THE END OF AN ERA - FROM BBC TO BABC!

 

                                  THE END OF AN ERA - FROM BBC TO BABC!

I renamed the British Broadcasting Corporation the 'Black and Asian Broadcasting Corporation' some four years ago when writing 'In Bed With A. Mann'.  Whether it was Part 1 or 2  is up for debate, I remember not, but the point was made. The BBC were starting to irritate not just me, but many white viewers. 

Black lives apparently mattering more than white, colonialism and imperialism both up for awards in the 'What can we hate next?' category and the BEEB's obsession with minorities has seen a once familiar and friendly family member morph into a distant relative with which I have very little in common.

Today sees the final vestiges of the football season come to an end.  At 3pm Morecombe will play Newport County, the victor gaining promotion to League 1 (Division 3 as was).  And so it is over until the new season kicks off in around three months' time -  a further Covid lockdown notwithstanding.  The pleasure of Football Focus and the Saturday afternoon update service on Radio 5 via the Red Button are now but a recent memory, as is Match of the day.  Football Focus was hosted for some ten years or so by Dan Walker, an amiable chap who played the role of anchorman without hype or brashness.  He was easy on the eye and ear.  All change!  I know not whether it was his choice to leave or whether he was pushed out, but his replacement is a black ex-football playing female, which ticks two boxes in one promotion. 

Frankly, I do not wish to listen to a female talking about men's football.  I have absolutely no problem with women discussing,  playing the game or partaking as a pundit,  providing it's woman football.  Slightly partisan, you may ask, and yes, that view could be formed, though I never had that problem with Gabby Logan! Why? Well for one she speaks well, does not drop her 'H's or 'T's.  On consecutive Saturday afternoons earlier this month neither the anchorman - for he was a man - nor the two pundits were white. The score read Black sports presenters 3 - White sports presenters 0.  I know I have mentioned this before but when the BABC do put a white female on as a pundit they invariably choose that dreadful Karen Carney whose command of diction is appalling.  The black male presenters are equally lacking, but they are black and that is the holy grail as far as the Corporation is concerned.  MOTD is no different.  I wonder how long Gary Lineker will continue to hold court?  He is so often the only white face at the desk, presiding over two black pundits who exclaim 'Penal'y', 'Missed opportuni'y', 'posi'ive', 'ge'in' (getting), 'li'le' (little), 'quali'y', 'coun'er'.  Quantity over quality, it's a race to the bottom in the name of race!

Away from football Eamonn Holmes and his other half have been replaced on daytime TV by a black female presenter.  A black male and female now host a game show so I've been informed.  The London news segment has a far greater ratio of black and Asian presenters than truly represents the population at large.  From Countryfile to Bargain Hunt they have sprung a number of ethnic presenters onto previously white middle-class programmes watched by white middle-class viewers.  Far from the heady days of James Braxton, James Lewis and David Harper, a chap called Danny Sebastian is now treading the boards, so to speak.  A tall, pleasant enough black chap, but does he really have to don a ridiculous bowler hat with a feather?  Is that his style of attire - in which case the man is a complete arse - or is it a'whizz' idea by the stage managers?  Either way, I now choose which episodes to watch...  Dragons Den will, from the next series have a new dragon, a black chap who has made a fortune by some means or other.  He will make his mark apparently by not wearing a suit!  Why?  Would a suit not fit due to an excessive shoulder chip?  

The white viewer is made to feel guilty at every stage of BABC commissioning.  Switch on the TV and there is a trailer informing the viewer of a forthcoming programme on Black music, Black subjugation, Black history, Black lack-of-history, the 'Windrush' debacle, sub-standard  black schooling and institutional racism, and on it goes...drip... drip... drip... Does it make the white viewer contrite, remorseful or grief-stricken for alleged unfairness at best and hatred at worst?  Does it buggery!  If the ordinary man in the street and park that I speak to is anything to go by, it just makes people resentful, angry that so many chips can be counted on so many shoulders and all singing the final verse from the 'White man's lament' which reads: 'If you don't like our ways or our traditions and past, GO! LEAVE! Interesting of course is that the teflon-coated ones never do, they merely wreak havoc with our society.

