Locked down

We live in strange time’s comrades. Increasingly large parts of our lives are on lock down. Some of us are personally locked down for the foreseeable future. I have just completed a week of self-isolation; I’ve had to work at home for a week and I found it unbelievably stressful. It’s likely that we will all have to spend time confined to our homes in the near future so I thought it would be good to focus on things that can lift the spirit whilst helping pass the time.

As you may guess I’ll start with music. I’ve picked five tracks that never fail to lift my spirits when I hear them

1. I still believe – Frank Turner

I first heard this track watching highlights from the Cambridge Folk festival a few years ago. I was shocked to see how crazy the crowd went when Frank played this track as I’d never heard it nor heard of him before. I’m a big fan of Frank’s music now and this track never fails to get my adrenaline flowing and fist pumping. If you like it check out the album ‘England keep my bones’ a fine tribute to my home country.

• Jeruselem – William Blake

A few years ago we were In Glastonbury, one of our favourite towns in one of our favourite parts of England. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed browsing around the market and talking to the many New agers and Pagans that sell a wide range of esoteric wares. We saw that there was a bus that would take us to the foot of Glastonbury Tor so we jumped on. I love seeing Glastonbury Tor on the horizon, so iconic. Anyway, by the time we disembarked the sun was blazing and the temperature had soared into the eighties. I have MS. It’s a shitty condition at the best of times but it plays particular havoc in hot and humid conditions. Putting discomfort to the back of my mind we set off walking up the Tor. It is not really a challenging climb, a pleasant stroll if you’re relatively fit. It nearly fucking killed me! I must admit I faltered in the very last stages and thought about turning back. Pat encouraged me and I got to the top. I sat in the shade on the cold stone bench in Saint Michael’s Tower the emblematic building at the summit of the Tor. It was a truly spiritual moment. Later I sat alone in the sun gazing over the mythical Isle of Albion feeling lucky to be alive and proud of my heritage.

I first heard the hymn Jerusalem at Barrow Grammar school for Boys. I have loved it ever since. It never fails to swell my heart with pride and patriotism. My funeral Hymn I think (along with It’s a grand old team of course!!)

• This Land is your Land (Woody Guthrie) performed by Mary Gauthier

1^st June 2017 we saw Mary Gauthier at the String Jam Club in the Scottish Borders town of Selkirk. The club is held in the County Hotel where we were staying. Mary Gauthier was staying there as well. Just prior to her going on stage President Trump announced (via Twitter of course) he was pulling the USA out of the Kyoto protocol on climate change. Mary was truly horrified. She walked on stage and apologised on behalf of the American people. She then played a heartfelt, understated and very moving version of this Woody Guthrie classic. It was a truly moving moment that I will never forget. The song has been a regular encore at her shows ever since.

I love the words and the sentiment of this song. It says in the Bible that The meek shall inherit the earth. Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, a 19^th century French politician who was the first  person to declare himself an anarchist said ‘Property is theft’ and Woodie Guthrie wrote this rallying cry to the working classes. Remember in these troubling times ‘This land was made for you and me’

This is the America I recognise and love as much as I love my own country

This clip was recorded at my favourite venue – The Met theatre – Bury

• Thelma and Louise – Trish Murphy

Anyone with Daughters knows the importance of Female empowerment. The world is split pretty much equally between Males and Females. Power and influence is split 90-10 in favour of males. Surely any idiot can see that this is wrong???…………………….I guess not.

I was already a fan of Trish Murphy when I heard this track from the Girls get in free album. I loved it from the get go. On the album it is a rollicking anthem. I was delighted to find this clip of an acoustic version on YouTube. I love the sentiment behind this ode to female empowerment. If you it like then treat yourself and buy Girls get in Free, Rubies on the lawn or any other album by Trish. You won’t be disappointed. She does a great version of These Boots are made for walkin’ on Rubies on the lawn. Enjoy!!!

• What a wonderful world – Louis Armstrong

I can’t say it any better than Satchmo

Inspiration

At work I have a PowerPoint presentation I turn to when I’m feeling stressed or doubting my ability to succeed. It contains a collection of quotes that I find inspirational. Most of them are from business leaders but I have started to add quotes from anyone that lifts my spirits and makes believe in the power of positive thought. I will share with you a few of my favourites. How do they make you feel? Who inspires you?

Robert Kennedy. The greatest President who never was. Sirhan Sirhan I hope you rot in hell. Like Mark David Chapman you snuffed out a candle of hope.

Mary Kay Ash was a Texan lady. She started Mary Kay cosmetics with a $5000 loan from her son in 1963. Mary became a Billionaire.

I love this quote. It inspires me as a People manager. Think about it………its true isn’t it?

