Back by dope demand….
After extensive polling and public feedback here comes the first blog of 2025. Going to free myself from the constraints of ‘weekly’ and probably from many of the conventions of good manners. So here as usual is a presentation of life inside my head right now.
Work – just getting ready for the final submission of a Drug and Alcohol Needs Assessment we have been working on since the Autumn. Managed to have some downtime over the xmas / solstice period so hadn’t looked at it for a week. Going back in fresh – I was pleasantly surprised. We’ll have a couple of weeks of scrutiny but I am confident we’ve given them a really robust analysis of their current system and what changes are needed to meet future needs. Kevin and I managed to finish the engagement still on speaking terms helped largely I am sure by the involvement of other partners. Looking forward to our next joint engagements. We’re also in the home straight of an evaluation of a Changing Futures programme – again a really good programme that has brought individualised support to some of the most vulnerable members of our local community. This will demonstrate some blindingly obvious things – that small case loads, lead workers and a genuine multi-agency approach that is properly resourced ca be transformative for people with Multiple-Compound Needs.
Politics – doesn’t feel like we’ve ever seemed more irrelevant globally here in the UK. We’re six months into a new government with a huge mandate yet the news agenda is dominated by Farage and his one time Tech Beau. There are the kernels of a good narrative but I am astounded that Labour have been so passive and inept in media handling and controlling the story. It feels like a very unstable world right now and really not the time when we need despots and malign influences in charge. Trump is already setting out his stall – he wants Greenland, Panama Canal and to be forever worshipped. He’s threatening to unleash hell in the Middle-East – like there’s any left to be unleashed on the Palenstinian population. Egged on by the uber wealthy supporter of various neo-Nazi outfits. It’s beyond belief to think that Musk has any interest in the children of Oldham or Rotherham or anywhere else in this country – but his support for both Yaxley-Lennon and the AfD in Germany lets you know exactly where his politics are at. The only funny thing about the whole sorry last few days was watching Pound Shop Enoch Farridge debase himself once more defending Tech Beau’s horrific comments about Jess Phillips, handing over his lunch money and his rhubarb and custards in the hope that he’d grab some headlines and a few pounds – only to be utterly dismissed as not fot to run a bath
Football – if being a Spurs fan wasn’t challenging enough the award of the 2034 mens world cup to Saudi Arabia in a rigged ballot just makes me hate football all over again. There was just a little bit of me that hoped Musk was going to express an interest in buying Spurs instead of Liverpool so I could walk away on some moral high ground of my own imagination.
Music – January seems to be gig free for me so I reflect upon my favourite gigs of 2024: The The pre-tour warm up, Big Thief / PJ Harvey, Paul Weller pre-tour warm up. Alongside my favourite albums of the year: Adrianne Lenker, The The, The Cure and Nadine Shah. If it’s snowing for you like it is for me – check them out.
