Today is the 113th anniversary of the Tottenham Outrage (23rd Jan 1909).Two Latvian anarchists robbed the weekly wages at a factory by Tottenham police station. In the enusing chase a young boy & a PC were killed (the latter on the N17 road where I live today). There was an armed chase across Tottenham Marsh into Walthamstow
The Wiki entry reads rather like a deadly game of cops & robbers but there were complex pre-1914 revolutionary politics behind it as well, although what the two anarchists (both in employment) wanted their £80 wages haul for remains unclear as both also died
Male dress on the left: From Chartist Fustian Jackets to the £3.8K bespoke suit
In the Times magazine David Aaronovitch details how he ventured to Paul Smith, a bespoke tailors in Mayfair to acquire a new suit, his first he notes since 2007 (the previous being off the peg). The accompanying picture suggests that the suits fits well and looks stylish, though obviously David could do with a beard to make it really work.
It must be said though that £3,800 is a lot of money for a suit (in fact in my view since I don’t wear them, any money for one is too much) so one hopes that a funding arrangement was in place for shall we say a sponsor.
Some may argue that Aaronovitch as a Times columnist is not on the left. I’d suggest he is broadly drawn. Not my kind of left obviously and I don’t see the Times all that often (perhaps 2 or 3 times a week at best) so I don’t always read his columns. Perhaps the best I could say is that I don’t always disagree with them.
It does however beg the question of what the (male) left does wear and has worn. Keir Hardie managed a deer stalker hat and jacket in Parliament which caused much chuntering from Tory suits. Michael Foot’s stylish and expensive Duffle Coat at the Cenotaph was much derided but its just a year ago that a picture of Bernie Sanders dressed in a similar way went viral, and in an approving way.
The Chartists were often characterised as wearing fustian (cotton) jackets and having unshorn chins and blistered hands. Chartist leader Feargus O’Connor saw this as a badge of honour. I can agree except for the blisters- I’m an office worker after all.
In 1938 Ethel Mannin published her Women and the Revolution, a powerful call for Socialist Revolution as the only way to achieve Women’s Liberation. It is a tremendous book and it’s neglect by the Left is criminal. At the time she was a successful popular novelist and had been active in the ILP for a number of years. She had thrown herself into solidarity work in support of the POUM and the CNT-FAI in Spain. Mannin was ferociously anti-Stalinist and opposed to the politics of the Popular Front, moving in an anarchist direction. Indeed, Women and the Revolution is actually dedicated to Emma Goldman. She was a determined pacifist during WW2, falling out with George Orwell over the question. After the War she was to become a determined supporter of the Palestinian cause, writing one of the first novels looking at the Nakba from the Palestinian point of view. Today she is almost completely forgotten. The time to rescue her from History’s neglect is long overdue.
Valentine’s at The Bull- why not a shower in the pub garden?
Jolene and Kenton have been trying to work out what will fill the Bull on Valentine’s Night. It being the Archers a range of unlikely ideas have been floated but the obvious one has so far been missed. The Bull may be known for Shires bitter and a deceased peacock but it is surely best known for a shower scene between Jolene and her former partner the late Sid Perks. Why not hire a portable shower place it in the pub garden and give prizes for the best showering couple…..
The Ambridge Socialist poll. Should Valentine's Night at The Bull feature a Shower Scene competition?
Sgt Knacker Burns is concerned that he was never baptized and now plans to make it happen. He notes that some find it ‘weird’. The Ambridge Socialist’s view is that people can believe or not as they choose, but please keep it to yourself Sgt Knacker.
Chris & Tom: no direction home.
There is always strong competition for the most boring Ambridge residents and a discussion this week between Chris and Tom set a high bar for 2022. Chris is moving into the flat above the village shop that Hazel kicked Tom and Natasha out of. He is also pursuing a divorce with Alice who is being far more level headed than he is about it. Tom meanwhile is being his useful self. It almost makes us wish we could hear from Alistair and Adam….
