Journal Entries
Arrogance beyond belief
Posted Nov 28, 2003
OK. I've kept my counsel about the recent shenanigans with Blair, Bush, the War on Terror etc etc.
But enough is enough.
Blair has just announced . It has finished me off. Like he's going to listen? The Big Conversation sounds to me like another way he and his henchmen will tell us what they is best for us.
The arrogance of the man is beyond belief: only bettered by that of Bush. How could either of them believe that a state visit to the UK was a good thing?
Let me ask a question: If a friend asked you round for the weekend and you'd accepted a while ago, then it became obvious that somebody's life might be at risk if you kept the date - would you go??? I suspect most right-thinking folk would decide not to risk somebody (anybody) else's health and welfare. But no, Bush came along - and Londoners will be hit with a bill of UKPmillions for his protection (more arrogance: is anybody worth that?) and - surprise, surprise, there are people blown to smithereens in Turkey. How did they not see that coming? (OK, maybe not in Turkey, but it was going to happen somewhere.)
Then I'm reminded there's a Presidential election next year in the US and a Parliamentary one in UK in 2 years. Hmmm. No coincidence surely? Of course, it's much more important that they return to power than that other nations are allowed to find their own destinies.
48% voted at the last UK election. They ask us why nobody believes politicians and why people don't go to the polls. Just stand back and look at the posturing, the posing and the self-important b******s that fills the every day.
That's enough for now. It just makes my blood boil.
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Latest reply: Nov 28, 2003
Front page author!
Posted Nov 24, 2003
I'm on the front page again. How nice. 
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Latest reply: Nov 24, 2003
A rare low evening...
Posted Nov 23, 2003
I've just had a stressful weekend and am about to head off to bed to get over it 
Two of my brothers are real stars and I love them like friends 
But one brother is very different from me. He's a glass half empty person and I find him hard to relate to. He's just been to stay with me for the weekend.
For two days I've been on edge and have felt very hemmed in by this man who follows me around from room to room and who doesn't tell me what he wants to do, nor when he's happy / relaxed / content. As a result I can't find relaxation when he's around. He talked nonstop when he arrived, for 2 hours, and thereafter he had nothing left to talk about. I tried to generate conversations and occasionally hit on something that would keep him talking for 5 or 10 minutes, but mostly I failed to spark any interest.
We went out and visited a couple of places, but I honestly don't know what his verdict was on my choices. No surprise there then...
I am completely drained, but supported by the other two brothers, who have both been on the phone since my weekend ordeal ended, to make sure I'm okay.
So my bed calls me and I'll be off there soon.
Work tomorrow: but I just feel like having a day off, and pretend it's the weekend!
Frenchbean
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Latest reply: Nov 23, 2003
London
Posted Nov 14, 2003
I have just got home from 5 days in London. It was the perfect length of stay. It was enjoyable, but I am delighted to be back to the sanity and tranquility of Perthshire.
To cope with the noise, the crush of people, the rush and the smells, 
I spent a lot of time in green places 
Kew Gardens I hadn't visited for 20-odd years and it was a complete joy to wander around, kicking leaves for all I was worth for a few hours There were several screaming school parties, but I managed to side-step most of them and found myself hoping that they were just a little inspired by the treasures there. One small boy became almost hysterical when he saw a huge bunch of green bananas hanging down from a plant in the Palm House. He, for one, won't forget his day at Kew.
Greenwich is just a few minutes walk from my friends' flat and I spent a day there. Well, an afternoon actually, because I didn't manage to overcome my overhung head 
until lunchtime!
Without planning to, I ended up in the National Maritime Museum. What a marvellous place. As I walked in, I heard the Shipping Forecast gently burbling away in the foyer: it had to be a good place. All those books I've read over the years about Polar explorers, Antarctic expeditions and Polynesian migrations; all the ocean yacht races I've kept up with: it was all there to further feed my imagination. Most exciting was seeing the boat the James Caird. Shackleton's amazing expedition on the Endurance and his subsequent feat to get all his crew home, is close to my heart.
A day at the British Museum looking at Anglo-Saxon treasures and American Indian artifacts, a morning at the wonderful Borough Market, and I was exhausted 
Perhaps the greatest joy was spending time with old friends, who I see sporadically because they live in such a silly place 
And whilst I am very sad about the circumstances in which one friend finds herself, the others were simply a joy to be with 
It's all very well being inspired by great explorers and by the beauty of plants and parks, but without good friends, loved ones, laughter and mirth, we're lost aren't we?
I am home from London, restoring my blood alcohol levels to their normal state 
enjoying my own bed and thanking my lucky stars that I am able to wake up each morning and feel excited about what might happen next 
Now, where are my gardening clothes?...
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Latest reply: Nov 14, 2003
42
Posted Nov 7, 2003
I have reached the magical age. I am now the Answer to Life, the Universe and Everything
I'm taking a week off work and am flying down to London in a couple of hours, to celebrate with friends and to rediscover some of the city's gems that I've not visited since childhood.
It's all a bit scary 
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Latest reply: Nov 7, 2003
frenchbean
Researcher U236943
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