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Jason E Cooper

~ To Be Kind….Viva L'anarchie….

Jason E Cooper

Category Archives: Local

THE LEFT IS DEAD IN LOCAL POLITICS – JANE AVIS MAY BE THE ONLY ONE LEFT

27 Sunday Jul 2014

Posted by spideysaves in Local

≈ Leave a comment

Whilst involved in South Norwood Tourist Board I have had to mix with a lot of local councillors, MP’s etc in order to get them to actually give a fuck about the area we live in. The Tories hated South Norwood, evidenced by the availability of funds for other areas apart from ours.

Now Labour have got in they have one aim – to remain in power; so when a hard working, dedicated, community councillor, who  isn’t in it for the politics but the pure belief that she can make a difference, only to be thwarted by the party she has given her time for. Tony Benn’s daughter has walked straight into being a candidate for South Croydon (investment banker), Steve Reed took over Croydon North – jobs for the boys I hear you ask?

I have worked closely with Jane over the last two months and found we have a lot in common politically – a belief in social responsibility, community, fairness and is anti corporation and greed. It’s rare to meet a politician with principles but if more politicians were like Jane Avis I’m certain our area would be a nicer place.

SHAME ON YOU LABOUR FOR TURNING YOUR BACK ON SUCH GREATNESS.

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South Norwood came together to tell the council to ‘fuck off’.

02 Sunday Feb 2014

Posted by spideysaves in Fun, Local, Social History

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

SNTB, south norwood

IMG_0721

Up popped a bloke with a stove pipe hat.

Up popped a bloke with a stove pipe hat.

South Norwood came together yesterday for the naming go Lake Conan Doyle, despite the councils bureaucratic attempts to stop us. It was real heart warming to walk up the road to the visitor centre and see approx 100 people waiting for the ceremony to begin. South Norwood is a fantastic place to live, even though Croydon Council are doing their best to turn it into their unwanted relation that is locked in the shed, only given the bare minimum to survive.

Yesterday, we, as the South Norwood Tourist Board, helped unite the community for a day of fun and merriment, for that I thank you all.

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The pub, alcohol and me – an introspective

28 Saturday Sep 2013

Posted by spideysaves in Local, Politics, Social History

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

acceptance, alcohol, curse, drink, pub

Marx famously said that ‘Drink is the curse of the working class’, and whilst I would have never fully agree with that, now I have stopped drinking for a month, I realise how much alcohol is engrained into every fabric of society. Whilst every good plan has usually come from an enlightened moment in the pub, it rarely tends to move on from just that.  Every since I have been 17, Friday night is a night for going out, meeting up with everybody and catching up, drunkenness was simply a consequence of drinking too much but was never the actual aim. It can break down social awkwardness, make you laugh, make you cry and also make you fight.

Whilst pub culture is dying – being taken over by fucking wanky gastro pubs or wine bars, it is the bonding between pub regulars that you never found elsewhere; everywhere I have lived I have made some great friends through the pub (and now the club), they can be the community centres of an area. Workingmens clubs are the real last bastion of working class life, cheap drinks, entertainment, children welcome and no fucking smug rich people.

On the flip side drink is the great solver of all problems (in the short term) anyway, and can be a wonderful escape from the pressures of everyday life – but does this just equate to acceptance. A subconscious understanding that that’s you lot, and there is nothing you can do about it. The next day then becomes depressing, everything you tried to escape is still there – nothing has changed apart from your bank balance.

This is what Marx was getting at – acceptance. Not just acceptance of your own circumstances but acceptance of society, no matter how wrong it is. My view is now bar staff should have pitch forks and burning torches behind the bar, so when you have had enough to drink, no one accepts but goes and chase whatever Frankenstein out from their society.

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The Pub – a celebration of working class society.

14 Wednesday Aug 2013

Posted by spideysaves in Economy, Local, Local History, Politics, Social History

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

class war, community, Pubs

Fuck your shit wine bars, and your gastro pubs – you can’t beat a traditional public house. Throughout my life, moving from place to place, you could always get to know the area and meet people by drinking in the local pub. A local pub can be a centre point for a local community for those who frequent. 

