21st REPLY

According to Ann Treneman of The Times, David Laws left a note of his own for Danny Alexander, his successor as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. This read, "Carry on cutting with care", which, unless it represents some mysterious Lib Dem form of humour (or perhaps the title of a film starring Barbara Windsor as a hairdresser), would appear to be the kind of thing to appeal to Mrs Cowen [reply 19]. It certainly lacks the side splitting qualities of Mr Byrne's original. Pleasing to read, by the way, that Ms Treneman has declared war on the phrase, 'good connectivity.

22nd REPLY

Is it me or do others find it alarming that a BBC spokesman should make an apology for Peter Allis's light hearted comment at the Golf Open Championship, when he said about the winner Zach Johnson's wife Kim: "She is probably thinking 'If this goes in, I get a new kitchen' ")? The reaction from some like Nick Faldo's manager Lesley-Anne Wade was of course predictable but can't we just keep a sense of humour in these matters? Of course Kim no doubt has an excellent kitchen but I am also intrigued by those ladies such as Jennifer Archer on The Archers who are not content with what they have and want even more. I am glad that I do have a low maintenance wife who battles on even with big family dinners with what we already have. In regard to Peter Allis I also especially enjoyed his comments about Jean Van de Velde at the 1999 Open at Carnoustie in regard to his hitting out from the burn near the 18th green.

23rd REPLY

Although what Alliss apparently said isn't quite up there with John Inverdale's undiscerning observations about Marion Bartoli, I fear it may be you actually, Jas!

24th REPLY

I am glad that John Inverdale was still used this year in the Wimbledon coverage despite his comments earlier about Marion Bartoli's looks. I too enjoy listening to Marion Bartoli's comments on many of the ladies games. She speaks in such a sweet manner and of course she can say to John Inverdale "Well I am a Wimbledon lady champion so bah sucks to you!" Most commentators do of course make embarrasing speeches and errors, including Clare Balding, who oversaw the day's summaries this year. Maybe the name Murray Walker also comes to mind.

25th REPLY

A footnote to replies 19-20. Anthony Seldon's new book about the late coalition government (Cameron at 10) lends support to the jovial quality of the Byrne "no money left" letter. Seldon describes how David Laws made passing reference to the missive at a press conference, following which Andy Coulson, then Cameron's press officer, requested a copy for the media. According to Seldon, "Laws confesses to Osborne that he had mentioned it for light relief and what should he do?" Boy George evidently told Laws it was up to him whether to pass it on; so he didn't, although much later, of course, it was to become a prop for Cameron during this year's election. Rather irritating, by the way, that Seldon - who was a college contemporary of mine and so should know better! - has written most of his book in the present tense. Apart from anything else, what constitutes "the present" keeps hopping around. Matthew d'Ancona's earlier book, In it Together, is a much better, livelier and entertaining read. End of review ...

26th REPLY

Is it me or do others think that the third runway saga (Heathrow or Gatwick?) is a classic case that would easily have appeared in Yes Prime Minister? There is a clear independent report plumping for Heathrow and now this is being kicked once again into the long grass. As for the Chilcot enquiry the whole thing is a joke with no clear timetable set out initially for the reporting. And with the Bloody Sunday enquiry into the actions of Briish soldiers still going on after all the years involved since 1972 the inertia in government is laughable.

27th REPLY

The trouble with being a small overcrowded island means which ever decision the government comes to will be wrong so far as 50% of the population are concerned. As far as I am concerned they should scrap the third runway idea. By the time it is built someone will have designed a successful VTOL aircraft or airship that doesn't need a runway. So far as the enquiies are concerned it is not only laughable but criminal to take so long.

28th REPLY

I too hope they scrap the third runway idea, Mike, and HS2 trains as well. We do not really have to keep up with other countries such as China in my opinion. I still enjoy leisurely travel on trains, as I have since the old days. I do not want to save those extra minutes promised to occur in future.

29th  REPLY

Is it me or do others get annoyed at the adults in the Haribo sweets adverts talking in silly voices like after inhaling from a helium balloon? However I do like the cheerful looking bear figure on the Haribo sweets packets. That would more incline me to buy their sweets than the played out scenes on the telly, though I have resisted the temptation to buy some so far.

30th REPLY

I'm glad to say that I've never seen a Haribo sweet advert. It's obvious that our social spheres have been very different.

31st REPLY

It is surprising that you have not seen the Haribo adverts on the TV, Nick. Do you not watch any commercial TV channels sponsored by adverts or do you always nip out to do something else like make a cup of tea? I sometimes do that myself but generally stay and see the adverts on the basis that I ought to, as the advertisers are paying for these programmes, even if I am not persuaded to buy many of the products, certainly not all those cars that appear. I do not mind seeing many repeatedly such as the one with the computer generated Audrey Hepburn and the Galaxy milk chocolate bar she eats but object to completely silly ones such as the Haribo ones and the Muller yoghurt adverts with Nicole Scherzinger falling over in them. I am also not too sure about a German based company supporting the UK Olympic teams. Do their adverts in Germany support the German team? I suppose they do.

32nd REPLY

I'm afraid the fast-forward facility is just too tempting.

33rd REPLY

We only ever watch from freesat recordings, so that adverts can be avoided should we ever, perish the thought, record something from a commercial channel. I keep meaning to figure out how to download a freesat programme file to a flashdrive so that I can upload it to my PC!

34th REPLY

Once again, James [reply 31], I stand in awe of your high principles. It's never occurred to me that if I watch a commercial tv programme, then I should watch the accompanying ads. Pressed to justify my amoral position of just watching what I feel like watching (or am too lazy to make the decision to stop watching), I'd say that advertisers probably know roughly the proportion of viewers who skip their ads, and make decisions accordingly. Kant wouldn't have had any truck with this 'argument' though, as if everyone skipped the ads there'd be no commercial tv, and if an action can't be taken to an extreme without ill consequences it can't be right. At least that's what I think he said, but I've never been convinced by it. But I do admit to liking the simulated Hepburn ad.

35th REPLY

Clearly, Nick and Stephen, your facilities in terms of TV watching are in advance of mine. I watch most programmes with the help of my old style Freeview box, which is usually very good, though sometimes I get breaking up of the picture on some channels such as yesterday, which is annoying when mid-programme, such as when watching Jeeves and Wooster. I do have VHS and DVD recorders but rarely use them to record programmes these days, after complaints from my wife in regard to piles of recordings not yet watched. Some of our children when staying with us do compare our facilities with their own but are usually looking at their laptops or smartphones anyway. I am glad, Nigel, you like the simulated Hepburn ad. As for being high principled in regard to adverts it is not a burden generally as I like to watch so many, though it often takes after Forest Gump's expression ("Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get"). I look back to the days in Welwyn Garden City chatting with fellow pupil John Daulis on advertising generally as well as particular adverts. I was delighted when 1 programme on Gogglebox concerned "The John Lewis Christmas Advert".