What are you reading tonight?

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Funny. I was actually thinking of adding to this thread that I actually don't think I am one or other, supported by my thought that a leader has done something seriously wrong if people party in the street when they die, which will happen in her case, as evinced above.

My own take is that most of what she did was necessary, sensible, or at least defensible, in substance, but that her heartless presentation was extremely damaging and continues to be so. Political debate suffers if 'Tory' is a dirty word that produces an unthinking reflex reaction, as it does for many in this country. Unfortunately, that is her legacy.

Anyway, you'll all be disappointed to hear that I've got it on good authority that she's in better health, both physically and mentally, than she has been in years, at the moment. Personally I hope she outlives every sick bastard who talks gleefully about her demise.

[thebish]

I don't think i have ever raised a glass to celebrate anyone's death - and I won't be starting anytime soon.

[Gary the Enfield]

I don't think i have ever raised a glass to celebrate anyone's death - and I won't be starting anytime soon.

I agree and disagree with this.

A drink to celebrate someone's life, on passing, is a fine tradition. Particularly if the life they led was a happy and fulfilled one.

Celebrating their death as an event in itself. Not for me.

[thebish]

I don't think i have ever raised a glass to celebrate anyone's death - and I won't be starting anytime soon.

I agree and disagree with this.

A drink to celebrate someone's life, on passing, is a fine tradition. Particularly if the life they led was a happy and fulfilled one.

Celebrating their death as an event in itself. Not for me.

we are in complete agreement.
I have raised many a glass to celebrate someone's life - but never (as i wrote) to celebrate anyone's death.

[Worthy4England]

I suppose its the emotive language. You can either take that two ways, that she was a determined, driven individual, she of The Lady's not for turning, who wanted to drag the country kicking and screaming into the 20th century. Or you see her as a humourless old bag without an ounce of comapssion or altruism who set about destroying people's lives and communities with a religious zeal. Its a common theme of the book, there really is no middle ground on Thatcher. You're generally one or the other.

I'm one. and not the other.

If there's one thing in life I hold dear, (apart from wife/kids/Bolton etc); it's the promise I made to myself almost 30 years ago. That no matter where in the world, no matter what I'm doing, the moment I hear of her death, I will walk into the nearest purveyor of alcohol and drink with joyfull abandon..................................The feckin evil bitch

I will join you

Have we got enough for a party yet?

I don't wish her dead, but when she's gone, the world will be a warmer place.

And I promised me dad, I'd raise a glass upon her unholy demise.

If that makes me a sick bastard. C'est la vie.

[Prufrock]

I get where that reaction comes from, so many relatives hate her with a violent passion. Whilst I think there is an argument a lot of where she wanted to go was, as Mummy says, neccesary or at least defensible, the manner in which she went about it was unnecessarily divise, toxic, and even wicked. Brought up around so many who hate her with a passion, there will be a temptation to go with the 'Ding Dong' Facebook status. In reality however, I won't be celebrating her death. Certainly won't be celebrating her life though!

[Il Pirate]

I suppose its the emotive language. You can either take that two ways, that she was a determined, driven individual, she of The Lady's not for turning, who wanted to drag the country kicking and screaming into the 20th century. Or you see her as a humourless old bag without an ounce of comapssion or altruism who set about destroying people's lives and communities with a religious zeal. Its a common theme of the book, there really is no middle ground on Thatcher. You're generally one or the other.

I'm one. and not the other.

If there's one thing in life I hold dear, (apart from wife/kids/Bolton etc); it's the promise I made to myself almost 30 years ago. That no matter where in the world, no matter what I'm doing, the moment I hear of her death, I will walk into the nearest purveyor of alcohol and drink with joyfull abandon..................................The feckin evil bitch

I just hope it's not a long, slow, lingering demise. No old lady deserves that. And then you'd find it difficult to time the party and the joy might have gone by the time it happened... That happened with Franco's much-mourned departure... we had the party ok, but lacking in spontaneity and joy because of its predictability...

I have to agree with the sentiment William. I don't wish ill of anybody really. But all things considered, it would be satisfying to close that chapter of history. (As if we will ever be allowed to forget). And I will take a drink, and still think......that bitch generated the ruin of my life. Now rebuilt, now very normal. Though even in my middle aged stupor; I still get bitter.

