NotStevenHunter.

I have my suspicions of who is behind this account but I have decided that I am going to live in the happy place of not really knowing and enjoying his or her posts. Some of the funniest post have been:

On Nic Lines seminar at Newday
Heard great things about the @nicholaslines seminar, though not sure that barista is actually an Ephesians 4 ministry #newday11

On my trip to Paris
Loving France. Impenetrable accents, terrible driving, a true appreciation of facial hair... I should have been born here!

On my weekend at Greenbelt
Looking forward to Greenbelt so I can unleash my inner hippie. Cleaned my sandals today in preparation. #kumbayah

One big difference between myself and my alter ego is that I don't like Malibu (which he regularly imbibes). However, the idea of regularly having a sneaky drink does sound very tempting!

So long live @NotStevenHunter, may my life continue to provide you with a rich resource to comment on.

Beer Commercials

I am always attracted to adverts that send themselves up, using humour to promote their products. The Austrailians do this so well especially with their beer commercials. Here are two I have enjoyed, cheers!

We all need a bit of adventure...

Are you ready for two minutes of edge of your seat thrills that will make you smile? Enjoy...

The joy of the United Kingdom

This is a fantastic video which will teach you more about the UK than you ever learnt in school - enjoy!


The United Kingdom Explained from C. G. P. Grey on Vimeo.

The Cartoon Church

I discovered The Cartoon Blog just before Christmas and we now have the 2011 calendar!

The artist Dave Walker seems to capture some of the comic absurdities of church life.

Go have a look and put a smile on your face.

You don't know what you miss until it's gone

Don't be frightened folks, it has a happy ending!

Floating Head from ben dickinson on Vimeo.