Barry Cooke's Blog

Well I woke this morning to a rather unpleasant surprise in the kitchen… water running down the wall! Because of the time of year and the weather recently, I just assumed I had a burst pipe or the boiler pipe had frozen up, but what I actually found was my bath had somehow moved and was no longer creating a tight seal to the wall. I pondered the option of just bunging lots of gunk around the edge to reseal it in, but then decided that if i was going to do it, I’d do it properly and whilst I was at it, I’d also put a new bathroom suite in and some bathroom storage.

Well, yesterday was a sad day for music, as the King of Pop Michael Jackson died. Despite his murky past, nobody can deny his musical and dancing abilities and of course his unique way of drawing a crowd.

However, following his untimely death, it seems Fox News decided to continue run ads across their MJ tribute page, albeit unmonitored. And when this happens, you can always guarantee an ad which is in bad taste, such as this one below.. surely somebody at Fox can see it’s somewhat tactless? (Clearly the advertiser needs to check their spelling too!)

Strong words and a harsh conclusion? Thoroughly well deserved in the case of Havering Social Services, as the following elucidation will aptly illustrate.

But first, I would like to make it perfectly clear that I would much prefer to be reporting that Havering Social Services; an organisation full of qualified, caring and skilful professionals, had dutifully and efficiently discharged their duties in the field of child protection and welfare and had achieved beneficial and well judged results based upon the best interests of the children that they represent.

Now whilst the world of politics generally leaves me utterly repulsed and disinterested due to the vile, self-serving, ineffectual and corrupt nature of all politicians of all shades. Occasionally, some redeeming characteristic emerges that completely and irrevocably changes my opinion of one of these public figures and elevates them from a position formerly on a par with Estate Agents, Lawyers, and Loan Sharks, to a position (in bloke’s speak) of “Top Bloke”. Today was one of those rare days when just such a thing happened and the “Top Bloke” in question was Jacqui Smith’s Husband Richard Timney.

Just when you thought that no Social Services Department in the land could possibly sink any lower than the pathetic example to be found in Hackney; up steps Doncaster Social Services, who in a mad last minute dash for the finishing line has spectacularly beaten all comers to claim the undisputed crown for the most incompetent Social Services with the highest child mortality rate on their watch. Well done Doncaster Social services you have truly claimed your place at the very nadir of childcare excellence.

I read with some bemusement, but no real sense of surprise about the latest EU wheeze to downgrade the quality of all our lives and ban Plasma TV’s at some time in the near future. Apparently, the unelected, unaccountable and highly overpaid morons at the EU have unilaterally decided that Plasma Screen TV’s are going to destroy the environment and have, thus, decided to ban them.

John Lochrie was born in Galashiels, Scotland, March 18, 1861, the son of Neil Lochrie and Janet Provan.

His father was a coal miner and was working down the mines even before he was 10 years of age. Working as a trapper boy, his job consisted of controlling the ventilation doors to the mines. John Lochrie’s job was very important as the door he controlled essentially was the last step that the workers had, if there was a gas explosion down the mines in Galashiels. Keeping the door shut for the maximum time possible was the aim of the game.

I periodically marvel at how obscure coincidences in life can lead one along totally new and unexpected avenues; how they can open series of brand new vistas and even lead to massive changes in ones long held opinions: so it was, that a chance opportunity to attend a race meeting of the Formula Palmer series lead to just such a chain of events.
 

Dear friends, I hope that you all had a fabulous Christmas and even if we are now at an age where we are no longer surprised by magical gifts that were our true heart’s desire; I nonetheless sincerely hope that over the Yuletide period, you at least received those most precious gifts of happiness, peace and repose. 

I’ve often noted that once you start to actively watch out for synchronicity in your life, it tends to make itself felt more and more often. That has certainly been the case today…but let me back track a few days. For the past week I have been laid low with some sort of virus which at times has rendered me unable to even leave my bed…(come on now)…Aaaaahhhhhh (it’s Panto Season after all).