Tuesday, May 17, 2011



Just lovely cont.....

In other news I seem to be getting into Jungle at last, a mere twenty years after it hit its creative peak (alright 14 years, whatever) S'funny but I hear it differently now because I've started to think of it in different terms.....or perhaps it's more that the terms it was always discussed in seem more meaningful to me now...





In other completely unrelated news I have a strong desire to go to Scotland. Now it could be because I am half Scottish on my mum's side and we went up there a lot when I was a kid, I have just watched NEDS (great, though not as good as his other two) and am mad keen to see We Need To Talk About Kevin (my two favourite film makers of the moment being Scottish) or the fact that I'm reading Andrew Crumey's essays and short stories online (he's Scottish) or the recent, very interesting political upsets, or the fact that compared to England, Scotland looks like deeply civilized and progressive place right now. Could also be the sheer glowering romance of the landscape, the undeniable charm, charisma and wit of the people.






If I have to live in the UK for any length of time over the next few years, it certainly won't be London if I can help it (but then again of course, A Job looms large) and I doubt it'll be down South at all. I used to swear I would never go back up North but now I have no idea why.















3 comments:

David K Wayne said...

I lived in Scotland for a few years, and its one of the few things in life I never regret (coming back to England was another matter). I'm certainly glad I decided against (ecch) London anyway. Even if the drum'n'bass scene was negligble there (BTW if you want an essential Jungle primer, try Kodwo Eshun's legendary comp 'Routes From The Jungle').

I'd also go so far as to say that the more interesting UK novelists, bands and filmmakers are Scottish, and have been since the 90s. Hard to quantify, but I got the impression that it was... well... better educated than England, whatever the level. Of course it still has as much class division and bigotries as England, but with a slightly different ideological approach to it (to be right-wing up north is to be the 'outsider', unlike dahn saahf).

If it becomes independent (which this government may actually want, so Tories can achieve a 1000 year Reich), I'm emigrating.

Where's my perma-link BTW?

Anonymous said...

sfunny, i just tried to permalink you and then i was hilariously going to say whaddayamean, you've been there all along etc...

but blogger actually won't let me link you!

assume it's a glitch.....

yeah...i was faintly annoyed with myself the whole time i lived in London....

yeah i fear the effect on england if scotland does become independent, too....unless we too can forge a new positive left-wing vision of englishness around which a resurgent labour party can be born...

hmmm...i'd emigrate....

David K Wayne said...

"but blogger actually won't let me link you!"

Yeah, yeah. That's what they all say - YOU'RE JUST LIKE ALL THE REST! (sobs, throws plate. Exit).


Seriously, if Scotland gains independence, I fear England may become not a little 'Balkanised'. As for Labour's resurgence - 'Blue Labour', anyone? Blairism, but without the votes. Gawd 'elp us...