Tuesday 22 May 2007

1 Million

In a fit of craziness, I decided to set up a new group on photo-sharing site flickr. Nothing unusual in that I hear you say, maybe not. BUT, this groups intention is to reach 1 Million members with 1 image each!
"What's the point of that", I hear you shout... well, potentially there isnt any, but my idea is to get each member to post their best photo, then publish these photos in a book or exhibition with all the profits going to a nominated Charity - that's quite a nice point I think :) Raising awareness, raising money.

Here's a slideshow of images currently available in the group. (If it doesnt show up, click here)




If you want to join this free incentive, sign up for flickr here and join the group.

Images shown copyright original authors.
Images not for unauthorised distribution or copying.



Monday 21 May 2007

Caption Contest #1

Caption Contest - Hayle Middle Distance Triathlon 2007
All you have to do is come up with something witty for the following pictures. Add your caption as a comment at the end of this post. Choose any one or all three.
If you include your details we'll enter you into a draw to win a print of your choice on our website.

First Image:


Second Image:


Third Image:


Dont forget to include your contact details (or join our Mailing List) to be included in the Print Draw. The winner will be able to choose a 10x8 print of any image from our website, where you have a selection of over 20,000 images to choose from.

View images from this event here

Media images available on request to info@kasstzam.com
Photo credit: www.kasstzam.com
Images not for unauthorised distribution/copying
All rights reserved. © 2007 kazam media ltd



Friday 18 May 2007

Michael Portillo at The Daphne du Maurier Festival

I was, in truth expecting a presentation which would not perhaps be the most entertaining from a man who was for so many years a leading Politician.
How wrong I was!

From the moment he entered stage right Michael Portillo demonstrated that he is a very accomplished orator with an excellent sense of humour and a genuine ability to hold his audience in the palm of his hand.
Discussing his political career as well as many personal aspects of his life he demonstrated a side unlikely to have been seen by many of the audience before. When it came to answering questions by members of the audience again, I was not disappointed as nowhere to be heard was the politicians favourite pastime of never giving an answer. To the contrary he gave a full, descriptive and direct answer to every single question raised - a long way from Prime Ministers question time!

By David Hughes

View images from this event here

Media images available on request to info@kasstzam.com
Photo credit: www.kasstzam.com
Images not for unauthorised distribution/copying
All rights reserved. © 2007 kazam media ltd

Wednesday 16 May 2007

Peter Sallis at The Daphne du Maurier Festival

What a national treasure we have in this much underrated actor.
Despite his health just beginning to fail a little, Peter's representation of being a little more absent minded than he is in reality, interspersed with sabre like wit
delivered with a lifetime's learning of comic timing was a joy to watch.
Despite knowing it was Peter the person in conversation with Samantha Norman (daughter of Barry Norman), listening to such a well known voice I was constantly expecting either a comment about the antics of Foggy and Compo or for him to utter "more tea Grommit
"?
Of course he didn't do either but what he did do was to enthrall and entertain a packed house for nearly two hours not least with an outstanding impression of Sir John Gielgud!
May Peter Sallis drink many, many more glasses of the last of the summer wine.

By David Hughes

View images from this event here

Media images available on request to info@kasstzam.com
Photo credit: www.kasstzam.com
Images not for unauthorised distribution/copying
All rights reserved. © 2007 kazam media ltd

Justine Picardie at The Daphne du Maurier Festival

Justine Picardie is clearly extremely knowledgeable not only about the works of
Daphne du Maurier but also the lady herself as a person.
Her speech and subsequent discussion with members of the audience (which included several members of Daphne's family with whom Justine is clearly well aquainted) delved deeply into the views and insights that Daphne may have held regarding Branwell Bronte and the possibility that she may well have considered the parallels between their lives.
Justine is a writer and can therefore be excused her lack of comfort at being on stage which was somewhat evident.
For those who have or are studying the great Daphne du Maurier to a level which includes attempting to understand the psychology of the author to a considerable depth then this presentation would have been fascinating and no doubt beneficial but was perhaps a little too deep for most others.
By David Hughes

View images from this event here

Media images available on request to info@kasstzam.com
Photo credit: www.kasstzam.com
Images not for unauthorised distribution/copying
All rights reserved. © 2007 kazam media ltd

Barry Norman at The Daphne du Maurier Festival

Immortalised by the impressionists quoting the catchphrase "and why not" which also happens to be the title of his latest literary offering, Barry Norman is as familiar to most of us as our own lounge.
That is not to say that we are necessarily familiar with Barry as the person in his own right but more his laid back individual style of delivering his opinions as a film critic.
It was therefore with great delight and true captivation that spending one and one half hours in his company where he revealed some of his own favourite movies liberally sprinkled with little known facts behind some of them (can you imagine James Cagney being cast in the role of Robin Hood which Clark Gable played) was great fun and far more entertaining than many of the movies mentioned.
Barry Norman was no different chatting and answering questions than he appeared on the small screen during his thirty years as a critic on the BBC.
Comforting to discover that some people really are as genuine and nice as they appear to be on screen - and why not.