The BABC are not alone, the commercial stations are just as determined to drive away their basic white audience. Virtually every advert has a black/mixed-race family on show or a lesbian/homosexual couple happily playing their part in destroying the social balance, forcing it down the gullet of the viewer.  I feel I know what it's like to be a duck force fed its diet prior to being served up as foie  gras! Channel 5 are running a programme this week on Anne Boleyn, the leading role played by a black actress - Why?  They must feel so proud that once again they have tipped reality upside down and shocked middle England.  I've said this before but would a white Othello be allowed to enter stage left?  I very much doubt it!  What is good for the black goose is not always good for the white gander.

So, farewell MOTD, Football Focus, Football Update, Countryfile and any future programme that doesn't include a greater commitment to white actors and presenters.  I'm not holding out much hope obviously, so Talking Pictures and Yesterday will be my regular programmes for good, traditional British films when Black and White held sway, but in a manner befitting a nation that was yet to become a hotch-potch of  diversity and social breakdown.  By Christ have we paid a heavy price for our colonial past. The laugh is that my generation never garnered any benefit from the acts of our forefathers, we came under heavy and relentless fire because of them!  Still, as a fellow dog walker lamented only the other day 'I never thought I could feel so disconnected with my own country in front of my own television!'  Says it all really...

YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR? YOU'RE JOKING!

 

                                      YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR?  YOU'RE JOKING!

I was informed by a very pleasant Boots pharmacist that my being diabetic prevented him from recommending an ointment for a corn.  I took note of his advice, which entailed what formerly was a very simple operation.  No, not one on the affected toe, but a phone call to the local surgery in order to see a doctor.

Back in the good old days when the 'Service' in National Health Service meant exactly what it said on the tin - in respect of booking an appointment - you simply rang 'The doctors'.  Consolidation,  changes in care policy and cutbacks produced 'Practices' and 'Surgeries'.  These in turn became 'Health Centres', and with every move forward, service went backwards.  Not the service given by a doctor, but the service, or lack of it, you received, and continue to receive from what were formally known as 'Receptionists', and are now unofficially, but very accurately described by most patients as 'Gatekeepers'!  You struggle to get past the buggers!

The act of communication with my Health Centre is akin to visiting post offices in order to tax your car.  It was always a relief when the errand had been fulfilled and the transaction completed. You felt a real sense of achievement as you metaphorically skipped back to your car, disc in hand whistling a happy tune and basking in the success of another years hassle-free motoring.  Sadly, whilst taxing your car on-line has taken the stress out of queuing, the stress of the inevitable clashing of patient against gatekeeper becomes evermore tense.

"Ring your doctor' the pharmacist advised, an ordeal in the making if ever there was one and seemingly with a cast of thousands.  It was Monday afternoon, the week before last that I first attempted communication with a gatekeeper.  My call was met by a robotic voice harping on at length about Covid 19 and how help and information could be found on the appropriate website.  There followed a female voice advising anyone who had the audacity to ring for an appointment that the centre was extremely busy and doctors were only dealing with what she termed 'emergency cases'.  From there another pre-recorded female voice offered four alternatives.  Press 1 for an appointment, 2 for prescriptions, 3 for test results and 4 for referrals.  I pressed  number 1 regardless of the previous warning and waited patiently as I travelled my journey from No. 13 in the queue over a twenty-eight minute period to the now enticing position where the irritating robot informed me that I was 'number one in the queue, waiting to speak to a representative'.   Out of interest, it matters not which number you press as they all go through to the same person who happens to pick up the phone.  So much for four options!

