Wednesday 18 January: Practical measures to stop the rot within the Metropolitan Police

Posted on by Geoff Graham

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616 thoughts on “Wednesday 18 January: Practical measures to stop the rot within the Metropolitan Police”

      1. As I’ve said on the intro’ to the story, “ I’ve been fighting for an Internet connection since 06:00“

        1. That’s what puzzled me when I posted my reply to Minty, Tom. My reply to you once you managed to get through tells you that I have had similar problems. Enjoy your day.

    1. Third amongst equals eh?

      Morning Elsie, Morning All and a very Happy Birthday to Stormy (may your D Cups floweth over!)

  5. Morning all 😉 😊
    Happy birthday Stormy.
    There’s a great old blues number called Stormy Monday.
    But it’s Wednesday and not stormy, but cold.
    Have a lovely birthday today stormy 🤗🍾🥂

    1. I second those birthday greetings to Stormy, Ready Eddy, and a “Good Morning” to you.

  6. Good Morrow, Gentlefolk, Late on parade, I’ve been fighting for an Internet connection since 06:00. Here is today’s (true) story:

    How To Call The Police When You’re Old
    Phillip Hewitson, an elderly man, from Norwich, was going up to bed, when his wife told him that he’d left the light on in the garden shed, which she could see from the bedroom window. George opened the back door to go turn off the light, but saw that there were people in the shed stealing things.

    He phoned the police, who asked “Is someone in your house?”

    He said “No,” but some people are breaking into my garden shed and stealing from me.

    Then the police dispatcher said “All patrols are busy. You should lock your doors and an officer will be along when one is available.”

    George said, “Okay.”
    He hung up the phone and counted to 30.

    Then he phoned the police again.

    “Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people stealing things from my shed. Well you don’t have to worry about them now because I just shot them.” and he hung up.

    Within five minutes, Six Police Cars, a SWAT Team, a Helicopter, two Fire Trucks, a Paramedic, and an Ambulance showed up at the Hewitson’s residence, and caught the burglars red-handed.

    One of the Policemen said to Phillip, “I thought you said that you’d shot them!”

    Phillip said, “I thought you said there was nobody available!”

    1. A bittersweet kind of joke, Tom, and very true. But very funny, too. Enjoy your day. I too found I couldn’t connect to the Internet this morning. And this after spending all of yesterday setting up my new printer. I’m off now for a couple of hours’ snooze, since I’ve been up since 12.30 am.

    2. Morning NTN – I had the same problem the other day when I couldn’t get on to the internet. After a while I went to the incoming point of the internet connection and switched it off for a few minutes. When I went back to the PC about 5 minutes later the internet was available. It’s an old trick.

      1. I’ve been doing that since 06:00 but finally went back to a ‘Restore’ point and after a bit of jiggery-pokery, it sorted itself out.

    3. Did you hear the about the guy standing at the urinal having a pee ?
      There was quite a commotion over his shoulder as a guy dashed in and stood next to him out of breath and flopping a large appendage into the space. Cor blimey he pants I just made it…..
      The other guy zips up his fly and replied do you think you can you make me one like that.

        1. It has to be spoiler and /spoiler each side of the text to be blanked (with each side of the word Spoiler.) I had to do that otherwise it just blanked ‘and’.

          Try it on ‘Edit’.

          ‘Morning, Eddy.

  7. Brutus is now a knife-wielding woman in Royal Shakespeare Company’s new Julius Caesar. 18 January 2023.

    Atri Banerjee, the play’s director, said: “Julius Caesar is the perfect play for our age of emergency, asking uncomfortable questions about today. When asked to imagine a better future for us all, what resources do we have left? What are the limits of peaceful activism? How far would you, personally, go, to make the world a better place?

    “By thinking of the roles in this play across intersectional lines – gender, race, class, disability, among others – we’re inviting audience members to think of their own place within the status quo and what might be at stake for each of us within it.”

    Really? I imagined people went to escape their concerrns and lose themselves in Shakespeare’s genius. I don’t watch these Woke representations when they appear on TV and certainly wouldn’t go to see one on the stage. Perhaps Mr Banerjee being so knowledgeable should write his own Play?

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/17/brutus-now-knife-wielding-woman-royal-shakespeare-companys-new/

    1. A travesty and the ruination of Shakespeare’s unsurpassed writings. Leave it alone Mr High & Mighty Banerjee or, if you must, take it and yourself, back whence you came, you’re not wanted here.

    2. There is a line early on in Julius Caesar along the lines of “Hark, the clock strikes 12” in the days when clocks did not exist. Perhaps Mr Bannerjee has amended the script to “What time is it? Let my check my mobile phone.”

    3. With out having seen this prior to my posting.
      Possibly a classic example of my comment above.
      Who needs it ?

    5. I think he’s seeing far too much in Julius Caesar. It is, after all, about removing a dictator. Perhaps he should look at the real message of the play rather than try to pervert it to suit his ideology?

  8. Regarding today’s headline.
    Frankly it seems that wokeism has infiltrated almost everything thing most of us trusted and held respect for.
    Perhaps it’s time people who assume they are in charge laid out their adgenda, objectives and future expectations. Instead of sneaking in damaging changes that are clearly destroying our long established culture and social structure.
    Perhaps the job application paperwork needs to stipulate this, with a strong warning of possible acts of treason involved.

  9. 370155+ up ticks,

    Morning Each,

    Wednesday 18 January: Practical measures to stop the rot within the Metropolitan Police

    Sticking plaster actions, should read,

    Wednesday 18 January: Practical measures to stop the rot within the electorate regarding supporting these WEF political overseers responsible for the Metropolitan Police, and a great many other issues appertaining to the dismantling of the United Kingdom as a once decent Nation via the polling booth, and with the electoral majority support they are running a successful campaign.

    We are, via the polling booth, as a Country sinking deeper into a shite bog with the bottom yet to be reached.

    1. It’s been going on for 30 years Ogga.
      I was playing golf with a guy who had just retired from a senior job in the Met. He told us that a memo had been sent around his nick saying that the staff were no longer allowed to call the desk sergeant ‘chalky’. Although his name was White. Because the sergeant was a black man.
      WTF ?

      1. …and Sergeant Murphy couldn’t be called ‘Spud’, neither could Sergeant Clark be called ‘Nobby’

        There’s also ‘Dusty ‘ Miller and a host of long-since recognised nicknames – mostly by and from ex-Servicemen.

          3. Alec, I think that there was a character in the Beano, the Dandy or some such children’s comic called “Tug” Wilson. Might our Korky the Kat know the answer?

  10. Age checks, trolls and deepfakes: what’s in the online safety bill? 18 January 2023.

    The online safety bill returns to the House of Commons on Tuesday with the government pledging to introduce an important change: criminal liability for tech executives whose platforms persistently fail to protect children from harm online.

    The whole purpose of this bill is to strangle Free Speech online under the guise of public concern! What executive reading the above will not err on the side of personal safety and ban anything they deem even remotely offensive? The PTB have always hated the internet because it allows the people to criticise without restraint. There were no editors or proprietors that could be bought off or threatened. Until now!

    https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jan/17/age-checks-trolls-and-deepfakes-whats-in-the-online-safety-bill

    1. It seems that those that want to censor the internet under the guise of protecting children appear to be the ones that were not so bother about the young girl victims of grooming gangs and actually said it was their fault for making a lifestyle choice

    2. Morning, all. Clear, cold and chilly in N Essex this morning.

      Government wants to protect children from online harm – as it should but without having an ulterior motive – but appears to be OK with:

      Courtesy of GB News.

      Parents have expressed their fury at drag queen story time classes for primary school children in council libraries

      Tom Evans
      PUBLISHED Sunday 17 July 2022 – 16:37

      The “sexualised” appearances of men dressed as women have provoked fury.
      Drag Queen Story Hour UK will visit almost 70 events in 20 areas across Britain.
      Starting later this month, the group will run sessions for three to 11-year-olds.

      Double standards or for some no standards at all?

      1. It’s a disgrace and I would never have allowed it in my library. Dogs yes, for Doggy Tales but that was harmless.

      3. I appreciate my background and training makes this easier, but when Junior goes on the web he does so from the kitchen table. With one of us present. We ask who he’s talking to and what game he is playing specifically to keep an eye on him.

        The state keeps trying to remove parents, yet it is parents who are the responsible and first guardians. If the state has removed good parents then perhaps it should step away, scrap welfare and restore that discipline!

    3. The fact that the legacy media are no longer the gatekeepers of ‘approved’ information and that the nonsense utterings of politicians and their media lackeys can be played back to them from their previous performances wrankles TPTB.

      Much like Zelensky and his ilk banning opposition media, their only answer is to neuter freedom of speech.

    5. The state trie repeatedly to control and censor the internet. It always fails. You’d think instead of trying to control people, it would just leave them alone and focus on the underlying problems: family breakdown (because of statism) and criminality – due to massive, uncontrolled immigration (brought on by the state). Oh look! The problem is government!

    6. The state trie repeatedly to control and censor the internet. It always fails. You’d think instead of trying to control people, it would just leave them alone and focus on the underlying problems: family breakdown (because of statism) and criminality – due to massive, uncontrolled immigration (brought on by the state). Oh look! The problem is government!

