Wednesday 17 November 2021

It's George Borrow Time

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

The story so far. 

In 2017 I read The Old Ways by Robert Macfarlane which was without question the best non-fiction book I'd read that year. I chatted about it at the time on this blog.  Now he lauded about the 19th century writer and linguist George Borrow Now as it happened there were loads of his books available for free on my Kindle. So I thought "Great. I'll download them",  Which I did.

And so far I've hated every one I've read. 

I've just finished reading three of them which trust me as I will explain as we go along is not the great achievement that it appears to be.

The Songs Of Ranild is presumably the lyrics without a tune. I read it quickly. I wasn't impressed. Did not last long.

Letters To His Wife - The worst of the three. If only because there were just twelve yes twelve letters. And they were just mundane. Nothing important. Him asking for money I can recall. Really just not worth the paper this ebook wasn't printed on.

The Zincali:an account of the gypsies of Spain is the most substantial of the three but not great. Basically he was trying to flog the bible to this "tribe". And yes tribe is the right word because throughout the book the impression he gives is of a man looking down at a group of people he probably considers a few notches above savages.

The only bit that made me smile was when he was describing the Zincali women as basically lascivious. You know full well that the rich male readers were bellowing their disapproval whilst planning to visit the area in the summer.

In short then nothing has changed. George Borrow is a blog villain.

Until the next time.



Monday 9 August 2021

When You Know You're Going To Hate A Book...But Read It Anyway

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well.

For every reader there comes a moment when you come into possession of a book that you know you're going to hate but feel honour bound by a sort of "reader code" (or is it an addiction?) to eventually come round and read it.

Things We Never Said was an ebook novel by Nick Alexander which in another post I chatted about. I won't repeat what I said here except that as you can guess from the title of this post I hated it. Indeed I've also chatted about another book by Mr Alexander, a "Brits in a villa" novel which, surprise, surprise, I hated as well.

Well to come back to Things We Never Said when I bought the book online it actually came with an added bonus (oh lucky me). Three Christmases : A Things We Never Said short story (thankfully). 

And of course when I read the main story I knew I was going to hate the short story. So I decided to bite the bullet and read the thing. And I'll read it in August as well. Suitable for Christmas.

Well.....of course I hated it. The things I hated in the main novel just carried over here. And let's face it any change of mind by me would have required something superhuman to achieve. In any event a boil has been lanced.

So I didn't ask for the book, but I read it. Sometimes you get delivered a book as a gift and you know you're not going to like it but there it is, taunting you, teasing that you might be pleasantly surprised and then laughing at you when you were right all along.

This is the addiction that we readers have. To read everything in our possession. To avoid the feeling we've missed something. To try everything on the menu just to say "I've been there" even though you would have rather had something dull but pleasant with chips on the side. All for that moment when you could honestly recommend the unexpected to others.

Until the next time.

 

Monday 21 June 2021

Louisa May Alcott - The Quiet Feminist Goes Dark

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

We've chatted before about Louisa May Alcott. I've suggested that she is The Quiet Feminist. The sort of person who may not (in her case) have been the person who was the driving force for women's rights in the nineteenth century but chipped away at the edges against female inequality.

I also find myself wondering whether I'm the only person who liked everything he's read by Ms Allcott except for Little Women her most famous work.

Which leads us to Behind A Mask a 1866 novella which introduces us to Jean Muir, a governess of the Coventry family in Victorian Britain. She appears quiet and demure.

But things are not is as it seems.(and you just have to add to this) ...da da daaaah!

Of course we have all seen variations on this theme before but the fact that it's Louisa May Alcott doing it makes you want to know what is happening. What she's doing, why she's doing it and will there be dead bodies at the end as Ms Muir is revealed to be a homicidal maniac (spoiler - that doesn't happen).

In this novella there are issues of class attitudes though I suspect the greater issue is that of female rights. After all the fact that the book is subtitled A Woman's Power hints at Ms Alcott's attitudes here. But even viewed simply as an entertainment this novella works. There is a gradual but increasing tension as Jean Muir's intentions are revealed to the reader and whether or not she will obtain them. In fact I'll go as far as to say that judged solely as an entertainment this is the best book I've read this year.

It is more than that though. There is no messing with Miss Muir and it's surprising to me that such a strong female character is not mentioned often enough. Little Women it seems to me colours everything with regard to Louisa Alcott and for the general (and male) reader like me that runs the risk of ignoring her other books as the impression is given that they would be similar. 

I had a look at what I wrote for Little Women and whilst I won't go into absolute detail here I felt that it wasn't written for a fifty something male with an occasional back problem. I just obviously wasn't it's audience and with a title like Little Women fair enough.

Luckily for me as they were free on the Kindle I took the gamble and downloaded some of her other works. And I'm glad I did. Behind The Mask is the sort of book where a woman is the central character but a male reader can read and enjoy it as well. 

Thinking about it perhaps men should read a few other books by Ms Alcott before reading Little Women. Perhaps then she would gain a whole new audience. 


 

Sunday 24 January 2021

Populism And Plaid Cymru - Another Chat As To Why They Should Use It For Welsh Independence

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

I've spoken about this before. But I'm going to bore you by chatting about it again. For Welsh independence whilst not the majority opinion is still growing however Plaid Cymru's position remains relatively unchanged. 

I have stated before that Adam Price the Plaid Cymru leader needs to be more populist in his approach. There is nothing wrong with populism in itself. Being a nationalist is not being nationalistic. After all it was the Unionist Jacob Rees Mogg who stated that fish were happier in British waters (perhaps someone should have explained to him that unless caught fish have more freedom of movement than the citizens of this Disunited Kingdom). Similarly being populist does not mean supporting a border wall between America and Mexico.

With Senedd (Welsh government) elections coming in May (for the moment anyway) and perhaps depending on the Corona situation this will be the first where the battle between the Unionists and Nationalists will be the one which will be on the agenda.

Now of course Unionists will be in the advantage they will have the current Welsh Labour and the Westminster UK government on their side. This will be a battle and not a war. But it's important that Plaid makes inroads into the Welsh electorate. It needs to engage with those who take little interest in politics unless events cause them to stop and think where they are in the scheme of things.

What Brexit and the Corona virus appears to have done is to take the issue of independence into the mainstream for various reasons. It cannot be ignored by those who wish it anymore. Of course Unionism will make attempts to stop this revolution in thoughts for independence to continue. But it's I would argue too late. "When" could be a long time coming but "if" is no longer a debate.

So Plaid needs to up it's game on the populism front. Independence is after all the only alternative to the failure of everything else that has blighted the lives of the people of Wales for centuries.

And what Adam Price and Plaid Cymru needs to realise is that the Welsh Conservatives will use populism against it. It's new leader Nikita Krushchev, sorry Andrew R T Davies, is not afraid to pronounce loudly to everybody on everything between meals no matter how questionable.

So the energetic populist engagement with the voters in the next election must be a priority for Plaid. Wales depends on it.

Until the next time








Monday 4 January 2021

The Plot Against Britain By Phillip Roth

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

You know in terms of reading one of the effects of the corona virus is that you start a novel in the middle of November and only finish it in early January. For me (and let me stress again that my symptoms were relatively mild) I could not be bothered to pick up a book because I knew that I wouldn't have the concentration to go through a few pages before putting it down.

But at least I've finished one of the two books I began those months ago. The Plot Against Britain by Philip Roth.

