Peter Rhodes on Commons friendships, dogs in cafes and the arrival of porn in the jungle
From the depths of the Amazon rain forest come reports of indigenous teenagers abandoning their old way of life, having become hooked on pornography after their village was given high-speed internet access. Some are said to spend their whole day chatting on social media and watching porn in bed.
One of their tribal elders says: “Everyone was happy when the internet arrived but now things have got worse.” Small world, eh? That's exactly what the internet has done to the rest of humanity.
Politicians from different parties sometimes rub along pretty well with some odd friendships developing between members on the Left and Right. But, as I noted yesterday, Rishi and Keir are clearly not secret best mates. I am reminded of the excellent David Frost interview when, trying to examine the relationship between Tory leader Ted Heath and Labour's Harold Wilson, Frost repeatedly asked Heath: “But do you like him?” A string of evasive answers suggested not.
One lesson from this election campaign is worth remembering, based on Rishi Sunak's blunder. On D-Day last Thursday, he stupidly skipped the commemorations in Normandy. He took a lot of flak for two days but by the weekend the media pack had moved on, Israeli hostages dominated the headlines and, as always, the Sunday newspapers were setting a new agenda. Moral: if you're going to drop a clanger, do it on a Thursday.
And off to the best little cafe I know which serves a tortilla-wrapped breakfast to die for and is also “dog-friendly” which can be a mixed blessing. The hound from hell beneath the table next to mine was a doberman-sized beast so anthracite- black that you could see only the eyes (deranged) and the teeth (Jaws). Another dog entered, a small, cheerful poodle-cross. The big dog began howling and tugging at its leash.
“He just wants to play,” explained its owner. “Okay if I let him off the lead?” Thankfully, the cafe owner said no, which spared us the sight of poodle-pâté. But it's a reminder that when an establishment is “dog friendly,” it's the humans who are friendly, not necessarily the dogs.
Comment Guidelines
Iconic Media encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.