I have booked my ticket to Barcelona. I will fly on the 31st of May from Liverpool and return on the 30th June. A month of sun and studying!
I will leave London for Hong Kong 6 days later on the 6th of July-ready for summer school in Hong Kong.(Any decent jobs going, let me know!).
I'll probably spend the first 2 weeks in a hostel, whilst I search for a new home-keep your eye out for me-the less time in a hostel the better.
I need to start looking for schooling options for Joseph in September-any ideas, or information would be great.Joseph will be going into p2.
It does feel scary, having made the jump from idea to reality,but I know I have made the right choice
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
CELTA
I have been accepted on the Celta course at International House in Barcelona. The course runs from June 2nd to June 29th. This means that I will be flying back to Hong Kong around the 7th of July. It feels great to have a plan. The very nice interviewer did suggest that I would be more suited to a DELTA, but the price and time is almost double, and by June it will be almost 2 years since I have taught English, so the Celta will be a good refresher.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Petition
The UK govt has recently opened an e-petition site where instead of marching to Downing street and filling up London with rif-raf the unclean masses can now protest from their living rooms.
My favourite was this one:
-If he's not going to resign, the least he can do is provide us with some entertainment.
Which if you want to sign, you can, by following this link
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/juggle/
or look for others here:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/
My favourite was this one:
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to stand on his head and juggle ice-cream.
Submitted by Tim Ireland of Bloggerheads – Deadline to sign up by: 16 August 2007 – Signatures: 4,046
Which if you want to sign, you can, by following this link
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/juggle/
or look for others here:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/
Monday, February 26, 2007
stupid
In Honour of Stupid People . . .
On Tesco's Tiramisu dessert (printed on bottom) --
"Do not turn upside down."
On Sainsbury's peanuts --
"Warning: contains nuts."
On Boot's Children Cough Medicine --
"Do not drive a car or operate machinery after taking
this medication."
On Marks &Spencer Bread Pudding --
"Product will be hot after heating."
On a Sears hairdryer --
Do not use while sleeping.
On a bag of Fritos --
You could be a winner! No purchase necessary.
Details inside.
On a bar of Dial soap --
"Directions: Use like regular soap."
On some Swanson frozen dinners --
"Serving suggestion: Defrost."
On packaging for a Rowenta iron --
"Do not iron clothes on body."
(but wouldn't this save me time?)
On Nytol Sleep Aid --
"Warning: May cause drowsiness."
On most brands of Christmas lights --
"For indoor or outdoor use only."
(as opposed to what?)
On a Japanese food processor
"Not to be used for the other use."
On an American Airlines packet of nuts --
"Instructions: Open packet, eat nuts."
On a child's Superman costume --
"Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly."
On a Swedish chainsaw --
"Do not attempt to stop chain with your hands or genitals."
(Oh my God..)
job
At the end of a tiny deserted bar is a huge scouse bloke - 6ft 5in tall and 350lbs. He's having a few beers when a short, well dressed and obviously gay man walks in and sits beside him.
After 3 or 4 beers, the queer fella finally plucks up the courage to say something to the big Liverpudlian.
Leaning over, he cups his huge ear: "Do you want a blow job?" he whispers.
At this, the massive Merseysider leaps up with fire in his eyes and smacks the man in the face. Knocking him off the stool, he proceeds to beat him all the way out of
Amazed the bartender quickly brings over another beer. "I've never seen you react like that" he says.
Just what did he say to you?"
"I'm not sure" the big scouser replies. "Something about a job."
Friday, February 23, 2007
Quiet news day.
This story appeared on the BBC website today:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/6389933.stm
Will it make the lead story on CNN, or RTHK?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/6389933.stm
Will it make the lead story on CNN, or RTHK?
Tragic-The zoo owners should be made to go through the same.
Tiger kills girl at Chinese zoo
Tigers are a popular attraction at many zoos in China
A six-year-old girl has been killed by a tiger at a zoo in Kunming in south-western China's Yunnan province.
The girl was posing for photographs with the tiger when it was startled by camera flashes and pulled the girl's head into its mouth, state media said.
Staff beat the tiger until it released the girl, but she had suffered a crushed skull and died in hospital.
