The evening before yesterday, my American friend called round to hand deliver a birthday card to me before my imminent trip. We enjoyed a cup of tea together and chatted over what was going to occupy us in the next day or so. Sunday is going to prove to be one of the most interesting of days because after attending Mass at 8.30 in the morning (a Mass being offered for the repose of Meg’s soul) my intention is to drive straight off to Berkshire where I will be one of the guests at a birthday party organised to celebrate the 65th birthday of one of my ex-Winchester University colleagues. The journey is about 86 miles but I will take a flask with me to enjoy a coffee break if I find suitable stopping place at approximately the half-way point. Some of my own good friends and ex-colleagues will be in attendance but there will be a range of people whom I shall be meeting for the first time. Normally, and particularly after a series of elections, I would be closely following the political interviews which have taken on a particular saliency as the storm clouds gather over Keir Starmer’s premiership. One Labour MP is already on record as saying that she will attempt to trigger a leadership contest on Monday if Keir Starmer has not made a clear declaration of his intention to quit by then. One feature of the current political scene I find quite puzzling is the way I which Keir Starmer is both portrayed and evaluated. According to several vox-pop interviews I have seen conducted, it would appear that Starmer generates a lot of marked dislike if not hatred. I can well understand these emotions when directed towards several of our political leaders such as the Corbyns or the Boris Johnson’s of this world but Starmer comes over as a rather boring bank manager or solicitor. On a similar theme, it seems that the whole attraction of ‘Reform’ is that they are ‘not Labour’ and one does wonder whether those who vote for Reform are conscious of the great dearth of policies other than immigration. Nigel Farage for one is certainly in favour of completely privatised medicine and one can only shudder with horror at the thought at would happen to our NHS were Reform to form the next (national) government. The next general election is still some three years away but in may ways this gives Reform the chance to embed itself into the fabric of our body politic. If we are now entering a period of ‘patchwork’ or coalition politics, then who does the electorate blame is a coalition has a generally unsuccessful period in office. Will the electorate blame each of the members of the coalition electorate equally, for example? In the old days of ‘two party’ politics, one could always say (as a former boss of mine used to say ‘Let the other lot have a go’) but now the nature of accountability and connection with the electorate will become far from clear.
It is hard to indicate what a magnificent day this has turned out to be. Having had the Mass devoted to Meg in the morning, I then set off for Berkshire and fortunately I discovered a parking place just after the mid…way point to have some coffee and toast. Then I proceeded to the gastropub and arrived in plenty of time for the party. The hosts were wonderfully accommodating and I was not reunited with some friends and colleagues but made some new friends as well. We started with an ‘amuse bouche’ and then sat down to a long table where I had interesting companions, some new and some old on every side but I was soon called in to deliver my Grace Before Meals (specially composed) which I think was highly appreciated. We had a magnificent meal full of good food and conversation towards the end of which, our birthday girl had organised a musician to come and play melodies suitable for the occasion. A totally unexpected surprise was that our host had organised with the musician to play a special rendition of Mozart’s ‘Soave sea el vente’ (Softly blow the wind) from ‘Cose fan tutte’ which representing the departure of loved ones over the ocean and is one of the most appropriate arias it was possible to choose. I was completely overcome by emotion but one of my newly acquired friends came over and dried my tears and was consoling in the extreme. Then the party proceeded and I we had lots of delicious cake, champagne, maroons and coffee after which it was time for speeches. Our birthday girl gave a wonderful account of her occupational life and included every person who was present in her very pleasant and wonderful account. Then, at the very end of the speeches, I was given some minutes to say a few words so I told the assembled party the story behind the second, poignant, verse of ‘Danny Boy’ which I then recited from memory (only eight lines long but practised hard enough and delivered with gravity and emotion) So todays activities drew to a close but we had to make some practical arrangements for the birthday breakfast which is now scheduled for 9.20am tomorrow morning for four us altogether.
It is hard to indicate what a wonderful first anniversary of Meg’s death today has turned out to be. I was met with waves of love and sympathy and the guests were so thoughtful and interesting. A lot of todays proceedings have been captured on camera and on iphones and although I failed to take any photos myself, I am sure that lots of guests will share their footage with me. One of the birthday girls colleagues who had served with her in the Navy was incredibly supportive and sympathetic so it would be wonderful to meet up on future occasions – we always have FaceTime in the meanwhile. This evening is going to seem quite a quiet affair after the wonderfully joyous celebrations of the day but i am meeting up with a University of Winchester colleagues later on in the bar and we have a quiet chinwag. For once, it is rather nice to be cut adrift from the normal run of political discussion and to just enjoy the friendship of li