Opinions.

I know I haven't posted anything for, well, quite some time. This is for a number of reasons. Firstly, I am lazy. Secondly, I have been doing other things. Finally, there are enough people spouting their opinions on topical events. I have enjoyed writing about some things, but really I'm just another voice in the crowd. I'm not going to bother posting anything topical to do with the news anymore, partly because there are plenty of other people doing that, but partly because it is a waste of my time (and indeed your time should you choose to read it).

From now on I'll only post anything on here if it is useful. Sometimes it might be a travel blog and sometimes, not. Basically if I find out something that can help others in some way then I'll post it. Unless it is obvious. Obviously. 

News news news.

I highly doubt anyone has noticed/cares, but I haven't posted much lately. This is partly because I've been busy, but partly because there has been lots of news. The problem this has is that it makes it difficult to write. It isn't because there is no inspiration, but because there is so much going on it becomes really difficult to care about anything. Writing about what is going on shouldn't be that difficult, but there is so much going on and there always seems to be something going on, so it doesn't seem worthwhile. In summary:

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on."

Robert Frost

The Ashes.

The Ashes are well under way now, with England taking a comfortable 2-0 lead in the series. As someone who has always been a cricket fan this is completely unfamiliar territory; the last time England took a 2-0 lead in a home Ashes series was in 1890. The first test was a fantastic match, the kind where right up until the end it was impossible to say which side would win. That said, the first test wasn't a typical test match in many respects. A lot of the wickets that fell were due to batsmen playing shots that, well, aren't test match shots. If it was a Twenty20 match then fair enough, but in the 5 day version you should be leaving and blocking more, not risking your wicket for the sake of a boundary.

This week's test has certainly been different. England managed (just) to win after only 4 days. Excellent innings from Ian Bell and Joe Root put England in a commanding position allowing the bowlers to do the rest. And they did, very well. Again, that said, Australia's batting has been woeful. The use of the DRS has been poor and the shot selection has been poor, but even taking that into account they have looked totally outclassed. 

With England being so dominant, and it looking like that will continue (although I don't want to write off the Aussies, they did almost win that first test) it raises some interesting thoughts. We never really find ourselves as strong favourites in almost any big sporting stage, but now we are and we are living up to it. People seem almost apologetic that the match has been so one-sided. Listening to commentary you'll keep hearing things like "it's a shame" or "a pity" or "disappointing" that Australia haven't competed.

Now don't get me wrong, I am delighted with how England are doing, but winning comfortably just isn't very British. In fact, it's just not cricket.

Heatwave!

If you're in the UK you'll have probably noticed that there is a bit of a heatwave going on. So, have fun in the sun, but remember to put on sun cream and drink plenty of water. Anyway, too hot to type any more. Enjoy the weather.

State of Origin.

Today saw the decider of the 3 game State of Origin series and it didn't fail to disappoint. Queensland won the game 12-10, making New South Wales the losers for the past 8 years. NSW can consider themselves a little unlucky but there is no denying what a fantastic team the Queensland outfit is. The massive crowds, the build up, the intensity of the game all make for a great spectacle. I just wish we had something like that in England. We do have The Ashes, which is an intense rivalry, but without the physical contact it just isn't the same.

The attitude towards sport in Australia must be the key difference. It is taken much more seriously and is funded much better, and that is why at most sports they are better than us. We could have a competition as intense as the State of Origin, but only if we invest in sport more. It isn't just a matter of entertainment, but fitness, health, well being and even money. If you can sell out an 80,000 seat stadium then you'll be bringing in a hell of a lot of money.

Here's hoping sport in the UK can take off.

Ice Cream Vans.

I love ice cream vans. The various tunes they play, the array of delicious food, the convenience, the nice people who serve you and how much of a welcome sight they are during warm weather like we've been having lately. All of this got me thinking. Well, actually it got me hungry, but after eating an ice lolly I started thinking. Do other countries have ice cream vans? I know America has them and I doubt that places that are cold all year round have them, but do hot countries have them? Are there any in North Africa of the Middle East for example? Are there any in Australia of South America? If there aren't then I may have found a gap in the market.

As always answers in the comments box. Also if anybody sees this as a worthwhile investment then I'm perfectly willing to partner you.