The zoo has stopped allowing visitors to pose with its tigers for a charge of $2 (£1), Xinhua news agency said......
Tigers are a popular attraction at many zoos in China
A six-year-old girl has been killed by a tiger at a zoo in Kunming in south-western China's Yunnan province.
The girl was posing for photographs with the tiger when it was startled by camera flashes and pulled the girl's head into its mouth, state media said.
Staff beat the tiger until it released the girl, but she had suffered a crushed skull and died in hospital.
The zoo has stopped allowing visitors to pose with its tigers for a charge of $2 (£1), Xinhua news agency said......
Man who treats bears to cruelty everyday, killed. Oh what a shame!
Bears eat keeper who took their bile
 A kilo of bear bile can fetch up to $1,000 in the Chinese market |
Han Shigen earned a living by extracting bile from the gall bladders of his captive live bears, according to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
He was attacked on Monday morning while cleaning the animals' cage, Xinhua said, quoting the Beijing News.
Xinhua said the animals were so enraged that two hours passed before it was deemed safe enough to remove his body.
Many parts of the bear, including the brain and spinal cord, have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine.
The most coveted part is the bile within the gall bladder, which can often be more expensive that the equivalent weight of narcotics.
Bear bile can fetch an estimated $1,000 per kilo in Asian markets.
The bile is extracted in an excruciatingly painful process which involves slicing into the animal's flesh and "milking" the substance with a tube.
The bile is then used for everything from hair shampoo to wine, as well as medicinal treatments for various intestinal and cardiac-related complaints.173 days
I booked Teosdee and the boys flights to Hong Kong today. Total cost-£498.
They will fly on the 15th August. I haven't finalised my flight yet, but it will be at least 6 weeks before theirs. I booked them so early ,as Joseph was able to fly for free, but it had to be booked by the 28th of Feb.
Tick tock,tick tock.
They will fly on the 15th August. I haven't finalised my flight yet, but it will be at least 6 weeks before theirs. I booked them so early ,as Joseph was able to fly for free, but it had to be booked by the 28th of Feb.
Tick tock,tick tock.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Beam me up scotty
Record power for military laser
By Paul Rincon
Science reporter, BBC News
Lasers could one day be used to destroy rockets, mortars, or roadside bombs
Enlarge Image
A laser developed for military use is a few steps away from hitting a power threshold thought necessary to turn it into a battlefield weapon.
The Solid State Heat Capacity Laser (SSHCL) has achieved 67 kilowatts (kW) of average power in the laboratory.
It could take only a further six to eight months to break the "magic" 100kW mark required for the battlefield, the project's chief scientist told the BBC.
Potentially, lasers could destroy rockets, mortars or roadside bombs....
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Barcelona 1-2 Liverpool
It is not every day that your team beats the European champions in the most formidable ground in the world!
I finished work at 7.30pm tonight and was in the Halfway House(Prenton) by 7.45pm. Oh! what a game, oh! what a result.
I left the pub at 9.55pm, and arrived at the bus stop 5 minutes before the bus was due.That bus never arrived. I waited for 40 minutes in the rain and cold. I waited for any bus or any taxi.
That is the reality here, it's easy to brush off, but it's not if you have to go through it.That feeling of desperation as you get colder and wetter, makes you swear that you will get out of this fucking country if it kills you.
There is nothing like arriving home to your toastie warm house though, but the cold is not easy to forget.
What a game!What a result!
I finished work at 7.30pm tonight and was in the Halfway House(Prenton) by 7.45pm. Oh! what a game, oh! what a result.
I left the pub at 9.55pm, and arrived at the bus stop 5 minutes before the bus was due.That bus never arrived. I waited for 40 minutes in the rain and cold. I waited for any bus or any taxi.
That is the reality here, it's easy to brush off, but it's not if you have to go through it.That feeling of desperation as you get colder and wetter, makes you swear that you will get out of this fucking country if it kills you.
There is nothing like arriving home to your toastie warm house though, but the cold is not easy to forget.
What a game!What a result!
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
pancake Teosdee
I have just sat down(watching Yes,Minister), after cooking pancakes, absolutely spot on, if I say so myself.
