Author Archives: Biz

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.

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). 

One can scarcely pick up a paper these days without coming across a story of some impending financial crisis or other. Of the many scenarios the most often mentioned are; falling house prices and a declining housing market, increasing personal debts and bankruptcies, unstable banks, rising inflation and dangerously unstable stock markets…that’s right, it seems like hard times could be around the corner.
 

I read with some interest, of a new bill that is due for debate today in the German Parliament; The Reichstag.  Having been a keen historian, specialising in German history for some three decades now, I cannot but be amazed at the proposal. The Bill proposes nothing less than to make public shows of affection between under 18’s illegal. Worse that that; in view of some of the stereotypes that their history has engendered, it threatens to make Germany a laughing stock.
 

I must admit to not being knowledgeable about any number of things and one of those things happens to be the Baptist Church. I know that the Church must have something to do with baptism and by extension, immersion in water; so I was interested to hear about the death of Baptist Minister David Brash, who seemingly received somewhat more water than was beneficial, when his body was found in a swamp in the Philippines. Apparently he was done away with by his young Pilipino bride, who hired two assassins to perform the task.