Sunday 13 August: HS2 has become a symbol of politicians’ carelessness with taxpayers’ money

Posted on by Geoff Graham

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551 thoughts on “Sunday 13 August: HS2 has become a symbol of politicians’ carelessness with taxpayers’ money”

    1. Morning, all Y’all.
      Rain is back. Mist in the trees. Full autumn weather without the yellow.

  3. I have no time for Julian Assange but I MUST beg you to join me in opposing his shameful handover to the US. 13 August 2023.

    I must beg you to join me, as soon as you can, in protesting against the fast-approaching extradition of Julian Assange to the USA.

    I am sorry to say I do not believe he will receive justice when he gets there. I simply cannot see why our supposedly independent courts have so far permitted this, when the extradition is so blatantly political – something clearly banned under the UK-US Extradition Treaty.

    I know that he’s a pompous pain in the ass but we should not extradite Assange whose real crime was embarrassing the American Government. We should not even be holding him. We are playing our usual role of spineless lackey. Guilt or Innocence in the US courts is pretty much irrelevant. The recent trial of Navalny in Russia would never have taken place in the US. There would have been a Plea Bargain and he would have been shipped off to a Federal Prison without the bother of any hearing. The whole US Justice system is essentially Third World in orientation. It has a 99% conviction rate which makes even the Chinese envious. Being tried there consists largely of your lawyers negotiating the best deal that they can get for you. If you are any sort of foreigner this will almost certainly be worse than if you are home grown. So Free Assange!

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/columnists/article-12400777/PETER-HITCHENS-no-time-Julian-Assange-beg-join-opposing-shameful-handover-one-person-stop-now.html

    1. Or in the case of Hunter Biden a free ticket.
      It’s a scandal that Assange has been held prisoner without trial for so many years.
      He’ll get no justice in the US.

    2. I agree. Assange is an obsessive, but that’s not a crime.
      America has turned into the very country that it was fighting for the first forty years after WWII.

  4. Morning all 🙂😊
    Totally grey, and as usual last night no chance of seeing the meteor shower.
    But we have our own shower. In Westminster and Whitehall. They are absolutely useless at anything, except of course claiming their expenses.

  6. HS2 has become a symbol of politicians’ carelessness with taxpayers’ money

    Looks like just another example of the politicians following the experts again.

  7. ‘The Holocaust happened on British soil’: Inquiry into Nazi camps creates bitter divide on Alderney. 13 August 2023.

    In the months ahead, the inquiry will gather new details of hitherto secret grave sites and mass Jewish burial grounds that, collectively, are likely to redraw the geographical reach of Hitler’s “final solution”.

    But not everyone on the island is happy that Alderney’s dark secrets may finally be uncovered. On one side are those relieved it will finally expose how the British government perpetrated an elaborate cover-up to suppress the extent to which Nazi atrocities were perpetrated on its soil. But then there are those who say claims of a cover-up are pure fantasy; that the past should be left to fade away.

    All this of course presupposes that there is something new to be found. It is difficult to see how and why any post war UK government would be interested in suppressing it must remain a mystery to anyone with any sense.

    In essence this is a Holocaust publicity campaign. They occur quite regularly and in this particular case it will provide some moral support for the new Holocaust Memorial in London which is failing due to lack of British Guilt. We need no memorial. We played no part in the Holocaust and we owe no one any apologies for it.

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/aug/13/the-holocaust-happened-on-british-soil-inquiry-into-nazi-camps-creates-bitter-divide-on-alderney

  9. ‘Morning, Peeps. It could be a properly sunny day today, with a massive 21°C. Just right for our annual family bbq.

    The outlook in the country is, however, still on the slide. Headline in today’s DT:

    ‘Comply or else’: Gender and net zero red tape blamed for stifling British business

    City heavyweights claim rigid diversity and climate targets risk undermining UK competitiveness

    The depression amongst the BTL posters is palpable:

    Stephen Luscombe
    1 HR AGO
    We have the most hostile business regime since the 1970s. It feels as if Corbyn won the 2019 general election. These so called Conservatives are anything but. We can have any flavour of low growth, high regulation, Social Democacy we like.

    Danger Mouse
    1 HR AGO
    We’ve lost our way, I don’t see anyway back for the next 10 years. There would have to be a cosmic shift politically. We have organisations such as stonewall completely dismantling the fabric of society from key profit making business to policing and even the armed forces. It will end badly.

    Canute Turner
    29 MIN AGO
    As ever, the cost of demonstrating compliance is higher than the cost of the actual compliance, requiring endless data gathering and monitoring throughout the organisation, piling on overheads and distracting the productive workforce from their main goal.
    And where are we supposed to get the extra £40bn from every year to create this Green Utopia? Don’t even the dimmest MPs get an inkling that increasing the already painful levels of levies and tariffs by a factor of five might be more than difficult?

    * * *

    Summary: This country is well on the way to becoming a trading performance basket-case under 13 years of Tory rule. Whoda thunkit??

    1. Don’t even the dimmest MPs get an inkling that increasing the already painful levels of levies and tariffs by a factor of five might be more than difficult?

      Canute Turner needs to recalibrate his Dimometer re MPs as it is grossly overreading.
      When you write to your MP on a particular subject and receive a reply nearly two months later that doesn’t in any way address the question asked and is in fact a piece of government propaganda under the signature of another MP (Junior Minister) that in itself contains information known to be false, then you know that you are near to plumbing the depths of dimness. My MP will stand down at the next GE. Good riddance.

      1. …and you think that his/her replacement will be any better? I admire your optimism, Korky!

        1. Hugh J! How could you say such a thing. My permanent highlighter is safely cached and ready to print NOTA on my ballot should the state of politics fail to improve immensely. An improvement will be a decent Independent candidate or similar from one of the emerging parties. Tory, Labour and LibDumb are verboten chez Korky.

  10. ‘Morning, Peeps. It could be a properly sunny day today, with a massive 21°C. Just right for our annual family bbq.

    The outlook in the country is, however, still on the slide. Headline in today’s DT:

    ‘Comply or else’: Gender and net zero red tape blamed for stifling British business

    City heavyweights claim rigid diversity and climate targets risk undermining UK competitiveness

    The depression amongst the BTL posters is palpable:

    Stephen Luscombe
    1 HR AGO
    We have the most hostile business regime since the 1970s. It feels as if Corbyn won the 2019 general election. These so called Conservatives are anything but. We can have any flavour of low growth, high regulation, Social Democacy we like.

    Danger Mouse
    1 HR AGO
    We’ve lost our way, I don’t see anyway back for the next 10 years. There would have to be a cosmic shift politically. We have organisations such as stonewall completely dismantling the fabric of society from key profit making business to policing and even the armed forces. It will end badly.

    Canute Turner
    29 MIN AGO
    As ever, the cost of demonstrating compliance is higher than the cost of the actual compliance, requiring endless data gathering and monitoring throughout the organisation, piling on overheads and distracting the productive workforce from their main goal.
    And where are we supposed to get the extra £40bn from every year to create this Green Utopia? Don’t even the dimmest MPs get an inkling that increasing the already painful levels of levies and tariffs by a factor of five might be more than difficult?

    * * *

    Summary: This country is well on the way to becoming a trading performance basket-case under 13 years of Tory rule. Whoda thunkit??

    1. When my father was twenty two with a wife and year old daughter they shipped him off to the Far East for four years!

    4. He has a short window of time in which to enjoy fry-ups – in the company of real men while binge watching proper British comedy.
      No earache (Oh …. Haaairy ….), no vegan crap, no mindfulness ……
      He can wear shoes, avoid posing under apple blossom and mouthing MeGain’s words to fat US agony aunts ….
      He can relish the company of slappers who don’t think they can save the world or run America.
      Boy, is he missing his wife!

  13. A lot of us know now that boiling an egg in water inside a microwave goes something like this:

    https://youtube.com/shorts/Gh8e9_UzLrM?feature=share

    However the water itself can significantly suppress the deadly effects of the rapidly expanding egg contents.

    So when I asked BingAI if I could boil an egg in a microwave without water (a slighly stupid question because the inference of boiling suggests using water and the absence of which could result in an even bigger explosion):

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7c03c9e7b6af0b1402e175b438ba181a0a520f3e5b41d48caea3e704e5fc5b31.jpg

    At least in the response it didn’t say it was a stupid questiin but there was link on how to treat the egg to prevent fragmentation in the microwave.

      1. We all know that the drive to eliminate fossil fuels is not going to be replaced by green electrical energy, Even the latter is not very green when our power stations are burning wood chips instead of coal.

        The energy used to heat up water to boil an egg in a small saucepan on a stove is a gross misuse of the little leccy we will have in the future. But AI could possibly have the intelligence to point out that net zero is a complete waste of time and work out a better way of cooking a soft boiled egg without creating an eggsplosion. 🍧⏳💨💥

        It might even suggest how to cook a soft boiled egg by just using an EV! 😉

        1. I don’t use much fuel in any case to soft-boil my eggs. Three minutes is all it takes to keep the white semi-snotty and the yolk completely unset. Just as I like it.

  14. A lot of us know now that boiling an egg in water inside a microwave goes something like this:

    https://youtube.com/shorts/Gh8e9_UzLrM?feature=share

    However the water itself can significantly suppress the deadly effects of the rapidly expanding egg contents.

    So when I asked BingAI if I could boil an egg in a microwave without water (a slighly stupid question because the inference of boiling suggests using water and the absence of which could result in an even bigger explosion):

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7c03c9e7b6af0b1402e175b438ba181a0a520f3e5b41d48caea3e704e5fc5b31.jpg

    At least in the response it didn’t say it was a stupid questiin but there was link on how to treat the egg to prevent fragmentation in the microwave.

  15. Good Moaning.
    Well, life’s one never ending learning curve.
    I discovered a file labelled ‘bin’ (wasn’t there on my old laptop). In it, are all the emails and I have, apparently, thirty days to trawl through and rescue those I need.
    Search facility proved to be a bit random, but now that the important stuff is back, I can fine things down and decide what else really needs keeping.
    Very monotonous, but in reality, part from the last 18 months which covers house selling and buying, most were items I had left to fester without summoning up the application and courage to blitz them. So, in one way, the disaster has been a blessing.
    I keep telling myself.
    p.s. Thank God for files created outside Googlemail. And especially paper, printers and lever arch files. I am so charmingly old fashioned. And paranoid.

