Dreich!

On this day in 1893 some 90,000 New Zealand women for the first time.  Women who owned property and paid rates (mainly widows and 'spinsters') were allowed to vote in local government elections in Otago and Nelson from 1867. This right was extended to the other provinces in 1876 so many knew how to do this but it was September 1893 when Lord Glasgow passed the bill that enfranchised women.  Politics has been downhill ever since!  Dianne Abbott, Harriet Harman, Theresa May and Margaret Thatcher are all reasons this ought never to have happened.  With men like Boris and Gove, Corbyn and whoever is leading the Lib-dems we do not require women in politics, men can do things so well themselves...
Maybe Nicola will stand for Westminster next time?
It was a man, Arthur Griffiths, who on this day in 1905 formed Sinn Fein showing men can build politically very well.  Wilhelm II showed his talent by resigning from the Kaisership on this day in 1918 and hopping over the border into the Netherlands where he was welcomed, but not that readily, by the Dutch.  A year later to upset many in the House Lady Aster took up her seat in the House of Commons, that nice Mr Churchill nearly choked, and she was US born at that!
On this day in 1948 'Hopalong Cassidy' arrived on TV, I wonder how many of you saw this?  The historical inaccuracy of western shows have always been fundamental to forming the mental outlook of US citizens.  In 1963 the Beatles 'She loves you' was at number one and changing the world in a dramatic fashion.  Change was coming but this record really was the beginning of social change, not always for the better of course.  1990 saw relief across the globe when John Major took over from Margaret Thatcher, the 'stab in the back' she never forgave.  If only John would take over once again!

As I prepared for a day of work I noted the mist surrounding the world outside.  This cleared slowly during the day to be followed by rain, the view is similar now but wet and windy and forcing me, against my better judgement, to remain indoors lying in bed.  Sad to say I am forced to do this but you realise I would rather be cleaning the oven, sadly that must wait, again.  Instead of enjoying the day I have sat here seeking info of a man who died in 1961.  He stepped in front of a steam engine and being deaf he did not hear the whistle blow.  This was his normal way home across the railway and no train was due, only goods trains by this time, and by not looking to his right he lost out.  All rather sad but filled an hour of so seeking info.  Not one iota on the web and none of the local papers for the last fifty years are online anywhere yet.  It kept me awake.