Gibraltar 2015 Election Year

Only 2 more days and we are firmly into the New Year and all expectations, hopes and dreams lay before us until the 31st December when we look back and realise that most of them lay at our feet in tatters.
If you follow Gibraltar politics then you will already be used to the cut and thrust of the blame game that serves as debate on our shores. If any country and its political class needed a kick up the arse, slap round the head and a severe ticking off by the headmaster/headmistress/Nun in charge. It's this lot. A recent Viewpoint which is what we have in place of the UK's Question time, in our case it should be called 'Dodge the Question Time' had our two party leaders happily digging away with some bright sparks of real entente cordial including the now infamous abrazos. Keen to point out they are the new generation of politician after the years of bickering between the two former leaders and Chief Ministers' Joe Bossano & Sir Peter Caruana. Apart from the obvious apparatchicks the general voter believes the only change are the voices.
Before the December 2011 election we were served a bland soup of what they haven't done in 16 years and what we will do. Followed - after winning the election - by currently 3 years of what we have started to do and what they didn't do in the previous 16. This kind of government has to stop before there is a meltdown and the U.N. have a mile long queue of Gibraltarians asking for a peace keeping force armed with school canes.
However for the general voter it is quite clear that after a very shaky start the current Chief Minister Fabian Picardo has not only grown into the role but has carried out his duties effectively and on the whole professionally. Mistakes will always be made but his years waiting for Mr Bossano to step aside have given us a Chief Minister that it seems is doing very well thank you very much both at home and abroad. It's just neither he nor his Ministers seem capable of carrying that confidence into Parliament and into their press releases. The Press Office at No6 is looking more amateur by the week and stories of all requests for interviews must go through them is frankly North Korean in its attitude - did you see what I did there Chief Minister? This inability to be straight with their answers in any forum means it looks like they are hiding something: which from the party that promised transparency is like giving the electorate the finger.

The recent cabinet reshuffle has created speculation of an early election possibly in May or June at the latest. It could also be seen as a strengthening of Picardo's position with the party, I say party and not an alliance because it is clear they are an alliance by name only as the Liberal manifesto was pretty much the GSLP manifesto and on everything they follow the lead of the GSLP. Which is fine because it gives us Joe Garcia, who wouldn't have been in Government without it and he is worth the votes. So, early election? Will the Government line up be the same or will they take their new found position in the polls as a 'time for change'? (I did it again there.)
The biggest question on the street at the last election was "Is Picardo good enough to run Gibraltar?" The biggest question now is; "Who can challenge him?" I think I'm right in saying no political party has ever only had one term in office so they seem a shoe in the worrying thing for opposition party members and exec's is they might have to endure more years than they planned in opposition unless they can seriously rethink their strategy too.

Well done Spain. Of course I am happier because Torres and Mata both treated shamefully by Del Bosque scored having both been on probably no more than 10 minutes. Oh yeah Del Bosque will now be heralded as a genius instead of a plank but if they'd lost through their persistent passing it around he'd have been crucified. What use that great run in the first 10 minutes down the right to cross into the centre for no one because they are all in the midfield .. 4-3-3 my arse. England I feel have nothing to worry about Roy should now get the F.A. and the rest of these fools off his back and give the qualifiers a go including a new approach in regard to players. I like his initial selections but he failed to keep them when he left Oxlade Chamberlain out of the final game and kept Young, Walcott and Milner who really had a poor tournament. In fairness to Walcott he had one flash of Arsenal form but really looked out of his depth otherwise. Shame because I hoped he was our answer on that side. Technically I don't buy every pundits argument, our players are gifted but we are bit players in our own league preferring expensive imports to home grown talent. The reasoning for ever increasing coaches also doesn't wash I think we need just less pressure on our youngsters and more about having fun with the ball. Pele, Best, Maradonna and the like played all day everyday with tennis balls if they had too, it was practise and effort not coaching that got them recognised. The coaching comes when the skills are already in abundance. You can't coach talent but you can nurture it. I'd like one chance in charge of England, it'd never happen for many reasons but give me those players for 5 games and I bet me or any other football fan could do the job and equal our experts so far. We beat Spain recently and our next friendly is against Italy I bet we beat them too but funny when you have to work at a win we often lack the confidence or is it the freedom to express ourselves in a knockout game.  Finally many pundits talk about how great this Spanish team is and talk of the Mexico '70 Brazil side which was class. I'll say two things. One, England were without doubt the best side and should have easily won that World Cup bar a couple of tactical errors. Two Brazil played how they played under the rules that allowed serious contact and tackling the type of which Fabregas and his team mates would not be able to take, except maybe Torres, Mata and Puyol.