      1. Thank you.
        The next few days will be ‘interesting’.
        Going through the house transaction emails, I wondered that MB and I retained even a vestige of sanity.
        p.s. why are interwebby/pooter help lines and websites so effing useless?
        It’s a whole new language (English – The Perversion Of).

        1. “Your question is important to us…”

          Glad you found them. The discussion to which Jules refers was quite amusing.

    2. In reality, stuff is rarely erased from a computer disk but you may need specialist equipment to access it. So any ‘interesting’ files that appear inexplicably from the dodgy side of the web, need a sort of digital shredder if you don’t want plod to find them.

        2. I am no expert, but I was told that stuff is only overwritten if there is no other space. When something is deleted it is just no longer visible to the normal user. I expect AI has the corrected answer if I looked!

          1. When you delete, it only removes the first few bytes I think, so if you have the right software, it can still be identified.

          2. I think if you delete something then defrag the disc it is removed completely because all the spaces are compressed

      2. I used to think that I only kept one year’s worth of emails at work but since it all went “to the cloud”, I do a search and it finds twenty years of possible answers. Why I still bother to delete anything, I don’t know. Habit.

        1. Im very wary of the cloud since a former colleague filmed his extra marital nocturnal activities and it went to the family group in the cloud. His kids were traumatised and the wife was not too pleased either. I hasten to add, I cant see the attraction of such filming but each to their own!

          1. Did they all have Apple devices? I have heard of similar experiences.
            I only have to use iOS test devices at work, and they are horrible – always wanting to back up, and when you log into one, notifications pop up on the others etc.

          3. Airline pilots, extra marital activities, in the clouds; ’twas ever thus (especially on long haul, I was informed).

          4. I only got one obvious offer from a crew member. I was so surprised, I mentioned it to the senior who let me know she was the company bunny boiler and well avoided. Having said that, the present Mrs Pea was acquired on travels to the East.

          5. I only got one obvious offer from a crew member. I was so surprised, I mentioned it to the senior who let me know she was the company bunny boiler and well avoided. Having said that, the present Mrs Pea was acquired on travels to the East.

    3. You seem to be a compulsive hoarder like me, Annie. I too am slowly working my way through decluttering what I don’t need. And in terms of paper records I spend considerable time shredding unwanted but sensitive paperwork.

    1. What I would like to know is, who the hell was it who shaved Mo in order to acquire the material for the suit?

  17. Good morning all,

    Cloudy at the McPhee’s with a chance of some showers early on, sunny periods later (or is that sunny with some cloudy periods and showers?). Wind Sou’-West, 15℃ with 19℃ the forecast maximum. Continuing to be below the long-term average for August.

    Letter of the day in the Gatesograph:

    SIR – Rarely do I disagree with Daniel Hannan (“Britain is now a poor nation”, Comment, July 23), but to suggest that British politics ought to revolve around just one question – “Why are we falling behind other advanced economies?” – is surely wrong.

    The nature, beliefs and culture of a nation are its heart and soul, its ethos. Resisting the incessant attack by the Left and the woke on that ethos – including on freedom of thought and speech – is crucial to halting both our economic and cultural decline.

    Nicholas Southward
    Salisbury, Wiltshire

    Yes. Politics is about far, far more than mere economics and managing (badly) state behemoths such as the NHS. Sadly that is something that our political class in their cosy Uniparty system have rejected. They will have to be reminded as uncomfortably as possible. We must all hope it comes to pass soon whether at elections or in an open, violent rebellion, preferably the latter.

  18. SIR – I was delighted to read Sarah Knapton’s report about the Battle of Britain (“Victory of the Few came down to the One”, August 6), having written a novel on the theme.

    If Trafford Leigh-Mallory and Douglas Bader had had their way in the summer of 1940, the battle would have been far more costly for Fighter Command, London and, ultimately, the free world. It was Keith Park’s tactics that prevented the Luftwaffe securing the conditions for the invasion of these islands. And if Park had not been replaced by Leigh-Mallory following an infamous meeting in the Air Ministry after the battle (alongside his boss, Hugh Dowding), Fighter Command losses over France during the subsequent campaign would have been nowhere near as high.

    In 2010, the statue of Park now in Waterloo Place briefly occupied the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. With the debate on permanent occupation of the plinth reopened, I believe there could be no more fitting occupant.

    Gp Capt Ron Powell RAF (retd)
    Barry, Glamorgan

    A fine suggestion, Gp Capt Powell, but it won’t be Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Rodney Park, GCB, KBE, MC & Bar, DFC. Despite his incalculable contribution he’s the wrong colour and the the wrong sex. Oh, and he was a military man, and one of the very finest. A definite no-no.

  19. 375418+ up ticks,

    Morning Each,

    Sunday 13 August: HS2 has become a symbol of politicians’ carelessness with taxpayers’ money

    “Carelessness” could have been used forty years ago, but currently NO WAY.

    They are milking the indigenous dairy herd while servicing
    scamming lifestyles as with the rotating money mills and the
    mirror mirror in the field what is your scamming yield.

    Twenty plus years time more fields will come on the scamming line to cater for the worn out, fall out,of this scamming delight.

    The real scary thing is the majority voter in a party before Country voting pattern, are the driving force behind this anti
    United Kingdom lab/lib/con coalition, with their proven continuing short term gain, long term pain X of death.

  20. This excellent letter should be the standard response to all those who think that our continued membership of the ECHR is justified:

    SIR – In 1950, Britain led the Council of Europe in drawing up the European Convention on Human Rights and setting up the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

    British lawyers drafted large parts of the convention to provide the European Continent with liberties long enjoyed in Britain. However, Winston Churchill insisted that the Strasbourg Court should have no jurisdiction in Britain because we had – and have – no need of it. Our own laws already guaranteed and guarantee our freedoms.

    For political reasons, Tony Blair granted the ECHR jurisdiction in Britain through the 1998 Human Rights Act. He soon regretted it. The main outcomes have been the politicisation of our judiciary and the introduction of new, phoney “human rights” to things like privacy and family life. These rights are routinely abused by publicity-shy millionaires, criminals, terrorists and illegal immigrants. Continental legal practice is not easily compatible with Britain’s brilliant common law, and British courts are now subject to often perverse ECHR appeal decisions.

    The bench of the ECHR includes second-rate, political judges from countries such as Bosnia and Turkey. Indeed, Russia only left the court last September. Too often its judgments ignore natural justice and bring the law into disrepute. It would be risible to suggest that, without the ECHR, Britain would lack liberties enjoyed on the Continent. We must repeal the 1998 Act and replace it with legislation preventing power-hungry British judges from making new law.

    Our rights and liberties should be based exclusively on British law, subject to democratic control exclusively by our own Parliament.

    Gregory Shenkman
    London SW7

    Bravo, Mr Shenkman!

  21. This excellent letter should be the standard response to all those who think that our continued membership of the ECHR is justified:

    SIR – In 1950, Britain led the Council of Europe in drawing up the European Convention on Human Rights and setting up the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

    British lawyers drafted large parts of the convention to provide the European Continent with liberties long enjoyed in Britain. However, Winston Churchill insisted that the Strasbourg Court should have no jurisdiction in Britain because we had – and have – no need of it. Our own laws already guaranteed and guarantee our freedoms.

    For political reasons, Tony Blair granted the ECHR jurisdiction in Britain through the 1998 Human Rights Act. He soon regretted it. The main outcomes have been the politicisation of our judiciary and the introduction of new, phoney “human rights” to things like privacy and family life. These rights are routinely abused by publicity-shy millionaires, criminals, terrorists and illegal immigrants. Continental legal practice is not easily compatible with Britain’s brilliant common law, and British courts are now subject to often perverse ECHR appeal decisions.

    The bench of the ECHR includes second-rate, political judges from countries such as Bosnia and Turkey. Indeed, Russia only left the court last September. Too often its judgments ignore natural justice and bring the law into disrepute. It would be risible to suggest that, without the ECHR, Britain would lack liberties enjoyed on the Continent. We must repeal the 1998 Act and replace it with legislation preventing power-hungry British judges from making new law.

    Our rights and liberties should be based exclusively on British law, subject to democratic control exclusively by our own Parliament.

    Gregory Shenkman
    London SW7

    Bravo, Mr Shenkman!

      1. I said this as soon as I realised what he was up to! People just didn’t notice. I felt like the last sane person in Britain. Probably NOTTLers felt the same way.

        1. I found the People’s Princess hysteria extremely frightening.
          I felt it wouldn’t take much for the hysterics to set on and tear apart anyone expressing the mildest doubt about ‘Saint’ Diana.
          Convid merely confirmed my belief that the GBP character has deteriorated very badly.

          1. People liked Diana precisely because she was a flawed character who lurched from one disaster to another, rather than a professional diplomat like Kate. I felt very sad when she died, and I didn’t have a TV, lay flowers or take part in any displays of grief. But I understand those who did.

          3. Not clever enough to be calculating in my opinion. She learned through experience to survive and get in a few kicks herself.
            Charles treated both his women as though he was a blasted Sultan.

  22. This excellent letter should be the standard response to all those who think that our continued membership of the ECHR is justified:

    SIR – In 1950, Britain led the Council of Europe in drawing up the European Convention on Human Rights and setting up the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

    British lawyers drafted large parts of the convention to provide the European Continent with liberties long enjoyed in Britain. However, Winston Churchill insisted that the Strasbourg Court should have no jurisdiction in Britain because we had – and have – no need of it. Our own laws already guaranteed and guarantee our freedoms.

    For political reasons, Tony Blair granted the ECHR jurisdiction in Britain through the 1998 Human Rights Act. He soon regretted it. The main outcomes have been the politicisation of our judiciary and the introduction of new, phoney “human rights” to things like privacy and family life. These rights are routinely abused by publicity-shy millionaires, criminals, terrorists and illegal immigrants. Continental legal practice is not easily compatible with Britain’s brilliant common law, and British courts are now subject to often perverse ECHR appeal decisions.

