Your Story : How We Play the Game of Life

 

 Your Story Ep 28 [81:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Welcome To Episode 28 of Your Story.

Today we talk with Colin Kerr who is my sisters father in-law who generously shared some time with us about his early life in Britain, dealing with life as a teenager during the war years and the fascination that only a 15 year old can have in war time despite the dangers of the blitz. As a young man he spent time in compulsory military service in the early ‘50 and shares the wonderful life that could be had in the military during peace time.

Colin explains his experiences of understanding both the British and French cultures and how he feels to be primarily European rather than being specifically British. He shares his thoughts on the British attitude towards involvement in external affairs of other countries and the impact that has on life in the UK going back to the influx of migration from the fifties and the impact of the IRA through to the involvement in the affairs of Western Europe and the United States of America.

As is often the case when I record these episodes of Your Story the conversation that I have before and after I start recording is often interesting. In this case I turned the recorder back on and recorded a more casual conversation with Colin. At the time he didn’t realise that the recorder was on but when I mentioned it to him he was happy for me to use it in the show. I was originally going to edit it in but on reflection I feel that it is more valid as a postscript to the original conversation. I’ve simply added it onto the end of the episode as an Addendum to the main portion. I think the continuing chat we had has merit.

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 Your Story Ep 27 [47:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Welcome To Episode 27 of Your Story.

Today we talk with McConnie E. Providence who approached me while I was walking down Whitechapel Road in London. He had noticed my Matrix Crew Jacket that I was wearing while fumbling around in my bag to get my recorder out. He ask me a few things about my involvement in the Matrix Films and I mentioned that I had worked on them as a special effects technician when they were being made in Sydney.

Coincidentally McConnie had been involved with Keanu Reeves along with many other successful young students in Canada while running a Drama Youth Programme many years ago while as an undergraduate at York University in Toronto.

After a brief exchange I mentioned what I was doing and McConnie agreed to come on Your Story to  share his passion for music composition, conducting and performing. Where he came from in St Vincent in the Caribbean and the way music was a major part of his upbringing and the developed through his life in Canada and his travels around the world.

He describe how he feels about being a conductor and the importance of being involved in the music as an interperitor of the composers expression of what was wanted to be achieved when the music was originally composed. He helps to share what it is like to be deeply immersed in the composition as a conductor and the reverence that is required towards the composition.
email is edfordmconnie@hotmail.com

Below is the introduction of the episode that I videoed with the full episode available as the podcast.

To automatically receive this podcast freely to you, click on one of the links to the left or search in iTunes for “Your Story.”

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Support Your Story by giving it a Digg or Stumble from the links under the heading for this episode or writing a review on iTunes

 

 Your Story Addendum Ep 16 [4:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Welcome To Episode 10 of Your Story Addendum.

My training post school was as an apprentice Pattern Maker. A beautiful craft of making patterns from primarily timber, to be used to produce the moulds that metal castings are made in. As I learnt the skills I developed an interest in how things are made and the manufacturing processes. So just before leaving on this trip I heard about the Whitechapel Bell Foundry from listening to This Week In London Podcast I knew that I needed to come and see it while I’m in London.

The Foundry is a modest but profound affair to me. There is a small museum and shop along with offices in the front of the old building on Whitechapel Road. Then out the back is the foundry where the bells are made, which isn’t large by foundry standards and seems to employ a dozen or so people.

But the history is staggering. They have made the two most famous bells that I know of. The Liberty Bell in the US and Big Ben here in London. They have recently made the new bell for the finally completed St Johns Anglican Cathedral in my home town of Brisbane. They are the oldest manufacturing organisation in the UK making bells for over 500 years and the history goes on and on. If you want more history here is the link to it.

For me to smell the grit and burnt sand of my trade, to see men still making things in an age old tradition and to consider the long and continuous history of a relatively modest concern was a wonderful experence  and if your into making things and manufacture I would strongly suggest that you drop in if your n the neighbourhood.

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 Your Story Addendum Ep 15 [7:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Welcome To Episode 10 of Your Story Addendum.

For a reason that I don’t understand I have an affinity towards the sacrifices made by the Australian troops particularly in World War One. So while here in London I went on a mission to see the Australian War Memorial at Hyde Park Corner.

On the way I was surprised to discovered the Canadian memorial in Green Park and the New Zealand war memorial near the Australian Memorial. Around these old British colonies war memorials is the grandiose memorials of old empire and militarism. The comparison for me was profound and I thought it was worth a comment.

Later in the day I had an opportunity to attend a performance at Shakespeare’s Globe of The Merry Wives of Windsor. I had a wonderful time laughing at a classic play performed in period Elizabethan costume in the worlds only open air Elizabethan play house . The costumes were impeccable in construction and function. The acting was the best in the world. The building that is the theatre is awesome in its style, function and construction.

The entire night was truly a wonderful experence in every way and I would strongly suggest that it’s a must see if visiting London.

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 Your Story Addendum Ep 14 [6:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Welcome To Episode 14 of Your Story Addendum.

London is a city that is confusing to me. We know that it has the biggest financial markets in the world but the amount of underlying social issues that are obvious just walking down the street is disturbing when compared to the affluence that is seen in wealthy areas.

I observe that this is a community that is in a state of fear and there is an underlying big brother, circa 1984, feel to London that is constantly reminding all that the authorities have it  under control and with millions of CCTV observing our every movement they are keeping us safe.There is a constant reminder with the TV’s, the posters and the public announcements that it is dangerous and if we all behave like good little citizens. Then we will be looked after and controlled for our own good.

Is just the English/London mentality of a big city that causes so few happy people. I can’t help but wonder is it due to the fear or the multitudes fighting to get by or maybe it’s just the cabin fever climate and the lack of decent weather. I don’t know!

These are just my musings on being in London for a short time.

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