Next time you walk past a homeless person and look the other way remember Mary’s words and hang your head in shame.

In 2018 we visited the National Civil Liberties museum at the former Lorraine Motel in Memphis Tennessee. The Lorraine Motel is where Martin Luther King was shot and killed by James Earl Jones (hmmm, read about it, do you believe it was him?). I wept all the way round. I felt deeply ashamed to be white, at man’s inhumanity to man. The story of Rosa Parks is both moving and inspiring.

Rosa Parks was a civil rights activist who refused to surrender her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her defiance sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Its success launched nationwide efforts to end racial segregation of public facilities.

Rosa Parks died aged 92 in 2005. There are few people in life who manage to inspire lasting change.

RIP Sister Rosa.

In England Women were not allowed to vote until 6 Feb 1918 and then only those aged 30 or over. Full democracy for all over 21 only came in 1928. This was only due to the efforts of the Women’s Suffrage movement. Emmeline Pankhurst formed the Women’s Suffragette movement.

Sisters, treasure your vote. Brave women gave their lives to win it for you. Use it wisely. We men haven’t got a fucking clue!!!

Dave Hickson was renowned for his physical approach as a centre forward, which coupled with his determination soon made him a crowd favourite. Off the pitch, Hickson was a different man, quiet and unassuming, but the Dave Hickson that pulled on a Blue shirt and entered battle every Saturday afternoon was an aggressive character, no quarter given or asked. This aggression would lead to several run-ins with officials, and three sendings-off during his career, but that was his style & the fans loved it. A youthful Hickson with his striking appearance, fully quiffed up with a shock of blonde hair, as was the style of the day, was one of the few things to get excited about on the terraces of Goodison Park. Dave Hickson soon forged a productive partnership with John Willie Parker, with Hickson being the target man. Although his reputation as an aerial threat was well known, Hickson was also a difficult opponent with the ball on the floor, and could produce a powerful shot, which earned him the nickname Cannonball Kid. Hickson played more than 400 games between 1948 and 1963 most for Everton. Dave played for the following his clubs.

Everton

Aston Villa

Huddersfield Town

Everton

Liverpool

Cambridge City

Bury

Tranmere Rovers

His most famous quote was;

“I’d break every bone in my body for any club I play for but I’d die for Everton.”

I have that quote on the back of a T shirt that will never be thrown away.

Dave died aged 83 in July 2013 and was an Ambassador for Everton football until he passed away.

RIP Dave Hickson

Sport

The worst thing about the last two weeks has been the absence of sport. Many now realise how integral sport is in our daily lives. Whatever is your sporting gig I bet you’re missing it?

In Football, all Leagues in Great Britain have been suspended and the European championships cancelled. It’s highly likely that the Olympics will be cancelled. The US Masters Golf tournament and the USPGA have been cancelled and all Cricket worldwide is suspended. I have picked just a few examples, there are many more. I was watching youtube clips last night to slake my sporting thirst. I will now share with you five sportsmen who I have loved watching over the years. I know you will all have your own heroes in a wide variety of sports so I hope my choices will inspire you to consider your own top 5.

Viv Richards

I love cricket. I have been lucky to have watched some of the greatest batsmen to have played the game. One reigns supreme though. Vivian Alexander Richards was born in Antigua in 1952 and went on to play for the great West Indies side from 1975 – 1991. Viv was a force of nature, the most destructive batsmen I have ever seen. Watch the following clip of him scoring a century against Australia to see what I mean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjsoRQnSb-E

Shane Warne

To even things up I have to pick a bowler as well. I would have loved to pick an Englishman, Botham, Willis or Anderson perhaps. I would at least have liked it to be a fast bowler. Dennis Lillee, Michael Holding and Malcom Marshall are all heroes of mine.  The best bowler I have ever seen is a Spinner, a leg spinner. He is also an Australian. Shane Warne was quite simply awesome. I loved watching him bowling. He out thought batsmen and intimidated the world’s best with his ability. He also dated Liz Hurley…………..respect!

Dick Butkus

Like many Walneyites, the highlight of my week used to be Sunday lunchtime in the Vickerstown Institute. Back then licensing laws meant that the bar could only serve between 12.0 and 2.0 pm. What two hours they were though. There would be a dozen or so of us sat around the same table. I can hear the laughter now, remember the characters and shake my head at how much drink we managed to consume in two hours. It takes me a week to drink that much today!! Much of the conversation revolved around sport. American Football started to become popular in the UK in the late Eighties. Much of the debate in the ‘Tute was around which was the hardest sport Rugby League or American Football. The Walney cognoscenti argued that Rugby League deserved the accolade  with the vote almost unanimous. I argued on behalf of the American game, my only supporter was the legendary Red Dog, a Rugby League fan himself. I found a video called Crunchtime – The NFL’s hardest hitters. One player to feature was Chicago Bears Middle Linebacker Dick Butkus. My god this man was awesome, truly scary. When the Vickerstown barflies watched the video the which sport is the hardest argument melted away and went back to more sensible sporting debate.

