Brum - The Unfinished Sympathy (With Apologies to Ralph McTell)

Have you seen the Baggies fan 
Down Cradley Heath Market 
Driving over the chip wrappers, 
in his Mark II Escort &; worn out toyres? 
In his eyes you see no 'ope 
Wishin 'is hand was round Big Rons throat
Yesterday's programme telling 'im yesterday's scores.

So how can you tell uz you're a poor Brummie, 
And get kicked where the sun don't shine? 
Let me take you by the 'and &; lead you through the streets of Tipton 
I'll show you something to make yow change yowz moind 

Have you seen our bab'
Who walks the streets of Lozells
Dirt in her hair, knicks halfway down er 'anks? 
She's no time for talkin', 
She just keeps right on walkin' 
Carryin' the 'barginz' in her two Primark bags. 

Chorus

In the 'ol Greasy Spoon 
At a quarter past eleven, 
Same Baggies fan is sitting on 'is own 
Looking at the world 
Over the rim of his bovril, 
Each bovril lastin' an hour 
Then he wanders 'ome alone 

Chorus

And have you seen the Dudley Rasta 
Outside the Bella Pasta
Memory fadin with 
each joint that he smokes. 
In his shitty city, 
The Blues cry with a little pity 
So many forgotten 'eroes
In a Premier League that just doesn't care 

Chorus

Tramping across Southern Spain

A recent trip through southern Spain has allowed me to sit out in sunshine briefly for one day in good company (well the very best actually!) and appreciate the golden ability of a great song. It is only when you listen carefully to the longevity of affection that an a mixed audience from several nationalities have for a classic Bob Dylan number played by a Spaniard with all the appearance quality of General Franco's trusty lieutenant, an acoustic guitar, butchered with a Fender Stratocaster head that life and song can be appreciated.

Its a fabulous song "Blowin in the Wind" we all know it, we can all sing a line or several or even all of them, but we cant know how good it is until its played in a way so far from its original setting outside the Museum d'Picasso in Malaga by a soldier of Life in a language developed 5000 miles from its origin by two men (player & songwriter) whom probably never ever met.

Powerful more still when knowing it was written in 1963 - nearly 50 yrs ago and its as fresh a Daisy in relevance, thought provoking and tone. Perhaps only 2/3 songwriters of all time achieve that level of universal acceptance and Bob was/is one of them.

A room with a view......

A big hello to Miranda, Valerie, Lisa and all the other great staff at Langdale YHA who are just the very best of people working in the very best of hostels. Love you all and all that you continue to do.

England can be such a very special place if you look in the right places.

I am fascinated by the thought of the Liberal Democrats stimulating Green Economy investment in new sustainable rail links, one of which appears in some news items, a re-investment in the Penrith to Keswick Railway line.

Having recently walked and cycled this really beautiful stretch, I find it hard to imagine the loss of such an iconic walk and more importantly very bright green transport route. The number of people using this combination of old rail route and elevated timber walkways is quite substantial, particularly at weekends. There are walkers, coast to coasters, cyclists, mountain bikers, climbers and coach parties, even kayaks and canoes daring the white-water route down the River Greta: all seemingly using merely Sandwich and Kit-Kat power, not a bit of petrol or electric juice in sight. I can't think that a rail line is going to overcome the enjoyment and vitality that has already converted many to the greenest option of all, it might be perceived as a backwards step.

I would, however, like to see park and ride scheme established at locations such as Penrith and Kendal and the creation of a Renewable Energy dependant National Park Bus scheme; this would be very very welcome and establish the LDNP as one very cool green travelling tourist place to be.

Classy Political Move

No matter what your persuasion or your views on subsidised state healthcare you have to admire the political courage shown by Obama in his brave stance on USA's healthcare reform bill.

It seems the ill informed prejudicial minority haven't thought out the full implication for the USA economy of this grandest and brilliant of plans. The 'Redneck Gun Toting' voters that so willingly vote to trash Iraq at great tax payers expense and loss of life, don't see the positives of Obama's wisdom. If only their anger was trained to focus on Wall Street where the greatest thefts have occurred.

With 32million American people poorly for in the privatised system, what a clever way of finding localised money in a national network of rejuvenated healthcare expenditure.

Presumably spending on new infrastructure, building programmes, training, contracts, services through thousands of localised expenditure programmes will have a great effect on ensuring local investment and stimulation on service demand. The legacy has the potential to be long lasting and have great social equality credibility.

When over critical middle America sees the money flowing their way, they may yet realise the merit of the plan. When the impoverished out of work numbers reduce,with the created employment they will have less to waive wagging fingers at, and when their Granny's & Grand Pappys start getting older and in need of these same services, with reduced pension plan payments, they might actually appreciate its caring benefits also.