  11. Breaking News –

    Due to the spread of avian flu, channel 5 have decided to suspend Egg Heads for the foreseeable future

    1. Due to the spread of Convid, Irish Ferries have suspended all crossings from Dover

      A Zip Wire has ben installed from the top of Dover Castle to Bleriot Plage, ………

    2. Due to the spread of Convid, Irish Ferries have suspended all crossings from Dover

      A Zip Wire has ben installed from the top of Dover Castle to Bleriot Plage, ………

    1. Wish I had.
      Dark, mild, miserable, trying to sleet and raining instead.
      Bed is the best solution.

  14. Failure to expand the allied sanctions coalition must be addressed. 18 January 2023.

    As the focus on sanctions against Russia remains resolute in the European Union — and among partners like the United Kingdom and the United States — two challenges will continue to confront the bloc this year, both related to implementation.

    First, in order to ensure that the Kremlin’s ability to fund its war in Ukraine is ever more restricted, individual member countries will need to prioritize implementing the wide range of sanctions consistently and effectively; while the EU and its allies will also need to be more successful in encouraging third countries, such as Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, to implement restrictions against Russia — a mission that’s so far failing and undermining allied efforts.

    This article is just a way of avoiding saying that the Sanctions Regime itself is failing! The truth is that they are limited to the US and Europe and not all of those are enthusiastic. Hungary for one and Germany for another; though for different reasons . Worse still a majority of the world’s polities are probably supporters of Russia in its struggle with the US Hegemony. They know what it feels like to be under the American thumb. They cannot actively oppose US power so they just sit quietly and avoid supporting it where they can!

    https://www.politico.eu/article/failure-expand-sanction-coalition-addressed-eu-russia-ukraine-war/

    1. Sanctions pain is reflected back at the EU and those applying them. Russia does not seem much disturbed by them – possibly, the opposite.

      1. Morning Oberst. It looks to me as though ordinary Russians are getting through the sanctions much better than we are!

        1. Years ago, Simon Reeves interviewed a Russian farmer; because of EU sanctions, he was doing very nicely producing Russian ‘Brie’.

      2. I see that idiot Cleverley [was ever a man so mis-named] is urging the US to supply yet more aid to Ukraine. Perhaps our politicians have realised how much money is sloshing around there and want to get some for themselves before the scams implode??

    1. Yes, Croydon, south-east London, with its council that has gone bankrupt three times and its well-deserved reputation for murder, violence, drugs and urban decay, is the capital’s citadel of culture for this year – because Sadiq Khan, Labour’s Mayor of London, says so. The council, by the way, is currently Conservative controlled though much of the spending malfeasance was committed under Labour administrations. Of course, as with the national government, it scarcely matters which party is in charge: we are all going one way – down.

      This is an insiders look at what Nottlers seem to know almost by instinct. It is actually pretty dire and should be avoided until after you’ve had several coffees and geared yourself up!

      1. In my previous house I lived a couple of hundred yards from Croydon’s boundary. Although I didn’t observe all the intimidation described in the article, the last time I visited, during daylight, the somewhat run down main shopping centre I felt like I could have been in South Africa…

    2. I was brought up in Croydon. The shopping centre referred to is presumably the Whitgift Centre, built on the site of my old school.
      I haven’t been back for many years and have absolutely no desire to.
      Depressing really.

      1. Agreed, KenL, I used to live and work in what is now Londonistan.

        I have absolutely no desire nor inclination to ever visit it again.

        1. Lived in the East End – Bow, and Isle of Dogs / Milwall Dock for some years 40-odd years ago.
          Liked it – scruffy, but good people.
          Don’t have any desire to return now. I would only be depressed.

        2. I worked in the City for many years and more recently had a number of clients in the City. I always liked the City. For the last few years our office was in Vauxhall, that was getting to be a real s***hole.

      2. Having not visited Croydon since the early seventies we had to visit Croydon a couple of years

        ago and we were absolutely appalled.

  19. Phew! Well that’s a relief. I was beginning to believe those doctors who’ve said that the mRNA jabs actually compromise a person’s immune system! Well straight from the horse’s mouth in no lesser person than the Chairman of the Royal College of GPs explaining that it’s social distancing that’s weakened the nation’s immunity….who would have credited it?

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/377cdfd0ff9678f26d060584fbe19c66a7d1e9a46eba77ae256a248d372f5352.png

    1. I have had a bout of bronchitis recently and a bit of a nasty wheezy cough although I haven’t had the jab.
      Although I know lots of people that have had coughs recently that are fully vaxxed up.

      1. About 5 years ago I too caught a nasty cough and chest infection that took ages to clear (and only then after three course of different antibiotics) – so prior to the jabs and prior to any social distancing!

    2. VITAMIN D
      VITAMIN C
      ZINC

      and if you feel you’d better go to bed with a cold take a Richmal Crompton William story or a P.G. Wodehouse novel with you.

      1. I’m working my way through The Morland Dynasty by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles.

        35 books from 1434 to 1931. I’m on book 28 and very interesting, as it interlaces history with the family doings.

        1. They are good. They were a Peddy recommendation.
          Up till then I’d only read C H-E’s whodunnits with her shambling detective Bill Slider.

  20. ‘Morning again. 

    Another fine old soldier departs – what a remarkable life of dedicated service. (My father was KRRC (60th) but I’m not biased!)

    Major Mark Scrase-Dickins, soldier-turned-diplomat who assisted the Afghans in their struggle against the Russian invaders – obituary

    A goat was once killed in his honour and the liver presented to him for the first mouthful. He could not eat liver for the rest of his life

    ByTelegraph Obituaries 17 January 2023 • 3:54pm

    Major Mark Scrase-Dickins, who has died aged 86, had a successful career in the Army before transferring to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO); he subsequently played a crucial part in supporting the Afghan resistance to the Soviet invasion.

    In 1973 Scrase-Dickins, aged 37, joined the FCO. Six years later, on Christmas Day 1979, the Russians invaded Afghanistan, where there was popular unrest in the country and their influence in Kabul was close to zero.

    They stormed the palace and killed Hafizullah Amin, the brutal and erratic Communist prime minister. The British and the American governments decided that they would give the Afghans all the help they could short of going to war.

    After two posts abroad, Scrase-Dickins was serving in SIS headquarters in London. His military career well suited him to lead SIS’s response to the Soviet invasion. He flew to Islamabad to consult the SIS station about what might be done. It became clear that while the CIA were deeply involved with the mujahideen in the south of the country, they had fewer contacts elsewhere.

    Travelling to Peshawar, the centre of the fledgling Afghan resistance, Scrase-Dickins “put his ear to the ground” and came up with the name of Ahmad Shah Massoud, a dynamic young mujahideen commander who was making a name for himself in the Panjshir Valley. The valley, to the north of Kabul, protected by high mountain peaks, stretches for some 75 miles.

    Through intermediaries, Scrase-Dickins offered Massoud British assistance, and travelled to the Panjshir Valley to meet him and agree what might be done, short of supplying weaponry. Over the following years Massoud’s forces were supplied with tactical radio, medical supplies and training, both in the Panjshir and in Britain.

    Massoud went on to become a legendary resistance leader, “The Lion of the Panjshir”, who won a number of victories against the Russian army. Scrase-Dickins’s contribution to that success can hardly be overstated. His whole operation was of crucial importance and brilliantly carried out.

    Mark Frederick Hakon Scrase-Dickins was born at Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, on May 31 1936. He grew up at RAF Farnborough, where his father was station commander, and watched the Battle of Britain being fought out in the skies above him.

    He left Eton as an accomplished cellist with a lifelong love of opera, ballet and history. He enlisted as a rifleman in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps before being selected for Sandhurst. He was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade and posted to the 1st Battalion (1 RB), which deployed to Malaya during the Emergency. He was Mentioned in Despatches.

    He served as ADC, first to Major General Sir Victor Paley, GOC Ghana Armed Forces, and then to Field Marshal Sir Francis Festing, Chief of the Imperial General Staff.

    In 1958, 1RB changed its name to 3rd Green Jackets (The Rifle Brigade) and Scrase-Dickins took part in several tours in Borneo during the Confrontation with Indonesia. There were long periods spent operating in forward bases and living in Dyak headhunters’ villages, patrolling the jungles and crossing the border to set up ambushes.

    On one patrol, on entering a village, a goat was slaughtered in his honour and the still warm liver was presented to him to take the first mouthful. For the rest of his life, he was unable to eat liver.

    A posting to India provided opportunities for exploring the jungle and climbing mountains, but a feast with a group of herders high up in the Himalayas left him with a severe attack of jaundice. The only medical help was many miles away. He drove his Land Rover for 24 hours to a hospital in Delhi and collapsed as he arrived.

    After a move to Hong Kong followed by a stint in West Germany as a company commander, in 1973, he transferred to the FCO. The following year, he was posted to Laos. The Lao People’s Liberation Army, a communist, political organisation, was close to assuming power, with backing from North Vietnam.

    Scrase-Dickins – accompanied by his wife, Tina, two young children and a stalwart English nanny – travelled up the Mekong River while large numbers of the population fled down it on their way to the Thai border.

    For his 40th birthday party, he succeeded in obtaining the last stocks of alcohol in Laos. It tasted, he said, like an ambitious attempt to blend Ribena with high-octane aviation fuel.

    In 1975, the king was forced to abdicate and Scrase-Dickins was ordered to close the office. He was posted to Oman, where he found time to explore uncharted areas of the mountains and deserts. On a helicopter trip to the top of the Jebel Akhdar, nearly 10,000 feet high, the pilot injured his arm and was only capable of operating the pedals. Scrase-Dickins had the exacting task of flying the rest of the aircraft and getting it down in one piece.

    A posting to Jakarta as Counsellor followed. In his spare time, there were trips to jungles and mangrove swamps, mountains and volcanoes. The commander in chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces became a great friend and they reminisced cheerfully about the years when they had been doing their best to defeat each other.

