Britblog Roundup 163

This weeks Britblog Roundup is up on Natalie Bennett's blog Philobiblon - one of my favourite blogs. Coincidentally she lives quite near to me. We have been known to meet out and about during political campaigns. Nice lady, a very nice lady.

She writes, Welcome to the Britblog roundup, the all-singing, all-dancing carnival that brings the best of the blogosphere of these islands to you in one easy show - as nominated by you, the readers.

Do send your favourites to britblog AT gmail DOT com for Westminster Wisdom’s edition next week.

Short and sweet nothing more to add.

Clocks and the Plane crash in Kent

The clocks went forward today. What a faff changing them all. Then there's the watches, phones and other gadgets. Never realised how many there are in this small flat. Still got to change the one on my cooker. Have to fish out the booklet some time during the week - the old grey matter has forgotten how to do it.

The shock news of today has to be the Cessna plane crash on a housing estate in Farnborough, Kent. With airports so near to houses it was an accident waiting to happen. Those small aircraft are stomach churning coming into land at the best of times. Can imagine the terror the passengers must have felt knowing they were going to crash and watching from the windows as the aircraft hit the ground - It really freaks me out. None of the 5 people survived. Luckily no-one on the ground were killed or seriously injured but for the eye witnesses especially the children, the memory of the plane nose-diving into the houses will probably be etched in their memory for the rest of their life. Not the kind of thing one expects on a quiet Sunday afternoon.

Trust the BBC with their photos taken by a local resident. Sky News also quick on the ball have named the 5 people who died.

Islington, 1100 Police involved in raid

It's never dull around here. From early morning through to lunch time today batches of police cars four & five at a time, with their annoying screeching sirens could be seen rushing down the road past my flat. The sound filled the air as well from other main roads in the vicinity. Speculation was rife as to what was going on. People were talking about road closures and diversion of traffic causing gridlock along the Seven Sisters Road.

On the evening London news we heard that the police had sealed off the busy Blackstock Road and raided 19 cafés and other businesses. There were reports of 600 police all dressed in combat gear.

What an amazing sight, so many police, the picture from the BBC says it all. The Video playback is worth a review- Police say they have closed what was a 'one stop shop' for crime.

Surveillance showed evidence of drug dealing, the sale of stolen goods and a trade in forged documents, police said.

It is further reported that a further 500 officers led co-ordinated dawn raids at 37 addresses across London earlier yesterday. They made 35 arrests, including 21 individuals who had been identified as key players in the illegal industry.

Claimed as one of the Met's biggest operations with more than 1,100 officers involved in the operation. A well coordinated plan focusing on a network involved in heroin, cocaine, stolen goods and fraud. Police said that many of those arrested were of Algerian origin.

Finsbury Park area is not somewhere I like to go much but sometimes it's necessary. Never gave it a thought before that such activities were going on. Usually it's a case of passing through on the local 4 bus which is routed down Blackstock Road.

Easter it's snow, cakes and kids

We don't have much snow in London. Amazing to see the heavy downpour this morning. At Easter it seems incredible. Like a small child I was out early just to look at it. Easter for me has been about catching up on so many pending jobs. Have an extra recycle box of paper this week. As a person who thrives on organised chaos papers tends to pile up in my flat.

With such a small flat I generally do a thorough tidy up when the grandchildren are coming so they have a place to spread their toys.

Yesterday had a baking spree. Got an order from my grandson for a chocolate cake. Funny boy. Went a bit over the top and ended up with shortbread, lemon buns, apple muffins, banana loaf, pineapple angel cakes and of course a big chocolate gateau. All stacked up on my tiered cake rack. Was told it looks like an old fashioned tea shop. One thing I thank my rather posh late mother for, she believed in the 'old school' ways that young ladies should have formal home accomplishment. From an early age it was sewing, cooking, dancing and social etiquette. Bit old fashioned nowadays but it has helped me all my life.

