Not strictly HPC related, but this does give a strong impression that old Gordons getting a little stressed of late..
Gordon’s garden girls wilt
By Sue Cameron
Published: November 27 2007 19:57 | Last updated: November 27 2007 19:57
Omigod! Forget about Gordon Brown upsetting the generals. Ignore the misery he is causing to sidelined ministers and Whitehall knights.
I now learn that Mr Brown has committed the ultimate prime ministerial solecism, a breach of Whitehall etiquette so severe that those of a delicate political disposition should read no further. Mr Brown has upset members of one of Downing Street’s most important institutions, those mainstays of any government – the garden room girls at Number 10.
The garden room girls are the elite cadre of Whitehall secretaries who serve the prime minister. Since the time of Lloyd George early in the past century they have worked in the rooms overlooking the Number 10 garden – hence their name. They have to be ready to work through the night, as they did with Sir Winston Churchill during the second world war, and to accompany the prime minister anywhere and everywhere – one was with Margaret Thatcher the night the Brighton bomb exploded in 1984. There are about 20 of them and some are not as girlish as they were – they often stay in Downing Street for decades – but they are always utterly loyal. Yet it seems that Mr Brown has upset their applecart.
It is not just that Mr Brown has been giving them hardly any notice before asking them to accompany him to distant parts – such as Scotland. He has actually been shouting at them – “tearing strips off them” was how it was described to me. Worst of all, word is that on one occasion he was in such a bad mood that he impatiently turfed one of the girls off her chair, sat down and started using the keyboard himself.
As one insider said: “It’s hardly the garden girls’ fault if Gordon and the government are facing difficulties.”
Contrast Mr Brown’s woman management with that of previous prime ministers. Mrs Thatcher’s relations with the garden room girls were so good that she used to go on walks with them when they accompanied her to Chequers or Balmoral, and they “adored” her. They had a decidedly soft spot for John Major, who flirted with them shamelessly. They even liked macho Alastair Campbell (Oh dear! A bit of VERY rough). And they loved Tony Blair. He took two of them not only on every official trip but also on holiday – there was a rota, it seems.
“People felt really pampered,” says my girl with the keyboard. “They went to Chequers at weekends, which everyone liked because you are waited on hand and foot there, but the GR girls also went to Tuscany with Tony. Even when they had to go to Myrobella in his constituency he bought them and the security men fish-and-chip suppers. It was jolly.
“Gordon’s a bit glum. He doesn’t often go to Chequers and he certainly doesn’t do exotic holidays.” Indeed. This year he managed only an afternoon in Weymouth, though he would have stayed longer except for the foot-and-mouth crisis. It is not the same as a month at Cliff Richard’s villa in Barbados.
Yet the real point is not the dwindling staff perks. Down the years almost everyone in government, from all parties or none, has had a good word for the garden room girls. Mr Brown has a hugely stressful job, but he must lighten up a little...
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/26b80a66-9d21-11...00779fd2ac.html
Full Version: Gordon And The Garden Girls
QUOTE (GiveMeTheData @ Dec 9 2007, 03:39 PM) 
Not strictly HPC related, but this does give a strong impression that old Gordons getting a little stressed of late..
Gordon’s garden girls wilt
By Sue Cameron
Published: November 27 2007 19:57 | Last updated: November 27 2007 19:57
Omigod! Forget about Gordon Brown upsetting the generals. Ignore the misery he is causing to sidelined ministers and Whitehall knights.
I now learn that Mr Brown has committed the ultimate prime ministerial solecism, a breach of Whitehall etiquette so severe that those of a delicate political disposition should read no further. Mr Brown has upset members of one of Downing Street’s most important institutions, those mainstays of any government – the garden room girls at Number 10.