I think Teosdee cooked them last year, but I wanted them to be traditional English ones this year, so I was told(quite rightly)to cook them myself.
I got the recipe from Delia Smith, not personally, but via the BBC website. Teosdee usually uses self-raising flour and sugar in the mix, but I insisted on following the instructions as given-exactly(plain flour). What I got was a taste of my childhood.The kids wanted honey, but we only had sugar and lemon when I was a kid, so that's what they got.
Joseph helped stir the mix, and demanded I flip the pancakes.
It's moments like this that are priceless.
7PM. Kids have gone to bed,Only fools and Horses is on the TV. "Cushtie!"
Pancakes
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/basilpancakswithsuga_66226.shtml
I think Teosdee cooked them last year, but I wanted them to be traditional English ones this year, so I was told(quite rightly)to cook them myself.
I got the recipe from Delia Smith, not personally, but via the BBC website. Teosdee usually uses self-raising flour and sugar in the mix, but I insisted on following the instructions as given-exactly(plain flour). What I got was a taste of my childhood.The kids wanted honey, but we only had sugar and lemon when I was a kid, so that's what they got.
Joseph helped stir the mix, and demanded I flip the pancakes.
It's moments like this that are priceless.
7PM. Kids have gone to bed,Only fools and Horses is on the TV. "Cushtie!"
Pancakes
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/basilpancakswithsuga_66226.shtml
Monday, February 19, 2007
my family in San Fernando
Here are a couple of pics from new year. I will post some more on:
http://philippines2007.blogspot.com/
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Mao
I have just finished reading 'Mao-The untold story' by Yung Chang. I was a little bit wary at first, that it would be another 'Wild Swans', Yung Chang's global bestseller about life in China during communism. I enjoyed Wild Swans, but having read quite a few books along the same lines, feel that I don't need to read anymore.
'Mao'as it says on the cover, is "An atom bomb of a book". Yung Chang is quite obviously biased against the great helmsmen, but through meticulous research gives a very thorough description of the events of his life.
As I was reading the book, one of my colleagues asked me if this was the book which talked about Mao being a paedophile. Mao was a lot of things, but I felt sure that was not a paedophile. It is very British to try and find something so salacious about people in history. Franklin had syphilis, Alexander the Great was gay etc. Yung Chang touches on Mao's obvious liking of dancing girls and his misogyny , but although her hatred of Mao is obvious, his sex life is secondary.
I came away with the view that Mao was worse than Stalin, Pol Pot and Hitler all put together.
The numbers speak for themselves- 60 million people perished in the famine of 1957-1961.The problem being, is that there was no famine and Mao insisted on sending large amounts of food grown in China to Russia and Eastern Europe, to pay for advanced weapons technology and to curry favour. China produced enough food for it's own people. Mao said at the time that he was willing to sacrifice 300m of his own people, to make China a superpower. He was alone in making these decisions, and any that objected were soon denounced and tortured, as millions of ordinary people were during his reign. Deng Xio Ping came off well in the book, as he only gained power during the final years of the cultural revolution. Although Deng immediately began to reverse the damage that Mao did upon his death, Mao has never been denounced, by name, by the Chinese Leadership.
Some excuse Mao by saying he fought the Japanese and brought the Country together, but he did not take part in, or order, even one battle against the Japanese.
Years later when trying to gain the technology to build a nuclear device, he was to tell the Japanese, that he did not want war reparations as the Japanese had done him the favour of weakening the Nationalists.
Mao was by far the most evil man to have lived in the last century, and the saddest fact is,is that his wickedness was inflicted on his own people.
'Mao'as it says on the cover, is "An atom bomb of a book". Yung Chang is quite obviously biased against the great helmsmen, but through meticulous research gives a very thorough description of the events of his life.
As I was reading the book, one of my colleagues asked me if this was the book which talked about Mao being a paedophile. Mao was a lot of things, but I felt sure that was not a paedophile. It is very British to try and find something so salacious about people in history. Franklin had syphilis, Alexander the Great was gay etc. Yung Chang touches on Mao's obvious liking of dancing girls and his misogyny , but although her hatred of Mao is obvious, his sex life is secondary.
