Finishing off a series

 

Way back in 1991 when I was just on to my second ever compact disc player I started collecting a series issued by Emi-Premier called "The Greatest Hits of" and these were from 1970 through 1980 and then just the 1981 and 1982 editions.

Reasons included having a single year focus which was rare and having a commentary on the year politically, culturally and so on which made for a package that took you back in time to that year.

At the time I was unaware that they had a Sixties series issued in 1990 run the same way as back in 1988 I had bought the odd disc of 50's hits in a Emi "The Hits of" series that gathered over twenty hits and served them up on the then new cd media.

In time I got some late 1960's volumes of the "The Hits of" series but that left me short on a good number of the others although I collected the "London-American" series that captured the American hits licensed from the late 1950's and early 1960's before many of the big labels established their own UK operations.

I have no got the 1960 through 1966 editions of "The Greatest Hits" that fill those gaps although I have a number of compilations that are not in a strict year sequence.

They have pictures of key artists and chart positions of songs which is always a good thing.

With spending time listening  to things like vintage chart shows on Boom Radio, having my own copies of many of the featured hits is highly enjoyable as this was the music I heard on oldies shows when on the radio usually feeling poorly.

They do sound great.

On Presidential Election 2024

 Well the best you can say it is all over now, no coup attempts in the White House, no assassinations (yet) despite the odds and general public decency The Trump out trumped Harris and at least on this side of the Atlantic well dealing with what is.

It's far too early to write the definitive blog entry, so much happens so rapidly but given they have a Presidential system, he'll be establishing a team of advisers to (one hopes) advise him around a range of issues from broad economic policy, the vexed question of migration (legal and otherwise), law including  reproductive rights that remains highly polarizing, dealing with entrenched racial discrimination and attitudes, foreign policy and defence and so on.

At some point the question of a State Visit to the U.K. will come up and I know there many of us who have grave misgivings about the man and some of his statements during the course but he WILL BE their Head of State, just like our King Charles III is so we need to put that behind us and deal with his as their representative and afford him a welcome.

Thank goodness we don't have all this! 

Get set for off

 

Well, we're off despite everything in the last month that tried to derail it for a weekend of LG centred halloween fun with carving, a treasure hunt and a party where everybody brings a bit of something which was what I was getting organized yesterday.

I got the case packed in a couple of goes to avoid some of the difficulties here resulting in things not being packed by accident given the stresses and emotional stuff

Of course there things going on, The Budget for one thing, then the latest installment of that year based compilation series Now Yearbook that hits the amazing year of 1977 today and all bing well it should be here around today although Iwon't be around to play it.

All being well I'll give that a spin next week.

The State of F.A.

 

Things are developing at Fur Affinity, a leading "furry art" site with restrictions that pertain to any character that may be ab/dl (or any combination), an age regressor in a regressed state and so on drawn as either a straight picture in a cartoon form.

Now we'd all agree no child should ever be shown in a "adult", "kink" or related scene but then these relate to characters that are legally adult and can be made unavailable to children then it odd to say the least they should seek to ban it when such art is legal in the country the site server is resident.

Of itself it doesn't bother me personally as the state of my paws I can do little drawing and in any event it isn't what I produce but more it would prevent me from reading things that I find informative even if as with Ab/Dl it's not thing I'm personally into so I can better understand the lives of those who are.

Some I do follow are planning on leaving which does rather pose the question why would I hang around a site those I know are no longer active in.

A Thousand times ago

 

I wish I could offer people a 100 Day satisfaction guarantee but in 1,000 editions of it since its conception around 2006 I don't think we've made anything much beyond a post replacement guarantee if it gets eaten by Blogger or some aspect or other causes concerns.

We got going in March 2006 when MySpace, Friends Reunited, Tinier Me and Best Stuff were still things and not ancient memories of the early era of Social Media and where over time this blog replaced a limited blogging facility at Friends Reunited.

I did talk About Me with some initial bullet points and actually we ought to renew them.

 * I no longer work because I became too ill to work

* Don't feel old even though the bones do complain cos for me that's been there from childhood and isn't associated with age.

* I do l still like music, reading magazines and websites about artists and recordings although traditional paper magazines have been decimated by social media sites and online only publications.

* Am addicted to cute things even if people of the same bone years tm find that embarrassing.

*Think Anime is the best form of animation, ever

* Feel having a laugh and a joke matters.

* I understood I loved bringing out and using my child-like side and did more around that as it also kept me calm.

It doesn't mean you don't some thousand issues on mean you don't get some who really don't understand that to like resembling more of that eternal girl you doesn't mean you're in any way interested in what is called "Adult stuff". It gives me an ikky feeling in my tummy just associating childhood and that stuff with it.

This blog came before all others so we really got into things around current affairs, pop culture and music  and looks cos that's what interests me and for a period we had followers from a music forum where it was listed as sometimes I'd take a discussion from there to here with my own take on it free from some of the moderation issues the site had which was awkward when you were a moderator there too for a period.

In many ways this still is the case really anyway that these days on here I'm open about that younger girl side although that is mainly kept to its own spot where it doesn't get in way of all else and some of the discourse around topics under that can get heavy going so it's better seperated off even if there's only one me.

