Month: May 2010

The Marriage of Figaro


The opera experts continue to buff. We were back the track of the popular pieces.

We continued our annual outing to the hallowed halls of St. James theatre
(great photo by the way).

Farce with music would be my basic interpretation. The sets were very well done, consistent good singers and quality costumes. The sound quality was a little disappointing as we were in the stalls, but under the balcony. The performance was a little longer than anticipated, with 3 hours of action.

So, we have seen so many operas now, we are such experts. that we will have to start seeing them for the second time around!

Election Update


No not the one in the UK, but the one in Khandallah.

I would like to announce my failure to be elected to the Board of Governors at Isaac’s school. There were three slots available and I came joint fourth out of seven.

One successful candidate was previously a board member who had served her term. In the election statement another made much of his setting up, owning and being a director of three companies, and the third added a photo of herself.

I console myself that the results are a reflection of the electorate, and not a comment on my attributes. I will continue to uphold the democratic process, but will have a quick cry in a corner.

A crucial issue that will no be addressed by Cameron

The pictorial is taken from The Equality Trust website. Wilkinson and Picket are authors of “The Spirit Level” and describe how inequality in societies affect a broad spectrum of social and health outcomes, and as the sub-title states-why equality is good for everyone. Even people in the shires.

The graphic shows all recent governments have done nothing for equality. It is nothing to do with the colour of the team, but that they have had the same basic premise of how society should work, and who should be influential. So, despite Cameron’s concept of a “Big Society”, progress will not be made as he does not consider the influence of the “elephant in the room”-the corporate sector.

Happy governing. And now the government has been determined, we will truly see what people are made of and what their intentions are, and who in the tent pulls the strings.

The Shires have answered

I of course refer to the learned MM in Milton Keynes.

I would like to agree with what he has said, but find I can only agree with some of it-unsurprisingly.

I do not think that the UK voted for a hung parliament either, that just happens to be the outcome. The infamous commentator who seems to have made headlines for that viewpoint is the rude unprofessional woman from Sky news.

The “country” patently has not voted for for a Conservative government either, under any interpretation of the numbers, in the same way that it has not clearly voted for any recent government outright. PR is a simple slogan that hides a lot of detail. In itself, that not a reason to reject PR, it is a reason to discuss and analyse it, appreciate the compromise. To think that there is no compromise with the current methods is foolhardy. If anything the current system is designed for sheep, and desired by those with an interest predominantly in power and not finding solutions. The current system is a form of coalition-with the compromise hidden under the broad blue or red umbrellas, as demonstrated by the pro-European and anti-European wings of the blue team. The proponents of the status quo want people to see only one aspect of the team that they agree with, and follow the rest of the hidden agenda-sheep like.

I not care for Brown, and I do not think any biography is likely to ome too close to damning. This isue is not about Brown v Cameron V Clegg, though it is much simpler to treat people as sheep and portray the issues in such as fashion. The disappointment at the Conservative performance has not just been highlighed by me, but seems to have made some headlines over the weekend via disgruntled Tories. Ones from the wrong faction maybe?

Actually, watching some of the Tories being interveiwed over the weekend has reminded me why I think so many are full of arse. William Hague back to the fore-give me strength! The boy has had so many chances, has shown a lack of judgement, and looks to have sunk relations with the rest of Europe before he has even got the chance to attach an official government title.

What will happen?

Prediction here is:

  • Cam thinks he rules the roost, and offers crap deal to Clegg
  • Clegg rejects it
  • Clegg cannot support Brown
  • Brown resigns and is replaced in due course
  • Cam sets up minority goverment with the aim of toughing it out with help of Unionists
  • Cam calls further election (this year? next year? )as Conservatives are only party with the money to fight another one

Does he win the next? Do the electorate punish him for wasting their time with another election? Does he manage to get wife pregnant again for next election? Does she have better selection of maternity smocks? economy goes down the gurgler. Only source of medical research grants is via EU!

Country goes to dogs!

Cartoon courtesy of subversive left wing broadsheet in cahoots to reds under the beds spies.