You’re my hero! I’m with you in spirit… Speaking of home, I heard the sad news today that Philip Hudspith, a contemporary of mine at High School, has died. News like that stops you in your tracks, and I’d just like to say how sorry I am he’s left the world so young. No Tags
The Israeli army has reluctantly begun to lift the air blockade of Lebanon that had been in place for two months. According to the Independent:The blockade failed to achieve any of its aims. The Israeli army objected to ending it because it saw the measure as one of the few means of obtaining the release of its soldiers. Stopping ships and planes reaching Lebanon was never likely to cause any
BBC are suggesting that our Tone maybe thinks it's one of his marvellous breakthroughs that Olmert [is] ready for talks with Abbas after having had discussions with our international statesman Prime Minister today. The big thing is that Olmert will not set any preconditions, such as the release of the soldier taken hostage in June by Palestinians. I wonder if Abbas might think differently. Perhaps he would like to see the release of at least some of the dozens of his parliamentary colleagues, or an end to attempts to assassinate some of those that aren't languishing in Israeli ...
Last weekend my mother was down visiting me in Oxford. On Sunday, for lunch, we wandered into town and went to the Castle/Prison site. Apart from anything else I haven't been up the castle mound to see what the view is like. These days, I thought there was a promise to make publicly funded museums free to access. I was surprised therefore to find that the little museum at St George's Tower was apparently charging to get in, and that you had to pay to get up the castle mound itself. This whole development, resulting in ...
A date for your diary. Once again you can see me throw dignity to the currents and take part in the next River Clean-Up within Ladywell Fields will take place on the afternoon of Sunday 24 September from 1.30 p.m. Please come along if you can help by donning waders (provided) and splashing about retrieving some of the very interesting objects filling up the river bank. Last time there were substantial contingents from the local police cadets and the local Islamic Centre. A fine example of community action!
One way or another, anti-social behaviour is one of the main issues in my postbag as a local ward councillor. It was one of the main issues raised at a meeting which I attended at Lewisham Town Hall on Wednesday 30 August, particularly problems caused by some (and certainly not all!) of the residents in the many hostels in the area. One of the outcomes of the meeting is that the local police Lewisham Central Safer Neighbourhoods Team are setting up a panel of local residents to advise them on policing priorities in the area. If you'd ...
I've received a copy of a letter from Kent Athletic Club supporting the closure of the public footpath between Medusa Road and the houses behind 80-130 Albacore Crescent, Catford. The reason behind the proposal is to create extra room for 2x50 seat units for spectators to be accommodated at Ladywell Arena, to upgrade the facility and provide shelter. I'd be interested in views for and against this proposal.
Queen Anne has looked over the Ancient Market in Kingston for 300 years, and she was rewarded by the market traders today with a garland of flowers. It was already in place when I arrived but apparently had required a step ladder and a full health and safety assessment. You can also just see, right at the bottom of the picture, that the date, MDCCVI, has been cleaned up and regilded....
Received a newsletter from 02, the mobile phone people. It mentions that in July O2 launcged a new community fund to enable people to make real improvements to where they live. Thought I'd give it a mention in this blog. O2 say that awards of up to £1,000 are available to support local environmental, urban renewal and conservation projects which will benefit the community at large. The funding is intended for groups and individuals to hire tools and equipment, or to purchase plabts, paint, signs and materials. Examples of projects that could receive funding ...
Just back from a few days away running my Institute's Conference (day job) and a backlog of over 100 Council e-mails! A couple of Conference snaps below - me in the Conference Exhibition and the main Conference Hall. I can assure you administering conferences is not for the faint-hearted but the event went really well. Good news on return about the dug up pavement in Exchange Street/Commercial Street - outside the Children's Panel Offices. I have raised the condition of the pavement on numerous occasions - my colleague Claire is pictured (above right) at the works but see really ...
I've added some photos to my blogs about the Scilly Isles here, here and here.
Many of you will know that if you Google for ‘liar’ you will find the top result is a page about Tony Blair. This was achieved by the number of bloggers who linked pieces to this page using the word ‘liar’ as the link. However, since Tony Blair is now quite clearly a lame duck [...]
the malcontent from Webster's the Duchess of Malfi. Bosola's entry early in the play could be written for Brown today: BOSOLA (to The CARDINAL): I have done you better service Than to be slighted thus. Miserable age, where only the reward Of doing well, is the doing of it! Malcontents were believed to have an excess of black bile. I prescribe leeches for our 'only court-gall.'
