However, Lib Dem chief of staff Norman Lamb said: "To have the government conspire to close down an investigation into serious corruption allegations in the international arms trade on the same day as the prime minister is interviewed by the police over domestic corruption allegations shows how far from 'whiter than white' this government has moved.

A passage from the below article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6181621.stm

Mr Blair and his NEW Labour party, bah! Bunch of nimcumpoops, let it be on the record that I never liked him!The conservatives may be a bunch of well, conservative old farts, but they are generally decent. Not just drooling lap dogs to Bush who are also apparently fairly corrupt on their own too. Margret Thatcher (conservative) should be treated with reverance for bringing our economy into the modern world. She could have done better in some areas but we are all better off for her, I think, although she is still a very vilified figure (especially in scotland).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3685881.stm
Back to the corrupt Labour party - remember Peter Mandelson and David Kelly (Not to mention starting an illegal war and failing to call for a ceasefire in the Isreali Lebanon conflict)? I am not sure about Brown (our probable next Prime Minister), I would give him a chance, I hope that new Labour isn't rotten to the core.
Anyway enough of politcs it generally makes me depressed when I think about it too much.

Why am I in a country that doesn't show cricket on TV! Booooo! Well I suppose it saved me tears on the first two tests but 3 more to go! Monty, the Sikh of Tweak, went on the take 5 wickets, becoming the first English spinner to ever do so in Perth. With the Ossies dismissed for 244 this is Englands finest chance, let's hope they don't mess it up. It is about time we had a big knock from Flinty I think!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/england/6178327.stm

And I fully support Monty to win the beard of the year! A coveted accolade!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tms/2006/12/beard_of_the_year.shtml

Still 2-0 down in the ashes but Monty is finally here!

He's only gone and done it! Monty Panesar the bearded genius strikes! On his second over! Claiming his first ashes wicket! Long live King Monty Panesar!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/england/6178327.stm
http://www.ecb.co.uk/england/sdf,10969,EN.html

Panesar and Mahmood have just been picked for their first Ashes (the most important and bitterly fault cricket game played between England and Australia, there's history man!). Just shows what you can achieve if you play as part of the team (Monty recieved a standing ovation as he came on to bowl his first over in an ashes series). Don't be a hater be a cricket player! If you come to our nation try and be postive part of it! Be a fair sport, anything else is just not Cricket.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Panesar
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sajid_Mahmood

I am also a fan of Amir Khan, we all watched him avidly during the 2004 olympics (he got silver at the age of 17). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amir_Khan_%28boxer%29

In finding these links I discovered that both Amir and Sajid are from the same Pakistani Punjab royal warrior clan, Janjua.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janjua

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/6196464.stm
Pretty interesting I feel. Especially if you go down to the full report (PDF file). I recomend that you do, I was quite disappointed with allot of that the young people thought, especially the London kids. Little buggers. Oh in for a penny in for a pound, while I am on the topic of slating British kids; here - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/6173441.stm
They can't speak either. ...sigh

The catalogue from AU.
Me sporting the rather Bon Ton Izena kindergarten team strip!

Ah. Today I did a demonstration class? Maybe, I was asked by the primary school if I wanted to teach yochien (kindergarten) on Tuesday the 12th of December. They told me there may be some PTA watching. So I planned a packed lesson with the Yochien teacher, first time we have planned a lesson together which I was quite proud of as we planned it speaking only Japanese. Anyway then closer to the day Amec sensei (head of english at primary school) tells me it is an important lesson. On the actual day he tells me there may be 30 people watching. And sure enough all the BOE (board of education) and all the PTA were there plus most of my fellow Junior High School teachers. Not to worry though the Yochien are my favourite class and they rock your socks off. When Amec sensei told me they were maybe the best in Kunigami (northern Okinawa) I just gave him an incredulous stare as one might looks at a person proudly uttering 'the world is round you know!' or 'Complementary micro RNA can pre transcriptionaly inhibit gene expression'. What I am trying to express is DUUUUHHHHHHHHH! I don't know who idolises who more me or my Yochien. And yes they are mine! As is this island etc etc. Aside from all that, so yes the class went well despite one of my star performers crying (he rallied round), oh yes! and we had special yochien teacher sweaters for the class, specially made, wicked! So again, aside from all that I got a birthday present from AU! AU is the mobile phone company I use in case you are unaware. The sent me a mid sized book shaped parcel. Inside was a voucher for 5000 yen and a catalogue. Just a regular home shopping catalogue with everything from furnishings, to kitchen stuff, to jewellery and bags to camping stuff to everything (except clothes). I assumed I could spend 5000 yen in the catalogue but there were no prices so I asked. Apparently the voucher is 5000 yen off my next phone and the catalogue, well I can order any one thing from it! I was slightly taken agog, but have since spend a few happy idle moments flipping through the pages wondering what I want. I have decided on a thing, A wind up torch solar powered LED lamp radio keitei(mobile phone) charging thing. I think it will be fun for camping and such like. Shush you! I LIKE gadgets! Also very excited about going to Thailand, toodles! 5000 yen is about 25 quid btw, better than a swift kick up the arse!

PS. Almost 1 in 10 Brits live abroad, interesting (at least for me, being one of their kind)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6210358.stm