13 August 2011

 Alice had one of htr girls tea parties this afternoon. Alice No. 2 (Everard)-with her lovely dog Amber-dropped in mid-afternoon together with Di and Ros Zurlinden. The study is comfortably big enough to seat four people, other than myself, so we all sit round in a circle putting the world to rights over a cup of tea…

Predictably, we discussed the recent riots. Now, these guests are all intelligent people with minds of their own and all having opinions about what might be the best way to avoid such problems in the future. We all agreed that the basic problem was discipline, or rather lack of it, in the home and although we did not take a vote I surmise that had we done so there would have been a general agreement that bringing back National Service might well go at least a way to resolving the problem. Interestingly enough I heard on the evening news that some survey or other had come to the same conclusion.

Anyway these short interludes of intelligent discussion stimulates me and neatly break up the routine that would otherwise be relentlessly the same each day.

For another diversion I did, of course, have the fourth day of the third test match between India and England. Whilst my guests were with me I just turned down the sound keeping one eye on the laptop from time to time. The final chapter of this story can be quickly told. India having resumed overnight at 35 for1, lost Gambhir first ball to Anderson. Then, once Tendulkar was out for 40, the writing was on the wall. Despite a spirited finish by Kumar who smashed Swann into the stands three times plus a number of boundaries, the game was soon all over England the victors by an innings and 242 runs. This will automatically took them to the top of the ICC table as world champions. Former captains Michael Vaughan and Alec Stewart both believe that England will dominate test cricket for years to come having achieved the top of the world rankings.

Here is a rather gormless photograph of me taken with Mick’s mobile phone, however it is not me you should be looking at but my wonderful invention for smoking and drinking at the same time. You will see that the smoking stick is now mounted on a base sloping towards me and is secured in place by a magnet. Attached to this base is a removable extension which carries my drinking mug in a preformed hole and cut channel to accommodate the handles, If I am in an environment where I’m not allowed to smoke then the smoking stick can be removed and the base is designed just to house the cup.

And here is a picture of me using a smoking stick outside the Cricketers.

12 August 2011

The rioting and looting seems to be over, now for the inquest. No doubt a Commission of Enquiry will be set up and then in a year or so will report back to the government. I can predict that their findings will be: youngsters from deprived homes having nothing to do; no jobs for the […]

11 August 2011

The rioting and looting continued last night. A special magistrates Court was set up to deal with those who have been arrested, most were remanded in custody to be tried in the Crown Courts where the sentences will be more severe. One of the biggest problems is what to do with the nine and 10-year-olds. […]

10 August 2011

Last night was the fourth of the current riots which have now spread to the North-West and the Midlands. Hundreds of youths rampaged in Salford and Manchester overnight looting and burning shops which led to over 100 arrests. In Birmingham the police are investigating the death of three youths to see if they are connected […]

9 August 2011

My brother-in-law Lauren Grand’s 80th. birthday many happy returns of the day, Lol. My taxi driver advertised for two drivers. He had 30 applicants, not one of them British. In the end the jobs went to 2 Eastern Europeans. Who said there weren’t any jobs out there? The stark truth is that there are jobs […]

8 August 2011

Yesterday saw the second night of rioting in London. It originally started in Tottenham after a policeman had been shot at (and being saved by the bullets striking his mobile phone on his chest) he shot back and unfortunately killed the assailant. This is ostensibly was the cause of the riots in the first instance, […]

7 August 2011

With the good doctor winging his way to Australia,, no doubt sampling the delights of Business Class. (I’m sure he would not mind me telling you that he is very partial to a good whisky) I made my weekly filial call to Shropshire to my mother and Richard to make sure they were both still […]

6 August 2011

The night before last was the first time that I had been put to bed by anyone other than’ my lovely’ since I contacted MND. Michael, the good doctor, was strictly in locus parenti but Craig had a job to do and intended to do it, so between them they jointly battled out various tasks. […]

5 August 2011

Mick was absolutely wonderful during the night, he came down a couple of times and turned me over, so it was very much like’ business as usual’. It was a beautiful summer’s day so at lunchtime we wandered down to The Cricketers (me in the wheelchair) sat at our usual outside table and enjoyed a […]

4 August 2011

The’ flying doctor’, Michael, arrived late yesterday afternoon in time to crack open a bottle of champagne before supper. Mick has very kindly come here from Sweden, en route home to Australia, in order to give Alice time to go to Cornwall to see her mother who will be 100 on 29 September. As the […]