Monday 16 December: Labour’s massive housebuilding dream ignores important realities

Posted on by Geoff Graham

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

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

760 thoughts on “Monday 16 December: Labour’s massive housebuilding dream ignores important realities”

    1. Agreed, it is SO bluddy obvious. We ain't fooled, Starmer. The only course of action is to get RID of this corrupt govt.

      2. You vote your way into communism but you have to shoot your way out. Elections will be cancelled if the wrong party looks like winning.

          1. Thank you but I need the touchy feel of th disc, Jules.

            You will receive by 1st class post 1 x USB stick with all the files and instructions for installation and serial code for activation. Includes all the stuff you need.. Word Excel Powerpoint etc..

            You can thank my friend living in England or Wales.

    1. As I have said before Starmer's plan is to destroy the UK's economy and hasten the arrival of a communist state.

      We shall have to pay an enormous re-entry fee to get back into the EU and soon after we have done so the EU will collapse completely and the UK will be obliged to pay the lion's share of the demolition costs.

  6. Dear Geoff and the usual Nottlers, you are VERY early.

    Today, 16th December, is the second anniversary of my dear Wife's death after a long descent into Dementia.
    At the end she was put on the notorious Liverpool Pathway with all food and fluids withdrawn for 5 days.
    If you were caught doing this to an animal you would be prosecuted.
    In the circumstances I hope you will understand if I don't publish Today's Tales this morning.
    I shall return tomorrow.
    RC .

    2. They tried to stop giving fluids to my mother when she was agonisingly crying out for water in hospital after a stroke. I found it heartbreaking, found a doctor and insisted she was given water.

      She had ten more years of life.

      The family's verdict on whether or not I had done the right thing was not unanimous.

      1. That is cruelty.
        My mother was in a lot of pain, she was in a coma with so much morphine continuously injected when they suggested the Liverpool pathway. Why they could not have just given her a massive overdose and ended things a few days earlier, I do not understand.

    3. My sympathy RC, been there and got the T shirt a few years ago although they didn't withdraw food/fluids, it was just that she couldn't swallow – it was heartbreaking to see.

  7. UK makes ‘diplomatic contact’ with rebels running Syria and will send country £50m. 15 December 2024.

    Foreign Secretary announces humanitarian aid and says: ‘We want to see a representative government’

    I would like to see one here but it’s even less likely than Syria. This is a minor article and yet has a massive 2039 Comments. Most of them saying much the same thing. It does of course show you where UK pensioners lie in the Government’s thoughts.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/15/turkey-offers-train-syrian-rebels-islam-israel-war-kurds/

    1. The government cannot be so stupid as to not know that this is against the wishes of the taxpayer and the working family so it must be a deliberate smack in the face for the British people. They are traitors working for another person or nation and another objective. They must be stopped. At the moment Reform is the only solution. No other party has the interest of the ordinary citizens at heart. They are not the perfect solution but the only alternative to the corrupt and inept tools presently in charge.

      1. Well said.
        I've just copied that as a BTL with a minor edit to state that Reform seems to be the only solution.

  9. Labour’s massive house building dream ignores important realities

    Just another unachievable target designed to attract hours of mainstream media coverage, but the main reason is to take away more of our rights and freedoms to oppose building all over the countryside.

    1. 398878+ up ticks,

      Morning B3,
      I do believe that the quicker peoples realise we are a powerful, unstoppable, greater in number force when UNITED the better.

    3. Reminds me of the two Irishmen whose plane crashes in the Sahara.

      Looking about him Paddy says to Mick: "We'd better get out of here quick before we have to mix the cement!"

  10. Has Prince Andrew been stitched up with this spy story to protect and keep others out of the spotlight?

    3. Just copied and posted that as a BTL Comment:-

      R. Spowart 14 min ago Message Actions
      Picked up from NOTTL:-

      "Has Prince Andrew been stitched up with this spy story to protect and keep others out of the spotlight?"

      That sounds a reasonable theory as we've seen the same tactic before.

  11. 398878+ up ticks,

    Morning Each,
    Monday 16 December: Labour’s massive housebuilding dream ignores important realities

    should read,
    Monday 16 December: Labour’s massive housebuilding dream ignores the indigenous peoples feelings and concerns on the issue ,totally.

    This,what passes for a governing political party are light years ahead working on having subdued what remains of the native
    population concentrating on continuing to house the foreign replacements / guardians of the elite political overseers.

    Reality,
    Sticks and stones will hurt the leading S(tool) & co's bones, but names will never hurt them.

    In my book the time is nearly ripe for their true intentions to be openly revealed as shown by, instead of protecting the Channel beaches and the Channel itself they are saying they are stopping the boats at source, WHY not BOT?

    1. Never mind WHY not BOT?, Oggie, WHAT is BOT? British Overseas Trade? Barmy Officer Treacle? Blooming Obscure Twaddle? Befuddled Obstinate Triangle? (Good morning, btw.)

  13. 398878+ up ticks,

    DT,

    NHS under fire for suggesting ‘corridor care’ in crowded hospitals can be delivered safely
    Royal College of Medicine accuses latest guidance for treating patients in ‘cupboards’ of ‘normalising the dangerous’

    Another good reason for closing the Dover invasion beach head
    hundreds a day potential patients coming through.

    Pressing into being the use of corridors, cupboards , why not four tier high bunk beds, nurses on stilts etc.etc.

  14. Good morning, all. Heavy overcast, dry and breezy here this morning.

    The incompetents running the current shit-show clearly know this. One of the very few things that they have learned from history and have decided to inflict on the people. Bastards!
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3242e7839465827e44a2d4220a6b86e5c50e145c43eb15c965fa65e3340a1f72.png
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    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/28bc7329e904797e581d8b4618cfc7debe6b800323abd3b81ee984cc1c82a4fe.png
    A version of the 12" pianist joke!
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/19fde2cd5286c86aed626f705d44f7b644196e7d9622ac8b2e70f0b17c074ab9.png

    1. Yes there was a big hoo-ha at the time about Harman and Hewitt's association with PIE (Paedophiles' Information Exchange) which wanted the age of sexual consent reduced to 12

      There were denials and retractions of course but some of the mud still stuck.

  18. Good morning, chums. And thank you, Geoff, for today's NoTTLe page.

    Wordle 1,276 6/6

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  19. Back to being serious on FSB today, with the story of the choices and dilemma faced by decent, law-abiding Germans in the 1930s. The Parable of the Good German l ooks at the background to the dilemma, and asks when, or if, civil disobedience or even violence can ever be justified against a legal but dictatorial government. We have a poll on these questions.

    We have been asked why we are making a fuss about Christmas. Well, apart from the religious aspect, it’s a British tradition and one to be defended against the dark forces who would like to see it stopped. That’s why. And so today we have another short Christmas story, an amusing one by Rachmal Crompton , famous for her delicious Just William books.

    Please read and let us know what you thing. And don’t forget any feedback on what we do and what you think we should do is always appreciated.

    And if you haven't already done so, please sign up for our newsletters.

    freespeechbacklash.com

    1. We have a complete collection of the Richmal Crompton William books and last year I found a collection of her other stories and writings on line which I gave to Caroline at Christmas.

      1. I fondly remember reading the William books. One author whom I enjoyed around the same time was Anthony Buckeridge and his Jennings books but I haven't seen them around for decades.

    2. All the lights and jollity when its cold and dark, and there's bugger-all daylight to look forward to, is a booster. Good reason to maintain Christmas / Jul as any.

  20. Good morning all.
    It's still not full daylight yet but another overcast and dry start to the day. 10°C on the New Yard Thermometer with a maximum of 12.8° and minimum of 10° for yesterday.

    1. Lovely warm day here today. Blew a hooley big as a bastard last night, now all the cold has gone, snow is ice, and the sun is shining.

  21. I see that £ 46 million has been set aside for a memorial to be built in honour of our wonderful Queen Elizabeth II.

    I note a similar sum has just been frivolously awarded to our new friends in Syria

    But I expect they will no doubt choose some weirdo that will make some woke monstrosity that nobody will want to look at with that sort of money involved.
    Especially when they could have given double bubble to Syria instead.

    1. We all ready give away millions in over seas aid. Mugabe and many others became millionaire's. From government stupidity.

  22. Morning all 🙂😊
    A promising start to the day, there must be something wrong.
    I expect the government are going to tell us they've trained all the illegal invaders to be ground workers, carpenter's, brick layers plumbers and electricians, plasterers etc.
    Well done Wackell, (Rachel).
    Gawd 'elp our country and its future.

  24. 398878+ up ticks,

    The shake up, reshaping, manipulating of local councils culling some and creating more Lord Mayors.I believe will NOT be inclusive of white indigenous peoples, lots more little kahns will be activated.

    1. Being employed because they are inherently good at effing up everything they come into contact with.

  25. What an incredible weekend.
    Two memorial ceremonies for recently lost folk.
    Yesterday's 'celebration of life' in the local church was rather special as it was for my BIL it's amazing how many people he knew and how popular he was.
    Lovely to see so many people there and hear similar memories.
    A good and popular all rounder, who during his national service in the navy was a witness to the first atomic bomb explosion in the Pacific. The government of the day were experimenting with lives back then.
    The celebration carried on at the local golf club. There must have been a hundred people there. And fittingly it ended as the sun went down in all its coloured glory. RIP BP.

  26. Доброе утро, товарищи,

    It's cloudy here at Castle McPhee in the Hants/West Berks borderlands, wind South-West, 10-11℃ all day.

    A Merry Thought for the Day:

    What has happened to the disappearing Rishi Sunak? Why is he so quiet? Can he be writing his memoirs already or having someone ghost-write them from his recorded narration? What is our 44-year-old ex-Prime Minister up to? Isn't it extraordinary that we actually have an EX- PRIME MINISTER who is just 44 years old? Why is he an ex-Prime Minister already when he didn't have to call an election so early?

    That answer is obvious. Being a WEFFER he knew the agenda. He knew about the planned attack on pensioners which we have seen. He knew about the land-grab disguised as the imposition of inheritance tax on family farms. He knows what the organised invasion of fighting-age men from uncivilised parts of the world is about. He knows the whole nation-destroying plan of the WEF/UN in Agenda 21. He knows all of this. And , because he's not a very good communist, he decided he didn't want to be a part of it. The way out was to hold an early election and hand over to real communists who would have no compunction in carrying it all out.

    His replacement, Badenoch, also knows what the agenda is and, while she will say some things to indicate she may row back to keep the Tory rank and file in order, she is comfortable about it. How do we know she actually won the leadership election? How do we know the result wasn't rigged? Since she self-identified as Nigerian and is in favour of mass migration, which no true English, Welsh, Scot or Irish man or woman can support, is her role to ensure the final destruction of the Conservative Party?

    1. IMO the Tories were following the agenda e.g. mass immigration of a demographic inimical to our culture; an attack on farming by advertising the opportunity for farmers to retire early; promoting so-called different but now, in their eyes, acceptable lifestyles, including gender dysphoria; Net Zero crapology and more. The Tories failure was in the slow approach they took; ergo they had to go.

      Edited. Andrew Bridgen's views.

      https://x.com/SaiKate108/status/1868220046750658901

    2. More precisely, she identifies as Yoruban, a people of southern Nigeria. A report in Nigeria's Daily Post makes clear that she does not look kindly on northern Nigeria nor on some aspects of the country as a whole.

      "Leader of the United Kingdom, UK, Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, says she identifies more with the Yoruba ethnic group than the Nigerian entity.

