Staffordshire Regiment Christmas Fair

At Frances’s suggestion we went with her, Alice and Ben to the Staffordshire Regiment’s Christmas event. I’m not sure what they called it. The event was held at the regimental museum at Whittington on the A51 between Lichfield and Tamworth.

Unfortunately it was a bitterly cold day with a stiff breeze so the interesting outdoor events required a stoicism we found hard.

The museum has a section of WW1 trenches, very much sanitised, but even so giving a flavour of what the front line soldiers endured. Quite by chance I joined a tour with Ben. I’m not too sure what he made of it although as he was shivering with cold at the end that was probably his main memory. As well as the British trenches there is a small demonstration of a German one. As the Germans were defending territory seized in France after their initial attack they built more permanent concrete pillboxes. In contrast the British trenches were more temporary.

In a small area the  museum has recreated various features of the trenches such as an officers dugout. We entered ( glad to be out of the weather ) and found various re-enactors having a drink of tea. We were treated to a short talk about the typical dugout. I was slightly surprised to find how similar it was to that in “Blackadder goes forth”. We also entered a tunnel leading to a mine. Both sides tried to tunnel underneath the opposition and  blow them up. Although short the tunnel was rather dark and Ben soon wanted to leave. Mining  was used  memorably in Sebastian Faulks “ Birdsong”  (also filmed ) and in a book I recall reading called “Other paths to glory” by Anthony Price. I have read that a series of gigantic mines were blown at Messines with a sound heard in Britain.

They had a re-enactment of the 1914 Christmas truce. The actors were amusingly unsure of their roles.

The fair had a temporary café and we were pleased to buy Ben a hot chocolate to help revive him.

I should have said we started our visit with a sing song led by Andy – rather fierce in his army persona but an excellent instructor with a lot to tell us about the songs of the war. We sang the songs accompanied by an accordion to words on a display. Andy pointed out that these were soldiers songs sung in bars etc. when they were out of the front line. Particularly grim was a song sung by soldiers leaving the line to those marching up to join the trenches. There were quite a few curiosities in the words such as “alleyman” for German taken from the French word “allemand”. We learned that Maconochies was the brand of a popular tinned stew. I had noticed some tins in the dugout.

We spent a bit of time looking at a wartime Christmas meal with all sorts such as mock turkey( or murkey ). Tinned peaches as desert were a treat, something I remember as a boy. As we were doing this we also were visited by a rather good “magician”. Ben was rather bemused I think while I was very impressed.

The museum does have a small display of old armoured vehicles outside where it was far too cold to look around.. We did briefly view some examples of WW11 bomb shelters including two types of Anderson shelter and a brick built shelter.

I came away thinking what an excellent event spoiled by the bitter weather. I suppose we should have been better prepared. On this miserable day we had a late lunch and then sent Frances away back to her home while it was still light.

School Fair

We have made a habit of attending the Kings Norton Primary School Fair. This is for a combination of reasons, Ben and Alice are pupils, Frances is PTA treasurer and Annette uses it as potential selling area for crafts. In truth she sells little but it is a way of supporting the event and the school, to rent a table.

We went over to park by Matt and Frances’s house which is just a short walk from the school. This year I wanted to go to the sub Post Office to post some cards after buying Christmas stamps. The school is just across a very busy road from Kings Norton centre but there is a  light controlled zebra, an irritating delay but a safe crossing.

The Fair is held mainly in the school hall but because it isn’t that large also an adjacent classroom while refreshments are in the dining hall. Reflecting the history of this fairly old school as an amalgamation of separate boys and girls school the dining hall is a long and convoluted walk from the main hall. Even after several visits I find it quite easy to get lost. It always seems strange that the connecting corridor door looks just like a classroom door. It is lit as opposed to the classrooms mainly in darkness which was my main cue- otherwise follow the crowds.

We arrived in plenty of time and Annette set up her wares while I mainly sat and watched proceedings. The Fair is immediately after school at 3.15 which was signalled by Alice arriving and leaving her back pack prior to looking around. We expect a flood of people as school ends and briefly the hall becomes just a seething mass.

Just before this Frances was handing out cash floats. She seemed to be having difficulty so I went to help. She promptly co-opted me to man the book stall. This was almost all books for young children ranging from first picture books through to books for 7 or 8 year olds .I didn’t have to worry about pricing as donations were requested. I have to say it wasn’t popular. In fact the only donation was a generous one from an elderly lady. Seeking to make conversation I said her choice was for a grandchild no doubt. The reply astounded me as it was for a great, great grandchild ( must have been a teenage mum ).

Ben had arrived from his class and was miserable because his mother had no money for him as it was in a bag at the other end of school. I was soon able to rectify that and Ben led me around the other stalls We also went through to the dining hall where he pointed out his classroom on the way. He has a good grasp of £1 and 50p but no real appreciation of change. He surprised a lady on the cakes stall by paying 50p for a slice of chocolate roll insisting that was all he wanted. We sat while he immediately ate it.