Here's to the next 1,000 posts!

Restorations from the past

After that rather yukky week we resume going backwards a bit really to something that tended to be on the turntable whenever I was off school which was quite a bit.

Back then we had a wooden rack on wheels on which the stereo unit tended to live with its turntable and cassette deck and a section on the bottom left left that functioned as a record storage rack area although there was a supplementary one in the dining room.

First move after getting some breakfast was to pull two or three records out to play between anything on the radio of interest such as an hour vintage chart show or a lunchtime classical concert and a favourite was Dvorak's Ninth Symphony.

For me Rafael Kubelik's 1973 recording with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra was the finest ever and I was not alone in that, many still consider it so not that there are some excellent also runs with its iconic picture of the New York skyline with the sadly missed Twin Towers with conductor walking.

That record went several years back with compact discs coming in and having suffered a bit a wear and tear in over thirty years but a week ago it returned.

It was reissued in a special series of remastered and recut for higher fidelity records and now sounds better than ever so I've been playing that this week.
 

jjj

Recovering

 

Tis a rough day here in the dorm so I'm having to stay indoors take lemsips and cough mixture as I have the flu as we sit through the various Party Conferences and continue to digest all those very naughty reverlations about taking super expensive free things wrapped around the Prime Minister and Chancellor.

To think it wasn't long ago they went on about the previous governement doing the same!

When I'm like this, the little side needs looking after so out come the teddies and plushies sos they do help keep my spirits up which helps when you feel your body had been on the end of bruising boxing match and I do tend to read read things I loved apart from playing a bit of music like my Brahms Symphonies on record.

Among the thiongs I love reading are old Guides and Brownies annuals as they do help cheer me up with makes, stories and things that take me back to the past.

Hopefully We'll be feeling bettter next week.

Hello Kitty

It's presently raining rather hard here as I listen to an new recording of Schubert's Piano Sonata's in A major and  B Flat Major on Super Audio cd.

This follows his first in a projected series of Schubert series started late last year that I did buy as I was working through all the craziness of that period, readjusting to life minus Mom.

It just knocks you for six really before we bring into account all the many issues the Grump brings with him which finding ways of coping with did prove somewhat hit and miss with his lack of seeing just where emotionally his performances really take you.

Some spaces are best avoided really.

Helpful comments. inspiration and the like can come from many places and while we don't go into it a lot here some comes more from my other side and stuff like this by Hello Kitty really helps.

That takes us to other things.

Okay, some of you know I have a soft spot for cute stuff but I felt like talking about Hello Kitty which is something of an obsession of mine but anyway here we go.

Hello Kitty is a fictional character first created by the tv program company Sanrio in 1974 and registered in 1976.

As Ms Kitty herself has said a number of times recently, she's not really a cat.

She has a pet cat called Charmmy Kitty that she was presented with by her parents.

Her friends are Cathy (a Rabbit), Fify (a Sheep), Tracy (a Racoon) and Joey (a Mouse).

Charmmy Kitty has more cat like features than Hello Kitty herself and was presented to her by her papa, George White, Mama, Mary White, her sister, Mimi, and her grandparents, Anthony and Margret White.

Hello Kitty is good at backing cookies, making pancakes for friends, Origami, shopping for friends, buying things and playing tennis. Her favourite food is Apple Pie made by her Mom.

Her hobbies include travelling, music, reading, making new friends (one of her favourite words is "Friendship") and having adventures .Sounds like me!

Several Hello Kitty animated series targeted towards young children have been produced. In the animated films made by Sanrio from 1977 to 1985, Hello Kitty has made cameo appearances in them.

The earliest Hello Kitty animated series known was the American-animated (co-produced with Japan) Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theatre, which aired throughout 1987. This show was broadcast in the United States on the Family Channel.

The Japanese anime series Hello Kitty and Friends aired on CBS tv in the States in 1991, and also ran on Toon Disney. Kitty is depicted on the show as a little girl who lives with her mother, father, and twin sister Mimi, who is identical to Kitty but has different coloured clothes and wears her bow under the opposite ear. 13 episodes were produced, using animation produced as early as 1991.

The show Hello Kitty (and pals) have starred in at least one anime series of their own on Japanese tv. Hello Kitty's Paradise ran for 16 episodes between 1993 and 1994. This version was released in English in 2000. This version, like "Hello Kitty and Friends", also aired on Toon Disney.

Also Hello Kitty and friends appeared in Hello Kitty's Animation Theatre, which had Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters appearing in their versions of different fairy tales. Available in the U.S. From ADV Films (who also own the video/DVD rights to Hello Kitty and Friends & Hello Kitty's Paradise)

The birth of advanced picture taking

Lots things going on here like more talk about those beatles records at various sites and as befits 2024 youtube videos, instagram and all but given much of that is just discussion with speculation we won't be referring to that this week, only more nearer the time.

A bigger thing really was it being around thirty years ago when I started to get more ambitious around photography as much of that was done mainly on a 35mm compact that had a wide angled lens with an so-called "macro facility" which wasn't true macro but more a close up akay for groups of coins by that was about it.

