Tuesday is BAFTA night, and I went to see "Becoming Jane" which is released in about a month's time. Quite a nice film, lacked a bit of pace and the script was a bit iffy, buit the acting was good. Maggie Smith played what one might describe as the Lady De Bourgh character from Pride and Prejudice. It was delightful. Her nuances and facial expression never failed to convey exactly what was meant. Quite by chance, I watched "Keeping Mum" last night, where she plays an axe murderer. Despite the difference in the parts, she conveyed the dottiness perfectly All justified by " What wouldn't a mother do for her daughter?".
I was reminded of her in the Peter Ustinov film " Hot Millions" where she played a diffident and incompetent secretary, who emerges as the heroine.
Julie Walters had the best line in tonight's film." Affection is desirable, but money is essential." If only everyone would behave with that in mind, I'm sure things would soon improve.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Bloody Glasgow Council
You may say I should not swear on a blog, but I can tell you the office was blue with naughty words this morning.
I spend most of my life dealing with Glasgow Council, between the planning department, the rates department, the housing benefit department, the cleansing department, the get a licence for a skip department etc etc.
Sherrif Officers ( better known as Bailifs in England) turned up, looking for rates for a property from 2000/2001.
We don't have rates to pay. We rent properties to people, who are then responsible for paying the rates. Even if they don't pay, we are still not liable. They are. The moment somebody goes into or out of a property, we send a note of who they are, their address and the relevant dates. The Council had lost all this correspondance.They put it onto microfiche, and tons of documents appear to go missing every year. So instead of asking for information, they employ Sherrifs Officers at great expense, who then get a flea in their ear from me, and a copy of the correspondance.
The other one is even better. Our present offices were 3 derelict buildings. There were 3 entries in the valuation roll. For reasons noone has ever been able to fathom, the Council then made three further entries in relation to the properties, once two out of the three were redeveloped. This has been pointed out to them about 10 times over the past few years. They STILL send the Sherrifs Officers for the SAME, NON-EXISTANT property on a regular basis. Every time it is sorted out ( our time, effort etc, not theirs) we get a call telling us it is now all sorted. Two months later we have to do it all over again.
AARRRGGGHHHH!!!
I spend most of my life dealing with Glasgow Council, between the planning department, the rates department, the housing benefit department, the cleansing department, the get a licence for a skip department etc etc.
Sherrif Officers ( better known as Bailifs in England) turned up, looking for rates for a property from 2000/2001.
We don't have rates to pay. We rent properties to people, who are then responsible for paying the rates. Even if they don't pay, we are still not liable. They are. The moment somebody goes into or out of a property, we send a note of who they are, their address and the relevant dates. The Council had lost all this correspondance.They put it onto microfiche, and tons of documents appear to go missing every year. So instead of asking for information, they employ Sherrifs Officers at great expense, who then get a flea in their ear from me, and a copy of the correspondance.
The other one is even better. Our present offices were 3 derelict buildings. There were 3 entries in the valuation roll. For reasons noone has ever been able to fathom, the Council then made three further entries in relation to the properties, once two out of the three were redeveloped. This has been pointed out to them about 10 times over the past few years. They STILL send the Sherrifs Officers for the SAME, NON-EXISTANT property on a regular basis. Every time it is sorted out ( our time, effort etc, not theirs) we get a call telling us it is now all sorted. Two months later we have to do it all over again.
AARRRGGGHHHH!!!
Monday, February 12, 2007
Sunday Lunch
I've always been a fan of lunchtime lunches and conversation. I especially like Sunday lunch, so we frequently ask people to come and partake food and wine with us, sitting properly at a table and having a REAL conversation.
Yesterday was no exception. Mr and Mrs Die Casting came, and Cousin Carole was still with us. We had a super lunch. As you know, I don't drink in this country, but I get quite as excited as those who do.
What did exercise our brains, though, was the present position of Miss Die Casting and her young man, referred to in her family as " German Dave".
They have been going out together for nigh on 3 years. However, the total time spent together is minimal, as German Dave works in Germany ( 5 star travelling life style) and Miss D C lives near Glasgow. GD ( whose mother is German and father Croatian) arrives late Friday night about 3 weekends a month and disappears again Sunday morning. Yesterday was no exception. Miss DC was is and continues to be extremely upset by this. There is no end in sight. Mr & Mrs DC think German Dave is a bit of a gold-digger. They admitted if he was a merchant banker earning £2million a year, living in Glasgow or London, they would not be too worried, but Mr.DC ( extremely rich) gets very defensive when German Dave's credit card won't clear.
So what to do? Clearly Miss DC moving to Germany is no solution as GD travels all week anyway. So should Mr.DC offer GD a job? But it appears GD is a bit of a rolling stone and does not want to change what he does. The real problem is the complete lack of any endgame. It'll simply go on like this forever.
The general consensus was that Mr.DC should have words with German Dave along the lines of " I'll cut her off without a penny" and see what happens.
I accept this is not up there as problems go with Darfur or Arab-Israeli conflict, but it is having a serious effect on one family.
Anyone any suggestions??
Yesterday was no exception. Mr and Mrs Die Casting came, and Cousin Carole was still with us. We had a super lunch. As you know, I don't drink in this country, but I get quite as excited as those who do.
What did exercise our brains, though, was the present position of Miss Die Casting and her young man, referred to in her family as " German Dave".
They have been going out together for nigh on 3 years. However, the total time spent together is minimal, as German Dave works in Germany ( 5 star travelling life style) and Miss D C lives near Glasgow. GD ( whose mother is German and father Croatian) arrives late Friday night about 3 weekends a month and disappears again Sunday morning. Yesterday was no exception. Miss DC was is and continues to be extremely upset by this. There is no end in sight. Mr & Mrs DC think German Dave is a bit of a gold-digger. They admitted if he was a merchant banker earning £2million a year, living in Glasgow or London, they would not be too worried, but Mr.DC ( extremely rich) gets very defensive when German Dave's credit card won't clear.
So what to do? Clearly Miss DC moving to Germany is no solution as GD travels all week anyway. So should Mr.DC offer GD a job? But it appears GD is a bit of a rolling stone and does not want to change what he does. The real problem is the complete lack of any endgame. It'll simply go on like this forever.
The general consensus was that Mr.DC should have words with German Dave along the lines of " I'll cut her off without a penny" and see what happens.
I accept this is not up there as problems go with Darfur or Arab-Israeli conflict, but it is having a serious effect on one family.
Anyone any suggestions??
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Where is Tapestry Talks? And who isn't a grass?
Tapestry Talks is one of the people I used to check on every day. He has not posted since January 9th. I check back occassionally, but nothing. He is an interesting chap. I ran across this today when I was checking back to see if I was doing anything wrong ( it's only part of the piece, I suggest you read all of it)
Cameron And The End Of The EU
Cameron seems able to swing people behind him when he meets them face to face. That's a great skill. He appears to be offering nothing in terms of favours in return for support as he wins backers in the media and elsewhere.
Blair managed to get all behind him but only by agreeing to everything his targets requested. To the EU he promised the Euro. To Bush he promised unconditional support for the Iraq War. To others he promised all kinds of things most of which he failed to deliver - e.g PR to Paddy Ashdown.
Being tradeable for favours, in particular made Blair the all time favourite for Rupert Murdoch. According to Lance Price, Murdoch has more or less controlled Britain's relations with the EU 'under' Blair.
It is pleasing that Murdoch is finding Cameron less of a sucker, and Murdoch is having to learn respect for Cameron, even if that means he is taking the occasional pot shot at him to see if he can bowl him over. Murdoch must be beginning to realise that taking pot shots at Cameron could soon become a highly counterproductive strategy in terms of hanging on to all his media/sports privileges.
Power could swing quickly back to Westminster under a new Conservatiove government with the EU reaching a period of less certainty as to how to stabilise let alone progress.
Murdoch has seen the light about Gordon Brown. Only Paul Dacre is getting that one completely wrong still. He will have to retract on that front or look pretty foolish before long, with the Brown/EU era of big government/centralisation about to crack, and power about to swing back the other way. Cameron is the vanguard.
What's particularly interesting about this is that it shows just how unprincipled this Government is. As I have said before, it is the first Government in the UK that has absolutely no guiding principles, apart from getting into power, and retaining it. Virtually every policy heralded in 1997 and since has been reversed. It shows how venal Bliar is, and how lacking in understanding of true political ability. Anyone can gather support by promising all things to all men. But to get support without actually promising anything is a sign of true political nous.
Oh, and by the way, the ONE person who did NOT grass, sneak, peach, or clype at school was David Cameron. Bliar would be unable to claim the same thing.
Cameron And The End Of The EU
Cameron seems able to swing people behind him when he meets them face to face. That's a great skill. He appears to be offering nothing in terms of favours in return for support as he wins backers in the media and elsewhere.
Blair managed to get all behind him but only by agreeing to everything his targets requested. To the EU he promised the Euro. To Bush he promised unconditional support for the Iraq War. To others he promised all kinds of things most of which he failed to deliver - e.g PR to Paddy Ashdown.
Being tradeable for favours, in particular made Blair the all time favourite for Rupert Murdoch. According to Lance Price, Murdoch has more or less controlled Britain's relations with the EU 'under' Blair.
It is pleasing that Murdoch is finding Cameron less of a sucker, and Murdoch is having to learn respect for Cameron, even if that means he is taking the occasional pot shot at him to see if he can bowl him over. Murdoch must be beginning to realise that taking pot shots at Cameron could soon become a highly counterproductive strategy in terms of hanging on to all his media/sports privileges.
Power could swing quickly back to Westminster under a new Conservatiove government with the EU reaching a period of less certainty as to how to stabilise let alone progress.
Murdoch has seen the light about Gordon Brown. Only Paul Dacre is getting that one completely wrong still. He will have to retract on that front or look pretty foolish before long, with the Brown/EU era of big government/centralisation about to crack, and power about to swing back the other way. Cameron is the vanguard.
What's particularly interesting about this is that it shows just how unprincipled this Government is. As I have said before, it is the first Government in the UK that has absolutely no guiding principles, apart from getting into power, and retaining it. Virtually every policy heralded in 1997 and since has been reversed. It shows how venal Bliar is, and how lacking in understanding of true political ability. Anyone can gather support by promising all things to all men. But to get support without actually promising anything is a sign of true political nous.
Oh, and by the way, the ONE person who did NOT grass, sneak, peach, or clype at school was David Cameron. Bliar would be unable to claim the same thing.
Danny and NuLabour
You may recall the campaign Praguetory ran about Danny Dewsbury the film maker and his work for NuLabour. I understand it is coming back to haunt the Party in no uncertain fashion, despite the fact that he finally got paid, about 5 months after he had done the work.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Cousin Carole
We have my ( older) cousin Carole staying for the weekend. She is a delightful person, full of chat, who sadly lost her husband some months ago and her 93 year old father ( qv Uncle Willie has died) within the last two months.
The really nice thing is we are chatting about things from our childhood, and about our other cousins. One forgets so much from what , in our case, was a magical time, filled with fun, sun and love. I accept we lived in a privileged atmosphere, but I know many others from the same era, without the privilege, who equally enjoyed the time.
I believe that the reason it was enjoyable was the lack of reponsibility. It's wonderful to know if you scrape a knee somebody will wash it and bandage it ( not forgetting the Dettol -ouch!), call you in to eat at appropriate times, put your clothes out and make sure you change your knickers. Nowadays, of course, we are all too concerned with Bird Flu and Global warming to have time for fun. No wonder so many of Britain's town centres are no go areas at night with young people completely out of their skulls - they are drinking to forget.
Actually, putting the clothes out has a thread running up to the present day. I am not noted for my dress sense . I had my first pair of long trousers at 12, brown cords, bought in Jenners, and I haven't progressed much since. I am also slightly colour blind and therefore have no real idea of what goes together. Mrs. Lear despairs of me. She recently upbraided me with the line " Honestly, you dress so badly, I expect your mother put your clothes out for you when you were a little boy!"
At my somewhat sheepish look, she sighed deeply, gathered some alternative clothes and put them on my chair. She wandered off muttering to herself " It's true, men are just little boys at heart."
The really nice thing is we are chatting about things from our childhood, and about our other cousins. One forgets so much from what , in our case, was a magical time, filled with fun, sun and love. I accept we lived in a privileged atmosphere, but I know many others from the same era, without the privilege, who equally enjoyed the time.
I believe that the reason it was enjoyable was the lack of reponsibility. It's wonderful to know if you scrape a knee somebody will wash it and bandage it ( not forgetting the Dettol -ouch!), call you in to eat at appropriate times, put your clothes out and make sure you change your knickers. Nowadays, of course, we are all too concerned with Bird Flu and Global warming to have time for fun. No wonder so many of Britain's town centres are no go areas at night with young people completely out of their skulls - they are drinking to forget.
Actually, putting the clothes out has a thread running up to the present day. I am not noted for my dress sense . I had my first pair of long trousers at 12, brown cords, bought in Jenners, and I haven't progressed much since. I am also slightly colour blind and therefore have no real idea of what goes together. Mrs. Lear despairs of me. She recently upbraided me with the line " Honestly, you dress so badly, I expect your mother put your clothes out for you when you were a little boy!"
At my somewhat sheepish look, she sighed deeply, gathered some alternative clothes and put them on my chair. She wandered off muttering to herself " It's true, men are just little boys at heart."
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Frank the Car
AKA The Undertaker collects rents for me in the East End of Glasgow. I hasten to add he is called The Undertaker because he is somewhat eccentric, wearing a top hat and driving an old hearse. He is known as Frank the Car because he fixes cars that are not working.
Anyway, Frank collects the rents because he is a tenant of mine within a small industrial complex, and he collects everyone's rents and then delivers them to me. He gets paid a small amount for doing this.
The reason he does it, however, is not for monetary gain. It is because Frank LOVES talking to people. He doesn't sleep well, and frequently toddles into one or other of the Glasgow police stations for a chat at 3 or 4 in the morning. I often get a text from him at midnight, telling me some extraordinary tale. I am reminded of Terry Pratchett's Ankh Morpork city with denizens of the night lurking in the shadows.
What I hadn't realized was that Frank is actually following in the traditions of some Indian beggar caste that bothers people for money. There was an article recently in Private Eye about how the Indian tax people had hired the beggars to collect tax from recalcitrant payers. They were so succesful that they only needed to do it for about a week, and over 90% of the outstanding taxes were ingathered - with the rest promised within a further week.
Frank clearly works on the same principle. He starts talking to the tenants about 72 hours before the rents are due, and doesn't stop until they give him the money. Frank always turns up on our doorstep at least 24 hours before the cash is due - with the money.
So spare a thought for those unfortunates who have to cough up - the pen may be mightier than the sword, but the tongue is mightier than your willpower. As one tenant put it to me " He does my head in"
Anyway, Frank collects the rents because he is a tenant of mine within a small industrial complex, and he collects everyone's rents and then delivers them to me. He gets paid a small amount for doing this.
The reason he does it, however, is not for monetary gain. It is because Frank LOVES talking to people. He doesn't sleep well, and frequently toddles into one or other of the Glasgow police stations for a chat at 3 or 4 in the morning. I often get a text from him at midnight, telling me some extraordinary tale. I am reminded of Terry Pratchett's Ankh Morpork city with denizens of the night lurking in the shadows.
What I hadn't realized was that Frank is actually following in the traditions of some Indian beggar caste that bothers people for money. There was an article recently in Private Eye about how the Indian tax people had hired the beggars to collect tax from recalcitrant payers. They were so succesful that they only needed to do it for about a week, and over 90% of the outstanding taxes were ingathered - with the rest promised within a further week.
Frank clearly works on the same principle. He starts talking to the tenants about 72 hours before the rents are due, and doesn't stop until they give him the money. Frank always turns up on our doorstep at least 24 hours before the cash is due - with the money.
So spare a thought for those unfortunates who have to cough up - the pen may be mightier than the sword, but the tongue is mightier than your willpower. As one tenant put it to me " He does my head in"
Manners
When I was a wee boy, I was made to say please and thank you, and may I get down from the table ,please.
I was reminded yesterday about how nice manners are. I was in London and had a meeting with a Romanian lady and one of our lady aristocrats. Politeness was everywhere. Doors were opened and ladies were ushered through. Gentlemen stood up when ladies entered the room. Graciously, the ladies said " Please don't get up" but of course we did. The discussion was friendly, people's opinions were deferred to, and a sensible path forward was agreed by all concerned. People had put their own ambitions and agendas on hold, in the interests of making progress that all could buy into.
How different from a meeting I had this morning when everyone appeared to be only interested in ripping each other's throats out. Individual agendas and demands were jabbed in your eye. At the end of an hour, nothing had been agreed as everyone stood on their points of principle. Complete waste of time, and noone even attempted a please or thank you, even when passing the milk.
We've lost so much from our everyday lives, with people being told they have "rights" and how to get them. What happend to responsibilities? Parents assault teachers for reprimanding young louts.Householders are charged for defending their homes. Crime appears to be lessening because pople don't bother to report it any more. They probably feel they would end up in jail for assaulting the counsellers who the police would foist on them. We all have to work extra hours because the cost of living rises inexorably, despite what our Government likes to think. The knock-on effects on our society are already beginning to come home to roost, and I can only say that I am gladthat I will probably only have to put up with it for a shorter time than most.
I was reminded yesterday about how nice manners are. I was in London and had a meeting with a Romanian lady and one of our lady aristocrats. Politeness was everywhere. Doors were opened and ladies were ushered through. Gentlemen stood up when ladies entered the room. Graciously, the ladies said " Please don't get up" but of course we did. The discussion was friendly, people's opinions were deferred to, and a sensible path forward was agreed by all concerned. People had put their own ambitions and agendas on hold, in the interests of making progress that all could buy into.
How different from a meeting I had this morning when everyone appeared to be only interested in ripping each other's throats out. Individual agendas and demands were jabbed in your eye. At the end of an hour, nothing had been agreed as everyone stood on their points of principle. Complete waste of time, and noone even attempted a please or thank you, even when passing the milk.
