Good afternoon.
In 1936 the then Prince of Wales, on seeing the poverty and desperation of the miners and their families in the South Wales coal fields said "Something must be done". It caused a real stink in Government circles but won him a place in ordinary people's hearts until his abdication. Even then, some still felt a sympathy for him, including my grandad who always referred to him as The Dook.
So, when the Home Affairs Select Committee said From Boyhood to Manhood - a charity helping keep kids out of trouble and off the streets - was worth saving they said "Something must be done". You might have thought Ministers would have learned the lessons of history.
Nope.
The charity can't get help from the Government and is set to close on 19th December. The why's and wherefore's of this short-sightedness will be charted by the wondrous Ms Wickham.
The lovely Lucy has been to New York to see how they deal with kids and gangs there. She does the Daniel Day Lewis bit at 6 with a very interesting glance at some Stateside slammers.
In 1936 the then Prince of Wales, on seeing the poverty and desperation of the miners and their families in the South Wales coal fields said "Something must be done". It caused a real stink in Government circles but won him a place in ordinary people's hearts until his abdication. Even then, some still felt a sympathy for him, including my grandad who always referred to him as The Dook.
So, when the Home Affairs Select Committee said From Boyhood to Manhood - a charity helping keep kids out of trouble and off the streets - was worth saving they said "Something must be done". You might have thought Ministers would have learned the lessons of history.
Nope.
The charity can't get help from the Government and is set to close on 19th December. The why's and wherefore's of this short-sightedness will be charted by the wondrous Ms Wickham.
The lovely Lucy has been to New York to see how they deal with kids and gangs there. She does the Daniel Day Lewis bit at 6 with a very interesting glance at some Stateside slammers.
"Soon", " Very shortly", "Some time next year". When traditional cat-eyes have done a perfectly good job for 70 years, it is, perhaps unsurprising that there is some doubt over when their successor will be stuck into our tarmac. However, a former firefighter has come up with a solar powered replacement, it seems. Katie and I wondered, given they are solar-powered, if that might not qualify as environmental pollution. They'll be on the whole time. Badgers will take it amiss and our director, Stuart, felt it might even disrupt migrating Pelicans. I don't know what he's on but I wouldn't mind some.
Faye, all in black today, including the top part of a rather fetching dinner suit, took umbrage at our protestations claiming it only emitted a little red light. But head-lights do the trick for free and, no car - no light. We argued a bit, I must confess, and I was accused of being cantankerous! Hurt... but I soldier on and I am sure you'll want to flash your head-lights at this on-coming argument. Marcus plays Mr Toad. Poop! Poop!
Equally dubious from that parallel universe where "off the wall" technological ideas crash into the common sense orbit of the Planet Blindingly Obvious, the "sat-lav". There you are, 'caught short' after an evening's imbibing and, being a good, non-Parisian citizen, you are not inclined to add to the unpleasant odour of an innocent doorway. But where is the nearest public loo? Press button B and this latest gizmo will reveal all. Robin found it all worked but rather too late. Embarrassment all round the pissoir at 6.
Finally, whistling. Stuart said he hated it - especially in men's changing rooms because it was engaged in by nervous men who probably had something to hide, he thought.
Katie said she remembers being tremendously excited when she first learned to whistle as a child.
Faye and I then showed off a bit.
We can both do the "fingers-to-the-mouth" wolf-whistle and, whilst I need both hands, 'old gorgeous' can do it with thumb and two fingers from one hand. "How cool is that", to borrow a phrase.
Anyway, we meet the man who whistles a good Michael Jackson ditty and whose determined friends want to get him to Number One this Christmas. Cliff Richard be warned. For the rest of you, lick those lips with Steve at 6.
Katie said she remembers being tremendously excited when she first learned to whistle as a child.
Faye and I then showed off a bit.
We can both do the "fingers-to-the-mouth" wolf-whistle and, whilst I need both hands, 'old gorgeous' can do it with thumb and two fingers from one hand. "How cool is that", to borrow a phrase.
Anyway, we meet the man who whistles a good Michael Jackson ditty and whose determined friends want to get him to Number One this Christmas. Cliff Richard be warned. For the rest of you, lick those lips with Steve at 6.
Finally, we have thousands of pounds to give away, again, the papers to be read, and Manali on why any geraniums still not in the greenhouse might as well have been planted at Ypres or on the Somme.
Tin hats on for the cats-eyes row and see you at 6.
Alastair & Katie
