In Search of London, H.V. Morton

Yes I know, it's him again!

Yes I know you are sick of the sight of him.  Well, too bad, I think I may have seen another one in that online bookshop.

As you know, Morton worked for the 'Daily Express' from 1921 onwards, his tales of London earned him fame, but greater fame came from his 'scoop' from being at the opening of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1923.  His travel books made him famous and reasonably wealthy.  His middle class background enabled him to become a snob, and a patriotic one, when he wished to be.

I was somewhat surprised when opening this book as I was under the impression it would refer to London of the 1920s, however, he walked around, he says, the London of 1950/51, still an intriguing prospect, and gives us an insight of a London very different from that of the 20s.  The book was published in 1951.

Morton's London is London, that is to say, the City of London, and Westminster.  Only Hampton Court outside of this area gets much of a mention.  All the usual places are mentioned, St Pauls, the Tower, the Strand, Westminster Abbey, St James, Royal Parks, and Southwark, for historical reasons.  We follow the usual routine of descriptions of the building and are informed of the architecture, the architect, some people who made use of the place, a shock story here, a love story there, a chopped off head, a mystery, the usual historical tales always with Morton embellished with patriotism, romantic slant, and a belief in Empire and Glory.  H.V. is always willing to shed a tear for the men of Trafalgar or Waterloo, but appears to forget those of recent wars.  This when passing the Cenotaph.

An interesting view of the city is shown in the bombed out basements that surround St Pauls and the like.  Cleaned out after the war the land awaits redevelopment, and the basements are now places for kids to rummage amongst, finding shiny treasures long since lost during the Blitz.  Morton looks across the land that once housed people, offices, shops and clubs, now a view of distant churches is available. For us in the 21st century it is difficult to imagine those early 50's with a real austerity, as opposed to George Osborne's Tory greed one of recent years, grey skies and grey people recovering from war and rebuilding a new world.  

H.V. Morton was of course somewhat above all this equality business at the time.  

The author likes to give the impression that he is known to the great and the good.  A dean here, a curator there, appear willing to engage with him as he wanders a church or museum.  He likes to 'just happen' to meet people of influence.  Though much of this may be down to his personality, and the newsman's ability to make people talk to him.   

The fawning over the better classes continues for 428 pages, though it must be remembered that the King was still alive and the monarch was held in great esteem after the war.  Diana had not ruined the image at that time.  This is therefore a big book, with lots of interest in the historical tales, and the image of London in 1950 is quite strong.  This may be because I can imagine this quite well, others may not understand.  London today is very different in many ways, in others it remains a 2000 year old city, full of tales, much history, and a lonely expensive place.  This book speaks for London today, though most living there now may disagree.

This book is worth a read.

Ne'er Cast Yer Cloot...

Being the first day of June, and having followed the advice of our forefathers, I had avoided casting oot my cloot until May was oot, this morning I threw oot my cloot!

It is freezing here.

The freezing cold east wind, referred to as 'cool' by the weather people, comes in my window and leaves me wrapped up in my cloot, which os no longer oot.  The electric heater under my feet came in, the washing came on, all this to heat the place in the Spring weather.  By the time lunch was prepared I was too hot!

Indeed, it had become so warm I was able to dry the washed sheets remarkably quickly.  Now they are dry the place is freezing again as I have had the windows open and the east wind has returned.  For those in the Atlantic Isles the idea of half the land having record warmth, and the others bathed in mist and dreichness, as happened yesterday, is common enough.  Those dwelling where the sun rises and sets, Spring brings warmth, wee flowers, singing birds and smiles, this makes no sense.  Spring is the time of year when a variety of seasons can arrive at the door hour by hour.  One moment the heating is on, the next we think we are in the Med!  At the moment, I am just south of Greenland.   

June!  Half way through the year and I still have not full-filled my potential.

CoE and Closed Season TV

It goes like this.  An Anglican priest (there are no 'priests' in the new testament) places a post on Twitter concerning the 'pride' march he was about to lead.  This as you know goes against basic biblical teaching, but does however refer to the 'Stonewall' influence running throughout the Church of England.  This heresy, based on a corruption of 'love,' is fooling many and will lead vast numbers far from the crucified Christ.

This 'priest' has now blocked me.

I, along with several others, posted a kind reply hoping someone would give the clergyman a complete bible for Christmas.  In the following days many have 'liked' my response.  This I say, is not unusual, many 'like' what I say, especially those far from me.  I was pleased to gather support from 'like minded' individuals, and hoped there was a rising in the Anglican communion against such mistakes.  

However, upon investigating the dozen or more who have liked the post I am abashed!  Only two appear to be English, both racist Brexiteers at that!  The rest are all far-right racist, US white supremacists, Jew haters, gun loving wide-eyed loons.  And they support me!

What we see here is the difference regarding God between the USA and the UK.  For many white Americans, the ones with US flags flying outside the house, God is white, the USA is Christian white, and all others do not belong, especially blacks and Hispanic.

In the UK there is indeed a clear rise amongst some right-wing Christians to make use of God in politics, the Brownshirts using God as white English, and all foreigners Muslim or ungodly.  This will never be a success in the UK outside of the remnant Brexiteers.

Do any of these people know God?  Are they 'Born again?'  Do they 'love their neighbour?'  Of course not.  God is used by them for a political purpose, one that wins success in parts of America, but fails in the UK.  

