2473 Midlands visit July 2013 includes visit to Trent Bridge as England wins Second Ashes Test

As in mentioned at the end of the last piece of writing I arrived at the site of the Odeon Mansfield late on Friday evening 19^th July 2013 a day earlier than planned .I had left South Shields early, around 8 am, having prepared well and only forgetting my Morrisons petrol card remembering that for the Odeon Cinema and for Tesco. I stopped at a McDonalds just outside the Boro for a bacon and egg wrap and coffee and where I believe I paid £3.88. I also stopped at Blyth for the toilet enjoying the Test match broadcast beforehand on the car radio. The Test match broadcast may have been the cause of my distraction in that I missed the turn off the AI towards Nottingham and had to make what turned out to be a dangerous turning right across a fast moving two lane roadway towards a village before rejoining the road going back north until reaching required junction but still arriving well before my usual lunchtime meal and able to view the last hour of the morning’s play at the Test Match on the TV.

After a good lunch of a salad with three small cakes of crab and salmon accompanied by iced tap water at one of my favourite Midland inns I made my way to the Mansfield Travel Lodge, registered and quickly unpacked before setting off to arrive close to ground opening at Trent Bridge, the home of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club.

My reasoning was that arriving around 4pm I might find streetside space where I usually park but if not there was time to find the Notts Forest ground parking area and then arrive at the Trent Bridge ground to find a good viewing position behind the bowler’s arm in the shade on what was one of the hottest days of the year.

On one previous occasion I made the mistake of taking the wrong road into Nottingham and end up on the A38 going north although marked South M1 and then compounded the error by going north further having to go off just after the service station before that in the Sheffield and coming back on the motorway down to the required Notts turn off. I rarely make the same mistake twice and I cannot blame the heat on anything else. What was worse is that there had been some problem earlier going north with traffic almost at standstill. Forgetting that the turn around was just after the service area I attempted to cross over at that point but my pleading was ignored by reception emphasising that the barrier would only be lifted for staff and emergency vehicles. As I journeyed back southward and having lost at least half an hour closer to 45 minutes I abandoned the intention to head for the cricket ground and took the first road towards Nottingham and headed for the Park and Ride end of tram stop at Pheonix Park. I purchased a £3.50 return ticket, ignoring the £4 transit offer as my bus pass covered the second part of the journey from Market Square to the ground.

The tram is organised similar to that in Croydon but in this instance mainly using the roadway and therefore governed by traffic lights and traffic flow although there are sections of free movement. The bus also was able to use provided special lanes but approaching the bridge over the river I alighted at the city side rather than travelling over and alighting at County Hall, a wise decision crossing the bridge on foot quicker than the slow moving vehicle.

I decided to walk to the entrance at the end of the stand where I wanted to sit and where my companion for the match had texted she had arrived and found two seats exactly as wanted. I was able to leave my summer blazer to guard the seat and made the way to the restaurant on the first floor of stand settling for a cool drink on discovering that instead of the excellent cream tea usually provided at that time of the day they were offering a full cooked meal not required having had my main meal at lunchtime. Given that no sandwiches were on offer I settled for a sausage role with onions price £4 or was it 4.50 and on reflection a better decision would have mean the proper meal at the restaurant for a couple of pounds more? Returning to seat just in time for the start of play so there was no opportunity to relax at what had been a hectic day and at times challenging day.

The cricket game was the most close of the season. Nottingham despite without Broad and Swann tied up with the English Squad as contracted players have looked like getting into the last eight automatically by taking one of the two places from the Northern division at the expense of Durham. They are heading their division in the 40 40 as are Durham but have struggled in the Championship with only two wins against the five of Durham and Yorkshire at the top. There was also Notts wish for revenge because Durham had that extraordinary win getting 186 runs in 20 overs in the last 90 minutes to win.

Durham won the toss and asked Notts to bat first and giving the opening overs and the majority of the 20 to the slow bowlers with Onions and Rushworth only three overs each and with Onions getting their only wicket. Smith who opened took two for 20 from four was the best bowler helping to restrict Notts to 159 with Taylor who has been asked by the English selectors to guest for Sussex against the Australians this weekend. He was 65 not out at close of play yesterday July 27^th (2013).

Durham started slowly as Stoneman who has not done well was out for 5 when the total was only 7 and Borthwick went for 7 at 19 and with Smith and Mustard also going when the total was only 44 it looked as if hope of making progress to the Quarterfinals was ending but Stokes with 72 with the help of Breese 32 brought them close and with the local crowd of some 10000 complaining about the lack of slow bowlers the scores were tied with one ball to go and Durham gained the win with the last ball.

I was surprised how quickly a bus came at the end of the match and with as short queue I got a seat for the short journey to central station where the tram presently ends although there is progress with the extension line going south. The line is high above the road at this point so that a new bridge is being created. My journey was to the other end of the line and it was dark on arrival. It was possible to work out a cross country route but in the darkness I felt this was unwise so I made my way the short distance out to the motorway and then up to the first junction and then across to the A 38 attempting to retrace the same route I had taken in the afternoon. However at one point I must have taken the wrong turn and ended up heading to the centre of Mansfield, hence turning into the road leading to the Odeon Cinema/ Indoor Bowling and Sainsbury centre before retracing steps and taking a right turn towards Sutton in Aston and then taking the left turning and coming to the Travel Lodge past the large Hospital complex which recently the Government announced was being placed in special measures because of the statistical evidence of an abnormal and unacceptable death rate.

On the Saturday evening here the visit back to the cinema for the relay performance of Macbeth from Manchester with Kenneth Branagh, On Sunday there was a visit to a pizza palace located by the River at Newark where the sounds of a rock concert were coming from the grounds of the castle. I enjoyed sharing dough balls with a dip and green olives followed by a hot chicken covered pizza with a very light base and tap water with ice. On Monday lunch time there was a chicken and bacon salad with more iced tap water for lunch at the same hostelry I had lunch on arrival. I mention the salads and light meals because of a big push to lose weight and break below the 16 stone barrier once and for all. A week later I am close, in part because of a day of liquids after having two teeth filled. As happened last month I am finding it difficult to maintain the average of 8,3 hours slipping to 8.1 as the end the month approaches. This is only in part because of the high temperatures at night and more because of a muscle strain injury from too violent sports play on the Wii without warming up properly (I believe) hopefully nothing more serious. After several unpleasant nights I read available information and have started to use ice packs wrapped in a wet towel and which seems to be working.

