Writing, mostly.

Fresh from the trails around Grasmere, it seemed like fate to return home to find a series about Wainwright starting up on BBC4. Each week, a programme is devoted to one of Wainwright’s most loved walks. The opportunity to show the stunning landscape and hear the wit and observation of AW come through was not to be missed. Yet missed it was as Julia Bradbury – that well known travel correspondant – managed to drain the Lakes of all interest. Her witless observations attempted to place a modern spin upon Wainwright as she so aptly observed things such as “Wainwright believed the Lakes could take your mind off incessant worries – we all have incessant worries don’t we?” The depth of her analysis reached across the valleys in a way that would surely unite any person who would claim to love that land. The landscapes, dull as they are, were lifted by lingering close-ups of Julia’s blank face as the cameraperson cleverly contrasted those smooth lines with the ancient crags. Truly, a masterclass in documentary making.

I’d rather have watched Johnny Vegas drag himself up there. At least it would have been entertaining.

As we’ve seen in recent years, the US presidential elections affect us all and it’s always worth following the candidates to see what the world will look like in a few years time. This article looks at Barack Obama, a black american who has hopes of winning and who has the crowds shouting “yes, we can”. Hopefully, this election won’t be fixed.

It’s a chilly morning but the wind isn’t the only thing making me shudder as I turn to the trusty Daily Mail who are howling at gale force today over the completely outrageous idea that parents should… er… read to their children and help prepare them for school. Thankfully the Mail sets us in the right direction with clever indicators, informing us that Beverly Hughes (the Minister referred to) “declares” and “condemns” – sure signs that the woman is mad. The problem, of course, isn’t that there is bad parenting going on but rather that there is no parenting going on. No parenting isn’t bad parenting you see, it merely shows that children from one parent families or from families who parents have to hold down two jobs, are basically shit parents. Kids from families with the common sense to have a stay-at-home mother needn’t worry about any extra-curricular study because they will be fine. Dr Stephen Fox, a contributor to the comments board, tells us “I know why I emigrated to Australia last year!”. Quite right Foxy, and the weather in Britain is shit.

Why can hair grow back, but not limbs?

Do people choose their umbrella with as much care as they do a coat or a new pair of shoes? I’ve just spent a pleasant few minutes leaning out of the window looking down at people walking through the rain. The profusion (that seems like the right term to use here I think) of coloured umbrellas sent me off to think about why people didn’t just buy a standard black umbrella. I can’t say I’ve ever looked hard at the range available but last time I bought one was when I took my nieces shoping and one of them needed a replacement. Black was all that was available and yet all I saw today was every colour BUT black.

I think I need to do something else with my time today.