Saturday 26 October: Labour’s attitude to earning money takes no account of risk and reward

Posted on by Geoff Graham

An unofficial place to discuss the Telegraph letters, established when the DT website turned off its commenting facility (now reinstated, but we prefer ours),
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Today’s letters (visible only to DT subscribers) are here.

726 thoughts on “Saturday 26 October: Labour’s attitude to earning money takes no account of risk and reward”

    1. Morning Ogga. Just got the other dog in and the bear wants to go out. Seems Junior has been building his AT-AT.

  2. Morning all: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2024/10/25/washington-post-endorse-presidential-candidate-jeff-bezos/

    The comments are a bit funny. Lefty Democrats don't like being told no, do they?

    This one from J Collis:

    gree but not if backing one of the worse candidates for president ever who is so lacking in leadership skills, intellect, ability to communicate, debating skills and decision making, is potentially damaging to the country. The MSM media has been telling lies and do a disservice to the country and mislead voters.

    It could be summarised as 'waaaggh!' want my side to get the prize, waaaggh!

  3. Good Saturday Morning everyone. Am I first?
    Today's Tale
    Roland had been the meanest husband that ever lived, but now he was dead and his wife had got her hands on his life savings and insurance policy. His wife’s friends and relatives were most surprised when she asked that his ashes be brought back to their home.
    After the ashes had been delivered, she removed the lid from the urn and said, “Look at this beautiful big diamond ring, Roland. It’s the ring that I always wanted.”
    She then took the urn into her bedroom where all her new clothes hung. “Look at my new clothes and that fur coat. It’s the one that I always wanted.”
    She then went to the window and held the urn outside and said, “See that Jaguar in the driveway, Roland? That’s the car I always wanted.”
    “And Roland,” she said, “you know that blow job that you always wanted, well here it is.” Whoooosh!

    2. Looking at the upticks to my racier Tales so far reinforces my opinion that women have more Non-PC (=dirtier) minds than men do.

  5. Good morning all.
    A quick visit whilst I finish my mug of tea and before I get dressed and head off for Cromford Station.

    Still dark outside but a cool 2°C for my walk to the station.

      2. Morning Wibbles. Bob's in Derbyshire. I once suffered the coldest day in my hill walking career about ten miles from where he lives. it wasn't just the temperature, it was dank and penetrating. Far worse than the winter top of any Scottish Munro.

  6. Israel has bombed Iran in an escalation of the conflict.

    As Iran likely sponsors the muslim Hamas is Israel still defending itself or is this escalation? Where does this end? With the middle east a sheet of cracked glass?

    1. Morning Johnny, I thought to get the washing outside regardless. It's damp from the wash but better outside than inside.

    1. Cutting spending and taxes is obviously the only way to grow an economy. This isn't news. Only the Left wing state – for reasons no one could understand (sarc) – believes otherwise. After all, if people have more money they spend it, or save it: in which case, someone else spends it. Thus are jobs created.

      The problem for a bloated, useless, corrupt state is that no one needs or wants it. With far less money to waste big government is forced to be efficient and concentrate on services. It can no longer use public money to control the population. It'll try, but it's ineffective.

      The fundamental problem Europe as a whole has is that spiteful, stupid politicians refuse to accept their irrelevance.

      1. I’ll have you know regulating the price of pop concert tickets is Very Important Business

  10. 395316+up ticks,

    Morning Each,

    Shit or bust time over, the shit has squarely hit the fan
    America has surely got to elect a realist, a man among men, straight in at the deep end.

    Dt

    Live US vows to defend Israel after largest ever direct attack on Iran

  11. Complete nonsense for MI5 to claim Russian agents want mayhem in UK. 26 October 2024.

    Vladimir Putin dismissed as “complete nonsense” MI5 allegations that Russian agents want to spread mayhem and chaos in British cities.

    This is just one of eight anti-Russian propaganda articles put up yesterday afternoon. Most of them are as specious as this with a mix of sophistry and disinformation to confuse the reader. It could be of course be a prelude to an attack on Russian forces in Ukraine. Things certainly seem to be coming to a head.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/10/25/putin-dismisses-nonsense-mi5-claims-russia-meddling-uk/

    1. The Left have got to demonise their enemy. They have to continue the narrative for their own benefit to keep people off balance and unstable.

      I wouldn't be surprised if 'accidents' were arranged specifically to reinforce the state line.

    2. Why on earth would the Russians waste their time and energy on undermining Britain? That's what British governments are for.
      Why fritter away resources on destroying a small, overpopulated country, stuffed with the very people that have caused Russia a lot of grief?
      A country that refuses to use its diminishing natural resources and deliberately voted in a government that hates the country and can't wait to see its demise.
      All Ivan has to do is just sit back and let it implode.

    3. Yo Minty

      Mr Putin would have to do some very serious harm in mind , to surpass the damage that the present guvernment is inflicting on us

    4. The Russian don't need to spread mayhem in the UK. The Strarmerfuhrer and his cronies are doing that very efficiently with their anti-British ideology.

  12. Good morning, chums. And thanks, Geoff, for today's new NoTTLe site.

    Wordle 1,225 6/6

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    1. Morning Elsie. Tough one today:
      Wordle 1,225 6/6

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  13. MV Ruby is anchored 160 miles from London. It's "broken" and can't move.

    It has a cargo of 20.000-ton ammonium nitrate from Russia, which equals 20.000-ton TNT and is 30% more powerful if exploding, than the atomic bomb in Hiroshima.

    Rubbish. It's fertiliser. It might nobble a few buildings but it won't cause much more of a problem that that.

    Thankfully people are seeing through the con and pointing out the real threat to the UK: the diversity, the dinghy dindus and this incompetent, stupid government.

    3. Lest we forget! A hangover from WWII.
      "The wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery remains on the sandbank where she sank. The wreck lies across the tide close to the Medway Approach Channel and her masts are clearly visible above the water at all states of the tide. There are still approximately 1,400 tons of explosives contained within the forward holds."

      1. 1400 tons by gross weight not explosives weight. Again, not a significant issue unless you start meddling with it. Deep Sea Dumping (DSD) was still an authorised disposal method not that long ago (certainly in the early 80s because I was involved in it)

        1. Yes, I remember DSD – and have passed Richard Montgomery several times when working from Chatham; no one seemed that concerned and "do nothing" seemed quite a good plan!

    4. Just tip the AN into the sea. It's soluble in water. We used to pour it down the drains in NI and get the fire service to hose it down.

  14. Dressed, ready to go and just sat enjoying a last slurp of my tea.
    Rucksack has jacket, a bit of food & drink for through the day and camera.
    Insulated carry mug is filled for consumption on the train and I'm ready for the off.

    2. Ah, Net Zero. – a load of ExGreta!

      Morning Ann and all, and a Happy Birthday to JonathanR….

    3. Ah, Net Zero. – a load of ExGreta!

      Morning Ann and all, and a Happy Birthday to JonathanR….

    1. Harris comes across appallingly. She's not very bright, can't think on her feet, talks in circles in nonsense sentences and always looks to blame Trump.

      The Left have no policies, no values, nothing to promote. They're just zombies troughing.

      The violent chavs are already here. It is the end result of pandering to the feckless, greedy and diversity.

    2. Making sense of Cameltoe's speeches would be like removing the lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and peppers from a salad.
      You'd end up with gloopy vinegar at the bottom of the bowl

    1. :-). The story or the ship? Though for propaganda purposes, details like that are immaterial.

  18. Free Speech is off to London today to cover Tommy Robinson’s march on Downing Street (starts 11.00 Victoria Station). Not that our readers are the rioting kind, but if you are going, we must try to keep it peaceful, as the shameful, oppressive and trumped-up charges used to bang Tommy up this time could well be meant as a provocation, aimed at getting even more ‘right wing thugs’ in the jails now emptying of real, Starmer-supporting, criminals.

    Back at the mag we have two new articles today: Paul Sutton’s ‘ Managing the Narrative Through Conspiracy Theories’ , on the State’s use and abuse of ‘conspiracy theories: the Establishment deliberately puts out half-baked stories on issues it wants to hide, and then concentrates on the inevitable responses. The conspiracy theory then becomes the news. Paul uses his detailed knowledge of the David Kelly mystery as an example of how this works.
    The second is a piece on how to keep yourself supplied with highly nutritious microgreen vegetables this winter at little cost.

    We put up another patriotic post yesterday on the Battle of Agincourt , fought on 25 October 1415, and a major event in the development of the English national identity the treacherous Establishment is now trying so hard to erase.

    Please do read them and leave a comment – FSB thrives on comments – and don’t forget, we love it when readers submit an article of their own. Please consider it.

    1. He's already been arrested and jailed specifically to unperson him and remove a figurehead from the crowd. The Left would never consider doing this to their own.

    1. It shouldn't be demoted because it's about Harris, but simply because it's unsubstantiated nonsense.

      If a post claiming her lack of policies and high tax and big state ideology was detrimental to the US economy were demoted then that would be election fiddling. I imagine it would be because Meta are very Left wing (they rely upon invading people's privacy, after all).

  20. China is preparing a direct attack to destroy America. 26 October 2024.

    There has been a marked increase in Chinese nationals attempting to enter American military facilities in recent years. This month, federal authorities announced that they had charged five for allegedly misleading investigators and conspiring to clear their phones after they had been confronted in the dark near Michigan’s remote Camp Grayling in August 2023. Last year, it was reported that Chinese citizens intruded into the Army’s Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska. There, they drove past a base gate and were later apprehended with a drone inside their car. In 2020, several Chinese nationals were sentenced for illegally surveilling the naval air station in Key West, Florida.

    This is another scare story. Albeit a ridiculous one. I am not an admirer of the CCP or the Chinese State but it is no threat to the US which is easily the greatest power on the planet. Aside from its conventional military it also has a powerful National Guard and if that were not enough the citizenry is heavily armed . Unlike the UK, any attempt at subversion would be crushed within days.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/comment/2024/10/25/china-is-preparing-a-direct-strike-against-the-united-state/

    1. I find the US people's obsession with guhnz comical. originally it was designed when the power dynamic was the same – both sides had crappy rifles. Those gun toting redneck nits now have pistols and what not, but the military has rockets that can be fired through LEO. It's not even funny.

      1. Britain has gone too far the other way, but private citizens do not need military grade firepower.

    1. Thank goodness we don't have albatrosses in the Channel.
      Has the MV Ruby been becalmed as long as the nameless ship in the Rime?

  22. Morning, all!

    (I do like those times when I slink back home late enough to catch Nottler early birds! 🤣🤣)

    Happy Birthday, Jonathan!

    Orf to bed now.

    Katy

    2. You must still be young, Ashes. I typically go to bed before 10 (=22:00) as by then I'm wrecked with the effort of staying alive and working (copious alcohol helps).

      1. No; I’m no spring chicken. I’m just in love with tango! (A very weird sensation. It’s even better than alcohol – and I say that as someone who used to *really* love her wine. And single malt…)

        I also tend towards the nocturnal – working in the theatre will do that to a person.

        I am very lucky to be able to live like this, and to have as much energy as I do.

    1. Nice one Anne. I've seen one of the several originals in Oslo and have a photo of me gurning next to it (I've always acted the Clown).
      Now off to breakfast and then to harvest another 40 mostly scurrilous stories from my book of "Rude and Politically Incorrect Jokes".

    3. Whenever I see the capital letter Ö on Swedish road signs I cannot help but think of Munch's Scream. (Ö)

  24. Reposted from last night

    26th October, 2024

    Jonathan Rackham

    Welcome to the 76 Trombones Club!

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/765a6ae67132e329961369ba89587241cbf02e8606006709800b35319a4e28b0.png

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/08d557b59895d903e2832cb7c02df49d38c507f56b8ca009ad25c6ef6c03ae2a.png

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f15108925be65a9a2608d8e25edca14c950fe7218c958fddb1d38927a117d0b9.png
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQUlQXCP-B0

    With very best wishes from

    Caroline and Rastus

    4. Thank you Rastus and Caroline Thought I would get away with it un-noticed due to last years confusion.

  25. 395316+ up ticks,

    Dt,

    Labour’s attitude to earning money takes no account of risk and reward

    Should read,

    WEF / NWO / RESET manipulators using lab/;ib/con as a conduit to earning money, takes no account of risk and reward as their agenda is, you will own nothing,need nothing, and to be happy SAY NOTHING.

