SATOR AREPO TENET

SATOR AREPO TENET OPERA ROTAS

The good husbandry of Arepo the sower cropped up over  a meal last night with Liverpool MP  Eddie O'Hara. Eddie is not standing in next year's election and parliament will be left bereft of its brightest classics scholar.

On top of his mastery of Latin and ancient Greek, Eddie is also an entertaining cabaret turn. I once witnessed him take over the microphone at a Greek event and entertain for half an hour with a lusty rendition of modern Greek pop songs.

Arepo is remembered for the above palindrome. The word 'opera' is a bit of a trap. It is not the plural of opus but a separate word that mean careful. The morally uplifting message is that 'Arepo the sower takes care of his wheels.'  A lesson to all other sowers.

Having a striking palindrome in an MPs' armoury of words  is very useful. Opponents would be halted in mid rant by this ostensibly  mysterious wisdom delivered with sober gravitas. Remember the galvanising effect that 'seagulls following trawlers' had.

In the Commons,  swift translation  into English is advised to avoid misunderstanding. The final word in the Latin version could be misunderstood as a drunken condition or a medical problem

Eddie, you are irreplaceable.

Title search

Can you help with a snappy book title?

I am committed to writing / re-writing two book in the August recess. While the MPs'  labours   continue throughout August  the pace slackens and I usually devote a couple of hours a day to writing.

The core of my autobiography has already been published in Welsh 12 years ago. It will now be rewritten and filleted with the help of very experienced editor. In Welsh the title was 'Baglu ymlaen' 'Staggering forward' to reflect my wayward life and always uncertain gait. Originally it was to be called 'Staggering towards innocence' to reflect the increasing idealism of the ageing process.

Ideally the  title should excite the interest of readers and accurately describe my campaigning activities. Among suggestions are 'Confessions of a maverick', The  unusual usual-suspect', 'Spurred by injustice', 'Finally Left' , Harvest of dissent', and even one idea of 'The artful Blogger'. That could be a suitable chapter heading.

Any ideas?

Beyond belief

Assembly gossip centres on the future of  its two major stars.

 

Rhodri Morgan is not exactly retiring on his 70th birthday at the end of September. But he will be announcing when he is retiring. Would that there was  a mechanism to translate him to Westminster to lead Labour into next year's election. Perhaps he could bring with him some of his staggering Obama-like popularity.

He could add Welsh wisdom and charm into UK politics  repeating the transformation that Rowan Williams had on the Anglican communion. Almost impossible  without a sitting MP retiring soon. But it's a thought to tantalise the Labour Party.

The Assembly's Llywydd Dafydd Ellis Thomas has embarked on a pilgrimage around Wales to meet faith groups. He is in Newport today. The ultimate purpose of this odyssey is unclear. A declaration of Messianic status may be in the offing. Dafydd is also courting the military establishment. It is said that he has in mind a military style uniform to match the elevated status of his position.

On the cusp of the brave new Wales, all is possible.

Comments

[DG]

I'd call it "The Constant Tin Soldier" and make it all about the fight to stick to your Old Labour values and principals ("keeping your eye on the ballerina") through the heat of the Nu Labour election campaign and government. If(!) Labour lose the next election, there could be some lovely imagery tied in to the tin heart left in the ashes.

But then, I'm a sucker for Anderson and a good love story.

[Aidan Byrne]

'Left Turn Wales'? There was a Left Book Club issue called 'Left Turn Canada'. 'A Fire Breathing Dragon'? 'Newport, New Labour, New Media and Me'? 'Online and Off-Message'? 'Poodles led by Dragons'? Stop me before I pun again…
Dafydd's uniform - can't the Free Wales Army lend him one of their nattily fascistic black numbers?

[MH]

Staggering towards Innocence? It reminds me of one of my favourite CDs: Sarah McLachlan's Fumbling towards Ecstacy.

Well, on second thoughts ...

[MH]

Staggering towards Innocence? It reminds me of one of my favourite CDs: Sarah McLachlan's Fumbling towards Ecstacy.

Well, on second thoughts ...

[Kay Tie]

Does writing a book count as moonlighting?

[DG]

Not if you do it in your lunch hour ;)

[Tony]

How about
'You don't have to be mad to work here - bit it helps. '
or
'The awkward squad'
or
'Tilting at Windmills'
..

[Paul Flynn]

Thanks for those suggestions. They are a bit bleak but the thoughts are appreciated.

[Tony]

Oh, upbeat ones .. OK

'Drugs, Wars and Wales '
or
'Facts not Belief'
or
'Dreaming among the Spires'

[D.G.]

These are bleak times, Mr Flynn.

[Paul Flynn]

many thanks. There are some great ideas here. I'll keep pondering them.

[Aidan Byrne]

One more - Poodles Led By Dragons: How Wales Can Save the Labour Party (if it wants to be saved).

[Mr C laim It All]

How about "Snouts in the Trough" ?

"My ride on the gravy train with a bunch of rogues"