91. A few more Dribs and Drabs

CANUTE AT THE SEASIDE.

When we moved here seven years ago I could sit at my computer by the upstairs workroom window and, on the corner of a road just along from our garage, take in the sight of a pleasant little bungalow probably built around the time of the second world war.
It stood in a reasonable garden.
Then, a few months ago, it was demolished.
The entire site has now been taken up by a three storey block of flats. It is the second of its kind to be built around here, less than a hundred yards apart, in the past six months. Most of them are devoid of private parking.
Seems councils have been counselled that people who choose to live in flats should not be encouraged to own cars. Well. the shops are but a short walk away.
I am well aware that the jaw-dropping Scot and his henchpersons are tossers - they are M.P.s after all - and I do realize that the local prats-in-power are fiscally bound to creep to central government.
But are not their sad attempts to drive more and more people back to the pre 1950 days of mass public transport just another example of Canute at the seaside?
Mark you, with petrol at the cost it is now even old Two Jags Prescott may soon have to use his bus pass.

EIGHT WASTED MINUTES, YOUR MAJESTY.

Yes, all that pomp and paraphernalia and thumping on doors just for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2 to tell us, in eight wasted minutes, that her government is going to stick its oar into education...health...oh...you name it...you've heard it all before.
The eight minutes would have been far better spent if the aforementioned Queen Elizabeth 2 (an elderly lady who really has done me no harm) had been allowed to say:
"My government will make the same almighty cockup of absolutely everything that it and previous governments have for as long as I, or any of my subjects, can remember. It will also indulge in the same lies and deception to cover up its considerable shortcomings. That having been said, my husband and I look forward, with wry amusement, to the childish party squabbling which, no doubt, my words will engender at Westminster in the near future."

A COLLINS MOMENT.

Love her or loathe her, ol' Joan Collins does occasionally come out with a gem.
Talking to Melanie Sykes on The Paul O'Grady Show recently, she was asked whether there was anything sexy about kissing handsome actors in films. Her reply was a throwaway masterpiece.
"No. You are too worried about being on the right camera. And makeup are too worried that you might smudge your lipstick - or smudge his lipstick!"
Wicked.

SPOOKS OR MIAMI?

On Tuesday nights at 9 o'clock it is either Spooks on BBC1 or CSI: Miami on Five. Or watch one of them and record the other. Both are hilarious tosh, but while the former has actors. the latter has David Caruso and his acting sunglasses.
I cannot choose between them so I always record Spooks and watch it after I have seen Miami with my Leader. She does not watch Spooks. Well, apart from Peter Firth there are no antiques in it.
On the other hand, David Caruso's sunglasses are probably worth as much as any antique.
My Leader and I count how many times ol' David stands sideways to talk to somebody.
My Leader: "Why do you think he stands like that?"
Me: "To avoid being kicked in the balls."
(Later)
My Leader: "He's got that strange, wistful look on his face again."
Me: "Perhaps he forgot to stand sideways."
Both of us: "Hallo! He's putting his sunglasses on! There'll be trouble now..."

JOE'S PALACE.

One of the Spooks stalwarts, Rupert Penry-Jones, had a leading role in this absorbing drama by Stephen Poliakoff. The main character, Joe, was beautifully portrayed by newcomer Danny Lee Wynter and the eccentric billionaire who employed him to act as doorkeeper at a mansion was that star actor, very funny interviewee and self-proclaimed liar, Sir Michael Gambon.
Nothing ever seems to happen in a Poliakoff story. You just have to keep watching.
The end was worth the wait.