Brown
Should we make a new book the latest blog competition prize? It's entitled: "Gordon Brown: speeches 1997-2006". It has a large picture of Gordon Brown on the front, making a speech. I honestly can't decide.
Oh and three more postcards will soon be posted. Four more have come in today. We love them all and are keeping them all, though goodness knows why. Perhaps I'll compile them into a book and Gordon Brown could give it away on his blog.
One request, when you're sending yours in - and I hope you will - please make your name nice and clear so we can name and shame you. If your handwriting is anything like mine your signature will be illegible.
The latest to arrive show: dinosaurs, breakfast cereal, Stonehenge, and somewhere in Miami. Go on: jot down the address for the next time you're away: PM Pointless Blog Postcard Thing, Room G601, 大象传媒 News Centre, London W12 7RJ.
How about a competition where the winner is rewarded by not receiving this book? Perhaps the person who submits the best entry gets to choose the unfortunate individual who will receive the 鈥榩rize鈥.
P.S. You were right about your busy show yesterday, as half of the stories you told us about were missing. Warning: contents may not be accurately represented by the picture on the box.
That sounds like a strapline. PM
鈥淲arning: contents may not be accurately represented by the picture on the box.鈥
PM
鈥淕iving away prizes you don鈥檛 want.鈥
Don鈥檛 you ever receive, say, a box set of the Fall鈥檚 John Peel sessions?
GB's speeches..... What's the point? And we all know what points make? Come on that wasn't loud enough.. What do points make?
Is the paper soft and absorbant? If not, no ta.
Just got the ironing CD. Marvelous, highly recommend it to everyone. Thanks Annaseed!
On the subject of postcards, for all you new people who haven't been here much, here are some more lovely postcards : . If you follow every link then you get a new postcard to look at. Nice.
What's the competition then? Is it the first one out of the hat (SB1), in that case me, me, me!
Eddie,
Is the book based on a true story?
Eddie,
Awayan boil yir heid! Tak yer buk wi yer!
I find it hard to think of anything I want to read less!!
Although, being the pedantic git I am, once (if) GB becomes PM I would delight in compiling a list of promises made in speeches that were subsequently broken. If I had nothing better to do.
Hey - Annasee - your postcard arrived, very nice too. Story behind this please, or did I miss it? Is this really a pc, or a sneaky photo? Why would anyone photo dead mice though? I'm even more confused than usual...
Eddie, yes indeed you should, and I'm sure you will. What's the competition again?
SB1 (huh, fat chance)
Will the competition be compulsory?
Can I win it just for being brave enough to admit that I want it?
Thanks.
btw, re the newsletter. Don't you wish that poeple who use the expression "...makes my blood boil" would actually overheat and thus shut up? I do.
Should we make a new book the latest blog competition prize?
Yes
Should it be the book of Gordon Brown's speeches?
No.
Come on Eddie, think of a book we might actually want to offer as a prize. George R R Martin's 'Dreamsongs' would be a goer.
Well, if the winner really had bad insomnia it might be a handy prize.
Otherwise..
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I would like the book - I have been having dreadful trouble sleeping lately. I'm sure the somnambulent Gordon would send me off!!
There's no entertainment in reading GBs speeches. It's boring enough when you can see him talking, but at least you get to see the hysterical facial contortions he seems to think are smiles. Not to mention that irritating thing he does with his jaw - like he was unhinging it. I wonder if he can?
How about a book of John Prescott's ramblings, er, speaches? Far more entertaining.
And on the subject of politicians, if they don't answer questions you ask, Eddie, can't you just cut them off and tell them: "When you're ready to answer, we'll let you back on". Why give airtime to airheads who can't understand your very simple questions?
Gordo's speeches? Sounds like a great way of getting the kids to sleep. And me.
I think 'A thousand years of German humour' beats GB's book in entertainment value.
Presumably second prize is two copies.
Yes.
The answer is 14, except in leap years.
Don鈥檛 you ever receive, say, a box set of the Fall鈥檚 John Peel sessions?
Dr H, remember this is PM.
Eddie's more likely to receive some of John Sessions' peelings.
I cannot think of anything less inspiring than GB Book of Speeches, the prize should go to someone who supplies an inspiring political alternative. Might I suggest "In My Own Time by Jeremy Thorpe" as a non-contender!
a book huh?
well.... perhaps I can mention it as a suggestion for the bookclub I'm in (we did do a volume of Alan Clarke after all...)
or maybe you could swap it with someone who wants to balance a wobbly table? Do you need roller skates?
Actually, how did "Swap Shop" work? did people have to send stuff in to be forwarded to the right kid? That must've been carnage! But they couldn't have been giving out people's details to other people to post to....
btw
Dr. H - I want that too!