Funny old weather, the day warmed up a bit so it was down in the garden. Some of the plants have flourished so well they now need thinning. Love the Freecycle. Offered chunks of lilies and wild garlic on the Kentish town list. Within 4 minutes a lady replied she wanted to come immediately and collect them for her mother who had just moved into a house with a bare garden. She arrived in the middle of a brief snow blizzard with her two small children. The little boy, the same age as my grandson, was so excited to get plants for his grandmother. The children had no qualms about waiting for the weather to ease up. Well what's in my flat but a huge box of toys.

The little boy touched my heart, in all the mud he helped me dig the plants up. We all know grandmothers are special. His mother could hardly catch up with them on their scooters as they rushed off to grandmother's house.

As for my cakes, my grandsons face was a picture when he saw them all. Had me in stitches when time to go home my grandson picked up the whole banana loaf and put in under his arm. Bagged up he sat in the car with it safely on his lap. Hardly any left as most of the remaining were boxed up were taken home as well. Shame my grandaughter can't eat them. Now I need to find some recipes that are lactose, egg and nut free that taste like cakes specially for her. Those I've found on the web so far taste horrible.

Chris Tarrant's 'It's Not What You Know'

Since visiting the BBC studio have been on their audience participant e-mailing list and that of an independent company. It's now all e-tickets these days.

Most shows are not to my taste or at inconvenient times. As today is Good Friday and a holiday decided at last minute to go to the recording of Chris Tarrant's 'It's Not What You Know' at the easy to get to BBC studio at White City. It's a new game show coming up soon on ITV.

Learned something new - Think everybody not in the know was surprised to learn that some ITV and other channel shows are being recorded at the BBC studios.

Luck was in - given seats in the front row. Always interesting to see some of the faces we see regularly on the box in the flesh. Close up they are completely different. Didn't realise Chris was as old as he is. What a character, made everybody laugh. The crude bits they will obviously edit out of the recording and we won't hear them on the TV. In the breaks the fill in man had some banter with the audience. Was funny really. One lady sitting behind us was picked on for some time. She wasn't happy about it but the rest of the audience enjoyed it. Think some were happy they weren't at the brunt of his jokes. Chris came up to join him then suddenly turned to me and made some fruity comment about my cleavage. I was too shocked to react, just sat there like a lemon going very pink. Least everybody else got the joke. Suppose that's show business for you.

About the show. Bit like 'Who wants to be a Millionaire'. Not really my cup of tea though have to admit the experience was a bit of fun. Best leave further comment until it is aired.

More of PFI

Have handed over the mantle of the Chair to another member of the Residents forum. Done my stint for a year. Now we have a rotating Chair system. Doesn't really change anything anyway, I'm still on the committee gently bullying in my way as usual resolving issues for residents. Some might say poking my nose but who cares as long as the object is achieved and folks are happy with the final outcome, that's all that matters. Now at least I can write more about issues on my blog and comment in the newspapers. There was a slight conflict of interest before.

The added bonus is that unless it's for something specific I don't have to have my mugshot in the Residents Newsletter anymore.

The agendas at the meetings are usually so packed it is often difficult for some members to have their say. Some issues are quite thorny and take up a lot of time. It is hard going at times trying to get points across and occasionally members can be quite vocal. It's like flogging a dead horse at times.

One thing that really gets my goat is the 'glowing' reports that are submitted from the various Partners divisions but more often than not, on the ground reality is something else. Keep saying that those in the office are pen pushers so whatever United House the refurbishment contractors say, as a rule of thumb they general take as gospel. We all know building contractors are good at covering their backsides to save money. Most residents complaints are genuine. Rectifying the problem costs money so why don't they just do it properly in the first place and stop all the waffle. There are some real genuine horror stories which really get me so annoyed.

For those living in PFI1 properties the good news is that there are only 65 flats left to refurbish and the same number of blocks needing external works. They should finish long before the end of the year. The big issue for them now seems to be the repairs. Many of the committee members are most vocal on this point. Can't really blame them. Some of the issues are just dragging on.

