#Socialmobility street food and The Son's Veto

Wow - wide awake this morning. Just finished my early morning bike ride along the sea wall. I misjudged the temperature -plenty of north in the fresh breeze - and the tide was right up.  Could have certainly done with an extra layer. No mind - I am back - mug of coffee in hand - ready to go!

I formed a blog in my mind while I was riding. As ever I have no agenda but quite often something bubbles up to the surface. Very often it is two things that come together as it was this morning. So here goes - I shall try to keep it short.

The first is a Netflix series entitled Street Food. I watch an episode from time to time. The format is the same in each episode - a short cameo of the life of a particular street food vendor (in an eastern or far eastern urban setting) and their heroic struggle and ultimate success. In every episode the motivation of the vendor is economic survival - to keep the wolf from the door - and particularly - a common theme - to fund their children's education - "so they do not have to struggle like I have had to struggle."

In some of the episodes the children have actually grown up and gone on to participate in the business as it has become more and more successful. In others the children have used their good education to move on. Either way the parents take a huge amount of satisfaction from what they have made possible by hard work and enterprise and how their children have used the opportunities they have been able to create for them. The children themselves are shown to have a deep regard for their parents, their journey and the sacrifices they have made to create a better opportunity for their offspring.

These are heartening stories of upward social mobility based on hard work and sacrifice - meritocracy and its outcomes at its best.

A quick off on a tangent - the street food itself! The other day I was talking to someone about travel and how they would like to have the money to stay in top hotels and eat in the best restaurants. I tried to explain that even if I was mega rich that wouldn't be for me ie. the essence of travel is getting out on the street with the locals and eating what they eat. In all my years of travel - and I have been to some quite challenging places - I have never had a problem with street food. In fact the opposite - some wonderful food and at great prices. It is true the vendors love you to enjoy their food - they take great pride in what they serve and you really get the best chance to sample the real culture. On eating street food - standard advice is the best advice - eat with the locals - select the busy stalls (great watching their dexterity) - eat hot food - prepared why you wait - avoid salads.

Now here is an example of not so positive upward social mobility. It comes from a short story written by Thomas Hardy called The Son's Veto. I have bullet pointed below the synopsis :

• A rather well to do married Parson in a rural setting. His wife dies.
• The Parson's house keeper is half his age and not his social equal. She is courting a local lad (admirer) of her equal.
• In due course the Parson proposes marriage and she sets aside the local admirer.
• The Parson takes his new wife to the City where they can live a lower profile life and he sets out to educate and advise her in order to smooth her rough edges (rather unsuccessfully).
• They have a son. The son wants for nothing and is educated at the best schools and Oxbridge.
• The son becomes increasingly aware / embarrassed of his mothers ordinary ways.
• The Parson dies and money is left in trust - the son is well set up.
• He sees less and less of his mother and she hankers after her former rural existence and the more ordinary life from which she came and was most at ease with.
• Many years go by and she has a chance meeting with her former local admirer and he still has feelings for her. He proposes they marry and that she helps him run a new greengrocer business he is setting up back in their original village. She desperately wants to accept.
• She broaches the subject of her remarriage with her now well to do son.
• He will have none of it. A greengrocer! He states such a marriage would ruin his reputation and his social standing. She tries to persuade him over several years but he veto's her proposal and is able to hold sway over her.
• She is broken hearted and subsequently has a unhappy and relatively short life. 

Here is a lesson from Hardy. Some people even today are fixated about their social standing and particularly how their status might be undermined by their class. Some people grow up ashamed of their modest upbringing. Opportunities available to children which the parents did not have can create a gulf, a wedge an irritation in families. It can appear a bit incongruous when children grow up "posh" relative to their parents - particularly in the way they speak and what they consider to be the norm. In the 90's in the UK tradesmen - builders, carpenters and plumbers started to earn big money and many sent their children off to private school. Now and in some instances those parents and children appear a bit like chalk and cheese - to their mutual discomfort and sometimes embarrassment.

Fortunately our society is no longer hung up to the same extent as say the Victorians on class and status and the importance of coming from a "good" family - but at the same time it would be wrong to deny this type of snobbery can still exist. Achieving mutual happiness by doing the right thing is not always a clear path. Overall an interesting phenomenon.

#Culteralappropriation identity politics, political correctness, Lionel Shriver The Well Beloved!

