Thatcher

Matthew Lamothe has died aged 30.

Reading the original statement issued by Bush Snr's own press secretary, it sounds like he is intubated rather than tracheotomised, in which case he will be in a medically induced coma I would think. So yes, not nothing even a strong 92 year old walks away from easily. I agree. Also what sounds a bit ominous is the wording of the most recent statement at the end - 'We will update you as events warrant'. Usually if someone is ill but genuinely in a stable condition e.g HM The Queen after her cold, they usually just say she'll be recuperating and there will be no further statement. Sounds a bit more like they're preparing for the worst here.

I was referring to George W. Bush, his son. If his father is supposedly seriously ill, and his mother is also in hospital then will he risk travelling all the way to Washington D.C for the inauguration or will he stay with them in Houston in hospital - that will be a sign as to how serious the situation is.

Here is the BBC reporting that. I would imagine we would get a feeling for how serious this is by whether George W. Bush attends President-elect Trump's inauguration as planned, or whether he misses it to be with his father.

Now he has declared state of emergency. West African are ready to intervein with armies. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/gambia-yahya-jammeh-declares-state-emergency-170117165356768.html Doubt this will have consequences. I guess he will resign at some point. BTW, former president Dawda Jawara is still in excellent health. President Jammeh has around 6 hours to quit before The Gambia is invaded. But Dawda Jawara is well? Fabulous, or so I hear.

Now he has declared state of emergency. West African are ready to intervein with armies. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/gambia-yahya-jammeh-declares-state-emergency-170117165356768.html Doubt this will have consequences. I guess he will resign at some point. BTW, former president Dawda Jawara is still in excellent health. President Jammeh has around 6 hours to quit before The Gambia is invaded.

Here is a list of some of the oldest living former Presidents of South American countries. I've only included those that are 80 and over. There's quite a few in their 70s too, although they seem to have a knack at sticking round for a while. Francisco Morales Bermúdez, Peru, (1975-1980), 04/10/1921 (95) Belisario Betancur Cuartas, Colombia, (1982-1986), 04/02/1923 (93) Guillermo Rodríguez, Ecuador, (1972-1976), 04/11/1924 (92) Reynaldo Bignone, Argentina, (1982-1983), 21/01/1928 (88) Luis García Meza, Bolivia, (1980-1981), 08/08/1929 (87) José Sarney, Brazil, (1985-1990), 24/04/1930 (86) Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Brazil, (1995-2002), 18/06/1930 (86) Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada, Bolivia, (1993-1997), (2002-2003), 01/07/1930 (86) Carlos Menem, Argentina, (1989-1999), 02/07/1930 (86) Isabel Martínez de Perón, Argentina, (1974-1976), 04/02/1931 (85) José Mujica, Uruguay, (2010-2015), 20/04/1935 (81) Rodrigo Borja Cevallos, Ecuador, (1988-1992), 19/06/1935 (81) Julio María Sanguinetti, Uruguay, (1985-1990), (1995-2000), 06/01/1936 (81) Ronald Venetiaan, Suriname, (1991-1996), (2000-2010), 18/06/1936 (80)

Brenda C. Barnes, an American businesswoman, has died aged 63. She was the first female CEO of PepsiCo, and later served as CEO of the Sara Lee Corporation. She also sat on the board of many well known companies and businesses, including LucasFilm, Avon, The New York Times Company and Staples. Here is a Wall Street Journal obituary.

Here is a full obituary for Ronald Buxton. Also Boualem Baki, an Algerian politician who held numerous ministerial positions in the 1980s, including Minister for Justice and Religious Affairs, has died aged 95.

If she is still suicidal and gets anywhere near the amount of 'traitor' style abuse you might expect, I doubt she'd last the year.

Here is a recent article for anyone interested.

Even though I'm British and just living in France, I'll give you five, although none of them are particularly ground-breaking and have probably been mentioned before; Brigitte Bardot (82) Jacques Chirac (84) Jean Marie Le Pen (88) Simone Veil (89) Valéry Giscard d'Estaing (90)

Pascal Garray, a Belgian cartoonist, most known for his work on The Smurfs, has died aged 51. Here is the link to the original obituary in French.

Peter Kippax, who played for Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland, has died aged 76.

M. M. Ruhul Amin, the 16th Chief Justice of Bangladesh (2008-2009), has died aged 74. George Beall, the U.S Attorney for the State of Maryland (1970-1975), notable for leading the investigation and prosecution which resulted in the resignation of US Vice President Spiro Agnew, has died aged 79.

Although President-elect Trump's handover might be worrying, it could be worse. Although if it's Nigeria dropping the bombs, I'm not sure The Gambia has much to worry about.

Peter Jones, an Australian politician, has died aged 83. He was a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly (1974-1986), and he served as Deputy Leader of The National Country Party (1975-1985). Throughout his career, he was Minister of various departments, including Minister for Housing, Minister for Education and Minister for Fuel and Energy.

Lance d'Boyle, drummer and founding member of the 1980s British punk band Poison Girls, has died. Whilst lead vocalist, Vi Subversa, did receive an obituary upon her death last year, I doubt Lance d'Boyle will.

International Master, and World Correspondence Chess Champion (1965-1968), Hans Berliner, has died aged 87.

Think he himself will now be one to watch then.

Brian Whitehouse, of West Bromwich Albion (1955-1960), scorer of both goals for West Brom v. Aston Villa 1957 FA semi-final, has died aged 81. Edit: Here is a Daily Mail obituary.

Let's hope nobody who's had a guess had a trip to Zimbabwe planned.

Fernand Decanali, French cyclist, who won gold at the 1948 London Olympics, has died aged 91. (Here is a link for the original obituary, in French. Hopefully since the page has been google translated it will count. If it doesn't count, then I'm afraid Fernand Decanali will have to be considered immortal as I doubt he'll ever get an English language obituary).

Eugene Cernan, NASA Astronaut and the last man to walk on the moon, has died aged 82. Here is the BBC obituary.

So if they don't have an English language obituary they're not to be posted? Something like that. And is everyone to follow that rule, or just me? I was only following the precedent.