Underground Music

Music everywhere, I like the idea of portable music I like the fact that you can have it wherever you go.  I have seen people with the largest of headphones then the tiniest of things which are discreet.  The pet hate of us all is that tinny feedback you get sometimes.  Sometimes you can hear enough of what the person is listening to make out what they are listening to enough to get get an insight to their personality.  

I think music is personal we like what we like based on our social background, our experiences sometimes we can’t even explain what we like or don’t have the words to articulate why we like something.  

I shamelessly have a passion for dancehall music, I like the heavy bass line, I like the way sometimes crude subjects are dealt with in a humourous  and often clever way.

On the train everyone has tuned out whilst tuning in to their personal music.  Is this a reflection of our transport system ?

Posted fb 21/02/13

#19 My Music

Music affects everyone the same

Everyone is protective to what they like

They feel they have to explain in case u think they're lame

I love the way music makes you feel

Lady rocking and bopping on the train

We were all envious we wanted to feel the same

She rocked she dipped

It was apparent she didn't give a....## as to how she looked

And who was staring this was clearly her jam, her hook

Alone in my car I become my own DJ my dashboard is like a turntable

I am like a baby discovering the world

I am lost in a bubble when I am jamming in my ride

I have all the greats on these cds

Some of them are lost and need to be retrieved from between the seats

I'm in charge sometimes there has to be an instant repeat

The people look on at the lights

I don't care I am a Joy Rider locked in my zone

Then I arrive home

An as-semblance of a normal life

I emerge the loving mother and the perfect wife

I look back for one last glance

Promising I will be back for another dance

Michael Jackson The Legacy Lives on

“If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with”

- Michael Jackson

This poem came to me on the way home after visiting my daughter who was a devoted Michael Jackson fan.  I would always say to her ‘We were fortunate to be alive while Michael was alive’  I stand by that and feel the void that has been left in the music industry will never be filled.  Too much has been written about Michael Jackson, I think we now know a lot of what was written whilst he was alive not a lot of it was true.  It sold papers and made many people very rich even the parents of those little boys who Michael befriended.  Although you can obviously not put a  price on the trauma caused by inappropriate behaviour by an adult who you trust.

I am personally appalled at the selling of Michael’s Copyrights, this is a total sham, and go against all that Michael stood for.

‘Michael will be worth more dead than alive’ Joe Jackson said a few days after Michael had died.  These words will ring in the ears of all the members of Michael Jackson’s family.  

Posted on fb 10/04/13

#67 My Brother

If my brother needed help

And I knew all that he had been through

In a way that no one else knew

I would keep him close

Protect him from this hostile host

If my brother was behaving dangerously

And his behaviour was open to scrutiny

I would move in or bring him into my home

Until all these issues had gone

I wouldn’t just appear when things were out of control

Make random statements about things I didn’t know

Then finally when he has passed

Put on some fake Mourning mask

Behind the scenes be selling his assets fast

Now time has passed

What is done in the dark has come to past

The pressure he was put under

From myself and the family

All making demands

Going begging with our empty hands

All the pressure we had put him under

No wonder all our careers

Have fallen asunder

We lived off him like parasites

Not supporting him as a brother  we weren’t right

The ultimate disgrace selling his copyrights

As a Black Family this isn’t right

Sam Cooke, Harry Belafonte and Nina Simone

Now a few years have past

Our money’s running out

We have to blame the organisers

For our brothers demise

We read the contract we stood by

Thinking finally this was the families break

With Michael we too would eat steak

Now at peace that you have been laid to rest

Remember MJ We loved you best

Trident Dismantled

The killings that go on in our community predominantly amongst young Black Boys (Wherever they are in the world).  Is appalling.   (Looking for stronger word).  The sadness I feel in my heart with this senseless killing, whenever I hear about another killing a piece of my heart breaks even more.  

A few years ago we there seemed to be an epidemic of young men being killed.  The Police appeared helpless, this was during the time of TRIDENT, a police initiative which.  I will say it how I saw it, ‘Standing by and waiting for information from local communities’  The theory seem to be that within the Black Community we knew who was responsible for the killings and we were keeping these secrets within our community.  I objected  to this on many reasons, I pay my taxes like everyone else why was I being subjected to what I could only consider to be, lets call it ‘Special Treatment’.  Special treatment which meant we were all made to feel like we were all withholding information which could lead to the resolving of a crime.  What could we possibly have to gain from allowing these criminals to go around killing young men.

At the time I was in my 30’s sincerely I knew, no one who knew about the killings, about who was doing it, as part of the elder community we could speculate.  We would agree with the speculation it was no doubt drug related.  I lived within Brixton at the time a notorious area for such killings and drug dealing of which I saw nothing and knew nothing, I wasn’t in the loop although I had lived in this area for over fifteen years and I knew no one.  So whoever had this information that the TRIDENT officers were relying on to approach them I didn’t know them.  After about ten years it was  dismantled.  How many cases did they resolve? How many cases are still open? How many cases were resolved by the information provided by the community?

