See ya there ?

"Kafkaesque" is an eponym used to describe concepts, situations, and ideas which are reminiscent of the literary work of the Austro-Hungarian writer Franz Kafka, particularly his novels The Trial and The Castle, and the novella The Metamorphosis.The term, which is quite fluid in definition, has also been described as "marked by a senseless, disorienting, often menacing complexity: Kafkaesque bureaucracies"and "marked by surreal distortion and often a sense of impending danger.  Wikipedia

I first found myself using the above term to describe the bizarre conditions and circumstances of my employment as a youth and community worker as the mountain of paper work gradually began to overwhelm and undermine the real work with people. Where, in the past, workers combined to facilitate the participation of fifty plus young people, in weekend residential work shops, to explore issues such as "Power and how it operates in your life" now typically, a senior youth worker sits tapping big brother style data into a computer with the aim of tracking the young “victim” through out their daily life. Oh sure they can justify it to themselves and even some of us but I tell you there is no heart nor love in it. For the "victim" the only option is compliance or be moved down the ladder of entitlement. I understand the professional term is "exited". I also know that there is still good work going being carried out but for how long?
Surely Kafkaesque can also be justifably applied to many of the machinations of the Condem coalition. Example – A result of defense cuts announced today, brand new Aircraft carriers that have to be built because it would cost as much to not build them and …they won’t have aircraft for 12 years.
I am beginning to think that with expert support, a caucus of young sixth formers untainted by the Westminster virus that seems to obliterate common sense, would make better and fairer choices. No wonder that the term referendum terrifies most of those who purport to represent us at Westminster.

I could go on and on about how only a few years ago Social Services offered several layers of service attempting to cater to several layers of need and now there is only one. Critical need.  They are rolling out a new system now.  So if in need call the call centre and eventually some one will assess your needs, presumably after they have dealt with the critical needs of more urgent cases. Some one will visit you and by using a points system they will put a price on your needs, give you the cash and advise that you might engage a neighbour or relative to assist you to buy the services you need. The level of qualification, expertise and experience of the new social worker will of course be governed only by cost and the work will likely be put out to tender to the lowest price. If you think Social Services is a mess now, and it is, it can only get worse under The New Reality. Oh dear! I am going on and on about it.
There will be a myriad of opportunities to participate in the struggle to try to overturn the more damaging plans of the Condem coalition to cut the national debt. This might be the last chance saloon for the people to speak and be heard, for a long time to come.
While it seems the bankers are still virtually immune from the back lash created by their greed and ineptitude and there is no sign that they will be made to make amends, some of their closest compatriots are losing their jobs. Locally this is evidenced by the scant few manning the phones at the Nearby Foxtons Estate Agency. A year ago their large office was filled to capacity with young eager beavers trying to sell local property at Kafkaesaque prices for all they were worth. Meanwhile the effect of government cuts on social housing programmes will be disastrous if recently announced plans are to be carried forward.
Ofcourse we are in debt. Ofcourse some thing must be done to address it and there will be a cost to all of us but, if the quality of life for those folk living at the lowest economic levels, the vulnerable and the dispossessed is to be further reduced I suggest it is incumbent on all of us resist this by what ever means necessary. Put another way the time has come when WE have to help those who represent us decide what should and must be done.

You may remember a post I wrote some time ago about Nurse Margaret Haywood who was found guilty of misconduct at a hearing of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). It decided to remove her from the nursing register. Margaret became a “whistleblower” by secretly filming the neglect of elderly patients at Royal Sussex Hospital in Brighton for a television documentary. There was a massive nation wide response from supporters and it was widely reported that Margaret was re-instated. How ever I understand that this was not a full re-instatement. I recently heard on the 1st supper grape vine that Margaret has suffered with her health since the episode and is unable to work. I understand that she does not regret her actions so bless her and all who stand up for what is true.


The New Reality
1. IF YOU WORK WITH PEOPLE…IT MIGHT SEEM THAT NO ONE WANTS YOU TO DO YOUR JOB…THE JOB YOU TRAINED FOR AND COMMITTED TO……THE JOB YOU WERE DOING ONLY 12 MONTHS AGO….WHY NOT?


