It Made Me Think.

I don't normally 'do' political or topical in this blog. Too many others to compete with who do it better. Plus I don't normally concern myself with matters I can't really change. (My paltry readership figures suggest perhaps I ought to change. Is my blog in need of a shake up I wonder.

There have been millions of words written concerning the Osama Bin Laden affair, but not by me. Then at the weekend something happened that made me think.

We, my wife and I happened to be in Castleton at the weekend. Situated in a wild unspoilt area in the Peak District, I am so in love with the place I have a large picture of it on the back of my motorhome. (Even though the powers to be in their infinite wisdom have innundated parts with parking meters. Yet there was NOT ONE single vehicle now parked in the areas in question where previously there would have been dozens.) Exactly the place to 'chill out' and many do so, particularly at weekends, including our new found friends parked alongside.

Five youngsters, ages twenty to twenty five, three male, two female. In the course of the next half hour I learnt four were Pakistani, one Moroccan. I also learnt all were well educated, being either at university or in jobs of some standing, banking, teaching, computing. They were also exceedingly well turned out, very modern, very western, but not sporting the hiking paraphernalia normally associated with the Peak District. They were noisy, verbose, outgoing, seemingly unaware of the attention they were getting from less than impressed, often elderly visitors to this area. But they were also courteous, polite, respectful to my wife and I, intelligent and humorous. Their offer of strawberries and cream was unneccessary, but generous and accepted.

It was obvious the group had little comprehension, understanding or experience of the area. (They are city dwellers, Birmingham and Sheffield.) The visit was to be short, for the pull of city life was strong. The talk was of visiting Leeds, presumably to experience the night life or Sheffield, to buy shoes. (On a Saturday evening, surely not viable, my friends!) Eventually they left and quiet returned to Castleton. But why should our chance meeting have any political implications?

Our new friends are young. They are respectful of their parents, in spite of behaviour at odds with their upbringing; (They were in Castleton to get away from 'their own'.) At least one talked of arranged marriage without rancour or particular apprehension. We are old, not of the Muslim faith, pursuing a British way of life; trips to the great outdoors included. We had little in common, but then again the parents of our friends are old. Herein lies the crux of the matter.

The likes of Muslims like Bin Laden has caused the world much misery and fear and the terror is ongoing. Fundamentists amongst the old are probably entrenched beyond redemption. That you can convince some young that virgins are on offer in return for suicide bombing appeals evidently to the brainwashed, particularly the uneducated. But my new friends have the advantage of education. Plus they are at odds with the older generation of whatever political political or religious persuation. Perhaps, only perhaps, the peaceful future of the world depends on the young, my new friends included. Concerning Pakistan,

David Aaronovitch posed the question in The Times last week, 'Whether over time Pakistan will become more like us, or we'll become more like them'. Not a thousand miles removed from our trip to Castleton. You were great, my friends, I hope we meet again. Next time hiking boots and rucksacks at the ready?

'People Who Need People'.

One of those weeks when nothing comes to mind to make blogging easy. Nothing of world shattering importance happens; at least in my little unimportant world.

I gave three talks last week. (There's Nowt so Strange as Folk.) A dinner club, food plus a speaker. At least the food is always popular! One old lady in the audience was one hundred and one next month. At least she stayed awake. I once asked an organiser if, as they enjoyed it as she suggested, why didn't they participate. 'They can't hear you, they're all deaf' was the reply.

Another group last week was a 'Cancer Self Help' group. a small group, all with the severest problems. Sometimes you don't feel like making an effort of an evening. But this group was one of the nicest groups I have ever met. Not a sign of self pity; lovely, positive people. Sometimes we need reminding that life is not fair, and we need to count our blessings, whatever our beliefs.

On my way to a third group I was lost and stopped on an estate to 'map read'. An elderly Land Rover, with an equally ancient driver hurried past, making noisy contact with my mirror. My destination was a cul-de-sac on the estate, the purpose, a talk to be given at a private house, the audience, all middle class ladies who have been meeting for all of forty years.

I arrived five minutes later and what should be parked in the street, an elderly Land Rover! The driver evidently one of my genteel audience awaiting my offerings on this tranquil night. The talk went well, I never did inform the lady driver of our earlier acquaintance. Go on, what would you have done? I just made sure I went home before the lady in question!

I glanced through my diary entry on this date many years ago. In 1959 I was in hospital with Albert. I thought Albert was remarkable. He happily ate all the 'goodies' people brought me on their visits. I was in no condition to eat anything after a serious motor accident. Albert too had serious injuries after an accident on a demolition site. His eating feat therefore was all the more remarkable as he was bedridden at a peculiar angle due to pelvic injuries. I remember thinking how remarkable were his stomach and bowels.

Twenty six years ago this week I met Bill. Bill was a worldly Geordie individual of dubious skills. These skills included devising a machine that slowed an electricity meter so that the reading bore no true relationship as to the amount of electricity you actually used. I liked Bill and we had something in common. I had an English Bull Terrier, called Buster. Bill too had a bull terrier. Plus we had something else in common. Bill knew Albert, in fact Albert was Bill's brother-in-law. Bill knew Albert very well. In fact so well that Bill went home one Sunday after a drinking session, found Albert asleep on the sofa, took his chance and cut Albert's throat. As you may have realised, Bill didn't like Albert!

A make believe world has its place when we wish to escape the real world for a while. (Went to see Arthur, courtesy of The Times Newspaper. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I suspect people will pre-judge it because of Russell Brand's antics in the past. Oh for an open mind!) But the real world has its characters and its moments. Met a couple who organise marathon running and the like. (Ultrarace) Jen Salter and Rory Coleman. A delightful couple whose dedication to fitness made me feel quite ashamed. (But only for a moment!) Rory has run just short of 1000 marathons, Jen's life involves frequent endurance events, triathlons and the like. Aren't people great, isn't life interesting when you look around you.