I'd guess that English 10-14 yr olds are smarter at maths than US bankers too judging by the fine mess they've gotten the us into. Go the hoodies, eh?

On a different note, mentioning my blog here gave my stats a healthy jump that lasted the whole day :) I got another one thanks to this.

I don't know. Sometime earlier today, Victor called to say he was coming around with a friend. Victor and I drank whiskey, and Martin drank that cats piss Stella Artois. In any event, those two at a couple of stages got violent with each other. Or, to be more precise, Martin was more macho with Victor. I got fed up after a bit, and threatened the pair of them. And Rocky started growling at me, and I was close to killing him. He wasn't being aggressive, he was saying I'm scared of you. In the end, Martin went home in a taxi and left his bike here. Victor and I got another bottle of whiskey, and a bag of dope, and he said I did not understand because he was Latvian. I said, Manuel claimed he did not understand because he was from Barcelona. I said, I understand that Victor has got martial problems with Daiga. And, that it is not easy living with another woman and his mother in law. Liana being the mother in law. They are all Latvians. I'm just an English country bumpkin. What I do know is, whatever the problems outside. Don't bring them into myhaven. It's called that for a reason. My peace. My sanctuary. My away from it all outside of my door. If I want violence, I will go into a war zone. Leave me out of it. I can get violent like the rest of them. But, I don't want to. At the moment peace reigns, but Victor is crashed out on the couch. Martin wants to join the Prison Service. He feels he has to get a British passport first. In any event, that short fuse and violent temper I don't think he is the right material for a screw. If he is like that in my house, what would he be like with a prisoner in jail?

Neither science or maths were my good subjects at school. I found both boring. Not to those who were interested in them. What with climate change and the economic climate, do you think I should have paid more attention to the teachers?

Labour needs to get that American then because it was only this year that Labour accepted that 48% of school were failing, I mean the Americans for god sake what are they doing getting ready to take over the worlds education.

As far as I know, Robert, they have no plans for taking over the world's education (the world, maybe... but not their education) and in fact their survey revealed their schools lagged behind the UK.

JHL - what a pity Brookside has finished.... I think you've got a programme or two there.

Where do you get that 48% figure, Robert? I can't see anything similar. I can see that 638 schools were identified as a problem because of low GCSE results (less than 30% getting five A-C grades).

The OFSTED measure of failure makes it about 2-3% of schools that are either in 'special measures' or 'given notice to make significant improvements.

Episode two: I come down this morning at about 9, and Victor has been having half a bottle of whiskey for breakfast. The top shelf is tilted and a pile of law books are on the floor. I am not best pleased. He says it just fell down on its own accord. Remember the earthquake we had? If that did not bring the shelves down...

The speaker beneath the shelf does not sound right...

Martin has just returned to pick up his bike. I used the opportunity for him to take Victor with him and give me some peace and quiet.

It is Daiga's birthday tomorrow. Perhaps, it is not the best time for man and wife not to be getting along with each other. Would a box of chocolates be a good peace offering?