The second Ashes Test between England and Australia was being played at Lords to full houses during the weekend in the Midlands but I was able to keep in touch through a digital radio as well as TV. I had purchased the Digital pocket radio in time for the first Test when I was also watch Durham cricket in live games and in one instances travelling to a game. An odd situation occurred when I could not turn the radio off during the journey back from the visit to Old Trafford and unplugged the chargeable battery. However when I reinserted the battery to recharge I could not switch on although some charging was initially registered. I took the recent purchase back to Argos who ordered another which became available the following afternoon. This no nonsense immediate service is so impressive and commendable.

I will save writing about the Lords Cricket ground for my visit there to watch Durham play Middlesex in the County Championship at the commencement of August. I will mention that for the first time a TV camera was allowed into the Long Room of the Pavilion. This year I will be visiting all the grounds where the Ashes Tests are being played with the visited to the Oval already, one afternoon visit to Old Trafford, the evening visit to Trent Bridge and the rest of the season watching Durham at the Emirates ground. In addition I shall be visiting Derby for the first time and returning to Hove as well as a visit to Edgbaston for the 20 20 finals and back to Lords for the 40 40 and for hopefully the Durham semi final in this competition. There is the crucial championship game at Scarborough making my second visit to this ground in the year, a magnificent total of 25 days watching cricket at 9 county grounds this year if Durham is included, an all time likely never to be repeated record.

In the second England won the toss and decided to bat losing three wickets for 27 runs and the bubble of the first Test appeared to have been well and truly burst, Trott 58 was joined by Bell who again saved the day with an innings of 109. He was supported by Bairstow 67 and later by a fine stand between Broad and Swann. Nevertheless on a good wicket the total of 361 was considered under par for a match of this importance. We were worried? We should not have been.

Although the Australian openers were able to get 42 runs on the board before the first wicket what happened next is something of a disgrace, hee hee, for Australia, Oh dear me for the wickets fell at 50 53 69 86 91 96 104 and 104 for 9. Were we going to witness another heroic stand, well no, we were not and the Aussi’s were all out for 128 and England was entitled to enforce the follow on. The decision not to do so was taken for cricketing reasons but also I suspect because tickets for all five days has been sold.

I have seen what Joe Root can do when he scored half the runs needed for Yorkshire to beat Durham at the Emirates Durham. But his elevation to open for England after good performances in the middle order had not been inspiring. Now he not only scored his first century adding his name to all those who have done so before in the team locker room but went on to make 186, failing to get a double century the following morning when it was evident the Australians tactics to try and limit the time available for their defeat. He was assisted by Bell again with 74. England declared at 349 and the opposition had almost two days to get over 600 runs to win. They made 235 all out just before the end of fourth day. Graham Swann took four and then five wickets with match figures of 9 for 98. England were two up in the series and Australia had to win all three Tests remaining to reclaim the Ashes, and on this showing there was no chance. Given the wins in the Rugby Union Lions, Andy Murray at Wimbledon and Froom in the Tour De France one could also look forward to the World Athletics and swimming Championships, The Rugby League Challenge Cup and perhaps even the football where the season begins to get under way

　

2472 King George Alexander Louis, The Audience and Macbeth.

 

Reviewing my writings this month the causal reader can be forgiven for concluding that I am fixated on crime and cricket so this time I am including a birth who will become an heredity head of state, plus Kenneth Branagh as Macbeth as well as looking back on Helen Mirren’s tour de force as Queen Elizabeth all part of a visit to the midlands which included Durham County Cricket Club at Nottingham and the second Test match at Lords (TV and radio).

First the Duchess of Cambridge with the assistance of William (second in line to become heredity head of state) has produced an eight pound plus boy, George Alexander Louis and who will be 87 in the year 2100 long after I have departed worldly and I suspect all self awareness.

I have previously declared my opposition to an aristocracy and all that goes with it, despite the arguments about stability and continuity of the British form of government. I have not changed my position on the principle that aristocracy, royalty and an heredity head of state are incompatible with any rational notion of democracy, but then again I have never argues that life, politics and human behaviour is guided primarily by rationality.

However the sooner titles are abolished in Britain the better for all of us in the creation of more balanced society, balance of payments via the tourist industry not withstanding. Having said this I have warmed to the idea of an heredity head of state in terms of providing a ceremonial role embodying the core values of the state as long as each individual is appropriately trained and given the option on reaching maturity of opting out and choosing another occupation and lifestyle if they wish and once the decision is taken rather like religious leaders of old then they should be regarded as an apprentice and provided experience of the people they will lead as well of the job required and which also brings me to the play, the Audience with Helen Mirren, as the Queen, looking back on her life and the experience of the weekly audience with all the Prime Ministers she got to know since the untimely death of her father.

Looking back over the same period I conclude that Mrs Simpson did the nation a great favour by seducing the then King into wanting to marry her, thus causing the abdication and with that the succession of George VI and our Elizabeth. I hate to imagine what would have become of Britain had the Archbishop of Canterbury and other big wigs decided that the King and Mrs Simpson should get their way.

George VI and his wife carried out their required role with dedication, honour, integrity and distinction and acquired the love, admiration and respect of the majority of the British people together with large chunks of the population worldwide, paving the way for Queen Elizabeth to commence her long and illustrious reign with her admirable husband although more than once the British system has been under threat and the position of the heredity head of state placed in question.

There is evidence that twice during the period when Harold Wilson was Prime Minister a military and secret service coup was attempted proposing that Louis Mountbatten should head a government of unity. Harold, who I head speak about the way science and technology would transform the country during the period when I was at the University of Birmingham was according to the play, the Queen favourite Prime Minister because of his direct no nonsense approach to politics and life.

Baron Wilson as he became was clever with a photographic memory but without arrogance or unscrupulousness and double dealing and was the only Prime Minister other than Churchill who the Queen honoured by going to dine at his home before both departed office. For at least a couple of decades mystery surrounded the reasons for Wilson’s unexpected departure from office and in is only latterly that the truth emerged that he developed the early indicators of Alzheimer’s as well as his wife’s distaste for party politics and the then increasing cult of personality politics.

