Author Archives: Catherine Balavage

EX-MINING TOWN PIONEERS ‘CROWD FUNDING’ MOVEMENT

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EX-MINING TOWN PIONEERS ‘CROWD FUNDING’ MOVEMENT ALLOWING COMMUNITIES TO TAKE PLANNING PUBLIC SPACE INTO THEIR OWN HANDS

I really love this story, it shows what can happen if you but your mind to it.

Stephen Fry, Martha Lane Fox, Wales’ rugby heroes and firms including Admiral, Asda, Tesco and Deloitte have all helped to pioneer a new online hub allowing communities to fund public developments that have suffered following a halving of council spending.

The ex-mining town of Glyncoch, South Wales, has become the unlikely pioneer of a “crowd-funding” movement that harnesses private funding for community building projects.

After spending seven years chasing state cash for a much-needed £792,000 community centre, residents turned to Spacehive.com, an award-winning new initiative, to reverse their fortunes.

With tens of thousands still to raise before their grants expired, the town appealed to local families, celebrities and businesses to fill the void. Using Spacehive.com as an online hub for donations, the town was able to garner support from an unlikely array of places.

The site works by allowing anyone with an idea to pitch it online and, once it’s been certified by the Spacehive.com if it achieves the necessary funding, it can go ahead and get built.

Their success this week, after Tesco contributed the final £12,000, raised hopes that Spacehive’s model could help revive hundreds more community building projects hit by the economic downturn.

State spending on such projects, from sports facilities to parks and playgrounds, is estimated to have halved from a pre-recession average of £500m a year, according to the British Property Federation.

Glyncoch’s campaign was boosted by comedian Stephen Fry who asked his four million Twitter followers to each donate “the cost of a cucumber sandwich”, Matha Lane-Fox, the government’s “digital champion” and co-founder of Lastminute.com, and Welsh comic Griff Rhys Jones, who urged supporters to: “help Glyncoch win.”

Fresh from their Six Nations triumph, the Welsh rugby team also encouraged people to dig deep. Yesterday Captain Sam Warburton said: “We think what Glyncoch has done is amazing and an inspiration to us all. We’re right behind the community. The regeneration of this town – which has produced so much rugby talent over the years – is another victory for team Wales!”

Corporates including Deloitte, Asda, and Wales and West Utilities quickly added to the pot, alongside local businesses from the coach firm to the golf club. Henry Engelhardt, founder of Admiral Insurance gave £10,000 and Tesco finished the campaign off with a £12,000 donation.

Residents themselves dug deep, raising thousands through street collections, bingo nights and even a sponsored silence by the town chatterbox. Pledges came as far afield as Newfoundland, where a Welsh descendant pledged £100.

As the community celebrated yesterday Deputy Mayor Doug Williams said: “We’re absolutely ecstatic that by summer we’ll see a state-of-the-art centre offering the types of training and education that will kick-start people’s ambitions.

“Glyncoch is a deprived area; people are used to being let down. Now people are thinking ‘we can get out of this rut.’”

Lucy Neville-Rolfe, from the Tesco Charity Trust, the retailer’s charitable arm, said: “This unique project shows just how much communities can achieve when they work together. We’re delighted to help the people of Glyncoch reach their target.”

Spacehive aims to shake up neighbourhood planning by allowing anyone to pitch proposals for community building projects and anyone to pledge funding through Spacehive.com. Funders are only charged if the project goes ahead.

The model, co-designed by Deloitte, means the cost of popular projects can be split between hundreds of individuals, businesses, and councils.

Projects in Spacehive’s pipeline range from new playgrounds to the transformation of a derelict East London dock into a creative hub and marina.

Founder Chris Gourlay said: “Success in Glyncoch, one of the UK’s most deprived towns, really shows the potential power of Spacehive’s model in helping communities to transform where they live.

“This isn’t about privatising planning. The state mustn’t shrink from its responsibilities. It’s just an approach that allows communities cut through the inertia and make popular projects happen. We think town planning should be faster, more people-powered, and more fun.”

Liz Peace, Chief Executive of the British Property Federation, which along with the Royal Institute of British Architects is a supporter of Spacehive, said: “We support the government’s intention to create a planning system that supports economic growth but the reality is nearly £300m of funding for capital public space developments has been lost.

“Enabling the public to take direct action through Spacehive.com could help ensure vital improvements go ahead by channelling funding from companies and individuals.”