I have something I want to say about the way our society is moving. It has been bubbling away in my mind for ages. Like many I find myself railing against (at least in my head) over weening political correctness, the virtue signalling promoted by some liberal elites, the petulance of identity politics, snowflakery, the gorging on and promotion of victim mentalities, being "offended", the lazy naivety of left wing politics and worst of all what seems to me really scary - an erosion of freedom of speech as a bi product or consequence.

Reflect - am I a dinosaur? Certainly I am in many commentators sights - white male - baby boomer - pro Brexit - gammon - racist - nationalist - ha!

Dinosaur or not I am in the mood to try and articulate what I am thinking in the mix of social commentary. So here goes - not sure where this is heading and as usual what I am exactly going to say! An exploration - ha!

First of all the trigger point for this blog. My daughter mentioned in a casual WhatsApp conversation she was reading a novel written by Lionel Shriver. She asked me what I was reading - which happened to be The Well Beloved - you might recognise as a lesser known Thomas Hardy novel.

Lionel Shriver was known to me - (but not well known.) She is a successful novelists, a journalist and social commentator. When Vicky mentioned her name it reminded me how previously I had listened to Lionel Shriver and well regarded her contributions - not least on Brexit. Anyway out of interest I googled Lionel Shriver and ended up watching an interview of her by Mark Steyn (someone else of whom I have high regard) - on the topic of "Cultural Appropriation".

What is cultural appropriation? Appropriate - take something for your own use without permission. Cultural appropriation taking or using or assuming someone else's culture which is not your culture?

I enjoyed the discussion which resonated with me and have subsequently felt it was something I could hang my hat on - so to speak. It gave me a structure to voice my grievances on - as per my opening paragraph - ha!

At this point the best thing you could do is to listen to the interview - here is the link.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=lionel+shriver&&view=detail&mid=358DDF6D2F72D2C6957C358DDF6D2F72D2C6957C&&FORM=VRDGAR

For my purposes I am going to precis the interview below and use it for my additional commentary and use bullet points :

• Mark Steyn opens his programme. Cultural Appropriation - "do you have to be Mexican to wear a sombrero - can white men sing the blues or are they being offensive as cultural appropriators ?"
• Lionel Shriver explained she was invited to open a Brisbane Book Festival by making a speech in which she believed she made some anodyne and self evident remarks about the concept of cultural appropriation as it affected her occupation as a novelist.
• Her address caused a storm as "offensive". She was accused of putting on a sombrero. It promoted a heated discussion and she was vilified by many - castigated.
• Lionel states she has no time for the concept of cultural appropriation in novel writing and thinks it is ridiculous - demeaning to even have the discussion. Mark Steyn agrees with her and they probe further.
• Lionel defines the challenge from the concept of cultural appropriation accusers. They say "you do not have the right to assume that you know what it is to be like to be someone other than yourself."
• Mark explains that the concept of the recent "offence" of Cultural Appropriation has it origin in a non literary field. Ottawa University cancelled a Yoga Class - because Yoga belongs to India and should therefore only be run by someone from India. (Lionel points out they subsequently restarted the class as Mindful Stretching!).
• This logic quickly made its way to literature. Lionel as a white woman is challenged that she cannot write black characters, or transgender characters - or as a man! She says with mirth "if you follow their argument logically all I would be left to write as a novelist would be my autobiography".
• Mark and Lionel agree this idea is taking political correctness to the absurd. It is utterly self evident fiction writers have to be allowed to write fiction. One of them says - Shakespeare was not The Prince of Denmark or a Moorish General!
• Mark made the point - Kipling wrote about India, so did Rushdie and Seth! You pay your money - you make your choice. It yours and their freedom.
• Lionel says despite the vitriol she received from those that promote the concept of cultural appropriation she admits to finding the idea so ludicrous that it is almost funny. She cites taking their thinking into other areas - say food. In the UK do we have to go back to only cooking fish and chips and roast beef. The irony is those that promote multi culturalism often use one of their selling points how diverse our food offer has become. Every pub serves a curry and a pizza!
• Lionel says it is totalitarian to insist people can only write in a particular way.
• She said despite the detractors she has also received much support for her position - especially from men. Mark said that is interesting - why do think that is?
• They talked around it. One said - it is increasingly hard for a white man to say anything about anything these days before someone refers to the stench of privilege and they get shouted down. Lionel speculated maybe men feel it is easier to allow someone else - especially a woman to make their point.
• Mark and Lionel agreed that historically it was the "right" - who were conservatives - who were the advocates of conformity - who required people to tow the line.
• But now it is the "left" who are trying to force conformity and the morals you must have, the language you are permitted to use and what you are supposed to think. 
• They observe increasingly it is not about conversation but you have to think that and if you do not think that it is an arrestable offence! You no longer have a right to have a difference of opinion.
• Mark cited he had got into trouble in Canada with the Human Rights lobby. His offence reviewing (reading) a book and therefore promoting a view (contained in the book) that the lobby found offensive.
• Lionel and Mark specifically observe discussion is more and more being constrained by personal rather than discussion about ideas. Discussion is couched in 1st personal emotional experience - to disagree with someone becomes injurious to them - they claim hurt - offence - and it results in end of discourse. You arrive at the ridiculous position where discourse can on take place between people who agree with each other otherwise participants claim personal hurt - and being offended!
• Of course this thinking - I am personally offended - you are hurting me with your opinions is wrapped up in what is described as "identity politics". I have taken a definition from Wikipedia and copied below -

