Last time I was in the States I came face to face with the failings of their health care system. We had been out celebrating our 21st birthday and my sister tripped over the front step in the dark. A friend of ours rushed forward to make sure that the storm door didn’t slam shut on her, but while doing so ended up cutting open his eyelid on the very same door.

Now, had the same accident occurred here, we would have packed him up and driven straight to A&E. Yes we would probably have waited a good long while, but at the end of the night his eye would have been properly seen to and on the way to recovery.

Unfortunately we were not at home and my friend (who’s American) had recently been made redundant, losing not only his job but his health insurance. Consequently he has a permanent scar underneath his eyebrow.

I have always, and will always be an advocate for a free National Health Service. Access to health care is a basic human right. Which is why this article in the Guardian today has made my blood boil.

For the self-proclaimed ‘leader of the free world,’ the US has a wholy inadequate 2-tier health care system – for those who can afford the premiums, you can expect the best quality care, but for those who can’t – well need I say any more.

At the very heart of any democracy is the idea that we are all born equal – we all have the same chance in life as any other person. Ok, whilst I am an idealist I am in no way naive. I know this is an unattainable ideal, but structures should be in place to at least assist these goals and at the very least a social welfare system which is representative of the country’s standard of living.

But this in no way means a decline in standards, and having a spending plan doesn’t mean you put a price on human life. If anything not having some sort of NHS devalues lives because it basically states that if you can’t afford the treatment you are in some way unworthy of continuing to live.  As far as I can tell the main argumment is that by having these spending caps in place, and  an octogenarian won’t recieve the same standard of health care as a younger person.

This is utterly ridiculous. Having seen the treatment all four of my grandparents received at the end of their lives, I never ever considered that the nurses and doctors were working any less hard to treat them, than any other patient.  They were, after all, as deserving as the next person to walk through the door.

Health care is always a contentious issue, and I will happily admit that the NHS is far from perfect. But despite its faults and its critics it remains a constant and for that I am eternally grateful.

Finally, to any who remain critical I give you this.

The World Health Organisation ranks Britain’s healthcare as 18th in the world, while the US is in 37th place

Says it all really.

First off, I’m sorry once again – this blog seems to have died a million deaths these last 2 months.. and rather than taking time to reconnect, I seem to be adding more and more to my plate – I am now officially a blogger for Review Artists and part of the Bright Young Folk admin team.So from having absolutely no experience at the beginning of the year, I now seem to have more on my plate than I can deal with.

Add to this that I have to create my audio-visual MA masterpiece and  find a job… life is a little busy. But who’s complaining!

I have a couple of blogs in the pipeline as we speak, but for the moment I would like to direct you to other outlets for my wisdom.

Why musicians are on twitter

We’re all going on a musical journey!

Festivals going ‘green’ - see how my MA project is progressing (I have photos and videos now!)

And I’ll be back on the ball soon, I promise!

This week it’s been impossible to open the paper without seeing at least one article denouncing the likelihood of me graduating with a job in October. With at least 50 graduates applying for every position, the odds are, unfortunately, stacked against me. It’s doom and gloom reading.

But it wasn’t ’til today that the reality of Recession finally hit home.

When I was in Madrid I didn’t get on with my housemates. As a result I used to spend as much time out as possible. My favourite hideaway was a small cafe on the Glorieta de San Bernardo – just opposite the metro station. First discovered on a particularly windy day back in October 2005, we were enticed inside by the prospect of proper toast and jam – not this pan de molde rubbish. 4 months later, when I moved into the city from Majadahonda, I discovered I lived right round the corner and the rest was history.

I’ve been back to Madrid twice since I left in 2006 – both times I was warmly welcomed back by the owners Luis and Jose – and as a result whenever I think of my time in Spain I invariably think first of the cafe, sitting in the corner reading some book or another that I’d picked up from the second hand bookshop round the corner.

Today though, I found out that the cafe closed. It was no longer making any money. There’s no room for sentimentality in a Recession.

With the amount of media coverage dedicated to the effects of the credit crunch here in the UK, it’s easy to put on the blinkers and think that it’s only happening to us. But Spain has been deeply feeling the crunch since the beginning of the year and analysts expect it to be the worst they have faced for 50 years. We are not alone, so why are we seeking out individual solutions.

