Wednesday, 22 December 2010
Charlie the Cat
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
Christmas Presents
Now, before you all shout "Bah Humbug!" or "Bloody Scrooge!" Let me tell you what the gift was:
It came attached to a Christmas card from a relative & it was..."The gift of light". What it is, is that this person has made a donation on my behalf to a charity that supposedly will provide a solar light to some poor family in the Third World somewhere thereby enabling them to get rid of a kerosene lamp. ( I am assuming that the person or family want to get rid of their prized kerosene lamp.)
To be honest ( & I do give to charity) this type of gift pisses me off big time.
It shows a complete lack of imagination, the person has assumed that I want to donate a 'gift of light' & it is , I believe, a lazy way of buying someone a present. And what guarantee is there, that the family will receive the donation & that its not just going to give some fat cat at the charity a bloody good Christmas this year?!
The Shortest Day.....
And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
Monday, 20 December 2010
Recent experiences of working in the NHS
Monday, 13 December 2010
The tat man
OK, so once in a while I took clothes from the ironing basket or from the washing line but believe me it was worth me committing what I knew was a 'Mortal Sin'. Why so?? Well, in return for rags you you could get a balloon on a stick, a cheap plastic toy (that usually broke within 3 minutes) a balsa wood glider plane or... a goldfish in a plastic bag!!
Sadly the Rag & Bone Man is no more. However we have his modern day equivalent-The Tat man. He drives around twice daily either sounding a trumpet looking for any scrap metal-washing machines, fridges, old bikes, metal buckets etc etc. He then takes them to the scrap yard & gets cash for them.
The other day I successfully haggled for a new fridge/freezer & left the old one outside on the street waiting for the City Council (yes....) to remove it. BUT: withing 20 minutes the thing had gone!! Taken by the Tat Man!1 Wonderful!! This is what I call recycling par excellence!
Bring em on baby!!
I would like a balsa wood glider plane though....
Thursday, 9 December 2010
Chinook
For the cry of the Chinook comes from the south west. From the direction of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital & it foretells the transport of young men maimed & shell shocked from Afghanistan to that Hospital where they, the healers, will attempt to put the young men back together.
Perhaps if we all stood still when we heard the cry of the Chinook & cried out NO! NO MORE! The Chinook might fly away & the killing might stop, the young men would be allowed to come home.
End the war now.
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
Youth & Age
Monday, 6 December 2010
November 6th 2010
But today I have a feeling of melancholia hanging over me.
Its so cold at the moment everyone I've seen today is (sensibly) wrapped up in layers of clothes. Its impossible to distinguish between the sexes, the anonymity of each person is accentuated by the cold. Even fewer people spend time in idle chat for fear of either catching a chill or experiencing the biting cold permeating to their marrow. People seem 'neckless', their heads sunk deep into their shoulders. And now the sun begins to say goodbye again, leaving us with the biting cold, the frosty, icy pavements as a legacy.
Returning home from the shops today saw 2 police cars & a coroners office ambulance outside a house up the street. The house was occupied by a reclusive elderly lady who has avoided everyone for as long as I've lived in the street. She appeared to have suffered from a degree of Obsessional Compulsive Disorder (OCD) as I've seen the lady after closing her door (from the outside), stand & pull & push the door for a great number of times to check (presumably) that it was locked. I won't bore you with the psycho dynamics of her behaviour but the lady was clearly crippled by her affliction. But now she is dead.
No more will she check her door, no more will she be troubled by her compulsive anxiety. Her lonely demise & subsequent death was discovered by her neighbour who called the police not having sen the lady for some time. Its sad. Her house is now closed tight shut. The door unchecked. The rooms as cold as the lady herself in the city morgue.
What is her story? Is there anyone out there in in the cold who will miss her? Or will her memory be as cold as the weather, as the ice on the pavements near her front gate. Rest in Peace OCD lady, I'm sorry that is how I remember you. Nut tonight I will say a prayer for your soul.
My candles burn bright now. The sun is all but gone. The only light outside is from the luminous frost on the paths & roofs & the orange street lights.
The winter has come early this year, the memory of the summer seems an age ago. The last of the summer plants are now all dead & wilted. Its hard to accept that life outside is not completely dead but only dormant. Asleep, humming mutely, waiting to sing again when the sun returns.
Friday, 3 December 2010
The World Cup
To be honest I don't give a toss. However it seems that a larger percentage of the country are upset at England's failure to win the bid. So much so that a large number of people gathered in Birmingham city centre in temperatures more akin to those in Moscow waving flags, chanting & made up with St George flags.
