Re: Uncle Joe in the hot seat.

As you are a communist why don't you choose to live in a communist country like Russia where you can't say what you think, against living in a democratic free speech country like England ?

Re: Uncle Joe in the hot seat.

I had a 'brilliant' teacher in my first year at senior school who taught us 'ancient' history. This piqued my interest which has remained with me ever since. When, a few years ago, I got an opportunity to visit Egypt and see the temples and tombs along the Nile valley I jumped at the chance. Have subsequently visited yprus and seen a huge archeological site in Paphos and later this year will be visiting the island of Rhodes and hopefully seeing some of the ancient tombs and ancient civilisation cities etc. Given all I have said I suppose a favourite part of the world has to be along the Mediterranean - where its warm and a lot more sunny than here.

Re: Uncle Joe in the hot seat.

UJ, would you agree that politics aside, the SYSTEM has bought you to a relatively comfortable place?

Re: Uncle Joe in the hot seat.

UJ - Which politician - past or present, do you have most admiration for and why?

Re: Uncle Joe in the hot seat.

UJ what sort of music do you enjoy ?

Re: Uncle Joe in the hot seat.

Margaret Thatcher, I reckon.

Re: Uncle Joe in the hot seat.

No, far from it - my parents struggled, and I too have had a hard struggle too, now I have to struggle with health issues caused by past struggles.

Re: Uncle Joe in the hot seat.

There are a number of politicians that have had an influence on my life. I wouldn't go so far as to say admiration, since I'm not into hero worship or personality cult. Obviously one of them was Nye Bevan - I'm a 'Bevan child' being born several months after the establishment of the welfare state. The political theorists Karl Marx & Frederick Engels, the Politicians and revolutionaries Vladimir Illich Lenin, Regis Debray, Fidel Castro, Leon Trotsky, Gregory Zinoviev.

More recently and domestically Tony Benn, who I knew personally, Clive Jenkins Who I also knew personally.

Currently I know and correspond with fairly regularly - Dr Caroline Lucas.

Re: Uncle Joe in the hot seat.

My taste in music is, contradictorily, very conservative - I love 'classical' music and in particular Opera. I have attended operatic performances in Prague, Moscow and St: Petersburg and adored every moment.

Re: Uncle Joe in the hot seat.

That's great UJ I wouldn't call it conservative either as many operas were originally written for the working class and many are quite avant guard in nature.