I always get excited visiting a new pub – what beer do they have, the décor, the smell and what food – full marks to a pub that stills sells a ham roll on the bar. The disappointment when you realise its full of middle class wankers, blaring out Coldplay with a menu that’s no cheaper than 12 quid for a shit burger that’s allegedly been hand reared by some Cotswold farmer who knows Jeremy Clarkson don’t you know. Those who know me realise I only drink in ‘untrendy’ places, enjoying the atmosphere of an establishment that hasn’t been gentrified. It’s places like these that help keep history alive – every old pub has a tale, and by closing them destroys a little bit of this country’s heritage.

Recent legislation and greedy breweries have threatened our national heritage, and pubs are closing all over the country. You can guarantee if the pub wasn’t directly associated with the working class, the government would have done a lot more to support the industry.

 

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Croydon Council plan to sell anything that not nailed down.

25 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by spideysaves in Local, Politics, Social History

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

croydon council, Riesco ceramics, south norwood

As Croydon council plan to sell the bequeathed 206 antique Riesco ceramics in order to raise additional council funds, I was wondering what will be next:

  • The stolen paintings from Stanley Halls in South Norwood,
  • Sell it’s name, Croydon sponsored by Sports Direct!
  • Neighbouring boroughs to the rich, once buying football teams becomes boring – they have been disowning South Norwood for years

Its fucking ridiculous (just like the media reaction to ARP), as the Riesco is actually public property, and will remain in Croydon regardless to which party runs the council. It would be like a bank giving your money away, yes you chose them to look after it but that would be beyond their remit.

Croydon Council are a bunch of fucking crooks and will also set a precedent to all other councils. Soon everything will become private with nothing left to the public – tolls on footpaths, privatising the air etc….

51.376165 -0.098234

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Did you ever wonder the point of mini roundabouts?

19 Sunday May 2013

Posted by spideysaves in Local

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Obviously to help the police know where to sit on people!

IMG_0260

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Adrian Bunting may you rest in peace.

12 Sunday May 2013

Posted by spideysaves in Local, Social History

≈ Leave a comment

AdeAde sadly passed away last night leaving behind family and friends who will miss him so.

Brighton Open Air Theatre (BOAT) will be a lasting tribute to someone who brought so much pleasure to so many people.

You will be missed Ade.

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Proposed New Academy School in South Norwood…….

26 Tuesday Feb 2013

Posted by spideysaves in Local, Politics

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……….and it’s at the bottom of my road!

Whilst I dislike academies and free schools for fear that the state schools will simply become dumping grounds for any child that is perceived ‘difficult’, a change is going to come.

There have been proposals for the Arena previously but these have been successfully thrown out, so what will happen with the plans for this school. If building on the Arena is given the go ahead by Greater London Authority, then who knows what will be built there. I personally would rather have an educational institution than another commercial venture; whilst academies can be seen as a business, hopefully the by product is educated children, surely more worthy than another superstore fooling people with their horse products.

And what will happen with our beloved Ryelands Primary School? Hopefully it can use whatever decisions are made to it’s advantage. The school is a blessing in our community, and is slowly becoming one of the best schools in the area, through the pure determination of the staff and not by throwing money at it – )oh what it could do if someone were willing to do that!)

I don’t know where I stand but if the overall long term benefits, help bolster the local community, it can only be a good thing.

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For those who want culture in London……..

28 Friday Dec 2012

Posted by spideysaves in art, Family History, Local, Media, Music

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

art, culture, music, opera, theatre

My father-in-law has just started a blog to review all the events he attends:

http://grandpachris.wordpress.com/

If you are into art, music, theatre, opera etc. this is the blog to follow.

A very cultured man indeed.

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I was shocked……the police have a sense of humour!

22 Saturday Dec 2012

Posted by spideysaves in Family History, Local

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Christmas, humour, paradox, police

Whilst I was waiting in the fishmongers yesterday, a police van and car in tow stopped outside due to traffic lights. Over the tannoy some female copper shouting happy Christmas to all in penge. She the noticed us all in the fish shop and shouted HAPPY FISHMAS to all in the fishmongers.

Oh how we laughed.

Either they were going to a Xmas bash or more likely just finished from the night before.

Maybe an ACAB Christmas do!

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