Monday 14 April: Let the rescue of British Steel be a turning point for industrial strategy

Posted on by Geoff Graham

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627 thoughts on “Monday 14 April: Let the rescue of British Steel be a turning point for industrial strategy”

  3. Good morning, chums. And thanks, Geoff, for today's new NoTTLe page.

    Wordle 1,395 5/6

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    1. Good morning Elsie and all
      Wordle 1,395 4/6

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    1. In the case of the last one, maybe some concerned citizens could administer street justice involving lamp-posts.
      12-year-old girl, one is speechless with rage.

    2. And again, i’d love to know what definition of “racism” is being used to lock people up.

  5. Morning, all Y'all.
    Lovely fresh day, about 14C – and rain overnight has cleaned everything of dust and pollen. Wonderful, shiny world again – to be ruined by the front pages of the papers with pictures of dead folk in Ukraine after what seems to be a rogue Russian attack. Although the place doesn't look much damaged, so I assume "only" a few shells went over. The pics I saw don't make it look like a deliberate attack, not enough damage.

    1. Given that Easter celebrations are so important in Russia (understandable after their winters) It seems an odd thing to do. They would know that the 'optics' from such action would be appalling.
      Your explanation sounds highly probable.
      Putin is not a nice man, but he is intelligent; he would be very well aware of the negative effect; in Ukraine, the western world and in Russia herself.

    2. Given that Easter celebrations are so important in Russia (understandable after their winters) It seems an odd thing to do. They would know that the 'optics' from such action would be appalling.
      Your explanation sounds highly probable.
      Putin is not a nice man, but he is intelligent; he would be very well aware of the negative effect; in Ukraine, the western world and in Russia herself.

  7. Good morning Geoff and fellow NoTTLers. Late on parade this morning as I'm away with family,
    Here is today's Monday Giggle:

    A boy was riding along the street in a home-made cart pulled by a dog with a rope attached to the dog’s genitals.
    On the side of the cart, the boy had written “POLICE” .
    A passer-by watched with interest. When the cart stopped, he told the boy: “You know, your police car would go faster if you tied the rope around your dog’s neck.”
    “I know,” said the boy, “but I wouldn’t get the cool siren.”

      2. Yup. Darn!
        Am away from home so forgot to login as RC. So now you know my dark secret.

          2. Well although I am Elsie Bloodaxe I am also known as "Confused of Colchester", so all these revelations have baffled me completely. I thought that Robin was Batman's sidekick. Lol.

          3. John Standley (1860-1940)was my great grandfather. I borrowed his name when I signed up with Google. I'm actually Michael (Micky).

      3. Yup. Darn!
        Am away from home so forgot to login as RC. So now you know my dark secret.

      4. Yup. Darn!
        Am away from home so forgot to login as RC. So now you know my dark secret.

  8. Good morning Geoff and fellow NoTTLers. Late on parade this morning as I'm away with family,
    Here is today's Monday Giggle:

    A boy was riding along the street in a home-made cart pulled by a dog with a rope attached to the dog’s genitals.
    On the side of the cart, the boy had written “POLICE” .
    A passer-by watched with interest. When the cart stopped, he told the boy: “You know, your police car would go faster if you tied the rope around your dog’s neck.”
    “I know,” said the boy, “but I wouldn’t get the cool siren.”

    1. Morning Delboy and everyone.
      We arrived home yesterday evening to a bit of a flood on the landing. Not sure yet if the hot water tank overflowed or has sprung a leak.
      We had a good weekend in Sheffield and all the trains ran to time and we had seats.

        1. Not too bad and Susan had put the washing up bowl to catch the drips. Hopefully will be sorted today. There's always something in an old house like this but that's in the newer part. The ceiling looks OK.

      3. Oh heck. What a welcome home.
        Hope it didn't wipe out the after-glow from a good weekend.

  10. Morning all,

    The USA has just found out that just about everything they use has a label on it saying Made in China.

    The UK now has its final chance to keep what it has left of its industrial strength that is made in England, has no markings yet is known as British Ordinary Grade (BOG standard – it keeps trains on their tracks, bridges standing up and prevents buildings falling down).

  11. But… but… making things is so lower-class and grubby. Best leave it to the coolies.
    Or so I believe was said in the 1970s.

      1. There should have been a clause in all infrastructure sell-offs stipulating no majority foreign holdings. Even a government golden share – but given the poor calibre of British politicians I'm not sure how much that would achieve.
        Nationalised industries were dire and needed a good boot up the backside. Unions were tackled but Maggie and her government over-estimated the recovery of the British investors mindset from the 1950 -70s desert.
        (Think "I'm All right, Jack" made in 1959.)

        1. I nearly met Margaret Thatcher in 1971 when she was Education Secretary. It was my school's Founder's Day, and she was invited to address the boys (they kept the girls well away from us in the town, since we were a bad influence). Some were selected to present to the Lady. I was not one of the chosen though, and was kept well away because they were worried about me arguing with her.

          My impression of her was that when she admired someone, she would take on board everything from this person without challenge or questioning it further. If someone was not "one of us" though, they would get the full rigour of her handbag.

          Whilst she correctly identified and dealt with the threat presented by the unions, she was not quite so forthcoming with the shortcomings of Management, especially if they were "one of us". There was a blind faith there that was unwarranted, but well covered up.a

        2. I nearly met Margaret Thatcher in 1971 when she was Education Secretary. It was my school's Founder's Day, and she was invited to address the boys (they kept the girls well away from us in the town, since we were a bad influence). Some were selected to present to the Lady. I was not one of the chosen though, and was kept well away because they were worried about me arguing with her.

          My impression of her was that when she admired someone, she would take on board everything from this person without challenge or questioning it further. If someone was not "one of us" though, they would get the full rigour of her handbag.

          Whilst she correctly identified and dealt with the threat presented by the unions, she was not quite so forthcoming with the shortcomings of Management, especially if they were "one of us". There was a blind faith there that was unwarranted, but well covered up.a

        3. There was actually more manufacturing in the UK after Thatcher left office than in 1979.
          The rot set in under Major.

          2. It’s like more mines closing under a Labour government than under Thatcher. Doesn’t fit the narrative.

    2. Something went wrong in the UK, 'cos these days brits don't like getting their hands dirty anymore.

    3. On the other hand making things could become cool.
      Surely making it across the channel without a passport could be the passport to becoming a coolie.

    1. The Sojourners of Goshen (The Children of Israel) escaped through the parting of the waters of the Red Sea but the pursuing Egyptians (Busiris and his Memphian chivalry) were swallowed up when the the cleft in the waters closed leaving their corpses like autumn leaves floating on the surface. This is one of John Milton's great epic similes in Paradise Lost

      His (Satan's) legions—angel forms, who lay entranc’d
      Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks
      In Vallombrosa, where th’ Etrurian shades
      High over-arch’d embow’r; or scatter’d sedge
      Afloat, when with fierce winds Orion arm’d
      Hath vex’d the Red-Sea coast, whose waves o’erthrew
      Busiris and his Memphian chivalry,
      While with perfidious hatred they pursu’d
      The sojourners of Goshen, who beheld
      From the safe shore their floating carkases
      And broken chariot-wheels: so thick bestrown,
      Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood,
      Under amazement of their hideous change.

    2. The Sojourners of Goshen (The Children of Israel) escaped through the parting of the waters of the Red Sea but the pursuing Egyptians (Busiris and his Memphian chivalry) were swallowed up when the the cleft in the waters closed leaving their corpses like autumn leaves floating on the surface. This is one of John Milton's great epic similes in Paradise Lost

      His (Satan's) legions—angel forms, who lay entranc’d
      Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks
      In Vallombrosa, where th’ Etrurian shades
      High over-arch’d embow’r; or scatter’d sedge
      Afloat, when with fierce winds Orion arm’d
      Hath vex’d the Red-Sea coast, whose waves o’erthrew
      Busiris and his Memphian chivalry,
      While with perfidious hatred they pursu’d
      The sojourners of Goshen, who beheld
      From the safe shore their floating carkases
      And broken chariot-wheels: so thick bestrown,
      Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood,
      Under amazement of their hideous change.

    3. That could have been me yesterday. I was running late and then got held up by roadworks.

    1. Just been reminded of an old joke: "Arthur Scargill – puts the c*nt in Scunthorpe!"

  15. Clear the boat arriving wogs out of their luxury accommodation , yes that includes MP's as well , and get them working to clear the bins mess in our second city .

    Whilst they are about it , they can clear up the streets in all our cities and towns .

    1. But that would violate their human rights.
      At the moment, Brum would make them feel completely at home.

      1. My parents loved her as Rose in Upstairs Downstairs.

        Jean Marsh was born in 1934 and shares a birthday (July 1st) with Diana Princess of Wales(1961) and me (1946).

    1. After looking after my stepsons pair of tame rats, whilst still recognising them as vermin and a serious health hazard if allowed to breed unchecked, I find them an intelligent and in some ways attractive animal.

        2. You should see the holes in our large plastic garden compost bins where rats have chewed into them. A few years we had rats climb up ducting leading to a bathroom, nesting in the bottom of the airing cupboard and one had died in a horizontal CH pipe duct. The smell was awful. The next owner's might find the dried body if they make CH alterations.

          1. When we lived in an old farmhouse, I had to poison the rats.
            Subsequently, there was an appalling smell at the top of the stairs, right beside teenage son's bedroom.
            I blamed him for leaving dead socks around instead of putting them in the washing basket.
            We subsequently found a whole family of rats had died in an unaccessible place down beside the central chimney. We had to sit it out for several weeks until the bodies mummified.
            Sonny Boy has never let me forget my unjust accusation.

          2. I've got a large rat cage I use it in the garden peanut butter attracts them, but I discovered that mice were getting in setting the trap off which closed and they escaped through the larger mesh of the cage.
            But I did catch a few. I placed them in a water butt when they were dead put them on the shed roof and red kites swooped in to pick up the bodies. We don't seem to have a problem with them at the moment. It might be because a neighbour recently moved and they had chickens.

    3. Buy some rat poison blocks TB that'll will soon get rid of them. But make sure your pets can't get them.

      1. Morning Eddy

        They are not my rats, silly billy, those rats are Brum rats .. I thought I would copy the pic to show what a mess Britain is in and what the government consists of , a nest of greedy rats.

