tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63031104838193654542024-03-16T19:52:55.301+01:00Tannu TuvaUn bloc de Brian Cutts amb música i algun que altre comentari irreverent sobre les Terres de l’Ebre o l’actualitat ..... music and the odd, hopefully irreverent, comment on local news and events in southern Catalonia.Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.comBlogger930125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-38919356238697194532024-03-14T22:58:00.002+01:002024-03-14T22:58:42.948+01:00Book stats 2022 i 2023<p> Això de llegir, sovint té alts i baixos i durant els últims anys estava en la fase de baixos. No trobava ni el temps ni la motivació per a llegir llibres. Fins i tot durant el pandèmic quan tothom feia mil coses a casa, tampoc llegia. <br />Però per motius de la vida, a la primavera del 2022 vaig tornar a arrencar amb força. Amb tanta força que al final vaig optar per fer el que feia de jovenet, una llista. I aquí penjo un petit anàlisi per a tenir un record curiós i ganes de seguir.</p><p>2022 i 2023: llibres llegits; 47.</p><p>D'autors britànics: 19</p><p>D'autors catalans; 12</p><p>D'autors USA; 6</p><p>D'autors italians; 4</p><p>D'autors poloneses; 1</p><p>Moldavia; 1</p><p>Australia; 1</p><p>Finlanda; 1</p><p>Belgíca; 1</p><p>Dinamarca; 1</p><p>(Espanyols; 0)</p><p>...</p><p>D'autores (dones): 35</p><p>D'autors (homes): 12</p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-81571060701964316112024-02-17T17:15:00.005+01:002024-03-03T10:46:23.571+01:00Vint-i-vuit anys de vegetarianisme a les Terres de l'Ebre<p> <span style="text-align: justify;">La història de vint-i-vuit
anys de vegetarianisme estricte a les Terres de l’Ebre. </span></p><p><span style="text-align: justify;"> Rebobinem la cinta i
comencem al principi... quan jo vivia a Anglaterra i encara anava a l’escola i institut,
pos, com molts anglesos, no li donava gaire importància al tema del menjar (no
era el que ara diem un ‘<i>foodie</i>’) ni m’agradava especialment la carn. Quan vaig
anar a la universitat i em tocava cuinar i fer la compra, en seguida vaig veure
que evitant comprar carn, estalviaria un munt de diners. Un plat de pasta
bullida sense res, unes pataques amb col, arròs tot sol ..., de sobte vaig
trobar una manera de poder sobreviure amb els pocs diners que tenia, i fins i
tot podia invertir els diners sobrants en els estudis o en altres coses més
interessants (o sigui, en llibres, cinema tres cops per setmana, un concert
setmanal, cervesa...). Per tant, igual passava setmanes sense tocar la carn,
però tampoc era vegetaria ja que de vegades em permetia el luxe de menjar el
<i>Maxi-Grill</i> al bar de la universitat. Costava una lliure per un ou fregit,
cansalada fregida, salsitxa fregida, xampis fregits, i una llesca de pa fregit.
Boníssim i no calia menjar res més en tot el dia! O comprava algun <i>fish ‘n’
chips</i> en dies especials!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>En acabar la universitat, a l’estiu del 1988,
em vaig preparar per a fer el famós ‘any sabàtic’ que passaria a Terres de
l’Ebre ensenyant anglès i al setembre 1988 ja hi era aquí. Els primers dos anys
aquí, vaig menjar ‘normal’ – o sigui, de tot. Paelles, ternasco, plats de carn
i de peix, marisc, provava de tot el que hi havia. Però era una mena de traca
final, perquè la veritat és que els anys menjant poca carn m’havien sentit
millor en qüestió de salut, i a més a més en qüestió de diners (ser ‘<i>veggie</i>’ és
un ‘xollo’ econòmic si cuines tu a casa). També a la universitat havia començat
a conscienciar-me sobre la crueltat que patien els animals a les granges-fàbriques
després de converses amb molts amics veggies i haver-ne llegit tant. Ja em rondava pel cap fer el pas. I és que a
Anglaterra, ser vegetaria és molt fàcil, i des de fa molts anys. Cada bar,
restaurant, fast food (KFC, MacDonald’s...), botiga, a casa de tothom... sempre
hi trobaràs opcions per a vegetarians sense haver de lluitar amb ningú ni donar
explicacions. Per tant, encara que sabia que Catalunya seria diferent, a l’estiu
1990 vaig decidir dir prou i em vaig convertir en vegetaria (no en vegà).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I llavors va canviar tot, per bé o per mal!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> Cuinar per un
mateix a casa, cap problema. Però anar a casa d’algú (amics, estudiants,
família) o sortir a menjar fora, de sobte tot es convertia en un malson. En
aquella època els restaurants i bars ebrencs no en tenia ni idea de la cuina
vegetaria. Fins i tot la majoria no sabien ni lo que era, perquè sovint
m’oferien plats de peix o marisc. I evidentment als seus menús i cartes del dia,
no n’hi havia res de res per a triar. Cada cop que sortia a menjar fora, passava
pel rotllo d’haver d’anar a parlar en el cambrer o fins i tot amb el cuiner per
veure que poden cuinar – si és que volien fer alguna cosa. De vegades, els
amics menjaven un plat exquisit, i jo un entrepà de formatge. Quan no, el plat
més habitual que et poden oferir és una amanida. Però una amanida amb tant de
verd com si fos per a alimentar una família sencera de conills. Suposo que
pensen “<i>Hmm, aquesta amanida i truita d’un ou, li cobrarem al mateix preu que
els entrants i ternasco que estan menjant els companys. Per tant, posem-li 4
kilos d’enciam</i>”. I llavors quan t’arriba aquell plat gegant ple d’enciam,
tomates, panís de llauna, ceba, olives, i els companys diuen “<i>Oh, quina enveja
tenim, que sa</i>” mentre ells ataquen un plat d’arròs negre o una fideuada....
quina gràcia, ha ha. Però la gràcia es va perdent quan son els mateixos
comentaris i acudits cada dia que menges amb algú, d’aquí a l’eternitat. Et
converteixes en el centre de la conversa o la diana d’un ‘pressing’ constant a
cada trobada.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> Mira, si surts en
un o dos amics, pos, no sap tant de mal haver de discutir amb el cambrer per
aconseguir alguna cosa com la famosa amanida, seguit per una truita, però quan
surts en un grup o vas a una celebració i és un menú fixat, llavors has d’anar
al restaurant dies abans per parlar-los i acordar alguna cosa. Tot molt
complicat quan precisament no saps res de cuinar.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Un dels pitjors moments és la Gran Boda
Catalana. Aquells festins que es feien fa uns anys quan la gent (l’altra gent,
vull dir, jo no) anaven sobrats de diners. Primer, has d’anar una setmana abans
al restaurant a explicar al cuiner que ets vegetaria i ell, després de bufar
molt, et pregunta que vols – com si tu sàpigues cuinar a aquest nivell. Li
podries demanar uns canalons d’espinacs, o un pastis de nous i fruits secs, o
qualsevol cosa mínimament elaborada però al final veus que ell està pensant més
a l’estil ‘amanida + truita + 4 verdures bullides’ i au. Arriba el dia de la
boda i tot està calculat com una operació militar. Quasi. Aconsegueixen servir
199 plats de marisc en 3 minuts, però encara tardaran 15 minuts en portar el
meu plat d’enciam. Si reclames que et porten també els setrills d’oli i vinagre,
pots esperar deu minuts més. Mentrestant, dotze persones a la taula que no
conec de res m’expliquen l’enveja que tenen. Fan algun acudit. Em pregunten per
què soc veggie i m’expliquen que cal menjar carn. Jo encara estic menjant el
primer kilo de panís i ceba quan ells ja no tenen res al plat i estan cantant
als nuvis. Quan jo acabo de pasturar, ells ja van per el segon plat, i<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>així continuem, barrejant la falta
d’imaginació del cuiner amb la falta de ‘timing’ i de vergonya del restaurant
fins que arribem als postres. Llavors el cambrer diu “<i>No t’he portat res perquè
ets vegetaria</i>”... i au, a tornar a donar explicacions.... En fi.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> Quan els cuiners
d’aquí (que han passat uns anys estudiant però sembla que no els han ensenyat
mai que existeixen veggies o gent de certes religions o amb problemes de salut
o al·lèrgies que tenen necessitats de dieta diferents) pensen que saben molt, mira,
et fan un plat de verdures a la graella, o uns ous remenats en comptes d’una
truita. Però quan no saben tant, pos, lo que hem dit: el plat d’enciam i a
pasturar com les vaques. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> Més anècdotes. Vols
sortir amb una classe d’alumnes per sopar? Primer, trobem un restaurant que pot
fer un plat vegetaria. Una ronda de trucades i a generar embolics i maldecaps
per a tothom que, com bons estudiants, volen quedar bé en mi però al final se
senten malament perquè sempre falla alguna cosa.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> A més de la gent
del dia a dia que no entén el tema, sovint (abans – ara no sé?) et trobes amb
molts metges que tampoc estan informats i sembla que la solució per qualsevol
qüestió de salut passa per la ‘necessitat’ de menjar carn o peix etc., la famosa dieta 'has de menjar de tot (en moderació)'. Per tant,
algunes visites al metge també es converteixen en una odissea. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> No oblidem aquella
gent simpàtica que t’inviten a sopar, però primer t’expliquen el malament que
ho han passat pensant en que poden fer, i et pregunten si no trobes que és molt
egoista això de voler dir tu el que menjaràs o no a casa d’un altre. Llavors,
un somriure i passem als acudits sobre el tema.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> O aquell dia que
et preparen una gran sorpresa per un dia especial que no pensaves celebrar,
però de sobte apareix un munt de gent i et planten un dinar sorpresa – acompanyat pels
mateixos acudits i comentaris durant 2 hores; el dia que en teoria estan fent
tot per a tu.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> Qualsevol
esdeveniment públic, estil paella popular, o una baldanada per celebrar
qualsevol cosa, fins i tot actes organitzats per les autoritats publiques o
entitats i partits polítics que reclamen constantment la integració i multiculturitat,
o el clàssic ‘pica pica’ per acabar una presentació... tots sense cap opció
vegetaria. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Per cert, m’he adonat que he començat usant el
passat dels verbs però he escrit gairebé tot el text fins ara en present. Això
és perquè realment no he notat gaires avanços en el tema en tots aquests anys
[<i>escric la primer versió d’aquest text al 2018, i aquesta revisió ara al 2024</i>]. Ei, si vaig errat i ara tot és una bassa d'oli, m'alegro!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> Al 2018 vaig
donar el tema per perdut. Ara no soc vegetaria ‘estricte’, sinó un ‘quasi-vegetaria',
però igualment em fixo en el tema, i trobo que en molts aspectes continuem igual.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> Pel que sento dir,
hi ha hagut un ‘boom’ de vegàns però a Tortosa i voltants (Terres de l’Ebre) deuen
continuar trobant dificultats, tant ells com els vegetarians. Potser ara els
cuiners tenen algun idea més si els hi demanes res, però no tots - i no tots en
tenen ganes. Per exemple, sovint et pregunten/preguntaven, “<i>Que vols que
intentem fer-te?</i>” Però el problema és que precisament un dels motius per a sortir
fora a dinar és el de relaxar-te, i que t’ho cuinen uns altres, i no haver de
pensar en que fer o debatre amb el cuiner les opcions que tenen. Si no posen unes
opcions a la carta, malament rai.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> Al principi de
ser vegetaria estricta, als anys 90, encara sortia a intentar menjar fora,
perquè la joventut i ganes de passar-ho bé guanyen la batalla, però poc a poc
et vas rendint. Tants anys remenant una amanida, doncs, al final ho deixes córrer,
i et quedes a casa on menjaràs millor, cansat d’explicar a tothom perquè ets
vegetaria, i de les bromes fàcils (“<i>Hmm, que bona aquesta paella, segur que no
en vols?”</i> o “<i>Aquesta vaca només ha menjat herba, així que la pots menjar</i>”). Per
tant, vaig entrar el nou mil·lenni menjant ‘verd’ a casa però gairebé sense
sortir mai de casa si no fos per una obligació de la família. I tot això et pesa
damunt al final, anys i panys ‘sacrificant’ una vida social ‘normal’ com la
que veus que porta tothom, de gaudir d’un bon ambient i cultura gastronòmica
sense trobades infernals i bromes pesades, pos, al final et poden fer mal a tu
i a la gent que tens a prop.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> Ei, que no culpo
tampoc a la gent (bé, una mica, sí!) per ser tan pesats. És tal com som en
aquesta societat nostra; és més ‘divertit’ i fàcil fotre’ns dels altres o fer
bromes fins al cansament. No saben que els veggies sentim els mateixos
comentaris i mirades cada dia. A més, sense adonar-me’n originalment, resulta
que vaig ser jo, amb aquesta decisió, que vaig obrir els braços i vaig cridar “<i>Ei,
soc diferent, feu el que heu de fer”</i>. Suposo que un psicòleg ens podria
explicar aquesta obsessió de la gent de ficar-se amb algú que fa alguna cosa
diferent, malgrat no afectar-te a tu com a carnívor en absolut. Últimament, es
veu més que mai això a les xarxes socials; només cal que algú digui “<i>no cal
menjar tant de carn</i>” o “<i>a aquest producte vegà, li posaré de nom ‘salsitxa
vegetal’ </i>” per a provocar tota mena d’insults i ràbia. En fi. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> El fet de ser
anglès (<i>an Englishman in old Tortosa</i>, com deia Sting) ha tingut pros i contres.
Per una banda, és un comodí que pots jugar, el de “<i>No, tranquil, faig això
perquè soc anglès i diferent, i no et vull convertir a tu ni et puc contagiar</i>”,
però també és com si sumes dos frikades (en un moment que les frikades no
estaven ben vists) i així quan no et peguen cops (verbals) per ser anglès, et
peguen cops per menjar verdures, i acabes KO i desitjant que et passen la
botella de vi abans que s’acabi...<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amb la meva parella vam tenir el primer fill
al 2003, i vam decidir fer diferents plats també a casa, uns de carn/peix pels
xiquets, i alguna cosa a banda per a natros, i això també és complicat però que hi farem, si és una decisió meva. Costa, però es pot fer. El
problema no és aquí a casa, sinó continua sent quan vols sortir de casa o et
toca un esdeveniment o dinar de família o amics. No pots gaudir del fet
cultural de compartir el mateix menjar i parlar-ne, o que tots dos triem dos
plats diferents per comparar ("<i>Mmm, que bona aquesta enciam – n’hi vols provar?
Ah, tu també tens enciam</i>."). Perds una part molt important de la vida i cultura
catalana, de la qual la gastronomia i sobretot poder parlar-ne forma una part
important. Per decisió pròpia, sí, teniu raó. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> Va, un altre
exemple; ara fa uns anys que a Tortosa fan l’elogiada Ruta de les Tapes. Uns 30
restaurants on tothom surt a xalar cada nit, però no hi ha cap opció ‘veggie’.
Els primers anys vaig prendre la molèstia d’escriure’ls als organitzadors
proposant que almenys dos o tres ofereixen una opció, però res, em van
contestar que això depenia dels restaurants – cosa que dubto ja que
l’organització els posa un munt de normes per poder participar, i no els
costaria res introduir aquesta norma. I no només per els 4 veggies que vivim a
Tortosa; hi ha gent que triaria aquesta opció per gust, per salut, o per
religió. Dubto molt, per exemple, que un musulmà o jueu puguis fer la Ruta de
Tapes a Tortosa, i després tots ens omplim la boca amb la ‘integració’. I els
Tasts de Vins; a quants tasts de vins pots anar, quants ofereixen un maridatge
per a veggies? Un any vaig portar 2 vegàns, i jo, un vegetaria, a la Fira de Cervesa
de Tortosa després d’haver confirmat en l’organització de que “<i>Sí, segur, segur
que hi haurà alguna cosa per menjar</i>”. Pos, no n’hi havia res. I això cansa. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> D’anècdotes dels
28 anys de ser ‘veggie’, en tinc tants que no acabaríem mai; aquella amanida
plena de tires de cansalada que, quan demanes si t’ho poden canviar, s’ho
enduen, treuen la carn i et tornen a portar el mateix plat. El cambrer que et
discuteix sobre si pots menjar tonyina. Les típiques olives que et posen a
l’amanida vegetaria, plenes d’anxoves. Aquelles discussions eternes amb els
companys de taula pesats sobre diferents bitxos de mar, si realment són animals
o no. Escoltar els mateixos arguments cada any; “<i>Mentre maten a xiquets en les
guerres, no m’amoïnaré pels animals</i>”, “<i>Les plantes també tenen sentiments</i>”, “<i>Jo
també soc vegetaria, però menjo carn en cap de setmana</i>”, “<i>No sembles vegetaria
amb aquesta panxa tan gran</i>”, “<i>No hauries de menjar ous, doncs, o tenir un gos,
o un cinturó de pell o matar un mosquit</i>”, “<i>Hitler també era vegetaria</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> Així que, per
diversos motius però principalment d’esgotament (en molts aspectes), ho vaig
deixar córrer a l’any 2018. Vaig decidir sacrificar els meus principis i una
forma de vida, per a guanyar en tranquil·litat. Havia decidit fer-me vegetaria
pel bé dels animals, i el meu bé com a persona. Volia evitar o reduir, en el
que jo podia, el patiment dels animals i la crueltat que exercim com a
societat. Però tampoc pensava que això em condicionaria no solament el menjar
que trio sinó gairebé tota la meva vida i relacions socials, convertint-me a mi
(precisament algú força introvertida) en el focus de qualsevol trobada o
conversa al voltant d’una taula.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Que he guanyat, baixant del vaixell del vegetarianisme estricte? Al principi (ara no, ja ha passat el moment) vaig sentir una mena de <b>alleujament</b>. Pots tornar a formar part de la societat –
si vols. Pots gaudir de la vida cultural-gastronòmica en família, i en la vida
social-cultural dels catalans, i facilites la vida a tu mateix i als del teu
voltant. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Que he perdut? <b>Salut</b>; estic més que convençut que l’opció veggie és
molt més sa. <b>Diners</b>; menjar carn i peix, sobretot si busques opcions de
qualitat o criats amb uns mínimes condicions i/o produïts localment, és molt
car. <b>Medi-ambient</b>; crec que està prou demostrat que menjar carn no és una opció
sostenible per a la població. <b>Malestar intern</b>; la crueltat i patiment dels
animals va ser la raó principal per a prendre la decisió firma de convertir-me en veggie fa una pila d’anys,
i això no s’ha acabat ni s’ha reduït. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> L’únic que puc
fer per a dormir tranquil·lament ara és pensar que almenys he posat el meu gra
de sorra durant 28 anys. Ningú és perfecte, com deia Osgood a <i>Some Like It Hot</i>,
però almenys he fet alguna cosa. I continuo fent-ne de fet, però d’una manera ‘flexible’.
Ara soc allò que alguns diuen ‘flexitaria’; continuo menjant i cuinant una
dieta vegetaria el 95% del temps a casa però em permeto menjar carn i peix quan
‘cal’ o quan no hi ha més remei (fàcil) o quan vull reviure algun record, com assaborir els famós ‘<i>fish &
chips</i>’. A més, continuo pensant que viure amb l’opció vegetaria o vegà és la
correcta, si pots, i així ho explico a tothom qui em vol escoltar.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> Ah, per cert, aquí
a les Terres de l’Ebre, sovint em donen l’argument de la caça. “<i>Si no t’agrada
veure animals maltractats en granges”, </i>em diuen<i>, “la solució és la caça perquè
aquells animals han viscut contents i lliures fins que algú els ha pegat un tir.</i>”
Pos, no em serveix. Primer, no tots els caçadors mostren aquesta actitud tan
simpàtica i afectuosa per evitar que els animals pateixen. I segon, promoure el
fet que la gent pugui gaudir matant, per mi, és un tema que no entenc en
absolut i no ens porta res de bo a la societat. Matant animals (o fent-los
patir, fins i tot en nom d’una “festa” com es fa amb els bous), no només fem
mal a ells sinó a natros mateixos.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> Així que, la
conclusió: Dubtes de si fer-te vegetaria o vegà? Només cal mirar qualsevol documental de com tractem els animals a les granges o escorxadors per a sortir de dubtes. Concretament, si algú em demana consell a les Terres de l’Ebre sobre fer aquest
canvi de dieta, els diria que ho proven malgrat tot el que acabo d'escriure! No tens res a perdre i sempre pots
tornar enrere. També trobo que cada pas ajuda, per tant com a mínim pots treure certs
elements de la dieta o fixar uns dies/espais on no menjaràs carn i a veure que
tal. També diria d’evitar la moda del fato pre-preparat com hamburgueses
vegetals pijos a preus desorbitats etc., i aprendre a cuinar coses bàsiques de tota
la vida amb arròs, verdures i llegums. Sortiràs guanyant molt en el tema de
butxaca. També recomanaria als restaurants i bars i cuiners ebrencs que anessin
a estudiar i voltar uns mesos a Anglaterra on des de fa dècades el tema està
tan normalitzat que la gent ni hi pensa. Simplement no donen importància al
tema allà, és com si una persona menja pa blanc o pa integral, la seva vida no
es quedi gens afectada per aquesta decisió. I, finalment, també proposaria als
no-vegetarians que deixessen de fotre la tabarra cada cop que troben un veggie.
Que deixen de<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>repetir els mateixos
acudits i estereotips i actituds ‘mascles-alfa’ de lo important que és menjar
carn. Que no escolten tant els arguments populistes anti-woke dels ‘<i>usual suspects</i>’.