To his credit Louis Mountbatten who had tried to keep India as one country, when Viceroy rejected, the coup proposal and he is said to have encouraged the marriage between Philip and Elizabeth as well as becoming an important influence on the life of Prince Charles. The decision of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to including Louis as one of the three names for their first born maybe more of a nod towards Prince Charles than a statement of Europeanism but I was delighted that this choice of name did upset one little Englander.

While the Queen is shown to have respected Winston Churchill, played by Edward Fox in the play, it is evident that she was somewhat in awe of a man who clung to his traditional understanding of the role while with Wilson she appears to have been able to be herself or at least come to be herself having been thrust into the role prematurely and without the years of preparation afforded to Charles, William and hopefully to George, adjusting to the outward changing nature of the Kingdom without abandoning the core values.(I have the life of Winston by his son Randolph)

Queen Elizabeth was fortunate to have the remarkable Harold Macmillan (I have Anthony Sampson’s study of his Political Ambiguity), the man who advised South Africa on the Winds of Change but who helped the cover up of upper class immorality in the Profumo Affair and which led to an unholy alliance between the secret service, the police and fleet street to blame Stephen Ward. The Judge at the time has no business promising anonymity to witnesses beyond that required by statute hence the continuing clamour to have the papers, fortunately not destroyed as intended, available for professional scrutiny in much the same way as those relating to the covering up of Hillsborough. I am not suggesting there is a difference between upper and lower class immorality or indeed taking a position on what is regarded as immorality but not illegal. I see no value in pandering to the interest of the mob and the only outstanding issue is whether matters were covered up with it was in the public interest in terms of the then law to have processed.

The play showed that Anthony Eden was unfit for the office( I have his Memoirs- Full circle) as well as those of another unsuitable man Edward Heath (George Hutchinson’s book) but I cannot find the study on Wilson although I did find Mrs Wilson Dairy as well as the spirited defence of her husband and the scandalous lies put about by hostile individuals in MI5, in a surprising article which appeared the Daily Mail’s on line edition of Femail.

The play suggests that the Queen found/continues to find it difficult to forgive the decision of Tony Blair to sell off the Royal Yacht and not to commission a replacement or the way he took control of the situation arising from the death of Diana, although not featured in the play, may well have affected the rest of their relationship together with the decisions to use ground troops in Iraq. There was surprising affection for Prime Minister Brown I suspect because the Scottish connection, and common values, together with the most interesting exchanges, confrontation, is too strong a word between the first female Prime Minister and a Queen born in the same year. It is interesting that an almost state funeral took place for Lady Thatcher with the Royals attending, something unlikely for Tony Blair.

In the play the meetings with each Prime Minister was interspersed with Elizabeth reflecting on her life as a young girl and young woman and together with some amazing changes of costumes and physical appearance the show provided an always engaging and rounded perspective on our national life over six decades. It was a good experience with my only regret that I was not able to view live because the theatre at Bolden failed to sort out the communications link with the NT effectively beforehand.

The decision of the Duchess of Cambridge to go and stay with her “ordinary” parents, albeit southern counties middle class, is a good move as was the move to name their first child George. Prince George also has the name of Alexander with the suggestion that was the wish of his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge and is indeed a great name!

In the context of the Audience it is hoped that Charles, William and now George will be adequately prepared for their future roles as understudies and one step could be to include the next in line in the weekly Audience, although weekly is a misnomer as appears not to take place when the head of state is on holiday although presumably direct contact is possible through the use of Skype and the telephone, presuming these can not be monitored by the various intelligence services, including our own.

The Queen has had her horrible years, caused by an unfortunate choice of someone to marry the man who will become Charles III when he was already in a lifelong loving relationship with another woman who has subsequently become his wife. Given the nature of the continuing British establishment the individualistic Charles espousing many causes of significance could prove a workable interim head of state as long as his wife continues to play the supporting role she has developed since their marriage, giving William and Kate more time for each other and for a family life before they become modern heads of state hopefully abolishing the wearing of robes on state occasions such as the Opening of the Parliament and other inappropriate dressing up in such a way as not to damage the tourist value of our ceremonies. It was good to see Republican channels such as Fox News and CCN and France Today providing wall to wall coverage of the birth.

The potential sealing up of an hereditary head of state for the next 100 years should prevent the kind of treachery which Shakespeare covers in his play Macbeth which I saw late (8.30 PM) in a live relay from Manchester at the Odeon Cinema Mansfield.

I studied the play for my ordinary level English Literature General Certificate of education and the words remain familiar to me. Perhaps for this reason it has never been a work which emotionally engaged although I continue to marvel at language with its insight on the human condition even only some murderers are subsequently racked with the kind of guilt which beset Macbeth and his wife played by the excellent Alex Kingston (who recently had a good role in Doctor Who and also who also was a subject of a Who do you think you are programme. At one level I have seen and enjoyed Kenneth Branagh in too many roles, especially Wallander on screen over past half decade to see him as Macbeth, although the performance was of the highest integrity.

The reason why this couple sowed the seeds of their own doom is that he listened to the three witches and failed to remember “beware the Greeks who bear the gifts” while his wife liked the idea of being queen and initiated the subsequent ruthlessness. The National Theatre production took place in a deconsecrated church with the stage the central aisle although some use was made of window and settings of the alter end. There was one memorable performance that of Ray Fearon as McDuff whose reaction to the news of the death of his wife and sons was one of the most painfully moving experience in theatre for the past decade and which followed the excellent performance of Rosalie Craig as his wife and Harry Polden and Pip Pearce as their sons. John Shapriel as Duncan always impresses as did Jimmy Yuill as Banquo. The late start was because the play, as is customary, is played straight for its two hours in length without an interval, There was no vacant seats and the Premium seating was excellent for someone of my size.

It was my second visit to the site of the cinema in consecutive days although my first visit was unintended and I will explain in the second piece of writing about the midlands weekender.

　

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2471 Films of protest and political realities ( July 2013)

With such glorious weather over the past weeks and some glorious and some glorious cricket it is difficult to keep attention focused one what is happening in the earth world around and on politics at home. I attempted to assuage some guilt by going to the Cineworld Bolden on a very hot sunny afternoon to see The East, a film about which I had not heard or read any review but where a brief note on line attracted my attention. A young woman placed undercover in an environmental action protest group and becomes affected, some will say infected by her role.

