Ian Fleming Would Have Been Amused
It is being reported in the Evening Standard tonight, that James Bond will be knighted by the Queen and then will help to launch the Olympic Games. No doubt, Danny Boyle’s short film that shows this, will of course be narrated by Henry Blofield, who is the son of Ian’s friend, Tom Blofield, who is often said to have lent his surname to Bond’s arch-enemy, Ernst Stavro Blofeld.
C used to appear in front of Henry Blofield’s brother, John, who used to be a judge in Norwich. He was one of her favourite judges.
We also bought a house from Daniel Craig’s stepfather, Maxwell Blond.
But all this is just a typical Fleming plot!
It Looks Like Greece Will Vote for Grexit
Things look difficult for Greece as it looks like they are going to have another vote according to this report. Signs are they will reject the austerity plan and thus vote for Grexit.
A Bin of Wet Tissues a Day
It seems that every day, I throw away a bin-full of wet tissues, as my nose is running so much.
I’ve never had hay fever like this before! It just goes on and on!
An Appropriate Punishment for Mr. Brooks
There has been a straw poll of horses in Lambourn about what would be an appropriate punishment for Mr. Brooks, if he should be found guilty.
Ninety percent said he should be gelded. The rest said neigh.
The Bus Games People Play
The behaviour of most people on London’s buses is generally immaculate, but it is sometimes treated like a serious game.
Obviously, kids like to travel in the front seats on the top. But so do adults and people generally move about to get the best seats as they become available. Perhaps, we all never grow up. Unless of course, we’re someone like Gordon Brown or Angela Merkel.
And then there’s how you choose, who you sit next to! It’s not just men, who like to sit next to nice-looking ladies and I can’t deny it doesn’t happen. But today, an elderly lady deliberately moved over so that I sat next to her, so she could have a chat. Most of the other passengers at the time were in their twenties at their eldest. In some ways, it’s only being friendly and no-one bothers.
And then there’s the game of judging what is the best time to descend from the top deck, just before you get off, as obviously walking down into an empty lobby is easiest. This game will get even more fun on a New Bus for London, as you have two staircases.
The New Bus for London also allows you to get on and off at convenient places, so this is yet another game, which at some time will come under the realm of the Health and Safety Police. But until then, let’s enjoy it.
A Plague of 38 Buses
Perhaps plague is the wrong word, but they were swarming round the Angel, when I came home. I was part of a convoy of six, led by a New Bus for London. Does the fact that it was in front, show that they are faster at both loading and unloading and between the stops? I also saw all three of the new buses today, so they are getting more common, with a fourth example expected for next week.
Are Young Girls More Difficult Than Young Boys?
This has never occurred to me before, as C and myself, just had the three boys. But on the bus back from the Angel a few minutes ago, there was a girl of about six really pushing the limits with her mother, who had another in a buggy. Thinking about ir, when I see bad behaviour on these buses, it possibly is more often that it’s girls being a bit raucous and naughty. I’ve also been on buses with a load of twelve year old boys and this can be a nightmare too.
So when they are young, are girls worse than boys? Or do they play advantage of what they are expected to be like?
In Search of the Camberwell Beauty
The Camberwell Beauty butterfly is so-called because it was first found in Coldharbour Lane in Camberwell in 1748.
As I have said many times here, my father was a printer and he used to print at times, using gummed paper from Samuel Jones and Company. Their trademark was Butterfly Brand and they used to give out lots of stick-on Camberwell Beauties to show their products at their best. I had thousands of these butterflies.
So today, I’m going to Camberwell to see what I can find of the history of a company, that occupies a part of my memory.
A Man Who Got More Than He Wanted at Wal-Mart
This story about a man, who got bitten by a snake in Wal-Mart, looks like a beanfeast for American lawyers. Incidentally, in all of my travels, I can’t remember seeing a snake in the wild. I did have a taste of rattlesnake once in Texas. The old joke is it is like chicken with bite.
C also was very brave when it came to handling snakes and there are several pictures of her with them round her neck. The only animals she had a phobia of was chickens, turkeys and large ducks.
The Anonymous Widower 