So goodbye then....

....Big bad boozing bolshevik bear, Boris. There goes one of the colourful politico's of the age. Remembered for his impromtu conducting an orchestra in Berlin, sleeping through a visit to Ireland with the Irish PM waiting at the aeroplane steps because he's "Indisposed" (read "pissed"), and publicly dancing like a big pissed Russian on just about any occaision where there's a bottle of vodka. Oh, and he was the first democratically elected russian president too. Forgot about that. Funeral should be interesting. No worries about him going off while he lies in state, he should be perfectly preserved for decades. I'd not cremate him though, comrades. The resulting fireball would do for the crematorium and anything for about half a mile either side. Saves on the fireworks for the party afterwards though. Maybe folks should bring marshmallows and sharp sticks. What a guy.

Oh and happy birthday to the Hammer of the Mice, my cat Gizmo. Three today and on good sociable form for a change. One tin of human consumption tuna for his lunch seems to have improved his mood; for that stuff he'll sell his soul, if the devil'd have anything to do with him!