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The village of Menerbes has been rocked by the news of the death of 20-year resident Paul Eddy. Paul was one of the finest journalists of his type – ever- and also a famed author.

Tributes have poured in and some poignant ones from the Guardian and the Times in the UK.

Roy Greenslade writes: “I am saddened to read of Paul Eddy’s death last Thursday. He was a Sunday Times reporter of immense talent who specialised in investigating complex stories about espionage, corruption and murder as a member, and leader, of the paper’s Insight team.

There was a wonderful tribute to him, by Peter Gillman, in yesterday’s Sunday Times, A master of storytelling who loved nothing more than a mystery, which describes him as “one of the great journalists of his generation”.”

The purpose of this posting is not to eulogise Paul – far be it me to try and upstage such eminent journos such as Greenslade and Gillman. No, this is about the silent partner – Paul’s wife Sara Walden.

We met Sara on one of her walks accompanied by her refuge dog, Jesse. We were with Dick. She told us about Paul and what he was going through. Being unable to drive to the Marseille hospital for medical reasons, she was reduced to asking for lifts and even, hilariously, taking our Mayor to IKEA on the way back.

Never did Sara complain. Over the eight months that we have known her she has been nothing by friendly, courteous and above all – immensely – brave.

When you consider that Sara was suffering from her beloved’s serious illness (and now passing), packing up and moving house back to London, handing over her precious Jesse for local adoption, and all with her own debilitating eye condition : this is one great lady.

Sara, at this time. We salute you too. You redefine the much used and maligned word, ‘special’. May you be blessed with strength to see you through the dark days ahead.

With our love – Lovonne and Simon

Much has been written about Gail Kelly and her advance from St George to head of Westpac, the supposed chopping of Westpac heads to include ‘Kelly’s heroes’ and her handling of the media.

Crikey has a spin on this in to-days Tips and Rumours:

“Now I know why. At last it has become clear to me why the Gail Kelly admiration society came to such an abrupt halt. I had missed the fact that she had made the cover of the major financial magazine in her old home country of South Africa back at the end of 1977 just before she took over the reins at Westpac. According to the Financial Mail Mrs Kelly was a South African “world beater”.

Along with making the Forbes magazine’s list of the 50 most-powerful women in world business, this adulation was the kiss of death.

Investors should note and remember that making the cover of a major business magazine is a sure sign of bad things to come for the person pictured.”

All one can say to this is: Grow up and in a multi-cultural country can’t the antipathy against EVERY South African cease?

The little Chevvy tore down the M25, off at junction 11, got lost trying to find Savacentre for the supplies and eventually arrived at Yattendon Court. Chez Schneebs.

A quick glass of bolly (beer for the boys) and then off to a wonderful gastropub (new English term to let you know that the beers are now served cold and the food is edible).

The Coach served a mean roast beef and Yorkshire pud. A long lunch ensued and after a short return journey we needed a pit stop at the Yattendon local -

Plenty bottles of Sav Blanc later……….

Due to the Schneebs’ attending the Vodafone Christmas bash, we watched the British TV phenomenon, The X Factor final and then an wonderful doco on Susan Boyle. This was presented by Piers Morgan, an irreverent former News of the World and Daily Mirror editor – he has ‘walking out on Rupert’ on his campaign medal list. Morgan is now on TV and writes columns for the Daily Mail. Being a mate of Simon Cowell helps. But, he’s good.

The X Factor draws 33m viewers – and is rescuing ITV’s balance sheet – the next biggest viewership in the UK is 14m (football!).

On Monday we tracked the path of William Shakespeare and paid a long-awaited return to Stratford upon Avon. Had lunch at the Garrick Inn : the pub opened its doors in the 1500s. Legend has it that it was a haunt of the Bard himself. He must have enjoyed the fish and chips – we did.

In the afternoon, the ladies did some shopping and found the Lakeland shop. For the unitiated, Lakeland is a cooking shop paradise and has a few retail outlets but the main business is online (www.lakeland.com). Wooden spoon and spatula paradise.

 

 

 

Jan has not seen a ghost – just talking. It was cold “hurry up Simon”.

 

 

 

 

We need to show you the lights – centrepiece in Stratford.

 

 

 

On the way back to Yattendon, we went through the little village of Bradbury where the main street (the only one) is famous for its Christmas lights – here’s a sample:

 

 

 

Monday morning bright and early – and very cold – off to Gatwick and the marvels of Easyjet.

Au bientot

Lovonne and Simon xx

The UK newspapers were full of Charles and Camilla’s choice of picture for their Christmas card. It’s a shot of them in a carriage on their way to Ascot. Charles looks like Camilla is giving him a prostate examination and she is giggling. All very sweet and predictable.

I won’t bore you with the card – wait for the striking British Mail.

However, here’s Tigers card ….

[thanks Helmut and Liz]

I’ve seen the future. I like it. No, I love it!

