Dammit, are those Aussies cheating again? Well, I mean, they were caught out roughing up the ball in their last cricket match and I wouldn't put it past that Ricciardo fella' to sneak into (Sir) Lewis Hamilton's garage and carve up his tyres prior to the race! Only kidding, mate, you won a good race and best of all you helped push that damned Hun further down the points which means that (Sir) Lewis is only 9 points off the lead - have a pint of Fosters on me!
Sorry for my lateness: It was all the fault of the international F1 circus which, for reasons beyond my ken, they insist on staging all over the world instead of remaining in Europe. Today it was in China and thus I was forced - forced, I tell you! - to remain in bed with my radio plugged into my ear to listen to the commentary. The TV version, thanks to my ex-best friend, 'Rupe' (another bloody Aussie!), is not on until this afternoon.
First the war then the war of words: Well, actually, in terms of the body count it has been a skirmish in Syria rather than a war but even so this morning all the 'news' channels are full of talking heads simply re-ejaculating the opinions they had when this particular event kicked off. In some cases, of course, it provided an opportunity for some people to honk 'n' hoot the opinions they have held since they were five years old, for example, J. Corbyn MP, who detests anything that his own country does whilst admiring the actions of tyrants who hate this country.
Nikki Sievwright (nee Ross ) R.I.P: Once again I can only express my gratitude to the dear, old 'Speccie' which digs out these obscure but sometimes extraordinary stories. This concerns Nikki Sievwright (nee Ross), a former fashion model who married a British army cavalry officer. He was posted to Ulster and she followed him but, determined to do her bit, she volunteered for the female section of the Ulster Defence Regiment, known at the time as the 'Greenfinches'. On one occasion she helped capture a terrorist at a checkpoint by finding his real passport hidden inside the knickers of the lady accompanying him!
Farewell Milos Forman R.I.P: Oh dear, sorry to be so gloomy but I could not let the death of Milos Forman pass without mention. He created two movies (amongst many others) which are up there in my Top Ten and, of course, as I never stop reminding you, there are 40+ films in my Top Ten! However, Amadeus and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest are simply superb and unforgettable.
M***** M***** is banned! I refer, of course, to the exceedingly attractive lady who has positioned herself on the arm of Prince Harry of England. Not, I hasten to add, that I have anything against her, just the opposite, in fact, because if she showed the slightest interest in an elderly Brit gent of my vintage, I'd be 'in like Flynn'! No, the problem is that she is absolutely dominating my daily paper of choice, The Mail, such that each morning I have to turn over at least six pages filled with her comings and goings before I reach any actual news! Enough is enough, my life already!
Beyond belief #7,324,867: Sometimes, well fairly often, actually, oh alright then, constantly, you come across stories that leave you shaking your head and muttering, "I don't believe it!" For example, this story in The Mail telling us of a young Jewish man who had volunteered to work at the Anne Frank House museum in Amsterdam but who was told that he could not wear his 'yarmulke' skull cap in case it threatened "the neutrality of the foundation running the museum!"
It took the committee six months to decide that he could wear it after all. File under: You couldn't make it up!
Is he 'Maggie' Macron? Interesting piece in The Telegraph today spelling out the massive battle facing Pres. Macron in France as train drivers, airport staff, court officials et al, walk out in protest against his efforts to prise the grip of the unions off the French economy. Bonne chance with that one, Mr. President, and what a pity 'that woman' is no longer with us to offer you some good advice. Anyway, I wish him well because, despite it all, I like France and would prefer it to be prosperous rather than being slowly strangled to death by avaricious trade unions.
In which I was hit by a Shakespeare troll: He had an absolutely cast iron theory on the identity of the man who really - you know, really and truly - wrote Shakespeare's sonnets - yeeeeeeees, quite, one of those! Anyway, I replied politely but doubtfully and - natch! - almost by return I received an obscenity-loaded reply. Such fun!
Some of those Holy Fathers have much to answer for! You may have noticed that a short while back I was very enthusiastic for a book I purchased on the subject of the crusades but I haven't mentioned it since. This was due to domestic 'bits 'n' pieces' interrupting the flow. However, I'm back on it now and it is increasingly clear that Pope Urban II was "a very naughty boy" and has much to answer for, in fact, he's probably still answering! In the great history of political-religious cons, this is one of the biggest and it is absolutely fascinating and illuminating on the nature of 'the Peeps' and just how stupid they can be! So no change there, then! "The Crusades: The War for the Holy Land" by Thomas Asbridge.
No more rumbles today
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