Queen is a Gunners fan

Quite bemused to read in this weeks Islington Gazette that the Queen is a Gunners fan and has been for 50 years. Wow your majesty, it's not something one associates with Royalty. - Queen admits she's an Arsenal fan

Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas revealed this week that when he met The Queen at a special reception at Buckingham Palace the 81-year-old told him she was a fan of the team, who are based at the Emirates stadium in Drayton Park, Highbury.

The late Queen mother was also apparently a follower of the Gunners as well.

Well she has one up on me because I hate football of any kind. Very difficult for me to sit and watch any match.

Islington: Pay rise for councillors and Roadkill-gate

Local news this week is a bit of a mixed bag.

The LibDems administration in Islington are certainly not doing themselves any favours with their recent increase in Councillor allowances. According to the Islington Tribune the councillors have voted for themselves a staggering 5.5 per cent inflation-busting pay rise. That's just being greedy.

Personally I've never been very happy the way the allowance were agreed upon by the previous administration. The disparity between the executive allowances and the back-benchers is too much. Generally though it's widely known that Islington councillors allowances are amongst the highest in the country. With adjacent Camden and Haringey boroughs on much lower rates it seems ridiculous at this time for Islington to add another hefty hike. Would have been a more appropriate gesture just to prop up the back bench allowances which are not much cop.

The few Islington Labour councillors have been moaning about it for years. As is usual the LibDems accuse them of political postering. Bullshit, for once one has to agree with Labours stand on the issue.
The LibDem council group leader, James Kempton, can talk all the waffle he want to but it still doesn't justify their action

Another story doing the rounds. Remember my post about the hilarious front page story of the Conservative Paul Newman - Roadkill’ jibe sparks storm the letter page this week is busting with more on the story.

Paul writes ‘Roadkill-gate’ just laughable, LIB Dems foam with faux moral outrage about my supposedly insulting description of Mildmay residents. Let me immediately say that I would be happy to clutch each and every Mildmay voter to my bosom in admiration and respect The risibly trivial ‘Roadkill-gate’ affair’s genesis was on Iain Dale’s blog, the most celebrated Conservative web forum, which I contribute to regularly.

Another letter from Mildmay Ward, LibDem Cllr Meral Ece, really lays into him. More cutting remarks you couldn't get . She concludes by writing, Mr Newman should realise there is a difference between cracking a political joke and turning your party into one.

Already picked up by the London Evening Standard. Seems we haven't heard the last of this now labelled 'GATE' sage but imagine because of it Iain Dale's got a mention in our local papers. That's a real turn up for the books.

Look it's a birdie

This evening dusk in the garden, after watering the grass the birds are out. Some of them are so people friendly especially one Robin who has lived in the trees for years. Don't know where he goes in the winter but he appears year in and year out every April.

Camera to hand taking pictures of the plants, a birdie walked straight across my feet and hopped on the the water trough I've made. A bluetit also grabbed a worm from the ground infront of me - what a feast.

Another hot day with the worms and flowers

Great excitement about my Scottish worms which arrived on Thursday in a shoebox. Natasha as curious as I am, decided she was bringing Naim on Saturday so she could see them for herself.

Seemed to tickled her fancy that they had been sent all the way from Scotland to colonise my flat's garden in London. Wasn't sure what to do with them for two days so left them outside my flat door just in case they escaped.

Yesterday in the garden, opened the box with great trepidation. They were all wiggling about in a bag. Poured the whole blob of worm poo and worms into a green bucket (photo above). It was an amazing sight. We all peered inside and it was fun picking some of them up. Had to keep stirring the mix because they tried to hide from the sunlight. Some were great fat brown ones and loads of whitish looking small babies.

Until I read the instruction, didn't know the colony is self regulating in numbers depending on the food available, they breed every 2 weeks and live up to 15 years. Oh my god what have I started.

Naim got his stool out of the shed to help me sort out the composter to put them inside. What a laugh. Robert arrived later carrying a extra large plant pot for our planned orange tree adventure later in the day. That's Naim standing on the stool telling him all about it. He's like a little old man the way he retains info in his head and then talks about it.

Feeding the worms to the composter was supposed to be an educational experience for Naim. He found it very funny but it was definitely a learning curve for all of us.

