Islington Gazette: How sloppy

Spot the difference:
Dog stood guard over suicide woman's body is the story in the Islington Gazette

Dog stood guard over suicicide woman's body is the wording on the printed large letter bill board posters given out and displayed by Islington news vendors and newsagents all over the borough.

Amazing that the mistake wasn't spotted before printing and more amazing that nobody has noticed and removed them. That's not very professional. Looks like they will probably remain there until Thursday when the next edition comes out.

Duncan Connors on Rebel Yell fights back

Seems like the shenanigans going on within the Islington Conservatives is hotting up. My earlier post has attracted some amazing comments from their members. A bit intense with a lot of personal stuff. Now an revealing human interest story is developing.

The Islington Tribune - Letters page, 26 January 2007 JACKIE FAGE Chair, Caledonian ward, Islington Conservative Association reacted to the story.

In the meantime probably after some pressure from somewhere Paul Newman deleted the posting that cause the affray from his blog Islington Newmania

The aggrieved Duncan Connors fighting back has started his own blog Rebel Yell. He continued the comments from my blog with his second posting If you tolerate this...a final word! with further postings about one of the commenter's on my blog going by the name of Hot Air.

I don't know any of the people concerned but I'm highly intrege and waiting the next installment. They say flattery will get you anywhere. It certainly worked with me. Duncan stated taking a leaf from my book he started his own blog. Just for those kind words I shall keeping my beady eye on the situation.

Ban on smoking: It smells on the second floor of LibDem party HQ

In a queue behind two women talking about the evils of passive smoking and the putrid smell coming from people who smoke. It's almost 4 months since I gave up smoking by hypnotism. Have to admit when in a shop I can now smell people who smoke. It's worse in a lift or sitting next to them on a bus. It really affects me sometimes to the point of actually making me feel sick. It's more strongly noticeable on men who haven't changed their clothes or are wearing the same jacket. Definitely something I wasn't conscious of when I was a smoker.

One of the ladies remarked that she can't wait until July to take back the air - no smoking in public buildings and the rights of people to complain. Funnily that made me think of Cowley Street, LibDem HQ, it smells on the second floor. Sometimes in the evening it stinks to high heaven. It's been like that for years.

There are two designated smoking areas. Outside in the yard through the basement and the second floor balcony. The basement is acceptable but on choosing the balcony nobody gave a thought to the wind blowing the smoke back into the building. With so many bodies packed into a room, it's not practical to keep the windows shut but even so, the smell permeates through. Cigarettes are bad enough but what about those who smoke pipes.

Two of the staff, Cllr Gordon Seekings (membership - see photo) & Paul Rustad (English party administrator) make the place stink with the odour from their pipes. They don't seem to care or being more polite one could suggest that they appear to be completely oblivious to the effect their pipe smoking has on others.

At party conference almost three years ago, a motion to ban smoking in public places was unanimously passed by delegates. There was a debate on the effect of passive smoking which was generally supported by everybody. Who could argue in the face of public opinion?

With the motion comfortably under a belt it was felt something could be done to change the working practice at HQ. With one of the 2nd floor staff being severely asthmatic, several older volunteers complaining and one actually going home early after being sick from the smell it was decided to do something about it. Many of the people who work on the second floor are volunteers and are considered way down on the pecking order with no rights - they have to do as they are told or they are out.

Two heavy smokers, one staff and one volunteer taking the bull by the horns spoke to all concerned in the building. There was gentleman's agreement that everybody would smoke outside in the little yard via the basement or outside the building. Winning hearts and minds, well done from everybody with a pat on the back.

Not so from Gordon Seekings. Words something to the effect, 'I smoke a pipe and I dare anybody to tell me I cannot smoke on the balcony. No volunteer can advise me what to do. I am a staff too big to go down stairs'. Paul listening to the fuss and not saying a word defiantly followed the leader.

Go and report to the line manager David Loxton was the advised next course of action. He'd take it up with the CEO Chris Rennard to get the working condition's contract amended. Sounded like a brilliant idea for the sake of people's health especially now conference had passed the motioned on passive smoking.

