Friday 29 November: ‘By the end, I wanted my wife to die’: Telegraph readers on assisted dying

Posted on by Geoff Graham

An unofficial place to discuss the Telegraph letters, established when the DT website turned off its commenting facility (now reinstated, but we prefer ours),
Intelligent, polite, good-humoured debate is welcome, whether on or off topic. Differing opinions are encouraged, but rudeness or personal attacks on other posters will not be tolerated. Posts which – in the opinion of the moderators – make this a less than cordial environment, are likely to be removed, without prior warning.  Persistent offenders will be banned.

Today’s letters (visible only to DT subscribers) are here.

866 thoughts on “Friday 29 November: ‘By the end, I wanted my wife to die’: Telegraph readers on assisted dying”

  5. Good morning Geoff, likewise everybody
    Today's Tale
    Garry was depressed, he told his psychiatrist, because he thought he was gay.
    “Why do you feel that way?”
    “Because my father was a gay.”
    “Being a poof is not hereditary,” said the psychiatrist.
    “My brother is gay.”
    “That still doesn’t mean that you are.”
    “My Uncle Bruce is gay. And my cousin Jeffrey is gay.” The psychiatrist gave a concerned look and frowned.
    “Does anyone in your family have sexual contact with women?” he asked.
    “Yes,” said Garry, “my sister does.”

  6. Looking back at yesterday's Tales, I see that I now have two candidates, William Stanier and Fallick Alec, who are sharp and smart enough to take on the daily 'Tales' mantle when I run out of Questionable, Rude and Politically Incorrect jokes. I'll let you know when I've done my share.

    1. I started to submit my 'joke of the day' many years ago. When I ran out Tom re-posted most of them. Thankfully most of yours are new – keep them coming

  7. Good morning all.
    Still dark outside, but dry and a tad above 3°C according to the Yard Thermometer.

    1. 397685+ up ticks,

      O2O,
      Seemingly if you want to put more stress on the NHS then continue to shop at those pushing Bovaer as mentioned.

      1. Very wise of the Swedish and Danish farmers to try out this new medication on

        the British to see if there are any unpleasant or dangerous side effects.

        1. Poisoning our food chain in an unfeasible drive to Nett Zero. According to comments on Not A Lot Of People Know that, methane makes up 0.00017% of the atmosphere. With the number of yaks, bisons, hippos et al that roam around the planet chomping on vegetation, why target a few head of cattle?
          Someone really needs to take the eugenist Bill Gates aside and remind him that Epstein's list hasn't gone away.

  9. Good morning, chums. Slept like a baby from 10 pm to 7 am last night. And thanks, Geoff, for today's new NoTTLe site.

    Wordle 1,259 3/6

    ⬜⬜⬜🟨🟩
    🟨⬜⬜⬜🟩
    🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

    1. Morning Elsie and all. Same here with the sleep! wonder what was in the air last night?
      Wordle 1,259 3/6

      ⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
      🟨🟨⬜🟨⬜
      🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

    1. If they do the same in the UK, the only option will be to stop consuming milk products altogether. So they will have achieved their goal – the only people still able to have children may be those who don't consume milk products, and we know they want us to stop consuming milk products.
      This infernal agenda has to be stopped now.

  13. Can Ukraine’s army survive its deserter crisis? 29 November 2024.

    What’s changed? Russia’s ranks are swelling with highly paid contractors and fresh North Korean reinforcements, while Ukraine’s forces are thinning fast. Desertions are adding to crippling manpower shortages. Officially, some 90,000 Ukrainian soldiers have deserted (almost half of them this year), but the unofficial number is much higher. Desertion is becoming a crisis. Unless it’s addressed, no ‘victory plan’ will halt the Russian advances.

    This is from a pro-Ukraine journalist so it is probably understated. Predicting when armies will collapse is a tricky business but this one must be on the edge.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/can-ukraines-army-survive-its-deserter-crisis/

  16. Medley Time
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/62eb27407db50ac29cad8059225bf785665c53481e0aa31da75a0e90a656f767.jpg
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f4d2a80477288d96e1c9425585d2badfa40b9315fc33edbbd11e2152ae40b2b5.jpg
    http://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/99e47d3dbb46647975a09161b0920da4d352d7cde0a290225a3cb6ceb1aa484c.jpg
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/80d67135b502adc78c283921382332dc9d3542ca26bb223cd59ae8413a3b1489.jpg
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/46477fa8a89935bb5f38d13abbcdda9605155841658a89506b8ef39df20a9664.jpg
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/838bb573fa0c69ab8230c3d9a691a757e2e97906ad564bdf63ce07267a75d321.jpg
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/11731a29d9cb0dac1520f5a6377d6f5b422334244f6088400f325f897bf12b2d.jpg

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/289a9f7e5177409b523569ef63560d7da64c08b8056305a6afa7bc69bc07b340.jpg
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c8693b8c54f718fe212a33cb04f5afe351b1feb93a4c73bbe56d4dd8c1ee194e.jpg
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/97e73fbd322e7f6cbe23b5b7455da527e369d7931e0a1a0fa86698ef11c695aa.gif

    2. Thank you Rick, they are all magnificent this morning. Isn't Bob's draughtmanship superb. And I love the last one of Columbia beating off the attackers. Pity about the WHOM though.

    3. Thank you Rick, they are all magnificent this morning. Isn't Bob's draughtmanship superb. And I love the last one of Columbia beating off the attackers. Pity about the WHOM though.

    4. Thank you Rick, they are all magnificent this morning. Isn't Bob's draughtmanship superb. And I love the last one of Columbia beating off the attackers. Pity about the WHOM though.

    5. Good morning Rik and all.

      The first one should be a in every Newspaper & broadcast editors' offices – Fill poster size!

  18. DT Letters – James Devlin 2 HRS AGO
    Not sure that the good Dr. Darren Lloyds of Tonyrefail, Glamorgan, should be writing publicly about any specific patients. I wonder also if these patients and their families and friends are aware that the good doctor has classified them as “palliative”. If they didn’t know before, they’ll know this morning.
    So much for the privacy clause in the Hippocratic Oath.
    Palliative care in Britain does not guarantee pain relief. My mother’s GP informed me of such. But only after my mother chose to go into hospice on the assumption that her cancer and arthritic pain would be regulated and managed. It wasn’t. When unable to swallow the prescribed pain medication she had taken for years, and with injectable morphine withheld for four days, I can guarantee that she was in more pain than she had experienced in years, with the added misery of bedsores, being turned, wearing a nappy, and with no option to relieve any of it. She was an incapacitated captive to one doctor’s whimsical doctrine in a cruel bait and switch.
    Is that not doing harm to a dying woman?
    So much for your Hippocratic Oath.

    I can match that bait and switch. When my late wife had a fall and fractured her femur in December 2019 she was taken by ambulance to hospital. I was asked what her three anti-Lewy Body Dementia medications were and I wrote them down and handed them over, together with samples. The first thing they did was to replace these drugs, carefully titrated over many months, with a single slap-on patch of a different drug. This upset her rising dementia so that after her orthopaedic hip operation, she was pretty gaga and would not agree to the essential Physiotherapy that should have followed immediately. After 19 days in an Acute ward over Christmas and New Year because the hospital could not find a Care Package for discharge, it did not surprise me that she never recovered the ability to walk and remained bed-bound until her death three years later.

  19. DT Letters – James Devlin 2 HRS AGO
    Not sure that the good Dr. Darren Lloyds of Tonyrefail, Glamorgan, should be writing publicly about any specific patients. I wonder also if these patients and their families and friends are aware that the good doctor has classified them as “palliative”. If they didn’t know before, they’ll know this morning.
    So much for the privacy clause in the Hippocratic Oath.
    Palliative care in Britain does not guarantee pain relief. My mother’s GP informed me of such. But only after my mother chose to go into hospice on the assumption that her cancer and arthritic pain would be regulated and managed. It wasn’t. When unable to swallow the prescribed pain medication she had taken for years, and with injectable morphine withheld for four days, I can guarantee that she was in more pain than she had experienced in years, with the added misery of bedsores, being turned, wearing a nappy, and with no option to relieve any of it. She was an incapacitated captive to one doctor’s whimsical doctrine in a cruel bait and switch.
    Is that not doing harm to a dying woman?
    So much for your Hippocratic Oath.

    I can match that bait and switch. When my late wife had a fall and fractured her femur in December 2019 she was taken by ambulance to hospital. I was asked what her three anti-Lewy Body Dementia medications were and I wrote them down and handed them over, together with samples. The first thing they did was to replace these drugs, carefully titrated over many months, with a single slap-on patch of a different drug. This upset her rising dementia so that after her orthopaedic hip operation, she was pretty gaga and would not agree to the essential Physiotherapy that should have followed immediately. After 19 days in an Acute ward over Christmas and New Year because the hospital could not find a Care Package for discharge, it did not surprise me that she never recovered the ability to walk and remained bed-bound until her death three years later.

  20. 397685+ upticks,

    I believe one of the main discussion points among the lab/lib/con coalition party is, who will get the zyklon gas franchise.

    Dt,

    Assisted dying Bill: What are the key issues?

    The arguments for and against the proposals as MPs prepare to vote on the controversial legislation.

    3. On the plus side, the emissions from electric vans can't be used for the mobile euthanasia trucks.

  21. By the end, I wanted my wife to die’: Telegraph readers on assisted dying

    I put the same argument to assisted dying as the liberals put to to the death penalty,
    they wont allow the death penalty just in case one innocent person gets convicted even though the deterrent policy will save more lives overall.

    Well that same argument can be applied to assisted dying, what about the people that will be bumped off against their will or through bad implementation of the procedures?

  22. Please be reminded don't ever switch back on a mobile phone that you've just made a fraudulent mugging insurance claim on.

      1. Reporting a theft is not a mistake. It's an attempt to deceive. It's fraud! More, it's theft from the company who owns the telephone.

    2. ………….and in her resignation letter to the Prime Minister reported by the BBC she wrote:

      "I strongly support The Project that you and I have worked so hard towards".

      .
      Would someone explain to us what this Project is?

      2. Oh dear I feel so guilty when I see that phrase from politicians. "Working very hard".
        They wouldn't know what it was really like.
        All of themy have dozens of lackies chasing around for them.

    3. It's that she did it – faked the theft – solely to get an updated model. The attitude, the arrogance I can't conceive of. There was no consideration that the device cost er employer money. No interest that kit should last unless damaged. She just wanted a new one.

      It's a staggering lack of care for other people's property, for a company's operations, for costs – it was simple "want one".

      This arrogance, this pure greed goes utterly against the concept of public service but that's the problem, isn't it? They simply don't care about other people's property, needs or wants be that a company or individual. Such an attitude is putrid.

  23. Please be reminded don't ever switch back on a mobile phone that you've just made a fraudulent mugging insurance claim on.

  24. That those in Westminster think they are qualified to set forth an opinion on dying is a sobering and frightening thought.

    2. Assisted dying will be incredibly useful to the Government.

      It will save on state Pensions, it permits the Government to get early access to private Pensions,

      it will get rid of many pensioners cluttering up buses and doctors' clinics,

      and it will free up accommodation for young incomers.

      i'm not surprised that so many Socialists are keen on the idea.

      1. It would be incredibly useful if the 'new regime' was tested from the top down.
        Life would be much more like it use to be.

      2. In my experience yesterday buses are cluttereed by screaming kids and chav parents. The language of those brats, the screaming of the parents was just vile. Junior is no saint and has had a fair few tantrums in his time but he's never called his mother a [bleep]ing slapper.

    3. I'm in two minds here. The option should be available to those who want it – it is, after all, our life.

      However it should only be at the discretion of the individual, never coerced or even suggested by the state.

      1. It is something that has happened for yonks.
        Quiet agreement to increase pain medication which could shorten matters by days, occasionally weeks.
        The moment the governments and lawyers get involved, mission creep will set in.

      2. I agree with you, the concern I have is the increasing involvement of third parties, especially the State. The thing is they try to put so many safeguards in that the regulation turns into a complete unworkable mess.

        1. Yes, it's all a bit odd. What happens when there's a clearly ill patient suffering from dementia and cannot convey his wishes? Someone who just doens't know what's going on?

          I've no answers. Individuals should be protected, but is the ulltimate protection from ourselves?

          However, as was originally posted, what possible authority does a bunch of crooks, thieves, liars and frauds have to say on this? The Commons and Lords have absolutely no credibility whatsoever

  25. Morning all 🙂😊
    Very frosty today but sun popping out to take a look.
    I simply do not trust anything that has been conjured up by people in politics. This country used to be safe and fairly comfortable place to live in. But these usually useless objects are obsessed by an inherent and widely shared obscene where they never take a blind bit of notice of public opinion. Some needs to sort this out PDQ. But don't ask me who.

      1. I don't understand this one. I spoke to an americanlandian a while back who was very proud of his guhnz.

        He said it was for self defence. Fair enough, I thought, against robbers? Then he said 'and against the government.'

        Now, despite our military being a run down mess, we have drones, which have rockets that could, from over 2 miles away completely flatten my house, and our neighbours' without too much difficulty. What use is a gun when your enemy can nobble you without you even seeing them?

      2. I’ve been saying that sort of thing for years. And I also have as many people have, thought that both at the time were upto no good. Who on earth do they think they are and who put them both up to it ?

  26. Morning all

    Psychologist Xandra H has a fascinating article today ‘State Designed Immaturity ’ in Free Speech magazine, on the development of self-awareness and autonomy in infants and eventual maturity as a fully functioning adult – and how State involvement is subverting that process to produce immature adults with a psychologic dependency on the State.

    Today, terrifyingly, MPs vote on the assisted dying bill, that almost certainly will evolve into a State-mandated death bill if passed. FSB’s poll, still open at the top of the Today page, shows that 75% of those who voted are fully against it or have serious doubts about it.

    I you have not already done so, please sign the petition to parliament calling for a new general election At 0800 this morning it had attracted 2,887,664, up a still healthy 136,694 since 08:00 yesterday.

    Energy Watch: Demand at 0800: 41.437 GW. Supply: Hydrocarbon = 35.87%; Renewables = 41.5%; Nuclear = 6.4%; Biomass = 7.1% and Imports 4.1%.

  27. On Friday I had earache. By Sunday I had used up all my 30mg codeine tablets. By Tuesday I was hospitalised with an infection. It's sodding agony, add on the fever, the swelling (I look like the elephant man) and the lack of balance and I've resorted to a sweating, freezing, blanket covered fellow crawling about.

    As you can imagine, there's masses of sympathy.

    1. Normally the House rule is No-Selfies, but given your condition I think we can all agree that we will make an exception for you.

      With sympathy,

      Sr

    2. Lots of sympathy from me Wibbling ..

      Ear infection , horrid , and was it associated with wisdom teeth ?