Vying for  position of 'Top Dog' in the 'Irritation Handicap Stakes' along with the robot was the music that accompanied my journey, my experience... my bloody frustration!  When I eventually heard a 'live' female voice, my relief was palpable, a real person,  This experience was  similar to traipsing across a dessert for a week under a burning sun and then espying an oasis... I explained that it was only a corn, my first in over seventy-three years on this planet, however my attempts to find a solution via our good friend at Boots had elicited a request to seek doctorial advice due to my being diabetic. Whilst I never expected to see a doctor that afternoon, I could see no valid reason why an appointment couldn't be made for the following day, or even the day after that. No! Not on your life, No way. A discussion ensued regarding the length of time it took to answer the phone, the lack of flexibility and the fact that everything is skewed towards and for the benefit of those behind the glass-fronted reception 'wall'  It was at this point that the gatekeeper, with all the charm of a disgruntled scorpion wrapped up the conversation from her end and replaced her handset leaving me speaking to no-one in particular, or more precisely no-one at all. I cannot abide rudeness. Twenty-three minutes later, the same format and rigmarole saw me talking to another gatekeeper. She explained that with not enough doctors, not enough gatekeepers ( she used the term 'receptionists', but we know!) and 30,000 patients  on their books it is no longer possible for appointments to be made for another day.  Unbelievable!

I rang back, I do not give up easily, and after fifteen minutes spoke to another, more civil gatekeeper who reiterated the scorpion's comments regarding the statistics adding 'There's nothing more we can do about it really, it's the system.'  My argument that someone actually instigates the system, not a computer, got me nowhere save an offer for the Practice Manager to give me a call that afternoon.  Safe to say, three hours elapsed and guess what? That's right, bugger all.  I did catch up with her midweek, but apparently there had been a breakdown in communication. She mentioned the same statistics and system so that's obviously the party line whipped out for all and sundry complainants. Oh well...

Everything is on the side of the surgery - let's call it that.  All they do is pick up the next call, it matters not a jot to them how long the poor sod has waited on the end of the line listening to the excruciating music interspersed with the asinine comments and forlorn hope of ever making human contact again.  I actually managed to get the gatekeeper to ask a doctor to ring me and  he did, that evening.  I told him there would be a whole generation of newly-qualified doctors who will never see a patient in the flesh.  All consultations will be virtual. With youngsters living in a world of social media, virtual friends and little real social contact, the thought of new GP's gaining experience from actually seeing patients sat opposite them on the other side of the desk and getting to know them will soon be a thing of the past. So much for that 'Caring Society' we read about! 

Funnily enough,  the doctor seemed to listen to my concerns as a patient and booked me an appointment for the Wednesday morning with a diabetic nurse to check my toe. Why couldn't the gatekeeper have done that in the first place. 

Upshot of it all,  'cause I know your'e eager to learn,  is that a pumice stone and plaster along with a watchful eye should sort the problem. I was also informed that the pain I was suffering, pain that was far greater than childbirth, obviously, would dissipate and I should recover and continue to live a fairly healthy and increasingly grumpy existence,  pining for the 'Good Old Days' and reminding all who care to listen - and those who don't! - that 'Receptionists used to work on behalf of the patient, not the other way round!'.

Right, a cuppa and change of plaster beckons. Until my next surgery encounter - Cheers!

PS:  As of this morning you can no longer queue when you ring to make an appointment for a doctor to call you.  A robotic voice informs you that in order to save you time by queuing you need to ring back later, when you will be queuing once more!  If ever a system needed surgical intervention, it's this one!

FOR MINORITIES, EVERY DAY IS A 'SPECIAL DAY'.

 

                                  FOR MINORITIES, EVERY DAY IS A 'SPECIAL DAY'.

Sadly, there is an increasing number of activists in this country.  Lawful and peaceful protests are one thing, stopping officials going about their business is another.  What should be seen and reported as a disgraceful waste of police time and expense is seen by a Guardian reporter  as a 'Special Day'.  

