Big brother really is mad...

see this?

podcastpaul - video of my son; Christian age 14 (the drummer) and his band - Flight 17

Download the Video here (right click and ress "save as")

My son Christian (14) and his band were chosen as finalists to play at the CBSO centre in a gifted and talent competition as finalists, representing South West Birmingham in front of a live audience.

I watched the band tonight and they were absolutely fantastic, this was some months ago, they are starting to write their own material and they've a really good sound.

Great eh?

..or not so great, you might not be able to get it to work, right... let's try some HTML

The day we should never forget

The 7th July is a day that we should never forget, I recall being hit with such a profound sense of mortality and shock. The familiar places I'd walked along were devastated, but the reslilience of the Londoners and Brits was amazing.

I'm so proud to be British.

This is my blog entry from 8th July last year:

Before yesterday I cannot remember the last time I cried. Honestly. The scenes where the explosions occurred are so familiar to me, I've walked along the roads, caught the trains and the buses, been part of the busy hustle and bustle of life.I sat shocked to the core, lump in my throat, helpless at the continual feed from the BBC at work. I got hardly anything done. I found out I'd passed the first year post grad exams, I felt....nothing.. I could just imagine the plight of the victims who had suffered bereavement, loss of life, loss of limbs, the loss of a father, mother, daughter, son, grandparent.Why? What on earth does this achieve?

the results are in.....

...and I've passed the last two year course with a commendation!!

I do not find exams easy at all, I never have done, so this post graduate malarky was a real nightmare.

For those of you who are reading this blog for the first time - I'm a lawyer of 22 years - I qualified as a Fellow Of The Institute Of Legal Executives back in '92 after 8 years part time hard graft. I'm gaining my second / dual qualification to admit me to the Law Society and grab the Solicitor's Blue Peter Badge - I've done a Post Grad Dip in Law, whic essentially is maddening because I'd passed half of it way back in the late 80's - crazy academic laws mean that my Qualifications are valid, but spent for the purpose of topping up acadmic bits and bons after 4 years..so I've had to do a lot of it again and more.

Next - I'm grabbing the LPC (Legal practice Course to the uninitiated) over two years and at the end of that getting an LLB (Hons) as well as the LPC and Law Society qualification to see me through the next stage.

Here's the crazy bit.... I've been doing it for 22 years, now I need to learn how to do it? Bewildering eh? I can either complain and stay still, or shut up and get on with it. When that's finished I aim to complete the creme de la creme, a top up Masters in Law MA (Law) . As much as I moan about it, I really do enjoy studying. I'm planning to do a part time Masters after that in Theology...and if I have the stomach for it, I'd also like to do a further degree in Classics - beats watching the TV eh?!

I have to thank Podcasting for helping me pass - I wrote an article about it in this month's Podcast User Magazine If you're ever studying for an exam, preparing to learn a best man's speech or delivering a presentation, have a look, it's entitled "Podcasting for an audience of one"

The Piece from the Independent

Lots of people were mailing me and telling me about this - a review in the Independent, wow, & cheers!

Thanks to Chris Frear for sending this through to me.

Podcast User Magazine

Download the Podcastuser Promo here - issue 6 will be out in just over an hour too!

Fancy winning a $400 prize? Check it out: Podcast User Magazine

Podcstpaul podcast 116 - trying to be serious... yeah right...

- Hello from Paul and Sue late evening 29th June 2006

- Sweating like a fat bird at a disco
- Immaculate Insurance
- Violent By Stellar (PMN) One for Bernadette, she'll love this....
- What on earth is happening in Big Brother?!
- Dream, Alice Smith PMN gets more Beatley as it goes on...great harmonies
- Serious bit, racist murder in prison; Justice Keith's enquiry: Zahid Mubarek
- Discussions of institutional murder - there's actually no such thing.
- What makes a racist murder worse than a non - racist murder? Should there be half the grief and outrage?
- Dream
- Positive discrimination and pc nonsense.
- What are we doing at the weekend?
- Where are YOU listening from? The middle of the sea according to Clustr!
- Watch out for the fab prize in July 1st PUM
- When Mothers Conspire, The Blue Alarm

musing

...I can't talk too much about work, but I can talk about it in general terms.