 Although I had borrowed a couple of Dad's cameras including an Olympus OM1n and had picked up cheaply a Russian made Zenith-E finding the ability to change lenses and see more or less exactly where the lens was pointing most useful I was still mainly using that compact I'd picked up in 1989 before I went to college in Surrey, England.

What I picked up and bought was a used Olympus budget model discontinued several years previous which was a small light weight camera, the Olympus Om10 which by design was semi-automatic model for simple picture taking with some control of how sharp things were in front and behind the subject.

You could even preview that!

It did have a useful track that took it a step up, an option to have a manual shutter speed selector that plugged in and that came with the one I had

Getting to grips with that, learning, adding as funds allowed extra lenses, taught me a lot about photography and really altered how I saw taking pictures even if just for my own enjoyment.

That's what I'm marking today even if I have a DSLR and Bridge camera.

The Beatles on Capitol vinyl a second time?

 

The week was one that so far has involved some "could it be's" from Donald Trumps "they're eating your dogs, cats, you pets" rant at immigrants with no evidence which really makes little sense whatever your politics to something else that there are a good number of posts dotted about.

"Not more records!" I hear you cry but briefly a series of web pages and even a eight second teasing video were accessible via Universal Music and Apple's websites that related to six original American Capitol Records albums suggesting these were to be issued again on vinyl, in mono from November 22nd.

It also implied they'd be available individually or as part of a seven lp set that had exclusively the mainly talk based The Beatles Story double lp.

They appear to be issued in period advertising inner sleeves and feature the iconic rainbow rim capitol label design like the originals.

Needless to say the respective pages have been set to private to keep preying eyes out but screen shots were taken so are they actually going to restore these albums deleted in mid 1991 for a limited edition mono only release?

And just where is the much talked about Superdeluxe Rubber Soul featuring a remixed stereo version given we've had half of the album remixed for better stereo since last years three lp/extended two cd 1962-1966 compilation?

We shall see....

Pauses and policies

 

Funny day and next Monday's smaller blog may be delayed possibly with being elsewhere where I had been listening to a bunch of records that although ordered at different times all came on the same day although a couple were notified as being being to be delivered a day before so don't ask me how they jumped the gun with that.

One was brand new - a modern vinyl master of a classic older title that never sounded great with a mixture of studio issues and a misguided attempt to hark back to the days of almost mono "wall of sound" productions that comes over lacking real detail and two UK originals that needed the discs put in decent inners rather than in directly the printed paper ones  with artwork one.

There is talk in Grownup Land about arms sales to the State of Israel following some restrictions introduced Wednesday as it was said they could be used in violation of International Humanitarian Law Tm although some on the left asked "What about other sales to other states?".

They do have a point but the real reason why we sell arms and give export licenses was set out memorably in the Yes Minister episode Ethical Arms Policy to which I'd suggest anyone keen on this topic really out to watch and also do read up on French Arms sales and why the Fifth Republic allowed such sales.

The TL:dr is it keeps your arms industry going, contributes to the Exchequer and frankly if you didn't plenty of others with less scruples would while at least we do have some influence on countries such as Israel who do face constant threats from neighbouring Arab States and indeed Arab/Islamist groups that aren't formally part of nations armies.

Think of  it this way: I  can supply you with *anything* but having bought it you can use it however and for whatever purpose you like be it bombs or anything else.

IBM's card based computing system was the IT system that played a part in  making the Holocaust efficient, farm supplies can be used to make bombs and so one that results in you can tie yourself in knots trying prevent terrible things having to verify each and every one so generally we permit only acting in the most exceptional of cases such as Terrorism.

The last days of the Summer Vacation play out

A matter of a couple of weekdays before school resumes so you might as well enjoy the weather and perish the thought the sun before the long slog and sorting things to take with you although school supplies are a certainty as is today a mobile phone of some description as much as I recall the red or later grey phone boxes and the pay phone in our boarding school for phoning home once a week.

I'd never say I was or even today am anything like a great artist, but I do like to draw a bit when I'm physically up to it and the ability to take a few reference pictures on your phone and work with them at hand certainly saves waiting a day or to get your prints back and painting at home.

Unexpected things that happened this week included the stylus suspension sagging that works with the cartridge in my stereo's turntable so I needed to order up another which don't come cheap and fit that while I wait on a audiophile lp to come in the post.

Something else that was ordered but has arrived is this Japanese promotional single with a four sided promotional postcard cover for Yesterday Hero, the Vander/Young composition back on this copy by Rock 'N' Roller where the U.S and Canadian had My Lisa as the b side

Strangely enough here in the U.K. we didn't get this as a single in 1976 only the non album Love Me Like I Love You and cover of Dusty Springfield's I Only Want To Be With You  that peaked at numbers 4 and 8 respectively in the U.K. singles charts.

The Skater's Waltz

 Some aspects of your life are influenced by your disabilities and how they run across your childhood and for me using a wheelchair some of the time did influence those things you remember and wheelchair dancing was one thing I did every week 

That could factor into other things such as school plays and performances for Christmas's of which apart from the difficulties of learning your lines when you're dyslexic  but I had to dance in my wheelchair to Waldtuefel's Skater's Waltz during it in front of everyone which was nerve-wracking  but fun.

