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Well , my last day off, back to work tomorrow for 2 days.

I see there is abit of a furore over single manned fast response ambulances today. These are purely a way of meeting times. Alot of these fast responders are technicians, not paramedics, and some of the emergencies they get to, they are not trained to deal with, so a two man ambulance has to be called. Also the fast responders do not have faciliteis to transport patients to hospital, so a two man ambulance will have to attend, as well. Again this defeats the object of the exercise. There is also the aspect of safety for the single manned vehicle. Sometimes an innocuous incident may not be all that it seems. One person on their own is vulnerable. All this just so taht Ambulances Trusts can meet times. Its a bit like cooking the books, but wait, who is responsible for setting targets, THE GOVERNMENT.

Looks like Mr and Mrs Darwin will be having turkey care of Her Majesty over Christmas, a bit different to the sun kissed coast of Panama. You pays your money, you takes your chances.

The PM, or his representative is going to Portugal to sign the EU Treaty. Apparently, according to all the foreign heads of state and politicians, this is just the old Constitution, but called a treaty. According to HM Government it is a different document altogether. With the Governments ability to tell the truth, I will leave it to your imagination as to who is being sparse with the truth.

The Police are going to discuss asking for the ability to strike. It is a shame that a service with such a proud history has been reduced to this. it will be a sad day if the Police get the right to strike. I blame the Home Secretary and the Home Office for this. All to save a few bob.

Finally, the Test Match is heading towards a disaster, unless we can get alot of cheap wickets tomorrow. If Sri Lanka get a big lead, then we may go 2-0 down, unless the batters shine.

Sports, News and Views

Well, Sunday and day off.

I see Ricky Hatton lost in the tenth round. Still the lad deserves all the praise for going that far. Amir Khan had a quick win 72 secs, he should be in line for a World title fight soon.

Football results pretty predicatable, apart from Liverpool losing to Reading. Hope Spurs win today.

England made a solid start in Test, good to see Vaughan do well, and Cook get some runs. Hope Collingwood and Prior get a good partnership going tomorrow. Sri Lanka will make them work for the runs.

Mrs Darwin, of the canoe and Panama fame, arrived back at Manchester airport in the early hours, and now is receiveing hospitality, courtesy of the local constabulary.

The Police Federation are kicking up about the pay award. All my service from 1976 onwards, the pay award has always been dated from 1 Sept, but the Jaqui smith the Home Secretary says from 1 Dec. This is shabby treatment of a service that cannot legally strike. It serves the Government right if officers refuse to work overtime (although some officers always will), check all vehicles properly before taking them on the road, read all briefing items thoroughly before commencing patrol, and such like. This is the same Government that has increased MP's pay many times above the the inflation levels, gives huge expenses to MP's, and takes advantage of numerous perks, but the poor Police officer out in all weathers, working shifts, dealing with drunken, drugged aggressors, fatal accidents etc gets the thin edge of the wedge. The government seems to deal with the Police, Fire, Ambulance and Military in a very shabby way, and here I mean the rank and file. The senior officers seem to do OK if they bend the way of the politicians. We always used to say senior officers went to Bramshill to have their spines removed.
End of gripe.

Weather in Huddersfield, Yorkshire seems alot milder today. It tried to snow abit yesterday, as well as pouring down.

Darwin and New Prisons

I see the Darwins have come unstuck as a result of the photograph showing them together. I've cancelled my canoe trip, as I don't think I would like prison food.

Talking of prison, I see Jack straw the Justice Minister has announced the building of 3 new super prisons that will hold 2,500 inmates each. apparently the idea of super priosn has been tried on the continent and failed. Still its only tax payers money. We all know how Jack Straw fared when he Home Secretary.

More News and Views

Oh well went to work again at the Estate Agents. Not too many viewings of properties today. The time of year, financial crises, etc, but hopefully will pick up in New year. Had a good appraisal with my boss, so that was OK, then went down the Colne Valley area of Huddersfield delivering leaflets.

Got home tonight from work, and my wife Jill had put up a little Christmas tree in the hall, the real one will follow later. She had been out and bought quite a few more presents.

Goods news for borrowers today, the Bank of England Interest Rate fell by one quarter of ane percent. Apparently it saves about £16 per month on a £100,00 mortgage. apparently it should refuel the retail market.

The shooting in Omaha, USA was a tragedy. How on earth do these young kids get the weapons in the first place, and what motivates to then go and massacre all those poor people. As they say in here in Yorkshire, `There's nowt as queer as folk'.

Lost and Found

Well we lost the Test Match, but Mrs Darwin found Mr Darwin, or at least the police did, and Chief Constable Med Hughes lost his licence.

Yes we lost the Test match to Sri Lanka, despite a godd knock by Ian Bell again. The main batsmen let us down again. Still onto Galle for the next test.

Mr Darwin the canoist turns up after 5 1/2 years, his wife has moved to Panama, knew nothing of the whereabouts of her husband, received a life insurance payout, and lo and behold the Daily Mirror a photo allegedly showing Mr & Mrs Darwin together in Panama. Maybe I'm thick or something, but the Darwins tale does not seem to stand the test. Still I'm sure it will all come out in the wash. Still chaps, if your wife buys you a canoe for Xmas, you could be going to Panama for a holiday.

med Hughes the chief of South Yorkshire Police has lost his licence. At least I admire his courage in owning up to what he had done and taking the consequences, unlike some in his position would have come up with some lame flimsy excuse to try and get off.

Finally I see the Mohammed, teddy bear and profit jokes have started doing the rounds. I wont repeat them as I don't want to end up in hot water.