1708 An amazing cricket day and Ballykissangel

I awoke sufficiently early to attend to several activities before settling down to divide my day between watching Durham at Somerset and undertaking some work at the computer or photographing completed sets.

In contrast to yesterday the morning was bright and temperature reasonable. After washing up and washing me, and completing my notes on Helen Keller and the fictional Esther Costello I made my way to Jarrow, to visit Wilkinson’s to see if they had any of black coloured set volumes which I need for the completed MySpace and Google not writing. This was a success with five bought as well as two more red and three bluish.

On the way I discovered that work on the second Tyne Tunnel has commenced creating additional problems on reaching the present entrance area which has to be negotiated before be able to take the road into Jarrow centre and Morrison’s Car Park. The work should be completed during 2012. The second tunnel similar to that on Merseyside has become essential but how effective it will depend on improvements to the approach roads and to the paying of Toll facilities at the North Tyneside end or start depending on which way you are travelling.

On my return journey I forgot to position myself at one junction with the consequence of then having to take a different route which brought me one end of Fredericke Street where the former Plessey Factory and then site of the replacement electronics factory and which once employed over 2000 people has been cleared in an attempt to rejuvenate the area. By coincidence I had written about the factory and the shopping street in December 2007 and only last night transferred the writing from MySpace to Google. I found the connection between the mistake and the recent work interesting.

On return the first interest was the news of those selected for the Test Matches against the West Indies at Lords and then Durham followed by three one day matches where the side for this is to be announced later as well as for the World 20 20 competition. Michael Vaughan former Captain and a centrally contracted player, as is Steve Harmison have not been included. However Graham Onions has been selected for his first cap in the 12 and is likely to play with two spinners in the selection. This means he will not be travelling to Brighton for the Sussex game but Steve will. Liam Plunkett will be available to take his place after appearing for England against the West Indies Touring side.

There was an extraordinary change in the county game with new Batsman Mustard joining not Blenkenstein and struggling to get any runs as Somerset had sharpened up considerably over the previous day. The immediate task was to increase the total to over four hundred runs to gain the final and fifth batting point. I misunderstood the situation yesterday in that it is only possible to gain 3 bowling points making a total of 8 bonus, with four for a draw and 12 for a win.

The uncertainty about Durham position was reinforced when Mustard was run out for 4 and the score had changed from 284 for 3 to 382 for 7 and where the run rate had halved. Then Ian Thorp added 32 in 53 balls with Blenkenstein steadfastly moving towards 150. Young pace bowler Mitchell Claydon also showed competence with the bat and he and Blenkenstein moved the score forward quickly once more with Claydon 38 in 33 ball and Blenkenstein looking at 175. He was out at 181 with Steve Harmison 10. The total had reached 543. Today their Captain said it had been the right decision to put Durham into bat and the outcome would have been different if the four or five catches had not been dropped.
The task facing the Durham bowlers was to take the ten Somerset wickets before they reached a total of 393, thus making them bat for a second time in succession. Given that Somerset had scored over 600 runs in their last game on a similar wicket this might prove a difficult task although it was to be hoped that Harmison would set out to show that the selectors had been wrong to overlook him and Onions that they had been right to choose him.

What happened next was beyond anyone’s wildest dreams as Durham on of their greatest days bowing against one of the strongest batting sides in the country on a batting sympathetic wicket.

When the score was 12 Onions clean bowled a surprised Marcus Trescothick and then Captain Justin Langer one fo the great opening batsmen of all time seemed to have the situation under control although the other opener Suppiah looked as if he was finding the pace of Durham’s openers a challenge. Then for Somerset the sky fell in. Suppiah was caught and bowled by Onions for 12. Hildreth who had scored 303 runs in the first championship match of the season was out leg before wicket also to Onions and the score was 39 for 3. Only one run later de Bruyn was caught behind by wicket keeper Mustard of the bowling of Steve Harmison for 0). Only nine runs later Nieswetter was caught Thorp off Onions for 0. Then Thorp replacing Harmison had his finest ever spell bowing Trego caught Di Venuto for 4, and bowling Banks for 2 and Stiff for 0. It was 66 for nine with Captain Langer standing bemused and helpless at the other end having scored half the total. Onions got his sixth wicket when Captain Smith caught Willoughby for 0 and Somerset were all out for 69 giving Durham record lead of 474.

The bowing figures were

Graham Onions 14.2 overs 4 maidens 31 runs and 6 wickets

Graham Thorp 6 overs 2 maidens 5 runs and 3 wickets

And Steve Harmison 8 overs 2 maidens 29 runs and 1 wickets.

Sky’s commentary team were universally ecstatic advocates of quality pace bowling and Sky had a memorable television event after the boring and disappointing Test draws over the Winter in India and the West Indies. Durham’s reputation was considerably strengthened and the Sky team were speculating that only Notts might be in competition with them for the Championship this season

It was not to be expected that the rout would continue as Smith continued with the bowlers who had ended the first innings. However the batsmen had found new resolve and determined not to repeat the humiliation and the bowlers had understandable lost some of their fire. Somerset ended the day 83 for 1 with Claydon getting the wicket of Suppiah but Trescothick and Hildreth looking strong. However Hildreth was dropped and one possibility two LBW decisions were not given when they should probably making up for two dodgy decisions which contributed to the Somerset batting debacle earlier. Such days rarely come and joy was to be able to watch rather than listen or read about later.

I enjoyed using pat of the chicken from Sunday to make a Korma curry dish on Monday and yesterday used the remainder for a stir-fry. To day I had the rest of the stir fry and Thai sauce for lunch and then two salmon fishcakes with cold baked beans for the evening meal. There were fresh strawberries for lunch bough from green grocers in Jarrow where I purchased four giant plums the largest I have ever seen. Grapes, bananas and melon have provided fruit over the week so far. I have discovered some thin salt and pepper crackers which are enjoyable on their own or with anchovies, for a snack this afternoon, or with a slice of salami previously.

I missed the third series of Ballykissangel when it was first produced, upset with the departure of the two leading characters. The third series has been that much more enjoyable because my expectations were so low. It was an effective recreation introducing several new characters while retaining the strengths of some of the originals.

The first was the arrival of the son (Sean Dillon played by Lorcan Cranitch ) of a deceased man hated for having created his wealth and built up his farming land at the expense of his neighbours. There were several notable episodes in which he featured with the arrival of his daughter Emma, when he makes his peace with his neighbour (Eamon Byrne- Birdie Sweeney) Birdie was given his nickname as a child because of his ability to mimic birds. Growing up in a poor family of ten he did not turn to acting until in his 50’s. He had 8 children all of whom are now said to live in Philadelphia. The son of his brother also arrives to create a second teenage interest Danny- Colin Farrell who has since had a developing major career in films and TV, culminating with his award winning appearance in In Bruges one of the funniest films of many a year, black, clever and beautifully shot in the City which I have visited. He establishes a relationship with Emma.