That was done with great expectations. The reality disappointingly was that nothing happened. David doesn't like to say boo to a goose or make waves. Gordon is a 6 foot, bully boy noise-maker, whose voice naturally bellows across the room when he speaks. He's a somebody nobody likes to challenge otherwise you get a mouthful of “When I was working at BT”. The volunteer being me got a mouthful of unmentionable words. Yes, I agree I'm a trouble maker when it's necessary to get something done - I can't sit still and be a dumb for anybody. As someone who at the time was smoking 50 cigarettes a day, I unlike some others, was always considerate of those around me.

Well, it's two years on, the law has been changed with D-day approaching fast. When is HQ going to enforce what the party preaches? It's actually a bizarre situation. Only yesterday I asked a staffer friend if the situation is the same. 'Yes' was the reply, 'who is going to dare challenge Gordon'? What about the law and people's rights was my comment. 'No comment, don't want to lose my job' was the reply.

It's actually really disgusting that after all this time the situation remains the same. It is so hypocritical for the Party not to enforce at HQ what it demands in public.

Taking about passive smoking I wonder when anybody will have the guts to tell Gordon and Paul that they actually smell of stale tobacco most of the time. When they open their mouth to speak they have bad breath. That when they smoke the smell follows them across the room and down the stairs. On entering a room, one knows that they are present before they are seen. At the end of the day they stink. I make no apology for my words because the truth can sometimes be uncomfortable.

As to whether I'm going to keep up my not smoking. I'm trying but I can't honestly promise at the moment. It's not easy and I've put on 2 stone in weight which is rather upsetting.

Steve Hitchins on the Diversity Fund

Leaked in advance to LibDem Voice (no surprise there) - Apparently in response to recent questions raised about the party’s diversity fund, a carefully worded statement which it's claimed to have been written by Steve Hitchins has sent to Liberal Democrat News for publication.

Can't argue with the content surrounding the actual fund, it's as it was outlined at the Ethnic Minority Election Task Force (EMETF) meetings several weeks ago.

What is amazing about all this is that SH has met with MPs, Peers, and with the Campaign for Gender Balance but not with the people that count. He has made no effort to meet with anyone directly involved with BME issues in the Party. So far it's a case of we know best and you will do what you are told. Several complaints have been sent to Ming's office which have up to now been ignored.
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Last summer, Ming Campbell announced the launch of his diversity fund “to assist women, disabled, black and ethnic minority candidates to contest winnable seats for the party”. This fulfilled a pledge made in his leadership campaign and he asked Steve Hitchins to work with him on these issues. Steve has an excellent track record in promoting women and ethnic minority candidates based on the time that he was the Lib Dem Leader of Islington Council.

In September Ming was able to announce that £200,000 had been pledged from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust to help improve the diversity of the parliamentary party at Westminster. The party is gearing up for a General Election at any time from when there is a new Prime-Minister. So selections are speeding up, quite a few of the most winnable seat selections have already taken place and over £50,000 has already been allocated to help make the difference in a number of the key seats where the result could be crucial to improving the diversity of our MPs.

No money is offered prior to a selection, but objective assessments of targeting policy are being made, support allocated professionally by the party’s Campaigns Department and additional support provided from the Diversity Fund in some cases where winning would improve the diversity of the parliamentary party.

Steve Hitchins told Liberal Democrat News: “It is one of the harsh realities of political life that money helps you fight winning campaigns. We pride ourselves that in the Liberal Democrats because of our tireless volunteers our money goes a great deal farther than it does in either of the other parties. But there is no doubt that those extra £ notes make a difference. So I’m delighted that this completely new and additional amount of money is being spent to secure even more Liberal Democrat seats at the next General Election and this will directly increase the diversity of our Parliamentary Party.

