I have been marking time, awaiting arrival of official ministry invitation from Russia (necessary for a Business visa) which arrived via courier last week. In the interim managed a brief rainy day trip to my university college. Made the obligatory stroll across the backs to Kings-which was my daily path to work at the Seeley library back in the early 60s. The chapel never ceases to awe and inspire. A trip to London secured the vital visa and so I am now hoping to get away to St Petersburg soon.
What’s happening in Britain whilst Tony does a dame Nellie farewell and Gordon is touring listening to people (after 10 years in government)? The following news snippets will give you some feel for the state of play
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• Teachers to discourage kids from raising hands in class in case it deters the retiring and less able ones.
• The Education Minister has warned private schools that they could lose their tax free charitable status if they didn’t do more –such as sharing teachers and facilities-with underperforming state run schools (for whose performance he is responsible!!!)
• The number of children in failing state schools has reached a two year high.
• University lecturers against marriage being promoted in schools as this suggests discrimination against lesbians and gays
• School teachers have been granted power to frisk kids suspected of carrying knives without the student’s consent. This was at the request of their unions but now that the power has been granted most teachers refuse to use it and insist the police must come and do it.
• RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) web site blanks out name for a male bird as it might be offensive to some people and distressing for children? What a load of “Cock!”
• Firemen in Manchester disciplined for preferring to sleep on the floor during night shift rest breaks rather than in the special chairs (costing £400 each) which they cannot use before they have had health and safety expert training in how to sit in them safely.
• People who elect to pay for expensive treatments not covered by the National Health Service (such as some new anti-cancer drugs) are then denied free access to all other NHS services.
• People are waiting for a new anti smoking addiction drug to be freely available via the National Health System before trying to give up smoking.
• In Leicester-parents can be fined £100 if their kids play in the street because using jumpers as goal posts has been banned.
• £80 pound fines for stamping out fags on the pavement
• David Beckham has been recalled to boost England’s chances of qualifying for the European cup finals-back to the future?
• Some Premier League footballers may soon earn £1m per week-good for Bentley convertible sales it seems.
• The former editor of the News of the World who resigned because of the Royal phone tapping scandal has been appointed Spin Doctor to the Tory party!!!
• Train fares have increased by 30% on some Welsh lines.
• EU directive decrees orchestra programs must not be too loud-Wagner may be off the program list-The health and safety Directorate has not decided how to police this yet.
• Both Scottish and Welsh assemblies have minority governments that will be unable to deliver their manifestos because of their proportional representation systems.
• A soldier wounded in Afghanistan was being treated in a National Health hospital Accident and Emergency Unit (military ones being closed down) and was asked to remove his uniform-so as not to aggravate members of the public. Land of hope and glory??
• Candidates running for Deputy Leader of the Labour party and Deputy to Gordon Brown declared in a TV debate that their key focus would be on redistribution of wealth and reliance on the UN to solve international problems in future. One of them used to be an official of the Australian Builders Labourers Union. Melbournians know what sort of income redistribution policies they pursued.
• John Prescott, the retiring Deputy leader to Tony Blair is on a farewell tour to the USA and West Indies where he has been lecturing on “Slavery” Clearly coincidence that his property developer son has a time share there??
• Tony Blair’s government has legislated at the rate of 7 acts a day for the past 10 years (in addition to EU directives)-the land of the free??
Better get going before Putin pushes the button.
BARRY
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