I’m not an economist, I have no financial background -  save for 6 weeks as a PA in a bank, but it would seem we are all fighting the same battle and yet are fighting against each other. Consequently, it is the little people who suffer.

I’ve always been left feeling slightly embarrassed by overt displays of pariotism – even singing the National Anthem makes me feel uncomfortable. So it’s probably not that surprising to hear I’ve never celebrated St George’s Day.

But a couple of weeks ago [sorry] I found myself shoulder-to-shoulder with the flag waving brigade in the shadow of Nelson’s Column.

It was all in aid of celebrating the huge variety of musical styles that British Folk has spawned. From Northumbria to Dartmoor via India and Zimbabwe, it would seem that Folk is not only still alive and kicking, it is evolving and experimenting, and attracting a whole new audience as a result.

But the celebration has provoked rumbles of discontent in the die-hard folk brigade, and not in the way you might think.

For centuries music has been used to cement ideologies and identities – just look at the Russian composers writing at the time of the Revolution or the hymns sung by anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. ‘Folk’ is no different. Traditionally the music of the people, its songs and tunes have been the people’s reaction to the situation and issues of the age. But more recently its revival in America during the time of the civil rights movement has meant that modern ‘folk’ has had a distinct socialist vibe.

So was it right for Boris Johnson to use the genre, and some of the country’s leading artists, to celebrate a day, which has, for all intents and purposes, been hijacked by the extreme Right? Well in all fairness, there was little politics at the concert itself – it seemed that most people had come to enjoy, what turned out to be a sunny day in London with some awesome music thrown in.

And as for the artists, they did all – in one way or another – keep the ‘protest’ tradition alive – with Bishi raising a round of applause when she came on stage wearing a fabulous dress encorporating both the Indian and Union flags. And her song Indian Skin definitely questionned what it is to be considered British. And with tracks like ‘Rise Up’ it would seem that the Demon Barbers embody the traditional folk spirit in a modern fusion style.

Folk is evolving - it needs to if it’s going to stay fresh. But I would hope it remains a genre ‘of the people’ and a space where we can make sense of the issues which surround us.

I went to the gig in my new role as a ‘contributor’ to the Daily Music Guide. As a result I was able to interview the very wonderful Netsayi.

Listen to my interview below -  or read my review on the site!

For those of you wondering why I haven’t updated for a while – sorry

Thanks for being such regular readers! I sometimes get the impression of being a midnight radio presenter – broadcasting to a sleeping world.

It’s been a bit hectic of late – first with exams, then crazy journeys, then more exams and a stint as a runner at the Seth Lakeman Minack gig… more about that later.

But while you wait head over and see how things are progressing with my MA project.

This way if you please……

Or enjoy the articles I’ve been writing for the Daily Music Guide

For me computer games begin and end with Lemmings. I just don’t have the patience to work out the key sequences for anything flashier. But now the age of the Wii and XBox is upon us it would seem that computer games are branching out…

So, last night I went to ‘band practice’.

Without regular rehearsals or any real reason to practice  I have  recently neglected my various musical ventures. I honestly can’t remember the last time I sang anywhere apart from in my car. And despite resolving back in January to crack out my violin at one of the many Open Mic Nights in Falmouth, the last time I played my violin properly was when I took my grade 8 two years ago.  And as a result I found my ass being kicked by a computer game!

Make derogatory comments if you wish, shout about the lack of musicality but you cannot deny the popularity of Guitar Hero and the like.

But as I watched my compatriots keep in time to the beat and rock out on complex chord sequences it made me wonder… can you really learn to play an instrument via a computer game? It is claimed, for example, that if you can consistently play at expert level on the drums, you can recreate that performance on the real thing!

If guitar hero teaches you anything it’s hand eye coordination and an awareness of rhythm and beat. It also introduces the notion of tonality through the different coloured ‘frets’ to the guitar and the graphic score used for the vocals. No, there is no score as such but the colour-coding is not that dissimilar to colourstrings (a way of teaching the violin which gives each of the strings a different colour).

Technical prowess is, however, only one part of learning an instrument. And unfortunately the other elements can’t be taught via an electronic medium.  But it was an interesting experience. When I first went along I expected to be good at it, I mean surely if you can play an instrument you’re in with a fighting chance. But where music is organic and embraces the individual’s interpretation of the notes in front of them, a computer is no way near as forgiving. Consequently I failed. Epically!