      I hope you feel more comfortable soon .

      1. Don't think so. When the ENT fellow was digging about in my ear – and you're trying to explain that you're in a great deal of pain as he's scraping and hoovering in an almost entirely closed up ear pulling the two apart he dug out some fibres, so maybe those? Or shaved off ear hair?

    4. How horrid. Why do these things always happen on a Friday?
      Hope the anti biotics are doing their job and you feel better soon.

    5. Lots of sympathy from me. I’ve had ear infection. It hurt like hell. Hope you’re soon feeling better.

    6. Do you have Anti-Bs?
      For goodness sake, wrap up warm (yes, I know) and just drop out for the weekend.
      Have you stocked up on paracetamol? Cheap and effective.

  28. Good morning all ,

    Dry morning , awake most of night with my cough .

    Moh had a good sleep , masked up looking like Hannibal Lector, attached to his sleep apnoea machine .

    Moh up very early preparing for his golf match .. 6am .

    My own sleep pattern , what is sleep?

    The cat delivered a pile of sick in the living room ..

    What do people regard as a bargain.. Black Friday has been here all of November .

    Where do people get their money .. Both cars need MOTs and a service soon, as well as insurance. Home insurance and other whacking great bills are due ..

    There is no such thing as a bargain , is there .

    1. You'll get there TB, and it's such a lovely feeling when you put your head on that trusted pillow. 🤗🙂

      2. Tired nature's sweet restorer
        The knitter up of the ravelled sleeve of care

        The victim of the Thane of Cawdor's attack after he had murdered King Duncan!

  29. Good morning all ,

    Dry morning , awake most of night with my cough .

    Moh had a good sleep , masked up looking like Hannibal Lector, attached to his sleep apnoea machine .

    Moh up very early preparing for his golf match .. 6am .

    My own sleep pattern , what is sleep?

    The cat delivered a pile of sick in the living room ..

    What do people regard as a bargain.. Black Friday has been here all of November .

    Where do people get their money .. Both cars need MOTs and a service soon, as well as insurance. Home insurance and other whacking great bills are due ..

    There is no such thing as a bargain , is there .

    3. Breaking Traffic Rail News –
      Due to communication problems out of our control , the Transport Minister will be cancelled this morning
      Expect long delays until further notice.

  31. There were 18 cabinet posts originally I think. If she was a Chosen One to begin with, what's her replacement gping to be like?

        1. I believe that Ed and his wife, Yvette Cooper, have decided to call their daughter Ophelia.

          A very appropriate name as Ophelia in the Danish play was the daughter of the chancellor, Polonius, just as Ed was once the shadow chancellor.

          However as she grows up the poor girl may curse her parents for giving her the name they gave her.

    2. And how soon can Bridget Phillipson, the sadistic Education minister who has brought in the VAT on school fees in the middle of the school year, be sacked for gross abuse and crimes against children?

      A truly evil woman.

  32. 397685+ up ticks,

    Yet another political prattwat louse harbouring pro foreigner thoughts and voicing pro foreigner suggestions whilst on home turf the indigenous peoples are getting persecuted daily by the politico's and invading foreigners alike.

    Dt,

    Our troops should help defend Ukraine’s border in possible ceasefire, says Boris Johnson
    Former PM ‘cannot see a European peace-keeping operation happening without the British’

    1. I could quite happily see them without the British.
      We started the ruin by backing "Brave Little Belgium"; we got involved simply because Victoria's hubby was from those parts.
      So Blighty is blighted because of Vickie's hormonal urges c. 1840.

  33. Gregg Wallace , oh well , he tripped up by being over enthusiastic and risque .

    I don't feel sorry for him , but I am wondering what is going on re social banter ..

    Am I right or wrong to suggest that the British used to snigger behind their hands at dirty postcards, Carry on films , naughty frolics and suggestive winks and blinks and cat calls .. oh yes and especially pantomime humour , and Bennie Hill (not me , but Moh etc used to laugh at the ghastly Southampton chap)

    Cheeky chappies can be vulgar , but we know that , and some of them can light up a room .. or a supermarket aisle , queue at the car park ticket machine , outdoor market traders , soldiers , sailors , etc etc.

    Has Wallace really been that bad ?

    1. He's always made me reach for the TV control.
      I found His over enthusiasm annoying.
      But it seems that currently with Dopey Wokies everywhere his departure was inevitable.
      One can only guess at who or what will replace him. Diversity is king and he's lost out.

      1. "One can only guess at who or what will replace him."
        It's going to be Nadia the Al-beebs go to Moslema

        1. Lisa Faulkner complained about rude jokes made by Greg Wallace off camera on Masterchef.

          She also had an affair with the then married John Torode. Then married him.

          It is not unusual for a new wife to want be rid of her husband's old friends (Meghan and Harry).

          She has succeeded in her goals.

          What is worse? Telling off colour jokes or stealing husbands?

          Doesn't seem like many people on here like Greg Wallace much but he has been stitched up like a kipper.

          We should all be wary. Especially of people like Faulkner and Wark.

          Good morning.

          1. As someone who did not marry until after the age of 40 many of my best friends were already married. Two of these had wives who were deeply suspicious of me because they feared that my whisky, gin and company were a distraction to their husbands.

            When I did get married one of these friends read the lesson at our wedding service (I Corinthians xiii) and the other, who subsequently became our Christo's godfather, was an usher. But by then I was no longer regarded as a threat!

      2. I must admit he is NQMTD but vulgar people such as Wallace are becoming completely unacceptable in Wokeland. They are an endangered species.

        Possibly off the subject but my favourite Wallace was the lion at Blackpool zoo who ate Albert Ramsbottom.

          1. Albert's Return

            You've `eard `ow young Albert Ramsbottom
            At the zoo up at Blackpool one year
            With a stick with an `orse's `ead `andle
            Gave a lion a poke in the ear?

            The name of the lion was Wallace,
            The poke in the ear made `im wild
            And before you could say "Bob's yer uncle"
            E'd upped and `e'd swallowed the child.

            `E were sorry the moment `e done it;
            With children `e'd always been chums,
            And besides, `e'd no teeth in his muzzle,
            And `e couldn't chew Albert on't gums.

            `E could feel the lad movin' inside `im
            As `e lay on `is bed of dried ferns;
            And it might `ave been little lad's birthday
            E wished `im such `appy returns.

            But Albert kept kickin' and fightin'-
            And Wallace got up, feelin' bad.
            Decided 'twere time that `e started
            To stage a comeback for the lad.

            Then puttin' `ead down in one corner,
            On `is front paws `e started to walk;
            And `e coughed, and `e sneezed, and `e gargled
            `Till Albert shot out – like a cork!

            Now Wallace felt better directly
            And `is figure once more became lean.
            But the only difference with Albert
            Was, `is face and `is `ands were quite clean.

            Meanwhile Mr. and Mrs. Ramsbottom
            `Ad gone back to their tea, feelin' blue.
            Ma said, "I feel down in the mouth, like.
            " Pa said, "Aye, I bet Albert does, too."

            Said Mother, "It just goes to show yer
            That the future is never revealed;
            If I'd thowt we was goin' to lose `im,
            I'd `ave not `ad `is boots soled and `eeled."

            "Let's look on the bright side," said Father,
            "Wot can't be `elped must be endured;
            Each cloud `as a silvery lining,
            And we did `ave young Albert insured."

            A knock on the door came that moment
            As Father these kind words did speak.
            `Twas the man from Prudential – `e'd come for
            Their tuppence per person per week.

            When Father saw `oo `ad been knockin',
            `E laughed, and `e kept laughin` so –
            The man said "`Ere, wot's there to laugh at?"
            Pa said "You'll laugh and all when you know!"

            "Excuse `im for laughing," said Mother,
            "But really, things `appen so strange –
            Our Albert's been et by a lion;
            You've got to pay us for a change!"

            Said the young man from the Prudential:
            "Now, come, come, let's understand this
            You don't mean to say that you've lost `im?"
            Pa said "Oh, no, we know where `e is!"

            When the young man `ad `eard all the details,
            A purse from `is pocket he drew
            And `e paid them with interest and bonus
            The sum of nine pounds, four and two.

            Pa `ad scarce got `is `and on the money
            When a face at the window they see
            And Mother cried "Eee, look, it's Albert!"
            And Father said "Aye, it would be."

            Albert came in all excited,
            And started `is story to give;
            And Pa said "I'll never trust lions
            Again, not as long as I live."

            The young man from the Prudential
            To pick up the money began
            But Father said "`ere, wait a moment,
            Don't be in a `urry, young man."

            Then giving young Albert a shilling,
            `E said "`Ere, pop off back to the zoo;
            Get your stick with the `orse's `ead `andle
            Go and see wot the tigers can do!"

      3. I must admit he is NQMTD but vulgar people such as Wallace are becoming completely unacceptable in Wokeland. They are an endangered species.

        Possibly off the subject by my favourite Wallace was the lion at Blackpool zoo who ate Albert Ramsbottom.

    2. Sorry. The guy's a narcissist. You don't do that sort of stuff from a position of power and make junior women feel insecure. It's OK from a chirpy window cleaner or market stall holder but not from the boss.

      I'm slightly older in age and actually look a lot fitter than he does but I do not have the inclination to post pictures of my abs and my pecs all over social media.

      As it happens I have recent pictures where (facially) I can see that I am a better looking and nicer version of Greg Wallace.

      I only flirt with women who flirt with me first. The less I try the more I get ! For that reason Wallace was a total idiot. He could have had a lot more fun than he actually got.

        1. Unfortunately our political establishment is full of them !

          I don't say ban them. I just say that they must expect karma to catch up with them as Rod Stewart so eloquently put it.

      1. We have virtuous Nottlers?? Well done you for finding them; why are you trying to crack the.poor things? 😉

    5. I note (in addition to my comment below) that the lech was never usually the boss in those comedies. The boss used to always be the dull foil to that humour between two underlings.

      The problem here is that Wallace was the boss and was doing it to junior women and intimidating them. Intimidation is a different thing to sexually loaded banter altogether.

      1. I haven't read about his nonsense , so I am not aware of what he has been up to .. but I guess he wasn't as smiley as he appeared .

        I hated his laugh , and I doubt whether he knew much about food ..

        People change when their popularity rises ..

        He didn't appear to have many skills , apart from a beaming smile and bald head ..

        I wonder who will be the next media celeb to fall into the gutter ?

        1. He was an over-promoted veg trader is all that was wrong here.

          He was probably great down the market and much loved by the women but he never dropped the act when he got into commercial TV. Bantering with a customer is fine – she'll punish you by not buying from you if she doesn't like it.

    6. I note (in addition to my comment below) that the lech was never usually the boss in those comedies. The boss used to always be the dull foil to that humour between two underlings.

      The problem here is that Wallace was the boss and was doing it to junior women and intimidating them. Intimidation is a different thing to sexually loaded banter altogether.

    7. It seems that we are returning to an outwardly puritan age but underneath society is of course as it ever was. Modern ladies, I would suggest, are well able to deal with smutty fellows but it seems these episodes have to be pearl clutching experiences with the unfortunate target being cancelled. It is always surprising that it seems to take years before much is said when everyone seemed to know the characters involved in these stories.

    8. It seems that we are returning to an outwardly puritan age but underneath society is of course as it ever was. Modern ladies, I would suggest, are well able to deal with smutty fellows but it seems these episodes have to be pearl clutching experiences with the unfortunate target being cancelled. It is always surprising that it seems to take years before much is said when everyone seemed to know the characters involved in these stories.

    9. Unless you've worked with him, it's difficult to tell.
      The impression I've got from the occasional glimpse on the telly, is a rather irritating man who thinks he's the life and soul of the party. No off switch.
      Probably wears a printed T-Shirt with "I'm mad, me". Or has that dreaded poster in his office with "You don't have to be mad to work here, but it helps".

  34. Well now we know. As far as Labour is concerned the lockdowns, the mask mandates, the working from home by the useless/dangerous civil service and the wrecking of our economy at Starmer's behest was NOTHING to do with saving granny.

    I'm thinking more of his theft of the winter fuel allowance than assisted dying (which I happen to agree with.)

      1. Me neither. Our ancestors were at least more honest about their reasons for killing people. All of this faux compassion and we don't let animals suffer crap ignores the fact that animals are routinely put down just because they're not wanted.

        1. Just look at examples from Medical Assistance In Dying (MAID) in Canada. An athlete having severely injured their knee, and someone who had gone to their doctors feeling depressed were apparently offered euthanasia, as a 'cure'.

          We don't trust Westminster/Whitehall on political matters, and have no good reason to give them the power of life and death over us. We've seen how they've used mission creep in so many ways, why should this proposal be any different?

          P.S. I read recently, that, contrary to common belief, there have been 15 various bills on this subject matter discussed at different levels in Westminster over the past 21 years. Over half a dozen raised by Blair's chum Falconer! Blair's involvement, albeit by possible proxy, should be a red flag in any matter.

          Someone had tabulated the 15 bills in a comment section and I can't remember where I read it.

        2. Just look at examples from Medical Assistance In Dying (MAID) in Canada. An athlete having severely injured their knee, and someone who had gone to their doctors feeling depressed were apparently offered euthanasia, as a 'cure'.

          We don't trust Westminster/Whitehall on political matters, and have no good reason to give them the power of life and death over us. We've seen how they've used mission creep in so many ways, why should this proposal be any different?

          P.S. I read recently, that, contrary to common belief, there have been 15 various bills on this subject matter discussed at different levels in Westminster over the past 21 years. Over half a dozen raised by Blair's chum Falconer! Blair's involvement, albeit by possible proxy, should be a red flag in any matter.

          Someone had tabulated the 15 bills in a comment section and I can't remember where I read it.

        4. That latter is certainly true for the kill shelters (and the RSPCA). All of mine have been put to sleep because they have had terminal illnesses and all that could have been done for them had been. It was not a decision I made lightly. I am still against playing God with humans, though because I know what it will almost certainly lead to.

  37. Sign the petition, folks ! (Like I need to tell any of you.)

    It is not a political protest. Don't accept accusations that it is.

    It is a protest against a grossly incompetent and criminally dishonest government. The chancellor has lied about her CV and abilities and misuse of parliamentary credit card. The Transport Secretary has resigned over a concealed criminal conviction having just awarded her Aslef and RMT buddies pay awards that the country can ill afford.

    We cannot trust that this sort of thing is not criminally motivated.

    1. It's a protest against a government which campaigned as Labour but turned out to be communist. As if those of us with sense didn't know they would.

      1. Please.

        Stick to the incompetence and corruption. This will work. Trying to define a communist won't and it will make you look stupid.

          1. Upticked.

            By "This will work" I mean convince the other that you are not just a sore loser who does not believe in democracy.

            I do not think, in my wildest dreams, that there will be an election because of the petition.

