The General Election

Not done a personal blog for a while, so here goes.

Firstly, this is not a neutral blog, I am very biased and a socialist, so don't expect a balanced view. Secondly, I have lots of friends and colleagues who disagree with me. we will continue to disagree and remain friends and colleagues.

What's my view?

We have a fundamental choice in this election between dislike of others. a narrow nationalism and greed or for the good of all, a collective move forward, protection of those who need protecting and a strengthening of opportunities for all and particularly providing hope and life chances for the young.

That is why I am voting Labour and trying to convince others to do so. however if we had PR rather than a first past the post system I would be voting Green!

Some thoughts about the leaders:

As always it's about leaders with most people voting based on who leads the party. let's make it clear. I'm a Corbyn fan, I think he's a good bloke and genuinely comes across as calm and determined in the face of some hostile personal attacks. Theresa May can't think for herself and far from being "Strong and Stable" she u-turns and does little more than repeat slogans. Farron has come across as prat recently after his car crash with Andrew Neil and I am concerned as I believe he is anti-gay personally although the Lib Dems clearly are not. Caroline Lucas is mint and my favourite politician but in the circumstances, even if we had a Green candidate in my marginal constituency, I would still vote Labour.

For me Corbyn comes a cross as the strongest leader, not in a shouty antagonistic way, but in a calm way - I like that. He is also coming across as authentic BUT in last night's Question Time I was disappointed. Why didn't he say he won't nuke anyone? I don't want my country's leader to nuke anyone, why fry millions of people even if their leader would want to fry us? That bit showed him to be more of a politician and less of an authentic leader and I was concerned at his lack of openness and honesty there.

Some thoughts about the campaigns and manifestos:

I have heard someone, who I like immensely, say that Labour's manifesto is too extreme. However it is mainstream stuff in Scandinavia, big chunks of it would be supported by Merkel and she's on the right of German politics. It simply shows how right-wing and greedy we have become as a country. Great manifesto and so far in the main a great campaign (with the odd exception - see later).

The Tories have put Ms May at the center and what a car crash she's been, "Strong and Stable" seems to mean empty promises, an inability to debate or discuss rationally and a series of U-turns, "Wrong, Unstable" would have been more appropriate. That's now been ditched for the more attack minded "Magic Money Tree" from the Government who has massively increased the debt, seen the rich get richer whilst the poor get massively poorer. Their other new slogan is "Diane Abbott" and unfortunately I have no answer to that as she's shocking other than pointing to Bojo and Gove to say pot and kettle.

Lib Dems, I quite liked Farron, seemed an OK bloke but as the campaign has gone on he's coming across as a prat I'm afraid. Maybe the stress of it all and I hope he gets himself together and goes back to how he was before. I always think the Lib Dems are really good at local stuff but on big issues will do owt if it gets them a seat at the table and have no real coherent philosophy.

Love Caroline Lucas and the Green manifesto, problem with some of them is that you do end up with a local candidate with a beard and sandals who weaves his own yoghurt.

What will happen?

No idea but I've had a cheeky bet a while back on no overall majority. That will only happen if young people make the effort to vote, so get of your arses as if you don't and then you don't like what the Government does you have no right to complain.

Polls are very unreliable now and the prediction is anywhere between a big Tory majority and a hung parliament but one thing I am sure of is there is change afoot and with Brexit that is definitely true. The most important thing is to vote next week.

The, once we have a result, the most important thing is, whoever forms the next Government, to do your best to make the World a better place in whatever way you can.

So here's my election prediction (or maybe not):

• There will be no overall majority (as I'l then win a few quid from Skybet)
• Corbs and the Maybot will sit down and form a national government
• We will have the Dream Team that will be the envy of the World, Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary, Diane Abbott as Home Secretary

Vote Labour!

A Short Review of 2016

I've been away for a good while, not made the time to get my thoughts down, too busy being busy. Thought it;s time for a change and to make time to think and reflect, hence a return to blogging.