“The purpose of the fund is to deliver a more diverse parliamentary party after the next General Election. The fund is about winning more seats. So seats, which are good prospects and then select female and/or ethnic minority candidates are automatically considered for additional funding. In due course these seats may get promotion to target seat status. This, as ever, depends on local activity as much as on central support. This is not about switching existing funds or depriving anyone of the chance to do well. Nor is it about undermining local selection, introducing positive discrimination or lowering the quality of all our candidates. The fund will increase the overall number of target seats and successes with new money to deliver a more diverse Lib Dem team in the House of Commons.

“We have a modest amount of money but quite a few talented women and ethnic minority candidates in constituencies that are good prospects will benefit in terms of support for their campaigns. This will make a difference to the long term reputation of the party and Ming’s ambition to help our MPs become more representative of the country that we seek to represent.”

It's obvious that LDN is being used to promote spin to appease party members. Most of the comments are from people who don't really know anything about the fund nor have they been involved. It's becoming like Chinese whispers. A load of rubbish is being written or to more polite it's just speculative observations. Few insults about me again but who cares.

A more professional approach would have been if LDN had obtained some constructive feedback from Cllr Rabi Martins the Chair of EMETF who is largely responsible for initiating the whole thing and Cllr Merel Ece the current chair of EMLD who is a councillor in Islington and who knows SH very well.

Camden: Small changes, massive impact

Across the road in Camden there's a local paper article about the new CCTV cameras and lighting on Camden Canal Towpath in the heart of Camden Town.

Many may have missed this signal success for Cllr Ben Rawlings (photo above), Camden's youthful "crime czar" - or more properly Camden's Executive member for Community Safety. Why the report appeared in the Islington Gazette and not the Camden New Journal is anyone's guess!.

There has really been such a big change to the area. As the report says, "The Junkies gathered every evening to inject heroin, drifting in and out of consciousness in the doorway of the church" ......"It has made a big difference - we have no problem now."

Ben says: "I want to develop and highlight our "designing out" work, I'm currently thinking about some kind of audit by ward." This fits well with the Liberal Democrats' campaign We Can Cut Crime which you can read about here.

Keen to keep members and supporters abreast with what local councillors are doing, an e-mail circulated by Robin Young is signed, Yours liberally, democratically and rather proudly. Anybody who knows this area well will have to agree after all these years of neglect, it's like a miracle come true.

Islington Conservatives: no smoke without fire

Loads of local news this week's papers. Difficult to choose which story to write about. Just had to pick up on the one about the internal wranglings within the Islington Tories.

Not much is heard about them within the Borough. Their local website doesn't say much either - it's not very newsy. Most of what I pick up is from their local resident blogger Paul Newman with his now famous Islington Newmania - He can be quite explosive at times.

Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER, Party is full of Oxbridge snobs, says Tory deputy - Duncan Connor (picture above)

He accuses his female boss of behaving like Hyacinth Bucket. THE Deputy chairman of the Islington Conservatives resigned from the party this week accusing his chairwoman of acting like a “hyped up Hyacinth Bucket” the super snob from BBC TV sitcom Keeping Up Appearances.

He added: “I’ve met the local Greens, Lib Dems and Labour candidates who actually believe in something but many Tories in Islington are out of touch. They will never get on to the council let alone become MP.

Protecting Tory integrity, Paul's response to the article is not unexpected but his take on the situation more than interesting A Liar and a Cad Sir !!

Personally I firmly believe there is not smoke without fire so I wouldn't condemn Duncan Connor's words out of hand . One thing that made me laugh is his reference to Oxbridge snobs. Could it be synonymous with political parties in Islington. Followers of this blog will know the problems I've been having because of Islington LibDems president Dominic Mathon who actually arrogantly signs some of his blog comments as Oxonian.

Naughty Deirdre Razzall

Last weeks LibDem news had a story about Stephen Tall and his blog's Sexy MP poll but he was accidentally named as John.

With egg on their face, in this week edition the LibDem News team have printed a correction. Well! that was the intention anyway. It's becoming like something out of a comedy show. They have actually managed to print the website url address incorrectly as http://www.oxfordliberal.blogshot.com/ instead of http://www.oxfordliberal.blogspot.com/

Stephen has his own posting about the matter. He says 'It’s awfully kind of Lib Dem News to correct their story last week ......... It’s a shame they’ve got it wrong ......... But, still, it’s the thought that counts'.