There are of course many recordings of that work but this was the one I had and still have bought as kid used but in lovely condition that has many of his waltzes played by a shorter selection from the Philharmonia Orchestra in the mid 1950's originally issued in mono only and this stereo edition dates from April 1965.

The playing fully realizes the sweeping movement leaving one in awe.

The Rioting - a few thoughts

 Having mulled this other I thought I would just add my 6d at this point.

This rioting following the deaths of three children, serious injuries to others including two adult helpers at Holiday Club in Southport, Lancs has been some of the most worrying in recent years even if for extent and total damage they are not as extensive as say the '81 Summer Riots, The "Poll Tax" riots of 1990 or the disturbances in 2011.

While I hold that there is no excuse for criminal damage, assault and murder, we know from our country's history that sometimes there reaches a point where Civil Society says "enough" and this can spill over, the thing here was there was no connection what so ever with what those people were gathered for, burning buildings, looting and assaulting people...for just being of a different ethnicity and religion.

The person responsible for what happened in Southport as tragic as it is was neither a Immigrant nor a Muslim, a person British born of Christian parents. Little different than me actually.

Some who were around the disturbances did have concerns around overall migration such as the impact on host communities and I will say as a West Midlander, I know that is shared at least in part with previous generations of immigrants too.

People who added much to our region who understand the need for  immigration control and support to aid integration so they become an asset to us all.

The bigger majority however were racially motivated attacking black and asian businesses, people and mosques when really what had happened had NOTHING to do with it and had they of looked more into things it was obvious false information was being circulated by people with a race hate agenda.

Justice has been sped up - as it should to deter others and provided needed reassurance such behaviour and the attitudes that lie behind it have no place in our society - but we need to address misunderstandings about religious belief, perhaps opening our doors to those of other faiths in our communities literally and ensure politician do listen to the concerns of many so any issues may be nipped in the bud.

Social media has a lot to answer for on the moderation front around the spreading of such vile incitements and slurs, just as many of are concerned about how the needs of teenagers are managed and perhaps it is time to introduce some in real time post approval to bring such misuse across the board under control.

As adults I'm all sure we've seen things that we should never expect on social media on our smartphones and tablets. It needs to end. It's damaging our children too.

Hollies: Evolution revisited.

We are back but given current affairs the first choice for an entry is too fast moving we'll go with a short  update to a series of entries from 2011 where the contents have been very stable over some thirteen odd years.

The Hollies are passion, less for the longevity, genre expanding nature of label mates The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and the Who but more for their vocal harmonizing and the way their past tells a cautionary tale around the dangers of getting stereotyped and the the dangers in trying to change that.

Not withstanding some fine albums, in the main the Hollies ouvre was the two and a half minute pop 45 even though 1966's For Certain Because and Would You Believe showed maturity, sophistication and social commentary.

1967 was a massive year in popular music and indeed Youth Culture with The Summer of Love, Hippies, lsd taking and psychedelia generally and having seen close hand at Abbey Road studios the beatles experimenting, they too wanted to raise the "Oh Wow" feel feeling left out.

That also can be understood as until the continued sales of the Beatles first two UK albums (and A Hard Day's Night)  in 1964 the albums market was for adults and by 1967 that had changed with albums such as Dylan's Blonde On Blonde introducing the double pop album and lyrics, Pet Sounds exploring the studio as an instrument itself and of couse Sgt Pepper was only just around the corner. and recording had commenced in late December 1966.

Not wishing to look out of place Graham Nash with the other Hollies upped their game, while keeping a beat sound introduced warbling vocals on Lullaby To Tim, Stop Right There expanded the commentary previously unleashed on songs like Fifi The Flea.

Nostalgia for the past was shown on The Olde Toffee Shoppe and You Need Love really pushed that generation belief love was all. 

The Cover borrowed much with the colour stylized Evolution and Hollies to The Fool, who gave us the original Sgt Pepper inner sleeve producing the rear  design.

It was a album very much of and for the Summer of Love.

My original copy was a 2011 Spanish reissue from digital files that had some issues with over use of noise reduction and I was able to get this the August 1978 stereo reissue in minute condition that other than having the two box Parlophone lable rather than the originals Yellow & Black and a change in catalogue number from PCS 7022 to PCS 7175 is the same right down to using the same stampers cut for the 1967 stereo release.

The mono has a dedicated mono mix.

This was a brave move given Hollies albums generally didn't sell well but this did get to No. 22 in the UK chart and in a modified form higher in  the U.S. and Canada.

The strategy didn't ultimately work out and split Graham Nash from the group by late 1968 as it appeared they couldn't move with the times and yet by 1969 and He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother they had got past that pop single barrier.

Taking a break me style

 I'm not here this week as the other part of my life requires quality time with others who share similar lives  and unlike some I don't do social media and lots of time online as the who point is the face to face and tactile engagement just letting time go backwards, playing with friends rather than running a online office remotely.

Really it would take you away from what you actually need.

We did two jigsaws, made up some themed lego kits and made houses from cardboard that we decorated plus a spot of baking too making lots of cupcakes which we had with an evening meal.

