Here we go again! Man crowned 'Strongest Woman'.

The bloke holding aloft his trophy, having just won The World's Strongest Woman competition in Arlington Texas, is American Jammie Booker.

OK, Jammie might have had a few nips and tucks, taken bucket-loads of hormones, and wears women's clothes, but all that doesn't stop him being a biological MAN.

Now, I don't know about you, but to me a man competing in a woman's sport isn't really 'playing the game'.

In general, men can run faster, swim faster, jump higher, lift heavier weights, and are all-over stronger than women, so for a man to compete alongside women isn't really fair. To me there is nothing sexist in saying as much; it's simply 'nature'.

Why doesn't Jammie compete alongside fellow male 'Strongmen'? Well, it's probably because he knows he wouldn't stand a chance against men! Or it's because he knows he stands a better chance if he competes against women! It's either one or the other!

I think we all know the answer to that; as does he.

Thank goodness he's now been deprived of his win, and the real winner of this competition was the woman who came 'second'; the Brit' Andrea Thompson.

Well done Andrea.

 

Former lovers Meet for first time in over 20 years.

During my days living in London, I was a member of the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) when it was still in Dover Street (where it was an artists club), and before it moved to Pall Mall (where it became simply a huge gallery).

I was a member in the days of 'Happenings'; conceptual art-works that lasted for a short while only. I attended a lot of these events, including one where I cut most of Yoko Ono's clothes off in Red Lion Square. I think it was called 'Cut Piece'.

You may well have seen this event (above) before, which is nothing to do with the ICA, but it reminds me of those eventful days, and is very emotional.

After the ICA moved to Pall Mall the monthly member's magazine (below) was discontinued, and everything changed. I still have most of my old 'The ICA Bulletin' magazines, in France.

The ICA was a wonderful club, and I regretted its evolution. There had been a bar in Dover Street where you really never knew who you might meet. It was extraordinary. There was also a 'Library' where members showed work; including me on one occasion.

Enjoy the video!

I'm Like A Bird

Little Miss Blue Hair does a great job with this Nelly Furtado song. In the original, the 'singing' of the opening few lines is very annoying; this is a vast improvement.

It's a beautiful, emotional, song; a good strong tune, but with rather sad lyrics.

The band 'IMY2' are based in Nashville USA, and the excellent blue-haired singer is Annalise Mahanes.

If this doesn't send shivers down your spine, I don't know what would!

They grow-up so quickly.

This young man is now 18 (Happy Birthday Ollie). He happens to be one of my six grandsons.

Here he is, pretending to be a gourmet, but I'm not sure if the Spaghetti is going in or coming out. Anyway; he was obviously enjoying himself.

Needless to say, he is now a strapping young man, who probably eats his Spaghetti with more alure and finesse than in the photo.

His Papa has taken him off to Rome for a birthday prezzie weekend. More Spaghetti no doubt, and hopefully a better pair of shades!

Divertiti!

 

High Speed Artist (1966)

When I lived in London back in the second half of the 60's, I met lots of very interesting people. One of the most extraordinary was this man below, Lionel Burleigh.

I was at the opening night of an uninspiring exhibition on Cork Street in about '65, when a man sidled up to me and said "Just say I'm your Uncle". We went round the show together then visited a nearby Pub' for a few pints.

Lionel hardly stopped talking, and gave me an exhausting potted history of his life. 

We stayed in touch, and he visited me at my antique shop in Chelsea on several occasions. Eventually he asked me if he could use my premises for a 'Painting Marathon'; he wanted to paint, and sell, as many pictures as possible in one day! I stupidly said 'yes'.

Lionel produced about 100 small paintings, and sold maybe two; for a few shillings. At the end of the day he gave me a handful, but they were such rubbish that I binned them.

We continued to meet for a while after that, then he disappeared and presumably found someone else to abide his eccentricities (or maybe he died).

I'm pleased that I knew him, and that we became good friends; such folk make life interesting. 

