Saturday 4 May: Voters are tired of the Tories – but have little enthusiasm for the alternative

Posted on by Geoff Graham

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508 thoughts on “Saturday 4 May: Voters are tired of the Tories – but have little enthusiasm for the alternative”

  1. Good morrow, gentlefolk. Today’s (recycled) story
    TWO OLD GUYS COMPARING NOTES…

    One said to the other: “My 77th birthday yesterday. Wife gave me an SUV”.

    Other guy: “Wow, that’s amazing! Imagine, an SUV! What a great gift!”

    First guy: “Yup. Socks, Underwear and Viagra!”

      1. Good morning, Sue Mac. Btw, are you any relation to Yma Sumac? Lol. (This joke would only be appreciated by people of a certain age, i.e. most NoTTLers on here.)

  5. Good morning, chums. Today is going to be rain-free so it’s time for a little more gardening. Enjoy your day. And here is my Wordle result for today:
    Wordle 1,050 4/6

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

  7. Good morning. What’s happened? There’s a big yellow shiny thing and the sky has turned blue. Is it Climate Apocalypse at last?

  8. Good morning, all. Light overcast and dry at the moment. Cool but dry day forecast for N Essex.

    In the USA, 50 vaccinations for salmon? Three methods of applying the vaccines, in their food, in the water they’re held in or by needle. For goodness sake, using a needle to inoculate individual fish!

    Vaccination madness is taking hold in every facet of our lives, it would seem.

    I detest salmon and will not give it house room even if the fish was proven to be wild and not farmed. That’s one bullet I’ve dodged but how many other bullets are there in our food supply? I like to think that in the deliberate contamination of food with vaccines we lag behind the USA, but who knows?

    The link is to a segment of this week’s The Highwire with Dr Sherri Tenpenny as the guest. A good listen from a forceful lady who stood her ground and won her battle with the Ohio State Medical Board to have her medical licence re-instated.

    The Highwire – Dr Tenpenny Interview

        1. Tired but happy, I think would describe it. I’m trying to keep Saturday and Sunday free for “fun” things but sometimes find myself using the time for “catch up” chores.

          1. Today and tomorrow I’m out to lunch so nothing happening at chez Korky apart from watering the greenhouses.

            Tuesday will see a return to normal: I have two posts and a piece of trellis to erect to support a climbing rose, that I didn’t know was a climber, that my dear neighbours bought for me in remembrance of Lizzie. Other jobs are also available!

  9. Labour will have been very busy stuffing ballot boxes (and losing others)

    London mayoral election on a knife edge, warn Labour insiders

    Sadiq Khan ally says fight with Conservative Susan Hall is ‘definitely going to be close’

    Nick Gutteridge, CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
    3 May 2024 • 7:45pm

    Labour insiders have warned that the London mayoral election is on a knife edge after the party was hit by a local elections backlash from Muslim voters over its stance on Gaza.

    One ally of Sadiq Khan, the incumbent mayor, said the fight with Conservative Susan Hall was “definitely going to be close” and suggested there could be just a few points in it.

    The warnings suggested Ms Hall could defy expectations, despite having largely been written off ahead of the election.

    On Friday night, the Conservatives were buoyed by low turnout data suggesting that many of Mr Khan’s previous supporters may have stayed home.

    The number of ballots cast was down in some areas where he performed well last time, while it was up in Tory strongholds such as Bexley and Bromley.

    Sources in the mayor’s camp said polls that showed him with a double-digit lead in the run-up to the contest were wide of the mark.

    Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, summed up the jitters when he warned that some voters had “sent us a message on Gaza”.

    “We’ve always feared this race would be close, so we were warning Londoners – don’t take the risk of waking up with a Conservative mayor,” he told Sky News. “There’s no doubt, looking at some of the results across the country, that Gaza has been an issue, so we’ll have to wait and see. I really hope Sadiq will be re-elected.”

    Mr Streeting said voters were also “angry” with Mr Khan over Ulez, which has been a drag on Labour support in the capital.

    Suggestions that the mayor’s camp were worried about the outcome came after he warned that a low turnout could see him turfed out of City Hall.

    Mr Khan posted two social media videos in the final hours before the polls closed on Thursday night, in which he said he was in a “close two-horse race”. Asking Londoners to “please vote” for him, he said: “Low numbers of people voting means there is a real risk the Tory candidate could win.”

    Even though ballots were cast on Thursday they will not be fully counted until Saturday, with the result expected to be announced from around midday.

    But the outcome of two council by-elections held on Thursday was announced on Friday and made glum reading for Mr Khan.

    In Hillingdon East, west London, where Ulez has been a huge issue, Labour’s share of the vote slumped by 8.7 per cent to 27.2 per cent. The area also has a 15 per cent Muslim population. Meanwhile, in south-west London, the Tories seized West Putney from Labour.

    The results came amid warnings that a backlash among Muslim voters on Gaza was set to cost Labour a win in the West Midlands mayoral race.

    Party sources said disaffected Muslim voters had swung heavily behind an independent pro-Palestinian candidate backed by George Galloway.

    Labour suffered heavy losses in Northern towns, including Oldham, Bolton and Blackburn, as it lost backing from Muslim voters.

    MPs said the results were a wake-up call and urged Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, to take a more robust stance towards Israel to win back trust in Muslim communities.

    One told The Telegraph: “If the party wants to clearly demonstrate it has changed then it needs to take stronger action. There needs to be a quiet review of strategy and an end to policy announcements from on high regardless of voting geography and demographics.”

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

    Avg Joe
    11 HRS AGO
    so I’ll state a fact and people can comment if it’s wrong or right:
    Muslims now are able to turn elections in the UK.

    Gavin Hands
    9 HRS AGO
    Reply to Avg Joe
    Didn’t khan say it was going to be close because voter ID gives conservatives an advantage??? Whatever….

    Doreen Narries
    8 HRS AGO
    Reply to Avg Joe
    And who do postal votes give an advantage to?

    Vee Twelve
    10 HRS AGO
    Which other religion in this country is the police too scared to enforce the law, which other religion has actively killed 100s of civilians, men, women and children in the past 500 years, which other religion wants to actively enforce their own law, which other religion actively enforced their women to cover, which other religion has been involved with the trafficking and pedophilia of young girls who aren’t part of their ideology, which other religion has formed political parties, which other religion has intimidated schools and schoolteachers, which other religion has murdered an MP, which other religion tried to intimidate MPs into subjugating the democratic process, which other religion sends death threats to MPs and journalists who hold a view contrary to them, and Wes Streeting has the nerve to tell us that it’s irrational to be afraid of this ideology? Is the man an idiot? It’s whole purpose is to engender fear, those who are more moderate are also often intimidated by the hardliners.

    1. About time to repeat this short quote from a long article:

      In their book Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty, first published in 2012, Daron Acemoglu
      and James Robinson provide over 100 case studies of why societies fail.

      Their conclusion is that nations end when trust in institutions dissolves.

    2. Did the ballot papers arrive in Jewish wards? As in by 07.00 on Thursday morning?
      Were postal votes forms delivered in Barnet and Stamford Hill?

  10. Another post from me. When Geoff posts “Here is a link to today’s post” at around 7 am right at the end of last night’s post, I keep forgetting to thank him like other more courteous posters do before clicking on the link. So may I take this opportunity, Geoff, to wish you a Good Morning, a Happy Weekend, and thank you once again for all you do for us on this site.

    1. Yes. Thank you Geoff for your work behind the scenes, which is much appreciated.

  11. That’s it! No sleep last night so back to bed and catch up on the zeds. Until later.

    1. After the Brexit vote a number of Conservative MPs made statements along the lines of “I don’t mind losing my seat

      as long as Britain Remains in the EU”

      It now appears that their wish will come true.

      .

      Isn’t that nice !

  14. 386850+ up ticks,

    Morning Each,

    I do assume that this is going to be a great asset regarding the border security (RNLI) and the protection of the daily invasion troops besetting these Isles.

    Concerning the border Watch: High-speed stealth boat used to tackle Channel migrant crisis
    Border Force deploys Neptune, which can reach 70mph on open water and is capable of launching drones.

    In point of fact a tow rope will up the daily landings twenty fold
    bringing the inevitable end much closer.

  15. Morning, all Y’all.
    Brilliant sunshine in a cloudless sky. Amazing that the good weather has extended to the weekend, so one can spend some time at home taking advantage of it, rather than looking at it out of the office window.
    Firstborn is passing through on a shopping tour to Sweden, so we went out for a superb Italian last night – had my first ever £100 bottle of wine… it was excellent, not my usual cheapest possible Chianti, and I can remember the flavour still. But, at that price, I won’t be having more in the near future…

    1. It’s good to treat yourself occasionally. When on holiday in Malta i allow myself a budget of 100euro a day. It’s impossible to spend that so by the end of the stay i tend to have a blow out.

  17. Critical incident in Bristol as patients told to stay away from hospitals. 4 May 2024.

    Patients have been told not to attend hospitals in Bristol city centre because of a “critical incident” amid reports of a ceiling collapse.

    At least 10 fire services vehicles descended on Bristol Royal Infirmary on Friday afternoon as the hospital was evacuated.

    Patients were plunged into darkness by a “power outage” as eyewitnesses said a ceiling had collapsed and sparks had started a fire.

    Don’t go to hospital. The ceiling may fall on your head! This is what it is like in the Third World. Jerry Built public buildings and no one accountable.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/03/bristol-royal-infirmary-emergency-evacuation-power-outage/

  18. Critical incident in Bristol as patients told to stay away from hospitals. 4 May 2024.

    Patients have been told not to attend hospitals in Bristol city centre because of a “critical incident” amid reports of a ceiling collapse.

    At least 10 fire services vehicles descended on Bristol Royal Infirmary on Friday afternoon as the hospital was evacuated.

    Patients were plunged into darkness by a “power outage” as eyewitnesses said a ceiling had collapsed and sparks had started a fire.

    Don’t go to hospital. The ceiling may fall on your head! This is what it is like in the Third World. Jerry Built public buildings and no one accountable.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/03/bristol-royal-infirmary-emergency-evacuation-power-outage/

  19. Some interesting, and “interesting” articles in the Terriblegraph today but for some reason I can’t copy any articles.

