Friday, August 29, 2008

It has been one of those weeks.

My medications are making me very tired and I am "Out of Salts" as they used to say. So I have been sort of taking it easy, well nearly.

Monday was a great day Gaye, Andy, Zach and Mission Team Leader joined us on The Robber Button. Both Mrs EB really enjoyed the day. We got home Tuesday afternoon and did various bits and bobs.
Wednesday I had been summoned to the DHS to see why I hadn't found a job yet? I now needed to say what other work I could do? He was most unhelpful to be honest. I even asked if I found a training course would the DHS fund my training I was told NO! ho hum.
Thursday was a sad day, one of my Church's great ladies had passed away and I was doing the sound for her Thanks Giving Service, the service was wonderful and a great testimony to a wonderful lady, but as always tinged with much sadness.
Today I am hopefully recording my good friend Skip singing for my album he will also hopefully do a small amount of guitar and maybe some extra singing.....
Tomorrow, well that will be spent on The Robber Button

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Voting

It would seem that the way we vote for our local and national Government is dated, well I never, you go down to a school or other comunity building and hand over your polling card, then you have to tell them your postcode, because no fraudster could ever remember it from your polling card? then you go to a little quarter of a display stand and pencil in a cross.

But thats not what they are talking about?

The UK's electoral system is stuck in the 19th Century and is under "severe strain", a report says.

The Electoral Commission said the rules on running elections should be simpler and the role of returning officers should be strengthened.

It also backs new electoral management boards, to support and co-ordinate local elections.

Commission chairman Sam Younger said "a consistently high standard of service for all electors" was needed.

'Fragmented arrangements'

The report follows the 2007 elections in Scotland, which were plagued by delays and in which more than 140,000 ballot papers were rejected.

An independent study found mistakes at all levels and suggested voters were treated as an "afterthought".

The commission said it was unlikely that the "current fragmented arrangements for electoral administration" would be used if the system was being designed from scratch.

The planning and running of elections need to be more robust and co-ordinated
Sam Younger
Electoral Commission

It proposes that funding for electoral administration should be improved, changes to electoral law finalised at least six months before any election and returning officers' roles strengthened.

It also suggests bringing returning officers and registration officers together into regional electoral management boards to co-ordinate local elections.

And the commission says its own role should be strengthened to keep checks on standards of those in charge of running elections.

The report calls for existing laws on managing elections to be "rationalised and consolidated" and focused on "clearly articulating electoral policy rather than micro-managing the delivery of elections".

Mr Younger said: "The planning and running of elections need to be more robust and co-ordinated. We are still trying to run 21st Century elections with 19th Century structures, and the system is under severe strain."

He added: "Our proposal is designed to allow local returning officers to continue to respond to local circumstances while ensuring that there is a consistently high standard of service for all electors across the UK." BBC News

Personally I would digitise it, I would have touch screen minitors at the polling station, you give your polling card, and tell them your postcode? they activate the next available monitor, you then touch the candidate of your choice. This would give a constant update of the voting at HQ, removing the need for hundreds of people counting and also human error. They could also save the need for people staying up all night waiting, come 9pm when the polling stations close the returning officer goes to the main PC enters his code number up pop the results he prints them off and off he goes, all over by 9:30.

It seems simple to me....

Friday, August 22, 2008

Memories

Ohhh Ohhh I just found this on You Tube, it is very good and full of memories.

Vegetarian or not?

My friend Richard, a chap who I have known for a few years, we worked together in Nottingham as producers. Richard married Yvette a really beautiful Chinese girl from Beijing, after a few years they emigrated to Beijing.
Now Richard is a vegetarian ..... well he told me he was, then I saw him eating a McDonalds Burger..... It seems vegetarians can eat burgers in China?

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Beijing Olympics 2008

I am not a sports fan of any sort really, if people want to run around and kick a ball or stand in a field in front of some sticks with bat and hit a ball about, great, but I am not interested. My friend Matt was trying to convert me to the joys of the leather and willow and was going to take me to a 20 Twenty, but alas that did not happen. Anyhoo for those of you that have had their heads under a pile of rocks for the past few weeks the Olympics are happening, well they will be over in a few days. And Team GB, that's what Great Britain are now called after an expensive re-branding? Team GB are doing amazingly well, in fact they are 3rd in the league table!!! I don't think I have ever been as proud of or guys and girls, they are real hero's.




