Categories
NLP

MisInterpretation, Queen Bohemian Rhapsody

I was never a lover of the pop group Queen, their dress style, their hair, their choreography on stage, well that is apart from some of their music.

Their music was very popular, with their records reaching number one in the charts on many occasions, and being played continually on the radio, they grew on me.
I hardly ever listen to the lyrics of songs, never search out the hidden meaning, the messages other people seem to hear, perhaps I am more interested in the musical arrangement, the interplay of the individual instruments, but, after a few plays the lyrics get into my subconscious, and I often find that I am singing along with the song, or that the words pop-up into my thoughts, my inner mind.
So it was with Queen’s song Bohemian Rhapsody, a masterpiece of a song, an operatic piece in its’ own right, giving a story which flows with the music,
I had never really understood the lyrics, only that it was about a young man who had killed a man, singing to his mother and using strange words that I had no idea how they fitted into the song, well that’s the way I understood the song.
“Scaramouche“, who or what is that? I now know, just found out that it is a character in an early film referring to a comic character, “Scaramouche” also refers to a Greek translator of the Old Testament, and why does it ask “Scaramouche“, “will you do the Fandango?“.
Why “Galileo Figaro“? Still do not understand that.
Then there is this person called “Miss Miller“. Who is this “Miss Miller“? Where did “Miss Miller” come from?
As usual, miss interpretation, it is not “Miss Miller“, but “Bismillah“, an Arabic word used to mean “in the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate“, or “in the name of Allah (God)“, as used in the Islamic faith.
Looking at the lyrics now after all these years I see the word “Beelzebub“. What does that mean? I had heard the word over the years, just the word without knowing the meaning, it was just the sound. I now find that a “Beelzebub” refers to a once worshiped Philistine deity, “Beelzebub” meaning “Lord of the Flies“. Later it was used in the Christian faith to refer to one of the seven princes of Hell.
All the above came as a Thunderbolt to me. All these years I had been happy in my (miss) understanding and ignorance of the song, yes I was a little bewildered, but who isn’t with lyrics of songs.
I had put my interpretation, my understanding or lack of, on the words, “Miss Miller” – “Bismillah“, “Scaramouche“, “Beelzebub“.
I had put my “Cat on the Mat“, my understanding, and I was wrong. How many times a day do we do the same thing in understanding the world about us, and how many times a day do others misinterpret our meanings?
Another question arose from one of my Turkish translators and friend, Asu Yildirim, asking, did I take the saying I often use in my courses, “nobody loves me” from this song Bohemian Rhapsody? No I did not, at least not consciously. But Asu, I know that you are mentioned in the song, “thunderbolt and lightning, very very frightening“, the translation of you family name Yildirim as in the display of Antep in Gaziantep Castle Museum meaning, “thunderbolt“.
Gaziantep Castle
Gaziantep Castle
Oh Poo Poo .
Wait for film to load.


Is this the real life? 
Is this just fantasy? 
Caught in a landslide 
No escape from reality 
Open your eyes 
Look up to the skies and see 
I’m just a poor boy (Poor boy) 
I need no sympathy 
Because I’m easy come, easy go 
Littl
e high, little low 
Any way the wind blows 
Doesn’t really matter to me, to me 

Mama just killed a man 
Put a gun against his head 
Pulled my trigger, now he’s dead 
Mama, life has just begun 
But now I’ve gone and thrown it all away 
Mama, ooh 
Didn’t mean to make you cry 
If I’m not back again this time tomorrow 
Carry on, carry on as if nothing really matters 

Too late, my time has come 
Sends shivers down my spine 
Body’s aching all the time 
Goodbye, everybody 
I’ve got to go 
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth 
Mama, oooooooh (Anyway the wind blows) 
I don’t want to die 
Sometimes wish I’d never been born at all 

[Guitar Solo] 

I see a little silhouetto of a man 
Scaramouch, Scaramouch, will you do the Fandango 
Thunderbolt and lightning, very, very frightening me 
(Galileo) Galileo (Galileo) Galileo, Galileo Figaro 
Magnifico-o-o-o-o 
I’m just a poor boy nobody loves me 
He’s just a poor boy from a poor family 
Spare him his life from this monstrosity 

Easy come, easy go, will you let me go? 
Bismillah! No, we will not let you go 
Let him go 
Bismillah! We will not let you go 
Let him go 
Bismillah! We will not let you go 
Let me go (Will not let you go) 
Let me go (Will not let you go) (Never, never, never, never) 
Let me go, o, o, o, o 
No, no, no, no, no, no, no 
(Oh mama mia, mama mia) Mama Mia, let me go 
Beelzebub has the devil put aside for me, for me, for me! 

