Oh so plain

They're still banging on about how plain packaging of cigarettes will stop youngsters smoking.

As many commentators on this article stated, "This will just mean that many customers will ask for the cheapest, thus starting a price war and driving down the price."

I do not think this is a good idea, if all cigarettes came in identical packaging it wouldn't make me stop smoking. I also think that taking brand loyalty out of the equation will cause a price war between the tobacco companies. I would no longer go and ask for a specific brand but for the cheapest. This would cause the price of cigarettes to plummet and young people would by them because they are so cheap. Sorry ASH i think your shooting yourself in the foot here!

Time for a fag.

I've got to fly

Readers may know that I work for the Ministry of defence, and that occasionally have to go and do some work. ( Have I any readers? who cares?)

Anyway, I've to join my ship on the Island of Crete. Simple you would think. Oh no it's not, Not if you work for MOD.

If I was to book my own flight I would have a direct flight lasting 6 hours.

The MOD has arranged this:

Leg 1. Depart Heathrow 1710 hrs
Arrive Amsterdam 1935 hrs

Leg 2. Depart Amsterdam 2035 hrs
Arrive Athens 0050 hrs

Leg 3 Depart Athens 0550 hrs
Arrive Chania 0640 hrs

That's nearly 12 hrs to do the same journey. I cannot believe that's the cheapest option. Apart from the fact that I've got to hang around Athens airport for 5 hours in the middle of the night. I did that in Johannesburg a while back, no fun believe you me.

Mind you, they've contracted out our travel arrangements to a private travel firm.

Mmmmm

It's the Birds Gordon.

The Bird Feeder


















I bought a bird feeder..
I hung it on my patio and filled it lovingly with seed.
It was indeed a beautiful bird feeder.

Within a week we had hundreds of birds taking advantage of the
continuous flow of free and easily accessible food.

But then the birds started building nests in the boards
of the patio, above the table, and next to the barbecue.

Then came the bird shit. It was everywhere; on the patio tiles,
the chairs, the table ...
everywhere!

Then some of the birds turned mean. They would dive bomb me and try to
peck me even though I had fed them out of my own pocket.
And other birds were boisterous and loud. They sat on the feeder and
squawked and screamed at all hours of the day and night
and demanded that I fill it when it got low on food.

After a while, I couldn't even sit in my own back garden
anymore. So I took down the bird feeder and in three days
the birds were gone. I cleaned up their mess and took down
the many nests they had built all over the patio.

Soon, the back garden was like it used to be .... quiet, serene
and no one demanding their rights to a free meal.

Now let's see ....

Brown & our government give out free food, subsidised housing,
free medical care, and free education and allows anyone
born here to be an automatic citizen.

Then the illegals came by the millions. Suddenly
our taxes went up to pay for the free services; small flats
are housing 5 or more families; you have to wait 6 hours to be seen
by a doctor in an emergency surgery because it is filled
with illegal non tax payers;

Your child's year 12 class is behind other schools because
over half the class doesn't speak English.

Corn Flakes now come in a bilingual box;

I have to 'press one' to hear my bank talk to me in English,
and people waving flags other than 'The Union Jack' are
squawking and screaming in the streets, demanding
more rights and free liberties.


Its just my opinion but:

Maybe, just maybe, it's time for the government
to take down the damn bird feeder.

Otherwise we'll be cleaning up shit forever!