<< Oct 2009 My praises were being sung to Simon Hughes recently. Wednesday, September 30th, 2009 - 7:55 am
My friend Nick Lajsczuk (my spell checker doesn't do that one) told me yesterday that he'd been singing my praises to Simon Hughes recently. Nick was in London to talk about the tragic time of the Ukrainian Holodomor, the famine deliberately inflicted by Stalin. He was telling Simon about the support Keighley Liberal Democrats have given concerning recognising Holodomor via our website. Just read about Richard Hoggart's birthday Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 - 8:15 pm
I've just read in Nader's blog that it was Richard Hoggart's 91st birthday on 24 September. Nader said how he met Richard Hoggart a couple of times. Well, what do you know, so did I!
When I was a little girl Richard Hoggart and his family lived very near us for about a year, in a bungalow just the other side of Aunty Greta's garden from our house at Marske-by-Sea. I used to go and play with his little boy, Simon. There was a baby girl too, I seem to remember. I think she was born whilst they lived at Marske, tho' not sure of this.
I remember Richard, er I mean Mr Hoggart, bathing Simon and his little sister.
My mother used to go to an English literature class that he taught. I think he worked for the Workers' Educational Association that year. Lib Dems ahead of Labour Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 - 7:52 pm
A MORI poll today has put Lib Dems ahead of Labour.
I wonder whether Labour would like to support the Lib Dems or the Conservatives in the event of the forecast hung parliament at the next election. Outstanding Fs! Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009 - 2:19 pm
The outstanding speakers at the Liberal Democrat Conference this September - apart from St Vincent, of course - have been the two Fs: Lynne Featherstone MP, (Parliamentary Spokesperson on Youth) and Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland, (Environment and Rural Affairs).
Not only did they both have very worthwhile things to say but they both spoke excellently.
Leader's speech coming up this afternoon. Will Anyone be Voting Labour at the next general election? Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009 - 1:24 pm
Only those who want more of the same. Why would anyone want more? (Unless you're a banker getting yet another big bonus.) Vince the Prince Speaks Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 - 12:09 pm
In a recent opinion poll Vince Cable was rated higher than George Osborne by Tory supporters. Here he shows that a politician can speak sense; that getting the economy right, treating people fairly and working for the environment can go together. Listen to the Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor here.
Trying to find out a bit more about how to get parking permits for local residents today. Family Day Today Sunday, September 20th, 2009 - 8:39 am
Family birthday time today. Climate Change Discussion Saturday, September 19th, 2009 - 5:37 pm
I've been following some of the Liberal Democrats' Conference on the BBC Parliament Channel (Freeview 81).
I thought the discussion on how to campaign for and achieve measures to combat climate change was excellent. Simon Hughes facilitated the interesting and worthwhile discussion with people who really knew what they were talking about.
Didn't think as much of the "Motherhood-and-Apple-Pie" debate that preceded it. Oh well, even the Lib Dems can't always be brilliant. Tomorrow's World of Yesteryear Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 - 7:10 am
Some of the inventions on Tomorrow's World in previous years have been remembered on news programmes yesterday.
My fondest memory is of the programme which showed my son's design for an electronic board to improve wheelchairs. He was ten at the time and gained the nickname "The Ingenious" at his school. Nowadays he has his own high tech electronics company, designing and making boards for electronic screens. Why can't these Tyrants work to the Lib Dems' Conference Timetable? Monday, September 14th, 2009 - 6:20 pm
Nader Fekri's emergency motion calling for democracy in Iran has been turned down by the Lib Dems' Conference Committee because it was regarded as not being sufficiently of an emergency nature.
What a nuisance the Iranian tyrants are not having timetabled their announcement of the the prosecution (persecution) of those who protested against Iran's sham elections to fit in with the needs of the Lib Dems' Conference Committee. Haven't they any sense of urgency? Empty Shelves can be Very Good Saturday, September 12th, 2009 - 8:06 pm
A guy from Sainsbury's grocery company came to the Town Council meeting last week to talk about their plans to expand the size of their Keighley shop. (Just by coincidence a rival chain has opened a branch here. Haven't been yet; maybe I will one day.)
I asked if the extra shelf space would lead to more shelf filling at the end of the day and consequently more throwing out of food. He assured me that they don't fill up the shelves just to make the shop look good and that food which is still safe to use is donated to good causes. I'm glad to hear that. One of the councillors also stated that he had indeed seen empty shelves at the end of the shop day. Excellent, I'm glad to hear it. Last Night of the Proms Friday, September 11th, 2009 - 8:15 pm
Boo hoo! I'm putting my Name to Nader's Conference Proposal Friday, September 11th, 2009 - 7:48 pm
Nader Fekri has asked me to sign an emergency proposal to the Liberal Democrat Conference concerning Iran being urged to respect the democratic vote of the Iranian people. I'm very much in agreement with him. Put my name down, Nader. Young People's Parliament Thursday, September 10th, 2009 - 7:44 pm
It was good to hear two young Keighley women from Bradford Area Youth Parliament speaking at the Town Council meeting last week. We as a council offered them support in the future. Two young stars! Letter of the Week Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 - 7:17 pm
Roger's letter about residents' parking problems at Skipton Road was featured as Letter of the Week in the Keighley News, headed "It's legal, but is it fair?"
