James Varda – I first met James Varda back in 1987. Roy had taken him on tour with him. That’s a rarity. Roy hardly ever did that. He tended not to use support. This was an exception – and what an exception.
At a number of Harper gigs I had the privilege to see James perform and sit and chat to him before and after his set.
What a contrast. On stage I saw a fiery performer who was full of angst delivering a blistering set of poetic songs that I can only describe as Folk Punk. He had that same vibe as early Harper and early Dylan. Off stage he was quiet, softly spoken and unassuming – very friendly and pleasant.
In 1988 he brought out the most fabulous album – Hunger – on the Awareness label that Roy was on (run by the great Andy Ware). I loved it – it captured that energy and unique English style.
I spoke with Roy about this nascent force and he was very enthusiastic. James was destined for great heights.
Then it went pear-shaped. James toured all the small clubs, did a lot of radio and plugged Hunger like mad. For some reason it failed to take off.
James started recording his follow-up but it wasn’t all smooth running. He had some great new songs but Andy was struggling with the label and James was becoming discouraged with his lack of recognition. The label went bust and Andy offered James the tapes they had recorded. A disillusioned James told him to bin them and walked away. That was it. He’d had enough.
Fifteen years flashed by and James re-emerged, this time on the Small Things Record label. This reincarnation was not as fiery; he’d settled into a pastoral poetic style that I found very captivating. Different but every bit as good. First In The Valley in 2003 and then, ten years later, in 2013 the River and the Stars, were delightful. I was so pleased to have James back with his beautiful craftsmanship (and Nick Harper helping out with some guitar!).
I didn’t have to wait too long for the next album – Chance and Time came out a year later and I eagerly purchased it. That was a shock. Death is not an easy subject to deal with and this album seemed to be telling the story of a terminal illness. Could that be true? I put up a review on my blog and asked the question – was James just using this as a muse for his songs or was it real? Was James dying? James contacted me and told me that yes, sadly, it was true. He had terminal cancer.
When faced with a terminal diagnosis people respond in many different ways. James’s response (after the shock) was to pour it into his songs. The album was stark – the consultation – the progress of the disease and prognosis – but above all a celebration of life and love. The album was an epitaph of joy and wonder in such beautiful poetry and music.
Roy had discovered, promoted and nurtured this incredible talent. The shame is that he had so many lost years and should have been so big. But the good side is that he left us with four fabulous albums and a lot of great memories of memorable gigs.
That evening Ron took much needed time off. He was burnt out. Sitting in his favourite armchair in front of his favourite log burner, sipping coffee (three sweeteners plenty of his favourite barista oat milk) by the side of his favourite (and only) wife with Woody at his feet he relaxed. Casting a wistful glance over towards his silent computer with its sad looking office chair, all beat up and worn out, he hadn’t realised how contented he had been stringing words together for nobody to read and relaxing in his quiet orderly life.
‘You look knackered, Ron.’
He smiled at Liz. ‘I stopped being knackered a long time ago. I’ve descended into the fiftieth level of total oblivion.’
‘You need to look after myself.’
‘Look after myself. I’m so busy I’ve forgotten who I am.’
Liz looked worried.
‘There are a million things to do. So much going on. I have to check all the new departments are working. We’re overhauling education. You should see the new techniques and equipment the Federation are bringing in. And they’re creating completely new schools. Amazing. The energy plants are starting up. They call it quantum power. Beyond me. But those little blue Xerces swarm over things and wallop a whole new plant is up and running in no time. They are genius at constructing, so nimble and strong. Schools, power plants, factories, homes, bridges. You name it. The changes are phenomenal.’ Ron was rattling off like a machine gun with a glued trigger. ‘Of course it’s causing no end of kickback. People don’t like change. They’re railing about being banned from various areas. Lots of gripes about the military being dismantled. The biggest thing all over the world is the loss of nationality. I just don’t know what we can do about that. You can’t please some people no matter what you do.’
‘They’re worried, that’s all,’ Liz murmured, reaching over to pat him on the arm. ‘You can’t expect this degree of change without some kick back.’
Ron smiled at her. She was always such a calm, rational head. Just sharing things was a relief. He sipped his coffee, nectar of the gods, and stared at the soothing flames in the log fire.
‘Another huge worry is these bloody protests,’ he frowned deeply, staring into the depths of the fire then looked sideways at Liz. ‘This Billy Smythe is really stirring things up. There are millions following him on line. It’s becoming a monster.’
‘People have to have an outlet for their feelings. That’s good – a safety valve.’
