No cuts on petrol VAT-EU law: “anti drilling mentality” Palin: Bunga-Bunga Berlusconi: Kate and Harry: Dolphin mugger: Squirrel basher: and a Lambo gets hammered.

Back to winter at the Castle this morn, cold, cloudy and not clement.

Yesterday was nice, chilled out, watched a couple of films, had a nice long bath; no phones ringing, no one knocking on the portcullis, not a glimpse of a demolished computer, oh well; back to “normal” today.

And here are a few relaxing pictures from the Castle grounds-

Over in the land of the mushroom shaped sun

The “powers that be” apparently have 48 hours to prevent another ‘Chernobyl’, As Japan resorted to increasingly desperate measures – including dumping water on the site from helicopters – there were accusations that the situation was now "out of control".

Time to assume the position.

And back in what is laughingly called the “seat of power”;

MPs have rejected a Labour bid to get the government to reverse the VAT rise on petrol.

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls said Britain could apply to the EU for a specific cut on fuel VAT - but the government says it would be illegal under EU law.

Ministers have hinted they will instead scrap a planned rise in fuel duty of 1p a litre above inflation in next week's Budget.

MPs rejected the Labour motion by 301 votes to 236 - a majority of 65.

With petrol costing more than £1.30 a litre, many motorists have complained that they are being priced off the road.

But Economic Secretary to the Treasury Justine Greening told MPs that shadow chancellor Ed Balls was "quite wrong to say that we can reverse the VAT rise on fuel because doing so would be illegal" under the EU VAT directive.

Nice to know that we can still make our own laws.

Over in the land of the free-ish and the home of the right to bear arms

If it moves shoot it Sarah Palin blasted President Obama on Tuesday for what she called his "anti-drilling mentality" and said the president was waging a "war on domestic oil and gas exploration and production" that

was resulting in high gas prices for Americans.

In a Facebook post published Tuesday night, Palin outlines a list of what she claimed was "evidence of the President's anti-drilling mentality and his culpability in the high gas prices hurting Americans."

"It's not even an exhaustive list," she writes, before launching into a lengthy three-part argument.

Which I won’t go into here because I really don’t give a shit, but if you are feeling suicidal click on the link above.

Across to the land of Popes and Pizza

Silvio Berlusconi has inspired a restaurant in Poland to create a "bunga bunga" pizza — a concoction as spicy and wild as the Italian leader's alleged sex parties.

Topped with anchovies, figs, prosciutto, garlic and a lot of black pepper, the pizza at the Warsaw pizzeria, A Modo Mio, has been a hot seller since owner Walter Busalacchi put in on the menu several weeks ago.

The Italian-Polish chef said Wednesday that he created the pizza as a satirical comment on the Italian Prime Minister and to "laugh about what is going on in Italy." Berlusconi goes on trial in Milan next month on charges he paid for sex with a minor.

Italian prosecutors say that Berlusconi hosted sex-fueled parties at one of his villas, with dinners followed by erotic dancing and finally the premier's choice of a sex partner or partners.

Berlusconi has denied wrongdoing and maintained his parties were dignified.

The pizza's flavor is heightened by figs and black pepper, words with sexual connotations in Italian and Polish slang, respectively.

So that’s what Bunga-Bunga means…….

From the land of loads and loads of people

A commemorative mug brought out to celebrate the Royal wedding has one slight flaw - the wrong prince.

Beaming out from the side of the mug, alongside Kate Middleton, is her future brother-in-law Prince Harry.

On the back, an inscription reads: "The fairytale romantic union of all the centuries. 29th April 2011."

It's not clear whether it is a gaffe, a deliberate spoof or a very clever marketing ploy.

The mug, supposedly designed by a Chinese firm Guandong Enterprises, can be purchased for £9.99 plus postage and packaging.

"Crafted in the finest bone china, it features an exquisite design of the happy couple with ornate gold detailing to honour this great moment in history," the company boasts on its website.

"Please be our guests to own this esteemed, limited edition heirloom to celebrate with your work associates, friends, family and loved ones on 29th April 2011."

Flucking pliceless! Bet Kate is chuffed, or will she find out about Wills other little foible after the wedding?

Right a long- long way to the state of the retired

A dolphin weighing between 600 and 700 pounds jumped onto the deck of a boat, injuring a woman in South Florida.

Isles of Capri Fire spokesman Keith Perry says a charter boat captain called 911 Sunday afternoon after the dolphin jumped on the boat and landed on one of his passengers.

The woman suffered a sprained ankle. Her name was not available.

Officials from the Isles of Capri Fire Department, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Collier County Sheriff's Office used an immobilizing board and a rope to push the dolphin back into the water.

Good job they weren’t Japanese tourists, the Dolphin would have ended up on the dinner table, unless it was irradiated…..Funny name that woman has….

Up a bit to the state of the Abenaki and Iroquois

A Vermont neighbourhood is being stalked by a renegade grey squirrel.

Several people in Bennington say they've been attacked by a squirrel over the last few weeks.

Kevin McDonald tells the Bennington Banner he was shovelling snow when the squirrel jumped onto him. He says he threw the animal off, but it twice jumped back onto him. A game warden says there have been other reports, too.

One woman is being treated for exposure to rabies, but Vermont Public Health Veterinarian Robert Johnson says there's never been a case of a squirrel passing rabies to a human.

Johnson says it's possible the squirrel was raised as a pet and lost its fear of humans. He says the squirrel might "go ballistic" when it encounters people it doesn't recognize.

Ooooh; scary!

And finally:

Back across to the land of noodles and Numptys

An irate owner of an 'unreliable' £500,000 Lamborghini drafted a team of men with sledgehammers to batter the car after the makers allegedly failed to fix it.

The Lamborghini Gallardo L140 luxury sports car - worth the equivalent of £465,000 in China - had recurring problems after the owner purchased it in October last year, it was claimed,
But far from fixing the problem, the dealership managed to mess up the bumper and chassis when it was in their care, according to reports in China.
So the Chinese entrepreneur decided to pummel his pride and joy on World Consumer Rights Day by hiring a group of workers, giving them sledgehammers and letting them do the rest.
The extreme display attracted a large crowd in Qingdao, eastern China's Shandong province.

I bet it did, he should have put it on Ebay, and someone would have bought it.

That’s it: I’m orf to buy some Paxo for my Churkeys

And today’s thought: Nothing's impossible for those . . . who don't have to do it.

Angus