Still Alive

Christ, over a year since I watched Blues get slaughtered by Liverpool. I was right, we did go down to the minnows league but , astoundingly we're back in the Premiership so I'll be able to watch the boys get hammered by Liverpool and Man Utd and get a scoreless draw against Everton.... never seen em at Man City, although results there seem to swing wildly from 3-0 wins to 6-1 demolitions, yes thank you Brian, no doubt you'll give me the results run down when next we meet.
Bye for now

Liverpool 7 Birmingham City 0

I really do like this place, been up in scouseland for 20 years. European cup night was fantastic. Liverpool city centre was (apart from at the game) the best place on earth to be. Although Brummie(accent long gone) I do have a soft spot for the Reds and the Toffees and hate Man Utd - just like anybody else. But this week was a tough one, I was expecting a fighting, honourable defeat but praying for miracle victory. What did I get....a kick in the balls.....My team were so embarrassing I just kept quiet and slopped off from the pub, Christ we were 2-0 down before I got served at the bar.
It will get worse as I've been invited to Man Utd for the continuing annhialation of my team....tomorrow! I just pray for a miracle.......please give me some hope...next Chelsea. I think it's not going to happen, no great escape this year, we look bloody awful, run up the white flag.
I give in......7-0 for fucks sake!

Where are the UK Architects?

Well I've been a blogging crap for a few months, thrown a few incenderies in and not one bite. Checked the blogs for uk architects and found only 'Septics'.......Where are you all, I at least expected a couple of insults or are you all so fucking dull that you can't be arsed to respond to a self centred bloody know all like me. I'm really just an easy going laid back wanker interested in comments from my contemporaries to see if any of you have a spark.... Not the usual supercilious smug twatty comments that I usually read (often by failed architects turned journo's or lecturers) espousing their particular philosophy but real architects out there in the field.
If anyone knows of any Oxford poly veterans from '77, Paul Johnson, Theresa Thomas, Col Campbell, point em in my direction as I'd like to say hi and see how they're getting on. Paul O Connor and Mike Roberts didn't get there in the end but I'm pretty certain they are happy with where they are now, Rob Parry succeeded but worked for local authority last I heard. No idea about the rest..Bucherest Banana Benders, one million years ago!
Cheers all
Daveriba

Pompous Architects

What I don't understand is that we all come through a course, we learn to use our eyes and imagination, learn about people as they are all, ultimately our clients..all types, homeowners, office/factory workers, schoolkids, teachers, financiers, sportsmen/women etc etc. We see fashion and absorb it, new construction techniques.. old construction techniques, social change,different cultures and values...a million things. We all share an enthusiasm for design and want to do our bit to improve and sustain a healthy and interesting/stimulating environment.
It is universally acknowledged as a really cool job.......yet why are so many of them such a bunch of self centered arseholes who seem to completely ignore logic, finance, other peoples opinions in order to promote their own ego and feel good about it.
I read in the BD last week a couple of letters about Margate's new art gallery and the competion shambles that had emerged, one guy referred to it as a "scruffy little town"

......I presume he formed his opinion from reading the Torygraph or even the Daily Snail and another was winging about the eventual winners fudging as they had opted for a site outside the competion parameters........it's a way to get noticed and raise the profile of your entry dumbo.

Mind you, although I can't remember the exact figures but the initial budget had been exceeded by several million, around 30% extra. Now if I did that to a client I'd be shot.. and then fired. How could the architects be that far off the mark? Not very professional there guys.

Finally if we are all brought up on cutting edge design, why do so many of them dress in dull clothes, I just don't get it.

We I'll keep plugging away to get us a decent reputation as innovative, open minded and realistic construction professionals, I could do with a bit of help from the rest of you though.

Indemnity Insurance Panic

First off, apologees for excessive use of the word 'fuck', fucking 'etc in previous blog. I was just a bit fucked off that day.
Right, now I've read in the BD about young architects who think the P.I. is this massive financial burden that is massively expensive and just like herpes ... for life.
Well the latter part is correct, but the cost ain't that bad. I started out a couple of years ago and was surprised at the costs. I applied through BD's websiteand the cheapest was £1400 for £1million cover. Considering the statuatary min' is £250,000 cover. A quote for £2000 allowed me to pay monthly, however I opted for the £1400 lump some, done n' dusted. This year my premium went down to £750 (still got me no claims bonus!) So all in all, not bad really.

When I was a youff architect, I always clung on to the fact that, although salaried architects wages were crap, I would one day get rich through the fat cat fees that I saw being charged out for us minions. I was definately a hope to hang on through the bad times...... Which reminds me 1990..........thanks for that one Margaret, suddenly add VAT on to new build, then raise interest rates to such a level that developers made more money by leaving it in the bank then investing in property. I don't ever remember seeing figures indicating how much additional revenue was generated by the new VAT, or was it because the the million or so, dumped out of the construction industry and onto the dole created a negative wealth gain, as Donald Rumsfield would say. So Margaret, good job, well done, after all the industry was riddled with unions and people who thought Ronald Reagan was an idiot..........you fuckwit!
Talking of which reminds me of old Charlie boy's fab 'Carbuncle' speech that shook up the architectural establishment so much that we now have Venturi's stapled on pastiche to the gallery and of course, the cutting edge design that is omnipresent at Poundbury.Oh , and lest we forget that fellow Adam, who thinks himself existing in a Jane Austen novel spouting his Ludite thoughts. And of course we mustn't forget the biggest impact Charlie's speech had which was the virtual demolition of Ahrends Burton Korrelec (No idea how to spell that last bit)I may be wrong but I seem to remember hundreds of staff being laid off as clients dropped ABK in the wake of the speech. All so Charlie could have his say over this awful modern stuff that keeps sprouting up. All very well for u mate but wot about us daaanstairs (last sentence to be read out loud in a Dick Van Dyke cockney accent). Nice one......fuckwit.
Well that's me done now as I've lost interest in writing for today.
Ciao PoffA

Why bother!

7 years of training - 15 years experiance in the game and still fucking poor, still dealing with fucking idiots all day long still working 27 hours a day and get questionned over fees. Christ, would you question your accountant or solicitor over fees? Course not!!
And what short fucking memories the clients have. You make them a marketable investment, they make a healthy profit on their investment and you have to doff your cap to get any money out of em. Then they fuck off and leave you with empty promises.
I really fucking hate bullshitters. I've made millions for clients and Practices - why is that? Cos I'm fucking stupid
Well you can all just Fuck off as my dear old gran used to say

christ how do you send this stuff......confused 

You should see the rest!!!!!Ugly but happy 

Theonly half decent photo in the universe