Yup, I'm back to flying, ankle's still hurting but its getting much better. Febuary is my first completely rostered month. It's also the month of my much anticipated leave. First on my agenda, two Manchester trips back to back. Most of you might remember Manchester for the famous english football club Manchester United. And probably thinking now that i might have some insights on the training grounds or of the club-- nope. Sorry to dissapoint the likes of you. I'm not a fan of football, never will be. * shrug. Did my research and none of my friends are man u fans either. Liverpool anyone?
Manchester was an important city in the Industrial Revolution. It was the most important city in england for the Cotton trade back then. Today however, Manchester comes across as a city that marrys new modern architecture with old world charms. Old brick buildings in styles of the old design movements sit comfortably side by side with newer cousins of the millenium- glass and steel structures reflecting the orangey light of the winter sun, bricks and mortar diffusing the light, giving off a soothing vermillion glow. Real pretty.
So pretty that despite the ridculously low temperature of minus 5 degrees and the Left ankle hurting from walking too much on my injury,I pressed on like an injured soldier;
determined to plow the city for its beautiful winter sights. First stop the old Library, built in roman style or a round-about rotana. went in for a quick tour too. LOADs of good books. Im so jealous theres nothing like it where i am.

Next stop the town hall, really nice gothic looking landmark of manchester. Today it is still used a meeting menu for community activities and conferences. I had a look inside but tours were limited because of an event being held.


Picadilly place is the train stop to alight when u take a train from the airport, which is what i did.
The first building when u come out of the station -piccadily place ( below)

contrary to my previous misconception that manchester is a boring as hell destination, I ended up loving the city for its charms. I definitely wouldnt mind a single bit if im rostered for it again.
Love it.

Watched Blood Diamond last night in an icy cold movie theatre with gilles - I was clutching a napkin saturated with my nose-drips in one hand and holding onto a vitamin C -rich fruit juice in the other and trying my very best not to let my flu bug get the better of me. Despite the minor physical discomforts i still managed to enjoy the movie.
"Blood Diamond" is a rather newly released movie with Leonardo Dicaprio as the lead. In the movie he plays a diamond smuggler helping the diamond industries of the developed world to mine the raw diamonds found in the conflict-torn 1990s sierra leone, Africa.
The story is filled with many politcal, social, philosophical and religious undertones. I will attempt to analyze it based entirely on my own interpretation; see if you agree.
The theme of redemption and salvation is present throughout the movie.
Also present is the theme of fortune(fate),( behaviour due to circumstances) eg " Soldier of fortune", and the idea that " a man is neither good or bad, he is just a man- circumstance made him who he is" And the question of whether Possessions of Material wealth or Family gives happiness.
Some scenes stood out more than others in significance in the course of the movie; To me, they were;
(not in sequential order)

The scene where the chief miner/ exploiter were holding 'Solomon' at gunpoint and he says" You might think i am the devil, But only because I've Been in Hell and i badly want to get out"

( again the theme of circumstance; later you will see that even solomon, the protagonist of this story, forced to a point of desperation and frustration in being unable to find his son, disturbingly
hammers an opposing force repeatedly on his head in a savage manner till he kills him and even after the man died the animalistic beating continues for sometime after showing the savage-ness of his attack. In this story, it is plausible that the scripwriter seeks to explore the theme of circumstance by having its main characters ( the protagonists) who is mainly percieved as the good ones of the show, display dark tendencies from time to time, this is strikingly apparent in both archer and solomon. we then question the conventions of what makes good and what makes bad, if the bad doing is due to circumstance, does it make it less bad?)

The scene where both Archer and Solomon were hiking up the highlands in search of the diamond, specifically when Solomon asked ' So you have no family?No family so no home.. But when you get the diamond you will be able to get a woman to marry you and have kids yes? To which Archer answers a resounding not neccessarily. "but you will be happy? You have some money yes? But not enough? And the diamond will make u happy?" Archer again says no. And Solomon goes " then im confused" and archer goes " i am as confused as you are"

( The idea of the different pursuits in life of which different pple perceive as equating happiness might end up futile or as sources of more confusion is relayed here though both solomon and archer acting as mouthpieces for the author. Conflicting interests of differing perceptions are major sources of turmoils in this world -the idea that the conflicting perceptions all amount to futile pursuits and confusion in the end makes us question; why all this bloodshed? However the ending might shed a light on what the author feels about this; Solomon reunites with his family being able to do so with the Diamond which the dying archer passed on to him. And finds happiness (or so we assume) given residence london and ability to tell his story to the rest of the developed world . Herein we get a sense that the reality is that one must have both wealth and family to find peace and happiness?)


The scene where the son of solomon a young kind of eleven or twelve, almost betrayed his own father, pointed a gun at him, at the most crucial point, and with tears streaming down both their eyes, Solomon says " ... i know they made you do bad things... But I am your father and i have always love you..." and he was forgiven when he embraced his father. Overwhelmed by love, he dropped his weapon.

(Religious allergory! Very obvious one, you will understand what i mean when u watch the movie.
Here solomon is elevated almost to god like status with the common man represented in solomon's son. The idea that no matter what sins man has committed if he seeks forgiveness and repent with his godly father he will receive salvation.)

To me these were less blatant than the many other scenes which obviously marks a social or political statement either through character's dialogues or the what was acted out on screen.
On the whole, I felt it was a brillant movie. Unlike the usual hollywood entertainment flicks this one fulfilled a much more significant need of educating the movie-going masses. Through in-laid messages and symbolic script, it questions openly the futility of the usual media induced mass appeal ( story book wedding, diamonds, vanity)