Filed under: food, Gardening, personal development, success | Tags: planning, scheduling, time management
It has been a heavy day. I took advantage of the glorious weather to finally clear a patio and kill the weeds. Of course nothing is quite that simple, it never is. My patio was covered with troughs and pots which in last year’s wet summer had not been attended to as assiduously as the should have been. The task of clearing was complicated by the need to remove the pots from the patio and the weeds from the pots. It proved worse than I thought and so the pot clearing turned into a bulb rescue mission that entailed repotting the contents of most of them.
As well as the gardening there were the usual household tasks of cooking, clearing and cleaning, taking things to the recycling centre. Some things I wanted to do didn’t get done because of the added complications in what I did do.
If there is a lesson to be learned from today I think it is to allocate more time to any task than you expect. If you finish within schedule great, you can relax or reallocate the remaining time. It is almost guaranteed that a tight schedule will be accompanied by unforseen complications and delays. I am proceeding with manageable chunks of effort in realistically scheduled time frames. So why am I writing my blog so late at night? I may not have got my timing quite right yet!
Filed under: disability, food, Health, Justice, NLP, personal development, Politics, Scotland, social media, success, Writing, Yes Scotland | Tags: conservative party, Holyrood Elections, Jeremy Corbyn, Kezia Dugdale, Labour Party, Scottish Labour, Scottish Parliament, SNP, SP16
This morning I hear commentators talking as if the SNP did not win the Scottish Parliamentary Elections merely because they did not win an overall majority. The system is designed to prevent any party winning an overall majority, that the SNP did so last time was an anomaly their constituency vote, by chance hit, a sweet spot that didn’t allow the list to prevent the majority. Ordinarily the more constituency seats a party gains the fewer list seats they get. The reason the SNP is not in a majority is because they did too well. Their share of the vote is up and they won more seats than ever on the constituency list. Personally, and I am an SNP member, I am quite pleased because it means the system is working as it was designed to, to ensure no party has an overall majority so that it can’t rail-road policies through Parliament, but must secure a degree of consensus. If you want to see how parties can abuse a majority you only have to look at the unfettered extremism of the Westminster Conservative government, in Scotland we won’t allow that. The result shows that the SNP is the most popular party in Scotland, more popular than ever, but also that the system is not broken. The 2011 result was an anomaly, unlikely to ever be repeated.
The Tories are crowing about their increased support in Scotland. However Ruth Davidson’s campaign was run largely on a single issue, opposing a second Independence Referendum. The figures suggest that the Tory increase in voter share came almost entirely from Labour and Liberal Democrat unionists opposing the SNP and the perceived threat of a second referendum, there is little to suggest any endorsement of Conservative policies. Only thirty one seats in Holyrood are held by the Conservatives which means that ninety eight are held by those opposed to Conservative policies. Sixty seats are held by parties who may be called unionist although Labour is not uniformly so, which means that the majority, sixty-nine are held by parties supporting independence. Add to this the increased electoral support for parties supporting independence and the fact that most of the increase in Conservative votes came from Labour and the LibDems it shows the trend is still towards more autonomy for Scotland, but perhaps not so much that a second referendum could succeed in delivering it just now. However the movement is still in that direction.
Interestingly down south the Tories are crowing because the government wasn’t badly damaged by the results and are pointing out that a sitting government could expect to poll badly in local elections. They fail to point out that while the position of the Tories in England is only down a little, after two full terms in office SNP support is continuing to grow. People are trying to paint this as a bad result for Jeremy Corbyn. He has been leader of the Labour party for only eight months, however over the last ten months or so there has been an unprecedented, negative hate campaign by the BBC and other mainstream media against him as well as a deliberate undermining by his own members. It is interesting to reflect that had John Mann behaved towards Tony Blair the way he does towards Corbyn he would have been expelled from the party. Corbyn has held firm and Labour’s share of the vote has increased slightly, not enough, but he has passed his first major test as leader and he can build up from here. It is true that the Conservatives did gain control of some councils, not as many as they lost, but councils like Peterborough were only won because of changes made to electoral boundaries under the Conservatives. Gerrymandering is a greater threat to Labour than support for Tory policies, particularly as it now appears that twenty-six Conservatives broke the law to win their seats. It is clear that democracy itself is under attack by the Conservative Party.
So why did I say Labour are the winners? Because they are in good position from which to rebuild, especially in Scotland, and the results provide a justification for completely new start in Scotland. It is obvious that no amount of tinkering can save Labour, however if they hold their nerve, or rather rediscover the courage of their founders, they could rebuild the party with a hope of real power in 2026. I think an autonomous Labour Party making its own decisions and determining its own policies in a fraternal relationship with its neighbouring Labour Parties might well appeal to voters who want greater autonomy for Scotland. It may be by 2026 that we will have an independent Scotland in which case it makes sense to have an autonomous Scottish Labour Party ready to seize the opportunities independence would present. The strength of the SNP and the rise of the Greens demonstrates that in Scotland socialism is not a dirty word and a Labour Party freed from the legacy of Blairism should be able to recapture some of the electorate lost to the left. I don’t think Labour can fall any further so any gain from here on in is a victory and an encouragement.
