Exciting Blog News!

As promised, there are some exciting developments in these parts. Well, exciting for me, anyway. As of tomorrow this blog will have a new home as it will be joining The Spectator. Consequently, there's a new URL. There are a few technical details that still need to be sorted out, but everything should be up and running pretty soon. Obviously I hope you'll join me at the Speccie. The game's a lot less fun when you're not playing too. Equally clearly this move wouldn't be happening without the support and encouragement of those of you who read this blog and those of you who have been kind enough to link here. So for that, many thanks.

A reminder: this blog's new home is here. It is, as the man said, a new day.

UPDATE: New RSS feed is here

Comments

[E.D. Kain]

Congrats, Alex! That's fantastic!

[ndm]

Good luck in the new digs. I hope your move doesn't mean a decrease in the blogs about wayward sheep.

Noticing that you finally bailed on the "No Gods and precious few heroes" byline had me once again thinking about its source. Given the politics I suspect it is not from the Brian McNeill song of that name even if the chorus continues with "in the Land of the Leal." In his version of the song Dick Gaughan co-credits Hamish Henderson and the first of his "Elegies for the Dead in Cyrenaica." In looking at my inextensive selection of Hamish Henderson poetry books Cyreneica failed to make it. However, I did come across the following which is perhaps apposite to tomorrows inauguration and departure ceremony in Washington, DC:

Roch the wind in the clear day's dawin
Blaws the cloods heilster-gowdie owre the bay,
But thair's mair nor a roch win blawin
Thro the Great Glen o' the warld the day.
It's a thocht that will gar oor rottans
A' they rogues that gang gallus, fresh and gay -
Tak the road, an seek ither loanins
For their ill-ploys, tae sport and play
(Hamish Henderson - Freedom Come all ye)

Not to suggest, of course, that you will be participating in ill-ploys in your new loanins.

[Cheryl]

They don't seem to have an RSS feed for you yet, but I'm sure they'll get there.

And congratulations!

[dearieme]

I gave up reading the Speccie blogs since I'm not fascinated by race relations nor Israel. I hope you continue to sing better songs than those.

[ndm]

dearieme writes:

I gave up reading the Speccie blogs since I'm not fascinated by race relations nor Israel.

This strikes me as somewhat unfair to Clive Davis who has an excellent blog with an interesting blend of cultural and political commentary. I agree that Melanie Phillips drones on with little understanding and much malice about both race relations and Israel. She damages the reputation of The Spectator just as she damages any cause she supports.

[RW Rogers]

Congratulations, Alex! Your unique voice has long deserved a broader audience.

[Jpeeps]

Congrats in order, but please maintain firewalls between you and the utterly repellent and utterly humourless Mad Mel. She really is a disincentive to paying calls there.

[last year's girl]

Congratulations on the blogging move - I hope the new home won't make you any less irreverent.

I'll update my feed.

[Jpeeps]

Wassup with the Hanoverian hairdo over at the Speccie? Instant gravitas? P'raps you should have a word...

[Anand]

Are you looking for a peaceful holiday?! If yes, then let me introduce you to an Eco-friendly Resort situated at Munnar, Kerala, India on Kallar – Mankulam Road, surrounded by scenic hills on one side, Tea Gardens on the other side, Cardamom and Coffee plantations within the estate and Rain forest on the opposite side.
For more details please visit the website i e www.wildelephant.net .
TO SEE PICTURES OF ROOMS AND ACCOMODATION AND THE LOCATION PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINKS GIVEN BELOW:
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/welresmnr/WildElephantResortMunnar

http://picasaweb.google.co.in/welresmnr/WildElephantEcoFriendlyResortMunnar
The Flora and Fauna of the place is amazing and nature lovers will be thrilled by the ambience and the beauty of the place. The resort is situated 5500 feet above sea level and is perched on the top of a hillock from where a perennial waterfall, from where the resort gets its water, is visible. The deluxe rooms are situated beside the swimming pool and the Mud Cottage and Bamboo Cottage are made to mix with enchanting beauty of Nature. The Leaf cottage is carefully designed with the background of Bamboo Leaf and has an excellent view of the waterfalls, the tea gardens and the imposing mountains.
The rain forests are safe and ideal for trekking expeditions where lovers of Nature can gain valuable knowledge about the amazing flora and fauna. To give a few examples there are several varieties of parasitic plants such as orchids which give beautiful flowers. Different kinds of birds which can be watched from the Resort itself add beauty to the existing greenery. There is a Magic tree in the vicinity of the resort the bark of which changes its colours every season, especially in the months of January to March one can see hues of orange and blue which is a very rare sight. The villagers of the area worship this tree as a symbol of Progeny and newly wedded couples come and pray here for a happy married life.
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There is a Fishpond in the vicinity of the Resort where you can feed the fish with Bread pieces. There are so many of them that you can watch them competing with each other to get the piece of bread which you throw.
For those of you who are interested in fishing, a fishing line awaits you with which you can try your luck and the staff will only be glad enough to cook the catch for you with yummy masalas.
Not very far from the Resort is a place called Anakulam where if you are lucky enough, you would be able to see hordes of wild elephants coming to a stream to drink water from a certain place where the water is a bit salty. It is believed that Elephants like the salty taste.
For those of you who are interested in peace and tranquility in the laps of Mother Nature, the address and contact details of the resort are as given below:

Wild Elephant Eco-Friendly Resort
Viripara, Kallar Mankulam Road
Munnar
India
Tel: +91 4864 218232
Mobile: +91 94471 59171

[Aroftertoot]

It took me 1 hour to create it, please rate it :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqnobvEWTag