Came into the office htis evening to finish another favour for Lj and the washed up DK World Atlas, which is nearly done.
Another loose end.
Played thru the Nick Cave album "Nocturama" twice and was again stuynned by the quality of his voice and songwritng.
Cave is one of those artists who have always played only a minor part in my CD collection until the amazing moment five years ago when I saw him perform God is in The House on "Later". that was one of those breathtaking moments.
Up there with Bowie doing Starman on TOTP, Tubeway Army and Soft Cell's debut on the same, and the amazing Kate Bush on the Whistle Test doing Hammer Horror.
Cave makes me cry every time, and he is a man of utter genius.
Nocturama is a little easier listening than "No More Shall We Part" and does contain a couple of songs I don't like very much ("Bring it On" and "Rock of Gibraltar") but It's a Wonderful life brought me out of a melancholy sadness and back from the brink of despair. It made me sit up and think - stop wallowing in your own self pity, stop being so self indulgent.
Still not quite as good as The Boatman's Call, which I'd put in my Top ten Albums.
I wonder what they would be if I listed them this week??

ANother challenge in the office, and I'm not at all sure how to deal with this.
D has sold two adverts on the next issue of page one™ (August/Sept - June July goes to print tomorrow!!) to The Rhino Club and FYEO.
Table/pole-dancing/strip clubs. I did say before he went out that I wasn't sure I wanted them on the poster, but that fell on deaf ears. Now I have to deal with something that makes me feel very awkward.
My own sensitivities I suppose might be a little naive perhaps, but I can't help how I feel.
What worries me a bit more is what some of our loyal supporters in major hotels and family attractions who host the poster might think, and others in the council who have remained very loyal to us and love the way the poster is going. We have recently been OFFERED sponsorship by Leisure Services for the next couple of issues. I'm a bit worried these 'adult entertainment' venues might threaten that.
What particularly bothers me though is that this sale has been made by a member of the Council of Faiths, who meets regularly with religious leaders from across the city!
It's just another committee to be on and thing to be involved with tho, I have always felt that. D is what I would describe as a man who has religion (well, cultural identity at least) but no faith. It is very hypocritical that he should represent this organisation, and yet quite happily tells those of us that know him well that he thinks 'God is all bollocks.'
And therein lies a Big Thorny problem. Most of the time we can leave our religious differences aside at work quite happily. But, as I said, it's the hypocrisy that annoys me. If he actually believed and acted out the things he tells people down the phone then I would be more at ease.
One of the other problems I have is that knowing him for as long as I have, and being in the office while he's on the phone, I can see the reality that goes on behind the telesales veneer. I HATE it when he lies about what we've done when we haven't.

it ain't cool to say you've done what you ain't done
it ain't cool to count your blessings one by one
it ain't cool to say you're winning when another person's innings has begun
© Ian Dury, 1999.

I'm too cynical.
It's probably not that bad, but I am sometimes rather scared by the cavernous difference in our values.
It still comes across as a good balance, and in the world of business my honesty would have sunk us at the start.
But is that a good thing?
It's not as if we've built up a reputation on lies, but things aren't always described as they really are.

As a result of this, I have been confused all day, and made some embarassing errors on the Springwatch job for the BBC.
All ironed out now though, and they are delighted with the work.

Religion but no faith.
That's a very good way of putting it.

Discuss…