    1. Important funding for research working against cancer & multiple infections.. no no no.
      Partnership with Moderna.. yes yes yes. More mRNA yes yes yes.

      2. The research will never find a cure (well, one they would admit to) but it does 'make us understand the disease better' which translates to 'new drugs and vaccines!'

    2. Important funding for research working against cancer & multiple infections.. no no no.
      Partnership with Moderna.. yes yes yes. More mRNA yes yes yes.

  29. As productivity continues to decline in the UK economy, I shall do my bit by covering three posts in one:

    1. Beat wishes again to Bob, Sue and Tom in London today – a Nottl/FSB pincer movement!
    2. Happy Birthday Jonathan! 🎉
    3. I was in M&S Foodhall yesterday and had a coffee in the cafe (mortgage application now pending). In comes woman with a Harris/Walz 2024 t-shirt on with husband in tow. I don't think she appreciated my 'guffaw'.

  30. G'day all,

    Light cloud and light winds at McPhee Towers, 10℃ with a forecast of 15℃. Should be a nice day and the river level is down so I'm going fishing.

    Well, whadayaknow?

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/aeb7af2933e425cf9c3df594fb65239734ce96d4012c8deee4431c2af322f98b.png

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/10/25/workers-taxes-will-rise-admits-rachel-reeves/

    Why am I not surprised. Why is no-one surprised?

    They lie; we know they lie; they know we know they lie; still they lie.

    1. What about raising the TV Licence to, say, a reasonable £500 or even better £1,000. And failure to pay would mean Belmarsh & losing your home.
      Win Win all round.

        2. And get 3 meals a day (I'd become veggie to avoid the compulsory halal meat) and no heating or water bills to pay.

    2. They know very well the golden rule about British elections – when the truth is unpalatable, nobody gets elected, least of all with a thumping majority, unless they lie.

      Of course workers' taxes have to rise in order to pay for national generosity during Lockdown. Otherwise, they'd be cutting off 3/4 of the potential revenue stream and the stealth taxes on the 1/4 that is left would break the nation.

    3. But they don't care that we know that they lie.
      For thirty years, British governments have been working towards conditioning the British into becoming unarmed sheep.

  31. Big article in Aftenposten reporting that the German head of security said that the Russians will attack Eorope to drive out the US "within 2030". It then goes on to show a little set of bar-charts comparing the NATO and Russian military: Russia has 1/3 as many panzers, 1/3 as many combat aircraft and 1/2 as many personnel.
    Apart from that Russia cannot finish Ukraine when they were starting from full strength, I doubt they would go against numbers like those. Putin isn't crazy, despite what the press like to say. God, what crap.
    I'm afraid I added the first comment to the article as written above, but in yer Weegie.

    1. I suppose US interest in Europe partly depends on which numpty gets into the White House.

      Trump at least has made it clear that unless the Euros are prepared to defend themselves, he is not interested if they are over-run by Russians. "Don't say I didn't warn you".

      As for Harris, is she capable of commanding an army?

      Reliance on the goodwill of domestic imported peace missionaries with priority for Alphabet equity, blowing of national resources and borrowing on the Caribbean super-rich under the policy of "anticolonialism", and respect for those who demand Submission because of religious edict, might affect the West's capacity not to lie down and mew when attacked.

      1. Cameltoe is hardly Good Queen Bess at Tilbury.
        Imagine what a word salad she would make of EIR's address to the troops.
        While people tried to work out what she meant, the Spaniards would be here and settled down.

    2. Russia now has a couple of years of experience fighting the same type of war and against NATO technology. Their tactics are also honed. The war in Ukraine has almost gutted the UK's meagre holdings. And, of course, if NATO attack Russia then China will seize the moment to take Taiwan.

      1. An article over here had that the raw materials needed to rearm & resupply come from … Russia & China!
        Seems like a good plan, that.

        1. Yes, I think the reality bell has rung in the West where they realise that all they are doing is equally depleting their own resources, perhaps not in headcount but certainly in material.

          1. I'm sure that those points were made at all levels in the military, from LAC to General. Pretty obvious, really, except to the politicians. It even occurred to me, and I'm a mere Lt Col.

      2. China wont take Taiwan. The Chinese, in some sort of perverse game, buy chips from Taiwan because they are incapable of making them properly themselves. Every lab for making the things is mined so that if the Chinese attacked the ability to make the chips would go up in smoke and the technicians would be on their way to the USA. So, to attack Taiwan would cause a complete bugger up in Chinas high tech. cut your nose of to spite your face and the Chinese would have lost the war. And, practically everything else of value in Taiwan would go up in smoke as well, from rail, airports and bridges.

          1. Yes and that is the point. Practically anything of value to the mainland Chinese would be destroyed before the Commies could take it. Apparently even the airfields would be turned to rubble.

          1. Yes, I found that interesting too. Apparently a lot of the Chinese propaganda is just that. I was reading a while ago that while they boast about there new fleet of battleships. Most of them would be destroyed within a couple of hours by the USA navy, they are so shoddy in their construction. Likewise their submarines are so noisy that the Americans would detect them miles away and destroy them before they were able to sink one American ship or sub. In short, it is all show and bravado designed to intimidate.

  32. Morning, all Y'all. Heavy fog last night converted to heavy frost today. Just seen Mother Deer in the field outside Firstborn's kitchen, with three well-grown fawns! Lovely!

  34. It's interesting that on the BBC they say that 90% of the world's lithium

    is processed by the Chinese.

    Yet the British Government wants the Army to re-equip with electric trucks and tanks.

    1. Electric panzers? Is joke, yes?
      SWMBO is part of a group looking at electric vans for the railway infrastructure maintenance, and they are all shite.
      Not enough ground clearance. Bang the battery, it's likely the vehicle will go on fire.
      Not enough range, particularly not the 4WD versions, as they use more kW to drive the transmission and/or pull a trailer
      Often too heavy, especially with the long range battery
      Mosty not rated for trailers, and if they are, only a small one as the towing vehicle is too heavy. See also "range"
      Recharge times in hours, not minutes as for fossil vehicles.

      And that's for civil use, when mostly the travel is planned. And you can (mostly) break off and go recharge when you need to, even if it does take days. (El buses have the same problems, BTW).

      1. Last night, there was an item on the telly (Beeb, I think) about an electric car that ignited on on a driveway. Torched the front of the house as well as itself.
        Even the programme admitted that it takes far longer for fire crews to extinguish an electric car fire compared with an ICE. AND it mentioned that the slightest knock, especially to the underside, could be expensive even lead to a write off.
        I nearly fell out of my chair.

        1. The lithium batteries generate their own oxygen when they burn, and they burn very hot. Typically, the car needs dunked in a skip full of water for 24 hours to confirm extinction.
          And – damaged battery often burns… and to replace costs more than half the value of the car. So, what looks slight damage to the underside (where the battery is) typically means written off car.

          1. I was staggered that any British telly station would admit to a downside.
            All the same types work for these companies, so for a different message to through was mind blowing.
            Maybe it means there is a rethink taking place.

          2. I too saw that piece. I think it was part of a case that the car's owner is building against Mercedes. It also mentioned that the car wasn't being charged at the time. It looked like spontaneous combustion in the footage.

          3. I'd forgotten that detail.
            Thank goodness the electric cars in our road are a fair way away from the Dower House.

    2. Electric panzers? Is joke, yes?
      SWMBO is part of a group looking at electric vans for the railway infrastructure maintenance, and they are all shite.
      Not enough ground clearance. Bang the battery, it's likely the vehicle will go on fire.
      Not enough range, particularly not the 4WD versions, as they use more kW to drive the transmission and/or pull a trailer
      Often too heavy, especially with the long range battery
      Mosty not rated for trailers, and if they are, only a small one as the towing vehicle is too heavy. See also "range"
      Recharge times in hours, not minutes as for fossil vehicles.

      And that's for civil use, when mostly the travel is planned. And you can (mostly) break off and go recharge when you need to, even if it does take days. (El buses have the same problems, BTW).

    1. What was Musk doing at World Government summit? Didn't see tthat before. If he wasn't advocating people power, diversity in government (ie, lots of little ones as per now), then he's severely diminished in my eyes.

      3. People should never forget that if the cabal, deep state, Mr Global, THEY, whatever you want to call the group of ultra rich families wanted Musk out of business, he would be out of business tomorrow. Like Peterson and Trump and Farage, he's part of the controlled opposition – the heroes that they promised to supply us with, because nobody is going to follow Starmer or Biden.
        The question is, what are Trump and Musk going to lead the USA (and Britain) into? A bright, post reset future? Or a CBDC, bug-eating slavery?

        I thought this was interesting (in bold):
        (from Vigilant Fox)

        "Musk suggested that his life could be at risk when he said that he needed to beef up his security.
        This is because “people who are taking advantage of the government” are going to get “upset” when he and Trump start slashing costs.
        “If I had full power to take action, I would balance the budget immediately,” Musk said, adding that the government urgently needs to stop spending more than it brings in.
        “A lot of people who are taking advantage of the government are going to be upset about that, and I’d probably need a lot of security. But it’s got to be done. And if it’s not done, we’ll just go bankrupt.”
        —
        Both Harris and Trump have big spending plans – this is the first mention that I've seen that the US is dangerously in debt, and that big changes will be needed.

    2. Musk:
      "It's impossible to do anything in the state of California without showing an ID from renting a hotel room, buying liquor, cigarettes.. air ticket. Buy a gun.. they'll six ways you to Sunday.
      However, Gavin Newscum passed a law making it illegal to ask for ID when voting. It's even illegal to "look" at an ID when voting. They're proud of it. They're not hiding it. Go figure. These are the same people who want vaccine IDs for travel."

      Dontcha just luv progressive liberals like Gavin.

      1. California has degenerated, in the 40 years that I lived there I only had to show ID when I was younger, to buy booze, was still having to do that until my mid 30's, flattering but annoying. Didn't vote because I could not bring myself to become an American, growing up in the military made me loyal to the Crown. The idea that they now don't have to show ID for voting is an obvious Democrat trick so that any illegal degenerate can vote. No wonder everyone with half a brain not rotted with socialist propaganda, is leaving the state.

        1. Unfortuantely.. everyone without half a brain & rotted with socialist propaganda, is leaving the state.
          And heading to safe states like Texas.. to continue spouting their nonsense in safety.

      2. Problem is most of the population are too thick to see and understand what is happening.

    3. Musk:
      "It's impossible to do anything in the state of California without showing an ID from renting a hotel room, buying liquor, cigarettes.. air ticket. Buy a gun.. they'll six ways you to Sunday.
      However, Gavin Newscum passed a law making it illegal to ask for ID when voting. It's even illegal to "look" at an ID when voting. They're proud of it. They're not hiding it. Go figure. These are the same people who want vaccine IDs for travel."

      Dontcha just luv progressive liberals like Gavin.

  37. Read my lips.. Don't ever borrow in a foreign currency. doh.
    Or, for details.. Do the exact opposite of what IMF demands.

      1. Actually, imho, it's the exact opposite.
        Tax more (but much much lower rates). Laser pinpoint efficient tax nodes with money whizzing around the system at a higher velocity but incredibly low % rates. All big corps must settle invoices within 14 days.
        Workforce must get out of bed early and only eat Grizzly reciped food.

        1. Home made porkpies on tap.
          Well, someone's got to do it. Can't have Grizz's feelings hurt.

    2. They're suggesting cutting taxes as a way to grow an economy. Only taken 50 years for them to get there, but hey.

  38. SIR – Are lawyers on £400 per hour working people?
    Derek Limbert
    Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire

    No. They are scrounging leeches.

  39. They're a commodity like most professions.. churned out by the thousands every year.
    Countries need reams & reams of new laws & compliance every day to satisfy the supply.

