It's Snow Joke

You know how in many countries an abundance of snow simply means that everyone sighs at the beautiful landscape and kids look forward to snow fights and building snowmen when they get home? Well in Great Britain, a lot of snow is no joke at all. It’s the next worst thing to a terrorist attack. Okay, that’s a wild exaggeration but it does affect us pretty badly!

Last year, 5 inches of snow shut down a significant section of London’s public transport system. This year, there’s been a lot more snow, but still we’ve had a lot more time and recent experience to prepare for it, right? Wrong. Yet again, we have public transport mayhem, delayed trains, children staying home from school, workers unable to get to work, grit and salt running out on a national level and until recently, the threat of gas shortage. It’s not like we’re talking about a hurricane or an earthquake. Yes, we had up to 20 inches of snow in some places but is that seriously enough to shut down whole cities?

I can’t help but think someone somewhere is not doing something right…

Another Labour Coup

The folks at Westminster are at it again, and no I'm not talking about pilfering public funds via expense reports! The knives are drawn for our dear leader, Gordon Brown. I saw a local headline this morning: "does Labour have a death wish?" They must do; how else can one explain this insane in-fighting, months before the next general election?

I'll be the first to admit that Gordon Brown isn't the most charamatic person in the world. Not that I know him personally, but I see enough of him in the media to form an opinion! However, is it not logical to get behind your leader at this crucial time and sing his praises, as well as that of the Labour party?

Former Cabinet members have called for a secret ballot on Gordon Brown's leadership. If he should lose, then Labour will be plunged into a late leadership tossle. Unless it turns out to be the coronation of a clear successor (and I really don't see that happening) then by the time the good people have finished beating one other to a pulp, the unashamedly photogenic David Cameron will walk all over them on his way to an easy victory! Not like that's exactly an avoidable outcome. It's safe to assume, save something pretty dramatic, that David Cameron is the next British Prime Minister.

I think that's just the problem. In their heart of hearts, the Labour Party has given up. They don't think they have a realistic chance of winning the election, and so are focussing on saving as many seats as they can. Who can blame the MPs? Self-preservation is a really powerful instinct. How ironic that this very instinct could lead to their collective doom. I'll watch this drama unfold from my comfy armchair, with an ample supply of popcorn. Shakespeare couldn't have written it better.