It can be daunting to visit a blog for the first time; there’s a lot of entries, they’re set out weirdly and becoming involved in the conversation may seem quite intimidating.
This page is supposed to demystify why I write about the topics you’ll find on the blog, and I hope act as a brief introduction to me.
What I’m interested in:
I write this blog because it helps me think and learn. I’m interested in how we develop better forms of civic engagement and how tools like blogs can help shape and contribute to political debate. I tend to focus on local politics and policy but not innuendo, smears or gossip.
I like music so I sometimes write about that too.
Comments:
I welcome comments, and will always try to respond to what people say. I think that debate is healthy so by all means challenge what I’m saying, tell me where you think I’m right and where I should think again.
A bit about me:
I’m a Lewisham resident, a Labour Party activist, and a former councillor. In November 2006 I became a governor of a federation of local schools. I’ve got a young family but this blog isn’t about them.
Musically I’ve got catholic tastes, but particularly like indie and folk rock, classic punk and soul.
I took the name of this blog – Someday I Will Treat You Good – from a song by Sparklehorse.
Finally here’s a photo of me should you happen to pass me on the street I’d love it if said hello.
Someday I Will Treat You Good 
Hi Andrew,
I wonder if you can help me. I believe there’s a Lewisham Labour Party meeting tonight (14th November) which is discussing education. Both Ruth and I wanted to attend. It’s in our diary but we can’t find any details of where or when….
If you can help please email me on the above (work) address.
Sincerely
Richard
Hi Andrew, sorry I haven’t ventured over to your new blog until now.
Reading about you learning to cook reminds me of myself doing the same in the early 80s. I was getting divorced and decided that I needed two things urgently, a washer and being able to cook, both so no-one could say I’d gone down hill without her, which was most certainly NOT the case!
Anyway the washer was easy and the learning to cook seemed to be as well, I merely bought a book on the subject. Being new to the game, I bought one that I thought looked reasonable by….Robert Carrier! I read the thing like a novel and mastered it, but I thought EVERY recipe started with “take 6 lobsters!!” I was always skint and overweight, but at least I cooked my way into the affection of wife no2.
You look like a born natural chef to me.
regards
nick
Hi Nick, too kind!
I just had a look at a Carrier book the other day and boy did it look v. complicated. Anyway glad to see your blog is going from strength to strength.
Hi Andrew,
after hearing you talking so much about your website and blog on the last BLGC. I just wanted to have a short look. I am really impressed. Especially because I am not very talented in those question. Your site looks really professional and is an absolutely great example how to use the Internet for political discussion.
I would be glad, if we had more sites of that quality. Especially as Germany’s Socialdemocrats are concernd.
Best wishes
Seb.
Thanks Seb, the look of the site isn’t too difficult to set up – WordPress gives you some templates that are very easy to change and modify.
When I started blogging I had absolutely no techie skills, but I suppose you do pick them up as time goes by. Still don’t have a clue what the real techies are on about half the time though! 🙂
Hi Andrew
I came across your site whilst undertaking a web search with regards to Environmental citizenship. As I am a current student undertaking a Masters, I was interested to see people such as your self connecting with others with interests that pertain to the course I am studying.
My subject on sustainable development reaches across many areas of political, economic and social persuasion that for many can be a difficult area to digest.
Whats your view
All the best
Andrew
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for your comment. I’m not quite sure about difficult to digest. Certainly we don’t all practice sustainable development, and so I suppose there are barriers to overcome philosophically and economically. My guess would be that it is the economic imperative that will need to change the most. Either traditional forms of development need to become much more expensive, or sustainability needs to be much more economically attractive to change the balance of what goes on.
You’re right that those of us interested in the subject don’t fit into neat boxes. Whether we’d all stress the need for balance between the three legs that make up sustainable development – economic, environmental and social – is open to question, but at least we’re looking to challenge the orthodox.
Hi Andrew, I’ve never seen an intro to a blog like this before. What a good idea! Excellent choice of video by the way. I’m off to see them in Brum next month. Should be fab!
Thanks John. I think I nicked the idea from someone else but it’s not a bad way to say hello to people who drop by and give them a sense of me and the blog.
Have fun at the gig.
