Monday 9 December: Labour’s plan for railways ignores the clear successes of privatisation

Posted on by Geoff Graham

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

643 thoughts on “Monday 9 December: Labour’s plan for railways ignores the clear successes of privatisation”

    1. Rupert Lowe would make an excellent prime minister.

      His best qualification is that he did not become an MP until he was 67 and had phenomenal success outside politics in the business world.

      1. Yes. But we are now forced to “celebrate” it and refrain from pointing out the obvious mental disorder.

  7. Good morning Geoff and Nottler fans
    Today's Tale is about Aussies

    Two Australians in London who were down on their luck saw an advertisement for two footmen at Buckingham Palace. “References essential”, it said. “That’s O.K.,” said Col, “we can write them out for each other.”
    They arrived at the Palace and offered the King two glowing references. “Our servants dress in formal Scottish attire. This means wearing kilts, so drop your trousers while I check your knees.”
    The Aussies were a little surprised, but they did so. The King gave the knees a nod of approval and said, “Okay, now let me see those testimonials.”
    After they were thrown out of the Palace, Col said, “Y’know, if we’d understood the local lingo, I reckon we could’ve got those jobs.”

  8. Good morning Geoff and Nottler fans
    Today's Tale is about Aussies

    Two Australians in London who were down on their luck saw an advertisement for two footmen at Buckingham Palace. “References essential”, it said. “That’s O.K.,” said Col, “we can write them out for each other.”
    They arrived at the Palace and offered the King two glowing references. “Our servants dress in formal Scottish attire. This means wearing kilts, so drop your trousers while I check your knees.”
    The Aussies were a little surprised, but they did so. The King gave the knees a nod of approval and said, “Okay, now let me see those testimonials.”
    After they were thrown out of the Palace, Col said, “Y’know, if we’d understood the local lingo, I reckon we could’ve got those jobs.”

  14. Zelensky says 400,000 Ukrainian troops killed or injured in war. 9 December 2024.

    Mr Zelensky has previously insisted that Ukrainian casualty figures are strictly confidential and could not be released because they may undermine public morale.

    “Since the start of the full-scale war, Ukraine has lost 43,000 soldiers killed in action on the battlefield. There have been 370,000 cases of medical assistance for the wounded,” Mr Zelensky said on X.

    The conflation of the dead and injured is I think telling. Most battlefield casualties in the last hundred years are in the ratio of one dead to three or four wounded. Zelensky of course has an interest in their being as low as possible.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/09/zelensky-ukrainian-troops-killed-or-injured-in-russia-war/

  16. Labour’s plan for railways ignores the clear successes of privatisation

    The Left hates the thought of business making a profit, that is all it is about.
    They would rather have a terrible service than the thought of anyone making money.

    2. On principle, I support the concept of nationalising the railways if they can get the trains to run on time. It would be nice to have one price for a train ticket, rather than a lottery depending on haggling and endless scrolling online for the latest "deal". I find that all that so tiresome, even though casino types like it. The other day, a return ticket from Malvern to London varied from well over £100 for an open return to just over £40 if I went on the old chuggers via Brum and Rugby. The route through the Cotswolds put up their prices as soon as I registered an interest under their "dynamic pricing" system. I so hate having to be alert to being conned all the time.

      On the other hand, I once attended a Green Party rally in Malvern at the time Caroline Lucas was calling for nationalising the railways. Their leader and speaker at the rally was Julia Gillard clone Natalie Bennett, who once got through a Green election campaign without mentioning the environment.

      I asked her how many heritage railways opened or were closed under public ownership, compared to those owned privately.

      1. The railways are nationalised. The rolling stock and operators are not.

        In practice, what does nationalisation mean?

        1. Nationalisation means that the operators' unionised employees have access to a bottomless pit of taxpayer money to fund their demands for exorbitant above inflation pay rises until the country finally goes bust.

  20. 398405+ up ticks

    May one ask,

    These foreign criminal types are the real power behind the governing political cartel, are they being used for a purpose
    as in deflection, concealing other criminal actions regarding
    what is passing for a government, WHY IS THIS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN ?.

    Many of these foreign criminal types are coming in via the Dover / what passes for a government replacement scheme,
    WHY IS THIS BEING ALLOWED TO HAPPEN ?

    https://x.com/EvacTony/status/1865668269794881710

    1. er, justice takes time.. LOL. The CPS confirmed that it is waiting for the IOPC, Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)

      Catherine Bates of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating whether any officers were responsible for leaking the CCTV footage to the Manchester Evening News.

      1. I think in the interests of Cultural sensitivities everybody should just forget the whole matter..

        Cue (on film set of 1970s Crown Court): Sir Keir Starmer at the lectern opens with..
        "Let me make this clear.."

      2. Probably booked in for a Starmer defence job when he's finished fiddling about in politics.

  22. Good morning, chums. Thank you, Geoff, for today's NoTTLe site.

    Wordle 1,269 5/6

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

  23. Breaking..
    Over a million Syrian refugees who came to EU in 2015, now at airport set to return to their own country.

    4. 398405+ up ticks.,

      Morning KB,

      May one ask,

      Will they still be eligible for British
      welfare payments ?

  25. Good morning all.
    A bit calmer weather wise today. No roaring of the wind across the valley top and about 5° on the somewhat inaccurate repurposed Pantry Thermometer with a very light shower of rain.
    I know it's over two weeks before the event, but I wander is the Boxing Day Raft Race through Matlock Bath will go ahead this year after all the rain we've had?

    1. Yes, BoB. It will start at one end of the High Street. Rafts can then race along to the other end of the High Street using paddles and oars. First to reach the other end is the winner. Lol. (Good morning, btw.)

    2. Yes, BoB. It will start at one end of the High Street. Rafts can then race along to the other end of the High Street using paddles and oars. First to reach the other end is the winner. Lol. (Good morning, btw.)

  26. Good morrow gentlefolk, especially Geoff and thanks for his wonderful work on this site. Had a lie-in, I deserved it!

    2. Hope you're in, Sir Jasper. Ye Amazon just pinged me that there's a parcel on the van for you this morning.

        1. Oh, man. That's not good, Tom. Are you getting some treatment?
          The delivery may well not help, but if you're sitting down… 😉

        2. Would be easier to have them at your place, alternatively I can maybe redirect to a more convenient address.

          1. If you would be so kind, Paul. The address is:
            Flat11, Dowding House, Old Well Road, Moffat, Dumfries & Galloway DG10 9AW. Muchas Gracias.

  27. I thought I was watching a remake of My Fair Lady yesterday.
    But as it turned out it was Rayner being interviewed on Sky News

  28. Morning all 🙂😊
    The usual grey, still a tad windy and wet.
    I think we've known for a long time now that everything our political classes have come into contact with they have effed it up and big time. Here we go again.
    The only thing that politicians would be useful for on our railway network is polishing the tracks, or sweeping the platforms.

  29. 'Morning All
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    1. It is blindingly obvious what needs to be done by the West (both US military and EU trade) in Syria.

      There needs to be a summit in Ankara, convened by Turkey whereby a lasting entente cordiale needs to be established, putting to an end the ancient emnity between the Turks and the Kurds, and Syria being the cement bridging the Euphrates far better than Sykes and Picot ever did after the breakup of the old Ottoman Empire. No more persecution of Kurds in Afrin. No more terrorism by Kurds in Eastern Turkey. A recognition of a pro-Turkish regime in Damascus, but an autonomous province for the Kurds in Eastern Syria on the same lines as that in Iraq. Syria to be rebuilt by Turks and Kurds in a friendly competition for the quality of the rebuild, rather than fought over with artillery and vengeance for lost empires.

      The West, being allies of both Turkey and the Kurds, are in a good position to broker this peace, and none better to be their figurehead than our own King Charles, who performed a similar role in Bosnia in the 1990s.

      Russia and Israel have disgraced themselves completely and need to be shut out. They are utterly malign forces, and will support insurgencies from Assad remnants, the Shia axis and above all Israel's ally, friend and useful bogey Islamic State. Israel is more interested in land grab around the Golan Heights, and Russia preoccupied with smashing up Ukraine right now. They are both vile, and I feel ashamed how much succour the likes of powerful nations such as India, China and I regret to say, the USA are giving them.

      As for Trump, who knows? He is his own boss and will do as he will.

          1. Beautifully sunny here – problem is, it was cloudless all night, too, so it's really rather cold.

      2. When we merely bought nice swords and silks from that area, life was so much simpler.
        Oh, and the tulips.

    2. Do people still actually buy — and eat — that "spreadable" poison?

      Then they wonder why they are constantly ill with life-threatening conditions.

      1. I buy salted and unsalted butter. Welsh or Cornish if i can get it.

        What makes me laugh is some recipes call for unsalted butter but then they say season to taste…

      2. I only use 'I can't believe it's not butter' as I like it, it's for others to decide whether it has affected me 😂

    3. Love the third one, priceless. Alf and I were talking about the insane rules and regulations that were out in place during the plan/scamdemic. Completely crazy.

  30. 'Morning All
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  32. Good Moaning.
    I don't expect NOTTLers to share my fascination with C17 Britain, but I am thoroughly enjoying "The Blazing Century" by Jonathan Healey.
    Possibly my interest is sparked by the experience of this country for the past 20 years and the very real possibility that we are stuck with a similar situation into the foreseeable future.

    We all know about Ship Money, soap monopolies and all the religious schenanigans.
    What surprises me is not that we had a Civil War, but that it didn't start a good ten years earlier. Charles I had all his father's obsessions but without the low cunning to know when to leave things alone. The stubbornness of a weak man.

    This paragraph really caught my attention. A Scottish born monarch taking sides in a political argument and trying to enforce his views on his own subjects. Deliberately impoverishing part of his own kingdom by using Irish (Papist?) and English troops to impose his will.
    This is in 1639. I think we can say that the British have a long fuse.

    "Charles’ strategy was for a three-pronged attack on his northern kingdom. Irish troops would land from the west, Hamilton would take 8 warships and 5,000 men, blockade Scottish trade and land in the east, while Charles himself would lead the main English force of 30,000 troops from the south. To this end, he summoned his nobility to appear at York on 1st. April, 1639 with as many men as they could muster."

    1. Even worse.
      "But what about our tanks? Our fighters? Our destroyers?"

      "When they have enough battery power they'll be back on the job escorting them in Sir."

        1. Lammy, Rayner and Starmer.

          Lammy = thick as a septic Tank.
          Rayner = pissed slapper cat-Fighter.
          Starmer = Destroyer of the economy.

  34. Syrian rebels may be removed from UK terrorist list
    Pat McFadden says proscribed status of Abu Mohammad al-Jolani and his group, once aligned with al-Qaeda, to be reviewed
     https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/12/09/syrian-rebels-may-be-removed-from-uk-terrorist-list/

    Are our MSM and the government so naïf that that they cannot see that those who have overthrown Assad are probably very much worse. This coup is a disaster for all Christians in the Middle East and for all of Europe.

    BTL

    We have completely lost our marbles – and not just the Elgin ones.

      1. Good morning, Maggiebelle

        Not that Assad was a nurse – he was an eye surgeon – but, like Hilaire Belloc's Jim, by letting go our hold of him we have found something worse.

        1. Assad is a doctor and once worked for Imperial NHS Trust at the Western Eye Hospital in Marylebone. A shame his detractors are so blind.

    2. I have commented below, and no doubt we disagree over this. I see it as an opportunity for proper peace to break through, and for the many mistakes made since Sykes and Picot to be corrected.

      Key to this is a reconciliation between the Turks and the Kurds, and the malign influences shut out.

      Was it not on the way to Damascus that one Saul of Tarsus, an aggressive and belligerent enforcer from what is now modern-day Turkey saw the light and wrote much of the Christian New Testament?

