Sorry you missed it first time round?
Desperate to hear our dulcet tones?
Find the Wendy Simon and Louise Baldock Community News Radio Show here.
A rather grainy photo of me with Saul Marks and Marie Curran talking about the Deane Road Jewish Cemetery project too.
I think there are more photos, the lovely Sheila took lots, hopefully she can email a few over and I can put them on here. You do need to see Wendy sitting at the microphone too after all.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Boro Resurgent
I was dreading today's match, anticipating a slaughtering.
My Boro team, struggling in the relegation zone, having to play the mighty chart-topping Arsenal, and we haven't won a game in three months.
And would you believe it, we won 2-1.
Arsenal's first defeat of the season.
As Arsene Wenger said “They were sharper, we were second best.”
I'm told our fans were singing "Top of the league, you're having a laugh". We can be really cruel sometimes, I must give Stephen Twigg a call and gloat ;-)
I'd be stunned except we have made quite a habit out of defeating the top-flight clubs. Now we just have to learn how to beat the rest of them. A very welcome 3 points that see us lifted out of the relegation zone.
My Boro team, struggling in the relegation zone, having to play the mighty chart-topping Arsenal, and we haven't won a game in three months.
And would you believe it, we won 2-1.
Arsenal's first defeat of the season.
As Arsene Wenger said “They were sharper, we were second best.”
I'm told our fans were singing "Top of the league, you're having a laugh". We can be really cruel sometimes, I must give Stephen Twigg a call and gloat ;-)
I'd be stunned except we have made quite a habit out of defeating the top-flight clubs. Now we just have to learn how to beat the rest of them. A very welcome 3 points that see us lifted out of the relegation zone.
Christmas Presence at the Bridewell Studios
Wendy and I visited the Christmas Presence Christmas market this afternoon at the Bridewell Studios on Prescot Road, Kensington.
I bought some Christmas cards, Christmas decorations and knocked another stocking-filler off the list.
The studio is more or less opposite the Royal Hospital and I heard about it when they had a radio show on Kensington Vision's KVFM community radio station.
There was one surreal moment when we passed a printed notice in the hall that said in bold "Have you seen our aluminium step ladders?". We both looked around in anticipation of a modern sculpture, only to read in the small print that someone had nicked them from the toilets and were being urged to return them forthwith!
I bought some Christmas cards, Christmas decorations and knocked another stocking-filler off the list.
The studio is more or less opposite the Royal Hospital and I heard about it when they had a radio show on Kensington Vision's KVFM community radio station.
There was one surreal moment when we passed a printed notice in the hall that said in bold "Have you seen our aluminium step ladders?". We both looked around in anticipation of a modern sculpture, only to read in the small print that someone had nicked them from the toilets and were being urged to return them forthwith!
Labour Group Christmas night out in Blundell Street
Great night out on Friday night with the Labour Councillors, we know how to party!
Blundell Street (manager insists it is prounced like "trundle" by the way)
Three course meal, two "turns" and a disco
The last remnants of the party left at about 2am, foot-sore after an evening's dancing.
It is really beginning to feel Christmassy now
Blundell Street (manager insists it is prounced like "trundle" by the way)
Three course meal, two "turns" and a disco
The last remnants of the party left at about 2am, foot-sore after an evening's dancing.
It is really beginning to feel Christmassy now
Working with Liverpool's Polish community
Liam and I had a really useful meeting with Andzej (Andrew) from a Polish organisation in Liverpool who have designed a website, www.livel.eu and a magazine to help new Polish arrivals settle in Liverpool.
The first edition of the magazine, Czas na przerwę was launched last week.
He has lots of great ideas and we came away with a huge list of contacts we need to identify for him, so that the organisation can begin to work with public agencies and organisations in the city, for mutual support, publicity, advertising, spreading the message etc.
They are also keen to set up a Polish Club in Liverpool. I have heard rumours of clubs already in existence, somewhere off Ullet Road for instance. Do you know if there is one already? Some people tell me there are none, others that there are.
Andzej says they would ideally like one in Kensington, I have promised to make a few enquiries on their behalf. Liam and I were thinking about empty pubs they could perhaps take over the management of for instance, there are a few in Kensington and Fairfield. Or perhaps the managers of existing pubs might like to turn themselves into an "official" Polish pub? It could do wonders for falling trade.
I did tell him there are no empty buildings in our gift.
Help please with this idea and with contacts.
The first edition of the magazine, Czas na przerwę was launched last week.
He has lots of great ideas and we came away with a huge list of contacts we need to identify for him, so that the organisation can begin to work with public agencies and organisations in the city, for mutual support, publicity, advertising, spreading the message etc.
They are also keen to set up a Polish Club in Liverpool. I have heard rumours of clubs already in existence, somewhere off Ullet Road for instance. Do you know if there is one already? Some people tell me there are none, others that there are.