      Badenoch made this statement in an interview with the Spectator, a weekly British political and cultural news magazine.

      This comes amid a simmering identity row, after her previous criticisms of Nigeria’s governance terrain and society, which triggered backlash and reignited debates over her ties to the country.

      Born to Nigerian Yoruba parents in the UK, Badenoch’s last name changed after she married a Scottish banker.

      She returned and grew up in Nigeria, and finally left Nigeria for the UK when she turned 16 years old.

      Badenoch had described Nigeria as a socialist nation brimming with thieving politicians and insecurity, a statement which sparked many reactions.

      DAILY POST recalls that Vice-President Kashim Shettima faulted her over the comment, urging her to change her first name if she no longer wants to identify with her homeland.

      While speaking to the Spectator, Badenoch said she had nothing in common with people from northern Nigeria, a region Vice-President Shettima hails from, adding that she is proud of her Yoruba ancestry, which has given her a very strong identity.

      “I find it interesting that everybody defines me as being Nigerian. I identify less with the country than with the specific ethnicity (Yoruba. That’s what I really am.

      “I have nothing in common with the people from the north of the country, Boko Haram area, where the Islamism is. Those were our ethnic enemies and yet you end up being lumped in with those people.

      “Somebody once told me when I was very young that my surname was a name for people who were the warriors,” she said.

      Reacting to her depiction of Nigeria, a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode had told her that Nigeria does not need her."

      https://dailypost.ng/2024/12/14/im-yoruba-have-nothing-in-common-with-north-kemi-badenoch/

      1. They're not theories, they're speculations based on the knowledge that both Sunak and Badenoch have attended Davos and both main political parties are bought and paid for by big business, and Starmer is a member of the Trilateral Commission. Do you not agree on that?

  27. Surprise, surprise, went to hang out the washing and the overcast has disappeared leaving clear blue sky. My first look and Al-Beeb's forecast turned on their heads for the moment. 30 minutes later and cloud building from the south. Bloody Climate Change!😒

    Only a poll. Just the start? Independent?

    I doubt that deep down the so-called leaders of the Labour party are surprised by this, after all, it's their policy to flood the Country with foreign nationals, especially moslems. Labour MPs and councillors will be sacrificed on the twin altars of mass immigration and diversity by their "leaders". Clearly, not all Cabinet members are equal.

    https://x.com/Basil_TGMD/status/1868429325063569868

    1. The country is going to be riven by the invader and Reform at some point. They cannot be permitted a toe hold in parliament, council or even local government.

      1. 2029 election will see a lot more invader MPs, as Labour won't even be able to pretend that they can benefit that demographic.

        1. They're doing well enough so far. Labour just pour money down the drain of the gimmigrant and they've everywhere. The problem is the few who work are not paying enough to spport themselves, let alone the countless millions who do nothing.

    2. The country is going to be riven by the invader and Reform at some point. They cannot be permitted a toe hold in parliament, council or even local government.

    2. This Labour shower believe we, the British people, have deep pockets when foreigners and grandiose money gobbling schemes are involved but they display short arms when the British people e.g. pensioners on low incomes and farmers are involved.

      1. 398878+ up ticks,

        Morning KtK,
        I am in no doubt of it, these odious political overseers are out to break us and with continuing help from the majority voter they could very well succeed

      2. They don't care how deep our pockets are, or aren't. If the people haven't got the money to spaff on their virtue-signalling leftie schemes, they will simply sell us all into slavery.

    3. These rebels are al quaeda. They're rampagingly violent, hard Left nut job muslim.

      Why are we giving them money when we should be handy out dodgy pagers?

  29. Reposted from late last night

    Monday 16th December, 2024

    Plum

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f15108925be65a9a2608d8e25edca14c950fe7218c958fddb1d38927a117d0b9.png

    We hope all is well with you. You are very much missed here

    With our fond best wishes.

    Caroline and Rastus

    We hope you are still enjoying Howard Spring's novels many of which are set in Cornwall. And we remember how much you loved the Beatles' music and especially these songs of George Harrison:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQetemT1sWc
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UelDrZ1aFeY

        1. When she visited the site we often exchanged views. We shared a love of Cornwall and the Beatles' songs. She adored George Harrison and was a great fan of Howard Spring's novels. Indeed she recommended The Houses in Between and I bought a second-hand copy on line from Abe Books. Crystal Palace was symbolic in this story in that you could see The Crystal Palace from Westminster Bridge were it not for the fact that the houses in between blocked the view.

          We do hope she is well. I believe she has had a certain amount of tragedy in her life.

    3. Grattis på födelsedagen, Plum-Tart.

      Hope you're enjoying a good 'un (with lots of George Harrison playing in the background).😊👍🏻🥂🎂

    1. 398878+ up ticks,

      O2O,
      More facts from the old fruitcake,

      Richard Braine
      @AgainBraine
      ·
      5m
      Replying to
      @Concern70732755
      This is xenolatry: foreigner worship. If a country's establishment consists of xenolaters, it isn't a country any more.

    2. When you read about Brexit, really read abut it it becomes obvious it was just a political point scoring content. Neither side cared about the country. To these school boys it was just a game of oneupmanship to stay in post for the next non-job.

      1. 398878+ up ticks,

        Among the faux political elite no doubt, they have been a coalition these past four decades.

      2. 398878+ up ticks,

        Among the faux political elite no doubt, they have been a coalition these past four decades.

  31. Good morning all

    Breezy start to the day , 10c.

    The golfer golfs ..

    My car passed it's MOT last week , and Moh's old Laguna is due MOT tomorrow , it rattles a bit , still a nice car though, I love the heated seats.

    Excellent boot space , back seats come down beautifully enough to fit several sets of golf gear .. plus added bonus of enough room for stuff destined for the tip. The boot also accommodates furniture like chest of drawers etc

    2. The more he stays away the better.
      Better still, take his Cabinet of vindictive deadbeats with him.
      I'm sure we'll cope.

      1. Hmm, I wonder whether his luck will run out … as his airmiles build up .

        Where is that seagull or goose when you need him .. sadly not at 35,000ft though!

      2. Yes, but no where where people are. Let's send him somewhere he can't ruin this country, like Argentina where he can watch Milei doing the exact opposite of his moronic policies and see why he's wrong every day.

    3. Not surprised. He's desperate to keep buying their gas and electricity via interconnectors.

      If they stop selling to us in preference to their own needs we're stuffed.

    1. We've been sending aid to Africa for 60+ years and still they have cows pissing in their drinking water.

      2. Many members of my family made their lives in Africa.

        Foreign aid from Britain was called :

        Mercedes Money

        as it enabled the African rulers to buy fleets of expensive Mercedes Benz motor cars in which to drive around in state and pomp. Ironic that they bought German cars rather that Rolls Royces or Bentleys!

      3. Many members of my family made their lives in Africa.

        Foreign aid from Britain was called :

        Mercedes Money

        as it enabled the African rulers to buy fleets of expensive Mercedes Benz motor cars in which to drive around in state and pomp. Ironic that they bought German cars rather that Rolls Royces or Bentleys!

      4. That they're still doing that shows that by giving them money all we do is hinder their development.

        We should simply leave them alone – however painful that will be.

    2. Doesn't it show just how inadequate the vast majority of our MPs are when a chap enters Parliament in his 60s with a lifetime if success outside politics behind him?

      I think there should be a joint leadership of the Reform Party where Lowe uses his common sense and business acumen on policy decisions and Farage uses his 'charisma' and oratorial skills to sell the Party's policies to the public.

      My worry is that Farage finds it difficult to share the limelight with anyone else.

      Shakespeare understood that some leaders resent the success of others. Ventidius (In Antony and Cleopatra) knows that a soldier should do well – but not too well as it is unwise to outshine the boss.

      Who does i’ th’ wars more than his captain can
      Becomes his captain’s captain; and ambition,
      The soldier’s virtue, rather makes choice of loss
      Than gain which darkens him.
      I could do more to do Antonius good,
      But ’twould offend him, and in his offense
      Should my performance perish.

    1. Don't forget Lammy is doing his bit for lefties over here too. Just announced £50 million to aid the new Syrian Isis régime while worrying a tad about terrorists from there coming over here.

  35. The sale of Royal Mail’s parent company to the Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský has been approved by the UK government after a review under national security laws.

    A £3.6bn takeover of International Distribution Services (IDS) – the owner of the 508-year-old Royal Mail – by Křetínský’s EP Group was confirmed on Monday morning.

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/dec/16/royal-mail-takeover-daniel-kretinsky-uk-ids#:~:text=The%20sale%20of%20Royal%20Mail's,review%20under%20national%20security%20laws.

  36. Two of the three letters about the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree.

    I don’t know who is doing the “complaining” – probably the Usual Suspects, those who are Never Happy, make a living by being Perpertually Offended and who are Completely Ignorant about our history and traditions. There are enough of them about, unfortunately, and they are never shy about advertising their stupidity.

    “Sir – My father was the pilot of choice for the Fred Olsen Line, which was originally commissioned by the Norwegian government to ship the tree to London every year.
    He would have thought it very crass to make derogatory remarks about such a rare example of continued gratitude for joint sacrifices made long ago.
    Tony Jones
    London SW7

    Sir – As someone who grows Christmas trees for a living, I take a keen interest in the tree erected annually in Trafalgar Square.
    Its form is in sharp contrast to those that are offered by professional growers, including the one outside the Rockefeller Center and the tree provided annually by the British Christmas Tree Growers Association that stands outside Number 10 Downing Street. These are nurtured trees that have been shaped and clipped into a dense format, which the market now requires.
    In contrast, the Norwegian tree is natural, and I suspect has had minimal intervention.
    This gift should be appreciated as much for what it represents, as for its aesthetics.
    Edward Barham Rolvenden, Kent”

    (the third letter didn’t add much to the argument hence not reproduced here).

  37. "Hi I'm Alejandro Open-Borders Mayorkas of United States Secretary of Homeland Security.. trust me."

    "We don't know what they are, but you don't need to worry".

  38. "I desire to leave to the men that come after me a remembrance of me in good works."

    Alfred the Great.

    "I'm going to strip this country bare and hand it over lock, stock, and barrel to third world savages."

    Keir Starmer.

    1. Well done, you are a master at it.
      Bloomin' five again, me!

      Wordle 1,276 5/6

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    1. Yes I just read about that. If he gets away with it then I don't think anyone needs be in any doubt as to where this government's sympathy lies. And yes I know the landlord is being sued but with the routine politicisation of the courts of recent years I don't think the authorities will be left without a view.

    2. The ignorance beggars belief, and the same can be applied to the Black Boy pubs around Britain, referring of course to Charles II who was tanned by his time in France.
      The Black Boy in Sudbury, Suffolk, now called The Lady Elizabeth, was renamed after the local Leftwaffe ignoramuses protested.

        2. Not been there for decades, but an excellent ale house if my memory serves me correctly.

  41. Good Moaning.
    Bright thing in sky.
    Must remember to don the tin foil hat while I spend the morning running around like a scalded cat.

  42. Ah, a throwback to those wonderful days who we gave like for like.
    None of this pussy footing round murderers and rapists following the orders of their holy book.

  43. Fun Fact: In 1941, writer Isaac Asimov introduced the world to space solar power with massive structures in space, using radio waves for power transmission. Unlike on Earth, sunlight in space is more powerful, available day and night, and unaffected by weather.

