Sunday morning and we're travelling to the south coast. After a picnic lunch in the grounds of Pevensey Castle ( reliving old memories) it was onto Brighton for the afternoon. We arrived at the hotel 90 minutes early, and declining to pay an extra ten pounds we decided to take the morning paper and explore and sit in Preston Park. We've driven past the park many times, now there was the opportunity to stroll and take in the features of a fine Victorian open space. How our cities need open space and how well they are used. The park swarmed with many informal kick abouts, the tennis courts were full, dog walkers,and couples with disposable BBQs they all share this "common open space". We saw the clock tower, what chance that such a fine structure would be built in a park today. The circular tea room, the ornamental pond, the rose garden and finally the wonderful harvest garden.
The Harvest Garden really took my eye, this small piece of ground, showing how a small piece of land can grow vegetables for personal use. A scheme educational and inspiring. Our hotel room overlooked the park, a wonderful panorama.
In the late afternoon it was a twenty minute walk to Sussex County Cricket Club in time to grab some food and get in the ground in time to see Elton John.I first saw Elton John in the Royal Festival Hall in 1970. His second and third albums arrived with me when singer/songwriters were perhaps at their peak, and Tumbleweed Connection remains an album I still play frequently today.
Elton is in many ways a symbol of what is good about Britain. He's become something of a national treasure. He could have easily fled the UK in the past, but he stayed, and his position as perhaps Britain's best known gay man has I sense led to greater understanding and hopefully tolerance . The fact that the crowd had a sprinkling of both young and rather old, is testamont to Elton's longeavity as a performer.
The show was a blend of greatest hits, some stand out tracks from Madman across the Water (a great and somewhat underrated album) and three tracks from his latest album The Union.
Elton came back on stage after the performance, signed some programmes for fans and then concluded the night with "Your Song". It was a great show in a wonderful setting.
We walked back to the hotel stopping for a drink (infact two, because I called heads) in a pub. The next morning we walked down through North Laine, sat outdoors a cafe to have breakfast ( a changing habit in the UK), and then made our way to the seafront.
The sea at Brighton, the smell, the sound of the waves hitting the shingle, the sound of the occasional seagull, the sight of the iconic pier. We took it all in, before making our way back to the hotel before leaving town.
Monday 27 June 2011
Political compass
Saturday 25th June and I was attending the conference of Compass on Building the Good Society. It's some years since I've attended this type of event, speeches, workshops and a question time event. Compass at one time a "Labour only" forum has opened its doors to what is loosely termed "the proggressive left". Hence my attendance. Actually there a fair sprinkling of Greens and some "social liberals".
The day started with interesting speeches from UK Uncut and UK Feminista , UK Uncut have been a breath of fresh air in the anti-cuts campaign, and it was thought provoking to listen to the experiences of the two activists.
My first workshop was on "Why should Labour engage with the progressive left ?" Immediately I felt the question was the wrong way round. After the experience of recent years, why should the left direct their attention to Labour ? An interesting debate, in which the contributions by the Guardian's John Harris were very interesting.
After lunch a seminar on political reform chaired by Caroline Lucas. This time a speaker from 38 degrees who also made a dramatic impact over the past twelve months fighting the proposed forest sell off.
Throughout the day I struggled with my recurring political conundrum of the past year. Having left the Labour Party in writing at the end of 2009, I have worked to detach myself from a grip that dates back 30 years. Once again I found myself much nearer to the ideas and vision of the Greens. Yes I may have to accept that the power base won't shift much beyond Brighton in the medium term, but that seems a an acceptable price compared to accepting the desire for power without political principle. Time and again I heard Labour spokesperson talking about "listening to the people" which was coded language for we'll be harder than the Tories on crime and immigration. No where was their the idea that political parties should form and mould public opinion not slavishly follw it, which seems like heading head firsat into populism.
At question time while Caroline lucas and John Harris tackled questions on wealth redistribution and salary inequality head on, Labour wriggled and said little. The accomodation of capital was there for all to see. When a Labour MP told public sector workers that they shouldn't be going onstrike next Thursday, another nail was driven into the coffin of the Party that I once worked so enthusiastically for.