Other memorable episodes are when the town forgives him for the his father’s past actions after a tree partially destroys his home and they rally to make the house habitable again.
He establishes a relationship with Niamh the daughter of Brian Quigley after she has married dull and respectable Policeman Ambrose and borne his child. Hit by the death of her close friend Assumpta Fitzgerald she finds the stability of marriage and the demands of motherhood are not for her because of a sense of having missed out on life and the world. When Ambrose dies having discovered the blossoming relationship with Eamon Byrne, she is consumed with guilt and resentment.

The new priest plays a less significant role than before and in contrast to his worldly predecessor has been cloistered in a Monastery for a decade. As the idealist he is counterpoint for Father MacAnally who schemes and enjoys the good life playing golf and drinking whisky, but also is wise and compassionate. He was in his sixties when appearing in 52 of 58 episodes of the series and has continued working into his late seventies. One interesting note is that both the curate priests appeared in the series Father Ted which was religiously watched by my birth and care mothers.

The arrival of the curate priest’s sister provides a friend for Niamh and then for a fiesty relationship with the man who rescues her when the balloon in which she is travelling with Brian Quigley crashes into the sea. For a time it looked as if there would be a relationship with the older Brian who is her kind of strong and adventurous man, As tenant of Padraig for time and who operated the garage she break his heart as well as fancying Eamon Byrne. She is the free spirit running amok in what appears to be a tranquil and traditional Irish community.

The shock of the series is when school master Brendan has a fling with the vet Sioban and they have a child, eventually marrying and living together. We also learn that Kathleen of the village shop who plays the church organ and disapproves of all things modern and of change meets her beau of twenty five years ago and who before going to London to make his fortune, with money given by Kathleen promised to call for her to join him when he was established, but never did.

Brian Quigley continues in his role as the local wheeler dealer acquiring the golf course but shows compassion and understanding when his daughter begins the extra marital relationship and when her husband dies. He also shows hidden talents in the care of her son. The local Doctor is the star of one programme as the winner of the annual horse race on the sands. He appears in 38 of the 58 episodes.

Only two characters appear in every episode and surprisingly this is the pair of self employed workers mainly for Brian Quigley, Donal and Liam. In the latest episode they discover a hurriedly discarded crate of stolen best caviar selling for £80 a tin which they give to the cat before being told what they have. As usual the scheme to sell the find falls apart.

Two established film and TV actors also make appearances. James Nesbitt appeared as the estranged husband of Assumpta Fitzgerald, before making his name in Cold Feet and Murphy’s Law. James Ellis plays the eccentric Uncle Minto in 4 episodes. James had some 50 mainly TV credit shows and series which he has continued

It was a good day but two in a row is not expected

1705 Evelyn Waugh's Sword of Honour and Daniel Craig

Yesterday I had an unexpected treat. There are 15 films in the wonderful Daily Mail War Movie Collection with several, the most outstanding films of the post second World War period. There was one which I thought I had not seen before as I failed to immediately recognise the title, The Sword of Honour.

As soon as it opened I realised this was the outstanding BBC shown dramatization of the three novels by Evelyn Waugh, Men at Arms 1952, Officers and Gentleman 1955 and Unconditional Surrender 1961 (The end of the Battle in the USA) and which was based on his actual experience, however loosely. Given that I continue to regard the 13 part television series of his work Brideshead Revisited as the greatest TV production of its kind ever made, I am surprised with myself for not having acquired any of his other works, especially as early on I became a fan of C P Snow and Anthony Powell and have the majority of their novels. I would like to remedy this situation but suspect time has run out.

The three novels are said to have been fully covered in this 2001 adaptation which lasts over three hours and I have no recollection if I saw the 1967 version with Edward Woodward, although it was the kind of programme I would not have missed. Waugh’s style is to portray the reality of the middle and upper classes with a humorous wit but he is also a very serious writer as I discussed after noting my experience of Brideshead on acquiring the series on DVD.

The idealistic hero of the three works is Guy Crouchbank, upper class with his father with whom he has a good relationship, struggling to maintain the family home and estate. They are both strong practicing Catholics although Waugh himself was a convert, a non unusual occurrence for middle and upper class Englishmen and women who find the reality of life very different from the idealism of their youth. Waugh maintained his respect for English culture and traditions, possessed a strong masculine approach to social order and government and hated what happened after the second World War and would have probably become a revolutionary and he lived to experience something of the changes from 1960’s. He died in 1966 at the age of 62. He was therefore in his mid thirties when the Second World commenced and the first book chronicles his experience of getting a commission and his first expedition adventure to North Africa. The book also coves the failure of his first marriage to someone who needed the excitement of new relationships.

The character in the book is Guy Crouchbank whose wife has married again someone part of the social circle of public school, Oxbridge University, London scene and country house parties, the Gentleman’s club in Pall Mall and the army. In real life because Waugh converted to Catholicism after his marriage he was able to gain an annulment and he remained married to his second wife for the rest of his life with seven children, and with one son Aubron also becoming an internationally known journalist and writer. It is noteworthy that Evelyn’s second wife was a cousin of his first.

In the book he attempts to seduce his divorced wife when he returns for a decade in Italy but she rejects him and then has an affair, one of several, with a charlatan hero who fathers her child. Pregnant, she turns to Guy who inherited his father’s (played by Leslie Phillips) wealth and estate and they remarry. When she is killed in a bombing raid the final scene of the film is his return from the war to get to know and bring up his son.

How far Waugh’s experience of the army is portrayed in the books and films I cannot say but almost none of the fellow and senior officers come out well.

There are two official hero’s in the books and film The first is a press office creation during the period when something was desperately needed to raise public moral. Crouchbank has joined the new Commando brigade after coming home in disgrace from the North African mission, and he nominates Trimmer McTavish, a man who has spent his war to date keeping out of danger and chasing the ladies. He takes up with Guy‘s, former wife when he remeets her again when on leave and we learn that he had been her lover when a steward on an Atlantic liner. The press orientated mission is to go with a small group and blow up a tower on a poorly defended island of the French coast. By mistake they are bought off the French coast by the submarine and there is no tower and only enemy is a French peasant woman with a shot gun. The sergeant with the group has the sense to blow up the railway line before they leave and this is represented as having affected important German transport links with McTavish made into a national hero and used to raise funds by promoting the sale of war bonds. When Guy’s wife falls on hard times she is taken in by the press officer and his wife and he forces her to establish an affair with McTavish if she wants to keep her free board and lodgings. When McTavish is sent on a six month raising campaign to the USA and Virginia finds herself pregnant, she openly admits to using Guy to get out of the situation.