    The bench of the ECHR includes second-rate, political judges from countries such as Bosnia and Turkey. Indeed, Russia only left the court last September. Too often its judgments ignore natural justice and bring the law into disrepute. It would be risible to suggest that, without the ECHR, Britain would lack liberties enjoyed on the Continent. We must repeal the 1998 Act and replace it with legislation preventing power-hungry British judges from making new law.

    Our rights and liberties should be based exclusively on British law, subject to democratic control exclusively by our own Parliament.

    Gregory Shenkman
    London SW7

    Bravo, Mr Shenkman!

    1. Good for them this needs to happen all over the country.
      I’m wondering how our mp will react if the rumours are true about the proposed building hundreds of new local properties on our local green belt agricultural land.
      But he once told me he’s not against people who come to settle here from war torn countries. Something he should exam in more detail.
      Despite the fact none of them really contributed to the pleasure of satisfaction they are allowed. Soon after arrival.
      Perhaps those on the ‘waiting list’ should bring their own forks, pickaxe’s and shovels and join in with the work.

  28. Apropos the 1922 Common Entrance French paper which Richard Tracey posted yesterday, I have my grandfather’s school book for 1885 – in which he wrote all the various subjects that he was being taught, He was born in 1871 – so was 14. Some maths questions:

    Q. If A gives B 24 oxen worth £16.10.00 each and receives back 240 sheep worth £1.12.00 each – does he gain or lose?

    Q. Reduce 5/8ths as the fraction of 27/-

    Q. Find the interest on £886.10.9 for 4 and one-sixth years at 5 and one-third %

    I could go on……………. Different times, eh?

    1. Todays kids would use a computer or the internet. ChatAI can’t do pounds shillings and pence, but this is the answer it comes up with:

      To determine whether A gains or loses, we need to calculate the total value of what A gave and what A received.

      For what A gave:
      24 oxen * £16.10.00 = £387.60.00

      For what A received:
      240 sheep * £1.12.00 = £268.80.00

      A gained more in terms of value (£387.60.00 – £268.80.00), so A gains.

    2. Todays kids would use a computer or the internet. ChatAI can’t do pounds shillings and pence, but this is the answer it comes up with:

      To determine whether A gains or loses, we need to calculate the total value of what A gave and what A received.

      For what A gave:
      24 oxen * £16.10.00 = £387.60.00

      For what A received:
      240 sheep * £1.12.00 = £268.80.00

      A gained more in terms of value (£387.60.00 – £268.80.00), so A gains.

    3. 1. Neither. the value is equal. Done mentally.

      Edit. Wrong. Back of an envelope reveal £12/- loss.

        1. Thanks for the clarification, Bill. In which case, here is my answer to
          Question 3:. This post has been superseded by Grizzly’s own post (see above) so I shall spend any further time enjoying my book whilst enjoying an early elevenses.

    8. Question 1:
      Oxen value = 24 x £16.5 = 12 x £33 = £330 +£66 = £396
      Sheep value = 240 x £(1 and 12/20ths = 1 and 6/10ths) = 240 x £1.6 = 24 x £16 = 12 x £32 = £320 + £64 = £384
      Therefore he gives away £396 in oxen but only receives back £384 in sheep, so he LOSES in the transaction.
      I therefore disagree with Fiscal McPhee who did his sums mentally and concluded that the value of oxen and sheep is equal.

    9. Question 2:
      To get 5 to 27 we need to multiply the numerator (5) by X, where X is 27 over 5 (or 54 over 10) = 5.4
      Therefore we need to multiply the denominator (8) by X, i.e. 8 x 5.4 = (10 minus 2) x 5.4 = 54 minus 10.8 = 43.2
      So the fraction 5/8ths can now be expressed as 27 divided by 43.2
      CHECK: The original 5/8ths is just over one half (4/8ths) just as my answer is. ( One half would be 21.6 divided by 43.2)

      1. I don’t agree with your solution to Q2, Grizzly (see my own calculations). You appear to have read the questions as “What is 5/8ths of 27 shillings?” whereas I read it as “Express 5 divided by 8 as 27 divided by ???” I shall now work on Q3, giving my workings.

        PS – Grizzly I shall take your answer as correct because, having just re-read Q3, I find that it would involve me in one heck of a lot of time with pencil and paper and I think you are a very brainy Grizzly Bear*** so will happily take your answer as correct. Instead I shall make myself a cup of coffee with a buttered Hot Cross Bun which I shall enjoy whilst reading another section of my book.

        *** Just as brainy as Bill’s grandfather.

          1. Again, I have to disagree with you, Grizzly. “I’m not very bright” – what a load of nonsense!

  29. Good morning, chums. Late on parade today after awakening in the middle of the night and coming downstairs for a long read of TRUST by Hernan Diaz, followed by a return to bed. Shortly I will continue reading this fascinating (so far) book which is choice of the month for the Book Club I am a member of. Enjoy your own “day of rest”.

    1. I went to bed early because I have to be up early for church. Cue Oscar waking me up at 11.30 (I went to bed at 11.00), 2.30, 3.20 and 4.30. I am barely compos mentis! For some reason he only seems to do this in the early hours of Sunday morning.

    2. I went to bed early because I have to be up early for church. Cue Oscar waking me up at 11.30 (I went to bed at 11.00), 2.30, 3.20 and 4.30. I am barely compos mentis! For some reason he only seems to do this in the early hours of Sunday morning.

  30. ‘Morning All

    Sunday Medley

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2cc74d4421bc4157c40442f05cd5b149250b9f381f9623c2137b42a84beab92d.jpg

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7e1db0bd73b0425732ad43a2050113102e8dcef271a07a68cb50fe0f9bd5535e.gif

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/62ea15a2d26ee25694eb00fc7cef27f44c8380323823d0ec13bd0c89c806afa4.jpg

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1cadcf303a5ca26a8802a5fd2b63969df18ccbc9ca7cbc4cb5f96073bfeda4e4.jpg

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4740f65a95b1d688930bec4e92ed18aa39c8e5f450b0c31b884147cc1680d803.jpg

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8c331e2b01f177d5329d5e885b5f348df160d06241a04a9ab0d4713c63b6c395.jpg

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8f08a56f4600f6a11ae3daa09e60f93d3715911aeea0e6647e72a0a3c5a10b21.jpg

    3. I read yesterday that the mother of the child (there is no father, of course – virgin birth) is to sue the Perlice Farce in question.

      More power to her elbow, says I.

  31. Brilliant,if chilling,summary of whats occured and whats to come by Paul Weston

    Well worth your time……..

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-QfgQQkGJU

    Plus some medley overspill

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1c3155b9f7606c5080f3248a5ce1d9fff8d1c0381f1f296bac0fde2caf285973.gif

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e5f900c2cadbf5587f70c2db2346b3a0a0e193a217d6d428fbe550cad8eb9eda.gif

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/adad155ad25398de16b0897147d7fdc3f888ad0e032004f958b6b47bb1e57095.jpg

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d72d106a10b468baa3625becba1d866c03eaca9ef458289050af318519b3940b.jpg

    1. I wonder where Mr Weston has moved too? There are not a lot of free countries left. Maybe he has gone to Russia?

      1. We’re looking at Austria, but need to find a suitable smallholding.
        If people are interested in re-locating, getting a subscription to Parallel Mike’s community might be a good start.

    2. The ‘They’ burt a whole island recently killed many and people still unaccounted for. Thousands,homeless.
      Are we next ? Oh hang on more rain later.

    3. I could never work out why Mary Poppins, a London nanny, was shown having an American Robin Turdus migratorious (fewer than 20 having been recorded in the UK) sitting on her hand instead of an expected common European Robin Erithacus rubecula.

          2. Pitch perfect, Eddy.

            Though a chasm in class below the impeccable standard of Ashesthandust.

    1. There’s another wave of inflation coming anyway, and these little interest rate rises that were far below the inflation rate won’t stop that. They want us to believe that the central banks are in control and can stop inflation, but it’s a myth.
      They’ll have to revert to money printing to pay all the increased debt costs, and that’ll kick off inflation again.

      Oh wait a moment, they already have.
      Fed bought US treasuries with money they created with a mouse click.
      https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/828e52352d164b46b59bbc7d889a0c7ba67e3f12879da4385ba91d96229ddf92.jpg

  34. Would a Mod elevate my post to the top of the page please…

    Calling all gourmands.

    Not the Nottle lunch !

    I have a hankering for pan fried calves liver and the best place is the Red Lion at Horsell. https://redlionhorsell.co.uk/

    If any Nottler would like to join me, i will be buying the Malbec !

    Date in September TBA

    Let me know if interested either here or by email.

    This message will be repeated later for those at Church or those lollygagging in bed.

    6. As much as I would dearly love to join you, Concorde no longer flies, so I respectfully will have to decline!! But hopefully, someone will post pictures for us to see.

    7. Thank you for the invitation, but I shall, regretfully, have to decline. I hope you have a wonderful time.

    8. Would a Mod elevate my post to the top of the page please.
      I’ve never been there before and it’s unlikely I ever will, but if it annoys Phizzeee what’s not to like?

      Particularly as most readers will have retired to better things…

        1. Thanks. I’d be up for it but not on Saturday or Sunday. I’m owed leave so could take a day off work during the week.

          1. It is now the Monday 4th September. Let me know if you can make it so i can book you in.

    10. Sounds like a good wine followed by a good whine about the state of the nation. What’s not to like. Interested, but away at sea early in the 2nd week.

  35. A belated Good morning all.
    11½°C outside on a bright but cloudy morning.

    An even more disturbed night due to the DT’s summer cold. She’s now got a nasty chesty cough to go along with her snoring sessions.
    I think I’ll be going back to bed again.

    I see HS2 consultant, Billy Barter is going for an MRD award today:-

    SIR – You report that the Infrastructure and Projects authority has declared HS2 unachievable. As construction of the core route from London to the West Midlands is well advanced, this verdict can only reflect the uncertainty over Euston station.

    The rationale for new rail infrastructure always was, and remains, to add long-distance capacity so the existing West Coast Main Line can be repurposed for freight and local services, with speed primarily a bonus.