It has been a good year personally, I'm happy with myself, content with life and learned many things about myself. There are lots of things to improve upon but a recognition of that and a commitment to make improvements lead to contentment. A full realization that my lack of a wish to have "stuff" is fine, that spending time and having fun with people that matter makes for a much richer and happier life than the urge for a nice watch, a new car or any possessions can have. I feel that I'm in a good place mentally and emotionally.

I'm not sure the rest of the World feels the same way.

In the UK, another year of austerity, another year of over a million people, many of them working, who rely on food banks to make ends meet, a year that has seen the rise of far right ideas (and I do include UKIP in that) where racism, homophobia and sexism have become acceptable.

I fear we are in a rerun of the early 1930s:

• The same language Hitler used about Jews then is being used against Muslims and Eastern Europeans
• Racist abuse and racist attacks are becoming commonplace
• Hate crimes against gays are on the increase
• Food banks are the modern day equivalents of soup kitchens
• Homelessness has increased massively
• Zero hour contracts are fundamentally the same as the queues for casual work outside the docks in the 1930s
• The parasitic rich continue to make super profits at the expense of the majority even though "we're all in it together"

Unfortunately many people look for a simple solution and buy into the scapegoating of "others" as a simple, yet false, argument and solution. Their own difficulties in making ends meet can easily lead to see things this simply and with hate propaganda pouring out of mainstream media rags like the Mail it makes things worse. 

There seems to be a lack of a mainstream, sensible, alternative argument. The Left is either incompetent, too busy infighting or has a "holier than thou" attitude and simply suggests the people voting for the far right or Brexit are just idiots. The reality is that many are people having a bad time, who are fed up with politicians lining their own pockets and are voting for the only alternative they see. (the Left need to re-listen to Pawn in Their Game by Bob Dylan).

What is the answer to Brexit, Trump, the rise of UKIP, and the rest of the European far-right?

I suggest a good place is to work with other people who have a different view. The majority of people, including those who have voted for Brexit or UKIP, are not haters, they have voted for an alternative to the mainstream that has led their lives to be harsh. At the same time as the voices of hate rise there are many who are doing good deeds, who are working to help those less fortunate, who push for co-operation, honesty, ethics and mutual respect. When they do good work and it gets reported in the press or on social media, the response of most people is supportive.

To make 2017 a better place to be than 2016 simply work with the positive people and publicise the positive whilst speaking out and standing up against hatred in whatever form it appears.Be brave. Stand up for what is right. Do good things. Surround yourself with good people.

We can all make a difference, we just need to decide to do that.

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men (and women - Ian E) to do nothing - Edmund Burke

Back from Holibobs

Had a great break even if it was only 5 days. We started through the Dales on our way over to the North West with stops at Aysgarth, Hawes and Ribblehead to make it an enjoyable day out rather than a journey and also got a nice bit of Blue Wensleydale Gromit to have with tea when we arrived at Arnside, our first overnight stay.

That was followed by a few days walking in Keswick and a look at apartment prices for a future retirement. A great break, really enjoyed it.

Quantum Mechanics

Despite been a computing geek my first degree some time ago was physics and the topic I found most interesting was Quantum Mechanics. The quantum world is a strange world, one that Einstein wasn't convinced of, and a theory that underpins a number of modern inventions. There are all kinds of potential consequences, infinite universes, cats that are both dead and alive and much more.

My interest was perked up by a new series on BBC that I caught up on via the iPlayer and chats with Matt whilst he's home - he too is studying Physics at Uni but is doing better than me!

Somehow I manged to wedge Schrodinger's cat into a BNI education slot at Vision Chapter in Billingham this week, you'll have to get in touch if you want to know how.

I love science me!

Labour Leadership

I normally don't do political on here but here goes ...

First I need to make it clear that this is a personal blog not a company blog so they are my own views.

Secondly, I am an unashamed socialist which is not as unusual in the small business community as you may think.