Bullshit - Why is he being so polite? Anybody else would be screaming blue murder. Making a mistake once could be overlooked but twice is just not acceptable. It is the party's official newspaper after all. Even the site they have published is embarrassing - it links to hot lingerie, bikini teens and other weird stuff. The rag is read by many people who are not party members. They will begin to think the party staff at HQ are made up of a bunch of incompetent wallies especially on the 2nd floor.

Deirdre Razzall is supposed to be the face behind the paper. Wonder what she has to say about this lastest gaff........

Get free previews from Snap.com

I like it, I like it, a clever little gismo I noticed on several blogs.

Mouse over any hyperlink and a cool little preview snap-shot image of the page or posting pops up. Certainly livens up any site.

The code is free - Available for Blogger, Wordpress and many others - Get the code it's so simple to install from. Snap.com . Test it out, hold your mouse over Snap.com or run over Suz Blog links in the right hand column and watch the sites pop up.

Very apt words from the site,
Snap Preview Anywhere adds value to your site by powering it with the largest library of high quality site previews... for any link on your site for free!

Meet the Chair

At the residents meeting earlier this evening, yours truly was unanimously elected as the PFI 2 forum chair. Was informed it was in the pipeline after the last meeting in Sept before the official handing over of the properties but wasn't sure if it would actually happen.

Of course I'm pleased but it's humbling to be selected. It's an important committee for Islington residents whose street properties of 2955 tenants and 1169 Lease-holders have been transferred over to the Partners consortium. Not sure how acurate the info is but we were told that the combined projects make up the largest social housing PFI scheme in the country and is looked upon as a kind of case study.

There was a move to combine the PFI 1 & PFI 2 forums from the onset but the PFI 2 forum members rejected the idea because PFI 1 has been running for some time and is well established whereas the PFI 2 renovation contract is in the early teething stages and the specifications are slightly different.

My first aim is to get as many of the residents as possible whose properties are in the schedule to get involved. At least to have some in each street.

Watch this space for more news.....

Guido the Omnipotent

It's been a long time coming but thank you Guido - Blog Culling and Rolling

You either love her or hate her but Suz blog's dancing for joy. To be recognized by the master as one of four new blogs to be linked to his site is a notable achievement. After all Guido Fawkes is Britain's best known political blog.

To think that my big mouthed musings interest the world, well what can one say?

Also have to thank some of the bloggers who are linking mine to theirs. There have been a rush of new links recently. If you don't see your name as a reciprocal link just let me know.

Later: It seems to be all about Guido this last couple of days. Just came across Bloggerheads. Never heard of the blog before. Bit taken back with Tim Ireland's long and bitter post against Guido. I've never seen a more vindictive rant about another blogger before. It's so long I can't even be bothered to precis it. What makes it more ridiculous, there is no clear indication what's started the blogwar in the first place. Call me thick or anything else you like but perhaps somebody could enlighten me.

One thing is definitely sure a Blog War or Blog spat is about to erupt...........

Later still: The Blog War begins - round one Guido.

Come in Trinny & Susannah: Sarah Teather needs your help

Most Sunday mornings I watch the Politics Show on BBC 1 presented by Jon Sopel. Nothing unusal in that you might say if you are a political animal. This morning's programme had LibDem MP Sarah Teather as one of the guests. Thought jolly good as I settled down with a cup of tea.

Now Sarah is one MP who's political ambitions are aimed towards the top. With great single-minded determination, she's very professional in everything she does. She's a bit cold in her approach and definitely lacks a smile or two but she knows her stuff when she speaks.

When the camera's turned to Sarah I just couldn't believe what she was wearing. What a mess she looked. It was a black dress with huge white circles. My mind just wouldn't register what she was saying because my eyes were glued to the big circles on her gown.