      1. I admire your optimism however we should have learned in the last 2000 years that Arabs and Muslims do not do democracy and are only happy when they’re killing each other and us.

        1. Is Patriotism the last refuge of the scoundrel?

          Is Optimism hoping for the best against all the evidence?

        2. Which is perhaps why I have neglected the Arabs when considering the new regime in Syria, which at best would be an arrangement between Turks and Kurds, with the Arabs there being the subjects, and the beneficiaries being the Semites, who at last may get a bit of peace and quiet.

          Muslims are divided into the more bureaucratic and nationalistic Shia and the Sunni, who operated under devolved sultanates under the umbrella of the Caliphate. You are quite right in that they respond more to a policy of submission rather than democracy, but short of crusading the place, I cannot see much peaceful prospect for extracting Islam from it.

      2. Morning Jeremy. Saul of Tarsus repented when Christ asked him why he wished to persecute him. I am guessing geography was merely happenstance.

      4. Reading my book-club book on Gertrude Bell (written c. 30 years ago). The author is pretty clear it is the fault of the perfidious Frogs, post-Great War.

    3. "they cannot see that those who have overthrown Assad are probably very much worse"

      No of course they cannot. They've got Israel down as genocidal maniacs who'd serve the world better by just ceasing to exist and Trump as your average far right bigot. They are incapable of seeing anything beyond the massive planks in their own eyes.

      1. And Assad is the only world leader qualified as an eye surgeon who could have removed the motes and beams in their eyes.

  35. Good to see that Big Brother has his finger on the pulse:

    "Starmer tells new Syrian leaders to renounce terror and violence"

    2. New Syrian leaders can tell Starmer to get stuffed.

      When Starmer pledges something, you can be certain he will do everything in his power to break that pledge as soon as anyone gives him control.

    3. He’s talking to the brick wall again. If only someone would put us out of his misery.

    4. What an empty banging gong that guy is. Endless noise signifying nothing. He and his double act sidekick Lammy are embarrassments at best and a clear and present danger to world peace at worst. Fortunately I think most of the others leading countries already have their measure. They are either taking them for fools by grifting as much cash as they can out of them or setting him up for their own long term ends. A pair of utter buffoons.

      1. As the "Scottish Play" has it …
        "It is a tale
        Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
        Signifying nothing"

  38. Morning all

    Brighter morning , breezy , 7c.. rain showers.

    Another week to keep an eye on politics ..

    Starmer has exercised coercive control over the media and of course us .

    Has he started to accumulate expensive cars and motorbikes , art and properties

    Are his socialist buddies , stooges so we have someone to mock , to divert attention from the demolition of our prosperous mild mannered protestant/catholic country into a heinous enclave of bottom wavers?

    1. Sorry Belle. I listened to 5 minutes of that and thought it was pure unmitigated garbage. These ersatz citizens of a never exiting and non-existing country brought it upon themselves. These people had a country. It is called Jordan. But when they were there they caused so many problems they had to be driven out. Same in Kuwait, expelled for their traitorous conduct. No one wants them because they are poison and instead of accepting reality, they poison their children too causing perpetual problems for themselves. It is entirely their own fault. The truth is that Israel has put up with them longer than any of their compatriots in the Arab world. At this point they deserve nothing. No two state solution, nothing.

      1. Morning Jonathan. Couldn't have described those people any more succinctly. Driven by hatred, practice hatred continuously and the result is neverending poison.

        1. Good Morning James. Perhaps the new regime in Syria can welcome them? I'm sure they would fit right in with ex al-Qaeda types.

          Heard an interesting take about the overthrow of Asaad this morning. Theory is that this was done by the American deep state in order to ruin Trumps foreign policy. Food for thought, interesting to think about for a while.

          1. I hadn't heard about the anti Trump conspiracy. I do think the authority to fire American ordnance at mother Russia was just such an attempt. Brothers Gullible, Starmer and Lammy I'm sure aren't capable of guessing the game for themselves so just went along with it.

            I think if this really is an attempt to throw a spoke in Trump's Middle East policy then it's feeble. Not to say it isn't an attempt, but Trump will just withdraw all the cash from all the main players. The various players are only able to indulge themselves in pogroms in Israel from Hezbollah to Hamas, to Iran itself in the first place because of Biden's reckless largesse. Speaking of Iran he'll do that big blustery 'there will be hell to pay' thing he does, which will make them jump while having precisely no intentions of carrying any of it out. It works like the big threatening red button he used to keep on his desk last time he was in office that he convinced people was the nuclear war start button and which actually he used to order in another Coke whenever he wanted a laugh.

            They can bring it on frankly.

          2. I think you will find this interesting, especially when you arrive at the section about 51 intelligence agents lying. No doubt Trump will go after them as well as others. So it isn't difficult to understand why they would try to bog Trump down in problems that would save their skin. This programme documents the extent of corruption in Bidens White House and the corruption of the agencies riddled by partisans not interested in doing their job with the impartiality required of them.

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmyHANqdyvk

          3. I hadn't heard about the anti Trump conspiracy. I do think the authority to fire American ordnance at mother Russia was just such an attempt. Brothers Gullible, Starmer and Lammy I'm sure aren't capable of guessing the game for themselves so just went along with it.

            I think if this really is an attempt to throw a spoke in Trump's Middle East policy then it's feeble. Not to say it isn't an attempt, but Trump will just withdraw all the cash from all the main players. The various players are only able to indulge themselves in pogroms in Israel from Hezbollah to Hamas, to Iran itself in the first place because of Biden's reckless largesse. Speaking of Iran he'll do that big blustery 'there will be hell to pay' thing he does, which will make them jump while having precisely no intentions of carrying any of it out. It works like the big threatening red button he used to keep on his desk last time he was in office that he convinced people was the nuclear war start button and which actually he used to order in another Coke whenever he wanted a laugh.

            They can bring it on frankly.

          6. Erdogan was behind this with the use of his Jihadi proxies.There are hundreds of thousands of Syrians in Turkey and they are a drain on the country. Erdogan hopes to be shot of them.

            In addition Erdogan has a problem with the Kurds who are seeking a homeland.

            Biden is opportunistically attempting to claim credit for the toppling of Assad. The US had little or no say in the matter. I expect the US under Trump will remove from Syria altogether and close its small airbases on the coast.

            Iran will suffer in the short term as it will be unable to supply its terrorist proxies via Syria and will have to find alternative routes. This disruption of supply routes will benefit Israel and already Israel has taken the opportunity to now fully occupy the Golan Heights.

        2. I listened to the whole interview and I think you should give a little and listen to the full interview as well .

          Please don't be dismissive , because there are some valid points to be mulled over .

          Yes , those regions are driven by hatred .. and of course future adults who are now children will probably make sure that resentment endures .

          If you can see my point of view , here we are , importing the adult versions of hate and subversion . The UK is similar to a Muslim holding camp, so goodness knows what plot is being conceived on these shores or whether the plot to overthrow Assad and others was thought through here in the UK.

          I don't like to view these people parading through our cities waving their flags .. send them all back now to rebuild their countries . and stop HIDING here in the UK.

          1. OK Belle, when it's time for my afternoon rest, about 12 actually. I will listen to the whole thing. I promise.

          2. Morning Belle, I'm not being dismissive of you naturally and I fully agree with your point about them being in the UK for all the wrong reasons. You're absolutely correct too about Britain being a secure haven for plots to be hatched by foreign powers. It's an old story, just recall Iranian and Libyan embassy incidents from the near past. Yes they ought to be sent back. On the wider point about plotting, we've always had our own tendency towards that: Guy Fawkes, may I suggest. But I'd rather have free speech, the ability to plot to your heart's content but countered by a security system with a keener edge than a scalpel.

            My dismissiveness is actually over the source of the story albeit I'm dismissive too of the honesty of the peoples of that region in general too. Al Jazeera I'm afraid talks a thoroughly good game, modelling themselves on the BBC, but like the Beeboids they have an agenda. They aren't I'm afraid to say a credible source and neither are they our friends.

          3. Good morning James ,

            But of course , and yes I appreciated your comment .

            Our ability NOW to discuss issues on here is wonderful, but as wokeness spreads in the media , letters to editors censored , social media spied on and since July some people have allowed a fork tongued serpent to take the helm in Parliament , who has allowed a dysfunctional police force and judiciary to imprison many people with loud voices and raised fists .. those brave people who have railed against the selective hearing that politicians possess.

          4. Absolutely, cannot argue with any of that. Always fight the good fight, but if they ban us from speaking in public then they’ll just have to get used to us speaking privately where they cannot find us. Their choice really.

            My big problem is that our current leadership in particular and the Woke in general really are too blind to see the consequences of their folly. Bless them.

          5. Morning Belle, I'm not being dismissive of you naturally and I fully agree with your point about them being in the UK for all the wrong reasons. You're absolutely correct too about Britain being a secure haven for plots to be hatched by foreign powers. It's an old story, just recall Iranian and Libyan embassy incidents from the near past. Yes they ought to be sent back. On the wider point about plotting, we've always had our own tendency towards that: Guy Fawkes, may I suggest. But I'd rather have free speech, the ability to plot to your heart's content but countered by a security system with a keener edge than a scalpel.

            My dismissiveness is actually over the source of the story albeit I'm dismissive too of the honesty of the peoples of that region in general too. Al Jazeera I'm afraid talks a thoroughly good game, modelling themselves on the BBC, but like the Beeboids they have an agenda. They aren't I'm afraid to say a credible source and neither are they our friends.

  40. Well, that's me off for this years Diabetic Retinopathy checkup.
    See you when the drops wear off.
    TTFN

  41. Gun aficionados disappointed to learn that the healthcare CEO assassin probably didn't use a Welrod.. the BSA cult classic favoured by the old school super secret agents.
    They also spotted how he carefully did a fire one/ eject one/ fire one/ eject one sequence.. to deliberately leave behind the coded message in the most efficient manner.
    The guy is defo a gun nerd, a pro.

      1. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma.

        Translation: Nancy Pelosi stock trades & Brian Thompson connection.
        Nancy & Joe continue tidying up.

    2. Thank you for posting:

      The most damning paragraph:

      "Doctors’ surgeries in England were confused as the Green Book omitted GPs and frontline staff as being eligible for autumn covid boosters. The confusion stemmed from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s (JCVI) decision not to continue to recommend covid vaccination for front-line health and care staff in favour of ‘local occupational health solutions’ – or managing the risk.'

      2. Neighbours in the 60s have looked after her dad (93) for many years since the mother died – he lives alone.
        They asked for Covid injections and were refused as they were too young – they were trying to minimise the issues that would occur if they caught Covid – Taxpayer saves say £100 on vaccines.

        Last Xmas the granddaughter, who live 300 miles away, brought Covid in – both neighbours caught it and were grounded for 5 days.
        Meanwhile the 93 year old – cancer & heart issues, fell apart as he was not being looked after (not eating & drinking) messed up the drugs he takes etc etc – 4/5 days hospital to stabilise / rectify his many issues – Taxpayer cost £2,000/£3,000??

        Penny wise Pound Foolish comes to mind.
        Multiply that across the country and you are looking filling wards when it could have been avoided.

        1. It is worth noting that just because one has had the ‘vaccine’ doesn’t mean that you cannot get Covid nor indeed does it stop you from passing on Covid to another person…

  43. An incredible game. One correct letter then 'Bingo'!

    Wordle 1,269 5/6

    ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
    ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
    ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
    ⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜
    🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

  44. 398405+ up ticks,

    Dt,

    Starmer tells new Syrian leaders to renounce terror and violence
    Speaking as he arrived in the Gulf for trade talks, PM wlcomes fall of Bashar al-Assad’s ‘barbaric regime

    I do assume being the truthteller he is renowned for being
    he would go on to say " there are many other, suppler, velvet glove ways of killing and bringing the herd into line"
    In my case we stopped winter fuel payments for the elderly and infirmed, just follow my lead.

