Playing it for laughs?

A possible use for the Red Hot Poker?

After what even some Tory MPs are calling the worst election manifesto I'm beginning to wonder if Theresa May our Prime minister has a very dry sense of humour with a surrealist streak   running through it.


Yesterday there was the announcement that Michael 'Back-Stabber' Gove was coming back into the cabinet as Secretary of State for the Environment - Theresa's line that   she was working with Talent from across the Tory Party can not have been anything but a sly joke (can it?)    - here's what happened 11 months ago admittedly the deeply religious Leadsom   hasn't been sacked merely, demoted    but it does seem rather quirky.


And today we've had the Queen's speech delayed as it's dependent on making a yet to be agreed deal with the DUP - oh and then there's Ascot too this is surely beyond satire.


Meanwhile  Boris is pledging his support and loyalty to the beleaguered PM

 No doubt there are some Tories who would say that the manoeuvres are being done in the 'National Interest' but would they be able to keep a straight face as they said it?


Fox hunters may need to be patient - the programme of bills for the new session might not include the free vote the PM wanted to hold and  new Grammar Schools could be delayed too.

Calling £248

And £248 answers I'm here

Gove, The Future's Non Linear (TV) 17

I don't know how self aware the current wave of Conservative  politicians are but I can't help feeling that Michael Gove is not one of the most in touch with the electorate.

 Having thoroughly p**sed off his colleagues and hit his cabinet return into the long grass he's returned (despite having the job of  MP) to the bosom of Rupert Murdoch's press empire (at a rumoured £140,000 per year) and is shameless as he continues to offer Trump the 'thumbs up' (let me know your idea for him here.)

schedule your own?

TV Schedulers beware 

For longer than I should I've held to the convention that the TV scheduler still holds us in their thrall - looking back at the last w/e I realise that even for me this view is fast becoming history.

We watched non-live programmes from the  BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and even Five -these included the thoroughly amusing Not Going Out (featuring Lee Mack), Room 101 (another Avalon Production)  The Halcyon (which I like) and some US shows too.

Be nice if you could actually assemble as a mini schedule yourself (but that's probably what there was quite a fuss about sometime back) - Youview is the closest to doing this across a few channels  but looks well clunky to me.

Having said that thoroughly enjoyed viewing the 1000th Pointless as it was transmitted - great fun from Alexander and  Richard.

Now rocking the £26.39 figure

Doors of the Year (or the year of the Doors)

A big bold Claret Front Door is coming in at No 17 - loo at the Glass above the door - bit of a classic

A dirty sign points the way

A sort of claret I suppose

EU debate continues - Determinism versus Free Will and Red 16

So the Brexiteers and their supporters appear to be finding themselves increasingly rattled -reading Mathew Parris  on  his  party colleague Michael Gove is seems that Gove has been  able to blame his opponents for their negativity in causing the events to confirm the Remainers view on the folly of leaving the EU - wouldn't it be great if we'd had a cooling off period and people could change their minds as they reflected on the outcome and effect of exit?

An absolute lie on NHS funding from Boris & Mike?

Were  the battles over the EU within the Tory leadership anything beyond internal bad blood and thwarted ambitions?

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Determinism versus Free Will

I really found Alain de Botton's piece (within the School of Life)  on what governs our lives Free will or Determinism useful, intellectually I'm not too sure that it's either  and the idea of it being a blend of the two seems to work better  - of course the mind set we use to get us through the day to day is what is important - if we err with an attitude too far towards self will we will (generally) blame ourselves for things that we would in reality  have practically no control over.


Those who believe that all they achieve is by fierce determination in battling the odds - beating Cancer, winning despite their opponent having had a better start in life will ultimately be defeated by the onset of time.

One on every High Street?

Similarly irritating  are those who give up at the first set-back, 'I'm unlucky' or it's God's will are unlikely to be able to take credit for a good result from the effort they expended.


So in fact we should enjoy luck and victory but recognise that things might have gone differently - if we do not feel there's a greater power at work we can at least celebrate the accident that has given us the chance to 'take the ride'

It's an interesting exercise too to investigate the far edges of our memories - things we only just recall - perhaps then looking at it with someone else who shared the event.

One of  the ideas of human memory is that recalling actually tampers with the 'stored;' version when we go back again the  recall is slightly altered -does it mean (if the event is only recalled via memories) that we've changed history?

The idea that 'truth ' is less than intrinsic is a complex issue but my conviction on a past experience can I think be wrong (but remain true to me).

Red 16

16 Chard and what do you get?

Chard- A plant full of Red goodness

Looking back (not far) and Red 129

With Hindsight

Looking back I find that my Blog has reflected  the rise of Boris Johnson - it feels to me now almost inevitable that the figure variously described as a buffoon and a 'Court Jester' (and that's just by his own party) will be our next Tory Leader and PM.

At least Theresa has had hers done.

Sad to hear too that so many of the predictions and warnings made by the remainers are proving to be true - described by Michael Gove as bumps in the road these are likely to lead to real job losses and a decline in living standards for many.


Undoubtedly there'll be some good things to come out of the Brits  extracting themselves from  the Single Market but as Scotland readies itself for another referendum they look to be at best marginal.


 With Westminster tied up on work to reassemble our trading relationships  I suppose the expansion of Heathrow/London airport strategy  is now consigned to the 'not important' pile.

Red 129

This view with it's strong red roses  across to one of my neighbours now forever reminds me of Patrick Caulfield

That deep red rosy colour