Que no facin aquesta mena de<i> pressing</i> o<i> bullying</i> sobre un tema que a ells no
els afecta en absolut. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"><b>PD i disclaimer</b>: amb aquest
escrit caòtic, exagerat, pintat d’humor negre, i una mica repetitiu, he volgut
‘vomitar’ de cop tots els entrebancs i rotllos que m’han portat a abandonar el vaixell del
vegetarianisme pur i també fotre una mica de canya. Però, abans d’acabar, també
cal dir que estic molt content dels anys que menjava i cuinava verd. M'ha ajudat a tenir un punt de vista més empàtic del món en general i crec que de cara a mi i als animals, ens ha anat bé. Hem menjat (i mengem) uns plats
exquisits a casa i en llocs no-ebrencs, i hem tingut unes converses interessants amb gent
que sí que ho entén o volen entendre’l, i que ens hem cuidat mutualment!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"><i>(revisió lingüística
i ampliació d’un article publicat al 2018)</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-75173456624267367172022-02-13T09:31:00.015+01:002024-02-14T22:35:09.111+01:00Eduqueu els fills #marfanta<p><a href="https://www.marfanta.com/2022/02/13/marquem-un-gol-a-la-violencia-de-genere-per-brian-cutts/"> Article publicat originalment a la Marfanta 23/2/2020 </a> i revisat-corregit al 2022.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiaz_8Wgh_WQc3lX4rpdYCr750U0zpGlQK0yhZ8JY-snpUs6c6_L6jF_6yVXQg78KoEm8sdVk4zXvM8s6DmLXJOm2BBUDd5UmbD8kUKuHbHSFzMuxOkw1U9gUB6DXT5sOU35e_f55icBButlywqQgYD8FvcjpG-wWtB8iksJ8q6qeF4RY5eBPKFK-y" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiaz_8Wgh_WQc3lX4rpdYCr750U0zpGlQK0yhZ8JY-snpUs6c6_L6jF_6yVXQg78KoEm8sdVk4zXvM8s6DmLXJOm2BBUDd5UmbD8kUKuHbHSFzMuxOkw1U9gUB6DXT5sOU35e_f55icBButlywqQgYD8FvcjpG-wWtB8iksJ8q6qeF4RY5eBPKFK-y" width="274" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">L’any [2020] ha començat tal com va acabar l’any anterior, amb el mateix malson de notícies horroroses sobre abusos sexuals, coaccions, assetjaments, violència de gènere, violacions, morts… no passa setmana sense assabentar-nos d’un altre cas de violència contra les noies i les dones. Sembla ser que no hi ha manera d’aturar aquesta violència; és com si ‘acceptem’ com a societat aquests atacs continus contra les dones (sí, ja sé que 'acceptem' moltes desgràcies i horrors contra diversos grups de persones però avui vull centrar-me en aquesta). Potser simplement com a resultat del sistema que ens ha criat, la societat en general accepta com a ‘normal’ això de controlar, insultar o menysprear a les noies i dones. Tolerem, i fins i tot promovem, actituds masclistes o violentes dia sí, dia també, en les nostres vides. El que vull dir és que els casos més extrems que surten a les noticies són uns, però darrere d’ells n’hi ha molts més casos aparentment menys escandalosos que no són ni notícia, i darrere d’ells, una societat que accepta el menyspreu envers les dones diàriament i ho viu com a ‘normal’ i genera les condicions que donen pas a tot el que hem vist.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Per sort, hi ha molts moviments, entitats i associacions de dones que fa anys que treballen en això i evidentment en saben molt més del tema que jo, que simplement vull aportar el que puc (des del punt de vista privilegiat d'un home). Aquests entitats ajuden les víctimes, donen eines a noies per a saber què fer quan es troben en situacions abusives o perilloses, i treballen per a intentar que les lleis i accions judicials també posen de la seva part per a eradicar aquesta plaga. Una de les coses més importants que podem fer és escoltar-les i demanar que les donen els recursos i la difusió necessari, i també obligar les autoritats a prendre el tema seriosament.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Però els homes també hem de fer el que ens toca per acabar amb això. Massa cops sentim el ‘Val, això passa però no tots els homes són així’. Doncs, quan una dona camina pel carrer, com sap ella quins homes ‘són així’ i quins no? La sensació de no saber d’on vindrà el perill, el menyspreu, i la denigració és present tot el dia i més val que els homes ens ho fiquem al cap de que sí, que tots som el problema i ens toca actuar. Donar suport a qui ho necessita, parlar amb els homes que tenim al voltant, aprendre a detectar actituds masclistes etc., sense caure en el ‘<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">mansplaining</em>’ (definició: un home intentant explicar alguna cosa a les dones, quan de ben segur que elles ja en saben molt més que ell). </p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">He començat parlant de casos de noies i dones que pateixen atacs, abusos, etc. però hauria d’haver escrit ‘casos d’homes que ataquen i abusen…’, posant l’enfocament sobre qui realment és el culpable. Que sí, teniu raó, també hi ha casos de abusos i violència psicològica i física de dones contra homes, i de dones contra dones, i d’homes contra homes, i d'homes contra gossos, etc. si vols englobar tot, però no cal ser Einstein per a veure que els números canten i ens diuen clarament on tenim el problema més gros, i de lluny, tipus de 999 versus 1. A més a més, sembla que encara seguim un patró que fa anys que és així. Probablement des de l’època d’Adam i Eva. Per tot això, vull posar el meu petit gra de sorra que espero que serveixi per alguna cosa, com a mínim per a fer reflexionar a algun amic o conegut. </p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Com podem frenar i revertir aquests actituds que estan tan estesos en la societat? Com podem fer que els nostres fills siguin la generació que acaben amb aquesta lacra? Com podem trencar el silenci (perquè, malgrat els titulars, hi ha molt de silenci encara)? Doncs, començant pels nostres fills – i aquí vull dir precisament ‘fills’, i no pas filles. Pares, iaios, tios, germans grans – ja parlem amb els xiquets? Ja els eduquem sobre la importància del respecte, de la tolerància, del dret de tothom de viure tranquils, d’entendre el que són els maltractaments i evitar-los, amb exemples clars i concrets? Ja els expliquem que hem de redreçar alguns actituds com els estereotips home/dona, o insultar a les companyes d’institut, fer-les <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">bullying</em>, i criticar el seu aspecte? Ja tallem de soca-rel els acudits sexistes i els hi expliquem als fills que, amb segons quins comentaris o actes que fan la gent famosa o <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">role models</em> que surten a la tele, doncs, no anem bé? Els hi expliquem als fills que si continuem tolerant això, som una societat malalta, sense futur?</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Una proposta. Com a professor, estic en contacte amb molts xiquets any rere any i veig que un dels temes que mai passa de moda és el futbol. Déu-n’hi-do la quantitat de xiquets que estan apuntats a escoles i equips de futbol, i la importància que té per a ells l’esport i els seus mentors. I si aquests entrenadors, uns petits Déus per a molts nois, també facin el paper d’educador? Els entrenadors són una gent als quals els xiquets tenen molt en compte. Potser l’àmbit del futbol masculí seria un espai on els xiquets sentirien que es pot parlar entre ells i amb l’entrenador, es crearien complicitats, i els nois tindrien la confiança per a parlar-ne, per a escoltar i reflexionar. I a mida que van creixent, qui sap, potser cada dia tindríem un comentari masclista menys, un acudit sobre violacions menys, un crit de ‘puta’ menys… Clar, això no és feina d’un dia ni feina de gent que no sap fer-ho. Per a arribar bé als xiquets, i trobar el punt de comprensió i complicitat amb ells, els propis entrenadors haurien de rebre una formació especial de part de les expertes per a començar. Potser aquestes comissions que es formen als nostres ajuntaments per a mirar de reduir la violència de gènere podrien organitzar cursets? Bé, deixo l’idea aquí. No sé si ja es fa en algun lloc, o si és factible o quins resultats donaria, però potser una campanya així ajudaria una mica. Tots hem d'obrir els ulls, veure allò que fa anys que les dones del nostre voltant saben molt bé, i posar de la nostra part i pensar en com podem ajudar si volem començar a donar la volta a aquest malson.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">*BRIAN CUTTS és pare i professor.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">*Aquest article és una revisió d’una entrada publicada originalment el 23 de febrer del 2020.</span></p></div><p><br /><br /></p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-45849936600113894412022-01-28T22:43:00.016+01:002022-02-06T19:02:22.276+01:00Pain and suffering transformed into music and hope - Allison Russell<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoefPB4IX3kMeBkS7ak92E8fHL6h47jLB6Jy3eLDG1BI52vd6B-WtXluKpZAoRGCuIzH6IDDgCFjVQUyTwN4Q7ADokKPd1EJGycFcuMaPDJ_YM4JD0e7clew1Cqftv7URR3H90gbK_gzersJbOqjXak94W5M7PC3JnDJ2IJV0ebENJKFQ1Fpc-EOzL=s1800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoefPB4IX3kMeBkS7ak92E8fHL6h47jLB6Jy3eLDG1BI52vd6B-WtXluKpZAoRGCuIzH6IDDgCFjVQUyTwN4Q7ADokKPd1EJGycFcuMaPDJ_YM4JD0e7clew1Cqftv7URR3H90gbK_gzersJbOqjXak94W5M7PC3JnDJ2IJV0ebENJKFQ1Fpc-EOzL=w356-h320" width="356" /></a></div>[<i>a rough English translation of an article I have had published on a local Catalan news and culture website<a href="https://www.marfanta.com/2022/02/06/del-dolor-a-la-musica-i-lesperanca-per-brian-cutts/"> - link</a>]</i><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We were fortunate
enough to hear the wonderful voice of<b> Allison Russell</b> singing live a few years
ago in Elsecar, a small South Yorkshire village immersed in an economic and
social crisis ever since the coal mining industry was closed down back in the
1980s. A village abandoned to its fate by the authorities in power and suffering
from many social problems, dysfunctional situations, and a high rate of
unemployment … but also a community of people who are fighting to get things
back on track. Some years ago they converted many of the old mine buildings
into sites for local shops, craft workshops, and tea rooms as well as using one
for concerts. It was there that we attended a small folk festival in 2013 and
by chance chose to see the (then relatively unknown to most of us) Birds of
Chicago. We were, as they say, gobsmacked! The magical combination of the voices
of the group’s leaders, Allison Russell and her partner (on and off stage) JT
Nero, led us through a treasure trove of country, soul and folk music. As soon
as the concert had finished, we dashed over to congratulate the singers, buy
the CD and, of course, ask for their autographs!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ever since then we
have tried to keep a track on their work. Last year they announced that the
group would be left on standby so they could concentrate on a solo project that
Allison was working on, with the collaboration of JT Nero and a host of great
musicians.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The resulting album
Allison has created, <b><i>Outside Child,</i></b> is one of the best LPs we
have heard in a very long time. Part of the inspiration behind the songs lies
in the horrendous years of abuse Allison suffered as a child and teenager. But
somehow, she has managed to transform this pain and suffering into a magical
piece of art, a cry to resist and overcome. As we listened to the album, and
read a few interviews with her, a variety of mixed feelings took over –
impotence and helplessness, sadness and anger, but also surprise and hope in
seeing how Allison has the strength to not just survive and overcome events
which virtually destroyed her life, but to lay out a path of resistance in
life, an example to give power and hope to other people trying to survive
difficult situations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Allison was born to a
single mother with mental health issues. She spent her first years in foster
care, I think, before returning to live with her mother at the age of 5 when
the mother found a new partner. The “person” filling this role which should
have provided love and stability was in fact an evil beast and he sexually abused
Allison for the next ten years. Eventually, at the age of 15, in an act of
bravery and self-determination hard to comprehend in one so young, Allison
managed to flee the household and her attacker. A few years later, at the age
of 20, she went back home to save her brother and report the ‘father/rapist’ (a
white supremist, as she explains) to the police, managing to get him sent to
prison for a few (too few) years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The horrors of her childhood form the seed behind this work of art, but it is much, much more than a
simple biography of Allison’s life. The songs bring together clear and
forceful, no holds barred, lyrics with mystical and dream-like images, poetry
and hope. As Allison states in interviews, rather than simply explaining the
physical, psychological and sexual abuse she suffered, she aims to relate how
she survived. The strength, optimism and hope within her, and how this all
connects to the stories her grandmothers would tell her: her Scottish gran,
explaining legends and traditional tales, and the mother of her biological
father, from Grenada, with her stories of the generations of slaves dragged
over from Africa. The result is an album full of tears and pain, magic and
light, hope and resilience. At this moment in history, where we are talking more
and more about the rights of minority groups, of women, of the LGBTI community,
and serious problems such as racism and mental health, this is an album which
deserves to be listened to with calm and attention. I would also add that, like
certain novels, given the scope of the issues it deals with, perhaps as the
listener grows older and more experienced, they may find more and more layers
to these songs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Musically, it is a breath-taking
blend of soul, country and folk presented with the voice of an angel and lyrics
which become pure poetry expressing raw feelings and emotions in a mixture of
French and English. And the original touch of Allison’s clarinet solos add a
pensive side to some of the songs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The record has won
plentiful praise and awards as well as three nominations for the Grammys and a
mention in Barack Obama’s annual list of favourite albums! It looks like
Allison is about to reap the success this record deserves but I’m also pretty
sure that simply by creating this album and putting her thoughts into song, she
has already succeeded. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A record to listen to
from start to finish as it takes you up and down the rollercoaster of Allison’s
life, through her suffering and the inner strength which enabled her to carry
on. An album worth buying on vinyl or CD to read the lyrics and the
introductions she has prepared for each piece. Nothing is out of place, every
song is a gem. I won’t go over all of them here, though, as it’s best for you
to discover them for yourself but if anyone’s interested in a little sample,
here goes…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In <i>4th Day Prayer</i>
Allison sings about the days she left the hell of her house and managed to spend
a few hours in the park, away from her adoptive father-rapist…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Old willow tree, it was my throne, till I went home, <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Father used me like a wife, Mother turned the blindest eye, <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Stole my body, spirit and pride,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did, he did each night... <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“These are the best years of your life”,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I’d believed it, I’d have
died.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HNIzvBf6VKA" width="320" youtube-src-id="HNIzvBf6VKA"></iframe></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">The myth of the
goddess <i>Persephone</i> symbolizes the story of how her life and mental
health were saved. When Allison was 15 years old, she managed to spend nights
away from home in the arms of her first lover, a girl from her high school
class (I believe). The song shifts from the violence of the jackal (as she
refers to the animal who mistreat her) to the tenderness of the first person to
show her love, to return some sense to her young life. Eventually, the same
year Allison managed to flee from home and the rapist forever, even if it meant
sleeping rough... <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>Blood on my shirt, two ripped buttons</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>Might've killed me that time, oh if I'd let him</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>He's slow when he's drunk, and he lost his grip on me</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>Tap tap tappin`on your window screen</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>Gotta let me in, Persephone</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>Got nowhere to go, but I had to get away from him</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>My petals are bruised but I'm still a flower</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>Come running to you in the violet hour</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>Put your skinny arms around me, let me taste your skin.</i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p style="background-color: white;"></o:p></span></span></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-GB"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VU6Z3xhEo_g" width="320" youtube-src-id="VU6Z3xhEo_g"></iframe></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">As well as finding salvation in the world of music, at the age of 19 Allison started work in the field of social care and help, working with women who have also suffered: mental health issues, drug addicts, prostitutes, victims of abuse and racism... she got to know many women living under the constant threats of society. The song All of the Women is dedicated to one of them, Shirley...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i>She's been a fixture as long as I've lived here</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i>On the corner most every night for the last six years</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i>When she's not there, I worry about her</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i>I think of all of the women who disappear.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p class="MsoNormal"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GQQj1c_dupA" width="320" youtube-src-id="GQQj1c_dupA"></iframe></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Last but not least, <i>Nightflyer</i> whose its poetic and bewitching lyrics represent more than any other song the message Allison wishes for us to go away with. She has resisted, she has survived. She carries within her the strength, empathy and courage of generations of women, a power she wants to pass on to her daughter and anyone else listening to this work of wonder which shines bright like a beacon in the darkness.</div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eovUiXuaM1k" width="320" youtube-src-id="eovUiXuaM1k"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you want to know more, this short event combining Allison's thoughts and songs is also well worth a listen!</div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kSNqi3ny-kI" width="320" youtube-src-id="kSNqi3ny-kI"></iframe></div><br /></div></div><p><br /></p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-11361263620587523242021-08-29T09:34:00.002+02:002023-04-20T09:56:27.284+02:00Creixent amb l'ELO #Marfanta <p><a href="https://www.marfanta.com/2021/08/29/creixent-amb-lelo-per-brian-cutts/"> Article publicat a la Marfanta 29/8/21 </a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiL0lZ9y6fGrnIGGiRJsNRyHY-h1O4ux-Fcggoeh7yT5fTZ9J3Xqy2PifGRIH45AjODxgJxR6GxW8uMdGif-FqnO4GU3uFVstnCM3lGBjqK2IU9fsy3NEpfK63W8PZdVuiBU3dGlHBxilOliXo4yo8Ir3q60d3Ne8cmSXbhLlxXnpYJyZON7eiN0AaF" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="1017" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiL0lZ9y6fGrnIGGiRJsNRyHY-h1O4ux-Fcggoeh7yT5fTZ9J3Xqy2PifGRIH45AjODxgJxR6GxW8uMdGif-FqnO4GU3uFVstnCM3lGBjqK2IU9fsy3NEpfK63W8PZdVuiBU3dGlHBxilOliXo4yo8Ir3q60d3Ne8cmSXbhLlxXnpYJyZON7eiN0AaF" width="299" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">Devia ser l’estiu del 1981, quan jo tenia 14 anys, i un matí després d’esmorzar em vaig armar de valor i vaig emprendre una caminada de gairebé dues hores, travessant camps de vaques i boscos, per a anar a la casa d’un miner forçut que no coneixia de res. El motiu? Setmanes abans havia comprat el meu primer tocadiscs (el meu propi, que només usaria jo, ja que com a família sempre n’havíem tingut un al menjador) i un dels primers LPs que vaig comprar tot seguit va ser el </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Time</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;"> de l’Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) recent sortit del forn. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nNQSzsql3d0" width="320" youtube-src-id="nNQSzsql3d0"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">En aquell moment només coneixia els grans èxits famosos de l’ELO de la segona meitat dels 70, però entre tots els LPs que podia comprar per a començar la meva col·lecció vaig optar per arriscar els diners en aquell LP sense saber-ne gaire de què anava. No teníem internet ni Spotify i només havia sentit el primer single del LP, </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkekqVPIc2M" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #006dc1; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hold on Tight</em></a><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">. En posar l’agulla al disc, em vaig trobar amb una sorpresa. Lluny de de les cançons que jo coneixia com </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Mr Blue Sky</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;"> o </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Livin’ Thing</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">, tenia entre les mans una mena de lo que es diu ‘àlbum conceptual’, un disc amb un fil comú lligant totes les cançons. </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Time</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;"> ens regala lletres originals i estranyes sobre el futur, l’espai, els robots, i viatges a la lluna, tot embolicat amb música més electrònica que la de l’ELO més famós que jo coneixia. I em vaig enamorar del disc, des del primer minut fins l’últim.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZXBiPY8wDT0" width="320" youtube-src-id="ZXBiPY8wDT0"></iframe></div></div></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Bé, tornant a la història… aquell estiu, un dels meus oncles, amb veure’m entrant a casa amb el disc <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Time</em> a les mans, em va explicar que un company seu que treballava a la mina amb ell n’era un gran fan, i tenia tota la música de l’ELO si jo volia agafar alguna cosa prestada per a fer les famoses còpies en casset que abans es feien. Wow! Sense dubtar ni un moment, el tímid adolescent va decidir que aniria cap allà, caminant fins a casa seva per a estalviar els cèntims que hagués costat l’autobús. Aquell bon home em va deixar el <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">box set</em> (caixa recopilatòria) <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Three Light Years</em> que inclou tres LPs; <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On The Third Day</em> (1973), <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Eldorado</em> (1974), i <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Face the Music</em> (1975). Si ja havia començat a descobrir un nou (per a mi) estil de música amb <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Time</em>, em vaig adonar que aquells discs tampoc eren com cap altre que havia conegut abans; un tipus de música plena de misteris i màgia per a investigar!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">En aquests tres discs surten alguns dels èxits més coneguts del grup (<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Evil Woman, Strange Magic</em>), però tornen a ser àlbums conceptuals, amb preludis, represes, fils conductors, cançons de 6 o 7 minuts plenes de moments instrumentals i lletres estranyes que conten histories de mons màgics. En fi, als 14 anys en aquell moment jo estava més pendent de la música pop i els 3 minuts de fórmula fàcil, però de sobte vaig obrir els ulls – i les orelles – i em vaig endinsar en un nou món. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2rLRBwWg4tc" width="320" youtube-src-id="2rLRBwWg4tc"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">A més a més, en aquell moment em vaig adonar del motiu darrere del nom que tenen, ja que des del seu començament el grup havia apostat per a fer una combinació d’instruments típics de rock i pop amb instruments de corda i de vent, sobretot amb violins i violoncels a dojo. M’encantava, però els amics de l’institut escoltaven els Specials, Blondie, Adam and the Ants, i tot el que sortia als 40 Principals de la BBC, i els més </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">rockers</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;"> estaven per AC/DC i companyia, i explicar el que jo havia trobat no era possible. En aquella època (i ara), qualsevol cosa que no es consideres </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">cool</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;"> podria ser motiu de </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">bullying</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">, (assetjaments i burles); a classe se’n fotien de qui fos només per haver comprat una certa marca de roba, portar ulleres, treure bones notes, o si li agradava música ‘del passat’ amb violins.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/boeZOAX_dwY" width="320" youtube-src-id="boeZOAX_dwY"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">Així que, podíem parlar al pati, o a classe, dels Madness, The Police, The Clash, Blondie o, amb un grup reduït d’amics, fins i tot elogiant els grups americans com Journey o Boston, però l’ELO me’l guardava per a mi. Vaig arribar a aprendre’m aquests tres LPs (i el </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Time</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">) de memòria. Vull dir que vaig arribar a aquell moment gloriós quan coneixes un disc tant que ja no només saps quina cançó ve després d’una altra, sinó que coneixes cada nota, cada paraula, cada respir.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p7I4ek0R3Vk" width="320" youtube-src-id="p7I4ek0R3Vk"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">Vaig gravar els discs en casset i vaig passar hores tancat a l’habitació copiant el logo del grup amb molt poca traça mentre els escoltava amb l’amplificador pujat fins al nivell 11. Però encara no havia trobat els èxits tan coneguts que havia sentit a la radio al finals del 70 i que m’havien quedat implantats dins el cervell. Com he dit abans, no tenia internet, ni coneixia ningú més que em pogués ajudar, i per tant va ser qüestió d’anar a la biblioteca a veure quins LPs em faltaven. I agafar-los prestats per a gravar-los, evidentment, ja que malgrat haver arreplegat algun dineret repartint diaris, no anava sobrat de diners. I, bingo, vaig trobar el </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">New World Record</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;"> (1976) amb algunes de les cançons que buscava com </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Telephone Line</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;"> o </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Livin´ Thing</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">. Un àlbum que em va confirmar que m’agradava cada pista de cada LP de l’ELO que sentia. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lvBOZCrJsAI" width="320" youtube-src-id="lvBOZCrJsAI"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Per tant, tocava baixar a la botiga a comprar un casset de la marca TDK en sortir de l’institut, afegint mitja hora a la tornada a casa, i a fer més gravacions, i a buscar ‘<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">singles’</em> (senzills) de segona mà per a veure si tenia sort i trobava algun de l’ELO. A més a més, amb l’obsessió que ja tenia pel grup, mentre els amics aprenien l’alineació del seu equip de futbol preferit, jo sabia de memòria quin era el ‘<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">dream team</em>’ de l’ELO, els components del grup en la seva època dorada. Encara ho puc recitar sense necessitar tirar mà de la Vikipèdia. Bev Bevan, bateria; Richard Tandy, teclats; Kelly Groucutt, baix; Mik Kaminski, violí; Hugh McDowell, violoncel; Melvyn Gale, violoncel… i el gran Jeff Lynne. Lynne va ser cofundador del grup (amb Roy Wood), i el compositor de la música i lletra, cantant, guitarrista, i ocasionalment també tocava altres instruments. Vaja, el Lennon & McCartney d’un grup que molta gent ha comparat amb la qualitat i estil dels Beatles.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Després, trobaria al disc doble, <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Out Of The Blue</em> (1977), la joia de la corona per a molts fans, un disc ple de meravelles de la música pop. Clar, jo ja feia tard, com és habitual en els meus despertars culturals, i els estava descobrint uns anys després d’aquest moment culminant de la seva carrera. Al principi dels 80 el món de la musica de primera línia ja havia canviat. La gent estava més pels nous estils que estaven brotant i aquell disc ja havia quedat una mica oblidat (com el grup), però Deu-n’hi-do! Us deixo un parell de joies d’aquest disc que encarna el seu moment més eufòric.