    After Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Scrase-Dickins led the SIS component of the Military Intelligence organisation, coordinating the provision of military and secret intelligence, working with the SAS and organising the Kuwaiti resistance. He shared a house with General Sir Peter de la Billière, C-in-C British Forces. Scrase-Dickins’s last post in SIS was Controller UK.

    Through his work in Afghanistan, Scrase-Dickins had met Sandy Gall, the war reporter, author and television presenter, and he subsequently acted as a senior trustee for the Sandy Gall Afghanistan Appeal. The charity trained Afghan professionals to provide artificial limbs and other mobility aids to many thousands with disabilities.

    In the late 1990s, he was involved in protracted and difficult negotiations with the Taliban to enable the provision of this help to be maintained. On September 9 2001 Massoud, then defence secretary and the principal opponent of the Taliban, was assassinated by them.

    Scrase-Dickins was appointed CMG in 1991. He was a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Sussex in 2004, High Sheriff from 2003 to 2004 and president of St John Ambulance, Sussex, from 2005 to 2011.

    He was a strong supporter of his Regimental Association, took an active part in his local community and was climbing and exploring well into his seventies.

    Mark Scrase-Dickins married, in 1969, Martina (Tina) Viviane Bayley, who survives him with their son and daughter.

    Mark Scrase-Dickins, born May 31 1936, died November 10 2022

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bb457cfeab29c4d1dd67724c8d8979be6045c18b926be96ae232960163e89fc4.jpg

  21. Good morning all. A rather chilly -3°C outside with a fresh splattering of snow, but at least it’s bright and sunny.
    A quick trip to Matlock then over to Clay Cross to pick up t’Lad’s replacement motorbike helmet, then home to to get that dead elm dropped.

  22. The other day the car door had frozen up. I opened it and then it wouldn’t re-engage. Got home with the door being held closed. Once the car had heated up, the door did engage. It’s locked up ok now, but I’m nervous that it’s going to happen again. I’m hoping it’ll be a tad warmer today to test it.

    1. Yesterday I found my key wouldn’t lock the car door or respond at all but a bit later on it was fine. Maybe just the temperature.

        1. Slide some de-icer down the key – insert and jiggle it.

          Usually works, otherwise apply a lit lighter under the lock – if anyone has a lighter these days!

      2. Jack frost.
        I couldn’t open the barrelled combination padlock on our side gate yesterday.

  23. ‘Morning All

    Awkwards……….

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d53adfd7725e25a083a70bcffff64bc8fdc8725b405d6891fbd1e6871f513107.jpg

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7f81ce16a4be511ff3c155e70d079fdef9632d431e06fe3b93d2552ac44d043e.jpg

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3f539289cd42a384f056efe5e320f89c408c1139161672ad48c95b053d89ae69.jpg

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/26961ba00e74acad2659a055ac3d1d4622e4d65105e7adcb5762dc3c4c4d4142.jpg

    1. That last one would be me; the staff at the hospital ain’t seen nothing yet if they don’t keep us informed and aware of what’s going on. I can be formidable and I am close to that stage.

      1. Keep at it, girl, you’ll win through eventually if you keep up with that attitude.

        The best of luck wished for you both.

      2. Morning, Ann.
        I’m having a quick catch-up before I run MB to the hospital, so apologies if you’ve already brought us up to date.
        What is your latest news?

        1. Good luck with that, Anne, I can only hope that you get the desired result for you both, at what has appeared to have become dens of iniquity.

        2. Spoke last night and he was drowsy but had managed some sleep. His leg is healing well and he was able to stand up yesterday.
          It seems to be his kidneys they are worried about as they took a bashing in the fall.
          Going to shops today and then will pack a bag for tomorrow- going down then and Fri and will go from there.
          Good luck with your day.

          1. Being able to walk – and that first trip to the loo, and first shower, are fantastic! Be careful, though, no toppling over with eyes full of shampoo… 🙁

          2. I don’t need shampoo in my eyes, I regularly topple over and am in special care because of it.

            No, it ain’t the booze – I wish it was that simple, it’s just old age. I must get some exocet to clear out the wax in my lugs.

      3. Can you spare half an hour tomorrow afternoon. 😉
        I’ve got an appointment with my lazy GP. The whole practice is running on empty.
        I delivered three letters to them three weeks ago, they were sent to me from cardiology.
        Copies should also have gone to the practice.
        They don’t seem to have the faintest idea where these very important letters are.
        They don’t have carpets but there’s a huge lump somewhere.

    2. First one is excellent.

      Found the linked tweet just now. Hits two scams with one statement.

      Impact of Government policy now coming home to roost as Shapps finds himself in the firing line.
      IMHO I believe that this Tory shower know that electorally they have burnt their bridges and therefore are not overly concerned with the damage they are imposing on the people by their disastrous policies. Reaction to ‘unforeseen’ circumstances emerging from policy decisions is no way to try and govern.

      https://twitter.com/nbreavington/status/1615624762037862405
      https://twitter.com/TiceRichard/status/1615396001581236250

      1. Yes, but digging i up is against EU rules, so they won’t. Besides, the entire point of net zero is to force down energy use. To make energy expensive and practically unaffordable so people use less of it, allowing big fat state to pretend it’s wonderful.

        Until people realise the real agenda there’s little that can be done. The entire edifice of government must be swept away and replaced.

  24. I’ll get me coat……..

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1d121c6a8288c1b9499a3747c17b1f1857e0d1ae28e04abe49e404ac7ccd64f0.jpg

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/be8fc5bec308dd37f542530e0996d91943bd4db5e57cc1980af462948ba9941f.jpg

    Thanks Bob3

    https://scontent.flhr10-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/323300453_1741847822864715_6908439866546966020_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s720x720&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5cd70e&_nc_ohc=jSypRK70ECcAX_diF9n&_nc_ht=scontent.flhr10-2.fna&oh=00_AfCUB8hvTxtZf3Wn7nNuTR3XKGZGYanrN3kI6lwd-9H1ZQ&oe=63CBDAF4

        2. and teeth and tongues and inside of mouth……

          Yo Lottie, you are a Battler (NOT a battleaxe)

  27. Headline from article in today’s DT.  I won’t bore you with the (very obvious) reasons why demand for EVs has stalled, but this excellent and comprehensive demolition of the case for EVs is spot on:

    Mr Lush1 HR AGO

    Worrying about electric cars is a sideshow.Diesel will have to be available for trucks for at least 20 years, because there is no plausible battery alternative.

    A current truck can fill up in 10 minutes, and go 800 miles a day, with a pair of drivers long haul, or working in shifts more locally.

    A battery truck would need 10 tons of batteries, so that instantly reduces payload by 25%. Range of 300 miles at best means recharging twice a day for 6 hours, or 2 hours rapid charging, which will quickly destroy battery capacity and range, and of course lifespan.

    The battery truck will be 40% more expensive to buy, and the company will need 4 or 5 of them to replace each diesel unit they have now, due to the logistical inefficiency inherent in their limitations. Congestion will increase by 200% for the same reasons.

    Then we need 12 new Hinckley Point power stations to produce the electricity, and a network of 100 charging stations, each covering 300 acres to accommodate thousands of trucks per day.

    A loaf of bread costs £26, but Greta will be happy, so it’s all worth it….

    Also consider that every country in the world has to do the same, including those with populations living on $2 a day, else it is all pointless!

    Anyone want to bet on China and India going to all electric vehicles under these terms? They are building 1600 new coal fired power stations, while we demolished ours. The entirely of the eco scam is utterly ludicrous.

    1. And Greta Thunberg was pretend arrested at a German coal mine yesterday.

      Why doesn’t she go and protest in China?

        1. Yo anne

          If it takes a week, to walk a fortnight
          How many apples are there in a Pound of Pears

      2. Yes Rastus, I’m surprised.

        A few days ago the Chinese announced that they now have 1100 coal fired power stations.

    2. “…we need 12 new Hinckley Point power stations to produce the electricity…” – this is the point missed by most – where does the electricity come from for all the electrified domestic heating and vehicles? My estimation, based on Google searches, is that purely to replace domestic gas heating, the UK needs to extend the electric power generation by over 30% – and then, upgrades to the distribution, all the way to the house fuseboard.
      That’s some development, and a LOT of money.
      Bearing in mind that I was part of Hinckley point C safety case back in 1988, and it’s not operating yet, I don’t see how there can ever be enough generating capacity.

      1. They want to drive us back to the Dark Ages. Literally – no power, no light, no quality of life….

      2. Yo, Ol

        The whole ‘supply’ problem has been given to the HS2 management team to solve

        Stage One, all illegal immigrants will spend the first Two Yearsof their new-found freedom, on strategically placed

        Treadmills, powering dynamos, removed from pre 1970 bicycles

    3. Recently, on here or GP, someone worked out the cost of the Royal Mail’s aspiration to ‘upgrade’ their fleet of 41,000 Fiat Duplo vans to battery vans.

      With back of fag packet firmly in hand, the current cost of running the fleet was circa £230M pa; the costings for the replacement battery fleet topped £800M pa.

      I’m no rocket scientist but that doesn’t seem the brightest of ideas for an already failing company.

  28. Reposted from late last night:

    Wednesday 18th January, 2023

    Stormy

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e281877e66f9640965428cfaf7612b736a56b10f037dc7830d6ff3f7e0f8aba9.png

    and very many happy returns

    Let’s hope your cup overfloweth!

    With best wishes,

    Caroline and Rastus

    We certainly are having some stormy weather at the moment with yellow warnings out..

