Much ado about nothing

I thoroughly enjoyed studying Shakespeare for my A-levels. Perhaps it was partly to do with my teacher, who was excellent, but I really got stuck into Old Will's plays and came out with an A grade, of which I remain very proud.

Every year at this time, there's the usual debate over whether exams are getting easier as more and more pupils achieve high grades with both A-levels and GCSEs.

However, today's headline in the Metro - 'Even monkeys' can get A-levels - which quoted a director of A-levels in the north west, went much too far in my opinion. Another teacher stated they were 'Mickey Mouse' and called the situation an "absolute shambles". Shame on these people for these unhelpful comments.

Yes, there are now double the number of A-level students who attain A grades compared to nearly 20 years ago, but the truth is the exam system has changed to be less about how much knowledge you can retain and how good your memory is to being much more about informed decision-making and creativity.

And surely this can only be a positive thing because that reflects much more fairly the way their future life and work will be.

Employees aren't generally asked to recall facts and figures on the spot in a smelly sports hall for three hours - but rather, in my experience, it's about quality research, knowing the best way to achieve results and how to be as creative as you can, working to a set deadline.

Having a modern, relevant exam system is the way forward and if that means teenagers are succeeding, then surely that's worth celebrating. Rather than throwing slings and arrows at them.

(Photo credit: C Carlstead)

Camping it up

I've been away from my laptop, and blogging, for the last few days because I've been 'at one with nature', camping it up in a trailer tent in the New Forest!

Having never camped whilst growing up (static caravanning was the nearest I got!), my girlfriend - now wife - Sally and I went on a tenting holiday around France 11 years ago. Since then, we've always had walls around us on holidays. Until now!

We bought a second-hand trailer tent a few months ago, bought some essential equipment and got planning where we'd go. With two young daughters in tow (well, they were actually in the car), we headed south for a few hours to Hordle in the New Forest for a three-night try-out.

Despite my reservations and apprehensions, the experience went well. It was great to be a family all so close together, to leave pressures and distractions from home behind and the kids loved having lots of green space around them when they stepped out of the awning. They slept brilliantly through the night too - all that fresh air! We learnt what worked and what didn't - getting organised seems to be key.

One thing I'll need to get to grips with is the mindset of the camping community - the oddities and quirks of people staying near us. One guy we met was a particular oddball - we dubbed him Mr Baguette because his instructions of how to get to the best beach included going via Tesco's to pick up a baguette,"if you're like us". (Which we definitely weren't!)

He talked with eyes shut (really annoying!), had stayed in his caravan for THREE weeks (does he not like his home?) and was a Mr Know-it-all when it came to camping and the local area. He came over to us before we even got through the gate. One night he and his wife entertained three other couples outside their caravan. He was overbearing and odd.

I think you've got to be a sort of person to remain happy living with life's simple things in such a small space. Can that really be me? My fear is I'll turn into Mr Baguette. That said: we're off to the Cotswolds in October...

Snakes alive

Knife and gun crime are a serious problem in city culture - it's horrific to hear of young boys (usually) killing people of their own age with this weapons. Gang warfare is a very real issue and local authorities in places like London are doing their best to tackle it.

But police near Bristol might have to set up an 'adder amnesty' and establish a 'black mamba special branch' after news today of a youth gang in Bradley Stoke attacking a boy with a one-metre green python. The boy was bitten and taken to hospital - with specialists from Bristol Zoo brought into to advise.

It's a remarkable and curious story and shows that bullying takes on many forms and that gangs will stop at nothing to hurt others. Where did the lads get this snake from - and how do they manage to hide it from their parents... unless it's a pet? I don't only pity the boy who was obviously shocked by the ordeal but the poor snake is being mistreated and I'm sure the RSPCA will be monitoring the situation.

And since my sister and brother-in-law live quite close to this incident, I'll make sure they're aware to check their garages and sheds when they get back from their hols...

(Photo credit: Wolfgang Wedenig)

"We're gonna win the league!"

Aberdeen getting thrashed in Europe. Fulham entertaining the masses on ITV4. This can only mean one thing: football's back!

Whilst the rich fancy dans of the Premier League start on the 15th, the football league kicks off proceedings this coming weekend, with Middlesborough v Sheff Utd being the curtain-raiser less than 24 hours away from when I'm writing this.

It's great news that the BBC is going to be showing lots of football from every team. Every Saturday there will be Football League highlights following Match of the Day, with some live Championship games thrown in along the way. It's about time free-to-view channels got a bit of this: the likes of Mansfield matter just as much to football just as much as Man United.

