The world returned to normal this morning. Vehicles sped up and down the road, the wireless offered death, despair and shock horror headlines, as did the rest of the media. People grumbled as the passed my door, and this not surprising as the howling gales blew rain in sheets against my window, and the passers-by! Indeed the world has forgotten the recent time of 'good will to all men,' and has returned to girning about the weather, the government, the neighbours and all else. I, still suffering this virus have hardly slept all night. Food is not retained and I feel awful again, so normality is found here also. My mood was not helped when the Landlords manager returned to work and informed me I will have to fix my dead oven myself! Oh yeah? How I ask? They will pay but my hamfisted approach will ensure a fire that destroys half the town, what then! Bah! The rain is still coming down and I am sure the postmen will be rejoicing in such weather. Gales blowing what mail there is out of their hands, rain filling the bags, and customers whining about 'paper mache' being put through their doors! Up north much destruction is being caused by the storms there. So we are not too bad I suppose.
One item caught my attention for a moment today. David Hockney, an artist, criticised other artists, in particular Damian Hirst, for not being sole authors of their 'work.' I found this quite amusing. Here we have a man made famous by banal empty pictures unhappy with Damian's approach. If only either were real 'artists' and produced something that made a difference as opposed to something that made them a name then life would be better for all. Both have large bank accounts, neither cares much for any other opinion as far as I can see, yet these two are feted and prized by the chattering classes. "It's a funny old world Saint!"
Now I like looking at aircraft. I am no 'spotter,' as I often have no idea what I am looking at, but I enjoy watching the machines fly by. Two 'Helicopter Spotters' claim to have driven into RAF Oldham, being 'waved by' by the security men as they followed a line of vehicles entering. They claim they thought a display was under way and innocently wandered about taking pictures of the machines. They drove up close to one or two and were somewhat surprised after ten minutes when an armed response unit responded with arms and locked them up. Max Award and Addison Bridet were interrogated for three hours and then released. The MOD spokesman said security had not been compromised. Not compromised? Two men drive in unchecked, wander about, taking photos and security is 'not compromised? Of course it was compromised! How easy would a terrorist have found an entrance here? How many other bases have poor security, and many employ 'outside security' to guard the base, partly to save money and [partly to release men for other duties. I have always found this dubious. The armed forces ought to guard themselves, and if RAF bases are so easily entered I suspect a resurgence in the RAF Regiment after this, although George Osbourne (the Chancellor) will not allow money to be spent on this.
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