Andzej says they would ideally like one in Kensington, I have promised to make a few enquiries on their behalf. Liam and I were thinking about empty pubs they could perhaps take over the management of for instance, there are a few in Kensington and Fairfield. Or perhaps the managers of existing pubs might like to turn themselves into an "official" Polish pub? It could do wonders for falling trade.
I did tell him there are no empty buildings in our gift.
Help please with this idea and with contacts.
Celebrating the "life" of St John the Divine Church
Liam and I went to St John the Divine Church on Holly Road on Thursday night to join them in a farewell celebration.
The church is in a parlous state physically, the steeple will have to be demolished as it is now extremely dangerous (part of the church is already roped off to prevent anyone having any rubble falling on them, both inside and out). The roof of the adjoining community centre has already exceeded its lifespan by some 7 years.
It is a terrible shame, nobody wants to have to move out of their church and centre, but if something truly cannot be saved, then needs must.
So the challenge now is for the Vicar and congregation to find a new place to worship and new venues to host their community activity. Most of this has now been resolved but they are still looking for somewhere with big ovens where they can cook the food for the luncheon club they run in conjunction with Age Concern.
I am making some enquiries on their behalf, I have thought of the Fairfield Centre on Sheil Road, Venture Housing on Boaler Street, the Sure Start on Quorn Street so far. I have written some emails to them today. Can you think of anywhere else which might have big enough ovens and a nice area for dining?
The party was absolutely packed with supporters, extremely well-attended, despite the atrocious weather, loads of lovely children and their parents, but also the older users of the community centre, congregation members and local residents. The PCSOs were there too and also the Community team from Kensington Regeneration.
Just while chatting to a few people I picked up four bits of casework.
What a shame to lose this resource, good luck to them all in finding new homes
The church is in a parlous state physically, the steeple will have to be demolished as it is now extremely dangerous (part of the church is already roped off to prevent anyone having any rubble falling on them, both inside and out). The roof of the adjoining community centre has already exceeded its lifespan by some 7 years.
It is a terrible shame, nobody wants to have to move out of their church and centre, but if something truly cannot be saved, then needs must.
So the challenge now is for the Vicar and congregation to find a new place to worship and new venues to host their community activity. Most of this has now been resolved but they are still looking for somewhere with big ovens where they can cook the food for the luncheon club they run in conjunction with Age Concern.
I am making some enquiries on their behalf, I have thought of the Fairfield Centre on Sheil Road, Venture Housing on Boaler Street, the Sure Start on Quorn Street so far. I have written some emails to them today. Can you think of anywhere else which might have big enough ovens and a nice area for dining?
The party was absolutely packed with supporters, extremely well-attended, despite the atrocious weather, loads of lovely children and their parents, but also the older users of the community centre, congregation members and local residents. The PCSOs were there too and also the Community team from Kensington Regeneration.
Just while chatting to a few people I picked up four bits of casework.
What a shame to lose this resource, good luck to them all in finding new homes
Great night out with Liverpool West Derby Labour Party
Last week Wendy, Liam and I were pleased to attend the Liverpool West Derby Labour Party fundraising dinner at Retsina on Derby Road, Old Swan.
It was very well attended. Stephen Twigg had asked Michael Cashman MEP as after-dinner speaker. He was very funny, and as a former actor, he acted the part of various European politicians, and some UK ones, as he told his tales. So we felt we had not one speaker but many.
Arlene McCarthy MEP also came, which was very supportive of her.
We also had regional TU friends with us.
The food was lovely too, course after course of Greek dishes, I would definitely recommend it.
Stephen is doing a wonderful job of re-energising the local constituency party and they are providing lots and lots of activists for campaigning activity every week now. I can see some great electoral results coming in the West Derby area!
It was very well attended. Stephen Twigg had asked Michael Cashman MEP as after-dinner speaker. He was very funny, and as a former actor, he acted the part of various European politicians, and some UK ones, as he told his tales. So we felt we had not one speaker but many.
Arlene McCarthy MEP also came, which was very supportive of her.
We also had regional TU friends with us.
The food was lovely too, course after course of Greek dishes, I would definitely recommend it.
Stephen is doing a wonderful job of re-energising the local constituency party and they are providing lots and lots of activists for campaigning activity every week now. I can see some great electoral results coming in the West Derby area!
Pushing on with our Neighbourhood Agreement process
Progress at last on our Neighbourhood Agreement for City and North neighbourhood, Liverpool City Council.
In essence, funding for providing local services will now move from a city wide approach, to a localised system of funding based on local priorities. The city agrees on a Local Area Agreement which is then reflected through 5 neighbourhood agreements.
The City and North joint neighbourhood committee contains 14 Labour and 4 Liberal Democrat Councillors. Steve Munby is the Chair and I am the Deputy Chair. The neighbourhood includes the city centre, the Dingle, the waterfront, Kirkdale, Everton, Kensington, Fairfield and Picton
Steve is chairing the Children and Young People Partnership Working Group (PWG), Jane Corbett is chairing the Health and Older People PWG, our Neighbourhood Manager, Karen Lewis is chairing the Strong and Safe Communities PWG.
