Still seeking socialism amid the rebellions

The workers of the world have been given many names over the centuries. Nowadays we do actually talk of workers or employees, but in the past it has been working class as opposed to middle class even when the middle class worked; even further back we talk of peasants or serfs which, considering the conditionsContinue reading “Still seeking socialism amid the rebellions”

Count That Day Lost

by George Eliot If you sit down at set of sun And count the acts that you have done, And, counting, find One self-denying deed, one word That eased the heart of him who heard, One glance most kind That fell like sunshine where it went – Then you may count that day well spent.Continue reading “Count That Day Lost”

Death Be Not Proud

by John Donne Death be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not soe, For, those, whom thou think’st, thou dost overthrow, Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill mee. From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee, Much pleasure, then from thee, much more mustContinue reading “Death Be Not Proud”

A neverending journey in search of socialism

The search for socialism has no real beginning and no real end. Even if you concentrate on socialism in the UK you have to figure out where it has come from, including when did it begin, and is it still evolving. More than anything a socialist needs to find a home. There are many choicesContinue reading “A neverending journey in search of socialism”

Seaside resort – not the best place when you seek political answers

Growing up in a middle class household during the 1950s and 60s in a seaside resort in NE Wales is not totally conducive to getting an insight into national politics in general and local politics in particular. For a start nobody really talked about politics to children and when I first started to take aContinue reading “Seaside resort – not the best place when you seek political answers”

The Old Gods

by Dannie Abse The gods, old as night, don’t trouble us. Poor weeping Venus! Her pubic hairs are grey, and her magic love girdle has lost its spring. Neptune wonders where he put his trident. Mars is gaga – illusory vultures on the wing. Pluto exhumed, blinks. My kind of world, he thinks. Kidnapping andContinue reading “The Old Gods”

Market meeting was a real bonus

Meeting my Muse at the market in March 1973 was a bonus as I thought it would be two weeks after the party before I saw her again. That half an hour with her made all the difference. If you are thinking of a long-term relationship then you should base it on each of youContinue reading “Market meeting was a real bonus”

To woo or not woo – that is the question – only fools rush in

Since I last mentioned the moment I actually met my Muse, and discovered she had a six-month-old baby, I have not gone back to that period, well not until yesterday when I commented on that eventful year 1973. It is not because there were any bad memories from that event, or even that year. InContinue reading “To woo or not woo – that is the question – only fools rush in”