The View from the Hill on Saturday 29th May
So this is new politics - the man in charge of making cuts, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, has been found out in his creative accounting. David Laws was claiming rent for a room in his partner's house and in exposing this story we also learn that Mr Laws is gay.....perhaps it's Liberal policy.
Anyway, keeping his sexuality a secret and being outed this way reminded me of a joke that Bea Arthur told....
if you want to hear it click here... http://www.ng21.co.uk/gg/savoy/ladle.mp3
And Lord Prescott?
There isn't enough hairspray in the world to get Lady Pauline ready for the elevation to the Lords.
And when did presenting Play School fast track you to the Lords - Dame Floella Benjamin enters the House of Peers accompanied by her long time partner, Big Ted. (Or was that a secret relationship I've just outed?)
Just look at the list of new peers, all ex ministers and retired MP's - yes this is the new politics, this is the change and you know what they say, the more things change the more they stay the same!
+++++++++++++++++++++++
“Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.”
Robert C. Gallagher
Follow by Email
Saturday, 29 May 2010
Friday, 28 May 2010
The View from the Hill on Friday 28th May
First of all Mrs B and I want to say thank you for all the messages you sent relating to the loss of Jake - we are very grateful.
The first full day without a dog following your every move seemed very strange but we are starting to adapt.
Mrs B kept busy all day, cleaning and polishing and dusting and washing - the kitchen floor went into shock when the mop bucket appeared!
I had work so that occupied me a little - in fact the funeral was for a man who had lived a very happy life and there were lots of smiles and laughs at his funeral, some provided by his uncle, Barry Heath.
For those who don't know, Barry is the Bard of Mansfield - he wrote a play called Me Mam Sez, based around his own wartime experiences as a boy in Mansfield, he also wrote a couple of sequels, Seaside or Bust and Ya Shunta Joined!
Barry, who must be about 80, still has a sparkle in his eye and loves drawing people into his world with his stories and anecdotes of the past.
A loyal supporter of all things Mansfield, he shared some time with me yesterday, giving me a couple of his memories to use at the funeral of his nephew.
So, I was distracted for a while but on getting back into my car I was brought back to earth, I had gotten so used to Jake waiting for me that I looked for him sat waiting - of course he wasn't. Nor was he sat waiting at the front door when I got home and that really is hard, and I know Mrs B feels the same, that coming home to an empty house is not easy.
I distracted myself for a while making a little tribute video for Jake,Danny and Sam - The Wild Bananas, and then I found a new favourite song which I have been playing constantly (Mrs B is hating it I'm sure) in an effort to lift my spirits.
I'll post it here for you to listen to - a quirky re-make of Birdhouse in Your Soul made for the now cancelled tv show, Pushing Daisies.
It sort of gets into your head, well it got into mine anyway.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Not to put to fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul.
First of all Mrs B and I want to say thank you for all the messages you sent relating to the loss of Jake - we are very grateful.
The first full day without a dog following your every move seemed very strange but we are starting to adapt.
Mrs B kept busy all day, cleaning and polishing and dusting and washing - the kitchen floor went into shock when the mop bucket appeared!
I had work so that occupied me a little - in fact the funeral was for a man who had lived a very happy life and there were lots of smiles and laughs at his funeral, some provided by his uncle, Barry Heath.
For those who don't know, Barry is the Bard of Mansfield - he wrote a play called Me Mam Sez, based around his own wartime experiences as a boy in Mansfield, he also wrote a couple of sequels, Seaside or Bust and Ya Shunta Joined!
Barry, who must be about 80, still has a sparkle in his eye and loves drawing people into his world with his stories and anecdotes of the past.
A loyal supporter of all things Mansfield, he shared some time with me yesterday, giving me a couple of his memories to use at the funeral of his nephew.
