A terrifying report was on the news this afternoon - a warning that Morris Dancing could be dying out due to a dearth of young people wanting to take up the practice.

Apparently the youth feel it is embarrassing.

While I certainly wouldn’t take part - mainly as I just don’t do dancing of any sort whatsoever - I don’t really think it would be any more embarrassing than bouncing around a nightclub topless and drunk. Is it?

I think it is quite nice to see a bit of Morris Dancing around the place - its one of those Olde English traditions which we should try to keep. I wonder if there is scope for an EU grant?

The Morris Ring

As someone who works in coffee shops a fair bit, mainly so that I don’t go stir-crazy working at home all the time, I was amused* to read this story about another blogger being told that he couldn’t use his laptop in a coffee shop.

Incidentally, I had to get out of the house this morning and despite not really having a lot to do I took the computer and vegged in my local “office” and watched people going to work wearing the coats and jackets they got as presents at Christmas.

There is a certain air of smartness about how people dress and sharpness in their poise as their new coat makes them walk proud and erect for the first few weeks after Xmas. Seeing one person like that is one thing - but to see an army of like minded people walking with an unnatural gait is quite surreal.

Give it a few weeks and people will start to disdainfully fling that new coat on the chairs as if it has been part of the family for years, and the upright poise as people walk around will relax into its normal slump.

*When I say amused, I actually mean amused if it turns out to be a silly reason, but also potentially very alarmed if the current security paranoia is now reaching inside coffee shops as well.

Saw the recording of tonight’s episode of Have I Got News for You last night.

Jeremy Clarkson hosting is exactly what you expect - so the show is good, but not raucously funny.

However, the show is going to be memorable for a very different reason, and depending on how much the editors leave in could be one of those episodes people talk about at the water cooler for some time.

As the saying goes, the pen is indeed mightier (and it seems, sharper) than the sword - especially when it is thrown across the desk and stabs Ian Hislop in the face.

Update

As the program has gone out - it is clear that they edited a lot out. The incident was actually a lot, lot funnier in the studio and Clarkson was genuinely quite sorry about the whole thing.

Hislop milked it like mad though - and kept going on about getting botulism poisoning and pulling a frozen face throughout the remainder of the recording.

They actually sent a make-up girl on with a plaster just after it happened but he waved it away.

I hope they leave more of that in for the slightly longer version shown tonight.

Just thought I’d try and find some background music on my Sky-box to have on while pondering doing some domestic labour in the flat.

Flicking through the available listings to see what was available and out of 32 available channels, noticed a bit of a trend:

Is it Christmas again?

I thought this might interest some of you:

As part of a promo for the New Zealand Rugby, there will be a giant rugby ball parked next to Tower Bridge, from November 26 to December 1.

However, there will also be a Manaia Haka workshop at 10.30am on Sunday 30 November. To take part please RSVP via email. Places will be given on a first come, first serve basis.

nzrugbyball@tnz.govt.nz

http://www.manaia.co.uk/

I wont be going - I doubt I could keep a straight face. Sorry!