1885 The Last Station of the Tolstoys, and a Single Man

Given the weather forecast I was delighted to be greeted by a bright day and to find that it was not cold. I not only enjoyed two pan au chocolats for breakfast but by ten had eaten the remaining two salami, cucumber and mustard rolls which I prepared before commencing the travels. Early on I also decided to journey to Clapham Junction station and Wandsworth shopping centre by bus for the first two of four films - A Single Man and the Last Station. It was a bold move as I can remember only once during the past five years and then since the 1960’s watching two films back to back. During my childhood and as a young man, cinema’s showed continuous programmes comprising a second feature, usually in black and white, and a main feature in colour with in between a newsreel, adverts and trailers. Usherettes, with torches would show people to seats when they arrived, although there was a break between programmes where the ladies would serve ice creams and sweets for trays over their shoulders. There was usually a male doorman or two in a fine uniforms and hats. Most adults smoked and it was only later that no smoking areas were introduced.

According to Travel London the journey to Clapham would take one and quarter hours so with the first show at 1pm I thought leaving at 11 would provide sufficient time allowing for additional traffic delays and the short bus ride from Clapham to Wandsworth shopping centre where the cinema is located. As I exited the Travel Lodge I noted the required first bus, a 109, leaving a stop across the road, so I was pleased to find that during the working day, these buses were timed every 4 to 8 minutes, and there was only a little wait before another arrived. There are few seats downstairs to accommodate a good number of standing passengers and remembered from previous experience not to sit on the five seater at the back which is uncomfortable when fully occupied, especially by those of similar size to me.
Last summer, on a similar long bus journey through south London, English was only spoken once, even by the minority of white faces, on this occasion the foreign voices were a minority but the white faces getting on or off the bus was less than ten percent on the route along the main London Road, from West Croydon, through Thornton Heath and Norbury, to Streatham, an almost continuous shopping street, full of international stores and restaurants. This dramatic change has taken place in the past decade. Most people only used the bus for a few stops and there appeared to be no one else taking a longer journey.

I knew the stop to leave the bus because it was shortly after the road from Mitcham joined in the road and which continues along the High Street to Brixton where there is choice between going on to the West End or the City. I was not sure where the next bus, the 319 could be taken and this resulted in a short explore before working out the direction and finding out that because of the one way system there was one stop with buses travelling in both directions so it was important to get on the right one. There were 9 buses listed on the electronic notice board and the order changed as information was received on a number of traffic delays.

The second journey was very different from the first because leaving the area of the High Street we reached the first of a series of Commons and parks- Streatham, Clapham and Wandsworth. There were also areas of good housing with gardens so that the racial mix became more balanced. At Clapham we came to the familiar main road via the main shopping road junction with Debenhams to one side. I did not have to wait long at the bus stop before the first to arrive had via Wandsworth written on its side. On getting off at the stop after the Southern entrance to the shopping precinct I was able to call in at a news agent local shop for a cold can of Pepsi 60p which I drank en route stopping to take gulps and arriving at the first floor cinema entrance with five minutes to spare. There was no one serving at the ticket office but the ice cream sales counter at the entrance to the concourse provided printed ticket receipts. There was an excellent audience for the film- A single Man, arising from Colin Firth winning the best actor Bafta. At the award ceremony he told the story that having been asked to undertake the role he had decided it was not for him and prepared an email saying so when the fridge repair man arrived, or was it is washing machine, anyway by the time the work was completed he had changed his mind and accepted the part.

In the film Colin Firth plays a homosexual college professor who is trying to recover from the death in a road crash of the younger man with who he not only lived with for sixteen years but had the kind of close, loving and compatible relationship which most heterosexual couples, especially those portrayed in EastEnders, will dream about. The character had not been allowed to say goodbye to his former partner, as the accident happened while the young man was visiting his parents and they refused to allow Colin to visit or attend the funeral. Fortunately he was able to share his grief with a neighbour, and the only woman with whom he had a brief affair in his youth when they were both living in London, by a created literary coincidence. The film is based on the Christopher Isherwood novel set in 1962, at the time of Cuban Missile crisis, and the friend, Charlie is divorced and lives alone drinking and making herself look good and wishing Colin was not gay. They are the kind of friends who late in the film can get drunk together, dance but also tear into each other about limitations and differences of viewpoint.

The film is excellent at showing the inner life of the main characters. Colin has decided that life is not worth living and systematically and methodically plans his day to end with shooting himself. He removes all his papers and valuables from his bank deposit box, and then sets out all his papers on his desk writing letters to those who matter to him and working out how best to shoot himself without creating too much mess for his housekeeper.

At the college he is advised that a student has asked for his home address and it has been given. The student has a pretty face but appears to have a regular heterosexual relationship, yet the young man appears to be pressing an interest which Firth rejects given his intentions for the day. Firth calls in at a liquor store for a bottle of gin for his party a-deux with Charley, played by Julianne Moore, and is picked up or appear to pick up, a pretty Spanish boy who he also rejects given his plans. After the dinner, drinking and soul searching he goes to the same bar, where post war, he met his former partner. He orders cigarettes and a bottle of scotch which he then cancels when the pretty student comes in and they go down to the beach for a swim and to his home for a couple of beers and gradually he switches from the grief from what was lost to the hope of the new. He locks away the gun in the desk drawer, with all the bullets purchased earlier. He has changed his mind. All day people have been telling him how unwell he looks, the housekeeper, a work colleague, the two young men. Colin dies from a heart attack. It is an appropriate end for him.

The story is contrived but the acting and the direction suburb. I cannot say I enjoyed the film which is not a great one but I am glad I arranged to see it using a ticket voucher, via the credit card.

Colin Firth is a remarkable actor with a career which ranges from St Trinians, Bridget Jones and Mama Mia to The English Patient and Dorian Grey. He became a sex idol with his TV performance as Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. He has been married twice living in North America and Italy as a consequence as well as London. He has already won a half dozen awards for the role and is set to win several more with Golden Globe and Oscar Nominations among them.

There was forty minutes before the next showing of the Last Station, a film I have looked forward to seeing since it was announced. I was hungry again and went out to adjacent Mac D for a cheeseburger and coffee, £2.69 or £2.79 , and then had a quick look around Waterstones’ before returning to the theatre for the second film based on the last year of the life of Count Leo Tolstoy, the author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina, and the father of non violent anarchism and socialist collectivism based on the Sermon on the Mount and whose work was to have such a major influence on the lives of Gandhi, Martin Luther King and me.

I had been independently moved by the Sermon having been brought up a devout Catholic and only learnt about the life and works of Tolstoy, several years after, and after having read the war crimes reports on Concentration camps as an adolescent school boy. Just as with creative contemporary art, I had moved to similar position and beliefs in my own way and time.

In the film of that last year is recounted through the thoughts and feeling of the man employed as his secretary Valentine Bulgakov who I believe is a fiction creation and not to be confused with the Russian play writer and author, the revolutionary activist Mikael Bulgakov. In the film Valentine is recruited by Vladimir Chertkov, the man who carried forward Tolstoy’s ideas and wishes for some three decades after death of the great man. Chertkov selects Valentine because he is an idealist and innocent who attempted to put and appears willing to spy on the Countess for him. Chertkov was the literary executor and personal secretary who headed the Tolstoyian institute and became recognised as being a stronger believer is putting the ideas into practice that Tolstoy himself, who was something of a hypocrite, something which in the film his wife points out. I am yet to read the available sources in an attempt to establish the truth from the fiction.

I have not read the novel by Jay Pareni, or the official biographies of Tolstoy. There are two important contemporary sources by those closest to him although both posses strong reasons for providing us with a particular viewpoint. In 1922 Chertkov published a book about this last year but the story ended before Tolstoy’s death in 1910. He then published a booklet which is available on line, covering the remaining months. The Countess also wrote an autobiography which is available in a new printed or on line free and can be down loaded for free.

Tolstoy and Chertkov were part of the Russian nobility, and while Tolstoy founded a socialist collective and Institute and gave generously to the peasantry as well as speaking for them, he lived the good life, largely because his wife was forced to manage his landed estate profitable for then as she had given birth to 13 children, 8 of whom survived childhood. The film is primarily about the decision of Tolstoy, under pressure from Chertkov to change his will so that the substantial earnings from his literary work would go to the Institute and not to the family as the Countess wanted. The Will is changed but according to end of film credits, the decision was reversed by the Russian Parliament after his death. However in order to escape her influence Tolstoy left the family home and went on the run from her with Chertkov, Valentine and one of his daughters who supported Chertkov against her own mother. They were followed by world media and reach the a town in southern Russia where he became ill and died. His wife was not allowed to see him, although in he film this happens in his dying moments although the priest she brought with her remained in the private train. Valentine also finds it difficult to maintain the Tolstoyian belief that the institution of marriage was wrong because it promoted private property or celibacy and chastity when he comes under the influence of a school teacher.

As with A single Man I do not rate the film as a great one but the performances of Christopher Plummer as Tolstoy and Helen Mirren as his wife are outstanding and merit their Oscar nominations. I have always felt that Plummer is always Plummer in whatever role he has played until this film, when it is impossible to tell it is him. I was reminded that I need to read the original source material if I am to write more confidently about the link between him, Gandhi and my own thinking.