(I was going to put a link in but that page of the Keighley News isn't opening). I just love The Choir! Tuesday, September 8th, 2009 - 8:00 am
Inspirational Gareth Malone and his latest choral venture feature on TV tonight at 9:00 on BBC 2. If you want to know what's terrific about choral singing follow this series. GCSE results Sunday, September 6th, 2009 - 12:26 pm
A great niece has recently got her GCSE results and she's done well. She took one subject last year and eleven this year, along with an AS level a year early and an additional subject named "Finance".
Altogether she has now passed 9 subjects at grade A*, 3 at A, the AS level at grade B, together with the Finance exam.
She has worked very hard and I'm very pleased she has been so successful. The only reason I wasn't told sooner was that she didn't want to show off. Sorry to see Irfan Ahmed has left Lib Dem Blogoshere Saturday, September 5th, 2009 - 9:10 am
This won't mean anything to anyone outside the inward looking world of the Lib Dem Blogosphere, so if you're not one of those people please bear with me. I'm sorry that Irfan Ahmed has left that esoteric group. His blogs were great at getting people thinking and discussing. Best wishes Irfan. Watch this programme tonight if you don't want to be caught out ... Friday, September 4th, 2009 - 11:52 am
Tonight Channel 4 has a programme about the notorious Ted Evans, THE YORKSHIRE CLAMPER at 7:35 p.m.
If you ever drive to Haworth don't park in his car park at the top of Rawdon Road as it sweeps to the left, opposite the Edinburgh Woollen Mill. There are other car parks. He or his son wait like spiders for the unwary.
If you are a minute late back there you will be clamped and charged an extortionate amount to get your car back. One up for Liverpool Friday, September 4th, 2009 - 11:13 am
Yesterday as I was reading my council minutes I had TV programme Flog It! on in the background; yes I know it's naughty of me. The edition was from St George's Hall in Liverpool.
My attention was caught by the sound of the organ. It was my friend Ian Tracy. When presenter Paul Martin interviewed him Ian managed to get in the factoid that Liverpool Cathedral organ is the biggest in Britain, with the one at the Royal Albert Hall being the second biggest. He should know, he's the organist at the cathedral and he's played a concerto at a prom concert (before its revamp, but I'm sure he knows what he's talking about).
Nice one Prof! I am going to say something deeply unfashionable ... Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009 - 1:05 pm
This week it has been reported that British teenagers, especially girls, have the highest rates of drunkenness and pregnancy in any of the OECD countries and people are asking each other why.
This is not "Liberal Party Policy" but it is what I think about the problem and small steps taken in Keighley to put things right:
Pregnancy rates are higher because of drunkenness rates being higher.
Drunkenness rates are higher because of lack of self respect.
Self respect is lower because of lack of discipline.
Discipline is worse than it used to be because parents do not spend enough time playing and talking with their children. They pass the buck to nurseries and childminders - who have little authority to make decisions regarding discipline and in any case have several other children to look after and, however good they are at their job, do not have the special bond of parent or grandparent or aunt or uncle with the child.
Discipline is not created by walloping a child but by spending time and effort with the child (or children), explaining and discussing things with them in a natural way arising from situations as they occur, whether this effort is put in by two parents, a single parent, grandparents or some other individual who relates strongly to those specific children.
Some parents have put their own interests and desire to acquire material goods above the needs of their children. Holidays? New car? New furniture and carpets? Just how important are they?
Many young people brought up without the input of strong parental figures seem to have little idea of any parameters or moral compass.
No one seems to take any responsibility.
A child is the responsibilty of the parents, even if they are those self same teenagers who got pregnant without intending to. It's tough but there's some growing up to do and help should be offered to those teenagers to be better parents in order to break the vicious circle.
A child should also be the responsibility of the community.
I'm pleased that in Keighley a drop-in centre for young mothers has been opened in Cavendish Street (in spite of opposition from some quarters).
I'm also pleased that Keighley Town Council voted to help fund a project called MAPPS which supports single young pregnant women and mothers.
I voted in favour of them both. How can I Choose my Favourite by 12 noon? Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 - 10:29 am
The BBC is running a choose your favourite poet since Shakespeare event and the deadline is noon today. How can I possibly choose my favourite poet? It's like being asked to choose my favourite child. Impossible!
I've been reminding myself by looking along my bookshelves and that's just made it all the more difficult. I've whittled it down to these, omitting any before Shakespeare:
Metaphysical poets George Herbert, Andrew Marvell and John Donne
Wordsworth (supposedly the first poet to write in the cadences of the spoken word, especially those of the Cumbrian dialects)
Gerard Manley Hopkins (Victorian, but very modern in feel; another metaphysical poet)
George Meredith (the exquisite poem The Lark Ascending)
John Keats (whose poems seem to me a wonderful mixture of romantic and metaphysical)
T S Eliot (a marvellous mixture of the comic and the profound)
Wilfred Owen whose poems spoke to and for the nation
Dylan Thomas (lyrically evoking the importance of everyday lives)
Basil Bunting (modern poetry with echoes of early English)
Ted Hughes
Elizabeth Jennings, especially her Song at the Beginning of Autumn
Carol Ann Duffy
No, can't choose between those fourteen. It all depends on my mood. They're all great.
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