Have a good one

The half term holidays have almost arrived so blogs could be a bit thin on the ground over the next week. Whatever you’re doing, have fun.

Councillor suspended

"As of this morning, Coun Eddie McAtominey has been suspended from the Labour Party.” Neil Fleming, Labour Party spokesman.

The Germans have a word for it…

… Schadenfreude!

Has Eddie McAtominey, the councillor who wants to see Hebburn turned into Tescoville and supports roads being built on kids playing fields, dropped himself in the shit again?

Dazed and Confused

Councillor David Potts, leader of the Conservative group on South Tyneside Council, said: "This tired and discredited Labour government is looking increasingly dazed and confused."

And if there is one thing David knows a lot about it's looking dazed and confused.

Invasion of privacy

Yet again fuckwit politicians play fast and loose with our personal data.

52:09

I ran one of the best races of my life on Sunday. I’ve certainly ran faster in the past. In fact I’ve ran much faster races in the past, but I’ve usually finished knowing I could have done a little bit better.

What was special about the Great Manchester 10k Run on Sunday, was that as I crossed the finishing line in 52 minutes and 9 seconds I knew that I couldn’t have physically run it any faster.

The elite athletes obviously don’t have anything to worry about, but I had a brilliant time in Manchester and thoroughly enjoyed myself after the race, and that should be what sport is all about.

Speaking of Radio 4…

…While I was rushing round brushing hair and getting items of school uniform together this morning, I caught some of Thought for the Day by Elaine Storkey. Essentially she was making the case for contraction and convergence. Bring it on!

Charlie says…

Like many people of my generation I learned from an animated, fish munching, cat that it isn’t a good idea to accept sweets from strangers. So I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the Archive Hour on radio 4 last Saturday, which featured a lot of the classic public information films.

What was slightly more jaw dropping was some of the archive American ‘moral hygiene’ clips they played. One actually warns of the hazards of eating lunch with a homosexual! You just couldn’t make this stuff up.

Well worth clicking on to the link for a listen.

A breath of fresh air

"It's an exciting finding because air quality is something we can improve on through tightening air quality legislation"

SHOCK! HORROR!

Congratulations to Paul Myles-Kelly at the Gazette for getting this scoop: 'Coun McAtominey acknowledged he may lose some friends over the plans, adding: "You have to look beyond personal friendships and see the larger picture." '

I’m still reeling from the shock that Eddie McAtominey has any friends to lose in the first place.

Quality of life

This research is long overdue but I won’t be holding my breath for the Government to make any positive interventions. That would require both vision and benevolence, qualities that the Labour party abandoned a long time ago.

Fun in the sun

Do not expose to direct sunlight.

It was only a couple of weeks ago that I was still having to wear my winter running gear. But spring has sprung and the shorts were brought out of retirement last week, (slightly prematurely) and yesterday was a full-on run in the sun.

I’m now that unfortunate shade of pink us Geordies go when exposed to sunlight for more than ten minutes. I must get a floppy hat!

“He deserved it.” Says Tory leader.

“bit of a bummer” – Councillor David Potts.

Let it cool down before you drink it

It turns out our cold war leaders had worked out it would be quite difficult to get your hands on a nice cup of Darjeeling after a thermonuclear war… No shit Sherlock!

Excess All Areas

Well it turned out to be quite a sociable bank holiday weekend. I’m left pondering that age old question, is Guinness really good for you?

Bank holiday Monday will be a far more sedate affair with a nice easy ‘recovery’ run along the Leas.

Happy Holidays!

Knowledge is Power

A week or so ago, I was asked for some information relating to an environmental issue. Prompted by this I was going to write a blog on how to make a request for information under the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR).

All the advice you need already exists at this site here. It even has a handy request generator to help you write your request.

God Gave Us Life