    Fast forward to 2030.. China is charging ahead to a build Space Based Solar Power (SBSP) Plant producing 1 Billion Watts for about the same price it is costing UK to repair Hammersmith Bridge. (Though there are fears that the Thames crossing will never reopen to vehicles.)

    Meanwhile, Ed asks his teaching assistant to feed him his bacon butty.

    1. Ed can't see as much as China, but then China hadn't got its collective head stuck in the sand.

        1. Good morning Kate, yes it’s still morning. You haven’t had a lie in after too much pop have you? 🤣

          A dope indeed, mind you I just realised that someone with his head permanently in the sand cannot be heard properly due to it being underground and so the only orifice remaining capable of being heard properly is his arse.

          1. Thanks, James x….now just pm…too early for pop but that could depend (on what, remains to be made clear). Yes, if only we could bottle the wind coming out of all politician arses and mouths we’d have little energy problem….see you later, lunchtime here…I think…

          3. Brilliant…yours likely as good company as mine, have a good time. The ones I worry about the most, future generations.

    3. Yes… but unless those orbital plates are geostationary they're going to be lacking sunlight much of their day, let alone blocking the light getting to Earth.

      How're they preventing micro meteorite damage? How will they transfer the energy to ground?

    1. Does it matter that scores of millionaires and very rich men paid for orgies on some remote island? It gave regular employment to hundreds of scrubbers who would otherwise have clogged up the streets of New York, London and Montreal. I suspect the harassment of Prince Andrew and others is just another tactic to divert us from the real problem, rape and perversions in the civilised countries by foreign nationals, industrial scale corruption and leftie power politics.

      1. See my comment above, Ped…apparently late queen shelled out around £10m to keep her favourite son out of the press. Won't at least a portion of that money have come from tax payers (you n me n barney mcgee).

        1. No, the Queens money comes from the Royal Estate. The Government gets a large share of it. I doubt Linzie would pay blackmailers or the press so much. She would know that it couldn't be hidden forever.

    3. All gone very very quiet, Citroen1, Maxwell document still missing. I understand the girl in the photo was bunged quite a few million (whose millions? discuss) by the late Queen to keep her favourite son out of the press, now owns a farm in Aus and lives there with new husband and children.

  45. Another case of Brownitis.
    NatWest has revealed that the UK government now owns less that ten per cent of the bank. The state owned 36 per cent at the beginning of the year. Following a series of market sales and the bank’s £2.2 billion buyback programme that stake has been substantially reduced. Possibly a good thing for the bank’s independence but the taxpayer is missing out on the benefits of a 90 per cent hike in the bank’s share price.

    1. It is doubtful that the British taxpayer would have benefitted in any case. Africa or the Middle East much more likely.

  46. Connor Tomlinson exposes the 700-strong Islamic network in the Home Office working to take our country from us. It was all started by 'Dame' Sara Khan who was put in place by Treason May . At the same time, Khan's sister Sabin was also working in the Home Office to orchestrate pro-Islam reactions to terrorist outrages. Remember "Don't look back in anger" and so on? All confected by them.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1XtEwgHUFU
    Who will clear them out? Not our current communist regime.

    1. The Lotus Eaters, a great site, only £5.00 a month to access an enormous amount of information. Highly recommend. The problem is Islam and there is no "far right".

      1. I am just about to cancel my Spectator subscription because Gove's name is implicated with Khan. That's the final straw. I shall be bunging some to Lotuseaters instead.

        1. Never met any, have you Ober? If they exist and, if you know who the spiritual descendants of those people are, you would know that they are the Islamists via the Muslim Brotherhood who, through the Grand Mufti met and admired Hitler to discuss the eradication of the Jews.

        2. Never met any, have you Ober? If they exist and, if you know who the spiritual descendants of those people are, you would know that they are the Islamists via the Muslim Brotherhood who, through the Grand Mufti met and admired Hitler to discuss the eradication of the Jews.

    2. I think that many naïf people in the West feel that if you are nice to others then they will be nice back to you!

      The trouble is that there is a mindset amongst a certain group of people that if someone is nice to you then they are being weak and stupid and you must exploit their weakness and stupidity.

      1. Lessons learned in the playground, Rastus. Smack in the mouth often offends, but it does keep them quiet for a while at least.

        1. Back in the day my parents told me to learn to stand up for myself. I did that and I found that if you smack bullies hard enough they never come back and other potential bullies become wary and steer clear.

          1. Hear you, Korky…doesn’t work as well if you’re a small skinny girl…I found if I could get them to laugh at me, then get to realise I was no real threat – that sometimes worked. Girls can be the worst bullies, not often fist fights just exclude someone, Coventry style 🙄🙃

          2. I was a 9lbs baby and a bit above average size when young, made 5′- 11″ and stocky by 17. Couldn’t care about being ignored but I was never a threat, just stood my ground when challenged.

          4. I was a 9lb baby, too. Alas I never grew as tall as the rest of my family, but I did grow outwards 🙁

  47. Good Morning all. Sun! Mild 50c.

    One bad thing and one wonderful thing.

    I see that we are sending the Islamists in Syria £50 million, despite knowing that they are already persecuting Christians and other minorities. This despicable government seems to be quite happy to send money that it claims we don't have, to people abroad whilst letting old people freeze to death in the UK and run rough shod over our countryside with its hairbrained schemes for housing and bogus methods of producing energy. It really is enough to make one feel like doing violence. Which, I think is coming despite how much we might deplore that eventuality.

    One wonderful thing.
    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/travel/news/archaeology-breakthrough-as-ancient-greek-building-full-of-gold-unearthed/ar-AA1vKZ96?ocid=msedgntp&pc=ACTS&cvid=a2ec1a19233746f09e7c909f5829608b&ei=9
    A reminder from ancient history that we, people of the West, are inheritors of great civilizations that, culminating in the modern West has produced the greatest and best civilization that has ever been seen and, in particular, that has been thanks, in the main, to us, the English. And no, I'm not being jingoistic, it is simply a matter of fact that we should not back down from or be ashamed of.

    1. When I visited the museums at Thessaloniki and Philippi I was bowled over by the workmanship of the gold diadems.

  49. "Reacting to her depiction of Nigeria, a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode had told her that Nigeria does not need her."

    Neither do we.

    1. Quite. I hate the way "incomers" still bang on about their tribal loyalty. I am English. Full stop. Half my family comes from Devonshire – but I don't came to "identify" wit the Totnes tribe…..

    2. Who cares if he is offended. I hope the Landlord doesn't capitulate. There's enough of this rubbish where we accommodate the invader by relinquishing our traditions.

          1. Can't see the point in abusing them on X – they don't care as they can simply snap their fingers and Starmer will punish those of us who do. One gets the impression that many think that we are nothing, unclean, and that we are here simply to pay for them and to be enslaved by their medieval religion. I subscribe to several and blogs and contribute financially to FSU and Matt Goodwin, and support Reform (as a critical friend) and my husband does the same to a couple of others, so that we can get some information.

      2. Perhaps he's worried that the local mosque inhabitants will boycott the pub? Oh, wait…

        1. The Black Boy in Sudbury Market Square has been renamed. Greene King claim to have consulted the locals before renaming it after some lady in history who occupied Clare Castle.

          I would have kept the sign and changed the name to The Grinning Piccaninny.

  51. More left hand not knowing what the right is doing from the morons in Wastemonster. The ginger growler has apparently said that Labour will push ahead with plans for more devolution, pushing more powers to local councils for things like housing. In other news Ministers threaten to override local councils on such issues as housing!

    2. That's not what is being proposed. It is to transfer all local accountability to regional "elected mayors" selected from the conurbations, whose policies and enforcement powers are set centrally, and who have all the effectiveness of Police & Crime Commissioners.

      1. Crime Commissioners do a very good job

        The perlice cannot, or more likely will not, keep up with criminals commiting the crimes

        1. Especially as more and more are coming in and being distributed to local authorities to pay for and house.

    4. While putting the onus on local authorities to pay for the immigrants who will be housed. A bit like local authorities not having the places to school the children who are now unable to continue in their feepaying schools. Expect Council Taxes to rocket, and councils to go bankrupt.

    5. Seems like an easy way of imposing sharia law by locals. The calls for a caliphate of Rotherham are almost audible already.

    6. As if the elected metropolitan mayors have been such a resounding success (/sarc) so taxpayers will waste yet more money on salaries for these petty dictators. I vaguely remember reading a list (on NOTTL?) of the religious allegiance of these mayors in England and that they were of a non-indigenous belief system.

      1. I'm very concerned about pigs in blankets, KJ. It's the devil of a job chasing pigs around the pigsty – and I need the blanket now that my winter fuel allowance has been cut. Lol.

  53. Starmer took Brexit voters for fools, says Boris Johnson
    Former PM says Labour deceived public by not admitting it wanted closer ties with EU in run-up to election
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/12/15/keir-starmer-new-unit-brexit-voters-eu-boris-johnson/

    BTL

    I am afraid that the truth of the matter is that Boris Johnson took the Brexit voters for fools by pretending that he would "get Brexit done" and then lumbering us with an outrageously bad Brexit deal giving away UK's fishing waters and casting Northern Ireland adrift.

    Brexit should have been a very great success but bungling Boris bodged it – and I rather suspect that he bodged it on purpose.

    1. BTL – Bingo, Rastus! He did similarly with Lockdowns, caving to the mad Hancock and useless Whitty. I suspect he'd like to return to UK as some sort of elder statesman, especially now Badenoch (not good enough) in place but not in power.

      1. Boris I only dress up as Winston Churchill Johnson is fooling no one. He can get his Elder Statesman badge like a good Boy Scout Westminster-style along with Bliar, Mandelson and all the other cronies, but the rest of us hold said "statesmen" in derision. To paraphrase the good GF Handel, we shall laugh them to scorn.

        1. Excellent response, as ever, Mr. G. Really don’t envy the current Mrs J, suspect she’s going to take him to the cleaners one of these days. Was a bit surprised to watch Tominey softening when she interviewed him.

          1. He’s up to that stage where people have forgotten that he’s not just an avuncular bluffer.

          2. He’s possibly a bit bored playing husband/dad role, again. Doubt we’ve seen the last of him, James.🤢

          3. Yes I get the impression that he gets bored easily. To be fair to him he’s not at all a dull boy, but I’d think he’s got that sort of intelligence which is in danger of becoming a bit glib through finding some things came to him a bit easy.

          4. Even Marina Wheeler couldn’t control his excesses, Carrie seems quite happy for now…I watched him at Conference, didn’t quite understand the adulation from the matrons….

        2. Handel certainly deserves the credit for the music, but the libretto? Selected by Charles Jennens from the good Book, in this instance Psalm 22 vv7-8 "All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him." (Authorised Version, of course)
          (/pedant hat off, but in this case I don't think you'll mind)

          1. Oh no, I welcome it. Pedantry is fun. I was aware of being a bit loose lipped with the comment, but any excuse to quote those words will do. Mind you, I knew a director of music who when I said that to him just said, “Messiah? Too long, unnecessarily so”! On the other hand some weeks after I turned up at King’s to hear the choir sing it I said to Stephen Cleobury when I bumped into him that it was a triumph. He said, “Thank you. But then again the triumph was Handel’s really.”

            There’s an old recording by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir that I possess where I recall a chap called Ulric Cold sings that bit. Sublime. You can’t beat the AV naturally.

          6. Whenever we get the readings from Isaiah I can't get the Messiah out of my head. Every valley … Yesterday was Gaudete Sunday. Another earworm.

