Brand New Second Hand

Been some time, yet again, that the ether has been disturbed by the trouble man. In a new fit of boredom, with just the Gold Cup and the impending English madness that is Paddy's Day to allow me to stand like a greyhound in the slip, I decided to cross finger and keyboard.

Interesting news from the recruitment industry is that many jobs are on offer: all over the country. Except maybe Hull and County Durham. Birmingham, Liverpool, Cornwall? Never 'eard of 'em, squire. Oh, and maybe anywhere that is not London, but in the public sector. I could have sworn that one area of the public sector was once relocated to Hull? A bit like the traffic KGB in Swansea. Apparently the Civil Service has been eased so quantitatively that it now needs new recruits to police G4S and the other sorcerer's apprentices.

Sad, yet imagination-firing news from the scene of my youthful rural idyll.  The Lord of our Manor unfortunately shuffled off the mortal coil last month. The Sandys family accumulated lots of land and a rather pleasant 18thC manor house with pillars and porticoes.  As I remember (and I maybe a little untrustworthy here...) one of the few in the village on first name terms with him was my Father.  The others were farmers, and he must have sensed them sniffing around his large acres.  My Old Man just talked politics and religion: hence I feel in for a shout when the bequests are divulged. Perhaps the new Marquess of Downshire will bung me a villeinous favour?  Couple of fields to do the old Good Life in would do the trick.

Anyway, to be brief, a song made me smile this day.  I have always tried to link music to the rant and thought this went down well today.  Peter Tosh made the point that 'we've heard it all before' - the title is a song recorded by young Bob and the Wailers.

'Underneath that face, girl you're just a disgrace...
...and you just a brand new second hand...
If you think it's the dress you wear that makes you a lady,
Get that out of your mind - you must be crazy.

You're just a brand new second hand....'

What you got girl, that I don't know
What you got girl, to exalt yourself so?

You're just a brand new second hand....'

Can apply equally to wives, girlfriends and political statements.  Probably husbands too.

Makes me laugh, though.

If you're Irish, enjoy the weekend.  If you're not, enjoy their weekend!