Just back from an excellent gig from the legends that are Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick at Croydon Folok Club. The Club is held at Ruskin house which is owned on behalf of the trade union movement, nice venue excellent gig.
It was nice to see both in a small venue and having them play togehter is something of a rarity, added bonus was getting a C.D. signed by both. Dave Swarbrick is of course the man of legend who had his obituary published in advance of his death by one of the broadsheets and took for a period to selling signed copies!
Music was very much tradtional folk stripped down to the bones,cheery little ditties lol :) As Kate Rusby commented when I saw her at Cambridge " We are going to play ome songs about sailors and death" could have been quite apt for the songs last night. That said some very lively and enjoyable hornpipes and Carolans gave for a lively contrast and the slow ones were played beautifully.
Must admit I was surprised how quiet the audience was in terms of clapping along etc in comparison to many other folk gigs I have been to.
Still all all in a throughly enjoyable evening out and another one of the legendary folk acts to chalk off my list.
Monday 29 September 2008
Thursday 25 September 2008
STOP THE BNP PUBLIC MEETING
THURSDAY OCTOBER 2nd, 7.30pm
NO TO RACISM - YES TO COMMUNITY SOLIDARITY!
Speakers:Sean Fox(Branch Secretary Haringey UNISON), Local Residents
@ St Andrews Centre, Alexandra Pk Rd [nr Windermere Rd] N10
Bus 102/299 to the door + bus 43/134/234/184 nearby
Meeting called by Haringey Trades Union Council, Haringey UNISON
and the Haringey Federation of Residents Associations
Wednesday 24 September 2008
Stop the BNP in Haringey
I was shocked last week to find that the British National Party are standing a candidate in Council by election Haringey where I am UNISON Branch secretary. Haringey is one of the most diverse borough's in London having over 52 languages spoken and many prominent immigrant communities and religions.Despite extreme poverty in many parts of the borough I am proud that we had not had a sniff of the Fascists campaigning for their platform or racism, homophobia and religious bigotry in the Borough. The last major fascist activity was the National Front's march at Turnpike Lane in 1977
Having got over the anger I and other Trade Unionists and community activists decided to do something to stop this stain on democracy getting out of the sewer where it belongs, in Haringey. Tonight saw a diverse group of community activists come together to form The Haringey Anti Fascist Coalition to raise awareness of the BNP'S activities and the truth behind their lies. Alexandra Ward where the by election takes place has been a Liberal Democrat ward since 2002 having previuouslybeen Labour (as of course was much of Haringey for many years). While there is no clear evidence of fascist activitiy or support o the ground (in the GLA elections a grand total of 24 people voted BNP in the Ward) we are not complacent. One vote for the BNP is to many just as one seat is to many.
Our campaign kicks off with a public meeting in the Ward next Thursday to build anti fascist support as well as leafleting every house in the Ward in the lead up to the by election.
We are proud of Haringey's diverse make up and will not stand by while the BNP seek to undermine it in this way. After this by election we will be carefully monitoring BNP activity in the Borough and ensuring that we build maximum support for anti BNP work in the upcoming elections for the European Parliament.
Having got over the anger I and other Trade Unionists and community activists decided to do something to stop this stain on democracy getting out of the sewer where it belongs, in Haringey. Tonight saw a diverse group of community activists come together to form The Haringey Anti Fascist Coalition to raise awareness of the BNP'S activities and the truth behind their lies. Alexandra Ward where the by election takes place has been a Liberal Democrat ward since 2002 having previuouslybeen Labour (as of course was much of Haringey for many years). While there is no clear evidence of fascist activitiy or support o the ground (in the GLA elections a grand total of 24 people voted BNP in the Ward) we are not complacent. One vote for the BNP is to many just as one seat is to many.
Our campaign kicks off with a public meeting in the Ward next Thursday to build anti fascist support as well as leafleting every house in the Ward in the lead up to the by election.
We are proud of Haringey's diverse make up and will not stand by while the BNP seek to undermine it in this way. After this by election we will be carefully monitoring BNP activity in the Borough and ensuring that we build maximum support for anti BNP work in the upcoming elections for the European Parliament.
Sunday 21 September 2008
Well It's over
After 10 games my club finally lost their first game in the Conference South losing 2-1 at Hayes &Yeading. With the result we were knocked off top spot and go down to 3rd H&Y taking our place at the top. Still its a great and now the real challenge is to recover from a first defeat by making progress in the F.A. Cup next week.