Jesus of course is at work in the UK.  He never stops working.  However, his love for all people, gays and 'trans' included, makes use of the words 'Come to me,' and 'repent.'  He does not allow us to continue living lives that hurt, I can tell you that!  He wishes each one to know him, to 'follow him,' and unless, as he says, we lay aside all our 'self,' and all that hinders, 'we can never be his disciples.'  He laid all aside, heaven itself, and human life for me, I, like all others must follow him.  We cannot wallow under control of 'Stonewall' or 'right-wing ideology' as both fail, and do not represent Jesus Christ.  We must abandon our ideas and 'follow him.'  This will not be easy for any of us, however, knowing God is worth the trouble. 

The Anglican church must repent soon, or it will perish.  

It is that sad, unwelcome time of year once again.  That period of time between the end of one football season and the beginning of the next one.  The league placings are all but decided, only one Scottish question remains, will Ross County or Partick Thistle grace the SPFL top tier next season?  The word 'grace' may be out of place here.  Sure there are a couple of cup finals in several places, an international game or two, but then what?  Almost the entire month of June will be TV football free! 
Is that legal I ask?  Nothing happens until mid July, 6 weeks away!  I may be seeing spiders by then.

In days of yore, when I was still pretending to learn at school, the season ended with the cup final, and then the Scotland v England game.  Usually this was complete by the 1st of May.  With little in the way of pre-season friendlies around then, one year the Heart of Midlothian pre-season comprised the 1st team playing the reserves!  This gap meant that for an adolescent with nothing to do there was almost three months without football.  The season would kick of in late July, ten or a dozen weeks away, and I was left moping for much of the time.  Being poor, I need to stress this poverty, we did not venture abroad for a holiday, a day or two in Fife living of relatives was all we could scrounge.  

I became hooked on the Heart of Midlothian long before I was allowed near the ground.  Playing football in the playground, in one of the 'pitches' around us, and reading my brother in laws book 'The Hearts,' by Albert Mackie, inscribed with all the signatures of the great Hearts side of the 50's, my copy only has Willie Bauld and Jimmy Wardaugh's signature, a book which inspired devotion to this team. 

Come Saturday, a 3 O'clock kick of awaited.  I became used to using the bus that went the long way round, this being quicker than those which required a change here and there, and at least this would drop me at Tynecastle's door, the 'home of the Free.'   Sitting each Saturday at the top of Drum Brae, while the drivers were changed or just having a break was so frustrating.  I just wished to get there and here we were wasting precious time for nothing!  I feared greatly that I may be late, though I usually made it with an hour or so to spare.  Whether I was heading for the first team game or just the reserves, I always popped into the wee shop with the name 'Cockburn' above the door.  In fact this was Willie Bauld's shop!  He never spoke to me about football, he apparently regarded me as some sort of idiot, why not, everyone else did.  However, I always obtained a poke of Berwick Cockles.   

Not only did this increase the profits of the shop, these came in the Heart of Midlothian colours!  Famously made, once upon a time, in a wee shop in Berwick upon Tweed,  these are now owned by some conglomerate.  I visited the shop not long before it closed, a miserable old man, in a dark and almost empty shop, sold me these sweets that once meant so much to me.  I suppose it was the end of an era that caused his bitterness, a bitterness that showed.  At least he was not related, our grandfather being born there.  

Poke of sweets in wee white paper bag in pocket, I would pay 3/6d, (three shillings and six pence to you) to enter the enclosure.  It was only 1/6d for the ground, but I wished to be by the tunnel and occasionally speak to a player.  The sights and sounds from that position remain with me still.  The aroma of embrocation cream, rubbed on players legs to make them supple, has never left me.  The sight during a big crown of a puff of smoke from a cigarette away over the far side, the green of the grass expanse, the blue sky, usually cloudy in Edinburgh, and the aged men in their uniform of overcoat, jacket and tie, and good flat cap above.  At half time it was normal for those rich persons seated above in the main stand, the only stand indeed, to stand up and stretch for a while.  Many at that time would possess season tickets, something the majority did not use at that time, and also possess one for the Hibernian ground down in Leith at Easter Road.  This does not happen today.  Costs alone would prohibit this, and while a few might still do this they are a small number now.  

The football of course was better in the early 60s.  England had a £10 wage cap, so why would decent players go south?  Wages may have been better here, and noticing the gathered players before the game, all in sharp Italian suits and 'winklepicker' shoes, indicated they were not short of a bob or two even then.  It was not as wealthy as today, however, a good signing on fee once or twice and a player could afford to buy a wee newsagents or a share in a pub.  

The game over, the referee blamed, the Glasgow mafia once more at fault, we headed for the door.  Stumbling up the terracing, laid down way back in 1914 just as the war was raising its head, it did not cross my mind then that many people who I heard yell out that day would have served in that war.  The old men had seen two wars and a depression, many had suffered severe hardship, many had tales to tell from across the world.  I had a near empty bag of Berwick Cockles.

The programme, obtained from a wee man outside the ground, just how many 'wee men' keep wee football teams going around the world?  The programme costs 6d in those days, and I still have a handful of the more important ones on the shelf.  The majority collected I passed on after my mother died, to a kid playing for Hearts U12s at the time.  A couple of scrap books and a pile of programmes from many places were very welcomed by him.

Those days are like all of the past, simply memories now.  It is unlikely I will ever return to the ground, at the moment I am not fit enough, the money and fight for a ticket in these all seated days is beyond my effort, and a move to PPV would suit me down to the ground.  Sitting here shouting at the screen is far more desirable that spending time in the rain, sleet, cold, or any other typical Edinburgh Saturday.  I have seen enough of them, I have served my time.  Memories are good, but comfort is better.

