Greetings good people,
Hope you’re ok.
Believe it or not I never know what foolishness I’m going to write until I’ve sat down.
Sometimes it’s things that pop into my head. Like on Sunday, when doing a little turn at the Back Yard comedy venue in Bethnal Green. The loudest cheer of the night came when me and Robbie both held up the Senior Citizen pass we had been sent by mistake 😜
Then sometimes something will happen. Like today!!!
There is a little old lady who accosts me every year to buy a poppy. When I tell her that I’ve got one from last year, now because I am married, I can see the anger in her eyes. I always end up buying one.
I appreciate there is a sense of political correctness relative to where I work but I could get it for free.
I strongly believe there should be a covenant that determines that if someone signs up for the armed forces, their on going care should be written into the constitution. I have long thought about why nobody has done a documentary identifying the long term impact for many ex army personnel. Over represented in jail, on the street, with alcohol and drug problems, in the divorce courts, with long term mental health issues and not forgetting (sometimes) life changing injuries.
That is why I give to the Royal British Legion. I’m aware of the politics but I can’t hold those beliefs without donating something. But It hurt me to give that £10 today because I am a “working” man, as redefined by the Labour Party.
So back to today, my friend selling the poppies says they have black ones now for black people. Black poppies for black people 😳
I think everyone at the station could hear me laughing. I explained that there was a book and play called Black Poppies which told the story of people of colour who fought through (particularly) the Second World War and that this was probably to mark their contribution.
Anyway for £10 I felt like I could take both poppies and I did. A kind of bogof.
We have just had the most challenging budget for a generation. There were further cuts to all sorts of community enhancing initiatives, yet in the history of humanity, there has never been a country which could not afford war.
Anyway, I’m slipping into dangerous territory, rather like a soldier on a reconnaissance mission, I have to tread carefully.
Good thing I am a badman.
You wear a poppy?
Take care 🧡
