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A geography lesson, from our friends at Reuters:
Atlantic storm lashes southern England
That straightens out anyone thinking that the tempest which has brought the sea in rather closer — “…Areas particularly exposed are the Quomps, Mudeford Quay, Stanpit and Wick, at Christchurch…” — than it is usually . . . could be a Pacific storm.
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By the way, looking at those mentioned locales again, one has to say that this country really has some great place names, doesn’t it?
Incidentally, Mudeford just before the quay is now a very different place from the one I seem to recall Bill Bryson wasn’t at all impressed by in the 1970s. For one thing, the Volvo garage is long gone; and the term “run down” is no longer in the area’s mainstream vocabulary. The Stanpit-Mudeford area is, on the surface, almost stereotypically “English”, with the likes of its winding (almost too) narrow coast road, the Admiral Nelson (which now does very English pub . . . Thai food!), a fish and chip shop that when open always seems to have “a queue” outside, and a postcard-ish cricket ground.
Live in north London again? Under Mayor Ken? We’d have to be insane.
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UPDATE: But, to be fair, what the heck is also going on in New York state? (Where the wife and I plan to live eventually!)
New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer has apologised amid allegations of involvement in a prostitution ring…
As my mother just told me, “I feel like I’m in Bizarro land. Get back here: you could be governor!“.
Because his party has never been able to gain electoral traction, we were told on Sunday by The Guardian/Observer:
Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, today called for the creation of a constitutional convention to bring about wholesale reform of the way Britain is governed.
Isn’t that just like a Liberal/liberal? 
Because he has been unable personally to get ahead (in this case, meaning win some more seats), he thinks the solution is to change the rules to suit himself.
In a speech to his party conference, he stressed that he would only form an administration with another party committed to “a new type of government … based on pluralism instead of one-party rule”.
…”Will I ever join a Conservative government? No. Will I ever join a Labour government? No…
And will Mr Clegg ever form his own Liberal Democratic government? Uh, no.
Well, we’ve made Monday after all. The Telegraph:
Winds of more than 80mph are battering parts of the UK, as what forecasters have called an “exceptional” storm sweeps through the British Isles.
Trees have been uprooted and buildings damaged across the country, with the emergency services bracing themselves after a night of gale-force winds.
There have been no reports of major damage, but forecasters warn the extreme weather will continue across southern England throughout the day…
The Telegraph (and probably all major media) asks:
Send in your photos of the storm and the damage it caused
Yeh, riiiiiiiight. Isn’t that like major media: always taking and asking from us to help them make money. And then some of them sue . . . us.
Even if I wanted to send the Telegraph photos, all one has to do is step outside and you’ll get blown over; and any digital camera will be immediately drenched. The rain is right now coming at the house sideways. Trees, too, are sideways. The lone seagull I was able to glimpse was also sideways.
Any digital camera photos will, uh, have to wait a bit. But the canine companion has to go out shortly. That oughta be fun.
…the Prime Minister is thought to have been briefed … by telephone. Forecasters have warned people to stay indoors, avoid coastal areas and drive only if absolutely necessary…
Whew. Oh, good. Britons this morning were arising, undoubtedly wondering if Mr Brown’s been briefed.
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