Afterwards I called in at the main M and S at Clapham for some chicken wings for the evening meal, and grapes as well a triple pack of sandwiches for the morning. It was the first occasion I saw the available options for the two dine for £10 which includes a main course, a side dish, pudding and a bottle of wine which is a very good deal. M and S also had on display large bottle of water for 35p another tremendous offer. I became indecisive over when I would see the remaining two films, The Hurt Locker and An Education. I have wanted to see the British Music experience 1945-2010 where the advertised full price has varied from £15 to £20 since it opened with £10 to £13.50 for concessions depending of bought through ticket master, and paying by credit or cash. The free London evening standard had an advert offering entry for £1 with the voucher. There was a showing of the Hurt Locker for £8 at the Odeon Tottenham Court Road, at 6p with earlier performances at the Odeon Leicester Square with the tiny auditoriums and small screens for £11. I could also see An Education the following lunchtime at the Odeon Swiss Cottage although travel on the Saturday is horrendous with a large number of underground line closures. I would leave the decision taking until the morning having made notes on the options available.

1884 London by train for £9

This is the ultimate travelling luxury. I am travelling from Newcastle to London, second class, for the princely sum of £9, sitting at a four seat able on my own, mains connected to the internet, listening to Lost FM, and some blues hussy, singing All Night Long. It was nearly very different as for the past week I was uncertain if I wanted to make the journey, even if getting to the station proved practical. The reason for the apprehension was the weather forecast of cold, snow and heavy rain sweeping the country. Heavy rain and snow was forecast for the North East so the first problem was getting from the house to South Shields station, about a quarter of a mile in driving rain, albeit down hill, which is not my idea of fun, having previously being caught out in driving although at the time I had my old luggage which me with meant juggling umbrella with case and a full and heavy haversack over the shoulder.
By Sunday I developed a plan which was to be ready packed by Tuesday bedtime and set off after 9.30 when my travel pass became valid, as soon as it was dry and if necessary ordering a taxi to South Shields station if I was still inclined to go. The plan was a good one but did not allow for not sleeping Monday night as first I stayed up finishing the EastEnders researching and writing and then I could not sleep, rising at six, enjoying bacon rolls and coffee and playing Luxor Mahjong. I then went back to bed around eight and slept uninterrupted until1.30 waking groggy and in need of a reviving coffee. Horror and disbelief, there was no water except what was left in the system. I washed and shaved and made myself presentable and had a cup of coffee, using water from the large litre containers which kept refreshed with tap water just for this purpose. I then went in search of neighbours to find out if the system failure was general or I had a problem. The first four door knocks failed to obtain a response, but the fifth yielded someone who had made a cup of tea half an hour before, but went away to check. Yes his taps were dripping empty, no there had been no advance warning, so we both went back in to make enquiries after checking the back lane and nearby roads for signs of pavement or other works of some kind, There were none and just before ringing, after finding the emergency call number, I made another check to find water spluttering back.
Grateful that it was not a problem which meant cancelling the trip there and then, I will leave what happened and why as one of the many unanswered questions.
The sun is now shining after Northern rain, gave way to wintry mist with areas of recent snow falls, through County Durham and North Yorkshire, all the way to York, as train gets closer to the metropolis. The journey has flown by after reading a collection of writings of John Peel, produced by his family as a tribute from his children and widow. This is civilized travelling and augers well for the rest of the three night, four day trip, arranged on impulse having been alerted to the £9 one way special offer trips to London and arranging travel lodge accommodation for a reasonable £19 a night.
John Peel died suddenly at the aged from a heart attack while on a trip to Peru fulfilling a lifelong ambition. John was as not a popular Disk Jockey and programme presenter as the likes of Terry Wogan, but was the most loved presenter of new contemporary music for close on forty years on Radio One BBC when it was established as the new music station. Over the decades John introduced over a thousand bans to the British Public through his live session in which the band came into the studios to play four numbers live and running through the full list on Wikipedia I notice Joan Armatrading had appeared six times, The Boomtown rats twice, David Bowie six times, Billy Bragg 11 times, Leonard Cohen 1 Elvis Costello 4, The Cure, deep Purple, Depeche Mode, Andy Fairweather Lowe, The Fall 25 times, Genesis 3, Richie Havens, Jimi Hendrix, Jethrow Tull and Elton John 2, Led Zepelin, 4 Lindisfarne 5, Manfred Mann 4 Bob Marley 2, The Moody Blues, Motorhead and Morrissey, Pet Shop, Boys, Pink Flloyd 6, The Police and Prefab Sprout, Queen 3, Sandie Shaw, Simple Minds. Steeleye Sam 8, Cat Stevens, Supertramp 4 T Rex 2 Thin Lizzie 7, Ten Years after 3, Ultra Vox, UB 40. There important reminded is that the groups or individuals appeared before they had a record contract or a following in the UK and that some then came back time after time, reveals the debt they felt to John for first giving them airtime. Many were among the thousand who went to his funeral to show the respect and the love the music industry felt for him.
Once a year listeners of his programme would vote for their best 50 tracks heard over the year and this in turn became something of national event. Teenage Kicks by the Undertones was his favourite track of all time and was played as his coffin left the church for burial in his home village. 11 times he was voted New Musical Express Disc Jockey of the year and was an obvious choice for the Radio Hall of Fame. Glastonbury has names its stage for new bands, the John peel Stage. The BBC arranged its first John Peel Day on 11th October 2005 and some 500 bands participated in live concerts throughout the UK and as far away as Canada and New Zealand. Two other days have been subsequently held.
John also wrote what today we call Blogs and it is a collection of this writing which his family has published under the title the Olivetti Chronicles, after the old typewriter which he kept and did his writing on. I was an Olivetti salesman for six brief months in 1959, failing to sell machine after heading the Sales schools. I was struck my one line, “ I am beginning to face a powerful urge to return to some of the scenes of my early failures.
There has been a little development at Newcastle station with the opening of coffee kiosks within the Metro station concourse and then the railway station concourse. The barrier entry system is now in operation but it is not working smoothly and staff are in hand. There are also two coffee places on platform 3, one in the waiting room which was not used and another combined with a small Smith’s outlet, which had limited customers as where they were desperate to sell me sandwiches or cake as coffee or appeared to be the only choice of those at the other tables in addition to myself. People are so used to calling in at the Smiths on the main concourse that I speculate there is little trade from this as well.
The advantage of the 1.03 is that although it comes from Scotland there is only one stop at York thereafter which restricts comings and goings and makes for a fast journey arriving on time at twenty to four. It is also now possible to take an undercover walk way from within Kings Cross through to St Pancras station where a lift is need to bring one to within the concourse at the entrance close to M and S and then across the concourse for a ticket direct to East Croydon, single at £4.40 where the Brighton Route train was waiting for me as I arrived on the Platform. There are only stops at Farringdon, Holborn and Blackfriars before London Bridge and then it is non stop to East Croydon. There was a light drizzle on arrival which meant using the umbrella which I used with ease on the short journey from the station to the Travel Lodge.
Later, despite the rain I had a walk around the town centre popping in the recently developed super kart taken over by the Waitrose chain. The shop has been enlarged and gone up market full of deli foods although the prices have risen accordingly. I was given a token with my change which I must find out what it is for. I was after some pan au chocolate for breakfast and also bought a couple of custard tarts to accompany a mug noodles and some salami crackers and some tea and later some coffee. Chelsea lost 2.1 to Inter in Milan. The away goal could be important as 1.0 win at home will secure them the tie. Despite this it was a good day and I looked forward to several films and a couple of free concerts at the South Bank, one folk and one Jazz over the next three days. The films include The Hurt Locker and An Education as well as an Ordinary Man, all in for Baftas and Oscars as well at the Last Station.

1410 Returning to Catterick camp after sixty years

One of my earliest of memories is the journey which I made with one of my aunts who was deaf, dumb, blind and bedridden caused by childhood meningitis. It was a journey made during World War II, from our home in Wallington, Surrey, now within the administrative area of the London Borough of Sutton in Greater London, then near to what had been London's premier airport, Croydon, an area which according to the Eden camp Museum in Yorkshire, more flying bombs landed than elsewhere in the UK.

We travelled by ambulance to the home of a married aunt, who lived in army officer's quarters at Catterick Camp in Yorkshire. My care mother, Aunty Harriet, born with the name Margaret and the eldest of the family of seven sisters and four brothers, Lena, travelled with her separately by train, and later we were joined by my birth mother. I was about four years of age and I have only a few visual memories.

I remember being shown the larder at the house which amazed the aunts who I was growing up with because it was well stocked and they were used to ration books and to shops where little was available and on show, The second memory was of an evening walk in sunshine along country lanes and of walking in a field full of corn that was growing higher than myself. The most important memory is of being taken by "Aunty" Mabel by bus to nearby town for a haircut and then buying a small packet of different coloured plasticine strips from a shop in a building the centre piece of a market place. It was a small town in the days where there were few cars or other motorised vehicles. I can remember it being very quiet with few people being on the street. I remember that bus trips were made to Richmond and I also believe Northallerton, having visited both towns earlier to day, as well as Catterick Village and the major military complex of barracks and training facilities that is known throughout Britain and the world as Catterick Camp but renamed Catterick Garrison. It is sixty five years since my stay in the area. It was my first journey of any kind and the first time I can recall travelling or being with someone other than the family.

I used to have a good chronological memory of what I thought and felt as a child which I carried with me hoping one day I would find the words to express which I believed was a unique experience. Later I learnt that the experiences were far from unique although few have been able to successfully communicate themselves although some professionals concerned with young children and some parents who have tuned in have been able to join up their own glimpses and residues of their experience with those of their own children or the children of others that they have been able to communicate with.

