Thursday 8 June 2006
England Expects
I must stop eulogising about Dan Chung, otherwise people will start to think my interest in him is unnatural. In any case, this photo today draws an (I'm sure) unintentional parallel with the Guardian's latest TV ad campaign, where all the players in a training session are being taught how to dramatically feign injury.
Oi - don't you think it's about time you posted a new entry? How about a wedding update? ;) xxxx
It's not only England who expects, you know - we've all been waiting for you to update this thing forever! x
Friday 26 May 2006
You know you're getting old when ...
... the leader of the Tory party - the TORY party - cites 'This Charming Man' as one of his favourite songs.
Right. I'm off to buy some slippers.
Might as well grab a pipe and cardie while you're at it, dear. x
Monday 24 April 2006
Smart
I was quite taken with this new idea for an ecologically sound vehicle - admittedly, it's not really a new idea, but has a number of features that actually make it desirable to own. Not least because it looks really cool, especially when cornering. I was in Calcutta recently, and for the first time in my life rode a motorbike - admittedly pillion. Driving for the first time on a motorbike in a city with such relaxed driving standards as Calcutta would be a death wish that I don't currently enjoy. However, it did give me a taste for two wheels that I'd never previously held - maybe the three-wheeled "Clever" (Compact Low Emission Vehicle for Urban Transport) is the interim solution.
I've decided to get rid of my car - it's almost 4 years old and is due for replacement under the terms of the lease. But instead I've chosen to take the money and run - a) because I'm living and working in London and there's a bus past my back door every 30 seconds; b) a lot of the supermarket delivery trucks are now using biodiesel, and it's allegedly more eco-friendly to order online and have it delivered than drive to the supermarket yourself - particularly when Waitrose allow you to choose a delivery time when the van is already in your area. And c) Streetcar have 2 VW Golfs parked on the next street to me, which makes picking one up at short notice very easy indeed.
I guess the ultimate carrot to make getting rid of your car an easy option is the financial one combined with your location - my tax, servicing and petrol cost savings significantly outweigh the value of having my own car, and where I live makes it easy to do. I couldn't, I don't think, if I was still living in Surrey.
N.B. I do note the irony, or rather hypocrisy, of using a mainstream supermarket given what I was talking about in my last entry. But this is the constructed society we live in - the only way to change it, in my opinion, is to change the demands of society as a whole. I also think there's a much clearer "audit trail" of what comes from where with a large supermarket - the battle is to change the "where" from over there to nearer here.
When you mentioned Calcutta, for a second there I was half expecting you to announce that when it comes to ecologically sound vehicles, nothing can beat a rickshaw!! xx
I so wish I could get rid of my car. In my neck of the woods, it's already such a novelty to carpool let alone take any form of public transportation.
Friday 21 April 2006
State of the Nation
As I rapidly lose interest in the political party I've been contributing to for the last few years, I've found myself regularly agreeing with the reports put out by the New Economics Foundation. I only noticed them as an organisation recently, but their reports follow the kinds of things I've been thinking; every high street in the UK looks the same; why do we need to eat Strawberries in January?; why does the "Convenience" Supermarket up the road need a delivery 6 times a day? The "Clone Town" and "Ghost Town" back up what I've been thinking all along, and the "Day Britain Started Eating The Planet" (last Sunday, in case you were wondering) is also fascinating.
While 'Green Issues' and the Green Party have long been deemed by Mr & Mrs Middle England Voter as "agreeable but economically naive" (primarily because that's what all the other parties tell us) there seems to be a strong movement to turn that around. I for one think it's about time.
Friday 21 April 2006
SOJ!
Some things about Great Britain should never be changed. Like Simon Jenkins, who should be protected for future generations as an example of a quintessential middle English liberal. I am starting the Save Our Jenkins campaign, to ensure that his writings in the Guardian continue for ever and ever. Today he listens to Radio 4 for half an hour from 0530 hours.
Wednesday 9 November 2005
Back to Humanities
One of the reasons that I believe London is becoming a better place to live than it ever has been is some pretty decent out of the box thinking on the part of the London Assembly. This is the sort of stuff that can only be thought out on a local scale, but with the connections in place to link the various organisations that actually have to do the work on the ground. This report from Transport for London is a good example - looking at ways of getting freight around London without creating more traffic. The usual way of the world when it comes to studies like this is to look at history - for once, someone has looked at geography instead.