The Glyncoch pilot was supported by Nexters, an initiative to boost online giving in the UK, which helped the local community reach corporate backers.

Efforts to regenerate Glyncoch were kicked-off by social action network Your Square Mile a year ago. Paul Twivy, the network’s Chief Executive, said: “To see everyone from local family firms to the country’s biggest retailer coming together to help this entrepreneurial community is heartwarming.”

The First Ever Toxin Free Nail Polishes.

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I am a huge fan of anything that doesn’t have toxins in and is environmentally friendly. I had eczema and asthma as a child. It made me very aware of ingredients and conscious of what I put on my skin, or nails for that matter. Which is why I think the following is a brilliant idea. Why did no-one do this before?

Safe Nails Launches ‘Snails’: First Ever Toxin Free, Water Based, Water Removable Polishes.

Safe Nails ‘Snails’ ‘Simply the Safest’ range of water-based, hypoallergenic child-friendly polishes in the market make international debut at Professional Beauty 2012 Trade Show

Safe & Beautiful Ltd, founded by entrepreneur and mother of two Jeanette Sklivanou, has announced the launch of Snails (Safe Nails), a range of nail polishes suitable for kids and expectant mothers. Hypoallergenic, water-based and solvent-free, Snails polishes are formulated from just three basic ingredients: water, acrylic polymer and non-toxic colourants. Snails polishes do not require any smelly harsh chemical removers – you simply wash with soap and water and the polish will come off without drying or damaging the nail bed.

Snails Collection Formally launching at Professional Beauty 2012, the UK’s largest beauty trade show, on the 4th and 5th March at London’s ExCel, stand Q69, Snails come in a range of 12 fashionable and vibrant colours and give a high gloss, salon quality finish. The products have a light, fresh natural fragrance that smells baby like. The Snails range also includes a topcoat called “breathe easy”. This optional top coat uses oxygen Technology which respects the natural physiology of the nail and adds protection against UV light.

Rated safest polish by the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database, Snails are free of artificial preservatives, solvents and the ‘toxic trio’ of DPB, toluene and formaldehyde; additives commonly found in many traditional polish formulations. Hypoallergenic and removable without the need for harsh solvent-based removers, Snails polishes provides a solution for parents everywhere who are concerned about the potential health implications of chemical based polishes and removers.

Commenting on the motivation for developing Snails, Jeanette Sklivanou said: “As a mother my biggest concern is protecting my children and I was shocked to discover the number of toxins present in many cosmetics. The debate around whether we allow children to grow up too quickly is often discussed in the media but the potential physical danger of close contact with the harsh chemicals used in many of these products is rarely mentioned. For me that is a big issue. I think children should be allowed to express themselves through age appropriate dress up and role play but we have a responsibility as parents to keep them safe.”

Snails has also launched a range for health and environmentally conscious women and which are safe for budding mums-to-be. Available in a range of 3 colours entitled Meditation, Relaxation and Yoga Nidra, the range provides all that is needed for a completely nontoxic manicure and pedicure. Like all the Snails range, the products have a light, fresh natural fragrance that smells baby like.

Snails is a truly pan European product. The range is manufactured in France, packaged in lead free Italian glass bottles and distributed by Jeanette’s company, Safe & Beautiful, which is based in Greece with operations in the UK. Snails meets all regulations set out by the EU protective laws for cosmetics.

Snails are currently available for purchase online at www.safe-nails.com Individual bottles are priced at €7 or £5.95 each, with gift sets starting at €9 or £7.60. International shipping is available. Safe & Beautiful is partnering with department stores, beauty salons and professionals and retailers in the UK and European markets and is actively seeking distributors in those markets to fulfil demand.

Following Professional Beauty 2012 at London’s ExCel, Jeanette will exhibit Snails at Beautyworld Middle East 2012, Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Dubai, UAE, May 29-31.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/snails4kids | Twitter: @Snails4Kids

The Tea Guild’s Top London Afternoon Tea 2012 Awards of Excellence

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The Tea Guild’s Top London Afternoon Tea 2012 Awards of Excellence

LONDON WINS 21 PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

The Tea Guild has bestowed 21 Awards of Excellence in this year’s Top London Afternoon Tea Awards 2012 to leading establishments in the capital. The venues achieving this coveted Tea Guild award for recognition of their consistently exceptional standards of quality and tea service are: Brown’s Hotel; Claridge’s; Four Seasons Hotel Park Lane; Grosvenor House Park Room & Library; Sofitel London St James; The Capital Hotel, The Chesterfield; The Connaught; The Dorchester; The Goring; The InterContinental Park Lane; The Lanesborough; The Langham; The Milestone; Hyatt Regency London The Churchill; The Montague on The Gardens; The Royal Garden Hotel; The Royal Horseguards Hotel; The Savoy; The Ritz and The Wolseley.

