MORE TIME FOR JOURNALISM

It's been difficult in past days to find any time for blogging. Today back from London from meetings, hauled in to do some volunteer stuff for Oxfam, then to another meeting and just finishing article before I head off to bed and up at 5.45am. So please bear with me while I adjust to a new routine.
Glad, however, to note Tim Gopsill, the recently retired editor of The Journalist, has a new blog, Victor Noir, which I have linked to ......
Tim, sadly, did not cover our last ADM due to internal union issues which don't belong on the blogosphere. But his contribution was massive and he will be sadly missed.
Tim says he will now have "more time for journalism." I hope that's true.

DOWN......BUT NOT OUT

I am nothing if not honest and it would be a fib to say I'm not a little bit miffed I only scraped into this year's top 100 left-of-centre blogs. To tell the truth, this year has been a bit difficult for me blogwise. I have often felt uninspired, also conscious that I have to be circumspect due to the rigours of standing in two Parliamentary fights (lost) and more and more mindful of the fact that it is very difficult to avoid sounding repetitive.
My congratulations, though, to Dave Osler, Harpymarx, Stroppyblog, the Bickerstaffe Record, and Though Cowards Flinch for performing extremely well and gaining a fillip for their serious dedication to the blogging cause. Something, I have found personally, which can wane in the light of events which have not proved positive for the Labour Left. In short, it's been a rough 12 months in Calder Valley.
In a year's time, who knows where any of us will be and in what state the Labour Party will find itself. But I hope the socialist voice in the blogosphere will continue to grow. And that, even if my energies are somewhat dissipated, I will continue to let people know there are still socialists left in the Party who have something to say. We need more of you to join us.

THE POINT OF BLOGGING.....

The point of political blogging is to tell the truth. Comfortable or otherwise. And, when you can no longer do that, then maybe it is time to stop.
The reason I'm at my computer at such an ungodly hour is because I was daft enough to read a book about a woman being stalked. And now I can't get to sleep.
I'm pondering the fact that when I started this blog it was in a spirit of optimism and also in the hope I could say what I thought and that people could agree, or otherwise, and engage in a way which recognised I wished to write with some irreverence and humour. Maybe sometimes I was OTT and, in hindsight, maybe I would have said certain things differently. But behind it all was a belief in the Labour Party as still the only place where socialists should be.
I was reinforced in that view as, in my Branch, I was surrounded by people whose only wish was to retain this seat at the next election and see a Labour Government sympathetic to the policies we'd supported over many years. It did not seem that awesome a task. Or objectionable as an ideal.
Since 2007, our hopes have been gradually eroded to the point where it seems impossible to tell it like it is - because the truth I'm afraid is that this constituency has been torn apart by a bitter selection battle which means this blog is of course read by people who also blogged malicious comments and briefed the media with disparaging remarks about our former PPC, and who ultimately succeeded in their bid to displace her on grounds so trivial in the light of the MP's expenses scandal and other events that the NEC should hang its head in shame.
Some months ago, a senior member of the NEC acknowledged to me in a private conversation they had probably got it wrong. And actually suggested that those who could not stomach the injustice of what had happened should go and campaign elsewhere. I suspect that, at the next General Election, that is what many will do. Others, I'm sad to say, have simply left the Party in disgust.
And to suggest, as someone did in the local media the other day , that that is not the case is disingenuous and insulting.
The campaign against the left in Calder Valley continues to be waged by those who presumably prefer the current state of schism to what we had before. A CLP which flourished and worked hard - despite the ideological differences - in a spirit of co-operation with our MP Chris McCafferty. Where we are now is not where any CLP would like to be. I hope that will change.
In terms of the blog, I had to impose comment moderation and then stop anonymous remarks as the stream of offensive remarks became unsustainable. I'm still of course getting the remarks by idiots calling themselves things like "Barack Obama." But by now of course I recognise the style or, should I say, lack of it. It is the very same people who used to post anonymously.
All of which is to say I'm suppose that maybe the toxicity round here is such that I might stop blogging for a bit. At least about local stuff. And concentrate, instead, on the very difficult task of persuading those I respect and value that it's still worth hanging on in there. Thoughts which I will be articulating at our fund-raising event on Thursday night.

EVENTS AND OTHER THINGS.......

