Ms Billie Whitelaw, Rest in peace.

It’s with sadness that I realise that I have to say a fond farewell to a remarkable British actress, Billie Whitelaw, who died on the 21st December this year.

I was introduced to this remarkable actress in the 1990, when she played the Violet Kray, the mother of the Kray twins, who were gangsters in Britain, during the 1960s.

Ms Whitelaw’s performance helped make this film worth watching, which also shows that a good woman, like a good bottle of wine, gets stronger, appealing and inquisitive every year.

So I say it, with full admiration, many thanks Ms Whitelaw, for your years on this planet.

See just how good she was in this video, by musical group Simply Red, by clicking here.

Light and peace

Andria

CONGRATULATIONS ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND!

Being English, it’s not surprising that I’m happy at the result of yesterday’s match:

England 3 Scotland 1 - the English goals celebrations were a jolly sight to see, especially Wayne Rooney’s many cartwheels, after scoring the last goal.

Personally, I think the goal of the match was scored by Scotland’s Andy Robertson, whose goal in the 83rd minute was superb.

But I’m glad to say that the real winner of this match held in Scotland’s Glasgow – a place I would love to visit as a tourist – was the non-violence aftermath.

As of November 2014, the teams have played 112 matches; England has won 47, Scotland 41, and there have been 24 draws.

Sadly I also remember the violence that tended to go hand in hand with these matches during the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s.

I also remember the unacceptable behaviour of some, not all, of the England fans on 15 June 1996 in Wembley Stadium, when the Scottish national anthem was drowned out by the booing of so called England-supporting spectators.

So I’m pleased with the outcome of the recent match, for this was exciting. I hope will remain a shinning example for how matches should be played, regardless of whom the ‘Auld enemy’ is.

Go Great Britain!

Light, Peace and hair-grease (a must for black Afro-Caribbean women)

Andria

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PS, to see past copies of my work, click here.

Because they’re not worth it…wrong!

Before I say anything else, so I don’t get sued, I did see the apology made by the Conservative’s Lord Freud regarding his recent comments about disabled people.

As a black woman with a disability, under no circumstances do I find his earlier comments acceptable – if anything, I find them offensive.

Saying remarks like: “because they’re not worth it” - when explaining why some disabled people should be paid less than the minimum wage, is totally unacceptable.

At the same time, many disabled people are being treated badly in England, this is including Labour and LibDem run councils, where many disabled men, women and children have been kicked off the housing list, as they’ve made a bid but then rejected a flat/home when they find it inhospitable to live in, due to their condition.

Lord Freud, a direct ancestor of Sigmund, one of the most brilliant thinkers of the 20th century, shows that intellect isn’t inherited.

But what Lord F did state is what many employers think, which helps to explain why so many disabled people find it so hard to get and maintain a job.

Even if we get a job, many of us find it hard to maintain because of the amendments we will have to make to keep it.

I’m prepared to do this, from getting to work early, to using mini-cabs and paying to get changes made to my uniform, which includes having zips placed on my shirt, as I can no longer use buttons.

However, there are issues I can’t help, such as us being badly affected by illness, that means we have no choice but to take weeks off, in order to get well.

When I am able to work, I feel that it is right that I should get the same salary as the rest of the staff.

Anything less, in my view, is unfair.

So I’m not going to give a lecture to Lord Freud, as there are issues regarding disabled people that concern me regarding all the main political parties.

*******

Please don’t attack Chloe!

I know that what her mum, television pioneer now Loose Women co-host Judy Finnigan said, regarding rape, was unnecessary but two wrongs don’t make a right.

Let me make this clear: ALL ACTS OF RAPE ARE WRONG. This includes one man forcing a sexual act on another man, without the person's consent.

So please don’t have a go at her daughter, Chloe Madeley, as she’s not responsible for her mum’s temporary moment of madness.

I still intended to sparingly watch this show, hopefully with Ms Finnigan still in it!


Light and Peace

Andria

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MANCHESTER UNITED, ARRGH!

I watched the match that Manchester United played and lost against Swansea.

I too was looking forward to this match, as it was the first under new manager, Louis Van Gaal.

IT WAS DISAPPOINTING!

I have to admit, I felt that former manager, David Moyles had been treated badly and should have been allowed to be the Gaffer for the Red Devils for at least two years, as anyone taking the job after Sir Alex, a strong man who held the job for 26 years, would have a struggle to maintain that type of success.

But a player with both experience and maturity is needed to be the captain – that player is Robin van Persie – not the popular choice, of Wayne Rooney.

Leadership is not about looking the part while shouting insults to people, which is all I got from Mr Rooney in the above match.

