Home of Shaun Villiers Everett

July 19, 2015

RSPB Wallasea Island Reserve: Update Two

River Crouch from Wallasea Island

I checked out Wallasea Island last week to see how the new extentions to the land were progressing. It’s going to become as wonderful wildlife reserve once all the construction traffic has been removed. I think they are there till 2019, so don’t hold your breath! However, it is still a nice country, or rather sea wall walk, with some fine views. Birds are scarce where the paths are as they are close to the construction traffic. I did see a few waders and possibly some Avocets on the far bank of one of the new lgoons being constructed.

Getting to it is not easy. It’s not signposted until you see ‘Wallasea Island’ some way north of Rochford. The reserve is about 9 miles north of Southend on Sea and 12 miles south of Chelmsford. Best approach from the north is via the A130 and the bridge over the River Crouch at Battlesbridge.

During the winter I suspect there is a good chance of flooding on the approach road. The facilities consist of a shelter, one of the latest eco-shelters. (See photo below). That’s it and the car park is small right now, enough for about twenty cars or so.

More information can be found here

July 16, 2015

RSPB Wallasea Island

Went to Wallasea Island in South Essex today. I will report on the changes at RSPB soon, but here’s a single picture from one of the local creeks.

Wallasea Island, Essex, Shaun Villiers-Everett July 2015

July 13, 2015

What’s Up? From Welling Riots to Scoping!

Absolutely nothing really, it’s just I haven’t been on here in over a year! Time flies so fast, blink and I missed it! I’ve nearly finished an MA dissertation and that has kept me busy for the last three months, but there’s no excuse really, you can always find time to write something.

I’ve discovered Periscope and it has distracted me from my tasks of recent days. I’m wondering where it is all going. Is this the REAL death of photography, not the death I write about in academia. I don’t think so, I believe the lens is as powerful (pun intended) as it was in the days of Hine documentary photographs or the Farm Administration photographers in the 1930s USA. In fact, I’ll go so far as to say it is more powerful, more politically charged right now than at any time in the last 150 years of the photograph’s existence. It just needs manipulation that’s all. Rant over.

I should finish with a photograph I suspect.

I’ve often wondered ‘who is this old soldier?’

This was the Welling riots of late 1993, when the ANL marched on the BNP, then headquartered in Welling, South London. The police, determined to prevent that happening, stopped them in their tracks about 500 metres from their target. It was never going to happen though, the police lines were so rigid and well defended. Several horse charges later and this is what happens in such chaos. All of a sudden from the midst of chaos came this old gent, resolute and determined to have his say. Holocaust survivor maybe? WWI veteran possibly, but I never saw him again that day to ask him his story. But, his story is every reasonably minded citizen’s story isn’t it? The evil of BNP may have left Welling shortly afterwards, but their doctrine never changed. A broken force in 2015 maybe, but another will emerge from the darkness one day to spout the same racist evil, be assured of that.

Do photos have an indexical reality still? Yes, of course they do, you just need to know how to say it, how to read it and how to broadcast it. Periscope has the hallmarks of a powerful tool for the future, let’s see how it pans out (pun intended again!) and let’s not ruin it this time with some art junkie trying to make money for nothing.

January 14, 2013

The Largest Structure Ever Observed in the Universe

Reported this month is the discovery of the largest ‘structure’ in the universe.

This gives further support to HD’s hypothesis that the universe has a large central body – Infinite Black Body Universe (IBBU). This comes just a month or so after the publication of the largest black hole discovery. HD is feeling quite smug right this minute.

Read the report

November 29, 2012

‘Largest Black Hole Discovered’ could be best proof of IBBU Universe Hypothesis

The journal Nature has recently reported the discovery of the largest black hole in the universe according to the Independant newspaper. This is excellent news for HD’s hypothesis that it is an infinite black body universe (IBBU)

The apparent fact that black holes can be so large (in this case is more than 11 times wider than the orbit of Neptune, the eighth planet in the Solar System) gives credence to the theory of the existence of a central body with similar properties to black holes, which I postulated in a post on Jul 29, 2011.

So-called sightings of black holes are inferred by their ability to prevent light from escaping their interior in the same way that the IBBU hypothesis allows for an infinite black body mass at the heart of the universe. This one may in fact be the IBBU recorded in a particular state and not just an echo of itself, as I prefer to refer to the appearance of other black holes across the whole universe. More work needs completing on this observation to determine whether it is in an expanding or contracting phase. Finding evidence that the so-called black hole works independently of the galaxy in which it is supposed to reside, will be further evidence of the existence of the Infinite Black Body Universe.

