Jude Smith

These last couple of days have been big for my wee town. After a protest last night there was a post of trouble, I hope mainly drunk types. Praying that it won't be misconstrued. Today is Carnival Day: Praying for good weather and good times. No violence, no robbing.

Today, arguably didn't start well, I woke up at 7.30am on the first day when I have nothing to do (aside from packing up my Bristol life). Whilst indulging my West Wing thing again (need to get through series seven again before starting the Wire), I checked out the BBC news site. It wasn't good. Petty stuff aside (Newcastle going down is not petty but rather pales in the light of a democratic meltdown here and nuclear testing in Asia). The Telegraph has stuck the knife in. They have 'exposed' that cabinet members have claimed for tax return advice. That's legal in the regulations. From what I can see they are bandying around £11,000: which is actually split between maybe 5 or 6 people over at least two years. Its the first out and out attack on the Cabinet. It puts all the other shenanigans into perspective. The plan of attack is thus: out various people for bad expenses. Includes Tories for effect but main drive is to raise calls for an election. Then wh...

Friday has become escape day. We all disappear off to do things that people with normal lives might do. So yesterday we went to IKEA. And hung out. And tried on fake beards. And bought toilet seats. And little whisks. And then had pizza. So here are Cat and Marc doing one of the above.

The MP expenses row continues. The Torygraph is using those big type headlines that should be reserved for the outbreak of war. And a debate has ensued about 'fiddling' one's expenses. Which is confusing me. In my head fiddling expenses is nicking a pen or making sly phone calls. Maybe claiming for a dinner that wasn't business. BUT... having your pool cleaned! £25k for cleaning! This is not fiddling, this is orchestrating, this is every CD ever solding.. its huge.. And how did they think that was ever going to be OK. I don't know whether to be more annoyed that they are corrupt or that they are stupid!

So, I'm teaching on leadership in a couple of weeks. And I have no idea what to say. I think I think less highly of leadership as a concept than maybe ever before.. it certainly feels impossible to teach on for three hours or so.. What would you guys say if you had to say one thing about leadership?

Part of the irony of the wrist thing is that I did it in that innocent pursuit of cleanliness and relaxation., the bath! After I had successfully negotiated some hard core DIY. This is my new study.. it began last weekend a weird orangey colour with a thick carpet. It now has shiny floor and sensible walls.. Woo yeah!

Before we get going an apology for the weird capitalisation and punctuation.. not making an avant garde statement just typing with the one hand! Which also in part explains the lack of reflections... I broke myself a wee bit.. it might be ligament damage, it might be a teensy fracture.. its my writing hand and it hurts... but before breaking me i had some stuff to say.. it will follow.