It is really hard for some people having to put up with the refurbishing works. Some residents have to be decamped and this is very stressful especially for the vulnerable and the elderly. You get some heart- rending stories from people. Contrary to some media reports however the majority of the residents are satisfied with the works. There are however some complete cock-ups which seem to take forever to get sorted but overall it's a job well done. Now Partners have to concentrate on getting the Rydons repairs service spot on.

For PFI 2 there is a long way to go at the moment. The general overview so far is there are only a few complaints.

My big beef is the issue of voids. When a flat becomes empty there is rapid reaction refurbishment void team who go in and renovate the flat as quickly as possible. There are far more people bidding on the properties in Islington each week than there are properties available. With such a high demand for flats there's naturally an express turn around of voids.

The problem is that they redo the flats as minimalistic as possible. All within guideline specifications but it's very basic. They cut corners spouting all kinds of builders jargon why things are done a certain way. One presumes that an empty flat would be refurbished to a higher standard than flats with people living in. That's not really the case. It seems that there is a presumption that desperate people needing accommodation have to accept anything.

New tenants have to fight to get any changes done. It's all good and well if they are tough cookies and can challenge the system but not all people are cut from the same cloth. I've had to get involved with two PFI2 cases recently where workers are having to go back and redo works. So very annoying and it's hardly cost effective. One flat, it's a case of I told you so. Of course the new tennat complained. As a resident I'm not supposed to have any building skills so the response to my reports of the glaringly obvious problems were a load of twaddle. One wonders how surveyors get away with approving the works in the first place.

It's all because of the void turn around target figures. Well to hell with targets it's people first as far as I'm concerned. The PFI Contracts manager said at one meeting that people should let him know about any real problems but he's claims he had no adverse reports. Of course the supervisors and line managers aren't going to say anything. It's all hunky dory until somebody complains. If any resident contacts me for help, I'll do what I can to sort their problem. So the challenge is on if he wants emails, he will get them from me.

The Mayoral race is on

Today is the official start of the campaign to elect London's Mayor and the 25 Assembly Members. The Media so far only mention Ken Livingstone, Boris Johnson, Brian Paddick and occasionally Sian Berry from the Green Party. We forget there are many other candidates. Why they are standing only god knows but one has to give them credit at least for putting their name in the race.

Mayoral Candidates

Alan Craig, Christian Peoples Alliance & The Christian Party
Boris Johnson, Conservative party
Brian Paddick, Liberal Democrat
Chris Prior Stop, The Congestion Charge party
Damian Hockney, One London party
Dennis Delderfield, New Britain
Gerard Batten, UKIP
Ken Livingstone, Labour party
Lindsey German, Left List party
Matt O'Connor, English Democrats party
Richard Barnbrook, BNP
Sian Berry, Green party
Winston McKenzie, Independent
John Flunder, Senior Citizens' Party

Polls this week in the Evening Standard put Boris Johnson clearly ahead of the current Mayor Ken Livingstone. Was a bit of a shocker to many political pundits. Now the campaign fight is on. The war of words we've witnessed over the past few months is nothing to what we can expect over the coming weeks.

On yer bike! with Islington Council

Sometimes I really despair at some of the silly ideas that some councils come up with. Now Islington Council seem to be joining the bandwagon and coming up with their own crackpot schemes.

They can't really be serious in thinking that anybody who owns a car will give it up for £200 and get a bicycle.

Accepted that residents who don't have cars and particularly those that do use a bicycle on a regular basis will applaud the idea. Can trust my local MP, Labour's Jeremy Corbyn will be delighted at the scheme. He's quite a colourful character anyway. Known as a cycle fanatic, one can often see him riding round the area on his bike. He is quoted in the local newspapers as saying: "Anything that encourages people to cycle rather than drive, particularly for short journeys, has got to be good news".

