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Farewell Claire Rayner

Farewell Claire Rayner

Claire Rayner died yesterday. She was a remarkable woman: a fantastic campaigner for the NHS, a brilliant voice of common sense and also a woman of good humour and love. I’m of such an age, that she has always seemed to be in my life. The tributes call her an agony aunt and that seems to me a ... Read more »
On eBay's 15th birthday: 15 reminiscences.

On eBay’s 15th birthday: 15 reminiscences.

eBay celebrated its 15th birthday a few weeks back. Here are 15 memories of my time at eBay. Happy 15th Birthday! The first pay cheque I ever got from eBay was from the head of eBay Europe’s joint account with his wife. eBay itself didn’t even have it’s own bank account. In the first ... Read more »
Are the two things linked?

Are the two things linked?

An unfortunate juxtaposition? Or a clue? Spotted. Two Argus posters down my way. I think we should be ... Read more »
Douglas Hurd backs Ed Miliband*

Douglas Hurd backs Ed Miliband*

I can't generally do name dropping. Not least because I don’t have names worthy of jettisoning in public. And I obviously shy away from playing the posh school card (for so many reasons). But this tickled so much, that I have to share. I donned black tie and headed back to the alma mater last ... Read more »
Election Notes 2010: On losing

Election Notes 2010: On losing

It’s more than a month since the General Election and I have one last post to make in my Election Notes series. I’ve been sitting on it because I was unsure exactly what I wanted to say. I made some notes at the time. This is a verbatim extract from the Sunday after the General Election: ... Read more »
Where's the Honourable Member for Legoland?

Where’s the Honourable Member for Legoland?

I had the Scrabble set out earlier (not a rare occurance) and discovered the Lego House of Commons. Where are my Lego people? And my Lego despatch boxes, Lego ... Read more »
Election Notes 12/04/10: GALLIFREY: LAB HOLD

Election Notes 12/04/10: GALLIFREY: LAB HOLD

Doctors Who are voting Labour and I’m pleased that the Labour Party is courting Whovians. It’s a shame that more eight year olds can’t vote. The new Labour party political broadcast has a voiceover from one Timelord, David Tennant, and it invokes the memory of another, via his son (Sean ... Read more »
On being Irish enough

On being Irish enough

Perhaps unsurprisingly, I like celebrating St Patrick’s Day. Who can object to a merry pint of Guinness or three, a convivial slurp of the Bushmill's or clinking Sláinte with a slug of Jamesons? Pass the potato bread, the soda farls and the wheaten loaf! I’ll have a crisp from Mr Tayto too, if ... Read more »
Where've you taken me to this time, old girl?

Where’ve you taken me to this time, old girl?

I'm sure everyone does this, right? Have a few beers, see a discarded wardrobe in the street, climb in and pretend it's a Tardis. Everyone does it. ... Read more »
My David Cameron

My David Cameron

I've been loving the efforts of people to thoroughly lampoon David Cameron. MyDavidCameron.com has lots of lovely spoof posters. You can make your own here. Here are some of my own efforts. Nothing clever. Just a bit childish. Here's a brace for for Doctor Who fans and lovers of The Divine ... Read more »
Smash EDO: I never hid my face.

Smash EDO: I never hid my face.

When I was 17, I was arrested during a Reclaim the Streets demo at the Old Steine in Brighton. I spent the afternoon in cells and my bicycle was confiscated. Subsequently, I went to court, pleaded guilty and took the punishment (bound over for a year and a modest fine, as I recall). On the protest ... Read more »
Sell on eBay to help the people of Haiti

Sell on eBay to help the people of Haiti

You’ve doubtless been moved by the heartbreaking tragedy in Haiti over the past few days in the aftermath of the earthquake there. I’ve found the urge to help overwhelming and yet, combined with a sense of powerlessness, also very frustrating. This article from DFID caught my eye today: ... Read more »
Eton: David Cameron and dirty words

Eton: David Cameron and dirty words

When Alec Douglas-Home died in 1995, I remember asking one of my teachers whether he thought there would ever again be a Prime Minister who’d been schooled at Eton. I paraphrase his reply, but it was unequivocal, slightly venomous and laced with regret. “Never again. John Major and his ... Read more »
I’m still a PC. Just.

I’m still a PC. Just.

I’m inclined to use PCs. It’s how I began. It reflects what I need computers for. It speaks to how I see the computer market and audience and, perhaps most importantly, it is a vote of confidence from my experience. It’s also a bit of “yah boo!” at the ‘Mac Wankers’ who like to take ... Read more »