Archive for September, 2006


I’m just back …

September 30th, 2006 by Roger Darlington

… from a week’s holiday in Uzbekistan, so normal daily postings to NightHawk will now resume.

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Don’t go away

September 23rd, 2006 by Roger Darlington

NightHawk will be static for a week as I go on holiday to Uzbekistan. Perhaps, in the meantime, you could take the opportunity to look around some of the 100 or so sections of my web site. Normal service will be resumed shortly, so please don’t go away.

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Who was Farrokh Bulsara?

September 22nd, 2006 by Roger Darlington

One of my all-time favourite rock groups was Queen and the jewel in the crown of this group was unquestionably Freddie Mercury who was born in Zanzibar as Farrokh Bulsara. He was an outstanding performer who died of AIDS at the age of 45. This evening, I watched a recorded television profile of this marvellous […]

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Hammered in Hammersmith

September 22nd, 2006 by Roger Darlington

In mid May, I attended my first meeting as Chairman of the Greater London Region of Postwatch to hear protests against the proposed conversion of a main post office into a franchised operation. I blogged about this under the heading “Air red over Golders Green”. In the event, negotiations with the proposed franchisee – a […]

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A new word for you

September 21st, 2006 by Roger Darlington

apopelexy, n. A fit of extreme anger; rage at the Pope. For example: “The Muslim world suffered collective apopelexy at the pontiff’s quotation of a Byzantine emperor that Muhammad commanded Islam be spread by the sword.” At least, I think this is what the word means – but I’m not infallible.

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What’s in a McDonald’s?

September 20th, 2006 by Roger Darlington

OK, I admit it. I occasionally call into a McDonald’s for a quick meal when I need something cheap and cheerful and quick – like tonight, after a gruelling public meeting on a post office closure (more about that in another posting). The chain is now trying to provide more information to customers on what […]

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Is the postage stamp licked?

September 19th, 2006 by Roger Darlington

Life and times of the British postage stamp: 1840 The Penny Black, the world’s first adhesive stamp, is issued for use on May 6 following a Government reform paper which suggested postage should be prepaid by the sender. A Two Penny Blue is also issued. Both feature Queen Victoria’s head. 1854 Perforations appear on stamps […]

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German addition to terracotta army

September 18th, 2006 by Roger Darlington

There’s a report of the strange behaviour of a German art student in China who pretended to be a member of the world-famous terracotta army. Some years ago, I was able to view the terracotta army while on a holiday in China and it is a magnificent sight. I think that Pablo Wendel saw his […]

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Top 100 Labour blogs

September 18th, 2006 by Roger Darlington

I don’t know how I’ve managed this, but somehow NightHawk has appeared – at position 40 – in a list of Top 100 Labour Blogs. Actually, while I am happy to acknowledge my membership of the Labour Party (37 years now). I don’t regard my blog as a specifically Labour platform. but more as a […]

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What about the workers?

September 15th, 2006 by Roger Darlington

The photographs on a new web site called Working Life bear testimony to the millions of workers who laboured in Britain’s factories, mines and shipyards, on its railways, fishing boats and farms and to the men, women and children who created the wealth of the country and have never received the just recognition, or reward, […]

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