News and Views OCTOBER
New momentum was generated in the hunt for Madeleine McCann when a Spanish tourist took a photo in Morocco that captured an image of a girl matching Madeleine’s description being carried on an African lady’s back. Mrs McCann has always believed that her daughter could have been smuggled to Morocco within hours of her disappearance. Yet convincing the Portuguese police has been an uphill struggle.
Previous sightings of a girl resembling Madeleine in Morocco were not followed up because she was presumed dead! Even though no body has been found Mr and Mrs McCann then became prime suspects in the murder enquiry. Out of desperation the McCann’s have turned to private investigators to help with the search but have been told by Portuguese authorities that these investigators face arrest and the McCann’s could be charged with obstruction of justice. You cannot begin to imagine the frustration the McCann’s must be feeling having to fight the bureaucratic Portuguese justice system as well as the abductors of their daughter.
To Be Or Not To BE... That Is The Question!
Will he or won’t he, that is the question? Will a General Election be called before the end of the year or will Gordon decide that the safer option is to wait. He certainly does not want to be remembered as the shortest serving Prime Minister in British history but his poll ratings continue to rise as David Cameron loses his way with contradictions in his strategy (so much so that Norman Tebbit, former Chairman of the Conservative Party has claimed that Gordon Brown is the natural heir to Margaret Thatcher). The big question that Gordon has to answer is has he done enough to convince the British public that he is the leader of the future and not the Chancellor of the past? And will David Cameron be able to give his party fresh direction and emerge as a stronger competitor? But the decision is actually very straight forward. Autumn is never a good time for elections because people lose the feel good factor as the nights get longer and the weather gets colder. Wait until next Spring Gordon when the daffodils come out again and all will think you are great. Case closed!
Please Sir Can I Have Some More?
It’s official! Scotland is the second fattest nation in the world behind only the United States. An official report has shown that 25.5% of the population are obese, largely a result of a diet of deep fried Mars Bars and chips. The English did not fare much better as 22.5% of them are clinically obese. It’s understandable that Norway were the healthiest nation in the report with all the outdoor pursuits they enjoy, but how did the French come third from bottom on their diet of cheese and wine?
A Can Of Sardines please!
The bad news for London commuters is that cramped conditions on the trains look set to stay for another two years as the train companies are refusing to invest in extra carriages unless their contracts are extended. However, there is more encouraging news for road users. Britain has the best managed road works in Europe. That is small consolation for all motorists stuck in traffic jams!
Sssstop tickling my toes!
A Royal Navy lieutenant found a 3 foot long snake in his bed. A chase ensued but the snake was finally cornered in his son’s toy box and captured in a pillow case. Fortunately the snake was not venomous and it was re-housed in a reptile sanctuary. Then, a couple of months later the Navy officer found an identical snake in his bed, which happened to be the previous runaways twin. Fortunately there was no reptile nest in the attic. His neighbour had lost two of his three pet snakes the previous year!