I came away with the view that Mao was worse than Stalin, Pol Pot and Hitler all put together.
The numbers speak for themselves- 60 million people perished in the famine of 1957-1961.The problem being, is that there was no famine and Mao insisted on sending large amounts of food grown in China to Russia and Eastern Europe, to pay for advanced weapons technology and to curry favour. China produced enough food for it's own people. Mao said at the time that he was willing to sacrifice 300m of his own people, to make China a superpower. He was alone in making these decisions, and any that objected were soon denounced and tortured, as millions of ordinary people were during his reign. Deng Xio Ping came off well in the book, as he only gained power during the final years of the cultural revolution. Although Deng immediately began to reverse the damage that Mao did upon his death, Mao has never been denounced, by name, by the Chinese Leadership.
Some excuse Mao by saying he fought the Japanese and brought the Country together, but he did not take part in, or order, even one battle against the Japanese.
Years later when trying to gain the technology to build a nuclear device, he was to tell the Japanese, that he did not want war reparations as the Japanese had done him the favour of weakening the Nationalists.
Mao was by far the most evil man to have lived in the last century, and the saddest fact is,is that his wickedness was inflicted on his own people.
Thai calendar
Teosdee went to the Filipino shop here in Birkenhead this week.She asked them if they had any wall calendars, as we don't have one this year-vital if you have kids at school. As she unwrapped the calendar, I asked if the distinguished gentleman on the front was Fidel Ramos.It wasn't , the shop didn't have any Filipino calendars, but did have a Thai calendar!! We now have a very nice (large)calendar with pictures of the Thai royal family on it hanging in the kitchen.This month looks like the King and Queen in their civilian clothes. The Thai royal family are revered in Thailand, and now in Birkenhead!!
Saturday, February 17, 2007
No punishment for Chinese Olympic football players.
Chinese Olympic Football team escape punishmentfor brawl(from RTHK) | |
2007-02-17 HKT 18:16 | |
|
Here are some quotes from after the game, seems strange that no one is being punished.
Chinese player Zheng Tao was left unconscious and was taken to hospital after suffering a broken jaw.
The brawl seemed to break out when Gao Lin tried to kick the ball while jumping into an opposing player and, since returning to China, he has apologised for his part in the bust-up.
"It is a pity, I must apologise to all, I am the main person responsible for this incident," Gao told the Beijing Youth Daily. "I shall bear all consequences."
"We will investigate the incident and strictly punish those responsible," said CFA spokesman Dong Hua.
"Under no circumstances do we have any tolerance for such behaviour."
Meanwhile, China coach Ratomir Dujkovic admitted he missed the origins of the incident, but added: "Whether the local guys (QPR) or our guys began it is not important. It is unacceptable."
However, team manager Li Xiaoguang insists he will take full responsibility for the incident.
"I would like to make an official apology," he said. "Whatever the reasons for the incident, as the team manager, I will take the responsibility.
"We have noticed some of the young players can not control themselves well. But, although the participants in this incident were the players, I will take all the blame.
"The unexpected incident happened in any case and I will be conducting a serious inquiry into it. We have learnt a lesson from this incident."
Do we need to arm police?
And so the violence continues..
One man dead after city shootings
One man dead after city shootings
 |
The man, in his mid-20s, was found with fatal gun wounds in a car in Hackney, east London early on Saturday, and died in hospital.
His death comes days after three teenagers were killed in south London.
In Manchester, the three men are recovering in hospital after being shot in the two attacks, which took place in the Moss Side and Longsight areas....
this little piggie went wee wee wee
KUNG HEI FAT CHOY!, it's that time of year again.
I have Saturday, Sunday and Monday off(it's half-term here).
I notice the weather is nice and warm in HK-I am jealous.We may go to China Town again tomorrow, as we did last year.
