It’s never easy ringing the changes for Father’s Day  so I’m sticking to well known themes but I do feel excited by my choices.

Books – well, why not.

Anatomy of a Soldier by Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, Harry Parker, who returned as a double amputee. Of course this interested me because I founded Words for the Wounded, but it also interested the blokes on our small volunteer team. Harry is now a writer and artist and this is his first novel. It is a tour de force, quite different to all others in this vein. The narrators are the equipment which led to the ‘incident’, and to the saving of his life.

Faber and Faber: hb £14.99 also in pb.

Another that is quite different to others I have read and which appeals to both men and women, or so I believe.

Castle of Water by Dane Huckelbridge features a modern day plane-wreck, the two survivors of which (strangers) reach a deserted Polynesian Island and have to find a way of surviving – together. It’s not only a fascinating concept (never ever travel without a huge number of spare contact lenses – especially if you fancy yourself an artist – though it seems he produced exceptional work without.) This leads to the question – if he survived would he continue to produce through a blur.

It was laugh aloud funny, but also moving and interesting as they became a team.

HQ: pb £7.99

Labour and the Gulag:

One of my relatives was a communist between the wars, and proceeded to achieve high office in a profession demanding rigorous integrity and intelligence.  He continued however to be hard left and a supporter of Russian Communism – heedless of the inconvenient truth of theiniquities of the system. He felt, I believe, that the end justified the means. It removed any respect I felt for him and his subsequent work.

He was not alone. Read this and bang your head on the table in despair and exasperation.

Labour and the Gulag by Giles Udy

Biteback Publishing. hb £30.

All this reading should of course be accompanied by a restorative drink or two.

BULLDOG Gin

Present in over 80 countries, BULLDOG Gin is the fourth largest and fastest growing premium gin in the world. With its unique bold, black bottle and distinct flavour, BULLDOG is a modern gin that has been quietly causing a stir on the gin scene with its British attitude and global mind-set. Using only the best quality British wheat and water, BULLDOG starts with triple distilled neutral grain spirit. It is then distilled once more, adding the distinctive blend of 12 botanicals to the pot still to deliver a smooth experience.

Stockist Ocado RRP £22.00

Estrella Galicia

Estrella Galicia is a premium world lager with a refreshingly smooth and well balanced taste with a light body. A spicy and light toned beer, Estrella Galicia has a clean and balanced aroma of Perie with nuggets hops and light malts.

Stockist: Marks and Spencer

RRP: £5.25

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and O’Neill/Ross present

Friday 9th – Sunday 25th June 2017

At locations across Kensington and Chelsea

InTRANSIT will once again take over the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea with its experimental programme of site-responsive art and performance. With this year’s theme of ‘Island Life’, InTRANSIT brings together responses from a diverse selection of artists looking at the contrasts of urban isolation and connectivity, celebrating community and the principle that ‘no man is an island’.

Pop-up ‘Island’ installations create an arts-archipelago across the borough, with the Portobello Pavilion – InTRANSIT’s hub of practical activity and discussion – at its centre. Highlights include: a series of large-scale, playful sandcastles produced in conjunction with the Museum of Architecture; an immersive exploration of JG Ballard’s novel Concrete Island; an electro-folk opera at the Print Room; an art exhibition in a secret subterranean space at Notting Hill Gate station; and a day of dance and participation from Polynesia and Melanesia.

InTRANSIT 2017 highlights include:

Portobello Pavilion – Friday 9th June to Sunday 25th June, Powis Square, W11

A striking temporary structure situated in historic Powis Square, the Portobello Pavilion offers a serene landing place within the wider context of the programme. Sandcastles – Friday 9th June to Sunday 25th June, various locations

The Museum of Architecture presents a series of large-scale sandcastles, each up to 2.5 metres tall, designed by leading UK architects. Located outside the Design Museum, in Duke of York Square, and at Portobello Market, these iconic structures will unite InTRANSIT’s ‘Island Life’ with the London Festival of Architecture’s theme of ‘Memory’.

Concrete Island – From Thursday 15th June

Charlie Warde returns JG Ballard’s classic novel Concrete Island to its site of origin in this immersive adaptation. Our protagonist, Robert Maitland, a contemporary Robinson Crusoe, plunges through the matrix of modern life and becomes marooned on a section of wasteland earmarked for development under London’s busiest road. Escape Artists – Friday 9th June to Wednesday 14th June

Collaborating with course directors and emerging artists from Central St Martin’s, Royal College of Music and the Cass School of Art, Escape Artists uses the issue of decreasing academic space as an opportunity for established colleges to break with tradition and take their practice off-site.

Remnants – From Monday 12th June

Performed by four singers and dancers, Remnants is an electro-folk opera, re-arranging traditional Balkan vocal music and combining it with contemporary electronics.

These are just a taste of all that’s on offer. Have a look to see what else:

www.intransitfestival.co.uk.

Most are free of charge but some require pre-booking.

It seems to me that minds turn to crisp cool gin as summer approaches, add to that the thought that Father’s Day is galloping towards us  and here we have the answer… not least because mum can have some too.

Greenall’s have launched a really swish brand new bottle design in both the Original and Wild Berry flavours and it’s on the shelves now.

Greenall’s The Original London Dry Gin has a rich British heritage. Established in 1761, and originally created by the forefather of gin, Thomas Dakin, Greenall’s is Britain’s first and original London Dry style gin and celebrates over 250 years of Great British history.