          2. Oh I don't think any of us expect an election. It's an expression of our dissatisfaction and one that they must at least acknowledge. I ignore chang.org petitions completely but the parliament ones do at least elicit a response if not a very satisfactory one.

        2. Not to those of us who know how the Bolshevik revolution in Russia was funded and why marxism was later abandoned in favour of the green scam to achieve the same results.

      2. At the moment, this is the only way to deliver a message to this Gang of Four.
        The constant drip of publicity highlighting how dire they are is only a beginning.
        It's hearts and minds at the moment.
        After a cold winter, the GBP will (with a bit of luck) be more receptive to a starker message.

  39. A Substack post by David Jenson on the silver market
    https://open.substack.com/pub/jensendavid/p/blackrock-ceo-larry-fink-sashays?r=28gmek&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
    It is a bit technical (read: I understood about half of it!), but a couple of points spring out.

    "October 19, 2024 – due to the enormity of the estimated 4.2 billion (B) oz. to 6.4B oz. of physical silver sold short in the London cash/spot silver market, as demand for physical silver continues to soar, major bullion banks and silver Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) will rupture. A $100 price move higher for silver would impose a $420B to $640B liability bringing-down major financial institutions."

    $100 means $100 dollars per troy ounce of silver (currently about $30, but China has said they want to see 100). What I understand from this is that the western bullion banks have made such huge bets on the price of silver falling (it's controlled by purchase and sales of paper notes said to represent real silver, so it's all rigged anyway), that they cannot afford the price of silver to rise. However, there is such a shortage of silver in the world that they can't hold the lid on the price forever.
    This was the thinking behind the silver squeeze movement in 2021 when a bunch of pirates small investors tried to buy enough physical silver to force the price up. It failed, but it ignited the interest of a generation in silver investments.

    Going straight down to the last paragraph, his conclusions are quite interesting!
    "…the Globalist rush to digitize, tokenize, and control all assets would be lost if citizens turned to gold and silver en masse."
    "For the Globalists’ dream of digital central control of all assets to be effected, termination of property rights and personal holding of assets cannot come soon enough but there seems to be no good near-term path available.
    Frauds though, always collapse. And the London gold and silver market fraud overseen by the regulators at the Bank of England is on the way out."

    1. What does this even mean ?

      I have quite a bit of spare cash btw. From the sale of mum's house.

      I'm putting £20k in bitcoin. A fraction of the sum I am trying to diversify from the bank accounts I'm holding the money in. Crypto fraudsters scare me a LOT less than the Labour government.

      Seriously.

      Any ideas out there ???

      1. "What does this even mean?" sounds a bit dismissive.
        If you are interested to find out more about precious metals, try the reddit wallstreetsilver site; maneco64 youtube; liberty and finance youtube; Lynette Zang on youtube; stackers university youtube; silver slayer; pallisades gold radio; parallel Mike; Alasdair Macleod; Mike Maloney's videos on money; Ray Dalio; Rafi Farber; books by James Rickards; Willem Middelkoop on X
        If you sample a few of the above, you'll either be bored rigid or hooked.

        tl;dr silver is said to be the most undervalued asset on the planet.

          4. OK. I've read up on it and it rings true.

            A) We are all in trouble if this blows up with lots of things to worry about – not least no shops to spend in.

            B) To hold worthwhile amounts of silver personally will take up a lot of space in the house and be very risky

            C) realising such an asset would be slow and risky too in times of economic depression and it's not like you could just sneak it out of the country and start a new life with it.

            How does one get around these things ?

            I like gold because its value can be stored in much smaller containers. My aim is not to play the markets but to preserve my wealth, not necessarily grow it.

          5. OK. I've read up on it and it rings true.

            A) We are all in trouble if this blows up with lots of things to worry about – not least no shops to spend in.

            B) To hold worthwhile amounts of silver personally will take up a lot of space in the house and be very risky

            C) realising such an asset would be slow and risky too in times of economic depression and it's not like you could just sneak it out of the country and start a new life with it.

            How does one get around these things ?

            I like gold because its value can be stored in much smaller containers. My aim is not to play the markets but to preserve my wealth, not necessarily grow it.

          6. Actually I was referring to, among other industrial uses, silver's property as the most efficient conductor of electricity. It is therefore present in printed circuit boards and in the guidance computers of every smart weapon on the planet. Everytime something goes bang in modern warfare a little bit of the world's silver is vapourised never to be replaced.

            Because of its industrial uses it has the potential to increase in value many times more than gold.

          7. Apart from financial considerations, silver is magical. Anti-bacterial, best conductor of electricity and heat, and simply the most beautiful metal, though gold and copper are close seconds.

    2. What does this even mean ?

      I have quite a bit of spare cash btw. From the sale of mum's house.

      I'm putting £20k in bitcoin. A fraction of the sum I am trying to diversify from the bank accounts I'm holding the money in. Crypto fraudsters scare me a LOT less than the Labour government.

      Seriously.

      Any ideas out there ???

    3. Buying "paper" gold or silver is asking for trouble. Central banks can't print the real thing.

      1. I think the big banks only deal in it because they use it to control the price. But it’s probably libel or something to say so.

  40. Good Moaning.
    I see one of the den of thieves has been felled.
    Conveniently on the day of the assisted dying vote.
    A day to bury bad news?

    1. Yes funny that. Something dredged up from 2013 apparently. As if we are surprised a Labour politician got caught lying.

  42. I remember hearing a comment from a friend years ago that he didn't like Gregg Wallace and thought he was a bully. I don't know what the friend's view was based on, and as I hadn't seen any evidence myself I shelved the observation and forgot about it until now. It looks as though the opinion was based on discernment of a hidden undercurrent.

  44. O tempora…

    Summary of the annual report by the Observatory on Discrimination and Intolerance against Christians. Link to the full report below.

    ANTI-CHRISTIAN HATE CRIMES
    1. Combining police statistics and civil society data, 2,444 anti-Christian hate
    crimes were identified in 35 European countries, including 232 personal
    attacks on Christians.
    2. The most affected countries in 2023 are France, the United Kingdom and
    Germany, with anti-Christian hate crimes doubling in Germany compared
    to last year.
    DISCRIMINATION AGAINST CHRISTIANS
    3. New findings have revealed widespread discrimination against Christian
    in the workplace and in various spheres of society. The expression of
    traditional religious beliefs is increasingly met with hostility and can lead
    to discrimination and bullying at work or even loss of employment.
    4. Christian politicians are particularly vulnerable to discrimination on the
    basis of their personal religious beliefs and may be forced to choose
    between their political career and their religious beliefs.
    5. These forms of discrimination have a ‘chilling effect’, leading many
    Christians, particularly among the younger generation, to self-censor or
    even hide their beliefs at university and in the workplace, as recent findings
    demonstrate.
    RELIGIOUS FREEDOM RESTRICTIONS
    6. A number of restrictions on religious freedom affecting Christians in Europe
    have been identified, concerning public prayer, religious manifestations,
    public expression of religious beliefs, religious autonomy, parental rights and
    conscientious objection to military service and certain medical procedures.
    7. In 2023-24, several people have been fined and prosecuted for peacefully
    praying in public streets in so-called ‘buffer zones’ around abortion clinics,
    including a man convicted in the UK for praying silently in his own mind.

    https://www.intoleranceagainstchristians.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/publications/files/OIDAC_Report_2024_-_Online_Version.pdf

    1. The Diocesan Synod "code of practice" effectively enforces self censorship with its "mindfulness" agenda. People should watch what they say so as not to offend others! I am not going to last three months, let alone three years!

    1. Intersectional power structures. Over the course of two thousand years the followers of Jesus of Nazareth built a thriving civilisation therefore it follows in the feeble minds of the political left that they must de-facto be oppressors and the pagans who failed by their own shortcomings must be victims of Christian success.

  47. Good morning. There appears to be an enormous Black Hole (with red hair) in the Department of Transport. And Cur Ikea knew all about it FOUR years ago.

        1. But will Australia take her in? They're already oversubscribed with ecoloon harridans and tax wasting politicians.

  48. I am back. I have a confession. I have been having AFs for years – usually about once a quarter. They now turn up twice a month. I saw a GP a year ago and was prescribed some tablet to take each night. Also – two years ago – another to take daily. That one made me feel dizzy and drowsy – so I stopped – and only take it (at night) when an AF is making its presence felt. Two recent AFs have caused us to cancel (a) trip to Devon for cousin's memorial do and (b) annual trip to London TODAY for the weekend to see grand-daughter and have some culture. We should right now be on the 9.44 train to King's Cross. I am furious with myself and the MR is "disappointed".

    I loathe doctors and detest hospitals – so avoid them. However, I have realised that this can't go on – so am seeing a heart chap in two weeks (privately). Had I tried to see a GP – it would be at least two weeks before an appointment could be made and then a week for him to write a letter to the NNUH from which a date some months ahead would be arranged…. Only alternative – turn up at A&E – wait 12 hours and be interned for weeks. No sirree.

    By taking the action I have outlined, a lot of time will be saved and some sort of result achieved.

    Please don't give me any advice – I just want to try to carry on vaguely normally…. I am only posting this to explain why I am here and not away!

      1. Absolutely! The fairy dust sprinkled by the little ray of sunshine that is Bill fairly makes me overflow with optimism!!

    3. Thank you, Bill. My GP instructed me to go straight to A&E if I felt unwell with the AF. I've made three visits in two weeks and to be fair, they have seen and treated me very promptly at Charing Cross. I too find that the Beta Blockers induce some dizziness but am trying to bear with it. The first aider at work is being very supportive, as is my boss (who was himself once a med student at Barts). I pleaded for the cardiology appointment to be brought forward and am now scheduled for an echocardiogram on Fri 6th Dec. If further treatment is needed, I would very willingly pay for it. The money might as well be spent on our health as stolen by the government.

      1. Trouble is – it’s 30 miles to the NNUH (if one can find a parking space) with hours to wait and the chance of a medical person with English as first (or second) language remote…

        2. I insist on Addenbrookes and Papworth having experienced West Suffolk where I awoke in the ward reserved for prisoners from Highpoint.

          Papworth on the Addenbrookes site is the place for heart problems.

        3. I insist on Addenbrookes and Papworth having experienced West Suffolk where I awoke in the ward reserved for prisoners from Highpoint.

          Papworth on the Addenbrookes site is the place for heart problems.

  49. Ref Wallace. The only satisfying thing about the current story is that the person "slighted/upset/bullied" is the totally awful champagne socialist millionaire (with whining voice) Wark woman!!

    1. Her cack-handed and prejudiced ‘documentary’ (produced by her and her husbands company) on the Salmond trial, was quite the most awful piece of rubbish I have watched. The bits that were missed out, to satisfy her narrative were astounding. But there again, she’s employed by the beeb!

    2. All that seem to have happened back in 2011 why did it take her so long to take her revenge and ruin someone else's career.
      At one stage in the available clip he asked how intense will (meaning the cooking) this get ?
      She waved a knife in his face and said that intense.

      1. I don’t understand why it’s a bandwagon.

        In the past so many MPs appeared to be quite happy with Starmer’s underhand dealings.

        1. She just jumps on any issue without any understanding of it. Makes Lammy seem a towering intellectual.

    2. I do not see for the life of me what the Chagos Islands have to do with Mauritius. They were only associated with Mauritius during its period as a French Colony from 1715 prior to which it was uninhabited following unsuccessful Dutch attempts to colonise it. Mauritius became a British colony from 1810. It is the Britsh Empire which turned it into the relatively successful island state it is today.

      The Mauritians should be grateful to us and shut up.

      1. Starmer wants Mauritius to take over the administration of the Chagos Islands in exchange for a large "gift" from the British taxpayers.

        For some strange reason he is very anxious to get this completed before Trump comes to power,

        so anxious that recently he sent one of Blair's minions out to Mauritius to "hurry things along".

        The secrecy, and lack of explanation makes one suspect that there is something very sleazy

        going on to the disadvantage of Britain .

        1. Prime Minister is friends with Philippe Sands KC, who also happens to be Mauritius’ chief legal adviser – and a longtime campaigner for the country to control the land. How very curious…

          As revealed by Guido Fawkes, Sands has slaved away in international courts to successfully convince the lefty lot to give away the strategically important cluster of islands in the Indian Ocean. In January, the legal adviser informed parliament that..

        3. If Starmer has his fingerprints on it, it's almost certain to be sleazy and to Britain's disadvantage, judging by his behaviour so far.

      2. Starmer wants Mauritius to take over the administration of the Chagos Islands in exchange for a large “gift” from the British taxpayers.

        For some strange reason he is very anxious to get this completed before Trump comes to power, so anxious that recently he sent one of Blair’s minions

        out to Mauritius to “hurry things along”.

        The secrecy, and lack of explanation makes one suspect that there is something very sleazy going on to the disadvantage of Britain .

    3. I do not see for the life of me what the Chagos Islands have to do with Mauritius. They were only associated with Mauritius during its period as a French Colony from 1715 prior to which it was uninhabited following unsuccessful Dutch attempts to colonise it. Mauritius became a British colony from 1810. It is the Britsh Empire which turned it into the relatively successful island state it is today.

      The Mauritians should be grateful to us and shut up.

    4. I do not see for the life of me what the Chagos Islands have to do with Mauritius. They were only associated with Mauritius during its period as a French Colony from 1715 prior to which it was uninhabited following unsuccessful Dutch attempts to colonise it. Mauritius became a British colony from 1810. It is the Britsh Empire which turned it into the relatively successful island state it is today.

      The Mauritians should be grateful to us and shut up.

  51. Strangely in the past 2024 years there has only ever been one person who has come back after death. Perhaps we should carry out a few more experiments and attempts to repeat this previous one off miracle. After at least 20 attempts of likened leading figures. And of not being able to find out if there is a chance of asking what actually happened after that final moment. And did things improve for them.
    Perhaps more consideration for the recipient might be taken into account. After judgement there could be plenty of volunteers later today. It would be interesting to see who might cross the line and try to nail it. And how long the queue will be on the lawns of Wastemonster.
    I feel a net zero coming on.

    2. I wonder how Arla is going to administer its drug to all those millions of wild animals in Africa and South America?

      2. I don't think it will ever do so Sam.

        It appears that the chief aim is to try it on the Brits to see if it has any long term

        side effects before trying it on their own people.

        1. It is not just the milk products but we seem to be at the forefront of every single mad globalist experiment.

          We lead the world supposedly on fictional climate change carbon reduction, we leapt at the mad Covid masking, lockdowns and experimental untested pseudo vaccine implementation and now the preposterous switch to EVs.

          The fools in government have ruined any prospect of inter generational wealth transfer. Our children will not inherit a higher standard of living than us for the first time in centuries.

          We have watched as our taxes have been invested in Ukraine, an investment equivalent to taking the billions in notes and setting fire to the lot.