God Almighty!! Have they nothing better to do with their time? Especially in the weather we're currently having? Then when the result of the ballot was known they burst into tears!!
So wtf!! Get a life people....if you have time on your pathetic hands then use it constructively-go & clear the snow outside your houses.
While I'm at it I wonder if someone would tell the petrol delivering companies that there are such things as 'snow chains'. These are chains (used to great effect in Scandinavia I understand) that are attached to the wheels of cars/trucks which increase grip in snowy conditions. If these were used I reckon then the likes of BP, Esso, Shell et al would be able (perhaps?) to deliver supplies of Petrol. So put 'em on & stop winging about the snow!
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
Yet another rant about Birmingahm City Council
Sunday, 21 November 2010
The English & the food experience.
Anyway, we as a family then, (also by tradition) go out for Sunday lunch somewhere or other. This year we went for a steak at a local steak bar/pub called the 'Covered Wagon'.
Now why is it that we English are served total shit dressed up as food? Why do we accept the food virtually 'thrown' at us by surly spotty face adolescents? Why do we endure an atmosphere that we would not allow animals to eat in?
Today I ordered a sirloin steak, salad, peppercorn sauce cooked 'rare'. Whilst waiting almost for the steak the place filled with smoke & an ear piecing siren filled the air. The waiter when asked if we should leave replied "Dunno mate, never heard that noise before" & walked off. The siren then went off periodically throughout the meal! No explanations nor apologies were offered nor sought by anyone!
After almost 50 minutes of waiting, asking for cutlery & condiments which were dropped on the table in little foil sachets, my steak arrived.
It was sadly inedible.
It was stringy, fatty & full of gristle. The one waiter in evidence kept a conscious (I suspect) distance away from out table. He eventually came to clear the other 2 diners empty plates & my 3/4 full plate, casually asked if our "meal was enjoyable". He appeared dumbfounded when I told him that my steak was inedible, & that I believed my salad was one of the most expensive I had ever eaten! He eventually agreed to speak to 'someone about my steak.
To cut a miserably long story short I received my money back with a mumbled apology.
Now my point(s) is this: We Brits appear to accept any level of service-it appears to be expected that we have poor, shoddy service. It seems that we accept any slop masquerading as 'food' & are prepared (albeit, historically) to eat this slop in any environment no matter how unpleasant it might be & not complain.
We Brits, (as my Irish granfather used to say) "would stand for the 3 card trick"
They take our money & give use shite in return. Food cooked without pride, care, love for the food or respect for the paying customer.
Saturday, 20 November 2010
Lord Young
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
Birthday wishes!!
x
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
Hurrah for William & Kate!!
Sunday, 14 November 2010
Lest we forget....
A victim of the system.... Gods sense of humour??
I appealed to the faceless Fascists in Birmingham City Council against the decision but my appeal was denied thus:
"BM65223541/Parking Section 13/11/2010 Mr P Woolley 104 Westfield Rd Kings Heath B14 7Su, Birmingham West Mids, Uk B14 7SU
Dear Mr Woolley Parking - Penalty Charge Notice Number BM65223541 Dated - 04/11/2010 Registration number - BK09NLR
Thank you for your enquiry concerning the Penalty Charge Notice detailed above. I have given careful consideration to the circumstances you have described but regret that there are not sufficient grounds for the Notice to be withdrawn.
The Penalty Charge Notice was issued to your vehicle as it was parked in a loading bay, which was clearly marked in accordance with Road Traffic legislation. I have noted your comments that you had a Disabled Badge on display in your vehicle.
You may still take advantage of the reduced charge of £35.00 if payment for the Penalty Charge Notice is received by the 04/12/2010, BUT the discounted rate is not available after this date and the full charge of £70.00 will be due if payment is not received in time. Cheques or Postal Orders should be made payable to ‘Birmingham City Council (Highways)’ and forwarded to Birmingham City Council, Environment & Culture Directorate PO Box 77 Birmingham B4 7WA, quoting the Penalty Charge Notice number."
The 'System has beaten me on this occasion but I will have my day over the faceless bureaucratic swine at the council.
Friday, 12 November 2010
Henryk Gorecki
His most notable work was his 3rd symphony-'A symphony of sorrowful songs'.
I urge you to listen to this piece of music & I'm sure that you will be moved near to tears.
RIP Henryk.
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
Never, never trust a politician/Nick Clegg is a Judas
The latest liar in the line of political liars is Cameron's 'puppet partner' in the coalition Nick Clegg.
