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Next week

Comments

1. At 09:12 PM on 29 Dec 2006, wrote:

   It's fixed now!

2. At 09:55 PM on 29 Dec 2006, wrote:

   Hello darkness, my old friend
   I've come to talk with you again
   Because a vision softly creeping
   Left its seeds while I was sleeping
   And the vision that was planted in my brain
   Still remains
   Within the sound of silence
   

3. At 11:33 PM on 29 Dec 2006, Valery P wrote:

   Now you know I'm going to complain, why have the pixies allowed those lyrics when my purple poem was mod'd all those months ago.......

4. At 12:27 AM on 30 Dec 2006, Aperitif wrote:

   Never mind Valery -- why not give it another go?

5. At 01:13 AM on 30 Dec 2006, Valery P wrote:

   Ach - it's cropped up too many times, and I think the moment has passed....

6. At 10:51 AM on 30 Dec 2006, Frances O wrote:

   Thank you, Erid.

   Yes, I heard your shameless plug for the Noughties debate. I'll pop over there, then. Bye!

7. At 02:05 PM on 30 Dec 2006, wrote:

   I seem to be providing snack bar facilities for a growing number of pheasants.

   Four of them, all female.

   What shall we name them?

   Fifi

8. At 02:48 PM on 30 Dec 2006, wrote:

   My new entertainment troupe, the Pleasant Pheasants, will today be named by the froggers. Please vote for one of the following - bearing in mind that these are lady pheasants.

   A Joan, Pauline, Georgina, Ringetta

   B Pinkie, Perkie, Bubblie, Squeakie

   C Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy

   D Slasher, Flasher, Masher, Bruiser

   All.

   Vote.

   Now!

   Fifi ;o)

9. At 03:53 PM on 30 Dec 2006, wrote:

   Failing Allsaints', Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hogmanay, I'll vote for motherly, matronly list C. And look to watching the new families in the springtime.

   I mostly see cock pheasants and French partridges (sex indeterminate) scavenging our feeding area. Magpies seem to have learned I gave my 12-bore to two armoured policemen who turned up to tell me I'd not renewed my certificate....I'll need to get a Larsen Trap. Not seen any rats lately.

   Squirrels still on walkabout in the wilder bits, since it seems to have been a plentiful autumn and there's a glut of free food, so no need to hang about with the humans until the short commons of Jan/Feb and breeding time.

   Pruning today, or rather mostly looking at what needs doing while visiting several hundred of the trees under my care and attention...many I have known ever since I sprinkled a wee bit bonemeal into the soil before tucking them into a new home. Many thriving. Veg Garden too wet to do much else except keep covered under black plastic (woven, breathable, but boy does it keep weeds down!). Only roots and a wee bit spinach (forgot to do kale and calabrese last year - the did take some wind out of my sails, but wheels beginning to turn a bit at last.

   One of the landlords just passed by walking his dogs and informed me free buffet New Year's day. I promised to bring a lump of coal and my appetite. They're also doing a malt night with various amusements on the 16th to celebrate two years in one of the finest villages in Scotland, itself the "wor'uld's biggest village"

   From the Burns Unit:

   Some hae meat and canna eat,
   And some wad eat that want it;
   But we hae meat, and we can eat,
   And sae the Lord be thankit.

   ---Robert Burns

   Then let us pray that come it may,
   (As come it will for a' that,)
   That Sense and Worth,
   o'er a' the earth,
   Shall bear the gree, an' a' that,
   For a' that, an' a' that,
   It's coming yet for a' that,
   That man to man, the world o'er,
   Shall brithers be for a' that.
   --

   xx
   ed

10. At 04:37 PM on 30 Dec 2006, wrote:

    Ed (9) I think you were onto something with your second word. Melanie, Shaznay, Nicole and Natalie. Four birds with elaborate eye make-up?

    I very nearly did a PhD in Scottish Poetry, but decided that I could live without third degree Burns.

11. At 04:40 PM on 30 Dec 2006, Aunt Dahlia wrote:

    Fifi at 8
    How about :-
    Candida, Mavis, Clamidia and Cisstissie?
    Can't get mush more sisterly than that.
    

