Sweet Home Alabama

The last few days I've had Alabama on my mind, on Thursday 27th I went to London to see Jason Isbell and the 400 unit. Jason comes from the Muscle Shoals area and his music both when a member of Drive by Truckers and now with his own band, pays tribute to that region.

Jason's songs featured strongly on the Decoration Day and Dirty South albums. on Thursday night at the Garage, Islington; Jason played his songs from those albums as well as the very thoughtful track TVA. Outfit a song that hits the father-son relationship right on the money, was a real highlight.

The next morning I read and watched coverage of the tornadoes that had ravaged Alabama and other southern states. Whole communities and small towns wiped out. Tornadoes up to a mile wide and winds off up to 200mph. The film often taken by amateur photographers on phones revealed the scale of the devastation.

While Alabama was on my mind, the British media gave he tornadoes minimal coverage because of the royal wedding. Shocking in my mind that hundreds have lost their lives and more have lost their homes, and yet two people getting married, receives more coverage, seemingly not only here but also across the world even in the USA.

Old Friends - Bookends

A few days away, seeing friends who I've not met up with for a year or so. We were supposed to meet before Christmas but the snow put pay to that. The realisation that they like me are getting older. They've been retired for a few years now, they developed new interests. We met up with other friends, one of whom sadly is not in such good health. Perhaps that shocked me more, I've long ago realised that we are not immortal, but this was the first time that one of my contemporaries has experienced real ill health. Watching both my friends and relatives it is clear that declining physical and mental health creeps up upon us, like a hunter attacking its prey. Having just had a health check up and discovered that I have certain high risk factors, I now have to juggle the desire for self preservation with the desire to enjoy myself. A balancing act to say the least.

Father and Son

Last Thursday we made our way to Canning Town to watch football. Now no one could accuse me of seeking out the more glamourous parts of London. Yet it seemed the game had come full circle. The match was Canning Town v Ongar Town played at the Newham Leisure Centre. I was there because my son was playing for Ongar Town. As we pulled in we both looked back upon the journey, and the fact that for three years when he was between the age of 10-13, we travelled there two nights each week for him to attend Charlton Athletic's Centre of Excellence. The hours spent next to the A13 perfecting ball control while the traffic thundered past. Last thursday while I watched in the stands, I was approached by a Bulgarian student who naively asked "How much are these players paid ?" Of course that's not the case, in most cases they pay to play, the pitch and the match officials have to be hired. After a day's work the player turned out, for the same reason as myself, because we love the game.

Boys of Summer

OK I've stolen the phase from the USA or more precisely Don Henley, but last Thursday saw the start of the English Cricket Season. After a long winter where the Ashes were won, endless meaningless ODIs were played, and the World Cup was contested, cricket is coming home. Sunday afforded us the chance to go to the Oval and watch the third day of Surrey v Northamptonshire. Now it wasn't the most enthralling four hours of cricket I've ever watched, but frankly it didn't have to be. The chance to sit in the sun, relax and let the game wash over me was all it took. At this moment I realised what it is I dislike most about the English winter. There is something particularly English about watching cricket, the battle of bat and ball. The tactical battles, the play and miss, the misplaced shot, the appeal. Watching the scoreboard reflect the day's activities. The chance to catch up with the daily newspaper during breaks in play, to engage those I've met before in conversation, to walk round the boundary at lunchtime. It didn't matter that on the day there was no result, indeed we left before close of play - the fact was cricket had returned.