Oh alright I know that the correct title is The Plot Against America published in 2004. But you know sometimes a novel can take a relevance to something in the present day that there was no way that the author could've foreseen. This is why I 'd argue that it has become a very important book for Britain of 2021.

Through the eyes of a Jewish family (mainly those of the author as a young child) this is the story of an America where Charles Lindbergh is elected president. Now Lindbergh despite his aviator bravery was an an anti-Semite but he promised peace for the United States in a world (remember the US hadn't joined yet) grappling with World War Two.

And there's the thing. Evil in politics doesn't creep up and say "look I'm evil". No it seeps slowly into the national thought. Gradually seducing many people unhappy at the current state of play even if the alternative when viewed objectively is worse. Brexit is not anti-Semitism but you know in it's attitudes it's not that far away from it.

Also, under the surface the election of Charles Lindbergh reveals a slow undercurrent of violence and hatred which the image of the aviator papers over the cracks. Again Brexit threw up an attitude by some towards anyone that disagreed with it which, whilst it not advocate imprisonment or any worse revealed an intolerance of anything "foreign" or of a non-violent opinion which was contrary to your own . 

Analogies can only go so far. It is not impossible that in the future there can be a Plot Against France, or Italy or even Germany. But with Trump's imminent removal the closest country in terms of mood to that which Philip Roth produces is Britain.

By focusing on a Jewish family (and particularly young Phillip) what is done best in this book is the gradual destruction of a happy family life through the Lindbergh election. When everything around you begins to go dark and a world where not only there are villains, but they can be members of your family as well. Remember after the Brexit referendum that it was the issue that split families?

It is not a perfect book. It's biggest failing I would argue comes with about a quarter of the novel to go. I couldn't help but get the impression that it was being rushed. It certainly felt that way. From that moment there were aspects to the plot which I was unconvinced by, but I can't explain that without spoiling things for you so I'll leave things be in that regard.

But despite it's imperfections this is the novel that seems to have captured the darkened air since Brexit more than any other book I've read so far. 

It's not Britain yet. But it's what this Disunited Kingdom seems to be moving towards at an alarming rate.

Until the next time.

 




Saturday 2 January 2021

Is Plaid Cymru Just An Independence Party? Let's Chat Even More

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Next year is an important one for Wales as in May there will be the election for the Senedd, the Welsh parliament. Plaid must aim to replace the betrayers of trust that is Welsh Labour in what I've kept on saying is towards the ultimate battle between independence and right wing unionism.

But one of the arguments brought on by Plaid's opponents is that it's one issue (independence) party and that's it. However it's not the case and I thought that by chatting a little a bit more it will give people an idea of what a Welsh devolved government and subsequently a Welsh independence country would be like.

Now I could make this post political war and peace in it's length but I'll spare you that. Instead I'm going to use one of Plaid Leader's Adam Price's emails he sends to members (which I'm one) where he outlined some of the policies Plaid would action if they became the government in this May's Assembly elections as the example from which I'll chat about.

These policies may not be able to action immediately as is acknowledged. But a party that does not have any goals to reach is not a party worth voting for.

A minimum wage of £10 for every care home worker. 

One of the many things that this pandemic has taught us is that the workers in care homes (whose expensive fees their customers pay to companies) are extremely low paid and undervalued yet are in fact a health service. They need to paid more to recognise this. After all there's a good chance we will all need their help in the future.

A £35 a week payment for every family in financial difficulties each month

Now I know what the Welsh Conservatives will say. They will paint the picture of people just watching TV just getting extra money from the state spending the money on fags and booze.

 And you know what? This minority will exist.

But they are the minority.

Welsh Conservatives deliberately have their blinkers on when confronted by honest decent families trying to do the right thing being knocked down by ever increasing prices for the life's necessities. At time of writing for example there is a severe cold snap and these honest decent families have to chose between no heating and massive energy bills.

Welsh Conservatives don't care if the society is based on the law of the jungle. But Plaid does. It believes that a society that cares for it's poorest citizens will benefit all of us.

Free childcare from the age of one

I can tell you from experience that when our daughter was born and we had no family to help us and we had to pay really expensive fees for her to be looked after by a nursery so that we both could go to work.

Free childcare will cost. But it will boost the economy with more people ready for work, getting paid and consequently reinvesting in the Welsh economy. It is a long term gain. People should think about the long term as well as the immediate issues. 

Plaid does.

A pledge that no child goes hungry

A pledge that all parties should give. But others don't ....to their shame.

Creating 10,00 new affordable home each year

I've mentioned before about how the lack of affordable new homes might create long term damage to society as a whole. Especially on the issue of English people buying cheaper homes along the Welsh border and working in England thus damaging the homes available for those brought up there. This goes some way to alleviating that.

And you know what there is a party who should have promised the above a long time ago but haven't. A party that that has relied on a magnificent past to hide an arrogantly incompetent present to the Welsh voter. A party who has lost it's core sense of being.

And that party is Welsh Labour.

And you feel the sheer sense of decency, just as it did in Scotland, has transferred itself to Plaid in Wales.

Until the next time. 

Wednesday 30 December 2020

As I've Bought The Shirt Let's Chat About Nottingham Forest

 Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

As I've said before I have a small collection of football shirts. I tend as a Christmas treat to myself buy one at this time. The rest would be any occasional bargains that came my way during the year through sales, charity shops etc. Though this year obviously that didn't happen.

And for those who don't know the collection has two rules. None are full price apart from West Ham and only one shirt per team.....aside from West Ham.

So this year the only real option was Amazon. Given that the Corona virus made me worry about considering ebay.

Anyway as the title suggests this was the shirt I got. For the not unreasonable price of £12.

Nottingham Forest

For the non-Forest fan there is I think no other team where the first person, and possibly the only person you think of is a manager. The legendary figure of Brian Clough.

An individual and a genius. People are quick to throw the word genius at musicians or writers but clearly Brian Clough was a genius as a football manager. He took two unfashionable teams and made them champions of England and Europe. He may have been a tormented genius, as his final years of management would ascertain to. But I think when people go on about Mozart or Byron when they chat about geniuses then it would not be out of place to put Brian Clough in that mix as well.

And, given that we're specifically talking about Nottingham Forest he did this with players very few of which you can call iconic. There was no George Best or David Beckham in a Brain Clough team. Stuart Pearce is I would argue the only exception to this rule but memories might be playing tricks in this regard.

In 2018, when I was in Essex exile looking after my mother I read and subsequently wrote in this blog about an autobiography of his. It was one of the greatest autobiographies I've ever read. Because you could sense that here was a man who knew he didn't have long to live.

Once he retired Nottingham Forest suffered, rather like Manchester United after Matt Busby and Alex Ferguson. Other than Liverpool teams seem to find that succeeding a legend is a difficult task. They are currently in the Championship.

It only shows what a genius Brian Clough was.

Until the next time.





Pierre Cardin - I'm Sorry He's Dead But My One Experience With A Shirt Was Not Good

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Pierre Cardin the famous French fashion designer died this week and whilst will rarely chat about fashion it did remind me of the one time I bought a product of his....and how badly it went.

The year is 1991. Currently the worst year of my life as that was when my father died. And at that particular moment and unable to give the bride away of his god daughter at her wedding. So I was asked to take his place.

Now I'm in Oxford Circus on a Friday afternoon. I feel the need to make a special effort not just in the wedding present but also in clothing given so I go to one of the big stores there....Debenhams. 