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o0PLgklBJpQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="o0PLgklBJpQ"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">La gràcia de l’ELO, per a mi, es troba en la seva música, les melodies enganxoses amb unes combinacions instrumentals perfectes i sorprenents. La lletra, al meu entendre, no és gaire profunda, però sempre està ben feta, amb jocs de paraules i frases bastant millors i més originals que les d’alguns grups de pop, tocant temes o contant histories de punts de vista inesperats. </p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">L’altre LP que tenien a la biblioteca de Barnsley era el <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Discovery</em> (1979). També tenia ‘<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">hits’</em> que coneixia i que representaven un intent del grup de deixar enrere una mica el rock i anar de cara a la música de discoteca que s’escoltava en aquell moment, amb tresors com <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Confusion</em>, <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Last Train to London</em>, i <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Shine a Little Love</em>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GJuTIxwQw0k" width="320" youtube-src-id="GJuTIxwQw0k"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">Alguns estudis diuen que la música que escoltes entre els 14 i 17 anys és la que et marca de per vida, igual que altres experiències que vius intensament en aquells anys. Personalment, també em va marcar la musica que escoltàvem a casa quan era molt més jove – Simon & Garfunkel, The Everly Brothers, The Carpenters, Tom Jones i molts cantants de </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">country & western</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">. De fet recordo que sempre teníem música posada a casa quan jo era un xiquet petit. Però, sí, la música de l’època de l’adolescència també va ser un gran moment per a mi. Vaig viure aquells anys plenament dedicat a la meva afició a la música. Treballant com a repartidor de diaris pel matí abans d’anar a classe, i com a dependent en una botiga en caps de setmana, vaig recollir diners per a gastar en millorar el meu equip de reproducció de música i en comprar cassets i discs a dojo. La dècada dels 1980 va representar, per a mi, un paradís, gaudint setmana rere setmana amb els grups nous i cançons meravelloses que sortien com a rovellons, però mai vaig deixar de banda l’ELO. Com que ja tenia una mica més de diners, remenant a les ofertes de les botigues de discs, vaig trobar els primers dos discs que havien gravat als principis de la dècada dels 1970. Aquí vaig descobrir que el grup havia sigut un idea de Jeff Lynne i Roy Wood – qui va ser líder del The Move als anys 60, i només hi va ser un parell d’anys amb l’ELO abans de marxar i formar el grup Wizzard. Aquells dos LPs (</span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Electric Light Orchestra</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">, 1971, i </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">ELO 2</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">, 1973) són menys comercials però contenen petites joies i pistes cap a on aniria el grup. Una peça que ha tornat a sortir a la llum publica fa poc és el </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">10538 Overture</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;"> en la pel·lícula </span><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Hustle" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #006dc1; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">American Hustle</a><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">, però també hi trobem interessants cançons com </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Momma</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;"> o la versió que van fer del </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Roll Over Beethoven</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vSwDLavjiNc" width="320" youtube-src-id="vSwDLavjiNc"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">Al 1983 van treure un nou LP, </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Secret Messages</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;"> i evidentment vaig comprar -loen seguida, però al meu gust li faltava el frescor i originalitat dels discs d’abans. És un LP bo, però no al mateix nivell. També havien passat dos anys intensos amb l’ELO ocupant el meu cap dia sí dia també, però ara estaven sortint grups nous contínuament, i jo també estava descobrint joies del passat i ampliant el meu bagatge musical. Amb 16 anys jo estava bevent plenament d’un pou sense fons de música pop, rock, indy, jazz, country… i els ELO tenien molta feina per a aconseguir un lloc a la cua del tocadiscs. El 1983 va ser l’any de Big Country, The Alarm, Culture Club, Echo and the Bunnymen, Heaven 17, Madness, New Order, Bananarama, The Police, Style Council, o artistes clàssics com Elton John i David Bowie que van tornar a sorprendre. A més a més, ja estaven els The Smiths pujant a l’escenari. Un moment daurat en l’historia de la musica pop. A més, entre la feina a la botiga en caps de setmana, les primeres anades a partits de futbol i concerts, i començar a sortir amb els amics de nit, tenia moltes coses al cap!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eDAcbxz0fuQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="eDAcbxz0fuQ"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">I aquí comença a refredar-se la meva relació amb el grup –però només una mica! Per diferents motius, entre ells una sensació d’haver arribat a una mena de punt final amb <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Secret</em> <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Messages</em> i el poc èxit que va tenir, el grup es va separar, tornant a ajuntar només tres membres per fer un nou LP bastant fluixet, <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Calling</em> <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">America</em>, al 86. Jo ja estudiava a la universitat i gràcies a les beques que en aquells anys donaven, la meva col·lecció de bona música va poder anar a més encara! Vaig poder comprar vinils nous i de segona mà cada setmana, i no només copiar-los en casset. També viure a la gran ciutat em va donar l’oportunitat d’anar a molts concerts, gaudint de grans estrelles o grups desconeguts cada setmana. Cheaptrick, Suzanne Vega, Big Country, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Huey Lewis, Cutting Crew, Cyndi Lauper son alguns dels noms que em venen al cap…. i l’ELO! Per casualitats de la vida, jo estudiava a Birmingham, ciutat natal del grup. Al 1986 es va organitzar un concert benèfic per a recollir fons per l’hospital infantil de la ciutat, el <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Heartbeat Concert</em>. A banda de la presencia de <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">George Harrison</em>, van tocar grups locals com The Moody Blues, <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">UB40</em>, i, com a caps de cartell, l’ELO. Evidentment no hi vaig faltar a la cita!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Després d’aquest concert, cada u va continuar pel seu camí, jo acabant els estudis com podia amb la llengua fora i la moral per terra, i agafant un autocar cap a Catalunya i una nova vida, mentre Jeff Lynne i l’ELO van tornar a deixar el grup en espera. Als anys 90 Jeff va fer algunes obres com a solista, va treballar com a productor i/o compositor amb artistes com Tom Petty, Roy Orbison o George Harrison i molts més, i va formar part dels Travelling Wilburys.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1o4s1KVJaVA" width="320" youtube-src-id="1o4s1KVJaVA"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">Ara hem de tornar uns anys enrere en la cronologia fins al 1980. Just quan l’ELO estaven començant a guanyar l’etiqueta de ser el grup menys </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">cool</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;"> del país als ulls dels jóvens que estaven pendents del canvi generacional en el món de la música pop, el grup va assegurar-se l’etiqueta escrivint un grapat de cançons per a la banda sonora d’un musical, </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Xanadu</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">. En aquell moment, la pel·lícula va descol·locar molta gent – Olivia Newton-John, la ‘super cool’ Sandy de </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Grease</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">, aquí feia un paper més clàssic com les típiques noies de les pel·lícules americanes d’abans; rossa, patinadora, vivint a Californià, en una historia romàntica de les de tota la vida. Gene Kelly, estrella dels musicals dels anys 50 en blanc i negre, era l’altre protagonista. I tot això regat amb unes cançons màgiques de l’ELO! És una pel·lícula especial, que en el context cultural i mogut de l’any 1980 no va poder trobar el seu espai, però després s’ha anat consolidant entre els fans dels musicals, dels bons artistes, i de la veu i màgia encantadora de l’Olivia. Vist amb ulls moderns ara, 40 anys després, potser al guió li falta una mica de ritme, però té prou ingredients per a ser un petita obra d’art. A més, amb </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Xanadu</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;"> el grup continuaven el viatge per terres màgiques i misterioses que havien començat cantant anys enrere sobre </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Eldorado</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;"> i </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Shangri</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">–</span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">La</em><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: start;"><span face="Roboto Slab, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cLi8fTlDEag" width="320" youtube-src-id="cLi8fTlDEag"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span face="Roboto Slab, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">No podem continuar l’article sense esmentar la connexió amb les Terres de l’Ebre – com potser alguns sabeu, l’artista ebrenc <a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignasi_Blanch_i_Gisbert" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #006dc1; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ignasi Blanch</a> és amic de l’Olivia Newton-John, amb qui ha fet algunes col·laboracions com, per exemple, il·lustrar <a href="https://www.editorialflamboyant.com/foreign-rights/liv-on/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #006dc1; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">aquest llibre</a> de cançons que l’Olivia va publicar per a recollir fons per a ajudar en la investigació del càncer. </p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Jeff Lynne va treure un altre LP sota el nom de l’ELO però fent el 99% del treball ell tot sol. <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Zoom</em> va sortir al 2001, però no era el moment encara per al nostre retrobament particular, ja que en aquell moment jo els havia perdut la pista totalment. Diuen que un dels problemes que sempre van patir l’ELO va ser les poques ganes que tenia Jeff Lynne de tocar en públic. Li costava apostar per a fer les gires grans que el grup i els fans necessitaven, ja que ell estava força més content en l’estudi experimentant amb la musica. Però alguna cosa deu haver fet clic, perquè cap al 2013 Lynne va formar una nova versió de l’ELO i va fer alguns concerts esporàdics davant d’un públic amb moltes ganes! Al 2015 va treure l’LP <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Alone in the Universe</em> i al 2019 <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">From Out of Nowhere</em>, ara usant el nom “Jeff Lynne’s ELO” per a no confondre-se’n amb els altres grups derivats (<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">spin-offs</em>) que diferents membres havien format per a intentar aprofitar-se dels grans èxits del grup. D’aquesta època nova, jo destacaria aquesta peça plena de l’essència de l’ELO i la melancolia o nostàlgia que potser toca si has viscut tota una vida fent música.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tM34A80RTv4" width="320" youtube-src-id="tM34A80RTv4"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Des de llavors el grup de Lynne, l’autèntica ànima de sempre de l’ELO, ha fet diverses gires exitoses amb una posta en escena brutal i el nou grup ple de músics de primera categoria. Estan recollint els fruits de 50 anys de bona feina i el públic ha respost massivament. És igual si són ‘<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">cool’</em> o no. Com veureu en els vídeos dels concerts nous a continuació, tenen cançons inoblidables que cal reivindicar i gaudir.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Avui, si compres un disc d’ells, no cal posar-ho en una bossa de paper marró quan surts de la botiga, com fan a les pel·lícules quan intenten dissimular la botella de whisky. No cal escoltar-los només amb auriculars per culpa de la por del que diran els amics. Quasi segur que es va inventar el concepte de ‘<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">guilty pleasures</em>’ pensant en l’ELO, referent a aquells plaers i gustos que tens a la vida que no pots contar a ningú per la sensació de vergonya que tindries davant d’aquells amics <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">cools</em> que afirmen que van veure Bob Dylan abans de que agafés la guitarra elèctrica. Al 2021, em sembla que ja toca dir-ho obertament: sóc fan incondicional de l’ELO! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kXpjF1qtpt0" width="320" youtube-src-id="kXpjF1qtpt0"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bKDDmGunF_I" width="320" youtube-src-id="bKDDmGunF_I"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">Per a acabar, els meus agraïments al miner anònim de Barnsley, a les biblioteques publiques i a Lou Ottens (inventor de la casset)… i ara, escoltarem una de les cançons més boniques de la historia de la música pop. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RlvQg1DN7kw" width="320" youtube-src-id="RlvQg1DN7kw"></iframe></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></span></div></div></div><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p></div><br /></div></div></div></div></div><br /> </div><br /><span face=""Roboto Slab", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-16836736661188568952019-05-22T23:06:00.001+02:002019-05-22T23:06:10.019+02:00Pensant en les eleccions de Tortosa<div style="text-align: justify;">
Pensant en les eleccions municipals, he anat apuntant 'random' idees d'alguns detalls que m'agradaria que algun partit local tingues en compte. Una mica de llistat per a veure quin partit guanya més punts i així sabré a qui votar...</div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Encara no tinc
decidit el meu vot a <b>Tortosa,</b> però sí que tinc uns punts per a ajudar-me a
triar:</span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Cal
un ajuntament independentista. No sé si la nostra generació veurà
l’independència, però no podem aixecar el peu de l’accelerador. I molt menys si
volem obligar l’estat espanyol o Europa a parlar-ne. Cal pintar Catalunya
d’ajuntaments pro-indy</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Per
la mateixa regla de tres, no vull que el meu vot acabi ajudant una coalició que
inclou algun dels partits de la repressió (PP, PSOE, Cs) i votaré en conseqüència.
</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Que
més? Reclamarem el tancament dels nuclears?</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Posarem
objectius quantificatius per reduir l’ús del cotxe dins la ciutat?</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Prendre
mesures quantificatives per fer el nostra gra<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>de sorra per evitar/frenar el calentament global? (dic mesures amb
numeros, no pas amb paraules tipus ‘volem una ciutat sostenible’)</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Cal animar/incentivar
l’ús de la bici – començant pels treballadors de l’ajuntament mateix</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Treure
els cotxes dels voltants de les escoles i instituts, i facilitar l’arribada en
bici/peu</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Eliminar
l’ultim espai d’aparcament abans de cada pas de vianants per millorar
visibilitat i seguretat. Deixar-ho buit, o millor, posar aparcamet bici/moto
per visualitzar la millora.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Autobusos
urbans regulars (cada 10 minuts) i gratis (o un preu simbòlic, una targeta
anual per €10)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Tolerància
zero amb l’ús del mòbil mentre conduim, o amb aparcaments perillosos (passos
vianants, doble fila, les puntes dels carrers)</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Continuar
en el bon camí de la cultura, i alhora obrir la porta a idees noves i als més joves
– rap, trap, anime,manga, cosplay comics, poetry slams, concerts amb grups
originals, e-games, e-sports, espais per assaig grups nous, activitats
trenca-normes, trenca-esquemes. Facilitar i donar ales a l’iniciativa privada
en tot això.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Aprofitar
espais poc aprofitats – Jardins del Princep, la ronda del castell, el parc de
Ferreries, Reials Col·legis, per fer petites actuacions, musica, poesia,
teatre, rap, reggueton, dança ... cada setmana. Festival de rock a les
Avançades.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Obrir
llocs emblemàtics com els Reials Col·legis etc. als turistes els dies que venen
turistes (diumenge)</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Canviar
nom dels Jardins del Princep, per el seu nom original</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Apostar
per turisme tot l’any, turisme cultural, rural, historic, i gastronòmic, p.e..
Hi ha zones paregudes a les TE, per exemple el Lake District al UK, que han
trobat manera de generar turisme tot l’any</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Algun
tipus d’alberg per a turistes ‘jovens’. Usar els terrenys Renfe (i aquells
magatzems) per turisme lligat a la Via Verda, alberg, lloguer de bicis,
botiguetes, cafeteria-ecológica, dutxes, etc.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Llocs
d’oci pels jovens – disco, bolera, bars d’estiu (com es feien abans), el que
este de moda (cal parlar en els jovens!)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Tombar
el monument franquista i posar-ho al museu</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Si és
cert el que diuen alguns, que hi ha una generació de tortosins que no saben el que era el
franquisme, o no els molesta, pos, dissenyar un pla de xoc per ajudar a les
escoles/instituts a posar-se les piles.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Fer
un hospital nou a un millor lloc</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Tenint
una de les joies de Catalunya (L’Obsebre) a la ciutat del costat, pensar en com
interactuar amb ell, promoure’l, donar suport etc.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Tornar
a obrir Casa de l’Aigua (o paregut) i ajudar una associació de posar-se en
marxa i posar Tortosa al mapa en tema de gestió i estudis d’aigua ( independent
de les institucions publiques a l’hora de treballar)</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Ja
que els pobles dels voltants depenen de Tortosa, oferir alternatives als bous
(i una mica d’educació sobre el maltractament als animals) </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Oferir
més estudis universitaris i no-universitaris</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Prendre
en serio el tema de la despoblació ebrenca. Dubto que ens caigui una gran
industria des del cel, però si que podem atreure/mantenir petits empresaris
atrets per la qualitat de vida de les TE. Petites empreses basades en treballar
per les xarxes. Donar espenta i facilitats a la gent que vulgui muntar un petit
negoci o fer-se autònom (sí, com el Viver d’Empreses, però encara millor). La
sortida a llarg termini serà amb l’iniciativa i actuacións dels individus i
empreses, no pas a base d’ajuts o feines públiques. Alguns ebrencs tornarien
després de l’universitat si donem facilitats a que puguen deixar voler la seva
imaginació i capacitats, i no pas els laberints que ara s’han de seguir per fer
qualsevol cosa?</span></li>
<li><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">That's all folks! </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> </span></div>
Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-49181248452217023962019-05-12T13:00:00.004+02:002024-02-14T22:41:07.821+01:00L'importància de compartir casa amb un animal de companyia<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">[CAT/ENG] "<i>The
greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its
animals are treated</i>." ― Mahatma Gandhi</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">“Es pot jutjar la
grandesa d’un país i el seu progrés moral, mirant com tracten als seus animals”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Aquesta frase m’ha
fet pensar molt durant molt de temps. També em fa pensar aquella gent que diuen
‘No us amoïnesseu tant pels animals, i penseu més en els humans’. He arribat a
la conclusió de si volem pensar en els humans, si volem ser una societat amable
i generós, Gandhi tenia raó – com tractem als animals és un bon indicador.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">La meva teoria, ha!, és
que a les societats, malauradament, trobem mil raons, o excuses, per ‘maltractar’
als humans – interessos econòmics, de guerra, laborals, capitalisme,
consumerisme, relacions personals... gairebé sempre acabem fent mal a algú directament
o indirectament en benefici (pervers) nostra. Sap mal, però és així. Però en el cas dels
animals, la societat no treu 'benefici' d’un maltractament als animals, només
allò que alguns diuen ‘plaer’. El ‘plaer’ de fer mal pel simple motiu de fer
mal. No sé si m’explico: vull dir que no m’agrada gens però puc arribar a entendre
(a base de repassar els últims 4 mil anys d’història) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>que els humans vivim en una batalla continua
entre natros; però ee que estem en una batalla contra els gats, els bous, o els
dragonets, doncs, no ho veig. Per tant, el primer pas per sanejar-nos com a
societat seria això, deixar de torturar els animals. I potser això ens portarà
al següent pas de tractar-nos millor com a humans també. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Anant al grà, he
dit això per a reafirmar la meva tesi de que és interessant tenir animals domèstics,
crec que aporta molt a les famílies i les persones i ens ajuda a tractar millor
tant els animals com als humans. M’he adonat que una casa no és una casa de
veritat si no ho comparteixes amb algun animalet. Quan vaig néixer, mons pares
van agafar un gos i vam créixer junts. Teníem un lligam molt fort i vaig
aprendre molt sobre lo que significa estimar i l'empatia. En morir aquella gosseta, als 15
anys, vam esperar un any (allò de que ‘No ho sé, és molta feina tenir un altre
gos...´), però mons pares van acabar agafant un altre gos – un gos perdut que se’ls
hi va presentar a casa! Jo vaig marxar a l’universitat i després a Catalunya,
però compartia temps amb el gos durant vacances i visites. Amb la meva vida
nova a Catalunya, amb dos viatges llargs a Anglaterra <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cada any, vaig dubtar sobre tornar a tenir-ne
un animal aquí. També vaig passar 3 anys vivint en pisos, cosa complicat per un
animal. Però finalment, temps al temps, amb la sortida en escena dels nostres
fills i al poder viure en una casa al camp, hem acabat tornant a la bona vida. Peixos
a una basseta que tenim al jardí, hamsters i conills que volien els xiquets,
però que ara han passat al animal-heaven, tortugues, cucs de seda, insectes de
pal, animalets que passen pel jardí i ara un gat, la Nala. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Veig que els nostres
fills també han aprés a estimar els animals i a mostrar les seves emocions. No
veuen els animals com a una diana per a tirar-los pedres com alguns xiquets, ni
parlen com aquella gent ‘adulta’ que no veuen el tristor en atropellar un
animal amb el cotxe. Per no parlar, evidentment, d’aficions cruels en
relació als animals que es fan en aquesta zona. Com he dit abans, crec
que el primer pas en educar els fills en l’amor i la compassió en la vida pot
passar per l’exemple de casa amb un animal de companyia.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">I, com podeu haver comprovat, desmunto la teoria de que o has de ser 'de gossos' o has de ser 'de gats'. Pots estimar i apreciar les caracteristiques dels dos! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">"<i>The
greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its
animals are treated.</i>" ― Mahatma Gandhi</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I’ve thought
a lot about what this means over the years. And my conclusion is linked to how
I feel about the typical phrase people often come out with, “Stop worrying so
much about animals, there are humans who are suffering – let’s help them first.”
Well, my conclusion is that if we want a society which cares for humans, a
society which is friendly and generous, perhaps Gandhi was right – the first
indicator of a society is how we treat animals.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What I’ve
come to think is that, unfortunately, we come up with many, many, 'excuses' to mistreat
humans – economic issues, wars, work competition, capitalism and consumerism,
personal relationships... there are endless situations where humans mistreat
other humans for their own benefit, either directly or indirectly. It’s
terrible, but the last four thousand years seem to indicate that there is no
end in sight just yet to this ‘human eat human’ society. However, in
comparison, there’s very little, if any, benefit in mistreating animals. Merely
the so-called ‘pleasure’ some people obtain from inflicting pain on others. Not
sure if I’ve explained this well; what I mean is that I can just about
understand the fact that humans live in a constant battle among ourselves, but
I somehow doubt that we are, or should be, in a battle with cats, ants, bulls,
or lizards! To sum up, the first step to become a better and healthier society
is to stop torturing or harming animals and treat them as you’d like to be
treated yourselves. Who knows, a few lessons in love may then run over into our
human-human relationships?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Getting to
the point, that’s a long-winded introduction to today’s post about why it’s
important to have a pet. I firmly believe having a pet around the house is
excellent news for the family and household and definitely helps in the
upbringing of your own children. My parents got a dog more or less when I was
born and we grew up together. We loved and cared for her up until her old age,
and when she eventually passed away at the age of 15 it was like losing one of
the family – because that’s exactly what she was. Our parents had a year or so
off, thinking of all the work involved in having a pet, but soon enough they
fell into the trap again and took in a stray which turned up on our doorstep.
Between university and moving out to Catalonia, I didn’t see so much of her but
we spent time together during my trips back to my parents’ home. Here in
Catalonia I spent the first few years living in flats – not good for certain
kinds of pets. Plus, the twice-a-year long trips back to the UK would have
meant finding a pet-sitter so we left the subject aside for a while. But when
our children came along, we soon fell back into the habit, especially as by
then we’d moved into a house with a big garden. Encouraged by the kids (though
we didn’t need much encouragement), we’ve been through the usual procession of
pets; fish, turtles, silkworms, hamsters, stick insects, rabbits, and now we
have a cat, Nala. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Thanks to
all this, we’ve brought warmth and caring into our house and our children have
learned to love animals and express their feelings and emotions. Though it may
seem part of the past, there are still children – and, even worse, teenagers
and adults - who think it’s fun to throw stones at cats or don’t see the
problem in running over an animal with their car. Touching wood, I hope our children are
growing up differently. And, obviously, avoiding the outright cruel ‘hobbies’
related to animals which are still common practice around these parts. As I
have tried to say, I think one of the things we can all do to educate our
children with love and compassion is to show them this through the example of
having a four-legged (or 6-legged, 8-legged, no-legged...) member of the family
too!</span><br />
<span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Oh, and as you will have noticed, I've discovered you don't have to be either a 'dog person' or a 'cat person'. You can love both!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S7HdyOEXycQ/XNgYdYBtrDI/AAAAAAAACO8/8v9CJGsEsoQH_MhnDumGs8iGBScOnR-RACLcBGAs/s1600/2018_07_31_nala2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="871" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S7HdyOEXycQ/XNgYdYBtrDI/AAAAAAAACO8/8v9CJGsEsoQH_MhnDumGs8iGBScOnR-RACLcBGAs/s320/2018_07_31_nala2.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
<span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-14154380080362912352019-05-11T11:34:00.000+02:002019-05-12T12:54:40.152+02:00Els llibres de la Marta Rojals <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">[CAT] Fa uns anys vaig
estar de baixa laboral una temporada i vaig tornar a llegir com un dimoni;
llegir com no havia fet en molts anys. En adonar-me’n de la quantitat de
llibres que havia engolit, vaig decidir fer ressenyes aquí al blog i vaig<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>preparar diversos esborranys. Però, desprès d'uns mesos de baixa, vaig
tornar a la rutina del treball i la procrastinació i no es va sentir parlar mai més
d’aquests esborranys. <i>Fast forward</i> fins a la tardor passat i torno a estar de
baixa i torno a llegir. En adonar-me’n que estava llegint el nou llibre de la
Marta Rojals, i que a l’ultima baixa havia llegit (i fet apunts sobre) els dos
llibres anteriors, vaig pensar que algú m’estava intentant dir alguna cosa.