I am chairing the new Physical Regeneration PWG.
I was chairing Economic Development and Enterprise, with Physical Regeneration but we agreed at our last joint wards that this was far too big of an agenda for any group of people so we have split it in half. Nick Small is going to chair ED&E. This makes sense as he is also our Shadow Exex Member for the same brief, city wide.
Last week we spent the whole day in the wonderful Blackburne House on Hope Street, deliberating over local priorities for these two "blocks" of the Neighbourhood agreement. We were joined by all the relevant council staff, partners and agencies as well as other local councillors. We have come up with some very strong aims and priorities which will dictate our spending over the next three years.
Once the NA is published I will link to it on here.
Our final task will be to identify which Key Performance Indicators we wish to prioritise in order that the relevant funding can make its way to us.
It is very powerful stuff, to engage on such important future spending with the ability to address local need and local issues. I am enthusiastic about this process, even if it has taken us about six months to get to this point.
In essence, funding for providing local services will now move from a city wide approach, to a localised system of funding based on local priorities. The city agrees on a Local Area Agreement which is then reflected through 5 neighbourhood agreements.
The City and North joint neighbourhood committee contains 14 Labour and 4 Liberal Democrat Councillors. Steve Munby is the Chair and I am the Deputy Chair. The neighbourhood includes the city centre, the Dingle, the waterfront, Kirkdale, Everton, Kensington, Fairfield and Picton
Steve is chairing the Children and Young People Partnership Working Group (PWG), Jane Corbett is chairing the Health and Older People PWG, our Neighbourhood Manager, Karen Lewis is chairing the Strong and Safe Communities PWG.
I am chairing the new Physical Regeneration PWG.
I was chairing Economic Development and Enterprise, with Physical Regeneration but we agreed at our last joint wards that this was far too big of an agenda for any group of people so we have split it in half. Nick Small is going to chair ED&E. This makes sense as he is also our Shadow Exex Member for the same brief, city wide.
Last week we spent the whole day in the wonderful Blackburne House on Hope Street, deliberating over local priorities for these two "blocks" of the Neighbourhood agreement. We were joined by all the relevant council staff, partners and agencies as well as other local councillors. We have come up with some very strong aims and priorities which will dictate our spending over the next three years.
Once the NA is published I will link to it on here.
Our final task will be to identify which Key Performance Indicators we wish to prioritise in order that the relevant funding can make its way to us.
It is very powerful stuff, to engage on such important future spending with the ability to address local need and local issues. I am enthusiastic about this process, even if it has taken us about six months to get to this point.
A bit more on the new Liverpolitalia
I have been contacted by Gerry Murphy, Chair of Liverpolitalia who has been alerted to my earlier entry. I want to help the group by publicising their activities a bit more widely.
Gerry tells me as follows:
Liverpolitalia was formed last year as the 'Children of Italy'. Having discovered the existence of other organisations in the USA with similar names we decided to call the organisation 'Liverpolitalia'
We have a membership which is growing all the time and have a committe of representatives of sometime ancient Liverpolitalian families in the city.
Our particular emphasis is on the representation and re-establishment of the presence of Liverpolitalians in the make-up of the city. Ours is not, therefore an organisation which seeks to bask in the 'Glory that was Rome' but to celebrate the achievements of those who for whatever reason found themselves having to emigrate.
There is, however a particular emphasis on the re-discovery of Italian language and culture in the form of taught courses and of course Liverpolitalia itself.
I attach here the prospectus of the organisation and hope you will nmaintain contact with us in the future. If you received an inviation and were able to come to the meeting on the 28th then please forgive me repeating what you probably already know!
LIVERPOLITALIA
A Prospectus
The Idea
The idea of Liverpolitalia is the formation and formal constitution of an organisation which seeks to bring together the relatives and associates of all Italian immigrants who came to the city of Liverpool from the 19th century onwards.
Liverpolitalia grew out of the original idea for a group called “I Figli d’Italia” (Children of Italy) to provide a focus and forum for the sharing of collective and individual memories and perspectives on the nature of Liverpool Italian identity. The first meeting of the embryonic “Liverpolitalia” was on 21st June 2007.
Composition and Constitution
The organisation is open in the first instance to all who possess Italian relatives of any sort, who are interested in their Italian heritage and in developing contacts with other of similar generation in the U.K., the U.S.A. and Ireland as well as Italy itself.
Constitution
Within the first six months the organisation has set up a working party and steering committee to draw up a formal constitution paving the way for the election of a committee and officers of the organisation.
Activities
The activities of the organisation will be chiefly concerned in the first phase with the drawing together of the many citizens of Liverpool and its hinterland that are of Italian origin.
The organisation will host Italian food and culture evenings and seek to liaise with other like-minded organisations in the area. Italian language courses will be organised for those who seek to learn the language of their ancestors.