The term identity politics in common usage refers to a tendency of people sharing a particular racial, religious, ethnic, social, or cultural identity to form exclusive political alliances, instead of engaging in traditional broad-based party politics, or promote their particular interests without regard for interests of a larger political group. In academic usage, the term has been used to refer to a wide range of political activities and theoretical analysis rooted in experiences of injustice shared by different social groups. In this usage, identity politics typically aim to reclaim greater self-determination and political freedom for marginalized groups through understanding their distinctive nature and challenging externally imposed characterizations, instead of organizing solely around belief systems or party affiliations. Identity is used as a tool to articulate political claims, promote political ideologies, and guide political action with the aim of asserting group distinctiveness and gaining power and recognition in the context of perceived inequality or injustice.
The term identity politics has been in use in various forms since the 1960s or 1970s, but has been applied with, at times, radically different meanings by different populations. It has gained currency with the emergence of social movements such as the women's movement, the civil rights movement in the U.S., the LGBTQ movement, as well as nationalist and postcolonial movements.
Examples include identity politics based on age, religion, social class or caste, culture, deaf hood, dialect, disability, education, ethnicity, language, nationality, sex, gender identity, generation, occupation, profession, race, political party affiliation, sexual orientation, settlement, urban and rural habitation, and veteran status. 

• Lionel talks about her novel Big Brother which was largely about the life of her oldest brother Greg - who was obese. - which she says was sympathetically written. NAAFA - the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance gave her a very hard time claiming she did not have the pedigree (as a non fat person) to comment on fat issues from a fat persons perspective - only they could - fat people.
• Eventually they go full circle and get back to the notion of the sin of cultural appropriation in novel writing and how ridiculous it is. Novels almost always have to have conflict between characters in the novel to work- tensions between characters. This is the way a novelist can deal with - challenge complex issues. It does not mean the author necessarily agrees with the opinion of the character the novelist has created. A novelist has to be able to claim freedom of expression. Lionel does admit with a smile she can allow her characters to say things she would not dare say herself!

I have been rambling on. The blog now looks unwieldy. The point I am trying to make is we must resist overt political correctness - limiting freedom of speech. We must resist pressure increasingly from left leaning identity politics if they try and shut us down if we do not agree with them (as they claim to be the only group that have the legitimacy to express an opinion.). The right of freedom of speech, of thought, of expression is in practical terms under pressure. We are being closed down. It must be resisted.

So to wrap up - back to the Thomas Hardy novel I was reading - the Well-beloved (in pursuit of). The main protagonist Jocelyn Pierston continues to seek perfection in the woman to marry - and is fickle - breaks hearts on the journey (although he takes no satisfaction in that - indeed the opposite). His friend Somers has the opposite view - his advice on women and marriage - take the first nice woman you meet. They are all alike.

As Lionel explains she often hides behind the view of her characters. Which view did. Thomas Hardy hold. Which view would I admit to (or none)  - ha!

#Brexit after the Local Elections

It is 7th May. Local elections took place last week and the Tory government took a hammering with massive seat losses. Labour faired at least as badly given that they should be in the ascendancy at this stage of the 5 year Parliamentary cycle. The general consensus was this was a bloody nose dished out to the two main parties by the electorate who are frustrated by the mismanagement of the Brexit issue by both parties.

Here are the actual local election results.