          1. I found that if you stand up, push your head forward and chin oop, yower can't help speeking that why.

          2. Grizzly, what on earth is your avatar today? You look like a transexual, i.e. dressed as a woman with a five-o-clock shadow.

          3. It’s me country yokel outfit, Auntie Elsie. I was feeling a bit simple but I couldn’t find a straw to chew on.

  19. Good morning all.
    A beautiful morning after the full moon last night. A tad over 2½°C when I took the empty milk bottle out to the crate earlier.
    Apologies for popping in yesterday and then vanishing! I was a bit tired and washed out after my drive home and went back to bed then still felt washed out even after a couple of hours extra sleep!
    A bit better this morning, despite the DT's snoring! Poor lass, she's full of cold and her nose is blocked.

    Some pictures from Wednesday's pause near Watership Down:-
    Looking North West https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6093faa1059fb05275d517de42269e3439f641f6fe5fca4e3876455e9ed409ba.jpg And Looking North https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f9ff24635cf63dbf30798732ea00e687368133f8fd85d6542ac360651076137c.jpg And looking in a more Easterly direction towards the parking spot where I was planning to stay the night. If you open in a new tab and zoom in, my van is the one on the extreme right.
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3581ec52066a3945161fbe387a79d812a1b76d8f94d844755e93b4e613066389.jpg A Wokka-wokka bird flew over:- https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9e06ef22e9702a825d765143633a4b197877d16ef058b6e5edde5c861f228993.jpg And a Red Kite:- https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/64731455c0cfa1c52fe1bbe4dd742151c1cfc68ee05ce64e5e7f6f54b443427c.jpg Also had a good view up to, I believe, Aldermarston:- https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b221746780bae896714292a30e9bb44d5c9dea9b49467ecfec2c78ed2d5801d7.jpg And an arty-farty shot of the sun setting behind a tree. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7d2a4457d40170f2219e1c3ea71afbfdc0c7ddc5c2e9d4bca246ae51220f6a60.jpg
    Despite the sunshine, there was a BITTERLY cold Northerly wind so I abandoned my intention of stopping there for the night and decamped to the village of Hannington where it was still bloody cold!!!
    More of which anon.

        1. Oh wa very excited a few weeks ago to see one from the bedroom window. We knew they were near but had never seen one so close by.

        2. Firstborn gets the occasional Golden eagle… Kongeørn. Boy, are they big… you think "what's that big bird standing on the top of that tree over there?", then realise it's a truly massive bird perched maybe a km or two away!

        3. Lovely, Grizz. Such elegance and mastery of flying. Not a feather out of place!

    1. Morning Anne

      Are your thoughts the same as mine .. did he have a psychotic episode .

      A few years ago a delightful elderly lady , educated to a very high level , and great company had a terrible experience , she was shopping in town , and started throwing her clothes off into the street , screaming and uncontrollable , and she was then incarcerated in a hospital miles away whilst she was assessed .

      Strangely though, I witnessed signs of impending disaster months before the event .. She phoned me and asked me to pick up a loaf of bread and half a dozen eggs and milk for her .. (She lived in the area where you are familiar with )

      Moh and I were shopping , and so when we had finished , we drove over to see her with a bag of bits and pieces for her .. She lived in a grand Victorian 3 storey terrace , with a magnificent view , but she had a steep series of front door steps .. I knocked on the door , and she invited me into the hallway , lovely wide long hall ..and a huge upright Victorian chair next to the coat rack and mirror .. She kept a long handled screw driver on her chair as a weapon of choice against non existent intruders .

      When she opened the door , she looked distracted and bedraggled , but chatty , so I took my bag into the kitchen to empty it , and she fiddled around in her bag for money , and I told her not to bother for now , will see you another time . I had known her for years .

      On the way down back the hallway , heading for the front door , she grabbed the screwdriver and started to wave it around in front of me , I thought she was joking , but , no she was serious , and babbling strange things , and I told her to put it down on the chair , nope she staggered closer to me and I bolted , opened the front door and nearly broke my neck getting down the steep garden steps , she stood by the front door ranting and screaming ..

      I jumped in the car , Moh saw the front door episode , I was shaking like a leaf , and I couldn't stop crying .

      When I got home , I rang the surgery and explained what had happened , they wer e quite dismissive , but at least they knew , then blow me, weeks later the episode in town came to light .. and that was it .

      1. I can well understand your fright. They take on a demonic strength and there is no reasoning with them.
        I received more injuries on the geriatric wards than I ever did on the locked wards.
        Partly because you had no choice but to get up close and personal with the patients and that gave them the chance to hit, pinch, scratch (and you didn't want to think about what might be under their nails) slap, pull your hair, kick out at you etc…. They would jump you and attack from behind or deliberately throw themselves on the floor while you were trying to walk them down the ward.
        I remember one frail old dear going berserk and tipping over wardrobes and even hauling other patients out of bed. (It took two female and two male nurses to control her and give an injection; we were terribly worried we might injure her.)
        (I could remember that particular patient as a frightfully prim and proper cashier sitting in a cubicle in a local haberdashers.)

        1. Dear heavens , how terrible for you , Anne , yes I had similar with old ex para last year , and he was put away after an altercation with carer and others as well..

          Why does that madness manifest itself ,you must have experienced some terrible incidents , and I hope you weren't badly injured .

          I was hit on the head with a walking stick , badly!

          This poem might mean all these things.

          Dylan Thomas
          1914 –
          1953
          Do not go gentle into that good night,
          Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
          Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

          Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
          Because their words had forked no lightning they
          Do not go gentle into that good night.

          Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
          Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
          Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

          Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
          And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
          Do not go gentle into that good night.

          Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
          Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
          Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

          And you, my father, there on the sad height,
          Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
          Do not go gentle into that good night.
          Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

          2. Or when he wasn't playing the organ with Morgan in Llareggub accompanied by Nogood Boyo and Polly Garter.

  21. Years ago, MB had pet rats. We were surprised how organised they were; they divided their cages up into living, sleeping and what the Yanks would call "bathroom" areas.
    They are definitely not stupid anmals.

    1. They are gorgeous pets. Just a shame they don't live very long! We had two adorable black and white rats when my children were small.

    1. Nasty Little Nip in the air?
      (Google images no longer shows the clip from the Rowan and Martin Laugh-in)

    2. Nasty Little Nip in the air?
      (Google images no longer shows the clip from the Rowan and Martin Laugh-in)

  24. The Utilities sell-off DID have a Government owned "Golden Share" but guess who sold that off?
    Yep, Tony Blair!

    1. Quelle Bloody Surprise.
      I was surprised that Maggie and her sensible chaps hadn't taken that measure.
      Did Bliar get a nice house for each industry or utility sold off?

  25. Morning all 🙂😊
    Sunny Monday not a cloud in the sky, but rain forecast for later.
    And well done Rory and Justin Rose. Two brits, on top of the world of golf.
    Why wasn't the final round on television ?
    And Scunthorpe is just up our current 'government's' Street. They do like a good steal.

    1. I watched it to the end on Sky, courtesy of a monthly £29 subscription to a VPN (Virtual Personal Network). This is streamed to my computer and then I use my TV screen as a secondary monitor with the sound through my Hi-Fi.

      The downside was that it was an American production with annoyingly long advert breaks every ten minutes-or-so!

      1. I watched it on NowTV, aka Sky, 19 quid per month when I last looked. Some odd ads and almost blank screens, but Augusta is unique though.

    2. Well done McIlroy but Justin Rose is a much more agreeable person.

      In France if there is a French person competing in a major sporting event then a state channel – such as FR2 – will broadcast it. When there is a French person in, say, The Wimbledon final it will be available to watch on terrestrial TV.

      I cannot think of many countries where the PTB care as little about their people as they do in the UK.

      1. Why is our government so spitefully malicious? Who is paying them to introduce such appalling law as they are?

      2. I recall French coverage of a Grand Prix where the focus of the commentary was devoted to Jean Alessi trailing back in tenth position and of no interest to those wishing to follow the race leaders.

        The French have their faults, self importance being just one of them.

    3. Starmer and his #KeirmerRouge may have thought they've got a bargain, but with the current Nett Zero lunacy it's fool's gold.

  28. Good Morning!

    Today we have Nanumaga’s last two chapters of his book-in-writing, Brexit Redux , and very funny they are. Please help him complete them by making a comment, giving advice, or constructive criticism.

    There’ll always be an England, and Frederica visited it last week and writes lyrically and eloquently to remind as what it’s like. Read her A Pocket Full of England and be charmed at the memories it evokes.

    Energy watch 07.30: Demand: 30.24 GW. Total UK Production: 26.19 GW from: Hydrocarbons 24.5%; Wind 30.9%; Imports 13.8%; Biomass 9.4%; Nuclear 14%. Solar: 3.1%.

  29. Yes I know what you mean Richard, but sometimes certain journalists don't want to be pleasant to certain people. It's a tough solo international sport. But practice in Roy's case has at last made perfect. And made him very wealthy.

      1. At least he's very good at his chosen occupation, 🏌 unlike 650 and 800 plus in Wastemonster.

      2. When he is past playing golf he can become an onanistic campanologist and pull his own bells

  30. I'm getting bits out of the van to sort out after my trip and yes, it is a bit chilly out there!

  31. Proud patriotic Brit Sir Keir Starmer moves in the Army to clear up Bolshie Brummie & Islamic piles of garbage.

    Why not nicely request his new besties in The Ramada Inn to do some work? They're being paid to do SFA.

      1. That they just empty their bins on top of other rubbish is disgusting. They're savages.

    3. Although important to note that these military folk are logisticians, not squaddies.

      However, I'd point out in the council hasn't anyone with the ability to organise bin collections and resolve the strike then it is utterly incompetent and should be shut down, those infesting it sacked, forbidden from working in the public sector and made to clear the waste themselves. They're obviously useless.

      1. I take issue with your first sentence. I served 22 years in the Royal Signals and I would definitely call myself a squaddie,

  32. Proud patriotic Brit Sir Keir Starmer moves in the Army to clear up Bolshie Brummie & Islamic piles of garbage.

    Why not nicely request his new besties in The Ramada Inn to do some work? They're being paid to do SFA.

  33. Proud patriotic Brit Sir Keir Starmer moves in the Army to clear up Bolshie Brummie & Islamic piles of garbage.

    Why not nicely request his new besties in The Ramada Inn to do some work? They're being paid to do SFA.