I love you. Just thought I'd tell you. :) Are you retiring from blogging then, or just taking lots and lots of very long breaks? xx
Monday 11 July 2005
We are not afraid
Quite a nice website to while away the hours.
Here's my contribution:
While it's been linked to variously around the web, I wanted to note Ken's somewhat trembly and emotional speech from Singapore on Thursday, as it reminded me that he's the right man to be mayor of this great city.
Ah, we Londoners are made of stern stuff indeed! No bloody terrorist can make our stiff upper lips droop!
PS: VERY cool graphic. Oh, and I love you. xx
Oi - have you giving up blogging or sumfink? Give me a new post to read! x
Hallloooooooooo?
Anybody hoooooooome?
...{{{ wind }}}...
and
...{{{ crickets chirping }}...
maybe even a few
...{{{ tumbleweeds }}}...
Come back soon? xx
Thursday 7 July 2005
The Lone Nutter Theory
I think this idea holds water. All the three trains that had bombs on had passed through Kings Cross station, each about 10 minutes after the other. The bus also passed through Kings Cross 10-15 minutes later, and the reason it took so long to complete forensic examinations of the scene of the bus explosion was that they believed the perpetrator was on that bus. How incredible that the bus was re-routed because of the Piccadilly line explosion, and the bomb was set off outside the British Medical Association headquarters where there were 25 senior and experienced doctors inside, ready to help, and which reduced the death-toll to just two.
If it was a large group of terrorists, why not Heathrow? Why not somewhere in the south of central London, like Victoria? Or Westminster? That would have completed the disruption.
Just a theory, but I think a relatively convincing one.
I'm buying this, I'm seriously buying it.
A suicide bomber would not have deliberately set i off outside the BMA. I had begun formulating a theory that that chance must have saved countless lives - one doctor traumatised by what he saw, another saying it was six months of casualty in three hours.
I work in Westminster, literally and conceptually, and really, there was no sense of heightened security other than emergency vehicles whizzing round with sirens. Security did a cursory check of the ashtrays at 3pm; the usual two police horses did their mid afternoon trot-by, the security levels didn't rise, which surprised me, because we went to Amber on 11th September.
A few years ago a not-very-effective IRA terrorist set off a bomb accidentally on a bus on The Strand. All the news organisations seem to have forgotten that.
Hope things are getting back to normality for you today, mate.
I'm not so convinced. I have left my own "theory" at Annie Mole's website - in the comments of her posting of today (Friday 8th July.)
I agree. Four bombers would have spread out across London and hit Waterloo and Victoria. They would have been able to carry larger bombs. This would have been an Al Quaeda 'Co-ordinated' attack.
I have developed my own theory that two bombers did it on my site, http:\\www.hughfraser.co.uk
errr... not that credible then?
Thursday 7 July 2005
Boom! Shake the room!
Or not. I'm about a mile away from all the action, watching it on teevee.
London's used to all this stuff - as old farts like me regularly remind anyone who'll listen, we had 20 years of US-sponsored terrorism by the IRA until recently - I've been caught up in a number of Central London incidents.
The BBC reckon it's 'almost certainly the work of Al-Qaeda' - well, duh! I'm amazed that anyone is surprised that terrorists used the opportunity of all eyes on London to cause a bit of chaos in the centre of the city.
Anyway. It's all unfolding. London's resilient, though. That's why I like it.
Are you going to find a way to say this is the fault of the US?
Well, sir, we haven't spoken for many moons, but I will admit that upon watching the Bad News this morning, my thoughts went to you.
Very glad to hear your safe & about.
And I do miss your mix CDs, apropos of nothing.
xoxo
Dani/asphxiate (yeah...THAT one ;)
Thursday 21 April 2005
Home Again
But only temporarily - I'll be homeless from Thursday! Yikes!
I'm very much enjoying the Flikr General Election Pool, as discovered by the no longer blogging Vic.
This one in particular sums it all up for me.
The three main parties represented on one poster site.(Pic ©
Knautia)
If you used that URL, then it's no wonder you thought I wasn't blogging... :)
Anyway I'm back now, a bit embarrassed like - but back.
Friday 1 April 2005
Conservative estimates
It's not often I agree with a religious leader, but here's the Archbishop of Canterbury warning the campaign managers:
"If you think about what actually threatens us, not only as a country but as a planet, that's the level I think we ought to be going to."
This was in response to Howard's attempt to generate fear in a press briefing, and complaints from the Association of Chief Police Officers about targetted ads in marginal constituencies that apparently gave misleading crime figures. Misleading figures in political adverts? Surely not!