          7. Every valley and hill, etc, gaudete… stop it now. I know just what you mean. The Messiah is redolent with earworms. Now I’ve got “He trusted in God that he would deliver Him…”

          8. Whenever we get the readings from Isaiah I can't get the Messiah out of my head. Every valley … Yesterday was Gaudete Sunday. Another earworm.

    2. We all knew what Starmer was up to, Boris. But then over half your party wants to take us back into the EU as well.

      For the great unwashed it was a case of "Hobson's".

    3. It's also notable that at every single step every advantage was thrown away. Every opportunity for change, abandoned, thwarted or hindered. Then there's the whinging that folk were told Brexit would cause all sorts of economic problems but every single one of the problems we have has been caused solely and completely, deliberately by our own damned government: high taxes, a massive state expansion, debt, waste, inflation, energy. They could all have been avoided and none were because it was a deliberate, spiteful intent to do the country in rather than let it grow away from the hated EU.

      1. I believe Boris was at best a half-hearted Brexiteer. He never fully believed in it but saw which way the vote was going. When he was elected on the slogan "Get Brexit done!" I said it was really get Brexit done in.

  54. "A woman has avoided jail after throwing a milkshake at Nigel Farage during his general election campaign in Clacton-on-Sea.
    Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, was sentenced to 13 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months."

    Now – had the victim been a slammer – she'd be inside for real. Funny that. Not

    1. Now – had the thrower been a slammer – he'd be in Strictly & Bake-Off & HoL for real. Funny that. Not

    2. Now – had the thrower been a slammer – he'd be in Strictly & Bake-Off & HoL for real. Funny that. Not

      1. Right person attacked – state ignores it. Lefty, muslim or state attacked, state hammers the individual into the ground.

    2. And don't forget that odious woman, Jo Brand, who is Russell's mother.

      She said on TV that acid should be thrown in Farage's face and was not even criticised for it.

  60. Welby’s Brexit-Bashing Successor Already Facing Calls to Resign

    Just 4 weeks after Justin Welby resigned over a Church abuse scandal, his successor the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, is already facing mounting pressure to resign over his own handling of a sexual abuse case. Just days before he is due to take temporary charge of the Church of England…

    Cottrell, like Welby, hasn’t been one to shy away from wading into political debate either. In 2020, Cottrell signed aletter warning politicians against The Internal Market Bill, saying it could damage the relationship between the UK’s four nation and that it would set a “disastrous precedent”. Cottrell has also lamented about “the narratives that have led to Brexit have rather undermined some of our confidence in our neighbours.” He’s also made some rather eyebrow-raising comments. When he first became Archbishop of York, he revealed:

    “Jesus was a black man, and he was born into a persecuted group in an occupied country. The leadership of the Church of England is still too white, and I hope under my watch we’ll see further changes on that.”

    Cottrell also wrote an enlightening book titled Dear England, where he writes about the “global catastrophe of the climate emergency, and including Brexit, the NHS and racism.” To lose one Archbishop looks unfortunate, to lose two begins to look like a major institutional breakdown…

    1. Jesus was a black man, therefore the church is too white, then. If I'm to understand the good ecclesiastical panjandrum correctly, does this mean I have no place in the CofE? Obviously I do have no place there, but it's not so much due to my colour. To him I suppose, anyone lacking whiteness is necessarily black. It all sounds just a bit like the old bigotry to me.

      1. Theological apartheid.

        Of course there are blacks and whites but the grey area is where do the coloureds fit in?

      2. I don't think Jesus discriminated, somehow. He welcomed the tax collectors and the Samaritans. Although, He did describe one of the Pharisees as a "whited sepulture" and I don't think that was complimentary.

        1. The neverending quest to recruit Jesus to one’s political viewpoint. It never ends really. Archbishops of all people ought to know better.

          Lawyers are whited sepulchres? Who knew? Best use of colour imagery I’ve heard.

          1. The early Christians, following Jesus’ instructions, were socialists, if not Communists; He said to sell all that they had and follow Him. St Paul writes to the communities about sharing everything they had, but he did say that those who will not work, shall not eat.

          2. Ah, the doctrine of Christian Socialism. Much discussed of course; however, not believed in by myself. There’s too much contrary evidence to my mind, Conway. He wasn’t a very good socialist even, given one of the charges he was faced with at his crucifixion was tax evasion. Hardly a great example to that lefty religion. I’m sure the debate will rumble on, though.

          3. The early Christians, following Jesus’ instructions, were socialists, if not Communists; He said to sell all that they had and follow Him. St Paul writes to the communities about sharing everything they had, but he did say that those who will not work, shall not eat.

        1. Tom Lehrer gave up writing satirical songs when Kissinger won the Nobel Peace Prize saying his satire could no longer compete with reality.

    6. Don't let him near the leadership! After my comment yesterday, I feel the Second Coming won't happen tomorrow after all.

    4. Am I the only NoTTLer who finds dressing up dogs and cats offensive? By all means give them coats to wear on bitterly cold days – but to dress them up like this just to give other people a laugh says a lot about the type of owners who do it.

      2. None of my dogs has ever owned a Christmas jumper (I didn't for years until I kept getting invited to events that encouraged them). None of my dogs even had a coat until Charlie got old and I felt he needed some protection against the rain (and Oscar inherited his apparel).

    1. Don't forget to give your dog lots of attention during the busy Christmas season; they can feel neglected if you're out a lot (physician, heal thyself!).

    1. The idiocy over forcing 'equity' – controlled outcomes – specifically has to destroy the differences of input.

      You can only ensure all have prizes if you stack the deck. This is the goal of socialism: control over individuals. However, Lefties, being essentially fascist authoritarians assume everyone will keep doing what they've been doing regardless of the outcomes. To them, this sort of doublethink makes sense. It is, of course, insanity.

      Thus when no one bothers (such as the female swimmers letting a man win) they are confused and don't understand. The same applies economically and socially.

      The Left hate people. They are utterly misanthropic. Orwell got it right when he said the intent of power isn't to do anything with it, it's to have it, for it's own sake.

    3. In the one I knew about it was a nude male statue in the Ladies loo; when the fig leaf was lifted, a bell rang in the bar.

    1. It all seems to depend of how far right they think alleged the defendant is.
      What on earth is our government trying to wind up over this China incident.
      And in their manifesto there was no mention of renegotiation with Fondof over the ruling EU mafiosi.

    2. And never forget those fascinating insights of Kemi Badenoch broadcast to all on ITV..
      "Our justice system is fair." LOL.

  69. The law suits the state machine, not the individual. This is why they're letting out criminals and jailing people who the Left don't like.

  70. A burglar broke into my house. I knocked the shit out of him and tied him up.

    "I suppose you're going to call the police now," he said.

    "Why?" I smiled, "Nobody knows you're here."

    1. It reminds me of the story of the Hitch hiker who was given a lift and said to the driver: "It's very kind of you to stop but how do you know I'm not a mass murderer?"
      The driver replied: "I don't but what are the chances of two mass murderers being in the same car at the same time?"

    2. Sorry, Grizz, some kind of blocker here, same problem yesterday evening. Knowing you, be worth listening..just sayin'…cheers…can see it but not hear it. I follow someone plays church organs in remote churches, a young chap – sometimes have the same issue. Not a problem…next…..

  72. It doesn’t do me any good to cry but the Chinese Christian lady in the bed just across from me has just received the Last Rites. The cardiologist told me this morning that she’s not overly worried about me because Afib is my only symptom and she thinks it’s just about getting the meds right. To which end she’s keeping me in another 24 hours.

    1. Hi Sue

      I have a yearly checkup with the cardiologist who treated me for an unchanging heart rate of 166 bps after being diagnosed in A&E with SupraVentricular Tachycardia. The ecg he took a few days ago was remarked as OK and unchanged from last year.

      However, my hospital drug prescription differed completely from the treatment I had previously received from my GP.
      After some research I found that an elongated Qt interval (measurable from an ecg) is a major factor in many heart rhythym irregularities. An elongated Qt interval is known as LQTS and this itself can be caused by many drug treatments:

      Long QT syndrome (LQTS)
      LQTS is caused by abnormal ion channel function, which can affect atrial electrophysiology and increase the risk of AF.

      https://www.google.com/search?q=qt+prolongation+and+afib&oq=qt+interval+and+afib&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCAgBEAAYFhgeMgYIABBFGDkyCAgBEAAYFhgeMggIAhAAGBYYHjIICAMQABgWGB4yCAgEEAAYFhgeMggIBRAAGBYYHjINCAYQABiGAxiABBiKBTINCAcQABiGAxiABBiKBTINCAgQABiGAxiABBiKBdIBCTMxMzg0ajBqN6gCALACAA&client=tablet-android-asus-tpin&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

      It would be interesting for you to know the value of your Qt interval and the heart rate at which it was measured which will then derive your corrected Qt interval (Qtc). This could be important for you to make an informed decision on which drugs you should use for treating Afib.

    2. Fingers crossed Sue – and all good wishes to you for a successful outcome. OH had a cardioversion eventually last January, which seemed to sort out the AF. They had tried Amiodarone but that made him ill.

    4. With all due respect to your bed neighbour and condolences to her family, shouldn´t that have been 'just received the Last Rice'?

  73. I'm glad you have an excellent prognosis, and that you are a good person sympathising with the lady opposite you.

    Sending hugs x

        1. Really hoping to hear you somewhere online, but if not – I know others will, and they’ll be thankful x

          1. Would you like a YouTube link? I haven’t anything marvellous on there – never occurred to me to save theatres’ recordings – but it might give you an idea.

            Or scare the pants off you… 🤣🤣

            K x x

          2. Why yes I would please!! I think I did briefly catch you at one point, a sound recording, it’s a while ago. Pants? Scared? Me? Look forward to watching/listening…have a good day Kathie wherever you are, Kate x

          4. Thanks so much Katy – Superb!!! Reduced to tears, the good kind. I’ve taken the liberty of saving, hope that’s Ok. Wishing you all happiness at Christmas, and onto lots of singing in ’25…Lots of love Kate xx

          1. She looked me in the eyes and my knees went all weak.

            It was a precursor to showing me a Tango stance.

        1. You could always ask her. But a word to the wise don’t flourish your fiver it might be misconstrued!

  74. Nicked
    'Nuff Said
    “A good day to bury bad news,” as Jo Moore, a Labour Party special adviser said about the day of the twin towers attack on September 11, 2001, and it appears they’re still doing it.

    I don’t believe in coincidences… however in little over a month on the 20th JANUARY 2025…

    Inauguration of Donald Trump as President of United States.
    This will get wall to wall coverage.

    Is this a categorical attempt to BURY THE MEDIA COVERAGE of THESE EVENTS below taking place?
    – Same date as trial begins of Axel Rudakubana, the Southport murderer.
    – Same date as trial begins of Antony Esan who attempted to murder a British soldier earlier this year.
    – Same date as trial begins of Ricky Jones (the suspended Labour councillor who threatened to cut throats and was charged with encouraging violent disorder).

    I wouldn’t be surprised if progress of the muslim ‘copper bashing’ incident at Manchester Airport didn’t raise its ugly head on the same day…

    Strange timing, isn’t it?

    1. Yes, I often think they push through unpopular policies/announcements on days/at times when they know the public interest will be elsewhere.

