A day of unplanned developments as the Inquest jury into the deaths of Diana and Dodi reaches verdicts; the programme on the role of Jonathan Powell and the Northern Ireland peace process takes place; begin writing about my birth and care mothers and me: Bianca returns to Albert Square and David runs amok in Coronation Street, and the rest. The day end with one of the surprising and moving political experience of my lifetime as Ian Paisley answered First Minister Questions in the devolved Parliament. 401 Children moved from a fundamentalist community in Texas for their immediate safety.
02.35. April 8th 2008 I went to bed and to sleep considering the issue of advice. Politicians and decision takers in general tend to surround themselves with highly paid advisers, which I have always consider wasteful and potentially dangerous. If you need and can afford staff, it is important to concentrate on factual information and situational analysis of the implications of the various action and decision taking options and this should include an analysis of likely outcomes, based on stated political policies and priorities. This may appear to be hair splitting especially if the request is made to list in some order of priority. My problems has always been that advisers tend to have their own agenda and also to be susceptible to external pressure.
02.45 I went to sleep only waking about 7am and then went back to bed and sleep only to be woken by the doorbell. It was the Royal Mail parcel delivery bring the first of my two radio controlled scale model 1:20 Ferrari cars, the closest I will ever get to owning one. It was a good start to the day which I quickly discovered continued cold with a light covering of snow which commenced to melt. I had to be up early to put the wheelie bin out after the first of two cups of coffee and toast. Yesterday turned out to be not as bad a day as it felt at the time although the week ahead is going to be a boring slog as I attend to household accounts and chores, annual and longer term.
11.00 Where has the morning gone after such a bright start? I have tried to remember dreams which I thought were interesting. I have only made a little progress with the planned work.
12.00 The day has rapidly changed to one of disappointment and my incompetence. I was phoned to say that my medical records before 1966 had disappeared which curious as well as disappointing. The effect of this was such that I then spent half an hour messing around with the printer until I realised that I was trying to print a missing page from the wrong document &183; The document is a 52 page list of the completed set works from 5000 to 7200 and where I had had commenced the up dating from the wrong page. For some reason I had brought another record to the screen which has fewer pages that the one I was seeking to print. I am tempted to go off and do something different but we shall overcome as until then I had been making good progress.
13. 00 I enjoyed a salad but later needed a sandwich to feel able to work, accompanied by the third coffee of the day. Watched Bargain Hunt. Was one of the those days when the punters of Shrewsbury appeared in rebellion that the BBC had hijacked their auction although over the phones some £13000 was paid for a box belonging to Clive of India after it had been authenticated, a significant difference from the £200 to £400 estimated when valued and catalogued. A great melancholy swept over me and a dread at becoming dependent on the care of others in old age and this inspired me to begin the writing. I did not continue for long as I need to think more how it should develop and the weather has cleared so I will go walking for a shop. I listen to the first Keane CD which matches my mood.
14.00 I first remember to do some washing of clothes and then decide to go to Bolden Asda to see if they have some transparent pockets which involves taking the car, but call in at the local Asda to check the position. The first surprise is that it was pleasantly warm. A nice day. The second is that the place was packed because local schools are now taking their Easter holidays. There was a new supply of pockets but not the same quality and with no price marked I hoped for a lower price. I was disappointed. The Leerdammer cheese was at the normal price. I decide to pay a visit to Lidl’s and as I drove the afternoon five live programme comprised three journalists, giving their reactions to recent and forthcoming TV programmes, Dr Who, Coronation Street. Clowns and Headcases. The three men are culture snobs. Oh I don’t usually watch such programmes, I have watched them once or twice, of I was quite surprised at the professionalism and the cleverness of the script etc. There were some great lines such as referring to Gail Tinsley, she is never happy unless she has some man’s hands around her throat. Gail then attempts to justify to her mother why she continues to stand by her son over a decade in which he has systematically destroyed the rest of the family, broken up all her relationships and recently tried to kill her by pushing her down stairs. After listen to the discussion on Clowns, subtitled sad cases, I did not need to watch the whole programme, preferring to watch the new Spitting Image using Computer Graphics. The new approach is unrelenting brutal humour which is very funny until you think about the subjects. One of the three made the discovery that Dr Who is a programme designed for children, but a good point was made that while I aint bovverred Ms Tate is a very funny woman and a good actress she no longer represents the girl next daughter with her young male friend suddenly drawn into adventuring with the Time Lord and his Police Box. Police Box might be difficult to explain to nine to nineteen year olds as they cling to their mobile phones waiting for the next text. In Lidl’s they did not have the Bluetooth headphone, but I will check again on Thursday. I did buy a pack of similar cheese, twice the weight of Leerdammer for the same price, some smoked salmon, olives in sunflower oil and olives stuffed with almonds, a new pack of four bream, a fish platter, (a new experience), a side of salmon Italian, some frozen prawns and the, some sliced ham and the Pro Active spread. Just as well I took some cash back at Asda. Most of the buys are regarded as treats, including some slices of smoked cheese one with ham and one with herbs. As the fish is deep frozen and the last dates of other purchasers were checked this will last a couple of months. It is still an odd concept buying specialist foods at supermarket located in one of the poorest areas of the town and almost within view of where the new Wall Mart Asda will be built.
