The day Nick Clegg joined forces with Dave Cameron to form the LibCon coalition, he was in a lose-lose situation. At the time he was hailed the Nation's saviour, by some at least, for being brave and acting in the country's best interest. He did warn us that both sides would have to make compromises - that's the point of a coalition for pity's sake. The trouble has been that, since the 57 Liberal Democrat MPs are up against 307 tories, the balance of power has never been equal. It stands to reason he has had to compromise more than Dave. Especially on tuition fees and NHS reforms. So the media and public have turned against him. Boy have they. David Cameron has fared much better which must gall Nick, since the appalling proposals were Tory all along. What choice has Nick Clegg had? It has all gone belly up... Continue reading

I am sick to the back teeth of seeing headlines about who is going to impregnate Jordan next. All the 30-somethings' gossip magazines now have exclusives on this new so-called hunk she brought home after the Oscars. She's going to get pregnant by him now, apparently. Bad enough we had to read for months on end about her efforts to get 'Reidernated' by that shell-of-a-man, Alex Reid. I am pretty sure these recent stories don't come from the Jordan camp. More likely one of her 'friends' or 'reliable witnesses. From within the Jordan camp. Regardless, I don't want to have to think about Jordan's ovaries or her fertility plans. Ick, I am peeved about them. Continue reading

I have to admit that I was wrong- Sam Attwater did, in fact, win DOI. And I will tell you why. All the reasons he shouldn't win (that I grumbled about before) were conveniently air-brushed by clever editing by the show's producers. Just in time for the final, he was a nice guy again. Otherwise it would have been a one-horse race with Laura lifting the trophy. I could hardly keep my dinner down when Sam was bleating on about living, eating and breathing skating, and his rollercoaster journey, yada yada. I still maintain he should not have won. So there. Continue reading

Put frugally, Sting is ageing too well, seems pompous, and I don't like his solo music. Coupled with a traumatic image of him with a tantric stiffy that gives me the boak, Sting peeves me. Continue reading

I am sitting here avoiding the 35 page census form which I still have to fill out. It has reminded me that, last time round, 'Jedi' ended up being listed as a religion since more than 5000 people noted it in the 'Other Religion' box. Fair enough. This week a Birmingham Science City survey (reported by the Press Association) found that 22% of people surveyed believed that light sabres exist in real life and not just in Star Wars. Strewth. As if that wasn't gormless enough, a whopping 30% of adults think time travel is possible. I have never seen any Star Wars film so maybe I am not, in fact, entitled to an opinion. But all that memorabilia and those conventions? I don't want to watch a film that is going to despatch any common sense I may have. Continue reading

So American politicians, of both parties I should add, want to be armed. A proposed bill in California aims to give them the option to have concealed weapons. I do understand the shock the American people must have felt following the shootings in Tucson when 6 people died and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head. But really MORE guns? President Obama, to his credit, wants more stringent gun laws' enforcement. But the situation in America with accessibility to weapons is all to cock. To paraphrase Goldie Lookin' Chain, guns don't kill people, people with guns do. When will the connection between accessibility to guns and gun-related crime be made? Sigh. Continue reading

So it's the Dancing on Ice final on Sunday. It's been a great series and now Chloe Madeley, Laura Hamilton and Sam Attwater battle it out. Sam has been the bookies favourite until recently and his odds have been slashed. He started out the handsome, confident lad from Eastenders with a big fanbase and his skating was spot on. I don't think he has a chance of winning now, however, because the public are no longer behind him. He was first in trouble when he admitted the romance with his professional skating partner, Brianne Delcourt, was apparently faked for the papers. Then, by his own admission, he lost the love for skating for a few weeks. Lost the love or was downright incensed that he wasn't automatically top of the leader board any more. You decide. Laura and Chloe have worked hard and are pretty good now, you see. He... Continue reading