We've lost so much from our everyday lives, with people being told they have "rights" and how to get them. What happend to responsibilities? Parents assault teachers for reprimanding young louts.Householders are charged for defending their homes. Crime appears to be lessening because pople don't bother to report it any more. They probably feel they would end up in jail for assaulting the counsellers who the police would foist on them. We all have to work extra hours because the cost of living rises inexorably, despite what our Government likes to think. The knock-on effects on our society are already beginning to come home to roost, and I can only say that I am gladthat I will probably only have to put up with it for a shorter time than most.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
The dog
I have a very winsome Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, who is, in Kennel Club parlance, a Black and Tan. He is now about 3 years old. Having had previous experience of these dogs, until they are 5, they only have about half a brain cell. After they are 5, their brain capacity doubles. Still only 1 whole brain cell, but marginally better.
Anyway, one of the daughters ( actually, they are not like Regan, Goneral and Cordelia so I can't really refer to them as such) has a very beautiful and upmarket Burmese cat, who occasionally comes to stay with us. She ( the cat) hates everything apart from herself, and certainly regards our small dog as completely beneath her. She terrifies him, and all he wants to do is be friends. The cat's owner tells me she thinks my dog is stupid. I don't think he is, but I am prepared to revise my opinion.
In essence, I have been reading all about the disadvantaged children and how Bliar and his lot have closed lots of the schools that used to help challenged children. If there was such a place for dogs, my daughter would probably have sent my dog there. He is an enormous coward ( like his owner) but, as I said at the beginning, extremely winsome, a bit like Hugh Grant with big brown eyes and floppy hair.
Imagine my distress when I discovered him this morning staring fixedly his water bowl. Then at his food bowl. Then at his water bowl.... you get the picture.
I have therefore somewhat revised my opinion of his brain power.
He is clearly dyslexic.
Anyway, one of the daughters ( actually, they are not like Regan, Goneral and Cordelia so I can't really refer to them as such) has a very beautiful and upmarket Burmese cat, who occasionally comes to stay with us. She ( the cat) hates everything apart from herself, and certainly regards our small dog as completely beneath her. She terrifies him, and all he wants to do is be friends. The cat's owner tells me she thinks my dog is stupid. I don't think he is, but I am prepared to revise my opinion.
In essence, I have been reading all about the disadvantaged children and how Bliar and his lot have closed lots of the schools that used to help challenged children. If there was such a place for dogs, my daughter would probably have sent my dog there. He is an enormous coward ( like his owner) but, as I said at the beginning, extremely winsome, a bit like Hugh Grant with big brown eyes and floppy hair.
Imagine my distress when I discovered him this morning staring fixedly his water bowl. Then at his food bowl. Then at his water bowl.... you get the picture.
I have therefore somewhat revised my opinion of his brain power.
He is clearly dyslexic.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Marketing magazine
I have been reading the Marketing Magazine ( from the Chartered Institute of Marketing). The theme was marketing using a story to make the brand stick in people's minds, but there were two quotes which jumped out at me.
The first was: "A tale, however slight, illuminates truth". Absolutely right.
The second: " Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" Absolutely right again. In case you haven't guessed, the stories connected with Iraq and cash for peerages are those that will stick in the public's mind long after Bliar is gone.
What struck me was that these two are ultimately linked. History famously never repeats itself, but it gives a pretty good approximation. And if you haven't learned from your experiences and from mistakes, God help you.
So just now, as Bliar contemplates the ashes of his premiership and the imminent charging of at least three of his closest allies, I hope he spares a thought for Tricky Dickie Nixon, who, if he had stood up and said, " Yes I knew about it, but it was wrong" might have got away with it. Similarly, if Bliar had said on day one, " Yes, we took the money, and yes they expected to get peerages in the fullness of time - what do you expect, we had an election to win." - all this might have blown over.
Bliar, of course, would never listen to his Ancient History - " Those whom the Gods love, the Gods destroy".
The first was: "A tale, however slight, illuminates truth". Absolutely right.
The second: " Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" Absolutely right again. In case you haven't guessed, the stories connected with Iraq and cash for peerages are those that will stick in the public's mind long after Bliar is gone.
What struck me was that these two are ultimately linked. History famously never repeats itself, but it gives a pretty good approximation. And if you haven't learned from your experiences and from mistakes, God help you.
So just now, as Bliar contemplates the ashes of his premiership and the imminent charging of at least three of his closest allies, I hope he spares a thought for Tricky Dickie Nixon, who, if he had stood up and said, " Yes I knew about it, but it was wrong" might have got away with it. Similarly, if Bliar had said on day one, " Yes, we took the money, and yes they expected to get peerages in the fullness of time - what do you expect, we had an election to win." - all this might have blown over.
Bliar, of course, would never listen to his Ancient History - " Those whom the Gods love, the Gods destroy".
The Next General Election
Everyone is postulating a hung Parliament this morning, and what might the Lid Dems do.The short answer is I have no idea, but I do know it won't be a hung parliament.
My reason for saying this is simple. All the calculations "guessing" seat numbers ( Baxter et al) do NOT take into account Scotland and Wales as quite different calculations - at least, as far as I know. If you know different, please tell me.
My point is that the number of seats held by Labour in these two countires is not going to be significantly different - lots of extra Labour votes will effectively go to waste as they already have and will keep the seats. But the perrenial middle classes in England will vote massively against NuLabour. So in reality, the 6%Tory lead gap is probably minus 5% in Scotland and Wales but plus 11% in England. This will have profound constitutional implications in the future. As I have said , Old Labour will be back merged into the LibDems in the future, or completely out of touch as they were in the 80's
My reason for saying this is simple. All the calculations "guessing" seat numbers ( Baxter et al) do NOT take into account Scotland and Wales as quite different calculations - at least, as far as I know. If you know different, please tell me.
My point is that the number of seats held by Labour in these two countires is not going to be significantly different - lots of extra Labour votes will effectively go to waste as they already have and will keep the seats. But the perrenial middle classes in England will vote massively against NuLabour. So in reality, the 6%Tory lead gap is probably minus 5% in Scotland and Wales but plus 11% in England. This will have profound constitutional implications in the future. As I have said , Old Labour will be back merged into the LibDems in the future, or completely out of touch as they were in the 80's
Sunday, February 04, 2007
October 2006 Blog
For some reason, having migrated to New Blogger, the first post that came up was from October last year, and referred to Bliar mentioning only a few hundred NHS redundancies. The Tories had suggested 20,000, which I felt might be OTT.
Now we know the truth. It's 37,000 or thereby. So now you see where Bliar has absolutely no connection to reality.
Now we know the truth. It's 37,000 or thereby. So now you see where Bliar has absolutely no connection to reality.
Told you
NOW today etc etc. Told you someone would turn Queen's Evidence.Told you there would be charges. Told you the Labour Party will take a generation to recover. Told you Brown was a dead duck from day one. Told you they had no principle of any description which is why they have achieved nothing apart from ruining everything.
The next thing will be that NuLabour as such will disappear, and Old Renewed Labour will be back - and out of power forever. The next Government after however many Conservative years will not be Labour. It will be the successor to the Lib Dems as they move further left.
The next thing will be that NuLabour as such will disappear, and Old Renewed Labour will be back - and out of power forever. The next Government after however many Conservative years will not be Labour. It will be the successor to the Lib Dems as they move further left.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Old England
You may wonder what I am doing blogging on a Saturday, but I am waiting for someone to turn up. I am in London at the Destinations Travel Show today, and I am here for free.
What happened was that as I walked into the main concourse of Earl's Court, a diminutive lady and even more diminutive gentleman approached me.
"Are you going to pay to get into the show?" asked the lady. When I said yes, she promptly gave me a free entry pass. Needless to say I thanked her and we got chatting. Her husband had worked all his life as a shop floor worker somewhere around London. They had raised two children, one now a lawyer the other a nurse. " Made sure they knew what was what and how to mind their Ps and Qs, and they worked hard at University - very proud of them, me and Derek".
They had bought their council house as soon as they were allowed to. " We had the cash, you know, my Derek was always a saver" - Nod from Derek. What were they looking for at the show? " Well, it's mostly a day out," says Daisy ( we were by now on first name terms) " But we used to go to Southend, and I miss it - only been to Spain otherwise."
I asked them if they thought they might be going overseas this year. " Quite fancied a cruise," said Derek. They asked me what I was doing,and I explained I was checking out the show for a possible stand next year. " OOh, you want to do that! Lots of rich people here every year we've been. Ain't that right Derek?" Nod. By now we were inside the show, and I fancied a coffee, so I asked them if they would like one.
"Oh no thank you, dear, FAR too expensive in 'ere. Have one out of my flask" produced out of a bag a bit like Mary Poppins's.
So there I stood, head and shoulders above Daisy and Derek physically, drinking their coffee, and feeling utterly utterly beneath them.
I don't care what politicians say or do, I just want them to remember that they are put there by people like Daisy and Derek.
What happened was that as I walked into the main concourse of Earl's Court, a diminutive lady and even more diminutive gentleman approached me.
"Are you going to pay to get into the show?" asked the lady. When I said yes, she promptly gave me a free entry pass. Needless to say I thanked her and we got chatting. Her husband had worked all his life as a shop floor worker somewhere around London. They had raised two children, one now a lawyer the other a nurse. " Made sure they knew what was what and how to mind their Ps and Qs, and they worked hard at University - very proud of them, me and Derek".
They had bought their council house as soon as they were allowed to. " We had the cash, you know, my Derek was always a saver" - Nod from Derek. What were they looking for at the show? " Well, it's mostly a day out," says Daisy ( we were by now on first name terms) " But we used to go to Southend, and I miss it - only been to Spain otherwise."
I asked them if they thought they might be going overseas this year. " Quite fancied a cruise," said Derek. They asked me what I was doing,and I explained I was checking out the show for a possible stand next year. " OOh, you want to do that! Lots of rich people here every year we've been. Ain't that right Derek?" Nod. By now we were inside the show, and I fancied a coffee, so I asked them if they would like one.
"Oh no thank you, dear, FAR too expensive in 'ere. Have one out of my flask" produced out of a bag a bit like Mary Poppins's.
So there I stood, head and shoulders above Daisy and Derek physically, drinking their coffee, and feeling utterly utterly beneath them.
I don't care what politicians say or do, I just want them to remember that they are put there by people like Daisy and Derek.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Bliar and Humphrys
I listened with some scepticism to this interview on Radio 4 this morning. Nothing's wrong, the paper's have written a lot of stuff which isn't true, I will answer questions after it's all over, I'm really busy, crime is down, NHS is doing really well, I'm still a pretty straight kind of a guy... yech!! But the man's a genius. There must be many people who still believe in him, and in many ways all he says is true.
I've said it before, if he had only lived up to 10% of the potential he held sway over in 1997, we would all be better off, and happier, healthier and safer.
Unfortunately, NuLabour and Bliar must be the first set of politicians who actually have no basic tenets or principles - apart from getting into power and keeping it. Don't forget he actively courted the LibDems before the 1997 election, just so he could be absolutely certain that if Parliament was hung, he could count on them. Even that looked good to the then electorate. - statesmanlike. Of course, the minute he had his own majority, Paddy Pantsdown never even had his calls returned.
The Tories and Cameron are incredibly lucky that Bliar has behaved as he has. Once in a generation there is a seismic political shift, and this is one.
Don't for one second imagine Brown didn't know anything about the loans. He definitely asked. Of course he did. He's a control freak.His williness meant he didn't write it down, or had anyone else there to hear the answer. A Problem? McCavity's not there.
As light relief, another of the sexual moans from the Vagina Monologues, for a CHAV: " Hmmmmmm - ahhhhhh - oooh... AAAAGH... hang on a minute, I've a text coming in"
I've said it before, if he had only lived up to 10% of the potential he held sway over in 1997, we would all be better off, and happier, healthier and safer.
Unfortunately, NuLabour and Bliar must be the first set of politicians who actually have no basic tenets or principles - apart from getting into power and keeping it. Don't forget he actively courted the LibDems before the 1997 election, just so he could be absolutely certain that if Parliament was hung, he could count on them. Even that looked good to the then electorate. - statesmanlike. Of course, the minute he had his own majority, Paddy Pantsdown never even had his calls returned.
The Tories and Cameron are incredibly lucky that Bliar has behaved as he has. Once in a generation there is a seismic political shift, and this is one.
Don't for one second imagine Brown didn't know anything about the loans. He definitely asked. Of course he did. He's a control freak.His williness meant he didn't write it down, or had anyone else there to hear the answer. A Problem? McCavity's not there.
As light relief, another of the sexual moans from the Vagina Monologues, for a CHAV: " Hmmmmmm - ahhhhhh - oooh... AAAAGH... hang on a minute, I've a text coming in"
Me
You are:Objective, honest, and credible.Intellectually curious, with many diverse interests.More inclined toward ideas than people.Fiercely independent and unapologetically unconventional .
I did some sort of quiz and this is what came out. Not sure I agree entirely, but it certainly gave me a warm feeling.
I did some sort of quiz and this is what came out. Not sure I agree entirely, but it certainly gave me a warm feeling.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
P***ing on your own
I must say I never thought I would be mentioning " down there" on this blog, seeing as I am somewhat squirmy in relation to blood, women's troubles etc etc, but last night I was taken by Mrs. Lear and her friend, Mrs. Radio Executive, to see the Vagina Monologues.
The three actresses included Carol Smillie, she of the Dancing and Makeover fame. I laughed and laughed, with that slightly nervous, slightly embarassed edge at most of it, but there were one or two one liners that had me in hysterics. One was a reference to " not your ordinary minge, this is your M & S minge". The other was the description of the Wee Free sexual moan - consisting of a face like thunder, arms and legs crossed, and dead silence. In case you don't know, Wee Frees are a peculiarly intransigent Scottish offshoot of the most Knoxian , dour religious believers. One of the previous Chief Justices, whose name I think was Maclean of Clashfern, was a Wee Free. He attended the funeral of a lifelong friend of his, who happened to be Catholic. He was instantly prevented from attending any further of his Church's services. Forever.
Anyway, this is all a bit of a preamble. There I was, one of 5 men amongst about 1,000 women, and after the interval and the interval drink, I needed to go to the loo.
As you can imagine, there were lines of women for the ladies. I walked confidently to the gents, expecting no problems.
Except the theatre had decided in view of the number of females, they should be allowed to use the gents as well.
Fortunately, they had a (male) member of staff on duty, and when I suggested that not only was I in need but also probably quicker at it than the ladies, he promptly cleared the room, and left me there. Alone.
After this experience, I actually found it quite difficult to pass very much, especially as there was a sort of growl coming from the other side of the door. I hurriedly washed my hands and came out to find the usher, arms outspread, preventing my modesty being undermined. I then had to walk past about 100 extremely scowly ladies who would gladly have skewered me if given the chance. I hurried back to my companions for protection, and the show continued.
The point of all this is that people are always talking about a group of teenagers advancing towards one as being "scary". Believe me, that is as nothing to the feeling of 1000 women staring at you silently.
As a schoolboy, we used to be taken by the school to Stratford to absorb Shakespeare every term. The head of the English department said the same thing every time.
" Individually, you may be quite charming, but en masse you are revolting."
Too right.
The three actresses included Carol Smillie, she of the Dancing and Makeover fame. I laughed and laughed, with that slightly nervous, slightly embarassed edge at most of it, but there were one or two one liners that had me in hysterics. One was a reference to " not your ordinary minge, this is your M & S minge". The other was the description of the Wee Free sexual moan - consisting of a face like thunder, arms and legs crossed, and dead silence. In case you don't know, Wee Frees are a peculiarly intransigent Scottish offshoot of the most Knoxian , dour religious believers. One of the previous Chief Justices, whose name I think was Maclean of Clashfern, was a Wee Free. He attended the funeral of a lifelong friend of his, who happened to be Catholic. He was instantly prevented from attending any further of his Church's services. Forever.
Anyway, this is all a bit of a preamble. There I was, one of 5 men amongst about 1,000 women, and after the interval and the interval drink, I needed to go to the loo.
As you can imagine, there were lines of women for the ladies. I walked confidently to the gents, expecting no problems.
Except the theatre had decided in view of the number of females, they should be allowed to use the gents as well.
Fortunately, they had a (male) member of staff on duty, and when I suggested that not only was I in need but also probably quicker at it than the ladies, he promptly cleared the room, and left me there. Alone.
After this experience, I actually found it quite difficult to pass very much, especially as there was a sort of growl coming from the other side of the door. I hurriedly washed my hands and came out to find the usher, arms outspread, preventing my modesty being undermined. I then had to walk past about 100 extremely scowly ladies who would gladly have skewered me if given the chance. I hurried back to my companions for protection, and the show continued.
The point of all this is that people are always talking about a group of teenagers advancing towards one as being "scary". Believe me, that is as nothing to the feeling of 1000 women staring at you silently.
As a schoolboy, we used to be taken by the school to Stratford to absorb Shakespeare every term. The head of the English department said the same thing every time.
" Individually, you may be quite charming, but en masse you are revolting."
Too right.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Sith,Spin & Sin
I'm sure everyone has caught up with Brown, Smith Institute, Charity Commission etc etc, better known by Guido as the Sith.
I have been looking back at a few things and read the following quote. Compare and contrast as they used to say:
" New Labour is a party of ideas and ideals ( really?) but not outdated technology ( er their email system at No.10 and their general IT savyness leaves a lot to be desired) What counts is what works ( Eh??) The objectives are radical ( destruction of the United Kingdom, the constitution, the legal system, etc etc) The means will be modern" ( screw the voters for as much as possible but by stealth)
This was from their 1997 manifesto. Don't imagine for one minute you didn't go for it. Middle England ( and all of Scotland) fell for it hook line and sinker. What was different about Bliar and Brown was that always before, politicians and political parties believed in something at their core, and got elected to bring that belief to fruition. NuLabour was quite different. Admittedly old Labour could never be elected, so they had to start from the premise that there were NO shibboleths, and their sole raison d'etre was to be elected.
Now we see the end result. Because their is no " soul" to NuLabour ( which there clearly was in Old Labour) there is nothing there - a vacuum.
The appalling thing is we will all be paying for it ( not only in cash) for years to come.