Libby Brooks, the paper's Scotland correspondent told her story in Friday's edition.  What glee she seems to take from the knowledge that an immigration enforcement van was stopped in its tracks by baying mobs intent on releasing two men suspected of immigration offences.   This Libby character (is it short for Liberal?) is obviously not on the side of law and order, but heavily backs disruption and mayhem.  Writing for The Guardian is, of course, an ideal outlet for such wayward, anti-society, left-wing sympathies.  So much so in fact that the poor misguided lady can no longer see the migrant wood for the indigenous trees.

Crowds of 'locals' - I use the word extremely loosely - commenced their intimidating action in Glasgow's southside at 9am with the stand-off lasting a full eight hours before the  'Southside 2', as I think of them, were freed and by Friday were receiving advice from asylum support groups - well they would be, wouldn't they!  Some complete arse who goes by the name of 'Van Man' crawled under the enforcement vehicle for much of the day in order to discourage movement.  What soft fools we are!  I'd have given him a very generous five minutes to 'get out and bugger off before the vehicle moves on'.  It would then have been his choice, and it is all about choices, as to whether he lived to irritate and disrupt come another day, or be a road fatality.  It really wouldn't have bothered me one way or another... though I do have a slight preference.  Hmmm... I wonder if he works?

All over the country there are legal eagles, asylum support groups, minority rights groups all there at the sniff of a deportation ready to grind our laws into the dust - bastards!  Getting back to the 'Scottish Skirmish', there was a translator called Declan Blench who sat behind the van to stop it from reversing - same rules would apply to him as they would to Van Man if common  sense were ever to be taken into account.  A lawyer by the name of Aamer Anwar described the heavy police presence as 'inflammatory and provocative'.  Thats rich!  He then goes on to add that he 'couldn't believe that the Home Office had done this on one of the holiest days in the Muslim calendar'.  Let me set you right on this, Mr Anwar, there are people who live outside your ethnic and white supported bubble. They are called the general population who couldn't give a flying fig about any ethnic 'holy day'.  All you have done is to tie up an already overstretched police force in order to free two men who should by now be in secure accommodation whilst the rights and wrongs of their case is discussed in a lawful manner.

Imagine sir, if you will, the joy, the adrenaline rush that comes when we, the native, and constantly under-fire white, far-sighted resident of these isles hear or read of another plane load being deported for varying reasons.  It's music to our ears,  dear boy,  pure music....

It comes back as always to the choices we discussed earlier.  If you don't like how we do things in OUR country, you don't have to stay, which for many of your ilk would be our preference... given the choice that is!

THE ELECTIONS - WEREN"T THEY EXCITING!

 

                                        THE ELECTIONS - WEREN"T THEY EXCITING!

The elections are over, but not the shouting. The Tories took Hartlepool in a by-election and several English councils in the local elections. The SNP swept back into power in Scotland for a forth consecutive period.  With the help of the Greens, whose views align with much of the ruling party, the SNP will be baying like terriers at the ankles of Westminster in order to push for a vote on independence.  In Wales the Labour Party did extremely well to resist challenges from both the Tories and Plaid Cymru.

For the first time in modern politics it really does look as if we are three nations linked by land only.  In England, the Tories have been buoyed by the effective roll-out of the covid 19 vaccines and possess a leader who took us out of Europe. The latter is bourn out by the by-election win, which was emphatic, along with a the number of council seats won in traditional Labour heartlands.

Like her or loathe her, Nicola Sturgeon has done a fine job of leading her party. The court case with her old boss turned out to be no more than an irritation. Alex Salmond, for all his 'Not guilty' verdicts is a spent force. He didn't appear to garner much public support after the inquest/trial, and that lack of sentiment came through during the elections where his newly-formed Alba Party was cast adrift as the results unfolded. I do wonder what form independence would take if the Scottish public were to vote, assuming the vote goes ahead at some stage and it pans out the way the SNP so clearly desires. Would Scotland be able to re-join the EU? I'm sure the Euro powers-that-be would work hard to add another state to their club if only to spite England and Wales, who also voted to leave don't forget.  If this were to happen what form would a border take?  I can see Scotland becoming a Mecca for migrants desperate to settle in England,  a weak border producing a soft option and a rush of opportunists.  Should we 'do a Trump' and start building a wall - or re-build Hadrian's Wall now? It's a thought!