Now in their 27th year, the acclaimed Tea Guild Awards of Excellence are seen as the ‘Michelin star’ of all tea awards, with leading tea rooms and world class hotels throughout London competing for the fashionable and renowned honour. Taking afternoon tea is a cherished experience steeped in British tradition and will be particularly popular in the capital this year as the British public and many of this year’s overseas visitors celebrate British traditions with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympic Games.

The Tea Guild’s secret inspectors have assiduously been searching the capital to seek out the finest tea experiences to see who is deserving of an “Award of Excellence” and who should win the Top London Afternoon Tea 2012 Award. As well as judging London’s top tea rooms and hotels, The Tea Guild’s judges have travelled across Britain to find the annual winners of the Top City and Country Hotel Tea Award 2012 and the Top Tea Place 2012 Award. All visits have been anonymous to ensure the results are completely fair and accurate. The anonymous judges awarded points for the variety, flavour and knowledge of the teas offered, together with the quality of food, service, décor, ambience, and presentation. With 125 points to be lost or gained on the judge’s scorecard, only those establishments achieving the very highest standards across a number of categories can make it to the top.

The judges were so impressed with the quality of the afternoon tea served at the following London Establishments that they awarded them high marks in every category: Brown’s Hotel; Claridge’s; Four Seasons Hotel Park Lane; Grosvenor House Park Room & Library; Sofitel London St James; The Capital Hotel, The Chesterfield; The Connaught; The Dorchester; The Goring; The InterContinental Park Lane; The Lanesborough; The Langham; The Milestone; Hyatt Regency London The Churchill; The Montague on The Gardens; The Royal Garden Hotel; The Royal Horseguards Hotel; The Savoy; The Ritz and The Wolseley.

The Tea Guild has now also presented the 2012 award for the Top London Afternoon Tea, which was received by The Athenaeum Hotel in Mayfair. The rest of the Awards are yet to be announced.

Commenting on the 21 ‘Awards of Excellence’ received in the capital, Irene Gorman, Head of The Tea Guild, notes: “Each year the judges’ task of choosing those who receive an ‘Award Of Excellence’ gets more challenging, as standards within The Tea Guild continue to reach new levels and this year’s London competition was no exception.”

“The Awards of Excellence to these leading establishments were presented in recognition of their admirable and consistently high standards of tea making, evident in the care and attentiveness with which they prepare and serve afternoon tea.”

She added: “In the Capital afternoon tea is now the most fashionable way to catch up with friends. It has become increasing popular be it after a busy morning’s shopping, a business meeting, for that special family occasion, a romantic date or a truly memorable experience for the bride to be and her girlfriends. More and more people are taking time out to enjoy that ‘very special afternoon tea moment’.”

Tree Brands Branch Together.

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The world definitely needs more trees, so, good news!

DoubleTree by Hilton is proud to announce that they have officially become a Silver Sponsor of the Woodland Trust Jubilee Woods campaign. The celebration of the longstanding relationship between the two prominent tree brands will see 20,000 trees planted in the UK during 2012, as well as additional support of the Visit Woods initiative, an online woodland search solution which encourages nature lovers to explore the tranquillity of woodland sites across the country.

DoubleTree by Hilton, one of the most dynamic, fast-growing brands in the hotel industry, has worked with the Woodland Trust since its UK debut in 2008, by funding the planting of tens of thousands of trees, hosting Woodland Trust awareness events and connecting children with nature through Woodland Discovery Days.

The Jubilee Woods Project, which has Her Majesty The Queen’s support and HRH The Princess Royal as Patron, aims to plant 6 million trees across the UK and involve millions of people in a year of tree planting Jubilee celebrations. The Jubilee Woods project aims to create hundreds of Jubilee Woods and 60 special Diamond Woods, transforming the UK’s landscape in a generation and providing a lasting and meaningful tribute for many years to come. More than one million trees were officially planted across the UK in February during the first month of the Jubilee Woods call-to-action.

