THE BRITISH THREAD II

I went to a concert tonight, Sibelius 5th and Four Last Songs (R Strauss).

I'm not a great Lieder man myself but I must say that the young woman made a pretty good fist of it.

Private sector PAYE people (smorgs etc, bless them) have to keep working so the taxes can pay for the benefits of the others.




I must say I've always had a little trouble understanding the system which trains thousands of doctors at public expense, or used to to do, then waves them goodbye as they emigrate in droves to the USA, Canada and the like to the good life while we replaced them in the teaching NHS hospitals with trainees from the Indian subcontinent.

I suppose you could call it liberalism, laissez-faire or altruism. But it's not sensible.

Okay I can talk to myself, I don't mind.
But my computer takes such a long time to fire up, I just HATE it when there's no British Thread posts to see.
Anybody here like Clare Balding better that Fi Glover on Saturday Live? Ms Balding's good, but Fi's unbeatable, I think.

Steve's computer has blown a gasket, he told me on the phone.

Actually, it's a model Mrs Steve uses as illustration in ancient history classes.

I know nothing about Glover and Balding but I'll check out, as I'll soon be in England..

Bon voyage, mon cher Francis.

Thank you, pal!

Why the hell was Gordon Brown approached to give a comment on the death of Jade Goody, and why did he agree to do so?

Keep his name in your face as a compassionate and caring arsehole. What else? Nearly 10,000 cark it every day. Plus or minus a few percent.

And that's just in the UK.

Allan Beswick on Radio Manchester today, which I heard as I was driving to the tip, described her as an Essex slapper, which is about right.
Not to speak ill of the dead, of course, but Jesus H Christ what a circus.

You have to admire our lady cricketers Mac. It was a great performance you have to admit. I didn't know they were that good.

Do you know if they wear boxes at the crease?

No idea. Female protectors? I imagine an extra layer of clothing in the chest area, if I may be so indelicate as to mention it, would be unwelcome while cricketing on a hot day.

Most of the gals seem tough enough to go commando.

Okay, I'm adda here.

Going to London tomorrow, back at the weekend.

Does that make me a twitterer?

London's 10 best pubs according to this Times report:
1. White Horse " Parsons Green
2. Coach & Horses " Soho
3. Cross Keys " Endell St
4. Red Lion " Crown Passage
5. Princess Louise " Holborn
6. Red Lion " Duke of York St
7. Seven Stars " Carey St
8. Nags Head " Kinnerton St
9. Mitre " Ely Place
10. Greenwich Union - Greenwich

So I wonder if McTag (et.al.) are to be found just now in one of those

This evening, was in a pub in Southgate, since you ask.

Today, lunch in China town after a visit to the National Gallery. Denmark Street and Charing Cross Road. Then, a stroll by way of St James , Pall Mall and Piccadilly to Hyde Park Corner. Wellington monument there looked splendid in the strong sunlight, but muggins did not take camera with.

The Prince of Wales, a black and white Tudor-era pub in Hereford, England, has been painted bright pink by pranksters. Landlord Les Smith, 52, said: "I haven't a clue who would do this or why. We closed the pub after midnight, then I came round at about half past eight in the morning and it was pink.''

British Summer Time,
and the livin' is easy.

Jaqui Smith, eh? I bet Gordon has taken her picture down.

Not only do our politicians dip their snouts in the trough, the members' partners' members are also apparently dipped in it now.

Where's her ladyship gone?

Maybe smorgs and Spendy have gone off together. Ahh, sweet.