I''m not blogging much at the moment. Largely because I am embroiled in the utterly selfish business of trying to seek gainful employment and it tends to take priority.
Tonight, some conversations with people re the Iraq inquiry which at least is going to be more transparent than originally envisaged. It remains to be seen what that will mean.
In a month which has been one of the bloodiest yet in Afghanistan, we can only hope that serious questions will be asked. And that they will be answered.
This dismal summer is not one exactly designed to re-charge the batteries but those of you in shouting distance might want to take part in or support the LRC cricket match on Saturday which looks sadly likely to suffer from the deluge we've had in West Yorkshire solidly over the past couple of weeks. It's raising funds for HOPI - Hands Off The People Of Iran.- and even if washed out there's a fund-raiser in the evening. See the new, improved website for details.
Back home, we have a fund-raiser Quiz Night next Thursday August 6 for my local Branch Labour Party at the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge. There will be a nuclear hot turkey curry ( made by me) and sundry other dishes to enjoy .

BRING ME THE FINEST WINES KNOWN TO HUMANITY.......

Today I gave in and bought the Sunday Times purely on the basis it had a DVD of Withnail and I. This is now a cult classic and I adore every anarchic minute of its evocation of the 1960's but the film actually came out in 1987 at the height of Thatcherism. I remember a colleague going to interview director and writer Bruce Robinson at Manchester's Cornerhouse, It came...... and went. It's only in the years since it has acquired iconic status. I've never done the "drinking game" which I understand is popular with male students whereby you neck back every substance mentioned in the film as it progresses......however I did go to Penrith recently. And last I heard the tumbledown cottage owned by "Uncle Monty" was up for sale.

One other random point I wanted to make this sunny Sunday is that since I dropped the anonymous messages I've noticed all the people who post here are male. Is that because women don't read political blogs? Or is it because they are less opinionated? If there are any leftie women bloggers out there who I've not linked to already ( ie the excellent Harpymarx and Stroppyblog) do get in touch. And now I'm off for a trip to Chesterfield......nothing to do with politics but even I have weekends off.

ANONYMOUS POSTS

I don't mind honest criticism, but I've begun to tire of abusive remarks from the anonymous brigade. Therefore I have decided that in future NO anonymous comments will be published. So please don't bother sending them as they will be deleted.

100,000 READERS - AND COUNTING......

Just noted this week that GuN has passed the 100,000 landmark. Thanks to all who have read the blog in the past two years. Hits have been on the up againm recently and will endeavour in the months ahead to up that even more. .......

OLD RED EYES IS BACK

The world is not passing me by but for now I'm going to have to focus on a place 10 miles over the Pennines - and plan my campaign strategy . It wasn't in the gameplan to get a nasty attack of conjunctivitis only hours before a crunch meeting. Put it down to the nervous stress which all my fellow aspirers agree is part of the deal if you put your name forward for PPC. Just as well it's not a beauty contest....... Anyway, the eye drops are kicking in so I'm now off to discuss our plans over Sunday lunch at the Stubbing Wharf.
If I had had much time to blog this week ( which I obviously haven't) , I would have commented on the outcome of the oil refinery strikes, I think Jeremy Clarkson and Jonathan Ross are grossly overpaid and utterly bereft of wit and intelligence and should be sacked ( one rule for Carol Thatcher another for them?) . And I wish the CWU all the best in its fight against the Royal Mail part- privatisation plans which are soundly opposed by a majority of Labour MPs, trade unionists - and the Great British Public.

SWEET DREAMS ARE NOT MADE OF THIS......

Last night I dreamt I was punched on the nose. I hope very much this is not going to happen but suspect it is a consequence of the anxiety-inducing experience of trying to stand as a PPC. I've spent the last 48 hours fighting my corner and contacting people. It's what you have to do to stand any chance at all of being shortlisted but it's lonely work which requires iron will and thick skin
The other consequence is I've had to focus very much on local stuff so my apologies to blog readers for not really keeping abreast of the wider issues - or at least blogging about them. At some point in the future a normal blogging service will be resumed .

POWER OF THE INTERNET.......

Monday was an unprecedented day for this blog. I had 398 hits and I wish I could say three times as many people as usual had had a Damascene moment and logged on to Grimmerupnorth. The fact is I had a link from the BBC after comments made on the pre-Budget report. Still, all grist to the mill and so was last night's real time meeting at Westminster where we launched what will hopefully be a New Left Media forum for those of us on the left who want to garner support for all kinds of initiatives in the months ahead.
I re-met Stroppy Blog, Dave Osler , David Semple who writes the excellent Though Cowards Flinch and, encouragingly, other younger bloggers and IT experts. We are having another meeting in December. More news of it anon.