I have been looking back at a few things and read the following quote. Compare and contrast as they used to say:
" New Labour is a party of ideas and ideals ( really?) but not outdated technology ( er their email system at No.10 and their general IT savyness leaves a lot to be desired) What counts is what works ( Eh??) The objectives are radical ( destruction of the United Kingdom, the constitution, the legal system, etc etc) The means will be modern" ( screw the voters for as much as possible but by stealth)
This was from their 1997 manifesto. Don't imagine for one minute you didn't go for it. Middle England ( and all of Scotland) fell for it hook line and sinker. What was different about Bliar and Brown was that always before, politicians and political parties believed in something at their core, and got elected to bring that belief to fruition. NuLabour was quite different. Admittedly old Labour could never be elected, so they had to start from the premise that there were NO shibboleths, and their sole raison d'etre was to be elected.
Now we see the end result. Because their is no " soul" to NuLabour ( which there clearly was in Old Labour) there is nothing there - a vacuum.
The appalling thing is we will all be paying for it ( not only in cash) for years to come.
Roundup and Pan's Labyrinth
Yes this is what the police are doing with Levy, Turner et al. They are, as the saying goes, getting their ducks in a row. There WILL be charges. Bliar will get off scot-free. Others will end up inside.
On a more important point, I have been castigated for using the word " nice" in relation to one of my daughter's boyfriends.
At least, I think so - it came as an email with just the word " Nice?" - so maybe it was congratulating me on my perspicacity. Mind you, simply calling them boyfriends is probably not allowed any more.
BAFTA was showing Pan's Labyrinth last night. An excellent film, original and thought provoking, but with a real-life sad ending, or maybe that should be a fairy tale happy ending. The performances were good, but I am continually astonished at film characters leaving alive people who should manifestly be killed when you have the chance. Mercedes the housekeeper stabs the Captain in the back. Then in the right shoulder. Then cust his face in two and says " Touch the girl and I will kill you - I have gutted many a pig."
So why didn't she stab him in the stomache? Or under the ribs? Then he wouldn't have been able to do much about anything, would he? I suppose one has to assume it's for the dramatic effect of the story.
Earlier on, the girl eats two grapes she was not supposed to and awakens an ogre. Mind you, she had been told, both verbally and in writing, AND by the fairies not to. But she did it anyway. How annoying is that?
I always say I don't mind a mistake, but I get cross with stupidity - we all make mistakes, after all. So I am particularly fed up with the cash for peerages thing and the cover-up. It's utterly stupid.All they needed to do was sacrifice one low level person and it would all have gone away. Now the Labour Party will be destroyed for a generation. I'm not necessarily sad about that, but we do need them for Democracy to work.
Or maybe this truly will be the end - a rump of Old Labour and yet another party amalgamation of LibDem and NuLabour.
Terrifying thought.
On a more important point, I have been castigated for using the word " nice" in relation to one of my daughter's boyfriends.
At least, I think so - it came as an email with just the word " Nice?" - so maybe it was congratulating me on my perspicacity. Mind you, simply calling them boyfriends is probably not allowed any more.
BAFTA was showing Pan's Labyrinth last night. An excellent film, original and thought provoking, but with a real-life sad ending, or maybe that should be a fairy tale happy ending. The performances were good, but I am continually astonished at film characters leaving alive people who should manifestly be killed when you have the chance. Mercedes the housekeeper stabs the Captain in the back. Then in the right shoulder. Then cust his face in two and says " Touch the girl and I will kill you - I have gutted many a pig."
So why didn't she stab him in the stomache? Or under the ribs? Then he wouldn't have been able to do much about anything, would he? I suppose one has to assume it's for the dramatic effect of the story.
Earlier on, the girl eats two grapes she was not supposed to and awakens an ogre. Mind you, she had been told, both verbally and in writing, AND by the fairies not to. But she did it anyway. How annoying is that?
I always say I don't mind a mistake, but I get cross with stupidity - we all make mistakes, after all. So I am particularly fed up with the cash for peerages thing and the cover-up. It's utterly stupid.All they needed to do was sacrifice one low level person and it would all have gone away. Now the Labour Party will be destroyed for a generation. I'm not necessarily sad about that, but we do need them for Democracy to work.
Or maybe this truly will be the end - a rump of Old Labour and yet another party amalgamation of LibDem and NuLabour.
Terrifying thought.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
sLIGHTLY StARnGE
Simply an observation. Whenever I read a blog, I click on the " next blog" icon before going to something else. Believe me, the header to this one is nothing LIKE as weird as some of the stuff I have come across.
British Justice
Mrs. Lear has been sitting as a juror for the last few days in the hight court in Glasgow. The case revolved around demanding money with menaces in the " security " industry. As in, if you don't give us the contract we will a) smash your face in and b) destroy the premises. Of course, the accused are far too smart to do it that way. What they actually do is turn up at the building site, present a very snappy brochure with quotes from "satisfied" customers, and suggest it would be worth employing them. Nothing else needs to be said. After all, if you find stuff nicked and destroyed three nights on the trot and the chap turns up again expressing astonishment at your problem,it's clearly your own fault if you don't get the message.
What galls me enormously - and this runs right through the Crown Prosecution Service, the Police and Prosecuting Counsel - is the belief these people have that simply saying " You did it" is enough to convict. In the scenario above, no crime has been committed - the terribly polite large gentlemen are merely trying to help you. As a result there are lots of prosecutions which are brought largely because the Police etc want to be seen to be doing something, and giving the toe-rags a fright. Of course, it has exactly the opposite effect. After you've been up two or three times and had the cases thrown out of court, you don't worry too much. And there's no place for you in prison anyway.
Mrs. Lear has been assuring me since Friday that the case would last 2 to 3 weeks. I predicted it would be dismissed by tomorrow. I was wrong by a day, and most of yesterday and the hour or so this morning was taken up with legal arguement, so the jurors had little to do at all.
Of course, if you are a law abiding citizen, that is a completely different matter. Driving offences by their very nature have a 100% clear-up rate. Don't pay your council tax and see how long it takes them to bang you up. Defend yourself against people who come into your house in the middle of the night uninvited, or prevent some poor soul from getting attacked in the street, and you will very quickly find your collar felt.
It's time there was a root and branch change in our law and order situation, and I can guarantee you John The Bruiser Reid won't do anything apart from spew out more meaningless platitudes and laws which will be unenforceable.
Let's have fewer, properly enforceable laws. Let's have ctrimes properly investigated, with properly documented evidence, properly prosecuted ( most prosecuting counsel don't even get to see the evidence until a day or so before the trial) and properly sentenced.
Oh, and by the way, police numbers have just fallen.
What galls me enormously - and this runs right through the Crown Prosecution Service, the Police and Prosecuting Counsel - is the belief these people have that simply saying " You did it" is enough to convict. In the scenario above, no crime has been committed - the terribly polite large gentlemen are merely trying to help you. As a result there are lots of prosecutions which are brought largely because the Police etc want to be seen to be doing something, and giving the toe-rags a fright. Of course, it has exactly the opposite effect. After you've been up two or three times and had the cases thrown out of court, you don't worry too much. And there's no place for you in prison anyway.
Mrs. Lear has been assuring me since Friday that the case would last 2 to 3 weeks. I predicted it would be dismissed by tomorrow. I was wrong by a day, and most of yesterday and the hour or so this morning was taken up with legal arguement, so the jurors had little to do at all.
Of course, if you are a law abiding citizen, that is a completely different matter. Driving offences by their very nature have a 100% clear-up rate. Don't pay your council tax and see how long it takes them to bang you up. Defend yourself against people who come into your house in the middle of the night uninvited, or prevent some poor soul from getting attacked in the street, and you will very quickly find your collar felt.
It's time there was a root and branch change in our law and order situation, and I can guarantee you John The Bruiser Reid won't do anything apart from spew out more meaningless platitudes and laws which will be unenforceable.
Let's have fewer, properly enforceable laws. Let's have ctrimes properly investigated, with properly documented evidence, properly prosecuted ( most prosecuting counsel don't even get to see the evidence until a day or so before the trial) and properly sentenced.
Oh, and by the way, police numbers have just fallen.
Monday, January 29, 2007
My three girls...
There are going to be repurcussions from this blog, but I don't mind.
When I was courting my first and only wife, her father had a ditty which he liked to pronounce from time to time. " My two girls are a couple of pearls, no father could wish for more. But where will I find a couple of swine, to cast my pearls before?"
Now I have three daughters, and I have always said to them that what matters is that HE loves YOU, because eveything will always then be OK. Very occasionally, it works the other way as well, and then things are as perfect as being married actually is ( give or take the odd row). Rather later, I suspect, than most father's have had to deal with it, two out of three of my girls now have boyfriends who I have met. You can tell I'm a dinosaur, can't you? I may say Mrs. Lear also says that my children are terrified to bring any boys to meet me as I am an ogre who eats people. This is manifestly untrue. I only eat them if I don't like them.
Anyway, the two young men in question are extremely nice. I know that's a horrible word, but it is the correct one in this instance. They are both highly intelligent, polite, have a good sense of humour, and put up with me. One who came to lunch yesterday needed to leave at 3pm but was too polite to say so, and therefore didn't leave until nearly 4.
Now for the bit that's going to cause the problems. I am not PC. I believe children should say please and thank you and sit down at regular mealtimes with their parents. They should speak at table and converse. They should learn to read, write and do mental arithmetic, and their parents should help them to these abilities. Teachers are only there to reinforce the lessons from home.
My point is that my girls have clearly found young men who have been brought up in the same way, and with the same good results. It gives me enormous hope for the future.
But I will refuse to pay for lavish weddings, because I believe the money is better spent as a deposit on a house. My girls are earning their own money. They can afford a modest wedding if they so wish. I believe the present mania for large weddings, stag weekends away etc, actually is an effort to show a phony love, which is ultimately doomed to failure. I really really object to the wedding presents I have given going to the other side, as has happened when several of our friend's children have been divorced. And I object even more to having to cough up for a second wedding wedding present. Or in one case a third.
But what I AM pleased about is that the two girls are happy. No father could ever, ever wish for more.
When I was courting my first and only wife, her father had a ditty which he liked to pronounce from time to time. " My two girls are a couple of pearls, no father could wish for more. But where will I find a couple of swine, to cast my pearls before?"
Now I have three daughters, and I have always said to them that what matters is that HE loves YOU, because eveything will always then be OK. Very occasionally, it works the other way as well, and then things are as perfect as being married actually is ( give or take the odd row). Rather later, I suspect, than most father's have had to deal with it, two out of three of my girls now have boyfriends who I have met. You can tell I'm a dinosaur, can't you? I may say Mrs. Lear also says that my children are terrified to bring any boys to meet me as I am an ogre who eats people. This is manifestly untrue. I only eat them if I don't like them.
Anyway, the two young men in question are extremely nice. I know that's a horrible word, but it is the correct one in this instance. They are both highly intelligent, polite, have a good sense of humour, and put up with me. One who came to lunch yesterday needed to leave at 3pm but was too polite to say so, and therefore didn't leave until nearly 4.
Now for the bit that's going to cause the problems. I am not PC. I believe children should say please and thank you and sit down at regular mealtimes with their parents. They should speak at table and converse. They should learn to read, write and do mental arithmetic, and their parents should help them to these abilities. Teachers are only there to reinforce the lessons from home.
My point is that my girls have clearly found young men who have been brought up in the same way, and with the same good results. It gives me enormous hope for the future.
But I will refuse to pay for lavish weddings, because I believe the money is better spent as a deposit on a house. My girls are earning their own money. They can afford a modest wedding if they so wish. I believe the present mania for large weddings, stag weekends away etc, actually is an effort to show a phony love, which is ultimately doomed to failure. I really really object to the wedding presents I have given going to the other side, as has happened when several of our friend's children have been divorced. And I object even more to having to cough up for a second wedding wedding present. Or in one case a third.
But what I AM pleased about is that the two girls are happy. No father could ever, ever wish for more.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Tete a Tete
I've just finished reading this book, written by Hazel Rowley, about the "Lives and loves" of Simone de Beauvoir & Jean Paul Sartre.
Pretty much all of it is known already, and her writing style leaves me cold - she is forever putting in bits which are unconnected. " Then Sartre slept with X . His play was the sensation of the year, and Beauvoir wrote a letter to Y." Eh?
Anyway, the thing that struck me forcibly was that - although both of them wrote beautifully ( read Beauvoir's diaries) Sartre was the most appalling person. He is continually lauded for being amusing and fun ( despite being mostly drunk and drugged from what I can see) and enormously generous, but his idea of humanity was non-existent. I suppose as an "Existentialist" that was what he intended. He clearly derived some thrill from being a complete control freak, although Beauvoir chose to believe he was " faithful intellectually" to her always.
Beauvoir emerges with much more credit that Sartre, but she was clearly complicit in his subterfuges.
Maybe there is not such thing as an honest man. Maybe being brilliant leads one to have a different kind of morality to the rest of us. Tony Bliar clearly operates on this principle, and I can think of one or two others who do as well.
Spelled slightly differently ( Tete a Tate) there was an Edinburgh radio show of the same name by a guy called Tate. I only ever came across it once, when I took Stephen Donaldson, author of The Illearth Trilogy ( then sextuplet, nonuplet etc etc) to be interviewed a la Desert Island Discs. Tate was a terribly nice man who liked a drink. His questions tended to be short and interesting, Donaldson's answer long and boring. After about 2o minutes, I noticed Tate had dropped off. Donaldson didn't. After about 10 more minutes Tate woke up with a start and said, very loudly, " Bugger me". The entire control room dissolved in laughter.The recording was stopped and a whisky was passed in to the recording studio. It got going again a few minutes later, but didn't last very long.
As the protagonists came out, Tate muttered to the director " Did I miss anything?"
" No" came the reply" Nothing we're going to broadcast anyway."
Pretty much all of it is known already, and her writing style leaves me cold - she is forever putting in bits which are unconnected. " Then Sartre slept with X . His play was the sensation of the year, and Beauvoir wrote a letter to Y." Eh?
Anyway, the thing that struck me forcibly was that - although both of them wrote beautifully ( read Beauvoir's diaries) Sartre was the most appalling person. He is continually lauded for being amusing and fun ( despite being mostly drunk and drugged from what I can see) and enormously generous, but his idea of humanity was non-existent. I suppose as an "Existentialist" that was what he intended. He clearly derived some thrill from being a complete control freak, although Beauvoir chose to believe he was " faithful intellectually" to her always.
Beauvoir emerges with much more credit that Sartre, but she was clearly complicit in his subterfuges.
Maybe there is not such thing as an honest man. Maybe being brilliant leads one to have a different kind of morality to the rest of us. Tony Bliar clearly operates on this principle, and I can think of one or two others who do as well.
Spelled slightly differently ( Tete a Tate) there was an Edinburgh radio show of the same name by a guy called Tate. I only ever came across it once, when I took Stephen Donaldson, author of The Illearth Trilogy ( then sextuplet, nonuplet etc etc) to be interviewed a la Desert Island Discs. Tate was a terribly nice man who liked a drink. His questions tended to be short and interesting, Donaldson's answer long and boring. After about 2o minutes, I noticed Tate had dropped off. Donaldson didn't. After about 10 more minutes Tate woke up with a start and said, very loudly, " Bugger me". The entire control room dissolved in laughter.The recording was stopped and a whisky was passed in to the recording studio. It got going again a few minutes later, but didn't last very long.
As the protagonists came out, Tate muttered to the director " Did I miss anything?"
" No" came the reply" Nothing we're going to broadcast anyway."
Thursday, January 25, 2007
PS
Who used lies to order the invasion of a foreign country?
That's too easy - Hitler regarding Polish attacks at Gleiwicz and Bliar on WMD in Iraq.
No similarities there then.
That's too easy - Hitler regarding Polish attacks at Gleiwicz and Bliar on WMD in Iraq.
No similarities there then.
Which is which? Part ?
Who passed a law - I've put that slightly incorrectly - issued a decree - against " Malicious attacks against the national community" and gave powers to the police " to protect our nationals from potential offenders".
In case you have not been following this general idea, there are enormous similarities between the behaviour and actions of our own beloved leader and government and those of Hitler and the Nazi Party in 1930's Germany.
I'm not for one moment suggesting that the Bliar government is right wing and fascist. They wouldn't dream of incarcerating their citizens illegally ( well actually they would) so er.. Yes the above are quotes from Hitler's infamous enabling act.
But have a look at the wording and intent of the Terrorism act of 2006 - and remember it was against terrorists that Hitler was making laws. The enabling act was the act that allowed Hitler to rule by fiat.
We call it Orders in Council.
In case you have not been following this general idea, there are enormous similarities between the behaviour and actions of our own beloved leader and government and those of Hitler and the Nazi Party in 1930's Germany.
I'm not for one moment suggesting that the Bliar government is right wing and fascist. They wouldn't dream of incarcerating their citizens illegally ( well actually they would) so er.. Yes the above are quotes from Hitler's infamous enabling act.
But have a look at the wording and intent of the Terrorism act of 2006 - and remember it was against terrorists that Hitler was making laws. The enabling act was the act that allowed Hitler to rule by fiat.
We call it Orders in Council.
Romania
I'm just back, courtesy of Wizzair, and jolly good it was too.
I stayed in Sighisoara ( a world heritage site but there are lots in the immediate vicinity) which is a 5hr. train ride from Bucharest. Single first class £14, and bang on time with an excellent onboard restaurant - beer and schnitzel £4.50.
Anyway, I was there to look at the Saxon villages ( Prince Charles is helping the Mihai Eminescu Trust stop them disintegrating) and they are beautiful.
The people are lovely.
The cows in the street are lovely.
The pigs in the barns are lovely.
The food is delicious.
The wine and beer are delicious.
The chickens and sheep wandering all over the place are lovely.
The Mayors control everything - ie central government doesn't interfere with local matters AT ALL.
The weather was lovely.
I could go on but you would get terminally bored.
My point is eveything is 100% organic for miles around - they couldn't afford fertiliser other than excrement and don't intend to change.
And they really really want to keep it that way, and have lots of ecotourists who DON'T ruin it.
Being in the EU since January 1st. they are coming to terms with the wall of money that is already crashing through the country. My hope is the Mayors will control it, guide it and use it to best advantage.
I loved it.
I stayed in Sighisoara ( a world heritage site but there are lots in the immediate vicinity) which is a 5hr. train ride from Bucharest. Single first class £14, and bang on time with an excellent onboard restaurant - beer and schnitzel £4.50.