Social Mobility

I have an admission to make, my father got me my first real job and my next door neighbour , my second. In that respect I'm just like Nick Clegg. The real issue is that my first job as a student was in a warehouse, and my second was in an industrial laundry. Of course Clegg's were at a Finnish bank and at the European Commission. This makes me conclude that parents and neighbours worldwide tryo to help their children and friends, what is at issue here is class. In fact I sense the whole social mobility issue as promoted by Cameron and Clegg is a scam. In truth there are only so many internships and in fact even in a meritocracy how many students who live away from London and come from parents on average salaries, could afford to rent a room and feed themselves while working for nothing. What is more worrying is that many young people realise that routes into politics, business etc are shut off to them, and so they look instead at "celebrity culture". A world where minimal talent and no qualifications are no barrier to success. A world where seemingly doors are opened and money pours in. Of course this is as much of an illusion, as Clegg's offer of social mobility. Our society needs a few to climb the ladder, in order to feed the line that there is a "British dream" to equate with that the other side of the Atlantic. Yet for most the barriers remain the same, the posh kids have all the contacts.

AV or bust

From the off I'm not a huge fan of AV but I'll be voting Yes on May 5th. Why ? Because its a choice of two flawed electoral systems. Where I live in Brentwood under both systems the Tories are assured of the seat. Perhaps that's the reason why I prefer the regional list system used in the European Parliament elections. As for FPTP it's easy to argue that its unfair that small parties are discriminated against, however to many of my friends and family, that doesn't cut much ice when they see that the party that is most heavily punished is the Lib Dems. so what, I don't want to help those bastards , they say. The referendum couldn't come at a worst time, as Clegg and his cronies are toxic. How about AV would remove the need for tactical voting and no vote is wasted. Well this convinced me. It will allow me to put a #1 next to the Green candidate and a #2 by the side of the Labour candidate.. However there is a real fear amongst some progressive Labour voters that AV will prevent a majority Labour government in future. These voters are able to dismiss the fact that Labour won't deliver on social justice, but they hang to the view that they remain the only alternative to the Tories. I've discovered in the last two days that the battle of ideas has not yet been won. Many are adopting the "better the devil you know" approach. For those of us who want change, we have to engage with people now. Yes I'd prefer more proportional systems but they're not on offer, this is, I sense , a "one in the generation" chance to get rid of FPTP. During the next month there are many hearts and minds to be reached.

Hoops

Like most sports basketball can be played at different levels. This weekend saw the NCAA College season reached its climax with the Final4 in Houston Texas. The chance to watch the game at its most competitive with some of the most fervant supporters is one of the main reason why I subscribe to US sports channel ESPN. Meanwhile closer to home my London Leopardsalso reached the Final4 of the English Basketball League. The last few years have not been easy years for the Leopards. The early years as a professional BBL team came to an abrupt end and those of us who decided to carry on with had to cope with issues surrounding home court, declining attendances and economics. So this season has been a real boost, second in the league and a real chance to get some silverware in Manchester on the 16/17th April. Finally London Olympics tickets have been available for a couple of weeks, it really is a "once in a lifetime" chance, so applications for basketball and athletics tickets have been sent.

Hard Knock Life

For a number of reasons I wouldn't want to go through last week again. After you've worked somewhere for 20 years, the idea of interviewing for your replacement, is a little strange. When I was told I'd have to watch the 5 candidates in action and grade them, I felt like a judge on one of the TV shows I do my best to avoid. Ironically a good friend of mine, suggested that once the day was over, I'd feel better, because in his words it would bring closure. There would be "no turning back" once a replacement was appointed. In fact he was right and that burden was lifted from me. On Thursday night I also officially resigned as Mid Essex NUT secondary caseworker, although I've agreed to see the job through to the new school year in September. To say that this isn't an easy time for teachers and teachers' unions is an understatement. Cases seem to arrive nearly daily, and if things continue at this pace, using volunteers to handle some if not many of the cases will be impossible. The week ended with a family birthday and mother's day. A cause for celebration. I always enjoy the chance for us to all meet up, this time at a local Italian restaurant. However the festivities were rather abridged because of head injuries. On the day the main concern was to Elaine, who was hit on the head by the ball at football. Writing a couple of days later things are much better, and its possible to think that if you go to football regularly over a lifetime its likely that at some time you'll get hit by the ball. On the afternoon however she was dazed and very wobbly, fortunately I'm delighted to say that the St John's staff at AFC Wimbledon were superb, caring and professional.