    1. In his career as a lawyer one of his major activities has been defending Islamic terrorists. He has no moral standing to comment on the likes of the new Syrian leaders. Those sort of people were his bread and butter as a human rights advocate.

    2. "Starmer tells new Syrian leaders to renounce terror and violence"
      The answer, my friend, is pissing in the wind …….

  45. Good morning, all. Bright-ish and breezy. Washing on.

    Thames cruise marred by the weather, well it is December, and sad-to-say, by the food.

    Nice chilled Prosecco on boarding and well presented starter of mixed salad, nice dressing and ugh! smoked salmon; my number one hate in food.

    Main course of turkey breast etc. was spoiled by the very undercooked vegetables: showing carrots and sprouts a pot of boiling water before placing them on the plate is insufficient preparation. However, brought up to never waste food I ploughed on, along with one or two other people but most of the veg went back untouched. Slightly spicy gravy with finely chopped onions was very nice.

    Dessert of a dark chocolate topped, multi-layered chocolate and coffee flavoured cake was nice. No coffee or tea at the end of the meal.

    As we sailed down the Thames it became apparent that London is becoming a complete shit-hole. Not because the streets were visible, obviously they were not, it is the style and quantity of the buildings that have been, and are being, erected and lining those invisible streets that gives the game away. I will not be rushing back to see that skyline again.

    My reply to Richard Tice re electric powered AFVs.

    https://x.com/bangerbloyce/status/1866055064608972932

        1. That reminds me of the time when we took an elderly aunt out for lunch at a smart pub/restaurant in Yorkshire. She suddenly started sawing away at her salmon with her knife. "This salmon has an awfully tough bone in it!" she declared. I peered across the table at her plate…. it was her upper set of false teeth masquerading as a salmon bone. It was hard to tell her but it had to be done… "oh, you won't tell anyone, will you?" she asked. I never did, but I have now. She was well into her nineties at the time.

          I have another story about false teeth, but that can wait for another time. They are the bane of people's lives.

          1. I had my teeth overhauled 18 years ago by Denys, our dentist in Marmaris in Turkey whose work is excellent. He fitted six crowns and 3 bridges which are all still in place and which have never given me a moment's trouble. There are no gaps so it looks as if I have a full set of teeth

      2. There is a difference between al dente and raw. I doubt they had proper well trained kitchen staff.

    2. I just think so called chefs dip vegetables into boiling water to sterilise them for a couple of minutes .. and then that's it .. Voila .

      We rarely eat out , because we have had some terrible experiences with badly messed around with food in eateries .

      1. True, then put in fridge in iced water, reheating boiling water for a minute or worse microwaved….smaller boutique type eateries sometimes a bit better but not always.

  46. Reeves calls for ‘closer economic relationship’ with EU ahead of finance meeting
    Chancellor on charm offensive as she seeks to establish ‘business-like’ relationship with bloc
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/12/09/reeves-calls-closer-relationship-eu-finance-meeting/

    We shall pay an enormous entry fee to rejoin the EU just as it is on the verge of collapse.

    And when it does collapse the UK will doubtless be obliged to pay the greatest share of the costs of dissolution.

    The EU ran rings around Frost, Johnson and Gove when the UK left the EU – the UK's role in European politics is always to play the fall guy!

    1. I dread to think what sort of awfulness would be represented by Thieves on a "charm offensive" – she's certainly offensive, but charm????

    2. Tice or perhaps Lee Anderson should make a statement that the next government will undo everything they agree upon.. without or shiny new Treaty. No qualms about rescinding an unequal Treaty.
      This will plant the seed of the inevitable Labour defeat.

    3. Brexit reversal, Rastus – but this time there will be no vote. What an absolute shower this 'government' is.

  48. They couldn't care less about the Chancellor's charm.

    They just want her (our) money and for that will promise anything.

      1. Very good to see you, Sean Stanley-Adams, visiting this forum

        We hope you had a good birthday on 1st December and that you saw the Nottlers' best wishes..

  49. SIR – Having worked for British Rail and Stagecoach South West Trains, I'm surprised the Government thinks that nationalising the railways will improve reliability (Letters, December 7). While British Rail was not a total disaster, it was responsible for nearly 50 years of decline.

    When South West Trains was privatised in 1996, there was much apprehension, yet it soon became clear that, under Sir Brian Souter, the aim was to provide an extremely reliable – and, yes, profitable – service.

    The desire to have as few levels as possible between the managing director and front-line staff, and give managers responsibility for their actions, started to instil great pride. Managers were trained to work on the front line – for example, as contingency guards or station dispatchers. Though this was undoubtedly done to weaken the unions' power to strike, it also broke down barriers. I remember assisting when flooding or severe disruption occurred. Under British Rail, this would never have been allowed.

    While not every franchise has been a success, rail travel doubled under privatisation, and investment in rolling stock soared. Is this what Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, regards as failure? Interestingly, the infrastructure that causes nearly three quarters of delays has been under the control of state-run Network Rail for 20 years, and since Covid the railways have effectively been run by the Department for Transport, which is why reliability has suffered.

    Iain Gee
    Former head of train planning, South West Trains
    Sway, Hampshire
    ________________________________________

    SIR – The Government's own report on rail statistics says: "Rail passenger miles in Great Britain have more than doubled since rail privatisation in the mid-1990s, from 4.6 billion in the first quarter 1994-95 to 10 billion in the second quarter 2015-16." Given that, after 45 years of British Rail failure, privatisation brought about such a startling change, one wonders what possible rational motive ministers can have for renationalisation.

    Clearly, it is not the interests of passengers.

    Philip Beck
    Former chairman, Railtrack
    Pilton, Somerset
    ________________________________________

    SIR – I was appalled to discover that virtually the whole railway network failed on Friday as a result of a single faulty network card (report, December 6). To then learn that this card was working on an outdated system, equivalent to the 2G mobile telephone service, simply adds to my concern.

    Britain is at a high level of risk of cyber warfare, and if this is an example of the resilience of our public sector's IT systems, the many bad actors looking to disrupt our lives remotely must be rubbing their hands with glee.

    Dr Michael A Fopp
    Soulbury, Buckinghamshire

    The absurd ticketing arrangements are the major gripe for regular users.

    1. That's when they start becoming activist. They should stick to information-gathering, not reacting to it.

      1. Indeed. The trouble is that government tends to think that they’re there for its political purposes too. There’s a danger that those sort of people get sucked into policing politically unacceptable speech just like the police seem to have, which is the very last thing they’re there for.

        Anyone made the connection between regimes such as Syria collapsing so suddenly and suppression of speech? Journos won’t have. There’s previous in that respect as we all know, e.g. the Berlin Wall.

  51. "Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the middle east".

    It's not just our own political classes that eff up everything they come into contact with.

      1. I suspect that Starmer will try to bring in a law to ban even subterranean flying of the Union Jack.

  53. Syrian rebels may be removed from UK terrorist list. 9 December 2024.

    We’ve seen the collapse of a brutal, terrible organisation, regime that’s been in power for over 50 years in Syria.”

    On Sunday, John Sawers, the former chief of MI6, said the UK should reconsider the ban because “it would be rather ridiculous, actually, if we’re unable to engage with the new leadership in Syria because of a proscription dating back 12 years”.

    “I think Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader, has made great efforts over the last 10 years to distance himself from those terrorist groups. And certainly the actions we’ve seen of [Hayat] Tahrir al-Sham over the last two weeks have been those of a liberation movement, not of a terrorist organisation,” he said.

    Asked if we should engage with the new regime, he said: “Absolutely. You know, there’s a new reality in Syria now. We’ve seen the collapse of a brutal, terrible organisation, regime that’s been in power for over 50 years in Syria.”

    These guys are probably on first name terms. We were helping them to overthrow Assad at the time.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/12/09/syrian-rebels-may-be-removed-from-uk-terrorist-list/

    1. Yo Minty

      Fantastic I thought

      Syrian rebels may be removed from UK
      .
      Then I continued reading
      .
      .
      .

      terror list

        1. Some people not living in the real world, Conway. Tend to think new reality my tush, but we'll see.

  54. Louise Haigh (the minster with a conviction for fraud) would struggle to get a job under workers’ rights reforms
    Labour is creating a market laden with fear that will condemn more to a life of worklessness
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/12/09/louise-haigh-struggle-get-job-labour-workers-rights-reforms/

    The private sector will be compelled to cut back on the number of people it employs because of the government's fiscal attacks on it.

    The sad truth is that the fewer people are employed in the private sector the more will be employed in the public sector or on benefits

    1. Were you and Caroline able to watch live the inaugural Mass from Notre Dame? We thought it was most moving and stunning.

      1. Caroline was playing the organ at our local village church at that time.

        However we can watch FR2 on our television and we watched the whole of the programme on Saturday including the "waking up" of the organ.

        One of the team of organists from Notre Dame came and gave a recital on the English organ in the St Malo Church in Dinan a couple of years ago. The pupils at Dinan School of Music – of which Caroline is one – often take their lessons there.

        Henry's godfather is an exceptionally good organist who has played on several church organs in our area. He was the Director of Music at Leicester Grammar School and retired a couple of years ago but he is still kept very busy. He lives in Oakham and is doing most of the organ playing at Oakham School this Christmas season as the school organist has fallen ill.

  55. Apart from the fact that it is a rip-off in so many places (£50 for an 8oz fillet steak) you have what I call the 'Masterchef Curse' – Nouvelle Cuisine in which the food is arranged in a little pyramid with a smear of something colourful around it in an attempt to convince the ripped-off that food is art and it requires an artist to tickle your pallet.

    Furthermore, you have no idea what the ingredients are which is why I refuse all sauces. Good food speaks for itself and doesn't need tittivating in any way. Anything fried has probably been done in a seed oil which is toxic, so no chips either, especially the thin 'fries' variety which will have come out of a packet and are therefore mass-produced.

    It is all bullshit.

    That said, we do eat out but we never accept exactly what's on the menu. We always modify their offerings in some way to make sure it is as healthy as possible. We are a chef's nightmare.

    1. So am I , a real nightmare re feeding and scanning a menu.

      I am not fussy .. I guess , I prefer my own simple offerings , and sometimes a recipe from Mary Berry or Nigella or Delia is safe and to my liking , and of course my 2 much missed Yorkshire aunts , who were superb meal preparers.. and my father !

      My late aunt , she died 11 years ago used to serve us the creamiest most delicious tripe and onions . perfect .. and can I remember how she did it , no I can't .

      However I am very capable of producing the most delicious braised lambs hearts , lovely recipe for cold weather , shin of beef casserole , and some nice fish dishes .

      Years back , a chicken casserole which was actually fresh rabbit , and no one in the family knew .. my one and only deception!

      2. Caroline's mother used to be very snobbish about turkey and chicken – Caroline managed to present a dish of this poultry saying it was veal and my M-i-L said how good it was!

      3. Just reading that has made me reach for a knife and fork and tuck a napkin into my collar.

        Another observation: Anywhere which offers its food as a 'Bill of Fare' rather than a 'Menu' should be ok.

  56. Apart from the fact that it is a rip-off in so many places (£50 for an 8oz fillet steak) you have what I call the 'Masterchef Curse' – Nouvelle Cuisine in which the food is arranged in a little pyramid with a smear of something colourful around it in an attempt to convince the ripped-off that food is art and it requires an artist to tickle your pallet.

