Come Lasses and Lads

WEYMOUTH’S Carnival Queen competition is being scrapped because it is ‘outdated.’ Former carnival queens and town leisure chiefs have reacted with shock after carnival organisers declared the historic contest was past its sell-by date and did not promote equal opportunities. 

Former carnival queen, called the organisers ‘killjoys’ and said if they wanted to promote equal opportunities they should run a Carnival King contest. 

Last year’s  queen Jamie Asquith, 19, said: “The contest is something I grew up with. There’s so much history to it and I don’t think it should be just scrapped just like that. A pretty girl leading the procession is part of the tradition of Weymouth Carnival.” 

A spokesman for Weymouth & Portland Borough Council,  Brendan Webster said: “It’s a shame to take away what is an enjoyable event which is quite harmless. 

He said: “Some of our great traditions are rooted in the past and I think it would be a great shame if they scrapped the Carnival Queen.

 

Yet another attempt to eradicate a tradition. I think those involved in the Weymouth Carnival Queen competition should set up an alternative event and see which draws the bigger crowd. I know where I would place my bets.

I realise that family photo may not interest people outside the family, but.... here are my brothers and I ignoring the Maypole dancing at the Bournville Village Carnival....I would guess in 1951. I am the eldest on the left.

This Friday I'll give the music a miss and leave you with this.....

         Oh, I likes a bit of enjoyment on a Friday,

       I never was one to scamp my work an’ that,

         I’ve laid the tea, I’ve left the kitchen tidy,

            I’ve left a bit of haddock for the cat.

 

"Gender-neutral" Language

Using 'Miss' and 'Mrs' has been banned by leaders of the eu because they are not considered politically correct.

Brussels bureaucrats have decided the words are sexist and issued new guidelines in its bid to create 'gender-neutral' language.

A booklet warns European politicians they must avoid referring to a woman's marital status.

This also means Madame and Mademoiselle, Frau and Fraulein and Senora and Senorita are banned. 

This is frankly ludicrous. We've seen the eu institutions try to ban the bagpipes and dictate the shape of bananas, but now they seem determined to tell us which words we are entitled to use in our own language.

As I couldn't think of a sheet-music cover to match this story, I'll include a little pic. of my organ bass pipes under contruction instead.

Oh yes......I nearly forgot.

I've did have one put by for today.

Watch Out Who You Photograph

 Section 76 of the latest Counter Terrorism Act came into force today, the latest in a long line of laws introduced by this freedom-limiting Government.

 Professional photographers held a protest about the law earlier today, as they fear that the it could be used to hinder them as they go about doing their job:

And as for members of the Armed forces, what about those wanting to take snaps at a display of pageantry like Trooping the Colour, or capture a relative's passing out parade on camera, for instance?

How long before a tourist gets stopped for photographing the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace?

"One Man's Meat is Another Man's Poison"

These two snippets show just how different, peoples views can be on what is "healthy" or "unhealthy" for us.

1)    The West Bromwich St George's Day parade started in 1998 and began as a fairly modest affair with 5,000 turning up. Now three times that attend the two-mile parade in April. Fire Service and Scout Association bands have played, the British Legion lends its support and each year ex-servicemen attend to help raise money for charities. 

But last night the local council, Labour-controlled Sandwell, voted to withdraw its support for the parade. 

They said that the St George's parade created an "unhealthy atmosphere". 

2)   "One of India’s leading Hindu cultural groups, has developed Gau Jal or Cow Water, at its research centre in the Indian holy city of Haridwar on the River Ganges, and hopes it will be marketed as a 'healthy' alternative to Coke and Pepsi.

Hindus worship cows for their life-sustaining dairy products, but many also consume bovine urine and faeces in drinks and spice mixes for their "health-giving" properties.

In some Indian states, cow dung and urine are sold in regular dairy shops alongside milk and yogurt, whilst some Indian health food companies make porridge, toothpaste and tonic drinks which claim to cure ailments ranging from liver complaints to diabetes and cancer."