September

is an emotional month and feelings run high. For us there is 9/10 and for America 9/11.
2001 is just yesterday for those most closely affected and this is a shot of ground zero when we were there in 2008.
So I am not surprised the temperature is rising about the plans to construct an Islamic Centre and Mosque not far from the site of the Twin Towers. There are raw emotions on display here. Typical being republican Newt Gingrich saying the planned development "would be like putting a Nazi sign next to the Holocaust Museum" along with much of the same from the Fox pundits and teabaggers.
Barack Obama has not done his fellow democrat candidates in the mid terms any favours by coming out in support of the venture. "If a mosque opens at ground zero on 9/11 next year Obama can kiss the White House goodbye" says that pillar of the UK press the Daily Mail.
So much for all that freedom of religion stuff in the US constitution.
What this reminds me of is the wild west posse spirit which grabbed hold of George W Bush and the neo cons after 9/11 and eventually led to the invasion of Iraq. A bigger disaster than 9/11 itself and, dare I say, any mosque that may ever be built near ground zero.

The Welsh Sheila and The Mad Monk

In the year that Messrs Strauss and co visit Australia to defend the Ashes there is a spicy warm up bout called the Australian General Election.

In the Labour corner we have Julia Gillard a plain speaking Welsh born lawyer from Melbourne who is the present and first woman prime minister of Australia. She achieved high office in June when Kevin Rudd was removed from office with the efficiency of the stiletto. Et tu Brute. She is said to be very charming one on one but so I believe are crocodiles. Ms Gillard is also an atheist which apparently may not play out too well Down Under.

In the Liberal corner is Tony Abbott who once studied to be a Catholic priest. He was born in London albeit to Australian parents. Earlier this year he completed an iron man triathlon at Port Macquarie in NWS. He is well versed in the traditional debating arts of Australian politicians and last year described the argument for climate change as "absolute crap".

Ms Gillard expected to win by a street but her coup d'etat and worries about what she believes by way of policy, if she believes anything, are making this a neck and neck race.

We are used to criticism from our antipodean friends that England has to recruit for its cricket team from South Africa and now Ireland. So it is a glorious irony that the next PM of Oz will be a Welsh woman or a Londoner!

P.S. I hear Shane Warne has returned to Australia from his commentary duties on the England Pakistan series. On which side will he bowl his googly? The outcome will be known on election day August 21. Timelord can't wait!

Spoon Fed

Two doughty Lancastrians decided to make their way to Colwyn Bay to watch the Red Rose play cricket the other day and were prevented from entering the ground because they had metal spoons for eating their strawberries and cream. Stewards even took exception to their jars of coffee and tea. Plastic spoons only allowed.

I suppose one has to make allowances for the land of the Druids but those stewards should be grateful they did not encounter Teapot and try to deprive her of a flask of Yorkshire's best.

We went to Trent Bridge a fortnight ago and decided to be well prepared for the health and safety police. We carried out a pre match risk assessment leaving copies back at the Tardis with Wesley and Tiger in case of emergency. We had sun block in case it was hot and cloudless, umbrellas in case of rain and overshoes in case of snow. We both took gloves just in case it was cold and on the off chance that Eoin Morgan planted a switch hit 6 in our direction. We decided to take visors for our eyes: for protection against being blinded by the sun's reflection off KP's bling.

Odd though really since no one seemed to mind when Stuart Broad planted a bumper on the hapless Pakistani opener's helmet at a tad short of 90 mph. Or the seemingly endless procession of bear trays juggled precariously between rows of spectators lurching from side to side. Threatening at any minute to spill over and cause a drenching with the probability of a non too civil word or two as a result.

Curious that at Edgbaston the following week an advertising board suddenly decided to attack a steward all on its own holding up play for several minutes.

May be I have missed something. Home Office statistics on the number of woundings using metal spoons perhaps.

Be assured though spoons of all kinds are welcome in the Tardis and especially teaspoons when stirring the morning brew.