England's View

It's over again. Not quite as disappointing as Dan Petrescu ex Chelsea and Rumania putting us out back in 2000 or Sol Campbell's goal being erroneously disallowed against Argentina back in 98 but still gutting. Creating our very own World Record of choosing 5 pen shoot outs from the last 6 tournaments as an exit ploy is not a good thing. To be fair it is a massive amount of pressure and it is equal for both sides but our boys look like they spend most of their day cossetted in wool and take to penalties like a rabbit in headlights. It is part of the game only they can get over it, Chelsea did. I cannot fault their attitude I can however fault our choice of players again. There is no doubt that each and every player did their best and are some of the best players in England but World Class, tbh most are not and even when a player is average sometimes his flash of genuis is what we need, it didn't happen. Who can argue that Milner is an excellent footballer but never world class he looked tired from about 20 minutes in to the game, he stopped covering for Johnson and hardly a single decent cross, the only thing he really does deliver at Man City. Johnson had flashes of why he's been paid big money by Chelsea and Liverpool but on this stage he looked faltering and dodgy. John Terry had a magnificent game almost as if now he is no longer Captain there was a weight gone and he proved the perfect partner for Lescott who was and is also one of our best. Ashley Cole as always excellent, his pen however was nervous. Look them in the eye Ash you are good enough mate.
Ashley Young should like Milner have been removed at half time both need to look at themselves, underperforming is an understatement. Rooney did what he does, ran out of steam but with Andy Carroll might have had success if only his fitness hadn't left him, boy he tries though no doubt. Gerrard and Parker again 'great' but getting cramp so early proved they were working harder than some of their teammates or maybe in spite of them. Wellbeck I think is one that will blossom perhaps that goal with the heel gave him some idea he was already the complete player, he isn't but boy he's good. Overall I believe we ended were our ability put us, I'm disappointed as an Englishman because yet again we've gone home but as a football fan Italy deserved the win. Roy Hodgeson is a safe pair of hands and I think in 2 years he will effect change, let's hope he also has the balls to cut players who although play well for their club don't have that needed skillset to complete the jigsaw that is an England World Cup winning team.

Before you complain, no time for a cartoon, besides England did alright. Speaking of alright well done the Greeks, need something to cheer about don't they. Glad to see Europe's biggest cheats - the Dutch- probably heading out, they cheated their way to the WC final and thankfully it wasn´t enough to help them this time. The sad thing is they have so much genuine talent but would rather fall, dive and cheat instead of fighting on come on Portugal tonight on that one. The Poland/Croatia game was good but as pundits said on the BBC Poland were out of ideas and I think it right that Croatia went through it also put Russia into perspective, bully the world from the security council but you can't dictate when the field is level. I admit to confusion as to why they rather than Greece went out though 'cos the goal difference was there but it was head to head? FIFA forever changing the rules again .. or Sep Blatter/Platini playing power?
Finally England, good to see Walcott who I believe isn't world class yet scoring a great goal and admitting at least facially he wasn't all that sure what happened, I like a bit of humanity and it seems with more youth around him he comes alive. Another argument for ditching the Old Guard. Gerrard was good but needs to be bolder and Wellbeck, was creative and confident, sweet. I don't see why Rooney should be automatic selection for the Ukraine game, stick him on the bench and only use him if we are losing with 20 minutes to go, call it a get us out of jail if you are so good card! England still have a lot to do and beating Ukraine NOT going for the draw as Gordon Strachan says is the right way to go but I wonder if their nerve will hold under pressure, it showed some signs of cracking against Sweden when in reality they were wayyy the better team. John Terry and his play backwards influence taking over or am I being too paranoid about the Old Guard again?
Final note to Roy, Ox-Cham should have had longer on field, don't put doubt in his mind if he was good enough for a first game start he is good enough every game.. unless he's injured.