Peace

Nylon strung? Not highly strung .. almost perfectly pitched.... travelling, south and west, across the Severn wide and low at neap tide all bathed in golden sunshine…. then rain and hopes of summer Indian are seemingly dashed along with hope of clean redemption from the mess that is the Port of Talbot. Steely sprawl across the coast edge, a scar on any landscape but still, many toil there. Anonymous hotel, as per usual, all the same and…. there is some comfort in that. Then down to Arts centre villaged in the valleys, quaint and picturesque…real and lively with the lovely sound of welsh folk speaking like singing. Sound check for five minutes. All is well. The half hour up there in the lights goes by in a flash. Me clutching onto my electric,  classical axe…jamming with my happy voice. The crowd is warm and funny. I don’t say a word. Let the music speak. Hear the music ….Message Clear. Then up with George Jones and co. One of his dad’s songs. Emotional …powerful. What a great night and it went on and on. Every one pulling together to remember Micky Jones the man from MAN. Blasted with pumped up juices flowing all through. Job done. Said goodbyes. Curry in Swansea at the K2. No half and half for me though. Then boats and packing, sea and sand and ports of call and all. Playing guitar when ever, how ever I want. My arrangements changing and forming new bridges, whole songs strung together in a kind of out pouring then strangled, chopped up bit’s, songs half written…. all coming to life. I can pick up the nylon axe and free my head…run with it. I think some of it is completely new to me. Plugged in, classical fuzz, sounds great to me.

A big tide pushing along the northern coast of Cornwall, fishing in the thick of it. Almost caught a seal… I mean surfer. The seas are dying. If we continue to empty it at this rate there will not be enough sustainable stocks of fish by the year 2050.  I take a fish or two a year on hook and line. Japanese eat lot’s of fish and make beautiful gardens, fabulous electronics which I can’t afford right now and there isn’t enough mackerel for sashimi so it’s off to a zen garden to chill and chant. Do what I truly like with out let or hindrance…
how I love those words!

Cooking later as per usual in my galley, my domain and in my element. Making food for people is surely one of life’s greatest pleasures….feeding the folk. Looking at an ebb tide …wondering if ‘tis time to go a wading in the evening surf for a bass or pluck some more…stringing strange chords together to see what happens. Later I re-invent For Dr Spock and marry it to Red Star. Gin and tonic …that’s the spirit. No pool to sit by just the rocking motion of the endless sea and right now, I’m not even on a boat. I write some book. I have to. It has been too long in the writing and any way I just found out what happens at the beginning….and at the end so it should be easy now. If it isn’t I shall blame you for distracting me for the last few years, you coming to gigs and then, I had to show up but ..I am glad I did.

Gazing at the Atlantic rolling in ten waves in a row. The weather has been lovely for days. Watching the surf rolling across the wide bay. Six white horses running in with the evening sun flashing through their opalascent tops. Beautiful! Let me tell you how I am feeling ...can't believe this is real.
Shopping for some thing unusual to eat at The Co-op. Cool shop compared to almost any other. Cool people run it or Tony Benn ain’t my hero. Cornwall is a strange land re-peopled by the new merchants….greedy with an unrealistic sense of entitlement. St Ives typifies the exploitative seam that runs through the place. Wake up! The artists of real merit upped sticks years ago. Half of them couldn’t have afforded a pastie in St Ives were they still around. Grumble and bloody moan. The pastie was shite. The dawn crept away like the uninvited non Cornish person who sold it to me should have .
Much later ....up a fresh water stream from estuary …pike is mine but only for a little while then back he goes to grow to be a bigger one or be eaten by his mother. Some more meditation….cogitation and a long digestion of recent events then….peace. Where is that guitar? Of course I nearly always know where but, then again, there are two now…sisters…electric sisters, with a classical mein, who wait to be caressed by these aching fingers. It will be a while. I think I am overdoing it.