I don't know what the future holds politically, but if Saturday confirmed anything, there's no turning back, my Labour days are behind me.
The day started with interesting speeches from UK Uncut and UK Feminista , UK Uncut have been a breath of fresh air in the anti-cuts campaign, and it was thought provoking to listen to the experiences of the two activists.
My first workshop was on "Why should Labour engage with the progressive left ?" Immediately I felt the question was the wrong way round. After the experience of recent years, why should the left direct their attention to Labour ? An interesting debate, in which the contributions by the Guardian's John Harris were very interesting.
After lunch a seminar on political reform chaired by Caroline Lucas. This time a speaker from 38 degrees who also made a dramatic impact over the past twelve months fighting the proposed forest sell off.
Throughout the day I struggled with my recurring political conundrum of the past year. Having left the Labour Party in writing at the end of 2009, I have worked to detach myself from a grip that dates back 30 years. Once again I found myself much nearer to the ideas and vision of the Greens. Yes I may have to accept that the power base won't shift much beyond Brighton in the medium term, but that seems a an acceptable price compared to accepting the desire for power without political principle. Time and again I heard Labour spokesperson talking about "listening to the people" which was coded language for we'll be harder than the Tories on crime and immigration. No where was their the idea that political parties should form and mould public opinion not slavishly follw it, which seems like heading head firsat into populism.
At question time while Caroline lucas and John Harris tackled questions on wealth redistribution and salary inequality head on, Labour wriggled and said little. The accomodation of capital was there for all to see. When a Labour MP told public sector workers that they shouldn't be going onstrike next Thursday, another nail was driven into the coffin of the Party that I once worked so enthusiastically for.
I don't know what the future holds politically, but if Saturday confirmed anything, there's no turning back, my Labour days are behind me.
Sunday 19 June 2011
When the "Big Man" joined the band
It's a couple of weeks since I've written, a mixture of work and a desire to see how things panned out; however I woke this morning to hear the news of the death of Clarence "Big Man" Clemons. Clarence was the saxophone player in Bruce Springsteen's E Street band, but he was so much more.
Clarence was Sundance to Springsteen's "Butch Cassidy". On stage especially in the early shows Clemence played with vigour and athleticism , the like of which I'd never seen. The 4 hour marathon shows with Clarence blowing throughout.
As I look at the poster of Bruce and Clarence that hangs in our living room, I begin to realise that E Street will never be the same. There's also the realisation that I'm reaching that time of life when those who inspired me especially as a young man, are beginning to come to the end of their lives.
Clarence has left a huge imprint , he produced such memorable music, today I can't get beyond his solo on Jungleland. I always felt privileged if we went to see Bruce and Jungleland was played. It is pressed deep into my memory, in the same way as the photo that adorns the Born to Run cover. Clarence very much gone, but never to be forgotten.
RIP Big Man
Saturday 4 June 2011
Dylan at 70
While away in Greece I heard that Bob Dylan had reached his 70th birthday. .Now some years ago Leonard Cohen reached this milestone and as these days I tend to listen to Cohen more frequently than Dylan that should have a greater impact, yet somehow it doesn't. Cohen always seemed older, he belonged to a previous generation, he experienced life before rock n'roll. However Cohen somehow portrayed a life that as an eighteen year old I could only admire. Living on a Greek island, writing poetry and talking in a near religious tone about sex seemed a distant dream when I first heard Sisters of Mercy.
I came across Dylan quite early. I was fortunate in that a friend's older brother was a early devotee, and I spent many an afternoon sitting in his living room in Tooting listening to Dylan Lps. The Freewheelin'Bob Dylan with tales of Oxford Town and Talking World War Three Blues had instant appeal to my inquisitive mind.
By 16 I was listening to Blonde on Blonde. Dylan broke many rules, while not at the time appreciating how he "betrayed" the folk scenr by going electric, I did understand that songs weren't normally close to twenty minutes long. How I wondered at Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands. I was thrilled by the lyrical images of "I want you" and Visions of Joanna seemed to take music to a level that I'd never experienced before.