In these the early days the organisation will lay the foundations for a representative and proactive community and charitable organisation which will provide a “focolare” for the Italian community, its descendants and all who empathise with and hold Italian culture in a position of esteem.
For further information contact: liverpolitalia@hotmail.co.uk
Gerry tells me as follows:
Liverpolitalia was formed last year as the 'Children of Italy'. Having discovered the existence of other organisations in the USA with similar names we decided to call the organisation 'Liverpolitalia'
We have a membership which is growing all the time and have a committe of representatives of sometime ancient Liverpolitalian families in the city.
Our particular emphasis is on the representation and re-establishment of the presence of Liverpolitalians in the make-up of the city. Ours is not, therefore an organisation which seeks to bask in the 'Glory that was Rome' but to celebrate the achievements of those who for whatever reason found themselves having to emigrate.
There is, however a particular emphasis on the re-discovery of Italian language and culture in the form of taught courses and of course Liverpolitalia itself.
I attach here the prospectus of the organisation and hope you will nmaintain contact with us in the future. If you received an inviation and were able to come to the meeting on the 28th then please forgive me repeating what you probably already know!
LIVERPOLITALIA
A Prospectus
The Idea
The idea of Liverpolitalia is the formation and formal constitution of an organisation which seeks to bring together the relatives and associates of all Italian immigrants who came to the city of Liverpool from the 19th century onwards.
Liverpolitalia grew out of the original idea for a group called “I Figli d’Italia” (Children of Italy) to provide a focus and forum for the sharing of collective and individual memories and perspectives on the nature of Liverpool Italian identity. The first meeting of the embryonic “Liverpolitalia” was on 21st June 2007.
Composition and Constitution
The organisation is open in the first instance to all who possess Italian relatives of any sort, who are interested in their Italian heritage and in developing contacts with other of similar generation in the U.K., the U.S.A. and Ireland as well as Italy itself.
Constitution
Within the first six months the organisation has set up a working party and steering committee to draw up a formal constitution paving the way for the election of a committee and officers of the organisation.
Activities
The activities of the organisation will be chiefly concerned in the first phase with the drawing together of the many citizens of Liverpool and its hinterland that are of Italian origin.
The organisation will host Italian food and culture evenings and seek to liaise with other like-minded organisations in the area. Italian language courses will be organised for those who seek to learn the language of their ancestors.
In these the early days the organisation will lay the foundations for a representative and proactive community and charitable organisation which will provide a “focolare” for the Italian community, its descendants and all who empathise with and hold Italian culture in a position of esteem.
For further information contact: liverpolitalia@hotmail.co.uk
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Yellow House - Radio City Community Project of the Year
Great news from Yellow House - I just had this message from Gosia Mc Kane
Well done!
"Yellow House were named as Winners of the Radio City Community Project of the Year Award at the Ceremony on Thursday 29th November 2007 at The Royal Court Theatre - we believe it was well deserved for our commitment to young people over 25 years in Liverpool - we do not know who nominated Yellow House but thank you whoever it was - we will continue our innovative and exciting work every day with young people as usual - Yellow House is proud of its work, the young people, of Liverpool, its people and history
Thank you to Radio City."
Well done!
"Yellow House were named as Winners of the Radio City Community Project of the Year Award at the Ceremony on Thursday 29th November 2007 at The Royal Court Theatre - we believe it was well deserved for our commitment to young people over 25 years in Liverpool - we do not know who nominated Yellow House but thank you whoever it was - we will continue our innovative and exciting work every day with young people as usual - Yellow House is proud of its work, the young people, of Liverpool, its people and history
Thank you to Radio City."
Monday, December 03, 2007
Interesting article in Progress about the future of the Liberal Democrats and their relationship with other parties in the UK
What do you make of this article by Andrew Russell in Progress this month? He is senior lecturer in politics at the University of Manchester and examines here the Liberal Democrat's electoral and political strategy and its relationship with the other parties.
Personally I would rather go into coalition with the People's Front of Judea, or even at a pinch, the Judean People's Front
Personally I would rather go into coalition with the People's Front of Judea, or even at a pinch, the Judean People's Front
"Opportunity knocks: The government must persuade the public of the overwhelming benefits of immigration"
Real food for thought
Philippe Legrain is the author of Immigrants: Your Country Needs Them and a visiting fellow at the London School of Economics’ European Institute
In this article he discusses the benefits of mass immigration.
I feel real sympathy for this point of view, what are your thoughts?
Philippe Legrain is the author of Immigrants: Your Country Needs Them and a visiting fellow at the London School of Economics’ European Institute
In this article he discusses the benefits of mass immigration.
I feel real sympathy for this point of view, what are your thoughts?
Double dose of church services
Cath and I went to the Civic service in the Bethel Presbyterian Church of Wales, Heathfield Road, Liverpool (at the end of my street essentially).