  34. Proud patriotic Brit Sir Keir Starmer moves in the Army to clear up Bolshie Brummie & Islamic piles of garbage.

    Why not nicely request his new besties in The Ramada Inn to do some work? They're being paid to do SFA.

  35. 404359+ up ticks,

    Morning Each,

    Well we all seem to be singing from the same song sheet not the right one by a long chalk but one that satisfies conflicting sides alike.
    650 more reasons for a new sanitized as far as pos. party, landed a day or two back, but financial backing is still being sought and will continue to be sought until all party elites are fully sated which usually occurs the day after tomorrow.

    I really cannot see any Country saving change taking place any time soon, much has been suffered via the children especially and the killing and life changing injuries of the indigenous over the last forty years, but lets not be too hasty with our judgement.

    https://x.com/GBNEWS/status/1911336573343277128

    1. If this sort of thing doesn't breed a civil war then we shall continue to submit ourselves to national extinction.

      1. As BlackBelt Barrister man said, they have to provide a defence by law. With what, 60 pakistani muslim paedophile child rapists that's £10,000 per rapist.

        The problem lies with getting the money back. As 70% of muslim are unemployed – and unemployable – chances are most of these vermin were sat on welfare, so have no income to take the money back from.

        For me that underpins the problem. We pay the wasters to breed, we pay for them to live, they no doubt work on the black market as well. These huge draws are why the sewage come here. If we stopped paying them – anyone called 'mohammed' or 'abdul' then the filth would not come here.

          1. Considering they're costing hundreds a day sat in prison it'd be far simpler just to hang them.

            That'd be justice for the victims of these muslim paedophile rapists.

            Then hold an open inquiry – starting with Philips as to why she stopped the inquiry. Burn through the Labour party and expose all the muslim councillors, police officers, social workers and council officials who aided and abetted the mechanised rape of children by paki muslims.

            Then hang them. I'm sick of being nice. It's still going on, the same groups protecting them. Restore justice to this country.

        2. Well given all the public sector jobs now appear to only be eligible to our BAME friends, i for one am looking forward to the time all the BAMEs are working 12 hour days and paying 45% income tax and i am sitting on my bum on welfare.

  36. Has to be asked.. would Sir Keir Starmer or David Lammy receive a standing ovation & chants of Rule, Britannia on entering Footie stadium or Boxing match?

    President Donald Trump receives standing ovation as he enters #UFC314 in Miami 🇺🇸

    1. Whatever one thinks of Donald Trump he wants his country to prosper.

      Starmer, Cooper, Reeves and Lammy loathe Britain and loathe its indigenous people and are determined to destroy the country.

      1. I have no idea what they want, but it isn't for Britain to prosper. It's almost as if they're really working for an enemy of the country.

      1. What was that snub for? It's the wife, for goodness sake, she's just greeting the man.

          2. Must be a back story here – a young attractive blond woman, and DT doesn't take a hug?

        3. Cheryl Hines made it clear she didn't want her husband joining MAGA & MAHA. Anyhow they chatted later on.

        4. Cheryl Hines made it clear she didn't want her husband joining MAGA & MAHA. Anyhow they chatted later on.

  39. Yo and Good Moaning from a warm and sunny C d S.

    Window removers (and fitters) hard at work

    From the letters page:

    There is a good precedent – the attempt by Mr Trump’s supporters to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election by civil disorder failed completely.

    Anthony Pick
    Newbury, Berkshire

    Nurse…..

    1. I find this 'civil disorder' lark comical. As tax payers they own everything in any government building. As tax payers, those working in them are hired help, staff, employees.

      Therefore the people 'rampaging' (or, from the videos, walking politely) around those buildings are simply on their own property. Their employees had no right to stop them being there.

      When Lefties witter on about the public they treat them as some sort of unwashed annoyance where really, it is the other way around. If I decide to camp in the council offices then I will, as it is mine, entirely. The state really must be taught it's place – under the boot of the private sector.

      1. The camp set up on Shepherd's Bush Green to raise awareness of Agenda 21/30 was entirely lawful, since the green is common land. Nonetheless Hammersmith & Fulham Council had the camp removed by force and erected a high fence around the green for two months afterward. A bunch of clowns posted on Facebook that the council are entitled to do that as it's their land. No, it isn't. They're obliged to do the maintenance. That's what our council tax supposedly buys. Denying public access was unlawful.

        1. Yep. It comes down to the state needing a lesson in who is master and who servant. The sate seems to think it is in charge and can control us.

  40. Yo and Good Moaning from a warm and sunny C d S.

    Window removers (and fitters) hard at work

    From the letters page:

    There is a good precedent – the attempt by Mr Trump’s supporters to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election by civil disorder failed completely.

    Anthony Pick
    Newbury, Berkshire

    Nurse…..

  41. Beebsplaining
    2h
    So now it turns out the Chinese owners intended to close the steel furnace, but keep the mill running to process…….Chinese steel 🤔
    No doubt rebranded as British 🤔

    Who could have seen that coming… Stevie Wonder🤔 Or the uniparty 👏
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3c1a91d40ab6b33b0ad94a1fbad831fc1ff7dc50d83c13acb6c984465d7408b6.png
    Nilnine
    Beebsplaining
    1h
    It isn't economic to make steel in the UK thanks to government policy. This is a problem made in London, not Beijing.
    A fresh tonne of steel produces 1.9 tonnes of carbon dioxide to make. The UK government's carbon trading tax regime charges British Steel £65 per tonne of carbon dioxide, £125 per tonne of steel. A tonne slab of steel only has a market value of £450. Just the carbon tax alone takes more than 25% of sale value. And we've not even talked about the impact of the highest electricity prices in the world.

    The blame here lies squarely with Red Ed, May, Johnson and Starmer.

      1. She went to China as a distraction to get away from all the heat in the Blighty press. She did ask for money and came away with less than £1 billion. Pathetic on both fronts.

    3. What Beebsplaining said and Citroen kindly repeated. The deceit and hypocrisy of wittering on about growth while intentionally destroying jobs by making energy so expensive is insulting. The saddest bit is that most people are too thick to understand the complexity of what the state is doing.

    4. I'm dumb as soup, Citroen 1…riddle me this…so if a British company makes the steel they pay carbon tax, but if a Chinese company makes the steel they don't pay carbon tax…using the same equipment on the same British site ….is that it?

      1. No, they do if the steel is made in the UK. That's why they're saying it can't be run profitably.

        The Chinese knew this and government simply ran down the clock.

        1. Sorry yet again …what do you mean by ‘simply ran down the clock’? (haven’t really been following this)

    5. Same old story, everything they come into contact with they eff it up and big time.

      1. RE, they do, as you say, eff everything up: however, whilst ignorance and incompetence can be blamed for some of the disasters they visit on us, much is planned and very deliberate.

        1. The problem is that much of what government plans and implements is kept from us.

          Thus we now discover that our government, military and secret services were actively colluding with the Biden regime in prosecuting the war in Ukraine. Our military helped plan attacks on Russian territory and provided both strategic intelligence and weapons without consulting Parliament or the people.

          The result of this subterfuge and utter failure in Ukraine is the reason for Starmer’s fixation on that ghastly regime in Kiev and his attempts at a cover up.

        2. Yes I know what they are up to Korky but all the same, only stupid effing idiots would do what they are doing to our country.

    1. Paddling in the Thames is dangerous enough without the diversity doing it.

      Although, they're all brown, so maybe no one noticed.

        1. Who knows. Junior's 12 and his interests are Lego and miniatures.

          Goodness knows how a girlfriend will cope with Mongo. I think if she does, he should marry her.

          1. Careful! At that age I would have fallen hard for Mongo and forgotten Junior. You don't want him to end up with a dog-digger!

      1. My thoughts exactly. Especially a boyfriend from a culture where boyfriend-girlfriend relationships don't exist. If true, what on earth do some parents have in their heads?

  44. 404359+ up ticks,

    A rayner conversion kit could prove a temp.solution converting soldiers into bin men, this could prove to be an asset for those involved as when the army is finally stood down from the long running farce as being a country's protective force they can slide seamlessly behind the bin lorry.
    https://x.com/PeteJacksonGMP/status/1911695233303167231

    1. 404359+ up ticks,

      O2O,

      If the female wretch does NOT call in the army I would consider it to be a lost opportunity for the country defenders in having a fall back career when shortly their services on home turf are no longer required, shortly.

    2. I thought Starmer's call to arms was for conscripts to go and attempt to fight the Russian army, not to become rubbish disposal operatives for the failed socialist utopias in the UK.

      1. Join the army and clear up after the third world running our cities into the ground? Doesn’t sound like much of a recruitment message to me.

      1. 404359+ up ticks

        Morning O,
        Better bin men than they are proving to be protectors of British coastlines.

    4. Why ? People don't join the armed forces to clear up the shiite left behind because trade union leaders are AHs. They are in the armed forces to clear up after our political idiots……oh hang on a mo.

    5. These are logisticians – at the moment – not boots on the ground.

      However, if no one in Brum council has a clue how to solve the problem then they're inept.

      1. 404359+ upticks,

        Morning W,

        I just take it as they are inept, and the creators of such problems working to a completely different agenda regarding what remains of Great Britain.

    6. They could apply the same technique in Brum that (albeit accidentally) cleansed the City of London of bubonic plague.

      1. 404359+ up ticks,

        Afternoon C,
        The lab anti brits party failed under
        ” mirander”and compounded it with the 16 plus year rotherham cover-up.

        Their members can never hold a competitive stare or look into the future with hope.

      1. Remember there was the old joke that Enoch Powell had offered a £100,000 prize to the first West Indian to swim home!

      1. “For those of you watching in black and white, the pink is next to the green.”

        3. Or as the racing commentator once said, “for those of you watching in colour, he is the one in black and white “.

    5. To be considered for the position, the applicant must have swum across the English Channel from Sangatte to Dover unaided.

  48. If Labour won’t do anything about the rape gangs, I will
    https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/if-labour-wont-do-anything-about-the-rape-gangs-i-will/ Donna Rachel Edmunds – April 14, 2025

    BTL

    And on whose side is King Charles?

    It is difficult to conclude that he is on the side of the indigenous British when he has allowed Islamic worshippers to perform their rites in holy Christian places and when he gives a public eulogy saying how much we owe to Muslims.

    One wonders if a young female member of King Charles's family were violated by a rape gang would he say and do nothing?

    Remember that Tommy Robinson became active politically after a member of his family had been violated.

