Rainy Dog Walks and Sunday Mornings Make me Smile
Before I ventured out with the dog this morning, I made up my own lyrics to Blur’s ‘Parklife’. “I pull my waterproofs on ‘av a cup of coffee and fink about leaving the ‘ouse”, I sang, as Jennifer became increasingly annoyed about my existence. As the rain cascaded down on the window, I asked Jennifer if she would like to join me. I did this knowing the answer. It was a bit like Jacob Rees-Mogg asking the mother of a 4-year-old ...
Do we Get the Police Force we Deserve?
As Cressida Dick becomes the latest domino to fall in a city engulfed in corruption, it makes me question the purpose of the police force and what it stands for. Bear in mind that they are funded by the taxpayer, so we, in effect, are the customer. There are aspects of the police force that do a great job for the public (the customer). They have to be on the scene at horrific murders and accidents and have been paramount in removing danger...
Measuring Happiness Against Economic Growth
My dad gets delivered the New Scientist magazine every week. It keeps his 89-year-old brain chugging along and stops it from getting lazy. He then hands them down to me to try and get my woeful scientific brain out of neutral and into first gear. Science fascinates me but I am not very good at it. I read some articles and my brain is saying, “Yep, yep…getting it…yep…yep…oh fuck, it’s gone!”. The best way to explain it is to ...
Open Wallet Surgery at The Vyne in Sherborne St John
I took my dad to the hospital today for a minor procedure. I knew I would have to wait around for a while, so I went to The Vyne, a National Trust place just outside Sherborne St John. The dog needed walking, so it seemed a good idea. Runaway Prices As I pulled up, I got the same feeling I always get at these places. I knew that the cost would be just enough for me to say, “fuck me!”, under my breath. Sure enough, as I approached, I ...
A Narcissistic PM Indulging in Conspiracies
When I heard Boris Johnson shout a conspiracy theory at Keir Starmer the other day, I genuinely thought I had misheard what he had said. Like most observers, I have heard some bad stuff thrown around parliament in my time but this was unique. I have never heard an entirely false accusation that was initially released on a far-right conspiracy theory website. That's crazy stuff. Pub Bullshitter Johnson behaved in a manner befitting a pub ...