Thursday, May 05, 2011
Mrs Chief again.
Well, election predictions suggest that I am on the wrong side again.
At the last minute I decided my vote for a local councillor would go to my first choice. I would curse if my second choice failed by just one vote wouldn't I?
I never thought AV was the ideal solution, merely a stepping stone to something like fairness; and I never believed that a truly fair democracy would happen in my life time.
It looks like we'll continue with the system we have. That's fine if people who become members of parliament are intelligent and ethical.....might be a lot to ask!
Roger likened the election race to a race on the athletics track - and yes, on the track, there is just one definite winner.
But if you asked a lot of athletics commentators their opinions of Olympic medal winners, many different scenarios would be offered.
Opinions cannot be as precise as a winner of a race - and sometimes that can be hard.
There was one race tonight, which I should have checked the result of.
As timekeepers we take no part in deciding the finishing order. We time a person in a certain position across the finishing line.
In one race we just knew that 1st and 2nd crossed together, hardly a hundredth of a second between them and I wish I had checked the finish as seen by the track judges.
It was a good and gentle evening.
Just 4 timekeepers once again - no Gerry though this evening.
It was obvious that no chief had been appointed in advance - the Haywards Heath timekeeper shied away from the responsibility. Tim Popkin (delightful name!) is a a dozy dreamer, with a penchant for his mind wandering off places sometimes.
Anyway, somebody had to do it - me!
I seem now to have a reputation for being happy to chief meetings.
I have been rewarded with one of the prestigious meetings - and rewarded by some hard planning too.
I will be the chief at the first day (the longest day) of the County Championships, a week on Saturday.
I will phone Barbara, who is chiefing the second day, and maybe we can meet for lunch to compare our teams and the tasks we have given everybody. It is preferable that people don't do the same thing on both days - keeps the mind more alert.
Lots has been done today towards events of the future.
Ashley has booked train tickets for he and Ecky to come and stay in the summer.
We have booked tickets for The Barn Theatre - a play starring our nephew Antony.
A date has been fixed for the old cousins to meet for lunch at our house.
But right now my future is more concerned with getting to bed!
At the last minute I decided my vote for a local councillor would go to my first choice. I would curse if my second choice failed by just one vote wouldn't I?
I never thought AV was the ideal solution, merely a stepping stone to something like fairness; and I never believed that a truly fair democracy would happen in my life time.
It looks like we'll continue with the system we have. That's fine if people who become members of parliament are intelligent and ethical.....might be a lot to ask!
Roger likened the election race to a race on the athletics track - and yes, on the track, there is just one definite winner.
But if you asked a lot of athletics commentators their opinions of Olympic medal winners, many different scenarios would be offered.
Opinions cannot be as precise as a winner of a race - and sometimes that can be hard.
There was one race tonight, which I should have checked the result of.
As timekeepers we take no part in deciding the finishing order. We time a person in a certain position across the finishing line.
In one race we just knew that 1st and 2nd crossed together, hardly a hundredth of a second between them and I wish I had checked the finish as seen by the track judges.
It was a good and gentle evening.
Just 4 timekeepers once again - no Gerry though this evening.
It was obvious that no chief had been appointed in advance - the Haywards Heath timekeeper shied away from the responsibility. Tim Popkin (delightful name!) is a a dozy dreamer, with a penchant for his mind wandering off places sometimes.
Anyway, somebody had to do it - me!
I seem now to have a reputation for being happy to chief meetings.
I have been rewarded with one of the prestigious meetings - and rewarded by some hard planning too.
I will be the chief at the first day (the longest day) of the County Championships, a week on Saturday.
I will phone Barbara, who is chiefing the second day, and maybe we can meet for lunch to compare our teams and the tasks we have given everybody. It is preferable that people don't do the same thing on both days - keeps the mind more alert.
Lots has been done today towards events of the future.
Ashley has booked train tickets for he and Ecky to come and stay in the summer.
We have booked tickets for The Barn Theatre - a play starring our nephew Antony.
A date has been fixed for the old cousins to meet for lunch at our house.
But right now my future is more concerned with getting to bed!
