I will be starting as usual by sharing some important links, before moving on to some other stuff…
LINKS
To start with, a reminder that the autistic community is still awaiting an apology from Katie Hopkins. On this topic, a prominent supporter of our campaign is Lucy Hawking, daughter of Stephen and mother of an autistic child – check out this piece.
My penultimate link is to a list of demands to the next government on behalf of disabled people.
Last of all, courtesy of the Anti-bulliying Alliance comes a suggested anti-bullying charter for use in schools.
PICTORIAL INTERLUDE
Close up of a swimming cormorant.
MIDDLESEX SECOND INNINGS WOES
Middlesex demonstrated in their match against Durham that batting again rather than enforcing the follow-on is no guarantee against a disastrous collapse. Middlesex reached their eventual 2nd innings total of 83 only because Tim Murtagh, batting at no 11 and suffering with a hamstring strain top scored. Chris Rushworth and John Hastings each took five wickets in this remarkable display.
I was sitting outside listening to the commentary on this and periodically enhancing my collection of photos…
My best aeroplane shot yet……with this one a decent second
This post will be in three parts. First of all I have a very important link to share, then I will be writing about the Borough Council elections, and finally I will say something about the Test Match that finished late last night our time with two full days unused.
A HYPER-IMPORTANT HYPERLINK
This link is to a radio interview with leading autism campaigner Kevin Healey. Please listen and share!!
BOROUGH COUNCIL ELECTIONS
In King’s Lynn we have two decisions to make on Thursday, who to vote for in the general election and who to vote for in our borough council election. I have already made clear, both here and on my twitter feed who I will be voting for in the general election, and I will say no more in this post than that it would be folly for anyone in King’s Lynn who considers themselves even remotely progressive to vote for anybody other than Jo Rust. I have not previously mentioned the Borough Council elections, because I had not formed a definite conclusion. The game changer that has prompted this post was the following from our local Green Party…
Look to the central part of this leaflet in particular to see why I am so definite about the decision.
TEST MATCH HUMILIATION FOR ENGLAND
Not long after 10PM our time last night the final test of the series between England and the West Indies ended (with two days unused) in a defeat by five wickets for the visitors. England’s batting was woefully inadequate with the exceptions in the first innings of Cook who ground out a century and Ali who made 58. 123 all out at the second attempt when seeking to build on a lead of 68 tells its own tale of woe. The other problem for England was lack of a serious spin option (Ali, the ‘front-line spinner’ recorded match figures of 2-110 from 22 overs on a turner). If Adil Rashid was not the right option on this pitch he never will be.
Whoever they go for, and wherever they find them, England need a genuine front-line spinner (and not a batsman who bowls being bigged up) and they need one as soon as possible. A spinner who takes only two wickets in the match and goes for five an over on a turning pitch does not deserve to be described as such. It was not just the number of runs being leaked but the deliveries off which they were being hit – frequently short (including a substantial ration of rank long hops). Wilf Rhodes, a great spinner a century ago, used to say talking about the length he bowled “Ah were nivver hooked and Ah were nivver cut”
Congratulations to the West Indies on being able to take what was handed them on a plate.
Now for a few more pics…
On Saturday there were no fewer the seven boats moored at the new jetty (I am fairly certain that this is a current record)
I have some important stuff to share with you before getting into the main body of my post, and I can promise you plenty of cool pictures.
LINKS
First up today, courtesy of 38degrees comes this tribute to Ealing Hospital.
Tom Pride is on fine form, with two pieces exposing the Tories in different ways:
1)A selection of especially vile opinions expressed by Tories.
2)The story of a supposedly undecided audience member at a recent TV debate who was actually known to be a Tory.
My final link is to a picture that tells more than many words, and segues into the rest of the post.
This is the graphic I have linked to, with grateful acknowledgement to Team4Nature.
ON NATURE
I decided to do a very brief (words wise) post about nature because I received some important information that required sharing from Team4Nature, and having been out for a walk yesterday I have some pictures to share that fit with the topic.
Therefore, on the principle that one picture can speak a thousand words, here are some of the best from yesterday…
This is from Thursday, as is the next pic.
A white butterfly enjoying itself among some green leaves.
aspiblog 
