Election Day in Norwich

I'm sitting on a train moving steadily through rural Norfolk and Suffolk. I'm heading back to Essex after spending election day in Norwich. Having voted at home at 7am (no queues in Ingatestone), I got an early train arriving in Norwich just before 10am. With the help of a trusty map I found my way to the Committee Room. in Thorpe Hamlet Ward. I'm not sure I knew what to expect as I made way conbbled streets in the medieval section of the city.

Committee Room organisation, the crossing off of those who'd voted etc took me back to an earlier period of my life. There was a time when we lived in Ilford when our home would have been taken over during election campaigns, but I reflect that that was now over 20 years ago and much has changed.

After leaving the Labour Party in 2009, I helped the Green Party candidate in Brentwood in the General Election. In truth it had little significance as our area is one of the safest parliamentary seats in the country. Today, however, is the first time I have campaigned for the Greens where the main opposition is the Labour Party.

Norwich is a city where the two main forces are Labour and Green. Before today's results the spllit on the Council was 18/15. It is conceivable that the Tories and the Lib Dems could be wiped out at local government level. How ironic given that coalition parties have both of the city's MPs.

This morning I expected to spend my day engaged in polling duty and perhaps some "knocking up". However by the end of the day I had done three sessions of knocking up in Thorpe Hamlet, one spell of leafletting in a neighbouring ward and finally some last minute telephone canvassing.

Norwich is a mixed city wonderfully illustrated by the comparison between the tower block where I started off in late morning and the close behind Norwich's wonderful cathedral where I spent tea time encouraging home owners to make their way to a local hotel to vote.

I sense that turnout will be low, but hopefully the Greens will retain the six seats that they are defending. As the train makes its way south, I listen to the radio. The station focuses on the London Mayor contest, but for once my thoughts are on the city I have left behind. It seems that the results will not be announced until after 3am and my feet are telling me that I should sleep rather than sit up waiting. It's been a long but rewarding day.


This was written on the 10pm train out of Norwich. When I got home a mug of tea and my feet soon recovered. By 1.45am the Norwich results were out. Thorpe Hamlet returned , Ben Price, the Green Candidate. All other seats were defended, although Labour gained overall control of the council. The Tories lost their remaing 2 seats while the lib Dems hung on by a thread to their 1 council seat. The turnout was as I expected low at around 32%.

London Mayor

This week it's local elections day. Over the past few weeks the media  has focussed almost exclusively on the race to be London Mayor. Sadly this contest has shown the worst of personality politics. From day one, the media decided that it was Ken v Boris. Both candidates have to a greater or lesser extent chosen to "go it alone", much of their material ignores the party label. In Boris Johnson's case for good reason, it seems he has a higher level of popularity than his party and its government. He has, to my surprise, managed to separate himself in the mind of the public from his "posh boy" chums. It's amazing what appearances on TV Quiz shows will do.

Johnson is helped by a pliable media headed by the Standard, a free paper that has become his marketting agent. Stridently anti-Livingstone, its extolls Johnson's virtues on a daily basis. In comparison this has not been a good campaign for Ken Livingstone, he above any other politician, would not have expected fair treatment from a Conservative weighted press. However to his detriment, he has scored a number of own goals, especially regarding his tax affairs that leave him appearing like damaged goods. His message that "you're better off with Ken" has struggled to get across.

Other candidates have been desparate to get a moment in the spotlight. Lib Dem Brian Paddick has been the ultimate one trick pony, telling anyone who'd listen, that he once was in the Metropolitan Police. Meanwhile Jenny Jones, the Green candidate, found it difficult at first to project herself during televised debates largely because these debates were poorly chaired and allowed Johnson and Livingstone to talk over each other, and ignore time restrictions. To Jenny Jones credit, she is the one candidate who has injected policy into the campaign, and has forced  cycling and air pollution onto the agenda.

The press have made scant regard to the candidates of the far right, and have in fairness been more interested in the presence of an independent candidate, who offers a resting place for those who are inclined to tar all parties with the same brush. The fact that she is openly campaigning for a third runway at Heathrow, is a pill hard to swallow for me and I assume many residents of South and West London.

In addition to the Mayor, the London Assembly is also being elected. Voters will get three ballot papers which I suspect will lead to some confusion. For mayor voters get two choices, and if no candidate gets 50%+1 on the first ballot, all but the top two candidates are eliminated and their votes are redistributed according to their second preferences.

