[blogfocus saturday] settle back for a good read

Something Shani found whilst clearing out the house

The theme of this Blogfocus will become more than apparent as we go along.

I particularly regret that I wasn't able to put in the cult blogger Sicily Scene this time round. Welshcakes is pretty well a must read now for everybody in the know. Alas, I must also hold Ellee Seymour for the present. Ellee is arguably the most widely read woman blogger in the UK but I'd like to see the stats on that. and I really wanted to run Dymphna, of Gates of Vienna. Alas. That said, on with the JJ Cale and let's go, anyway:

1 Check Sempiternal Horizons if you haven't already done so. Shani has some issues which you'd know of if you've been reading her blog but this is more tongue-in-cheek:

It is official – evolution is to blame for my untidy house, and I have no control or say in the matter.

According to the Psychologies Magazine it is because when cave woman was waiting for the hunter gatherer to come back with their evening take away, ergo the food supplies were unpredictable (especially on a Monday or Friday when the favourite take-away is closed), cave woman needed to “conserve energy for the important actions that won the most reward.” (in my case either blogging, checking vitally important emails or getting a head start on the wine !!).

So I am not a lazy, slovenly, prevaricating so and so after all !! and it must be right because a psychologist said so, and they are never wrong – are they?

2 The Political Beachgirl is quite concerned about border security:

Readers, keep in mind please that securing our borders, dramatically decreasing the invasion of our nation by Mexican nationals will leave the terrorists from the Middle East and other Islamic realms more alone on their treks through our Southern regions.

If our government is serious about this "War on Terror" then closing our borders, sending foreign nationals home would be a good start to renewing our faith in our failing government or if not failing, devoid of interest in our plight and the plight of our once-peaceful cities and once secure city resources.

3 Celia Green is reflecting on belief in 'society':

It is clear that before any change in human psychology, either individual or collective, could take place, it would be necessary for the belief in the meaningfulness of human society to be abandoned.

It is true that this is only one of the attitudes which is invalidated by the perception of total uncertainty: but psychologically it is the lynchpin of the whole affair. If you never believe that human society, or collective opinion, can confer any meaningfulness upon your actions or attitudes, you can never develop the human psychosis in a permanent form.

4 Three for the price of one this evening from Bel. Couldn't resist the chance:

Morag considers armed forces recruitment ads and wonders if perhaps the true nature of what the forces are about has been badly downplayed. Also some analysis of the MoD’s thinking. A very interesting and thought-provoking post.

EU Referendum calls for a properly constituted Board of Inquiry into how they were taken hostage in the first place. Richard North makes the valid point that the Conservatives should be demanding a proper inquiry instead of making feeble noises about ‘lessons learnt’. Well said.

Calum Carr contrasts two recent MoD actions:

* the reluctance to provide information to the inquest into the ‘friendly-fire’ killing of Lance Corporal Matty Hull; and

* the decision to allow the captives to ‘tell all’ in response for payment.

5 A lady who accompanies her rambles over the length and breadth of Britain and her posts on these rambles with fabulous photos is Sallyinnorfolk and one is just itching to go on the next ramble with her:

We had fabulous weather which gave us the chance to get in three days of excellent walking .

I carried a full Ruc-sac on all three walks which was good training for when I go to Corsica, glad to say I found my Ruc-sac comfortable and easy to carry.

I was surprised at how much extra weight the water added and I was also surprised to see how much I drank. That could have been due to how much I sweated going up those hills :-)

My boots seemed to work well my heel carried on healing even with all the walking, I did still get a few hot spots,but I think my skin just needs to harden in these places.

6 Dr. Michelle Tempest has a thought for the day plus a sting in the tail:

Thought of the week has to be dedicated to NHS staff, who continue to suffer from the unresolved problems regarding doctor specialist training and the lowest level of morale ever reported since the NHS began. Patricia Hewitt is coming under increasing pressure to U-turn over her decision to ‘full steam ahead’ with modernising medical careers. Perhaps it’s worth remembering that to steer any ship the captain must be an inspirational leader, and has to be able to harness the power of other people.

7 Heather Yaxley, at Greenbananas asks about the green credentials of Ryanair:

I appreciate that Michael O’Leary is skilled at grabbing the headlines and shows little consideration for socially responsible matters such as the environment, but Ryanair boss plans £6 transatlantic flights is a classic.

An interview in Flight International discusses plans to set up a separate business to offer low-cost flights across the Atlantic to secondary airports. No mention of the environmental impact - but then the company’s website shows its focus on emissions is entirely based around a strategy of buying new aircraft and statements like:

A Boeing 737-800 ‘next generation’ aircraft with a 70% load factor uses LESS fuel per passenger kilometre than a car with just one occupant.

8 Thought I'd wind up with a powerful blogger, the Wife in the North, who is now a cult must-read for the UK blogosphere and beyond. If you haven't checked her out yet, then you've been missing a treat and I suspect Ruthie Zaftig might have something to say about this post:

I had efficiently found my mobile phone, charged it and set the alarm on it. What I did not do was check the clock on my phone was set at the right time. It was not; it was set an hour late. Yesterday, I had to make a whizz-bang, pop pop journey down to London.

I only just made it out of the house by 6.15am for a sevenish train. Just in time for the children to wake up and cry. Real tears, that Mummy was going to London. Do they suspect I may not come back? I did not leave them alone. My husband might have been missing in action but I do have help with the children. I have enough moments where I come suspiciously close to lunacy; if I did not have help, there would be nothing suspicious about it. I would be bang to rights bonkers.

I have tried doing without help; frankly, I wanted to kill myself. I have nothing but admiration for women who cope on their own at all times. I could not even pretend that is me.

That's it until Tuesday. Bye for now.