On this day in 1937 The Hobbit was published, just in time for Frodo's and Bilbo's birthday which is, of course, tomorrow the 22nd of September.So let me be the first to wish you, for tomorrow a Happy Hobbit Day!
Friday, 21 September 2012
Happy Hobbit Day!
On this day in 1937 The Hobbit was published, just in time for Frodo's and Bilbo's birthday which is, of course, tomorrow the 22nd of September.So let me be the first to wish you, for tomorrow a Happy Hobbit Day!
Friday, 7 September 2012
A Living Saint Passes Away
He was a Jesuit priest who bucked the 'trendy' trend which has beset the Jesuits of late. He was a traditionalist priest who celebrated the Tridentine (Latin) Mass.
As I told my best man (best man available), it was a wonderful occasion when I met Fr Thwaites having heard so much about him... and the wedding was OK too.
Please remember Fr Thwaites in your prayers.
Thursday, 6 September 2012
And Bilbo's Off Across the Seas to Pastures New...
I finally dug out my old LOTR poster of Bilbo's last Song (you know... at the end of the book when he, Gandalf, Frodo and the elves all go to the Grey Havens and set off for the West?).
I bought it in the early 80s as a young, handsome and devilishly rakish whippersnapper with the world at my feet (OK, let me dream...) and for many years it bedecked the wall of my bachelor pad (er... teenage bedroom).
Well this week I finally got it down from the loft and sold it. It went to a gent (of great taste and distinction) in Sweden.
I like to think that I have spread the 'good news' of Tolkien rather than sold an heirloom, but it was creased, a little ripped and what with re-roofing etc. etc. was in danger of getting further damaged.
So goodbye Bilbo! Like dear old Sam returning home to his Rose afterwards I am not ashamed to say I shed a manly tear for my old friend as it set off on new adventures without me...
Now I shall go and listen to the song on my ipod in the last episode of LOTR and shed another manly tear (dear Lord! - it's getting a bit too "Elton John" round here!).
Goodbye dear Bilbo!
Now where did I leave my Lembas Bread?...
P.S. Can't wait for the film to come out!!!! Take that Smaug the Oppressor.
Thursday, 23 August 2012
Baby Fish and Exam Results: Celebrations All Round
Some great news from the garden. Our goldfish have had more babies. Not sure how many, but at last count there are at least seven wee black bairns in there (each about 1cm long). There may be more under the lily pads.
The 'older babies' (if that makes sense) are now about 3 - 4cm long, still black but eating the floating pond sticks that we feed the "grown ups" with.
It's great that we're now getting our own fish. And not a penny given to the big chain pet shops! Yippee.
I've also seen at least 3 grown-up frogs in the pond, so I suppose they'll be having their own babies soon enough... be great not to have to catch tadpoles from old quarries and have to "bring them home" next year.
We had a good crop of peas this year, though towards the end the slugs and snails went a bit bonkers on them. After a slow start the potatoes shot up too, so I think I'll be digging them up any day as they're just starting to wilt. The weather really hasn't helped this year.
So I suppose that's the garden up to date.
This last week or so we had happy news, with the AS and GCSE results in. Our eldest got an A in AS History which is what he plans to do in uni, and our second born got an A in GCSE Geography which is what he's going to college to do at A Level, so both did well and seem to know what they want to do...
What with O Levels becoming GCSEs and now the media saying the children get lower grades for the same percentages... I just wish the government(s) would stop fiddling with the exams so we could just know what the children get, they earn -- and can be compared like for like, year on year. But hey, what do I know?
The 'older babies' (if that makes sense) are now about 3 - 4cm long, still black but eating the floating pond sticks that we feed the "grown ups" with.
It's great that we're now getting our own fish. And not a penny given to the big chain pet shops! Yippee.
I've also seen at least 3 grown-up frogs in the pond, so I suppose they'll be having their own babies soon enough... be great not to have to catch tadpoles from old quarries and have to "bring them home" next year.
