Blog Archives - FordeFables

July 28th, 2014.

28/7/2014

Thought for today:
"One hundred years ago to the day, World War 1 broke out and the entire globe was eventually placed into conflict. The war was mostly fought by soldiers in muddy trenches exchanging thousands of lives for the benefit of gaining a few yards of ground which was later subequently lost to the other side. It was supposed to be a war to end all future wars and despite the futility of it, patriotism had never been greater in Great Britain.

Unlike the Second World War whose objectives seemed far less jingoistic from the outset, more than nine million combatants were killed and a casualty rate exacerbated by the German's technical and industrial sophistication produced a tactical stalemate for most of the four years it was fought on the western front.

The First World War could be said to have destabalised the world for decades to come after its conclusion on the 11th, November, 1918 as it paved the way for major political changes which included revolutions in many of the nations involved.The war drew in all the world's great powers which assembled themselves in opposing war alliances; the Allies (based upon the Triple Entente of Great Britain, France and the Russian Empire) and the Central Powers of Germany and Austria Hungary.

These alliances were reorganised and expanded as more nations entered the war which had started in Europe. Japan and the United States joined the Allies and the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers. Ultimately, more than seventy million military personel including sixty million Europeans were mobilised into one of the greatest wars in history.

To my reasoning and a long established interest in British history, I would rate one of the few things to have come out of this bloody conflict apart from some great war poets who wrote about their experiences, as a move towards giving women the franchise and while it took a number of years longer to properly achieve on a par with the men, it nevertheless was responsible along with the suffragettes for having obtained it." William Forde: July 28th, 2014.

July 27th, 2014

28/7/2014

Thought for today:
'Vulnerable Beauty' : Copyright William Forde.

"There is no vision so vulnerable; no sight or sensation so sensuousness than that of a beautiful woman at the mercy of a wild beast.

For when such beauty surrenders to her innermost desires, a fusion of man and beast is facilitated and love and lust are blended in wanton harmony and abandonment of all restraint.

Awake to the growl of your heart, give vent to the sacrifice of your soul and your body shall know eternal bliss for one moment in time." Copyright William Forde: July 27th, 2014.

July 26th, 2014.

26/7/2014

Thought for today:
"When I was a small boy, I grew up with a mother who was tone deaf when it came to holding a tune, but one who loved to sing all day long. It was mum who first taught me that even singers of poor voice have the right to sing their morning song. She then asked me if I knew why birds sung and when I couldn't tell her she replied, 'It's no big secret Billy. Birds sing because they have a song to sing. I also have a song to sing, so please get out of my way and let me get on with my work!'

Much to the consternation of my sisters and wife, I invariably sing around the house and in the bathroom at both the start and end of every day, whatever the time, place or occasion. The very first song I remember my mother singing and undoubtly her favourite was 'Faraway places' by Bing Crosby. If I close my eyes and imagine her before me now, I can hear the song as though I was a seven year old boy all over again. I love you Mum. I miss you. x." William Forde: July 26th, 2014. http://youtu.be/ylK1DiyV4zc

July 25th,2014

26/7/2014

Thought for today;
"An old friend of mine recently passed away aged 91 years. Born in Southport, Lancashire she was one of the few ladies who wore the wrong colour of rose (Born on the wrong side of the Pennines) who stole my heart with her impish and childlike personality and oodles of charm. Her name was Dora Bryan, actress of the 1962 film, 'A taste of honey.'

Between 1990 and 2005, I had been able to persuade over 800 celebrities to visit West Yorkshire and to read from my books to assemblies of schoolchildren, which raised over £200,000 for charity from book sales. Ironically, getting the celebrity reader was often easier than getting suitable transport to take them to their appointed venues and return afterwards.

While some of these famous readers may have been working within 50 miles of the school venue on the day of their reading, many travelled hundreds of miles at their own expense, simply to undertake my reading invitation to a West Yorkshire school.

Consequently, it would have been churlish of me to have expected them to travel the last miles to their school venue by bus or even taxi, given the amount of trouble and expense they’d already put themselves to on my behalf. To have collected them in my own old banger just wouldn’t have been ‘the done thing!’

Having vowed always to keep my charity fund-raising ventures ‘self-financing,’ anyone who helped me throughout the years, did so for love and no money. I knew that I’d have to come up with many different solutions to fund any necessary project expenses and that private sponsorship and public cash appeals might not always prove sufficient in themselves to keep the projects on the road.

One particular week I needed to collect the film star and actress Dora Bryan from her lodgings that was about 25 miles away from the school in Bradford where she was reading from one of my books. Unable to get the type of car I would ideally have liked to have picked her up in, I cleaned my car up the best I could and decided to escort her personally.

