Something happens to the week these days - it is always made up of Fridays - no sooner does one come round than it is followed by another. Certain things happen on certain days - hair always on Thursday mornings, walk every dry day, but Friday somehow arrives and it is the weekend again.
After listening to the weather lady on BBC Breakfast (love it when it is Carol - she is always a delight) I decided that I would don a waterproof anorak and set off on my walk the minute that J, my carer, had gone at about a quarter to nine. The sun was scorching hot on my back as I walked up the road - certainly the hottest I had felt it this year. Then I turned to come back along the footpath and met a lady - we chatted for a minute about how warm it was and then she pointed to a huge black cloud approaching. I have only two speeds - slow and stop. It was obvious what was about to arrive and yes - you have guessed it. Before I got home it was hailing - large drops. I chatted for a couple of minutes to M, my neighbour, and then we both retreated because it came heavily. Blue sky is approaching again now but for how long goodness knows - but at least it is warm.
It is now almost tea time and we have hardly seen the sun today - it is just cloudy with the odd shower. Still not cold but not particularly cheerful. Everything on the television today is dominated by the election news and, frankly, I can't be bothered with any of it. Does anyone else think that all these 'nonsense' candidates with silly names is not only farcical but also rather an insult to the whole idea of politics. I watched the announcement of the Hartlepool result because we do live on the edge of the North East of the country and I felt sorry for the Returning Officer who had to read out a great long list of the candidates - most of whom had got just into the tens or at the most two or three hundred votes - and most of which had nonsense names. I don't know what other people think about this but I really wonder whether it should be allowed - or is stopping it an attack on our civil liberties? I really would be interested to know what you think. Perhaps I am getting set in my ways in my old age.
See you tomorrow.
I do think it's important that anyone who wants to stand, and can afford the deposit, should be able to stand. These candidates remind us that we are a democracy and each of us has a right to seek to represent our community, as well as a responsibility to vote and elect those who govern us.
ReplyDeleteMany of these small and yes, odd-ball sounding, candidates are independent and serious people concerned about issues that are perhaps very local and of limited intererst - but major parties have to start somewhere. Both UKIP and the Green Party would have been on that list not so long ago. Many of UKIP's fragments are probably there today.
Without this "fringe" it would be too easy to slide into a 2-party, or even 1-party system (such as Russia has).
Keep well x
Yes, I agree with Beacee about the right to stand and highlight issues which might be buried in a 2 party system. Proportional representation would be even better, in my opinion...but this is supposed to be a politics-free blog...sorry, Pat!
ReplyDeleteSunshine here today, but forecast dire tomorrow. A good day for doing jobs around the house.
I seem to recall, a few postings back, you writing that your blog wasn't for, or about politics.
ReplyDeleteBeen warm and sunny/cloudy here and dry of course.
I am thankful for any sane, serious, thoughtful candidates that we get, no matter their name! Look at the trouble we have had in the US and it isn't over yet!
ReplyDeleteHope your weather cooperates for a nice weekend!
You are side stepping the main issue Weave. Labour lost with almost half the number of votes that the Conservatives got.
ReplyDeleteI hope you didn't get too wet. Today, we've experienced heavy rain, hail, and now we have bright sunshine with not a cloud in the sky. X
ReplyDeleteWhen there are many political candidates the party is diluted. Voters become splintered and this is doom for the party. No rain here today. Cool again but sunny. I hope you did not get drenched in the downpour.
ReplyDeleteSounds like that was one hail of a walk!
ReplyDeleteWell, the question is who will decide on the appropriateness of candidates or otherwise and after that ‘who will police the police?’
ReplyDeleteThe question is always the same,
We went to vote yesterday. Here in mid-Wales we had a good selection, including some of those silly names but also including the Welsh Christian political party, which didn't canvas in Carms.
ReplyDeleteSorry you got caught in the hailstones. We have heavy rain forecast for tomorrow, so made the most of today outside in the garden, planting shrubs and perennials on the bank. Now my back and hips are complaining mightily!
I am afraid I have little interest in politics and have not watched the news, apart from headlines. The parties we have, already struggle at times to form a strong government. Adding more to the list with few members only adds to the problem.
ReplyDeleteWeatherwise, I am looking forward to complaining about the heat!
Yes folks. Point taken. I did indeed say it was a Politics free blog and I did bring it up. My only excuse is that I put my post on shortly after watching the poor returning officer having to read out all the silly names. I was in the wrong. I have slapped my hand and promise I will not do it again.
ReplyDeleteDidn't Boris once stand for the Monster Raving Loony Party? I agree with Beacee.
ReplyDeleteI know nothing about your politics (our craziness on this side of the ocean is plenty for me!) but do want to say that you seem less "set in your ways" than people half your age!
ReplyDeleteScary about the hail - glad you did't slip trying to rush!
ceci
Maybe the returning officer should not be obliged to read-out results of less than 1,000 votes. My week is made of Tuesdays. Tuesday is my shopping day, and I start looking forward to the next one as soon as I reach home. We do have a daily visitor (our dogs play together), but otherwise we still avoid crowds.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you reached your home with no problems. I hate to get caught out in the rain, but hail is even worse as it can hurt. I agree with you about Fridays coming up so quickly each week. It hardly seems like a week actually lasts a full week does it!
ReplyDeleteI don't think that there were any "oddball" candidates in this area. However, we only had any information from one of the main parties in the form of a couple of leaflets and a doorstep call....from a very pleasant man who lives just up the road apparently. I voted for them as no other party had bothered to inform me of their intentions!
ReplyDeleteLots of food for thought here - thanks for commenting.
ReplyDeleteDo you have a line where you can write in the name of a candidate for a particular office? Here the write-in board who counts these votes has to deal with names like Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse or Elvis. Some people obviously don't take voting seriously.
ReplyDeleteWretched weather for this time of the year. As for politics (I'm interested) you have to pay £500 entering fee to stand as a candidate, which is tantamount to throwing that money away if you use an idiotic name.
ReplyDelete