sonyc

Absolutely nuts it is. We have given him a long contract and he was told he was a part of the future.... Clearly, they thought he was given his contract. Bigged up, refused to loan him out, and now talk of a €3m fee if he is bought! What kind of strategy is this? Assume we must have someone coming in (please not Hwang back). As for Idah, he is big and strong and holds up well. He hasn't filled his boots with goals but at an age of 22 he would still grace many Championship sides. Anyway that's my view on him. He isn't the finished article but then nor are many 22 year olds. If these reports are to be believed of course! So much for an "exciting" window unless they are leaving all us fans on tenterhooks right up to the 11th hour with a flurry of incomers. Somehow, you just doubt it given the way things look like panning out.

The trolls come out of the woods every time we lose.

Two fantastic saves by Long!

A few random thoughts on next season: I hope we keep McCallum in our team. Somehow he has an edge and looks to have a bit more steel than Dimi. The long throw isn't a bad weapon at times too. As for Nunez this afternoon, I'm not sure about him. He's getting a lesson in midfield from youngsters and he needs to know how to press. He looks light weight for the Championship. As for the defence we need a proper clear out. Gibson is too slow, Duffy too and the fact we are using McLean there says a lot. Not sure about Tomlinson or Warner or Hills yet. We even looked better under the Farke season when we were 4-0 down in the first half and won the second half 1-0.

And as it's Saint Dywnwen's Day today (the patron saint of lovers and celebrating love) I've been listening to Cerys Matthews' version of Calon Lân. Hardly a choir in Wales that doesn't sing this, let alone at the rugby (and often football).

This was on R6 a few months ago to coincide with their new work (EBTG). Tracy Thorn is about 61/62 but she has not lost her voice.

I think of his account as a spoof one - like Big Keith on the other side. Overall, life would be duller without them. Like his avatar might say "all the right notes but not necessarily in the right order"...😄...just a read of his words and then think what the opposite might be! That's what populists also do isn't it? It's a shame that he is also a David Bowie fan. I saw a graph referencing Bowie - also from the 2016 Brexit referendum. A very simple graph but holds a lot of water. Footnote. ....my way of finding something to smile about after tonight's result.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/mar/13/labour-accuses-government-of-failing-to-reverse-cuts-in-defence-spending Gen Patrick Sanders has urged more spending on defence in the last two days. He is clearly worried we are not prepared and even calls for a civil army to begin recruiting. One thing about Labour (and I know your views about them LYB on the whole) is that they have long been calling for massively increased investment. (article above...I rate Lammy btw). Of course, Downing St have dismissed him. Further, three times as many service people are leaving as those joining. I'm unconvinced we are not defensively weakened even accepting your points about calls to help. Our whole infrastructure in so many areas, defence being one, health, local government, education being others has been crudely cut in the last decade. I'm sure it's one of the reasons why Ben Wallace resigned. It DOESN'T need tax cuts as some Tories have stated in the last week (to stimulate growth to pay for defence is their stance!), it needs investment and must be paid for. Anyway, half time is over....

I read that too. The UK will be really isolated defensively unless we manage closer relations with our biggest partner, Europe. Even two World.Wars before still didn't stop people voting Brexit (and many who were older voters too). The trouble I have is that I'm unsure Starmer will act strongly. Given that the mood in the UK is now firmly that Brexit has not been a good thing for business or FOM then you'd think he might be more definite. There's keeping your powder dry and being very honest. We've watched Sunak become less technocrat and more cynical and even deflect many issues (his COVID appearance was callous). The Tory party no longer resembles a Conservative one. Starmer, I'm fearing, might be someone similarly, who just wants power and will say (or not say) anything. I fear for the lack of an ideological vision. I realise the argument about actually getting to power for Labour is a massive thing and they have so many obstacles. It's a concern. Yet, maybe what we will get under him is a new kind of Conservative Party (the former one when more adults were in charge and who were not liars...i.e. like the folk who deflect any question put to them now....cannot actually answer, who don't appear on Newsnight etc ...not to mention the populists.and MPs who are in it just for themselves). I see the current crop of Labour MPs as very different I must add but I have a nagging feeling deep down. As for Trump and Brexit, it's been said before, these are dangerous times and we are isolated as a country. Those words 'protecting our borders" rings so hollow right now. Another 10 years or perhaps 5 ought to see a further change in public opinion. A lot can happen. That's the more optimistic way of seeing it. What we won't hear very much is from Brexiters say much at all.in the subject...all quiet from them. (except WBB, honourable mention to the poster on this forum, but my comment wasn't about posters but in the country at large). Like your previous post hinted at I still wonder too whether Biden might step down and Trump won't be able to run. It's a hope though not anything else more substantial.