Dora was a really down-to-earth person with no airs and graces. Much of her acting career had witnessed much hardship and personal suffering. She bonded so easily with everyone she met and proved to be an instant success with the children she read to. A couple of hours in her company automatically left one feeling better than if they’d actually fell in the jar and ‘tasted the honey.’ On the way back to where she was lodging, I explained the problem I frequently had pertaining to the acquisition of suitable cars to convey my celebrity readers around in. Within minutes, Dora had supplied me with the answer. She said, “I’ve invariably found Bill, that the best way to get a nice car is to get a nice man to go with it.”

While Dora may have been talking ‘tongue in cheek’ what she said provided me with the germ of a good idea that I was to successfully use over 500 times during the years ahead.

I needed to find the man as well as the car!’ After a number of inquiries, I quickly learned of a many people who would willingly provide me with a constant stream of vintage cars, Rolls Royces or indeed anything that was ever motorised, at no monetary charge. Their fee would be a straight swap. In exchange for their car and services for the day, I would simply allow them to act as the celebrity’s chauffeur and to have their own photograph taken with the star at some point during the day's proceedings.

I found this solution to be a perfect answer to my problem and the stars who were escorted in style didn’t seem to mind having an additional photograph taken alongside 'their chauffeur for the day.' Within no time at all, I’d amassed a surfeit celebrity car-pool of vintage vehicles to draw from. Other people with such cars also wanted in on the act and started initiating contact with me; requesting that I include them and their cars in the celebrity car-pool also!

Through such means, I was able to have many of the celebrities who read for me chauffeur-driven to their reading venue in cars fit for a star. I recollect having Diana Rigg escorted to her school in the very same colour, model and year of car she had on screen when she starred in ‘The Avengers’ television series during the 80s. I secured a chauffeur, dressed in 1939 clothes to collect Timothy West when he did one of his many readings for me at Mirfield High School. The type of car used for that occasion was the very type, year and colour used by Winston Churchill when he was PM (Timothy had been playing Winston on our television screens at the time). His wife Prunella had more up-market tastes and liked to be chaufeurred around in a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost. Similarly, when Christopher Timothy first read for me, he arrived at the school in a car straight out of the world of James Herriot. The first man to travel to both the North and South Poles, Robert Swann was chaufeurred in a unique Italian car that cost over £2million.

Thanks to Dora's suggestion the first time I met her, my celebrities thereafter were never stuck for a ride. RIP Dora. The full story can be found on my website." July 25th, 2014. http://www.fordefables.co.uk/cars-for-stars.html

July 24th, 2014

24/7/2014

Thought for today:
Suffice to say that we consider ourselves as a fair race, but the battle for equality between the sexes is far from having been won in 2014. In the home, the workplace, the financial markets, the community, church and parliament, discrimination between men and women still exists. It took almost 600 years to arrive at the advancements women have made today, so are we looking towards another half millennium before we can say, 'Fair is fair!'

As a consequence of the 'First World War,' the Government was persuaded to expand the right to vote, not only for the many men who fought in the war yet remained disenfranchised, but also for the women who'd helped in the factories and elsewhere as part of the war effort. The Representation of the People Act was enacted in 1918. All men aged 21 and over were given the right to vote. Property restrictions for voting were lifted for men. Votes were given to 40% of women, but.....'with property restrictions' and 'limited to 30 years of age and over.'

Is it any wonder that women across the world, but particularly in Great Britain have felt so discriminated against for so long? The right for women to vote had been granted in New Zealand, Sweden, Finland and some of the American States during the late 19th Century. While Australia introduced it in 1902, it kept restrictions against aboringinal women until 1962 when all restrictions were removed.

It took the trials, lives and endeavours of Women Suffragists, along with the 'First World War' for Great Britain to grant women over the age of thirty the vote (who met minimum property qualifications). It then took a further ten years to extend the voting francise to all women over the age of twenty one years.

I remember as a Probation Officer going into mining communities in Emley, Skelmanthorpe and Denby Dale in the Huddersfield area during the bitter times of the miner's one-year strike between 1984-85 when I often had to prepare reports for the Court after someone had been prosecuted for having committed an offence. Even as late as the 1980's, a woman's role in the house of most miners was clearly defined and was in no way considered as being equal to the man of the house.

Between 1990 and 2002, I visited over two thousand Yorkshire schools and saw for myself, the discrimination that the girls experienced in the classroom; not just from the boys but also from their teachers. Even the school curriculum discriminated between the sexes; particularly in the area of sports and gymnastics. My numerous years in the Yorkshire textile mills as a labourer, shop steward and mill manager witnessed women getting paid less than men for doing virtually the same work. Women were also the first to be made redundant or placed on short time hours when trade was slack and staff cuts needed to be made.