While Guy has no illusions about he manufactured hero McTavish he is fully taken in by someone he believes is a true hero Ivor Clair who is young, handsome and full member of the upper classes. It is only in the last third that Guy realises that the man its not as honourable as he seems as he has disobeyed the order to surrender on Crete and escape to Egypt where he is having an affair with the wife of the Commanding officer and also learns that his original gallantry award was obtained under false pretences.

Covering up military mistakes and individual misdeeds is a great theme of the books as well as the incompetence of the hierarchy. I understand that in the first book Guy who just about managed to get a commission in a ill thought of fictitious corps called he Halberdiers spends a great deal of his time getting on and off trains and ships that go nowhere. When training with Halberdiers he encounters one fellow officer who is equipped with a vast expensive kit for every possible climate and terrain and which includes a portable toilet called the thunder box, coveted by the Commanding officer when he sees it and which is blown up in in tussle between the two over ownership. When they are stopped from the first mission from North Africa Guy agrees to lead a raiding party to capture something although against orders. However Guy gets sent home when he smuggles alcohol to a fellow officer who has become sick and is under treatment in sick bay from an alleged tropical disease from his work in Africa. Guy is told that the man died as consequence of this gesture because he suffered from liver disease.

As a consequence of this he is taken from the front line and made responsible for training until able to join the commandos and after training is posted to Egypt and then Crete before the Island is abandoned. Here because the commanding officer has an accident and breaks a leg while in transit, the unit is led by a rule clinging petty Hitler who lacks commonsense and panic freezes in adversity. Played by Robert Daws, Major Hound, nicknamed Fido is murdered by a Sgt who later with Guy survives an open boat which they take to escape from becoming a prisoner of war on Crete and land in North Africa. Later the same Sgt becomes the commanding officer of a parachute training camp to which Guy is sent and who spends his time hiding in his office from Guy. He has been keeping a diary of his adventures which he publishes as a novel when the war is over.

It is in the final book and section of the film that Waugh switches from lampooning to the very serious as Guy is sent as a one man military mission to Croatia prior to the formation of Communist Yugoslavia. The communist partisans are portrayed as dedicated and effective but also ruthless and he risks the wrath of both his hierarchy and the fledgling state by taking the part of 100 Jewish refugees from the camps. He is successful in getting all but a couple free to travel to a transit camp in allied controlled Italy en route to Palestine. The couple includes a cultured English speaking Italian Jewess whose husband becomes essential to the state because he is an electrician and can keep the allied supplied power station generators functioning. Later they are found guilty of treason and executed on the fictitious grounds of having capitalist propaganda, which includes a magazine provide by Guy when he visits to say goodbye. When Guy protests that the allied command took no action to save the couple he is reminded of overall priorities and the bigger picture. It is the justification which has been used by capitalists governments to justify their deals with fascists and communists states and dictatorships ever since democracy was developed in the USA and Britain.

In the first version of the series Guy has children by second wife who are disinherited by Trimmer’s son because he has been registered as Guy’s. In the published edition but not the film he married the daughter of another old Catholic families but they have no children not to complicate the succession. One of the points of the book is a conversation which Guy has with his father before his death in which his father explains that regardless of the pain and suffering, the disappoints and failures of life, the essence of being a Catholic is the saving of souls, and this is the inspiration for his decision to marry his former wife and bring up the child by a man he despises as his own.

Oddly the film does not explain its title, in that in the third book “a splendid ceremonials word is made at the King’s command,” to be presented to the Soviet Union in recognition of the sacrifices that he Soviet people made in the war against the Nazis.. In reality this was a sword commissioned by the King commemorating the battle of Stalingrad, It was put on display in Westminster Abbey and people queues to look at it. It sums up Waugh’s view that Guy is not impressed or with Stalin and is not tempted to join in the party held for the event and give sup the opportunity to enjoy luxury food for lunch on his 40th birthday.

Guy Crouchbank is played by the excellent actor Daniel Craig who has become more internationally known through taking over the role of James Bond. I especially enjoyed his performance in the TV series Our Friends in the North and also the films the Road to Perdition and Munich. His wide range of roles includes Lara Croft Tomb Raider, a Kid at King Arthur’s Court and the Golden Compass.

1245 Oliver Twist and the Human Factor

I awoke and could hear what I interpreted as a nearby house alarm but it seemed to continue on and on as I dozed and came too several times and there I wondered and then I realised what it was and that from 8.30 until 9.48 the buzzer had been my unpacked disconnected alarm clock, but with battery, in the one of the travel bags, somewhere in the house. Just as well the neighbours on the side of the house are away and there is the open patio space on the other.

It has been a leisurely day and commenced with opening and sending a Christmas card and the decision to write an overview of the year, something I used to do, but stopped two years ago. There was no attempt to be comprehensive, and it proved a longer than had time for experience, as I attempted to distil priorities and summarise.

I made do with soup and then there was another letter and card and decisions to sort out this and that, a visit to the Council's environmental centre to dispose of accumulated rubbish, but the pong from the decaying prawn heads and shells was such that I decided to do the supermarket first and acquire some air freshener, but before that I took my suit to the dry cleaners, also my main car wearing coat, but the label was machine washable so it came back via the post office and supermarket where a lot of time was used finding the air freshener, which proved essential once the rubbish was in the vehicle.

It was not until just before the new five day production of Oliver Twist that I felt the need for food, Chinese style chicken wings, a generous carton followed by a puff pastry mince pie. The Oliver Twist is yet to compete with the most recent film production strangely omitted from the Daily Mail Role Replay information which mentions the original 1948 film and the 1968 musical. Oliver Twist is the story of the Male Supremacist nature of early Victorian society ranging from the attitude of the mother of Oliver Twist and the abuse and exploitation of Nancy and the way the ready way in which the upper and middle classes relished sending street children who committed offences to the gallows, on prison ships to the colonies or to hard labour in prisons, or the workhouse. The pervading attitudes of those are still heard on daily chat shows such as five live.

I was then looking forward the last Spooks as there was no advance showing last week but fell soundly asleep. I woke again in time of a gem of a programme about three women who went in search of their parents, two fathers and one mother. The two fathers were found through the Salvation Army service both with positive outcomes but sadly the woman who has spent nearly two decades trying to find if her mother is alive and two years actively enquiring since the death of her father had by the end of the programme failed to make any progress. The national release of a photograph tonight will hopefully produce the breakthrough for her.

