Films

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I came across this somewhere earlier and thought it a good comment on the hype regarding the film. Now I am not one for films, I prefer reality, but the story is indeed a good one. This King, forced by his renegade brother into his important position, fulfilled his duty as he saw it, in spite of his stutter, his embarrassment, and what it was doing to his family. This shy man found himself head of a nation at war, in what was indeed a war to the death! So shy was he that when taken, by force he would say, to North Africa to review the troops, he refused to leave the tent to inspect them through a combination of shyness and inadequacy. Churchill had to order him, his King, to get in a vehicle and be driven along the troops dutifully lining the desert road. That he did not run away like his brother had, that he did not stand under a falling bomb, that he stood up to his duty under such pressure is a story worth telling! No wonder he smoked himself to death! Now I am not one for Kings and Queens but this man took on this onerous and unwanted responsibility and succeeded! His happy family life was interrupted yet his wife, later known as the Queen Mother, stood by him and famously answered the question, 

"Will the Princesses leave London during the Blitz?" 

with "The Princesses will not leave without me, and I won't leave without the King, and the King won't leave!"

 Such an answer along with the bombing of Buckingham Palace gave the royals a place at the centre of British life. They indeed were at the heart of the British Empire for a while. When his daughter Elizabeth took her place on the throne the nation was agog with wonder at a new 'Elizabethan age.' I need not point out that Scotland had not previously had such an age, but you will of course know this. This position in the nations heart remained the case right up till the time Diana and Fergie's selfishness and lack of responsibility brought this to an end. The Queen still lives her life under the influence of her fathers sense of duty, something that has also influenced Prince Charles. The nation however no longer understands this attitude and this is not helped by a media desperate to make money from the behaviour of royal children! Whether this film sticks to the story or not, and I expect the dramatisation will be excessive as always, this Kings is indeed worth investigating and he is worth respecting for his sense of duty and perseverance in such a time as his.

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Apathy

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As Willie Whitelaw once said, "Harold Wilson is going around the country stirring up apathy.' This has not changed today and I wish to do something to 'take this forward' as they say and have been considering this for some time now. The way I see it.......oh I canny be bothered ...

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Royal Wedding Build Up Post No.3

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Cafe Press

You will be as excited as I to know that in 'Royal Berkshire' (berks for short indeed!) they are now running bus tours around Kate's local area! Yes indeed all aboard for a trip past the church she may well have wandered into, the school she read girls magazines at, the shops the servants used and the very streets she would have trod had daddy not driven her in one of their cars. I know you all want to be there to see where the 'commoner' grew up.

Read, or indeed view it here with the Independent story.  

This Pair

And is this true? Is it true that the Beckhams are on the list of guests for the wedding? I mean 'The Beckhams? He of little football ability bar crosses from the right wing, and she of er, well no ability at all bar posing for the media. These two are to attend the royal wedding amongst kings, queens and other bored VIPs? I suppose they will have to sit on the brides side of the hall, beside the other 'commoners.'  Commoners with most of their millions in foreign bank accounts and a handful of menials to do the work they consider beneath them! The stick insect will feel right at home there...

                                                  

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Royal Wedding Build Up Post No.2

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I suspect that you, like me, are suffering withdrawal symptoms when you hear the sad tale of the 1900 invitations to Harry Willie and Kate's wedding being posted to the chosen recipients, and our name is not among them! This is indeed sad. Just imagine being among the two thousand or so (including servants, police, assassins, hangers on, radio and TV men, and fawning royal press corps) sitting through this wedding. Consider the cost of the outfit you must wear, shabby old suits not allowed, the boasting to acquaintances, the small talk with Kings and Queens (and here I don't mean the staff of Buck House), the long drawn out service, the more thoughtful guests whispering to you "Do you have the result of the 1:30 at Kelso?" and boredom faintly showing through the thin smiles on the faces around you. Do you really wish to be there? Thousands would of course, and they are just the folks the royals do not wish to mix with! 

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Archers

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William Powell Firth. 'English Archers 19th Century'

I laughed when I saw this picture. Here we find three middle class ladies firing a bow and arrow. Now such a hobby is indeed enjoyable, I can think of many targets I would like to use such equipment on, and this is one of those 'sports' that women can participate in happily, unless you are in front of them of course. (Or maybe behind when I think about it....) Here the middle classes of the late 19th century are at play, while the working class are cleaning the house for them during their 14 hour day!  What struck me as funny was the comparison between these ladies and the 'English Longbowmen' of 1346 at places like Crecy or Agincourt!  

