Don’t read this article …

Don’t read this article in “The Punch” if you are unable to cope with Australian vocabulary and Australian humour.

Don’t click on the picture to access the link if you’re an up-tight Pom, even an expatriate up-tight Pom, unless you’re prepared to be amused by off-beat, tongue-in-cheek commentary.

If you click in error, close the page before you read the article.

If you do read it, don’t slag me off, I didn’t write it.

John Mackie may possible enjoy it – but I could be wrong.

December Creative Writing – The Winner!

I thought the Winner should have a post all to himself to celebrate, so here’s Ferret’s comment reproduced.


Sorry for the delay guys, it turned out that my New Year was even merrier than I hoped Hic!

I had a great time in Harrogate and hope each and every one of you enjoyed your chosen celebrations too.

Right then I have read through them all and have selected a favorite. They were all as ever, of excellent quality. I had a hard time spotting the Jeremiah link Janus you sneak. :)
Continue reading “December Creative Writing – The Winner!”

Creative Writing Competition – Discuss

In my post, End of Year Review, I said:

I’m also a little unhappy about the way the Creative Writing Competition seems to have lost its impetus. I’ve refrained from saying anything earlier, since Christmas is such a frenetic time of year!  But I propose that it return to its fortnightly slot.

One person welcomed the proposal, one did not and a third seemed undecided.

Since I rarely enter these competitions, it seems to me that I should, perhaps, canvass opinions from those who do participate.  All comments welcome, on the clear understanding (of course!) that the umpire’s decision is final!

New Year’s Eve Present

Sometimes, when something’s really bothering me I’ll get up in the night and write a letter, to whomsoever it may concern. This usually means a series of versions being written out in neater and neater script, maybe in a more tactful way each time, and eventually I will feel better and even, on occasion, I’ll go back to bed for a few more hours kip. Continue reading “New Year’s Eve Present”

Lies, damned lies, and statistics?

Muslim population ‘rising 10 times faster than rest of society’


David Coleman, Professor of Demography at Oxford University, said:

“The implications are very substantial. Some of the Muslim population, by no means all of them, are the least socially and economically integrated of any in the United Kingdom … and the one most associated with political dissatisfaction. You can’t assume that just because the numbers are increasing that all will increase, but it will be one of several reasonable suppositions that might arise.”

I found this in an article from The Times. Alarming headline, certainly and it seems to be endorsed by David Coleman. It has been widely quoted on the internet, as one might imagine. Continue reading “Lies, damned lies, and statistics?”

TV for the Blind

I used to be a fan of BBC documentaries, but not any more. My enthusiasm waned some time ago when they began to focus on the presenter, rather than the nominal topic. I became fed-up with needless shots of the presenter(s) walking towards camera, or away from it when female, as cameramen targetted the woman’s swaying rear end. However, I continued to tune in when the topic interested me, but of late I find them unwatchable, and last night I switched off in irritation. Not only is the focus on the presenter these days, but we are treated to a voice-over describing what is visually evident. Such banal statements as ‘John is now walking slowly up some ancient steps’ or ‘Ruth stoops and picks up a strangely shaped stone’ add nothing to one’s understanding. Are these documentaries now intended for the blind ‘viewer’, or has the BBC decided that only idiots are watching?