The new airline baggage regulations are amazing, wonderful and terrifically sensible. We have just come back from 5 days in London : flew click-click Easyjet, two wheelie cases! No more 100 kg, 8 piece extravaganzas! Oh, we did revert back to type on the return leg with a 19kg togbag which cost an additional 11 euros (after all, what would Christmas be without M&S Mince pies, crackers and pork bangers – for the stuffing, I’m told), however, that was a pleasure. Too easy. Try it. Love it. We’re hooked.

The Easyjet experience lives up to its name: Easy. Quick check in, wander on to he plane, saunter off, on to the Gatwick train (5% off with your Easyjet boarding pass) and before you can say ‘excess baggage’ you’re in London.

We stayed in Dennis Nick’s Mayfair pad (thanks Chom) and a quick walk to Oxford Street to see the Selfridges’ windows:

 

 

 

 

All very quirky but spectacular. The crowds were there en masse, but not many shops were busy – only M&S, Selfridges and Hamleys. The boutiques? Recession! Amazingly, with two weeks to go before Christmas, all decorations were 50% off already!

Friday was retail, walking, a consultancy meeting and generally soaking up the Christmas atmosphere. Have a look at the clever United Colours of Benetton decs:

 

We had a look at the supposed refurbishment of Liberty. No!

However, the flower shop was a picture:

We managed to get tickets to the Jersey Boys on Friday night and strolled down Regent Street, had a look at Carnaby Street and then off to the theatre district. The show? One of the best ever! See it.

On Saturday we met cousin Rachel for the first time in 42 years! Much catching up, family gossip and conspiracy theories about relatives, some long deceased, some not. This is an unfinished story…..

On Saturday night we decided to turn back the clock and visit the Hard Rock Cafe or a beer and a burger. No such luck – after three hours of drinking, no table service, failed electricity and gas in the kitchens we joined a mass movement of patrons who walked out after receiving all our drinks free!

Next morning – down the M4 to Yattendon. To follow!

Au bientot

Lovonne and Simon xx

I’ve always wondered what would happen if a lion or a leopard attacked a croc – here’s some amazing pics taken in the Kruger National Park in South Africa.

The answer is clear – The Ingwe (leopard) by a winning margin (probably more than 1-0)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Photographer, Mr Brindley said: ‘I asked many rangers in South Africa if they had ever heard of anything like this and they all said no.’ “It just doesn’t make sense. The meat you get out of a crocodile is just not worth the risk it takes a predator to acquire. The whole scene happened in the course of about 5 minutes. Then the leopard was gone. “I drove away, elated in disbelief. It may have been the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.”

Ellie Rose, a reptile keeper at London Zoo, said: “Normally, crocodiles are well able to defend themselves against attack. I can’t think of any examples of this happening before.”

[thanks, John]

Back from a little sojourn in the Old Dart and 2Oceansvibe has dispatched me this little gem:

The Rambo Granny of Melbourne , Australia

Gun-toting granny Ava Estelle, 81, was so ticked-off when two thugs raped her 18-year-old granddaughter that she tracked the unsuspecting ex-cons down – and shot off their testicles.

The old lady spent a week hunting those men down -and, when she found them, she took revenge on them in her own special way, said Melbourne police investigator Evan Delp.

Then she took a taxi to the nearest police station, laid the gun on the sergeant’s desk and told him as calm as could be: “Those bastards will never rape anybody again, by God.”

Cops say convicted rapist and robber Davis Furth, 33, lost both his penis and his testicles, when outraged Ava opened fire with a 9-mm pistol in the hotel room where he and former prison cell mate Stanley Thomas, 29, were holed up.

The wrinkled avenger also blew Thomas’ testicles to kingdom come, but doctors managed to save his mangled penis, police said.”The one guy, Thomas, didn’t lose his manhood, “but the doctor I talked to said he won’t be usin it th way he used to,”

Detective Delp told reporters. “Both men are still in pretty bad shape, “but I think they’re just happy to be alive after what they’ve been through.”

The Rambo Granny swung into action August 21 after her granddaughter Debbie was carjacked and raped in broad daylight by two knife-wielding creeps in a section of town bordering on skid row.

“When I saw the look on my Debbie’s face that night in the hospital, “I decided I was going to go out and get those bastards myself”‘ cause I figured the Law would go easy on them,” recalled the retired library worker..” And I wasn’t scared of them, either – because I’ve got me a gun and I’ve been shootin’ all my life.”And I wasn’t dumb enough to turn it in when t he law changed about owning one.”

So, using a police artist’s sketch of the suspects and Debbie’s description of the sickos, tough-as-nails Ava spent seven days prowling the wino-infested neighbourhood where the crime took place till she spotted the ill-fated rapists entering their flophouse hotel.

“I knew it was them the minute I saw ‘em, but I shot a picture of ‘em anyway

“and took it back to Debbie and she said sure as hell, it was them,” the oldster recalled.