  40. Good morning all and hope everyone is well? Yet another gloomy day weatherwise. But light rain until 2 this afternoon. So not a bad day for those going up to London to demonstrate. Wish I could go but now a days that's an impossibility. Still, I will spend the day watching it on You Tube and, at least, be there in spirit.

    1. Did I see that it’s your birthday today, Jonathan? Hope you have a good and peaceful day anyway.

      1. Thanks Belle. No possibility of sunshine here. As I say below, going to watch the demo for excitement.

    4. Happy Birthday! (Phew…. half an hour to go before its tomorrow….!) Have a lovely birthday weekend..🎉🎂🪅🥂🍾🎈🍧🎉

      1. Thank you Poppie. Have you noticed that my logo, or whatever it’s called is Poppies? My favorite wildflower.

    2. My hand writing is nigh unintelligible. Has been for many years. When Junior practices I do as well and compared to his mine is a drunken spider.

        1. So do I. Actually I AM a failed doctor; I have two Masters degrees because one of them should have been a doctorate, but I was doing it part-time while still working full time and all sorts of things went wrong with trying to get the research done in other schools. I decided to settle for something rather than come away with nothing after three years' research.

    1. Sally -Anna King – I clicked on her picture and read some of her posts, she is a forthright reporter and talks lots of Nottler sense.

  43. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/82c5bac5560770c764c2e1225ac6ccffb65885d50f4b94f0ef86c6e69ed638f1.png
    ‘The worst part of the job is the public’s perception of us’

    The Daily Telegraph — Saturday 26 Oct 2024 As told to Isolde Walters

    I became a train driver in my late 30s after a career in facilities management. I was desperate for a change. I’ve never been a train buff and if someone had told me when I was 18 years old that in 20 years’ time I’d be driving the trains I’ve always been riding, I would never have believed them. I decided to apply because it was just so different. I also knew some people in the industry who told me it was a fantastic job, especially as I enjoy working alone. They warned me that it was difficult to get through the assessment days. When a recruitment window opens up for train drivers, it’s usual for the railway company to get 8,000 to 10,000 applicants.

    Train drivers generally get paid between £53,000 and £87,000 – some people do it for that salary. Others do it because they’ve always had a passion for trains, and some just fancy doing something completely different from a normal job. But only about 2pc of those applicants are going to make it through the assessment stage.

    I had four assessment days. We were tested on situational awareness, fault-finding, concentration and memory. They are trying to assess what sort of character you are and whether you have the high level of concentration needed for the role. People have this idea that a train driver just sits in the cab and pushes a button to drive the train – that’s really not the case. We control everything about the train: from the speed to the braking to the headlights to the doors. It’s an intense job. You need to be able to focus and react to things quickly, whether that’s a signal failing or someone on the track.

    One of my assessment days started out with a group of about 30 of us, and by the end of the day we were down to seven people. After I made it through the assessment period I had two interviews where I talked about what I was like as a person and how I coped with being alone. Eventually, after the second interview, I was told I was being taken on to do my training. The training is intense and takes nine months to a year. It is Monday to Friday, nine to five. We studied the rule book – it has 65 chapters that you are expected to know inside and out – which covers everything from the state you have to be in when you show up for work to what happens if a train fails.

    There’s a huge amount of classroom learning before you get in a simulator, which is your first taste of driving a train. It’s a bit like a video game. Then you are assigned a driving instructor who takes you out in a train. You learn all the elements of train driving – how to slow down, speed up, stop, start, release the doors – as well as the things you don’t plan for on a daily basis. The final exam lasts a week and it consists of day driving, night driving and a simulator session. I was elated when I passed. I had set my mind to something and I’d achieved it.

    Then, six weeks later, I had a freight train fail in front of me. It was at a junction and nothing could bypass it. The signaller said to me: “OK, we’re going to do a wrong directional move.” (I had been told during training that this never happens.) I had to go from my front cab to the back cab and drive the train in the other direction back to the station I had come from so I could get all the passengers out. It was a baptism of fire but I got all of them off the train safely. Six years on, I’m still driving trains in London. I do the same route every day. I can understand why people would think it is boring, but I’m never bored. There’s always something new on the railway – whether that’s the football, special events, weekends.

    Every journey is different. There are different risks: that could be a passenger running through the doors to get on the train, or fallen leaves on the track which make it slippery. I receive my roster six months in advance. I work a week of early shifts (that can start as early as 4am) and a week of late shifts (starting late morning or in the afternoon). Every eight weeks, I do one week of night shifts which start around 11pm.

    You do have to balance your life around the railway; it’s kind of like a marriage. I’ve had to leave family events early to make sure I’m rested enough for work the next day. It’s not a normal job; if I’m fatigued, the consequences could be disastrous. And it’s not a Monday to Friday job. Our trains run 364 days a year. Your only guaranteed day off is Christmas Day. My shifts are nine hours long, but if there’s disruption I could work for 12 hours. I get paid around £70,000 – not far off the industry’s top of £87,000 – and I’m grateful for that salary.

    A typical work day starts with me getting to the depot and reading my notice cases, which tell me if there are any speed restrictions or issues on my route. Then I pick up what’s called a “sheila card”, which has my diagram for the day; it lists what stations I’m stopping at, what time I’m due to stop there and what the turn-around station is. Then I check my train and set up my cab environment – adjust the heating, get the seat in the correct position, tell the signaller my train is ready, check the cameras and wait for the signal to come. Then my journey begins.

    Thankfully, I’ve never had a fatality. Sadly it’s a known risk on the railways and we are all aware that it could happen to any of us. I have had one heartin-my-mouth moment. Someone jumped off a platform to pick up their mobile phone and then jumped back up again. I had just passed my signal on my way into the station, my brake was in, when the guy jumped down. I put my train into “emergency mode” and, when he jumped back up, I took it out again. I got into the station, released the doors and contacted the signaller, saying: “I need a minute.” I was shaken and had two welfare checks to make sure I was OK. All I could think was: was that worth it for a mobile phone?

    I love the work-life balance of the job. In my prior role, I was on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Now I key off and go home. You can’t drive a train from your living room. There’s a real separation between my work and my home life now. I would encourage anyone to do this job. I’ve even suggested to my children that they become train drivers.

    The worst part of the job is the public perception. If there’s disruption in the service, I give the passengers all the information I have, but often they think I’m not telling them things. Then if I’m asked to run fast to somewhere and to miss out stations, passengers can get really frustrated.
    The public also gets angry when train drivers go on strike. My train operating company hasn’t gone on strike very much and if we do, it’s for a very valid reason. No train driver would go out on industrial action if they believed there was another way to resolve it.

    Oh, and there aren’t enough toilet breaks. There’s no toilet in the cab so I have to wait until I get into the terminal station. If you’ve got a 15-minute break, you can go to the bathroom, but if you’ve got six minutes to turn the train around and you need the loo, you have to call up the signaller and ask for a PNB “personnel needs break” and the controller will delay the train so you can go. That can be challenging.
    ‘I was on call 24/7… now I key off and go home. You can’t drive a train from your living room’

    Over to Bob of Bonsall for a comment.

    1. Hey Beatnik, what's your "perception", Dude? You rode those rails and took your "comfort breaks" from the roof of that old caboose, Hombre. If the travelling public thinks that train drivers are overpaid pussies, Man, it's because that's what they are- driving that Old Gravy Train, rollin' down that Wisecracker Line to the terminus in Fat City, Dude.

      1. Hey Dean, way to go, Man. Them clockwork Hornby-Dublo toys on the Midland mainline ain’t no real locos, Bro; there’s more tractive effort on a roller skate. It certainly ain’t no Casey Jones-driven AC6000CW, Dude; and not even close to being a Centennial! I still take my comfort breaks from that ol’ caboose roof, Compadre, but only when the yardlets are on their jerky break.

    2. Hey Beatnik, what's your "perception", Dude? You rode those rails and took your "comfort breaks" from the roof of that old caboose, Hombre. If the travelling public thinks that train drivers are overpaid pussies, Man, it's because that's what they are- on that Old Gravy Train, rollin' down that Wisecracker Line to the terminus in Fat City, Dude.

    4. I have a relative who was thinking of applying, asked a friend who'd been a train driver for decades and was told 'don't bother, all the new recruits are existing drivers sons, they've already applied and the list is long. Good to know this young man made the grade 🙂

      1. Young man? The article has a photo of a woman in the cab, wearing a black uniform. The man in the picture above is dressed like a technician.

          1. I received my latest edition of Airmail recently (the magazine of the RAF Association). Nearly every photograph had a blek in it and the advert that claimed "Representing ALL of the RAF Community" featured 4 bleks in 6 pictures". Only one was a white family. It really should have proclaimed it was representing MINORITIES in the RAF.

        2. This black man is the photo in my print edition of the DT.

          Never seen a black train driver, by the way.

        3. Thanks. Looks like a young man to me. Can't see a woman anywhere. He may be a techie, I don't know – have seen drivers dressed similarly.

          3. Thank you, I see now what you meant – seems we were referring to different photos. I hadn’t seen the Telegraph one. Apologies for any misunderstanding on my part.

        1. Can’t quite believe Reeves has given them a payrise -~5% wasn’t it. Don’t know about train rides, but economy in for a rough one.

    5. "All the elements of train driving – how to slow down, speed up, stop, start, release the doors"

      So challenging, so stressful – they deserve every penny of their £100,000 salary and expenses and the two months annual leave.

      1. Yeah…. hardly rocket science. If, I suppose there were elements of friction calculation due to rain, leaves, specific signalling and control, tilt consideration at speed I might be more sympathetic but… they're grossly overpaid for a simple job that is only well paid due to unionisation and holding the public hostage.

  44. Down to a choice of two letters – and chose the wrong one.
    Wordle 1,225 X/6

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

    1. Who knows how I got to the result from the clues that I had

      Wordle 1,225 4/6

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

      1. Certainly lots of possibilities today!
        Wordle 1,225 5/6

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

    2. Me too. I still am unsure as to the first letter but googled a possible word which took me to an Australian product used in food production.

      Wordle 1,225 X/6

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

    4. Wordle 1,225 5/6

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

    2. Guess which one likely to become future President (hint: not the Kamala one, the other one plays golf with her grandfather:-)

    3. That's a bit unfair. It specifically chooses two directly contrasting photographs in very different situations.

      As comical as Harris is the election should be about the policies for the future. I've not heard an awful lot about those. I suppose that drives it down to being about personality which is depressing.

        1. Definitely Anne. Watching London, people kettled in one area and March reportedly delayed by police until 1.30.

          1. I think I'll tackle the ironing. Better for my blood pressure.
            Maybe the Met is waiting until the counter-demonstrators are nicely placed for a Donneybrook.
            Then they will have the excuse to arrest the Far/Extreme/Hard Right.

          2. I had to leave it before it finished Anne, family all landed. Did it end OK, pass off peacefully, please?

          3. I think I'll tackle the ironing. Better for my blood pressure.
            Maybe the Met is waiting until the counter-demonstrators are nicely placed for a Donneybrook.
            Then they will have the excuse to arrest the Far/Extreme/Hard Right.

    2. Lovely clip. When I got my Pilot's Licence 66 years ago I had to learn about stalling, lift, drag, wing areas and other stuff before I could fly. The Bumble bee has wings smaller than her body, but nobody told her these things so she flies beautifully and even hovers.

        1. It was thought to be so in the 1930s, but scientific investigation has progressed since then:
          see https://www.livescience.com/33075-how-bees-fly.html
          As the article says: "Indeed, in the 1930s, French entomologist August Magnan even noted that the insect's flight is actually impossible, a notion that has stuck in popular consciousness since then."

  47. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9wrkngvyx4o
    Employers' National Insurance hike to raise £20bn

    The chancellor is set to increase the National Insurance rate for employers to raise £20bn for public services including the NHS.

    Rachel Reeves is also expected to use Wednesday's Budget to lower the threshold for when employers start paying the tax, but is not likely to introduce the levy to employers' pensions contributions.

    Employers currently pay National Insurance of 13.8% on a worker's earnings above £175 a week.

    The move is thought to be the single largest revenue raiser of next week's Budget, but other tax rises are also expected.