          None of this will end well. As with the demolition of the Twin Towers in New York expect a similar false flag event in London as the crooks seek WWIII.

          1. The trouble with a false flag event causing WW3 is that the Government has been

            abusing the young white people who they expect to join the military.

    3. Is this the idiotic idea that cow farts cause 'climate change'? The world has gone completely mad.

      1. Even if man-made climate change existed – which is doesn't – then cow farts would still be completely immaterial.

      1. You made the connection between street names and Smithfield Market. I worked for a while in Warner Street and walked daily from Holborn to the office via Leather Lane. Our structural engineers had offices in Cowcross Street.

      2. You made the connection between street names and Smithfield Market. I worked for a while in Warner Street and walked daily from Holborn to the office via Leather Lane. Our structural engineers had offices in Cowcross Street.

  55. Eventually:
    Wordle 1,259 5/6

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

    1. Morning Angus. We inhabit a Police State with not a word of objection from either the MSM or the Political Elites.

    2. Morning Angus. We inhabit a Police State with not a word of objection from either the MSM or the Political Elites.

  59. Poor Louise Haigh …. she seems to be the unfortunate victim of a very dishonest mistake.

        1. Nah – I just have "dry" eyes – the condition that makes them bloody weep all day… Grrr.

    2. Would a CRB check prevent her from working as a children's party entertainer ? She certainly presents herself as one !

    3. Would a CRB check prevent her from working as a children's party entertainer ? She certainly presents herself as one !

  60. Poor Louise Haigh …. she seems to be the unfortunate victim of a very dishonest mistake.

  61. Poor Louise Haigh …. she seems to be the unfortunate victim of a very dishonest mistake.

          2. You mean that she was resigned after a simple lie?

            What is the world coming to when you cannot boost your career with a few lies?

  66. Morning, all, and thank you Geoff for making this possible.

    Thought I'd post a couple of photos of Buenos Aires in recent days. It's so beautiful at the moment: the street trees bursting with purple of jacarandá and yellow of acacia flowers, falling in the cool spring rain to paint the parks and avenues; the scent of linden blossom saturating the warm air of the next day's sunshine.

    The building is something to do with bishops and is the view from the front door of my apartment block. The agapanthus are actually in the middle of 9 de Julio, the widest street in the world (it's a bugger to cross, as even if you run, it takes two lots of green lights 🤣).

    I feel very lucky to be surrounded by such beauty and would like to share it with you.

    Katy https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/160131f9218db06301dfe4c6d0056eceb57a3a7efe3c95012983cc02a7bae988.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f6995a053ed6b81279888eb8abedf51b4ef7ceb532e86c90639dc6062bed9d66.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7208d83d9a9a046d46e7e50b3ce7dc3c5d167c446270b7cbd663da7dcc2526f0.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/81ca2ea95a4788c7e811bbc9533ae85a95210e8e06def923a084314539264000.jpg

    3. Lovely photos Katy, and well done for adopting and adapting to a new life in Buenos Aires.

      So beautiful and and thrilling for you to live amongst a different happy culture having lots of fun .

      Thank you for thinking of us all and reminding us there is colour and seasonal delights on the other side of the world , especially so for us here as we creep into winter and bleaker political days . 🎶😂😊

    4. Thanks for sharing! A welcome relief from the dark that's here just now – some fabulous purple colours! Fill your boots!

    8. Do the agapanthus grow naturally there?
      I couldn't get over strelitzias growing like weeds in Madeira.

      1. Most things grow like weeds here. Have only seen agapanthus in municipal beds, though. Makes me think of my mother every time!

  71. The Sycamore Gap tree was planted as a landscape feature on Hadrian’s Wall 150 years ago, becoming one of the most photographable places in England and the site of countless marriage proposals, birthday celebrations and scatterings of ashes. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/29/it-signifies-renewal-recipients-of-sycamore-gap-saplings-announced

    Its illegal felling in September last year made headlines across the world, prompting feelings of sorrow, distress and anger.

    “The tree meant so much to so many,” said Catherine Nuttgens, a tree expert who led the panel of judges which sifted through the applications. “Its destruction felt utterly senseless.”

    Judging the applications had been a privilege and humbling, she said. “They were from across the whole country, from all walks of life, from pretty English villages to prisons.

    “Everyone had their individual story and honestly, I could only read so many at a time … it was really emotional. They were all deserving, it was really, really hard to choose.”

    All the saplings will be planted in publicly accessible places and will include the Rob Burrow centre for motor neurone disease due to open next summer at Seacroft hospital in Leeds.

    Burrow’s widow Lindsey said the centre would feature a garden at its core.

    “This ‘tree of hope’ perfectly reflects our struggles and will provide our families with a powerful reminder that it is possible to heal even after we have been cut down,” she said. “It signifies renewal, regeneration and the ability to evolve.”

    The sapling in memory of Holly Newton goes to the charity Holly’s Hope, set up by her mother and stepfather, Micala and Lee Trussler, to raise awareness of the warning signs young people should look for when experiencing their first relationships.

    Micala said getting a sapling meant a lot. “This tree of hope will be a symbol for everyone that knew Holly, to reflect and remember how amazing she was.”

    Another sapling will be planted at a community garden under the Westway, the dominating elevated dual carriageway that scythes through west London. The recipients are the not for profit Grow to Know which was born out of the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy.

    ​​Tayshan Hayden-Smith, the founder and creative director, said: “Nature is at the heart of everything we do, and planting one of the Sycamore Gap tree saplings in North Kensington will be a symbol of seeds of change, hope and community.”

    Other recipients include: Morton Hall prison in Lincolnshire, a category C facility for foreign national offenders; The Tree Sanctuary in Coventry where teenagers known as the “Tree Amigos” replant trees damaged by vandalism; and the LGBTQI+ network at the Ministry of Defence.

    As well as the 49, the UK’s 15 national parks will receive a sapling. King Charles has received a seedling for planting in Windsor Great Park when it is a sapling.

    Nuttgens said not everyone is a sycamore tree fan – people who park their cars under a sycamore will know about the amount of sticky sap from them – but she adores them.

    Saplings from the felled Sycamore Gap tree are to be planted across the UK, including next to one of London’s most famous roads, at a rural category C prison and at a motor neurone disease centre opening in the name of the late rugby league star Rob Burrow.

    The National Trust on Friday announced the recipients of 49 saplings it has called “trees of hope”.

    Other recipients include a charity set up by the family of murdered Northumberland schoolgirl Holly Newton, who was killed by her jealous ex-boyfriend Logan MacPhail; and Alder Hey children’s hospital in Liverpool.

    Nearly 500 applications were received after the Trust announced a scheme for the saplings to be gifted across the UK. There are 49 – one for each foot of the sycamore’s height – and all were grown from seeds recovered from the felled tree.

    Their dark green leaves in the summer create a canopy like broccoli, she said. “They have that lumpy, cloudy effect. They are very beautiful, architecturally fine trees.”
    ——————————————————————————

    My thing is , a sycamore seeds itself very quickly, and Moh or me are always amazed that a seedling suddenly appears in an unlikely spot.

    Do sycamores release a sap, I thought that was lime trees .. beautiful trees but really hard work re sticky sap and leaves and insect sap .

    1. An arboriculturalist friend of mine hates sycamores because their habit of seeding and reproducing rapidly makes them a weed species in forestry.

    2. This very sad song is sung by Desdemona :

      The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree
      Sing all a green willow
      Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee

      Sing willow, willow, willow, willow!
      Sing willow, willow, willow, willow!
      My garland shall be;
      Sing all a green willow, willow, willow, willow
      Sing all a green willow
      My garland shall be.

      The fresh streams ran by her, and murmer'd her moans
      Sing willow, willow, willow
      Her salt tears fell from her and soft'ned the stones.

      Sing willow, willow, willow, willow!
      Sing willow, willow, willow, willow!
      My garland shall be;
      Sing all a green willow, willow, willow, willow
      Sing all a green willow
      My garland shall be.

      Let nobody blame him, his scorn I approve
      Sing willow, willow, willow
      He was born to be fair, I to die for his love,

      Sing willow, willow, willow, willow!
      Sing willow, willow, willow, willow!
      My garland shall be;
      Sing all a green willow, willow, willow, willow
      Sing all a green willow
      My garland shall be.

      I call'd my love false love but what said he then?
      Sing willow, willow, willow
      If I court more women, you'll couch with more men.

      Sing willow, willow, willow, willow!
      Sing willow, willow, willow, willow!
      My garland shall be;
      Sing all a green willow, willow, willow, willow
      Sing all a green willow
      My garland shall be.

      From Shakespeare's Othello, Act 4, Scene 3

    3. Is it just me, or is the reaction to that tree felling another piece of over-the-top sentimental propaganda? Trees grow. There will be a new sycamore within a lifetime. It seems to me that it's being used to push the poor-frail-nature-wicked-mankind agenda.

      1. Sycamore was introduced into England from America fairly recently and was planted in coastal areas as a windbreak.

        Its value as timber is that it is stable and resistant to salt water. Thus Sycamore is found in table tops and surface elements of the traditional Welsh Dresser. It is used widely in rigging on wooden sailing ships because of its resistance to seawater.

        The method of cleaning tables in kitchens and dairies in late Georgian and Victorian times was to scrub the timber with a stiff brush and salt.

        I should explain that sycamore was used for the blocks in rigging the wooden often cylindrical pulley parts wrapped in metal sometimes and through which the rope is threaded for raising and adjusting sails. Nowadays heavily varnished ash is often used in modern sailing craft. Rastus will explain if he sees my comment.

      2. Sycamore was introduced into England from America fairly recently and was planted in coastal areas as a windbreak.

        Its value as timber is that it is stable and resistant to salt water. Thus Sycamore is found in table tops and surface elements of the traditional Welsh Dresser. It is used widely in rigging on wooden sailing ships because of its resistance to seawater.

  72. The Sycamore Gap tree was planted as a landscape feature on Hadrian’s Wall 150 years ago, becoming one of the most photographable places in England and the site of countless marriage proposals, birthday celebrations and scatterings of ashes. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/29/it-signifies-renewal-recipients-of-sycamore-gap-saplings-announced

    Its illegal felling in September last year made headlines across the world, prompting feelings of sorrow, distress and anger.

    “The tree meant so much to so many,” said Catherine Nuttgens, a tree expert who led the panel of judges which sifted through the applications. “Its destruction felt utterly senseless.”

    Judging the applications had been a privilege and humbling, she said. “They were from across the whole country, from all walks of life, from pretty English villages to prisons.

    “Everyone had their individual story and honestly, I could only read so many at a time … it was really emotional. They were all deserving, it was really, really hard to choose.”

    All the saplings will be planted in publicly accessible places and will include the Rob Burrow centre for motor neurone disease due to open next summer at Seacroft hospital in Leeds.

    Burrow’s widow Lindsey said the centre would feature a garden at its core.

    “This ‘tree of hope’ perfectly reflects our struggles and will provide our families with a powerful reminder that it is possible to heal even after we have been cut down,” she said. “It signifies renewal, regeneration and the ability to evolve.”

    The sapling in memory of Holly Newton goes to the charity Holly’s Hope, set up by her mother and stepfather, Micala and Lee Trussler, to raise awareness of the warning signs young people should look for when experiencing their first relationships.

    Micala said getting a sapling meant a lot. “This tree of hope will be a symbol for everyone that knew Holly, to reflect and remember how amazing she was.”

    Another sapling will be planted at a community garden under the Westway, the dominating elevated dual carriageway that scythes through west London. The recipients are the not for profit Grow to Know which was born out of the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy.

    ​​Tayshan Hayden-Smith, the founder and creative director, said: “Nature is at the heart of everything we do, and planting one of the Sycamore Gap tree saplings in North Kensington will be a symbol of seeds of change, hope and community.”

    Other recipients include: Morton Hall prison in Lincolnshire, a category C facility for foreign national offenders; The Tree Sanctuary in Coventry where teenagers known as the “Tree Amigos” replant trees damaged by vandalism; and the LGBTQI+ network at the Ministry of Defence.

    As well as the 49, the UK’s 15 national parks will receive a sapling. King Charles has received a seedling for planting in Windsor Great Park when it is a sapling.

    Nuttgens said not everyone is a sycamore tree fan – people who park their cars under a sycamore will know about the amount of sticky sap from them – but she adores them.

    Saplings from the felled Sycamore Gap tree are to be planted across the UK, including next to one of London’s most famous roads, at a rural category C prison and at a motor neurone disease centre opening in the name of the late rugby league star Rob Burrow.

    The National Trust on Friday announced the recipients of 49 saplings it has called “trees of hope”.

    Other recipients include a charity set up by the family of murdered Northumberland schoolgirl Holly Newton, who was killed by her jealous ex-boyfriend Logan MacPhail; and Alder Hey children’s hospital in Liverpool.

    Nearly 500 applications were received after the Trust announced a scheme for the saplings to be gifted across the UK. There are 49 – one for each foot of the sycamore’s height – and all were grown from seeds recovered from the felled tree.

    Their dark green leaves in the summer create a canopy like broccoli, she said. “They have that lumpy, cloudy effect. They are very beautiful, architecturally fine trees.”
    ——————————————————————————

    My thing is , a sycamore seeds itself very quickly, and Moh or me are always amazed that a seedling suddenly appears in an unlikely spot.

    Do sycamores release a sap, I thought that was lime trees .. beautiful trees but really hard work re sticky sap and leaves and insect sap .

    2. You can tell them that English law was founded on Judaeo-Christian laws (by IIRC Alfred the Great) and therefore are God's laws (the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the God and Father of Jesus the Messiah), not man-made ones.

      1. Yes, I belive our law is based on 'natural law' so it's origin, at least, is from God.

      2. Why though, is he wearing an apron? If you just looked at it without the dindu noise, he looks as if he's selling cakes or something.

    3. Why are they even here? They don't even have enough respect to dress as we do but wear absurd clothing designed for a hot climate like Pakistan.

      1. They are here because the scum who run the country do not possess the balls — or brains — of the likes of: Edward I, Elizabeth I, Sir Francis Drake, The Duke of Wellington, Sir Winston Churchill or Margaret Thatcher (among others).

        The feeble nonentities who have 'run' (run down) the country for the past 34 years all need shooting for their treason and wimpishness in kowtowing to aliens.

        THE DEFENCE OF THE REALM has always been the first objective of government. Where did it go?

      2. Most of them don't bother to learn the language (and cost us a fortune in translation/interpreting) and 75% of them don't work.

    5. Why is he wearing an apron blithering on about muslim? If he wants muslim, go live in muslim country.

    1. But that is because as far as the government and the police are concerned, truth is a thought crime and expressing it is a hate crime.

