Book of the day

Every Englishman should own a copy.

50 Reasons to Hate the French.

I wonder why they stopped at 50? Must be a sequel coming out for Xmas.

Somewhere

Rainbows are my most favourite thing in the world.

Cute II

Afternoon. Sorry to wuss out on you again with another fluffy post, but I've just bought a new camera so I'm taking pictures of any old crap at the moment. And what's cuter than a cat in a cupboard?

I'm also knackered. Played poker last night, but I won. Which was nice. Thanks, as ever to MZA for his hospitality and also for the 3 tons of comic books I've just carried back home. As soon as the Liverpool - Spurs match is over, I'm going to bed with Supergirl and a smoke.

Have a good weekend.

Something for the weekend

Deck the halls with boughs of Holly...

Holly Valance.

The Pope is an idiot

Oh yes he is.

Muslim anger grows at Pope speech

A statement from the Vatican has failed to quell criticism of Pope Benedict XVI from Muslim leaders, after he made a speech about the concept of holy war. Speaking in Germany, the Pope quoted a 14th Century Christian emperor who said Muhammad had brought the world only "evil and inhuman" things.

So, what were the Catholic church up to in the 14th century? Was it the inquisition? I think it was. Was the inquisition a celebration of joy and godly love? Or could the inquisition also be described as "evil and inhuman"? Take the plank out of your own eye matey.

I did find one bit of good news though.

Nun tried to kill priest after finding him in bed with another woman

A jealous nun appeared in court charged with threats to kill and an arson attack on a priest's house - after she caught him in bed with a married woman. Sister Silvia Gomes De Sousa, 39, saw red and set fire to Father Carmelo Mantarro's house after she nabbed him 'in flagrante.'

Nice to see a Catholic priest in bed with a woman for a change.

So. Where were we?

Let’s restart this thing gently shall we?

Fluffy!!

Bostin’. And better than people. Every time I think I have the measure of humanity, just as I begin to stoke my chin and nod in a sagacious fashion, the table gets turned on me and it’s back to bewilderment. Befuddlement even. Oh yes.

Steve Irwin, many of you will know, died last week. Killed by a stingray in a freak accident. Some Australians seem to be taking their revenge on stingrays in a most facile, ignorant way. Thoroughly depressing.

But all is not doom. I am thrilled to see that a months after it was first published “Sudan man forced to ‘marry’ goat” is still among the top 5 emailed stories over at BBC News. Thank-you.

So. So, so, so … I needed a sabbatical. I like late summer. Warm but not hot. Hazy evenings, warm beer, the leaves slowly turning gold. Down time. Minimal human contact, just work and poker. Me time. Not that I’ve had demons to fight for a change, but just because I needed some solitude. Try it. What’s the worst that could happen? You might go mad. Do you deserve to be sane?

Blimey.

Twenty

I Did Not Die

Do not stand at my grave and forever weep.
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and forever cry.
I am not there. I did not die.

Melinda Sue Pacho

I miss you dad.

xx