CAMERON CLAN

I never liked Mrs Thatcher but I would have to admit she did the country a lot of god by encouraging free eneterprise and decreasing union power - even though I am a union member myself. Likewise, I was glad that New Labour won and held power under Tony Blair but I would agree that they made some bad decisions - identity cards, the Dome becoming a casino, 90 day detention - which fortunately never came to fruition. I am an instinctive but sceptical leftie, a non-socialist Labour voter who is in many ways a small c conservative and a small l Liberal. Does that make sense? It does to me.
So what about the new government? I think it was the only practical outcome of the election. John Hari of the Independent said that it as unfair because most people voted for left of centre parties - Labour and Liberal Democrat - and that we have right wing government. That is an over-simplification. People wanted a change of government, were fed up with Gordon Brown (who never won an election either for or as party leader) but did not want a Thatcherite right wing Tory government and were impressed enough with Nick Clegg and the Libe Dems to give them a decent vote, if not many seats. A coalition government is the least worst/best option and will stop us having too many right wing policies but might get the economy up and running and the deficit down. (Have just sent off my tax return so am doing my bit.)
I wish the new lot well and think they should do decent job. It is a new situation for Britain and should it hold together for a fiveish year term it will prove wrong the self-righteous ranters in Fleet Street who were bleating on about a 'stitch up' - can't they add up? D'oh, no-one got a majorty so a coalition is inevitable.
Incidentally, we stopped at Culloden Battlefield the day after David Cameron entered 10 Downing Street and I pointed out the gravestone that said 'Clan Cameron'. So 250 years ago they were jacobit rebels cut down by Butcher Cumberland's redcoats. Now they are running the country. Call it Bonnie Prince Charlie's revenge...

ASH CASH

Part of me thinks that it is great that the Icelandic ash cloud has downed flights for a week or two. Another part thinks - what a disaster for the bank account!
It was nice not to see planes in the sky or their white vapour streams. There was an eerie calmness and lack of bustle that was quite refreshing. However, planes may be polluting noisy beasts but they do bring tourists over here and the more people we carry the more we earn in terms of tips, commission and the other extras that we need to make a living. My other half Leena was due to take 43 people on her first tour and ended up with 18, increasing to 20 when the last two eventually caught up with them half way through the tour.
I was extremely lucky in that my tour starting last weekend had the 32 I was expecting, they were goodish tippers and we had a very nice tour. I did some extra drop offs and took them into London past Windsor (thanks Swlavek, driver) and everything worked well.
If I had been working the previous week we may have been in single figures (some tours were) and I would have had a week's work for very little. That is the curious thing - a large group is often easier to handle than a small one where you have to give more individual attention.
Frightening really that we are so dependent on the extraction of oil from the ground. Married to it, really....