There has been a huge hooha going on the press about Jon Venables. The red tops are baying for blood and the BBC Have Your Say pages are full of comments from those who are incapable of making the distinction between justice and revenge.
Don’t get me wrong – what Venables did was horrific, and, had it happened in my family, I would find it next to impossible to forgive and forget. But there is a far more important issue here than just him. Continue reading The Devil and Benefit of Law
The longer the run-up to the election goes on, the less inspired I am to go out and vote. Not that this is strictly true because I have a postal vote. And not that it would matter how I voted – living in one of the “safest” of “safe” seats you rapidly realise that an atheist, baby-eating estate agent would win here if it had the right colour rosette! We don’t so much have a count on election night, it’s more of a weigh-in!
No – what depresses me is the sinking feeling of “here we bloody go again”. Since reaching the age of suffrage I’ve been through eight general elections and each time it’s been the same. The government of the day Continue reading Pass the vodka and razor blades, please!
The last few weeks have given a small insight into just how nasty the forthcoming election campaign is going to be. Today comes the news that David Cameron is trolling off to Brighton to throw some red meat to the blue rinses.
Apparently he will say that it is his “patriotic duty” to oust Gordon Brown. I’m not going to grind a political point here, but I do wonder what went through the mind of Cameron’s speechwriter. Like the fly hitting the windscreen, it was probably his arse.
Given that the average age of the modern Tory activist very nearly qualifies for a telegram from Her Maj, surely someone in that hall this afternoon will be able to remind the lad about Samuel Johnson – “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel”.
Earlier in the week we watched a Channel 4 documentary. Yes, I know that’s very Guardian-reader, but it raised some serious issues – in short that Elfansafety has long ago gotten out of control and that this is, in part, driven by unscrupulous no-win-no-fee lawyers.
Hardly a week will pass without the Mail or Express, in their impeccably imbalanced way, screaming to the rooftops about some loony local Council banning egg and spoon races or some such earth shattering trivia. But you have to ask how much of that is driven by the threat of litigation.
A case in point in the documentary showed a Council officer surveying a primary school playing field Continue reading Scams, Claims and Compensation Games
There is a distinct advantage to having a husband who is not gainfully employed that goes some way to offsetting the loss of income.
Alex has rediscovered the kitchen!
Tonight it was quorn tikka (he’s the veggie, not me – I just go along ‘cos it’s easier). Served on a bed of onions with a side salad, it was, simply, absolutely bloody delicious.
Smoochies, Masterchef! 🙂
… has well lived up to her family name.
For those that haven’t been following Bullygate *, she’s the dipstick that runs the National Bullying Helpline and who chose to chuck her nappy into the ring by claiming that civil servants from No. 10 had been snivelling down the phone to her.
First off – I simply don’t believe her and she knows that she’s in the position of pretty much being able to say what the heck she wants – it’s unlikely that the Courts would subpoena her records over this. In any event – working with politicians? The words “heat” and “kitchen” come to mind. Not that I condone bullying in the workplace, but the civil service does also have a rigorous code of conduct that doesn’t allow it.
Were the Pratt’s phone calls real? Or was she just after her 15 minutes of Warhole-esque fame? Only she can say for certain.
Two things are for sure. First is that she should not be entrusted with confidential information. Even Continue reading Christine Pratt
Day (whatever it is, enter number of your choice here ” … “) in the Blogosphere and I’ve been searching for a layout and trying to get my head round using WordPress.
If only I didn’t have to hold down a full time job … that, and having to rush up to little-big-sister’s house because her pootah contracted a nasty virus – I’ve warned her SO many times about those midget goat porn sites !! 😉
I’m going to muck about with this theme a bit, but I like it because it’s nice and plain – or boring, like me!
I’m completely new to the blogosphere, so bear with me for a while.
There might be some interesting things on here, but it might equally end up as a series of long whinges about people/things/companies that pi$$ me off!