Exit Brexit? - Peston - Hutton & Adonis

I went to the Oxford Literary Festival this week. On Tuesday I listened to Robert Peston - Absolutely Brilliant & most entertaining! Also very intelligent & well informed, basing his opinions on credible evidence.

Peston suggested that another Brexit referendum would cause serious unrest in the millions who voted leave if that vote were overturned.
Leave - 17,410,742 - 51.89%       Remain 16,141,241 - 48.11%
I imagine that's true, unless the second referendum asked a very different question. The original question was "Should the UK remain a member of the EU or leave the EU?" That, with hindsight, seems far too simplistic. There is an argument that the No voters were giving our politicians a good kicking more than expressing a view on Brexit itself. Rightly so in my opinion.

Peston thinks that the UK will undoubtedly be poorer after Brexit. Also, perhaps more worryingly, it will take 15 - 25 years for us to climb out of the Doldrums. That after 10 years of Austerity is not something I want to contemplate. Seemingly austerity might be nothing in comparison to the economic chaos we might experience. I haven't read his new book WTF - (yes that is what the title means), but I will.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/nov/24/robert-peston-interview-im-not-saying-britain-is-finished-but-our-current-problems-are-not-a-blip

Today it was Lord Andrew Adonis & Will Hutton. Not so charismatic, but interesting nevertheless.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/feb/04/andrew-adonis-launches-drive-reverse-brexit-second-referendum 
The plan is to get 16/17 year olds the vote in a possible referendum on the actual terms of our Brexit agreement with the EU, because it will be their future & they are likely to vote to stay in the EU.

Apparently there is now something called the "Shit Life Syndrome", which goes some way towards explaining why so many people thought that voting yes to Brexit might make their lives better. It won't, but they need some hope that things can get better.

I voted remain. I haven't changed my view. I do respect the fact of the referendum vote, but believe that we were lied to & many people didn't understand what would be involved in leaving. I would be pleased if we could have a more informed vote on the actual terms of the Brexit agreement when we know them. I no longer trust our politicians to make decisions in the best interests of the whole UK in the long term.

I would like everyone to have a democratic choice based on evidence based fact.

Chronic Pain - A User Guide.

Chronic pain - pain lasting more than 12 weeks, often persisting for months or even years. (Acute pain - short term & often alerts us to possible injury). 

Why am I writing about this? Because I have had chronic pain since I was 11. So now, 62 years later, I think I know what I'm talking about. It doesn't really matter what started my chronic pain - initially it happened to be dreadful period pains & Migraine. Period pain which meant I was doubled up in agony or fainted with the pain. Migraine which caused visual disturbance, unbearable headaches & nausea. I had to be in a silent, dark, room for at least a day & afterwards I felt wretched. I simply couldn't function with either & it happened every month until I had a baby at 23.

In my late 20's, just when I thought I could be a normal, pain free, human being I started a chronic back problem. Probably occupational - too much bending down or kneeling to Primary children. One day I simply couldn't get out of my car. Osteoarthritis.

Then in my 40's I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia & CFS. I was told by medics I would have to "learn to live with it" & I was "creating my own pain". (As the pain was waking me up from sleep I thought that was a little difficult - A Psychologist agreed with me). At the time I was very angry with the response of the medics. Now I realise that they simply did not know what to do. They couldn't cure me. In a way the first one was right. People who have chronic pain do have to learn the skills to deal with their condition in the best way for them. In my view the role of the medics is to signpost patients to things which might help.

Most doctors haven't had much training for dealing with pain. According to a study reported by the BMJ - "Documented pain teaching in many European medical schools falls far short of what might be expected given the prevalence and public health burden of pain".
http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/8/e006984?utm_source=TrendMD&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BMJOp_TrendMD-0

In my 70's, I was diagnosed with Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome, which woke me from sleep about every hour through the night, so I didn't get deep, restful sleep. It's an absolute pain - in every sense. (I've just had ultrasound guided Steroid injections in each hip. So far it's a minor miracle. But it wouldn't have happened had I not asked to be referred back to the Pain Clinic).

The thing is I have learned, by trial & error, what works for me & what doesn't. It has cost me money over the years, becuase it is mostly alternative therapies which helped. I have probably tried everything. Accupuncture, Osteopathy, Massage, Relaxation, Meditation, CBT,  have all worked at one point or another. Currently I'm trying Hypnotherapy. Fortunately I can afford to pay, which seems unfair.

I know that usually I will have to pay a price for doing something I want to do. I may be in pain, I may be fatigued, it might take me a couple of days to recover. Mostly I pace myself & try not to overdo it. There will come a point every day when I have to stop & be horizontal.

However I feel, I swim 4-5 times a week - Half an hour - Half a mile. I always feel better afterwards. I try to walk, but that is more painful than swimming & I can no longer go far. I need to be sure I will have enough energy to get back. I'm like the bunny without the Duracell batteries. I can't carry very much at all.