    A government source said: "There is a universal consensus that the NHS needs more money.

    "That means asking businesses to help out. The choice is investment versus decline."

    At a news conference at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer refused to be drawn on the detail of Wednesday's Budget.

    But he said the government would take "tough decisions" with the aim of putting the NHS "back on its feet".

    National Insurance contributions are the UK's second-largest revenue stream behind income tax. It is paid by workers and the self-employed on earnings and profits, and by employers on top of the wages they pay out.

    Speculation has been growing about the tax rises Labour will announce in its first Budget in almost 15 years, with the chancellor claiming there is a £22bn "hole" in the public finances.

    Other than National Insurance for employers, the freezing of income tax thresholds could be extended, meaning more people are "dragged" into paying tax, or higher rates of tax, as their wages rise and cross the unchanging thresholds.

    The government is looking at increasing tax on asset sales, such as shares and property, and changes to inheritance tax.

    Yeah, Investment vs decline. They chose decline, and a very rapid one as businesses are killed off and the money government takes is not available to build and strengthen business, nor to pay people for working. Wonder where the businesses will get that £20bn – surely they wont close departments, close entirely, and lay pople off? That certainly won't happen.

    1. "A government source said: "There is a universal consensus that the NHS needs more money"

      Not as universal as the BBC may wish. Isn't there more of a consensus that the NHS needs to improve efficiency?

      1. I thought the 6 million hard-working immigrants were supporting the NHS with their enormous contribution to the economy.

        1. Our diverse co-inhabitants are looking after the demand side. It's up to us to finance the supply. It's a team effort.

    3. There is a universal consensus that the NHS needs more money.

      It's so true.. it's a settled science.

    4. Today, we had our "Bog Off and Die, Boomer" letters.
      Sent to our old address from which we moved nearly two years ago.

    5. "A government source said: "There is a universal consensus that the NHS needs more money."
      Wrong. Saint NHS has more than enough money, it just needs its spending priorities overhauled, and whole swathes of pointless jobs ending. (Including, of course, all the 'diversity' departments, and surgery/treatments for the confused mentally ill body changers.)

      1. According to someone I know who used to be a big cheese in a CQC, the NHS does NOT need more money at all; it needs to be more efficient.

  48. It's not a parody- it is a real Telegraph headline:
    "Jailed Iraqi goat herder is a parable of Britain’s broken asylum system"

    He must have been a rare "one off" as we have been told they are all doctors, scientists and academics…
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/10/26/jailed-iraqi-goat-herder-parable-uk-broken-asylum-system/

    It is hard to compare the old Aberystwyth- pubs closed on a Sunday with this new world brought to us by politicians who clearly hate us.

      1. I think the question of where and with whom Starmer is 'getting his hole' is somewhat topical.

    1. That reminds me of a short tale:
      Sitting in the plane was a bishop and a young priest. The bishop was doing The Times crossword.
      "Four letter word, exclusively female, ends in UNT," he mumbled.
      "Aunt." suggested the young priest.
      "Oh," said the bishop, "have you got an eraser?"

  52. This is the sort of dishonest propaganda you can find in the MSM. This is 'I' which is as bad as the Guardian.

    Police fear violent clashes at far-right march after Tommy Robinson’s arrest

    Police are braced for violent clashes in central London as a large demonstration organised by far-right and anti-Islam agitator Tommy Robinson will head to Downing Street to protest at what he has described as a “March Against Tyranny”.

    Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, was charged under terror laws on Friday for failing to provide the pin for his mobile phone after he handed himself into Kent police station in relation to another offence. The 41-year old was remanded in custody ahead of a separate contempt of court case on Monday.

    Although Robinson will no longer be at the protest, tens of thousands are expected to join the march which has been promoted by influential far-right figures from the US. It will be opposed by a large counterprotest run by anti-racist campaigners. Relatives of Chris Kaba, are attending a separate protest led by the United Friends and Families Campaign taking place in Trafalgar Square.

    Expand article logo Continue reading

    Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service will be supported by officers from other UK forces and the police have said they will “robust action “to “deal decisively” with disorder.

    The protest organised by Robinson will be under the banner “Uniting the Kingdom”, one of the names discussed during secret strategy meeting with the far-right agitator and other groups disclosed by i in August.

    Details of these talks held by Robinson were previously passed to i which revealed the inner strategy of the far-right figure’s attempts to canvas support with Sikhs, Muslims and Jewish groups for a campaign against British Muslims. A key tool identified by Robinson was the use of football hooligan groups and far-right figures with large followings to spread his message and get as many people to rallies as possible.

    The march comes days before a Contempt of Court hearing where Robinson stands accused of breaching a court order not to repeat defamatory lies about a Syrian refugee which could see the English Defence League (EDL) founder in prison for up to four years.

    Robinson fled the UK hours before a court case concerning related allegations, only returning earlier this week. In an interview on X on Friday, Robinson claimed he was going out “with a bang”.

    In the build up to Saturday’s demonstration accounts which Robinson highlighted specifically during previous planning talks have pushed the event to their hundreds of thousands of followers.

    A post on X by Robinson calling for people to “be in London next week” in what he referred to as “Judgement Day” was reposted by Reclaim Party’s Laurence Fox who added that arresting Robinson would “open the eyes of many more who are sick of the two tiered society” in the UK.

    Robinson’s campaign has also seen a large boost from influential personalities from the US who, along with millions of followers, have taken to X to urge people to attend the March.

    Several high-profile right-wing agitators have supported Robinson on X, with several travelling to the UK to join him on his march. US conspiracist Alex Jones quoted a post from Robinson on X calling for people to be prepared for the “bad guys” to “come for Tommy”. Jones thanked X owner Elon Musk for allowing Robinson to “expose the lies of the Labour government that was trying to set him up.”

    American Youtuber Tyler Oliviera travelled to the UK to document Saturday’s march for his channel and almost 7 million subscribers while Don Keith, an American podcaster, recently travelled to Benidorm to interview Robinson. In a post on X, Keith claimed the “corrupt UK government” is sending Robinson, to a “maximum security prison with the help of the media because he dared to show a film exposing the truth they wanted to hide.”

    Robinson’s movement has also seen a significant push from many leading European parties. The French nationalist movement and the leader of Denmark’s nationalist People’s Party both told followings to join in the march on Downing Street.

    Morten Messerschmidt, the leader of the Danish People’s Party took to X to say the UK is turning into a “totalitarian state.” He added it was “deeply concerning” that Robinson faces prison for “exercising his right to free speech and presenting a different version of the truth than that of state-funded media.”

    Ahead of Saturday’s demonstration, tensions have been further increased by the death of Paul Lynch following his imprisonment for his involvement in the riots. After Lynch’s death, Robinson took to X to say he was the movement’s “first martyr” and make an emotional plea to the UK while wearing a T-shirt saying “I am Peter Lynch”.

    The Metropolitan Police Service has announced there will be an increased police presence at Westminster to ensure the safety of both protestors and counter-protestors.

    Deputy Assistant Commissioner Rachel Williams, who is leading the policing operation this weekend, said: “We are well prepared for what is set to be a busy day in the centre of London.

    “We know that when groups with opposing views come together it can lead to conflict and disorder and a key part of our role is ensuring that does not happen. We have used Public Order Act conditions to ensure that those involved stick to routes and assembly areas that are sufficiently far apart. Officers will be monitoring closely to ensure that conditions are adhered to.”

    2. I just need to do the liberal editorial check for the i;

      Has it mentioned Robinson's real name ? Check
      Does the article use the terms far-Right or alternatives such as extreme-Right repeatedly? Check
      Are there links to far-Right groups abroad? Check
      Does it mention EDL? Check
      Have the police warned of violence? Check
      Does it mention the attendance of peaceful anti-racism or anti-fascism protestors? Check

      All passed!

    3. If i wasn't far right extreme hardcore right foaming at the mouth Mr Angry from Tunbridge Wells i am now after reading that load of bollocks.

      Good morning, JR.

      My language was appalling yesterday. I fear it will be worse today. I think i will go and clean the oven.

      2. Morning Pip. I'm rather worried, from what I'm watching, that things could degenerate into violence. Lets hope that doesn't happen. But the crowd was not supposed to move until 12:30. So it is way to early. Now there is a rumour going around that Tommy has been released??? We shall see.

        1. Rumour put back to 1.30pm…keeps flaring occasionally but mostly good natured, far as I can see. Not heard that rumour re Tommy.

          1. Mayer Tousi is taking a break from filming in order to find out what is going on with Tommy.

          2. Returned shortly afterwards jonathan…on the move again now all good natured just seen Prof Norman Fenton 😊

          3. who said he saw Andrew Bridgen, he wasn't on camera tho. Many different nationalities there, female/male, teens to elders.

          6. Thanks 🙂 Yes, I wondered if so, another rumour is he's in isolation, no phone, no visitors etc When people don't know what's actually happening, rumours start and spread. Or even when they do know.

    4. far-right and anti-Islam agitator.. see name & address in the description below.

      Meanwhile BBC goes all out vigilante on pedo Alexander McCartney.
      'Little girls were threatened in the most depraved way'
      Alexander McCartney abused young girls online "around the clock".
      She also discusses how investigators found out that one of his victims, 12-year-old Cimarron Thomas, had taken her own life without anyone in her family knowing what she had been subjected to.

      Funnee.. don't recall that much interest with our patron's of Alan's Snack Bar.

    5. The police are allowing a counter-protest to take place at the same time. It will obviously result in violence. The authorities know that. They can then blame that on the far-right thugs and Robinson supporters which will be an excuse to confirm his coming guilty verdict and to extend his imprisonment.

    6. Presumably the Met have recruited and trained their agents provocateurs and seeded them throughout the crowd.

      1. Watching the footage below jonathanr posted, been generally good natured, pressure building a little…saw it reported march start put back to 1.30pm.

      1. Thank you Conway. And no matter. It’s nice to have people acknowledge your birthday regardless of when it’s done 😊

  55. 395316+ up ticks,

    Jailed Iraqi goat herder is a parable of Britain’s broken asylum system
    Welsh town of Aberystwyth has been flooded with Class A drugs by criminals, some of whom fled poverty and violence for a life in the UK

    What is screwing the mindset of lab/lib/con (ino) coalition member / voters is the word / meaning regarding "parable"

    They obviously don't mind the actual illegal flooding as in mass peoples, mass drugs,mass paedophilia, mass murder, mass daily assorted abuse as long as they can steer their party (ino) into number 10
    regardless of odious consequence.

    Party( ino) before Country has never been so obvious
    as currently, and so destructive in nature.

    The electorate are actually doing the globalist work via the conduit governing parties for the
    WEF / NWO / RESET cartel voluntarily, in point of fact
    killing each other off prematurely, get this,FOR A PHONY PARTY NAME.

      2. They are mostly young black men. So they are a protected group. Look at all the nice things Khant said about the worthless piece of shit, Kaba.

      2. Too obvious, many would smell a rat. Crossing dangerous waters with the odd drowning – collateral damage – makes it appear that desperate oppressed people are seeking sanctuary. It's a psychological operation. Gullible people still believe otherwise.

    1. When?
      p.s. I see in the Daily Wail that Gosport is being compared scathingly to Fareham.
      A ten year gap in lifespan levels.

      1. Only all the time !

        Yes. I haven't read it yet. The Dineage woman is the local MP. Council tax in G'Spit has always been far higher than Fareham.

        Really pisses off the folks that live at Lee, Hill Head and Stubbington which are lumped in with them.

  59. I was doing some shopping on Amazon in the middle of the night. I don't advise that !

    I have two cards registered and my TSB one only has 19pence in it.

    (they pissed me off because the site keeps crashing so i emptied it to another bank)

    Amazon knew i had insufficient funds even before i pressed Buy/Add to basket.

    1. They don't know until you make the purchase and the bank is contacted.

      Although I agree with you. Buy it now is the most lethal button on the internet. Note they've made basket options deselectable now?

    2. There is a relatively new process where the retailer's bank can check your funds before you complete the purchase to avoid failed transactions. Happens at pay-at-pump garages if you have less than £100 in the account, as part of the authorisation; they only let you spend the funds available.

