The Girl With Two Faces: A Bodyshock Special

In early March 2008, a perfectly healthy baby was born in rural India. But baby Lali was no ordinary child, against odds of 50 million to one this little girl was born with two faces.
This revealing documentary forming part of Channel Four's excellent 'Bodyshock' series follows the Singh family in a race against time as they try to reconcile their mistrust of modern medicine with their desire to keep their daughter alive and healthy.

Lali was born to the impoverished Singh family in the rural village of Saini Sunpura, 50 kilometres from New Delhi, where life has stayed much the same for centuries.
To watch the entire episode click here or watch the seven minute clip below.

Slumdog Millionaire: UK premiere/release

Below are two short preview clips from the forthcoming UK premiere of Slumdog Millionaire. Showing at Leicester Square Odeon on Thursday October 30th 2008 ahead of a nationwide release in January 2009.



Slumdog Millionaire (2008) The film tells the story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show's questions.

Sujata Banerjee Dance Company - A Sacred Thread

I've just purchased tickets for a forthcoming production by the Sujata Banerjee Dance Company at the Southbank Centre.
The name of the show is "A Sacred Thread" and is to be performed on Wednesday 15th October at 8pm. Tickets are very limited, so be quick if you want to attend the performance.

SUJATA BANERJEE DANCE COMPANY - A Sacred Thread
Wednesday 15 October 2008, 8pm

This innovative dance theatre work uses the multi-layered fabric of Kathak, narrative and original music to retell the story of an extraordinary woman from the 18th century who made an enormous impact in society. Shobna Gulati, the TV actress from Coronation Street, plays the lead role. Through the powerful medium of dance, drama and music the programme explores current issues concerning women and gender equality, children and human rights, and environment and sustainability. The programme is directed by the renowned theatre personality Nona Shepphard and uses special compositions of Pandit Birju Maharaj.

Southbank Centre Official website (Tickets)

The German Invasion - Berlin Marathon 2008

I knew that the years running around the housing estate slums of West London from the Rozzers would one day come in handy. The next challenge ahead in my ever complicated life, is shifting my 14 stone frame around the streets of Berlin in the forthcoming Marathon on the 28th September.

It's all John Honney's fault by the way. As you may have read about our chief organiser in my latest blog post "If it wasn't for John Honney...", he has assembled a team of a dozen QPR supporters to participate iin the Berlin Marathon for The Cambodia Trust - a charatable organisation he is currently working with in Pehnom Pehn.

Having being enlisted as a member of the said assembled QPR crew some 15 months ago, the fact that only five weeks to go has left me feeling panic with plenty of bowel movements.

I've set myself the modest target of raising £500.00 for The Cambodia Trust. To help me achieve this total I once again turn the the good people I call friends who have already this year dug deep that has seen my efforts in the Rickshaw Run and Mongol Rally raise over £6,000.
If you would like to chuck a small amount of coins into the hat, you can do so at my JustGiving webpage - The German Invasion

To help raise my set target I've also got a fully signed QPR shirt from the 2007/08 season, complete with signatures of the entire squad including Gigi De Canio, our manager at the time. This shirt is being auction on a supporters website, please get in touch if you would like more details.

Thanks again for your support!

Mark
Cambodia Trust Website
JustGiving - Mark Coughlan, The German Invasion

If it wasn't for John Honney.....

He's a pretty inspirational fella is my mate John. He's someone who should take a pretty hefty share for the inspration over the years and for the desire to travel that even to this day is what drives me.

I first met john back in 2003 over an cheeky ale in the Bush Ranger pub (RIP), what was then a pwopa boozer but now some pouncy Starbucks yuppy type called the "Dog pissing on stinging nettles" or something.
At the time John had just returned from his latest round the world trip, this time to South America and I was a fresh faced, disenchated youngster seeking more out of life, adventure and culture (as if Shepherds Bush didn't offer that).

John has (finally) got himself a website/blog which is a truely facinating read.

Without spoiling what I hope you will all read on his blog, John is currently working for The Cambodia Trust in the Cambodian capital, Phenom Pehn - Living life as it should be, getting the most out of it whatever is thrown at you.

I just hope that when I get *cough* as old as John, that I'm still fulfilling life to the max as he clearly is.

Have a good read - John Honney: Planet Honneywood

Life on the Edge: No Country for Young Girls?

Click here to view a trailer of the documentary: No Country For Young Girls?

Showing on BBC World News on Augsut 19th at 1930 GMT. Repeating at 1530 GMT on Thursday 21st August and at 0130 GMT on Friday 22nd.

As Vaijanti goes on a journey across India, she must decide if it's booming economy can offer her and her daughters a fair and prosperous future. Or will she decide that India is no country for young girls, and go back to her husband?
In the shadow of the Taj Mahal, Vaijanti must decide if she can leave her husband and make a life of her own.

Vaijanti, who's 27, fled her husband's home in the city of Agra, after a bitter row - she already had one daughter, and his family wanted her to abort another.

But Vaijanti decided she'd had enough - and went ahead with the pregnancy. Now she's living with her parents, and two young daughters. But with no income of her own, she's undecided whether to go back to her husband or not.

Vaijanti wants to know if things are as bad for girls in the rest of India - why are so many families determined not to have girl children?

If India is one of the world's booming economies - thanks to its embrace of globalization- aren't these old-fashioned prejudices dying out?

As 'Life' takes Vaijanti on a journey across India, she must decide if its booming economy can offer her and her daughters a fair and prosperous future.

Or will she decide that India is no country for young girls, and go back to her husband?