Greenall’s has featured in gin palaces – such an evocative image – right through to today’s supermarkets and gin bars which are thriving. The new bottle’s shape hints at the 1700’s look and features an embossing of the spirit’s birth date – 1761- the signature of Edward Greenall and the Greenall’s crest. To symbolize the craftsmanship that goes into the brand there is a print of a hand-stitched Union Jack on the back.

The original recipe remains unchanged, a recipe that has only been known by 7 Master Distillers since launched all those years ago. Joanne Moore Greenall’s 7^th Master Distiller is the current guardian and one of the first female gin masters – my mum would be thrilled. I find this continuity and history enhances everything about Greenhall’s and highlights its award winning success. It should be designated a national treasure.

What’s more, what a great product, and one that is constantly improving its image. A masterstroke.

RRP £21.00 – 1Ltr   ABV: 37.5%

RRP £16.00 – 70cl.   ABV: 37.5%

RRP:   £9.00  – 35cl.   ABV: 37.5%

www:greenallsgin.com

I read in the newspapers that touch typing lessons are to be taught to students – yer what? I had no idea it wasn’t. In this day of ipads, laptops and lord knows what – how could this have happened? Anyway, with my thoughts concentrated on this most useful of skills  I was really pleased to try the Penclic Mini Keyboard KB3.

Is it as good as it looks – because it does look slick doesn’t it?

Yes. The whole case is made of metal and the buttons  feel definite to type on, crisp and no nonsense too. The keyboard works for win, ios and android and connects via bluetooth or you can switch to corded connection if you prefer that.

The battery capacity is 250mAh and sleep saving mode activates after 30 minutes – press any button. The wireless reach is 10 meters and height 10.25 mm. Weight: 284 grams. Cable length: 150 cm.

I have another Mini Bluetooth Keyboard but will be using this Penclic in future. It’s lighter (such a boon), crisper and altogether superior. Have I made it sound like a pastry? I hope not because it’s a great tool. I just have to go and prize it out of the hands of ‘him indoors’ and being an IT buff, he’s no slouch when it comes to knowing what’s what, so it will be a tug of war.

A good looking practical product. Maybe it will encourage all those ‘learner’ touch types out there?

http://www.penclic.se/shop/

RRP: £79.99

At O2 CENTRE, LONDON

A long time ago (40 years to be precise) in a galaxy far, far away (Leeds in Yorkshire) I was a teenager seeking inspiration and hope. Manchester United had just beaten Liverpool in the FA Cup Final, the country was preparing itself for street parties due to the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and the UK, as hosts, had just finished second in the Eurovision Song Contest with Lyndsey de Paul & Mike Moran’s Rock Bottom. What more could I possibly need?

Then I went to the cinema and I fell in love with the genius of George Lucas. It’s an on-off affair I have had ever since. I’m a fan, but not one that goes to conventions or buys the gadgets, posters, figurines, etc. No. Just a fan who simply doesn’t mind Jar-Jar Binks, quite likes the Ewoks and is level-headed enough not to claim my religion as ‘Jedi’.

[The infamous logo]

Yet the film and its sequels and prequels have always given me a slight flutter of excitement. I ask a few people what Star Wars brought to them – off the top of their heads – and they say Darth Vader, Millennium Falcon, the Death Star, scrolling text, lightsabers, music. Ah, the music. My one true hobby. The scores of John Williams have entranced me ever since.

All these things are iconic. Lucas not only changed film-making, raising the bar for others around him, but the world. He introduced us to concepts previously unheard of – not just loveable droids and Wookies, but global merchandising and the feeling of being a part of something new and important.

Every generation has had (and will have) their own version – in terms of escapist entertainment it is currently Game Of Thrones. But franchises today owe so much to Luke and Vader, to C-3PO and R2-D2, to catchphrases like May the Force be with you, I am your Father and The Force is strong with this one.

The stories, although simple good versus evil, reach out and we can empathise with the heroes in their search for identity, love and peace. The creator Lucas himself said “Since Star Wars takes place in a fantasy world, the characters need to be identifiable so that the audience can connect to them. These larger-than-life characters come complete with friends, enemies, values and beliefs.”

I’ve just visited the magnificent O2 and STAR WARS™ Identities: The Exhibition, which is now open.

Produced by X3 Productions and made possible by Lucasfilm Ltd., the exhibition is on a world tour visiting 12 cities in all. It is an exploration of the nature of human identity through the magic of the Star Wars™ universe and its legendary characters. As Lucas confirms, “This exhibition examines how the Star Wars characters are like us, what we may have in common, and what makes up our individual identities.”

I was given a wristband that must be activated by touching various panels throughout the exhibition. From this I can create my own universal character, either keeping it real or going into fantasy. Amidst all the costumes any objects from the films, I learn what it is to be human, based on the latest scientific research.

STAR WARS Identities has divided its study of human identity into three major themes, each presented in a separate zone within the exhibition: my character’s origins, the influences that shaped them, and the personal choices that altered my life. Within these three themes, ten components of human identity are explored: species, origins, parents, culture, mentors, friends, occupation, marking events, personality and values. Science-based video clips explain how each component influences my identity. Here I am…

I even got a full biography of my creature – my alternate ‘human’ identity. Interesting stuff.

The idea behind this is quite serious and amidst the fun of the franchise, there is quite a lot to think about. The exhibition itself was quiet, perhaps a midweek evening is a good time to go to avoid the crowds. I would imagine it’s mayhem at weekends and bank holidays. Certainly a good laugh to go with your friends.

For complete schedule and box office information, visit www.theo2.co.uk/starwars.

Open until September 3rd 2017.

Visitors can begin their adventure in the world of identity at: starwarsidentities.com.

Paul Vates.