The Corrupted

I've sadly come to the end of this series on BBC Sounds https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b050z5cf

Fifty eight episodes aiming squarely at those in power, both in the larger political sense; in individual institutions, like prisons and The Met; and in personal relationships. The series pulls no punches. GF Newman, the author of the original book, The Corrupted, cleverly interweaves his characters through real political and historical events, so Joey Oldman (or Lord Olinska as he eventually becomes) meets historical characters we all know as he corruptly, without scrupples, with no morality, makes his way to the top, or near it any way.

The story begins in 1953 and ends just after Goron Brown took over from Blair. The series is not for the faint hearted, so if you you have difficulty with very offensive racist and sexual language and a large dose of violence, avoid. But if you are interested in the underbelly of British society and in corruption in high places (and low ones) you won't be disappointed. Personally, I thought it was brilliant. There are some fab performances, as usual Toby Jones is excellent but Joe Armstrong and Ross Kemp are super as the "hero" of the piece, Brian.

Austerity.

These poems about the cruelty of the UK Tory Government are well worth a look, and a link. The website is called austerity, https://thisisausterity.uk/

 Best read about the poems and the project there. But here's a short example:

01 she was not ill enough

Posted on July 29, 2022

She died of a lung condition.

Her husband agreed the life support machine be turned off.

The same day

the Department declared

she was not ill enough

to receive benefits.

[Daily Mirror, 08/01/2016, Dead mum not ill enough for payouts]

https://thisisausterity.uk/about-this-project/

Shaun Gardiner

CDs all over the kitchen table.

 

Now, everyones' music is invisible, so no longer, when you go to their house can you have a nosey through their LPs, CDs or tapes. Musical tastes are hidden, tucked up in the cloud. And to make matters work everyone listens on headphones, inaudible, you can't even hear what folk like. 

I did dispose of a few CDs today, although I might go back through the box before we head to town tomorrow, perhaps I'll "forget" to pick the box up for the car, but they'll be charity shop bound sooner than later.

Treasures were unearthed, old friends revisited, or at least queued up.