This situation disgusted me and I believe that it also demeaned all of the men in society who allowed it to happen. In response, I wrote a dozen stories for the 5-9 year old about a girl who is as bright, crafty, confident and courageous as is any boy and I called her 'Annie.' The late Dame Catherine Cookson and her husband Tom (as a special gesture to mark one of their wedding anniversaries) funded the publication of a 500 book print called 'Action Annie' and we allowed all the money to go to Mencap. The Chief Inspector for Schools and Ofsted at the time (Chris Woodhead) read from the 'Action Annie Omnibus' at Littletown Junior School in Liversedge. He later went on to describe the book to the press as 'High quality Literature.'

These 'Action Annie' books are available from all reputable e-book providers. Book one can be obtained free, books two to twelve cost $1 each and the complete omnibus edition costs $3. All monies go to charity. Brigit Forsyth (of 'The Likely Lad's' fame) recorded all twelve stories to be used for radio transmission. Unfortunately, the company who was negotiating this contract went bust and some of the tapes were lost. However I still have tapes for four of the stories which I intend to put up on my website for free audio access in due course.

Equality between man and woman is far more than a concept. It is not only a human right, it is a necessity for humanity! Equality is like gravity. We need it to stand on this earth as upright men and women. It is not something that half the world's population should have to strive for or have granted to them by well-meaning men. It is no less than a prerequisite for human balance, a more peaceful and prosperous country and world harmony." William Forde: June 24th, 2014.
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/129476

July 23rd,2014.

24/7/2014

"Thought for today:
"My thought for today is sadly true, but ironic at its heart. There is a wicked side to the inner thoughts of mankind which all sense of propriety and the ever-vigilant presence of profound sensitivity and goodness will ensure remains forever unvoiced in polite society.

For most, a constant restraint exercised between what they think and say will ensure that they are never called 'sexist' or 'racist' or could ever be viewed as a person who might discriminate against another.

In this regard, their words spoken to and about the disabled person, the old, the rich, the poor,the obese, the gay, the foreigner or indeed any section of society will remain outwardly sensitive and seemingly respectful.

However, never voicing such negative thoughts one thinks doesn't make one any less 'descriminatory' in attitude or practice. Indeed I would argue that the mere holding of the thought will ensure that one's spoken word is untruthful and that one's action is no more than mere conformity to the social conventions and expectations of the time. It is in short, (however admirable or otherwise), representative of a repression of true self.

Were such a person ever to find themselves badly treated by any one of these stereo-typed groups mentioned, they would be at greater likelihood of voicing their inner discrimination in automatic protest when they 'let loose' their angry tongue upon the offender.

Let me present you with a few uncomfortable yet indisputable facts of life that we all know exist, but generally never speak about for fear of offending or being branded a bigot by society at large. Such suppression of one's true feelings and action does not diminish the presence of its existence in our lives one little bit.

Until recently, most Brits held the view that Britain allowed too many immigrants to settle on its shores in too easy and unqualified a manner, but dare not voice their thoughts for fear of being branded a 'racist.' That was until a few brave politicians seemed to give them permission to speak out. It was as though the British nation had been graciously granted the approval of its politicians to voice this year, that which would have been considered racist to speak of last year.

Also, do not think for one moment that of all 'widows' who were ever made so through the deaths of their husbands in war, industrial accident, sickness or old age, inwardly grieved their partner's passing, despite their outer tears and overt expressions of loss.

While I genuinely feel for the many thousands of families who grieved the loss of a loved one in the twin towers tragedy of September 11th, 2001 or any other great national disaster, I know that each tragic loss will have been met by a dissimilar degree of grief by all the widows involved. The hard fact is that in the midst of such death and destruction and carnage of the human mind, irony still lives on.

Hand on heart now as you consider this unpalatable truth which becomes harder to digest the more one thinks on it. Do you find it truly inconceivable that from among the thousands of deaths recorded and from all of the husbands who didn't return home from work on the day of the plane attack of 9/11, that upon receiving a cheque for $2 million compensation one year later, that at least one widow in the USA being paid out wasn't a little merry?" William Forde: July 23rd, 2014.

July 21st, 2014.

22/7/2014

Thought for today:
"My thought for today rests with a young man who I once knew and who died in a tragic traffic accident while travelling around Europe on July 21st, 2008. He was aged 25 years at the time of his death, yet had he lived to the grand old age of a hundred, he would, I strongly suspect always have remained young at heart and wild in spirit. He was born in California named John Jacob Burns, lived much of his life known as 'J.J' and died under the name of Brock which he changed to at the age of 21 years.