Kezia Dugdale is inexperienced as a politician and as a party leader. If the Labour Party can stop treating its leaders like football managers and give Kezia time to rebuild labour she could do well. She has just come through as painful an experience as any leader will ever suffer, if she can carry on I think she will be strengthened by it. Even before the election she was showing signs of moving away from Scottish Labour’s knee-jerk opposition to anything the SNP does merely because it is the SNP doing it. Were the Labour Party to have a clear policy platform they could use it as a guide to their relationship with the SNP; supporting the SNP when they have points of agreement, opposing when they don’t and negotiating compromises when the opportunity to influence a parliamentary outcome arises. A Labour Party that also actively opposed the Tories might well win votes back particularly when it was apparent that they did so from a solid ethical base and not merely for electoral gain. No matter how roundly anyone hates Tony Blair, he knew how to perform for the cameras, Kezia needs coaching in her self presentation. She may be more intelligent, compassionate, and caring than I recognise, however every time she opens her mouth I want to shut it for her. I suspect a big part of her problem is inexperience, but also a lack of finesse. The SNP has been fortunate in having three successive leaders who can perform well in debate and in the media, the camera makes them look like leaders, Kezia has to learn how not to appear as a panicked little girl. There is nothing wrong with a politician learning how best to present themselves and represent their party, indeed it is irresponsible not to, a lesson Jeremy Corbyn might be advised to consider also. Obviously they should still be themselves and retain their integrity, it is the externals they need to work on. A backbencher can be a scatter gun like Dennis Skinner, a party leader needs to be more targeted and surgical.
Kezia and the Labour Party are so far behind the SNP that, barring disaster, the only way they can go is forward so much of the pressure is now off Kezia. A steady rebuilding of her party targeted at a good result in 2026 using the elections along the way as a guide to progress without being distracted by pundits and the media may pay dividends. If Labour can build enough momentum things may even happen sooner. Whatever happens if they do not learn from their mistakes the Labour Party will not survive and that would not be good for Scotland. We are enriched by the diversity of our politics.
Filed under: asperger's syndrome, Film Reviews, success, Technology, Travel | Tags: Academy Awards, BAFTA, drivers, film crew, films, IMDB, Marvel Comics, Paula Pierce
I can almost hear you asking, “Who is Paula Pierce?” and I don’t blame you. All I know about her is that she is a driver working in the film industry. If you sit through the end credits of ‘Captain America: Civil War‘ waiting for the Marvel Teaser eventually you will see her name appear for a few seconds under ‘Drivers’, that’s how I came across her. I am not even sure under which unit I saw her name, possibly the second, but it is there. If you check out IMDB you’ll see more films she has worked for
Most people leave the theatre as the credits roll and so the work of the vast majority of those who work on any film passes unrecognised and unacknowledged by the public. I think this is sad and so I have chosen Paula Pierce to stand for all those we tend to ignore. Sometimes we forget just how many hundreds of people are involved in providing us with entertainment and I would just like to express my appreciation for them all. We all recognise the names of the stars and directors, some producers and perhaps the better known designers and music directors, but what about the ones who don’t make it onto chat shows and the posters? Behind any film and particularly behind an action film shot on location in several countries there is an army of crew making it all possible. Okay, I know that many of the backstage crew could be replaced without affecting the film, however they each contribute to its success and they deserve our gratitude as much as the actors whose names we know.
Every spring millions of people sit and watch the various Entertainments Industry award shows on television. Whole programs are devoted to the actors and directors, the writers and composers get mentions although at a lesser length. Most of those who win awards on the technical side are lucky if their name appears on a list on the entertainments pages of a newspaper. Still that any of them get any recognition is something for which to be grateful. Very few of the crew become famous, although we all know, “Rostrum Camera: Ken Morse” that one name is an exception. We do know more than we used to because of the various ‘Making of…’ documentaries included in the extras on DVDs, but for the most part, I suspect, the only recognition the crew get is their pay and the phone calls offering their next job.
I have selected Paula Pierce not quite at random, because she drives trucks and women who drive trucks are special. My mother drove a truck as part of the support crew of a major epic, the Second World War. She was a navy driver and one of the millions who played a part in securing victory. We all remember the Generals like ‘Ike’ and ‘Monty’ and the politicians like Churchill, but the supporting cast and crew tend to be forgotten. We have tombs for the ‘Unknown Soldier’, in fact for most people most soldiers are unknown and even more so the crew who serviced the whole endeavour.
Films are like wars and industries, they need a few stars to attract attention, but were it not for the unknown millions, over the years, who worked unseen behind the scenes not one would have been successfully completed. So today I am choosing to have Paula Pierce symbolise all those whose appearance in the end credits rolls past as the audience bolts for the exit and to them all I say a huge ‘Thank You’!
Today, at last, I write the last I write
In verse for this NaPoWriMo. I know
I have survived the test. I did my best
As I said I would, it was the best I could
Do. It was not all good, but I came through.
There was no time to correct or edit,
To get it right and avoid derision.