Així que, uns mesos després, us passo quatre reflexions personals sobre
aquestes tres novel·les però sense explicar gaire cosa de les histories per si
de cas....</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">El primer senyal
que un llibre és bo, per a mi, és quan tens ganes de tornar a llegir-ho en seguida.
I és el que m’ha passat amb els tres llibres de la Marta, tots doble-llegits i
no dubto que els llegiré per tercer cop d’aquí un parell d’anys. Això és un
senyal que són llibres que no depenen tant d’una historia de suspens, d’una
sorpresa, o d’un gir final (encara que n’hi ha alguns) sinó del llenguatge i
les descripcions. Els tres llibres (<i><b>Primavera, estiu, etcètera; L’altra; El cel
no és per a tothom</b></i>) descriuen a la perfecció situacions i àmbits que molts
catalans podem haver viscut, sobreviscut, o patit. Podem identificar-nos molt
també la gent que vivim a fora de les grans ciutats, en pobles o al camp. És a
<i><b>Primavera...</b></i> on es nota més aquesta barreja de sentiments i actituds,
camp/ciutat, quan gent que ha viscut a la ciutat per feina i estudis tornen al
poble d’origen i ‘passen coses’. Les descripcions del dia a dia, de moments
típics de poble i treball al camp, i, sobretot, els diàlegs totalment creïbles
fan que sovint has de parar a respirar i tornar a llegir aquella frase que
‘<i>l’ha clavat</i>’. Això és un punt comú en els tres llibres. Aparentment passa poca
acció però és l’acció que la majoria de gent vivim, i patim, cada dia – les relacions
humans. No són llibres plens de robatoris, desgracies, o assassinats, sinó
llibres plens d’aquells detalls que ens passa contínuament, detalls que poden
fer més mal que un llibre ple de sang i fetge. De fet, Marta descriu moments i escriu
frases que són com una puntada de peu al fetge o, com a mínim, al cervell. Aquelles
comentaris que fem entre natros, amb la parella, els pares, els germans, els
amics... frases que només són paraules però poden tocar diana i fer molt de mal. Per
a escriure llibres així, trobo que la Marta ha de ser una observadora molt bona de la naturalesa
salvatge de les relacions humans. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Al primer llibre,
<i><b>Primavera...</b></i>, la retrobada al poble després d’uns anys fa reactivar la memòria
de tot el que els va passar de jovens als protagonistes i com els afecta
encara. Potser és el llibre del que més es va parlar entre la gent del meu
entorn per sentir-se com els protagonistes; la gent ebrenca sovint viuen amunt
i avall entre ‘el poble’ i la Metropolis. O acaben vivint on sigui o on poden,
però tornen a les Terres de l’Ebre per a desconnectar. Però, clar, com pots desconnectar
si has deixat fils pendents o portes els teus problemes a la maleta allà on vas?
Deixant el fons de la novel·la a banda – o no? – el que també atreu molt d’aquest
llibre (i els altres dos) és el llenguatge. Un català exquisit, amb un us
perfecte quan toca (segons la meva opinió, gens-experta) de la llenguatge del
sud de Catalunya o del llenguatge col·loquial. Les descripcions del camp, de la feina del camp, i del
poble també són perfectes i ajuda a que es converteixen en llibres que posen la seva gra de sorra en defensa del català,
una llengua que, malgrat allò que ens diuen, sí que està en perill. I, ja he
dit abans, però s’ha de repetir: els diàlegs són joies. Si afegim que en un
moment de l’historia, pren importància una de les meves cançons preferides, una canço que també et pot trencar com alguns moments del llibre, que
més us puc dir!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Al segon llibre,
<b>L’Altra,</b> gran part de l’historia passa a la ciutat però també hi ha aquesta
doble arma urbà/rural, degut al passat d’alguns dels personatges. També toca de
prop temes que ens ha passat a una generació de jovens, amb el canvi de paradigma
econòmic/laboral, i això d’anar saltant de crisi en crisi, el qual ens porta a
crisi emocionals que són molt més devastadors de fet que les crisi econòmics de gent
que viu relativament bé passa el que passa. Un llibre que tracta d’obsessions,
addiccions, de saber dir que no, de saber dir que sí. De parlar, de preguntar,
d’insinuar, i del silenci. De conviure o de trencar. D’aguantar o d’explotar. De
voler tenir de tot i tenir tot planificat en un món que no ens deixa, un món que ha canviat. És un llibre que posa damunt de paper on són i allò que senten moltes parelles de la nostra generació. No explico coses de l'historia però us puc assegurar que paga molt la pena. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">El tercer llibre,
<i><b>El Cel...</b></i>, és una novel·la diferent en estil que els altres, però igual en el
fons. Tracta de tres germans que poc a poc ens van explicant les seves vides,
trobades, baralles, i amistats fins arribar a on estan avui en dia, quan es
troben de nou al poble per a ‘solucionar’ un problema que ha sorgit. Crec que
molta gent que l’ha llegit pot comprendre exactament els triangles i tràngols
per lo que passen els germans, desmuntant ràpidament l’estereotip del famós,
però caducat, frase ‘el primer és la família’. Prefereixo la frase ‘La família
és el que t’ha tocat; els amics són els que has triat’ i afegiria que els amics
també els has de saber gestionar! Aquests petits ‘problemes’ entre germans que
comencen de ben petit i poden anar a més, aquí es multipliquen per cent entre
les dos germanes ja que són bessones i les comparatives, lluites, i competicions
són les que són. Per més inri, el germà, Pep, és més jove i sap que passarà la
vida sempre com el més jove i, aparentment, menys estudiós o èxitos, amb tot el
que això implica. Marta descriu les relacions entre els germans amb molta cura;
les mirades, l’amor, l’odi, les frases com a dards, els silencis, i les baralles
psicològiques. I ens explica lo just - ni massa ni massa poc. Però prou per haver de deixar el llibre al costat un moment i reflexionar sobre el que estan vivint els protagonistes, i allò que natros també estem vivint. A tot això s’hi suma la relació entre els seus pares, una altra
historia que fa pensar molt, i també la relació del pare i la mare amb cada u dels
fills. Marta té la capacitat de fer-nos entendre, però, el perquè de cada u
dels personatges – vull dir, per què són com són. I ens fa sentir compassió o
comprensió per ells. Hi ha moments que penses, uf, jo sóc de l’equip de la persona
XX, però de sobte, també veus el punt de vista de l’altre persona i veus que
res és fàcil. Som lo que som, per tot lo que hem acumulat. I com fem quadrar el
cercle? Com fem entrar els nostres somnis o desitjos en el món que ens ha tocat
viure i les relacions que ens envolta? Igual com amb els dos llibres anteriors,
hi ha moments que has de deixar el llibre i respirar o treure’t la llosa del ‘és
així, és justament així’ de damunt per poder agafar forces per a continuar. Tal
com va dir Marta en una entrevista, el llibre és ‘<i>un pou sense fons</i>’. N’hi ha
tantes coses dites i no dites en aquesta historia, que fàcilment podria ser l’historia
de qualsevol de natros on el riu turbulent de les relacions de família sovint s’endu
les nostres vides per llocs on no tenim sortida.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Aquest llibre
també toca temes que molts hem viscut de prop, la crisi, el boom urbanístic, la
precarietat laboral,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>mesclat amb temes
eterns com les relacions, les malalties, i els fills. Però la novetat d’<i><b>El Cel...</b></i>
és que també ens fa un repàs dels últims 40 anys, ja que amb una barreja de
flashbacks/flashforwards, ens explica les histories dels tres germans a traves
de fils en l’historia i moments concrets, tots definits en el seu moment històric
i perfectament entrellaçats entre ells. No em puc imaginar la feina de preparar
un llibre així! Però a més a més d’aquesta mena de trencaclosques que funciona
de meravella, s’afegeix unes histories que fan vibrar i, com sempre, un
llenguatge (diàleg, vocabulari, gramàtica...) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>que deixa els llibres de la Marta com exemples
del millor que jo he llegit en català. Tots tres són obres d’art en aquest
sentit i haurien de ser llibres de lectura per jovens estudiant Batxillerat,
trobo jo. La llengua i les histories donen per aprendre molt més, i d’una
manera multi-disciplinaria (no només pel tema llengua, sinò com lliçons o reflexions de vida), que alguns dels clàssics que els fan llegir.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Per acabar, veient
com la gent a les xarxes socials els agrada remarcar frases de llibres, jo
també havia començat una llista de frases dels llibres de Marta però al final
en tenia tantes que podria haver fet un llibre! Així que la meva recomanació és
de regalar-vos els llibres i sobretot deixar les pantalles de móbils i tablets una estona i regalar-los
el temps per llegir i rellegir i pensar i digerir-los. </span><br />
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zuuObGsB0No/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zuuObGsB0No?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-42503147781501583362018-12-29T23:56:00.001+01:002018-12-29T23:58:07.016+01:00Disco 2000<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">[Català/English] Ja s’han acabat
les festes de nadal amb la melancolia que també queda reflectit en les millors
cançons de nadal; aquella sensació agri-dolç de que, sí, és una festa, però
també vol dir que ha volat un altre any i cada any falta gent (o en sobre
segons com...), que els xiquets es fan gran, que les possibilitats de complir
els somnis es van reduint etc. Llavors ve tot seguit la festa de l’any nou, que
ve a ser el mateix sentiment. A més és un moment de mirar de cara al futur.
Aquesta cançó – perquè el blog, en teoria, se basa en cançons – es dels 90,
quan l’any 2000 era al futur però el significat és el mateix independentment de
quan ho escoltem. Una lletra amb la qual molts es podem sentir identificats. Mentre passen els
anys, creixem, les amistats van i venen, aquella noia/noi, pos, ja no tens
possibilitats amb ell/a... però tots acabarem d’una forma o d’una altra vivint
una vida simple i mundana, una vida que normalment no ens conten a les cançons.
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Looks like
Christmas is over. That sweet yet melancholic time of year, a time to enjoy
life but also a time to remember those who aren’t here, and those dreams whose
odds of happening are getting longer and longer. Feelings expressed so well in
so many of the great Christmas songs. Then it’s New Year around the corner and
the same story again – another year over, just what have you done? Also a time
to look the future in the face, for better or for worse. Today’s song –
because, as long-time readers may recall, the blog is supposed to be
song-themed – sums up these feelings for me in a certain context. When it was
written, by that great Sheffield poet Jarvis Cocker in the 90s, the year 2000
sounded a far-off exotic future, but the feelings the song offers are just the
same whenever you hear it. We all grow up, friends change, that girl/boy you
fancied has got married to someone else, your dreams have come partly true or
landed in a drawer, but more often than not the future offers you a simple
mundane life – unlike the futures most Hollywood-esque songs suggest. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">... </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Oh we were
born within one hour of each other<br />
Our mothers said we could be sister and brother<br />
Your name is Deborah, Deborah<br />
It never suited ya<br />
And they said that when we grew up<br />
We'd get married, and never split up<br />
Oh, we never did it, although I often thought of it</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Oh Deborah,
do you recall?<br />
Your house was very small<br />
With wood chip on the wall<br />
When I came around to call<br />
You didn't notice me at all</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And I said
let's all meet up in the year 2000<br />
Won't it be strange when we're all fully grown<br />
Be there 2 o'clock by the fountain down the road<br />
I never knew that you'd get married<br />
I would be living down here on my own<br />
On that damp and lonely Thursday years ago</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You were the
first girl at school to get breasts<br />
And Martyn said that you were the best<br />
Oh the boys all loved you, but I was a mess<br />
I had to watch them trying to get you undressed<br />
We were friends, that was as far as it went<br />
I used to walk you home sometimes but it meant<br />
Oh, it meant nothing to you<br />
'Cause you were so popular</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Deborah do
you recall?<br />
Your house was very small<br />
With woodchip on the wall<br />
When I came around to call<br />
You didn't notice me at all</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And I said
let's all meet up in the year 2000<br />
Won't it be strange when we're all fully grown<br />
Be there 2 o'clock by the fountain down the road<br />
I never knew that you'd get married<br />
I would be living down here on my own<br />
On that damp and lonely Thursday years ago<br />
Do it<br />
Oh yeah<br />
Oh yeah</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ah Deborah
do you recall?<br />
Oh, your house was very small<br />
With wood chip on the wall<br />
When I came around to call<br />
You didn't notice me at all</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And I said
let's all meet up in the year 2000<br />
Won't it be strange when we're all fully grown<br />
Be there 2 o'clock by the fountain down the road<br />
I never knew that you'd get married<br />
I would be living down here on my own<br />
On that damp and lonely Thursday years ago</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Oh what are
you doing Sunday baby<br />
Would you like to come and meet me maybe?<br />
You can even bring your baby<br />
Oh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh<br />
What are you doing Sunday baby<br />
Would you like to come and meet me maybe?<br />
You can even bring your baby<br />
Ooh ooh oh oh ooh ooh ooh</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-67289609179471446762018-12-22T09:44:00.001+01:002018-12-29T23:41:00.799+01:00Poetry in Sitges<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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[Català/English] <span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">L’altra bogeria poètica que hem fet aquest any va ser allargar-nos a Sitges
pel Festival de Poetes. Fa un parell d’anys que un molt bon amic que hi viu
allí ens ho recomana i aquest any vam poder anar el dissabte. El festival dura
des de divendres tarde fins diumenge a migdia. Bàsicament és un homenatge a set
poetes diferents cada any. Son rebudes a l’estació de trens amb una banda de
música i desfilada per la ciutat, i desprès ve 3 dies d’actes variats i
divertits; obres d’art locals inspirats en les seves poesies, dinars, actes poètics,
música, regals pels poetes, etc. El millor que podeu fer <a href="http://festapoesiasitges.cat/">és mirar el programaaquí</a>. Nosaltres vam poder assistir als actes del dissabte, incluyent el dinar
plena de diversió i recitals on vam compartir taula amb una de les poetes, la
Samantha Barendson. Els altres poetes aquest any van ser: Quico Pi de la Serra,
Maria Cabrera (qui no va poder venir al final), Josep-Ramon Bach, Josep Porcar,
Isabel Ortega, i Ricard Garcia.</span></div>
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<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Un cap de setmana
intens i interessant, us ho puc recomanar</span>. </div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">...</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The other
poetry adventure we went on this year was a trip to Sitges for the Poets’
Festival. An annual homage to seven poets. The poets are met at the station
with a brass band and then there is a parade through town, followed by 2 days
of fun and excitement; music, gifts, theatre, art, dinners, and of course
poetry. We only managed to go on the Saturday but enjoyed a full day of
activities. The lunch was amazing, sat at the same table as one of the poets
exchanging thoughts and experiences, and then the whole room erupted into
songs, jokes, recitals, speeches, a full-blown homage! The programme of events
from this year, and list of poets<a href="http://festapoesiasitges.cat/"> is here – in Catalan.</a></span></div>
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Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-60848587983338628942018-12-14T18:17:00.001+01:002019-05-12T12:26:27.874+02:00An appointment with the Emergency Poet<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: CA;">[Català/English] No sóc de grans aventures o tirar el
carro pel pedregal, però aquest estiu passat vam fer una cosa que, per mi,
seria una (petita) bogeria. Travessar Anglaterra fent més de tres hores en
cotxe (i tres de tornada) per tenir una trobada amb l’Emergency Poet! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: CA;">Fa un parell d’anys vam descobrir qui era la Emergency
Poet (Deborah Alma) quan mon germà ens va regalar un recopilació de poemes que
ella havia preparat. Poemes que poden ajudar-te davant dels problemes de la
vida. Vam investigar i vam descobrir que té una ambulància antiga, adaptada, i
va a fires literàries i altres esdeveniments on la gent pot tenir una
consultació amb ella. A traves d’una petita conversa, que pot ser més lleugera
o més profunda, ella et recepta certes poemes que et poden ajudar amb el que li
has explicat. Tant poden ser casos de problemes de solitud, el típic ‘la vida
em passa i em faig gran’, tristesa, canvis, falta de canvis, el que sigui... o
també pot fer consultes més divertides i fins i tot per xiquets ja que també
visita escoles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: CA;">En fi, vam fer hores i hores d’autopista per acabar en un
poble de conte, amb l’ambulància de la Emergency Poet aparcat amb saviesa al
parking d’un pub. Ens vam presentar (bé, ja havíem parlat per email per
concretar l’hora de la consulta), i després la Silvia i jo vam entrar
individualment per la nostra visita. Va ser molt, però molt, interessant, i ens
van receptar 3 poemes cada u. Al final del post, posaré un dels que em va donar.