I had recently reported on the problems which the special national security unit encountered here in the UK when male officers placed undercover in similar organisation commenced long term relationships with female activists, clearly harming the young women in the process, fathering a child in one instance and becoming confused themselves about their role and identities. It is an inevitable consequence of individuals however well assessed and prepared when placed undercover which requires new identities with back stories and twenty four seven role play, especially if the cause of such groups is usually a worthy one and the problem is with the methods they have come to use.

In my youth even if though the methods were non violent and activities open the “ authorities” still placed people covertly to undermine public interest and support as well as gain intelligence because the threat to national stability and government policy was real in addition to the media of the day also placing individuals covertly and sometimes overtly, in addition to acting as an arm of the authorities as quid pro quo or because of political positioning.

Non violent direct action will only work however when the cause is shared by the majority and mass civil non violent protest as part of an extensive non violent campaign should succeed as long as those participating, especially the leaders are prepared to sacrifice their lives and refuse to retaliate in kind whatever the provocation. Gandhi was successful in India but not in South Africa and he failed to prevent the carnage between Hindu and Muslim which followed partition at independence and with its ongoing violence to this day. The civil rights movement in the USA made great strides in terms of changing the law nation wide and changing substantial public opinion but racism remains as strongly as ever before. I am saddened by not surprised that some who espouse excellent causes have twisted their thinking to believe they can achieve their objectives with violence and the corrupted methods required by management of a state

Few these days are willing become fundamental Catholic, Muslims or non sectarian extremists willing to put their lives at risk through non violence and Satyagraha but more are prepared to resort to the behaviour of those they fight against leading governments to reduce personal freedoms in the fight against the consequential terror of their actions.

Time Magazine for 8^th July week 2013 provided significant information about the extent of USA surveillance of its own citizens as well as those of nations since 9/11, explaining that a small group of 11 Judges appointed to the Foreign Intelligences Services Court in which individual judges are asked to consider requests from specified government agencies to set aside constitutional rights and standards in the interests of National security. Apparently since the Act became law 1789 applications have been made to conduct electronic surveillance, denying none and modifying only 40. Now tot he first film.

The East is set in the USA and the young female undercover operative has been recruited from a national security force by one of the new international agencies attempting to protect large corporations from those working to expose their at times murderous activities. Sarah Moss played by Brit Marling and who co wrote the film script, is the former FBI officer who is in a loving sexual relationship and lies that she is going abroad on a mission when in fact she is about to join an anarchist collective located a comparatively short distance away. Why she needed to lie in this way is not explained but is an indication that this is a personality who finds the role play involved in her work more exciting and satisfying than her everyday home and social life. The relationship appears doomed at this point and the inevitability that she will establish a more rewarding relationship with someone she can admire is self evident, or at least it was to me.

The group in this film are a collection of individuals with separate agenda’s governed by their upbringing and relationships and which through the course of the film are revealed. The group, one of several loosely connected cells are located on land which it transpires belong to one of the group, where he burned down the family home when inherited. The first target is a pharmaceutical firm which manufactures a drug intended to protect those visiting other climes from local diseases but which in fact can have a lethal side effect for some individuals. The group use a former fraternity contact to gate crash a party and lace the champagne with what transpires to be a mild dose of the drug so that the executives involved only suffer minor ill effects.

In the second attack the target is the parents of one the group who as CEO of an international company is polluting a lake with lethal effluent which has in turn polluted the main water system of the community with lethal consequences, an allegation also made against the technique of Fracking to get shale gas. In the film the father repents at the last moment but his daughter is fatally wounded as the police arrive on the scene and is buried by the rest of the group in a woodland grave.

The role of the undercover officer is discovered by the cell leader with whom she has had a passionate relationship, and he persuades her carry out the third planned strike, to steal the master file from her agency which contains the information on the operatives who work undercover for the firm in some thirty countries world wide. The plan is to release their information Wiki leaks style to the media. The young woman carries out the mission but pretends she was unable to do so, concerned that the manner of the proposed use of the information will place lives of fellow workers at risk. They two decide to go their separate ways while she goes on a world wide mission (how this is financed is not explained) to meet up with the operatives and persuade them not help the companies but to help her expose their short comings.

The film is produced by Ridley and Tony Scott with Zat Batmanglij directing and who also co writes the script. Zat and Brit spent two months in 2009 joining an anarchist collective who lived on the food discarded by supermarkets and family homes, to hop on trains and living on rooftops and they commenced to craft the film idea before they commenced their first film Sound of my Voice in 2011.

In this film shown currently on Sky there are two people working undercover, a journalist with a male partner who set out to investigate a cult which is led by Maggie played by Brit Marling who claims to be a time traveller from year 2054 in world which is even more riddled with struggle, famine and war and her mission is to choose individuals who will be help to cope more effectively than at present in countering the negative forces and interests in involved.

In addition to secrecy, the couple are blindfolded they are required to shed all their possessions, including clothing and to shower to avoid affecting Maggie who lives in a sterile environment and is dependent on oxygen. The young woman has an imposing presence and without providing evidence of her claims begins to affect the scepticism of the investigative couple with the man using the latest technology to film and record their experience. The couple do not live full time with the group and the man, Peter, works as a teacher at a school where there is a challenging nine year old who behaves in an eccentric way, never removing a head covering and once home spending hours in what appears to be pointless and obsessions constructions using building pieces.

Maggie then requires Peter to bring the girl to her who she claims will become her mother and Peter who has been ruthless in his approach to exposing the woman as a fraud appears to be considering the request, something which horrifies his partner who believes he wants Maggie and this is blinding him to the reality for her position and to the danger involved in the request.

The journalist insists Peter leaves her and is then approached by a woman who claims to be working for the Justice department and that there is evidence that Maggie far from being from the future is wanted in two other states because of acts of violence and criminality. This woman persuades the journalist to tell Peter to go ahead with Maggie’s request without revealing it will be a set up and he is to insist that Maggie comes to a pre agreed meeting place. When the film begins the undercover couple use a special handshake which has been taught to them something which is particular to Maggie. When she meets the girl, the child greets Maggie with the handshake and asks how the stranger knew what she had thought unique to her. Maggie who has persuaded the girl to remove her head covering says, “ you taught it to me”

The police arrive at this point and remove Maggie with other members of the group who had been opposed to her leaving sanctuary accusing the man of betrayal. He looks at his former partner who indicates her betrayal. The man says he will arrange for legal defence for Maggie. I am uncertain how the film ends in the sense of what is the outcome which I understand is the intention.

