Breakfast with Nelson Mandela

Breakfast with Nelson Mandela

I had to get up early this morning because I had an appointment at the Job Centre for 9am, and last night set my radio/alarm clock buzzer for 7am. I heard the buzzer sound, but my mind was telling me I have been over doing it of late and that really I needed more sleep. I could not afford to miss the appointment, or my benefits would be stopped. And with the present economic downturn, even losing a day or twos pay would harm my heat or eat existence. I've been getting to bed at 2.30am, 3.30am, and 3.45am these last few days. I'm busy working on a project to teach the government a lesson about the meaning of the Universal suffrage as it relates to a so-called liberal democracy, unruly pupils are the worst things for a teacher, and I don't think the government will appreciate it. I am tempted to say, "It's for your own good", which is what my teachers used to tell me when they beat me. And, I intend to beat the government. Instead I will say, "See you in court". Oh, and "See you at the Committee of Ministers meeting in Europe 17-19 March 2009", when the Prisoners Votes Case is on the agenda, it will be a bit like watching a naughty pupil going to see the headmaster. Anyway, I dragged myself out of bed.

Opening the curtains, I see that the snow has laid a thick blanket on the ground. I thought, 'Rocky will love playing in that'. However, in this instance a blanket ban could be justified. Rocky jumped up on the bed and curled up in the still warm dip I had just left. I wish I could have joined him, it's a dog's life for him, but I needed to go down to the toilet and use the toilet roll. At least the two young girls, who have just moved into a flat together did not steal that one along with the other two and a half-used one. I did ask what is happening to my disappearing toilet rolls, and they said, "Periods". Perhaps, the economic downturn is biting already and they cannot afford sanitary towels?

On the way downstairs, I pop into my study/bedroom and press the start button on the tower of my computer. As I pass the electric kettle, I depress the switch and don't watch the kettle boil because I remember when I was young I was told "A watched kettle never boils", and then turn on the gas beneath the frying pan with the intention of having a bacon sandwich for breakfast. Sat comfortably on the toilet, I roll my first fag of the day, light it and just sit and think. Business done I flush the toilet, and passing the gas cooker I switch off the gas under the unused frying pan. I had decided that I would make porridge instead as it would warm me up better inside on a day like this with the temperature at below freezing point. I cannot think of porridge without thinking of prison. The kettle had boiled because I heard the switch flick up with a click and it changed my thoughts to thinking of getting a teabag out of the cupboard above the kettle. Why it is called a kettle I don't know, because it looks more like an electric plastic jug with a lid. Teabag, hot water, two teaspoons of sugar, then to the fridge which is located beneath the stairs in a cupboard. I put in my eyedrops for my glaucoma, and then pick up the plastic milk bottle, and smile again at Devonshire Dumpling's post about ASDA and the allergy warning on their milk bottles warning customers that the product contains milk.

Sometimes I think and move like a military operation, but perhaps a better analogy is like a Wallace and Gromit animation. I noticed that Wallace doesn't get washed either when he gets up and dressed and gets breakfast. And, neither did Chairman Mao on his campaign trail. He needed to be told about his personal hygiene. Sometimes the girls will ask when I last bathed or shaved, and I would try to remember, muttering, "Well, I'm not going anywhere am I?". The Job Centre is not anywhere, I mean, going out to dinner or something like that. I remember when we were only allowed one bath a week in prison, and a screw would measure the water to a depth of eight inches on a ruler. They would bathe us in rotation to ensure that at least once a month the water would be hot as opposed to warm or almost cold because the boilers could not cope with the prison population.

I poured three quarters of a mug of oats to one and a half of milk into a saucepan and set it on the gas to simmer gently, as per instructions, then went upstairs with my tea and sat at my computer and rolled another fag. Keeping an eye on the time, prisoners know all about time, to gauge when the porridge would need a stir or be ready. I started to compose a letter, and would check on the porridge's progress a couple of times and stir, when I paused to think what I would say next. The porridge was ready before I had finished the letter, so I ate breakfast as I typed on the keyboard. I cannot share my breakfast with you, however, you are welcome to read the letter which I sent by email.

Dear former President Nelson Mandela

I am writing to ask if you can give me some kind of public announcement to support my struggle to obtain the franchise for all convicted prisoners in the UK?

I have taken a case to the European Court of Human Rights, HIRST v UK (No2), and the Court ruled in my favour, declaring that the blanket ban of denying all convicted prisoners the franchise breached their human rights. The UK government appealed to the Grand Chamber, but lost its appeal and still the legislature refuses to honour its obligations to the European Convention.

Our former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, once famously said, that there are no political prisoners in the UK. However, there is a valid argument that goes even though prisoners are convicted by due process nevertheless they are political prisoners if the authorities do not treat them within the bounds of the rule of law.

Whilst serving life for manslaughter, I read your book the Long Road to Freedom and it gave me the strength to carry on battling the prison system to improve the lot of serving prisoners. I also watched ITV's Trevor McDonald as he greeted you and walked those last few steps from prisoner to President.

I hope that newly elected President Barack Obama will soon turn his attention to the appalling situation in the US where most of the prisoners too are denied the human right to the franchise. I believe that I have found a legal solution to their problem in the US but first I must settle the issue in the UK.

I am sure you are aware of the South African court ruling which states that every person counts, including prisoners, in the Universal suffrage.

I hope that you can support our cause in the UK and assist in making our country the democracy it should really be.

Yours sincerely

John Hirst