   

King of Kings, Majesty

Dunfermline Abbey

The Old Manor House,

The view the pigeons up there in the loft have includes The Old Manor House.

As far as I know, there is little information regarding this building.  The timber and plaster built hose was erected in 1550, during Tudor times, and that is a period in which this area is devoid of information.  Those who choose to study the Tudors round here find almost no information whatsoever.  

However, that year the imperialist English were involved in the 'rough wooing,' which began when Henry VIII sent his failing army to invade Scotland, to force a marriage between Mary, Queen of Scots, and his young son Edward VI.  He failed, and an agreement was reached at Boulogne, where he also had troops attempting to steal French land, though by the time of the peace Henry himself had passed on.   

John Napier was amongst those born that year, you know how he created Logarithms and so upset schoolchildren everywhere, especially me.  Who needs such things?  Thomas Cranmer's 'Book of Common Prayer,' introduced the previous year, was now in use everywhere in England.  The reformation, caused by Henry's desire to bump off his wife, had taken over the land, and while some of a Catholic persuasion led short lived revolts in the south west, the reformation persisted.  The 'Ale Houses Act,' licenced such premise's for the first time, much to landlord's joy.   It continues bringing joy to licensees still.  

Abroad, the Spanish were taking over South America, leaving Brazil for the Portuguese.   Chocolate is introduced into Europe, by the Spanish I suspect, so women everywhere rejoiced as never before.   The 'Society of Jesus,' is created, so you can expect a knock on your door any time soon.  

Wiki

The family of Sir Thomas Moore, indicate how the rich were dressed in the 1550's.  Lower orders were dressed according to class, including the type of headgear allowed them.   Of course even if you were wealthy, having the head cut off, or being burned at the stake, were occupational hazards in those days.  It was fine to gain enough money to build a nice house, have a wee estate, but ensure you keep in with whoever was winning, and this meant following the Kings religion, or you were headed for the block.  Politics was a hard place in these days.

Around a hundred years later, England was in the middle of yet another war, this time a civil war, though how 'civil' the people were to one another is unclear.  This town was a Parliamentary Town, that is, they sided with Oliver Cromwell and his 'roundheads.  Indeed many men from here may well have been part of his army.  This county has always been a rebellious one.  I myself have met many a revolting peasant round this way.  

During 1648, Sir Charles Lucas led his royalist troops into Braintree seeking the weapons stored there.  These had been removed by the parliament supporters in the town.  Lucas moved to Colchester and the next day Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron, arrived in the town.  It is believed, though no real evidence has come to pass, that these men, or possibly the townsmen, damaged the royal sign above the door of the Old Manor House.  Being so badly damaged no-one is quite clear as to who the sign represents.  Then followed the Siege of Colchester, which killed many and lasted a good time.

Wiki

But I have no idea who built the house in the first place.  As Henry VIII died in 1547 it is clear the builder had chosen the protestant faith, young Edward VI was very much in favour of the reformation. 

After him came a time of trouble, with Mary I ascending the throne eventually much death and trouble arrived for the protestants.  It is always possible that the builder of the 'Old Manor House' was exiled, or dead within a few years.  So far we do not have evidence for his life.

Homing Pigeon?

I noticed this chap a few days ago while limping towards Sainsburys.  I was impressed by the efforts to hinder pigeons, of which there are many sleeping on the roof here overnight, from perching on the windowsills.  I am always impressed by birds as they consider the many ways in which they can not only make it through the day, but also improve their lives by simple actions.  Here, one bird, by the simple action of smashing the window, possibly while flying at high speed with his eyes closed, has gained entry to the top floor of this very ancient building.  

This building stands in what is called 'Little Square.'  This marks the spot where the early market first arose over 800 years ago.  This came about by the Bishop of London, who owned this side of the town, persuaded King John, he of ill-repute, to allow a market here weekly.  King John considered for a few moments the tax raised by such a market, his debts obtained by fighting very badly when claiming France as his kingdom, and allowed the market to begin, and added one down in Chelmsford around this time also.  The tax played on his mind I reckon, more than the cabbages available on the ground.

This building, wood and plaster, has stood here for a great many years, I suspect several hundred, but I have not got that information to hand.  

The block of houses contains four shops on the ground floor, as a market should, most are in good condition still, however, the one at the end, where the pigeon roosts, is somewhat less tidy.  There is a shop at a the bottom, which I think is now closed.  A first floor for accommodation for those who like to 'live above the shop,' and this top floor for pigeons to look down on you.  Like too many shops in the town life appears far from this one.  I think the owner, or tenant, has another along the way, but I could be wrong.  Either way, someone needs to look into the building, accommodation and a shop all in one, in the centre of town, just off the main drag?  Someone will make money here surely?   

Keir Hardie

I am led to understand that Keir Starmer is visiting this region today.   This offers a temptation to rush over to him and ask if he has ever heard of 'Keir Hardie?'  

Keir Hardie is the man who made the Independent Labour Party, out of which grew the Labour Party of today, a very different beast now.  

Born illegitimate, in the small Lanarkshire mining village of Legrannock, Lanarkshire,  on 15th August 1856, to Mary Keir.  The father was a local miner.  Three years later his mother married David Hardie, a ships carpenter and the family lived in various poor areas of Glasgow seeking work.  Money was scarce and young Keir found himself doing various jobs from the age of seven.  How many children today would enjoy that?  By the time he reached 10 years he was a bakers roundsman, supposedly of three shillings and sixpence a week.  This possibly meant ten hour days, six days a week!   Near Christmas he was fired because he had been caring for his pregnant mother and sick brother, this made no difference and he lost his job.  We are led to believe the Baker was doing well and possessed a well stocked household.  Hardie and his family lived in run down 'single end' housing in Glasgow, the cheapest possible, and struggled like so many others.  

