GERMANY CALLING

                                                             GERMANY CALLING

The full title of this comment should be "Germany Calling The Shots".   I see they have now come to an arrangement over the Cyprus financial situation which means that the poor people will not be losing all of their savings.   Did the powers that be at the European Central Bank and those in the political corridors not understand for a moment that there would be repercussions from the general public when confronted with their savings being taxed, irrespective of the percentage to be levied?    The fact that they obviously didn't expect resistance and thought  the Cypriot people would  just roll over and hand over their money is incredible and shows just how out of touch with the general public those who live in Euro towers tend to be.   It does not bode well when a bank spokesman comments  that this could be the model to be used for all other bail-outs.   We have used the term "thin end of wedges" previously in both blog and books but they never stop coming.   Before the Euro zone was inaugurated, countries never became bankrupt.  Somehow they seemed to pay their way.  A European central bank with common currency seems to be an ill thought  concept for political reasons, but reasons that are very conducive to German dominance.   As I said before, it's interesting to note that Germany is now running Europe without setting foot or firing a shot in Poland first.

COMIC RELIEF? MORE LIKE COMIC STRESS!

                                   COMIC RELIEF?  MORE LIKE COMIC STRESS

It has now become a quest, attempting to avoid Red Nose Day and everything that goes with it.  As those of you who know me will be only too well aware, I am not miserable by nature but I do find the substandard comedy, the improvisation and the hideous attempts to sit for six hours in a bath full of baked beans, all slightly unedifying.

I never thought I would have anything in common with Germaine Greer but I am reminded that she appeared on Room 101 a little while ago and attempted to send charity organisations to the bin.  To be fair, it wasn't charities per se, but their attempts at raising money.  I am in total agreement with her.  The idea of jogging up 20 mountains, travelling by pogo stick from John o'Groats to Lands End and generally being an embarrassment to those you hope will sponsor you just fills me with dread.  As she said, why not just send a cheque to the appropriate charity and get it over with?  Last night was not conducive to tuning in to BBC 1.  Luckily, there was an extremely interesting programme on George Mallory and Everest on BBC 2.  I can't remember him being sponsored by  Red Noses  in the mid-1920s.  He just donned gaberdine attire and hobnail boots - a proper person! 

The only contact I had with Red Nose Day yesterday  was due to my fruitless attempt to find the car park entrance to Waitrose in Cobham, Surrey.  With a desire to consume an Indian meal once home, I continued my journey to Sainsbury's where I was greeted by some complete oaf donning a red nose and a t-shirt, expecting shoppers arriving to donate to his cause.  I gave him a wide berth.  It didn't end there, of course, as every member of staff was wearing red.  Have just made a note in the diary not to visit Sainsbury's on Red Nose Day next year.  Can somebody please send me a bucket of sand and I will willingly bury my head in it.

SMOKE SIGNALS

                                                                 SMOKE SIGNALS

Can someone please tell me why the election of a new head of a religious sect should be given such a large amount of  air time and printed space in the media.  Unless one is an unquestioning follower with sheep-like tendencies, I cannot fathom who would be interested in a group of people whose record on human rights, equality and child care is to say the least inadequate.  

To view television pictures of the masses in Italy awaiting the right coloured  plume of smoke gives one a slightly wry smile as to the total inadequacy of those involved.  They really should stay home more.

BEWARE OF GREEKS BEARING GRUDGES

                                     BEWARE OF GREEKS BEARING GRUDGES

So, both senior members of the Huhne family have been found guilty of various crimes - and all to save the male of the specie from incurring a penalty worse than points on his licence - a ban!  Mr. Huhne already had nine points for speeding offences.  Does that not show the total disregard he appears to have for a law that is appropriate for everyone else and the total arrogance of a man seamlessly climbing his way up a very greasy pole.

Found guilty by a jury, Vicky Price will also pay a hefty penalty for her involvement in the cover-up.  What can be better than the prospect and satisfaction of knowing they could both be behind bars come the summer.  I'll not be visiting myself!

EASTLEIGH BY-ELECTION

                                                      EASTLEIGH BY-ELECTION

What strange coves the voting public are.  I honestly didn't expect the Liberal Democrats to retain Eastleigh constituency.  I am aware that the election only came about because of the downfall of its MP and we are mid-term and governments are never very popular at this time, but how on earth did so many people come to the conclusion that a Lib-Dem candidate was the candidate for them?  It beggars belief that anyone would vote for a party that is only in government by default.  It is without doubt the most 'fence-sitting, namby-pamby, let them all come to our shores and settle here party' I have ever had the misfortune to witness.  Heaven help this country from a full Lib-Dem government.  As a speaker on Radio 4 put it very succinctly, two thirds of the electorate voted for right of centre parties and once again, the left of centre party got pride of place at the finishing post.  What a pity a few more people didn't vote with confidence and put their cross against the UKIP candidate.  For David Cameron to comment that it is a typical mid-term blip and the UKIP was once again a protest vote, shows a great deal of arrogance and little real comprehension that the public is frustrated beyond belief at the Conservatives' inability to really tackle Europe and immigration.

THE THIN END OF A VERY THICK WEDGE

                                       THE THIN END OF A VERY THICK WEDGE

I note with dismay but not a little surprise that the Malaysian owners of Cardiff City Football Club are to tamper with its history once more.  Having already changed the nickname of Cardiff City Football Club from The Bluebirds to The Dragons and their playing strip from the traditional blue to red, they now have the audacity to propose a change in the very name of the club.  

For the whole of my lifetime it has been Cardiff City Football Club but apparently, should they gain promotion to the Premier League, their owner has suggested the name Cardiff Dragons, which sounds as if they should be in a rugby league or rugby union division instead of football.   It smacks of everything I dislike in the modern game where tradition counts for nothing, but then with so many foreign owners of football clubs, is it really the tradition they are interested in, or the money to be engendered from the selling of a 'brand'.  It is the word 'brand' that the owner used to describe Cardiff City Football Club.

I really do hope they do not succeed in gaining promotion and was extremely glad that Middlesbrough won yesterday by two goals to one.   I've read of supporter dissent but  this is where they really have to stand up and be counted, because if the club is allowed to change its name it opens up the floodgates for other clubs to do likewise, with perhaps the sponsoring name of the club coming after the town in which the football team evolved.   Will we see some dreadful concoctions such as  Manchester Toshiba or Chelsea Sony, although strangely enough Waitrose Reading doesn't sound quite so bad...