Threads

"Threads" was a BBC drama originally shown in 1984. It chronicled the effects and aftermath of an all-out nuclear war, following the lives of a small group of people in Sheffield. It was shown a couple of days ago and, even though I've seen it before, I still found it absolutely horrific. I remember when it was originally screened, at which time I think a lot of us believed that it would probably happen sooner or later.

I suppose that as the Cold War has now moved from the newspapers to the history books, we're rather less likely to witness the atomic armageddon portrayed in the programme, however the danger of nuclear weapons being used has not gone away.

In 1945, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki saw the only use of nuclear weapons. Eventually, I think that we'll see them used in anger again. In my opinion this is likely to follow one of two possible scenarios:

1. Terrorist Use :

The engineering of a primitive atomic bomb is, apparently, not that complicated. it's also far from impossible that a well-funded group might be able to "acquire" a military weapon, perhaps from one of the former Soviet Union.

2. Regional Conflict :

We've probably been closer to this than most of us realise. In 2002 India and Pakistan were very close to going to war over their Kashmir dispute. Both nations are nuclear powers...

Despite the somewhat gloomy tone of this article, I'm not actually a "ban-the-bomber". Much as it might be good if we could, I don't think you can uninvent something and the bomb's here to stay. This may sound horrible, but I even think that it's a "good" thing that the bomb's been used. Had the Hiroshima/Nagasaki bombs not been dropped, I'm convinced that there would have been a USA v. USSR nuclear exchange at some point during the Cold War, which would probably have resulted in many more deaths than those following the two atomic attacks on Japan.

Beware the ID(e)S of ,er, October !

He's gone then. Iain Duncan Smith has just lost a vote of confidence by 90 votes to 75.

Commentators are describing the speech he made earlier today to Tory MP's before the vote as the best of his career - surely a bit too late, in my opinion.

Best of luck to whoever emerges as the victor of what will be the conservatives' fourth leadership election in the last eight years. Mind you, commiserations might be the correct word, since it must be a rather thankless task trying to lead an unruly back-stabbing rabble who don't want to be led...

PS - still hope that it isn't Michael Howard.

On Working at Night

I've not long finished a week of working at night. This is something I've never done before and I have a few thoughts about the concept.

Basically, we're not nocturnal creatures. I found the working at night/sleeping during the daytime lifestyle felt very unnatural - by about midway through the week in question, I had no idea which day of the week it was, I really found myself feeling very disoriented indeed. Even by the end of this time I never really got used to sleeping during the day, either.

I know people who do shift/night work and some of them seem to cope well. However, I'm not one of them and I won't be sorry if it's something I don't have to face again any time soon.

Buzz off, butler Burrell

It's struck me over the last few days that ex-Princess Diana butler Paul Burrell is pushing things just a little too far in the hypocrasy department. I can't blame him for writing his book and making his millions - I'm fairly sure that I'd do the same in those circumstances - but could we see an end to all the rubbish about standing up for the princess, please.

You've sold your soul and that's all there is to be said.

So long, Tories

Stories in today's papers suggest that the conservative party leader Iain Duncan Smith can expect a visit from the men in grey suits during the coming week "advising" him to step down. Apparently it is felt that the most likely replacement for him is Michael Howard.

Apart from the fact that he seems very much one of yesterday's men, was he not the former leadership candidate described by Ann Widdecombe as having "something of the night" about him?

The Conservative Party surely does need a new leader, but I hope it won't be him.

I Want One .. NOW!

I'm currently working nights - not something I'm especially enamoured of. However, it's not all bad since I do get the time for a quiet surf around the wibbly wobbly web without needing to look over my shoulder in case my boss wanders past!

I've just done this and discovered that Lancia have unveiled a new Fulvia coupe at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It's absolutely stunning and would make a superb successor to my much-missed Beta Coupe.

Please Lancia, come back to the UK and sell that car here...

Goodbye, White Bird

It looks as if I'll not achieve one of my ambitions...I always wanted to fly on Concorde and as it's being retired from service tomorrow this is unlikely to happen.

Given that I've never set foot on the plane it may sound odd, but I'll miss it. I grew up living about eight miles away from Heathrow airport and have seen Concorde's futuristic form countless times but I still remember the first time I laid eyes upon it. I reckon I would have been about eight or nine years old and playing in the back garden when it flew overhead. Compared to the various ordinary airliners I saw all the time, this was in another league altogether.

I know that the plane was a commercial failure, but I maintain that it was a technological success of which everybody in England and, of course, France should be justifiably proud.

When will we see its like again?

Give Peace a Chance ...

I find the Ulster Unionist Party's failure to recognise verification of the IRA's latest act of decomissioning to be very concerning. General John de Chastelain, the head of the international decommisioning body has confirmed that the act has taken place - should that not be good enough?

I have no time whatsoever for the IRA, with some justification. Early on the morning of February 18th 1991 I was on my way to work, having just gone into Victoria tube station when there was a loud bang. The provos had bombed the mainline station I'd only just walked through and a commuter died as a result.

Notwithstanding my loathing for the terrorists, it does look as if they are genuinely trying to go along with the peace process. Surely this should be encouraged ?

Things ain't what they used to be

I've just heard that the prime minister has been admitted to hospital with an irregular heartbeat. Twenty years ago, this sort of thing would never have happened ..... As far as I'm aware, Margaret Thatcher never had a heart !

Living in a box

David Blaine has successfully completed his 44 days incarcerated in a perspex box without eating and I suppose I'm pleased for him.

