Knock on the door this morning, it was someone calling on behalf of MP candidate at the next general election. The candidate is our current councillor (Shaun Bailey, C) which is a great introduction in on conversation for the canvassers, "Is there anything your councillor can do for you?"

Let me know your thoughts on this

Xynthia, a violent storm that has battered Western Europe in the last two weeks was removed from my mind until this weekend.

Xynthia has killed 47 in France, and the region that it has devastated most is Vendée. This is where Rachel has holidayed for most of her life. The Ryans own a chalet in Brem sur Mer, and we spent a fortnight with them last August there. It is a beautiful region, that I explored by bike. Looking at the promenade of Les Sables in tatters suggests that 15k up the coast, Brem could not have escaped a similar fate. I hope for the Ryans, that their chalet is ok, and that everyone is safe there, as I really enjoyed my two weeks, and liked everyone I met.

Ref:
Irish Times story

I don't understand the narrow isolationist view espoused by many in Britain towards the creation of the two new "top jobs" in the EU.

The new European High Representative will not replace individual EU countries foreign affairs, nor prevent them using their embassies from operating their own private foreign affairs.

Is Moderate a bad word?
Today in the US, there is an election in upstate New York for the US Congress. The district has voted Republican for 100 years, so it was always unlikely that the Democrat would win. But, it is still an interesting Right vs Left example of what is wrong with US politics.

The Right in the US are determined that the best way forward is appealing to "the moral majority". They let loose their shock jocks on radio & tv (well Fox) to badger and attack those that don't agree with them. Homosexuality is an abomination to them, and it is destroying America.