Soon after this the family moved back to Mary's mother in Newarthill, near where he was born as David Hardie took the only job open to him and went back to sea.  The boy failed to obtain apprenticeships and was therefore forced into the only work available, mining!  

At first this meant sitting in the dark opening and shutting the doors as pit ponies and men passed by.  When aged twelve he himself was guiding the ponies up and down the shafts.  On one occasion a fall of rock left him entombed, however, when rescuers found him he was lying asleep by his pony in its stable.  This event left a mark on him however.

The boy's education came only from night school.  He would practice writing on slates covered with coal dust.  By his teens his reading was filled with Scottish writings.  Robert Burns, the Covenanters and Thomas Carlyle influenced him greatly.  Burns especially with his 'A man's a mans for a that,' alongside one portion from Carlyle which led to Hardies' strong pacifist ideals.   

His mother was also a strong influence on his youth, she may have been an agnostic, but they say, she was a Scots Presbyterian agnostic!  The culture permeated Hardie, influencing his teetotal life, and he learned how to communicate by leading the 'Temperance' movement around the Pits.

The speaking for Temperance was good practice for speaking on behalf of mineworkers.  However, this also upset the mine owners and by 1878, the year he claims he became a Christian and joined the Congregationalists, he had been removed from the pits and banned sine die.  He never worked down a mine again.

By the end of the 19th century the nearest thing to workers representation was the Liberal Party.  Hardie soon saw himself as a 'Gladstonian Liberal.'  The great William Ewart Gladstone a man who found favour with the working man.  This in spite of Gladstone's opposition to the 'socialism' that grew in Hardies' mind.   Hardie earned money by writing for a local Liberal paper but his ideas were much more radical than those offered by the Liberals.

By 1888 Hardie was standing as an Independent Labour Candidate, losing, but gaining some support.    Keir Hardie entered the House of Commons by winning the West Ham South seat in 1892.  No miners in this area, however, the conditions replicated those of working men elsewhere and many chose Hardie before the Conservatives.  

Being a man of independent and strong mind Keir Hardie refused to wear the top hat and frock coat that members of the House routinely wore.  Hardie came in tweed suit, with deerstalker hat, the appropriate hat at the time.  The press attacks were merciless, nonetheless Keir continued to speak for a radical agenda, votes for women, free schooling, pensions and the abolition of the House of Lords. 

He remained in the House until 1895.

The growth, first of the Independent Labour Party, and after 1900 the Labour Party, came from the hard work Keir Hardie endured.  Consider the opposition, from both Liberals and Conservatives.  The outcry, when during the congratulations for the arrival of a new Prince, (later Edward VIII) he asked for condolences to be added regarding the deaths of 251 miners in a Welsh mining accident.  This outcry led to losing his seat.

Elected once again in 1900 for Merthyr Tydfill, he continued to pursue radical policies.  All around the Labour Party was developing and though elected first leader in 1906 he resigned the post in 1908. 

Keir Hardie continued to represent Scotland's miners, to such an extent that he wished to end immigration from places like Lithuania, their workers were cheaper than Scots miners and jobs were being lost!  However, he supported votes for black men, though none were in his area, votes for women, and freedom for India.  

He became more unpopular when he refused to back the Great War.  His pacifism, and the idea of working men killing one another went all the way back to his reading of Thomas Carlyle's work.  He refused to support war, and gave support to those who refused to fight.

Illness led to pneumonia and in September 1915 he died in a Glasgow hospital.

His legacy can be seen in the Labour Party, though much changed since his day.  That change can be seen in Keir Starmer, a stranger to mine workings and heavy labour, and today a stranger to socialism.

Still, whatever gets you elected...

This book is far from young, published in 1975, and at times is very dense.  This is caused by the detail given to the development of Hardies opinions and then the growth of the Labour movement.  This, as you can imagine, was not straightforward.  Neither is the book.  Worth a read if you have the time.

  

Idiot!

Idiot!
I sent some paperwork into the council on Friday morning and returned to my place of obscurity.

Satisfied all was in order I wandered through my day with the usual grace.

Late afternoon, as I was trying to help a friend understand how to work 'Whatsup' on her new mobile, I received a call.  This was the nice lady from the council informing me that she had received my covering letter, but no documents.  The old fool had posted the letter while returning the papers to the desk.  She told me I could send them by email, but as we were struggling with the mobile tech I thought this unwise, and told her I would post them.  The council office is just across the park from here.

So, before 8 am I was up and running, well, hobbling, across the park passing all the other men of a certain age exercising slowly before people are up and about.  This was a day of rest for me, three football games to watch, and all the while across the road in the park a 'Skateboard' exhibition is about to start.  So, noise and crowds of yobs will soon gather and annoy me while I watch a quiet football match at Tynecastle where a mere 18,000 will be drowned out by skateboard activities.

Bah Humbug etc...

Have you noticed how little news there is?  

All appears quiet on the political front.  Sunak is away in Japan trying to increase his riches, Starmer is about but nobody is sure what his beliefs are this week, and nothing of importance is occurring anywhere.

Has all crime ceased?

Have the Tories turned honest?

Tsk!

Ah well, at least the football is good!

