Etymology
Monday 30th June 2008
11:47 pm
11:30 pm
Juggling
Trying to juggle budgets is never easy, and my maths ability is not great when the figures are on a spread sheet. However, the list of improvements that our residents are asking for in the ward comes to at least £230,000. All of them are good suggestions, and some have been waiting 30 years and more to be done. Most should have been done when the houses were built, and indeed some were... 11:29 pm
Peter Tatchell and the case for local candidates
After writing my posting 'A local candidate for local people' I remembered a story about Peter Tactchell and the Bermondsey by-election. Tatchell's favourite spiel on the doorstep was:'Hello, my name is Peter Tatchell and I am standing for Labour. I am a bit of a rebel, but you can trust me because I am from round here.'All went well until he met one old lady, who replied: 'Oh sorry, dear, no. I wouldn't trust anyone from round here.' 11:06 pm
Prison overcrowding
The government has a plan to sort out prison crowding. It appears representatives of Britain's justice system are unimpressed. I was particularly chuffed with o Parliament has been extremely poor in not predicting the impact of its own legislation or acting on any predictions of prison population it has made, and improvement is highly desirable. 10:54 pm
Pathways to Healthcare again
Tonight's meeting of the Western Area Partnership Board was taken up to a large extent with a discussion on the Momentum project. This had been mentioned last month but this month we had a presentation and debate which could have gone on for a lot longer. People have real concerns about concentrating services in too few locations, about how the villages will be served when they can't have a GP 10:49 pm
Scotland != Wales
You have to give the BBC credit for really knowing how to cock things up sometimes... Now, as I remember it, the BBC Trust report on coverage of devolution said that there were significant issues and that these affected Scotland slightly and Wales extremely. And yet, is it just me, or have the Newsnight team deigned to allow Shona Robison MSP a seat on the panel table at their NHS debate, while 10:25 pm
Expletives Deleted
You sometimes hear about philosophy students lucky enough to have their examination papers marked by some mad eccentric professor. Students who write three words on their exam paper...something outrageous and wacky like 'To write this' in answer to what the purpose of life is, but you never think for one minute that these things actually happen. After being taught by quite a few myself, I know there is no shortage of eccentric lecturers to keep this tradition alive. Even so, I bet if I had written the words 'fuck off' in an exam paper I wouldn't have been given two ... 9:51 pm
Visiting St Ann's
Go to St Ann's Hospital to celebrate its Lordship Ward becoming the 300th ward of the national 'Star Wards' project. David Lammy (MP for Tottenham) is on the visit too. We start by meeting Marion Janner. Marion is a service user from Haringey and is a vocal campaigner and mover on the Star Wards project. This is a national project started to begin to address one of the great challenges of mental health care - that on an inpatient ward the boredom is enough to drive you to madness. It is totally counterproductive to a therapeutic outcome - and so ... 9:32 pm
More Wimbledon
Two sets down. a tie break in the third set and he still won by three sets to two. Surely, Andy Murray must have inherited Henman's mantle now. 9:29 pm
Another poor showing from South Norfolk Lib Dems
I shouldn't really have been surprised to see South Norfolk Lib Dems produce another poor election result in the Diss by election held, rather oddly, last Thursday. Con 1041 56% LibDem 768 41%Lab 63 3% Turnout 33.44% Diss was, until 5 years ago, a bastion of Lib Dem support. The Lib Dems held seats on the District Council with good majorities and the County Council seat was 'safe as houses', but like much of the area once called 'safe' by South Norfolk Lib Dems, too little was done between elections, and as soon as the Tories recovered in the polls, ... 
9:19 pm
Health benefits of the smoking ban
This morning's Western Mail tells us that the number of patients suffering a heart attack in Wales has fallen dramatically following the ban on smoking. They say that there was a 12.5% fall in the number of patients admitted to hospital with a heart attack between October and December last year, compared to the same period in 2006, before the ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces was introduced in Wales. Some NHS trusts have seen the number of heart attacks fall by up to 40% in the same period. This reflects the experience elsewhere. Hospital admissions for heart attacks ... 9:05 pm
Tunguska 100 years on
The BBC website has a long article on an immense explosion that took place in Siberia a century ago today: The blast was 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and generated a shock wave that knocked people to the ground 60km from the epicentre. The cause was an asteroid or comet just a few tens of metres across which detonated 5-10km above the ground, 100 years ago today. Eyewitnesses recalled a brilliant fireball resembling a 'flying star' ploughing across the cloudless June sky at an oblique angle.And: The effects of Tunguska were not ... 8:55 pm
Glastonbury 2008
Just returned from Glastonbury (my first time). What can I say ..... brilliant! It's true the toilets do take a little getting used to but them aside it really opened my eyes. I saw some fantastic bands - Vampire Weekend, Pigeon Detectives, The Subways, Scouting for Girls, The Zutons, Ting Tings, KateNash, The Feeling, Editors, The Fratellis, Kings of Leon, The Wombats, Duffy, The Verve, Gilbert O Sullivan and the hiliarious Four Poofs and a Piano. If you haven't ever been I thoroughly recommend it. No matter how old you are there is something for everyone. Even the weather was ... 8:46 pm
Another urban myth ?