I have written before about the power of this drive to know and how society makes this difficult by allowing mother to register births without information about the name and known circumstances of the biological father

Of course there will continue to be deceptions with false information provided and circumstances where the information is not known or where the circumstances are tricky, but as with adoption there should be opportunity when a young person reaches adulthood to be given the option to obtain the available information, with advance counselling provision if requested. The secrecy is often from the best of intentions and there are sometimes other children or family members whose protection is just as significant at the time, but the power to know should carry a right. The kind of crude bestial justice which is part of the Muslim faith in many countries and supported by national laws in relation to the behaviour and position of women, and as used to be and still is the attitude towards the female in predominantly Catholic nations and which underlines the hypocrisy of the male attitude to the Mary's in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, is symptomatic of male supremacist societies. The way the House of Commons is organised with the gladiatorial combat of Prime Minister's Question Times is another and oh for a Prime Minister with the self confident guts to refuse to perform for their party and for the benefit of the medias, for opposition leaders with similar self confidence, guts and integrity.

And what is this nonsense of the latest sound bite politics of the Liberal Democrats, power to the people, regardless of consequence in terms of justice as fairness, Hullo just as it is fair, is it? for English families to pay for the Scots to enable their children to go to University without the mill stone of charges or for the elderly to retain the value of their savings when they require residential care or comprehensive care, we are now to support the reactionary Liberal notion that it is OK if those who are interested in power holding decide to introduce fascist approaches to the running of hospital or schools, or reintroduce poor law type institutions, of course liberals don't, so why spout the claptrap echoed by Paddy Ashdown and no doubt the assembly of other former party leaders rejected by heir own members or the country at one time or the other, and two men again after the party demonstrated as all the major parties do their ageism. The hypocrisy of attitudes towards, children, the old and the female has not changed although in society in general there is change with recent examples the Queen demonstrating what a better job she has done than any man or that splendid engineer project coordinator for the St Pancras enterprise. This is not an issue of physiological prejudice but of attitude and approach.
This work of tracing missing parents is one role for the Salvation Army who apparently is able to trace 80% of the 4000 requests for help each year and merits greater public recognition. The figures mean over 30000 quests have been solved in the past decade alone.

I then finished the evening with a poor Le Carre type spy traitor film based on a Graham Green, The Human Factor, the last film of the Man with the Golden Arm Otto Preminger and a screen play by Tom Stoppard. The film has nothing original in terms of story and characterization and is light years away from series such Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The double Spy, is Nicole Williamson an actor who has never been convincing or impressed me with a cast of many talents, Richard Attenborough, Robert Morley, Sir John Gielgud and Derek Jacobi and I could have been better employed with my time but once commenced I felt obliged to see it through.

Yesterday was the penultimate programme about the Queen featured the number of official visits, a Royal Garden Party and an aborted visit to open the new Arsenal Football club and broadened to other family members with Charles and Camilla travelling to organic farmers and them meeting farmers in a local pub. The Garden party was interesting because it is regarded as a treat for those who will not make it to an investiture. People dress expensively and queue for half an hour to get in but are given free entry into the Palace and a scrumptious tea of fine fare before being gathered in lines for a family walkabout in which individuals are pre selected to have a few words said to them by the Queen. On hot days as the summer of a year ago, so distant now St Johns was much in demand. Those who are considered VIP's have their own Marquee and a special walk walkabout session. The one important conclusion from the series which has its last episode at Christmas is the serious effort which the firm makes to fit in and understands contemporary society at all levels. It is difficult for anyone wanting to do the job and to attempt consistent professional perfection for decade upon decade. The nature of his task was wonderful portrayed by one stupid woman who drags her mother and son around the country to wave flags and get a close up of the Queen. At one level she was awful cringing embarrassing and one wondered how many of the flay wavers were of this ilk, but she also fulfils an important constitutional function that our brings in he tourist need for the public flag waver, and in fairness I would rather have her as Queen follower than yet another idiot giving credence that those waste of space personalities to contribute nothing to society except their lack of substance.

At last someone has said in the media what I have long suspected, that just as those behind the TV telephone competitions were able to fix outcomes with thousands continuing to phone with no chance of winning, the question has been asked of the X Factor and were thousands prevented from phoning in order to fix the outcome? How could a margin of 1% change to 10% so quickly? Did the earlier votes still count?

1695 Robin Hood and the Robber Bankers

This week has become a celebration of the City of Nottingham and of myths and legends. The week commenced with the decision to cancel a planned weekend stay the City in May because of the distance I would have to travel early morning on one of the days and therefore I switched to accommodation closer to my destination on that day.

Then I decided to catch up on the latest made for television series about the myth of Robin Hood and his not so merry men and women and then on Tuesday I watched again a loving documentary on the man who also achieved international fame for the city, Brian Clough. A genuine legend.

Just under fifty films and television series have been made about the mythological character who battled against injustice and the Sheriff of Nottingham, swearing allegiance to King Richard, the Lionheart, usually portrayed as good, Prince John, later King John, who is portrayed as the worst King, the Sheriff of Nottingham who is portrayed as corrupt, cunning, two faced and also a ruthless tyrant and his henchman Lord Guy Gisborne as his aristocratic fixer.

First the historical setting I have a copy of Dr Austin Lane Poole’s epic history Domesday Book to Magna Carta 1087 to 1216, The Oxford History of England at the Clarendon Press located down the street from Ruskin College. In the an early chapter Dr Poole explains that vast tracks of land were set aside as Hunting forests for the King and court and in this respect Sherwood was one the smaller. These were not forests in the sense we today have come to regard but areas which included villages and surrounded towns and where the law governing behaviour was different than elsewhere in order to protect the animals that could be hunted, the deer, the roe, the wild boar. Hunting minor creature was also granted only on Royal prerogative to official tenants such as the church. Ione exception were wolves regarded as a pest and King John would give five shillings for a head. A minor army of officials were employed to manage and protect the hunting grounds and it was these who caused the local inhabitants problems as they exercised a “petty tyranny” However Poole explains that while there was considerable oppression avarice and self indulgence on the part of these men many did not enforce the law and were tolerant of transgressions by their neighbours. It is in this context that the Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1230, that is after this period, took control of the chattels worth 32 shillings and 6 pence of one Robert (or Robin) Hood, Hud or Hobbehud who was described a sa fugitive and a bandit. Whether this was the force the subsequent legend or not is not know but the Yorkshire connection is furthered by his body allegedly buries at Kirklees Abbey in West Yorkshire.

All the ballads, stories, books and films however place Robin as living at an earlier time Robin during the rein of King Richard and his relative Prince John. Contrary to the usual representation King Richard was no friend of the English people where noble or peasant.

