Voices I'd much rather have than my own

Can you fault the woman? I certainly can't manage it.

Easter in the Lake District

On my much needed weekend away I took an awful lot of photos. Here are a few of my favourites from Staveley, Grange Over Sands (or Marsh?) and Coniston Water; my spiritual home...

Things which you wished you had said first

'We are chameleons, and our partialities and prejudices change places with an easy and blessed facility.' Mark Twain - When in Doubt, Tell the Truth 1923

Wise Words on the 'War on Drugs'

Caroline Chatwin, a drugs policy expert at the University of Kent, said that while it was important for people such as Ainsworth to publicise their support for changes to British drug policy, "it remains regrettable that this public support is unable to be offered by those in a current frontline position".

She added: "Ainsworth states that he is only able to express these views now that he no longer occupies a front line position and Cameron seems to have abandoned his own relatively liberal standpoint on this issue now that he is prime minister. While this suppression of the opinion of those in power continues to be the case, Britain will not be able to participate in an open and honest debate on this subject and will not be able to effect a much needed evidence-based policy."

Unequal power and personal gain, are not suitable bedfellows of democracy.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/dec/16/legalise-drugs-former-defence-minister
If that pleases you, also check out: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/may/07/reefermadness

Christmas no1.

This needs to be number one, just because you've lost, doesn't mean you can't shout.

Spontaneous Combustion

Christmas is almost here, and in appropriate fashion with what started to be a day of Christmas songs, Christmas shopping, and Christmas food; turned out to be an opportunity to stand up to the BNP, which is always good fun!

The ever lovely Peter Tierney of local Liverpool infamy appeared in the rain, shaking a bell rather like a figure from a Christmas Carol; that is if one was to ignore the vast quantities of bile and venom that is so clearly coursing through his veins so much it runs the risk of bursting through the pores...

There's nothing like a bit of shouting in the middle of the pouring rain, and surrounded by shoppers to cheer you up - I really feel like I did something with my day!

Oh, and I was able to shout my first Communist insult today! Addressed to a man, who had a problem with racism, he conceded (vaguely) that all races are equal... buuuuuut... the gays with their Aids, and the Commies, well, there's the real issue.

'As if you have any wealth to redistribute!'

Well, it impressed a middle-aged Socialist man, who said it was 'intelligent and funny!'
That's me. ha.

Oh, and to anyone who's interested, I'm trying to upload some of my poetry - but html is as understandable as Japanese to me, and apparently, indenting is tricky! If anyone knows a good trick to deal with this, leave a comment!

The Applicant

First, are you our sort of person?
Do you wear
A glass eye, false teeth or a crutch,
A brace or a hook,
Rubber breasts or a rubber crotch,

Stitches to show something's missing? No, no? Then
How can we give you a thing?
Stop crying.
Open your hand.
Empty? Empty. Here is a hand

To fill it and willing
To bring teacups and roll away headaches
And do whatever you tell it.
Will you marry it?
It is guaranteed
To thumb shut your eyes at the end
And dissolve of sorrow.
We make new stock from the salt.
I notice you are stark naked.
How about this suit---

Black and stiff, but not a bad fit.
Will you marry it?
It is waterproof, shatterproof, proof
Against fire and bombs through the roof.
Believe me, they'll bury you in it.

Now your head, excuse me, is empty.
I have the ticket for that.
Come here, sweetie, out of the closet.
Well, what do you think of that?
Naked as paper to start

But in twenty-five years she'll be silver,
In fifty, gold.
A living doll, everywhere you look.
It can sew, it can cook,
It can talk, talk, talk.

It works, there is nothing wrong with it.
You have a hole, it's a poultice.
You have an eye, it's an image.
My boy, it's your last resort.
Will you marry it, marry it, marry it.


Never stop reading poetry.