    The HS2 Phase 1 hybrid Bill was based perfectly sensibly on a two-stage construction process for Euston that would deliver all this, initially providing six platforms for services to Birmingham and the North West, followed by five more as and when trains were to be added with the extensions towards Scotland, Yorkshire and the North East. Largely to maximise scope for property development, this scheme was replaced with a single-stage build with fewer and narrower platforms for HS2 services, and the problems have mounted up ever since.

    It is time the Government reverted to its original plan: given that decisions on HS2’s northern extensions have been postponed, the two-stage build would only incur the minimum costs of building on the already cleared site at Euston and allow the benefits of the scheme to be unlocked.

    William Barter
    Towcester, Northamptonshire

  36. Yet another story in the DT today about the sinking of a migrant boat in Tunisia.

    “The vessel carrying 20 Tunisians went down at 2.00am”. Wrong. They were not Tunisians, they were all (according to the photos) or nearly all, from the Ivory Coast and Guinea. These people cross the Sahara through Algeria. There are 80,000 of them in Tunisia at the moment. Such a small country can’t cope with this but the United Nations wastes no time in criticising Tunisia, in the name of human ‘rights’, for attempting to send them back to their home countries or sending some of them to Libya at the invitation of the Libyan government in Tripoli.

    No wonder the UN is so useless with countries like Afghanistan, Cuba, Eritrea, Pakistan, Somalia and Venezuela as members of its ‘Human Rights Council”! What a joke!

    The population of Africa is approximately 1.5 billion. The rate of increase of the population is, on average, 2.4% p.a.. That’s 36 million additional Africans each year.

    Expect MANY more illegal immigrants into Europe, especially the UK where the liberal government and the socialist opposition are especially generous towards these people, with money that belongs, not to them, but to the ever-suffering taxpayers.

      1. Good morning, Margaret.

        I never realised that Wool was situated just outside Mbuji-Mayi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.😉

  37. Hmmm.

    SIR – I read with incredulity that about 60 Tory MPs have expressed the view that leaving the ECHR would boost the Conservatives’ chances at the next general election (report, August 10).

    I would suggest that most people do not know what the ECHR is, or what it does, and probably don’t care anyway. They may even think it has something to do with the EU. I also suspect they do not wake in the night fretting about the effect that the ECHR is going to have on them.

    Philip Thomas
    Arundel, West Sussex

    Mr Turner 2 HRS AGO
    What a condescending letter from Philip Thomas.
    By the way, ‘condescending’ means talking down to.

    Jane Roberts
    2 HRS AGO
    His assertion that the ECHR has nothing to do with the EU is correct, except it has the word European in its title so it can only be assumed to be a European thing, whether EU run or not. We wish to be an independent sovereign state.

    Could someone point out to Jane Roberts that, though it was founded before the Coal and Steel Community that morphed into the EU, over the decades the ECHR has, effectively, become an integral part of the EU’s apparat and does appear rather strongly support EU Policy in many of its decisions?

  38. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2d29b99e98c639883f42ac4201347ff830ee2aab0120e1decd8062e00b3a09ef.png
    The appalling standard of graphics presented every day in the Daily/Sunday Telegraph gets worse with each passing day. The brain-dead clown who produced this classic (as well as his quarter-wit editor who passed it for publication) is beyond clueless as to where England’s motorways actually are. I shall endeavour to explain.

    1. Top left. The M6 does not pass through South Yorkshire!
    2. Top Right. J1 of the M1 is not at Leicester!
    3. Bottom Left. J 29 of the M25 is not at Rugby!
    4. Bottom Right. The distance between J30 and J31 on the M1 is six miles (one camera does not span that distance), and they are nowhere near Brentwood in Essex!

    I despair at the lack of eduction these twats receive before being enlisted by a once-vaunted broadsheet.

  40. A few more of Rik’s cat gifs – the gif that goes on giffing…….

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/abdc82fbdef0b1ab8b98dd01b10da67a56a7123bbcea50858c3bd1f693bc935a.gif https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1613142bb9348bf4fe56b7702ebd8f9b934d49a6b6e6574213f3188d454e05c3.gif https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b76f8796dc6e105e3e803176e62d8136981302646aa647b87ce512ff8df24234.png https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e53febb151d85596858392b93608427f793314bcc4c2a959b9b50b9777821505.gif

    1. An man is in a coffin, brutally murdered. There are flowers on it. A grieving daughter, distraught, stands at the side. And the morons at the front have got their ******* smart phones out to record it.

    1. Will we notice the difference? The DT uses more words, and the DM more pictures to fill the space.

      1. Exactly. I was shocked reading the Telegraph recently to discover how similar the content is to the Mail nowadays – and I am not referring to factual news!

  43. More higgerance from the Telegraph: page 13, bottom left – Kaliningrad is an exclave, not an enclave.

    1. Perhaps a few buckets of warfarin might be useful, the rats will enjoy being on a parr with all the other bleeders in there.

    2. Half a dozen keen terriers and, perhaps, some ferrets and that should be problem if not solved, but certainly reduced.

  46. One of our kind neighbours deposited some free logs on our drive yesterday. I’ve just been out to move them with the wheelbarrow…….. I couldn’t even lift the smallest one into it. I rolled some of them to a corner to mature a bit……. the rest I’ve had to leave for now. Maybe another kind neighbour can split them for us.

    2. You could probably hire log splitters now, give you local hire shop a ring they will probably deliver as well.

        1. Just hire a boy or two to run the log splitter. It is not exactly a mentally challenging task and their thumbs would be at risk not yours.

          1. I’ll have to see if a neighbour can come to the rescue – they’re a good lot. When I said yes to the logs I had no idea they’d be so big.

  47. Real cyclists don’t use e-bikes

    Peter Hitchens

    The Spectator, 12th August 2023

    An impossible 45 years ago, I decided the moment had come to get back on my pushbike. I had long hated the way the motor car was taking over the world and wanted to play my part in changing this.

    I also had a more selfish reason. After two years on the Fleet Street diet of lunchtime excess, I could already see my first heart attack was not far off. I was in my late twenties and getting almost no exercise. I knew of people in the newspaper business who did so little walking that the uppers of their shoes wore out before the soles did. Something had to be done.

    In those days, bikes had not moved on since my childhood days, pedalling my heavy green Hercules over the Sussex Downs on summer afternoons. The brakes were as feeble, especially in the wet. The Sturmey-Archer three-speed gears were just the same.

    The big difference was that there were millions more cars, and their drivers all hated me. I remember many things about those early days as a militant cyclist in the nation’s capital. I recall the morning my rattling second-hand bike was stolen by a middle-aged geezer in a tweed jacket, who managed to escape even though I was beating him round the head with a bag of dirty laundry at the time. I especially recall the struggle to get up Primrose Hill on my first two-wheeled journey home. The way in had been all downhill. But this was a serious gradient, and I was not going to give up and get off. As a result, I almost lost consciousness. The months of browsing and sluicing on the Daily Express had already begun to clog my cardiovascular system, and I swear I could feel actual globs of fat detaching themselves from the insides of my arteries as I heaved myself upwards. Until then I had just suspected this was important. Afterwards I knew.

    I joined campaigns. I planned my routes to avoid the hatred of car-drivers and the indifference of lorries and buses. I thought it might make sense to ride across the middle of the Hyde Park Corner roundabout, rather than holding my breath and joining the rivers of steel which flowed around the junction. So it would have been, except that constables appeared from a tiny police station in the Wellington Arch and crossly ordered me off. The path (now an established bike route) was in those days reserved entirely for the royal family and their fleet of large cars.

    Since then, most things about cycling have grown far better. Machines are lighter, brakes hugely more efficient, gears luxurious, reflective clothing and lights immeasurably improved (though I remain baffled by the widespread habit of wearing a Styrofoam bowl on your head). Cycle paths and tracks are everywhere. Quite a few drivers show cyclists courtesy and consideration.

    But there are bad things too, not least the other cyclists who cut me up by undertaking me, or give us all a bad name by slicing through pedestrian crossings. But these are as nothing beside the menace of the electric bike and the e-scooter.

    For decades we fought for segregated cycle paths where no motor vehicle was allowed, and we finally won. But no sooner had we done so than they began to be invaded by things which look like bicycles to the uninitiated but are in fact electric motorbikes. They are astonishingly heavy. Try to pick up one of these things as it lies on its side on the pavement (as they so often do). Typically, they weigh more than five stone (a normal pedal bike weighs about two). Officially limited to about 15mph, they can easily be tweaked to go much, much faster. This is technically illegal, but can you tell me who is checking? Then there are the ‘cargo bikes’ which can weigh about 12 stone and carry loads of about the same. If one of these hits you at any kind of speed, it will do you serious damage. So their arrival on cycle tracks undoes 40 years of campaigning to segregate muscle-powered, light, silent, clean cycles from engine-powered, whining, polluting, heavy vehicles.

    May I just mention here that ‘e-bikes’ and their hideous cousins, e-scooters, are powered by batteries, which are charged by power stations. And much British power is imported from the Netherlands, which still uses fossil fuels to make some of its electricity. Thus, a million smug expressions on the faces of the users of such vehicles are completely unjustified. I have personal reasons to go further, having visited hideous mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, from which the metals for the batteries are grubbed by gaunt children on starvation pay. There is nothing ethical about these machines.

    I have broken off relations with my local cycling lobby in Oxford, Cyclox, partly because they continue to treat e-bikes as the equivalent of proper bikes. Their attitude is common. The FT’s Henry Mance is typical of metropolitan trendies in praising them, gushing recently: ‘Have you ridden an electric bike? If not, you should probably stop reading this article and go find one. Hire one on the street. Borrow your neighbour’s. Steal one if you have to. Sat on the saddle, with the help of the motor, you will magically become half as old and twice as fit.’

    Henry, you will absolutely not become twice as fit. Electric bikes cannot give you the exercise that proper muscle-powered machines provide. Claims are made that they offer some sort of fitness, but if I had ridden one of those things up Primrose Hill all those years ago, I doubt I would have discovered the vast and lasting health benefits that hard pedalling provides to anybody who wants it.

