Author: O Zangado

Just loping around. Extremely fond of roast boar in particular, meat in general and cooking on the barbie. Fish is good too.

The Results of Happiness

We have had a wonderful afternoon, the NSW and I, a good lunch followed by a pot of coffee and a glass of brandy in front of a roaring log fire as the afternoon darkens around The Cave and the temperature drops outside, reviewing all the wonderful contributions of cherished colleagues for the January comps which closed this morning.  The subject for both the poetry and photo comps was “Happiness” and I am genuinely astonished by the variety and quality of the responses.  Make no mistake, there are some very talented and sensitive people out there.

Continue reading “The Results of Happiness”

More equal than others?

The So-vile report is finally published and Jimbo has been outed as a serial sex offender between 1955 and 2009.  He is dead now, thankfully, and his knighthood died with him so no action can be taken in either of those directions, but a thought struck me.

Many ‘cebebs’ get away with all sorts of drink and drug-addled misdemeanours of a minor or major degree because of their ‘status’ and this is wrong.  But what about politicians, diplomats and suchlike?  In many countries our leaders have immunity from prosecution – Chirac in France dodged trial for years by clinging to the presidency;  Berlusconi used the system so that when charges  finally come to the fore they are usually deemed out of time under the very convenient Italian Statute of Limitations.  Even some of our UK trough-hogging MPs (unsuccessfully) claimed immunity from prosecution for expenses abuse  on the grounds of parliamentary privilege.  Last week a Portuguese deputada was stopped by Senhor Plod driving away from parliament with a blood-alcohol level that would get your average voter a year in the slammer, but she too is claiming parliamentary immunity.

And don’t even get me started on diplomats.  Get a set of diplomatic plates for your motor and park wherever you please, anywhere. and that’s just for starters.  Beat your maid to death and the authorities can’t touch you or smuggle drugs or explosives in a diplomatic bag which can’t be searched.

So, arise Sir Jimbo, MP for East Kiddyfiddler and Honourary Consul for the Republic of Banana.

Sleep well children everywhere and over to you Mr. Mackie to blow my bar-room lawyering out of the water.  🙂

OZ

12th Night – Joint Pome and Piccie Comp January 2013

On her last visit to the UK the wife of the then outgoing French president was interviewed on the Beeb.  “Tell us Madame de Gaulle, what do you most look forward to in retirement?”  “When my ‘usband he leave ze Elysée all I want is a penis.”  Her interpreter leaned forward, “I think Madame meant to say, ‘All I want is happiness.”

Fumada was not filled with happiness when she saw her Christmas present and dealt with it accordingly.

I have  decided to set a single title for both the pome and piccie comps, this being ‘Happiness‘ in anticipation of a better 2013.   Interpret this as you wish.  Please post any entries for either competition on this thread before 09:00 Zulu, Sunday 20th January and good luck.

OZ

Timing

As the somewhat startled winner of both December comps it falls upon me to set the next contests.  The question is, do cherished colleagues want them immediately with a closing date during the festive season or do you want to wait until after the final New Year burp?  I’m easy either way, but any suggestions/comments/guidance would be gratefully received.

OZ

“A totally impertinent question”

Quoth Lord Patten of Barnes, CH, PC, yada yada, today when questioned by a Commons Select Committee about his daily duties as Chairman of the BBC Trust. Now I have to admit that I’d be a little miffed in the present climate of expenses abuses and second home flipping with a MP taking a holier-than-thou attitude, but I worked in the private sector all my life and Patten has had his snout in the public purse himself since day one and has never, as far as I can ascertain, ever generated any wealth for anything apart from Chris PLC.

Listen, Tubby, maybe the question came from an unfortunate source, but your response was absolutely bang out of order – a bit like B grade ‘celeb’ Liz Hurley referring once to “civilians”, i.e. us, the taxpaying  general public. We pay your salary, Chris, baby, and we have a right to know how it is spent, so get over yourself.

Oh, Celtic, my fur’s gone all frizzy again.

OZ.