    3. There is a relatively new process where the retailer's bank can check your funds before you complete the purchase to avoid failed transactions. Happens at pay-at-pump garages if you have less than £100 in the account, as part of the authorisation; they only let you spend the funds available.

    2. Do as Anne says. Go for a girlie lunch and leave him to it. Can't you hear those Devon crab sandwiches calling to you !

  61. I do wish you lived nearer, Maggie.
    You would have given me the perfect excuse for a girlie lunch. (Roughly 11.0 am – 11.0 pm.)

    1. One would have thought that the TR marchers were more likely to protect those monuments than to desecrate them. There again, disinformation successfully planted.

      1. Don't get confused with reality. The Leftwankers will, if necessary, send someone round to break things if they aren't broken during the march.

      1. Thems the ones. The hateful, bigoted, nasty, bitter little Lefties. Evil to the core. What plod don't tell you is that most of the arrests come from that side.

  63. Why are the black people who like to think themselves smart such as Beyoncé, Kamala Harris and The Duchess of Sussex only slightly dark and with Caucasian features while Lammy and Abbott look more like the real thing?

    1. I don't believe intelligence is related to skin colour at all. Thomas Sowell is an astonishingly clever man. Martin Luther King was also a very bright chap. It's not about colour. I don't think Beyonce is very bright, she's just a publicity machine.

      2. That's not the argument though is it? It's the distribution. It's the same with male v female. People complained that too many men were on University Challenge etc. My understanding, is that men and women are on average equally intelligent. However (hang on a mo, flak jacket and helmet on) there is a higher number of men at each end of the scale (so more at the highly intelligent end but also more at the less intelligent end). The profile for women is much more even. There's been some academic studies done but I don't think you're allowed to use those bits of science.

        1. V Posh teacake, if you don't mind !

          I had a box of 36 of them for my party. The guests inhaled them. Not a crumb left. Animals !

      4. …and octoroons. One expression in Spanish, usually meant affectionately, is 'café con leche'.
        Skin-colour prejudice runs deeply through most parts of the world; people from many different populations, countries, ethnic minorities etc, seem to favour lighter skin over darker skin. Why is a mystery to anthropologists.
        Other prejudices exist, for example, Judas Iscariot was typically portrayed as having red hair in Old Master paintings.
        Probably a trick to make him easily identifiable in religious scenes produced in Latin countries, but the result was centuries of mistrust towards redheads in general, mixed with anti-semitism. Although that would be a chicken/egg question. FYI Winston S Churchill was strawberry blonde.

        1. Degrees of the Tar Brush

          i) A touch of;
          ii) Caramel;
          iii) Milk Chocolate;
          iv) Plain Chocolate;
          v) Black Treacle
          vi) Enough to Macadamize the drive.

  64. Remember the Conservatives have allowed Labour come to power. I will never trust them again.

    1. I blame the Conservative voters who couldn't accept that the party was dead and still voted Conservative or stayed at home instead of voting for Reform.

    1. She was very fortunate other people were there to pull her out. I think keepers threw some red meat to divert the bears. I hate zoos, circuses and variously named parks, would never visit let alone pay to keep them in business.

  67. ‘What the f— to do with them?’ – Russian soldiers heard complaining about North Korean recruits. 26 October 2024.

    Russian soldiers have been heard complaining about the “f—— Chinese” as the first North Korean troops arrive on the front line of Moscow’s war against Ukraine.

    In an intercepted phone call released by Ukrainian intelligence, two Russian servicemen criticised chaotic plans to integrate North Korean soldiers into their command structures

    This is truly pathetic stuff. Ten year olds would do better. I think they are trying to wear out the anti-narrative posters with an avalanche (ten in the last sixteen hours) of articles. Oh and they’ve banned the use of “Propaganda” on the comments.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/10/26/russian-soldiers-complain-north-korean-recruits-ukraine/

  68. As a child on a school trip to London Zoo I remember the polar bear walking non-stop from one side of its enclosure to the other swinging its head and moaning. You didn't have to be a vet to know it had gone round the bend, poor thing.

    Edit; 60 years ago and I can still clearly see it.

    1. Indeed.
      In a sunken pen with large railing and a flat concrete floor – nothing to even distract the poor animal, or soften the ground for it's paws. Maybe a pool of foetid, green, stinking water.
      Poor beast. What a fate.

      1. There was an article recently about an Orca where it was motionless and staring at the tunnel to the other pool for hours and hours. I found it quite upsetting.

    2. Been there done that, mola – circuses, zoos. Never took my own children. Eskimos at least kill them for food.

  69. As a child on a school trip to London Zoo I remember the polar bear walking non-stop from one side of its enclosure to the other swinging its head and moaning. You didn't have to be a vet to know it had gone round the bend, poor thing.

    Edit; 60 years ago and I can still clearly see it.

  71. Russia has a stockpile of 10,000 ODAB-9000 thermobaric biggie bombs.
    They've only used it once, three weeks ago, and it wiped Vovchansk off the map.

    It could flatten Croydon London's southern-most borough which covers an area of 87 square kilometres.
    Just sayin..

    2. I haven't seen anything on that, and I'd have expected a huge mount of anti-Russian propaganda to be based on it.
      A search just now gives this – and bearing in mind the source, treated with a deal of skepticism:

      https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/10/2/7477816/
      "Ukraine's Armed Forces refute Russian claims of ODAB-9000 strike in Vovchansk"

      Colonel Vitalii Sarantsev, spokesperson for the Kharkiv Operational and Tactical Group, has refuted information about the use of an ODAB-9000 aviation bomb by the Russians in Vovchansk. He stated that such reports are part of an information war aimed at intimidating Ukrainians and destabilising the situation in the region.

      Source: the Kharkiv Operational and Tactical Group

      Details: Sarantsev said the use of the ODAB-9000 requires a strategic bomber, such as a Tu-160. However, no movements of such aircraft have been observed.

      He assumed that the Russians used a smaller and less powerful munition, the explosion of which was exploited by propagandists to create a "spectacular image".

      Sarantsev also added that such reports may be part of an information war aimed at demoralising the personnel of Ukraine’s defence forces, intimidating the local population, and destabilising the region.

      Quote from Sarantsev: "I once again urge representatives of the Ukrainian media and administrators of Telegram channels to adhere to information hygiene, use verified sources of information, and refrain from spreading fake messages from Russian propagandists, which only play into the enemy's hands!"

      Background: Earlier, Russian propagandists spread information on Telegram channels about the alleged use of the ODAB-9000 in Vovchansk

    3. That would be a Bad Thing?
      Couldn't the Russkies do a bogoff and add Brixton to the target list?

          3. It did have. Rather lovely one with ancient buildings and lovely shops.
            On our last visit about 18 months ago, I could have cried at the decreptitude.
            It is dirty, run down and feels unsafe. The good shops have fled or closed down. The people lurked, rather than walked.
            Even a male 6' 4" (and younger than us) chum admitted he feels unsafe in the place.

  72. A convicted drink-driver who ran a red light on his e-scooter and knocked down a pedestrian, fracturing her skull, has avoided a prison sentence.
    Joseph Pedelty, 34, who had 10 previous convictions including drink driving, fled the scene after he hit veterinary surgeon Raquel Delgado-Calo at traffic lights in Portsmouth. Torygaff

    Why? He looks white and the name could be Welsh. Is he related to a Labour politician?

      1. Indeed, I was just surprised that whoever wrote the meme could actually spell. Makes a change.

      2. We met a Polish chap in Lisbon in 1984 who had sailed from Gdansk. He was able to navigate using a hand bearing compass and his charts when he identified lighthouses, buoys and headlands but he was very disappointed with the results he got from his sextant sights. I pointed out to him that he was using CET rather than GMT which is what the Nautical Almanac uses.

        He took this to heart and I explained that you can get time signals on the BBC's World Service on Short Wave radio and having reset his watch he set out for his Atlantic crossing.

        When we met again in Barbados he grabbed me by the hand and shook it vigorously and said: "Thank you, Richard. You give me very good time. You give me Greenwich!"

        2. What a great story.

          Not a boaty McBoatface person myself but i have hired those big cruisers you get on the Norfolk Broads.

          Annnnnd ! i drove it through some very tight waterways into Norwich. My dad nick named my Popeye.

        2. The oldest analogue computer. Quite amazing really. It featured in the last Indiana Jones film. That’s the only reason i have heard about it.
          Partly due to my classic education. A classic Comprehensive.

    4. :-). Apart from the sundial, which is, for obvious reasons, set on summertime, that is exactly what we do.

  77. Israel’s decisive action against Iran must embolden Starmer to arm Ukraine properly. Hamish de Crettin-Gordon. 26 October 2024.

    Yet for Volodymyr Zelensky, watching on in Kyiv, this will be another kick in the teeth. Why is Israel allowed to use American jets to strike targets deep in Iran but Ukraine cannot use American and British missiles to strike Russian bases which are striking schools and hospitals?

    Let me think. It's coming. Wait. Oh yes. Russia has ten thousand nuclear warheads.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/10/26/israels-decisive-action-against-iran-must-embolden-starmer/

    1. He is seriously unhinged. He should really be somewhere quiet with no newspapers or television. .

  79. A few days ago a young lady called Rhiannon Skye Whyte died after being allegedly stabbed by an immigrant with a screwdriver.
    Bescot Stadium station, late at night after she finished her shift at a hotel. Not much publicity, perhaps because she was white, female, obese and dare I say it, possibly working class.
    The MSM ignored the detail that a five year old boy has now lost his Mum. Her sister Alexandra is caring for the lad and she has set up a Go Fund Me page.
    https://www.gofundme.com/f/rhiannon-skey-whyte

    1. There's quite a few news sources listed when googling her, including the BBC, Guardian, Telegraph. "Small boat migrant charged".

      1. There is indeed a remote possibility that the suspect might be originally from South Sudan although that is irrelevant as it has been charged and the trial will be fast tracked.
        Oh, my mistake, he didn't riot or upset any LibLabCon politician.

      2. There is indeed a remote possibility that the suspect might be originally from South Sudan although that is irrelevant as it has been charged and the trial will be fast tracked.
        Oh, my mistake, he didn't riot or upset any LibLabCon politician.

    3. Afternoon Tim. Mr Lynch has also become a non-person. If you mention him, or his fate, on the Telegraph threads it is deleted.

          1. Lived in the East End & Milwall end 1970s to mid 1980s. Height of the Krays reign, never felt, nor was, threatened. SWMBO the same, and she was a cute, well-built 18-year old back then.

          2. Women were safe under the Krays.

            I have lived in several places. Started at No 1 Baltic Quay and each successive rental got worse till i left. That apartment building featured in a Ford advert.

            There was another gangster family in competition in Camberwell. I used to drink in their Pub. Don't mention their name as i think they are still around.

            It was strange in those days…Coppers and Crims would be elbow to elbow at the bar.

          5. I could see Milwall from my balcony ! Posh or what ! Couldn't get insurance in that area though.

    5. I suspect, when the hotel was taken over for 'migrants' she was relieved to be one of the few staff to keep their job.

  80. Oh dear. I often say i shouldn't post after 7pm because of drink and i might be rude to someone.

    The same applies to online shopping !

    3.30 am and my emails show i made a dozen purchases totaling £600 !

    Still. I now have some animatronic friends. Robbie the Robot and Wall-E.

    I'm such an idiot

    1. Oops.
      Join the club!
      Spent £150 at the pub Thursday evening… beers for me and quality whisky for Second Son. In my defence, this was Norwegian prices, but even so… 🙁

      1. I spent £280 at Rules for lunch. Most of the Nottlers just had a small glass of wine with their meal so i paid for all the booze.
        London compares with Norwegian prices. £25 for a Shampoo cocktail !

        1. That was very generous of you, man.
          You fancy a trip to Sandvika Sportsbar? Their range of Scotches is superb, and they even import Fullers London Pride for the few retired +/- English customers like me.
          I'll have to get Second Son to pay for his own whiskeys – that'll slow him down some!
          Anyhow… Kr 115,- = £10 a half-litre for the Pride, never checked the Scotch.