Jazzer is behind with the rent
The Professor has complained to Jazzer that he is late with his rent. The Ambridge Socialist says that as Jazzer has to live under the same roof as Alistair and the Prof he should be able to do so rent free
I was intrigued by banners at a couple of Premiership football games today promoting stopboris.com. They weren’t in the crowd but being flown from a plane. That requires money-to hire the plane and pilot and paperwork to get permission to fly the plane. Why not just hold a banner up in the crowd, as indeed fans did at Anfield before Christmas. That costs no more than a few quid for a banner and paint and of course willing people to hold it. Clearly there is no shortage of anti-Tories at Anfield.
So who are StopBoris.Com? I’m not sure. They have a basic website but it is linked to Open Britain. OB dates back to 2015 and was part of the People’s Vote campaign that organised or at least promoted some very large marches against Brexit. It fell apart in 2019 partly due to disagreements at the top but also because it became clear that ultimately it was more interested in stopping a Labour victory led by Corbyn than it was in stopping Brexit. The headline issue was that at the 2019 Election the LibDems campaigned (disastrously)for staying in the EU come what may which rather undermined the idea of having a People’s Vote on the matter.
Everyone except Roland Rudd at the top resigned, amidst in-fighting but he too left in August 2021 (Companies House)
Clearly lots of those who went on Peoples Vote marches and some at least who worked on the campaign genuinely did oppose Brexit. You can take a view on whether that was good or bad (I voted remain but dont have any love for EU structures) but rather different agendas were running at the top
The current COO is Mitchell Westra who certainly was involved with Peoples Vote but how he appeared in his current role I’m not sure. Looking across Stop Boris and OB the aims seem far enough to me- a more democratic Britain, Citizens Assemblies etc.
Aside from Mr Westra there are no contact details in terms of an address or named supporters. Perhaps it is meant as a virtual campaign. Given the People’s Vote operation, which was not what it seemed ultimately, it would be interesting to know
Brewdog complains of anonymous accusers. Recognise a union & agree a grievance process
Ahead of a BBC Scotland programme on Brewdog on Monday, James Watt co-founder has been active in on-line forums. The matter is reported in the Times (22nd January).
Watt has complained that those anonymously raising issues have ‘an axe to grind’ said their identities might become public, made a number of allegations against so far unnamed people and threatened Court action.
In the circumstances its hardly surprising that people have remained anonymous
Bryan Simpson of Unite is right (see Times report) that if Mr Watt had spent time addressing and resolving issues instead of trying to discredit those who complained matters might not have got to this stage.
Brewdog has still not recognised a trade union. If it had of done it could have put in place a grievance process, where individuals could raise issues, get them heard and reviewed with independent union representation and probably in many cases put in hand measures to sort matters out without attracting any external publicity at all.
Burns Night on 25th January is of course a chance for the whisky industry to promote its products.
I’m Scottish and I do like whisky, by choice Islay’s like Ardbeg which have notes of things like charcoal, tar, fireplace and leather. Clearly that’s not for everyone and there is a vast range of whiskies with an equally vast range of tastes.
Most whisky distilleries are owned by global drinks companies perhaps not least because long term investment is required. An eight year old whisky is considered young.
There are also of course trends. Single malts have been the growth market in recent times, but blended malts are also available. Grain tends to be seen as the standard whisky drink, but again there is a large range. One element of the current whisky zeitgeist are single grain whiskies.
How much does it cost? Not all whisky is for drinking, some is for investment- this is capitalism after all. Whisky does not ‘go off’ over time but often only limited amounts of a particular bottling are produced.
As these are sold and fewer are available so the price goes up.
Each June Ardbeg produces a limited bottling which sells for around £100. I usually get a bottle-by far the most expensive I buy in the year (you can perfectly decent malts in Aldi, Lidl & Sainsburys for under £25). As time goes by the price of the bottling- Scorch in 2021- only goes one way. Three years later you can still buy a bottle- for £200..
Beard of Winter Trim Off Round Two: Gabriel Boric faces Virat Kohli
The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has announced the shortlist for the Beard of Winter 2021 poll.
The list contains a diverse range of contenders for the annual seasonal accolade. Leading the list is the hirsute President Elect of Chile Gabriel Boric
It is the first of four seasonal awards that lead to the Beard of the Year Award in December 2022.
