Monthly Archives: December 2007

“In the City, despite the gloom, the bonuses are flowing like the Krug, and the bankers and money men are wallowing …   ….Behind all this lies an ugly paradox. For the super-rich investment bankers currently celebrating their huge bonuses are the … Continue reading →

You may recall The Hamper. I am not quite sure how many years we have been receiving this annual, festive, food parcel from my brother and family. But it is a high point. Since I was visiting last week, they … Continue reading →

If you are a parent, a teacher, a nursery worker, a childminder, a grandparent, an aunt, an uncle, or you just like children and think childhood is a good idea, please sign up to the openeye petition on the petitions … Continue reading →

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said recent scandals to have hit the government, such as data loss and proxy donations, will be “quickly forgotten”. He pledged to concentrate in the New Year on long-term goals and issues that really mattered … Continue reading →

A laugh out loud picture collection.

Facebookers of the world who while away their waking hours on the social networking website poking friends and playing Scrabulous can now read all about it – in a Facebook magazine. guardian Um, I don’t get it. I saw it … Continue reading →

"Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life" Brooke Shields, during an interview to become spokesperson for a federal anti-smoking campaign. "If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure" Dan Quayle, former … Continue reading →

“The Treasury has extended financial guarantees to Northern Rock at the request of the troubled lender….. This technically takes the gross exposure of the taxpayer to more than £100bn, the BBC’s business editor said.” BBC £100,000,000,000 is £1,666.66 for every … Continue reading →

and managed to read the first of the pile of books that Jonathan pressed into my arms (or at least left on the car seats ) the other day. Actually, there was an odd synchonicity there – I’d discovered the … Continue reading →

Nice link. Does what it says on the tin. And a photo taken yesterday, as I passed through nearing the end of my grand tour (ca. 635 miles) of the past couple days. I really don’t like driving any more. … Continue reading →

last night we were dirty stop outs and stayed unexpectedly offthepath. Which was lovely and we enjoyed breakfast before coming back through some incredibly scenic mist and frost. Today we’ve had a relatively quiet day, I’ve had the most ridiculously … Continue reading →

or a friend of a friend. Or more accurately, her preferred charity If you pop on over to thelactivist you’ll see what I mean.

well, not really. Kids are upstairs and cat is underfoot. But Tim is away, doing familial visiting things (grandfather is in hospital with a broken bone in his back) so I’m downstairs alone. Can’t even keep myself out of mischief … Continue reading →

“how do computers make life easier?” and found this blog, I’m sorry to say that I’m not convinced they do. Well, I suppose on some levels it’s easier working in software support than it was working in social services, but … Continue reading →

“Addict on early release murders girlfriend A violent prisoner released from jail early to ease prison overcrowding battered his girlfriend to death within five days, it emerged last night.” Jack Straw “The defendant would have carried out the attack whenever … Continue reading →

Big has come home from school with the titles of two music books she needs: Recorder Magic: Descant Bk.2 (Instrumental Music) and Piano Time: Bk. 1. Obviously at that point I’ve got to make the order up to £15, so … Continue reading →

Big is making a christmas tree out of card, paint and copious amounts of sellotape. Small is in the kitchen making his own lunch Tim is supervising – those bananas can fight back you know. I’ve had yet another lazy … Continue reading →

celebrating my birthday and using up holiday all at once – I’m not back in work until Tuesday. So Friday I got up, took my car to the garage, walked back (it was cold), had a cup of tea, some … Continue reading →

A “root-and-branch” review is planned into what is taught in English primary schools to allow more time for reading, writing and maths, Ed Balls has said. BBC A bright idea came into Alice’s head. `Is that the reason so many … Continue reading →

Ordinarily you would not expect to fork out more than about €20 (£14) for a pet hamster. France however has been threatened by the European Commission with a fine of €17m or €28,333 per animal – for failing to protect … Continue reading →