I'm dealing with a seriously injured man who has been comatose for many years, he's been let down by his previous advisers, the NHS, just about everyone apart from a doting family.

Today I spent all day on the file, considering the evidence, re-attending the accident scene, musing, pondering, reconsidering the evidence again and looking at the matter from every angle. This is the biggest case I've dealt with so far in my 22 years in litigation, and a win will mean security, peace and comfort for all involved, though I have dealt with a £4.8 million settlement previously.

I don't even want to consider a loss - insurers have been known in these cases to argue for mitigation through pulling the plug on life support.

Litigation can be incredibly exhilirating, or dreadfully boring - but this isn't a game, the stakes are too serious. What a privilege to be able to deal with the matter though, but, at the same time, what a burden.

Law is a weird old thing over here in the UK, it still is the province of the middle classes, something I'm pleased to say is slowly changing, but still an effective closed shop for the middle classes. Yet law is still so often misunderstood - a growing number of folks love the job for the fact that injustices can be challenged, yet the general public simply see pound signs.

I've had the results of my Extended research Essay - a sort of mini thesis, I passed, and passed well... it's just those awful exam results I'm waiting for. I predict I've passed two well and possibly may need to resit one.

I'm simply bettering myself from the qualification I hold now, but, seriously, how on earth am I able to assist my poor needy client above having passed a further module in land law?

Crazy - yet I sat that Land Law exam.

podcastpaul 115 - with parky - the lads show.

Download the MP3 for podcastpaul 115 here



PodcastPaul Podcast115
- Hello and welcome
- Paul Parkinson and I chew the fat and have a chat about life, the universe and everything... well, about Music and stuff actually..... one of the most enjoyable shows I've done for ages!
from PMN www.music.podshow.com
Marke La Forme - Someone I used to know
Observation by Agency
Learn to Crawl & Remember - Black Lab
from www.burbs.co.uk
We Got to Plug You In by Heifervescent
Paul can be found at www.theflashing12.com
I'm at www.podcastpaul.com
mail: paul@podcastpaul.com

podcast 114 - the one wit hthe really big blooper..

Download the MP3 podcastpaul podcast 114 here directly.


PodcastPaul Podcast114
- Hello and welcome
- The show apparently appeared in the Critic's choice in yesterday's Independent. Does anyone have a copy?
- As ever great and very varied indie music from some very different artists.
- Condolences to Paul and Jan Parkinson
- The weekend, no show, Paul and Sue's exploits
- Hooked on You by Albert Collins from the Podsafe Music Network
- My mate Martin Hunt
- Why do women have more friends than men?
- Women's conversations, complete inhibition
- Anyone out there by Hoverfly, courtesy of http://burbs.co.uk
- Back at the Gym, hopefully I'm hooked.
- audio comments Jude and prof steve
- Diets & Willpower
- Your Words by Kelly Mueller, courtesy of the podsafe music network
- What are we reading / watching?
- Brilliant episode of Desperate Housewives, Brie is bril!
- The Colours in Between by Simon Apple - from the lads themselves - http://myspace.com/simonapple
- send an email to us (or leave a voicemail or blog entry)

Hey there....

It's funny, but I'm usually pretty pedantic about the English language... 'Hey there' and 'feeling chilled' are Americanisms that I'm beginning to understand though.

I just feel ike saying 'hey' to all my mates, and, after the heavy academia of the last month, I really am feeling 'chilled'.

I'm really enjoying surfing for new music at the moment, I absolutely love finding hidden treasures - there are some great tunes out there...and some real rubbish too..this is one of my favourite 'chilling times.