I have not visited before during the past thirty five years when a visit could have been made to Catterick and back in a day from my home in the North East, or stopped off on what is by now countless journeys by road south, mainly to see my birth mother and care mothers on the once a month visits between 1992 and 2003 and then to see my birth mother at her residential home between 2003 and the summer of 2004. I would pass by what I now know is one of the barracks which is located alongside the A1M-A1 roadway with a turning off marked Catterick. I did make a few visits to Richmond but could not identify any part which resembled the shop where the plasticine was bought and had thought of going to Catterick one day to see if I confused places as I remember that the visit for the haircut involved what I considered at the time and subsequently to have been a long bus journey. Until the past five years and commencing the 101 project the motivation was not there and since then I doubted if a visit would add anything to my memory or to the significance of what was my first and only recollection of having done anything alone with the person I was subsequently to learn was my birth mother. Even after that visit she remained distant and hostile towards me. Not in any physically aggressive way and even when she was upset with my behaviour I would be aware that she was upset by something that I had or had not done and where Aunty Harriet would be on my side. It has to be remembered that when the sisters talked they talked in Gibraltar Ian Spanish rather than Gibraltar Ian or English, Gibraltar Ian being primarily Gibraltar Ian Spanish with a mixed of English words and sentences included, but omitted if they wished to converse among themselves without English only speaking individuals present understanding what was being said. Of course when you live with closely with someone speaking another language you can pick up the emotional content of what is being communicated, and then its sense as some words and their meaning become familiar, and then as the year pass you assumed you knew what was being said although I did not communicate to anyone that this was so, until doing so by accident. An uncle and an aunt were visiting England on a prolonged stay for the wedding of one of their children and had been told to say if asked that I was the child of Lena the eldest of the sisters. I cannot remember the circumstances in which I was travelling in a car with the uncle and aunt and I believe at least one other relative but not my birth or care mothers or other aunts and during the journey the uncle and his wife spoke in Gibraltar Ian and at one point posed a question or said something which without thinking I commented or answered accurately thus revealing that I knew more what they had been told I knew. I explained that I could not speak Gibraltar Ian but sometimes seemed to know what was being said although I could not usually express it. I was a teenager at the time and could not communicate well in general, especially with adults who were strangers.

There is one other aspect of my memory of this time which is important to mention before trying to write of my experience yesterday when I visited Catterick village and the area of Catterick Garrison I have no visual image or memory of being at Military base. It may have been quite late in the war as my aunt's husband was not there and there is one source which I will approach to learn if they have recollections or information which will fix the period more accurately than I can. The lack of any memory of a military encampment was reinforced because of the experience of Catterick yesterday.

I had not set off until after lunch. I had wanted to write having gone to bed and sleep well before midnight, sitting in fresh air watching the grass grow at Riverside Chester Le Street had good effect and then risen early around six am, something which I repeated again last night and this morning. Last evening I watched some television briefly catching part of a programme which listed the top ten places where it was still possible to buy properties comparatively inexpensively and have a good quality of life. One of the eh places was Chester Le Street and short film of only a few seconds showed the cricket ground as well as the town centre which I had visited only the previous week.

I had made no preparations for the my mini trip and need to be slow and methodical if I am not to set off and then need to return because I have forgotten something important, including in one instance in my former home, closing the front door! It is usually when I am away that I remember I have forgotten something which I need or would have liked to have with me such the connection cable for internet, or the instructions about using my mobile phone to connect to the internet, although in the instance of this visit I had not intended it to be an occasion hen I would need to have internet communication, but I would need to do so on other planned mini trips over the coming two months. I needed to do some ironing having forgotten to take out and hang up several shirts that I washed and dried the previous evening. I needed to carefully water the plants. I made myself lunch and watched the end of Bargain Hunt before switch over to watch a film, The Bold and the Brave with Mickey Rooney, Wendell Corey and Don Taylor as three World War II Gris conquering Italy. Mikey Rooney plays his natural self a cocky street wise private who chases the local ladies who make a living for themselves and their families from the invaders. It is revealed that Mickey has large family of relative which he is expected to support and this includes a wife. He is a brilliant gambler and it one luck game wins several thousand dollars which will provide for his family if he is in a position to get the money to them.

I think Wendell Corey plays his Buddy but it could have been Don Taylor, a man who is also worldly and who finds it difficult to kill when faced with his first experience of man to man combat. This is significant because the two men are led by the preacher, so named because he dos not drink, go with women and is always talking about right and wrong good and evil. His father was a drunk and he has no knowledge of his mother being raised by an uncle on a farm who appears to have lectured him throughout his childhood on the evils of drink and women. I joined the film as Wendell had paid an attractive young Italian girl from Naples (which she had left because she could no longer stand the shame of knowing that her family knew how she was supporting them), to pick up and entertain the Preacher . When he resists all her obvious moves and goes off to find some cold butter milk and then visit a church she is impressed and when he falls in love with her she begins to remember the young girl she had been with dreams of a white dress, a good husband and children.. Then the inevitable happens in that she is recognised by soldiers of previous acquaintance and he rejects her without listening to her story. He also condemns the gambling winnings and instructs Mikey to get rid of the money and then tackles an assignment with ruthless killer ferocity. He is also hard when another GI is injured, putting orders above human and Christian considerations. Having forgotten the name of the film I bought a newspaper during the trip, in part to check on the film title but also because it featured the first young woman killed in combat in Afghanistan. The brief note on the film rightly draws attention that this is film about characters than big battles and about who gets to survive and who does not. The importance of the money to Mickey gets him killed while Preacher is shown to be something of a hypocrite in terms of his theoretical Christian, fight the devil beliefs, although his behaviour is put into the context of his childhood. It is Wendell who finds it difficult to kill and who shows compassion and understanding, ensuring that the bulk of the cash is sent back home to the widow rather than make use of himself and helping the wounded Preacher back to the main force after the mission is completed.

Then in error than intention I forgot the location of Catterick and instead of heading for A1M I went to Sunderland along the coast and took the A19 to Middlesbrough before realising that if I continued I would join the A1M bypassing Catterick. I therefore head across country which involved single track country lanes and attractive North Yorkshire villages to Northallerton which is traffic congested Market when at first I was not clear from the road signs which was the direction to take to reach Catterick and therefore involved two trips through the centre of town is slowing moving traffic passed the old Town Hall building with shops/offices at ground floor and which could have been the building from where the plasticine was bought although it is some distance away from the Catterick complex.

My route took me to the Northern end of Catterick although I was coming from the South and close to the Racecourse and the village which in turn is close to the AIM and what I quickly realised was one of several separate heavily fortified barrack complexes. I recognised nothing about Catterick Village which is very pleasant indeed with several attractive Inns and a delightful Village green as well as few shops and other businesses in a area separate from the Green. There is no indication as with the Racecourse that one is part of what I suspect in one of the major military complex in Europe. It is according to Wikipedia.

I then headed for the main area of the Garrison complex and the extent of the area covered, the number of separate communities involved including the developing Garrison centre when I stopped at a major supermarket for the toilet was overwhelming and had a major emotional impact, not because of my childhood experience but from the combination of that War film and the newspaper article. I have no intention of going into further detail about the nature of the complex other than to emphasis that it is well fortified and that everyone and everything are under the closest scrutiny. However it was at the supermarket that I was made aware that this is an area full of young men and women and their families who have been or who will be going into combat on our behalf and on behalf of others. There was a sense, a contemporary sense of a nation at war, something which one does not get, even in London where there is lots of new concrete around key public buildings. At one level it brought my awareness of what is what like to be under threat during World War 2 not directly from soldiers in combat but from bombs dropped from sky with memories of the air raid shelter and going off to look at the craters where there once had been homes in our neighbourhood, the flying bomb and the trip to Brighton just after the war in Europe had ended and looked at the fortified Beach. These were the connecting links between past and present rather than my own memory of Catterick and the surrounding owns and villages. One discovering was how short is the route from the Garrison town centre to Richmond and where I turned away to return south rather than take the road which head up to Market Square. I had decided that I would return again once I had digested and adjusted to the impact of this first visit. What I need to emphasise that how ever strong the feelings aroused from watching television programmes about operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the subsequent funerals of those killed or programmes about the care of those injured, the debates about equipment and the strength of the forces deployed nothing has had such an effect as a short drive through Catterick and a brief stop at the supermarket to bring the reality. Somehow my experience needs to be felt by the British people, not relayed in this way or rough TV and Newspapers, but the sense of their reality which I experienced.

Later I learn that the Garrison town centre was first created in 2000 and that under Defence plans published in 2005 1 billion pounds is being spent to upgrade an develop the Garrison which now embrace a large number of villages to a population of 25000 about double that at present and there are twice the barracks or unit HQ's that I estimated.

1409 Contemporary Primitivism

On Wednesday evening I watched the first of what should become six interesting programmes contrasting living in a 21st century "advanced" democracy with living in a contemporary primitive society. In this instance the individual, all will be female, has a comfortable middle class existence as a single person living on her own, filling her life from just after dawn until just before midnight but with a self aware sense that she was filling in her day to mask the void within herself.

She lived for a month on a small island one mile by half a mile with a community of 800 whose life appeared to revolve around each other as a nuclear and extended families and with a shared culture which involved the form of dress and personal appearance, daily activities and routines and special events, over one month of the stay with the initial assistance of a male interpreter and a cameraman/camera team whose gender/s was not disclosed.

The importance of this programme and one can assume the series is its focus on the personal impact of immersing oneself as much as it is ever possible to do so in a very different culture over an intense but comparatively short period of time.