Year of Pig will bring problems, say Malaysian and other fortune tellers
The Star HONG KONG: The Year of the Pig starts Sunday, and Chinese fortune tellers say it will be a good time to have a baby, but also warn there will be an upsurge in epidemics, disasters and violent conflicts across the world. "The Year of the Pig will not be very peaceful,'' said Raymond Lo, a feng shui master in Hong Kong. Pig years can be turbulent because they are dominated by fire and water - two of the five elements that Chinese mystics say are the basis of the universe, Lo said. Since fire and water are conflicting elements, they tend to whip up trouble, he said. "Fire sitting on water is a symbol of conflict and skirmish. We'll also see more fire disasters and bombings,'' he said. Malaysian feng shui master...
London today
1. 14 Feb: Billy Cox, 15, shot dead at his home
2. 6 Feb: Michael Dosunmu, 15, shot dead at his home
3. 3 Feb: James Smartt-Ford, 16, is fatally shot at Streatham ice arena
Britain today
Over the last two weeks there have been 3 fatal shootings of teenagers in London.This has sparked debate, and for once I agree with a conservative leader! David Cameron spoke yesterday-
"We need to recognise our society is badly broken and we need to make some big changes, starting now," he told GMTV.
"When you look at the people caught up in these events, what you see is a complete absence in many cases of fathers, and a complete presence of family breakdown. That, I think, is what's at the heart of it."
There are kids constantly hanging outside on my estate. It is because of this culture of violence that I am determined not to stay here.
In my work, people seem to put money before their family. I am astounded by the callousness of parents. I never really watch the terrestrial channels here-Soaps still as depressing as ever, reality TV with racist,self absorbed wanna-be nobodies.
Is our society rotting?Can the government bring back order? Is it the government's job?
The following article is taken from today's Daily Express
By Alison Little
significance of the teenage shootings in south London.
British society was “badly broken” and needed big changes to
boost family life – including “compelling men to stand by their families”.
state of society or its young people but arose from specific problems –
and he too suggested family responsibility was a factor.
including three teenagers, in south London in a fortnight.
saddened” by pictures of Billy’s body being carried out of his house.
other teenagers in their homes at point-blank range,” he said.
“It is deeply depressing and this goes beyond any one policy or
broken and we need to make some big changes starting now.”
tougher sentences were needed. “But that is not
the gangs and the gun culture is stronger families.”
back to a false debate between single parents and those with two parents. It is more complicated than that.”
the shooting of three teenagers as “horrific, shocking and tragic beyond belief”.
the state of British society.”
MP for Peckham in south London, suggested that parents struggled to keep
children out of trouble after the age of five. Speaking outside the house
where Billy died, she said: “Young people have said to me today that
there are always some elements who get involved in gangs.”
over concerns about the availability on the internet of imitation guns
"We need to recognise our society is badly broken and we need to make some big changes, starting now," he told GMTV.
"When you look at the people caught up in these events, what you see is a complete absence in many cases of fathers, and a complete presence of family breakdown. That, I think, is what's at the heart of it."
There are kids constantly hanging outside on my estate. It is because of this culture of violence that I am determined not to stay here.
In my work, people seem to put money before their family. I am astounded by the callousness of parents. I never really watch the terrestrial channels here-Soaps still as depressing as ever, reality TV with racist,self absorbed wanna-be nobodies.
Is our society rotting?Can the government bring back order? Is it the government's job?
The following article is taken from today's Daily Express
Blair and Tories in gangland
stand-off
17/02/07
By Alison Little
TONY Blair and David Cameron clashed yesterday over the
significance of the teenage shootings in south London.
The Conservative leader suggested the events showed that
British society was “badly broken” and needed big changes to
boost family life – including “compelling men to stand by their families”.
But the Prime Minister insisted that the killings did not represent the
state of society or its young people but arose from specific problems –
and he too suggested family responsibility was a factor.
The leaders spoke in the wake of the violent deaths of five people,
including three teenagers, in south London in a fortnight.
Mr Cameron said he had been “shocked, appalled and deeply
saddened” by pictures of Billy’s body being carried out of his house.
“That’s what our society has now come to – teenagers shooting
other teenagers in their homes at point-blank range,” he said.
“It is deeply depressing and this goes beyond any one policy or
any one government. We need to recognise our society is badly
broken and we need to make some big changes starting now.”
