I’ve lived in London since I was a student. And because I worked at least 30 hours a week as a student, when I graduated there was little difference in my lifestyle. And basically, from what I remember, I either went out after work, or watched TV. The weekends were fashioned out of the Sky Sports schedules and I would only emerge from the house if the fridge let me down.

Since the pattern was established, I’d spend most nights at home, waiting for my wife to come back from her evening meetings and now, babysitting whilst waiting for the same meetings (probably discussing the same things) to end. But Feeling positive and refreshed after my holiday, I was determined to not just watch TV (particularly given the absence of Sky Sports from my life).

Sunday was fairly easy – I worked. In a Turkish café for brunch, at home during the derby and down the pub afterwards. Stupidly, I then watched TV. It’s so unfulfilling without Sky Sports – I can’t even remember what I watched and so got to bed well after midnight.

Monday was all geared up to be more positive. I would go to the cinema. Ok, that’s a bit like watching TV but I haven’t been for a year or more. Only I called Alun. Not making it to the cinema  was still quite good fun. I made a mental note to remember to tell my wife that the barmaid chatted me up (so that she would think I was still desirable despite my advancing years) and then convinced myself that the pretty brunette opposite me on the bus was desperate for me and she would have asked for my number, if only I hadn’t had bad hiccoughs.

Tuesday was more simple. Liverpool reserves were playing at 7pm so I’d watch the game and then go out for dinner. It was a good game, even though we didn’t win but unfortunately I was hungry so I ate what was left in the house. A packet of crackers, an inch of cheese, two snickers ice creams and two slices of cheap white bread and jam later, I was feeling too like the hungry caterpillar to go out so ended up watching endless TV.

By Wednesday, it was clear that this could not continue so I booked a ticket to go to the opera. Ok, so it may have been in a pub – and it wasn’t proper opera – but it was the best night of the week. The concept was fantastic (the backroom of a pub, 5 actors and a pianist). The opera was slapstick, but done well (The Barber of Salisbury) and to cap it all, I sat next to an interesting couple who talked to me – and bought me a drink at half time. The theme continued as I went home via the Shakespeare so I could eat the pizza from next door (an Arrabiata – bit odd but I’d recommend it highly) and drink real ale.

Thursday was never going to be as good: Liverpool were playing. I watched the game at home, suspecting the misery it might cause and took my work to the local caffe (Dishes) at the end of the road where I had a decent burger and caught the end of the Man City game.

I had expected to be too drunk from lunch on Friday to have much of a night out, but when that was cancelled, it was now a big event. It didn’t disappoint. I accomplished a number of local firsts: the Dalston Superstore, the Rio in Dalston and the Marquis of Sailsbury not to watch football. Naturally I raised the totty quota in the Superstore but spent most of the time worried I’d be ask for ID for being too old. At the Rio I watched The Social Network which was good enough and then finished off with a pint with my remaining coins in the Marquis – which looked like a properly functioning pub by night.

Saturday was planned meticulously – and I kept to it! I went out for breakfast to Olive then went to volunteer for 4 hours at the People’s Supermarket – despite having had an hour long conversation with myself about what I’d really learn, contribute and what obligations I had to the venture. In the end it was entertaining enough, and the retail skills I honed at WH Smith at the age of 17 (I worked for 3 weeks before an unfortunate argument with the manager) standing me in good stead. After tidying the house, I went out for a curry before heading to the airport to pick up the family.

I won’t miss the single life – and I certainly couldn’t afford to live like that for another week. But it was sufficiently enjoyable that I will do well not to be a bit cranky tomorrow morning when my daughter wakes me up at 7am and my wife pretends that she is asleep.

No related posts.

There are four main reasons that I’m voting for Luke Akehurst, and I hope I can persuade you to do the same.

1. Luke is Labour first

Luke Akehurst would make a fantastic member of the NEC because his primary (political) concern is for the Labour party. He’s not Blairite, Brownite, Kinnockite – or anything else – so much as Labour first, second and third. These qualities are always important but will be particularly important for the Labour party leadership (in its broadest sense) in the next couple of years.

Luke is also Labour First – but that’s another issue

2. You can have an honest disagreement with Luke

There are lots of issues on which I do not agree with Luke: 42 day detention, some aspects of defence policy and probably many others that we’re yet to discover. We do,though, agree on some issues where Luke has a different position from what many would imagine – party funding reform, proportional representation to name a few. Bob Piper, and I’m sure others, will use their policy disagreements as a reason to not vote for Luke. But why I like Luke is that you can disagree with him without him dismissing you as an infidel, a traitor to the cause or questioning your principles. The NEC isn’t about ideological purity, or a forum for policy debates. I know that Luke will represent all Labour members – even those with different views from his own.