Western Front Way

The purpose of this book is to publicise 'The Western Front Way.'  This is an idea based on the thoughts of one 2nd Lieutenant Douglas Gillespie of the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders.  His dream, in late 1915, was o a pathway lying along the 'Front' between the opposing armies, the intention being to look upon the cost of war and perhaps bring reconciliation and peace between enemies.  All very noble but a dream that came to little at the time, Gillespie himself being killed in action during the Battle of Loos, his body, like so many others never recovered.  The effect of his family back home in Linlithgow of his loss, and that following on the loss of his brother a year before, must have been heavy.  Well educated middle class sons who went to 'good' schools, usually one offering an 'Officer Cadet Training Squadron,' saw the loss of many 'sons.'  Such officers, often with much less experience than their men, were always the first to go 'over the top' in any action.  As a result, such officers suffered proportionately higher loss than that of the private in the ranks.  

The war rumbled on for another three years after Gillespie died at Loos and there was little desire for reconciliation or peace in the years following the war.  Belgium saw the vast majority of the nation under German control, only flooding the land in the north prevented further incursion.  France hurried to remove the mess left by the war, hidden explosives removed, trenches filled, land once again ploughed over to return to farmland.  The idea of 'reconciliation' was far from many French and Belgium minds in 1918.  

In recent years Gillespie's words have reappeared and many took up the idea of a long path along the line of the Great War Front.  'The Western Front Way,' now appealed to many, especially in Belgium where support for remembrance of the war has always been strong.  Whether this was in regard to the wars memory or the idea of thousands of tourists searching the land where their family and friends had fought is not easy to determine.  Many of those financially able did seek out the graves of their dead, some hoping to find their by still alive, somewhere, somehow.  Tourism covering now two wars is indeed big business in this part of the world.

Sir Anthony Sheldon, a head of private schools, had often taken students across the battlefields of France and Flanders.  He had acquired a great interest in the war and had picked up some History on the way.  Along with others he worked to bring the idea of the 'Way' into reality.

In an effort to publish the 'Way,' as well as recovering from the loss of employment and the death of his wife, Seldon decides to walk the entire length of the proposed pathway, almost a thousand miles.  His intention is to begin at the far end, the Swiss border, and from there walk towards the North Sea.  This is a simple proposal, and a noble one.  There are however problems here.  For a start he is not a long distance walker, he is 68 years old, the walk takes place late in summer, and Covid restrictions hinder progress and ensure almost all businesses are closed, this means hotel and other facilities are very limited.  However, he manages to survive and eventually finishes the course.

Several problems concerning the war remain however.  The majority of the 'front' has been swept away, especially in France where there appears little desire to 'remember.'  In the southern parts, where it was France v Germany alone and thousand died on both sides, little remains of the conflict.  Occasional villages stumps can be seen, the evidence of heavy shelling, instead of rebuilding the village a new one is often created along the road.  Memorials exist but the indication here appears to be that these are not visited much by locals.  

Elsewhere the border itself has moved and for a 'pathway along the front' the author appears far from the actual battle lines in my view.  Modern day construction, woods, farmers fields and the roadways interfere with a war 105 years before.  The needs of today take priority.  

Belgium is more interested in the 'Way,' and already the path is marked out in places.  There can be no doubt that such a path will bring tourists interested in war and visiting Europe to walk or cycle, France prefers cyclists to walkers, and small business along the way will indeed benefit.  Will 'peace' be encouraged by such a walk?  The idea did not stop a second war 20 years after the first, it has not stopped fighting in the Ukraine, Cameroon, Syria, north Africa, southern Sahara, and many other places.  Human nature does not change, and somewhat hopeful attempts at 'peace' will not defeat the human 'self.'

The writer managed a very difficult walk in hard circumstances.  His emotions were disturbed, his feet painful, and while it is a requirement of such books to mention all such instances I found it became somewhat embarrassing as the authors life unfolded before us.  There is a limit as to how much of the author needs to place in such books.  

I also found his History of the war to be somewhat unsound.  An example is his condemnation of the generals for the battles at Loos and the Somme.  He ignores the politicians demand that forced these battles on the generals.  Possibly this is because he himself is an honorary Historical adviser to No 10?

Theses two battles were rejected by the generals as being impossible places to fight.  However, London 

preferred the opinion of French generals to British ones and thousands were lost because of this.  You can add Gallipoli, Salonika, Mesopotamia and Africa to this list of London failures, yet the generals are blamed.  The generals did not have friends in the press!

The idea of this walk is a good one, many will make use of it, but any idea of peace comes from hope rather than an understanding of human nature.  Far many the book will be a good starting point on a journey, but for me with Covid hindering progress much required information for the walker is missing.

I also found the author tiring and struggled to finish the book.  While he offers historical insights into some fighting as he passes this is overshadowed by too much of his own troubles.  It is to be hoped a better guide will be forthcoming in the near future.

@Punch 1981

Chastise

@Bob Herriott

There has been some fuss in recent days concerning the famous 'Dambusters Raid' from some 80 years ago.  As usual, the tabloids have gone overboard on 'our heroes,' 'our boys,' and the usual sentimental garbage that follows.  This from a paper who's boss stood willingly beside Herr Hitler for a photograph, and whose paper demanded the UK stop taking in Jewish refugees, even if they are only children.  Naturally, this was not mentioned once the war began.

The 'Dambusters Raid,' a rather cockeyed attempt at knocking out three major Dams in Germany, thus destroying much industrial output, was a courageous attempt at a time when the outcome of the war was still unsure.  By making use of a 'Bouncing Bomb,' dropped at 60 feet from the water while flying, under enemy fire, at 240 mph was not one that endeared itself to the crews.  

