LAST RITES IN RICHMOND

 

No!Neither smoke signals nor an indigenous smoking ceremony. But rather a last good Weber roast in the balmy outdoors before I have to resurrect my cooking in a UK garage, in case or because it might rain or is raining, skills that are an essential part of the new English passion for barbecuing.Although in some southern parts of England they are as starved of precipitation as we are.

READY FIRE AIM

Ready! Fire! Aim!


As a forward planner, I am not renown and, unlike a dear friend of mine, I do not make clear lists of what must be done, even when contemplating such a major exercise as packing up to go on a year’s trip.

I am setting out under the banner of very broad precepts that evolved from my doctoral work- do less of
• Working to Live ($$$)
More of
• Working for love (what turns me on)
• Working to put back ( Volunteering)

But in the course of packing I came across the above card which was given to me by two different people, who knew me closely, at a two year interval. I have always been a little wary of accepting these assertions, but it set me thinking about what I might aim to achieve on my journey.

I shall certainly “Go Far” and it will be easy to commune with hosts of “Dandelions” in the English spring. At times I certainly do succumb to “Wild Mind Swimming” or at least treading water.

But many of the other attributes present more than just stretching challenges. So I will start at once (Not one of my usual traits-see, change already!) by looking out for Silver clouds –it has rained in Mildura and heavily in far west Victoria. We are promised plenty over the weekend and follow up from Wednesday and temperatures that favour snuggling under the Doona (soon to be Duvet). Must get in more red wine!
BOOK REFERENCE:-The three Boxes of life by Richard Bolles. Publisher- Three Speed Press

PACKING BLOODY PACKING

 

As I type this posting on the kitchen bench-the only remaining suitable surface-the last of my possessions are disappearing over the balcony rail into a container truck, whence they will enjoy a 12 month sabbatical from me.

In comes a UK email advising me that my dear friend and first boss-Howard-is planning to move from his 16th century cottage to something smaller and more managable in Goring. He wants to know when I will be arriving so that he can capitalise on my packing and moving skills.!!!***( unprintable response)

Reminds me of my arrival in Australia in the late 60s running away from out of control London Printing industry unions and Harold Wilson's brand of socialism. It wasn't easy to get a good professional HR job( Labour Officer was the name of the game in those days) and so I was amazed to finally get an offer because of my experience in dealing with printing unions-"coals to Newcastle?"

This will be the last posting from Richmond as I leave on Friday-See you in Stamford en route to St Petersburg.

GROUNDED IN CAMBRIDGE

I have been marking time, awaiting arrival of official ministry invitation from Russia (necessary for a Business visa) which arrived via courier last week. In the interim managed a brief rainy day trip to my university college. Made the obligatory stroll across the backs to Kings-which was my daily path to work at the Seeley library back in the early 60s. The chapel never ceases to awe and inspire. A trip to London secured the vital visa and so I am now hoping to get away to St Petersburg soon.
What’s happening in Britain whilst Tony does a dame Nellie farewell and Gordon is touring listening to people (after 10 years in government)? The following news snippets will give you some feel for the state of play