(And as a digression it is amazing that in the space of twenty nine years Debenhams would be reduced from a marquee store to just another list of bankrupt retail outlet).

Anyway I bought the present quite quickly. A marble model of a horse. I know they still have it. But I also needed a shirt which was not a recycled , Slightly different. And I saw it. A Pierre Cardin shirt white with the odd dark green stripe to it. Slightly different to the norm but not that different that I'd be laughed at.

It cost me £31.

That's right. £31. It was unquestionably the most expensive shirt I'd bought at the time or indeed since then. But to be fair, I was happy enough. It just seemed suitable for the occasion. And when it came to the wedding well that was fine. It did it's job well.

But after that. When I started wearing it to work in rotation with others then the collar started to wear thin very quickly in comparison. Then I noticed the cuffs were going. Then the shirt as a whole started just look tatty. And after a few months it just went to the bin.

So whilst I'm genuinely sorry he's dead. It just reminded me when fashion failed me.

Until the next time.





The Return Of Chucky Cairns

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Ex Secretary of State for Wales Conservative Alun Cairns is an original villain in this blog. As I've explained before more he got more hatred from me from the moment he described Italians on a radio programme as "greasy wops". For a person of Italian heritage that remark hurt me personally. 

Now I've avoided him since he resigned as Secretary of State as basically there was nothing to say. But yesterday there came a comment from him that needs a chat from me.

In a radio interview Mark Drakeford the First minister of Wales bemoaned that he has less influence on Boris Johnson the UK Prime Minister than he did on Teresa May. From this comment Chucky stated that he was thankful that it was the case.

Now in one respect Drakeford really should not be surprised. After all they come from different political parties. "Influence" was probably the wrong word. But Drakeford is right that as the top politician in Wales he is entitled to be listened to and be considered.

But for Chucky to be thankful of Johnson's relative ignoring of the First Minister betrays the cult like devotion of the Welsh Conservatives for Westminster/the UK leader. A devotion North Korean in a cold climate for in it's intensity.

After all let's be clear whilst in this blog I've chatted about the failings of Welsh Labour with regard to it's handling of the Corona virus that does not mean the Westminster government has been perfect. Nothing could be further from the truth. Yet there is no criticism from Chucky or any other other Welsh Conservative about this or indeed anything Westminster related. 

Furthermore Chucky stated that because Drakeford did not influence Johnson Wales would gain far more as a result, Really? He could explain that as at time of writing there is no proof of this. Indeed if anything it's declined. At time of writing it appears to be just words. Like most things from this Johnson government so far slogans without substance.

And Chucky is not the only one in the "Westminster is always right as long as it's right wing" and worshipping the UK party chief in a "dear leader" manner that represents the Welsh Conservative party of today. It is I suggest an attack that Plaid Cymru and it's leader Adam Price should use come next year's election. For this devotion to Westminster betrays a contempt for Wales and the people to deal with situations themselves. It's as if Wales is but a puppy to it's master.

Welsh conservatives should realise that Wales not only can stand on it's own two feet but can look Westminster straight in the eye.

Until the next time.

Tuesday 29 December 2020

A Small Sign Of Welsh Independence In Bridgend And Why Yes Cymru Will Be Political Whether It Likes It Or Not For 2021

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Yesterday, Bank Holiday Monday, I went to work in Bridgend. I wasn't bothered for various reasons. Not least as I've explained before in a recent post I seem to have lost all sense of the festive season.

But the reason why I'm mentioning all of this is not my medical condition but near Bridgend town I saw something which I did not expect.

A Pro Welsh independence poster from Yes Cymru.

I wish I could have taken a picture but I was off to work and the road at that time is a busy one 

Now let's be clear I'm not saying that Bridgend is the forefront of the independence movement after all it elected just last year a Conservative MP. But that said it's literally a sign of the growing movement for Welsh freedom by the simple fact of actually being there. By it's presence you know that the monolith that is Westminster unionism is being chipped away.

Yes Cymru is a non political organisation that campaigns for Welsh independence. It has members of all political beliefs and there is a discussion which I have had which suggests that it should continue in next year's Welsh Parliament Senedd elections. It has been a noticeable force in a short space of time for 

I would argue that this idea is currently wish fulfilment.

Plaid Cymru is currently  the only main party that campaigns for Welsh independence. All the other main parties are linked to the Unionist Westminster/English head office. Consequently there is currently no other potential main option to vote if independence is what you seek.

Welsh Labour/Liberals have in a dip your little toe in the pool way spoken about it. They see independence's growing support. But they are still Unionist.

And of course there are the Conservatives. And you know full well that whatever the reality they will accuse Yes Cymru of being a tool of Plaid. Especially come election time.

The reason why is simple. Independence is a political issue.

So whether they like it or not Yes Cymru cannot avoid politics.

What can they do about it? Well to be honest I'm not completely sure. The only possible solution is that they support Plaid Cymru and all other parties that campaign for independence but stressing the door is open for other parties to have their support as well if their policy on the issue changes. If they campaign politically on that basis I would argue not harm the political neutrality of the organisation because it's focusing on the core issue of it's existence.

Until the next time.




Sunday 27 December 2020

BBC News Wales and ITV News Wales Fear Of The Unexpected

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Monday was not a great afternoon/evening in South Wales. It had been raining all day and I'd left work at two to go down to the relatively quiet A48 from Bridgend on my route to the house in Penarth. As a journey it normally takes about forty minutes and is a relaxing ride.

Not this time.

As the journey continued there were larger and larger patches of water that you had to avoid by going along the other side of the road. That was until well into my journey I reached the part where there was a dip. There the patches of water turned into a pool that reached top of the tyres level. Other cars tried to go through but whilst my Kia Picanto is always mighty I wasn't going to take the risk. So I turned back to Bridgend and went to Penarth via the M4 instead.

It took me an hour twenty minutes before I reached home.....and it was still raining.

Hours later it was still raining. And the situation was getting worse. Flooding occurred in the Vale, Newport, Bridgend and Cardiff. Places were cut off. Railways lines were cut off. Flood warnings were issued in various rivers. And you know if the rain had continued for a few more hours people would be talking about a disaster situation for a large portion of the South Walian area.

So you would think that Welsh TV early evening news would have covered it fully wouldn't you? Think again.

On ITV Wales news the main news headline was the takeover of the iconic Welsh Brains brewery by the Marstons company. The flooding report came afterwards which lasted a few minutes and that was that until they reached the weather (and as a quick digression ITV Wales weather is just too quick.

Now I didn't see the beginning of the BBC Wales news but I did get to see the few minutes they took to mention the flooding and then nothing until the weather (which - given they have more time to play with - is better than their commercial rival).

But you see just like the announcement of the new Corona virus restrictions which I chatted about in a post a few days back the two biggest Welsh TV outlets found it difficult to deal with sudden major news stories. Stories which are important, newsworthy.

So why is this happening? After all you would think that people in Wales would want to know more about the new Corona virus restrictions or about a potential flooding disaster. Even if it involved delaying the schedule or even cancelling some programmes?

But no.  The impression this gives is that nothing Welsh can unexpectedly interfere dramatically with the main London network it appears.

People wonder why online news take-up is increasing. For Wales I would suggest this might be part of the answer.

Until the next time.



Saturday 26 December 2020

Has The Corona Virus Lost Me A Sense Of Christmas?