Després, com que ens intriga l’idea del que fa i en volíem saber més, vam
passar al pub i amb una pinta de cervesa vam parlar amb la poeta per una hora
llarga més, de poemes, literatura, la vida... un dia esplèndid!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: CA;"><a href="https://emergencypoet.com/">Aquí teniu el web de la Emergency Poet</a>, Deborah Alma, i
també la podeu trobar a Twitter o Facebook.</span><br />
<span lang="CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: CA;">Actualització: Deborah ara vol obrir una Farmacia Poetica! <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1245541163/the-worlds-first-poetry-pharmacy">Ho explica tot aquí.</a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: CA;">...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Not one for mad adventures, especially if it involves
driving for miles and miles, but last summer I made an exception and ended up
driving three hours from one side of England to the other (and three hours
back) for an appointment with the Emergency Poet (Deborah Alma)!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We first found out about Deborah through one of the
poetry compilations she has put together; a selection of poems grouped into
sections for different problems or issues you may be facing in life. On further
investigation, we discovered this is actually what she does – holds
appointments in the back of her old converted ambulance with ‘patients’ to see
what poems may be suitable to help out. People take their serious life problems
– sadness, loneliness, missing something etc. – and she listens and chats with
you until she decides which poems to prescribe. Or you can go in for an appointment on a lighter
note, not everything has to be ground-shattering; or she even holds sessions
with school pupils coming up with funny poems they might like. After following
her on social media and requesting an appointment in the fairytale town of
Bishop’s Castle where she currently lives (we have never managed to coincide at
any of the book fairs or literature events she is at, so we eventually decided
to drive three hours and go there), last August we stocked the car with sandwiches, tea, and a desire
to enjoy the experience and off we went.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">After presenting ourselves, we went to the ambulance,
usefully parked in a pub car park, and both Silvia and myself had our
appointments. It was great fun and highly recommendable. You should definitely
check her out if she comes to an event near you. Afterwards, we went into the
pub and continued chatting about how and why she’d had this idea, how it works,
poetry, literature, life...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">All in all, a grand day out. You can <a href="https://emergencypoet.com/">read more at her website </a>or check her out on Twitter and Facebook. Finally, here are some photos and one of
the poems I was prescribed.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">UPDATE April 2019: Deborah is now setting up a Poetry Pharmacy in Bishop's Castle. It sounds wonderful and is <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1245541163/the-worlds-first-poetry-pharmacy">explained here</a> at the Kickstarter link where you can actually help bring this project to life!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The Word – Tony Hoagland</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Down near the bottom<br />
of the crossed-out list<br />
of things you have to do today,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">between “green thread”<br />
and “broccoli” you find<br />
that you have penciled “sunlight.”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Resting on the page, the
word<br />
is beautiful, it touches you<br />
as if you had a friend</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">and sunlight were a present<br />
he had sent you from some place distant<br />
as this morning—to cheer you up,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">and to remind you that,<br />
among your duties, pleasure<br />
is a thing</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">that also needs
accomplishing.<br />
Do you remember?<br />
that time and light are kinds</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">of love, and love<br />
is no less practical<br />
than a coffee grinder</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">or a safe spare tire?<br />
Tomorrow you may be utterly<br />
without a clue</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">but today you get a
telegram,<br />
from the heart in exile<br />
proclaiming that the kingdom</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">still exists,<br />
the king and queen alive,<br />
still speaking to their children,</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">—to any one among them<br />
who can find the time,<br />
to sit out in the sun and listen.</span></div>
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Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-9594120829713920762018-11-29T09:29:00.003+01:002019-05-01T15:27:45.642+02:00The revenge of the DVT<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Let’s start at the beginning. Summer
2013 I was diagnosed with a Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). I wrote about the
6-month experience <a href="http://briancutts.blogspot.com/2014/01/back-on-chain-gang-pretenders-backtowork.html">here (link)</a>. Two years later, summer 2015, I suffered a
thrombophlebitis or superficial vein thrombosis, which I also blogged <a href="http://briancutts.blogspot.com/2015/09/august.html">about (link</a>). After that the doctors ran a test on me to see if I had a genetic
disposition (a mutation of the Factor V Leiden) to thrombosis problems. The results
said I had inherited this problem but only from one parent, which isn't so bad. Not good, but not bad. After seeing various experts, the conclusion was
the same as back in 2013 – just bad luck, and advice to keep
wearing the compression stockings, every day, summer and winter. Which I have
done. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But, a month ago, October 2018, I
was diagnosed with another DVT in the same leg! A similar process, extreme pain
in my lower leg, swelling, a bit redder and warmer than the other leg... when
the GP saw it (30 October), he recommended going to the hospital Emergency department straight away for
tests to rule out (or not) the possibility of it being a new DVT. Six hours
later, blood tests and an ultrasound scan done on my leg, it turned out I’d got
a DVT again (and in more than one vein from what I understand). So we then
relived the 2013 moment – serious doctors telling me seriously not to worry,
they’d get me through this etc, but for God’s sake, don’t move around! Go
straight home, bed rest and don’t move for several days. Plus those
anti-coagulant injections and some Sintrom pills (the equivalent of Warfarin in
the UK I think). So I spent a couple of panic-stricken weeks at home, lying
still except for the need to carry out specific bodily functions or eat
something, and just getting up to go back to the hospital to have my blood
tested and Sintrom dosage adapted accordingly. I won’t be seeing the ‘expert’
until December when I have an appointment with either the hematologist (blood
consultant) or vascular doctor (vein consultant), so until then I don’t really
know what’s next. Keep taking the pills of course. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As to what I should do now,
4 weeks into the problem, I’m combining intuition, experience from 5 years ago,
and Google research (I know, I know!). Because one of the main problems or
worries now is, what should I be doing. The Emergency Ward doctor told me the
first day to stay still, at least a week, maybe two.... but now four weeks have
gone by and I still won’t be seeing the specialist until week seven. So,
following my research, I think (but I’d love to ask a doctor!) I should be
trying for a balance of rest, and not doing anything daft, but gradually moving
about a bit as probably the worst moment has passed. As I said in a previous
post, the worst moment actually lasts a few weeks and it’s when the blood clot
can break free and travel around your veins and block your lungs and cause
serious damage or, speaking clearly, kill you. I think/pray that risk is now
reduced substantially after 4 weeks on the pills, which is more or less what
Google’s telling me. But still, those nights when you lay awake paying
attention to every single twinge, ache, pain, even trapped wind, thinking ‘Is
this it? Do I need to get off to the hospital NOW? What about the kids? Where
are my shoes? etc’ until you eventually drop off to sleep and wake up the next
morning realizing you’re fine....</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So, I’ve been off work for a month
and will probably be off till Christmas I imagine. I can, and have decided it’s
best to, move around the house and garden now, going out from time to time (for
example, round the supermarket), and just lie down for an hour at a time to ease
the pain. When I get up, I do light things around the house, but can only sit
down for short periods as that’s the most painful moment. In a couple of weeks
I’ll see the consultant and hopefully get a clearer picture of where I am and
what I should be doing, and, more importantly, find out if they have any idea
why this “one-off” problem has happened again despite my precautions (not
sitting down for long periods, feet exercises, liquids galore, expensive
stockings, reasonable fit and healthy, anti-coagulant injections before
flights).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">................................... </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Començarem al principi. A l’estiu del 2013
em van diagnosticar un trombosi de vena profunda (TVP), el qual em va tenir
patint fins gener 2014, i de la qual vaig escriure <a href="http://briancutts.blogspot.com/2014/01/back-on-chain-gang-pretenders-backtowork.html">aquí (link)</a>. Dos anys després,
a l’estiu 2015 vaig patir un tromboflebitis a la mateixa cama, probablement a
causa de la TVP anterior <a href="http://briancutts.blogspot.com/2015/09/august.html">(link)</a>. Vaig tornar a fer la ronda de metges. Em van fer una
prova per assegurar que no tenia cap problema genètic (com una mutació del
Factor V Leiden). Vaig rebre el OK i un ‘No pateixes’, i em van recomanar
portar mitjons de compressió tot l’any, estiu i hivern, dia sí, dia també. Amb
això pensava que ja estava tot arreglat...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>però... sorpresa, ara a l’octubre 2018 han
tornat a trobar un TVP a la mateixa cama. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Vaig començar a notar un dolor agut,
vaig anar al metge de capçalera, i em va dir que donat els precedents, millor
anar a urgències a fer les proves per descartar que fos un TVP. Sis hores
d’urgències desprès, i, sorpresa, les proves (una de sang, i l’ecografia de la
cama) donaven positiu. Llavors va passar el mateix que el 2013, cares serioses
dels metges, paraules recomfortants, i consells de sobretot no moure’s en
absolut durant uns dies o setmanes, donat que (com vaig explicar el primer cop)
el coàgul que està tapant la vena pot començar a ‘flotar’ dins de la vena fins
arribar a tapar l’entrada al pulmó i l’historia acabaria molt malament. Et
donen les típiques injeccions per fer la sang menys coaguladora (¿), i les
pastilles famoses Sintrom. Llavors, quieto a casa, menys els dies que has
d’anar a l’hospital per fer el control del Sintrom – que és el dia quan
decideixen si tenen la dosi ben calculada o no, i t’ho van ajustant. De moment
fa 4 setmanes que estic de baixa i crec que arribarà fins nadal. D’aquí uns
dies toca visita amb l’especialista, o l’hematòleg o el vascular. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Crec que ja ho he explicat en posts
anteriors, per mi el pitjor d’això és no saber que passa, no saber fins a quan
hi ha perill, fins a quin punt no t’has de moure, o sí que has de moure. Surts
de l’hospital amb instruccions de no moure’s en absolut. Però llavors no veuré
el metge fins que hagin passat 6 setmanes. Mentrestant, que? He d’estar 6
setmanes enganxat al llit tremolant de temor? O pots fer alguna cosa? I aquest
perill de tapar-te un pulmó, com ho notaria, que passarà? Si em moc la cama és
possible que jo mateix posi en moviment el coàgul? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Amb una mica d’intuició, i els records de
fa 5 anys, i una buscada per Google, he deduït que a partir d’un parell de
setmanes has de buscar un equilibri i començar a moure una mica però evitar
segons quines accions o postures... diuen que hi ha perill de que el coàgul es
mou durant unes 4 setmanes. Faig molt de llit/sofa encara, però ara, a 4
setmanes, m’aixeco cada horeta, em moc dins de casa o al jardí, i minimitzo les
estones de cadira que és quan em fa més mal. Però clar, això que diuen de que tens
aquesta cosa a dins i es pot moure i et pot matar, pos, cada nit quan no pots
dormir (o sigui, cada nit!) comences a analitzar cada sensació, cada petita molèstia o punxada... he
estat molt a prop de sortir corrents cap a urgències diverses nits, però al
final he esperat i ha passat, ja que evidentment són les petites sensacions
‘normals’ d’un cos. Però com que no sé com se sent tenir un coàgul tapant-me el
pulmó fins que passi, pos, jo, a la deriva. En fi, ja tinc moltes ganes de
parlar en l’expert per fer-li mil preguntes, saber que puc (no) fer ara, i
sobretot si tenen alguna explicació del perquè m’ha tornat a passar</span>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">....</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<br />Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-62089846156611100352018-11-07T12:15:00.000+01:002020-08-26T11:18:51.872+02:00Depressió<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">[CAT/ENG] Per a saber que
és i com enfocar la malaltia coneguda com a ‘depressió’, més val llegir un
llibre d’un expert o, molt millor, parlar en un professional, en comptes de llegir les meves
reflexions. Aquí jo simplement vull deixar 4 punts de com ho veig jo des de fora, ja que crec
que els problemes de salut mental són unes de les malalties més complicades i més poc compreses per a la gent i si entre tots hi podem anar parlant més obertament, doncs, endavant.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Per mi, el primer
problema amb una 'depressió' és el mateix nom. La gent connecta una ‘depressió’ amb el verb deprimir-se
i estar deprimit, i això no ajuda gens. Pocs apreciem la gravetat de la malaltia;
pensem que és com estar deprimit i comencem a dir coses poc utiles com
‘<i>Anima’t’</i>, o ‘<i>Jo també m’ho passo malame</i>nt’ etc. Tots ens hem sentit tristos un
dia o una temporada (el primer dia de feina després de vacances, "<i>estic depre..</i>", per exemple), però el temps l’ha curat. Això no té res a veure amb la malaltia 'depressió'. El temps tot sol no cura totes les
depressions o problemes pareguts. Cal moltes coses més. Fins i tot, més que curar, sovint l’únic
que es pot aconseguir és sobreviure i conviure amb el problema. També,
pel mateix motiu, 'depressió' és una paraula usada massa sovint per definir problemes o sentiments
temporals que realment no són malalties.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Pel que entenc
jo, les depressions venen per diferents motius, o sovint una barreja. Poden ser
un problema més bé bio-químic, per temes de desequilibris bio-quimics, o més un
problema psicològic, que poden tenir els seus orígens en problemes o situacions
que li ha tocat viure a la persona en qüestió. Pel fet de que de vegades són una barreja de causes, sovint les
‘solucions’ també són una barreja d’ajut psicològic i medicines. O una de les
dos coses. Tot depèn de cada persona – per això, tal com he dit, entenc que és
important parlar en algú que sap, i no només fer una buscada a Google. Tal com
he dit abans, aquí només vull compartir quatre reflexions per a la gent del
voltant, a veure si podem aprendre com ajudar.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Els problemes de salut mental com les depressions
poden durar anys i panys, tenir alts i baixos, i de vegades la gent se’n surt,
i de vegades simplement aprenen a conviure i gestionar-ho - si tenen sort i tot va bé. Però l’important és rebre
el tractament que toca i canviar les coses de la vida que pots fins trobar-te
més còmode.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">La gent que ho
pateix, de vegades son conscients que necessiten ajut, i de vegades la
depressió mateixa fa que no demanen ajut. Les símptomes i efectes de patir-ne
poden incloure; ganes de no fer res. L’impossibilitat de fer res. Quedar-te a
casa, al llit. Apatia continua i cansament profund. O, al contrari, moments de
sobre-excitació. Incapacitat de decidir o canviar res. Deixar la feina. Deixar les relacions i 'obligacions' del dia a dia. Obsessions. Atacs de
panic/ansietat. Vòmits i migranyes. Altres problemes de salut aparentment físics,
però relacionat o provocat per la depressió. No menjar/beure. Menjar/beure
massa. Auto-lesions, físics i psicològics. Sensacions insuperables de culpa, de
falta de confiança, de falta d’auto-estima, d’inferioritat. Ira. Falta de
concentració. Fallos de memòria. No voler acceptar comentaris positives o ajud. Obsessió amb
el passat. Paranoia. I, sobre tot, caure en un forat negre del qual és molt
difícil sortir-s’en. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">‘<i>Buah, jo també
estava deprimit quan em va passar xx’.</i> Per a la gent del voltant, és un error
comparar les nostres baixons amb una depressió o un altre problema greu de salut mental; no podem arribar a imaginar el
que està passant pel cap d’aquella persona. Simplement hem d’estar allí per
quan ens necessita, i apartar-nos quan no ens necessita. Sí, és cert, de vegades ens cal
saber deixar-los sols una estona. No passa res per deixar-los sols si la persona en qüestió<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sap que allò és el que necessita en aquell
moment. Evidentment també, si les circumstancies d’una manera de viure li han
portat fins aquí, doncs és evident que ha de canviar coses en la seva vida i hàbits.
Potser no ho podem entendre o no ens agrada a la gent del voltant, però hem d’acceptar que la persona
ha de trobar una sortida, ha de canviar el que sigui per intentar sobreviure. Sí, sobreviure. Lo primer és la salut. Han
d’evitar l’estrès, relacions estressants, treball estressant, moments de
tensió, i seguir el que els ve de gust, oblidant-se de les 'obligacions' de la societat moderna. I la gent del voltant ho hem d’acceptar
– i entendre’l si podem – però com a mínim, acceptar-ho i estar per ell/ella si
o quan ens vol. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">‘<i>Vinga, anima’t,
que has de tornar a aixecar-te i sortir d’aixó</i>’. Bé, per a respondre a aquest comentari típic, la metàfora més comú que
he vist és: Veritat que no diries a una persona amb la cama trencada, ‘<i>Vinga, a
caminar!</i>’ ? O a una persona amb hepatitis o un problema de cor, ‘<i>Au, és només un
problema del cap. Mira a mi, jo no deixo que les coses em fan mal.’</i> ? Pos, és
així. Si una persona té la malaltia coneguda, malhauradament lingüisticament,
com una depressió, hem d’entendre que això és una malaltia i no només un estat
temporal i que necessita el seu temps i tractament per a curar o, més ben dit,
per arribar a un equilibri on es pot gestionar/conviure. Els que estem al
voltant hem de saber i acceptar que aquesta persona té un problema, i
simplement ajudar en el que podem o el que ens demanem. </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"><i>'Tranquil, molt aviat tot tornarà a estar com abans.</i>' En primer lloc, res passa 'aviat' en qüestions de salut mental. En segon lloc, com he dit abans, dificilment la solució passa per tornar a estar com abans. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>'Si estas tant malament, com és que surts de festa?'</i> Pos, com hem dit abans, com gairebé tothom, tenen alts i baixos, coses que els va bé, coses que no. Dies que poden, dies que no.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Que podem fer, doncs, els que estem a prop d'algú patint problemes així? Acceptar. Intentar
comprendre, però sense voler saber tot (si ja és prou difícil per al malalt
trobar a dins seu el que li passa, només caldria que els amics/families li
obliguem a explicar-ho). No demanar explicacions, ni pressionar. Si en vols
parlar, primer crea confiança i dona'ls temps. Pregunta'ls si estan bé, si volen parlar. No criticar o comparar o menysprear el que
li passa, parlant i comparant-ho amb els teus problemes. Donar ànims, però sense passar-nos – tampoc va bé aquest tipus de super-persona super-positiva que veu que
sempre es pot sortir de tot, ja que de vegades cal donar un temps acceptant que
sí, que avui toca quedar al llit i no passa res. Si el malalt només sent ‘<i>Vinga,
que tu pots’</i> continuament i ell/ella sap que no, que no pot (avui), l’enfonsarem encara més. Estimar. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Donar-los temps i més temps. Cuidar-te tu també - si la gent al voltant del malalt també cauen, les coses no aniran bé. No buscar una
felicitat ‘perfecte’, sinó raonable. Acceptar que les coses no seran com abans. Tot ha de canviar, per molt dur que sembla. Enfocar sempre les coses bones d’aquesta
persona, sense qüestionar o criticar com porta la malaltia o la vida en si. Buscar
i remarcar les coses boniques que fa. Donar-los anims a fer-ne més. En fi, comprensió. Una depressió no és un
baixon, no és tenir els <i>blues</i> i sentir-te trist perquè les coses et van malament, sinó
alguna cosa molt més complicada.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">....</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">If anyone
thinks they may be suffering from a depression, please see an expert. All I aim
to do here is offer a few thoughts I’ve gathered from reading and listening to people as I think mental health issues are a grossly mis-understood problem which we should all try to understand and talk about more openly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">To start
with, I believe the word ‘depression’ in itself is what leads many of us to
fail to understand the seriousness of the illness. We link it in our minds to
the verb ‘being depressed’, ‘feeling depressed’ and so on. And it’s not true. A
‘depression’ is an illness far removed from simply feeling down. So shouting
out ‘<i>Cheer up’</i> or ‘<i>I know how you feel</i>’ is of no benefit of all and will
probably do more harm than good. Everyone’s felt down at some moment, but time
usually heals it and you end up getting over whatever problem may have made you
get the blues. But, from what I see, time alone rarely heals a ‘depression’. In
fact, even alongside other pro-active actions like seeing a psychologist and/or
taking medicine, a depression may never be cured completely. Maybe it’s just a
question of learning how to manage it and live with it? So, first tip; don’t
link ‘<i>I’m feeling depressed because xx’</i> with what a true depression must feel
like.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">From the
little I’ve learnt, I think depressions can have two kinds of causes, or a
combination of both: bio-chemical problems, which need medical treatment. Or phsychological
problems, which need a different kind of treatment. Or, more probably, as I
say, most people need a combination of both. I’ll repeat what I said earlier –
I ain’t no expert. If you think you may be suffering from a depression, or know
someone who is, please seek help straight away. I’m just laying out here my
experiences from living near a case.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Depressions
can last years, can have ups and downs, long periods of ‘normality’, and then
falling back down again. Sometimes people overcome them, some other cases
simply learn to survive and manage them. Others aren’t so lucky. The key thing
is for people to get help and treatment and make the changes to their lives
which are necessary.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">People
suffering from a depression sometimes know they need help, or at other times
the illness itself prevents them from seeing this. Symptoms and effects may
include: Not wanting to do anything. Being unable to do anything. Just wanting
to stay at home, in bed. Apathy and exhaustion. Or, sometimes, the opposite;
moments of over-excitation. Unable to make decisions or (necessary) changes.
Obsessions. Panic attacks. Anxiety. Vomits. Migraines. Other health problems.
Not eating/drinking. Over-eating/drinking. Self-harm, both psychological and
physical. Unbearable feelings of guilt, lack of self-confidence, lack of
self-esteem. Feelings of inferiority. Anger. Inability to concentrate or
remember. Unable to accept help or positive comments. Obsessed with the past.
Paranoia. And, above all, falling into a black well from which it is very, very
difficult to climb out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<i>Yeah, I felt bad too when xxxx happened</i>’. One big
mistake by those of us near a person with a depression is to try to compare our
sad moments with what they are suffering. We have no idea what is happening in
that person’s mind, but they definitely don’t just feel down because their dog
has died or they’ve lost their job. The best thing to do is not to say things like
this, but to simply try and be there when, and if they want us to. Yes, ‘if they
want us’. Sometimes it’s important not to put pressure on them; if they need
time alone, time to cry, we should accept it. The recovery, if it happens, is
not a lineal graph. Remember too that if this person’s life has brought them to
this point, they probably need to change (major) aspects of their life and
habits whether you agree or not. Maybe you won’t understand, but try and accept
it at least. A person with a depression is struggling to find a way out, a way
to survive – they don’t need us laying down the rules. They need to avoid
stress, tension, work and family situations which create stress. And do the
things they feel like doing. Those of us watching and trying to help have to
try and accept and understand all this.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<i>Cheer up. You can’t let this keep you down.
Get up</i>!’. One of the best metaphors I’ve read in response to this attitude is, ‘<i>Would
you tell a person with a broken leg to ‘get over it’ and ‘get out and run’?</i>’ or
a person with a heart disease or hepatitis ‘<i>It’s just in your head. Don’t let
it affect you’</i>? Well, that’s the same here. A depression is an illness, not ‘feeling
sad’. They need time and the correct treatment to try and reach a balance where
they can survive and/or overcome it. All we can do is be there for them.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">'<i>Don't worry, you'll soon be over this and everything will be back to normal.</i>' First of all, the word 'soon' and mental health issues don't usually go together. And secondly, as I've said, I think the 'solution' rarely involves going back to where you were before. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So, what can we do if we know someone suffering? Accept them
and their illness. Try to understand. But don’t demand full explanations or
24/7 updates – it’s hard enough for them to understand what’s happening
themselves without having to give constant explanations to those of us
watching. Don’t put pressure on them,. If they want to speak, they’ll only do
it in an environment of trust and love. Give them time – and trust and love.
Don’t criticize how they are approaching the problem or spend all the time
comparing it to your problems. Give encouragement – but don’t overdo it (those
super-humans who insist you can fight and win, and don’t let it get to you etc.,
don’t help – a person telling you ‘<i>yes, you can</i>’ every day when you ‘know’ that
you can’t, just needs to step back). Time. Patience. Love. Comprehension. Accept that nothing will be like it was before. Don’t
search for a perfect point of happiness or a simple return to where things were before. Look for
the positive in the person and talk about it. Look for and point out the
beautiful things they do. Don’t tell them how to deal with their problems. To
sum up, understanding, trust, and patience. A depression isn’t just feeling
blue, it’s something all together much more serious.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4N3N1MlvVc4/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4N3N1MlvVc4?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-1730885602284309112017-11-28T13:50:00.001+01:002018-12-29T23:40:22.995+01:00Poesia / Poems[Català/English] Més coses que han passat en aquests dos anys. Al gener 2017, la<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"> Sílvia va guanyar el XIX Ramon Ferrando Adell de
Poesia 2016, del poble de Jesús (Baix Ebre) amb La Calaixera. I al juny 2016, </span><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">va guanyar el primer premi per votació popular en la Mostra oberta de
poesia organitzat per CalaCultura a l'Ametlla de Mar. Del primera poema, vam fer una gravació a casa, però el segon video el vam encarregar a una professional, la Eva Mascarell. Per més coses que fem en el món de la llengua i cultura<a href="http://tempsdeparaules.blogspot.com.es/">, aquest blog. </a></span><br />
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">...</span><br />
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">This year Silvia has presented poems in two poetry competitions, and won them both! Here are the videos we made afterwards. The first is home-made, but for the second one we paid a professional film-maker to make the film. The poems are in Catalan and I'm not about to translate them now, but I think you can enjoy the spirit of them anyway (and the texts are in the Youtube descriptions). Remember <a href="http://tempsdeparaules.blogspot.com.es/">we also have another blog</a> for our work and leisure regarding the world of words. </span><br />
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"><br />
</span>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DLPyNB47PZ8" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vBycq0gA_OA" width="560"></iframe>
Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-62454340616903411632017-11-24T08:41:00.003+01:002017-11-24T08:41:44.887+01:00The weekend in Milan[English below]<br />
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Continuarem barrejant l'actualitat amb coses que hem fet, o pensaments que he tingut (pocs), durant aquests dos anys d'aturada del blog. Mira, al maig 2017 vam anar a Milà. Jo no hagues pensat mai en anar-hi però va ser un regal de la familia i amics, uns vols i una nit a Milà i aixì que els vam aprofitar. Vam arribar dissabte a les 10 del matí, vam deixar fato a l'hotel i cap al centre. Sóc molt de caminar per les ciutats, i aixi pots veure coses que no surten en els "10 coses a veure a Milà". Vam passar els dos dies per la ciutat pegant voltes baix la pluja. Catedral, i milers d'esglesies, galeries de compra a preus inaccesibles, van ser les coses tipiques de veure, però el que ens va fermés gràcia van ser; vam passar un parell d'hores dins d'un museu de instruments musicals al Castello Sforzesco, vam passar molt de temps, i gastar diners, en una llibreria impressionant dins dels Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, i, lo millor, vam tocar un piano Fazioli. Com que la Sílvia estava pensant comprar-se un piano nou, vam buscar "botigues d'instruments" a Google, per a veure si en tenien alguns pianos. La primera botiga que vam anar, resulta que és la casa dels pianos Fazioli, que jo no coneixia en absolut, pero són pianos que costen molts, molts de diners. Els més cars del món. I els més bons. La botiga era molt exclusiva però ens vam armar de valor i vaam entrar, demanant si podiem almenys mirar-los. La dona de la botiga ens va animar a tocar, i aixi la Sílvia va passar 20 minuts tocant-ne un! Bé, algunes fotos del viatge... i alguna canço que evoca Milà per a mi, adolescent dels 80.</div>
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Mixing current news with things we've done in the two years while I've had the blog on standby, let's talk about our surprise trip to Milan in May 2017. One of the last places I'd have thought of visiting, but some relatives and friends gave us the trip (flights and a night in hotel) as a present, so off we went! Spent the two days walking round, as in my opinion that's the best way to see a city, making sure you see loads of things not on the "10 things you must see" list. It rained all the time! Apart from the 10 Things, then, we saw three especially interesting places for us: we spent 2 hours in a musical instruments museum in the Castella Sforzesco. We found an amazing bookshop in the spectacular shopping centre Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. And, best of all, quite by chance we ended up in the best piano shop in the world. As we're thinking of changing our piano, I "Googled" instrument shops to go and have a look at. The first one we went to was a Fazioli one, which meant nothing to me. But, it turns out these pianos are works of art, the most expensive and best ones in the world, used by many top pianists. The shop was really exclusive but we put on a brave face and entered hoping they'd let us look at the pianos. Not only did they do that, but they insisted we have a tinkle -so Silvia ended up playing a Fazioli for 20 minutes! Photos. Oh, and music, this was a music blog remember? Something which reminds this 1980s teenager of all things Italian.</div>
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Scala Theatre </div>
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Pasta</div>
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Cool courtyards</div>
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Fazioli piano (olive wood!)</div>
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Instrument museum</div>
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Cathedral, which we didn't queue to enter</div>
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Famous shopping centre</div>
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Here on the left was the petrol station where they hung Mussolini's dead body for people to see<br />
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Love books!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ov7riaL5Fbw" width="560"></iframe>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-782586195657261022017-11-17T00:18:00.002+01:002017-11-18T21:10:06.106+01:00What happened after the Catalan referendum? <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And then
what happened. The days following the 1 October vote (see last week's post), I think many of us were
in a state of shock. Shocked and emotionally affected by what we’d seen, and
were still seeing, as more and more images and stories became public, and also
amazed by just how successful the vote had actually been in those conditions.
Every time I met someone who I knew felt deeply about the cause or had been
‘manning’ a polling station too, my eyes filled up with tears. The
international press seemed to give a very clear idea of what had happened so we
were hopeful that someone somewhere in Brussels might finally speak up. I’m not
asking them to say, “oh yeah, Catalonia be free” – merely for them to ‘advise’
the Spanish government to sit down and work out a political negotiated
agreement on how to move forward on this clear demand by millions of citizens.
