I'm surprised that you have such a strong reaction to him and what he is doing. I wonder if this is also based on imagination or have you been to events recently? I can see how, as an ex-premie, that the way you would perceive him would be quite different to someone who appreciates him. He certainly can appear arrogant, cocky and self serving to impartial or hostile observers.

Hey, so did Hendrix! What a lot of us pwk notice though (via association) is that the effect he has on people is remarkable, truly remarkable. It almost defies logic. I see people who have been tired, sad and completely downtrodden by the accumulated misery of their lives. Then they listen and get interested and it's like a big rock being removed fromm their back and they have a glow about them and a new sparkle of life. It's lovely!

I certainly agree with you that this fortunate situation can be brought about by many different people in many different circumstances. At the same time I think M has a right to claim his particular panacea as HIS particular panacea. I mean...Coca Cola claim they are the 'real thing' in soft drinks, fair enough, many people believe them and enjoy it. Many don't. I love the stuff, I'm a believer. But don't you think it would be ridiculous if Coca Cola started going around saying 'Oh, by the way, Pepsi is the real thing as well!' It's not how the communications world works and so M says, I've got the deal for how to find the peace within, but if in doubt come to me when you have looked everywhere else. Can't be fairer than that.

Thanks for displaying fairly reasonable manners and grace during this exchange. Some of your colleagues appear to find that rather too much of a challenge. At any rate, I am here only for the short intermission between the working year ending and our summer hols beginning, then I will be gone from this forum for another 11 and a half months.

Thanks to the FA's who have restrained themselves from slinging me off just because of who I am.