This is becoming a weekly event rather than a daily one but then we are coming out of lockdown and yours truly is getting busy. It’s become more like a weekly column in a newspaper. I had a birthday a week ago and had a thoroughly spoilt time which was shown on FB by my daughter.
The week in the headlines has all been about the refurbishment of Nº 10 Downing Street and who paid for it. It seems that Carrie Antoinette (her new name due to her spending habits) hired the most expensive interior designer in the land and BoJo knew nothing about it until the invoice arrived. Our PM earns less than the head of state of Luxembourg with a salary of £157,000. He says he can’t manage on that. He certainly isn’t spending much on suits or haircuts. He does have to pay NI and Income tax as well as council tax on 10 Downing St. which apparently is £1655 a year. I want to know more about this as I am paying more than him and I get a single person discount. I’m with the people of Hartlepool who say they don’t give a monkey’s about curtains and just want the PM to get on with the day job. Here, here.
An NHS nurse in Manchester organised a protest against the 1% pay rise. Police officers had told them they could carry on but then senior officers heard about it and declared it unlawful. Now we all know that the Covid conspiracy theorists, the anti vacciners, the anti mask wearers have all protested and marched in towns and cities across England, often accompanied by a police escort, but the NHS nurse was given a £10,000 fine. She said that if she used her 1% pay rise to pay it off it would take her 56 years. She said she will take her case to the high court and I for one hope she wins.
Four prisoners who were on day release meaning that they were holding down jobs to prepare for their release, have been arrested for masterminding a £10 million drugs deal. Well I guess they could argue that it was work. They have been arrested and are being held by the National Crime Agency. Most of the group of ten were working from inside the prison on the Isle of Sheppey and 109 kilos of cocaine and 15 kilos of heroin were seized by the NCA. And all this in lockdown you couldn’t make it up.
The roller coaster at Blackpool Pleasure Beach got stuck at its highest point. Staff had to climb up the rails to then guide the punters down by foot. This would be my worst nightmare and I am pleased to say I have never boarded a roller coaster and never will. I’m sticking to the dodgems.
In Glasgow a woman was celebrating her 37th birthday. Her mum came by with gift in a large box. Inside the box was a balloon with £100 in tenners attached to it by streamers. As the woman opened the box the balloon popped out and flew away with the money hanging on for dear life. I wonder where it landed? Someone had an unexpected birthday. Hey, let’s be careful out there.