‘Not like this it isn’t. Every boot boy in the country is latching on to it. That last one at Clacton was appalling. There was all manner of violence. It made us look like a bunch of savages. Just shocking. The thing is that these idiots don’t realise that we are still being judged. There are people in the Federation who want to do away with us.’
‘What? This Commander Chameakegra?’ Liz looked shocked. ‘I thought she was friendly?’ Her eyes opened wide as she stared at Ron, beginning to understand what had made him so scared.
‘No, not Chameakegra,’ Ron said with a weary sigh. ‘She’s fine. There are others. And she’s none too sure about this Commander Grrndakegra who’s carrying out the round up. I think she thinks she’s been put in place to do a job on us.’
‘So, what can you do?’
‘Well all this protest is playing into their hands. The violence is proving their case for them. They want to prove that we’re a violent bunch of yobs who deserve to be exterminated.’
Liz sat pensively staring at the fire before looking across at Ron. ‘You could try going round to see this Billy character, explain things to him and see if you can’t make him see sense.’
Another ill-thought through illegal war. So much for the Nobel Peace Prize – I don’t think any President has bombed so many countries. It’s like having a teenager in charge.
Trump doesn’t feel the need to follow any laws or process. He thinks he has all the power so he can simply sign executive orders and even bypass Congress even when it comes to sparking out a major war, sending the Middle East into chaos and affecting world-wide trade – AGAIN!
Iran is a despicable regime – an oppressive, authoritarian theocracy that needs replacing.
I believe:
This evil bunch of corrupt puritanical religious oppressors has systematically suppressed its own people, imposing strict, outdated religious restrictions on women and using extreme force and torture against any opposition.
They have been waging covert war against Israel and destabilising the Middle East though proxies – (Hamas/Hezbollah) which it arms.
They have been targeting the West and are a threat.
They are trying to get long range missiles and nuclear bombs.
Is that sufficient yo warrant a war? I don’t think so.
I’d like to see the world community applying sanctions and pressure to overthrow the regime and allow a democratic process.
If the threat is sufficient for war then I believe that should be through a legitimate legal process involving the UN and Congress.
I believe Starmer was right to stay out of it – but we will inevitably get sucked in.
Trump has gone Gung-ho into war with no clue as to the outcomes.
Netanyahu is calling the shots. He’s been dying to take out Iran (and take the pressure off him and his war crimes and genocide in Gaza).
Trump should have gone through Congress.
There is no idea on how to bring about regime change. There is no government in waiting, organised opposition or mechanism. We’ve seen time and time again the result of wading in and taking out nasty despots (in Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Sudan, Afghanistan). The vacuum is filled by even worse religious nutters like the Taliban, ISIS and various brutal warlords.
The result of all this destabilisation are rafts of refugees fleeing torture and death.
The people in Iran have no organisation, weapons or leaders with which to oust the regime and take power. It is likely that the regime will continue or there will be civil war and further refugees and instability.
This looks to me like a typical right-wing Trump tantrum – ill-thought through, simplistic, expensive and likely to make things a lot worse.
It takes the attention off EPSTEIN and leaves Netanyahu and Putin laughing!!
The sun is out; it’s warming up! Looking forward to some warmth. Brilll!
Took me back sixty-five years. A tousle-haired little boy, equipped with wellingtons, a net and various containers would be cycling off with his little mate Tony Hum to check out all the local ponds for frogspawn.
We’d bring back some for our ponds. I’d built a pit in the bottom of the garden with a pond I’d made from a huge old enamel sink. I’d have an aquarium or two indoors and delight in watching the spawn hatch into tadpoles.
Spring, Summer and Autumn were spent outdoors in nature collecting toads, frogs, newts, lizards and snakes for my pit. Fostered my love and respect for nature.
It starts with an idea. That buzzes around my head for a while. I wait until I have another idea and marry them together. Then I place my ideas in a setting. Then a character comes to mind.
When I have those dominoes in place I shove the first one.
Thar first word sets the process in motion. The words tumble out. The ideas develop, the characters spawn and a story coalesces out of my subconscious.
For the duration of the writing I live and breath the story. The characters develop, the setting becomes richer and the story evolves. Often I have no idea what comes next but my subconscious seems to know. The dominoes tumble and one knocks another as I frantically attempt to keep up. It’s intense.
The idea for my latest book – The Time Traveller – came to me a long while ago. I had this idea of going back in time with modern weapons and the effect that would have on ancient armies. It felt too comic book but the idea wouldn’t go away. My mind kept mulling over the thought of missiles and bazookas against ancient armies. I imagined Hannibal and the Punic wars. Then I started thinking about the effect of that power on the human mind. A twentieth century nobody suddenly finding themselves the most powerful man on the planet. What would be the effect on his psyche.