16.45ish The Inquest Jury returned its verdict as I drove home after advising the judge that they are only likely to reach a majority 9 2 verdict. It is evident that the verdict is not what the establishment or Al Fayed hoped for. The behaviour of the media is extraordinary. On one hand they quietly draw attention to the differences between the verdict and previous enquires and go the additional information which emerged and then they have a succession of people explain why this ends the matter, the conspiracy allegations have been shown to be nonsense, and why Al Fayed’s reputation has been damaged. I need to study the text of the findings, watch how CNN and Fox cover the story as well as the British media channels and the national press and then reach my own verdict.
19.00 As anticipated the Jonathan Powell programme is the revelation I expected. The best memory is that of Gerry Adams explaining in response to Jonathan frustration at one point when he and Martin appeared to returning time and time again for concessions, and which were given, that Northern Ireland was their homeland, they lived there and the British Government had been and remained in occupation. The other was the chilling truth when the British Government explained to the Social Democrats and Unionists the Real Politik that they did not have the arsenal of weapons which needed to be decommissioned. The IRA did hence the concessions.
22.00. After watching the planned programmes including Bianca’s return to the Square I settle down to write. It struck me that there is an air of desperation about Eastenders. However I have not watched regularly for over two years may be more. On regional TV this evening there is mention that Keegan is after brining Henri to Newcastle for next season. That would be an extraordinary coup. During the writing I have a smoked cheese with ham sandwich. Earlier the made up curry with chicken from yesterday and Tilda roaster pepper and courgette steamed brown basmati rice, a second banana of the day and the umpteenth cup of coffee.
00.15 I intended to continue my viewing of news about the Inquest findings and media response, having listened to USA networks on the Presidential election and the position being taken by Hilary Clinton and the Free Trade agreement proposed with one of the drug capital states of the Americas Columbia, the removal of 401 children and young people from a fundamentalist polygamous community in Texas when as I switched channels I came to the British Parliamentary Channel and First Minister Questions responded by Iain Paisley. It was one of the most surprising hopeful and moving political experiences of my lifetime. Here were men and women at the barricades with each calmly discussing issues which would have been the subject of bombings and assassinations, sometimes with humour and doing so in a manner which puts the British Parliament to shame. I had a similar reaction when watching and listening to the Scottish Parliament, but they do not have the recent history of conflict and strife. Imagine a joint local administration of Arab and Jew in the middle East being conducted this way.
02.35. April 8th 2008 I went to bed and to sleep considering the issue of advice. Politicians and decision takers in general tend to surround themselves with highly paid advisers, which I have always consider wasteful and potentially dangerous. If you need and can afford staff, it is important to concentrate on factual information and situational analysis of the implications of the various action and decision taking options and this should include an analysis of likely outcomes, based on stated political policies and priorities. This may appear to be hair splitting especially if the request is made to list in some order of priority. My problems has always been that advisers tend to have their own agenda and also to be susceptible to external pressure.
02.45 I went to sleep only waking about 7am and then went back to bed and sleep only to be woken by the doorbell. It was the Royal Mail parcel delivery bring the first of my two radio controlled scale model 1:20 Ferrari cars, the closest I will ever get to owning one. It was a good start to the day which I quickly discovered continued cold with a light covering of snow which commenced to melt. I had to be up early to put the wheelie bin out after the first of two cups of coffee and toast. Yesterday turned out to be not as bad a day as it felt at the time although the week ahead is going to be a boring slog as I attend to household accounts and chores, annual and longer term.
11.00 Where has the morning gone after such a bright start? I have tried to remember dreams which I thought were interesting. I have only made a little progress with the planned work.
12.00 The day has rapidly changed to one of disappointment and my incompetence. I was phoned to say that my medical records before 1966 had disappeared which curious as well as disappointing. The effect of this was such that I then spent half an hour messing around with the printer until I realised that I was trying to print a missing page from the wrong document &183; The document is a 52 page list of the completed set works from 5000 to 7200 and where I had had commenced the up dating from the wrong page. For some reason I had brought another record to the screen which has fewer pages that the one I was seeking to print. I am tempted to go off and do something different but we shall overcome as until then I had been making good progress.
13. 00 I enjoyed a salad but later needed a sandwich to feel able to work, accompanied by the third coffee of the day. Watched Bargain Hunt. Was one of the those days when the punters of Shrewsbury appeared in rebellion that the BBC had hijacked their auction although over the phones some £13000 was paid for a box belonging to Clive of India after it had been authenticated, a significant difference from the £200 to £400 estimated when valued and catalogued. A great melancholy swept over me and a dread at becoming dependent on the care of others in old age and this inspired me to begin the writing. I did not continue for long as I need to think more how it should develop and the weather has cleared so I will go walking for a shop. I listen to the first Keane CD which matches my mood.