The latest edition of Time magazine which arrived this morning Saturday 13^th July 2013 has the headlines World’s best protesters World’s worst Democrats accompanying a picture of the same crowd Egyptians. It took huge crowds over the central square in the capital and other cities to remove the president and the rule of generals and create the first democratic national election in the history of this nation. When the Muslim brotherhood supported won the election I felt the democratic experiment would fail because of the incompatibility of the aims of the Muslim majority with the rest of the population who wanted a female equality pluralist society and state.

Less than a year later an estimated 30 million people took to the streets to demand the removal by the army of the Presidential head of State and when they obliged, the question was this a couple or not appeared academic although the immediately blocking of TV showing the subsequent millions on the street calling for the reinstatement of the president appeared to end the democracy. The Generals however wanted compromise and promised their intervention would be short lived. However the killing of protestors by protestors followed by the shooting by national forces, allegedly in self defence, of Muslim protestors appeared to lose any prospect of reconciliation, The supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood have democratic justice on their side in that they won the majority of seats and votes in the Parliament election and because the liberals and pluralists could not agree on one candidate they won the Presidency and they then won a 60% majority for the proposed constitution. Understandably the president ran the country on the basis of the policies and values of his party which also understandably alienated those who had hoped for a very different kind of approach. Millions then took to the streets in non violent direct action protest and instead of the President responding with concessions he refused to budge an inch and this provided the opportunity for the army that has run the country for hundreds of years to step in.

The July 12^th edition of Time also returned to Bangladesh to report on the impact on families of the latest horror of the collapsed garment factory reminding that the industry is responsible for 80% of country’s exports, 13% of its GDP with 4 million employed and some 80% of these female. In over 5500 official factories. It is difficult to see strides being made in improving the safety of buildings and the payment of appropriate wages given these statistics and the insatiable desire of already developed nations for inexpensive quality clothing. The juxtaposition of these two pieces reminds of the continual balance between the economic imperatives of the already developed nations and those merging vis-à-vis moral principles, tribal nationalism, issues of rights, religious beliefs and human altruism While the horror that is Syria continues there are indications fo a softening of positions and moves towards compromise with talks between Israel and the Palestinians, and quietude replacing belligerence between North Korea and the USA but children and their mothers continue to starve and die from curable diseases. Here at home we are getting ready for the hols and a large part of the country celebrates the birth of the third in line to an hereditary head of the British State together with their extended family network. My obsession with crime and cricket of the past writings is about to be broken while watching Sunderland play Spurs to herald the restarting of professional football in a competition in Asia.

2470 Nearly a magical wekend of Cricket for England and for Durhamm Mid July 2013.

The middle weekend of July 2013 did not become as magical as it promised although the sun was hot and prolonged and Durham had an impressive win, the second against Yorkshire in the 20 20 competition on the Friday evening, The ground at the Emirates was as full as I have seen it at a 20 20 or any other form of cricket except the Internationals with over 7000 said to have attended. This was only in part because of the free admission available to the membership as part of the annual charge. There was a small section of play things for young children to be entertained as well as more food and drink concession sellers than usual. There also appeared to be a packed balcony in the sponsors areas.

The members lounge again was restricted until 5.30 because of a conference letting but there was free coffee or tea available at the immediate entrance but it was not the sort of day for a hot drink and at the interval I enjoyed an orange fruit juice from the machine in the local sports club for £1.50. I commenced to watch the game from the upper balcony overlooking the wicket, the same as for the previous home game in this competition but removed to the lower and sheltered tier to avoid the sun.

There was more razzamatazz than usual beforehand with around 100 primary school children in a cricket competition bowling at a single stump and a second group also from a range of schools with red and blue pom poms as cheerleaders. I assumed their parents/families and been invited to watch. I cannot remember if they or others formed the regular guard of honour dressed in whites and with impressive prolonged ground fire works from the mobile safety containers which filled the air was full of sulphuric smoke.

As if to match the size of the crowd Durham had a spectacular win after the Colonel made 91 out of a total of 145 for the second wicket with Durham going on to make 215 with Yorkshire never at the races despite an excellent 68 from Gary Ballance. Sidebottom showed his class with only giving away 28 runs from his four overs. Rushworth was the best of the Durham bowlers with 2 for 13 from his four as the visitors could only make 134 for 8 from their 20 overs. It was a great win and gave hope that if Durham won all their remaining matches they might make the quarterfinals as a runner up in their division. A visit to Old Trafford on Sunday and then to Trent Bridge and Derbyshire’s ground at Chesterfield the following weekend would continue ambitions leaving the last two games at home against Derbyshire and Leicestershire exciting or no events.

At the match on the Friday evening I used the radio to keep abreast of the first Test Match before closure of play and which had commenced on the Wednesday on the Wednesday and was now into its third eventful day. I could not find the radio later and considered going back to the ground in the morning. Although I been to the supermarket I had left my jacket with the radio in the car. The following morning before departing I checked one long shot possibility from all the searching of car and my jacket. For once I was right. Phew although this is not the end of the story regarding the digital pocket radio. Parking had cost only £1.50 which led to misleading one visitor saying it would be £2.50, that charged for the afternoon games.

On Saturday after an early lunch I made my way via the ferry and the bus to Tynemouth Station. Here was to be a dancing display by local talent as well as professionals as part of the significantly changed Tynemouth Festival. This year the event became a ticket affair for concerts at the Whitley Bay Playhouse and the grounds of the Priory. The street activities for families appeared had been stopped and although I did not make the walk, it was such a hot day, I assumed the playing by local traditional jazz bands on the stage next to the Gibraltar pub had also ended, in part because the Jazz festival as now moved to 0ctober and also because the weather has been poor in recent years and which helped kill the participation of South Tyneside.

Two young male street dancers moving on a very small stage for about half an hour was not my cup of tea so I ambled through dozens of market stalls resisting the great food including some highly decorated home made cup cakes, the plates of olives together with the books and records. I was tempted by some Henning Mankell Wallander books until I realised they were new and not second hand. It was an outing but the memory of some great music remained just that a memory.