    Here’s a song for you

    https://www.google.com/search?q=stormy+weather&oq=Stormy+weather&aqs=chrome.0.0i512j46i512j0i512j46i512j0i512j46i512l2j0i512j46i512j0i512.6125j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:d78eed59,vid:TPgnj5upihQ

    4. Happy Birthday Stormy
      and of coursr Have 364 Happy Unbirthdays, til your next BD event, when you will be 22

    10. Grattis på födelsedagen, D-cup. Hope you have a lovely day and that your cup(s) runneth over! 😘🥂🎂

  29. Morning all, lovely sun here.
    Here’s another video undermining the anti-Russian propaganda of the MSM by good old Godfrey Bloom. If it has already been posted, my apologies but I haven’t been online until today because felt to wretched after 5th attempt at getting my operation, successful this time, but I do not feel exactly great! Any suggestions about post operative exercise for someone feeling extremely weak where even going to the loo is a major operation worthy of D-Day planning, gratefully received. Anyway….Mr. Bloom. ‘Stop This Criminal War’.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y–n1cvViHw&list=TLPQMTgwMTIwMjOpQRI8Z0JchQ&index=2

    1. Mr Bloom makes an interesting point about most western “defence correspondents” unquestioningly regurgitating

      the press releases from Zelensky’s palace.

      Recently the Al Jazeera defence correspondent bitterly complained that he was not allowed to approach areas of contention

      to check if what was said was true.

      His complaint was totally ignored by the western media !!

      1. The truth is the first casualty of war. Although quite obviously, Russia is the aggressor here the refusal of the media to present the fact that half of Ukraine is fervently pro Russia, and the Ukrainian West isn’t exactly pleasant toward this attitude is annoying.

        Ukraine bombing Poland in an attempt to get Poland involved, and thus NATO is also disconcerting, more so that it’s simply not printed. It’s just ignored. Same for the ‘missiles’ leaving great gouts in the ground but leaving cars and windows intact.

        Then there’s our lot telling us Putin is dying. The entire farce has been set up as a ‘goodies against baddies’ farce, where really life is not that simple. Perhaps, as with so many things that’s our own fault for not being able to grasp the whole story? Perhaps the need to get the story to market is so desperate that being last, but being honest is now impossible?

        1. Many of us were on Putin’s side until he invaded.

          I have a horrible feeling that Putin was goaded into making this invasion and the pathetic way in which Biden had behaved in Afghanistan convinced him that the US would do nothing if he did invade.

  30. Ukraine’s interior minister killed in kindergarten helicopter crash. 18 January 2023.

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4808cebf3d7109022a6bb1772ecdf64a0beab3f0e09153d4d65bc8babb0556a3.png

    18 people including three children and the leadership of the Ukrainian interior ministry have died in a helicopter crash in eastern Kyiv, authorities said.

    The helicopter came down by a kindergarten in Brovary, a suburb of the capital, early on Wednesday morning.

    Those killed included Denis Monastyrsky, the interior minister, and his deputy, police said.

    There are rumours that this helicopter was brought down by sabotage. Certainly the aerial shots show an explosion in mid-air that scattered burning fuel and bits of helicopter debris over the scene. This would not be surprising from an intentional point of view; there are clearly sharp divisions within Ukraine between the natives and ethnic Russians betrayed mostly by Zelensky’s persecution of them. This said it seems much more likely that it was friendly fire. Someone chalked it up as Russian and they zapped it. The aerial shot itself so soon after the impact implies another helicopter carried out the attack!

    As always with Ukraine suspicion of deception must always predominate in any story about the War!

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/18/ukraine-russia-war-latest-news-tanks-drone-missile-putin-defence/

      1. Yes, deeply. There’s no rational response. The war is a failure at every level, most notably NATO not kicking Russia the press seeking to polarise the reality of the situation, Ukraine’s deceit in an attempt to be seen as the underdog.

  31. I had not come across this rhyme by Spike Milligan before. Someone posted it as a BTL comment under an article in the DT:

    “A Baby sardine saw her first submarine
    And took fright when she looked through the peephole.
    “Now, now, now!” said the Mummy Sardine
    “It’s only a tin full of people!”

      1. I think some York bishop or whatever had expressed his religious doubts.
        Stand by with fire buckets and tarpaulins for Canterbury Cathedral.

    3. The full poem, here:

      The Beginnings
      It was not part of their blood,
      It came to them very late
      With long arrears to make good,
      When the English began to hate.

      They were not easily moved,
      They were icy-willing to wait
      Till every count should be proved,
      Ere the English began to hate.

      Their voices were even and low,
      Their eyes were level and straight.
      There was neither sign nor show,
      When the English began to hate.

      It was not preached to the crowd,
      It was not taught by the State.
      No man spoke it aloud,
      When the English began to hate.

      It was not suddenly bred,
      It will not swiftly abate,
      Through the chill years ahead,
      When Time shall count from the date
      That the English began to hate

      Though all we made depart,
      The old commandments stand:
      “In patience keep your heart,
      In strength lift up your hand.”

      No easy hopes or lies
      Shall bring us to our goal,
      But iron sacrifice
      Of body, will, and soul.

      There is but one task for all –
      For each one life to give.
      Who stands if freedom fall?
      Who dies if England live?
      Rudyard Kipling
      2nd September 1914

    4. These people think they can despise us, destroy our livelihoods and ruin our lives and that we should not even be allowed to hate them back.

  34. Interior minister among 18 dead in helicopter crash near nursery in Kyiv region. 18 January 2023.

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8564b4911f27deb84ac1663970bb450b8e2e515048c12a8572068ae7853cf6dd.png

    Children also among the dead after Brovary helicopter crash, officials say.

    They are still selling this as a crash. The photograph shows the helicopter rotor with two blades still attached and far from the fires. It was certainly a missile strike of some description! If this shows us anything it is how unwilling the MSM are to disobey their instructions on how they must report the War!

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-russia-helicopter-war-putin-latest-news-b2264269.html

    2. I am not convinced by your missile attack hypothesis. A mid-air explosion would have destroyed the helicopter and scattered its fuel, whereas it looks like the fires followed along the trail of the debris. A helicopter pilot would know the answer.

      1. Afternoon Tim. It has destroyed the helicopter. You can see the rotor assembly here but no fuselage which must have taken the brunt of the impact! The fires are on the other side of this building. They were caused by burning fuel being scattered.

      2. Afternoon Tim. It has destroyed the helicopter. You can see the rotor assembly here but no fuselage which must have taken the brunt of the impact! The fires are on the other side of this building. They were caused by burning fuel being scattered.

    3. The twisted metal at the right of the photo is the tail rotor assembly, you can see 4 of the rotor blades too. Did it crash or was it brought down by a missile? Can’t see anything in the link

      1. Probably a missile Alec. it certainly didn’t crash or the Fuselage would still be attached!

        1. I’d say the fuselage (or much of it) , although badly damaged, is there behind the car

  35. Interior minister among 18 dead in helicopter crash near nursery in Kyiv region. 18 January 2023.

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8564b4911f27deb84ac1663970bb450b8e2e515048c12a8572068ae7853cf6dd.png

    Children also among the dead after Brovary helicopter crash, officials say.

    They are still selling this as a crash. The photograph shows the helicopter rotor with two blades still attached and far from the fires. It was certainly a missile strike of some description! If this shows us anything it is how unwilling the MSM are to exceed their instructions on how they must report the War!

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-russia-helicopter-war-putin-latest-news-b2264269.html

  36. Just seen the item about not taking cake into the workplace by some nitwit. I can tell you now, if US teachers were deprived of cake in school, they would shrivel up and expire. Both schools, all the staff were nuts about cake and I’ve seen some having it as brekker.
    It seems sometimes, that everything that is fun is to be taken away.
    My dad had an ashtray which had this on it: Everything I like is either illegal, boozy or fattening.
    I’m not a huge cake fan but let the people eat cake.

    1. I remember being offered marzipan cake for breakfast on trips to Germany. I like cake but not for brekkers. Biscuits and macaroons go down very well at work.

      1. I had a large cake in my office in GA for a young man on his birthday. This was not advertised but during the day, one teacher after another appeared and said, “Someone said there was cake here.” Uncanny.
        However I told them to piss of as the cake was for Gary. Suppose I’m lucky they didn’t lynch me;-)

    2. Good morning. Sir Walter Scott’s Muse

      Bon Courage

      Illegal, immoral, fattening and bad for your health.

      I find however many character-building things I do my character resolutely refuses to get any better!

    3. On the last day of term my form tutor would bring in a huge tray of cream cakes for the whole class. He would nip out at lunch time to the local bakery.

      1. We felt that was a bit unfair – so someone else made/bought the cake, but in the year everybody would do so.

    5. “ I’m not a huge cake fan but let the people eat cake”. Didn’t a Queen say something similar once?!

      “ It seems sometimes, that everything that is fun is to be taken away.” TPTB just want to stop us enjoying life. Rules, rules and more rules.

    7. The instructor at the gym brought in chocolates for us last week but strictly for after the cardio class wax finished.

      It took three months of nagging but we finally managed to persuade the nurse at cardiac rehab to bring in donuts / doughnuts for us. A better graduation gift than some certificate.

      1. Cakes, donuts and chocolates are a treat. Have one not dozens and you will be fine. It is the denial of these sort of treats that make people, particularly dieters, miserable.

  37. Well, no fool like an old fool. The excellent Arts Society (where we had the brilliant lecture yesterday) needs a treasurer. The MR volunteered me!
    I do know about book-keeping – having done it since 1970…. The amusing thing is that I gave up being treasurer for the church in 2011 because I had done 25 years AND was too old!!