12. At 05:20 PM on 30 Dec 2006, Joe Bibhorn wrote:

    Fifi - There is nothing new in the world

    Personally I would call them Faith, Hope, Charity and Lust.

13. At 05:27 PM on 30 Dec 2006, Aunt Dahlia wrote:

    Am I on my own here?. I can't listen to PM as we HAVE to listen to JRR*. Which means the LIPH sits there jiggling like he ought to be put in the clinic, and I want to know when the tune starts. and when I can start drinking without seeming needy.

    
    *Jazz Record Requests - but it's 'cool' to call it JRR

    
    aaaaaarghhhh

14. At 06:03 PM on 30 Dec 2006, Aunt Dahlia wrote:

    Joe Bibhorn - THANKYOU
    I went to your site and found a cartoon I've yearned for since I saw it many many years ago. Thank you
    Whoopee!

15. At 06:04 PM on 30 Dec 2006, wrote:

    As for Saddam,

    | A Dictator Created Then Destroyed by America

    Robert Fisk revisits the circumstances that resulted in Saddam Hussein's rise to power, and asks, "Who encouraged Saddam to invade Iran in 1980, which was the greatest war crime he has committed for it led to the deaths of a million and a half souls? And who sold him the components for the chemical weapons with which he drenched Iran and the Kurds? We did. No wonder the Americans, who controlled Saddam's weird trial, forbad any mention of this, his most obscene atrocity, in the charges against him. Could he not have been handed over to the Iranians for sentencing for this massive war crime? Of course not. Because that would also expose our culpability."

    Just keeping it real, folks. Sorry
    xx
    ed

    
    

16. At 06:39 PM on 30 Dec 2006, wrote:

    Joe and Aunty - suggestions noted! (And how bizarre that there's a cartoon about naming pheasants ... !)

    Fifi ;o)

17. At 08:02 PM on 30 Dec 2006, wrote:

    Jason (10),

    Your reference is probably lost on me. I had in mind gustatorial occasions. Beauty has many dimensions.

    Bon Appetit

    ed

18. At 08:35 PM on 30 Dec 2006, Anne P. wrote:

    Well blow me down - yesterday's newsletter has just turned up, at 19:47 to be precise.

    Still no sign of Thursday's though.

19. At 09:02 PM on 30 Dec 2006, wrote:

    Ed, you are a hero and should be famous for it. Thank goodness we have you to do our research, reading and analysis for us.

    I 'kinda knew' all that about the Saddam business ... but you have provided many of the links and backup for that view.

    How much do we love this blog? Huh??

    Fifi

20. At 09:49 PM on 30 Dec 2006, admin annie wrote:

    I did get to listen to PM today - happily no-one in this house likes jazz - and I found it very disturbing. I am avoiding TV news at present so that I am not obliged to see film pictures of a man about to be executed. Poor sequin however not only had to sit through it, she had to do a commentary on it describing it to listeners and ask questions of someone who was only too happy to watch it and say Saddam got off lightly.

    She was of course as professional as ever, but you could tell she was distinctly uncomfortable with what she was having to do, and to be honest I am not happy that the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ asked her to do it. Or that they would ask anyone else to.

    I gather that the actual drop was not filmed and I would say we must be thankful for small mercies but actually - why should I be thankful for that if I have to put up with the rest? What sort of world do we live in where it is acceptable for a condemned man to be filmed as he is led to the scaffold and for the media subsequently to broadcast the pictures.

    This behaviour is no better than that of people who used to turn up to watch public hangings, and should be deplored in the same way.

21. At 10:07 PM on 30 Dec 2006, wrote:

    AdminAnnie (20) : I heartily agree with you. Circumstances dictated that I miss PM tonight but I did catch some of the pre- footage on the news this morning.

    The only positive thing I could say about it, other than that they spared us the 'money shot' ...

    ... apologies for those of a gentle disposition, but I do feel strongly about this ...

    ... is that it meant anyone who viewed what was shown at least would find it harder to distance themselves from the whole business of institutionalised killing.

    A bit like a visit to an abattoir, which I know would turn me vegetarian in a heartbeat. (I'm such a hypocrite.... see, I told you all I'm not as nice as you seem to think I am!)