My character had to be rich in order to afford to build a time machine.
I had to have a scientific genius from the backstreets who just needed the money and backing but who did not trust governments.
I chose the Punic Wars as the setting.
It ran from there. I wrote the first draft in eleven days. It flowed and developed a life of its own. I rewrote it in a further four days. It is currently being edited.
Is the democratic process the best way to elect leaders or should they be selected via an interview and application process as with every other job? That might ensure that they are not psychopaths, sociopaths and narcissists and have the right skills to do the job!
The world leader appointed by the aliens did not want to do the job, wasn’t motivated by power or greed, and was a good, able man.
‘UFOR?’
Chameakegra chuckled, immediately dissipating some of the tension. She visibly relaxed and that had a similar effect on Ron. ‘UFOR is the United Federation Of Races’
‘Right.’
‘Beheggakegri is head of UFOR and a stickler for rules and an easy life. He thinks that all Hydrans are psychotic apes who are beyond all hope. In his view you are all an annoying bunch who should have been dealt with long ago. You are wasting valuable eating time. You Hydrans have failed the assessment and he wants to look for any excuse to terminate you all.’
Ron considered this for a number of seconds then he spoke in a hesitant voice. ‘If you don’t mind me saying, this seems to fly in the face of logic. It seems hypocritical to me.’
Chameakegra looked confused. She’d lived with the philosophy all her life and couldn’t see anything wrong with it. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Well,’ Ron shrugged, ‘you have a supposedly morally superior race of highly intelligent bods coming along making judgements on other people. This bunch of people at UFOR decides that we’re too violent so they are going to exterminate us. Is that some kind of oxymoron?’
‘How do you mean?’ Chameakegra was at a loss.
‘What I mean is that it is terrible for us to hurt one another but OK for your lot to wade in and exterminate the whole lot of us. That smacks of hypocrisy to me. Which is the more violent?’
‘But,’ Chameakegra replied searching around for the explanation, digging up the standard reply from her training, ‘It’s for the greater good, the good of the whole Federation, trillions of people. If we allow a canker to set in by permitting a devious, aggressive race in to the Federation it would upset everything. It could cause immense strife, even war. We can’t take the risk. All risks have to be eliminated. That’s how we have achieved such a peaceful coalition of very different races. We have eradicated all violence and created a federation of races based on equality.’
‘Yes,’ Ron agreed, ‘I can see that. But,’ he looked Chameakegra right in the eyes, ‘that doesn’t make it right does it? You can’t say you’ve eradicated violence when you go around destroying billions of other people. That is extreme violence.’
‘But it is done painlessly…’ Chameakegra tailed off, thinking about what Ron had said.
Ron shook his head. ‘Never mind. I reckon we’d better put that to one side for later. Right now we have to do a bit of planning to ensure that the worst doesn’t happen.’
Chameakegra pulled her mind back into focus. ‘Right. Let us carry out some strategic planning. Firstly, we have to prevent any further acts of violence.’
Ron sighed and began to wonder how he was possibly going to achieve that.
‘I will make it a priority to get the extraction completed with the minimum fuss,’ Chameakegra promised. ‘That should no longer cause major disruption. We are basically hunting out the stragglers. There won’t be mass round-ups all over the place. That phase is over. I’ll liaise with Grrndakegra and get that done as painlessly as possible.’
Ron knew who Grrndakegra was. They’d talked about the Giforian Commander who was jointly in charge of the operation. ‘Is she a problem?’ Ron questioned how the operation had been carried out. ‘Only it all seemed very confrontational and overly aggressive.’
Chameakegra agreed but was reluctant to say. Grrndakegra was an unknown factor. ‘I think Grrndakegra is alright. She’s a bit like Beheggakegri, overly officious, that’s all.’
Ron looked doubtful. ‘OK.’
‘I’ll sort Grrndakegra out,’ Chameakegra reassured him, wondering to herself if that was possible, ‘and I’ll see if I can’t rush through the lunar facilities so that we get the extractions out of those camps. That’d remove the focus for disquiet.’
‘If we could start getting a few of the extracted ones back so that people can see that all the conspiracy theories are wrong. That they haven’t been bumped off or had their minds wiped clean.’ Ron mused.
‘Yes, I am sure we can do something. We have the counsellors that the Judge has sorted in place now and some of the facilities are fully up and running. I’ll get things moving on that score.’ She was confident that she could force some movement out of Grrndakegra.
‘Doesn’t need to be a huge number to start with,’ Ron remarked, reflecting on the situation. ‘Just so long as they see that some of those who have been extracted are going to be returned and have not been harmed.’
