The grandchildren had a dressing up day at school on Wednesday.
They were invited to dress up as their favourite Mr Man. There are plenty to choose from Mr Tickle burst on to an unsuspecting world in 1971 and thirty two years and many characters later came Mr Good.
We didn't get to see the various characters but doubtless there will be photographs in due course.
I wonder how many of each character there were and whether the two twins decided to be original and go as Mr Why and Mr Why Not?
But if Mr Why didn't go to school at least we now know what happened to him.
In order to render him less efective than he had been covering the floor of the Turbine Hall with ceramic sun-flower seeds he was made a Member of the House of Lords and put in charge of the big society.
Now he has resigned.
So what now, Which of the many characters can be brought in to help the big society in its fourth incarnation?
It could be like the dwarfs in Snow White, Mr Happy when things are looking up, Mr Grumpy when they're not.
Or Mr Daydream imagining how the big society will help everyone get over the cuts or Mr Muddle realising what a muddle he has created.
Mr Greedy and Mr Lazy of course will get no help from the big society.
Only Mr Strong and Mr Brave will be included.
Faced with the fourth launch of the flag ship project the commentariat were not overly impressed and the Labour Party were scathing, according to Tessa Jowell, shadow minister for the Cabinet Office, the big society is descending into farce.
That will delight Mr Nonsense.
Perhaps we need another barbeque with Mr Cameron flipping burgers and serving them to members of the big societies flagship charities, you know the WRVS or The Scouts or The Samaritans or Barnardos whilst getting them to swallow the bitter pill that their grants are being reduced and the big society will only be big in name because it will have a smaller budget year on year it could even be linked to inflation, every 1/2 point increase in inflation meaning a 1/2 point reduction in the big society budget.
President Obama gave a moving and encouraging speech to both Houses in the Great Hall in Westminster. It ended with a highly personal note about his great grandfather a cook in the British Army contrasted with his being invited to address Parliament as The President of the USA.
But like any speech it was more interesting for what was not said than what was.
So no mention of deficit reductions or even big societies just the quiet but emphatic reminder that whilst it was possible for the Great Grandson of an Army Cook to become President of the USA in the UK it clearly helped to have been at Public School.
The big society is here to stay it seems. For whatever reason Mr Cameron is staying with this defining project of the coalition. I must confess that I don't get it.
I was born into a small society: Crossland Road, Droylsden. Over the years from 1945 to 1960 cautiously then from 1960 more rapidly and confidently, my society and my world grew and enlarged.
This enlarging of society was a social project related entirely to the post war Labour Governments, Bevan and the NHS, Beveridge and the welfare state, Harold Wilson and the Open University these were all big society visions now rejected as socialist extravagances.
Now we have budget reductions, a lowering of take home pay and a reduction in the standard of living. Last night on the news on TV a young mother from Gateshead was wiping the tears from her eyes as she described the closure of the nursery her disabled daughter depended on.
Big society?
It was not a Mr Men title but all I can say is Mr Bah Humbug!
They were invited to dress up as their favourite Mr Man. There are plenty to choose from Mr Tickle burst on to an unsuspecting world in 1971 and thirty two years and many characters later came Mr Good.
We didn't get to see the various characters but doubtless there will be photographs in due course.
I wonder how many of each character there were and whether the two twins decided to be original and go as Mr Why and Mr Why Not?
But if Mr Why didn't go to school at least we now know what happened to him.
In order to render him less efective than he had been covering the floor of the Turbine Hall with ceramic sun-flower seeds he was made a Member of the House of Lords and put in charge of the big society.
Now he has resigned.
So what now, Which of the many characters can be brought in to help the big society in its fourth incarnation?
It could be like the dwarfs in Snow White, Mr Happy when things are looking up, Mr Grumpy when they're not.
Or Mr Daydream imagining how the big society will help everyone get over the cuts or Mr Muddle realising what a muddle he has created.
Mr Greedy and Mr Lazy of course will get no help from the big society.
Only Mr Strong and Mr Brave will be included.
Faced with the fourth launch of the flag ship project the commentariat were not overly impressed and the Labour Party were scathing, according to Tessa Jowell, shadow minister for the Cabinet Office, the big society is descending into farce.
That will delight Mr Nonsense.
Perhaps we need another barbeque with Mr Cameron flipping burgers and serving them to members of the big societies flagship charities, you know the WRVS or The Scouts or The Samaritans or Barnardos whilst getting them to swallow the bitter pill that their grants are being reduced and the big society will only be big in name because it will have a smaller budget year on year it could even be linked to inflation, every 1/2 point increase in inflation meaning a 1/2 point reduction in the big society budget.
President Obama gave a moving and encouraging speech to both Houses in the Great Hall in Westminster. It ended with a highly personal note about his great grandfather a cook in the British Army contrasted with his being invited to address Parliament as The President of the USA.
But like any speech it was more interesting for what was not said than what was.
So no mention of deficit reductions or even big societies just the quiet but emphatic reminder that whilst it was possible for the Great Grandson of an Army Cook to become President of the USA in the UK it clearly helped to have been at Public School.
The big society is here to stay it seems. For whatever reason Mr Cameron is staying with this defining project of the coalition. I must confess that I don't get it.
I was born into a small society: Crossland Road, Droylsden. Over the years from 1945 to 1960 cautiously then from 1960 more rapidly and confidently, my society and my world grew and enlarged.
This enlarging of society was a social project related entirely to the post war Labour Governments, Bevan and the NHS, Beveridge and the welfare state, Harold Wilson and the Open University these were all big society visions now rejected as socialist extravagances.
Now we have budget reductions, a lowering of take home pay and a reduction in the standard of living. Last night on the news on TV a young mother from Gateshead was wiping the tears from her eyes as she described the closure of the nursery her disabled daughter depended on.
Big society?
It was not a Mr Men title but all I can say is Mr Bah Humbug!
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