Tory Mayoral candidate Boris Johnson also rides around this area on his bike. Well they do both belong to the rather ridiculous All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group, so maybe he'll have something positive to say about it in his Election spiel.

Saying that, couldn't find any photos on the web of Jeremy on his bike. Boris (above) there are plenty of him rushing around even suited up.

Will be interesting to see how many people actually take up the offer. Can envisage some who may do it for a few months but not a lifetime change.

London Elects May 2008

The campaign for London Mayoral and the GLA elections is hotting up. Only 51 days remain. Keep being asked who I'm going to vote for and if I'll help. In all honestly I don't know at the moment.

For the first time in years I'm now a genuine floating voter. My conscience just won't allow me to vote for Brian Paddick under any circumstances. I'm not over fond of Ken Livingtone even though despite all his foibles and bullish ways, I have to concede that overall he's doing a good job as the current London Mayor.

I've a sneaking regard for Boris Johnson but it's potential disruption to the planning of the 2012 Olympics and the regeneration of East London that worries me most if he gets elected. The Tories will want to scrutinise everything just to find fault with Labour.

Decided I'm not going to campaign for any of them. Instead I'm going to be an Observer at one of the official counts. I'm chuffed to bits at being accredited. Having attended several election counts over the years. Hadn't realised this count will be conducted the day after the election on 2nd May and will not be one of the usual late night into the next day counts. It's so exciting, history in the making - I'm delighted to be taking an active part in the official process.

What ever next, Lembit Öpik's in the Apprentice

I'm a great fan of Lembit Öpik. A natural media star he just makes me laugh. Even if he wasn't an MP he has that special wow factor that sets off the giggles. Anything he's involved in is always worth watching.

Sport relief in the news again. Alan Sugar has scored a blinder by inviting Lembit to take part in the Sport relief's special version of the Apprentice.

The BBC advert says,

The one and only Sir Alan Sugar is set to boss ten top celebrity candidates in Sport Relief does the Apprentice.
Over two gruelling days the famous faces will form two teams and work their socks off to raise as much money as possible - all under the watchful eyes of Sir Alan's sidekicks, Nick Hewer and Margeret Mountford.
If they succeed the show climaxes in a star-studded commercial fight to the finish. If they fail their celebrity status will not save them from the wrath of Sir Alan.

It all kicks off Friday 14th March, that's next Friday. Can guarantee that the Apprentice will be one segment I'll be watching. Lembit's participation will certainly liven up what could have been a dry event. Will be interesting to see Lembit square up against Alan Sugar.

I'm getting stoned on passive Wacky baccy

We all know the effect of passive smoking but what about passive smoking of marijuana, weed, hash, wacky baccy, ganja or whatever they call it nowadays. Well apparently I'm getting stoned on it. That's the medical opinion anyway. Not only does it cause me to cough from a dry throat but the smell is so powerful it actually wakes me up. It's like an early morning alarm clock when the young man who smokes it is around.

It's during the day as well when he's not working and other family members are not in. You should have seen my red glazed eyes this week. Even I was surprised. Have used nearly a whole bottle of Febreze to get rid of the lingering smell in the bedroom.

Since I've given up smoking AGAIN seven months ago, 1 hour group hypnotism the cheaper alternative, not only have I become as fat as a house but my sense of smell has been heightened. I've mentioned before that with the hollow walls of London's old Victorian properties smells from other flats below permeate the air into my flat.

Quite amazing sometimes recognizing what food being cooked. Makes you hungry at times. Then there is the smell from over used cooking oil and the 'stinky' type of disinfectant and bleach again in the early hours which makes me literally retch. I've had an inherited allergy to chemicals and smells all my life but since getting older it is getting worst with red patches on my skin which nowadays do not fade. Wish I had the kind of neighbour one could ask them nicely to drop a splash of Zoflora into the water to add some floral fragrance like I've always done.

