The historic child abuse enquiry has finally got a judge to head it.  New Zealand judge, Lowell Goddard, sounds like a straight talker, exactly what is needed to take on the so-called Establishment.  Let’s hope she also applies common sense.  Her comment that child abusers of 1945 should be treated the same as those of 2015 may be valid, but proof beyond reasonable doubt would require mind readers.  There is no doubt that there were victims but memories that old get confused. The thought of witnesses and accused being wheeled (in a real sense) into court would make a mockery of the enquiry.  Going back to the Seventies will be difficult enough, hard evidence probably destroyed if the Establishment was involved.  We can only hope that Lowell finds factual material and produces a well-documented report in the shortest time possible; better still if clearly evidenced prosecutions occur.  The way to stop all bar the most hardened paedophiles is to show them the force of the law.           

    No wonder the French economy is in shreds.  Baker Stephane Cazenave makes excellent bread in Saint-Paul-Les-Dax and he wants to do it seven days a week.  No chance in France.  The law insists he shuts up shop on one day each week.  The head of the national bakers’ confederation says that making bakers close for one day each week encourages competition by making customers buy elsewhere on that day.  Competition in France must be defined as give the less effective producers a share of the cake, excuse the pun.  Anti-business regulation is alive and well in France, the kiss of death to budding entrepreneurs.  Take note Mr Miliband!  Stephane should consider a move to England where we would happily queue for his award winning baguettes.

    The principle underpinning Fifty Shades of Grey seems to have been misunderstood in Glasgow.  Three women were arrested during the filmed version for attacking a man in the cinema.  The management of the cinema was quick to point out that a wine bottle was not used during the attack.  We can only guess at the use the women might have planned for the ‘unused’ bottle.  Attempting to access the mindset of author E.L.James we came up with two ways the ladies concerned might have used the bottle on their male victim.  Removal would have required medical intervention in both cases!

    Stephen Fry has announced he is taking a holiday from Twitter.  Perhaps there is a God after all!     

    Another US study in the Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy will inevitably lead to more OldGits trials in the pub.  The ability to stand on one leg is now said to offer an insight to your health.  The previous trial we carried out gave tests for a younger age group and we didn’t do too well, but this time us oldies are included.  The standing on one leg with eyes closed will once again be the acid test.  Jez only has one good eye and insists he should have to stand with eyes open for half the recommended time.  We’ve disregarded his view as normal.  We think the eyes shut on one leg will be the problem, even though three seconds is the target time.  Adrian might manage it.  He’s taller than the rest of the group and it should take three seconds before he hits the floor.  I wonder who funds these rather strange bits of research?  The cost of treating injuries when people like us try the tests could surely be saved if the researchers did something more useful.

    The sickening murders by IS in Libya have drawn horrified comment from around the world and retribution in the form of air strikes by Egypt.  How quickly Cameron and Sarcozy, cheerleaders for the Arab Spring, seem to have forgotten their ‘victory parade’ in Tripoli shortly after the overthrow of Gaddafi.  Did Iraq teach them nothing?  Dictators like Saddam Hussain and Muammar Gaddafi treat their people appallingly.  But we have to ask the question – is either country more democratic and stable now?  We need alternatives to war or revolution to deal with them. 

         Ask yourself whether the person to whom you are about to listen is but a

         brilliant orator, valiant in words but inexperienced.

                                                                                    Machiavelli

His statement applies to so many of our current leaders.