The lass in the gray dress, with matching headgear, compares well with a smaller man dressed in tights, ripped of course, a thick quilted short length coat with short sleeves. Sometimes a conical helmet was worn, without the flowers or bows used by the ladies, and I suspect the condition of the archers outfit was somewhat tardy in comparison to these ladies. There again the lassies would have powdered themselves with all the latest overpriced ointments to enhance their chances with the (wealthy) male of the species while the longbow carriers would merely have used mud and body fluids! For some reason this comparison drew laughter from my cruel heart. Oh art, how you reflect society - sometimes!

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Suetonius and Tacitus

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Amazon

Recently I have been indulging my liking of history by reading both Suetonius and Tacitus. Roman history was something I knew about without  having studied properly. So I thought have a read of these two books, which someone else paid for, and I am now more aware of the first twelve emperors from Augustus onwards. At least I now have some idea of the authors opinions of these men and their doings, and as always there is a bias to dig through.

  

Suetonius was one of the high ranking members of Roman society. While Hadrian was Emperor he attained the height of being Secretary of the Imperial Correspondence. Unfortunately in the year 122 Hadrian got the impression Suetonius was being 'over familiar' with Sabina, the Empress, while Hadrian was in Britain, and so dismissed him. Having been Director of the Imperial Libraries we was well able to find his way around the records of past deeds, accurate and mythologised, and from these and other sources he produced his 'Lives of the Twelve Caesars.'    

I really enjoyed this book! Whether it was the vast quantities of cash available to the Emperor, the freedom to invade any nation desired, the ability to make instant decisions with no comeback, and removal of those who upset the rulers will by throwing them to the lions I don't know, but I enjoyed this book! Having all power, not counting the women bitching around you and the fawning courtiers making themselves useful and rich, can be a useful trick. However amongst those willing to flatter you rises a desire to put an end to you also. Reading a list of Roman Emperors from the first three hundred years it is the minority who die in their beds, the vast majority were assassinated  I suspect that the real reason I liked this book was the glimpse into the lives of those who ran Rome. A basic insight certainly, not a history similar to those produced today, but insights into the everyday are seen, and they are not always pleasant for the man in charge. 

Both books start with Augustus and end with Domitian, at least they would had much of Tacitus manuscript not been lost. Sadly his book ends just before Nero gets his comeuppance. We are treated to all the worst, and much of the best, of these rulers. The squabbles between them and their women are shown, although the women ought not to be in powerful positions of course. Tacitus especially indicates how disgraceful it is that a mere woman should attempt to run the Empire! Both men, may well have known one another. Tacitus was a friend of Pliny, Pliny a patron of Suetonius and it is likely one influenced the other as they both came from high class backgrounds. Both wished to indicate how much better life was under their leaders by showing how bad things were in the past. Thus debauchery is often mentioned, much detail by Suetonius, less so by Tacitus. Claudius liked to stay at a distance from Rome and enjoy his sexual pleasures it appears. At times the tales sound like the 'News of the World,' not history. 

One or two major points arise from these books about Rome. One is the deep belief Romans had in their gods. Each day a victim, usually a bird, was killed and the liver examined for indications of how things would be for the Emperor that day. Personally I think killing that bird for that is offal. Rome depended on their gods, Suetonius in particular begins each ruler with a long description of the omens and signs that occurred on the day he was born. Eagles are seen perched on the houses, an earthquake would occur, lightning would strike a major building and so on. There must have been vast numbers of eagles and a dangerous amount of lightening in that part of the world in those days! It also explains why they did not understand the Jews who refused to burn incense to any emperor and did not accept their gods. This was made worse when Christians arrived and the belief was they were cannibals.Did they not eat the body and blood of their God? Both were considered superstitions by those who sought the oracles!

