Lies lies contempt & more lies

Prompted by the photo of Jacob Rees-Mogg lounging in a Parliament, last night, I felt compelled to send the picture to my local MP Michael Ellis and ask if he could either explain or defend the behaviour of The Leader of the House? This one demonstration of smug privilege has quite possibly done more to damage Boris and his cohorts slim chance of persuading the voters of his “cause” than almost anything else . Rees-Moggs reaction when finally told and shouted at by fellow MP’s on all sides, to sit up, was one of a naughty schoolboy, who cares little for the rest of the members of his chamber, contemptuous does not do it justice, it is utter disdain for his fellow parliamentarians and demonstrates exactly how the Johnson Government is treating us!
These are desperate times and how desperately we need sensible leadership, a succession of MP’s have let us down, they have been and continue to be in complete disarray.
What’s to be done, I wish I knew, there has been so much spouted by all sides that I’m sure that none of us are able to make a coherent decision, to what would be the best way forward. There are many who stick to their steadfast view that we must leave and those who stick to a second referendum to allow the “people” to decide. All I know is it is a total mess and one that could have been avoided.

Strange times

We live in strange, one might say bizarre times. Odd leaders in the West, great division everywhere, disenfranchised electorate in many European countries, the right wingers ebbing and flowing in and out of favour and always some maverick voice able and willing to stir the pot!
It wasn’t supposed to be this way, was it? We were supposed to be in a bright future of plenty, harmony beginning to reign and equality becoming accepted no matter what your persuasion. Plenty for all and fair distribution of wealth! Okay that all sounds a little utopian and unrealistic perhaps even harks back to the days of “peace & love” but not a bad thing to wish for no matter how unlikely? Instead we stumble on, into what many consider is chaos and anarchy. It is not all doom and gloom, very often the world needs shaking up in order for a better future, however uncomfortable it is, whilst the shaking occurs. And things have improved, generally, many would say not enough and still to slowly but slow has always been the pace of progress in human improvement. Change is often resisted particularly by those who have wealth and power. It is said that “money is the root of all evil” and there is much truth to that but power is a far stronger aphrodisiac, there will always be those who want it and those who will fight to keep it!
For some unfathomable reason, I am still optimistic and believe things will get better. For me personally, it’s not so important, I am comfortably off and no longer involved in the daily rat race,  thats the reason I can pontificate from the comfort of my electric recliner but I do have hope that the younger generations will sort out this mess, my generation has left them in, our complacency having fucked it all up.
I should have involved myself far more in causes but I was and am too lazy. Like I said pontificating is easy!

Exasperated

So Johnson has finally got what he wanted, Trump remains in power, it is beyond my understanding and at the same time I understand?
I have begun to doubt my own beliefs and opinions, perhaps I am wrong and not one of the “right minded” people, perhaps their supporters are correct, these are the right leaders?
And yet I know this can’t be! I have not spoken to a single person (admittedly a small sample) who has not expressed their complete disbelief at these two being in power. I should clarify and say with one or two exceptions the average age of those I have spoken with is 60 plus!
I would like to write something insightful or meaningful about these two and why they have risen to the top but my overall emotion always comes back to disbelief and increasingly speechlessness, so pissed off with the events happening before me that I cannot react, other than to throw my hands in the air, shrug, with a rueful smile, exasperated at the current turn of events!
For the first time in my life I just want them to go away or someone to tell me it really was all a bad dream!😤😫🤪😖😱👎

Homeless Shelter

Recently I have volunteered, in my home town, to help at the homeless shelter (men only)
It sleeps 17, when full and they can stay a while, leave their possessions, the purpose is to assist them using all the agencies and social services, to progress towards, permanent residence, jobs and get their lives back to some semblance of “normalcy”. It doesn’t work for all and many don’t stay or leave and maybe come back two or three times. They have to fill in a questionnaire before entry and if the break the rules, they are excluded, temporarily or if serious for good. No alcohol, no drugs.
I have done a few evenings and one morning (they aren’t allowed in before 9pm and have to leave by 9am), generally it’s a calm place, relatively quiet and the residents are very appreciative of the volunteers. We do basic stuff, serve food and drink, wash up, clean. They can charge their phones, shower, clean clothes etc and everything is donated and free.
The residents are young and old, the reasons for their situation are as varied as they are. Job loss, relationships breakdown, drugs, drink both, bereavement, being kicked out of home, all of the above and many more stories besides.
The overriding impression, is one of, complete lack of confidence, life has beaten them down and they find it difficult to trust anyone or anything. They’ve been let down many times, of course they have contributed to their own problems but society has not treated them well. Don’t get me wrong, there is humour, kindness, love and the spark of determination,  to get themselves out of their current situation. It’s not a sad place, though there is sadness present. There is the presence of how substances have affected many of them, how their character has been altered by this abuse.
It humbles one to understand how some are trying to rebuild their lives. Many will never achieve it, some don’t really want to or are to entrenched in their homelessness.
If one person can be helped then that’s enough.

