Overheard at election lunch......Flattery is like perfume, enjoy, inhale, wallow in it .....swallowing it is a bad idea...I think the reference was to a politician.
One commentator reciting the woes of Britain said it was all due to an "over genitalisation" of modern life. I wonder what he meant......Walter Vego
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
Hung Parliament
We are facing the General Election to choose a party that will govern Britain for the next 5 years. But as the different polls suggest, we may get a HUNG PARLIAMENT. If we accept the polls may become a reality on the 6th May when the electorate cast their votes in the ballot boxes, we may face certain problems.Whichever side - Labour or Conservative - that tries to form a Government will not have its own way. It would have to include any alliance party's manifesto proposals to form a government. Any drastic measures proposed by the new Government to improve economic, social or health issues may not get through the legislature as the supporting parties' views might be different on those issues.
Late Lord Callaghan faced the same dilemma when his Labour Government was supported by the Liberal Party between 1974-1979. It caused economic stagnation, labour unrest, strikes and excessive taxation (both direct and indirect). Lord Callaghan sent Dennis Healey to the IMF to borrow money to prop up sterling.
It is quite common in other European countries to have coalition parties in the Government yet here it is very difficult to carry out the respective party’s ethos in coalition.
The Conservatives think the economy should run on free market principles and health and education systems should run in parallel (both private and public). There should be no unemployment money for young people who are not ill, not in education, not in training or not in jobs, they should be made to work for their benefit.
On the other hand, Labour traditionally supports blue collar workers. They view the Conservatives as the party for business, the privileged and for rich people. The labour party dogmas still exist as vast amounts of the party’s revenues come from the Unions.
So whoever forms a Government with the support of Liberal, SNP, Ulster Union party would not be able to be as effective as it should be in carrying out its manifesto promises.
So before long we would face another election to choose a party with a clear majority to form a Government.
Late Lord Callaghan faced the same dilemma when his Labour Government was supported by the Liberal Party between 1974-1979. It caused economic stagnation, labour unrest, strikes and excessive taxation (both direct and indirect). Lord Callaghan sent Dennis Healey to the IMF to borrow money to prop up sterling.
It is quite common in other European countries to have coalition parties in the Government yet here it is very difficult to carry out the respective party’s ethos in coalition.
The Conservatives think the economy should run on free market principles and health and education systems should run in parallel (both private and public). There should be no unemployment money for young people who are not ill, not in education, not in training or not in jobs, they should be made to work for their benefit.
On the other hand, Labour traditionally supports blue collar workers. They view the Conservatives as the party for business, the privileged and for rich people. The labour party dogmas still exist as vast amounts of the party’s revenues come from the Unions.
So whoever forms a Government with the support of Liberal, SNP, Ulster Union party would not be able to be as effective as it should be in carrying out its manifesto promises.
So before long we would face another election to choose a party with a clear majority to form a Government.
Going by what happens in the other European Countries, I personally think it is better for democracy if the ruling party do not have an absolute majority, as it may cause the Government not to listen to the public on various issues i.e taxation, immigration, criminal justice system, health, social security, national insurance, VAT etc as they presume that they had the mandate to put their dogmas into legislation.
Shape of things
There are so many things to groan about - grist for my mill.
I used to be one of the " deeply concerned". Then I joined the "deeply worried". Lately, I realise that I have become both bewildered and confused.
I am suffering from information overload. It is my fault - but I find it hard NOT to listen, NOT to see and NOT to hear.
My post box is flooded with election "literature". I am promised a life of bliss not in the hereafter but NOW. If, ah if, I pay for it, ah yes - how much? When I die! There are in fact many solutions - sorry, there are three solutions but only one per party.
This is enough for the present. I could mention the environment, foreign investment in UK industries, energy prices, health and safety, striking railways, STOP!
No one mentions the flowering cherry trees . The weather report says that winter is loosening its grip which is a trifle dramatic.
Happy Easter everybody..........
Walter Vego
I used to be one of the " deeply concerned". Then I joined the "deeply worried". Lately, I realise that I have become both bewildered and confused.
I am suffering from information overload. It is my fault - but I find it hard NOT to listen, NOT to see and NOT to hear.
My post box is flooded with election "literature". I am promised a life of bliss not in the hereafter but NOW. If, ah if, I pay for it, ah yes - how much? When I die! There are in fact many solutions - sorry, there are three solutions but only one per party.
This is enough for the present. I could mention the environment, foreign investment in UK industries, energy prices, health and safety, striking railways, STOP!
No one mentions the flowering cherry trees . The weather report says that winter is loosening its grip which is a trifle dramatic.
Happy Easter everybody..........