Why?? Well he said quite clearly during his pre election promises that "would oppose any increase in university tuition fees" Guess what??? He & his party of Quislings have broken their promise & supported the Fascist Tories in their intention to increase tuition fees. The deceitful Bastard.
As a postscript: I see that the chief Fascist Cameron is touring China on our expense. He has the audacity to question & comment on China's record on human rights. How dare he?? His comments come the day after his mate & ally ex president of the USA George W Bush admitted & condoned the torture of 'water boarding' & other methods of torture in Iraq.
At the same time Cameron & the BBC (the mouthpiece of the Government) openly criticise China's treatment of the elderly. Take a look at the numbers of UK pensioners who live near or on the breadline Mr Cameron before you shout your mouth off.
I say again: end the pointless war in Afghanistan, bring the military home, stop spending & wasting money that could be spent at home, above all.....stop the killing Cameron!!
History repeating itself?
They are, it appears, excluded from national schools, declined housing & are channeled into menial jobs. The situation is apparently worse in the east of the country. The Romani are apparently living in large (ghetto) shanty towns in the east of Hungary.
In France recently President Sarkozy went as far as returning Romany's back to Romania.
In the West those of the Islamic faith are viewed by many as potential 'enemies of the state'-we hear daily about "Islamic terrorists threatening both the UK & the United States."
I'm disturbed by all of this. It remands me of pre war National Socialist Germany. At that time in Germany minority groups were at best demonised, victimised, denied civil rights & at worst deported & eventually murdered. I hope that the latter is the extreme & that reason will awaken within our humanity, but I feel we should all be mindful of what is going on.
At this time in our nations history, where the economy fragile & financial cutbacks are being made the minority DO suffer, whether they be the poor or those who look different from the majority or believe different things.
Prime Minister Cameron is cutting massively Housing benefit. He calls those who are long term unemployed "work shy" & says that they should take on menial voluntary jobs to "help pay their way".
His choice of words I believe, inflames prejudice, splits communities & encourages bigotry. Those among us who are predisposed to paranoia will (& already have in my observation) jumped on the band wagon & openly speak in negative bigoted phraseology about asylum seekers, the old & the vulnerable.
The abyss between the 'Haves' & the Have-nots' is growing wider by the month & I believe Europe far from being a European Union is fast becoming a European Disunion.
"Those who forget the lessons of history is destined to repeat them..."
Sunday, 7 November 2010
Advertisements
I have a belief (yeah here we go I hear you sigh....) but hear me out please....
..... I believe that the Anti Christ of the this decade are admen & advertising. Everywhere I look, & if you look around you or keep your ears open, we are bombarded with advertisements. Billboards, advertisements that change every 10 seconds, almost every radio station-including BBC Radio Four (it encourages the listener to tune into future programmes), the TV, outside supermarkets, over the loudspeakers in supermarkets subliminal or otherwise & so it goes on.
I am totally pissed off with this intrusion into my life. I am sick & tired of being told that I need such & such. I do not need a colourful poster telling me that my life is deficient in 1 or more specific area-I'm aware it is, buts that for me to know & to chose to do something about if I so chose.
And then there's the smug, patronising bastards who knock the front door (usally when I'm having my tea) & ask if "I'm happy paying too much for my gas or electricity, & would I like to change to the supplier that they represent?" Well listen up bucko: If I wanted to change, I think I have the wit to go & find out which company offers the best deal & then change myself. Clear off!!!!
Saturday, 6 November 2010
Christmas & all that
Friday, 5 November 2010
The 'system'
I can see it all now....God sitting up there with all those Holy men & women inc the newly 'Blessed' Cardinal John Henry Newman (of this parish) & he'/she's saying to them" look at him people.. smug get, I'll fix him....." And then having a little giggle.
So there I am using our 'Blue Badge' for the first time in Harborne High Street taking the old dear to her bank, parking behind a white van in what I believed to be a disabled bay.
But whats this??? As we return from the bank a bloody parking warden is taking a photo of my motor & telling me that I'm parked in a "'loading bay' & am not allowed to. Thus a minimum of a £35 fine is smacked on the windscreen.
Shite!!!
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Cameron has done something right!! But not totally...
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
I'm sick of 'em!!
Sunday, 31 October 2010
Already (almost!) November...
....Claire got married,
Christoper finally moved out of the family home,
Esther finally grew up & is financially independent.
Kathleen achieved her MA.
We finally paid off the mortgage
I retired from work,
I went to France with Claire & her school & made some beautiful friends.
I have made new friends in the locality.
