Europe needs to get real on defence; Britain needs to get real on Europe
13 February 2025
Breaking the blog-a-day spell as warm up to holiday
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20 July 2009
Concerned regulars text, email and comment, to ask whether the blog-free last couple of days signifies some woe that may have befallen me. One of my bouts of depression, for example. Something even worse, suggested others hopefully.
Mais non .. am ok, on a scale of one to ten, around about seven in the ok up top stakes, so no worries, as Australians used to say until Flintoff whittled them out.
There is a far simpler explanation ... a combination of planned and unplanned busy-ness coming together with the mental note I made to myself some time ago, and alluded to here as well, that I would not do a blog anything like every day of my summer holiday.
So to continue with my sporting references, see the silence as like a bit of a warm up for longer periods of silence to come. To those who cannot live without it, you can both speak to each other (the kind of self-deprecation that will have you voting for me in Iain Dale's Total Politics' 'Blog Oscars' in droves.)
I only knew about Iain's vote for the top ten blogs because he told me I should plug myself on my own blog, and urge people to vote for me. Iain, that is just too tacky for words - I could not possibly urge people to vote for me at http://www.totalpolitics.com/blogs/index.php/2009/07/16/the-total-politics-blog-poll-2009
Anyway the point is I have done at least one blog a day since I started out many blogs ago, in early February, and I have in the main enjoyed it a lot. What I like best is the freedom it gives you to say whatever interests you, whenever it interests you, at whatever length takes your fancy. I also like the fact that, for example, the type face has suddenly changed in this paragraph and I am not that bothered.
I have enjoyed a lot of the debates that have followed my blogs on here, on Facebook and on Twitter. But I think the odd break is fine, and I am pleased to have broken my own spell. To those who said this was becoming the latest obsession - ha, showed you.
As to the planned and unplanned busy-ness ... the planned was yesterday's 52-mile bikeathon which took up most of the morning, followed by a trip to Lord's which took up all of the afternoon. I was in one of the Mound stand boxes which meant I could watch the cricket live whilst turning between balls to watch golf on the telly. High class sport all around me.
The unplanned was on Saturday, picking up and starting to read Antony Beevor's latest book, D-Day. The plaudits, and its place at the top of the bestsellers' list, are thoroughly deserved. As I read, and read, and read, I could not get out of my mind how 24 hour news, had it been around, would have covered such events, and how quickly that might have dissipated public support. What a story, and how brilliantly told.
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I think you deserve a bit of a break. We should all expect a break to usual routine during the summer. Hopefully you will return refreshed and on form after your hols. I have been considering having a break from the addiction of Facebook for a couple of weeks as well!!! Have a great holiday.
Enjoy the break, Alastair! We all need a break from time to time.
I’ll vote for you AC … I think your blog has been a great addition to the political world. I also like it when you steer off politics every now and then but save your big guns for the Tories. I can tell by some of the responses you generate they don’t like having you on their case
Agreed about D-day. What bravery. Hope you have a nice break wherever you are
Don’t you feel special that your disappearance causes a furor? I’ll admit, was curious, but figured someone had died as they tend to when one’s peers are over 50. Glad to see that is not the case here.
I went to try and vote for your blog, but the blasted thing won’t count a vote unless the reader is such a time waster that they read 10 political blogs to vote on! I can’t think of 10 people in politics who’s opinions I give a shit about, much less read on a daily basis. Your is the only one I read, so take that in whatever manner you wish.
Have a lovely holiday summer.
Just don’t be gone too long….
D Day is great – like all the Beevor books. He makes them page turners…
Katharine T – vote for ten AC blogs
AC – you deserve a break – you didn’t know what you were taking on when you started and we should all feel able to review with no hard feelings against us.
I am just back from a family trip to Ireland and over there the recession is felt much ,much worse. People are genuinely down and at a loss-I am not saying we arenot down here bur they are really down. The main difference is that the Govt openly states the position that it is borrowing 400m euros a week to keep afloat and that they are taking a levy on public sector earnings each month. So , a nurse or policeperson has this on their paypacket =”Levy 300 euros pm”. This is supposed to help with a pension shortfall. This hits the highstreet and the shop windows are reallt desperate,almost like they cannot give their stuff away – The united Colours of Benetton looks like a pound shop.
It is also funny how you cannot beat local knowledge. I remarked to a family member that drink driving was down. She put me right – the GardI aren’t going ‘out’ to test as they are 300 euros worse off per month!
If Ireland is an example of true recession measures we haven’t seen anything yet. They also have to vote on the Lisbon Treaty again October 2nd – having said no in the good times. My reading tells me they give up a type of sovereignty to Europe,of which the Irish farmer is protesting,but get more protection from Europe-which ,as times have changed they badly need.
When i last flew to Dublin there was no M50/M7 and M8 motorways.These were funded by Brussells to help the population and commerce move more efficiently. I have to say they were absolutely empty.To compare imagine the M25 and M1 being absolutely empty because no business was being generated,anywhere?
We need a plan but can GB really do it?
Happy Holidays!
Blogging/twittering only becomes obsessive if you feel disappointed that you have not been missed. As I am sure you will be – you can go and have a lovely holiday and not worry that the AC fanclub will be here on your return 😉
I hope they served Holland’s pies in those boxes.
Do you get many messages from soldiers families you helped send to war?
Alastair, Saw an interview a couple of weeks ago, re depression, I suffered identically to you, worth trying Tryptophan, a naturally occurring amino acid, take it immediatetly you start to get that “down” feeling – you know what I mean. Worth a try for a couple of months. Ignore this comment if you’ve already tried it!
Alastair,
Hope you and family have a great holiday and look forward to catch up with you soon.
Take care
Ann
How do you sleep knowing that you helped to kill people?
Carl Sagan commented that science was like holding a candle up to the dark. Well, the Tao is no different. It’s just another technology, so just as real as anything else. Labour understand this, which is why they are continuing to focus on processes, outcomes and the long-term so the economic sweet-spot can be developed.
Be still, grasshopper.
One of the pro-Tory tinfoil hat brigade was screaming about Common Purpose a few months ago. I looked into it and it’s a group that teaches people leadership and communication skills. It’s a great idea to develop people’s skills in these areas, so I’m not surprised the Tories are skittish of it.
Be still, grasshopper.
I guess my first thougt is what I write about confidential? As it deals with depression
D
Hi Alastair,
I have been wanting to contact you for some time as I too went through a psychosis. It was five years ago now, and like you, although it was a terrible experience at the time, I now regard it as one of the best things that ever happened to me. It took me the full five years to get over it, I still go through some bouts of depression and have some problems but I have a good insight and I am aware if there are any problems and I am able to control them.
I do not often get the chance to talk to people with similar experiences, and my friends do not really understand what I went through. I have turned my life round and I am now a fully operational human being again! Also I am realising my dreams of making music, which during my illness I would never have thought possible.
I am very keen to help create awareness and understanding in mental health issues and wondered if you could help me with some ideas, as I am a walking talking person who has been through the whole experience and come out the other side. I am also a not afraid to make my point! I am also now working for a charity that helps companies become disability confident and create awareness for people with disability in the workplace.
I do hope to hear from you soon.
Pru
the first indictment proposed by the Blair War Crimes Foundation: “Deceit and conspiracy for war, and providing false news to incite passions for war, causing in the order of one million deaths, 4 million refugees, countless maiming and traumas.”