[Dujon]

I have just launched into My Apprenticeship written by Beatrice Webb (née Potter - b 7/1866 d 12/1943). This is an autobiographical piece which, on my e-book, comes in two volumes. Miss Potter/Mrs Webb draws the contained information from her own (comprehensive) diaries and adds her, then, contemporary comments. Given that she was pretty much self-educated - thanks to her father's library - Miss Potter had an incredible command of the English language and an understanding of the world at large far beyond her years. She is brutally honest in her self-analysis at all times; she vacillates in her beliefs and aims as she grows older, changing like a chameleon at times and then castigating herself for her weaknesses. Whilst to this stage of the books I don't always agree with her conclusions I cannot change gender and transport myself back to the second half of the nineteenth century. She calls herself a 'social investigator' and went to the lengths of working and living with the 'ordinary' citizens who earned their living as seamstresses. I haven't got that far at this point, so I'd best not comment.

Why I persist with this book I don't know. Maybe it's that it does seem to be an honest appraisal of someone's history, beliefs and fragility. Until I become bored I shall continue.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

that bitch generated the ruin of my life.

What happened, IP?

(Obviously would understand if you don't want to say.)

[Lord Kangana]

Of course, should we start drilling for oil under The Falklands and all our taxes are consequently reduced to 5%, people may change their tune.

[Dujon]

So might the Argentine (and the US of A.)

[Worthy4England]

Of course, should we start drilling for oil under The Falklands and all our taxes are consequently reduced to 5%, people may change their tune.

Aye, but there's also a tune that says there would have been no fight had it not been for the 1981 Defence Review and proposals made regarding HMS Endurance.

It's not like Galtieri had been particularly secretive about wanting the islands. Our response? Lets cut HMS Endurance (which was pretty much our only defence in the South Pacific). Ridley was already trying to arrange a leaseback with the Argies, so I don't see how the Tory's can say they "saved" the Falklands, when they were actively trying to give them away?

There was a Private Eye cartoon at the time which was a bust of Thatcher with the inscription "They died to save Her face." How apt.

[bobo the clown]

Just read A Walk In The Woods, another Bryson vignette, whilst awaiting Amazon's delivery of A History of Modern Britain. (I've already read The Making of).

Usual quality from the Bill the boy.

Have you read 'Made in America' ? Great myth blowing stuff.

[Bruce Rioja]

Finally finished Stuart Adamson's biography on Friday. There's writing a biography and then there's blowing smoke up someone's arse whilst living in denial of the facts. The truth is, Big Country were finished when they released their fourth album Peace in Our Time, it's dreadful. Nothing to do with misunderstanding record companies, Radio One playlist policy or a thousand other things that Allan Glen likes to pin their demise on. And I don't know who Glen thinks he is in using the book as a vehicle for his own political viewpoint.
Still, a very sad end to the life of a pioneering musician and clearly honourable man.

[William the White]

that bitch generated the ruin of my life.

What happened, IP?

(Obviously would understand if you don't want to say.)

she made him a hell-broth containing eye of newt and toe of frog, and a lot of even more unpleasant things... like bolli of broker, smirk of Lawson, queue of dole and Tebbit boiling...

Cameron has same spots, but with tasteful cosmetics to cool the blemish...

[Bruce Rioja]

that bitch generated the ruin of my life.

What happened, IP?

(Obviously would understand if you don't want to say.)

she made him a hell-broth containing eye of newt and toe of frog, and a lot of even more unpleasant things... like bolli of broker, smirk of Lawson, queue of dole and Tebbit boiling...

Cameron has same spots, but with tasteful cosmetics to cool the blemish...

[TANGODANCER]

Browsing around Bolton Central Library yesterday, I looked through the Local History section. Saw a slim volume called "My Bat and Ball" . Had a glance through it and was surprised when I realised it was by someone I knew and was a potted history of his time in cricket and foot ball with Atherton Colls. Terry (Ted ) Halliwell was a real character, especially in Combination football. My brother knew him well; built like the proverbial brick shxthouse he was as hard as nails and no bad player. I also know quite a few of the people in the photos, so I took it out and will be giving it a read. Probably won't win any book prizes but will certainly bring back a few memories.

[Lord Kangana]

We still ahve a library?

Disgraceful behaviour. Someone should put a stop to that sort of thing.

[thebish]

We still ahve a library?

Disgraceful behaviour. Someone should put a stop to that sort of thing.

Bruce is on it!

[Bruce Rioja]

We still ahve a library?

Disgraceful behaviour. Someone should put a stop to that sort of thing.

Bruce is on it!

Borrow book - pay money.

Buy book - pay money.

Use service - pay money.

Do something that incurs cost - pay money.

Where's the difficulty?