How much of the £10 million was for protecting our monarch who attended the funeral?
Ps - enjoyed the poem and the observation at the end.

Comment is about £10 million for this? (blog)

Original item by steve pottinger

Blimey. M.C. I hadn't realised the whole charade was a tawdry marketing gimmick.

Has anyone told the Daily Mail? They won't be happy...

Comment is about £10 million for this? (blog)

Original item by steve pottinger

Damn! and I thought I was your biggest fan!

Comment is about My Biggest Fan (When You Say Nothing At All) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Clement Attlee(1945-51) v Margaret Thatcher(1979-90)

For them that scratch-their-heads the following Labour V Thatcher achievements:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/541606_318034121656280_499493534_n.jpg

Comment is about Schadenfreude (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

@Julian: what good things (plural mind)did she do?

Comment is about £10 million for this? (blog)

Original item by steve pottinger

Very powerful in its simplicity, Tom.
There are things that words are not capable of describing.
Sympathies.

Comment is about As She Lay Dying (blog)

Original item by Tom Harding

sorry we couldn't be there Cynthia - we did wish to meet with you though - another time perhaps?

Comment is about CBT in Sale on Tuesday (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

a statue of thought

Comment is about Virus (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

arisa,
I think that is what people mean when they throw things at me when I sing!

Comment is about My Biggest Fan (When You Say Nothing At All) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Enjoyed this, Steve.
As a democrat (albeit left-of-centre) I have difficulty with the fact that we elected her 3 times.
It would be a mistake to assume the constituency of we poet-y types reflects the constituency of the nation.

Comment is about £10 million for this? (blog)

Original item by steve pottinger

You shouldn't be a singer to express your feelings.
Your strong voice is in your poetry.

Comment is about My Biggest Fan (When You Say Nothing At All) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I can appreciate the sentiment of leaving families to grieve in peace without vitriol.

I think the controversy became inevitable as soon as the funeral became a state one though. It was according Margaret Thatcher with a respect and prominence that many could not accept or agree with. In principle, I, and many others think it is wrong to pay for the funerals of any political figures, whatever party they belong to.

I see what you are saying about mortality MC - death brings us all low. I can somehow never see Margaret Thatcher as a 'little old lady' though - and I think that's something she'd be glad about.

Comment is about St. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL - APRIL 17, 2013 (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Thankyou, Larisa. You will realise, of course, that I am definitely NOT a singer!

Comment is about My Biggest Fan (When You Say Nothing At All) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

:-0)
naughty ...... but nice John

sits back and waits...........

Comment is about My Biggest Fan (When You Say Nothing At All) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Nice words, nice song. It reminds me Russian fork songs.It was pleasant to listen to it.“If you can’t say it’s nice then say nothing at all”. It is nice, by all means. Best wishes, Larisa

Comment is about My Biggest Fan (When You Say Nothing At All) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

...and true, Yvonne.
The experience of meeting Tony Blair was informative.
He was introduced to me and asked me something. As I was answering I could see there was no-one at home. I couldn't blame him; he was dealing with international crises, economic issues. He looked totally shagged out.
5 minutes later he went outside for a press statement and as soon as the cameras rolled he transposed instantly into totally animated, switched on Tony.

Comment is about Yvonne Brunton (poet profile)

Original item by Yvonne Brunton

...you may enjoy my latest!

Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Many thanks for your thoughts on "Here's My Tits..."

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Glad you enjoyed "Here's My Tits...". A true story I thought I had forgotten until recent events brought back the memory.

Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Hello Greg,
Glad you enjoyed "Here's My Tits..." It was true as well!

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thank you all. I am fairly sure that's Gray's elision, not mine, Tommy. The words 'the boast of heraldry... ...to the grave', are from Gray's Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard. Should have attributed rather than assuming. Mea culpa (Latin for banged to rights/soz, I think).

Comment is about We have become a dead grandmother (blog)

Original item by Julian Jordon

Gnomelessness

Know gnomes?
No, know no gnomes.
No? No gnomes to go to?
No, know no gnomes.
Known gnomes?
No! Know no gnomes,known no gnomes!
No?
No! Know Nanette.