I just love doing more arts and craft things like you were at a Summer Club for children really as it helps me relax more in tune with how some of my developmental issues have left me even if I do manage some "adulting".

I mean I even played rounders and took part in out school like games just like many of us recall doing and it felt good to be doing all of that, not least with some of serious stuff that was happening in the news this week.

Really this is the best kind of break for someone like me.

That said there were a few trips out included like to Whalley Abbey in that village near Lancaster, the ruins of which are shown in this picture I took before strolling in the café for cake and coffee in my blouse and tartan kilt with white tights on like I belonged.

Now 12 " 80's - 1983

 We're off this weekend so after some political posts, we'll go with something more fun.

The World of NOW, just gets bigger taking in numbered volumes of Now That's What I Call Music,, Now Yearbook, themed Now That's What I Call ..... and was joined by the cd only Now 12" 80's series which looks at 12" singles from a specific year rather than the three compilations of 80's 12 inch singles.

The first bunch 1980 to 1982 are on an earlier posts with our last post being in April.

Now12-inch-80s 1982

My original intentions were to group post all the series together but the 1982 edition gained two volumes which doubles the post and you will note they've done the same with this edition so it seems that the remainder will follow the two part format.

That makes it more sensible to break them into chunks and update each as needed.

As ever this is a bare bones card wrap around cover set which is a pity as a book form with some notes as with the Deluxe Now Yearbooks would of been better as this is aimed more at music fans and collectors but we just have to accept it as is.

1983 was the year I left school, like most teens was obsessed by music and accompanying fashions like cutting up white and grey t shirts in an attempt to make my own monochromatic looks and thought Nick Beggs of Kajagoogoo was wonderful.

Disc 1 opens with two of 1983’s biggest artists with Wham!’s "Bad Boys”, followed by Eurythmics’ (over 12 minutes remix of) "Right By Your Side”before being joined by Duran Duran with "Union Of The Snake (The Monkey Mix)", and the extended “Communication” by Spandau Ballet. The Human League keeps the momentum with their massive hit "(Keep Feeling) Fascination" which I bought straight on 12 single back then, while Howard Jones and Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark keeps up the Synth-Pop  with "New Song" and "Genetic Engineering" from the Dazzleships album respectively. Extended versions from Blancmange, Ultravox, and Tears For Fears  "The Way You Are" are also feature on the first disc.

Disc 2 celebrates Pop Gold with Adam Ant’s "Puss 'N Boots"one I remember from early Signal Radio here, Bananarama’s "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye", plus The Belle Stars, and Bucks Fizz. Pop and New Wave fused on fabulous tracks from Haysi Fantayzee, and Altered Images with the unforgettable "Don't Talk To Me About Love", and hits from a huge chart year for Kajagoogoo and Paul Young. The disc closes with more Synth-Pop from Heaven 17, Soft Cell and a huge U.S. hit for Taco with an unexpected cover choice in “Puttin’ On The Ritz”.

Disc 3 starts from the dancefloor with the iconic "Flashdance…What A Feeling", from Irene Cara, and the stunning Electropop work-out in extended form on Freeez’s "I.O.U. (Megamix)" a personal favourite. The legendary Arthur Baker produced “Confusion” for New Order, and “The Harder They Come” for Rockers Revenge, and Forrest enjoyed a smash covering “Rock The Boat” while Modern Romance and Level 42 bought Pop and Funk crossover to the charts. This disc works towards its finale with four UK acts who all enjoyed great success in ’83 with these 12” versions enhancing already great tracks – Madness, Fun Boy Three, The Style Council, and Nick Heyward who’s “Whistle Down The Wind” from the North Of A Miracle album was his first solo hit.

Disc 4 offers a star-studded line-up opening with 12” and remixed versions of Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson’s "Say Say Say" that took much effort to steem a sudden drop in the charts and Billy Joel’s "Tell Her About It" before The Fixx appear with their huge US hit “One Thing Leads To Another” from the album Reach The Beach, followed by Debbie Harry, and Laura Branigan who achieved a global success with “Gloria” from her first album. Hi-Energy floor-fillers from Miquel Brown and Divine, are next alongside Ryan Paris’ pan-European smash “Dolce Vita”. The collection concludes with classic dance hits from Lydia Murdock and Phil Fearon & Galaxy and a great collaboration between the legendary Donna Summer and Musical Youth.

For gathering so many interesting and important 12 inch singles of the year, a good number I personally bought at the time, this set is well worth it filling next to Now Yearbook 1983 (and Extra+Vault).

Railways and potential changes

 

(Photo credits:BBC)

Parliament opened on Tuesday with its time honoured rituals with the Kings Speech - we're still getting used to that term after decades of a Queen - which include at a rough count some thirty-five Bills the incoming Labour wishes to bring before both Houses of Parliament to turn into Acts of Parliament.

It's quite probably some will end up being withdrawn, other put to one side while the propositions are worked on and resubmitted.

Other matters could be subject to legal and other challenges.

One that does interests me is the intention to Nationalize the railways.

Speaking as a conservative, it always puzzled me why under the Major conservative government even bothered with it as it was accepted from 1947 from nationalization from the Big Four by all the parties it worked better whatever we might think of the merits or otherwise of the Beeching Report.