    1. Second childhood? 😉😉😉. Give it a go Bill, it’ll keep you occupied other than climbing ladders!

  38. Prostitutes have flocked to Davos for the World Economic Forum.

    So have some sex workers.

    Twitter

    4. “ Prostitutes have flocked to Davos for the World Economic Forum.”. I’ll bet that’s what quite a few of us on here thought from the start!

  39. Following my two falls a couple of weeks ago my GP rang with the results of his investigation.
    1. After a thorough examination of me he found nothing out of the ordinary.
    2. He said my ECG was perfect and better than his.
    3. The blood work was absolutely normal.
    He said he could find no explanation for the falls.
    I thanked him for his thoroughness and said I was going to treat the falls as a ‘one off’ and get on with my life. He agreed.
    I am happy and relieved to have achieved such results in my 87th year.

    2. Well done, Delboy, I wish I could find a similar explanation for my many falls,

      It could be blood pressure – with a third of my heart dead – a District Nurse took my BP when lying down and then, when standing up it fell quite remarkably. Possible cause but, I have fallen when trying to hang a coat up – weird.

      2. I hope you helped the nurse, when she moved from “lying down’ to Standing up’ positions!!!!!

    1. Now you’ve got me – I can’t think of three other words starting with the same 4 letters!
      Wordle 578 4/6

      🟨🟨⬜⬜⬜
      ⬜🟨⬜🟨🟩
      ⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
      🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

      1. Two other words come to mind., luckily I had excluded those with earlier guesses.

        4 of 6 for me.

      2. Bogey Five. There are four other words starting with the same 4 letters, Sue!

        Wordle 578 5/6
        ⬜🟨⬜🟨⬜
        🟨⬜⬜⬜🟨
        ⬜🟨🟩⬜🟩
        ⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
        🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

    2. That’s the most impressive string of not quite right answers I’ve ever seen! However, I am now filled with trepidation as I attempt to solve todays Word!

  42. MPs are avoiding a real debate on trans issues
    Politicians should not hide behind constitutional issues to avoid discussing the substance of the matter
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2023/01/17/mps-avoiding-real-debate-trans-issues/

    The simple fact of the matter is that those who do not have penises object to sharing public lavatories and changing room facilities with those who do. It is nothing to do with the sex or gender a person thinks he, she or it is – it is a question of penis possession. A person without a penis who identifies as a man should be more acceptable in penis-free public lavatories and changing rooms than a person who identifies as woman who does have a penis.

    BTL

    I’m fed up with gender politics. Perhaps we should use the possession of a penis as the deciding factor rather than sex or gender so public lavatories and changing rooms should no longer be branded “Ladies” and “Gentlemen” but “Those With a Penis” and “Those Without a Penis.”

    Instead of endless discussion of trans rights what I want is proper, sensible debates on the dangers of Covid vaccines and whether or not man-made global warming/climate change is a myth or whether it is real. I would like to see informed opinion coming from both sides rather than the tyrannical censorship we get from the MSM and the politicians if we dare to stray from the accepted line.

    1. There are words for “Those With a Penis” and “Those Without a Penis” but I can’t for the life of me remember what they are!

    2. The BTL lines indicated that there are some (many) out there who have similar thought processes on Trans-sex, Climate change and Covid scams to ours on here.

    3. “Those Without a Penis & Those With a Penis”

      The signs at one sailing club were simply:

      ‘Inboard’ and ‘Outboard’

    4. Yet censorship is all the state knows. I imagine most politicians, on either side find it all equally tiresome and just want people to get along to live their lives as they want.

      However a mouthy, rude, arrogant crowd can’t accept that. Until MPs learn to turn to those brattish activist children and say ‘enough, now go to your room’ we’re going to get this led by the nose nonsense.

      If a bloke wants to dress as a woman, let him. No, it doesn’t change reality but if it makes him happy, who cares? Who’s business is it really? If I call him a he, when having done no harm to me Henry asks to be called Henrietta then that’s simply me being rude. As long as I am not forced by diktat to change how I think, no harm is done to either side.

      Yet that is what the activists want. They are simply using trans, gays as a vehicle to force thoughtcrime on the population, like all fascists have throughout history.

      1. I think the problem is that some exhibitionists have used their “female” identity to gain access to women’s changing rooms and shower naked. Also, parents do not want their young daughters to use the Ladies’ room on their own if there are men in there. It is well known of course, that male rapists have “identified” as female in order to gain access to vulnerable women prisoners and rape them.
        There is also subtle bullying, ie men who use the women’s loos, and silently dare any woman to challenge them. This behaviour, whether they are pretending to be women or not, is just controlling bullying, and unfortunately it seems to be getting more common.

        I have no objection to sharing the Ladies’ room with a man who is making a determined effort to pass as a woman (one might not notice that they are a man at all), but unfortunately, there is the other kind as well.

  43. That was a pleasant run out in the van.
    Clay Cross via Lea Bridge & the road from Tansley, picked up t’Lad’s helmet then called into the greengrocer’s next door to them and then the Ashover Brewery on the other side.
    Then to Matlock for a bit of shopping and home.
    The Tansley – Clay Cross road is a lovely drive!

    1. “The Tansley — Clay Cross road is a lovely drive!”

      Indeed it is, Bob, indeed it is.

      I don’t know if it is still the same, but The White Horse, at Woolley Moor, used to serve an exceptional pint and the best suet-crust steak & kidney pie I’ve ever eaten.

      1. A bit for to drive to unfortunately and what’s the point of visiting a pub serving decent ales if you have to drive home, so are restricted to one pint?

        It is still open though. Went past the short cut over Highstairs Lane on the way home so went past it.

  45. Yet more cultural enrichment. I bet the Herrenvolk are simply idolising Mutti!

    Organized criminal gangs active in the Netherlands and France, mostly made up of Moroccan migrants, are blowing up ATMs in Germany at a record pace in highly professional robbery operations. In 2022, government statistics indicate that they blew up 500 such machines, with statistically more than one machine being blown up every day.

    2. A puzzled pensioner asks: Isn’t it a bit pointless blowing up the machines, because all the money would be, er, blown up, too?

      And why do they pick on poor, impoverished Germany?

          1. If there is no where to deposit the printed replacement money it would help to prevent hyperinflation ???

        2. Imagine writing in a UK paper that suspects were “ mostly made up of Moroccan migrants”. You’d be in jail for hate speech/racism before you could say Jack Robinson…

  46. Saw a photo captioned of a clearly trans man pretending to be a woman. He had asked politely what sort of make up he could try.

    At first I laughed, as it’s just silly Then I realised here’s a bloke, trying to live his life as he wants to. OK, he has some sort of identity issue but hey, he’s doing no one any harm.

    Yes, there are those faux trans men who use it to get into women’s prisons and refuges. That’s a different issue but this bloke was just asking for advice.

    Then I felt rather sad that I had mocked him. The problem for me is that we’re having this nonsense forced on us – on *both* sides. Non trans people want to ignore it and get on with their lives, the trans people probably want to do the same.

    In the middle there’s a bunch of rabid egotists pushing forced acceptance – no, because it isn’t acceptance, it’s demanding obeisance, almost of something most would probably like to keep quiet.

    Can we not just silence the screaming mob and all agree to get on and simply – as we used to – say, oh well, bit odd, but who isn’t? You know, old fashioned tolerance? When did forced tolerance become bigotry? Why do the Left, that mob not realise the societal damage they are doing with their ranting?

    1. Early 70s. A long time ago, my business partner and I use to visit a cafe in Preston Road not far from Kenton, near Harrow. A little guy would clear the crockery etc and wipe the tables clean. He was always very chatty and polite. After a couple of weeks visiting for tea breaks and lunch.
      He was suddenly dressed in a skirt a blonde wig white roll neck top, heels stockings and makeup, lipstick, earrings.
      We were quite shocked by his appearance. But his tattooed fore arms were still showing with his rolled up sleeves. And his Cockley accent was the same…..allwight boyz ?
      And he made us larrff when as he cleaned up, he said. Blimey it’s a bloody site ‘arder bein’ woman than it is a man.
      He loved it when we said hang on you missed a bit.

    2. These “trans-wonen” (sic) will be devastated when they discover not all real women wear make up, stilettos and short skirts…

    3. I agree with you, but from personal experience, there do seem to be far more of the egotists than the quiet ones.

  49. The World Economic Forum is not a globalist conspiracy. Spiked. 18 January 2023.

    The annual Davos gabfest is a glorified PR exercise for our clueless elites.

    Frank Furedi tells us that the WEF is not a Globalist Conspiracy and then goes on to tell us that it is!

    Indeed, the WEF does play an important role in promoting the globalist worldview, elevating the status of international institutions and devaluing the role of national governments – which it presents as powerless before the forces of the global market. Over the years, it has sought to popularise a form of governance in which decision-makers are insulated from the democratic pressure of national electorates. To this end, it advocates a vision of global ‘public-private cooperation’, in which an international elite, far from the reach of domestic publics, can get on with solving the planet’s problems. As globalists would have it, national politics is pointless and appeals to national sovereignty are futile.

    https://www.spiked-online.com/2023/01/18/the-world-economic-forum-is-not-a-globalist-conspiracy/

    2. It goes deep, very deep. Check out McKinsey consulting and their ties to the WEF.

      The Canadian government has given McKinsey over one hundred million dollars in the past few years, the Canadian deputy PM is a WEF Trustee.

      Move along now, nothing to see!

    3. It’s not a conspiracy. They’re forcing their attitudes through infiltration and forced societal change by corrupting politicians. This is all in th eopen, no hiding, no back door deals.

