pumpkinstrokemarrow

Rather shocked yesterday by the claim in the DT that all the main parties have sophisticated voter databases which, amongst other things, tells them what the voters in the relatively small number of marginal seats what to hear, so that they can then go out and say it. Now political parties are supposed to listen to their voters, but they are also supposed to have a program which they offer to the voters. Not to make the thing up as they go along. This database sort of thing seems a little light on vision.

But some old fashioned politics in Cheam Village this morning with a herd of blue sweat topped young adults milling about outside Lloyds Bank. Lots of balloons, cameras and what have you. Sweat tops carrying the logo 'DC10', which I had thought was a sort of aeroplane but which an older lady was very pleased to inform me, having just worked it out all by herself, stood for 'David Cameron for No 10'.

Senior railcard for the BH also turned up this morning. A undistinguished credit like card carrying little that one could decipher beyond the name. I am now at my third email about mine with the provider. The reply to my first explained, quite reasonably, that having established an email orientated account for the BH, I could not then set up another account for me with the same email. But the account that I had already set up for the BH could ask for an additional railcard for me. Which I then tried, to be blocked at the passport number part of the operation. Much checking and rechecking but all to no avail. Tried the driving license option but the number on mine appeared to be entirely wrong; its parts not matching the boxes provided at all. Got a reply to my second email in good time, but a reply which appeared to have been sent without reading my email too carefully. Perhaps it was generated by a computer. We will see what their third email does. In the meantime, I have discovered that the passport number does indeed incorporate birth date, even more en-clair than that on a driving license. Which reduces the need for the railcard people to have access to the passport database.

Another brush with them in authority yesterday in the form of a visit to St George's Hospital in Tooting. Start off, this around 1700 Friday afternoon, up some side street off the High Street and ask a passing lady if the side street does indeed provide access to the hospital visible a few hundred yards away. She looks at me as if I am some kind of troublemaker but finally deigns to wave in the direction of the hospital, which I take to be a yes. Proceed OK to an entrance to be confronted by a large and complicated map of the large and complicated cluster of buildings. The map seems to suggest that access to the main entrance is achieved by going in a subsidiary entrance and doubling back, rather than going in the main entrance itself. But situation on the ground seemed a little different with the main entrance itself, next to an on-site M&S, being open. Wander in, looking for some kind of a main reception. There is a low rise desk with a young man sitting at it which I decide is not the main reception. I am looking for something much grander. Proceed into the rather shabby heart of the building; not dirty but just a bit institutional. Maybe it is always going to be like that in an institution of this sort. Also very open with little visible security: I wonder if that causes problems? Find a sign saying 'Information point' which sounds hopeful. Find my way to the information point which turns out to be an small and empty kiosk in a small and empty canteen. Back into the corridor where I accost passing man in white coat who breaks off rating some underling to cheerfully explain that the low rise desk was indeed the main reception and that I ought to think myself lucky that anyone was there at all given the time of day. Back to the low rise desk where the young man is chatting with what appears to be his girl friend. But he is happy enough to break into that and deal with me, quickly and efficiently, and with a sensibly pragmatic approach to the Data Protection Act, something which some outfits - including some Epsom estate agents - can get awfully pompous about.

But it remains odd that such a huge operation does not see fit to have a slightly grander main entrance and reception. OK so the main reception at the Treasury used to be fairly low key, but it is a lot grander in the refurbished building in Horse Guards. Chaps and chapesses in smart crimson blazers behind a smart counter bristling with computers last time I was there. At least that is what I remember.

Maybe hospitals are reorganised so often that it is not worth having a decent reception area. As soon as the thing was up and running it would be time for the next reorg..

Today was the turn of steak and kidney again. Good, dark brown kidney, a bit fresher than they sometimes are. A deviation in the form of caraway seeds and pestled black pepper added at the start of the proceedings. Couple of ounces of red lentils (Whitworths) added towards the end. Total cooking time around 3 hours. Very good too. And a portion to be frozen against some domestic emergency.