    1. I think C3R would give his female family member lectures on Christian forgiveness, ignoring the Biblical imperative for forgiveness to be preceded by repentance.

      1. I have always argued that forgiveness is meaningless unless it is a two way process.

        There must be a forgiver and a forgivee.

        How can we forgive a rape-gang rapist who is not in the least bit sorry for what he has done?

        By the same token this current Labour government is completely beyond forgiveness for the evil it has done and is doing.

    3. if family were violated by a rape gang would he say and do nothing?

      Never underestimate the lunacy of a progressive Leftie for their cause.. just ask Tommy & Clemens.

      Afghan asylum-seeker arrested over murder of EU Commission official’s daughter in Germany.
      Jeremy Corbyn's son mugged by moped thief.

      “I’m sure the guy who did it was more desperate than bad and I’m glad it happened to me not someone who would have been badly affected by it.”

    5. I notice Ms Edmunds is fund-raising, but I couldn't quite work out what for. I recently sent Rupert Lowe a donation, and fully support Katie Lam. This issue has been happening for decades – Mark Steyn reported it on GBN, interviewed at least one of the girls (he's kept in touch with her), got sacked for his efforts, went to France, had four heart attacks quick succession. Ended up in a wheelchair complete with white hair (both issues resolved). He has had a recent court case against Michael 'Hockey Stick' Mann. Not forgetting the superb reporting by Charlie Peters, also GBN, who brought this issue up to date – that's right, still happening, and countrywide.

    6. I gritted my teeth and sang the national anthem last night and toasted Charlie without having a glass of water handy to hold my glass over.

  49. Good morning, all. Another pleasant day forecast with rain in the offing early tomorrow.

    Team work supporting a brave leader who led from the front – appears to draw the leopard into the advancing troops – and saved one of his troop from becoming a predator's lunch.

    Something we're missing as our supposed leaders are prepared to sacrifice anything and everything for their own ideological outcomes that have little to do with helping the 'troop' as a whole.

    https://x.com/AMAZlNGNATURE/status/1911487384459366773

    2. We frequently saw troops of baboons crossing the roads while working in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Leave well alone was the advice we had no hesitation in following.

      3. Cool it with a baboon's blood,.
        Then the charm is firm and good

        sounds like an extract from one of Grizzly's or Phizee's menus.

      4. Cool it with a baboon's blood,.
        Then the charm is firm and good

        sounds like an extract from one of Grizzly's or Phizee's menus.

  50. Didn't realise Jean Marsh was the co-creator of 1970s TV hit Upstairs, Downstairs.
    Thought it was Alfred Shaughnessy.. however, he developed it.

    1. She was complicit in the short-lived woke remake too, I believe. That was a mistake, Jean, love. But the original was spot on and Rose the parlour maid was perfectly played. Rest in peace.

      1. I never saw the woke remake I’m glad to say. I enjoyed the original series and would hate to have had the memory spoiled.

    2. He was the script editor working under producer John Hawkesworth. The series was created though by two actresses Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins – the latter had a major role in Doc Martin not long ago and is still alive.

  52. Oh dear!
    It seems Stepson was taken to hospital last night, chest pains, sounds like breathing rather than cardiac, and sweating buckets.
    Got through to A&E only for the operator not being able to hear me due to a connection problem.
    Looks like a trip to Stoke is on the cards for tomorrow.

    1. I just posted this on FSB Bob:

      Does the NHS still exist?

      ZYY had a fall over the weekend. She was lucky, nothing broken, but she's in some pain. Solution anywhere else in the world is to go to see a doctor. Here, that seems all but bloody impossible. She tried to call, but was told to either fill in a form on line, or call an ambulance. She tried to fill in the form, but found it hideously complicated and failed, three times. I tried, and also failed three times 'soemthing went wrong', or 'fill in the correct code' – after filling in the correct code. We both tried together, and also failed.

      She doesn't want to cause a fuss, but I'm bloody furious and trying to call – but I'm 15th in the queue!

      We should not put up with this.

      (That was 20 minutes ago and I'm still not through to anyone.)

        1. There appear to be none in yer Norfolk.

          I tell a lie. There appears to be one a mere 20 miles away.

          1. Aberystwyth and Abergavenny are our nearest hospitals from here in mid Wales but if an ambulance is called it will take you to Hereford where waiting times are horrendous. Fortunately we have an MIU in town complete with X-ray facilities, provided that you fall off your ladder between 8 and 4.

      2. The whole primary care scheme is designed to fob people off – so that they either go private £150 a consultation round here) or give up and soldier on. Or just die quietly.

      3. So sorry to read this, Tom (I've had several falls myself, knocked myself out, two luvverly black eyes etc..). I really hope Z makes a full and speedy recovery. Perhaps keep calling 999 for ambulance, even then they stack up outside the hospital. Going to A&E may help, but it's triaged so drag her in over your shoulder…GP surgeries as bad, 15th in the queue etc.. I have repeat prescription, driver told me all staff at surgery are demoralised, can't cope with the number of furious people who can't get the treatment they request. Good luck, post an update if possible? Kate x (for Z)

      4. In Fakenham – 800 new homes are being built. That'll bring in about 2,000 new people. NOTHING has been done to increase the medical "service" (larf) so that it will take even longer to get any sort of help. No new school planned, either….

      5. In Fakenham – 800 new homes are being built. That'll bring in about 2,000 new people. NOTHING has been done to increase the medical "service" (larf) so that it will take even longer to get any sort of help. No new school planned, either….

        1. I finally got through to the GP receptioniist, who suggested we go to a minor injuries unit, where they suggested we go to A&E.

  53. Morning all. Determined to get have a lazy day today. A date in the diary for Elsie; 27th April, the Kingston marmalade festival at the Oxford Arms 😀
    The “rescue” is just grandstanding, I think. If they really want to do something net zero has to go and sanity return.

    1. Bonjour, Conwy.

      It is displacement activity – to pretend to be doing something when the things that REALLY need immediate attention are completely ignored.

      1. I think you are spot on. Politics, certainly in this country, is a sham. Starmer is trying to be the global peacemaker in Europe, because he can't deal with issues here. I don't think politics has been such a discredited activity for a long time, though it was probably just as bad, if not worse. We didn't hear about it as much before the internet and social media. Heath, Wilson, two double dealing individuals if there ever were.

        1. He can’t deal with the issues here so he has NO chance of sorting Europe (although I suspect it’s the EU that is meant).

          1. Starmer adds a new dimension to lightweight, though some of his cohorts such as Minibrain, are very dangerous.

    3. Well, that worked out well- not. I have had to step in and host a meeting at my house tomorrow night because the regular venue is unavailable. Cue moving furniture and generally making the place look respectable. So much for my lazy day!

  54. China warns UK not to ‘politicise’ trade. 14 April 2025.

    British Steel staff and government officials are racing against time to keep the UK’s last primary steel-making plant running.

    The company needs enough raw materials to keep the two blast furnaces at its Scunthorpe plant burning.

    Without those materials, such as coking coal and iron ore, the blast furnaces will cool, risking irreparable damage and the potential end of steel-making in the North Lincolnshire town.

    Rescued by the Civil Service. Lol.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/04/14/politics-latest-news-british-steel-keir-starmer-china/

  55. Lib Dem extremists want to turn Britain vegan, claim Tories

    THE Liberal Democrats are “extremists” who want to impose veganism across Britain, a Tory frontbencher has claimed. Andrew Griffith, the shadow business secretary, made the remark as he urged voters to back the Conservatives at the local elections next month. The Tories are defending the majority of county council seats up for election on May 1.

    Kemi Badenoch, the party’s leader, warned they face an “extremely difficult” time at the ballot box because they were last contested at the peak of their post-covid popularity in 2021. Mr Griffith was asked on the BBC’S Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg about Andy Street, the former Tory mayor of the West Midlands, urging his party not to work with Reform UK at any level. “Well, if people want a Conservative-led council – and I think they should because they run services better, rates are lower – then they’ve got to vote Conservative,” he said.

    “It’s always been, after elections, for local councillors themselves to sort how they’re going to run the local council. I think the Liberal Democrats are quite extremist. “Whenever they get into council, they want four-day weeks and veganism.” Asked whether he was suggesting all Lib Dems were vegan, he replied: “Too many.”

    Oxfordshire county council, which is ruled by a Lib Dem-green coalition, has served vegan-only food at its meetings since 2023.
    The council came under fire after launching a campaign website which cited advice from the Vegan Society and told residents why they should adopt a plant-based diet.

    A Lib Dem source said: “These comments are frankly a bit weird. Andrew Griffith was Treasury minister under Liz Truss when the Tories crashed the economy and sent mortgages spiralling. “Voters haven’t forgiven the Conservative Party for all the damage they did. Bizarre comments like this won’t do anything to change that.”

    Sarah Dyke, the Lib Dem MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, is among senior figures in the party to have backed calls for a reduction in meat consumption.

    Any Limp-Dim trying that crap with me will be roasted with an apple in their gormless brain-dead gob.

    1. I will increase my meat consumption to compensate for the reduction by any of the morons who take any notice of this crap

  57. A long but important news item:

    Liverpool Hurricane Appeal
    A major tempest (Hurricane Scouse) and an earthquake measuring 1.8 on the Richter Scale hit Liverpool in the early hours of Tuesday with its epicentre in Toxteth. Victims were seen wandering around aimlessly, muttering "f'kinnell".
    The hurricane decimated the area causing almost £30 worth of damage. Several priceless collections of mementos from Majorca and the Costa Del Sol were damaged beyond repair. Three areas of historic burnt out cars were disturbed. Many locals were woken well before their Benefit Orders arrived.
    Liverpool FM reported that hundreds of residents were confused and bewildered and were still trying to come to terms with the fact that something interesting had happened in Liverpool. One resident – Tracy Sharon Smith, a 15-year-old mother of 3 said, "It was such a shock, my little Chardonnay-Mercedes came running into my bedroom crying 'What the f'k was that!' My youngest two, Tyler-Morgan and Melanie-Victoria slept through it all – but that could have been the Rohypnol they drank by mistake last night. I was still shaking when I was skinning up (rolling a joint) and watching Jeremy Kyle the next morning."
    Apparently looting, muggings and car crime were unaffected and carried on as normal.
    The British Red Cross has so far managed to ship 40,000 crates of Special Brew to the area to help the stricken locals. Rescue workers are still searching through the rubble and have found large quantities of personal belongings, including duplicate benefit books, jewellery from H Samuel and Bone China from the Pound shop.
    HOW CAN YOU HELP?
    This appeal is to raise money for food and clothing parcels for those unfortunate enough to be caught up in this disaster. Clothing is most sought after – items most needed include:
    Fila or Burberry baseball caps
    Kappa tracksuit tops (his and hers)
    Shell suits (female)
    White stilettos
    White sports socks
    Arsedangling blue jeans
    Any other items usually sold in Primark.
    Food parcels may be harder to come by but are needed all the same. Required foodstuffs include:
    Microwave meals
    Tins of baked beans
    Pork scratchings
    KFC and mushie peas
    More cans of Colt 45 or Special Brew.
    22p buys a Biro for filling in the compensation forms
    £18 buys chips, crisps and cola drinks for a family of nine
    £25 buys 6 reefers and a lighter to calm the nerves of those affected.
    BREAKING NEWS
    Rescue workers found a little girl in the rubble, smothered in raspberry Alco-pop, and were worried she had been badly cut…
    …"Where are you bleeding from?" they asked,
    "I'm from bleeding Knotty Ash" said the girl, "Wot the f'ks that gotta do wiv yew?"
    Calm down! Calm down!