Some of the plants that have come into blooms even since my last post Lazy day and the wonders of nature a few days ago are pretty amazing.

Naim went round smelling the flowers and showing off to his mother his cartoon windmill stakes he's stuck in the ground.

Kentish Town Pound Stretcher has a wonderful gardening section. Naim loves walking round the shop 'finding' things for the garden.

With mother and baby Aalia off home. Robert, Naim and I went to rescue a small orange tree from across the road at the back of the shops. The owner says the building is to be demolished so I could have it if I could dig it up.

Wasn't easy with all the masses of roots. Naim was in hysterics at us all marching down the road carrying it. Suspect people around here are used to me and mine making idiots of themselves.

After trimming all the roots and washing the muck off the leaves it now looks lovely in the big pot - tree right in front of the composter. Bit of tender care and we'll see if it lives. (photo right)

Such a lovely day Naim had great fun playing football like 'Rooney' . His father supports ManU and it's obvious he's picking up the vibes. Later in the flat, whilst I was out, he managed to persuade Robert to get out his finger paints. What a mess.

Natasha arrived to take him home - cheeky boy he hid holding Robert's leg. Think he was expecting to sleep over. Least she allowed him to have his fun bath and talc fight so that calmed him down. What a boy, everyday is something new.

Not mentioned much about baby Aalia. Well she's beginning to move about about and is fascinated by my long blonde hair. What has tickled me pink is she has my birth mark. How incredible. Nobody else has it as far as I know. I've had a strawberry patch at the top of my neck just under my hair at the back since I was born. Aalia has one in exactly the same place.

Folkstone tremor, were you there?

Was slighty taken back this morning after turning on the news and hearing the news reporting on an earthquake. For a brief moment thought I heard it wrong. In Folkstone Kent in UK how incredible.

The earthquake, which measured 4.3 on the Richter scale, struck Kent at 0819 BST and experts said its epicentre was a few miles off the coast in the English Channel. Apparently it was the largest to hit Britain since one in the West Midlands in 2002.

It might have only been a tremor but it must have been a bit scary for those living in Folkstone. My heart went out to the elderly lady in the photo being helped by the police. She must have been scared to death poor soul.

Facts about other UK happenings. A sarcy post claims there were much more serious tremors in 1382 and 1580. Wonder how reliable is the info from back then, all sounds a bit iffy. On the other hand there's some really interesting stuff from Wikipedia: The Dogger Bank earthquake of 1931 is the strongest earthquake ever recorded in the United Kingdom since measurements began, and measured 6.1 on the Richter Scale.

Chingford Green by-election result

Ever optimistic LibDems posted the Chingford Green by-election results (London Borough of Waltham Forest).

--- Lib Dem vote up 15% in Chingford Green ---
Congratulations to the team in Chingford Green who last night secured a 15%swing from the Conservatives. The by-election, following the death of the Conservative councillor, was well organised and many activists have reported how much they enjoyed the campaign.

The result was
Con 1694 55.23% -15.07%
Lib Dem Graham Woolnough 1022 33.32%(+ 14.62%)
Lab 208 6.78% (-4.32%)
UKIP 143 4.66% (+4.66%).

Graham and his team including Bob Sullivan, Sir Henry Boyle, John Beanse and many more have done a great job to show us we can make good progress against the Tories AND squeeze the Labour vote very efficiently!

Always amazing the way even a loss is turned around into motivating the troops. A Conservative stronghold, LibDems didn't really expect to win the seat. Can't deny that statistically they did very well with the percentage swing 15% Conservative to Liberal Democrat. However, in announcing the results it's a case of sour grapes, there's no mention of the actual winning Conservative Party candidate Andrew Hemsted who won with 1694 votes. But that's the LibDems for you they have never been know to very magnanimous when it comes to congratulating an opposition winner.

Sad really but Ming's sounds like he's past his sell by date

Listening to Ming on 5 Live this morning one could only cringe. Youthful presenter Richard Bacon made him sound a real old duffer. He obviously thinks Ming is past his sell by date and deliberately set out to portray that impression to the listening audience. We all know Ming no longer has the rapid reaction to questions that a younger man has and it came across on the programme. Picking up on the vibes some of the callers weren't complimentary either.

Non-political bods look at the man and what he is about. One can't deny that the charisma of David Cameron and his daredevil man of the people antics has had a remarkable effect on the young and renewed a lot of interest in politics.