    A sad article about a 75 year old Porsche driver who died trying to avoid a pothole, and another driver seriously injured as a result (and we are surprised that something like this has happened?)

    An article in Peterborough about Freddy Sayers, from a UnHerd, has made a bid for the Terriblegraph, saying the Terriblegraph is too “right wing” and must move to the centre ground. [so I guess I must be an ultra far right fascist then, because I think the Terriblegraph’s editorial is pretty dire and left wing, despite the employment of Heath, Moore, Tominey and our Sherelle)

    An article on how, if you can’t afford surging car costs, you should join a “cargo bikes” club instead (so it seems Govt. policy is working)

    The owners of Asda, the billionaire Issa brothers, borrowed a further $9m (£7m) from their petrol forecourts empire last year to finance private jets (cannot see anything going wrong here, can you?)

    1. I think it has improved recently. Tim Stanley is a litmus test for me and he is definitely becoming a more outspoken social conservative. In the end it will always back the Tories, but it’s still the best paper by miles.

  20. I’ve expressed my concerns before about the fighting age young men who are being continuously imported by the Tory government as resembling an army in waiting. Having them barracked in hotels and the odd redundant military base all around the Country is exactly what an infiltrating force would wish for.

    Concerns arising from two examples of this same strategy are currently being aired, one in Ireland and the other in the USA. The latter is already seeing provocative actions taking place on University campuses, and not just by students; in the former the Irish people are protesting against the incursion of the illegal immigrant horde.

    Interviews expressing concerns about the incomers.

    Ireland

    https://twitter.com/JimFergusonUK/status/1786493778657702050

    USA

    War Room – Dr Naomi Wolf

    1. Are Illegal migrants actually part of an intended EU/UN Army that will be used to oppress and possibly subjugate the Irish People and indeed other nations that are seeing huge numbers being placed into their countries?

      Of course they are. They don’t actually have to do anything. Their presence alone is coercive.

    2. Are Illegal migrants actually part of an intended EU/UN Army that will be used to oppress and possibly subjugate the Irish People and indeed other nations that are seeing huge numbers being placed into their countries?

      Of course they are. They don’t actually have to do anything. Their presence alone is coercive.

  21. 386850+ up ticks,

    A bit of cultural difference, but as we are proving to be a very,very,very, tolerant nation we will find a way to bend the knee of understanding and continue to support the governing parties as in the lab/lib.con paedophiles R us umbrella coalition, for a continuation of the same.

    https://x.com/Shunyaa00/status/1736762965368721625

      1. 386850+ up ticks,

        Morning Anne,

        Shunya
        @Shunyaa00
        ·
        Dec 28, 2023
        🇦🇫 Afghanistan: A 15-year-old girl, Ruksar, married to an older man named Muhammad. Muhammad claims it’s ‘love at first sight’. Ruksar is in tears. #StopChildMarriage Stop this Culture.
        Point being made is
        afghanistan yesterday, Blackburn today.

        1. As I X-Tw@ted at the time:-

          Poor bloody lass.
          OK, it’s in their country and, sadly, we can not stop it there, but we sure as fuck can and should stop it happening in the West.

  22. I see the Speccie’s writers are attacking Reform today, presumably at the behest of James Forsyth, Rishi’s best mate.

  24. From today’s Penarth Times:
    “A PENARTH paedophile concealed electronic devices from the police that were found to be fully charged.”
    What does that mean?

    3. He isn’t allowed computers because he uses them to store outlawed images of children.

    4. Fully charged must mean they were not let off with a caution..

  26. Zimbabwean asylum seeker, 34, who was jailed for

    possession of a hammer after racking up more than 60 convictions for

    drugs, robbery and assault is granted leave to remain in the UK.

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13380415/Zimbabwean-asylum-seeker-jailed-hammer-60-convictions-remain-UK.html

    The judge said….’You have been an asylum seeker since your arrival from Zimbabwe and I
    am glad that you have now been allowed to remain in this country

    Fucking outrageous!

    2. Yet so many voters voted Lib/Lab/Con because they want this type of thing to continue.

    4. It is time for there to be some comeback on these judges when such persons go on to reoffend.

    1. As the two Matts Taylor & Goodwin both say.. “You aint seen anything yet.. grab your ankles, the next ten years are going to be many many times worse than the last decade.”

  28. Good Moaning.
    No rain. Yellow thing in the sky.
    Are we doomed or has volcano Hunca Munca lost its oomph?

      1. 10 degrees lower temp, plus rain, forecast for tomorrow. Bugger.

  29. Good day all and 77th squaddies,

    Sunny start at McPhee Towers but some clouds crossing the window now. Wind going South, 9℃ with 14℃ forecast.

    As well as the close-run London Mayoral election (fingers crossed) there’s some bright news from Oxford.

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c9fab10cdba6bbed7d721d856a84985001a7d1da49a03d960c2016899974573e.png

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/05/03/anti-ltn-party-florence-pugh-father-wins-oxford/

    Some BTL comments:

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8d70d23dbb43e26cfacd1521885ae48a5b986e4781a74700c2d286ab903aa9e4.png

    1. Don’t know who the foxtrot Florence Pugh is, an actress one presumes, but that is good news indeed.
      Now, I wonder how the Council Officialdom who are promoting the LTN madness will react to obstruct them?

  31. :-). The volcano has a similar name and I’m too lazy to check. I think it’s somewhere in the Pacific.

  32. Watched half of The History Boys last evening. What an excellent film. The Hector character reminded me how very lucky I was to have been taught English, History and French by a brilliant master called Cliff Lummis. He was all that a teacher should be. Scholarly; unflappable; funny; tolerant. Once, in a French class, I had completed the task given out and was doing The Times crossword. It was on my lap. Cliff paced the room. I couldn’t do anything but hope. As he passed my desk he said, “I am surprised you haven’t got 17 across” and wandered on!

    1. As it happens i watched the History Boys too last night.

      Sounds like a great teacher. My English teacher was an Irishwoman. Still passed my O’levels though.

      1. Richard Griffiths, who played Hector, was apparently a delightful man.

        A girl who came on our courses in the early 1990s went on to have a very successful career in the theatre and she became a very close friend of Griffiths and said how generous-spirited, humane and amusing he was. I enjoyed his playing of the restauranteur policeman in Pie in the Sky. Julius Caesar would have loved him.

        Of course the character Hector was a suppressed pedarest but he was not at all predatory or menacing. Most people who have taught in schools have come across the type and they are often excellent teachers. It can go wrong – and I discovered that one of my colleagues ended up in prison many years after we moved to France.

    2. Good morning Bill,

      I can see that your school master influenced and determined the calibre of the man we are witnessing here .. some of us are really grateful that we remember our talented scholarly teachers who enthused us at school or elsewhere as we were growing up .

      These days , some children are attached to shallow influencers who are not scholarly , and who are usually mad and bad idiots.

      1. It was the lack of interest from my school teachers that made me the man I am, pig ignorant but capable of independent thought!

    5. Any film featuring that appallingly emetic and unfunny cretin, James Corden, is utterly unwatchable for me.

      1. To be fair- he wasn’t bad in The History Boys. He had to be part of the group of “boys” (all in their 20s!!) and was unable to show off.

      2. I upticked because I dislike what he has become but I did enjoy Gavin & Stacey

  33. I really do not know about this wishy washy Lib Dem manifesto .

    The Liberal Democrats have become the first political party to adopt their pre-manifesto for the next election, with their proposal to give everyone the right to see a GP within a week as their centre-piece policy.

    The pre-manifesto document, which was voted on and approved by party members at its Autumn Conference in Bournemouth, sets out an early draft of the party’s manifesto for the next General Election.

    Alongside the right to see a GP within a week or 24 hours if urgent, key policies include protecting the pensions triple lock, investing in social care and banning sewage dumping in rivers and beaches. The pre-manifesto also calls for a return to community policing to tackle the unsolved crimes epidemic, an insulation programme to cut energy bills and a commitment to electoral reform to restore trust in politics.

    The pre-manifesto also sets out the party’s core values and vision for a fair deal for the country ahead of the next election:

    1. A fair, prosperous and innovative economy that promotes opportunity and wellbeing.

    2. Fair access to good public services and a strong social safety net.

    3. A flourishing environment, with fair access to nature for all.

    4. A strong United Kingdom and a fair international order.

    5. A truly fair democracy, where everyone’s rights are respected and individuals and communities are empowered.

    Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

    “This is a landmark moment as we set out our ambitious plans to the country to deliver a fair deal for families and pensioners.

    “Families are feeling let down by this appalling Conservative government which has crashed the economy, neglected the NHS and ruined our environment.

    “The Liberal Democrats have got a clear plan to fix the crisis in the NHS and care, giving people a right to see a GP within a week or 24 hours if in urgent need. This forms part of our vision for a Britain with a thriving economy, strong public services and a fair voting system that restores trust in politics.

    “Every vote for the Liberal Democrats at the next election will be a vote to fix local health services, a fair deal on the cost of living and an end to filthy sewage dumping in our beaches and rivers.”

    https://www.libdems.org.uk/plan in full.

    1. The Devil, as they say, is in the detail and is mainly summed up in one word, HOW?
      How will they provide “A fair, prosperous and innovative economy and how do they propose promoting opportunity and wellbeing etc?

      Also, what is their definition of the word “fair”?

      2. In the socialist lexicon used by the Illiberal Non-democrats, ‘fair’ means: everyone equally poor and miserable as a result of levelling down. As Solzhenitsyn said: “Human beings are born with different capacities. If they are free, they are not equal. And if they are equal, they are not free.” So fairness requires everyone to be equal, which can only be done by the dominant impostion of downgrading everyone.

      1. Echoes of Clegg. Everything was done out of “fairness” with him. Whenever you heard him say fairly you just knew it could better be translated as ‘unjustly’.

        If anyone thinks the two main parties are patrician in outlook then they ain’t seen nothing yet when it comes to Lib-Dems.

