Be gone Hapless Joe!

By Daniel McSweeney

SOLIHULL, England — Back in 1992 when the Queen was a sprightly 66-year-old, the British Royal Family had a rather terrible year. One Commonwealth country had decided to abolish the Monarchy; Windsor Castle almost burned to the ground; and Royal family members were getting up to all sorts of mischief. One morning I suspect the Queen probably looked in the mirror; tallied up all the setbacks and with a mournful sigh, sadly reckoned it to be a truly ‘annus horribilis.’

It just seemed that no matter which way she turned, there was grief on the horizon. It all perhaps seemed like a never-ending spiral downward where it was a challenge to keep things in perspective. It happens to most of us at some time in our lives. In this state of mind, we wake up each day and wonder what next bad thing will happen.  It can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. And when the next distraction occurs, we proudly claim amidst our tears that ‘we knew this was going to happen.”

2016 ‘annus horribilis’

Now in 2016, the United Kingdom seems to have self-inflicted a broader kind of ‘annus horribilis.’ It all came to a head of course with ‘Brexit.’ British political parties are falling apart. Conservative PM David Cameron has resigned; and no new leadership will be in place until the autumn. And in the Labor Party, the knives are out for leader Jeremy Corbyn whose party critics claim he only half-heartedly supported the remain campaign. And of course, the pound has plummeted. Consumer spending and investment are on the downswing. And business pessimism has pretty much doubled. And while there might be a boost in tourism and a few other ‘export’ bright spots from a lower pound; the ‘other’ long-term term impacts of the currency issue seem to outweigh the positives.

I have studiously tried to avoid writing much about ‘Brexit; but it is such a pervasive subject that spills out in conversations no matter where you go. Just yesterday, I spent a half hour chatting with a man who wanted to talk about the crisis. He moved here from India 60 years ago and he worries that the country will spin-off into isolation from nearby Europe where he and his family have enjoyed seamless travel.  Young people he says see themselves both as British – and as citizens of the world. And there is such a huge enticing, opportunity-filled part of the world  a few short miles across the channel. And like many people, he worries about uncertainty emerging from the leave decision.

The UK steel industry is also in crisis mode; even before Brexit. It’s being sold off in pieces by corporate Indian giant Tata. And as I write, there are still thousands of steel and support jobs in peril. Port Talbot in Wales for instance will be devastated if the operations there shut down.

And while all this is unfolding, there seems to be other ‘reckonings’ in the British milieu.

After seven years of investigation resulting in the 2.6 million word Chilcot Report, it’s been concluded that the quick-to-pull the trigger Americans suckered former Prime Minister Tony Blair into taking the UK into war. The general view is that Britain all to easily bought into the ‘weapons of mass destruction’ story; that British troops were ill-equipped to join the fight – and the outcome was disastrous in loss of life and helped create the terrible state of world affairs today.

It’s even been bad on the football pitch in a country so engaged in football that it boasts 40,000 association football clubs, 11,000 more than any other country. And yet this football nation of 64 million people lost to Iceland – a country of about 320,000 where football is a passion; but hardly like in the UK. And even in this scenario, like the politicians who stirred up Brexit, the team manager resigned and reportedly left the country. (I doubt if Brexit had anything to do with the loss; but the outcome has not improved the mindset here. Congratulations to Iceland though, a country where ‘the first lady’ is actually a Canadian.What a great victory!)

Brexit has brought a rather dark cloud to hover over the United Kingdom; one that can be expected to rain down heavily on the heads of Brits in the months and years ahead. And while we Canadians have had crises in our country, the magnitude of the troubles here is beyond my comprehension.

It has already triggered so many negative outcomes; here and across Europe; in fact in places across the world. Only history will judge the merits (or lack thereof) in the ‘courageous’ exit decision of the British people. In the meantime a growing crisis of uncertainty envelopes the UK.  And with each passing day, the pain of this ‘prolonged’ uncertainty etches deeply into the economy and ratchets up fear for the future. I believe people now have more questions than they did before the June 23 referendum. And I am convinced they are going to have to wait a long time to get answers.

They ponder what will happen with the economy? Will the UK break up?  Will other countries leave the EU and Europe fall apart altogether taking us back to a 1930’s that eventually saw war break out? Or will all this lead to an EU reform and a stronger and more United Europe? From people I have spoken with, they are more concerned about ‘kitchen table issues’ emerging from the leave vote outcome. Will I lose my job? Will my earning power be eroded? Will my power rates go up? Will my children be able to secure employment in continental Europe like in the past? Questions and more questions; and yet very few answers – and a tsunami of uncertainty eating away at the UK. And it’s this growing climate of ‘uncertainty’ that is the culprit; and only when answers become clearer will the healing process begin. Don’t hold your breath though!

Be gone Hapless Joe!

I am sure there are lots of Britons staring themselves in the mirror these days wondering if 2016 will turn out to be another annus horrbilis. In fact, I suspect most would claim we are well into such a year; precipitated by the most significant crisis since World War Two. And what makes matters worse is the spectre  of the UK (and Europe) just beginning a series of such bad years. Is this indeed the beginning of a losing streak for a nation that once ruled an empire; a country that in spite of losing so much far-flung real estate over the years has defiantly retained a certain greatness? Only time will tell.