By comparison Ming comes across like a grandfather and not even the cuddly type. He's actually very charming. I've said it many times before he is a real gentleman from the old school but terribly old fashioned. In modern day politics that's like signing a death warrant. (The photo from conference is of him and his devoted wife Elspeth).

The problem is that many LibDems feel the same way. There is nothing anybody can do to change things for the moment. He is the leader and one has to live with it so they close ranks and pretend. His team around him are quite rightly so very protective of him. He's surrounded by a lot of ambitious young Turks all willing to fill in for him at a moments notice when it gets too strenuous for him.

Don't think his leadership will have any damaging effect on the local election, he's too far removed from the grassroots electorate. Come the general election when he'll be in the media spotlight that will be the true test. I feel his leadership will help the LibDems lose seats.

Scottish Dendrobaena compost worms arriving

With rubbish and recycling again in the news with the 2 weekly bin collections (not yet started in Islington) it seems quite topical to get more involved and take it to the next level.

Not sure if I've actually bitten off more than I can chew this time. Decided to get some worms for my composter. Couldn't buy any locally and the ones recommended on the Islington website are very expensive. Somebody suggested I check out the web for price comparison. Had to giggle, sounded so funny checking for prices of worms.

Found a worm farm in Scotland - Mark's Farm. Apparently it's the biggest farm in the country with it's own registered worm trademark, Scottishworms. How cool. The web information says,
Dendrobaena compost worms Ideal for recycling household waste. Add these Dendrobaena worms to your compost heap to help break down your garden waste in to a more valuable finished product which can be used to improve your plant or vegetable production. THE WAY NATURE INTENDED.

Least from Scotland, one can be sure they are the real deal. Ordered half a kilo (approx 500 worms) online then as an after thought, phoned up to find out how they are dispatched and how long they live in transit. Flash thought, need to arrange for Naim to come and help me. He loves all the garden wigglies as he calls them so decided it would be an exciting venture for him. After all 500 is a lot of wigglies and he's very good at catching them when they try to escape.

Talk about customer service. The man on the phone obviously passionate about his worms gave me an intense lesson on what to do. Such a nice man. If I hadn't had the chat I'd probably have just chucked them inside the composter as they were and hoped they would survive. First time in my life I've ever considered somebody could be passionate about worms - Never came to mind before either that such a business as breeding worms existed. Reading the website it's all pretty amazing.

Least I now know that worms only work in the top 4" so keep moving up the top part of the moist composter. Suppose it makes sense if you think about it because one always finds them under the flowers when you dig down. Told not to put citrus fruit and onions in the composter.

Bit yucky for some folks. Well my Dendrobaena worms (god what a long name) are on the way. Let them arrive and we'll see what happens. Will definitely have the camera to hand to record the event for posterity.

Chris Rennard one to one with Iain Dale

Including a frank discussion about the Michael Brown donation (hear CR's answer to the question in the short video below)



From Iain Dale - LibDems Face Double Whammy Brown Fine

The spectre of jailed fraudster Michael Brown has returned to haunt the LibDems, who, according to Scotland on Sunday may not only have to repay the £2.4 million they took from him, but may also face a £2.4 million fine from the Electoral Commission. As expected the squealer has a post on the same story. A Welsh blogger is suggesting the party is facing bankruptcy.

The question on everybodies lip is, if the LibDems have to repay this money and the fine can they afford it or will the party go under? At the moment, you won't get a straight answer from Chris Rennard that's for sure. He has his prepared speech off pat by now - nothing new has been said that hasn't been said before. Don't think anybody really knows the answer anyway. Nothing will be decided until after the Electoral Commission gives a final ruling.

Chris Rennard the party’s Chief Executive, recorded an hour-long interview for 18 Doughty Street today. It’s being broadcast tomorrow night at 9pm or you can watch the FULL interview in their website archive.

Mark Park shit-stirring again

Just hilarious, one of Islingtons most vocal, hard-hitting Conservative bloggers, Paul Newman, is front page news in this weeks Islington Tribune - Roadkill’ jibe sparks storm

ISLINGTON Tory Paul Newman should have known that jokes on the internet can backfire.Mr Newman, 42, maintains he was referring to his colleagues in Mildmay when he contributed what he thought was a witty riposte on a blog by national Tory pundit Iain Dale.