    Fifi

22. At 10:26 PM on 30 Dec 2006, wrote:

    admin annie I thoroughy concur.

    Mary

23. At 10:44 PM on 30 Dec 2006, wrote:

    This whole issue is very interesting. I was born in 1984 yet I can vividly recall the pictures of the dead Nazis post Nuremburg hangings because I saw them on the World at War a few years back and i can never forget them.

    On the one hand the film footage ensures no rumours can go round about if he is/isn't alive - one the other side it allows the constant trivialisation of death.

    Ultimatly, i think Admin Annie summated why it is so horrific. The other question raised is are we, as citizens of the UK part complicite by being part members of the Allies who were holding Saddam and when the US handed him over they did so knewing he would be killed - yet where was the UK condemnation at that point?

    Whilst M.Beckett said good words today they do read rather like weasle words

    Regards
    John

24. At 11:24 PM on 30 Dec 2006, wrote:

    Fifi, and John Cooper,

    We (including UK) are totally complicit, both in this 'justice' and the creation and support of Saddam. Fifi, thank Robert Fisk, rather than me. He has an excellent track record on these matters. John, follow the l.

    Where, indeed is ANY condemnation from our leaders? But, of course, they're afraid to look at their own hands.

    GRRRRRR!
    ed

25. At 02:18 AM on 31 Dec 2006, wrote:

    Jason said:

    I very nearly did a PhD in Scottish Poetry, but decided that I could live without third degree Burns.

    I think it deserves a second airing. Well it made us laugh!

    As said on the beach, our line has disappeared in the winds and borrowing a wifi signal from another local Hotel. It's involved coathangers but amazingly just about works, though took a minute to load the Beach!

    Happy New Year to all of you and hopefully see you all on Tuesday. x

    As aid on the beach, I'm appauled that Bulldog (Cable and Wireless) cannot redirect or Divert our incoming calls, so be warned if you switch ISP's

    Jonnie
    

26. At 02:27 AM on 31 Dec 2006, wrote:

    Oh and By the way Eddie,

    Love the clip -- and so NICE that for once the pips weren't the intruders :-)

    This is slower than Dial-up so at least you can all be jonnie free for a while :-(

27. At 08:01 AM on 31 Dec 2006, wrote:

    jonnie (25) I'm flattered. The line was somewhat derivative given Ed's feeder of "from the Burns Unit" - the credit really lies with him.

    I'd also like to thank my agent, my wife, my children, ...

28. At 09:00 AM on 31 Dec 2006, Anne P. wrote:

    adminannie (20) and others,
    I absolutely agree about the coverage of the Saddam execution and have been avoiding news coverage as far as possible for the last 24 hours. Yes, there needs to be a record, but it is absolutely barbaric and comparable with public hangings in the past to broadcast worldwide and revel in it. Very much the downside of 24 hour news channels.

    I do not believe in the death penalty and it seems highly plausible that the execution has been hurried on to avoid awkward questions about who supplied materials to gas the Kurds, who supported the regime when it was known to be committing atrocities, who supplied them with arms and so on.

    Not a good day for democracy, justice or anything else.

29. At 11:13 AM on 31 Dec 2006, wrote:

    I've avoided the TV news as well Anne P & I really didn't want the picture on the front of the newspapers this morning. Sometimes I wonder how we can ever have any kind of relationship, let alone a special one, with a coutntry which still has the death penalty; the USA. I am not sure that this should ever have even happened & I am sure that there is concealment, if only by the ommisson of the way Saddam was supported when he was useful.

30. At 02:27 PM on 31 Dec 2006, Aunt Dahlia wrote:

    Thank you chums, in that case I'm glad I missed it. (The programme, yesterday) I went out to get the papers, and couldn't bring myself to buy one. Until then, I had preserved a woolly liberal, well it's their country approach.... but it's not. It was wrong, morally, ethically and politically.
    O God, if there is a god, save our souls, if we have souls.

31. At 05:05 PM on 16 Jan 2007, wrote:

    The clip, which you posted after this entry, was fab and now seems to have disappeared :-/

    I was wanting to play someone the Eddie / Paddy giggling fiasco and can't find it anywhere now :(