* I was listening to the bbc news and realised nothing I had heard had annoyed me (actually most of it annoyed me but not enough to be bothered thinking about it) so I was wondering what to blog when on the BBC website I found the following bit of idiocy which needs no comment :
Best-selling novelist Ian McEwan is to send back a handful of pebbles he admitted taking from a protected beach. The area is designated a site of special scientific interest and anyone caught removing pebbles could be fined. Mr McEwan had told BBC Radio 4's Start The Week programme that he took two handfuls of pebbles from the beach. In a statement, Mr McEwan said: "'I was not aware of having committed a crime, having not seen any signs on Chesil Beach. Mr McEwan is unable to return the stones in person due to other commitments but agreed to pass the shingle to the crew who are due to film on the beach, near Abbotsbury, on Thursday. A spokeswoman for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council said: "We are most grateful to Mr McEwan for returning the pebbles. "By doing so he highlights the responsibility we all have as individuals to protect our natural environment and heritage."
Oh my God.

* In addition, I discovered that despite having an admirable old Etonian as head of the party, the tories are making no headway in the polls in the north of england. Why this is I have little idea, who can fathom the thought processes of a northener. I suspect, however, that it has something to do with the fact that the last time the tories were in power, due to their idiotic monetary policies, they shut down all manafacturing and other businesses in the north and spent not a bean on this part of the realm.
Such petty grudge bearing is typical of people living amongst the post-thatcherite industrial blight in the north. I expect coach loads of full bladders to trek across the country to add their flowing tribute on thatchers grave.