Reflections on Carnival

Today was Carnival here. It wasn't a bad turnout, but I can't help but reflect on how it has declined in recent years. At one time there used to be several floats on the backs of lorries. However, this time there were only a couple. Some would say that it is a reflection on the "elf and safety culture" that we live in. However, I would disagree - I would put it down to the fact that many of the companies which used to supply the lorries, and that the companies which were represented in Carnival are no longer in business. It is a sad indictment of Tory Britain that we have become a service economy where nothing is made and the only thing which seems to be moving around the country is money that doesn't actually exist in coinage or notes. It is also a reflection that the 3 biggest employers in the area are call centres. 

In the mid 1970s I took part in Carnival on a float which was on a naval theme. It was the only time I took part myself, but back then I always made the effort to watch it. When I was a nipper it was from a bollard of a garage owned by one of my cousins so we had an uninterrupted view. Back then it used to take a good hour for Carnival to go through. 

Sometime in the 1990s some bright spark in the Department of Transport realised that Carnival crossed the South Coast Trunk Road (A259), which delayed traffic along the south coast. So, they decided to reroute Carnival through the Old Town. This caused chaos. Frequently lorries would struggle to get up Chantry Lane hill into the Old Town and by the time Carnival reached the town centre it would end up in two halves separated by some considerable time. This year it was running about 25 minutes behind schedule by the time it reached the seafront.

In years gone by all the local infant and primary schools would take part - this year there was only one. 

Another of the traditions which has disappeared is the throwing of water. It used to be traditional that the crowd would throw water at the floats and those on the floats would squirt the crowd - this year no water was thrown in either direction.

OK, so this is a bit of a moan, but at least we still have Carnival and it is bigger and better than Hastings Old Town Carnival. It took about half hour to go past and a lot of effort had gone into the preparations, but I guess that when you are an adult it just isn't the same as when you are a youngster.

Anyway, it was an enjoyable half hour and better than no carnival.

Open University - Update

OK, so, in 2010 I wrote that I was thinking of registering for the Open University and looking to study Social Sciences and Politics.

So, 2 years on, here I am a student! I have completed two 30 point courses (Introduction to Social Sciences) and instead of studying Politics have ended up studying Law to complete the first level.

How am I doing? A lot better than I expected! I am so far averaging about 76% with the scores improving substantially the further along I have got with my studies. 

So far I have written approximately 20,000 words in essays and enjoying it immensely. I'm now considering my options for Level 2, which includes specialities in Law. I am looking at studying Employment Law as I have been a Trades Union rep. 

Anyway, time to go as I need to get on with writing my next essay!

Crazy Train - and not the Ozzy song!

In the song "Crazy Train" from the classic "Blizzard of Oz" album (his first solo album after being sacked from Black Sabbath), Ozzy Osbourne wrote the immortal line "I'm going off the rails on a crazy train". Well, dear readers, I'm afraid that I am currently on board a crazy train and the train is not just off the rails but hanging on the edge of a viaduct.

"What the hell are you on about?" I hear you all asking. Well, I'm suffering from stress and depression at the moment and have been in a real emotional mess. My emotions are like a roller-coaster at the best of times thanks to being on HRT, but lately the rollercoaster of life has been heading downwards at an exceedingly fast pace and is about to make a splash in the pool at the bottom.

Unfortunately, that pool is a pool of shit.

Sometimes stress can be good for you. But the stress I have been suffering is the mental equivalent of the "wrong kind of snow" excuse for the trains which got delayed in the winter a few years back. It has caused me to lose my rag, snap at those I shouldn't do and has also caused impaired judgement. The stress has built up over a very long period and at this point I am not at liberty to write about the cause of the stress. However, when the time comes there will be a full account of the reasons for the stress and a cast list of those who caused it.

The depression? I've often got down moods. However, I have always bounced back in the past. This time it is a deep depression - my mental state is in a similar condition to the UK's economy at the moment - likely to be long-lasting. The one thing which is certain is that I will come out of this shit strong once more. Just give me the time to bounce back please!

The way back? It will be slow, and at times painful, but it will happen. Sometimes it's necessary to go down before going back up. It is time for a different route in life. I wanted a new routemap, but the timing has not been of my own choosing.

So, where's the next stop on this crazy train? That, dear readers, is a very good question. Answers please on a postcard.

Metallica - Fade to Black

This is a song with perfect lyrics describing how I feel when I am suffering from depression.

It also has some rather good guitar work on it.

 

1812 Overture

Those who know me as the heavy metal goddess that I am will probably be surprised by this but, when I am writing essays, I actually prefer listening to classical music.

Today, when working on my current essay, I was listening to the 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky with real cannons included on it.

Enjoy!

 

The Art of Character Assassination

I must admit I have many faults. One of them is that I have over the years learned the dark art of playing the man rather than the ball and assassinating my opponents' characters. I have often used humour to do my dirty work. I learned many of my dirty tricks when I was a member of the Labour Party during the 1980s from a true master of the dark arts who was a local councillor. 

However, when it comes to character assassinations, I must take my hat off to Frankie Fraser, who is one of the most colourful members of the London underworld.

His critique of the judge who sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment for his part in the Richardson gang's alleged torturing of victims is a masterpiece. They say mud sticks, if this opinion piece was widely circulated, then the judge's reputation wouldn't be in the gutter but in the sewer and half way to the Thames Estuary. 

To read the critique of the learned Sir Frederick Lawton QC (deceased), along with his thoughts on Lord Chief Justice Goddard (who it is alleged used to masturbate when sentencing an alleged offender to death) go to http://www.madfrankiefraser.co.uk/frankiefraser.htm?story/tort.htm~mainFrame (Select Viewpoints, then JUDGES, JUSTICE AND THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM which was posted on Saturday 17th February 2001)

Essay Writing

I know it must sound crazy, but I actually enjoy writing essays for my Open University courses. So far I have completed 13 and am currently working on the 14th. Altogether they come to a total of about 25,000 words. 

The one thing I have learned is to plan properly before putting fingers to keyboard. I often end up with about 12 pages of A4 handwritten notes and plan diagrams before I even start writing, and when I do write the essays I always write them out in handwriting first. OK, so this means I am duplicating work, but it also allows me to chop and change and develop ideas as I go along.

The current essay is a problem essay where I have to give advice as to the likely sentence to be given to a burglar. The legislation which affects the sentencing in this case is the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and the Judge would have regard to the Sentencing Advisory Panel's guidelines,  and the Judge would also consider guideline judgements in the Appeal Court, House of Lords and, since it's replacement of the House of Lords as the highest court in the UK, the Supreme Court.

Anyway, when I was studying my first course, my tutor at the time told me that his challenge for that summer was to stop me from writing too much. He'll be pleased to know that I have finally managed to come within the word limit every time in this course. However, this is achieved more by the knowledge that the word limit is absolute with no grace.

So, call me mad if you will, but I enjoy writing essays.