“So I went back to that hotel and found their room and knocked on the door, “and the minute the big one opened the door, I shot ‘em right square between the legs, “right where it would really hurt ‘em most, you know.

“Then I went in and shot the other one “as he backed up pleading to me to spare him.”Then I went down to the police station and turned myself in.”

Now, baffled lawmen are trying to figure out exactly how to deal with the vigilante granny.”What she did was wrong, and she broke the law, but it is difficult to throw an 81-year-old woman in prison,” Det. Delp said, “especially when 3 million people in the city want to nominate her for Mayor.”

DEPORT HER TO SOUTH AFRICA – WE NEED HER!

Glen Dyer wrote a lovely piece in Crikey this morning:

British bankers rhymes with w-nkers. Not original, but what else can you say about the juvenile reaction to the news that the UK Labour government plans to impose an immediate 50% super tax on bonus payments to bankers.

“Bankers in the City of London reacted with fury,” started the Financial Times report overnight.

“In his annual pre-Budget report, outlining government spending and revenue plans, Alistair Darling, the UK finance minister, announced a 50 per cent levy on discretionary bonus pay-outs to curb big bank bonuses that have provoked public anger. He said banks that had been battered by the financial crisis should be rebuilding their capital rather than paying out generous bonuses to their staff.”

Well stuff me with a banana and call me Westpac. Fancy that. Bankers upset at having their bonuses (not their base pay) taxed a year after many were rescued by British taxpayer money from the biggest financial mess they had helped create in decades. Who would ever have thought that?

“The UK Treasury estimates the move will raise 550 million and affect 20,000 bankers, although some bankers suggest it could raise up to 4 billion if — as seems likely — banks press ahead with bonus pay-outs regardless. The first 25,000 of bonuses will be exempt,” continued the FT.

“Bankers said the new tax — on top of the 50 per cent top rate of tax, due to be introduced in April, and an earlier squeeze on UK-resident non-domiciled individuals — could damage the City as a global financial centre.

“Damage the city as a global financial city”. Doesn’t this w-nker remember what happened a year ago when the banks sought the help of the UK government and anyone else as they slid towards the financial abyss? That was in part due to the business activities, blind greed, cupidity and just plain ignorance of these same bankers now moaning about having their bonuses taxed?

They all forget how Lehman Brothers failure triggered a rolling tide of pressure that saw two banks were bailed out (Lloyds/HBOS and RBS), Northern Rock nationalised, building societies saved, all bank deposits protected and tens of billions of pounds of emergency capital pumped into these banks, and the economy to stabilise and save the country from collapse. Two banks, HBOS (latter badly merged into Lloyds) and RBS were hours from total collapse and the Bank of England and governor Mervyn King, with government backing, found close to 70 billion in emergency funds in a couple of days to halt their implosion.

Major European banks such as Fortis, ABN, Commerzbank, Dexia were all rescued or taken over, as was the huge German mortgage group, HRE, while West LB, a big state bank in Germany has just been rescued for a fourth time in five years.

The FT reported: “One investment banking chief said the ‘contract between government and business is broken’, warning that up to 40% of the city’s activities were ‘mobile’ and would move overseas to more welcoming jurisdictions, such as Switzerland and the US.”

The contract between business and government was badly damaged by the credit crunch and recession, for which the same bankers and their employers can be blamed, in part of wholly, depending on where you sit.

The London Telegraph got it right in pointing out how the city folk (the moaning bankers) had gotten off lightly in the government’s pre-Budget report, with UK middle classes to be whacked with 7 billion in new taxes and charges.

The moans and groans (and their reporting) from bankers again emphasise (as we have found in the past week with Gail Kelly of Westpac and her management team), how out of touch many in business are, especially the financial sector. They may talk a lot about the national good, but it’s just hot air.

The Australian taxpayer, through the Reserve Bank or through the federal government, effectively underwrote the stabilising of our banking system a year ago, which enabled it to escape the pounding that the more adventurous and poorly run and regulated UK economy didn’t escape. The UK taxpayer are on the hook for far more, billions of pounds of capital for the broken banks and others, huge losses in terms of rising unemployment and falling property values, and now tax rises and other charges to pay for the mess created by the banks (with assistance from the UK government, dud businessman and greedy home buyers who wanted profits, but not the pain).

Our price will come next year and in successive years as the federal government cuts spending and raises taxes, but it won’t be anywhere near the pain that the UK (and Ireland, Spain, Greece, Japan and the US) will be feeling.

But have no sympathy for bankers, UK or otherwise. Not for a generation or three.

And so say all of us…………………….. Happy Christmas w-nkers.

Don’t know what to get your kids for Christmas? Try the 2Oceansvibe DVD for only ZAR100.

Go to: www.2oceansvibe.com to purchase.

[doing a reciprocal thing. Seth: hope it doesn't make the DVD uncool!]

 

Says a lot for humankind doesn’t it?

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