A couple of pints on a Friday lunchtime is one simple pleasure that really cheers me up. You really can't beat it. That's because it's the end of the working week and your time is limited so you have to squeeze in as much enjoyment as possible. Of course, it also helps that a couple of pints on an empty stomach at the end of the morning has much more of an impact than those same two pints at 8pm.
So too, the conversation at the pub tends to be forward looking on a Friday lunchtime; the weekend is a few hours away and suddenly numerous options for a happier future exist.
That's escapism, eh?
13 January 2006
12 January 2006
Tony Blair on Good Form
Tony Blair was on good form yesterday, I must say. Sir Menzies Campbell managed to ask a particularly daft question for someone in his position as acting leader of the Liberal Democrats. He questioned the Prime Minister about the high number of temporary headteachers in schools. That was a gift for someone with Blair's consumate skill as a parliamentary performer. Yes it was difficult, he quipped, to find permanent leaders for organisations, especially "failing ones".
Simon Hughes was next. Tomorrow he's likely to announce that he'll be running for the Lib Dem leadership. He asked a question about the NHS but Blair pounced on his apparent agreement with Labour policy. "If", he replied, "he is going to start backing our reforms I am going to start backing him rather than the other one". Blair was referring to Mark Oaten, the other already-declared contender. He then asked out loud "Where's the other one?" - a real case of Blair wanting to take on all-comers.
At one point he posed the question of how many other Lib Dem careers he could "sacrifice" in the same day!
I'm pretty sick of Blair but there's no doubt about it, he's a superb public speaker; the best I've seen. On Tuesday, he was on News Night defending his anti-social behaviour policies in front of an audience drawn from people who live on an estate in Swindon. He was calm and persuasive. I really can't think of another world leader who would agree to defending his policies in this kind of forum or who could pull it off, but Blair seems to revel in it.
I thought his speech at the last Labour party conference was stunning too. He has a good sense of humour and can be self-deprecating; that takes real confidence.As I say, I'm tired of his policies but as a political performer he has no equal.
The only thing that really irritates me, apart from the pregnant pauses, is his use of the glottal stop as a means of trying to appeal to the "man in the street". This doesn't give him the common touch, it is simply condescending to his audience.
Simon Hughes was next. Tomorrow he's likely to announce that he'll be running for the Lib Dem leadership. He asked a question about the NHS but Blair pounced on his apparent agreement with Labour policy. "If", he replied, "he is going to start backing our reforms I am going to start backing him rather than the other one". Blair was referring to Mark Oaten, the other already-declared contender. He then asked out loud "Where's the other one?" - a real case of Blair wanting to take on all-comers.
At one point he posed the question of how many other Lib Dem careers he could "sacrifice" in the same day!
I'm pretty sick of Blair but there's no doubt about it, he's a superb public speaker; the best I've seen. On Tuesday, he was on News Night defending his anti-social behaviour policies in front of an audience drawn from people who live on an estate in Swindon. He was calm and persuasive. I really can't think of another world leader who would agree to defending his policies in this kind of forum or who could pull it off, but Blair seems to revel in it.
I thought his speech at the last Labour party conference was stunning too. He has a good sense of humour and can be self-deprecating; that takes real confidence.As I say, I'm tired of his policies but as a political performer he has no equal.
The only thing that really irritates me, apart from the pregnant pauses, is his use of the glottal stop as a means of trying to appeal to the "man in the street". This doesn't give him the common touch, it is simply condescending to his audience.
11 January 2006
Why did I start a blog?
I contribute to various discussion boards anyway so why start a blog of my own? I believe it's egotistical to start a blog and this has put me off starting one till now.
In the end, I suppose I've admitted to myself that yes, this is egotistical but what the heck! Nobody is being forced to read this after all.
I think this blog will contain, in the most part, diary type entries containing my opinions. I could though end up using it as an aide memoir. Who knows?
In the end, I suppose I've admitted to myself that yes, this is egotistical but what the heck! Nobody is being forced to read this after all.
I think this blog will contain, in the most part, diary type entries containing my opinions. I could though end up using it as an aide memoir. Who knows?
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