Mrs EB was unwell yesterday, she hasn't really been well since GB Camp!!! and was watching the Olympics from the Velodome and wow, those guys and girls can really ride a bike!!!!

Team GB have been playing a blinder this year and have surpassed all expectations and have done better than any other Great British Team since before 1908!!! It seems the National Lottery has actually paid off!!! buying a lottery ticket has actually helped these Olympians bring home Gold, Silver & Bronze BRING ON 2012 and my 6 lucky numbers.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

My friend Duncan

As long term readers of my blog will know I have a friend who was involved in a really nasty accident in 2006, my friend Duncan who is one of the most articulate and safety concious people I know, was filming a safety video for his company, he was filming how to use a safety flair when the flair miss-fired and went into his stomach.

I know how safety concious Duncan is, I was lucky enough to be invited for a day trip on Duncan's previous boat, and we went out for a wonderful trip. That trip was planned with maps and buoys and GPS tracking. We were told where the life vests were. Mrs EB and I had a wonderful day and we were both very upset by Duncan's accident. Many prayers were said, and thanks be to God, Duncan is mending well, OK he'll never be 100% better, but by crikey, I know Duncan and he won't stop trying to getting better.

Duncan who is a fighter; amazed nearly everyone who was involved in his emergency care, after two years of tireless fund raising he and a lot of very good people have raised £50,000!!! anyhooo please watch this video

Monday, August 11, 2008

Being someone who has become Diabetic, I wont let it take over my life; but it is in the front of your mind. Last week a few people who came into the shop were offered Tea and coffee and cake said I can't have cake I'm diabetic? I said so am I and I can eat it? Oh I was told I can't eat cakes or sweets or this and that! So I said I was told I can eat anything, but as with with all things it's about moderation.

Now I know I am not a good diabetic, I do like sweets and puddings, I will try and be good, but I fail. I am going to start a new diet this week and I am going cut right back on all stodgy and fattening foods and yes that includes sweets.

Diabetes is a killer, no if's and no buts. I know that it kills most of those that have it, indirectly. Organ failure, strokes and Heart attacks. One of my uncles had a leg removed and died a few months later only a few years ago because of Diabetes. So I don't take my Diabetes lightly, but I also don't let it ruin my life.


This article off the Sky News Website is well worth a read

Sunday, August 10, 2008

It has been an amazing week!!!
I haven't had any joy on the job hunt, but I have spent the week with some fellow members of my Church on a mission on Falcon Lodge. It has been wonderful. I can't do the heavy gardening or the manual labour, but I did the videoing and I also spent quite a bit of time in the shop.
I did balloon modelling and other things in the shop with the kids and I loved every minute of it.

Monday, August 04, 2008

A good weekend

I had a good weekend all the more so as Mrs EB had returned from her camping trip with GB. Mrs EB had a very husky voice due to her losing her voice on camp.... I am just really pleased she is home safe and sound. Saturday evening we went to Simla for a curry, it was a welcome home meal and I told the guys at Simla that I was checking up on the food for Tuesday when 16 of us go for my Birthday Balti...Mmmmmmmmmm tasty.

I was on sound again this weekend at Church and I also did the sound at a very quiet wedding on Friday, about 20 people and the Bride and Groom, they had been on Alpha and wanted to marry. It was a very special wedding.

Team Leader did his final sermon on Hebrews...and of course it was amazing, we really are a very blessed Church to have such an amazingly humble and fantastic teacher. Team leader told me a very funny joke on Sunday.

Patient: Doctor, I think I'm a moth!
Doctor: (looking at his notes) You are not my patient your Doctor is next door
Patient: I know but your light was on.

Made me chuckle.

After church the usual suspects went to the Jockey, well the usual minus a few on holiday and those heading to Cornwall. It was a nice crowd last night and we had a good chat and laugh. Later today I am off for another Jab to allow me to travells to Mozambique and later this week my good friend Skip will be coming round to hopefully do some more guitar and bass on the album. I really need to start the vocals and think about artwork and stuff. I am also going to pop up to the mission we are doing on Falcon Lodge and do some balloon stuff....

All in all good fun.