    2. Labour did it before, so why wouldn't they do it again? Trials are very much part of the political process nowadays.

  75. Nicked
    'Nuff Said
    “A good day to bury bad news,” as Jo Moore, a Labour Party special adviser said about the day of the twin towers attack on September 11, 2001, and it appears they’re still doing it.

    I don’t believe in coincidences… however in little over a month on the 20th JANUARY 2025…

    Inauguration of Donald Trump as President of United States.
    This will get wall to wall coverage.

    Is this a categorical attempt to BURY THE MEDIA COVERAGE of THESE EVENTS below taking place?
    – Same date as trial begins of Axel Rudakubana, the Southport murderer.
    – Same date as trial begins of Antony Esan who attempted to murder a British soldier earlier this year.
    – Same date as trial begins of Ricky Jones (the suspended Labour councillor who threatened to cut throats and was charged with encouraging violent disorder).

    I wouldn’t be surprised if progress of the muslim ‘copper bashing’ incident at Manchester Airport didn’t raise its ugly head on the same day…

    Strange timing, isn’t it?

  76. Chin up, Sue – all good wishes for your recovery and home soon as you know it, all the best to you, Kate x. So sorry about the Chinese lady, I do think though she could have been wheeled in her bed to a side ward, but that's the NHS.

  77. Thanks, Nottlers
    After posting my Apologies early this morning I just dipped in to this blog after lunch and was amazed and humbled by the number of upticks and messages of sympathy. Thank you all.

    To get over the 'miseries', I am off this evening to my weekly Monday night Stone Carving session, organised by the local Technical College. We get to use the larger offcuts of pure white French limestone from the Cathedral a quarter of a mile away. Those sessions, from 6PM till 9PM, are the quickest 3 hours in the week, and totally absorbing. I was quite surprised when I found that there are equal numbers of men and women carving. Some attend on Thursday evenings as well.

    Here is what I am working on at present (P.S. I have been carving stone for more than 25 years). She's called 'Girl in a Fix' and is about A4 in size (and heavy). This is still rough. I'll try to remember to publish the fully finished work after Christmas. Congratulations to anyone who can discover the original work on which she is based.

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/24ac97dd6101abf7c40fd719d94c19af4100ec1b570e4ed216d663648172c557.png

      1. Ah, Beatrice, the famous Motorbike racer and engineer.
        I was a keen biker too, until I came off on a patch of ice in 1978 and snapped the top off my left femur.
        I was young enough for the surgeon to nail the top back on and let it heal again (14 weeks), so I didn't need a Charnley metal implant (thank goodness). Still got the long titanium nails (Newman's Pins) somewhere.
        Sold the bike after that.

    9. That's wonderful – I can feel her pushing against the box.

      Reminds me of one of Matisse's Blue Nudes, but I don't remember one in that position.

  78. Belated Medley
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/842cf11ab781d31f002956692912452d085f9715845f021fa81e35490d437b14.png
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/03c231c0ee23201583f86634ae191d5668692176b24fcd21330aed5bea4c19b4.png
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8cf0c928180c375d61b489e2afb08388c761d75e1c80022f96614e5694075f89.jpg
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/40fc7ba34d6680c0dd5e5fa391aca3cf468814e12ea4da7b5ce2639fa1befe8a.jpg
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/685379d9f857fc64a54b5064778c7cd9a126eb22f14a027082075f783cdf221a.jpg
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f6c0dea7d3b325eb117d328412a94d3abc3cd342de08050d0570d55d17c0843d.png
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2cc8972785e6a4c3d3eebe7409762f098a5b5ef5316a72db614956919f890bbd.jpg

    1. Excellent, Rik….keep 'em coming. Nothing can give you the look like a cat, or perhaps the missus….

      1. What other option do the Israelis have.

        The fewer munitions in the possession of terrorists the better.

      2. Definitely Phil – an earthquake bomb distributes all its power under the ground (hence the name) – not much to see on the surface except for debris shooting upwards

  82. If it is just a case of beta blockers and a daily Aspirin, that's good news.

    Nothing like witnessing someone receive the last rites to remind you of your mortality and to cheer you up.

    at le

  83. Lifted from Telegram:

    This is from a lady friend in Devon.
    UK farmers are under attack, more committing suicide, nothing being planted fo rnext year and food shortages very real next year, according to one local farmer …

    'from a friend:
    Just stopped at *** Farm in Kings Langley to try and stock up on some raw milk. Walking up to the vendor unit, there's a sign out front saying "no milk until further notice", walked back to the car and the farmers wife was chatting with another customer/lady as I walked past she goes onto tell me that they've been suspended from selling any at the moment because one of their cows that was sent to slaughter & tested positive for TB, but that her farm has been TB free for 40 years and they refute the claim.
    I asked what test they were using and she said PCR (alarm bells start ringing as we know this is how fraud happens!).
    Anyway got chatting for about 10mins about the huge pressure her farm is under at the moment, said she thinks somebody has been keeping an eye on all the massive trade they do on raw milk – literally every time I go there is a queue for it. Started talking about the Bovaer incident recently and she said they'd never feed their cows that junk and the farmer said he'd kill the cows before doing so! I said it's very convenient timing that they're shutting you down at the same time as the Bovaer fiasco is going on which they both agreed.
    The other lady started talking about the WEF and Bill Gates visiting Starmer and that set me off too, discussed the agenda and how it was a land and food grab and that the government want control of the food supply.
    Farmers wife said she knew of 9 farmers that have committed suicide recently off the back of everything thats happening.
    She said she thinks food shortages are going to begin next year and supermarkets will be empty and that they'll let us have Christmas but nobody is planting stuff now as they're all under attack.
    Really sad. They're basically waiting for official documentation about what they're allegedly being shut down for so they can lawyer up, but they don't know when they'll be able to start selling again.
    Said shes been in tears regularly because a lot of her customers rely on their raw milk and can't source it elsewhere and she's having to tell them she can't sell it or help them.’

    2. The uptick is a sympathy vote, not because I think the content is good – I hate Labour with a passion I have not felt before for politicians.

  86. Just in from cutting the foliage for the decorations. And trying to get feeling back in my fingers….

    Because of G & P we don't have a tree; branches of holm oak are suspended horizontally from the beams. Easycare.

  87. Court to rule on naming ‘Chinese spy’ amid pressure from MPs. 16 December 2024.

    A hearing over the anonymity of an alleged Chinese spy linked to the Duke of York will take place at the Royal Courts of Justice at 2pm on Monday afternoon, according to court listings.

    The court is expected to rule on whether the businessman can be named amid mounting pressure from MPs.

    This is a publicity pantomime. So you will know his name? So what? It’s real purpose is to bolster the Anti-China policy that will have to be introduced under Trump. This man can be named in Parliament under its rules and I would think anyone who has met him while he has been in the UK would already know it. It's not the Chinese Launch Codes.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/16/chinese-spy-allegations-anonymity-house-of-commons/

  88. Quelle Surprise.
    Chase my Aunt F@nnie round the gas works.

    The Harlesden woman who has paid a worthwhile price for living in a world class city …….. sports a deep tan.

    1. Sharp intake of breff. Can't imagine your line of thought…{:¬))

      I assume that the wake which she was attending was for a late drug dealer – and the opposition turned up wiv der shoo'ers.

    2. Ms Sadio is believed to be the first female victim of fatal gun crime in London since 43-year-old Hackney mother Lianne Gordon was shot dead through her front door in December last year.

      Ms Gordon was the only woman to die as a result of gun crime in London between 2019-2023 – a period in which 55 men were killed in this way.

      I wonder:
      1 how many of those victims were white
      2 how many of those victims were shot by whites
      3 if there were white victims how many of those were shot by whites.

      Certainly not in proportion to the white and black populations.

        1. The writers on Takimag had a rule of thumb: if wounded far outweighed dead, it was black on black, if dead exceeded injured it was a white gunman. It was a surprisingly accurate rule.

  89. Hah !
    TSB just requested i fill in a survey. So i gave them both barrels. Used to be reliable. Now they are shit.

      1. I went over to YSB and Nationwide. Much better. I don't use apps myself but i suppose it is the coming thing. Everyone seems to be pushing them.

        1. I use mble quite a lot. Most older apps are stable, with exception of a few. FD been going quite a while. If I don’t use mble, I use Chromebook, also very stable.

  90. Geoff, yesterday I went to a church (in the village of Wheathampstead herts St Helen's), service to celebrate the life of my recently deceased Brother in law.
    Throughout the service there was a steady flow of music some of his favourite tunes.
    Being so impressed with the wonderful sounds, after the service I made my way through the crowd to key board. The organist was only a teenager. I discovered that I had met his parents years earlier. His mother was one of the British Swingle singers and possibly is father as well.
    Harry was his name. I think he'll go far.

    1. It is surprising – and very encouraging – that there are quite a number of young people (under 25) playing the organ these days.

          3. Any cheap blended. I have a whole shelf of Malts but i save those for guests. Besides…they don't mix with mixers.

          4. Something more Jurable ?😉

            when Iived in joburg a mate from the UK came out to stay and bought a bottle of Johnny Walker.
            After he'd gone home I kept what was left on a shelf in my wardrobe. I didn't drink much scotch then but I noticed it was going down nearly each day.
            There were two old boys sharing a room in the same B&B.
            One of them was drinking it.
            I kept peeing in it and it still kept disappearing.

    2. Ben Maton is good, Eddy – on YouTube, goes to different, often remote, churches and plays organ music. Recommended.

      1. Yep, tried and tested. Just declare the opposition unsuitable, anti democratic (Labour's facile version) or just arrest them, (don't mention the war).

      2. Yep, tried and tested. Just declare the opposition unsuitable, anti democratic (Labour's facile version) or just arrest them, (don't mention the war).

    1. Oh and to cap it off, there is a by election in BC today. The liberals have lost the last two by elections in safe seats, no one gives them a chance.

    2. We're delighted that Trudeau is trying to keep Mark Carney in Canada.

      Trudeau will certainly make himself popular with the Brits if he succeeds

      1. Hello Kate, this is nothing to do with Canada, and apologies to everyone for piggy-backing along the thread. Anyway, further to our conversation regarding Bovaer and milk, I emailed McQueen's dairies this afternoon to say that I had heard that they were using Bovaer as a winter feed additive, and that I had noticed over the weekend that the Bovaer-free declaration banner across the top of their web site had been removed, and could they confirm this? I was somewhat startled, nay gobsmacked, to receive the following reply, headed 'Sorry to see you go'.

        "IT'S A DAIRY FOND FAREWELL

        Hi ! 👋🏻

        This is just a quick note to confirm that your subscription has been cancelled. You won't receive any more deliveries unless this was discussed separately

        Truth told, this is more of a thank you. Whether you've been with us a few months to a few years (or longer!) your support of doorstep delivery really is appreciated.

        In the past few years we've grown massively, running our own dairy, and delivering to more areas than ever. And growing does have its challenges- we're working really, really quite hard to make sure we deliver that promised premium, consistent delivery. It's our mantra of Bringing it Home, Every Time.

        If we've missed the mark, then know we're working hard to improve, and if you're cancelling for any other reason- then know it's been a genuine pleasure. We appreciate your business. Either way, thank you, and maybe we'll see you back with us soon.

        All the best,
        Your local McQueens Dairies Team"

        Obviously a generic reply, I had said nothing about cancelling. Roughly translated I got the message: sod off. I should add that at this point our first delivery had not commenced.