Conservative	3564	-1330
Labour	2021	-84
Liberal Democrat	1351	+704
Green	265	+194
UKIP	31	-145
Others	1178	+661

These are my observations :

• Question - if you believe in a proper Brexit (and it was important to you at a "local election" to signal your pro Brexit view) who could you vote for at the local election. In reality no party properly represented Brexit if you discount the two main parties as treacherous with regard the delivery of the Brexit leave vote.
• The Liberal Democrats who have a clear commitment to try and stop Brexit claim their relative success indicates a change of heart on Brexit from the electorate. I think this is rubbish. First of all the LD were operating off a tiny base because they were decimated at the last round of local elections. They could only go up. They have a tradition in local government and generally they are viewed as competent at a local level. I don't think support for them was anything much to do about Brexit.
• UKIP did badly. This says nothing about Brexit as they are now discredited (lurch to the right)as an organisation and did not stand in many seats.
• However - Others (Independents) did almost as well as the LD's. I understand many of these councillors formerly represented UKIP but resigned under Batten's leadership. They reflect support for Brexit and many have joined the Brexit Party.

These are my thoughts :

• It will be much different at the Euro Elections (almost certain they will happen now). Nigel Farage's new Brexit Party will be standing. They will be a massive force and the new home of the pro Brexit electorate.
• The new Change UK party will also be standing. They are the Peoples Vote Party who actually want to stop Brexit. It seems likely they and the Liberal Democrats will nullify each other.
• The prediction is the Brexit party will have enormous success and under score the extent that that MP's of both Conservative and Labour are out of step with the electorate. The Brexit majority has far from diminished -they still want a full Brexit.
• The Labour and Conservative parties will be battered in the EU elections because their leaderships and MP's have been duplicitous. 

In summary :

There has been a lot of wishy washy analysis of the rejection of the Tories and Labour at the Local Elections. MP's have vainly said the message they are taking is the electorate just want them to get on with it. Many have also claimed the message is MP's from all parties should work together to form a consensus on Brexit. This is rubbish - MP's are in denial.

What the local election results show and will be rammed home at the EU elections is the majority in the UK still want the Brexit they were promised and voted for. MP's have tried to argue they accept the decision made in the referendum but there are many ways we can leave and deliver on the leave vote. This is a LIE.

Leave means taking back full control of our laws, money and borders and be able to trade freely with the rest of the world on our own terms. That is Brexit. Anything less is not Brexit. This is the Brexit outlined by Theresa May in her Lancaster House speech. Many MP's and pundits are now using the term Brexit extremists to those sticking to the original definition of Brexit. Put another way 17.4 million people wanted an extremist Brexit and all the signs are they still do - perhaps even more so.

My last point. All this talk about compromise and forming a cross party consensus on Brexit is dreadful. This is just political game playing at the expense of the electorate. It is total rubbish. MP's are being duplicitous. Why did we have a referendum - to decide a very basic question - a binary one. In or out! Where can consensus feature? Remain half in and be half out. The worst of all world's. Too many MP's - certainly the leadership of the main parties, (for selfish reasons) have tried  to keep both leave and remain voters onside. That is not leadership in the best interest of the UK. That does not uphold our democratic system. It is self interest and it is not working as they will find when the Brexit Party clears up.

And now my very last point. Theresa May has to go. She is a useless negotiator and turns out - only a nominal supporter of leave. She needs to be replaced by someone who believes in and can articulate the tremendous opportunities the UK is offered by Brexit. Someone like Dominic Raab.

 

IsleofWightRandonee2019

Sunday 5th May was the annual Isle of Wight Randonee - a free event staged by The Wayfarer Cycletouring Club.

The Randonee is a 100km - 66 mile bike round the coast of the Isle of Wight. If you are not familiar with the Isle of Wight it is really hilly.

Off and on we have been doing the event for many years - thinking about it - probably done 2 out of three for the last 20 years or more.

I have written a number of blogs about the randonee so I am not going to repeat myself - except to say it is a brilliant wholesome low key event that shows the island off at its best on a good weather day.

For a keen cycler on a kevlar road bike with all the gear a 100k is bread and butter despite the acute hills. For us journeyman cyclists on a standard hybrid it amounts to quite a bit more and by the time the circuit is completed you have had a full day and feel it.

I find the randonee a deeply satisfying event for many reasons. It is now on the map of mainland cyling clubs and I would say the majority of this years 3000 participants are island visitors - which is great.

It was my intention to take a few photographs but accessing my camera was not easy and it does break up momentum when the scene does not coincide with a stopping point!