I wrote this poem as I was haunted by  picture  I remembered seeing in the Metro a few weeks earlier, such  beautiful picture one for the album.

Posted FB 25/02/13

#23 Last Smile

The picture of a proud mother

Her hand placed gently on his shoulder

Him smiling in that

'I really should be embarrassed at my age to be skinning my teeth like this'

But Mum's so happy I will give my street cred a miss

They share the same smile

They share the same goals

Some wicked person, who? We just don't know

Has taken him from his loving Mother

Ended his life

Terminated his dreams

That picture captured them so well

smiling because no one knows what the future holds

Cherish our children grow them well

There is nothing that can prepare you for this type of hell.

The taking of another life it is not correct it's not right

Daily on our screen this phenomena is clouding our dreams.

Make it stop! Make it stop!

No more of our young men taken down in their prime

Its like a culling of the next generation

where only the ruthless heartless and troubled will survive.

Crowd Control

Travelling on London underground can be daunting, they have carried out studies in Crowd Control, they spend a considerable amount of time and money on ensuring that passengers are safe whilst travelling on the underground.  When you purchase a ticket you are not just paying for a journey from point A - B you are investing in a safe service from the point of entry to when you leave the transport system.  I occasionally interchange at Holborn Station which can get very busy during the rush hour.  It can be quite worrying when you first arrive on the platform you end up in what seems like a bottle neck, it takes you a time to get your bearings.  You have arrived  in the middle of the platform with everyone else in close proximity to you, all doing the same thing.  Everyone is trying to read the matrix board to see what time the next train is.  How can this be improved. On average everyone stands there for about 30 seconds motionless, of course people are still streaming in behind you, before you know it you are standing 5 people deep feeling quite claustrophobic.

This is where London Underground’s money and research come into play, Crowd Control (Sounds like a Football Crowd).  They have deployed a member of staff to stand on the platform with a loud haile, his role is to say ‘Move to the right’ he explains that if we moved to the right there would be more space towards that part of the train, I believed him.  Two trains later I was able to board the train, was there more space for me at the position on the platform? I can’t say, what I did know is I didn’t want to be here anymore, after all I am on my way home and this is just meant to be an interchange, the walk from the Piccadilly line to Central was long enough now my estimated 4 minutes change is now looking like 10 minutes.  I don’t have 10 minutes spare in my day, so despite the amount of people already packed on the train I will get on.

Posted FB 07/04/13

#65 Move to the Right

I arrived at the platform

I wasn't alone

It was like everyone had left home

They stood congregated at the station

Move to the right Said the voice

Instructions firm yet polite

I felt I had no choice

I obediently complied

When the train arrived I wanted to ask why

This was requested of me I felt cheated

My initial thoughts cannot be repeated

I should of stood where I stand

Not listen to the Man

After all am I my own wo-man

My people have spent years being transported

From land to sea to land

Here was me doing it freely

Where is the fighting spirit in me?

I can’t respond to every voice

They all can’t all be right

So next time I am commanded

I will be demanding

An explanation at least

Before I listen to this headless beast

Vulgar Money Talk

Money does not motivate me neither does not having money motivate me, the later concerns me, not staying awake can’t sleep kind of concern.  I won’t say it is because I now consider myself an artist. I am someone who has worked for money, received it, spent it then moved on.  I don’t long for those days.  I enjoyed the whole aspect of working in an industry that was buzzing and evolving.  I am talking about the IT industry late 1990.  Just writing it, it seems like a lifetime ago.  

I remember stumbling into IT, which is how much of the things I end up doing for work come about.  I was unemployed for awhile my sister who was very concerned about me falling into some sort of ‘Under-Class Person’ class, encouraged me to do an IT course.  I attended the course run at Westminister College in Battersea, that’s where I met Alan, Jason and Micheal I got a chance to be one of the cool kids yes I was 25 at the time.  School I was shy and awkward not the most enjoyable place if I remember rightly.

I completed the IT course even though I remember one of the Lecturers being very chauvinistic and openly resenting me having a place on the course which was predominately men.  Most appeared like IT Boffin's compared to me.  The most challenging part was the practical part of the course where we had to create a system floppy disk??? then install the floppy drive and also install memory on the Mother board, fortunately we were allowed 3 attempts at this I nailed it in the first attempt, much to everyone’s surprise, mine as well if I am honest.  That shut up the Chauvinist so it was all worth it.

Went on into IT then became an IT contractor where at the time they were paying crazy money for any type of IT skills.  I worked in this industry for almost five years doing different assignments in many Corporate organisations.  So I have experienced money, now I work for a more humble or is it humbling amount most importantly I am happy.  I also get a chance to meet a lot of people some interesting, some not so interesting, a fair amount of jerks on a whole the majority of the people I encounter are really nice.  Occasionally all too frequently I meet men who feel it necessary to impress upon me how much they earn.  “Like Money maketh the man?”  Not in my books, it doesnt impress me interest me and I don’t need to feign interest.

posted FB 5 April 2013

#62 Money Chat

I don’t like conversations about money

When I am working as hard as I can, it’s not funny

So you get paid more than me

It is expected after all you are a man

Other then talking about money

What is your chat-up plan?

