ARSENAL FAILS IN CHAMPIONSHIP HURDLE

Arsenal went to White Hart Lane full of hope last night for the famous north London derby and should have been favourites to take all three points to dislodge Manchester United from second slot in the Premiership. But, the fixture failed to live up to expectations and Arsenal were sluggish and second rate to a Spurs side who were out to impress. Spurs had not beaten Arsenal for 10 years in a league fixture but they earned their just desert by robbing the visitors of any slim snippet of a chance to pressure Chelsea for the title. But Arsenal could have taken the lead in the opening minutes when Campbell, returning to the expected boos from the home supporters at his former hunting ground, had his effort blocked on the line by Benoit Assou-Ekotto. This was the closest Arsenal came to hitting the target during a first half that witnessed their usual precision passing falling short of the mark and by losing most of 50-50 challenges to a Spurs team that looked far more prepared for the challenge. 

POLICE HARASSMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHERS CONTINUES

There is considerable concern over the number of innocent photographers; professional and amateur, that are being stopped and on occasions arrested, for innocently taking photographs in public places under anti-terrorism legislation. None so far has given any cause to suggest they had been doing anything illegal; most were white British citizens (a couple were Austrian tourists) who were photographing London city landscapes. But, police and support officers are starting to get heavy with photographers elsewhere in the country as well.

WHY IS OUR GOVERNMENT SUPPORTING THE CHILDREN OF EAST EUROPEAN MIGRANT WORKERS?

In yet another outrageous example of EU bureaucracy British taxpayers are having to support the offspring of East European workers in this country who have children living in Poland and other countries. Once more we are being exposed as the fool guys of Europe and the Government can, yet again, be accused of failing to stand up for our rights by refusing to adhere to the EU rules that force us to support the dependents of migrant workers. Astonishingly, a spokesman for HM Revenue and Customs is reported as saying that these payments only account for a 'tiny percentage' of the 7.5 million total child benefit payments, yet the Treasury estimates that 37,900 children in Poland are being supported by British handouts to the tune of £24m; an incresase of 20% on last year's figure.

As concerns grown over the number of immigrants now living in the UK this news will further fire the anger of British citizens, especially the thousands of families that are suffering severe hardships and can no loner afford heating, food and other essential commodities.

Is it not time that our Government started putting UK citizens first?

DANGEROUS LEMONS SHOULD CARRY A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING

Every day a new story appears in the quality newspapers that eclipses something that grabbed my attention previously for its gross stupidity. On Saturday, 31 October, the Daily Telegraph included a story about an elderly shopper who was prevented from buying two loose lemons - yes lemons - from an Aberdeen branch of Asda because the staff claimed that the fruit is dangerous!

The man, Chris Pether, 70, was told that health and safety rules prevented the sale of more than one loose lemon - although he could buy a pack of ten had he wished to do so. The reason behind this apparent ban on lemon sales, the man was told, was because local youths had taken to throwing them at people - along with grapefruits and oranges. When Mr Pether placed the lemons on the scales to be weighed a message flashed up to tell him that this was more than the maximum number he could purchase. When he told management that this was 'ridiculous', Mr Pether was told he had to buy them one at a time.

The customer eventually got his lemons - by paying for them in two transactions.

THE PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT TO BE LISTENED TO

I happen to believe the BBC were right in allowing Nick Griffin on to the Question Time programmre last night and had they barred him from taking part it would have been another serious nail in the coffin for our democracy. Just because you don't agree with a person's views is not sufficient to gag them from speaking. I watched the programme with a keen interest but I was angered by the way it appeared to have be stage managed. Earlier in the day I had listened to John Prescott talking on Radio 5 when he claimed that the guests had prior knowledge of the questions that would be asked and that the 'invited' audience were 'plants'. I think he is probably right and Dimbleby went down in my estimation for his biased views and poor handling of the programme.

WHEN WILL MPs ADMIT THEY HAVE FLEECED THE PUBLIC?

The issues over MPs expenses exposed by the Daily Telegraph earlier this year are unlikely to die down following the independent inquiry by Sir Thomas Legg. It appears public confidence in those charged with the affairs of running our country will continue to diminish because many Members of Parliament, especially those within the Government, still refuse to admit the errors of their ways. It looks likely that a large number of MPs will either resign or be forced to stand down by their constituents at the next election.

MY NEW BOOK RELEASE

My latest book was released in the UK on 1 October and is due forworld wide release in December.

'Imperial Airways - The Birth of the British Airline Industry 1914-1940' is published by Ian Allan.

