First I must make it clear I have friends who are teachers and doctors, but that said, let’s start. Once again, teachers across the country are threatening to stage a walkout. They apparently feel hard-done-by over a range of issues including “working conditions, pensions, pay, and conditions of service”. Strikes  are planned for the autumn unless the unions come to an agreement with the Government. When they say autumn, do they mean after the six-week paid summer holiday has finished? Or will they fit it around the week-long half-term break shortly after? Just checking so I can put it in my diary. I on the other hand will not be getting a summer holiday, paid or otherwise. Nor do I get a pension, pay rise, or any other of the benefits these so-called “defenders of education” enjoy with my taxes. (PICTURE: Owen Humphreys/ PA) During the winter I rarely glimpse daylight, or spend any quality time with my other half, as I work from the crack of dawn to ...

Madonna alert – as always, look away now if you don’t share my obsessive love of the most amazing woman on the planet. Today is the eve of the launch of her MDNA tour in Israel, and in my Madonna-maniacal world, this is an occasion of great importance. Forget the Olympics, or something about someone else celebrating 60 years on the job this weekend, Madonna is on tour again, life doesn’t get much better. Today also marks the start of the 48-day countdown to her performance in London’s Hyde Part in July. But for now the focus is on Israel, where in a few short hours the queen of pop will take to the stage to do what no-one else will ever do as well. Some 4,000 tourists have descended on Tel Aviv ahead of tomorrow’s show according to local reports. She has taken a 70-person crew with her, and reportedly spent the past weekend touring holy sites. Her four children have joined her, and there will be a customised play area be built on the grounds of the Ramat Ga...

I feel a rant coming on. It's a reaction to an article on the Daily Mail’s website toda y about “street artist” Banksy, or in my opinion, graffiti nuisance Banksy. The article announced his latest creation – a sketch of  an origami heron holding a goldfish in its beak next to the River Lym, in Dorset. The mysterious and elusive Banksy, who no-one knows the identity of, later confirmed on his website that it was his handiwork. This came, I imagine, to the delight of those living nearby as an original Bansky can send house prices through the roof. For anyone unfamiliar with his work - he paints, sprays, sketches (I don’t know which) drawings on the sides of buildings and walls around the country. Usually in the form of a stencil image, his work is known for its anti-establishment message, in other words a two-finger salute to the law. He has been doing this for years, proudly publicising his work on his website and in public exhibitions, although he keep...

It’s the run up to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and that means one thing - my job is to get substantially busier over the next week. I am not a huge royalist, and although I am sure it is going to be a nice few days for everyone, all the pomp and pageantry I find a bit uncomfortable. Consequently I am  doing just one Jubilee-related blog as I am really not that excited about the whole thing. Don’t get me wrong, I like the Royal family. But I get a bit tired of the bowing and scraping I, and other working commoners must partake in. That’s just my humble opinion though, probably a result of the knowledge that any major national event means more work for me, and no bank holiday. The rest of the country, however, is getting in the spirit of the occasion.  The bunting is out, the shops are full of memorabilia, and the Queen is no doubt getting her best frock pressed and ironed for the big day. Millions  will raise a glass of bubbly to toast Her Ma...

It’s 6.30pm on Wednesday, the busiest time on the tubes and trains as rush hour in the capital reaches a peak. A train station heaves with commuters heading home, the temperature soars into the 90s. Passengers spill out of the platform onto the walkway, officials in yellow tabards and walkie-talkies announce there are no  trains running. They give no explanation, and no other information to the hundreds of people crammed up against one another. Bodies push and shove in all directions, the plan is to get to another platform and catch a different train, it is inconvenient, and means a longer journey, but at least they will get home. But no, more officials say that line is also stricken with severe delays, they tell the frantic crowd to  “make alternative arrangements”. The platforms continue to heave as more people flood into the station. Many are wandering around without a clue where to get a train home, all lines are apparently out of action, an...