Typically Paul's responded in his usual bullish way with a post today, Bovvered I am not

It all started when 'burning the midnight oil ferret' Mark Pack (pic right) who's always looking for caustic ways of making the opposition look bad in the eyes of the electorate, picked out Paul's comment from the thread and wrote a post turning the jibe into something more sinister than was intended. “Almost bestially stupid”: top Tory’s verdict on Islington residents - Paul Newman is Vice-Chair (North) of Islington Conservatives and had this to say recently on Iain Dale’s blog.

Well, Paul doesn't like the LibDems and he makes no bones about it. He fired back with bullets on his blog, an inevitable verbal rampage. He does have a rather brash, blunt, and brutal style of writing.

Now it's fisticuffs at dawn with the LibDems. The whole thing is turning into one of those pathetic he said, she said, slapstick comedy shows with Islington LibDem councillors getting in on the act and adding their pennyworth. All rather stupid really.

It's reported that Mildmay Ward, Lib Dem councillor Rhodri Jamieson-Ball said “It does not surprise me that the Tories haven’t got any councillors in Islington if they treat voters with this sort of contempt. Naturally Councillor Lucy Watt, Lib Dem deputy leader of the council had to get in on the act, added: “The Tory Party claim they are no longer the nasty party, but clearly nothing has changed. Senior members like Mr Newman are still making offensive remarks like this.

Thanks to Arthurian Legend for the scanned picture of the paper. He's also following the saga with bemusement. What is adding more flavour to the mix are some of the other cross-party bloggers comments under the various posts, so have a read and judge for yourself.

The rather irritatingly childish Mark Pack post has 44 comments under it alone. Mostly Newman vs Islington people all slagging each other off and even Bridget (Miss prissy knickers) Fox has voiced an opinon for what it's worth. With Mark being described as a 'po-faced twerp' - ,just have to remember that one, they're all making real Charlies of themselves.

Me thinks it's a local rant going to run and run for some time........

The Mole at work

The First Post mole is at work again. A supposed exclusive says Blair to Resign on May 9th, starting a leadership contest which will end on June 30th.

Says, "A May 9 announcement will mean Blair leaving Number 10 for the last time at the end of June, 10 years and eight weeks after taking office.
Blair will be able to attend his final EU and G8 summits before going. The disappointment will be that he will not be able to match Thatcher's 11 and a half years as PM".

With speculation rife we all live to see if it's true or just another rumour.

Whoops, I missed this from the master

Ming chickens out

Watching the most ludicrous story of the week play out, somebody sent me these mischievous words, I was thinking of posting it on my site, just to sh*t stir!!! But I ain’t as brave as you (xx).

How tragic. That Ming’s assumed timidity and Cameron’s betrayal of his own troops has brought an 'anyone but Livingstone' candidate crashing to the ground?

From an article in the London Evening Standard of 20.04.07 - 'Timid' Ming blamed over failed Dyke-for-Mayor plot.

Full details of the plot to get Greg Dyke to run against Mayor Ken Livingstone emerged today as both the Tories and Lib-Dems battled to rescue their mayoral campaigns.

The secret plan to install the former BBC chief as an independent candidate collapsed yesterday after talks between Sir Menzies Campbell and David Cameron broke up without agreement.
But the fall-out from the failed deal, exclusively revealed by the Standard, continued today as the Tories claimed that former Lib-Dem mayoral candidate Simon Hughes was among senior figures who backed the idea.

Senior party figures said Mr Hughes and Lib-Dem peer Lord Clement-Jones had played a key role in trying to get a candidate who could be jointly backed by the Conservatives. The Tories tried to fight back from the chaos of the collapsed plot by announcing the timetable for their candidate selection for the next year's mayoral election.

Mr Cameron has decided to revert to his idea of a US-style primary, with a candidate finally in place by this autumn - just six months before polling day next May.
All London voters will be given a say in the Tory selection. As the Tories and Lib-Dems blamed each other for the farce, Mr Livingstone gleefully denounced the plot as proof that Mr Cameron wanted to stab Tory hopefuls for Mayor in the back.