.
• Teachers to discourage kids from raising hands in class in case it deters the retiring and less able ones.
• The Education Minister has warned private schools that they could lose their tax free charitable status if they didn’t do more –such as sharing teachers and facilities-with underperforming state run schools (for whose performance he is responsible!!!)
• The number of children in failing state schools has reached a two year high.
• University lecturers against marriage being promoted in schools as this suggests discrimination against lesbians and gays
• School teachers have been granted power to frisk kids suspected of carrying knives without the student’s consent. This was at the request of their unions but now that the power has been granted most teachers refuse to use it and insist the police must come and do it.
• RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) web site blanks out name for a male bird as it might be offensive to some people and distressing for children? What a load of “Cock!”
• Firemen in Manchester disciplined for preferring to sleep on the floor during night shift rest breaks rather than in the special chairs (costing £400 each) which they cannot use before they have had health and safety expert training in how to sit in them safely.
• People who elect to pay for expensive treatments not covered by the National Health Service (such as some new anti-cancer drugs) are then denied free access to all other NHS services.
• People are waiting for a new anti smoking addiction drug to be freely available via the National Health System before trying to give up smoking.
• In Leicester-parents can be fined £100 if their kids play in the street because using jumpers as goal posts has been banned.
• £80 pound fines for stamping out fags on the pavement
• David Beckham has been recalled to boost England’s chances of qualifying for the European cup finals-back to the future?
• Some Premier League footballers may soon earn £1m per week-good for Bentley convertible sales it seems.
• The former editor of the News of the World who resigned because of the Royal phone tapping scandal has been appointed Spin Doctor to the Tory party!!!
• Train fares have increased by 30% on some Welsh lines.
• EU directive decrees orchestra programs must not be too loud-Wagner may be off the program list-The health and safety Directorate has not decided how to police this yet.
• Both Scottish and Welsh assemblies have minority governments that will be unable to deliver their manifestos because of their proportional representation systems.
• A soldier wounded in Afghanistan was being treated in a National Health hospital Accident and Emergency Unit (military ones being closed down) and was asked to remove his uniform-so as not to aggravate members of the public. Land of hope and glory??

• Candidates running for Deputy Leader of the Labour party and Deputy to Gordon Brown declared in a TV debate that their key focus would be on redistribution of wealth and reliance on the UN to solve international problems in future. One of them used to be an official of the Australian Builders Labourers Union. Melbournians know what sort of income redistribution policies they pursued.
• John Prescott, the retiring Deputy leader to Tony Blair is on a farewell tour to the USA and West Indies where he has been lecturing on “Slavery” Clearly coincidence that his property developer son has a time share there??
• Tony Blair’s government has legislated at the rate of 7 acts a day for the past 10 years (in addition to EU directives)-the land of the free??

Better get going before Putin pushes the button.

BARRY

THE FIFTH RUSSIAN EMPIRE

 

FOREWORD
Those of you who have been acquainted with my intentions and blog since the early planning stages in April, will recognise the speculative words below.Now that I have completed my objective I thought it appropriate to lift the April posting and put it at the beginning so that readers can compare my aspirations at the outset with what I actually did.

Since I have returned from my journey, Russia and Vladimir Putin have been regular features in the British media.He has clamoured for attention-what British yobbos call "respect man" before they knife or shoot you-and like a little child which throws its toys from the pram, he has de-rusted some cold war turbo jet bombers to buzz NATO bases and exercises. The sabre of Russian oil and gas has been rattled regularly and has been waved threateningly at Estonia and the Ukraine.Then to cap it all he looks to be engineering his transfer to the Prime Minister's positon preparatory to legal return to the Presidency in the near future.Shocking? Well perhaps not so when one contemplates the return of the Clinton dynasty after two reigns of the Bush clan, in a country that purports to despise aristocracy and monarchy.

Putin, like Russia is hard to read and there may be laudable intention behind his autocracy-when you consider that before he ran away, Boris Berezovsky's assets equaled more than 40% of Russia's GDP.In order to get below the surface whilst there I picked up an excellent book by the former Financial Times Moscow correspondent who both observed most of the post Yeltsin goings on and interviewed all the key players. He pulls no punches and it is worth noting that I bought this at a regular bookstore in Ykaterinburg. I strongly recommend INSIDE PUTIN'S RUSSIA by ANDREW JACK-GRANTA BOOKS, to those like me with more than a passing interest.The historical text referenced below covers the whole span of Russia's development from tribal life on the Steppes under moslem rule/tyranny and Lonely Planet's Trans Siberian Railway is a mine of info about how to travel there and what it's all about( interesting to see that the Aussie owners have sold Lonely Planet to the BBC-so now Gordon brown controls our travels too!)

You just can't ignore the largest country in the world, with its eleven time Zones, seamlessly linking the European and Asian land masses. Lake baikal has 20% of the world's fresh water and there is abundant untapped energy and mineral resources.But it is still in a fragile state. The population of 140 mill is declining rapidly due to premature death and low birth rates. If oil prices come off the boil the new found prosperity could soon go into reverse.It has the benefit of a very well educated people but as they stand comparatively where they were in 1917 their choice between, an organic move to greater political freedom and a lurch back into the dictatorship of an elite, will determine whether the Fifth empire will be the longest and greatest or yet another debacle in which the remarkable resilience of the Russian people will again be tested through brutal toil, strife and bloodshed on an unconscionable scale.