We had a good crop of peas this year, though towards the end the slugs and snails went a bit bonkers on them. After a slow start the potatoes shot up too, so I think I'll be digging them up any day as they're just starting to wilt. The weather really hasn't helped this year.
So I suppose that's the garden up to date.
This last week or so we had happy news, with the AS and GCSE results in. Our eldest got an A in AS History which is what he plans to do in uni, and our second born got an A in GCSE Geography which is what he's going to college to do at A Level, so both did well and seem to know what they want to do...
What with O Levels becoming GCSEs and now the media saying the children get lower grades for the same percentages... I just wish the government(s) would stop fiddling with the exams so we could just know what the children get, they earn -- and can be compared like for like, year on year. But hey, what do I know?
Sunday, 5 August 2012
Time to Respect the Elderly
Years ago I used to walk to work with an old man called Tom Dance. He would always tell me his stories of his service in the Navy in WW2 and of his time in the steelworks in Cardiff.
Remembering all the stories we shared and the laughs we had, I thought I should write something:
When you see an old man, what do you see?
Someone to be robbed of his money? Shame on you mugger or utilities executive!
Someone who gets in the way? Shame on you rushing commuter or NHS manager!
Someone who "goes on" about 'the good old days' and despairs of the modern age? Shame on you disinterested cold caller or politician feining interest!
Someone who's home should be taken from them to pay bills or home others? Shame on you government, local council or healthcare supremo!
Someone who's wrinkles make him unattractive? Shame on you fashion mag editor or botox laden wannabe model!
Someone who doesn't spend enough on useless trinkets and so doesn't exist? Shame on you trendy shop owner or advertising executive!
Someone who is past his best, an inconvenience who should be 'allowed' to choose death? Shame on you money-grubbing relative or euthanasia-rights activist!
Or do you see a man who has worked, paid his dues, deserves the best, has cherished memories in his home and should be entitled to have enough to heat and eat, to potter as he sees fit and get the very best in public services?
How we treat the elderly says much about us as a society.
If we mistreat the aged, we shouldn't be surprised when others get mistreated.
We should cherish life, from conception to natural death. No money, fashion, profits, taxes, lifestyles or politics is worth the suffering, poverty, pain or lonliness of the elderly.
It's time we, as a society, really decided what is important.
Most if us will be old one day. It is short-sighted and foolish (not to mention morally wrong) to treat the aged with disdain.
In memory of all the wonderful elderly men and women, relatives and friends, I have loved over the years, especially my grandparents. RIP.
Remembering all the stories we shared and the laughs we had, I thought I should write something:
When you see an old man, what do you see?
Someone to be robbed of his money? Shame on you mugger or utilities executive!
Someone who gets in the way? Shame on you rushing commuter or NHS manager!
Someone who "goes on" about 'the good old days' and despairs of the modern age? Shame on you disinterested cold caller or politician feining interest!
Someone who's home should be taken from them to pay bills or home others? Shame on you government, local council or healthcare supremo!
Someone who's wrinkles make him unattractive? Shame on you fashion mag editor or botox laden wannabe model!
Someone who doesn't spend enough on useless trinkets and so doesn't exist? Shame on you trendy shop owner or advertising executive!
Someone who is past his best, an inconvenience who should be 'allowed' to choose death? Shame on you money-grubbing relative or euthanasia-rights activist!
Or do you see a man who has worked, paid his dues, deserves the best, has cherished memories in his home and should be entitled to have enough to heat and eat, to potter as he sees fit and get the very best in public services?
How we treat the elderly says much about us as a society.
If we mistreat the aged, we shouldn't be surprised when others get mistreated.
We should cherish life, from conception to natural death. No money, fashion, profits, taxes, lifestyles or politics is worth the suffering, poverty, pain or lonliness of the elderly.
It's time we, as a society, really decided what is important.
