[blogfocus thursday] women's day

Is there anything this lady can't bake?

Afraid I'm going to stick with the women this evening, as they've been on the mind these 21 hours:

1 The dangerous* Welshcakes allows us behind the scenes in the piece-de-resistance preparation:

I've mentioned previously that lamb is difficult to obtain here, except at Easter or from the frozen food centre. Well, last week I asked one of the nearby butchers to ring me if and when any came in and, as I was passing the shop yesterday, he rushed out and cried, "Signora! Signora! C'è dell'agnello!" ["There's lamb!"] If I had been a car, I would have screeched to a halt. So in I went and got some chops, some pieces and, for the first time since I've been here, some minced lamb. [I have frozen it all in small quantities.]

* Dangerous to the tastebuds and eyes, that is.

2 jmb shares some words of wisdom from another generation:

The first, she said, was to always apologize to anyone with whom you had a falling out or a misunderstanding. Even if you feel the other person is in the wrong or that you do not believe you have done or said anything wrong, but there is tension between you, don't let it stand, but be the first to apologize. Not necessarily to say "I'm sorry I was wrong " but do at least say "I'm sorry I've upset you." Or something similar.

Well yes, this has always been my philosophy and I've practised it faithfully, as necessary. I think that all would agree that this is a positive lesson to have passed along. So I was pleased with that one.

The second thing, she said, was that every time you get an opportunity to give input or feedback you should do so.

3 Ellee Seymour takes up the torch for Mordecai Vanunu in the case against Israel:

He now faces a further prison sentence for violating the terms of his release by talking to the media. Since his release Vanunu has tirelessly campaigned for the Jewish state to be disarmed while denying Israeli officials’ charges that he has more secrets that he could divulge if allowed to emigrate.

Vanunu has become a symbol for the international peace movement and activists will continue to highlight his plight. Almost 1,000 signatures were collected during a recent bike ride from Scotland to London and presented to Downing Street, urging Tony Blair to use his influence.

4 Heather takes us back to the 60s and the fabulous Jensen Interceptor:

I saw a picture of the late 1960s Jensen Interceptor Director model - which featured an typewriter perched on a wooden board so that the executive could drive whilst his glamorous secretary “took a letter” from the passenger seat.

This gives a glimpse into public relations in that era - the 3-day photoshoot around the Cotswolds, lots of young female “assistants” in short skirts, relaxing outside local hostelries, village fuel pumps, men in suits (chief engineer Kevin Beattie sporting a cravat) with celebrities and racing drivers of the time.

5 Liz writes of the curse of the aspiring writer - the rejection:

But we're off on holiday tomorrow to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands for a week. A bit of relaxing, lots of reading and an opportunity for this cold, which has come back with a vengeance since the weekend, to finally clear up, and I'll be returning full of life and vitality, and plans for my future writing. I think having two years or more of almost invariable rejections has knocked me back more than I would like to admit. I've gone from having confidence in my writing to expecting rejection. So along with my frothy novels, I'm going to pack some writing magazines (which have sat unread on my desk for months) and a notebook.

6 Bel mentions the U.S. plan to restrict Pakistani Brits and the like:

Once a person has acquired British citizenship, whether by birth, marriage, or any other way, that is all that matters. As far as the visa waiver scheme is concerned, the US Government is not entitled to look behind the passport and impose restrictions based on who is carrying it. That is tantamount to creating different categories of British citizens, and we should not allow that.

Under our law, every British citizen is entitled to the same rights that attend upon citizenship.

7 Morag asks what one does with one million camels and a son who was mugged:

Did you know that parts of Australia’s Outback are becoming overrun by wild camels? Yep, the country is now home to around 1 million camels roaming the vast tracts of desert. Camels in Australia?! Where on earth did they come from in the first place? Apparently camels were first introduced to Australia in the mid-1800s to transport goods across the desert.

This naturally leads to this:

We all know that on many subjects I am just to the right of Genghis Khan. And I am certainly NOT going to give the ‘let’s give them some hobbies so they won’t be bored’. More inclined to say ‘let’s give them some morals so they know right from wrong’. But we have got to do something. These 6 kids aren’t out there mugging my son because they’re bored.

8 Shani thinks she has the sectret of internal happiness [I make no comment at this time]:

I am a natural optimist – whose magnetic compass was a little distorted over the past few months by others and circumstances around me…..

So that is the secret of my happiness, and the appreciation of all that is good around me – which is more than the bad – on the whole – along with the acceptance that quite a few people are mean, bad and orrible, and I am actually so lucky that I don’t have to live in their heads – that is their problem and probably why they are so sad….

Until Saturday, people. Hope to see you then.

[misconceptions] about women and posts on them

There were some misconceptions as to what I was actually saying about women in the earlier post , possibly because I failed to spell it out, so let me summarize the points again, only this time as statements of what I do believe:

Belief 1 Women should be careful not to be haughty - it doesn't become them.

Belief 2 Young is not always more desirable.

Belief 3 A woman never ceases to be desirable with age.

Belief 4 Expensive does not mean desirable.

Belief 5 Nagging matters a lot.

