The BBC have just interrupted scheduled radio broadcasts to announce the death of Pope John Paul II. 🙁

“Who bends not his ear to any bell which upon any occasion rings?
But who can remove it from that bell which is passing a piece of himself out of this world?
No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were,
As well as if a manor of thy friend’s or of thine own were:
Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.”

John Donne – Meditation XVIII

Thank you for reminding me why I have such a dislike of the metaphysicals.

Very sad news indeed. Good man, who did good things 🙁

But FC, you’ve just summed-up the entire problem.

There are things to be said for Blair and labour policies. But the time wasted on that stupid hunting bill (who cares?) The botched reorganisation of the Lords, the huge extra amounts of our money poured into public services with no discernable results, the insidious rise in taxation against pre-election promises of no tax rises, the cronies, John Prescott, Blunkett .. etc … etc..

But would the Tories be any better? Of course not. Just differently awful.

Moggy

Agreed agreed.
Although I did care about hunting – glad it’s been banned. I know most people didnt but I think Blair had to do it to appease the party really. He said he would and they were getting a bit uppity! Not a Prescott or Blunkett fan (he was crap in Education, then he was crap in the home office – but at least it was pc to have him there).

But I do truly believe that this country will be in safer hands for the next 5 years if you vote Labour – simple as that.

Not at all 🙂

that’s depressing isn’t it Mogs?! The idealist in me would like to have read through what you just wrote and found something unfair or incorrect in it but it’s all true unfortunately. Not sure I quite subscirbe to your views of Blair – I will be voting labour I think but I don’t think they’re perfect by any means, just a better bet.

Cheeky boys – the lot of you! 😮 😀 😮 😀 :p

he’s 29 – so has had the opportunity to vote several times but never bothered. I have never been able to vote in a general election before, just various local ones. I always vote because women died to give me that right – I feel I ought to make the most of it!

2 – he’s actually quite a nice chap.

Heavens above!