When You Didn’t Know You Knew…

When You Didn’t Know You Knew…

I’ve been meaning to post this for a while (you’ll see how long in just a moment) but life and being in the right frame of mind kept getting in the way. Having recently tested positive for Covid and therefore being confined to barracks means I’ve now got the time to relate something that happened to me in April 2019…. It’s Friday morning, probably the 19th and I’m sat in my office in Hammersmith with Tony Blackburn’s morning programme from…

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Maintaining Your Independence, The Hard Way.

Maintaining Your Independence, The Hard Way.

Imagine being in a position where, through no fault of your own, your life is turned upside down. Imagine being told that you’ll be in a wheelchair from the age of 30. Imagine living with constant pain and being reliant on a range of painkillers to hopefully dull it enough get you through each day. Thankfully for most of us, this will never happen. But for some it’s a harsh reality. Of those that experience this, some will accept their…

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A Lesson in “How NOT to Treat a Prospective Customer…”

A Lesson in “How NOT to Treat a Prospective Customer…”

I’m coming to the end of my mobile phone contract in a couple of weeks and given that my current supplier is in the process of merging with the UK’s largest telco, I thought I’d have a look around to see what else is available. Finding myself at a loose end for half an hour in Romford town centre, I wandered into the “Three” shop and started to look at some of the handsets. I was rapidly approached by a…

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Election 2015: A Vote Up For Grabs…

Election 2015: A Vote Up For Grabs…

As I begin to write this, there are 50 hours until the polls open on the 7th May. After watching about a dozen debates and interviews I feel like one of the Animal Farm incumbents looking in at the window of the farmhouse – I can’t tell the difference anymore! At a local level, there are eight candidates standing for election. I’ve received leaflets from 5 of them delivered by the postal service. One of the leaflets didn’t even bear…

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End-to-End Encryption v. Hiding In Plain Sight

End-to-End Encryption v. Hiding In Plain Sight

There has been much in the news today about British PM David Cameron’s statement that he wants to “ban” end-to-end encryption of communications on the Internet in the UK, although I’m sure he and the Americans would like to see that ban have a much wider field. 

Get Santa (2014) Review

Get Santa (2014) Review

Sceptical me said it was just another film cashing in on the seasonal feel-good factor, but with a cast that includes Jim Broadbent, Jodie Whittaker, Stephen Graham Joanna Scanlan and Rafe Spall in a role

A visit to the Cinema (or “A nightmare on Vue Street”)

A visit to the Cinema (or “A nightmare on Vue Street”)

Not so long ago I could be found in the cinema two or three times a week but in recent years that has dropped to pretty much an annual visit. The general lack of consideration shown by other patrons with respect to making noise, messing around with phones or generally just making the whole experience a miserable one for people who Just Want To See The Film; the total apathy of the cinema staff and their unwillingness to address bad…

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“Fashion Victim”: Light Entertainment or Sexist TV?

“Fashion Victim”: Light Entertainment or Sexist TV?

I first became aware of this programme a few years back. The former Mrs. B. spoke Russian like a native and had lived there for a few years, so it was only natural that from time to time she’d want to watch some output – indeed it went as far as having input into the output, but that is another story for another day. Anyway, the premise of this particular show “Fashion Victim”, which airs daily on the Russian equivalent…

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Becoming an orphan…

Becoming an orphan…

I have tried to start this entry so many times and each time the draft has ended up in the electronic equivalent of a screwed up piece of paper on the office floor… I’m going to have to plunge right in and then hope I’ve made sense by the time I’ve finished. In the early hours of 8th March 2013, my brother, sister and I became orphans.

Scandals and schooldays…

Scandals and schooldays…

As you know, I’m not normally one to dwell too heavily on events in the news, but even I can’t ignore the fuss that has and continues to be made about Horse meat finding its way into the food-chain.