Wednesday 30 March 2005
Hurrah for Elections!
It's the first of many of Dan's "dodgy election posters". Or, if I have no time at all because of just having had an offer on a house accepted (as is, in fact, the case), the first and only one.
In 2001, there was plenty to work with, however, this year I fear that the campaign will consist of very negative campaigning and therefore pretty uninspiring. Nonetheless, here we go with the first of my feeble efforts for Election 05!.
Tuesday 8 February 2005
Disengage Blackberry, Re-engage Brain
Sometimes I hate politics.
Then, there are days like today.
Tuesday 8 February 2005
New Labour Lost in Showbiz
Tucked away on the Guardian's "Monkey" page (subscription required, no permalinks - come on chaps, sort it out!) is compelling evidence that Tony and the Labour party have totally lost it. Leaving aside the complete absence of verbs, the new Labour slogan, it would appear, is a direct lift from a 1996 episode of The Simpsons.
 | Clinton: My fellow Americans, we must move forward not backward, upward not forward, and always twirling, twirling, twirling toward freedom! |
 | I rest my case. |
Tuesday 8 February 2005
Biting the hands that feeds you
The Guardian reports today that the Tories are to sue the Times.
The decision to sue, personally approved by Michael Howard and Guy Black, his director of communications, reflects concern among leading Conservatives that the Times, once the paper of the Tory establishment, is becoming a cheerleader for Tony Blair.
Well, that'll help get them back on side, then!
Not complaining; just sayin'.
Monday 31 January 2005
We really need a word for Schadenfreude
Much excitement about "Blair's Doodlings" earlier in the week. Except that Downing Street claims that they weren't our glorious leader's. Oh no. They were the work of one Bill Gates. Tee hee.
Tuesday 18 January 2005
Word Play
I'm a sucker for Collins' Living Dictionary, primarily because of things like this.
Admittedly, it can get a bit like Douglas Adams and John Lloyd's "The Meaning of Liff", but I always felt that words from that fine tome should enter general usage. Why, just this morning, I was caught out and subsequently embarrassed by an esher.
Some suggestions to the living dictionary are very much of their time, and likely to fall out of use very quickly, others are unlikely to catch on, however much they should; but there are some really good suggestions that just might break through into general use. (And I've only got as far as 'B'!)
Thursday 13 January 2005
Come fly the friendly skies
I suppose under the freedom of information act, I should release the following.
London, 11th January 2004. Weather: Clear. Winds, from the North West. Approx 90mph (Storm force 10.)
By some miracle, I was booked on the only flight out of Aberdeen that night which didn't get cancelled. We board, and the pilot jocularly warns us that it's going to be a bumpy ride. The attendants speak extra slowly when doing the safety announcements, and the tannoy gets louder as the demonstration progresses, to the point that at the end of her speech the squealing feedback is getting a little annoying.
The first spot of turbulence hit the plane before we even backed away from the terminal. Seriously. Stationary Airbus A320 (or whatever), shaking around like anything. Ah well. We take off. It is bumpy. Very bumpy. The stewardess begins an attempt at inflight service, at which point there's a huge bump, she falls flat on her face, and all the oxygen masks drop down from the ceiling.
How funny, we all thought. The turbulence is so bad it's knocked the oxygen masks out of their housings. Heh.
A minute later, in a 'trying to be calm but somewhat higher pitched than during the safety announcement' purser switches on the intercom and advises us that actually we should be putting the safety masks on, to cover our noses and mouths, and to breathe normally. Eeek. At this point, I notice a rather strange smell. Like something burning. It really does smell like something is burning. I look out of the window at the engine on my side, and to my relief note that it isn't on fire.
After a couple of minutes, I notice that the guy on the opposite row to me is asleep, and consequently hasn't put his mask on. I throw a magazine at him, smile, and wave the spare mask from the seat next to me at him. He gets the message. The plane is bumping around, and I notice, now circling. (Despite the high winds the skies were eerily clear.)
The tension in the air is palpable. As is the smell. As is the irregular change in the noise from the engine. A burst of thrust, followed by a noticeable lift, followed by silence associated with a noticable drop in altitude. This happens a few times. Then we seem to level out, and we're not circling any more. The purser comes back on the intercom to tell us, in a slightly more relaxed tone, that everything is now fine.