On the night of May 16/17th 1943, the 19 Lancaster's, in two formations took off on 'Operation Chastise.'

As always, the RAF flew at night.  RAF Bomber crews always considered the USAF idea of flying bomber aircraft in large formations during the day an absurd and stupid thing to do.  The Yank crews considered flying in the dark, unsure of where you were, an unusually stupid thing to do!  Both were correct!

Rising one by one from the airfield, slowly gaining height in their extremely heavy and unusual aircraft, the Lancaster's crossed the channel heading deep into the darkness.  Problems soon arose, one aircraft had technical difficulties. another flew so low his  

'Bouncing Bomb' hit the water and was lost, though the aircraft survived and returned to base.  Three other Lancs went down under anti-aircraft fire or by hitting electricity cables.  The idea had been to fly at 100 feet to avoid detection, gunners and obstacles did however, notice them. 

After much stress the attack succeeded in breaching both the Mohne Dam and the Eder.  The rather stupid idea of breaching the huge earth dam at Sorpe failed both because of the makeup of the Dam and the great difficulty in attacking.  

The result, with only 11 of 19 aircraft returning and many of the 133 crew lost, was indecisive.  On the ground some 1600 were killed, around 800 of these slave labourers from various parts of German dominated Europe.  The damage to industry was limited, the coal mines suffered, power stations destroyed, and houses and smaller industry damaged.  A failure by Bomber Command to follow this up with several 'normal' bombing raids, could have extended the damage somewhat, but this never occurred.  

The effect on the war was limited, the effect on the UK was huge.  The raid was portrayed as a massive success, as you do in war, and the lift for morale was huge.  During late 1942, Montgomery had beaten the Germans in North Africa, in early 1943 the German attack on Stalingrad had failed, and with this bombing success the people, after four years of war, now began to believe that we could win in the end.  The raid may not have been a military success in a manner still offered by the media, but the hope of success, and even an end to the war could now be believed.  

      

Trump, Tech and Spring!

Once Joe managed to get his aged head in the White House it was hoped the end would come for the fat, orange blob.  However, in spite of insurrection, rape allegations, court decisions and obvious mental health problems, Trump once again heads the count for the Republicans as Presidential candidate.  We think the UK parliament is in a mess?  

How does a man who supports the Russians in Ukraine, use and abuse women so openly, talk like a 14 year old taking his first drugs, and lie so obviously retain this position?  Uncle Joe is no hero and some of his statements are somewhat dubious, but with a choice between a semi dementia man with some decency, and a Nut Job who considers, and probably believes, that the world is there for him and him alone, which would you choose?  Joe would not lead the US into a war, against the Ukraine, Trump might!  Trump, with the monetary understanding of Liz Truss, could demolish the worlds economy in less than her 43 days.  Yet, many US citizens will vote for him!

The west has been morally degraded by the policies of great wealth and false liberalism.  The 'Stonewall' type freedoms have deluded many, the creation of wealth and the removal of that wealth has left many distressed, and Covid did play its part here.  It is interesting how immoral governments and economic distress go together.  The stability built up since 1945 has been gradually eroded.  The west has nothing to hold it together now.   And a return of both Trump and Johnson is on the cards.

Sleep well.

In the real world Spring has produced a lively concoction for the wee beasties.  Buttercups and these white things that I can never recall the name off, these abound round the park.  Yesterday, my body failed to make Kirk, so I wondered across the park enjoying the greenery.  The council cut down the dead daffodils and allow the space to be filled with all this beastie attracting growth.  They do manage it well, and this replaces the areas killed off by front gardens being turned into car parks.  No wonder the number of sparrows is diminishing.  

I love technology, I really do!

I love how technology enables my laptop to manipulate the anti-virus in such a way as it logs itself out, logs itself in, all unasked, and then slows everything down while it contemplates what it is doing.  This, I only understood after uninstalling 'Avast,' and then re-installing the thing this afternoon.  Why did it do this?  Was it attacked by a virus?  Anyway, all is now well, apparently, but every day, and in everyway, we are being driven mad by the technology that was discovered to aid us and make our life easier!   

Edinburgh, People and Tenement

 

It has been a boring day.  Rising with the dawn, almost, and working through some of the jobs that have been left undone has not been exciting.  The 'Chick Pea Soup' appeared to be a grand idea this morning when I began making it.  The 'Somme Mud' that I ate disheartened me a little.  At least it is good for me, bar the taste.

So, to get out of myself I went back to 'Tenement Town,' and read through the lives of those Edinburgh worthies who have gone before.  Normally, the media is full of people's private lives and I spend little time reading about what celebs and the famous get up to.  However, the brief tales dragged from old Edinburgh papers do make me want to know more.  

These tenements are far from where I grew up, the picture above is the tenement far from the centre of town, where I first trod the earth.  Edinburgh is full of them and I suspect the tales offered in the website are no different from the tales that must have taken place amongst the residents here.  

One thing stands out, the 'Demon drink!'

Men and women take to drink very easily, in these tales here we see much abuse from violent men, often in tears of regret when sober, hardship for children, the worse this becomes the further back we go when no social assistance was available, and then there are the accidents, falling out of fourth floor windows and the like, all caused by drink.

The next major item that appears in my mind is the illnesses.  Tuberculosis being often mentioned, and other diseases that we no longer have, because of vaccinations and a proper NHS, something this Tory government wishes to kill.  So many people, children to adults, die from sickness unheard of today in the UK.  Occasionally, a worker is forced to work in terrible weather while suffering some illness, this results in a heart attack, does this, I wonder, upset the boss?  Accidents happen, young workers falling down hoist lifts, children under cars (1913) holding the axle and letting go only to be run over by a taxi following.  Children, as we know, can invent new ways to kill themselves without any adults aid.  