Was it just a way for the Treasury to just offload a chunk of the public sector borrowing requirement so get way with running with less?

Trains ownership got seperated from track, stations and routes so on winning a contract for a service, that provider having said what the service would be like had to hire the trains from another body and if you had an accident repairs were more complicated because all the bits you need to clear the line were owned by different people and not where they were needed.

So some sort of integration or re-integration is needed and nationalization is one way of achieving this although my understanding it will be a matter of taking over when contracts come up for renewal so it's likely to be patchy until chunks are taken over.

You might say"Why not just take it all over"?

Well that would be quicker but you can be sure they'd be legal challenges, insistence on compensating shareholders which would have to be paid for by public funds which we're a bit low on.

I'm interested to see how this works out as the year or so moves on.  

Election 2024 - result

Well I did promise you a report of sorts last week as things were moving oh so rapidly and we we go. 

As was custom I did go down to the polling station although I had cast my vote in advance and here at least turnout appeared up and I did see more under 40 voters in an area which has seen sizable changes in property ownership since last time.

That suggested to me a sea change in results certainly was probably above and beyond the many opinion polls during the campaign that had seen Conservative support in freefall.

Newspapers like blog writers struggle to keep up but by after polls closed at ten polls of those who had voted indicated something rather shocking, a massive hemorrhaging of support for the Conservatives and a Labour landslide.

As it happened the results looked rather like this:

Labour: 412

Conservative: 121

Liberal Democrats: 72

Reform UK: 5

Scots N P 9

and others.

Was it that a vote FOR Labour or a vote AGAINST the Conservatives?

For me, Trust became an issue firstly with three leaders over one term becoming three Prime Ministers, the policies voted for drifted away as exceptional as Covid and the war in Ukraine was and remains.

That was compounded by a merry-go-round of Ministers, some lasting weeks which makes forming the connections and making the arguments  to make policies a reality difficult in the extreme even if they were workable.

Rwanda certainly was anything but.

So all we had announcements and feeling everything was very much "at sea", drifting off with little real governing taking place and that was despite some good work around helping those most affected by the rapid increase in the Cost Of Living (which only showed up what a state the safety net though deliberate underfunding was in) and the state of essential public services.

It wasn't just left leaning people who were very concerned around this, many conservative voters were, myself included, so we did the unthinkable and voted Liberal Democrat or Labour because hand outs and foodbanks are not sufficient.

We really need something like a Royal Commission into Benefit and Pension policy as the amounts just haven't kept pace with what people reasonably need, not least with housing, energy and food costs.

Arguments around "conditionality", getting those who can work to take up job offers while important should not preclude realistic support and people with complex needs need support in doing this.
 

Having won an Election and had a seamless transfer of power - memo to the U.S. of A - the new Prime Minister wasted no time in getting to work, appointing Ministers, chairing meetings and attending the N.A.T.O. Summit.

Ultimately it is the extent he can meet those expectations, deal with the unexpected and deliver that will judge if this will be the reset many of us hoped and voted for.

Congratulations!

What I'm about

Yes this indeed is Friday, July 5th, the day after the General Election but we're not doing that today because for one thing blogs are written in advance and while I *may* have an idea how it might turn out,a full enough picture won't emerge until early afternoon so it's best left to next week.

That suits both parts of me, the little bit that's usually on its own blog and this the more groan upside this week.

A common aspect of me is I retain much of the spirit and ideals of Girl Guiding within me, that curiosity, the urge to learn new things I can use, a love of the outdoors, and helpful friendliness.

They play a major part in being me that transcends political and religious leanings, the things along the way that were issues and committing yourself to being the best version of you, you can is something I take with the utmost seriousness.

And that runs right through me, nay even the more adult things, the things I support and for that matter where I have a duty to hold to higher standards.

 

Early English chamber music

 We're giving politics a break this week, like you I've had my fill this week, for a bit of light relief.

Chamber music is something that has always interested me and I have a number of recordings by this group of musicians.

Rachel Podger and Brecon Baroque shed light on this underappreciated era on The Muses Restor'd, a journey of captivating violin-led chamber music from Jacobean to Early Georgian England, ranging from the gentle intimacy of consort idioms to the full-blown instrumental virtuosity of the evolving baroque period.

In this recording Rachel and Brecon Baroque performs works by Handel, Lawes, Blow, Locke, Purcell, Schop, Jenkins, Baltzar and Jones.

This beautifully refined and intimately chiselled chamber music celebrates a rich tradition where the violin joins a plethora of keyboards, lutes, viol and continuo cello reinstating these sonatas, fantasies, suites, grounds and popular tunes to the mainstream of English cultural life of the time. Together with four musicians of Brecon Baroque, Rachel Podger 

The beginning of the end - just over two weeks to go?

Remember the betting on the Election Day story?

Well it appears two candidates and a police officer serving in a protection role are to be investigated into it as lines get thicker between the leaders responses both Conservative and of course, Labour and to be honest I feel Keir Starmer's remark to the effect they'd be through the door, out if they were his matches more how I feel as they'd have some inside knowledge and just whatever possesses someone to bet on that, something that with Mp's pay you certainly don't need.