Being a captain isn’t about throwing your weight about the place, being a bully or being rude to teammates in person or behind their back – former skipper Roy Keane is a clear example of that one, as the only achievement he made was to nearly destroy this football club.

If Mr Rooney was shouting words of advice, encouragement and inspiration, I would respect him but you don’t need to be a lip-reader to know those weren’t the words that were coming from his mouth!

Such behaviour doesn’t work in any work setting and too many owners or company directors have learned this the hard way, which is why one such owner of a once thriving radio station I worked at, who was warned of her behaviour but refused to change, is now having to make ends meet by flipping burgers at a fast food outlet.

Please don’t get me wrong. I have always admired Wayne Rooney as a player. The excitement and thrill he brings to a match is electrifying, even when he was a player for Everton FC.

But as captain of Manchester United? I have my reservations, as it’s well known that this man also threatens to walk every time he doesn’t get his way.

At a time when players are no longer showing consistency at a club; sadly I think the days of a club having a Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes in their team is a thing of the past, you don’t appoint a captain who seems to throw a strop when things go wrong.

On that day, the behaviour of Mr Rooney left me horrified. When Steve Bruce and Bryan Robson were captains of this great club, they brought honour, respect and decency to the game – I sadly can't say the same about Wayne.

Because I don’t support this team, I won’t go any further in saying what I think it needs to strengthen but at this rate, you might as well hand the title over to Chelsea or Manchester City.

*******

May I also say I wish the very best for Sheryl, who used to be a support worker at the now defunct Brent Association of Disabled People (BADP).

It's ironic that after being a support worker for Ms Jyoti Patel and Mr Tom Reid, (Ms Patel has Multiple Screlosis, MS for short and Mr Reid was blind)that Cheryl finds out that she is now a member of the MS club.

Cheryl, I know how hard it is to be signed off work but it has to be done - like me, this woman has worked since the age of 15 years as we both delivered local newspapers on the streets we lived on.

I do wish you all the best in life Sheryl and hope you are coping well, since you're diagnosis.

*******

Light and Peace

Andria - I do still like to watch a good footie match!

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PLEASE DON’T USE THE DISABLED TOILETS!

That is, if you don’t have to.

The reason why I ask this is simple.

Earlier on, I went to the toilets (our bodies don’t allow us to hold it and you know what I’m referring to!) only to realise all three disabled toilets in the Brent Civic CentrE were occupied.

So I went to use one of the female toilets in the section that’s not for disabled people.

When I tried to get out I found that I couldn’t get the door to open.

That’s why the disabled toilets have a wide door opener/closure.

Needless to say, the normal toilet cubicles don’t.

I had to wait at least seven minutes, until someone outside heard my screams and kindly pushed the outside of the cubicle door inwards, in order for me to get out.

This is embarrassing for me to write but necessary.

Please, I can assure you, if I could use the able-bodied toilets, I would – but I can’t.

People can be rude about seeing a non-wheel chaired person using a disabled facility but I can assure you, we do need them.

So without this turning into a lecture, please use the able-bodied facilities, when applicable.

Also, please be aware that the disabled toilets shouldn't be seen as replacement for doing your ones or twos, as remember, when you have finished, we disabled users have no choice but to breathe it all in - yuck!

*******

I also want to say, congratulations Manchester City on winning the England and Wales premiership league title.

I have to admit, I wanted Liverpool FC to win it, as I would of liked to say Chelsea FC had beaten the winners, and I would of liked to see Manchester United FC loose their domination in the same league, but I'm not bitter.


Kind regards

Andria

Ps, if you’re interested in seeing other work I’ve done, click here.

Well done, the England & Wales Football Association (FA).

I also want to say well done to the football club West Bromwich Albion (WBA), who Anelka plays for, in taking the stance they have against him.

For anyone who thought the FA means nothing, should look at the way they have dealt with Nicolas Anelka over the way he celebrated a goal over West Ham football club a few months ago, that made me and countless others feel sick.

Nicolas Anelka is now banned by the Football Association and suspended by West Bromwich Albion – the club he played for - over his quenelle gesture.

Anelka was told to stay away from his club pending an internal inquiry after escaping with the minimum possible suspension from an independent regulatory commission for his ‘inverted Nazi salute’ goal -celebration last year, at West Ham United on Dec 28.

For anyone willing to show sympathy towards Nicolas Anelka over the quenelle gesture, I can assure you that Black and mixed race people who had African ancestry were also treated badly and persecuted by the Nazis.

The 34-year-old was banned for five matches, fined £80,000 and ordered to complete a compulsory education course, despite a three-man panel of consisting of a QC, an FA official and a former player or manager clearing him of any anti-Semitic intent.