The only other thing he eyed was a Lego Batman car kit but a £20 I had to veto it. Generally he wasn’t too interested , we bought a “lucky dip” jar of sweets but his other raffle efforts didn’t yield anything. By this time the crowd was thinning and Frances had time to suggest he visited Santa for a £1. He was rather reluctant but grudgingly held Santa’s hand while she took a photo. His present from Santa was a large book of “dragonology”

There was a room with masses of soft toys but I never worked out what their selling was about. It revolved around naming the soft toy. This room also had several puzzle stalls. As I was confused I don’t know what Ben made of it. As many remained at the end he got several of the remaindered soft toys anyway.

Annette just exactly broke even selling the same value as her donation. I collected a couple of surplus mince pies while we waited to escort Frances home. As she was carrying all the money raised by the fair I was slightly worried about her safety.

We then all had a well earned cup of tea before we drove back about 7pm.

The police officer arrested a man saying he was going to lock him up for the night. The man demanded “What’s the charge”. The officer replied “ No charge sir, all part of the service”

Distance not enchantment

Having been distanced from the UK for 2 weeks I have not been enchanted by my return. It didn’t help that our first day back was in absolutely miserable weather. I am not enjoying these dull, dark days before Christmas. To a very small extent we were kept in touch with a daily summary, Britain today, 4 sides of A4. Almost always it seemed to have a first item something on Theresa May and Brexit.

I was amused to hear from a friend about the new acronym , BOB, bored of Brexit. However I have kept my usual newspapers rather than cancelling. I have also been looking at the internet, although not very intensively. I detect a change of mood. This isn’t large but I think it will accelerate as the difficulties and costs of Brexit become more obvious. The belief in Brexit is slowly crumbling. The move isn’t large at the moment but could become an avalanche if the fanatics force as “no deal” outcome.

On the economic area the glib assertions of the referendum are gradually being hammered by reality. It is a fact becoming more widely realised that trade with the EU is vital. While the May trade deal isn’t very good it is a lot better than nothing. All those assertions about non EU trade deals put forward so confidently by Bexiteers are not looking so wonderful as we have to rely on them. The big US free trade deal has to be suspect as Trump is a protectionist and while he glories in EU bashing this isn’t likely to overcome his general attitude.

All the sneers about “project fear” wheeled out every time someone points out the costs of leaving are wearing very thin. Every serious economic view predicts Britain will be poorer. The “no deal” possibility examined by the Bank of England is truly scary. I worry that fanatical leavers are hoping for that “no deal” situation when they will try to paint the EU as unreasonable for not meeting their demands however incoherent these are.

With all the talk of negotiating again it is a fact that NO serious alternatives are  being agreed among Brexiteers. The Theresa May talk of no deal better than a bad deal now looks pathetic.

At a time when Russia is testing Western Alliance particularly in Ukraine the West has never looked more divided. To their shame some Eastern European countries are flirting with totalitarian government and for example the populist Italian government is looking very weak on sanctions. To pretend that security is not weakened is illustrated by the Galileo satellite navigation project where Britain will be outside the military use. It has been rather pathetic to see the prospect of a “go it alone” alternative which will never happen being touted.

There is little doubt the leavers won the referendum on immigration fears. The fact that skilled immigrants are needed for economic growth and low skilled to do work British people won’t do is becoming acknowledged. The fact that UKIP is now too racist for even Nigel Farage to stomach shows its slide to becoming a BNP Mark 2.

The shambles of the leaving negotiation has diminished the UK in the eyes not only of Europe but the whole world. Having the shambolic Boris Johnson as Foreign Minister didn’t help.

The political situation looks very murky. Tory Brexiteers may try to vote against leaving but also have their cake by supporting the government in a confidence motion. The prospect of a Corbyn government fills one with horror but a Tory split will be an election loser. I fear the Labour remainers who have been very quiet thus far will be gutless on the agreement vote.

It seems amply clear to me that the only solution is another referendum with strict limits on the facts ( no more £350m to the NHS nonsense ). The chicanery among the Leave support has been increasingly exposed.  Britain will need a national government to remain in the EU after the verdict.. A very poor second best is to accept the May deal with all its flaws. I have no doubt Remain will win any second vote. Apart from the slow change in mood demographics will help. Leavers were predominantly elderly with their hazy memories of mythical golden youth; younger people were more realistic.

 As a new Liberal Democrat I feel they deserve a better position in a national government while the Tory’s are done as a party until they purge their nationalistic and blimpish MP’s.

There are some young politicians who could lead us back to sanity. Sadly figures such as David Miliband and Nick Clegg are not likely to be available.