Saturday, 18 April 2009

1696 Gordon Says Sorry, Doctor Who?

The first part of Thursday has been scrappy. I have been unable to concentrate or decide on an activity. Yet it is proving a good day despite atrocious weather conditions. Durham were playing the University first eleven at the racecourse ground. I have a signed limited edition print of Durham playing at the Ground which was their home until Chester Le Street was ready. It is a beautiful setting by the river and with views of the Cathedral and Castle. Unfortunately there is no shelter from the elements. Durham had a hard day at the increased finishing only 35 off runs ahead with only one wicket left. Captain Smith and Mr Blackwell who were excellent and undefeated at Lords held themselves back to let the other batsman gain experience and they scored the majority of runs with Smith out in the sixties and Blackwell still there.

Birdie had been much in evidence on the nest during the past two days suggesting she may have lain her eggs. Her location is sheltered and near the open end does not get excessive hot when the sun is out.

It has been a bad week for the government. Earlier it was disclosed that the right hand man to the Prime Minister for the past five years was behind a campaign to smear the Conservative Leader and the Shadow Chancellor, and specific mention was made of the wife of Mr Osborn. These tactics are disgraceful and rightly the individual was immediately sacked. However it is difficult to believe that he acted without the knowledge of the Prime Minister who was unlikely to be told the details but would have known something was being planned. If not there it is admission that was is not in control of the his political team at Downing Street. Today he has said he said he was sorry on camera and that he took responsibility for what had happened. One wonders what in practice this means and why it took so long. It is politically damaging.

It was also announced that the Director of Public Prosecutions had found that there were no grounds for the arrest and removal of papers from the office and the home of the Conservative spokesman on Home affairs or in relation to the man who leaked the information to him. This also is the conclusion of the House of Commons Committee set up to investigate what happened and advise on changes to ensure a similar situation did not occur again. The Home Secretary was quick to defend the action taken by senior civil servants to whom she referred the matter. She has become a political disaster and the quicker she goes the better for the government. There have been also fresh concerns about the policing of the G20 demonstrations. A police officer was caught on camera slapping a woman and then hitting her on the legs with his stick. He has been suspended and an investigation has commenced.

The signs are that Labour back benchers and ambitious Ministers are also having second thoughts about keeping Gordon. The budget is going to be make or break for him. He will have to provide softeners for the upper lower and middle classes in abundance or his Party will be doomed.

There were two knocks at the front door this morning. The first was the arrival of an order from Neat Ideas, the sister office supplies company to Staples. I needed a further supply of folders for my development files The intention had been to use plain jet black folders and this was achieved for the first 1100 sets in volumes of two or three sets or six or seven. After this because of cost and availability I compromised with folders that have a black spine, grey board covers and a white identification stickers on the spine. Until now I have been successful in acquiring these without additional advertising logos but both Staples and Neat ideas were advertising cheap editions for 99 pence if bought in quantities of 40 or more. I chose Neat Ideas because those displayed appeared to have the least glaring logo. In fact those delivered have only lever arch file in a semi circle of small black print at the top. Mission successful and I may order another 50 which would provide another year’s supply after doing my sums. Usually there is gift addition with orders over £30-40 and this time there was no exception an MP4 players which differs from MP3 apparently as it has a small screen and looks similar to a mobile phone. It can store all kind of computer records as well as short films and downloads. I will study the 13 pages of information later. The manual has 151 pages covering the main customer languages. It has its own charge unit.

The second arrival was the specially printed cover edition of Wisden’s 2009, number 172 of 300 to mark Durham’s win as County Champions. Wisden’s is an amazing Almanac about world cricket with 1680 pages with every record of every match played including public schools cricket and the universities and games played in other countries than the UK. It will occupy hours of my time at matches learning about opposing teams during the season

I have not had as good a few days in food control as I had hoped but fortunately I am holding the weight around17.2 which augers well for when I am able to do better. Yesterday I had a plain stir fry of mixed vegetables for lunch and then two egg omelette with salami and prawns for the evening meal. To day I had one of the prepared chicken and rice meals eating the remaining pieces of gammon as a starter and ending with a banana and coffee. I had another stir fry in the evening after a light soup and followed by half of a small melon and coffee.

I watched Saturday’s Dr Who Special on the BCC i player. One of four hour long specials during the year in which the Doctor goes through another metamorphosis as David Tennant leaves. The girl involved this time who plays an aristocratic who steals for kicks merits further work. The Doctor because of what happened with recent companions, especially Billy Piper decides against adopting her as a travelling companion. He is also warned that his time is near. The plot concerns the opening of a worm hole on earth caused by a form of metal swordfish that in a swarm consumes whole planets and having reduced their present location to desert sand is creating the worm hole to do the same to earth. The girl takes the bus to escape capture having robbed a multimillion ancient gold treasure and where on which the Doctor arrives tracking the opening of the worm hole having landed his time machine police box in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, hence they and the other passengers arrive on the dead planet in time to work out what to do with the help of a scientist working for Unit command. The Doctor helps the girl to escape the police and she goes off in the flying bus!

Ballykissangel is meandering along with a shaggy dog story yesterday about a bear and then to day it was about a race horse among other things.

I spent a lot of time establishing the Sky player on the desk top but when attempting to do likewise on the media lap top discovered that Sky only allow one computer per subscription. I will have to decide to wither leave on the desk top and have more flexibility than at present, or enquire if I can switch to the Media for the away trips.

I watched a spirited Manchester City attempt to win through to the semi finals of the Europe Cup competition for those clubs who do not make the Champions League or who are knocked out of the Champions League after the first round. I doubt if Mark Hughes will survive though to next year if he does not qualify for the competition next season.

I have taken some 1500 photos of completed work during the past two days and played much chess on the co computer. I went out to the post box this evening an sampled the nasty weather. I retreated back to home and warmth. American Idol is still to yet an identify and outstanding winner. It is Taggart week and I enjoyed another episode. Going to bed at midnight which is earlier than recent days.

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