I considered taking the Metro into Newcastle to check if M and S had the lightweight fawn summer blazer as mine had some nasty marks and had seen better days, my fault from the tendency to chuck it around at the back of the car or under seats when not required for warmth and using it as a store for keys, cards and cash, diary and radio. I missed one Metro train and the wait went on for ever so I decided to go for the bus to North Shields the take the bus down to the ferry but then the wait went on for ever again. I went back to the bus stop which I had alighted and made the rest of the round trip to the Hotel turning around and then back to the ferry. The ferry in both directions was packed with on departure a cycling club taking up most of the free space on the inside deck descended on South Shields to enjoy the cycle way along the coast to Sunderland.

It was then I made a mistake when going through the opened again direct route into Market Square now that Wouldhave House has been demolished and not checking the way ahead at the ground and I missed a step set and went flying face forward in much the fashion as I had done in the shop, three or was four years ago splitting my nose so that it needed to be sealed. This time my hands and my knees struck the hard surface with force but I remain lucky that there was no serious damage done with my knees badly bruised and that on my right side painful if I place pressure when getting up from the floor. I also damaged the toe cap of one of my new shiny shoes although this is not visible at a distance, but by lack of care remains annoying. It will not happen again.

On Saturday evening I watched two episodes of Wallander where I remained convinced there was a concluding episode this past weekend which I recorded only to find it is the first of two parts and I just did not pay sufficient attention before. Fortunate I had seen this creation from the book The Man who Smiled. I will write about the repeated programmes separately.

I also prepared for my trip to Old Trafford Manchester with the Durham supporters club. There was an earlier start the following morning than the trip to Scarborough although we were provided with a small coach because the numbers were down, but I suspect because the full size coaches were being used for other trips with the good weather. Fortunately I was again able to have a double seat for myself. I had drank coffee in the car on arrival and enjoyed a baguette with pate and olives and some water before departing the coach so I did not need to take the haversack with me into the ground. There was a second baguette with cheese and pickle for the homeward trip plus some large cherries.

I have come to know and enjoy the route down to the M62 and over the Pennines which commenced forty years ago when I first came to the North East from Cheshire. Subsequently I taken the route on visits to Manchester, Chester and Liverpool, sometimes to watch Football at Old Trafford and the City ground , old and new, occasionally to watch Durham at Old Trafford and more recently when the game was played in Liverpool. I also made one visit to recapture my two visits in the 1960’s working with the Family Service Unit Salford and the with the City of Manchester Children’s department. I also spent a few days in the Wirral visiting where I lived temporarily in the City and then at Bromborough as well my former workplace and county Hall as well as Dee Riverside and around the City Walls.

Today as the sun burnt through the cloud there was opportunity to enjoy the views listening to the Test before arrival outside the ground just around 1 pm with an early start at 1.45, The sun had come out and was burning hot so my first thought was to find somewhere out of the sun. I have not visited the county cricket ground for several years and have little memory of what it was like before the wicket was turned around and the various developments to the spectator accommodation had taken place.

I have very mixed reaction to what has happened. The main consequence of the change is that the Pavilion now overlooks the wicket although the upper areas have been converted to viewing boxes and balconies for the Committee and hospitality, There is only member viewing over the sight screens from the two lounges at either side of the pavilion which do include two large TV screens. The veranda outside the first floor level is for the disabled and their helpers and this is a positive feature giving them premium viewing. The bar and foods purchasing areas, together with the toilets are luxury level. The main reception is hotel standard with good lifts. The main seating for membership and visitors is to the side of the pavilion and these are luxury seats strong, comfortable, smart looking and with a good space between each seat and good leg room and those at the back offering a good level above fielders but not high enough to be over the wickets, There is a premium level of seating above as well as hospitality areas.

At the end of the ground in a central position over the wicket is the media centre and the players balcony and dressing rooms. They are still creating a vast bank of seating to one side over looking the field of play and I doubted if this would ready for the third Test at the commencement of August unless they were also using the kind of Mechano assembly seating used at Durham. Because of the heat and the limited between arrival and the start of play I did not make a full circuit of the ground as is my custom but made my way to a good seat at the back of the Members seating area close to the edge of the sight screen. While the space around the stands is substantial and one is able to enter this space on foot before having a ticket check it lacks the enclosed atmosphere of grounds such as Lords, the Oval, Headingley and I suspect Edgbaston although I have not visited since the recent changes,

My ticket had been printed out at home and this appears to be the position at major grounds where there is the use of the hand held bar code machines which can also be used for the pass out. At Scarborough I had taken a seat to find a Durham supporter behind me and in this instance I was joined by someone who had travelled on the coach and then discovered that his view of the one working scoreboard was impeded and moved seating.

Lancashire won the toss and decided to bat with an impressive use of the opening overs to create what quickly became evident when the Durham innings commenced was an unassailable lead. As at the Riverside it was one opener, in this instance Brown, who dominated making 62 out of 85 before he was out but then Katich, who once played for Durham acted as anchor with 40 at the close while four other wickets fell. With a total of 170 when 200 had seemed likely early on, I did not give up hope of a repeat at what happened at Scarborough when Durham after a slow start built up momentum to take the match in the last over, In this instance it was Borthwick who appeared to have command of the bowlers but his 62 from 51 was not enough and at the close Durham were 25 runs short. It would take four wins from their last four games with the first two away from home for Durham to have any hope of quarter final qualification and even then only an outside chance of making the quarterfinals, The journey home was muted.

The Lancashire club is also sponsored by the Emirates airlines who look as if they will at least have some return on their investment after two years which has seen Durham without reaching a final, or high league position and Lancashire relegated, although like Durham they did win the County Championship. Immediately after Durham’s double success.

The disappointment was lessened by the excellent news from Trent Bridge as England were successful in removing the last Australian wickets to take the first of ten Tests. Five here and five in Aussiland. England had commenced the Test all out for 215 in 59 overs having won the toss and electing to bat, The last four wickets had produced only 2 runs and no player had got more than 48 runs with Petersen a disappointing 14. Australia had initially fared no better losing nine wickets for 177 and a significant lead was anticipated, Australia had caused controversy by selecting as their primary slow bowler a nineteen year old who had only a played a few games at senior level. This young lad called Agar had bowled reasonable well yielding only 24 runs for his seven overs but without claiming a wicket. His destiny was to be his batting as number 11 he was last when 98 from 101 balls and with Hughes not out 81 they had added a record 163 making a total of 280.