I commend the IOW Randonee to you and thank the Wayfarer club again for their selfless efforts which they only really undertake to promote cycling. They are good people.

Sundry rider heading down the Military Road towards Freshwater Bay. This is a beautiful stretch - very hilly - and quite often as this year - a cool prevailing south westerly breeze in your face to make it that bit tougher!

The route requires a crossing of the River Medina from West to East Cowes by the chain ferry

#DeadWeight - the cumulative impact and effect

This should be a blog to myself - I should read it and learn - ha!

It is spring and there is plenty to do on my allotment (I am miles behind). The walk to my allotment plot from my garden gate is probably about 250 yards. A good bit of it is gentle uphill. From time to time I have to carry stuff from house to plot - and it is always the same. What starts off as light and manageable becomes a heavy burden within that short distance. I have learned to discipline myself and not try and carry too much otherwise I can start cursing - ha!

I am back in running training. One of  my offspring gave me and entry in the London Vitality 10000 event being held on the late May Bank Holiday as a very thoughtful xmas present. I like to have something to focus on. It is a huge event that even has Sir Mo Farah running. What makes it special is the course - I have downloaded the outline below :-

The Vitality London 10,000 starts and finishes in St James’s Park and uses Green Park as its assembly area.

The race starts on The Mall and finishes on Spur Road opposite Buckingham Palace. Runners follow a clockwise route around the City of Westminster and the City of London. The course passes many of London’s famous sights including Admiralty Arch, Nelson’s Column, St Paul’s Cathedral, Mansion House, the Bank of England, the Old Bailey, Somerset House, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.

So I have been out jogging again and most of the time I love being out there. However it doesn't come easy because I am so slow. My stamina is pretty good I think - I can keep going - not least because it is mainly about mind over matter and I am ok with that - but my pace is back of the field stuff. While I am not really unduly bothered about it I would like the credibility of being a bit faster - ha! 

Anyway I know what the main issue is (apart from age) - it is the allotment path effect! Deadweight and the cumulative effect of it ! I take my son James to his running club. All the keen distance runners are slim. I am not slim - lol - body shape what might generously be referred to as "stocky"!

I am not one for excuses - I am not giving myself an out - but the obvious is obvious - I do not have a long distance runners build - far from it! When it comes to distance running, muscle bulk is not helpful - fat obviously even less so - ha! When you look at sporting build - you can see for instance a massive difference between a sprinter and a distance runner. My sporting background is football and rugby and for the last I don't know how many years - squash. Like most squash players my legs are heavy with muscle developed from lunging, quick sharp movement and lots of turning. It doesn't help distance running. Good distance runners are pared-down - hanging as little body weight as possible on their skeleton frame.

With this in mind I was out running and started to think about the allotment path carry and running. If I had to carry a stone (14lbs) up the allotment path my back and arms would be aching. What would be the cumulative effect if it was 3 stone and what if it was over 10K (or the marathon I did) rather than a paltry 250 yards. The drains on energy needed to carry an extra 3 stone over 26 miles - for 5+ hours is absolutely enormous when you think about it. It is terrifying.

Clearly to be a good distance runner you need a distant runners shape. The more you run the more that should come about  - but it is clear running is a specialist activity and probably does not sit that that well with playing other sports if you are really interested in getting good distant times.

While I am thinking about training and body shape - one thing that is definitely true - you cannot exercise yourself slim. I have always played sport and trained for it. I have always enjoyed my beer and grub and broadly have taken the view that as long as I exercise I do not have to be too concerned about food and drink consumption. It gives me licence to indulge. I have all my life fallen into this trap (if it is a trap) - a fallacy - even though I am aware of it. Certainly if you want to be a good distance runner you need to limit your calorie intake too!

Tis next day. Reflecting on above after another bike ride. I came up with this analogy. Two secondhand cars - same make and model - same age - identical mileage on the clock. However one of the cars had towed a heavy trailer all its working life! Which one would you buy?

Having said that of course being whippet slim is no guarantee of longevity or good health - obviously many factors come into play but if you are overweight it must be obvious your vital organs are under more strain - are having to work harder. It does make me think about carrying extra weight up that allotment path!

Now the pithy conclusion. I often think about lifestyle. I have mentioned Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs before. Needs - motivations can change. While I am not materialistic I do have quite a lot of stuff and things that need my time. It is a weight. How much do I need a lawn? Decluttering is a fashionable term. Minimalism is too. Life's journey would flow more readily - almost certainly be easier - if I was not carrying the cumulative impact and effect of a lot of stuff - my things. It would make sense to jettison some.

