Doesn't Mayor Bloomberg look happy?
As the new mayor of London met the New York Mayor they took part in exchanging gifts.
Michael Bloomberg was the first to present his offering, giving Boris a Tiffany box containing a crystal Big Apple paperweight.
Not one to be outdone, Boris handed over.... a novelty London Underground shirt, wrapped in plastic.
As Boris gave the gift he quipped: "This is not the most handsomely wrapped present."
Maybe he should have given a shirt saying "I Met The London Mayor And All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt"!
Written by Cheryl Smith, 09 May 2008
Go for it Boris -hope to see you as PM one day - if this gesture is anything to go by - you won't be wasting our taxpayers money!
Posted by: Margaret 9 May 2008 20:15:05
Perhaps Boris was just doing his bit for the planet by not wasting paper, I thought that was what Labour wanted.
Just shows you can never please a socialist.
Posted by: Bruce Hulmes 9 May 2008 19:58:09
Oh yes the 1948 London Olympics. When sport was still sport and not big business and the athletes still had to be truly amatuer to take part. Great people achieving great things on a shoe string.
The 1936 Berlin Olympics were hijacked by politics.(Hitler)
I believe the 1948 London Olympics were also a bit of a political statement.
Nowadays, the Olympics are all about politics and big business in my opinion. There is nothing "sporting" about sport these days, sad, but true.
Posted by: Madnurse 9 May 2008 14:42:01
Imagine the conversation when Mayor Bloomberg gets back to New York:
Mayor of NY: They were sure right about that guy, he is plum crazy - look what he gave me, a T-shirt that he has scribbled on!
Aide: Maybe there is a hidden message: I'll get a psychoanalyst to look at it. It may be as useful as a Rorschach ink blot.
Posted by: carol-ann livepool 9 May 2008 14:21:08
E. Greenacre
I remember the 1948 London Olympics, a wonderful tonic at a time of great post-war austerity.
The athletes were mostly house at old military camps.
I met two of them, MacDonald Bailey the sprinter and, at Herne Hill, Reg Harris who was fancied to win a cycling gold medal but finished second. They were super and very normal people and totally unlike the modern athlete.
GB, as usual, did not do very well.
Posted by: Victor, NW Kent 9 May 2008 14:14:43
These gifts are only a gesture, and the cheaper the better in my opinion, and even £1 not spent on wrapping paper, is a £1 of taxpayer's money well saved. These people all get well paid and don't need to be given lavish gifts. Keep up the frugality Boris. We can do with lot more of this, and include the Olympic games in the exercise as well. Apparently there is a book out now about the last Olympic games in London when the athletes had to make their own costumes and bring their own equipment along. This would be an excellent example to follow today.
Posted by: E. Greenacre, Grimsby 9 May 2008 13:08:51
Our Boris will put his foot (or mouth) into things, too Labour supporters delight..
Difference is between him and Ken, is that Boris won't waste millions of £s trying to hide them.
Judge him on a full terms results, not by the odd failure he may make, but can be overcome..
Posted by: neither/niether 9 May 2008 12:22:54
What's the fuss about?
It's a London T-shirt isn't it?
Best T-shirt in the world :-)
Posted by: T. England 9 May 2008 12:17:49
Northernhousewife,
How considerate of you to represent my opinion on circumstances which do not exist; Royalty, Government and all cities have a budget allocated to purchase gifts to present to visiting dignitaries.
Posted by: Peter, Fife 9 May 2008 11:48:23
Peter.
I expect it was less damaging thanwhen our PM turned up and was uncommunicative with Mr Predident.
If BJ had given him something expensivenyou would be on here saying, 'Who paid for that?
I doubt he could please you whatever he did. I seriously doubt he cares.
Posted by: Northernhousewife 9 May 2008 11:23:25
Times on line
Repossessions hit near 1990s peak.
Home repossession orders are nearing the level last seen in the recession of the early 1990s after rising by 16 per cent in the first quarter of this year.
According to the Ministry of Justice, 38,688 mortgage possession claims were issued from January to March this year, compared with 33,715 for the first quarter of 2007.
Posted by: Northernhousewife 9 May 2008 11:18:31
For those who think we should belt up because its not like anyone has lost their house...repossessionsp 16% last quarter.
Posted by: Northernhousewife 9 May 2008 11:12:08
Very nice,is it one size fits all?.
Posted by: Seb/uk 9 May 2008 10:58:00
Oh Dear; that will endear us to New Yorkers in particular and Americans at large.
A not unexpected outcome.
Posted by: Peter, Fife 9 May 2008 10:50:36
Poor Boris,
Cost cutting already, and being criticised for it!
Posted by: T.J.from Ireland 9 May 2008 10:44:33
Mr Mayor
May I say what a wonderful breeze of fresh air you bring to London and long indeed may your crystal shirt stay uncreased from the hot iron where many a labour force has used our sweat to sell our gold at rock bottom prices.
(Amen)......All [Rise-Gabrielle]
Posted by: Khalid 9 May 2008 10:40:37