Let's Get This Thing Back On The Road

I've made good use of this in my new job and, after a month I can finally see my desk and everything's up to date! Phew!

I now have time to blog again.....YAY!!

More expense drama..or should that be 'treuliau'?

I don't usually put my long-winded rants on this blog - but I want to put this one here for a reason - cos I want lots of people to see it. Promise I won't do it again (well - not for a while...lol) and we'll be back to the usual deviance forthwith.


Yet more scandal on the expenses front - but his time it's not Westminster that I'm talking about. This is far closer to me than that.

The Senedd (Welsh Assembly to you lot..lol) has released it's members expenses for the 08/09 year. It makes horrendous reading.

There are no claims for duck houses or damp-proofing and tbh the 'everyday' expenses of most of the AMs (Assembly Members) is pretty fair. I don't object to the travelling expenses, or really to the TVs and ipods bought out of my taxes....oh no...

What I have a real problem with is the 'Second home allowance'..

Don't get me wrong here - I've travelled the length and breadth of Wales and if you live any further North than Brecon - then that's too far away from Cardiff (home of the Senedd) to make a comfortable drive home. The distance may not be far, but when they say 'A road' in Wales what they really mean is a single lane track that is usually occupied by tractors, sheep or roadworks!

But - I took an example of two AMs - one is my local repesentative and the other is the closest representative of the party I voted for. Both of them also happen to be on my Facebook friends list (convenient ain't it...lol).

I looked up their expenses online - they were released today on the Assembly website.

Huw Lewis (my local AM) claimed just over £23,000

Bethan Jenkins (my nearest Plaid Cymru AM) claimed just over £31,000

Both of them claim a second home allowance - Huw Lewis has a mortgage, Bethan Jenkins rents...

Here's the rub - Huw Lewis lives less than half an hours drive from Cardiff (where he has his second home) and Bethan Jenkins lives less than an hours drive away....

You telling me they need a second home!!!??

I've popped down to Cardiff for a sandwich it's so close....

I asked both of these people why they think they need a second home....

Huw Lewis still hasn't replied, which has pissed me of a bit seeings that he's my local AM - MY representative..

But Bethan Jenkins has....she said - and this is the quote 'I don't think that this is unacceptable'....

Well I bloody do.

She said 'I rent my second property so I don't gain from it.'

Not exactly the point Bethan - it's MY taxes that pay that rent....and I can think of better things to spend it on.

Her messages to me about the issue were childish and condescending she even thought I wasn't aware enough of poitics to know that Huw Lewis and herself represent different parties....Her whole attitude was exactly the same as those 'we didn't break any rules' Westminster lot...

I lost patience and sent her quote to the BBC newsdesk....and an email to her boss.

I'm not surprised by any of this - they are politicians after all - but this is after their expenses were exposed last summer and an official inquiry set up to see if they were spending too much!

God help what they were skimming before.

The results of the inquiry will be released next week - should be interesting..

Anyhoo - rant over - going to hassle them a bit more on FB now...lol

Update: I have, since this post had quite an nice discussion with Bethan Jenkins who was happy to answer my questions. I can't say that she answered them all satisfactorily - but that's politics for ya!
My thanks to her for taking the time to debate the matter.

For My Sons....

For my eldest, and his girlfriend who are looking for a place of their own.
To my central, who is working hard and thinking about making his own way in the world.
To my youngest, who is finding the limelight of youth.

I love you all.

Be careful - and if you make a mistake - don't worry.....all of you were! And look how you turned out....lol.

I'm Back!!!!

But I'm back!

A Word About The Changes

First of all I'd like to say thanks to the visitors who've been here since the beginning and hello to all the new visitors that have been dropping by lately.

Things seem to have been getting busy since a few of my favourite (and best) blogs on the internet have picked up a few of my posts....thanks to them for linking to me and thanks for all the new people you've pointed my way. Also thanks to those who've stumbled and tumblred me - it's much appreciated.

There have been a few changes to the blog as my regular readers will have noticed. There's been the addition of the sitemeter tag which allows to me to see all of your bank details and gives me access to your webcams.....I have a new 'tag cloud' which will take you to my links on Technorati and there's also a 'favourite this blog on technorati' button which if you all click I'll be extremely grateful....

You'll also now find, at the bottom of every post, a 'bookmark button' to make stumbling, facebooking, digging and twittering even easier for you.....I can be found on most of these places (except facebook...uurrgghhh.) just search for Mangawitch....

The newest addition though is the google ads....hopefully they won't get in your way and neither will they infect your computer with nastiness...so if you like this blog, give them a click each time you visit.