So, I was distracted for a while but on getting back into my car I was brought back to earth, I had gotten so used to Jake waiting for me that I looked for him sat waiting - of course he wasn't. Nor was he sat waiting at the front door when I got home and that really is hard, and I know Mrs B feels the same, that coming home to an empty house is not easy.
I distracted myself for a while making a little tribute video for Jake,Danny and Sam - The Wild Bananas, and then I found a new favourite song which I have been playing constantly (Mrs B is hating it I'm sure) in an effort to lift my spirits.
I'll post it here for you to listen to - a quirky re-make of Birdhouse in Your Soul made for the now cancelled tv show, Pushing Daisies.
It sort of gets into your head, well it got into mine anyway.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Not to put to fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul.
Thursday, 27 May 2010
The View from the Hill on Thursday 27th May
The day we knew we had to face has arrived - the first day without those lovely flapping ears being used to wake us or that cheeky face peering over the edge of the bed or Mrs B getting a little nudge from a cold nose - Jake has gone.
At 5.50pm last evening he had a massive fit, we got him to the vets (and thanks to Dave and Jane for their help) and they started talking about injections that might bring him out of the fit...this was 35 minutes after the fit started and poor old Jake was still contorted although he was calm.
Mrs B and I knew what had to be done and so we asked that Jake be put to sleep - heartbreaking for us and a release for him.
A short while later he slipped away.
For half of our married life, Mrs B and I have shared our lives with Danny and Jake - the house feels very empty this morning.
Although this is a sad time I want to tell you about Jake and his last two days of life.
He had taken to travelling with me in the car, he didn't want to be left and as soon as you put his collar on he started to get excited about what was happening.
But earlier in the day, after he got up, I gave him his usual treat and he would pronk around the lounge, barking at it before devouring it. That was something he did every day and something I will miss.
On Tuesday we went to Bramcote, where he got to chase a rabbit and then to Brimington, where he got to chase a squirrel. He also had a sausage roll for a treat.
In the evening, after spreading his food all through the house - he had to eat rice with his food and he had this trick of dropping a trail of it all over the place - he would either cuddle up in his chair or come and sit on the settee beside me.
Yesterday, we took Mrs B to work and then he came to Mansfield with me before picking Mrs B up and driving to Derby and back. He was full of life as we got back, he had tinned salmon and rice for his tea, again dropping it all over the place, he then had a frisk around the lounge, quite content with life before jumping into his chair one last time - a short while later he slipped out of the chair and soon after that he slipped from our lives.
Mrs B and I will miss him, as we still miss Danny - but we will never forget the happiness they bought into our lives.
One final thought - our Little Jake, the runt who was full of character - he died on the birthday of John Wayne, the man who inspired our choice of name.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBHcUv_42zI
So goodbye my friend
I know I'll never see you again
But the love you gave me through all the years
Will take away these tears
I'm okay now
Goodbye my friend
Life's so fragile and love's so pure
We can't hold on but we try
We watch how quickly it disappears
And we never know why
But I'm okay now
Goodbye my friend
You can go now
Goodbye my friend
The day we knew we had to face has arrived - the first day without those lovely flapping ears being used to wake us or that cheeky face peering over the edge of the bed or Mrs B getting a little nudge from a cold nose - Jake has gone.
At 5.50pm last evening he had a massive fit, we got him to the vets (and thanks to Dave and Jane for their help) and they started talking about injections that might bring him out of the fit...this was 35 minutes after the fit started and poor old Jake was still contorted although he was calm.
Mrs B and I knew what had to be done and so we asked that Jake be put to sleep - heartbreaking for us and a release for him.
A short while later he slipped away.
For half of our married life, Mrs B and I have shared our lives with Danny and Jake - the house feels very empty this morning.
Although this is a sad time I want to tell you about Jake and his last two days of life.
He had taken to travelling with me in the car, he didn't want to be left and as soon as you put his collar on he started to get excited about what was happening.