        Edit: oh, and the search continues……

        1. Gobsmacked also. Can only think they’ve had other queries and possibly complaints, sound quite tetchy – thing is, it’s beyond their control so losing business because of incident further up the foodchain. What will you do? If you want to stay with them, perhaps phone and explain your concern? Good luck ‘mum, let me know how it goes? btw is this what’s called raw milk, unpasteurised? I tried that a while ago, didn’t care for it. I wouldn’t drink milk when I was a child, just didn’t like it. Water or nothing 😀

          1. No, I won’t go back to them and explain, I felt the response said it all. I assume your question is regarding organic milk? It is just like the ordinary milk we buy, it is pasteurised, but allegedly the cattle graze in fields that have not used pesticides or drug additives to their feed. The Soil Association will not licence the sellers if it is otherwise. Actually they could be selling ordinary milk under the Organic label, how would anyone know, truly? We are very reliant on the integrity of the dairy involved. At least McQeen’s removed their bovaer-free banner, but I have to ask myself if it was to catch people in the net in the first place.

          2. I know someone locally who raises cattle on untreated grass. Sells both milk and beef. Probably my palate being used to modern milk and beef, but I don’t like either, also sells chickens which I think are bony and with grey meat…so the whole organic thing just not for me, and it’s expensive too. Possibly you can find another supplier in your area? (might even be one who supplies McQueen’s milk!) good luck ‘mum x

  93. So with the sale of Royal Mail going ahead
    We wont any longer be lying when we say that the cheque is in the post.

        1. Oh yes, then overboard. This new chap sounds quite intent. Posties quite depressed. I suspect some rounds may be cobbed #collectyourownpost

  94. So with the sale of Royal Mail going ahead
    We wont any longer be lying when we say that the cheque is in the post.

    1. Here's my divot pile
      Wordle 1,276 4/6

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

      1. Not so good here – every wrong option tried first!
        Wordle 1,276 5/6

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

    2. Here's my divot pile
      Wordle 1,276 4/6

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

    3. Well done, but I've pipped you by a nose.
      Wordle 1,276 2/6

      🟨⬜🟨🟩⬜
      🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

    6. Par here.

      Wordle 1,276 4/6

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

    7. Schoolboy error on guess 4 means yet another bogey.

      I'm on a bit of a roll here!

      Wordle 1,276 5/6

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

      1. Ah G4, I rarely manage it. Husband/daughter compete daily. I'm often good at Spelling Bee, they think that's tame….😂

        1. Yes, KJ, I dont do Spelling Bee but it's pretty much the same as Polygon in The Times – and I do enjoy that!

          1. There are lots of puzzles, supposedly to prevent Alzheimer’s (I don’t believe that…)…I also don’t understand most of them, eg Sudoku….🤯🤯🤯

    8. Lacoste: When you have completed the Wordle, click on "Share" and at the top of the screen a message will appear saying something like "your results have been saved to your screen". This means that the next time you post, then all your results will be shown from the beginning (when you have a series of grey, yellow and maybe green squares) to the bottom line (where all five letters will be in green). Try it with the next Wordle you complete!.

    9. Lacoste: When you have completed the Wordle, click on "Share" and at the top of the screen a message will appear saying something like "your results have been saved to your screen". This means that the next time you post, then all your results will be shown from the beginning (when you have a series of grey, yellow and maybe green squares) to the bottom line (where all five letters will be in green). Try it with the next Wordle you complete!.

  96. Just a thought would the Convicted terrorist who is suing the Saracen’s Head Inn pub, claiming sign is ‘deeply offensive’ be happier if the sign read: "The Saracen Beheader Inn'? ….

      1. The landlord could always tell the fucking jihadi terrorist to do one as he never drank anything in his pub.

  97. I’m up at Mum and Dad’s and Mum (81) has let slip that she’s gone off her green vegetables (sprouts, broccoli, cabbage) for the last few weeks – which she used to enjoy eating.

    does anyone have any ideas as to why this might be? It’s been going on number of weeks now.

    1. Any problems with teeth/gums…mouth ulcers …is she off her food generally? Would check she's still drinking sufficient fluids too – water/juice..maybe as Dad if he has any ideas…Good luck x

      1. Ahh she suffers from bad teeth and had one out recently.

        But she’s started getting quite weepy too.

        1. There's your answer, I reckon. As a child, was treated badly by a dentist – didn't go for years, until I found a new, young, local chap who laughed his head off when I told him about how I punched previous dentist in the chops. He gave me confidence to have fillings, bridges, caps that I needed – just by being kind (and giving me lots of anesthetic). Perhaps a chat with your own dentist to explain, and ask his procedure, tell mum – and go with her. Must be quite painful for her, plus it will also affect her general health. Good luck, More info.

    2. Has she lost her taste and only sensing the texture, if so, I think there was a lurgy going around that did that.

    3. I am sorry to hear that. Perhaps blend them down more like for soups.

      I know when i was on the Norfolk Broads once the Broccoli was like lead.

      Cabbage and sprouts chopped up and simmered might be an answer.

    4. She might be start to get low in iron intake as those 3 veg are high in iron. May need a supplement if those are stopped.

    5. She might be start to get low in iron intake as those 3 veg are high in iron. May need a supplement if those are stopped.

    6. Possibly nothing more than boredom, try/suggest she tries some new alternatives, Swiss chard, kale, pak choi, etc

    8. Spice up the boiled sprouts with fried bacon. Guaranteed to lift any appetite (and bedcover).

  98. So Labour plans to avoid losing every council seat next May by cancelling the elections.
    My, those world government national socialists do not hang about.

  99. Ave atque vale, amici. Off shortly to yet another Christmas concert, dirty stop out that I am. I see one of my old almae matres has appointed a new Chancellor whose main claim to fame is that she has been a DIE advocate and in charge of ramming those policies down elsewhere. They can beg me all they like, I am not giving them a penny.

    Labour's intention of covering every blade of grass with houses for the unwanted is not so much a dream as a nightmare. Couple that with the net zero nonsense (houses don't convert CO2 to oxygen, unlike green fields) and we KNOW the lunatics are in charge of the asylum

    1. Not really. No money worries. I supposed she’s just getting old.

      She worries about me and my brother and the grandchildren but there’s no real reason to. It’s just her nature.

      1. Might be worth getting a blood test and general health analysis? They will test for deficiencies as well as common conditions.

      2. Ah, like my mother who, if she had nothing to worry about, would worry about having nothing to worry about!

  101. That's me for today. The sun tried to show itself – not very well. But it was quite mild. We chose and cut the holm oak branches and then I placed them horizontally in situ. Tomorrow the MR decorates. G & P had great fun with the foliage prior to it being put in position. Pickles killed several leaves and Gus chewed some of the fir trimming!

    Have a spiffing evening.

    A demain.

      1. Like wise, I believe they are 'Celebrities' but why this should be escapes me, and frankly, I don't give a damn.

  103. Phew. That's Ok then.. Mystery drones are..
    HPGe state-of-the-art mobile radiation detection systems looking for a couple of dirty bombs.. once found the fun starts with a reply in kind.

    Shame JerseyFutures X account now deleted. He seemed to know what's going on and he wrote..
    a few going off in NYC and central LA would cripple us. the evidence we'd need to respond in kind would be impossible to get in time or at all. all our toys would be worthless with no target.

    1. Clearly, all inaugurations and local county council elections must be cancelled until further notice.

    2. Who needs evidence? "Knee-jerk" used to be a name for a nuclear response, either in reality or a novel. Appropriate, anyhow.

  107. I spy with my little eye something beginning with H (6 letters).

    The answer is in today's (17/12/2024) headlines and the name of a ' spy' known as H6.

      2. To be fair, it could be the person feeding it that's shut in and the elephant (do you know it?) is playing with them?

  110. Come England….Germany are heading for a general election after a no confidence vote in parliament. Surely it can happen here.

  111. Nigel Farage refuses to take 'woke' anti-bullying training for MPs

    Nigel Farage's spokesman said he has 'not taken part in "Behaviour Code Awareness Training" and has no intention of engaging with this woke DEI scheme'

    Archie Mitchell, Political correspondent – Monday 16 December 2024 08:59 GMT

    Nigel Farage has refused to take up parliament's anti-bullying training, branding the scheme "woke" and saying he has no intention of engaging with it.

    The Reform UK leader is one of five MPs to have not taken up the course, which is designed to explain the rules around harassment and sexual misconduct. Others include two Conservative MPs, the former minister Neil O'Brien and Dr Caroline Johnson, and two DUP MPs, Sammy Wilson and Gregory Campbell, The Times reported. Figures published by parliament show that eight others are on the waiting list for the training, while 637 MPs have completed it.

    Those who breach parliament's rules on sexual misconduct and harassment can be sanctioned in a range of ways, from being forced to apologise to being suspended from the Commons, which in some cases can force a by-election.

    Asked about his refusal to take up the training, a spokesman for Mr Farage said: "Mr Farage has not taken part in 'behaviour code awareness training' and has no intention of engaging with this woke scheme."

    Former shadow minister Charlotte Nichols, who has campaigned for a better working environment in parliament, urged all MPs to take the training.

    She told The Times: "As MPs are not just office holders but employers, it is vital that we practise what we preach on robust standards in the workplace, which includes a duty and responsibility to attend all relevant training to uphold those standards. The culture of parliament has to change and MPs must lead on this."

    Bullying has been a problem on the estate, with some MPs having been suspended temporarily while others have been booted out of parliament altogether.

    Peter Bone was suspended from the Commons for six weeks last October after an inquiry found he had subjected a staff member to bullying and sexual misconduct. He lost a recall petition triggered by the suspension, forcing a by-election in his Wellingborough constituency, which the Conservatives lost.

    Mr Bone was found by parliament's behaviour watchdog to have "committed many varied acts of bullying and one act of sexual misconduct" against a staff member in 2012 and 2013, including that he "verbally belittled, ridiculed, abused and humiliated" an employee and "repeatedly physically struck and threw things" at him.

    Mr Farage's refusal to engage with the anti-bullying course comes after a poll for The Independent showing he has led Reform UK to within touching distance of the Conservatives – setting up a three-way battle at the top of British politics.

    According to the latest Techne UK poll, Reform have nudged up one point to 22 per cent, with Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives on 25 per cent and Keir Starmer's under-fire Labour government on 27 per cent, both unchanged.

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/farage-reform-mp-bullying-tories-b2664927.html

    Not a great deal of support for Farage BTL but what else is to be expected from readers of the Independent. Here are some typical examples:

    Joe Ninety
    What a jumped up, pathetic excuse for a man Fartage really is. No wonder he needs bodyguards because I'm sure there are plenty of people who would like to, shall we say, rearrange his counternance. I know I would.

    Socialista
    He should be in prison for inciting racial hatred.

    Jim 987
    13 weeks in jail, suspended for spilling some milkshake? The world has gone mad.

        1. The presentation itself, ignoring the content, tells you what sort of maniac you are dealing with.
          It’s more informative than the plan.

          1. I think we all know what sorts of maniacs we're dealing with; muslim appeasers, people who don't know what a woman is, people who think that white is bad per se and black is good regardless and that we should self censor our thoughts and our language. Lichfield Diocese is similar.

    5. Spilling some milkshake. He’d be pretty upset if someone “spilt” a substance on his face, even if it did later turn out to be “only” a milkshake.

  113. It seems that our government are backing plans for a LHR expansion. More carbon more noise pollution and what does millipede
    have to say ?
    Hellllooo………

      2. Carbon offsetting is the 21st century equivalent of indulgences. Pay a fine/make a donation and you get X years off in Purgatory.