I had to forgo revision and then,
Next day, do it again. It was quite a strain,
A discipline or perhaps a training.
Very draining, but now it’s at an end
And I’ve learned to depend upon my pen.
I’ll miss NaPoWriMo with some relief
‘Til next year, when it’s clear I’ll start again.
Filed under: Health, personal development, Poetry, success, Writing | Tags: Eddie the Eagle, NaPoWriMo, ski jumping, Winter Olympics
Today I saw the film ‘Eddie The Eagle’ a wonderful sort of the triumph of the human spirit over any circumstances. I thoroughly recommend it.
People cannot see the damage they do
When they dismiss everything you try.
With tearful eyes they watch your spirit die.
They don’t understand what they’ve done to you
By telling you your dreams cannot come true,
But you did not believe the well meant lie,
You believed you were going to fly.
None can deny Eddie the Eagle flew.
The spirit soars up in triumphant dreams,
With determination conquering pain.
You earned the respect of the other teams,
There was nothing more you had to explain
As you acknowledged the spectators’ screams.
When we dare to try, the Eagle flies again.
Filed under: personal development, Poetry, success, Writing | Tags: challenge, NaPoWriMo, perseverance, practice
No one could ever call me a bard.
I don’t find NaPoWriMo easy;
A challenge that seems set to tease me.
Sometimes I find crafting poems hard,
But having started, I press onward,
I do not write merely to please me.
I refuse to let my unease be
An obstacle nor yet a hazard.
I am sure that I can do it
Although my progress may be slow.
Though it’s hard I will get through it
By using everything I know
To ensure that I don’t rue it,
My choice to do NaPoWriMo.
Filed under: Justice, Poetry, Politics, Scotland, success, Writing, Yes Scotland | Tags: austerity, conservative party, David Cameron, economy, food banks, offshore banking, Panama Papers, poverty
Cameron you’ve allowed your rampant greed
To show you as some sort of bankers’ whore,
Making it easy to stash funds offshore
For rich men who ignore their country’s need.
They mock the poor and grow fat and feed
Like leeches upon Britain’s common store,
Smugly protected by an unjust law.
Of your own destruction you’ve sown the seed.
Of freeloaders you are the chief
Profiting from our austerity.
From budget cuts we need relief
And investment for prosperity.
The people think you are a thief,
So you’ll be judged by posterity.
Filed under: asperger's syndrome, Health, personal development, Poetry, Politics, Scotland, success, Uncategorized, Writing | Tags: Joe Raposo, NaPoWriMo, National Poetry Writing Month, poetry, William W. Purkey
Ganesh: God of Writers and Beginnings
Wow it’s the Twenty-eighth of March already and that means only three days until the First of April. This year as only twice before I am going to add NaPoWriMo to the fun things I do to keep myself entertained while I study life on your planet.
NaPoWriMo is ‘National Poetry Writing Month‘. Actually that’s a complete misnomer because it is international. All over the world poets and would be poets will be rising to the NaPoWriMo challenge. That’s another reason it’s a misnomer, Poetry? Okay there will be some good poems written, perhaps some great, but there will be some stinkers. Trust me, I’ll be writing some of them!
The NaPoWriMo Challenge is to write a poem every day of April (I suspect it is no accident it starts on All Fools Day!). In all honesty I can expect in a good year to get half a dozen poems out of the month with which I am reasonably pleased. I will get s few more that may become worthwhile with some working. However there will be some which I doubt I will ever want to revisit.
Because we have to shove the poems onto the World Wide Watusi at such a pace it is impossible to give them the polish and revising that many of them need. There will be a lot of doggerel. I suppose there are some who will daily produce an elegant sonnet or a page of iambic pentameter, but I doubt there will be many. Some years I am grateful if I can produce half a dozen not too execrable couplets and if I can actually make them rhyme, so much the better. But that’s the point, not to produce perfection (although if we can then great!) rather to produce. It is an exercise to stimulate facility with metre and with rhyme. At the end of the month, however bad some of my verses, experience tells me I will be left with a sense of accomplishment and, hopefully, a few poems of which I can be proud.
I think the other thing to remember about NaPoWriMo is to enjoy it. Too many people take poetry too seriously, most not seriously enough. No one expects anyone to produce a masterpiece every day so during April poets can write without worrying about meeting anyone’s expectations. April is a month to enjoy poetry and the poetic process. Poetry can be fun and it can be funny, and sad, solemn, ribald, religious, profane. Poetry can be employed to express any emotion, idea or philosophy conceivable to man. Poetry is a tool of self expression, but also importantly of communication. If you don’t want to write a poem everyday of the month why not read one. You could go to the NaPoWriMo website to find websites where the poems of the month are being posted or you could just pick up a poetry book and read, perhaps you may enjoy it, perhaps you may be inspired to write. As for those writing, remember the song they used to play on ‘Friday Night Is Music Night’? By J. Raposo
“Sing, sing a song,
Make it simple, to last your whole life long,
Don’t worry that it’s not good enough,
For anyone else to hear,
Sing, sing a song . . .”
William Purkey says Dance like nobody’s watching. Dancing or singing or writing poetry…do it for you and have fun!
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