He will be I'm confident of that. But he will be just another one of the establishment and I'm wondering if he will truly represent an even bigger number or people than existed 14 years ago. I very much doubt it. Then, any change from the appalling shower this country has had in recent years especially is welcome. It will be the so called 'oil tanker' of a job to try and turn round the mess we've got into. And again, I doubt it will be possible. The best we can hope for is investment in communities and a more redistributive government. I will be voting for them and it will possibly be the first time in over 45 years that I will have voted a winning party in. But I will do so because of the FPTP system we have and the best chance to unseat another Tory, not because it's the radical change I want to see. It will be Tory-lite and to all posters who feel the two main parties are quite similar I tend to agree. If I don't vote then I've no real case to criticise whoever gets in and I expect I will be doing that anyway. Westminster lets everyone down when it comes to it. Hopefully with Labour they will govern without the same nepotism, cronyism, chaos, incompetence and sheer nastiness.

Another discovery for me - from R3 this morning. In the tradition of Ruth Gipps in terms of era but very individual, inspired by Vaughan Williams. The most famous Welsh female composer? I'd never heard of her. Penillion was the piece played this morning, which was brilliant but I've selected her sea sketches here ...

Both tiers affected NV. Ours is a district council. Couple of links for interest. https://www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/governance/396-governance-news/55428-urgent-help-needed-as-district-councils-forced-to-make-9-cost-reduction-savings-dcn-says https://www.countycouncilsnetwork.org.uk/councils-in-significantly-worse-financial-position-after-the-autumn-statement-with-seven-in-ten-now-unsure-if-they-can-balance-their-budget-next-year/ You'll know that councils not only have to demonstrate fairness in awarding contracts but also value for money. Outsourcing has been the main channel for years - and many undercut locally operated services even if some tender. As you say the size of contract rules out local solutions. Shareholders always the key. Agree with your take on housing. Years ago councils under the Right to Buy legislation could not reinvest the revenues to build new (not allowed then). Further, many councils then siphoned the reserves into other civic areas (and not always into needy causes). Anyway, a boring subject - but for a few. And I will just shut up about it and let this subject just slide out of consciousness on these pages rather than bumping it. Nothing can be done and I've come to feel that raising consciousness of it on a football forum is perhaps about the biggest waste of time 😄. I have to be brutally honest with myself. Folk would far rather debate and argue about our midfield. That's fair enough too. I tend to think differently in that respect - but it is a football forum foremost and I think the demise of local councils are about the last concern on a long list of concerns for most (perhaps for at least 9 in 10 people). I wish it were different and there was more debate or an interest. You can see why local democracy bores many. Yet, talking to folk on dog walks, many raise the issue (I don't). ./governance/396-governance-news/55428-urgent-help-needed-as-district-councils-forced-to-make-9-cost-reduction-saviUrgent help needed as district councils forced to ngs-dcn-saysmake 9% cost re Urgent help needed as district councils fo

