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Will Once - somewhere and back again
What has worried me is that the sign of a mature democracy is that you can gracefully lose elections, step back at let the other side step forward for a while.The Labour party has behaved entirely honourably in this regard, but they seem to have a lot of supporters who think that abusing people who voted for the conservatives or UKIP is going to get them to change the way they vote in future
Very good point. I suppose it's the old "Yes Minister" argument that you don't need to worry about your core voters, because they will always vote for you. And you don't need to worry about your opponent's core voters, because they will always vote for them. It's the folks in the middle that politicians tend to think about. And that's a shame, because we want the Government to rule the country for everyone and not just for the marginal constituencies and swing voters.
I have always had a hankering for a "constructive opposition". Opposition parties who would support Government legislation if they agreed with it. Who refused to play the Westminster game of shouting insults across the chamber like a bunch of football hooligans. Heck, I'd like to go the whole way and have a Government made up of the best politicians from all the parties.
I don't think it would happen. I suspect it can't happen. But that is what I'd like.
It does occasionally happen. After all most senior people in the three main political parties and actually Privy Councillors and do have to work together on serious issues.A lot of the circus is probably put on to keep the cannon fodder enthused
The Pomodoro technique. A time management thingie that actually seems to work and you don't need to buy anything to get the most out of it.https://willonce.wordpress.com/2015/0...
Today's blog is all about the book I am giving away. I normally use my blog for non-booky stuff, but this is an exception.I am giving away Global Domination between 4 and 8 June.
https://willonce.wordpress.com/2015/0...
The Once patented recipe for success, health, wealth and all round happiness.And how to avoid the Author's Big Mistake
https://willonce.wordpress.com/2015/0...
Thanks - and thanks for the encouraging words about Global Domination. When I write this stuff I don't know if others will get it.
I like your slightly warped sense of humour. I'm drawn to people with slightly warped senses of humour. Sense of humours?Anyway, it feels like home. ;)
Is there any other kind?I'm currently writing a sequel to Love, Death and Tea. This time I am telling the story from Libby's perspective, starting at the same beginning but then branching out into a whole new story. It feels odd to be writing as a woman - getting in touch with my feminine side.
Love, Death and Making Sure the Seat is Down?
Good one! ... scribbles it down on a list.
Will wrote: "Is there any other kind?I'm currently writing a sequel to Love, Death and Tea. This time I am telling the story from Libby's perspective, starting at the same beginning but then branching out int..."
Whenever I'm writing from a female perspective, I try to imagine myself as an actor playing the role of the character (duh, yes, it's obvious, I know). But from time to time, I ask Mrs Gaff for her opinion and advice on how she would deal with a given situation, if it were her. As much as I am an equalitarian, I have never been a woman. It's a really strange, but oddly enlightening experience!
Indeed. My wife is my proof reader and has given me a few ideas for this too.
Sir Tim Hunt shares his wisdom and experience about falling love with girls in the lab. This one won't end happily.https://willonce.wordpress.com/2015/0...
Great blog Will.Casual misogyny pisses me off no end.
Me too. And the bit that really annoyed me about this one was that he tried to defend himself. He didn't seem to get it. And then Boris leaping in ... made my blood boil. There is a serious debate to be had about how we have romances at work, but it doesn't start with "My trouble with girls..."
The three secrets of motivation. And it won't cost you a penny. Promise.https://willonce.wordpress.com/2015/0...
good adviceHunger is also a great motivator as well :-)
I really only liked the ones where they travelled to exotic locales to break the cars.Other than that, it was little boys breaking their toys.
Very good summary! It's almost heresy for a bloke not to like Top Gear, but it had degenerated into one of two things. For new cars it was "phwoar, doesn't that go fast?" and for old cars it was "doesn't that go slow?". Especially when you deliberately break it.
Watching them destroy caravans was rather fun. And their banter, of course. Unfortunately, the banter seemed extremely scripted of late.You're right about it being past its sell by.
Will wrote: "Very good summary! It's almost heresy for a bloke not to like Top Gear,..."Do you get bonus points for never watching it :-)
It was a lot more scripted than people realised. Many of the scrapes that they got themselves into were deliberately staged. Whenever they raced a car against something else, they would run the race several times so that the cameras were in place for each shot. When they had to drive through a river it was usually because they had avoided the perfectly serviceable bridge. We didn't mind it being staged when it was funny. It all started to go downhill when it stopped being funny and starting being repetitive.
Shame. It used to be very good.
Jim wrote: "Do you get bonus points for never watching it :-)"I can trump that: I couldn't even name any of them apart from Clarkson. Is one of them Brian May from Queen?
There's Clarkson and the one who crashed himself up and the other guy with the hair who does shows about toys and flying.Like family, they are.
But then I can't even drive. Nor am I a 'lad'
Oh go on, Marc. Show us your tattoos.
I always wanted one as the notion of an artist making art of their own body. Unfortunately I am not very good with needles so never got close to having one done
Piercings?Just an elegant little ring through a nipple?
ow ow ouchyYou've read my character's rant against tats & piercings...
Richard wrote: "Jim wrote: "Do you get bonus points for never watching it :-)"I can trump that: I couldn't even name any of them apart from Clarkson. Is one of them Brian May from Queen?"
I've never knowingly seen clarkson on telly, although I've read occasional quotes from interviews with him
And it cannot be brian May, he's far to busy being an expert on wildlife
Patti (baconater) wrote: "Piercings?Just an elegant little ring through a nipple?"
I've spent a good part of my life stopping people sticking sharp metal objects in me, and see no reason to stop now :-)
Not blogged for a while (been on holiday). Here are some random musings about why selling books is like my early love life:https://willonce.wordpress.com/2015/0...
A hotel review! Plus some random musings about the importance of getting the details right.Content advisory - contains images of semi nudity that some readers may find disturbing.
https://willonce.wordpress.com/2015/0...
Only semi? How disappointing.Oh well. I'll read it anyway.
Hotel we stayed in in Machu Picchu had the mirror attached to the wall with packing tape. Perhaps their screw driver had gone missing.Oh and I can just see you standing there in your underwear. Diaphanous boxers, thank goodness.
Not Y-fronts. *shudder*
That reminds me of a college trip where I ended up sharing a room with 3 guys. One guy dramatically pulled back the covers, to show himself dressed only in a pair of white y-fronts. 'Don't that attract you?' he said. I'll let you guess what the answer was...
But are they ever properly white?They should be illegal, really.
When they are brand new, I suppose.
I bet they come out of the packet with pre-stained yellow marks.Okay, enough. Too early in the day to be this grossed out.
Patti and Gingerlilly - just for you, here is an ode to underpants. Mostly clean ... ish.https://willonce.wordpress.com/2015/0...
Thanks, Will. I would throw some knickers at you but I fear they would fall into the sea en route.
After three weeks of travelling, I expect I could get some good distance.Of course, I wear pantaloons.
Eeeeeek, crusty Patti!
The Mem has been saying that I need to get some exercise. What better way to do this than with a gadget that helps to fulfill at least some of my James Bond tendencies?https://willonce.wordpress.com/2015/0...
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Two things struck me about this election. There were a large number of people who would have voted for "none of the above". Many people voted negatively, to keep someone out, rather than positively for a party that they really wanted.
But I have also been speaking to a number of politicians who felt equally frustrated. They wanted to say things that the electorate wanted to hear, but they couldn't say honestly that there was lots of money to spend or easy times ahead. Because there just isn't.
I don't know what the answer is.