Most if us will be old one day. It is short-sighted and foolish (not to mention morally wrong) to treat the aged with disdain.
In memory of all the wonderful elderly men and women, relatives and friends, I have loved over the years, especially my grandparents. RIP.
Thursday, 2 August 2012
Big Business Call Centres
If my call is so VERY important to you - how about answering it?
If you experience a high volume of calls so regularly (like 99% of the times I call) why not employ a few more people?
If you must make me go through 1001 options and permutations before -- eventually -- answering, why am I them so regularly redirected to another office who then tell me that I've come through to the wrong place?
And if you make me key in or (even worse) pronounce my details to a machine that only seems to recognise American accents, why when I reach a human being (after 2 months waiting) usually called Keith or Susan, yet with a suspiciously Asian accent, is the first thing they ask me for the very thing I just spent 48 hours tapping in or shouting at the phone?
So to recap: SORT IT OUT YOU TIGHT-FISTED MONEY-GRUBBING SCUMBAGS.
'I am not a number. I am a free man.'
If you experience a high volume of calls so regularly (like 99% of the times I call) why not employ a few more people?
If you must make me go through 1001 options and permutations before -- eventually -- answering, why am I them so regularly redirected to another office who then tell me that I've come through to the wrong place?
And if you make me key in or (even worse) pronounce my details to a machine that only seems to recognise American accents, why when I reach a human being (after 2 months waiting) usually called Keith or Susan, yet with a suspiciously Asian accent, is the first thing they ask me for the very thing I just spent 48 hours tapping in or shouting at the phone?
So to recap: SORT IT OUT YOU TIGHT-FISTED MONEY-GRUBBING SCUMBAGS.
'I am not a number. I am a free man.'
Tuesday, 31 July 2012
18 Years and One Day
I survived yesterday. "Why so?" you ask!
Because it was Monday? No.
Because two lots of software were playing up in work? No.
Because it was the start of Week 2 of the kids' school holidays? No.
All these added to the occasion of course.
No I survived yesterday because it was our WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!
18 years ago in St Peter's Church (yes that one! -- in Cardiff) myself and herself ("Mrs H") tied the knot, and we signed the marriage documents as Ave Maria was sung.
Now here we are 18 years later and our eldest has just turned 17 and is taking his driving lessons, with another child just leaving high school and another just leaving junior school.
We've lived in a few different properties in three different countries (England, Scotland and Wales) and there's been lots of ups and downs, excitement and anguish along the way.
So here we are, 18 years on. God willing there'll be another 18 years and more.
So thanks Mrs H for putting up with me.
Because it was Monday? No.
Because two lots of software were playing up in work? No.
Because it was the start of Week 2 of the kids' school holidays? No.
All these added to the occasion of course.
No I survived yesterday because it was our WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!
18 years ago in St Peter's Church (yes that one! -- in Cardiff) myself and herself ("Mrs H") tied the knot, and we signed the marriage documents as Ave Maria was sung.
Now here we are 18 years later and our eldest has just turned 17 and is taking his driving lessons, with another child just leaving high school and another just leaving junior school.
We've lived in a few different properties in three different countries (England, Scotland and Wales) and there's been lots of ups and downs, excitement and anguish along the way.
So here we are, 18 years on. God willing there'll be another 18 years and more.
So thanks Mrs H for putting up with me.
Tuesday, 17 July 2012
London 2012: Pay the Soldiers the G4S Millions
The G4S "omnishambles" for the London 2012 Olympics shows that reliance on Big Business is not good enough for a government.
They always have their 'eyes on the prize' and cut corners to make extra money.
We now have semi-literate 'security staff' and people not even turning up for work.
The government paid G4S hundreds of millions of pounds! They could have given half that money DIRECT to soldiers and let them earn overtime and see the games.
Now they wont get the bonuses so beloved of big businessmen - they'll just lose their holidays.
