I was planning on doing a post on this but Silverback beat me to it, so I will content myself with agreeing wholeheartedly with what he says regarding Prince Harry and to his list of nicknames etc by which hosts of other people are known, I will add that of my son, who is also in the army and, being from Liverpool, with a strong accent to boot, has been known since he first signed on as 'Scouser'. He is, and always has been, perfectly happy with that and accepts it for what it is, a nickname, nothing more or less.
I find it so frustrating, although sadly not surprising, that all the usual PC gang are on the bandwagon, baying for blood. Someone representing the Ramadhan Foundation, interviewed on BBC News has stated that Harry should 'come on down here and apologise face to face.' As he was not the person referred to in the film, I cannot for the life of me see why he thinks such an apology should be made to him and his associates.
The world is slowly but surely going mad. We have Israelis and Palestinians killing each other over a tiny strip of land but the politicians and pressure groups focus their energies and outrage on an unimportant nickname which apparently was quite acceptable to its owner.
"A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence said: "Neither the Army nor the Armed Forces tolerates inappropriate behaviour in any shape or form. "
Well, maybe they feel they have to be seen to be taking some sort of action, but one hopes that, behind the scenes, they will treat this situation with an appropriate degree of common sense.
Wot??
"Do you know where there is a Spar round here?" Keith asked one of the locals where we spent New Year.
The man looked thoughtful.
"Hmmm, have to ask the wife about that," he said, "I know where there's a sauna, though," he said, brightening up.
"No," said Keith, with a completely straight face, "We just want to buy a few groceries."
"Makes you wonder how some people's minds work, doesn't it?" he said to me afterwards.
The man looked thoughtful.
"Hmmm, have to ask the wife about that," he said, "I know where there's a sauna, though," he said, brightening up.
"No," said Keith, with a completely straight face, "We just want to buy a few groceries."
"Makes you wonder how some people's minds work, doesn't it?" he said to me afterwards.
A short break
On New Year's Eve, Keith and I set off in the RV for a little place called Cwmcuttan, which is on the outskirts of the Brecon Beacons. We planned to treat ourselves to a four day break, and so we did. The temperatures were not wonderful, minus 7 degrees on two nights, but we had two sunny days and peace and quiet, so we enjoyed it. Keith did complain that his head got cold during the night and wanted to wear his cap in bed, but I laid down the law on that score. The RV, being an American job, is built to withstand low temperatures, not like your average British motorhome, and there was an electric hook-up included in the price, so at times, it was warmer than it would be here at home.
You will notice from the photo that there are bikes in evidence and, yes, we did use them. Keith has discovered that, surprisingly, he is able to cycle with far less pain to his ankle than walking causes and he's good at it, unlike me.
On New Year's Day, we ventured forth to nearby Llandovery and I managed to get some photos of a few of the participants gathering for the hunt.
So now we are back, normal daily life has taken over again and I will try to do a bit more blogging - honest!New Year
I know I have been silent for several days now, but we had a lovely Christmas chez Elder Daughter and also in the company of Elder Son and Younger Daughter, which was extra specially good as it must be at least seven years since we have celebrated Christmas together.
And now, we are on the doorstep of the new year which, judging by all the news and predictions at the moment, will possibly be one to remember, although not for the right reasons. I think one of my new year resolutions may be not to watch or read the news any more - it's just too depressing and, so much of the time, it is disaster being talked up which all too often often leads to self-fulfilling prophecies.
Apart from that, and because we do listen to the news and would have to be living on a desert island somewhere not to be aware of the current economic climate, we have decided to take the house off the market and forget about moving to France in the near future. (If the Guardian is right and the housing market is going to take 10 years to get back to 2007 conditions, it will be too late for us anyway.)
Of course, we have a lot to be thankful for so there will be no feeling sorry for ourselves, but I reserve the right to be annoyed, nay incandescent, at Gordon Brown's insistence that we all need to batten down the hatches and develop a good dose of 'Dunkirk spirit'. So he, those in charge of banking institutions and politicians everywhere will also be tightening their belts and feeling the cold misery of depleted savings, repossessed houses, lost jobs? No, thought not - and no punishments or recriminations for having got us into this mess in the first place!
(Note to self - New Year Resolution should perhaps be to go easy on the incandescence next year - there will be far too many possible targets!)
