David Taylor MP

My deepest sympathies go to the family of David Taylor MP. Very very sad at the time of peace and togetherness.


nick

A Peaceful Christmas

I have too many friends and colleagues who have become widows or widowers this year. To them especially I wish a Peaceful Christmas.


nick

The act of a coward

Well they were there when we visited in March and they should still be there now. The coward who stole the sign above the gates should hang their head in shame!


nick

Get yer kit off for a fourth term Gordon!!

I adore Italy, not just as a result of having a Sicilian grandfather, but for the wonderful things it has given us over the centuries. Not least for the entertainment that is its politics. I suppose we’ll know soon enough now if Berlusconi is or isn’t telling the truth in his Mafia denial, depending on whether he has Massimo Tartaglia ‘whacked’ Joe Pesci style in retaliation for the attack.

After roads, baths and central heating, there are other things we could still learn from them. Why Gordon has never considered unbuttoning his shirt during a press conference and proudly declaring ‘I’m not wearing a vest’ could be a major reason for his current unpopularity. There could also be a case for spending evening after evening being photographed with a succession of scantily clad blondes on each arm while Sarah dutifully looks after the children at home.

The crap that surrounds Berlusconi simply wouldn’t be tolerated in any other European country. If geography had taken a different turn and Italy was in the Middle East, the US would have invaded long ago in order to restore ‘democracy’. With a Berlusconi owned media, it is difficult for ordinary Italians to experience the criticisms of their leader in a way that we take for granted daily. Already he is being portrayed as a modern day Roman Gladiator with his wounds on full display to squeeze an extra point of popularity amongst his countrymen. So Gordon please take note and quickly strive to be more like Silvio. Lose that grey hair with lashings of ‘Simply for Men’ and grab yourself a bottle of fake tan while you’re at it so you can get naked in public. Then buy up most of the UK’s media, ditch the vest, family and concerns for the common man and that fourth term is a racing certainty.



nick

Rob Tyner fondly remembered

Rob Tyner, the lead singer with MC5, died in 1991. He should have been celebrating his 65th birthday today. What will always remain is his music, raw, exciting and unique. There's echoes of MC5 in so many bands since, but only one original.


nick

Now this is just messed up

Hang on there just a minute matey. By my reckoning you got elected because people voted Plaid Cymru and you were on their list at the time. You need to get your head around the fact that they didn’t vote for you as an individual and as you’ve decided to flip to your Tory pals, you are no longer the legitimate holder of the position as regional AM for South Wales East.

I wonder if you thought that through before defecting? Or maybe you did and the rules are so distorted you're going to get away with it! Either way, I reckon you're a soon to be ex-AM.


nick

Long long ago, in a land not very far away

This beautiful and unique colour film of London is from 1927 and portrays a pre-war image of an almost sleepy capital. The lack of private motor cars takes some getting used to, especially along Whitehall. My grandfather was a signalman at London Bridge at this time, it's amazing to see what the city was like when he went to work.






nick

Where's my comfort zone gone?

I dunno! You tear a ligament in your back and as soon as you can get to a computer you find Bloggers4Labour has gone all weird on you.


nick

I could do that, gis a job

Oh please please, pretty please, can I be an RBS Director if they all walk out?


nick

Not the first, certainly won't be the last

My congratulations go to the Florida Highway Patrol on their excellent accident investigation technique. From the list of car, tree, fire hydrant and Tiger Woods, all they can come up with is this, Woods was to blame!

Still it is easier said than done in such delicate matters. I once dealt with a very late night road accident. Two young women were in a car that collided with a car driven by an elderly woman. Two male pedestrians gave me excellent accounts of how they observed the elderly woman cause the accident. We all went to court and remembering that this was pre-advance disclosure days, the defence produced several more witnesses who recalled how the two pedestrians quickly got out of the car after the accident…. and how they were both married to women who weren’t anywhere to be seen! Tangled webs indeed.


nick