The first thing that has to be said is that it is possible to gain the same level of insight and perspective in a number of ways such as a retreat as part of a religious order, and which has previously been covered by TV, and is something that has been undertaken by individuals for varying periods of time through the existence of religious communities. Another approach is the short established educational experience which in my instance involved a one month management course amongst individuals whose way of life and daily experience was vastly different from my own. The basic ingredient therefore is living alone or within a nuclear family and then living in a communal environment in which you are required to sacrifice your individuality and freedoms to conform to the requirements of the group or large community. The experience becomes an effective examination of yourself as well as of the group although most people will need help to place the experience in a proper perspective and not get things out of proportion. By all means go off on holiday and indulge in the holiday romance or whatever but they are rarely experiences upon which to base a marriage, adopting a new language and culture and abandoning everything in your life until then.

It was evident that in this instance, the programme makers had gone to considerable trouble to match the subject with someone who would provide, however briefly, the maternal care she had missed in her life as what we saw concentrated on a relationship between a grandmother and the subject, although it was also evident that the grandfather also took considerable interest in promoting the welfare of the young woman who they treated as a daughter and in fact the programme suggested that the subject was able to fill the void in the life of grandmother as her own children had grown up and had their own lives, and indeed the programme made the point that the sons were no longer living on the island.

The core story was that at the age of thirteen the young woman's parents had divorced and that she had been asked in confidence which parent she wished to live and had then been asked to repeat her wishes in the court. She had chosen her father and on return her mother had said that she never wished to see her again and walked out of the house the following day and they had not had contact since. She had felt she had been rejected by her mother, although the reality was she had rejected her mother, although it has to be stressed it was an impossible situation for any child especially a thirteen year old and the greater responsibility rests with the parents who could not find a way of healing their relationship to the extent of providing a good family umbrella for their child. Nor do siblings necessarily fill the gaps, providing the relationship and the comfort when there is more than one child in the family and so much depends on the rest of the family structure of grandparents and uncles, aunts and cousins.

Although they could not communicate through language and although their educational and social experiences were so different, a close bond developed between the two women and it was the islander who appeared to quickly understand the predicament of the modern westerner and suggest meaningful remedies On being requested to assist with the daily chores the young woman had thrown herself into task with such prolonged enthusiasm that it was evident the community and the woman feared that their roles and daily lives were being misrepresented and she was effectively ordered to slow down and to sit for hours at a time, undertaking precise needlework. The best observation was when the grandmother commented that the young woman was constantly laughing but this was a cover of the real mixed feelings beneath, although this did not prevent the headman and the grandmother selecting a community name which meant of sunshine. The insight was also demonstrated by the seriousness with the grandparent couple took the disclosure that the young woman was having nightmares which involved violence and death and where at one point the concern was such that the grandfather went off to the mainland to collect "medicine" to prevent the bad spirits from continuing to threaten their adopted, albeit temporary, daughter.

The programme was not a social documentary or study as such with much overlooked, intentionally unstated, or if it was covered it did not register with me at that the time, such as the economic base of this community, the education system and the impact of that system on the younger generation especially in relation to the fundamental question of spiritual beliefs and religion. There was no reference during the programmes to God or Gods but to good and bad spirits. The community had a large number of carved wood images, good spirits who came to life and protected them while they slept and who would be aroused by blowing the smoke of burning cocoa beans on to them. When it was evident that someone was being troubled by bad spirits, such as the young woman, the priority was to find the right defences to stop them doing the subject real harm. It did not matter what was actually done but the extent of concern and willingness to put oneself out to help came across as the most effective medicine.

There were warning signals that the experience was acting like a Pandora's box for the young woman. In order to mark her departure the community put on a social in which men and woman got drunk separately in a kind of boys and girls night in a separate bar in the Bigg market or Quayside in Newcastle, at the end of which the men joined in and carted off the women to their hammocks, that is the women's hammocks, for a night of passion. The western young woman appeared to be sufficient concerned at this possibility that although she drank the special home made brew and smoked the pipe to enhance the effects she did not give herself to the dancing frenzy, (on camera at least) nor were we shown the men carrying of the women to the night of passion. There is no doubt however that without the camera's and chaperones the eligible young men some who appear no more than teenagers would have competed for her, egged on by the community elders of both sexes. The programme did not mention what happens when individuals become seriously ill or give birth, although she was taken to visit the burial ground of the family ancestors. The usual mode of travel to and from the island was by canoe

This of course was only half a programme. The other half should be made five years afterwards about whether the retreat had any lasting effect on her and on her temporary mother surrogate. Will they keep in touch and would she ever go back? Hopefully the world will not now descend on this community and they will be left to continue as before, if that it was what they wish although I have so many questions such as do they have divorce and who looks after the children? Are the children given any choice in the matter? Is here crime on the island and how is this dealt with. Can you remain part of the community without accepting the authority of the elders? Who owns the island and the individual properties?

1408 Some English Cricket and politics

Wednesday evening demonstrated the true spirit of Englishness. Although the weather forecast was not promising a thousand or so good folk of Durham and Tyneside assembled at the riverside cricket ground at Chester Le Street between 4 and 6 pm in the hope of another exciting and enthralling cricket match in the 20 20 competition.

It has been a reasonable day, dry and warmer compared to Tuesday which hah been horrible. I had spent the day in writing for pleasure, for work research and in relation to the premature and preventable death of my aunt and care mother with the consequence that I did not set off until well after four arriving at the ground about a quarter to five. I was able to park in the first area of the end car park nearest the main roadway out of the Ground and the Riverside Parkland. There was still a number of car parking and change attendants with all the gates open at the ground although this time there were two police on duty checking bags for alcohol rather than the half dozen civilians. It was nevertheless a full scale operation intended for a crowd that never arrived.

I made my way immediately to Member's lounge when I needed a cold drink deciding on a J20 which at £1.80 was an expensive but enjoyable drink. I then made enquiries and established that the two rows of seating on the covered veranda were available on a first come first served basis, and selected a seat on the second row so that I could hop over without disturbing the others who were seated. I then watched the last part of the English innings against the New Zealand in the second one day at Edgbaston as we struggled to raise the scoring rate in what had become a rain effected and reduced over game. I had heard an interesting discussion about the politics and funding of the new 20 20 game which suggested an urgent need for the international bodies to reach quick agreement over what has happened and what impact the emergence of major prize and earning competitions will have on the game. For example Michael Vaughan the English Test captain does not play in the one day or 20 20 competition with Paul Collingwood of Durham captain of the latter. Paul has the opportunity of wining half a million in a game in the West Indies which is bound to attract world TV interest hence the ability to pay the prize money although it will only take one dropped catch or run out rather like a missed penalty for the team to lose out, What does Mr Vaughan makes of this and other Test Players not likely to make the 20 20 game.

My impression is that the English and other authorities have acted in a panic in order to try and keep our players from going off and making money for themselves and for the match promoters so our lot have come up with competitions which will make money for both players and our official organisation which in turn they will use to improve the County Game as well as promoting cricket in schools and village and town clubs. Later a Durham member suggested to me that test players had a guaranteed income of around £200000 which is so puts a different perspective and adds to gulf between such players and ticket prices and the rest of cricket. It is my understanding that the Test and County cricket board gives just £1million a year to the 18 first class counties.

Unfortunately the spits of rain on the journey down changed to a drizzle so that first the hard covers were brought over the wicket, then the bowlers runs ups, then the side areas to the hard cover and eventually the giant sheets which cover the entire area of the grounds used for wickets. Those experienced on such occasions noted that the decision was taken not to hold the toss as who was to bat first, a good indication that play was unlikely and then the addition of covers rather than their removal. The public address system remained optimistic reminding that if a pint of smooth bitter was bought would could have a draw ticket so that if a player hit's a ball directly in the three large containers around the boundary there would be a draw for £10000. The international 20.20 to be held in August at the ground was advertised with the last tickets available for £35. It will be interesting to see what the actual turn out is on the day is.

Another indicator of what was to come is that although it was raining the Durham All star dancing girls, eight this time, came out wearing their short shorts but all weather tops to do a full dance waving to crowd as they came on and then departed, I waved back noting that it was only children and young men who responded. It was then time for a plate of chips after drinking the hot soup I had brought with me. I did watch part of New Zealand's well played march to victory only to be robbed by the weather when with less than one over to go the rain brought the match to an end, and the game was declared no result. One of Durham's senior players came to talk to relatives who were sitting next to me and then I had a long chat with a long member who had been a teacher. There was continued hope that we might get some play in that it was still possible for sufficient overs to be played for a result to be achieved if the game could start before 27 minutes past eight o'clock and around quarter to eight the large motorised mopping up rollers started to clear water from the top of the covers. However at eight the decision to abandon play was announced and information given on how the tickets could be reused or reimbursed.

At one level given my advancing years and uncertain future spending over four hours watching the grass grow was not a good use of time although given the earlier activities I did not regard the experience as wasteful. It was all very English.

There was a similar restrained and serious atmosphere in the Commons because on top of the four deaths last week in Afghanistan a further four troops had been killed in a road bomb the previous day with another seriously ill. They were not named but later on the news I heard that one was the first female combatant soldier to be killed in what appears to have been a secret mission. The thoughtful reflection on the British role was shared by all three main leaders of the political parties before the Opposition challenged the Prime Minister to admit that the Irish no vote against the new European Treaty meant that along with the Constitution it was dead. The Prime Minister explained why it was necessary to proceed with the British Ratification process, side steeping the Opposition demand that there would not be no attempt to persuade Ireland to hold another vote or get round the effective veto in someway. The government is in a difficult position having previously promised a referendum on the new Constitution and then abandoned the idea when the Treaty was cooked up in order to have a means of operation to cover the expansion of the community. There is no doubt that whatever the benefits of the enlarged community if there is a referendum on anything to do with the European community the British public will vote no and there is no evidence that this will change in the foreseeable future. It is an issue which the government, any government needs to address with profound implications for our future.