        1. Rather than post the same comment twice in close succession, may I refer you to my comment on fairness just below.

          3. Sometimes the comments come so thick and fast is the truth of it, I think. One just misses stuff.

      2. One of the reasons why I consider 1972 to be one of the most appalling years in UK pop chart history!

        Top Of The Slops — BBC-sanctioned (and sanitised) crap.

        1. The New Seekers were always a sugary confection compared with their ‘old’ namesakes. The blind optimism of that particular song is one of the most cloyingly sweet. It epitomises the soppy hopes and sentiments of the Lib Dems.

    4. This is typically Lib/Dem: Complete waffle entirely omitting any ways in which their platitudes could be brought into reality.

      Parsnips will remain unbuttered.

      Their election slogan should be: We offer words not actions!

    5. “a commitment to electoral reform to restore trust in politics”.

      So basically their decades old campaign to get PR Lib-Dem style onto the books. Same old, same old. Plus, how can they restore trust in politics when they lie so much?

      I noticed nothing in there on a commitment to rejoin the EU and it seems strangely quiet on their approach to LTNs, plus all the usual barmy Lib-Dem stuff about the countryside.

    2. But is New Zealand any better? Hasn’t Jessica Equine Ardern messed it up for many years to come?

      1. Trained by Tony Blair she certainly was a very creepy individual.

        To the great relief of most intelligent Kiwis she’s left the country and won’t be welcome back.

        1. A 1950 in which there has been mass immigration and a woke cultural revolution.

          2. There are wide open spaces on the Bedford estates. She’s hardly living in a high rise in Luton or a town house in Milton Keynes.
            Edit: for clarity I meant Henrietta Russell not Jacinda Ardern

          3. There are wide open spaces on the Bedford estates. She’s hardly living in a high rise in Luton or a town house in Milton Keynes.
            Edit: for clarity I meant Henrietta Russell not Jacinda Ardern

    3. Nice looking lass and understand her concerns, but New Zealand???? After it’s been F***ed over by Arden???????

        1. The latter half of the description is pretty accurate, though. 🤣

  36. Good morning and a happy Star Wars day to all!
    May The Fourth Be With You!

    Exiled to the lap top up in the bedroom today as Dr.Daughter & boyfriend have commandeered the sitting room!
    A small tad above 6°C this morning with a cloudy and, after last night’s rain, a bit damp. But it’s not raining at the moment.

    1. Morning Bob – another cloudless windless (except me) start to the day

      2. Star Trek has been ruined too. Star Trek Discovery has become uber woke and very schmaltzy.

        1. I liked Star Wars original trilogy, even the prequels were passable Sci-fi fare. However I would consider myself a Star Trek fan. The Next Generation in particular. It has not just been ruined, it has been desecrated. I managed 3 episodes of STD. Utter woke tripe. A pox on those people.

  39. Good morning from Mercia and Helicon .
    We do love where we live here within East Anglia, it’s an area of outstanding natural beauty with woods near me and lots of fields – its like a little bubble.
    But the Lib Dem Council have plans to build many hundreds of homes, change the roads and destroy the area. We all have protected and nothing can be decided until next year but there are already workmen with big trucks moving around .
    We love it here and thought we’d not move but if the it changes at some point we will .
    We are thinking somewhere away from East Anglia with the exception of Norfolk .
    Otherwise rural Dorset ( not near Poole ) my cousin lives near Poole – I’ve not told her incase she tries to influence the choices. Or Somerset ( Minehead region )
    But not anywhere with housing plans, Muslims or too many in immigrants coming in . It seems defeatist to think like this but we are thinking ahead.

      1. Mind you, seems like North Korea might be fun according to the DM, depending upon your preferences…

        “The sex life of Kim Jong Un: Virgins hand-picked for his ‘pleasure squad’, a train packed with strippers, ‘porn star’ ex-girlfriend and staff meetings with dancers providing sexual services”

    3. We also live in East Anglia, a far southwestern outpost, close to the borders with Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and a little further away, Suffolk, six miles from Cambridge. The area in which we live is a conservation area. The council have passed plans for the building of 250 or so homes just outside the boundary of the conservation area, a quarter of a mile up the road. 104 of these homes are already occupied, some are social housing. I do not think they will stop at 250 houses either. There will be further planning applications. The fields where I used to take the dog for a walk used to be deserted, now they are a pedestrian highway. My little wood, an unmanaged copse of young trees which runs alongside the length of one of the fields is also becoming well trodden, it was a peaceful haven of rustling leaves, overhead and underfoot, and birdsong. For now we will make the best of it, our younger son lives in Bedfordshire, half an hour away and being late seventies and early-mid eighties we do not want to be too far away for both our sakes, although I do feel we live too near to London for comfort, we can feel the capital breathing down our necks!

    5. We are currently looking too, Dorset and Devon primarily, but it’s hard unless you already know all the areas well. I was married to a Devonian for 16 years, but that only gave me experience of one part of Devon (one that I don’t want to live in, as I think anywhere on/near the cost is very expensive/overrun by tourists for several months of the year). Renting is very difficult as there is a great demand, so I rather think e will have to buy twice – one small place first, from which we can search, and then hopefully our final house.

      The trouble is that you simply don’t know what future governments will do – except that it won’t be in the interests of the English population…

        1. Aye, we have. Although Wimborne Minster, and some places around there are very nice.

      2. Yes I totally agree and am likeminded, I’d also recommend where my husband comes from which is Somerset. It’s not too touristy ( people pass through Somerset to go down to Devon and Cornwall ) We did think of Devon but we found most of it near Totnes area too touristy and expensive . We visited near Axminster a few years back and visited Ottely St Mary’s those areas we sadly found rather run down, lots of farms and far more roads then expected and not many pubs if one likes country pubs I was rather sad that I was disappointed but that’s just my own personal view . Somerset is a little gem ( there are places to avoid such as Taunton Bridgewater as far too busy . Where the late inlaws lived near Wells was so wonderful – there are little villiages and places like Cheddar. – the Mendips are a delight. My cousin lives in Poole which I don’t like there is wonderful Burton Bradstock but it’s very expensive and True Belle says its busy. We are also looking at rural Dorset a bit further up and along. There is also North Norfolk – Holt is truly wonderful – totally untouched with beautiful little villages – but its rather close and I don’t know for how long East Anglia will be okay. We ‘re on holiday in the Yorkshire Dales next month somewhere we know well, my husband said what about there but I pointed out its up North and places like Leeds are not too far away . I think perhaps its between Dorset and Somerset for us with further investigation of Dorset. Wiltshire is lovely in places but expensive. You might be right about moving twice but at least with renting you can just put all your things in storage .

        1. We didn’t particularly warm to Axminster or Ottery St Mary either, when we went there previously.

          I used to holiday in Somerset with my ex, before we had children – yes Taunton, Bridgewater and Yeovil are to be avoided. We used to stay in a tiny village called Stogumber and got to know the owners of the inn there quite well, so it was always really good to see them. I have a lot of painted silks and some crockery, produced by a husband and wife team in Vellow (v. small and just down the road from Monksilver in Somerset).

          I think one can discount any coastal places in Devon or Somerset or Dorset, so we are looking inland. We would like to be in a smallish town or a village but not too far from a bigger “hub” for supplies, potentially hospital in the future etc. But it has to be a nice hub, and sadly, there aare quit a few that aren’t that nice.

          Funnily enough I once thought of moving to North Norfolk; I was going out with a chap who lived in Old Buckenham, which was near Attleborough (on the way to Cromer).

          I have to say that I do NOT like the cold, so Yorkshire would be too cold for me (I know what Grizzly would say, but I don’t care ! :o) ).

          1. I know monksilver very well and Dunster which is special to me but it’d becoming more touristy. The late inlaws used to live in a very rural village
            named Priddy it was high up in the Mendips. You had to drive through Cheddar Gorge to get to Wells where the shops were. I do know the village around Cheddar Lake too, we don’t want to be near the coast either so will look inland. I do understand what you mean by being close to a bigger hub – in terms of supplies, near hospitals etc, I’ve just had a word with my husband, he suggested a few places –
            Rural Dorset – the villages around Dorchester ( which Is delightful)
            Wimborne Minister surrounding areas is rather nice .
            Also beautiful Bradford upon Avon is delightful it comes under Wiltshire but a cousin lives there – just 30 mins drive into Bath . North Norfolk is rather lovely – Wells Next To The Sea – Walsingham, little Snoring and especially Holt. You do have a point in regards to the weather in Yorkshire – the Dales are beautiful but I cannot bare the cold, chills the bones – I shall take warm clothes with me next month. I’m sure Grizzly will think me a wimp 🙂

          2. Ya boo sucks Grizzly, dear – we wimps will stick together! :o)

            The only place around Dorchester we have really looked at is Martinstown, which we both liked. Dorchester seems quite nice as a “hub”. We are not sure about temporarily actually living in Dorchester, though, because I read somewhere about the Government doing a big development there. We went round the Wimborne Minster and its area fairly recently – pricy, but we really love WM and also liked Sturminster Marshall. Next time we would like to see Ferndown, Verwood and then travel in an arc West to Sturminster Newton and Sherborne. I admit the Blandford Forum seemed a little tired the couple of times we were there.

            Well, good luck with your hunting – what is your timeframe?

            It would be nice to chat off the official forum (I’m sure NoTTLers are getting fed up with our house searching conversation!) You may know that some years ago, I was privileged enough to be able to do a List of some of our off-forum email addresses, and we currently have 45+ people on it. It has proved useful to many, who for various reasons might want to chat or send each other seeds, books etc. I can explain more if you are interested, but many people in any case now correspond outside NoTTL anyway via the same method that I initially used. I’m not sure if you correspond with anyone outside NoTTL, but if you do, they may well have my email (eg TB does and I am sure would be happy to pass mine on to you if asked).

            If not, and you would like mine, just say here, and I will eventually get in contact (it has to be done like that to stop it being too available for any passing visitor to the forum to see – it’s a precaution).

            By the way, thank you to you and your husband for the helpful hints; it was nice of you to discuss it!

