#marathon "monkeyonmyback" - PT5

It is now December 30th. I ran 7 miles earlier this morning in cold and mist - but it was still and I have to say despite the toil - beautiful. Overall the run was good - I am still very slow - and the first 3 miles were a bit uncomfortable - aches and pains (one goes another starts - ha!). For a short period in the middle I actually felt good - comfortable - enjoying the feeling - running by my standard quite freely - and then a bit more of a grind. But I finished well - definitely could have run further if I had to - so that is positive. It is positive.

It was in June I wrote PT1 of #marathon - "monkey on my back". I entered to run my first ever marathon in Paris April 9th 2017 (from more or less a standing start - from the couch would be harsh - ha!).

Since then I have run 3 or 4 times a week. Mainly short distances - but I have run 2 equivalent half marathons. In November I was travelling so effectively a month out without any running. This was a setback for my run training - actually a big setback - a loss of momentum and running fitness definitely. As I have said before in an earlier blog - you lose condition more quickly as you get older. Christmas too does not exactly help a monk like existence!. I have not gone mad in terms of excess and we had short runs on Christmas Eve and 27th (memorably with my daughter Victoria) but overall I went out today not exactly feeling like Mo Farah ( I bottled it yesterday - didn't go at all - so today was a must.)

So time to take stock going into the new year and with April 9th and Paris looming fast. Well after 6 months of running I could say I am not much better than when I started. But actually this is not true. What is true is I have not had a breakthrough - a eureka moment where I felt I had suddenly cracked it. I know from the time when I did a spell of running in my mid thirties and from my sporting life generally that eureka moments do not happen. The reality is improvements are almost imperceptible - you slowly improve even if you do not always feel like it. I ran ok today and as I said I could have kept going - even though I can't seem to go faster. I don't think it would have made a major difference if I did 10 miles.

My thinking therefore is I am on track. My objective is simple. All I want to do is get "themonkeyoffmyback"! To do that I have to run a marathon without stopping and to be satisfied to myself that I have done it as well as I reasonably can taking into consideration my age and the fact that I have left it rather late in the day. Time is no longer important to me - not stopping and finishing is. If I can get under 5 hours I will be super chuffed - because right now it doesn't feel like it is possible. I have decided not to clock watch - I am just going to do my best. Writing that feels emotional - definitely confronting - because running is hardwork - there is nowhere to hide - and you also have in the back of your head at nearer 63 than 62 - can my body take it - so mega mega fingers crossed and touchwood - hug a tree - ha!.

I have entered the Farnborough Half Marathon with Jo on 22nd January and the Bramley 20 on 19th Februrary (with my son James who is training for the London Marathon.) as part preparation.

So it is no messing about from here on in. I have 15 weeks and I am going to give it a good shot. This will include running most days - and a bit more thinking about beer intake and diet. Some weight will come off which should help. Once the monkey is off my back I will be able to revert to being a fun runner - ha!

Off for a Christmas 3 miler with Victoria and James

#IDCards why the UK need compulsory cards

Sometimes something seems glaringly obvious. We have no universal ID system in the UK. It causes so many problems and makes life so difficult for the authorities - and consequently us - the tax payer and law abiding citizens (with nothing to fear). We need one. We need a national ID card in some form.

Introducing a UK wide compulsory ID scheme is not a new idea - in fact we had them in both the 1st and 2nd World Wars. The last scheme was ended in 1952 largely because people resented being asked to produce them by the police. It was also looked at by the Conservatives in the mid 1990's. Various schemes were discussed but not proceeded with because of priorities and political expediency it seems.

Those that are anti a compulsory scheme have made the following arguments against :

• It would be expensive.
• They could be forged.
• A citizen has a right to privacy.
• They could infringe civil liberties.
• To be really helpful they would have to be carried compulsorily.
• They could be used by the police to target certain communities and would cause resentment and a breakdown in public trust in authority.
• The information contained on a modern sophisticated card would increase and could be misused.
• They do not work - no evidence they significantly cut crime/fraud or would help much in dealing with immigration or terrorism.
• Perceived benefits are outweighed by the disadvantages.