We sat with the mayors from all over Merseyside, with the Recorder and the Chief of Police and all sorts of other dignatories. There were about 8 LCC councillors present I think.
I love civic masses and civic services but this was particularly interesting.
Half of the hymns and half of the service were in Welsh, which was fascinating. Cath said she felt like John Redwood trying but failing to sing the Welsh National Anthem. We did try to sing along with the Welsh but at times fell back on la-la-ing and singing the words quietly in English where we knew them - like Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
The Minister was particularly welcoming and stressed the importance of the city coming together for our 800th birthday.
There were moving contributions from Welsh congregation members, including the wonderful singing of Muriel Cunningham, very much reminiscent of Charlotte Church and a lovely 800th birthday song from another member of the church whose name I missed.
We were made very welcome and I wouldn't mind worshipping with them occasionally on a Sunday morning.
Thank you for inviting me.
In the afternoon I went with Lisa and little Isaac to the Christingle Service at All Souls CoE church on Mather Avenue on the corner of Springwood Avenue.
If you have been to a Christingle service you will know it is really a service for children to help introduce them to Advent and to Christmas.
Wikipedia tells us that "a Christingle is a symbolic object used in advent services in churches of many Christian denominations. It has its origins in the Moravian Church , with the first recorded use, in Germany, in 1747.
This is the story of the first Christingle:
One Christmas time back in 1747 at a town in Germany, Pastor John sat at home in front of his fire. He was thinking how he could explain the love of Jesus, and what Christmas really meant to the children in the church. He decided to prepare a simple symbol to help make the message of Christmas fresh and lively for them. Pastor John gave each child a lighted candle wrapped in a red ribbon, with a prayer that said "Lord Jesus, kindle a flame in these dear children's hearts". This was the first ever Christingle service.
Many years later, in 1968, Christingle services were introduced to the Anglican Church in Britain by John Pensom of The Children's Society, and the custom spread quickly; each year there are more and more Christingle services in England and Wales, although today's Christingles are a little different.
The Christingle consists of:
an orange representing the world with
a red ribbon around it representing the blood of Jesus
fruits and sweets (usually dolly mixtures) are skewered on 4 cocktail sticks which are pushed into the orange representing the fruits of the earth and the four seasons
and a lighted candle is pushed into the centre of the orange representing Christ, the light of the world"
Our service followed this faithfully, although my Christingle only had three cocktail sticks instead of four - I was robbed!
Isaac volunteered to take part in the service and went up to the altar with the big boys and girls to play his part. We held our breath, Lisa and I, but if anything, this lovely little boy was better behaved than the bigger children who stood with him. The curate said later that his face and his poise gave her a really strong sense of the meaning of Christmas as she watched him solemnly taking part in the service.
A rousing rendition of "Is this the way to shine for Jesus" to the tune of Amarillo and a candle-lit Away in a Manger were particularly memorable.
We sat with the mayors from all over Merseyside, with the Recorder and the Chief of Police and all sorts of other dignatories. There were about 8 LCC councillors present I think.
I love civic masses and civic services but this was particularly interesting.
Half of the hymns and half of the service were in Welsh, which was fascinating. Cath said she felt like John Redwood trying but failing to sing the Welsh National Anthem. We did try to sing along with the Welsh but at times fell back on la-la-ing and singing the words quietly in English where we knew them - like Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
The Minister was particularly welcoming and stressed the importance of the city coming together for our 800th birthday.
There were moving contributions from Welsh congregation members, including the wonderful singing of Muriel Cunningham, very much reminiscent of Charlotte Church and a lovely 800th birthday song from another member of the church whose name I missed.
We were made very welcome and I wouldn't mind worshipping with them occasionally on a Sunday morning.
Thank you for inviting me.
In the afternoon I went with Lisa and little Isaac to the Christingle Service at All Souls CoE church on Mather Avenue on the corner of Springwood Avenue.
If you have been to a Christingle service you will know it is really a service for children to help introduce them to Advent and to Christmas.
Wikipedia tells us that "a Christingle is a symbolic object used in advent services in churches of many Christian denominations. It has its origins in the Moravian Church , with the first recorded use, in Germany, in 1747.
This is the story of the first Christingle:
One Christmas time back in 1747 at a town in Germany, Pastor John sat at home in front of his fire. He was thinking how he could explain the love of Jesus, and what Christmas really meant to the children in the church. He decided to prepare a simple symbol to help make the message of Christmas fresh and lively for them. Pastor John gave each child a lighted candle wrapped in a red ribbon, with a prayer that said "Lord Jesus, kindle a flame in these dear children's hearts". This was the first ever Christingle service.
Many years later, in 1968, Christingle services were introduced to the Anglican Church in Britain by John Pensom of The Children's Society, and the custom spread quickly; each year there are more and more Christingle services in England and Wales, although today's Christingles are a little different.