Anyway, I was there to look at the Saxon villages ( Prince Charles is helping the Mihai Eminescu Trust stop them disintegrating) and they are beautiful.
The people are lovely.
The cows in the street are lovely.
The pigs in the barns are lovely.
The food is delicious.
The wine and beer are delicious.
The chickens and sheep wandering all over the place are lovely.
The Mayors control everything - ie central government doesn't interfere with local matters AT ALL.
The weather was lovely.
I could go on but you would get terminally bored.
My point is eveything is 100% organic for miles around - they couldn't afford fertiliser other than excrement and don't intend to change.
And they really really want to keep it that way, and have lots of ecotourists who DON'T ruin it.
Being in the EU since January 1st. they are coming to terms with the wall of money that is already crashing through the country. My hope is the Mayors will control it, guide it and use it to best advantage.
I loved it.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Burns night & Feegles
I spent a most enjoyable evening at the Glasgow dinner for Scottish Spina Bifida last night.Somewhere in the region of £60,000 was raised, an excellent top table of speakers, and good friends abounded. Our table remained silent whilst the speeches were made, unlike some who continued to chatter. I put it down to basic BB-type ignorance.
One of the speakers cracked two jokes which I liked - they are almost certainly old.
The first was " Where would we be without laughter?" And the answer? " Edinburgh" Brought the house down in Glasgow as you can imagine.
The second was sexist and Aberdononist, so those of a nervous disposition look away now.
A young Aberdonian tells his Glasgow friend he is getting married in the highlands, and he is going to wear the kilt.
" What's the Tartan?" asks the Weegie.
" I thunk she's wearin' a wee bitty white dress,ken".
Just so you know, "ken" is not his name, but the Scots vernacular for " you know".
What struck me during the evening was that people still laugh at stereotypes, however much we say we are or have to be Politically Correct. There were at least half a dozen homophobic references, innumerable sexist, and a surprising number of sectarian. But they were all taken in good part, pace a complaint to the race relations board today.
And surely - to a degree - that is how it should be. We are all prejudiced about all sorts of things, and to deny it is to deny our very essence. I have a hobbyhorse which is that it's the quirk that makes the genius, and it's the prejudice that makes us behave as we do in all sorts of situations.
I'm presently reading one of Terry Pratchett's books about the Feegles. They are small blue creatures in kilts who inhabit Discworld. Pratchett maintains they are not Scots, but I defy you to tell the difference. They fight, drink, steal, lie, are ineffably not PC and are generally not too bright. One of the great lines is " Feegles can get oot of onywhere - except pubs of course."
But the point about them is they are utterly lovely. They are caring, family orientated, hard working creatures, with whom it is impossible to stay angry for any length of time.
Just like we really are.
One of the speakers cracked two jokes which I liked - they are almost certainly old.
The first was " Where would we be without laughter?" And the answer? " Edinburgh" Brought the house down in Glasgow as you can imagine.
The second was sexist and Aberdononist, so those of a nervous disposition look away now.
A young Aberdonian tells his Glasgow friend he is getting married in the highlands, and he is going to wear the kilt.
" What's the Tartan?" asks the Weegie.
" I thunk she's wearin' a wee bitty white dress,ken".
Just so you know, "ken" is not his name, but the Scots vernacular for " you know".
What struck me during the evening was that people still laugh at stereotypes, however much we say we are or have to be Politically Correct. There were at least half a dozen homophobic references, innumerable sexist, and a surprising number of sectarian. But they were all taken in good part, pace a complaint to the race relations board today.
And surely - to a degree - that is how it should be. We are all prejudiced about all sorts of things, and to deny it is to deny our very essence. I have a hobbyhorse which is that it's the quirk that makes the genius, and it's the prejudice that makes us behave as we do in all sorts of situations.
I'm presently reading one of Terry Pratchett's books about the Feegles. They are small blue creatures in kilts who inhabit Discworld. Pratchett maintains they are not Scots, but I defy you to tell the difference. They fight, drink, steal, lie, are ineffably not PC and are generally not too bright. One of the great lines is " Feegles can get oot of onywhere - except pubs of course."
But the point about them is they are utterly lovely. They are caring, family orientated, hard working creatures, with whom it is impossible to stay angry for any length of time.
Just like we really are.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
On a different topic..
..I have spent some of the last few days at Olympia in London.
There have been two shows running. One the Daily Telegraph Adventure show. The other something called BETT, which is all about "Educational Technology".
Now call me cynical, but I couldn't help but think the latter might actually be mostly about various educational establishements and departments across the UK spending your and my money. After all, GB has promised even more mega billions ( obviously to no effect) to " Our schools and universities".
The adventure show was tucked into Olympia II. For those of you who don't know, this has three levels, and is about the size of a medium Tesco. And they had closed one level, so only two-thirds of a medium Tesco. All the exhibitors paid their way, as did all the people who visited the show, about 26,000 of them at £10 a time. Of their own after tax money.
BETT on the other hand was in the main show area, plus all the remaining ancillary space. Probably double a mega mega Tesco in size. Probably as many as 150,000 visited the show, not one of whom, I'm sure, actually paid the entry themselves. And for sure they would have been in hotels and restaurants spending our money. And buying lots of gizmos to improve " edukashun" when what is needed is good teachers, not teaching aids, however whizzy. What makes a good teacher? Someone who imparts a love of learning. Do that and all else follows.
My point, of course, is that there is not the slightest balance in our present society. Bliar and his minions, and all their council and neo-government appendages, have been given the key to the money box, and have comprehensively emptied it of OUR money. If you ain't in their ( extremely large) clique, you are well and truly screwed. They had the benefit, they deny it to others.
Don't believe a word of the hype - there ain't no magic bullet.
There have been two shows running. One the Daily Telegraph Adventure show. The other something called BETT, which is all about "Educational Technology".
Now call me cynical, but I couldn't help but think the latter might actually be mostly about various educational establishements and departments across the UK spending your and my money. After all, GB has promised even more mega billions ( obviously to no effect) to " Our schools and universities".
The adventure show was tucked into Olympia II. For those of you who don't know, this has three levels, and is about the size of a medium Tesco. And they had closed one level, so only two-thirds of a medium Tesco. All the exhibitors paid their way, as did all the people who visited the show, about 26,000 of them at £10 a time. Of their own after tax money.
BETT on the other hand was in the main show area, plus all the remaining ancillary space. Probably double a mega mega Tesco in size. Probably as many as 150,000 visited the show, not one of whom, I'm sure, actually paid the entry themselves. And for sure they would have been in hotels and restaurants spending our money. And buying lots of gizmos to improve " edukashun" when what is needed is good teachers, not teaching aids, however whizzy. What makes a good teacher? Someone who imparts a love of learning. Do that and all else follows.
My point, of course, is that there is not the slightest balance in our present society. Bliar and his minions, and all their council and neo-government appendages, have been given the key to the money box, and have comprehensively emptied it of OUR money. If you ain't in their ( extremely large) clique, you are well and truly screwed. They had the benefit, they deny it to others.
Don't believe a word of the hype - there ain't no magic bullet.
BB & the Union
Back to the grindstone again. I've been in London on business for a few days and saw Anthony and Cleopatra with Harriet Walters and Patrick Stewart. Staggeringly good production and acting in a play that has some of Shakespear's finest poetry. It's not particularly well know ( not like " To be" or " The quality of mercy") but in it's own way quite beautiful.
And the weather has simply got worse over the last week, we now have snow and wind as opposed to rain and wind.
However, the heading of this musing is "BB & the Union".
You may think there is little in common, but I would aver that there is. Despite the rantings from all parts about racism in BB, from what I have read, it rather sounds like good old fashioned playground jealousy. On the one side, relatively ugly, unintelligent boors, on the other beauty, brains and culture. It was ever thus. Your different from us so we hate you. Granted the difference may include colour, but I'm willing to bet if the beauty was a ladette they would all be pals together. Jealousy is apparently the second strongest emotion after what is called "flight & fear."
So maybe now you see the connection with the Union. The Scots are getting more than the English , and, let's be honest, Scotland has enormously better quality of life in most areas.
If NuLabour ( who have famously let the Genii out of the bottle with devolution) in the guise of Bliar want to secure TB's "legacy", all they need to do is stop Scottish & Welsh MPs voting on devolved matters at Westminster.
That, of course, won't happen, because that would be the end of Labour. But the Tories just might promise it in their manifesto.
And the weather has simply got worse over the last week, we now have snow and wind as opposed to rain and wind.
However, the heading of this musing is "BB & the Union".
You may think there is little in common, but I would aver that there is. Despite the rantings from all parts about racism in BB, from what I have read, it rather sounds like good old fashioned playground jealousy. On the one side, relatively ugly, unintelligent boors, on the other beauty, brains and culture. It was ever thus. Your different from us so we hate you. Granted the difference may include colour, but I'm willing to bet if the beauty was a ladette they would all be pals together. Jealousy is apparently the second strongest emotion after what is called "flight & fear."
So maybe now you see the connection with the Union. The Scots are getting more than the English , and, let's be honest, Scotland has enormously better quality of life in most areas.
If NuLabour ( who have famously let the Genii out of the bottle with devolution) in the guise of Bliar want to secure TB's "legacy", all they need to do is stop Scottish & Welsh MPs voting on devolved matters at Westminster.
That, of course, won't happen, because that would be the end of Labour. But the Tories just might promise it in their manifesto.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Har Har
Oh, Gawd, it's back to the wind and rain.
But on the other hand I watched " In the Thick of it " last night. The feeling of dying days of an administration, the PERFECT Glaswegian insults delivered by Peter Capaldi and his sidekick, made me rock with glee.
And the namby pamby moronic MPs on both sides perfectly encapsulate why we the public - if we are still allowed to exist - don't trust ANY politicians.
I quite liked the Steve Hilton character - I don't know him personally, but I'm sure he is MUCH more intelligent that this - who, again, perfectly captured the NuTory ethos.
On a real note, it looks like the Tories have £20million or so to fight an election, with Labour in deep trouble financially. Watch out for Brown doing his best to smooze potential donors, which will be like watching a nail-biting rictus from Discworld trying to articulate. As the DT says, he has no conversation.
But then, I have said before elsewhere that I know someone who was on holiday with him years ago for 4 days. Brown took no part in any of the household chores ( shopping, cooking, washing up) nor did he do what such boors normally do as a contribution, which is to entertain everyone with witty repartee and sparkling conversation. He sat reading in silence most of the time, glowering and biting his nails for the remaining few minutes of his day.
But on the other hand I watched " In the Thick of it " last night. The feeling of dying days of an administration, the PERFECT Glaswegian insults delivered by Peter Capaldi and his sidekick, made me rock with glee.
And the namby pamby moronic MPs on both sides perfectly encapsulate why we the public - if we are still allowed to exist - don't trust ANY politicians.
I quite liked the Steve Hilton character - I don't know him personally, but I'm sure he is MUCH more intelligent that this - who, again, perfectly captured the NuTory ethos.
On a real note, it looks like the Tories have £20million or so to fight an election, with Labour in deep trouble financially. Watch out for Brown doing his best to smooze potential donors, which will be like watching a nail-biting rictus from Discworld trying to articulate. As the DT says, he has no conversation.
But then, I have said before elsewhere that I know someone who was on holiday with him years ago for 4 days. Brown took no part in any of the household chores ( shopping, cooking, washing up) nor did he do what such boors normally do as a contribution, which is to entertain everyone with witty repartee and sparkling conversation. He sat reading in silence most of the time, glowering and biting his nails for the remaining few minutes of his day.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Orders in Council
Iain Dale had a very good bit about the above, and the ( perrenial) government cockup.
So, OK, I'm getting a bit obsessed with this - BUT:
PART III.
Which government in a two year period handed out over 800 decrees but only enacted a total ( I think) of 22 laws passed by parliament?
Which government fabricated justification to invade another country? And whose leader then said - and here I paraphrase - " You can trust me with the fate of our country and people. If we don't invade, what would you say to me when we are being attacked?"
Which leader said quote " When I go through it all again, I am convinced that it has been given to me to lead our common cause (against our enemies) to a victorious end."
Which government abdicated it's belief in the consensus of a council of nations in order to pursue it's own ends?
Which Party Leader said " Wherever I am and wherever I go, whatever the outcome,I will be with you always"?
And finally for now, which deputy party leader said " The rational political view has prevailed"?
And tomorrow you can have part IV.
So, OK, I'm getting a bit obsessed with this - BUT:
PART III.
Which government in a two year period handed out over 800 decrees but only enacted a total ( I think) of 22 laws passed by parliament?
Which government fabricated justification to invade another country? And whose leader then said - and here I paraphrase - " You can trust me with the fate of our country and people. If we don't invade, what would you say to me when we are being attacked?"
Which leader said quote " When I go through it all again, I am convinced that it has been given to me to lead our common cause (against our enemies) to a victorious end."
Which government abdicated it's belief in the consensus of a council of nations in order to pursue it's own ends?
Which Party Leader said " Wherever I am and wherever I go, whatever the outcome,I will be with you always"?
And finally for now, which deputy party leader said " The rational political view has prevailed"?
And tomorrow you can have part IV.
On a lighter note..
.. we have sunshine today and little or no wind. This may not necessarily sound like a cause for rejoicing, but to those of us in the West of Scotland, this is just about the first day in about three months that work outside could be continuous.
We can pour concrete!
We can clean gutters!
We can fix holes in roofs!
We can build walls!
Hallelujah!
We can pour concrete!
We can clean gutters!
We can fix holes in roofs!
We can build walls!
Hallelujah!
Which is which? Part II
I'm sorry that was so easy. Here's the second part.
Which government used fear of internal revolution to abolish rights which were previously enshrined in law, sanctioned house and personal searches without due legal process, allowed wire-tapping,and arrest on mere suspicion of terrorism ?They then filled the prisons so much that army barracks, ships and police stations had to be used to accommodate the criminals.
Which government brought in laws abolishing centuries old rural practices, discriminating against certain categories of farmer?
Which government massively expanded employment in the state sector before it's second term elections, which we call gerrymandering, but which they call increasing public services?
And finally, this one is a bit more difficult: Which government hounded a senior civil servant to death when he departed from the party line and told the truth - then had an inquiry which exhonorated the government. I want both names please.
Which government used fear of internal revolution to abolish rights which were previously enshrined in law, sanctioned house and personal searches without due legal process, allowed wire-tapping,and arrest on mere suspicion of terrorism ?They then filled the prisons so much that army barracks, ships and police stations had to be used to accommodate the criminals.
Which government brought in laws abolishing centuries old rural practices, discriminating against certain categories of farmer?
Which government massively expanded employment in the state sector before it's second term elections, which we call gerrymandering, but which they call increasing public services?
And finally, this one is a bit more difficult: Which government hounded a senior civil servant to death when he departed from the party line and told the truth - then had an inquiry which exhonorated the government. I want both names please.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Which is which?
Just a little test.
The first government I'm talking about won power with about 25% of the electorate voting for them. It's first edict was that it would maintain the status quo. It's second was to downgrade the Upper House, dismissing most of it's sitting members. It then did away with the nation's chief legal officer and replaced him with a close friend of the head of government - who then said unless the lawyers toed the line they would not get any more funding from the state.
The second government won power with about 25% of the elctorate voting for them. It's first edict blah blah blah.... they would not get any more funding from the state.
Compare and contrast.
The first government I'm talking about won power with about 25% of the electorate voting for them. It's first edict was that it would maintain the status quo. It's second was to downgrade the Upper House, dismissing most of it's sitting members. It then did away with the nation's chief legal officer and replaced him with a close friend of the head of government - who then said unless the lawyers toed the line they would not get any more funding from the state.
The second government won power with about 25% of the elctorate voting for them. It's first edict blah blah blah.... they would not get any more funding from the state.
Compare and contrast.
The Teddy Bears
Unless you are in Scotland the present spat about Walter Smith, the SFA and Rangers will not have bothered you too much. To many Scots, this is THE critical event of 2007 ( and so early in the year too).
Walter was an extremely succesful Rangers manager in the 90's who left for greater things - ending up as Scotland manager after the unlamented Bertie Vogts. I'm afraid I regard this position now as merely an old folk's home for worthy ex-footballers.
However, the one thing Walter would bring to the Teddy Bears is belief in the shirt. This - in case you don't know - is the thing all managers try to instill. Martin O'Neill has it, Alex Ferguson has it ( remember what he did with Aberdeen with no money), and Steven Gerrard has it, along with many others to a lesser or greater degree. LeGuen does not have it. Wee Eck had it, but lacked lots of other skills. It is perhaps the single most important factor in winning or losing a game of football, and makes the picked eleven play as a team - and substitutes slot in unselfishly to WIN. It applies in business and politics as well, and I hardly need say, Mrs.T had it, although I am more than unsure about the preasent government.
Glasgow, of course, is well known for its humour.
The present story doing the rounds is two Jimmys in a bar.
" I hear that Gordon Ramsay is going to be the 'Gers new manager" says one.
" What? says the other " because he used to play for them and can cook?"
" Naw - it's because he's got a great way with mince."
( For those who don't know, mince is Glasgow slang for a bloody load of rubbish."
Walter was an extremely succesful Rangers manager in the 90's who left for greater things - ending up as Scotland manager after the unlamented Bertie Vogts. I'm afraid I regard this position now as merely an old folk's home for worthy ex-footballers.
However, the one thing Walter would bring to the Teddy Bears is belief in the shirt. This - in case you don't know - is the thing all managers try to instill. Martin O'Neill has it, Alex Ferguson has it ( remember what he did with Aberdeen with no money), and Steven Gerrard has it, along with many others to a lesser or greater degree. LeGuen does not have it. Wee Eck had it, but lacked lots of other skills. It is perhaps the single most important factor in winning or losing a game of football, and makes the picked eleven play as a team - and substitutes slot in unselfishly to WIN. It applies in business and politics as well, and I hardly need say, Mrs.T had it, although I am more than unsure about the preasent government.
Glasgow, of course, is well known for its humour.
The present story doing the rounds is two Jimmys in a bar.
" I hear that Gordon Ramsay is going to be the 'Gers new manager" says one.
" What? says the other " because he used to play for them and can cook?"