Euros Begin

So the Euro's kick off with a whimper from the first draw to the bang of Russia and Schevchenko doing for Ukraine what I so wished he'd done more often when he wore a Chelsea shirt. England however have surprised me. Not so much in the lower level of expectation for it is correct but in the way Hodgson in my opinion handled the situation so far. I was as a fan frankly angered by Rio Ferdinand's 'agent' coming out publicly, so obviously mouthpiecing for Rio who didn't dare incase the fans ranked against him. Rio for me has been one of England's talents, ranking alongside, Steve Bruce, Dave Watson maybe even Graham Roberts but not quite reaching the world class of Ashley Cole, Tony Adams or the magnificient Bobby Moore. He always seemed to not quite be utterley safe and his ailing back is also a problem so good on Hodgson for telling it straight. He had cover, didn't need Rio but wanted to do what every Englishman said the F.A. should do after the World Cup fiasco and picked a young new talent. His decision also to give Gerrard in his autumnal years the armband and putting Terry in his box on it was the right thing to do. I've long been an admirer of a midfield captain though I understand why it more often than not is the central defender. The game itself played out well. Milner proved why he is not really a 'first name on the sheet' player with that miss that was so bad and could cost us games if he carries on performing under par. Young showed again promise but I think he needs to shrug off his tendency to fall rather than fight on and overall, yes France had more possession but once we did what we could do and ignored French style of play we showed more than enough talent to beat them .... on another day. I genuinely believe with England it is all down to confidence and the players we have coming through if they can ignore most of the seniors advice and take only the parts that don't affect their own game can do well. Yes John Terry spends his game demanding a ball to him but miss him out and pass it forward, by forward I don´t mean hoof it either I mean pass it for no matter what these pundits say, our footballers can pass a ball when they have to. If they can't then Roy knows what training they need to brush up on. Finally Rooney sat on the bench, who cares what he looked like it's all about what he was. A spoilt brat that lessened our chances against France by his stupid childish behaviour, the same behaviour that has his wife in tears everytime he wants another fondle of a granny for a few quid. Grow up man you earn a fortune luckily enough doing something most of us would dream about and most of us would be glad we are there not so self centred that we'd risk a nations dreams cos we are too big for our boots. Roll on Sweden and if Defoe, Young, Carroll and anyone up front is doing well can I suggest Rooney goes on the subs bench every game until we think he deserves a chance to prove himself again.

I see the media frenzy on Roy Hodgson has already started. It's the let's undermine the manager we don't want so when we fail we can tell everyone how right we were. Glassback, aka Rio Ferdinand has gotten his 'rep' to do the dirty work too. 'I can't believe he's not picked', well to be honest sweetie I can't believe Roy picked half of them, much as I love 'em I among with many other England fans after the debacle of the WC wanted a fresh start. That meant no Ferdinand, Lampard, Terry, Gerrard, Glen Johnstone, Walcott, Gareth Barry, etc etc. Instead we want young (I know Walcott is young but he is pants on a world stage and only looks good cos Arse are so Arse) up and coming players. Yes keep Wayne but tell him one transgression and he is off I'm sick of players who think they have a right to be bad tempered getting away with ruining our chances. Beckham reformed so should he or it's the slag heap. I bet if Roy was left alone and picked a bunch of newly capped teenagers we'd have more passion, football and a little bit of razzamatazz just right for the Jubilee year. Sour faced whingeing overpaid talentless nonentities please stay home and if you want proof the other day I heard a TV pundit say "Of course we are never going to pass the ball and keep possession like other countries" why not? Are we so shite we can never pass a ball .... defeated before we start by the media and morale busters like Ferdinand. BTW that's not rascist just an opinion of the situation incase you are thinking of an excuse to deny I'm right.

Diamond Jubilee

The Diamond Jubilee Weekend is here. Gibraltar is festooned with the flags as it often is but given the recent fishing dispute it seems slightly more British than it might have been. Nothing wrong in that it is human nature. The weather is good the sea is bloody cold and I'm constantly wondering where the weeks are going. Once again the Queen isn't coming and to be fair it's about time she did and bugger the Foreign Office. We are getting Eddie & Sophie which is a bit like being told you've won the lottery and finding out it was only 1 number and 1 star. If UK is ashamed of its past fine but its past is still relevant to some of its dominions and we are one such kid. Except we've grown up a bit and like all young adults want things we are entitled to and if you won't give it then we'll damn well get it ourselves. I wonder if the Chief Minister actually invited the Queen or did some civil servant say "Best not Chief Minister, it's not how things are done you know!" Well I want the Queen not Eddie or Andy or even Charles (though I expect him here after his coronation), it's HM or nothing. Congratulations to Her Majesty have a great Jubilee Year and by the way Easyjet do a cheap return from Gatwick if you don't fancy the trip from Windsor to Heathrow on B.A. Apologies for the less than perfect quality on the cartoon I have no scanner at the moment so it is a photo of the original x

Back from London after 2 weeks with my butt touching the floor on an airbed. My fault of course I should lose weight, air cannot compress enough to form a cushion for such as I. A great event in aid of Hestia called Experiencia check the papers, blogs and twitter its all over that including Gibraltar Magazine and the Gibraltar Chronicle which I wrote... For the models check Facebook and Jonathon Manasco. We did some sightseeing while I was there although the rain did dampen the mood I finally kowtowed and went to see the Lion King. Music excellent, opening sequence excellent but I think Lloyd Webber should see me for his next one. As far as the karate goes no room to train in Stoke Newington lol but I did a little teaching at Northolt dojo. Great to everyone and I enjoyed it even if they thought I was far to tough lol ... bothered .. knee up Ken! Bought a new Gi in Chinatown too a snip at 37 quid.
Been back a few days so got back into my own training today pushing through all Haian kata, Brown belt kata and 2 1st Dan kata. As well as basics and combination work. San Roque for the weekend come on Chelsea tomorrow against the scousers ... Blue is the colour!