The Christingle consists of:
an orange representing the world with
a red ribbon around it representing the blood of Jesus
fruits and sweets (usually dolly mixtures) are skewered on 4 cocktail sticks which are pushed into the orange representing the fruits of the earth and the four seasons
and a lighted candle is pushed into the centre of the orange representing Christ, the light of the world"
Our service followed this faithfully, although my Christingle only had three cocktail sticks instead of four - I was robbed!
Isaac volunteered to take part in the service and went up to the altar with the big boys and girls to play his part. We held our breath, Lisa and I, but if anything, this lovely little boy was better behaved than the bigger children who stood with him. The curate said later that his face and his poise gave her a really strong sense of the meaning of Christmas as she watched him solemnly taking part in the service.
A rousing rendition of "Is this the way to shine for Jesus" to the tune of Amarillo and a candle-lit Away in a Manger were particularly memorable.
Celebrating Liverpool Life at the New Picket
My mate Cath Ingham and I went to the New Picket on Saturday night to an event to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
A cause dear to both of our hearts. Cath has two sons with CF, both in their 30s and doing well, thank you. I lost my friend Dominic McElroy to CF in 2001. Gordon Brown's younger son has CF too.
It can be a devasting disease claiming young lives but with careful management it does not have to be a death sentence as Cath's sons show.
The gig showcased 6 acts.
My favourites were TJ and Murphy - an accoustic folk duo with lovely lyrical songs - and the Alun Parry Band, enthusiastic folk to get the dancers on to the dance floor (My Grandad was a docker was particularly well received).
We were somewhat startled by the announcement of a 5am bar - needless to say we were home safe long before then, but pleased with the raffle where I won a £120 service from a Ford garage in Birkenhead.
It was my first trip to the New Picket but it wont be my last, a great venue, fantastic DJing between the bands and really friendly and supportive bar staff and bouncers.
A great evening
A cause dear to both of our hearts. Cath has two sons with CF, both in their 30s and doing well, thank you. I lost my friend Dominic McElroy to CF in 2001. Gordon Brown's younger son has CF too.
It can be a devasting disease claiming young lives but with careful management it does not have to be a death sentence as Cath's sons show.
The gig showcased 6 acts.
My favourites were TJ and Murphy - an accoustic folk duo with lovely lyrical songs - and the Alun Parry Band, enthusiastic folk to get the dancers on to the dance floor (My Grandad was a docker was particularly well received).
We were somewhat startled by the announcement of a 5am bar - needless to say we were home safe long before then, but pleased with the raffle where I won a £120 service from a Ford garage in Birkenhead.
It was my first trip to the New Picket but it wont be my last, a great venue, fantastic DJing between the bands and really friendly and supportive bar staff and bouncers.
A great evening
Liverpool Co-operative Party relaunch
We had our AGM at the Eldonians, a really positive example of co-operation in action. And as if I dont already have enough to do, I have agreed to be the new Secretary of the Liverpool Co-operative Party.
The Co-operative Party is a sister party to the Labour Party and it is perfectly possible, acceptable and even desirable to hold joint membership.
Louise Ellman is a Labour/Co-op MP and hopefully Stephen Twigg will be our city's second Labour/Co-op MP after the next general election in Liverpool West Derby.
Gordon Brown is the first Co-op member to become Prime Minister.
We want to reach out to co-operators right across the city, whether they are in retail, music, housing, art, farming, sport, whatever it may be.
If you are a co-operator and would like to join the Co-operative Party and engage with us in debates about how co-operative solutions can be found for local policy challenges then please do get in touch with me. You do not have to be a Labour Party member to be a Co-operative Party member.
Tories however need not apply, whatever David Cameron might pretend about them embracing co-operation and mutualism, we all know they are the party of the individual and co-operation doesn't work like that.
The Co-operative Party is a sister party to the Labour Party and it is perfectly possible, acceptable and even desirable to hold joint membership.
Louise Ellman is a Labour/Co-op MP and hopefully Stephen Twigg will be our city's second Labour/Co-op MP after the next general election in Liverpool West Derby.
Gordon Brown is the first Co-op member to become Prime Minister.
We want to reach out to co-operators right across the city, whether they are in retail, music, housing, art, farming, sport, whatever it may be.
If you are a co-operator and would like to join the Co-operative Party and engage with us in debates about how co-operative solutions can be found for local policy challenges then please do get in touch with me. You do not have to be a Labour Party member to be a Co-operative Party member.
Tories however need not apply, whatever David Cameron might pretend about them embracing co-operation and mutualism, we all know they are the party of the individual and co-operation doesn't work like that.
Au Revoir not Goodbye to KVFM
4pm on Friday saw the last transmission of KVFM from McDonalds in Kensington
A fortnight of excellent community radio, with 94 different organisations featured and countless presenters and guests.