I know it's not polite to criticise a women's clothes, I was as mad as hell when London's Mayor Ken Livingstone made sarky after TV interview comments about my outfit some time ago but honestly it's about time somebody gave Sarah some professional advice on of her mode of dress. She's a public figure for goodness sake. She's a good looking women but as long as I can remember she has dressed the same, like a dowdy classic middle-aged granny in mostly red or black suits. Some of her clothes I wouldn't be seen dead in and I'm a real granny. I'd certainly laugh if my son's partner who's about the her age dressed the same way.

Thought once she became an MP and had some money to hand she would get some professional advice on how to be smart but chic. Because she is not so tall she has some fabulous high heels. About time she got the clothes to match. Maybe someone should get Trinny and Susannah to give her a call.

Sexy poll: what a let down

Somebody on the second floor party HQ got it wrong this week. LibDem news has a story - Sexiest Liberal Democrat Politician poll in John Tall's personal blog.

Didn't anybody check before going to press, should have been Stephen Tall.

Honestly after such a hype what a complete letdown?


Taking about mess, Blogger has been giving me stress this morning. For some strange reason noticed my right hand side-bar has moved below the main text. Wasn't like that when I went to bed last night. Usually means something is out of line and and HTML has gone wrong. Thought maybe I did something to my last posting. Rechecked over and over again. Kept posting and back to draft so many times this morning readers must have thought they were seeing things. Couldn't even edit the post properly. Anybody reading it now will noticed it has slightly changed from the original posting. Still not sorted the problem. Will have to leave for now as I've no time but it's so annoying.

Later: Guess who reads LibDem News on the loo?

18 Doughty Street: It not as great as it's made out to be.

For the first time this evening I have been able to watch something from 18 Doughty Street. About time too. When it was first announced with great Fanfare, I was dead keen and one of the first to register on the site. After that nothing actually happened. At least from my PC, I haven't been able to view or hear anything. What a big let down.

Well I know my PC could do with an upgrade but it's still more high tech than millions of other peoples. Can hear and view all other things they throw at you from the web these days so knew the problem was from their side. Read all the rave reviews from some other people but kept wondering what the hell are they watching. Was particularly disappointed not to be able to see or hear Lynne Featherstone on the couch.

Have a great deal of respect for Iain Dale's diary and have been following his updates about the station. Read all the announcements about streaming video problems... with a yawn and all that, it became so boring. Was actually considering going down to the studio during the school hols, it's not far from where I live but gave it a miss out of bloody annoyance.

They say patience is a virtue. Big announcement - the introduction of Blogger TV. With great trepidation clicked on the download and waited. Up came the usual Buffering.. please wait notice but this time after an infuriating long download wait, something actually happened. Iain Dale appeared to introduce the show - Topic: Blog 'Bullying' via comments or Flaming as Iain says it is called.

Those on the couch with him were Rachel from North London fame, Alex Hilton - Recess Monkey and Labour Home blogs, Charles Miller, James Cleverly - a BME A-list candidate and Ben Sherrard. No LibDems this time around.

The topic was interesting but it's so funny the visual image of some people and the way they speak reflects in the way they write. Alex Hilton definitely a cheeky chappie with a gift of the gab, he even looks the part - Just made me laugh. I still giggle when I think about one of the satirical postings on Recess Monkey written about me - can't find the link to it though.

Rachel is just like I imagined her to be. She looks and speaks just like she writes - also very interesting.

The others I don't know and they came across as boring - at least to me.

Iain Dale himself is a clean cut Tory. Not quite the classic stuffed shirt. He speaks and writes nicely(can't think of a better word at the moment probably reword it later). He always reminds me of somebody who would like to do something daring or outrageous but hasn't quite got the courage.
One comment from him I picked up on is the way people not interested in politics read blogs and recognise you in the street. As I have mentioned before I can relate to that.

How did I rate the show. The concept is brilliant but the imagery is a bit poor and quite frankly amateurish. It's really a discussion with a background of moving stills. It's definitely not TV as we know it and as most people expected it to be. The sound keeps cutting out and at times is disjointed. I am presuming it is all being produced on a shoe-string budget but honestly there's a marked room for improvement if they want to attract a wider audience.