    4. They are insulated, because not one person on the planet has ever voted, or ever been asked to vote for any of them.

    5. Under the influence of the WEF? Trudeau and friends are pushing the WEF green line, they even have estimates of the jobs that will be effected by their transition.
      Someone found a briefing paper that summarizes the impact

      They are going ahead despite some serious repercussions because obviously they love us!

      Jobs impacted

      Agriculture (about 292,000 workers; 1.5 per cent of Canada’s employment);
      “Energy (about 202,000 workers; 1 per cent of Canada’s employment);
      “Manufacturing (about 193,000 workers; 1 per cent of Canada’s employment);
      “Buildings (about 1.4 million workers; 7 per cent of Canada’s employment);
      “And transportation sectors (about 642,000 workers; 3 per cent of Canada’s employment).”


      That adds up to 13.5 per cent of Canada’s total workforce, in all parts of the country.

      And still they insist on going ahead

      1. … and it means:
        – Nowhere to live
        – Nothing to eat
        – No way to travel
        – Nothing in the shops
        So, that’ll be fun, won’t it?

      2. No no, it’s not just the immediate jobs lost. All that lost income costs the people they shop from, so that’s ten times as many jobs in feeder industry, supply, logistics.

        What are those people supposed to do? Retrain as C developers? Somehow I can’t see builder suddenly becoming a web designer so that means more welfare demand which, because government is staffed by morons they won’t understand and so will hike taxes, creating ever more unemployment.

        The reality of market economics isn’t complicated, so why ddo politicians have so many problems understanding it?

        1. I agree with your assertion re the morons in government – just about anywhere – not taking the knock-on effects into consideration. There could be many more millions affected such that their lives too are destroyed or become very poor in comparison to now.
          How do governments think that they will be able to control millions of unemployed, cold, hungry and dispossessed people? Come down hard using imported goons or are they confident that the “vaccine” will do the dirty work for them?

  50. Not for Lottie.

    The do gooders have decided that alcohol is bad for you, they are now recommending warning labels on all alcohol sold. 5he new recommendation in Canada is no more than two drinks per week.

    Just something else to ignore.

    2. If I lived in Canada I would tell them to get stuffed. Anyway, what’s wrong with grape juice? 😉

      1. I allow my grape juice to sit a while before drinking it, that way the alcohol kills any germs.

        We had a lovely night out at a winery on Saturday night, we must have used up a month’ worth of our allowance in that one sitting.

    4. Living is bad for you. No matter what you do, you die. No doubt the next thing they’ll try to control is the birthrate – oh, they already are.

      1. 370155+ up ticks,

        Afternoon W,

        The next thing they will try to control is the death rate , oh they ……. …

    5. According to some high heid yin in the Food Standards Agency, taking cake into work is as bad as passive smoking.
      These people make the Rule of the Major Generals seem like a joy filled, Bacchanalian orgy.

      https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/18/dont-let-eat-cake-suggests-food-watchdog-chief/

      “Bringing cake to work is like passive smoking, suggests food regulator

      Professor Susan Jebb says people should think twice before bringing sugary foods into the office in case they tempt colleagues

      By Telegraph Reporters 18 January 2023 • 7:43am

      The head of a food watchdog has suggested well intentioned workers should think twice before bringing sugary foods such as cakes into the workplace, in case they tempt colleagues who really shouldn’t eat the food.

      Professor Susan Jebb, chairwoman of Britain’s Food Standards Agency, said it was an individual’s choice to eat sweet treats, but people could help each other by providing a “supportive environment”.

      She told The Times: “We all like to think we’re rational, intelligent, educated people who make informed choices the whole time, and we undervalue the impact of the environment.

      “If nobody brought cakes into the office, I would not eat cakes in the day, but because people do bring cakes in, I eat them. Now, OK, I have made a choice, but people were making a choice to go into a smoky pub.

      “With smoking, after a very long time we have got to a place where we understand that individuals have to make some effort but that we can make their efforts more successful by having a supportive environment.

      “We still don’t feel like that about food.”

      The newspaper reported that Professor Jebb also insisted restrictions on advertising junk food were “not about the nanny state” but would instead tackle what she described as a “complete market failure” where sweet goods take precedence over vegetables.

      She told the paper: “The businesses with the most money have the biggest influence on people’s behaviour. That’s not fair… we’ve ended up with a complete market failure, because what you get advertised is chocolate and not cauliflower.”

      Successive governments have failed to introduce a long-promised ban on pre-watershed TV advertising for junk food, with Rishi Sunak’s new administration announcing in December that the anti-obesity measure will not come into force until 2025, the Press Association reported.”

      3. These people are beyond parody. I don’t even eat cake but I’d take some in to work, if I was still employed, just to spite their stupidity.

      4. It’s like the deer larder that was targeted because “the sight of deer carcases might upset vegetarians and vegans”. Well, don’t look then! was my thought. Whatever happened to personal responsibility?

    8. I read that earlier. I thought it was an early April Fool at first glance, enough to drive you to drink.

    1. 370155+ up ticks,

      O2O,

      Alert,
      Send more defibrillators over to twitter, I’ve just got a feeling.

  52. Tricky little bogey 5 today

    Wordle 578 5/6

    🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜
    🟨🟨⬜🟨🟨
    🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜
    🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜
    🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

    2. I probably shared lines three or four!

      Wordle 578 5/6
      ⬜🟨⬜🟨⬜
      🟨⬜⬜⬜🟨
      ⬜🟨🟩⬜🟩
      ⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
      🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

    3. Par again for me.
      Wordle 578 4/6

      🟨🟨⬜⬜⬜
      🟨🟨🟩⬜⬜
      ⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
      🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

    1. Whenever councillors or council management hike a tax, they should take ten times that as a pay cut. I imagine very swiftly that the tax wouldn’t be needed.

      1. I don’t get paid, but I argued for a LOWERING of our parish council tax. Unfortunately, I was a lone voice so it just remained the same. At least it didn’t go up, like the County tax.

    2. Interestingly today’s Evening Standard (I am on public transport today) has headline re Khan’s council tax grab/fare rise AND apparently Harrow Council has announced it will not be cooperating with TFL in installing the ULEZ cameras.

      1. Or, perhaps they’ll have a surprise “meeting” in Kiev – show show solidarity with their puppet?

      1. The hydrogen tank takes up most of the boot. They are considering installing it under the seats instead.

      2. The hydrogen tank takes up most of the boot. They are considering installing it under the seats instead.

    1. That was then – the usual fake news.

      This is now and still, on it goes – scare techniques, fake news amounting to nothing more -as the Merkins say, to a hill of beans.

      2. They’re extending the timeline. Latest presentation at the WEF re uninhabitable zones around the World, puts the deadline to 2070. They’ve finally caught on that preaching 5 or even 10 years to climate Armageddon doesn’t quite do the job.
        I’d be interested to know where they obtain their data for all these predictions: GIGO models, crystal balls and uneducated claims from a Swedish waif are nothing more than modern day alchemy.
        It’s really all about money and control

        1. But will predicting too far ahead mean a large proportion of the population will just think ‘S*d that for a laugh, I’m not even going to be here then’ and ignore the whole shenanigans. I mean by 2070 I (and most others on Nottl?) will be long gone – even my son will be 85 and probably past caring if still of this world.

          3. They’ve created a problem for themselves; first, the short term predictions that anyone with two brain cells to rub together knows are bovine excrement; second, they’ve now gone to the ‘long’ game and you’ve hit that one out of court. IMO, they’re thrashing about without a real plan because the ‘evidence’ of people’s eyes has dismissed all of the predictions going back decades and now they have had to switch tack to the ‘long’ game. The inconsistencies between their rhetoric and what people can see – I believe the sinking Seychelles remain open for business – are too obvious to be ignored.

    3. Just think if they had done a little more than moaning and talking and trying to destroy people’s minds. They might have stopped the billions of trees being felled on three continents.
      It’s pretty obvious that previous set rain fall patterns have been altered by mankind.
      But in the same vein as all effing politicians seem to be here for.
      After the assessment of the wreckage they have caused.
      They all know everything in hindsight.

    4. Thank goodness; freezing my tiny hands moving garden stuff was a sign that the planet will survive.

  58. Bloody hell! I’m knackered!
    Got the final large elm down from beside the road, not helped by the top of it tangling with the horse chestnut on the crest of the bank and the huge amount of ivy the thing is wrapped in.
    Going to have to spend the next few days tidying up before starting to get the logs sawn, split and stacked. Should have enough to finish off the 2nd stack I’ve been filling with enough left over to start refilling the 3rd stack that I’m currently emptying!

    The chain and cutter bar on my 18″ saw need some serious attention with a file before I use it again.

    Just been presented with a mug of tea and I’m going to take it to drink in the bath.

  59. I had delivered some superb smoked haddock today so i decided to make omelette Gordon Bennett. Undyed Norwegian as it happens.

    2. It’s regularly on offer here and one of my favourite fish.
      I’ve never had it in an omelette. One to try.
      HG has just told me she knows the recipe!

      50+ years we’ve “been an item” and she’s never cooked it for me.
      What a witch.

    5. I made 24 miniature sausage rolls. They ovened, went on to the cooling tray.

      In the far distance I heard a hollow bellow, like thunder rolling in. It grew and grew, and the thumping patter and slapping of sandalled feet accompanied it. Another great bellow and a giant black mass bashed through the door, took one look at me, barked – and this is more filling space with a sound so complete snow dislodged from Kilimanjaro – followed by small boy – I assume it was a boy, could have been a mud monster – a sudden metallic clatter and the tray vanished back out the door at equally great speed carried by said boy, with giant noise monster barrelling along beside him.