Am I alone, though, in finding something distasteful (no pun intended) in this whole stunt? I've never gone without food even for a day, save only when I've been ill, but there are plenty of people in the world who aren't so lucky and this seems, to me, to belittle them.

"Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it"

I'm horrified to read that Dr Mahathir, the outgoing Malaysian Prime Minister in a speech to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference has called upon muslims to use brains as well as brawn to fight the Jews who, he says, "rule the world".

Dr Mahathir, as I understand it, the prophet Mohamed referred to Jews (and for that matter Christians) as Peoples of the Book, to be treated with consideration. Exactly how do your comments fit in with this, then?

Of course, we've heard this hateful nonsense before. It's very reminiscent of the lunatic mouthings of a failed Austrian would-be artist some 80 years ago and look at what he caused.

Betsygate Explained

After a little reflection, the reason behind the Iain Duncan Smith "Betsygate" row has become clear. A poll in one of the national papers a few weeks ago suggested that about half the people of Britain couldn't name the leader of the conservative party. I bet that quite a few more can do so now !

Heavens to Betsy !

Conservative party leader Iain Duncan Smith is to face further enquiries into the employment of his wife in his office as his diary secretary. Given that various factions in his party were already contemplating his downfall, I'd be very surprised to see him last much longer. It's not all bad news though - at least the Tories are likely to get nore publicity tomorrow than the government's programme it's just announced aimed at combatting anti-social behaviour.

Question is, who's next for the job ?

Please don't , Mr Martin.

I've just seen a report that Steve Martin's considering the lead role in an upcoming remake of "The Pink Panther". This seems to me to be another unneccessary remake of a perfectly enjoyable film. I'd be the first to agree that Steve Martin's very, very funny, but Peter Sellers surely long ago gave us the definitive Inspector Clouseau...why bother redoing it?

Congratulations..but

Michael Schumacher's just won a record breaking sixth Formula One drivers world-championship and, though I'm not a particular fan of his, credit where it's due, he deserves to be congratulated. However, is this a good thing for the sport?

Schumacher's now won the last four successive championships and I don't think it's coincidence that over this timeframe I've found myself watching ever fewer of the races. With the exception of a few enjoyable Grands-Prix, generally as a result of something going wrong, the races have got more and more dull to watch.

I don't know what the answer to this problem is and I don't think the Formula One bosses do either. I'd like to see a return to the sort of racing I enjoyed during the late 80s when it was quite possible that any one of four drivers - Mansell,Prost,Piquet or Senna would have been in with a good chance of making it to the finish line first, but there's not that much sign of this happening...

Mind Your Backs

Michael Portillo, commenting on rumoured plots to replace conservative party leader Iain Duncan Smith has said that he doesn't want the job.

In the same spirit of honesty I wish it be known that I don't want to win a large jackpot on the National Lottery....

Rules are Rules

England's football squad have backed away from threats to boycott the game against Turkey on Saturday in the wake of the Rio Ferdinand drugs test affair. I'm not a footie fan, all the same I'm pleased the game will go ahead.

However, I'm perplexed that there should ever have been a threat in the first place. It seems to me that the FA had no choice but to suspend Ferdinand after he failed to show up for a drugs test.

Rio says that he forgot as he was busy moving house, which may well be true. However, unless action is taken regarding this breach of the rules, what's to stop somebody else "forgetting" to attend a test when they really do have something to hide...

Dirty Den for PM !

So Arnold Schwartzenegger has been elected State Governor of California in yesterday's recall vote. This was held in response to general public dissatisfaction with the formerly incumbent governor and makes me wonder what would happen if we could do the same thing in Britain?

Of course, we don't have a governor, but we do have a currently not particularly popular Prime Minister. We don't have a Hollywood, either, but we do have our soap operas...

Iain Duncan Who ?

As the Conservative Party conference begins, leader Iain Duncan Smith has promised that they will win the next general election. I suppose that stranger things have happened, but I respectfully suggest that they've got their work cut out. After a news report on the TV about the Tories the other day, my wife, Michele, said " Oh, do they still exist then?" Fair question, I thought...

Personally, I think that we WILL have a new prime minister after, or perhaps even before, the next election. His name is Gordon Brown.

How d'ya figure that, Dubya?

Apparently, George Bush - and for that matter our own government - say that the failure to find any weapons of mass destruction fully vindicates the invasion of Iraq. I'm having real trouble getting my head round that one ...

Wot - no WMD?

Well then, after getting on for five months of searching, Saddam's weapons of mass destruction still haven't come to light. It's getting harder and harder to believe that the USA had any reason to invade Iraq, except perhaps to finish what Dubya's dad started. Shame that we had to get involved too...

The Ones that Get Away !

Recent research has apparently shown that fish, contrary to popular opinion, do have memory capacity. As a sometime angler, this comes as absolutely no surprise to me. I've known it for years because they've always remembered when I'm due to go fishing, at which point they go into hiding, thus avoiding any chance that I'll catch one !

Thankya, Dubya

A recent study by the International Institute of Strategic Studies, conducted for The Independent has estimated that, if British forces stay in Iraq for the next two years - as seems far from unlikely - then the cost of following the US into this part of Mr Bush's "war on terrorism" will reach somewhere in the region of £6 billion. This is equivalent of 2p added to the basic rate of income tax. I don't expect that direct taxation will rise, but I'm sure that in some way or another we'll all be paying for this increasingly ill-starred American adventure for years to come. Thanks - for nothing ...