A Gracious Woman ...

I have a friend who has a charming and delightful wife. In some recent correspondence I urged him to 'value her'.

This is how my friend responded:

I've had [my wife] valued. Despite being an older property of considerable character with a pleasant facade and a satisfying interior, the high maintenance required affects the value rather badly. Or in my case, baldly. For myself, a striking, if unusual, frontage is affected by some seepage at times and a tendency to cracks and dry rot. Roof needs attention to avoid damage by sun, wind and rain. There are some marks left by previous repairs, and everything creaks. All in all, a newbuild would be a better choice, but they are in high demand, and the owners prefer first-time buyers.

Remember, my friend ...

Who lives in a house like this?

The clues are here...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5360873/MPs-expenses-Furious-David-Cameron-orders-Tory-grandee-to-quit-over-duck-island.html

I/you/we paid for this floating abode.
Shall we all become ducks take up residence?

Alternatively, the magnanimous thing that Sir Peter could do is to be persuaded to make it available the homeless PEOPLE of his constituency. Unfortunately, they'll all have to have webbed-feet, brilliant plumage and be less than 5 feet tall. Having no fixed address, many such people are disenfranchised, of course.

How much more nonsense are we to tolerate before we re-establish the authority of our monarch?!
Come on, Queen, dissolve the lot. Constitutionally, and historically, you have that power.
I wish you longevity because I might change my view after you've gone!

Can I clean your moat, Ma-am?!

Gabriel's Oboe ...

I just found this on youtube.
I had to post it.



It is one of the most beautiful melodies I have ever heard. Ennio Morriconi composed the soundtrack for the film The Mission. The melody doesn't need words, but this is both charming and triumphant.

I love it!

The Stinky-Poo Parliament …

Given the recent disclosures of expenses claimed by our parliamentary representatives, I find myself in a mood of indignation. The word 'corruption' comes to mind. In an economic scenario that may soon see the UK having the GDP of a ‘third-world country’, one of my representatives has claimed an annual expense which is worth more than the current value of my home.

Many MPs have come under the spotlight. Here are some of the offered explanations/excuses/justifications, and my immediate thoughts:

“I did nothing wrong. It was all within the rules ...”

Perhaps there’s something wrong with the rules then.

Now, just who made those rules?

“I made an error of judgement ...”

Yes! Possibly the electorate made an error of judgement at the polling station too!

“I made a mistake …”

Really? Many of us think that you’re just milking the system.

“I needed somewhere to spend time with my family …”

Don’t we all? That’s usually a given reason for resignation.

I could go on.

Bring back the authority of our Head of State, say I.

What has she got to say about all this? Unlike some of our present elected rulers, our Queen is a good person. She has integrity and a considerable amount of experience. As a tax-payer, I willingly contribute to the upkeep of her royal residence. (Well, perhaps not all of them!). Does she claim expenses for horse-manure or dog-food?
Who cleans her moat?

Having said that, I remain cautiously circumspect about the qualities of her immediate successor.

Where are you, Mr. Cromwell?!

Did someone say, "Such a parcel of rogues ...?"

Is Morris Dancing an Exclusively Male Activity?

There are those purists who opine that women shouldn't do this.

I disagree. Here's the women's side of Oyster Morris optimistically invoking the spirits of economic recovery outside a bank in Canterbury ...


The gymnastic red-haired lady was particularly attractive!