    If people want to ride motorbikes, let them, once they’ve passed a severe test (as I have in fact done). But please don’t pretend these things have any of the benefits of a proper old-fashioned bicycle.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/real-cyclists-dont-use-e-bikes/

    I recently witnessed a couple of yobs on these machines by Sainsbury’s in Wellingborough. The road entrance is off the busy Northampton Road. Adjacent to it is a light-controlled pedestrian crossing. This is staggered i.e. it has a central pedestrian refuge with barriers. A short distance from the crossing in each direction are cycleways running through parks and housing estates. On this occasion, the two of them came hurtling out of one cycleway, straight across and then along the road, squeezing between the barrier of the crossing and vehicles waiting at the red light, and then across the entrance to the supermarket with cars coming in and out.

    They were most certainly doing more than 15mph as they whined past. I heard them coming – I couldn’t work out what the noise was at first. They hurtled up the road and onto the other cycleway before disappearing. They startled me and a young woman crossing the road at the same time. I’m sure I wasn’t the only witness hoping they might have an accident.

    Hitchens is correct. These machines are electric motorbikes and should be subject to the same rules as petrol motorbikes. And that means confining them to the roads.

    1. Weren’t those two kids in Cardiff riding one of those things when they got knocked down and killed?

    2. There’s a huge difference- as any fule should kno – between an e-bike and an illegally modified bike, which is NOT an e-bike. Hitchens is conflating the two and making himself look like an idiot in the process.

      An e-bike must be pedalled and the assistance given is limited to 15 mph.

      An illegally-modified bike is, by definition, illegal.

      1. A quibble on terminology. Hitchens is referring to the heavyweight electric bikes that are becoming an increasing menace and being ridden off-road by yobs. I have witnessed them.

        1. Well I still respectfully disagree. I know which bikes are dangerous and it’s not an genuine e-bike.

          If he is referring to the hire bikes, such as Lime bikes, he should make this clear.

          If he is referring to illegally modified bikes, he should make this clear.

          But a genuine pukka e-bike is not the problem here.

          1. We’ll be here all day at this rate. Look beyond the name of of the object to the activities of the riders. That’s what the article is really about. And if the law isn’t clear enough on the subject, it needs to be changed.

    3. I agree – I had to negotiate one of them the other day as I was walking along the pavement – no real bicycle would be travelling so fast uphill.

  48. What a waste!

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/08/12/500k-taxpayer-money-spent-pride-month-public-sector/

    Taxpayers footed a bill of more than £500,000 during Pride month
    across the public sector which included a drag story time event, rainbow
    flags and T-shirts.

    Spending on LGBT-themed events, merchandise
    and sponsorship in June totalled £554,000 across police forces, NHS
    trusts, councils and fire services, figures show.

    Research
    conducted by the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) think tank found the Greater
    London Authority was the highest spender, with City Hall spending
    £126,700 on grant funding, T-shirts and flags.

      1. I don’t see why someone should be proud of where someone else sticks their privates. It’s nothing to do with me. I want nothing to do with it, one way or the other.

        1. It’s because the aggrieved always resort to superlatives: gay (etc.) pride, black is beautiful and so on. As you say, being LGTQ++++ is nothing to be proud about, black people are no more beautiful than any other people…etc.

          1. They can do what they want in private – but I object to being forced to hear or read or see their antics every day. I don’t want to see rainbow crossings in the street, and I dislike intensely the grooming of young children by “Drag storytellers”. I don’t think there’s anything to be proud of in perversion.

          2. I personally find it very distasteful and I find the way drags (dregs, more like) are getting access to our children is reprehensible. Thank goodness my children were at school before this ridiculous charade began as I would have been absolutely furious if it had happened in their schools. They call it “pride” because they actually have nothing to be proud of.

          3. They can do what they want in private – but I object to being forced to hear or read or see their antics every day. I don’t want to see rainbow crossings in the street, and I dislike intensely the grooming of young children by “Drag storytellers”. I don’t think there’s anything to be proud of in perversion.

      2. Is that all he posted? That’s mild! I thought it must be something about Sodom and Gomorrah!
        Christian Concern is defending him – the despicable Conservative party has dropped him like a hot potato of course.

    2. In real terms it’s barely 6 hours state waste. However it is a catastrophic waste of public money that should be paid for from the private salaries of those promoting this nonsense.

    3. That Muslim mayor must be hedging his bets on the London caliphate.

      That or just trolling for votes.

  50. Could this be true ?

    From a friend.
    I’ve seen so many videos all saying the same thing and if true heads should roll. The deep state are getting angry because too many people are waking up to what they are doing. I’m thinking they might be right.

    https://www.bitchute.com/video/K9S4U90Fp99x/

    Vox Populi, Vox Dei.

    1. Cars do if the fuel gets too hot. A vehicle is essentially a giant explosion being controlled. If one part of that fails – such as the air conditioning pump being overworked in an extremely hot area, and the air temp is high because of surrounding fire, then nothing is breathing properly and the engine cannot cool itself – especially if not moving – and as a result transfers that heat (radiates, it one could say! – to the fuel which goes bang quite easily. After all, it’s designed to.

      I do think government – especially with eth huge rise in ‘fact checkers’ – who are almost always in Left wing establishments – are annoyed their message is being challenged and would far prefer the public just swallowed the lies they spew out.

      The problem is, some journalists and even some professionals with nothing to lose decided to publicise their thinking – and writing and the hoax was exposed.

      What’s funny – for me – is that people get really angry about being lied to over Covid, yet are fervent supporters of climate change, which is using the exact, same techniques and approach.

      1. They are not giving up on climate change alarmism. Today the fear is that salmon will lose their traditional low water marshlands where they apparently grow before swimming out to sea.

        And the sheep carry ion believing.

    2. In newsreports of forest fires, here are many photos of burnt out cars and trucks, maybe the yanks have been testing these death ray weapons for a number of years.

      At least there is a new bad guy in his conspiracy, they are making Bezos responsible and not Gates. That will teach him to follow the US tradition of philanthropy and donate to a cause.

      To think that some of the people commenting on that article will get to vote.

    3. You seriously want me to watch a video put up by someone under the username “Killuminati??” 🙂
      Sobering footage of the damage, but I see nothing that suggests it wasn’t a fire. I wonder if they will ever catch the murderer who started it.

  53. This is a very well put together documentary about the nature of money. I don’t expect that people will be as fascinated by this topic as I am – the video is an hour long!
    What I wished to draw NOTTLers’ attention to is the contributon by Steve Baker. Apparently, Steve Baker understands the nature of our money system, and got a debate on the subject in the House of Commons, at which he claims only he and Michael Meacher were qualified to speak, because nobody else understood how money comes into existence! (I can believe that). They were trying to promote public debate over monetary reform, which is sorely needed.
    Given Baker’s comments in this video, it is inconceivable that he can have been unaware of the implications of the dangerous covid jab.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cSyctENy3A

    1. On the back of political ideology Christianity has been shown the door and barbarism has been encouraged to walked right in and squat in the vacuum created.

      1. I wonder if Justin Welby would have been burnt at he stake at the time of the Reformation?

        I should think there would have been those from both the Catholic and the Protestant factions who were equally outraged by his heresies.

      1. We have a photo of my grandparents and my father and his sister with the same car (Bullnose Morris?); my grandmother made a point of arranging the Thermos flasks against a wheel.
        In the 1920s, they were a status symbol.

      2. I love it – it looks like a chariot. It has, without doubt, hidden wings folded alongside!

      3. My paternal great grandparents had ten children, nine of whom were girls. When my grandfather married my grandmother, my father told me that he said he wasn’t going to have all those aunts interfering in his marriage. They were real martinets, with strong opinions.

  56. This picture is from a DM story. You can guess how it develops…the Mum makes a bank transfer…
    Is there any NOTTLer who would transfer money to pay a bill for one of their children on the basis of a text message, and without double
    and triple checking all the details by landline, email or in person?
    Perhaps there is an advantage to being an old-fashioned, fussing parent!
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a1261a3044681b09b8148956f4b9085c0cc072bacc7ff009c3bf6dd7819abc8c.jpg

    1. My sons are grown up and savvy about their money, so I don’t think I would be taken in by this – but I can see that people with younger offspring could be.

    2. Ping my mother and you’ll get pages and pages of whinging about how horrible you are, how ill she is and how no one cares.

      Then she would send a cheque. Which wouldn’t be any good as it’d be in red ink, or missing the date, or the signature or the amount.

      1. If we ever texted either of our mothers there would have been no response, just a complaint about the phone making rude noises.

        SWMBO caught the same luddite gene

  57. Ukraine desperate for help clearing mines, says defence minister. 13 August 2023.

    Ukraine is now the most heavily mined country on Earth and its army is suffering from a critical shortage of men and equipment able to clear the frontlines, the country’s defence minister has said, as soldiers spoke of heavy casualties in the engineering brigades.

    In an urgent appeal to allies, Oleksii Reznikov told the Guardian his soldiers were unearthing five mines for every square metre in places, laid by Russian troops to try to thwart Ukraine’s counteroffensive.

    He said the vast minefields could be traversed, but that it was critically important that allies “expand and expedite” the training already being provided by some nations, including Britain.

    It seems unlikely that they did not realise this before starting the counter-attack. What appears more probable is that it is an excuse for its failure. What one would like to know is; is there anyone in authority among the Ukies and their allies who ever really believed that it was possible to expel the Russians from the Donbass and Crimea?

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/13/ukraine-desperate-for-help-clearing-mines-says-defence-minister

    1. There are hundreds of “volunteers” arriving in England every day – they could be very handy mine clearers.

      1. One is minded of the Iranian youth battalions in the Iraq-Iran War who linked arms and then ran through the minefields to cries of Allah al Akbar!

      2. One is minded of the Iranian youth battalions in the Iraq-Iran War who linked arms and then ran through the minefields to cries of Allah al Akbar!

      3. One is minded of the Iranian youth battalions in the Iraq-Iran War who linked arms and then ran through the minefields to cries of Allah al Akbar!