Belief 6 Large age differences don't work.

Belief 7 It's preferable to be with someone than alone.

Belief 8 It's never too late.

Despite my arguments supporting N7, most people disagreed with this. My friend today put this down to age - younger people see being independent and alone as desirable. I'm not so sure it's not the older ones as well.

Biggest surprise of all was that when I ran this post past 17 girls 20 years of age today, there was almost complete support for N2 and N3 but quite a few were against N6.

N1, N4, N5 and N8 were generally supported.

When I said I was looking only at the 30 to 60 age range, there were wry smiles from those closeby and the girl standing closest to me murmured, her voice heavy with irony: "Oh really?"

You can't fool anyone these days.

I suppose what I was trying to do is narrow down the notion of a "good woman" in my mind. Ellee said:

"I certainly don't conform to your visions of womanhood, and neither do most of my girlfriends."

Actually, that's precisely what Ellee does do and she and Welshcakes were the two I had in mind when I was thinking of the woman I'd most like to be with.

[segie-sarko debate] style versus substance

Reactions to the debate from le Monde, le Figaro and Reuters last evening:

# Ce soir c'est Nicolas Sarkozy qui inspirait confiance et le débat va renforcer la dynamique autour de lui", a estimé Xavier Bertrand. Nicolas Sarkozy "a été davantage concret", a estimé M. Bertrand devant la presse, dans une boîte de nuit parisienne.

# Analysts said neither contender appeared to have landed a knockout blow just four days before their run-off election.

# "I don't think either managed to convince the other camp. Both spoke to their own electorate," said Anita Hausser, political commentator for LCI TV.

# "(Sarkozy) showed himself greatly superior ... (Royal) rather lost control of her tone and her remarks," said Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie.

# A le Monde poll had 53% saying Segie was the victor, 34% saying Sarko and 13% undecided.

Today came this:

François Bayrou : "Je ne voterai pas pour Sarkozy"

Whilst committed voters might not have wavered, if Segolene indeed picked up over half the swinging vote, plus the Bayrou declaration today, her strong performance in the debate might just get her over the line.

Unfortunately, like Blair's accession to power, it would be a triumph of style over substance. Her policies are decided on the run in a reactive manner, much like Blair's were. Euston is an example.

Her beauty is her selling point, as Tony's personal image and Nu-look team were.

As Ellee Seymour said:

"I heard an interview on the radio today between the Sarko/Sego camps with the Sarkos accusing Sego of flaunting her femininity in the campaign - well good luck to her."

Ellee has it right here - that is indeed her selling point, her femininity. Is it enough to become president?

I fear it may be.

[visitors] country spread revisited

Just thought I'd show the opposite side of the coin on the visitors question. The chart top left was saved late last evening.

However, after the "older women" post and my Segie-Sarko post [next], the chart has now changed - see lower right.

[21 hour hiatus] in memory and in support

It is most unfortunate that I have upset a good friend of mine, Ellee, with a post "in praise of older women", as I am about to go into a 21 hour hiatus in support of the Virginia Tech tragedy. I imagine a lot of other people will be upset as well and to all of you, I shall answer your comments tomorrow evening after 18:00, London time. It never seems to be the best time to do something but this has been on the agenda since Monday and I must go ahead.

When I return, it will be with the Blogfocus and to answer the comments and mails to that point. I would also like to add Notsaussure to those I shall also be remembering during these 21 hours.

Thanks for your patience.

[whistleblowers] heroes or traitors

This is a re-running of the story I ran on Sunday, November 5th, 2006, dedicated to Ellee Seymour:

Most people, especially the Russians, regard Alexander Solzhenitsin as a patriot and a hero. What did he essentially do? He told on the Soviet Union. He was a whistle blower.

Many Russians regard Vladimir Rezun as a traitor. What did he essentially do? He told on the Soviet Union. He was a whistle blower.

Half the Americans regard Daniel Ellsberg as one of the most important figures in Nixonian America and the man who blew the whistle on Vietnam. The other half accept, in varying degrees, Henry Kissinger’s assessment of the man: A fanatical drug-crazed sexual pervert, the most dangerous man in America, who has to be stopped at all costs.

Mordecai Vanunu told the world about Israel’s nuclear weapons. He was a whistle blower. Hero or traitor?

Here are their stories.

[misconceptions] in praise of the older woman

On the day of the debate between Segie and Sarko, the concept of womanhood arises. As with us men, there are good and not so good. There are some real misconceptions as well.

I'd like to look at certain women and some of the misconceptions which surround them. I base this on experiences over the years, filtered through comments of others .

Misconception 1 Haughtiness is a good stance for a woman to take. There is definitely something in the female which wishes to lord it over all and sundry - from Lady Bracknell to the woman in the photo top left.

It's as if she's saying: "Look how expensive I am. Can you afford me? Don't you desire me?"

Well, no, actually. Not in the least. Good looking woman, to be sure but that haughty disdain for those around is not exactly seductive. I refer here to a type, not to Segolene.

Misconception 2 Young is always more desirable. Why? What has a 20 year old got which a 40 year old hasn't? Brittle psyche, inward looking acquisitiveness, the rawness of a life barely begun and less sense of proportion.

