Space man

We do love a moan about several things in our fine country, from the weather (by the way where has the summer gone?), to the cost of living (two pints, two glasses of white wine, two appletisers, one fruit shoot, all for the reasonable sum of £22!). One thing we also love to moan about is the traffic, whether it be on the motorway or in the City we have a near nervous breakdown if we are delayed for more than twenty five minutes.
Imagine the horror we would be faced with if we had to cope with the jams currently being endured by the citizens of Beijing. With queues stretching back a mind boggling 62 miles, the Chinese traffic jam has entered its ninth day. Caused by roadworks on a main route into the city drivers are being informed that the mammoth jam could last for a month. Apparently drivers have been playing chess or cards and the 'locals' have been opening up stores by the road serving much needed food and drink.
If it was here there would be a riot. We would only have about three traffic offices on the scene - Over 400 hundred police officers are at the scene in Beijing 24 hours a day to keep it all calm - there would also be stalls by the road in our country, probably selling duvets for £30, coffees for £5, and cans of coke for £2.50p, although most drivers would have abandoned their cars and headed for home on foot. In fact I actually think that if it were here the country would grind to a halt, politicians would resign, someone would become famous for filming it in their car, and three dogs being rescued would make News at Ten.
Imagine phoning in for work everyday "Hi there I won't be in again today, I'm still in the car".
To be honest though it wouldn't happen in this country, and how it has in one of the worlds major superpowers is utter madness.

I see Fabio Capello met FIFA representatives today to bolster our bid for the 2018 World Cup. Two pointers here I think, he won't be in the job in 2018, and I bet the lunch today for the thirty or so FIFA visitors was epic.

And finally! The Devon village of Beer is famous for....space? Yes, it has been proved that micro organisms (nearly a fatal spelling mistake there) found in the rock in the cliffs at Beer can actually survive in space, the first of their kind ever to do so. If they can survive the harshest conditions of all I wonder if sprinkling a bit of rock dust in my coffee the next time we have a day trip there will enable me to survive conditions at home? Someone get the chisel!

CH