War does not determine who is right – only who is left.
Bertrand Russell
Modern football reflects the worst excesses of today’s society. Money rules; characters are as rare as honesty for fear of falling off the gravy train.
However, I admired the Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa immensely. Firstly, for his passion plus the humility that endeared him to simple sports fans.
He claimed not to speak English but this had to be a wheeze because his written interviews were priceless, displaying an intellect and knowledge of both man and the game rarely read.
Perhaps playing the non-speaking role gave him time to consider the questions longer?
A rare ray of light.
Quote Of The Week
This from the local paper: The high number of Bradford criminals finding the time to care for aged and infirm relatives has long been a talking point among Telegraph & Argus readers.
Ads
A current radio ad for Volvo has a smooth Scandanavian voice purring about the eco qualities of Volvo cars. But it’s not just about emissions as the cuddly chap insists, it’s about omissions. Trust us – we’re lovely people.
But before your mind wanders off to thoughts of Abba and the rest, just remember who owns Volvo. That little haven of righteousness, The People’s Republic of China.
The Sales Meeting
Sales meetings were never my idea of time well spent back in the Glory Days. An old boss of mine was so admiring of my various excuses to opt-out that he suggested a book; another was simply happy when I did not turn up.
One meltdown worth recalling was a proposed meeting in Manchester. Grumpy as ever at the prospect of sitting around all day talking about what we should be doing instead of actually doing it, I reached Birch Services on the M62.
It was total gridlock and reminded me of the REM song – Everybody Hurts; I was hurting at the prospect of continuing a pointless journey.
So came one of those moments in life guaranteed to make you smile in later years. On went the indicator as I made my way across several lanes to take the exit and the road back east.
As soon as I hit the empty carriageway back home, a sense of relief flooded me.
My boss back in those days was a brilliant bloke called Daryl. A laid-back Kiwi, his approach to sales management was simple enough – do the business and we’ll both be happy; in short, he left us alone.
“Mate, I’ve decided not to come today!” I announced cheerily on the phone to Daryl.
“Any particular reason?” he asked, I suppose just attempting to sound concerned. Perhaps my cat had died? There was no point in bull-shitting Daryl.
“Yep – I couldn’t be arsed!” I replied.
And that was that, life rolled on seamlessly.
As I contemplated my first sales meeting in around three years this week, those old temptations came flooding back. It may be a surprise to a few of you that I still do some “proper” work, albeit – very – part-time.
Having avoided the dreaded trip to Birmingham for almost three years, the five o’clock alarm was like a knife to the heart. The neighbours would probably think my car was being stolen but, this time, there was no excuse.
A day of tired presentations written late the previous night on the back of a fag packet lay ahead, explaining a job the combined room averaged over thirty years experience each in.
I looked around and nobody was under forty, maybe even fifty. It was summed up neatly by our guest, Fast Eddie, who described today’s younger generations as “living life like a phone contract.” We were dinosaurs.
I began to work on the excuse for the next meeting.
Plain Speaking
How is it that most television announcers now have to sound like boyz from da hood? Cow-towing to the ridiculous mood of the moment, naturally enough the BBC has taken a bended knee but Sky too. What price independence of thought?
And what of black people; are they really happy to be stereotyped in this lazy manner by white, middle-class media executives.
These Days
Up with the larks for my meeting I tuned in to Radio 4’s Today programme for the first time in ages to pass away an hour of the M1. The news naturally featured the events in Ukraine as the lead story.
The second story was on transgender rights in Scotland. As men and women of all ages take up arms to defend their country, this is modern Britain.
Sleep Well Lady Pat
Just over a year since we lost one sister, Barbara, sad news that the other half of this inseparable duo, Pat, has gone too. A lovely lady and great fun who has endured a tough last few years. Time for a rest.
My condolences to Peter, Andrew and Freddie too; we will all miss her.
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