Sorry, sorry, sorry but yesterday was one of those days! A fairly major shopping expedition was required in the morning and as I was feeling a bit 'crook' I was knackered by the time I got back. So I slumped in my armchair, as you do when you're a chap and you lack all that 'keep on going' that the ladies have, and was slowly driven mad by my ex-best-mate Rupe's news service which simply switched from atrocity to atrocity non-stop. I tried some others but the BBC was the same as Sky. The only slight amusement came from RT, Vlad's pet TV station. I waited and waited for them to report on the overnight news that Vlad had panicked and raised interest rates to 17.5% and that the rouble was sinking even faster than a barrel of oil! But no, it was all bad news from the west that it concentrated on until finally, just as I was about to click off, they announced a story from Mother Russia. At last, I thought, they are going to try and tell the whole truth. But no, up came a braggodocio story of a huge military exercise up near the Baltic - that'll teach those swaggering bullies in, er, Estonia and Latvia! - involving 10, 000 troops and an airborne brigade. I think in future I'll stick to 'North Korea News'!
Anyway, in desperation I clicked over to the 'Parliament live' channel - and that was more or less where my day was finished! I am not, I think, an overly emotional type but after watching the Commons Defence Committee hearings into the whole Afghanistan disaster I was seriously upset, by which I mean that I was spitting with fury and very close to tears. If I had tried to write about it yesterday it would have been even more of an incoherent rant than my usual blog posts. Suffice to say that if a very senior general, civil servant or politican of the 2005+ era had been within reach I would have killed him and done my time with a clear and contented conscience. I have calmed down a bit since yesterday and I hope to write about this a little later today.
ADDITIONAL: Yet more 'sorries'! Another totally unexpected journey is required of me today, all the way to 'downtown' Taunton - such fun! I should be back about teatime and perhaps on the boring-snoring journey I will be able to compose the diatribe I have festering in me before the 'Memsahib' marches me off to a drinks party at six o'clock.
By the way, I am cancelling Christmas next year!
For sixty years I read the Daily Telegraph if at all possible. Last May I stopped buying it because of its anti-UKIP bias. I have cut back on watching BBC TV news. We only watch it at 6 pm and even then usually avoid the first 10 to 15 minutes while they clear their latest obsession. In the mornings, I used to watch BBC TV news, then switched to Sky, then realised they were just as bad as the BBC for sticking to the approved line. Jazzera and RT offer a little light relief, but not much. I have not watched BBC current affairs for years - stuff like QT; nor do I listen to Any Questions.
Still there is always your admirable blog with its clear cut unbiased views. Plus John Redwood and Sultan Knish.
Posted by: backofanenvelope | Wednesday, 17 December 2014 at 09:57
Hi Dave commiserations are extended to you. I know what it is like to do an enforced extended shopping trip with a false grimace to say you are enjoying it.Next time do not put on the news play some heavy metal music with a huge glass of vintage port it makes the brain numb and negates the memory.Have a nice Christmas and thanks for the entertainment.
Posted by: Peter Whale | Wednesday, 17 December 2014 at 10:04
"I am cancelling Christmas"
And no more merciful hangings, I presume?
Posted by: Andrew Duffin | Wednesday, 17 December 2014 at 11:42
David...and ALL of these ideas are the Memsahib's? After a while, a reader gets suspicious.
Posted by: Whitewall | Wednesday, 17 December 2014 at 14:44
Don't wait till next year. I've cancelled Christmas for this year! Haven't got time for all that nonsense.
Posted by: Andra | Wednesday, 17 December 2014 at 19:02
Yes, indeed, BOE, you'll not find a hint of bias here at D&N!
No, Andrew, but there might be plenty of 'merciless' hangings!
No, 'Whiters', I didn't quite say that!
I don't care if you have cancelled Christmas this year, Andra, you are still to consider yourself well and truly kissed under the mistletoe!
Posted by: David Duff | Wednesday, 17 December 2014 at 21:56