Comments on: Who am I?

By: To boldly go… to the Blogosphere « Sarah Chapman

To boldly go… to the Blogosphere « Sarah Chapman — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:31:04 +0000

[...] the post entitled Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee didn’t tickle my proverbial fancy, Lord Norton’s 10-point analysis of himself does make for pretty amusing [...]

By: lordnorton

lordnorton — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:55:11 +0000

There are certainly other Tory academics. I’m not a great fan of team bonding ‘tell us what no one knows about you’ exercises and engaging in personal navel gazing. I’ll probably do a separate post on this. There’s also the pedantic point that it’s sometimes difficult to know what ‘no one else knows’ about you. If one’s close friends know, then presumably it doesn’t qualify!

I know Lord Levy is a table-tennis player, but I haven’t seen him play competitively.

I have now seen the Guardian’s coverage of the blog. Not sure it’s advisable for anyone to invite me to write even more about myself!

By: Bedd Gelert

Bedd Gelert — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:10:18 +0000

Slightly surprised that you are a Tory academic – I would have thought that was a rarity, or perhaps I am just stereotyping. Perhaps you could ‘tell us something about yourself that no one else knows’. I’ve been on so many ‘team bonding’ exercises in my time that I’ve run out of things ‘that no one else knows..’ so do be careful.

Perhaps you could tell us whether you could beat Lord Levy at table tennis, but I gather he is a bit of an expert in this arena.

Good to see that you are getting some free publicity from today’s Guardian as well..

By: Senex

Senex — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:08:58 +0000

The Times you say…

http://timesonline.typepad.com/politics/

Have you tried the blog feed from Redbox?

By: lordnorton

lordnorton — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:41:08 +0000

My religion informs how I conduct my own life; it doesn’t determine how I vote on issues affecting how other people lead their lives. (For that, see my other comments.) I speak only for myself. I am not sure I am typical of my fellow peers but then again not sure I am untypical: we are a fairly mixed bunch, and benefit from that variety.

I am not a regular reader of ‘Private Eye’. I am, though, regularly to be found behind ‘The Times’.

By: ladytizzy

ladytizzy — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:06:17 +0000

To coin a phrase, that’s more than enough info on Table Tennis…

How much does your religion or choice of party play a part in your decisions as a parliamentarian?
Do you believe either makes a difference when comparing your current position with an elected officer?
Are your answers to the above typical of your fellow Peers?
Does your 10th item prove you read Private Eye?

Thanks, Tiz

By: lordnorton

lordnorton — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:20:13 +0000

Thanks for the comments. Maxine: I sympathise. I do, though, like the tannoy announcements on trains when they drown out the passengers who are on their mobiles telling people they are on the train or busy discussing business (or personal matters) at the top of their voices. The problem for train companies is that, if they don’t make announcements (stations, safety etc) they may be vulnerable if someone misses a stop or suffers an injury, and if they do make frequent announcements they can be irritating. I do, though, favour an extension of quiet coaches with stronger enforcement. One possibility might be a quiet coach with no mobiles, tannoy announcements etc. permitted.

Senex: Though I don’t get much opportunity to play, I am a member of the All-Party Table Tennis Group. (We have all-party groups covering almost everything!) As the name suggests, it draws members from different parties (in both Houses), and includes a former Chancellor of the Exchequer. We don’t play on a party basis, but we have given though to a Lords v. Commons match for charity. On the basis of limited observation, the best players are Tory peers.

By: Senex

Senex — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:43:09 +0000

Do you play ping pong with the opposition?

By: maxine

maxine — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:36:33 +0000

I like your comments about yourself. I think anything direct and honest is interesting compared with a similar list by someone who is striving for effect and “trying” to be interesting. However, on point 8, is it possible for a powerful Lord to do something about these awful constant announcements that train passengers are subjected to these days? I travel by train twice a day to work (on Network South East) and it does drive me mad. I like peace and quiet on the train to read, do the crossword or just look out of the window to think.

By: Stuart

Stuart — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:56:00 +0000

Sounds good. I’d vote for you.