The Greens are asking supporters to vote 1 Jen 2 Ken, which reinforces that this is all about second preferences. With the Lib Dem if freefall, the second preference aspect is hard to predict. The gap between Boris and Ken appears to be narrowing, but approaching election day, the bookies make Johnson 1-5 favourite, which is not a prediction that I find at all amusing or appealing.

May Day its Jason Isbell

Trips to North London are a bit special, it's so cosmopolitan, compared to home. I get off the Underground at Highgate, and I'm surrounded by shops that you sadly don't see in my part of Essex. I look at a vegetarian cafe that doubles as a bar and music venue, and I think I'm in paradise. Actually I'm heading across the road to the Boogaloo. In fairness it's a pub,a small bar, a collection of small tables and stools and a small stage. At 9pm, onto the stage walks Jason Isbell, for the next 1 hour 40 minutes we are transported from London to Alabama.

I've had the pleasure of seeing Jason Isbell in concert twice before, but this is the first time I've seen him play a solo acoustic set. I'm familiar with all the material, he chooses songs from his three solo albums plus a sprinkling of his tracks from DBT albums.

His latest album, Here we rest" was released last year, and it's been a firm favourite of him since it's release. I voted it's opening tracks Alabama Pines as my song of 2011. It's that good.  Jason opens up with " Tour of Duty", it's clear that war has made an impact on both the songwriter and the community where he lives. He focuses upon the personal impact and it touches base.

He's quickly establishes easy communication with the audience of around 150 who are silent through each number. The Truckers numbers are clearly his Decoration Day, Goddam lonely love and especially Outfit, that so perfectly explores the relationship of father and son.

After 90 minutes, he returns for an encore and to my delight plays Alabama Pines , finally he leaves with a song that he dedicates to Levon Helm , its Danko/Manuel from the Dirty South. Jason Isbell , is just a fantastic songwriter,with a voice that brings emotion to his songs, this was one of the best solo sets I've seen. The small venue, the audience, only added to the occasion.

Ryan Adams at London Palladium

I've seen Ryan Adams in concert on a number of occasions in recent years. I think it's fair to say that on the first couple of occasions, the performance did not match the quality of his albums. Ryan seemed fragile, ill at ease, and lacking in focus.

In the last couple of years without doubt he has tackled a number of issues and his shows have been quality performances.  A few months back I saw him perform a solo set in London. I seriously doubt whether he would have coped with that type of performance a couple of years earlier.

On Monday 23rd April Ryan performed the first of two concerts at the London Palladium. The Palladium is not a usual venue ,customarily used for stage shows, tonight the cast of the Wizard of Oz gets the night off as Ryan took to the stage equipped with a piano, a stool,table and mike, plus a separate microphone in case he chose to do some songs in a standing position.

The set list merged material from across his backcatalogue, including his most recent album Ashes and Fire. He opened with Oh my sweet  Carolina and ended with Come pick me up. Between we witnessed a truly inspiring performance by  a talented songwriter. Looking back ten days later, I'm aware of certain songs that didn't feature,"Let it Ride" springs to mind, but I'm also left with memories of a set filled with richness, that has encouraged me to go back to albums such as Cold Roses, with tracks such as "If I'm a stranger to you" which Ryan performed to perfection.

He appeared at ease on stage, the accompaniment stripped down, he was both assured yet self deprecating, as when he introduced "Please don't let me go" with here's "another basket of fucking sunshine".

I particularly enjoyed English Girls Approximately from Love is Hell. An album undervalued by critics, the track in question offers so much, that I was singing it as I got off the train an hour or so later.

English girls are pretty when they play guitar
Crazy like a day just breaking I ain't sure what for
Ain't got a mother or a father or a place to fall
She's got a brother in the blues,
But he doesn't know the blues at all
You said you didn't love me, it was right on time
I was just about to tell you, but ok, alright
Said you didn't love me, you didn't want a thing
English girls can be so mean

She's got pretty eyes as a pair of jewels
Falling down the Camden
Like a couple drunken criminals
She had a messy bedroom on the edge of town
I had never been good enough
To ever keep around
You said you didn't love me, it was right on time
I was just about to tell you, but ok, alright
Said you didn't love me, it didn't mean a thing
English girls can be so mean
But, oh, look at you now
Oh, look at you now
Mmm, best I've ever seen
Just a tall drink of water
Just pourin' down the sink

