still in hastings

still in hastings-my 2nd hotel-very nice!

st leonards

my hotel

Hastings2006

Hastings2006

sussex

london2

train

on the train

8.15am virgin to London

I am on the 8.15am Virgin train from Liverpool to London as I write and post this. It is not too busy, comfortable, and the weather is cool and grey outside. I have connected my laptop to my mobile-it is the first time I’ve done this to get on the net. It is nice to see green fields and cows for a change. I have spent the last few weekends taking care of sick kids, and even took a day off as Jack was sick last week. It is easier for me than it is for Teosdee. Apparently she cannot take days off!! You can imagine my reaction to that, but as she will only have to put up with the bastards until Christmas, it’s not too big a problem. They have told her she will have to resign to get a holiday at Xmas, as no one is allowed holidays in December. She works in the kitchen of a nursing home. I am sure that this is just the rule for Filipinos. As Teosdee has to work every Sunday, I am exhausted looking after the kids alone, especially as they have been sick. But, thanks to the civil service, I can now spend 3 weeks at the seaside, staying at the Royal Victoria Hotel. I’ll probably have to do some work though-there’s always a down side!
Right, I’m off to the restaurant car to get a big cup of coffee!!

singing Jack

Sunny Birkenhead

WOODCHURCH.WIRRAL


BIRKENHEAD

Hastings

"William and Harold's men re-enacted the Battle of Hastings

The Battle of Hastings is recreated annually on the site in Sussex where it actually took place in 1066, but its 940th anniversary promised the biggest ever re-enactment.

As many as 3,000 re-enactors from across the world have camped out at Battle Abbey for performances on Saturday and Sunday." 15th Oct 2006

I am going to Hastings tomorrow for 3 weeks.I will be staying at a hotel on the seafront. Unfortunately, not for a holiday, but a business trip.A change is as good as a rest though. I will keep you posted.

happy birthday

an autumn night

sweet

Hong Kong's nutty neighbour

North Korea has tested a nuclear bomb.Where does it plan to use such a device? The leader of North Korea is so obviously a complete nut job, that this is a really scary event. This would be a good time for China to use it's muscle clearly and definitively. Why have the biggest military force in the world, if you can't scare your crazy neighbour into line.
This is not a matter for the US or Russia, not if China steps in, or China and Japan together face down Crackpot Kim.

confused identity

A Muslim woman wearing a veil

"Straw's veil comments spark anger
Jack Straw angers Muslim groups by suggesting community relations can suffer if women wear veils. ............."(bbc)



"Met defends Muslim officer move
Deputy Commissioner Paul Stephenson
Paul Stephenson says the move was not down to political correctness
A Muslim police officer was excused duty guarding Israel's embassy for safety reasons, Scotland Yard has said.
The Sun newspaper said the officer was reassigned on "moral grounds" as he objected to Israeli actions in Lebanon.
The Diplomatic Protection Group officer, named as Pc Alexander Omar Basha, had Lebanese relatives. ................."(bbc)

Even after the events of the last few years, Britain continues to wrestle with itself about muticulturalism. Pre 9-11 and pre London bombings, British people would have agreed that a religious hotpot, and variety of cultures was indeed how we wanted the landscape of our society to be. Now people are not so sure. Here are a couple more articles in today's press...




"Pope meets Muslim envoys: Your reaction

Can the Pope calm relations between the Catholic Church and Islam?

The Pope has expressed "total and profound respect" for the Muslim faith after meeting envoys from more than a dozen predominantly Muslim countries........."(bbc)


"Meanwhile in France, a philosophy teacher is under police protection after receiving death threats over an op-ed article [French text here] which he wrote in a national newspaper. In the article, which was published in the conservative daily Le Figaro of September 19th, Robert Redeker accused Islam of “exalting violence.” Mr Redeker has not attended classes at his school near Toulouse since the article was published."(time)


Surely tolerance has to work both ways.It is interesting to note that actively being Christian is illegal and can lead to the death penalty in some countries.
As 'children of Abraham' isn't it time we started to live and let live?

joke

ASDA

One day, in line at the company cafeteria, Jack says to Mike behind him, "My elbow hurts like hell. I guess I better see a doctor."


Listen, don't waste your time," Mike replies. There's a diagnostic computer up at Asda. Just give it a urine sample and the computer will tell you what's wrong and what to do about it. It takes ten seconds and costs five
quid.... ....a lot quicker and better than a doctor".

So Jack deposits a urine sample in a small jar and takes it to Asda. He deposits five pounds and the computer lights up and asks for the urine sample. He pours the sample into the slot and waits.

Ten seconds later, the computer ejects a printout:

"You have tennis elbow. Soak your arm in warm water and avoid heavy activity. It will improve in two weeks".

That evening while thinking how amazing this new technology was, Jack began wondering if the computer could be fooled.

He mixed some tap water, a stool sample from his dog, urine samples from his wife and daughter and masturbated into the mixture for good measure.

Jack hurried back to Asda, eager to check what would happen. He deposited the required £5, poured in his concoction, and awaited the results.

The computer printed the following:

1. Your tap water is too hard. Get a water softener - Aisle 5.

2. Your dog has ringworm. Bathe him with anti-fungal shampoo - Aisle 11.

3. Your daughter has a cocaine habit. Get her into rehab.

4. Your wife is pregnant, with Twins. They aren't yours. Get a lawyer.

5. If you don't stop playing with yourself, your elbow will never get
better....

........and thank you for shopping at Asda

rainy sunday

sent by Giles-thanks