Don't quite know what to do about it at the moment. I've got to think long and hard about it but my health is being affected. The young man who smokes it is not a malicious soul so is probably completely oblivious to the effect it is having on me. Hope now the weather is warming up he will revert back to smoking it outside so the breeze will blow the odour away.

My five minutes of BBC fame

Always good fun, my turn last night to do the BBC interview for Radio 5 live. It is possible to use the phone but sound reproduction is dull from a kind of echo down the line. The interviewer Chris prefers a live interview and I love the razzmatazz of going to the BBC studio's. As it's my stint only every couple of months and Chris is flexible about interview times it's well worth the effort of travelling there. It doesn't take long by tube and as the studio is almost opposite White City station there's no real walking in the dark on my own involved.

This week we decided to chat about a selection of fun posts. What a laugh. Chris is very skilled in throwing in a few choice words to join up all the sections. He had me in stitches. The show apparently is for all the night workers. Seems to have quite a good following. Bit taken back when my friend told me they listen to it at UPS's depot.

Listening to myself this morning via Podcast. Doesn't sound so bad and at less it comes across as amusing which was the main objective but my accent is a bit pronounced. Can't do much about it now at my age.

Will have to remember to save the podcast this time around. Least my grandson will find it amusing to hear Nana's voice coming out of the computer. Dosy mare I am at times I hadn't realised they only keep it for a week so I haven't got copies of any others.

Later: Wonders Matt Wardman has now created a 5 minute mini podcast extracting my voice here It's quite cool really and a much easier link. Just press on the audio arrows and you are off.

Britblog roundup 159

My turn to host the Britblog roundup this week. It's been suggested that I try and say something nice about the nominees. Will do my best but honestly some of the political bloggers are so patronising trying to ram their opinions down readers throats it's often difficult to keep quiet. Running quickly down the list, good to see most of the nominated posts this week are on subjects other than politics so expect a roundup of variety. So here goes:

With Afghanistan topical in the news for the past few days, it's not possible to avoid the media fervour surrounding Prince Harry and his sudden return to the UK after his 10 weeks stint on the front lines fighting the Taliban. Blogosphere likewise voiced different opinions. On Drudge, Prince Harry in Afghanistan, Why it was right to bring Harry home & Harry's return - round spherical objects. Must be an age thing but as a patriotic Royalist I can't help feeling so very proud of him. As proud as when my own nephew Matthew returned from the same location last year. The call to do one's duty is very strong amongst many of the forces personnel.

Sort of feel sorry for Harry that being born into such a privileged life his every move has to be carefully mapped out to keep him safe and that of those around him. Can presume he will be disapponted in being recalled so quickly and will want to go back.

Still on the fighting front, a year after Obsolete's original post a former US soldier has picked it up and responded with such an explosive emotion as if he (sorry correction she) is still spoiling for a fight. A very strong reaction maybe but I feel that if the truth be known there are many people in the world who can't tolerate the political rhetoric and feel the same strong sentiment.

Some extracts from her post, very powerful angry words indeed.
The Iraq war was a suicidal act? Scuse me, sweetcakes, but Iraq is just one of the battlefields in the war on Islamofascism...........I'm a former Soldier, not a pusillanimous apologist for Islam. Our policy should be simple: you attack us, we annihilate you, your supporters, your country, everything.

Some of the url links about the chemical agents and warheads found in Iraq is a sharp reminder of what could have happened. - well worth a read.

Earlier in the week on my own blog I was excited by the Freedom Passes being introduced nationwide for the over 60's and the disabled. Such a marvelous benefit. Always has to be somebody putting a damper on things like this sarky, piss-taking post. Nevermind he'll be old one day.

Over to the The Daily (Maybe) - Like many others Green blogger Jim seems to have a sneaking respect for George Galloway. Have to agree George did ruffle a few feathers on Question Time this week. Following the programme read Jim's balanced consideration of Castro and Cuba's transition to a post-Fidel regime.

