I've become a reactionary.

Well almost.

Since last year I have written more letters to my MP in one year than I have written in the last thirty years. (Alright,three).

Each reply I have received has been bland or just plain passing the buck. The usual "They had the majority".

Anyway.

John Stanley. MP for Tonbridge and Malling. You have lost my vote.

Reason 1.

Voted strongly for the smoking ban.

Reason 2.

Moderately voted to stay in the EU.

Well then "John". I'm voting UKIP. I would say, put that in your pipe and smoke it. But see reason 1.

A plague on all of them.

*frustrated voter*

The Lurgie struck.

Apologies to the many one readers who flock to this blog for enlightenment.

I have just been struck down recently with Bird, Swine, Asian, flue, a cold.

The ramblings of this madman may get better when I recover. If I don't make it through I bequeath all my wordly goods to no-one in particular.

Somali pirates move hostage Britons

Militants from Somalia's al-Qaida-linked insurgent group have moved into the northern region where Somali pirates operate, forcing the gang that is holding a kidnapped British couple to flee, a self-proclaimed pirate chieftain and residents said.

Paul and Rachel Chandler were bundled into a car early on Monday after militants neared the town of Haradhere, said Maslah Yare, who leads the pirate gang that is holding the Chandlers............

Pat Condell says it all.

He's right. You need to vote for a candidate who will further your interests rather than a large party wanting power for power's sake.

A day at the Races.

No foxes were killed in writing of this article.

A simple pleasure in my household is the spring pastime of going to a Point-to-Point. This is amateur Horse racing run by the local Hunt.

I've always found these quite quaint, considering the people who frequent these venues.

Started of by me having to dash to the supermarket to get french bread for the Lunch. Came back with French Bread, beer, copious bottles of wine, and a bottle of whisky. (Needed the whisky for the evening, like now).

As usual we met up in a State enforced antismoking  pub. After we had all obeyed the drinking laws we drove off to the course.

The weather couldn't have been better. Sun was out with not a cloud in the sky. (It must be that damned global warming).

Apart from one race when my jockey parted with his horse at the first jump, the afternoon went well. FE made a slight profit over the course of the day.

A simple tale of country folk.

The Leaders debate.

Turned it off before I threw something through the screen.

UPDATE:

Turned it back on.

Did anyone notice that Nick Clegg was allowed more time than the other two?

Contingency planning.

I read with interest, stories of people caught out by the ash cloud that  partially enveloped us.

I travelled the world for over forty years and the one thing that was drummed into me was, SHIT HAPPENS.

My three rules of travelling are:

Have $100 of cash in your wallet. Everywhere will accept dollars.

Keep a credit card in your wallet that is empty. Only use it occasionally to keep it extant.

Make sure that you have at least a dual band mobile phone.

All these have got me out of trouble either singularly or all together. Don't rely on other people. Be prepared for the worst.

Girl with gun at her back forced to hand over £40m Graff gems

Jurors today watched CCTV footage as a robber held a gun to the back of a jewellery shop assistant and forced her to empty £40 million of gems out of display cabinets into a black bag.........

And now comes the climbdown

You only have to read the weasel words.

"The major barrier to resuming flight has been understanding tolerance levels of aircraft to ash," the CAA said. "Manufacturers have now agreed increased tolerance levels in low ash density areas."

and

Lord Adonis said safety was the "paramount concern" but research into the effects of the volcanic ash had led to a "better" understanding of the implications.

The whole debacle is what I expect in this, " Oh god. I'll be sued" mentality that has a hold on the UK today.

Full article

here

Charity Appeal.

Cold Steel Rain is doing a parachute jump in aid of the charity, Combat stress.

Do pop over to his blog and give him support either financially or just reassuring words.

I will never forget my first jump.

The jump was to be from an ageing Cessna at 2500 ft.

Now that was a very small aircraft and they managed to cram the pilot, the jumpmaster, and three first time parachutists into it. To get us all in they removed all the seats (except the pilot's), and forced us to kneel on the floor. Oh and to save on weight they removed the door.

One hand at all times had to be over the reserve chute to prevent it from being activated, the other hand was white knuckled clutching a strut. For the plane to get to height it had to circle upwards due to the load. Have you ever knelt by an open doorway with the ground disappearing at an ever increasing rate? If I'd known what that was like.......

Before we got to height the jumpmaster makes you take the hand, that is stopping you fall out of the door, to check your static line. Bearing in mind that you are kneeling next to an open door it is a tad scary. Especially as the plane is circling and the door next to you is on the downward side.

At 2500 ft and heading straight and level I was informed that I had to assume the position. Sit in the doorway with just the left buttock actually in the plane, and grab both sides of the doorway with my hands.

Then....

Well I don't think that I remember actually hurling myself from the plane due to the sheer terror.

But..........

It was the most fantastic experience of my life. I went on to do many more jumps until I got married and had kids. But that's another story.

Do give him your support.