      (And I do mean barrelling. Mongo either walks and then it’s a stately wiggle, or he sort of ‘falls forward’.)

      I got the tray back, but it was empty.

  60. Just spoke to my husband and he sounds more alert. He’s had a bed bath- didn’t say whether he enjoyed it ;-)) His kidneys are getting better and he’s been eating a little. He’s requested some sarnies which I will make later and his shampoo and nailbrush.
    He needs an endoscopy and some blood work and they are going to try and get him moving. So, with luck, he may be home in a couple of days. God I hope so.
    Going down tomorrow on the slow bus to China and simply cannot wait for all this to be over.
    Feeling rather more positive.

      1. Yes, I remember hearing it on the radio back in my salad days. But of course, I am far too young;-)

      2. I don’t know why, Richard but your links always open to just a blank page.

        ‘Twas the same with Stormy Weather, the other day.

        1. That was for the Birthday girl. Other Nottlers were able to open it without problems

    3. Just make sure you cut those crusts off young lady ! Oblongs not triangles as per her Maj. We are watching !

      1. Nice ciabatta rolls- not bread. A bar of Whole Nut chocky too and some water. And you know I how know he’s feeling better? He wanted a fake bottle of water…..ie with summat else instead. That’s my boy!

        1. That does sound as if he is feeling better if he wants a drink. Just start him on Baileys and go from there . :@)

    4. Just make sure they wash the camera between endoscopies and colonoscopies.

      Him wanting sarnies is a lot better than a few days ago when he wasn’t eating.

      Bloody american autocorrect, changed sarnies into sardines .

      1. Actually, he loves sardines- we have a few cans in the cupboard. He can eat those at home though.

          3. We were on the Atlantic coast of Spain a few years ago. Hungry after our day of travel. Saw a welcoming light just off the local beach. And sat down to a bottle of white wine and a pile of freshly cooked deep fried in batter, anchovies. I’d still be there now if I could.
            Single of course. 😊

          5. Had fresh grilled sardines, my brother and I helped catch ’em, at a local Greek’s rooftop barbie on Spetsi. Delicious.

          6. #MeToo, Mola.

            2 tins in the cupboard and with a bit of horse-radish mashed in – delish.

          2. The true sign of a kind soul.
            Even with all your current distractions you still find time to ask after others.

      2. Judging by theclean up at the end of my procedure yesterday, they wipe the instrument down with anti-septic wipes!

    7. That sounds better – my OH was hardly able to speak at all for a couple of days after his op, but the intensive care nurse was very good and phoned a couple of times to let me know how he was. He’s now been home for four weeks, and although he still gets breathless and a bit shaky (chest xray coming up on Sunday) he is now able to do his usual jobs around the house – he’s made a pudding this afternoon and repaired the birds’ peanut feeder, and he’s just lighting the log fire and this morning he did the ironing. He thinks he’s not recovering fast enough but I can see he’s making progress.

      I’m sure once yours is well enough to come home you will see how much better he will feel.

      1. It does take it out of one though. You really went through the mill with your husband. This hasn’t been that long but it sure feels like it.
        Am ready for tomorrow and need an early night so I can be out of here sharpish.

        1. I went out for lunch today and left him to his own devices for a few hours. He’s survived and so long as he keeps busy it stops him thinking and feeling sorry for himself.

        1. Much better thanks, Tom – but he’s a bit shaky still, and breathless. It’s still early days, I think.

    9. Good luck to you both, Ann.

      Just KBO and we’re all behind you both – you tell him that – it might perk him up out of the lethargy.

      Can’t blame him for the lethargy, stuck in horse piddle with only an endoscopy to look forward to – oof!

    11. That’s good. I had an endoscopy yesterday – if he can (I couldn’t) tell him to request sedation!

  62. That’s me gone for this chilly day. Nice and sunny in the afternoon – but a biting wind. More of the same forecast.

    Have a spiffing evening.

    A demain.

  63. Thought for the day.
    The government should grant the unions all their pay rises, right across the board.

    BUT, the overall budgets should stay the same and the unions should be told to cut out the waste to stay within those budgets.

    1. It looks like the Conservative have lost the next election anyway, why not give them all their pay rises and let Labour pick up the outcome.

      1. I continue to hope that my pension will be paid.
        Bankrupt everyone and the thieves and thugs will be the only winners
        also known as BLM

  64. Second thought for the day.
    200 years ago Britain led the charge for the abolition of slavery in the West.
    Now we are trying to lead the charge for the Green revolution.
    Does that mean that if we succeed again that in 200 years the rest of world will be seeking reparations and the natives tearing down statues in the same way they are now?

  65. Here’s one for you.
    Family reckon I’m weird.
    Doesn’t everyone add dried chilli flakes when they make gravy? I always do, gives it a lift.

    5. Not gravy but in lots of different soups. I made a roasted red pepper & chorizo soup yesterday with a homemade vegetable stock, other ingredients included a small quantity of chopped onion , a garlic clove a splash of tomato puree, black pepper, pinch of salt and some chilli flakes.

      Have you ever tried adding a pinch of fennel seeds when making a loaf of bread? When the bread is toasted, buttered and spread with marmalade it tastes divine…

  67. The Protestant NGO Portes Ouvertes has just finalised its annual figures on the persecution of Christians in the world. The last year (1st October 2021 – 30th September 2022) has been dire, with now 1 in 7 Christians in the world persecuted for their faith.

    A few points to summarise:

    in 1993, when the tally started, Christians were persecuted in 40 countries. Today, 76 countries are doing this.
    On average, 15 Christians are murdered every day for their religious beliefs.
    2110 churches have been targeted, just under half of these in China.
    4542 Christians are in prison, about a quarter of these in India.
    5259 Christians were kidnapped over the year, the vast majority in Nigeria.

    This makes Christianity the most widely persecuted religion in the world.

    No comment… not because I don’t have anything to say about it, but because I have too much and I don’t know where to begin!

    https://www.portesouvertes.fr/informer/communique-de-presse/360-millions-de-chretiens-persecutes-dans-le-monde-1-sur-7

    1. You and me, both, Caroline and I’m agnostic but believe that there is something bigger than us.

      I talk to him as The Big Man.

    2. Any Christian country that welcomes Muslims can expect it to happen in their country sooner or later.

      NO Muslim country welcomes Christianity, nor any other faith for that matter.

    4. I’m an atheist, but strive to have a Christian (can you have a christian one?) ethos. I respect other people’s beliefs as long as they respect mine. I’ve been around the world a few times and believe Islam is the scariest religion I’ve ever come across.

      2. There is a difference between Christian culture / ethos and Christian faith. Here is Europe, our history, culture and values are based on centuries of Christian faith which is basically, I suppose, an aspiration to an ideal: “love your neighbour”. In terms of faith, I think this commandment stems from the belief that Christ makes his home in your neighbour’s heart as much as he does in your own. This doesn’t take away the fact that historically a number of ghastly things have happened in the name of Christianity: such is the perverseness of human nature. It is an ideal, after all. But you don’t need faith to see that the “love your neighbour” commandment is the key to a decent, civilised society.

        Islam scares me, too, because according to its tenets what matters above all else is faith in Allah, not how you behave. So there is no ground rule on which to base morality.

    2. Good night and sleep well, Tom. Just to let you know that my Internet connection returned of its own accord late this morning.

  69. Evening Stormy. Happy 😃 🎂 bBirthday to you, hope you’ve had the day off to do something really exciting.

  70. Evening, all!

    I have been mostly MIA in the last few weeks due to having stashed my caravan in Somerset and hared off around the country in my car.

    Then I stashed the car in Lincolnshire and pootled down to enjoy Hertslass’s unparalleled hospitality.

    And now I am waitiing to board a one-way flight to Buenos Aires, having woken up one morning fancying learning to tango!

    I may well be absent for a few weeks. I would say play nicely while I’m away, but… I’ve been here for a while! 🤣🤣

    3. Enjoy your trip.
      Lovely to be able to just up sticks and dash.
      Stay safe and regale us with adventures (and misadventures) when you eventually return.

      1. One of my ultimate wishes: Pack a bag, go to the airport, see where flights are going to, and buy a ticket to there.
        Sigh…

        2. I am not that sort of spontaneous traveller; I like to plan everything! I do, however, suffer from Wanderlust from time to time, particularly when I see white contrails against a blue sky. Not having anyone to look after the doggies means no trips abroad now, so it’s off to explore England in the camper when I go away. Still lots of unexplored (by me) places to visit.

      2. One of my ultimate wishes: Pack a bag, go to the airport, see where flights are going to, and buy a ticket to there.
        Sigh…

    6. Wow! Busy, busy! If I’d known you were visiting Hertslass I’d have sent love via you to her.

      Have a super time tangoing!

    8. Enjoy your time in Argentina (in their summertime), A&D. Don’t forget to sample their wonderful steaks and world-famous Malbec when you’re not doing the Tango.

      1. I love Tom Lehrer’s songs and I have all his records. I came across his first album when I was 11 years old.
        I worked out guitar accompaniments for some of his songs including this one.

  71. I haven’t been around much on here because life has become overwhelming with events and happenings , and it is only the 18th of January’23 .

    I am now having problems with younger spaniel , blood test show his liver is iffy.. Ultrasound and more tomorrow .. older spaniel is hanging on and plodding along , but youngster is causing some deep concern , my agility champion .. and lively companion .

    Moh continues to have tests for his heart , and younger son in Worthing has plates and screws in his ankle and leg after his London Bridge station accident before Christmas , may need another op .

    Why is my head buzzing loudly inside?

    We had some heavy snow this morning , then by midday when I was with Pip Spannel visiting the Vet , the sun came out and the snow melted , than goodness .

