Election day has arrived and, subject to decent weather, we should see a high turn-out. High in this context is a relative term as there has been a sharp decline in the numbers over recent years; the last election standing at a mere 61%.
I am sure that people have a variety of reason for how and why they vote. Here are just a few that seem likely:
Personalities. In this super fast, media obsessed world it appears that celebrity is a major motivating factor. Even so it can be difficult to find anything that resembles a personality.
Policies. I know people try to convince you that this really matters but you have to ask how many of the electorate have ever read the manifestos.
Ideology. Some have an idea of the kind of government they want and vote accordingly. Even if the current leader of their chosen party, or indeed their policies, seem less than attractive they will continue to offer electoral support.
I suppose which ever of the above becomes your main motivation it is at least better than being what the media call a 'floating voter'.
I overheard a conversation on the train last week where one man said to his female companion 'I will vote for whichever party knocks on my door first'. A simple approach if not exactly politically engaged.
Perhaps that is part of the problem; we think the whole matter of governing this incredible country is simple. And so like a crowd watching a football match we shout at the referee, sure that we could do better.
Our politicians don't help by trying to offer answers to the complex questions we face with the most simplistic of all responses; the sound-bite.
CS Lewis, the writer of The Lion The Witch & The Wardrobe, once said that reality is not simple. He went on to say that it is not neat but odd. This sounds like a terrible negative view but we human beings do seem to be not very neat and a little odd; probably a good description of British politics.
Just last week I was amazed to hear the response from Gillian Duffy at being labelled a bigot by the Prime Minister. Whilst everyone focussed on the nature of bigotry and the size of the gaff made by Brown, we seemed to miss the real cause of her upset.
'How dare he call me 'That woman'' she said.
Perhaps that is why there is such a low turn out to the election; none of us what to be known merely as 'that woman'.
Politicians of all parties need to remember the electorate may not be neat. We may be a little odd. But most of all we are real people
Floating Voters, CS Lewis, and 'That Woman'
The Wrong Kind of Volcanic Ash
The sun is out the sky is blue there is not a jet trail in the sky to spoil the view. I am not sure whether that would work as a song lyric but it does seem to represent our recent aviation related events.
The media is full of stories about people paying over the odds for alternative transport solutions. One of our friends has just paid over three-hundred pounds for a taxi journey from Holyhead to Bingley. If she was old enough for a bus pass she could have made the same trip for free. Albeit having to change buses seventeen times on route.
I know that we covered volcanoes during my school years but never once did anyone mention Iceland in this regard. And yet here we are with our air traffic on hold due to one of its eruptions and the threat of further disruption from a second brewing mountain.
The conspiracy theorists are having a field day and have so far preferred to believe that the real cause of the problem is either aliens or terrorists.
It never ceases to amaze me that these ideas are usually offered by people who would rather believe the incredible over the plausible.
I have a theory that the same person starts all conspiracy theories; which in itself makes it the ultimate conspiracy.
Does this overdose of volcanic ash mark the start of an Icelandic spring? We are used to having an Indian summer and a Canadian winter so this is just another one to add to our collection.
Whatever is happening you have to feel sorry for all those who are stranded away from home. Of course there are some more preferable places to be stranded. Perhaps if you are able to sip cocktails, near a sun soaked beach, whilst you wait for northern Europe to be ash free, you would be able to see the positive side of things.
So whilst Britain is sending navy ships to Spain to collect stranded tourists the irony of Iceland's Keflavik airport still being open for business is not lost on me. Perhaps ash is more of an export activity for our northern neighbour than a home-grown luxury.
As the planes start to roll off the runways over the next few days we are told there will be a two-week catch up in operations due to all the chaos caused. Ash! Who would have thought it?
The situation was not helped by a recent expert trying to explain why there had been such a problem; apparently it was the wrong type of volcanic ash. Experts! You gotta love 'em.
Fishing - An Expensive Sit Down
The pleasant weather has brought the crowds out of their houses and on to towpaths of our local canal ways. In general the warmer climes bring out the best in people and we pass other travellers with a nod and a smile and an occasional 'thank you' to cyclist who offer us even the smallest of signal that they are steaming towards us from behind.
We like to think that we walk a good distance on these occasions but every now and then we see a sign that reminds us that the canal has a life outside of our experience of it.
Leeds is 19 miles in one direction whilst Liverpool is 120 miles the opposite way.
If it wasn't for such signs you could be blissfully unaware of the existence of either city as you walk through the Yorkshire countryside.
With renewed interest we started to look out for other signs on the towpath. Mrs M soon spotted one that informed us that we could fish for the day, if so desired, for the small price of £2.
I commented that this seemed a good price if fishing were your chosen hobby.
My bride did not agree and offered the comment 'it seems a lot of money just for having a sit down'.
I felt the need to defend the local anglers against such an onslaught even though I have not taken part since I was seventeen.
'Just having a sit down' I said somewhat exasperated, 'you could say a similar thing about most hobbies. Under such a system we might conclude:
The Cinema is merely £7.40 for sitting in a dark room.
Ten Pin bowling is just paying money to wait for your ball to be sent back.
And going swimming is just a more expensive way of having a bath.
Mrs M thought I was taking things too far but the point was made.
Knowing the value of your hobby is all about context. One man (or woman's) game of golf is another person's expensive long walk.
The same is true of canals; one person's three-mile stretch of inland water is another man's section of a Leeds to Liverpool highway. To be honest I am not sure if anyone travels the whole distance anymore but you get the point.
We travelled a little further in the general direction of Leeds, without any intention of visiting the city, and wondered if those engaged in fishing were getting value for money. After all if they weren't catching any fish it would make my wife's comment correct: two pound is a lot of money just for having a sit down!