I am a bit hesitant to write anything at all about the Libyan crisis. I have only a rudimentary grasp of current affairs and usually prefer to bury my head in the sand and watch reality tv. It is, nonetheless, impossible to hear the news without asking some serious questions about what the hell is going on with Gaddafi. Over the past few days, we have joined all manner of European allies and the Canadians and Americans to try to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya. Stepped in to stop Gaddafi blowing to smithereens the feebly-armed rebels who are without water and electricity, and dare stand up to his despotic regime. Rebels who have asked for help. The world, including the UK, believed Gaddafi's promises of good behaviour, an end to terrorism, yada yada, and entered into various business deals with him and his equally repugnant son. We all should... Continue reading

What a nice change to see a totally positive Susan Boyle story in the tabloids. Her duet with Peter Kay was pretty funny. Even if it hadn't been, no journalist was going to diss two national treasures. It can't just be me who has been uncomfortable about Subo's tabloid portrayal. She's a good enough singer and I don't grudge her one bit of her worldwide success. Even if her music is pedestrian. What I can't abide is the tabloid ridicule of her 'wacky' or 'endearing' behaviours, like she's a circus act. It has been said that she has mild learning disabilities. Good on her for her success - by all accounts she has not had an easy life. Articles like this peeve me. She's a human being ffs. Continue reading

It is, of course, de rigeur to give every UK Eurovision entry a shoeing before, during and after its performance. This year's entry from Blue is no exception. Only this year the negative feedback comes from the tweetings of cuddly silver fox, Phillip Schofield. Completely unnecessary. We are all aware that the Baltics hate us and we are unlikely to ever win Eurovision again. True. the songs are usually substandard. But it's not all about the winning is it? It's a great night's entertainment. Well, I think so anyway. It is typical of Brits to sneer and kick the performers for having the audacity to have a go. Phillip Schofield has helped fuel this. So good on Blue for having a bash. They've nothing to lose, of course, and seem to be entering into the Eurovision spirit and working hard to publicise their entry. Hats off to them. Pip Schofield,... Continue reading

Wanky David Brent catchphrases, when used seriously, get my goat. And there are few things that make me more likely to want to rip out a man's tongue with my bare hands. I realise this is not a comprehensive list so do feel free to remind me of any I have forgotten... Blue sky thinking 110% (anything over 100%) Thinking inside (or outside the chuffing) box Game plan Per se Viz a viz Ball park Touch base Face time Wanker bosses, you peeve me. Continue reading

Mice are pissy little menaces and they stink. My response to one a few months ago disappointed me and has left me with a phobia of the wee sods. As one sauntered across my living room floor, mid-Corrie, I lept to the couch in a panic demanding my husband "sort the c**t out". Before then, I never thought I had a problem with them. Now I know they can squeeze into a space the depth of a 10p, I am pretty vigilant for their sneaky black mini-turds and their stinky wee. If they kept themselves to themselves, I wouldn't mind. However, they are more destructive than I could ever have imagined. We only had a "very minor infestation", apparently, or so the man from the Council said. Despite my efforts at concealment, I could sense his glee, what with me being an utter pussy. Anyhow, the wee buggers holidaying in... Continue reading

Today's news, reported with photo in The Sun, that one city Council has taken down a kids' playpark and replaced it with a concrete wall, really is a sign of the times. Stories like this are no longer surprising, as lack of investment in children and young people seems to be pervasive. While all sectors seem to be experiencing financial cut-backs, I think it is folly to withhold funding for social initiatives targeting young people. There are some projects that buck the trend, though these are in the minority, it seems. When each generation's right-wingers bleat on about the 'yobs' of today, I wonder what kind of legacy we are leaving by over-looking the young. Continue reading