Hi Andrew
I live in Eliot Park and I think you used to be one of my local councillors. I wonder if you could point me in the right direction, and if you have any views on the situation developing at John Roan School. (I notice you are a School Governor too so this should strike a chord). The situation is neatly summed up on http://www.johnroancampaign.com/ and in a nutshell the (Labour) Greenwich Council appear to be involved in an outrageous attempt to appease developers, and raise cash, at the expense of the local community.
School catchment areas cross local boundaries, and I think this is a very real issue for people living in the north-east of Lewisham as secondary school ‘choice’ is limited enough as it is. What I find astonishing about this is not just the appalling plans that they seem set on imposing on the people they are supposed to represent, but the underhand way they are going about it. I am a governor at a local primary school, whose kids this is really going to effect, and we have been offered no opportunity to see the proposal, much less comment on it, before it is apparently being rammed down everyone’s throats.
Please could you let me know who I should contact in the local Labour hierachy to see what their views are on this. It appears that the Greenwich Labour Party have closed ranks around the leadership. Even Nick Raynsford shows little sign of wanting to get involved (can we assume from this that he isn’t going to stand again?). Thx
Hi Noel,
Yes your memory is right and I was your councillor.
Sorry my knowledge of Greenwich politics is pretty slender, but it looks like Alex Grant might be a good bet – he’s on the John Roan Foundation.
All the best,
Andrew
Dear Andrew,
Thank you for your help and about Flock.com. If you stop over you can see I am getting along quite nicely now, thank you.
I notice you have so many buttons and widgets. I haven’t yet figured out how or where to paste ad copy. Perhaps you could send me an E-mail. I have it on my original “Sleeping Kitten – Dancing Dog!” site and wish to add a few things.
I am posting from USA newr Washington, DC (ten minutes to the east). When we get back to London, I will let you know so you can come to The Jazz Cafe`in Camdentown. My husband’s group plays there every couple of years.
By the way, I am enjoying your posts. Your site is lovely.
Great day and Cheers!
Theresa111
Hi Andrew,
just wanted to let you know that I am very pleased, that the party followed my personal preference in the question of the Deputy Leadership. 😉
Joan and I had a good guess. 😉
I think Harriet and Gordon will do an excellent job for the party.
Hope you´re well.
Best wishes.
Seb.
Big bro, can’t play the Sparklehorse video (UTube must have pulled it)… but I love your blogsite. You are so clever! Maybe you can help me sort something out for a ‘risk management’ blog site at Christmas?
Can’t wait to see you all,
Little sis
You said to challenge you on what you believe so lets get fairly fundamental about politics shall we – so lets see now cut to the chase – how do you stand on the issue of law enforcement and specifically this particular issue of it:
You lot intend to introduce an ID card scheme which I refuse to take part in – I will never carry one and even if you force one into my hand I will burn it in front of you – so exactly what are you going to do about that ???
I would prefer to live like an illegal alien without a passport in my own country than accept that card and so I am asking you, what will become of the countless thousands of others like me who will march to your government offices and burn their cards???
I suggest you drop the whole thing because to me it looks like any government that tries to impose it is going to end up in the same situation as poll tax demonstrations – Which by the way I was proud to take part in.
But please I am interested wholeheartedly in your answer!
Hello U dont know me, can’t say I’ve given ID cards much thought, beyond not being terribly convinced they’ll be a panacea to the security issues that face us, or that the aim is to reduce our civil liberties in a totalitarian fashion.
As for what’ll happen to the refusnics if/when the card comes in, well that’ll depend I guess on how many of you there are, what the law says and what the state can afford in terms of prosecuting you.
And while the poll tax seems a good example to me (I too marched) of a policy introduced in the face of overwhelming (and organised) political resistance, whether ID cards become a similar touchstone issue we’ll have to wait and see.
Thanks for choosing Fufu Stew… Just like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolate, you never know what you’re gonna get.
Peace and blessings.
Hi Andrew,
I’m a Journalism MA student at Goldsmiths university, and I’m doing some research into crime and policing in Lewisham for a course project. As a prominent figure in the community, I was wondering if you could please tell me 3-4 issues that you think are the most important facing the borough now? (They don’t have to involve crime or policing).
Thank you for your time,
enjoli
ps. I’m sorry if this has appeared twice, I’m new to blogging.