You know when you try and do something nice and someone just fucks it up. A couple of weeks ago I bought a load of plants to put in a border at the front of my block in halls. It's a space that has been abused for several years now with people parking on and damaging the verge. Anyway, when I started digging I found the ground useless, so waited till today when I got some topsoil delivered. And what did I find when I went to fetch the plants out from next ...
This story caught my eye. It seems a bit bonkers really. Though I know the law is changing is respect of standing for election, but it seems you can judge your fellow citizens at 19 but not yet represent them: New JP, 19, youngest in country: A 19-year-old law student has become the country's youngest magistrate, the government has confirmed. Fair play to Miss Tate - if you can, do - it just strikes me as odd that you can get selected by a "local advisory committee" but not elected by a plebiscite. On the subject ... 
Sometimes you just see such a good idea you think why doesn't everyone do it. I have been to summer street parties - many times. And they are always enjoyable, great for community spirit and sometimes for charity too. But today I went to Greenham Road to open their street party with a difference. Sarah Prince had an idea. Then she got her chums (all women) out for a drink - and then they
Click on the Shropshire Star website and you get a page saying: shropshirestar.com has recently expired!What am I going to find to write about now? If they do manage to buy the domain back, they should call their webmaster Captain Webb. Later. It's back. Phew!
An interesting report from the Scotsman to keep our paranoia levels topped up: A Tory councillor claims that his home was raided by the secret service when his teenage daughter started dating Nicky Blair, the Prime Minister's son. John Whelan said he suspected that agents burgled his family home in Dulwich, south London, and stole two laptop computers, but ignored cash and jewellery, in an
Excellent news from Hungary where the new BBC series Robin Hood is being Maid. Most of the missing master tapes have been recovered. They were stolen a few weeks ago, although it’s not clear whether it was a simple act of Robin or whether some Guy was Hoodwinked. No doubt the producers were not Merry [...]
Some of you will have seen a press release from Bucks County Council claiming that funding has been secured for the rebuilding of Cressex School. You can view the press release on the Bucks CC website here. Wycombe Liberal Democrats note that: The press release contains caveats and uses language like ‘plans’ and ‘aims’. Cressex Community [...]
Just three more photos from the Super Rally 2003
[NB: there are links and content below relating to some explicit websites. Click back now if easily offended by arguments about freedom of speech.] My post last week, ‘Violent porn ban’ revisited, attracted a lot of traffic from users of a discussion board, Informed Consent, which linked to it here. (“This Stephen Tall chap seems like he could be a valuable allie [sic].”) IC is, I now know, “the
Johnny Wilkinson has broken down again. His manager at the Newcastle Falcons explained: He got a twist and a bang on the knee when one of our players fell on him in the ruck. Wouldn't have happened in Rugby League then would it? To be fair, League has its fair share of injuries, but the absolute mess that is a ruck in Union is asking for trouble. Guys are flying in from all angles, and once in a ruck your body position can easily become fixed or rooted. See above for details as to why this is a ...
The Independent reveals the results of a poll that shows Labour to be perceived as more divided now than were the Conservatives under John Major: 56 per cent of voters see Labour as more divided than the Tories during the Major government, which was racked by bitter divisions over Europe. Only 22 per cent regard Labour as more united. More than a quarter of Labour supporters (27 per cent) believe that Labour is more divided than the Conservatives were in 1992-1997. With Charles Clarke demonstrating that there is no fury like a former Home Secretary scorned by ...
Friday: Here is a suggestion for Lord Blairimort's BLUE PETER appearance: "Look, children, here's a MEDIA DISASTER I prepared earlier." If I were Mr Frown I would have been happy to sit on my fluffy bottom and wait for another year or even two so that I could take over as Prime Minister and then go for a general election during my "honeymoon". But then Mr Frown's TITANIC ego has derailed simpler plans than that one over the years. The media want blood and Lord Blairimort has decided it's going to be Mr Frown's rather than his ...
With just a week to go before the freshers arrive to find POTUS in one's hall of residence. Which well known person would be your choice to share a flat with? A couple of years ago now there were rumours that Ms Knightley would be coming here to Brookes. Needless to say so far as I am aware it never happened. I'd rather spend nights down the bar with Mr Sheen though any day!
Labour’s continuing leadership problems have made me think about who I would pick to succeed Blair. Hilary Benn would be my man. No enemies (that I know of) but more importantly a new sort of leader - one with a genuine manner and devoid of the Blair-style demeanour that is soooooo yesterday. That will be Cameron's problem - he is emulating a past the country is getting fed up with. Benn could | < | September 2006 | > | ||||
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