    Furthermore, you have no idea what the ingredients are which is why I refuse all sauces. Good food speaks for itself and doesn't need tittivating in any way. Anything fried has probably been done in a seed oil which is toxic, so no chips either, especially the thin 'fries' variety which will have come out of a packet and are therefore mass-produced.

    It is all bullshit.

    That said, we do eat out but we never accept exactly what's on the menu. We always modify their offerings in some way to make sure it is as healthy as possible. We are a chef's nightmare.

  57. Apart from the fact that it is a rip-off in so many places (£50 for an 8oz fillet steak) you have what I call the 'Masterchef Curse' – Nouvelle Cuisine in which the food is arranged in a little pyramid with a smear of something colourful around it in an attempt to convince the ripped-off that food is art and it requires an artist to tickle your pallet.

    Furthermore, you have no idea what the ingredients are which is why I refuse all sauces. Good food speaks for itself and doesn't need tittivating in any way. Anything fried has probably been done in a seed oil which is toxic, so no chips either, especially the thin 'fries' variety which will have come out of a packet and are therefore mass-produced.

    It is all bullshit.

    That said, we do eat out but we never accept exactly what's on the menu. We always modify their offerings in some way to make sure it is as healthy as possible. We are a chef's nightmare.

    1. Thanks, Johnny. I get the daily alert (foc)..today's issue has more about Covid/vaccine, up my street. And Carl Heneghan/Trust the Evidence more on 'flu' and RSV. Good to know not alone.

        1. ‘Morning, James, good man, as ever ….and isn’t the flag pole story brilliant…made my day (thus far…) x

  62. 398405+ up ticks,

    We had convalescent homes for TB patients, now thanks to the
    brainless, witless party before country / or common sense voter we are left with plenty of patients, and we are not short of TB
    ( once near eradicated in the UK) plus the patients are topped up daily via the DOVER government controlled replacement campaign.

    https://x.com/LeilaniDowding/status/1866054177836740621

    1. The Robert Hunt Agnes Jones Orthopaedic Hospital (now a centre of excellence for hip replacements, etc) started off as a TB hospital. Patients were outside in all weathers with just mackintosh sheeting to keep the beds dry and a veranda type roof.

  63. It's not just the building dear Angela, that many houses that you claim are 'needed' will destroy all other wild life where all the materials will be coming from. Just Turn the boats around, send the scroungers home and save our countryside. And what about the schools, power and all other facilities and everything else associated with humans living on green belt land ?

    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/angela-rayner-says-people-who-need-homes-must-be-prioritised-over-newts/ar-AA1vtVDK?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=368d365e2f8b40bf965d23393ee24249&ei=39

      1. When they idiots have finished digging clay to bake 22.5 billion bricks the huge hole left after ballast sand and cement is extracted they can fill it with water. Next, roof tiling plaster board and plaster, timber electrical wiring plastic covering, copper and plastic piping, tar mac, you name it Obs. These political plonkers do not have the slightest effing clue what they are talking about.

      2. When they idiots have finished digging clay to bake 22.5 billion bricks the huge hole left after ballast sand and cement is extracted they can fill it with water. Next, roof tiling plaster board and plaster, timber electrical wiring plastic covering, copper and plastic piping, tar mac, you name it Obs. These political plonkers do not have the slightest effing clue what they are talking about.

    1. Their neighbours believed themselves to be without sin.
      I can't think what was going on in the family.

  65. I guess Joe hadn't seen the pics of Jill ogling The Donald in Notre Dame on Sunday…

    Biden Claims Credit for Toppling Assad
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6ba1a8daabc487521d5f94ab97bff251ce4e58c91f84e36fcc9bf1ddfd9a08db.png
    3:13
    President Joe Biden delivered a short address from the White House on Sunday, claiming credit for the toppling of the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, who was ousted by rebels after a long and brutal reign lasting decades.

    Biden claimed that a combination of U.S. policies — isolating Assad; tying Russia down in Ukraine; and allowing Israel freedom of action against Iran and its Hezbollah proxy — weakened the regime and left it without defenders.

    Biden said:

    Over the past four years, my administration pursued a clear, principled policy towards Syria. First, we made clear from the start that sanctions on Assad would remain in place unless he engaged seriously in a political process to end the civil war, as outlined in the U.N. security council resolution that passed in 2015. But Assad refused. So we carried out a comprehensive sanctions program against him and all those responsible for atrocities against the Syrian people. Second, we maintained our military presence in Syria, our counter ISIS, to counter the support of local partners as well on the ground, their partners, never ceding an inch of territory, taking out leaders of ISIS, ensuring that ISIS can never establish a safe haven there again. Third, we supported Israel’s freedom of action against Iranian networks in Syria and against actors aligned with Iran, transporting lethal aid to Lebanon — and, when necessary, ordered the use of military force against Iranian networks to protect U.S. forces. Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East. Through this combination of support from our partners sanctions, diplomacy, and targeted military force when necessary, we now see new opportunities opening up for the people of Syria and for the entire region.

    Biden left out the fact that President Barack Obama had sought to cultivate relations with the Assad regime, and ignored Assad’s use of chemical weapons despite drawing a “red line” in 2012. Both Obama and Biden also sought specifically to establish a new balance of power in the Middle East that favored a stronger Iran, despite its role in Syria. Furthermore, Biden did not give Israel freedom of action against Iran, but instead insisted on Israeli restraint.

    Biden spoke hopefully — and perhaps wishfully — about beginning a process of drafting a Syrian constitution, with the input of various different groups within the country, coupled with international aid to rebuild the war-torn nation.

    2. If Biden is for it and was behind it I fear the worst.
      I suspect that the conquistadors are wolves in sheep's clothing.
      I hope I'm wrong, but we shall see.

      1. Assad lived in a palace. Now there are hundreds of jihadis to replace him. They will also want there own palaces. The people will starve.

    3. OMG he'll be wearing a red outfit and be seen with his own flying reindeer next 😏🎅🏽

    4. "Biden Claims Credit for Toppling Assad."

      How? Did he stumble over (again) and knock Assad off his feet?

    1. Sorry, missed this yesterday. But I want to say that I’m truly sorry. Keep fighting. That is all you can do but it means a lot. It seems that once you give up on that you are doomed. Someone I know did just that a couple of weeks ago and died within a week. Not good.

  67. Morning, all!

    A couple of cheerful aspects of my adventures yesterday, in separate posts so as to annoy you all to the max. 😉 https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a90013c5ce645347dc9bfe82fb8687a609c32684887e7c688c0f508ef02880fc.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/dd2bf6ab9b0439003f02c2afc0716e8b067a46ad8cf553c0e8fda44a91b51ff3.jpg

    First, my stroll around the lake here in San Miguel del Monte (I had nothing to do until lunchtime, so took a couple of hours to wander and enjoy the abundant natural beauty.)

    I have a friend who is a bit obsessed with capybaras, and went the long way round to photograph this sign as a joke. Jolly glad to have done so, as the variety of birds I saw was extraordinary, and I even saw polo players in the wild.

    Obviously I had then to take photos of likely capybara habitats to prove to her that I was hunting for one to capture and send to her in the post, as she wanted.

    And then I damned well stumbled across a whole heap of the things!! I was amazed and entranced, and thought you might like a photo.

  69. Britain's Assad apologists have been left egg-faced as Syrians celebrate his downfall

    Corbyn, Galloway and others have a lot of living down to do

    Samuel Ramani
    9th December 2024, 5:28am GMT

    Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has fallen from power in the most dramatic fashion possible. Less than two weeks after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebels launched a rapid-fire offensive against Aleppo, Assad surrendered power in Damascus and went into exile. Assad's demise poses a devastating blow to Russia and Iran's influence in Syria, but it is an equally humiliating development for his apologists here in Britain.

    As soon as the 2011 Arab Spring protests erupted against Assad's regime, apologists for his tyranny surfaced in Britain. In the name of anti-imperialism and defending state sovereignty, figures on the far-left urged Britain to abandon its support for regime change in Syria and refrain from military action that would undermine Assad's authority.

    Assadist propaganda took two main forms. The first denied Assad's responsibility for the atrocities linked to his name and accused the Syrian opposition of carrying out the conflict's most egregious war crimes. British blogger Vanessa Beeley denied Assad's chemical weapons use and accused the White Helmets opposition movement of being a terrorist entity linked to organ trafficking.

    George Galloway, the Labour Party-turned-Workers Party of Great Britain MP who praised Assad as a "breath of fresh air" during his 2005 visit to Damascus, wove these fringe conspiracy theories into British political discourse. After the August 2013 Ghouta chemical attack, Galloway accused Israel of funnelling chemical weapons to al-Qaeda to frame Assad. Galloway also reiterated the Russian narrative that the Syrian Civil War was a binary conflict between Assad and terrorists.

    To dismiss the notion that he was an "Assad apologist," Galloway declared in December 2020 that "I support the secular Syrian Arab Republic and oppose the grisly hordes of Islamists sent to destroy it by the empire and their Gulf stooges." Former British Ambassador to Syria Peter Ford advanced similar logic and claimed that the presence of Christmas trees in Aleppo after the siege ended in 2016 showed how Assad was a lesser evil to the opposition.

    The second line of reasoning, which was more palatable to mainstream political figures, was that the West was wrong in its efforts to liberate Syria from Assad's tyranny. After the Ghouta chemical attack, British Prime Minister David Cameron expressed support for enforcing President Barack Obama's redline with military action in Syria. Cameron's calls for intervention were defeated in the Parliament by a 285-272 margin, as a coalition of Conservative MPs joined their Labour counterparts in opposing the liberation of Syria.

    After becoming Labour leader in 2015, Jeremy Corbyn fervently opposed interventionism in Syria. After the April 2017 Shayrat strike, which punished Assad for using chemical weapons yet again, Corbyn lashed out at the US for acting without UN backing. Corbyn similarly called strikes by the US, Britain, and France on Syria in April 2018 "legally questionable" and an escalation of the Syrian Civil War. The chasm between these criticisms of Western punitive measures against Assad and his silence in the face of Russian atrocities in Syria was plain for all to see.

    While Assadists were largely detached from the levers of political power, they muddied the waters for a potential Western intervention on Assad's behalf. As the West abandoned the anti-Assad cause, it became clear that the Syrian opposition would have to fight Assad alone.

    The meltdown of the Syrian Arab Army defences underscores the fact that Assad was a tyrant who lacked popular legitimacy. Ordinary Syrians cheer his ousting even as they express fear of what HTS might do next and how the Syrian economy will fare.

    This reality has driven many of the most incendiary Assadists into a state of shock and silence today. May that silence turn into self-reflection.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/09/assad-apologists-uk-politics-corbyn-galloway

    The madness of George Galloway. Opposes Islamists in Syria, supports them in the UK.

    The writer's 'ordinary cheering Syrians' will probably now have another civil war, just with different players.

    1. Before getting all dewy-eyed about the conquistadors I would wait to see what they do.
      Assad was a dictator, but looking around the ME I doubt he was any worse than all the others, and at least non-Muslims and minority sect Muslims could live in Syria. Those minorities will be leaving if they can get out.

    3. "British blogger Vanessa Beeley denied Assad's chemical weapons use and accused the White Helmets opposition movement of being a terrorist entity linked to organ trafficking". And how do we know that she wasn't right?

    1. Ah yes, the old lie of omission. One of my favourites. I do admire an adept in the science of deception by omission. They all end up in Hell though, of course. Such a waste of talent.

      Another story really about how the MSM love to drink poison and excrete smelly faeces afterwards. It would be good to see a return to diligent journalism.