I have always strongly supported the idea of ID cards. However my view is the world has changed dramatically in the last 20 years and I feel they are even more essential now.. To start off we do not know who is in our country and what their entitlements are. Immigration and migration has been in unprecedented - vast numbers - and uncontrolled of course. We know extremist violence has become a much greater threat and that threat is unlikely to go away. We also know human resources are very much in short supply because of wage and salary costs. Our institutions and public services are increasingly required to do more for less and need every help they can get in order to keep the UK safe and viable. I also feel we are in the main totally fed up with the "liberal elite". These are the people promoting individual "human rights" in such a blinkered manner and to such a naïve extent that we are losing amongst other things - our collective nationhood, our self confidence, our freedom of speech and our solvency. A properly introduced and applied ID scheme will help to redress this balance because the pendulum has swung far too far in the favor of individual over every other societal consideration.

The benefits of a modern, comprehensive and compulsory ID card scheme would be :

• Biometrics - now commonplace and well used would cut out fraud.
• Chip technology will massively reduce costs of implementation.
• We already have to produce ID regularly. Many people (often the "poor") do not have a passport or driving licence. An ID card would make life easier not disadvantage the poor as some argue.
• ID cards are favored by the Police and other agencies because they are efficient and practical as a means of checking ID. They would help reduce the difficulty (time and money) of essential ID checks that protect society. Carrying a card is a small price to pay. Most people carry bank cards and mobile phones. It is not a massive imposition.
• There is a problem with illegal immigration in the UK. We need a system where if you cannot produce a valid ID card or a passport - then the presumption should be you are here illegally. Applying for a UK ID card should be a primary step for an asylum seeker/migrant.
• Health tourism is an issue - as is benefit entitlement - school place entitlement etc. An ID card would be a pain free - quick and efficient way of determining validity of claimants. It would save millions in time checking and by cutting out bogus claims.
• The vast law abiding majority would have no problem with ID cards. Their priority is efficiency and safety. The public in the main have nothing to hide (see Facebook) - and are used to chip technology and card checks. They know they can be tracked by their mobile phones for instance. They know Google gather information through online searches. It is only the liberal paranoid elite and criminals that see this as a problem.
• Racial profiling and stop and search have been a problem. The Police and authorities now have a much better understanding of the sensitivities around these issues. ID card checks do not have to be very intrusive - on the contrary they would make ID checks very simple and uncontroversial unless you are out of step with society or sheer bloody minded.
• The public believe that increasingly the country is running out of control. This may be perception or reality. It does not matter which. An ID card would evidence better control. It would be very beneficial to the nations psyche. No one likes feeling being ripped off.

I believe the time and money would be well spent. It would be essential when we roll it out we make it a priority and therefore we would have to put the resources in to do it quickly. The benefits would be massive in the modern world.

#Brexit populism and a move to the right - no wrong - to the middle ground!

I feel compelled out of frustration to make this point :

The sneering liberal elite - are characterising the Brexit vote as a lurch to the right by the masses (bordering on racist) and populist (used as a derogatory term) and duped because they did not understand what they voted for (just voicing their frustrations - as the left behind and marginalised.)

I am one of those masses. This is what I think.

For all my political life I have held the centre ground of politics. I voted for Blair when the Tories were dysfunctional but essentially I am a one nation Tory. I am not doctrinaire but objective and pragmatic. I have children and grand children and their future and the quality of the society they will live in are absolutely paramount to me.

My point is I have not moved. My views have been the same for 35 years at least. I have not lurched to the left or swung to the right. I know what I believe - what works - and what is right and what is fair. My contention is the sneered at "masses" are made up of people like me. We are not swinging all over the place - we are centrists - two feet planted firmly in the middle ground.

So what has happened?