Very apt words - We need a personality to win against Livingstone… and a joint-ticket candidate could have pulled this off. Has politics changed to the art of the possible? Maybe we don’t need a political wonk to run our capital city? All we need is a larger than life individual who has success of London at the heart of their thinking?

Seems for the time being Greg Dyke has rejected the idea. Sensible man. Personally can't see what special charismatic qualities he has to take on Labour's Ken Livingstone in the first place.

There may be clever ideas mulling around but I'm not sure the LibDem/Tory membership will take it lying down if somebody, no matter how colourful, is imposed on them. It's certainly not constitutional but it seems in the desperation to get rid of Ken, the other parties are considering breaking their own rules and risking being taken to court.

Don't know who thought up the barmy idea in the first place. Under the leadership of Charles Kennedy a joint party anything under any circumstances was just taboo. These days it's a case of chopping and changing like the wind with coalitions becoming part of the norm. Simon Hughes is quoted as saying that neither the Tories nor LibDems could agree a formal joint candidate. Hardly surprising - politically they are poles apart.

Update: Over at Mayor Watch read - Dyke Not Standing, Do the Tories Have Anything to Offer London?. Another interesting post On your Dyke

Lazy day and the wonders of nature

Such a lovely day. My small garden is in full bloom with some lovely scrubs, flowers, bulbs and herbs. The wild garlic above is from next door, they have been growing locally for over 50 years so are very tough.

Feel so proud of my achievement converting a local jungle in the back of one of London's street properties into a hidden paradise.

Everyday I see new flowers peeping through. Even some of those I was told would die off after flowering last year have started to sprout again. Quite amazing how some of the bulbs have propagated. After the season I'll be able to offer some to the recycle website. I'm registered with the Islington and Camden sites.

Most unconventional for me. Went down to the local pound shop and purchased a green set of table and chairs. From Woolies got a cheapo umbrella and from Argos a cast iron umbrella stand. Wasn't sure there would be enough space. All set up it looks pretty impressive.

Amazing the gadgets and gizmos they think up. From Morrisons found extra large pot stands on casters. Bought two to test. They are just brilliant. Took all the strength I could muster but managed to lift the two heavy pots, a spiky palm and a huge fir tree, on top. They fitted perfectly so now it's easy to push them away from the table when it's in use.

Managed also to get a new gate for the path to the garden. Had to be specially made because the space is an odd size but painted brown it looks quite swish. Least now the boxer dogs from the basement flat can't get inside.

A refreshing change from politics, just thought others might appreciate the wonderful sights.

Iain Dale and more Iain Dales

Trust Iain Dale, this post gives us a useful and detailed breakdown of the runners and riders in the upcoming local elections.

Somebody sent me the link to this Iain Dale's Dairy - Thought I was seeing double at first until I realised it's another Tim Ireland rant blog.

and this -

Iain Dale: Spammer In January 2006, about 2 hours before this post went live, Iain Dale sent out bulk unsolicited email to an unknown number of bloggers, seeking a link exchange.

Don't think anybody really minds being linked to the real Iain Dale's Diary - sounds like a case of the Green eyed monster to me. Couldn't resist the caricature of Ian in a Spam tin. It's pretty cool really with his little head sticking out of the top of the can.

Not quite sure what is the purpose of the spoof blog. Where does Tim and his cohorts get the time to keep writing them and producing all the nifty graphics. Wonder does anybody except odd balls like me really read it.

Dominic Mathon, a very strange fly.

Some very strange emails in my blog email box. Several are quite bizarre. Had me in stitches. One message, your worst nightmare, a fly on the wall to squash. When I looked at the attachment it's a diddy photo of Dominic Mathon aka Oxonian the man from Hayes.

He been a very naughty boy. Ever heard of the expression 'Come to Mummy'

Oh lord, couldn't stop laughing. Where on earth has that come from. Just shows how people remember things they read on blogs.

gweirdo, funny lady, sent me a link to Recess Monkey's strange interview with Jeremy Paxman. True, it's Alex Hilton disguise and all running amok - Such a silly plonker but have to admit he has 'balls'.

After listening to it don't quite know what to say.

Tories and LibDems running scared of Ken

The Lib Dems were supposed to announce their London Mayoral candidate hopefuls 10th May with a fanfare press release. That was the plan anyway but it didn't happen.