The garden room girls are the elite cadre of Whitehall secretaries who serve the prime minister. Since the time of Lloyd George early in the past century they have worked in the rooms overlooking the Number 10 garden – hence their name. They have to be ready to work through the night, as they did with Sir Winston Churchill during the second world war, and to accompany the prime minister anywhere and everywhere – one was with Margaret Thatcher the night the Brighton bomb exploded in 1984. There are about 20 of them and some are not as girlish as they were – they often stay in Downing Street for decades – but they are always utterly loyal. Yet it seems that Mr Brown has upset their applecart.
It is not just that Mr Brown has been giving them hardly any notice before asking them to accompany him to distant parts – such as Scotland. He has actually been shouting at them – “tearing strips off them” was how it was described to me. Worst of all, word is that on one occasion he was in such a bad mood that he impatiently turfed one of the girls off her chair, sat down and started using the keyboard himself.
As one insider said: “It’s hardly the garden girls’ fault if Gordon and the government are facing difficulties.”
Contrast Mr Brown’s woman management with that of previous prime ministers. Mrs Thatcher’s relations with the garden room girls were so good that she used to go on walks with them when they accompanied her to Chequers or Balmoral, and they “adored” her. They had a decidedly soft spot for John Major, who flirted with them shamelessly. They even liked macho Alastair Campbell (Oh dear! A bit of VERY rough). And they loved Tony Blair. He took two of them not only on every official trip but also on holiday – there was a rota, it seems.
“People felt really pampered,” says my girl with the keyboard. “They went to Chequers at weekends, which everyone liked because you are waited on hand and foot there, but the GR girls also went to Tuscany with Tony. Even when they had to go to Myrobella in his constituency he bought them and the security men fish-and-chip suppers. It was jolly.
“Gordon’s a bit glum. He doesn’t often go to Chequers and he certainly doesn’t do exotic holidays.” Indeed. This year he managed only an afternoon in Weymouth, though he would have stayed longer except for the foot-and-mouth crisis. It is not the same as a month at Cliff Richard’s villa in Barbados.
Yet the real point is not the dwindling staff perks. Down the years almost everyone in government, from all parties or none, has had a good word for the garden room girls. Mr Brown has a hugely stressful job, but he must lighten up a little...
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/26b80a66-9d21-11...00779fd2ac.html
Gordon’s garden girls wilt
By Sue Cameron
Published: November 27 2007 19:57 | Last updated: November 27 2007 19:57
Omigod! Forget about Gordon Brown upsetting the generals. Ignore the misery he is causing to sidelined ministers and Whitehall knights.
I now learn that Mr Brown has committed the ultimate prime ministerial solecism, a breach of Whitehall etiquette so severe that those of a delicate political disposition should read no further. Mr Brown has upset members of one of Downing Street’s most important institutions, those mainstays of any government – the garden room girls at Number 10.
The garden room girls are the elite cadre of Whitehall secretaries who serve the prime minister. Since the time of Lloyd George early in the past century they have worked in the rooms overlooking the Number 10 garden – hence their name. They have to be ready to work through the night, as they did with Sir Winston Churchill during the second world war, and to accompany the prime minister anywhere and everywhere – one was with Margaret Thatcher the night the Brighton bomb exploded in 1984. There are about 20 of them and some are not as girlish as they were – they often stay in Downing Street for decades – but they are always utterly loyal. Yet it seems that Mr Brown has upset their applecart.
It is not just that Mr Brown has been giving them hardly any notice before asking them to accompany him to distant parts – such as Scotland. He has actually been shouting at them – “tearing strips off them” was how it was described to me. Worst of all, word is that on one occasion he was in such a bad mood that he impatiently turfed one of the girls off her chair, sat down and started using the keyboard himself.
As one insider said: “It’s hardly the garden girls’ fault if Gordon and the government are facing difficulties.”
Contrast Mr Brown’s woman management with that of previous prime ministers. Mrs Thatcher’s relations with the garden room girls were so good that she used to go on walks with them when they accompanied her to Chequers or Balmoral, and they “adored” her. They had a decidedly soft spot for John Major, who flirted with them shamelessly. They even liked macho Alastair Campbell (Oh dear! A bit of VERY rough). And they loved Tony Blair. He took two of them not only on every official trip but also on holiday – there was a rota, it seems.