Happy New Year, everyone!
And now, we are on the doorstep of the new year which, judging by all the news and predictions at the moment, will possibly be one to remember, although not for the right reasons. I think one of my new year resolutions may be not to watch or read the news any more - it's just too depressing and, so much of the time, it is disaster being talked up which all too often often leads to self-fulfilling prophecies.
Apart from that, and because we do listen to the news and would have to be living on a desert island somewhere not to be aware of the current economic climate, we have decided to take the house off the market and forget about moving to France in the near future. (If the Guardian is right and the housing market is going to take 10 years to get back to 2007 conditions, it will be too late for us anyway.)
Of course, we have a lot to be thankful for so there will be no feeling sorry for ourselves, but I reserve the right to be annoyed, nay incandescent, at Gordon Brown's insistence that we all need to batten down the hatches and develop a good dose of 'Dunkirk spirit'. So he, those in charge of banking institutions and politicians everywhere will also be tightening their belts and feeling the cold misery of depleted savings, repossessed houses, lost jobs? No, thought not - and no punishments or recriminations for having got us into this mess in the first place!
(Note to self - New Year Resolution should perhaps be to go easy on the incandescence next year - there will be far too many possible targets!)
Happy New Year, everyone!
A treat for Christmas
Yesterday I ordered a book from Amazon - a Christmas treat for me. I ordered it with free postage, which takes 2 to 4 working days, so of course I didn't expect to see it until well after Christmas. However, Santa and his elves must have been on the job as, believe it or not, it arrived this morning. (Or maybe I've had another Rip van Winkle moment and it is now the first week of January.)
"Hey, look!" I said to Keith, "My book's come already!"
He looked at the title as I held it up - Psychotherapy and the Quest for Happiness," by Emmy van Deurzen.
His look said it all. No words but I think 'sad' might have been in his mind.
Have a good one, everybody!
"Hey, look!" I said to Keith, "My book's come already!"
He looked at the title as I held it up - Psychotherapy and the Quest for Happiness," by Emmy van Deurzen.
His look said it all. No words but I think 'sad' might have been in his mind.
Have a good one, everybody!
Another gem from TK
This landed in my email from TK today. I know it could be viewed as a joke but read it through and see if you don't recognise worrying elements of reality!
SCHOOL -- 1957 vs. 2007
Scenario:
Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun rack.
1957
- Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2007
- School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to Jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for Traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario :
Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1957
- Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2007 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.
Scenario:
Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students.
1957
- Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by the Principal. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2007 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. School gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario:
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers
being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has affair with psychologist.
Scenario :
Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1957 - Mark shares aspirin with Principal out on the smoking dock.
2007 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario:
Pedro fails high school English.
1957 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.
2007 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation
is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro's English teacher.. English banned from core curriculum. Pedro given
diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario:
Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.
1957 - Ants die.
2007- BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated, Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario:
Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.
SCHOOL -- 1957 vs. 2007
Scenario:
Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun rack.
1957
- Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2007
- School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to Jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for Traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario :
Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1957
- Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2007 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.
Scenario:
Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students.
1957
- Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by the Principal. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2007 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. School gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario:
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers
being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has affair with psychologist.
Scenario :
Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1957 - Mark shares aspirin with Principal out on the smoking dock.
2007 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario:
Pedro fails high school English.
1957 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.
2007 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation
is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro's English teacher.. English banned from core curriculum. Pedro given
diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario:
Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.
1957 - Ants die.
2007- BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated, Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario:
Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.
BT Vision
Well, we now have our BT Vision package. This means that we have broadband, a phone and television as a package. BT Vision gives us all the Freeview channels and a lot of other stuff, much of which is 'free' although you can download films and sport at an extra cost if you wish. The best bit about it for me, though, is that we will no longer be able to access all those obscure channels which show wall-to-wall Scrapheap Challenge, Salvage Squad, Garage etc which regular readers will remember me moaning about on previous occasions. Keith is less than happy about that, but it was his idea to swap from Sky to BT Vision and it will cost us about a third of what we are paying now.
Yes, I know it's really mean of me to be rejoicing at his misfortune, but you should hear the way he complains when I watch Emmerdale and Corrie!
Yes, I know it's really mean of me to be rejoicing at his misfortune, but you should hear the way he complains when I watch Emmerdale and Corrie!
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