I was away at the weekend with Harry, Jack and Christian at a 'Dad's and Lads weekend' - just a lovely opportunity to spend some time with the kids - though it was just a reminder to me about how independent the kids really are. The boys were off playing football, fishing....doing boys things. I'm seeing the children really grow up, Mike's at work, Chris is already talking about A levels and University - and I'm getting grey flecks in my hair.

Getting older is actually something I really enjoy - I do worry about how things seem to click, crunch and how easily I seem to tire though. I'm at the gym doing a punishing schedule and enjoying that as I get to catch up on my podcast listening.

I'm more than happy to accept the crunches, clicks and tiring for the fact that I seem to observe and learn more with each year I gain. Does that make sense? Does this happen to you? I watch and listen much more now than I ever did before. I don't mean that I'm sitting watching the Discovery Channel or sitting with the Encylopedia Britannica, I just.... I don't know...observe more. I love people watching, and I feel as though I take more time to listen, rather than jump in with an opinion.

Show 113 was a little bit of an indulgence, but it was a product of my sitting and just vocalising stuff that I'd been thinking of for ages. Thanks to those folks for writing in - I had some really lovely emails from people who

It's that time now where I'm rambling, so I really should stop typing and get back to some more music searching for the next show.

Speak to you soon.

podcast113

Download the MP3 PodcastPaul 113 here

Paul unplugged.

Carling don't do mellow shows, but if they did, this would probably be their flagship....

Me.

I grew up in Quinton, South Birmingham,a very poor district of Birmingham.

I attended Four Dwellings School, lots of struggles, real strife there. I hated the place. I wanted to go to a better school - this was a toilet - I wanted to go to another school because I was terrified of the reputation.

There were fights outside the school constantly. No one - and I mean no-one wanted to learn.

School was a terribly miserable existence. I remember thinking surely we should be learning here? One teacher didn't even turn up for 9 months and the teachers neither cared nor knew.

Music was a real way out for me - I took to the drums and loved my music, though initially I had to be careful about the music I listened to.

Bullies were rife, expectations were horribly low. You had to learn to fight through the day. That, in some perverse way helped me.

I remember a fateful careers advisor and an absoluely appalling Maths teacher. I was determined to show these hateful people that I was better than they expected. Incredibly a good number of my class mates did well by educating themselves after school life.

Church was a big part of my life - a whole hotscotch of folk from all walks of life - church - and drums....and work - great work ethic.

All's well that ends well, but never think of me as that lawyer bloke with a misconception - hopefully I don't fit the middle class stereo-type.

Class music (as ever from the following artists)

podsafe music network:

Truly by The Fags
Black Heart Blues - Melissa Forbes
Tender by Black Tie Destiny
I found you - Rebecca Haviland ( this is a MUST listen to)

Thanks to Darren and Ellie for Elli Myles - Forget You. Guys it's only a matter of time before you get signed and find your fame and fortune. Remember me on a record sleeve credit eh? ;-)
Thanks for listening , please send your feedback by mail or audio www.podcastpaul.com - mail to paul@podcastpaul.com.

Paul

podcast112 again....grrr

Download mp3 here podcastpaul112

I'm ever so sorry, aparently the feed may have gone a bit skewiff, here's podcast112 again if you didn't get it - the show notes are at www.podcastpaul.com

podcastpaul podcast112 Who is Marc Bolan?

Download Podcast 112 MP3 direct from here

Podcastpaul Podcast 112 shownotes

Welcome to podcast 112, including a couple of bloopers.... it really has been a while!


It's incredibly hot here. It's been in the 80's / 90's today. Harry has had the pool out and the ice-lollies have been disappearing like billy-o in the freezer.

Tilly has been shawn, I would like to shave my head (though I won't as I look like a convict). Everyone is stripping off and spending time outdoors.

Music from The Tactitians - London's Alright. Thanks to Alan at Dark Horse Radio for the email suggesting I play them. Tell 'em you like the track and that you heard it here... www.thetacticians.com mail them at theband@thetacticians.com

Exams are [hopefully] all over and done with. Another two year course starts September - I can barely wait... saying that I know I will miss studying, that's the weird irony of intense academia.
The way I revised was absolutely superb - with my ipod. I eat, slept and drank murder, manslaughter, Theft, Land, Equity for weeks.

