Tonight I watched Channel 4 News at 6:30. In the five minutes before the hour, the News has been having little slots - this week, it's been on Paganism. Someone who is a Pagan spends about three minutes describing their lives. Tonight it was a twelve year old girl whose mother taught her about Paganism. Then, at 7, we watched an hour long documentary on  Elizabeth the First.

At nine, I started watching The Proms on BBC2. Tonight, there's an evening of music by Sondheim: his 80th birthday celebration.  Dame Judi Densch sang "Bring in the Clowns",  my favorite Sondheim number, and Bryn Terfel sang songs from Sweeny Todd. None of this would be seen on commercial tv. It’s very public broadcasting programming.

Earlier this week, I sent an email to my MP, a Conservative; hang 'em and flog 'em, but pretty good in representing his constituents in ways one would not expect of a Tory. It was long, polite, and pointed out how valuable the BBC was. I wrote in response to an email from one of the many liberal organizations I get emails from: the Tories are attacking the BBC. They say the BBC has an unfair advantage over commercial stations that must be attacked. They say we all have to make cuts...

I got a letter from my MP. A form letter, saying we all have to tighten our belts and anything can be improved.

Politicians never like the BBC. They want cheerleaders and seem to think that since funding comes through the Government anything other than obsequiousness is biting the hand that feeds them. Labour is no better than the Conservatives.

They're suggesting changes to the National Health Service as well. These changes are condemned by the British Medical Association and other professional health associations. They really don't care.

It's very depressing and I don't think ordinary people can do very much about it.

Trying to think of something good that happened this week: I read two very good books, Africa United: How Football Explains Africa, by Steve Bloomfield.  The other is Kraken, by China Miéville. The Bloomfield book was checked out of the library. Libraries, too, are under threat.

Next good thing: I found a recipe for marrow soup that makes marrows edible. Despite a considerable amount of chopping and the use of much butter, cream and fresh herbs, marrow soup is no better than edible. One marrow - soup. More than one marrow - the compost heap.

I found another recipe for marrows. Marrow and Ginger jam. Now this not only requires hours of chopping and simmering but the purchase of little jars, wax circles, and other things. A lot of work, a lot of expense, and I end up with Christmas presents for people I don't like much.  The compost heap looks a better bet.

I caught the bus into town this morning. Only old people take the bus - we get a free bus pass. (The Tories are talking about getting rid of that as well.) This morning, we chatted about the thief in the neighborhood. A friend mentioned this a few days ago - she lives around the corner, and a young man climbed over back fences, checking all the back doors and stealing what was in sight. She had her purse and camera taken from the kitchen table. The Police caught the boy and has the stuff, which she'll get back someday. She'd bought the camera to take pictures of her son's university graduation - the pictures are in the camera in the police lock up and she has no idea when they'll be returned. Several people on the bus had things taken.

The bus driver, whom the passengers like very much, joined the conversation in town, when she stopped driving at the end of the line. She lives in Wincheap and someone broke in while she was at work. She has two rottweilers and leaves the back door open so they can go out to the garden. She'd thought the rottweilers would discourage theft. It didn't.

We  sounded like grumpy old people, a parody out of a sitcom, but I think that the world really is getting worse.

Perhaps next week will be an improvement.