My home city of Birmingham, run by a Labour Council, has declared itself bankrupt. The Council leader has apologised to the city but has not resigned. This whole situation highlights the essential difference between the two opposing Parties. Labour has always seen itself as the ‘nice’ Party, championing those in need, and dubbing the Tories as ‘nasty’. The current Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, is seen as a non-charismatic, middle of the road manager, dubbed ‘Mr Hindsight’ because he spends more time responding to the already-happened rather than proposing radical, innovative policies. Rishi Sunak, the PM (like every other country in the world) has the unenviable task of overseeing the inevitable economic fallout following the pandemic shut down of the whole country. But, as we rush headlong to the next General Election, what do we see? Labour is promising the earth, e.g. a childcare revolution but, like Birmingham City Council, has absolutely no idea of how they’re going to fund it. And the Tories, like accountants everywhere, are desperate to balance the books. As the ST put it, parodying Blair “things can only get bitter”.
11th September 2023
The G20 leaders are in India but their individual competence is a lottery. In the US, to stand for president requires lots of money. In the UK, anyone can choose to go into politics but with little assessment. The job of prime minister/president is the most important in the land, so it’s crucial we choose the right contenders. Nothing to do with personality, all to do with ability. Each election candidate should first be tested via a vigorous educational assessment, at least degree level attainment, including comprehensive, proven political knowledge not just of the candidate’s own country but globally too. Vocal skills and quick thinking should also be tested alongside a sound psychological assessment. These attributes should also be mandatory for each member of the leader’s Cabinet/team. The current Shadow Labour deputy leader in the UK has no school qualifications at all! She should not be allowed into politics. As a writer, I have written about the lead up to the last war in Germany, France, Poland, Austria and China, with another similar work in progress. So many past leaders were psychologically deranged, causing the deaths of millions. If we are to avoid another world war, we must choose more able leaders!
3rd September 2023
Tomorrow, it will be 54 years since I gave birth to our beautiful daughter. The 60’s teenage revolution was still in full swing. The Times They Were A’Changing, including my life. Elvis, The Rolling Stones and Marvin Gaye were in the charts, and there I was with a beautiful baby to nurture. There was no Google to consult in those days, nor extensive family support to advise and guide me, just a local welfare clinic. Yet, over those crucial early years of motherhood, somehow I survived. At four years old, when she first came home from infants’ school with a tin containing words to learn, I helped and guided her, glorying with her as she successively over-achieved at every stage. At 10, a year early, she passed for the exclusive King Edwards High School, followed at 18 by acceptance to read languages at St Andrews University. Today she’s Vice President of a big insurance company on Park Avenue, New York, and was a recent finalist in New England’s Funniest Comedian contest. Still over-achieving. I am a very proud mother. Happy Birthday Julie.
27th August 2023
Here in the UK there’s been a high-profile case about a young nurse who’s been convicted of killing seven new-borns, over a 4 year period, on the neo-natal unit of a Chester hospital. It wasn’t so much about the baby deaths - terrible as those were - but of how the hospital managers supported the nurse over the whole period. At one point, they even forced the accusing doctors to send her a letter of apology for their evidential accusations, and to offer the nurse a better job in a top children’s hospital in London. The crux of the matter is that there’s a culture in our hospitals and other top institutions of protecting their integrity and reputation at all costs. Looking back at my own life, I’ve noticed the same protectionism in many of my former workplaces but especially our universities. Nothing must rock the boat of the establishment! Something needs to be done to bring out the truth in this world, despite the opinions of those in exalted positions, who strive to sustain their own positions no matter what. Feel a book coming on….
20th August 2023
Did you read about that elderly couple’s nightmare with budget airline Ryanair? It’s a symptom of today’s digital world. The airline’s booking system was so complicated, the couple downloaded the return boarding pass by mistake. At check in, the airline said unless they paid £110, staff wouldn’t print their correct outward boarding pass! But at least the couple had managed the rest of the online booking system. It made me think of my late brother who never learned IT, didn’t possess a laptop or mobile phone, or even possess any credit or debit cards. How would he have got on in today’s world where human interractions (like physical banks, train ticket offices, etc) are being phased out? So many film franchises today - I’m thinking Game of Thrones, Avatar etc - and practically every TV ad have cartoon-like people and childish voiceovers - all aimed at the young. So, as hinted at last week, I decided to write my 14th book, but this time from the point of view of a very old person. There are a lot of us out there, a neglected commodity. Time to redress the balance.
13th August 2023
Watching the Lionnesses overcome all odds to win their game against Columbia yesterday, I thought how young they all were. Youth is such a fleeting thing. Tomorrow, a fitter plans to arrive chez nous to take up our small landing carpet and replace it with Karndean flooring. The carpet had been irretrievably stained by our old dogs and, despite my valiant efforts with a sure-fire mix of bicarb and white vinegar, the wet stains were now too ingrained to be removed. The fitter is an amazing 73, benefitting from decades of work experience, and still working. As a writer, it made me realise there was one topic that, in my previous 14 books, I hadn’t yet covered: a story from the perspective of someone very old. I’m one chapter in so far, my old head buzzing with ideas. So, to all you young people out there, remember the words of Charles Aznavour. Yesterday When I Was Young, the taste of life was sweet as rain among my tongue. I treated life as if it were a game and never saw the emptiness beyond…… So, young footballers everywhere. Enjoy your successes while you can. Here today, gone tomorrow. Come On England!
6th August 2023
When I started writing Pensioners in Paradis, the opening pages centred on a typical English shopping street, with its mix of vehicles and hordes of shoppers providing a pot pourri of life itself. Today, there have been so many essential urban infrastructure changes in the name of climate change, our local and city centre shopping streets are unrecognisable. Side roads deliberately blocked off, access impeded and vehicle owners hounded out of existence - effectively causing all those lovely department stores and small shops to close due to lack of shoppers. What they have done is channel shoppers away from the wonderful shopping experiences of yesteryear towards the anodyne anonymity of lonely, online purchases. No joy, no shopping pleasure, just functional ordering/receiving - ironically adding yet more delivery vans onto our closed off roads. Take a look at all the happy shoppers in this photo of Birmingham city centre in the ‘50s. Please can we go back? Simple really. Stop emission zones (which only push traffic jams to another nearby road), reduce shop business rates to encourage more traders, restore easy access and provide ample nearby free parking for shoppers. Only then can we all really live again. Voila!