      4. Most of them were at Wembley for yesterday’s rugby league cup final as stewards, keeping the crowds in order.
        Practice makes perfect. 👍

        1. They were also working for G4S at the Royal Highland Show, and were as useless as you could imagine them to be! They were also much in evidence in Stirling on Thursday for the Men’s Cycling sprint! I thought they were all doctors/engineers/rocket scientists?

    2. When the Eighth Army in 1942 had to break through the German/Italian minefields at the commencement of the Battle of Al Alamein the Operation was aptly named ‘Lightfoot’.
      Can’t see the Ukrainians repeating the eventual success that the Eighth Army had.

  58. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/08/13/extinction-rebellion-founder-ulez-tyres-slashed/

    The founder of Extinction Rebellion has hit out at Sadiq Khan’s ultra-low emissions zone (Ulez) as “intrusive” and “regressive” for the lowest-paid Londoners.

    Roger
    Hallam made the comments in a thread on social media site X, in which
    he also attacked “urban middle-class neo-liberal Left” thinkers behind
    the Mayor’s road charge.

    He was responding to a Guardian column by
    Prof Devi Sridhar that argued in favour of Ulez and low-traffic
    neighbourhoods (LTNs). Hallam criticised supporters of the schemes for
    a “total lack of sensitivity and self-awareness”, claiming it showed a
    “myopic privilege”.

        1. They always have some mealy mouthed excuse that they have convinced themselves they are special but we must comply. Like the eco protest woman found to drive a diesel SUV. She said she needed it to take her boys to football. Why does she think other peoples reasons are less valid?

          1. You’ll need to revise it if the date is now fluid.

            Try again as it’s gone a long way down the thread now.

          8. Would a Mod elevate my post to the top of the page please…

            Calling all gourmands.

            Not the Nottle lunch !

            I have a hankering for pan fried calves liver and the best place is the Red Lion at Horsell. https://redlionhorsell.co.uk/

            If any Nottler would like to join me, i will be buying the Malbec !

            Date in September TBA

            Let me know if interested either here or by email.

            This message will be repeated later for those at Church or those lollygagging in bed.

  59. Off to visit a local garden “open day”. What a palava. Compulsory on-line booking for a timed slot. Remember when just rocked up and put a fiver in a basket?

    Back son.

    2. I went to an NGA Open Gardens event a few months ago. That’s exactly what we did; turned up, handed over the cash and wandered around. When I went to Bolesworth it was as you said; online booking (although not timed) and a queue to get in.

  60. “Don’t do as I do – do as I say!” Bloody hypocrites.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/08/12/heat-pumps-chris-stark-campaign-uses-gas-boiler-him

    The head of the climate watchdog behind the planned boiler ban has admitted that he still has gas heating in his own home.

    More
    than four years after claiming he was “keen” to convert to electric
    heating in his flat, Chris Stark, the chief executive of the Climate
    Change Committee, said he still has a gas boiler.

    1. I don’t blame him.

      I idly looked at converting our gas heating in our flat to electricity. Buying a new furnace is not an issue but then it becomes a question of how much it would cost to upgrade the service to 200 amps, replace the existing breaker box and run power to the furnace. All of that so that I can claim to be green and enjoy the not infrequent power cuts.

      I would be more interested in having a gas fireplace installed that does not depend on electricity.

    2. All of the advocates of these initiatives should be forced to live with the consequences for at least three winters before they can foist them on us.
      Power only from renewables, compulsory heat pumps, compulsory EVs, no food or any other deliveries where fossil fuels are involved, including by sea, if there is no power coming from renewables at any time, well tough tittie.
      Oh and no lubricants, insulation, transmission for anything where fossil fuels have played any part in the production. And that includes solar and wind power energy acquisition.
      They wouldn’t last a month before squealing.

  61. Well – that was a waste of £ 8. Very disappointing. Too “parks and gardens” for my liking.

    Looks like a shower on its way.

      1. Yes. The yellow one – can’t remember which. The owner is a work acquaintance of the MR – who also taught her daughter!

    3. “… Looks like a shower on its way.”

      But not an absolute Terry Thomas sort of shower but a Bill Thomas sort of shower!

  62. Poor France…

    15th August is a major feast-day in France which celebrates the Assumption of the Virgin Mary but also marks the end of the main summer holiday (which starts on 14th July).

    The Home Secretary, Gérald Darmanin, has sent a telegram to all chiefs of police across the country requesting a systematic police presence on that day outside all churches while Mass is being celebrated, because of a “persistently high” threat of terrorist attacks on places of worship.

    https://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/assomption-les-eglises-sous-protection-renforcee-le-15-aout-20230812

    On Tuesday, we’ll be having our Mass on the banks of the river Rance, under an awning. After the Mass there is always a procession followed by drinks. There will be many such gatherings and processions throughout France, the vast majority of them in the morning. The atmosphere is invariably jolly and I suspect that we will be offering a drink to any gendarme who might turn up to keep an eye on us!

    2. From the far-right Protestants, I expect. Or the Methodists – they are always blowing people up.

    3. It seems that Christian events pose the risk of being attacked by non-Christians and yet, for some unknown reason, when there are massed groups of Muslims celebrating something the police are not needed to protect them from potentially violent Christians, Jews, Sikhs etc.

      1. But the police turn up – mainly to oppose the groups who aren’t happy with the mass race replacement of our country.

    4. I was surprised that my church (dedicated to the BVM) isn’t going to celebrate the Assumption. Last time I was in Strasbourg, there was an armed police presence outside the church while Mass was being celebrated. We are SO enriched – not!

    5. I remember seeing a video of (I think) the celebrations in St. James of Compostela.
      A ginormous censer was involved; it bombed up and down the nave, spewing smoke. Apparently the volunteers who swung on the chain were well refreshed,

      1. Yes, that is amazing. The censer comes out on 25th July, St James’s day; and is also used throughout the year in Holy Years (when 25th July falls on a Sunday). When we were in Galicia on our boat in the early days of our travels, Rastus and I attended Mass at Santiago Cathedral with our two boys (then aged 8 and 10 or so) in a Holy Year and saw the censer for real. I makes a great whooshing noise as well as spewing vast quantities of smoke; it’s hugely impressive.

  63. I am starting to worry about the order of things tomorrow. There’s so much utter muddle and faffing by people not involved in theactivity who are dedicated to the process. If monies move slowly then I’m delayed, if the solicitors are duff at the buyers end then my funds aren’t released.

    Around all this is a deadline to vacate. There’s 12 boxes and various bits of furniture waiting to go, not to mention a bed and a half. The removals are planned early and hopefully they’ll make it a fairly smooth event, putting everything in a truck leaving me to tidy up the last bits and check everything.

    But if we’re all waiting around, it’s just miserable. Worse, if there’s crushing time pressure and we’re not ready to go, but are being told to…

    As it is, most everything is in a box. Lunch as been bad sandwiches and dinner out yesterday and pizza today. A chum tells me she moves every four years or so. I don’t know how. The stress is crippling.

    1. How far are you going? the last time we moved was 28 years ago – the thought of doing so again is terrifying. I hope it all goes smoothly.

      1. Almost just ‘down the road’ – a couple of miles, no more. When I moved in the Warqueen was in London with friends, Junior yet to be born. I had nothing but a bed to move in and that was at her mothers.

        We were both renting separately – her in London, me in Soton. All I had to do was collect the keys. The moving out was easy as I had a week each way.

        Everything else has been accumulated.

        1. We didn’t move far, but amalgamated two households plus hoarded stuff from my mother. We sold two houses and bought one. We couldn’t afford to buy it now.

      2. Apart from the utter nightmare of selling and emptying the house in France – from which we are still recovering 3½ years later – I last moved in 1984. And have no intention of doing so again.

        1. A chum said ‘Oh, I clingfilm the bed and that’s it’.

          Arrrgghhh! How?! What about cabinets? Clothes? Wardrobes? Freezer food? How do you eat on the last day? I’ve been organised enough to move the dog’s food bowls, waterbowl and support out, desks folded up but there’s still no where to move in the front room.

        2. Since leaving the RAF (where I moved every couple of years) I’ve moved 9 times, never experienced any problems

        3. You have the advantage of a much younger wife to take on the house after you have left it.

      3. I’m also not happy with the buyer’s solicitor as they didn’t bother to answer messages or calls for 6 weeks.

        1. I am not defending shoddy service – BUT – that solicitor may have been instructed by his client to DELAY. It happens all the time. Clients lie about their plans.

          1. If they needed time, I wouldn’t mind. I genuinely wouldn’t. I do wish they had said ‘can we hang on until August, not July?’

            Then we would know and stop living on a shoe string.

          2. As I said. People lie. They lie as much about their intentions on buying/selling as others do about adultery. I kid you not. I spent half my life trying to deal with people like that.

    2. You will survive!! Having done transatlantic moves 5 times, have learnt to take it all one step at a time…..so take a deep breath and ‘don’t panic’
      Good luck.

    3. Just twelve boxes? SWMBO managed to come up with more boxes all labelled “Dining Room Curios” than that.

      Just remember to book another mover for a years time so that you can get rid of the stuff that you did not need.

    4. Too late to suggest now but we took a bridging loan from the bank just to make sure that there were no problems with the money being available on the purchase. It only cost a few hundred dollars but relieved the pressure.

      Of course the bank screwed up and did not transfer the money to our lawyer until almost end of day on the day we purchased. But it was a good idea.

    5. Too late to suggest now but we took a bridging loan from the bank just to make sure that there were no problems with the money being available on the purchase. It only cost a few hundred dollars but relieved the pressure.

      Of course the bank screwed up and did not transfer the money to our lawyer until almost end of day on the day we purchased. But it was a good idea.

    6. Don’t worry too much about the time everyone has to be a little flexible and understanding.

    7. We must be masochists. Buying a new build north of the border and selling south of the border. Because the date in England can slip, we will be renting for a while, which means two moves in 6-7 months. Not planning on unpacking things unless absolutely necessary.

  64. Afternoon, all. It isn’t just HS2, it’s the waste of money on gimmegrants, eco-lunacy, wokeness and a dozen other things.

