photo from earlier

This is a photo from inside No.5 Chambers, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham. It's a beautiful building that houses a number of specialist Barristers.

The Courtyard is as pretty as it looks and is crammed with the midlands legal community at the no.5 Christmas party.

Quick post

Just a quick post before I start the working day. I'm travelling into Birmingham for a morning conference at a local chambers, off to a client's house in East Birmingham and then into the office.

Birmingham has some pretty poor press, yet it's a great place to live and has a superb reputation for leisure - there are loads of great restaurants, bars, theatres, clubs, music venues and the like.

I'm still a big fan of Birmingham and love the place. I miss working in the centre, but it's good to travel in only once in a while as you don't take the place for granted.

I'll see if I can grab some quick photos into Birmingham and post them this evening.

Right... off to work!

Oops..

I am so sorry I've not updated the blog recently, I've been using it more as a storage space for the podcast which is daft, I know.

I've fallen in and out of love with social media and in more recent times diverted my energies there. I'll try not to do that, but will keep the journal here a bit more up to date.

I'm away next week in Cornwall and really hope that the weather holds up. Everyone at work seems to be jetting off to Cuba, Mainland Spain and all parts of the globe. I'm quite content to explore the UK in my caravan, as old as that makes me sound.... I caught Martin Clunes present on islands in the UK on terrestrial TV a few days ago and would love to follow suit - we're ever so lucky here in the UK to have such beautiful parts to travel to within no more than a few hours.

OK, as I say, sorry to have a space that's appeared no more than a vacuum - I really must make sure that I do update more regularly. It does make me wonder if blogs have generally suffered at the hands of social media?

Answers on a postcard...?

Imagine....

Apparently Liverpool Cathedral's bells will peal John Lennon's 'Imagine' this week.

The BBC article found at this link mentions that spokesmen from the Cathedral do not necessarily agree with the sentiments of the tune, which Lennon says was meant to be an 'anti-religion' anthem.

As lovely as the tune is, I've always smiled to myself when listening to the lyrics. 'Imagine no possessions....' opines Lennon... worth a reputed $150,000,000.00 pre 1980.

Yes John, I'm sure you had to imagine and concentrate pretty hard dressed in your trademark fur coat, with your many multi-million dollar houses and possessions.....

podcast189

Download the MP3 here!

Whoops! I forgot to post the recording of the live stream... Music and chat from Dean Whitbread, Kosso and Phil Coyne.

Huzzah!

podcastpaul no188 - the one with Tim, Linda and Parky

Download the MP3 here

A veritable feast of chat and music... all wrapped up in a lovely MP3 for your aural delight..

podcast no 187

Download MP3 here

Hello and welcome to the Sunday show of Podcastpaul - no 187

Live chat with Darren Michael from Slashed Seat Affair and Rowley from Darkcompass.com

Enjoy!

podcast186 podcastpaul.com

Download MP3 podcast186 here.

Live chat and music from Paul - and guests Jason Boyle, Aaron Cooper and Lance Anderson.

Enjoy!

live and streamed podcast tonight...

Hi - please feel free to join me on Friday 27th March 2009 at this link here.

You can interact on the chat room, I'd love to see you for around an hour or so. Live chat and great music.

See you there!

Space - the final frontier?

In space, apparently no one can hear you scream. I find that when I have space, I don't want to.

I'm doing a very unusual thing right now as I type: taking a break at lunch time. Doing something apart from work. As much as I enjoy my work, I find it becomes less enjoyable - and productive if I don't break the day up with a lunch break. When I have a break, I stay much more focused.

I naturally seem to gather clutter. I hoard files around me. Don't get me wrong, I know where everything is. At home, I'm surrounded by my Macbook, phone, Blackberry, iPod Touch, Camera, and virtually every conceivable wire and cable known to man - I've also a collection, usually of two or three cups and glasses. Why do I do that?

The whole concept of space - staying away from clutter is something I'm trying to action. My life is also full of clutter. This time last year I was studying part time in the evenings, trustee of a church leadership, Chair of Governors, trying to write a novel, musician, dad of four, husband.... the list just goes on and on. Clutter.

Over the last month or so, I've been waking at around 2 or 3 am with my mind buzzing about....everything, with the resultant effect that I can't get back to sleep for hours, drop off around 4.30am and then wake absolutely frazzled in time to drive 30 miles into work - usually around rush hour.

So the cull begins. It strikes me that whatever I do, my family comes first. I spend far too much time (ironically) on the internet - and every other space of time is crammed with...stuff.

I spoke to Sue about clearing ...physical stuff from our home. Again, we seem to hold on to...stuff... and when you analyze why you keep hold of lots of things, there's no other reason than not just throwing it away.