Well for 40 years the electorate has been inexorably dragged down the EU road without a real say. Yes we have had general elections but there has been a "Hobson's choice" in reality when it comes to the issue of  the expansion of the EU and dealing with migration/immigration pressures. For 40 years us - the masses have not been given the opportunity to seriously debate these issues because we never had a chance to vote on them. The liberal elite moved left - and global business moved right. The grumbling tolerant masses stayed largely passive in the middle and just got on with their lives and trying to earn an honest living.

Finally after 40 years the masses were given a vote - the referendum. They haven't lurched to the right. They haven't sided with the left. They have clearly voted to say they want to be firmly in the middle ground where they have been and have always wanted to be.

What is the middle ground?

• we never wanted to give up control of our laws, money or borders - 40 years ago we entered a trading block - nothing more. We have made it clear we want it back.
• we are not just interested in money - in economic wealth if it diminishes our democracy freedom and nationhood. Big businesses might take a hit - but they will survive. So will we.
• we believe in the NHS absolutely and the welfare state but we do not like being ripped off (and we have been).
• we believe nothing is for free. You have to earn the money first before you can give it away. The books have to be balanced. Resources are finite.
• bureaucracy has become far too burdensome and unnecessary.
• we are not racist but net migration has been running at ridiculous and unsustainable levels. Our infrastructure cannot cope and it is impossible to plan because we have no control. We never agreed to this. It has to stop. We have to take control - we have to be able to plan.
• we never wanted to be part of a federalised Europe.
• we think free movement of labour is a crazy idea and not essential to a trading relationship.
• we think the EU is a gravy train - with too many noses in the trough - it is undemocratic.
• we think we should be able to trade with all the world.
• we trust ourselves to make good humanitarian decisions and do not need to be part of the EU to be a peaceful nation - we are happier in our own skin.

So to all those smart journalists - to the liberal elitist BBC and their Question Time panels who sneer at us in the main -  to those career politicians like Clegg and Miliband (who have never done a proper job) - to all those thousands of EU technocrats with their noses in the trough exercising power (unelected) over us and telling us how to live our lives  - to the great and the good (who know best) - the IMF ECB Obama etc etc - it is not us the masses that have moved. We know exactly what we voted for. It was to take back what has been undemocratically and inexorably prised off us. We did it at the first real chance we had  We have reasserted the middle ground! So politicians must show some democratic decency - the vote was clearly a desire to get back on the common-sense middle ground. If we do not properly respond to this democratic vote - by agitating for soft Brexit (effectively not leaving the EU because of single market criteria) or frustrating the decision to leave overall, I am afraid it really is likely to engender an extreme reaction from the otherwise moderate collective middle.

#BeijingCapitalInternationalAirport & Air China

I made my recent trip to Thailand and return from Singapore via Beijing. On both legs I flew with Air China and had longish stop overs at Beijing International airport. Why did I choose this carrier and route - cost! The return journey total cost was £359 - amazing when you think about it. By a significant margin Air China was the cheapest.

So what of Air China - the negative - everything about the experience made you feel you were a budget traveller - except the legroom which was good in economy. Having said that everything worked ok - it was just the little touches that were missing. Check in - was not through a dedicated Air China desk and it was always at the back of the airport. The cabin staff were professional - friendly enough but brusque too. No nonsense. The "drinks" trolley content looked like it was bought at the local SPAR - and it was offered sparingly. Inflight entertainment was hopeless. Food mediocre. One that did make me laugh and basically summed Air China up for me - most airlines at some stage offer passengers a hot flannel to freshen up with. On Air China - cabin staff walk down the aisle and offer each passenger a single paper tissue pulled out of a tissue box as they go!  But they got the job done. The plane was modern. I guess you get what you pay for overall so no complaints really.