The Beard of Winter focuses both on fuller organic beards, suitable for winter weather but also on beards that have made an early New Year impact in the public eye.
The first Trim Off round saw Philip Ardagh and Benedict Cumberbatch shave opponents to reach the Beard Off final. The Second Trim Off round voting is now open
BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, it is as ever a wide ranging, eclectic, list but one very much focused on the winter season. We have been keen to make sure we don’t miss beards that have been making a significant positive impact in the public eye in the last few weeks.
The poll opens on 19th January and closes on 30th January 2022
There are two ‘Trim-Off’ rounds from 19-21 January and then from 22-24 January. Each will feature four contenders. The top two from each round will feature in a final ‘Beard-Off’ vote from 26-30th January
Beard of Winter 2022. Second Trim Off round. Top two join @PhilipArdagh & Benedict Cumberbatch in the Beard Off final
Beard of Winter Trim Off votes open. Top 2 in each round go to the Beard Off final
The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has announced the shortlist for the Beard of Winter 2021 poll.
The list contains a diverse range of contenders for the annual seasonal accolade. Leading the list is the hirsute President Elect of Chile Gabriel Boric
It is the first of four seasonal awards that lead to the Beard of the Year Award in December 2022.
The Beard of Winter focuses both on fuller organic beards, suitable for winter weather but also on beards that have made an early New Year impact in the public eye.
BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, it is as ever a wide ranging, eclectic, list but one very much focused on the winter season. We have been keen to make sure we don’t miss beards that have been making a significant positive impact in the public eye in the last few weeks.
The poll opens on 19th January and closes on 30th January 2022
There will be two ‘Trim-Off’ rounds from 19-21 January and then from 22-24 January. Each will feature four contenders. The top two from each round will feature in a final ‘Beard-Off’ vote from 26-30th January
Beard of Winter Trim Off Round 1. Top Two go to the final Beard Off
Verdant Putty launch: results & prospects for craft beer in 2022
The can launch of Verdant Putty, an annual release from the Cornish brewery took place this week, both in keg and can.
Can six-packs sold out direct from the brewery in 30 minutes on Wednesday and I note demand is high at those bottle shops that have supplies. Efficient packaging and delivery meant I was able to try a can on Thursday.
It’s 2022 variant remains an excellent beer in the style nowadays referred to as ‘murk’. There are of course lots of others, even in days like these, and I like to try new breweries and brews along with old favourites staples.
Even so as I wrote about the 2020 Putty launch (below, slightly edited) it’s clear that even in the rather tough days of early 2022 craft beer, however defined, has a real reach. Therein lies one of the hopes for beer futures, but nowadays, only one. I also note for example that for the first time Verdant have produced a cask beer for their new tap room. Perhaps the slogan for 2022 is let a thousand beers be brewed..
I was at the 2020 launch of the latest can release of Verdant Putty (8% double IPA) at their joint taproom, the Experiment, in Hackney early in January. I wasn’t particularly there for that purpose then but it was rammed mostly with men of a certain age and facial hair style (and that was just me).
Putty is current beer Zeitgeist, in the way that Cloudwater DIPAs once were a while back but rightly so. It is an excellent beer.
The keg launch saw me at the independent central Cardiff bar (Bubs) in mid-January (16th Jan 2020). It is a sizeable venue so it wasn’t entirely rammed but I note they got through a keg in a few hours and another together with their can stock the following day. That’s impressive given that it’s not cheap and while to my taste not to everyones. Moreover most of those imbibing did not appear to be the ‘usual’ craft beer adherents and only a few had beards.
The point is that a beer like Putty finds keen drinkers across the country not just in locations where the usual suspects gather. That underlines something about the reach of craft beer in 2020.
I thought the beer was highly drinkable. Murky of course and juicy. You could go further in respect of taste description but those are the keys.
The zeitgeist will move on but I’m sure Verdant will continue to make great beer (which I expect I’ll sample mainly at the Experiment).
Whether such a beer can get beyond niche, albeit a popular one, and whether it should are perhaps a couple of the craft beer questions for 2020, but the launch of the latest iteration of Putty in the middle of Dry January suggests its possible…