With Root and then Trott out with the total only 11 those who had taunted 10 0 were being quickly silenced. Cook 50 followed by Petersen 64 and then heroically Bell 109 supported by Prior 31 and Broad 68 achieved a total of 375 leaving Australia to get 310 and all the time in the world to do so.

After a good start with the first wicket coming at 84 the wickets came in groups with three between 161 and 165 and the 7^th to 9^th between 211 and 231, some 80 runs short so a victory appeared only a matter of time but in this instance it was Pattison not out with 25 from 67 minutes and Haddin 71 from 231 minutes who came close losing by only 14 runs. James Anderson was the English hero with 5 for 73 to add to his 5 for 85 10 for 158 overall. Broad has a badly bruised shoulder after being hit by the ball while Finn to had taken the place of Bressnan failed to impress nor had Joe Root with only 5 to add to his first Ashes Test score of 30. In one respect the game was lost by the Australian Captain deciding to call for a review when a batsman was out and then not being able to review when the umpire gave Broad not out after he failed to walk when caught off his bat. Although the match was an exciting one England looked poor at the top and Australia just looked poor, the heroic effort of young Ager notwithstanding.

It was a great weekend in tropical heat but it could have been magical.

2469 Inspector Montalbano and the case of the voice of the Violin plus similarities with Kurt Wallander

I enjoyed rhe fourth book in the Montalbano series The Voice of the Violin, even if the reason for the title does not become apparent until towards the very end. I appreciated the character development and the continuity of some storyline relationships. Having read the first book before appreciating that the TV series had placed the book first out of sequence( The Snack Thief) I was impressed at the way the writer deals with the position of Salvo Montalbano and Livia and their decision to marry and provide a home for the now orphan boy of The Snack Thief - Françoise. During the story Salvo is asked by his deputy Mimi to visit his sister Franca where she is looking after the child with her own two boys at the family farm while the adoption process is progressed and Salvo and Livia prepare for a fundamental change in their daily lifestyles.

Given what was learned about the couple from the first book read and now the previous first two are written I suspect most readers would have guessed that marriage and becoming a day in and day out family man was not something that Salvo was cut out for and that Livia was not cut out for an continuous 24/7 relationship with a self possessed confident to point of egocentricity police Inspector. In fact it takes mature and well adjusted intelligent adults to be able to enjoy and sustain a relationship where both partners have full life occupational activities from which they get their identity and satisfaction and which involves long hours, often travel during which they are separated and are able to develop relationships with others. Having watched the Swedish Television interpretation of Wallander (Henning Mankell’s The Fifth Woman over two weeks recently and presently, The Man who smiled) I have noted many similarities between the two characters and the reasons why I identify with both of them so strongly).

In fairness to Salvo while work and thinking about work takes precedence over most other things in his life the exception is food which he insists in enjoying in silence saving each morsel which is also something of a turn off for most females! I am not saying he does not enjoy sex but I suspect he rarely loses himself completely in the way many if not most people are able to do. My main surprise is that Livia has become so attached to him. I suspect her own work has taken precedence over motherhood and that while she dislikes the fact that Montalbano is often not “with her” during her weekends in Vigáta she is just as content with their weekends and occasional holidays together when he is not fully involved in solving one or more cases.

I also need to be fair that however much he understand the situation Salvo is disappointed that the child has come to appreciate the security offered by Franca and her husband and in particular that he is sharing in the family life as a brother of the two sons who have also welcomed his arrival into the family. It is Françoise who has taken the initiative in demanding to stay however much he appreciates the visits of Salvo and Livia who rescued him during his darkest hour. While Salvo understands the boy’s position and the willingness of Franca and her husband to accept him as a full member of their family he realises this will be a devastating blow for Livia, although even he is surprised at how badly she takes the news arguing that the couple are only after someone to help work the farm and his inheritance. She needs. as she does, to make a surprise visit to the farm on her own but the shock of her rejection, as it seems to her, is the greater as a consequence. Angry with Salvo who she blames for the situation, part fo her difficult to express at times more general anger at him for attaching so much importance to his work, she leaves the island with only brief contact with the man. While the relationship continues and appears to flourish at times, some readers like me will sense that a point of no return will has been reached and question if the relationship will survive and if it does for how long.

It is also a personal event which leads Salvo into the case which is the main subject of this book. The wife of a fellow Inspector in another district is reported dead after being gravely ill for sometime and he arranges to be driven to the funeral., On their way they hit a parked car because trying to avoid a chicken which runs into the road (Returning from a coach trip to watch Durham at Old Trafford Lancashire yesterday 14^th July 2013 I encountered two baby Seagulls determined to control the entrance to the back lane with a sit down and even getting out of the car to shoo them away failed. Because of the incident and going to the wrong church they fail to make the funeral and on return finding the vehicle with their note still parked they fail to get a response from the large property where it was parked outside the main gates,

Montalbano arranges for someone to try and find out about the ownership of the House and vehicle. The property was owned by a local doctor, now deceased and inherited by his son, also a doctor, who works in Bologna who married a woman who fell in love with the property when they visited on honeymoon and decided she wanted to establish a home there, staying in the area often (at a hotel as yet undiscovered) making local friends with whom she frequently socialised and it is assumed where she was now staying and had not yet returned to the home as a consequence.

Salvo then did something for which readers familiar with his approach to policing know him only too well. Late at night he enters the property and to his horror he finds a beautiful young woman face down naked on a bed and dead.

In the previous book he had become friends with an aged disabled former school teacher whose helper disliked him but because she cooked good meals Salvo accepted the invitation to dine once a week plus sometimes attending the weekly concert lasting one hour of a famous violinist who now lived in seclusion of the floor above and because of a kindness played the concerts so the former teacher could enjoy his music from her floor and at the end of the concert she would telephone and give applause. Salvo called on the woman on the morning of a concert, almost ended, and where the woman was supplied with as handwritten note of the pieces being played. Salvo who knew little about music could at least tell it was a first class performance and joined in the applause.