A slack week only 3 training sessions of an hour each with the final one learning or rather re learning Bassai Sho and hopefully Kanku Sho. I found on Saturday I'd more or less re-forgotten Kanku Sho but the other is back on board. On Saturday I even wandered out with my Bo staff and went through a basic kata too, was bloody windy mind. I had a look at some gi's in Decathlon I so need new ones as mine are well worn. I might look in London this week.

A shot of us training another day. There is an element of me aerobically being way off course but once my joints warm up the memory kicks in and things take shape. There is now a definite difference between legs in kicking which is odd and I am trying to kick at the same level. Also I have realised how much leg strength I've lost as the Ren geri is wobbly to say the least. For the un initiated ren geri means 4 kicks (Mae geri, yoko geri, ushiro geri and mawashi geri) all with same leg without putting it on the floor till all 4 kicks are completed. Should be done 3 times each leg. Does anyone have a zimmer I can use for balance?

Training Begins

Luckily I'd kept up some kata it is the best way to train as long as you have a camera now and again to view yourself from outside. Those little errors creep in and from you what perceive to be a strong sharp kata actually looks like you did as a white belt. Whenever I taught a lone student I'd get them to critique me too and ask if various points looked reasonable it helps knowing you still want to get better even if they see you as way ahead of them in terms of time served.
Although SEKU recently revisited their haian kata to standardise alongside Nakayama's Best Karate series as well as edicts from the Japanese Karate Association (JKA) via their re printed Karate Kata Vol Book. I had on the whole got (Haian) Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, Godan and Tekki Shodan kata sorted. Mick gave me some tweaks on foot positioning and the usual bollocking for strength over technique failings, sorry I'm a big bloke but I had them in mind. Over the week we also concentrated on the basic techniques needed as well as the combinations. It is now a routine I have going through all the blocks and kicks slowly increasing as the days go by. I had my first blood blister in years after day one! By day 4 things were coming back, we'd cemented the brown belt kata back into my head, Enpi, Jion, Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai and Hangetsu. We also spent a while going over Nijushi Ho my exam kata, at least at this time.

2012 where is time going?

Ages since I last posted and with a new Government in Gibraltar, the 2012 Europeans coming, extortionate hotel prices included  ..can you believe Platini is whining Mr Gravytrain himself? Any I thought I'd diary my journey for the next 6 months as an added incentive for myself. a motivational sort of diary if you get my drift.
I've tried to practise the martial art of Shotokan Karate now for more than 20 years. I first kissed the knuckles back in 1982 under license from the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB). After about 14 months the club dissolved as the instructor was posted (Derek Frame) from RAF Coltishall where I was and I concentrated on football. I'd always wanted to practise karate not Tae Kwan Do or any other and shotokan being the most common it was natural I'd end up there. After a lull of some 7 years I ended up in Portsmouth and started again under license to the then South of England Karate Union, now the Shotokan of England Karate Union (SEKU) around autumn of 1991. To cut a long story short I've been involved ever since taking my 1st Dan in 1995. The move was on to take my 2nd Dan by 1998 latest but unfortunately I had a few setbacks namely ruptured disks, 3 to be precise lower back. It takes around 6 months focussed training and me being the size I am I attempted twice to run up to the exam the first in 19984 months into left me with about 3 weeks in spasm. the second attempt was in 1999 whilst training in London under Sensei Enoeda and his assistant Ohta. This ended in more than a month without sport. It seemed I was doomed.
I have seen all my sempei and kohai move along but travelling around like I did, I end up more often than not training on my own or in some other styles. For example in London alongside shotokan I was studying Ju Jitsu, in Australia for 6 months I studied ju jitsu but also dropped into dojo's far and wide to dabble in Goju Ryu, Pen Kat Silat, Aikido and best of all 90 minutes of a knife defence lesson in Ninjitsu at a dojo in Adelaide. Her ein Gibraltar I spent ages at the Shoto Kai club until my back went, again. But throughout I have kept teaching when asked and trained alone when needed. I'm not giving up yet.
My good friend Stacey Crowe (5th Dan) has been nagging me to take 2nd Dan ever since I nagged him about taking his 4th Dan. so I promised I'd try for a fourth time and I have been up until November 2011 when work interfered with my routine long 11 hour days leave little time when you have a wife to spend some time with. However in February my mate Mick Dewey (8th Dan) came over, i asked if we could do some training so for the next 4 days we did just that and it was the kickstart again I needed.