United's rivals, Man City, have splashed enormous wads of cash this summer. In this time of economic difficulty it's almost scandalous the amount they've thrown about - and on not on the best players either: Adebayor for £25million... gulp! I just hope league clubs can survive in the current climate - many are having to watch every penny to avoid administration.

All in all I'm very excited! But then I always am at this stage. I always have hope and optimism - this could be (my team's) Coventry's year. "We're gonna win the league!" But this time around the edge has been taken off by selling some of our best players and being left with a small squad, with fans getting disgruntled. Roy Keane's Ipswich at home on Sunday to start with. Maybe I'll hold off on that bet just for now...

(Photo credit: UmbroFootball)

Back for good?

Britain's biggest showman is making a comeback! No, not Norman Wisdom, but Robbie Williams. Having flopped three years ago with his last album, Rudebox, Williams has lived in LA and stayed out of the limelight. But today, he's announced his new "killer" (in his words) album will be released in November, with the first single from it out in October.

Yes, I admit it, I own some of his albums! He's made sing-a-long,perfect pop songs that has appealed to children, men and women of all ages (though he really shouldn't try rapping again). Despite having an ego the size of Saturn, he has a cheekiness and likeability that you can't help warm too, and he's a down-to-earth bloke at heart - you can take the boy out of Stoke-on-Trent, but you can't take Stoke-on-Trent out of the boy. As they say...

But with this imminent return to Popville - will it ever be the same for Robbie? I very much doubt it. He's hit amazing heights in his career both as a solo artist and with Take That, and I can't see him getting anywhere near it. The music world has moved on since he was top dog. Many of his fans will have done too. And will he actually be willing to work hard enough or will he be too complacent and cocky?

My fear is Williams will believe his own hype, release the album and sit back - but if he gets on tour, does some live shows, tries to be original and himself... then maybe Britain will welcome Robbie back into its bosom again.

(Photo credit: Stefan G)

Heaven is a halfpipe

Scouring the BBC News front page today, the word 'Jesus' surprisingly jumped at me. Don't usually see that, I thought! A few clicks later and I was watching a great video about a 'ramp camp' in the USA, which is spreading the gospel through skate-boarding. It opens with a sticker which said, "Jesus walked on water. What's your best trick?" Genius!

I must admit I usually watch Christian stuff from the other side of the Atlantic with a little scepticism and embarrassment but this initiative is really inspiring - this group is meeting the children where they are at (on the ramps!) and making the Christian faith interesting and relevant for kids who wouldn't usually step inside a church. There are some great testimonies from the kids in the video.

I reckon UK churches might learn something from this sort of scheme - and some probably try and do things . Take a look around your community - especially during this school holiday time - and you'll either see bored kids just hanging around or groups doing things like skateboarding, bike-riding or listening to their ipods together.

Christians shouldn’t be looking to get teenagers into a church building; they should go to where the youth are, and set up sports or music clubs aimed at forming relationships, having fun - with a Christian message woven through it. Going to the people, being relevant, honest and loving: Jesus was pretty good at that!

(Photo credit: SkyB)

Flash, bang, wallop

"Oh, look out, I can see another one!" That little luminous yellow box on the horizon looms larger... time to slam on the brakes. Speed cameras are the bain of a motorist's life and getting caught out by one (flash, smile please!) is frustrating.

However, according to research, over a four-year period, 100 lives were saved annually because of them, with a 40% reduction in the number of injuries and deaths on roads with them.

Given this, the news on Friday that Swindon has switched off its five fixed speed cameras because they are costing too much has been met with horror by road safety groups - they're calling it "reckless". In defending the decision, Wiltshire police has said the money will be reinvested into more effective road safety measures and that they will continue to use mobile speed cameras.

I think that Swindon reviewing their road safety measures is actually a good thing and other local authorities would do well to take stock of their situation. I do question whether speed cameras are actually in the best position and on the correct roads.

And, instead of catching someone out who is doing 34mph in a 30 zone (though I realise fatal accidents can occur at this speed), I'd rather police did more to try and catch the countless speed-loving drivers who hare down the fast lane of motorways in excess of 100mph, tailgating, flashing and using other bully tactics to get to their destination five minutes quicker. In my opinion, they are accidents waiting to happen - take a photo of them!

(Photo credit: Topsy Grewlike)