Fashion Feature for Journalism Diploma

Style Column

Just Say No: An Alternative to Jeans

Everybody may wear them but it doesn’t mean to say they’re right

I am going to start this column with a confession. I own no jeans. Sure, as revelations go it’s not going to be as famous as George Washington’s “I cannot tell a lie”. But, in a world where denim is worn with religious-like devotion, it is a far braver admission than little George’s. Before I get lynched by the “oh, but why? It’s both stylish, and comfortable” mob, let me explain my reason. I am in my mid-thirties, and no one over the age of 30 looks good in denim.

To begin, I will write a couple of words that will have you nodding in agreement. Mitt Romney. There you go, point proved. This feature should end now, as I feel as though I have made my case, but for your sake, I will continue. Thankfully, Mitt wasn’t able to follow in the footsteps of George Washington – become president of the USA, not confess to cutting down a cherry tree – and we should all be grateful for those who voted against him. It had nothing to do with his policies; it was all about his trouser choice. If you haven’t seen the photos, type ‘Mitt Romney wearing jeans’ into your search engine now. What. A. Site.

I know, I know, Mitt Romney isn’t in his thirties, he is in his sixties, but the point remains the same. Jeans are a young mans game. The day you turn 30 should be the day you take those faded, distressed, ugly shade of blue, boot cut monstrosities to your local charity shop. The game is up. Let it go.

There is nothing wrong with being a slave to trouser fashion in your teens and twenties; I have gone through that stage myself. Wearing baggy flared jeans when the whole Madchester scene was happening. Check. Buying (yes, buying) jeans with stains already on them. Check. Wearing black jeans as an alternative to black trousers at weddings, christenings, funerals etc. as I didn’t want to look too ‘square’. Check.

So, “what is the alternative”, I hear you ask? Well, the alternatives are many you will be pleased to know. There are chinos, cords, smart cotton trousers (my legwear of choice) and tweed. Do not, and I will repeat this, do not wear jeggngs. They are not a compromise, they are two fashion disasters combined. Combat trousers? Get out of here, GI Joe. I will credit you with some common sense and presume that you aren’t wearing jogging bottoms unless you are actually jogging. No, you can’t wear them when lazing on the sofa. Smarten yourself up.

If you are still not convinced by my anti-denim manifesto, then try an example closer to home and input ‘Jeremy Clarkson wearing jeans’ into your search engine. You will now recognise that he wears the same trousers as you. And they may be comfortable, but he proves that they are certainly not stylish.

END

Chicken Shop - Restaurant Review for Journalism Diploma

‘Thwack, thwack, thwack.” This is the sound that keeps interjecting the conversation between my girlfriend and me, as the butcher in front of us chops whole chickens into quarters.

I am at Chicken Shop the latest restaurant to try to update the classic high-street takeaway of chicken and chips.

The fact that I found this place at all owes everything to my girlfriend being able to spot a Chicken Shop bag hanging over a doorknob on the Highgate Road.

Once inside it becomes obvious that we are not the only ones to spot the bag as the place is packed and we are told that a 45-minute wait is to be expected. We decline the wonderfully polite option of going elsewhere and waiting for a phone call to bring us back and decide to wait with a pint of Camden Ale and a glass of traditional lemonade.

Before we even have time to count how many clientele are wearing thick-rimmed glasses – it appears popular with people who work in the media - we were told that a space was ready, at the front counter.

This is where we encounter the butcher chopping away as several free-range chickens roast behind him. From this vantage point we get to see the simplicity of the operation, as once the chicken is quartered it is chucked on a plate with a sprinkling of salt added and two lemon wedges placed on the side.

In the 10 minutes it took us to get a seat we had already decided our order, as much like a famous Monty Python sketch, the choice is limited.

We had heard that the servings were generous – and they very much are - so we opted to share half a chicken and a serving of crinkle-cut chips.

The service was as fast as the butcher and we were soon chomping on the avalanche of food in front of us.

The chicken is the type of chicken you would travel miles for, with a crispy skin and a tender texture, the chips likewise. If this is too bland for some tastes then there are also a choice of four sauces to add more variety; ketchup, garlic butter, hot sauce and smoky sauce.

We then decided on dessert and plumped for the apple pie and ice cream. The generosity of the restaurant even extends to allowing customers to choose the size of their portion. We went large and were not disappointed, as the Chicken Shop must have attended a special workshop on crispiness, because the pastry was perfectly crisp, just like the chicken and chips.

I perused the restaurant’s wooden benches and fifties rockabilly vibe as my girlfriend finished off the apple pie. At the end of the meal I even checked out the toilets – lovely, since you asked - and came back to see my girlfriend wiping her dress with a napkin. The splattering’s of the butcher’s chopper had caught her. ”Never mind,” I said “I will lick it off when I get home.” It really is that lovely.

Score: 4.5/5 



A shared meal for two with drinks and service costs about £25. 79 Highgate Road.

www.chickenshop.com 

Skyfall - Movie Review for Journalism Diploma

Skyfall (12A)

For a film franchise to successfully run for 50 years it must seek ways of keeping the films relevant, while seldom straying from the reasons that have made the franchise so popular.

Bond movies are kept pertinent by the changing of directors and of actors taking the lead role. This is Daniel Craig’s third outing as Bond and Mendes’ first as director. What Mendes has brought is a new angle to the Bond franchise; he has introduced a chink of vulnerability to Bond, which is played with splendid subtlety by Craig.