At his death, Brock left a father called John, a step-father called Craig, a mom called Cindy, his older brother Randal and two younger siblings, Craig and Kelsey to mourn his loss.

Two famous people who were also born on his birthday, the 3rd April, could have literally endowed Brock with his most prominent characteristics which they shared with him and which he displayed from childhood. First there was Eddie Murphy and his infectious smile which was a constant feature of Brock's face, and then there was Marlon Brando who shared his wildness along with a streak of lifelong rebellion, dashing good looks and sheer bravado; especially with the ladies.

His mother Cindy always saw his smile as being somewhat 'impish' whereas others may have sometimes viewed it as being 'devilish'; particularly when he was enjoying a secret joke at someone else's expense or pursuing the fairer sex.

I met Brock and his travelling companion Blake around 2005/6 when they were backpacking across Europe. My son William, who had met the couple on his backpacking travels around Australia and America had told them if they ever made it to England to look us up. For around three months we daily fed the travelling duo at tea time and then spent an hour watching Noel Edmonds' television programme 'Deal or No Deal' in which Brock and Blake loved the element of 'chance.' They liked the notion of either finishing up rich or broke. 'So long as one 'went for it,' whatever the outcome, better to have tried and lost out than to have regretted never doing it' appeared to be their philosophy.

If you can hear this, I am so glad that your mom Cindy asked me to say a few words about you on the anniversary of your death today Brock. I am especially privileged to have shared a small part of your life and to have had you and Blake as a part of my family for such a short time. RIP Brock. God Bless you and your family in America from all the Forde family in West Yorkshire, England. xx" William Forde: July 21st, 2014.

July 20th, 2014

20/7/2014

Thought for today:
"‘Quick to wed and slow to repent’’ By William Forde

'Be still my roaming heart,
stay put and pant no more.
Take gentle breaths and fall in love with life again,
fold sands upon the shore.

For man was meant to love and woman too.
Sun was made to shine and rain to fall,
and while teardrops soaked into parched ground below
in small attempt to make bitter sweet the sad sense of it all.

All women were designed to wear the dress of wedding white.
All men’s design was ever made to take it off before the night.
Where vows were made and broken with same breath,
and where apologies remain unspoken until death,
that is where I’ll be.

Be strong oh wavering thoughts of doubtful passage and immediacy,
take tender hold and make me thine for all eternity.
For she is there if thou dare but ask in cries of ecstasy and passion wild,
unloose the reins of pleasured urgency and make love, make haste, make marriage, then make child.

Copyright William Forde: June 9th, 2014.

July 19th,2014

20/7/2014

Thought for today:
"Like Pinnochio, before the age of twenty, I could tell a whopper with the best of them and get away with it most of the time. I recall that whenever the young men from the estate went out dancing, we always went with pockets filled with more than coins of the realm; eager to please and have a good night. I would always seek out the best looking dancer on the floor and during the traditional small-talk chat-up phase of the dance they would always ask what job I did. Naturally if the lass was considered posh, highly educated or looked well-to-do, I might conveniently forget to tell her that I was a humble textile operative and instead pretend to be the son of a surgeon or Chief Constable who was just filling in job-wise for pocket money until I went off to university to take my Masters. Well...I mean if one's going to lie about studying for a degree, then much better a Masters than a plain B.A. I say. I have long since learned to be proud of my past and to never complain or lie about what one had or hadn't, did or didn't.

After I returned from a two-year break in Canada during the 1960s, I immediately resumed going out to the Mecca on a Saturday night in Bradford. One night, me and a divorced friend went out to the dance with two main aims; to dance and 'to pull.' We travelled there in our own vehicles so that if either of us managed to get the last dance with some lucky girl we fancied, we would have the comfort and convenience of the car to travel home in.

As luck would have it, we both hit it off with two good-looking women and went our own ways at the end of the night upon leaving the Mecca Ballroom. My date was a very nice girl, who although highly fetching was very talkative. In retrospect, I concluded that as we cuddled and talked in the car, we each had on our mind upon more urgent and pressing matters of a different nature. I continued to get my wicked way with my ride home while she continued to talk about personal matters in her life. Before she went back inside her parents' house we spoke in the car for a good hour, during which a great deal of emotional stuff was obviously going on in her household. We never did meet or see each other again, but that night's overall experience led to me making a big change in my life that I have never since regretted.

When I awoke the following morning and thought about the night before, I felt thoroughly ashamed of myself; not because of something I'd done, but rather something I hadn't! I concluded on close reflection that while I'd had my mind on one predominant thing she'd had her mind on other pressing matters and wanted/needed to talk. All I had to do to make her night was to suppress my immediate need and supply hers by lending a listening ear. I was obliged to conclude that although I had in no way forced my attentions on the young woman, I nevertheless had done her a great wrong through my selfishness and disregard for her overall needs at the time.