England played their first game against Paraguay yesterday - great first half, appaling second half - it really was like watching paint dry. I can guarantee arguments for the next goodness knows how long Wednesday England play Trinidad.

Podcast reccomendation: Weird Nylon - great podcast I listened to yesterday on www.theflashing12.com Paul Parkinson and his mate in New York - a good fun 'cast to listen to whilst working / commuting.

In Big Brother, Sam got the chop. Grace heard the crowd shouting that she should go. I'm seriously concerned at the psychological effect the progrmme is having on people.

From the podsafe music network:

Dona Oxford - He's my baby - this girl has a superb voice, reminds me of Des'ree. Sue actually likes this one!
High Speed - Tourist - The intro is a bit deceptive, it's not that heavy, and there's a lovely chorus. One for the ipod.
Way out - Seven thousand miles - beautiful summer tune that makes me want to be on holiday, sipping from a tall glass, three feet from the poolside - you'll like this one Adrian and Bernadette!
;-)

Preparing for the show....

I've been preparing for the show for the last few hours, music picked - loose idea of what I'd like to say, show notes semi - prepped, music all downloaded.

I'm really looking forward to doing the show this evening, I had a wonderful audio email in from Clinton Gaillie from New Zealand - the sun is shining and my postgrad exams are [ on the premise I've passed] all over and done with. I'm even looking forward to getting back to work...

Browsing round the web I saw something I have to point you at - check it out as there's a superb KTTunstall video on there. I remember watching her performance live on Jools Holland and being blown away by how skilled she was. You have to see it to believe it - that girl is absolutely amazing and I'm proud to say that I played her well before she was known. Look for the video, and prepare to be staggered, I think you even get to see another of my favourite artists clapping along; Anita Baker! http://www.myspace.com/kttunstall

..and don't forget to come back a bit later on for the show.

;-)

They think it's all over....

"They think it's all over" ; words from the 1966 World Cup when England lifted the Jules Rimet.

I'm hoping I hear the same thing in mid-July with the results from my exams that finished Friday - two were an absolute dream, the last one was an absolute stinker.

I'm recovering from 3 - 4 weeks of intense - and I mean seriously intense revision.

Right, now, onwards with Podcast User Magazine, Podcastcon UK, Pinnaclemedia and a thousand other thing I want to do, including DIY, and many more podcasts...

Sorry I've been quiet, but watch this space.

;-)

Podcastpaul podcast 111. The one with the Skype revelation and minimal Big Brother chat

Download podcastpaul podcast 111 MP3 here


Podcastpaul Podcast 11 shownotes

Hello! It's podcast 111

Sue and I talk about, well, the usual - her heavy breathing, crashing into mikes etc.

I work out, mid show that I can Skype folks and record using Castblaster - that could be a very useful tool.. he he...

Some (limited - because I'm so bored of it) Big brother chat.

Corking music as ever - all from the podsafe music network

Jona Lee - Roomfull of blues (Alligator records)
All the money in the world - Hutch
Carry Love - Hey Mike
This is a way - Loveless.

Check out PodcastUserMagazine @ www.podcastusermagazine.com

Contact the show: paul@podcastpaul.com
Skype: Podcastpaul

Want to send an audio comment in - or even join me on Skype? send a mail.
All feedback very welcome.

powered by Castblaster - all non music content completely free for you to do with as you will ;-)

podcastpaul, CUBB5

Download the MP3 here


Fear not young Lewis and others, a podcastpaul show is on its way! Tonight Paul Parkinson, Sue and I talk about Big Brother, Paul's recent 'goings on' and ...well listen for yourself and find out eh?

Podcast Paul - Big Brother 4 - we're bored!