  75. My final offering: the famous Argentinian asado. The entire population was out barbecuing massive quantities of meat. Including lamb, which they don't seem to eat in the capital so I was utterly delighted. I admit to being an utter barbarian, ending up abandoning my fork and picking the ribs up with my fingers, ending up with a grease-shiny chin (again), but this seemed to delight the company. 🤣🤣

    Pictured: the proper asado set-up, and my lunch before I fell upon it like a ravening beast. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/38511170ba1c3df68b09456a3723e1022069f4fc55f18e89f278e27d2102f3cc.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b6853a9376d78089e0313ee880e3064d593aa94ab652dc040b77991710c31871.jpg

    2. I expect they made you an honorary gaucho. (where asado originates. though i expect you knew that)

    7. Hmm. I have a funny story about asado, from 1996. Well, not that funny; I am not a fan of "sweetbreads" and I was being wined and dined by an Argentinian vegetarian, who ordered asado for two. In the days when I was not a big meat eater let alone "bits and bobs" eater.

      Still, I have better stories, including Easter Island and a potential suitor who literally wanted to escort me home on his white horse.

      Happy days.

  78. The new wife's laptop couldn't get online yesterday and I saw her looking at TV newscast from the Syrian presidential palace. Lots of civilians in there just picking up the odd souvenir. Proper civilians, no arms. Women and kids, certainly not a dodgy character in sight.

    1. Had the liberators arrived at that point, after Assad had fled?
      I hope I'm wrong, but I suspect the new mob will be the same as the old mob, just with different targets.

  80. POLL: Thatcher More Popular Than Starmer Among Labour Voters

    Another week, another brutal poll for Keir Starmer. This time, a survey by More in Common asked the public to name their favourite modern Prime Minister. Spoiler: it’s not Starmer…

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c672fb5d590dc802d370888027831efc67cb0bd7bd72a329231915cea46c4c7d.png

    Margaret Thatcher topped the list with 33% of the vote, followed by Tony Blair at 20%. Starmer got a paltry 4% overall. Even within his own party, he fared little better—just 9% of Labour voters called him their favourite. To add insult to injury, 14% of Labour supporters picked Thatcher as their favourite Prime Minister. It’s a tough day in office when Labour voters prefer the Tory icon over their current leader…

    9 December 2024 @ 12:16

    1. One of my favourite sayings when things not going as planned…'where's Thatcher when you need her'…giant among pygmies.

  83. Back from eye screening. Forward vision a bit blurred and unnaturally bright, peripheral vision much more blurred.

    Called into a Garden Centre and picked up an out-door thermometer now designated as The New Yard Thermometer.
    It's a Max/Min instrument with an alcohol tube and a digital readout.

    1. I assume it's the thermometer, not the yard, that's new? Really, the yard new thermometer… I'll get me coat.

      1. {sigh}
        As I mentioned t'other day, I broke the Yard Thermometer and needed a replacement.
        The one I bought today is the new thermometer for the yard, hence The New Yard Thermometer.

  84. From Coffee House, the Spectator

    The obsession with ‘toxic masculinity’ shows no sign of abating. As reported this weekend, Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, has warned of ‘the misogyny increasingly gripping our schools’.

    In response to this threat, the government is to issue guidance for teachers to look out for signs in the classroom of ‘incel culture’ stemming from the ‘manosphere’. Teachers of pupils aged over 14 are to be told to look for clues that boys were being drawn into aggressive misogyny, behaviour that could lead to violence and sexual abuse. They are to be on guard for rhetoric indicating teenage boys are being radicalised into ‘hating women’.

    A preferable route would be to stop teaching boys to hate themselves in the first place. This is the source of so much discontent among teenage boys, the reason why so many are becoming dysfunctional to begin with, and the reason why many take refuge in the manosphere.

    A good first step would be to cease the narrative of ‘toxic masculinity’. Teenage boys are fed a relentless diet which implies that men and masculinity are the problem. A report from the Family Education Trust (FET) in September showed that a third of schools teach pupils about ‘toxic masculinity’. In one school’s teaching materials on the subject, the FET found that children are told that while masculinity ‘in and itself is not necessarily a harmful thing’ certain masculine traits can be ‘problematic’. The FET concluded that current teaching presents the idea that ‘men and boys possess traits that are inherently toxic and negative for society’.

    In our current anti-male climate, even the term ‘toxic masculinity’ seems redundant, a tautology even. Masculinity by itself is perceived as ‘problematic’, to use that weasel word. Competition, fortitude, stoicism, individuality: all such traits are frowned upon in a society that sees co-operation, fragility, empathy and compassion as more important. Society at large reinforces this message, with books such Caitlin Moran’s What About Men?, from last year, seeking to liberate the reader from all the ‘rules’ about ‘what a man should be’ and all that ‘swagger’ and ‘the stiff upper lip’ stuff.

    Men have become the new Second Sex, the new inferior, imperfect human template. ‘Traditional gendered roles’ are scorned because these roles are regarded as outdated and pathological. A boy displaying classic male teenage behaviour, such as boisterousness or competitiveness, or even taciturnity and unsociability, is regarded as a boy with problems, rather than a boy just being a boy.

    Many have argued for some time that the problem of dysfunctional behaviour of boys begins in the classroom. In March last year, Mark Brooks, a co-founder of the UK-based Men and Boys Coalition, said that schools should shoulder part of the blame for the popularity of Andrew Tate, following a survey found that almost a third of young men think society does not care about them. ‘Boys don’t feel that schools are listening to them or taking the problems they face seriously enough’, he said.

    The manosphere and the allure of poisonous types such as Tate is indeed a problem. But it is as much a symptom as a cause. Many boys, some without fathers or father figures, and raised in a culture that fails to impart positive masculine values, seek a haven where they aren’t constantly derided merely on behalf of their sex. It is in this forum where they learn instead the worst, old-fashioned masculine values: aggression and misogyny.

    The manosphere is awash with resentful and nasty ‘incels’, involuntary men and boys who believe they will have never have sex with women due to their own looks and social standing. But alongside their misogyny and bitterness, and consistent with these themes, are narratives of self-loathing, worthlessness and talk of suicide. The manosphere has emerged as a refuge for a culture that deprecates men and masculinity.

    There is nothing wrong with teaching boys to be tough and resilient. Girls should be taught to be the same. To blame ‘toxic masculinity’ is not only misleading, it perpetuates the problem it seeks to address. The longer masculinity is treated as a problem in itself, the longer boys will fail to develop into strong, proud and self-reliant men and degenerate instead into nasty resentful individuals who hate women and hate themselves.

    WRITTEN BY
    Patrick West
    Patrick West is a columnist for Spiked and author of Get Over Yourself: Nietzsche For Our Times (Societas, 2017)

    1. Society at large reinforces this message, with books such Caitlin Moran’s What About Men?, from last year, seeking to liberate the reader from all the ‘rules’ about ‘what a man should be’ and all that ‘swagger’ and ‘the stiff upper lip’ stuff.

      Wait until the Muzzies take over. She will have a rude awakening then.

    2. It’s all so sad. Boys should be taught at home to respect girls as, hopefully, their fathers respect their mothers. In other words treat everyone with kindness and respect.

      OT I saw a car when we parked in Sainsbury’s earlier with end registration FFS! I thought it was so funny I nearly took a photo. Then thought I’d better not.

      1. Respect for women and older folk is the bedrock of being a gentleman – and a man, as opposed to being a scumbag.

      2. I suspect that a lot of boys don't have a father at home for one reason or another so they have no male role models.

    4. The fools have not twigged that their militant attacks on men and masculinity have caused the problem, so they are doubling down one them. At least the article gets it, but the blue haired ones never will.

  85. Shopping accident today. The Pi 500 has come out and bought one for each of us. It's a simple computer in a keyboard and I can see them being handy for Junior to do his homework on, the Warqueen to write her book on and for me to play with.

    If you know anyone who's after a computer in a keyboard, send them this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YfJWYELA3k

    Set up isn't super simple, but it's doable.

    1. I think they're Raspberries? The earlier ones self-build. Pi500 listed on Amazon, including reviews.

    1. 2020s The world will covered in bullshit
      2030s Bullshit discovered to cause crops to prosper

  87. Margaret Hodge Appointed New Anti-Corruption Champion

    Former MP and now Labour peer Margret Hodge has been appointed as the new Anti-Corruption Champion, replacing John Penrose, who quit all the way back in 2022. Baroness Hodge will have three core responsibilities:

    1) Helping the Government to drive development of a new Anti-Corruption Strategy and provide a challenge function for its delivery, once agreed.
    2) Acting as a Government entry point on anti-corruption issues for Parliamentarians, private sector representatives and civil society.
    3) Where required, engaging internationally to help drive progress on UK priorities.

    Guido remembers Hodge not taking too kindly to accusations of tax hypocrisy after defending her family’s 0.01% tax-paying Stemcor back in 2012, claiming her £1.5 million shares were “tiny, tiny, tiny”. An interesting choice…

    9 December 2024 @ 13:26

      1. And the former Labour home secretary, Jacqui Smith, who bought porn videos for her husband on her Parliamentary expenses, has been elevated to the House of Lords!

    4. Sea_Warrior
      2h
      She is 80, not very bright, and has no law-enforcement or justice background. This appointment stinks.

      Perfect Storm
      2h
      Sounds good. The first point will probably need multiple reviews/consultations and task forces created which will need to carry out wide ranging investigations involving much foreign travel. This will take 3-5 years to come up with a set of facile sound bites which will require a further round of activity to produce additional sound bites. I am assuming those actively involved in this work will be banned from receiving donations whilst taking part in this? If not there may be a need to create an anti corruption quango to control the anti corruption activities.

      James Newman
      2h
      Given the UK is still making contributions to the EU budget, will she instigate a corruption investigation into Ursula Von der Leyen's actions and lack of disclosure in relation to the Pfizer contract?

      KJP
      3h
      Let us not forget the child abuse in Islington when she was Council Leader.

      KJP
      3h
      Or her soirée into super casinos or her daughter editing the 6 & 10 o clock BBC news. Nothing to see here……. move along please.

      Doctor Mick
      3h
      Will this Anti-Corruption Strategy apply equally to all or will it have a progressive two-tier approach?

      Tory DJ
      2h
      Interesting choice when you consider that Marge still refuses to name the officials who lied to her over the Islington Council child abuse scandal. Still, she knows how to run a closed shop, which is exactly what the role requires.

      Andrew Smith
      2h
      I don't understand any of those three objectives. I wonder if she does.
      BTW – has the Fraud Squad been disbanded?

  89. Good day all. Free Speech got that wee glitch sorted and can now post yesterday’s article ‘ Parliament Has Stolen Sovereignty ’ by new writer Scrabbingham. Its summary is a quote from Rousseau: ‘The English people believes itself to be free; it is gravely mistaken; it is free only during election of members of parliament; as soon as the members are elected, the people is enslaved; it is nothing. In the brief moment of its freedom, the English people makes such a use of that freedom that it deserves to lose it.’  Please read and welcome Scrabby by posting a comment.

    The petition calling for a general election still needs 26,000 for the three million mark.

    Energy watch: Demand = 42.6 GW. Supply: Hydrocarbons = 36.3%; Wind = 29%; Imports = 14.2%; Biomass 6%, Nuclear 8.3%.

    Note the 14.2% imports. When the millions of tonnes of woodchips for biomass and the large amount of import LNG (USA and Qatar)are considered it is apparent that this country, which sits on vast amounts of hydrocarbon energy, is totally reliant on foreigners to keep the lights on. All in the name of the preposterous Net Zero agenda.

    https://www.freespeechbacklash.com/

    1. Absolutely. I’m pretty sure the vast majority of the U.K. understand what’s being done to us but we can do sod all about it. Except write to our MP. Then, no difference.

      1. FSB’s main aim vw, grandiose though it may sound, is to help unite the Right and Partiotic organisations and form a mass movement that will destroy the elective dictatorship we suffer under.