The thought process that goes through ones head is quite telling. First, it's the settlement with yourself that if you do die, everything has been fine and you're happy and it couldn't happen at a better moment. Then you begin to look for reasons. Did the pilot sound drunk when he welcomed us on board? Now I come to think of it, maybe he did. Oh my god, we're all going to die because of a pilot who enjoys Jack Daniels. And he was American. This is all retribution. There's an American Republican Cell who are sending in suicide pilots to get their own back on us lily-livered liberals! Argh! Panic!
Of course, we landed safely, although the dangling oxygen masks do precisely emphasise the movement of the plane, which you don't normally notice. It makes the landing more real, you know?
The smell, as the obviously Democrat pilot pointed out after landing, was because the safety masks had never been activated on this plane before, and you always get a bit of a carbon smell from the vents that are exposed when the panels drop down. And he kindly explained, once we were safe on the ground, that there'd been a small problem with cabin pressurisation. i.e. There wasn't any for a bit. But then there was again.
And so endeth one of the scarier 75 minutes of my life.
I repeat the comment I made on your last post, viz:
"See - that's what you get for always going on about how much you like wind. Hopefully you have now learnt your lesson and realise that wind is not your friend.
Not. Your. Friend."
Now do you understand? And no more of your claims that the wind got you home safe - that was the plane and the pilot. The wind was the thing trying to knock you out of the sky, not the thing trying to keep you up there safely!! x
Tuesday 11 January 2005
A touch of Wind
So I find myself sat in the departure lounge at Aberdeen Airport, with this going off outside. Now I have suddenly had a really important meeting arranged for me tomorrow in London at early o'clock, and I suspect I'm not going to be there. Joy. However, I did get to experience the elements on the top of a hill halfway between here and Inverness, in a specially cleared area that the Forestry Commission are going to plant with 'native' trees, rather than the bloody awful fast-growing easily removed conifers that carpet half of Scotland at the moment. And it was extraordinary. I've never been so far north in these little islands before. And me without my camera. The one on my phone is just not up to the job.
See - that's what you get for always going on about how much you like wind. Hopefully you have now learnt your lesson and realise that wind is not your friend.
Not. Your. Friend. x
Blimey - did you manage to get home? The trains packed in about 10pm on Tuesday, so I'd be surprised if planes were still taking off!
(PS I'm only 31!)
Thursday 6 January 2005
Even statisticians smile
I do love the annual report on what people have been naming their brats in the last 12 months. Good to see Daniel still up there in the top 5. Makes me feel less special.
There's a particularly nice write-up of it this year by civil servant, obviously overjoyed at the opportunity to flex their writing muscle.
Yes, I saw this somewhere else too. It always amuses me how there are trends in baby names, especially some of the more hideous ones (why oh why, in this day and age, name a girl Harriet/Hannah/Daisy for example? Or a boy Oliver/Harvey/Harrison? Don't you love your poor children?). Oh well, I suppose I'm just lucky that while my name isn't at all common it isn't horrid either (as so many uncommon names are), while you may rejoice at the swelling of the ranks of Daniels. x
Well, their writing muscle is obviously their penis. Some people should stick to SPSS...
Wednesday 5 January 2005
Free except when it isn't
Nice test of the Freedom of Information act on BBC News Online today, comparing the Swedish edition with our own.
Sunday 2 January 2005
Don't be objective
If being objective leads to public statements like this then I shall stop putting it forward as a personal attribute.
Although one has to commend the bravery of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who describes in the Observer today his reaction to the Tsunami. It is, after all, a tough one to explain away given the presence of a compassionate God.
It's from the Ayn Rand Institute. What would you expect?
Sunday 2 January 2005
First Bushpop of the Year
Bush has seen sense and upped the US contribution to Tsunami relief to $350m; it did look a little pathetic that the US contribution for a while was the same as Pfizer (and not to compare with the $500m from Japan government or $100m from UK government). Meanwhile, his inauguration ceremony will cost $40m - can he really justify this in the face of the desperate need?
Meanwhile, it's the first of January. The day that the interesting 30-year-rule stories are published. The UK media seems to be focussing on Princess Anne staving off a kidnap attempt, and the 1974 equivalent of a post-it note on a file suggesting that Idi Amin was a little 'naive'.
However, AFP and the Aussie press are liking the story (as am I) that the Wilson government considered Nixon a bit of a nutter, and made quiet plans to disassociate themselves from any of his activities. I wonder if similar plans are in place currently? Can we find out under our shiny new Freedom of Information laws? I doubt it, somehow.
Heeey...what were you doing weblogging when you could have been drinking in town with me!!
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