Imperial Airways is a name redolent of the excitement and glamour of the pioneering years of flight. Founded in the 1920s, Imperial Airways flew to destinations all over the world. This beautiful and evocative book on the 'golden age' of passenger flight is the result of years of research, and the text is complemented by a wealth of stunning photographs and ephemera. It is the most definitive book published on the history of Imperial Airways and the formative years of British commercial aviation. The book begins immediately following World War I with the pioneering companies - Air Transport & Travel Ltd (AT&T), Instone, Handley Page, Daimler Airways and others - and shows how, after AT&T's demise, the remaining three companies were brought together in 1924 to form Imperial Airways. The company continued through difficult times, political uncertainties and fierce competition to open routes to India, South Africa and beyond. This was achieved through the untiring efforts of colorful characters such as Sir Sefton Brancker, Herbert Brackley, George Woods Humphery, Sir Eric Geddes and an array of often eccentric pilots such as one-eyed Ray Hinchliffe and 'All-Weather Mac' Robert McIntosh. The book covers all the various different types of aircraft flying at the time. Often out-of-date and, on occasions, considered to be dangerous, the companies maintained a level of safety and reliability that was sometimes against all the odds. This is especially true considering the lack of navigational aids and other equipment that was available. The story continues with the arrival of the legendary HP 42 airliner, the era of the great flying boats and the experimental 'Mercury-Maia' project when routes across the continents were opened to link the British Empire to the motherland during the period between the two wars. The work also covers the important role that Croydon Airport played in the history of commercial aviation. The story concludes in 1940 with the formation of BOAC. This is an intriguing story that represents a journey through time when it could take more than a week to travel by flying boat between Australia and the UK and when passengers flying the near East routes would stay the night at remote desert forts en-route for India.

DINING OUT

I have recently had the pleasure of eating in two excellent pub restaurants that I recommend you check out. I have deliberately kept my comments short and suggest that you click on the links below to view the web sites of these two inns and to discover about their menus.

The first is The Lord Nelson a delightful 18th century country inn located in the small Oxfordshire village of Brightwell Baldwin near Wallington and is run by Carole and Roger Shippey. The menu is varied; the food excellent and the ambience superb. The hostelry is open all day on Sundays (for Sunday lunch/dinner) but I suggest you book early to avoid disappointment.

The other is the Bell Inn at Beechampton, a recently refurbished village inn nr Stoney Stratford, Milton Keynes. As this is a free house it offers a wide variety of excellent ales and an exceptional wine list that is interesting and varied. Excellent food is served in two cosy dining rooms. I thoroughly recommend that you try their traditional Sunday roasts or treat yourself to their succulent steaks (specials on Tuesday Steak Nights).

Brides Stretch the Boundaries With Intimate Portraits

When couples have been together for any length of time it can be difficult for a bride to know what to give to her groom as a very special present on their wedding day. For the man that has everything what can be more personal than a beautifully posed portrait of the bride … either nude or dressed in sensual lingerie? Surprisingly there are plenty of young ladies willing to make the effort to have this type of portrait taken as items that appeared in The Sunday Times and Femail in The Daily Mail will testify.

HAS DAVID DAVIS PULLED OFF AN AMAZING MASTER STROKE?

The resignation today of the Shadow home secretary, David Davis might in time be seen as a master-stroke. I reason that Mr Davis has become so disillusioned by what he has referred to as '...the slow strangulation of fundamental British freedoms by this government' and by making a firm stand he has the opportunity of making public the underhanded way this government is behaving.

THE CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW GOES GREEN

“Chelsea is always guaranteed to delight … there’s plenty to absorb everyone … from avid gardener to the pure novice.”


The problem with all of the RHS garden shows is that there are so many positive aspects and it is only possible to skim the surface in a feature of this length. Chelsea is the major international show piece of its kind and even if you only have a passing interest in gardens and flora, you cannot help being thoroughly engaged by its content. This year the weather was a great deal kinder than last and exhibitors reported that the conditions were ideal for planting and building their show gardens. This was the 86th RHS Flower Show to be held on the site of the Royal Hospital since 1913 and the popularity forced the organisers to announce quite early that all tickets had been sold and 157,000 visitors were expected to attend during the five days of the event. Despite this I couldn’t help feeling there was something slightly lacking from the usual air of expectancy that usually surrounds the occasion that I could only attribute to a knock-on effect caused by the depressing economic situation.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

The normal working British people are being thoroughly ripped off and our once great country has already gone to pot. The rich get richer, the poor poorer but there is also a middle ‘under class’ that has evolved that Gordon Brown is succeeding in bringing to their knees. This group forms the majority of good, honest workers that Brown is treating with total contempt. He seems blind to the fact that he is crippling the nation by taxing us to the hilt while he remains happy to continue to blow money on his pet schemes as well as a useless war in Afghanistan and a peace keeping mission that can never succeed in Iraq. All of this is bleeding the country dry. On this score it is interesting how the government steers clear of questions relating to what all of this is costing the tax payer and just how much money is being spent every time a missile is fired.