Yoik on a beach. Chant in a zen garden. Gotta cut it all up and fix it together. Just found notes for a new song Can you feel me by your side – wrap your fingers around mine – I will stand between you and the darkest night.

at the Micky Jones memorial gig

with George and Son of Man

koi in pagoda pool

you don't yoik about some thing.

you yoik something ....

in the rock garden there is

the sound of falling water in a pool

the green home to koi

wind chimes sing in the gentle breeze

joy and sadness are together here

as the air is joined with sunlight

as I am joined with you 

edgarbroughton.com    http://edgarbroughton.com/

Hi folks my new website is live. http://edgarbroughton.com/

If you have come to this blog through the EBB site and you click on the above URL then my site will open in the EBB web site window. If you write the above URL in your browser, and save it to your favourites, not only will I get a warm glow lol, but also my web site will open independently in it's own window. You probably knew that already. I was a little bit apprehensive about the last stage involving uploading to the net. It's a bit like that first plunge in a cold fiord lol. Scary but really nice afterwards. 
I'll be away for the whole of September so things might be a little static on line until I can add new things in October. I will write posts on this blog when I can. All web site feedback and suggestions would be very welcome.

Update on fair days pay for a fair days work gigs is that there is now only ONE of TEN left so if you want it email me asap. See details below or go to the special offer page on my new site.

Book me for your birthday party, anniversary, barbecue, garden party or any other private event, any where in the world and any time between May 1st 2011 and December 31st 2011.
You’ll get me and my acoustic guitar and a solo performance of my songs just for you.This will be your private performance and only the people you want to know about it will be there.

What will it cost? One day of your wages what ever that might be plus travel fares, accomodation and my supper.
If you are interested email for more details ebbman@btinternet.com






Peace

vulcan nuclear strike bomber circa 1962

Born in 1947 by the time I was 11 years old, along with my younger brother and our peers, I had been exposed to the cultural fall out of World War Two through out my formative years. It is not surprising then, that much of a boys pocket money was spent on the miniature toys of war back then. Model Soldiers, military vehicles and the iconic Airfix model aircraft construction kit. My army took turns to defeat my brother's army or be defeated on home soil which was our large back garden, on The Forbes council estate, at 38 Kipling Avenue in Warwick. My brother successfully destroyed many of my Airfix fighter planes as reprisals for undercover ops.

Meanwhile it was business as usual, the business of the Cold War, at RAF Gaydon 9 miles from Warwick.

On 1 January 1955 the first, 138 Squadron operating Vickers Valiants reformed at Gaydon as the first V-bomber squadron and the airfield then settled down as the operational training unit for Valiant and later Victor squadrons.
It was  a Bomber Command 3 Group squadron in its previous role, flying Lincolns until 1950. However, its’ main claim to fame, is as a wartime Special Duties Squadron. Flying Lysanders and Stirlings into occupied Europe and dropping off and picking up agents.

Although the station was used as a training establishment, recently de-classified information reveals that Gaydon was part of the strategic plan and in the event of war it was one of airfields to which Victor bombers would have dispersed ready to carry out nuclear strikes against the Russians.

This eleven year old wrote to the Station commander at RAF Gaydon, telling him that he wanted to be a bomber or fighter pilot though my real intention was to get him to send me photos of the new V Bombers , the older Valiant and newer Victor and Vulcan. A box of glossy pics came by return post with a letter informing me that the RAF would be happy to take me on when I was old enough. I remember the family went to an open day at the Gaydon base so I could gawp at all that lethal hardware.

The idea of me wearing the uniform of the RAF, or indeed any uniform at all, was anathema to my mum. The war had left her with a distaste for chrysantheums( the Japanese national flower) and clear political ideas about how her sons should be raised and the military was not on the plan.

On October 14, 1962, a United States U-2 photoreconnaissance plane captured photographic proof of Soviet missile bases under construction in Cuba. In 13 days time I would be 15 years old.

The U.S.  demanded that the Soviets dismantle the missile bases already under construction or completed in Cuba and remove all offensive weapons.