Walter Vego
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Child protection
Children must be protected, of course ... no argument here. This means to me that children must be protected from the adult world. There is no question of "contributory negligence"when a child is injured in any way. However, over the years it seems to me that the adult world is seeking ways to absolve itself of responsibility to the child. I know that there are laws regarding child protection but I want to draw attention to a small matter of the information given on medicines or materials likely to harm children.
I remember when instructions or information on any harmful material simply stated "Keep away from children". This was then amended to "Keep out of the reach of children". Something must have happened recently to have an addition to this, that is "Keep out of the reach and SIGHT of children". I wonder when someone will see fit to add "SOUND".
Perhaps the best way to protect children from harm is not to have them at all.
Walter Vego
I remember when instructions or information on any harmful material simply stated "Keep away from children". This was then amended to "Keep out of the reach of children". Something must have happened recently to have an addition to this, that is "Keep out of the reach and SIGHT of children". I wonder when someone will see fit to add "SOUND".
Perhaps the best way to protect children from harm is not to have them at all.
Walter Vego
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Weather and climate
There is a clear distinction to be made between "weather" and "climate". The weather report that one hears several times a day is often mentioned as "climate change". Whatever the weather, the effect of "weather" on the individual and the population is profound.
In the UK we seem to be unprepared for any change in the weather. Spring rains, summer heat, winter snows are all equally unexpected.
We may not believe in a changing climate or global warming, as a matter of fact, we do not believe the weather reports. Why should we? Chop down the trees, burn the oil, live fast, die young, postpone the bills, we can pay the price....tomorrow .... Ahgggha ..... too late, money won't work anymore.
Walter Vego
In the UK we seem to be unprepared for any change in the weather. Spring rains, summer heat, winter snows are all equally unexpected.
We may not believe in a changing climate or global warming, as a matter of fact, we do not believe the weather reports. Why should we? Chop down the trees, burn the oil, live fast, die young, postpone the bills, we can pay the price....tomorrow .... Ahgggha ..... too late, money won't work anymore.
Walter Vego
Thursday, 21 January 2010
My Holborn
I have lived in Holborn for this last sixteen years. I applied to come back to London on a scheme called ‘Mobility’. This scheme allows pensioners to move nearer to their families. This in theory takes the pressure off the social services as a family member would be near enough to look out for their ailing old parents. My son lives at a very easy distance from me in Willesden.
In the middle-ages Holborn was all grass fields. Holborn got its name from the river Holbourne which was a tributary of the River Fleet which itself was a tributary of the Thames.
Holborn is well situated not far from the central shopping centre of Oxford Street - famous for its bargains and frequent sales. It is always on the itinerary for tourists.
Covent Gardens - famous for its street entertainment - is another exciting place not far from my doorstep. The performers include musicians, clowns, stilt-walkers and jugglers. It also boasts of a Transport and Theatre Museum where you can wander down the ages with old fashioned buses and dated vehicles. At the movie museum you see the early technology of the twenties dating back to the time of films like ‘Sing Fool’ the first talky as well as stills of actors and actress past and present.
Not far from my dwellings is theatre land, all with glittering and sparkling productions, musicals to set your feet tapping with wonderful lyrics and unforgettable music, plays that thrill you and frighten you and give you culture. You laugh and cry with the emotions that come across the footlights at you, plays that open you up to all walks of life and situations.
I am not far from the city with its wall to wall history and many fine buildings. You stand in awe of St Paul Cathedral. I have spent many hours in the public galley in the Old Bailey. These ancient buildings are all part of the view from my window and I am amazed that these building have stood so long the test of time. I wonder how long the modern building of today will last.
Hatton Garden is a street that runs parallel to Leather Lane which incidentally is a famous street market. Hatton Garden dates back to the 16th Century and was then and is today the street of jewellers.
Holborn has many colourful characters and can boast of Sir Francis Bacon who was a lawyer and said by many to have written Shakespeare plays, Hiram Maxim who invented the machine gun.
This area is convenient as it is so accessible for travelling around London and the out-lying districts. It was very useful when I belonged to a First Aid Organisation which called for me to travel to different places - convenient transport was at hand.
The time I love most about Holborn is the weekends when I set out to go to church on a Sunday morning and there are very few people about. More people tend to work in Holborn than actually live here. The streets are calm with very little traffic - a great peace prevails in the area, in stark contrast to the hurly burly of the weekdays.
I love this place particularly in the summer when the sun is shining and casts a shimmer over its ancient buildings as I pass. I feel a sense of awe as I ponder the scenes of long ago and wonder about the lives that have lived in this magical place before me. I imagine the ladies in their long skirts. The men in tight trousers, colourful caviars and flock coats. This was Dickens' London and it is conceivable that the Holborn portrayed in his many novels was indeed about the squalor, degradation and sufferings of the poor in this part of London.