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

As regular readers will know as I get older I can't truly describe myself as Mr Christmas. But. as I've said before I join in simply because I'm not going to spoil things for those close to me.

And yet this Christmas, obviously different for everyone anyway, has been really odd. I see the decorations, I participate in the Christmas present giving and I have the Christmas dinner (which I do like - for the record I'm a Sproutian and proud of it).

But whilst I'm there and doing and seeing these things I feel as if I'm by myself. isolated though I'm with wife and daughter or work colleagues, So let me make it clear. I'm not avoiding Christmas but I feel apart from it. It's as if I'm a ghost.

Now I know what you're thinking "Be careful what you wish for". And you might be right. You might also say that given we are in the midst of a pandemic how am all surprised in all of this given it's so different for everyone anyway? and again you'd be right.

But what's bothering me is that whether I actively avoid it or jump into the season with full vigour it's the notion that I've lost a sense of it's presence despite it still being all around. 

Perhaps this time in 2021 I will be able to get a better picture of all of this. Perhaps this is what everyone has been thinking all along and when we're all vaccinated everything will go back to the old normal and I'll see and feel Christmas and just avoid it as much as I can.

But if in a post vaccinated world I still feel like this come next December I wonder whether there are other things that having the Corona virus has muddled my brain on. 

We shall see.

Until the next time.


Tuesday 22 December 2020

When As A Reader You Like The Book But Not the Writer

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Given that I've only just picked up a book a few days back because of the Corona Virus I have not really had the opportunity to chat about them for a while. And this in a way is no different because it all started from listening to a podcast in a bath.

With a few exceptions my podcast listening could be split into two types of podcast. Those on books and those on football my listening is too or from work and in the bath. So obviously as I've just mentioned it the subject is the former and the listening was in the latter.

Whilst my favourite book podcast will always be Backlisted the number two is You're Booked presented by Daisy Buchanan. Before the pandemic she would go the houses of writers and chat about the books on their shelves for the moment though now it's just a general chat presumably online.

Well I'm catching up on the podcasts and there was a mention in the one I was listening to of an American writer who the guest liked until she had revealed herself to be radical right wing.

Now Ms Buchanan provided a British version. Allison Pearson. She specifically mentioned her book I Don't Know How She Does It which was subsequently made into a Hollywood movie. Now perked me up. Not just because I've read the book but also because I subsequently felt exactly the same way about it's author.

I Don't Know How She Does It is a great novel. A story of a successful woman juggling a high-powered job, a low powered husband and kids. It's done with realism and humour. Truly I cannot recommend it highly enough.

So imagine then my disappointment and shock not that was she a Conservative but that type of right wing looney toons Conservative now that has now become the "establishment" in Britain. I will not give further publicity to her views by putting them in detail. Though there is one exception. When Boris Johnson was brought down by the virus no one wanted him to die. But that said she wrote a piece on the Baboon which Twitter had brought my attention to. In it, the gushing prose suggested that he was a sort of precious gift. Something which no one would consider describing him now.

But the reason why I'm chatting about this is not just that the podcast brought it to my attention. But also that I read any of her fictional books again. Even if they are the greatest piece of prose ever written in the English language. Simply because I know too much about her. I don't like her beliefs and that will just shade my perception of any further reading, Non-fiction is different. You can judge her views and discuss them. However with fiction you have to get involved with the story and the characters. That is the roadblock that you cannot cross. Not only that you would disagree with whatever the tale is about but you feel you know in advance where it's going to go.

So knowing the politics of a writer of fiction is a dangerous thing when your views are polar opposite.

Until the next time.

 



Monday 21 December 2020

Let's Chat About Plaid Cymru

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

I have in this blog put forward the view even before the Corona virus that Wales is politically heading towards a battle between the Conservatives and Plaid Cymru (the party I support). I did wonder whether Welsh Labour were going to be dominant in the forthcoming Senedd elections next may but reverting to their incompetent type has damaged them. To what extent only time will tell.

I have also stated that the Plaid leader Adam Price needs to be more populist in his approach. And when I say populist I'm not talking about insulting other races but in just galvanising a populace with your ideas. Nothing wrong with that.

He is a good leader. And will make a good leader of the country. But he needs I think just to up the rhetoric and passion a little.

Plaid is there for everyone. Even a fifty six (soon to be fifty seven) year old English man with an occasional back problem. But the To Do list to win the election lies with the nation's youth. It's purpose to make life better for everyone in Wales is independence. It is the young people that would benefit from it. For the Unionists who will say otherwise my response is this. Look at the future Unionism has given them now and tell me how independence would actually make it worse?

Then there is the allegation that Plaid is anti-English. Of course that's wrong and a slur by it's enemies. It's anti-unionist. That's the difference. Unionists. Particularly English Unionists act like the party in a divorce that didn't see it coming and feels insulted. That's why they react to Plaid Cymru and the SNP with hurt venom.

Plaid Cymru (and indeed the SNP) is patriotic but it's also inclusive. That's why as a party it's Nationalist but not nationalistic, This is is crucial to understanding it's beliefs and to be able to counter Unionist attacks.

The other argument is that Wales could not afford independence. Yet every country that has split from Britain has done exactly that. No one should ever say that it would be quick or simple but that's not the point. With it's natural resources and a country geared up to improving the welfare of the people it is obtainable.

And besides do you remember the Brexiteers giving economic details during the EU referendum? I don't either.

So remember this. As the Chinese curse goes, we are living in interesting times under Unionism. To start the long process of making it better in Wales let's vote for the party outside the status quo and vote for Plaid,

Until the next time.




Westminster Has Failed. The Way Back Must Include Independence for Scotland and Wales

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Well at time of writing European nations are banning UK goods and travellers from entering their countries because of fears the new strain of Covid will spread there. France is also banning travel/goods to the UK for at least a 48 hour period.

Nothing like taking control of our borders is there? Actually to be clear it's exactly that. Nothing like it. But here we are. An isolated Disunited Kingdom. The Wuhan of Europe. The Asian model that we have become.

2021 becomes a race between the implementation of the antidote and the spreading of the virus. I suspect that it will be a long while before we can feel easier for a while. After all if you entered a shop with a mask just a year ago you would have thought you were robbing the place. Now it's the law.

And let's be clear as I've said before in this post the Welsh Unionist government has not been faultless. But it's buffon Boris Johnson's Westminster government that bares the ultimate responsibility for this mess. After all it's he who has during the past year given dates when everything will be resolved when this hasn't happened. Promises undelivered. Probably sounds like his personal life. Also at time of writing should this closing of borders continue the effects on the fabric of British society can only be guessed at.

The lack of competence, the willingness until the last moment to listen to people trying to moan about face masks for example, is breath taking. The air might be cleaner because of the lack of traffic but that will make no difference if you're breathing it through a mask.

Westminster has failed when it was needed most. Let's assume the worse case scenario. Rationing with even greater unemployment. This in a place where food parcels for the poor are commonplace. In such a scenario you can see riots in the streets. 2021 has the potential of making you look with wistful nostalgia on the quiet lockdown nights of 2020.

What will happen to the shops when all of this have lifted? Some of them have gone to wall already. I know that we have bought everything online barring fuel and groceries. It also occurred to me that if I want to buy normal everyday clothes the nearest place to get them physically is now the supermarket.

And all of the above does not include Brexit.

