Entries from February 2005 ↓

I’ve been saying it for months now. I’ve said it to Tim as well. You’re taking a big risk of getting the Tories if you want to arrange a protest vote campaign. That’s exactly what Lynton Crosby did with John Howard and it got him elected. If you don’t believe me when I say that if you vote Lib Dem you get the Conservatives, believe the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Charles Kennedy himself (jpeg file) rel=”tag”>politics

I don’t think I’ve ever shared my guilty secret with you. Last week I was exposed as having an indirect influence on the rock industry career of Neil Codling of Suede. We used to share a house whilst at college in Hull. It would be churlish to mention any more about the man other than to say that to my knowledge, he never once did the dishes. Rock ‘n’ roll.

Flippin ‘eck. Just got back from a day long NCT class. Richard Dawkins would be proud of me. I now know that breast fed kids have higher IQs than their puny counterparts who take the bottle (only a joke). Seriously, the day was great, albeit terrifying. Not long to go now. No pressure….

The Observer has a blog. I like it. A bit looser than the “proper” paper, it gives an insight into the decisions that are taken over content. Nick Cohen opens up with “so this is a blog” and admits to starting out in the blogoshere with Harrys Place (respect). Kamal Ahmed, champion of quality school dinners, buys the chips.

I suspect that Kamal and Nick do not realise just how right-on the podcast from Rafael Behr is but that is cutting edge as the people at odeo will show this week.

That is it. I’ve totally had enough of Vodafone. Regard for my health and spiritual well being leaves me unable to recount the tale of miserable service that has plagued me for the last three years. Enough is enough though. They have left this customer on hold and spouted “company policy” at me once too often. From now on, it’s personal. Can anyone point me in the direction of any sites that expose their shoddy service? I want to be to Vodafone, what Tim is to South west trains.

I’d not noticed Talk Politics this month. I think it is by regular commenter Dave Lambert. If it is, well done Dave and welcome to political blogging.

Well that got your attention. Thanks to Times Online(not sure if you have to register) for the link about political weblogs. I never thought that this blog would get votes, in fact, I think it is fair to say that it has probably lost me plenty!

There’s things I want. There’s things I think I want. Right now though, more than anything in the world, I want a solution to heartburn for heavily pregnant women. Industrial supplies of Gaviscon aside, there must be a pharmacist somewhere on planet earth who can find a remedy.

Remember the old maxim, every politician should have an hinterland:

Graheme Brown was delighted to finish under 4 hours, a minute behind another Burnley fan. Unfortunately, the other Burnley fan was Alastair Campbell!

Clive Watkinson has had in interest in computers from an early age, and was involved in the very early days of the Internet. He also enjoys DIY, and has recently installed an entire central-heating system and re-wired his house.

Aaron Powell put his Chinese skills to use, researching Chinese Buddhism at Lancaster University, before beginning a career in information technology.

Mike Elliot enjoys listening to jazz music, occasionally making ‘strange sounds’ from a tenor saxophone.

Phillip Allot enjoys tinkering with radio sets.

Charles Walker has two small Jack Russell terriers, Islay and Wimble, who have stamped their character on the family.

Joe Tildesley attempts to maintain contact with a wide circle of friends. This can be difficult as his cooking is legendary!

It has never been categorically proven to me, though the number of people who claim that my area has more canals than Venice, has convinced me that it must be true. Canals in our area are not just pieces of history. They are areas of leisure activity for fishing, ornithology, walking and cycling. You can even find a good pub lunch.

I missed something on first reading of the long list of things the Conservatives will chop, shut or close in their attempt to make the £35 billion cuts in public expenditure. They want to sell off the assets of British Waterways in order to raise £415 million. These assets, mainly property, generate £25 million a year in order for British Waterways to maintain the canal network. When you think that there are now more boats on the canals than in the great industrial age, you realise that this is not a great amount of money. There are estimates of £150 million worth of backlog repairs as it is (including, I hope, the leaking bridge in Hampstead!). The Chief Executive of British Waterways is so concerned about Tory plans that he has issued a statement saying that they would almost certainly have to close canals if the plans were implemented. Not just a shame but a threat to the regeneration plans to the black country. Unless of course, black country residents would be forced into paying for the repairs through the council tax. Just a thought.

Lost in Westminster displays the most remarkable picture of Cabinet Minister Darling. I sincerely hope that there are no pictures of adolescent Watson knocking about the interweb….

Unity is Strength. Bloggers for Labour.Like it a lot.