Not a fan of weddings !

Yesterday was the perfect opportunity to bury bad news. The media were besotted with the story that William Windsor is to get married. His fiancee is painted as an ordinary middle class girl, this ignores the fact that daddy is a millionaire. Anyway as someone not really that interested I thought it far more interesting to read the stories that might have made it big but..

Without a doubt the paying of compensation to those kidnapped and taken to Guantellimo Bay where they were imprisoned without trial and tortured should have dominated the media. The previous may wriggle and say they didn't know, but the fact remains that British citizens were subjected to such treatment,.

Second Cameron is forced to back down and take his photographer off the public payroll, arguably the first climbdown, and a blow to those who think the media image is what politics is all about.

Finally floods hit Cornwall, now the news is treating this as an isolated incident, strangely no mention of the dreadful floods last November in Cumbria or the floods along the river severn in 2007. No mention of either the cuts to our flood defences or of course the fact that more extreme weather is likely to become more common as a result of climate change.

On a personal note my article on the Green party's success in Brighton Pavilion has been accepted for publication by Politics Review for their January online edition . I have to report that early this morning I finished reading the second volume of Chris Mullin's diary. Once again I was genuinely sorry to have reached the end of the book. I think you can't give a book a better recommendation.

Hello Paul - got a new motor !

Well the answer's yes. More eco-friendly engine, and a "lifetime guarantee". New cars look so shiny, but within a few hours birds had deposited and I'm out there with a cloth. How long will that approach last ?

As much as I'm trying to cut down on car use, there's no getting away from the fact that away from major conurbations public transport is over priced, very restricted and more important erratic.

A very full day and night

Sunday morning an opportunity to get on my bike and cycle down to Seymour Field to watch Sunday Morning football, in fairness the short cycle ride was more worthwhile than the game, but anyway back home in time to make a curry and settle down to watch Arsenal's game at Everton. Very good display by the Gunners, and really never looked in danger until the final few minutes when Fabianski once again proved that as a shot stopper he's more than competent, its just the set pieces that worry me.

While Chelsea were taking a thrashing at home I was making making my way across london to Shepherds Bush to see Drive by Truckers. Fortunately for me, the Central line was running, 7 other lines were not. Travelling around London at the weekend is a nightmare and really ought to be a major issue leading up to the next mayoral election.

And so to DBT, firstly a new venue, for some reason I'd never been to the old Shepherds Bush empire,secondly a good opening set from Danny, Champions of the World. A few minutes after nine DBT came on stage. I'd been looking forward to seeing them since I unfortunately missed their previous tour two summers ago. Two songs in and Patterson Hood launches into Putting People on the Moon. When people say no one writes political, angry songs anymore they haven't heard this. Cooley plays " A Ghost to Most"and the other highlights for me were the Southern Rock opera tracks especially Zip City, Women without Whiskey and Let there be Rock. It was a stunning, energetic, leave nothing in the tank set. The venue seemed full and we got a few rows from the front, Petterson and Cooley compliment each other brilliantly throughout the set. Just a great night.

Let there be Rock was still ringing in my ears as I tried to make my way back to Essex, or more precisely Newbiury Park station car park. Anyway back home at 1am. The life I lead.

I predict a riot !

Used this title (copyright Kaiser Chiefs) because the events of yesterday were so predictable. First the good news, over 50,000 students came to London to protest against the imposition of ftuition fees of up to £9,000. Fees that would effectively deter many from entering higher education. Fees that will undoubtedly see the introduction of a two tier university system in Britain. Now however agreeed for the march to make its way down Millbank past Conservative HQ must have been demented. A small number when you look at the size of the demonstration, went on the rampage, but allowing them close tpo Tory HQ was like showing a red rag to a bull. As someone who doesn't condone violence to people, I'm less worried about property, its easy to see the media's response which sadlt deflects attention away from the cause. However I'm left wondering whether the same number of column inches would have been devoted to a peaceful march and rally.

Away from politics a great away win for the Dons at Altringham on Tuesday night and Arsenal away at Wolves on Wednesday. After last weekend performances it was good to see some goals and the resulting points.

fireworks, but not on the pitch !

Its the weekend and you're looking forward to football. It's the 1st Round of the FA Cup for non league teams that means either the chance to pit your wits against a league team. Oh well we got drawn at home to Ebbsfleet United, from the Conference South. Nevermind there's the hope that with an easy tie you can progress towards the third round and the possibility of finding the holy grail , an away tie against one of the premier league big guns., with all the additional finance that that might bring.

In all honesty Dons v Ebbsfleet never caught fire , it stayed 0-0, and apart from a couple of sending offs there wasn't much left to report. While I was thinking that the replay would at least give me a midweek game, conveniently not far from home, the draw was made for the next round. This was the first time that AFC Wimbledon have been in the hat for the second round even if pending a replay.

It turned out to be the worst possible draw potentially pairing us with franchise. Of course we'd have to play them one day, the chance that we would pass each other like ships in opposite channels was too good to be true. However that doesn't make it feel any better. That said there are many obstacles to clear before that fixture becomes a reality, for the time being iut's just a nightmare onb the horizon.