I have, as previous posts explained, had the virus and I consider myself lucky to have had it relatively mildly. But even so I'm not 100%. The recovery period has been slower than at any time I can recall in my life. I'm at work because the consequences would be disastrous for me and my family and as long as I take it relatively easily I'm OK. Others have not been so fortunate. 

I'm 56 soon to be 57. My daughter is 18. Her future is at this moment unclear simply because the powers that be don't know what the future will be. Our youth have been betrayed by the mismanagement of (mainly) old men. 

People are tired. Do you notice there's no "clap for carers" anymore on a Thursday at 8pm. People are still very grateful for the work of doctors and nurses, But they are also weary, Weary of governmental promises that have not delivered. Weary not of living I suspect but just of the way life in 2020 and beyond have turned out. People can after all cannot see immediate loved ones unless it's outside, through a window or by a PC,

What does Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have to gain from staying in the Union? Unlike England independence (reunification in the case of Northern Ireland) will give the Celtic nations a sense of clear purpose unlike the clown leadership provided by Conservative rule for England.

So as I've intimated before. And feel even strongly as the months have gone on and I contracted the virus. Westminster has failed. It has failed Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as well as English regions. Let's wake up and smell the vaccine of independence. Or else Westminster will continue to fail to the detriment to the lives of the millions to which independence is the clear alternative.

Until the next time. 





Sunday 20 December 2020

More Notes On The Corona Virus In Wales. Including How Mark Drakeford Cancelled My Hair Appointment and How ITV Wales Betrayed The Nation

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Well let's have a look at my hair.

I know you're impressed

Now the look of silver spiders fighting does suggest that I should have dealt with this a long time ago but time is something I did not have. A couple of weeks off with the virus then as discussed previously though I've been back to work for three weeks I've had to take it easy as I'm not 100% so it was only late last week that I felt strong enough to arrange an appointment for it to be cut this coming Tuesday.

That was on the Thursday. Yesterday (Saturday) comes the shock news that the Welsh lockdown starts today and all non essential shops would shut down because of this new strain of the virus the authorities have discovered. Thus First Minister Mark Drakeford has cancelled my appointment. The silver hippy look continues despite the wife's offer to cut it. But as I've said before I'd rather have hippy hair than US Marine.

I've mentioned that in the past few weeks one of the lingering effects of the virus is the sudden need I've had to sleep during the day (thankfully not when working). All of sudden tiredness sweeps over me and I go for a short snooze. I say "short" but it can go for as long as two hours in the day when I've not set an alarm.

Well for the past few days I've done the early shift of 6-2 and the complete opposite has happened. It has been the worst nights sleep since the virus hit me and my insomnia apparently has returned. It occurred to me that when doing the afternoon/evening shift last week I felt quite awake between midnight and one o'clock when I returned home and had a meal. I'm beginning to wonder whether instead of having extra hours sleep because of the virus I'm having the same hours snoozing but it's the times I'm feeling tired that have gone askew. It's a thought.

I've never felt a physical exhaustion. But I have noticed that my concentration levels reduced during the Corona virus period in terms of watching things on TV. Probably explains my sudden conversion to Youtube. Indeed since the middle of November I've not felt like reading either and have only started coming back to the pleasures of the book now. The one exception was, you won't be surprised to hear was football. Football kept me sane and Arsenal's problems gave me pleasure in a tough time. But I won't chat about them now. That will be for another time.

ITV Wales then. On the weekend their regional news programme is short and useless. A few items, sports, weather in a rush and that's it. However this Saturday's version was of course dominated by the announcement of Lockdown 3 being pushed forward. How was this reported? A few brief sentences by Drakeford without going into much detail and that was it. Onward to the sport and Cardiff City's defeat.

The announcer after the lockdown report said that full details would be on the website. Not only is this an abdication of the responsibility of a TV station to broadcast in detail a major news story affecting us all but as the wife pointed out what about the elderly who don't use the internet?

And why you may ask would ITV do this? The only logical explanation is they wanted to make sure that the entire network throughout the disunited kingdom was together to watch Celebrity Supermarket Sweep.

ITV's priorities in a pandemic.

And finally anecdotal evidence (ie chats at work) suggests that as I mentioned in previous posts Labour are in trouble here in Wales for the next Senedd elections in May. A week is a long time in politics. But the possibility that the election could be a straight fight between Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives cannot be ignored.

Until the next time.





Friday 18 December 2020

Will Dementia Become Another Nail In The Coffin For Rugby Union In Wales? / Should Rugby League Be Given A Chance?

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Dementia is an awful disease. My father had it. The decline was rapid and painful not just for him but me and my mother as well.

So on a personal level I can understand what ex Welsh international player Alex Popham is facing as he finds himself with early onset dementia. He and a group of other ex players with this condition are bringing a court case against various rugby authorities.

Now I'm not going to comment on the case itself but I will argue that whatever the eventual outcome it will damage rugby, and in this case Welsh rugby still further.

Alex Popham is 41. That's fifteen, soon to be sixteen years older than me. Yet here's a man who at such a young age cannot remember his achievements in the sport. Now imagine you're a parent (perhaps you are).Would you really encourage your child to play full on contact rugby? I would argue that a relatively high percentage would not. 

That clearly will affect the percentage of players available to the Welsh clubs/the national side and would by definition damage the game. It will be a slow burn but burn it will, As I've explained before ever since the tragic disaster of regional rugby on a club level the sport has gradually become an option to participate/spectate on but it's no longer the option. The issue of dementia in rugby union will only make the situation worse.

Welsh Rugby League on the other hand might find itself an unexpected beneficiary of the situation, After all whilst not without risk the game stops when the ball carrier is on the ground and after the sixth tackle the ball goes to the opposition team, It is less free flowing than the Union game which at this moment is an advantage.

S4C really should think about putting matches on their channel.

Until the next time.


Thursday 17 December 2020

I Shouldn't Really Forget To Praise The Wife

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

As I enter the fourth week of returning to work I feel I should chat about the woman who was there when the Corona virus really affected me. The Wife.

Now as I've said before I was lucky with the virus in the sense that aside from my achy back caused by all the (flemmy) coughing I was unaffected below the neck. Really the coughing, the need for naps during the days and those few moments where my temperature was in worry stage were the things needed to be dealt with.

And she was there.

Since we've been together since 1997 there has been just the one time when I've been unwell for a period greater than a few days. And that was for Bell's Palsy. So for me to be that unwell was an upset to us all. But she was ready for it.

Firstly I had to isolate and this meant that for the days when I was by myself I'd a downstairs room (where I also slept in - because if I was unconscious upstairs she'd have difficulty carrying me down) and the second toilet. She would make breakfast, lunch and dinner for me and leave it outside with no complaints. Women might go on about "man flu" in their men but if they know you're unwell they are there for you 24/7.

Now to blow my own trumpet the wife did say that I was "an ideal patient" in that I did make unnecessary demands or milk the situation for all it's worth. But that doesn't matter. I know that whilst I would have gotten better by myself it would not have been nearly as quick if she wasn't there.

The wife is not one for the internet. Indeed she has difficulty working out the remote control of the TV. Still let the rest of the world know I am grateful. And I keep giving her thanks for being a friend.

Which she laughs off.

Until the next time.

 


The Politics Of The Pandemic In Wales

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Whilst it may seem like an eternity next May will be when the date of the next elections in the Welsh parliament. If you'd asked me a few weeks ago who I'd think would be successful I would have had no problems stating that it would have probably been the Labour party following a calm handling of the pandemic crisis. Culminating in Lockdown two, which despite much initial criticism Westminster had to follow suit with.