If it's good enough to pay millions to G4S then it should be good enough to pay the servicemen millions too-- especially as many face an uncertain future.
They always have their 'eyes on the prize' and cut corners to make extra money.
We now have semi-literate 'security staff' and people not even turning up for work.
The government paid G4S hundreds of millions of pounds! They could have given half that money DIRECT to soldiers and let them earn overtime and see the games.
Now they wont get the bonuses so beloved of big businessmen - they'll just lose their holidays.
If it's good enough to pay millions to G4S then it should be good enough to pay the servicemen millions too-- especially as many face an uncertain future.
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
Banks, Free Markets and Hilaire Belloc's Ideas
Just listening to The Spectator podcast and they are defending the free market viz the banking crisis.
I thought Daniel Hamman MEP made a good point on (Radio 4's) Any Questions when he said the bank bail-out was against the Free Market. As a Free Marketeer he believed banks should be allowed to go bust, shareholders (not taxpayers) should take the hit, was his take on it.
Then we had Ed Miliband this week saying banks should not be about profits at the expense of people, rather they should be promoting the Common Good.
I have some sympathy with that viewpoint.
I know banks have to make a profit (though some might argue they could be not for profit enterprises) but why does it have to be billions and billions more via screwing customers.
Take credit cards and mortgages as an example. Most people have them. Yet at a time when the base rate is 0.5% the banks make over 100% profit on mortgages and charge circa 29% on most credit cards.
Like Hilaire Belloc, the great Catholic writer and radical MP, I do not believe in the Free Market(FM). FM basically means the profiteers make the rules and the customer tends to suffer.
Today, for example, if the politicians weren't bankrolled by banks and The City (the last secretary to the Cabinet left to work in a bank, the current one is an ex-banker - and think of all the Blair ministers who went on to get bank stipends), we might expect them to protect 'the people' struggling at this time via limiting percentages on cards mortgages etc; e.g. 10% above the base rate-- still a very healthy guaranteed profit! Not to mention the scandalous rates of loan companies.
But a business sector that employs so many ex MPs, PMs and Chancellors clearly has too much power over the political class (much more than Leveson is glimpsing viz the Murdoch Empire, and of greater impact on the average man's income etc.)
To deconstruct the FM idea just imagine a small town's market. Let it run its own affairs. A rich man (let's call him Mr Tesco) will sell items cheaply, undercutting all others. He can afford to lose money for a few years (hiding his losses in mega profits in his other businesses).
Then after two years most competition has folded, shut down, gone bust etc. he can then buy up their stalls, put up his prices, cut the quality of his stock and so control the market to a large extent, and then start to bully the suppliers who really have to go through him if they wish to sell serious volumes of their product.
That is what FM delivers. It favours the rich, the bullies, the cheats, the shysters...
If you believe in the Common Good, fair trade, choice in goods and suppliers, then a market must have rules.
Of course Socialists argue that the market should be owned by the State and all profits go to the State and you end up with grey monotony, the Party cherry picking the best, and a rampant black market (and queues for bread).
Like Belloc, Catholics and all men of goodwill should IMHO say no to the FM and State control. The Catholic answer is the traditional 'English' answer - a nation of shopkeepers!
No FM, controls in place for the Common Good, limits on bank charges, help for small businesses and localism. This also fits the current 'green' agenda.
There could also be huge drops in business rates to encourage start-up small businesses and many other inventive initiatives to get the country back on its feet.
I also think the govt should limit profits (by percentage) on utilities, leaving them with healthy profits, but freeing peoples' wages to spend in local shops and not just to a handful of big businesses - but then Belloc also argued that large national companies (e.g. railways) should be made into co-ops. This in turn would make more money available to local high streets, markets etc.
Better wages for the working man (promoted by various popes) also means more money spent in local shops.
There are answers to the mess we are in, whether the banks, the media, the economy, the high street, home ownership, etc. -- and if Catholics read more of what Belloc, and those around him, espoused as Common Sense practical answers for the Common Good, then we might use our influence, contacts, and networks to start arguing this case, showing that there is hope and stopping the bankers and their chums stitching us all up for another 100 years.
