ketchup

First day at the new school tomorrow, off to Mars at last. At least I have a short week the first week! I took a week's holiday after the bank holiday weekend to keep the resource managers off my back and lucked into what may end up being summer 2010.

The island was great; the shorts were happy, it rained a lot on the Saturday but turned out fabulous on Sunday/Monday so there are lots of pics from the beach and the woods to jog the memory : they're here

This last weekend was pretty good too, lovely sunshine right up until ten minutes into my trip to London with the top down on the car. So much for the anticipated airbath. I had to stop after ten minutes to put the top back up because it started raining! Obviously triggered by my son bringing my hose back from the nursery and plumbing in the tap thingie so I could water the garden. Haven't needed to use the hose since.

Dinner was severely delayed by a couple of side-trips to have a drink with a couple of Mark's friends, and getting caught up in my distant local's pub quiz. I got one of the world cup round questions! Well, what other team except Scotland would be the 'never qualified at group level'?

Out and about at the LAM on Sunday, catching up with people but missed a birthday party at Hampstead; wasn't first out at poker, got up in time to slide under the cameras before 7am on Monday so I didn't have to give Boris any money and it all went rather well. Except for getting up at 6 after going to bed at 2am and feeling wiped out all day.

LLM last night saw a fine collection of fine women getting on rather well drinking fine wine and getting mashed (well, I did at any rate)

Someone sent me this today, I like it :)

The Urine test

(This was written by a rig worker in the North Sea - What he says makes a lot of sense!) I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to earn that pay cheque, I work on a rig for a drilling contractor. I am required to pass a random urine test for drugs and alcohol, with which I have no problem. What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test.

Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a benefits cheque because I have to pass one to earn it for them? Please understand that I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do on the other hand have a problem with helping someone sit on their arse drinking beer and smoking dope. Could you imagine how much money the government would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a benefit cheque?