3. Luke is a formidable campaigner

There are many people on the NEC with many qualities – both previously and at the moment. But few have a track record of campaigning across the country like Luke. I first heard of Luke from Aldershot activist Keith Dibble, who I got to know when I was chair of Romsey CLP and a National Policy Forum rep. He showed me the planning and organisation that Luke had led in Aldershot in 1997 2001 and it was phenomenal. Luke wants to see Labour thrive as a party of the whole country – not just marginals or heartlands. We need people with the experience of that at the head of our party more now than ever before.

4. Luke takes Labour procedures seriously

I’m too much of a coward to laugh directly at Luke – only behind his back. But I remember vividly one night when he popped round and was telling us the minutiae of an election to a Labour Party regional board. He finished the story “this is serious shit”. Of course, little could be further from the truth. Regional boards of the Labour party are among the most pointless, meaningless organisations fathomable. But the NEC needs people who respect the party, its structures and rules. Luke is your man for the job.

I will also be supporting Ann Black, assuming she is running again. And although they are politically different, I am sure that each will do an inspiring job, in their own way. It’s not easy being Labour – and it’s going to get harder – so good people like Luke need to step forward and take responsibility. I, for one, am grateful.

Related posts:

1. Voting Labour with a heavy heart
2. Labour is also Ann Black

And I can’t agree with Luke Akehurst that Gordon Brown doesn’t deserve this: he absolutely deserves this. His knifing of Blair was undemocratic, clandestine and completely reprehensible. His failure over 10 years and more to support allies and colleagues in difficulty was despicable. I give you, Harriet Harman’s battle with Frank Field, his silence over the fuel protests and the astonishing notion put about that he didn’t support the Iraq war but remained in cabinet. Look only over the last week at the way he has treated Alastair Darling.

But I don’t support the coup. This is not an honest, noble cause. There is no disagreement over policy. Gordon Brown is not a changed man as prime minister. It’s an electoral calculation about limiting the damage at the next election and it’s one in which the means destroys the ends. Yes, if we had another leader we would do better at the next election. But removing Brown now, against his will removes any authority the party has left.

I was moved to tears last night when my wife came back from canvassing, on her own, in a marginal ward, to find that another Cabinet minister had resigned (followed by a troop of politicians to the TV studios: why were they in central London rather than in their constituencies?) Whatever cack-handed, school-boy antics are going on (did you read the farcical hotmail coup story in The Guardian) they are destroying the party. The actions of the leaders of our party create a water cannon affect on Labour members going out campaigning. They ruin our credibility in the eyes of ordinary people. They destroy our ability to govern the country. And we will serve our punishment for a long, long time.

As Tony Blair said: “If we can’t beat this lot, we don’t serve to be in power.” Quite.

Related posts:

1. Voting Labour with a heavy heart

There’s currently no Big Lunch organised for my street, Prince George Road, N16. It could be a lot of fun: there’s a reasonably good mix of people in our street. There are people renting, people newly moved in and people who’ve been there for many years; young and old. There’s a reasonable range of ethnicities and cultures in Prince George Road including all parts of the British isles and every continent.

I’m happy to help (although my musical offerings may not contribute to a vibrant street party in quite the way imagined). If it makes our street more friendly, more hospitable and more relaxed (if only temporarily) it’s a good thing. What about you?

UPDATE: Local Councillor Louisa Thomson has got in touch to say that some people in Farleigh Road are meeting tonight to discuss a Big Lunch with her. She is (and presumably they are) excited by the chance of doing positive things to build the community in Hackney. If I can’t get something going in PGR, we’ll join in with Farleigh.

No related posts.

1. The shoes

They all have spectacularly new shoes. Not all of them are shiny and some are casual but the more casual they are, the fresher out of teh box they look. All of them are classy, hundreds of pounds jobs from posh retailers rather than Jones or Office.

2. The hair

Fantastically well coiffured so that every misplaced hair is deliberately so. A smart stylish cut, cut to look casual. And recently cut.

3. The trousers

The trousers (casual, of course) fit perfectly. Most of us find pairs of jeans which are slightly too long, slightly too short or don’t fit ideally everywhere. Not so, bankers. The bottom of the trousers fits against the shoes perfectly, as if the two had been tailored to complement each other.

4. The walk

Chin up, shoulders leading, faster than comfortable, palms forward.

5. Equipment

Bankers don’t carry much to work. An ipod, a coffee and probably an iphone. But the computer is at the desk (or in a nice casual bag) but no laptop bags, no paper falling out of a briefcase.

Disclaimer: This is intended as a ligh-hearted, slightly jealous take on people who dress better (and at higher cost) than me. It is in no way an incitment to attack a banker. If you are so way inclined remember the size of your mortgage, your credit card debts and that bankers merely facilitated your greed.

No related posts.