Sunday was a Father & Son trip to the Arsenal who also failed to set the world alight against Newcastle. Arsene said the team never got out of second gear and that'd fair. Many players unperformed, some seemed less than fit, Van Persie just back after a lengthy lay off for instance. Yes Arsenal hit the post twice, yes their keeper made two fine saves, but the record books will show we lost 1-0 and once again the hapless Fabianski was at fault.

Finally then the fireworks, in of all places , Billericay. The Annual Firework display, a family outing and a genuine spectacle. Apparently £19,000 worth of fireworks and a large crowd hopefully raised a sizeable sum for local charities.

Union Chapel Islington

Monday 1st November and we're travelling to Islington to see Court Yard Hounds at Union Chapel, Islington. After a pint at the Compton Arms, a proper London "backstreet pub". We made the short walk to the Union Chapel. The Chapel is London's Ryman Auditorium. The acoustics are stunning, the seats wooden pews, and being a church the seats are not reservable. It's first come, first served, and for the Hounds there's a bit of a stampede.

After a support act that I never really warmed to, I admit I was tired and the lyrics and musics seemed to me to be a reasonable cure for insomnia. A little after 9pm the Court Yard hounds or two thirds of the Dixie Chicks took to the stage. The sell out crowd appreciated an 80 minute set that centred on their 2010 album and at no point lurched into the Chicks back catalogue. The musicianship was excellent, Emily Robison (think she's changed her surname since divorce) showed not only what a talented songwriter she is but also a musician who comfortably switches between instruments. Altogether an excellent night.

Homage to Kefalonia ( with apologies to George Orwell)

A week away with a room with a stunning view of the sea, a piece of headland and a small bay. In the far distance the coast of Greece was just visible encircling the outline of Killini. Kefalonia was my first visit to Greece since 1971, and I have to admit to thinking back to my last visit and all that life has given me in the intervening 40 years.

After years as independent travellers we succumbed to a package , but in all honesty I couldn't have chosen a nicer hotel. Arriving Sunday I settled into traditional English holidaymaker mode by watching premiership football on the hotel big screen. My defence is that it was Manchester City v Arsenal, and a 3-0 away win is not to be missed.

After a few hours where I was visited by the resident mosquitos, we had a quiet Sunday night until the storm started, lightning and thunder on a grand scale through the night, meant that a brisk walk into town the next day became let's avoid the deluge. Our plan to travel around the island by bus was grounded when we discovered that the bus service ended in early October. As a result a car was the only option.

A few miles along the cost lay Poros, the ferry port connecting Kefalonia with the mainland.

Poros had the harbour side feel that put me immediately at home, the owner of Kentpikon catered to my vegetarian request and then went the extra mile. We would make three visits to the restaurant during the week and each meal seemed like a feast.

Sami, we were told, had been the setting for Captain Correlli's mandolin, and it was the largest harbour on the island. The town nestled amongst hills ,small fishing boats were tied up and with crystal clear water, fish were clearly visible from the quayside. After strolling around the town, it was off to find the Acropolis of Ancient Sami, except that our pathway was blocked first by goats and then by a herd of cows who showed no desire to move off the warm tarmac.

The study of ancient history stopped by slow moving bovine creatures.

In fact goats were a constant feature of the week, and the sound of bells was never far away. Like many warm weather countries road drainage is rarely even an afterthought , shame because on Wednesday night we certainly could have use some. Torrential rain cassaded down the hillside onto the coast road making it barely passable. The road was turned into something approximating to a ford, and our passage through was not helped by the late sighting of two horses who obviously wanted to watch the mad englishman who was attempting to steer a course through a road littered with debris and water.

Thursday 28th October is a national holiday in Greece to remember to Greeco-Italian War of 1940. When the Greek people repelled an invasion planned by Mussolini. it was the 70th Anniversary, so we made our way to Argostoli , the capital of Kefalonia, to witness the parade.

Marching past local dignitaries came school students, college students, local sporting and voluntary groups plus the crew of a hip in formal naval wear. Local people crowded into the town square to witness the march pass to the sound of two marching bands. Once again I was left to reflect that here the Greek people were passing on their history, heritage and culture, in a way that surprisingly in Britain we do not. When my mother's generation die what will remain of memories of World War 2? Remembrance Day remembers the dead of all wars, but repelling an invasion seems somehow different. With hindsight I'm left a little surprised that VE Day was not made a national holiday in the UK.

The final days in Kefalonis, the sun shone, we visited the peninsula, less developed, and we witnessed the closing down for the end of the season. Tavernas, hotels and businesses were either completely shutting up shop or were retrenching to prepare for the winter period, when the holiday island is left to the natives of the island. I considered how these people tend to earn enough in 7 months to survive 12. I looked at the number of half finished construction sites that seemed to herald an uncertain future.

After several weeks of barely picking up a book I'm pleased to record that I read three during the week away:

Harold Larwood by Duncan Hamilton, quite simply one of the best sports biographies that I have read.

Michael Foot by E.O.Morgan - an interesting portrayal of someone who seem to embody English Labour values during my youth.

The General Election of 2010 - always interesting, as Hennessey say " A British General Election is not over till this book appears"

Music of the Week - Greece in 2010 led me back to Leonard Cohen. Cohen spent a number of years living on the island of Hydraa, it seemed only right to be singing and humming his work.