THIS story today about a pupils getting marks for writing a swear word on an exam paper has all the hallmarks of an urban myth. It reminds me of the course that certain pupils who were not GCE (O Level) standard when I was at school. They used to to a course called the '365 Course', and we used to joke that you passed it if you got your name, school and candidate number right. 8:44 pm
Welland Viaduct
If you are travelling from St Pancras to Leicester or somewhere further north on a Sunday, you will sometimes be told that your train is being diverted and will take longer to reach Leicester than usual. This means that you will arrive into Kettering on one of the little-used slow platforms and that, a mile or so north of the station, your train will leave the Midland main line. Instead of passing through Market Harborough, your train will go through the 1930s steel town of Corby and then cross the broad Welland valley on a magnificent viaduct. English Buildings has ... 8:35 pm
Campaigning with Helen Duffett
Big event of the day Sunday was - no not the footie - the Centenary of Hornsey Bowling Club. To celebrate one hundred years there was a tea and a match with the Francis Drake Bowling Club. What a great institution this is. But as the members said - they need some new and younger blood. It is such a lovely sport - with the pure, manicured bowling green. Thank heavens I wore wedge shoes - as heels are a no no! I only had to go on the green for the 'spider'. This is where they place a spider ... 8:05 pm
Warning: Mobile Internet Bills On Holiday
Ofcom have released the associated Link - worth reading if you use mobile internet on The Continent. Vodafone have reduced their roaming internet charges to about 12 Euros a day (check their info for details). It is easy to get caught out on this issue. 7:56 pm
More alterations at Nursing Home applied for
I have posted details of a new planning application for an extension, alterations to existing building and provision of new walkway and is a Resubmission of a previous application at Culverhays Care Centre Lymore Avenue and you can view the application at www.readmyday.co.uk/westmoreland 7:53 pm
A local candidate for local people
Gwyn Griffiths, a Lib Dem councillor from Crewe, has a good article on Lib Dem Voice questioning our current obsession with 'local' candidates. He says: I can fully understand that 'being local' is a plus. As an agent I have enthusiastically produced Focus newsletters complete with maps highlighting the fact that our candidates live in the ward, with a great big X to mark the spot, and a sometimes vaguely-directed arrow to indicate that the Labour/ Tory rival lives "somewhere, out there, far away". And when our candidate doesn't live in the ward, well I've emphasised their other virtues.But I ... 7:38 pm
Are conservative Christians prepared for war?