So can a computer game ever ‘rock’… well there’s only one way to be sure, and that’s to line up some of the world’s most famous and talented musicians and see how they fare. (Maybe I’ll try this one day). Failing that give it a go yourself.. Trust me, it’s an eye-opener!

Now I have been known to do some strange things at times… voluntarily spending 3 days on a non-smoking train with a chain smoker comes to mind (although if I’d had my way he’d've been out at Broken Hill!). But driving 3 hours to Plymouth and back for a concert…. you’d have to be mad. Right?

Well, it was standing room only in the White Rabbit on Tuesday as Seth Lakeman serenaded us all in an ‘intimate’ gig – warming up, no doubt, for the slightly more salubrious surroundings of the Royal Albert Hall! But nonetheless, it was a chance to see once again a master performer at work…. and also glimpse a rare smile from Ben!

All the old favourites were there, mixed in amongst some new material. And whilst I was a little disappointed that Scrumpy’s set and Blood Red Sky didn’t get an airing, we definitely got value for money.

Kicking off with The Hurlers, it seemed that high energy was the order of the night. And compared with his last gig in Falmouth, it seemed like the ‘audience,’ despite their age, were willing to move along in time with the beat.

As always, it was his fiddle playing that really impressed me. His bow moves with almost hypnotic speed… and whilst I’ll try not to sound too bitter, please take it as read that I am insanely jealous!

[Ed. I am currently at odds with my violin. Being classically trained doesn't mean I want to play Mozart for the rest of my life!]

Kitty Jay, in particular, blew me away.

From the first double-stop to its frenzied finale, I was entranced. And it stands as testament not only to his technical prowess, but also to his fantastic performance.

Whilst violin teachers may look in horror at his crouched stance, it serves to draw in even the most neutral observer. You physically have to lean in. From then the rhythm takes over and so by the time he does stand, there is no escaping the intensity of the solo violin.

He uses his bow almost like a painter uses a brush. But instead of a canvas, he imposes his will on his audience. and we willingly give in to the music.

As much as I love my music collection, it’s always been the ugly sister to the live performance. The very nature of recording tracks in a studio and perfecting them over time takes away some of the spirit of the track. It is only when played live do you experience the raw power of the sound.

And so that’s why I went to Plymouth last night – some artists are simply worth the 120 mile round trip!

Yes, it was a long night, yes I got stitched up on the parking and yes, it was humiliating when the bouncer asked me for ID, but it was totally worth it!

Decision day!

We won’t be burning our rubbish in Cornwall!

It’s been a long, drawn-out process… there have been cries of corruption and reports being spiked, but the County Council has refused planning permission to build a waste incinerator in the county.

I have to say, having followed the proposals since I arrived in the county in September, I am overjoyed.

It makes absolutely no sense to burn our rubbish.

More later…..

I was once told that the strip of yellow between the land and the sea is a highway. It’s only purpose is to get you from your house/car to the surf and back again. But that’s not to say that it shouldn’t be kept clean.

I include this advert because it makes a valid point about the state of the oceans… I’m not promoting Smirnoff!

Spring is in the air; time to do a spot of Spring cleaning!

I used to hate it when we had to do litter picking at school, my teenage brain couldn’t understand exactly what it was our PSE teacher wanted us to learn from the exercise. ‘Surely this is someone else’s job?’ Fastforward 10 years and I finally get it.

And so I spent this morning with a number of like-minded individuals cleaning the debris of modern life from the beach at Porthtowan.

Of the rubbish that I picked up I saw two definite variants. On one hand you have the inevitable fishing related rubbish – cut off rope from lobster pots or nets etc, and on the other there is PLASTIC.

Cantankerous Frank ¦ Marc Roberts

In Coastliners the life of the community revolves around the beach and the knowledge that, give it enough time, everything retuns. But it doesn’t always return in the same state in which it left.

Whilst plastic may take an age and a day to biodegrade (if it indeed does), it breaks very easily when subjected to the force of the open sea resulting in a ‘plastic soup.’  On the beach this constitutes a challenge to pick up, but in the sea it is impossible.

An island paradise?

