THIS BLOG IS ON HOLIDAYS. JUST SO THAT YOU KNOW. AND AS LONG TIME READERS OF THIS SPACE WILL KNOW, DURING THE AUGUST BREAK THIS BLOG DOES NOT WATCH OR LISTEN TO NEWS PROGRAMMES OR READ NEWSPAPERS. APART FROM A REGULAR TIE IN WITH THE OFFICE FOR EMERGENCIES I REFUSE TO DISCUSS POLITICAL MATTERS OR INDEED CURRENT AFFAIRS WITH ANYONE. EVEN YOUR MAN. HE IS ON HOLIDAYS AS WELL. BY THE WAY HE DIFFERENTIATES BETWEEN BREAKS AND HOLIDAYS AND BY THE WAY AGAIN HE IS NOT WITH ME ON HOLIDAYS. OR ON A BREAK EITHER FOR THAT MATTER. IT IS VERY LIBERATING. HIS ABSENCE. I JEST. THE ABSENCE OF NEWS. OR AT LEAST ABSENCE OF THE COMPULSION TO WATCH OR LISTEN OR READ THE DAILY DOSES OF WHAT PASSES FOR NEWS THESES DAYS. INCIDENTLY WHEN I SAY I DONT GET NEWSPAPERS THERE IS AN EXCEPTION TO THAT. I GET THE ANDYTOWN NEWS IF IT IS AVAILABLE AND ON A SATURDAY I GET THE IRISH TIMES. FOR THE SPORTS, THE REVIEW SECTION, BOOKS, THE MAGAZINE AND ALL THE REST OF IT. AN