Conservative Christians in the Anglican church are talking tough. They seem to be doing scaremongering too, suggesting that Liberal Anglicans don't even believe in evangelism anymore. Evangelism means spreading the good news about Jesus, forgiveness, etc. Apparently a Bishop in America has spoken of perhaps Jesus not being the only way to salvation (meaning forgiveness, turning to God and going the heaven). Well has anyone studying RE noticed that the Christian God, Allah, the Jewish God and even perhaps the Sikh God seem to be the same thing? Of course the Torah and Jewish Scriptures are the Old Testament in ... 7:37 pm
New Porch applied for
There is only one planning application in Twerton ward this month and that is for the erection of a new front porch at 12 The Hollow. The application was first registered on 23rd June 2008 and has an expiry date of 18th August 2008. The application number is 08/02267/FUL and you can view the application by following the link on the application number. Any representations on... 7:22 pm
Top of the Blogs: The Golden Dozen #71
Welcome to the 71st of our weekly round-ups from the Lib Dem blogosphere, featuring the seven most popular stories according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (22nd-29th June), together with a hand-picked quintet you might otherwise have missed. Let's get straight down to it, in descending order of popularity: 1. Sunday Telegraph alleges clash between Nick Clegg [...] 7:10 pm
J Simpson meets Tsvangirai in secret- Tough talk from Odinga
John Simpson of course works for the BBC but has been in Zimbabwe a few times and has been there recently in the middle of this violence. Of course the BBC is banned from Zimbabwe. But Simpson has even now met in secret with Morgan Tsvangirai. Well these two men have a death wish, but I certainly admire their bravery. It's a very interesting video report, so watch it. I may just have to forgive Raila Odinga the Kenyan PM for allowing the huge 40 people cabinet. His strong speaking against Mugabe is very radical. He called for the AU ... 7:06 pm
Smell problem hopefully resolved
I have today received assurances from the City Council's Head of Waste Management that concerns raised by many residents of the West End about a bad smell apparently coming from the Riverside Civic Amenity site over the past few days should hopefully soon be resolved. Over the past few days I have had lots of complaints from people in the River Crescent, Newhall Gardens and Riverside Place areas about a really bad smell, apparently coming from the Riverside Civic Amenity site. Indeed, when I attended the River Crescent Residents' Association AGM on yesterday at the Botanic Garden, many residents at ... 6:52 pm
A Chance To See What Mugabe's Men Do To A Seventy Year Old Woman
From This Is Zimbabwe today: Mike, Angela and Ben were taken by a "war vet" named Gilbert Moyo and approximately twenty thugs to Pixton Mine (Pixton Mine is currently being used as a youth militia torture camp). Implicated in the attack is a Zanu PF party member named 'Mazambani' and an army General. Cold water was thrown over them before all were beaten. Mike Campbell, who is 74 years old, 6:46 pm
In the public Interest
At long last, The Communications Select Committee Report into media ownership and the news has been published. After taking evidence from dozens of people and organisations over many months, and deliberating and debating our conclusions, the results finally emerged. It has become clear that despite the explosion in news media output, there has been no corresponding increase in input. The number of journalists has declined and much 'news' is simply re-packaged. Its an important piece of evidence given that there is pressure on government from some sources to reduce regulation of media ownership on the grounds that are so many ... 6:45 pm
Site visit
I've organised a site visit tomorrow - getting council officers, a police rep and hopefully some residents together to look at a problem in part of the ward. In fact I am just back from delivering letters to residents in the immediate area inviting them to the visit. Sometimes problems can be solved without organising something like this - but in this case you really need to see the physical set up to understand the issue. This particular problem is just off Aigburth Road - but I'll blog again about it when we have made a bit more progress. 6:41 pm
Youth Live - we're celebrating!
The 4th edition of Youth Live magazine is out. And we are celebrating later this week with an event at Merseyside Youth Association. It's a year since edition one (give or take a day or so) so we will be sampling a special birthday cake as well as celebrating our success to date. I say our success - but frankly it's all about the young people who have written, researched, commissioned, designed etc. And our fantastic volunteers. And of course Richard who does most of the work while sharing much of the credit! We've sent out quite a few invitations ... 6:35 pm
Labour MP stands down because of health!
A Labour MP has stepped down because of ill health. DO you blame the MP the Labour Parties ways and policies are making a lot of people sick. The Number of old aged people moving to other countries to retire is just one way for the people to tell the Labour Party that they are getting sick of their ways to run the country so they are moving abroad. In the near Future if the Labour Party don't give up before the next time tabled general election then Labour MP's will not be the only people that are sick. ... 6:11 pm
Tuesday 24th June 1pm
Meeting to discuss the Beddington Park Consultation I met with Bill Wyatt, Assistant Parks Manager to consider how we could best consult with residents so that he can prepare an action plan linked to the proposed Beddington Park and the Grange Management Plan. I had been invited as chair of the Local Committee and also because I [...] 6:00 pm
