Harold Wilson would have been proud

Almost 33 years ago on the 25th May 1974 the Prime Minister of the UK made a famous speech likening the people of Northern Ireland to spongers, although he later was to say it only applied to those who were organising the strikes.

"The people on this side of the water - British parents - have seen their sons vilified and spat upon and murdered. British taxpayers have seen the taxes they have poured out, almost without regard to cost - over £300 million a year this year with the cost of the Army operation on top of that - going into Northern Ireland. They see property destroyed by evil violence and are asked to pick up the bill for rebuilding it. Yet people who benefit from all this now viciously defy Westminster, purporting to act as though they were an elected government; people who spend their lives sponging on Westminster and British democracy and then systematically assault democratic methods. Who do these people think they are?"

I,in the mould of those preceding me, have managed yet again to sponge a free meal! and to quote Harold Wilson-Who do I think I am?



The black tie affair coincided with my 55th birthday so May had great pleasure in telling everyone that she was taking me out to the Europa for my birthday.


This time it was however the 12th Janus Awards for Professionalism within the Institute of Hospitality


May had been a judge for two of the categories so I was invited as the guest of the judge-the lowest of the low-but who's going to turn down a free meal. Wendy Austin again compared the show with the Merchant Hotel in Belfast making a big impression winning many of the awards.
http://www.themerchanthotel.com/