Oh it is happening – I am becoming a member of the ‘middling folk’.   For those of you not sure what this means I take the meaning as that put forward in the middle ages – that is those in the middle comfortable with their life – not peasants but certainly not nobility.   I prefer this term to the more pejorative ‘middle class’ although I have some sympathy with the Marxist analysis.  Enough of this sociological analysis – why have I come to this conclusion?

Well it struck me this morning as I sat in the restaurant at Calke Abbey – a National Trust member enjoying the day with other like minded individuals.   I am a member of many of the ‘middling folk’ groups – the afore mentioned National Trust, one of England’s finest institutions, RSPB, RHS, & RPS.  Perhaps I have lost the drive of youth to be different, although I am different in so many ways, or perhaps it is just that I have reached that time in my life where I enjoy walking through the countryside, enjoying the simple things.

Now we ‘middling folks’ have our own haunts – one of the best I know is the International Bird Fair in August.  Here we turn out and celibate all things middling.   (God I have just reread this and I sound a real old fart – perhaps the best definition of ‘middling folk’ going.)  It is amazing what a walk through the countryside can do to your perspective.  We middling folk also have real power as we tend to vote in elections and so have a great amount of influence on the political classes – also note that the groups I am a member of are some of the best financed lobby groups going – you mess with the middling folk at your peril.
 

Simon Marchini LRPS

Web: http://WWW.simonmarchini.co.uk

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