The other major thought was just how viscous a society reigned in Rome. Pax Romanus may well has allowed trade to continue but any crime (and no matter what class you were you could end up as a criminal) could take you to death, and that on a cross or in front of beasts in the arena! Gladiatorial contests were often to the death, and Claudius we read, enjoyed watching the loser die. Criminals could be scourged to death, and Roman citizens lost their heads publicly, an advantage of being a citizen! How thoughtful! People squabbled over seating arrangements, as the better classes wished to have the front seats to show their importance. Emperors and Senate discussed this often as self important men fought for position. Cruelty was part of their make up and if the situation required it an attack on a  fellow senator was used to have an enemy banished or forced to commit suicide. A great many ended this way as lies and deceit filled the rulers household. Rewards for those who informed were often great, although later their sin would find them out. A cruel society, quite happy to slaughter a whole town if they opposed Rome, and if feeling merciful the men would die and women and children sold into slavery! Touching really. 

Both books aid us to understand Roman attitudes, but it is important to also read the younger Pliny as he gives a senators view of life in Rome and incidentally tells us more of everyday life than these books reveal.

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David Cameron

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What is Cameron about? Who is this little rich kid who has wormed his way into the Prime Ministers job?  Educated at Eton and Brasenose College Oxford where he graduated in 1988 with a good degree in Philosophy, Economics and Politics. It worries me when politicians study Philosophy as it is a nothing study. There are no morals in this just words. All is up for grabs and as such gives justification to our amoral MP's.  Apart from a 'gap year' where he travelled and did a little work in the real world 'Dave' as he likes to be known has done little outside politics. Seven successful years as Director of Corporate Affairs for Carlton TV is the only 'real' job he has obtained, and that after much time spent worming his way up the Conservative Party aiding John major with his 'Prime Ministers Question Time' briefings and Norman Lamont when the economy collapsed on 'Black Monday!' He knows about a failed economy all right! 


He left Carton to become MP for 'Witney'' in Oxfordshire, an appropriate seat for what was considered a typical right wing Tory. Being appointed a shadow minister in the Privy Council Office in June 2003, a quick promotion for this bright fellow, he was a deputy to Eric Forth, then Shadow Leader of the House. He then  became a vice-chairman of the Conservative Party in that year. He was appointed as the Opposition front bench local government spokesman in 2004 and entered the shadow cabinet as head of policy co-ordination. For a time he was Shadow Education Secretary.
In December 2005 Cameron became Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition. For the first time the nation could see who he was, and most had never heard of him before his victory. Soon however his rather shady character began to appear. "Dave the Chameleon", the Labour Party called him, and rightly. He appeared to be an 'empty jacket' willing to say anything that would get him elected. Does anyone remember him suggesting that 'Hoodies' needed a 'hug?' Indeed 'Dave' but they also need to be kept under control. Also this quietly disappeared, possibly he realised they were too young to vote. The right wing of the Tory Party denounce him regularly, and their supporters in the 'Daily Mail' can be quite vehement regarding his wishy washy, two faced approach. Why is this? Well many of his promises, I will not go into them, there are too many, many promises have been broken. His real interest is not in creating a successful policy for fixing the nation but simply to obtain enough votes to survive. The right are beginning to revolt and his successful wooing of the Liberal-Democrats into a coalition gave him power but appears to possess so many cracks one wonders how long this will last? 


I wonder what 'Dave' really believes? Does he himself know? He wants to support marriage wet things homosexual marriage is OK also, even though this cannot make sense. He wishes to fix broken Britain he says, yet throws thousands out of work by his drastic cuts, while allowing the banks to take massive bonus's. The city supplies 80% of the Conservative cash and find rewards in tax breaks, how strange! His latest encouragement of the 'Big Society' has fooled nobody as yet. His claim is to get people involved, in a voluntary manner in 'their' communities. No one is fooled 'Dave,' you are just avoiding your responsibilities and cutting back the money you ought to be spending on the nation. The usual Tory policy of not spending money saves money. The usual British response of unemployed everywhere and ten years for the Conservative Party in the wilderness as the nation rejects their hypocrisy! Eighteen millionaires in the present cabinet, including the lackey Nick Clegg, another empty suit. "We are all in this together," says the man in a thousand pound suit, my jeans cost £4 by the way. Some of us are more in it than others, and our number is about to increase.