Download the MP3 here


PodcastPaul / Completely Unofficial Big Brother podcast We're Pinfield-less again, bless him, Sue and I postulate as to where he is and whether he's wearing his Navy Costume.

Paul is bored, Sue is tired, Dwn is gone and Lewis Moten wants us to stop! Saying that, loads of great comments again, cheers folks.

;-)

All here folks...

oops! Big Brother 3 podcast

Download mp3 here

oops... looks like the feed broke for bb3 - here it is - sorry!

New Music Friday with Martin from Green Dragon

Download the MP3 here


My old mate Martin helps me to spice things up in the third New Music Friday

I'll post shownotes as soon as I'm less busy... i.e. December 25th 2009!

Completely Unofficial Big Brother Podcast No. 3

Download the MP3 direct from here

The Completely Unofficial Big Brother Podcast Number 3

More chat from Paul Pinfield, Paul & Sue Nicholls.

The Big Brotherhood split and Dawn’s B.O…. three normal folks talking about the last few days of Big Brother, warts and all..

Completely Unofficial Big Brother Podcast No. 2

Download the MP3 here
It's day two with Paul & Sue. Mr P is on a date....or, was on a date?
Big Brotherhood - Mancy Lisa and Shabaz, the 'nine stone cowboy'. Obviously divisive
Seza - desperate for Imogen.
Glynn and Imogen talking Welsh - very similar to Sue's old bionic woman club when she was a kid.
George's posh piercing is really annoying me.
Pete's Tourette's is absolutely brilliant. He does a Loony Tunes whistle too.
Seza the geezer, woman teezer - Pete obviously doesn't like Seza - I don't like seeing women grabbed that way.
Nicky ridiculous baby talking
George thinks Richard will be the ring-leader. The daddy of the house.
Selected Big Brotherhood leaders.
Lisa - don't like Sezar and Bonnie.
Bonnie, crying chav.
I most despise Nicky. I have a migraine I need bottled water. IDIOT!! No tears. "I feel like a homeless tramp"
Dawn is about 18 foot 9
Seza - self proclaimed guru and font of knowledge. I hate people like that. I would end up punching him.
Seza - I find Lisa "common"
Shabaz - scapegoat. Reminded me of George Orwell's 1984.
Richard "This is why gay men get bad names"
A rift is developing between Shabaz and Sezar.
Mrs Doubtfire.
Dawn - shows some really lovely qualities. Thinks they are bullying Shabaz.
come and chat to me when you're ready - Richard. Who is he?
Who do we think will be evicted? Who can't we stick? Who should win?

The Completely Unofficial Big Brother Podcast No.1

Download the MP3 file direct from here

Shownotes..


- Hello and Welcome to show no. 1


- This is the compleely unofficial show for Big Brother
- Meet Paul, Sue and Paul
- Different Lay out in the house
- Camp Chair
- Lovely Davina
- Bonnie; 20, Careworker. Chav. Is she thick?
- Pete; 24. Poor mans Lee Evans, Does he really have tourettes?
- George 19, student. Mr Posh
- Shabaz Self proclaimed "paki poof" - 80's nut
- Leah 35, plastic surgery addict large....teeth £35,000 on surgery
- Imogen 23, Barmaid. yummy! Very welsh former Miss Wales. Graduate. purrr...
- Mikey 23, model, Liverpool. Chauvanist
- Dawn 38. misery, has no friends, doesn't like people. Shoulder + chip.
- Glynn 18, lifeguard with a figure like a coathanger
- Richard, 33, Waiter, Canadian, muscular gay bloke - "I lack grace with the manners of an inbred dog"
- Grace, 20, Dance Teacher. very tidy... posh
- Lisa, 27, upholsterer. Chinese Mancunian - mental "I get on with the lads and everything...my dad owned a chippy" tiny...
- Sezer, 26, entrepeneur. Stockbroker. Bighead. Appears to be a bit of a chav, loves himself.
- Nicky, 24, model & promo girl. Appears to be thick. 'Man mad' Slightly pretty Vicky Pollard. Came 4th in Miss Hertfordshire. One wonders how many contestants there were....

oh dear.