Mr Cameron, who went on to set out more detailed proposals
in a major speech, said better policing, gun control and
tougher sentences were needed. “But that is not
going to stop the gangs and the gun culture. What might stop
the gangs and the gun culture is stronger families.”
But Culture Minister David Lammy said: “I don’t want to go
back to a false debate between single parents and those with two parents. It is more complicated than that.”
Mr Blair, speaking at a Labour youth conference in Glasgow, described
the shooting of three teenagers as “horrific, shocking and tragic beyond belief”.
He pledged that the Government would publish proposals but he insisted:
“Let us be careful in our response. This tragedy is not a metaphor for
the state of British society.”
Meanwhile, Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman,
MP for Peckham in south London, suggested that parents struggled to keep
children out of trouble after the age of five. Speaking outside the house
where Billy died, she said: “Young people have said to me today that
there are always some elements who get involved in gangs.”
She added that she would be lobbying Home Secretary John Reid
over concerns about the availability on the internet of imitation guns
which could be adapted for use.
An unsung hero
| TV remote inventor dies aged 93 | ||
Robert Adler, a US inventor best known for the creation of the couch potato's dream device, the TV remote control, has died at the age of 93. | ||
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Oh Dear!
Oh! what a shame, I hope it doesn't happen to every whaling ship.
Japan whaling ship catches fire
Japan whaling ship catches fire
 Whalers and conservationists have clashed in the Antarctic |
A Japanese whaling ship has caught fire near Antarctica, leaving one
crew member missing and raising fears of environmental damage......
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
A lovely poem and just right for this time of year
I found this beautiful winter poem and thought it might be a comfort to you.
It was to me, and it's very well written.
ENJOY!
Fuck!
It's cold!
It was to me, and it's very well written.
ENJOY!
Fuck!
It's cold!
Do not fly British Airways!
I feel so strongly about this, that I must say it again-show BA that they can't push us around.
Fly Virgin, fly Gulf, or as I did fly Oasis.
Ba's new policy came into effect today. If two people with 20kg of baggage turn up to fly, one may incur no extra charges if the 20kg is in 1 bag, but the other will have to pay £120 each way if the 20kg is in two bags.
This policy is simply greedy.Some f**king idiot at BA has decided that people will not mind paying this extra charge, and that BA will not lose customers.
We expect this from second rate airlines such as Ryan Air, or Easyjet, but not on Long haul flights.
Vote with your feet.
Fly Virgin, fly Gulf, or as I did fly Oasis.
Ba's new policy came into effect today. If two people with 20kg of baggage turn up to fly, one may incur no extra charges if the 20kg is in 1 bag, but the other will have to pay £120 each way if the 20kg is in two bags.
This policy is simply greedy.Some f**king idiot at BA has decided that people will not mind paying this extra charge, and that BA will not lose customers.
We expect this from second rate airlines such as Ryan Air, or Easyjet, but not on Long haul flights.
Vote with your feet.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Manila airport
Having recently also gone through Manila airport, where you have to go through security twice-including taking off your shoes, I understand how this guy felt.Jack cried when they made him take off his shoes-he loves his shoes!
Traveller held after Manila stripfrom the BBC
A German man who was so angered by airport security in the Philippines that he took off his trousers has been arrested for lasciviousness.
Hans Jurgen Oskar von Naguschewski, 66, performed the impromptu strip after being asked to go through the X-ray machine twice at Manila airport.
Instead of boarding his flight to Frankfurt, he was detained by police and is due in court on Monday.
He could face a sentence of between six months and six years in jail.
"He must have been annoyed that he was asked to walk through the X-ray twice so he took off his pants," airport security chief Angel Atutubo was quoted by local press as saying.
Police Superintendent Atilano Morada said: "He actually didn't say much, unlike Filipino passengers who would talk a lot.
"He was clearly irked and he showed it by disrobing."
Traveller held after Manila stripfrom the BBC
A German man who was so angered by airport security in the Philippines that he took off his trousers has been arrested for lasciviousness.
Hans Jurgen Oskar von Naguschewski, 66, performed the impromptu strip after being asked to go through the X-ray machine twice at Manila airport.
Instead of boarding his flight to Frankfurt, he was detained by police and is due in court on Monday.