      2. My MP is LD and hence part of the problem. Pro-EU. pro-Nut Zero, illiberal, undemocratic and all for bumping off useless eaters (pro the assisted dying bill).

        1. Our new Labour MP is a local GP in real life. I wrote to him about the assisted dying bill and he eventually replied and said he'd voted in favour.

    2. Thanks Tom, will check in a little later. Meantime, Gyngell's page (TCW) excellent reading today. Glad you sorted your glitch, they can be quite the nuisance 🙂

  91. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1b447524a81f3c86e533b195a51f3104b301748ae81955dffb2ee4a2e13eeafb.jpg Where's Philip?

    T'postie just knocked on me door and handed me a big box! I were gobsmacked when I opened it — saw what it was — and where it had come from. A lovely sealed earthenware pot of Meaux mustard (wholegrain) of an impeccable provenance. 😊

    Cheers, buddy, that is so very kind of you. I've never before tasted this simply unbeatable tracklement from Pommery. Previous examples of Moutarde de Meaux I've tasted are not in the same league. I've just had a quick sample of it and it is beyond heavenly. I can't wait to try it out as a worthy accompaniment to many meaty and cheesy delights. I hope you treated yourself to some too.

    Thank you.👍🏻

    1. Exactly the response i hoped for.

      Yes. I did buy a pot for myself. In fact i bought a dozen to complement the hampers i have made for my dinner guests on the 22nd.

        1. Grizz did send me Pruneaux d'Agen a l'Armagnac, Delord a while ago and i was over the moon.

          Glad to return the favour.

  92. 398405+ up ticks,

    As the last 30 /40 years have shown us "the locals" en masse don't count, the only ones that do not understand that are the locals, en masse.

    The political carpetbaggers know their locals, en masse, and know long,long before the next GE the prison issue will be long forgotten.

    Dt,

    The Lancashire villagers about to be outnumbered by prisoners
    Angela Rayner has given the go-ahead for a super-prison to be built on cherished green belt land – but the plans have infuriated locals

  93. Energy-Brief Today December 9, 2024 —

    There is a story in http://Oilprice.com from Irina Slav suggesting the E.U. is
    beginning to question if the energy transition is too expensive and is
    eroding public support for the change. A new report suggests the
    transition will cost 1.3 trillion Euro per year until 2030, then 1.54 trillion
    Euro per year until 2050. That’s stupid money for an already poor and
    economically challenged trade zone

    1. Stupid money, eh? Now let me see… what does that tell us about the people who thought that one up? 🤔

  94. Hooray for the fall of Assad, we're so much safer now.
    /sarc
    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14173363/fall-Assad-regime-spike-ISIS-threat-Europe-ex-MI6-chief-warns.html

    One of Britain's former head spies has warned of a 'serious spike' in Isis's threat to Europe after the fall of Assad in Syria.

    He said the Assad regime was guilty of 'merciless brutality', but added: 'You cannot pretend that a hardline Islamist group, albeit one that is trying to moderate its image, represents a great future either.
    'It seems to me it's more likely that we are seeing a reignition of the civil war and the conflict in all its dimensions.'
    HTS, an al-Qaeda's splinter group, has faced accusations of human rights abuses including torturing detainees.
    While Syria has been at war for 13 years, the government's collapse ended up coming in a matter of days, with a lightning offensive launched by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
    Rooted in Syria's branch of Al-Qaeda, HTS is proscribed by Western governments as a terrorist group.
    While it remains to be seen how HTS operates now that Assad is gone, it has sought to moderate its image and to assure Syria's many religious minorities that they need not fear.

    Leopards and spots, I fear.

  95. Sounds like a plan…

    Germany and Austria freeze Syrian refugee claims

    Asylum requests put on hold pending more clarity on situation after overthrow of Assad regime, with Austria also preparing deportations

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/09/germany-and-austria-freeze-syrian-refugee-claims/

    ***********************************
    Simon Thomsett
    19 min ago
    Apparently about 40-60,000 in the UK. Soon be time for them to go home then.

    Fat chance

    1. Zero.
      (Gotcha) And you're proud of that..?
      Muslim Zero.. doubly proud yeppy-yep. This is what our people want.. and elected our govt to do.

  97. Labour's plan to prevent NIMBYism by abolishing opposition particularly to giant solar farms could raise serious issues of how to disconnect such farms from the national grid network when fossil fuelled generators are not there to stabilise the grid.

    An ostensibly sustainable green future is likely to have been thwarted by just such a problem by what is happening in Australia:

    https://youtu.be/vbvLlnhl9ac?si=IuUEKESM5zR60H8W

  99. Rachel Reeves to warn EU that free movement demands risk harming growth
    Chancellor’s appeal comes as European capitals prepare to demand deal for young people as price for new trade and security ties with London
     https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/12/09/rachel-reeves-eu-free-movement-demands-risk-harming-growth/

    We are about to be stitched up yet again.

    I smell the sickening and depressing stink of vomit blended with the gloomy pong of a damp fart.

    1. One might think that the EU countries would wish to hang on to their brightest youngsters.
      Oh! Silly me, we'll only be getting their dross.

      2. I can only think that when Rupert asks why this person has been "tolerated" that it is because Labour politicians get on very well with the criminal fraternity.

      1. For a moment, until I read the context, I thought you were Rupert Lowe, MP. Fortunately, I corrected my misapprehension…

          1. I was pleased to discover that it was John Hughes, the Bishop of Kensington who did my confirmation, who rejected Justin Welby as an ordination candidate.

    2. The top salary in 2022-23 was Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard's— GBP 255,000 to 260 (page 106). However, Ms Pritchard also received up to GBP 72,50 in pension contributions, taking her total salary to GBP 330,000. In 2022-23 (page 116), NHS England accounted for GBP 56.4 Million of losses and special payments.24 Sept 2024

  102. I was pondering over lunch about the Assads and their happy family. They have three children. In a snap in The Grimes (apart from the surrounding war damage) they all look quite normal. My ponder: how does one bring up children if one is a multi-murdering despot? When they were small, one could say, "Daddy had to kill the nasty people because otherwise they would have killed Daddy." But as the youngsters become adults, and have minds of their own, might that line not go down so well?

    Leaving everything else aside for a second, as parents, Dr and Mrs Assad must have wanted to produce three normal, well-adjusted adults. One just wonders how that worked out.

    (And, for the avoidance doubt, my tongue is NOT firmly in my cheek. I am genuinely intrigued.)

    1. Afternoon Bill. I don't think that this is the Soprano's. They don't bring people home to run their testicles through the mangle. Despite what is said about Mr Assad in the MSM I doubt that he has even seen one of these supposed victims. This aside Mrs Assad is obviously a very nice person and has raised their children in a thoroughly English fashion.

      1. Thank you, Minty, that's the best laugh I've had all day. There is (or was) a mangle on display in the museum at Gunnersbury Park. I once tried to operate it and immediately understood the old saying about getting tits caught in the mangle. It's genuinely quite difficult to avoid. I volunteer Keir Starmer's testicles for the experiment.

        1. Afternoon Sue. I think the tits mangle meme appears in Nicolas Montserrat's the Cruel Sea and the testicles (though not mentioned specifically) in Frank Capra's Lost Horizon.

        3. When I was 2, 1948, my mum was using the mangle and I, apparently, had a wet lead soldier. I fed it into the rollers along with my right index finger. I pulled my finger out and left the top in between the rollers. Mum rolled the rollers back, wrapped the top of my finger in gauze, rushed me to Bart’s hospital. Too late to save it. I have a permanently short finger that I still rarely use.

          Edit – Removed bed.

          3. Oh dear Alf , I expect that was so upsetting ..

            How are your toe toes now, are they splinted together ?

            Russ Conway the grinning pianist played the piano minus a finger!

          4. Hello Belle. At age 2 thankfully I don’t remember a thing about it. Only know what my mum told me.
            The toes are still splinted. Toe 3 to No2 and toe 4 to the little toe. Still awkward to get slipper on that foot but moving around better. It’ll be 3 weeks on Thursday night/Friday morning. Apparently 4-6 weeks to heal.

    2. Assad is an ophthalmologist and at one time worked in a London hospital eye department. His wife I think is English and has suffered from breast cancer and leukaemia.

      I doubt that Assad is the caricature painted by the dolt Kier Starmer and likely the opposite. I also doubt that his removal and exile will lead to improvement in the lives of the Syrian peoples.

      We can expect the implementation of Sharia and the exile of a few million Syrian Christians headed for Europe and by definition the UK.

      1. Most of the Christian population had already fled, there might still be 1/4 million there, soon to go too.
        I very much doubt those who fled earlier will return soon.

        1. The Jews who don't live in Syria are currently bombing Assad's vast stockpiles of weaponry so that they cannot be used to attack Israel, at least. A pity Starmer's only pathetic response to all parties is to play the school ma'am by urging everyone to be nice to each other. I doubt he'll be up for thanking Israel for destroying the munitions that might conceivably have found their way into terrorist cells in the UK, either; instead I bet he'll be carrying on his 'Israel is a genocidal state' mantra.

          A pity too that that blithering idiot Biden hadn't worked any of this out in similar fashion to the Israelis when he caused a rout of American forces hurriedly departing Afghanistan back then.

          1. It is apparent that Biden’s regime are complete idiots with no understanding of the immense shifts in economic power to other nations. Biden is the worst president in US presidential history. Jimmy Carter does not come close to the imbecile.

          2. I’m regrettably of the same view. I used to think peanuts took some beating but Biden is like someone watching the traffic go by next to a busy motorway and then wondering where all the noise is coming from.

        2. The Jews will suffer the same fate as the Christians.

          Syria has been weakened and its population brought to abject poverty by economic sanctions and the theft of its oil by US proxy Kurds. Its army were bought off and those remaining living on very low wages and unable to train for lack of resources hence the capitulation.

          The fall of Assad was precipitated by Erdogan. He will next tackle the Kurdish pocket and the oil terminals over which they have control courtesy of US backing.

          President Trump is correct in wanting to exit Syria and leave the raving Jihadist lunatics to their own devices.

        1. I read that Assad’s family were transferred to Russia earlier than Assad himself. It is as well to remember that Assad’s father had intended for his elder son, Basil(?), to replace him but the man died unexpectedly. Th second son Bashar was then obliged to succeed his father despite having no training for the job.

          Remarkably the second son has managed his country for two decades and more despite the most intense pressures and being the eye in the storm of Middle Eastern affairs for years.

          I now suspect that Assad simply gave up and put the protection of his family first. I despise those who denigrate this man. The sanctions dealt Assad the final death blow.

    3. It is beyond my comprehension as to why the UK and the EU backed the terrorist rebels rather than Assad's legitimate government at the beginning.

      The whole morality and practice of politics in the Middle East may seem abhorrent to us in the West but was it ever an option for Assad to try and be kind and compassionate? Had he tried that he would have been considered weak.

      We are held in contempt by the Islamic peoples because our compassionate values are interpreted as being weakness.

      1. Well, I don't say that he went out each day determined to kill with his bare hands – but he cannot have been unaware of the thousands of deaths that were occurring in Syria while he was the Top Man. Had he thought it a bad idea, he could, perhaps, have stopped it?

        But no one has answered my question. How do dictators bring up children to live the sort of normal life any sane parent in this country, for example, would want?

        1. I read a fascinating book once about the children of the top narstis. Some of them believed until their dying day that their parents had been right and justified. Others were destroyed.
          The only things I know about Assad are from the media, so I have no idea how many people died on his watch. Testaments from asylum seekers aren’t reliable as I know for a fact that once one gets accepted for asylum with a tall story, he tells his friends and they all try the same story.

