Thursday, October 08, 2009

News from behind the iron curtain

It's been a lovely, sunny autumn day full of that crisp splendour that makes a walk in the woodlands so very, very wonderful. So I wasn't chuffed to be hanging round the station waiting for a bus to take us into town because some scallies had nicked the lead off the roof of the signal box down the line. And then, having got in, having to negotiate my way through the cordon sanitaire they've had up all week to keep the latest bunch of nitwits away from the consequences of their fantasies. Last year it was New Labour, this year the Tories, next year who knows, save that there'll be a ring of steel around the City Centre yet again. I've been trying my best not to go off on one about it, so I wouldn't even have mentioned it here save for a conversation I had with a couple of folk this evening.

"They have to do it for security reasons," insisted one.

"Bollocks," replied the other. "Both parties are supporting wars and curtailments of civil liberties because we're all targets now. If we're all targets now we should all have proper security, not just them buggers. It's nothing to do with security. It's all about keeping the political classes safely cocooned from everyday reality."

"They do go out and about every so often you know. MPs' surgeries, constituency visits, that sort of thing."

"They're just playing at being shepherdesses in the gardens of Versailles."

"What?"

"If it was really about security, they'd put the political classes into some sort of quarantine."

"What sort of quarantine?"

"Well, I was thinking something like Rockall..."

11 comments:

xerxes said...

But remember that all this terrorism etc is good for the economy, it creates loads of jobs.

Unfortunately this is not a joke.

Ms Scarlet said...

There's thought. We could have 'Terrorist Factor' and blow up Simon Cowell.
Apologies, I am not feeling well this evening.
Sx

Ms Scarlet said...

...see... I meant 'there's a thought'...
Sx

Lulu LaBonne said...

Rockall sounds perfect - especially if we good send some footballers, bankers and estate agents along too.

Lulu LaBonne said...

I've got Scarlet's illness

'especially if we could send..

Gadjo Dilo said...

"Playing at being a shepherdess in the gardens of Versailles" does seem a highly appropriate description of Mr Cameron.

martpol said...

"It's nothing to do with security. It's all about keeping the political classes safely cocooned from everyday reality."

Yes, ironic that they should make a big point of holding their conference in The North, then spend their time alienating normal people. Then, of course, there's the fact that attending the show holds no interest for the public; it's the same old circus in a different town, only the clowns are performing for TV cameras rather than locals.

KAZ said...

Looks like I'm lucky to be away from Manchester at the moment.What's wrong with Blackpool these days?
Though I admit that Rockall would be a much better venue.

Barlinnie said...

A touchy subject even using the word "Rockall".

...tis Irish of course, just ask Finn McCool.


...but I'm with Scarls on this one.

Madame DeFarge said...

Can we be given injections in case we catch anything from them?

Kevin Musgrove said...

Inky: there is always profit in disorder, sadly.

Scarly: sounds good to me.

Lulu: even better!

Gadjo: yes, he has that look, doesn't he?

Oh yes, Martin

Kaz: imagine: blocking off Peter Street and Bridgewater Street at the same time that the students come back and block Oxford Road...

Jimmy: you're back! welcome back, dear soul! I'm happy for it to be an international sanctuary, the Dail has its share of gobshites.

Madame DF: I wish!