By David Hughes

View images from this event here

Media images available on request to info@kasstzam.com
Photo credit: www.kasstzam.com
Images not for unauthorised distribution/copying
All rights reserved. © 2007 kazam media ltd

Suzi Quatro at The Daphne du Maurier Festival

For those of us who are at a "certain age" and have happy memories of strutting our stuff as teenagers in discos of the early and mid 1970's.
Anticipation was very high given the opportunity to see one of the great icons of "down and dirty" rock n roll namely Ms Suzi Quatro.
Tinged with slight concern that after the passing of some thirty odd years which have left us all with a little less hair and considerably less energy I was overjoyed at the start of the concert to discover that the years have been extremely kind to Suzi Q in looks and that she is still just as raunchy and sexy at 57 in her black leather.
What followed musically for the next two hours was equally pleasing as Suzi delighted a packed marquee with firstly a good selection from her new album entitled "Back to the drive" followed by all of her classic early tracks. Vocally Suzi has lost very little of her talent and hearing songs like "can the can" and "Devilgate Drive" showed she can still pretty much belt them out as she did in her heyday.
Most impressively her ability to still cavort around the stage with equal energy and agility as she did thirty years ago would put many current young artists to shame.
Over all this was a thoroughly enjoyable evening, an excellent concert containing just the right mix of real gritty nostalgia coupled with a showcase of her still considerable talent in writing and performing superbly crafted new material.
If you get the chance to see Suzi in concert - make the effort for it will surely be well worth it.

By David Hughes

View images from this event here

Media images available on request to info@kasstzam.com
Photo credit: www.kasstzam.com
Images not for unauthorised distribution/copying
All rights reserved. © 2007 kazam media ltd

Ken Russell and Humphrey Burton at The Daphne du Maurier Festival

Ken Russell joined Humphrey Burton on stage to discuss how they met, became friends, their careers but ultimately the work of Ken Russell.
Ken talked about his very first interview with Huw Wheldon at Monitor. Ken explains, “I shot a film about a young Catholic girl who was in a nativity play and she naughtily takes home her angel wings to show her mother. Her naughty brother ends up breaking them so she then has to scour the streets of London to find new ones and being a good Catholic girl, she does so.”
After the showing of the film Huw Wheldon uttered that it looked like it had been shot on toilet paper but you've got the job.
Ken went on to make his first professional film "John Betjeman - A Poet in London". This was a visualisation of John Betjeman's poems.
Throughout the morning clips were shown from both the 1961 film Prokofiev, Ken Russell's portrait of the Great Russian composer, and the remarkable and imaginative portrait of the composer Elgar in 1962.
During the discussion Ken and Humphrey were both witty and amusing which greatly delighted the audience. Ken shared with the audience the story of when he cast Oliver Reed and Alan Bates for the 1969 film “Women In Love”.
At first they were reluctant to do the infamous nude wrestling scene but after a night at the pub, a few drinks and a joint trip to the gents, while standing waiting for nature to take its course one looked to their left the other to their right, they suddenly realised that there was nothing in it and they had nothing to be concerned about. This had the audience in fits of laughter.

At the end of the discussion, the audience were invited to ask questions and also to meet Ken and Humphrey. Enthusiasts were thrilled with their morning of recollections and memories from Ken and Humphreys early years.

By Deborah Brennan

View images from this event here

Media images available on request to info@kasstzam.com
Photo credit: www.kasstzam.com
Images not for unauthorised distribution/copying
All rights reserved. © 2007 kazam media ltd

Daphne du Mauriers Children at The Festival

To mark the Centenary of the birth of Daphne du Maurier, her three children Lady Tessa Montgomery, Lady Flavia Leng and Christian “Kits” Browning, came together on stage for the first time ever to recount their memories and discuss what it was like to grow up with a mother who was one of the most successful authors in the country.
Helen Taylor, author of The Daphne du Maurier Companion, joined them on stage to lead the discussion.
Every seat in The du Maurier Theatre had been filled with admirers who had travelled from all over the World to have the opportunity to hear first hand about the life of one of Britain's most popular novelists.
Helen began the discussion by asking the three children “What would your mother think of you being here together on stage at a festival, talking about her?”
Lady Tessa felt that she would be highly amused; Lady Flavia playfully said “payback time” and son Kits Browning thought she would have seen it as “get them out there working”.
When asked if she would have been pleased with the festival, Lady Flavia replied that she would have been truly gratified.
The audience were treated to an afternoon of family stories, their relationships with their mother, how they felt about her work and what influences did it have on them and their own lives.
Helen asked “If your mother were sitting here today on her 100th birthday, what would she think of The Daphne du Maurier Festival?”
All three children felt that Daphne would have been thrilled and very happy with the festival. She would have given a big thank you to everyone here today and also to all who appreciate her.
Helen Taylor gratefully thanked Lady Tessa, Lady Flavia and Kits for joining the panel with her and for sharing some wonderful memories and ended with wishing Daphne du Maurier a happy 100th Birthday!
Many, if not all who attended “The Children’s View” found it to be a truly unique and memorable occasion.