          3. Grizzly will have to accept that regardless of how uttely beautiful the Yorkshire Dales happen to be – it’s absolutely freezing most of the year 🙂
            I’m not sure about the renting market in the Dorset area particularly near Dorchester. I assume you’d rent furnished and place your furniture in storage ? And have a flexible contract. Having relatives near the area your interested In is also helpful other then that, decide upon an area and spend lots of long weekends and times during the week there . Before moving to an area even if its renting, you’ll have to spend time there beforehand. Buying twice is an idea but then you’re buying and selling twice and need to worry about finding two buyers- you might end up having to stay at the second place so you must really have to like the temporary home and the area – you might be there longer then you intend.
            I see you mention Verwood a delightful place on the Dorset / Hampshire border which Guardian Quitter ( who posts here lives ) the edges of the New Forest are wonderful but very expensive . The Dorset / Somerset border not so and equally lovely. Our time frame will be quite awhile, we love where we are and will fight the council ( even if we will know we’ll lose ) meeting with them next Spring – we’re just sorting the house out – so its ready .

            The correspondence thing outside Nottl, if you could explain that to me at some point, next week ( Geoff keeps the article / pages open for 2 days and then he closes them ) . I’m off to the Sussex downs tomorrow for a couple of days and the thread will be closed by then . But yes I’d be interested to here about it .

          4. Do you get “Notifications” of posts replying on NoTTL to your posts?

          5. Yes I do get ” Notifications ” of posts that pop up as red circles in the ‘ notification circle. There is another way, btw, do you know the disqus way of calling people to you, you don’t need to find their posts .
            An American moderator friend told me .

            What you do is call them by their username which appears on the account details ( yours is the same as your posting name which is easier). It works when the name of the person you’ve called turns blue.
            If I’m calling you then I’d write the following without gaps as one word-
            @herts lass : disqus

            I’ve done this one without gaps and you’ll see your name as blue if it works @hertslass:disqus

            Geoff does close pages after two days – yesterday’s one is still open ( Friday) but he’s closed Thursdays .

          7. Thank you, plenty of walking, an early start tomorrow, leaving before 7.am .

    1. If they had to survive on donations and not what they steal from the public they wouldn’t actually exist.

  41. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/04/garrick-club-women-vote-virtue-signalling-celebrities/

    Michael Deacon is on good form today. His targets are ridiculous, wokish members of the Garrick Club (such John Simpson and Stephen Fry) who want to air their virtue signalling and say they will resign if women are not admitted; questioning whether compelling children to go school is child abuse; and Starmer’s plans for Thomas The Tank Engine.

    On the School question here is a BTL comment:

    Richmal Crompton’s William certainly would have been very happy if schools had been abolished!

    As a schoolmaster I can understand his point of view. My mother did not go to school – in fact she went to school for one term, decided she did not like it and returned home to be taught by her governess.

    1. The Garrick should accept their resignations and not submit to blackmail.

      1. Well he’s spent his whole career at the BBC and not noticed any anti’Israel bias.

    3. “We write as Garrick members who produce/co-produce and manage over 35 current productions in the West End and regionally,” the letter signed by the stars reads.

      “The current very public controversy over this issue has put us all in an untenable position. Our relations with female artists, co-producers, authors, cast members, members of our creative teams, backstage and front of house theatre staff have all been jeopardised by the recent publicity to the point that, without serious progress being made to finally address this anomaly, we won’t feel able to continue as Garrick members.

      “Those who oppose this measure because it will ‘change the club’ will find the club changed beyond recognition to the lasting detriment of its artistic standing. Our motto is ‘All the world’s a stage’ but the stage at the Garrick will be empty. We fervently urge you not to let this happen.”

      The text in bold suggests that the “stars” would have been content to accept the status quo, even if they disagreed with it, had their membership of the club not come to light and attracted the adverse publicity.

  44. Dr.D and BF have got up so I’ve reclaimed the Sitting Room and my main computer!

  45. Was there anything more nauseating yesterday than seeing Ed Davey and his placard-waving LimpDem hordes yesterday declaring they were prepared to sweep the country … They “knocked on 2 million doors” …. luckily not on min.

    Thoughts: Davey follows the mould of deeply hypocritical, vastly overoptimistic, recent LibDem leaders

    1. I got their local election leaflet posted through my letterbox the day after the polls closed.

      1. We have a lot of pot holes in and around our village. The Limps pre election leaflet (straight in the bin) told residents of how they had repaired some (minor) damage in a children’s playground. But when residents have made enquiries, the effing pot holes that are causing serious damage to vehicle’s are apparently not yet deep enough to warrant attention. The Idiots are now back in charge…….

        1. Ahh but is the candidate non-binary? After all, what they do with their wretched nethers, is far more important.

    2. They knocked on 2 million doors and only 1 opened it. And he was the Reform guy on his way out after being invited in for a cup of tea.

  46. Was there anything more nauseating yesterday than seeing Ed Davey and his placard-waving LimpDem hordes yesterday declaring they were prepared to sweep the country … They “knocked on 2 million doors” …. luckily not on min.

    Thoughts: Davey follows the mould of deeply hypocritical, vastly overoptimistic, recent LibDem leaders

  47. Why did they join in the first place? Are they so dim they couldn’t read the rules.

  48. It always happens under socialism. Mao and half the Soviet Politburo were at it as well. The be fair though, other socialists like Hitler and Stalin were too busy killing to stoop to mere cavorting.

    1. The people who don’t appreciate that danger believe that a Conservative mayor will always be more dangerous.

  50. Star Wars is for unimaginative Wokeys and simple-minded activists.

  51. Spain has a bit of good sense left I see:-

    SPAIN: Non-Binary Man Who Sued Writer For Calling Him “Male” Loses Case, Is Ordered To Pay Her Legal Costs
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/73e9abaf841d661d539855aab07f7b1749c914e53a5d662f2d1e669b11ced2e6.jpg

    Famed Spanish writer Lucía Etxebarria is breathing a sigh of relief after a Las Palmas court ruled in her favor after she was sued by a “non-binary trans person” for misgendering him. The plaintiff, Marcos Ventura, launched the suit seeking 11,000 Euros for pain and suffering, but has now been ordered to pay Etxebarria’s legal costs.
    https://reduxx.info/spain-non-binary-man-who-sued-writer-for-calling-him-male-loses-legal-case/

    1. Excellent, perhaps some commonsense will spread.
      But which one is the writer?

      1. Neither. Both are the man who doesn’t think he is a man but claims he is a “non-binary Trans person”. Which even on its own terms doesn’t make sense. If you claim to be non-binary, no gender, then how can you transition between genders?

        The claim that Reduxx, Kellie-Jay Keen and J K Rowling and their like push back against is identifying yourself into an objective category, biological sex is a thing and it has very significant consequences.

  52. Morning all 🙂😊
    Sun’s out, wonderful to see. ☀️
    Local village day today, a parade through at midday. Two of our lovely grandchildren will be taking part with their school friends.
    Art exhibition in the church. An artist friend often sells three of her exhibits over the weekend.
    Tomorrow night Local band plays at the finale, our eldest lead guitar. Last evening our number three made a face time call from Dubai, lovey to chat with him, it’s quite warm there after the rain.
    Still too wet to cut the grass.
    Weather forecasters going over the top, their arms must ache terribly.
    Voters have little enthusiasm full stop !
    The general consensus must be, that nearly all of them are useless. Perhaps it might hit home to them they need to change their attitudes. But we won’t hold our breath.
    Must get on.
    Slayders 😉

        1. Yes, with his bro (the very well paid) David, being the original fart. I’d go with that.

    4. What Ed Miliband says about Susan Hall is political rhetoric specifically about her. It’s electoral windbaggery. It says nothing about Miliband’s views of the general public. It’s guff, purely for the purpose of harvesting votes, and part of his job. He doesn’t have to mean it. All that matters is to say things which enhance the Labour candidate’s prospects, in this instance, Khan, but it would be the same whoever was sporting the red rosette.

      Whether it works is arguable. It doesn’t work on me. Were I a London resident, it wouldn’t sway me one way or another. I trust that most people would be like me in that respect. I cannot entirely discount the possibility that some in our capital think Susan Hall, whoever she is, wants everybody to turn the heat on full blast, switch on all the lights and appliances, throw open all the doors and windows and stuff their faces with red meat like a sulky adolescent in the face of all the finger-wagging and chastising of those who think we’re on the verge of a calamity the likes of which humanity has never known, even worse than thermonuclear war. I don’t think they are the kind of people who would vote Conservative even if she offered them a lifetime’s supply of insect protein.

      1. I reckon it’s pure conditioning, brainwashing in fact. It’s designed to implant the idea, especially in the young, that opposing the net zero lunacy is a signed of fascist fanaticism.

  55. ‘Morning All

    Been there……

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/40a06f933e36409fa90e7fd980fba2c5f367b8433c08012dbd830e1342509f51.jpg

    Rest

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/236142f180a8adc7b6261e593fe044ccc4b9aa55bcf5b0021d14bc77bd4a5621.jpg

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/96f0e162123750cfc856509a054b8e7a8462219eebfcc270eef0c0d44b638359.jpg

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4b5e30f16e7fd9acfd35e36480ff86d16ccbb7bd656070005139f90c4d44e1ed.jpg

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c9c1dc1a010e202d91afc6f6f5c10e202f7051c0aed0050a2114b7747a65f313.jpg

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/451b8c9563b051b4e2ae21929209ab092782b8351dac7ebd6910b0a99a41394f.jpg

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a0e1e2c5cf9e143adce9aabf49fbe4687aa597d0cfc7fc91d4062a3cc15fe0bf.jpg

      1. Not all of us have been so lucky in their partners as many NoTTLers seem to have been…….

          1. After my first foray into marriage I thought “never again!” for ten years. Then, I came round…

          2. After my first foray into marriage I thought “never again!” for ten years. Then, I came round…

    2. Did those ‘two Kiwis’ try to enter that nightclub together to console each other because of the paucity of sheep in that town?

    3. “[A] Ghurkha”, “an Sussex”, “a Cyprus”, “a Bulgaraian”? Give me strength!

