...it has indeed taken the derring-do of the aforementioned to stir me from the torpor that has prevented me posting these past weeks.
For I am man in mourning and silence is my retreat from pain.
My beloved horse - Diamond Jane, or Janey, or even 'J-Pops' - is sold and I shall never see her again. I am bereft. E wanted it so to advance her equestrian career; H commanded it so. I, therefore, acquiesced though with heavy heart and spirit torn.
She - a mare - has gone to an new owner who swears to cherish her. I will rip the woman asunder if I hear any different.
Fed, watered, groomed and well-ridden that is all she will want. She may or may not wonder when 'Grandad' will next visit, but I shall miss sorely her until the day I die.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Frank Corti - A Good Neighbour...
...We, mercifully, are blessed with good neighbours. I trust it is a view they share.
That they are at somewhat of a distance - the Rectory being of the old style, large and with plentiful grounds - does not signify, as they are all in fact decent, quiet coves; though were they not the half an acre of lawn surrounding would be handy.
Mr Frank Corti, a hero of our day, is not so happily blessed it seems, his neighbour - one scumbag named Gregory McCalium - bursting in one evening on the startled Mr Corti and his dear wife Margaret, armed with a knife and intent on burglary with harm no doubt.
The photographs in the newspaper today show both victim and assailant alike. There is young McCalium, 23 years of age; and there is old Mr Corti a white-haired seventy-two.
The one is bruised and bloody, eye blackened with thickened bloody lips. Mr Corti, on the other hand, shows himself firm, upright and properly defiant.
For yes indeed, Mr Corti, an ex-soldier and boxer to boot, taking - as he would - unkindly to McCalium's threatening intrusion into his peaceful home, brushed aside the scumbag's knife giving the would-be thief the old one-two.
Biff, bash, bosh as they say. Or as Mr Corti himself said: ""I was scared when he first drew the knife, but my old training must have kicked in because I just punched him as hard as I could and he went down like a sack of spuds. If you can't defend what's yours, where are we at?"
That accomplished, it seems Mr Corti then restrained the battered McCalium awaiting the Police to cart him away.
Bravo Mr Corti for your deeds and for your words. Last word perhaps, the Judge to McCalium before sentencing him to four-and-a-half years without the option: "You got what you deserved." Quite so.
I wouldn't know if there is a 'Neighbour of the Year' award proximate to where Mr Corti and his wife live, but there jolly well should be and he its winner.
That they are at somewhat of a distance - the Rectory being of the old style, large and with plentiful grounds - does not signify, as they are all in fact decent, quiet coves; though were they not the half an acre of lawn surrounding would be handy.
Mr Frank Corti, a hero of our day, is not so happily blessed it seems, his neighbour - one scumbag named Gregory McCalium - bursting in one evening on the startled Mr Corti and his dear wife Margaret, armed with a knife and intent on burglary with harm no doubt.
The photographs in the newspaper today show both victim and assailant alike. There is young McCalium, 23 years of age; and there is old Mr Corti a white-haired seventy-two.
The one is bruised and bloody, eye blackened with thickened bloody lips. Mr Corti, on the other hand, shows himself firm, upright and properly defiant.
For yes indeed, Mr Corti, an ex-soldier and boxer to boot, taking - as he would - unkindly to McCalium's threatening intrusion into his peaceful home, brushed aside the scumbag's knife giving the would-be thief the old one-two.
Biff, bash, bosh as they say. Or as Mr Corti himself said: ""I was scared when he first drew the knife, but my old training must have kicked in because I just punched him as hard as I could and he went down like a sack of spuds. If you can't defend what's yours, where are we at?"
That accomplished, it seems Mr Corti then restrained the battered McCalium awaiting the Police to cart him away.
Bravo Mr Corti for your deeds and for your words. Last word perhaps, the Judge to McCalium before sentencing him to four-and-a-half years without the option: "You got what you deserved." Quite so.
