My avatar and why I chose it

Returning to DNMT after a hectic family weekend, I find myself the Featured Blogger. Thank you for the kind words , Bearsy. The avatar is a euro-sceptic symbol which I found on the internet.  Originally I was all in favour of the EU and regretted that  (another)  stupid Labour government had not accepted the original invitation  to Britain to become a founding member. This would have deprived de Gaulle of the pleasure of vetoing our subsequent application for membership and would  have made our relationship with the EU completely different.

Now, however,  I am completely disillusioned with the current EU set-up. There is corruption and malpractice – why have the auditors not signed off an the accounts for over 10 years now? There is a lack of democracy, with unelected commissioners (frequently dregs like Kinnock) imposing rules and regulations.  These same rules and regulations seem to be disregarded by several countries with impunity. Britain plays fair and where does it get us?

I am delighted that Chancellor Merkel is now putting the interests of her own country first. I am pleased that several rather wide cracks are appearing in the surface of both the EU and the eurozone.  A former Dutch commissioner is saying that it is ludicrous to have 27 commissioners; 12 would be sufficient in his considered opinion. A parliament that allows a dubious character like Daniel Cohn-Bendit to abuse a guest speaker such as Vaclav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic, a man with more experience and integrity than most of the MEPs put together, is a disgrace.  Eurosceptic? Moi? Yes, indeed.

Richard Dawkins loses the plot

I used to be a huge fan of Richard Dawkins. His masterpiece, The Selfish Gene, was massively significant in my life. When I read it in 1986 I recognised a man who was able to express in clear, concise and scientific terms, beliefs that I had nurtured for some years. Almost everything he wrote thereafter was eagerly consumed by me. He struck me as being a brilliant, gentle and humourous man who simply wanted to tell the truth without pushing any personal cause. So strong was my admiration for him that I would sometimes say in conversations about him, “Dawkins is wrong to say there is no God. Dawkins is God!” Childish perhaps; designed to provoke, probably; sincere, certainly. So when a friend of mine who had met him described him as a self-satisfied prick, I felt personally insulted. Continue reading “Richard Dawkins loses the plot”

Secret Diary of a Grand National Geek

‘You’re doing Ladies’ Day,’ snapped my news editor. ‘At the Grand National.’

It was 2003; I was a cub reporter with no more interest in sport or horses than in, well, origami, or Chinese medicine. But what the hell – it would make a change from chasing fire engines in Warrington

‘Do colour, hats, fashion,’ he said, wearily. ‘But for God’s sake, don’t do the bloody horses’

So, with his words ringing in my ears – and a dire warning not to emulate last year’s reporter by getting drunk and falling asleep on the job, I set off.

It was absolutely pissing down at Aintree. There was mud everywhere. But the place looked very grand, with an impressive array of white, Camelot style marquees.

So I resorted to my first shameless trick – nicking stuff. ‘You got anything interesting?’ I ventured to the other reporters. But I was met with stiff, icy glares; we were all jostling glumly for laptop space amid the chaos and the coffee cups. It was like a workaday version of Glastonbury.

Continue reading “Secret Diary of a Grand National Geek”

Going home

Meet Lulu.

The children at the Quest School for Autistic Children wanted a classroom pet.

After much discussion with the educators and therapists it was agreed.

The class went shopping (Bloomingdales Pet Shop) after a funfilled morning decided on a Dwarf hamster, great, inexpensive (£5), we already had a suitable cage (donated) and perhaps another £10 for the sawdust, food and accessories. Mission accomplished!

Unfortunately, Continue reading “Going home”