#ManchesterMarathon2019 James and George and Naomi and Victoria.

We are just back from the Manchester Marathon - a huge event with over 20000 runners. It could have hardly been more emotional!

First of all - the event itself. It doesn't always rain in Manchester! The run starts in the Trafford area close to the Manchester United ground and using some of the facilities of Lancashire Cricket Club. These aren't platitudes - it was a very well staged event - well supported and organised. Running events of this scale present massive logistical challenges but the spectators were great - even when being squeezed into the metro, Mumbai style, trying to get to the best observation points around the course. There were a few fancy dress runners - but nothing like London. The participants seemed to be the widest cross section of age and abilities but they were there to run a marathon. It was a tremendous watch and of course a diabolical emotional roller coaster.

Why was I there spectating? Probably over a year ago my daughter Victoria and Naomi her friend and training partner chose Manchester to run their first marathon. My son James (who has run 3  marathons before) wanted one to aim at in 2019 so Manchester made sense from a family point of view for James to run Manchester as well. James's previous best time was 4 hours 8 minutes. The plan was for James to train to try to get under 4 hours. That all sounds straightforward enough!

Victoria and Naomi are young mums with busy lives. Neither had running pedigrees. From a standing start they had built up their distances and ran 3 half marathons before stepping up their marathon training. They did a 20 miler together. Vicky overnight got a knee swelling and eventually ended up in hospital for several days. Vicky has ulcerative colitis and has to take strong drugs which affect her immune system. The knee infection spread rapidly and became serious. This happened at a crucial time in her marathon preparation. It was obvious Vicky could not run Manchester - it was too soon. But Naomi could and obviously Vic wanted to support Naomi all the way.

And then there is James. Here are links to 3 blogs I have written before about James's marathon journey. It puts Manchester in some perspective.

http://davidshoulder60onwards.blogspot.com/2015/04/parismarathon-2015.html

http://davidshoulder60onwards.blogspot.com/2016/04/brightonmarathon2016-james-shoulders.html

http://davidshoulder60onwards.blogspot.com/2017/04/londonmarathon-from-spectators-point-of.html

So Vicky's entry became available and there was already hotel bookings. James's twin George is an experienced runner but running is not his main thing. However the opportunity had now presented itself for George to pace James and George was confident he could get around the course in 4 hours without specific marathon training. George has always set James's training programme and between George and I we act as good cop bad cop regarding James's training - we alternate the roles! Everybody wants the best for James but no one more than George. Their bond is a twins bond. James runs without timekeeping - to be honest he is not too worried about time but at the same time loves to get a PB. We all agreed it would be fantastic for James to get under 4 hours - and that he had the potential to do it - but pacing was the key. That's why George ran Manchester - to help James - for no other reason.

We had dinner together on the Saturday night at the Trafford Centre following a gentle afternoon at Mardis Gras (Wetherspoons) - also with two of Naomi's longstanding friends there to support - Lucy and Anne-Marie. (The Grand National was on - won by Tiger Roll.)

Sunday morning was an early start. The race start was 9.00 am and we need to use an Uber and then the metro to get there. The morning was cool - but still and dry. Perfect really. The atmosphere was tense as always. Hearts were with Naomi. She was very nervous - the usual self doubts - about preparation etc. Amazingly meaningful hugs a wet eyes before the start. She had worked so hard and no one knew that more than Vic.

George had his usual gallows humour - the Shoulder family are strong on taking the P - but it is all underscored with a tremendous bond. George is a bit pessimistic about James's chances of getting under 4 hours because he will have to run under his normal pace and do it for 26 miles - a massive ask.

Vic and I leave the 3 runners to find their pen. They are scheduled to start 30 minutes after the elite runners. So it is back to the Metro for us to Sale for the six mile mark. We meet up with my youngest son Rich and his partner Andy and Naomi's friends Lucy and Anne-Marie. There was a brilliant choir outside Sale town hall. They sang fantastic pop songs for all the time we were there. We saw the elite runners come through and then a full on stream. George and James come through - big smiles - all seems ok. Naomi comes through - she is aiming to break 5 hours. She is running well. Big smiles. All looking good.

Back to the Metro but the rest of Manchester has the same idea. A mega crush - but all good natured. Trains are very frequent. We get to the 15 mile mark at Timperly and find a good place to view. It is a gentle hill.