  58. Heading for net zero. No oil, no gas, no coal, no concrete. Miliband is the most dangerous moron in the UK – possibly in all of Europe!

    Running Out of Ash: How the Decline of Coal Is Disrupting the Concrete Industry

    Imagine a world where one of the most common building materials suddenly becomes scarce. Concrete, a staple in construction for centuries, is facing such a dilemma. The decline in coal production is leaving the concrete industry scrambling for alternatives. But why does coal matter to concrete? The answer lies in fly ash, a byproduct of burning coal that has long been a critical component in concrete production. As the world shifts towards cleaner energy, the availability of fly ash is dwindling. This shift is not only reshaping the energy landscape but also sending ripples through industries that have relied on coal byproducts for decades.

    The construction industry is a significant contributor to the global economy, and any disruption in the supply chain can have widespread economic repercussions. The rising cost of alternative materials and the potential for construction delays due to material shortages can lead to increased project costs. This, in turn, affects housing markets, infrastructure projects, and even employment rates within the sector. The economic impact of fly ash scarcity is a reminder of the delicate balance between industry practices and environmental sustainability.

      1. The Net Zero mob have no concept of the extent of their reliance on polyethylene derivatives. Someone should build a colony on a remote island and make it look very attractive but totally devoid of oil derivatives. Make the greenies live there.

      2. Use super trawlers to net the plasticbergs found in parts of the the Pacific and recycle it?

    3. I had this crazy dream. We reopened the coal mines and burned coal in power stations that had tall chimneys that extracted 99% of any pollutants that resulted from the energy production. We were rich in coal and didn't have to import it. Then, as crazy as it seems, we did the same with oil and gas from the North Sea reservoirs. Crazy, eh? Luckily it was just a dream.

      1. Think they filled the mines with, erm, concrete, so they couldn't be reopened, I read.

    4. The Government has found a new way of referencing fossil fuels (BBC Breakfast today).
      It comes at a time when it was necessary for the Government to find some desperately needed raw materials, as they are now known, to keep the newly acquired Scunthorpe steel furnaces alight.

      They should have known all along that there was a Jeremy in the works. 😉

    5. To be fair, 2TFGNH Sir Beer Starmfuehrer Korma is the PM and so is ultimately accountable for this fiasco. He could stop it tomorrow, if he wanted to.

    6. To be fair, 2TFGNH Sir Beer Starmfuehrer Korma is the PM and so is ultimately accountable for this fiasco. He could stop it tomorrow, if he wanted to.

    7. To be fair, 2TFGNH Sir Beer Starmfuehrer Korma is the PM and so is ultimately accountable for this fiasco. He could stop it tomorrow, if he wanted to.

  60. Rayner Summons Just Three Army Personnel to Help With Birmingham Bin Strike

    It is 34 days of bin strike up in Birmingham. Much is being made of a story published in The Telegraph this morning: “Rayner Calls in Army to Tackle Birmingham Bin Crisis.” The DPM has used Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (Maca) powers to “summon Army experts” in an office-based capacity to help deal with the crisis, which was declared a major incident last week. Lump sum payout negotiations have been stalled by UNITE…

    Puncturing the spin the MHCLG press office today admits that the regiment of army personnel sent to Birmingham consists of…. three people. They will apparently provide operational support to already ongoing work to clear the bing backlog. Downing Street at today’s lobby briefing says a “handful” of military personnel are present – when pressed by hacks on whether that was actually three people, the PM’s spokesman said that “sounds like a handful to me.” Not even enough to make a squad…

    April 14 2025 @ 12:42

    ****************************

    We are a joke…

    2. I live in Brum. My bin has been emptied three times since the strike began, my sister's, every week. It just depends if your bin crew are contractors or not so it's a bit hit and miss.

      2. Sounds like the solution is to sack all the bin men on strike and replace them with contractors, sharpish.

    3. I remember in 2001 when a Royal Artillery Regiment was called in to deal with the foot and mouth emergemcy..
      I was deemed necessary then to provide more than just three military personel with an office shredder to deal with the waste problem.

      http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1518729.stm

    4. Well, that is 20% of the Army man person/peoplepower taken away fromthe Defence of UK

  61. RAF officer raped woman interested in joining force

    Flight Lieutenant Michael Reeve sent to jail for five years and six months by a military court after the attack on the 23-year-old civilian

    A high-ranking RAF officer ………

    RAF Officer Ranks
    Pilot Officer, Flying Officer, Flight Lieutenant, Squadron Leader, Wing Commander, Group Captain, Air Commodore, Air Vice Marshal, Air Marshal, and Air Chief Marshal,

    Buck up DT Sub Editors

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/14/raf-officer-raped-woman-interested-in-joining-force/

      2. They've done the same with Field Marshal as they have with Marshal of the Royal Air Force. I don't know about Admiral of the Fleet.

      1. You can embiggen it by clicking on it.

        Basically it says London is mostly safe, but avoid areas with Indians, Pakis or black people and don't go out at night alone and women to have someone with them when travelling.

        For China to present such things to tourists is embarrassing and makes me ashamed of this country and what the Left have done to it.

  63. I saw it mentioned by someone on Tom's site .
    Ben Habib has become the director of a new political party
    named Integrity Party . Well done Ben .

    1. People's Front of Judea?
      if it's genuine – we won't hear anything about it. If he's been got at – it'll be the next Reform/Reclaim.

    1. I don't follow this sort of story – but I assume they are just rich women wanting a "special" day out… None of them doing anything useful.

      2. Reminds me of the Douglas Adams tale where they loaded up all the people with useless occupations and told them they were off the colonize another planet.

        Maybe Lauren Sanchez will find the whole experience somewhat deflating.

        1. I notice that they didn't allow any blondes on the flight… in case they touched any of the switches?

          1. Reminds me of the time when a couple of airlines had all female flight crew. As the macho air industry guys asked, Who parks the plane?

    1. The difference is telling, Alec. One is my father, the other my grandson. Dad had his place WW2, trenches and Far East – perhaps grandson will have his online/AI – a different kind of war, equally damaging mentally if not physically.

  67. Update on Stepson.
    Had phone call from Hospital and apparently he had serious stomach aches with sweating.
    Has recovered and been sent home, so I'm going to pay him a visit tomorrow.

  68. Minty's Saga. Just back from the surgery. Blood tests. The young woman took enough to reanimate Dracula. ECG? Heart fine.

    2. Follow up blood test still high white cell count follow up call from doc who rattles off a list of symptoms (obviously from a screen) most of which I don't have
      Hmm she says we'll send the results to a specialist haematologist anyway and get back to you
      Curious I looked up the symptom list seems she was probing for Leukemia
      Eek

      1. Wish they'd be open about this stuff. We can handle it, and maybe even help out with info.

    3. Blood tests worked for me. GP phoned to ask me to report to A & E urgently as certain readings suggested a possible obstruction of bile duct causing various symptoms including jaundice.

      Tests and scans at Addenbrookes showed obstruction where a large gallstone had escaped the gall bladder and lodged in the vicinity of the bile duct. Endoscopy followed where a camera is inserted via the mouth and the stone broken up into pieces. Temporary pigtail stent inserted to maintain clear passage.

      A few days in hospital then allowed home under what is termed Virtual Ward. This VW equips you with Non-Contact Thermometer, Bluetooth Compatible Fingertip Pulse Oximeter and Automatic Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor. Readings are taken three times daily and communicated by personal Smart Phone to Virtual Ward nurse and technicians.

      Virtual Ward obviously frees a hospital bed. Medication comprises prescribed antibiotics in tablet form.

      Just given the all clear so returning to the care of GP.

      3. Excellent stuff.
        HG trained at Addenbrookes when it was still being built, an impressive place.

    1. What saddens me is that I have almost no photos of my Father, since I lived in boarding school, Universities and in London for work since I was eight years old, and barely had a chance. I have a very few Instamatic pix, but they aren't worth anything, not like your dynamic one here, Rastus.
      And, of course, Firstborn has no photos of his Grandfather, whom Second Son never even met.

      1. Weren't you able to salvage any when you cleared out your mother's house? Didn't she have any family photos?

        1. Some. I guess they are in the roof. Problem is, I forget things these days, so where they were stored, I'm not sure.

          2. Indeed.
            A wet weekend needed. Just now, too much to do outside, that depends on the weather.

  70. We had good and bad project managers. The good ones were those who had done the technical work and were then moved to PM slots. Those who swanned in with an MBA were worse than useless. On a par with bringing in "generic" highly paid consultants, aka seagulls – fly in, crap on everything and leave a mess behind.

  71. We had good and bad project managers. The good ones were those who had done the technical work and were then moved to PM slots. Those who swanned in with an MBA were worse than useless. On a par with bringing in "generic" highly paid consultants, aka seagulls – fly in, crap on everything and leave a mess behind.

    1. The smug look that stasi gave the camera when he shut the door on that bloke! What have we become?

      1. 404359+ up ticks,

        Afternoon Per,

        They have greatly earned every ounce of disrespect we can muster.

    4. On what possible grounds have they arrested him? He’s causing no harm to anyone and is compledrowned out by the effing protesters

      I expect the police will say it was for his own protection. It’s bloody disgraceful.