But earlier in the day, after he got up, I gave him his usual treat and he would pronk around the lounge, barking at it before devouring it. That was something he did every day and something I will miss.
On Tuesday we went to Bramcote, where he got to chase a rabbit and then to Brimington, where he got to chase a squirrel. He also had a sausage roll for a treat.
In the evening, after spreading his food all through the house - he had to eat rice with his food and he had this trick of dropping a trail of it all over the place - he would either cuddle up in his chair or come and sit on the settee beside me.
Yesterday, we took Mrs B to work and then he came to Mansfield with me before picking Mrs B up and driving to Derby and back. He was full of life as we got back, he had tinned salmon and rice for his tea, again dropping it all over the place, he then had a frisk around the lounge, quite content with life before jumping into his chair one last time - a short while later he slipped out of the chair and soon after that he slipped from our lives.
Mrs B and I will miss him, as we still miss Danny - but we will never forget the happiness they bought into our lives.
One final thought - our Little Jake, the runt who was full of character - he died on the birthday of John Wayne, the man who inspired our choice of name.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBHcUv_42zI
So goodbye my friend
I know I'll never see you again
But the love you gave me through all the years
Will take away these tears
I'm okay now
Goodbye my friend
Life's so fragile and love's so pure
We can't hold on but we try
We watch how quickly it disappears
And we never know why
But I'm okay now
Goodbye my friend
You can go now
Goodbye my friend
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
The View from the Hill on Wednesday 26th May
Isn't life complicated?
Just when you think you have it all sorted out in your head something happens to make you doubt the conclusions you have reached.
Life isn't infinite, we only have so long to do all that we want to do and the chances are we will run out of time and leave somethings undone - which is better that running out of things to do in my opinion - so we should make sure that the things we do leave behind show how much we put into life.
Too many times we play it safe, we stick with what we know rather than take a risk, scared of making a fool of ourself - but in not taking risks and playing it safe we plant those first seeds of regret.
Do you remember Edith Piaf - she had no regrets, yes she made mistakes but at least she lived and when it was ended she could say of her life, well I gave it my best!
Life is too precious to drift through it, playing it safe - take a risk, make a change, carpe diem!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Regrets, I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention.
My Way Paul Anka
Isn't life complicated?
Just when you think you have it all sorted out in your head something happens to make you doubt the conclusions you have reached.
Life isn't infinite, we only have so long to do all that we want to do and the chances are we will run out of time and leave somethings undone - which is better that running out of things to do in my opinion - so we should make sure that the things we do leave behind show how much we put into life.
Too many times we play it safe, we stick with what we know rather than take a risk, scared of making a fool of ourself - but in not taking risks and playing it safe we plant those first seeds of regret.
Do you remember Edith Piaf - she had no regrets, yes she made mistakes but at least she lived and when it was ended she could say of her life, well I gave it my best!
Life is too precious to drift through it, playing it safe - take a risk, make a change, carpe diem!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Regrets, I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention.
My Way Paul Anka
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
The View from the Hill on Tuesday 25th May
Picture the scene - an old lady is slowly eating her cornflakes, looking out of the window and wishing that her neighbours would turn down the music. Her husband is grumbling about the state of the world, his head in the newspaper. She is tired after a day trip to the Chelsea flower show and is looking forward to just sitting by the telly, having a cup of tea and perhaps watching the state opening of parliament, she likes that nice David Dimbleby.
Then reality hits home, with aching bunions she rises from her breakfast and moves towards the door and her husband looks up over the top of his paper and says to her - "it's your own stupid fault". He can be quite blunt but she loved the old rogue.
She walks to her wardrobe and opens it - what to wear?
Full length white dress, heavily beaded, a long flowing robe and a crown which weighs about 8 stone!
It's a bitch being the Queen.
"I would really rather stay at home today, I'm so tired" she tells her husband. "I don't feel like getting dressed up". "You better", he replies "otherwise some wag will write the Queen was in a State, Opening Parliament!".
