There is one interpretation of sacrifice as requiring the ritual slaughter of an animal or person - this is not the interpretation here.

The version I'm using here is "the act of giving up or losing something of value for the sake of something else" much less dramatic but still I think significant for most of us.

Peter Benjamin Mandelson, Baron Mandelson (born 21 October 1953) is a British former politician, lobbyist and diplomat. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Hartlepoolfrom 1992 to 2004 and served in the Cabinets of Tony Blairand Gordon Brown as Minister without portfolio, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Business Secretary and First Secretary of State. He served as British Ambassador to the United States from February to September 2025 under Keir Starmer.

A former member of the Labour Party, Mandelson served as its director of communications from 1985 to 1990 during the leadership of Neil Kinnock, becoming one of the first people to whom the term "spin doctor" was applied and being nicknamed the "Prince of Darkness" because of his "ruthless" and "media-savvy" reputation.[1] Although sidelined during John Smith's leadership from 1992 to 1994, Mandelson became close to Blair and Brown. Mandelson was one of several key individuals responsible for the rebranding of the Labour Party as New Labour before its victory at the 1997 general election under Blair, to whom he had become a trusted ally and adviser. He was also heavily involved in the 2001 general election, famously delivering his "I'm a fighter, not a quitter" speech, but was not a member of the government at the time, having resigned a few months earlier.

Mandelson served as Business Secretary, Innovation and Skills and President of the Board of Trade in 1998 and again from 2008 to 2010, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 1999 to 2001, as well as First Secretary of State and Lord President of the Council from 2009 to 2010. He was European Commissioner for Trade from 2004 to 2008 and MP for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004, before being elevated to the House of Lords as a life peer in 2008 to serve in the Brown cabinet as Business Secretary in 2008, a move that surprised many due to his long-standing political rivalry with Brown. After Labour lost the 2010 general election, Mandelson co-founded the lobbying firm Global Counsel and remained active in Labour politics in the year

The slightly unnerving time of day - when daylight fades into darkness.

This is my attempt to write an "Ababtross" piece by Fleetwood Mac. Its not about writing or re-writing something similar to Albatross but getting that wonderful feel to the piece that Fleetwood Mac managed to achieve with the piece. Hence The Great Auk

I have always enjoyed the music of The Police from the 1980's . I also loved Stings solo output - almost without question.

But I always felt Andy Summers guitar and Stewart Copelands drumming had a huge influence on the originality of the band . Every so often I can hear me playing a riff that ( I hope ) sounds a bit Andy Summer- ish.

This is one of them - about staying in a situation you know has out served its purpose - but you keep going from - loyalty, the money or even because you just can't be bothered to start afresh .

There are so many areas now where the idea of balance is so important. 

Political dealing, journalistic interpretation, - its all about correctness and almost impossible to achieve. Your own view of the world inevitably gets in the way.

We all know one - a great raconteur who can hold you in the palm of his hand when re-counting one of his stories . Love it .

In late 2024 there was a gunning down of a CEO of an insurance company by a disgruntled policy holder - three D's were engraved on the bullets apparently. Deny, Delay, Depose - relating to insurance companies alleged behaviour towards customers in processing claims. 

A friend totally separately to the incident remarked ( without knowledge of the shooting I believe) that his life now comprised of the three G's - golf, gardening and grandchildren. A much lighter take than the awful events of the shooting. This is a re-mix of the Three Dees and is now re-titled The three G's.

Thats what Sunday's for - well at least part of it - No - most of it . have a good one.

This is meant to be an upbeat song - OK there are many obstacles to doing almost anything - but what the hell - try it anyway.