“People felt really pampered,” says my girl with the keyboard. “They went to Chequers at weekends, which everyone liked because you are waited on hand and foot there, but the GR girls also went to Tuscany with Tony. Even when they had to go to Myrobella in his constituency he bought them and the security men fish-and-chip suppers. It was jolly.
“Gordon’s a bit glum. He doesn’t often go to Chequers and he certainly doesn’t do exotic holidays.” Indeed. This year he managed only an afternoon in Weymouth, though he would have stayed longer except for the foot-and-mouth crisis. It is not the same as a month at Cliff Richard’s villa in Barbados.
Yet the real point is not the dwindling staff perks. Down the years almost everyone in government, from all parties or none, has had a good word for the garden room girls. Mr Brown has a hugely stressful job, but he must lighten up a little...
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/26b80a66-9d21-11...00779fd2ac.html
iF THE POLICEMEN GO ON STRIKE IT COULD BE THE BERIA TREATMENT FOR GORDON.
QUOTE (GiveMeTheData @ Dec 9 2007, 05:39 PM)
Not strictly HPC related, but this does give a strong impression that old Gordons getting a little stressed of late..
Gordon’s garden girls wilt
By Sue Cameron
Published: November 27 2007 19:57 | Last updated: November 27 2007 19:57
Omigod! Forget about Gordon Brown upsetting the generals. Ignore the misery he is causing to sidelined ministers and Whitehall knights.
I now learn that Mr Brown has committed the ultimate prime ministerial solecism, a breach of Whitehall etiquette so severe that those of a delicate political disposition should read no further. Mr Brown has upset members of one of Downing Street’s most important institutions, those mainstays of any government – the garden room girls at Number 10.
The garden room girls are the elite cadre of Whitehall secretaries who serve the prime minister. Since the time of Lloyd George early in the past century they have worked in the rooms overlooking the Number 10 garden – hence their name. They have to be ready to work through the night, as they did with Sir Winston Churchill during the second world war, and to accompany the prime minister anywhere and everywhere – one was with Margaret Thatcher the night the Brighton bomb exploded in 1984. There are about 20 of them and some are not as girlish as they were – they often stay in Downing Street for decades – but they are always utterly loyal. Yet it seems that Mr Brown has upset their applecart.
It is not just that Mr Brown has been giving them hardly any notice before asking them to accompany him to distant parts – such as Scotland. He has actually been shouting at them – “tearing strips off them” was how it was described to me. Worst of all, word is that on one occasion he was in such a bad mood that he impatiently turfed one of the girls off her chair, sat down and started using the keyboard himself.
As one insider said: “It’s hardly the garden girls’ fault if Gordon and the government are facing difficulties.”
Contrast Mr Brown’s woman management with that of previous prime ministers. Mrs Thatcher’s relations with the garden room girls were so good that she used to go on walks with them when they accompanied her to Chequers or Balmoral, and they “adored” her. They had a decidedly soft spot for John Major, who flirted with them shamelessly. They even liked macho Alastair Campbell (Oh dear! A bit of VERY rough). And they loved Tony Blair. He took two of them not only on every official trip but also on holiday – there was a rota, it seems.
“People felt really pampered,” says my girl with the keyboard. “They went to Chequers at weekends, which everyone liked because you are waited on hand and foot there, but the GR girls also went to Tuscany with Tony. Even when they had to go to Myrobella in his constituency he bought them and the security men fish-and-chip suppers. It was jolly.
“Gordon’s a bit glum. He doesn’t often go to Chequers and he certainly doesn’t do exotic holidays.” Indeed. This year he managed only an afternoon in Weymouth, though he would have stayed longer except for the foot-and-mouth crisis. It is not the same as a month at Cliff Richard’s villa in Barbados.
