Posted in Uncategorized on December 31, 2009 by alexlodge
The hum of Scooters darting in and out of bumper to bumper traffic;
Street market stalls buckling with fresh fruit and seasonal veg and the aroma of zesty orange peel trodden into the road long after sellers have packed up and moved on.
Froth-topped frappes, sipped slowly in smoke filled cafes.
The zing of ouzo as it crawls down and thwacks the back of your throat.
The mouth watering smell of souvlaki drifting out of taverna’s;
People squeezed in shoulder to shoulder to savour plates brimming with tasty mezes;
Spicy cheese, bread dipped in olive oil, melt in your mouth meats and gooey honey and walnut baklava.
The clink of glasses amidst chaotic cheers of ‘Yamas’.
A slap on the back, two air kisses and a frantic whirl around the dance floor with your new best friends.
Shadows dancing around the ancient Acropolis as clouds drift slowly across the December full moon.
Can you think of a famous Bulgarian? No, neither could we. In fact we couldn’t think of much that Bulgaria is famous for as we drove up through Greece to reach the mountain resort of Bansko for our Christmas holiday. So as we emerged into the old communist town, we didn’t really know what to expect.
We stayed in friendly hotel run by a British man and his Bulgarian wife, ‘The Avalon’. Hospitality was tiptop, showers were hot and there was a sauna in the basement. Brilliant. But aside from our hostess, Vanya, the Bulgarians we met weren’t the warmest of people. In fact it became our mission to see how many we could make smile. To add to our cultural and language barriers, we soon discovered that they nod for no and shake their heads from side to side for yes – most confusing!
A selection of Bulgarian dishes
Food was very hit and miss. Think clear soup with a few bits of floating chicken…and dry meat on skewers. The milk had that UHT / gone off kind of taste, and the bread was rock hard. So, we were very grateful for a curry night in the hotel and an Irish Bar for our Xmas Roast! On the positive side – Bulgarian wine was lovely!
Bulgaria certainly has the potential to become a popular European destination. For a start, everything was half price – if you want to ski on a budget,
Bansko is the place to go. However, it seems like they have not escaped the current economic difficulties, which became apparent as we passed hundreds of unfinished and empty apartments surrounding the slopes. All the shops had half empty shelves and Bulgarian women stood on street corners every morning illegally selling fresh milk in old plastic Coke and Fanta bottles.
Bulgaria undoubtedly has a long way to go in terms of development, (and tastier food).
Bulgarian Band playing in local Mekhana
But it did hold a certain charm; a raw and unpretentious beauty whose people, although a little serious, are ultimately unscathed by material greed and hold strong family bonds.
It made me think; has technology and modernity driven a divide between family unity? Would a more basic way of living or a blander food make us less greedy and materialistic? Think about it; we have adverts for Sky promoting the opportunity to watch a different programme in every room of the house. This essentially divides a family rather than uniting it.
Yet, adverts promoting junk food suggest a family unity.
It seems a bit of an oxymoron to me?
As we drove back to warmer climates, my dad had a brainwave – ‘Oh, I know a famous Bulgarian – Dimitar Berbatov!’
Who? ‘He’s a footballer who was much more famous last year when he played for Tottenham!’…
‘Oh and there’s Great Uncle Bulgaria from the Wombles!’ – my mum added.
Posted in Uncategorized on December 19, 2009 by alexlodge
As a journalist, you are the window between the picture and the viewer. You have the privilege of experiencing and witnessing a whole manner of events in order to convey the facts or the story to your audience.
Towards the end of term I had to put together a 4 minute radio feature. I decided to focus on alcohol-related crime in Cardiff after university researchers and South Wales Police received the Queen’s Anniversary Award. The Violence Prevention Group, founded by Professor Jonathan Shepherd, promotes a collaborated effort and information sharing scheme between the police, the NHS, Street Pastors and Cardiff licensees. Research shows that the amount of drunken crime in the city has fallen by 40% since 2002 so I wanted to find out how the group worked.
Trading in my heels and party dress for a woolly hat, wellies and about 4 layers of Michelin man padding – I joined Friday night revellers in the centre of Cardiff on the other side of the fence…the sober side!
I met up with the voluntary Street Pastors to follow them on their patrol from 10pm until 4am. The Pastors have been operating every Friday and Saturday night for just over a year now and the difference they make is incredible. Throughout my night with them, we reunited girls lost from their friends, helped people into taxi’s, gave flip flops to girls who had taken off their shoes, gave water to those who needed sobering up, gave a blanket to someone who was shivering in the cold and generally helped those that felt vulnerable, lost or too drunk. The Pastors were kind, helpful and friendly. They never preached or acted righteously, they were simply kind and eager to help those in need. I was humbled by their dedication and generosity and many were very grateful for their presence.