Comment is about Poetry workshop: Ten things you never knew you knew (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Me too, Steve. I had not thought of that, the cremation bit. I don't want to speak ill of the dead but I do object to this hijacking of her funeral by desperate Toryboys, and particularly the cost in a time of austerity and cuts in benefits and obscenities such as the bedroom tax.
I do believe she did some good things (shock horror!) but unfortunately warmed to her theme. And how the hell can you have s state funeral for a corrupt prime minister who used her office to curry financial favours for her son (I believe one deal earned him £10m, ironically. He should have been arrested on his arrival and made to pay for this lot himself. Instead the Tory press are now touting her granddaughter (we have become a granddaughter) as Maggie's possible dynastic heir, because she read nicely in church. It's like something out of Life of Brian.

Comment is about £10 million for this? (blog)

Original item by steve pottinger

I thought that this was a great interview. Good questions answered in a way that means I now have a great insight into the thought processes and artistic method of this writer whos work I will now search out. Thankyou Francis / Sean.

Comment is about The Write Out Loud interview: Sean Borodale (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Yvonne - you may also recall that awful killing of the taxi driver - crushed to death by a 50lb block of concrete hurled from a motorway bridge as he drove working miners to their early shift. The disgraceful judgement of manslaughter and not murder (when all the malice aforethought and planning seemed plain) was an expedient slap in the face of justice. A prominent mining official (who became a Labour minister) later admitted hurrying to the office to make sure their backs were covered. Illuminating how far certain types would go to achieve their ends.

Comment is about Let us bury the hatchet (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

I can see this piece being re-visited as more and more comes to mind. It sprang from a bit of prose about nostalgia I am writing and my Mum wanted me to "Do a 'pome' about clogs'n'stuff." She hasn't seen it yet. Hard times but good times for me. Mill house with an outside toilet, a place of terror as a child.
Thanks for reading MC.

Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

The other day I saw a reprint of a photograph of Mrs Thatcher shaking hands with a clearly "delighted to be here" President Mandela in front of No. 10. His huge grin indicated that he didn't think she was so "awful".

Comment is about We have become a dead grandmother (blog)

Original item by Julian Jordon

A well sustained evocation of times past. My late mother who was born in 1902 would surely have had memories of those days. I still recall her talk of the dread of the workhouse...the fate from which there was no likelihood of rescue. Tough days bred tough people who got on with life as best they could and had their tightly held ideas of self-reliance and respect. They made us what we are...those of us who are their offspring.

Comment is about OLDEN DAYS (blog)

Original item by Pete Slater

Ten million - against the billions she secured from the EEC/EC/EU in rebates. Not a bad deal..and they loved it beyond these shores -from whence comes our reputation and income.
Her funeral was a "sale" in marketing terms!

Comment is about £10 million for this? (blog)

Original item by steve pottinger

I couldn't agree more. I was captivated and mesmerised by Cynthia's reading. It was bold, emotive, personal and touching. I was still grinning about it the next morning on my way to work. Sheer class!

Comment is about A voyage around her grandfather: Cynthia Buell Thomas at Sale (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

There is that which is known
There is that which can never be known
There is that which might be known, and
That which is as yet unknown
And there is of course the knower...
Who might be known,
Might never be known
Is yet to be known
And yet knows;
How to know,
But who is yet to know
Whatever there is to hone
Should be known.
If you know what I mean?

Comment is about Poetry workshop: Ten things you never knew you knew (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

She's one of the most wonderful poets around and I was very sorry to miss this. Glad to see that she's getting the recognition that she should. Great article.

Comment is about A voyage around her grandfather: Cynthia Buell Thomas at Sale (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Good stuff Tommy - really tight and rhythmic - liking it a lot
Ian

Comment is about Wandering expositions (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

funny-love it tommy

Comment is about £10 million for this? (blog)

Original item by steve pottinger

Yvonne- miners picketed docks; miners picketed power-stations and motorway junctions- miners were desperate and upon occasion resorted to desperate measures, two striking Miners and one scab were also killed.

Comment is about Yvonne Brunton (poet profile)

Original item by Yvonne Brunton

Yvonne- miners picketed docks; miners picketed power-stations and motorway junctions- miners were desperate and upon occasion resorted to desperate measures, two striking Miners and one scab were also were killed.

Comment is about Let us bury the hatchet (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Those are great.

My contribution - for what it's worth - is here:

http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=36089

Comment is about The Iron Lady's funeral blues poems (article)

Original item by Julian Jordon

This poem gets better each time I read it. Superb.

Comment is about Dear Margaret (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

A bitter-sweet end to a concise exposition
of an awful politician and the warranted admonition of Powell's “ALL political lives, unless they are cut off in midstream at a happy juncture, end in failure,” She was afterall evicted from no 10 by her trusted colleagues . Not sure about the elision on the third line final stanza. Tommy

Comment is about We have become a dead grandmother (blog)

Original item by Julian Jordon

I like the sounds of this place ...