At the weekend I'm ordering a skip. I'm going to take great delight in culling 'stuff' t get some empty space. I'm sadly giving up some of my extra curricular activities too. It's a case of having to.

If I don't get space in all areas of life, just about everyone may hear me scream...

;-)

podcast185 - the recording of the live show...

Download the MP3 right here....

Podcast 185 - the recordig of the live show is right here. Jonathan Ross / Jay Leno eat your heart out...!

Stacks of chat, music and interactivity in a bumper edition of the show recorded late Saturday / early Sunday 21/22 March 2009.

Live chat from Phil Campbell back from SXSW, Dean Whitbread who talks about Rise and Shine and a mate of his who is a bit famous, and Steve Lacey in Seattle who now works for Google but can't tell us why!

Hope you enjoy the show!

Podcastall - live and interactive

From 11pm - 11.30pm GMT tomorrow I'll be starting another live and interactive podcastall show

The URL is likely to be at THIS LINK HERE - I look forward to seeing you there!

If you would like to add me on Skype - I'm 'podcastpaul'

See you tomorrow!

How I produce a live and interactive podcast.

Not the greatest headline I know...

Apologies for the tech nature of this post. I've produced a couple of podcasts that have been recorded with a virtual audience in real time and with the ability to hold a live streamed video, chat room and hold audio conversations with folks, whilst simultaneously recording the show. The net result is that five separate people have asked me how I did it.

I'm sure there are loads of different ways you can record a live broadcast, I am just able to tell you how I did mine.

I've a macbook and an Alesis Multimix USB mixer. You don't need a mac - but you probably do need the USB interactivity of the mixer that essentially becomes an external soundcard and audio device.

The ease of the Alesis is wonderful. You simply plug the mixer in, and you have the ability to record anything you hear.

I use GarageBand as my recording tool, but the open source programme Auduacity (or cubase) may be just as workable.

I set the GarageBand preferences to the USB codec and then know when the record button is selected, that I have the ability to produce an audio record of everything that happens - including Skype.

All of my audio tracks are selected to open in Quicktime. I opena separate mini player for each track, simpy stacking the audio tracks in a cascade so I'm aware of the next track to play - I do this for soundbeds, jingles and songs I'm playing. The volume button on the mini QuickPlayer is handy as I can adjust the track to my voice.

I use a Behringer mic for the main audio - and an additional Sennheiser mic for any other audio.

Ustream.Tv is my interactive client that allows me to stream over the web. Best of all is the fact that it's free.

The screen can become very cluttered, so I use the mac 'spaces' app which means I can cut between Skype, and other apps with ease.

The Chat room is bundled with the ustream free broadcast tool.

It's a great adrenalin rush to produce the show 'live' and the dynamics are great... but be careful not to have to many networked machines sucking on the wifi pipe as things can crash ith alarming regularity.

Anyway, best of luck to anyone starting out along the interactive route. Drop me a line if you need any further info.

podcast184 live and in MP3 to download

Download the MP3 here - podcast184 15th March 2009.

You join me as I recorded this live with a group of folks on Ustream!

I'll note the music in early course, but in the meantime thanks to Bob Cartwright, Laurel Meadows and Ed Ross for joiing me live on Skype.

Phew!

Podcast all.....

If you listened to the last podcast, you will note that it was recorded with a live streamed audience, courtesy of Ustream.

I will be recording another show on Saturday around 11.30pm GMT. Check the site tomorrow for the link, and please feel free to join in.

I'm not sure of the format of the show yet, but can't wait to record - and see you there!

so - Saturday, 14th March 11.30pm GMT - podcastall....

podcast183

Download the MP3 from here

Yes - another podcast created to tickle your lug 'oles.

This is the recording of a ustream broadcast I did with some willing victims, er... volunteers I rustled up from a quick shout out, so thanks to Darren, Laurel, Paul, Peter, Rowley, Geoff, Linda and everyone else I've forgotten to mention.

Some ace music from

Rinaldi sings
Gramercy Arms
Bensem
3 Blind mice
Jeremy Carr
Hollow Horse

We also talk about Ghosts and stuff!!

There's also a Juke Pod Jury moment when we play a completely random track - from the Hollyfields ....and I mistakenly cut them off in my time. Bizarre as their track is called 'Bad Timing..."

!

Enjoy!

Soulful mix tape.

Have you ever seen Spotify? It's completely free and absolutely superb. I *think* it might be only UK accessible at the moment, but I'm not sure.

Anyway, try this link - it will definitely work in the UK. You will need to download 'spotify' but it's completely free. The link for my soulful selection including Tower of Power, Mary J Blige, Jamiroquai, Dusty Springfield and loads of others is at this link here

If you can access it, have a listen and let me know what you think!

Happy listening!

Count your blessings.

I think I've mentioned this before. When I take stock and sit and think things through, I feel privileged and, although it's an old fashioned word with religious overtones, 'blessed'.

My family is becoming more important to me as I tread the path towards the finish line. If I'm lucky, I'm about half way round the course now, or, perhaps, more realistically, four sevenths complete should the 'three score years and ten' be an accurate prediction. Even if I were to be taken from the track before the average finishing time, I can honestly say that I am still very happy.

As much as I can complain about the level of increasing crime, look at the high levels of family breakdown and see the impact of the global credit crisis, I could do far worse than live in the western world in comparative comfort to many others around the world.

Newspapers and TV headlines are full of doom and gloom, but I live in a place where I can say pretty much what I want without fear of harm, hold the religious beliefs I do with a level of (albeit eroding) protection and still have opportunities available to me if I work hard enough, despite the class system that is still in operation here today.

Often I do feel I should stand up and shout about something I feel passionate enough to believe in, but, when I sit still and the shouting is over, I am at a place where I should really count my blessings, and I'm pleased I am.

When you lose something you once had, it's very easy to only then realise how much you took things for granted. I'm glad to think that today, I was about to sit still enough to consider the things I have, and realise how fortunate I really am.

Before now, I've had a few people snigger cynically at the stuff I've posted on here - we both know who you are, and I can't be bothered to post things cryptically so as not to feel I can't say things without being spied on. Quite frankly, I couldn't care less, snigger away, I'll just smile, roll my eyes and disregard you. If you don't experience the (possibly temporary) warmth I feel at the moment, I pity you. I also wonder why you keep revisiting my site? If you're posting a link or emailing snide comments around (and if you are, be careful I'm not including on the email link - check carefully), think why you're doing that. If you don't value or understand the experiences I've blogged, I feel desperately sorry that you have such a shallow life. I hope I'm wrong.

Life is for living. I don't want to miss experiences under my nose now, only to have memories of 'if only' when it's too late. There's real merit in the phrase 'sieze the day'.

An Epiphany

I just had an epiphany. At least, I think I did.

I'm forever beating myself up about 'wasting' time when I get back from work. As I type this, Sue is watching 'Lark Rise to Candleford' and I'm mucking about, just catching up with things on the web and checking the BBC web site. Wasting time - something I always feel guilty about.

I was in the office before 7.30 this morning, and didn't leave until 6.30 this evening. As much as I love work, I don't want to think about it when I get home, and it's great to do something else, and, quite honestly just unwind and 'waste time'. I've fixed the dishwasher, helped Chris try and configure his PS3 and a new gadget and just chatted to an old school mate. Heaven.

I think that sometimes it's great to waste time, in fact, sometimes it's crucial. It's dead easy to cram every available item into every conceivable amount of spare time, but it just isn't healthy.

I think I may just waste some more time, and I'm not going to feel guilty about it.

Warwick Castle footage

m4v footage here

I took some footage at Warwick Castle - see it by clicking the above link.

Pictures from the Law Society and Library earlier today

In London....

How Bizarre... I am in the Law Society library in Chancery Lane, London. I just had to get online and publish something from the online suite of computers!

Photo's etc later!

Social Media replacing old RSS feeds and Syndicated habits?

I'm just updating the blog and noticed that I tend to disregard it lately, most likely because I spend time on other social media.

I wonder if blogs have been hard hit by sites like Facebook, Twitter and the countless other sites? It's a question that must have been asked countless times.

I have to say that my blog and podcast following has been patchy, to say the least. I don't think I've necessarily had a change in direction, it's either a personal shift in habit, or, more likely a culture shift?

Speaking to an old online mate; Jeroen the other day I was heartened to hear that he doesn't bother with RSS feeds any more, rather he consumes at the PC. I have to say that I do exactly the same, but tend to be pretty random with the sites I visit.

I haven't bothered listening to many podcasts recently (apart from one or two old faithfuls) and wonder if mine and Jeroen's experience is something that we're all doing now?

If I tend to visit a site, it's because someone else talks about it, or links to it from a site.

What about you? Have your habits changed recently?

podcast182 Interactive comments on the Gaza Strip & The Credit Crunch

Direct MP3 download of the show here

Today's show is great - because of the interactive comments of others, thanks so much for your contributions.

We look at the Gaza strip & The Credit Crunch

Music, courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network features:

Joe Carey
Sore
Greenroom
LA Big Daddys
Judith Owen

Please mail your comments to podcastpaul@blogspot.com or comment in the field below.

Thanks for listening!

.

Oops...