He spoke little Anglo Saxon and rarely visited England or Ireland where he was also the Lord, using the countries to raise taxes to fund his armies, plunders and subsequently the third Crusade. At the age of sixteen he already had his own army (1157-1199) and with his brothers was trying to gain power from the king, his father. By army these were comparatively small by those of subsequent decades.

Richard was the illegitimate child of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. He was born in England at Beaumont Palace Oxford. (I went to Ruskin College which is located in Beaumont Street). In addition to his fighting and military prowess he is said to have been an educated man who wrote poetry. However he spent most of his time fighting, putting down revolts, opposing his father and building up his position. It is said that he developed a close relationship with the son of his mother’s ex husband by the man’s third wife. They are said to have shared and the food and bed. There is also the suggestion that he was responsible for the death of his brother who had become King of England.

He was passionately anti Semitic as well as anti Muslim and he was responsible for widespread anti Semitic violence especially in London where individuals were burned alive, their possessions taken and others forced to become Christians in order to survive. When he realised he was de-stabilising his country and tried to rein in the violence it was too late to prevent a massacre of Jews at York.

Richard appears to have made his name, myth and legend after Saladin had taken Jerusalem and he raised and equipped a new Crusade Army. However he did this by taking his father’s treasury, selling off official positions to the highest bidder, and raising new taxes. Such was the darkness of Catholicism at this time that he did all this in the name of Christ. On his travels he sized power in Sicily had had himself crowned the King and after visiting Rhodes he captured Cyprus in 1191, looting the island and massacring anyone who resisted him. He also married someone he had previously met once but they had no children. Later he sold the Cyprus and was suspected of being involved in the murder of the recently crowned King of Jerusalem after the city was taken back from Saladin. After reaching agreement with Saladin that Christians could visit and stay in Jerusalem he set off homeward but was taken prisoner for ransom by the Duke of Austria, Leopold who handed him over to Emperor Henry IV of the Holy Roman Empire who was then excommunicated by the Pope for his actions. This did not bother the Emperor who obtained a ransom said to be worth about three times the value of the English Crown. Collecting the ransom involved insisting that everyone gave a quarter of everything they possessed and the stealing from the churches their gold and silver. He was released in 1194 with the Emperor warning Prince John that he had released the devil.

Although John had come close to taking the throne for himself while Richard was away, he reached an understanding and survived the next five years until in Richard 1199 he was killed from an arrow wound inflicted by a boy who it is said was seeking revenge for the death of his father and two brothers killed by Richard.

Among Richard’s other titles were Duke of Normandy, Aquitaine, and Gascony, Lord of Ireland and Cyprus, Count of Anjou and Nantes and overlord of Brittany. He was in effect a nasty bit of work and therefore it would be surprising that any real Robin Hood concerned with the suffering of the poor and the injustices caused by the aristocracy would give allegiance or be concerned about the welfare of the man.

The imprisonment of the King for ransom is the main back story to the film and television series of Ivanhoe based on the story Walter Scott. The 1952 film in which Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders and Finlay Curry starred with Robert Taylor as Ivanhoe also has Robin of Locksley assisting with his archery skills.

Robin Hood stories tend to concern the behaviour of Prince, and subsequently King, John of England, born in 1166 and who held the throne for 17 years, the younger brother of Richard who remained childless. Prince and King John had no inherited lands or wealth, and is now known for having lost France and yielding to the Barons in signing Magna Carta at Runnymede, a site which I have visited.. He is also said to have been hopeless as a warrior. He therefore seems to have had more going for him than Richard, indeed he was popular with Londoners who welcomed him after he offered to make the city a self governing commune if they accepted that he was the heir to throne if Richard did not come back. However Richard’s supporters believed John would not make a good King and raised the ransom for Richard.

During the early part of his reign he was in military dispute with various relatives in France, but is said to have been responsible for the development of the Navy, making Portsmouth its new home and creating the Admiralty. He was not adverse to the usual behaviour of English monarchs towards their relatives with stories that he personally killed his young nephew, Arthur of Brittany, or alternative castrated him from which he died. He is known to have attempted to kidnap his own grandmother, and to have imprisoned his niece, Eleanor, who remained a prisoner for the rest of her life long after his won death for some four decades. These activities established his reputation as a ruthless man. Nor was he adverse to establishing alliances to secure his position and further his interest marrying off an illegitimate daughter to a Welsh Prince and doing deals with South coast areas of modern France in his conflict with the French. He then battled with the Pope over the next Archbishop of Canterbury with the consequence that the Pope closed the churches until he realised this was being counter productive and then did a deal with John after ex communicating him and threatening worse and which led to the Pope to advise John to sign Magna Carta and then ignore its demands. The Barons who were upset because of the loss of land and revenues in France after John had raised new taxes to pay for his conflicts and disputes. They invited the French to get rid of the King, who became a refugee in his own land, especially when a mistake about the tides resulted in the loss of his baggage train which included the Crown Jewels. He contracted dysentery and died at Newark castle, in what is now Nottinghamshire. The barons then switched sides supporting the new nine year old King.

Despite his image there is evidence that John was not the disaster popular history has assigned him. He tried to gain some order in the way the Royal Courts of Justice were organised, keeping proper records and hearing cases where his judgements were considered fair and well informed. Winston Churchill concluded that despite his failings he did more for the future of the nation than many of those claimed to be good. What did Richard do for England except take?

Now to the Sheriff of Nottingham whose duties included capturing outlaws, ensuring the safety of trade routes and apprehending poachers. There is documentary evidence that William de Wendenal, a Norman Baron, was appointed Sheriff of Nottingham and Yorkshire before the period that the Kind was being held for ransom, but who was asked to help run the country during the period when he was held. Other than these brief facts nothing is known of him and how he did his work. There are others who are known to have held administrative positions during the period and who would have been required to raise the taxes required by the King and the Prince but more likely someone like Robin and his friends would have reacted to the local managers of the Forest because they in turn would have been answerable for the loss of game. It was also an offence to carry a bow and arrows in any of the forest lands. Guy of Gisborne was a fictional character along with all the other Robin Hood characters.

Now for Robin himself who is known to have been the subject of ballads about outlaws fighting in Sherwood of Forest but where there is record two to three hundred years after the fictitious events, “Robyn hode in Sherwode stod.” (The Term hude is said to mean wood) and subsequent reference put him at Loxley South Yorkshire. The number and extent of the ballads make into a stronger myth and legendary figure than King Arthur and also confirm the main parts of the story, that he was exceptionally skilled as an archer, and had a empathy with the peasants. He was referred to as a yeoman, in between a peasant and a nobleman and it was not until the 1500’s that he was referred to as the displaced Earl of Huntington, a large Forest area, some miles south of Sherwood. There was also reference to Little John, Much the Miller’s son and Will Scarlet. Again it was later that Friary Tuck was added and then Maid Marian, although he known to have respect as well being a friend, protector and lover of women.