1407 Blowing Wild, Inflamable, Names in Marble and Devil in a blue dress plus some live cricketn

Panic is closely allied to fear and while I did not experience either on waking early, there were hints of both as if they were nestling below my horizon waiting for an opportune moment to pounce.

I was physically uncomfortable through several wakings, the need to get up and with an exceptionally dry mouth. It was a cold night at first although I warmed up later on which made the need to get up irritating.

It was also a cold drab morning looking as if it had been also wet, although it was not. I tided up the writing ready of uploading but also played chess where I am slowly edging to the highest run so far of level two chess of 47 games from the 369 played with 16 drawn. There has been more success with Hearts in that the days when I was winning only 11-15% of games are distant and have led over 20% for approaching two months, with this day breaking 22% after sticking at 21% for a couple of weeks, probably more.

I do not feel like doing what I need to do. The sense of the quantity of work required and the emotional impact fills me with dread. So why do it? A good question.

The greater part of the day was used constructively on project work where I discovered sets in hand and in the making where I was able to make more progress than anticipated so that I am now just ahead of the 100 new sets a month schedule. I also watched a Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Anthony Quinn, black and while film which I have seen before called Blowing Wild. The film was made after he hit he top with High Noon and centres on Mexico City where he is stranded after bandit blow up his promising oil well exploration. He turns for work to a former best friend who he finds has a successful field, only find that the friend has married the woman he once wanted more that she wanted him. Rather than intervene in this situation he does a fun with nitro for eight hundred dollars, coming into confrontation with the bandits again, his other best friend and working colleagues is injured in the knee. He has also attempted top help return tot eh USA a good time worldly girl played by Ruth Roman and she tips him off in good faith when his employer pretends he has no money to settle the nitro trip and in fact the man is about to skip the county with first claim debtors which means he had to hand over all his and his partner's fees with the exception of money he has already given to Ruth Roman which makes the bond between them stronger.

Without any financial means he is forced to go to work for Anthony Quinn despite the misgivings about the betraying wife who is seeking a way out from the marriage. Cooper hen takes over as foreman and then risks all to save the latest well before the Bandits arrive. Quinn. who has worked out that while he adores his wife, his wife adores Copper, gets drunk and decided to prove he is still the man he once was by taking on the bandits singled handed. His wife seizes her chance and kills her husband making it look like an accident. When the authorities come for the body they also bring men to protect the property from the bandits and during a fierce fight Copper kills the bandit leader and Stanwyck is also killed. Cooper, his best friend and Ruth Roman are then seen packed up about to leave Mexico city, presumably for the USA, apparently penniless but happy although presumably the Mexican government will have rewarded them for seeing off the bandits and saving the oil field. It has always amazed me that people without money appear able to take off to other parts of the world and established themselves. How do they do it?

I had the second stir fry of the week for the midday meal although used to much chilli sauce although for once the stinging hotness was enjoyable. I also went through in the tray and discovered I had not seen a helpful response to a recent query but most of the mail went into the recycle box after it was opened.

I am also dipping into the Big Brother House where in last night episodes the foul mouthed nasty housemate who has already been warned about her temper by Big Brother demonstrated just how ruthless she is behind a house meeting with the purpose of asking everyone to say what hey have to say about each other but not behind their backs. She is the worst culprits bad mouthed and scheming and trying to put everyone else other than the person she is talking in a bad light. One of the girl's who had become her friend finally used out this behaviour and beat herself up in the diary room for having been taken in. She had no need as she appears to be the first to see what everyone else on the outside can see and by doing so she has helped her own cause no end, admittedly just in time before the eviction nominations are made. The housemates collectively are a very stupid group this time. Their task was to separate 6000 grams of mixed up flavours by licking each one. It was a task they were destined to fail as they had no means of verifying their efforts and hungry they would have been wise to have pigged out on the crisps rather than put themselves through the task although I accept Big Brother could have exacted penalties.23 Later today I channel hopped between the Big Brother House update and a film I have seen before but could not remember the precise ending. Mario and Alexander receive the most nomination for eviction from the rest of the residents and therefore face the public vote which ends on Friday evening. Mario because he is older and tries to take a lead when it would have been better if he had just to be one of the group, and because he has tried to appear good and kind acting as the guardian of Mikie Mikey? who although severely visually handicapped lives on his own with the help of a carer. I became sorry for Alex as "accidentally" the loudspeaker went on in the house just as Big Brother was asking the other Muslim why he thought Alex did not join in his cross dressing idea to celebrate his birthday. The explanation she gave on learning that he had been posed the question was that he had gone too far as a Muslim. She admitted they both drank and smoked, their true natures, although all the violent swearing and being too faced can be put down to the game and trying to make a name for oneself as a personality standing out from the rest of the wannabes. It will be interesting to see how the public vote. One suspects the average audience member for this programme will prefer the vile mouthed, smoking and drinking two faced Muslim to the Muslim who is respectful of their parents and elders, does not smoke or drink, works hard at their education or in employment and tries even harder to follow the rituals and beliefs of their religion. But then of course such an individual of which form the majority would not make controversial television or selling newspapers.

The cricket proved to be something special. Lancashire had won all three of their games and on winning the toss decided to bat first and on a good wicket did very well with some power hitting and reaching 180 runs to which was added 6 penalty runs because Durham took more than allocated. The score could well have been higher has it not been for an eighteen year old, Shaun Borthwick from the Durham Academy called to play his first game for the senior side. He has not even played for the second team. Therefore there must have been great faith in his ability in such an important match. It would also have been felt he was able to perform on such a bug occasion. He did taking three wicket for 26 runs including caught and bowled. It was evident he could not believe what was happening to him especially as he found himself being interviewed on Sky. He comes from Sunderland.

Durham were always chasing the runs in their innings, especially after Mustard was out when he had scored 61 and the two South Africans were at the wicket, Pollock the bowler and Morkel who had played well in the World Cup demonstrating that he was a powerful hitter of the ball, He did not do well in the games I have seen him play and today he was able to get singles when fours and sixes were needed, and Shane Pollock was also scratching around and then something extraordinary happened as Morkel hit 5 sixes in three over's plus two four 45 runs from 19 ball blitz. It was also the nature of sixes crashing into the stands which had everyone amazed and which augers well for the rest of this campaign, Although both team now have 6 points from three wins and one loss, Durham heads the table of six teams with only the top two guaranteed a quarter final game because of the win against the other top team. However there are another six games to be played so anything can happen but my decision to invest in Durham rather than the football has proved one of my better decisions so far. This does not mean that I will not go to the football although it will involve paying more for individual tickets although last year any advantage from buying a season was lost by not going to several matches because of weather or other commitments.
And the film called Inflammable, I think, was about gender prejudice in the Navy involving a female investigative officer from NCIS coming onboard after an attempted rape is reported. There is an important romantic backstory in that lass had a brief encounter with the ship's Commanding officer when she was just starting out working for the investigatory arm of the US Navy. It is incidental that the attempted rape victim and her quickly apparent scumbag of a boyfriend are black and are murdered changing the whole nature of the investigation or that the motive for the murders turns out to be nothing to do with gender politics in the navy. I spotted the big clue at the commencement of the film when the black girl accidentally drives her for truck into dangerous inflammable containers and nothing happens and that although she investigates the damage we then cut away to the next scene. At the end of the film it transpires that the most senior woman on the boat has managed to get half a million of drugs onto the boat and hidden them in a container without anyone else on board knowing but fortunately when the rating discovered he stash through the accident she does not tell her senior officer responsible for the area or any one else but the officer responsible for attempted drugs' smuggle. The attempted rape was not an actual rape but a terrorist assault to frighten the woman from revealing that he boy friend was operating a business selling pornographic images from the internet to shipmates. Given the nature of ships and the use of technology this storyline as absurd as everyone on board who wishes will have as much access as they wish to pornographic material including films and live communications as they wish without have to set up rings and pay additional sums. More credible is the creation of a secret love nest among the works of the ship. I finally found the name of the important and moving film about the post World War 1 civil war in Estonia which led to twenty years of independence. It is called Names in Marble and produced in Finland. I forgot to say anything about another recent film experienced Devil in a Blue Dress, which is intended to be a film noir about a black detective, former war veteran Easy Rawlins played by Denzel Washington who paid to find a missing white woman believed to be hiding in the black community. While undertaking the search he finds himself a suspect in not one but two murders . The plots continues to be convoluted and one soon cease to care and just enjoys a well acted portrayal of black and white interaction among one level of culture in the USA and fog he changes taking place. Recently I listened to radio programme about the reaction of local including the leader of an evangelic church against the development of whites moving into Harlem, raising property prices and changing the cultural identity of a community which has come to be known as the symbol of a black city life in the USA. On one hand one can understand the reaction oft hose whose memory stretches over a lifetime in which Blacks were restricted to certain parts of cities and to certain levels of employment and too feel aggrieved that when at last the government decided to pump millions and billions into raising standards and opportunities including developing businesses it is the major store chains and commercial interests who have taken the funds and commenced to direct the future of the community. It is also why the UK my sympathies are with those who feel overwhelmed by the level of new arrivals from Europe however nice they are and however much they are contributing to the survival and development of the British Economy. It is evident that there are going be lots of casualties as well all adjust to global capitalism, especially when China rather than the USA is ready to be the economic powerhouse for the world.