Overall, I just felt so depressed that so many people appeared to have such unhappy lives.  Not just long working hours, poor pay and conditions, being worse the further back you go, but so many find alcohol the only fun they have, or indeed an escape from either pain or life.  Others find escape by crooked dealings, one by renting a flat, then renting it out himself, after pawning flat items, and then jumping on the London train.  He got 60 days!  My favourite man is the one who lost a £1 note, (1881) and put an advert in the paper asking if anyone had found it!  For many, £1 was almost a months wages, for the skilled man a reasonable weeks.  

Anyway, reading about this lot made my day in some ways.  Human beings do not change their nature.  Down through time we do not change.  Our culture is motivated by our understandings, and clearly, Edinburgh, in times past had some very confused people, groping through life seeking some satisfaction.  No change today I expect.

Charlie

I have spent several nights sitting on the roof, howling at the moon.  The reason?  The Coronation!  Now, this is not because of the actual coronation, which I may have touched upon before, but the cobblers that has been spewed out by the press over the past few day.

The UK free press, all owned by rich billionaires living abroad to avoid tax, knows that the royals sell papers.  So a simple strategy is in operation, either smarmy, mind bending slop is spewed out about the 'beautiful princess,' the 'sweet kids,' the 'much loved' other one, and so on, that it is difficult not to vomit!

Today, long after the event, puerile stories about Charlie are still heading up the press.  It is no wonder it is said Charlie hates the media, he has every right to.  In spite of the lickspittle responses on offer Charlie is well aware that tomorrow these same hacks will take great delight in stabbing him in the back.  Any indication that he differs from their view and out will come the knives.  It will be soon I say.

Now, whether we need a monarchy, and what sort of monarchy we will have is well worth a debate.  It is difficult to watch a thousand year old ceremony of crowning English (not British) kings without asking if this is relevant today?  Charlie will be aware of this, but how to change this?

A public debate is required, sensible, quiet, and thoughtful debate.  The results will be different in various parts of the country.  Scotland has little interest in the monarch, while the last poll indicated around 30% supported one, it noted 48% did not.  The figures will be vastly different in England.  They always see him as 'King of England' anyway.  Well, let England pay for him.

We really have no idea what these royals are like in the flesh.  Many claim to speak for and against them, few understand the horrible life, always on show, without any real power to use.  However, I always liked Charles.  His parents did not care much, his dad had no idea about him, and his mum was too busy playing queen to bother.  Forced to marry an unsuitable woman because a suitable one was not good enough in their eyes was a mistake.  Diana, the woman on the make, ruined the family image.  The two dim sons she left behind, one with red hair surprisingly, reflect her intellect.  Within ten years I suspect one will be king and we have to go through all this again.  Poor Charles, he just wants to get back to the farm, grow plants, tend the cattle, make money and play the country squire. Instead he has a corrupt government to speak for him, limited opposition, failed media, and a Tory BBC to deal with.  I suspect he does not wish to get up in the morning.

Willie Collum Does it Again for His Team

 

Another Heart of Midlothian v Celtic game, another example of Willie Collum's deliberate bending of the rules to benefit his team.  Yet again he takes his teams side. This is not new, I make it six penalties he gave in seven games against us, none of which were penalties, and add to this several non red cards which he decided were red and has shown against this club, and he has gone one better today.  Sitting far from home in Glasgow he has made use of VAR to force the referee in today's game to send off a Heart of Midlothian player for no reason.  A foul, if it was a foul was committed, a yellow card shown, if that was required, and the  Willie demands a red, because that is what he does!

Had I been the boss at Tynecastle I would have taken the players from the field and sued both Willie and the SFA for the cheating we have endured.  This is not new, I have seen this as far back as the early 60s when Gordon Marshall was also treated badly by a Glasgow referee.  The 'Old Firm' have always had the refs in their pocket.  Today, ought to have been time for action.  The cowards at the Heart of Midlothian board will fail to react, once again. 

The King and Her

The coronation took place today, in case you had not noticed.  Several thoughts coursed through my mind throughout.  One that kept returning was the thought that Camila was only there because she had been told it was a 'Coronation Street' party.  She looked a wee bit disappointed.

My thoughts concerning Archbishop Selby and his fellow Bishops on show were not polite.  While working through the liturgy as if he believed it, he forgot to add that he was opposing it with his 'Stonewall' propositions.  He was asking the King to be 'defender of the Faith,' while all the time moving away from that very faith.  The title itself was given first to Henry VIII in 1521, by Pope Leo X, after he wrote a booklet opposing the works of Martin Luther.  He had it removed a while later when he decided to become head of his own church, an action that begat much seen in today's coronation.  It had actually been offered to Scotland's King James IV in 1507, many years before, as 'Protector and Defender of the Christian Faith.'  It could be said the kings since that date have been defending the Rome version, but I suspect legal moves since have abandoned this. 

Anyway, throughout I was not happy with the Bishops performance, more an event than a Christian service, though the biblical words I liked.  Leaders of the Anglicans in England are becoming more of a shadow of the faith rather than leaders.

One thought concerned the chair.  The throne on which the King is 'kinged,' I note was not as it appeared in the shop.  Behind the king were initials cut into the wood, I spent much time attempting to read them rather than watch the event.  I winder who scribbled on there, when, how?  Probably kids from the choir.

