THE BRITISH THREAD II

There's no chance of that Taggers.

Not all posts have to be acerbic or sycophantic. But you know that already, from your posts with Lola. Some of these are quite reasonable.

My original post had an element of self-mockery in it, but maybe that was missed. I don't write as skilfully as you. But I think it's okay to support a local arts festival, and write about it here too, since it was a bit unusual for me. I'll not apologise for that.
Did you hear Clemency Burton-Hill on Radio3 this morning? What a babe.

Yes, a brilliant match. Excellent football all round, and absolutely no trouble whatsoever.

There seems to be an A2K malfunction.

Or, bump.

I'm afraid I am in bed at such times Mac. Early rising is not my strongest admirable characteristic.

I must admit that the element of self-mockery in your post had escaped my notice. I will take more care in future now you have alerted me to such a ridiculous shortcoming.

I only responded because you seem to have expected us to do and was disappointed that we hadn't. I didn't think it right to compliment you on your artistic taste for fear my doing so would cause you to have a higher opinion of yourself than is good for you.

Have you read Mansfield Park in your maturity? I have read it twice in the last few weeks and now I am going through it more carefully. I'm peeling off veneers of the feminine, or Jane Austen's notion of it, and homing in on the essence. Through a glass darkly so to speak.

Not Mansfield Park. I'll look it out. I'm reading an Ian Rankine at the moment, in rather desultory fashion.

Yesterday we went for a walk near Pendle Hill and the Trough of Bowland. Lovely country but the weather turned grim. I got cold and wet. Nothing a hot bath couldn't fix though.

Kind of anticipatory obedience ... Premier League website posts article in error: 'Jose Mourinho makes Chelsea return'

I bought a big box of dates at Tesco, and my wife had some walnuts, so she combined the two. They make a very successful snack, or dessert at the end of a meal. No marzipan needed.
Who first used dates and walnuts in combination? Was it the Persians?

Anyone else following the Iraq documentaries on BBC2? Very good..

Hey Taggers--did you see Gavin Essler on Newsnight tonight sign off saying "I think it is time to go for a lie down".

The Beeb is a bit slow on the uptake. I have thought that for the last 40 years after watching news and current affairs programmes.

'Fraid not, sorry. I was early abed myself.

I watched Tuesday's Newsnight on the iPlayer, last night. It had a very good piece on the modern history of Syria, 1900-present day.

What was stressing Gavin?

I made an error Mac. It was Mark Urban.

Syria, Milliband's lurch to the right, cyber war and Bolton Wanderers' Quick Quid sponsorship deal.

Brits might spare a moment to remember Sir Henry Cecil who passed away yesterday.

I know, quite a brilliant, and modest, man.

Arise Sir Baldrick. That's a turn up for the books.

For the book indeed a turn up, it is that.

It's a sign that the Monarchy is a bit rattled. What Sir Lancelot would have said doesn't bear thinking about.

Or Sir Thomas Bertram.

He might have had a cunning plan.

Speaking of cunning plans--



This is a complex subject and I know very little about it but the report that was published had the names of those responsible for the incompetences, which involved deaths, redacted and the names were given as Mr E, Mr F, Mr G and Mr J.

After much pushing and shoving by various legal firms and government bodies it was decided that the names should not have been redacted and should be in the public domain.

Mr E turned out to be called Cynthia, Mr F is a Anne, Mr G a Jill and Mr J is known as Louise.

Thus-- had the redacted report been accepted the parties responsible for the cover up would have looked like 4 men. It turns out they are 4 women.

One of these women has form at other hospital trusts involving thousands of deaths caused by bad management. Mid Staffs included.

Whether there was incompetence at the hospitals I cannot say but referring to the four people as men when they were women is not incompetence. It is deliberate fraud. It is manogyny. Officially condoned.

And now exposed as the Monstrous Regiment of Women in full and free flowing hubris. As it is in the National Lottery and in most media.

Firefly, did you get here?