It is a fantastic heart lifting spectacle as marathons are. All that amazing endeavour. All the hard work. The weather is warming - runners passing us still have 11 miles to go! They look much different from the cheery faces at the 6 mile mark - but optimism, grim determination and fantastic support is there to be seen.

George and James come through. James is labouring - George looks serious. In all his life whether we have been walking, bike riding or running James has always been a bit behind - but always the same distance behind. He has often said I have little legs I can't keep up and he would never concede he was actually running the same pace as in this case George. A few years ago on the IOW Randonee or maybe the Walk the Wight he revealed his clever strategy. He said "if I catch up you lot will go faster!" so he makes it his business never to quite catch up - ha!

This made it very difficult for George. Of course he didn't want to push James at a pace he could not manage but at the same time he had to push. Apparently James grumbled - swore - and James told me later when he saw us at 15 it was when he was feeling at some of his worst.

We wait for Naomi to come through. The ladies particularly are very emotional to see her. Naomi is all smiles - she is going well. It is lovely to see.

So then it is back on the Metro to the finish at Old Trafford. The crowds are obviously massive - a carnival atmosphere - the elite runners have long finished. We get a good view about 200 metres from the finish and wait. What a great spectacle as the runners know they are almost there. The spectators are great. The number bibs have Christian names on - so you shout encouragement particularly to the ones that are struggling - and most are. It is warm. Mega respect for everyone.

We are not sure exactly of the boys chip start time - but the clock is running down. I am convinced they are not going to do it. And then they appear - George just a few yards ahead of James almost running backwards so he can encourage James. James is struggling - doesn't really acknowledge us - hopefully he can see the finish. We think it is too late. Wow it is a hard watch. Rich has the chip monitoring app on his phone. We wait. It comes through. They get over the line together 3 hours 59 minutes 47 seconds - they make it by 12 seconds! The fam hug and cheer with relief. Definitely tears. I rush off to meet the boys because I have their bag. The rest wait for Naomi to come in.

It takes me a while to get to the agreed rendezvous point but a phone call comes through - James is in the medical centre - George says he is ok but needs treatment. It turns out James lent on the rail right after the finish - and they have spotters to help runners who seem distressed. Apparently he was disorientated and he was whisked away for treatment. George must have felt terrible - that he pushed too hard. When I get there James had been fully assessed. He was overheated and they worked to get his temperature down. He could hardly communicate. After half an hour or so it all comes good. The Doctor and nurse were really great. There was a very professional team there and loads of people being treated. It was a hot day.

Eventually we meet up with Naomi - she is all smiles - tired but elated. She looked in a good state to me and she was. She had just broke 5 hours - a great achievement. Everyone is emotional - Vicky is so pleased for Naomi. It is a great place to be - all that effort worth it. They have achieved what they have set out to do. The overwhelming feeling is respect and regard for everyone. Their goals were personal to them and now they have achieved it they have memories for life. That is a powerful thing. It is wonderful for James and for George something equally fantastic. What an amazing thing for the twins to achieve together.

Victoria is now even more determined to get back on track and to run a marathon. She will. There is talk of the Paris marathon next spring. Our family will be a 100% behind her but boy will it be an emotional day. xxxxx

Pre race dinner James & Victoria

Naomi (left) Anne Marie and Lucy - Saturday

James at the start

Great effort at 6 miles - the choir as an early group speed by

James wobbly at the end - over heated. Fantastic commitment.

Recovered and smiling. Free non alcoholic beer

Naomi James and George. We are so proud of them.

Me and my little dears. xxxx

James's mile splits. Great job George!

 

#Brexit we are at the cliff edge again (or are we?) - what will happen this time?

While the cliff edge is technically April 11th - prior steps have to be triggered now if the UK is to avoid leaving on 12th April with a "no deal".

This morning there is a crunch meeting of the Cabinet. Decisions have to be made (but will they be - can they be?)

This is the raw material they have to work with I believe.

