"at the end of the day we have an expensive car and they haven't"

having three young kids comes with certain logistical considerations. take getting in and out of cars for example. easy- unplug your seatbelt. be pounced upon by one of your children who was that much faster than you. the others realise the one that got away and start to request, if they are polite, but more realistically scream, for equality of freedom. hands, yours, by now, are pinned down by a heavy child. 3 voices increasing in decibels.

that's before you open the door.

in this particular sunday afternoon we had parked the car. angie went to get joshua out and as she had eventually climbed out she went round to get him. he was kicking against her playfully and with a step back she accidentally knocked the car next to her. the lady screamed "CAREFUL!" we apologised quickly as we were at fault.

angie went in to the supermarket with two excited boys.

the owner of the victim's car came back and after hearing of the knock examined his car. i apologised again. he accepted it and said "after my day, this is the least of my worries"

then as he left he shouted at the kid on the other side of his car for having their door open. whilst pulling away he said to his girlfriend about the knock: "at the end of the day we have an expensive car and they haven't".

he's right however, he must have spent a fortune on his car and it is, "at the end of the day", an expensive one. Certainly more than ours. In fact most cars are more expensive than ours as I have never bought a car.

So we now have a new PM

as I write the bbc are showing the clips of Gordon Brown's resignation and David Cameron's declaration of his new role and service to the country.

i'm reading a lot of notes of disgust and many of relief, some even ecstatic about a change. many opinions. many voices.

public service as got to be one of the hardest roles.

i always loved how socrates described this harshness when describing his "philosopher gaurdians":

...Those who belong to this small class have tasted how sweet and blessed a possession philosophy is, and have also seen enough of the madness of the multitude; and they know that no politician is honest, nor is there any champion of justice at whose side they may fight and be saved. Such an one may be compared to a man who has fallen among wild beasts --he will not join in the wickedness of his fellows, but neither is he able singly to resist all their fierce natures, and therefore seeing that he would be of no use to the State or to his friends, and reflecting that he would have to throw away his life without doing any good either to himself or others, he holds his peace, and goes his own way. He is like one who, in the storm of dust and sleet which the driving wind hurries along, retires under the shelter of a wall; and seeing the rest of mankind full of wickedness, he is content, if only he can live his own life and be pure from evil or unrighteousness, and depart in peace and good-will, with bright hopes.

election fever

voting. hung Parliament. proportional representation. coalitions... it's all happening here.

it's been an exciting race. the anticipation and desire for change has been exhilarating. i was up late last night watching gleefully at the commentary, speeches and it was great tv.

however, i'm still slightly worried that i'm voting for somebody and someone who i don't really want to be there. all the candidates had their merits. but i really find myself not trusting politicians with my precious "trust" to run this country. it's more like i'm voting on who i don't want to be there. i value my vote and value this amazing right that i have been given to do it, but i just don't like the who i'm voting for.

i kinda like caleb's suggestion the last time i was in this place.

a few snaps