To nobody in particular

I have for sometime been thinking about removing myself from all forms of social media. This may seem ironic to write in a blog! 
I have written previously about the triviality of the format but of course it is also a platform for abuse, bullies, predators, groomers, racists, right wing and left wing agitators and every other label you care to mention. Whilst some steps have been taken to police the medium, it’s not really in the Facebook and the Twitters of this worlds interest to be to stringent and is always open to interpretation, as media has always been. It’s worldwide openness, makes it particularly difficult to legislate against (although China seems to be quite successful at it).
It is, as with many things about revenue, the more they have they more they want. Power and influence is the game and anyone who does not understand that these “younger” players are just as dangerous as Murdoch and his ilk are fooling themselves.

I am not a prolific commentator on social media but I confess it is quite difficult to wean oneself from spouting into the void. I have had to make a conscious effort to either not view or having looked not commenting! To be honest this is just an exercise to clarify my own thoughts! We all think we have something to say but a period of absence, perhaps permanent is required!

Euro Elections

Whatever spin you put on the results of the U.K. Euro elections, however you add the percentages to determine leave or remain, the fact is the political landscape of our country is a giant mess! Perhaps just perhaps this political shambles is in the long term exactly what was needed?
Brexit (how I hate that word) has brought into sharp relief the divide in both the population ,our parliamentary representatives and politicians in general. Is there now an opportunity to bring people together? The underlying feelings that have been festering within society have surfaced into the light, might we have the chance of doing something about it? I know these issues have been talked about, discussed and around for a long time but Brexit has shone a torch 🔦 highlighting nearly all of the the broad range of attitudes across the generations. It has brought out the worst and given a platform to many, most do not want to hear from, the racist, bigots, misogynists, anti-semites, isolationists etc but has also shown there are many who care passionately about society and their country.
So with a nod to what could be misguided optimism, maybe we can use this time to grasp the change that is obviously needed and get a consensus on how to go forward. It will take time, probably a long time but it must be worth the effort because we cannot go on as we are!

P.S. I find it rather ironic thar Nigel Farage a man who clearly despises the EU has been a member of their Parliament for three decades🤪

Monday

I have tried very hard to be optimistic and upbeat in recent weeks about everything and generally have succeeded. It’s not easy given the state of the world. The people in charge at the present time are frightening. I have always erred on the side of looking for the best in people, albeit with a healthy dose of cynicism but it is difficult with the Trumpster and 
May’s in power. I am not going to harangue you about them, I’ve made my feelings very clear in this column!
So something to gladden your Monday. I’ve recently volunteered to help at a homeless shelter in Northampton. It is a men only facility and takes up to 17 residents. 
Homelessness is a huge problem and my poor understanding of it has been disabused by the training given prior to starting. The cause of homelessness are many from the obvious of drink and drugs through bereavement, divorce, loss of employment, mental illness and much more. It happens to all ages, rich or poor, men and women. 
The shelter opens at 9pm and empties again at 9am. A resident can leave their gear. When you return at night a hot meal (all supplied by charity and everything is free) and drink is available. You can have a shower. Charge a phone. If you want to talk fine, if not fine. 
Now this is not a place just to sleep at night, the whole idea is to encourage , help, assist in  anyway to help get them back to normality, jobs, homes etc: but off the street. Sometimes it takes a while and may not succeed straight away. 
There is a whole network across the county and country of all stripes that can be part of the path back to life off the pavement. 
Unfortunately the problem is increasing and the resources reducing, so I encourage you to help if you can.