And the years is not done yet!!
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
The sense of Mikhail Gorbachev
10 days in France
Sunday, 10 October 2010
Solomon Burke R.I.P.
'Everybody needs somebody' he penned & sang, indeed we do Solomon , indeed we do....
RIP Solomon, your legend lives on in your music.
x
Saturday, 9 October 2010
Relatives?? God, my teeth itch!!!
I didn’t create
Your World
And I really don’t care
(To be) included
In it.
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Cameron you're a twat!!
That be as it may. Today it has been announced by Cameron & his crowd of fellow twats that they intend to help those personnel who returning from Iraq & Afghanistan, are found to be suffering from PTSD.
And what is the 'caring' twat going to do?? He's gonna establish a "helpline" for those personnel returning who have PTSD &/or have "mental health problems..." Moreover he announced at the same time a "significant increase in the number of trained mental health professionals who can help these suffers of PTSD".
So now then people.....When I heard this for a brief second i imagined thousands of Mental Health Workers devoted & specialised in the treatment of PTSD. But only for a very brief moment. Before the news item continued I said to myself "no way, there won't be that many staff.....
....Sure enough... the news item quoted the figure of staff who will be "dedicated to help..." 30. (Thirty).
Wise up Cameron, that's going to make a sizable dent in the numbers of suffers of PTSD ain't it? you twat!!
The man has no idea.....
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
RIP Sir Norman.
The man was a master of pathos & though the comedy lines were often repeated in all his movies they were still funny.
Goodnight Sir Norman, I'm sure Mr Grimsdyke is waiting for you!
Monday, 4 October 2010
I love where I live!!
Now that stuck with me, & now & again I come across things, situations & people in these environs that cause me to reflect upon that cliche & make me smile & feel glad to live in Birmingham 14.
Today was no exception.....Whilst listening to the glorious Rooks crawing in Highbury park at the bottom of the Garden & at the same time allowing my eyes to feast upon the different shades of yellow & gold that the leaves are turning, I head what sounded like an Alpine Horn coming from the direction of the park!
Now I've heard this before from the park but never paid too much attention to it but this time I jumped on my bike & headed in the direction of the wonderful sound.
Some 3 minutes later I saw him..... In Highbury Park-A guy of about 60 odd years old sitting on a small folding deck chair blowing into this bloody Alpine horn! And what a splendid sound he made to! He actually could play this thing I was unable to recognise any of the tunes but it was tremendous stuff!
ing
The sun was shining, the colours of the leaves tumbling down to the rain glistening grass, & free Alpine music. I love Kings Heath.
Last weekend.....
I meet some very interesting & lovely people who curiously enough weren't family. I say "curiously" because these people ( & from what I gather have, or are currently viewed with a degree of scepticism &/or derision!) were not family members!
Now keeping hold of my opinion, ask yourself people, just what does it say about me. That I found these people (guests) interesting & lovely??!!
Moreover, I wonder then, what is the general opinion of me??!!
However do I worry or care?? Well in the cold light of a Sunday morning in Jury's Inn I did, but not now.
Rather, I rejoice that I might be viewed as 'different', odd & bizarre. (By the way I love my green bow tie with small red alligators on, & it went with my red socks!! & Kate looked stunning, sexy & unique in her black dress, bright green tights & matching Parisian styled neck scarf.)
I'm sure that the world does need at some level, the boring, small minded provincial conventional people of the world. But for now, let us all embrace the 'different' people of the world.
I like this one.....
Friday, 1 October 2010
I want to rant again!!!......Sod it I'm gonna!!!
Well it all began last night & it was all my own fault to be honest.....I watched BBC's 'Question Time'. Fatal. For me, the family & no doubt the neighbours. Because I ALWAYS end up roaring & arguing the toss with the TV more specifically, the members of the panel who are usually Members of Parliament.
Well, last nights last nights panel was made up of 1 Tory twat MP, a Tory historian (who was a typical right wing middle class Fascist bastard!) Simon Hughes-one of those formerly reasonable Liberal MP's who sold his soul to the Conservatives & the very sensible Dianne Abbot, who appears to represent the type of Socialism that the Labour Pary used to have & hold.
God I let rip at that programme. Well what can you expect from the Right Wing BBC? They think that the UK ends at Watford.
Today the fucking binmen.... They 'took' the recyclable rubbish away today & to be honest why the fuck they bother I don't know! There is more left on the road & pavements than before the bastards came around! I had to stop my car whilst driving along the street & remove 2 recycle boxes that the lazy bastards had thrown into the middle of the road after they had emptied the contents into the garbage truck. Its not fucking rocket science to be able to throw the stuff in the back of the truck is it? Nor can it be that hard to place the container back outside the house from which it came. The bastards.