He could face a sentence of between six months and six years in jail.
"He must have been annoyed that he was asked to walk through the X-ray twice so he took off his pants," airport security chief Angel Atutubo was quoted by local press as saying.
Police Superintendent Atilano Morada said: "He actually didn't say much, unlike Filipino passengers who would talk a lot.
"He was clearly irked and he showed it by disrobing."
Thursday, February 08, 2007
skyway robbery!
It really is time for consumers to fight for their rights-don't fly British Airways!!
BA to charge £240 for extra bag
British Airways is planning to add up to £240 to the cost of a return long-haul flight if passengers want to check in an extra bag.
Travellers on shorter international trips will face a bill of £120 and those on domestic journeys, £60.
Analysts said the tactic was a way for the airline to cover costs - and possibly to ease its move to Heathrow's Terminal 5 next year.
But some said it could damage BA's image as a full-service carrier.
Until now, customers have been allowed to check in more than one bag as long as they did not exceed weight restrictions.
They obviously see it as a way to actually make some more money out of carrying additional baggage
John Strickland, independent air travel consultant
The fees, which apply from Tuesday 13 February, will be imposed even if the combined weight of the two bags is below the allowance.......(from the BBC)
BA to charge £240 for extra bag
British Airways is planning to add up to £240 to the cost of a return long-haul flight if passengers want to check in an extra bag.
Travellers on shorter international trips will face a bill of £120 and those on domestic journeys, £60.
Analysts said the tactic was a way for the airline to cover costs - and possibly to ease its move to Heathrow's Terminal 5 next year.
But some said it could damage BA's image as a full-service carrier.
Until now, customers have been allowed to check in more than one bag as long as they did not exceed weight restrictions.
They obviously see it as a way to actually make some more money out of carrying additional baggage
John Strickland, independent air travel consultant
The fees, which apply from Tuesday 13 February, will be imposed even if the combined weight of the two bags is below the allowance.......(from the BBC)
reply
In the interests of fairness-here is the reply I received from my local MP-within 24 hours. Please note though that the £5 he refers to must be for local flights.
Dear Mr Mercer,
Thank you for your email.
Whilst it is entirely a matter for you how you vote at the next election,
and I thank you for your past support, it seems to me that to decline to support
us just because of a £5 increase in airport duty is rather extreme. For example,
because the airline industry is a major contributor to pollution, many people think
that we have been too timid. I should also point out that the increase is not levied
on the passenger, strictly it is a tax on the airline company, particularly the low
cost industry. It is designed to influence these companies to consider better how
they operate. If they are to put on these cheap flights, which the government is
not trying to stop, it is not unreasonable, on behalf of the population at large , that these
companies should contribute to tackling climate change out of their ample profits.
Whether these companies , or any of them, pass this £5 cost on to the consumer
is up to them, they do not have to. They can, and hopefully will, absorb the cost themselves
so that someone like you is not necessarily directly affected.
The other reason that I would ask you reflect as to whether your stance is reasonable,
is to ask your self how many times you fly in a year and so , even if the airline companies
unnecessarily pass on the cost, its not going to actually cost you that much.
Finally, you do have a point about other forms of transport making a similar contribution,
and so I am pleased to tell you that road pricing for travel such car journies on the
motorway will be brought in.
I do hope that this helpful and that you will feel able to stick with us.
Yours sincerely,
Stephen Hesford MP
Dear Mr Mercer,
Thank you for your email.
Whilst it is entirely a matter for you how you vote at the next election,
and I thank you for your past support, it seems to me that to decline to support
us just because of a £5 increase in airport duty is rather extreme. For example,
because the airline industry is a major contributor to pollution, many people think
that we have been too timid. I should also point out that the increase is not levied
on the passenger, strictly it is a tax on the airline company, particularly the low
cost industry. It is designed to influence these companies to consider better how
they operate. If they are to put on these cheap flights, which the government is
not trying to stop, it is not unreasonable, on behalf of the population at large , that these
companies should contribute to tackling climate change out of their ample profits.
Whether these companies , or any of them, pass this £5 cost on to the consumer
is up to them, they do not have to. They can, and hopefully will, absorb the cost themselves
so that someone like you is not necessarily directly affected.