The purpose of his visit was however to use the friendship to try and get him out of the problem of having unintentionally contaminated a crime scene. The woman was to the ring the police commissioner and advise that a crime had been committed at the house, mentioning that a bottle green Twingo car was outside. My God Salvo said when someone rang on behalf of the Police Commissioner and after noting the details he said he would explain the amazing coincidence!

The next story development was when Salvo is advised that the murdered woman’s husband is a doctor working in Bologna and that that his reaction, saying he was too busy at the hospital to immediate come to Sicily was odd and prompted the reader to regard the man as the immediate prime suspect. There was an explanation for his behaviour.

First the husband provided Salvo with the name of a distant relative who lived in the province and who he knew had been in contact. This information was to have significant bearing on what happened in the story. The relative had a son, described once kindly as a simple soul or as we would official say to day with learning difficulties, a problem which I remain personally familiar. It is established that the young man age thirty one and at university trying to take a first degree became besotted with the woman, following her about and when he disappears, going on the run it seemed, coinciding with the woman’s death he becomes the prime suspect by those who take over the investigation after Montalbano and his team are removed from the case when it is established that he had entered the property illegally and discovered the body providing evidence through the crime scene management and new forensic techniques which had been introduced. The young man is then killed by the police saying he was armed when they approached the entrance to the cave where he was hiding and they then arrested the father for complicity.

It take great efforts by Salvo with help from his team to establish that the young man had witnessed the murder from a tree out the bedroom. He had fallen and injured his foot which meant he found it difficult to wear his shoe and he had been holding the shoe when exited from the cave at the behest of the police. In order to save face the head of the flying squad involved had helped manufacture the evidence producing a World War 2 grenade which it was claimed he boy was holding and planting a box with another grenade, a revolver and ammunition at the home of the parent. The man is released from custody to grieve for the death of his innocent only child. Montalbano is reinstated to lead the reopened case with the police man responsible for the cover up retired.

Salvo meets Anna Tropeano an unmarried teacher who had become friends with the dead woman and with who Salvo finds attractive as well as intelligent and defensive about her friend. Salvo is able to get her initially to admit that the dead woman had a lover and subsequently that he is an antique dealer although she did not have his name and address. They became friends and as with his friend Montalbano liked to share information about the case he was working on. In this respect he is indiscreet and unprofessional and uses the media when it suits his purposes in order to achieve justice, condemning those who use the media to promote their personal positions.

Montalbano then meets the husband of the murdered woman who explains that he met her when treating her brother for an injury and who had then moved to live and work in New York. The young woman had been raped by an uncle when she was 15 years who brought her up with her brother after their parents had died. She been the mistress of an industrialist who had provided for her financially but she resented being a kept woman. The Doctor then explained that at the age of 50 he become irreversibly impotent and the marriage had been agreed as a way of preventing allegations being made against him that he was a homosexual, while she would have the security and the freedom to live the life she wanted. They had become close friends having no secrets and he had willingly provided the funds for her to create the home in Sicily. This was to be her life away from Bologna and he had not known the name of her hotel where she stayed while the construction work was undertaken.

The next development is the owner of a garage who remembered seeing the dead woman when she called at his garage on the night of the murder and the man she was with was not that of police killed student shown on TV.

The case break through comes however when the woman living below the recluse professional violinist contacts to say that the dead woman had called at home of her neighbour. The woman had discovered a violin at the property of her husband and knowing of the violinist having heard him performed had been able to get him to at the instrument which he suspect was rare and valuable. He had confirmed this and advised to let him keep the violin safe ( and play) rather than at the unoccupied property until she had arranged its sale to pay off the debt of lover who had become meshed with criminals and loan sharks through his gambling. The Maestro had given her an inexpensive but quality violin to keep in the case at the home fearing the original would be at risk. When Montalbano returned to the house he finds the violin case and the Maestro confirms that the violin inside is mass produced and worthless. The Maestro reveals why he had become a recluse which Salvo fully understands.

Salvo is then able to work out and prove that the lover had returned secretly to Sicily using a false name together with a criminal contact, The man had killed the woman face down because he could not bear her to see him after they had sex. His action had been seen by the student. The criminal contact had collected him and the violin and returned to Bologna to dispose to a private purchaser thus getting twice as much as would have been sold on the open market. The murderer shoots himself when confronted by Salvo.

I had the impression of less reference to food until checking and discovered a dish of fresh anchovies which he dresses in lemon juice, olive oil and freshly ground black pepper. He offers to share a large serving of haddock baked with a sauce of anchovies and vinegar to add to it. He enjoys baby Octopus alla Luciana- fresh tomato sauce with added hot pepper and garlic.

There is a gentle dish to tinnirume which is steamed flower tops of courgettes. Caponata which he has a generous helping is a dish made with sautéed aubergines, tomato, green pepper, garlic, onion celery, black olives, olive oil, anchovies and vinegar and served as an appetizer !!! A neopolitana coffee is made by turn a tin of coffee upside down at the point of boiling allowing the hot water to filter down through the coffee grounds by force of gravity.

I could not understand when he had taken a large cassata on the long journey to visit Franca and the boy he an Livia had intended adopting. This version is in fact a traditional Sicilian sponge cake filled with sweetened ricotta(cheese) candid fruit, raisins, pine nuts, pistachios and jam, usually apricot.

The violin was estimated to have a value of between two and three billion lire which is said to be up to £1 million.

It is my intention to read and write separately about the Police Detective Creation of Henning Mankell Kurt Wallander but I cannot leave this piece without commenting on similarities between the two men. They both find it impossible to sustain relationships. Mankell unlike Salvo has married and is now divorced. He establishes a relationship with a new member of the team, married, unhappily and who he knew previously. Just when she wishes to move in with he is picked up at a hotel when lecturing at the Police training college only to find she is high class prostitute who demands money in the morning and goes to the papers subsequently when one her clients is murdered and become the subject of an investigation by Kurt.

He is portrayed as portly in the present Swedish TV series and not at first sight a man who attracts the attention of young women yet both men do. Both men also have relationship problems with their fathers. Salvo cannot bear to visit his father when he learns the man is dying and arrives after the death. Kurt also finds it difficult to visit his father in hospital and again arrives to find that he has died. Both men are prepared to bend the rules for justice and to persist when told to end an investigation. often because of political or senior management intervention. They also face great danger with narrow escapes.