The last album of Dylan's that I remember buying as it came out was Nashville Skyline. While many struggled with Dylan sings country. I joyfully sang along with Lay,Lady,Lay and I threw it all away.
In the mid 70s Dylan reached the zenith of his influence over me, the Blood on the Tracks and Desire albums were rarely fair from our hifi. A remember sitting at a party with some work friends and putting Blood on the Tracks on the stereo and singing along to the entire album. I can only assume that I and indeed many of the others were too drunk to care, as Jeater sings Dylan has never been widely acclaimed.
We saw Dylan at Earls Court in 1978. It was the only concert that I can remember queuing through the night to get tickets, such was the demand. He hadn't played in London for years and the this era was captured with the Live at Budokan album.
From the late 70's Dylan and I drifted apart. He fell into christianity and other singer songwriters wrote of life experiences that I understood to a greater degree. There have been occasional glimpses of greatness in his later years, the album Time out of Mind tackled growing older with tracks like Not Dark Yet and Trying to get to Heaven (before they close the door).
Dylan today tours at a rate unheard of to many younger performers. I won't see him in concert again, I want to remember him as he was. Some artists grow old with you, Dylan however, for me, is timeframed. Before I wrote this I checked my ipod and realised that there were no Dylan tracks on it. He has become an important memory, a part of what we have become, but somehow he has drifted into my past and not been carried with me into the present and probably not the future.
I came across Dylan quite early. I was fortunate in that a friend's older brother was a early devotee, and I spent many an afternoon sitting in his living room in Tooting listening to Dylan Lps. The Freewheelin'Bob Dylan with tales of Oxford Town and Talking World War Three Blues had instant appeal to my inquisitive mind.
By 16 I was listening to Blonde on Blonde. Dylan broke many rules, while not at the time appreciating how he "betrayed" the folk scenr by going electric, I did understand that songs weren't normally close to twenty minutes long. How I wondered at Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands. I was thrilled by the lyrical images of "I want you" and Visions of Joanna seemed to take music to a level that I'd never experienced before.
The last album of Dylan's that I remember buying as it came out was Nashville Skyline. While many struggled with Dylan sings country. I joyfully sang along with Lay,Lady,Lay and I threw it all away.
In the mid 70s Dylan reached the zenith of his influence over me, the Blood on the Tracks and Desire albums were rarely fair from our hifi. A remember sitting at a party with some work friends and putting Blood on the Tracks on the stereo and singing along to the entire album. I can only assume that I and indeed many of the others were too drunk to care, as Jeater sings Dylan has never been widely acclaimed.
We saw Dylan at Earls Court in 1978. It was the only concert that I can remember queuing through the night to get tickets, such was the demand. He hadn't played in London for years and the this era was captured with the Live at Budokan album.
From the late 70's Dylan and I drifted apart. He fell into christianity and other singer songwriters wrote of life experiences that I understood to a greater degree. There have been occasional glimpses of greatness in his later years, the album Time out of Mind tackled growing older with tracks like Not Dark Yet and Trying to get to Heaven (before they close the door).
Dylan today tours at a rate unheard of to many younger performers. I won't see him in concert again, I want to remember him as he was. Some artists grow old with you, Dylan however, for me, is timeframed. Before I wrote this I checked my ipod and realised that there were no Dylan tracks on it. He has become an important memory, a part of what we have become, but somehow he has drifted into my past and not been carried with me into the present and probably not the future.
Santorini
While away from home, I penned a few pieces that now appear some days later.
A day into a weeks break in Greece and it feels that I've definately put both time and space between and what has become "normal" life. It's the first time I've ever been away when I should have been at work. I'm very grateful for being able to negotiate the time off in lieu.Ocaasionally images flash through my mind of what I should have been doing, but hopefully they'll fade as the week rolls on. Yet I'm aware that in 24 hours I've detached myself from the TV, internet and the daily papers.
I fell asleep this afternoon, something I'd never do in the UK. It would be easy to eat my way through the week but I remain determined to resist the temptation. Lethargy prevented me from going for a run this morning, but carrying six large bottles of water up the hill to the hotel undoubtedly compensated.