David Cameron appears to be very confused as to what he wants. He cannot see the nation as it is, just as his friends apparently see it. This is dangerous and opens the way for some awful decisions, like allowing 'gays' to marry in church! What has a church ruling got to do with government anyway? His comprehension of the difficulties, and financially these are indeed great, his comprehension of the answers appear to be nil. All we get is talk of something nobody comprehends, least of all 'Dave' himself. Public Relations and image are all for this man. Content, that is policy that works, does not appear to exist. His party is getting irritated, the Lib-Dems are also impatient, soon something will break, hopefully it will break very soon before we have a society totally out of control. I am worried where all this is leading, and worse than anything  else, there is NO opposition outside of the coalition! Labour are in a worse state, and the House of Lords is not able these days to oppose in the way they did Thatcher. In fact looking at 'Dave' I am beginning to become nostalgic for the mad Baroness, she may have been mentally unbalanced, hard hearted and have no sense of humour or clue as to what was going on but she was far more stable than David Cameron appears to be at the moment.
And that is indeed worrying.


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Egypt

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MidEastWeb

What now for Egypt? President Mubarak takes his leave, moved out by the army it appears. However the army who backed him will not wish to continue in power yet there are no logical political appointees waiting in the wings. Political parties were discouraged, the only organised group being the Muslim Brotherhood and most apparently do not wish for them to rule. Will another dictator arise from the army? Will democratic elections occur? The word 'democracy' is much used and mostly abused in this world. What chance does it have in Egypt tonight? This is the Middle East not the West. People think differently in this part of the world and do not see the world as we do. What happens if such a movement arises in Saudi Arabia? Would this allow bin Laden to return? I doubt it, but it may well lead to a bloodbath in a civil war there. All hangs on a thread, yet nobody knows who controls that thread bar God. A week is a long time in politics and the world this time next week will be a very different place.

Ah the beauty of nature. Spoilt only by a few plastic bags and the occasional bright orange barrier nicked from a workman's site of course. The birds singing in the trees, the early buds appearing on the trees, the gray clouds lowering overhead threatening rain, just right for this time of year. I thought this, somewhat light, picture of the country was better than the passport picture of myself I had to obtain today. £5 for five from a small booth in the town centre. £5 I thought, I could fly to Barcelona for than on 'Easyjet!' The things we are forced to do. Still, I reckon I have kept my handsome feature very well, and I don't look more than 25. Some things, beauty for instance, never change.   

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The Bike

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The weather was a bit dreich, gray clouds lay overhead most of the day, but I managed to get the bike purring all the way up the old railway to the village. That time of the morning, around ten, usually has some folks walking the dog. I maybe would be better saying 'following the dog,' as those beasts enjoy this pathway more than the people do. Whether they appreciate the sights as much as the smells I would not care to say but there were a few four legged creatures sniffing along. 
People round here usually make some sort of greeting as they pass during the week days but on the weekends the attitudes are often different. I wonder if this could be because at the weekend it is those commuters into far off London breathing fresh air but carrying the London offhand approach? Those who have lived there will know the sort of thing, if you die in front of them they will not see you! When I regularly met such folks on a weekend I made a point of a cheery greeting, just to annoy them! They rarely reply!
I was a bit peeved that the wildlife folk had been out with the hatchets and cut back lots of the greenery in preparation for the year. No doubt they know what they are doing but it was a bit disappointing to see so many gaps in the verges. This old railway line is indeed well cared for and is always worth a visit no matter what time of year. I reckon that having spent so many years amongst London's concrete I appreciate the vista more than those brought up out here.
I stopped at the stagnant pond to stop my knees yelling at me, the creaking sound was beginning to annoy me, and sat there for a few moments listening to the typical country sounds. There were robins and tits chirping in the hedges and trees. A squirrel or two passed by, somewhere along the path a dog barked, and over all of this the thunder of the by-pass a hundred yards away drowned out every sound more than five feet from my wax filled ears. Ah the quiet country life, it doesn't exist!


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Now I'm Not One to Complain, But..