Trust Iain Dale to be on the ball with all the info to hand - saved me having to check through my email for the timetable - Libdems delay mayoral selection

According to info received from bods supposed to be in the know, one woman and three men applied for the seat. Unfortunately for them, they are nobodies, non-entities so the selection is now on the back burner with nominations to be reopened.

The party have egg on their face with this one. Remember they issued a press release last August condemning the Tories for doing the same thing. Can't find the link at the mo but rather crudely put Hunter exposes Fib Dem hypocrisy mentions it.

Noted over at 18 Doughty Street the One to One programme has started interviews with the Tory hopefuls. Brilliant idea, was hoping to hear some of the LibDem candidates that's of course if the kingmakers allow. I bet they don't.

Iain Dale speaks to Victoria Borwick - here She's hoping to be the Tory candidate to beat Ken. In this clip, he asks her why the Conservatives were forced to extend the Mayoral candidate process and why she is a better proposition than Steven Norris. Well she is certainly prettier than Steven Norris but after listening to her, Ken Livingstone would have her for breakfast.

Have to agree with one thing she says. To be London Mayor is one of the most exciting jobs in the world. London is the hub of the world economy but for the time being, Ken has it sewn up.

Wish parties would accept reality at times. I've said it before -

To be the party spokesperson one has to admit it's a tough choice for anybody to make. A LibDem candidate would only be for raising their profile and public awareness probably as a stepping stone for a Parliamentary Candidate. It's hardly likely that anybody will beat Ken Livingstone. Love him or hate him he has that unique star quality and is known to be a maverick. A sign of the times but the masses like non-conformists who create juicy news.

Lets be realistic, to run the Mayoral campaign will cost a lot of money and with no chance of winning it's just wasted expenditure, time and energy. The party just doesn't have anybody that could outshine Ken. Simon Hughes thought he had a chance last time around and he fluffed it woefully. The Conservatives (Tories) may have the money but can't really see them doing any better either.

Not a peep from them except a barrel of truth here. It's all a publicity stunt anyway so why bother. Not heard a dicky bird about the Greens, wonder if they are going to put up a candidate this time.

Update: I stand corrected by Natalie Bennett of Philobiblon fame, Sian Berry is the Green Party candidate, as reported by the BBC.

Well that adds a bit of real glamour to the campaigning and she certainly has the gift of the gab. A Kentish Town resident I've meet her several times whilst out campaigning and to be honest she's like a breath of fresh air. Just sad she's a Green.

Update 2: On the ball as usual, Iain Dale has sent me the link to August 2006 Simon Hughes party press release.

Tory with his pants down

Whose been a naughty boy then? From the posh borough of Westminster this time it's a Tory councillor whose copped it. The West End Extra reports

CID Probe into £120,000 black hole Tory councillor quits after discrepancy found in accounts.

A TORY councillor has quit after the High Court on Friday froze his accounts. Michael Vearncombe, who represented Marylebone, was issued with the writ by the Bryanston Court Residents’ Association after they found a £120,000 discrepancy in their accounts.

Well I never, at least he's done the dastardly deed and resigned from the council. What that means there will be another London by-election in Marylebone High Street ward on May 3, 2007. There is already to be a by-election in Westminster's Abbey Road Ward.

Camden: Another by-election looming

A honour well deserved, Labour councillor Roy Shaw, 81 who is standing down due to ill health is to be conferred with the title of Honorary Alderman of the borough. The award is the first of it's kind in the borough.

A remarkable 50 years of service - he's Camden Council's longest-serving member.

The Camden Gazette is quick off the mark with the story Veteran councillor to get unique honour

Camden born-and-bred Councillor Shaw, 81, a former council leader and Mayor of Camden, was elected to the former Hampstead Council in 1956 and served six years before the borough of Camden was established in 1964. Councillor Shaw, who represents Haverstock ward, was awarded the OBE for helping to set up Government watchdog, the Audit Commission, in 1991.

A truly momentous occasion, we can expect to read a lot more about the life of Roy Shaw in the coming weeks. A special council meeting will be held on June 6 where the award, will be presented to his sister on his behalf.

It means that in Haverstock ward his vacant seat will need to be filled so a by-election will be held July 12.