What was much more bizarre and frustrating was Beijing Capital International Airport. It is massive and on the face of it palatial - glitzy - grandiose. Actually it could hardly be less interesting or functional. It consists almost entirely of duty free shops selling luxury items. There are few staff and very little activity. Thereafter there is nothing for the passenger. A small and very modest KFC - a tiny Costa - and a tiny restaurant of a sort at one end of the vast terminal and something similar and equally modest at the other. There isn't a bar. There isn't a general all purpose shop where you can buy say water or snacks or books. (there are a few vending machines) There are no ATM's and if you exchange for Yuan's it is expensive. There is nothing to do. On top of that there is mind numbing what I shall describe as piped Chinese "classical music" - as a constant background. It is a dirge - not uplifting in any way. The terminal has no personality whatsoever.

If Air China and China wants to establish Beijing as a realistic hub airport the authorities will need to do much better - particularly at the airport. One lesson I have learned on this flight is what you save on a fare you can easily waste making a stop over tolerable and therefore it is pointless. I think next time it will be back to the old favourites for me - one of the middle eastern airlines.

Perhaps I was in a grumpy mood but boy does that guttural throat clearing and spitting habit of the Chinese take a bit of handling too. The ups and downs of travel. We are all different of course. The Chinese are a phenomena - they just do their own thing.

Beijing airport on the face of it looks fine.

#Brexit to remainers - now it is Italy

To those remainers fighting a rear guard and undemocratic campaign to undermine or frustrate a proper Brexit - a question?

 "Why is our future in your eyes more secure and more positive in the EU or hamstrung by the conditions required to be part of the single market than it is engaging on our own terms with the global economy?"

It seems clear from all the indicators that the EU/Euro project is gradually but inexorably falling apart. Why - because it is flawed as a concept - and it is undemocratic. It might suit some northern European economies but it is undermining the majority. There is no growth - very high youth unemployment and a fundamental debt problem that has been hidden rather than dealt with.

For the EU technocrats the answer is yet closer integration and they have no mandate for that whatsoever.

The British people are brave, objective and forward looking. Despite protestations from the remain campaign the UK voter and inceasingly electors in other EU countries can see of the EU - "the King is not wearing any clothes."

See Italy.

#Brexit what did we vote for - be honest !!!

Politics is filled today with the question - what type of Brexit should we go for ? It is a most disingenuous and undemocratic question - that is actually sickening in its cynicism.

The question really is what did people vote for in the referendum. They voted to leave the EU in order to get back full control of our laws, money and borders.

What they certainly didn't vote for in the democratically held referendum was to nominally leave and not to achieve full control of our laws, money and borders - otherwise why leave at all? What would be the point? What would be the point of in effect half leaving - ie staying in the single market - or very close to it - if the price is to give up full or even partial control of our laws, money and borders and be unable to do trade deals with global countries on our own terms. That would be the worst of all worlds - half in - half out. THAT IS NOT WHAT WAS VOTED FOR - LEAVE MEANS LEAVE.

The emergence of arguments for "soft" Brexit  or "grey" Brexit is a recipe for disaster for this country. As I have said the worst of all worlds - no longer at the EU voting table but hamstrung by it. It is also and primarily a rear guard tactic of "remainers" who wilfully and disingenuously will not accept the democratic decision of the people who voted for hard Brexit in majority, regardless of any trade loss or trading disadvantage with the EU - which they understood.

Theresa May has to stick with her stance based on her correct, honourable and democratic interpretation of the referendum result and not be bullied into watering it down by the forces who want to achieve remain in the EU or whose priority is only EU single market access achieved through tactics best described as via the undemocratic backdoor and by using weasel words. (like they respect the referendum result!)

 

#Thailand Final thoughts etc Thailand PT13

A few random thoughts following my trip to Thailand to round off. Usual disclaimer - these are my own thoughts based on limited exposure - I have probably only scratched the surface - they might not be right - ha!

Thailand is a country with a lot going for it and an exceptionally good place to visit - but of course this is hardly original news!

It sounds clichéd but my overwhelming thought is the Thai people are genuinely lovely - almost without exception. They are a happy lot - always gossiping and laughing - and of course polite and deferential as is their nature. Generally they are small - light boned people and not as extreme oriental looking as say the Chinese (just an observation not a negative judgement). It is impossible not to like them.