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Recently I have settled down at 6:30 to watch Michael Portillo's travels around the UK rail network. A delightful little programme that took us away from the stress of life and showed us some interesting and attractive parts of the UK. Last Friday was the last in the present series of this programme. Yesterday I awaited with baited breath the replacement offering, anxious to know if it could match Portillo's offering. I was not pleased. Indeed pleased I was not! After such an enjoyable programme one wishes the quality to continue, and while I was aware that this series involved a chap driving around the nation in his ageing Voltswagon Camper van I was not too pleased to discover he was another cook! Yes another cookery show! Why? There are chefs and cooks on motor bikes, in kitchens, black ones, drunk ones, sexy ones and even fusty ones, now we have yet another one who's gimmick is an old van! Touring the land he looks for material which 'just happens' to be there and then cooks it, woopee! At times like this I understand why Americans carry guns! Soap operas, dramas that are soap operas, and cooks! That sums up the telly these days. Enough of this pap, give us back proper programmes! 


At least the sun shone today and I got the bike out and trundled around the back streets for half an hour. Later my exercise regime continued with a walk along the old railway and tomorrow, if the rain holds off I will cycle much more. How much better life feels when the sun shines and the sky is blue. Chilly it may have been but we are creatures of light and respond to the sun. If only I had an escape in the Mediterranean!


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TV Football

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Amazon

After watching those parts of 'Match of the Day' that I did not miss by lying in my kip, I later spent much of the day watching football. At one of the clock we suffered the dreary Swansea versus Cardiff City derby that was supposed to be a humdinger of a game. It was rotten! Typical English (and Wales is merely a county of England isn't it?) football, over rated and dreary. A damp squib. Before it finished I logged in to the BBC online to watch proper football, the Scottish Cup tie between lowly Aberdeen and even lower Dunfermline. It was rotten also! This game was dreary and made worse by the Dons gaining a 'jammy' goal in the very last minute. Sickener! The TV coverage from Aberdeen was much better than that from Swansea mind. Down south it appears that constantly showing close up's of every player became a real drag. There was far too little of the game and far too much backs of players heads for my liking. I loudly informed the director of his mistake but he appeared not to listen. At least the BBC in Scotland watched the game and not the 'celebrities' involved. (I use the word 'celebrities' wit a large pinch of salt in Aberdeen!). Still it could be worse, I could have been there and paid money! Even worse it could have been what some call a 'Super Bowl!' No thanks to that!

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Ozymandias

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Ramses II

Ozymandias 

I met a traveller from an antique land

Who said: `Two vast and trunkless legs of stone

Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,

Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,

And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,

Tell that its sculptor well those passions read

Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,

The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.

And on the pedestal these words appear --

"My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:

Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare

The lone and level sands stretch far away.'

Percy Bysshe Shelley




Poem Hunter
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Egypt

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Independent

Egypt, one of the most important nations in the Middle East, is usually just ignored in the UK. Since Suez in 1956 Egypt has gone it's own way and under Mubarak has been a stable friend of the west for thirty years. The plight of half the nation being under twenty five and having no prospects meant nothing to us in the UK, it was just another 'far away nation about which we know nothing,' so to speak. Robert Fisk in the 'Independent is one of the few who regularly give a worthwhile read on Middle East tales of woe and his books are well worth a look for those who wish to understand this area. While trade continued and thousands travelled up the Nile to be ripped off by vendors while catching sunburn in ancient temples the life of the majority in Egypt just passed us by. Rarely did it get a mention on TV news or indeed anywhere else. Ancient Egypt may have appeared on occasion but the present citizens meant nothing to us. Today however we are all apparently involved in siding with the people as they shake themselves free from Mubarak's repression and seek 'democracy!'  Oh yes? We care so much about that, or do we just like watching the riots? Nothing pleases the left wing middle class than a 'revolution' of the people, and nothing pleases the media more than such a revolution producing gunshots and violence. It makes such good pictures for the press and allows the 'Guardian' reader to take sides, albeit at a safe distance!

However where is all this leading? Removing Mubarak may be a victory but then what? The people of Egypt do not know and the removal of this man is less important than other parts of their daily lives. For a start there are too many of them. About half are under twenty five and where do they get jobs, wives and a future? Bread prices have soared and 40% of the wheat stock has been thrown away because of infestation thus increasing prices even more. Political change here as ever is less to do with 'politics' as much as obtaining our 'daily bread.' Few Egyptians I suspect care if the president remains. The majority would accept anyone who provides for their daily bread, creates jobs and ensures a peaceful society. A leaderless revolution always has someone ready to step in and lead, and such people are not always caring folk. The Muslim Brotherhood are often noted as leading opponents, however no other political movements have been allowed to develop in recent times. Men will arise to lead if there is change, can they be trusted by the people, or indeed the west?