What I might ask was any money gained through this going to be spent on and why?

That one rather like the question of what in practise is each party really going to achieve by way of immigration policy remains lacking an clear answer.

Immigration does place pressure on housing and public services that most acknowledge is real and affects the least well off the most even if the UK does have some skills shortages from its own population and so may benefit from something more like a points system immigration system prioritizing those sills we need the most.

Few of us take issue when people do work that is necessary and contribute in the wider sense to the host community.

How we deal with people who wish to claim Asylum, facing a "well founded fear of persecution or death" but insist that it's "The UK or nothing" is difficult.

Many have been through countries that could of offered asylum and they could of sought it in but a policy of rigid denial leads to tense situations, stand offs and even threats to take their own lives.

Understandably many of us feel very uncomfortable holding a rigid line but how do you prevent people just deciding where they wish to be and plowing on toward it? 

Is that fair even when all you are saying is "I cannot follow my faith, sexuality or engage in politics in my own country but there's only one I will accept to go to" when other countries can offer you that very thing?

Still there's time as I have received my Postal Vote pack and can either complete and return to the Councils Elections office or hand in, sealed on the day at the polling station.

I'd be very surprised if we didn't see a change of Government unless things really change.

This weeks election round up

 Three weeks to go so a bit of round up this week after last weeks break from the election but was it?

Well D-Day became an issue even if the event should never be party politicized because the Day had began so well, attending events, meeting veterans, other invitees such as towns people where the liberation happened and obviously other international politicians such as Prime ministers and Presidents.

Then extraordinary having done all of that to the book, even helping to push veterans in their wheelchairs he shoots back to England in the late afternoon to a prebooked interview with ITV just as other events that involved those senior politicians were to take place leaving the Foreign Secretary to fill in.

This day was a fixed event before he called the election, often having attended remembrance events personally can run later and often have get together just happening that you seriously can't plan on shoe horning anything else in.

Given he alone made that decision to call the election when he did, he needed to reschedule the interview as this thing was and is far more important.

He says it was a mistake - well, yes it was, a major one that give the impression an interview was more important than this extremely important event - and one that angered people even in the upper levels of his party.

He needed to be there for US, the British people as Prime Minister.

Major self inflicted wound.

Then Labour are still struggling with both how to increase spending on areas that are NOT protected when it comes to government spending while ruling out tax raises like dealing with immigration issues when that department may well be facing funding cuts.

Nobody would say things are not difficult - that's painfully apparent - but given a chunk of your appeal is about reversing 14+ years of austerity like how?

Calculating what you may claw through tax loopholes is an inexact science and often the very well monied know how to move it around out of your path.

Don't start me on the morality of making Private Education taxable when everything else in education is not just cos you want the money.

That comes over as just class based warfare even if it's more likely to hit aspirational working people or those with a  child with disability who need the extra support and low pupil teacher rations (never more than 14 children to one class) which few secondary schools and a fair number of Junior schools in state sector just don't provide and are often failing.

Then his explanations on Wednesdays for why he enthusiastically backed Jeremy Corbyn in 2019 in a Sky News  public discussion just aren't so convincing and there are still issues with activists over Gaza, Just Stop Oil and co.

The mood music may well be "something better change" but the question remains by what?

80th Anniversary of D-Day

We'll take a bit of a break from domestic politics and the election campaign as much as that has been rumbling on with the first televised debate on ITV 1 from Salford, Lancashire for something that also matters and to which is a one off.

June 6, 1944 is one of most important dates of the last century, the day in which Operation Overlord came into affect and the most audacious attempt to land on a beach from beyond deploying sea, air and land based transportation both implemented and won

This country, our Country had by a hairsbreadth and very much against all odds had survived the Battle of Britain and major bombing not least in our ports and industrial centres becoming a hub in the battle against Nazism that had France to the then U.S.S.R. taken so much of Europe over with the appalling, inhumane even, treatment of millions.

You can argue and I would that by having taken much of western Europe, being caught up in campaign in the U.S.S.R and North Africa German forces had been spread thin and by 1943 with the move from statement in the U.S.S.R to being forced back and being driven back in North Africa, the tide was turning.

The 1,000 year Reich would of imploded at some point or other from the pressures but just imagine what damage might of been done had it of taken a decade to fizzle out.

Whole races would of been eliminated, many more just killed for standing for freedom and your own countries independence. It had to be sped up.

What Operation Overlord was a attempt to push back from the Normandy coast, France and onwards to liberate Europe including Germany where there was increasing opposition to how things were going not that those who tried to change things met anything but death themselves.

It was not easy, thousands died on the beaches of Normandy on that and other days apart from those who having made their way had to  make their way to Cherbourg and  Caen very much under fire and we ought not to forget those French people who lost their lives  both in assisting them and in the bombing raids needed to drive the German forces to the point of surrender.

It was achieved - but at  a high price.

War is traumatic. Many did and are still living with scars of seeing comrades killed in front of them and having to crawl past the dead and injured as there was no time to do anything else lest you be the next dead man.

Eventually they moved on to Paris and on the Low Countries as the U.S.S.R forces moved from the east culminating in May 1945 with War being over in Europe and Nazism defeated.