The overlong ceremony did appear to be out of place in today's world.  If we have a king we need a coronation, I understand Charles changed much, but it appears the CoE, therefore the Archbishops, who have the last say.  It is a church run event.  

The BBC coverage continued in the normal royal vane.  The commentators bland, grey voices, the information regarding the marchers, the dresses, what the kids were doing, the false enjoyment of nothing almost 'Daily Mail' like.  Indeed in the studio a royal correspondent from the paper itself offered his opinions.  Who heard the word 'slime ball' there?  Others who appeared to offer their thoughts 'How fantastic,' 'wonderful day,' 'excitement,' and so on.  Gush, gush. gush.  Now I expect much of this at these times, but there is a limit.  I also noted the BBC appeared not to mention the 'Not my King' protestors who were arrested, nor the 'Stop the oil' bairns also.  Maybe the BBC did not know?   

I was more concerned for the troops standing for hours in the rain, sometimes at 'attention.'  All night they will be drying their outfits, scrubbing equipment, polishing steel, and proud to have taken part, well, most of them.  All will be glad they did not faint, drop the gun, trip, or walk behind the horses.

All have done their duty, the policemen working out how much overtime they will get, the rest sitting in a pub before making off home tomorrow, unless there is more overtime.  

Events like this do bring the nation together, however, the generation gap, the Conservative Party, and rising electricity prices have dampened much of these events.  The royals will have to work hard to change their image, and possibly within 10 years we may have another royal funeral, and then 'Dim Wullie' under his wife's orders, will be king.  Oh dear oh dear...

Vote for Coronation

I awoke early, I usually do in Spring when the light shines in, and was greeted with the not surprising news that Labour had won all three seats available in our ward.  As far as I can tell the Conservatives are still in control, but now only by 8 seats.  The Independents, who are doing well in the villages, the Greens and others have filled gaps left by departing Tories.  

The result has been similar throughout the country.  This election only covered England, and so far Labour have won about 200 seats, the Liberal Democrats 60 or so, and the Tories just lose everywhere, especially in what is called the 'Red Wall' seats.  These are areas once totally committed to Labour, but which sold out at the last General Election to Boris Johnsons lies.  They now regret this decision.

We expect the usual statement from the various parties but Greg Hands has topped the lot.  In an interview this morning he claimed he had visited 33 wards and met on the doorstep a great deal of support for what Rishi Sunak is doing.  The implication is that Rishi is not like those who have gone before.  It was put to him that, at the time of the interview, around 150 seats have been lost.  His reply was to state that he found no support for Keir Starmer!  The people, in his view, are supporting the PM by voting against him, and dislike Starmer so much his party has already won over 150 seats.  This interview is a classic of ignoring reality.

In 1968 the SNP won well over 360 seats in the local elections of that year, on TV late at night the head of the Scottish Communist Party was interviewed.  "Our victory tonight," he said, "shows that the Scottish people realise that only the Communist Party has the answer for our troubles."  His party had won one single seat, in Inverness I think!  

I thought our seat would be counted today, but this occurred last night.  However, the majority of seats are being counted today, and thus the damage to the Tory Party will be immense.  There is still support for the Tories, mostly in wealthier areas, but when you consider almost all local elections carry only a quarter of the population to vote, and the nonsense about personal ID has turned away many Tory as well as other voters, there is no doubt this election has been a shambles for them.  By late evening we will know just how bad this has been.

Saturday sees Charlies big day.  After a lifetime of waiting, longer than I have lived, just, he now has the chance to fill his destiny.  The reactions to this are interesting.  The Mall is lined with the usual collection of women of a certain age, some men and a lot of foreign types, awaiting a glimpse of the royals as they pass.  Quite what motivates some of them leaves me wondering.  

We also see an immense, and not very worthy, amount of cynicism regarding the monarch and the coronation.  How much genuine thought has gone into this I suggest is limited in scope.  Once again we see the 'divide and rule' at work, where genuine patriots will support the monarch, and non patriots will refuse.  There is no nuance in this.  Age is one part.  Many royalists are "cough," older people, many opposing, young whippersnappers.  

The war left a large impression on those who lived through it, including the children.  While children usually enjoyed war, many interesting happenings almost daily, they grew up in a patriotic culture, a culture impressed on such as I, in the years after the war.  The passage of time amended many understandings of royalty, and Scottish Independence adds to this, and it is a long time since many of my generation 'respected' royalty by doffing the cap.   For those born in more recent times with no memory of Empire, little connection to those who ran it, and with absolutely no understanding why it existed, they can be excused for wondering about all the pomp of a coronation.  

The pomp goes back into history, mostly English, concerns a variety of kings and queens, mostly of dubious morality, and reflects the imperialist attitude of the English mind.  Scotland of course, is still nothing more than a colony under English rule.  The coronation reveals the constitution crafted over many years, entwining the king (because of the mad Henry VIII) with the church, and obliging many an unbelieving monarch to play as head of the church.  Such is the confusion over the constitution that to separate church and state would be a bonanza for the lawyers, take many years, and cost Billions!  

This also does not take into account of attitudes on far off one time colonies.  Their opinion is not sought. 

I am not one to throw eggs at the King, he is there, this is how it is, and if we wish to change it this must be done by debate, not middle class wee boys with placards.  Neither those who support the monarchy, for whatever reason, or those who oppose, will find support from me.  The monarch debate will begin now, especially if Charles dies within 10 years and his dumb son and wife take over.  That really will be the end.

I will watch the coronation, for historical reasons, and to cogitate over those attending at the side of the road or elsewhere.  A procession is always worth watching, and who knows what will happen?