As I do not speak any of those ancient languages that have come down from different civilisations, like Egypt, India, and China, I am not in a position to draw comparisons. What I do know is that as a result of Britain being invaded by the Germans, the French and the Scandinavians, we are fortunate… Continue reading The English Language.
Month: August 2009
Imitation
Imitation comes in so many forms, copying, counterfeiting, and cheating. The most amusing version is among women. I was brought up by women, and my family, including the cat, has been mainly female. You discover that a young woman with excellent taste and the money to support it, buys a garment or accessory, that everyone… Continue reading Imitation
Another idiotic idea
Let us have a referendum. Even before the expenses scandal the population was losing its trust in the government and politicians generally. Currently we are being badgered daily by the main parties, including the government, with ideas and policies that seem to be valid for only about a week, before they’re either rejected or changed.… Continue reading Another idiotic idea
An idiotic view of banking
I know very little about world finance, but that doesn’t stop me worrying when I see the rate at which unemployment is rising, through nothing more nor less than greed and incompetence. So I sat down yesterday and thought about possible changes in the way the world’s banking was operated. I have said before that… Continue reading An idiotic view of banking
Let us have a bit of pragmatism
I am talking about the rumpus caused by the assessment that it is going to take over £1 million per annum to jail the members of the family who brutalised that child. One of the reasons offered is that attempts will be made by other prisoners to carry out their own form of justice, and… Continue reading Let us have a bit of pragmatism
Are children being short-changed
I know this is a dull subject, but the incredible change in such a small time, globally speaking, must have had a tremendous effect on the development of our young people. Call me an old fuddy-duddy if you like, but in retrospect I can’t believe the straitjacket in which our youngsters now grow up. Progress… Continue reading Are children being short-changed
Money
Ever since the beginning of the credit crunch, I have found that in financial programmes on television, somebody stands up and demonstrates that the markets are buoyant and suggests that things are better than quoted. A day or so later a government spokesman tells us that in fact the crunch is going to last couple… Continue reading Money
Just comments
The hidden world of the DHSS The average man in the street even in a lifetime barely scratches the complexity and the store of help that is there waiting for use. Become handicapped and a whole new world opens up to you. It always annoyed me when people used to complain and still do, about… Continue reading Just comments
Trees
The elderly, possibly because they have time on their hands, often privately reminisce about the early part of their lives, their childhood in particular. It is probable that most will eschew those periods of horror subconsciously, and dwell on the more pleasant aspects that have been superseded by so-called ‘progress’. With me it generally happens… Continue reading Trees
A dip into the past
I was thinking the other day about the difference in our island population now and in the 20s and 30s. Then, foreigners, either resident or visitors, were as rare as weeds in a near perfect garden, yet today we are so polyglot that we have translators in our schools. What started this was a conversation… Continue reading A dip into the past