Now the weather. Its shite. Pissing down of rain water everywhere. The poor bloody cat came in & the bloody water was dripping from the poor bastards fur! He looks at me with a look that seems to say "I know you're responsible for this you lanky bastard!! Piss off cat!!!
That's enough for now. But wait.... I gotta go over to Belfast for a wedding this weekend & I ain't looking forward to it that much to be honest I have a sister in law who makes my fucking teeth itch & she may be there. But what the fuck? Bollocks to her.
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Now you know why I make my own bread....
Shocked father Stephen Forse spotted the mouse in a loaf he was using to make sandwiches for his children.
Mr Forse bought the bread from Tesco Online and had already used some of it when he noticed "a dark-coloured object embedded in the corner of three or four slices".
The 41-year-old father from Kidlington in Oxfordshire first though it was a section of unmixed dough but quickly realised his mistake.
"As I looked closer, I saw that the object had fur on it," he said.
The situation was made even worse when an environmental health officer, who had called to gather evidence, found that the mouse was without a tail.
"Her comments made me feel ill once again as there was no indication as to where the tail was," said Mr Forse.
"Had it fallen off prior to the bread being wrapped or had any of my family eaten it with another slice of bread on a previous day?"
Manufacturer Premier Foods was fined £5,500 and ordered to pay £11,109.47 in costs at Oxford Crown Court for failing to maintain acceptable standards at their site in Mitcham, south London."
A spokesman for Premier Foods said: "We apologise profusely for the distress caused as a result of this isolated incident."
For fucks sake!!!!
Johnstan's the butchers
Normally when one goes into the shop it is almost impossible to come out not only with what one went into purchase,but cfome out having brought at least half dozen other items of meat or fish, such are the persuasive talents of Stan the owner & master butcher of the place.
However today I went in brought 1lb of pigs liver & managed to come out without buying anything else! This dispite Stan (the man) strongly suggesting that I should buy some "tasty back bacon to compliment the liver...." Not content with me declining his advice/suggestion he went on to suggest that I buy some of his "home made Chilli & Garlic sausages"
Now came the difficult bit...he had some of the aforementioned sausages already cooked & gave me a sample, & bloody good they were too! Nevertheless I exercised restraint & assertivly declied his suggestion.
My friend in Oz John Middleton, will fully understand what I'm talking about, as he has numerous times run the gauntlet of Johnstans' sales methods.
He is a damn fine butcher though, & today his pigs hearts did look appealing....however the trick is I've discovered, not to let Stan catch you looking at anything else in the shop whilst you wait for your purchase to be weighed up.
And the offal?? Delicious......
Thanks Stan
Monday, 27 September 2010
Finally.....
Saturday, 25 September 2010
Be quiet and listen to the silence.
The endless void that swallows noise,
Don't be frightened by the blackness,
Welcome it with open arms.
Shh!
Be silent and listen to the quiet.
The still torcher of deafening proportions.
Try not to tremble in the echo of nothing.
Don't break down in the forever death.
The lasting time of being alone.
Without even your thoughts to comfort you.
Don't cry my love,
I'll hold you in the stillness.
Against the nothing,
we have everything.
x
Birmingham...
However..... At the Midland Arts Centre -(now there is a design motivated by mammon & is 1 of the ugliest public 'art' centres I have ever come across)-there is an exhibition of photographs of the residents of 'Atwood Green' going about their daily business. Lovely, really nice. The photos show what Birmingham is good at, what we here in Birmingham have I believe, achieved even better than London & for what we should be proud of.
Namely we Birmingham have achieved with the minimum of fuss, disruption & (at least on the surface anyway!) ill feeling from Brummies an atmosphere of racial & cultural co-existence & co-operation. I saw photos of black, tanned, Asian, oriental & white Brummies. All looking happy, living with each other.
But 1 thing that I believe that Birmingham hasn't achieved yet is the mixing of classes, Looking around the city & having lived in a few different suburbs of this fair & once proud city I have observed that there are different classes in each of its suburbs. In Birmingham's defence though I believe this to be the case in most of the UK (including Northern Ireland). Though not in my experience in the Irish Republic.
In Birmingham for example those of 'higher class' tend to live in Solihull (well some parts of that right wing suburb) those of a lower class live in Northfied or Kingstanding-though further up the road from Kingstanding ( & slightly 'posher' is GreatBarr).