Tall drink of water, she's a Norfolk waterfall
Little daybreaker, she's shooting like a cannon ball
Crazy like a rocket when
You're coming through my radio,
Kept me in your bed till the winter time
Through the fall
Fall time come, and I guess my little bird can sing
Come on Elizabeth, come on Bethany
Come on forever, I'm tired and I want to sleep
My little dove flew away, and I'm guessing
She was done with me
You said you didn't love me, it was right on time
I was just about to tell you, but ok, alright
Said you didn't love me,
That you didn't want a thing
English girls can be so mean
But, oh, look at you now
Oh, look at you now
Mmm, best I've ever seen
Just a tall drink of water
Just pourin' down the sink

Kissed me on the lips but my heart just slept it off
Words may move,
But they're never movin' fast enough
Celebrate the differences
I'll celebrate the songs you sing
Just three words, my love
You meant everything
You meant everything
You meant everything
You meant everything
---
"English Girls Approximately" as written by Ryan Adams

Set List
Oh my Sweet Carolina
Ashes and Fire
If I am a stranger now
Dirty Rain
My Winding Wheel
The Rescue Blues
Please do not let me go
Do I wait
Firecracker
Everybody Knows
Sweet Lil'Gal
Why do they leave
English Girls Approximately
Chains of Love
16 Days
New York,
When will you come back home
Lucky Now
Come Pick me up
Encore: Black Sheets of Rain
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Last weekend in Manchester

Last weekend in Manchester, Leopards Basketball Club completed an amazing treble. Having already secured the league championship to add to the National Cup won earlier, the Leopards sought to add the end of season Championship Play Off.

Leaving Barking at 8am on Saturday morning, players, club officials and fans travelled by coach, dropping off at hotels in Cheadle, before going on to the Amaechi Basketball Centre. The afternoon saw Leopards in semi final action against Leicester Warriors. The Warriors rotated to allow them a chance to press the Leopards and in particular apply pressure to guard Vernon Teal. However gradually the Leopards wore their opponents down and came through to victory. The second semi final pitted Bristol Flyers , who Leopards had defeated in the Cup Final, with Derby Trailblazers. Derby, featured Dave Attwell, who was a firm favourite with Leopards fans when he played in Brentwood earlier in his career. Bristol froze on the day, and Derby ran out convincing winners.

Saturday night was a night for fans, officials and players to gather to chew over the season, as well as prepare for the final scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Leopards made a reticent start but gradually clawed their way back into the game. As Derby began to acquire team fouls, Leopards surged ahead, leading by 5pts at half time.

The second half was more of the same, and the game was best summed up by a characteristic slam by Leopards captain Ousman Krubally. As the clock ran down, it became obvious that Leopards had achieved, what seemed a distant dream at the start of the season. Yet in a way victory was tinged with sadness. I doubt there will ever be a season like this. A number of us said, it can't get any better. Moreover there was the knowledge that at least two of the Leopards American players, Ousman and Vernon, will not be returning. They deserve to play at a higher level than the EBL, and hopefully they can use the success they have achieved this season as a springboard to further their careers.

As for the journey back, much is best unsaid. Getting back at close to 1am when you've left Manchester at 7pm, takes some doing.

Leopards win the League

Back in 2004 I was one of a group of basketball fans who had a dream, that we could run a fans owned basketball club that would be able to survive at least in the English Basketball League. In truth there was not enough of us who cared whether the Leopards lived or died, and ultimately the broad based fan ownership model was viable. There's no doubt that this rather tempered my enthusiasm, both for the Leopards and in some part for the game itself.

My interest in the game itself also took a knock when I gave up coaching. I began to realise that I could no longer work full time and commit to the level of voluntary activity it took to coach a success programme. I knew the level of commitment needed, and frankly I was no longer prepared to commit to that level.

The Leopards at best limped along, they won the National Cup in 2005-06 but on what should have been a day of great joy, I found myself recovering after being hospitalised with concussion. In subsequent seasons I began to doubt whether we had a future. At what level does a sport have to sink to prove to be no longer viable as spectator sport ? At times I felt Leopards were perilously close to that level.

Last season things began to change in no small part to to the arrival of Ousman Krubally, an American forward who had played college hoops at Georgia State University. Hiring Americans is a risky business, will they deliver the goods both on and off the court. In the past the Club had been stung by players ill prepared to go into schools to coach basic basketball.

This season Ousman has been joined by American guard Vernon Teel and between them they have been tearing up the League. As well as winning the National Cup, the Leopards had put together a seventeen game winning streek, meaning that a victory at Reading on Saturday night (31st March) would secure the League Championship.