In Wales the electorate stood strong and returned a Labour-led Senedd.  Mark Drakeford, their leader should take credit for that show of solidarity.  All through the pandemic he was a familiar face on  television.  His approach and general demeanour was calming and reassuring.  I'm certain he built up a following because he epitomised what voters look for in a leader.  He told it like it is, no faff, no catch-phrases, no marketing speak, no hype, no bluster, no jingoistic terminology. Good diction, plain English, measured... Oh, and a Welsh lilt helped of course!  Above all, the man showed dignity. He didn't go off at a tangent making political capital out of the situation, he stuck to the point and subject in hand.  Many aspiring politicians could learn from these performances because his approach to politics engenders trust and support in a leader.

So what went wrong for Labour in England?  Being fair to Mr Starmer, the pandemic has hindered any aspirations of the usual cut and thrust of Westminster politics and all that goes with it.  Andy Burnham, however, did well in Manchester, being re-elected as Mayor with a significantly increased majority, but he is seen to be constantly battling for the people he represents.  Labour supporters, many of them Leave voters, especially in the north-east, north-west and West Midlands felt betrayed at the last election.  The prospect of a second referendum should Labour get into power, led by a man steeped in the mould of Michael Foot - scruffy, lifeless, completely bereft of leadership qualities tested their patience.  Many who voted Tory are probably not overly-enamoured with Boris, but he gave people hope, leadership! 

What happened locally? Well, Surrey remains a Tory stronghold though not as strong as it has been hitherto.  I voted for  the sitting Tory councillor but he was defeated by a lady representing the Lib-Dems. Now, this is the same lady I commented on in a post way back at the turn of the year.  I rang her during March to ask why she wasn't standing as an independent because if that had been the case  I may well have voted for her.  She really seemed to care about the area in which she lives - and now represents.  Well done that girl!  I could however, never bring myself to vote Lib-Dem after their treachery regarding the EU referendum - I don't forgive easily, or in some cases -Ever!!  Truth is, I find there is a pervading arrogance that sits uncomfortably alongside the bloated egos of the Tories in Surrey.  Several lost their seats in the Guildford area to Residents Associations whose supporters are rightly upset with the continual erosion of the Green Belt, and the selling off of land for housing and industrial use.  In Woking many are unhappy with the council for their corporate arrogance, best displayed in the building of town centre tower blocks, hideous to the eye and outwardly portraying all the hallmarks of tomorrows slum clearance.  You can see these monstrosities from parts of Guildford and Ripley.  The worst offended are the good residents of Horsell who wake up to them every day of their lives. It can't have done much for their house prices. What on earth did the good residents of Horsell do in a previous life to deserve this?  The main thing is that a lot of fat cats have doubtless got a lot fatter, so no change there.  Never trust a politician, that way you won't be disappointed!

And the Lib-Dems?  Overall they lost seats... Elections can be so satisfying at times...

WHAT GOES AROUND...

                                                           

                                                          WHAT GOES AROUND...

Not many coups are thwarted within three days, but an attempt by powerful figures within the tawdry world of football to change what is already an obscenely corporate business came to nowt - for the time being, anyway...  How joyous it was to witness fans who would normally be at opposition throats coming together, united in a common cause, one centred on adding yet more golden geese to an already inflated pond of golden geese.

Going back to the 'Good old days', the 'Golden age', we had, in this country a system that worked well for over a century with a little refinement here and a little tweak there. What we had was stability within the game and a great sense that the clubs we supported were our clubs.  They were clubs, not 'Brands'!  They were part of our lives and we, the supporter, were part of theirs. 

There were four divisions - League Division 1, 2, 3 and 4.  It was a simple system, free of razzamatazz and corporate greed, though I suspect personal gain played a not insignificant part in many a transfer deal, but sadly, where there is money there are those who see it as easy and often rich pickings.