1406 Tequila Sunrise after the 3.10 to Yuma remake and TV 20 20 cricket

Today June16th, 2008 must be catch up day although I cannot remember all the films I have seen and intended to mention.

I did not enjoy the remake of 3.10 to Yuma although it is a good Western about what a man under pressure is prepared to do for his family including giving his life, and the impact such a sacrifice can have on the hardest of villains. My interest in getting the DVD from my internet mail order subscription came from having seen the film when it was first released in the 1950's although I could not remember anything about the plot and only subsequently after checking remembered that it had starred Glenn Ford as the villain and Van Hefflin as the man under pressure or that Frankie Lane had made a hit record out of the title song. The film has been shown on TV since and the reality is that I may have seen the film then rather than in theatre. One should not rely on memory without some corroborative record.

While the structure and characters in the two films are the same the endings are very different. I would need to see the original again to make a comparative judgement. The basic story is that a war veteran and family man is struggling to make end meet and owes a neighbour money for war rights after year's of drought. He and his sons come across a notorious gang of killers and thieves using some of the rancher's cattle to stop and rob the contents of coach, killing its guardians. In the original film the coach is a traditional one whereas in the remake it is special designed for the conveyance of money rather than passengers. There is also a sequence involving the company extending the railway which I suspect was not in the original, similarly the involvement of the eldest son who saves his father's bacon several times, until the ending which again I believe is more true to life than the original production. Russell Crowe plays Russell Crowe failing throughout to convince that he is likely leader of such a terrorist and murderous gang that has no redeeming qualities. I also did not believe that no one else in the town including the Sheriff and his men would be such spineless and pathetic specimens of humanity given the qualities that were required by the original trail and town makers required to combat the hardships of pioneering in the west, and the understandable hostility from the native Americans whose land and lives they were taking, and from the lawlessness of each other, and a military that quickly became a political organ of the state and business. There was little honour and great ruthlessness during the taming of this savage land.

Wow, Not a cry of wonder but of relief as a hectic afternoon comes to an end and I can relax with a pint of larger and watch Middlesex, who play in fetching pink tops and Surrey contest a 20.20. Talking of 20 20 the loss at Notts has put Durham into third position as Lancs has won all three of its games and Notts 2 from 2 with Durham 2 from 3. Durham, play Lancs tomorrow away before the next game at home. The Lancs game is also on Sky tomorrow evening so that is a must to watch. Part of the rush was a visit to supermarket where I needed some noodles and chilli sauce both of which I was without when I made a stir fry this morning. It was an interesting and inventive concoction with half a large onion, half a green pepper, and half a small courgette with half the chicken left over from the previous evening meal, a bolognaise sauce and some lemon rice. I did say it was a concoction but it worked and was enjoyable. There is also large portion of chicken for the stir fry and for Tuesday. I became used to buying two medium whole chicken for an offer price of £5 which did strike me as very reasonable and the cheapest of meals. However when I went to buy the birds, having not done so for a couple of months, maybe longer, having had various other joints, I found that the offer was for larger birds 1.5 kilos in weight at the price of 2 for £7 and three for £10, so in this instance I decided to go for just two and see how they cooked and the portions available as a consequence. For tea this evening I had a salad with prepared tin salmon in thyme which was sufficient to drench the lettuce.

Part of the reason for the rush was finish some 100.75 work before tacking the in-tray to reach some charity draw tickets where I nice lady from the Royal National Institute for the Blind had telephoned to remind that I had not returned any tickets for the Summer draw. I am behind the 100 a month new sets for the project and with a mini trip away later in the month, I needed to do some work with more to do this evening when the match is over, during which I hope to do some photographing of My Space Blog sets (6 completed and registered and 6 or 7 developments sets in one volume(this was completed 20.30). I was able to get to the supermarket and back before the game started on the TV. I needed some non biological washing power as well as the noodles and chilli sauce. I also bought some milk, three small tines of sardines in tomato sauce and prepared pasta bakes. I also bought the remaining ten packs of transparent pockets making about thirty packs acquired since they restocked. I will make another trip possibly in the morning for fruit and remember the coffee this time. I did get two 500 gram packs of spread.

The cricket was OK although pink shirts played by the home team at Lords, whatever next, a pink ball? I thought they were joking till one was produced, apparently it is being experimented with as it is easier to see that the white. The number and lettering on the scoreboard was also pink. I know I had drunk a pint of larger when I returned but pink…and why was that hotel called the Elephant on the bank of the Tyne at Gateshead?

I carefully watered the plants which have come on a treat and must remember to photo this phase of their growth in the morning or the occasion when the light is good. I continued to upload photographs from yesterday making two sets of 101 from the 375 odd taken. It is also a boring process although worthwhile when the task is completed. There sixteen sets of photos uploaded although not all reaching the 101 target.
There was time for a film in the background while I work on the photos breaking off from time to time to try and work out the plot. I went to bed confused, tired and without finding out the conclusion, suspecting that it did not matter and I did not care. The film has one haunting image which justified its title Tequila Sunrise otherwise it is a convoluted mystery adventure movie involving a love triangle between Mel Gibson as the reformed scumbag(drug trading, bad husband and father) whose close friend is an ambitious cop who becomes head of the local drugs squad, now that is happy coincidence. When the Feds come in having been tipped off that the Mel is about to be involved in a great drugs trade with his other friend, the notorious and mysterious without redeeming features Mexican drugs' Baron, Carlos who saved Mel's life when they were in incarcerated in a Mexican prison. Does Mel love the Drugs baron more than the cop?

This kind of love triangle would not have turned a twenty million dollar production into a reportedly one hundred million, so enters Michele Pheiffer as a totally unbelievable beautiful and sophisticated restaurateur who does not cook and there is no explanation how she is who she is supposed to be except that she is a woman of integrity who has been failed by men which is this was so it is preposterous that she would genuinely fall in love with the Mel character or get involved with working under cover for the good guys. There are various complications such as an ex wife to appears to be a money grabbing bitch but then she was married to a drug trading scum bad and surprisingly they have an all American nice kid, I should cocoa. Carlos turns out to be ehad of the Mexican drug police now why did that not surprise me although the had fed turns out to be food guy and that did surprise me. I learn one things though that the film's director planned to end the film with Mel Perishing in a fireball because his central image was that fo a moth attracted to flame and that Mel's character was man who was no interested in making money or in using drugs but in the excitement of drug trading. However ti said the studio people did not want to make a proper film but wanted just to make money and insisted ona different ending. Now that is ironic and sad, nit of course because the studio bosses did what studio boss are paid to do, but because the previously Oscar winning Director, Robert Towne, let em get away with it. It was not a memorable day

1405 South Shields to Newcastle by river boat

Once upon a time people would travel from Newcastle to London by passenger boat as a more effective method of travel than coach and horse, or walking, and one upon a time coal was taken from the Tyne all over the world. Yesterday a polish ship or may be it was Russian, was unloading coal at the Port of Tyne which has now moved down river and located at South Shields for freight and at North Shields for Passengers. No ships are built but at South Shields and Hebburn there was repair work continuing on a drilling platform and a few ships, one an ice breaker, There was one freighter on the North bank of the Tyne at Wallsend, so named because it marked the effective end of the Wall and the there are still ship building cranes as well modern industrial plants and processes along both banks of the river all the way into Newcastle and Gateshead.

Some three decades ago when I first took a boat from South Shields Ferry landing up river, it was a very different experience. True there was ship building taking place on both sides of the river but no one was fishing because of the pollution, and everywhere there was sign of decay and abandoned workplaces and no where was there cared for land, new homes to admire the view, or to attract visitors from afar. I have been looking forward to making the trip again for more than decade, although I was in no rush because I wanted to see change. I had tried last year but all the places were taken so this year I kept in touch with the Nexus site on the internet and booked online a ticket on the first outing of the year and hoped for good weather.

The ticket said that one could board from half an hour before the sailing time of 1pm so I decided on an early sandwich lunch with a banana and was ready to leave midday thinking I would start or join the queue after a brisk mile walk to the ferry landing. Such was my enthusiasm for the trip that I forgone going to see the Masters Football talking place at the Newcastle Metro Arena, or watching England play New Zealand before a packed house at Chester Le Street. England was put into bat first and after an excellent start given by Bell, Petersen had come in and looked as if he was going to score a ton which later I learnt he did, and which would have left the great crowd feeling they had had their money's worth in what was otherwise a one sided game, as had been the 20 20 match I had watched on TV on a recent evening. Many missed the first part of his knock because of horrendous traffic jam and parking problems which left the ground looking only three quarters full at the start and with cameras showing the long queues lines at the gates waiting to have their bags searched to ensure that alcohol was not being taken into the ground. England were having such a good start that for a moment I regretted that I had to leave when I did for the river trip.

There was sunshine between lots of grey cloud, but none looking like rain, so far. It had rained briefly, heavy drops but not fierce rain as I made my way to watch Riot at the Custom's House the previous afternoon. Then it had been warm but today there was a chill edge to wind although it was still pleasant in the full sun, There was no cause to rush and get into a sweat so I took my time arriving just after 12.15 to find no queues but several passengers already on board with several other small groups making there from the Custom's House car parks or down the walk onto the fixed pontoon on which the all weather waiting area has been built. There are berths for three ferries. One at each side and one at the front which is used for the short journey across the Tyne to North Tyneside Our vessel was at the side facing the Custom's House and up river although from the shape it was unclear which was the front and which was the back of the ship, although I hoped I got the back so that I could view the Shields, Jarrow, Hebburn bank as we made our way up river. I was too late for the ideal seats at the side where you could sit at the railings but still found a place under the all weather awning which had been raised along with a few flags. However such was the cool breeze that one party at the end of the row by the railings decided to go for seats against the hull while others from choice had chosen the lower boarding deck close to the refreshment tables where later I was able to buy a large mug of coffee and a chocolate biscuit for the excellent value of 70p. There were Stottie sandwiches and a variety of cakes as well as constants large pots of tea as well as beer and soft drinks.