This none cross mixing of classes is so typical fucking English I believe, I don't think it occurs on the Continent where surgeons often live cheek by jowl with cleaners, teachers & car engineers.
Just an observation people...I hope you understand.....But there again I don't give a flying fuck if you don't!
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Christmas???/ Northerners
You may know or not know but I am currently an 'Aldi boy' by that I mean that currently I do the weekly shop generally at Aldi's. I do so because its cheaper than the big 2 0r 3 other supermarkets, generally the quality is very good & there Sainsburys et al. You would be surprised at the type of people that shop there: I came across a couple loading their shopping into the back of their (I presume!) top of the range Lexus 4x4 jeep, I've come across Birmingham University lecturers, at last month I saw the BBC Midlands Today weather girl buying wine at the Aldi in Selly Oak!! (I'd like to get my hands on her isobars I can tell you!!).
Now, where am I going with this?? I'll tell you....today, whilst paying for my purchase of Mozzarella cheese, I saw that Aldi were selling.... Advent Calenders!!
What the fuck is this?? Its just about the season of Autumn, not even October & the bloody shops (& I use the pleural) are selling Christmas goods. Its the consumer world gone mad. The money grabbing bastards & you know what?....I saw one woman pick 1 up & look at it!! I despair at the world that I have retired into I really do.
The other rant I wish to bore you with is this: The sad twat that I am I caught an episode of 'Coronation Street' last night. To be honest I couldn't make much sense of what was happening, I did recognise Ken Barlow, however, I noticed that without exception, those that work (& indeed those that don't) go to the 'Rovers' pub at lunch time have a couple of pints & a hotpot & then return to work none the worse the ware for drinking in the middle of the day.
My conclusions is this: Either Northerners are a race set apart from us the rest of the country & thus are able to drink copious amounts of alcohol at lunch time without falling asleep mid afternoon as the rest of the population in my observation, appear to do.
Or, the cast (& ? those north of Derby)are not drinking 'real' beer, wine, G&T's etc etc especially at lunch time.
Its all bollocks though. I think I'll stick to watching 'Snog, Marry, Avoid' in future!! And that will be the subject of another rant in the future I'm sure.....
Cheers!!!
Monday, 20 September 2010
El Papa aka The pope.... & his visit to Birmingham
At Mass on Saturday we were told (the priest was almost manic in his exultation at the MANS visitation) that those intending to go & see the MAN should be waiting outside the Parish Church at 5:30 am!! Madness!! I only get up at that time to go for a piss!!
Once there access was strictly by limited ticket only & the MAN was shielded from the vulgar gaze of those none Catholic sinners(?) by a solid steel 12foot high fence.
I would like to ask the Church hierarchy if (as far as we are aware)when Jesus Christ gathered the thousand odd people who attended the Sermon on the Mount did he arrange for the Jewish local government (whatever) to erect a similar construction? I fancy not.
Then we have the Fascist police in London arrest 6 street cleaners (of Arab origin I understand) under suspicion of plotting to assassinate the Pope. It had to happen didn't it? & those arrested would have to be either be Arabs, Muslims or of Irish origin. Incidental the 6 were released later without charge. (of course).
Finally we have the head Fascist Twat Cameron wave the Pope off at Birmingham airport. Shite.
You may have gathered by now that I have no interest in the Pope's visit neither am I a fan of the Pope. I believe him to be out of touch with grass roots Catholics & people in general (esp the youth & the 'Third World') & fixed in beliefs which appear to be centered in the late 19th Century. I believe him to be also homophobic. I have not gone into the whole business of the Church's child abuse scandal.
I do believe that Cardinal John Henry Newman was & is a Holy & wise man. His wisdom & writings are worthy of study. We would do well to note & remember one quote of his when he said that "Respectability should be a cardinal sin"...how very true John Henry, how very true...
Sunday, 19 September 2010
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
Closer to home....
On the radio news yesterday (not your shite for brains Radio 1 or the moronic BRMB crap, but on the 'Today' programme on Radio 4.
A fella in (?) Harringey,London has been told that he faces prosecution for 'making' his 5 yr old child walk some 20 yards to a bus stop to catch the bus to school. Now this is the 'nanny state' gone completely ape shite mad in my opinion, health & safety lunacy & just about typical of southern mentality!
But...I can happily report good people that the stupid bastards at Harringey have withdrawn the threat saying that if they were to continue with the prosecution they would have to proceed under the 'Child Protection' laws & they have decided that the cost ( & no doubt the thought of being laughed out of court!) would have been prohibitive.
