Happy New Year (& try to make things better)

2018 Wow where did that spring from.

I reckon it'll be interesting to put down some points so I can see in a year's time how right I am and how I've managed to stick to what I say...

So hear goes.........

Politics

Left

Westminster -Change is the order of the day?

Imagine how Labour would be doing with a less divisive figure heading it up- the threat of purges and Momentum infiltration is unlikely to go away - the discussion by Jon Lansman  meeting head on the issue of Antisemitism by is to be welcomed though.


Right

Theresa May is said to be preparing for a reshuffle that could see both David Davis MP and Boris Johnson MP demoted - the idea of Boris being involved in Brexit negotiations is surely not serious, detail is even less his thing than it is of David Davis - inevitably there's some positioning going on for the job of replacing 'Lame-Duck' PM May and the duplicitous Michael Gove MP (as ever) is one to watch.

There are (at least) two schools of thought around   May remaining as PM - she's not running  away(as Cameron did) but she clearly lacks belief in the wisdom of Brexit and she seems unable to communicate (as a human being)  with the electorate a key requirement I think in the Art of Leadership.

Centre

So SDP to re-emerge perhaps - bye-elections and Council elections will give us  an idea on how well Vince Cable is connecting and offering a Pro Europe alternative to the two majors

 Issues

I reckon the issues we'll be judging our politicians on (apart from Brexit) are

Inflation - I'm seeing Pound stores unable to hold the line, as result of  weaker pound (and need for business growth) they're no longer these -I think this sends a powerful message out on the 'High Street'.

£land is a fabled place in 2018?

Utilities

Well Energy companies (as you'd expect)  keep maximising their profits - government has spoken about policing this - we'll see.

I also remain unimpressed by how the Water Companies are doing their job.

Housing

Affordable! (too many new builds are not).

Personally

Some Tories say Food Banks are a sign we care - perhaps they are but could be something else - anyway I'm going to try to remember to put something in for the Food Banks  each time  I visit a supermarket.

Technology

3D printer, Clas Ohlson - £399

Amazing that 3D printers are now in High Street at sub £400 ( I remember many years ago when a Colour telly cost this -what would that be in present day prices!)

 With a few cool Apps and teachers getting on board this could be amazing development

And on Positive Note!

And on a surprising action from a return visit to Carluccio's  - a chain restaurant that was founded by the late Antonio (A friend of Eduardo Paolozzi  and a big figure who we lost in 2017) - The return trip to the one inside Kingston Bentall's - either it was going to be better or worse than our previous visit - food just as good and waiter gave me a Coffee on the house - small gesture but very much appreciated.

(16) and a 3D printer in action at London's Design Museum

The Design Museum is becoming well established in its new home - there are still plenty of people arriving and asking about the former function (The Commonwealth Institute) or just marvelling at the impact of the large open space as they enter but there are now returners and those who are 'members'.

Chairs

The Work in Progress area on 2nd Floor of the Design Museum

Chairs are great exercise for Designers - and a history of chairs can tell us much about materials, design and production.

Just by the 3D printer is a Work in Progress area inviting visitors to imagine themselves as designers - there are topics suggested like a Family Coat of Arms - the chairs in the area are varied


I now have a list of the various chairs and their designers that surround the 'Work in Progress' area, have done a little research of my own and am looking forward to sharing this (on Friday mornings)  with visitors who express an interest in the furniture.

2 notes making £25 and  some coppers =£25.19

The Money and the Doors

A sign amongst signs 

'No Junk Mail'  for 16 Mountfield Road

Delivery and fulfilment along with Red 14

In the 'developed' world one of the major changes over the last 5 years or so has been  the ease with which we can explore the 'long tail' of pretty much everything from media (like music and movies) to consumer items.

Headphones but mic too

As the market tends towards the mythical economic 'perfect' one, price becomes uniform and  a differentiatior  becomes the satisfactory delivery and fulfilment of the order - I've recently had several orders that have come incredibly quickly but sadly amongst them have been two where the orders have had errors (a shortage with one and an error with the other).

The problem with errors is that they require further 'to-ing' and 'fro-ing' and trips to post office (or equivalent)

What we can expect in the future is better (and free?)  delivery (or arrangements where we can collect) - perhaps those drones and driver-less cars.

We might as well of course have  the possibility of constructing locally various items ourselves via 3-D printing too.

Red 14

Rather poignant little shoe at front of Cóte Ealing

A Red bootee in a planter just by a local restaurant