Unless you are going to whisk me off my feet

Take over all my bills complete

Buying all my clothes

I don’t want to hear about your Money Throne

You talk about money as if you get money for free

I enjoy what I do

Can you say the same and be true?

What are you prepared to do

To bring all this money to you

Maybe I am the final sacrafice

To get your Money piles

Worshiping money

Has got you believing the Money Lies

Dressing for the cold

It so difficult to get it right, dressing for cold weather, the layering of clothes is a nice idea but in practice it is difficult to pull off.  For most women society has us conscious and battling with weight issues.  So saying to us we now want you to layer your clothes to create a Bohemian look is asking for trouble.  If you are comfortable with losing your curves and your waistline it is a  look that can work.  I am at an age when I still can distinctly remember having a waist, and a waist you could see,  I am feeling a Gok Wan moment.

His solution would probably be layering with  belt.  With my missing waistline the question would be how large a belt? and then would I not just be emphasising not only have a put on weight (with all these additional layers) but my only option to create an allusion of  waist is to put a large belt on it.  I think this layering and belt wearing is not for me.

Thermals I swear my thermals on in October and off well this year they haven’t come off. (due to this years extended winter) Thermals have come along way they use to be associated with ‘Old Men’ now they are lacy and trendy.  Trendy or not. in my line of work they are essential.  I am always travelling to the outskirts of London where the temperature is significantly lower than in London.  I normally put it down to the pollution so if you want want warmer temperatures you have to put up with the pollution in London and if you opt for no pollution you have to endure colder temperatures.  ‘Swings and roundabouts’

I spent a few days working in Stanmore where everyone just referred to it as it having its own ‘Micro-climate’.  It was the buzzword as we stood waiting to be briefed huddled around a van as the desk provided had a thin coating of ice on it and could not be used.  Micro-climate or not it was freezing and throughout the day there would be little flurries of snow.  Flurries such a lovely word for a plummet in temperature and the possibility of heavy snow and potential lost of life

Posted FB 4/04/13

#62 Put on Some Clothes

Girl Please! Put on some clothes

Outside is -3 degrees that’s a definition of cold

I understand you’re playing that fashion role

But your hunched shoulders is all wrong

Peek toe sandals?

This is how you start scandals

On reflection you’ve nailed the 50’s Look

Unfortunately your face is now blue

I have to ask, is it worth it to freeze

I am sure this is not the look for you

Next time just try putting on more clothes

Or check the temperature

Unless of course you are suffering from dementia

If that is the case , Girl you look fly!

It’s only right that we turn a blind eye

We let this assault on fashion go by

The Affects of Drugs

Life is hard, life is long if you make the wrong choices.  The temptation is to run away when things get hard, remember wherever you run to you have to at some point come back and face the music.  IT’’S YOUR LIFE!!!! So you cannot actually run away, whatever you do will bring you temporary relief, which may seem a good idea at the time, there are always consequences.  

Life is like Dominoes each part is intricately linked to another it’s about getting the balance right.  Sometimes you will have to go through a little discomfort which at the time may seem  unbearable  but nothing other than death will mean you will come out the other side.  Hopefully having learnt something, if not it’s that ‘Groundhog Day’ all again.

In our society there are way too many people taking, drugs or should I say drugs are taking them. Taking them for a fool, taking them from their friends and family, robbing them of their looks (Yeah the wide eyed space cadet look) just is n’t appealing.  Oh yes let’s not forget robbing them of their money.  How much money you need to spend to achieve that level of Euphoria ?  yes we will call it that, as I understand each time you will need to spend a little more  just trying to achieve that feeling you got from the  first buzz.

Now what you would do to get the money for this ‘Euphoria’.  Will not have no boundary as many women are locked in Prostitution, prison and criminality to achieve this ‘Euphoria’.

As I understand the planet is always turning on its axis therefore we are constantly changing so whatever situation you find yourself in be comforted with the fact whether you like it or not your position in the universe has changed it maybe a minute adjustment but nevertheless it is change.  Change is good! It may just be enough for you to realise it not as bleak as it may have first seemed.

#61 Druggy Chat

I don't do druggy talk

Druggy talk can just walk

All the druggy chat

Is not where I am at

I don’t know what you mean

I have no real idea what is meant by green

I have a vague idea what maybe white

Take your leb, your reefer  and your pipe

Now that you are hooked

You can kiss your life goodbye

No I don’t really want to know how you got here

It's not where you started out that is clear

It's not that I have no compassion

My patients is just on ration

I don't understand the drifting

I am not down with the loafing

Days spent wasting away

If I say 'I love you '

Doesn't mean I condone what you do

I am hoping you understand my love

Your life you are wasting

I want you to understand my frustration

As I had hoped a better existence for you

I don't understand your choices

I accept you hear  voices

I want to reach out

But my inner voice

Wants to scream and shout

Get your Druggy ### out!

Yet Remember 'I will Always Love You!'