Ironically we get to go to the edge of our mortal enemies territory playing at Bedford Town which not only has an MK postcode but shares some sort of relationship with the parasites who stole our league place in an act of franchising six years ago. The best way of dealing with this is obviously to beat them out of site on the pitch and ignore any stupidity by fans and hangers on to wind us up.
Three wins separate AFC Wimbledon and a place in the 1st round proper of the f.a. cup for the first time and a potential big money tie against a league side. This year promotion would be an unexpected bonus but progress in both the F.A. Cup and the F.A. Trophy should be a strong possibility as we look to develop and strengthen the rebirth of Fan owned community football a matter of 2 miles from our spiritual home in SW19. Th
Despite this setback things look to be heading in the right direction as we enter the autumn at AFC Wimbledon
Ironically we get to go to the edge of our mortal enemies territory playing at Bedford Town which not only has an MK postcode but shares some sort of relationship with the parasites who stole our league place in an act of franchising six years ago. The best way of dealing with this is obviously to beat them out of site on the pitch and ignore any stupidity by fans and hangers on to wind us up.
Three wins separate AFC Wimbledon and a place in the 1st round proper of the f.a. cup for the first time and a potential big money tie against a league side. This year promotion would be an unexpected bonus but progress in both the F.A. Cup and the F.A. Trophy should be a strong possibility as we look to develop and strengthen the rebirth of Fan owned community football a matter of 2 miles from our spiritual home in SW19. Th
Despite this setback things look to be heading in the right direction as we enter the autumn at AFC Wimbledon
Browned Off?
This week see the latest attempt of Gordon Brown to start off his fightback and secure his position as Labour Leader. To some extent this saga is getting a bit like the Major "bastards" period and I can't help wondering if he might have been better off taking the Major route to resolving it of resigning and standing again.
Fact is the issue for the voters isn't his personality it's his policies and the climate we find ourselves in economically. Ironically his decision to finally do something about those who make money from betting on the failure of other companies is a welcome move to the left. However he must now take similar moves in other key policy areas. The fact is the move of Cameroon to the centre (whether real or imagined) has attracted that layer of voters who New Labour has historically courted. Meanwhile amongst other groups who have historically voted Labour for far longer there is a level of disillusionment at the failure to deliver real social democratic change.
I know some will argue we cannot win from the left but what exactly does that mean these days? For me a government that allowed Councils to build houses, a government that ended privatisation in public services and funded them so that public sectors were not penalised twice for inflation would be popular. A government that continued and accelerated withdrawal from Iraq and began to work an exist strategy for Afghanistan could equally become more popular.
Its time to re-enthuse our traditional supporters not to move ever to the right and onto Tory ground on public services, immigration and other such areas. After all at some point simply saying the Tories are going to be worse will not enthuse our core support to vote. The gap is clearly made more real by the Lib Dems tack to the right and there is space for a mainstream socialist party to benefit advancing policies of redistribution and public ownership is not some sort of Communist manifesto (or as some would view it "Trot dogma") Its common sense its popular and it might just dig Labour out of its hole. Constantly polls show so called "left wing" ideas are popular and this has never been trested to any great extent by Labour. I discount the 1983 election manifesto since cearly it was delivered at a time when the party was riven by the split caused by the SDP. Even then more people voted Labour than did in 2001.
Sadly those who appear currently to be trying to bring about a change seem to think we need to put in a "Cameroon lite" rather than change the policies. Could Milliband be the answer or would he simply deliver more of the same and go further? Those such as my own local M.P. Siobhan MCDonagh (who has voted for every right wing measure brought in since 1997) obviously live in the belief that the answer so more and furhter moves the "new labour" policies not a real break with them. Question is if this is the agenda what is the purpose of winning in any case since in reality that is what Cameroon will deliver? Surely the level of defeatism hoas not reached the stage where such M.P's beleive the answer is to win again and deliver Tory "lite" policies for them?
I want Labour to win the next election but an auction of right wing ideas with the Tories will not do it.
Fact is the issue for the voters isn't his personality it's his policies and the climate we find ourselves in economically. Ironically his decision to finally do something about those who make money from betting on the failure of other companies is a welcome move to the left. However he must now take similar moves in other key policy areas. The fact is the move of Cameroon to the centre (whether real or imagined) has attracted that layer of voters who New Labour has historically courted. Meanwhile amongst other groups who have historically voted Labour for far longer there is a level of disillusionment at the failure to deliver real social democratic change.
I know some will argue we cannot win from the left but what exactly does that mean these days? For me a government that allowed Councils to build houses, a government that ended privatisation in public services and funded them so that public sectors were not penalised twice for inflation would be popular. A government that continued and accelerated withdrawal from Iraq and began to work an exist strategy for Afghanistan could equally become more popular.