Great music, great public information and great radio
This was not ordinary radio, this was 100% home-grown, organically packaged, community radio (or words to that effect, thanks Sheila Fazakerley)
I have not been able to keep away over the fortnight, I have been into McDonalds on most days and had the car radio permanently tuned to KVFM on 87.7FM. I listened on the way to work very morning, catching some great shows presented by our junior and senior school kids. Then I listened on my way to meetings after work catching partners and agencies in the area promoting their services. And I had the pleasure of listening to crazy Carl and Captain Rob on the way back home around 8pm.
My personal favourites, without doubt, were Lauren and Demi from Sacred Heart primary who were on the radio on Saturday afternoon and again as the last show on Thursday night before switch off. Those two girls were full of confidence and joie de vive, they were chatting, singing, engaging and fantastic. Move over Jonathan Ross, move over Terry Wogan, these girls are coming for you!
Wendy and I loved our show and for the knockers, Frank Doran was on the radio on Saturday afternoon, 24th November too.
We have to bring it back next year.
So much hard work went into this project, Steve Faragher from Kensington Vision and Carl Speares from Likely Alliance deserve all our praise, thank you so much for bringing community radio to our area and please come back soon.
A fortnight of excellent community radio, with 94 different organisations featured and countless presenters and guests.
Great music, great public information and great radio
This was not ordinary radio, this was 100% home-grown, organically packaged, community radio (or words to that effect, thanks Sheila Fazakerley)
I have not been able to keep away over the fortnight, I have been into McDonalds on most days and had the car radio permanently tuned to KVFM on 87.7FM. I listened on the way to work very morning, catching some great shows presented by our junior and senior school kids. Then I listened on my way to meetings after work catching partners and agencies in the area promoting their services. And I had the pleasure of listening to crazy Carl and Captain Rob on the way back home around 8pm.
My personal favourites, without doubt, were Lauren and Demi from Sacred Heart primary who were on the radio on Saturday afternoon and again as the last show on Thursday night before switch off. Those two girls were full of confidence and joie de vive, they were chatting, singing, engaging and fantastic. Move over Jonathan Ross, move over Terry Wogan, these girls are coming for you!
Wendy and I loved our show and for the knockers, Frank Doran was on the radio on Saturday afternoon, 24th November too.
We have to bring it back next year.
So much hard work went into this project, Steve Faragher from Kensington Vision and Carl Speares from Likely Alliance deserve all our praise, thank you so much for bringing community radio to our area and please come back soon.
Flint Street Nativity at the Playhouse
Wendy kindly invited me to accompany her to the opening night of the Flint Street Nativity at the Playhouse on 29th November.
It was great fun and quite moving too really.
The actors play children engaged in a nativity, with all the usual angst over who gets to play Mary and Joseph and who is fed up being an angel or a shepherd.
Pushy mums, absent dads, stage fright, it is all there.
And in the final act the actors become the parents of the children they have played in earlier acts and the angst becomes more understandable.
Very funny, some great moments, great acting and a lovely play.
Thanks very much to Wendy for inviting me, we had a great time. Do go and see it.
It reminded me of the tale of a boy who wanted to play Joseph but was shoe-horned into the part of the Inn-keeper.
When Joseph knocked on the door of his inn, asking him if there was any room for him and his pregnant wife, the disgruntled inn-keeper threw open the door shouting "Absolutely loads mate, do come in".
It was great fun and quite moving too really.
The actors play children engaged in a nativity, with all the usual angst over who gets to play Mary and Joseph and who is fed up being an angel or a shepherd.
Pushy mums, absent dads, stage fright, it is all there.
And in the final act the actors become the parents of the children they have played in earlier acts and the angst becomes more understandable.
Very funny, some great moments, great acting and a lovely play.
Thanks very much to Wendy for inviting me, we had a great time. Do go and see it.
It reminded me of the tale of a boy who wanted to play Joseph but was shoe-horned into the part of the Inn-keeper.
When Joseph knocked on the door of his inn, asking him if there was any room for him and his pregnant wife, the disgruntled inn-keeper threw open the door shouting "Absolutely loads mate, do come in".
Electoral Committee - very cross!
My first ever Electoral Committee meeting on Thursday where I got the issue of those bloody boxes on the agenda. Readers of the blog in years gone by may remember this story.
Well I did my best, I told the primarily LibDem led committee about the ballot papers we found in the boxes this year. I reminded them about close elections - Croxteth ward was won by only 10 votes, Winchester by one vote in 1997.
They were unmoved.
I told them they were a failure in terms of knocking out supporters because the opposition steal the boxes or the cards from inside them.
We dont actually keep our cards, they all go in the bin (such few as are not stolen by the LibDems), we only have boxes in K&F because the LibDems have them and so we must.
I told them that they are a distraction from the real business of elections.
They were unmoved
I told them that nobody else in the country has boxes, but they refused to believe me, or the Returning Officer, or the Elections Officer.
They offered suggestions of places in the country where they believe the boxes are duplicated - I am positive they are wrong and that no-one outside of Merseyside does this. I know for sure that the national Labour Party is not happy with boxes.