But, as I've explained in a recent post they then made the mistake of instigating policies that were as clear as mud. Seemingly implying that everything was basically alright as long as social distancing was kept and everyone wore masks. This confusion of policy has resulted in the Welsh situation being dire. With one in five people having caught the virus (I speak as one of the one in five), hospitals at breaking point and the Welsh government introducing a series of measures including Lockdown three from December 28.

And whilst I don't disagree with these measures they all smack of closing the laboratory door after the virus has bolted and the blame for that falls squarely with the Welsh Labour administration. 

Indeed because of an IT glitch the figure for those with the virus here is eleven thousand more than originally thought. Furthermore some English hospitals have offered to help their Welsh counterparts, and whilst it is a kind offer it's still a humiliation caused by Welsh Labour not keeping their eye on the ball. Showing the standard arrogant incompetence that their initial actions on the pandemic actually hid.

Now the Welsh Conservatives will say that this just shows  the value of the Union and the inadequacy of Labour. This ignores the fact of Westminster's incompetence in all this as well as the fact that Nationalists control the Scottish government and are in coalition in Northern Ireland. Also  the Welsh Conservatives own policy was seemingly far more free market orientated than Labour's which would have created an even greater health scare. But come an election people will remember the party in power, the party that made the mistake, and that was Labour.

So Plaid Cymru needs to prepare for the battle ahead. If the situation gets even worse people will turn on Labour. More importantly Labour voters will turn on Labour. Plaid can get a large proportion of these votes. It is what Labour has always feared. 

The battle for Wales has begun in earnest.

Until the next time.



Thursday 10 December 2020

Should We Becoming Portfolio People Or Just Keep An Occupation In Reserve?

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

When you have had a few weeks off work because of illness, or indeed in my case back at work but not a hundred percent your thoughts go towards what you should do once you're fully fit.

For example despite what I've said before I'm considering doing a bit more in the garden than I've ever done in my life (will explain what encouraged me to do this in the Spring), thinking of doing yoga and when this COVID thing is finally over I want to visit every football club in Wales.

But on a more serious level 2021 is going to be a difficult year in many ways. We start with the ongoing Corona virus which until the vaccine is put in my arm goodness knows when will still have an economic knock-on effect for years ahead. After all people who thought their jobs were relatively safe have been given an unpleasant jolt. 

After all if you were a Barmaid or someone working in a shop you would not have imagined in the start of the year that a pandemic would have caused their livelihood to have just gone away into memory.

And of course Brexit is coming which at time of writing looks as if it'll be even worse than us proud Remainers thought it would be in the first place. In an instant worries about where the money is coming from as well as how the mortgage will be paid comes to the fore.

It means that whatever economic crisis we have faced in our lives this one has the chances of being much worse than that.

And when you're as old as I am a loss of a job can be devastating given that the chances of getting a new one are difficult.

So what to do?

I was reminded of a book a read many years ago called (I think) Portfolio Man. In it a guy explained how with the aid of a Filofax and he held down various jobs just to earn a living wage. I remember at the time rejecting it purely because the amount of planning it took as well as it's effects on your personal life, But now. Perhaps (hopefully temporary) it's time has come.

It does not mean that you should get rid of the job you have. The issue is whether you should prepare for jobs in reserve in case anything happens to your main one. Some sort of insurance policy as it were.

What type of jobs could I, a fifty six nearly fifty seven year old man do? Well a lot of things fall by the wayside. But there are other jobs that don't Home Organiser is a job anyone with a brain could do for example. Perhaps the way to do it is to amass myself as many occupations as possible and then ditch those that don't (indeed literally) work.

So perhaps getting a portfolio ready is how we should prepare for the madness that is likely to be 2021?

Until the next time.




How Welsh Labour Snatched Defeat From The Jaws Of Corona Virus Victory

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

A few weeks back I remarked that with it's incisive action of a thorough 2 week lockdown the Welsh Labour government had led the way in dealing with the pandemic and was showing Westminster how it should be done given that it was an action that bumbling Boris Johnson was forced to follow a few weeks later.

But that was then and this is now. A lot has happened since then. I have had the virus and whilst now back at work I still feel as if I'm recovering from it. And I'm not the only one. In proportion the Welsh pandemic is growing worse than most other areas of  the UK.

So why is this? It comes back to the end of the two week lockdown. There was no clear plan in dealing with the post lockdown period. Thus you get a muddying of the waters and people for example going to Cardiff City centre en masse to do some Christmas shopping. Mark Drakeford the First Minister has put some of  the responsibility directly on the Welsh public. However people cannot be blamed if a clear policy such as the two week lockdown period is replaced by something as clear as midnight in Merthyr Mawr. Indeed if I understood the policy before the closure of pubs etc after 6pm and the no alcohol rule it was essence wear a mask in shops and keep socially distant and there was a bubble with a few other loved ones. Nothing like the tiers the nationalist government in Scotland and the Unionist one in Westminster went for. 

The Welsh Labour government has I would argue reverted from being innovative to it's traditional position of being arrogantly incompetent. The thing is the ticking time bomb of Christmas is coming up. We will be going to see loved ones that we have hardly seen all year. That will make a difficult situation even worse.

And if there is an increased pressure on hospital beds and the NHS staff for the worse victims of the pandemic then Labour will only have itself to blame and obviously the Welsh Conservatives will exploit this even though Westminster's overall record has been worse. 

So in a short window Welsh Labour will need to take hold of the situation again for the Welsh public will not forgive  any worsening of the situation. 

The ball is as they say is in their court.

Until the next time,

Sunday 6 December 2020

Why Welsh Rugby Is Teetering On The Brink

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

On Friday something really odd happened. I discovered completely by accident that the Welsh National team were playing Italy the next day. What was even more surprising was that the wife, who is Welsh and would normally know these things and would get ready to watch it in advance didn't know either. 

And what surprised me even more she wasn't bothered about it.

Now all of this I know is anecdotal but I mentioned this in passing yesterday (Saturday) at work and people were surprised as well and noticeably did not care.

Now I know The Autumn Cup is a Mickey Mouse competition because of the pandemic. And that the games in English were shown on Amazon Prime, But the games involving Wales were shown on the Welsh language channel S4C so the opportunity for most people in Wales to watch it was there.

But thinking about it this disinterest is not really surprising. The performance of the Welsh team since Warren Gatland left has been nothing sort of disastrous. Fifth in the sixth nations and in this competition victories over Georgia and in yesterday's game Italy does not hide the fact that when faced with teams like England or Ireland there has been an obvious decline. I am not Mr Rugby as I've said many times in this blog but clearly something's gone wrong.

Now personally I would say the current coach Wayne Pivac should be allowed another season. After all he's dealing with a team in transition after Gatland's departure (indeed the departure as well of defence coach Shaun Edwardes who the Welsh Rugby Union have seemingly treated badly and is now plying his trade with the French national side) as well as the pandemic.

However if Wales' performance declines further then question marks on his tenure should begin. I've mentioned before how the national team does bind the nation together. But a continual stream of bad results will only increase the disinterest. It will be gradual but it will be there and that will damage the sport as a whole.