Just a thought.
I thought Daniel Hamman MEP made a good point on (Radio 4's) Any Questions when he said the bank bail-out was against the Free Market. As a Free Marketeer he believed banks should be allowed to go bust, shareholders (not taxpayers) should take the hit, was his take on it.
Then we had Ed Miliband this week saying banks should not be about profits at the expense of people, rather they should be promoting the Common Good.
I have some sympathy with that viewpoint.
I know banks have to make a profit (though some might argue they could be not for profit enterprises) but why does it have to be billions and billions more via screwing customers.
Take credit cards and mortgages as an example. Most people have them. Yet at a time when the base rate is 0.5% the banks make over 100% profit on mortgages and charge circa 29% on most credit cards.
Like Hilaire Belloc, the great Catholic writer and radical MP, I do not believe in the Free Market(FM). FM basically means the profiteers make the rules and the customer tends to suffer.
Today, for example, if the politicians weren't bankrolled by banks and The City (the last secretary to the Cabinet left to work in a bank, the current one is an ex-banker - and think of all the Blair ministers who went on to get bank stipends), we might expect them to protect 'the people' struggling at this time via limiting percentages on cards mortgages etc; e.g. 10% above the base rate-- still a very healthy guaranteed profit! Not to mention the scandalous rates of loan companies.
But a business sector that employs so many ex MPs, PMs and Chancellors clearly has too much power over the political class (much more than Leveson is glimpsing viz the Murdoch Empire, and of greater impact on the average man's income etc.)
To deconstruct the FM idea just imagine a small town's market. Let it run its own affairs. A rich man (let's call him Mr Tesco) will sell items cheaply, undercutting all others. He can afford to lose money for a few years (hiding his losses in mega profits in his other businesses).
Then after two years most competition has folded, shut down, gone bust etc. he can then buy up their stalls, put up his prices, cut the quality of his stock and so control the market to a large extent, and then start to bully the suppliers who really have to go through him if they wish to sell serious volumes of their product.
That is what FM delivers. It favours the rich, the bullies, the cheats, the shysters...
If you believe in the Common Good, fair trade, choice in goods and suppliers, then a market must have rules.
Of course Socialists argue that the market should be owned by the State and all profits go to the State and you end up with grey monotony, the Party cherry picking the best, and a rampant black market (and queues for bread).
Like Belloc, Catholics and all men of goodwill should IMHO say no to the FM and State control. The Catholic answer is the traditional 'English' answer - a nation of shopkeepers!
No FM, controls in place for the Common Good, limits on bank charges, help for small businesses and localism. This also fits the current 'green' agenda.
There could also be huge drops in business rates to encourage start-up small businesses and many other inventive initiatives to get the country back on its feet.
I also think the govt should limit profits (by percentage) on utilities, leaving them with healthy profits, but freeing peoples' wages to spend in local shops and not just to a handful of big businesses - but then Belloc also argued that large national companies (e.g. railways) should be made into co-ops. This in turn would make more money available to local high streets, markets etc.
Better wages for the working man (promoted by various popes) also means more money spent in local shops.
There are answers to the mess we are in, whether the banks, the media, the economy, the high street, home ownership, etc. -- and if Catholics read more of what Belloc, and those around him, espoused as Common Sense practical answers for the Common Good, then we might use our influence, contacts, and networks to start arguing this case, showing that there is hope and stopping the bankers and their chums stitching us all up for another 100 years.
Just a thought.
Thursday, 5 July 2012
What a week! Birthday, Driving, Proms (oh and a Dead Chicken)
 |
| Going grey - me and George! (there the similarity ends) |
- one child's (16th) birthday.
- one child started his driving lessons (second one today).
- one child's prom for leaving junior school.
