Piers Morgan

I WROTE to Piers Morgan.
And wonderful news - his PA wrote back.
After I’d read both of his autobiographical books, The Insider and Don’t You Know Who I Am? - I had too.
As a trainee reporter you have to admire the man – for his tenacity, drive and skill at what he does – not forgetting an all important ability to entertain and keep people interested.
In my letter, I suggested an idea.
The fact that what I would really find interesting to read now would be a book about his experiences of starting out in journalism on a local paper i.e.doing what I am doing now.
I want to read about his first death knock, his fears and excitement on the job, and all the challenges he faced and how he progressed from there.
Ms Chapman said that Piers Morgan thanked me for the comments about his books, which were "very much appreciated". And "Good luck with your reporting at Enfield Advertiser and Gazette".
I’m hopeful he will consider the idea in future. Watch this space.
Here is a man that edited the News of the World aged 28.
And was eventually sacked from his high-profile job spear-heading the Daily Mirror over publication of some photographs of British soldiers torturing Iraqi’s, which were later found to be fakes.
I’ve met a lot of people who feel animosity towards him over that scandal and his connection with a froth-spinning red-top.
But I believe his take on the fact that he didn’t know they were fake until it was too late.
And so what if they were fake – they didn’t ignore the fact that torture’s gone on in Iraq.
While we are here. Since a journalist’s job is to tell the truth and the pictures didn’t, it was probably right that he was sacked. Many of the greats have been – another most notable for me was former director general of the BBC Greg Dyke.
Not many people like journalists.
But then a lot of people don’t like hearing the truth.
And that’s what we make a living in telling.

Ring around 13 Spikes

IF I got married I reckon I'd want to wear a ring like this.
Well actually I probably wouldn't. Aside from the fact that I would never be able to afford it - my political views wouldn't allow it.
It would be unethical to spend so much money on an accessory all for your single self.
It could be argued that it would last for a life-time in a way that a coat wouldn't.
But you could probably feed the starving world with the money this ring would beg in a single transaction.
Everytime I see high-end fashion pieces and the obscene amounts of cash demanded for it I feel a bout of nausea run through me.
As lovely as all the perfect-cut clothes, shoes, bags and the rest look - are they really necessary? Of course not.
Therefore it's a fact I find hard to condone in others and could never in my sane mind bring myself to do - if I had all the money in the world. Cliched but true.
I prefer simplicity and the ad-hoc spoils to be found after a rummage through charity shop rails. That kind of recycling to me makes more sense.
Because we live - and I'm speaking of the Western world here, in a place that is already so full of stuff its suffocating.
But then again in that same world that thrives on the next and newest best thing it is sometimes hard not to get carried away with the fanciful drivel thrown at you - see the self-confessing first line of this blurb.

On its own, it is a beauty.
It's called 13 Spike Ring - 18 carat gold and black rhodium with rubies.
The creation of British designer, Hannah Martin who makes men's jewellery or what I call "bloke's bling".
She says it's: "Jewellery for the decadent and dissolute. Derived from the masculinity of a rock and roll lifestyle.
"Welcome to a world of the fierce and glamorous where hedonism rules with opulance and men will find treasure beyond their wildest dreams."
That's a nice bit of copy but I fear unconvincing.
But if I suspend my disbelief and pretend I'm someone else I can almost believe her - for a moment and as long as it doesn't have a price tag.
For finding that out and knowing that there are people willing to pay for it would probably have me shouting to whomever is near enough "bring me a basin I want to be sick."