Butkus became an actor when he retired from Football and proved to be a relaxed, funny human being. The Vickerstown Institute closed. I still miss those Sunday lunchtimes. I miss Red Dog, a truly funny man. Red Dog is still alive but his story is a troubled one for another time. Those who know him know what a fantastic guy he is.

Nolan Ryan

To Baseball. In 1993 Pat and I were on holiday in Texas. We stayed two nights in Arlington across the road from the ballpark. Pat said that she wasn’t going to the ball game two nights on the run so I had to choose which game I saw. Displaying my renowned patience I opted for the first night. The Texas Rangers were playing the Chicago White Sox. This was my first live Baseball game and I loved it. I sang the Star Spangled Banner, fist clenched to my breast. I did the Seventh inning stretch and I also got totally shit canned. It was one of the best nights of my life. The Rangers got beat but it didn’t spoil a great night. I bought every Rangers souvenir in the shop, ate Nachos and became best friends with the Beer boys.

The following night I had to settle for watching the game on big screen tv in a restaurant tantalisingly close to the ball park. That night the Rangers Pitcher was the legendary Nolan Ryan. Nolan was then 46 years old and playing his final season. Imagine my bitter disappointment at not only missing seeing the great man in action in the flesh but I also missed one of the most famous moments in Baseball history. Check it out

I loved the headline in the following day’s local newspaper

‘Nolan pitches a six hitter’!!

Duncan Ferguson

I have to finish with Soccer. Not only Soccer but my beloved EFC. Not only EFC but my all-time hero Duncan Ferguson. Duncan was branded a thug by the red top press, as a bad example for youngsters. When Big Dunc signed for Everton from Glasgow Rangers he was told that the players operated a rota so that every week a few of them would spend the afternoon at Alder Hey Children’s hospital spending time with sick kids and handing out club merchandise. Duncan refused to join the rota, instead he said he would be there every week. He was as good as his word. He kept in touch with some of the kids when he was transferred to Newcastle. Big Dunc returned to Everton and carried on his weekly visits until he retired. After his career ended Dunc moved his family to Majorca. He still stayed in touch with the sick children in Alder Hey though. Big Dunc was a hard man on the pitch but a thug?? Does he sound like a thug??

Reading

A great way to pass the time whilst enriching your life is to read a book. Whatever you’re interested in there’s a book out there about it. Whether it’s the escapism afforded by a good novel or the knowledge gained from a good biography, the learning you can get from a book on a specific topic or the inspiration you can get from travel books you will find reading a truly rewarding experience.

I have picked five books. This was truly hard as I have loved reading since I was five. I have read thousands of books across every sphere of literature. The books I have picked are not necessarily my favourites just examples of the different genres I love.

Between the stops – Sandi Toskvig

This is the book I am currently reading. It is in essence an autobiography but Sandi has written about her life using her Bus journey from her home in Dulwich to the BBC studios in Central London as a central theme. Sandi uses the stops along the journey as a way of describing her journey through life. I have always enjoyed watching her on TV and find her funny but I have really enjoyed getting to know the real Sandi Toskvig. I have also enjoyed reading about parts of London that I have added to my must visit list

Harry Potter – J K Rowling

I can’t pick one of the seven books in the Harry Potter series, it’s not fair. They are absolutely fantastic, right up there with Tolkien and CS Lewis. Do not make the mistake of dismissing them as children’s books because they are so much more. There is more wisdom about the human race in these seven books than there is in many academic theses. Do yourself a favour and read them, the films are good but they do not do these wonderful books justice.

In my life – Alan Johnson

Alan Johnson was a Labour politician who retired in 2017. A former postman, Johnson was renowned for his common sense and sense of reason. He wrote a highly lauded autobiography over three volumes charting his journey from humble beginning in London in 1950, through being orphaned at age thirteen and ending in a successful political career. I have all three books but am yet to read them. I have read, however, In my life. This book is about Alan Johnson’s lifelong love affair with music. It is wonderful; our musical tastes have many similarities although I think mine are better! The mark of a good autobiography is when you finish it; you really want to meet the person. I know I would enjoy a few pints with Johnson talking about music with a sprinkle of politics.

