Journal Entries
Charging for museums?
Posted Jul 27, 2015
This is really annoying. Museum charges were introduced under the last conservative government but the main reason that have been dropped is that studies show they don't work.
Central government opened up national museums to the public and lots of councils reduced charges on local museums because it was fond they made more money from donations. People didn't pay to go to museums- they just stopped going! Weirdly people will go and make donations or spend in the shop at free museums.
There was no big decision to stop charging- those that can make money tended to keep charging but the others not so much....
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2015/jul/23/museums-should-charge-entrance-fees
I'm not sure I agree with the moral case but economically its incorrect and ignores the evidence.
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Latest reply: Jul 27, 2015
My chaffeur...
Posted May 1, 2014
My chaffeur just phoned to check my flight times for tomorrow.
I'm training delegates from the Bangledeshi government via internet tutorial until 5. I will leave work in a chaffeur driven limo to catch a flight to Dubai...
I'm torn between noting that I am living in a fantasy universe and noting that 'I'll just finish a few things in the office and go home to pack' is one of the most depressing sentances.
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Latest reply: May 1, 2014
Who irons James Bond's shirts?
Posted Apr 29, 2014
Preparing for a trip to Dhaka where the weather appears inhospitable. Hot, wet and potential storms. My cover requires me to look business smart so I'm hunting through my wardrobe for items that will pass and casting murderous looks at the linen shirt that will do.
I've ordered a guide book which is alarmingly slim, visited the doctor to be told I need no further vaccinations and that my best defence against malaria is to avoid mosquito bites.
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Latest reply: Apr 29, 2014
Brown Envelope
Posted Apr 25, 2014
This morning I received a brown envelope stuffed with cash and a passport. The cash is in an unfamiliar currency and looks like toy money. It is to cover'unexpected cost when entering the country'.
I am about to undertake a mission. The travel time is estimated to be longer than my time in the destination country.
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Latest reply: Apr 25, 2014
The soft hearted spy
Posted Dec 10, 2013
I feel like the woman in Dirk Gently who must find a neighbour to look after the cat, find a cat for the neighbour to look after…
I have a rabbit. Romantically named Wodensfang, the problem is I have NO INTEREST in the rabbit. It’s very dull. It was a rescue rabbit that I couldn’t resist. It had such big eyes and its fur was so soft and it was going to die.
I took it home and discovered that it needed to live alone due to an over developed sense of justice (I had 2 guinea pigs… it watched the biggest one bully the smallest one and as soon as it was let out of its cage it went crazy to kill the bigger creature).
It has been fed, and watered and given a warm soft bed of hay. Now I find that it needs a temporary home over Christmas, it would appear that a rabbit is one of the many commitments a spy should not make.
Keeping one’s life open, to allow jetting off to foreign climes at a moment’s notice is very much a challenge.
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Latest reply: Dec 10, 2013
Storm
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