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Travel back to 1979 with Question Time

Permit yourself a trip back to 1979. I commend you to the first episode of Question Time currently available on the BBC iPlayer. It’s a wonderful show and maybe, maybe, something to make you hanker after a better, more gentle and more personable age. And blimey, in some cases: how little has changed. Thirty years on we're still hearing some of the same arguments. Robin Day is a deliciously acerbic and yet lovable host. The audience questions are less pointed but still uncompromising. The answers are less spun. In fact both Teddy Taylor and Michael Foot offer some quite complex, nuanced ... Read more »

The Sun: Brighton is a "Town of Shame"

The Sun: Brighton is a “Town of Shame”

I adore this 1988 editorial from The Sun. Many thanks to Brightonian playwright Adrian Bunting who sent it my way. He got it from local cultural guru Peter Crisp, who is well known in the city. I hope that Peter and Adrian will forgive me for sharing it. It's too delicious. The thing about the ... Read more »
Looking Forward to Small Business 2.0

Looking Forward to Small Business 2.0

As the snow and ice thaws at last, we’re getting keyed up for Small Business 2.0 in London on the 23rd. We’ve got some great speakers, sessions and exhibitors and I’m looking forward to a great day at the Novotel in Hammersmith If you haven’t heard about Small Business 2.0, it’s a day ... Read more »
10 Thoughts about the Guardian’s 10:10

10 Thoughts about the Guardian’s 10:10

One of the benefits of the Copenhagen climate discussions must be how it brings the notion of decreasing individual carbon emissions to the front of mind. Over the last few weeks I’ve enjoyed amazing conversations about how we can reduce our individual carbon footprints. The Guardian’s 10:10 ... 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 »
Wilsondan Elsewhere

Wilsondan Elsewhere

An occasional digest of stuff I’ve written, or said and that’s been published elsewhere: Labour List: on why I think Gordon Brown should go to Wooton Bassett. The rest is all eBay related and predominantly related to the launch of the new edition of my book, Make Serious Money on eBay ... Read more »
Finally, the Conservatives have their candidate...

Finally, the Conservatives have their candidate…

For a long time in Brighton Pavilion, Labour has been shadowboxing. We've had our own fabulous candidate Nancy Platts for two and a half years. The Tories chose David Bull initially and he didn’t really make a mark. The Greens have chosen Belgium based Caroline Lucas and she unsurprisingly ... Read more »
Why the Green Silence on Brighton & Hove's Bin Strike?

Why the Green Silence on Brighton & Hove’s Bin Strike?

I love the Brighton Green Party. I constantly delight at their loquacity. Barely a day goes by in the blogosphere without a fascinating new viewpoint or opinion popping up for our delectation. Here’s a summary of the most recent posts I’ve read and enjoyed: - Green Leader Cllr Bill ... Read more »
Remembering Brighton's Heroes

Remembering Brighton’s Heroes

Noone who was present at Henry Allingham's funeral earlier in the year doubts Brighton's pride in its heroes. And today at the Brighton cenotaph down at Old Steine, just like in communities all over, hundreds of people joined in the Service of Rememberance. Rememberance is important every ... Read more »
Brighton's Tory 'Winter of Discontent' starts here

Brighton’s Tory ‘Winter of Discontent’ starts here

I suspect my growing interest in Brighton and Hove's local politics will mean that this isn't the first blog I write about bins, refuse collection and recycling. So here you go: two of the communal bins on my street.  Pics taken half an hour ago. Why is this bad? This is the backlog of just ... Read more »
Scary Advertising

Scary Advertising

I'm always too scared to visit this chemists. I can't imagine why. ... Read more »
From White Night: Future News

From White Night: Future News

We're very lucky in Brighton because some sort of happening is usually happening somewhere. And last Saturday we saw the second annual White Night shindig. Basically, it's an all night arty thing to coincide with the clocks going back. Centred on Jubilee Square, there was music, drama and all kinds ... Read more »
Thank Goodness Brighton's "Godless"!

Thank Goodness Brighton’s “Godless”!

Rejoice! The church has sent another missionary to save us godless Brightonians! Our new saviour comes in the shape of the ever so trendy Reverend Archie Coates. He knows what we need: more god. He’s so wrong. When it comes to beliefs and religions we’ve got plenty. It’s just not ... Read more »
eBay Advice for Brighton & Hove Council

eBay Advice for Brighton & Hove Council

I’m pleased to see that Brighton and Hove City Council are flogging some old street signs on eBay. It’s not a first (several other councils are already accomplished eBayers) but it is a good way to raise some cash for the coffers and also recycle and reuse things that they don’t need any ... Read more »