          1. Bruno, an eight-year-old German boy living in Berlin, is uprooted to rural occupied Poland with his family after his father Ralf, an SS officer, is promoted. Bruno notices an extermination camp near the back garden from his bedroom window, but believes it to be a farm; his mother Elsa forbids him from going in the back garden.

            The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (released as The Boy in the Striped Pajamas in North America) is a 2008 Holocaust historical drama film written and directed by Mark Herman. It is based on the 2006 novel of the same name by John Boyne. Set in Nazi-occupied Poland, the film follows the son of a Schutzstaffel officer who befriends a Jewish prisoner of his age.

            Sad but brilliant film .

      2. I was thinking the same.

        By all accounts, he wasn't as bad as some of them.

        Whether or not that is an accolade or not, I don't know.

    2. I do hope that the thieves are criminals who have been released without charge multiple times.
      Ideally LBGTQZ BLM or Antifa types who support Palestinian murdering rapists.

      1. I will also laugh if the insurers deny her claims on the grounds that she did not contact the police quickly enough; that really would add the icing on the cake.

        Yes, I feel sorry for her children, but it will be a salutary lesson.

        1. I don't feel sorry for her children. They will turn out to adult versions of her. Just like brainwashed palestinian children become the new terrorists. Fuck them.

          1. That’s in the future.
            I’m writing about now.
            How would you like to be locked in a U-Haul van that just been stolen?

          2. Well…if Jessica Rabbit was also locked in it would be fun. If it were you it would be a nightmare.

            I really don't give a shit about these people or their children. They are destroying our society.

          3. Young children (and even if she had been a Muslim bride they would have been young) don’t ever deserve the shit that their parents might pour on them

        2. I bet she left the van unlocked with the keys in the cab because San Fran is such a welcoming place. Insurance companies tend to have a different view.

    3. That is awful. Perhaps we should set up a crowd funding page so she can replace her Palestine flags, her CND badges and her purple hair dye. Not forgetting of course her huge collection of rainbow coloured dildos.

      I will start the fund with one penny.

    1. And I think that they are fibbing, Rik! From what I’ve seen in Tesco and Saiburys! (We call it that after some of our local store signage went out!)

    3. One British retailer said they had not seen a drop in sales compares wlth Growler Raynor saying she had many round table meetings with businesses approving their policies in general.

      The outright lies are astonishing. Not surprising but astonishing none the less.

    4. "People who eat meat are destroying the planet because too much land is given up to raising cattle, the farts of which are destroying the atmosphere."

      Nothing said, though, about the millions of square miles all over the planet devoted to monoculture of plant species, the survival of which depends upon animal shit, but which are dosed, daily, in millions of gallons of pesticides that infiltrate this weed 'food' to cause more devastating human illness than any amount of cow farts could ever achieve.

    2. Blimey, well done – I thought that was a toughie – I had to deploy my very rarely used fourth starter word to get it. Ergo Big Bad Bogey here!

      Wordle 1,269 5/6

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

    3. Well done, a 3 today here too, nicer than yesterday.

      Wordle 1,269 3/6

      ⬜🟩🟩⬜⬜
      ⬜🟩🟩🟩⬜
      🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

    4. Late but here are my divots
      Wordle 1,269 4/6

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

  106. For my birthday tomorrow I'm to start riding lessons, maybe a little late as one usually starts riding as little girls but I've always wanted to ride a horse. I'll look very silly amongst the children.

    1. Never too late to ride a white horse ! Given the time of year i suggest you don't do a Godiva.

      I am sure they will give you a sedate beast and you will be fine.

      You won't look silly at all. Own it !

    2. Happy birthday for tomorrow. It's never too late to learn to ride. Have private lessons (one to one) so you aren't put in the shade by a tot on a Shetland 🙂

  107. Five for me. Two options left and I went for the wrong one.

    Wordle 1,269 5/6

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

    2. I didn't get it at all. Three one day, nothing the next…
      Wordle 1,269 X/6

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

  108. Sometimes we should just let British heritage go, says major Labour donor

    Dale Vince praises Angela Rayner’s approval of the demolition of M&S’s flagship Oxford Street store

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d5b479631a62ecb73c76922ae7ba14bf03ef63878e460442169d22123b80dd6b.png
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/12/09/sometimes-we-should-just-let-british-heritage-go-labour/

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

    John Pardew
    4 hrs ago
    Not only is he wearing a silly Hamas scarf, he's got purple hair. The true sign of a leftist wrong 'un,

    Burlington Bertie
    3 hrs ago
    Reply to John Pardew
    The true sign of a demented idiot.

    Aberrant Apostrophe
    1 hr ago
    Reply to John Pardew
    Perhaps he's Jo Brand in drag?

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>and many more very fruity BTL comments, some quite funny and some encouraging violence and mayhem

      2. Sadly he's a neighbour of ours…………about a mile away. We aren't customers of Ecotrickery. Nor do we go to his football club. He'll probably make a fortune selling the current football field for housing.

    4. A former New Age traveller, a gyppo. A Jew hating Greenie. Vince has been described as "anti-Israel" and "anti-Zionist" by The Jerusalem Post. A turd by any other name.

      1. He has the same smug countenance as Chris Packham – so another face you'd never get tired of punching……

      2. Not the best way to describe him.
        My description would be the fucking cunt needs his head kicked in. It will come eventually when the policies he supports come to fruition.

    9. There was a good letter in today's Terriblegraph, lamenting the way old buildings are "valued" for carbon purposes and pointing out it's better not to knock them down.

      It is far too sensible an idea to ever catch on.

    2. Our Foreign Secretary is wetting himself with joy at the fall of Assad. The above is just a taste of worse to come.

    3. They've askd him then? Actually it would be great if they could all ask him face to face

  113. A pause for thought ..

    We all used to think we were separated by 6 degrees of separation .. once upon a time .

    https://twitter.com/True_Belle/status/1866165180112986499 How do we know that IVF , donors , single mothers who do not know who the father of their child is and people who have no idea they are related .. The shocks that people have ..

    Extreme inbreeding has caused problems amongst so many people..

    I reckon years and years ago , British villages , some remote , used to also have the same problem , every village had a village idiot , some still do ..

    I think the Royal family had a tight gene pool , thanks to Queen Victoria .

    I also believe that the strain on the NHS is enormous re sickle cell anaemia and birth abnormalities from within other cultures in the UK.

    In the 1960's late, when my 2nd year of training was based in Malta ( remember the RN had a huge base there , and that is why girls of my age were so blessed to spend a year there working and learning and nursing) We were taken to visit a local Maltese hospital , and were shocked to the teeth to view patients young and old tethered to their beds , some with cages to stop them hurting themselves .. the noise, the racket and the smell was eye stinging , terrible .

    We were told that mental deficiencies and deformities were the result of in breeding on a small island .. I believe this is now the case in many NHS hospitals/ special schools etc in the UK.

    1. The problem of siblings (by different fathers) marrying was something I was concerned about back when multiple partners first became "acceptable" (i e not met with open disapproval). Nobody could be sure they weren't related, especially with women and men who were promiscuous and had one night stands.

      1. After The Great War there a huge number of men who, because of their injuries, were unable to get their wives pregnant. This number included more than a few landowners and others from rich families and thus had no chance of producing heirs.
        There was a gentleman who, with the assistance of a number of doctors to recommend him, made a living in visiting the wives of those so incapacitated and correcting the situation. A sort of Natural Insemination by Donor service.
        Apparently he rarely had to make a 2nd visit!

    2. The only product of cousin marriage I know – she's a very good friend – was born with a hare lip and cleft palate. She had multiple operations as a child and teenager to rebuild her mouth and jaw.

      I think it's more common amongst a certain demographic.

    3. I had a great Aunt who married her cousin and one of her sons was very disabled

  114. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fe1fe45654661ef115d6ff89313dfc71fa6b3bff99917eeaa4f1c511278e18af.jpg My black treacle-cured bacon — both back and streaky — had a week in the cure; followed by a week stabilising at 11ºC and 60% humidity. It is now receiving a 48-hour cold-smoke in my home-made cold-smoking unit.

    In a couple of days' time I shall slice it and sample some, before freezing the rest of the rashers to last me through the coming winter and spring.

  117. That's me gone. I shall look forward to seeing tomorrow whether there are any replies to my ponder….

    It was grey, windy and wet here all day – AND, to make things worse for a SAD person – no sunshine is forecast until (appropriately) SUNday next.

    So have a jolly evening. Tomorrow I shall apply for a mortgage to buy some postage stamps…

    A demain.

        1. Could be.

          The words have an interesting etymology: [Middle English gayole from Old French jaiole, jeole & Old Northern French gaole from Romanic diminutive of Latin cavea (cage)].

          1. To give you moment of denture swallowing displeasure; look at the British version of the Monopoly board

          4. Not at all. Etymology has always been a fascination of mine.

            Both the UK and the USA use 'jail' but it is the only version used in the latter. 'Gaol' might be becoming a tad archaic but it is still the preferred version in the former.

      2. Strange.
        The first time I came across "gaol" was in my brother's Roy of the Rovers Annual, Christmas '61 or '62 when it had a story titled "Goals or Gaol", some bit of fiction about a British footballer being forced to play in an important match for a team in a South American banana republic.
        Prior to that I'd only known the "jail" spelling.

        1. I was living in Canada in the 50's and "Jail" was the spelling on the American Monopoly board that we used.
          When we returned to the UK my parents bought the UK version, same spelling, so whenever I read "gaol" it seemed strange, a mis-spelling of goal as far as I knew.
          Eg I read it as the Ballad of Reading Goal (sic)

  119. Phew.. It's official.. Abu Mohammed al-Jolani is a "moderate jihadi" BBC.

    From Syrian jihadist leader to rebel politician: How Abu Mohammed al-Jolani reinvented himself
    17 hours ago

    Mina Al-Lami
    Jihadist Media Specialist, BBC Monitoring

    2. Well, that is a relief.

      A question. Given that Jihad means holy war…How do you have a moderate one?

      Asking for a Jewish friend………………………………

          1. Yes. Phizz, just a question of travel. I’ve never driven a car. One day I’ll do a train journey along the south coast and check your drink and food out. Bringing myself should be ample reward for you.

    1. It should never had gone to trial.
      If the paint box had been the other way round it wouldn't have been.

      2. He grabbed some lowlife who was harassing passengers on the subway in a chokehold and held him until the police arrived. The criminal subsequently died. Note that when the police arrived, the criminal was still alive, but the police didn't give him assistance that could have included mouth to mouth resuscitation because he was too dirty. (I read that last bit on gab, have not verified it).
        Penny was subsequently charged with manslaughter. Should never have gone to court.

      3. He grabbed some lowlife who was harassing passengers on the subway in a chokehold and held him until the police arrived. The criminal subsequently died. Note that when the police arrived, the criminal was still alive, but the police didn't give him assistance that could have included mouth to mouth resuscitation because he was too dirty. (I read that last bit on gab, have not verified it).
        Penny was subsequently charged with manslaughter. Should never have gone to court.

      4. A bystander who stepped in and stopped a crazy but put the man in a choke hold and the crazy died.

          1. You might not be surprised to learn that when I was a regular judo player, that they were my speciality.

          2. Semper fidelis = Always faithful

            There were a lot of former US Marine Corps at Chase Manhattan Bank where I worked for 17 years. Without my asking, they came to help me in couple of awkward situations and I was able to help them at a later date.

          3. There is a special bond within that group, I too knew a few in NY and as you say, help given when needed

          5. I once discussed and won a contract from the chap who was an ex-4 Star General in charge of the US Marine Corps…(also Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic).

      6. Babylon Bee is your friend on this! (Fake news you can trust):

        "NEW YORK, NY — A stunning legal precedent was set in the Big Apple today, as a jury in the highly publicized trial of Daniel Penny found him not guilty, officially declaring selfless acts of heroism legal in New York.