As a Canadian living in the United Kingdom, I am reminded of one of my favorite comic strips from my youth ‘Li’l Abner.’ The strip character that that comes to mind is ‘Joe Btfsplk’ – a little man with a perpetual black cloud over his head;‘the world’s worst jinx.’ In some ways, it seems like Joe has settled down in the UK for a while. The good news is that Joe doesn’t usually hang around for long. He was perhaps a house guest of the Royal Family in 1992. He eventually moved on to other places.

With Brexit, he is back yet again. Unfortunately, the circumstances of retreating leadership and no clear answers about the future, means that Joe is unpacking his luggage and just might apply for a British concessionary bus pass, that like ours will not expire until 2020. Sorting out all this mess is undeniably going to take a lot of time. On that rather pessimistic note, I will simply say ‘be gone Joe Btfsplk’ – the sooner the better! And when you are gone, let’s hope Britain will have an even brighter future.

Walking ‘The High Street’

By Daniel McSweeney

The other day I heard talk about what’s happening ‘on the High Street.’ I  discovered it wasn’t about our High Street in Solihull; rather business conditions in the UK retail sector, generally known as ‘the high street.’ From all indications, ‘The High Street’ is rather ‘low’ in these tough economic times. Sales are in the dumps and some retail giants are hanging on by their finger nails. One big UK retailer predicts 2016 will be like ‘walking up a down escalator’ while fighting to stay on the same step.

On the other hand, High Streets are real streets; still reasonably vibrant in spite of the pinch of hard times. Pretty much every UK city and town has a High Street. In fact, it’s the most popular street name in the UK; followed by ‘Station Road,’ ‘Main Street’ and ‘Park Road.’ At the local level, ‘the high street‘ is a town’s main shopping area. Its ‘high’ reference suggests not topographic elevation; rather ‘high rank and excellence,’ qualities merchants obviously like to link with their products and services.

Strangely enough, it is not where the really, really rich shop. They do most of their shopping at places like Selfridge’s on Oxford Street and Harrods on Brompton Avenue in London. It’s not places we frequent; but I suspect Paul McCartney and Rupert Murdoch do.  I wouldn’t be surprised though if their wives sometimes send them over to High Street convenience stores for milk and bread when the hired hands are sunning on the beach in Brighton. I wouldn’t hold my breath watching for them; but then they too just might have to nip down to the High Street with the rest of us.

Most High Streets are unlike any shopping districts in Canada. They offer an experience ‘so English’ that they can’t be duplicated. Our High Street is particularly nice, a relaxing road free of vehicular traffic. On weekends, there are little booths selling everything from sausages and baked goods to balloons and batteries. Flower vendors walk the street and musicians strum their guitars and beat their drums providing a lively High Street soundtrack. And of course, like everywhere, there is the ring of British accents, a brash ‘Oy’ now and again; or softer and more refined English banter.

Perhaps though it’s the architecture that make it so attractive. You can clearly see efforts to maintain ‘street character’ have been successful. One of the most remarkable structures is the old ‘Manor House’ established on the High Street in 1495, just three years after Columbus discovered North America. It’s a wood framed Tudor-style dwelling; built during the Tudor period that lasted from 1485 to 1603. Such buildings were made with timber framing and exterior walls of rain-resistant lime-washed ‘wattle and daub.’ It’s a material similar to lath and plaster; a construction technique dating back 6,000 years or more. Their appearance is quintessentially English.

In contrast, construction is underway on a nearby modern low-rise office structure with a café on the ground floor. Quite clearly, the developers have gone to great pains to ensure that it does not clash with nearby historic structures.’ In fact, they have created a grand mural on the construction site fence showing the finished product. It is done remarkably well; and you would think the new street addition is already in place. And while some people might not like what they see;  I believe it will blend quite nicely into the character of the street; something I agree should be preserved.

The internet age is admittedly transforming High Streets changing the way people shop and the goods they buy. High Streets  now have more convenience stores, tattoo parlors, takeaways, betting shops and health clubs. These are businesses customers must actually visit. Over the last 10 years, banks, green grocers, pubs, video rentals; film developers and travel agencies have disappeared from High Streets. Some writers warn that the changes are bringing about the death of High Streets. I understand the concerns; but I believe it just means High streets are changing as the world changes.

I used to think that ‘High’ Street had something to do with elevation. Certainly the Solihull High Street is not all that ‘high’ though. On the other hand, it sits much higher than where we live in a gully just off the Church Hill Road. I imagine blokes in times long past realized that building town centers in low-lying areas that might flood was perhaps not the best of ideas.

I mentioned about how the super rich do most of their shopping at Selfridges and Harrods. While we have not been to Harrod’s, we did wander through Selfridge’s on Oxford Street. During our visit, we spotted a nifty little denim jacket. Perhaps we could pick it up for a snip! When we turned over the price tag, we discovered it cost a whopping $12,000 Cdn, almost three times what Sandra paid for her Ford Mercury Comet in 1972.

Therefore we’ll stick to shopping the High Street in Solihull. And when we visit Oxford Street, the busiest shopping street in all of Europe,  we’ll plunk our quid down on counters at Marks & Spencer, more in line with our financial picture. And if Sir Paul is there picking out a bargain tee-shirt or socks, I’ll invite him to Solihull so he can have coffee at ‘Canada Dan’s’ favorite coffee shop on The High Street. And if its merchants are feeling the pinch of harsh economic times, his visit would certainly provide a boost! In closing, I hope you have enjoyed this little walk through Solihull’s High Street, one of more than 5,000 such ‘high’ streets across the United Kingdom.