15.02.08, Culture Classes.

If I were a schoolteacher I think I would pack it in, buy a rucksack and go walkabout. It is incredible that we have two members of Parliament, called secretaries, to deliver one message from the Cabinet, the culture Secretary, Andy Burnham, and the school’s secretary, Ed Balls, telling schoolteachers and the parents that the… Continue reading 15.02.08, Culture Classes.

Published
Categorized as General

12.02.08.

Curry Concerns I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read that 9000 Curry houses were short of staff, and the staff that was needed had to come from Bangladesh. Sophie and my daughter have both taught themselves to make various, incredibly nice curry dishes, using a spice recipe that they got from a restaurant in… Continue reading 12.02.08.

Published
Categorized as General

12.02.08

Stoning firemen just for fun. A pastime created by bored young people, during the troubles in Northern Ireland, seems to have spread throughout the UK. It was really very simple, all you needed was some bottle crates, some old whisky and gin bottles, to steal some petrol and tear up a few rags, make about… Continue reading 12.02.08

Published
Categorized as General

06.02.08, Serious Questions!

I still have to be careful not to strain my eyes and over the last few days I have written a piece about government for today, but events have overtaken me and so I write this virtually in shorthand. Please forgive me. A number of incidents concerning the national accounting are perturbing me. It started… Continue reading 06.02.08, Serious Questions!

Published
Categorized as General

03.02.08, Only 5 Days To Go

Old Light through New Windows. On Thursday last, I had one of those days when things can still surprise you. I saw an incredibly interesting and well put together programme on BBC 4 which confirmed things I had been told as a boy about Islam. It was the first part of a triptych entitled ‘The… Continue reading 03.02.08, Only 5 Days To Go

Published
Categorized as General