It'd be great to get a bit of feedback on the changes so please, whether you are an old or new visitor, feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think or what you'd like or wouldn't like to see on here in future.

So once again - thanks....and I hope I can keep you all happy (at least some of the time).

Yearbook Yourself

Ever wanted to know what you'd look like in a High School Yearbook?

Well if the answer is YES then check out this neat little Flash gizmo. Upload your pic (easy) line it up (also easy) and see yourself in all the geeky gloriousness of yearbook pics from 1950 to 2000.

This is me from 1964.

To give it a go yourself just go to Yearbook Yourself.

Feel free to email me any of your faves and I'll put them up here.

A Message To Those Who Know Me

Update: My space is back - yay!

Seems I posted some pics of second life avatars doing naughty things and Livespace took offence *sheesh* Sorted now though

Thanks for your support.

Aaaarrrggghhhhh!!!!!

It seems my 'Livespace' has gone missing....anyone on my friends list will notice I'm showing up as 'no name' and my space is coming up as 'temporarily unavailable'.

I've been in touch with Microsoft about this and I'm waiting for their answer - so don't panic (yet) I will be back!!

I'm hoping it's just got something to do with the high traffic numbers I've been getting lately and the multiple RSS feeds - but who knows...

....bear with me - I shouldn't be gone long..

Three (Maybe Four) Days Of Delirium

Due to the fact that it's Mothers Day tomorrow closely followed by my birthday on Tuesday, I fully intend to spend the next three to four days indulging in any possible substance that enables a continued period of delirium!!
This course of action may have some side-effects. A few possibilities:

• Random Postings.
• Offensive Postings.
• Repeat Postings.
• No Postings.
• Savage Tantrums and Rants
• Self-made vids declaring my Ambitions For World Domination.
• Spelling Mistakes
• Factual Errors.

and maybe more......

Indulge me. Or ignore me. It's up to you.

For the next few days.......click at your own risk.

Cheers!!

Did The Earth Move For You?

In answer to my own question - Nope! Didn't feel a thing...

Click here for full story

Sorry 'Bout The Absence

My apologies for being away lately..... my youngest son (shrimp) decided to take a few days vacation at the expense of the local NHS.... all's fine now though.......just have a weeks worth of everything to catch up on.

Hope to be up and running again properly tomorrow.

Days Like This...

It's What My Readers Always Knew...

Get a Cash Advance

Gay Bar

Not only do I just generally like this song - but my dogs are in it!

Well - not my dogs - I have two of the same breed.

My gorgeous little Chinese Cresteds.

Nutters - But I luv 'em.

Blog Action Day

Before I forget -

It's Blog Action Day on Monday October 15th.

What would happen if every blog published posts discussing the same issue, on the same day? One issue. One day. Thousands of voices.

The issue this year is 'The Environment'.

There's still time to register your blog if you haven't already.

Just click here to be taken to the Blog Action Day homepage.

Feeling Icky

No bloggy stuff today - feeling really rubbishy.

I'm gonna stay in bed.

A Little Note

Just a little note to say - I've added an email feature to the posts - just click on the little white envelope at the bottom (by the comments) and you can send all of this Mangawitchy goodness to friends and family alike!

May Be Away For A While

Changing internet providers right now so I may be gone for a while.

I'll pop some more stuff up for you when I can..

See you soon

MangaWitch

Major Geek Tattoos

I've come across some wierd tattoos in my time. Some have been awesome - some have been crap - some of them have been awesomely crap.

Who can forget the 'Full English' or the 'Zombie Wife' (Thanks to John Brownlee once again for supplying never ending strands of entertainment.)

But then there were the classics - like the ultimate 'Zelda' .

Well here's a few more of my faves -

The Periodic Table

BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death n00b)

Last - but nowhere near least - this is mine...not a fantastic pic I'll grant you (couldn't be arsed)...kudos to whoever knows what this is...lol. Just pop your suggestions in the comments.

Let's begin at the beginning

Let's start at the beginning then, shall we?

Come down with me into the rabbit hole of psychosis, varying degrees of sociopathic intent and possible vomit inducing paranoia.

Enjoy the sights of lucid nightmares and behold the cuteness of the fluffy bunny.

Dive right in to the lake of sugary goodness and fight for your life against the monsters within.

Here you will meet both the deviant and the divine - the hero and the heretic.

Hopefully you'll enjoy the ride - after all - it's free!!

So buckle up if you like - if not, hold on tight.....and here goes.............