Twats!!
Saturday, 11 September 2010
It says it all.....
Thursday, 2 September 2010
no title....
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,--
This debt we pay to human guile;
...
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
A rant directed towards B'ham City Council & central government.
Yesterday two of my neighbours told me that they are applying to Birmingham City Council for a grant that exists to tart up your front gardens. This fund apparently provides hanging baskets & garden plants. Bloody hell!! The same neighbour has let two hanging baskets his mom made him die (in fact I watered them daily up until I went to Ireland & he has 3 dead sunflowers still standing in his front garden since 2009! Decorating his frontage are traffic cones, a 'Road Closed' sign that has been there since July 2010 & bits of broken pallets his mates leaves him for his open fire.
Today, the news on Radio 4 announced that the government is thinking of making severe cutbacks to library services. They are contemplating closing libraries to save money. There is even a suggestion to open libraries in pubs & supermarkets! Where in the sweet fuck of creation is this Fascist government taking us?? What are they thinking off? On the one hand for example, they want to reduce alcohol consumption & cut binge drinking, so they increase alcohol taxes, then on the other hand they want to install bookshelves next to beer pumps. "A pint of Guinness, a lager & lime, a packet of dry roasted nuts, Oh, & can I have a shuffti at the latest Sebastian Faulks novel please(?)" Bollocks.
Then we have the City Council giving money to lazy bastards who can't be arsed to do a bit of weeding in their garden or fork out a few bob for a couple of border plants, let alone clean up the shit outside their front window. Bugger this garden grant-get someone to clean up the rubbish & litter on my street & KEEP KINGS HEATH LIBRARY OPEN!!
Jesus this country is crazy, better still I think I'm crazy for putting up with the crap I receive from the government, the City Council, my neighbours & my relations & children.
Its about time I responded to these people in the manner of the 'grumpy old man' that I am & told them all to "FUCK OFF!!"
Tuesday, 3 August 2010
The last time......
At the weekend end my eldest daughter-Claire come down from Tadcaster to stay with us. We had a lovely time. However, the time was tinged with the some sadness as it was the last time that Claire will visit her family home under the named 'Claire Woolley'. On August 14th in Dingle Co Kerry Claire will become Mrs Maloney. Nevertheless less we rejoiced in some style-there was even a fight (for old times sake!) between Claire & her younger sister Esther! We said goodbye to Claire at New Street station on Sunday evening as Miss Woolley waiting for her train to York.
Goodbye Claire Woolley.
Hello Claire Maloney.
Whatever your name is Claire, you will always be my little girl.
x
Saturday, 24 July 2010
Thank God.....
OK so I'm feeling sorry for myself but its like being widowed I guess. However shes almost finished the fucking thing--Hooray!!! I shall have her back!!
Mind you the weather has been kind so I've been out on my bike & met & made lots of interesting people who have become my friends. The local retro clothes shop-'Top Banana' is a haven of interesting people & the shops owner/manger-Kevin is both welcoming & wonderful company. (today I met a delicious 40 something lady who shared a cuppa & chat with us)
Sexual fantasies aside Katie is back (almost) & I am pleased that she is. The memories eastern front sends a shudder running through me deep into my marrow.
Thursday, 22 July 2010
(Cameron) & a stupid ignorant.....
Now I failed my 11 plus, (that explains everything I hear you say) but I do know that the States didn't come into WW2 until 1941 when Japan & Nazi Germany declared war on on the USA following Japans bombing of Pearl harbour.Though the States did supply some war materials notably some very old destroyers in return for naval bases in the West Indies-'Lend Lease'.
Cameron, you're not only a naive twat, you're a stupid,ignorant naive twat who has added insult to injury to the generation who gave their tomorrows for us to have our today.
Cameron, you're a naive twat.......
What a prat. So not only do we have every police force in the country not taking on any new recruits because of a freeze on funds, instead prospective recruits have been told they can become 'Special Constables'-having the same powers as regular police constables BUT not receiving any pay!! Policing on the cheap.
Not only do the young not have any employment opportunities they are expected to work for nothing, for the love of life & for life experience. Yes..... I see thousands flocking to sign on for the scheme.....
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Afghanistan
Now forgive me if I appear stupid, & I know absolutely naff all about military tactics, but I'd have thought that rule number 1 of military engagement is that you NEVER tell your enemy what your plans are!! So why have we told the Taliban that our plan is to pull out of their country by 2015??!!