  57. Not bad!
    Wordle 1,050 4/6

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

    1. Messed up

      Wordle 1,050 5/6

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

    2. Me as well

      Wordle 1,050 4/6

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

  59. SIR – Britain should be a completely secular society – and, in order to ensure this, all schools should be so (Letters, May 3).

    Religion is private, and countries that impose one faith tend to be repressive. Restricting education to a single religious group encourages prejudice.

    Nick Kester
    Wattisfield, Suffolk

    BTL:

    The Christian faith has made what this country is. The values we hold ,the art ,music ,and our great buildings we see around us. All of it, largely inspired by the Christian faith. Christian faith can never be ” private “.It has got to be out there. Unless you want Islam to rush into the vacuum? Do you ?

    There is no doubt that Christianity brought about great structure both in society and in buildings, but that does not mean that the forced indoctrination of young children in schools should be allowed. If anything it could be considered child abuse for which court cases and compensation may be applicable.

    The only Christian / Catholic faith that is kept private is all the child abuse carried out and covered up.

    What about all the child abuse carried out over the years by Christians and Catholics in positions of power – they tried to keep that private didn’t they? I can’t think of any reason for having a religion except to hide behind it

    What you have to explain to people is that ALL religions are nothing more than beliefs without any factual foundation.

    Religion is and has been since time began, the source of every war, genocide, intolerance and general division of peoples. The root of all evil.

    My response (in a letter):

    SIR — Nick Kester’s suggestion that all schools should be secular (Letters, May 4) has merit though it will, without doubt, divide opinion on a Brobdingnagian scale.

    What is really needed is a return to proper discipline in schools; especially training on self-discipline, good grace, decent manners, selflessness, correct dining etiquette and self-sufficiency. The glaring fact that those time-honoured British qualities have been replaced by an exponential increase in selfishness and loutish behaviour among the young requires addressing urgently.

    Grizzly.

  60. SIR – Britain should be a completely secular society – and, in order to ensure this, all schools should be so (Letters, May 3).

    Religion is private, and countries that impose one faith tend to be repressive. Restricting education to a single religious group encourages prejudice.

    Nick Kester
    Wattisfield, Suffolk

    BTL:

    The Christian faith has made what this country is. The values we hold ,the art ,music ,and our great buildings we see around us. All of it, largely inspired by the Christian faith. Christian faith can never be ” private “.It has got to be out there. Unless you want Islam to rush into the vacuum? Do you ?

    There is no doubt that Christianity brought about great structure both in society and in buildings, but that does not mean that the forced indoctrination of young children in schools should be allowed. If anything it could be considered child abuse for which court cases and compensation may be applicable.

    The only Christian / Catholic faith that is kept private is all the child abuse carried out and covered up.

    What about all the child abuse carried out over the years by Christians and Catholics in positions of power – they tried to keep that private didn’t they? I can’t think of any reason for having a religion except to hide behind it

    What you have to explain to people is that ALL religions are nothing more than beliefs without any factual foundation.

    Religion is and has been since time began, the source of every war, genocide, intolerance and general division of peoples. The root of all evil.

    My response (in a letter):

    SIR — Nick Kester’s suggestion that all schools should be secular (Letters, May 4) has merit though it will, without doubt, divide opinion on a Brobdingnagian scale.

    What is really needed is a return to proper discipline in schools; especially training on self-discipline, good grace, decent manners, selflessness, correct dining etiquette and self-sufficiency. The glaring fact that those time-honoured British qualities have been replaced by an exponential increase in selfishness and loutish behaviour among the young requires addressing urgently.

    Grizzly.

    1. I’m surprised no one has commented on this:

      “Religion is and has been since time began, the source of every war, genocide, intolerance and general division of peoples. The root of all evil.”

      Every war? Utter bunk. The greatest mass murders of all time were anything but religious. Wars are simply a reflection of the innate human condition – tribalism and the desire for power and property.

      1. I am also surprised (even though fewer NoTTLers are around to comment on weekends).

        The greatest mass murders, though, were not committed during times of war. Stalin and Mao tse Tung committed genocide on their own people during times of “peace”.

  61. “A Useful Idiot or useful fool is a person who thinks he is fighting for a cause without fully comprehending the consequences of his actions, and who is cynically manipulated by the cause’s leaders or by other political players. The term was often used during the Cold War to describe non-communists regarded as susceptible to communist propaganda and psychological manipulation. A number of authors attribute this phrase to Vladimir Lenin, but this attribution is not supported by any evidence.”

    https://twitter.com/Artemisfornow/status/1786688318505201731

    1. There may be, indeed, many ‘useful idiots’ bespoiling the country. They are, though, massively outnumbered by the legions of useless idiots out there.

      2. Admit it – you’re just green with envy and want to be just like them!

    3. It goes to show that islam is not a religion but a political ideology, but we already knew that on here.

    4. The Greens have uped the ante. Not content with an authoritarian paranoid misanthropy they are now embracing angry anti-Semitic religious sectarianism.

    5. Slammers will use any tool to climb into power (even Green) – it’s just taquiyya, innit? I’m not sure what the Greens call it when they do the same thing, in reverse.

      1. Harehills & Gipton: twinned with an open-air latrine somewhere outside Lahore.

        1. Precisely. One has to know Leeds well to understand what this means. Green!! 🤣 Oh, my aching sides….!! 🤣🤣🤣

  62. Voters are tired of the Tories – but have little enthusiasm for the alternative

    The sectarian vote really rubbed the Lefts noses in diversity

    1. Labour mistake voter anger toward the betrayal after betrayal of the Tory party.. as an endorsement that the voters are gasping for mass migration, woke ideology, DEI and adoption of Sharia Law.

      1. Labour don’t bother to think too deeply about WHY. They have become very er, diverse in their mode of double-think.

    1. The Mayor Calais is both right and pissed off by the fact that Calais and her region of Northern France is being messed up and full of illegal immigrants:

      She blames the British for her town being polluted with undesirable types. Britain has made things far too attractive for illegal immigrants.

      Offer them a field, on a remote Scottish island in which to put up their tents and drop basic food and supplies for them by helicopter. Do that and no more will want to come.

      1. It’s benefits which draw them. Reform the benefit system and the country will empty.

      2. How about being pissed off by the rest of the EU for opening its doors to them in the first place? If they weren’t already there, they couldn’t come to her town.

      3. You softy – far too lenient and forgiving. Reactivate the Kent shore batteries and give ’em hell.

        https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Winnie_14_inch_gun_St_Margaret_March_1941_IWM_H_7918.jpg/440px-Winnie_14_inch_gun_St_Margaret_March_1941_IWM_H_7918.jpg
        “Winnie”, a 14-inch gun at St Margaret’s at Cliffe near Dover, March 1941

        https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Pooh_14_inch_gun_St_Margaret_1941_IWM_H_7922.jpg/440px-Pooh_14_inch_gun_St_Margaret_1941_IWM_H_7922.jpg
        “Pooh” in March 1941

      5. Some of them would be from cannibal stock, so with a few seed potatoes, knives and matches, that’s the food challenge sorted.

    1. I always find it curious how those who think they know the story of Peter Pan refer to some place he flies to as the “Never Never Land”.

      Those who have read J. M. Barrie’s classic know that the magical place is invariably referred to in the book as Neverland.

    3. Ah, a neighbour like THAT’s why Narnia degenerated and the Talking Beasts went underground. I always thought the Telmarines were scapegoats.

      1. The Calormenes in fact (or fiction of course in this case). They were headed by the Tisroc, may he live forever and oppressed women and had slaves.

    1. Which party? Can we come?? :o)

      P.S. I have to avoid spicy stuff because of acid/hiatus hernia… :o(

      1. You have already accepted, silly !
        It won’t be spicy. The pani puris will have chicken in tarragon cream and a prawn something or other. Perhaps a veggie one too. The eclairs will be sliced open and have a mixture of savoury fillings. All gluten free.
        I will be posting an open invite to Nottlers a week or two before the event.

        1. Ah, THAT party. You are a gregarious one, so it could have been another party…

      2. Have you tried Omeprazole? Works well for me but it might give you erectile dysfunction. :@)

        1. I’m on prescription stuff: Lanzoprazole. Works to some extent, but I have to be careful what and when I eat. Never had ed and don’t think I will now!

          1. You get it on prescription? I must threaten my GP with an axe or something. Fuck knows why i am paying for anything anymore.

  68. Champagne day at Broadcasting House (again). Wetting their pants over the Tories hiding in the polls and the rise and rise of Greenies and Lib Dems – hour after hour devoted to gloating on radio and TV.

    Aren’t we lucky to have such a devoted propaganda broadcasting organisation bringing us the unbiased news and political opinions for such a trivial price?

    1. Why listen? Just asking.

      I never do. Haven’t since 2016. No politics, current affairs or news.

      1. Only English language radio station I can get here and I have to have background ‘conversation’ on to hide the continuous buzzing in my left ear. Can’t be bothered putting records on. Helps to ‘know your enemy’ too.

      2. Other than during the General Election of 2019, I’ve largely stayed clear of much of the same. My protracted hospital stay of spring/summer 2019 demonstrated that I no longer needed or wanted it. It served as a kind of detoxification programme.

    1. Pansies posing as soldiers. Perfect examples of divergent cultural and political posturing.

        1. The Jokes Jocks don’t strut about like poofters on a catwalk – at least, not those that I knew.

    2. The Evzones on their way back to barracks, from Syntagma Square! Takes them ages!

        1. That’s the summer uniform – even worse to press! The winter one is heavier!

          3. Of course, but you are not allowed to burn them any more because they disfigure the bogs and contaminate the atmosphere.

  70. Good afternoon Folks,

    Sorry I abandoned you all yesterday but it was not one of my better days.