  76. Hallo all. Late on parade. But it s sunny here and rather quite, no wind, not even a breeze. I expect the assisted dying bill will be defeated Not on rational grounds but because of peoples fear of death. I feel rather gloomy about that because, yet again, people who have nothing to do with my life or the lives of others, will decide how I and others will die. As if we are to stupid to figure it out for ourselves. As I have said before, we are not asked to be born but we should, at least, have the right to decide when and how we leave this life. But no. It almost feels as if we are other peoples property.

    1. ”It almost feels as if we are other peoples property.“

      That’s exactly what HMG is after and is intending. They already have very nearly succeeded either children – they capture them from as young as 3 months.

      They very nearly achieved it with the experimental gene therapy rules and regulations. Unfortunately there were many willing victims ready to do what they were told.

  78. Don't worry Sue.

    This only applies to white people.

    The Qu'ran forbids suicide so it won't affect the "important community".

    1. Khan wanted to cut down the trees on Holland Park Avenue in West London but it's lined with villas owned by millionaire bankers and the like and those people have more clout when they say NO.

  80. How many British businesses must be sacrificed on the altar of net zero?

    Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, has been widely criticised for what people say are his unrealistic net-zero goals

    Letters to the Editor 29 November 2024 12:02am GMT

    SIR – Companies are being punished in order to meet Ed Miliband’s delusional energy targets (“Zealotry on net zero risks destroying jobs”, Leading Article, November 28).

    This idiocy ignores the fact that companies only sell what people want: if the majority of the public don’t want something, they won’t buy it, especially if the cost is going up.

    The Government would be better off persuading countries like China, Russia and India to cut emissions.

    Alexander Simpson
    Market Drayton, Shropshire

    SIR – The Vauxhall factory in Luton is closing because of Labour’s Soviet-style sales targets (Letters, November 28), forcing manufacturers to produce electric cars and vans regardless of demand.

    If you are running a company and need vans to cover 200 miles a day, or have a sales or service force covering a big area, you don’t want your people hanging about waiting to recharge. Time is money. Ed Miliband and his fellow net-zero zealots seem to be divorced from the reality of everyday life.

    William Loneskie
    Lauder, Berwickshire

    SIR – Did we learn nothing from the shutting of Port Talbot steelworks? Ed Miliband will de-industrialise Britain, with millions of workers dumped into unemployment.

    Michael Edwards
    Haslemere, Surrey

    1. Err, the vauxhall plant has been 'closing ' for 40 years, I know, I worked there 50 odd years ago.

    2. People should stop earnestly discussing Net Zero as though it's serious. Pernicious nonsense should be dismissed out of hand. As a concept, it has Zero Merit.

      1. I agree 100%, but all the documents I get through about being "carbon neutral" start off with the premise that there is a climate emergency, if not catastrophe. There is no smidgeon of contrary opinion. They are all fully signed up to the cult.

    3. Dear Michael Edwards,
      Politicians, especially labour versions of the many morons never learn anything from any of their ongoing mistakes, because the are busy trying to make a name for them selves and be remembered in the future.

  81. Trees are of great value in cities, where they cool the air in summer as well as being beautiful.
    The sycamore gap tree had nothing special about it apart from being on its own in the landscape. I just feel that the people making such a fuss are sentimental townies who have never chopped a tree down for firewood, and planted another.

    1. Trees are the lungs of the cities, particularly plane trees. Sycamores not so much other than that they assist in carbon capture (but they do it more efficiently and cheaply than Milioaf's version).

  82. Comment of the day..

    Say 'bye to Haigh and Hi to Heidi.
    Or phone her – if it hasn't been pinched.

  83. Similar experience here, Sue – Covid messed with husband's meds. Only decent female was ward cleaner. In hospital over 24 hours before visited by male consultant who agreed with my assessment, and discharged him. The ambulance medics and the ward staff nurse were absolute c*ws.

  85. 1 (B)Witch out of Starmer's coven – Wonder if the new minister of transport will tax broomsticks

    1. Not sure I find that thesis plausible, for the sole reason that most Britons regard London as a monstrous carbuncle on the face of their beloved country…

      1. Yet another stupid and absolutely unnecessary and extremely expensive mistake by our political idiots.

        1. No. It was deliberate. With labour shortages the toffs could not bare the thought of ticket collectors and bus drivers getting above their stations.

          So they ruined the country our people fought two world wars to save.

          2. Given this cost, a top priority should be the spending of a million or so per year to guard against a repeat conflagration.

      1. Muslim arsonist. Just like the thousands of other Christian churches attacked and destroyed around the world.

        2. Probably more simply just a lazy frog builder throwing away a cigarette. They all seem to smoke in frogland. It's the national religion.

          1. There was cctv from an apartment block opposite. The workers had gone home for the day. The scaffolding was open to the street. A man was seen on the roof with what looked like a lit flare.

          2. I don't think that's remotely possible. The oak beams would be very difficult to set alight; a lit cigarette wouldn't even burn a pine table.

          3. A Muslim well practiced in burning churches used an accelerant probably petrol. As you correctly state oak is difficult to burn because it chars and the charring prevents burning.

      2. Lots of worm-eaten beams had been treated with a gel or liquid that happened to be combustible. Sorry, not going to go down rabbit hole en francais to find the trade name and chemical composition.

        1. I heard that at the time and thought it to be bullshit. You don't just let any old saleman into a building like that.

  91. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/91aff6fe616636c53f6d70f2374354aa1ed12926f5be6ec2db57445d7299092f.png Time for a sample; and to show that this is not a bland, grey, tasteless pie bought from a petrol filling-station or supermarket.

    No gooey minced meat-type substance (of unknown provenance) here. This is hand-cut, excellent quality, well-seasoned (salt, white pepper, sage) pork shoulder, cut into cubes. There are no areas of 'fresh air' between the crust and the filling; every cubic millimetre inside is filled with a seasoned jelly made from pig's trotters and roasted pork bones.

    Big-headed, I know 😉, but I would enter my pies into any competition against pies made anywhere in the world.

    Utterly scrumptious.

      1. Thanks. I don't have any Meaux mustard; so I had to slum it with a spoonful of Branston Pickle.

        1. I like the French (spits) mustards like Dijon and their dark mustard which is fruity. Not keen on English mustard. I find it too harsh for my smoker/boozy palate.

          I’m looking forward to trying the Meaux.

          1. Add a dash of Lea and Perrins, and a drop of milk to Colmans powder and the mustard is less fiery.

          4. It used to say on the tin that mixing it with milk (instead of water) makes it much milder. It also said to add a splash of vinegar to make it sharper.

          7. I was mustard-mixer-in-chief when I was nobbut a sprog at Sunday dinner time. I always used milk.

            I was also mint-chopper-in-chief when I made mint sauce.

          8. Ooh! Me too, and I’d to pick it first! Mum had a very lethal small Spong hand chopper with a spiked and bladed turning bit which sat in a comb thing! Are you getting the idea?

          13. Mum had a Spong mincer too. She also had an aluminium double-saucepan (for making lemon curd) that she called a porringer.

          14. All we had was "the carving knife" It was the only sometimes-sharp knife in the house. After I'd chopped the mint, dad would run it over the steel before carving the joint. It was the only knife for food prep in the kitchen and it got used for everything.

            The damned thing never got properly sharpened (dad was a clueless muppet); he thought that a few swipes on the steel would sharpen it; he didn't know that it needed to be sharpened on a stone and that the steel simply honed it. The blade got thinner and thinner over the years and its relative bluntness never altered. He didn't have the nous to buy another kitchen knife and maintain it.

          15. I was mustard-mixer-in-chief when I was nobbut a sprog at Sunday dinner time. I always used milk.

            I was also mint-chopper-in-chief when I made mint sauce.

          16. My parents used to make up the mustard powder with milk. Didn't make it any more palatable for me, though.

          17. I love it. When I was a nipper I habitually bit my fingernails. Mum tried to dissuade me from doing so and once she painted every one of my nails with Colman’s mustard.

            I simply went to bed and licked it all off.

          18. It used to say on the tin that mixing it with milk (instead of water) makes it much milder. It also said to add a splash of vinegar to make it sharper.

      2. Thanks. I don't have any Meaux mustard; so I had to slum it with a spoonful of Branston Pickle.

  92. Here in Costa del Skeg, solar powered batteries at 100%, OAT 7.9

    Almost impossible to drive safely, the sun is shining to brightly.

    So, why does it not warm us up?

    1. I went out without a coat. Just wearing a jumper and i started to sweat.

      Maybe it's because you are on the East coast !

    2. I went out without a coat. Just wearing a jumper and i started to sweat.

      Maybe it's because you are on the East coast !

  94. Historically, nations have only prospered because they had cheap energy.

    If a nation doesn't have cheap energy it goes downhill.

    Politicians who want expensive energy or no energy usually have a collapse

    into Communism as their ultimate ambition.

    1. A comment frrom the Press in 2021, what has changed?

      15h
      The world is poised for a massive restructure of power, energy, travel & freedom, as the climate hoax moves into the next phase.

      The entire narrative is based on fear of the unknown, because not a single prophesy about climate ever came true.

      It is the rebirth of witchcraft.

  95. Historically, nations have only prospered because they had cheap energy.

    If a nation doesn't have cheap energy it goes downhill.

    Politicians who want expensive energy or no energy usually have a collapse

    into Communism as their ultimate ambition.

  96. MPs have just voted yes for assisted dying.
    My question now is: what options does one have on the way you die should you press the end of life button.
    Nobody has ever recorded their experiences on the best way of ending it.

    One of the most horrific experiences must be when you have initated the process and you find that it hasn't worked.
    Even worse if you realise that you are still alive and hear someone declare that you are dead and you can't do anything about it.

      1. Not appalling at all. Now people have a choice. As I said earlier. We died as if other people owned us. If you have no freedom in your death then freedom in life is a sham and it puts the lie to individual rights.

        1. I hope for your sake that you get to make that choice and not have it forced on you.

          As it becomes more normalised there will eventually be many people who are coerced.

          2. I can envisage a time when doctors will set up in private practice in partnership with funeral parlours, offering a “service”.

            That death-pod maker is already making his plans for supplying the UK.

          6. Having it forced upon people is not the intention. That is an emotional reaction. I have seen several people die, it isn’t a nice process and if people don’t want that, especially when they are in agony, they should have the right to end it.

          7. I can only point you at the outcome of the abortion legislation. It originally had similar safeguards, but now it’s merely another form of convenient killing of unwanted relatives.
            If I trusted the State, I might think differently.
            Not everyone is as compassionate as you may be.
            My M-i-L is as fit as a flea but talks about heading to Dignitas. She would not take much persuasion from relatives or friends who might like to see her flat on the market.
            The right to die “a good death” should be achieved by excellent palliative care, not a death pod.

      2. Dying in one's sleep seems to be a nice way to go.
        There was an instance on the cardiac ward when I was asleep and a vital sign monitor alarm went off.
        The alarm woke me up (I guess through an adrenaline rush) and a nurse rushed in.
        She said "Shall we forget about it?".

    2. 330 votes for and 275 against. Burying people who were only in a coma is the probable origin of the vampire legends. People regained consciousness and fought their way out.

      1. I asked my sister to make sure I was dead by chopping my head off, then burn the remains. When my brain dies, that which is me is no longer here. I will live on in the memory of others.

        A lifetime of torturing other people! Victory is mine!

        1. Do not stand
          By my grave, and weep.
          I am not there,
          I do not sleep—
          I am the thousand winds that blow
          I am the diamond glints in snow
          I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
          I am the gentle, autumn rain.
          As you awake with morning’s hush,
          I am the swift, up-flinging rush
          Of quiet birds in circling flight,
          I am the day transcending night.
          Do not stand
          By my grave, and cry—
          I am not there,
          I did not die.

      3. That's why in certain countries the coffin has a bell on the lid with the bell cord placed in the hands of the supposed deceased!

      4. It's one reason why they used to hold a wake (there's a reason for that term) with the coffin present.

    6. Angie,

      'Nobody has ever recorded their experiences on the best way of ending it.''

      Two useful books in this regard are:

      Dignified Dying, by Boudewijn Chabot. Methods for a humane and self-chosen death.

      I'll See Myself Out, Thank You by Colin Brewer. A book of essays arguing for the Right to Die

      Both available on Kindle.

        1. Angie, the first book, by Chabot, is a comparison of all the methods one could use, including dose levels as well as side effects. It proposes that the most favoured and accessible "easy-out" in the Netherlands ('cos morphine syrup, etc are way off availability in the UK and most western countries) is to inhale a few deep lungfuls of balloon gas (Helium, available in Morrison's) inside a plastic bag over your head. It simply replaces all the oxygen and induces a (very) deep sleep.
          Doing it by sitting in your car with a hosepipe from the exhaust in through the window is definitrely not nice (though effective). Most other "how to" books have [been] disappeared.

          1. I can imagine that people with some awful disease that gives constant pain and causes complete loss of mobility might want to end their lives but, if they have no use of limbs, how can they do so without the physical assistance of someone else?

    7. Angie,

      'Nobody has ever recorded their experiences on the best way of ending it.''

      Two useful books in this regard are:

      Dignified Dying, by Boudewijn Chabot. Methods for a humane and self-chosen death.

      I'll See Myself Out, Thank You by Colin Brewer. A book of essays arguing for the Right to Die

      Both available on Kindle.

  98. Here's a lengthy video of the restored Notre Dame Cathedral. Sorry but it is in French. But hardly matters. Like many others its destruction upset me greatly, far more than I would have expected. It was not only a tragedy for France but for all of us in the West. The restoration is simply beautiful, wonderful. Hope all of you enjoy it

    LIVE: Notre Dame Cathedral unveils its new interior 5 years after devastating fire

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88t0-cX6UVw

  99. 397685+ up ticks.

    Shipmans ahoy, health & safety alert.

    I do believe we have reached bottom as a species, even the animals will shun us

    Dt,
    Assisted dying set to be legalised after historic vote

    2. That is an element. What happens when we have a series of deaths around a medical professional and they're all marked as assisted suicide?

      2. 397685+ up ticks

        Afternoon W,

        Via the NWO / WEF / RESET
        cartel a bonus is paid by the “TOOL” their agent,

  100. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/11/29/heidi-alexander-appointed-new-transport-secretary/

    The unions like her, so she's obviously the wrong candidate.

    Apparently these fools also want to nationalise British Rail. Again. Why don't they copy the [insert any other country] and just create a body divorced from government control, oversight and administration, self funding and recruiting, with no wonk hired to it to manage the rail way for the country?

  101. I like most mustards, hot and mild. I do find the pissy weak mustards that Yanks (and Swedes) love so much to be utterly pointless.

    Dijon [Maille, never Grey Poupon (ugh!)], Bordeaux and Meaux mustards are my French faves. I used to love Colman's 'French' mustard, before the EU prohibited it. Back in the 70s, it was essential on a Little Chef-type mixed grill or a Berni Inns' rump steak.

