WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[Tardis]

Listened to part of the debate about chipping puppies so they can be traced. I'm all in favour of it but took issue with one Tory MP who said that the layabouts breeding illegal dogs would ignore the regulations and the data base would be full of "dogs responsibly chipped by middle class owners". Does this mean that the 'working class won't be in there as well? Only a small slip of the tongue but it betrays so much about the man's thought processes.

Does it? or does it betray some simplistic thinking on the parts of others who don't fully understand just how disengaged some parts of the population are to the rest of society?

For what it is worth, I have always chipped my animals and I was an enthusiatic supporter of the Pendle campaign because it turned out that Maggie's chip had 'died' so she was redone. Forcing people to do things with a stick does not bring supplication from the British people as demonstrated by much of history.

[Stanley]

I can't help being simple-minded.......
The main thing that grabbed me was mail bringing news of a shift in my small personal world. Not sure it's public knowledge yet but I have asked and will return as soon as I have word.

[Tardis]

LCC repainting the zebra crossing on Church Street.

Is there an election on?

[Tripps]

" mail bringing news of a shift in my small personal world"
Not connected with the Queen's birthday list is it ?

[Tizer]

I couldn't believe what I was hearing this morning when a man on the radio said that `the West' should rebuild the giant stone Bhuddas that the Taleban destroyed in Afghanistan. He was taking the attitude of `That'll show em' and sounded very condescending. It should be for the Afghan people to decide if they want to replace the monuments, not `the West', and to do it themselves if they decide it's a good idea. `The West' might find that they prefer a new bridge, a railway, more schools etc instead. Perhaps he didn't know the colonial days are long over.

[Stanley]

A profile of Jeremy Hunt on R4 this morning. Gave a picture of a professional politician driven by ambition with flexible 'principles'. Oh, and he has a sprung dance floor in his flat to practice his Latin American dancing. You may remember he was one of the leading lights attacking the BBC. I think someone there has a log memory.
A snippet in the News Quiz prompted me to look up 'Michael Gove Cherwell five in a bed' on Google. (LINK)

[Tizer]

A snippet in the News Quiz prompted me to look up 'Michael Gove Cherwell five in a bed' on Google

Oxford student newspaper Cherwell, January 1988 (as shown in Daily Mail).

[Whyperion]

LCC painting the zebra crossing ? Isn't that penciled in to become a light controlled pedestrian crossing should on of the superstore plans get approval ?

[Stanley]

Tiz, I do love it when a good peccadillo surfaces after many years....
Min thing that grabs me is continued improvement in me old knees! There is hope for me yet!

[Tardis]

Yesterday:

All the lycra on show yesterday for the Pendle Triathlon in the wind and sleet. None of them seemed to be taking it easy, but it was a bit cold for spectators

[Stanley]

I talked to a lady yesterday who spent 6 hours as a marshall on the triathlon... She was not amused.
Thanks to Terry at Gissings I got the bunce from the brass scrap he got weighed in for me before Xmas. I'd written it off so a very welcome £35!

[Nolic]

Happy Thrimilci or Beltaine to all. Nolic

[Big Kev]

Happy Thrimilci or Beltaine to all. Nolic

Wishing you joy and fertility, perhaps not so much of the fertility...

[Big Kev]

My attention was caught today by my 31st wedding anniversary. I just thought I'd mention it, a lot.

[PanBiker]

Congratulations Kev and Mrs Kev of course. A Spring wedding, very nice, ours was in December, it was so cold back in 1976, you could see your breath in the church.

[Nolic]

Congratulations Kev and Paulette. Nolic

[Stanley]

A very simple thing, two walks round Valley Gardens without severe pain.... Bliss!

[Stanley]

The BBC programme last night about Cardinal Sean Brady (LINK). A terrible story of betrayal and an indictment of the Catholic Church. What makes it worse of course is that this is recognised to be only the tip of a very large iceberg.

[Nolic]

"Jane's Law" restricting bail for alleged perpetrators of serious crimes against the person received Royal Assents yesterday. This is largely down to the brave parents of Jane Clough from Barrowford who despite their grief have fought tirelessly to try to protect other victims. Nolic

[Stanley]

The 'small change in my world' is public now. Roy Prenton left the Leader series on Monday after 38 years service with the group. I couldn't have had a better editor and wish him well. He called in yesterday and we had a cup of tea while we plotted..... BET carries on but with a much reduced staff.
Enjoying the snooker. Ronnie O'Sullivan on song is sheer poetry.....

[Stanley]

Good eye test, glaucoma OK, cataracts not worsened and eyesight shows a small improvement. Reassuring stuff!
Doc called in and we had a good natter. He's busy but in good health. Jack and I cadged a lift up to Letcliffe and walked back from there. Walking improves slowly and it won't be long before I feel I can do my Letcliffes again. Good!

[Stanley]

Final of the snooker world championship today. Ronnie versus Ali Carter. I predict that Ali (advised by Peter Ebdon who got into trouble for the same ploy) will try to slow Ronnie down by playing a very careful tactical game by taking no risks. I think Ronnie will have sussed this and will keep his cool, he is a different man these days because of the advice he has been taking from his psychiatrist. It will be a fascinating clash of different temperaments. The danger for Carter is that this is not his natural game and he may end up putting more pressure on himself than Ronnie..... Looking forward to it!

[Tizer]

When you eat your Weetabix in future don't be surprised if you find the odd bit of chow mein or chop suey in it. The company has been bought by a big Chinese conglomerate, Bright Foods. Mind you, Weetabix hasn't been quite the good old Brit cereal company since 2004, when it was bought by a US private equity firm, then sold to a UK private equity firm, and now to the Chinese. Don't think that it means Weetabix is now owned directly by Chinese private shareholders - I think most of the company is owned by the Chinese state, and the Chinese government now have control over your breakfast!

[Stanley]

Not mine Peter! Never got on with breakfast cereals....
The fact that I washed and dried the large, heavy cotton cover for my sofa. A major washing task! Partially dried it outside on the line and finished it off overnight hung over the bannisters at the top of the stairs getting the benefit of the hot air rising from the stove in the front room. A small thing but a big job!

[Stanley]

How nice the Dog looks after the removal of the rendering. Same applies to Hey Farm as well of course. I wish the Dog well, they seem to be on the right track and deserve to succeed.