October 7, 2012

More Photos: Anti-Bosnian War Protest, Trafalgar Square, circa 1994

With the extradition of Abu Hamza and four others to the USA for prosecution for alleged terrorist acts, maybe a really bad era for Britain has finally come to an end. It also reminded me of my first experience of Islam in action, so to speak. It was at a Balkans War demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London.

This era was not the finest hours for Western governments given their inability to prevent the slaughter of innocent men, women and children across the Balkans during the early 1990s.

Anyway during the demonstration several of the Muslims started praying. Not something Trafalgar Square had witnessed before I thought. So I started snapping the proceedings.

Maybe Abu Hamza was amongst the demonstrators? His poison certainly spread rapidly during the 1990s Whatever the case, Britain was about to experience some violent and poisonous times culminating in despicable terrorist acts on the streets of London. Hard to believe looking at these peaceful proceedings.

All Photographs circa 1994, during a demonstration against the Balkan war. Copyright the author. Ilford HP4

September 30, 2012

Back to My Pics! Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex

I snapped this river dwelling on the river Crouch at Burnham in Essex on the weekend of the local regatta (Burnham Week). The regatta was almost cancelled completely due to high winds and storms. You can see how much more dramatic it makes a monochrome (sepia) print. Taken on Ilford HP5 film due to the overcast skies and fast moving clouds.

Burnham on Crouch, River Crouch, Burnham Week, 1994, River Dwelling. Copyright the author 1994. Ilford HP5

September 27, 2012

New Page Added: Nazi Looted Art – recently added Dorotheum Auction Catalogues 1942 -43

Recent Digitized Dorotheum Art Sales between 1942 – 1943

The tracing of Nazi looted art should now be much easier with the onset of digital technology. Several institutions have collected together some of the data that has been made available over the last half century or so. Part of this data involves the digitisation of auction catalogues from places such as Austria both before and during the second world war.

This is how the Central Registry of Information on Looted Property 1933 – 1945 describes the project:

‘…As part of the international project “German Sales 1930-1945. Art Works, Art Markets, and Cultural Policy” auction catalogues from Germany, Switzerland and Austria published between 1930 and 1945 are being identified, which are an essential source of information on the German art market during the Third Reich and for provenance research. The project will enable museums worldwide to clarify doubtful provenances and families to identify the sales of their artworks, and will lead to a greater understanding of the dynamics of the art market during the Third Reich.

The three partners in the project are the Getty Research Institute, the Kunstbibliothek—Staatliche Museen zu Berlin,the Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg and the Forschungsstelle “Entartete Kunst” at the Universität Hamburg.

The Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg has already digitised a large number of catalogues, including some from the Netherlands and France, and some of these catalogues are annotated. For a list of auction houses whose catalogues are now available online, click here. To search by artist and work of art, click here.

The resulting integrated database of these auction records will eventually form part of the Getty Provenance Index®. For further information from the Getty, click here. For detailed information about the project, available on the portal arthistoricum,net, click here.

The following files were produced over a period of 15 months from photocopied source material. They are made available for research and they can be reproduced on other web sites without permission. The more data available on the internet without restriction should be encouraged.

Although one or two catalogues may be available elsewhere, I have added the four pdf files of art auctions from the Austrian auction house Dorotheum, which were commanded by the Third Reich to sell looted art over an extended period between 1933 and 1945.

Catalogues available (one with plates of some lots)

February 10th -12th 1942 click here to read

February 24th – 27th 1942 click here to read (be patient, this is a large file with photographs)

March 10th – 12th 1942 click here to read

February 16th – 19th 1943 click here to read

September 10, 2012

London2012: The Greatest Show on Earth Leaves Town: No Glittering Prizes for Legacy