I have previously in this blog discussed the catastrophe that is the regional club game here in Wales. So I won't go into detail here. Except to say that I would argue that if the Blues, the Ospreys and the Dragons went to the wall I don't believe most of the people in the catchment area would really care. That's three of the four clubs. The key reason I'd argue is their failure to engage with the area they're supposed to serve.

You could argue that what Warren Gatland and his team did was to hide the state of the club game because of their success. But if the national team's decline proves to be relatively long term then the consequences for the sport in Wales will be bleak indeed. 

Until the next time.



Saturday 5 December 2020

With Corona Youtube Wins - Most Sports Especially Football Wins - Doctor Who Loses As Temporarily Did Books

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

When I was in isolation with Corona two things happened. One was that I was coughing (flemmy please note not dry) and the other was I slept a great deal. Morning naps, afternoon naps, evening naps. I would have them and they were comfortable and relaxing before continuing to watch television.

But with tiredness there is also a lack of concentration and that affected my television viewing for the period of isolation and indeed this post Covid time. It also affected my reading, affected in the sense that I couldn't be bothered to pick up a book. Only now have I started to come back to the quiet pleasure of turning a page.

And I cannot say I've been bothered. As my mother stated when she was unwell in hospital in Essex and I spent two months in exile there to look after her I was too ill (in my case tired) to be bored.

But when it came to television my taste (unlike my taste buds) have changed. Daughter suggested I should reacquaint myself with Doctor Who which I've sort of taken and left since the dying embers of the Matt Smith years.

Well I did....and I didn't like it.

Why? Well it occurred to me that I've seen the same thing a thousand times before. Doctor faces alien threat. Doctor deals with alien threat. Basically you can distill most episodes into those two sentences.

Time for the time lord had caught up with me.

In other words. I was just too old.

Meanwhile if you find yourself not really concentrating on anything. Which as I said Covid did inflict on me. Then Youtube is the perfect platform given that most clips are under 45 mins. Also they have live sports. 

Now yes it could be wall to wall volleyball but football is there. Or watch a basketball game between Iceland and Luxembourg (oh yes you can - I did - without any commentary and it was a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. You can watch for free here in this Disunited kingdom lower tier Spanish and German football. Or late on a Saturday night football from Honduras. A country who incidentally has female officials for male games but the male ref still doesn't send a player off for stamping on another's foot!!

There is also a channel from New Zealand called Sky Sports Next which shows the minority sports in that country....which includes football (yes I know).

Indeed last night I found myself watching boxing in Poland. Did not understand a word (my ignorance) but it's there. For free..

So yes Youtube have become the defining Internet channel for me. Sorry Netflix.

Until the next time.



Thursday 3 December 2020

Christmas? Holidays? Perhaps We Should think About Surviving First Plus A Short Comment On No Drink Wales

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

As regular readers to this blog will know I have never been Mr Christmas as I get older. But, and I stress this again that despite my dislike of the "festive season" I participate in it not wishing to spoil things for those close to me.

But even allowing for that things are going even madder this year. The Christmas lights have been in some houses since the middle of November. People are Christmas shopping. I've seen more outlets selling Christmas trees than I've ever seen. They are trying to make it "extra special".

However I would argue that making Christmas "extra special" only emphasises what an awful year this has been. Pretend joyfullness in the midst of dispair, redundancy and of course death caused by the pandemic. The future of ordinary people has never been so precarious and if you're an adult this is not a season to be a false jolly. Just really surviving should be enough cause for jollity.

Of course I'm going to get my loved ones presents. But a combination of just recovering from the virus, a lack of time and not wishing to go to town centres/out of town shops if I can help it means that I'm going to either go online or buy vouchers for them to go online later. There really is no other choice at the moment.

Here in Wales from tomorrow (Friday) no bars/pubs/restaurants can serve alcohol and have to close after 6pm. Thus if any company was organising a Christmas party that's gone for a Burton (as now unfortunately have Burtons).

Now I have been largely supportive of the Welsh Labour government's actions during the pandemic but I think it's made a mistake here. Firstly in the lack of adequate safeguards after the two week national lockdown ended. It's paying the price for that (and did I pay the price too?)

But also it could have allowed these premises to remain open till ten and serve for local customers as long as they could provide ID to show they lived in the area. This would seem to be the best way to deal with pubs (etc) in a pandemic. This blanket ban helps no one.

Vaccines are apparently coming but we don't know when, Will be waiting for it when it's my turn. But for the moment, speaking as someone who's recovering from the virus, survival is the only goal.

And now we're getting ads for summer holidays? What? Who really knows what the future will bring at this stage? After all the Westminster government made all sort of promises since March and yet we only really have a timetable for recovery and that's vague. What with the health economic and social effects of the pandemic, the job losses and that's not even including the word Brexit who but the most Tory of Tories really want to go on holiday when at time of writing a trip to the nearest town centre requires a mask and an anti vacc bottle?

Don't forget Christmas. Don't ignore it. But if there's no children involved don't treat it as anything special.

Until the next time.

Not Long Covid Thankfully....But It's Effects Take Time To Completely Go Away

 

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

I have been at work for five days now. I have done my isolation and am able to return. This has been my first rest day. So let's be clear the worst effects have gone.

That being said I'm not 100%. The biggest decision I took was to deliberately take things easy and that was oh so right. I read about these people with long covid who struggle to walk up the stairs in their own home. That's not me. But I think I'm operating on about 80% capacity. 

I returned home last night at 10:40. Had a meal and went to bed about midnight. I woke up around nine. I've also had a two hour afternoon nap. And let's not forget I'm a lucky one. I have control of my body. But still I've needed the rest more than before. 

It's not that I'm not going to get better. It's just that before when I've been ill and have been better I could make a good guess about the speed of my recovery. Not here, I've no idea when I will return to Pre-Corona energy. Those times when the wife would moan about me watching football. At this moment though she's just happy I'm doing something! Oh the irony.

I wanted to do a number of things today. In the end my body said rest which is what I did. Still it's irritating that I don't yet physically feel as if it beats a good rest.

My concentration levels have risen mind you. I can watch two football matches in a day when previously I struggled to watch one.

Progress of sorts.

Until the next time.

Thursday 26 November 2020

An Unexpected Delay In The Time Of Corona - Yes I Got It

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well.

Well as the title suggests I have spent the past few weeks dealing with having the Corona virus. Thankfully I was never in danger for my life. Still work has been a memory for a while.

I'm still not sure how I got it, given that I've not had the symptoms. My sense of taste and smell have been fine and though I've had a cough it has been long, hard but flemmy. Also it started with a head cold a few weeks earlier.

But ultimately a few weeks after that I got a temperature. The sort where a wave of heat washes over you. I knew I couldn't go to work and that was that.

Well actually not quite. I got myself tested on a Saturday afternoon where Cardiff City play. On 6am the following day I get the positive result.

So for the past few weeks aside from a shower I've living in the smaller living room watching sport on Youtube. Something I've discovered and really quite fascinating. At time of writing I'm watching Iceland playing Luxembourg in Basketball....as you do.

Will be back to work soon. I'm conscious I've been lucky. Normal service to be available soon. 

Until the next time.

Friday 6 November 2020

Will Boris Johnson and Mark Drakeford be Remembered As Unwitting Forces For Welsh Independence?

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

I'm sure in a parallel Earth there is a United Kingdom which after the strong possibility of independence has been renewed thanks for to the Herculean efforts of Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Leading by example he was able through strong lockdown and Test and Trace procedures to put the level of the Corona virus in the UK to a significantly smaller level compared to other similar sized nations. The devolved nations followed Johnson's lead causing their populations to query the effectiveness of independence.