Given the refusal of Spain to even accept what had happened, many opinion-makers
and politicians requested international mediation but Spain refused this too.
In another sad revamp of political methods from darker days, instead of
talking, Spanish ministers went on record claiming that the referendum as such
hadn’t happened (merely a few chaotic illegal acts), that the medical service
was lying when it stated they had treated over 900 people, that hundreds of
police had been injured (a number later reduced to 4), and one minister even
went on the BBC to say that the majority of images of police violence were
faked (when in fact many were recorded by international media, including the
BBC!).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">3 October –
general strike called in Catalonia to protest police violence and give our
backing to the referendum. This strike wasn’t just called by trade unions, but
by political parties and pro-independence groups and associations so basically
it represented a complete shutdown of Catalonia for a day, especially when
people blocked the Mediterranean motorway and train-line at different points in
the day. A glance at a map shows that Spain, and Europe, are playing with fire
as it would be, and is, so easy to cut off main transport communications
between Spain and France. A demonstration of about 5000 people was held in our
local town, Tortosa.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">10 October
– after a nerve-wracking week of intense political drama and debate with
everybody following the news 24 hours a day, the Catalan President officially
presented the results of the referendum to the Catalan Parliament. He said that
these results (together with Spain’s “response”) legitimized a declaration of
independence but that he would leave it “in suspension” a few weeks to allow
for any possible dialogue. People say this was probably due to the fact that
Donald Tusk, leader of the European Council, had made a last-minute call for
restraint and not to take the jump to independence just yet, implying that
maybe Europe had woken up and would intervene if we didn’t push things to the
limit (now, looking back, it seems he fooled us). The evening President
Puigdemont said this in Parliament there were tens of thousands of Catalans
outside the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>building, ready, if
necessary, to try and block the entrance of Spanish police whom everyone
believed would try to arrest the President. In fact this week, it has been
confirmed in the press that if he’d directly declared independence there were
plans for police to enter via helicopter, sewers, and attacking the main
entrance, whatever the cost in physical injuries to citizens.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">16 October
– Background; there is a huge grassroots pro-indy group in Catalonia, called
ANC, with over 50,000 paying members, and with many many more people following
its guidelines and demonstrations. There is also a highly-respected cultural
association set up in Franco’s days to defend Catalan literature, culture, and
language, called Omnium. This group often work alongside ANC to organize
independence events. Anyway, on 20 September the Spanish police raided
different Catalan government buildings in Barcelona. The biggest raid was in
the Economy ministry where they arrested government officials and took away
loads of documents, mainly connected to the “illegal”referendum. Omnium and ANC
called for a protest gathering outside the building while the police were
inside. Literally thousands turned up, with many more blocking roads and protesting
in other parts of Barcelona too as people saw it as Spain trying to take over
the Catalan government, and do away with self-rule as they’d already threatened.
A stand-off was reached with the police unable to leave the building peacefully
thanks to all the people outside but eventually in the evening the leaders of
Omnium and ANC asked people to move away, to form a corridor for the police to
start leaving, and as soon as possible to go home as the protest was over.
Well, the Spanish public prosecutor has brought charges against these two people
which still have to be proven in court –charges of “sedition” which could
apparently lead to a 30-year sentence. Meanwhile, on 16 October, the judge
jailed them anyway on remand while they await trial. Today marks one whole month
in jail - for two innocent people.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">27 October –after
weeks of attempting to get Spain to negotiate or Europe to propose international
mediation, 2 key things happened this day. The Catalan Parliament voted to
declare independence with 70 of 135 MPs in favour. A historic moment with lots
of epic images, anthem singing, flag waving, solemnity.... but, at roughly the
same time in Madrid the Spanish government were also playing their top card.
They decided to put Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution into practise for
the first time. This allows the central government to take over the home-rule
powers of any of the autonomous communities (Catalonia is one of about 20) in
Spain if the government thinks they’ve misbehaved, to put it in plain English.
Many believed a few months ago that they wouldn’t go so far as this,
effectively eliminating home-rule, as the political setup of autonomous
communities is one of the key parts of the glue holding Spain together. But
Rajoy and co. had been warning that this day might come, and it did. Thus, as
Catalans hit the streets to celebrate, Spain put the machine into action to
take over Catalonia’s government.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So, there
were now two parallel realities. In one, Catalonia had declared its
independence and must now put it into practise. In the second reality, Spain
had taken over the Catalan government and dismissed its President and
ministers. At that moment, people believed we either go meekly into the night
and allow Spain to crush us, or we go for the epic defence of the new Catalan
Republic, with the President and his ministers in the Parliament building
surrounded by thousands of citizens protecting our democracy, while the Catalan
police take over the positions of Spanish police around the country, especially
at key control points like airports etc. The fact that we were called to
celebrate in town squares, rather than encircle the Parliament on the night of
the 27th was a clue as to which road we’d be taking, though. Not the epic
Braveheart one, but the one of peace and common sense. This was confirmed over
the weekend when the Catalan govt basically disappeared, except for the
President who was seen going about his social life and who asked Catalans, in a
televised speech, above all to peacefully defend our democracy in whatever way
necessary and not to respond to provocations. Another key aspect was that Rajoy
announced they’d hold autonomous elections in Catalonia on 21 December
(illegally as only the Catalan parliament can call these elections). Would
independence parties participate? Will they be allowed to? How, if we’re
already independent?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">30 October –
Monday morning. Catalan government officially dismissed by Spain. Would they
dare to turn up for work? Would they be arrested? Over the weekend the chief of
the Catalan police accepted Spanish police taking control over them (following
Article 155) so we now knew there’d be no clashes between different police
forces. One Minister turned up, was in his office for a while, then left again.
But where’s the President? By lunchtime we knew. In Brussels. Rumours had flown
in previous weeks that if it came to the worst, Belgium would be a possible
place for the Catalan government to go into exile – an act with significant
historic overtones for Catalans who have seen their governments arrested, executed,
or exiled before. Meanwhile Spain issued arrest warrants for them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">31 October –
President Puigdemont press conference in Brussels. He explained that up until
the 29th itself he had tried to negotiate a last-minute agreement with Spain to
no avail. He had offered to forget the independence declaration and call
elections, if Spain called off the threat of Article 155 – to no avail. He explained that on the
same day of the independence vote, he’d been told that Spain
was more than willing to use violence to end this situation. That if we went
down the “epic road” (my wording), they’d use police violence against any
citizens trying to obstruct the police from arresting the government. That
there may be deaths, and these would be on the Catalan government’s conscience. [Another top-ranking Catalan MP went on record this week confirming this, that Spain had threatened the Catalan govt with civilian deaths]. Given this information, Puigdemont wisely reaffirmed what we have always said,
that the birth of the independent Catalonia can only be a peaceful birth, and
faced with this level of brutality, it was better to retreat and play
intelligently. The plan would be for some of the Catalan govt ministers to
return to Spain to face their court cases, while the President and 4 ministers
would stay in Brussels to actually work as the legitimate Catalan government,
making all the contacts they can to generate support and/or denounce what’s
happening. He also said Catalans have no fear of democracy, so we would accept
the gauntlet of the December elections. It also turned out that the
independence vote hadn’t been completely legalised as it hadn’t been published
in the official gazette of the Catalan Parliament yet, another play in this
intriguing game of violent chess.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">2 November –
8 Catalan government ministers travel to Madrid for preliminary hearings on
their court cases, and are immediately jailed on remand too. As we all think we
know, when “important people” are jailed, they are treated with kid gloves,
aren’t they? Well, not here. Apparently they were sat on benches without
seatbelts in the back of police vans for a 3-hour drive at full pelt, speeding
round corners, with their hands cuffed behind their backs. Meanwhile Spanish
police officers insulted them and played a constant loop of the Spanish
national anthem. On their arrival at the prison, at least two were then strip-searched.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Apart from
being government ministers who’d merely carried out their political
programme/promises, peacefully and clearly, two members of the government used
to be MPs in the European Parliament, well-known and respected for their work
on peace, international cooperation, and human rights. One of them was even
involved in the peace talks in Yugoslavia. And now they are treated like this.
Words fail me. They are also still in jail as I write this.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">8 November –
a second general strike, once again bringing roads and railways to a
standstill.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">9 November –
the Speaker of the Catalan Parliament called to court too for allowing the
Parliament to hold a debate and vote on independence. She was given a bail of
€150,000 to avoid jail –but the judge/beaurocratic system wouldn’t accept the
payment until the next day, so she had to spend a night in prison too!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Meanwhile,
despite initial reluctance, it became clear that we (pro-indy parties) had
decided to face the 21 December elections whatever happened. Perhaps this would
be the signal Europe needs, yet another victory for independence, this time
through elections? At the previous elections, two pro-indy parties joined
forces, while a third left-wing one stood separately but supported the others
in Parliament. This time, after much debate, they’ve decided to stand each on
their own, and then make coalitions afterwards, presuming they win of course.
At the same time, Spain’s been doing its work too –sending its ambassadors and
the foreign minister to spread lies and confusion, criticizing Catalan press
and TV (getting ready to take them over too), criticizing the Catalan education
system (getting ready to make radical changes), wondering whether
pro-independence parties or jailed politicians can stand for elections, and
organizing unionist rallies in Barcelona –filled out with people bussed in from
all around Spain! The Chief of Catalan police, responsible for the quick and
efficient response to the terrorist attacks in Catalonia in August has now been
demoted to a pen-pushing job in a small police station. And slowly but surely,
Spain has been taking over Catalan ministries.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">There have
also been many, almost daily, gatherings, rallies, and other activities
demanding freedom for the ten political prisoners now sleeping in Spanish
jails, hundreds of miles away from their families. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">11 November
- The largest such demonstration was held in Barcelona last Saturday. Probably
over 750,000 people showed (a) we want these prisoners released and (b) the
Catalan ‘problem’ isn’t going away. Photo below:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JAyY3eQmX_o/Wg4cqKvUNEI/AAAAAAAACI4/sWLMCFFsP00enbh38x5jdrbPxjh2c5HlACLcBGAs/s1600/2017_11_10_bcn1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JAyY3eQmX_o/Wg4cqKvUNEI/AAAAAAAACI4/sWLMCFFsP00enbh38x5jdrbPxjh2c5HlACLcBGAs/s320/2017_11_10_bcn1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-90578527810219080362017-11-12T19:40:00.001+01:002017-11-12T19:40:40.350+01:00Visiting Harry Potter Studios, August 2016<div style="text-align: justify;">
[<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">English version below]</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Pensant que tampoc cal que el blog renascut ha de ser monotematic, aniré explicant algunes de les coses que he fet en aquests dos anys sabatics. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Harry Potter. Al final dels anys 1990 quan Potter va començar a ser famos, jo vaig tenir l'actitud tipic que tenia quan era més jove. Si a tothom li agrada, pos, a mi no. No m'apunto a una moda perque sí. Vaig a ser critic (pensant que merament era un reciclatje d'altres llibres classics de la literatura en anglès). Evidentment, em vaig equivocar com en moltes coses en la vida. Quan vam tenir xiquets, i ells es van enganxar als llibres (llegint i rellegint, en anglès, català, castellà), vaig llegir-los per posar-me al dia. I vaig quedar enganxat igualment! Són molt bons i els recomano a tothom, igual que us recomano a 'open your minds' i no ser tant negatiu en coses noves com jo vaig ser! En fi, l'estiu del 2016 vam decidir visitar els estudis a prop de Londres on van gravar moltes escenes de les pel·licules. Increible, val molt la pena. Si sou fans, ho recomano molt. Vam fer 3 hores de cotxe per arribar (i 3 per tornar), però no m'arrepenteixo. Crec que vam passar gairebé 5 hores dins dels estudis, i una hora dins la botiga!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To avoid the reborn blog becoming just a Catalan independence blog, I'll throw in a few posts on what I've been doing during the last two years.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Harry Potter. When I was younger, so much younger than today, I was a bit of a fool in that whenever something new came along or became fashionable, I'd always steer in the opposite direction or try and ignore it, if not criticize it. When the Potter craze broke out at the end of the 1990s, I did the same, moaning that it was just a rehash of other great kids' literature etc. I was wrong of course. Flash forward some years until our kids were old enough to get hooked on Potter (reading and rereading them again and again, in English, Catalan, Spanish). I had to read them then to see what they were talking about, and I loved them. So now we're all hooked. That's why we visited the Harry Potter Film Studios near Watford in the summer of 2016. A 3-hour drive down (and 3 hours back) were well worth it. We spent about 5 hours in the studios, and an hour in the shop,and I'd go back tomorrow if I could. There you go, give it a try!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R7wxC4BnQtM/WgiVDM9enFI/AAAAAAAACHU/CLrk_hbavisA5v3g-7pois1wwAy3Fhi9ACLcBGAs/s1600/us%2Bin%2Bcar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R7wxC4BnQtM/WgiVDM9enFI/AAAAAAAACHU/CLrk_hbavisA5v3g-7pois1wwAy3Fhi9ACLcBGAs/s320/us%2Bin%2Bcar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-6853510516825473232017-11-09T15:22:00.000+01:002017-11-10T09:40:51.319+01:00Com vaig viure el dia 1 d'octubre<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">M’ha costat però,
per fi, 4 ratlles de com jo vaig viure el famos 1 d’octubre. El post anterior (6 de novembre) va del mateix, però en anglès i una mica més llarg ja que explico més
coses. <b>For English version, see 6 November post.</b></span></i><br />
<i><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Vam anar a dormir
a la una de la matinada, ja del diumenge, amb el cap bullint pel que veníem
sentint a les noticies i xarxes. A les 4.30, despertador, engegar ordenador per
mirar més noticies, dutxa rapida, fer 2 entrepans cada u i dos termos de cafè.
Sobre les 5 la Sílvia i jo vam marxar de casa, en plena nit, deixant els
xiquets, i el gat,dormint. A les 5.15 ja estàvem al col·legi electoral que ens
toca a Tortosa. Ja n’hi havia potser una trentena de persones al carrer i en
seguida va arribar algú amb la clau i vam poder entrar. Bé,bon senyal, ja estàvem
a dins abans de que la policia puguis segellar-ho. Llavors va venir algú amb
una capsa de croissants i més cafè. Els que havien de fer la mesa i els apoderats
van quedar dins de l’edifici mentre els demés vam sortir al carrer, per
protegir la porta perquè, com sabeu, no se sabia ben bé qui vindria dels 3
cossos de policia o en quins objectius/actituds. La Silvia com a apoderada
d’Omnium es va quedar dins.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">A fora, vam posar
4 cadires i vam començar a xerrar del que ens esperava, tots nerviosos però
il·lusionats. Hi havia dos ex-alumnes nostres allí, que ara són
músics/compositors i vam parlar una estona amb ells. També els seus pares,
Manel, autor i professor jubilat de literatura, i Cinta, artista i professora.
Llavors sobre les 6 del matí es va aturar una furgoneta, va sortir algú amb una
bossa negra i va córrer dins l’edifici. Les urnes! Les urnes que els minions de
Rajoy no havien trobat i que ens deien que no existien. Un gol a favor nostra,
i dels nostres ànims. Havíem guanyat als super-serveis de policia de tot un
estat. A dins, la gent va començar a preparar taules, paperetes etc</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Sobre les 7 va
arribar un cotxe amb dos Mossos. Natros ens vam ajuntar a prop de la porta, ja
érem unes 50 persones potser. Els Mossos van sortir del cotxe i van preguntar,
“Qui és el responsable aquí?”. “Tots”. “Que feu?” En aquest moment, Manel va
sortir davant i els va dir que anàvem a fer una recital de poesia, començant
amb les poemes de Gerard Verges. I allí mateix Manel,amb la seva veu
impressionant, va començar a recitar L’ombra rogenca de la lloba. Si no sou de
les Terres de l’Ebre, que sapigueu que Verges és un dels grans poetes d’aquí, i
de tota Catalunya, a més a més d’haver fet una de les millors traduccions de
Shakespeare al català. Va morir fa 2 anys. El seu fill estava dins del col·legi
electoral, formant part d’una de les meses. Com podeu imaginar, només eren les
7 del matí i ja ens caien les llàgrimes d’emoció a més d’una persona. Anava a
ser un dia molt especial!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Llavors un dels
Mossos ens va informar que qualsevol activitat relacionat amb el referèndum
seria il·legal, i que ells ens estarien observant. Van marxar uns 20 metres i
es va posar allí a carrer mirant.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Després d’una
estona, ens vam relaxar i vam tornar a escampar-nos per les escales de
l’edifici i per la vorera. Continuaven les converses, però sempre amb un ull, o
orella, pendent de les xarxes socials, els missatges, la radio. Llavors va
passar l’alcalde, Ferran Bel, i la diputada tortosina, Meritxell Roigé, a
preguntar si tot anava bé. Sobre les 8 del matí una nova bona noticia, lo del
vot universal. Un altre gol que havíem marcat a Rajoy, que no en tenia ni idea.
Això de poder votar en un altre col·legi si el teu estava tancat, donava moltes
oportunitats de votar esquivant la policia. Evidentment, com sabeu, els informàtics
del govern espanyol van intentar tancar-ho però a traves d’una guerra informàtica
continua tot el dia, durant la major part del dia va funcionar.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">A les 9 del matí,
van obrir les portes i vam poder començar a votar. Algun problema tècnic però
poc a poc, vam començar. Potser ja n’hi havia un centenar de persones a fora i
vam decidir entre tothom d’anar entrant de 6 en 6 per assegurar que teníem un gran
grup a la porta sempre. Tal com va passar arreu de Catalunya, molts vam dir que
hi estaríem tot el dia. Vam passar l’estona parlant, piulant, decidint que faríem.
Tornarien a intentar entrar els Mossos? Vindrien la Guardia Civil o la Policia
Nacional, els piolins? Algú intentaria entrar a tancar l’edifici usant la
força. Algunes persones, més experimentats en moviments socials i disobeiencia
pacifica, van explicar les tècniques i com ens hauríem de posar, i sobretot
allò que no hauríem de fer. Si venia la policia, ens asseurem a que ens
treguen? Entrem dins i tanquem la porta des de dins? Amaguem les urnes? En fi,
aquestes converses van pegar voltes tot el dia, amb el neguit constant al cos.
A les 9 del mati semblava un debat teòric, però abans de les 9.30 ja arribaven
les primeres imatges d’intervencions violentes de la policia a Barcelona i
altres llocs. Ja veiem fotos de gent sagnant, videos de policia pegant a la gent.
Aquella foto de la dona gran amb la ara plena de sang. En un moment ja em vaig
adonar que les coses serien molt pitjors del que pensava.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">I que és el que
pensava? Pos, jo imaginava files de policia als voltants dels col·legis
intimidant, furgonetes de policia fent soroll i intimidant, i intents de parar
les votacions on no n’hi havia gaire gent. I així natros votaríem i Rajoy diria
que havia sigut il·legal i caòtic i, per tant, no vàlid, i au, Espanya podria
intentar vendre l’idea de que havia sigut un nou 9N. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ja havia vist els videos de la policia marxant
dels seus pobles cap a Catalunya durant els dies anteriors, ondejant banderes,
cantant “A por ellos”etc, uns comportaments indignes de qualsevol policia en
democràcia i que ja haurien d’haver causat dimissions dins del Ministerio del
Interior espanyol. Però suposava que tot era un gran ‘show’, un intent
d’intimidar, i que no arribarien a la violència. Estava equivocat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Només minuts
després va començar a córrer la veu, “Estan a La Ràpita, estan pegant a la gent”,
i minuts més tard ja teníem videos i fotos que ho comprovaba. Això no era al
capital, allà a Barcelona on realment podrien causar un caos espectacular per
intentar invalidar la votació. Això és un poble petit de pescadors i turisme,
un lloc tranquil al costat del Delta, on molts hem passat molts dies de
l’estiu. Com podia ser? Per que anirien allí a pegar a la gent? Als videos és
veuen moltissimes furgonetes de la Guardia Civil en equipament d’aldarulls, amb
casc i escopeta de bales de goma a punt, repartint hosties a la gent que
estaven esperant per entrar a votar. La gent simplement es quedaven allí
quiets, amb les mans a l’aire fins que els cops els feien apartar. Llavors els
tocava a uns altres rebre, fins que la policia arriba a la porta que també
trenquen per poder entrar i agafar la urna. En anglès simplement diríem “What
the f*ck?!” Jo tremolava mirant els videos, gent sagnant, gent gran, gent jove,
gent que havien estat al meu costat a les manis de la PDE, una amiga
periodista... I tot això per impedir una votació que ja havien anunciat que no
ens serviria de res. Aquí a Tortosa vam tornar a estar en situació d’alerta,
veient que això passava molt a prop d’aquí que la policia espanyola no tenia
cap problema en usar la violència.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Com a anglès que sóc, i obsessionat amb les
xarxes socials, vaig passar moltes hores piulant o enviant emails. M’havia
posat a seguir a Twitter tots els observadors internacionals i molts de
periodistes, i així els podia fer arribar noticies rapidament o intentar piular
en anglès sobre el que estava passant. Tot això sumat a les dotzenes de cartes
i mails que havia enviat abans i després, representa la meva gra de sorra per
ajudar a que podem decidir el nostre futur democràticament i pacificament. Crec
que la rapidesa de les xarxes i el treball excel·lent dels periodistes
internacionals va ser clau per impedir que la violència no arribes a ser encara
pitjor del que era. I ja era molt greu. Gasos llagrimosos, bales de goma, cops
de bastó, gent arrastrat en terra pels cabells, més de 1000 persones necessitant
atenció medica, tot això en el context d’una votació ja és molt,però molt greu,
però em temo que els ordres del govern espanyol eren de continuar i augmentar
la violència. Per sort, Europa va veure el que passava i no va passar res
encara més greu. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Les noticies
continuaven arribant. La policia entrava a la força al col·legi on s’havia de
votar el President, però ell va arribar a un altre poble per votar esquivant la
vigilància policial. Espentes contra la Consellera d’Educació. Trenquen el
col·legi on havia de votar la Carme Forcadell. Combois de furgonetes de policia
anant de col·legi en col·legi. Els Mossos també tancaven col·legis, però sense
emplear la violència. En algunes ciutats, donat les possibilitats del cens
universal, van deixar alguns col·legis sense gent, i van concentrar les urnes
en un que podrien protegir millor. Llavors aquests desprotegits, eren fàcils d
tancar. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">A meitat matí, al
nostre col·legi va arribar una furgoneta de Mossos, aquest cop de la secció
d’aldarulls diria. I minuts després, dos furgonetes més. Al final uns 20
agents. Van formar una linea al mig del carrer davant nostre. La seva actitud
no era fàcil d’endevinar i no sabíem exactament que passaria. Molts de nervis.