Its time to re-enthuse our traditional supporters not to move ever to the right and onto Tory ground on public services, immigration and other such areas. After all at some point simply saying the Tories are going to be worse will not enthuse our core support to vote. The gap is clearly made more real by the Lib Dems tack to the right and there is space for a mainstream socialist party to benefit advancing policies of redistribution and public ownership is not some sort of Communist manifesto (or as some would view it "Trot dogma") Its common sense its popular and it might just dig Labour out of its hole. Constantly polls show so called "left wing" ideas are popular and this has never been trested to any great extent by Labour. I discount the 1983 election manifesto since cearly it was delivered at a time when the party was riven by the split caused by the SDP. Even then more people voted Labour than did in 2001.
Sadly those who appear currently to be trying to bring about a change seem to think we need to put in a "Cameroon lite" rather than change the policies. Could Milliband be the answer or would he simply deliver more of the same and go further? Those such as my own local M.P. Siobhan MCDonagh (who has voted for every right wing measure brought in since 1997) obviously live in the belief that the answer so more and furhter moves the "new labour" policies not a real break with them. Question is if this is the agenda what is the purpose of winning in any case since in reality that is what Cameroon will deliver? Surely the level of defeatism hoas not reached the stage where such M.P's beleive the answer is to win again and deliver Tory "lite" policies for them?
I want Labour to win the next election but an auction of right wing ideas with the Tories will not do it.
Tuesday 16 September 2008
If
I heard this poem at a leaving do which I rather liked. The author did also give a fulsome apology to Kipling for nicking his masterpiece as a basis:) It might broadly be seen as an ode to the crap Trade Union reps put up with on a daily basis and the destruction of individual styles and thoughts by the endless targets, reviews performance indicators etc that the public sector works under. Welcome to the world of (?) If you recognise the description is it your borough or just one similar ;)
If you can get your managers from British Gas
And Care not what others think
If you can trust yourself when all others doubt
And find new depths in which to sink
If you can turn to an agency at 50 pounds an hour
To hire someone to tickle your balls and stroke your hair
And to do this in an office with glass walls
And act like its completely normal to have them there
If you can talk to the union as if you were their friend
And conduct mock consultations on matters long since decided
If you treat the truth as something for you to bend
And act like its god by whom your guided
If you can start a restructure before the fallout from the last one has touched the ground
And delete jobs at will as if they were numbers not persons
If you can save a measly pound by any means
And really not notice that staff morale worsens
If you think its ok to know virtually nothing of the field in which you work
And never bother to learn
If you can act like everyone else is berserk
For expressing even the slightest concern
If you can lie with a smile and sneer for a living
And demand intrusive monitoring of the sick
If you can forget that Christmas is a time for giving
And favour those who will suck your..toes
If you can worship at the alter of Performance Indicators
And Parrot Jargon that you pretend to understand
If you insist on the terminology of business
And not that of a service offering a helping hand
If there are problems that you can't hide
But you never once feel shame
If you can take all these things in your stride
And Simply find someone else to blame
If you can do these things and hold your head up high
And Act like its a barrel of fun
And never pause to wonder why
You'll be the boss my son.
If you can get your managers from British Gas
And Care not what others think
If you can trust yourself when all others doubt
And find new depths in which to sink
If you can turn to an agency at 50 pounds an hour
To hire someone to tickle your balls and stroke your hair
And to do this in an office with glass walls
And act like its completely normal to have them there
If you can talk to the union as if you were their friend
And conduct mock consultations on matters long since decided
If you treat the truth as something for you to bend
And act like its god by whom your guided
If you can start a restructure before the fallout from the last one has touched the ground
And delete jobs at will as if they were numbers not persons
If you can save a measly pound by any means
And really not notice that staff morale worsens
If you think its ok to know virtually nothing of the field in which you work
And never bother to learn
If you can act like everyone else is berserk
For expressing even the slightest concern
If you can lie with a smile and sneer for a living
And demand intrusive monitoring of the sick
If you can forget that Christmas is a time for giving
And favour those who will suck your..toes
If you can worship at the alter of Performance Indicators
And Parrot Jargon that you pretend to understand
If you insist on the terminology of business
And not that of a service offering a helping hand
If there are problems that you can't hide
But you never once feel shame
If you can take all these things in your stride
And Simply find someone else to blame
If you can do these things and hold your head up high
And Act like its a barrel of fun
And never pause to wonder why
You'll be the boss my son.
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