" Naw - it's because he's got a great way with mince."
( For those who don't know, mince is Glasgow slang for a bloody load of rubbish."
Monday, January 08, 2007
Ya big jessie ye!
Nice piece about Marr interview and GB at the weekend on several blogs. A local Kircaldy man was quoted as saying he remembers our Gordo as a " a big jessie". Apart from the fact that I seem to recall the Gordo was a comic book monster in my youth, this expression is Scots for gay - cf a big girl's blouse which merely means "feart".
What I think this says is that he is NOT - as the West Wing would have it -" The real thing". And despite whatever we may now think, very large sections of British society in 1997 definitely thought TB WAS the Real Thing.
And what is the definition of THIS phrase. Well, Jed Bartlett admitted, on screen, he screwed up. Way to go!
What I think this says is that he is NOT - as the West Wing would have it -" The real thing". And despite whatever we may now think, very large sections of British society in 1997 definitely thought TB WAS the Real Thing.
And what is the definition of THIS phrase. Well, Jed Bartlett admitted, on screen, he screwed up. Way to go!
Friday, January 05, 2007
Education again
For some reason I have been unable to read Cobbett Rides Again! over the last week or two.
Imagine my delight to pick up this gem today.
"Education goes forward to the past.The Telegraph is reporting that the most gifted pupils are to be given vouchers to enable them 'buy' additional tuition. Don't I recall a similar system which featured something called an 11+ exam and Grammar Schools in the bad old days before comprehensives. There are a couple of other innovative wheezes I've just this second thought up. How about apprenticeships where young people can learn practical skills on the job, and what about turning all those new universities into polytechnics and teaching science and engineering instead of psychology, social science and media studies. No, probably too revolutionary."
I couldn't agree more.
Imagine my delight to pick up this gem today.
"Education goes forward to the past.The Telegraph is reporting that the most gifted pupils are to be given vouchers to enable them 'buy' additional tuition. Don't I recall a similar system which featured something called an 11+ exam and Grammar Schools in the bad old days before comprehensives. There are a couple of other innovative wheezes I've just this second thought up. How about apprenticeships where young people can learn practical skills on the job, and what about turning all those new universities into polytechnics and teaching science and engineering instead of psychology, social science and media studies. No, probably too revolutionary."
I couldn't agree more.
Scotland the What?
This used to be the name of quite a funny trio of Aberdonians, who were virtually incomprehensible to anyone south of Dundee.
However, the " what" above refers to what might happen after the May 3rd Scottish elections.
Best guess so far is 7 extra seats for SNP and 6 less for Labour. As an aside, I happen to know that Alex Salmond and the SNP bank with Clydesdale Bank, as I met him there the other day.
But what might happen? Well, the most interesting thing is the new party being launched by Archie Stirling - to be called Scottish Democracy by the looks of it. There is no doubt that many people want the Union to remain, and - the Scots actually being deeply conservative - any referendum would almost certainly vote to retain a near relation of the present situation ( we get more money than the English, and we are not turkeys voting for Christmas).
I always say we do not know we are born up here. We have nothing approaching a traffic jam, as long as you are not trying to cross the Kingston Bridge when Rangers are playing at Ibrox. We have three international airports within 30 minutes of Glasgow ( one of which is about 10 minutes from where I live). OK it rains a lot in the West, but the East is as dry as the South of England, and actually has more hours of sunshine. Add to that what is generally regarded as stunning scenary, world class sailing and outdoor pursuits etc etc, and lots of people ( especially from England) are prepared to take a huge drop in salary to lead a better life than being stuck on the M25.
My own view is that the Scots are actually playing this quite cannily. By telling pollsters that they are going to vote for the SNP, they are ensuring that NuLabour will throw scads of benefits and money at them before the elections. Then they will vote in a parliament that is effectively hung, and not much will get done for a few years, which, as every student of political philosophy knows, is the best way forward for any country.
I do know several people who - the minute the referendum result on the Scottish Parliamnent was known - sold up and left for Suffolk. Very much a laissez-faire county.
And lots of major businesses ( down from 108 to 52 at last count, 1997 - 2005) have moved their headquarters south, or been sold to English or foreign companies.
But at the end of the day, what do we ALL want?
Myself, I want to be left alone, be able to earn enough to live on, and enjoy myself when I want to.
Any politician who could deliver that would have it made.
However, the " what" above refers to what might happen after the May 3rd Scottish elections.
Best guess so far is 7 extra seats for SNP and 6 less for Labour. As an aside, I happen to know that Alex Salmond and the SNP bank with Clydesdale Bank, as I met him there the other day.
But what might happen? Well, the most interesting thing is the new party being launched by Archie Stirling - to be called Scottish Democracy by the looks of it. There is no doubt that many people want the Union to remain, and - the Scots actually being deeply conservative - any referendum would almost certainly vote to retain a near relation of the present situation ( we get more money than the English, and we are not turkeys voting for Christmas).
I always say we do not know we are born up here. We have nothing approaching a traffic jam, as long as you are not trying to cross the Kingston Bridge when Rangers are playing at Ibrox. We have three international airports within 30 minutes of Glasgow ( one of which is about 10 minutes from where I live). OK it rains a lot in the West, but the East is as dry as the South of England, and actually has more hours of sunshine. Add to that what is generally regarded as stunning scenary, world class sailing and outdoor pursuits etc etc, and lots of people ( especially from England) are prepared to take a huge drop in salary to lead a better life than being stuck on the M25.
My own view is that the Scots are actually playing this quite cannily. By telling pollsters that they are going to vote for the SNP, they are ensuring that NuLabour will throw scads of benefits and money at them before the elections. Then they will vote in a parliament that is effectively hung, and not much will get done for a few years, which, as every student of political philosophy knows, is the best way forward for any country.
I do know several people who - the minute the referendum result on the Scottish Parliamnent was known - sold up and left for Suffolk. Very much a laissez-faire county.
And lots of major businesses ( down from 108 to 52 at last count, 1997 - 2005) have moved their headquarters south, or been sold to English or foreign companies.
But at the end of the day, what do we ALL want?
Myself, I want to be left alone, be able to earn enough to live on, and enjoy myself when I want to.
Any politician who could deliver that would have it made.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
5 things
Everybody with a blog is doing " 5 things you didn't know about me". Every time I tell my youngest daughter something about myself in my youth, she says I am lying , so here goes.
1. I used to play the trumpet quite well.
2. Whilst living in Germany as a boy, I won the USAAF open golf competition.
3. I also won the USAAF pistol AND rifle shooting competitions.
4. When I was sent home aged 12 with a line from school saying I needed glasses, my mother told me to behave myself.
5. I was embroiled in huge controversy at school, when I won a French prize whilst NOT doing French, and all the members of the French A level set went on strike, as they had been studying for the prize for 18 months.
My point about all this is that - despite the fact that I think of myself as cheerful, kind, caring etc - in reality I piss people off.
Especially the USAAF, who promptly banned me from entering ANY of their competitions.
1. I used to play the trumpet quite well.
2. Whilst living in Germany as a boy, I won the USAAF open golf competition.
3. I also won the USAAF pistol AND rifle shooting competitions.
4. When I was sent home aged 12 with a line from school saying I needed glasses, my mother told me to behave myself.
5. I was embroiled in huge controversy at school, when I won a French prize whilst NOT doing French, and all the members of the French A level set went on strike, as they had been studying for the prize for 18 months.
My point about all this is that - despite the fact that I think of myself as cheerful, kind, caring etc - in reality I piss people off.
Especially the USAAF, who promptly banned me from entering ANY of their competitions.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Did I say under 40?
I have predicted the Lib Dems will be below 40 seats at the next election. The latest poll, whisked through some sophisticated box of tricks, actually puts them on a potential 14. Looks like Ming is NOT going to make it, but Tories should steer clear of giving him a push. And wait for the defections to come across to DC
Happy New Year!
Yes well I've been away, as all the people who read this blog will already know.
I had a lovely time, and just wanted to share three small things with you.
They were in a motorway service station in France.
There was a sign saying that they were responsible vendors and did NOT sell anything of more than 18% alcohol in their restaurant.
Next a lady sitting at the next table ( clearly taking pity on an old git) offered me a glass of her wine. Noone's ever done that anywhere before, and I certainly don't see me being offered a slug of somebody's cola in Newport Pagnall.
Finally - and compare with my view that grandparents' brain's immediately turn to mush at the first wail of the little one - a smart with it granny ( French) was looking after two small ones on the other side from the drinks lady. One of them dropped it's bottle which I picked up and returned to the lady.
She looked witheringly at the child and said " Grandmothers should NOT have to look after their grandchildren!"
No mush there then!
I had a lovely time, and just wanted to share three small things with you.
They were in a motorway service station in France.
There was a sign saying that they were responsible vendors and did NOT sell anything of more than 18% alcohol in their restaurant.
Next a lady sitting at the next table ( clearly taking pity on an old git) offered me a glass of her wine. Noone's ever done that anywhere before, and I certainly don't see me being offered a slug of somebody's cola in Newport Pagnall.
Finally - and compare with my view that grandparents' brain's immediately turn to mush at the first wail of the little one - a smart with it granny ( French) was looking after two small ones on the other side from the drinks lady. One of them dropped it's bottle which I picked up and returned to the lady.
She looked witheringly at the child and said " Grandmothers should NOT have to look after their grandchildren!"
No mush there then!
Monday, December 18, 2006
Truly uplifting
I had an experience today which pointed up how lacking in common sense and what used to be called " bottom" the politicians who now run the madhouse are.
I met with a lady called May Nicholson. May runs the Preshal Trust in a seriously deprived area of Glasgow called Govan. It wasn't so deprived until the ships started being built in the far east and the 60's Labour Council in Glasgow knocked most of it down in anticipation of "regeneration". Fortunately, they never got around to it, and only now are things happening - mostly from private investment. Govan has more "A" grade listed buildings than anywhere else in Britain. But the population has dropped from about 80,000 to less than 6,000.
May is about 60, but for the first 30 years of her life she was an alcoholic and drug addict. For the last 30 she has tried to help the sub-normal and deprived to lead a useful life. She has an unshakeable belief that the Lord will provide, and she has never been proved wrong yet.
And what are the things she attempts to give people?
Dignity. A sense of worth.A clean environment. And education.
To do this, everyone who comes to her has a job, even if its sweeping the floor. They get a certificate for doing a good job, and she doesn't hand those out lightly. She makes sure that they get praise for a job well done, but a badly done job will lead to a dressing down - mild but truthful, and about the job not the " You're a waste of space" type. She makes sure where they live is properly looked after, and she makes sure there are mentors and neighbours to help with that. She makes sure they get a sense of achievement, that they as a person are worth it. They learn and expand their knowledge whilst in her care. To describe her as a dynamo is completely to mislead. She is a frail, soft-spoken rock, who gave me a hug and blessed me before I left.
She works in a rotting shed, which her people are doing up.
But she leads, and gets things done, and literally hundreds of people bless the day they met her.
My point in all this is the Blair/Brownite belief that if you throw billions at something, somehow it will get better. It won't. Like any school, what counts is the headmaster and teachers. In the hospitals, it's not the admin people, it's the charismatic doctor or surgeon who inspires and uplifts his staff, it's the good copper that works away and again, gets things done.It's the person in a job who tells the truth and shames the Devil.
There's an old adage " Cometh the hour, cometh the man"
In 1997, I have to say I thought it might be.
The only man coming now is Yates.
I met with a lady called May Nicholson. May runs the Preshal Trust in a seriously deprived area of Glasgow called Govan. It wasn't so deprived until the ships started being built in the far east and the 60's Labour Council in Glasgow knocked most of it down in anticipation of "regeneration". Fortunately, they never got around to it, and only now are things happening - mostly from private investment. Govan has more "A" grade listed buildings than anywhere else in Britain. But the population has dropped from about 80,000 to less than 6,000.
May is about 60, but for the first 30 years of her life she was an alcoholic and drug addict. For the last 30 she has tried to help the sub-normal and deprived to lead a useful life. She has an unshakeable belief that the Lord will provide, and she has never been proved wrong yet.
And what are the things she attempts to give people?
Dignity. A sense of worth.A clean environment. And education.
To do this, everyone who comes to her has a job, even if its sweeping the floor. They get a certificate for doing a good job, and she doesn't hand those out lightly. She makes sure that they get praise for a job well done, but a badly done job will lead to a dressing down - mild but truthful, and about the job not the " You're a waste of space" type. She makes sure where they live is properly looked after, and she makes sure there are mentors and neighbours to help with that. She makes sure they get a sense of achievement, that they as a person are worth it. They learn and expand their knowledge whilst in her care. To describe her as a dynamo is completely to mislead. She is a frail, soft-spoken rock, who gave me a hug and blessed me before I left.
She works in a rotting shed, which her people are doing up.
But she leads, and gets things done, and literally hundreds of people bless the day they met her.
My point in all this is the Blair/Brownite belief that if you throw billions at something, somehow it will get better. It won't. Like any school, what counts is the headmaster and teachers. In the hospitals, it's not the admin people, it's the charismatic doctor or surgeon who inspires and uplifts his staff, it's the good copper that works away and again, gets things done.It's the person in a job who tells the truth and shames the Devil.
There's an old adage " Cometh the hour, cometh the man"
In 1997, I have to say I thought it might be.
The only man coming now is Yates.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Run for Cover
No, not what we need to do since the Attorney General effectively said he could do anything he liked under cover of the "National Interest", but the title of a rather good "B" movie starring James Cagney, made, I think in 1954.
It is a tale of cowboys and a few Indians, but mostly it is about people's speed to judge, their herd mentality, jealousy and redemption. Pretty average cowboy stuff. You will, however, be pleased to hear Cagney wears a white hat, the baddies all have black hats, and the townsfolk various shades of grey.
But the thing that struck me was some of the dialogue, which, I daresay, reflected the thinking of the time, and, in view of my age, probably my pre-programmed view of life.
The best example was when the deputy sherrif, to whom Cagney had shown nothing but kindness and a wish to toughen him up, turned out to have been in league with the baddies all along..
" Don't blame it on yer larning - if it hadn't been that it would have been somethin' else!" In effect, you went rotten because you ARE rotten.
I don't subscribe to that view. I have unbounded faith in education, education, education ( remember that?) but that education does NOT only come from school. It comes from parents and grandparents as well, something that has almost been forgotten until IDS spelled it out again recently.
In Glasgow - and I'm sure in other places - there are some families that are 5 generations into not having worked. We -you - other taxpayers - have supported them for more than 40 years to a greater or lesser extent. Anyone on benefit, also doing the odd night behind a bar, or a little labouring, would be entirely mad to start work to earn an extra £25 per week, and having to work for it too. And don't forget the peer and family pressure. I actually once heard a mother tell her daughter, who had come to work for us in defiance of her situation, that she was insane. The mother had come to our office, pulled the 16 year old out, and shouted at her for 20 minutes in the street.
Now I know Mr. Brown likes to control everything, and his policy of increasing the public sector, the sector on benefit etc etc is merely a sophisticated form of gerrymandering, but we are perilously close to the end. Even in France, after a certain ( lengthy) period, you don't get benefit any more.
We have to reinstate policies that bring an end to dependency. Without this, the British people will never get up off their knees. It is only the influx of Poles and others that are keeping things going. And still we have slipped from fourth best productivity to 25th.If they all decide to go home we are well and truly screwed.
By the way, the deputy sherrif saved Cagney from being shot, and so redeemed himself, shot by Cagney in the process. Quote from Cagney " Ya drew! Ya drew! an' I thought ya was drawin' on me!"
Brilliant.
It is a tale of cowboys and a few Indians, but mostly it is about people's speed to judge, their herd mentality, jealousy and redemption. Pretty average cowboy stuff. You will, however, be pleased to hear Cagney wears a white hat, the baddies all have black hats, and the townsfolk various shades of grey.
But the thing that struck me was some of the dialogue, which, I daresay, reflected the thinking of the time, and, in view of my age, probably my pre-programmed view of life.
The best example was when the deputy sherrif, to whom Cagney had shown nothing but kindness and a wish to toughen him up, turned out to have been in league with the baddies all along..
" Don't blame it on yer larning - if it hadn't been that it would have been somethin' else!" In effect, you went rotten because you ARE rotten.
I don't subscribe to that view. I have unbounded faith in education, education, education ( remember that?) but that education does NOT only come from school. It comes from parents and grandparents as well, something that has almost been forgotten until IDS spelled it out again recently.
In Glasgow - and I'm sure in other places - there are some families that are 5 generations into not having worked. We -you - other taxpayers - have supported them for more than 40 years to a greater or lesser extent. Anyone on benefit, also doing the odd night behind a bar, or a little labouring, would be entirely mad to start work to earn an extra £25 per week, and having to work for it too. And don't forget the peer and family pressure. I actually once heard a mother tell her daughter, who had come to work for us in defiance of her situation, that she was insane. The mother had come to our office, pulled the 16 year old out, and shouted at her for 20 minutes in the street.
Now I know Mr. Brown likes to control everything, and his policy of increasing the public sector, the sector on benefit etc etc is merely a sophisticated form of gerrymandering, but we are perilously close to the end. Even in France, after a certain ( lengthy) period, you don't get benefit any more.
We have to reinstate policies that bring an end to dependency. Without this, the British people will never get up off their knees. It is only the influx of Poles and others that are keeping things going. And still we have slipped from fourth best productivity to 25th.If they all decide to go home we are well and truly screwed.
By the way, the deputy sherrif saved Cagney from being shot, and so redeemed himself, shot by Cagney in the process. Quote from Cagney " Ya drew! Ya drew! an' I thought ya was drawin' on me!"
Brilliant.
State of the Nation
I watched Andrew Marr this morning when that smarmy bastard Prescott dribbled all over the place.
I read the MoS on the leaked docuement. I read Iain Dale, Dizzy, etc etc.
For possibly the first time in it's existence, this shambles ( their word) of a Government has actually told the truth.
It's crap.