Compare this to the up-market and affluent homes and businesses that exist to day of Holborn -noted for being the centre of the legal profession and the home of justice. Today Holborn is a place of excellence - a hive of big business.
I feel happy living here in this part of London as I was born here and the playground in Coram Fields was the same playground that I used to play in as a child and is the same playground that my grandson played in when he was small.
My life has gone a full circle as I am now back in Holborn where my life began.
I have come back to my roots.
In the middle-ages Holborn was all grass fields. Holborn got its name from the river Holbourne which was a tributary of the River Fleet which itself was a tributary of the Thames.
Holborn is well situated not far from the central shopping centre of Oxford Street - famous for its bargains and frequent sales. It is always on the itinerary for tourists.
Covent Gardens - famous for its street entertainment - is another exciting place not far from my doorstep. The performers include musicians, clowns, stilt-walkers and jugglers. It also boasts of a Transport and Theatre Museum where you can wander down the ages with old fashioned buses and dated vehicles. At the movie museum you see the early technology of the twenties dating back to the time of films like ‘Sing Fool’ the first talky as well as stills of actors and actress past and present.
Not far from my dwellings is theatre land, all with glittering and sparkling productions, musicals to set your feet tapping with wonderful lyrics and unforgettable music, plays that thrill you and frighten you and give you culture. You laugh and cry with the emotions that come across the footlights at you, plays that open you up to all walks of life and situations.
I am not far from the city with its wall to wall history and many fine buildings. You stand in awe of St Paul Cathedral. I have spent many hours in the public galley in the Old Bailey. These ancient buildings are all part of the view from my window and I am amazed that these building have stood so long the test of time. I wonder how long the modern building of today will last.
Hatton Garden is a street that runs parallel to Leather Lane which incidentally is a famous street market. Hatton Garden dates back to the 16th Century and was then and is today the street of jewellers.
Holborn has many colourful characters and can boast of Sir Francis Bacon who was a lawyer and said by many to have written Shakespeare plays, Hiram Maxim who invented the machine gun.
This area is convenient as it is so accessible for travelling around London and the out-lying districts. It was very useful when I belonged to a First Aid Organisation which called for me to travel to different places - convenient transport was at hand.
The time I love most about Holborn is the weekends when I set out to go to church on a Sunday morning and there are very few people about. More people tend to work in Holborn than actually live here. The streets are calm with very little traffic - a great peace prevails in the area, in stark contrast to the hurly burly of the weekdays.
I love this place particularly in the summer when the sun is shining and casts a shimmer over its ancient buildings as I pass. I feel a sense of awe as I ponder the scenes of long ago and wonder about the lives that have lived in this magical place before me. I imagine the ladies in their long skirts. The men in tight trousers, colourful caviars and flock coats. This was Dickens' London and it is conceivable that the Holborn portrayed in his many novels was indeed about the squalor, degradation and sufferings of the poor in this part of London.
Compare this to the up-market and affluent homes and businesses that exist to day of Holborn -noted for being the centre of the legal profession and the home of justice. Today Holborn is a place of excellence - a hive of big business.
I feel happy living here in this part of London as I was born here and the playground in Coram Fields was the same playground that I used to play in as a child and is the same playground that my grandson played in when he was small.
My life has gone a full circle as I am now back in Holborn where my life began.
I have come back to my roots.
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
A little mystery
I seem to be having a slight contretemps with the post office at the moment.
Just after Christmas a card from a post office in London was put through my door stating that an item had been sent but with insufficient postage. If I sent the same card back with £1.30p in stamps attached, they would deliver the item. Of course I did that, but all that happened was that it was sent back but with no more messages on it!
All very annoying as I am intrigued to know what the item is and who the person is who has sent it!
I took the card to Mount Pleasant post office where a nice man said there was nothing wrong with the stamps I'd put on and he was as mystified as I was. He made some squiggles on it and posted it himself. Big stuff !!
That was well over a week ago, and I'm still waiting !
Any ideas? Comments gratefully received.
Polly.
Just after Christmas a card from a post office in London was put through my door stating that an item had been sent but with insufficient postage. If I sent the same card back with £1.30p in stamps attached, they would deliver the item. Of course I did that, but all that happened was that it was sent back but with no more messages on it!
All very annoying as I am intrigued to know what the item is and who the person is who has sent it!
I took the card to Mount Pleasant post office where a nice man said there was nothing wrong with the stamps I'd put on and he was as mystified as I was. He made some squiggles on it and posted it himself. Big stuff !!
That was well over a week ago, and I'm still waiting !
Any ideas? Comments gratefully received.
Polly.
The image is from
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