Stay cool everyone.

By eating frozen treats.

Oh no not the Post Office too!

Regardless of your opinion of the Royal Mail, it works. It is easy to complain about it and it does have flaws, but it has existed for almost 500 years and well over 100 years in a form we'd recognise today. So why, after so long, has the government decided to sell it? If it isn't turning a profit in the hands of the government; the people who have ran it for hundreds of years, why should it suddenly become a cash-cow in the inexperienced hands of private enterprise? Things do get lost and sometimes broken in the post and sometimes things are late, but considering how many pieces of mail must be sent every day it is pretty impressive that the vast majority of things I want through the post arrive and arrive on time. It is a fairly simple rule that I think most people know; if it isn't broke, don't fix it. As far as I can see Royal Mail isn't broke. It might not be fantastically profitable, but that doesn't mean the government should give up on it. If the government were as forward thinking as they pretend to be then they'd think if initiatives to make the postal service more profitable, rather than do their default option of just selling it off. 

This government has no answers to any problems we face. All they can do is sell every government asset off in a cowardly attempt to absolve themselves of any blame. I might sound like I am overreacting but we can't just sit back and take this kind of thing. The NHS is still under threat from privatisation.

Can we please make some sort of stand for Royal Mail?

Yeehaw! It's a sports roundup.

As most of the news is either violent or depressing I think I should do a sports roundup instead.

Andy Murray

Although I have no interest in tennis I suppose I should congratulate Murray on winning Wimbledon. It is strange that he is being celebrated as the first Briton to win Wimbledon in over 70 years. Firstly Wimbledon isn't competed like the Olympics with Murray representing Great Britain, he is just representing himself and Scotland. English people claiming him as their own is pretty worrying for tennis as a country that pumps quite a lot of money into the sport can't produce anyone even half decent. Secondly Wimbledon was won by a Briton just 36 years ago. Virginia Wade won the tournament in 1977 but apparently women don't count in tennis.

The Lions

The British & Irish Lions beat Australia in the three match test series down under 2-1. This victory has been described as a something amazing, but surely a team made up of the best players from 4 of the top ranked nations should be able to beat the single nation of Australia.

The Ashes

Unusually for England they go into an Ashes series as firm favourites. Australia are clear underdogs, but as we all know you can never write them off.

Recent lack of posts. Also planes, trains, the weather, Egypt and space.

Sorry for not posting much over the last few days, but in my defence I haven't been near my laptop much. Also, I was in Hell Hull yesterday. Another excuse I have is the weather. In England it has been fantastically sunny. Perhaps too warm for some people, certainly at night and hayfever sufferers are getting it pretty bad, but it is still much nicer than this time last year. Last summer was the wettest on record.

So, having been away from a computer for a few days I notice a few things have happened. There have been a few plane crashes, a runaway train and something which very closely resembles the beginnings of a civil war in Egypt. My deepest sympathies to all who have been effected by those recent events.

In less serious news Google informs me that it is 66 years since the Roswell UFO incident. If you believe it or not, it is difficult to gaze up at the thousands of twinkling stars in the night's sky and not think that in all that space there must  be something else living out there. I personally think that Earth is the only planet with life and we are the exception that proves the rule, or space is teeming with life. I do hope there is intelligent life out there, because there isn't much here on Earth.

What the hell is happening in Egypt?!

I don't know an awful lot about modern day Egypt. I know there are pyramids and the river Nile and things like that, but what has been happening lately is baffling. From watching and reading the news it seems like the Egyptian people are very unhappy with the leader they elected and have got the army to get rid of him. Now in a democracy this isn't really on. Lots of people aren't happy with the UK's government, but we're not trying to stage a coup. The other aspect of the Egyptian unrest is that although many people were protesting to get rid of their leader, there also seem to be many supporters of him. I have no idea who the majority is. You would imagine that the majority of people wanted a new leader because the army have acted upon their behalf. But I also keep hearing that the army has vested interests so might just be acting selfishly. That is my understanding of things so far.