Rob Palleschi, Global Head, DoubleTree by Hilton, said, “DoubleTree by Hilton believes that small actions can collectively make a world of difference, both in our hotels and the environment. This has led to the planting of more than 350,000 trees by our brand in a variety of reforestation projects worldwide. We are honored to enter our fifth year of partnership with the Woodland Trust by celebrating such an auspicious occasion as the Queen’s Jubilee, through the planting of 20,000 trees across the UK. Along with support of the Visit Woods programme, DoubleTree by Hilton looks forward to continued work with the Woodland Trust on a series of nature education initiatives that encourage and inspire people across the UK to connect with and appreciate the great outdoors.”

The first of the 20,000 trees to be planted between DoubleTree by Hilton and the Woodland Trust for the Jubilee Woods project included the ceremonial planting of 16 Royal Oak saplings during the first full week of spring, one sapling to represent each of the brand’s 16 UK hotels. Each Royal Oak sapling has been grown from an acorn gathered from a royal estate around the country. Once strong enough, the Royal Oak saplings will be permanently planted in Merry Hill Woods, located between Harrow and Watford on the outskirts of London. The Royal Oak saplings, along with the thousands more trees planted with support from DoubleTree by Hilton, will significantly help the Woodland Trust reach their target of planting 6 million trees in the UK in 2012.

DoubleTree by Hilton first partnered with the Woodland Trust in 2008 to raise awareness of the Visit Woods campaign. As well as funding the planting of thousands of trees, DoubleTree by Hilton has also hosted Woodland Trust awareness events, connected children with nature through Woodland Discovery Days and encouraged nature lovers to explore the tranquillity of woodland sites across the country.

VisitWoods.org.uk maps nearly 14,000 woodlands across the UK giving easy access to information on nearly all publicly accessible woods. Guests at each of the 16 UK DoubleTree by Hilton hotels, whether they are in a city or rural location, can find out more about native and ancient woodlands to create a Woodland Weekend mini-break within easy reach of any DoubleTree by Hilton destination. The hotel brand already has worked with the Woodland Trust to sponsor this spring’s Visit Woods Woodland Photography Competition, currently running through June 30, 2012.

Penny Pulfrey, partnership manager at the Woodland Trust, said: “The UK lags way behind the rest of Europe when it comes to tree cover. Only 13% of the UK is covered by woodland, compared to a European average of 44%. We strive to ensure woodland is high on the environmental agenda and are delighted to continue working with a brand such as DoubleTree by Hilton, which has demonstrated genuine commitment to the environment.”

For more information about the Woodland Trust, please visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk. For more information about DoubleTree by Hilton, visit www.doubletree.com, call 00800 2222 8733 or contact your travel agent.

Shoes for Summer: SS’12: Cushe Footwear

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SS’12: Cushe Footwear

Cushe Footwear has launched its SS12 range of unconventional footwear choices for everyday life and showcased this in a beautiful behind the scenes videos and advertising campaign. I like their shoes and the feel of their campaign. The shoes look comfy and are well designed.

The SS’12 shoot chronicles ‘the road trip’ in videos which follow one man’s travels to Mozambique. This reflects Cushe’s laidback lifestyle and travel message, demonstrating how the brand create lines to cater for all aspects of a Summer adventure. This story is reflected through the behind the scenes video.

The overall theme for this season’s range of shoes was based around ‘The Wonder Year’, which translates across all forms of creative associated with the season.

Check out the behind the scenes videos.

Innocent fruit sports day | Events

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Innocent fruit sports day, Regents Park, London 22nd July 2012

Dig out your shorts, dust off your running shoes and start warming up.

After three whole years, innocent’s summer festival makes a welcome return this July. As the official smoothie and juice of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, innocent will be hosting their very own fruit sports day themed festival in Regent’s Park on Sunday 22nd July 2012.

It will be a great day out for all the family, and it’s the perfect way to get you into the spirit of the Olympic Games a week before the world’s biggest sporting event kicks off.

Over the course of the day, you’ll be able to take part in a host of fruity sports day pursuits. Enter track and field events like the 100m kiwi and spoon, squash-put or marrow-thon, pop along for a spot of peach volleyball or have a go at our take on curling with a potato and broom. You’ll be able to make and break records, be in with the chance to win tickets to London 2012 events or even race against an Olympian.

