Fight On

We lament the hollow bad times gone by;
of heroes and leaders failing to try,
but look closer to home,
where there's bigger fish to fry
and tell me you'll fight on.

They call us the 'lost generation',
the ones forgotten by a greedy nation;
but look closer to home,
the origin of your creation,
and tell me you'll fight on.

We will work 'til we die, the elected say;
Paying for past mistakes and days.
But look closer to home,
and the enemies you slay
and tell me you'll fight on.

Currencies will crash and politics fight,
all for what they think is right.
But look closer to home,
where your hearts are bright
and tell me you'll fight on.

We lament the hollow bad times gone by;
of those we look up to, trust not to lie.
But look closer to home,
where love doesn't die,
and tell me you'll fight on.

I Used to be a UKIP Supporter

Yes, you did read that right. I have voted for many parties since I turned 18. I voted Conservative at my first local election, Liberal Democrat in my first general election and Labour in 2015, but I have never been a member of any political party.

Except one.

In 2013, after watching a specific episode of Question Time on the BBC, I decided my affiliation would lie with the UK Independence Party. No, this isn't a joke. I genuinely believed UKIP was the way forward, lead by the charismatic, pint-guzzling Nigel Farage. I am embarrassed to say it, but it's true. I paid £2 to become a member of UKIP for a year.

I used to be a staunch anti-EU campaigner, even offering to leaflet my local area at one point although I never physically got round to it. I firmly believed that the "£350m a week to be a member of the EU" figure was wholly accurate and I was very angry at what I thought was the completely unelected politicians who used it. I was also angry at the "establishment"; a line still used by the UKIP clan to this day. I voted for the Liberal Democrats in 2010, based solely on their line on tuition fees. When they U-turned, I felt betrayed. David Cameron had specifically said that he would offer an EU referendum in his first term in 2009. That didn't materialise. I also believed that Labour caused the financial crash of 2008, although that was more me believing the cause was political instead of financial irregularities.

In short, in 2013 I was a very angry person. I thought the Westminster bubble were liars. In truth, I was looking for excuses as to why my own life wasn't working.

It was an odd time. Especially as an openly gay man, people questioned why on Earth I would support a political party who openly opposed equal marriage, but I had convinced myself that there were far more important matters in hand. I was of the firm belief that this money we were giving the European Union was of far more importance. Plus, I can safely say, I was pleased with the attention I was getting from the higher echelons of the party. My LGBT status was being used as a political weapon, (especially locally) and that made me feel wanted at a time where I felt I wasn't wanted by anyone at all.

As I say, I was a deeply unhappy person.

On Thursday, the United Kingdom goes to the polls to vote on our EU membership. I will be voting to remain a part of it, as I am now a far happier human being than I was a few years ago, and a better educated one. There's not a lot more to say in regards to that small period of my life. It is one that I'd rather forget.

Meet The Mormons

Today I spent the day at The Swan Hotel in Bedford for a work event to prepare for an upcoming inspection. I imagined it to be a long day, but the discussions that took place were brilliant and I learnt so much about the professional side of mental health care. I won't go into too much detail, but I have really enjoyed today and have taken so much from it.

However, the bulk of this blog will be taken up by events that took place at lunchtime, while I was walking back to the Swan Hotel from a nice lunch break. Walking along the main road of the town centre, I was approached by a smart-looking, suave (good looking) guy, who quite literally walked up to me and asked me...

"What do you like most about your Father?"

Most people would look at them oddly and mumble something about running late and then walk off very swiftly, but I do have a habit of talking to the people who stop you in the street. And quite honestly, the question intrigued me. I explained to the young (good looking) man that my Father is the hardest working man I know and everything he does is for his family. I told the (good looking) man about the 20-mile milk round he had as a teenager with a man called 'Buzz' who he later reunited with 30 years later in this very town to run a football team.

It was at this point that I noticed a name badge. Coincidentally, the (good looking) man then mentioned he was a missionary, out promoting the Book of Mormon. His next question, apart from asking me about my religious beliefs, was whether I'd heard of the Book of Mormon. I was very tempted to break out into song, but felt that wouldn't be appropriate. I also told him I was agnostic which is a complete and utter lie, but I was drawn in by his dark brown eyes and floppy hair.

What can a guy do?!

It was at this point another man walked into the conversation, and joined the (good looking) man in asking me this and that about the Mormon faith and spirituality. I did ask a couple of questions; such as whether they believe every word they read and their answers actually fascinated me. Some of it was the usual, "A man was spoken to by God and found the light" crap that makes me roll my eyes, but some of it made a little bit of sense. No wait, it didn't, but I appreciated how they felt The Bible was a "collection of broken mirror pieces" and the Mormon faith worked to pick the right pieces. I quite liked that sentiment.

Anyway, five minutes of general chat, which was genuinely quite interesting, I had to bid my adieus as I really was running late to get back to the second half of the work event. They then asked if I wanted to meet tomorrow to continue the conversation...

Now. I should have said no. I should have made an excuse and left it at that, but again, I am terribly British when it comes to these kinds of things. I heard myself say, "Yeah why not!" and instantly regretted it. Even more so when the 2nd guy, (not the good looking man), asked me for my phone number. I tried the trick of giving him my actual number but changing a digit, but he tried to ring it and nothing happened.

That was awkward.

So I had no choice but to give him my actual number and he has since sent a text saying he was looking forward to meeting tomorrow. I feel three things. Part 1 of me wants to go just to look into the good looking man's eyes. Part 2 of me wants to go along to genuinely learn about what these guys think and to educate myself. Part 3 of me just thinks I should stay at home and watch 'Extras'.

I don't know what I'll do. I'll probably just see how I feel tomorrow but it was a very odd exchange. I applaud the (good looking) man for having the balls to just walk up to randomers to ask how their Dad is.

To be continued ........ (Maybe.)

...

One more thing, completely unrelated to the above but I'm not going to start another blog to say it. Cricket. I started the season off okay, with a couple of scores, but then I've scored a couple of ducks and have lost interest. I don't really want to play anymore. At least, I don't want to play at the minute. I just can't concentrate whilst batting. I miss that bubble I immerse myself in when I'm batting, escaping everything in the world and focusing solely on the red ball coming towards you. I really miss that feeling, but I can't seem to find it anymore. I much prefer the social side of the game; just watching and laughing with mates.