How long.....

.....do we have to put up with the present occupier of the White House, George Bush? It is hard to call him President - for someone so inept and deluded in his position is hard to imagine.

Rusty the reindeer could do better.

I listened to him interviewed for BBC News this week and his brazen defence of the torture technique known as water boarding. He prouudly boasted of his intention to veto a Bill coming out of Congress to ban this ghastly practice.

So how can the USA, once the shining example of generosity and freedom to the world lecture the likes of China and Sudan on its human rights record? The only surprise is that George Dubya does not have a nose the length of Pinnochio's.

And how can it again recover its moral authority?

Teapot goes to TedFest II ?

The week after next sees the second Father Ted festival on the island of Inis Mor. Demand for tickets has been so high that some of the events will be held on the mainland.

Last year attractions included the Craggy Island Song for Europe contest, the Father Jack cocktail evening, Ludo aerobics and the Hide a Nun and Seek competition.

This year will include the world's biggest cup of tea so Teapot was approached to give Mrs Doyle a helping hand. Sadly though I had to draw a line somewhere with Teapot's travels. Father Jack would never be the same again after a cup of the finest from the Tardis.

More information on http://www.friendsofted.org/

The hopemonger

I ask a question. Why do I now look for the results of the latest democratic primaries on CNN and open the newspaper for the latest articles with an enthusiasm usually reserved for the doings of the England cricket team or Aston Villa!

Answer: Barack Obama.

I have blogged before about the senator from Illinois and I spent my reading time on the plane to and from NY devouring his book "The audacity of hope". Since my last blog his campaign across the States has gathered increasing momentum so that his rival Hilary Clinton (with the support of husband Bill) is no longer the shoe in everyone thought.

So what is it about this guy which so fires the imagination. Perhaps it is above all because he is so counter cultural for a successful American politician. Consider:

• He is not a machine politician unlike members of the Bush and Clinton dynasties.
• He was raised in a single parent family.
• He grew up in Hawaii and Indonesia.
• He would be the first black president.
• He is not afraid of saying things will not be easy.
• He was one of the few to oppose the Iraq war from the beginning.
• He is a democrat but is still willing to express his Christian faith.

He majors on hope and his rallies echo with the slogan "yes we can". But the cynics argue there is no substance and his opponents say he will eventually wilt before the experience and political street cred of Hilary and Bill.

Hope is a hugely powerful word and hope has sustained me in hard times these past 2 years. It is easy sometimes to want to hide away from the challenges of the business life or to wonder if that prayer for healing or a safe journey is worth the candle.

Part of Barack's message is based on his own journey and folk like him challenge me to make the most of all I have been given and in all that to live by hope.

He will be tested in the days ahead and rightly so. But I hope that Americans will have the courage to elect him and if they do you can be sure of a wind of change that will blow beyond the shores of America and affect us all.

Mr Muffin Man goes to New York

As you all know one of the most important parts of the Tardis is the bakery and the cake store.

So I thought a picture of the New York branch would go down a treat. This is the Mr Muffin Man cake stall on the market at Grand Central Station.

Some readers may have the idea this is a bit like Rawtenstall market or Greggs bakers in Chorley.

Dream on.

It is very important however to make a visit now and again to make sure that one's franchise operators are keeping up to the standards.

Now do I have a volunteer for the position of master [or mistress] taster to step in when I am unfortunately otherwise committed on Timelord duties elsewhere.

Sutton Park it is not

Sitting in the Tardis after our return from New York I have been musing on what it might be about the city which is truly and intergalatically unique.

There may be something on the dark side of the star cluster Duvet major which I missed whilst asleep that time I was experimenting with the auto co-ordinating settings on the Tardis control panel. But that aside Central Park and the view from the Rockefeller Centre or the Empire State Building is on its own.

The scale of the buildings and the contrast with the open space in the middle of it is amazing. Planners talk about green lungs and this is one big deep breath.

The rigid block pattern of the streets and avenues may seem boring as a concept but the individuality of the skyscrapers and their styles sometimes side by side with older and smaller buildings makes for fascinating viewing.

Now can you imagine what a few 60 plus storey tower blocks might look like on the side of Sutton Park. Perhaps starting somewhere along Monmouth Drive.....

And again perhaps not!