These are the strangest of days and yet the most straightforward. Days I don’t want to be on my own, reading a bewildered Twitterfeed. Or listening to ‘life is still comfy and all about us and the headliners’ reports from Glastonbury. Democracy with all its random chance has happened and I need the company of my friends. 
Makers, bakers, bikers, creators, engineers, gardeners, fixers, builders, artists, actors, organisers, thinkers, dreamers and doers. I am so glad to know you and be one of you.
In Liverpool, our European City. Making what we can of our disused Higson’s Brewery, our reused Red Brick Vintage.
And the evening before, the day democracy spoke, up at Make Liverpool in the North Docks we told stories of the past we’ve had and the futures we might make together. And I sang this song of love and reassurance by Herman Hupfeld. From 1931, in a changing world:
“You must remember this
A kiss is still a kiss
A sigh is still just a sigh
The fundamental things apply
As time goes byAnd when two lovers woo
They still say I love you
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time goes byMoonlight and love songs – never out of date
Hearts full of passion – jealousy and hate
Woman needs man – and man must have his mate
That no one can denyIt’s still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by”
Thanks for the photo Robyn Dooley.
The world will always welcome lovers, and butchers and bakers, bikers, creators, engineers, gardeners, fixers, builders, artists, makers, actors, organisers, thinkers, dreamers and doers. Making what we can and want and need – out of where we are.
In these strangest of days I have confidence in all of the people around me and in my country. To cling together, to not be divided by those who would divide us, and to make a better and fairer world for us all. Capitalism has failed us. Whitehall politics has failed us. But we will not fail each other – on that you can rely.
So thank you Emily, Jessica, Jayne, Jennifer, Sarah, Tom, Debs, Gina, Dave, Simon, Robyn, Fiona, Andrew, Mina, Laura, Erika, Nicola, Allan, Lucy, Alex, Kirsten, Liam and so many others.
For the honour and the comfort of your company xx
Thanks also to the Red Brick musicians, Baz on guitar and Rod on violin. Really great.
So heartened by your comments Ronnie and in them I strongly believe. We’re all totally knocked sideways over here but as you so rightly say, very, very glad of the support and camaraderie of butchers, bakers, candlestick and music makers and creators and great friends. Together we will survive!!xxxx
Hi Lindsay, in many ways it feels like we’re on our own now, yet on our own also feels like a strong place to be. With each other for friends we will more than survive – and France is really as close to us all as you were before Thursday xx
Let’s hope now that people of goodwill – and there are plenty of them – will start to take power to themselves in their communities given this failure of governance.
It’s because we are already doing that I don’t feel as desperate as I might. It’s been some years since I had any confidence at all in Whitehall politics.
With eyes and ears open, how could one?
And since the vote too many of then have made it clear they don’t know what leadership and calm dignity is. Pompous, preening, scheming shysters on both sides. Mightily put out because they’ve derailed their precious careers.
Was delighted to hear of the resignation of Corbyn’s shadow cabinet…perhaps he might now feel able to fill their places with M.P.s who want to change their constituents’ lives, not paper over the cracks. Mark you, given the way selection has gone over the last few decades he might find it difficult to make up the numbers.