By Deborah Brennan

View images from this event here

Media images available on request to mailto://info@kasstzam.com
Photo credit: www.kasstzam.com
Images not for unauthorised distribution/copying
All rights reserved. © 2007 kazam media ltd

Nina Auerbach at The Daphne Du Maurier Festival

Nina Auerback who is the author of the acclaimed biography “Daphne du Maurier - Haunted Heiress” talked about her book and her view of Daphne du Maurier with Helen Taylor, author of “The Daphne du Maurier Companion”.
Nina described finding more and more books that she’d never heard of by Daphne du Maurier “Was like eating mashed potatoes, so many Daphnes, it was wonderful”.
She described Daphnes work as compelling, haunting, weird, wonderful, great suavity, insightful and insane.
The audience had the opportunity to ask Nina questions and her opinions on the subject of Daphnes work and other work that Nina had achieved.
Daphne du Mauriers eldest daughter Lady Tessa Montgomery, who was in the audience, was introduced to Nina at the end of the discussion.
Lady Tessa found Nina’s discussion very interesting, learning things she had never known.

By Deborah Brennan

View images from this event here

Media images available on request to info@kasstzam.com
Photo credit: www.kasstzam.com
Images not for unauthorised distribution/copying
All rights reserved. © 2007 kazam media ltd

Marcus Brigstocke at The Daphne du Maurier Festival

Marcus Brigstocke stand-up comic, host of BBC 4's The Late Edition, writer, presenter, actor, Radio 4 regular and father of two delivered this extremely enjoyable and hilarious evening in his usual satirical style covering topics from Tony Blaire stepping down to Cornish/Devon cream teas and hilarious annotations of Fowey Town itself.
The audience were brilliantly entertained as Marcus selected stories from several daily newspapers and proceeded to humorously demolish their content.
Marcus was a comical delight from start to finish.

By Deborah Brennan

Charlie Dimmock at The Daphne du Maurier Festival

The indomitable enthusiasm for gardening and the classic Charlie Dimmock infectious giggles were both present in abundance during a very enjoyable two hours in her company with BBC Radio Cornwall's Tim Hubbard.
Conducted in a relaxed style which was something akin to a cross between "an audience with" and a chat show interview, Charlie easily slid through numerous anecdotes of her time with "Ground Force" and before along with "Charlies Garden Army".
The audience were treated to out-take clips from her various television shows which did not make the final broadcast!
After a short interval and more recounting of various events Charlie spent some time answering gardening and other questions asked by members of the audience and concluded a pleasant and entertaining two hours.
Overheard in the queue for the coffee was a comment between two elderly ladies who observed how natural and relaxed Charlie Dimmock was even down to the way she dressed which really summed up the event.
By David Hughes


View images from this event here

Media images available on request to info@kasstzam.com
Photo credit: www.kasstzam.com
Images not for unauthorised distribution/copying
All rights reserved. © 2007 kazam media ltd

Alex Higgins Vs Jimmy White

Snooker legends Alex Higgins & Jimmy White appeared in Cornwall together to give fans a memorable evening.
The audience was packed full of fans of all ages who cheered & clapped this great exhibition.

Local players enjoyed every minute against their snooker heroes.
Some of the frames may have lasted only minutes but everyone was happy just to be at the table with the legends.

Both Alex and Jimmy posed for photographs and signed autographs making it a perfect end to the evening.
By Deborah Brennan

View images from this event here

Media images available on request to info@kasstzam.com
Photo credit: www.kasstzam.com
Images not for unauthorised distribution/copying
All rights reserved. © 2007 kazam media ltd

Thursday 10 May 2007

Nick Carter Cricket Memorial


Members of St Blazey Cricket Club paid tribute to the late Nick Carter at their first match of the season on Saturday.This year, which would have been Nick Carter's 40th season, also marks the centenary of the club joining the Cornwall Cricket League.


Spokesman Darren Kirwan said: "Nick was a main stalwart of the club. As well as being an outstanding player, he devoted countless hours on the ground, providing the club with what is regarded as one of the best playing surfaces in the county.

"Nick was also very generous financially, and whilst the word 'irreplaceable' is often used glibly, with Nick it is very true.

"The club are determined, as he would have expected, to continue to maintain facilities to the standards he set."

Members of the club have planted a tree at the ground in tribute to Nick.

They are also asking local businesses to support the club in their centenary year by buying advertising space around the ground.

Darren said: "With increased costs, we are asking businesses to help and hope they will support us.

"Over the hundred years much has changed.

"We have had three different grounds in this time, firstly at Kilhallon, then to what is now St Blazey football field - where Ken Crowle once hit six sixes in one over - and at our current ground at Middleway where we have been resident since 1967."

Saturday's match was very close, but good news for St Blazey's centenary year.

The team played St Austell's second team and won by two runs.

View images from this event here

Media images available on request to info@kasstzam.com
Photo credit: www.kasstzam.com
Images not for unauthorised distribution/copying
All rights reserved. © 2007 kazam media ltd