Bell tolls in the polls ...

For whom the bell tolls ...
More grim news for the government this week with the publication of the latest set of opinion polls. Politicians claim to take opinion polls with a pinch of salt ('the only opinion poll that maters is the one on Election Day,' etc. etc.)but they do take them seriously, and the latest batch will have made uncomfortable reading for Gordon Brown over his breakfast (whether porridge, continental or full English is unknown). His own personal ratings continue to plummet and the Tories are racing ahead in voters' intentions for the next election. If things look bad down South, there's little cheer up in Scotland either. The polls here are showing an alarming narrowing of the gap between those favouring independence and those who would choose to remain part of the United Kingdom - one poll has it down to a margin of just one per cent. Scotland on Sunday was also due to publish an opinion poll today, but mysteriously it didn't appear ... conspiracy theorists have been busy this morning over this unexplained omission, though I would guess that the reason is nothing sinister ... the electronic survey site has probably been hammered by those tireless cyberhacks of the main political parties who will have rendered the poll result meaningless. Assuming a population of say 6 million (and an SoS readership of say (charitably) 100,000 per week, how would it look if the SoS published results saying that 5 million readers had responded to the survey, with 3.5 million 'voters' saying that Alex Salmond is God or 2.5 million saying that Wee Wendy is an 'Inspirational Leader'?
With the economy in such a fragile state, and with Labour thus far failing to land any punches on the SNP government in Scotland, there is no obvious road to salvation for Labour and the clock is ticking down to potentially disastrous local government elections in England and those ever-popular European Parliamentary elections. The government desperately needs some good news fast, but there's just not a lot of it about.
Happy Birthday Big Ben
Big Ben was recently voted the most famous landmark in Great Britain and the famous bell celebrated it's 150th birthday this week. Readers of this blog are all educated people, of course, and they all know that Big Ben is the bell itself and not the Palace of Westminster clock tower that houses it, (pictured above).
However I thought it was a nice picture, and I don't have one of the bell, so it goes in! For those who are interested, the bell was cast in Whitechapel Foundry in London's east end and the company is still going strong. You really should know these things, you just never know when they will come up in a quiz ...
Money Money Money (continued)
Following on from last week;s theme, more financial woes - personal this time. On Monday I received my bill from Scottish Gas and I find that my monthly Direct Debit has been amended. Amended is perhaps too soft a word - my monthly payment has gone up by 50%! The comforting news, though, is that I need 'take no action' - those good guys at Scottish Gas will do it all for me! I should really feel grateful ..
And in the same cheery batch of post, a reminder that I can now purchase my Hibs season ticket for 2008 - 09 season - only £405! The glossy brochure that accompanied this 'offer' does point out that a Season Ticket: 'continues to provide excellent value for money and a substantial discount on the 'walk-up' price for SPL home games. Price increases have been restricted with prices rising by just over £1 per game'. 'Don't Miss the Moment', we're told: 'buy your season ticket by 16 May and receive a £5 discount voucher for the new 08/09 Away Shirt - soon to be revealed'. I can hardly wait ...
On the Sick
I'm very lucky in that I seldom take ill, but I took an odd turn on Thursday evening. Sounds like a Frankie Howerd intro I know, but I did. (Shush, missus!) I left a meeting at North Edinburgh Arts Centre early because I was feeling a bit washed out (nothing at all to do with catching some of Rangers' EUFA Cup tie, honest!) and by the time I got to my car I was overcome by the weirdest, most violent shivering fit. It was quite scary, almost like convulsions and I couldn't get my car keys into the lock without dropping them. It eventually subsided enough to get home safely, but it happened again at home so it was straight to bed with three duvets, two dressing gowns and pyjamas. While on the outside I was lashing with sweat, inside I still felt icy cold.
I took a day off work on Friday and I am now back to rude health - whatever that may be (Frankie Howerd would know). I don't know what caused it - could have been delayed shock from the Scottish Gas letter(!) - but it wisnae funny at the time. I'll be back next week - if the Lord spares me of course! Titter ye not ....