What is confusing me now is what people want next. Clearly some people never wanted this change, but what do the other people want? Do they want a military government? Do they want another democratic general election? Do they want to interim government to continue? Do they want a mighty Pharaoh to rule their desert land? No matter what happens next, the situation in Egypt looks tense. Religion seems to be playing a key role in everything, which is stupid. Surely regardless of your religion you can all agree to have a government and leader who creates wealth, improves schools, hospitals and infrastructure. Come on Egypt, solve this sensibly.

Video games.

I'm not brilliant at video games. I'm not bad at some sports games and some simulation type games. Anyway, here are some of the best video games I've played.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City - not the most recent or technologically advanced but I think it was the most fun to play. Probably had the best soundtrack too.

Timesplitters 2 - again not the most recent but the games like capture the flag were just brilliant to play. Crazy characters and weapons somehow made killing hundreds of enemies less horrific.

Zoo Tycoon - there is a trend here for not going with the most recent version, but again this is my favourite. A good game to play over a long period of time. Also there are monkeys.

Rugby League 2 - yes, not the most recent, but definitely the game I have spent the most time on. Very addictive and wonderfully customisable. Not just in-game customisation, but because it was on PC you could edit almost anything. You could make the pitch blue or make it rain someone's face. Brilliant.

Age of Empires 3 - finally the most recent edition of a franchise. Another incredibly addictive game with some good scenarios that you can play for hours.

Enjoy and tell me your favourites in the comments box below.

Organ Donation.

Wales has decided that from 2015 people will have to opt-out of organ donation, rather than opt-in. I think this is a good thing. Once I'm dead I don't care what people do with my body, I'll be dead. If people do have an objection to donating their organs then they'll opt-out. If they don't opt-out then they don't care that much what people do with their organs. On the whole, good news.

Idiots buy anything.

If you have paid money for a hand wash dispenser that has a sensor so you don't have to touch it, then you're an idiot. It isn't any more hygienic that a normal dispenser. Once you have touched the dispenser to get the hand wash then that is the last time you touch it. Then you wash your hands with the hand wash and carry on with life. There is no hygienic benefit in not touching the dispenser. Please don't pay extra money for this.

It isn't the only product that is phenomenally stupid, there are plenty more that are clearly aimed at people with more money than sense. So many cosmetic adverts use obviously made-up 'science' to justify claims that nobody on this planet can rightfully make. No product is anti-ageing unless it can stop time. Nothing can make your hair alive or stop it dying because hair is dead cells. Even yoghurt isn't just yoghurt any more. For some reason it can't just be advertised as a tasty and reasonably healthy snack, instead it has to have some sort of seemingly impossible power. They all seem to have some wonderful bacteria inside or no fat or can stop you feeling bloated. I remember one advert claiming that eating their yoghurt for two weeks will stop you feeling bloated. If anybody really believed that eating those for two weeks stops you feeling bloated then you are an official buffoon. The passage of 14 days is what stops you feeling bloated. I rarely feel anything 2 weeks solid.

In summary, a fool and his money are easily parted. Don't be a fool.

Books.

Sometimes you just want to escape for a while and forget about things, or you might just want to relax, or be entertained. Here are some books that I'd highly recommend.

Any of the Sherlock Holmes books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle are brilliant. I would advise you to read them chronologically as it only serves to enhance the reading experience. Even if crime and mystery isn't your thing you can't fail to appreciate how clever these stories are.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon is an excellent read. Not something you can read over and over, but most definitely worth reading.

The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers, both by Alexandre Dumas. They are both fantastic stories, but neither of them are short books and I wouldn't describe them as easy reads. Well worth the effort though.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams is brilliant. Clever, funny, thought-provoking, imaginative and sometimes true, these books are certainly 'must reads'.

Enjoy!

Cuts cuts cuts.

I was going to try and write about the spending review and the cuts within it but I gave up. It is all way too complicated and boring and we'd be here all day. So instead I'll just say that overall it looks pretty bleak and the chancellor is essentially evil.

There's my summary, I'm now off to cry.

Wimbledon!

The tennis tournament kicked off this week and I have to say, I'm bored. I can't understand why a sport that isn't particularly entertaining or even that popular or talked about in most parts of the world suddenly receives so much coverage. I can understand that Wimbledon is important if you're a tennis fan, but why does it have to completely take over the BBC?

Luckily it is quite nice outside today so I think I'll go out. Goodbye.