Chameakegra studied him at length. ‘Good. Now the onus of responsibility moves on to you. You need to get all the departments of government up to speed. That is crucial’
Ron nodded, fully knowing how difficult that was going to be – new structures, new people, new systems, new philosophy. It was going to take some organising and setting up. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll get them organised. I’ve got some good people in place.’
She smiled. She knew he had good people in place; she’d placed them there. ‘I’d start with security,’ she suggested. ‘Controlling that violent minority is an absolute priority.’
‘On it,’ Ron replied, wondering how he was going to deal with that one. He looked thoughtful. ‘I’ll chase up the education side. I know that’s more long-term but that is crucial. Your guys are putting in the new energy system. That will make a big difference – when everyone starts to receive free energy that’s bound to create a positive response.’ He strained his brain to think of what else might be important. ‘It’s going to be a mixed bag on the environment side, I’m afraid. There will be those who think that helping nature along is a great thing to do and there are those who have lost livelihoods or just object to being restricted. They think they’ve got a right to roam where they like and resent anyone telling them where they can’t go, particularly aliens. There’s bound to be some unrest.’
‘Can’t be helped,’ Chameakegra said. ‘If we are going to restore the ecosystem it has to be done.’
Ron agreed. ‘The decommissioning of all military equipment and bases is proceeding well. Although your lot are carrying it out we have human involvement. That ones more of a short-term loss big long-term gain. The worst is over. The personnel have already been demobbed along with all the personnel from supporting industries. That’s a lot of displaced, highly exasperated people..’
‘We are ensuring that everyone gets a good measure of food and enough of your ‘money’ to have a good quality of life.’
‘That certainly takes a little of the wind out of sails,’ Ron agreed, nodding in appreciation. ‘I was going to ask you about that. What is this food stuff?’
The Giforian chuckled. ‘Do they not like it?’
‘Oh, they like it alright, once they’ve got used to it. In fact it’s delicious. It’s just that nobody knows what it is.’
‘It’s designed to suit your pallets, to taste really good. It has all the nutrients required and the various flavours and textures maintain interest over time.’
‘Yes, but what is it? Plant or animal or both? Some tastes and feels like meat; some like vegetables and the sweet dessert things are simply to die for. But nobody can identify what the flavours actually are. They’re like nothing we have tasted before.’
Once again Chameakegra found it amusing. ‘None of that food has ever been near to a plant or animal. It was designed in a lab and created in food producing plants. Our research has obviously paid off if people are enjoying it.’
‘It’s certainly a bonus for us that nobody is going hungry,’ Ron remarked, looking extremely impressed. ‘For the first time in the whole of history there are no starving people anywhere on the planet. Every bit of good news helps. We’ll win ‘em over.’
‘But back to those displaced workers; giving them food and money on goes part of the way; they want jobs.’
‘We have set up retraining centres,’ Chameakegra reminded him.
‘That’ll help but it’s too slow. There are a lot of furious people out there whose life has been turned upside down.’
‘Can’t move much faster,’ Chameakegra replied looking thoughtful. ‘Education, caring professions, environmentalists, energy workers. There’s no end of opportunities. Big expanding fields.
‘I think it’s making a difference but there’s a real cyber war going on. Some people are deliberately putting out fake news, conspiracy and lies to confuse and enrage. Nobody can believe anything anymore. We need to counter that.’
‘Neff will have some ideas on that,’ Chameakegra chuckled. ‘They’ll not be a match for her.’
‘So,’ Ron reflected, ‘all departments are up and running, Things are beginning to settle and we have a plan. ‘We just have to wait until everything has settled and hope it holds together long enough so no more violent outbursts scupper us.’
Chameakegra frowned at him. ‘All that is great; if it proceeds fast enough. But it skirts around the real issue, the issue that is fanning the flames.’
Ron nodded. ‘Nationalism.’
‘Right, we’ll need to discuss just how we are going to address these cultural values so that we take the sting out of these primitive tribal nationals.’
‘I don’t reckon you should go around calling them primitives, for a start,’ it was Ron’s turn to produce a wry laugh. ‘Though I’d bloody agree with you. They’re a right shower. But if you go calling them primitive that’ll really rile them up.’
It is becoming clear that a number of files of FBI investigations into Trump and Epstein’s alleged sexual assaults on a thirteen-year-old girl were not released.
A cover up?
Who removed these files?
Why is all material relating to Trump and accusations of his involvement in the paedophile ring of Epstein has been removed or redacted?
If he isn’t guilty then why isn’t he releasing everything, unredacting all the names and going after the paedophiles? Why aren’t there court cases and people being locked up.
Why are so many of his cabinet members and former associated featured in the files?