      1. "Conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace"

        A well-tried catch-all. Doesn't apply, of course, to slammers.

        1. I thought it was "Conduct whereby a breach of the peace may be occasioned" – at least, that's what my Moriarty's Police Law tells me… but it dates from 1980 or so.

    5. Probably needs police protection from the savages.

      Why have plod not arrested the muslim terrorists? If they like pallyland so much, go live there.

    1. Very down to earth. No pun intended.
      Perhaps leave a few hundred quid for a few drinks in rememberence.

      1. Careful now, you're talking about economics – the most efficient distribution of resources. Labour won't understand that because… they don't understand anything.

          1. I remember Starmer being turfed out of a pub by the Landlord. I would hope that all Labour MP's suffer denial of service everywhere.

          2. Put a printed notice on the outside door. No labour required.

            If I were you Phizz I'd remove your comment above, we all know what they are, but you could easily end up in trouble matey.

    4. Those two misery makers should not be behind a pub bar but behind prison bars.

      They and their vengeful lefty commie bastard government are intent on making our ordinary lives miserable in any way and by any means they can prosecute.

      1. I do wish a Paki taxi driver would do his stuff with them , drive them around the block a few times and , get his mates waiting at the other end .. I want those ghastly sluts to feel what little girls go through at the hands of mussie monsters ..

    1. Well let us hope it takes enough votes from Labour at the next GE. But watch out Future!

      1. 404359+ up ticks,

        Afternoon A,

        Does that mean that once an application is made it cannot be replied for ?

    5. Excellent. Best news all year.
      1/ Brings the baked-in civil war three steps closer..
      2/ Splits the Moronic Leftie Islam aliance in two..
      3/ Puts in writing all the Islamic policy stuff we already knew for the hard of hearing..

      Love the logo too.

    6. Excellent. Best news all year.
      1/ Brings the baked-in civil war three steps closer..
      2/ Splits the Moronic Leftie Islam aliance in two..
      3/ Puts in writing all the Islamic policy stuff we already knew for the hard of hearing..

      Love the logo too.

    7. "We will make sure that all problems which linger [sic] in the great country of Great Britain is defeated”.
      It would be nice if these "minorities" accepted that they are EXACTLY THAT. "Minorities" and realised that they must never be allowed to become the "Tail the wags the dog."

  77. Wordle No. 1,395 3/6

    ⬜🟩⬜⬜🟨
    🟩⬜⬜🟩🟩
    🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

    Wordle 14 Apr 2025

    A topknot for Birdie Three?

    1. Yes, lucky today.

      Wordle 1,395 3/6

      ⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
      🟨🟨⬜🟨🟨
      🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

    2. Surprisingly I could only think of two options after my fruitful first guess, and I guessed right… McIlroy-esque Eagle!!

      Wordle 1,395 2/6

      🟨⬜🟨🟨🟨
      🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

    4. I am not as clever as G3 and could only think of one option

      Wordle 1,395 2/6

      🟨🟨⬜🟨🟨
      🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

    5. Well done, same here.

      Wordle 1,395 3/6

      ⬜🟩⬜🟩🟨
      ⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
      🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

    6. I've had a really good week – in the last 7 days:
      2 2 4 3 3 2 2

      Wordle 1,395 2/6

      🟩⬜🟩⬜🟩
      🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

      2. Really well done Rusty.
        Wordle 1,395 3/6

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

  78. Why are we sitting on tons of coal and coke , yet waiting for ships to arrive from God knows where to keep the coke and coal flowing .. How many weeks does it take to import ship loads of the stuff as it comes round Cape of Good Hope from …where?

    1. Oh dear – you're applying reason and logic to a Liebour policy – bound not to make sense!

    3. Think of all of the nice clean exhaust fumes from the boats carrying the coal. Absolute madness to satisfy a politicians net zero ego.

      We face the same idiocy in Canada with the government preventing local driving for oil and gas in favour of importing from muddle eastern countries. That really helps!

    4. Are you talking about stockpiles of already mined stuff, secreted away somewhere, just in case, or what's still in the ground and which would take many months of effort before a single nugget could be extracted?

      1. We were stupid to get into this avoidable mess, and we must do what is necesary to to avoid repeating the error. Kinda think you knew that, Stig.

    5. Because we are an increasingly stupid species who vote for more and more stupid politicians.

      If you don't believe we are increasingly more stupid, then look at our population levels. Four-and-a-half million years to reach 2.5 billion, then just 70 years to quadruple that!

      1. Grizzly , your daddy was a miner?

        How did his job affect his health , did he talk about his job?

        A retired miner walks past my house .. he is my age , but bent over nearly double , he walks to the shop for a chatter and to pick up the paper, he takes his little dog with him , a Jack Russell .. We wave and sometimes have a chat .. Barnsley!!!!! Yes he said he had a hard job .

        1. I think his heavy smoking habit affected his health far worse than mining dust, Maggie. Having said that, on his Post Mortem he was found to have suffered from pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, the miners' lung disease. He died at age 82. He'd had both knee joints replaced just after his early retirement at age 60.

          1. Poor man , but he did well , or did he suffer for long?

            Here , those of us who had Covid were called to do breathing tests , and offered inhalers , I get very short of breath but am coping fairly well.

            Everyone is being given the label COPD who caught Covid .. but how do we know that the early vaccinations were not full of strange micro things .. and are causing alot of people trouble?

          2. Well, I watch MB moving rather more slowly than he use to and suffering from a lack of oomph …. fortnight after his first jab, he had a myocardial infarction.

          3. He didn’t show signs of suffering but he had a hacking smoker’s cough for as long as I knew him. Especially at night!

  80. Can any of you remember me mentioning our coal fire and the shortage of British coal before the ban for burning it came in 2 or three years ago .. and when we ordered some more for the winter , the next supply came from Kazakhstan.

    It is a significant global coal producer, ranking among the top 10 largest coal producers and holders of coal reserves. The country's coal production is primarily used for domestic energy consumption, with nearly 70% of electricity generated from coal. Coal mining in Kazakhstan is a key industry, with the Bogatyr mine, located near Ekibastuz, being the largest single-site coal mine in the world.

    https://www.iea.org/countries/kazakhstan/coal

      1. Strong stuff.
        Incidentally, Jesus on the cross appears to have been erased from the Church of England. Nobody puts images of the crucifixion into parish literature like orders of service, parish magazine etc. Instead, anodyne little logos that incorporate the cross, with no figure on it, are preferred. Slick professional designs trump raw suffering.

        Look at your parish magazine for April – does it have an image of Jesus on the cross in it? I'd be interested to know.

        1. I fear that the CofE no longer believes that Jesus existed. Or, if he did, is worth remembering. He was a Jew, of course….

          1. They want to forget anything that doesn’t conform to the marxist view of the world. Crucifixion, satan, large parts of the OT…sanitised away.

        2. No, not even on the Good Friday advert. We do have Easter eggs aplenty though. Mind you, since Passion Sunday all our crucifixes have been shrouded.

          2. I am rather surprised by the lack of crucifixion images in our parish mag because we are a High Church congregation.

  82. That's me done. Spent an hour fiddling about in the greenhouse. Tomorrow an interesting lecture at the local Arts Society on the techniques of painting in the 15th to 18th centuries. The lecturer is extremely good and popular.

    Have a jolly evening. We were so disappointed by the "visit" to Troy by the infuriating Alice Roberts. One of the oldest known settlements in the world and she sits in a café with an elderly Turk who said he used to play there as a boy and would she like to look at his book. All done in five minutes. I'd like to tie her to a chair and force her to watch one of her programmes and count the number of times she says, "Yeah"……

    A demain. With luck.

  83. I just read that the French are drawing up plans to send illegal refugees to an isolated, bleak and cold Atlantic island.
    But haven’t they been doing exactly that already with the dinghy boat crossings since the pandemic?

  85. Last night at 19:49, CJ7 laid her first egg of the 2025 season! After lots of courtship, fish handovers, nest building, mating and the odd intrusion by another Osprey(!) we now have the first egg at the Careys Secret Garden nest.
    This is fantastic news and 2 days earlier than last year. We'll expect the next eggs to be laid 3 days apart, so Wednesday could be when we see the next one. The average time for the eggs to hatch is 37 days although the first egg often takes 40 days, due to delayed incubation. So, we're looking at hatching between 20th-23rd May! Since egg-laying both CJ7 and 022 have been dutifully brooding.
    Our Carey Osprey Tours start this Wednesday, offering the exclusive chance to come and see the nesting pair and now their first egg in person! If you're lucky you could even witness the next eggs being laid. Now that we have our first egg, CJ7 will be spending almost all of her time at the nest as she begins to brood, so it's a great time to come and see the Carey Ospreys. You can find out more and book on our website here.
    https://www.birdsofpooleharbourbookings.co.uk/home/ospreys

  87. Today's Travels of the Bonsall Bob, part 2:-
    After decamping from the White Hill carpark, adjacent to Watership Down, I drove to the tiny village of Hannington and was able to park up in the pub carpark.
    There I spent an absolutely FREEZING night because of the continuing cold and it was not a lot better in the morning as the sky clouded over and prevented the Sun from warming things up.
    However, after my morning porridge and mug of tea, I was defrosted enough to photograph the tiny and quite delightful village church.
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/91d35a9bfdf9c96b9ae6122dc5ead7af8a98b0feefd0c91bce435782b47ffc84.jpg On a side note because of an accident closure of the M1, I'd detoured cross country to the A5 made a stop in Hinkley where I saw a very nice Nikon fit Sigma 18-200mm lens and most of my photos on the trip were taken with that. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c08f255e590168812febdba5eeca950e62792f8fb2a974b0adbbfd5530079581.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c005906530c9f4fbd741b6d4597001b0cf11fb2e927871e8e567b841ccca9874.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/40236a34c6e17a591b8ba1f21ab42bd09c23a798f9fe600a0787bbdbccee9245.jpg The small windows have some lovely decorative bits https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f0704caca12945a8bd8b84664c81476b2b8e1fb2210a493aef8bf3c3350aa935.jpg Some of which are rather weathered https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e818206f89ddceef70eae72c7291d619c431dd25799b40d4544d25f7bf7fefb5.jpg And some very traditional of graves https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c3351b105cc9eae2706e866f78ddc6a4e44f0b9326fdb95e34ec3a8a0a4e1d4d.jpg And with this one, the thought that Angello Carmine Mario Nocella was, perhaps, an Italian POW who stayed here after WW2 came to mind https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/34a13d39731cc76e5870e38aef56fb53091b172405f829f9890aa4dc55edd0d7.jpg

    1. Lovely, Bob.
      Looks really old, the size, and the very narrow windows, plus the flints.
      That Church must have seen some sights.