20 Questions to a Presidential Candidate - Updated
I hope to get the answers to my questions (see below) soon, but in the meantime, wondered if there were other potential presidential candidates I should send them to - Chris Huhne? Chris Rennard? Susan Kramer? So, if you would like to suggest the candidate you would most like to see standing in the upcoming contest, I can include them in my distribution list! My questions are as follows: 1. What motivated you to get involved in politics and does that still motivate you now? 2. Which political figure, living or dead, do you most admire and why? 3. If ... 5:40 pm
Opinion: Social mobility - we can make a difference
Last week's Liberal Democrat News carried the following article from Martin Narey: The UK is the fifth richest nation on Earth, yet it has one of the highest rates of child poverty in the industrialised world. Labour has made some commendable progress in reducing the truly shocking level of child poverty they inherited in 1997. But even [...] 5:25 pm
Upping the ante on Brown
As we've remarked before, The Guardianistas have been at the forefront of the 'Brown is doing terribly' movement. Without the fierce judgements of Polly Toynbee, Jonathan Freedland et al it might be easier to paper over the cracks of Labour's recent difficulties.Jackie Ashley, ups the ante again today - 'Labour must decide. Sack him or back him. Autumn deadline'. A couple of months ago she has raised the prospect of Labour losing the next election; she has since moved on to being out of power for a generation. Today she goes further again:'The next generation of Labour MPs and future ... 5:24 pm
Looking Backwards and Forwards in Brussels
On the Eurostar from London this morning I was called by the BBC World Service to see if I could do a live comment on Anwar Ibrahim's fresh troubles in Malaysia, so my first port of call on arriving in Brussels was the International Press Centre where I used to work for Reuters. I still have a cheesy photo of myself [...] 4:59 pm
The US have lost Chalabi
The US treatment of Ahmed Chalabi and his changing role in the last five years is a prime example of failed US policy thinking. The man, who some thought was being lined up by the US and the CIA in particular to lead a post-Saddam Iraq, was ditched, humiliated by the electorate, and then totally deserted by his previous benefactors. The US failure to create and support secular, not sectarian, politics in Iraq is writ large in Chalabi (see note 1). He, as I reported previously, was able to stroll into Sadr City (when it was still under total Sadrist ... 
4:35 pm
Police Headquarters move should be an opportunity, not a threat
I'm surprised that the Chamber of Commerce and George Beckett are so negative about the impact of the move of the Police Headquarters from Winchester to Chandler's Ford. This is not the same as a big local business going bust or moving to the other end of the country. No-one's losing their job. No families will see a big drop in income. The jobs aren't disappearing. They're moving seven miles down the road to Chandler's Ford. No local families will be forced to move away from Winchester and there will be no reduction in the number of police officers working ... 4:33 pm
Justice Ryder's speech (and other things)
This is a link to Justice Ryder's recent speech. It is worth reading (if you are interested in these issues). Along with James Munby he is one of the few family court judges who have some idea of the problems inbuilt into the system. The difficulty is getting a wider recognition that change is needed. Not only that but a recognition that a different type of change is needed one which brings 3:58 pm
Cameron's monkish silence on civil liberties
Ben Brogan notes that Gordon Brown has bitten back at last, specifically concerning David Davis: Turns out the hero of H&H wrote to the Prime Minister last week, as well as every Cabinet minister and even Keith Vaz, to challenge them to a debate on 42 days and the state of freedom in Britain. He suggested Labour MPs have been gagged on the PM's orders, to stop them engaging with DD. Somewhat 3:36 pm
If only, if only, Uncle Bob were a white dictator
If he were white, he'd have been removed. He's not. So he hasn't. That's the simple and painfully accurate logic of Nicholas Kristof. He's not off the mark. Raila Odinga, and Levy Mwanawasa have led the way, now its time for all those at Sharm el-Sheikh to stand up to Mugabe, and for the former Colonial powers plus the US to think about the end game. How do we end this disastrous, brutal, and barbaric regime now? That includes active regime change. Odinga is being brave by saying it, we should back him. 3:06 pm
The Equality Bill
Let me start this post with a disclaimer: I can't stand Harriet Harman. I have attacked her before, for her idiotic interpretation of feminism, for her repulsive comments on Fidel Castro, and her ill thought out views on prostitution. She appears without substance, petty and malleable. However, on her Equality Bill I'm more than ready to give her the benefit of the doubt. The Bill has been assaulted left right and centre. But Johann Hari puts up a reasonable defense of the Bill today. Can anybody explain to me why he is wrong (Tristan perhaps)? The one thing that sounded ... 2:33 pm
Tuesday 24th June 10am
Joint Scrutiny of Tier 4 Personality Disorders Briefing I met with Marion Woodard, Senior Policy Officer at Sutton and Cllr. Sheila Knight from the London Borough of Merton at Merton Civic Offices to discuss the meeting on 2nd July which was prompted by the closure of the Henderson Hospital in Sutton. This meeting was to discuss [...] 1:54 pm
Via davidbrider - Gaiman interviews Pratchett
... for Waterstones, here. Go, read, squee. 1:45 pm
But Mr Gladstone, are you local enough?