BBC Sport.

The BBC news channel now features a dedicated sports centre. Unfortunately it is a massive waste of money. An entire studio devoted to a 5 minute (at most) sports bulletin is certainly unnecessary. The same level of information could be achieved by the usual newsreader continuing to read off the autocue.

Not only is all of this vastly over-the-top, it is also mostly useless. The majority of the time is devoted to football and even then it is usually just one or two stories from top flight football. Pretty useless if you support one of the many teams outside of the Premier League. Most of the other sports stories are generally more middle class sports, such as tennis or rugby union, or just simply one of the few sporting events that the BBC actually has the rights to any more. Cricket is only ever covered if there in an international match, despite excellent, competitive games going on between counties throughout the summer. Even when cricket is mentioned it is only fleetingly. Often the batting side's score is announce and how many wickets down they are (98 for 2, for example), but this isn't enough. In limited overs cricket you really need to know how many overs have been bowled. If a team is 98 for 2 after 19 overs of a Twenty20 match then that isn't a particularly good score, even if they have only lost two wickets. However if a team is 98 for 2 after 15 overs of a Twenty20 match then you'd expect them to get a good score.

Outside of the top level of the top sports there is barely anything reported, which really makes you wonder what all of these people at the BBC's sports centre are doing. Most of the presenters only know anything about one sport. Often names are pronounced incorrectly or they simply don't know what they are talking about.

I'm all for the BBC having a dedicated sports centre, but use it properly. A big studio for 5 minutes of football news just doesn't seem worth it to me.

Hay Fever.

Many people suffer from Hay Fever and it is very annoying, especially when the weather outside is lovely and sunny. As I'm short on time today, here are a few tips to help you cope.

Use prescription medicine, it is usually better than shop bought stuff.

Wear sunglasses.

Wash your hands and face regularly.

Eat some local honey.

Try not to think about it.

Summer is officially here!

As the Google Doodle accurately informs me, today is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Today is the official start of summer, although the weather outside may suggest otherwise. Regardless of the weather this time of year we should all be out doing thing, after all, there is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes. I could try and give you some fun outdoors things to do, but lets face it, there are far too many. Instead here are some good summer songs that can hopefully form your summer soundtrack this year.

Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles

Seems like a good song to start with. Hopefully we will actually see some sun here in the U.K this year.

In the Summertime - Mungo Jerry

An obvious choice but it is probably the classic summer song. Doesn't really matter where you are, as long as the sun is out this song sounds great. Shaggy also covered this song quite successfully.

All Summer Long - Kid Rock

Another obvious choice (it's got Summer in the title) but it is a good summer song. Most of the music is taken from Sweet Home Alabama, which is another good song and wouldn't be a bad choice for your summer soundtrack.

Summer Breeze - The Isley Brothers

This will be the last one with summer in the title I promise. Perfect song to listen to if you're sat outside in the sun, with a gentle summer breeze. Obviously.

Brimful of Asha - Cornershop

I've featured this song before but that is simply because it is so good. It sounds especially great in summer. Enjoy.

Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison

Last but not least, this really is a fantastic song. A good tapping beat and very good driving song on a hot summer's day.

Well there you go, just a few songs there. I could've included plenty of Beach Boys' songs as well as Love Generation by Bob Sinclair and some others, but the ones I've mentioned are probably my favourites. Have a good summer everyone.

A recipe.

Well, I've never wrote a recipe before and no doubt this one will probably be terrible. And my last. Ah well, here we go.

Peel enough potatoes so you can make a decent amount a mash for yourself. Boil the potatoes, add a bit of butter and a splash of milk and mash them.

While the potatoes are boiling get an egg, maybe two. (Depends how big they are/how much you like egg)

Scramble the eggs. Do it how you usually do. Or you can put them in a bowl, put them in the microwave for a minute at a time and whisk them up until they're how you like 'em.

Put some baked beans in a pan (Heinz are best, I don't know why, they just are) and heat them up.

Now if everything looks edible and nothing is on fire, mix the mash potato, beans and scrambled eggs together in a bowl and eat.

Use a spoon.

I call it eggs, potato and beans.

(Recipes are hard. This post inspired by hunger)