What has a 40 year old got which a 20 year old hasn't? Experienced, fuller loving, self-knowledge, sense of proportion, ability to paper up the cracks, more giving approach - "you get out of it what you put into it".

Misconception 3 Women have a "buy by" date. Once the first marriageable rush is over, the woman gets a second wind in the mid-thirties and is, in my humble opinion, at her sexiest and most powerful. Those who look after themselves like a Segie, I mean.

Then, in the late 30s/early 40s a certain resignation in dealing with life sets in and produces a more rounded person - often grown children occupy much of the time, husband and sometimes career occupy the rest.

In the 50s, it was Agatha Christie who commented that there was more felicity that side of the divide than she thought possible. There's nothing to prove and a certain good-naturedness comes into it which makes it so much easier to live with her plus her skills are at their most developed.

Misconception 4 Expensive = desirable. Well, actually, the opposite is true. The more she's going to cost, the less he wants and the more the eyes stray to someone a little younger, fresher and less demanding. One day she finds herself searching, alone, for the riches she's extolled for so long.

The trick is to look fabulous with what you have at hand - that's where the skill is.

Misconception 5 Nagging doesn't matter. There is a feeling amongst women that "nagging" doesn't really exist - it's just a male misunderstanding of her desire to improve him. Those shopping lists of his faults she likes to painstakingly go over, point by point, they cut no ice with any male.

If she continues it, the relationship ends. Within limits he should and can improve but after that it's flogging a dead horse and is so unfair. It's a one-way ticket to solitude.

Misconception 6 Large age differences work. I swear they don't. Physically, I'm told I act more like someone in the late 30s/early 40s but it's rubbish. There's a definite slowing of the metabolism and it's only really noticeable when up against a 22 year old girl.

The 22 year old sharpness, the alertness, the sudden and sustainable movement, the desire for action, the raw energy, the capacity for late nights, the concerns - these don't gel with the late 40 year old for whom his experience necessarily modifies his pace and his gait. There's only so long the mentor thing can be kept up for.

Misconception 7 Alone is infinitely preferable. Even if you think so, you are making changes, irreversible changes which you're too close to the action to see for yourself, beyond vague awareness. Self-sufficiency and resilience set in, a pet becomes easier to deal with than a cantankerous man, you get into the habit of aloneness.

You're not only more self-centred, you're also a little more selfish and intolerant. Something is missing but you don't recognize it. You have a great life, everyone respects, converses and enjoys your company, there are no disputes - surely it's better?

No it's not. You've lost the power to be at one with another human being. And somewhere inside is that very real need but it's been suppressed. In the end it's well nigh irreversible.

Misconception 8 It becomes too late in the end. Not always. My mother remarried late, as did my stepfather. They had issues. They were experienced enough to deal with them. Not perfectly but the respective families could see it was infinitely preferable to solitude, though they were both hard-pressed at times.

Not only does hope spring eternal [nice word - spring] but chances improve with age.

[dull day] how was yours

I have a theory that across the northern hemisphere, the weather, the magnetism in the atmosphere and the mood is roughly the same at any given period of time, give or take a day.

As Watson said: "Surely rather fanciful, Holmes," to which Holmes replied, "Well, I don't insist on it."

I mean that today we had a fairly dull, overcast and slightly colder day. It was a very "nothing" day today. Nothing much happened, nothing was particularly bad, nothing was particularly good.

I had a bunch of girls today, usually my best and they were a little distracted, a little somewhere else. Because they're such good girls they tried but couldn't quite keep the mind on the job.

Now I'd be very interested in how your day was. Was it a bit ordinary, a bit forgettable?

I was just talking with the driver now and he said that it will be awful tomorrow, thousands on the road after the holiday and the weather not the greatest. That usually equates to road accidents everywhere over here.

Does that accord at all with your situation over there? Of course, antipodiaens will be different.

[history in the making] country spread

For the first time in a very long while, the U.S. has surged ahead of the U.K. in my country spread of visitors. Another very noticeable thing, for me, is that I usually have a spread of countries as long as your arm - places like the Greater Antilles - but today it's quite narrow.

Canada was understandable because of the Vancouver post.

Have to say I'm delighted because, with a natural U.K. readership of this blog, this thing won't last but still - it looks kinda neat for now. Plus the chart was saved before most Brits woke up this morning.

[antarctic stayovers] see the ice melt

The Ritz Lockroy, Antarctica

Have you ever considered it?

Close to 30,000 people are expected to descend on Antarctica to observe penguins, seals and seabirds this year - about four times as many as 10 years ago. Tourists who pass through on vast liners without going ashore bring the total to 37,000.

With all the global warming, the Hilton Antarctica and Radisson Vinson Massif are just a melted glacier away. You can book now at:

Antarctic Stayovers

Dodgy Tours

Third cubicle on the left [between 23:00 and 23:15]

Heathrow Terminal 2 Western Toilet block [men's]

England

You won't be disappointed ... at first. Rumour has it that they're running Summer Stayovers in the Arctic Circle, just off Lappland.