One Man and His Dog …

 … who helped me today by passing me in the snow and making the track part way to where I decided being out in this was silly! I was suddenly in a «white out » that was beginning to blizzard. The gap in the weather I had hoped for did not materialise. I could turn round and turn back when things got tough but all those caught in war zones, past and present, have no such luxury. War is such a senseless human activity. 

Last night I was greatly moved by Ken Loach’s « The Old Oak » especially as it was filmed just a few miles from where I was brought up and kept the Geordie accent (and lots of  swearing, my mother would not have been best pleased!) All of the  menfolk in our family worked down the pits for generations until my father broke the mould and became a bricklayer. The miners had no work when the pits closed and this story of their struggle interfaced with the desperation of Syrian refugees brought to live there, is a hard watch. I have to admit I was in tears at the end … but I won’t tell you why in case you go to see it. A fine film to finish his career with at 87 years old. Thank you Ken.