‘When in Rome’ seems an inappropriate caption in the Solomon Islands.
Category: The Dark Side
The next poetry competition – “Lost love”
He’s always referred to as ‘Alfred, Lord Tennyson’ – I don’t know why. (‘Sebastian, Lord Coe’? Naeh, it doesn’t sound right. But I digress. This is a post about pomes, not poetry in motion.) Alfred is an easy poet to enjoy, not just for his aphorisms, but for his metre too – like these: Continue reading “The next poetry competition – “Lost love””
Caption, anybody?
A denial
I want to put it on record that I never had an affair with Audrey Hepburn (or even David Bowie). No, I have no idea where the rumours came from (if anywhere) but this denial is a necessary precursor to any sudden outburst of publicity about my private life. I might as well admit to having fancied Audrey something rotten. David Bowie on the other hand struck me (no, M’lud, not literally) as a man made for Jagger’s diverse attentions.
That’s cleared up then. Phew!
What price plastic Brits?
I only mention Greig, Lamb and Pietersen because they represent the latest example of sporting plasticity – in cricket, as it happens. But shouldn’t I include Strauss? At what age or after how long ‘on probation’ should an immigrant become eligible for national honours? This is a general question about all nationalities – although I don’t suppose many countries want former Brits to represent them (corrections please on high-value negotiable instruments).
Backside reckons under the age of ten would be about right. More than six years in a British school should remove any stubborn veneer of foreignness – you know, unsporting behaviour, a tendency to rat on mates, re-emigrating to the Antipodes – that kind of thing.
Such a rule would mean we could keep Mo Farah too – but have you noticed? We soon forget their roots when they really please us?
Pass it, doh!
I’d like to offer OZ this incident for his much-anticipated Olympic rant: the failure (yet again) of a British relay squad to pass the baton. Now I know that as mere runners they are not used to communicating with others or controlling themselves in confined spaces – or even holding things in their hands – but p-lease! All the other teams practise and manage to do it without mishap – why not you? Btw, the girls are just as bad, in case you wonder.
Another little local difficulty
After the Solomonic Solution which rewarded a Japanese gymnast who fell so very nicely, we have the ticklish question of ‘making a bone fide effort’ while participating, which led to the disqualification of some badminton players earlier in the Games. Continue reading “Another little local difficulty”
Only if you’ve read it
No doubt the less inhibited inmates at the Big House have already done this to death but here in the hushed corridors of the Colosseum I’ve seen no mention of THAT BOOK (or books to be exact) which now outsells Harry Potter and probably the Bible and will soon challenge Mrs Beeton. Continue reading “Only if you’ve read it”
One for Christina
Here are some of the Olympic medal contenders – all from Africa. Can you spot the odd-person-out?
Black economy
The DT is getting itself into a lather about hypocritical MPs who complain that employing people for cash is immoral – it robs the exchequer of tax income allegedly. But the paper seems to avoid the real issue – that it’s the tradesmen who are doing the cheating, if they don’t declare their earnings for tax purposes.
Cherished reader, there is an important principle at stake here. If a thief sells me the proceeds of his work, am I not an ‘accessory’ to the crime? So if I know that my plumber’s business is or should be tax-accountable, don’t I have the responsibilty to ask for a receipt for my payment, complete with VAT number and stuff? Where is the line between ‘legal’ and ‘moral’? The trader is clearly breaking the law; am I not morally obliged to stop him (if I can)?
Or is the ‘everybody does it’ defence ethically OK? I am not my brother’s (book-)keeper.
Boadicea's Chariot 
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