As a self-proclaimed expert on traveling showmen (it’s in the genes and researchers at the BBC agree anyway), I have always been amused at the use of The Greatest Show on Earth being now assigned to the Olympic Games. True it is a big show, but is it really like the traveling circus that comes to town puts down a foot print and then leaves town again not to be seen for at least another year? Well yes it is and as the traditional traveling circus has declined over the second half of the twentieth century, that mantle had definitely transferred to the Olympics with its expensive and brash, desirable global appeal.
There are numerous similarities between the Olympics and a good old fashioned traveling circus or menagerie from the nineteenth century, the hey days of traveling shows, and some of the parallels you are bound to consider controversial.
When a traveling menagerie went on the road they would send agents to the prospective town to promote the show, sell tickets, clear things with the local authorities, etc. The Olympics are the same with their bid processes, forward selling of tickets and so on.
Each show had its stars like the Lion Kings and Queens. London2012 had its Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis, king and queen in their own right.
Once the circus or menagerie ‘hit’ town they laid on a street parade showing off all the performers and animals in the show. London2012 had its torch relay and opening ceremonies. Need I say more?
As well as the performers the circus had its ring master and its clown too. London2012 had Lord Coe and Boris Johnson respectively! (although I’m more in favour of Eddie Izzard as its clown. At least he makes me laugh, Boris just makes me cringe). Ring masters do very little in reality so its quite a good analogy I think. They just have to be in the right place at the right time. However, when they change their clothes to become the tight rope walker then the audience sit up and take notice at their bravado. Whether Lord Coe would ever get that far out of his comfort zone is still an open question.
So there are many similarities and it is not really surprising given how cultural Britain has developed over the last three hundred years or so. Where once we had lion tamers we now have gold medal winning athletes like Bradley Wiggins pushing the boundaries in their own way.
From the seventeenth to the nineteenth century there was a rise in popularity of the novelty act which were generally given that task of shocking the audience into coming along and seeing for themselves what the handbills would often claim as the ‘only one in the world’, ‘brought up in the jungle’ and so forth. The freak show gained momentum through the nineteenth century with so-called ‘acts’ like The Elephant Man Chaffer’s Midget Revue, Lionel, the Lion Man and so on. By now you should know where this is going and you should be quite annoyed. The Olympics has its Paralympics when some less able bodied athletes push themselves to obtain that medal and the accompanying acclaim.
Now I’m not suggesting the Paralympians are freaks. Heavens no! What concerns me is the success they have had at London2012 now puts them in a vulnerable position. What might to some seem a good way to prove their worth and to be included, might just do the opposite given the draw Paralypians have had on the paying public. Performing to packed houses and crowded streets they innocently showed their worth.

What was the real draw that filled the Olympic stadium at Paralympic time? I hope it was the anticipation of witnessing some excellent athletics and other sporting action. I just wonder if it might turn out, especially in countries not as tolerant as the UK, to become another wave of nineteenth century fascination with disability. One bad sign is the use of the term Blade Runner to describe the South African athlete Oscar Pistorius. Why refer to him as such if it is not to promote his disability and not his prowess as an athlete? Time will tell.
That just leaves the wind down or the taking down of the big top when the time comes to leave town and go and seek fame and fortune elsewhere and so do it all again. Well Brazil is the Copyright the author 2012destination and they know what they have got to do. The big top comes down and by the next morning all that is left of the menagerie or circus is the flattened grass. As a kid I always liked the day after the local fair had left town. It was time to scan the ground for those lost coins that never made it into the hands of the showman. It was always quite lucrative and paid for many a jamboree bag!
What of the footprint left behind by the Olympic Games as it up sticks and leaves the host town to its own devices? Never fear for the Olympic organizers, they are already negotiating out of their huge coffers the next one and the ones after that. Their ‘agents’ are hard at work as I type, but what of the ‘flattened grass’ of London2012 though?
The challenge is to see that the legacy does not just end up with a few clever clogs like me searching the field for their equivalent of my ‘few coins’ and then moving on to the next venture. There are no glittering prizes for legacy though as all the Olympic Games hosts have found to their cost. London2012 WILL BE NO DIFFERENT is my best guess. Yes there will be bravado and jobs for some like Coe, already given the nod at the legacy company. The site(s) will decay over the years. The venues that are not pulled down for scrap will struggle for survival and so on. The canal walk will become yet anther drug dealers paradise. You may not agree with my pessimism and why should you. You expect everyone to pull together just like they did at games time. The party is over though, the crowd had disappeared and the circus has left town and London2012 is to be confined to history. Again time will tell if I am wrong or right.

