STRICTLY COME DANCING

Any moment now - and  they'll be off !! The semi-finals of SCD.  Evidently two dances each this week; so double the opportunity to screw up one way or another.  Unfortunately these celebs all look fairly proficient to me.  So the fun of seeing one or other trip up, forget their steps, get caught up in their dress, kiss someone they shouldn't, or touch something they shouldn't has receded somewhat.  Never mind, I'm sure something of interest will turn up.

If all else fails there is always a splendid opportunity to admire the needlework and wonder quite how those dresses stay in place - and hope they wont! 

And the judges, they seem like a nice bunch on the whole.  But I really can't warm to that miserable Len fellow.  Possibly a very decent sort;  but don't you just squirm when he screws up his already wrinkled face to look disapprovingly sideways at that hugely amiable Craig chappie who has the balls to give an honest opinion. It's just as if you wonder who's trod in the dog doo doo, Len.

I'm going to suggest you hang loose, old chap. Cheer up a bit. Inexplicably the licence-payers chuck loads of dosh in your direction in exchange for which you do next to bugger all.  What's not to enjoy ?  

LORRY DRIVERS AND MOTORWAY DRIVING

Yesterday I spent some time driving 300 miles of the U.K. motorways M5 and M6.  The weather was appalling: windy and wet with associated poor visibility.

Now this blog is specifically about lorry drivers, truck drivers - call them what you will.  Some of them are quite definitely amongst the most skilled, most considerate, drivers around.  Some of them are amongst the worst.  They like to call themselves "professionals", "knights of the road."  Well no doubt some can reasonably make those claims.  But those that do, daily have to live down the disgraceful behaviour of their less skilled, less intelligent truck-driver associates.

What do we think of such truckers who seem, for example, to have no understanding of what "tailgating" means?  Are they really so thick they have no understanding of what breaking distances are required in particular circumstances?  Actually "yes" is the answer in many cases.  Do they realise how dangerous their driving is? Do they care?  Well I can imagine some of them now reading this and telling themselves they don't care.  And some of them probably think their reactions are super-human. The even less intelligent  think they know exactly what they are doing, and that it is safe. 

These are the scum who deserve to be lashed to the rim of an artic and then driven from London to Glasgow until nothing of them remains.  Sound a bit unkind?  Maybe a bit extreme? Well just remember these tossers are frequently responsible for wiping out the participants of vehicles they have followed too closely. But even then they hold on to their "Kane Dingle" attitudes. 

.....and yes there are many car and van drivers whose behaviour is equally adolescent.

EUROZONE - BLESS THEM

O.K.  Not a lot to say about the fun over dinner last night.  But well done Cameron.  Assuming, that is,  we have been given the whole truth.  

The eurozone, and the euro as it is currently known, is now finished not saved.  It will take a couple of days for the commentators to pluck up enough understanding and  courage to say so.  But let me be one of the first.  It doesn't matter therefore whether or not the UK had agreed to suck up to our French and German over-the-English-Channel neighbours. Either way the market consequences are the same.

What really matters to the U.K. is not what the Europeans think of the U.K..  What matters is what the rest of the World think of the U.K., and what the rest of the World think of the remaining Eurozone participants !  On those opinions depends the long-term success of the U.K.

Not to say that mainland Europeans ( the individuals I mean ) are anything but splendid.  They vary in character and attractiveness.  But they are nevertheless splendid and the UK is lucky to have such a mixed bag of sorts just across the water.  Shame the European mainland people have to put up with apparently stupid governments.  Well of course long-term they may not.

JEREMY CLARKSON

What is it about this overgrown buffoon that people seem to like ?  For the life of me I cannot think of anything.  My father would have had him down as not quite a complete idiot.  For example  ask yourself what message Clarkson sends out to young lads new to driving.  He encourages hate of some road-users and seems to have little regard for speed limits or any other signs of authority.  But then maybe it's all just a joke;  and the young lads should realise it.  Remember when we were younger and said something which got us into trouble at school?  " Sorry Sir, I didn't mean it. I was only joking." Hmm. 

Yes.  Clarkson's behaviour reminds me of schooldays.  It was cool to be a bit of a prick and great fun to get caught out being rude to authority. Yes that's Clarkson for me.  His latest "joke" about what should happen to strikers may or may not reflect his personal view; but should there be any doubt parts of the media, locked in apparent love affair, report what many think is vile behaviour, as quite obviously a joke. Maybe a joke - but certainly not "quite obviously." And so, once more, he's off the hook bless him. "Sorry Mum I didn't mean it.  It was just a joke." How sad. No doubt the last thing on his mind is to be offensive eh ?

If this is the way he choses to behave then, as with spotty maladjusted teenagers  ( who by the way, to a festering blackhead,  will adore him ), there is very little we can do.  That is apart from look on with some embarrassment as he continues to make an ass of himself.  But why should he care as controversy inflates sales of his latest book?   

Maybe Clarkson should begin to wonder whether the old saying "What goes around comes around" might one day hold true in his circumstances; in which case he could dwell upon what consequences he might expect.  Meanwhile should he now reflect upon whether his popularity has more to do with people laughing at him rather than with him.  Could followers be willing him to go just that little bit too far?  Now that would be fun.  But of course Clarkson gives not so much as a fishers tit.  Perhaps it's time he did.

So how do I decide whether I like such a fellow or not ?  The acid test for me is to ask whether he would  have been  a good role model for my son.   As with dear old Ed Balls (same buffoon-category as Clarkson for me ), it's a resounding NO !!