Kamilo Beach is the most polluted in the US. Miles away from any sort of ‘civilisation’ the beach is littered with plastic products which have arrived via the ocean currents. This is an extreme example but if an island paradise can be polluted in this way, what hope is there for those beaches which are connected to towns or villages.

I mostly came accross lollipop sticks and fishing twine. The latter I expected, but unless the good people of Porthtowan have eschewed dental hygiene in preference for sweet treats, the former must have come from the rolling surf at the other end of the beach.

All this reminded me of a story I read when I was younger, an extract of which I have quoted below…

When the King threw another party, and the whole of one village did not turn up, he was a little bit worried.  He asked if anyone knew what had happened, and they told him that it was the strangest thing, the whole village had been buried under a huge pile of empty bottles, cans, paper plates, sweetie wrappers, crisp packets, pizza boxes, banana skins, apple cores, cartons, ice cream pots, plastic cups, plates, cutlery, napkins, decorations, and left over food.

King Wastealot and the Mountain of Rubbish, Bright New Scotland

As far as I can see it marine pollution and really the problems litter in general stem from our general disrespect for the world around us. Too often are things thrown out rather than being fixed – so often it is the cheaper option.

As a result it will be the natural environments which surround us who will suffer the most because unlike in the advert above, the sea cannot fight back.

Listen to my radio feature on the Porthtowan beach clean. Produced for The Tremough Show.

Yes I know it is a phono (I angered the tech gods and my M-Audio did not work )

Has the Christian community have forgotten what it is to Love?

[Ed. I have been trying to write this blog (in various guises) for a while, but I have never really known how to phrase it. I am sure that some may find the contents slightly uncomfortable, but if you could refrain from condemning me to an eternity of flaming torment I would appreciate it. So here goes.]

Let love be your only debt! If you love others , you have done all that the Law demands.

Romans 13:8

Since Richard Dawkins unveiled his new “Atheist” bus back in December there has been no shortage of religion-based stories. From calls to make Thought for the Day a more inclusive forum to Papal warnings about the Facebook phenomenon, to  Dr Rowan Williams supporting the disestablishment of the CofE, it would seem that the entrance of the Routemaster has brought our religious consciousness to the fore.

Unfortunately, for some this spiritual awakening has been moulded into a force for hate.

“They tell me to burn in hell and good riddance.”

David Attenborough

A recent article published in the Guardian has revealed that around half of Britons do not believe in Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, with 22% believing in a Creator or some sort of intelligent design.

[Ed. This is neither the time or place to get into a discussion over the various theories surrounding the creation of the universe, but if anyone is interested in finding out my personal thoughts, please click here.]

In a digital age it takes a lot to move someone to put pen to paper, it takes more time and is less comodious than the computer. In other words you’d have to be overcome by a huge wave of emotion, which, in this case, must be Anger.

Last month the Frontline club rescreened “America’s most hated family” in which Louis Theroux follows the Phelps family as the wage a hate war against America. All in the name of God.

The CofE is often accused of watering down the Bible in order to be inclusive, but if this is true then the religious Right are guilty of ignoring the teachings of Christ by continuing to pursue hate campaigns.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. This is the first and most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, “Love others as much as you love yourself.” All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets [c] are based on these two commandments.

Matthew 22: 37-40

Anger, hate, condemnation – not really compatible with a God of Love, are they?

So much to do with Religion is political. The various denominations of the Christian Church are entrenched in a battle for supremacy and it seems that the message of Christ is the ultimate loser.

I will never agree with those like the Phelps family who would quicker condemn than offer a helping hand. I do not worship a God who is vengeful or quick to judge but one who gave His life so that we might have a meaningful relationship. So if you want to send hate mail to David Attenborough or protest at a funeral pleae don’t do it and still call yourself a Christian.

Before I finish I wan’t to quickly refer back to Dawkins’ big red bus. At school I was told there are 3 types of belief. There are those who believe wholeheartedly in a specific God, those who believe that there is a “divine” presence but aren’t really sure as to what it is and those who believe without doubt that there is no higher power what-so-ever. Believers, Agnostics and Atheists. So what was with the “probably?” If you are going to take your message to the people on the side of a London Routemaster it’s always best to say it with confidence. Then we can have a reasoned argument.