The other reason that I would ask you reflect as to whether your stance is reasonable,
is to ask your self how many times you fly in a year and so , even if the airline companies
unnecessarily pass on the cost, its not going to actually cost you that much.
Finally, you do have a point about other forms of transport making a similar contribution,
and so I am pleased to tell you that road pricing for travel such car journies on the
motorway will be brought in.
I do hope that this helpful and that you will feel able to stick with us.
Yours sincerely,
Stephen Hesford MP
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Robbery at 30,000 feet
The UK govt introduced an 'environmental' tax on all flights effective this month.
£20 for flights within the EU each way, and £40 for long haul flights. This would have made my trip to Asia at xmas £360 more if it had been introduced earlier. This tax was not approved by parliament, and is nothing more than a cynical chancellor trying to make money by jumping on the green bandwagon.Where the money will go-nobody knows!
I exercised my right to complain with this letter to my local MP and Gordon Brown-the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I can put up with most things, but don't f**k with my right to fly! If this affects you, as the airlines are now advising people-complain.
Dear Mr Hesford,/Mr Gordon Brown
I would like to complain about the new 'environmental' air tax that has been levvied , as far as I know without parliament's approval.
I do not drive a car, I take public transport or walk. When I travel by plane, it is together with 200-300 other people.If the Labour Govt care so much about the environment, why don't they tax motorways, ban private cars from our towns and cities, or ban internal flights?
I have always voted Labour, but I strongly believe this tax is a tax too far.Why was it not voted on? Why was it not in the election manifesto? Where will the money go? Will it provide decent public transport, that is needed here in Woodchurch and throughout the Wirral(Merseyside) to persuade car owners to leave their cars at home? I don't think so.
This policy will also put UK airlines at an unfair disadvantage, and endanger London as an international transport hub.
I will as a means of protest not vote Labour in the next election-local or national!
C. Mercer
address attached.
£20 for flights within the EU each way, and £40 for long haul flights. This would have made my trip to Asia at xmas £360 more if it had been introduced earlier. This tax was not approved by parliament, and is nothing more than a cynical chancellor trying to make money by jumping on the green bandwagon.Where the money will go-nobody knows!
I exercised my right to complain with this letter to my local MP and Gordon Brown-the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I can put up with most things, but don't f**k with my right to fly! If this affects you, as the airlines are now advising people-complain.
Dear Mr Hesford,/Mr Gordon Brown
I would like to complain about the new 'environmental' air tax that has been levvied , as far as I know without parliament's approval.
I do not drive a car, I take public transport or walk. When I travel by plane, it is together with 200-300 other people.If the Labour Govt care so much about the environment, why don't they tax motorways, ban private cars from our towns and cities, or ban internal flights?
I have always voted Labour, but I strongly believe this tax is a tax too far.Why was it not voted on? Why was it not in the election manifesto? Where will the money go? Will it provide decent public transport, that is needed here in Woodchurch and throughout the Wirral(Merseyside) to persuade car owners to leave their cars at home? I don't think so.
This policy will also put UK airlines at an unfair disadvantage, and endanger London as an international transport hub.
I will as a means of protest not vote Labour in the next election-local or national!
C. Mercer
address attached.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
the 51st state!
And so, Liverpool is bought by 2 very rich Septic Tanks, I personally would have preferred the (rich)Arabs, having seen what the Dubai government is capable of.I also envisiged cheap flights between Liverpool and Dubai. I have no wish for improved transport with our American cousins.
Man Utd were bought out by the Glazer bros, but so have a lot of British Companies. Apple records finally ended their 30 year fight with Apple computers this week-somehow Apple computers won, although it was quite obviously founded in the 70's , whereas the Beatles set up Apple records in 1968!! Budvok suffered a similar loss to Budvieser. I digress.
Will the new Anfield be full of Mcdonalds, Starbucks, and cheerleaders?
Don't get me wrong, I am happy with the investment-if we realistically wish to keep up with Chelsea and Utd, we needed to sell to someone with some serious dosh.
Let's just hope we haven't sold our soul.
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