I was never more sure of this than on Friday night when we were at a dinner party, two of the guests being redder than red Labourites.A naughty friend of mind wound them both up by suggesting that Pinochet was a pretty straight kind of a guy. Unfortuantely, neither of them were clever enough, and launched into furious attack, only to be shot down with the reminder that it was what Bliar had said about himself. Of course, straight kind of guy is EXACTLY what Pinochet was. He had principles ( you may not like them, but he stuck by them. There was no spin, it was all straight out) Whilst speechless, my friend continued with suggesting that what had been done in the name of the British people, particularly in Iraq, was anti-democratic and the people certainly did NOT vote for their pensions to be ruined, the NHS to deteriorate even as billions were shovelled at it, and certainly NOT for the troops in Afghanistan to have to borrow ammunition as that provided by the MOD was useless. And why NuTrident?
Both the Labourites were squirming as all this was being said, until one of them blurted out -" well, at least the country is in safe hands with Gordon Brown" -which raised a huge guffaw all round the table - .."and at least he's honest!"
I need hardly say more. If there really are people who are this deluded, the Tories will have no problem.
Like I keep saying, majority of more than 40, LibDems down below 40.
I read the MoS on the leaked docuement. I read Iain Dale, Dizzy, etc etc.
For possibly the first time in it's existence, this shambles ( their word) of a Government has actually told the truth.
It's crap.
I was never more sure of this than on Friday night when we were at a dinner party, two of the guests being redder than red Labourites.A naughty friend of mind wound them both up by suggesting that Pinochet was a pretty straight kind of a guy. Unfortuantely, neither of them were clever enough, and launched into furious attack, only to be shot down with the reminder that it was what Bliar had said about himself. Of course, straight kind of guy is EXACTLY what Pinochet was. He had principles ( you may not like them, but he stuck by them. There was no spin, it was all straight out) Whilst speechless, my friend continued with suggesting that what had been done in the name of the British people, particularly in Iraq, was anti-democratic and the people certainly did NOT vote for their pensions to be ruined, the NHS to deteriorate even as billions were shovelled at it, and certainly NOT for the troops in Afghanistan to have to borrow ammunition as that provided by the MOD was useless. And why NuTrident?
Both the Labourites were squirming as all this was being said, until one of them blurted out -" well, at least the country is in safe hands with Gordon Brown" -which raised a huge guffaw all round the table - .."and at least he's honest!"
I need hardly say more. If there really are people who are this deluded, the Tories will have no problem.
Like I keep saying, majority of more than 40, LibDems down below 40.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Rotary
I've just been to Prestwick Rotary Club Christmas Lunch. I hasten to add I was there in my capacity as a raiser of funds for the Gurkha Welfare Trust. As a result, I was collecting a very welcome £500, which is already winging it's way to our esteemed Treasurer.
What I had not realised was that the Rotary movement ( in the UK anyway) is almost entirely devoted to charity and good works. Although a large proportion of their work is local, they have tremendous outreach and training programmes worldwide.
I was enormously impressed with these particular people, largely retired, who now donated at least two days a week of their time to good works. I was forcibly struck by their complete lack of faith in either local, regional (= Scottish) or national government to deliver even minimum incremental improvements within communities. The message was loud and clear: if you want to get something down for a local community, do it yourselves.
One particular ( recent) project in the area was mentioned, whereby the local authority had undertaken a survey ( = consultants) had then produced a draft plan ( = more consultants) had then debated the issue ( = first direct involvement of local authority) and had concluded it was not worth while. I was quoted a cost of £35,000 to reach this stage. It was for a local drop-in club. The total cost was put at £500,000 capital cost and running it £150,000 pa.
There are 28 members of Prestwick Rotary. One of their number, incensed by a) the cost and b) the non- appearance of the centre, got his fellow members together. Over a ten day period, they a) sourced a suitable building b) put in a firm offer at £50,000 c) completed the purchase with a bank loan on the say-so of another member, and d) had a sign up asking for volunteers.
I hardly need to tell you the rest of the story. They got enough volunteers to do works required to bring it up to standard and staff the centre for the first year. During that period the centre made a profit and has already repaid some of the loan, and the rest has been repaid from their own fundraising.
And lots of children,young and old people use the centre every day.
So much for being not worth while.
What I had not realised was that the Rotary movement ( in the UK anyway) is almost entirely devoted to charity and good works. Although a large proportion of their work is local, they have tremendous outreach and training programmes worldwide.
I was enormously impressed with these particular people, largely retired, who now donated at least two days a week of their time to good works. I was forcibly struck by their complete lack of faith in either local, regional (= Scottish) or national government to deliver even minimum incremental improvements within communities. The message was loud and clear: if you want to get something down for a local community, do it yourselves.
One particular ( recent) project in the area was mentioned, whereby the local authority had undertaken a survey ( = consultants) had then produced a draft plan ( = more consultants) had then debated the issue ( = first direct involvement of local authority) and had concluded it was not worth while. I was quoted a cost of £35,000 to reach this stage. It was for a local drop-in club. The total cost was put at £500,000 capital cost and running it £150,000 pa.
There are 28 members of Prestwick Rotary. One of their number, incensed by a) the cost and b) the non- appearance of the centre, got his fellow members together. Over a ten day period, they a) sourced a suitable building b) put in a firm offer at £50,000 c) completed the purchase with a bank loan on the say-so of another member, and d) had a sign up asking for volunteers.
I hardly need to tell you the rest of the story. They got enough volunteers to do works required to bring it up to standard and staff the centre for the first year. During that period the centre made a profit and has already repaid some of the loan, and the rest has been repaid from their own fundraising.
And lots of children,young and old people use the centre every day.
So much for being not worth while.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Rain
No this is not the famous Graham Greene story, it is Glasgow for every day of the last 6 weeks.
Which means we have been unable to finish outside works on a building due for completion this Friday.
Which means we can't get the occupation certificate now before about January 9th 2007.
Which means the tenants can't take occupation on January 3rd.
Which means they will have to postpone their move.
Which is a mess for all concerned.
Which means we have been unable to finish outside works on a building due for completion this Friday.
Which means we can't get the occupation certificate now before about January 9th 2007.
Which means the tenants can't take occupation on January 3rd.
Which means they will have to postpone their move.
Which is a mess for all concerned.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Don't get ill in February and March 2007
I've just been reading about the new rules regarding overspending Hospital Trusts. Suppose you spent £105m last year and " earned" ( what a joke that is) £100m. So you have a £5m deficit. THIS year, your budget earnings of £100m have to a) pay for everything b) pay back the extra £5m and c) make a profit of £5m ie your actual spend can only be £90m. In effect, and allowing for inflation, that is near enought a 20% cut.
So, finally, Mr. Brown's chickens are coming home to roost. The cumulative deficit will be £1.6b this year.There is no money. The coffers are empty - sorry that's wrong, the coffers have an ADDITIONAL hole of £100b over the last 5 years. And it's growing at £35b or more per year.
And just so we have it clear, this is because of targets and meddling.
I always like the example of feeding London. Nobody plans it. Nobody directs it. Yet Londoners get food and drink and people profit from it. Let Tesco run the NHS.
So, finally, Mr. Brown's chickens are coming home to roost. The cumulative deficit will be £1.6b this year.There is no money. The coffers are empty - sorry that's wrong, the coffers have an ADDITIONAL hole of £100b over the last 5 years. And it's growing at £35b or more per year.
And just so we have it clear, this is because of targets and meddling.
I always like the example of feeding London. Nobody plans it. Nobody directs it. Yet Londoners get food and drink and people profit from it. Let Tesco run the NHS.
You'll be a man
I know it's almost certain that being a man nowadays is a) superfluous and b) certainly sexist and c) probably illegal unless you are gay, but I was most taken with some words about the son of an immigrant and a madwoman. He rose to great wealth several times, and ultimately lost it all. He despised most of his family, except one, who managed to start just a little bit up the ladder rather than beneath it.
People mostly hated him, and talked about him behind his back, but as long as he had money they took and took and took from him. He was perhaps the best true friend anyone could have, but that friendship was very sparingly given.
It takes madness in the blood to get things done. That's one of the reasons everything now is such a mess, and sooo drawn out. Noone dares have the madness. Paper shuffling to cover your backside has taken the place of forward movement. Hence the Czars and reports as produced by Nulabour. It's why the schools, hospitals, police and anything else you care to mention are not actually improving.
He is described as being " a man". It's a very old fashioned concept, but one that bears reviving. There are very few. There are lots of hard men ( John Reid's tough guy stance springs to mind) but I would never grace him with the epithet of being " a man". The French have " un homme serieux" and the Germans " ein mensch".
If you are a man, you do your uttermost for those around you - friends, family, work colleagues, people who are affected by your behaviour.
You do NOT - as we now have - people who hide behind weasel words and abrogate and deny responsibility. You carry it as a permanent burden that you overcome.
So who is this man? His name is Eugene Malou. He was a man.
People mostly hated him, and talked about him behind his back, but as long as he had money they took and took and took from him. He was perhaps the best true friend anyone could have, but that friendship was very sparingly given.
It takes madness in the blood to get things done. That's one of the reasons everything now is such a mess, and sooo drawn out. Noone dares have the madness. Paper shuffling to cover your backside has taken the place of forward movement. Hence the Czars and reports as produced by Nulabour. It's why the schools, hospitals, police and anything else you care to mention are not actually improving.
He is described as being " a man". It's a very old fashioned concept, but one that bears reviving. There are very few. There are lots of hard men ( John Reid's tough guy stance springs to mind) but I would never grace him with the epithet of being " a man". The French have " un homme serieux" and the Germans " ein mensch".
If you are a man, you do your uttermost for those around you - friends, family, work colleagues, people who are affected by your behaviour.
You do NOT - as we now have - people who hide behind weasel words and abrogate and deny responsibility. You carry it as a permanent burden that you overcome.
So who is this man? His name is Eugene Malou. He was a man.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Lord James Douglas Hamilton
Last night I was taken along to Glasgow Southside Conservative association - basically Teddy Taylor's old seat - for a talk by Lord James. It was a fascinating and interesting tale, to do with his father and the arrival of Rudoph Hess in Scotland during the war. There was also wine and food, and a prize draw, and a thoroughly good eveing was had by the ( approx) twenty or so people who attended.The most interesting part of the evening was the part where we were told about Albrecht Haushoffer, who was Germany's greatest expert of Britain and it's Commonwealth. He had written a report in 1938, prior to Munich, stating categorically that Britain would fight if Germany drove East. Hess and Hitler dismissed it. He also warned - as did Hess in Mein Kampf ( that sounds strange as Hitler wrote it, but Hess actually edited and redrafted it) - that Germany should only attack East once the back door was secured by Britain.
Interestingly enough, I have been reading a book about the rise and downfall of Prussia ( officially disbanded in 1947). The main preoccupation of successive monarchs was to avoid such a two front war.The problem was always going to be that if a stupid king DID start a war on two fronts, then potentially it spelt the end. More importantly, even after the Landestag and Bundesrat reforms around the time of the unification of Germany, the control of the Army was NEVER removed from the king and put under the Parliament. This meant that Wee Willie could declare and wage war without there being anyone to gainsay him. The same thing still applied after WWI - the Head of State was still in control of the Army. Although it is unlikely that being under Parliament's sway would have had any effect before either World War, it just might have done before WWI.
As they used to say to me at school - " Compare and contrast" with the position in the UK today, where Bliar has effectively taken us to war and subsequently had the debate in Parliament. And compare it to Mrs. T who, I believe, did not actually declare war on Argentina until Parliament approved it.
I have wandered far from the point I actually wanted to make. That was, that on a cold Friday night, a senior Tory politician was prepared to turn out for 20 odd people, and be the soul of charm and wit. Unlike most now in politics, he bahaved in a selfless way.
It made me proud to have been there.
Interestingly enough, I have been reading a book about the rise and downfall of Prussia ( officially disbanded in 1947). The main preoccupation of successive monarchs was to avoid such a two front war.The problem was always going to be that if a stupid king DID start a war on two fronts, then potentially it spelt the end. More importantly, even after the Landestag and Bundesrat reforms around the time of the unification of Germany, the control of the Army was NEVER removed from the king and put under the Parliament. This meant that Wee Willie could declare and wage war without there being anyone to gainsay him. The same thing still applied after WWI - the Head of State was still in control of the Army. Although it is unlikely that being under Parliament's sway would have had any effect before either World War, it just might have done before WWI.
As they used to say to me at school - " Compare and contrast" with the position in the UK today, where Bliar has effectively taken us to war and subsequently had the debate in Parliament. And compare it to Mrs. T who, I believe, did not actually declare war on Argentina until Parliament approved it.
I have wandered far from the point I actually wanted to make. That was, that on a cold Friday night, a senior Tory politician was prepared to turn out for 20 odd people, and be the soul of charm and wit. Unlike most now in politics, he bahaved in a selfless way.
It made me proud to have been there.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Ouldeme
I just received the annual email from an old friend, Willie Kinnaird, who moved to Africa with his wife and children over 20 years ago. He undertakes missionary work as well as work for the Wycliffe Bible Translation people. He is probably the person I know who is closest to being a Saint.
Apart from the usual remarks about the children, his wife and the goings-on in the village, he had a small section on Ouldeme proverbs.
The three I particularly liked are
1) The left hand washes the porridge hand ( ie right hand)
He translates this as " We should help each other"
2) Sweet in the mouth, bitter in the stomache. Translation " Things are not always what they seem"
3) The hyena says: I would not want to eat a woman's head.
Translation: There's nothing in there.
I don't agree with this but I rather like the fact that they have a proverb stating it. No feminists there then.
Apart from the usual remarks about the children, his wife and the goings-on in the village, he had a small section on Ouldeme proverbs.
The three I particularly liked are
1) The left hand washes the porridge hand ( ie right hand)
He translates this as " We should help each other"
2) Sweet in the mouth, bitter in the stomache. Translation " Things are not always what they seem"
3) The hyena says: I would not want to eat a woman's head.
Translation: There's nothing in there.
I don't agree with this but I rather like the fact that they have a proverb stating it. No feminists there then.
Uncle Willie died
Yes, he finally did. Aged 93, he is the last of my father's siblings to go.
They have all done pretty well. The eldest, Jackie, died in a car crash when in his twenties, but all the others, with two notable exceptions, managed 85 plus, and 90 plus for 3 of them.
There were 9 originally, all born before 1913, with three before 1900.
None of them was ever teatotal, or a non smoker. The two that died early ( still 60ish) was entirely down to the excessive use of alcohol and cigarettes. One in particular had a fondness for meths when she couldn't get anything else.
They were an extremely close family, who hardly saw the need for other people ( after all including the wives and children we made up a huge number. They were huge fun ( Scottish and alcohol is a powerful mixture) and I miss them all.
But ( apart from my own father) especially Uncle Willie. He was a divorcee and then remarried, but in my youngest days he was always around. He had an impish sense of humour and a magical way with constructing things with his hands. When my parents were abroad, and I was in scholl, it was always Uncle Willie who took me out.
There are two things that stick in my memory. Whenever any kind person would give me a sixpence ( 2.5p in today's money) Uncle Willie was always there to suggest I give it to him and he would give me 3%. I wish I had. I unfortunately spent them on sweets or caps for my toy pistol.
The other is that one day he bought two balsa kits for model aeroplanes, the one's with the rubber bands inside.
Uncle Willie made the most beautiful thing, correct to the last drop of glue and dope to tighten the paper covering. Truly a thing of inordinate precision and correctness.
I misread the plans and built it with double everything, so it weighed twice as much, looked it, and had the grace of a 20 storey office block.
He and I went to the local hill and released our aircraft simultaneously. His performed the most exquisite flight for about 10 feet then then did a Stuka dive into the ground. Both wings broke off, and the front moved towards the tail by about 3 inches.
Mine on the other hand flew on - and on - and on for about a quarter of a mile and then, when the rubber band gave up, glided perfectly to earth in an immitation of a real aircraft.
We stood at the top of the hill looking down at his wreckage.
" Let that be a lesson to you"
" What?"
" Don't read the instructions first."
They have all done pretty well. The eldest, Jackie, died in a car crash when in his twenties, but all the others, with two notable exceptions, managed 85 plus, and 90 plus for 3 of them.
There were 9 originally, all born before 1913, with three before 1900.
None of them was ever teatotal, or a non smoker. The two that died early ( still 60ish) was entirely down to the excessive use of alcohol and cigarettes. One in particular had a fondness for meths when she couldn't get anything else.
They were an extremely close family, who hardly saw the need for other people ( after all including the wives and children we made up a huge number. They were huge fun ( Scottish and alcohol is a powerful mixture) and I miss them all.
But ( apart from my own father) especially Uncle Willie. He was a divorcee and then remarried, but in my youngest days he was always around. He had an impish sense of humour and a magical way with constructing things with his hands. When my parents were abroad, and I was in scholl, it was always Uncle Willie who took me out.
There are two things that stick in my memory. Whenever any kind person would give me a sixpence ( 2.5p in today's money) Uncle Willie was always there to suggest I give it to him and he would give me 3%. I wish I had. I unfortunately spent them on sweets or caps for my toy pistol.
The other is that one day he bought two balsa kits for model aeroplanes, the one's with the rubber bands inside.
Uncle Willie made the most beautiful thing, correct to the last drop of glue and dope to tighten the paper covering. Truly a thing of inordinate precision and correctness.
I misread the plans and built it with double everything, so it weighed twice as much, looked it, and had the grace of a 20 storey office block.
He and I went to the local hill and released our aircraft simultaneously. His performed the most exquisite flight for about 10 feet then then did a Stuka dive into the ground. Both wings broke off, and the front moved towards the tail by about 3 inches.
Mine on the other hand flew on - and on - and on for about a quarter of a mile and then, when the rubber band gave up, glided perfectly to earth in an immitation of a real aircraft.
We stood at the top of the hill looking down at his wreckage.
" Let that be a lesson to you"
" What?"
" Don't read the instructions first."
Monday, December 04, 2006
Tory diehards
And my goodness me, they certainly are dying hard.
The Telegraph had an article today, clearly handed out by Liam Fox, stating that the Shadow Cabinet wanted to ditch all the touchy feely stuff, Francis Maud was too soft, blah blah blah.
Guido had it right when he said these people are insane - they constitute a tiny minority of UK voters and pandering to them would simply hand Brown ( for it will be he) the next election.
What do they want -9% ahead and they are complaining?
The two MUCH more important points are contra-indications.
