ugh....

Last night I had a really great dinner - which included savoy cabbage - a long time favourite - not any more - I've been up half the night with stomach cramps and can hardly breath now. I've been up since about 4.30 listening to the radio - a strain in itself... I'm going into work a bit later as a consequence.

Very good article in the Guardian by Charlie Brooker about the absurd press speculation over the events in Norway and the rather pointless vocalisations of so called 'experts' -


Some remained scarily defiant in the face of the new unfolding reality. On Saturday morning I saw a Fox News anchor tell former US diplomat John Bolton that Norwegian police were saying this appeared to be an Oklahoma-style attack, then ask him how that squared with his earlier assessment that al-Qaida were involved. He was sceptical. It was still too early to leap to conclusions, he said. We should wait for all the facts before rushing to judgment. In other words: assume it's the Muslims until it starts to look like it isn't – at which point, continue to assume it's them anyway.

The rest of the papers are full of absurd speculations about the life and death of Amy Winehouse - to befair, she gave them enough material. It's likely we shall be ploughing through mountains of books, albums, memorobilia and fancy dress outfits for months to come, as 'Brand Winehouse' takes control... it's only a matter of time before someone markets Vodka in her name. Photograph in one paper of an empty bottle of Malibu left outside her house as a tribute. At least I think it's a tribute, and not just the recycling. Early reports suggest that she was found at home, in bed, alone - in a drug free house by her live in security guard ( it was his job to keep it drug free ). That hasn't stopped the papers speculating wildly about what she was / wasn't doing - and her state of mind. Considering the damage she did to herself over the last few years - she could have been killed by strong coffee - I'm expecting something fairly minor to come out of the Post Mortem - not that it's me 'wildly speculating' - I'd just rather not think the worst, until that's all there is left to think about.

... and yet... Doherty still lives.