August 13, 2012

London2012: Over-Thanking the Gamesmakers

In a spontaneous outburst from the audience at the Closing Ceremony of the London Games on Sunday, the Gamesmakers were recognized for their efforts. This I found embarrassing to say the least given I for my part did very little to deserve such an accolade. A thanks would have been enough. I’ll still volunteer in the future whatever the outcome of London2012.

As a way to balance things up I have published below some of the various comments I read on Twitter. Some are funny, some are not so funny, but most importantly they are all honest opinions. Make of them what you will. My own lasting impression of ‘Gamesmaking’ is that there were too many, the roles were ill-defined, sponsors were manic and over-zealous and that Lord Coe, Boris Johnson and LOCOG are the absolute masters of the bullshit!

I am one of the volunteer, and so far I can see why so many people have not even been contacted. There’s way too many of us and I think the whole thing has been slightly mismanaged. Did my 7th shift today, so 70 hours in total so far and I’ve been busy for 1 hour. What a huge waste of time and resources. Considering I also took UNPAID time off work, just to waste my time, you can see why I’m considering abandoning the whole thing… I thought it would have been a nice experience but so far it’s just been seriously frustrating.

Had a fantastic day volunteering today, just a shame the workforce canteen ran out of sandwiches and the majority of the hot food before all the volunteers got their lunch

Why moan on Facebook if you are unhappy with your role? Get some initiative and go and ask for something to do, feed back where it’s not working, instead of sitting on your backside being miserable. So many people didn’t get the chance to be a games maker. Use the opportunity. Had a great day volunteering at the road race today. Exhausted but looking forward to doing it all again tomorrow

ask any of my team (T2 drivers), they’ll say the same thing, we’re all bored to death, with nothing to do 90% of our time. I applied for VOLUNTEERING, which means helping out DO SOMETHING for the greater good, not sitting there DOING NOTHING.

you obviously misunderstood me. I didn’t say I don’t want to be part of it. Actually I’m more than happy and proud of being a tiny piece of the jigsaw and last night I was at the Olympic Park and stood outside the stadium for hours till the very end and froze to death (bloody windy and I forgot my jacket). I’m just saying I committed to it cos I wanted to help and I’m dying to do it by actually doing something rather than being asked to check out the car and go for a 10h ride!

7 shifts so far – that’s good going. Respect! I’m a T3 driver and cancelled my 4th shift yesterday. Doing nothing for 10 hours at a time is wearing me down. I call Eton Manor the drivers’ graveyard…

I volunteered for the games and was treated with nothing but contempt as was one of the women I work with. There was no thought as to where you were placed nobody I spoke to got the venue they asked for. When you got through to the volunteer help line it was manned by kids who had absolutely no respect for the people they were talking to. This is definitely NOT the British Olympics.

Packing my own tea bags and food for #Olympics2012 shift tonight. Everything else great but catering for #Gamesmakers missable

The cheek of #GamesMakers! I’m the only unpaid member in my team today, we’re all instructed to tell the public we’re volunteers

no one is pretending to be Games Makers; paid staff are pretending to be volunteers.

was only doing a few olympic shifts had no clients & felt totally unsuited for role hoping to do something different at paras

It seems I’m not the only young person hugely demotivated and hating the stuff we doing #Olympics

Friend said teenage daughter is being ‘exploited, not fed & expected to travel home alone at 2am

@sebcoe hearing news that food for #gamesmaker volunteers is running out & those spending all day on their feet going hungry. Can you help?

Usually love the v helpful #Gamesmakers but was verbally assaulted by one up at the park today. Gamesmaker? More like painmaker!

apparently games makers to take in extra tops today to look like reg punters in empty seats

It’s ok offering empty seats to games makers.What’s NOT ok is making them wear civvies so the public think empty seat problem is solved.

Make the games makers stand out and name and shame the sporting authorities who waste seats.

#Gamesmakers sitting in seats can wear what want say #london2012 – they were asked if could change out of uniform so emailed that they could

Does anyone know a person who has actually got these “released tickets” or is it all using games makers in civvies?

Seems to be a big problem ensuring GM’s are adequately fed and watered

Dear Games Makers, I get that you’re volunteers but that’s no reason for you to be seriously useless & know absolutely nothing.

Disgraceful attitude of “Show and Security Staff” at St Panc really highlights the fantastic Games Makers and Service Personnel.

Today I have put 6 cable ties on barriers!