On Saturday night, yet again my heels remained in my wardrobe as I donned my Michelin man outfit and waterproofs for a night out with the Police. Arriving at the police station, I piled on more layers as I was presented with a stab proof jacket and a florescent coat! I spent the first 3 hours of the After Dark Patrol on the plod. I saw police break up petty fights, liaise with doorstaff, move on static traffic and stamp their presence clearly in the minds of revellers entering clubs.
From midnight until 5am I clambered into the immediate response van with two other officers. We darted around the city, pinging from fight to fight, making arrest upon arrest. I have to admit it was pretty exciting – flashing lights, sirens, dodging red lights!
However, it was also a shocking insight to a very chaotic and alcohol fuelled city. I witnessed about 20 arrests that night, saw 3 people admitted to hospital unable to even stand and one woman had blood gushing out of her head after another lady had hammered her heel into her during a fight.
Despite the chaos surrounding them, I was thoroughly impressed at the absolute professionalism of the police I accompanied. They did not have one break and they worked tirelessly to ensure the streets remained a safer place for those enjoying a night out.
Many thanks to those I interviewed and spoke to along the way, who enabled me to put my feature together. Enjoy.
Posted in Uncategorized on December 10, 2009 by alexlodge
In light of events surrounding the Copenhagen Climate Summit, there’s a growing public awareness of the threats posed by climate change.
So is this translating into effective action in Cardiff?
The city has been making a concerted effort to reduce CO² emissions and combat climate change through a project aptly named ‘sustainable Cardiff’. Selected as Wales’ first “sustainable travel city” by the Assembly Government, a £28.5 million scheme aims to reduce congestion and pollution and promote public transport.
Part of the money has already been invested into providing free cycle hire, bus travel around the city centre, and improved bike and walking routes. The money has also given a final go ahead for the Pont-y-Werin (translation: Bridge for the people) pedestrian and cycle bridge across the Ely river between Cardiff’s sports village and Penarth.
On your bike
Transport, particularly private cars are widely acknowledged as one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions. Scientists say the need to change the way we travel is becoming ever more pressing.
Cardiff Council have introduced a ‘keep cardiff moving’ travel plan that aims to cut car journeys and encourage the public to use buses, cycle, walk, or share car journeys at the very least.
In terms of total impact on climate change, driving is thought to release around six times more CO² emissions than flying and seven times more than ships and boats. Cars alone create nearly half of our total transport emissions.
Changing perceptions
Lee Waters, Director of sustainable travel charity, Sustrans Cymru says achieving a sustainable travel plan in Cardiff will only be successful if people change their perceptions.
“People need to be shown that there are alternatives rather than using a car all the time. We need to encourage people to use their cars less and choose to travel in ways that benefit their health and the environment’.
Listen below to Lee Waters, Director of Sustrans Cymru on ‘False Perceptions’…
“We need to break down this car culture and realise that it’s quicker and healthier to get around the city on a bike or walk.”
Critical Mass is a peaceful gathering that wishes to see less car-dominated cities and more people cycling. On the first Saturday of every month, bikers depart from the steps of the Cardiff Museum at 11am and cycle en-masse around the city centre to raise awareness of cyclists in Cardiff.
‘Cardiff Cycling Campaign’ join the event every month – they are an organisation that promote cycling and are bidding for improved cycle routes and a cleaner transport environment.
Cardiff Council claim “Cardiff is becoming an increasingly cycle-friendly city with 80km of cycle routes”. However, Cardiff Cycling Campaign argue ’some of these cycle routes are no more than lines on the map, with nothing but blue “cycling permitted” signs to show that bikes are allowed on the road.’ They are currently campaigning for cycling access through the new St Davids 2 development, the A470, the Cogan Spur, and the Western Cycling Corridor.
Cardiff residents and visitors who register with the Cardiff Bike Scheme can hire a bike from bike stations in 10 locations in Cardiff city centre and Cardiff Bay. View Larger Map
Users have to register online and pay an £18 annual fee or £5 a week to use the bikes, which are free for the first 30 minutes and have a small charge after that. Delme Bowen, Councillor for Traffic and Transportation says the new OYBIKE scheme which started in September has so far successfully seen a monthly increase in usage within Cardiff.
Have a listen below:
I thought I would have a go at Cardiff’s new Bike scheme. Watch the video below to view my experience.
There’s mixed opinion in Cardiff. Some people think it’s a great idea whilst others need a little more convincing…
Lee Waters says ‘the OYBike scheme in Cardiff is still only on a very modest scale compared with similar programmes in Copenhagen or Paris. In Cardiff, there are only about 70 bikes and 9 drop off points. However he also points out that thirty years ago Copenhagen had the same level of cycling that Cardiff has today. Now, over a third of all commuting journeys in the Danish capital are by bike.
Let’s hope Cardiff has the potential to achieve the same.
The hum of Scooters darting in and out of bumper to bumper traffic;
Sky Digital Multiroo..
he Pastors were kind, helpful and friendly. They never preached or acted righteously, they were simply kind and eager to help those in need. I was humbled by their dedication and generosity and many were very grateful for their presence.