GLA: LibDem Candidates up for selection

The full list of 22 candidates up for selection for the GLA seats has now been released:

Ajmal Masroor, Ben Abbots, Caroline Pidgeon, Chris Noyce, Dee Doocey, Duncan Borrowman, Geoff Pope, James Allie, Jeremy Ambache, Johanna Christie-Smith, Leslie Coman, Meral Ece, Merlene Emmerson, Mike Tuffrey, Monica Whyte, Nasser Butt, Norsheen Bhatti, Rajonuddin Jalal, Sean Hooker, Shas Sheehan, Stephanie Dearden, Stephen Knight, Wayne Hoban. (In brown the three existng members up for re-selection)

Not sure why spiteful git has declared it's all secret. Well it's not as far as I'm concerned.

Friendly blogger Duncan Borrow must be wearing himself out with all the local functions he's been attending the past few months. It's making fascinating reading. Least he's going the right way about it by making himself known to ordinary members. It's the only way around it if he wants members to vote for him. Many vote by post and don't even bother to attend a hustings.

Interesting selection of candidates. Honestly don't know why some of them bothered to stand. They have no personality of any kind and are just wasting their time. Real wet lettuces. On the other hand there are one or two bright sparks who would really make a diffence if they were selected.

What is a pleasant surprise is the number of ethnic minority or BME ( the now politically correct term) who have scaled through (written green).

Later: Bit of a flaming cheek wonder who made him God's gift.

Cut crime committed by Lib Dems

Well they wrote it. Somebody has dropped a clanger. Headline on a Scottish LibDem Focus leaflet, a picture of which is being touted around the blogs. Here, here, here & here. More found, here is a brilliant analogy from a blog I've just come across - There may still be others I haven't noticed.

From Tory Radio LibDems admit they are the CAUSE of crime. Well that's what the words imply anyway.

LibDems are making complete idiots of themselves with this leaflet. Can't blame the Tories for poking fun at this cock-up as it reads more like the cover of Private Eye. I reckon it will show up on Have I Got News For You in the not too distant future.

Whoever wrote this caption needs showing the door. Why wasn't it proof-read before printing? Just amazed it wasn't noticed by others before distribution.

Don't think I'll worry about my dyslexia and having my blog proof-read again.

Calling Mark Valladares

Just checking out my best buddy's blog. He's been fiddling with the colours and text. With all the other flash bits he's been adding, one never really knows what to expect. Have been waiting to read his planned set of articles on the bureaucratic side of how the party runs. Was planning to add my pennyworth to what I know will be the polite, dull as ditch water, I must not upset anybody, stuffed shirt prose.

Opened his blog - Heavens Mark what have you done to it! Can't read a damn thing. One things for sure, his play on bureaucracy doesn't extend to a knowledge of what is required by the visually impaired or us oldies now needing glasses.

He's probably trying to compete with his trademark colourful shirts and waistcoats he collects on his travels which do look make him look distinctive. But on a website.....

Fluorescent green or blue coloured words on a black or navy blue background. A definite NO NO

Put it back quick, it's doing my eyes in. Any Mark Valladares fans out there put him back on the straight and narrow, please.

Tony Greaves you old spoil sport

Of all the things to worry about in this world, Lord Greaves a LibDem peer is getting his knickers in a twist about food. Spoilsport, he's concerned that election candidates are laying on lavish meals at rallies in an effort to bribe voters. (Think the word lavish is a bit of exaggeration myself)

A media report Parties 'bribe voters with meals quotes him as saying

Some people go along to the rallies of a particular candidate because they know they are going to get a lot of food. He claims it is particularly prevalent in Asian areas, as it's considered impolite not to provide food at gatherings.

Just love it when somebody starts quoting a law or rule enacted over a hundred years ago which gets people scratching their heads in amazement and rushing to get out the statute books. Don't suppose that many people knew such a law even existed.

It's true campaigners are actually banned from serving anything more than light refreshments, such as tea and biscuits, at meetings. The "treating" rules were brought in to end the widespread bribery of voters in the 19th Century, when people would be plied with food and drink to gain their support.

Acting like the grim reaper, activists have been warned they face fines or jail for illegally "treating" voters, ahead of May's Scottish, Welsh and English local council elections.

Such a miserable old goat, Tony Greaves said the rules were being flouted by all the main parties in an effort to attract voters.

