A Most Surreal Night

Last night the 6 day man-hunt for Raoul Moat finally ended in a field in Rothbury. I had watched the scene unfold via the amazing piece of reporting that is Sky News - I'd started out on the BBC but they only had images from hours before so I hope the person responsible is going to be 'sent on a course' soon.

The whole thing was very surreal actually; my Twitter stream was updating furiously with some brilliantly inspired Moat jokes: "Whats the difference between Ashley Cole and Raoul Moat? Moat is still fumbling around in a Geordie bush", "Raoul Moat.The most dangerous ginger to emerge from the woods since last month's fox attack" and "Raoul Moat just became the Mayor of Rothbury Riverbank on FourSquare" were a few of my personal favourites.

Incredibly, at one point the drunken, crybaby ex-footballer, wife-beating loser Paul Gascoine turned up claiming to be Moat's friend, bearing a chicken dinner, a fishing rod, a dressing gown, some beer and a phone. Although I don't think that fishing by the river with some tinnies and a KFC in cosy nightwear is what Moat had in mind. It was not one of Gazza's finest moments - if indeed he has ever had any. Like an embarrassing sexual-encounter, nobody has mentioned it this morning.

Watching it unfold was quite exciting, somewhat boring and yet also a little sad; I'm sure when he was an 8 year old boy opening his Christmas presents, neither he nor his parents had any idea it would all end in an armed stand-off in some field in the rain. I can't imagine how his 3 young children will get their heads round the whole thing; even if they were shielded from the TV and newspaper headlines, someone will surely mention it at some point. How horrible.

It also looks like everyone in the area knew he was hiding in a storm drain in the middle of town but hadn't thought to mention it; in fact, someone said he was walking down the high street at one point. He was also nicking veg from peoples allotments - although in my opinion, if you can tell that only ONE tomato is missing, then you're taking the whole 'living off the land' thing a bit too seriously. Moat was partial to a raw courgette we understand.

I decided to turn the TV off around 1am because it could just go on all night, then shortly afterwards he shot himself so I missed it. Not that you saw anything, you heard a gunshot then lots of shouting 'put the gun away' and dogs barking, but could only see a policeman standing in the rain looking at nothing in the dark.

I imagine they shot him in the head for his chicken dinner and wanted to get it all finalised for the morning paper deadline. Interestingly police say it 'appeared' he shot himself (twice) even though they were right there.

The Gazza radio interview is definitely worth a listen.

Brighton Dirty

Leeds is at present I believe, nearly waist deep in stinking rubbish as the bin men strike enters it's third month - yes you heard correctly... MONTH!

Now it's our turn; Brighton bin men are striking due to many issues, not least having the number of their vehicles cut, being told they'd have to work an extra day to cover the shortfall, and temp-staff being axed. The straw that broke the camel coat back apparently was then being told that some of them were fat and lazy. Nice.

I fully support the bin men strike; it's not a nice job, they don't get paid a lot and they need the proper equipment to get the job done. What's worrying however, is that they only started striking yesterday and this is what half the city already looks like. These dumpsters are outside people's homes and shops - The picture above is actually a few doors down from our house - I won't even begin to describe the smell.

They'll need to do something soon though; as it looks like the workers have got the Council over a barrel (as it were) and the seagulls are the only ones benefiting.

Shaggy Dog Story

I loved this story so much that I had to share it with you - A pony with extremely short legs but a very long body has caused so many people to call the emergency services in the mistaken belief she is stuck in mud, that it warrants a mention on the BBC website!

Hampshire fire crews were last alerted on Tuesday as 'Mayflower' was grazing by the River Test in Southampton. An animal rescue expert said "Mayflower seemed to be a cross between a Shetland and a New Forest pony, making her look like a sausage-dog horse; she could appear to be stuck in mud as she was half the height of other nearby ponies.

He continues; "We have been called out several times for the animal now and it is getting a bit ridiculous; these calls from the public are with good intent as when viewed at long range, this pony looks like it is trapped, particularly if it is standing still next to its mates which are twice its height."

Mayflowers owners are now considering putting up signs to advise passers-by that she is not in any peril....