The extent of the legend is that in addition to his stories he was brought into others, having mentioned the 1819 Sir Walter Scott novel he was also part of the Arthurian legend in the Sword and the Stone. In one early film it was Robin who led the Saxons against the Normans, while in the present BBC TV series, the second season involved Robin in adventures in the Holy land during which Maid Marian is killed.

I have seen many of the films and TV series during my lifetime including Douglas Fairbanks and Errol Flynn. The 1946 Bandit of Sherwood had Cornel Wild as his son. Patrick Troughton played the first TV role although he became better known for Dr Who. Richard Green was involved in the 5 year TV series from 1955 while Donald Pleasance played King John in 1956. In 1964 Frank Sinatra played in Robbo and the Seven Hoods set in Chicago. While 1967 there was a sci fi version Rocket Robin Hood. The Walt Disney 1973 version had Robin and Marian as foxes. Robin (Sean Connery) and Marian (Audrey Hepburn) performed in the 1976 version as two retired characters at the end of their days.

In 1981 Time Bandit had John Cleese as Robin and another spoof TV version occurred in 1984 the Zany Adventures while for five years from 1989 there was a children’s programme called Maid Marian and her merry men. The extension of the story backwards took place in 1990 with Young Robin Hood as a teenager. A year later Robin Hood Prince of Thieves starred Kevin Costner with Sean Connery appearing at the end as King Richard. Princess of Thieves concerned his daughter in a 2001 made for TV series while Ridley Scoot is turning to the Legend at present time with Russell Crowe as the Sheriff.

The TV series where I watched the first three episodes of its third year over the holiday commenced in 2006 with an off beat approach aimed at the contemporary younger audience. Robin returned from the Crusades in the first episode and discovers the oppression of the people by the new Sheriff. The titles indicate the style with Who Shot the Sheriff, the Taxman Cometh, Brothers in Arms, Dean Men Walking, the Return of the King all film titles or record numbers or play on words. The end of the series involved Marian being forced into a marriage with Guy of Gisborne.

In the second series Marian is rescued and becomes a outlaw with Robin in the Forest and one episode has the Sheriff testing chemical weapons in the streets of Nottingham! Titles in the series included Show me the Money, Get Carter, Walkabout and a Good Day to Die. The Sheriff and Gisborne capture Marian and set off to the Holy land to kill the King. However in order to help the King Robin is unable to save Marian who is killed by Gisborne. She dies in his arms and the series concluded.

This was therefore the end of series after 26 episodes until the decision was taken to create a new female character Kate, to replace Marian, a high spirit and independently minded villager from Locksley.

Robin returns a broken man from the Holy lands and the death of Marian and is set on one only thing, revenge on Gisborne. Friar Tuck comes in search of Robin and saves his life and devises a plan to persuade the grief stricken man to fight on behalf of the oppressed people(Total Eclipse). Kate is introduced in the second episode and gets Robin caught when attempting to rescue her young brother who is captured by the Sheriff sale to two Irish brothers trying to take the Irish throne and rising against the English. In the third (Lost in Translation), the Sheriff blackmails the local Abbot into denouncing Robin by capturing his first translation of the Bible into Anglo Saxon, a move banned by the Pope. Eventually the Abbot admits he has lied about the situation and prevents Robin and others being burnt alive and sees his work burnt instead but in a final shot he is seen working on a second edition somewhere in France. Toby Stephens is to appear as Prince John and while a fourth series is under consideration it is understood that Kate is departing so perhaps Marian will be resurrected or her twin sister be discovered!

American enthusiasm for the story is understandable along with the Russians as it provides a strong argument for republicanism and socialism, and for fundamental Christianity. Certainly it has resonance in the era of the robber bankers.

1236 Travelling to London and Churchill's Daughter

Arriving just after seven and demolishing the other roll, a puff pastry mince pie, some grapes and a pear and a cup of tea there was no inclination to go the pictures as intended and the attempt to find out about wireless without being on line was set aside to watch a programme about the wife of Randolph Churchill which included the surprisingly candid comments of their son Winston. The programme was called Churchill's daughter although she was of course his daughter in law.

The programme and the their son and statements by the daughter in law provided a picture of Randolph as a risk taking gambler who in the war lost three year's salary on his way to Egypt and who liked alcohol too much. However even he found the behaviour of his wife too rich as she established herself as confident to her father in law and embryonic courtesan to the rich and famous. It is said that with Churchill's blessing and while still married to his son she became mistress of the leading American in the land and therefore provided Churchill with a unique perspective of the American viewpoint throughout the war from pillow talk. After which there was nothing stopping her although period in Paris and France led to a premature departure.

Young Winston admitted that he never had a mother in the conventional sense and was thrust into the adult world from the age of nine year, expected to accompany her on functions with other adults when she did not have a personal male escort, this included taking her to dances. It was when she met and married the aging and exceptionally wealthy Averill Harriman that her fortunes changed in more ways than the obvious although she quickly controlled the ongoing links with his own family with hers, so that one relative wistfully commented that whereas he was accustomed to receiving expensive gifts, that Christmas he was given a tie and Winston junior was given an aeroplane, a real one.

However it was not her acquisitive and high spending lifestyle which brought her international recognition but her fund raising and social skills led her to become the dominating influence in the Democratic party, and to discover, nurture and financially back Bill Clinton into the White House. Bill then called upon her to ask what she wanted as a reward and he overlooked career diplomats and fellow politicians to make her the American Ambassador in Paris. As the second programme on the working life of Queen Elizabeth demonstrated she has a special relationship with the Governor Generals of former territories and Ambassadors of friends and foes.

I digress to remember the night spent on a vigil outside the Russian Embassy, the sitting down outside of South Africa House and the use made of the American Embassy lending library of books and records. There was also the day I was invited to lunch with Ambassador of a country in Africa, who at Ruskin I had lent my Correspondence course on the English Language and Literature and given my half baked views on the nature of the English Civil service as the strength of democracy, only to find out afterwards that he had been the secretary of the civil service union of his country. Alas I was required to present a report to a court on the day of the lunch and had to cancel and did not receive a further invitation as a consequence.