Least I can honestly say I will be keeping an eye on it and maybe will get my butt down there one of these days. I've still got unanswered emails from Iain which maybe would be more interesting to answer on the couch.

Look at what Rob Fenwick has done now!

There's been a lot of excitement this past few days about me in Blogosphere . Noticed my blog hit counter going ballistic again and thought what the hell have I done now. It usually means somebody somewhere has written something about me. No sweat, getting used to it by now. I'm always up for a laugh anyway. Seems this time it's all down to the silly little shit-stirrer Rob Fenwick, the kid from LDV. Trying to be clever with his breaking news postings. He's definitely opened a can of worms.

Again opening the email box linked to my blog - Wow! is all I can say. Have to admit I've justed only started to read some of them it will take me ages to get through the lot. What has surprised me is that some of the stuff being sent to me by 'supporting' LibDems - others would cringe and shake in their boots if only they knew.

Likewise some of the comments are also amazing. Only a couple I've held back on. Real vulgarity is not my thing. All I can say is thanks to all who sent me the info because I rarely have the time to got through the blogs so to pick up on the links about me.

We all know the LibDems attract some odd ball members. Rob's weird behavour is difficult to comprehend at times. Criticise him or go against any of his decisions and you've had it. When he has a bee in his bonnet about somebody he doesn't give up. Petty revenges carrying on for years seems to be his style. He can be quite obnoxious and it's obvious he's suffering from narcissistic complex.

The whole world and his dog must know by now he doesn't like me for reasons only known to him. Somewhere along the way I upset him via an exec email list. I refused to take him serously and do what he said. Since then he's behaved like a real plonker. Honestly folks I've never had any in depth conversation with him in my life and know absolutely nothing about him. I don't really know what his beef is but it's gone on for long enough. Something similiar was started on the Apollo project where Oxonian is a member. Sad really that they have nothing better to write about.

Least I can respect his IT skills. He does a wonderful job with LDV but really goes over the top at times. The members forum is a brilliant idea. It is presumed that members can freely voice their opinion in the forum but it's not so. One has to mind your p's an q's or he will lock you out, member of the party or not.

Highly bemused to read the comment below via my posting,

Madame La Guillotine said... Spiteful git? Was pompous-narcissitic-wanker already taken? How about ignoramus twat.

Susanne,You are famous. Have you seen the members forum on LDV. In the room Private news stories, it has a separate thread about you which has run to 4 pages having 50 replies with 1229 views. The highest on record. With the questions getting more exploratory Rob took it upon himself to lock the debate on Thurdays 21st Dec. It's an explosive time bomb. What is he covering up?

What a bloody cheek. Turns out that Rob started a discussion about me in the forum which attracted a sudden bump in LDV readership. 1229 views wow. Apparently when the questions became heavy and sensitive he locked the debate. God only knows why. Certainly very illiberal.

Just my luck, I never registered so haven't been able to read it but some postings in the threads have been sent to me by people I never expected in my wildest dreams.

Now I've been informed it's not only me. With all the signs of control freakism, he's locked out other party members as well for writing things he doesn't agree with. First it was Grace Goodlad and then her husband Duncan Borrowman. How ridiculous when Duncan works in the Campaigns Department at party HQ, Cowley Street and sits on the 3rd floor next to Mark Pack. Just wonder how many other members it's happened to.

I have never understood why somebody would go to the extent of continually maliciously trying to spoil somebody's reputation. Doesn't really matter to me much anymore but I'm not going to take it lying down. Some of my experiences since joining the party are horrendous and not as I expected from the LibDems. I could write a book.

Ukip & the colour Purple

The news is out everywhere - Yet Another UKIP Branch Quits. There's no point in really saying anything except good riddens.

The only thing I like about UKIP the scary party is their colour. Purple is my favourite.

News from the Ind 10th Jan - Two Tory peers defect to UKIP, The UK Independence Party will gain its first foothold in the House of Lords today after two former Conservative peers defected to the Eurosceptic party. Lord Pearson and Lord Willoughby de Broke will formally announce that they are joining UKIP this morning, declaring they have "given up hope" on the Tories.

