Blog
An evening of theatre and politics
I'm afraid I am missing the second of the leaders' election debates this evening due to an invitation to see Alan Bennett's latest masterpiece, The Habit of Art, at a special linked screening at the Arts Picturehouse in Cambridge. Understandably, it's a sell-out. I'll...
Andrew Lansley supports Julian Sturdy and Nigel Adams
Andrew Lansley, Shadow Health Minister, arrived in Yorkshire in his distinctive "NH Yes" battle bus yesterday to discuss local health issues with voters. He was supporting our York Outer candidate Julian Sturdy and Nigel Adams, who is contesting nearby Selby &...
The Shadow Health Secretary’s visit, voters’ thoughts and the vanishing election posters!
I was supporting Julian Sturdy as a friend today, knowing his sincerity in genuinely wanting to help chronic back pain sufferers who have been denied routine funding of NHS spinal injections which make a huge difference to the quality of their daily lives, but are no...
Voting is a “Christian duty”, states Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has the best ecclesiastical website I have seen to date, packed with interesting personal information about his life and regular updates about his official holy duties which take him all over the world. He is also very keen on...
Hang gliders, volcanic ash, and a view from a tomb
The volcanic ash did not deter a hang glider from soaring high above Essex in its clear blue cloudless sky yesterday. My fellow walkers from the Cambridge Rambling Group looked up in awe as we meandered through meadows bursting with spring flowers and the first...
Peter Oborne: “This is the most sexist general election since the 1950s”
Respected political writer Peter Oborne asks the same question I did recently, and echoes the same thoughts: Whatever happened to female politicians in this election? Writing in The Mail, he describes this as "the most sexist general election since the 1950s". This is...
The ghost writer’s life
I really enjoyed Polanski's gripping thriller The Ghost which I saw last night. It is about a Blair-like PM accused of war crimes whose life is being written by a ghost writer referred to as the Ghost, played brilliantly by Ewan McGregor; I particularly liked the...
Our leaders’ debate and volcanic ash
I missed the ITV leaders' debate last night due to a social engagement in Cambridge, but caught up with the tail-end of it and saw Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg all standing poised in their party-colour co-ordinated ties. I enjoyed watching how the...
On the road with James
I'm teaching my youngest son James to drive and must admit it is not nearly as painful an experience as first time round. When David first put his L plates on my car, we could barely speak to each other when we returned home; he was furious with me for yanking up the...