This is what we need more of

I saw an interview on TV this morning about this device. The interview was with one of the people who developed the device and the person in the article who has been fitted with one. Heart warming stuff, that so many people who have lost hands and arms will be able to have access to something which will make their quality of life much better.

The interview with Mr Edwards was most impressive, not only for the technology, but also because of the person he appears to be. I can't even begin to imagine how he has managed to deal with being a quadruple amputee. I don't know how people manage to deal with that level of personal devastation and survive as a person. I am rather afraid that I don't have that, I don't know, determination, strength, spark, the thing that keeps you going when everything seems bleak and disastrous. My Edwards clearly does have that whatever it is. He came across as a humorous, sane individual and while I dare say he has had some times when he has wanted to give up it was clear today just how positive he feels about this prosthesis.

Three cheers for him and for all the people who will benefit from this developemnt and a huge three cheers for the team who developed it. It bugs me that we undervalue engineering in the UK, and that people who are no more than parts fitters call themselves engineers while real engineers are very often unsung heroes and heroines.

Date posted: 10 Jun 2008

Poor Paul

You have to feel sorry for some people don't you? Paul Gascoigne is back in hospital again, sectioned under the Mental Health Act. It's a sad and sorry way to be for anybody, but most people don't have their personal problems aired on national news.

I wonder where all his so-called friends are now. I'd be prepared to bet that they aren't beating a path to his bedside with bunches of grapes

I don't know what the outcome of this latest hospitalisation will be, but it has been clear that Gazza has had problems for a while. It's easy to say 'too much too soon' but it may well be the case. I can remember Gazza as a young footballer, he had so much talent and could turn the course of a match. Of course that sort of talent requires nurturing and managing and I'm not sure he was always well advised. Then came the injuries and the slide into alcohol and loss of self control.

I used to complain about how sometimes the England team didn't do as well as they mught because they relied upon Gazza to pull something out of the bag and win the match for them. They still do it, but now it's Rooney. The difference is that Rooney's got solid foundations in his personal life. Maybe if Gazza had found his Colleen he wouldn't be where he is now.

Maybe Gazza just has some kind of self-destruct button. Whatever, I wish him well and hope that this time he gets the help he needs to get him out of what seems to be a self-destructive cycle and into a more controlled and happier life. Because whatever he is at the moment I'm sure he's not happy.

Date posted: 03 Jun 2008

London Mayoral Elections

Well, all the excitement about the election for the London Assembly and the Mayor of London is over. No surprises there then. After 8 years there will be enough people who have been upset by something Ken Livingstone's done or said to vote for almost anybody else. Now we have Boris Johnson. I say 'we' although I live outside London because to some extent what he does will affect me. It will affect everybody who visits, lives or works in London. Whether he turns out to be a decent Mayor is another issue. We can but hope and wait. At least Boris has the decency to resign his seat in Parliament. It shows some kind of commitment to the job.

I wonder what Ken Livingstone will do now? I can't quite see him settling into a contented retirement tending his newts. Maybe he'll return to national politics, but with the next general election a few years off yet, and the next Mayoral election four years off the timing might not be great for him. If I was Gordon Brown I'd be wanting to find him something useful to do, Ken without a job could be dangerous. Ken's got enough political clout, still, to cause all sorts of problems if he disagrees with policy. I am old enough to remember him taking on Margaret Thatcher. People listen to Ken Livingstone because he has knowledge, because he had experience and, I think, because he's a conviction politician, he says what he believes not what is expedient. Good luck to Ken. Look out Gordon.

Date posted: 08 May 2008