And when all that running around gets a bit much, there will be plenty of tasty, natural, healthy food to eat, a big farmers’ market to explore, as well as live folk, jazz and swing music from our acoustic stage and an eclectic mix of pop up performances from roving bands, musicians and entertainers. There will also be loads of stuff for kids to do, a warm up and work out tent, open air dance floors, poetry corner, and a chill out area with yoga and massages to soothe those weary limbs. And, of course, there’ll be plenty of smoothies to taste.

It all starts at 11am and runs until 7pm. So, pencil it in your diary, scribble it on your hand and tell all your friends.

To find out more and book tickets visit www.innocentdrinks.co.uk/fruitsportsday. Tickets will be available from May priced at £10 for adults and £5.50 for kids/concessions.

RETIRED NATION IS SITTING ON £96.41 BILLION OF PERSONAL DEBTS

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Everyone thinks it is just the young who are in debt and struggling, but new research has shown that the retired are having a tough time too. Here are some stats, and a checklist to improve your living standards and boost your income.

· Average retired person has £8,180 of personal debt

· 178,000 retired people have personal debts of £100,000 or more

New research from retirement income specialist MGM Advantage reveals that the average retired person has £8,180 of personal debt, collectively equating to a staggering £96.41billion. The average level of personal debt for a retired man is £9,007, compared to £7,350 for a retired woman.

Around 178,000 retired people each owe £100,000 or more, and just over 729,000 owe between £25,000 and £100,000. Only 57% of the retired population has no personal debt.

Amount of personal debt

Number of retired people

Between £1 and £5,000

2.486 million

Between £5,001 and £25,000

1.094 million

Between £25,001 and £100,000

729,000

Over £100,000

178,000

None

6.776 million

Don’t know

523,000

Aston Goodey, Director, MGM Advantage said: “These figures are alarming. As the cost of living continues to put pressure on household finances, many retired people will feel under growing pressure to take on debt to fund everyday living.

“There are things you can do to minimise the chances of funding your retirement through debt. It is vital that people shop around for the best annuity rate to maximise the income they receive. The difference between the best and worst rates can be as much as 50%2. People should also make sure they are claiming all of the State benefits to which they are entitled and also ensure that they have accounted for all old savings accounts and pension plans.”

On a regional basis, the average retired person in Wales has personal debt of £13,857, which is the highest in Britain. This is followed by £11,758 in the South West, and £11,255 in London.

Region

Average amount of personal debt per retired person

Wales

£13,857

South West

£11,758

London

£11,255

West Midlands

£9,417

Scotland

£8,890

North West

£8,094

South East

£7,390

Yorkshire and Humberside

£7,353

North East

£6,511

Eastern

£4,759

East Midlands

£4,164

Northern Ireland

*Sample size too small to report

MGM Advantage has published a checklist of things for people to consider when making important decisions at retirement:

1. Claim all state benefits to which you are entitled, to check, go to www.direct.gov.uk

Data suggests that pensioners are missing out on up to £5 billion a year in unclaimed pension credit, housing and council tax benefits, as well as attendance and disability living allowances.

2. Keep a track on any old personal or occupational pension arrangements, if you think you might have lost track of an old pension arrangement, you can check via the Department for Work and Pensions tracing service here http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/

3. You can check if you have any old savings accounts which you might have lost touch with over the years by going to http://www.unclaimedassets.co.uk/

4. Don’t just accept the annuity rate offered by your pension provider. You should shop around for the best rate and you might qualify for an enhanced rate for pre-existing medical conditions

5. Seek professional financial advice as this will help you get the best product and rate for your individual circumstances, to find an independent adviser go to http://www.unbiased.co.uk/

6. You may have old National Savings accounts or Premium Bonds, to check for unclaimed prizes please go to http://www.nsandi.com/files/asset/pdf/Tracing_brochure_v03.pdf


