Welcome to my day… 25 January (for the benefit of Mr Tyzack)

By Mark Valladares | Fri 25th January 2013 - 8:36 am

It would appear that these gentle introductions to Fridays have drawn some comment, and that not all of it is friendly. Ah well, c’est la vie…

Due to other commitments, and a very enjoyable dinner yesterday evening, of which more later, today is a little ‘seat of the pants’. So, what can you expect today (in no particular order)?

We intend to have a look at a possible gateway to drug policy reform, as Duncan Stott examines the position of khat. Naturally, with debate on our future in Europe is still bubbling away, Giles Goodall suggests that David Cameron might have done a little more research before raising Eurosceptic hopes, whilst David Thorpe suggests that we might like to turn our attention back to Ireland for some alternatives on economic policy.

Rachel Coleman Finch and her brother Jonny draw our attention to the effects of the 1% increase on some benefits, whilst my gallant colleague, Stephen Tall, has taken a look at Nick Clegg’s ‘mea culpa’ on capital spending.

There’ll also be more stuff on Europe, with bees on the agenda in Brussels, and we’ll be looking at what the Lords will be doing without Lords Reform to debate.

Finally, why the sea otter? We were accused, a few months ago, of having an attack dog and, having considered the matter, and rejected the idea of an attack koala (nasty creatures, in spite of their image), it was concluded that, as a representation of our comments policy, an attack sea otter was probably the best reflection of our philosophy as an editorial team.

And here’s a video for you to watch which might explain why… (skip the advert)

Read more by Mark Valladares or more about attack sea otter.
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4 Comments

Louise Shaw 25th Jan '13 - 10:00am

I quite like your style, FWIW.
Mark Valladares 25th Jan '13 - 10:21am

Louise,

Many thanks – I hope to stick with it for a while yet…
Nigel Ashton 26th Jan '13 - 10:49am

Keep up the good work Mark.
peter.tyzack 26th Jan '13 - 2:34pm

Not unfriendly, but just curious why I should be interested in your day.. my day would be no more interesting-:
Well I have been vacuuming this morning, first time its been done properly this year, and I have just lit the fire as I am expecting guests for dinner.. not that I am cooking, well not this time.. we have an excellent Chineese take-away attached to the village pub, unusual but excellent. Mind, as you may know, I can cook, have done food for 50 for a Bristol campaign day and have done Annual dinners(Chris Rennard was the speaker one year, and it was ‘one of the best aannual dinners he had ever had’ – though maybe he says that every time).. still must stop this chatter, I see you’ve gone to sleep, I have to clear the paperwork off the dining room table and lay the table, – now where did I put those yellow napkins..?