    1. The waste in the state machine is hilarious and government doesn’t care. It’s not their money.

    1. A poor par.
      Wordle 785 4/6

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

      1. I was happy with my par
        Wordle 785 4/6

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

      3. Par for me too. It got down to, well, it must be…but shirley knot?

        Wordle 785 4/6

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

  66. Just to let you know I’ve finally spoken to Tom and he’s in hospital in Dumfries. I couldn’t get him yesterday and assumed he was on the move from East Kilbride. He’s seeing the cardiologist tomorrow and is really hoping to get home, as he has no pain and is very fed up with the incarceration! I sent all good wishes from Nottl and said we were missing his jokes!

      1. Will do, wibbling and sending all good luck and wishes for your move tomorrow! I hope it all goes smoothly, with no problems! 😃🥂🏠

      2. Sue raises a good point. I assume tomorrow you will have other things on your mind rather than NOTTLing.
        All my heartfelt best wishes to you and I hope it goes as smoothly as is possible in the circumstances. Six month’s down the line, my memories of 14th. February are still vivid.

    6. That’s a worrisome stay for a stent, I was incarcerated for less time with bypass surgery.

      Hopefully he is not downplaying the seriousness of the heart attack.

      2. I think they were more concerned about there being no care package in place, as he lives in ‘sheltered’ accommodation.

        1. They wanted to throw my wife out of hospital the morning after her stent was inserted, about ten hours in all. The only drawback was the doctors wanted some fancy ECG and the operator was off for the weekend.

          I am not a good nursie, certainly not enough to count as a “care package”. Our struggles this past month caring for her majesty and her new hip have been quite enlightening. at least I didn’t pull her leg off when adjusting those oh so sexy compression stockings.

  67. OT – putting the recent Plague in perspective.

    During the two months following D-Day – the Battle of Normandy – around 100,000 service personnel and civilians were killed. In the months that followed, several hundred thousand more were killed.

    All tragic and regrettable etc – but those deaths were accepted as part of the cost of the War.

    Why was the recent Plague treated as though the end of the World was nigh?

    Just asking.

    1. I found the continual changing of the data bothered me most. It ept people from comparing one day to the next. Facts were never presented for people to make up their own minds, to use the same data. It was fiddled, endlessly. Then we had the ‘died from covid’ deceit when hospitals were told to say a death with was a death from.

      I don’t doubt it was a nasty virus that threatened people but without the truth, without the data that statement is meaningless.

      1. Doctors were not required automatically to declare death, either, and the death certificates were changed in the data entered. It was all contrived, manipulated and distorted and provided a wonderful opportunity to test out control of the populace. Didn’t they do well!

        1. For me, the biggest fiddle was calling the vaccinated ‘unvaccinated’ until 14 days had elapsed since injection – the greater number of deaths from the injection occurred in the first 14 days, and especially the first three days thus they were hidden from the public and the statistics. It also made it appear as though most of the ‘covid’ deaths were occurring in the unvaccinated. So utterly dishonest.

      2. I took data from several sources and kept a spreadsheet of it – including making comparisons per capita and per day, also with other metrics such as suicides and the like. Interesting reading – and compared with other countries, too.

  68. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/08/13/tell-the-young-the-truth-they-wont-get-a-state-pension/

    The problem isn’t necessarily the pension. It is that govenrment wastes the money, then devalues the currency, then gets us into debt for it’s waste and finally enacts policy that forces inflation.

    It’s not complicated to provide for a decent state pension.

    1. Stop buggering around with the cash
    2. Stop spending twice what the economy earns then destroying the currency

    3. Cut taxes so people can save more.
    4. Scrap all the stupid, unnecessary and destructive ideological driven projects so beloved of big fat state,

    5. Stop giving the pension to people who have never paid in. Ie. someone claiming child benefit all their life should not get a pension. (or a free house, or welfare for life).

  69. I am singeing (sic – family joke) off now.

    Sorry to have been more depressing than usual as the day wore on. What with the constant daily flow of illegal, disease-ridden potential killers and the comment by Mrs Tracey – everything is just more and more horrible.

    I wish I could see a glimmer of light somewhere, but I can’t. All UK political “parties” are rowing the same useless boat so that voting will do no good.

    And to think that, when the Berlin Wall collapsed, we thought for a brief second that the future would be bright and hopeful and, above all, peaceful.

    I’ll go and pour a glass of hemlock for me and the MR.

    A demain – possibly.

    1. That is why i do lunch. Anyone mentioning horrible stuff gets a boo from me ! Sent to Coventry in shackles !

      1. My dear – don’t apologise. I just think it’s terrible that western “civilisation” has descended to having policemen outside churches.

  70. Germany considers ban on far-Right AfD. 13 August 2023.

    Germany is debating whether to ban the far-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as the party surges to 21 per cent in the polls, amid warnings from intelligence officials that its members are becoming increasingly extreme.

    Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German president, warned in a speech to the country’s domestic intelligence agency that “we all have it in our hands to put those who despise our democracy in their place”.

    Yes, The nearer they get to a majority the more far-Right they become. Lol. On a more serious note, Democracy in Europe is dead.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/08/13/afd-party-ban-germany-far-right-extremists/

    3. What is not to like about afd – end mass immigration, Germany first, limited state intervention, not EU centric. You can see the embedded powers having conniptions over those policies.

    5. Inevitable given that the government’s policies have resulted in the cancellation of cheap oil from Russia followed by the closure of the Black Sea route into Europe via Turkey of cheap cereal products grown in Ukraine.

      The German peace has always been achieved only at a huge cost to the rest of Europe and especially the UK. They now risk deep recession and the loss of their heavy industry to China and the Far East. The Germans are a vengeful lot so expect a renaissance of the Hitler Youth.

      Edited: Black Sea.

    6. Germany seems to need more people to re-educate to understand their version of ‘reality’. Wake up Westminster and ship over our surplus residents.
      Germany needs you.

  71. Well, the DT looks a lot better this evening so I might JUST get away for a week or so tomorrow.
    Drop down via Cambridge and the Dartford Crossing to the RE Museum in Brompton, then work my way across to Basingstoke to see eldest daughter and then back home.

    I’ve just dropped a diseased ash tree, about 12″ at the but end. Will finish getting it cut up when I get back.

      1. Duxford airfield?
        Visited once a long time ago, but it is now rather expensive unless one is going to spend a full day there.

    2. Bob – I haven’t been, but – when you’re in Brompton – you may like to visit Brompton Cemetery. It’s actually one of the Royal Parks. Dianne passed through on a sponsered walk around six weeks ago, but returned a fortnight ago to have a more leisurely look.

      1. Thank you, Geoff, a good suggestion, but the wrong Brompton!!
        The RE Museum is Brompton in Kent, next door to Chatham.

          1. Fair comment. for what it’s worth, the best feature of Basingstoke is the road out…

            Give me a shout on the way home. I’m not far from the M3…

          2. Ref earlier post about geography and newspapers… is that the M3 that passes through Skye?
            😉

          4. It was by Grizzly, about how the DT couldn’t do geography, placing cities on motorways nowhere near them. It was rather comical… Used the M3 daily when I lived down there, to get to Chobham for the MoD.

  72. The ever-reliable Babylon Bee has, hidden away under the “more” section, a Random AOC Article generator. When you open the link it gives you a newly-created article on Democrat Senator created by Chat GPT. I’ve been having fun with it and idly wondering why nobody over here as thought of this as an idea for Diane Abbot.

    Potentially this link may work: https://babylonbee.com/article/aoc-is-a-genius

    2. Go easy on Diane Abbott. I disagree with every bit of nonsense she has spouted, but I think she has pre-senile dementia. Like her, I’m diabetic. I can’t feel my feet, since both were amputated in 2017. In fact, I couldn’t do so for several years before that, due to neuropathy.

      1. She ought to have been retired at least three, possibly four or even five General Elections ago, but such is the kudos attached to her as the 1st black woman MP, her keepers will not allow her to.

        1. What exactly does she do to earn her vast salary? Answers on a pin head in capital letters

          2. I’ve already told you that, she represents Labour’s achievement in getting the 1st black woman MP elected.

      2. That might be why she went to vote wearing two left shoes. I thought then she had early dementia. But maybe neuropathy as well.

  73. The ever-reliable Babylon Bee has, hidden away under the “more” section, a Random AOC Article generator. When you open the link it gives you a newly-created article on Democrat Senator created by Chat GPT. I’ve been having fun with it and idly wondering why nobody over here as thought of this as an idea for Diane Abbot.

    Potentially this link may work: https://babylonbee.com/article/aoc-is-a-genius

  74. The irony is, for the Tories at least, this country is crying out for a ‘nasty’ party.

  75. An early night has been called – mainly because the internet goes off in 2 hours. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll ping from the new house.

  77. Sepoy Nand Singh, VC, MVC (24th September 1914 – 12th December 1947) 11th Sikh Regiment, 14th Army.

    The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to:

    No. 13068 Sepoy (acting Naik) Nand Singh, 11th Sikh Regiment, Indian Army:

    In Burma on the night of the 11th/12th March, 1944, a Japanese platoon about 40 strong with Medium and Light Machine-Guns and a Grenade Discharger infiltrated into the Battalion position covering the main Maungdaw-Buthidaung road and occupied a dominating position where they dug foxholes and underground trenches on the precipitous sides of the hill.

    Naik Nand Singh commanded the leading section of the platoon which was ordered to recapture the position at all costs. He led his section up a very steep knife-edged ridge under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. Although wounded in the thigh he rushed ahead of his section and took the first enemy trench with the bayonet by himself. He then crawled forward alone under heavy fire and though wounded again in the face and shoulder by a grenade which burst one yard in front of him, took the second trench at the point of the bayonet.

    A short time later when all his section had been either killed or wounded, Naik Nand Singh dragged himself out of the trench and captured a third trench, killing all the occupants with his bayonet.

    Due to the capture of these three trenches the remainder of the platoon were able to seize the top of the hill and deal with the enemy. Naik Nand Singh personally killed seven of the enemy and owing to his determination, outstanding dash and magnificent courage, the important position was won back from the enemy.

    He later achieved the rank of Jemadar in the post-independence Indian Army, and his unit 1 Sikh was the first to be involved in the Jammu & Kashmir Operations or Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 which began in October 1947 as Indian troops went into action to repel a planned invasion of J&K by raiders from Pakistan.