          1. The two ladies only drank water anyway. I couldn't let them pay for my cocktails.

            I visited a couple of whisky bars in Valetta. The only time i drink expensive whisky and only one or two.
            One of the bars has a steak restaurant where you choose your meat and weight from a chiller cabinet and then they cook it how you like it.

            It's very difficult to leave places like that.

  81. Just come back from Tescos.

    The 25% off 6 bottles of wine (or more) , if you have their Clubcard, is on 'til 31 October, 2024

    3. ‘I sold my house by accident when I was drunk – now I live on a narrowboat’

      Is that you writing in the DT under a pseudonym?

          2. I was referring to King Stephen, not you!

            Nope.
            Just back from an excellent meal at a pub where I’ve been very disappointed the last few visits.
            We were invited out this evening and it was probably the best meal I’ve ever had there. I’m guessing a new chef is in charge.

      2. Blooming' 'Eck.
        It takes about 6 months to sell a house. That's long time to be blotto.
        Still, get the right price, and you can self-finance your liver transplant.

    5. Victoria Nulan was once beautiful. Her obsessive hatred of Russia is behind much of the warmongering in Ukraine.

      We see the visual degradation paid upon such individuals, Tony Blair being a perfect example now of ugly demonic countenance.

    1. I think i may of missed wishing JR a happy birthday.

      Dear Robert. What a career. From Westerns to Sci-Fi.

      Of course he is embedded forever in my memory as Carole Toddy.

    2. I so, so, love this wonderful song (and it stands beside Gee Officer Krupke from West Side Story).

        1. He is a typical Lefty, refusing to acknowledge that Brexit has been squandered and blaming that waste on Brexit.

  84. I am sitting here typing beginning to think i need a shower. Did the usual checks. All fine.

    Good lord Harry's farts pong !

      1. He had a bit of calf liver yesterday. Not making that mistake again.
        He will just have to go back to sirloin steak.

        1. Liver is very rich.
          Spartie can't eat salmon. As we – and he – found out the hard way.
          Chihuahuas seem to have delicate tums especially where fat is concerned.

          3. Are you joining us at the Lanesborough for afternoon tea in the new year?

            I still have to check if there is a cap on numbers and in particular people from Colchester. Ahem…

    3. They really can't see that, by opposing free speech, by endorsing political prisoners solely because they don't like them, for rejecting the rule of law, liberal freedoms they really are just the Nazis themselves.

      The Left simply won't see their own evil.

    4. They really can't see that, by opposing free speech, by endorsing political prisoners solely because they don't like them, for rejecting the rule of law, liberal freedoms they really are just the Nazis themselves.

      The Left simply won't see their own evil.

  86. At the Tommy Robinson rally on stage an ex-spokesman for Reform UK has just slagged off the Reform UK party and Nigel Farage, then told the crowd to vote UKIP. I'm not sure the crowd were that taken with the demand.

    2. As I suggested here yesterday Nigel Farage and the Reform Party risk self-demolition if they don't accept the sincerity, authenticity and credibility of Tommy Robinson.

      Nigel Farage has revealed himself to be simultaneously both a snob and and inverted snob by his contempt for Tommy Robinson on the one hand and Old Etonians such as Johnson and Cameron on the other!

      1. I have total contempt for Johnson and Cameron. Tommy Robinson is a rough diamond who has improved his public persona a lot.

        If Nigel Farage changed his public attitude towards Robinson it would be to the delight of the left.

        1. He can improve his image all he wants, the lefty media will always get in their dig at Yardley-Lennon founder of the far right EDL.

    3. It's never a good idea to slag off a party to which you once belonged. N Farage, please note.

    2. Normal people. You can tell they are normal because they don't have pink or green hair and facial piercings..

      Time we started slapping the Pink Brigade where ever we see them.

      1. Society would be vastly improved if Jocasta had been told to stop being a stupid child and slapped as a kid.

    3. No comments on the DT article about "Supporters of Far right activist Tommy Robinson" (whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon).

      1. I am beginning to think that Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's real name is Tommy Robinson and that that the media has got it the wrong way round.

      2. The DT have really shat the bed on this one, again. I watched a little YouTube short they did. It was factually incorrect and misrepresented the aim of the event.

  89. Rodders speaks:

    "You may consider it a shame that Mr Kaba’s family was not a bit more pro-active in standing by the young Chris Kaba so as to prevent him turning into a violent, gun-toting thug – or maybe they could have just asked a few questions about their own parenting methods. A little bit of introspection and self-examination of their own part in a denouement which was, in the end, almost inevitable. But that would be too much to expect. They are not to be judged any more than Kaba himself was to be judged (apart from in those court cases where he was judged and repeatedly sent to prison). "

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-lessons-of-the-chris-kaba-case/#comments-container

      1. It's a long article, that's why I posted the link. There are clever NOTTLers who know how to get round these things.
        If not, I will c&p the whole thing.

          1. Et voila.

            https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-lessons-of-the-chris-kaba-case/

            "The lessons of the Chris Kaba case

            Rod Liddle

            I wonder if we should join with the radical campaigning organisation Buy Larger Mansions (BLM) in order to protest about both the verdict in the Chris Kaba case and indeed the racism inherent in the Metropolitan Police? Perhaps we can get Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer to wear some BLM badges on Match of the Day and recreate the heady, exciting atmosphere of 2020 when white liberals in the US and here decided that George Floyd was a kind of combination of Toussaint Louverture and Rosa Parks, rather than a former criminal jailed eight times, including for robbery with a deadly weapon.

            In the Floyd case, the man who killed him, a policeman called Derek Chauvin, was convicted, following a tidal wave of self-pity and self-righteousness and middle-class people taking the knee so often they wore holes in their Silas jeans. Perhaps in order to replicate that kind of cathartic stuff over here, we need to move towards the American model for selecting juries, where the prosecution can stuff them with people it believes will help them win the conviction.

            This is what happened in the Floyd case, and so the jury which convicted Chauvin was comprised of six black or mixed-race people, in a county where the black and mixed-race population stood at about 18 per cent. We could do that, and also check that they are on board with the general BLM message that whitey is always an oppressor and that those of us unfortunate enough to be born white should spend our lives cringing, saying sorry and flagellating ourselves with a birch switch. Oh, and that we should abolish the family and capitalism and force white folk to give their homes over to black folk and then profusely thank them for it.

            Even without this, there is still plenty of poison and counter-rational grandstanding we might do in the case of poor Mr Kaba, whose life clearly held so much potential, given that at the age of 24 he was driving a £100,000 Audi Q8, presumably as a consequence of diligence and hard work on his behalf. Of course, BLM (yes, it’s still going) refused to accept the verdict and instead ‘stood by’ Mr Kaba’s family, who are also demanding that something must be done.

            You may consider it a shame that Mr Kaba’s family was not a bit more pro-active in standing by the young Chris Kaba so as to prevent him turning into a violent, gun-toting thug – or maybe they could have just asked a few questions about their own parenting methods. A little bit of introspection and self-examination of their own part in a denouement which was, in the end, almost inevitable. But that would be too much to expect. They are not to be judged any more than Kaba himself was to be judged (apart from in those court cases where he was judged and repeatedly sent to prison).

            Useful idiots abound, of course. None are more useful to the cause of inflaming racial tension than the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. He delivered himself of the following emetic encomium: ‘I understand the impact Chris Kaba’s death has had on London’s communities and the anger, pain and fear it has caused. I send my heartfelt sympathies to Chris Kaba’s family, friends and the wider community once again. There’s clearly still a wider lack of trust in the police, particularly within the black community, that needs to be addressed. As Mayor, I will continue to work with the government to support and hold the Metropolitan Police to account to ensure any lessons are learnt and the Met commands the trust of all Londoners as we build a safer London for everyone.’

            You abject ninny, Khan. There is so much in that tendentious rot to take offence at, to pick holes in, to ask questions of. For example, to which ‘communities’ was Khan referring? London’s vibrant and industrious drug-running and shooting community? Or was it London’s communities of the perpetually aggrieved? Later, Khan mentioned the black community – but I suspect a very large proportion of those people believe Kaba got exactly what was coming to him, as occasioned by a series of what we might call questionable lifestyle choices.

            Do not lump all black people in together, Khan, they are not as stupid and credulous as you. And what is the point of working with the government and the Metropolitan Police to ‘ensure any lessons are learnt’? The very straightforward lesson to be learned from the Kaba case is: don’t drive your car at a bunch of policemen, but instead get out slowly and perhaps co-operate with their inquiries. Then you won’t get shot in the head.

            I suppose another lesson to be learned is that you would be mad to be an armed officer in the Metropolitan Police, because they will dob you in and haul you before the courts as soon as they look at you. The officer who was cleared, Martyn Blake, had a gangland bounty placed on him and fears for his life. Maybe we should raise funds that might allow him to sue Khan for creating an atmosphere in our capital city which demonises the police and champions the criminal.

            Kaba was known as ‘Mad Itch’. He had been in trouble with the law since he was 13 years old. He had served time for affray, possession of an offensive weapon, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, possession of a knife. He also received a 28-day domestic violence protection order and an interim gang injunction. He was believed to be part of one of London’s most dangerous drug-running gangs and in 2022 shot a bloke in a nightclub.

            It is true that every man’s death diminishes us and I am not delighted that Kaba is no longer with us. But when we are weighing up the social costs of this case, I wonder how many lives have been saved as a consequence of Kaba being peremptorily withdrawn from circulation."

          2. I am afraid that I AM delighted that the likes of Kaba are no longer with us. If there were fewer, London would be a safer place.

          3. I am waiting for the Americans to start taking the knee before Taylor Swift concerts as a way of re igniting the support provided by the UK during the original escapades.

          5. This sort of thing is rather thin on the ground I am afraid. I've just sacked off my subscription.

          6. I recall Floyd’s family became millionaires overnight having been gifted compensation by the corrupt US government and state. Perhaps Kaba’s relatives are expecting similar compensation. The chap was afterall on the path to becoming another black architect.

          7. I recall Floyd’s family became millionaires overnight having been gifted compensation by the corrupt US government and state. Perhaps Kaba’s relatives are expecting similar compensation. The chap was afterall on the path to becoming another black architect.

        1. Hope she organises a Christmas party for them.
          Mind that she doesn't pay too much or they'll be liable for more NI soon…

    3. Well done.
      When we moved to the Dower House MB had to leave behind a mature datura that went berserk about a twice year and took over the conservatory.
      One of his deep regrets.

      1. Could you not ask the new owners if you could take cuttings? The MR discovered by trial and error that plants taken from cuttings do much better the following year than the original plant. Funny thing, Nature…

        1. MB was in such a funk over moving, that he forgot several things that he didn't mean to leave.
          I suggested during the early weeks that he should go back and ask, but he didn't like to do so.

          2. To be perfectly frank.
            I had done the legal and selling stuff; sorted out the paperwork for renting the Dower House while the sale of Allan Towers proceeded at snail's pace. With the help of our cleaner, I had done the packing and sorting.
            Been back and forth to charity shops and the tip so often that I had worn a groove in the road. Arranged the auctions and the Freecycling.
            Quite frankly, the least he could do was sort out his sodding plants.

          4. I think we benefitted from Gove bumping his gums. He was really saying much the same as the current bunch of fourth formers.
            The Dower House appeared on the market within weeks of his witterings.

    5. Dear Bill,
      Yes, Datura stramonium (Angel's Trumpet, Thorn Apple or Jimsonweed) is beautiful, but it needs to be handled very carefully, ideally wearing gloves. My background(s) both in Botany and Toxicology tell me that all parts of the plant, particularly the seeds, are extremely toxic to humans. Please be careful when clearing the debris when they have gone over.
      For information just Google: pmc.ncbi.nih.gov to see a report.

      EDIT: That link doesn't work. Try searching for PMID: 19252697

      A bit more:
      In Europe, Brugmansia and Datura were among the top four plant taxa causing intoxications with major outcomes, being the leading plants ingested for their hallucinogenic properties, and accounted for 60% of abuse cases in Hungary in a 13-year period. Use of Brugmansia and Datura for criminal purposes has been reported from America, Asia and Europe. The concentrations of tropane alkaloids vary with the species, seasons and plant parts. Ingestion of the seeds and flowers has the highest toxicological significance, but exposure to the leaves and floral nectar can also cause intoxication.