A change of leadership has so many repercussions for us in the UK, the politics of the middle east always have an effect on us, the danger of all out war is ever present, vast numbers visit the country each year to boast of their wealth and adventure (What adventure sitting by the Red Sea getting pissed in the sun happens to be I don't understand myself. Why not visit the sights you ignorant slobs?) and if the US is involved they will wish the UK to do their dirty work for them again, as always. Will 'Dave' continue his 'Tony Blair lookalike' image into bowing down before Obama and the American military desires?  You betcha!

What off the people? Mubarak will go eventually, a new man will arise, politics will whitewash those who killed during the rioting, and life will go on. Repression will continue, although it may change its hue, prices will always rise, some will become rich and the rest will muddle along as always. History teaches us one thing, human nature never changes! We might however see more news about Egypt on our TV's for a while, then drop it for some other 'important' story.

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Maldon Estuary

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Rotten Week

It's been a rotten week so far. The bug has taken what little energy and the even smaller amount of sense that I had and gave me that drained feeling. I was supposed to call a place re a job but what with lack off oomph and the fact that I am not fit enough to work 40 hours again has combined to make me feel lousy. It is amazing how quickly fitness leaves and how hard it is to recover. Wednesday saw me determined to develop stamina again by walking. Two long walks in the cold wind, followed  by another yesterday and amazingly I even got the bike out for a while! However all I have are blisters on the feet and aches everywhere else. Since the snow started I have not been able to get the bike out. Follow that with the bug that never leaves and I have done so little exercise it is only the blubber in front of me that stops me blowing away in the wind! At the back of my head a voice is calling, "Get of your backside and DO something you fat slob!" I am glad it is being subtle! However nothing appears to arrive. The job market for an lazy good for nothing unskilled male almost at 60 is quite small these days. Honestly I have used my whole intellect in this fruitless search and....hold on, I think that may be part of the problem! What now? I just don't know and am quite fed up with this directionless life.

This decrepit looking building dates back into the mists of time. They say it was around in the 14th century, probably the last time it saw a lick of paint, and now serves as a small, character filled (which means what I ask?) hotel. Once a large manor house, and now almost unnoticed at the end of the High Street, it is only around the back does the true age of the building show. How often it has been rebuilt or renovated I could not say however it does seem sad that such a character is hidden away from general view and espied (lovely word) merely from the back end of the multi story car park. Several building round here are like this. The front may be Georgian but round the back a more Medieval side can be glimpsed. Chimneys, roofs and 'Gants,' passageways between buildings, reveal the Netherlands influence from the days of the weavers a few hundred years ago. Pairs of cottages renovated into one expensive house show traces of the farm labourers of yesterday, the occasional 'Big Hoose' reveals just how much money could be made from weaving!  Streets built by speculative builders working together spread out from the centre of town. 

In the 19th century a joiner say, alongside a  bricklayer and possibly a plumber, would join together and buy three plots of land in a newly laid out street. Together they would erect three houses, without architects help, and each would sell one and put the profit to his family and then buying more land to repeat the process. By this method much of England's housing stock was built. The 'Feu duty' in Scotland hindered this approach and anyone building went upwards, hence so many tenements. The Scots are much more egalitarian than the stand offish English and such dwellings grew out of the old 'Closes' and 'Stairs' of past times. Naturally the lower down the social order the worse the building, but that happens everywhere, and still does! The Victorians were not ones to dwell on the past. Buildings that stood in the way of progress were demolished. Just look for Berwick Castle and be disappointed. Robert Stephenson tore it down to build his railway station, and used the stones in doing so! Only the 'keep' of Newcastle itself was 'kept!' The train just misses this as it passes by.  Without listing orders on buildings, often a pain to some, many buildings today would be lost to our heritage. It is not possible to keep all old buildings but so many are worth noting that care is required. After all if every 'old thing' was to be replaced what would become of us?