    On 12 December 1947 Nand Singh led his platoon of D Coy in a desperate but successful attack to extricate his battalion from an ambush in the hills SE of Uri in Kashmir. He was mortally injured by a close-quarters machine-gun burst, and posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC), the second-highest Indian decoration for battlefield gallantry. This makes Nand Singh unique in the annals of VC winners.

    The Pakistanis recognised Jemadar Nand Singh because of his VC ribbon. His body was taken Muzaffarabad where it was tied spread-eagled on a truck and paraded through the city with a loudspeaker proclaiming that this would be the fate of every Indian VC. The soldier’s body was later thrown into a garbage dump, and was never recovered.

    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Nand_Singh_VC_IWM_IND_3975.jpg/220px-Nand_Singh_VC_IWM_IND_3975.jpg

    1. What a disrespectful end to a great Soldier. The Pakistanis demean themselves by such an action.
      Respect to Jemadar Nand Singh.

    2. What a disrespectful end to a great Soldier. The Pakistanis demean themselves by such an action.
      Respect to Jemadar Nand Singh.

      1. I just read that the Ukrainians are exhuming bodies from their cemeteries in order to replace them with the dead of the current conflict.

        It is thought that the Ukrainians wish by so doing to wipe out any references to the Russians in WWII.

        Nasty people, these Ukrainians.

    5. Your post has confused me GBBQ. If the VC was awarded in 1944 and he died and his body was appallingly treated by Pakistan in 1947, why are you posting this in 2023?

  78. My word where did the day go ? I even managed to cut the grass in our back garden on my own. First time I’ve been able to do it myself for months. Quite an achievement, heading in the right direction at long last.
    I used Plenty of sun protection lotion for the Amiodarone. And no grapefruit.
    So it’s good night from me.
    And good night every body.
    Sleep well. 😴

  79. Could I ask a favour of Nottlers? It’s sensitive, and relates to a good mate whose wife (Fadhilah) died a few months ago, from breast cancer. He can’t get over her death, and I’m concerned for his well-being. He’s about 65, an Engineer. Probably my oldest mate, and not being able to help (‘cos I have no freakin’ idea) is breaking me up.
    I’m asking for advice as to how he might move forward to get some healing after her loss. I know many here have a similar experience, and, if you permit, can I ask for your advice? I attach a snip from his latest missive – his wife was a lovely Malay girl, smart, an engineer. Three children, Aiman the youngest (late teens). If you don’t / can’t help, that’s no problem.

    ” Firstly, yes please do come and visit – we are still in the place, and have no plans on moving ( well, those are my plans which may not be the actual plans).
    It was thought to move, but settled on that since we bought this house together I intend to stay; Fadhilah wanted to build a 6 x 3 m extension for a “proper” kitchen, but there is no point in that now.I have just committed to a new front door and looking and replacement of windows. I have selected the door colour she liked.
    I am still in tears at least once a day, not ready to change much else, I dare not look at photos either.
    We have a lot of specialty Malay foodstuffs that have all expired, and cake baking ingredients that Fadhilah was so happy about. I found banana leaves and a banana flower in the freezer, about 4 years old, that need throwing away, but I couldn’t so I put them back. Maybe sometime I will be able to do this when I am ready. Aiman and I are not looking forward to a trip to KL – we have to empty the apartment and sort out the will.

    1. It’s hard to say without knowing how far away you are from your friend, but just be there and listen to him when he needs somebody to talk to and let him grieve in his way.

      1. Thanks, Jill. Appreciate any input here, I’m at a loss. I’ve lost family and friends this way, but never grieved to the extent that my mate describes.
        Trying that. He’s in Bristol, I’m in Oslo. We email pretty well every day, but even so…

    2. That’s tough. He is the only one that can start off on the road to recovery and start looking back on their past with fond memories not sadness.

      As Jill wrote, being ready to listen is about all you can do.

      We had a friend whose husband died of throat cancer. All we did was invite her to wander round our flower garden – no pressure to talk, just a quiet place for contemplation. That was twenty years ago, she still talks about how our invite meant so much to her.

    3. Keep communicating, even if it seems to dry up from his side.
      A listening ear and a shoulder are worth their weight in gold.
      Keep in touch and try to meet again; but above all do it regularly.

    4. Staying in the house is a good choice. It will take time to come to terms with it. It’s natural to grieve and to cry. Talking helps, so offering a sympathetic ear if you can do that will be useful.

        1. It’s a mistake to move out of the house; my OH’s aunt did that when her husband died. She then went from place to place and wasn’t happy anywhere (and she lost a lot of money doing it). She always said she regretting moving. The memories might be painful at first, but later they will be something to look back on and cherish.

          1. When my father died, the first thing my mother did was replace furniture he’d bought that she didn’t like but she kept the canister of ashes indoors, holding on to him for as long as possible.

          2. I have Barbaras ashes in the sideboard – They are of some comfort and mine will be mixed with them before being scattered in the garden of the house where we spent so many happy years

          3. Six months after his wife died, a good friend of ours announced that he was over her death, and despite

            being advised not to make any decisions until at least a year after a spouse’s death, he proceeded to make

            some changes to his life.

            He now regrets most of these changes, and he in turn recommends no changes or major decisions until at

            least a year after a spouse’s death.

    5. I think building the kitchen in her memory might be a solace.

      For the more day to day getting by, perhaps he could get out old photo albums and write a retrospective diary of his memories of each day in the photos.

    6. Paul – I can only speak as one who has attended as many funerals as your average undertaker. I was (rightly or wrongly) excluded from my Father’s funeral in 1963 – I was only 6. I’m not sure this was a good plan. 8 years later, I was a church organist.

      Death, like tax, is inevitable. Strangely enough, funerals in the parish dried up during Covid. Go figure. In the last 3.5 years in our united parish, no-one has died of – or with – eCovid.

      I digress. Does your friend have faith in any religion? It’s not the “be all and end all”, but we all have to go at some point.

      1. Indeed, Geoff, but it doesn’t make it easier to bear. And, yes, he has Faith – he follows Islam. So I’m not qualified to give any advice from that front.

    7. Hi Paul,
      They say it takes a year at least to recover from the death of a loved one; may I suggest that he shouldn’t make any major decisions about their home for the moment, just deal quietly with all the paperwork. As for your friend’s grief, and his crying, that’s good and healthy; let it all come out. Definitely do not recommend that he should start looking for romance at the moment. But everyone is different.

    8. Paul. although I lost my wife a couple of years ago I still grieve and can’t see an end to it. It’s natural. I can only suggest that he doesn’t shut himself away and perhaps joins groups of similarly affected people. Many people immerse themselves in hobbies or charity work. Keeping occupied is the key in my view. I’m now ok visiting the care home where she died and I can feel her singing and dancing along with the others while I’m playing, I’m also ok now when looking at old photos of us (that is particularly difficult to start with). Is his family near for support and how are they coping? My family are miles away and they seem to have got over it. I still have most of her clothes , although I have given quite a lot to charities I can’t bring myself to get rid completely, their presence is a comfort. The most important piece of advice I would give is talk about it as much as you can to anyone who’ll listen

  82. Protesters gather outside Bibby Stockholm demanding an end to the barge – after migrants aboard the vessel were disembarked due to Legionella bacteria discovery

    Every protester should be forced to take two gimmegrants in every room in their homes.
    And pay for ALL their board, food, health care etc.
    edit for link
    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12402077/Protesters-gather-outside-Bibby-Stockholm-demanding-end-barge-migrants-aboard-vessel-disembarked-Legionella-bacteria-discovery.html

    1. I saw one of the newspaper headlines today blaring, “When will the Tories stop the drowning?” When they start turning the boats back, sinking them and not giving gimmigrants loads of benefits. They’ll stop coming and they won’t drown. It worked for Australia.

        1. I don’t think the Aussies shot the invaders, just stopped them landing and destroyed the boats.

      2. It’s the good hotels and benefits that draws them in. Those people wouldn’t have drowned if they’d stayed in France.

  85. Well, that’s me for today, chums. Good night, sleep well, and I’ll see you all tomorrow.

  86. We had a strange day , visit to the tip , hedge cuttings , branches that couldn’t be burnt, old velux blind frames, old pillows , cardboard etc. the tip was very busy but it is one of the tidiest most orderly and non smelly places to visit , chaps are helpful , and recycling is key of our area .

    Then we went onto Blandford to look for 2nd hand cars etc .. nothing much out there . Popped into Lidl, and Moh and I made our way around the strange isles that don’t sell food ! Bought a harness for Pip and a very LONG lead (See my story earlier on in the week)

    Drove home via Milborne St Andrew and then Puddletown and across country to Wool, and all along the fields had been harvested , straw bales , squares and the swissrolls already covered in black plastic .. the maize will be next .

    The trees are turning . chestnuts first , the hedgerows are full of berries , it is a brill year for blackberries , hawthorn and elderberry as well as rowan , and loads of crab-apples trees .. all inaccessible because they are all dotted along busy roads .

    Arrived home after our 3 hour trip , hungry dogs fed , thirsty us and kettle on for a cuppa .

    https://twitter.com/True_Belle/status/1690839371400761345

    1. We had our trip to the tip on Friday, then back via Morrisons for the shopping. It was busy at the tip but well organised with the booking system that came in during the lockdowns. There used to be massive queues but not now. The chaps are helpful. One said they’d been waiting for a skip lorry all morning as the garden waste skip was very full.

  87. Watched the Prom earlier this evening. Amazing to see the soloist play the horn with his toes.
    Good night all 😴

    1. I missed that , oh dear , I was consoling Moh because he had been repairing his mower then a cog snapped . Luckily the grass had been cut over the past 2 days but the mower was hiccuping and making funny noises at the end .

      As I said , strange Sunday because son woke up at 5am this morning and went out for a ten mile run.. Yesterday he ran the Weymouth 5k Park Run in 19 minutes and so many seconds , another personal best .

      Bed time now , will see if Mummy hedgehog is there in the garden when I wee the dogs

      Night Night and sleep well, J.

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