From Sheffield, With Love

For those of you who I hadn't bored in sounding like a self-important housewife over the past week or so, I shall make mention of this event one last time. I attended the Northern CF Christmas dinner in Sheffield at the weekend. Solves the title mystery at any rate.

In all it was rather good fun, getting dressed up in the ever-faithful dinner suit and sitting round in a very nice hotel in the middle of the city eating and drinking (mostly the latter) with like-minded individuals on Saturday evening. A big mention to Chester branch who sold the most tickets and won a bottle of champers. Just goes to show what happens when you make an effort. However, I do think that the food deserves a few words and I'm afraid not all positive. I did find I was struggling to find the flavour in the soup and in much of the second course. Whether or not the chef was having a bad night or it was just my taste buds I'm not entirely sure. One thing that has come from this weekend, however, is the resolution that I must try to actually spend some real time in Sheffield, having only ever been there once before to visit the university six years ago.

I should also make mention of the accommodation I managed to find. I decided to ignore the two very dismal reviews given on the website and press on with paying the £16 fee for the bed in the dorm room I was to share.  Although the person on duty on Saturday was eager and happy to help, he clearly had little idea about running a hostel at all. A gentlemen with a severe disability was sold a room (the only one with a lock on the door by the sound of it) on the ground floor, however the lock was not in fact in use and a locksmith had to be called. The gentleman did, however, heroically knuckle up the stairs to have a look at the room I was in. Being present at the time, I decided to say nothing on the subject, for fear of being seen to be prejudiced or patronising.

I shall also take some time to mention the sterling work Liverpool CF are doing in the village of Woolton. I was with them and some others from Chester on Saturday doing a leaflet drop before haring off to Sheffield. They're clearly dedicated and with enough support and devoted time and energy, they have a really good chance at turning another ward blue.

That's about it for now. Oh and one more thing; don't judge the Occupy movement too harshly. It's not totally anti-capitalist and its members should actually be listened to.

A Pre-Winter's Tale

Like so many of you discerning people out there among the codes and cables, I love Christmas. Scuttling through December weekend afternoons clutching bags and wondering if it isn't too early to dive into somewhere warm and snug for a glass or three of mulled wine; such experiences or indeed thoughts are sheer heaven. So imagine my disgust and horror each year as the Christmas aisles are set up while the Hallowe'en stuff is still sprawled out and the Bonfire Night fireworks are only freshly unwrapped from their packaging.

This is the time of year for what I call the pre-Christmas boycott. I refuse to recognise Christmas is upon us until 1st December. I do not buy cards nor a single present until that date. The Christmas playlist isn't even lined up until the night of 30th November, but that's just preparation. But when the day itself arrives, that is when I go truly Christmas crackers. People are harangued for gift ideas, I make sure that I have correct addresses and then it's time to hit [insert shopping method as appropriate].

Until tonight. I had no idea they were there until I looked in the cupboard. Not a clue. Not one inkling and then something dreadful happened. So blithe was the action, so innocent in its execution and subsequent movements. And then it hit. After the chewing and the dusting down of hands had subsided, I realised what I had done. THE SEAL WAS BROKEN! The pre-Christmas boycott is now over. I have consumed...a mince pie!!! A whole one! A M&S one (not that it makes much difference, I still ate it).

What's the big deal, you ask? It's only a mince pie after all and if I had only started reading the paragraph above I would entirely agree with you. Had you been good enough to read the first two including the third, you still might be full of some doubts as to why this idiot is waxing morbid about a pastry filled with all sorts of delightful things. Not the point either, I'm afraid. Principles have been compromised; I don't do anything remotely Christmassy until December. Mince pies in November, ah well best get out the address book, calibrate the iPod and start planning gifts (already done, so the offence is somewhat compounded, but it is only planning, haven't gone shopping, that would be a sacrilege).

Thankfully I'm an Anglican and can look at it like this; it was a sheer moment of madness, I'm clearly only human and am given to such temptations. I was found wanting, but why be strong when to have weakness to force oneself to find strength? I feel a little better now; not that I'm going to run downstairs and have another (mine was the third out of the box anyway, still doesn't help, does it?)

In other news, isn't that business over Northern Rock ghastly?

The Commentator - EU’s Van Rompuy strikes new blow against democracy, telling Italy it doesn’t “need” elections

The Commentator - EU’s Van Rompuy strikes new blow against democracy, telling Italy it doesn’t “need” elections

Case in point from previous entry.

Through the Looking-Glass

So a lot going on the moment, mostly people taking the rap for the actions of others and a general clearing-up of crap.

The Euro, for example, seems to fuse the two. I am fully behind Angela Merkel and her government in attempting to keep Germany out of bailing out the profligate nations on the periphery of Europe. Hopefully government by technocrat might be the saving grace for Greece and Italy, who are among the worst offenders. Ironically the man who helped the Greeks tell their lie in joining the Euro is now their head of government. I suppose it's only right that the person responsible for the mess helps to clear it up. I cannot speak directly to the man appointed in Italy, save for that he's never been directly elected to the Italian legislature.

It is still my fervent hope that the Euro will be phased out and the EU shown for what it is. This kind of erratic behaviour with meeting after meeting cannot be sustained. The peoples of Europe will surely not stand much more. I will however echo the Telegraph and urge the Prime Minister to gather the other 9 non-Euro countries beside the UK into our own bloc and attempt to show that sustainable economic growth can be achieved on one's own fiscal terms, rather than blindly entering into a currency union which is underpinned by one member's economy rather than all 17.

Our own Home Secretary came under heavy and sustained fire this week for her alleged involvement in the UK Border Agency scandal. The pious yammering which once again emanated from the Labour front bench was entirely sickening. When Red Ed was elected and his Shadow Cabinet nominated, did they then re-set the clocks once more? I know Labour's recent troubles with history and all, but I think that some kind of memory erasure went on. One would certainly think so the way Yvette Cooper went for Teresa May.

It is convenient for new governments to blame their predecessors 18 months after an election. Fourteen years of misrule and they dare to call us out on errors made by officials. Sanctimony and smugness are by-words for this Labour party and it is high time that they remember the difficulties of government and the fact that we are in coalition with a party which would normally be opposed to our policies. Labour was never held to ransom because they had a clear majority in the House; there may come a time they too will feel the sting of compromise.

Remember, Remember

We read a lot and hear as much about Bonfire Night and Remembrance Day, both of which occur in November.  Then I got to thinking about what other events in our island story have taken place in this most autumnal of months and wondered how many would be enough to warrant the creation of a British History Month. I found a few in my trawl of Wikipedia and other sources, so I shall list some:

The incorporation of Plymouth on 12 November 1439 by the English Parliament (first town to be incorporated)
The first BBC broadcast on 14 November 1922
The accession of Elizabeth I of England on 17 November 1558
The publication of Darwin's On the Origin of Species 24 November 1859
The first ever international football match took place on 29 November 1872 between England and Scotland

There are other events, of course, however I wished to show that not all history involves the births and deaths of the great and the good. History touches all of us, as has been shown by the two global conflicts which sees the sale of millions of poppies and the thousands who gather at cenotaphs up and down the country. November gives Britons cause to remember, so let us throw the net wider and remember those who not only have sacrificed themselves but who have each done something to help put the "Great" into Great Britain.