Still a long way to go

Even though HSBC was named as a good place to work if you are gay, one of its senior staff is taking them to a tribunal because he was sacked for being a gay man. It was alleged that he had behaved in a 'sexually inappropriate manner' in a company gym changing room. Instead of properly investigating the allegation, the bank relied on innuendo, assumption, false stereotype and homophobia. Still a long way to go before gay people can just be employed to do their job without suffering homophobic intolerance. I hope Mr Lewis wins his case and takes HSBC to the cleaners.

I was sacked for being gay, banker tells tribunal

Senedd leak

Exactly a week after the new Senedd was opened in Caerdydd, the roof is having to be repaired as it is leaking! Not a good advert for Richard Rogers...

Other than that, the new Senedd is a building that is built on 'green' principles, including using rainwater to flush the loos and wash the windows, but leaks are not the way to collect the water! Go for an interactive whirl round the new Senedd by clicking on the link below - and I have taken pity on all you non-Welsh speakers by giving you the English language link!

National Assembly for Wales - the Senedd

Keep your hands on the wheel, keep your eyes on the road...

... and just hope you don't get caught putting your make up on while driving, like this poor girl in North Wales. I have to confess to putting my makeup on in the car frequently, usually whilst sitting in a traffic jam, but have been known to put my lipstick on while in the fast lane of the M6. The things women do to arrive at work looking good!

Fine for driver's make-up offence

Senior moment

Have just looked at my bread which is happily baking in the bread maker - it seemed a bit small, so peered through the window more closely to see what was happening. Erm - I have forgotten to add the yeast!! No wonder it hasn't risen, so will give it to the birds tomorrow and make another one. My husband will have to make do with buying a sandwich for lunch tomorrow though. Perhaps it is my antibiotics addling my brain, as well as knocking me for six, (am currently sleeping for anything up to 18 hours a day), or perhaps it was a senior moment...

World Book Day

Thursday 2 March is World Book Day - yippee!
It sees the launch of a range of books for adults who don't have time to read called "Quick Reads'. They cost £2.99 and you can download a £1 voucher from http://www.niace.org.uk/quickreads/publicpage_tokens.html

So, get out there with your voucher and enjoy a book!

You will NOT spit!

China is obviously starting to think of it's image in advance of the next Olympics. Forget about the abuse of human rights, the somewhat dodgy training regimes fro athletes - it is spitting in public that has now attracted the attention of the authorities. They have finally woken up to the fact that the rest of the world does not share their passion for gobbing in public - and the next two years sees a campaign to eradicate spitting in the street, restaurants and other public buildings. The police will be out in force with little spit bags, and CCTV used to catch offenders in the act. Lets hope the next two years see an improvement in the personal habits of Beijingers - otherwise visitors will have to watch even more carefully where they are stepping!

Beijing clamps down on spitting

Squeaky toys

The muck magnets are back from a walk - and they have a new squeaky toy each. EEK!!! The painful prolonged squeaks as they 'play' is awful. I don't begrudge them having a new toy, but when I am feeling rough, does it have to be a noisy one? I suppose I just have to be patient - it won't take much more than 30 mins or so for Ferret to get the squeaker out of both his and Silk's...

Compulsory water meters

Due to the shortage of water in parts of the south east, a water company has taken the drastic step of issuing all its customers with water meters. Although this will probably mean a bill that is no higher or even less in some cases, it should make consumers think twice before wasting water. Much of the water lost though, is through leakage in the pipes, so the firm should also think about investing in new pipes. People just assume water is free, as it comes out of a tap when we want it - but it is time that consumers realised that the water infrastructure in this country is getting to the end of its useful life and needs replacing - and that costs. Perhaps we should pay more for water - it will make us realise what an asset it truly is.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/water/story/0,,1720719,00.html

Plaster casts get a fashion boost

It must be so hard having to suffer the embarrassment of having to go to a posh function with your manky plaster cast on show. An enterprising MBA student has come up with the idea of 'designer' covers, having seen her cast getting grubbier and grubbier over a 10 week period. An interesting thought, but I hope I won't be trying it out too soon myself!

http://education.guardian.co.uk/mba/story/0,,1720809,00.html