Women !!

"Aaaarrrggghh! Gaaagggghhhhhh! What the bleeding hell is wrong with you bloody women? What the hell does it take? Why do you bitches torture me?"

The above is a quote from James Marsters character, Spike in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"

And whilst I'm (mercifully) not the recipient this time, I do feel it for my old friend G.

Really ladies what do you want? This guy is straight, solvent, doesn't do drugs or gamble, (women tell me) attractive, in good shape, with a career, and he wouldn't (despite my goading) date any other women, when he was seeing this one.

Yet for reasons that utterly escape me, she bombed him. Which is bad for two reasons; one, he's pretty stressed out about it, and secondly (and way more importantly) I have to hear about it.

I'm starting to think Spike had it right, and yet, if you could take a pill that completely took away you desire for women, you'd never take it.

National sports teams don't excite me much.......but

When it comes to England taking a 2-1 lead in a very close Ashes series, I will confess to a keen, bordering on the jingoistic interest.

The thing about being Welsh is that our national football or rugby teams rarely triumph on the world stage, as a result, I don't pay much attention.

But somehow, when it's the Aussies (the living personification of bad winners), it's kinda sweeter.

How much does the government want to know about us?

So, I'm going to the bank today with a cheque for about £3,200. A cheque, from a UK bank payable to me, not a money order from Nigeria, not cash in an envelope, but a cheque, meaning it's on the radar.

The clerk says to me, "that's a lot of money"

Me: "No it isn't"
Clerk: "Did you sell something to get it"
Me: "No"
Clerk "Then where did you get it"
Me: "The Alliance & Leicester"
Clerk: "No, I mean where did you get the money originally"
Me: "It was an ISA I closed, why?"
Clerk: "The government wants us to ask questions to stop money laundering"

Now forgive me, but if I was ever motivated to launder money, would I really put it into my own bank account, and do they really think a fat stupid bank clerk is gonna stop me? Come on!

First Principles

If there is one fundamental principle, I think everyone should at least consider, it is this. If the government, local or national, tries to do something, it will most likely, suck. And quite likely, suck beyong the telling. So smart, resourceful, industrious, self-reliant people, should never use any kind of public service. If you do, be prepared to suffer the consequences.

Yesterday, I disregarded this rule, and suffered as a result. I'm just back from Portugal with a broken toe, so running and any number of other exercises are out, so I decide to go for a swim to the council run pool. BIG mistake.

I walk in the place and the receptionist is too busy talking to her friend to do her job, so I say (in a loudish voice) "two to swim" she looks annoyed, and punches away at a computer, whilst still talking to the friend and not making eye contact, and says "Nine pounds"

So, surly attitude, and quite a lot for a subsidised pool, but fuck it, I need the exercise, so in I go.

They have a mixed changing room full of pikeys ! Come on, I want the male changing, but anyway, I go in a cubicle and get changed. I found the adult pool, and it's happily empty. I'm just about to get in, when this kid about 18, screams at me "Out" real aggressive, 'cos you know, he has the "whistle of authority" around his neck and all.

This was a serious mistake on his part. "Who the hell do you think you're talking to" says I in a still more aggressive voice, him, (shrinking now) "I was only doing what I was told, we have four staff off sick, so the adult pool is closed, er" he says, backing away and stuttering.

So, this "public service" I'm forced to fund through my council tax, is:

- expensive
- surly
- pikey
- thoughtless (two adults would want the adult pool, tell me this if you are the receptionist)
- poorly staffed, (four young kids sick on Sunday - gotta be hungover)
- aggressive

So, as a first principle, don't rely on the government. Rely on yourself and private companies with legally enforceable contracts.

First Post

I had always regarded these things as sooo self-indulgent, but two things.

First, major stuff happening in life right now, and it might be nice to record them, and second, two people I like, either keep a blog (Meghan), or suggested I keep one (G). So here it is.

I'll get to all the photo/profile stuff later, but know that whatever I write will be the truth, save for possible defamation, in which case names will be deleted, or fifth amendment stuff, come on, I'm only human. The rest will be the truth, 100% as I see it. It won't be appreciated by everyone.