Hampstead Heath - A song

To that seaside tune.....


Oh I do love to be beside the Lido
Oh I do love to be beside the pond
Oh I do love to see the water wink at me
So I dive in but never bomb bomb bomb

At the Lido I splash with my young son
In the pond I swim with ducks and chicks
Oh I love how Hampstead Heath does feed me
It's where I get all my kicks

My dream home

It's actually a cottage
Small
low ceilings
A sit in kitchen
Two bedrooms
Three if a man comes into my life
A girl needs a cave to crawl into after all.
It has a wild garden
Because England's soul is wild
It's just we've all been subdued

Actually, that's not strictly true
the subdued bit
We are all wild

Putting Coffee Shop Man into the picture

I steam into the coffee shop this morning for my habitual expresso clutching the Camden New Journal. I open it up before the Coffee Shop Man stabbing the fantastic front page with my other index finger.

"See this?"

I don't often go into the coffee shop since I bought my own stove top cafetiere (£12.99 in the sale) but the past couple of days I keep forgetting to buy the ground beans whenever I'm out and I need a good kick in the morning.

Coffee Shop Man looks at the headline.

"I read in a the paper not long ago that the council were taking a block in Queens Crescent, near where I live, to rent the flats out to people in the private sector," he says. "They say they're doing it to raise money to refurbish other properties but they've put DSS in there who are getting it for free for three years. Getting it for free while the Council pays for it."

"No," I say. "You're paying for it, housing benefit's paid by the Treasury, not the council." And I tell him about the Private Rental Scheme. It's news to him.

Coffee Shop Man's been on a housing journey of his own. Years ago he bought his council flat, sold it, bought another property, in the meantime setting up his business.

"People were telling me to buy it, I know it's a right wing thing to do but I'm actually a socialist."

I laugh. "I'm not against the Right to Buy," I say. "You wouldn't have all this if you hadn't had that chance. Why shouldn't poor people have the same chances as everyone else? Have a foundation to build their lives from?"

It's a tough one. I'm told there's no flat for me because of the Right to Buy. I believe in a secure tenancy. You get that secure tenancy renting with the council. Will I buy?

I could say "Yes" because it's my right but I'm very much "No". With a secure rental tenancy I don't need to.

Then I think of my son's two visits to the Homeless Person's Unit. I never want him to see that place when he's an adult so I have to say "I don't know". I never want to go through this journey again, so I have to say "I don't know".

I don't know but I hope not. I'm still hanging out for my second lottery win. My first was my son, of course. I really hit the jackpot with him. I just need some cash now.

Cash to buy a home, somewhere nice, somewhere safe. Somewhere where I can bring up my son. Somewhere over the rainbow.

I don't blame the Right to Buy. There's no flat for me because THEY'RE AUCTIONING THEM OFF. Building replacements? Who knows.

Tug of War

The side I was on won the tug of war yesterday at my son's school's Sports Day. Best of three, we tugged twice. To be fair, we had an unfair advantage as there were more of us on my side. Got me thinking though.

Politicians versus the People
Best of three?

Fantastic front page

SUMMER SALE:
YOUR HOMES

SOLD - stamped on a bold red backdrop across six properties auctioned off this week.
Next to a picture of Nail'er's grinning mug the CNJ writes:

"In the middle of Camden's worst ever housing shortage, the Town Hall this week sold off all these homes to private bidders.... and the man in charge says he hasn't finished yet."

I like the symbolism of the bold red across these homes. Nail'er's got blood on his hands.
The CNJ didn't need to publish my letter. It spoke for me, for us.
It's good to be grateful for something when you're spitting mad.

Back to Barcelona - A song

At first I was afraid, I was petrified
Accepting my friend's gift
I felt quite compromised
But I spent so many nights
Watching rubbish on TV
To forget about the council
That was all but killing me

But now it's back
Right in my face
The ticket that is free for me
Sits on my database
I should've really thought this through
I should've wondered at his gift
I didn't think for just one minute
Oh God I need a lift

Go on now go, just pack your bag
Just be grateful
Because things have been quite bad
Aren't you the one who lets the Council get to you
You mustn't crumble
You must do what you must do

It will be great
The best surprise
As long as I just take myself
My soul will feel alive
I will leave the Dog behind
It certainly won't mind
And I'll have fun
I will have fun

Yey hey!

It takes me all the strength I have not to fall apart
Keep trying hard to smile to hide my stressed out heart
I spend so many hours
Just thinking of the shite
Christ I moan
Drone drone drone drone
Now he'll see me
Somebody free
Not that crazy chained up little person
Thinking me me me
I will leave the crap behind
And will pack my bikini
For I'm looking to go splashing
Having fun down by the sea

Go on now go, just pack your bag
Just feel so lucky
Because you've felt things have been bad
Aren't you the one who lets the council get to you
You mustn't grumble
You've got some blokey liking you

It will be great
The best surprise
As long as I just take myself
My soul will feel alive
I'll dance both day and night
I'll feel so free and light
And I'll have fun
I will have fun

Yay haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!

(Gloria Gaynor featuring Stigmum)

Apolitical leanings

My cousin's Tory fiance believes I'm a right wing socialist. Me? I don't know.