I pop prescribed pills. Far more than I ever thought I would. I make sure I read the leaflets & really know what I'm taking. I try not to stay on anything for too long because of the possibility of addiction. Long term use often means an increasing dose. That's not good. There are always alternatives. If I knew a friendly drug dealer I would smoke Cannabis.

I have been lucky & unlucky with medics. I have had two really good ones, both women. They treated me as a sentient being & it was a proper partnership. They listened & we decided what the best course of action was at the time.

If you have chronic pain you aren't going to get better. You need to be pro-active. You need to be knowledgable about your conditions & what treatments are available. There is no excuse. You are responsible for your own health. So long as you choose reputable sources, everything you need to know is on the internet.

Medics are over stretched. They have a lot of patients. They are human beings with lives of their own. The NHS is struggling because of an increasing patient load, lack of professionals, lack of facilities & resources. It isn't going to get better any time soon.

So be responsible for yourself. Make sure you get the best that is on offer. Be assertive & ask the right questions.

Future / Past

If I were to actually think about it, which I don't tend to, I think I would be disconcerted to contemplate the fact that I may not have a future at all. We all know we are going to die. We don't have a clue where, when or how. We just know it will happen & hope that it will be quick & as painless as possible.

Similarly I do know I have a past. My memory of it is very variable & subjective. But I know I've lived it for 73 years. I'm always amazed at what other people can remember about my past. Have I blotted it out? Was I not taking enough notice? Was I too busy contemplating what I was going to do next, rather than what I was doing? Whatever the reason, there is a lot I can't remember. The thing is it's gone. Either I learned from it, (good), or I didn't, (too late now).

 

I am what I am. I am the sum total of all my experience, good & bad, remembered & not. Personally I find people who are always harking back to the past very draining. I can't really see the point. Why would anyone be that interested in someone else's past? The only past I wish we referred to more is the lessons History teaches us - Governments please note.

"Memory - the priestess, kills the present & offers it's heart to the shrine of the dead past"  Rabindranath Tagore.

I can think, I can try to change both myself & influence others. (The latter is probably a forlorn hope). I can really only be responsible for myself, what I say & what I do.

I'd rather be walking forward in hope, than walking backwards, regretting something that's gone. Forever.

Met Opera - Semiramide - Rossini

I really am going to have to give up on the Met. Their prices for streamed opera have gone up quite a bit. In the last two productions I have been to the sound wasn't properly synched with the picture, which was really annoying. I would have thought that in this age of technology that is unacceptable.

"Semiramide" was completely new to me. The Bel Canto music is beautiful. The orchestra & singers were wonderful. So why am I grumpy? Well its the same criticisms that I had about the "Magic Flute". The Met drowns everything. It overdoes the costumes, the sets, the special effects. It really doesn't understand the concept of "less is more".

The costumes were a hotch potch of styles, which had little to do with Babylonia, or any other country. There were touches of Frieda Kahlo with the ladies flowery head gear. It was all lush fabrics, gold, jewels & bling. Maybe the Met feels that this is what Sponsors & Americans want, but they are selling to a worldwide audience. I find it distracting & I object to being asked to support the Met financially when they just squander money.

The Chorus is really over the top. I actually think that some of them aren't even singing. They are just bulk - "more is more".

The music, the arias, the duets, trios & quartets were beautiful with a lot of high C's. Each of the main roles is a "tour de force", but it is a long opera, I went in at 12.00 & came out after 4.00. So it takes a long time to say anything - There is a lot of repetition.

I am going to be accused of being "Fattist" & "Discriminatory" for my next comment. Although I loved the voice of Semiramide, ( Angela Meade), I found it difficult to overlook the fact that she is obese. Although her face is expressive, this did affect her movement. It reminded me very much of Pavarotti live in operas. Beautiful voice, but you had to suspend disbelief beyond my capabilities. In the performing arts characters have to be believable in the role. That, surely is what the audition process is about. In opera it's more complicated, because the voice has to be right for the role too. I'm not sure that the costume helped either, it was very tent like. I couldn't help thinking of the "fat lady sings" quote. It really doesn't help.

Happiness - Mahatma Gandhi

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony". Well - yes. You can't argue with that. A lot of effort has to go into achieving it though. It doesn't come naturally.

Firstly, what we think often happens quite randomly & is emotional, subjective & not necessarily based on fact. We are intuitive as well as intelligent. We are judgemental. Our thoughts run away with us. We become fixated on our version of truth. We replay conversations & possible responses in our head. We misinterpret other peoples intentions & understanding of the situation.

Then there's what we say. How often do we have the inclination or time to pause & think before we speak? Conversation usually flows quite fast. Our response is out of our mouths before we have really processed what the other person has said or meant. We are thinking more about what we want to get into the conversation than actually listening & responding appropriately.