It would appear that the 'local' credentials of the candidates proved to be something of a talking-point in the recent Henley by-election. Certainly, in Crewe & Nantwich it was a constant theme in the election literature. The Conservatives went so far as to claim that their man was "the only local candidate" - despite the fact [...] 1:31 pm
Bitten by a dog: minor problem or a death sentence?
Yesterday afternoon I got a nip from a dog while out delivering leaflets. No big deal you might think. Clean and disinfect the wound. Check that tetanus is up to date. Get on with life. But it reminded me of a sign I saw posted up while I was out in Sierra Leone a few weeks ago running some training for the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. There were a team of us from the Lib Dem, Labour and Conservative parties working with local council candidates from the SLPP, APC and PMDC to help them prepare for their local elections. One ... 12:55 pm
600,000+ people have watched the Heinz Deli Mayo ad on You Tube - is this what Heinz wanted all along?
There are some interesting comments on the Heinz Deli Mayo saga from advertising professionals in the Guardian. One I liked was this one from Marco Rimini of Mindshare: Of course the ad shouldn't have been pulled. The point of the ad is to use shock to communicate. It's bang on strategy. If it's going to succeed in its objective then why withdraw it? The real issue is, is it a good strategy or a 11:58 am
Iain Dale v Political Betting...............no contest!
Iain Dale is very fond of biggin' himself up as the most read political blog in the country. However, the reality is that he is out hit 4:1 by Political Betting. Now, Mike Smithson is a well known Lib Dem, former Councillor and PPC, but his site is probably the most politically neutral in the country. Why? Because its focus is on the betting odds, not the political rhetoric. In contrast Iain (God bless'im) is overtly partisan to, on occasions, the point of hysteria! So I am pleased to see that Mike is taking on Iain's inflated claims by advertising ... 10:59 am
Woman's Hour
Well, someone is wrong on the radio, anyway. Today, I have a migraine. I have been lying in bed with the pillow over my eyes and going owwwwwwwwwww. Radio Four has been playing softly in the background, and yes, you guessed it, someone said something on Woman's Hour that made me have to switch on the laptop and fire off an email...Your recent item on teenage boys was the latest in a long line of pieces which promote the counter-productive trope that women should ONLY have female role models and men should only have male ones. What is wrong with ... 10:45 am
The Third Most Important Reason to Vote "NO" in the Elected Mayor Referendum This Thursday - It Won't Have Any Impact Whatsoever on Congestion Charging
Polling stations across Bury will be open on Thursday for the Borough-wide referendum on whether or not to have an elected Mayor. I will be voting "No," on this important question, and there are lots of reasons why. I'll tell you my top two reasons tomorrow and Wednesday, but today it's the reason that wins the bronze medal... I will be voting no because I oppose congestion charging, and this is vote is a distraction that will do nothing to help stop the charge. Supporters of the bid for a Mayor claim that it will be a good way to ... 10:33 am
Somerset Ave appeal hearing
I've written before about my opposition to the planning application in Somerset Avenue. The developers wanted to knock down two semis (on the first bend as you go down the hill from Hook Road) and replace them with eight new houses. Since then a second application, this time for seven houses, has been submitted and refused. The developers have appealed against both decisions... 10:29 am
How to become a Tory MP: 'Lick up' to Central Office and 'hold your nose'
Conservative Home have published a fascinating guide on how to become a Conservative MP, garnered from submissions from 126 adopted candidates. Some of the advice can be considered common to people aiming to be MPs from all parties, for example 'Don't leave first base without your family's support'. But some of the guidance has a distinctly Conservative flavour. For example, 'Prepare to lose a 9:55 am
Cameron the Trojan horse - by the editor of Esquire
This article by Jeremy Langmead (the editor of Esquire magazine) in this week's Observer is worth a read. It is rather frivolous and anecdotal, but enjoyable none the less. He uses the phrase 'Trojan horse' to describe David Cameron, which seems rather apposite. 9:54 am
Thoughts on the Scots
I don't often comment on Scots affairs, even though, as a Celt, I do feel a certain amount of affinity for those north of the border. Bernard Salmon wrote an excellent post on the demise of 'Bendy Wendy' and I also recommend this article by the BBC Scotland's veteran political editor. But the one opinion I wanted to express is this. Stuff those English numpties who are criticising Andy Murray. 9:52 am
Tory boys throw toys out of pram
