The Media Show - on BBC Sounds.

 Over recent months I have been enjoying the weekly programme on BBC Sounds on Wednesday afternoon at 16.15. It’s never dull and generally entertaining. This week was an in depth discussion with - a number of veteran journalists. The issue for discussion was the - death of the Cambridge University black academic, Dr Jason Arday. His death has caused much - wringing of hands and speculation about what was - the eventual cause of his death. Cambridge University, doesn’t come away - smelling of roses. The underlying problem is - why was he employed at such a prestigious university, with a PhD from a not distinguished university - John Moores, Liverpool. Over the last three years, since his engagement at Cambridge, there has been endless speculation about the - bona fides of his place teaching the Sociology of Education. A well known - Mickey Mouse degree, that doesn’t require great intellectual rigour. However another issue is the - illegitimate attacks on - black academics in general. They are being - collectively scapegoated by some in the media - with a racist agenda. 

The poll of polls - suggest?

 The other day the - Poll of Polls was published and they say the following: Reform on 24 per cent. Labour on 24 per cent, Conservatives on 20 per cent, Greens on 12 per cent and the Lib/Dems on 11 per cent. Sir John Curtis, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, suggests that Reform are being squeezed in two ways. To the right by Rupert Lowe and his party Restore is stealing points from Reform, by 3-4 per cent of the right vote. We also have a rejuvenate Conservatives with Kemi Badenoch, doing relatively well, especially when parliament is sitting. In addition with a new prime minister in Andy  Burnham, a far better communicator than the disastrous Starmer, Labour are on the up. The Greens have clearly lost their way and Zac Polanski - appears a bit too naive and gullible. The public have - sussed him out and don’t like him as a result. Consequently there is all to play for and in particular the budget in October. Can the chancellor John Healey - create a sense of purpose and optimism? We shall see. 

Cultural capital.

 The famous French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, coined the term Cultural Capital in the 1960’s to indicate the unspoken privileges that - middle class and upper middle class children benefited from their social status and social position. Knowing how to navigate - if you wish to go to an elite university - like the London School of Economics, Oxford or Cambridge Universities. These are - intangible prerequisites if you want to join the elite. Knowing about law firms in the City of London - at the very top of the profession. Known as the - magic circle: Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Linklaters, Slaughter and May and Travers Smith. In addition if you want to study at drama school, knowing the best and most reputable is important. Like the Royal Academy Dramatic Art (RADA). There are other reputable drama schools like: LAMDA, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Mountview etc. Similarly if you want a top musical education, places like: Royal Academy of Music (RAM), Royal College of Music (RCM), Guildhall College of Music and Drama and the London College of Music. So this is the closed world, unless you are a educated middle class person - this knowledge isn’t generally available for the outsider. 

We are in a deep hole financially as a country.

 When a previous Labour chancellor Denis Healey (1974/1979) asked about the financial hole the country was in he - adroitly replied “when in a hole, stop digging”. This was on 2 June 1973. We are in a far deeper hole today, than we were back then. Interestingly we have today another John Healey, as chancellor. Will he adopt a similar attitude. The budget is on Wednesday 28 October. The first thing would be to cancel the, so called - triple lock for the - state pension. That would allow immediately, if introduced in April 2027 an extra £12 billion a year and over a parliamentary period of 5 year that would be +60 billion. And of course that would be more as the state pension is adjusted by inflation each year. So it could be as much as between £60 and £70 billion. That would thereby create - headroom for the chancellor John Healey. I will be writing to him today supporting the idea. 

A good death.

 It’s something we all want, but unfortunately many hundreds of thousands, don’t experience - a good death. The distinguished doctor Peter Fenwick, decided to specialise in - end of life experience. His seminal book The Art of Dying has had a profound impact on his profession and the wider public. He died in November 2024 aged 89. He specialised in - neuropsychiatry and neurophysiology - after his medical degree. Essentially he diagnosed the problem about - good end of life experience under a number of underpinning ideas: don’t deny the fact you are getting old; preparation; a pre-experience of forthcoming death; clearing up the debris. 

An important fact is when you pass 70 - generally speaking you are running out of time. It’s down hill from here. Health starts to get problematic - friends and family members might be popping off, you start to go to funerals more often, you read the obituary pages with more interest, you notice that the energy you once had for life and doing things is taking longer, your hearing and eyesight start to fail, incontinence might become an issue, sleeping erratically or not sleeping at all, putting on weight, drinking too much and perhaps indulging in illegal drugs etc. You get the picture. Face the - facts of life you are getting older. To deny this universal truth, will stop you - preparing emotionally and psychologically for the next stage in life.We are all mortal and there is no escaping the eventual ending, despite all the exercise, potions you take for longevity - the Grim Reaper is on his way. My father use to say - “when he calls your number, its time to go”. 

The fact that you have accepted the reality of the ageing process and eventual death - will make life much easier. It’s no good getting angry about this reality. Your parents, grandparents and great-grandparents - all went down the same road - as you are now going down. Moreover you are also an example - if you have children - there is nothing to fear about ageing and dying. My own parents were extremely good teachers in this regard. Neither feared dyeing or death - so why should I? So you are preparing the ground for a - good death. Of course this is contingent on being - compos mentis.

Peter Fenwick reported in cross cultural comparisons, the universal - pre-warning about a year before death of a dream The individual would experience - walking along a corridor and seeing a light at the far end and walking towards the light. There were often other deceased family members - there to welcome you. 

Finally, if there are relationship that you have with either friends or family that are problematic - try and sort them out and make reparations? This may not be possible, but at least give it a try? Perhaps, too much damage has been done over time, that reconciliation isn’t possible? 

So a book highly recommended for its understanding and helpful advice about the most important journey you will ever take. 

Being a football fan, can be painful.

 When I was quite young, say about 11 - I was a keen football fan of Charlton Athletic, the south London club. However they would frequently get beaten and I would - become angry and upset, so my mother - banned me from going to their matches. Many years later I lived in north London and my then local team was Arsenal. So I quickly adopted them as my new must see team. They then were housed in Highbury from 1913-2006. They moved, but to a larger stadium with a capacity for some 60,704 and one of the largest in the Premier League. It’s called the Emirates and has been well designed, but there are rumours - that this is now not sufficient as Arsenal is rapidly becoming an international brand - like Real Madrid or Liverpool. In fact in The Sunday Times, magazine on Sunday - there was a large article about how Arsenal, are becoming one of the top earners in the game of football. They stand alongside for example: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain. Six of the top ten earners in international football are in the Premier League and they are: Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. If you wanted to join the Arsenal Football Club fan membership - you would have to wait a minimum of 20 years to get membership. 

Back to normal.

 Since 1 July last year - I have suffered the indignity of a catheter. If you have been fortunate enough - never to be  exposed to this indignity - count yourself lucky. The last 14 month have been the worse medically in my 83 years. I have had five infections and as a consequence - have had five lots of antibiotics. In addition - there is the added humiliation of every 12 weeks having a new catheter inserted. It’s also an extremely painful and unpleasant process - not something you would ever volunteer for. Just to put you in the picture - I have what it’s called an enlarged prostate and need an operation to reduce it’s size. Thankfully there is a treatment to reduce it and that is Laser treatment. I had the Laser operation on the 27th of July which went well. On Friday I went for an out patient appointment - to cut a long story short - I am 100% okay and ready to rock en roll’. Thank goodness for the NHS - all the staff were outstanding good and I told them so. I’am now recovering at home in Kent - from the last 14 months of trauma, pain and discomfort. I would say the next week is - convalescence time and getting back to normality, but its been the most terrible 14 months.