Anelka’s been a professional football player in England for years – he has played for Arsenal in his 20s – in other words, this means he knew this country’s FA have been making an effort to get rid of racism in football.

The football club he played for when he made that gesture, WBA, said the FA had proven Anelka’s conduct was "abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper" and "included a reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion or belief."

But it added in a statement: "We did not find that Nicolas Anelka is an anti-Semite or that he intended to express or promote anti-Semitism by his use of the quenelle."

The bottom line is, fascism always includes the persecution of something, someone, or an ethnic/religious group and it’s not about an issue we can all agree on, such as eliminating poverty.

At his age, Anelka was more than old enough to know better, so cheers to both the FA and WBA in taking the stand they have in dealing with him and his behaviour in December 2013.

Light and Peace

Andria


PS, to see copies of my previous work, click here.

Benefits Street - It had to happen...

I’m referring to the television show, called Benefits Street.

I can assure you it wasn’t my decision to have Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and to be on benefits.

Before this illness, I enjoyed the freedom of earing a good salary, using my job skills to ensure I always had good employment prospects, along with a good cash inflow, a luxury car and a lovely private riverside abode.

Now I can only get one placement for part-time work. My health, home, savings, luxury cash flow and car are long gone and I live with my parents – at the age of 40.

Would you like to swap with me?

I’m not complaining about this, as I still feel nobody has a duty to give me a job, regardless of my disability.

I want to emphasise the reality of being disabled and living in Britain today – a situation I wouldn’t have chosen to be in.

I had plans and dreams of the life I was going to live before my disability and it didn't include any of the above.

I live in a London borough that has a nice welcome pack for people who are disabled.

But then there’s the reality that I have endured, particularly people and infants of all races taunting and spiting me when they see me on the street – without provocation.

I can assure you it’s hurtful and humiliating.

I prefer to walk in the road used by cars as the pavements nowadays are so uneven.

I have fallen over many times on pavements to assert that it’s better for me to do this.

This also explains why I prefer to wear a bangle on my wrist as it's the best way for me to conceal the damage caused by the falls.

This tactic was practised by the deceased actress Natalie Wood when she broke her wrist as a child star.

I’m not in a wheelchair but I get people telling me that I’m not disabled enough to qualify for help that I do need - I can't write anymore, not even my own name.

Now, I have a problem climbing the stairs before opening the door of my parents home.

I have fallen over them when I'm leaving the house too, as my legs can't take the strain of me bending my legs.

I could use the banister installed by Brent Rehab services to climb the stairs to my bedroom but now, I've fallen over these stairs many times too.

I've asked if I could make a room for myself downstairs but this isn't possible as the sliding doors that were present when my parents brought that house have long gone.

As a result, I'm heavily reliant on machines, from electronic typewriters (yes they do still exist) to more modern IPAD and the kindness of others to write things down for me.

I can assure you I AM NO SCROUNGER so please have an open mind when looking at someone on benefits, as I claim because I have no choice - THAT IS A FACT.

There are disabled people like me who want to work. The cutbacks affecting disabled people aren’t helping anyone.

I would also like to mention that I don't smoke but I have been told I should ignore the law and take (still illegal) marijuana to help my MS - I won't do this.

I don't live near a dog racing track and my local pub closed down eight months ago, so my money dosen't go to these places either.

I also send my Primark clothes to be amended by a tailor, who charges money, as they too need to eat.

None of this is displayed on Benefits Street, probably because those facts don't make good TV ratings.

THERE NEEDS TO BE A BALANCE!

Light and Peace

Andria

PS to see copies of work I've done, click here.

I'M GLAD

I’m so glad that former German international and Aston Villa player Thomas Hitzlsperger has come out as gay.

Personally I look forward to the day when a top-flight footballer, announcing he’s gay, simply isn’t news.

Nevertheless, I’m glad that someone who clearly has guts, as Thomas has shown, has taken a step in the right direction.

So good on you, Mr Hitzlsperger, for making the decision to come out of the closet.

*******

I'm also glad that retired footballer now actor Vinnie Jones will soon be appearing in the small screen close to you.

The BBC remake of The Musketeers looks exciting, so I look forward to watching this ageless show.

Not just because of Mr V Jones - THE PRESENT DOCTOR WHO IS ALSO IN IT!

Go BBC!

*******

I only have one gripe today.

We should have a video of British performer Lewis Taylor's brilliant song, Lucky.

Yet when I go to the brilliant you-know who tube, I get nothing!


Light and Peace.

Andria

PS, to see cuttings of my other work, click here.