What we do is so important. Our actions speak "louder than words" & are often in conflict with what we say.

I have met "charmers" who could say all the right things - Usually they are self seeking. I have met people who found "making conversation" quite difficult - Usually when they said something it was worth listening to. The people I have come to value are the people who think, who are genuinely empathetic & are willing to really listen & put themselves out when you need it.

As for Happiness I think that is rare & fleeting - We should value it more. It comes in different guises & for different reasons. So much of life is compromise, dutiful, mundane. Real happiness means different things to different people. I'm hard pushed to say what makes me really, deeply, happy & at peace with the world & the people I know & love - But I do know it doesn't depend on things or money. It's about more than mere enjoyment. Maybe it's to do with contentment. I don't know.

Salaries - We're all in it Together ?

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/bulletins/annualsurveyofhoursandearnings/2014-11-19#tab-Key-points

Here's a selection of the 400 jobs featured in the survey, ranked from the stonkingly rich to the rest of us mortals...

1. Brokers - £133,677

2. Chief executives and senior officials - £107,703

3. Aircraft pilots and flight engineers - £90,146

4. Marketing and sales directors - £82,962

5. Information technology and telecommunications directors - £80,215

6. Advertising and public relations directors - £77,619

7. Legal professionals - £73,425

8. Medical practitioners – 69,463

9. Senior police officers - £58,533

10. Human resource managers and directors - £56,315

11. Sales accounts and business development managers - £51,576

12. Senior professionals of educational establishments - £49,679

13. Senior officers in fire, ambulance, prison and related services - £48,228

14. Business and financial project management professionals – £47,795

15. Train and tram drivers - £47,101

16. Solicitors - £46,576

17. Taxation experts - £46.551

18. Finance and investment analysts and advisers - £45,490

19. Property, housing and estate managers - £44,423

20. Insurance underwriters - £43,487

 

Geko Theatre Company @ the Playhouse Oxford

I'm really lucky - I'm a volunteer usher at the Playhouse.

Last night I ushered for Geko's "The Wedding" created by their artistic director Amit Lahav.

If I tell you that the dialogue is in many different languages & there is very little English, you may be put off. If I tell you that I only understood a few of the themes of the production - birth, marriage, divorce, work, refugees, you might think twice about going out in this weather & paying good money to see it. If I tell you that score was a complete mix of musical themes, which was very loud at times you might think it wasn't for you.  

You would be wrong - Trust me. It is utterly brilliant. Both very sad & hilariously funny - (the suitcase episode is idiosyncratic & very clever). The finale, with the whole cast clapping & stamping rhythmically got the audience on it's feet. In between the cast took us on an exploration of themes through dance, which reminded me very much of my Laban training at college. https://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/about-us/our-history/rudolf-laban

The choreography & execution were amazing.

Oxford is very priveleged to have a theatre which is prepared to put on productions which challenge the audience. It's easy to show crowd pleasers & old favourites. That's the way to rake in the cash. I've seen productions that I probably wouldn't have bought tickets for if I'm honest. But however the season is chosen & by whom, I have to say that I have hardly ever seen a bad show.

It's the final night tonight. If there are tickets left GO! Get the free programme to really understand Geko & "The Wedding"

(Let's) Exit Brexit!

I am completely fed up with the lot of them - UK & Europeans - Remainers & Leavers - Pundits & Experts. I am tired of opinions. I am tired of speculation. I am particularly tired of rigid thinkers who can't see beyond their own point of view - In fact, can't see that any other point of view is possible.

I am sick to death of Brexit's domination of the Press & the Media. There is a whole world out there. Not everyone in it is navel gazing, as we are, about this one issue. There are actually more important things happening. Life & death issues. Ecological issues. Our Parliament is letting everything else concerning the UK & the World fall by the wayside at the altar of Brexit.

I want to set up a new movement. "Lets Exit Brexit!" I would only allow sane, intelligent, thoughtful & balanced people join. People who didn't have an axe to grind - Who didn't have status or power or profit or income to protect - That would exclude many Politicians & Captains of Industry I realise. How refreshing that would be.

I wouldn't be in charge - I don't have any delusions of Dictatorship. (Who in their right mind wants to run a country in the 21st century?) There would be a small group representing various interest groups - Food Production, Manufacturing, Health & Welfare, Justice, Education for example. This group would seek reliable, evidence based, opinion about each issue facing both the UK & the wider context of Europe & the World. We would be truly democratic. We would aim for consensus.

In todays world we are part of a complex system. What the individual does affects other individuals. What a country does affects other countries. No single entity can avoid this ripple effect. What we do or don't do matters in the micro or macro environment.

OK - So it's not going to happen. We will continue on this self destructive & deluded path.

At least I'm not young, so I won't have to live with the aftermath of this .