I can't speak for all local authorities of course but do know a little about what is happening locally - well, quite a lot I suppose. And I think what is happening about us is replicated across the country. The increasing number of reports (plus that BBC article today I shared) indicates it is a common issue. It's children's services that are causing huge headaches. As you'll know they are a major area of spend, and issues are worse in deprived areas. Much early intervention work used to take place for children in care, those going into care and trying to prevent them going into residential care. Domestic violence has been a big problem (unfortunately this affects children too). I know from personal experience as a counsellor (now retired). Family counsellor service experts were inundated and that was 4 years ago. Councils use the third sector often. Intervention services are increasingly becoming late intervention in nature (trying to deal with things after a problem emerges). As you know prevention is better than cure. It's the same with homelessness. Support to charities has fallen. This includes Barnardo's and many others. Community centres also have seen funding cuts. They cannot then provide cooking lessons, counselling, welfare advice and so on... because they can't afford to pay specialist workers. Centres are so important in helping the poorer populations (often on former social housing estates) gain access to getting new skills, adult learning classes and so on. You'll probably know that 800 libraries have shut for good in the last 13 years. Our local one was originally run by volunteers but that stopped when they couldn't afford the energy costs. So much for Cameron's Big Society (read for that, Big Con...it was aimed at providing a gloss on real cuts. Just repackaged. Just like Johnson's levelling up. A shocking conceit). Recycling centres here are being closed - think I read 70% of them are. So...imagine what people will do. They will fly tip. The council cannot afford them. There will be numerous job losses. And that's something that's also happened over the last decade. Councils have lost employees. Those that hate Councils will always be critical (you often read stuff like "the Clowncil don't know what they're doing" on Facebook etc). ...but folk don't realise their neighbours are often employed by them. You'll have read about the nationwide potholes problem! Well, what would you prioritise? Filling holes or children's services? Or elderly social care (the community caring stuff). Literally, council workers are the last line of support for many disabled people. Community transport has been cut. Arts centres are the latest to complain (and they often have richer benefactors with deeper pockets, not to mention articulate governors on their boards). Everything is being done on the cheap. Gone are the days when you knew Tommy and Geoff who were your local grass cutters (storing their tools in local gardens) and who had 'rounds' and schedules. They emptied waste bins too. Those services have dropped off. Bins are often not emptied and overflow with dog waste week upon week - until complaints are made. Gardening services and parks services have been greatly cut. No longer does someone open up a hut on a Sunday morning for local football teams to use to change. Pitches don't get treated either (junior and senior). It cannot be solved quickly, even with a new government. The negligence is staggering and yes, it is something that infuriates me. Because it is a dereliction of duty. Nor do I blame councils. That's just a weak thing to do. I know too they've made poor financial decisions but they've been encouraged to play fast and loose by this government in trying to generate their own money. In our local area for example, we have a shopping centre that is owned by a council in Essex! It's fine when rents are paid but when shops go bust, that's the business plan shot. I wish there would be a Mr Bares and the Local Council ITV programme. It would open so many people's eyes to a national disgrace. I do feel a fairly isolated figure in raising the matter. It's a kind of unpopular subject area. But, it's peoples' lives. I suppose I've spent too long in public service jobs (charities and third sector) and have a feel for it, having witnessed such a lot first hand. There is John Harris in the Guardian who is very good at consciousness raising. He is in a way an old fashioned travelling journalist who finds out things by going into communities and asking. I'm upset too at many former colleagues who are battling to save their organisations (at chief executive and senior levels). The nub of it (I think and believe) is that this present government is just heartless. It is also so distant from northern communities and probably most outside of London (and the shires). There ARE very capable and decent Tory councillors too, also battling. I'm not just making a purely political issue of it. And yet NV, I do place the biggest responsibility at the hands of this terrible government. Apologies for a long post by the way. I'm typing on my phone and as soon as hit send and see it for a few seconds after I fear it will look lengthy!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68046627 I still think this is a story that hasn't received enough attention in the press. The situation affects so many people. Council taxes are being put up to try and stem the shortfalls and just to pay for existing services at their current levels, let alone responding to much higher levels of need. First paragraph: Dozens of MPs, including more than 40 Tories, have written to the PM demanding extra funding for councils in England to avoid big cuts to services. Several former cabinet ministers are among those who have signed the letter. The group say they are "exceptionally concerned" at the measures many local authorities are planning as they try to avoid going bust, including raising council tax and cutting services. Other links:

It was Mrs S's joke though (honestly!)