I settled down in my spot and made notes in preparation for the trip, scoffing some chocolate covered raisins while also watching late arrivals some who appeared unconcerned as the departure time arrived. Then I remembered from the previous occasion, from all those years ago, that the off time was flexible to ensure that no one was left behind including those who had taken the ferry from North Tyneside. Then we were off, going out first to the end of the river to just before reaching the two piers providing great views of the Lawe Top and the Bay of South Shields as well as Tynemouth and the North Tyneside Fish Docks and restaurant area.

There was a fierce sharp wind and choppy sea and as we had motored stern first so those of us at the back had got the full blast which sent several scurrying down below or to the front. As we set on the full thirteen mile course to Newcastle, the Newcastle to River mouth boat passed us so it was possible to take picture of a craft similar to our own.
Between the Custom's House and the Port of Tyne Authority buildings and the port docks I was interested to see that the land has now almost been cleared ready for a planned development of mixing housing, offices and recreation facilities, although I may not live to see completion which could take five to ten years, depending upon the economic climate and political vision. Attention was the directed to the North Tyneside bank where a Thompson Cruise ship was tied up next to a North Sea Ferry. Both large vessels but not as large as the freighter which was passing us mid river on its way Poland, Russia, Japan or China, These are not guessed destinations because at work on a Sunday scrap metal was being loaded onto a huge ship while coal from Poland was being unloaded from another and beyond these vessels there were acres of completed Nissan cars from the Sunderland Factory on the former Jarrow slake, a area of marshland when I first arrived, waiting to be shipped from its own dockside to Japan, Europe, the USA and South America. After the Port of Tyne there is the entrance to the river Don at Jarrow and the few minutes trip to St Paul's of Jarrow where the Monks would commence the sea trip to the early part of their monastery at St Peter's Wearmouth Sunderland. Here there is the Shell oil terminal now on strike and a Chemical works whose pong has dominated the town centre from time to time since it was built. You can also see the building from where escalators take you down under the Tyne along the pedestrian tunnel now used only by cyclists although once tens of thousands of men would cross over to their work in the ship yards and pits on both banks of the river, You can also see the large funnels releasing toxic car fumes at both ends of the road tunnel where work has also commenced on the second tunnel, such is the congestion on weekdays and summer weekends.

Just outside of Jarrow Town centre and before reaching Hebburn on the south bank there is the purpose built headquarters of the river police and helicopter landing. I nearly forgot to mention the river pilot tug station. Although the river is wide and deep enough to take the largest of ocean travelling vessels this was not always so and at South Shields there used to be a bar which enabled a foot crossing at certain times and which meant that pre Victorian sailing craft could sometime be held up for weeks in port or waiting to enter port at Newcastle until the water level was high enough. Clearly this was not acceptable once the industrial revolution was underway so the entrance was dredged but this did not affect the infamous rocks close by which has caused the untimely end of hundreds of vessels and which still make the need for pilot boats with the latest technology.

Then we reached the second remaining area of river based activity on both sides. At Hebburn there is ship repair with three customer vessels at the dockside, one an ice breaking ship. The ship building cranes are still there at Wallsend. The official end of the Wall and where ash South Shields there was a larger and more important Fort than that at Newcastle. At Wallsend then is now a modern observation tower which I imagine is similar to the one which had been suggested for Arbela at South Shields but where for the moment those of small minds, no vision and little concern for the welfare of future generations have held sway. Hebburn was once only an industrial working class town where the Catholic club was the posh club and Unionist Club the smaller one, and where it was unknown for a non Catholics to be elected to the town council. Now the extraordinary tall spire of the Catholic Church still dominates the skyline but there are expensive posh houses at the waterside and non Labour Councillors have been elected to the borough council.

Perhaps the best symbol of the civic leaders recognising the opportunity provided by the river is the creation of the Hebburn Marina and the exceptionally attractive riverside park which rises high above creating a country feel space. There are several such spaces between here and Newcastle, as well as Marina's on both sides of the river. Approaching Newcastle on the north bank there is the first of the residential developments along the River Tyne created in the early 1990's and where nearby is the entrance to a tributary from Jesmond and its Dene and an area of cultural development making use of former industrial use buildings.

However the greatest transformation has taken place on the South Bank at Gateshead. Here first next to a small Marina and the oddly named Elephant Hotel there is a large development of contemporary flats being build with river views and then the embankment from the Gateshead Stadium is also being enhanced to create riverside parkland from the former slag heaps and industrial wasteland. There are continuing industrial sites along the river with a derelict area at Felling between Hebburn and Gateshead, but at Wallsend there is a company providing a major transport fleet and another providing tone of the biggest cabling services in the world. There is a major International Paints factory at Gateshead and Spillers has a large and major Mill on the north Bank.

However it is as one approaches journey's end that the extent of transformation becomes apparent. First at Gateshead one can see the £60 million Gateshead College development, then the high rise apartments, the conversation of the former Baltic Flour Mill into the Contemporary Arts centre and then the International Sage Concerts Halls. The transformation is continuing. One the Newcastle Bank there is the recently opened high rise City Lofts projects, the new Law Courts, Hotel developments and Legal Offices as well as the development of the Victorian Buildings into one of the great night life areas in the world. The one aspect which is different from elsewhere is that this is a city which has life throughout the day and night and as with other areas of the river the intention is to create new communities who live and work without reliance on the car.

Then unexpectedly we had the treat of the day as we stopped mid river just before the brilliantly designed Millennium pedestrian and cycle bridge and waited for it to be cleared and then opened to let us briefly pass under continued to the second of the seven bridges across the Tyne which is a feature of Newcastle and Gateshead especially because of their close proximity. Here below the Tyne Bridge, the Sage and the Quayside the ferry did what I can only describe as a twirl and is whirled around and around for several minutes enabling everyone to photo everything before charging back home and allowing the bridge to be closed again.

I know from personal experience, from what I have read and seen on the telly at the cinema that there are grander and many more spectacular places around our planet, some natural and some human kind created, but I know of nowhere else where against odds and the hardships of two world wars, and the financial devastation of the 1920's and the endings of major industrial and manufacturing in the North East on any scale sufficient to support its population, there has been such a determined revival and to recreate communities where people want to live, work and have fun, and have a welcome smile for any stranger. Oh I nearly forgot to mention that the Port of Tyne was recently voted by its users as the best Port in the world because of its efficiency and the welcome of the people. The trips continue fortnightly until September 21st. The cost to adults was £11, concession £8 a family ticket including three children £36. Accompanying the trip is an ad hoc commentary by local men John Grundy or Jonny Johnson. John Grundy's style was perfect, chatty, spontaneous and as thrilled as the rest of us by what was happening along this great river.

1404 Riot at the Customs House South Shields

With a need to purchase fruit and to post the income tax return for the financial year 2007 2008 I went out mid morning and decided to purchase a ticket for the performance of Riot at the Customs House. On arrival I discovered a matinee and opted for that. I bought some cherries, strawberries and grapes on the way.

Over 100 tear ago the thriving port of South Shields invited seamen from Somalia, India, Malaysia and Africa and especially from the Yemen to undertake jobs on ships such as stokers and firemen. The ship owners could pay them inferior wages must as a whole range of employers today are delighted to employ labour from the poorer countries of Europe because of their willingness to reliably work long hours without complaint, During the first world war the seamen became invaluable as British born men were drafted into the Royal Navy. It is estimated that approximately 2000 were living around the docks at Mill Dam at this time, forming the fist significant Muslin community to settle in Britain.

South Shields was a coal mining town as well as dockyards and where ships were built a little further up the river at Jarrow., at Hebburn and across the river where a pedestrian tunnel connected the banks as well a passenger ferries. South Shields was hard working class town where the middle class lived in small areas, where I live was one, and in the neighbouring countryside. The nature of the life and the rigid class distinctions have been accurate portrayed in the novels of Catherine Cookson and The TV films and serials which followed publication and the international success of the writer. It was inevitable that British born seamen were demobilised and the economic depression developed there was resentment against those from other lands, skin colours, cultures and religion. As with what happened to the Town of Jarrow with the decline in shipping, the Labour Party, some Trade Unions, the established Churches, and town's administrators did not cover themselves with glory, with some individuals being more concerned about the protection and advancement of their personal position than the welfare of the people in general.
The local newspaper, one of the oldest in the land published letters and editorials which if they did so to-day would lead to the prosecution and imprisonment of the owners and editorial staff for the blatant fuelling of racial tensions.

My understanding that there is evidence for the impression given in the play by Peter Mortimer the principal culprits was the local leader of the seaman's union who caved in too readily to the positions taken up by the shop owners especially then a rota system was slanted against the migrant workers. The Communists Party and other socialist interests stepped in to create the Minority Movement, left wing challenge to the National Union of Seamen and the Shipping Federation and which comprised migrant workers and white Seamen. This was not a sort lived situation as it lasted throughout the 1920's coming to ahead first in April 1930 when 13 Somalis were taken to North Tyneside from South Shields to work on ships leaving from there. The situation exploded into rioting on August 2nd 1930 when fuelled by baseless rumour a large mob of white seamen roamed the waterfront hunting for Arabs and foreigners, There was a counter demonstration arranged by the Minority Movement and eventually the two sides clashed. The police then attempted to keep the peace drawing truncheons and charging and several Arabs drew knives and four policemen were stabbed. 26 men were arrested 20 Arabs and six white. The Arabs were subsequently convicted and given sentences from three to sixteen months with hard labour after which they were deported. The white organisers were given eight months. However the real scandal was the behaviour of the civic authorities towards the rest of the Muslim seamen when over 100 who had nothing to do with the riots were also deported as a consequence of seeking assistance through the workhouse.