Podcastpaul.com is down at the moment, but leave it with me, I should have it fixed tomorrow.

ponderings

I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve. I like to think I'm pretty transparent.

I contemplated deleting this blog, or making it private, but that seems pretty pointless. I've kept my jottings online for 4 years, and I don't want to delete all the hard work I've put in.

It has been four years or so now since I've kept a blog, and I don't tend to hold things back with what I say on here. I perhaps need to be a little more sensible though. If you don't like the blog, then please feel free to stop reading it. I keep it mostly for myself anyway.

The blog also of course also doubles as a place to keep the podcast which I love doing.

After some consideration, I'm not altering a thing apart from the fact that I think I will probably keep a bit more on the blog and continue to keep the podcasts coming. I'm hopeless at keeping a proper diary, and I like the fact that this is a good place to come back to stuff I've put up some time ago (i.e Swaziland). The blog stays then.

It may be a turgid read, as I keep the jottings mostly for myself, so, as I say, please feel free to move on if you don't like it. Alternatively, pull up a chair, and join in. The comments fields are kept on, and if you want to say anything, please feel free. You can also mail me at paul@podcastpaul.com. All the comments made are my own, and they're all done in my own time. I'm not pushing anyone, or touting anything.

I wanted to keep a diary of notes and thoughts on how I'm dealing with diabetes. You need to understand me to understand why I'm doing this. I'm just not that bothered about making my thoughts public, it's siply a by-product of my diary. I would hate people to think that I'm showing off though, not that there is anything to show off! It just seems to me to be too much trouble to keep an anonymous blog, and there doesn't seem to be any real point in doing that.

Tomorrow I've got to go the diabetes clinic to see a dietitian. I'm really looking forward to this as I just don't seem to be feeling any better really of late, I'm certainly far better than I was, but I seem to have reached a plateau. I'm finding that I get very tired very quickly. I'm not sleeping that great, and some foods send me spacey within 15 - 20 minutes of eating them.

I never thought that taking tablets four times a day was so much of a pain. I'm constantly forgetting them. I've got to get used to that.

I'm noticing that I'm not sweating anywhere near as much as I did, and I'm also not drinking anywhere near as much fluids as I needed prior to being diagnosed, so the medication is doing something.

The head rushes I'm getting are bizarre. The easiest way to explain the feeling is when you stand too quickly after sitting. There's a weird spacial feeling I get too, when I'm not eating correctly, or whenever I get too warm.

The one thing I want to get back is my energy. I hate the feeling of being drained. It seems ok when I'm occupied (i.e work) but when I'm sitting relaxing, I could simply sleep for hours.

Let's wait and see what's said tomorrow then. I'm hoping I get some answers so I can get back to full strength and getting back to normal again.

All that training....

A sincerely happy New Year

As this year closes, and another waits in the wings for the curtain call, I never really like looking back. I'm a pretty much forward thinking bloke.

2008 has been and gone, it quite literally is history. I don't like pondering over things, jut looking ahead to what's around the corner.

The inevitable resolutions come along - lose weight, be a little more tolerant, work harder, spend more time with the kids. The list goes on.

The thing that has been on my mind more than anything else though is to be less critical. The one thing I tend to do is to make a snap judgment of people. I feel I should be far less judgmental. No one likes a cynic and I would hate to think that I'm like that.

The good book says 'Judge not, lest ye be judged' and I like that mindset. As I look at people, hopefully, they'll look at me in the same way. To be honest, as cynic as some people are, there are plenty that aren't.

Being a Christian isn't like a golf club membership, it's a way of life, and one that I would dearly love to live better than I do. I don't think I'm doing too badly, but it's always a good idea to improve.

So, I will try not to make snap judgments and really try hard to look through another's eyes before making comment. At least, that's the plan.

We're all the same, no matter what size, gender, perceived class or outlook we have on any aspect. If you don't believe in God, don't worry, He still believes in you!

Have a great, prosperous and very peaceful New Year, whenever and wherever you are.

Paul.

podcast181 podcastpaul.com 4 years and counting....

Download MP3 direct from here.

Hello! I've been podcasting for four years from yesterday. Blimey!

Great music as ever, hopefully the chat is as inspiring...

Dynamo's Rhythm Aces - click this link for their site
The Lichfield Chamber choir (live recording on Christmas eve)
Simon Apple click here for SA's site.
Hollow Horse - cracking Ken Little & Co Click for Hollow Horse at this link here
Roxy Perry - this woman is awesome. Click here for Roxy's site.

Thanks to everyone for listening to me - shout outs to some folks, apologies to those I missed - including Jason and Ed!

God bless, have a phenomenal New Year.

mail to paul@podcastpaul.com