Under the tag General nonsense, Women prefer taller men & What Do Women Really Want?. Can't deny there is an element of truth in the statements somewhere.

Pretty picture for a blog but do people really take pleasure in collecting bits of glass from our sea shore. Then there's those folk who thought that during the week they had been visited by the spirits instead of experiencing tremors from an earthquake.

How to survive climate change, dont think so. Religious nutters are at it again, God's punishment my backside. Thought utterances like this were not politically correct anymore anyway.

Here's something to get men thinking. Male killers on the loose. One of these killers, a bacteria known as Wolbachia, may well be the world's most successful parasite. Perhaps men should be worrying more about GM crops.

More on nasty bugs, Lord Mancroft experience at the NHS Bath’s Royal United Hospital has provoked some cutting reactions. Yet another complaint about NHS cleanliness and care and This is a nasty little story from a nasty little man. Lord Mancroft was appalled at the dirty wards and poor nursing care but I suspect it's the fact that he has the money to go to a private hospital thats the irritant not his complaint about the state of the hospital itself. We all know there's probably an element of truth in what he said.

Now for something more thoughtful. A cup of tea jobby to read this post from Philobiblon Capitalism and Nature.

No idea why this post was nomiated. Wonder how many people really care. A day of action to try to cut our energy usage didn't go quite as planned.

For those following events unfolding in Russia. James Higham has a first-hand account of voting in the Russian elections.

Again on America 2008. Mr Eugenides has pick up on a Youtube post Jack Nicholson endorses Hillary Clinton. Oh my god! he actually called her sexy, he has got to be kidding.

The economics of Portugal, past and present, not so boring as it sounds. Free fruit being planted in public places, what a sensible idea.

Closer to home, Theo Blackwell give us a scandelous insight into the merky world of Camden's sex trade Trafficked women in Camden - 98% of massage parlours "brothels". The big question is how does he know so much. Is there something he's not telling us?

Really don't know what to say about this post. Sort of about football, but only just. We all know the Israeli's have a secret code for everything. Now they have started on football.

A group of Israeli academics looked at a sample of penalty kicks from top matches around the world, and found that keepers' chances of saving them would be much higher if they stood still, rather than diving.

Whatever will they come up with next?

Another blog punch up - Bartholomew on Brit Blog Wars: Police Contacted. The on going saga between Oliver Kamm & Neil Clarke. Do we really want to know. Such pathetic real saddos. Somebody should tell the pair of them to grow up. It's reminiscent of boys in short trousers and school playground tales.

Matt Wardman always talks a lot of sense, read his post ID and DNA: I’d rather keep my freedom and be mugged more often, thank-you very much.

Norfolk Blogger claims that Iain Dale's diary has been blocked by Norfolk County Council. He writes "It is interesting sometimes to see which websites Norfolk County Council seek to block so that schools cannot access them". What's so damaging about Iain Dale only God knows. Can't be because he's a high profile Tory blogger. After all it's a Conservative run council.

The most horrific posts of the week are about the 60 year Haut de la Garenne, Jersey scandal of child abuse which is harrowing to read. Turns my stomach just thinking about it. How could this have gone on for so long without anybody saying anything.

Even Jersey's own radical Senator Stuart Syvret Blog is not getting much local support. His post Millstones and Secret reports is very revealing. Is This Jersey? and Holiday in the Sun explain more. The real question on everybody's lips is why on such a small island. Why were there so many children in care.

My last post is giving Matt Wardman a second slice of the cherry to advertise his planned weekly report from ALL the Parliaments. Good news for political junkies, on Thursdays the Wardman Wire will be carrying a report from as many Parliaments as possible that affect us.

Well that's all for this week. Next week's roundup 9th March will be hosted by Cabalamat.

Nominations of posts from any British blog, any day of the week should be sent to the usual email: britblog[at]gmail[dot]com.

Instead of the usual toodle pip lets close by saying 'Segobe'