Chris P
check your previous wobbly toy question blog thing (don't want my hard work going to waste....)
:卢)
Ah, what memorable stuff:
"Inflation at 1.2%, claimant unemployment 2.7%, interest rates 4.75%, growth rising by 3%, living standards by 3%. "
"Tonight I want to assure you from the Government that not only will we continue our policy of moving the unemployed from welfare to work 鈥 indeed we will enhance both the New Deal鈥檚 opportunities and sanctions 鈥 and our measures to enhance labour market flexibility as a contribution to higher productivity, but we will also, in consultation with you, move forward the enterprise agenda"
"Since 1997 Britain has 1.2 million additional homeowners. And as we take forward the Barker Review and the Deputy Prime Minister publishes his five year housing and sustainable communities strategy, we will pilot mixed communities in deprived estates and provide further support for first-time buyers. "
Yes, please, Eddie, Gordie's speeches would be a winner, especially if signed by another great Scot!
Dear Mr Muir
I have just read that you are offering another bestseller as a prize today, another in a long line of bestsellers you have offered. Well count me in.
Thank you
Douglas Wright
Aged 104
I wonder if that hilarious witticism is in Gordon Brown's book, about the Arctic Monkeys and the Arctic Circle?
Laugh? I nearly prolapsed!
Who says he's a mean, dour, totally uncollegiate, granite-hearted, penny-pinching, private-pension raiding Chancellor (with a gimlet eye).
Not me!
Oh Stainless - that's wonderful, cajun spicy tomato soup all over the keyboard this time!
Hey, Aperitif (10)
I agree.
Tin Cat : A genuine chuckle from me too.
Perhaps I'm on the wrong Blog- Is this a "Good Read"?
andycrA*, re your Narrow Boat link, I've just finished reading Narrow Dog to Carcassonne, a lovely, lovely book. Jim is my hero.
Val : I know nothing of Narrow Boats (they are boats, not very wide) it's my parents' thang.
Did you look at my bro's link? He's bonkers. Bright, but bonkers ()
Is Jim the dog? You have a dog as a hero? Check out my brother's link ;)
I'll put the book on my reading list, though, looks good.
Anyone got any ideas for questions which we can answer for the Great Brown Book Prize?
(hey,Val : an exercise for you to sort out the appalling grammar, there).
Valery & andycraCDPC,
Thanks! You're very kind to a saggy old metal cat...
Andy - glad Royal Mail got the cd to you as promised & thet you're enjoying it. That really is my ironing, by the way!
Just got back from work so catching up with the blog news. Thrilled the mouse postcard has been put up at last. Actually - are mice rodents? Thought rats were but not sure about mice. Anyway, it's from a postcard book (AS IF i would sneak in a common PHOTO - hush your mouth whoever suggested that, it is SICK) & the book is called "Why Cats Paint" from a NZ artist called Heather Busch. She has done a lot of "spoof" art projects but this was one of the first. If I could be bothered I'd give you the link to her "Museum of Non-Primate Art" site, but you can find a lot of her work by just searching her name on google. It is very funny - though I've had several of the books of postcards, have always found the mouse one gets left to the end after all the rest are used up - I never know who to send it to. So a big thank-you to Eddie for nominating himself as the lucky recipient this time.
The book will probably taxed as a perk. Don't let me win.
p.s. Send it to Valery: she's so nice about me.
the mouse one gets left to the end after all the rest are used up - I never know who to send it to.
well I wonder why that is!? BUt as you say, just perfect for Eddie's collection.
correcting link to annasee. Will it work? Last contribution had which isn't going to work. And it doesn't.
jim 34 - I like the bandana, and your sense of humour.
andynarrow - yup, done bro's site too. Too much time on my hands today obviously. So why not a dog for a hero - read the book and you'll love him too!
annaseed : looks like you need a new iron and a wider ironing board. With a shirt-sleeve attachment and springy cable extender.
I know these things now, having taken up a free three-month trial subscription with "Men's Journal of Irons and Ironing".
You'll get your free bottle of de-ionized water in the post soon, as a introduction gift.
---
a
andy - how dare you sir - that iron was an engagement present from my husband's work - it has done decades of service & still goes. If I got a fancy new one there would be absolutely no excuse for the generally poor standard of my ironing. Likewise the ironing board - only 15 years old, but do I really CARE enough to want a newer one? Uh uh.
Glad you have taken out a subscription for the Men's Journal of Irons & Ironing - bet they have really hi -tech things -iron/ipod combo eg, or off-board irons for the guy who's really adventurous. Do let me know.
I'm looking forward to the free water. Maybe they would send one to Eddie & he could give it away as a blog prize? More fun than some I could mention...