So - Harriet Harman has launched her Equalities Bill into the political process and it's really only one issue in it that has caught the media and public eye so far - the proposal to allow a limited degree of positive action in some circumstances when choosing who to employ.If you believe some of the sensationalist coverage, the world is about to end for white men with discrimination against them about to be legalised left, right and centre. Conservative MP Philip Davies said, for example,How on earth can [Harriet Harman] justify in an equalities Bill a provision that allows people ... 9:23 am
The Lib Dems are not a party that blindly accepts the EU Commission's bidding
A common misconception about the Lib Dems is that the party is blindly and dogmatically 'Pro-European' and that its policy towards the EU is both confused and shapeless. Graham Watson gave a speech this morning (or at least it was on TV this morning) in the Euro Parl on behalf of ALDE stating the Liberal position on Ireland's rejection of the Lisbon Treaty. He was critical but friendly, biting, yet productive and demonstrated a clear vision of Liberal policy towards the EU. It was a speech that demonstrated an instinctive pro-europeanism tempered with realism and serious criticisms of the workings ... 8:59 am
Bumper catchup
Catchup has been away from our screens following a writers strike. In the three weeks since you last heard from me, here's what's been happening. There's been a by-election. The best place to catch up are a series of post-mortem posts, including what party chief exec Lord Rennard emailed to members, and LDV staffer [...] 8:34 am
First Class Age Discrimination
Last Thursday I heard Harriet Harman indignantly tell Jeremy Vine on Radio 2 "young people don't face discrimination, it's older people who do". It's not quite so black and white. When you next have a by-election try comparing what happens to 18 year olds and 65 year olds doing phone canvassing. Using identical scripts, [...] 6:50 am
Wimbledon Special Part Two - whatever happened to Evonne Goolagong?
I am largely relying on Wikipedia again for this entry but Evonne Goolagong was definitely a Wimbledon star from my youth if only because her name is so memorable. She was a former World No. 1 Australian tennis player and one of the world's leading players in the 1970s and early 1980s, when she won 14 titles: seven in singles (four Australian Open, two Wimbledon and one French Open), six in women's doubles, and one in mixed doubles. She was the first Australian Aboriginal woman to achieve international fame in sport and the first Aboriginal person to do so in ... 2:34 am
NHS: When I'm Sixty-Four
There has been much said and written about the NHS as we approach its sixtieth birthday, or to some more like Diamond Jubilee, and no doubt much more is to come. I do want to celebrate the founding of the NHS. It was, of course, the brainchild of a Liberal economist, William Beveridge, whose report about the "war on the five giants on the road to reconstruction" was the genesis of this and other key planks of the welfare state. It is axiomatic that to be critical of the NHS and its founding principles, free universal healthcare based on need ... 12:16 am
Shell Oil Fined For Polluting Drinking Water Supplies!
Shell UK Oil Products were recently fined a total of £18,000 and ordered to pay over £53,000 in costs at Grimsby Magistrates Court as a result of a leak from one of the tanks at the Toothill petrol station in Yarborough Road which allowed poisonous unleaded petrol to enter the ground water supply and contaminate the public drinking water supply. Shell stated that the leak had cost them millions of pounds Follow this link to read the recent report on the case which was published by the Grimsby Telegraph:- http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/ 12:13 am
The Titanic comes to Swiss Cottage
It was a bright sunny day and was an excuse to take the picture - love it or loath it you have to accept it's quite dramatic. Locally known as The Titanic this is the new development at Swiss Cottage with panoramic views across London. It's actually called The Visage and is quite an impressive little self-contained unit with all amenities within the building or in the case of the sports centre and library all within one minutes... and on the jubilee line too. Interesting on a trivial level to have a glance at the pre-build advertising pictures of the ... 12:01 am
Day 2736: DOCTOR WHO: The Stolen Earth
Saturday: Millennium Elephant, International Media Star Yes, We Know Who You Are {Posted by Picasa} Well, on the one fluffy foot, I was expecting that to be the STOLLEN Earth... where Davros has replaced the Earth with a GIANT EASTER CAKE; on the other fluffy foot, Whoo and Hoo: Mr Professor Richard is soooooo smart, and Sarah Jane's got a really cool CAR! What? Wow. Just Wow. End of Review. No, not quite the end. That was completely stunning, a triumphant blending of all of the elements of mythology that has been gently layered up over the last four years. ... 