OUT OF ACTION BECAUSE.....

I didn't see the closing or opening ceremonies of the Olympics. In fact I haven't seen much this week beyond buses and trains as I have been focussing on family issues and looking after my 88-year-old Dad who's still conalescing so frankly the travails of the Labour Party are not my top priority at the moment.
There is little to inspire. And I haven 't got a lot new to say that can be said in a constructive fashion. So circumspect is where I am at the moment.Hopefully things will be a little more inspiring once the Party conference season starts - and Press Senior is able to get out and about again.

STAND PIES AND STRAWBERRIES

A busy week. Four school assemblies , a walkers' action meeting, and today the delights of the Mytholmroyd Gala and later on strawberries and cream with the Old People's Welfare Committee. You could get very fat being Mayor but I am trying not to...... Lurched from one massive Yorkshire buffet to another today but managed to avoid the vast cakes and even the ( always) irresistible urge to eat those little party pies was contained within reasonable limits.
Tomorrow is the Civic Service in Mytholmroyd - so I am having a rare Saturday night in to recuperate. Amid the readings will be the famous verse by Pastor Martin Niemoller about standing up and being counted. Sometimes - it can have unpleasant consequences. I'm not particularly thick-skinned and it's not pleasant being lambasted. But, on balance, I would still rather express my opinion than not.

WHILE I WAS AWAY.....2

In London over weekend hence no posts . Last time in metropolis it was Jon Trickett falling on his sword. Now Wendy Alexander. Maybe I should go away more often......utterly exhausted and going to bed. Back to blogging tomorrow

POWER OF THE BLOGOSPHERE

Regrettably missed out on an opportunity to hold forth about the Peter Hain fiasco on World At One as e-mail from producer only got to me at 1.26pm.However, it shows my profile is growing.......Leftie bloggers of the world unite!

THE JOYS (AND OTHERWISE) OF BLOGGING

Have noticed recently that a couple of lefty blogs have "died" so they are no longer on my list. So a sad goodbye to Commissar and 1 or 2 others which started around the same time as mine did - or shortly afterwards.
I think blogging is a bit like going to the gym. You have to keep going as if you miss it for more than a couple of days, it's much much harder to start again. Some days, frankly, I'm utterly uninspired ( and it shows).It's also easy to become extremely repetitive and am trying not to do that. The actual discipline of writing is something I probably find easier than some as it's how I've earned a living for 20-odd years Anyway, to those who read the blog, thanks for doing so. The posts are by and large good-natured and I have been fortunate in not attracting much in the way of abuse. It may be that I too one day will tire of the blogosphere but for now will keep going.........PS: There are now new links on thr right hand side to Socialist Appeal, Tribune and New Statesman.......

MANIC MONDAYS

Basically, Monday is now a pretty difficult day for blogging as from 7.30am till 7pm am away from home and teaching/travelling to and from work at a local university. Anyway inspiration not exactly in full flow as am now completely knackered. Interestingly , though, looks as though Northern Rock may be nationalised after all following the pull-out of a major private equity company and concern over the viability of Virgin. The Bank Of England and the Treasury it seems are now more or less on side so isn't it time the Government bit the bullet and went for this eminently sensible, not ideological solution.
Meanwhile, things have gone pretty quiet on the trade union link furore which probably means Brown is aiming for deals behind doors when he gets back from the Middle East . The union leaders must NOT be allowed to get away with another beer and sandwiches stitch-up. And hey , even Luke Akehurst supports us on this one........

HEAD FOR LABOUR HOME.....

In my first enthusiasm for blogging ( which has since dissipated somewhat) I used to spend far too much time on Labour Home , where my pseudonym was grimupnorth........ During the run-up to the (non) leadership contest and Deputy Leadership contests, it was a great place to go for a verbal scrap and, often, entertaining as wel as informative. In recent months I've stopped being a regular as the format is now a bit dreary and it tends to be dominated by fans of the status quo. However, LRC supporter Duncan Hall has just posted an article on the current crisis enveloping the Govt and, as with everything Dunc writes, it's worth a read. His analysis is absolutely correct.

Blogging Nightmare

Thanks to Owen and Miles for posts. Just spent 45 minutes (when I should be working and catching up on overdue articles) negotiating my way round passwords and logging in. Pure displacement activity........I will probably be nipping down to London on March 31 even though have meeting there March 24. We have our own John4Leader meeting here friday so still some last-minute reminders to send. Big splash in Hebden Bridge Times.....who says there's a media black-out !