She sighs and begins the transformation from 84 year old housewife to radiant monarch.
Meanwhile, near by, her son Charles is dressing up and pretending that he is going to open parliament - dream on sonny!
++++++++++++++++++++++
I cannot lead you into battle. I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else - I can give my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.
Queen Elizabeth II
Picture the scene - an old lady is slowly eating her cornflakes, looking out of the window and wishing that her neighbours would turn down the music. Her husband is grumbling about the state of the world, his head in the newspaper. She is tired after a day trip to the Chelsea flower show and is looking forward to just sitting by the telly, having a cup of tea and perhaps watching the state opening of parliament, she likes that nice David Dimbleby.
Then reality hits home, with aching bunions she rises from her breakfast and moves towards the door and her husband looks up over the top of his paper and says to her - "it's your own stupid fault". He can be quite blunt but she loved the old rogue.
She walks to her wardrobe and opens it - what to wear?
Full length white dress, heavily beaded, a long flowing robe and a crown which weighs about 8 stone!
It's a bitch being the Queen.
"I would really rather stay at home today, I'm so tired" she tells her husband. "I don't feel like getting dressed up". "You better", he replies "otherwise some wag will write the Queen was in a State, Opening Parliament!".
She sighs and begins the transformation from 84 year old housewife to radiant monarch.
Meanwhile, near by, her son Charles is dressing up and pretending that he is going to open parliament - dream on sonny!
++++++++++++++++++++++
I cannot lead you into battle. I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else - I can give my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.
Queen Elizabeth II
Monday, 24 May 2010
The View from the Hill on Monday 24th May
The day George Osbourne announces where the first cuts will fall - six billion pounds!
I'm willing to chip in a fiver if it helps.
I feel pretty dreadful this morning, a thick head and a very sore throat caused by some infection or germ (not alcohol for a change) and if it is going to be a warm day that will only make me feel more unhappy. But in the words of Dick Van Dyke in the film Bye Bye Birdie, I'm going to put on a happy face.
These are the sacrifices real men make, they battle through the pain, the gut wrenching agony of their illness and for the betterment of humanity they smile and show the world that very little will stop them from fighting on.
There is a word for men like me...a four letter word which people will hear and nod their head. They will hear those four letters and see my face and think YES! Drew Baxter is a hero.
And we never complain about the pain, we simply grit our teeth and move on - in fact the world owes me a great debt in opening up and explaining just what men are like - because I bet there are many ladies who would never have guessed the pain we suffer.
Ladies are designed to deal with pain, something to do with giving birth, the pain receptors of the brain are smaller, well they have to be because the brain is smaller obviously.
Anyway, soldiering on I will now drag myself to the kitchen, eat my breakfast and emerge from the house with a smile on my face and my pain under control - I am a MAN!
Now where's the Nurofen?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Eat right, exercise regularly, die anyway.
Author Unknown
The day George Osbourne announces where the first cuts will fall - six billion pounds!
I'm willing to chip in a fiver if it helps.
I feel pretty dreadful this morning, a thick head and a very sore throat caused by some infection or germ (not alcohol for a change) and if it is going to be a warm day that will only make me feel more unhappy. But in the words of Dick Van Dyke in the film Bye Bye Birdie, I'm going to put on a happy face.
These are the sacrifices real men make, they battle through the pain, the gut wrenching agony of their illness and for the betterment of humanity they smile and show the world that very little will stop them from fighting on.
There is a word for men like me...a four letter word which people will hear and nod their head. They will hear those four letters and see my face and think YES! Drew Baxter is a hero.
And we never complain about the pain, we simply grit our teeth and move on - in fact the world owes me a great debt in opening up and explaining just what men are like - because I bet there are many ladies who would never have guessed the pain we suffer.
Ladies are designed to deal with pain, something to do with giving birth, the pain receptors of the brain are smaller, well they have to be because the brain is smaller obviously.
