QUOTE OF THE DAY. TRIPPS ORIGINAL

[Stanley]

Indeed David, Straight to the point and where is the money?

[Stanley]

"We seem to have got away with it" (Martin Reynolds - Boris Johnson's former principal private secretary in an email to a colleague after receiving the Gray report.)

[Tripps]

Fro Bob Dylan somewhere

"and the ladder of law has no top and no bottom"

He's not wrong

[Stanley]

Oscar Wild's opinion of foxhunting; “The unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable.” keeps coming to mind when I think of Johnson but I can't quite make it a fit!

[Tripps]

Liverpool fan in a phone in call

" Never stick yer 'ed above the pulpit"

[Tizer]

I was going to suggest the fan was the Bishop of Liverpool but I see (no pun intended) Paul Bayes retired on 1st March and the position is vacant.

[Stanley]

"A relatively cool day for this time of year"....
Heard in the 13:00 weather forecast today.
You can say that again......

[Stanley]

"People have long ago got over Brexit." (Nadine Dorries on World at One.)
Really??? Does she really think we have forgotten? Dream on kid.....

[Tizer]

"People have long ago got over Brexit." (Nadine Dorries on World at One.)
Really??? Does she really think we have forgotten? Dream on kid.....

No, we haven't forgotten and never will. While on holiday I had time to think about the wider world, and this is one of those thoughts. If the EU Referendum had gone the other way and Brexit had not happened we probably would not be in such a difficult situation over Ukraine and Russia. When the UK was an EU member we were highly respected by most of the other members and especially so in those countries to the east of Europe who joined in more recent times and are most at risk from Russia. When Russia invaded Ukraine, or even before when it was showing signs of doing so, we would have provided leadership and drawn together other EU members to counter Russia's aggression in the early days. We would have worked with the eastern members to pull together the old members, especially France and Germany in a more concerted effort to stop Russia before it even had a chance to threaten use of nuclear weapons. Europe's history has been sent down a different, less peaceful, more unsure pathway by Brexit. The Brexiteers have a lot to answer for!

[Stanley]

I can see the logic in that scenario Peter. Elsewhere I have had my daily whinge at the bloody Tories and yes, we certainly haven't forgotten.
Let's not forget that the instigators of all we see as being wrong with the situation now was the Deadly Duo of Cameron and Osborne. In every way they got things so wrong. The ship of state is not steaming into a glorious future but is floating just, almost dead in the water. What happens? We are thrown bread and circuses in the shape of the Jubilee.

[Tripps]

Yesterday - the day irony died.

Reading a passage from from Phillipians 4:8, Mr Johnson said: "Whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable … think about these things.”

I suppose he would spin that to mean just think about them, don't actually do them.

[Tizer]

Did you see that he was booed by the crowds when arriving and leaving yesterday? As someone pointed out, the people who stand out there for hours watching the pageantry, the monarchy, the patriotism etc you would expect to be the last ones to boo a Tory PM so that's a lot about the public's opinion of Johnson.

Let's not forget that the instigators of all we see as being wrong with the situation now was the Deadly Duo of Cameron and Osborne.

Apparently Tobias Ellwood wants us to return to being an EU member. I'll bet Boris has sent his Praetorian Guard to get him!

[Stanley]

Trouble is that after the way we have behaved the EU would put Draconian conditions on any deal to rejoin. That's the true extent of what these idiots have done, we are a global pariah now, can't even be trusted to adhere to the terms of international treaties if they are 'inconvenient'.
Yes I heard him being booed and noted that the BBC drew attention to it.
As for Johnson having the brass neck to stand there and quote from Philippians, that should surprise nobody, he has no concept of irony

[Tizer]

Trouble is that after the way we have behaved the EU would put Draconian conditions on any deal to rejoin.

I'm not so sure of that, especially with the present need for cohesion in Europe. I believe there would be a lot of pressure from the `younger' member countries of the EU to let the UK back in. I bet most of the other countries would prefer to see the UK leading the way towards modernisation of the EU rather than leaving it in the hands of the `old guard', France and Germany.

[Stanley]

I wouldn't argue against that Peter but I am of course an old cynic and wouldn't expect any favours....

[Stanley]

See THIS for a Mirror article on Jacob Rees Mogg and the leadership vote.

" Jacob Rees-Mogg’s claims about Theresa May came back to haunt him tonight after his boss Boris Johnson suffered even worse in a no confidence vote than she did. When 37% of her MPs voted no confidence in 2018, Mr Rees-Mogg claimed it was “a terrible result” for her and “she ought to go and see the Queen urgently and resign.”
But today he said passing by just one vote would be “enough” for Boris Johnson. Hours later, 41% of Tory MPs voted against Mr Johnson - worse than the result for Mrs May.
He said today: “One is enough. That’s the rule in a democracy – if you win by one you win.”

Wonderful how your position can change if the subject is the source of your influence and position..... Watch him change his stance.....

[Tripps]

I have been aware of this enigmatic quote for some time having once - in pre interwebthingy days - corresponded with its author. It's quite perceptive in several respects.

"During my research I have learnt there is a sizeable number of people who think that they are the only ones who read Kersh. You can always spot a Kersh reader – they have this inner light, this twinkle in their eye, that says ‘If only you knew what I know.’ They know about Kersh. It’s their secret. The world is foolish and chooses to ignore him. Bad luck for the world. Good luck for us."


Another quote - "Please yourselves " Francis Howerd.

[Stanley]

Who the hell's 'Kersh'?

[Tripps]

Who the hell's 'Kersh'?

Well it's a long story but start here. Gerald Kersh

Collecting his books have been a bit of a hobby since the 1980's. It was fun once, scouring second hand and charity shops up and down the country on the off chance. Such a task suits my personality. I finally gave in and got a bookfinder from Private Eye, who found my first "Fowler's End" In America. It's a lot easier now - too easy in fact and I nearly have the full set. The first book he wrote was "Jews Without Jehovah" which is mentioned in the link as being offered at £600. The only copy currently on offer is now £12,500. The ones I have, cost from 10 pence to a few pounds.

Here's the result of the quest. It's harmless and they can't touch you for it.

kersh.JPG

PS Now I remember I put up one of his short stories a while ago. Men Without Bones

[Stanley]

Thank you David.... He sounds like a bundle of laughs . Impressed with the collection..... Make sure your executor knows the value when you die..... old books are so often regarded as worthless.

[Tripps]

Make sure your executor knows the value when you die

First rule of problems - Who's problem is it?

[Stanley]

I know what you mean and yes it won't be ours but in my efforts to tidy my estate up to make it easier for my kids to deal with my 'stuff' when I shuffle off into the wings I have tried to flag up some of the gems and appointed a literary executor who checked in only a few weeks ago..... I'd like to think they don't get cheated....

[Tripps]

From The Daily Telegraph. I think a 'sic' was deserved, not just quote marks.

The Duchess has joined feminist campaigner Gloria Steinham to publicly criticise the decision as endangering women, warning of a “blueprint for reversing rights”. Saying the reaction to the ruling in her house was “guttural”, with the “feminist” Prince Harry equally despairing, she argued it is now essential for legislation enshrining equal rights to be “pushed through”.

[Stanley]

I think you are right David.... One suspects she associates guttural with 'gut-wrenching' or similar. Or could she have been searching for 'visceral'?

[Tripps]

Petronella Wyatt - former 'friend' of Boris Johnson.

"Boris can’t stop lying any more than he can stop blinking. It’s involuntary"