    1. Was that from the latest gnus, Rik? And will our cows be replaced by a plague of lowcost alternative?

    2. Have you seen the field of those flattened by climate? think it was Paul Homewood wrote about it today, Climate Change Sceptic. One of the good guys.

    3. As soon as the silver price goes to the moon, the solar panels will die the death.
      Can't come soon enough.
      Do your bit, go out and buy some silver! Rescue silver from being wasted in solar panels or used to kill people in the batteries of missiles!

      The world is using more silver than it's currently producing, and some people have estimated that crunch point will come in the autumn of 2025.

    4. Maybe similar to the morons requiring owners to register domestic "birds" – ducks, chickens etc. Go to a local lake and you will see great numbers of birds, all unregistered!

  116. Well they say that being in power increases the aging process on the body, but nobody expected that after only six months that Starmer would have such trouble maintaining elections

        1. The Tories are stuffed full of Greeniacs and remainers. The real reason why Germany and France economies are crashing. And our so called government are following them down the shit hole.

        1. Let's face it. He doesn't have anything one needs to survive. As soon as he fucks up they will arrange a car crash for him.

  118. Off topic
    I am very saddened to watch HG becoming more and more disassociated from the Anglican communion, her faith is extremely important to her.

    Over the years the news stories regarding cover-ups and the way the priests were protected sickened her, and then to discover that Welby's temporary replacement is no better was dreadful, and to add insult to injury, the daily on-line service was conducted by a cock-in-a-frock priest.

    It is very, very sad for me, I hope her faith will take her through it, I doubt I have ever seen her so unhappy regarding what is going on.
    Those who believe, please pray for her.

    1. I'm sorry for her distress, Sos. It's hard when that happens, like being rejected by a loved one. I wish I could offer words of comfort, but I don't have any. Poor lass.

      1. Thank you.
        I guess I'm also looking for support here, I hate seeing her so unhappy about something that is so important to her.

        1. On here we can offer words of friendship and support. We can also offer lunches and parties where we gather together. Come to mine next June.

        2. The love of God is steadfast and sure. Take comfort from that. Psalm 46 is one of my favourites; God is my strength and refuge, an ever present help in time of trouble.

    2. I will pray. Faith isn't about priests or their modern opinions ! Or media news headlines. It is about love. Love for our fellow man. Stay strong in our love of Jesus and his teachings.

      1. Thank you.

        I hope she knows that, actually I know she does, but I hate seeing her so depressed by what is going on.

        Again, thank you.

      2. Nor about buildings, or music, or other symbols.
        This would give HG an opportunity to re-establish her faith in God, rather than the trappings of religion.

      1. My wife.
        Her Grace
        (the lady sosraboc, but actually in her own right. I like to think I get the honorary bit)

        It’s a long story, the title goes through the female line and has for centuries, probably as a result of some illicit affair that produced a girl. The family had always produced girls, her mother had one girl HG.

        My family has a tendency only to produce boys. We had three sons and as a result the title will die when HG goes, she only really becomes HG on the death of her mother.
        We tried to get it changed for our granddaughter but the letters patent (or whatever the Garter King of Arms is ruled by) are very specific, female to female only.
        So there goes several hundred years of tradition.
        I guess it was fun while it lasted, but to be honest it hasn’t brought any grace or favour anywhere, ever; it’s such a minor title.

          1. Indeed, it's been a very good after dinner story, particularly as I can produce a family tree on my side going back quite a few years, with a member who married a "last of the line woman" and changed his surname to get the heritage. That isn't possible in HG's line.

        3. You could petition Charlie boy (he is, after all, the fount of all honour) to grant a new creation to your granddaughter of the old title. He could do something useful for once.

    4. The very reasons I no longer attend services but go to a church after they have finished. They have stolen my Church from me.

    5. I read the report in the Mail, and I am not convinced that Cotteril was guilty of anything more than not realising that this episode would be dragged out and used against him in the future.
      He inherited a problem priest and didn't get rid of him until there were actual charges against him. When there were, he got rid of him immediately.
      Who was on the panel that reinstated the criminal as a priest after his first set of misdemeanours? They would appear to carry more blame.
      I think it's more church-bashing from the usual suspects.

      2. They are undoubtedly guilty, but surely he should have investigated the rumours (there were bound to have been rumours) or he would have been considered to be turning a blind eye. He wouldn't have got as far as he did in the CofE if he hadn't been inclined to turn the other cheek in my view.

        1. I think he knew that the man had previously been convicted of crimes, but had he sacked him immediately, it would have been on the suspicion that he might commit future crimes, and that’s obviously wrong.

    6. Serious reply. There is always the Church of Rome. We used it a lot while in Laure for 40 years. Had a great deal to commend it.

      1. I suggested that too.
        She is very anti.
        Her brother "married in".

        The "Evangelique's" around here are strong and she has many friends who are members and are very supportive.

    7. We were having this discussion before the service tonight. In the Arch devil of York we have had a lucky escape. Try to console HG that God works in mysterious ways to work out his purpose and to keep the faith. Even if she doesn't go to church services, where two or three are gathered together in My Name, I am with you. I will remember her in my prayers as I do the country and its indigenous.

      1. Thank you.
        She still attends, and I hope the local communion will be supportive of her and each other.

    8. Throughout history there have always been bent/ corrupt/vicous/stupid prelates.
      Christianity has managed to rise above them.
      (Think Alexander VI – aka Rodrigo Borgia)

  119. Prescott held a referendum for the Northern Regional Assembly and was soundly told to bugger off.
    I'm guessing this time round the vacuous slapper Deputy Prime Minister isn't going to bother asking.

      1. That's why we'll never have another Brexit referendum. They'll just take us in without our consent.

    1. Excellent! A good foundation to build on. I was going to suggest she aybe join a relatively simple Christian organisation, but where there's people, there's politics and manipulation, so maybe not such a good idea. Not much help here.
      What was it that made her so comfortable until recently, Sos? Maybe that can be found elsewhere too, but even if you can, she'll still be unhappy following the recent events. Hard one. Good thing she has you to look out for her.

      1. She has many Christian friends and they do get together.
        She wasn't comfortable, far from it, these are the camel's back straw.
        I try, but, as I suspect you can guess, I'm too keen to debate.

  121. Time to take a break. Forget the news and just do local normal things with real people around her.

    1. I try to tell her that, but we're actually quite isolated here, a little too much for her liking.

      Dordogneshire has its disadvantages, fortunately the advantages far outweigh them.

  122. Off to open mic at me local. Been quiet the last few weeks and hope it's a bit livelier tonight.

    1. What are you thinking?
      🎵 I got chills they're multiplying 🎵

      Or…

      🎵 Is this the real life or is just fantasy 🎵

      Open your eyes !

  124. I can do more than one party !

    Besides…there are lots of Nottlers who would like to slap meet you. :@)

    1. I'm not sure who or what is the target of the joke. Either (a) the grumpy diners not liking one another at a forced family get-together (b) the diners are normally cheerful but their Christmas has been made miserable by current events (c) Christmas is a hateful Western tradition and non-Christians must be protected from it with warning signs.

  127. Just watched a few minutes of Channel 4 news.

    I don't like Prince Andrew, but he's being very badly stitched up.

    I wonder what the real issue is, that he's been chosen to be the squirrel.

    2. I think Prince (lol) Andrew is an arrogant fuckwit who has traded on his position in the Royal family and misjudged everything he has come in contact with.

      There are many people out there happy to use such idiots.

      I blame his mother !

    1. Skipped that one.
      Had a busy, mundane but ultimately satisfying day.
      Had no intention of mucking it up this evening.

    2. FFS. They can't even bring themselves to acknowledge Christmas, instead wishing us a 'Happy Holiday Season'

    3. FFS. They can't even bring themselves to acknowledge Christmas, instead wishing us a 'Happy Holiday Season'

    4. Aren't they wonderful… Meg and Hal work so hard at being famous they need some down time. I think they should send Archie and Lilly to spend Christmas with their great uncle Andrew.
      The upside is they might learn Mandarin !

  129. Good evening again, Children of God (it was a service of Lessons and Carols). Excellent choir, as usual (they were the choir from my former church cast out into the darkness by the wrecktorette and now singing freelance). Thankfully, the lyrics hadn't been tampered with, although the readings were a bit "modern". Met up with some former members of the congregation (now the diaspora) who were incensed by what Labour were doing. Always good to keep a finger on the pulse with the general electorate.

      1. 398878+ up ticks,

        Evening C,

        By the same token rotherham was not exactly a new thing as the JAY report revealed.

        1. They need to be nurtured. They come from a backward society. Not much in the way of education or socialisation. They should for their own good be concentrated…in camps.

      2. 398878+ up ticks,

        Evening C,

        By the same token rotherham was not exactly a new thing as the JAY report revealed.

  132. Just had an email from Scottish Power that they're not allowing credit balances any more.

    We've about £900 in there built up mainly from not having heating, an oven or hot water for 4 months since moving in.

    The message argues that instead they'll adjust our bill on a month by month basis. That completely defeats the point of a direct debit. I would far rather they had a big blob of my money than we got a bill for £300 one month when we weren't expecting it.

    1. Don't forget they'll be getting interest on your money. Far better to have your hands on it than theirs.

      1. Yes, that's certainly a consideration, but I would still prefer the credit were eroded than a massive bill land.

        1. ok, wibbs…I'll send you my bank dets and you can send me money weekly basis…I'll save it for you honest, even if I go bust….please, hang on to your own money..😇😇😇

          1. Heh, I know, I know, we're being daft BUT when the heat pump went in I expected a bill of hundreds a month – the suggestion was a kw/h and hour, or 30p an hour, 24/7 (7.20) a day. For 3 months. £210 a month in heating alone. Then we use about 10kw a day anyway so….

          2. Ah…the heat pump business, how much do you like it? Friend of mine works hydrogen business, tells me it's the future, he's trying to convince me little by little….

          3. Last year it was 14'c indoors now. December was manageable. It's 19'c upstairs, 16.5 down. That's not to say it's toasty warm. It isn't. It is infinitely better than it was.

            It is liveable with a jumper on. In January/Feb it was pointless being here – the Warqueen moved out. If this year it's 19'c I'll be very happy. By the 10th we had used (in total, not just in heating) 129kw.

            I'm estimating 450, rounding up to 500 kw.

            I think hydrogen is a good idea. Whether to use to generate electricity or as a heating fuel. The problem is extracting and transporting it. Abundant it is, but it passes through our current pipes.

          5. I would, but he’s overseas and I don’t often hear from him, or see him. They have a new UK plant, he tells me it’s the future. We’ll see.

    2. Hear you. How about cancelling the D/D, put the monthly amount into your savings a/c (one attached to your bank a/c) then withdraw to pay your bills as they fall due? My husband was paying an extortionate amount, my response when I saw bank statement 'wtf is this?' think it was Scottish Power offered him a 'deal'. Your cash is just that, better in your pocket/account than anyone else's 😁😁😁

      1. That's an idea. That way we move the money away from them but still have it should something painful come in.

        It was just annoying to be told the whole point of a debit was being nobbled – all because of unreliables.

      2. I follow the same method for vet's bills.
        Pet insurance appears to be a scam; stories from friends who thought they were being prudent are not good for the blood pressure. Keep the money in an interest earning account, rather than give it to an insurance company.