The first is, once Bliar became Leader of the Opposition, there was no dissent in the ranks. He had his party well in hand ( they had lost 4 after all) and maybe to shut these idiots up WILL take a fourth defeat.
More importantly, Political Betting has an interesting point about how Lib Dems will vote at the next election.
Yes, I know lots of people went from Tory to NuLabour, but just as many went from Tory to LibDem. Those that went to LibDem went because they saw the Tories of 1997 as discredited and out of touch with New Britain. Those that went to NuLabour, went because, er, they saw the Tories of 1997 etc etc. But BOTH lots moved left, and because a) Tony Bliar seemed a pretty straightforward kind of a guy ( good grief ,did he actually say that?) and b) because they wanted the Tories out.
Both those strands have now played out. If anything, the exact opposite swing is happening. There are lots of people who will vote for anyone ( including the BNP) so as the get rid of the people who have betrayed them. Interesting sidelight - Labour always talks of being betrayed by their leaders. Haven't noticed it in the Tories ranks, they tend to betray each other.
And lots of erstwhile Tories, who voted tactically in Tory seats to NOT get a Tory, will vote the other way this time.
It's some years off, but I would bet 1) the Tories will have an overall majority 2) it will be a lot bigger than everyone thinks and 3) the LibDems will be back down, well below 40 seats.
The Telegraph had an article today, clearly handed out by Liam Fox, stating that the Shadow Cabinet wanted to ditch all the touchy feely stuff, Francis Maud was too soft, blah blah blah.
Guido had it right when he said these people are insane - they constitute a tiny minority of UK voters and pandering to them would simply hand Brown ( for it will be he) the next election.
What do they want -9% ahead and they are complaining?
The two MUCH more important points are contra-indications.
The first is, once Bliar became Leader of the Opposition, there was no dissent in the ranks. He had his party well in hand ( they had lost 4 after all) and maybe to shut these idiots up WILL take a fourth defeat.
More importantly, Political Betting has an interesting point about how Lib Dems will vote at the next election.
Yes, I know lots of people went from Tory to NuLabour, but just as many went from Tory to LibDem. Those that went to LibDem went because they saw the Tories of 1997 as discredited and out of touch with New Britain. Those that went to NuLabour, went because, er, they saw the Tories of 1997 etc etc. But BOTH lots moved left, and because a) Tony Bliar seemed a pretty straightforward kind of a guy ( good grief ,did he actually say that?) and b) because they wanted the Tories out.
Both those strands have now played out. If anything, the exact opposite swing is happening. There are lots of people who will vote for anyone ( including the BNP) so as the get rid of the people who have betrayed them. Interesting sidelight - Labour always talks of being betrayed by their leaders. Haven't noticed it in the Tories ranks, they tend to betray each other.
And lots of erstwhile Tories, who voted tactically in Tory seats to NOT get a Tory, will vote the other way this time.
It's some years off, but I would bet 1) the Tories will have an overall majority 2) it will be a lot bigger than everyone thinks and 3) the LibDems will be back down, well below 40 seats.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Joy...
..is in pretty short supply in lots of places. Iraq springs to mind.
But here in Glasgow, the word on most people's lips is " buzzing" . For whatever reason, Glasgow is once more a seriously good place to be. It has been growing in intensity over the last six months or so, until now, there is a palpable smile on the face of people wandering about the city.
I don't know if it's the prospect of Christmas ( unlikely in view of the familial disasters that usually take place), but in my own case, it's because of a building we are working on at the moment.
The last four weeks have been involved in pulling OUT rotten wood, plaster and junk. In many ways, it is the most expensive part of any project. No value is being added, and the problems are being exposed. Is the budget for rot enough? Have we got a big enough contingency for that dodgy wall?
And then suddenly, stuff starts to get put back. The downstairs joists go back - all beautifully treated, tarred and wrapped in plastic to prevent any future rot or water attacks. Hardwood goes onto them and you can walk around again - no more " Watch yer feet."
At the same time, the real proportions of the building can be seen. There's an arch there, a lovely steepled roof here. There IS going to be enough daylight in that dark corner. Vistas open up. Value starts being added.It IS going to make a profit.Even the architect -quote " what a dreadful mess." - takes a different line - " You've got a wee gem of a building here!"
But to the man in the street, perhaps the most amazing and wonderful thing is that both Celtic and Rangers will be playing football in Europe after New Year.That hasn't happened for a long time.It definitely merits a degree of personal wellbeing and joy.
But here in Glasgow, the word on most people's lips is " buzzing" . For whatever reason, Glasgow is once more a seriously good place to be. It has been growing in intensity over the last six months or so, until now, there is a palpable smile on the face of people wandering about the city.
I don't know if it's the prospect of Christmas ( unlikely in view of the familial disasters that usually take place), but in my own case, it's because of a building we are working on at the moment.
The last four weeks have been involved in pulling OUT rotten wood, plaster and junk. In many ways, it is the most expensive part of any project. No value is being added, and the problems are being exposed. Is the budget for rot enough? Have we got a big enough contingency for that dodgy wall?
And then suddenly, stuff starts to get put back. The downstairs joists go back - all beautifully treated, tarred and wrapped in plastic to prevent any future rot or water attacks. Hardwood goes onto them and you can walk around again - no more " Watch yer feet."
At the same time, the real proportions of the building can be seen. There's an arch there, a lovely steepled roof here. There IS going to be enough daylight in that dark corner. Vistas open up. Value starts being added.It IS going to make a profit.Even the architect -quote " what a dreadful mess." - takes a different line - " You've got a wee gem of a building here!"
But to the man in the street, perhaps the most amazing and wonderful thing is that both Celtic and Rangers will be playing football in Europe after New Year.That hasn't happened for a long time.It definitely merits a degree of personal wellbeing and joy.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Legalise Drugs NOW!
I was delighted to see that even policemen across the globe are coming round to the position I adopted 20 or more years ago that drugs should be legalised.
Quite apart from the approx. £5billion a year that it costs the NHS to deal with the problems drugs presently create, there is the small matter of something approaching a further £10billion in thefts to fund the habit.
Yes there are issues of eg people craving more.
Yes there are moral issues ( but on the other hand, free will disctates that if we want to screw up our lives we are entitled so to do)
But it seems to me that the present situation is very akin to the way people looked at gin in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Lots of people never touched the stuff, but vaste swathes of poorer people in particular spent large parts of their lives in a stupor. Recognise the similarity? There was a huge move to ban gin ( remember Prohibition a hundred and odd years later- great succes that was), but it was taxed more and more heavily by successive governments, until the problem - never solved - became bearable.In a democracy, you can't have very high percentages of the population openly disobeying the law. By definition, if enough people want it, then it becomes de facto legal.
I accept that rich people use drugs too - but why should they not help finance the NHS and government?
As with all things in life, it is the will that counts. I was interested to read recently of a valley in America that had been flooded 70 odd years ago to create hydro power and supply water. Now there is a move to let the valley bloom again. There is clearly a very strong "green" move for this, but the politicians are also beginning to think it might not be a bad idea. It will cost billions.
But as a spokesman said, " If we have the will, the money is not a problem."
Quite apart from the approx. £5billion a year that it costs the NHS to deal with the problems drugs presently create, there is the small matter of something approaching a further £10billion in thefts to fund the habit.
Yes there are issues of eg people craving more.
Yes there are moral issues ( but on the other hand, free will disctates that if we want to screw up our lives we are entitled so to do)
But it seems to me that the present situation is very akin to the way people looked at gin in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Lots of people never touched the stuff, but vaste swathes of poorer people in particular spent large parts of their lives in a stupor. Recognise the similarity? There was a huge move to ban gin ( remember Prohibition a hundred and odd years later- great succes that was), but it was taxed more and more heavily by successive governments, until the problem - never solved - became bearable.In a democracy, you can't have very high percentages of the population openly disobeying the law. By definition, if enough people want it, then it becomes de facto legal.
I accept that rich people use drugs too - but why should they not help finance the NHS and government?
As with all things in life, it is the will that counts. I was interested to read recently of a valley in America that had been flooded 70 odd years ago to create hydro power and supply water. Now there is a move to let the valley bloom again. There is clearly a very strong "green" move for this, but the politicians are also beginning to think it might not be a bad idea. It will cost billions.
But as a spokesman said, " If we have the will, the money is not a problem."
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Baroness Kennedy and the Truth
I had an extremely excellent evening yesterday at the Glasgow University Chancellor's dinner.
The speaker was Helena Kennedy, who spoke refreshingly and, one has to assume, with real truth as opposed to spin.
The reason I say this is that her speech largely consisted of an aoplogy for Tony Bliar and his conduct of government since 1997.
She made the point that whereas he had said that as a government they should listen to the people, reply honestly, and not conduct cynical exercises in political expediency.
She said that people wanted a strong government, a strong economy, and safety at home and abroad.
Sadly, NONE of these things had happened. Laws were no longer made democratically, and tended to be mere cosmetics. There was no time to debate them properly. The government used pathetically hyped " Big Conversations" to give the impression that it was listening and then did whatever it wanted in the first place. Principle had seeped away from the government and into quote"money given in unacceptable ways".
She was also involved in the commission looking at ways of reforming the House of Lords. Interestingly, she said the overwhelming feedback was for an elected assembly BUT with a range of capabilities, not just politicians, ie there should be businessmen, doctors, dentists etc etc,a House of ALL the Talents as it were.
Young people have been turned off by Bliar's spin. They are entirely capable of seeing through the non-answers, and the sound-bites, in a way that perhaps their parents were not capable of. Bliar had had a huge chance in 1997, which he has completely ruined, and possibly ruined the United Kingdom as we know it as well.
She finished up by saying that Truth HAD to return to the centre of politics, as otherwise Democracy - already in crisis - would end up being so devalued that only small pressure groups would be involved in formulating and managing policy.
What an excellent speech. Weirdly, it also encompasses very much Tory values and beliefs, but ,in a strange way, the true Socialist has always believed in respect and progress, however much he/she objected to inequality.
I think she should ditch her peerage ( honestly earned) and fight GB for the leadership. She would get my vote any day.
The speaker was Helena Kennedy, who spoke refreshingly and, one has to assume, with real truth as opposed to spin.
The reason I say this is that her speech largely consisted of an aoplogy for Tony Bliar and his conduct of government since 1997.
She made the point that whereas he had said that as a government they should listen to the people, reply honestly, and not conduct cynical exercises in political expediency.
She said that people wanted a strong government, a strong economy, and safety at home and abroad.
Sadly, NONE of these things had happened. Laws were no longer made democratically, and tended to be mere cosmetics. There was no time to debate them properly. The government used pathetically hyped " Big Conversations" to give the impression that it was listening and then did whatever it wanted in the first place. Principle had seeped away from the government and into quote"money given in unacceptable ways".
She was also involved in the commission looking at ways of reforming the House of Lords. Interestingly, she said the overwhelming feedback was for an elected assembly BUT with a range of capabilities, not just politicians, ie there should be businessmen, doctors, dentists etc etc,a House of ALL the Talents as it were.
Young people have been turned off by Bliar's spin. They are entirely capable of seeing through the non-answers, and the sound-bites, in a way that perhaps their parents were not capable of. Bliar had had a huge chance in 1997, which he has completely ruined, and possibly ruined the United Kingdom as we know it as well.
She finished up by saying that Truth HAD to return to the centre of politics, as otherwise Democracy - already in crisis - would end up being so devalued that only small pressure groups would be involved in formulating and managing policy.
What an excellent speech. Weirdly, it also encompasses very much Tory values and beliefs, but ,in a strange way, the true Socialist has always believed in respect and progress, however much he/she objected to inequality.
I think she should ditch her peerage ( honestly earned) and fight GB for the leadership. She would get my vote any day.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Sorry, Sorry
OK, it's not an apology. It's Deep Sorrow. As Catherine Tate's Gran would say " Wot a Facking Liberty"
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Apologise? What did we do?
So Bliar has finally " apologised " for Britain's role in slavery.
Of course, this is not something any of us have been involved in for over 200 years, but that doesn't stop him doing it. Oh, no, but it is , naturally, a cynical political ploy. Who are the strongest Labour voter block, who change least? Black and Afro-Caribbean.
So go back a bit. Who actually banned slavery first? Britain, both in the UK and throught the Empre and Colonies, did.
Who enforced a blockade to stop slave ships at both sides of the Atlantic? Britain did.
Who released slaves from Spanish ,Portuguese , Dutch & French ships, when intercepted? Britain did.
When did that Great Democracy stop slavery? Nearly SIXTY YEARS after Britain - and then enforced a different kind until well within living memory.
Every other European country ( not to mention Africa, Arabia,China,Russia - you name it) continued slavery - even for some of their own people - long after Britain stopped. And some still enforce it today.
So let's celebrate the fact we were the first to limit and stop it.
And don't give us a load of crap that is merely yet another cynical political stunt.
Of course, this is not something any of us have been involved in for over 200 years, but that doesn't stop him doing it. Oh, no, but it is , naturally, a cynical political ploy. Who are the strongest Labour voter block, who change least? Black and Afro-Caribbean.
So go back a bit. Who actually banned slavery first? Britain, both in the UK and throught the Empre and Colonies, did.
Who enforced a blockade to stop slave ships at both sides of the Atlantic? Britain did.
Who released slaves from Spanish ,Portuguese , Dutch & French ships, when intercepted? Britain did.
When did that Great Democracy stop slavery? Nearly SIXTY YEARS after Britain - and then enforced a different kind until well within living memory.
Every other European country ( not to mention Africa, Arabia,China,Russia - you name it) continued slavery - even for some of their own people - long after Britain stopped. And some still enforce it today.
So let's celebrate the fact we were the first to limit and stop it.
And don't give us a load of crap that is merely yet another cynical political stunt.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Call me cynical...
Just back from a quick trip to Northern France, which was most pleasant as - being overseas - I was allowed a small libation.
What was I doing? Yes, indulging in that great passion of mine - looking to buy a house in France.
And,no, I didn't find one.
Still,that's par for the course - I haven't been doing this for nearly 40 years without making sure I don't have to stop! I'm quite sure I shall still be doing it immediately prior to pegging it. There is little more alluring prospect that driving around nice places, eating good food, and drinking delicious wines.
But whilst I was away, there was a report that something like 800,000 Brits now own houses abroad. That is terrifying. It means only one thing. Property prices overseas are about to crash. When a very ordinary 3 roomed property in a small town in Northern France is confidently expected to fetch £150,000, the world collectively is insane. I can still buy 2 flats in Glasgow for that, and if I really try and am prepared to do some work, I can probably get 3.
And have an income of £1500 per month.
What was I doing? Yes, indulging in that great passion of mine - looking to buy a house in France.
And,no, I didn't find one.
Still,that's par for the course - I haven't been doing this for nearly 40 years without making sure I don't have to stop! I'm quite sure I shall still be doing it immediately prior to pegging it. There is little more alluring prospect that driving around nice places, eating good food, and drinking delicious wines.
But whilst I was away, there was a report that something like 800,000 Brits now own houses abroad. That is terrifying. It means only one thing. Property prices overseas are about to crash. When a very ordinary 3 roomed property in a small town in Northern France is confidently expected to fetch £150,000, the world collectively is insane. I can still buy 2 flats in Glasgow for that, and if I really try and am prepared to do some work, I can probably get 3.
And have an income of £1500 per month.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Postscript
Whilst in Kelvingrove, I came across a sign which read
"CREATURES OF THE PAST "
and in brackets underneath ( Female toilets).
I do hope not.
"CREATURES OF THE PAST "
and in brackets underneath ( Female toilets).
I do hope not.
Thirst for knowledge
I had a very pleasant weekend, being visited by friends from Ireland. It was, of course, accompanied by much jollity on all sides and a modicum of alcoholic refreshment by all parties except myself.
Part of the programme included a visit to the newly refurbished Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum.
I was delighted to find my old friend Sir Roger the elephant still there - truth to tell he couldn't be taken out so they surrounded him with an enormous packing case and left him in situ. Only in Glasgow, however, would they have left a hole in the side of the packing case, so they could look in from time to time to make sure he was still there.
The whole building is sparkling , light and airy. The vast arrays of stuffed animals have been put away, but the remaining exhibits have been themed ( Biggest clam shell/ tallest animal/ largest /smallest egg. etc etc) which is pointed and interesting.
The paintings are superbly displayed, and the Salvador Dali has been repositioned so one comes across it either round a corner, which blows you away, or along a corridor, which makes it grow on you.
The most interesting display, however, was of the great Glasgow exhibitions of 1888 and 1901. They were of such a scale that whole trains were exhibited, and the visitors were in the millions - the last day alone in 1901 had 173,000 visitors.
What was the cost to the people of Glasgow or the Government?
No, it wasn't like the Dome, Wembley, the NHS IT debacle, or, indeed, anything else this Government meddles in.
They were ready in advance. They were constructed under budget.They were organised and run by private committees. And they made a profit. In fact, the 1888 exhibition made so much money that they were able to build the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum from the proceeds.
Now two things occurred to me - apart from the obvious. The first was that the people in Local Government at the time we are talking about were NOT politicians as we know them today. They were businessmen who wanted to give something back to their communities. And by God they did - as the Tempest tells us, true freedom consist in service.
And the second was, both exhibitions had an enormous educative effect. Whilst the Dome had interactive games and drivel, the Glasgow exhibitions showed enterprise, proper science and business, and people yearned to get on and learn more about their world and what the future might be.
Jump forward to 1988, and the Glasgow Garden Festival had a success as well, largely because it did not try to pander to the lowest common denominator, but to maintain an assumption of a certain level of intelligence.
I know I have been stressing the Education Education Education a bit of late, but this is the same theme. We are dropping our belief in levelling up, because it's easier to level down to meet the targets. There shouldn't BE targets, there should be standards - and if you don't get the standard, go back and learn it againEducation is there to bring enlightenment to the less advantaged. It is NOT there just to keep the kids occupied whilst Mum and Dad are at work - that's if they aren't playing truant. You may remember there was a truancy czar some time ago. Yes, well, haven't heard much of him recently.
So in 1888, even the poorest and most disadvantaged came to see what was what, and they turned up at school, and suffered the tawse ( better than mum or dad being sent a letter by the domine) and LEARNED.