I have just looked-up Lionel online, and found this (below). I was interested to see if it mentioned his marathon at my premises; but it didn't. (I wouldn't bother looking at it, unless you have masochistic tendencies). He was a dreadful painter.

Lionel Burleigh's artwork (partially found paintings of British "high-speed artist"; 1940s-1966) - The Lost Media Wiki

Ewan McTeagle, the Scottish Poet.

After yesterday, I think we need some light relief.

I had totally forgotten about this delightful comedy sketch from the Monty Python boys.

The ghost of William McGonagall. Enjoy.

Autumn Budget Special.

Let me start with the shocking news that Labour's own Business Secretary Peter Kyle (no relation to Jeremy) has just declared that "It was our punishing tax policies that were responsible for having driven an exodus of wealth-creators from Britain";.... as if we didn't all know!

There was one huge sigh of relief around the UK when we all saw in last year's election manifesto that The Labour Party had PROMISED not to put up taxes; so before today's budget announcement we can all relax in the knowledge that we won't be fleeced by the fragrant Ms Reeves (above), and we can all enjoy their spurious assurances for a few minutes more.

But don't be fooled. What they probably meant (but got their speling rong) was that they WILL put up as many taxes as possible, just as they always do. But they didn't want to admit as much in case no-one voted for them. It's an old Labour trick, yet some people are still fooled. In the 'Tax and Spend' Socialist tradition, when you over-spend, you HAVE to raise taxes. It's simple logic. 

They may have been scared-off from raising Income Tax for the moment, but there are plenty of other taxes that they can raise. Alcohol, tobacco, personal savings, house taxes, money transfers, VAT, National Insurance, and, I'm told, even milk based drinks (yes, milkshakes), could all attract her grabbing attention. House taxes being the easiest, with comfortable hard-working middle classes, being the most vulnerable.

Having taken over with the strongest economy in the G7, it's come to this after just 12 months.

The one thing we all know about the fragrant 'Rachel from Accounts' is that she's hopeless at her 'sums', and that she is determined to create another Bankrupt Socialist Quagmire. She is happily creating a new third world country, with businesses closing by the day. The whole of the UK is becoming a giant version of Socialist Liverpool. Businesses simply can't cope with all the extra expenses, and many high streets have become no more than ghost towns. 

She still believes that if one gives 'workers', and even scroungers, more and more money, whilst increasing the taxes of the employers/wealth creators, that this will improve the economy. Would someone PLEASE explain to her that IT DOESN'T. She only has to look at the ever-rising unemployment figures; at present a further 1,000 a day are joining the nearly 2 Million others on the dole queue, and it's soon to increase. This is 282,000 more than when they took over last year.

She doesn't seem to understand that you make a vibrant economy by encouraging investment, leaving as much spending money in people's pockets as possible, and making businesses viable. NOT the opposite. 

The one thing that Rachel IS sure of (as she continuously tells us) is that the dire state of the economy is nothing to do with her, but all the fault of others; the only people who believe that are Sir Keith and Rachel herself. In a recent YouGov poll, 0% of the public thought the economy was in a good state. I expect she also thinks that she did no wrong by breaking the law with her house letting; but that's another story.

Reeves needs to raise about £20 Billion. Well, let me offer some advice. Our Overseas Aid at present costs us £25 Billion each year; money wasted on luxuries for foreign potentates, or even to fill their Swiss bank accounts. Scrap it NOW, and leave the tax payers alone. Your black hole could be cleared in just12 months without any extra taxes for anyone.

So, beware, there's a bloodbath coming. There may be one or two sweeteners, but if you are a hard-worker, have saved enough to live in a nice home, or you earn a decent salary, you WILL be clobbered later today. The 'class warriors' are out to get you. If I am wrong about their budget intentions, I will eat my beret,.... plus some humble pie!

I shall not watch the budget live (too depressing). I shall wait to see the resumé on tomorrow's TV News, and in the Independent Press. 

A staggering 275,000 UK wealthy Nationals have quit Britain in the past year; most of them embarrassed Socialists I imagine. Expect a lot more very soon.

A demain!