Monthly Archives: May 2012

10 posts

Our nation humiliated again

Our nation humiliated again

Last week I predicted the UK would drop like a lead balloon at the EuroVision 2012 Song Contest. Gosh! How unpatriotic I am. How can you suggest such a thing? Today the British and international press are full of our humiliation. Ok we were not bottom, we were second from […]

The dark side of EuroVision

The dark side of EuroVision

Ok gang! Place your EuroVision 2012 bets. Before you go racing to the bookies read on. According to ABC News, reports about alleged rights violations in Azerbaijan are capturing international attention as the country prepares to host this year’s Eurovision song contest. Eurovision is the most prestigious cultural event in […]

Storm clouds gather over Europe

For the second time in living memory politicians across Europe are fidgeting dangerously in their respective quarters.  In the past couple of weeks the political rhetoric between the big beasts of the EU like France, Germany, Spain and even the United Kingdom have become noticeably and diplomatically noisy, even deafening. […]

Celebrating the man behind The Owl and the Pussycat

Celebrating the man behind The Owl and the Pussycat

Today is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Edward Lear. Although a talented illustrator and painter, Lear is best known for his nonsense verse. His poetry demonstrates a defining love of eccentricity, verbal invention and poetic delight in the sound of words. His best known poem is The Owl […]

Who holds the begging bowl now?

Who holds the begging bowl now?

Weetabix. It’s as traditional as you can get at the breakfast table. For generations the semi-healthy option to Kelloggs Corn Flakes and Quaker Oates. The option to a good old fry up. But now that doyen of the early healthy start has been gobbled up by no other than the […]

Are we facing terminal collapse?

Ok, so, well, what can I say? Since the General Election I have on occasions been hammered by some for ‘banging on’ about The Labour Party. For ‘not giving the coalition a chance’. For ‘agreeing to disagree’ (something I would never do). Yet today I open the media to discover […]

Lost! My ability to speak English

Lost! My ability to speak English

It appears I need to take elocution lessons. British Telecom has lost the ability to understand what I say, despite my efforts to use English with as few syllables and complicated words as possible. Three times in as many minutes I asked this telecom giant NOT to publish the telephone […]

The Scream is a snip at 0m

The Scream is a snip at $120m

Norwegian expressionist Edvard Munch’s The Scream has become the most expensive artwork sold at auction. It fetched  an alarming $119.9m (£74m). It’s a tad scary because thats more than I earn in a week. Bidding lasted 12 minutes which is better than a bid on eBay which can last a […]