High Fidelity – Nick Hornby

Another book about music but this time a novel. I enjoy Nick Hornby’s books which started with Fever Pitch, his story of being a lifelong Arsenal fan leading up to the title winning season in 1989. The book though intersperses Football with Hornby’s life story. Well worth a read whether you’re a fellow Gooner or a true Football fan. High Fidelity tells the story of a guy who owns a record shop in London. It describes his musical snobbery, something I can empathise with. The novel is so much more than that. It is about relationships, about the difference between men and women and ultimately about the ability of music to be a power of good. It was made into a decent film although the demands of Hollywood forced it to be transported to Chicago. Believe me comrades, the book is much better than the film.

The Dharma bums – Jack Kerouac

Kerouac is one of my favourite authors. On the Road is his most famous work. It is a great book but not his best in my opinion Big Sur is another fantastic book. It makes me want to experience the magnificence of this part of Northern California. The Dharma Bums is the Kerouac novel that does it for me. Like all of his books it has an autobiographical feel to it. The open spaces and Buddhist overtones of this book appeal to me. A troubled man but a genius nonetheless.

Movies

I appreciate that some people would much prefer to watch a good film than read a book or listen to music. I prefer the latter two but I do like a good film so I have picked five of my own favourites.

The Shawshank redemption

Ostensibly a prison movie this film is so much more. Based on a Stephen King short story the movie is based around a grave injustice. It is ultimately one of the most uplifting films of all time. Truly great performances from Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins.

The Wedding Singer

Cheesy, yeah but I don’t care. This film features two of my favourite actors Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. Their on screen chemistry led to a number of other movies. This is my favourite though, I can watch it again and again and never get bored. A truly feel good film.

The Godfather

The acting talent alone makes this film worth watching. Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece features stellar performances by Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Dianne Keaton and Talia Shire amongst many others. Towering above the rest though is the incomparable Marlon Brando. If you’ve ever wondered what the fuss is about then watch Brando in this film. He brings Don Corleone to life in a way that nobody else could. I read the novel by Mario Puzo before seeing the film and the author himself couldn’t have imagined Don Corleone as vividly as they he is brought to life by Brando.

The Godfather is my favourite film of all time. When I am treated with disrespect  I close my eyes and imagine the scene at the christening of Michael Corleone’s Nephew. I can put life back into perspective after that meditation!!

Dirty Harry

If the Godfather is my favourite film then Clint Eastwood is my favourite actor. I could have picked Grand Torino, The Outlaw Josie Wales, Pale Rider even Every which way but loose but I have gone with the character which established Eastwood as a star. Harry Callahan is a San Francisco Homicide detective who employs unorthodox methods to solve crimes. This film introduced the world to the .44 Magnum, Harry’s weapon of choice. The series eventually ran to five movies with the Economic law of diminishing returns applying. Once you see this film burned into your mind will be Eastwood gently intoning to a bankrobber

‘This gun in my hand is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky? ‘

The Wizard of Oz

I’ll finish off the movie section with the ultimate feel good movie The Wizard of Oz. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t watched this brilliant film. Towering above everything is the performance of Judy Garland. What a talent, what a screen presence. Judy Garland went on to lead a tragically short life but this film stands as testament to her brilliance. I love to listen to her sing Somewhere over the Rainbow, one of my all-time favourite movie tunes.

Comedy

They say that laughter is the best medicine. It’s true: laughter is strong medicine. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hope, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert. It also helps you release anger and forgive sooner.

With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.

I have picked five of my favourite comedy moments. I watched or listened to them again yesterday and laughed out loud all the way through. Check them out, I hope you enjoy them too. I hope they inspire to hunt down some of your favourite comedy moments.

The Crucifixion – Billy Connolly

This is nearly fifty years old! As you can imagine it caused offence in religious circles but is not really blasphemous, just a great example of Billy Connolly riffing about Glasgow.

Bruce’s song – Monty Python

This short (about one minute) song is not only hilarious it is also very, very clever. I certainly discovered some wonderful Philosophers through this song.

Rehab, Alcohol and Drugs – Denis Leary

I never saw Lenny Bruce or Bill Hicks. I did see Denis Leary  though. His No cure for Cancer show is a funny today as it was when I first saw it over thirty years ago.

I’ve had it up to here – Victoria Wood

Victoria Wood hails from Bury. There is a statue of her in the town centre dedicated to the memory of this immensely talented, very funny woman. This song was from an Amnesty International benefit show and it still makes me laugh out loud.

Trouble – Rik Mayall

My favourite British comedy actor. Rik Mayall died tragically young but left behind a legacy of hilarious comedy performances.

I hope that there will be something in this blog that helps you get through these challenging times. Although we may need to self-isolate but that does not stop people from keeping in touch. If you can, reach out and help those less fortunate and remember; Never turn your back on a friend.

In 1974 a shy, nervous boy started at Barrow Grammar school for buys. I hated most of the next five years but one thing has stayed with me since that first day. Enjoy!!