Been in and out all day ...but I recall reading John Kelly's comments about Trump. They chime with your worries about what might be expected. His own chief of staff.....

The lovely Babs. There again, I can't remember the names now. #oldjoke

My response was to that clip you shared H. The interviewer was trying really hard to get that interviewee to explain. But he couldn't and more importantly, wouldn't. In US politics there is no point really with such entrenched views. Same with Capitol Hill. As for IBT I'm sure he has said before he is not a Trump supporter and I've shared responses before on topics. So I'm surprised I've received a personal reply etc. Trump is a divisive figure and you can see just how he divides the public against each other. He creates imagined enemies.

It is always a balance isn't it? Same as the coal industry, slate etc...especially raw materials. I think you need to have a long term plan (and one that is decades in the planning) so that you know an area won't be decimated because it is so dependent. If an area has natural resources and as a country you decide to invest, then it must that a government (successive governments) think about the thousands employed not to mention the huge supply chains. I realise it's a challenge. Yet, to go suddenly from job to no job and find the whole local economy is flooded with colleagues is disheartening beyond belief. There needs to be investment in new skills. Creative Midfielder has mentioned that in his post. It is about the difficult job of managing and transitioning your regions. So many northern towns and cities have struggled to recover after cotton and wool industries scaled down. Look at some of the Welsh valley towns and you see they are hollowed out, their economic use greatly denuded when the money went elsewhere. In an ideal world (for me anyway), every town ought to have a purpose for which it is known (high tech, defence industry, cultural or even retail expertise...and so on, the list is endless) and in such a way they would be more cherished (and protected?). Also, that towns are encouraged to be creative, entrepreneurial if you like. Our system (and values set as a country) is always the short term. People don't want to pay taxes now for a brighter future tomorrow for their children and more so their grandchildren. That's where we are in a 'now' society.

It is always a double pleasure when we win not to hear the same three or four people. It's not the criticism that is ever a problem, nor the frustration of fans when we are playing poorly. Those things are to be expected because we are all fans and want better. It's the campaigning posters, often posting tens of times on the same subject. They are propagandists. Simple as that. I guess they might feel they are influencers in their own minds? A few seasons though (the Farke success years) and you hardly read them at all. So, in short, they are truly not real fans. They want attention (and by and large get it). Yet, they do hit the nail on the head at times admittedly...but we know all about a stopped clock being right ...

As one response states..."It's a cult. Period" And that means there is literally no point in thinking that people like that will ever change. Debate likewise with Trump supporters is futile. It doesn't matter about any facts. Facts themselves are not to believed anyway. Black is literally white and forget any shades in between. Maybe the slightest chance of agreeing a shade of orange.

Looking back to that Huddersfield game and Josh's brave goal which led to his injury...and you realise how this team works with him in it. It's been a terrible miss for us. He is a talisman. What might have been. As for Huddersfield I wouldn't care if they get relegated. Anyway, now Sarge is back who knows, maybe we can trouble those play off positions. This is a great time of the season to start coming into some form.

Hugh Cornwell's voice is the thing that gives the Stranglers an edge. It contains just a hint of threat, anger but also such a melodic quality. An odd mix and completely unique. Of course there's the songwriting too. Not on this album but I also found Skin Deep fascinating for the same reason. On the surface it's a pretty kind of song which breezes through but there's this underlying thing in his voice, a kind of crooning. It makes a fantastic mix. May as well share it!

Yep. A pre amp (a fairly cheap digital interface). I use for listening to all kinds of stuff plus when recording things myself. Researched loads before buying. Lovely soft velour too so not grippy. Plus, very long lead which is ideal. WiFi ok but when you're at home you don't need them. Oh, and they're closed so no others can be disturbed.

Little music shared over the past month! These two pieces were played last night (R3) First for jazz fans...maybe @Nuff Said? ...again 1971...the best year ever for releases? Amazing track And a lovely thing by P J Harvey @ron obvious....maybe you've heard this? Beautiful. As is the album. Something a bit different.