The entire western alliance was at alert level 2, the highest ever during the entire Cold War. The Americans had a naval blockade ringing Cuba. Nikita Kruschev wrote in a letter to J.F.Kennedy that US quarantine of navigation in international waters and air space constituted an act of aggression and would propell humankind into the abyss of a world nuclear-missile war.

A few miles away in the heart of leafy Warwickshire, Gaydon air base was now a Russian target. In the event of a nuclear strike by the Soviets every one I knew, everything I could see and touch would have been vapourised.

Had the Russians attacked the V bombers would have set out with their Hydrogen bombs in retaliation. Three H bombs were designated for Moscow alone. None of the crews setting out would have expected to find an England if they made it back though incredibly, their orders were clear. Get back in case another strike is necessary.

My birthday on the 27th October came and went and the world didn’t end. The most dangerous moment in the history of the world had passed us by.

The confrontation ended on the 28th October, 1962 when President John F. Kennedy and United Nations Secretary-General U Thant reached an agreement with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to dismantle the offensive weapons and return them to the Soviet Union, subject to United Nations verification, in exchange for an agreement by the United States to never invade Cuba. The Soviets removed the missile systems and their support equipment. The so called quarantine was formally ended at 6:45 p.m. EDT on November 20, 1962. As a secret part of the agreement, all US-built Thor and Jupiter IRBMs deployed in Europe were deactivated by September 1963.The first telephone hot-line was set up between Washington and Moscow so the leaders could talk directly to each other. The Soviet missiles were taken out of Cuba and shortly afterwards American missiles already based in Turkey were quietly removed.

In 1964, along with a bunch of like minded friends, (all “Young Socialists”), I took part in a CND march. This was the first time I had participated in a political demonstration. It was what first lead me to look at direct action. I met so many good people then. We were all enthused by the idea that there is always some thing that can be done, that we have a voice and should use it. Among others it was the steadfast support of my parents, the words of Bertrand Russel, others like him and the comradeship of like minded, fellow travellers that accelerated my politicisation. During the march I remember we stayed over night with The Society of Friends (Quakers) who were very supportive and kind. They found a battered old radio so we could listen to some music, fed us and gave us shelter.

Come in you’re quite welcome

There’s room at the shelter

Take food and warm clothing for yesterday’s men.

So, most of my old comrades from back then are still around though we are scattered to the four winds. A few have passed inevitably. Life goes on inspite of the near misses. The V bombers have been replaced by nuclear submarines and the demo’s still take place albeit on a smaller scale. We have to keep their fingers off the trigger. Let them know we haven’t gone away. Most of us will be reeling from Government cuts in a years time and some of us will have to warm up our protest voice and sharpen our tactical tools. It’s been a while for some of us and we might be a little rusty. For most of us the nuclear threat is probably on the back burner of our current fears and it seems likely that domestic fiscal  issues and the War in Afghanistan will continue to be the main preoccupations for some time. On a difficult day I will think back to October 1962 and be thankful that sanity prevailed. Breathe and be glad………

Update : There are now only 2 of 10 Fair days pay for a fair days work shows still available to be booked for 2011.

Book me for your birthday party, anniversary, barbecue, garden party or any other private event any where in the world.You’ll get me and my acoustic guitar and a solo performance of my songs just for you.This will be your private performance and only the people you want to know about it will be there.

What will it cost? One day of your wages what ever that might be plus travel fares, accomodation and my supper.

If you are interested email for more details ebbman@btinternet.com

peace

a statue in broad st oxford

I have been very pleasantly surprised by the response to the fair days pay for a fair days work idea. It has really caught on. Thanks to all those who have booked the shows so far. Contracts are on their way to you.

Update : There are now only 2 of 10 Fair days pay for a fair days work shows still available to be booked for 2011.


Book me for your birthday party, anniversary, barbecue, garden party or any other private event any where in the world.You’ll get me and my acoustic guitar and a solo performance of my songs just for you.This will be your private performance and only the people you want to know about it will be there.
What will it cost? One day of your wages what ever that might be plus travel fares, accomodation and my supper.


If you are interested email for more details  ebbman@btinternet.com
........................................................................................................................