Freedom was restored but that freedom was paid for in blood. The freedom they sacrificed their lives for is what gives you that freedom today.

And remember to be vigilant from those who either cheapen or threaten to remove it today.

Week One thoughts

 It's hardly the most inspiring full week of a General Election campaign, one of weakest I can recall in a few decades where nothing's caught fire not that the great outdoors could with the amount of rain we've had in recent days.

As ever I half expect this blog to be out of date within a few hours given how things go but there are a few topics I'd like to talk about.

The first being Tax and Spend which despite attempts by politicians is really one the main things modern governments all do given the state does more than run a system of law and order and defend itself.

Modern social security really starts with the 1909 budget and the beginning of Old Age Pensions and has taken in support for families with children, those out of work, those who struggle on low ages and those unable to work.

All of that costs and that is where taxes, national insurance contributions and that all come in paying for it.

The opposition Labour Party having been pushed to come out with their tax plans are just saying taxes for working people won't go up and they'd like to reduce value added tax, currently at 20%.

The Conservatives aspire to reducing it too but given much of the spending is both essential and something they wish to increase spending on, like just how can you actually do this?

When Labour talk about taxes for working people, are they saying taxes those of us who can't or don't work may rise or is it just sloppy keyword placing in headlines?

The other matter is Dianne Abbott M.P. who had been suspended for comments including really offensive comments on the issue of racism as it applies to being Jewish but had been restored at the beginning of the week.

Well, she is saying she's being stopped from being a candidate in the elections, party leader is saying she's not but the Labours National Executive Committee has to decide on that but that needs to happen by Tuesday.

Well it seems odd a person who has been restored to the Parliamentary Party shouldn't be able to stand either in their old seat or another as you in restoring her are implying you feel she can represent constituents AND the party.

Antisemitism in the Labour Party together with Brexit played a major part in my voting Conservative in 2019 but it seems unjust to me to leave her in this twilight zone and if you don't want her as a M.P. for Labour then you should have the guts to tell her just that.

I find it hard to believe Keir Starmer, who is the leader of the Party doesn't know what the committee's thoughts are on this matter.

 

The firing shot has been fired

Wednesday seemed to be on the face of it a fairly ordinary late Spring day, a couple of political scandals going back decades going through the motions of being investigated as the news broke of a meeting of the Prime Minister and some of the cabinet taking place in the morning.

Rumours abounded: What was this all about? Members of Parliament relying on BBC journalists for clues?

Something was up.

Switching the Tv on after five in the afternoon regular programming had been replaced by footage of the Prime Minster speaking at the lectern outside 10 Downing Street.

Larry had wisely decided to stay curled up on the window ledge while all this was going on. 

The General Election campaign had started and it wasn't long before the Rt. Hon. Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition Labour Party made his reply, setting out his parties policies and why he feels people should take a chance on it.

Some measure of the surprising nature of it is drawing up and printing the party manifestos may well take a week or so of a six week run up until Thursday July 4th, some parties have yet to complete the selection process for all their candidate in each of the 650 parliamentary seats and get leaflets ready to be delivered to would be voters.

The 2024 race to form a Government is on.

Summer edges forward

 

Tis that time of the year where Summer Specials come hot off the press so the Dandy and Beano ones will be here soon so readers of the other blog will see something fairly soon regarding one of this years offerings  as there's not a dedicated Monster Fun or Phoenix one.

What we have been seeing is more position making and start of post campaigns assuming that there will be summer elections which to me is a bit of joke really given the Prime Minister is more likely to leave it to the last minute and hope green shoots and all the other strange fruits politicians believe in will all come up roses with a line of more "Were getting it right, don't let Labour ruin it" when he knows there's at least a weariness with industrial disputes, pressure on food, fuel and housing costs coupled with the ability of them to sort matters out.

Then there's the matter of the M.P. for Dover crossing over to Labour and facing accusations of trying to get the Lord Chancellor to intervene in a law case involving her partner not that I'm going to repeat what is alleged as it is just that.

It's just if, big if, that has any truth in it, that would be quite wrong.

Then given the noises from Military Jets overhead it's obvious the diplomatic tensions have increased even from last year as more practice is taking place in case they are needed which given Ukraine has lost a few villages while on the one hand we are saying to Ukraine you can attack targets in Russia that are threatening you and the U.S. is expressly saying they can't use any from them so in effect they stand down and let them march in.

Talk about fighting a war with your hands tied behind your back...

Until next week BFN.

Results and such

Well there will be a brief round up of events last week where the Conservatives only saved one of two Elected mayors, lost some Police & Crime Commissioners and generally had a jolly rotten night last Thursday.

Of course that was added to this week when the Conservative M.P. for Dover walked across the House of Commons floor and joined Labour!

Things were hotting up in other ways here this week so I had a new skirt, technically it's a games skirt but it's  longish on me so you could wear it as a summer wraparound skirt.

It's pleated in the traditional way and doesn't come with a pin although I dare say you could add a suitable on if you're concerned about it flapping in the wind

Just the thing to slip on and if needs be adjust the fastener to fit in this weather.