Poc a poc es van anar apropant. Un parla pel radio, i després un parell
intenten pujar les escales per entrar al col·legi. Però la gent no ens movem i
finalment baixen les escales i tornen al carrer. Després d’uns minuts més de
nervis i tensió, al final tornen a les furgonetes i marxen. He vist moltes
escenes de violència policial a les noticies, i conec molt bé el que va passar
en els anys de Thatcher al Regne Unit usant la policia per motius polítics,
però no he estat tant a prop mai. Les protestes que hem fet aquí sempre han
sigut lúdiques i han tingut una resposta de la policia de respecte. No
m’entrava el cap que ara, per votar (és igual si és legal o no), la policia ens
pegarien. Tremolava i mirava al costat. Teníem a gent molt gran entre natros,
però decidits a quedar aquí passi el que passi. Després ens van dir que aquests
Mossos si que van aconseguir tancar un col·legi a Tortosa, un que està al final
d’un carrer estret sense sortida i era relativament fàcil bloquejar el carrer
per a que no puguen arribar els votants. El punt ‘divertit’ va passar a la tarde
quan alguns policies, després d’estar allí hores, necessitava usar els serveis
del col·legi i els de dins van poder negociar una mena de treva, a canvi de deixar-los
usar els lavabos, els votants podrien sortir del col·legi o anar a buscar
menjar.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">La Ràpita està a
només 30minuts de Tortosa, així que la pregunta que ens feíem era “Ara on són
la Guardia Civil? Venen aquí?”. Una hora després, ja sabíem on estaven. A
Roquetes (al costat de Tortosa), repartint cops i rebentant el pavelló esportiu
on la gent votava. El video és impressionant però sobretot els moments quan
marxen els agents, “acompanyat” per 500 roquetencs. Poden pegar i robar urnes,
però no poden robar la dignitat de la gent. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Ara Tortosa?
Molts rumors i missatges. Ara estan allí, ara aquí. Vigila que venen. Amaguem
les urnes, amaguem les llistes de DNIs, tothom a la porta, etc. L’alcalde va
tornar a passar, insistint en calma i que continuem animant la gent a votar.
Per sort, els rumors no són de veritat. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Va passar un
camió de bombers – aplaudiments -que suposo anava voltant pels col·legis per
veure si calia estar-hi. Les imatges de bombers defensant a la gent en alguns
pobles son de “gallina de piel”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Després va venir
a votar un altre gran poeta tortosí, Manolo Perez Bonfill. És<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>molt gran ja i va en cadira de rodes. Més aplaudiments.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Llavors per fi,
vaig recordar que tenia un entrepà a la motxilla i vaig esmorzar i un cafè.
Vaig entrar al col·legi per passar una estona en la Sílvia i parlar de tot el
que estava passant. A dins també havien estat molt enfeinats tot el mati, intentant
que la votació electrònica funciones a totes hores, amb cues de gent amb ganes
de votar i triar el futur d’aquest país.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Davant de tants
rumors d’una arribada imminent de la Guardia Civil, vam avisar a un familiar
que seria millor venir a votar sense els xiquets petits, no cal córrer riscos.
Els votants que venien amb xiquets o bebes, els animaven a votar i marxar
rapids. També vam trucar a casa per parlar en els nostres fills i explicar-los
que aquí no havia passat res per si estaven amoïnats. I missatges a la família
d’Anglaterra també perquè sabíem que les noticies del BBC ja estaven mostrant
la brutalitat de la policia. Sort d’això, perquè ara quan el govern espanyol ha
intentat negar o minimitzar la violència, moltes cadenes internacionals tenen
els seus propis imatges per demostrar que realment va passar de veritat. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Bé, vam continuar
xerrant, piulant, votant, i allà a migdia les coses es van tranquil·litzar.
Semblava que la policia també havia parat per a dinar. Natros vam dinar un
altre entrepà a les escales del col·legi i vam plorar de rabia abraçats a una
altra ex-alumna nostra que estimem molt i que també havia passat tot el dia
aquí. Vam mirar alguns videos més però realment ja no teníem forces per
aguantar tanta misèria. Com que hi havia prou gent encara allí, vam decidir
voltar una mica pels altres col·legis electorals. Però només arribar a un
altre, on hi havia 200 persones a la plaça dinant, amb alguns nebots i amics
nostres entre mig, vam rebre un missatge dient que la Guardia Civil havia dinat
a Amposta, i ara tornaven a agafar furgonetes i carretera amunt, direcció
Tortosa. Resulta que des dels atacs del matí, hi havia algú seguint-los en
cotxe per anar informant de cap a on anaven! Vam tornar rapidament al nostres
col·legi i vam tornar a discutir de que fer per a defensar el col·legi i les
urnes, i si podríem evitar que usessen la violència d’alguna manera, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>però llavors ens van informar que havien
passat de llarg de Tortosa i anaven cap a la Ribera de l’Ebre. Vam tornar a
respirar i vam anar cap a l’ajuntament a un altre col·legi. Allí també teníem
amics que havien estat tot el dia, tenien un grapat de clavells a punt per
donar a la policia si arribessen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Vam tornar al
nostre col·legi a passar la tarde. Els votants no paraven d’arribar, però ara sense
les cues del matí. Més missatges, ara la Guardia Civil estan a Mora la Nova,
ara estan aparcats, ara van direcció Rasquera etc. Tots natros amb un ull als
missatges i un ull al rellotge, esperant que s’acabes el dia bé. A les 18.00
els dos Mossos de fora van acabar el seu torn de feina, i van venir altres dos
que ens van tornar a fer les preguntes i van demanar si els deixaríem entrar.
Vam tornar a bloquejar el pas. Sobre les 19.00, missatge, la Guardia Civil que
ara torna a baixar pel riu i venen cap a Tortosa. Mentrestant els Mossos van
tancar un altre col·legi a Tortosa, però només al carrer. La gent de dins van
començar el recompte amb els vots que tenien. A uns altres col·legis de Tortosa
van començar a tancar abans d’hora (horari oficial era tancar a les 20.00),
preferint contar els vots que tenien, abans d’arriscar perdre tots davant un
atac de la Guardia Civil a l’últim moment. Amb tants entrebancs i violència, fa
molta ‘gracia’ encara sentir ara com els contraris de la votació diuen que ho
vam fer de qualsevol manera, sense garanties democràtiques, fent trampes, i que
la participació va ser baixa. Qualsevol persona que va viure aquell dia, i que
havia vist les setmanes abans, sap que va ser un milacre de l’actuació,
organització i valentia col·lectiva dels catalans poder votar els que vam poder
votar. I que va funcionar, quan la gent creu en una cosa, ho fem funcionar.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Natros vam
decidir aguantar obert fins les 20.00. Una mica abans, jo vaig marxar per
portar els xiquets nostres a casa (havien dinat en la iaia – gràcies!) i
comprar-los un MacDonald’s per no perdre temps i poder tornar al col·legi per
si de cas. Encara quedava la possibilitat que la policia intentaria confiscar
els vots Quan vaig arribar al col·legi ja havien tancat la porta i estaven
contant els vots a dins. Vam esperar fora un bon grupet fins que els
organitzadors van sortir a explicar els resultats. Més aplaudiments i
llàgrimes, i cap a casa, després d’ordenar la sala de les votacions i deixar
tot al seu lloc. Els dos Mossos ens van preguntar si havíem acabat lo que estàvem
fent, i van marxar. I natros cap a casa a mirar els resultats a la tele.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Que vaig votar
jo? Res. Com que no tinc la “nacionalitat espanyola” no puc votar.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"><b>Resultats:</b>
2.286.217 vots (43% del cens) – o sigui, més de 2 milions de persones es van
jugar la salut per poder votar.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">2.044.038 Sí (89,4%)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">177.547 No (7,8%)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">64.000 vots en
blanc o nuls </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Uns 770.000 votants
potencials o no van poder votar o els seus vots van ser confiscats quan la
policia atacava o tancava col·legis. (Si arriben a votar/contar el 43% d’aquests
vots, ja haguessem arribat al 2.600.000 vots!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Més de 900 persones
van necessitar atenció medica per culpa de la violència policial.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"><b>Les meves
conclusions</b>; 1. Encara ara, un mes després, trobo increïble que tanta gent de
tots edats i tipus de estatus social van creure en aquesta votació i van
aconseguir que funciones, tant en els dies previs com aquell diumenge. La logística
de l’organització, amagat de les forces espanyoles, és bestial, i el fet de
voler votar després de veure a la tele a policia arrastrant votants per terra pels
cabells, o saltant damunt d’ells i pegant-los cops, unbelievable! Passi lo que
passi a nivell polític o legal, per mi els catalans tenen el dret legítim de
declarar l’independència. M’és igual si la votació va ser legal o
constitucional o no. Les lleis i la constitució són eines per a la gent, no una
‘camisa de força’. Si hi ha una demanda tan gran, tan constant, per poder triar
el nostre futur, els governs haurien de reconeixer’l i treballar per donar una sortida
política a aquesta situació.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">2. La violència
de la policia estava planejada i deliberada. Ells abien quin tipus de ‘acte
il·legal’ cometiem, i amb quins tipus de persones es trobarien. I van actuar d’aquella
manera des de primera hora del mati, poble per poble. El fet de no saber a qui
li tocaria rebre en cada minut, segur que també ho van planejar per deixar-nos
a tots amb la por al cos tot el dia. He vist molts d’imatges de policia en acció
en altres moments a Catalunya o Anglaterra però no tanta violència innecessaria
en un context com aquest, amb ciudatans pacífics votant! Aquí no havia cap
protesta, cap vaga, cap manifestació, i sobretot no havia cap incident violent
per part dels votants. Cap confrontació entre policia i ciutadans, simplement
la policia atacant a gent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">3. Estic
convençut que l’estat espanyol considera que Catalunya és una colònia que han
de reprimir i controlar. Les actituds i opinions dels grans partits (en plural)
espanyols, de les mitjans de comunicació, del sistema judicial, tot indica el
mateix. Cap oferta atractiva per intentar convèncer als catalans a quedar-se
com germans, simplement s’enfoca sobre la llei, la força, els insults, la
repressió, la violència. Tot per assegurar que no podem deixar-los. El simple
fet de la policia espanyola marxant dels seus pobles amb la bandera espanyola
és un fet que no s’hauria de veure en una Europa democràtica.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">4. Per molt que s’ofenen
i ens diuen que no, estic convençut que el fantasma de Franco encara està entre
natros, o entre ells. No dic que siguen franquistes, sinó que les actituds i
comportaments son un ‘copiar i enganxar’ de l’estil franquista. L’arrogància,
intolerància, rebuig al diàleg i a la negociació, la negació de les realitats
(tant la votació com la violència va passar, encara que diuen que no), les
mentides, la repressió, i al final la violència, són símptomes d’una forma de
governar (recolsats pels partits de la ‘oposició’ que també pensen igual) que
no son d’una democràcia. El rol de l’estat i l’establishment espanyol és el de
controlar als ‘seus’ ciutadans. Sense oblidar els lligams directes reals entre
alguns politics i jutges i els dies del franquisme.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">.[Demano
disculpes pels errors en català!]</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">[mireu l'entrada del dia 6 de novembre si voleu veure un parell de videos. Si voleu veure més de 150, <a href="https://spanishpolice.github.io/">mireu aquest enllaç] </a></span></div>
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Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-17465191051836854222017-11-06T12:29:00.000+01:002017-11-07T10:11:40.629+01:00My thoughts on Referendum Day in Catalonia<div style="text-align: justify;">
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</xml><![endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">[<i>versió en català d'aqui un parell de dies</i>] For better
or for worse, it’s taken me weeks to write this down – how I lived the Catalan
referendum on Sunday, the first of October. [<i>Background info</i>: after several
years and numerous official attempts to get Spain to agree to a referendum (as
desired by 80% of Catalans), Catalonia finally passed a law in its own
parliament allowing for an independence referendum on 1 Oct, and Spanish courts
‘suspended’ it, claiming it was unconstitutional. As Catalans prepared to vote,
Spanish police spent weeks searching for the ballot boxes or voting slips,
censuring referendum publicity and websites, raiding Catalan govt buildings, arresting
govt officials, and shipping in thousands of Spanish National Police and
Guardia Civil ready to move into action on referendum day. Judges ordered the
Catalan police to stop the vote by not allowing polling stations to open. In a
very sensible and logical move, Catalan police said they’d do that only if it
didn’t involve creating greater problems such as having to use physical force
on crowds of citizens. Many people camped out in polling stations on the Friday
and Saturday before the vote to ensure police couldn’t close them. The Catalan
police said they’d come to seal them off at 6 a.m. on Sunday morning. So, many
of us who hadn’t camped out decided to go there before 6...]</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After going
to bed at 1.a.m, mind awhirl with news reports coming in from around Catalonia
of what was happening at different polling stations, the alarm went off at 4.30
a.m on Sunday. Shower, and computer and phone back on to get a quick update via
the tweets of tens of thousands of Catalans active on social networks. We made
two flasks of coffee and a few sandwiches and left the house in darkness and
silence (leaving the kids in bed). My wife and myself got to our polling
station around 5.15 and there were already about 30 people there. Within minutes
someone had turned up and unlocked the building and we were in! Big sigh of
relief that we’d got it open and were in before police officially sealed it
off. Someone then came in with two giant flasks of coffee and a box of buns and
croissants. Those in charge of organizing and watching over the vote then
stayed in the building – those chosen to be electoral officers and volunteer
observers (including my wife as a member of the cultural association Omnium).
The rest of us went outside to crowd around the door to prevent police from
entering if/when they turned up. We relaxed then, a few of us had brought
picnic chairs, some brought chairs out of the building and we all started
chatting nervously about what the day would hold. Two of our ex-students, now both
great musicians-composers, were there with their parents, also great friends of
ours (Manel, a retired literature teacher and poet, and Cinta, an
artist/sculptor and teacher of art) so we had a grand time with them. Then (my
memory of the exact times is vague, but probably around 6ish) a van screeched
to a halt outside and someone pulled a black bag out of the back and ran into
the polling station. The ballot boxes had arrived! Big moment as Spanish
security forces had been searching for them for months, and the Spanish
government had even claimed they didn’t exist. As the people inside started to
set up the tables and lay out voting slips, our optimism rose outside as it was
confirmed that the Catalan government hadn’t been bluffing when they’d promised
they could organize this despite having the weight of the Spanish police and
judicial system against them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Around 7ish
a Catalan police car turned up, so we all packed together around the door.
About 50 of us. Two Catalan policemen got out and came up to us. “Who’s in
charge here?”. “We all are”. “What are you doing?” At this point, Manel moved
to the front of the crowd and said “We’re going to hold a poetry recital. We’re
going to read poems by local authors all day. Starting with this one by Gerard
Verges” This poet was probably the greatest poet to come from Tortosa, and one
of the greats in Catalonia – and also the author of the best translation into
Catalan of Shakespeare. He passed away two years ago. And his son was in the
building, as an electoral officer. So when our friend then started reciting
Verges by heart in his magnificent voice, there on the doorstep of the polling
station, at 7am on Sunday morning, to the astonishment of the police officers,
more than a few tears were shed. And we realized, if we hadn’t already, that
this was going to be a special day. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">One of the
policemen then told us that it was his duty to inform us that any activities
linked to the referendum were illegal and that they’d be watching us. They then
walked about 20 yards away and stood on the other side of the road.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We
eventually relaxed and stopped huddling around the door en masse, spreading out
down the steps outside the building and along the pavement and started chatting
again, everyone with one eye or ear on their phones to follow social networks
or listen to the radio. Then the mayor and our local MP came to check
everything was OK before moving on to another station. Some time just after 8, we
had another boost to our confidence. The Catalan government announced that the
vote would be run under what they call a “universal census” – basically as you
vote, they check your ID details, and tick you off electronically using a
tablet with internet, which means you can vote at any polling station. This was
major news as it meant that even if the police managed to close down stations,
if you could get to another one, you could still vote. Also yet one more
confirmation we were running rings round the Spanish government who had no idea
that this system would be running. Obviously during the day, Madrid got its IT
experts into action and they managed to bring the system down several times,
but each time we got it running again. A cyberwar, as they say.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Next big
moment, 9 a.m., when doors opened. By this time there were around a hundred of
us outside. We decided to go in about 6 at a time to vote to ensure there would
always be a large group outside in case more police came. People started to
queue to go in, while others just milled around commenting on news coming in
from other stations and tweeting about what was happening at ours. We also
discussed the importance of voting and then staying at the station - most of us
had made plans to stay there all day until the station closed and votes were
counted. What would the Catalan police do? Would they do as we believed and not
use physical force to close down the stations? Would the Spanish National
Police or the militarized Guardia Civil turn up? These conversations went on
all morning. Some of the voters more experienced in civil obedience were explaining
how to sit down, arms linked, not offering resistance etc, while others were
talking about going inside the station, locking the doors and barricading
ourselves inside. All very theoretical... until tweets started arriving before
9.30 announcing violent interventions of Spanish police forces at different
polling stations. Photos and videos of people being beaten with truncheons, and
dragged out of polling stations in Barcelona and the north of Catalonia. One
particularly shocking photo of an elderly lady with blood streaming down her
face. In a state of shock, I realized this was going to be much worse than I’d
imagined. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What did I
think would happen? That Spanish police would line up outside polling stations,
intimidating voters and allowing the Spanish government to claim the vote was
‘illegal’ and chaotic and thus ignore it, as they’d ignored 2014’s public
consultation. I knew there were literally thousands of Spanish riot police
brought in from other areas of Spain – often to a patriotic send-off in their
home town, flag-waving, cries of “Go get them” etc – but assumed it could all
be just for show. About 10 minutes later, however, people in the crowd at our
station started to say “Guardia Civil have attacked the station in La Ràpita”
and minutes later videos were circulating on Twitter. La Ràpita is a small
peaceful fishing town in the south of Catalonia, many miles away from the
capital – one of those towns you thought the police would ignore as their
objective must surely be to create chaos amongst the millions of voters in
Barcelona, not down here. I was wrong. The video shows about 20 police vans,
maybe 100 officers in riot gear beating people, throwing them out of the way,
smashing their way through the doors to get at the ballot boxes. And all the
while, those waiting to vote simply stand there with their hands held in the
air, until they’re beaten into submission and try to get out of the way. People
I know, youngsters, elderly people, people I’ve marched alongside on our “Save
the river Ebro” rallies, a friend of mine who’s a journalist covering the
event, all beaten and forced out of the way. Images of people in shock, blood
everywhere, no one can believe they would do this. It really brought it all
home to us. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I suppose
psychologically we reverted to a self-defence mechanism and all started to
huddle together around the door once more, eyes and ears open. One of the only
things I believed I could do, as a Brit, and a good English-speaker, was to do
my bit to try and get the message out to whoever wants to listen. On my Twitter
account I had followed the 30 or so international observers (many MEPs) who had
come, as well as many international journalists whom I knew were covering the
day. So, like many others I know, I spent most of the next couple of hours
retweeting news stories, photos, videos to them, translating key headines into
English (on top of all the dozens of letters and emails I’d sent before the
vote, and afterwards). The collective powers of Catalan citizens together with
the presence of these people here on the ground was essential to get the news
out to international media (and the TV sets of European leaders) as soon as
possible. We must be grateful for this; I think it’s only because the news was
spread so quickly that things didn’t get any worse than they did (which was
horrific anyway, as you’ll see).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">More news
in; police raided and smashed up the polling stations where the Catalan
President and the Speaker of Parliament were due to vote. The President
switched cars under a bridge to fool the police helicopter following him and
managed to make it to another station to vote before the police came to that
one too. The education minister was pushed and shoved by police as she tried to
vote. Convoys of police vans were going from station to station doing their
worst. Catalan police refused to use violence, and only closed down stations
‘unprotected’ (in some towns, given the “universal census”, the organizers
chose to abandon some stations and concentrate the ballot boxes and citizens at
just one to make it easier to protect, leaving the other stations ‘unprotected’).
But, as feared by many, the Spanish police and Guardia Civil just did their
worst. Full riot gear, batons, rubber bullets, tear gas, you name it - all to
try and prevent a vote from happening. If it was illegal, (a) surely it’s the
organizers who committed the crime, not the voters; and (b) police should
respond to a “crime” with a proportionate response. Voting doesn’t deserve a
beating.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Next
excitement, a van full of Catalan police turn up. They didn’t look so friendly
as the first two, who were still there, and judging by their uniforms these
were from the Catalan riot police department but not wearing the full gear.
They milled about on the other side of the road and stared at us. Then another
van. And another. Eventually there were about 20 or so police agents and they
formed a line and crossed the road towards us, eventually stopping 2 yards in
front of us. This aggressive staring, and telling people not to take photos
didn’t bode well. One of them got instructions over the radio, and with a
couple more he tried to come up the steps but the people didn’t move. The
police finally stepped back. As you can imagine our adrenaline had shot through
the roof. I have been on many protest marches but never felt the fear of police
violence before. I was shaking and looking around me and, as I’ve said, we were
a mixed bunch. There were people in their 80s in the crowd, people who’d waited
all their lives (half of it under a dictatorship) for this moment, but luckily
no babies or small kids at this moment – earlier on people had come to vote
with babies in pushchairs as you do if you think voting is a normal activity.
Eventually the police backed off and went back to their vans. About 20 minutes
later they drove away. Later we heard they did manage to close a station in
another part of Tortosa. A polling station at the end of a narrow cul-de-sac,
the police formed a line and prevented anyone else from entering, and prevented
those inside from leaving. The only ‘funny’ story is that a few hours later,
some police officers needed to ‘relieve themselves’ so the people inside (where
the toilets are) were able to negotiate a truce and either leave the building
or have food brought in!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">La Rapita
is about half an hour from Tortosa, so the big question on our minds was ‘where
are the Guardia Civil? Are they coming for us too?’ About an hour later, we
knew where they were .- in the next town to us, Roquetes. Same tactics, about a
hundred came, beat people, smashed windows and doors and took away a ballot box
(only one because the people inside had hidden the others and so they were able
to continue voting afterwards!). As the police retreated to their vans, with
weapons in their hands, the images of about 500 local citizens walking after them
chanting for them to leave still brings tears to my eyes now every time I see
it. The definition of dignity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Tortosa
next? Rumours fly. ‘They’re in Tortosa, they’re at this station, that one’
Quick, everyone at the door. Hide the boxes, take the lists of people who’ve
voted and their ID numbers and hide them. The Mayor came back, telling us to
keep calm, keep voting, we have nothing to fear, if they come to prevent us
voting this is the picture the world will see, a state which uses<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>force on its own citizens for voicing their
opinion peacefully. The rumours were just that, rumours. They didn’t come to
Tortosa.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At one
point a fire engine drove past very slowly to loud cheers. Catalan firefighters
had promised to come, off-duty, whenever/wherever they could to defend citizens
against police violence. It wasn’t necessary in Tortosa but in many towns the
photos of firefighters forming a human barricade between riot police and
peaceful voters still bring me out in goose pimples.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A bit
later, another Tortosa poet came. He must be in his 90s and was wheeled in in
his wheelchair by his son. Voted and left the building to another round of
applause.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Then I had
my sandwich and some coffee and went in the building to be with my wife,
Silvia, a while. They’d been very busy inside too. Trying to keep the
electronic voting system up and running correctly was hell. Police had even
closed down internet in some polling stations. Apart from that, and the nerves,
the vote was going well, plenty of participation and people – despite the
violence – were still turning up happy to finally be able to vote.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Given the
rumours, I phoned my sister-in-law and advised her not to bring her two little
kids when she came to vote. Also messaged our kids, and my parents back in the
UK who might have been seeing nasty scenes on TV, to say we were OK so far.
