Category Archives: Fun

Attempting to live an adventurous life in a nannying age

“And no more!” – triumph at my 4th weighing-in


As reported by The Telegraph and The Spectator, I’m publicly weighed every year in High Wycombe along with the Mayor and councillors. It’s an attempt to deter us from gaining weight at taxpayer expense. In each of 2011 and 2012, the cry was “And some more!”. After playing the panto villain in 2011, enough was enough by 2012 and, thanks to MyFitnessPal, Parliament’s gym, swimming and running across the Chilterns, this year’s triumphant result was “And no more!” In shock news, if you […]

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Westminster to Wycombe: A view from Wycombe Abbey


NB This post has been kindly written by Tiffany Lau, Yr 12, Wycombe Abbey School – outlining her thoughts and experiences of the Westminister to Wycombe debate  Many misconceptions were cleared up at today’s Westminster to Wycombe Parliamentary debating event at Highcrest Academy, High Wycombe. Here are just a few. 1.     Politics is boring. Debating in a British Parliament format more or less clears up this misconception. There were quality debates on overseas aid, public spending and the deficit, the […]

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Westminster to Wycombe: bringing Parliament to local pupils


NB. This post was written by my researchers Tim Hewish and Gareth Crimp We were thrilled to initiate, design and help create Westminster to Wycombe (W2W), a Parliamentary-style schools debate for local sixth form students. What started as an idea last summer grew into a successful February event for the pupils and schools that participated. W2W was kindly hosted by Highcrest Academy and coordinated under the leadership of Emma Bowden. Highcrest’s tremendous effort ensured that their hall was transformed into […]

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Anti-cronyism humour – the TARP song (2009)


The TARP song, which shows people can find a way to laugh at most things (contains moderate bad language): TARP is the Troubled Asset Relief Program, a massive bailout in the USA. In a similar vein, The Spectator recently reported a truth about current monetary policy: QE — the ultimate subsidy for the rich. All this is something I have written and spoken about many times — e.g. If this is capitalism, I am not a capitalist. Crony capitalism must […]

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Post-match interview with Ivor Beeks on Wycombe v Gillingham and the Supporters’ Trust


Tonight, Wanderers suffered a defeat by Gillingham at the first home match under the new Supporters’ Trust ownership arrangements. The Bucks Free Press provides a post-match report: Blues start home campaign with a loss: WANDERERS paid the price for being second best in the second half as their home campaign got off to a losing start. Gillingham full-back Joe Martin notched the only goal of the game, tapping in from close range as a free-kick fell kindly to him, but it […]

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Labour rigour and high standards for all


Via House of Commons Hansard Debates for 21 Jun 2012, remarks you would not make up: We on the Opposition Benches believe in rigour and high standards for all, but we also believe in a broad curriculum that prepares young people for work, so we will set a series of tests to ensure that the changes meet both. First, Labour wants higher literacy and numeracy standards. The key is to raise teaching quality across the board. Is there any reason to […]

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Ride to Work day on Monday began a great week for motorcycling, but London’s too congested


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Monday was Ride to Work Day: On Ride To Work Day, motorbike and scooter riders around the world show just how enjoyable their daily commute is. By riding to work we demonstrate that life would be better if more people rode motorcycles and scooters every day, with time savings, less congestion and reduced travel costs. I was glad to ride to work, as I often do. My commute is M40, M25, M4/A4 and along the embankment. In the morning, it’s […]

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Spain is not Greece


From a comrade, 1. “Spain is not Greece.” Elena Salgado, Spanish Finance minister, Feb. 2010 2. “Portugal is not Greece.” The Economist, 22nd April 2010. 3. “Ireland is not in ‘Greek Territory.’” Irish Finance Minister Brian Lenihan. 4. “Greece is not Ireland.” George Papaconstantinou, Greek Finance minister, 8th November, 2010. 5. “Spain is neither Ireland nor Portugal.” Elena Salgado, Spanish Finance minister, 16 November 2010. 6. “Neither Spain nor Portugal is Ireland.” Angel Gurria, Secretary-general OECD, 18th November, 2010. 7. […]

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Welcoming the new Mayor


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It was my privilege today to welcome High Wycombe’s new Mayor, Cllr Chauhdry Shafique MBE, who I am sure will take every opportunity to strengthen this important local tradition and our community in this Jubilee and Olympic year. Beforehand, we were weighed in: My pie-based training routine paid dividends: I was a couple of pounds heavier this year. I duly received the loud condemnation of the crowd. Adrian Edmondson was there with his Ade in Britain film crew and I […]

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To hope till Hope creates from its own wreck the thing it contemplates


P B Shelley’s Prometheus Unbound was suggested to me as an inspiration. The play ends: To suffer woes which Hope thinks infinite; To forgive wrongs darker than death or night; To defy Power, which seems omnipotent; To love, and bear; to hope till Hope creates From its own wreck the thing it contemplates; Neither to change, nor falter, nor repent; This, like thy glory, Titan, is to be Good, great and joyous, beautiful and free; This is alone Life, Joy, […]

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