So Saturday it was a trip to the west of London (and beyond) to see Leopards take on the Reading Rockets. The management of the Rockets were very helpful to us years before when we were setting up. In truth the result was never in doubt, although on the night the stand out performer was David Buchberger who nailed 3 point shot after 3 point short. At the end of the game, party poppers exploded, and although there was no league trophy, nevertheless there was the deep satisfaction of knowing that the Leopards were back.

Guardianistas

It's been a few weeks dominated by pieces of work, interpersed with some interesting football and basketball. The sun has started to shine which meant that on March 22nd we went to Chelmsford to watch Essex v Surrey in a pre season cricket friendly. The idea of sitting outside during March to watch cricket is frankly abnormal. The early start to the season will be blamed on the summer olympics in London, but frankly the warmer springs are far more likely the result of climate change, reinforvced by the fact that next week we have a horsepipe ban starting in our region.

Anyway Sunday saw me travelling to London for day two of the Guardian Open Weekend. I'm not sure I knew what to expect either when I signed up or when I got off the Underground at Kings Cross. I'd signed up for my three sessions , two environment and one sport. I got my attendees wristband and explored.

It was a hour before my first session and so I took the opportunity to explore King's Place. To be honest I didn't even know this place existed prior to this event. To my great surprise and pleasure I walked into the last day of an art exhibition of British artist, Norman Cornish. I learned that Cornish,now 91, had spent much of his life as a miner in the Durham coalfield and much of his art reveals life around the pit and the town of Spennymoor.

I sat for minutes looking at a painting entitled "Miners on Pit Road". It seemed reminiscent of 1st World War art. The soldiers were replaced by miners. Men huddled over, trudging towards the pit, identical rucksacks on the backs and boots on their feet. The posture identical to those going to war in the trenches. Such an amazing piece of art.

On investigation I discovered that many of these paintings were for sale, although there appears to be a permanent exhibition at the University of Northumbria.Frankly this art exhibition was worth the admission alone.

I moved on to the lunch time session on "Can environmentalism survive the austerity drive ?" The numbers were meagre compared with the session on understanding the banking crisis in the hall opposite. Two women I spoke to had come out of listening to Ed Balls who spoke about Labour's plan for the economy, they mentioned that he never once managed the environment, which set the tone for me. In recent months my thoughts have turned regularly to the issue of restoring prosperity without diving headfirst into unsustainable growth. In the discussion led by Damian Carrington, The Guardian's environment editor, I tried to steer the discussion towards tackling consumption. Of course this is off the radar to all mainstream parties. Talk of "green technology" filled the air, but there's simply no point looking at the supply side of the equation without considering demand and its distribution.

And so to lunch. I ordered a italian style pitta filled with hummous,sweet potato,red onion and rocket. As I ate it waiting for the next session I realised that twenty years ago, maybe even ten, I would never have had any of these ingredients in a sandwich. Have the taste buds of society changed so much ? I doubt it as I walked past the usual run of take overs and coffee shops on the way to the centre. As I took the last bite, I was left to wonder whether my taste in food reflects something wider about me, or whether it was just the company I was keeping on Sunday.


My next session was "How do we keep the lights on " the main discussion was between Ed Davey and Caroline Lucas, with a Cambridge economist presenting a market economics analysis of energy policy.

Caroline Lucas starting by reframing the question. She argued do we need to keep them all on. Immediately her style and her use of Lakoff's approach of not accepting their framing struck me. She spoke of the need to invest in insulation and asked whether shops,offices etc need so many lights at night. She addressed demand as well as supply.

Ed Davey was refreshingly honest, saying he didn't know exactly how the lights could be kept on as he couldn't predict what lay ahead. Significantly he failed to rule out nuclear power and reiterated the Lib Dem policy of no public subsidy. He and Caroline Lucas disagreed as to whether the current funding was weighted to the nuclear industry.

The key point that came home to me is that tackling energy policy in the future is fundamentally linked to the debate on behaviour change, and the sooner there's a honest discussion starting with "we can't go on as we are" the better.

Finally I headed to the Guardian headquarters, I walked the corridors and found myself in a room of cricket enthusiasts for the recording of a podcast featuring the Guardian sports editor and Mark Butcher. The hour flew by as Mark Butcher talked of England's problems facing spin in the sub-continent, the forthcoming tours of both the West Indies and S.Africa and the county championship. It was an enlightening discussion.

I was ready to make my way back to the Underground, after a thoroughly interesting and rewarding day at the Guardian.