    Slept until mid-day and now much more civilised 🙂

    1. Glad you recovered, Nags.
      Just occasionally, one needs time out.

      1. Discovered this morning that the GP had left a vital med off my prescription list – I am going to run out tomorrow. McMillan don’t work weekends Cannot speak highly enough of the Dorothy House folk who are there 24/7 and are sorting it out for me

        They truly are wonderful

        1. Excellent!
          I need a review with GP: Saw new one on Friday (previous has moved on, new nice lady as replacement), and she was talking about me having had a heart attack… Nobody mentioned that to me, and although I forget stuff, that’s sufficiently alarming to be etched on my eyeballs! Seems my pacemaker might be faulty, so an appointment in horsepickle to check on that. I’ve been feeling weird, with strange sensations and memory loss, so maybe there is. Meanwhile, driving ban.

          1. I do hope they sort out that pacemaker quickly – if it is operating at full efficacy it will hopefully restore some quality of life.

            I am not (supposed to be driving) – not because of my condition but because my driving licence ran out in January and the brain fog at the time was such that I did not notice. Now I cannot do it on line – have to flll in a load of paperwork and take ti the PO – who will probably lose it.

          2. Hope your pacemaker gets sorted soon, must be miserable for you, take care.

        2. Good I’m pleased you had some help. That happened to me beginning of last month I rang 111 and they sent a request to a local pharmacy which I managed to collect within 2 hours. Brilliant.

      1. 386850+ up ticks,

        Afternoon Pip,

        Skirting boards, and park public toilets.

    2. 386850+ up ticks,

      O2O,

      Far better than having to use the political Odessa escape line when things DO go tits up,

      as in regards to the excessive deaths inquiry stick a very long term D notice on it could very well be the endgame.
      No need then for the political rodents to leave their rat holes then.

    3. In July last year, Paul Knaggs, a Labour left-winger, re-examined the circumstances leading up to the death of Dr Kelly as well as the Hutton Inquiry which examined his death. The justification in 2010 for the 70-year closure of the files surrounding Kelly’s death seems rather thin. 2080 will be 77 years after Kelly’s death. Those members of his family alive at the time will either have long since passed away themselves or will have been very young in 2003.

      In January 2010, Lord Hutton ordered that all files relating to Dr Kelly’s post-mortem – including the autopsy report, unpublished medical and scientific records and photographs of the body – should remain secret for 70 years. The judge suggested that his intention was to avoid further distress to the family. But the move fuelled the conviction of sceptics that something was being hidden.

      The full Paul Knaggs text is rather too long to reproduce here, but is worth reading. It’s a sober account which doesn’t resort to unsubstantiated accusations.

      https://labourheartlands.com/dr-david-kelly-died-18-years-ago-today-after-testifying-in-front-of-a-select-committee-on-wmd-two-days-later-he-was-dead/

      1. The last line reads: In October 2017 Dr Kelly’s family secretly exhumed his body and reportedly cremated it.

          1. They were probably fed up with the constant requests for more investigation. I would imagine the family are fully aware of all that went on at the time.

    4. And probably the sudden death of Robin Cook in 2005 should have been more throughly investigated as well.
      He was some one else who didn’t agree with then government policies.

  73. BBC ‘reports’ predict a win for the Grand Mufti of Olde London Towne. If there are any real Londoners left in the capital-that-was, I fear for them. Expect more of the politics of resentment and entitlement from this dangerous man.

    1. Yes, GBN are reporting that he’s set to be reappointed, sorry, reelected. I expect dozens of overlooked boxes of postal votes were suddenly discovered this morning. Mind, a number of young idiots at work voted masochist. They can’t resist advertising their virtue.

    2. Although he seems to have extended the area of London to anywhere within the M25 I don’t think the people who live there are allowed to vote in his extended version of ‘London’.
      I hope this will be investigated very quickly.

  75. Looks like the “lost” ballot boxes have done their job for the Caliph of Londonistan.

  76. Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen from a very pleasant Spring day here in Verwood.
    Just back from a short bimble around Avon Heath Country Park.

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/39c3633bede7684a790af89dc8e87520ecbc898e72b175e11281a032fe548efd.jpg
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/548a7fd6516f60803581c97c7506052cacddd4f5c8030799875f501a40ae810f.jpg
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b91dc5e7ae560ce06277bd7770e88ce18d00bd30d40d709d10c04ecf73422f7d.jpg
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/089555ef7d80f177fa6857a244cc9cf5054dc42fe2673f769f022b4dfd9a7222.jpg
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/72022f19426436a9cbe2c8baebe673ee5f8df4f2d47ad82242bb2830e180d0c3.jpg
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/511864c75dd01d232f69db2bdee7c9599c5d153c82844fb102d2e96c728c5d69.jpg

      1. It’s the countryside, I thought that had been declared a white privilege location.

        1. I know. I’d assumed that urgent steps would be taken to allow the “global majority” free access to the countryside.

        1. When I worked in a theatre, we’d play this whilst building stage sets, rigging the lights, and so on. The whole Shadows album, obv, not just repeat the one track.
          Takes me back.

          1. O/T and very much up your street, Oberst. If they can build a helicopter pad to withstand the elements on a North Sea production platform, why on earth can’t they do it on top of a NHS building in Brighton?

            Helicopters fail to land at £14m NHS helipad

            Project on top of Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton repeatedly delayed despite planning opening in 2018

            Laura Donnelly, HEALTH EDITOR and Rosie Taylor
            4 May 2024 • 12:02pm

            https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/05/04/TELEMMGLPICT000366221402_17148114063680_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqyyYx0atOosQ9Zpn7DWexogqWomLT-HeVbRKoYch9NRE.jpeg?imwidth=680
            The helicopter landing pad at the Royal Sussex County Hospital was due to open in 2019
            *
            *
            https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/04/helicopters-nhs-helipad-royal-sussex-county-hospital/

            [BTL: Plenty of sarcastic and unhelpful suggestions to NHS management]

          2. Can’t see why they can’t use it – could do with a repaint. Maybe it’s not been maintained or inspected? Looks derelict. Lousy design, too: How do you easily get a stretcher off and down the stairs?

    2. Verwood isn’t that far from me and my sister is nearby. Want to come to a drink and canape party?

      1. As Starmer himself said when attacking Boris. But when it comes to any shortcomings on Starmer’s watch (Savile for example) it is nothing to do with him.
        Natch.

  79. “The dandelion is the only flower that represents the three celestial bodies of the sun, moon, and stars: The yellow flower resembles the sun, the puff ball resembles the moons, and the dispersing seeds resemble the stars.
    The dandelion flower opens to greet the morning and closes in the evening to go to sleep.
    Every part of the dandelion is useful: root, leaves, flower. It can be used for food, medicine, and dye for colouring.
    Up until the 1800s, people would pull grass out of their lawns to make room for dandelions and other useful “weeds” like chickweed, malva and chamomile.
    The name dandelion is taken from the French word “dent de lion” meaning lion’s tooth, referring to the coarsely-toothed leaves. 🦁
    Dandelions have one of the longest flowering seasons of any plant.
    Dandelion seeds are often transported away by a gust of wind and they travel like tiny parachutes. Seeds are often carried as many as five miles from their origin!
    Birds, insects, and butterflies consume nectar or seeds of dandelion.
    Honey from bees pollinating dandelions is quite delicious. 🐦 🐛 🐜 🦋 🐝.
    Dandelion flowers do not need to be pollinated to form seeds.
    Root of dandelion can be used as a substitute for coffee.
    Dandelion is used in folk medicine to treat infections and liver disorders. Tea made of dandelion act as a diuretic.
    If you know dandelions, they’ll grow shorter stalks to spite you.
    Dandelions are, quite possibly, the most successful plants that exist. They are masters of survival worldwide.”
    ~ Author Unknown

    1. ♬“Dandelion don’t tell no lie.”♬

      [That’s a double negative, Mick, so I think the boy is lying!]

  80. London mayor election results live: Sadiq Khan re-elected as mayor of London
    He wins historic third term while the West Midlands result appears too close to call

  83. A priceless Par Four?

    Wordle 1,050 4/6
    ⬜🟩⬜🟨⬜
    ⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
    ⬜🟩🟨⬜🟩
    🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

    1. Almost equal.

      Wordle 1,050 3/6

      🟨⬜⬜🟨🟨
      🟨⬜🟨🟨🟨
      🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

  84. BREAKING NEWS Sadiq Khan WINS third term as London mayor after trouncing Tory rival Susan Hall in a landslide. D Fail

    Khan had more than three million votes. Both of Hall’s votes were declared invalid because they were ticked in English and there was no trace of halal food on the voting form.

    He won fair and square – according to Starmer and the BBC executives.

  85. So the Caliph “wins. Turnout = 40% (quite high for London). So the 60% of voters who gripe about Ulez, crime, policing etc have only themselves to blame for more – which, of course means worse.

    2. My experience of London is that their chief concern is cost of living. I had the misfortune to live there for a year in the 1970s when that was what everyone was on about. Rocketing house prices was what they were obsessed with, along with beer going up, inflation, fuel prices, etc. I imagine it’s just the same still. Give ’em a peaceful life with enough money to survive and they’ll take anything I expect, just like they always used to.

      1. I lived in London from 1958 to 1984. In the People’s Republic of Lambeth. Expensive. LT was very poor. Schools awful. Crime virulent – we were half a mile from the Brixton Riots…. The main reason I sold up and moved here. Now the sixth longest inhabitant!

        1. You’re unusual Bill.

          Usually the conversation à la pub went through all the grumbles before turning to the first bright spark claiming he was going to get out and retire to a nice pile in the sticks. That lasted for about ten minutes before someone mentioned the cow shit, lack of public transport, no theatres, The Northerners and Brummies and worst of all, the ignorance of the masses out there with their palpable lack of social skills and general savviness. After all, had they been sensible, surely they’d have moved to London themselves!

          Always ended with, “Nah, think I’ll stay. Whose round?”

          3. I left because the children were almost grown up. I wanted space and some land. There were shocks. There was a pub immediately opposite my house. I went over with my then wife. The welcoming mine host said, “Women drink in the carpark….” We never returned! It is now a posh house.

          4. Oo-er! A bit forward.

            Surely the room falling silent upon her entry accompanied by stony, suspicious stares would have sufficed? It’s the more traditional motif.