Same story from the BBC, Lord Pearson of Rannoch, who switched with Lord Willoughby de Broke, said UKIP was the "only party telling the truth" about Europe.

From Political News, Defections give Ukip foothold in parliament, Lord Pearson of Rannoch and Lord Willoughby de Broke were Tory peers but had the whip withdrawn in 2004 for helping Ukip, and have been sitting as independents. They now hope to persuade others to defect to a new Ukip grouping in the House of Lords.

It really is win some and lose some for UKIP at the moment. In the eyes of most people they might be 2 old duffers and total plonkers but I must admit it's a little disappointing that there's only a small two-liner from Iain Dale, really thought he had more about him.

Ming Campbell does the Spice Girls at the Liberal Democrat Conference ... (more)

Googling away, quite by chance came across this YouTube snippet courtesy of channel4.com/4laughs. I'm not usually a fan of satire but this one made me laugh so much it brought tears to my eyes. Even the title is suggestive. It's a bit past it's sell by date but thought what heck it will surely amuse others.


According to YouTube the video has had Views: 1,219 since it was published on the web a couple of months ago. I'm so surprised that it hasn't been picked up by any of the bloggers especially LibDems. They are given to poking fun at others, that's part of the game but why keep stum about one of your own, it smacks of hypocrisy.

Taking the plunge and reciprocating links

Just getting back into the swing of things after a few days sick with a heavy cold. Felt like I had two heads. No enthusiasm for blogging. There were even some musings half written - now all posted in their original days but admittedly a bit late.

Wonder why so many people seem to think I'm going to stop blogging. Most ridiculous idea I've ever heard of. Now I'm in the enviable position of being able to say it as it is and boy am I going to. I can't be told I'm bringing the LibDem party into disrepute on my blog any longer because I've apparently already done that. Nor can anybody black-mark me for writing to newspapers anymore.

Very sad but true. We have some real spiteful toe-rags in the party. Especially those who don't like women and can't relate to strong minded mature souls. Others who are so lilly-livered and weak minded they bury their heads in the sand afraid to say boo to a goose. Still drafting the story but it's really all down to Dominic Mathon and Haringey Cllr, Fiyaz Muhgal. Never mind, it doesn't affect my life very much and certainly saves me some money.

Used the getting better opportunity and taken the plunge to finally change my blog over to the new Blogger format. Clicked on the Switch now link which has been pestering my life every time I logged on. Took me three goes. Certainly wasn't as easy to do as they claimed but amazingly the only problem I noticed was that the font size of some of the links in the right column became large. Sorted two of them by adding the HTML font size code to 2. The only one that remains enlarged is the Add this to your own site words under the LibDem TV which I can't alter because it is part of the script. Maybe Mark Pack or Will Howells will pick it up before I delete it because it must be the same for others using Blogger.

Haven't got round to changing the template. Not really sure I want to at the moment. Will test it out on one of my other trial blogs. What I have found most enjoyable is adding labels to some of the recent postings. Very easy to follow threads now. Don't like them listed on the site as Duncan Borrowman has it. Found there's really no need. The same effect is achieved by clicking on the links under a posting.

My dyslexic problem means I think of people and situations pictorially so I've given memorable names to individuals I know and how I relate to them. It's really great fun. Well Dominic Mathon (Oxonian) and Mark Pack (Slave-driver) have their trademark names so that was easy. Some people will recognise themselves, sorry Rob Fenwick (Spiteful git), you asked for it.

Another thing I've been doing is adding reciprocal links to my blog. Despite what some people hoped the readership is steadily increasing. Even I'm surprised, though I must admit it is heart warming that so many people are interested in what I have to say and regularly return. Especially the media. Just been told by one young man that readership of his blog has gone up since he linked to mine. That's a genuine compliment to warm the cockles of anybody's heart. If you want to link to my blog just let me know. Contact me by email

Happy New Year

Best wishes to one and all including Muslims celebrating Eid Mubarak



Had to find something to welcome in the New Year - cool graphic shamelessly nicked from Duncan Borrowman