Hesitation Blues
Posts have been a little tardy of late. I did feel a little isolated doing this, but then I remembered why I started doing this in the first place. Not for feedback or anything really. Trouble is, when you start to read all these other Blogs, you begin to think hits and comments are all that matters. Wrong ! It’s the safety valve factor that – at the moment at least – drags me back.
So, no it wasn’t for feedback (or was it ? Nah, it couldn’t have been. But then, why did I set up a comments system ? Hmmmm self analysis, never a good sign ). But a way of exorcising the crap that builds up when you are trying to survive in the Brave New World that is the *Labour* party's first, full, second term.
I remember that cheery feeling inside as I traipsed to the Polling Booth and marked my paper for the "People's Party" ® ™ © 1997. "Thank God for that" I said, as Tony achieved his record-breaking landslide. "At least I can now relax in the knowledge that, in future, my job will be even more insecure". (I just *didn't* feel the Tories had made me feel insecure enough ! God bless you Tony - problem solved).
As for the Health Service, Education and Crime well......I just knew that Major wasn't modernising quick enough to be able to manipulate the figures that showed these three chimeras to have finally been realised. Cheers Tony – we wouldn’t have noticed if you – and Alistair and the rest – hadn’t kept pointing it out. Some *fabulous* Presentations there !
I remember whistling as I passed the local newsagents and recoiling when I saw headlines screaming:- .
“Foreign Countries Taking the Piss Out of Britain”
“Well...no longer” I thought.
“Hopefully, within the next 10 years we will, in cahoots with our friends across the Pond, have unilaterally invaded a sovereign state, bombed its innocents, installed a deeply distrusted “interim government” and murdered at least two of the ex-president’s children in a firm, but *fair* gunfight."
And, y’know........It feels great to know that a democratically elected Government is finally addressing MY concerns, MY hopes and My fears. A Government that knows it can do just what the feck it wants. A Government that knows, that JUST knows, that the opposition are in DEEP shit, and will probably not present a truly viable political alternative for another 10 years.
What a truly remarkable opportunity to introduce all those policies you promised, all those reforms of the (unwritten) constitution. All those Brave New Worlds.
Eyes of a Child
Well Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry was like going back 30-odd years and seeing things, once again, through the eyes of a child. We took 10 year old Jessica and it was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.
To see the fresh-faced enthusiasm for steam engines, photographic equipment from the days of yore, reconstructed Victorian sewers (complete with sounds and SMELLS), and all the rest that she experienced, was a joy.
The only draw back – to be fair – was the only exhibition that wasn’t free: The Predators room. £3.50 for adults, £2.50 for children to see some ropy animatronics fashioned from rubberised stuff, paint and glue – most kids were through it 5 minutes flat. It was the shoddiest part of the day. Parents, GrandParents, Teachers and Guardians !! Don't bother. I'll reiterate: The Predator's room was rubbish.
The rest though, WAS excellent.
Looks like we’re off to Blackpool in the morning, well after a hearty breakfast –probably about 10 or 11-ish. I’ve hated the place since I was a kid. Garish, loud, tacky, dirty, polluted and...well...crap.
Jess ! I hope I’ll be able to see it through your eyes tomorrow. Even though it'll cost us an arm and a leg ;-
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