My Maths teacher wondered that today. David Cameron is working fast to ditch decades of Tory opposition to redistribution, universial NHS healthcare and – well bascially everything Labour has always been right about. If 1994 was “How I learned to stop worrying and love social democracy” for the Labour party the Tories seem to be undergoing a similar experience now. They might be ditching conservatism instead of socialism, but it’s the same difference. Hooray!
Oh, and to hear the howls of anguish from the right. They didn’t think Cameron really meant change, they thought he meant a new logo and a smiling face on top of scummy old policies like the Patient’s Passport. (Also known as the ‘we still hate the NHS’ policy.) All the more extraordinary that he isn’t doing just that given that he wrote the damn manifesto only last year.
You have to feel sympathetic for Charles Kennedy in all this. He’s a capable politican but honestly, the Liberal Democrats are not where the action is. Surely the internal pressure to move right to occupy the Conservative space will grow now that Cameron is marching leftwards? I don’t know – but it isn’t looking good for them.
I have to mention George Galloway joining the Big Brother house. Ever since he phoned up Nic and shouted at him for something I wrote on DomSez I haven’t been too well disposed to Georgie so I’m a little sorry it isn’t I’m a Celebrity but oh well, this is good enough.
I checked out RESPECT’s website to see if they would mention it, but no, it’s a whine about London’s public transport. (How original.) This article annoys me especially because it’s utterly misleading – prices may be rising for paper tickets but are actually falling for Oyster, which is, uh, the whole point of the scheme! As for making ‘the City and Canary Wharf’ pay – how exactly would one accomplish this? Oh, it’s not even worth it. Enjoy your stay in the Big Brother house George. I hope you pay your own bus fare to get there.
It turned out to be a bit of a blessing in disguise, having an English revision session today. (And yes, it was helpful after the break!) It has gotten me back into the working groove ready for school tomorrow and motivated me to finally write that English essay tonight I’ve been threatening to do for a while. (On Peregrine from Wise Children, in case you were interested.)
So yes, I’m busy again! Hence the Christmas decorations coming down and being replaced with a nice little collection of textbooks, which seemed quite befitting. It doesn’t stop be listening to some Christmas music for the last time tonight though – all together now: “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree…”
Oh, I just noticed my Google Ads have all become Doctor Who themed. At the moment you’re offered the chance to ‘Meet Nicola Bryant’ – interesting…!
And I’m not even a regular Hotmail user 
(People who know me on MSN feel free to ask if you want this – but hurry, it might not work for long)
Or search for the trick yourself of course 
Thanks Nathan
Happy New Year, and welcome to 2006. On the recently relaunched RV:Blog (which I insist you all check out) Nic hints of an interesting year to come. Rob wants to know your resolutions and what you did with that extra leap-second.
Hmmmm – resolutions. That’s always a hard one. I might resolve to finally finish the QPCS page of this website which was left curiously unfinished when I redesigned. Or maybe I should write an article on Wikipedia, since I use it so much? I’ll keep blogging throughout 2006 definitely – but I’m not sure that qualifies as a resolution rather than a warning
I was at Joshua’s party last night which I promised not to blog too much about (people I’ve never met have seen my website though, that’s cool) but I will say a massive thanks to him and his mum for letting us use their house!
Oh and 2006 is going to be exciting in the IT world. We should see Internet Explorer 7, Windows Vista, Office 12 from Microsoft. On a smaller but no less significant scale I’m interested to know what will happen with Nucleus, the open source CMS this blog uses. Apple might change the colour of the iPod a few times as well. 
And don’t forget the BBC’s iMP!
And what will happen politically? Oh, who knows. My one prediction is that Cameron is going to pick a fight with his party over some issue to show that he’s serious for change – and win. There are going to be some traditional Conservatives who will have to go if he is going to capture the centre ground, in exactly the same way as old Labour skedaddled in 1994.
And finally – make sure you tune in this year for Doctor Who, Series Two, BBC One. And Torchwood as well! Super.
Helen on It’s (waiting) time.: “Fabulous news, congratulations to you both! X” Jun 8, 21:51