As I have just said my impression was Thailand is doing well and people are happy. However there are under currents and there is more happening that is revealed if you probe deeper.

The main issue is in 2014 the democratically elected government was overthrown by a military junta. (this has happened before in Thailand - in fact the 13th time since 1932). The military said the coup was necessary to restore stability and to end the risk of violence between the supporters of the two main political parties. Those parties were characterised to me as the party of the north and the party of the south. However what I have read the party of the middle class and wealthy and the party of the poor.

We in the UK might recognise the name Thaksin Shinawatra - he bought control of Liverpool Football Club ! He was the Thai Prime Minister but forced out on corruption charges - but loved by the poor because they claim he was the only politician who ever did anything for them. When it was clear he could not return his brother stood as leader of the party and he was elected as Prime Minister. It was he who was forced out in the coup.

The coup military leaders promised a return to democracy in 2017 (after they have drafted and agreed a new constitution) but commentators and analysts are very doubtful. In fact what they see is a tightening of power, severe treatment of their detractors and increasingly human rights abuses. The assessment is the poor are not going to take this lying down because the main beneficiaries of the junta policies are claimed to be the already monied - the establishment. This state of affairs - the instability - has had a negative effect on the Thai economy - and international investment (in what was perceived as a bit of an economic jewel) - is now drying up and this is hurting Thailand - particularly as it faces such tough competition from its various well performing neighbours - such as Malaysia and Singapore. The global down turn has not helped either. Fortunately for the Thais tourists continue to pour in and this is crucial to their economic performance.

(whereever I have been it is the word corruption you hear - and the corrosive effect it has on the people, their institutions and morale. This week it has been Iceland and South Korea in the news. Not long ago it was Brazil. I wonder if those guilty politicians have always been corrupt, or have had to make corrupt promises to get elected, or is it power that corrupts and greed takes over, or is it politicians are paid badly, or is it they know it is going to have a bad end and the mindset is “make hay why the sun shines” or is it just sheer megalomania? Whichever it is it is a cancer when it gets hold. I have just been to Singapore and they have built their strong economy on the base of transparency. I think it is why the UK is a good place to do business too. We are tough on corruption.)

Back to Thailand. One amazing feat they have pulled off which I believe stands them in very good stead is they have managed to keep people working on the land. I am not really sure how it has been achieved but Sinawatra seems to have been behind the policy and they have invested in agriculture. Thailand has the advantage of being a fertile place to grow things - which helps of course! What it has meant is food is cheap which helps the poor. It means unlike most countries in the world it produces a massive surplus of food - 4 to 5 times it's own needs. This forms a valuable export income. But for me the best part is people have not descended on the cities to get away from rural poverty and deprivation as they have in many countries in the world. This is a thoroughly depressing sight (rural populations) living in - urban shanty towns - urban squalor - people living in terrible unhygienic conditions (in a vain attempt to betterment by moving to the city). And of course however inefficient the farming, a fall off in food production. Thailand has not made this mistake and as worldwide food shortages increase they have a good plan in place and I think they are happier and better off for it as a nation with a thriving rural farming community.

I mention happiness again - this is just a theory - I have nothing to back it up other than my own observation and supposition. Thailand is a Buddhist country - you see many shaven head oranged robed monks going about their business - it is part of daily life. There are plenty of Buddhist temples too and every home has its own small shrine. But the Thais are not weighed down by religion as people are in so many other countries. Their religion forms part of their society (small s) it does not dominate or run it it seems to me. The Thai people willingly support their monks with gifts - with sustenance - and the monks pray for them and support and guide them in Buddhist terms. And in my view Buddhist terms are the best of terms. They are good people. Quiet, thoughtful, humble - but practical and with a sense of humour too at times - they have a lot of answers. Most people recognise the Dalai Lama is a special man. Of course our western life style is generally increasingly secularised and materialistic and maybe we are all the worse for that. The Thais have the balance about right and in the main and generally speaking - are trying to live the good life Buddhism points to. As I have said - they are nice people.

