Monthly Archives: June 2008

Heading back to Marrakesh tomorrow, so just a couple of reflections on Essaouira and its festival. Firstly, the positive. The standard of the acts appearing at this years festival was astounding. Toumani Diabate, alongside his son, playing a sort of … Continue reading →

I am indebted to Jess for pointing me in the direction of another Sandwell Labour blogger, although slightly off the beaten track. There is definitely something happening between Sandwell and Wales, but I haven’t figured out what it is yet.

John Rentoul at Open House has started a list of political cliches he would like to see banished… The Banned List. I would go along with his first two, and add… “I am reluctant to intrude on someone else’s grief” … Continue reading →

One thing I will most certainly not miss tomorrow is the BBC commentary on Spain v Germany. The game has some promise, but even if I find live TV coverage of the game in Essaouira, it will thankfully be without … Continue reading →

I was grumbling last December that Paris was the coldest place I had ever been in my life. Well, as we got off the plane at 6.30pm on Wednesday it felt like Marrakesh was definitely one of the hottest. It … Continue reading →

Blogging will be spasmodic over the next week. We’re off to Morocco for a week to the Gnaoua Music Festival in the small fishing town of Essaouira on the Atlantic coast. This year’s festival promises to be the best ever … Continue reading →

Pete, over at the Fat Man in the Bathtub has hit the nail spot on the head: The greater the gap between the wealthiest and the poorest, the greater the chance of profound social disharmony. … and the video is … Continue reading →

From the deserted Chippwa Lake amusement park. More here. Hat tip to Plep.

As David Davis resignation stunt continues to stutter he seems to have turned in to one of those drunks who sways in front of city centre statues in the early hours of the morning shouting, “Come down here and fight, … Continue reading →

Just a follow-up to my piece on the Birmingham Central Library, Bring in the Demolition Squad. On The Stirrer site the Friends of the Central Library have reacted angrily to suggestions that the building should be demolished, and say they … Continue reading →