In this respect one has to place the situation in the wider perspective of local authority control over Workhouses, Asylums and the activities of the police. I have studied some of the local poor law records and right up until the 1948 National Assistance Act one could find decisions which would rightly be condemned to day including local up single parents mothers and taking away their children. I have seen orders signed by leading trade unionists and labour Councillors.

During the Second World War a significant number of non white seamen were among the 3000 who died but little recognition was given to them When there was the development of local business often opening cafes and restaurants in the 1950's the police were used in various ways to inhibit trade with false accusations of drugs and prostitution. In the sixties South Shields did become a centre for Heroin after addicts were driven out of London and settled in the town. At one stage half those in the regional rehabilitation until came from the town. There were all British born white, as were the prostitutes who frequented the pubs and clubs close to the docklands.

The Play was first produced at the Custom's House in 2005 and this new production has been created with the help of the Trade Union Unison with performance in Liverpool as part of the Arabic Arts Festival and the European Capital of Culture Celebrations. The performance company comes from Tyneside and the Director of the work lives in South Shields.

I was therefore very interested to see what kind of audience there was for a June Matinee afternoon when the town is thronged with shoppers for the greater part of the day and then going home to tea and in preparation for the evening entertainment. At least three quarters of the auditorium was filled with a wide range of ages although many young people created a responsive atmosphere to the humour as well as seriousness of the work. As far as I could see there was only one person present who was not evidently white.

Later at home I watched a remarkable "extra" on the Bobby DVD where five people who were present at the Ambassador Hotel spoke at some length about their experience, including one who suffered superficial wounds in the head, one who was a civil right worker with the campaign who had been on voter registration in the deep South and who had then become involved in monitoring White Supremacist organisations, and one remarkable lady who been the key figure in organising the Latino struggle of basic rights in the sixties which Bobby had also taken up and had been responsible for the voter registration of some 140000 into the campaign. I saw the best hearts of that generation broken that night to misquote and misuse the opening words of Howl

1403 Bobby, the Death of a Kennedy and Cave at the Amphitheatre

Time is my most valuable possession and I am trying not to fritter it away but it is also good just to sit in the sun and enjoy the enveloping warmth and for life in all its variations to pass by oblivious to my existence. I used to have fear of disappearing unnoticed but of late it seems a pity not to enjoy what is immediately available, especially as none of us can ever know that we could happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, including in our own homes.

I find difficult to bear that life is being cut short by individual or collectives acts which are unnecessary or which could and should have been different. This thought occurred to me late last night while watching Bobby and unusual film about the last day in the life of Robert Kennedy, seen through the experience of a number of fictional characters who were in the hotel at the same time as his assassination. Film critics including those I usually agree with disliked the film which I thought was brilliant because it concentrated on what ordinary people were doing and interested in at the time the razzmatazz of the primary election was taking place. It my view that many of these characters were played by outstanding actors added to the point being made that party politics and government is only minor part of most people's lives although individual politicians can have a significant effect through that combination of charisma and ability to tune in and express the moods and aspirations of the people. What they then do or are able to do if they get into power is another issue.
In the film Anthony Hopkins plays the retired doorman who cannot keep away especially when big personalities are visiting the hotel. He is accompanied on a day time visit by his find Harry Belafonte who bemoans about having to get up three times each night for pee while Hopkins recites all those who he has greeted in the past to Harry who has heard it all before several times, and wants to drink double single malt whiskies in preference to the cup of tea suggested by Hopkins. He gets to welcome Kennedy into the Hotel. Martin Sheen(he the West Wing President (the father of the filmmaker), plays an important campaign donor staying at the hotel with his wife, Helen Hunt, although the film does not make clear what he hopes to gain through a Kennedy administration, except perhaps being part of the society around the hoped for new administration. His wife is one of those shot on the night as they assassin attempts to escape.

Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings) plays a young man getting married at the hotel in a hurry to avoid being drafted into the Vietnam war and he is also one of those shot.

The Hotel's Manager, William Macey is having an affair with a hotel telephonist whose wife, the in house hairdresser and beautician played by Sharon Stone finds out from the disgruntled racist food and drinks manager who he has sacked because he is not allowing the Mexican employees time off with pay to go out and vote. The Food and Drinks manager (Christian Slater) one of those who take a bullet and in fairness to him he has been struggling to staff the Catering department because of the party being held for the result night and that there is also a major singing star appearing in the night club, (Demi Moore ) who has become an alcoholic and who is due to sing for Bobby at the campaign party, whose husband is played by the film maker and who walks out of the hotel unable to cope with self destructiveness of his wife.

There are two other groups of characters, one having a real life existence. A Mexican busboy (table waiter) is unable to attended an important baseball game where he was going to take his father for the first time, because he has no alternative but to work a double shift. He gives his tickets to chef Laurence Fishbourne for free who comments there is something special about the young man who cradles Bobby in his dying moments placing a rosary crucifix in his hand, as happened during the actual assassination.

The second group are campaign staff one a young unassuming black man who organises the campaign transport and where his colleagues affectionately refer to him as the next Transport Secretary(Minister) gets to meet the candidate in his hotel room as a surprise reward for his efforts only to have his heightened commitment and aspirations dashed a few minutes later, although he is consoled by a Black Telephonist who recognises his voice and has made initial contact with him. Other campaign staff are less fortunate with two shot, one who has just gone on his first acid trip with a friend having acquired the stuff from resident drug pusher, introduced to the two by a member of the coffee shop staff.

The film is brilliant and merited its nominations and awards because it intersperses these stories with contemporary footage of the campaign, especially the speech of Robert Kennedy about the need to tackle the gun and violence culture in the USA and the causes of such violence. The film is not just an interesting way of dramatizing an historical event because released in 2006, it is noted that the young assassin was a Palestinian. My fear is for the position of the man could become the first Afro-American president of the U.S.A.

The previous evening I had made a mixture of a meal from the rest of the Tex Mex and some Indian starters accompanied by the last glass of a excellent Chilean Shiraz Colchahua Los Romeros estate grown and bottle. It was a soft and smooth red and I look to see if I have the second and for the first time consider abandoning getting only two bottle of a wine as part of new case of 12 every three months. In contrast to the previous horrible weather night at cricket the sun was out again and it was warm evening as I made my way by car to the sea front in order to catch the start of the evening concert at the Amphitheatre.

As last year I climbed the steps, although there is also a long ramp, to the top deck of the covered walkway from which you can lean over a wall to look directly on to the bands or singers and where this year are playing under a weather proof awning, and over the assembled crowd to the Minchella café and Ice Cream kiosk to where about a score of bikers were parading their brightly covered expensive their trophies, I nearly said weapons, or if the music is not brilliant one can cross over the walkway and lean over the wall to view of Tynemouth Priory and Castle ruins to the North, or the Trow Rocks to South or just out across the large expanse of a beautifully kept clean beach to where there were some walkers and a few surfers. The combination of this view, the sound of the waves and a mixed crowd enjoying themselves was heavenly and it felt so good to be alive.

I was justified in getting therefore the first band whose name I did not note but whose music I would like to hear again, Two boys, one a drummer and two girls, the main vocalists demonstrated that they are excellent musicians reproducing a Pink Floyd sound in one number and where the girls create a good sound as did the male vocalist. The reason for being unable to give their names is that they were listed as part of the Cave Showcase, a local development which promotes and develop young teenage musicians and dancers. The extent of the local support was demonstrated by a young singer who performed four numbers with backing tracks and while still learning her craft clearly has potential and was supported by a identifiable group off friends and family. The final band was a more established group with an energetic male lead singer with an existing following. I estimated the audience to be around 300 to 350 with some stopping for a while as they passed by and some departing and arriving during the two hour show. Most were teenagers, but there were young girls doing cartwheels on the concrete where one could only admire their self confidence although as a parent I would have insisted they did so on the grass. There were a few oldies like me and the only discordant note was the sound of the skateboarders who were using the covered area below the top walkway. I could especially then during the girl singer and if it is a regular event I will make a complaint, especially the council has provided a special area nearby.

It was then time for the Big Brother eviction show where if there was any justice the young woman who had performed so pathetically in the first game task and had then campaigned ruthlessly to have the male of the real couple evicted would be the first selected to go. She also appeared to be seeking comfort from a man who had disclosed that he had a girl friend in the outside world and she appeared to get very frustrated when he failed to respond to her. Hooray, she was evicted, although the majority of the other contestant appear too thick to grasp the significance of this development. One girl has been warned for her filthy mouth and tempter and being exceptionally obnoxious although she was not consigned to the house prison although is the most likely candidate. The level of the programme, the residents, those who participates in the spin off programmes and attend the evictions confirms the true nature of English society. But then it has to be said I not only watch the programme but also look at the on line edition of the Sun and which with the New York Times which I also look at a very efficient in sending me emails alerting to every news worthy flashes as they happen. As I also watch the political programmes and get myself out and about I like to kid myself that I am more in touch with the spirit and aspirations of ordinary folk than most politicians.