An exhilarating opening sequence establishes Bond’s vulnerability as he struggles with an enemy for a computer hard drive on top of a train in Istanbul. Bond falls from the train after being shot accidently on M’s [Judi Dench] orders, as the hard drive being hunted is deemed more important to M than Bond himself, highlighting Bond’s expendability to the country he serves.

It is when Bond is missing, presumed dead, we see him as a man and not an MI6 agent, with alcohol replacing his work as the purpose for living.

A terrorist attack on headquarters prompts Bond’s eventual return to MI6. It is not met with warmth, and his subsequent physical and psychological testing exposes his susceptibility further. Bond is now not only fighting the enemy he is fighting to maintain his true purpose for living.

Only once does Mendes let the vulnerability spill into sentimentally. The inclusion in the climax of a belligerent old gamekeeper, remembered by Bond from his childhood, fighting against the modern weaponry of the enemy armed only with a rifle, is overly nostalgic. 

What Mendes has achieved with this movie is significant. He has maintained all the factors that make a great Bond movie but also updated the franchise for this age, and in doing so, given Bond more substance.

Running time: 140 minutes.

END

The Guardian Knowledge - 19th October 2011

CALL ME ISHMAEL

"Noticing Stephen Shepherd's story last week about half of Gillingham's side not making the Orient game due to traffic, are there any other infamous cases of a side not arriving on time for the game?" asked Kevin Meadowcroft last week.

One answer here from Rob Davies: "This story does not concern a team but rather an individual, Ishmael Demontagnac, who during the festive programme of 2005-06 stayed in bed for Walsall's trip to Bristol City on 2 January 2006, instead of getting the team bus. Apparently he thought there was no game that day and that it was his day off. Walsall lost 3- 0.

Scunthorpe v Walsall Preview - Scunthorpe Chronicle September 2011

The Guardian Knowledge - 22nd June 2011

Which is the least successful testimonial match ever?

Plus: Playing at Wembley over and over and over again; the shortest time between two penalties (2); and when players attack – with corner flags. Send your questions and answers to knowledge@guardian.co.uk and follow us on Twitter

Johan Cruyff's Ajax farewell was spoiled somewhat by Bayern Munich turning up and, well, trying really hard. Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images

"Which is the least successful testimonial match ever?" tweets Matthew Britton. "Has one ever been done at a loss to the player and club?"

The Knowledge

1. Need a stocking filler? More Knowledge is available in all (well, some) good bookshopsBuy More Knowledge from Guardian Books

Success, where testimonials are concerned, is somewhat subjective. It's fair to suggest the17-man brawl that enlivened Julian Dicks' testimonial was a bonus for fans who attended, though hardly conducive to an afternoon of backslappery. And take Johan Cruyff's farewell fixture for Ajax against Bayern Munich. You might think the result doesn't matter in a testimonial and, by and large, you'd be right, but what about when the team you invite turn up and give you a proper shoeing?

"The German champions wanted to show their Dutch counterparts something after earlier defeats and not being welcomed at Schiphol Airport," writes Dave G Boham. "They even had to sleep at a sub-par hotel. After jeers from the crowd, they showed their hosts something. Three goals were disallowed during the 8-0 hammering dished out by the Bavarians. The Ajax players just wanted to have a good time. In 2006, Bayern apologised."

Perhaps the most painful of the testimonial failures is the "disappointingly low turnout". "In April 2008, Darren Wrack's testimonial at Walsall pulled in a crowd of just 1,330 (207 away supporters)," writes Rob Davies of the man who played more than 300 games for the Saddlers. "This was probably due to the huge downpour and the possibility that any money Wrack made would have gone to paying off his gambling debts." A couple of months later Wrack sought help for his problems and he now works as a scout.

And finally there's the testimonial that you have fork out £100,000 just to play. Anders Rokstad points out that Southampton's Scandinavian stalwart Claus Lundekvam had to do just that for his testimonial in 2008 after Bon Jovi made a mess of the St Mary's pitch. With Celtic, Lundekvam's desired opponents, only able to make a handful of dates, there was no time for the Saints to reseed the pitch after the popular American beat-combo had finished belting out Livin' on a Prayer and Keep the Faith. Lundekvam, though, stumped up for an emergency job.

"Claus has sacrificed a lot of money to put the game on with Celtic and the thing with Claus is that he wants an opportunity to say goodbye to everybody," said Matt Le Tissier. "He's the kind of guy if the game just breaks even and everybody has a great night he'll be delighted.

"Claus had his heart set on getting Celtic down because of Gordon Strachan who was his favourite manager. Celtic have done us a bit of a favour as well by reducing the fee they usually charge for a testimonial so we thank Celtic for that but it's costing quite a lot of money to put the game on.

"As a testimonial committee we've had to purchase a pitch and that doesn't come cheap. It was the only way we could get Celtic and we've taken that risk in the hope that the fans turn out in their numbers and make it a great night for us."

In the end 18,664 fans turned up, meaning Lundekvam just about recouped his money.

The Guardian Knowledge - 15th December 2010

WALSALL GET WET AND WILD

"While we're on weather what is the hottest, wettest, highest amount of snowfall and windiest conditions during a match," asks Paul Grocott.

Robert Davies writes in to tell us about a drenching at the end of the 90s. On 30 October 1999, Stockport played Walsall at Edgeley Park. During the game there was such a torrential downpour that the referee took the players off the pitch for 10 minutes. Pity the hundred or so Walsall fans who were on the uncovered terrace and got absolutely drenched."

Anton email from Israel with footage of a match in South Africa between Orlando Pirates and Black Leopards when the wind was strong enough to blow the advertising boards across the pitch (there are 12m or so views of this on YouTube so we imagine a few of you have seen in already.