Mixed bag ...

11 September

We have Kile here again for his normal weekend. As soon as he got in here I noticed that he has a different tie this term. We had already noticed that his school had different coloured ties and we thought it was due to the different houses within the school, we were wrong it seems. The terminology has change now but from I could understand it is down to the different levels of competency. At the end of last summer’s term, he was second in his test results, which means he has moved up one level. ‘Well done Kile!’ I say.

However, it’s not quite all sun and roses for the lad. Kile is a quietly spoken wee lad and although he is fairly tall for age, there’s nothing on his frame. There’s another boy in the same year who has decided Kile is the perfect target for bullying. He had a go at him again on Friday; Kile has been told he must report it whenever it happens. That’s fine in theory but it’s not too clever in practice. Bullies never, or at least rarely stop at being told off for their fun games. I can understand why Kile may be reluctant to report it, in case it does get worse. At least Kile doesn’t take his mobile phone to school, so he hasn’t given his number out to anyone, so that avenue of abuse is closed.

When we moved into our little flat, we decided that we wouldn’t be moving again, ever. That last move was hard work, and most of it fell on me seeing as Jan was getting over stomach surgery and a stroke while coming out of the aesthetic. As it happens though, we are getting even more nosy these days, and we have taken a liking to the Escape to the Country type show on telly. Some of the properties they show really lovely places in lovely locations; but the prices being asked huge in most cases. None of the buyers so far a looking for small, liveable house to live in. It strikes me that the houses we see don’t look lived in really, they are like show homes, and all of them are far too large for just Jan and me. Something else I’ve noticed, is that when I see a place that has a dormer room, there always seems to be a telescope in there. I’m wondering if it’s a filming company prop being hauled about to each location.       

When the current Labour Party leadership battle started, I came to the conclusion that I no longer wanted to be part of an organisation that ignored the will of the party members. They have certainly lost my life long vote! The problem though, is the current leader Mr Corbyn. Yesterday on Facebook there was a comment about Corbyn wanting to abolish the army.

If so, then Labour are really lost. We all know of course that the man is a pacifist, but even so such a move really would leave the country open to anyone just walking in and taking over. I’ve mentioned on here before of the danger that Putin is to world peace. He’s already flying planes closer to our airspace than ever before. How much worse would he do if had now Armed Forces to ensure those airplanes keep well clear?  

The keyword here though is ‘Facebook’. I’ve had a bit of root around and can’t find any other reference to the story, so now I’m wondering just how much truth there is in it. But hang on a mo … there’s a leadership contest on, now I’m wondering if it’s a story dreamt up by the Anti-Corbyn mob to frighten his supporters in turning against him. The man might be weak and ineffective, but he was elected democratically and the Labour muppets are showing just how poor they are by rejecting him like they are. Yes, I know that the rules allow for such a vote, but this not about policy, it’s about having their own way, and nothing more.

Today’s photo …

Lunch time.

Today’s funny …

How many Quality managers does it take to change a light bulb?
We've formed a quality circle to study the problem of why light bulbs burn out and to determine the best thing we as managers can do to enable light bulbs to work smarter, not harder.