I have signed up as a Labour supporter as I do support its aims. This means I can vote in the leadership election and also that I am bombarded via email and post with election pitches.

Today I received a "letter from Tom Blenkinsop" my local MP and a man you can talk to any time, as long as there is an election ha ha. The communication essentially urges me to back anyone but Jeremy Corbyn. There are a couple of things in the letter that have confirmed my belief that Jeremy Corbyn is the man to vote for.

1. "Labour can only help the people who need it most when we are in power..". Whilst there is a lot of truth in that a sa statement of fact, how does more austerity help the people who need it most? We are redistributing wealth from poor to rich. Why get elected if it's not what you believe in? That is power for power's sake and sums up the careerist group that my MP represents. I would rather be open and honest and try and change others' opinions than do anything for power.

2. A badly photocopied letter that is faded and makes it almost impossible to read the email address really convinces me that the MP is genuinely concerned about what I think. Try making an effort!! If I was wavering I would probably vote Corbyn purely for that reason.

I think those of us on the left have a genuine opportunity to create an alternative. I am very much in favour of having a genuine choice come election time, even if my preferred choice doesn't win and last election without the minority choice of the Green Party there was no real anti-austerity choice in England (well done Scotland).

As a result I will be voting for Jeremy Corbyn and sincerely hope this is the start of a real movement to oppose austerity and take the Labour Party back for the people its aims represent. I want to live in a society where all who are able to do contribute and those that can't are looked after. I want to part of a society that believes that educating its young for free is the route to future success, that care is for all based on need and not ability to pay, that allows working people rights and dignity at work, that champions the needs and aspirations of ordinary people above those of the rich and powerful.

That's a big dream and a seismic change from the current mainstream politics - but if we don't dream and work for better then we deserve more of the same. It's time for those, like Tom Blenkinsop, to step aside and let us build a better society.

A Couple of Days Off

An office move is pretty stressful and a couple of days relaxation has been the order of the day, therefore a trip to Scarborough for a couple of days watching the mighty Yorkshire play cricket with copious refreshments in the North Riding to boot.

A great 2 days with Matt and Dave the ex-brewer at Scarborough cricket ground including 20 wickets on day 1, a great partnership between Maxwell and Rashid on day 2 with both scoring centuries and copious amounts of North Riding's Peasholm Pale Ale, which was stunning.

Nice 2 days in the sunshine, chat, beers and Yorkshire ahead when we left - I love cricket me!

And on day 2 the Ashes were won, Sunderland lost, Hartlepool won - we just need a Boro win on TV today and all is well with the world.

Time to Move

Just a short blog to start what will be a busy week with work and moving.

On Friday, with the help of the great folks at Richardson Moving and Storage, we move from Redcar to my home town of Middlesbrough and into the thriving Digital & Creative space of the Boho Zone and specifically Boho 5 (Bridge Street East, Middlesbrough).

Our email, website, mobile number and bank details will all remain the same but we cannot port our land line number as that belongs to the Palace Hub and as soon as we are settled and got the new number we will let you know. We have a meeting on 3rd August with the MFC supplying  Cornerstone Business Solutions to sort out our telephony so should have a great solution pretty quick.

Cornerstone are part of our soon to launch BNI chapter in Middlesbrough and one of many quality businesses we will be working with over the coming years as we move to the next stage in Tad Web Solutions' growth. We have a fantastic digital and creative team in the soon-to-launch chapter which will really help us all grow including graphics/branding, print, video, an online advertising agency hand-picked by Google for mentoring (one of a very limited group) along with us and Cornerstone - going to be something special. There's also great teams in the construction and related industries and a brilliant financial and professional services team plus a couple of great health & fitness companies that will grow into a brilliant health/fitness/beauty and well-being team.

If you do business in Middlesbrough you should pop along for breakfast at the Thistle Hotel at 06:45 on Tuesday and see what you're missing out on.