That very morning, I vowed never again to tell a deliberate lie to any man, woman or child, whatever the circumstances or the consequences. To the best of my knowledge, I have never since broken that pledge. There have been consequences regarding this behavioural change of mine, but overall they have been good ones and certainly consequences that I can happily live with.

I cannot tell you what a burden is lifted from one's chains of polite discourse once one decides to tell it as it is. To live this life is to find no subject taboo or too embarrassing to discuss; no truth too hard to conceal. It isn't and hasn't always been appreciated by others and it certainly hasn't been easy to remain constant with, but once it becomes a natural part of one's automatic response pattern, it becomes acceptable as 'being part of you.'

Surely this is what Laertes was advised to do by his father Polonius's last piece of advice in the Shakespearian play 'Hamlet' when Polonius counselled:
'This above all: to thine own self be true
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.'" William Forde: July 19th, 2014.

July 18th, 2014.

18/7/2014

Thought for today:
"Having pets and not exercising them enough is no different to parenting children and allowing them to become overweight, unhealthy and die sooner; except in one major respect.

From the moment of birth an infant is dependent on their mother for food, shelter, nurture and protection and remains so until that bond is healthily weakened and separated in adulthood.

But a pet's dependency upon its mother is infinitely shorter and is quickly transferred to its owner, where it remains for the rest of its life.

Thus in the general scale of things, our pets need us and depend upon us far more than our children ever can as their dependency is total, because unknowingly their owners wish it that way.You see we cannot own children; merely hold them in care until they become adult and then release them into the world to make their own way.

The next time you see a human seemingly treating a pet like a child and silently believe them to be behaving foolishly, please have regard for the facts I've just outlined. We uncharitably believe such attentive owners of their pets to be acting as substitute mothers who ought to spend their time on their spouse more than on their pet, especially if they are childless.

And yet in the midst of our lack of charitable thought we are in essense 'bang on' in a major part of our assessment of them. They are behaving like substitute mothers because that is what they are; a life-long substitute mother! Long ago their pet transferred their dependency from their mother to their owner and faced with this onerous task, the responsible pet owner will discharge this responsibility as prime carer until the day their pet dies. And when their pet dies, that is why the depth of the owner's immediate sadness and loss is just as great as is present, even in the death of a human child.

Is such heartache worth the close relationship between owner and pet? Of course it is; for there is no other relationship where the love which comes back to every pet owner remains unqualified for the whole of that relationship's existence! And when the pet has died, like all our loved ones who are part of our family tree, they leave not this world behind without the scent of their trace remaining with us. We never forget those precious walks we shared at the start and end of every day.

Fortunately, both me and Sheila love animals. Indeed; I'd go so far as to say that if she hadn't, we wouldn't be together today, even though I had no pet when we first met, though she did. Sheila is a responsible dog owner and our rough collie's wonderful temprement (Lady) and overall health and coat reflects this. Each morning around five thirty am, Sheila removes her body closeness and affection from our matrimonial bed and instantly transfers it to her baby. Lady is taken out on the Haworth Moors come rain or shine for a three mile walk and her daily exercise. By the time Sheila returns home around 7am i am just getting up and suddenly a strange thing happens in our household. After Sheila gives Lady her breakfast and a kiss, she transforms herself from mother to wife and in the process transfers her primary love and attention back to me until the next morning between 5.30am and 7am. Thus she sees to her Lady and then for the rest of the day becomes mine.

I know that in the early stages of our relationship, Sheila may have momentarily felt that I might have been a teeny bit jealous of the attention and time she devoted to Lady daily, but let me assure you Sheila, I never was and loved you all the more for it! Now I have two ladies in my life and couldn't be happier.What a dog's life. Yippee!" William Forde: July 18th, 2014.

July 17th, 2014.

17/7/2014

Thought for today:
"We are supposed to have progressed so much over the past sixty years and yet, even in the 1950s, every semi and detached house, whether council or private property, had a good sized garden compared to the flower boxes that pass for one today.

As the eldest of seven children in a time when large families were the norm, especially in Catholic households, my mother spent a great part of her week washing, hanging out and ironing.

I now realise that the very lage gardens that the council houses had were provided for hanging out lines and lines of family washing.

Even the terraced houses in towns and cities which had a small back yard instead of a garden, hung out their washing across the cobbled street for all to see. My mother used to tell me that the poor were never afforded the modesty of the rich and that all and sundrey could hazard a guess as to what colour of undergarment the women occupants of the house wore and how threadbare they might have become.

