dreamfish

Mon, 29 Nov 2004 20:45:32

| Monday 29th November 2004 21:45MST | → 0 Comments |

We went into London on Saturday, to a specialist bookshop in Notting Hill that sells only cookbooks (and bought a couple). Then we wandered through the Portabello Road market, though bf lost interest rather quickly due to the crowds, and we ended up going to Angel to see all the designer stores there, especially one called Atelier which bf had read about in some high-class magazine back in the US (and turned out to be rather disappointing) and a few others of note. Then home.

I’m still getting grumpy with bf more frequently and randomly. It’s partly me (I value my space and quiet time) and partly him (he could do with reducing the volume of his voice by 20dB). However, he bought me some nice presents and a card today so I can forgive him.

UN Panel Proposes New Criteria for Using Force. Something I’m very wary about. The article claims such force being authorised by the Security Council is enough oversight but since when has it every been truely representitive of the planet? A few big countries have vetos and when non-permanent members are small countries, they find themselves being ‘persuaded’ by the loss of economic aid to support invidious resolutions. Hans Blix in a Guardian article today (which also covered the Oil-For-Food debacle and how the inquiry is being used by neo-cons to attack the UN and Kofi Annan) put it succintly:

For greater legitimacy, the security council needs to represent a large part of the world’s population, hence a need for the presence in the council of the most populous countries in all continents. One argument, not infrequently advanced, I find totally objectionable: that those states that pay the greatest contributions to the UN budget should merit a seat. The seats should not be for sale.

A book I must ask for as an Xmas present: Just Law by Helena Kennedy.

Fri, 26 Nov 2004 20:50:00

| Friday 26th November 2004 21:50MST | → 1 Comments |

Bf played bridge again yesterday and it looks like he’ll be able to find enough partners to play about twice a week. That’s good. Him being out in the evening gives me quiet time to study.

We might not be able to visit my mother before xmas as she’s having her kitchen completely torn out and redone and consequently doesn’t want the house to look a mess when bf is there, so asked us not to come. I thought it was a strange request and did suspect an ulterior motive (i.e. still not being ‘used to the idea’) but that was swiftly repudiated. Maybe it’s because she wants everything to look its best when entertaining (and meeting) for the first time her son’s partner. That would be nice.

I’m still oversensitive and keep getting grumpy with bf for totally non-reasons, i.e. irrational ones. It’s a character flaw and I have to deal with it. Fortunately it doesn’t seem to bother him that much but I wouldn’t want to take any risks, especially when he does cute things like this.

Tue, 23 Nov 2004 14:18:36

| Tuesday 23rd November 2004 15:18MST | → 0 Comments |

Mon, 22 Nov 2004 20:32:11

| Monday 22nd November 2004 21:32MST | → 1 Comments |

Finally got around to writing the second assignment for my course. It was supposed to take about two weeks and I did it in two hours yesterday afternoon, so I’ll probably only get a ’satsfactory’ mark for it. Such ‘power essaying’ gave me a headache for the rest of the evening. However, it’s re-motivated me to catch up - I’m about a week or so behind the schedule.

It’s been something of an adjustment getting used to bf being here full time, especially given how he’s completely re-arranged the flat so I can never find anything twice. That, and his unique American ‘extrovertedness’ (especially in public), have been the cause of a couple of rows. However, they were only minor and soon forgotten. It’s probably a culture shock for both of us but I have to learn to chill out more. At least he’s having fun playing bridge and, being so charming, all the natives take a shine to him.

On Saturday I took him to Godalming, mainly to see some of the cute shops there and the French market where he bought some exotic foodstuffs. It was somewhat spoiled by the drizzly and cold weather but was still fun.

Thu, 18 Nov 2004 20:36:54

| Thursday 18th November 2004 21:36MST | → 0 Comments |

A Tory peer in the Lords asked if the Government were planning to produce a leaflet covering the disadvantages of being in the EU. Quite properly they (politely) told him to get stuffed but I wondered if, to avoid being hypocritical, the Conservative party would be prepared to produce a leaflet outlining the negative consequences of their policies.

I notice, in regard to the ban on hunting with dogs those countryside alliance types are all talking about direct action campaigns and civil disobedience (along with veiled threats to ministers). I bet they are the same sort of people who were the first to criticise anti-globalisation and anti-arms trade protestors for using direct action and ‘not following the proper democratic channels’.

Wed, 17 Nov 2004 22:59:43

| Wednesday 17th November 2004 23:59MST | → 2 Comments |

Before bf arrived he had a blood test to see how his new pills were doing. Today he got the results and apparently the ‘viral load’ is negligible, which (I believe) means they are working better than expected. This is just fantastic news. I’ve been so lucky.

What surprises me about Boris Johnson’s sacking is how the public, along with various commentators, are lamenting the decision as they thought he was the most charismatic person in the Tory party. That may be so but since when does that make for the best leaders or legislators? I’d rather someone more unremarkable and prosaic but who did his job properly in scruitinising legislation, represented his constituents and stood up to vested interests on matters of principle. However, it seems the public value a photogenic, publicity seeker more highly. Just consider this another sideways ‘comment’ on the faults of our democracy.

Then again, at least our media didn’t make the same howlers as CNN did in their report, stating that Johnson was a Government minister and implying the Conservative party was in power.

Speaking of things governmental, there’s a lively debate going on at the Charter 88 constitution bulletin board, which I’m enjoying participating in.

Caf