Newsletter November 06

I just don’t know where to start. The past few weeks have been so eventful. As soon as I pop my nose out of the door I have a rush of offers and requests and everything starts to happen. I must say the temptation to stay indoors and snuggle up round the telly is overwhelming. I have developed a Saturday night ritual all based around X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing.

It starts with a visit to the local farm for fresh pheasants, organic veggies and deli cheeses. As much as I like the convenience of superstores the thrill of driving past their queues, noise and packaging to the smells, views and ambiance of the local countryside to buy the weekend provisions is wonderfully liberating. Back home I brew a cup of hot chocolate to warm me up while I prepare dinner. Then I light up all the candles in the oak panelled TV room and open a bottle of claret to breathe before the first programme starts.

Then I descend quickly from middle class to more common pursuits. I think if I am absolutely honest Strictly Come Dancing has the edge for me. They have some really good dancers this year. And it is so much fun watching all those straight chaps wiggle their bums like raving queens and the women all trying to ‘let themselves go’ with amazing costumes that reveal more leg week by week. My favourites are the cricketer and the actress from Eastenders.

On the other side, Simon Cowell is beginning to bore with his staged pouting and megalomaniac posing; I would vote HIM out next programme. Now you know how record executives really are! The Scottish public seem to be having real fun with him over the two Scots lads. If only Simon would just shut up! Hang on a minute – these are just TV shows, why am I getting all heated up?

The assassination of the ex KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko by polonium 210 poisoning is a baroque mystery with more than a hint of Stalinesque techniques. This followed shortly after the poisoning of another Kremlin opponent, Victor Yushchenko. Alexander was investigating the murder of the brave and outspoken Russian political journalist Anna Polytskaya. She had always been critical of Putin’s inhumane and outdated style of leadership. Victor accused Putin as his murderer in an open letter written from his deathbed. Putin was furious that the UK government did not gag this accusation. Er, what exactly is it about the concept of free speech you don’t get, Vlad?

I watched a brilliant TV documentary in which Anna was interviewed on the legacy of President Putin, the "grey cardinal", himself a former spy. It was unbelievably sad, and critical of his policies in Chechnya that encouraged terrorism, the secretive KGB style bureaucracy that enabled oligarchs to be in control, and his short term economic plan based on Russia’s oil reserves that would soon run out, leaving the ordinary Russian people in financial collapse. Shortly after the filming she was gunned down and killed. I hope that the deaths of Anna, Alexander, and Victor (and all the others) were not for nothing. There are many strange theories but I don’t believe that the Russians will ever allow us to know the truth. It simply is not their style. Personally I think the film producer Cubby Broccoli is behind it all, to promote the new James Bond movie.

On the other hand the Americans finally woke up to Bush and gave him a sound thrashing in the elections. Well done you guys!

In the UK, King Bliar, who is now deeply involved with the cash for peerages scandal, still stands up for people’s right to speak freely – it’s just that he wont take any notice. We should ban people from staying in office too long. They always start believing their own spin and go potty in the end. Just like record executives and megastars do. Maybe he should take heed of the old showbiz rule to always leave the audience wanting more…..

But now for the good news.

I have saved the best until last because it is REALLY good news. On November 19th my lovely daughter Grace gave birth to a baby daughter, Dilys Mae. Grace and Tom are so happy – and so am I! She is the cutest little button on the planet.

Finally I have a subject for the Forum:

Madonna v Kylie

Who do you think most embodies the spirit of millennium woman – and why.

Discuss.