Churchill's daughter died from a stroke after swimming a number of length the day after returning from a hectic visit to celebrate the birthday of a grandchild, having enjoyed a fox hunt jumping gates between fields. The president of France contacted her son Winston to say he had intended to award her France's highest award which he would now do so posthumously, whereupon President Clinton laid on airforce one and gave her a state funeral. Only within the last week did I discover that David Cameron is descended from the courtesan to a King which confirms the nature of wealth and political power and the opportunities available to young women with the right social education and understanding of men. It was said in the programme that when she hosted a political social event, such as a fund raiser she was skilled in taking the men to oneside, one by one, to explain her requirements of them, but to restrict the time with each individual not to arouse the concern of wives or to generate gossip which had commenced when the whole of social London knew of her special relationship with Churchill and with the American Ambassador.

Six months have passed since my last trip of any kind for the Concert marking ten years since the death of Princess Diana, I have yet to go through the DVD again and to see if during the six hours of performers and crowd interaction they came close to where I was sitting. There is still the sense of adventure before and on the day of a trip. There is great advantage in taking the car except for the travelling. Travelling by train is excellent but then there is the problem of the luggage. Little did I know how much the issue of travelling was to be a feature of this trip.

1221 Ramon Gerardo Antonio Estevez alias Martin Sheen

After the euphoria of yesterday I assumed Saturday would be an anti climax. I did this, and I did that, without much conviction, clear focus or intensity of being. There were no low moments, anxieties, or sadness, and then late in the day, after I had slept for a few moments and considered going to bed, I discovered that Ramon Gerardo Antonio Estevez was being shown Inside the Actors Studio, and I only needed a few seconds to recall the spiritual uplift which this man brings to anyone who cares to listen. You may know him as Martin Sheen.

You, if you are of sufficient years, may have encountered him first in 1970's in that film about the nature of life set in war, Catch 22, as 1st Lt Dobbs, and then as Kit Carruthers in Badlands, but his most famous film role was in 1979 in Apocalypse Now. He has appeared in over thirty major films and about 200 films of all kinds including documentaries predominantly for TV. For many of the later 20th century TV series generation, he is known as the President of the United States, Americans would loved him to have been, because of his role the West Wing 1999-2006.

Why is it that I regard the man as much as the actor, as one of the greats? It is because of a glowing spirit, the consequence of a traditional Catholic upbringing, of having entered into the abyss, then having a near death experience and then finding himself again and becoming a non violent activist, being arrested over fifty times, and having an understanding of heaven and hell which appears similar to mine.

His mother was Irish whose family fled to the USA because of their IRA connections, and his father was Spanish. He was part of a large family with eight brothers and one sister: one year younger than me. Despite parental opposition he borrowed money from a priest to go to New York to be the actor he wanted from an early age. His career commenced in the 1960's as I was going to college, whereas he decided against until in 2006 he enrolled in an Irish University to read literature, philosophy and theology. He is still protesting.

Late afternoon/early evening was devoted to football and to everyone's surprise Israel beat Russia and as a consequence England only have to draw against Croatia at Wembley to qualify after all. I suspect the media will have mixed views about this, sensing that had Russia won and then won its last match, the English Manager would have lost his job. There is no justice, it will be said in Scotland, because the heroic effort of their team came to an end in the first seconds of the match when they conceded a silly goal, and then as the second half progressed they equalised and had opportunities to win, only to lose in the dying seconds. Not many watching Scots will have been on the side of Israel and I expect there would have been a great cheer when after Russia equalised it looked as if they had scored a winner, only for the ball to go out after hitting the goal post. Shortly afterwards a piece of team brilliance and world class finishing sealed the victory for Israel, who also nearly had a third.

However the Scottish nation may be heading for a more profound victory. On Thursday evening I heard Andrew Neil, Diane Abbot and Michael Portillo discuss what would have been considered unthinkable, even treasonable, a decade ago, that in fact a democratic majority in Scotland could seek full political and economic independence and the significant aspect of the programme discussion was that this would not be the end of the world for England, and the rest of the UK, if this happened. If it does then my concern is that the North East would not be allowed to become part of Scotland despite the strongest of Celtic links.

In the build up to the game I reflected on the news of the past two days as a barometer of the state of these Islands. Talk of independent Scotland poses problems for the British Monarchy, as the Queen approaches her sixtieth year of reign, and given her Scottish connections and that her preference was of her mother to spend the Summer in the most northern areas of the mainland. One focus was the fact that Prince Harry is losing his hair quicker than his father, now that is news to rock the foundations of the Empire.

The Daily Mail is a good barometer of the political temperature of middle England, and appears enjoying exploiting to the maximum any government disaster although I do not share in the brutality of its assaults. Coming so soon after the debacle of seriously considering calling a general election when the motive could only have been party political or wanting to move away from manifesto commitments made by his predecessor, and with those words of inclusivity and transparency still ringing in our ears, came the news that the Home Secretary had agreed with her press office to delay disclosure that a significant number of illegal immigrants had been employed in the provision of physical security personnel to government. It is understandable that a new Minister does not want to sack officials for gross incompetence but that she could not see or understand that anything other than honest admission would be counterproductive is astonishing. The newspaper has also published a mischievous piece on Tony Blair about the impact of leaving power after ten years as prime Minister, going for his like of the trappings of wealth, and his difficulties with Gordon Brown, and attempting to suggest marital disharmony when on close reading it appears to be difficulties between the personalities managing their respective offices arising from the temporary situation as the office accommodation is being created. One of the next tests for the government is going to be the proposal to grant authority for suspected terrorists to be held in custody for more than 21 days. This smacks of Gordon trying to impose his authority and alas, if does, he will fail without the support of the Conservatives, and to start his premiership in this way would be terminal for him and for the political party.

What worries me is that at present we have more chance of being killed in a road accident, or by someone crazed from drink, drugs or lack of community mental health supervision and support, or if we are old or young, by a hospital based secondary infection, than by a terrorist. Hopefully this is because of the government led measures to prevent further atrocities but I would like to see greater effort to reduce drug taking and drunkenness on the streets, and on punishing those who fail to take all possible measures to reduce hospital based infections. If I drive a car and kill someone because I am not paying sufficient attention it may be judged to be manslaughter, and if I have not maintained the vehicle when its brakes needed fixing, of I was using my mobile phone, have excessive alcohol or have drugs in my system then the rule is that I will go to prison. If I am in charge of a hospital where not one but dozens of patients die because of secondary infection and it can be shown that I did not do all that was possible to change the position, then I should also go to prison, or at least have the matter tested in court. I do not understand why this is not happening.

