Comments on: moving in esteemed circles

By: Ali P

Ali P — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 13:11:00 +0000

Interesting facts. Also, I have to say I’ve experienced the skills of the Polish twice and both times they have been awesome- great work ethic. We had builders in to re-decorate Steve’s flat and do some re-plastering and they worked like machines….looking at us as if we were bonkers when we offered them tea and biscuits! Roll on Snapper tonight Mr Shippers. x

By: jonathan

jonathan — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 12:11:00 +0000

My mum hired a cleaner for quite a few years, and calls herself a socialist, and, actually, I don’t think it does entirely fly in the face of socialism, no. But I always remember that I had that classic liberal middle class socialist thing of being a bit squeamish about the fact that we had a cleaner – it just seemed a step too close to being a toff!

I’m actually reading about immigration at the moment, and you could argue that if we all spent a lot less time attending feel-good charity concerts aimed at ending global politics and spent more time hiring and paying migrant workers like Steve’s polish cleaner, we’d do a lot more to alleviate world poverty. Current aid is appallingly low ($79bn a year) and yet people from poor countries working in rich ones send home around $480bn a year, more than six times as much aid as we provide. Unfortunately, our govt is looking to limit, rather than encourage, immigration.

So actually, you could argue that hiring the cleaner is quite a socialistic gesture.

Still like teasing you about it, though

By: Ali P

Ali P — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:26:00 +0000

I honestly can’t see what’s wrong with having a cleaner. You acknowledge a deficit in your time, or your time is too precious/in short supply to keep your house clean, you employ an expert who’s much better than you, you give that person a job and you pay them well….seriously. Better than most temp positions. AND you leave them appreciative messages and tips and pressies during the festive season. Is this flying in the face of socialism entirely? Some people actually enjoy cleaning you know. I used to be one of them.

The ex-compton ave cleaning lady x

By: jonathan

jonathan — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:06:00 +0000

“I don’t employ a cleaner. Steve employs a cleaner”.

Ha ha, yeah, OK, I was being a bit unfair! I’m only jealous and masking the fact that I’d secretly like a cleaner behind a thin facade of social conscience…

By: Ali P

Ali P — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:49:00 +0000

I don’t employ a cleaner. Steve employs a cleaner, and he’s a tory boy through and through (spitting noises). Last week he funnily put a ‘Balham Young Conservatives’ newsletter in my bag and I felt violated and sickened.

We can’t discuss politics or we’d not be together. And if my dad EVER found out, there would be tears. And no, Dad doesn’t know he employs a cleaner.

By: jonathan

jonathan — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 11:32:00 +0000

It was nice to meet you finally, Andrew – hopefully we’ll get a better chance to chat in the future. Once I have taken over your party and bent it to my ill-thought-out trotskyite agenda, obviously…

Elsewhere, good point, Dan: what does your socialist dad think of you employing a cleaner, Ali?

By: dan

dan — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 11:28:00 +0000

Forgive me Comrade Ali for having all this time overlooked your Socialist credentials ; )

I’m reminded by all this talk on Blogs today of the trip to London of that episode of Citizen Smith where Wolfie storms Parliament single handed to secure “Freedom for Tooting”.

Ali’s Dad used to watch this I bet!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8f_d7WNjiY

By: Ali P

Ali P — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:28:00 +0000

Oh come on J, you must have texted everyone in your phonebook, I got two telling me where you were, and was quite confused, so pleased to understand the context. Andrew’s site is so impressive, I’m going to forward it to my dad; a staunch supporter. I used to be taken out of primary/secondary school near elections to canvass leaflets and stand and cross off names at the polling booths!

By: Andrew Brown

Andrew Brown — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 06:11:00 +0000

Glad you had fun, sorry not to have talked to you for longer.

Of course next time I’ll have to point at you and scream “entryist” or something.

By: jonathan

jonathan — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 19:57:00 +0000

It was good – if you’ve not been to the House of Commons you should go, it’s a really impressive building. Going to one of the bars felt like quite a privilege!

Blog design’s not been altered but I did switch to a different font, just for a change. Look OK?