      Conclusions
      Angel’s trumpets have high toxicological significance both in their native and non-native regions, mainly due to their hallucinogenic property and accidental ingestion.

        1. Did your oleanders flower? Mine had lots of buds but few opened this year – it prefers hotter weather.

          1. They do prefer warmer weather. They are considered weeds in some countries. I had a few flowers.
            Not as many as i would like. I want an avalanche !
            My guests at the party were as you can imagine kind and polite.
            I had several good showings.
            Nothing like Uncle Bill's grand estate but my apples did really well this year, Huge !
            And those that weren't pissed (Anne, Stormy, John, Maggie, Rik, Citroen, never once complemented me on them !)

            Batsards !

  91. Perpetrate a Par Four!

    Wordle 1,225 4/6
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    1. And here.

      Wordle 1,225 4/6

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        2. Yes, I found Bob (and left him in the same place, having a pint in St Pancras before the train home).

          There was a huge turnout of ordinary folk and contrary to what I’ve just heard on GBN, it was all very peaceful and good natured. Bob made a point of chatting to any police we saw. There were far too many of them but that’s par for the course.

          Apparently the “counter demo” was violent. It usually is and that gets blamed on us.

          The gospel band were on too long. Not everyone’s cup of tea. Mahyar Tousi was the best of the speakers, I thought. There were a lot of Persian flags and I noticed a group of people waving both Persian and Israeli flags. The young man urging us to vote UKIP was met with shrugs. That ship has sailed. We didn’t stay for all of the TR film. I plead guilty. After standing for so long, my hip joints start to hurt. The film will be online!

          2. Well done Sue – The DT reporters were unable to mention any violence and they were very late posting their report. Glad you met Bob ok.

          4. GB News online just says 2 counter protestors arrested. I haven't looked at the Beeb…………..

          5. Well done the both of you. I saw the ex-spokesman from Reform UK and wasn't impressed. I also thought the crowd sounded unimpressed on being told to vote UKIP.

          7. Agreed, but it's going to be a difficult salvage operation after the way they treated Gerard Batten.

          10. Just looking at the Daily Mail article gives a different impression with lots of photos of shuffles with the police.

            You have to actually look at the captions to see that they are all of counter protesters being nabbed – but never mind that, the headline reads Tommy Robinson Suppirters!

          11. Thanks Sue, I was only able to watch until around 1pm when visitors landed for rest of day until an hour ago. It was all very peaceful/good natured to when I watched, was thinking about you and hope doing OK (didn't look for you, obvs:-D). Male/female/any age/any colour…all saying very similar things to the young journo (can't recall his name) filming on his phone. I don't think my sciatica would have stood for it, similarly to your hip joints. (I find Dr Charlie Johnson/YouTube exercises help, not recommending him for hip joints as I wouldn't know, but hope you find something to ease your discomfort if only a warm bath.) I wish I'd been able to go with you…well done for going, Kate x PS Look forward to film:-)

          12. Thank you Sue and BoB! What a pair of Nottle heroes! Hope you have a nice warm bath!💕

          13. Delighted to meet you.
            That young lad calling for UKIP support did make the point that REFORM does need to accept that MANY people who support Tommy Robinson are ready to support them.

    2. A phew moment for me.

      Wordle 1,225 6/6

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    3. Been here already but here I am again. I really don't know how I got to the answer today.

      Wordle 1,225 4/6

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    4. Happy to avoid another double bogey today………

      Wordle 1,225 5/6

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  92. Kamala Harris must win, to purge America of the Trump delusion
    The Democrat isn’t a ‘communist’, and her victory would force Republicans to re-engage in serious debate
    Janet Daley : https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/24/kamala-harris-must-win-purge-america-of-trump-delusion/

    BTL

    Too many years writing opinion pieces for The Daily Telegraph addles the brain and weakens a person's judgement and cognitive abilities.

    You are not alone, Janet. Look what it has also done to Charles Moore.

        1. She is very frustrating.
          Talks sense until comes to American politics. To be more exact, when the subject of Trump rises.
          She has a very bad case of TDS.

          1. Bizarre. Someone told me Lionel Schriver similar, but when I look her up now to confirm seems she says she 'loathes Harris'.

          2. Shriver has 80% of Daley,'s TDS. She was given a full Spectator article on why she voted zBiden in 2020.

          3. Thanks Lewis, thought I’d read it somewhere. She’s been ill for a while…ME..only just returned to Spectator. Do you read it, I can’t see any change since Gove took over from Nelson?

    2. Has she thought about what's in store.. if Harris wins?
      Harris is the real deal Marxist commie-woo-woo able & willing to go full-on Pol-Pot.
      Trump, like a Farage would have his work cutout undoing & evicting the nutters in academia, Washington, FBI, CIA, FEMA v long list etc etc..

      1. Harris is the Soros-Obama 4th Term, complete the population transmogrification Party. If Democrats win in 2024, they will win in 28, 32, 36, until elections are finally abandoned.

        As for Janet Daley, could I borrow your baseball bat. Wes Streeting?

    3. I don't read the DT/ST, Rastus – I think it's been bought by a chap David Afune(?) lately. I thought Janet Daley was a Conservative..still, don't suppose that automatically makes her a Trump fan!

    1. Bananas ?

      Sotheby's is auctioning a banana duct taped to a wall for £1.5 million. The catch is…you don't get the banana or the wall. They do give you the duct tape though.

      You could be rich !

  94. I don't think they were particularly racist but then there are people like Thomas Sowell and people like David Clammy/ Diane Maggot.

    I remember watching a TV prog where Peter Cook at the Establishment Club spoke of the Krays (nosy reporting).
    He said two young well dressed men came one day and offered 'security'…

    Cook said i told them there was a police station just a few yards away.

    He then said they smiled and said their goodbyes.

    How true any of that is is anyone's guess.

  95. Just back from a bimble around Moors Valley country park Autumn is starting to bite although the wonderful colours aren't quite there yet.
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1d9d74fdc2165415a10a023cafbed479c9b43fe0fedd558b3020bd595e05adbf.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6303007db1fda74cb89fe84b40806a48b4654ef7ad8bfad91508c7a20b44070f.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/73eaffea0017bd47fa0ca214684ff62417d1ee2f3b7c8a8699058c34b2245a17.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fafcca68cfaa8a7bcabb24bbe05ff9931f3874c383fea2c94d051922714ae5b1.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5ae961ac989558c0e878b705e92db894bfc291ebf12b8227b86364febad61cfe.jpg

    1. It's my favourite season and a reminder of the benefits of living in this part of the world.

      Just not a fan of leaf collecting. 2 hours yesterday.

      1. This is my favourite time of year until Spring gets here, then Autumn gets here again…. ad infinitum.

      2. Chatting to my gardener who is Maltese i said though i love Malta i couldn't live there all year round because they don't really have any seasons.

    2. Way behind the Canadian colour change, we are just coming to the end of the spectacular maple tree colour show.

      1. Great white I think, but more ornithological posters will correct me no doubt.

        2. The use of white is, I think, tautology as all egrets are white. If they aren’t white they are called herons

          1. I think juvenile herons/egrets are white, possibly turning blue/grey after first moult. Number of years since I saw one at our garden pond, but a few years ago frogs had a disease which stripped the skin from their legs – awful to see, and frogs their main diet apart from newts in our pond. Herons are wonderful to watch take off, that lazy flapping and lift into the air, wheel around..and then gone.

    4. I live in St Leonards and did the 'Go Ape' tree top course when I was 73 at the request of my then 10 year old grandson.

  96. Any good suggestions for how to use up a lot of butter?
    Preferably not involving the oven.
    Perhaps I should preserve it all as ghee in airtight jars. Has anyone made ghee?

    1. You can freeze butter.

      If you want ghee just low power micro or low simmer on Hob. Carefully decant leaving the solids. (those solids are what makes butter burn)

      I can't recall at the moment (mind like a sieve) but don't throw the residue away. I think you can make a light cheese from them. Or something.

      1. I've looked up a recipe and it suggests straining it, but doesn't have any ideas for what to do with the residue.
        Just going to try it on the woodstove!

          1. You will regret that. I'm not long for this world you know…I can't even afford Jay cloths !

        2. Strain through a muslin cloth or a clean jay cloth. Allow it to cool slightly before you do this. You will get a purer ghee. I am sure the solids are used for something but i can’t remember at the moment.

          1. I tasted the ones from the batch of ghee yesterday, and they didn’t taste too good, so I threw them away. The ghee part seems fine though. Daughter tells me that ghee is also traditionally made in the Alps and is called butterschmalz. Will keep the recipe for future use though.

    3. Sell it on Ebay (or some such). There appears to gave been a lot of butter thefts in Ontario recently and the police are pretty sure thar the thieves just sell it to online retailers who then flog it along with all of the other products.

      No serial numbers and no special markings on the packs so it is easy to shift as one pack of kerrigold looks just like any other.

    5. You could always make lots of shortbread and hobnobs to be handed out as Christmas gifts.

      Just give the little trick or treaters a know of butter.

    9. Amaretto Almond Cake
      6oz/170g butter
      6oz/170g caster sugar
      3 eggs
      3oz/85g ground almonds
      3oz/85g self-raising flour
      Half teaspoon almond extract
      4 tbs Amaretto liqueur
      Preheat oven to 150C fan
      Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
      Beat in eggs, almond extract and ground almonds then fold in sifted flour.
      Scrape into a lined 2lb loaf tin and bake for 35/45 minutes until golden brown and springy to the touch. Jab all over with a skewer and spoon amaretto over.
      Leave to cool in tin before removing.
      Delicious on its own or with a dollop of crème fraiche.

      No idea of keeping qualities as it doesn't last long in our household. Hope you enjoy it.

    1. What's the highest butter content cake? Can't think of anything higher than shortbread, and let me tell you, there's a lot of shortbread there!

        2. The sad story is related above. Butter was in freezer, freezer is in cellar, cellar flooded, freezer is dead.

      1. In which case make Ghee and put in fridge. Shame about your cellar. Use a dehumidifier to speed the drying.

        1. The dehumidifier also got caught in the flood and is currently hors de combat…

          I am going to put the freezer in the garage. Not ideal, but at least it doesn't flood.

          2. That was why I put it in the cellar – constant temperature. The garage isn’t too bad, it’s on the north side of the house.

      2. Cakes it must be. We have 2 excellent recipes that are also quick to make and cook. One is a fruit cake coos on an hour and t’other is an Almond Amaretto cake cooks in 35 minutes.
        Let me know if you want recipes.

          1. The fruit cake is made with a small tin of pineapple pieces or crushed. Sometimes I drain the juice and replace with a spirit of some sort.

          5. This one becomes more moist if left for a week. Really good recipe. Can be baked a a large cake or split between 2 x 1lb loaf tins and they will cook in about 35 mins.

        1. Can’t eat the amount of shortbread this lot would make!
          Lemon curd is a good idea though – I’ve got three lemons in the fridge.

  101. Evening, all. Just back from a Caravan and Motorhome Club AGM which had me grinding my teeth. Energy hikes were put down to a) Putin invading the Ukraine and b) "global pressures" – I wanted to stand up and yell, "no, it's down to Milioaf and his insane net zero policies", but I knew I would have been on to a loser – and they changed vocabulary to be "more inclusive" by turning the post of chairman into a piece of furniture. No wonder I don't often stay at Club sites! But then, I am not a typical Motorhomer; I don't attend rallies (the sight of the massed ranks of motorhomes and caravans confirmed it was not my cup of tea) nor do I travel 10 miles down the road just to stay in my unit.

    Next year's AGM is at Warwick racecourse (we've been at Chester for two years). I am toying with the idea of going and taking Kadi with me so I can stay overnight. I have to decide whether I am going to declare SORN on the motorhome and just have six months tax next year or to renew for 12 months. Either way, I suspect I'll lose out seeing as there's a Labour government. Part of me wants to punish the w – anchors in power by withholding revenue, but the more pragmatic (i e mean) part of me reasons that it won't be any cheaper next year and the likelihood is that the budget will see a big hike in VED.