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Rabbie Burns poetry is recited on this night in places far flung from his place of origin. Scots have taken his works world wide and the talent he displayed shines through the long lost South West Scotland words he uses. In fact many of the words were not understood by the 'polite society' of Edinburgh at the time, although this did not stop the women of that society throwing themselves at him of course. Feminism comes and goes but human nature never changes. Rabbie was not at home in such 'high society' and preferred the company of his own district, and who can blame him? In between chasing or being chased by women, farming and then becoming a very slothful customs man he continued to produce poetry. Now that is something the working man of today would not comprehend! Poetry, while appreciated at 'Burns nights,' is considered a 'Jessie' activity by most. Few there are who buy poetry books or listen to the, somewhat dreary, poetry programmes on radio 4.  However mention a 'Burns night,' a few whiskies, a crowd of pleasant fellows and suddenly all seems acceptable, even when many words are easily pronounced but rarely understood! Haggis, neeps and tatties compliment the evening and all go home, somewhat unsteadily, but gleeful. Proffer a Robert Browning or a Byron poem at work the next day and be greeted with antagonism and once again the world goes on its merry way! 

At primary school in the days of long ago we had to sing this Burns song. Occasionally some of us kept to the tune and I am glad as this became a favourite of mine in those bleak days of normal human existence pre political correctness. If you can find it somewhere have a listen ad see if I am right. Surprisingly it concerns a woman!

Afton Water

              Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes,

             Flow gently, I'll sing thee a song in thy praise;

            My Mary's asleep by thy murmuring stream,

             Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her dream.

             Thou stock-dove, whose echo resounds thro' the glen,

             Ye wild whistling blackbirds in yon thorny den,

            Thou green-crested lapwing, thy screaming forbear,

              I charge you disturb not my slumbering fair.

              How lofty, sweet Afton, thy neighbouring hills,

           Far mark'd with the courses of clear winding rills;

           There daily I wander as noon rises high,

           My flocks and my Mary's sweet cot in my eye.

            How pleasant thy banks and green valleys below,

           Where wild in the woodlands the primroses blow;

            There oft, as mild Ev'ning sweeps over the lea,

            The sweet-scented birk shades my Mary and me.

        Thy crystal stream, Afton, how lovely it glides,

        And winds by the cot where my Mary resides,

         How wanton thy waters her snowy feet lave,

           As gathering sweet flowrets she stems thy clear wave.

           Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes,

           Flow gently, sweet river, the theme of my lays;

            My Mary's asleep by thy murmuring stream,

            Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her dream.

RPO

Notes

1] Afton: a small river that flows into the Nith near New Cumnock.

16] birk: birch.

21] brae: hill.

also 'Neeps' are mashed turnips and 'tatties' as you know are potatoes.

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Songs of Praise

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TV ARK

"Lancaster Pam Rhodes learns about the historical importance of the city of Lancaster, and visits a school that makes its own sausages. The programme also features hymns from St Thomas's Church, as well as performances by Lexie Stobie and Tessera"


I was searching the TV for tonight and came across the blurb above for 'Songs of Praise.' I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at this. "Pam Rhodes learns about the historical importance of the city of Lancaster, and visits a school that makes its own sausages." '..visits a school that makes it's own sausages?' This programme is what remains of Christian broadcasting in the UK TV networks and the presenter is not bringing us news about Jesus and his suffering on our behalf, instead she is visiting a school to look at the sausage making! Are the BBC for real?

While this generation now flaunts their agnosticism and the professional atheists ram their unbelief down our throats there remains a right of believers to have some sort of representation on Sunday TV, but this sad caricature of worship fails them miserably! Few would return to the Reithian days but the one programme with specifically Christian content could at least be Christian. Maybe that is a concept a step too far for the controller of such programmes today. The controller at the moment I think may be an unbelieving Muslim, or was it a Sikh? Whatever he is his brief is to widen the religious programming to cover all faiths and none, although how you cover no faith is beyond me. In itself this is fair enough but what actually happens is , well nothing! A meaningless (cheap) discussion programme at ten on a Sunday morning that few watch, and a watered down 'Songs of Praise.'  Well worth the money that! Shambles is not the word.