Why is Trump, who is featured 300,000 times in the files so far released, not being investigated and cleared?
Why are the GOP not pressing for a full investigation?
In the UK we have gone for Prince Andrew and Mandelson. In the USA we have the Trump administration ignoring the Supreme Court and not releasing ALL the files and NOBODY being found guilty apart from a woman??
He’s only been in for a year and there are quite a list to choose from. These are what come to mind:
Threatening to take over Canada
Badmouthing and threatening allies
Applying tariffs to ‘friends’
Undermining the UN and NATO
Backing Putin and trying to force Ukraine to concede after it was invaded
Backing Netanyahu in war crimes and genocide in Gaza
Disbanding and defunding science
Empowering extreme right wing white supremacist groups in the USA
Supporting extreme right wing groups around the world
Threatening to take over Greenland
Denying climate change in the face of all science and backing old polluting industries
Taking bribes and general corruption – massive gifts – (planes, gold bars, business deals) for him and his family totalling over $4 billion
Pardoning murderers, drug dealers and insurrectionists because they support him and give him money
Funding ICE to terrorise Democratic cities with impunity to kill and employing right wing thugs
Undermining the democratic process by appointing MAGA people to control voting
Giving huge tax breaks to the wealthy so they become richer and richer
Removing health care and subsidies for the poor
Using social media (with MUSK) to ‘steal’ election
Having to narcissistically put his name on everything
Stirring up division and hate through lies and rhetoric (every opponent is part of the ‘radical left’)
Trying to pass the blame for everything on to others – Biden’s economy etc.
Continually lying and exaggerating everything – how wonderful the economy is, the USA’s world standing etc.
Politicising the Justice System
Controlling the media and undermining truth
Blowing up boats in international waters on the basis of ‘drug smuggling’ with no proof
Political appointments to the Supreme Court to control the law and give himself immunity
Interfering in the elections and politics of other countries
Cosying up to obnoxious extreme right Dictators who he admires – Putin, Jung Un, Oban, Bolsonaro, Netanyahu, Modi
Setting up a ridiculous Board of Peace with every fascist dictator thug going and a £1 billion entry fee
Undermining and disrupting world trade with arbitrary tariffs
Undermining the stability of the world with new alignment
Pardoning people who stormed the Capitol (under his direction?) and actually killed people
Lying about Renee Good and Alex Pretel and trying to paint them as dangerous social terrorists
Not releasing the Epstein files, redacting everything and hiding up the extent of his own involvement
Supporting paedophiles by covering up, not revealing names and not arresting the rapists
Opening up national parks for drilling and mining
Removing health and safety laws
Withdrawal from WHO and global mechanisms for monitoring and controlling pandemics
DOGE – firing of thousands of people for no financial gain and worsening services
Doing everything through illegal executive orders and bypassing democratic systems
Ignoring laws (such as Epstein files, return of illegally deported citizens, shooting of citizens) as if they don’t apply to him
Abolition of DEI programs with banning and burning of books
War against transgender people
Support of evangelical nutcases and curtailment of female rights – birth control and abortion
Promotion of gun rights in the face of massacres and murder rates
Blaming immigrants for everything so they can be scapegoated like Hitler scapegoated Jews – they are all murderers, rapists and drug pushers (forget the ones working in the fields, caring services, hospitality, health care, transport, catering etc – on low pay – doing all the jobs nobody else wants – they are potential rapists, murderers and drug runners, taking jobs and altering culture – they need kicking out!)
In short it seems that Trump is attempting to set up his own fascist dictatorship, is using office to enrich himself, has made the rich a lot richer and the poor a lot poorer, is aligning the USA with fascist authoritarian states like Russia, Austria and Israel and turning his back on allies and is pooh-poohing science and global warming so that he can make himself richer. He is a racist implementing the ‘We Shall Not Be Replaced’ agenda who wants to keep the USA white and is using the fear of displacement as a cynical weapon.
The view in Europe is that you cannot believe anything he says, he is ignorant and uncouth (a glorified lout), he has turned his back on trade partners and alliances, is backing enemies (like Russia) and the USA can no longer be trusted.
So Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are looking to set up new alliances and trade partners and exclude the USA. The tariffs will hit the USA greatly (directly by putting prices up and secondly by losing markets).
In my view the real enemies to our standard of living are not immigrants, who work on low wages and prop up the economy, but the Billionaires and multinationals who are robbing us – the people who Trump is befriending and enriching for personal gain.
The swamp just got a hell of a lot bigger and deeper and it turns out that the paedophile ring wasn’t alien lizards and Democrats it was the members of Trump’s cabinet after all!
The Project 2025 agenda is being implemented in full.