Anyway, soldiering on I will now drag myself to the kitchen, eat my breakfast and emerge from the house with a smile on my face and my pain under control - I am a MAN!
Now where's the Nurofen?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Eat right, exercise regularly, die anyway.
Author Unknown
Sunday, 23 May 2010
The View from the Hill on Sunday 23rd May
Having a television in the bedroom is nice, you can lay there with your first cup of the day and listen to the news, occasionally slipping back into slumber until that is, you are awoken by a stream of warm liquid - no I didn't pee the bed, I spilled my tea!
But it was the shock you see, hearing that the new coalition government wants to make all MP's the same size! Apparently Labour MP's are smaller on average than Tory MP's - I mean have you seen Eric Pickles?
Clegamoron (which is my new name for the siamese prime ministers) think it's unfair that tiny Labour MP's get paid the same in wages and allowances as huge Tory MP's - the answer is to make a law that says all MP's have to be a certain size. There will be fewer of them of course, as there will not be room in parliament for 600 plus Eric Pickles'. So as well as being fairer, it will save money for the tax payer.
Another excellent idea from the new government - keep up the good work.
Another way of making money for the government has been discovered by an amazing entrepreneur named Sarah. She should be on the Dragons Den - such a simple idea but so brilliant.
Renting the Royal family.
For half a million pounds you get half an hour with Prince Andrew - just imagine the money you could make if you rented out the Queen for a day or hired out Prince Philip to stand at Dover and tell all the foreigners to bugger off!
Sarah Ferguson has single handedly discovered a way of filling the huge black hole in this nations economy - a simple rent a royal scheme. The Americans have already placed a bid for Prince William, they have offered millions for a long term contract and all he has to do is front some night time chat show when Jay Leno is on holiday. Likewise the African Famine Project are offering millions if we agree to let Prince Charles fly out to talk to their crops.
Well done Sarah Ferguson - look out Vince Cable, I think she wants your job!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Take heed, never take advantage of the things you need,
never let yourself be overcome by greed,walk the straight and narrow and you shall succeed.
Shaggy (Not the one with Scooby Doo)
Having a television in the bedroom is nice, you can lay there with your first cup of the day and listen to the news, occasionally slipping back into slumber until that is, you are awoken by a stream of warm liquid - no I didn't pee the bed, I spilled my tea!
But it was the shock you see, hearing that the new coalition government wants to make all MP's the same size! Apparently Labour MP's are smaller on average than Tory MP's - I mean have you seen Eric Pickles?
Clegamoron (which is my new name for the siamese prime ministers) think it's unfair that tiny Labour MP's get paid the same in wages and allowances as huge Tory MP's - the answer is to make a law that says all MP's have to be a certain size. There will be fewer of them of course, as there will not be room in parliament for 600 plus Eric Pickles'. So as well as being fairer, it will save money for the tax payer.
Another excellent idea from the new government - keep up the good work.
Another way of making money for the government has been discovered by an amazing entrepreneur named Sarah. She should be on the Dragons Den - such a simple idea but so brilliant.
Renting the Royal family.
For half a million pounds you get half an hour with Prince Andrew - just imagine the money you could make if you rented out the Queen for a day or hired out Prince Philip to stand at Dover and tell all the foreigners to bugger off!
Sarah Ferguson has single handedly discovered a way of filling the huge black hole in this nations economy - a simple rent a royal scheme. The Americans have already placed a bid for Prince William, they have offered millions for a long term contract and all he has to do is front some night time chat show when Jay Leno is on holiday. Likewise the African Famine Project are offering millions if we agree to let Prince Charles fly out to talk to their crops.
Well done Sarah Ferguson - look out Vince Cable, I think she wants your job!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Take heed, never take advantage of the things you need,
never let yourself be overcome by greed,walk the straight and narrow and you shall succeed.
Shaggy (Not the one with Scooby Doo)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)