I'd like to know who is defining what constitutes light refreshments. In modern multicultural Britain this can mean different things to different groups of people. Can appreciate why all the political parties don't really take this very seriously. After all Indian nibbles are more delicious than biscuits and more biscuits followed by more biscuits. Yuck.

Two weeks break

Been pondering a thought since yesterday. My friend asked me if I'd spoken to my sister Anne-Louise on the phone. 'Yes', I replied 'several hours ago how did you know'? He told me my voice had changed back to talking posh. It's apparently always like that for hours after talking to her. Well I never, I'm not conscious of it in any way. She'll probably laugh as much I did when she reads this.

What did we talk about, just family stuff. Oh in case anybody is curious my nephew Matthew is back from his stint in Afghanistan. He's not said much about it except that it was alright. Not very forthcoming is our Matthew about anything, suppose that's the Army for you. (photo of Matthew and my sons Sule and Marcus at his wedding before he went to Afganistan)

Early morning quick check of the blogosphere. Felt very pleased with myself. Britblog roundup 111 courtesy of Liberal England this time around has given me a mention. Ta for that Jonathan. Another blogger Matthew thought this post a good laugh. We aim to please. Noticed Tom Papworth after reading my two posts has written his own excellent take on the issue.

That's enough of that load of drivel. I've two weeks of doing nothing but to please myself. A whole list of personal jobs pending, wonder how many I'll get through. Blog posting will definitely be in slow mode, very slow in fact.

Now's time for number one job on my list. Pressure-wash the front again. It stinks with the empty beer cans in the dustbins - not mine, I don't drink. Gunk and ants from the children's sticky sweets climbing in the window instead of using the door.

All went very well then I made a fatal error. I pressure-washed the main door and the white decorative concrete surrounds. Thought a job well done, everything looking brilliant white. Opened the main front communal door and found a little water on the hall floor. Could of kicked myself for being so stupid and not putting a cloth along the bottom of the door beforehand.

A sudden load of shouting from the basement flat. Two of the older sons rushed up saying there was water penetrating into their bathroom via the light bulb and a load of abuse followed. Thought here we go again world war three is about to kick off again. Cleared up the small water in the hall and before I could even think about what to do, the mother returned home.
By the time she had finished gobbing it they had concocted the idea I had been pressure washing inside the building. Don't quite know how they arrived at that conclusion but that's what they want to believe so let them. Daft really as if anybody in their right mind would do something so stupid.

With the window opened I could hear shouting on the phone about me. Shortly after a man turned up to check the electrics. Hands up I made a genuine mistake and explained what happened. I had to keep a straight face when he ventured into the hall inspecting if I had actually been pressure washing inside.

Some peoples logic really beggars belief but that's life.

Labour, LibDem, Tory criminal councillors

Update from my post Sera Kentman and the 'who done it'? seems the police have now done the dastardly deed, Arrest in 'bankrupt councillor' inquiry

News report, Today police have confirmed that on Wednesday a 49-year-old woman called Sera Hulya Kibris was arrested at her home in Nutfield Road, Redhill, Surrey.

Wondered how many other elected councillors up and down the country have had a brush with the law during their terms of office. Googling lead me to this site, Liars, Buggers and Thieves. Didn't expect the horrors I found. Honestly this is my naivety at it's best. The sites absolutely fascinating for political scandal mongers looking for juicy gossip to blast the enemy. A real eye opener for other mere mortals. Seems the Bournemouth Nationalist's have been following up on all the lower profile political crooks from the three main parties that hardly get a mention except by local media. Presumably it's for campaigning ammunition

There are certainly some weird and wacky stories. Some are down right revolting. One that really knocked me for six. TORY PIMP SOLD LOVER , Tory councillor Alan Burkitt who sold his girlfriend for sex to pay off debts now faces jail. He advertised her on the web and charged £50 per time. He really must have a pea brain, as a councillor how on earth did he ever expect to get away with it.

The main page has some other strange stories but the side links (old stuff cribbed from other sites) are worse.

Check out left column links under 'Stuff You Should Look At' - Labour Criminals, Tory Criminals and Lib Dim Criminals

A bit of shock horror, sex, porn, violence, burglary, fraud and corruption, the list is endless. It's a sickening fact but as one Tory comment says 'Amazing how many of them are for noncey stuff'

Well I'm certainly not a Nationalist/BNP fan but it's a site worth a read.