Indeed, I am led to understand that most working class households had two sets of undergarments; one set which they daily wore and a second set that they hung out for show. Thus big bloomers of ladies would often be exchanged for knickers of the more dainty and appealing variety. As for the working class male, not all men wore underpants in the 1950s, so they were often spared of the indignity of showing their 'cloths' to neighbours.

The next time you reveal your personal underclothing to a stranger, rejoice that it's through choice and not necessity!" William Forde : July 17th, 2014.

July 16th, 2014

16/7/2014

Thought for today:
"There's nothing like two love birds hanging out together; whether they be cool cats or are just angling after having a better time in the afternoon sun. Isn't love sweet? It's certainly never blind and cannot be mistaken for anything else in the air as a favourite song of mine by John Paul Young points out." William Forde: July 16th, 2014. http://youtu.be/58T0NlhNweA

July 15th, 2014

15/7/2014

Thought for today:
" Cool cats dig all kinds of music. The romantics among them dig love ballads. The cultural dig Johann Strauss while the discerning dig jazz. The silver surfers will settle for the golden oldies and the pre-war baby boomers love the crooning of Crosby or the sheer exhuberance of the Charleston, dependent on their social background. But the very best of all the cool cats will be into Rock and Roll since they were baptised in the movement during the 50's and 60's. Their membership of the movement will never fade, whatever their age or condition. It starts at their baptism and is usually concluded somewhere within their burial and funeral service." William Forde: July 15th, 2014.

July 14th, 2014

14/7/2014

Thought for today:
"It is sad to think that the mere difference between that of fact and fiction can be thinner than a cat's whisker and often is. Politicians frequently feel the need to deceive their electorate when attempting to save political face. Often the safety of others are weighed against their own political survival and are matched by words in the House of Commons that are as immeasurable as was the biggest fish ever caught.

This is so true, particularly when one looks at part of the record of two British Prime Ministers to have greatly affected British lives over the past thirty years.

It has recently been officially confirmed by 30-year-Data Release that President Ronald Reagan issued a last-ditch appeal to the late Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to abandon her campaign to retake the Falklands and to hand over the islands to international peacekeepers. It is also further known now, that at the precise time of giving the order to sink the Belgrano during the Falkland's War that the Belgrano was in the process of sailing away from the Falkland Islands, having seconds earlier changed her course of direction.

You can rest assured in the knowledge that whether your political colours be blue or red, they are most likely to have been falsely flown by one of your past Prime Ministers who wore them.

It is now also known that it only took a matter of mere seconds for Tony Blair to misinform the House of Commons by an embellishment of an official dossier with misleading exaggerations of Iraq's military capabilities. He reassured the House of Commons that Iraq had the ability to launch a strike using 'weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes.' It was the acceptance of this 'reliable and verifiable intelligence' at the time which attracted vital support for the prosecution of the war against Iraq and its peoples and which led to the onslaught of what was then described as a campaign of 'Shock and Awe,' but which is now held by many to have been an illegal war in which thousands of lives were lost.

The latest Government Inquiry by Chilcot has declared that communications between Tony Blair and George Bush will not be made public as we once thought they might be. After all, this was at the heart of the initial inquiry. Surely the electorate has a right to know? Yet another white wash it would seem! What puzzles me is what precisely it is which gives such a man such sway in arriving at this decision when he so shamefully deceived and deliberberately misled the electorate and Parliament at the crucial time? For a politician who entered Office proclaiming to all the world to be 'a pretty straight sort of guy', he turned out to be as bent as any banana!

Thus, when one objectively looks at the records in Office of two of the most influential twentieth-century Prime Ministers, each of whom have been responsible through their housing, emmigration, economic and war policies to have indelibly shaped this country into the place we are today, some might view them as saints whilst others would see them as having behaved no better than war criminals!

The life of a single fish or that of hundreds of thousands of men, women and children are sometimes divided in time by no more than the thinness of a cat's whisker! Also, the very democracy to be found in this land and for which so many hold so much pride is nothing more than a shell that conceals a much deeper truth that lies unearthed. Our democracy is unfortunately forged to mean far less for the people and much more for the political image of the politicians. Our democracy is far more threadbare in its substance than many folk could ever conceive.

Let me tell you, good folks; we may have the vote, but we don't have the power! Each four years we vote, we effectively lose all right to have any effective policy say for another four years. Just as the British Parliament is no more than mere puppets of The European Parliament now, we in turn are no more than stooges for our pension-proof polititians in the 'Houses of Parliament!'" William Forde : July 14th, 2014.

July 13th, 2014

14/7/2014

Thought for today:
"Even as a child, we all show signs of the person we shall one day become. More often than not, it's just a matter of looking out for the presence of excellence in the making which is invariably reflected in an attitude of mind or the adoption of some striking pose that sets one apart from lesser mortals.

