Category: AWAY FROM THE DESK
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Hans Zimmer Live & Manchester
I don’t do hyperbole (except in the sarcastic sense) so when I say this I mean it: Hans Zimmer Live is the best show I’ve ever seen. It features a true living genius bringing his work to life on stage with an array of musical talent that leaves you speechless. The best show on the…
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Flying Visit: Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes isn’t a much loved town and I’m not sure why because there’s lots to like and little to offend. Maybe that’s its problem, it’s offensively unoffensive in its modern orderliness. It’s very American – roundabouts aside – which I guess goes down well with some and bothers others with its un-Britishness. Anyway I…
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“CABS”, Celtic Manor & Wales
A wonderful coming together of things: returning to south Wales (where I have considerable history), 3 days at a 5* resort (which I’ve driven past countless times but never been to) and presenting at a major conference. The icing on the cake was being there with great colleagues and beautiful weather. What a treat! My…
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Trip home: Leamington (30/04/23)
First time back in Leamington since 2020. It’s bizarre how such a meaningful place can be less than an hour away and yet I haven’t visited for 3 years. Such are the times, and such is my point in life. Great to get back there; I’m fairly confident there will be more such visits before…
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ILPC Glasgow (11-17 April 2023)
I finally got up to Glasgow, it’s been on the list for decades but there’s fierce competition for time and resources. Over the course of life though, the right moment and reason eventually emerges and this was the case: the International Labour Process Conference was hosted by Strathclyde University in 2023. I therefore spent a…
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Getting about Spring 2023
I’ve never really had much of a fixed pattern, I go through phases where I rarely leave the house and others where I’m rarely there. Spring 2023 has been a period of getting around for various reasons. Here’s pics from a few of my stops including King’s Lynn, Oxford, Bedford and Bewdley (also Glasgow and…
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Sibelius, Prokofiev, Stravinsky and a world premier of a contemporary composer
One of the best things about classical music concerts is that the star attraction is often upstaged by someone that you’re less familiar with. I attended to see Sibelius symphony 5 performed live. It was astonishing, and yet it was given a run for it’s money by two other performances on the schedule: the world…
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Cadbury’s World (16th December 2022)
Another festive treat, it’s only half a mile away from work but I’ve never been until now. There’s no such things as a British-born boy not loving Cadburys. Don’t get me wrong I have broad tastes but no other confectionary maker has the same nostalgia power as Cadbury, which has its origins in Birmingham. It’s…
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Four Seasons
Guess what? I’ve been busy, too busy to post on here lately so I’m doing some catching up. On the last weekend of November I went to see Vivaldi’s Four Seasons by candlelight at Symphony Hall, Birmingham. It was so much better than I expected, I’ll definitely go again next year.
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Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
There’s not much I can add in terms of superlatives, it was an incredible event and I’m super proud of how the city I’ve made home hosted this festival of sport. Only world class planning and organisation could have made such a huge occasion go off without a hitch. If nothing else, it shows there…
Dr Martin James 