        Legal experts described the verdict as a stark reversal of all previous understanding of the law in the state, as it had been assumed for several decades that sacrificially putting one's own life at risk to protect other people was strictly prohibited.

        "This is great news for heroes of all kinds," said legal analyst Christopher Gilbert. "This verdict tossed aside many years of criminals being coddled in New York and instead gives selfless individuals with the desire to preserve life the green light to act impulsively on behalf of those being oppressed or assaulted. Many of us never thought this day would ever come, but here it is. It is legal to be heroic in New York."

        Critics of the verdict were quick to condemn the precedent it set. "This is a dark day for New York," said protester Lawrence Davis. "So now it's perfectly legal for people to stand up for others and keep them from being harmed? What's next — they'll try to start prosecuting criminals for breaking the law? This could lead us down a very dangerous path. Who wants to live in a world like that?"

        At publishing time, legal experts issued an urgent warning to the public that Penny's acquittal could potentially lead to widespread courage and random acts of sacrificial bravery."

    4. Excellent. Now free Derek Chauvin ! Just like the cop who kicked the violent muzzie in the head at Manchester airport some people need to be put down and stay down.

  123. Evening, all. Much closer to being ready for Christmas this evening; I've got the trees down (from where they're stored) and now I just have to find the decorations. Just one (overseas) card to post which I hope to get out of the way tomorrow and buy some more stamps as I've only one left now. Although I've made a list, there is bound to be somebody I've missed off who will need an emergency first class card. Food is in for the major trauma of the week – returning the hospitality of a friend with a meal. Aagghh!! I need to do it, I'm just NOT a cook. Hopefully if it's sufficiently alcoholic, any faults will be passed over in a befuddled haze.

    I do wish people would realise that everything Labour does is driven by their flawed ideology. They ignore anything that gets in the way of making the mighty state control everything, particularly non-state-controlled success.

    1. We have a real tree, but as yet undecorated. House looking bare, except for fairy lights on the terrace.
      Problem is, we're away at the Olds for Xmas, so there's less incentive to get it all done properly.

      1. I don't think you are trying hard enough !!!

        At least arrive in a one horse open sleigh. With bells on !

        Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Schlittenfahrt im Schnee
        Durch den weißen Winterwald, übern zugefrornen See, hey
        Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Pony laufe schnell
        Denn an Wintertagen bleibt es nicht so lange hell
        Auf den Winter hell und klar freu'n wir uns ein ganzes Jahr
        In der schönen weißen Glitzerwelt werden Kinderträume wahr
        Wenn die weißen Flocken fall'n und verzaubern Berg und Tal
        Dann zieh ich meine Stiefel an, hol mein Pony aus dem Stall, hey
        Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Schlittenfahrt im Schnee
        Durch den weißen Winterwald, übern zugefrornen See, hey
        Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Pony laufe schnell
        Denn an Wintertagen bleibt es nicht so lange hell
        Auf die schöne Winterzeit hat sich Jung und Alt gefreut
        Auf 'ne schöne Pferdeschlittenfahrt mit dem Jingle-Bell-Geläut
        Welche Freude überall, tief verschneit ist unser Tal
        Wenn die Wintersonne scheint, bleibt mein Pony nicht im Stall, hey
        Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Schlittenfahrt im Schnee
        Durch den weißen Winterwald, übern zugefrornen See, ey
        Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Pony laufe schnell
        Denn an Wintertagen bleibt es nicht so lange hell, oh
        Hey
        Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Schlittenfahrt im Schnee
        Durch den weißen Winterwald, übern zugefrornen See, hey
        Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Pony laufe schnell
        Denn an Wintertagen bleibt es nicht so lange hell
        Denn an Wintertagen bleibt es nicht so lange hell

      1. Thank you, Pip, but it will be a Chinese stir fry. Even I can't go wrong with that, surely? I have done it before (for myself) but if it's a disaster I have only myself to blame (and to have to eat it).

          2. Ground nut oil gives the temperature needed for stir fry. Often suggested is sesame oil but i find it masks all the other flavours. If you like that flavour add a little at the end.

          1. No, I'm not, but I don't eat pork because it upsets my stomach. I suspect it's the fat content. I only occasionally eat bacon.

          4. I think what sos is suggesting is that the more you can prepare food in advance the easier it all is. Stir fries can be a tad tense as it's all so last minute. Casseroles are great in this respect (chicken, lamb or beef easy peasy – loads and loads of recipes available – will provide if required -, the simpler the better), and baked potatoes relieve the stress of roasties (just make sure there is lot of non-messed with grass fed butter available). A simple green salad, even at this time of year, can be just as pleasant as "greens", and carrot and swede mash can be prepared in advance and shoved in the oven along with all the above mentioned. Beetroot also easy and great.

          5. Yes, I'm on board with that. I do have several recipes (I don't cook, but I've acquired a LOT of cookery books over the years, largely because I like books) that can be prepared well in advance. The problem is, I don't have much free time between now and Thursday. Better the devil you know, I think. The kitchen and dining room are connected by an archway, so I can keep up a shouted conversation while I'm wok-ing. Plenty of booze should help the situation. I am thinking of getting one of those signs, "I cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food".

          6. Since lockdown, Christmas Dinner has been fairly isolated. Back in the day, I've been invited to the Rectory for lunch, but not with the current Rector.. Fair enough. He doesn't do social stuff with his parishioners. He's acutely aware of his vulnerability as a former Army Chaplain.

            Since I'm on duty for a 10:30 service, there's nowhere to go afterwards. Were I at Puttenham rather than Seale, I could at least have a swift pint or three at The Good Intent (some Nottlers will know of which I speak).

          7. Isn't the road to Hell paved with good intent?

            Well Geoff all I can say is that you won't be alone at Christmas. The Nottl crew with be with you raising a glass to you even if we can't be there in deepest Surrey!

          8. He could get himself some Oscar Pistorious blades and bounce down to mine. Always a seat at my piano table for the boss.

          11. Er, Conners, you said "I don't have much free time between now and Thursday". I have to tell you that December the 25th is 16 days away; Thursday is December the 12th!?!?!

          12. Thursday is when I'm returning the hospitality I enjoyed chez my neighbour. All these people giving me recipes is very kind, but I shan't have time to faff around with them. Christmas lunch is sorted – turkey and all the trimmings and Christmas pud.

          15. I have a plaque in the kitchen that says, "the more I see of people, the more I love my dog" 🙂

        3. There is a lot of not very nice smoked salmon out there. Mowi brand is very nice. Mild and sweet.

          Depends though if it is a textural thing for you.

          A plate of thin sliced with lemon juice and black pepper with a Vodka Martini and i'm in food heaven.
          Or a plate of very rare roast beef with the same cocktail and i'm anybodies !

  125. Utterly off topic
    One very exhausted uncle hands back three teenage children to their parents
    A long weekend in charge of feeding, transporting, controlling and sympathising brings home what parenthood is really like.

    He loved it, but he now needs a holiday!

  127. I have pate as a starter. If I put chicken in the Chinese I could use the prawns for a prawn cocktail. I noticed pomegranates (which I do like) had gone up in price today. I have bookmarked the page for future use. Thank you.

    1. A cooking tip:
      Cut the pomegranate in half and hold the individual pieces over a bowl.
      Smack the halves with a wooden spoon and the seeds will drop our easily.
      Remove the yellow/white core periodically and keep tapping.
      When nearly empty turn it inside out and remove the last of the seeds.
      Piece of cake!

      1. I had read it was best to roll the pomegranate around first before trying to extract the seeds.

        1. Depends on how ripe it is.
          The tapping is very effective, rolling it can crush the seeds even more than the taps.

        3. Yes. That works too but then bash as Sos suggests. Similar with lemons and limes for the juice. Roll it around first and you get more.

    1. Tell me about it ! A bottle of 1976 Calvados and a bottle of Armagnac. That'll teach me to invite retired Navy guzzlers !

  129. He collected the parents from the airport and took them home, I'm certain he was beered and cheered!

  131. 'Night All
    What could possibly go wrong………
    "Large-scale battles are unfolding in northern Syria between U.S.-backed Kurdish forces and pro-Turkish formations."
    Seems the Turkish sponsored terrorists are now attacking the US sponsored terrorists. Hope this escalates. Schadenfreude.

    1. They just love war and conflict don't they…The Hierarchy Exploiting You, who funds all this crap.

      1. I meant to post earlier. I was listenting to the latest "Jerm Warfare" podcast on my way into work. The latest episode features someone called John Hamer and he was talking about the sinking of the "Titanic" (or the "Olympic", probably).

        he mentioned a "conspiracy theory" – mentioned in the 1880s/1890s – about the "elites" proposing three world wars: one to wipe out the monarchies of Europe (the Great War – check); to create a Jewish homeland (check); and to pit Christianity against Islam (why wasn't explained). Either way, it was a right rollicking listen!

        1. Parallel Mike did a very interesting podcast on the Titanic. He rejected some of the theories around it, but he highlighted a very interesting piece of evidence about a ship that was carrying a large cargo of blankets that was in the region (bound for Britain?) but not near enough to rescue the passengers. I’m missing out lots of important details, but he speculated that if it was a plan, it may have been intended to save them all and it went wrong.

      2. I think that Assad and his wife would have been far happier staying in England with him practising his medical profession and his wife using her First Class university degree in computing and French in the world of finance where she had been successful.

        He was not a natural tyrant – he only became a tyrant because that is what all the rulers in the Middle East have to become or they will not be considered strong but weak and ineffective.

        1. Things work differently in the middle east, but I won’t condemn him as a tyrant until I hear something a bit less biased than our media.

    1. We should just keep away from them all and let them all fight it out amongst themselves.

    1. We haven’t paid for it yet. Taxes are just decoration. It’s the ability to conjure up money out of thin air that gives them the ability to fund both sides of wars.

    2. Must be quite stressful for your body, having a non-strenuous day – it will be wondering what happened… 🤣

      Night, Bob x

  135. Busy old day. I remembered on my way home from work that I haven't done "Grandma's Christmas Calendar" (aka Mum's birthday present for next week, being a calendar with pictures of her grandchildren in it). Cue major panic and I have just finished it. Hopefully it will arrive on Saturday, as I am going home on Sunday.

    1. We had a power cut here Saturday and missed your jolly hockey game in Surbiton, did you win?

      1. We drew 2-2, coming back from 0-2 at half time. We subsequently understand they may have had a “ringer”. But it was a nice match for all that

  137. Were I not on the other side of the world, I’d spring for a bottle or two of good red and we could swap stories. 🙂

    (My white-horse one involved getting stuck on the wrong side of a motorway in the heat of a southern German summer…)

  138. Reform has what it takes to beat the Tories – their chairman convinced me
    We may be at a point in our politics last seen 100 years ago: a major party could be swept away by an upstart
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/09/reform-uk-can-beat-tories-chairman-convinced-me-zia-yusuf/

    I think that the sooner the Conservative Party disintegrates completely the better. At the moment it is just fouling up the political landscape as the FPTP system means there is not room for both the Conservatives and Reform.

    I think that Nigel Farage's oratorial skills and charisma make him a good party leader but Rupert Lowe would be the more effective prime minister as he has a more impressive record in the business world outside politics.

  139. Well, chums, we are now heading towards my bedtime of 11pm. So I will wish you all a Good Night; sleep well and I shall see you all tomorrow.

  142. Just about to turn in, but before I say "goodnight, all", I'd just like to thank Bill for the link to the Mass of the Consecration of the Altar at Notre Dame. Just watched it. What surprised me a little was that the readings were the same ones as we had and even the start of the sermon was similar! L'Eglise Universelle indeed.

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