So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye 
So you think you can love me and leave me to die 
Oh, baby, can’t do this to me, baby 
Just gotta get out, just gotta get right outta here 

[Guitar Solo] 
(Oooh yeah, Oooh yeah) 

Nothing really matters 
Anyone can see 
Nothing really matters 
Nothing really matters to me 

Any way the wind blows…

Categories
Rotary Club KOT

Dragon Boat Race 2010, Kingston upon Thames, Rotary Club

It was an early start for club members of Kingston’s Rotary Club, preparing the 2010 Dragon Boat Race on the River Thames .

48 teams had entered the day long races, each having a purpose, perhaps raising awareness for a project, raising money for a good cause, or just to have fun with friends, and for each team and their friends and family, marquees had to be erected, signs to be placed, the funfair and other stalls, tents and services put in position. The work was only minor to all the effort and organisation that had been afforded by the committee and members of Kingston’s Rotary Club .
Within a short period of time, all was ready, and we awaited the arrival of hundreds of competitors and visitors on a warm Sunday. 
Competitors were very colourful in their racing kit, entering into the spirit of the fun day, the police team in uniform, the pirates, a team with strange metal hats which I still do not understand.

Eight dragon boats were ready for the races, each race having four teams paddling at full steam down the river, until we had eight finalists for the last race.
Team supporters shouted their teams on, the public joined in, the children loved it. Between races, teams and followers had picnics, purchased food from the food stalls, or sampled an over flowing glass full of sweet cherries.
The Dragon Boat Races were eventually won by Canbury Arms Boys team (see results ), in a thrilling eight boat race, where the ducks, swans and other river users had to make way, as the race took-up most of the river width as they splashed their way down steam.
Enter your team into the July 17th 2011 Dragon Boat Race, perhaps one of the biggest in the UK, contact Glenis to obtain an entry form.
Categories
Thoughts

The Cambridge Estate Tower Block Fire, Kingston upon Thames

It has been a few days now since the horrific scenes of the Madingley tower block fire, on the Cambridge Estate in Kingston upon Thames. SeeTower Block on Fire in Kingston upon Thames.

As we watched the flames grow from the 12th floor, taking the next four floors and roof, black and white smoke billowing from the building and the red/orange flames indicating the heat and devastation being played-out, I became aware of the power of nature, of how we humans cannot sometimes be in control of forces that can overtake us.

The Cambridge Estate Tower Block Fire, Kingston upon Thames

I ask myself how can a concrete block of flats burn so fiercely? Surely there can not be so much flammable items in a normal home to create so much flames and smoke?
 
www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8M6-igdgQA
It is reported that a 32 year old woman has been arrested for starting the fire, perhaps by a single matchstick, a single small flame, which resulted in such damage.
Many comments have been added to the youtube video, some should be deleted, but I have not as it may indicate the frustration felt by many British people, some giving an indication of the goodness, compassion and help given by just ordinary people,  of how “Tommy Mackay ran up 15 floors to the the top of the burning building, and save a newborn baby.”, and Alan Woodman.

Looking out of our home window, the blackened Madingley tower block is a constant reminder of that fire. Even as darkness falls in the late evening there is a reminder, as there is a lack of lights on the skyline, lights of people’s homes now empty in the evacuated tower.

The Cambridge Estate Tower Block Fire, Kingston upon Thames The Cambridge Estate Tower Block Fire, Kingston upon Thames


Life goes on now. Cars and buses race by, full of people not even noticing the devastation left over, perhaps not even considering where the tenants are now living, where are they eating their meals, how are they providing for themselves, have they got their clothes out their homes? And, the tenants themselves, where are they?
Categories
Travels

Tower Block on Fire in Kingston upon Thames

Today a tower block of flats caught fire in the Madingley Tower on the Cambridge Estate, in Cambridge Road, Kingston upon Thames here in the UK.

At 16:45 today, 12th July 2010, fire broke-out on the 12th floor of the 15 storey block of flats, and quickly spread to the top four floors.
It was reported that twenty fire engines attended the blaze, and so far there are no missing persons and no injuries.

Top 4 floors ablaze of the Cambridge Estate flats,
Kingston upon Thames

Visit Tower Block Fire, Kingston upon Thames
   

Categories
Thoughts

It seems only a short time.

It seems like only yesterday since I last posted a blog, but it has been some weeks.

Unlike some people believe that I have been away, away on holiday, it has been very much the contrary, work, work, work, mostly in Turkey.
Now it is time to get rest myself, renew may batteries, ready for a new start, to do new training, talks, to visit new countries, meet new people, as well as revisiting established places where I offer my training.
So, if you have been following me in the past, I will be posting more, I have not fallen off the planet. 
Categories
Uncategorized

I Love You Phillip Group

I love my job.

Travelling to many countries after being invited to deliver courses, presentations and shows, meeting so many people as we travel a journey together.
Travelling back to towns and cities to deliver more courses, I often find the same faces sitting in the venue, and this is especially so in the southern city of Gaziantep .
Arriving at Gaziantep airport from Istanbul to be met by Mahpare Kileci of GAP Danismanlik  (Gap Consultancy), the course promoter and organiser, I was met by a “Hello Phillip” by a person who had been on the same aircraft and with whom I had worked with years before. 
From the airport we travelled to a town center hotel for meal being held for visiting Italian artists, and was greeted by more people who I knew, such friendly people.
But my being in Gaziantep is not social, but to give a talk to an association of Human Resource (HR) workers and to give training courses, and sure enough, previous participants were there, ready and able to relearn and to assist me.
But the best for me was to be invited to a special club with special people and a loverly meal.
The club was founded by previous participants for social evenings and to meet to practise what we had learned together, the I LOVE YOU PHILLIP club.

I Love You Phillip Club Gaziantep

I love my job.
Categories
NLP Thoughts

Oil spill: Obama to ‘make BP pay’, chunking down

Further research to my article “Oil spill: Obama to make BP Pay” I asked to look at all the facts before coming to a conclusion.

With limited time I looked deeper into the oil spill in the Mexican Gulf, in NLP terms , I chunked down, what else did I need to know, what was I not being told? I needed to go “below the surface level“.
What about the other parties involved in the project of abstracting the oil from deep below the sea’s surface?
Straight away I found that the project is not wholly owned by BP, 25% is owned by Anadarko, which is now moving all blame to BP. I wonder if they still want their share potential profits?

Are they being held responsible?
A little more research told me that oil rig is owned by Transocean Ltd and leased to BP, and there is a further sub-contractor named as Halliburton who was responsible for capping the oil well with cement. Another company, the US company Cameron, built and supplied the failed blow-out preventer.

Are they being held responsible?

I still do not know all the facts, in fact, does anyone? I do not know the US law. I do not know what terms of contract and responsibilities that were entered into by the companies. I am not taking sides.

Obama never mentioned the above companies in his “speech to the nation”, only attacking BP, and that is only what the population hear and thus believe.

So what are we being told by our governments, our leaders, the media, teachers, families and friends?

What are we to believe?
Categories
NLP Thoughts

Oil spill: Obama to ‘make BP pay’

I was awoken in the middle of the night here in Gaziantep, Southern Turkey, and listened to the speech made by the American President Barak Obama from the Oval Office about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, where he said he will “make BP pay”.

I have been away from the UK for a number of weeks now, and have not had access to any British news media, only Turkish, which I do not understand as I do not speak the language, and the Arab based news channel, Al Jazeera. It had been the first time I had listened to Al Jazeera, as I had presupposed that the news would be biased toward the Middle East affairs but found it not to be the case.
Now, listening to the Al Jazeera news I followed the unfolding story of the oil spill in the Mexican Gulf, and heard how the massive oil company BP had lost an oil drilling rig due to an explosion, the loss of life, and how the well deep below the surface was leaking oil, threatening the coast and wildlife of the USA.
I also followed the work to stop the flow of oil. Attempts to cap or seal the well that failed, the attempts to stop the oil reaching the coast polluting and killing wildlife, and I only heard on the news of Al Jazeera one name, one company, that of BP, working on the project.
But during the weeks I have also heard how BP has been attacked, especially from the USA, for not employing better engineering techniques, not installing better safety measures for incidents such as the one unfolding.  
I do not wish to take sides as BP is no longer British, it changed its’ name from British Petroleum to BP some ten years ago, and is a multi national company, it is said to be 40% owned by the USA.
It came as a surprise to listen to Obama in his speech saying that at the beginning he had appointed an American official to oversee or manage the oil spill, that he had organised the booms to soak-up the oil before it reached the beaches, that he had organised scientists and engineers to cap the damaged well, that he had arranged for those suffering through lack of work to be compensated financially, that he the American Federal Government had done this and done that. 
There was no mention of BP and the work they had done, which is contrary to what was being said on Al Jazeera, they mentioned nothing about the American Federal Government in the first few days.
I have heard BP referred to many times by the American politicians as British Petroleum, as if attacking the British countries.
We must listen to the language people talk, how we are influenced by one speech, one persons opinion, a governments wish to influence its’ population, how one nation can be set against another, how one set of people can be set against another.
In his speech Obama accused solely BP of being at total fault, yet there were four other companies involved on the rig, and later in his speech he admitted that one of his own government agencies was corrupt and failed to oversee the laws. 
Obama in his speech said it was the America Government agencies that was doing all the work, inferring BP was doing nothing.
NLP is all about language and communication, how we influence ourselves and others and visa versa.
In the last few weeks being in Turkey, I have listened to many people talking about the Gazza situation and seen and heard the protests happening in the main meeting place in Istanbul, Taksim Square, and wondered was I been given all the facts from both sides of the fence, or was I only being fed, as the rest of the protesters, only what we were supposed to hear to meet a certain end.
I have a plea to you, please look at all the facts from all sides before making a choice. 
Even then, are we being misled?
Categories
Travels

Nunney Castle steam train leaves Fishguard Harbour. Alternate video to YouTube.

In some countries, YouTube is banned or blocked, so my followers cannot view any video I may post using YouTube. 
Thank you for pointing this out to me, especially form my friends here in Turkey, yes I am now back in Turkey to run some courses, NLP Practitioner, Memory Skills, a five day hypnosis course, plus PhotoReading and Mind Mapping, in Istanbul and Gaziantep.

The new Mayor of Fishguard and Goodwick, Bob Wheatley greeted the Nunney Castle steam train. This video show the 1935 steam train leaving Fishguard Harbour station, May 2010.

For those of you who experienced difficulties, I have found an alternate method of viewing the video.

Enjoy.

The Red Dragon Steam Train Nunney Castle at Fishguard Harbour


Categories
Eating Out

An English Breakfast

I have written about many foods I have eaten around the world, and each country I visit will give their own ingredients and presentation styles, but I have never written about an English breakfast.

It had been a warm weekend, both with the weather and the people I had been with. I had attended the making of the Mayor of Fishguard and Goodwick, had fantastic evening meals on Friday and Saturday, I had witnessed the arrival and departure of the steam train Nunney Castle as it had done many years before, taking passengers from the sea ferry at Fishguard Harbour arriving from Ireland onwards to London, I had unwittingly caught the sun on my face as I sat drinking my hot chocolate and a fairy cake watching the ferry arriving and docking in the harbour.

Stena Line ferry arriving at Fishguard Harbour 

Sunday morning I awoke early, and lay in bed with the curtains open, the french window wide open, which allowed the early morning sun to bath me, and as I lay their I started to get hungry.
After a refreshing shower I went down to the breakfast lounge, and took a window seat, again overlooking the quiet waters of the harbour, and was given the breakfast menu by the attentive and friendly waitress.
What should I have, just a cereal, maybe toast and jam, poached egg, scrambled egg or have a full English breakfast?
I decided on a full English breakfast so that I could photograph the meal to show you. Honestly, that was the reason.

An English Breakfast at Fishguard Bay Hotel


A typical English breakfast will start with an orange or grapefruit drink, a bowl of cereal and a tea or coffee. Following will be the main part of the breakfast, a fried meal. This will typically consist of fried bread, slices of bacon, sausages, fried tomatoes, baked beans, mushrooms and a fried egg. The meal will end with toast and marmalade.
Now I know that there is too much fat or frying in the meal, and it could be deemed bad for health, I had ordered the breakfast and I could not let it go to waste. 
Yummy.