          2. I find it a little disconcerting that Dolly would have more in the bank than me.
            She would be eating fillet steak and i would be on the Kibble diet. :@(

        2. Exactly. That's what I did with Oscar's vet bills. If I didn't actually save money, I broke even.

        3. Exactly..another thing husband opened…meds get I think 10% deduction. Had a dog cruciate ligament, obviously needed follow on meds, vet assistants charge me the full amount so I went in and asked about it. Receptionist confirmed I wasn't covered so I asked to speak to vet. He poked his head round the door and said 'give her what she wants'. A cultured man, obviously….

        4. Exactly..another thing husband opened…meds get I think 10% deduction. Had a dog cruciate ligament, obviously needed follow on meds, vet assistants charge me the full amount so I went in and asked about it. Receptionist confirmed I wasn't covered so I asked to speak to vet. He poked his head round the door and said 'give her what she wants'. A cultured man, obviously….

      3. A favourite saying of my mum's – "better in my pocket than theirs". I remind myself of this when I feel I can't be bothered to chase up small amounts – it galvanises me into action.

        1. I left home as soon as I legally could, was difficult paying bills at first – learned my lesson pdq, stop smoking, drinking, dancing all hours instead of eating…..small amounts of money can soon mount up :-))

          1. I was with you all the way there until the bit about preferring to eat instead of dancing all hours.

            Does not compute.

            😉

            K x

          2. T’other way about, I preferred going out dancing, drinking, having fun and I would spend my money that way (after paying rent) instead of eating. Tbf, good canteen at work, and the ladies there took good care of me (I’m so lovable, right?) Kate xx

    3. They don't want you to have credit balances for two reasons.
      1. They want you indebted.
      2. They would owe you interest.

  133. Can't do sudoku to save my life! Crosswords, Codewords, anything with words yes, but numbers absolutely not!

    1. Conners, you are really Anne ("No good at Maffs") Allan and I claim my 5 bob postal order (25p in new money) Lol.

    2. My Danish DiL tries to tell me its all about patterns.
      But … I See Numbers and my brain freezes.

      1. I can get strings of numbers in the wrong order when I'm copying them or reading them back. It's a nightmare trying to pay bills and get the sums right.

  134. I do them all, KJ, as I really do think they help keep the brain exercised. I remain pretty good with numbers but my word power seems to be diminishing…. ho-hum!

  135. I've been saying I think we may be in for a harder winter this year, but when I read your troubles I really hope I'm wrong. Possibly a wood burner? we have one, like it but it can be a bit mucky, ash spills over etc, good job I'm not houseproud :-😂😂

    1. I would love one. We investigated having a chimney put in outside and run up above the house. The mess I could live with. I'd put Mongo near it and he'd sweep the ash about.

      For me, the big worry is cost. If winter is harder (last year was lived under an electric blanket in one room with a broken 2 bar heater) we will be paying a lot more in electricity (thus the credit!). There's also the inflexibility.

      The thermostat is nigh unintelligible. I don't want to adjust it in case I break it. You also can't turn the heating off if you're too warm/want to vent the house and then whack it back on later. You're (maybe we're, as other heat pump owners seem ok?) set with the one temp.

      I think in our farm house with it's 2 foot thick stone walls we could put the heat on high and it'd get there quickly and stay there. If the Warqueen wanted it on higher she'd tap it up. You can't do that with the heat pump (well, you can but it is very expensive and time consuming, especially if you only want a temporary boost).

      1. We have one wood burner, and underfloor heating (oil tank)…that needs to be on 24/7 in winter otherwise useless. Water is also heated from oil. Wood burner is excellent, warms whole room which has quite a few windows. You likely have a local seasoned wood supplier, and also a wood burner fire? I’d look into it, I reckon. Good luck, wibbling x

        1. Aye, we did KJ. The cost was about £10,000. It came to investing in that or putting it toward moving fees or, more recently planning for Junior's university fees (as we want him to come out debt free – unless he wants to otherwise).

      2. Surely if you had a woodburner or multi-fuel stove, it would keep the house warm and you could whack the heat up if necessary. Having a chimney put on the side of the house is no problem (you do need planning permission). For years I had a flue outside the house for my Rayburn, for which we did NOT need planning permission, but then we decided to replace it with a brick built one in keeping with the other chimneys (there just wasn't a chimney in the kitchen).

  136. My oil heating (not as effective as my Rayburn but okay if topped up with an open fire) gets the house up to 20 degrees C.

    1. Yes – I set it at 19, fallback to 16. It's supposed to operate at 21 but that's too hot most of the time.

  137. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/12/16/flat-taxes-are-very-attractive-says-badenoch/

    Badenoch talks a good talk, but hasn't presented any plan. It's ok saying 'we like that idea', so get some research done. Write some papers. Really talk about doing the right thing that helps the very lowest paid. Scrap those desperately unfair taxes on fuel, food and energy – all caused by the insane obsession with green. Talk about making the tax threshold 12k, increasing with inflation and being set at 18% flat.

    Talk about scrapping stamp duty, inheritance taxes, properly scrap green taxes. Get rid of business rates, council tax and put local money into the hands of the council under the control of the public. Central government is a bloated waste of time and money that tries to do everything and fails at it.

  139. Oh dear…nearly everything increased greatly since lockdowns…do you have sufficient insulation, I think there may still be government schemes to help with cost? Uni fees…been there, done that…don’t think they needed the degrees for the employment they ended up in. Such is life eh, wibbs…good luck, Kate x

  140. Well, chums, today has been a most challenging day for me, so I have decided to have an early night and go to bed. One good thing which happened today is that I got the very last of my Christmas shopping done and I now won't need to shop until the New Year – and only a very little at that. So Good Night all, sleep well, and I hope to see you all hale and hearty tomorrow morning.

  141. Btw wibbling ..back to heat pump, suggest you keep all documents and bills with proof of payment guarantees etc as there could well be class action for mis-sellimg heat pumps at future date, Kate

    1. The heat pump manufacturers have been very active in our village(s) in North Essex. There are encapsulated posters on every other lamppost alerting us to meetings in various Village Halls.

      We have also had some idiot son of an elderly couple in our village lecturing us on the fictional reasons for climate change. I expect the ‘Doctor’ was (un)educated at the University of East Anglia where the sheep in the surrounding fields are more intelligent. We boycotted his talk but speaking to some in attendance has left me to conclude that we have many more in numbers than the singular village idiot.

      1. Excellent post, cori (and sorry for late reply). I have a number of vocal neighbours, similar vein. And others who just keep quiet, which makes me think they secretly agree. The new religion. What first drew my attention to climate change was a young relative, in junior school, being taught about it. I had no idea that was a subject on the curriculum (kidding). Online info – take your pick, any subject 😆

  142. Btw wibbling ..back to heat pump, suggest you keep all documents and bills with proof of payment guarantees etc as there could well be class action for mis-sellimg heat pumps at future date, Kate

    1. I knew about this ‘additive’ SV40 thirty years ago when I had a five year stint as Architect to The Babraham Institute near Cambridge, an animal testing complex of laboratories which came under the government BBSRC based in Swindon at the time.

      I was responsible for a new Immunology and Signalling Laboratory on the site and was obliged to become familiar with some of the research processes in order to design the laboratories.

      Outsiders would be shocked at the activities which ncluded a so-called ‘Mouse House’ a building the size of a Jumbo Jet hangar wherein racks of mice, rats and ferrets were experimented on in the search for the next wonder drug.

      Of course many of the scientists involved were merely seeking to develope a marketable commodity whereby they would become very wealthy after obtaining patents and launching on the London Stock Exchange. Many were Americans.

      How else could have a scrawny scrote like Sunak have amassed such wealth in a short time but by exploiting the possibilities of selling billions of doses of Moderna MRNA vaccine products under the WEF/WHO manufactured market conditions.

      The entire Pharma establishment needs to be taken down and its proponents and political advocates brought to trial for their misdeeds and the immense harms they have visited on humanity.

    2. I knew about this ‘additive’ SV40 thirty years ago when I had a five year stint as Architect to The Babraham Institute near Cambridge, an animal testing complex of laboratories which came under the government BBSRC based in Swindon at the time.

      I was responsible for a new Immunology and Signalling Laboratory on the site and was obliged to become familiar with some of the research processes in order to design the laboratories.

      Outsiders would be shocked at the activities which ncluded a so-called ‘Mouse House’ a building the size of a Jumbo Jet hangar wherein racks of mice, rats and ferrets were experimented on in the search for the next wonder drug.

      Of course many of the scientists involved were merely seeking to develope a marketable commodity whereby they would become very wealthy after obtaining patents and launching on the London Stock Exchange. Many were Americans.

      How else could have a scrawny scrote like Sunak have amassed such wealth in a short time but by exploiting the possibilities of selling billions of doses of Moderna MRNA vaccine products under the WEF/WHO manufactured market conditions.

      The entire Pharma establishment needs to be taken down and its proponents and political advocates brought to trial for their misdeeds and the immense harms they have visited on humanity.

  145. Starmer is so thick that his every mis-step leaves Badenoch an open goal.

    What in heaven’s name are these politicians doing. Are they all as unread and uncivilised as Starmer and his cabal of ignorant slappers and evil malevolent witches.

    In the past we had a relatively well read and educated class of politician. Nowadays we are stuck with persons of no intellectual consequence, basically stupid people with little grasp of reality.

    As we see in the attachment and massive ‘lost’ investment in the conflict in Ukraine, Starmer and his ilk lack all common sense and awareness. They lack any sense of responsibility for our own defence and instead hide behind the US and the US funded NATO organisation.

    Well, the Trump administration is about to pull the plug on this cosy arrangement. I expect the whole theory behind NATO and its eastern expansion to fall apart next year. These prospective events also spell the demise of the hated EU and its affiliated unelected institutions.

    Starmer and his cronies are taking a wrecking ball to our UK economy, our culture and historic customs and way of life. We may yet be saved by President Trump. I pray it is so.

  146. Starmer is so thick that his every mis-step leaves Badenoch an open goal.

    What in heaven’s name are these politicians doing. Are they all as unread and uncivilised as Starmer and his cabal of ignorant slappers and evil malevolent witches.

    In the past we had a relatively well read and educated class of politician. Nowadays we are stuck with persons of no intellectual consequence, basically stupid people with little grasp of reality.

    As we see in the attachment and massive ‘lost’ investment in the conflict in Ukraine, Starmer and his ilk lack all common sense and awareness. They lack any sense of responsibility for our own defence and instead hide behind the US and the US funded NATO organisation.

    Well, the Trump administration is about to pull the plug on this cosy arrangement. I expect the whole theory behind NATO and its eastern expansion to fall apart next year. These prospective events also spell the demise of the hated EU and its affiliated unelected institutions.

    Starmer and his cronies are taking a wrecking ball to our UK economy, our culture and historic customs and way of life. We may yet be saved by President Trump. I pray it is so.

    1. Good night Conners – and Kadi. (I couldn't sleep so got up and completed Tuesday's Wordle.)

    2. Good night Conners – and Kadi. (I couldn't sleep so got up and completed Tuesday's Wordle.)

  149. Talking about nothing much.

    I have to have a shower.
    Shave and brush my teeth.
    Do my bonnet.
    Then catch a bus.
    Then a train.
    Then a ferry.
    Then a hovercraft.
    Then walk to https://www.heroniow.co.uk/
    The most pretentious menu i have seen in a while.

    Then pretend i am enjoying myself.

    The reason for my glums…..I had to drop Dolly and Harry off. And i won't see them again until Wednesday.

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