I recall walking amongst them along the Nevsky and thinking that they looked just like me and other westerners, but they sure as hell aren't.There is another ingredient in their genetic and cultural soup and we would be wise, whilst offering friendship and assistance, to ensure we have the latest big stick close to hand and ensure they are aware of it because above all they understand,crave and respect power.


ENJOY!!!


WHY BOTHER WITH RUSSIA?
Since the founding of the Kievan empire in the 9th century, Russia's expansionary ambitions have spawned four Empires and grown to have global consequences. Boris yelstsin, the first democratically elected president of Russia, died yesterday and his successor, Vladimir Putin is deeply engaged in building a fifth post Soviet Empire with significant implications for Europe and the wider global community.

Rather than continuing its historic push into Western Europe, Russia is being pressured by the encroachment of the European Union into its former satellite countries and feels threatened by the establishment of new NATO members on its western borders.But, as European countries (especially Germany)become highly dependent on Russian Gas and oil supplies the influence of the Fifth Empire on Europe's economic security grows apace. Its state influenced corporations are eying off potential acquisitions in other countries and there is a new struggle with US entrepreneurs to acquire and control teams in England's premier league.Will Uncle Sam's Manchester United prevail over Chelsea's Arctic Bear?
Well, "all very interesting" you say "But why are you really going there?". The short answer, as with all my enthusiasms, is a romantic fascination with this huge country that is neither fully western nor entirely eastern.I think this started with history homework and a particularly challenging requirement to write an essay about Catherine the Great's foreign policy-when I would rather have been dancing to Buddy Holley numbers at the church youth club. This was hard to get ones mind around, sitting in the front room of a Coronation Street style terraced house in smoggy, late 50s Manchester and even a brief trip to St Petersburg by train whilst attending a graduation ceremony in Helsinki did little but scratch the itch of my curiosity.
So, subject to the timely issue of a visa, I am enrolled for a summer school Russian course from 28 May at the St Petersburg State University ( the oldest in Russia)and then I plan to spend a month hopping on and off trans siberian trains from Vladivostock to Moscow-stopping in many of the historical towns en route.Perhaps having relished my move from a cool, wet little Island to live on a large dry continent I am now hankering after a huge cold one that joins Western Europe with the pacific orient and mainland China. BOOK REFERENCES:-Russian Empires by Philip Longworth. Publisher-John Murray 2005 INSIDE PUTIN'S RUSSIAby ANDREW JACK.Publisher Granta Books.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

In 1703 Peter the great wrested control of the River Neva from the Swedes, who at that time were one of the most warlike and powerful states in Europe and built the Peter and Paul fortress to consolidate his position.The beauty of its skyline belies the cruelty of what took place in there (somewhat similar to the Tower of London in this respect) Peter's own son was incarcerated here.The elegant golden spire stands atop the cathedral of SS Peter and Paul. After Peter's death in 1725 the cathedral became the last resting place for the Tsars.

THE BIG SURVIVOR SHOP

Gostiny Dvor was a great bazaar in the commercial heart of St Petersburg early in the 18th century.It has suffered its ups and downs over the years, none worse than when it was hit by German artillery during the siege of Leningrad and sustained fire damage. But today it is a fine landmark of the Nevsky Prospekt and a focul point for people to meet and traders to pedal their services on its forecourt.

It comprises two galleries, one above the other which completely circumnavigate the building. It makes for leisurely strolling, shaded from the summer sun and from the upper gallery there are fine views onto the Nevsky and other adlacent streets.There is a very informal cafe there which sells coffee and beer and this was invaluable to me as a hassle free place to do my Russian homework in the late afternoon.Inside the store offers the whole range of goods one would expect of a modern department store with the useful facility of a secure cash machine.