          6. Phew, for a minute there I thought you’d strayed into a scene from the Midwych Cuckoos or something.

  86. Voter turnout in London was 40.5%. Khant got 44% of 40.5%. So even if it had been a genuine free and fare election (which is doubtful), only 17.82% of the people eligible to vote in London would have cast their ballot for Khan. That is not Demos Kratos.

    1. Unfortunately, if one does not vote, one is assumed not to care who wins. “Qui tacet consentire videtur” – silence gives consent.

      1. Indeed, which is why I always take the time to write none of the above, or NOTA on my ballot.

    2. Well, Our Susan, what do you want? Compulsory voting with prison for refusing?

      1. Compulsory voting with removal of the right to vote if you refuse maybe? How does it work in Oz? Don’t they have compulsory voting?

        1. Yes- the obligation is to attend the polling station and accept a ballot paper. What you do with it after that is up to you (as far as I know).

    3. That’s about what we’ll all be saying after the next GE, I reckon. But then neither Khan nor the next Labour government has the slightest intention of keeping their promises and so it didn’t really matter in the end.

    1. He seems to be suffering from a severe case of genital elephantiasis

        1. Brian Aldiss wrote a book which was considered very scurrilous in its day: “A Hand-Reared Boy.”

    2. He seems to be suffering from a severe case of genital elephantiasis

  88. Cowardy Custard DT comment censors closed the comment section under this article after only 33 people had posted their comments.

    ‘Liberal’ Islamic leader says MPs should be ‘called out’ for having Jewish family
    Historian and imam Taj Hargey ignites anti-Semitism row over analogy of Zionists to Nazis
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/04/historian-imam-dr-taj-hargey-zionism-nazis-anti-semitism/

    I was about to put up this BTL comment but the Comments section closed on me.

    Where does this leave Keir Starmer and his Jewish wife who seems to be a rather decent woman – far too decent for her husband .

    Looking again I think the whole article has been taken down because I can now only find it in my History so yer’tis:

    A self-styled “tolerant” Islamic leader has come under fire for claiming that politicians should be “called out” for having Jewish family members.

    Taj Hargey, a historian and imam who leads the Oxford Institute for British Islam (OIBI), said it is “important that prominent British politicians” who “blindly support Israel” should be “identified” if they have family links to the Jewish state.

    “How can they be non-partisan and unbiased if they do not declare their personal connections to Zionism and Israel?” he told The Sunday Telegraph.

    “Is this not the case when the public are frequently reminded directly or indirectly about the faith of Muslim leaders?”

    The OIBI is a registered charity that aims to “advance the scholarly study of Islam in the UK”.

    Last year, Dr Hargey claimed that his organisation is seen as a “fringe group” because of its focus on “inclusivity and tolerance”. At a speech in December, he said a group of Muslim bodies, scholars and activists should be set up to further co-existence and harmony.

    Dr Hargey initially made the remarks while taking part in The Yorkshire Post’s Battleground Yorkshire election series.

    During the interview Dr Hargey said that there had been an “awakening” among British Muslims who now “understand this distinction between Germans and Nazis”, adding: “Not all Germans were Nazis. And similarly, not all Jews are Zionists.”

    Rhetoric is hugely divisive
    A spokesperson for the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAAS) said that they would be contacting the charity watchdog about his comments.

    “These statements would be laughable from a think tank supposedly focused on ‘inclusivity and tolerance’ were they not so atrocious,” they said.

    “The analogy of Zionists to Nazis is particularly vile, given that our polling shows that eight in 10 British Jews consider themselves to be Zionists. This rhetoric is hugely divisive, and has no place in the charitable sector.”

    Dr Hargey later said that his remarks were made in a personal capacity rather than on behalf of the OIBI.

    Dr Hargey cited Humza Yousaf, who stood down as the Scottish first minister earlier this week, the Scottish Labour Party leader Anas Sarwar and London mayor Sadiq Khan as examples of prominent Muslim politicians.

    He dismissed the CAAS’ concerns as “risible comments” made by “Zionists and their camp followers and do not have any substantive merit” adding: “The remarks made were factual and based on historical reality, but Israeli apologists and their British surrogates tend to label any justified critique of the Zionist dream and reality as simply anti-Semitic when they are nothing of the sort.”

    A Charity Commission spokesperson said: “We are currently assessing the information available to us to determine if there is a role for the Commission, and any next steps.”

    1. A neat conflation of Nazism and Zionism, of course. All Jews are in fact Zionists, but then it probably doesn’t occur to the bigots that there is a difference between political Zionists and Zionism. And if they do, they certainly don’t want the average Joe in the street to realise it.

  89. That’s me done for today. Good loaf baked this morning. Useful garden work. Though it was sunny it was never warm enough to sit and do nothing. A chilly edge to the breeze. Then, as I came in for the last time – I stepped in the cat sick. How thoughtful of whichever one it was to avoid the 1½ acres of garden and the thousands of acres of surrounding farmland and choose the very spot just inside the french window AND on the carpet….where one treads without looking.

    A glass of wine will help me recover.

    A demain.

    2. Probably threw up as Khan was announced as the caliph of London, I had a similar feeling.

    1. Too many for comfort took umbrage with the good doctor’s point of view, I’m guessing AA?

      1. From what I could make out people were calling out the anti-Semitism with a growing acknowledgement of the imported 5th Column within the West.

        1. There’s a surprise. Ostracism of the Jews is the tried and trusted tactic. He probably hasn’t noticed that blowing the racists’ dog whistle doesn’t get you as much support as you’d like in Britain.

          1. Example: “Another vile antisemitic waste of space
            If he lives in the UK then kick him out”.

    2. Beat you to it by 10 minutes!

      I retrieved it from my History and I have cut and posted the article which seems now also to have been taken down.

      If more and more people are becoming Islamophobic then surely the question must be asked why this is the case and also whether their phobia is not a phobia at all but a real, evidence based genuine fear!

      2. Just read it, and the comments. DT is offering me a free trial and a year for £25.

      3. No such thing as Islamophobia, Rastus, as I’m sure you know. Just because some people have learned about portmanteau words does not mean that once you make one up then it is a real thing.

        Really, our politicians need to grow up.

      1. The Dutch have a saying “To have a Jan Steen house” A house which is disorderly or unkempt.

  92. Blimey. I know there’s two-tier policing, judiciary, name-calling, Question Time audiences & crowd gathering permissions.. but a free ride on a full-on, explicit & detailed death threat against a white comedian.. is pushing the limits?

    “British” “comedian” Dane Baptiste, a regular on TV and creator of two BBC shows, has been “criticized” for posting a death threat about a female comic.

    1. “I want you to sit down with your husband and kids and imagine what their lives will be without you, b/c north london is a quick trip to make and a think tank will have to be an actual tank to keep you safe from me. Ask about and comedians will tell you I will be at your literal doorstep. Your agent won’t keep you safe.” He added: “Your act is dumbbut don’t be a dumb woman.”

      1. Black man threatens Jewish woman? The reports say the threat was antisemitic.

      2. So many different crimes in one message. Pity the Muslipolitan Police are not interested.

  93. Just watched “All That Mighty Heat” (1963) on Talking Pictures TV, about the London Underground and especially the construction of the Victoria Line. What always strikes me about these films is how beautifully turned out the people are. They had self respect and didn’t dream of going out in public looking as if they’d just crawled out of a dustbin, as people do now.

  94. Do elephants really need renaming?

    I grew up on classic BBC wildlife programmes. Today’s infantilised offerings are no match

    ZEWDITU GEBREYOHANES
    3 May 2024 • 7:26pm

    Gillian Burke thinks calling elephants by their English name is “jarring” CREDIT: Anadolu

    How should wild animals be referred to in documentaries? Springwatch presenter Gillian Burke recently said that she finds the English names for elephants, hyenas and other wild animals “jarring”, preferring instead to use their Swahili names in her own writing.

    The question that springs immediately to mind is a matter of common sense: how else, other than in English, would we expect such animals be referred to in a British documentary, broadcast in Britain to an English-speaking audience?

    And if they were not named in English, why should Swahili be the language of choice? As a fellow multilingual, I can think of at least two other names (in Amharic and Tigrinya) for each of the many wild animals which can be found in Ethiopia and Eritrea as well as across the African continent.

    But the main focus of Ms Burke’s article for BBC Wildlife magazine is on something else. It is on something that riles me, and probably a good number of other keen documentary-watchers: the ascription of human names to animals in documentaries, which Ms Burke posits is “a useful tool for storytelling” as “it can help audiences connect with our ‘animal characters’”.

    “Jarring” is a very apt word to describe the way some presenters use cutesy names for wild creatures.

    Affectionate titles such as “Benjie the koala” or “Suzie the snow leopard” are an unnecessary and cringeworthy extension of anthropomorphism which assumes that the viewer is possessed of such a meagre level of intelligence that they are only capable of understanding things when they are brought down to the lowest possible denominator.

    This trend has infected the documentary world in recent years, and is part of the general drift towards dumbed-down content. One can only imagine that it is designed to attract new viewers – people who are not typical documentary watchers.

    Whether the strategy has succeeded, I am unsure. What I certainly do know is that, sadly, it rather ruins things for the rest of us.

    Incidentally, I simply do not buy the common argument that this is what children like. My siblings and I grew up watching the many documentary series that were produced by David Attenborough throughout the 1970s to the 1990s (an interest passed on to us by our great-grandmother, a huge Attenborough fan): Life on Earth, The Living Planet, The Trials of Life, The Private Life of Plants…

    The appeal of those earlier series, which we watched with great fascination over and over during the course of my childhood, was precisely that they did not infantilise the viewer. Instead, they assumed we were able and willing to learn, and provided us with real education about genuinely interesting topics.

    At some point in the late Noughties, however, we noticed that the documentaries had started to become much more narrative-led, with fewer but longer stories, not segments, following a specific animal or family of animals, rather than the more holistic, intellectually rigorous content to which we were accustomed.

    This is, I think, a mistake. Animals in factual documentaries are not “characters” in a film and should not be presented as such. So I am firmly with Ms Burke’s daughter Flora on this question. She was quite right to ask: “Why do you have to give them names?” The answer is that you do not, and indeed you should not.

