Watching Brideshead Revisited film - never seen it.
Waugh nearly made genius status.
But always short
His books Sword of Honour trilogy close to perfection. Brideshead flawed, so flawed but so close to ripping your frame from reality.
His latter work tedious, his earlier fantastic..
Where the hell does she think I should be deported to? I have Ireland as an option, I suppose.
But the Memsahib - some sort of Atlantis?
Private Eye cartoon - London Review of things piled by your bed
Book - The Musical Hunan Michael Spitzer
I am so far behind that I just got to this in last PE.
I am two editions behind with LRB and for this month's book club have not completed first Chapter.
Same every year.
#campaignmode
Out in Milton Oxfordshire with Hedrig the dog
Out in Milton (& very much not Paradise lost - more Regained) this morning with the hairy one. Not in my ward but supporting our Leader.
In Deddington, this evening, lots of people I met had already voted for me. Royal Mail being unexpectedly efficient in North Oxfordshire today.
A collection of pamphlets including Liberator Songbook Ed5, The future tasks of Liberalism, Ralph Dahrendorf, Scarborough Prospectives, Liberalism today and tomorrow, Michael Meadowcroft, Liberal Students Handbook 87-88. Lessons in spoken Cornish, Tales of Cornish Smugglers, CAMRA Real Ale in Cornwall revised for 1986, Good Pubs of Oxford New Edition (1992) and Helston Furry Day (Published 1931)
Just been into our library to try to find the published script of a BBC radio play from the late '50s or '60s about Cornwall achieving independence (spoiler alert it did end well...) needless to say could find it.
But did find this collection of classics.
I use it mostly for putting in leaflets when out delivering, fantastic for this. Can put a couple of hundred there and frees hands.
But have put all sorts of dead birds, mammals and fish in there. Good in garden as well
On a positive note from today, fairly certain I have gained 100,% of the 'critical' ex-Army Sniper vote in Duns Tew...
Missed a few flights, closest near misses, both Beirut, so desperate to close doors got 100KG extra luggage on. Second Haj travelers causing mayhem fought way through, literally.
Missed ferries by not knowing the hour had changed in Spain & popping into the Wardroom at Whale Island for a sharpener
Thanks to all the help delivering letters to, most of Hook Norton and all of Deddington, North Aston, Middle Aston, Steeple Aston, Clifton, Somerton and Souldern.
Hedrig a Spanish Water Dog swimming in North Newington
Postal votes send out today.
So busy day out campaigning in Duns Tew, Hempton, Barford St Michael, Barford St John, Milcombe, Wigginton, Hook Norton and South Newington.
No picture from today but from yesterday in North Newington. He had a swim in Hook Norton today, after his hard work, as well.
1/2
Concur - we are not changing here in Oxfordshire we are changing the electorate, bringing them on board and demographics help.
But, pwe are not, never will be Tories-lite and must/ will stay true to fundamentals of Liberalism
I think the corruption will ultimately end the fascists, as it did in UK (waves at Johnson 👋 )Hungary& Brazil and 🙏 India, Turkey and corruptions very own genocidal maniac Netanyahu's Israel etc
Huge fan of salted cod, most @theguardian.com recipes are for this.
But feck all use for today's unsalted. Issue with salted is obviously salt and needed to drink. And obviously not do what Mandelson did in Chelsea
Had parsley sauce yesterday which never has body or strength. If it doubt add🌶?
Starmer, must go. Buts let's never hear from Cameron again - stay in your hut and never bother us again - unless we need to jail you. And we may.
Everyone in this should either go to prison or shut up.
As should, obviously, every country. But well done our friends in Scandinavia and Finland, can't see our gutless PM following suit - and he once believed in Human rights... remember McLibel Keir?
Although being curious Keir generally would help.
I took this photo the other day.
It epitomises Spring to me, with the burst of colour.
No reason to post other than I like it 😀🐝🌺🌳
I did not have cheering on the Pope on my 2026 bingo card, and yet ... here we are.
Little 🧵 on vetting:
There’s been a certain amount of chest-puffing from former holders of DV clearance about how rigorous and exacting the vetting process is and how rare for it to be overruled. The latter is definitely true. Never heard of it happening, ever.
1
Also in last clearance being asked about a boot, yes a boot which i had as much idea about as the interviewer. He decided to park that one. But why ask a question that you don't understand- and appears to make no sense?
Good to see my old mate Calum being punchy - although I have issues with the clearance process.
If Peter Mandelson failed developed vetting, Keir Starmer cannot wash his hands of it.
My op-ed on why responsibility for this goes right to the top👇
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
In 1st SC (below DV), my spouse is foreign, DV not possible (no way to check her family - & refused permission to try). The form asked whether I was, or my parents, were born in Ireland- which the answer is No. But I was an Irish citizen - I pointed out many IRA are clean skins - not thanked.
The problem with vetting is 1. There obsession with porn & 2. Near obsession with repeating stupid questions & ignoring obvious ones.
Last time I was vetted I was repeatedly asked (yes porn) but why i had been to Mid East so often - answer i was sent in 14 of the 16 occasions, endlessly repeated.
Freddie, thank you on Thames. @charliemaynard.bsky.social was sound on this on New Statesman 'Daily Politics' podcast a few days ago. Keep kicking Thames Water they deserve it.
Today, I introduced the Water Industry Act 1991 (Amendment) (Payment of Fines) Bill.
This Bill would prevent water companies, like Thames Water, from negotiating away fines.
The government must act to close loopholes in the current legislation.
I went through Dover as a foot passenger two weeks ago.
Hugely inconvenient and elaborate process. And there were about 30 of us.
It's going to be utter carnage come the summer.
Granted i have an EU passport so I will be drinking pastis outside reading Le Monde whilst waiting for the Memshabib
With the likely price of airline/ marine fuel doubt anyone will be going anywhere - unless they sail or possibly paddle/ row.
Seem to be mostly fuckwit yanks - but that may be just be my feed.
Big fans of genocide seems the main dogshit opinion
Well for anyone in Deddington that doesn't want Reform or mini-Reform then, I'm sorry to say, am the option.
Obviously I support PR to partly prevent tactical voting. But...
So if you are Green or Labour inclined, you may want to consider the tactical option.