Back on Twitter, we saw that the international media were really on the ball
giving very clear coverage of what was happening. Even some of the
international observers had posted their own footage of police violence that
they’d seen in person. More chatting, more translating of news to tweet to
anyone listening. About two-ish the rate of voting slowed down, and rumours of
police moving about locally died down – although we could see that police were
in action all around the country. So, time for a sit down inside the building,
a sandwich and a drink with Silvia and some friends. Another ex-student of ours
was in tears, of emotion and anger, which of course set us all off again. We
started to check out videos and photos of what had happened as Silvia hadn’t
really had time to see them yet. Horrendous. After our lunch break, when we saw
there were enough people around to block any attempts by police to enter (the
two original policemen keep coming back and asking if we’d let them in), Silvia
and myself decided to go and visit a couple more polling stations in town. We’d
just got to another one, where we met Silvia’s nephews and nieces amongst a
crowd of about 200, when we got word that the Guardia Civil had finished having
lunch in nearby town, Amposta, and were getting back in their vans. It turned
out that, since the Roquetes incident, ‘we’ had had someone following them in a
car to report on their movements! So, back to our station. More discussions –
what to do, obstruct them, move out of the way, lock the doors, is it worth a
beating, hide the votes... and eventually another message told us they had
driven straight past Tortosa and continued upriver. Another sigh of relief and
we decided to visit another polling station. At this one the voters had
prepared a bucketful of carnations to give to the riot police if they came. We
had a chat with friends there, no one could believe how violent the police have
been, but everyone was determined to see this through to the end. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Then back
to our station and more and more people coming in to vote. The
afternoon/evening passed quickly, with more or less the same events as the
morning –horrific images coming in from different towns, rumours, messages
about the location of the police vans and so on. Our two police officers went
off duty and were replaced by two more at 18.00, so we had to do the same “Can
we come in?” business again. About 19.00 we hear the Guardia Civil had raided a
couple of towns upriver and were driving back down. The Catalan police closed
down entry to another station in Tortosa, but didn’t confiscate the ballot
boxes so those inside started counting. Some other stations in Tortosa decided
to close now and start counting rather than risk staying open to the offical
closing time of 20.00, and risk being raided at the last minute. We decided to
chance it, in the hope that we could always hide one of our boxes before the
police managed to open the door if they came. Seeing in person all these
decisions and efforts to ensure the vote was as well-organized and correct as
possible under the conditions (threats, cyber attacks, police violence) just
make me even angrier when I hear Spanish politicians saying the vote was fixed.
They have literally no idea what happened, and what happens when a people
really believe in democracy and their chance to have a say on their own future.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Just before
we closed at 20.00, I had to go and pick up our kids who’d been for lunch and spent
the afternoon at their grandmother’s house. We called off at McDonald’s for
obvious reasons, then I left them at home to fend for themselves, while I went
back into town. When I arrived the door was locked, as it should be, while the
count went on. Many of us still ‘stood guard’ at the door just in case, until eventually
around 21.30 the door opened and the results of our station were announced to a
round of applause, sighs of relief, and a few more tears. All that was left was
to tidy up, send the results electronically, and head home to see the final
nationwide results. The two Catalan policemen politely asked us if we had
finished and we said yes, and they also left.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What did I
vote? I didn’t. As I am not a ‘Spanish citizen’, I couldn’t vote, but simply
went along to help out as I believe in democracy and listening to citizens.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Results:</b> 2,286,217
votes were counted (43% of census) i.e. over 2 million people risked a police
beating to vote</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">2,044,038
Yes (89.4%)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">177,547 No
(7.8%)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">64,000
void/null/blank votes</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Also around
770,000 potential voters either couldn’t vote or had votes confiscated after
their polling stations were raided or closed down (which would have pushed turnout over 50% mark, not bad considering Spain declared it illegal and many No voters stayed home). </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Over 900 people needed medical attention as a result of the police violence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>My
conclusions</b>; 1. Still amazes me that so many people, of all ages, shapes, and
sizes, believed in this vote which the Spanish government had tried so hard to
stop – that they believed in it and managed to pull it off. The logistics of
the months leading up to the vote, what happened on the day, and the mere act
of going to vote after you’ve just seen TV scenes of people being battered,
thrown down stairs, dragged out by their hair. Whatever happens now regarding
the political and legal situation here, the Catalan people have earned the
legitimate right to go ahead and declare independence. It doesn't matter to me whether this vote was legal or constitutional or not. Laws and constitutions are meant to be tools for citizens, not strait jackets, and it's clear there is/was a huge demand here by millions of citizens to simply have a say on their future. Governments should acknowledge this and work towards a political solution.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">2. The
police violence was planned and deliberate. They knew the ‘crime’ being
committed, and the kinds of ‘criminals’ they would find, and what we’d do, and
they went ahead with a completely over-the-top disproportionate response
nationwide. The tactic of driving from town to town, apparently at random was
also planned so as to instill us with a sense of fear. I have seen (on TV)
extremely violent police actions in Europe before but never in this context.
These weren’t ‘clashes between protestors and police’ as some claimed. No one
was ‘clashing’ and no one was protesting. This violence was carried out by
thousands of police basically attacking innocent people peacefully waiting to
vote on a nationwide scale. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">3. Spain
considers Catalonia to be a colony they must control and subdue. Attitudes from
all mainstream political parties, the media, the judicial system, all indicate
that they don’t worry about having an attractive proposition to convince
Catalonia to stay, but that they focus on insults, disdain, threats,
repression, violence, to ‘make’ Catalans stay in Spain. The photos of Spanish
police setting off for Catalonia whilst waving flags and playing the Spanish
anthem have no place in democratic policing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">4. However
much they deny it, Franco’s ghost is still in the room. The arrogant inflexible
attitudes showed by all these parties, and the Spanish Establishment in
general, as well as their policing methods, and subsequent denial of having
used violence (really) all confirm that Francoist attitudes still run deep.
Many members of the Spanish political and judicial establishment have direct
links to Francoism, and many others seem to have learnt that this is how to
behave. Forget dialogue, negotiations, listening to citizens, the role of the
Spanish State is to control its citizens apparently.</span><br />
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Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-52890837335608973592017-11-02T09:41:00.001+01:002017-11-02T09:41:20.273+01:00Should I stay or should I go? That is the question<div style="text-align: justify;">
[Catalan version below]</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As I was saying... no, seriously, it's been over two years since I last wrote on here and I'm not really sure whether to start it up again or not. What happened? Well, with my health issues I wrote about in the previous post, I was expecting to spend some time feeling sorry for myself and then just mosey along as usual. Which I did for a while, even going to the Big City to pay a private consultant to more or less tell me what I already knew. Basically, stop worrying (I haven't), and wear compression stockings every day come rain or shine (I do). Then the you-know-what hit the fan as my wife was diagnosed with an extremely aggressive slipped disc, which needed an immediate operation or run the risk of not walking again. The first operation wasn't 100% successful so a second one was carried out. All in all, she ended up spending about 2 months in hospital - just coming out for a while at Christmas 2015. Then the recovery time. All this coincided with the start of some major building work at our house which dragged on until summer 2016. With my going up and down to the hospital all the time, and the builders ripping the house apart, we had to spend a few months living down at my mother-in-law's house.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When we did eventually get back to normal, about a year ago now, we got back into our routines but I never really felt like starting the blog again. I mean I did, as in I kept taking notes on ideas to write about, but the energy and willpower weren't there. With everything going on in our lives, and that had happened, other things changed too. Nothing is the same as before. Plus, of course, the danger of internet is that there are so many other distractions available that I've been easily able to waste my time in other places than here. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Anyway, not sure if I'll continue this for much longer. I'd like to but I need to "want to" too. For now, I've written this as a kind of explanation-excuse-hello-goodbye post, and also as I'm thinking of doing one or two posts to put something on here I've been writing about the Catalan issue.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Així que, com us deia... bé, com us deia fa 2 anys! Per que he desapergut 2 anys del blog? Continuarà ara? Fa 2 anys, escrivia que tenia problemes de salut amb la meva cama, però despres a la tardor del 2015 les coses van prendre un gir a pitjor - a la meva dona li van diagnosticar una hernia discal molt aggressiva que calia operar immediatament. Després d'unes complicacions, una segona operació i les coses es van allargar. Vam passar gairebé 2 mesos a l'hospital en total, amb un 'descans' al mig per passar nadal a casa. Quan per fi vam començar la fase de recuperació a casa, va coincidir amb l'estress d'unes obres que feiem a casa. I aixi va anar passant el temps. Feina, familia, els problemes de cada dia. A més, les ganes i prioritats son diferents ara despres de tants moments dificils. Les coses canvien. I, referent al blog, no he tornat a trobar la energia ni les ganes d'escriure fins ara. Ara, tampoc sé si continuaré. Torno perque vull penjar una cosa que estic escrivint sobre el referendum però no sé si despres el blog tindrà continuitat o si aquest epoca de la meva vida s'ha acabat. Ja veurem.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oGIFublvDes" width="560"></iframe>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-21508041906329931992015-09-07T00:40:00.000+02:002015-09-07T00:40:00.270+02:00August<div style="text-align: justify;">
And then after July came August as usual. August started well - exceptionally well in fact; the very first day we had our annual Big Day Out on the beach. We "camp out" all day once a year on one of the huge deserted beaches on the arms of the Ebro Delta, with a fantastic knee-deep bay of water on one side of the beach, and the wilder sea of the open Mediterranean on the other. See satellite photo below. Cousins, grannies, uncles, friends, we all hit the beach with cars loaded up with sun shades (essential), kites, buckets and spades, canoes, picnics, drinks... and spend the full day there till dusk. A great time was had by all.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Two days later I flew to England with our oldest son (12 today) to drop him off at my parents' in South Yorkshire for a week's break from us and a chance to practise his English. And then I flew back to Catalonia. The rest of us spent another week here, finishing off translation work and coping with the heatwave before joining Andreu in England for a 3-week holiday.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
However the day before we flew I felt a sharp pain in my leg which brought back unhappy memories of my DVT 2 years ago and so went to the hospital to have it checked. I was given the all-clear, and a couple of blood-thinning injections "just in case" and told to fly.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For our first week in England we'd decided to go to the Lake District and a grand time was had by all - lake cruises, treks up and down hills, bathing in tarns and lakes, eating Grasmere gingerbread, visiting the Pencil Museum and so on. See photos.</div>
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<br /></div>
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However, again, by mid-week that pain was starting to come back. I managed to finish the week in the Lakes but as soon as we got back to my parents' we went to Barnsley Hospital A&E to check it wasn't a DVT again.... and it wasn't, it was a SVT! I'll explain: instead of a potentially life-threatening deep vein thrombosis which could mean the clot moving into the delicate parts of your body, it was (is) a "superificial vein thrombosis" or "thrombophlebitis" which is nowhere near as bad ... unless it develops into a DVT if the clots start to move from one vein system to another... which shouldn't happen but.... lots of <i>should/might/but/not usually</i> vocabulary used by the doctors who gave me a very thorough looking over in the hospital (long live the NHS!) meant that I spent the next 2 weeks scared out of my brains once again. They were right, though, so far: the pain was intense and unbearable for a few days but has gradually faded, and is now just annoying. They say in 7-14 days more I should be OK again as the SVT is just running its course. It all meant I did hardly anything for the other 2 weeks in England but I did manage to check out a new second-hand record shop in Elsecar, The Vinyl Tap! With a few more blood-thinning injections "just in case" we flew back to Catalonia on 31 August and now the next step is seeing more doctors to see why this has happened and if there's anything I can do about it - and, looking at my history repeating itself, whether these incidents are related to flying.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am still resting up at home now but hope to get into school for some preparation this week, and aim to be 100% for working when classes start on the 14th. Our kids also go back to school that day, with our son moving up to the Big Boys' School - i.e. secondary school. Time flies.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yzLT6_TQmq8" width="420"></iframe>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-32705954685457749062015-09-05T19:04:00.001+02:002015-09-05T19:04:19.799+02:00July<div style="text-align: justify;">
After a relatively blog-free period, you'll all be wondering "What did Brian do this summer?". Well...here's July.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
As you may or may not know, the school year comes to an end here by Saint John's Eve (23 June) and from then on we had the kids at home allowing us the chance for lots of <strike>arguing</strike> playing with them. My work situation also changes then as the "normal course" comes to an end and we start our intensive "summer course" for anyone who wants a short sharp introduction to English. What happens, though, is that this course is only in the mornings so I'm free by 14.00 every day, and when we've hidden at home through the hottest part of the day (temperatures reached 38º this summer) around 17.00-ish we can do things with the kids. A couple of days cycling, a few at the beach (a 25-minute drive away), and many afternoons with the kids "socializing" - having friends round, or going to friends. Our daughter also went away for a week-long summer camp at a nearby village.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We also managed to check out a couple of late-night concerts in the annual jazz festival and had a great time at the Renaissance Festival (check out previous years' July blogposts to see what I'm talking about). And we saw an amazing concert by the renowned great Catalan celloist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordi_Savall">Jordi Savall</a>. Using a 500-year old instrument, he and his small group took us on an amazing musical tour within the amazing setting of Tortosa cathedral. Examples to follow...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
All in all, a busy month but providing enough change to our normal routines to be considered "a rest" (you know the saying). A well-deserved and much-needed rest after a very busy, and stressful year, with loads of work and other issues to worry about - which I won't go into here, except the fact that our kids seem to be becoming teenagers 2 or 3 years before the predicted time :)</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-IHMnknSHAU" width="560"></iframe>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-54350859816595820502015-07-25T17:14:00.001+02:002015-07-25T17:14:29.538+02:00The #soapbox proposal for Catalonia - English language version<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Today’s
post is an English-language explanation/version of my previous one. As that was
tailored for my Catalan readers, this will be slightly different – with more
background information but less specific details. Here goes...</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I’m
assuming we’re all up to date on the Catalan independence drive? <a href="http://briancutts.blogspot.com.es/search/label/catalonia">Check here if not</a>. OK? On 9 November 2014, Catalonia held a “vote” in its independence. The
Spanish government banned them from holding an official binding referendum, so
the Catalans decided to hold a non-binding simple public consultation – which the
Spanish government also decided was anti-constitutional! Over 2 million people voted,
the Catalan president then had legal action started against him, and we’re
still at the same point – the one where it’s blindingly obvious that Catalans
want to decide their own future in some kind of vote and they won’t give up
till they do so!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Hence, the Catalan
President has promised to call Catalan parliamentary elections for 27 September
2015 in the hope that these results will be a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">de facto</i> referendum, giving the pro-independence parties a clear
democratic mandate to go ahead with an independence declaration independently
(excuse the pun) of what the Spanish government says.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Between the Scottish
referendum being announced and finally carried out in Scotland, though, the
Scottish people enjoyed an 18-month peaceful period of campaigning where
everyone was able to hear, and question, all the arguments in favour and
against independence. This is not the case here. So much energy and time has
been invested in just getting to where we are – being able to have a vote – or defending
and justifying this right - that it seems to many of us that the actual Yes/No
campaign has hardly started. Of course, those of us with a keen interest follow
every snippet of news, every article, every public meeting, speech, tweet, that
we see and have plenty of information – but there is a huge segment of the
population who don’t. How are we going to inform these people about what this
vote means – within the 60 days left – and answer their doubts?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I don’t
think the usual televised debates or local meetings held by pro/anti “experts”
will be seen by many people other than those who already know what they want to
vote. My proposal is to get out the old soapbox. The well-known people involved
in the indy campaign, whether they be politicians, members of the pro-indy
non-partisan bodies, celebrities and other experts, must hit the streets – and now.
Imagine three of them, one each from a different party or group showing they
are all in this together, standing on a soapbox outside the local market making
a brief (2 minute) speech and, above all, answering people’s questions. They
may get insulted, but they will also get a chance to allay the fears of the
typical “What about the pensions?” potential voter. Get a bus (or more), move
the indy folk around from town to town – three towns a day, three soapbox
meetings per town in different public squares, and so on. This would really get
the message across to those who at current are undecided or apprehensive about
the consequences of the September election.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wl_Ia5SM3pg/VbOnXPsknwI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/ner22V0MA5k/s1600/soapbox1%2B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wl_Ia5SM3pg/VbOnXPsknwI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/ner22V0MA5k/s320/soapbox1%2B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-59107557895656386812015-07-24T17:43:00.001+02:002015-07-25T16:37:07.580+02:00Catalans, hem d'agafar el #soapbox ja! #araéslhora<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CLR6mxWErMo/VbJbjMD-0fI/AAAAAAAAB50/l1TEDMN65fY/s1600/soapbox1%2B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CLR6mxWErMo/VbJbjMD-0fI/AAAAAAAAB50/l1TEDMN65fY/s320/soapbox1%2B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Falten<a href="http://www.cataloniavotes.eu/"> 64 dies</a> per a les eleccions catalanes, unes eleccions on decidirem si marxem d’Espanya
o si l’estat espanyol ens passi la maquina piconadora i s’acabi amb els pocs
poders i drets que ara tenim – i m’és igual qui guanyi a les eleccions
espanyoles ja que sabem que tots volen anar per aquest camí d’una manera o d’una
altra. L’època <i>happy flowers</i> amb respecte des de Madrid per les autonomies o diferències socials
i culturals s’ha acabat. No es pot quedar amb lo que tenim ara. No és una opció - ara o sobrevivim com a país o entrarem a formar part de l'Espanya unificada. </span></div>
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<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Les eleccions catalanes són crucials i úniques
– a canvi de conviure uns mesos en un país amb un govern estrany “de tots els
colors”, podem guanyar la llibertat; si no, podem perdre les esperances de la
nostra i les properes generacions. Alguns diuen que no volen un país “de Mas” o
“de dretes”, però si no pujem al tren de la independència tindrem un país de
dretes igualment – Espanya. Anem a per totes, i d’aquí 2 anys cada u que triï
el model de país que vol...</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">... el problema
és que s’ha perdut molt de temps decidint com votar, si podem votar, a que o
qui votarem, i defensant els nostres drets; i en aquest temps hem passat per alt
allò que van poder fer a Escòcia – 18 mesos de debat tranquil, al carrer, a la
tele, a la premsa, entre amics, per a que tothom tingui la màxima informació
abans de votar. Aquí hi ha poca campanya, i els actes pro-independència que es
fan no arriben als centenars de milers de catalans qui no llegeixen la premsa,
no van a actes organitzats, miren més La Sexta que TV3 etc. Tinc la impressió
que falta aquest pas – i tinc humilment una proposta en brut que es pot refinar
si creieu que funcionaria.</span></div>
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<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Us imagineu si
els actors principals en aquest moment – parlo de Mas, Junqueras, Fernandez,
altres cares conegudes dels seus partits, Romeva, Llach, cares de l’ANC i
Omnium, i d’altres entitats (ajuntaments, sindicats, associacions...) que volen
la independència... us imagineu si aquesta gent anés pel carrer. Poble per
poble a peu de carrer, fent petits discursos de minut i mig, però sobretot
contestant les dubtes de la gent. Un pensionista que té por de perdre la pensió
i mira els catalans de Podemos i Ciutadans que surten a La Sexta cada dissabte,
no anirà mai a una xerrada de l’ANC o de Convergencia, però si es trobes amb
algú que “coneix”, un Artur Mas, a la porta del mercat, igual li diu de tot,
insults inclosos, però també li preguntaria, “Ei, que passa amb lo meu?”</span></div>
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<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Per això, ja n’hi
ha prou de fer actes individuals de cada partit en llocs tancats com auditoris
o pavellons, o simplement estar esperant la campanya de 15 dies al setembre.
<b>Cal agafar el<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soapbox"> soapbox</a>. </b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">El soapbox més
conegut és lo de Speaker’s Corner a Londres, on la gent es posa dalt d’una
caixa de fusta (tradicionalment usades per transportar sabó) i es posa a parlar
a qui li vulgui escoltar, però en el passat era una manera típica dels politics
(al menys a Anglaterra) per arribar a la gent. Semblava que les teles i grans
mítings havien acabat amb aquesta practica, però encara avui en dia alguns
politics ho fan i amb aquesta cosa original, i sorprenent, poden arribar d’una
manera directa a llocs o persones on normalment el seu missatge no arriba.
Diuen que li va funcionar al John Major! </span></div>
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<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Proposo que els “actors principals”
del Sí (i els del No si volen, però ja és qüestió d’ells la seva campanya)
vagin viatjant de poble en poble, en un autobús a l’estil campanya americana
(aquí ja tenim un autobús a punt!) si volen – junts si és possible – i fent
això. Us imagineu a Fernandez, Mas i Llach dalt de caixes de fusta davant del mercat
central, després, al mig de la plaça principal, i per acabar al parc municipal,
fent petits (molt curts) discursos i parlant amb la gent, i 2 hores més tard
agafen l’autocar i van al poble del costat? Mentrestant, la Muriel, Junqueras,
i Eduardo Reyes estan fent el mateix en una altra població. I Carme Forcadell,
Germà Bel i Romeva formant un altre equip. Rull, Rovira, i Toni Soler un altre.
Actors politics i no politics. I més i més... Cada grupet, 3 o 4 pobles per
dia, 60 dies... podem fer tots els pobles de Catalunya! Suposo que cal (o no..!) buscar la forma d'evitar problemes amb la normativa sobre quan i on es poden fer campanyes així, però si posem imaginació tot és possible - no cal que demanen el vot, simplement estan explicant com seria un país indepedent, etc. Aqui tenim una proposta, ara seria questió dels experts de polir-la i posar-la en marxa!</span><br />
<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">Si anem a per
totes, cal començar ja!</span></div>
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<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">...</span></div>
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<i><span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;">[Sorry, no time for English version of this post yet -next week hopefully. It is a very specifically "what Catalans should do" type post though!] </span></i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XR3RvvGHORQ/VbJcTor6AjI/AAAAAAAAB58/Swq9yOG_2hQ/s1600/bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XR3RvvGHORQ/VbJcTor6AjI/AAAAAAAAB58/Swq9yOG_2hQ/s320/bus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="CA" style="mso-ansi-language: CA;"><br /></span></div>
Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303110483819365454.post-40880966599213085762015-06-28T00:21:00.004+02:002015-06-28T00:36:01.753+02:00Mallorca<div style="text-align: justify;">
Una nova aventura! La setmana passada vam aconseguir escapar-nos 4 dies a Mallorca per a visitar familia, concretament la germana de la meva dona, el seu parella, i el bebe que acaben de tenir. L'objectiu era precisament aixo, visitar la familia i descansar despres d'un trimestre una mica moguda. I aixi ho vam fer. Vam voltar molt per Palma, vam anar a la platja, vam jugar a Monopoli, i vam fer una visita rapida a Valldemossa.</div>
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També vaig aprendre que Menorca queda a l'est de Mallorca, i no pas a l'oest com sempre havia pensat, malgrat viure aqui 25 anys i haver visitat les dos illes. També vam poder confirmar que el tema de la llengua està malament a Mallorca, molta gent no xerra en mallorqui - però a nivell personal, poc a poc, gràcies al cunyat estic millorant la meva comprehensió del que diuen quan ho parlen!</div>
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Fotos i musica....</div>
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...</div>
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<i>Brian's Big Break finally arrived - a well-deserved 4-day break in Mallorca (or Majorca). We now have family there - the missus' sister, her partner and their new-born kid - so we went to visit them and relax after a hard term (the school year finished here on the 19 June) before starting our "summer courses". So relax we did - 4 days of playing Monopoly, wandering round Palma, checking out the sights, the beach, and a quick visit to the place Chopin (apparently a pianist) described as being the most beautiful place in the world, Valldemossa. Obviously he'd never been to Yorkshire...</i></div>
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<i>By the way, a little knowledge; Mallorca was re-conquered from the Moors by the Catalan king Jaume I donkeys' years ago and as such formed part of the Catalan/Aragon empire, and the language they speak is a kind of Catalan with a few changes, and a tricky accent! The Balearic isles now form an autonomous community within the state of Spain, as does Catalonia. </i></div>
<i>A few photos, followed up by another song by the best group from Mallorca.</i><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u4gEyvHKRfM" width="420"></iframe>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06613762050863476962noreply@blogger.com2