I wouldn't know if there is a 'Neighbour of the Year' award proximate to where Mr Corti and his wife live, but there jolly well should be and he its winner.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Frank Cook - An Apology...
...his not mine of course.
Let us read his explanation:
Stockton North MP Frank Cook has today described as ‘inexplicable, embarrassing—and deeply regrettable’ the report that amongst his Parliamentary expenses for 2006 was a note referring to a donation a Battle of Britain Memorial service.
The MP said that, whilst he could not understand why the note had been submitted to the House of Commons Fees Office and said they were ‘entirely right’ to have rejected it.
Said Mr Cook “Anyone who knows me will understand that there is no way in which I would seek intentionally to make a claim for a donation made at a church service or to a charitable cause—in over 26 years as a Member of Parliament I must have attended hundreds of services and other similar events and never once have I sought to claim for money I have paid as a donation or for a wreath.
“I must assume that the story in the Sunday Telegraph is correct and, as I explained to them and to other journalists who have contacted me, I cannot recall the note to which they have referred—and I certainly do not understand how it could have been submitted to the Fees Office. The Sunday Telegraph reports that it was rejected by the Fees office—and thank goodness for that.
“Whilst I cannot understand how the note came to be submitted, I have to accept responsibility for its submission, hold my hands up and apologise. It was a genuine mistake and I stress again—I would never deliberately make a claim of this kind.”
And so where did this 'note' come from that so inexplicably found its way to the Fees Office? He can hardly - one assumes - have asked for a receipt on the day, given the circs. So who wrote the note if not he? And if so, why so? And having done so, why and how did this note come to be passed for payment?
We all have bundles of receipts in our wallets and purses that - where the occasion merits - are striped down for reimbursement. But not a 'note' we have carefully crafted for a clear purpose.
Did he indeed not bother to check what 'notes' were being sent in for claim?
Chiltern Hundreds for that man if he has a shred of decency. Only the three available, so he'd better hurry.
On which note - don't we love the shop that now boasts the warning sign: 'Only two MPs allowed in at any one time.'
Bravo! The nation speaks.
Let us read his explanation:
Stockton North MP Frank Cook has today described as ‘inexplicable, embarrassing—and deeply regrettable’ the report that amongst his Parliamentary expenses for 2006 was a note referring to a donation a Battle of Britain Memorial service.
The MP said that, whilst he could not understand why the note had been submitted to the House of Commons Fees Office and said they were ‘entirely right’ to have rejected it.
Said Mr Cook “Anyone who knows me will understand that there is no way in which I would seek intentionally to make a claim for a donation made at a church service or to a charitable cause—in over 26 years as a Member of Parliament I must have attended hundreds of services and other similar events and never once have I sought to claim for money I have paid as a donation or for a wreath.
“I must assume that the story in the Sunday Telegraph is correct and, as I explained to them and to other journalists who have contacted me, I cannot recall the note to which they have referred—and I certainly do not understand how it could have been submitted to the Fees Office. The Sunday Telegraph reports that it was rejected by the Fees office—and thank goodness for that.
“Whilst I cannot understand how the note came to be submitted, I have to accept responsibility for its submission, hold my hands up and apologise. It was a genuine mistake and I stress again—I would never deliberately make a claim of this kind.”
And so where did this 'note' come from that so inexplicably found its way to the Fees Office? He can hardly - one assumes - have asked for a receipt on the day, given the circs. So who wrote the note if not he? And if so, why so? And having done so, why and how did this note come to be passed for payment?
We all have bundles of receipts in our wallets and purses that - where the occasion merits - are striped down for reimbursement. But not a 'note' we have carefully crafted for a clear purpose.
Did he indeed not bother to check what 'notes' were being sent in for claim?
Chiltern Hundreds for that man if he has a shred of decency. Only the three available, so he'd better hurry.
On which note - don't we love the shop that now boasts the warning sign: 'Only two MPs allowed in at any one time.'
Bravo! The nation speaks.
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