14.00 I first remember to do some washing of clothes and then decide to go to Bolden Asda to see if they have some transparent pockets which involves taking the car, but call in at the local Asda to check the position. The first surprise is that it was pleasantly warm. A nice day. The second is that the place was packed because local schools are now taking their Easter holidays. There was a new supply of pockets but not the same quality and with no price marked I hoped for a lower price. I was disappointed. The Leerdammer cheese was at the normal price. I decide to pay a visit to Lidl’s and as I drove the afternoon five live programme comprised three journalists, giving their reactions to recent and forthcoming TV programmes, Dr Who, Coronation Street. Clowns and Headcases. The three men are culture snobs. Oh I don’t usually watch such programmes, I have watched them once or twice, of I was quite surprised at the professionalism and the cleverness of the script etc. There were some great lines such as referring to Gail Tinsley, she is never happy unless she has some man’s hands around her throat. Gail then attempts to justify to her mother why she continues to stand by her son over a decade in which he has systematically destroyed the rest of the family, broken up all her relationships and recently tried to kill her by pushing her down stairs. After listen to the discussion on Clowns, subtitled sad cases, I did not need to watch the whole programme, preferring to watch the new Spitting Image using Computer Graphics. The new approach is unrelenting brutal humour which is very funny until you think about the subjects. One of the three made the discovery that Dr Who is a programme designed for children, but a good point was made that while I aint bovverred Ms Tate is a very funny woman and a good actress she no longer represents the girl next daughter with her young male friend suddenly drawn into adventuring with the Time Lord and his Police Box. Police Box might be difficult to explain to nine to nineteen year olds as they cling to their mobile phones waiting for the next text. In Lidl’s they did not have the Bluetooth headphone, but I will check again on Thursday. I did buy a pack of similar cheese, twice the weight of Leerdammer for the same price, some smoked salmon, olives in sunflower oil and olives stuffed with almonds, a new pack of four bream, a fish platter, (a new experience), a side of salmon Italian, some frozen prawns and the, some sliced ham and the Pro Active spread. Just as well I took some cash back at Asda. Most of the buys are regarded as treats, including some slices of smoked cheese one with ham and one with herbs. As the fish is deep frozen and the last dates of other purchasers were checked this will last a couple of months. It is still an odd concept buying specialist foods at supermarket located in one of the poorest areas of the town and almost within view of where the new Wall Mart Asda will be built.
16.45ish The Inquest Jury returned its verdict as I drove home after advising the judge that they are only likely to reach a majority 9 2 verdict. It is evident that the verdict is not what the establishment or Al Fayed hoped for. The behaviour of the media is extraordinary. On one hand they quietly draw attention to the differences between the verdict and previous enquires and go the additional information which emerged and then they have a succession of people explain why this ends the matter, the conspiracy allegations have been shown to be nonsense, and why Al Fayed’s reputation has been damaged. I need to study the text of the findings, watch how CNN and Fox cover the story as well as the British media channels and the national press and then reach my own verdict.
19.00 As anticipated the Jonathan Powell programme is the revelation I expected. The best memory is that of Gerry Adams explaining in response to Jonathan frustration at one point when he and Martin appeared to returning time and time again for concessions, and which were given, that Northern Ireland was their homeland, they lived there and the British Government had been and remained in occupation. The other was the chilling truth when the British Government explained to the Social Democrats and Unionists the Real Politik that they did not have the arsenal of weapons which needed to be decommissioned. The IRA did hence the concessions.
22.00. After watching the planned programmes including Bianca’s return to the Square I settle down to write. It struck me that there is an air of desperation about Eastenders. However I have not watched regularly for over two years may be more. On regional TV this evening there is mention that Keegan is after brining Henri to Newcastle for next season. That would be an extraordinary coup. During the writing I have a smoked cheese with ham sandwich. Earlier the made up curry with chicken from yesterday and Tilda roaster pepper and courgette steamed brown basmati rice, a second banana of the day and the umpteenth cup of coffee.
00.15 I intended to continue my viewing of news about the Inquest findings and media response, having listened to USA networks on the Presidential election and the position being taken by Hilary Clinton and the Free Trade agreement proposed with one of the drug capital states of the Americas Columbia, the removal of 401 children and young people from a fundamentalist polygamous community in Texas when as I switched channels I came to the British Parliamentary Channel and First Minister Questions responded by Iain Paisley. It was one of the most surprising hopeful and moving political experiences of my lifetime. Here were men and women at the barricades with each calmly discussing issues which would have been the subject of bombings and assassinations, sometimes with humour and doing so in a manner which puts the British Parliament to shame. I had a similar reaction when watching and listening to the Scottish Parliament, but they do not have the recent history of conflict and strife. Imagine a joint local administration of Arab and Jew in the middle East being conducted this way.
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