      1. I enjoyed going to Berni Inns and Little Chef, but I found Wimpy’s boring piss-poor fare beyond bland.

        It was my first wife who first took me to a Berni Inn and showed me that beef is actually juicy and delicious if not cremated (like my mother insisted on cooking it).
        Yes, we had the music-hall joke of a 1970s standard meal of: prawn cocktail; sirloin steak and chips; Black-Forest gateau, all washed down with some pink shit plonk called “Mateus Rosé” but, hey, it were the early 1970s and it’s all we knew!

      2. We had a Bernie Inn years ago in Bath in the building directly opposite the entrance to Bath Spa Station.

        Much later when I lived in Cambridge there was a Bernie Inn on Madingly Road and very good it was too.

        Just memories.

  102. If it completes its passage into law, the Bill will allow terminally ill, mentally competent adults – with less than six months to live – to seek an assisted death in England and Wales with the approval of two doctors and a High Court judge.

    Here's hoping that Judge Richardson isn't elevated to the High Court. "A rioter wearing a St George Cross hat who set fire to a generator as a mob besieged a hotel housing asylum seekers has been jailed for six years."

    Just the type of judge who would glory in applying the death sentence.

    Judge Richardson said the hat gave the lie to the defendant’s claims that he had no racist intent when he attended the disorder at the hotel.

      1. The defendant replied:
        "But the wig clearly shows you to be a tranny, which lavatories do you frequent?"

      1. He is only following what he believes, and it is exactly that, that makes me so wary of this legislation

  103. Another straw in the wind.
    French ten year bond yields are slightly higher than those of Greece!!!

  105. Regardless of vote today, for legalisation of 'assisted dying', we should all think back to 2020, when the Tory guvanment (under orders from on high ie WHO ) introduced it via the almost compulsory Covid Vaccination programme.

          2. You don’t need to apologise, Sue x – I asked because I didn’t understand. I didn’t want the vaccine, thought there was no risk from the virus (which I did catch, and I was correct), but I think because of my age family thought I was vulnerable, and it caused some disagreement. So, in the end I caved, but they’ve been able to see I was right – I’m much improved now, but it’s taken time. I was even more concerned about grandson vaccine – actually persuaded them out of that one. I thought the vaccine had the potential to be much more dangerous, as time has proven in some cases (like mine). Very suspicious both virus and vaccine came out of (apparently the same) Pfizer lab. I wonder what happened to Johnson to make him so ill, something other than the virus, perhaps? – apparently caught at the races, shaking hands, where no-one else had symptoms. Then sitting around Cabinet table – no-one else succumbed except the idiot Hancock – tested positive but no symptoms (his g/f didn’t even catch it from snogging him). As for tests – huge waste of time and money, now in land fill, together with masks, needles and the rest. Sorry to be so suspicious, but there we are and here I am :-)))

          3. I had two AZ vax but only because I was told I’d not be able to travel, and my sister and family are in Greece. I wouldn’t have touched it with a barge pole but it was a crazy time, and even my very sensible and clever elder daughter, who is a vet, was swept up in the ludicrous, scientifically bereft chaos and fell for the ‘clot shot’ gobbledegook!

    1. Par four for me.

      Wordle 1,259 4/6

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

    2. Well done, a filthy five here.

      Wordle 1,259 5/6

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

    3. Boring par…… nice birdie there!

      Wordle 1,259 4/6

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

    4. Another par.

      Wordle 1,259 4/6

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

        2. Wishing you well, lacoste. Sometimes you rather think 'blinkin' heck, why haven't we got nano tech to sort all these problems out?'

  108. I still like all those dishes. I was six years old at the beginning of the 70's so didn't really get to be tired of them.

    I was at Rules, Covent Garden recently and the £35 sirloin steak supposedly cooked medium rare was atrocious. If they had given me a piece of string i could have made my own sandal.

    Vegetables were extra !

  111. "European news organisations really seem to hate free speech. The European Federation of Journalists (which claims to represent over 320,000 members) has followed The Guardian and the German Journalists Association in an announcement that they will stop publishing on Elon Musk's X social media platform staring on January 20, 2025 – The inauguration for Donald Trump's second term as President. The EFJ is the European regional organization for the International Federation of Journalists."

    Well I for one have been waving them goodbye but I've not been waving with all my fingers!

      1. They have never, ever liked being told no. The guardian disliked community notes as well. When people started providing context that al graun had excluded suddenly the story changed dramatically. They weren't keen on that. The truth got in the way of propaganda.

        1. They are just like children. Which, I suppose would explain the petulant behaviour and the 4th form debating level of this ‘government’!

          1. Completely true. They've never grown up and have existed parasitically entirely in the state not even doing anything of worth there.

  112. https://order-order.com/2024/11/29/gails-boss-slams-labours-business-bashing-employment-rights-bill/

    If they think it'll cost business 5bn, that's every single year until this demented law is repealed.

    We spent a pile to get new business in. It has generated a return of about 1.8 times the cost and that's after 3 months. Government has destroyed that… let's call it 7bn every year. Jobs gone and never coming back, investment lost so it all compounds.

    Labour are malignant. They've got to go. They'll destroy everything.

  113. That's me for today. Managed an hour in the garden – then needed half an hour to recover feeling (and blood) in my fingers! Still, got a barrowful of gash timber.

    Have a spiffing evening. Tomorrow I make a loaf AND collect my share of the village coal charity distribution = £40. All thanks to some old dear who died at the end of the 18th century leaving a fund for the purpose.

    A demain.

  114. Just logged back in and seen the news. We take another lurch from civilisation back to the dark ages.
    The old are to be dispatched in suicide pods, and the young sterilised, it seems, by the drug that is a danger to the reproductive system and is only to be given to lactating cows.
    It will take generations for society to recover psychologically from this mass murder and eugenics.

        1. The anti fart lark I simply don't understand. It is utterly preposterous. The sort of stupid beyond measure idiotic concept that could only come about by people fixated on ideology, not science.

    2. It is typical of the “progressive””socialists”. What an utter sh;t show this country has become.

  115. We've started upon that Godless slippery path.
    just wait until Starmer suggests assisted dying to free up the NHS or stop the worry of grannies freezing during the winter. A very bad thing has occurred.

  116. Just finished after three attempts to watch the film 'Conclave'.

    The interior views of the Vatican or at least good representations of were interesting.

    Both the main characters played by Raif Fiennes and Stanley Tucci were one dimensional.

    No fleshing out of the characters. No previous as to how they found God.

    What becomes apparent at the end is they have through the machinations and politicking they have ended up with a Pope who had had a cervix.

    I absolutely fucking hate this ideology in film making and entertainment and wish for a new dawn.

    3. Modern day Vatican sounds bad enough (or good enough for some?)…Damian Thompson wrote about the situation there, I think on Unherd, a while ago. Apparently Francis turns a blind eye.

    1. Those police look a bit like the Gilets jaune. Shame they have been brainwashed in their diversity lessons.

    2. Those police look a bit like the Gilets jaune. Shame they have been brainwashed in their diversity lessons.

  118. I wonder how on earth they will choose the High Court judges to don the black caps.
    Presumably Muslims need not apply.
    Will the judges need to make some kind of declaration?

    5. FWIW, I happen to have a High Court Judge on speed dial, if need be. As a former Temple chorister, with wife and three children also accomplished musicians, I'd prefer that that connection was used for positive, musical things. But , should push come to shove, I'd like to believe that I could benefit from that friendship.

      Always supposing that I could no longer reach the insulin stockpile in the fridge…

      1. I don't have any on speed dial, but because of a very legal college connection, I can connect with numerous judges and doctors.

        And that is one of the things about this that concerns me, it can come down to "who you know"

        I like to believe that if it was up to me that I could distance myself sufficiently to make a wise (I use that word rather than "considered") opinion.

        I'm unsure.
        But I really do believe it's a (cliché, cliché), slippery slope, thin edge of a very nasty wedge.

        1. It isn't as though we haven't had experience of what happens with mission creep and the side-lining of safeguards with the Abortion Bill.

      2. I also have a High Court Judge on speed dial (or at least I used to, he's dead now, Roger Farley, ex-President of my Rugby Club).

        He used to tell great stories. The one I liked best was when he was a junior (supporting a barrister) who was representing a miner who had suffered injuries in an unfortunate accident going about his job.

        The Coal Board (or whatever they were called at the time) had brought in a QC to defend the case and this haughty individual enquired of Roger's boss – 'My learned friend, is your client aware of the term volenti non fit injuria?' (to a willing person, injury is not done).

        Roger's boss replied 'My learned friend, in the coalpits of Barnsley they speak of little else…'

    6. FWIW, I happen to have a High Court Judge on speed dial, if need be. As a former Temple chorister, with wife and three children also accomplished musicians, I'd prefer that that connection was used for positive, musical things. But , should push come to shove, I'd like to believe that I could benefit from that friendship.

      Always supposing that I could no longer reach the insulin stockpile in the fridge…

  119. Evening, all. My ex-RAF chum was seen immediately when he went for his appointment and it was all over before I'd had time to drink a cup of coffee! He said the consultant had read his notes! That's a first. When I see anybody (if I'm lucky enough to get an appointment) they always ask me what I'm there for, even if they've made the appointment.

    I see we are teetering on the edge of the slippery slope with the forced dying bill. My MP voted for it. I shall remind people of that when they say what a good job she's doing.

    I've just spent ages on line trying to change my car insurance over (I'm sure it's cost me more to insure the new one until next August than it did to insure the one I'm changing for 12 months). They can't guarantee the data base will be updated for nearly a fortnight. I have to tax it on Sunday (any tax expires when it changes hands), so it will be fun when they refuse to do it because it doesn't show up. What do I say to plod when he stops me because it doesn't show up the insurance (although I have the certificate on line) and there's no tax?

    1. The current Colchester Labour apparatchik, Pam Cox, voted for it.
      Priti Patel and Bernard Jenkin in adjacent constituencies voted against it.

      1. I thought it was existential 🙂 I did get confused with a dementia patient by a porter when I was having an X-ray for my broken ribs. He didn’t know why I was there!

    1. Just a thought Rene – you could post your divots in code if you cant fix your technical issue.

      For instance, mine today would have read;

      XXXXX
      OOOXX
      XXXXO
      GGGGG

      X = Blank, O = Orange, G = Green. Just a thought?……

  123. I thought i had accidentally blocked someone the other day. I have just checked and it was Grizzly. Apologies, Grizz – it was unintentional and i’m glad to have you back in my life!

    1. No apologies necessary but thanks, MIR. I'd not actually noticed.😊

      Lewis Duckworth has blocked me for the past two years despite me being unaware of ever 'upsetting' him. He's still not bothered to offer any explanation to the MODs for his actions, despite being frequently asked by them.

      1. I'm not surprised that you had not actually noticed, you're the second most thick skinned on here.

          1. Someone's handing out prizes !

            Why am i always overlooked like all those millionaires that don't get the attention they think they deserve?

          1. I think the thick skinned comment could be considered a compliment. Unless you don't have one. :@)

      2. I'm not surprised that you had not actually noticed, you're the second most thick skinned on here.

      3. How do you know you're blocked?
        Maybe I float along on my little cloud of self-love, blissfully unaware that I irritate the hell out of some NOTTLers.
        (I presume you can read this!)

        1. Because each post he makes is “not available” to me and I cannot read it or respond to it. All other contributors can read and respond to his comments, but not me.

    1. It appears Amesbury is still operating in Parliament; yet we all saw him launch an attack on a member of the public.

      Mind you, we all say two peaceful men in Manchester airport break a Plodette’s nose and they haven’t even been charged with anything yet.

  125. Suppose a patient seeks assisted dying and having mental capacity gets agreement by two doctors (must be a week apart) to get authorisation from a High Court judge for a self initiated death (could take up to another week). Then before reaching decision by the judge, the patient loses mental capacity due to deteriorating health.

    Could a relative with Power of Attorney for health matters be allowed by the judge to initiate death of the patient or would the judge consider this to be murder.

    There is a saying that justice delayed is justice denied.

    1. I don't suppose, that having got to that stage, that the judge nor anyone else would take the slightest interest.
      That's how it's likely to go.

      1. Unless of course the assisted death was a few days before the law on inheritance tax became payable by the beneficiaries?

    2. An automatic inquest after every 'assisted dying' might make a few gung-ho family members and medics think twice.
      Imagine your guilty pleasures being exposed to public gaze.

      1. Considering Lucy is sat on my lap having ousted a very heavy Mongo (seriously, our sofa is going to give way soon) who wanted a cuddle and to be told that Junior was just at his painting class and would be back soon.

        Oscar looked hopefully at the Warqueen but, as usual she ignored him so he sat on my feet.

        1. Kadi has taken up Oscar's plea for a cuddle before he goes to bed. He has to be fussed and reassured before he'll settle down. Fair enough, once I've told him, "go to bed, now", he does.

          1. They're curious fellows all told, dogs. They've their routines, foibles and quirks just like humans.

            Mongo goes to every door and stands there for a bit. No idea why. Attempts to pull him away just have him restart.

            Lucy always has a drink before bedtime. Oscar turns around 6 or 7 times on the mat beside the Warqueen's slippers. Never any more.

          2. Cats too can be odd.
            Every evening between 6.30 – 7.00pm they have the zooming where they tear about the house for no reason. They also miaow and scratch at the door whether to be let in or let out then when you open it they just sit down and look through.
            If you've never seen a Simon's Cat cartoon, I recommend – they are perfectly observed You can find them on YT.

      2. Considering Lucy is sat on my lap having ousted a very heavy Mongo (seriously, our sofa is going to give way soon) who wanted a cuddle and to be told that Junior was just at his painting class and would be back soon.

        Oscar looked hopefully at the Warqueen but, as usual she ignored him so he sat on my feet.

          3. I was thinking more along the Perry Como lines;

            'What did Delaware, Coon , what did Delaware?'

      4. I was the proud owner of a Maine Coon. His name was Oscar. He was a beautiful cat and yes…he was no pussy. Dog-like no.

  127. I love it. When I was a nipper I habitually bit my fingernails. Mum tried to dissuade me from doing so and once she painted every one of my nails with Colman’s mustard.

    I simply went to bed and licked it all off.