    Ultrasound for him tomorrow early, and I hope the car won’t be frozen ..

    1. Good luck Belle. Life’s a real bugger at times.
      It is bloomin’ cold here though. Beginning to wish I had woolly underfugs.

      1. My Oscar seems to be almost blind now. I dropped a biscuit on the floor and he couldn’t see it almost in front of his nose.

        1. Oh, poor Oscar… our dogs’ health problems seem to come on so quickly, so suddenly – I am observing this around our village. Was his sight starting to be a problem when you got him?

          1. His eyes had that opaqueness which comes with age, but doesn’t necessarily mean blindness. The vet checked them this year and said she didn’t think he saw much now. Still, he’s got a guide dog (Kadi) and as long as he’s looked after he should have a good life. He does tend to bump into lamp posts, though!

        2. Maybe he’s just fussy. I’ll be honest, and say I hope my Oscar outlives me. I don’t think I could bear him going before me.

          1. Given that my Oscar was nearly twelve when I got him and he’s a pedigree, I am resigned to the fact that, barring a disaster on my part, he’ll go first. I like to think I’ve made his final years happy. He definitely wanted the biscuit; he was searching for it everywhere using his nose.

    3. I was wondering how they all were – I hope your son is recovering. Old dog may yet outlive the younger one – but they’ve both had a good life. Our little Lily is bone thin but lively and loving, whenever she goes she will have had a happy life. She’s on OH’s lap at the moment. He’s lit the wood stove and it’s nice and warm in here.

      We had a covering of snow this morning but the neighbours were out with brooms and grit and people were able to get out for work. I went out at midday, and it felt quite warm at 3c, yesterday it was minus 3c.

    4. Cherish your doggy friends while you can, be grateful for their company and know that you have given them a good life.

    5. Oh Belle, I’m so sorry to hear this, poor doggie and poor you, our furry companions are such a worry. It may not be as bad as you think with younger spaniel.

      It is probably stress that is making your head buzz, you have too many worries at the moment. Let us know how you (Pip) gets on with the ultrasound scan. Our vet is particularly good at milking the slightest discrepancy for blood tests, scans and the rest. We got an email two days ago to book ‘your dog’ – no mention of her name – ‘in for a diagnostic procedure…’. (this probably means blood tests and anything else) and we said to each other, “but we already know the diagnosis, a leaky mitral heart valve shown on ultrasound scan and a lymphoma confirmed by blood tests!” We suspect this to be a money milking exercise. It came out of the blue, no discussion and with an assumption we had the readies with which to pay. Early December the vet said bring Poppie back end of January for a check-up which we are quite happy to do. He is part of the Medivet franchise – lovely vet, kind with animals but he is a business man as well. What we don’t like is the Medivet business model.

      Take care and remember that things are not always what they seem.

      1. Wise advice pm. My vet is good but also part of the Medivet scheme .

        I have suspected several issues with Pip, he is 9 years old , and looks fit as a fiddle , but fussy with food and has the shakes not too often .. he is very active , always on the go . He vomitted horribly last night and this morning , his pee looked very concentrated etc .

        My mind has been concentrating on Jack spaniel , 15 yrs in March and Moh and other things .

        The thing is pm, it is stuff that happens all off a sudden , Moh and his cough, which has signalled other things to the Doc , has now wrecked Moh’s get up and go.

        The oft used expression appears to be it is what it is

        1. This is one of the occasions in life when you need to take one day at a time and, if necessary, one hour at a time with a few minutes for yourself with a comforting treat such as a hot chocolate with your mind away from it all. You will find your way through and the strength to do so. We are all here to be a sounding board. Thinking of you. xx💕

      1. Used to make me laugh uproariously. He did a monologue about a travel iron (I got a postcard …) and an occasional table (sometimes it thinks it’s a chair) among others, but the guide cats was always my favourite. He was born in Manchester, but lived near Oswestry (Bwlchgwyn). Died of a suspected heart attack and found in his car after he’d been to watch his favourite football team.

    1. To some extent, it always has been. When teaching in Manchester at secondary level, I lost count of the fights I and another teacher had to break up. It was a girls’ school.

      1. I went to a rough, tough, northern co-educational grammar school and never saw anything like that.

        1. I went to a C of E girls grammar school and saw two girls, in the dining hall, going at each other with forks. Most fights between teenage girls are about boys.
          Every school is different.

          1. It wasn’t a criticism, just a statement of fact – although it was tough and catered for a large working class area of south Leeds, fighting didn’t seem to be part of that particular school’s culture. We were particularly adept at dodging board rubbers hurled across the classroom and one teacher had a reputation for banging boys’ heads against the wall. Perhaps there was a good grip on discipline in those days, late fifties. Fights probably happened in other schools and, of course, I forgot – the cane was much in evidence in those days.

      2. My mother always said: ‘The female of the species is more dangerous than the male’ . . .

      3. I went to an all – girls’ grammar – one teacher was hounded so much that she gave up teaching and went back to Cambridge. Girls are just as good as boys at sniffing out weakness.

        2. I think girls are particularly good at sniffing out weakness in others, it is just a different kind of weakness from that which boys go for. Girls are more cunning, sly and devious and emotionally cruel.

      1. I don’t think that is true, molamola. Boys can also act in gangs to torture and beat individual boys.

          1. As a member of the gang, or the victim? (I am not judging you because you were a child at the time.)

      2. There were fights at my Irish boys boarding school, but it was always one on one, ‘Queensbury rules’ with an audience . . .

    4. I’ve just watched NIGHT AND FOG, a 35 minute1956 film by French Director Alain Resnais showing the inhuman cruelty in WWII concentration camps. It shows just how important is responsible parenting is and the caring teaching of children is in order to curb a human tendency to behave cruelly towards our fellow man both in childhood and in later life. Truly, the human species can be intrinsically cruel unless shown a better way.

  74. Signing off early as I need to get going tomorrow. Brekker and shower and then off on my exotic bus ride to not sunny BA. Bloody frigid England.
    See you sometime tomorrow.

    1. I hope you have a good restful sleep, M’Lady Ann. And a much better trip to see your Other Half tomorrow.

  75. Well, good night everyone. Sleep well and awaken refreshed tomorrow. I’m off up the stairs myself in a couple of minutes.

  76. Well, good night everyone. Sleep well and awaken refreshed tomorrow. I’m off up the stairs myself in a couple of minutes.

      1. Instead we have endless stories about things that cause heart attacks and strokes.
        Cold weather’s turn today in the Mail.

        1. It was ‘cakes brought into the office’ somewhere I read today. Right up there with ‘tight socks’ and ‘shaking the duvet’ of some weeks ago. Whatever next. Sigh.

  79. A naughty BTL Comment which might send you to bed with a smile:

    Good ole Colonel Sanders.
    Name a white man who’s put more bones in black chicks’ mouths?

    3. I was to meet another crew member in the Changi hotel in 2001 whose name was given to me as Col Sanders. We were having to stay there for 2 nights before flying on to KL to meet the rest of the crew. I’d ask at the desk and get a “No, sir, no one of that name.” Turned out his name was Gerald and not Colin. We had a good night out after we both met in reception. He’s now one of my best friends and we fish together. Bloody silly nicknames.

  80. Popped into WHSmith this evening to buy a birthday card. They’re offering “Spare” at half price. That didn’t take long?

  81. Evening all again. Just had a quick butchers at they Daily Fail health page and it’s given me a good old chuckle. It’s all doom and gloom. But it made me laugh!

    1. I saw somewhere on line that laughter is the best medicine around and is a cure all for everything….so keep reading Daily Fail and you will live forever!!

    1. I think it just underlines how completely ignorant and incredibly stupid our political classes actually are.
      But as we are all now being ripped off with fake and made up price increases, someone has to pay for all their devious behaviour.

      1. 370196+ up ticks,

        Morning RE,.

        Many will put the politicos actions down to stupidity and carry on supporting them when in reality it is out & out treachery.

    2. This is probably done to encourage people who discover immigrants in their lorries to set them loose rather than report them.
      It is abundantly clear that the PTB have no desire to deal with illegal immigration. In fact the more the merrier.

  84. Can I say a big https://media2.giphy.com/media/5ArJanyCfxgiY/giphy.gif

    to every one for all my birthday greetings? You are all so very thoughtful.
    The funny thing us that turning sixty has affected my memory overnight. Would you believe I had forgotten it was my birthday until I got to work and found my office festooned with balloons and banners?! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/41598628cecf4e6b5d250a3785c2b2c2cc6c75fca2effa63f8de158cc72d95c5.jpg

        1. Happy very belated birthday to you, Stormy! Sounds as though you had a good day! 🍾🌹

    2. Happy birthday Stormy -🍨🥳😥🍷looked for you earlier on to wish you 😘 but didn’t see you here till now. Hope it’s been a good one.

      1. Yes, thank you. I was at work until,late but I had a lovely surprise and lots of presents from everyone at work.

  85. I’ve just watched a really pleasant and honest reflection on the past BBC and film direction. An interview on bbc 4 with Ken Loach.
    Now recording Up the Junction. Interesting old faces from the past.
    So I’m turning in now.
    Night all.

    1. And Being call sir doesn’t make people a better person.
      People simply become more aware of what they have effed up.
      Why do they keep referring to ‘The Pandemic’ it was two years ago. But the after side effects of all the jabs still linger on. And treatment for cardiology problems caused by these injections are taking far too long to be rectified.
      That’s probably why so many more people are dying.
      But they dare not speak the truth.

    2. There you are, Stormy, looked for you to wish you a Happy One.

      I trust you had a good day.

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