Time for some Conservatism

 If anyone can remember what that is. This is supposed to be a blog of two halves of course but the party is meaning less and less to me. At the time, when I was only sixteen / seventeen it provided an important and welcome moral framework. One which included having your own house. I'd be lying if I said there weren't times that I wondered : Would it not be easier to live in a council house and have everything for free? 

Perhaps I'm simplifying it. I'm not though am I? There just isn't the bite on these issues that there used to be. It seems we aren't allowed to criticise anyone anymore, for anything at all ever. 

When I first started "in my day" it was fairly clear cut in the Town Council chamber, if you were all for work you were a Tory, if you weren't, you were with Labour who would seemingly vote down any reasonable suggestion purely because a Conservative thought of it. There was one Lib Dem - Sue. Sue was ok, I used to bump into her all over the place. She also has a place in Spain and always had a tan, unless she looked behind her and her neck would reveal numerous white stripes, I always found Sue fascinating really. 

The Lib Dems are interesting and actually I now vote Liberal locally. She's a nice lass my candidate, the Tories couldn't give a damn about my 'deprived area'. The only place I want to represent because its home to me. I thought I was happy paying high rent in a high brow area and took a significant downheel to buy my own place here in the East end of a little known City. 

We have a twelfth century Abbey a stones throw away and in the end I was proud to become Vice Chair of governors in a school where 58% of children have 'English as an Additional Language'. And speaking of foreign people, I was at Mass yesterday and was sad to see that the black man, Father Patrick is leaving. That was sad.

I am also starting to get approached by other people at Mass. Another Stephen, this one had toes like hands, reaching way over the edge of his sandals. I was quite impressed but didn't want to stare. He said he'd seen me about a bit and welcomed me in.

Without sounding ungrateful, one of the huge pluses of going to Mass, is that I don't know anyone so can just get on with getting on. I can't be doing with gossip, mixing and everyone else's business. I think the less I mix, the better. Not being rude, its just I'm there to talk to God. 

Its like when people make the mistake of thinking the people they meet in the pub are their friends. They aren't. They are people from the pub. Don't get me wrong its great to know you're going to get some company. That's why people go to the pub.

 Company and alcohol, whilst its true both those things are present at church, its not why I go. 

In fact - I've only just realised - that's what's kept me in the Tory Party. For sure.