1692 Stars in their eyes

Saturday was a day of several highs and lows. Birdie flew off as I opened the day room curtain, and has not been since although I was out for the greater part of day. She is back this morning. I had to go out first thing to top up the mobile as a message intended for sending the previous evening had been held up because of insufficient funds. It was bright and the supermarket car park already indicated the weekend rush to follow. On return and sending messages I enjoyed writing until deciding on an early lunch as I had gone without breakfast. I made a soup in a cup and then with two eggs instead of the usual three or four made an omelette with prawns and a couple of slices of salami. This was also enjoyable and I was soon organised to leave for the match just before one pm.

There was some post. A supply of ink cartridges had been delivered via a post office delivery van, and if there is post on a Saturday morning it comes early so finding several letters on the mat as I left was unexpected. One was the annual notice of the increase in my occupational pension. The letter said there was an increase of 5% and together with the improvement with tax allowances appeared to explain the significant increases. It was excellent news. I began to think how I might use the addition over the coming year, but did not stop to examine the detail‘s as I wanted to catch a bus before the rush. Although Birdie did not seem to be present I did not want the noise and fumes of using the car to cause any problems, similarly on return. If there is wind, opening the door can create the effect of a wind tunnel, blowing over chair or dustbin when it is severe.

On return my first thought was to check the details of the income changes for if the amount was correct there could be an issue of having paid too little tax but found I had completely misread the notice and although there was an increase it was small. I felt stupid.
It remained a pleasant spring morning as i walked down to the bus terminal and found that my delay with the Mail meant that I had just missed my choice route bus first route bus and had to wait nearly after an hour instead of the usual quarter. This was because of the match the service organised itself so that one immediately followed another as provide a service after the first became full. As the journey progressed three other buses going towards South Shields centre were noted. There are at present four route services between South Shields and Sunderland, the E 1 E2 and E6 and the most direct route the 35. In theory this means a must leaving every four minutes but they tend to set off together and at one two of the other routes were behind my bus as we left a stop on the main road passed the Town Hall.

Sunderland were playing one of the great team in the world over the past twenty years and perhaps the greatest team in terms of the consistent winning of trophies. Not only did we expect to lose but to lose badly given the way our team has performed over recent weeks with three losses in a row. The opening minutes confirmed this view as Manchester United demonstrated their ability to move forward with speed and skill. I feared we were to experience yet another football lesson. We had some moves forward but lacked the confidence and sharpness of the visitors and when they scored this came as no surprise. However Sunderland were playing well and matched Manchester at times with the playing skills and accurate passing. At the interval I thought the 1.0 score against us was unfair and therefore the equalising goal was no surprise. At one point before this the ball had hit the post and we were desperately unlucky not to score. The winning goal from united had an element of luck in it but although the loss brought us closer to the relegation bottom three within 2 points the feeling was that all is not lost, yet. I had an excellent seat close to an aisle but the policy of attending match by match rather than invest in a season ticket remains the best approach because of commitments, weather and poor play means that I would only attend a proportion of the home game anyway,

After the game I walked into Sunderland where the two lanes of the bridge roadway are given over to those on foot making their way into the city centre for car parks, the bus station and the pubs and bars. There were not a lot of shoppers left as most establishments had closed at five. My target was Wilkinsons to see if they had more of the black volumes in stock and I had brought with me a soft carry bag in hope. They did not. I then went to the Varsity Bar in a converted former civic building which is located close to the city centre Sunderland University site. I wanted to watch the Newcastle game at Stoke and fancied doing so in company although I knew from a previous visit that the audience would be hostile to Newcastle but in the present circumstances if given the choice between them and Sunderland my heart was with Sunderland more than Alan Shearer. Two of the three North West Clubs presently looked doomed along with West Brom.

I was hungry and rather than a snack decided to order a jumbo size sausage two eggs and beans plus chips for the cost of £2.50. After the food and watching Stoke score the first goal and looking as if they could go on for two or three more I decided it was time to make my way home and rather than wait for the next 35 took the E2 . Before then I noticed a man in a suit and tied back long hair move cases and bags, all his worldly good it seemed in two groups as I walked to the stop and then saw that he had managed to move some distance and close to Varsity bar as my bus went along a nearby street. He did not look the usual homeless character living on the streets. I suppressed an instinct to enquire and try and assist in someway. I am not sure I was right to pass by on the other side of the street so to speak. Perhaps I was more affected by the incident a minute or so before when there was a police vehicle and three officers speaking to one man outside a fast food outlet. It was evident this was the end of a situation as he then walked off and officers returned to their vehicle but it was a reminder that great caution has to be taken in cities and town centres on weekend evenings. This was underlined when arriving in an almost deserted South Shields centre, a very drunk and shouting man in his later 20’s early 30’s appeared from the entrance of the Ship and Royal threatening to take on all comers. Whereas the Sunderland bar had become packed with a combination of football supporters and Saturday night early revellers, I did not get the impression that the few visible occupants of the bars and pubs that I saw in Shields heralded the build up for the evening. What the situation would be like a few hours later I will investigate on another evening. The liveliest place appeared to be the supermarket as I took escalator feeling lazy after a good day. On my way tot he bus stop earlier the traffic had been at a standstill in the road leading to the supermarket and vehicles were waiting to join the queue already in the car park waiting for the next space. As I have not been this way at this hour for some time I cannot say if this was normal or unusual but suggests that in the recession food is making way for a night out.

I was back and organised before Britain’s Got talent, sorting the washing that had finished drying before departure but I left for my return. This time there was greater concentration on good and brilliant acts rather than the embarrassing hopefuls.

The biggest surprise was a plain 47 year old who reminded of Hannah Hauxwell. At the age 46 Hannah was living the family home on her own, a spinster, looking after a small farm in the Yorkshire hills which had no electricity or running water and where her income was said to be less than £200 a year but she was happy. She became famous world wide following television programmes and books about her life. She remains alive although in old age has had to leave the farm but still had an eccentric and lonely lifestyle in a village. I predict a very different future for Susan Boyle except for the world wide fame although I hope fame will not alter her basic personality. A young male tenor should go far as well as some of the novelty acts. A young black dance troupe from North London can also be expected to get to the final but less certain is a family of five mother, father a brilliant teenage son and two adorable twin girls. The son is a great find and the daughters will have all the parents saying wow.

I went to sleep watching an episode of Taggart reminding of what army life can be like as the instructors with their mission to turn out a succession of effective killers who can withstand the extremes of deprivation and weathers push the recruits to breaking point. Fortunately I woke in time to catch the hour later edition to find out the ending. Two of those killed had participated in the rape of a female recruit and a recruit had been pushed into undertaking the killings to stop them and their girl talking.

I have mentioned being contacted by someone from Australia regarding an ancestral branch of the family. The contact has now provided confirmation papers on another branch where an ancestor became the Mayor of Cape Town. I will send copies of the papers to interested members of the present day extended family tomorrow.