  128. Ha..I had one AZ – Ferguson appeared at Wimbledon was given a standing ovation, I remember saying to Peta ‘check her expression’ she knew something was off. The other two were Pfizer, one given by a trainee, my blood ran back down the tube, the second jabbed it hard into my arm and said ‘I’m a trainee vet this is how I’ve been taught, I usually do dogs’. I think the 1920/21 flu epidemic was a bad one? people dropping dead in the street, not so much this time. I’ve been asked to go around a dozen times for the combo flu/covid vax – I’ll take my chances, thanks. Yes, I know others who took it because of travel, I think in some countries you still have to (unless your Lendl! – good for him, taking a stand). There will be another time, a genuine one, and people won’t listen is the risk. I am much improved now, I’d say around 85%, still with gaps, plus I’m a few years older 😄😄

    1. KBO Kate! My old man has just been for his combo jab. My 4th invitation has just gone in the bin! Never again will I stand 6ft from someone with a trolley outside a shop! Wearing a blooming bit of paper on my face!🤬

      2. Definitely, Sue :-)) thanks so much for support! I’ve had several invites at least, also binned. During first lockdown, my dog and I walked out as usual, came across a neighbour wearing a mask who saw me and jumped to other side of the lane (several feet away) 🤔 Still paying the financial cost of this one, and likely to for some time yet.

      3. Which brings us to the subject of NHS waste.
        MB and I have had letters and texts trying to push clot and flu shots on us.

  129. And in tonight's tombola, first prize is assisted dying for the relative of your choice.
    /sarc

    1. It would be a raffle or a prize draw, wouldn't it? Tombola has prizes allocated to numbers ending in 0 or 5 (or court cards) to win.

  132. Oh Blimey O'Reilly.
    Greg Wallace is autistic and that is his "get out of Jail free" card.

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14141099/Gregg-Wallaces-friends-blame-inappropriate-behaviour-autism.html

    I'm not keen on the guy, but he's being stitched up.

    A lot of the complainants just happen to be very well known 'clebs.
    Please don't try to tell me that they could not have put him back in his box and had they complained that their place in the TV pecking order didn't far outrank his.

    1. A friend of mine has met Greg Wallace and says he is a bit loud and direct but is a genuinely nice person.

      I have loathed Kirsty Wark for decades. She is a typically outspoken Beeboid nasty and vindictive.

      1. I have made other comments on this subject. Greg is a bloke. He is under attack for the same reasons as Andrew Tate and Tommy Robinson.

        Besides their obvious faults the Left can't stand alpha males.

        1. That is too true. My friend was the Chief of a Shopfitting firm with whom I worked and the project was an East End TV Studio fit-out for the chef Marco Pierre White’s cooking programme.

          I had to draw up the suspended ceiling framework sail panels and other elements in the area where celebrity guests were seated in the TV programmes. Greg was one of the guests as was my friend.

          We did a lot of restaurant stuff together lots of Carluccio’s and I became expert at kitchen design and fabrication along the way. Big standard kitchen firms produced dull utilitarian stainless steel elements never designed to be seen whereas our kitchens were visible to customers via wide servery openings and had to be shiny and attractive.

    2. MB and I suspect he's a joker who doesn't know when to switch off.
      Which could suggest degree of autism.
      There are also 'life and soul' of the party types who get nasty if you don't appreciate their humour.
      But the number of years these complaints cover does make you wonder about the motivation behind the current action.

      1. If it's been going on for so long why have they left it so long and all come out of the woodwork now?

          2. No one has dared to suggest that Dianna might have been a Fayed victim before his son thrust himself at her ..

            I am sure as hell , he had a role to play .
            Dianna was an easy dumb target , and very needy.

          3. These people all waited until Al Fayed was dead before crawling out of the woodwork.
            Perhaps Dodi thought he'd protect Diana.

          4. Strange isn't it that suddenly nearly 500 people say they were abused by Al Fayed.

            I expect he was a horrible person to work for and showed all the worst aspects of an employer but then one asks oneself why they didn't find a job elsewhere.

          5. It's not always that easy just to go and "find a job elsewhere" that is perhaps as convenient to get to or has other positive aspects to it.

          6. I understand.

            It rather depends on what you are prepared to put up with. If you are prepared to put up with it then why complain later???

            I have walked from jobs before. Employers either not paying my NI or stealing my tips. Then finding a gap in contributions.

          7. That's a bit different – in those days a bit of "abuse" was far more commonplace – it depends on the kind of abuse. And if you were a female, you still needed to get a reference from your old employer for a new job…

            Edit: one partner in one place I worked had a reputation for "feeling up" and pestering women.

          8. Yes. I am sure it was. The type of work i was qualified for at the time didn't require references. Male or female you took it or not. There was no recourse.

      2. Oh gawd. Remember my party when i shouted where is Anne Allen…stick your hand up !

        Lisa Faulkner complained in 2010 and now the bandwagon is rolling.

    3. It's odd but whenever these people are exposed, it's nearly always people that I never liked and have a sense that on reflection I'm not surprised by the stories. The only exception to this I can think of is Huw Edwards. That did suprise me. I always thought him a good egg.

      1. Gregg Wallace is uncouth. He was a barrowboy and a costermonger. Like pearly kings and queens they have their own language.

        Huw Edwards surprised me too. His crimes were far far worse than anything Gregg did. Sharing and paying for category A child porn. Category A including the insertion of a penis into a new born child.

        What doesn't surprise me is once a complaint is in the media so many others suddenly decide many years later that they were offended.

        1. I would think that Greg Wallace's background as a barrow boy meant that what was acceptable as jokes in that environment were obviously not so acceptable in the TV world, but that he didn't read the room. And if he'd been telling his rude jokes for so long he probably thought that was OK.

  133. They are attempting laws that kill at either end of the Human life span so I presume it's only a matter of time before they go for the bit in between.

      2. They can start with MPs, then. Current lot (and for the last few years) have not just been unproductive, they have been counterproductive.

  134. They are attempting laws that kill at either end of the Human life span so I presume it's only a matter of time before they go for the bit in between.

  135. I guess Parliament isn't far off saying yes to the death penalty for criminals .. are we opening doors for Sharia law as well?

    How will we know what murder really is .. I mean if someone dies unexpectantly ..

    Will Lucy Letby be exonerated , for example .. she killed very poorly babies ..

    Do you know what .. we have allowed the Devil in to do more damage ..

    If you are in extreme pain for a few weeks , what then, people do improve , or people die ..

        1. I think she was a scapegoat for an inadequate and grubby department; premises as well as staff.
          I am beginning to wonder if LL was voicing concerns or criticisms about the unit and staff united against her.

          1. There's an enquiry going on this week as well. It appears that after June 2016 no more extremely immature and poorly babies were admitted to that failing hospital, so the deaths stopped.

          2. They need specialist care, and even then not always successful. A terrible experience to lose any child, and newborn.

          3. It happened to my mother……. December 1944, my brother was born. Private nursing home……but he lived only five days. She never spoke of him, but my grandmother told me one evening when she was putting me to bed.

          4. So sorry to read that Ndovu, you probably imagined him straight away, and lived with it on and off ever since. The older I get, the more I remember things my early life, not always positive. My grandmother had at least twelve pregnancies, five boys survived, the only girl dying aged around seven. Women don’t have it anything like as tough these days – contraception, abortion, household gadgets (those terrible men designing and making things easier for women), ability to earn their own living due to education/qualifications, own their own property and belongings (speaking as a woman…typing this whilst the Roomba does the vacuuming) etc etc…

          5. Yes. He would have been 80 next month. Oddly though, I put my grandmother’s words to the back of my mind and really only remembered it clearly when my mother died. Going through her things ( and my father’s things) I found his birth certificate. Not the death cert though, so I sent for a copy.

          6. I’m late 70s now, just starting to get back to being myself post-vaccines, still get very tired quickly. Can no longer donate blood (I’m AB+, donation was always used within 24hrs often for babies). Gave all the papers I had to one of my children some years ago. Recently drew up a new will and PoA with solicitor, worth doing whilst still compos mentis – have had a partner almost 40 years, never saw the need to marry until we realised the IHT we’d have to pay when one of us died. When my dad died, he had a drawer full of these papers, took some wading through, so good to do it whilst you can.

          7. We both made wills some years ago but they need adjusting…… it’s getting round to doing these things.

            I used to donate blood (O+) but stopped when I had breast cancer as it was not wanted. That was in ’96.

          8. Our solicitor had a ‘special offer – first hour free’ – what prompted us to go. Yes, daughter had skin cancer, same thing.

          9. I think she was likely the perfect person to blame, anne, because of her character. Also (and this may not be true) I've read another nurse resented her, because Letby was having an affair with a senior doctor, and this other nurse was jealous for whatever reason.

          10. Peter Hitchens often speaks against the accepted narrative. He asks the questions the main media ignores.

            I have come to the conclusion that what we are officially told is either a lie or a lie of omission.

      3. Has anyone, lacoste? None seems to have been produced, on the other hand a lot of evidence the whole ward was dysfunctional – she's the fall guy for everyone else's mistakes – they chose well when they pointed the finger at her, naive, shy, timid, and religious to boot – perfect!

        1. And so concerned that she wrote a diary blaming herself.

          I don't know what to believe here, BUT, given how dysfunctional the NHS is, I would not be at all surprised that she's been a wonderful sacrificial lamb for more senior people who are equally if not more to blame to use to get away with their sins.

          2. Definitely, Phizzee. Morecambe Bay for one – I know someone admitted in labour, when she came round had a lovely baby, but had also had hysterectomy so no chance of more children if she wanted any.

          3. I can't provide a link but wards were encouraged to lower costs and save energy. Laundry was targeted and subsequently it was found that by laundering at a lower temperature more bugs survived.

          5. Possibly she thought the deaths were something to do with her lack of care, didn't do well enough etc, who knows. Whole place sounded dirty and directionless from what I've read – agree, dysfunctional. I had my first baby in '76…was in hospital a while, there were two nurses, an auxiliary and a cleaner running two wards at that time. I was there more than a month, was a bit difficult to adjust coming home, much quieter for a start, not several babies crying to be fed. I know some people worship the NHS, and I admire staff who do the best job possible, but I think many people have had a poor experience in NHS hospitals, with NHS doctors and other staff – hence the rise in private care (who often use the facilities when the NHS doesn't).

          6. I had my first one in 1970 in Tidworth military hospital. I was there for 10 miserable days. I remember on the second day having to go in a lift to another ward from the post-delivery one, carrying my bedclothes which were to go on the bed in the new ward. It was so hot in there that several women were nearly fainting as they held their babies and bathed them.

            The second one was born in 1974 in Gloucester Maternity Hospital – a used bed pan sat on the floor outside the loo for two days. Fortunately I was able to go home on the Tuesday, after giving birth on Saturday evening.

          7. I bet there are hundreds like us, Ndovu – and not just in maternity. Went to visit an elderly neighbour in hospital, she was sitting in waiting room, crying, on her own. She'd had pressure socks put on too tightly – her skin was dark red to black above her knees. Nurses all at their station, sharing a box of chocolates, laughing and chatting. As someone said 'if they're so badly paid, why are all the chuggers driving new cars?' It's not well known that most hospitals have a private ward often of some size – a different world. I've actually seen the same consultant twice – firstly NHS clinic, asked to see me privately the following evening, same attendant nurse with a completely different attitude. Only problem I've had privately (we're in an insurance group) – it's not 24/7,yet. But it's getting there – some private GPs now.

          8. Oh had a GP referral to the private Spire hospital in Bristol for his shoulder tendon repair in 2019. He'd already seen the surgeon privately who told him to go back to the GP and choose the Spire via NHS. He had a private room with facilities and was only there as a day patient.
            A couple of years later he decided to go private for a hernia repair – but that was in a local NHS hospital. He had the surgery, but someone made an error with the anaesthetic and they couldn't keep him overnight so they whizzed him to Gloucester for the night. There was no bed for him there so he spent the night in a chair.

          9. NHS can barely cope, Ndovu – and no surprise, we have a greater number of people but not the hospitals/staff to deal with them (or their various health issues). Patient numbers have been growing for most of my life, at least 50 years, with no equivalent rise in staff/facilities. And now we have some GPs who recommend going to A&E rather than see patients (mine wouldn’t even see me to look at a tickbite, give me antibiotics). A very long way from the first GP in my small village, post WW2, he brought me into the world.

          10. Our GP surgery has introduced an online triage system to put people off. I haven’t seen a dr for myself since I had shingles in 2019, but of course OH has had to see them over the last few years. He has tried and failed to navigate the Anima system. He’s ok ordering his meds online though. I haven’t looked at it yet.

          11. Ours has too, as does local A&E which is only a few hundreds yds away from GP surgery. They don’t work together, possibly because the GPs are now registered as a private business, as shareholders with a MD, and owning the property. I suspect this is widespread, length & breadth country. We have to order our meds online too, once you’ve set it up (!) it can be repeated, ours are also delivered. I think Sunak was right when he said pharmacists can do more (eg his parents). Good luck,Kate x

          12. I suppose, from their point of view it cuts out all the ‘heart sink’ patients (as my old GP called them) who used to waste their time. Our practice is a business, though I don’t know which of the doctors is a shareholder and which are employees.

          13. ‘heart sink’…good description, can think of a few uses for it, thx. I suspect most GPs are set up as a business now, one employee tells me a natural extension of Brown’s GP contract.

          14. My old GP didn’t suffer fools gladly – she told me one day that patients mostly fell into two categories – those (like me) who have to be prised out of the woodwork and don’t see their doc often enough; and those who make the heart sink. I guess there are others in between.

          15. Sounds very much like the first (and still the best) vet I saw (with my first dog), must be half a century ago, I was stunned when I heard her swear 😀 I never go near a doctor, nurse, hospital if I can help it, I’m not on any medication and don’t intend to be. Had a note from the surgery earlier ‘please fill out this surgery with points 1 to 10 on your treatment’. Last year I gave them a 1, this year just deleted it. Quite interesting the number of videos now on YouTube saying diet/lifestyle better than taking meds.

          16. I’m 76 and not on any medication. I avoid all jabs now, having succumbed to two AZ ones early in 2021 – no reaction to them but I dodged a bullet and don’t intend to have any more. My travel jabs are all now past their 10 year expiry dates but I decided not to renew them before going to Brazil in September. I know I’m lucky not to have arthritis or any other painful affliction. Last time I went to the surgery for myself was when I had shingles in 2019. I’m not overweight and avoid junk food as far as possible. They keep pestering me to have flu jabs, covid jabs, RSV jab etc. I ignore them all.

          17. More or less the same here, except I’m a very bad traveller…we suspect a mild epilepsy or similar, can barely stand up and need a few hours to recover. I had shingles too, I think many do if they had chicken pox earlier. My dad had shingles, the rash met around his chest, very painful. I had a neighbour who had chicken pox in his 40s, was very ill, and subsequently sterile. RfKjr has an interesting take on jabs – says if living conditions are good, totally unnecessary.