    2. Looks like it. Dates would fit. There was a girl in my junior school whose father was an Italian PoW.

    4. Apart from installing a diesel heater, you could try a pop-up tent inside the van; assuming that you use a sleeping bag on top of a normal mattress. Or perhaps some insulation?

  88. Today's Travels of the Bonsall Bob, part 2:-
    After decamping from the White Hill carpark, adjacent to Watership Down, I drove to the tiny village of Hannington and was able to park up in the pub carpark.
    There I spent an absolutely FREEZING night because of the continuing cold and it was not a lot better in the morning as the sky clouded over and prevented the Sun from warming things up.
    However, after my morning porridge and mug of tea, I was defrosted enough to photograph the tiny and quite delightful village church.
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/91d35a9bfdf9c96b9ae6122dc5ead7af8a98b0feefd0c91bce435782b47ffc84.jpg On a side note because of an accident closure of the M1, I'd detoured cross country to the A5 made a stop in Hinkley where I saw a very nice Nikon fit Sigma 18-200mm lens and most of my photos on the trip were taken with that. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c08f255e590168812febdba5eeca950e62792f8fb2a974b0adbbfd5530079581.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c005906530c9f4fbd741b6d4597001b0cf11fb2e927871e8e567b841ccca9874.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/40236a34c6e17a591b8ba1f21ab42bd09c23a798f9fe600a0787bbdbccee9245.jpg The small windows have some lovely decorative bits https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f0704caca12945a8bd8b84664c81476b2b8e1fb2210a493aef8bf3c3350aa935.jpg Some of which are rather weathered https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e818206f89ddceef70eae72c7291d619c431dd25799b40d4544d25f7bf7fefb5.jpg And some very traditional of graves https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c3351b105cc9eae2706e866f78ddc6a4e44f0b9326fdb95e34ec3a8a0a4e1d4d.jpg And with this one, the thought that Angello Carmine Mario Nocella was, perhaps, an Italian POW who stayed here after WW2 came to mind https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/34a13d39731cc76e5870e38aef56fb53091b172405f829f9890aa4dc55edd0d7.jpg

    1. Credit where credit is due:
      Guitar: a Masaki Sakurai (Maestro-Custom, 2011)
      Performed with: Jakarta Simfonia Orchestra
      Conductor: Billy Kristanto.
      Venue: Aula Simfonia, Jakarta.
      The guitarist is Yakub E. Kartawidjaja; he was born in September, 1971 in Bandung, Indonesia.
      Pursuing God’s call to be a fulltime minister, he studied theology at Sekolah Tinggi
      Teologi Reformed Injili Internasional, Jakarta, Indonesia.
      …
      Yakub is vicar at Gereja Reformed Injili
      Indonesia, and is also a fulltime lecturer at STT Reformed Injili Internasional, Jakarta,
      Indonesia. He is married to Josephine and is the father of Odelia.

  90. From a post by egyppius:
    :Yesterday, on Caren Miosga’s godforsaken talkshow, Merz enthused about how he hoped to make oil and gas less affordable for ordinary Germans. He just sat there … and repeated the phrase “more expensive” over and over. It was insane, I have never seen anything like it.
    "To begin with, these things will become more expensive for everyone. And that is a mechanism that we have jointly agreed on, the carbon pricing – which, by the way, does not only come from Germany, but also from Europe…" (Merz)

    from me: Should be good for another five percentage points for the AfD in the polls. I am now wondering whether it's some kind of deep state plan to blame Germany for everything again.
    1. Provoke ordinary Germans like this until they vote AfD
    2. Declare that the Nazis are threatening Europe again and have a war against Germany.
    Sorted!

  91. Those of you with long memories will recall i cooked a very large chicken yesterday for tea, and then made some stock with it.

    Returned home from work to a delicious chicken, mushroom and bacon pie, with leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch. Yum!

  92. Those of you with long memories will recall i cooked a very large chicken yesterday for tea, and then made some stock with it.

    Returned home from work to a delicious chicken, mushroom and bacon pie, with leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch. Yum!

    1. Why is that regarded as being so difficult?
      I'm certainly not a musician, but I think I've heard much more complex pieces.

      1. Dunno.
        I can't even work out how a guitar works… maybe it's the playing with the left hand?

        1. That's clever playing, instead of using a pick or his fingernails he's plucking with his right thumb and using his right fingers for the note and playing other notes with his left fingers (there's a name for that which escapes me). The only other person I've seen doing that is Mark Knopfler although I believe Chet Atkins and Segovia could play like that. Difficult to do

          1. Thank you for an explanation.
            Ignoring electric sound systems, I assume there's an enormous difference between acoustic, classical and electric guitars?

            One of my very many regrets is never having learned to play a musical instrument. My parents bought me a violin when I was very young and it put me off for life, all I could produce in the way of music was "castrating a cat"

          2. Acoustic guitars are not fed through an amp and rely on the soundbox to attenuate the sound, Classical guitars are acoustic although the non purists may use pick-ups to amplify the sound and electric guitars are any guitar which uses a pick-up(s) and an amplifier. There are also acoustic electric guitars which are acoustic guitars fitted with a pick-up and often an equaliser and tuner built in.

      2. Lots of manual dexterity (or, as it’s the left hand, sinisterity) required as well as coordination between both hands.

    2. I used to be able to play that on the Stylophone – sponsored by Rolf Harris – oh…. hang on……

    1. And the pithead baths is a supermarket now… Max can get a little maudlin, but he's best when he sticks to Rugby and he can be very funny – I've seen him live and he's a very warm character…..

  96. Anyone who understands my comment is dating themselves.
    Watching the landing of 5 airheads and witnessing all the shrieking and posturing, my immediate thought was "Oh, dear, Professor Peabody, was this the inevitable outcome of your career?"

    1. I thought there was 6 of them? Did you mean 5 airheads and Lauren Sanchez?

      I also thought it might be Jeff B's wildly circuitous attempt to circumvent what is probably an eye-watering pre-nup……. didnt work this time!

      1. There was a squad of scrawny, big lipped females squawking and posturing. I lost count … and the will to live.

    2. Ah! Created as the feminine interest for Dan Dare!

      Professor Peabody (Prof. Jocelyn Mabel Peabody), the only major female, was the brains behind many of the team's most inventive plans.

    4. It's both underwhelmingly irritating and commercially necessary at the same time. If a party of trained NASA female astronauts had been on the flight, there would have been a footnote in the press and a collective public shrug. A party of "celebrities" doing the same briefly weightless flight attracts vast amounts of media coverage.

      If space tourism is to succeed, it requires "celebrities" to spark enough media and public interest to generate emulation amongst the sufficiently wealthy. A Nasa astronaut does it… meh; Katy Perry does it… wow, amazing, fantastic, how can I do the same?, how much does it cost?

      If a Kardashian can be persuaded to float her hair in space for a few minutes, profitable space tourism can be almost assured. I think it dismaying but it's the way the world works.

      I gather that a British version of the Kardashians is about to be launched. Called the Bardsleys, it features Tanya Bardsley and her family. She found "fame" as a "friend" of "The Real Housewives Of Cheshire" and is married to retired footballer, Phil Bardsley. Such are the foundations of talent, skill, intelligence and entertainment on which
      modern "celebrity" is based. And it works. I still remember Janice Nicholls for saying, "Oi'll give it foive" on Thank Your Lucky Stars. Female NASA astronauts, not so much.

      i can fully understand Katy Perry's personal exhilaration but, please, pass the sick bag.

      https://youtu.be/OYNOdWOlNfM?si=Q7Db_QZ3SY9scLQg

  97. A test for Nottlers. Do any of you use Chrome as your browser? When I try to jump to the top or bottom of the day's page using Ctrl+Home or Ctrl+End, nothing happens. MS Edge works OK, Firefox sometimes. I suspected some Disqus buggery or a worn-out keyboard until I used Edge. The other possibility is that my Chrome installation is knackered.

    PS You will need to have clicked on 'Load more comments' a few time to get enough of the day's material to test it.

        1. Safari here. Chrome takes far too long to load on a Mac. I guess it's all the reporting back to the mothership that takes the time.

    2. I use Chrome, never had any problems with it. Mind you I've disabled most of the Microsoft crap that came with the PC

          5. What do you mean by no need to? I was just hoping that some other members could confirm or deny that they can reproduce the fault.

    3. Remember that Chrome has just updated to manifest v3, or the 'you're going to see ads, damn you' version.

      There may be javascript changes in there to do with page rendering. Also there's the infuriating 'click to load' daftness that whoever implemented it should be fired from a cannon.

  98. It has turned really cold and miserable here. Hardly any sun, spattering of rain, very cold wind. I have put the light on so I can see what I’m doing and I have given in and fired up the Rayburn.

    2. Perhaps this is the cold snap we usually get in early May?

      Temperatures here have fallen by 10°+ from recent days, there's an almighty thunderstorm and lots of rain.

      1. It’s been cold here, even when sunny, for the last few weeks, mainly because of the wind. Today we’ve got the wind, 9/10ths cloud and some light rain. Brrr!

    3. It was perishing when I was outside an hour or two ago. Not nice at all. We desperately need some rain but it was a very cold wind today.

  99. Wonder if he will deduct everything he has already paid out to turn her into a Barbie look alike, from any pre-nup amount.

    I.e., breasts, lips, rhinoplasty and numerous "nips and tucks".

  100. Popping in to say that I'm happy today!

    Paintings going well,

    One of my teachers said he'd love to dance with me in a milonga – quote "We'd set the place on fire" 🤣. He had a big career on stage, so that's not nothing for someone who's only been dancing for a couple of years. 🙂

    My landlady and I renegotiated our contract for the next six months. I had been dreading the conversation as inflation in the past year was about 45%, and as the peso has held steady on the exchange markets, everything has become much more expensive for me. However she turns out to be the world's worst negotiator, hamstrung by the fact that she likes me 🤣, and managed to drive herself down from a 15% increase to 10%…

    And what's more, the weather is perfect.