In effect though what we have admitted too is that we like the Soviets before us & the ourselves in the late 19th Century, found war in Afghanistan 'unwinable'. A waste of money, resources & most importantly of life. The lives of young men, women & children from both sides. A waste of huge amounts of money which the west cannot afford.
No matter how many grand words we use, that country will continue to be ruled by corrupt warlords, who at this moment are syphoning millions of dollars/pounds (GBP) of our money into their own coffers whilst their own people starve & live in sub-human conditions.That we will never change.
To date its taken the lives of approximately 329 young men to arrive at the decision to pull out in 2015. You politicians should hang your heads in shame at the misery to the families of people in this country, the USA & in Afghanistan.
I say again...he who ignores the lessons of history is destined to repeat them. We have chosen to do this.
But what, would someone please tell me... what are we trying to do in Afghanistan??
I could go on about the sheer folly & waste of life but whats the point??
Troops out now!!!!
Saturday, 17 July 2010
The BBC licence fee
I now want to comment on that total wanker Jonathan Ross. I hear this week that he has broadcast his last 'show' on the BBC. Do I give a flying fuck? Do I hell as like!!
The man is a a prime example of wankership. He is a vastly overpaid, untalented piece of shit. There is no way under God's heaven that he was worth the million pounds (or more if my fading memory serves me correctly)per year he was paid. Good riddance you scruffy workshy bastard! I for one WILL NOT be wasting my time watching you ponce around on commercial television. Twat!
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
Bloody good for me(?)
However, thanks to the busty Ms Kelly eating pumpkin seeds has necessitated me travelling to see the not so busty Mr Bentley (BDS B'ham) in Hamstead Heath (Birmingham, not bloody London) as today I chipped a tooth biting on a seed. Bastard!
Although madly in lustful love with the delightful Ms Kelly, I do blame her for my tongue grating on the jagged tooth, & I think she should consider soothing my slightly swollen tongue by allowing me to run my tongue along the perimeter her naked ample bosom.
Sadly I fear that will never happen, but I will go on eating pumpkin seeds & lusting after Ms Kelly.
I ask myself though.....what ever did I see in Charlie Dimmock all those years ago?? Awful.
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
Its a bastard...
Wherever I go, wherever I look most things I hear are instructional, warning me (& you) against this or that. I was at the local train station the other day & I saw a sign telling me not to stand to close to the edge or I "might get sucked off". Well, I tell you I stood there for a good 10 minutes & no one came along to suck me off. I'm told that I have to wear a life jacket on the plane, to wear a set belt on the plane & when in the car-fuck off!! What if I don't want to? what if I want to die at sea or get catapulted head first through the car windscreen? Its my bastard choice! To make matters worse the cops will charge me if I don't wear a set belt in my car & then....if I don't put the bloody belt on the bloody car makes a loud 'bleeping' sound til I do! Jesus, Mary & Joseph!!!
Boy racers tearing about the roads, probably without insurance, cutting people up, jumping the orderly traffic queue but do they get pulled over?? O no...The decent mature driver gets pulled over because he may have one stop light not working.Unjust or what??!!
I'll wear a cycling helmet when I want to wear one not because RoSPA says its the safest thing to do. Bloody nanny state. Feck off & leave me alone.
Saturday, 26 June 2010
Indeed....
Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.
Sir Winston Churchill, on the eve of his 75th birthday
Space.
Whilst working my time was occupied with matters relating to work, I had little space for which other matters could enter my life & thoughts. I had little time (nor energy) to allow muses, things of beauty or reflections to creep into my life.
However I now have this time. I am able to see the artistic potential of even the most mundane objects in life, I watched with intrigue a garden spider repairing her web & the industrious bees working their way around the crop of Foxgloves in the garden.
I reflected too upon the lack of Spirituality within the Roman Catholic Church-the Church I was baptised in.Every moment in the service is filled with noise of some description. There is no opportunity to 'be'.NO gaps within the noise to allow the spirit to settle (or to stir up!)within the heart. And I think I know why this space is denied: I believe that were people allowed this space, a time to reflect, to be silent for even a short time then God only knows what might happen!! People might not come back to the church again. They might, talk to one another, they might be spontaneous.
To have space or a period of silence flies in the face of the autocratic church rulers want. They rule, make policies, portray God as a uniform being-one size fits all. To have space or silence in the Holy Mass would allow the Spirit of God (whatever you perceive him or her to be)to enter the individual on an individual level. This,, to the autocratic church leaders/rulers would terrify them & anarchy would ensue. Bring it on!!!
For the sake of this space I now go to Mass on a Monday or Tuesday when there is the odd opportunity for silent reflection.