- one child's prom for leaving high school (as Head Boy).
- one child's participation in a school music concert.
- and (just into next week) a Grade Three violin exam.
On top of all the other usual chaos of family life (and preparing a first VAT return! yikes!)
And we lost one chicken at the end of last week to a fox (tunnelled into the run, broke off the 'egg basket' lid - now nailed down). It was one of the speckledys...
It's been quite a busy time! if I have a few more grey hairs than before, well, no surprise.
And the baby goldfish in the pond are getting bigger - about an inch and a quarter long and now more grey than black.
Saturday, 30 June 2012
Saturday, 23 June 2012
Chernobyl Diaries: OK but Disappointing
Went to see CD last night with Mrs H. To get the important matters settled, we took in our goodies. I refuse to pay £20 for a fizzy pop and a bucket o' popcorn.
I even won a cup of coffee (for Mrs H) in a £1 for charity lucky dip (coffee cost £2.49rrp) in the Coffee Emporium across the street. We were off to a good start!
Anyhow onto the film. Quite good. Not really scary (though Mrs H hid in her jumper a few times in a 70s Dr Who stylee saying "tell me what happens") and too short. It ended just when you hope it would get going, spin off into an X Files style govt cover-up plot or final big fight scene etc.
It wasn't boring like Transformers or Avengers Assemble, but was definitely missing something. Too formulaic in parts (stay in the van and turn the flipping lights off!) but moreover just not enough plot/back story etc.
Mrs H gave it 9/10 but she is easily pleased (she married me!) - I'm sticking to 6.5/10.
I wonder if a docu-film about the background to Chernobyl, Fukushima, Bhopal etc., cover ups and mistreatment of locals, and the UK government plans to bury tons and tons of nuclear waste in the Lake District, the tax-payers' bank-rolling of nuclear big business, and associated cover-ups and 'green-washing' of nuclear power for dubious ends might be more worrying/scary.
I even won a cup of coffee (for Mrs H) in a £1 for charity lucky dip (coffee cost £2.49rrp) in the Coffee Emporium across the street. We were off to a good start!
Anyhow onto the film. Quite good. Not really scary (though Mrs H hid in her jumper a few times in a 70s Dr Who stylee saying "tell me what happens") and too short. It ended just when you hope it would get going, spin off into an X Files style govt cover-up plot or final big fight scene etc.
It wasn't boring like Transformers or Avengers Assemble, but was definitely missing something. Too formulaic in parts (stay in the van and turn the flipping lights off!) but moreover just not enough plot/back story etc.
Mrs H gave it 9/10 but she is easily pleased (she married me!) - I'm sticking to 6.5/10.
I wonder if a docu-film about the background to Chernobyl, Fukushima, Bhopal etc., cover ups and mistreatment of locals, and the UK government plans to bury tons and tons of nuclear waste in the Lake District, the tax-payers' bank-rolling of nuclear big business, and associated cover-ups and 'green-washing' of nuclear power for dubious ends might be more worrying/scary.
Thursday, 21 June 2012
Sunday, 17 June 2012
I Wonder if Hilaire Belloc Liked Viennese Whirls?
Just had a Viennese Whirl and a cup of tea in my Hilaire Belloc mug.Does life get any better?
The blog is in danger of becoming a food fest.
Mrs H has retired to read a book. I think she has a deep loathing of football. And she's not even a rugby fan!
Happy Fathers Day to Old Pa Hurley (and Reflections on Sweets)
 |
| Coconut Rolls |
Mmmmm. My favourites.
 |
| Sprogs |
So there we are. Like Jack Spratt and his wife, the 'plate' (as it were) shall be licked clean.
Greater love hath no man than to give up his Coconut Rolls for his dad.
Luckily for me Old Pa Hurley seemed perfectly sated with a big box of Bassett's Wine Gums (other brands are available).
I did try and find a pic of a skip filled with sweets... but no joy. Just how much use is the internet?
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