Be afraid...very afraid, it's the.....

Love to hate it? hate to love it. Real discussion from real people who love and hate Big Brother.

Coming sooner than you'll expect it...

PodcastPaul - Bedtime stories with Harry and once upon a world

Download the mp3 here directly.

I love my lads - I love my five year old - my five year old loves Bedtime stories.

I don't like the fact that the internet can spew out some harmful stuff for kids, so I am delighted to promote (entirely independently - I have no tie in any way shape or form) 'Once Upon a World' - kids Bible stories read by the enigmatic wonderful and charismatic great English voice of John Le Mesurier (Dad's Army!)

for more info on Once Upon A World - go to their site

I tested this out on Harry the other night, and he loved it - we both did.

A big thumbs up from Paul and Harry!

podcast 110 I REALLY REALLY HATE taking stuff back to the shops

Download the MP3 direct from here


Another packed show from Paul (and Sue)
Show notes
- debacle in the restaurant- I hate taking suff back to the shops!- PUM & UKPA
- Sue reading my email
- Big Brother starts soon..listen out!
- Teri Hatcher is haggard, Paul fancies Brie and the working mum with the blonde hair (and of course Eva Longorio)
- other stuff I forgot...including Ofsted

Music

- Regardless by Agency
- Usual Way by Blue Alarm
- Born Again - Mark Prescott
All music from the podsafe music network.
All non music content, completely free for your own use - I'm not a spanner!

listener map

My Clustr map never ceases to amaze me.

Like most folks who do podcasts, I have listeners (or should I say readers) on every continent, how brilliant is that?

The majority of people seem to be US based, with a very good UK and Western Europe contingent.

It's amazing to see how far flung some of the folks are from - and the incredible places too. I am really pleased to see the South American, African, Asian and Australasian / New Zealander folks too!

I seem to have far more folks actually download the show than visit the blog. I wonder if that is a trend or simply down to the automation of aggregating feeds?

Anyway, whoever, and wherever you're from, you're all very welcome.

Podcast Paul - Podcast 109 Don't mention the...

Show notes

Music - Calvin Owens; Stop Lying In my face.

Hello from just me

Sue is in bed at the time I am recording the show - she's been to Cheltenham with some mates, so I am all on my lonesome looking after the kids - McDonalds comes in useful on those days!

Thanks for the feedback that has continued, you can always leave a message on the comment board and/or email.

I have been in the grip of University fever - exams are on 1, 5 & 9th July, I have just finished an Extended Research Essay ( 5000 words ) I cannot imagine that it will ever be published, 'A critical Consideration of Conditional Fee Agreements' is hardly a thrilling read.

Music - Don't mention the World Cup featuring John Cleese. I love the line "They might have bombed our chip shops a million years ago, a million pints of lager later, here we go!"
An absolute classic. I hope it'll do well. ;-)

I met up with Paul Pinfeld, Mark Crook and Dean Whitbread. We discussed UKPA - there are some amazing things Paul Pinfield and I are doing at the same time. More to come regarding that...

Took the boys to an unbelievable dive - in the red light district of Birmingham - for a curry. Offered drugs as we walked in and witnessed a fight outside. Charming evening! Whole thing cost just £27 for the food fo five of us.

Music - Back to No-One Ellie Myles and the genuis of young Darren on the guitar.

Radio Pinnacle
Pinnacle Sweeper Phone
Pinnacle funky

PUM is out - again please use the comments board, love to hear from you.

Today was Cup final day - Liverpool v West Ham, not that Iam bothered, I will be following the World Cup though, it's mandatory if you're English.

Christian has been playing 'Richard Cheese' - incredibly funny, I love him! Richard Cheese Preview

Music Don't stop me now - Dynamo's Rhythm Aces.

Update for May 11th and some vintage Harry Audio

Hi folks! Here's a quick audio update and some classic audio for you - you can download the mp3 here