I am sick to the back teeth of the hoo-ha that is currently surrounding the X Factor judges line-up. With Simon Cowell distancing himself from the UK's Britain's Got Talent and X Factor in favour of the more lucrative US Market, the X Factor is a show that could do without distracting headlines. Litttle wonder that Herr Cowell is flying across the pond to knock some heads together. The serendipitous successes of Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke and, to a lesser extent, Olly Murs have been overshadowed by the mediocrity of Steve Brookstein, Shane Ward, Leon Jackson (had to look up his surname), Joe McElderry and Matt Cardle. Although I never miss it, the show is on its last legs. It was telling last season that salacious headlines about contestants overshadowed proceedings. The last thing Cowell needs is the interminable speculation over whether Cheryl Cole will be on the panel or... Continue reading

Today I checked out the Olympics 2012 website, in particular the ticket application process that opened this week. I thought it might be a neat idea to go and see an event, any event, to experience the Olympic spirit Seb Coe is always bleating on about. Great for the country, joining communities, yada yada yada. Athletics, swimming, diving, boxing, football, and in any location - I was not fussy. Only I can't afford any decent tickets, can I? Ones with a view, I mean, not the exorbitant premium ones. Those prices are certainly not intended to include a wide range of society. Ho hum, I probably wouldn't have been allocated any anyway. So that has peeved me. Continue reading

This morning I had to de-ice the car. How smug was I with my fleece, thick tights, leggings and Uggs. Although far from on-trend, I was cosy as toast. By 9am, however, the sun was out and I was sweltering. And looked a pillock in Morrisons. Gee whizz, mornings like today's peeve me. Continue reading

It's not entirely true that war-time Disney peeves me, but the films do make me hide behind my hands so that's a good enough reason to complain. I am writing specifically about the films Dumbo (1941) and Bambi (1942). Beginning with Dumbo.True, it's a tale of triumph over adversity but, oh me, what a lot of adversity we must endure to get to the happy ending. The cruel bullying and torment by all and sundry, especially those pompous ladies of the elephant troupe. The name-calling, vocal and in hushed tones. The indignity of being a painted up as a clown. Not to mention his almost-orphan status when his mother is cruelly tagged 'mad elephant' and sent away to be shackled. All alone with only a mouse for company. The brief spell where he and his pal inadvertently get drunk is a fair attempt to lighten the mood but is lost... Continue reading

If you are in the middle lane of a motorway, do remember to come back to the left hand lane when you can or face me making good old-fashioned wanker hand gestures in your direction. You are no better than drivers who always travel at 5 miles an hour below the recommended speed limit. Lazy middle lane hoggers peeve me. Continue reading

It is little wonder that to be 'a daily mail reader' is generally accepted derogatory term. The editorial approach attracts bigoted readers with alarmist headlines about minority groups: 'gays', 'asylum seekers', 'gay asylum seekers', 'asians', 'travellers', those receiving benefits (delete and add as applicable). Not to mention the royalist drivelling. I always imagine these readers must be the same OFSTED complainers who ring in in their thousands, though I can't prove that, of course. Nonetheless, it is just my personal opinion that the Dail Mail is garbage and it peeves me to see it on sale. Continue reading

Even by his recent chaotic standards, today's news that Charlie Sheen may have threatened to harm himself with a firearm is shocking. I know I am not alone in having an element of sympathy for the chap. Up until recently he was showing up to work on time and performing well, apparently. He would not be the first functioning-addict actor the screens have loved. Oliver Reed and Richard Burton to drop two great names. I wonder how they would have coped with the uber scrutiny of today's multi-media reportage. Being tweeted about, recorded on iphones, blogged about, and written about in the tabloids. I wonder how the actor and comedian Richard Lewis might have fared in this milieu. Richard Lewis has fought a long battle out of the media glare with myriad neuroses and chronic disabling addictions and has been in recovery for an admirable number of years. So I... Continue reading

I saw a clip of this dufus on The One Show on Tuesday and I nearly spat out my chicken kiev. Since then, I have struggled to think of a worse male actor. I'll gladly take that back if anyone can tell me another. There's little else I need to say here. Hugh Grant, ya miserable fop, you peeve me. Continue reading