More ‘Breaking Wave’…..A Witter…….From ‘Free Tibet’……
by Bernie Bell - 09:28 on 28 September 2025
More ‘Breaking Wave’….
Another plus about Ian’s book …..
My eyesight is quite bad. Small print tires my eyes. Shiny paper tires my eyes. One or both of those things mean that I can’t read much at a time.
I likes reading.
‘The Breaking Wave’ is just fiiiine by me – good sized print, matt paper and big gaps between the lines. Thanks Ian, your publishers and all involved in how the text is presented to the reader, especially when the reader is an old lady with easily tired eyes.
Having read this far, I’ll say that it’s about people – as Ian’s books are - he writes of people with understanding and affection.
He writes of how they are, how they get on and how they don’t get on.
The book has been described as being about ‘death and music’. I’m not arguing with that view of it, but for me, it’s mostly about people.
Can people who were in love, when they meet again after 40 years, find that they’re still in love? I suppose they can… Charlie 3 and Camilla did.
And back to the music references …
'How lovely to see you. See you in the flesh’.
Maybe a bit tenuous, but it’s Blondie – good stuff……
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R0lFTLYJhU
Possibly even more tenuous….
’…choose life’…….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3m_l2qgSuI
I think I hear Ian ….’WHAM !!! She’s included WHAM for fuck’s sake!’
It’s of the time – and I liked dancing to it!
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A Witter…….
There's been a lot of discussion about Keir Starmer's digitalization of our lives. My tuppenceworth was…
“I don’t have a mobile phone – do I not exist? Applied to today’s world – that could be an appealing idea.
And…..I still tend to use actual money – bits of paper and metal (I just remembered - it's not paper money any more - it's piggin' plastic!)
Doing things on-line confuses me - we don’t do on-line banking. Various organizations keep trying to persuade us to – but – it’s our money, we’ll deal with it as we choose. If Mike and I need to do major things with our bank account – we go into the Clydesdale in Kirkwall where the people there actually know us and are very helpful.
Where do people like me – odd-bod that I am - fit in with everything being digital?
I’m not worrying about it – I’ll cross bridges as I come to them. Giving us things to worry about, weakens us.
At a bit of a tangent – but applicable. Last Friday, when he got our chippy tea from Baikie’s, Finstown, Mike left the chippy, forgetting to get his change – actual money, change. When he rang this Friday to book our chippy tea – the lady he spoke with told him they owe him last week’s change. Will that happen with AI/digital ballocks?
I’m thinking of the Sub-Post Office fiasco – people are trusting/relying on the machines far too much.
I’ll stop now. For now.”
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From ‘Free Tibet’……
“On 31 July 2025, a fellow advocate and supporter of Tibet was arrested in China.
Zhang Yadi, known online as Tara, was due to start her Masters course at the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in September. Instead, she is in jail awaiting trial for the ‘crime’ of promoting Tibetan culture, history, and people to the world.
An accomplished student who had recently graduated from École Supérieure de Commerce de Paris (ESPC Business School) in Paris, Zhang Yadi was also known as an editor for Chinese Youth Stand for Tibet (华语青年挺藏会). Writing in both English and Chinese, the group aims to “share the beauty and richness of Tibetan culture while exploring Tibet's past, present, and future,” to foster a deeper understanding of Tibetan culture within Chinese-speaking communities.
Her arrest came as she was travelling to visit her family for the Summer, before her planned return to begin her studies in London. Now, instead of enjoying university life with her friends, those same friends are fighting for her freedom.
Zhang’s arrest in China represents an increasing and alarming trend of transnational repression, where people are being detained and imprisoned for opinions and beliefs that they share while overseas.
https://secure.freetibet.org/release-zhang-yadi
As an incoming student to the UK, there must be a level of protection and responsibility afforded to Zhang Yadi by the UK government. As such, we are urging the UK government to make representations to China and demand Zhang Yadi’s immediate release.
Right now, the Chinese government is targeting UK students and visa holders, it is only a matter of time until the transnational repression spreads to UK citizens and institutions.
You can read more about Zhang Yadi and her arrest in the statement on our website.
We also want to invite you to a vigil for Zhang Yadi, hoping and calling for her immediate release:
When: 4 October 2025, 19:00
Where: SOAS, University of London, WC1H 0XG
Yours in solidarity,
Cameron Clark
Digital Lead | Free Tibet
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