I love reading about the lives of famous people, particularly from the world of drama, music and art. The more I learn about such folk, the more I realise the degree of dedication that is required in reaching the top of one's tree and becoming the finest there is in what one does best of all!

My niece Julia Daramy-Williams ( Extreme right) is an ideal example. Although only 25 years old next month, her beauty of face is exceeded only by the superb quality and tone of her angelic voice. She is currently doing vocal studies at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (Based in Glasgow) alongside an internship at the Scottish Institute for Enterprise. She is a soprano of the highest order who'd be guaranteed to get every chair turning in her direction were she ever to go on 'The Voice' just as quickly as she gets every head turning (male and female), whenever she walks into a room. Her sheer sense of presence is wonderful to behold.

Julia is but one of a highly musical and talented family, all of whom entertained the guests at my wedding to Sheila in 2012. As I told my guests then, I never realised that when I hitched my wedding wagon to Sheila's that I was marrying into the Von Trapp Family. Julia, is in short, a woman who will go far. I instinctively feel with every sense of my being how special and rare a talent she has and I believe she will one day become world known for her suprano voice. She is already celebrated in my world and couldn't climb my tree of admiration any higher without becoming part of the clouds above. I can hardly wait until the day she sings on some of the world's most famous stages and I do so hope to see her where she was born to be.I love you lass. You are all that is good and beautiful in this life. Keep true to self and respect both family and music for the rest of your life. Uncle Bill xxx

For those of you who would like to hear her beautiful voice I enclose a recent performance of her backed by a full orchestra. The final 7 minutes of the tape will provide you with a good sample." William Forde: July 14th, 2014. http://youtu.be/t6CcwFQY_08

July 12th, 2014

12/7/2014

Thought for today:
"I always equate the blossoming of someone's personality with the cosmos above. The more expressive a person can naturally be, the greater their impact upon the world around and all who see them. It's like a magnificent ray of sunshine bursting out when a broad smile brushes across a face beaming with pleasure.

Who could possibly resist being touched by such beauty of face and warmth of heart? Such qualitites of humanity can bridge all manner of doubt and fear between here and there, past and present, old and new, change and settlement. Who can be part of this wonderful world landscape and not be overjoyed to be alive during such times of constant change?" William Forde: July 12th, 2014.

July 11th, 2014

11/7/2014

Thought for today:
"Pride walks within the stride of all confident creatures who knows that when the time comes to show one's claws, they'll not be found wanting or afraid to wound the overbearing pride of others.

Beware the bully cat though. Tread ever so cautiously towards unknown prey. Step ever so gently pussy because even fish have been known to bite back!" William Forde: July 11th, 2014

July 10th, 2014.

10/7/2014

Thought for today:
"Today I arrive at the half-way stage of my six-month cancer treatment cycle when I go into hospital for a day on the drug drip to start month four. So far, the treatment is tolerable and seems to be having a positive effect.

During such days in hospitals, the mind is prone to wander here and there so I do what I have always done in such circumstances; I direct it towards the place I want it to go. That place is always a woodland scene; sometimes one from my past and occasionally from other times or images that I've enjoyed over the years of loving nature in all its splendour.

There is a place in Essex which all lovers walk. It possesses the most beautiful bluebell wood that I know of. Simply strolling its winding path in the mid-day sun invites the enchanted traveller to reach out and touch the tree trunks at either side as they pass, as if to be one with its bark. This floral woodland carpet stretches for almost one mile and it is one where the heart cries out for more as the end approaches. Upon my journey back home, the aroma of the heavenly flowers is retained in a treasured vault in my sensory memory bank. All too soon the bluebells will fade, but while they are there, their aroma crowds out every other plant and flower nearby and enters the heart of every romantic walking its path." Wlliam Forde:July 10th, 2014.

July 9th, 2014

10/7/2014

Thought for today:

'Grace the Grasses of Earth's Meadows': Copyright William Forde:

"Oh Poppy, Camomile and Larkspur, grace the grasses of earth's meadows and fill those winter patches with thy colourful splendour of spring delight.

Blow gently in God's breeze which carries butterflies, wasps, bees, beetles, crickets, daddy long legs and ladybirds to grace our greenery, gardens and hedgerows that border farmers' fields.

And when thy growth has passed its glory, gently fall back into sleep so that new buds can emerge from the stem and family tree of your descendants. Allow the wind to sow new seed for following years and marvel at the other species of flora that are now in summer show." William Forde: July 9th, 2014

July 8th, 2014.

9/7/2014

Thought for today:
"They say that the best things come in small packages? Who says so........small people I guess?