Along with this easy to follow system came a similarly easily remembered kick-off time. It was every Saturday throughout the season at 3pm - with the exception of Newport County who kicked off at 3.15pm in order that workers in the steel industry could finish their shift and still make it to the game!  Midweek matches kickeed-off at 7.30 unless there was very good reason to alter the timing.  Promotion and relegation were more or less what happens at the current time.  The exception is that in England we now have a pyramid system that allows for automatic promotion and relegation between the lowest division, now known as League 2, and the Fifth tier known as the National League and sponsored by various organisations, which lowers the tone of any sporting event.

Incidentally, since the fifth tier, originally called the 'Conference' was formed commencing with the 1986/7season, it has had a fair number of sponsors.  These include:- Gola, Vauxhall, Nationwide Building Society, Blue Square, Skrill and currently Vanarama - and doesn't that sound classy!  I point out these names because I detest sponsorship. I know clubs need income, I know that smaller clubs struggle and this form of advertising is a lifeline for many, but it's the long-term cost.  Many a club has cut its cloth according to the size of the sponsored investment.  At some stage this relationship ends - either at the agreed termination date - or the messiah leaving the club high and dry by terminating unexpectedly early for whatever reason.  These clubs have relied on a false sense of security and for the duration of that relationship and mutual advertising the club changes the name of its ground to reflect the financial involvement. 

The delightfully named Brighton and Hove Albion played for many years at the Goldstone Ground, they moved some twelve plus years ago to the Falmer Stadium.  I've never been a fan of the word 'stadium', it conjures up thoughts of being 'Above oneself', 'Up your own backside' etc.  You know where you are with a 'Ground', or a 'Park'.  It is where a football match is played.  My local team is Aldershot Town, though it is many years since I stood on the terraces, mainly because it is a very different town from the one visited during the seventies and early eighties, but I'll write a blog on that subject later in the month!  Humble Aldershot Town played for decades at the 'Recreation Ground', they now play at the 'EBB Stadium'. Same ground, same address, but while gaining a sponsor it loses a part of its soul. 

Back in the late eighties and the early nineties, the moneymen who wormed their way into football decided to form a breakaway league and call it the Premier League.  All the top teams were for it.  Greater autonomy, greater bargaining power with the media, colossal deals for viewing rights... and all for the greater greed and little thought for the greater good.  Three matches in the Premier League today, all kicking off at different times to maximise revenue from the media.  Who's game is it anyway?

Thirty years on and six English teams, along with three from Spain and three from Italy, announced their 'Grand European plan' to a fairly unsuspecting public one day, encountered unexpected flak from governments, football associations, managers and players across Europe, but most importantly - fans the next day and by the third day it was on hold!  There followed statements by club owners, humble words of remorse and regret, the like of which had not been encountered since an Oscar winner last thanked his or her grandmother for 'Being there for them'!  The wringing of hands was sickening in the extreme as their excuses about 'not understanding the feelings of supporters' and 'doing it for the games very survival' cut little ice with genuine fans. It is they who pay good money to follow their club and in many cases a dream that will never be fulfilled, but that is why they go!  Among the crowds who demonstrated holding aloft banners that showed in no uncertain terms the strength of feeling to the Euro dream, one stood out above all others.  This was the one that displayed the sentence  'We just want to play Stoke on a cold night'  which says it all...

Like so much in life, society is governed and futures chiselled into shape by those who flex their financial muscle for personal gain.  No English club should be foreign owned, no owner should be allowed to own more than one club.  That would be my starting point for the major reforms needed so that the likes of Barrow, Grimsby Town, Rochdale and Port Vale could get a fair share of the fortunes made by the moneymen at the top of the pyramid who wish to share only with like-minded moneymen within a very limited and tawdry select few.  The gap between rich and poor would be considerably shorter if I had my way.

Oh... and if those at the top could see their way to reducing the power of  that most grotesque troupe of leeches - the agents - I would be 'over the moon' as I believe they still say in footballing circles.