    Labour's attitude to earning money shows their complete ignorance about how commerce and industry work.

      1. It's primarily ignorance because they've never had to do it. It's also partly class hatred of "da wich".

    2. We were very similar frame of mind, Conway…eventually we sold, bought a small cottage instead in a favourite place. Bit more comfortable for old bones than travelling – and still have freedom to roam in car..plus two terriers which always travel with us. But can't up and take it to travel in Europe as you can with motorhome…so win some, lose some…

      1. Travelling to Europe with a dog is an administrative nightmare – even going to the RoI is an exercise in red tape and hoops to jump through. I do enjoy going places in my motorhome, but I use it as a mobile hotel. It isn't an end in itself as it seems to be for some people.

        1. We initially had a caravan which was a lot of fun, especially when children young. Motorhome – only two of us, offspring married by then, not so much fun 😀

          1. I've never had a caravan (although I did have family holidays in a static caravan when I was a child – I didn't find that much fun). I love the freedom of being able to go where I like and not have to worry about places being dog friendly (all the CMC and Camping and Caravanning Club sites are). I don't have to share my space (except with Kadi).

          2. I’m very similar 🙂 Yes, caravan club sites, member book very useful. New England bay was lovely as I remember it, good stopover on way to Scotland.

  102. That's me for today. A very pleasant one – apart from the early mist – which went – it was mild and very, very still. That made gardening much nicer. Picked two trays of Howgate Wonder apples – fabulous – each one weighs about half a pound. When sorting out more trays I found one at the bottom of the pile that contained – last years apples! All gone to compost, of course. Can't think how I missed them!

    Then some digging – we have taken out six old (1975) rose bushes – and are digging three feet down to make a hole into which to place half a ton of horse manure – then leave for twelve months. Next autumn = six new roses to be planted out.

    Don't for get the CLOCKS.

    A demain (prolly).

    2. I am going to trial a "no dig" veg plot for next year as recommended by the Soil Association (yes, I know!). I have only got a small test strip, but it will be interesting to see how (if) it works.

  104. "Our Ricky got let out.. it didn't make sense to keep him in prison for just saying words….. "
    Angela Rayner, proud northerner & deputy leader of Us Labours.

    1. I thought that the marchers were all far right because they were flying the national flag and not the symbol for some made up minority group.

      2. Like the Swastika? Or the Hammer and Sickle, perhaps?

        I am constantly annoyed that the Left always turn up to these events. Plod should simply tell them no, and silence them. If any of these fascists do turn up, they're contained and arrested.

    2. All these hard Left nut jobs should be pointed out they're supporting violent rapists, murderers and thieves.

      All because they hate, unthinkingly, decent patriotic people.

  110. This year I've had three motorhome holidays, but I've only stayed on one CMC site. The others were independent or Camping and Caravanning sites (I'm not a member of that Club).

    1. They can get very noisy in school holidays. We always liked the sites (sorry can’t remember how we found them) where there were three or five ‘vans max. But even there you can get schoolchildren daytime, adults boozing night-time, especially school hols which we would try to avoid.

      1. CLs (Certified Locations). If I can find one near where I want to go, I opt for adults only sites, especially during school holidays.

  111. Just got home myself, was able to get an earlier train back. Had planned to stop off at Belper for a pint but was too knackered and my right leg is a bit painful.
    Met up with Sue at Wetherspoons in St.P. just after I'd finished my breakfast https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/afb1cccb03a9dc0c65b5e83bc3d8117bbf746fc294cfdd47694c6c509be1bac3.jpg

    and then we caught the Underground to Victoria.
    A bit of the hold up because the police would not allow the rally to start until nearly 1pm and then the short walk to Westminster.
    A MASSIVE crowd crammed in to a fairly small area, then we made our way back to Victoria then St.P.
    Had a pint in the Betjeman Arms and bought Sue a mineral water and nearly died at the price!
    Sat having our drinks with an ex-Matelot and then Sue headed off home and I went for a cheaper pint back a Wetherspoons.
    Then onto the 17:02 to Derby and train home, picked up by the DT at Whatstandwell because Mill Lane Cromford was likely to be heaving with traffic heading into the Park & Ride for the Matlock Bath fireworks.

    An enjoyable day and what a delight to meet Sue!
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fb986f873081108a5b93af2f406169f4e12a604638bbb2c639ed429d570fa676.jpg

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d91695c42ab7ad0acf3e1b4e04db50a7320059862903247f5806f5927708d3b6.jpg

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1d58854e33ee9b086af5eea2f516e3ed54c53fcb3b41e22e2436ccd6a4589a2d.jpg

    And at St.P. were a couple of lads playing some Philip Glass on the station piano!
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/742c4cfa8aff4d76ba09a6756a212d6dbcdf6e802620504a1a656aef5ad2f2ac.jpg

      2. I think it was this post of yours, Sue Mac, which confused both lacoste and me into thinking that BoB went with Sue Mac

          2. D'oh ! It's easy to tell the two Sues apart. Sue Edison is a lovely lady and Sue Macfarlane is a Northerner.

            Simples !

            Do i surrender now or later?

    2. I went into the Betjeman Arms about two years ago (Eurostar next day) and a pint was over six quid. It's £3.50 last night in the club.

    3. Wonderful pic of Sue.

      Nice to see some black faces at the march.

      That 'spoons breakfast looks very nicely cooked.

  112. As Gove has signalled for Harris, I will not return to the Speccie. Gove is some sort of snake.

      2. No bloody chance!
        Woke up at what should have been 07:00 this morning in need of a mug of tea, so sat up next to the DT at the moment as t’Lad is occupying the sitting room!

    2. Good night, BoB. Well done for your efforts with Sue Mac today. In fact, well done to the pair of you.

          2. And BoB simply said that he met "Sue" at a Wetherspoons in St. Pancras so that they could travel to the demonstration together. This could have applied to either one.

        2. Well, Ndovu, I think that it was actually Sue Mac's post ( "Bravo BoB! Thanks for the support!") that confused both lacoste and me into making our mistake. BoB simply said "Sue". See another post of mine elsewhere, just underneath BoB's photos.

    1. What with prospective 'Slavery Reparations' and Covid Jab Liabilities (manufacturers have legal exemption) we are well on the way to the goal of: "You will own nothing" and reduced in size: "you will indeed be Happy"…..

    2. Where do I sign up? In fairness, I dodged a bullet. The AZ jabs made one and a half fingers of the right hand completely numb. Were it not for the – utterly riduculous – banning of singing in Church, I'd have had a problem. So we got by with recorded choirs.

      Thankfully, the numbness has worn off.

      1. Sounds similar to the problem Eric Clapton had.
        I dodged a bullet with my two AZ jabs. No more though. My travel jabs are all past the expiry dates now too, but I didn’t renew them before my trip to Brazil last month. I think I’ve had enough jabs to last the rest of my life.

    3. Serves AstraZeneca right for coming forward as fast as it did with a cost-price vaccine. Next time, it should take as many years as necessary, regardless of how many die in the interim, and make sure there's a big mark-up.

      Since I had the initial two-dose AstraZeneca vaccine, I've had two Pfizer boosters and, just this past week, a Moderna booster. For good measure, I had the seasonal flu vaccine a couple of weeks ago, as I do every year. No doubt I'll be told I dodged a bullet, but I've had no ill effects from any of them and will continue to have them without any qualms whatsoever.

      1. I think there have been ill effects because some batches were dodgy. Possibly incorrectly stored. You and I were lucky. Others not so much.

        1. I view it from the the other end of the telescope. We were not lucky; they were unlucky.

      2. Your choice, David. I won’t be having any more for anything. They are all totally useless. I had no reactions either, but many people have.

    4. In Canada, they have just euthanized a covid vaxx injured man. The reason for the killing was conditions caused by his covid vaxxes.

        1. Well, he signed the form, and that’s the problem. What were his alternatives? Live in pain, fighting for compensation from an unfriendly system?

        1. I read somewhere a long time ago that the 8 x 5 voice part sections were perhaps arranged with 2 x 5 voice part sections on each side of a square recital hall. Thus producing the work sung in quadraphonics – something which would be high on my bucket list….

      3. Thomas Tallis was organst at St. Mary at Hill. Director of Music there is now Robert Mingay-Smith. My former assisant organist.
        Robert came on board while still at school. Fast forward, I've attended his recitals at "The Abbey>

    2. A fine Uni, ahem, although most of my time was not terribly academic, but a great place to live…

  117. From the Daily Telegraph

    Pubs ask: Can someone tell Gen Z how to order a pint?
    Pubs across the UK are putting up signs instructing customers not to queue, with some saying young people are main culprits

    Alex Barton 26 October 2024 2:54pm BST

    But not for Generation Z, who now prefer to queue up and wait in line for their orders like they are at the post office.

    Younger drinkers, many of whom first began to drink socially during the pandemic, appear to have maintained habits picked up during lockdown that were originally designed to ensure social distancing.

    Pictures on social media show lines of drinkers snaking back towards the back of pubs and beer halls, with the length of bars left empty.

    Such is the extent of the bizarre phenomenon, that a campaign has been launched to educate younger drinkers on how to approach the bar.

    The campaign states its purpose is to “end the recent phenomenon of queuing single file in pubs”. It says: “We queue for the bus, or for the checkout, not at bars”.

    One notice posted on the group reads “Please stop queuing in a line. Come to the bar”, while another sign states “If there is a single file queue in front of you, walk straight past it and go to the bar”.

    “This is not a Post Office, there is no need to queue like one,” another reads.

    Supporters of the anti-queue movement send tip-offs to the campaign which names and shames pubs and publishes photos of offending queues.

    Oisin Rogers, the owner of The Devonshire pub which is widely considered London’s busiest after opening last year, said Gen Z were the main culprits.

    Mr Rogers told The Telegraph: “When people became eighteen years old and they were under lockdown restrictions, they wouldn’t have been in a proper drinking environment before and wouldn’t have had that culture.

    “I think it’s a lot of Gen Z who are doing it because of the hangover from Covid with the two-metre rule.”

    He added: “I’ve been running pubs for 35 years and can’t remember that ever happening before. This new thing is completely foreign, unnecessary and bizarre.”

    A sign asking customers not to queue at the London Beer Factory on the Bermondsey Beer Mile
    A sign asking customers not to queue at the London Beer Factory on the Bermondsey Beer Mile
    Asked what he would do if people queued in a straight line at his establishment, Mr Rogers said he would “come out from behind the bar immediately and tell people to come forward”.

    He said that if he witnessed a straight-line pub queue, he would walk straight past it and towards the bar.

    Mr Rogers said: “I’d go straight to the front of the queue, and if the staff asked me to go to the back, I’d leave the pub.

    “If people had a go at me, I’d tell them that I’m in a pub and I’ve been going all my life and I know how to drink and this is the right way.”

    The Soho landlord said bars are designed to be stood around and that they are “convivial places of play and fun”.

    “Good bar staff know who is next to be served and proper bar staff would be horrified by this trend,” he said.

    He said that well-trained staff see people approaching, catch their eye to acknowledge them and then serve the punter when it is their turn. “Any pub that allows people to do it has no idea what they are doing.”

    Tim Martin, the owner of the Wetherspoon group, said that before the pandemic, “people traditionally spread out along the bar using a variety of signals – waving a fiver or a card, or looking thirsty – to attract the bar staff’s attention.”

    Writing in the Wetherspoon News magazine, he added: “The pandemic resulted in formal queuing and, now, anarchy reigns – with customers divided on the best approach”.

    2. I've noticed it when 'strangers', not always that young, come into the local pub. It's quite embarrassing.

    3. Queueing in lines at pubs is unfamiliar to me and I haven't much noticed the phenomenon in those I frequent. That said, it would alleviate any friction caused when customers are served out of turn.

  118. Well it's almost 10 pm, so time for bed. Good Night chums, sleep well and see you all tomorrow.

    2. Good morning, Geoff – thanks again for the use of your blog, hope the sun's shining on you as it should, love from Kate x

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