    So sending smiles to you all from Buenos Aires!!

    Katy x

    2. Great stuff.
      Just a thought: a painting to say thank you, might make her love you even more.
      We have a gardener handyman, he really enjoys working here, four hours a week; he hasn't changed his fee in nearly 15 years.

      We always try to find an implement from the UK for his garden.

    4. Out of genuine interest, what's Milei like 'on the ground'? I'm an advocate of his shredding the state and cutting taxes but there are obvious consequences for that in the short term.

      Are his reforms working? Are they making life better? Worse?

      1. Well, the stabilisation of the peso against the dollar is good for the country, but a bugger for me. And he has brought the rate of inflation down, but it’s still rampant. Jury is out.

    1. I remember them well. There was Lily the Pink and Thankyou Very Much – their two biggest hits if I recall cotrectly.

      And, tada, I do know what the Aintree Iron was.

      3. That's well done, is it different from the Aintree Iron, NOT aka Brian Epstein?

        This was in response to an online debate a few years ago:

        AS I actually wrote "Thank U very much for the Aintree Iron" for Scaffold, I trust that I'm the best judge as to the authenticity of your readers' answers. Stephen Bold says that he once heard me define the Aintree Iron as "iron hoof: poof", ie Brian Epstein, "a resident of Aintree". I suggest he buys a hearing aid! I have never commented on Brian's sexuality, and I could never have said that he was a resident of Aintree, as he didn't live there. As for Neil Burgess, who says the Iron was a railway "gravitational marshalling yard" . . . what a load of grid iron! Sorry, Neil, you're light aeons away. As it's now coming up to 30 years since I created this mischievous little monster, I'd like to thank U all very much for your continuing curiosity, and look forward to the next 30 years of miles-off guesswork.
        Mike McCartney, (ex-McGear, ex-Scaffold), Liverpool

      4. Wasnt it the iron railings at Aintree racecourse that were taken down to be used in armaments in WW2?

    2. I remember them well. There was Lily the Pink and Thankyou Very Much – their two biggest hits if I recall cotrectly.

      And, tada, I do know what the Aintree Iron was.

    1. So sad that no one appears to have reviewed this. No wonder the PTB get away with 'murder'….. Good luck…!

  109. Listening to Tchaikovsky's Francesca da Rimini on BBC R3, a piece that is not played as much as it deserves and will be off to bed when it finishes.

    Good night all.

  110. Popping off after another busy day in the garden.
    I'm expecting it to rain tomorrow so perhaps I'll take the day off…… But there's a new roller blind to fix to the glazed back door. 🤔
    Good night all. 😴

  111. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/04/14/sewage-crackdown-drive-up-water-bills-ea-levy-pollution/

    Just reading this and about Unite's intent to spread strikes around the country for more pay. Labour haven't got a clue. They've no idea what to do as their ideology binds them to stupid decisions yet these are obviously counterproductive.

    Nothing works in this country because the Left stop it doing so. At every step they hinder, manipulate and break, stopping progress, efficiency and merit. We have far too many people in this country, most of far too little value yet Labour keep pouring them in and pushing the union nonsense.

    Socialism does not work. Overpopulation is a death knell. Those two evils combined are destroying this country.

    1. The last time the socialists were let rip with sixth form politics was also during a time of great economic unrest (1970s). Give the plebs something to cry about and less spare cash just as gold is on a giant bull run. I'm sure it's just a coincidence.

  112. I'd point out the bin strikes could be stopped by invoking the emergency powers act, disbanding the strike and making them go back to work – but Starmer simply won't do that.

    From:
    https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/explainer/government-emergency-powers-and-coronavirus

    The emergency powers under the Civil Contingencies Act have never been used.

    The Emergency Powers Act 1920 was invoked on 12 occasions, in each case during periods of industrial action. It was most recently used by the Conservative government during the energy crisis and coalminers’ strike in 1973.

    1. They could always do what Reagan did with the US air traffic controllers – sack the lot.

      2. Pretty much the only way to establish what a job is worth in terms of pay.

        Council sets the contract, with terms and conditions including penalty clauses for missing the service levels laid out – and then puts it out to tender.

        1. This is government. It applies all sorts of dribbling nonsense such as diversity quotas, human rights compliance (such as hiring women and diversity), you have to have policies thicker than a ream of paper – that are never read – just to tender.

          That limits who can apply as the cost of doing so simply isn't worth the hassle. Let's be honest, the contract will inevitably go to one of the big players who already have other contracts rendering the tender process pointless as Bob and Joe can't get a look in with their flat bed truck and can do attitude to buy a bin lorry.

          1. Sure – I can well image that, W! But even that is one step up from hamstringing yourself to a Union movement where the council employs the people directly.

            I was referring to a desire to move to a standard private sector SLA where the council clearly say what they need, and then outsources it with penalty clauses. But I take your point, their SLA could still include a whole bunch of crap that is irrelevant to the Job To Be Done.

          3. Hey Sue! Yup. And keep it broad so it can be handled in as ‘hands off’ a way as possible.

            “This contract applies for 52 weeks to the following bundles of postcodes (list them). You are free to bid for one or more bundles depending on your ability to deliver the services. Curbside collection for non-recyclables must happen once per week, and on the same day each week. Changes to days of collection will be permitted twice during this term – with 13 weeks notice. It is the responsibility of the successful bidder to determine the logistics of the collection times, and days, and to ensure the sourcing and maintenance of equipment and labour . Penalties for failure are as follows: etc etc”

            Throw it out to the market and let price/wage discovery do it’s thing.

  116. Well, chums, I'm now ready for bed. So Good Night to you all, sleep well, and I hope to see you all tomorrow.

  117. Have been awake since 3.30. Moh has had cramp in his leg , but he has overcome that and gone back to sleep.

    Now I have the pain that has blighted me for nearly 10 years , under my right rib , spasms , me sweating and heart racing and head thudding .

    Buscopan etc has made no difference , now sitting here with my cup of tea , and all I want to do is curl up and go back to sleep.

    I attended the monthly PC meeting last night .. main discussion, 20mph through parts of the village .

    Have any of you experience of that sort of restriction?

    1. Although regrettable, a 20 mph speed limit is better than speed humps or chicanes. The best solution is for the police to enforce a 30mph limit but that won’t happen.

    2. Depends on the village, and whether it is a through road. It's reasonable on side roads, not so much on through roads imo.

        1. I know of another one in the area that is the same; there is a primary school on the route. A bit bonkers that so many primary schools have been built on busy roads, and a couple of good crossings with attendants are a better solution imo.

    3. As well as a 20 restriction in the centre of Matlock, on my travels over the past couple of weeks, I've noticed many towns and small villages with a similar restriction through the centre.
      Depending on the road gradient I either leave the van in 4th, my usual gear for a 30 limit, and let the engine take me along at tickover, or if up an incline, drop into 3rd with very light throttle.

    4. We have a 30 approch and 20 mph speed limit through the centre of our village.
      The vast majority of people who are supposed to have passed a driving test obviously can't read it or understand what it means.
      Is your hubby taking statins TB ?
      I had a terrible experience with cramps caused by statins.

      1. Morning E,

        We are both on statins Eddy .

        He is type 2 diabetic, he played golf yesterday , I don't think he drinks enough, but… he pees maybe 6 times a night .

          2. Yes I agree, but it did reduce my cholesterol. Or so I was told….
            But I snap the tablets in half.
            And despite nearly everyone I know having the latest wonderful ‘spring advantage’ covid ‘vaccine’ I’m not.

      2. Statins nearly killed me and I wouldn’t entertain any of that in my body. I read a paper by a number of doctors who said statins could be the cause of peripheral neuropathy. I was diagnosed with that 10 or so years ago and that was followed my brief acquaintance with statins the would have destroyed my kidneys had I continued to take them.
        Following my reviews for the past couple of years I had a doctor phone me who said ‘I am obliged to recommend you take statins’. A strange word to use. I asked if she had read my experience with the dreaded things and she said yes. I then asked what my cholesterol levels were and she said ‘well Mr B their absolutely marvellous, only 3.6 and what sort of diet are you on?” I replied that I wasn’t but just eat healthily.
        I have now vowed not to take any drug the government of the day says you should. No statins no experimental injections, especially covid, and anything else they will try to control us with. They are not on our side they are all in the pocket of Big Pharma.

        1. I couldn't agree more Alf.
          I had a good friend who worked in the process of medical and pharmaceutical (PhD) research.
          A few years younger much fitter.
          Not long after the covid outbreak and all the jabs he had a heart attack was taken to hospital and died from a massive stroke.

          1. That’s really dreadful.
            One of my cousins sons died a couple of years ago. Very fit sporting man probably jabbed and boosted, as the rest of the family were, had two heart attacks the, whilst in hospital, had a massive stroke that killed him. Aged 55/56. Didn’t mention my thoughts to my cousin.

          2. The more people you talk to about all this the more obvious the intentions of ‘those at the top’ become.
            I had two other old friends who died as well. But they had been ill for sometime. But the reaction to the covid jabs might have finished them off.

  118. Comment in DT letters column

    S L Godfrey
    7 hrs ago
    You can vote in more than one local council election, when you have homes in different areas. You just can’t vote more than once in a general election.

    All those with second homes, should be able to vote – judging by comments made, most people don’t realise this. This is according to the UK Electoral Commission.

  119. Have I got this wrong ?

    Many villages and Towns will be commemorating 80years since the end of WW2, VE day in May .

    Will we be flying our flags for St George and Shakespeare on April 23rd.

    We now seem to be repressed and controlled by a new culture who kowtows to another heathen culture , whose presence in the UK has inflicted murder against many , implemented psychological damage and created a diversity against our Anglo Saxon heritage .

    Everywhere we are viewing less and less of us and more and more of them , even the Princess of Wales visiting the Lake District was escorted by some one different .

    We , according to media coverage are becoming less , and what are they giving us ?

    At least when the Romans invaded us , they provided us with amazing inventions and a rich culture

    1. Good morning Maggie. Hope you're feeling better.
      Yes.
      The minority tail has been wagging the British dog for far too long.

  122. Japanese Coal
    I was amused to see reports in the media of a shipment of "Japanese Coal" arriving for Scunthorpe.
    While Japan had numerous coal mines in the past, primarily in the 1960s, it no longer has any active domestic coal mines.
    Most of its coal comes from Australia, followed by Indonesia, Russia and the USA.

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