We held a thought-provoking discussion last night on the issue of “Peak Oil” – that is the very real likelihood that we are already near maximum production of oil and that we will then struggle even to maintain this level of production while global demand continues to soar, particularly in India and China.
The discussion was [...]
Entries from January 31st, 2009
The sobering implications of Peak Oil
January 31st, 2009 · 1 Comment · Sandy's blog
It’s enough to make you weep
January 30th, 2009 · No Comments · Sandy's blog
Over the last week we learnt that…
Six NHS quango heads now earn more than the Prime Minister after seeing their salaries increase by 77% in the last three years;
The plummeting stock market and plunging house prices have wiped out £1.2 trillion of Britain’s national wealth;
Three hundred and thirty nine BBC staff members earn salaries in [...]
Tags:BBC·Gordon Brown·house prices·MOD·mortgage approvals·NHS·Royal Mail
Lord Truscott and the Hertfordshire connection
January 28th, 2009 · No Comments · Sandy's blog
I have no idea if Lord Truscott and the other three Labour peers are guilty or not of the accusation that they were prepared to receive payment for seeking to amend legislation. If true it is far more serious than the “cash for questions” sleazegate which engulfed john Major at the end.
Lord Truscott was Hertfordshire’s [...]
What would happen if St Albans followed the example of Lucca?
January 28th, 2009 · No Comments · Sandy's blog
A curious story today about the city fathers in Lucca banning all non-Italian food outlets within the city walls. I like Lucca – it is a remarkably well preserved walled city and less overwhelmed by visitors than other Tuscan cities. I have eaten some really good Italian food there – but some pretty [...]
Tags:farmers' market·Lucca·St Albans Market·St Michael's Manor
Conservatives really are the recession experts
January 24th, 2009 · No Comments · Sandy's blog
Ken Clarke comes back to frontbench politics and there is a confirmed recession. Just a coincidence or something more? This week’s papers quoted the curious comment from an un-named “gloating Conservative frontbencher” that Mr Clarke had “more experience of dealing with a recession than the whole Government frontbench put together.”
It seemed to me [...]
Tags:economy·Ken Clarke·recession
Things you never expect to see
January 20th, 2009 · No Comments · Sandy's blog
I was in Alexander Road in London Colney and saw gully cleansing being carried out.
Younger readers may not have seen such a thing so I attach a photo.
Equitable Silver Lining
January 15th, 2009 · 2 Comments · Sandy's blog
Today’s announcement that the Government admits maladministration and regulatory failure in the Equitable Life pension debacle will bring some relief to their many policyholders in St Albans.
I admit that I myself have pension policies with Equitable Life which were slashed in value – but I was lucky to have diversified pension investments. Many others were [...]
Tags:Equitable Life·pensions
CYO to play with Blur?
January 13th, 2009 · No Comments · Sandy's blog
Alex James is a member of Blur. And that’s my excuse for the quality of this picture taken with my mobile at the pre-Christmas County Youth Orchestra concert. He’s blurred – geddit!
Alex had played with the CYO as a practice orchestra in the early heats of the BBC Maestro series about conducting until [...]
Tags:Alex James·Blur·Herts County Youth Orchestra·Peter Stark·Weston Auditorium