• Half the cabinet including TM can only accept TM's deal (Withdrawal Agreement) or No Deal.
• Half the cabinet can only contemplate TM's deal or a soft Brexit (Brino).
• Each half are threatening to resign if TM backs No Deal (as seen as too damaging for the economy) or a soft Brexit (seen as Brexit in name only - Brino - and not what people voted for).
• TM has previously indicated she cannot take forward a soft Brexit because she does not believe it delivers on the referendum result. But will she agree to agree to it in deference to some of her Cabinet and to the emerging consensus in Parliament?
• TM likely to keep pushing her own deal to try and maintain just a gesture of cabinet unity rather than forcing/allowing a nuclear decision to be made. (even though it is only wishful thinking it could ever get through with the current back stop).
• Parliament are going to cobble together a majority for a soft Brexit - but it is indicative only - not legally binding unless Parliament can make it so in the short time they have. There are massive constitutional issues here.
• TM has said she will listen to Parliament but neither she or many of her party will allow soft Brexit to happen. (How can it work that Parliament try and force TM to go back to the EU to negotiate something that is not Government policy!?)
• Many in the Tory party have been fighting for Brexit for years. They also believe not delivering it will be unthinkable because it will trash our democracy.There is probably enough of them that feel so strongly about it they would be prepared to force a General Election rather than concede a soft Brexit (Brino) or a referendum. Deep principles are at stake for some.
• Some still believe (hope) there is a chance the EU might even at this late stage offer a concession on the back stop to avoid a no deal reality because that will be so damaging to the EU too. TM's deal gets over the line.
• However you look at a second referendum or "peoples vote" it creates more problems than it solves and will not happen. It will also not happen because it is a blatant attempt to stop Brexit and thwart democracy.(The Labour Party do not want to be held responsible for thwarting Brexit)

So what will happen in the next day or two? My view.

• To preserve unity TM can only say at the end of the Cabinet meeting she believes "the only way for a No deal to be avoided is for Parliament to agree a deal" and will confirm that some how there will be MV4.
• She might say she is talking to the EU for further concessions to help her deal negotiate parliament !
• If I am wrong and a decision is made there could be mass resignations in the next 48 hours - (that might include TM herself but I doubt it because I think she would have stood against a soft Brexit in favour of countenancing a No Deal as a last resort.) Either way can the Government survive? Will this not create a General Election in itself? Possibly - depends on scale. Some Tories might move to the new Change Party!.
• Parliament will pass an indicative vote for a soft Brexit and they will try and force it on the government as the will of Parliament.
• If TM attempts to follow Parliaments lead there will be a Tory revolt forcing a General Election.
• If Parliament is able to force the indicative soft Brexit option on the government by making it law - the Government will fall and there will be a General Election.
• TM herself has previously indicated she will not be prepared to go back to the EU and ask for a long delay and enter into EU elections in May because she personally feels she would be betraying the British people and the decision they made. (What would be the purpose?)
• But there will have to be a delay past 12th April if TM's deal does not pass by 10th April unless there is a No Deal leave. Someone will have to do it !?

All I can see isTM's deal finally passes (considered unlikely but all the options are unlikely!), No Deal happens (we leave on 12th April) or TM goes and there is a General Election. (I think the EU might agree a delay in Article 50 for a General Election without the need to participate in the May EU elections on the basis that if the new government decide to rescind Article 50 they would be able to hold EU elections afterwards.) As I have said - the only thing that could change this - the EU makes a cliff edge concession to get TM's deal (withdrawal agreement) over the line.

(Opinion polls are now putting Labour ahead in the polls - so it is easy to argue that makes a  General Election less likely and possibly TM's deal more likely to be voted through. Labour have played a blinder with their strategy. They have managed to ride all the Brexit options at the same time - including supporting a second referendum and supporting the end of free movement! The reality is they have been self serving throughout - but they are getting away with it and more and more people are laying the Brexit fiasco (nightmare) at the Tories door.)

My own view is a No Deal is the best and most practical option for the UK. There will be pain - there will be petulance - but as they say no gain without pain - and Brexit was about so much more than jobs and the economy - it was about democratic freedom - and our democracy would remain in tact.

The Grand National is on Saturday - with that in mind my punt on the outcome for Brexit. Only 3 runners - TM's deal passes, General Election, No deal. Too close to call - so I am going to back what I want. As I have said my horse is NO Deal!

POST SCRIPT - Wednesday morning 4/3/2019

Surprised and disappointed by the Prime ministers new strategy. She seems to conceding a soft Brexit (brino) and seeking to ensure the Labour Party are held partly culpable. Many in her own party are outraged. Might be clever politics in the short term - but a democratic travesty and will be a disastrous decision for the UK going forward. I doubt she will get away with it unless there is a failure to find agreement, the EU refuse to offer a further extension and we move to NO Deal.