And then my late-arriving Labour Councillor colleague failed to support me. He thought they helped remind people there was an election on. I am not sure how this is supposed to happen as you have to be at the door of the polling station before you see the box.
So we are stuck with them for another year at least and my blood pressure will have to suffer through another eve of poll
Grrrrrr
I am very cross!
Well I did my best, I told the primarily LibDem led committee about the ballot papers we found in the boxes this year. I reminded them about close elections - Croxteth ward was won by only 10 votes, Winchester by one vote in 1997.
They were unmoved.
I told them they were a failure in terms of knocking out supporters because the opposition steal the boxes or the cards from inside them.
We dont actually keep our cards, they all go in the bin (such few as are not stolen by the LibDems), we only have boxes in K&F because the LibDems have them and so we must.
I told them that they are a distraction from the real business of elections.
They were unmoved
I told them that nobody else in the country has boxes, but they refused to believe me, or the Returning Officer, or the Elections Officer.
They offered suggestions of places in the country where they believe the boxes are duplicated - I am positive they are wrong and that no-one outside of Merseyside does this. I know for sure that the national Labour Party is not happy with boxes.
And then my late-arriving Labour Councillor colleague failed to support me. He thought they helped remind people there was an election on. I am not sure how this is supposed to happen as you have to be at the door of the polling station before you see the box.
So we are stuck with them for another year at least and my blood pressure will have to suffer through another eve of poll
Grrrrrr
I am very cross!
Thursday, November 29, 2007
A very wet action Saturday this week
Richie White and I quickly knocked out a round on Belle Vale (and were spotted by a friend from the Liverool African Assocation who I ran into later in McDonalds Kensington when I popped in to see how the radio station was going)
Then I took out a second bundle with Chris Helm where we delivered leaflets in Anfield, all around the stadium. It rained heavily but thankfully we were nearly finished by then.
I took some delight in watching some wet Mackems heading off to an as yet unknown huge defeat in the rain. I was hoping someone would ask me the way to Goodison so that I could point them in the wrong direction but they must have recognised me as a Boro fan because they had more sense than to stop me (no of course I dont mean it, I am an official 08 ambassador really!)
The houses around the stadium are in a very sorry state but I was pleased to see work has started in a concerted way to renovate and improve in at least one street.
Then I took out a second bundle with Chris Helm where we delivered leaflets in Anfield, all around the stadium. It rained heavily but thankfully we were nearly finished by then.
I took some delight in watching some wet Mackems heading off to an as yet unknown huge defeat in the rain. I was hoping someone would ask me the way to Goodison so that I could point them in the wrong direction but they must have recognised me as a Boro fan because they had more sense than to stop me (no of course I dont mean it, I am an official 08 ambassador really!)
The houses around the stadium are in a very sorry state but I was pleased to see work has started in a concerted way to renovate and improve in at least one street.
Project Chrysalis Dinner
I was pleased to attend the Chrysalis Dinner on Saturday night with Stephen Twigg, to celebrate and help raise funds for this vital domestic violence project.
Jackie the founder is doing brilliant work supporting victims of domestic violence with lots of agencies and partners to support her and the team.
The Devonshire House Hotel was beatifully decorated and the guests were all beautifully dressed - in black and white.
We were very well entertained by some very talented children, one tap dancing Riverdance style, one singing young Michael Jackson songs like an old pro and by Jackie's daughter showing Amy Winehouse how it is really done. (I am giving as few names as I can here, under the circumstances).
Then we enjoyed an Abba tribute band and a disco. The guests were all thrilled to have Jane Kennedy there, with partner and PA and also a dancing Stephen Twigg. But we had a great time too, lovely food my first Christmas dinner of the year, dancing, singing and no speeches or raffles, hurrah!
Thank you so much for inviting me. I took three bits of casework away but they were all relatively easy and I had them sorted within 24 hours. A great night all round. The more people that came up and thanked us for coming, the more we thanked them for letting us come, now you cannot say that too often about formal events like this!
Jackie the founder is doing brilliant work supporting victims of domestic violence with lots of agencies and partners to support her and the team.
The Devonshire House Hotel was beatifully decorated and the guests were all beautifully dressed - in black and white.
We were very well entertained by some very talented children, one tap dancing Riverdance style, one singing young Michael Jackson songs like an old pro and by Jackie's daughter showing Amy Winehouse how it is really done. (I am giving as few names as I can here, under the circumstances).
Then we enjoyed an Abba tribute band and a disco. The guests were all thrilled to have Jane Kennedy there, with partner and PA and also a dancing Stephen Twigg. But we had a great time too, lovely food my first Christmas dinner of the year, dancing, singing and no speeches or raffles, hurrah!
Thank you so much for inviting me. I took three bits of casework away but they were all relatively easy and I had them sorted within 24 hours. A great night all round. The more people that came up and thanked us for coming, the more we thanked them for letting us come, now you cannot say that too often about formal events like this!
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