The Prime minister had his Churchill moment and he saved the United Kingdom not just from the virus but from it's destruction as well.

But of course we don't live in such a parallel Earth. We live in this one.

Boris Johnson has led England through this crisis with all the certainty of a man dipped in grease, He lectures people on not catching Corona and yet gets it himself. He has acted constantly too late compared to any other European nation. Allows a Test and Trace system to be powered by the software version of a steam engine and has followed, not lead, Wales in a lockdown after originally condemning the Senedd's own lockdown as well as the border patrols stopping people from England visiting Cymru from the most dangerous Tier 3 spots.

And if you actually look at him, the way his suit seems to be garnished with his hair dropping from his head we are clearly looking at a man not at ease with himself.

He had his Churchill moment and we all now realise that even the nodding dog in the insurance ads could have done better.

But let's look at these actions again from Wales. They are the actions of the Unionist Welsh Labour Party. Wales acting independently from England, being condemned by Westminster, only to see the London government follow their actions after having dithered on the scientific advice available.

In other words Wales have been independent of Westminster. 

Now you cannot say that there are not any mistakes. The definition of what was an "essential item" was shambolic and there is a reasonable argument that certain areas such as Merthyr Tydfil should have an extended lockdown beyond when the Welsh national lockdown expires on Monday.

Even so this will I believe be a defining moment. For it shows the people living in Wales that decisions made in Wales for Wales can be successful in Wales. What Westminster wants is no longer bible. 

And that's important.

Until the next time.


Chatting About A Football Book Bought Cheaply Part 1 : The F A Book For Boys Number 11



Hello there. Hope you're feeling well,

Until we can all happily stroll into a football ground again I had the idea of reading and chatting once a week about a football book that I'd have bought cheaply 

A few weeks back I went to the Oxfam charity shop in Penarth to look for such a book. I got one for a pound which was this.


And I should add that I was pretty pleased with the purchase. Firstly because it was a pound and secondly because it was a pound and yet produced in 1957. So just to explain it was so old it was older than me (1957 to be precise). An age where apparently boys went to the FA cup final with their father wearing a cap and shorts! Even if you didn't know the age you would have guessed it by the cover, indeed the title alone "The FA Book For Boys". Girls indeed are mentioned just the once as in a throwaway remark that everyone is interested in football..."even girls". A remark, unfortunately for me made by the West Ham chairman at the time Reg Pratt.

And of course there's the black and white photo many further examples of this book which I actually liked.

This book is basically a serious of items, essays or reports for a readership of boys eleven and fifteen. Now my reading tastes changed between those times and I suspect that catering for that age group explained the curates egg of a book when it came to it's quality.

It can get quite technical. Articles on starting your own league, floodlights and the manufacture of goal posts were interesting for me though I'm not sure how my fifteen let alone eleven year old self would have thought of it I'm not so sure. But they were like nursery pieces compared to the then England manager Walter Winterbottom piece on tactics which I would admit I had to read twice to completely get.

On the other hand there were football cartoons which were as funny as watching the news at the moment and there were the more obvious pieces like the interview with then England captain Billy Wright.

Of course the advice can be proved wrong with the benefit of hindsight. Arsenal forward Vic Groves encouraging boys to "Use Your Loaf!" by heading the ball. A practice banned for all kids now due to the link to dementia. And don't forget the footballs were heavier then. Or indeed technically out of date, As shown by the piece from a BBC producer of the transmission of that year's FA Cup final to Italy.

Obviously the book is England centric but it isn't afraid to mention heavy defeats by the national team. Also there was a piece by then Italy captain and (as it's the Serie A team I follow) Fiorentina defender Ardico Magnini which came as a surprise. The biggest surprise was the piece on Gaelic football though how someone in 1950's England (remember there were only two TV channels then) could regularly follow the sport is beyond me.

Baring in mind that it's target audience was not a fifty six year old man with an occasional back problem and the time it was written it's worth the read. Well for £1 anyway. 

Until the next time.




                                                    


 

Yes I'm Back...

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well.

Well it's been awhile and I needed the rest (not Corona related I must stress) but now I'm back. 

A few things have changed. Since Corona all my New Year predictions have bit the dust but we'll see what happens.

What I have decided to do is to learn French 

So then how have I, indeed why have I, a fifty six year old man with an occasional back problem decided to make the effort and learn a language before when I was much, much younger and failed miserably. So why now? What has made the difference?

Well in truth as the title of the post suggests it comes from my daughter who is learning French at A level. The thought occurred that perhaps to help her I should learn a little Français perhaps also make the house as aimbiotic French as I possibly can given that her schooling is affected by the Corona virus pandemic. Whether it will work or not who knows? But this blog is to mark out my progress, and to see whether when she finishes her studies for this term whether I in fact will carry on.

Of course bare in mind we're living in Penarth South Wales in a pandemic and not Paris. Also don't be bothered about the lack of accents in the writing for the moment. That's just me grappling with the keyboard to find out what to do.

Let's see how I do.

Until the next time

Monday 10 August 2020

If Only Life Was As Simple As A Nineteen Seventies Mickey Mouse Radio


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well.

It is you know very easy to be depressed about the world today. And well, I'm not going to say shake yourself out of it because I'm equally depressed as well. Not I stress the sort of depression that makes me want to jump off a cliff. But what Michelle Obama called a called the low level depression.  I know what she meant. It's the sense that everything is conspiring against you.

Obviously the initial cause is the Corona virus. But then you have the knock on effects of the virus. Already many thousands of retail jobs have been lost in this Disunited kingdom with the possibility of worse to come. Especially as to quote the catchphrase @Winter is coming@. Are we already in a second wave of Corona? Could we be in a third in the winter? Furthermore the possibility of more lockdowns cannot be ignored.

Oh for the days (as those of us old enough will say) that when you heard the word Corona you thought of a soft drink brand in the eighties.

And remember Brexit? The effects of that will start to be felt January next year. What if the pandemic is not stopped then? The double whammy will hit.

But in terms of Bridgend in South Wales the whammy might be triple. For next month is when the Ford company will close it's engine plant there. I will properly chat about this when the closedown occurs but as I've mentioned before the effect on the already weak local economy and the lives therefore will be devastating.....and that was before the pandemic.

I cannot recall a situation where more than one disaster has been inflicted upon us at the same time. That I would argue is the most frightening thing of them all.

So if only life was as simple as a Nineteen seventies Mickey Mouse radio.

And here it is.


I was given it as a child and for some reason which I cannot recall now I'm weary and craggier later it's emerged from the detritus of my life. Obviously it needs a clean but after all these years, no decades later, it actually works.

Being from the seventies it wasn't operated by conversation with an imaginary female in your house that the wife will not wonder about. Or old style by pressing a button to reach the next station. No for the volume you move the dial between the ears. And for tuning it's the dial between the ear and the pointy nose.

You won't be able either to access all the radio stations on the planet young people. It won't even give you all the stations in Britain. Or even Wales for that matter. It's reach is just those stations on the AM frequency. The sound quality would be, well, variable. So I suspect that the only stations I would be able to listen to would be BBC Radio Five Live or BBC Radio Wales.

If only life was as simple as a Nineteen Seventies Mickey Mouse radio.

But reality bites.

As do real mice.

Until the next time.