The final thing I want to say that makes Thailand a good place is they have done well at lifting a very large proportion of their people out of true poverty despite its per capita GDP being decent without being exceptional as it is with some other countries in SE Asia. Of course there are massive gaps in wealth but some of the wealth created at least seems to have trickled down towards the bottom end and they are a better society for it. Again I am not sure how this has been achieved but is certainly not the case in many countries.

Below is a few more observations but nothing to do with Thailand as such - but I am tacking them on as they came from the trip.

• I met an earnest young Japanese man in Beijing Airport and we had a chat for a while as I had been to Japan a long time ago and have always been intrigued by it. He had just graduated with a degree in "population demographics". Japan is a country almost not part of this world. It has so many things that it struggles with - no natural resources - earthquakes and instability - the terrible tsunami a few years ago. It is very densely populated - but of course has phenomenal mature economy (much they produce is household quality names) - was the world's China 3 or 4 decades ago. Anyway what he explained - like many western countries - there is a massive demographic issue as the population is ageing. What is extreme in Japan is young people just do not want children. In his words the country is dying out. I asked him why. He said children are seen as just too much responsibility and cost given the uncertainty of what they see as Japans precarious hold in the world. (see their attitude to personal saving as they are so worried about the future). I asked him about immigration - bringing young foreigners in. He was sure this was no acceptable solution and having been there I can understand where their attitude comes from. Basically after 3 or 4 years of study his conclusion is there is no solution - no answer. Japan is dying out!
• A long time ago I had a holiday in Gambia with my daughter and one of my sons. It was a real insight. While there we met an earnest young man called Abdul Gaye who was our guide on a trip to Senegal. Basically he was trying to secure a future for himself and young family in Gambia - but there were so many barriers. He wanted to breed chickens to eat as a business and we corresponded for a while to see if there was a way I could help. Gambia is the smallest country in Africa and one of the most impoverished. It was all so difficult. This week in the news their President - a man with a most bizarre personality and life style seems to have agreed to stand down after 22 years of mad and calamitous leadership. So maybe there is hope at last. Maybe Gambia will start to make progress and deserving people like Abdul Gaye and family  might have more of a future. I really hope so. 
• Finally coincidences happen when travelling. I was on the Singapore MST (their underground) travelling from the airport to the city. I talk to a fellow backpacker - a young woman with a bit of an Aussie accent. She asks me where I am from - the UK. She says she is from the UK but has been in Oz for 2 years hence the accent. She asks where from in the UK - the westcountry - she says she is from the west country - whereabouts? Exeter - she is from Exeter too. I say I have a brother in Exmouth and one in Uffculme.( a very small place). She says she went to school in Uffculme! Does she know my brother and family - yes she played netball in the same team as my niece Amber - a small world indeed!

Enough - time to sign off. Here is to the next one!



 

3 weeks of foodie pleasure

I am at the end of my trip to Thailand and short stopovers in Malaysia and Singapore. I have ate mostly local food and a lot of street food.

As I have a bit of time to kill before my flight I am putting together this blog for amusement. Where ever I travel I try and learn the names of dishes. I never remember them but I have taken pictures as below.

I am in love with Thai food. In the main it is so light and subtle - herbs and spicing are so fresh and seafood is so cheap. I must have ate half a dozen squid in total! (it is so much better on small little plates too instead of the great chargers we use at home - a good lesson to utilise - oh and chop sticks  makes meals last longer - ha!)

I have also ate a lot of Chinese dishes that have a massive influence in Malaysia and Singapore. Great food of course - wonderful at times - but I think relatively heavy compared to Thai magic in the wok.

I am thinking back to South Africa earlier in the year - great slabs of beef - and to India before that. Indian food might even shade Thai food for me. So easy to be a vegetarian in India - the wonderful subtle aromatic spicing. I am getting carried away - it will soon be winter fish and chips! UK here I come. The upside - wonderful Real ale - no more gasy lager. There is always a bright side!