    A general return to the facts-led rather than emotive documentary-producing style of the late 20th century would certainly bring today’s television up a notch.

    Zewditu Gebreyohanes is a senior researcher at the Legatum Institute and a trustee of the Victoria and Albert Museum. She posts @zewditweets

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

    James Palmer
    3 HRS AGO
    ‘Elephant’ is a word that came from ancient Phonecian… now Libya where elephants were native at the time. As the Phonecians interacted with Europe and eventually became subjects of Rome, the word ‘elephant’ became universal in Europe, North Africa and the Levant.
    It is not an ‘English’ word, nor are elephants only found in Kenya!

    Paul Walsh
    22 HRS AGO
    I’m sick to the back teeth of people finding things not to like about the way things are in this country.
    Instead of whining, they should just p off to where things are more to their taste.

    1. The best policy is to ignore Springwatch and Countryfile. I know I do. It has nothing to say, other than that which is intended to influence public opinion.

      1. As I have often said (boringly) I watch no news/politics/current affairs nor any “comedy”/nature/farming programmes nor any “dramas” – let alone series….

        We find one prog a day somewhere in telly land – to record and watch after supper.

        Dull maybe – but good for blood pressure.

        2. We used to watch a lot of wildlife documentaries, and even some drama – but the only things my OH watches now is sport – snooker at the moment. I hardly watch anything.

          2. What is good value is the live streaming on Youtube of County Cricket matches. If you like cricket that is.

          2. Well, Bill, what’s improper for the goose is improper for the gander. Lol.

        1. I think the last I ever heard anything he said was to proclaim that seagulls needed to be called gulls by everyone now, since so many stray from the seaside. Irrelevant twerp. Needless to say, seagulls still fly over my house when they’re not monstering the farmer’s tractor while he ploughs. And they always will.

          3. Ooh, one of our long-standing regulars will ‘ave yer fer ‘seagulls’.

    2. The best policy is to ignore Springwatch and Countryfile. I know I do. It has nothing to say, other than that which is intended to influence public opinion.

    3. It all started to go pear-shaped when Nellie the elephant packed her trunk and ran away from the circus. Lol.

    4. I watched the BBC and Anglia TV’s natural history films in the 60s and 70s. Lovely stuff where you actually learned about nature.

      1. Yes, the Anglia strand was “Survival” and the long running BBC strand was “Natural World”, many of the latter being films by independent producers.

        1. The Anglia wildlife unit was based at their studio in Norwich. The BBC’s unit (as you know) is in Bristol.

  95. If a London mayor election can be fought without one mention of Mayor Khans leadership of the C40 cities movement then well nobody was really serious about beating him, The Conservatives put up another third rate candidate again.

    2. The candidate didn’t have a chance. Londonistan is overrun with foreigners all dependent on welfare. They’re going to vote for their man.

      1. …and each of their 4 wives gets a postal vote (filled out by their husband).

    3. I liked the SDP candidate Amy Gallagher. Better by far than Hall. She would have deconstructed everything to such an extent that the furriners would proabably have started to leave.

  96. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13378595/Terrified-neighbours-Richard-Osborn-Brooks-reveal-sleep-weapons-six-years-stabbed-traveller-burglar-death-say-vanished-without-trace-death-threats.html

    The headline is appalling as it implies the area is frightened of the bloke who defended himself. It really means they’re frightened of the gypos attacking them.

    Frankly, the pikey lot should be exterminated. They bring nothing but misery everywhere they go. Plod should confiscate their vehicles, destroy them and send the wasters the bill but no. For some insane reason they get away with causing mayhem everywhere.

    1. It’s because they have declared themselves an oppressed effnic group. The criminal fraternity is a protected characteristic, in other words. This nonsense surely must stop sometime?

    2. I’ve heard stories about gyrpos who book a few family tables in a restaurant and after they have all finished eating some of them ‘start a fight’ which is of course fake and it spreads out side and they all gradually ‘do a runner’. The lot of them.
      Old bill keeps out of it all. Too busy filling in forms.

      2. Load of bollocks. I’ve travelled all over Ireland and I’ve not seen a single rice field anywhere.😡

        To be sure!

  99. It’s been a very long day. Probably walked 6 or 7 miles at least. Then an afternoon birthday garden party (very well attended). Daughter, beau and 2 dogs arrived hoping for a BBQ. Her wish was granted, amazing what you can conjure up, even after a bottle or so of wine. Relaxing now and surprised I even got Wordle in 5 goes.

    Wordle 1,050 5/6

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

    2. Sneaked a 4 today…. lucky….

      Wordle 1,050 4/6

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

    3. #metoo.

      Wordle 1,050 5/6

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

  100. 386850+ up ticks,

    Seeing the current state, and believing the future of London once considered our capital city to be on a near vertical destructive slope tis past time a new party was formed, membership being of patriotic indigenous only.

    The core of the party being of a militia mindset.

    A militia (/mɪˈlɪʃə/) is generally an army or some other fighting organization of non-professional and/or part-time soldiers; citizens of a country, or subjects of a state, who may perform military service during a time of need, as opposed to a professional force of regular, full-time military personnel;

    1. I’m way past military age but there must be some contribution I could make.

      1. Join your local Fyrd – better still start one!

        Evening Fiscal & all..

    2. I’m way past military age but there must be some contribution I could make.

    3. But the big question is, how can so many of Kahnts supporters afford to live in London these days, they are nearly all living on benefits. Probably trawled by his driving rip-offs.

      2. In answer to your question: It is not bad enough yet.

        The same decay as we witness in London is well advanced in New York City. Trump is turning that around with the Unions and construction workers now backing his re-election as President.

      3. And we, the taxpayers, are paying those benefits. That’s how it’s done.

  102. Good night, chums, after a relaxing day. I hope we all sleep well and awaken refreshed. See you, hopefully, tomorrow.

    1. The AntiChrist? There are so many contenders. I veer towards him, as i loathe him so very much, with a visceral horror.

    2. Is this the cottaging thing? i don’t know whether or not to believe it. His repellent wife referred to him as a “five times a night” man. Ugh.

      1. 86850+ up ticks,

        Evening O,

        Bow street Court, one
        anthony charlie lynton.

  105. No Internet until midnight. I’ll prepare tomorrow’s story and then I’m stumbling off to bed with this thought

    Another day is done so, I wish you a goodnight and may God bless you all, Gentlefolk. Bis morgen früh.:

    1. Many thanks Rastus, it is actually Monday 6th, for the big day, please update your database. But not to worry, I gather they are sorting a cake for me this morning at church so will be celebrating anyway. Doesn’t time fly.

      1. Like the King, you get your “real” birthday, and an Official one.
        What’s not to like?
        Happy Birthday, and Happy Birthday!

  107. Laurence Fox
    @LozzaFox
    The Mayor of London is a Muslim.

    The mayor of Birmingham is a Muslim.

    The Mayor of Leeds is Muslim.

    Mayor of Blackburn – Muslim.

    The mayor of Sheffield is a Muslim.

    The mayor of Oxford is a Muslim.

    The mayor of Luton is a Muslim.

    The mayor of Oldham is Muslim.

    The mayor of Rochdale is Muslim

    All this was achieved by only 4 million Muslims out of 66 million people in England:

    Today there are over 3,000 mosques in England.

    There are over 130 sharia courts.

    There are more than 50 Sharia Councils.

    78 percent of Muslim women do not work, receive state support + free accommodation.

    63 percent of Muslims do not work, receive state support + free housing.

    State-supported Muslim families with an average of 6 to 8 children receive free accommodation.

    Now every school in the UK is required to teach lessons about Islam.

    Has anyone ever been given an opportunity to vote for this?
    6:26 PM · May 4, 2024
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    6M
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    1. 386915+ up ticks,

      Morning TB,

      As I pointed out long ago, join the dots and a giant mosque appears.

    2. Laurence Fox is wrong and lazily repeating hopelessly out-of-date and incorrect twaddle.

      Of the directly elected mayors, Sadiq Khan in London, Lutfur Rahman in Tower Hamlets and Rokhsana Fiaz in Newham are Muslim.

      https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directly_elected_mayors_in_England

      As for the ceremonial/civic mayors, chosen by fellow councillors, I don’t know where all the Muslim ones are, but as for those repeated by Fox – and repeated endlessly on social media without checking:

      The Lord Mayor of Birmingham is Chaman Lal, a Sikh.

      https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/lord-mayor-of-birmingham

      The Lord Mayor of Leeds is Al[ison] Garthwaite.

      https://www.leeds.gov.uk/councillors-and-democracy/lord-mayor

      The Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen is Parwaiz Akhtar, Muslim

      https://www.blackburn.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/mayor/mayor

      The Lord Mayor of Sheffield is Colin Ross.

      https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/your-city-council/lord-mayor

      The Lord Mayor of Oxford is Lubna Arshad, Muslim.

      https://www.oxford.gov.uk/news/article/177/oxford-welcomes-new-lord-mayor-councillor-lubna-arshad

      The Mayor of Luton is Mohammed Yaqub Hanif, Muslim.

      https://m.luton.gov.uk/Page/Show/news/Pages/Lutons-new-Mayor-and-Deputy-appointed.aspx

      The Mayor of Oldham is Zahid Chauhan, Muslim.

      https://www.oldham.gov.uk/info/200567/the_mayor/869/about_the_mayor

      The Mayor of Rochdale is Mike Holly.

      https://www.rochdale.gov.uk/mayors/profile-mayor

      These civic/ceremonial postings are typically for just one year. It’s likely that those not currently occupied by a Muslim once were, but Fox should know better than to simply repeat old social media posts of what has such a short shelf life.

      As for his other assertions, I turn to FullFact because it’s late.

      https://fullfact.org/online/muslims-in-uk-facebook-list/

      1. Do you believe that fear of Muslims is a phobia or a genuine, evidence-fuelled fear?

        People are prepared to say that Islamophobia exists but are not prepared to explain why people are distrustful and fearful of Muslims.

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