NORTHERN PLANNER

I loved history as child, and as grown up I still do since knowing where you came from can tell you a lot about who you are. So Andrew Marr’s a History of Modern Britain is a delight.

He writes beautifully, which is a timely reminder that good information is made so much better if it’s delivered in an inspirational way, but it’s so much more than that.

Most history, and in fact, most news and current affairs tends to focus on politics and big, macro stories. But that’s the tip of the iceberg. There’s the rhythm of everyday life, the conversations, the hopes, the fears, the language. You only get a good sense of that from poetry, books and (last century anyway, films, radio and TV). What this book does really well is get down to that level and think about what real life was life for real people.

This is something planning folk should think about more. Big grand strategy is all well and good but what’s the grammar and rhythm of everyday life? I can assure you that the texture of the everyday for the Fashionista girl I’m beginning to know as well as myself is at once very similar and incredibly different to my own. The trick is to know how and why.

On another note, the people from the 40’s 50’s and 60’s seemed totally alien to me, until I realise they are still with me now. They’re called Grandma and Mum and Dad. Not sure what this means, but it seems very important. I suppose it puts credit crunches and oil prices into perspective. I should ask about stuff like this more, what it was like they won’t be around forever. That’sa big part of growing up for me, seeing your parents as people rather than just ‘parents’.