          18. I think there’s something in that – these diseases declined as living conditions and sanitation improved, before the jabs came in. The flight to Brazil (and back) was very long and tiring but I recovered quite quickly.
            My shingles was just one side round my right shoulder, but very painful. It started with an intense pain in my right ear, then spread out and then the rash appeared a couple of days later. I didn’t feel ill with it – and it cleared up with the anti-viral tablets and I had no after-effects. My aunt suffered with post-herpetic neuralgia for the rest of her life.

          19. Friend of mine had it in one eye…ouch ..I was told later about the anti-virals but they have to be taken within a few days, before the rash appears ..didn’t make much sense how would you know it was shingles without any sign of rash. Your poor aunt – we had a lucky escape ..

          20. Sounds very much like the first (and still the best) vet I saw (with my first dog), must be half a century ago, I was stunned when I heard her swear 😀 I never go near a doctor, nurse, hospital if I can help it, I’m not on any medication and don’t intend to be. Had a note from the surgery earlier ‘please fill out this surgery with points 1 to 10 on your treatment’. Last year I gave them a 1, this year just deleted it. Quite interesting the number of videos now on YouTube saying diet/lifestyle better than taking meds.

          21. Friend of mine suffered a stroke 7 years ago , left side , but able to speak and use her right hand and leg ..

            The treatment she received was disgusting .. I wrote a letter of complaint .. she fell in the bathroom .. wasn't discovered for an hour , she was forgotten about in the day room , missed 2 meals and the loo and many other needs like drink and medicines .

            They didn't wash her private bits or do her hair , or clean her mouth in the early days , no nursing care whatsoever ..

            University trained nurses have no hands on experience and are squeamish about doing intimate tasks ..

            A stroke ward can be an alarming experience .. often or not most of the patients are unconscious , some lucky ones are awake and comprehend what has happened to them , some are confused and totally out of it , and a few lucky ones are able to speak ..

            All in all , the nursing on a stroke ward is a heavy responsibility .. but that ward was neither .. the staff and young doctors must have been bored .. it isn't high end , like A+E or a major surgical unit .. it is all about monitoring recovery , rehabilitation , physio and CARE..

            May our dear God spare us and save us all .

          23. I think it’s more by rote these days..when my daughter was in labour, I was in hospital with her and quite surprised to see a 1-10 list of instructions on the wall (among the other tattered notices – I’ve noticed similar ones other wards)…the new world, my grandmother would have had a single midwife come to her house, or probably just neighbours.

          25. Me too in 1991, when I had twins by caesarian. I am convinced that my daughter's autism was caused by the anaesthetist at Watford General, who was told by the consultant (down at the other end) to give me oxygen. I heard him say "how are things going" and her reply "not so good". If they were not so good she should have done something about that, rather than waiting for what obviously was the consultant's concern about a baby about to be delivered showing signs of distress.

            But there is no way of proving it – you just have to get on with life.

          26. I was lucky (and so was he) that my elder son was healthy as he was distressed while I was in labour. He was born with the cord wrapped round his neck and round his body as well. He was only 6ib 5oz, but never looked back.

          27. Me too in 1991, when I had twins by caesarian. I am convinced that my daughter's autism was caused by the anaesthetist at Watford General, who was told by the consultant (down at the other end) to give me oxygen. I heard him say "how are things going" and her reply "not so good". If they were not so good she should have done something about that, rather than waiting for what obviously was the consultant's concern about a baby about to be delivered showing signs of distress.

            But there is no way of proving it – you just have to get on with life.

          28. Been there, done that Belle…fastened to a ‘new’ machine which monitored my vitals, churning out paper trail all over the floor, on my own majority of the time, in and out due to pethidine. Finally a young medic came in, things moved pretty fast after that. He came to visit me following day, said I was his last check before he went off duty. His eyes red raw, been on duty more than 24 hours.

          29. My much missed great aunt .. was a district midwife .. just her .. and maybe a doctor on call … pre war and into the early 1960s.

            I was born in a nursing home pre NHS, I think my parents were charged a few £s .. that was for the 10 day lying in period ..

            My first son born after long labour , no drugs , just me doing breathing exercises .. Quite satisfying but horrendous after treatment ..

            No 2 son more difficult , and an induction and slack after care.

          30. My first pregnancy very similar, long labour, insufficient staff run off their feet, pethidine. I did breathing exercises too, staff amazed had never heard of such a thing. There was a woman in the next bed screaming all the time. Now, they have birthing pools, been a few incidents there too.

    2. I just read that a Ukrainian whistleblower has stated that Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer received kick backs in the tens of millions from the monies they voted to give to Zelenskyy. I will try to find the link but I think Mitch took almost 100 million dollars and Chuck took nearer to seventy million dollars direct from Ukraine.

      I think we all knew something like this was going on. I trust President Trump will ensure that these Warpigs are brought to justice.

    3. I just read that a Ukrainian whistleblower has stated that Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer received kick backs in the tens of millions from the monies they voted to give to Zelenskyy. I will try to find the link but I think Mitch took almost 100 million dollars and Chuck took nearer to seventy million dollars direct from Ukraine.

      I think we all knew something like this was going on. I trust President Trump will ensure that these Warpigs are brought to justice.

      1. Miranda Devine book still available on Amazon. Biden (Joe and Hunter) involved in aluminium business Ukraine. As if Putin wouldn't get pissed off – similarly to Kennedy did with Kruschev trying to put missiles on Cuba.

    4. Yes, I think you are right.
      How many Russians and Ukrainians have been maimed or died for an agreement that could have been reached 3 years ago?
      Particularly the young men sent into the meat grinder?

        1. See Wolfowitz doc 6(d)…basically – we reserve the right to whack you if we even think you're even thinking of doing anything not in our direct interest.

      2. I cannot properly express my hatred for all those who created the mess and were more than happy to watch hundreds of thousands young men die or be maimed

          1. My money is on them not being finished in the middle east.
            Once that's over possibly Taiwan, except that the religion of peace has many, many more countries to be peaceful in.

          2. Middle East will not know full and lasting peace as long as there are Israelis and Muslims occupying the same area of the globe.

  137. Thought for the day.
    A standard clause in all wills should read:
    In the event of my dying by assistance all my worldly goods should be converted into cash and cremated with me.
    All cremations to be undertaken by sosraboc ltd.
    You know it makes sense.

          1. I understand it was relatively normal at one time, Deep South. Young teens always pushing the boundaries, q&a could be interesting, starting with 'can I go out' and ending in 'no'.

  141. This afternoon was sunny and pleasant , I had several errands , Moh was in a golf competition and had his first Christmas dinner , one of four before Christmas !

    I took Pip with me , and enjoyed my trip out in my car , I was listening to the radio and to the deliveries in Parliament before the vote .

    I found a non muddy area of the heath near Arne to give the dog a walk .. , there were a few stone chats and black caps flitting amongst the patches of gorse( furzey we call it down here )and you know what , after the debate and the vote , my mind raced around .. I kept an eye on Pip sniffing around in the finished flowering heather .

    I don't want to upset anyone but the Hippocratic oath/ code is quite clear

    I shall never intentionally cause harm to my patients, and will have the utmost respect for human life. I will practice medicine with integrity, humility, honesty and compassion. I recognise that the practice of medicine is a privilege with which comes considerable responsibility and I will not abuse my position.

    As an important step in becoming a doctor, medical students must take the Hippocratic Oath. And one of the promises within that oath is "first, do no harm" (or "primum non nocere," the Latin translation from the original Greek.)

    Here is a more modern version .

    I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:

    I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.

    I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.

    I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.

    I will not be ashamed to say "I know not", nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.

    I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.

    I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.

    I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.

    I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.

    If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.

        1. Much better – I went back to work on Weds – but my cough and snifflles are lasting a long time. A few people at work have had the same bug, all have lingering coughs.

  142. Not a real word if you ask me

    Wordle 1,256 4/6

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

    èdit.
    I thought that was wrong. I'm sure I got it in three so re pasting.

    Wordle 1,259 3/6

    🟨🟩🟨⬜⬜
    ⬜🟩🟩🟨⬜
    🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

          1. Just come back to see yours, naughty girl. Swanning around, eh? xx

            Hope you are feeling better.

        2. I just did, thanks mm! Still took 3 though.
          Wordle 1,259 3/6

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

      2. It's a bit of a tricky one as, if anyone actually posts the word, there will be somebody claiming they have not yet done it and therefore has had their fun spoiled.
        Maybe a nominated person (Lacoste?) should post the word behind the 'spoiler' facility?
        As in, today's word was HIPPO

        1. Yes i understand. It's like when folks post here who won whatever tourney on here before we have watched it.
          What i never see is what the word was and how they managed to get it. I like and play Scrabble BTW. And i'm a champion Boggler.
          And just before Sosraboc says anything… That was a 'D'…Not a 'B'….erm…

          1. Honestly, if you like, and are any good at, Word games like Scrabble or Boggle you’ll enjoy Wordle. I’m a big crossword fan.

            Wordle really isnt that hard – the fun is trying to get the word in as few guesses as possible.

  143. A beautiful day, if rather chilly,
    A couple of hours up the hill today. Got a load of sticks chopsawn to fill some mushroom trays and tried to do a bit of burning but with rather mixed results. The stuffs far too wet now.

    Interesting to think.
    The tune for Deutschland Uber Alles was the Austrian National Anthem before Germany appropriated it and was composed as part of Joseph Haydn's Kaiser Quartet
    https://youtu.be/tCXcOiyySbc?si=J7RoV4DLVXhw2tsH

    1. No friends? There are a couple of other things he needs to have none of, too, by the sound of it.

    2. He has no friends? He has friends in our judicial system. Perhaps the judge could invite him round to dinner for an overnight stay and introduce him to his family. The younger female members of his family.

    3. Well at least Leftist middle class women who never travel on such trains can feel smug about themselves.

  145. Now that it's legal to help people to kill themselves, manufacturers are rushing to produce vessels with pestles, flagons with dragons and chalices from palaces.

    Thanks Danny Kaye.

  146. I'm popping off to bed. We had some bad and very sad news today. The elder of my two bother's-in-law passed away. Natural cuases. A very decent very honest chap. It always seems to happen to the wrong people.
    Night all.

  149. Anyone?
    TAX EXPLAINED

    Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to £100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

    The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing. The fifth would pay £1.The sixth would pay £3.The seventh would pay £7. The eighth would pay £12. The ninth would pay £18. The tenth man (the richest) would pay £59. So, that’s what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner bowled them a wrong ‘un.“Since you are all such good customers,” he said, “I’m going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by £20.” Drinks for the ten now cost just £80. The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes. So the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men? The paying customers? How could they divide the £20 windfall so that everyone would get his fair share?’

    They realised that £20 divided by six is £3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody’s share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the landlord suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man’s bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay. And so the fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings), the sixth now paid £2 instead of £3 (33% savings). The seventh now pay £5 instead of £7 (28% savings). The eighth now paid £9 instead of £12 (25% savings). The ninth now paid £14 instead of £18 (22% savings). The tenth now paid £49 instead of £59 (16% savings).

    Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings. “I only got a pound out of the £20,”declared the sixth man.He pointed to the tenth man,” but he got £10!” “Yeah, that’s right,” exclaimed the fifth man. “I only saved a pound, too. It’s unfair that he got ten times more than I do!” “That’s true!!” shouted the seventh man. “Why should he get £10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!” “Wait a minute,” yelled the first four men in unison. “We didn’t get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!” The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

    The next night the tenth man didn’t show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn’t have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

    And that, boys and girls, journalists and professors of economics, this is how the tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking elsewhere where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

    For those who did understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.”

    1. A fundamental, not well understood truth of the UK economy is that 25 years of failed socialism has created a vast gulf between rich and poor. The rich now being 50K plus. The well off pay almost all the taxes, certainly well into the 60-70% range. The lowest 20 consume taxes entirely and contribute nothing (relative to their cost).

      Life for the middle is simply too expensive. They are so heavily taxed they can't spend, hindering real growth. The Left whinge and whine about trickle down economics but refuse to allow it to work and refuse it when the facts are in front of their eyes.

      Our tax system is rapacious in trying to take so much that it has destroyed the tax base. We're reliant on the richest to keep the UK going. If they say 'up yours' – and they can – we're stuffed

    2. No good sending that to Rachel Reeves she would fall into the category of ‘For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible’.

    2. But doesn't it come into effect next year? So people have until then to give farm property anyway. What's to be gained by giving it now?

      1. A bit like Cherie Blair setting up a predominantly Human Rights chambers before the Human Rights Act had even gone through parliament.

  160. New Zealand warship captained by British woman sank because it was left on autopilot
    Interim report into sinking of HMNZS Manawanui finds ‘a series of human errors’ to blame

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/11/29/new-zealand-warship-left-on-autopilot-hmnzs-manawanui/

    A New Zealand naval ship that sank after smashing into a coral reef in the South Pacific was left on autopilot, an inquiry has found.

    An interim report into the incident said human error was to blame for the sinking of HMNZS Manawanui, the first ship that New Zealand has lost since the Second World War.

    Yvonne Gray, the vessel’s British-born captain, is originally from Harrogate, Yorkshire, and previously served in the Royal Navy before moving to New Zealand with her wife.

    She became the target of online trolling in the wake of the £48-million ship’s sinking on Oct 5, prompting New Zealand’s defence minister to criticise “armchair admirals” and stress that Commander Gray’s gender was not to blame.

    However, the report has revealed that the crew failed to realise the vessel was on autopilot. They wrongly believed that its failure to respond to direction changes was because the thruster control had failed

    The cause of the disaster was the ship’s autopilot “not being disengaged when it should have been”, according to Rear-Adml Garin Golding, the head of the New Zealand’s navy and presenter of the interim report.

    He said: “Having mistakenly assessed a thruster control failure, standard procedures should have prompted the ship’s crew to check that the ship was under manual control rather than in autopilot.

    “This check did not occur. Remaining in autopilot resulted in the ship maintaining a course toward land, until grounding and eventually stranding.”

    He said that “the direct cause of the grounding has been determined as a series of human errors”.

    After crashing into coral reef off the Samoan island of Upolu, a fire broke out in the engine room and the ship began to sink.

    All 75 people on board the survey vessel were rescued safely, although the disaster became an embarrassment for the New Zealand military.

    The ship is one of nine vessels in the country’s small navy.

    Rear-Adml Golding added that the incident had “obviously” had an impact on New Zealand’s reputation. “This has really knocked the navy for six,” he said.

    Judith Collins, the defence minister, said: “We were all terribly disappointed in what happened.”

    Following the sinking, social media in New Zealand was rife with comments about “diversity in action”, sexist remarks about “women drivers” and homophobic references to Cdr Gray’s sexuality.

    1. What can i say…without being labeled as a mysogynistic homophobe…."Let us sit upon the ground and tell sad stories of the death of kings” or just put it down to total incompetence from a diversity hire !

      Why was the ship on autopilot? Where was the Captain? What was she doing at the time? Other than her job.

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