And in case you think you didn't need to know much in the shipyards, coal mines and engineering works that made Glasgow great, you would be very wrong.
Because the cildren and people of 1888 KNEW that if they learned they could "Get on".
Can we say the same today?
Part of the programme included a visit to the newly refurbished Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum.
I was delighted to find my old friend Sir Roger the elephant still there - truth to tell he couldn't be taken out so they surrounded him with an enormous packing case and left him in situ. Only in Glasgow, however, would they have left a hole in the side of the packing case, so they could look in from time to time to make sure he was still there.
The whole building is sparkling , light and airy. The vast arrays of stuffed animals have been put away, but the remaining exhibits have been themed ( Biggest clam shell/ tallest animal/ largest /smallest egg. etc etc) which is pointed and interesting.
The paintings are superbly displayed, and the Salvador Dali has been repositioned so one comes across it either round a corner, which blows you away, or along a corridor, which makes it grow on you.
The most interesting display, however, was of the great Glasgow exhibitions of 1888 and 1901. They were of such a scale that whole trains were exhibited, and the visitors were in the millions - the last day alone in 1901 had 173,000 visitors.
What was the cost to the people of Glasgow or the Government?
No, it wasn't like the Dome, Wembley, the NHS IT debacle, or, indeed, anything else this Government meddles in.
They were ready in advance. They were constructed under budget.They were organised and run by private committees. And they made a profit. In fact, the 1888 exhibition made so much money that they were able to build the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum from the proceeds.
Now two things occurred to me - apart from the obvious. The first was that the people in Local Government at the time we are talking about were NOT politicians as we know them today. They were businessmen who wanted to give something back to their communities. And by God they did - as the Tempest tells us, true freedom consist in service.
And the second was, both exhibitions had an enormous educative effect. Whilst the Dome had interactive games and drivel, the Glasgow exhibitions showed enterprise, proper science and business, and people yearned to get on and learn more about their world and what the future might be.
Jump forward to 1988, and the Glasgow Garden Festival had a success as well, largely because it did not try to pander to the lowest common denominator, but to maintain an assumption of a certain level of intelligence.
I know I have been stressing the Education Education Education a bit of late, but this is the same theme. We are dropping our belief in levelling up, because it's easier to level down to meet the targets. There shouldn't BE targets, there should be standards - and if you don't get the standard, go back and learn it againEducation is there to bring enlightenment to the less advantaged. It is NOT there just to keep the kids occupied whilst Mum and Dad are at work - that's if they aren't playing truant. You may remember there was a truancy czar some time ago. Yes, well, haven't heard much of him recently.
So in 1888, even the poorest and most disadvantaged came to see what was what, and they turned up at school, and suffered the tawse ( better than mum or dad being sent a letter by the domine) and LEARNED.
And in case you think you didn't need to know much in the shipyards, coal mines and engineering works that made Glasgow great, you would be very wrong.
Because the cildren and people of 1888 KNEW that if they learned they could "Get on".
Can we say the same today?
Friday, November 10, 2006
Morons
Whoever " anonymous migsuk" is on Guido is as daft as Kaletsky.
The judgements supposedly made under John Major have nothing to do with the present pensions problem.
This is down to two things only - GB stealing billions ( add it up - he's kept more than £100b) and the new pensions regime Nulabour put in place which required utterly insane assumptions to be used to calculate liabilities.
This forced the pension funds to flog off billions and billions of equities at the bottom of the slump and buy Government stock when interest rates were low. What has happened now, with this new, caring attitude? Er, as interest rates rise, bond and gilt prices decline. So the pension funds have had a double whammy - no rise from equities and a drop from gilts.So don't pretend it was anything to do with BT ( before Tone) - like everything thing else he and his idiots have touched they have ruined a perfectly good system.
I added this to a story Guido had about GB being on News 24 today. That man has stolen more money than any other in the history of the UK, and pissed it up against more useless walls than anyone can imagine.
By shear luck he came in after Major had done nothing for a few years which made the UK economy the strongest in Europe, and even Brown's meddling and mendacity has not been able to destroy it completely. Sainsbury jumping ship today is only the start - I predict a bloodbath before Christmas, as the pygmies and rats attempt to escape the ship as they begin to see where this appalling Government is headed - the rocks.
The judgements supposedly made under John Major have nothing to do with the present pensions problem.
This is down to two things only - GB stealing billions ( add it up - he's kept more than £100b) and the new pensions regime Nulabour put in place which required utterly insane assumptions to be used to calculate liabilities.
This forced the pension funds to flog off billions and billions of equities at the bottom of the slump and buy Government stock when interest rates were low. What has happened now, with this new, caring attitude? Er, as interest rates rise, bond and gilt prices decline. So the pension funds have had a double whammy - no rise from equities and a drop from gilts.So don't pretend it was anything to do with BT ( before Tone) - like everything thing else he and his idiots have touched they have ruined a perfectly good system.
I added this to a story Guido had about GB being on News 24 today. That man has stolen more money than any other in the history of the UK, and pissed it up against more useless walls than anyone can imagine.
By shear luck he came in after Major had done nothing for a few years which made the UK economy the strongest in Europe, and even Brown's meddling and mendacity has not been able to destroy it completely. Sainsbury jumping ship today is only the start - I predict a bloodbath before Christmas, as the pygmies and rats attempt to escape the ship as they begin to see where this appalling Government is headed - the rocks.
Globalisation
I was in London at an international trade fair over the last couple of days and - apart from being unutterably bored by the whole thing and astonished at the sums of money lavished on the show - I was delighted by one insight.
The organisers had set up several computers at various points around the hall, and there was forever a queue to get onto one.
I drifted past a couple of times, trying to judge a good time with not too long to wait. I stopped and waited when I saw two tall ebony-black Masai warriors in their exquisite multicoloured wraps logging on to the internet.
What a fantastic sight! There they stood with gold earrings sparkling against their black skin, dressed in a scarlet wrap with white zig-zags, Googling some information.
If that's what globalisation means, I'm all for it.
The organisers had set up several computers at various points around the hall, and there was forever a queue to get onto one.
I drifted past a couple of times, trying to judge a good time with not too long to wait. I stopped and waited when I saw two tall ebony-black Masai warriors in their exquisite multicoloured wraps logging on to the internet.
What a fantastic sight! There they stood with gold earrings sparkling against their black skin, dressed in a scarlet wrap with white zig-zags, Googling some information.
If that's what globalisation means, I'm all for it.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Wouldn't it be nice...
Well actually it IS nice. Our friends in the Labout Party have stopped shilly shallying and " have responded in a positive way" to Danny Dewsberry.
The terms of the deal are secret, but I'm sure they benefit Danny, quite apart from the exposure he will have had for his expertise!
So the blogospere triumphs. Onwards!
The terms of the deal are secret, but I'm sure they benefit Danny, quite apart from the exposure he will have had for his expertise!
So the blogospere triumphs. Onwards!
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Home to roost..
Today may well be the day that the country as a whole falls out of love with NuLabour.
This sounds incredibly sweeping, but it is always the straw that breaks a camel's back, not the first ton or two.
In this case, it's all to do with Hazel Blears and her lot not paying a poor student for work they asked him to do.
Danny Dewsbury - he of the poor student tendency - even had to resort to a lawyer's letter to get just over 60% of his expenses that Blear's factotum had agreed to pay. My own view is that £395 to create what appears to be an excellent semi-documentary is peanuts, but then, that doesn't include time, equipment etc etc, all supplied for free by Danny.
Back to the camel.
Danny is a student with some £13,000 of debt. As far as I know, none of the Labour Front bench had any of the now ubiquitous Student Debt. They, of course, benefitted from the good old fashioned education system we used to have, whereby people could actually get an education and, if bright enough, go on to get a degree - for free.
Not now. Apart from the general dumbing down and degrading of exams and degrees, it also costs money. This has to be the one domestic result of Labour's period in power that people will remember longest and object to most. You can argue about crime, about immigration, about Iraq, or the Health Service, but the one area that EVERYONE in the country is affected by is education.
So that's why I say it could be the final straw.
Danny's story encapsulates all that is worst about Nulabour. Debt traded against education. Broken promises. Spin.
And at the end a " Hey, let's move on" and complete disregard for the individual.
This sounds incredibly sweeping, but it is always the straw that breaks a camel's back, not the first ton or two.
In this case, it's all to do with Hazel Blears and her lot not paying a poor student for work they asked him to do.
Danny Dewsbury - he of the poor student tendency - even had to resort to a lawyer's letter to get just over 60% of his expenses that Blear's factotum had agreed to pay. My own view is that £395 to create what appears to be an excellent semi-documentary is peanuts, but then, that doesn't include time, equipment etc etc, all supplied for free by Danny.
Back to the camel.
Danny is a student with some £13,000 of debt. As far as I know, none of the Labour Front bench had any of the now ubiquitous Student Debt. They, of course, benefitted from the good old fashioned education system we used to have, whereby people could actually get an education and, if bright enough, go on to get a degree - for free.
Not now. Apart from the general dumbing down and degrading of exams and degrees, it also costs money. This has to be the one domestic result of Labour's period in power that people will remember longest and object to most. You can argue about crime, about immigration, about Iraq, or the Health Service, but the one area that EVERYONE in the country is affected by is education.
So that's why I say it could be the final straw.
Danny's story encapsulates all that is worst about Nulabour. Debt traded against education. Broken promises. Spin.
And at the end a " Hey, let's move on" and complete disregard for the individual.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Education Education Education
Thus Tony Blair's 1997 mantra.
I hardly need labour this point - he didn't. He has effectively ruined the University system in this country, and very nearly utterly destroyed upward mobility for the underprivileged. He and his cronies are the products of the system his political heavyweight forebears put in place to HELP people. Now, we have a system that is completely and utterly failing at all levels. Even potential students are shunning the offer of a place at University as they KNOW it won't get them anything more than they can get by working.
All this was underpinned today by Lord Archer on Andrew Marr. Apparanetly, if you opt for "Education" in Prison, you get £8 per week.
Anything else - laundry, loo cleaning etc - you get £12 per week.
As with so much else ( better tax breaks for single mothers as opposed to married couples springs to mind) Blair and Brown have undermined and betrayed not only this country but their own professed beliefs.
'Nuff said.
I hardly need labour this point - he didn't. He has effectively ruined the University system in this country, and very nearly utterly destroyed upward mobility for the underprivileged. He and his cronies are the products of the system his political heavyweight forebears put in place to HELP people. Now, we have a system that is completely and utterly failing at all levels. Even potential students are shunning the offer of a place at University as they KNOW it won't get them anything more than they can get by working.
All this was underpinned today by Lord Archer on Andrew Marr. Apparanetly, if you opt for "Education" in Prison, you get £8 per week.
Anything else - laundry, loo cleaning etc - you get £12 per week.
As with so much else ( better tax breaks for single mothers as opposed to married couples springs to mind) Blair and Brown have undermined and betrayed not only this country but their own professed beliefs.
'Nuff said.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Venal, shifty, mendacious and cheapskates to boot.
You've probably never heard of Danny Dewsbury. In essence, he asked if he could make a film of the members of the LabourParty at their conference. He was told yes, and we ( the Labour Party) will pay expenses.
Danny - like so many students - owes about £13,000, so getting back his expenses would be good. He provided his own camera, lighting etc etc and made a good film ( see it on YouTube) which the party hacks chopped about to get rid of the embarassing bits. They then used it for their own propaganda - and didn't pay him the expenses.
So a group - including Croydonian, PragueTory and others - is getting a fund together to repay him for his efforts.
Quite rightly, Danny has sent the unedited version to The Daily Mail, which shows eg Hazel Blears having four attempts to introduce herself.
No only venal etc etc, but stoopid too.
Danny - like so many students - owes about £13,000, so getting back his expenses would be good. He provided his own camera, lighting etc etc and made a good film ( see it on YouTube) which the party hacks chopped about to get rid of the embarassing bits. They then used it for their own propaganda - and didn't pay him the expenses.
So a group - including Croydonian, PragueTory and others - is getting a fund together to repay him for his efforts.
Quite rightly, Danny has sent the unedited version to The Daily Mail, which shows eg Hazel Blears having four attempts to introduce herself.
No only venal etc etc, but stoopid too.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Into the sear, the yellow leaf....
Those of you with a theatrical bent ( no aspersions cast) will know this comes from King Lear. In case you don't know he has three daughters like me - or vice versa.
Anyway, I have been feeling somewhat like Lear the last couple of days, sleeping almost not at all and enjoying, if that is the right word, 2am and 3am cups of tea.
Last night was no exception, but the quiet that surrounds that time of night is extremely pleasant.
I was able to reflect on the continuing spiral dowawards of our society, highlighted today by the reports on 4 million CCTV cameras watching us. I didn't vote for it, did you?
I certainly didn't vote for policemen to arrest people and break their doors down, and then have the DPP, on looking at the evidence, say it is a load of tosh. This has been happening more and more recently, and is of course related to the war on terror.
In case you missed it, one of NuLabour's Gurus has said " Scare the people and they will put up with anything." Ok, that's a paraphrase, but you get my meaning. So the headlines scream about terror plots averted, stringent new measures for taking lipsalve on aircraft ( oh, that's being relaxed this week. I can take it in a plastic bag. That'll contain the blast) - huge inconvenience and disruption to people and companies. And then.. nothing. But that of course is SOOO much this Government. I believe it was Teddy Roosevelt who said " speak softly and carry a big stick". Our present Masters do the exact opposite, to the detriment of both ourselves as individuals and our society as a whole.
What was the best period of government this country ever had? I'm not sure, but it would have to be one where it interfered as little as possible, or did something genuinely good for the people as a whole. Perhaps Lloyd George's Edwardian era Governments. Let me know.
Anyway, I have been feeling somewhat like Lear the last couple of days, sleeping almost not at all and enjoying, if that is the right word, 2am and 3am cups of tea.
Last night was no exception, but the quiet that surrounds that time of night is extremely pleasant.
I was able to reflect on the continuing spiral dowawards of our society, highlighted today by the reports on 4 million CCTV cameras watching us. I didn't vote for it, did you?
I certainly didn't vote for policemen to arrest people and break their doors down, and then have the DPP, on looking at the evidence, say it is a load of tosh. This has been happening more and more recently, and is of course related to the war on terror.
In case you missed it, one of NuLabour's Gurus has said " Scare the people and they will put up with anything." Ok, that's a paraphrase, but you get my meaning. So the headlines scream about terror plots averted, stringent new measures for taking lipsalve on aircraft ( oh, that's being relaxed this week. I can take it in a plastic bag. That'll contain the blast) - huge inconvenience and disruption to people and companies. And then.. nothing. But that of course is SOOO much this Government. I believe it was Teddy Roosevelt who said " speak softly and carry a big stick". Our present Masters do the exact opposite, to the detriment of both ourselves as individuals and our society as a whole.
What was the best period of government this country ever had? I'm not sure, but it would have to be one where it interfered as little as possible, or did something genuinely good for the people as a whole. Perhaps Lloyd George's Edwardian era Governments. Let me know.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Poppies
How good to see everyone on the telly sporting their poppies.
More importantly, do you know that there are two distinct kinds?
I am a bit of a WWI geek, so have been trawling through some of the Earl Haig Fund original minutes from when it was founded, and the history of the poppy. I'm sure we were all brought up on the story that the fields started blooming poppies when the guns fell silent, but of course that is rubbish - it was November and they couldn't have bloomed until the spring. There may be some truth in the odd poppy blooming where the high explosive had churned the ground during the previous summer, but it appears the real reason is slightly different.
Poppies, of course, are where morphia comes from. The idea was it would symbolise the " balm" and soothing of pain of the War.
But back to my opening sentence. There are two kinds - very in evidence once you know.
The English poppy has a green oak leaf. The Scots does not.
The Scots - Haig was one - wanted a special remembrance for their ( relatively heavier) casualties.
I had the opportunity to visit the WWI battlefields last year. More than a quarter of a million Brits to this day visit the Somme in particular. What shocked me was at Notre Dame de Lorette, which is the French National Cemetary for ALL their wars with the famous WWI ossuary. Less than 20,000 French a year visit it. The French, of course, regard the Germans as their new best friends, and nothing is to interfere with their love in.
Some years ago I visited Oradour sur Glane - one of the several villages utterly destroyed by the Germans during WWII. It has been preserved as it was, which is the most eery and extraordinary thing.
The tour ends in the Church, where the village's women and children were burned to death and shot as they tried to escape. The tour guide says " Madames, Messieurs, this is what the Germans did to the French, we must NEVER forget".
I regret to say I am told they now say " This is what the Nazis did ( full stop)"
I've also visited Auschwitz - but that can wait for another day.
More importantly, do you know that there are two distinct kinds?
I am a bit of a WWI geek, so have been trawling through some of the Earl Haig Fund original minutes from when it was founded, and the history of the poppy. I'm sure we were all brought up on the story that the fields started blooming poppies when the guns fell silent, but of course that is rubbish - it was November and they couldn't have bloomed until the spring. There may be some truth in the odd poppy blooming where the high explosive had churned the ground during the previous summer, but it appears the real reason is slightly different.
Poppies, of course, are where morphia comes from. The idea was it would symbolise the " balm" and soothing of pain of the War.
But back to my opening sentence. There are two kinds - very in evidence once you know.
The English poppy has a green oak leaf. The Scots does not.
The Scots - Haig was one - wanted a special remembrance for their ( relatively heavier) casualties.
I had the opportunity to visit the WWI battlefields last year. More than a quarter of a million Brits to this day visit the Somme in particular. What shocked me was at Notre Dame de Lorette, which is the French National Cemetary for ALL their wars with the famous WWI ossuary. Less than 20,000 French a year visit it. The French, of course, regard the Germans as their new best friends, and nothing is to interfere with their love in.
Some years ago I visited Oradour sur Glane - one of the several villages utterly destroyed by the Germans during WWII. It has been preserved as it was, which is the most eery and extraordinary thing.
The tour ends in the Church, where the village's women and children were burned to death and shot as they tried to escape. The tour guide says " Madames, Messieurs, this is what the Germans did to the French, we must NEVER forget".
I regret to say I am told they now say " This is what the Nazis did ( full stop)"
I've also visited Auschwitz - but that can wait for another day.
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