For further information please go to www.retirementnation.co.uk

Into The Abyss: A Tale Of Death, A Tale Of Life by Daniel McCarthy

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With an output rate that would make Woody Allen envious and a string of classics ranging across four decades, the prolific German filmmaker Werner Herzog has built up a devoted international following and critically gilded canon of work that most directors can only aspire to. This includes a recent spate of documentaries that look with awe at the power of nature such as last year’s brilliant Cave Of Forgotten Dreams. Herzog is fascinated however with the sometimes cataclysmic clash of nature and man, both fictional and factual, from the likes of Aguirre Wrath Of God and to Grizzly Man. Now Herzog has taken a more definitive step towards the flawed nature of man with his latest work Into The Abyss, a calm yet unflinching examination of the death penalty in America shown through the prism of one particular crime. Many of Herzog’s films can claim to look into an abyss, whether it is literal or metaphorical. Whichever way you view this latest work, it is arguably one of his strongest pieces yet.
In October of 2001 Michael Perry and Jason Burkett, two teenagers with troubled backgrounds living in Texas, broke into the house of a fifty year old nurse Sandra Stotler with the intention of stealing her sports car.

The crime ended with her death, as well as that of her son and his friend who were ambushed upon their return to the house, led into a wooded area and killed in order to gain possession of the remote control device needed to open the gates of the housing community where they lived. It is a crime noticeable for both its callousness and stupidity. Perry and Burkett where arrested days later after a shootout with police and proceeded to blame each other for the events that took place. Burkett was sentenced to life imprisonment whilst Perry was sentenced to death. The sentence was carried out in the summer of 2010. Herzog interviews the two men at their respective prisons (Perry was only eight days from execution during his interview) as well as members of the victims’ families and some of those directly involved with the process of state executions.

From the outset Herzog makes his views clear to the two men and to the viewer; ‘I don’t have to like you, but I don’t think human beings should be executed.’ His view is a humanist one, not political despite its release coming just ahead of the Republican presidential nomination in America. Despite not shunning away from the horror of the crimes committed, judgement is not heaped upon the convicted men. The conversations with them are quietly unnerving; despite having claimed his innocence Perry views his impending death with serene calm whilst Burkett discusses the troubled relationship with his father who is also imprisoned in an adjunct prison ward for a separate crime. Their pasts and backgrounds are referenced but are not used as an excuse. Instead a complex tableau is woven on both sides with family members of the victims revealing how they have been affected by the tragedy and whether or not they feel the execution will heal their pain whilst Burkett’s father holds himself responsible for his son’s wayward lifestyle. Compared to the pacing of Herzog’s fictional work and some of the documentaries, there is a unique stillness to the imagery and the tone that is tremendously sombre and effecting. The camera roves effortlessly and holds on the smallest of details; the scattered, rural landscape that prisoners pass through on their way to the ‘Death House’, the faces of interviewees left hanging at the end of questioning and not given the mercy of a quit cutaway. Rather than adhere to standard rules of documentary film-making, Herzog is drawn to what he refers to an ‘ecstatic truth’. The point is made not through a deluge of facts and figures but instead a hidden narrative construct takes us on a journey through the incredible true story and in doing so deepens the emotional response.

There’s plenty of emotion on display here. The tale is tragic on both sides and the interviews are to the point, precise and devastating. Herzog’s trademark accented narration is toned right down and he never appears directly onscreen. There is a stillness in both the one to one and interviews and the establishing shots between them as though the camera itself is respectfully treading away from anything exploitive. Crime scene footage is seen but never lingered over. Out of the remnants of the tragedy, it is the small fleeting moments of humanity that move the deepest. An anecdote about squirrels on a golf course manages to evoke tears from a prison chaplain whilst a former captain of the ‘execution team’ recalls the exact moment when he realized he could no longer carry on with his job. The film is separated into individual chapters covering the crime, the aftermath and the debate surrounding capital punishment. The last chapter is optimistically titled ‘The Urgency Of Life’, and we focus on the acceptance of the various parties involved as they discuss how the execution has and has not restored equilibrium to the situation. Rather than end on a bleak epilogue Herzog pulls off an odd, vaguely amusing and hopeful vignette. One of the final shots is a phone screen capture of an ultrasound scan revealing a child. To say anymore may rob its power, but it’s a beautiful little grace note that only this director could pull off.

I had the good fortune to see Into The Abyss at a preview screening followed by a live stream Q and A session with Herzog himself. It was a fascinating experience to hear the man give insight into his method and viewpoint on his work and how he tackled the more stressful aspects of the production. The film is being released as a companion series, On Death Row screens on Channel 4. Though at time of writing I have only seen half of the episodes, it has all the merits of the main work itself; sombre, thoughtful and astonishingly balanced in approach to its subject. With these projects Herzog is staring death in the face. And death stares straight back.