I must admit though, that apart from one obvious area that is capable of embarrassing man if it isn't large enough to cut the mustard, 'increase in size' in almost all other things in life generally leads one to be less happy than that of moderate average.

Make me bigger by all means but not without the degree of courage, heart, consideration and respect to accompany and manage such largesse of personality. Otherwise, leave me alone and let me be content to remain a David who needs not stoop to conquer at the moment of first attack upon my person." William Forde: July 8th, 2014.

July 7th, 2014.

8/7/2014

Thought for today:
'Reciprocity':Copyright William Forde.

"Oh bonded beauty of butterfly delight, cast not doubt on mankind's capacity to hurt and inflict pain on innocents and all life vulnerable.

Pull not angelic wings asunder to gratify harsh temper nor kill and deprive elephant's of their tusks to please the ugliness of human vanity in the market place of cosmetic vulgarity.

Resign thyself to chequered doubt in a world where nothing but uncertainty is ever certain to embrace all prospect of future hope and lasting peace, especially during times of uneasy truce and economic decline.

Forget not though, once the tables are turned and thou are free to act in unrestricted manner when released from bondage, thou then ownest responsibilty to chain no other to thy ways or lead them along paths they chose not to travel. For what goes round must come around in the battle of rights for all, as to deny one is to preserve none." William Forde: July 7th, 2014.

July 6th, 2014

7/7/2014

Thought for today:
"It is believed that some people love their animals so much, especially their cats and their dogs that they not only treat them as their children, but they and their pet start to identify with each other so much that they eventually begin to look like each other. Now, all this I can well believe and because I know what it feels like to love an animal, I can even view this kind of behaviour as being perfectly natural and in no way bordering on neurosis; but I draw the line when it comes to having the hair of both pooch and owner washed, permed and set at the same hairdressing salon. What next? They'll probably want them on their bed next as they boot the old man out of it!" William Forde: July 6th, 2014.

July 5th, 2014.

6/7/2014

Thought for today:
"'You accepted my proposal when we were both seven and in the same class at school, so why won't you marry me now? Unless I've gone deaf during the past sixteen years, you've never once told me that you'd had second thoughts about the matter and that the wedding was off! Is there someone else? Have you been going with another man behind my back? I knew I was wrong to let you go off to California with your parents to live at the age of eight. Those loose American ways will be the death of you!' " William Forde: July 5th, 2014.

July 4th, 2014.

5/7/2014

Thought for today:
"What is once thought cannot be unthought, but it need not be acted upon. Every revolution was once started by a thought inside one person's head before it was acted upon.

Every man and woman shall at sometime have a revolutionary thought, yet most will never act it out. Yet the one who starts a revolution first takes the thought from his mind, mulls it over and over, shapes it and only when it's ready to be given life, releases it in concerted action of directed deed.

A stand can be made against the invasion of any army, but no army is capable of withstanding the invasion of an idea whose time has come for it to be spread far and wide. Eventually the army of such an idea will flex its muscles and no country will be able to withstand its wrath or ignore its truth a moment longer.

Two hundred and thirty six years ago today (1778), the idea of separation from Great Britain finally became a reality for thirteen American colonies. That act was signified by a resolution declaring the United States to be independent from Great Britain. General George Washington marked this momentious day by allowing a double ration of rum for his soldiers and an artillery salute. At the same time, across the Atlantic Ocean American Ambassadors John Adams and Benjamin Franklin held a diner in Paris for their fellow Americans. On the anniversary of the 4th July each year, all Americans celebrate their freedom.

Today my son William who has just spent a three week holiday with us from Australia returns to his new land across the pond. While he has established his independence from me and his mother, his new country of residence only gained its independence from great Britain twenty six years ago, but because they remain colonial dependencies of the British Crown, Australia is still attatched the Great Britain's umbilical cord. What's that I hear you say....'I'm an overbearing pompous pom?' No I'm not. I'm from Southern Ireland mate and we got free from Great Britain around a hundred years ago. Yippee! " William Forde: July 4th, 2013.

July 3rd, 2014

4/7/2014

Thought for today:
"As sure as mountain goats are able to scale seemingly impossible cliff faces of the steepest order, then so the footsteps of mankind tread cautiously in their wake.

I must confess to never having had a head for heights and the only time I went rock climbing, I did myself an injury when I slipped from a crevice and fell about twelve feet before the safety rope stepped in to stop my descent.

As I swung in the breeze, the youngsters whom me and another three Probation Officers were overseeing on an adventure weekend in Wales laughed their heads off; especially when a dog passed me on the ascent of the cliff. After that experience I don't think I ever again put myself in a spot that I couldn't get out of when the going got too tough to handle." William Forde: July 3rd, 2014.