The scenery is rugged and picturesque, the white and "greek" blue of the houses provides a memorable landscape of buildings. Behind them stands the mountain of rock, a constant reminder of the island's geological foundations.
Greece is as much a collection of islands as it is the mainland. Santorini is not the busiest or the most populated but it provides a perfect back drop to some of the economic conditions facing Europe. It's late May and the tourist season is getting into second gear, expecations are not good.
A local restaurant owner explains that taxes have increased, he asks how as a country can we be in so much debt ? He's convinced that the people are never told the truth. The future Greek economy is now dependent on German loans, he ponders perhaps we can offer them some islands. Greece has plenty of uninhabited islands ( my wife says they are not uninhabited, as they provide vital habitats for wildlife). The restaurant owner explains there are a small country, he says they work hard as a nation, judging by the hours worked in Santorini that's undoubtedly true. Where did the debt come from ?
At the hotel the barman by the pool is not local, he comes from Riga,Latvia. For three years he has spent six months of the year here. A month painting and preparing for the season and then five months serving drinks. He is a symbol of EU expansion post-2004. Greece is a country of 10 million , how can the debt be paid in the short term, there's a level to which working people will not accept living standards falling..
Meanwhile on Santorini , local people compete for tourists like us. It's the survival of the most enterprising. While I think about someone from Riga working in Perissa, of course the other side of EU membership and globalisation is also present. The restaurant owner is a huge Manchester United fan and he's got our custom because on Saturday night he's showing the Champions League final on a big screen. The irony is that Saturday is traditionally "Greek Night" at the restaurant with music and dancing, but this week it will finish early to allow customers and some of the staff to watch Manchester United v Barcelona from Wembley Stadium.
A day into a weeks break in Greece and it feels that I've definately put both time and space between and what has become "normal" life. It's the first time I've ever been away when I should have been at work. I'm very grateful for being able to negotiate the time off in lieu.Ocaasionally images flash through my mind of what I should have been doing, but hopefully they'll fade as the week rolls on. Yet I'm aware that in 24 hours I've detached myself from the TV, internet and the daily papers.
I fell asleep this afternoon, something I'd never do in the UK. It would be easy to eat my way through the week but I remain determined to resist the temptation. Lethargy prevented me from going for a run this morning, but carrying six large bottles of water up the hill to the hotel undoubtedly compensated.
The scenery is rugged and picturesque, the white and "greek" blue of the houses provides a memorable landscape of buildings. Behind them stands the mountain of rock, a constant reminder of the island's geological foundations.
Greece is as much a collection of islands as it is the mainland. Santorini is not the busiest or the most populated but it provides a perfect back drop to some of the economic conditions facing Europe. It's late May and the tourist season is getting into second gear, expecations are not good.
A local restaurant owner explains that taxes have increased, he asks how as a country can we be in so much debt ? He's convinced that the people are never told the truth. The future Greek economy is now dependent on German loans, he ponders perhaps we can offer them some islands. Greece has plenty of uninhabited islands ( my wife says they are not uninhabited, as they provide vital habitats for wildlife). The restaurant owner explains there are a small country, he says they work hard as a nation, judging by the hours worked in Santorini that's undoubtedly true. Where did the debt come from ?
At the hotel the barman by the pool is not local, he comes from Riga,Latvia. For three years he has spent six months of the year here. A month painting and preparing for the season and then five months serving drinks. He is a symbol of EU expansion post-2004. Greece is a country of 10 million , how can the debt be paid in the short term, there's a level to which working people will not accept living standards falling..
Meanwhile on Santorini , local people compete for tourists like us. It's the survival of the most enterprising. While I think about someone from Riga working in Perissa, of course the other side of EU membership and globalisation is also present. The restaurant owner is a huge Manchester United fan and he's got our custom because on Saturday night he's showing the Champions League final on a big screen. The irony is that Saturday is traditionally "Greek Night" at the restaurant with music and dancing, but this week it will finish early to allow customers and some of the staff to watch Manchester United v Barcelona from Wembley Stadium.
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