Yet the real point is not the dwindling staff perks. Down the years almost everyone in government, from all parties or none, has had a good word for the garden room girls. Mr Brown has a hugely stressful job, but he must lighten up a little...
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/26b80a66-9d21-11...00779fd2ac.html
Gordon’s garden girls wilt
By Sue Cameron
Published: November 27 2007 19:57 | Last updated: November 27 2007 19:57
Omigod! Forget about Gordon Brown upsetting the generals. Ignore the misery he is causing to sidelined ministers and Whitehall knights.
I now learn that Mr Brown has committed the ultimate prime ministerial solecism, a breach of Whitehall etiquette so severe that those of a delicate political disposition should read no further. Mr Brown has upset members of one of Downing Street’s most important institutions, those mainstays of any government – the garden room girls at Number 10.
The garden room girls are the elite cadre of Whitehall secretaries who serve the prime minister. Since the time of Lloyd George early in the past century they have worked in the rooms overlooking the Number 10 garden – hence their name. They have to be ready to work through the night, as they did with Sir Winston Churchill during the second world war, and to accompany the prime minister anywhere and everywhere – one was with Margaret Thatcher the night the Brighton bomb exploded in 1984. There are about 20 of them and some are not as girlish as they were – they often stay in Downing Street for decades – but they are always utterly loyal. Yet it seems that Mr Brown has upset their applecart.
It is not just that Mr Brown has been giving them hardly any notice before asking them to accompany him to distant parts – such as Scotland. He has actually been shouting at them – “tearing strips off them” was how it was described to me. Worst of all, word is that on one occasion he was in such a bad mood that he impatiently turfed one of the girls off her chair, sat down and started using the keyboard himself.
As one insider said: “It’s hardly the garden girls’ fault if Gordon and the government are facing difficulties.”
Contrast Mr Brown’s woman management with that of previous prime ministers. Mrs Thatcher’s relations with the garden room girls were so good that she used to go on walks with them when they accompanied her to Chequers or Balmoral, and they “adored” her. They had a decidedly soft spot for John Major, who flirted with them shamelessly. They even liked macho Alastair Campbell (Oh dear! A bit of VERY rough). And they loved Tony Blair. He took two of them not only on every official trip but also on holiday – there was a rota, it seems.
“People felt really pampered,” says my girl with the keyboard. “They went to Chequers at weekends, which everyone liked because you are waited on hand and foot there, but the GR girls also went to Tuscany with Tony. Even when they had to go to Myrobella in his constituency he bought them and the security men fish-and-chip suppers. It was jolly.
“Gordon’s a bit glum. He doesn’t often go to Chequers and he certainly doesn’t do exotic holidays.” Indeed. This year he managed only an afternoon in Weymouth, though he would have stayed longer except for the foot-and-mouth crisis. It is not the same as a month at Cliff Richard’s villa in Barbados.
Yet the real point is not the dwindling staff perks. Down the years almost everyone in government, from all parties or none, has had a good word for the garden room girls. Mr Brown has a hugely stressful job, but he must lighten up a little...
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/26b80a66-9d21-11...00779fd2ac.html
I think the reason is simple, the girls live at the bottom of the Garden.
It is well known that Gordon is an uphill gardner so not suprising he is not getting along with the girls.
QUOTE (laurejon @ Dec 18 2007, 03:02 AM)
I think the reason is simple, the girls live at the bottom of the Garden.
It is well known that Gordon is an uphill gardner so not suprising he is not getting along with the girls.
It is well known that Gordon is an uphill gardner so not suprising he is not getting along with the girls.
Got any proof of him being a poof?
QUOTE (GiveMeTheData @ Dec 9 2007, 03:39 PM)
Worst of all, word is that on one occasion he was in such a bad mood that he impatiently turfed one of the girls off her chair, sat down and started using the keyboard himself.
Maybe he was checking out HPC.co.uk? Doing some trolling
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