'Songs of Praise' I think was once intended for those who could not attend their church on a Sunday, today it is a glorified choir practice. This programme uses its own hymn book, they gather choirs from all the churches in a specific area and practice them for a week. Whether these are Christian or nominal does not appear to matter, what matters is lots of faces singing properly and any genuine member of that church is shoved to the back, unless they are featured in the programme. While the singing may succeed,the praise fails. All too often we are left with lots of ageing women, possibly a children's choir, each individual focused, not on God, but on a choirmaster. That is not praise! Now I grant you many believers are to be found among those choirs, and many others seek their God, however this does not reflect the reality of Christian worship in the UK today. I wonder also if this brings the truth of the good news to an individual as well as it might?


Much better to drop this programme and spend several weeks interviewing Christians throughout the land. Not just those famous names but the everyday man in the pew, well seat actually today, and discover how Jesus himself has changed their lives, and not actually made it easier for them while doing so. Much better to watch real people in action that sing a few songs, often good ones, and glimpse individuals lives for a short moment, even if those stories are often touching indeed. The whole programme as it is gives the impression the church is for old women! This is not the case! Far too often those who appear are middle class men in fancy robes or purple vestments relating to few indeed! Jesus Christ is alive and well and changing lives of those who accept him. Throughout the country people are discovering that he is alive yet when they look at the TV screen they see the blue rinse set all too often and little to grab their hearts. 


Jesus Christ himself has come to bring life, real life, abundant life, yet I do not believe this programme shows this. While there are those who tell of what God has done for them all too often we find such items as schools making sausages! This I can tell you is fun but not abundant life! I do not disparage the programme as such, I am happy that there are many who enjoy this programme, however if we are to have a Christian show in the evening let's have a real one, let's reflect the church,in whatever denomination, really has going for it! Let us show the power of Jesus to change lives!


It must be said that in these days Christianity is being pushed aside in an aggressive manner. Christians know the reason for this, and amongst other things showing Christianity in a poor light serves that purpose. However  God has as much right to be heard as anyone else, and while programmes cover all aspects of life the BBC must also provide a fairer representation of God in this world. No-one would object to such fairness being offered to Jews, Hindus or Muslims. Indeed religion is only mentioned during the news or laughed at in most other programmes so it is time for a fairer investigation of the actual effects of belief. That is not being given at this moment in time.




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Now I'm Not One To Gloat

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However a quick scan of the Scottish Premier League shows that while the Heart of Midlothian lie in third place the wee team, the one renowned for their 'flair,' lies second from bottom, a mere three points above Hamilton Accies. This is so sad that I am having to wipe tears from my eyes as I write.  

1 Celtic....................... 22 16 4 2 46 14 32 52           

2 Rangers................... 20 15 2 3 44 20 24 47           

3 Hearts......................21 14 3 4 36 16 20 45           

4 Kilmarnock.............. 22 9 5 8 35 25 10 32           

5 I.C. Thistle............... 23 7 8 8 31 28 3 29           

6 Motherwell.............. 21 8 4 9 26 25 1 28           

7 Dundee United ........18 6 7 5 21 24 -3 25           

8 St Johnstone............ 20 6 5 9 14 26 -12 23           

9 Aberdeen.................21 6 2 13 21 39 -18 20           

10 St Mirren................. 21 4 5 12 17 35 -18 17           

11 Hibernian................ 21 4 4 13 21 37 -16 16           

12 Hamilton Accies....... 20 2 7 11 13 36 -23 13  

  

The defeat of Rangers did however show up the lack of depth in the squad. Kyle being injured left us short and while we eventually won that had more to do with the failure of the Ibrox side to take the several chances we gave them in the first half. The players failed in the tackle, failed to pass properly and appeared devoid of ideas at times. Rangers hassling crowded out the skilful ones and the rest were too busy making mistakes to help. The second have produced a much better performance and the game was very equal then. For a neutral it went from one end to the other but for the fan it became very tense in the last few minutes. I was happy to see the ref refuse to run after the blue bigots as they have done so often in the past. There were areas to improve but overall he was not too bad. However we need to improve for Wednesday, but we can win that also! The futures bright, the futures maroooooooooooon! 

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Greenock Harbour

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Victorian painting is not popular with some. However I find many excellent works there and this one by John Atkinson Grimshaw is one I like. There are one or two others on this excellent Golden Age Paintings blog, and I recommend it to lovers of fine arts and nice pictures. There are a variety of pictures, and lots of words for those that like that sort of thing, and very good it is too!

 Salthouse Dock - Grimshaw.

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