It’s awesome! But I’ve been here since 6 and Games Makers don’t get to sit down…

ah mate, all them games makers are jarring me u’d think they were usain bolt the way they go on lol

After a week of seeing this happen I’ve got to ask: what’s up with ‘Games Makers’ and other official types using priority seats on the tube?

All the #GamesMakers on the First Great Western 01:00 train from Paddington have been upgraded to first class!

Early shift and check-in has run out of coffee!!!! THIS IS A DISASTER OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS!! #gamesmakers

BREAKING OLYMPIC NEWS – Several high profile pre-Olympic cynics have now tested positive. #London2012 #TeamGB

meant to have a 6 hour shift, after an hour and 10 mins they give me a ticket to the football and say watch it then go if you want

In the aquatics centre for free in £95 seats

the #gamesmaker helpline has utterly failed to provide reasonable adjustments we discussed. Now challenging & causing a fuss 🙁

disappointing from a #gamesmaker T3 drivers perspective. Hardly any passengers, sitting around for hours, terrible food, sad 🙁

LOCOG admits to taking on too many Games Makers for #London2012. Fortunately for them all 70,000 volunteers are unpaid!

Well, it turns out tonight was my last #gamesmaker shift -no-one required tomorrow afternoon. It has been brilliant. Rarely laughed so much

Games Makers are essentially like rats- wherever you go in London during the Olympics you’re never more than 5ft away from one

“No taking photographs on the stairs,” says a second Games Maker, “No walking on the stairs, no breathing on the stairs.”

Ticket office at #olympic park: there’s no tickets spare at all for today. Crowd of Games makers on way to sit in empty seats at handball.

Games Makers seem to think they are better than paid staff. They keep sending spectators to us for issues they should be dealing with.

Back at the Park – big crowds, games makers not quite so perky – a little fatigued I guess.

BMW, YC12 RSK, call sign R395, driver breaking no-smoking rules. Please investigate. People assume ALL #gamesmakers are like this

T3 driver shift. Lasted 45 mins as no work so sent home. What a disappointing experience it’s been 🙁

#Atos sending round security notices at work about wearing Olympic lanyards in public.Been in town 10 mins and seen hundreds! #gamesmakers

Last #gamesmaker shift as they’re over-volunteered for the weekend!

My last two #GamesMaker shifts have been cancelled. Literally distraught!

Slightly jealous of the great stories. It’s been very quiet for the car service. We’re the Radio 3 of #gamesmakers

THe Games maker with a giant megaphone ‘God, the French, we really can’t stand them. Losers’ (cheers)

The volunteer unpaid #gamesmakers at #London2012 were trained and supervised by full time paid professionals.

I don’t understand the media banging on about the voluntary Games Makers “making the games,” being friendly etc- they all looked so bored!

I think the Games Makers are getting a bit demob happy. One of them called me ‘a windowlicker’ yesterday. I was being dim but still…

Gamesmaker interviewed on Sky News, just admitted to getting entry to 5 events for nothing.

very sad we didn’t get to see athletics or cycling. Park was awesome but games makers outnumbered people. Lots of empty seats in waterpolo.

The Victoria Gate is now closed. There are no Games Makers, only a lot of lost Closing Ceremony spectators facing a long unsigned detour.

Just saw a games maker give commemorative baton to a kid on tube who obv excited about Olympics.

Our PM insults #gamesmaker “purple tracksuits” condescending git!!

Just tapped my #gamesmaker oyster card at Stratford. It said ‘soon expires’ 🙁

my parents moved my house while I’ve been a games maker!

Just walked into my local pub wearing my #gamesmaker uniform and got the biggest cheer and applause.

RT if you think the Olympic stadium should be filled with #Gamesmakers tonight and not businessmen and rich sponsors

maybe we all need to learn a new trick about being together as part of legacy. Thnks for ur personal contribution

Word on the #Gamesmaker street is that Sue Barker in real life is an absolute bitch.

Dammit. Trevor. Effing. Nelson. How did he get through security at the Olympic park? Couldn’t a #gamesmaker have dealt with him?

Despite popular belief not every games maker was a volunteer. I got paid to do what they did for free. LOL. LOLLANDAISE SAUCE, ROFL, ETC

Being a Games Maker has been one of the best things I’ve ever done

Hope none of the athletes end up in a dreadful East London hipster bar. Get a four pack from Londis and sit by the canal.

I hope every single Games Maker gets a lighty-up-bowler-hat to keep for ever.