I have been working on the YOIK vocalisations project components. Trying to sort the wheat from the chaff while trying convert new ideas, as I get them, into recorded musical, performances. It's a new way of working for me. I'm also writing some more conventional material if that term can ever truly be applied to my stuff.

The new web site is finished though I keep tweaking it. Gotta get up the courage to go live with it. It's all work, work! It's a hard life lol!

I bought a little nylon strung electro classical guitar for the
Micky Jones Memorial Gig at Pontardawe Arts Centre, Swansea on the 3rd of September 2010.
I thought I'd do some thing a bit different but I might chicken out and strum the old steel strings. We'll see. Any way check out this link for more details.

http://www.manband.co.uk/

I've been working hard putting it all together but in September, right after George and Micky's gig in Swansea I'm off to the cornish coasts for the whole month. Gonna plot and plan and write and .....fish.

Speaking of Swansea, Ramblin' and I met a couple of guys and the wife of one of them, on our recent trip. The guys were doing a sponsored walk from Swansea to the top of Snowdon in aid of the Welsh Air Ambulance Service.  We shared a few goodies and had a very nice evening before their last hike to the summit. They had set out on the Sunday and had arrived a day before the last yomp on the Friday. They'd had a few set backs and one of the guys had really had enough but as the rain poured down they de camped and set out to finish what they had begun. Quality stuff I say.


Any one want to organise a Christmas time benefit for a good cause? This wandering minstrel is ready and willing. Perhaps there is a needy organisation local to you.


I am compiling a directory of first point of call services for the new web site so I'm also looking for web addresses / URL s of people or community oriented support agencies/services that are local to you and who you know, provide a good service. Please send them to me for inclusion.

That's all for now. Be safe , be happy.

peace

When Ramblin' first suggested a trip to Wales to shoot some video I was a tiny bit  concerned knowing his taste for "summiting" any thing that tips up into the clouds. I had visions of dragging behind him up into the sky. He did actually get me some way up a very steep ( for me ) walk called Watkin's path which gave me a taste of why people do that mad stuff. It's not at all mad. In fact it is a clear indication of sanity in my opinion. I shall try it again and try to go further. We shot some yoiking at the edge of a beautiful lake by a tree that had bent in the wind and looked like a large bonsai. We shot some more on our walk. Some of the bits and pieces look quite good. I haven't seen what is on the other camera that Ramblin' used yet. Wind was a problem but I know how to fix that. main thing was we had fun. In the end it will be about ideas, atmosphere and spontaniety in an evocative setting. 

On the day before we left I could see Ramblin' needed to do his walking up mountains thing. 
We had been looking at some caves made by copper miners many years ago. These poor guys used to live in small stone huts in the mountains working all hours. The missus could visit once a week to bring them neccessary provisions. They could only buy the candles they needed for their work from the boss so he always took a percentage of their earnings back. It is difficult to imagine how these people survived on the slopes of Snowdon in winter. Their lives must have been sheer drudgery. I wonder what they enjoyed and how they relaxed if and when they could afford to. Fair days pay for a fair days work? Not for them.
We both sat looking at the mountain and Ramblin' decided he would try to reach the lower cave. I said I would stay in our camp while he walked up the mountain.

He is pictured below just before disappearing into the tree line at the base of the mountain.

I watched him through binoculars later on the top of the climb striding along with his hill walking sticks and then shooting some footage at the top. He waved and signalled he was coming down. In what seemed like a short time he re-appeared by our tents exhausted but happy. He'd failed to reach the cave so decided he would go to the top instead. 

.

Camping with Ramblin' is like having an eccentric Sherpa who speaks your kind of language and knows you very well. He has all he needs with him and also all you need ( Apart from best Welsh bacon which I had to provide for myself. Fair enough he is a vegetarian after all lol!).

Ramblin'just called as I was writing this. I told him what I was doing and he said " How embarrassing". It's not though is it? I've bigged him up 'aint it tho?

Thanks mate it was fun, educating and, as always,  a bit special.

Update : There are now 7 available Fair days pay for a fair days work  shows for 2011.

peace