Our (that's hopeful) ironing board was passed on to us in 1977 when S.O's sister emigrated to Canada and naturally she didn't want to take it with her. Still going strong - if it ain't broke, don't fix it?
The IronPod had to be taken off the market, too many complaints about singed earlobes.
Sorry about casting nasturtions on your faithful iron/board-combo, (its a Rowenta isn't it?), I have an old ironing board which is broke, but I still use it. As you say, the idea of a day out looking at ironing-boards ...
Val - (40) precisely my point! You could check whether it really is "our" board by getting the other half to set it up for you. If he manages to do so without pinching his fingers or collapsing it, then he's probably got some acquaintance with the ironing, however infrequent. Otherwise, looks like it's pretty much your job. You'd be amazed (or depressed) at how many men bought this cd "for the wife" or "for my daughter". Even "for my mother". But not our Andy. He must be a New Man. Andy - are you listening out there? If you are, shouldn't you be working? Shouldn't I?
Annasee,
Why did your husband's work buy you an iron? Was it a hint?
Aperitif (42) that could be a very hurtful suggestion, if I had even considered it in the 23 years since it happened. Actually it was because our previous iron which was PRE STEAM & belonged to my parents (till they upgraded to the steam age) had just broken & my husband's boss ( a woman) had decided this would be an excellent engagement present. I was thrilled! I'm sure you'd appreciate that in New Zealand we had to make our own entertainment from whatever was available - not like the sophisticated delights of here.
My iron is neither sophisticated nor delightful. Just about functional and that's all. Cheap though. If someone gave me some frivolous spending money but said it had to be spent on a household item, I might just buy one of the all-singing, all-dancing fabulous new steam ones.
Hmm, maybe Eddie will put one up as a competition prize one of these times. Incidentally, when do we find out if I've won Gordy's book? I have a photo of him at University with my brother, could that be a levering point? ( G. Broon, not Eddie)
Whoo-o, tv is chuntering on in the background and I thought something had happened to my hearing - but no, they've decided it's the time of night to speak soothingly in Gaelic. Night all...
SB45
I am listening annaseed, and I should be working (sold nearly three artworks today, that's working, isn't it?). Otherwise I'm "resting" as actors would say, in between (computer software writing) contracts, and incidentally inbetween locations, I might be moving ooop-north soon, or not. It's all very exciting.
I don't know about New Man. I don't feel very new. I did buy the CD just for me, I like hearing music that I wouldn't normally hear (I used to rely purely on John Peels programmes for that, now I have to go out into the wide world and find it for myself. I also liked some of that LollyBolly that someone posted on an earlier blog (perv?)). Double parentheses, sorry.
Pre-steam? Did you have to put hot coals in it?
Lolly Bolly andycrdjfhsdkj?
Annasee, 42, your theory holds water with the Kraken (who ought to be a New Man), but S. O. is an engineer, and in 34 years I'm yet to find something which he is unable to do (well maybe, wallpapering, he says he could, but doesn't like to) (and laying carpet).
Val : there was a link to some music in the LollyBolly genre that someone posted on the "favourite Pervez" blog, but it seems to have vanished.
But I googled and here it is :
More music I didnae ken aboot. As they say in Pakistan.
Val : you lucky, lucky lady! ;)
Annasee (44)
I am truly sorry. See how my head is hanging in shame? I just imagined your S.O. must be a bit crumpled and 'his work' wanted to smooth him out a bit. I didn't consider that it might be an engagement/weedding/other special occassion gift. :(
My late S.O. got a toaster from his work once. They asked me what to get him and I think they thought it was really for me (sex stereotyping of course) when I suggested the yellow version of a well known "design classic" (his words). But no:
he was the toast addict.
Very sorry Annasee. Happy ironing.
andycralolly - I know I am :o))
andyetc 48, oh, but now I feel really sorry for her because there are no hits on her hits! I didn't want to be the first. Thanks anyway.
Can't believe we're still talking about ironing so many days later! "Happy ironing" for me means no ironing.
I've been working all day, so have just got my hit from the blogs tonight. What fun.
I fell asleep in the rehearsal today with 3 snare drums playing (that's Italian for as loud as possible, & they did their best) 3 feet away from me. I did have earplugs in though. But my colleague didn't , & she fell asleep as well. Is that worrying ? We only woke up when (during a quiet & very intense passage, everyone concentrating like mad) the hall tannoy suddenly erupted with "taxi for Wilkinson( or somesuch name )- taxi for Wilkinson" & half the orchestra stood up to pretend it was theirs. Even the conductor was heard to say "it's for me". (He's foreign, so just getting used to the British sense of humour. Learning fast though.)Simple pleasures, but it was enough for us. The day was not wasted!