Comment is about Write Out Loud's poetry workshop: imagine your island (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

is this up and running?

Comment is about Wanted: poetry and fiction editors for online magazine (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Punji.

Champagne water
Cashmere love
Cherry lagoon.
Water bloom.
Blossom dip.

Comment is about Write Out Loud's poetry workshop: imagine your island (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Ellora. (from the Cadogan guide to India).

Finally you come.
Recreation. Varkala.
Bookshop. Chowrasta.
Route 7. Degrees.
Padmini's Palace. Reflected.
Boys. Rich class. Lack.
Today. Great openness.
Lavatories. Shark.
On arrival. Insurance.
Travel. Broadlands.
Pipli. Erratic.
Centre. Full.
St. Paul's.. Continental.
Flashlight. Hinayana.
Cosy. Views.

Comment is about Write Out Loud's poetry workshop: the cento (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hi M.C,

Enjoyable back and forth on the politics that matter Margaret Thatcher.

In that regard I have left further comment upon the poetry blog.

P.S

I apologise for the delay in my reply; health has been a little questionable of late.

Best

Chris

Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Hi Cynthia,

Thank you for the feedback on my last poem, very much appreciated. I have left a comment on the poetry blog.

P.S

I apologise for the delay in my reply; health has been a little questionable of late.

Best

Chris

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Thx Cynthia and M.C - for reading and feedback.

Hi Cynthia, yes I very much understand. I like much religious poetry, despite being an atheist. I enjoy the language, humanity, passion, technique of Rossetti, Longfellow, R.S Thomas etc.

I fully take on board that the political content of my poem, or indeed any political poem, is not for everybody. The fact that you have appreciated the poem and the poetics, aside or discounting any political agreement is - much appreciated.

Whenever we work hard (any of us rather than the royal we) to achieve anything poetically; whenever someone says such efforts paid off, that's a great feeling. I'll happily take that over and above any political agreement. Thx

As I mentioned prior, I wrote this poem prior to Lady Thatcher's death. The poem was written in response to the legacy of her time in office. In particular the poem was written to the backdrop of exasperation. Exasperation at teachers having so little or - no say in the curriculum and teaching methods in schools.

I felt the unions needed urgent reform when Thatcher came to power, reform, not the breaking of. Equally not all unions and sectors of society needed the same weight of reform. Michael Gove, the policies, teachers lacking a voice; all seem to echo her time in office, none of it would have been possible before her time.

I'd prefer a generation taught how to think for themselves; given the tools to be able to do that. Not a generation of rote learning savants who come to know much and understand little. I also worry about our history and understanding becoming more provincial.

I would guess both may concern you, knowing as I do your connections to teaching as well your cosmopolitan background/heritage.

M.C

There is simply no way you would try to convince me or anyone else as you have without truly held beliefs; this is understood. I recognise elements of truth here and there in the points you make too, particularly in relation in certain union failings in the 70 and the need for market reforms. But what we would view as answers are quite different.

I cannot agree with the speed of reforms under Thatcher, or the scope of much of the reforms. The lack of managed transition in the economy too, in light of north sea oil and other such fundings, I feel this was myopic and politically disastrous. Socially I regard her handling of the country generally, also to be disastrous. You do not, your focus differs and that is understandable.

I honestly doubt we will agree with much politically. What is obvious is that you do believe in your political convictions and have integrity in that regard. Politically we just have to agree to differ - which is not so bad. This discourse has been interesting and carries its own value.

Comment is about Nothing Left (blog)

Original item by Chris Co

Well done Ged. Well balanced sentiments. Perhaps better than thinking: Right. Who shall we hate next?
Not sure what you meant by your message.Ah yes, I meant you to blog and then put a link in the news items comments. Sorry for lack of clarity.

Comment is about Ripples of Detriment (blog)

Original item by Ged Thompson

yes! thank you Tony for your comment.

Comment is about 10 things I never knew I knew... (blog)

I Like it

Well done

Comment is about We have become a dead grandmother (blog)

Original item by Julian Jordon

Hi Isobel, have to think about the spelling of your name. My grandaughter is called Isabelle. Thanks for your comments on Olden Days. I have a feeling I may re-vist this one as more and more comes to mind. I have also started to write .... just write I suppose .... a piece about nostalgia. 24 pages at present, which includes a poem. Glad you enjoyed the read though, that gives me encouragement. ;)

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel