Tuesday 17 August: America’s decision to abandon Afghanistan casts doubt on its fitness to lead the free world

Posted on by Geoff Graham

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

Today’s letters (visible only to DT subscribers) are here:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2021/08/16/letters-americas-decision-abandon-afghanistan-casts-doubt-fitness/

875 thoughts on “Tuesday 17 August: America’s decision to abandon Afghanistan casts doubt on its fitness to lead the free world”

    1. Good morning ogga1 and all NoTTLers. Totally off topic, but I am posting this reply to your post, ogga1, because I have forgotten what someone on this site wrote a week or so ago about how to remove a constantly re-appearing box on my computer saying “sign in to this podcast”. It has a red logo on the top left corner of the box, but when I click on “Cancel” the box keeps re-appearing in ever more copies and it is driving me nuts. If this is read by the person who posted the solution to this problem – or who can remember what I need to do – would you kindly please re-post so that I can stop this infuriating “gizmo”. Thanks in advance!

      PS – If it helps, the constantly re-appearing box is labelled “Sign in to Podcasts” and below that “Podcasts Bookkeeper Sync.” then below that there are two boxes side by side labelled “Cancel” and “OK”. The red sign on the top left is a red hexagon with a thin white surround and inside the red hexagon is a white exclamation mark, i.e. “!”.

          2. Molto bene, except for the “Podcast bug” which I wrote about and tagged on to today’s first post (from ogga1). Can you help me at all?

          3. Sorry, I can’t. I spent over 1/2 hour last night sorting out my laptop problems.

            Have you tried rebooting the ‘puter?

        1. Jonathan, this is most helpful. In point of fact on Monday I went into the local Apple Store in order to buy increased Cloud storage (I was approaching my free limit of 5 Gb). I knew that by paying 79p per month (less than £10 per annum) I would get ten times as much Cloud storage (i.e. 50 Gb) but I had no idea how to pay Apple for this. It took around 40 minutes of help from a most helpful store assistant, and it involved me creating a new Apple ID because I had forgotten the original old one. She even helped me to discover how to write the new Apple ID in the Notes section of my mobile phone for future reference should I once again forget it. Although the frustrating “podcast sign-in thingy” continued to re-appear for a while, last night I received an email from Apple confirming that they had now received my payment. And today the frustrating thingamajig has – so far – not reappeared. So – I hope, and fingers crossed – that the new Apple ID and the re-boot of my iMac has done the trick. Many, many, many thanks to all NoTTLers on here who have tried to help me. I shall report back on whether this solution has worked on a permanent basis in a week’s time – or before should the thingamajig return sooner.

          1. I’m pleased that you found that helpful and that, hopefully, your problem is solved.

            One more bit of advice. Don’t buy cloud storage, you are at someone else’s mercy. I buy external hard drives by Seagate because I have found them to be extremely reliable. One, that has a very large storage capacity I put things on but don’t use, it has 6 TB of storage, which is huge.. Others I use on a regular basis that have a smaller capacity for storage. The point of the large one is that if one of the ones I use on a regular basis fails. I have the information backed up on the large hard drive and then I can simply download the relevant information on to another drive to use on a regular basis. Initially a hard drive, depending on size, might seem expensive. But when you calculate how much you are forking out for cloud storage, it makes sense, especially since you are in total control of your information.

          2. That’s good to know, Johnathan, but I shall stick to the £10 per annum now paid and take my time to investigate what you say. Too much change at one time tends to confuse the heck out of me.

      4. Hullo Elsie: Try: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250847562

        Suggestions are: change your Apple ID password – bit of a nuclear option.

        If you’ve this software installed, uninstall it. You can do that by pressing and holding the app icon then pressing the cross in the top right (if on the iPad) Not ideal as another nuclear.

        Another option might be: to disable “sync subscriptions across devices” (from that listing). Not sure if it’s the right approach.

        Another one: https://www.reddit.com/r/applehelp/comments/k3dozd/this_keeps_on_popping_up_on_my_macbook_pro/

        The ‘what worked’ is: Signing out of my account and signing back in + restarting my mac worked best, thanks for the help all!

        It could be it’s simple malware and trying hard but being rubbish. If you can remove it, remove it.

  2. Dear Wife:

    You must realise that you are 54 years old, and I have certain needs, which you are no longer able to satisfy. I am otherwise happy with you as a wife, and I sincerely hope you will not be hurt or offended to learn that by the time you receive this letter, I will be at the Grand Hotel with my 18-year old teaching assistant.

    I’ll be home before midnight.

    With Love, your Husband

    When he arrived at the hotel, there was a faxed letter waiting for him that read as follows:

    Dear Husband:

    You too are 54 years old and by the time you receive this letter, I will be at the Breakwater Hotel with the 18-year old pool boy.

    Since you are a mathematician, you will appreciate that 18 goes into 54 more times than 54 goes into 18.

    Therefore, don’t wait up.

    With Love, your Wife

  3. Boris Johnson set to announce resettlement scheme for Afghans ‘most in need’ after Taliban takeover. 17 August 2021.

    On Monday, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the UK was “obviously a big-hearted nation”, adding: “We’ve got the criteria for asylum, that’s set in law, we work with the UN on that.

    “We’re working very carefully on what kind of further commitment we might make.”

    Morning everyone. Yes there’s nothing we won’t do for you provided you are not British!

    https://news.sky.com/story/boris-johnson-set-to-announce-resettlement-scheme-for-afghans-most-in-need-after-taliban-takeover-12383424

    1. Raab, that most anonymous holder of a great office of state, rouses himself and vents forth the usual political claptrap.

      1. If only it were just claptrap. We are going to learn quite shortly that the UK is going to take in around 250,000 Afghan “refugees”.
        (If one were a cynic, one might even think that the whole mess had been arranged to this end.)

  6. On topic: Here is my deep analysis:

    America’s decision to abandon Afghanistan casts doubt on its fitness to lead the free world.

    No shit, Sherlock

  8. Mng all. DT letter strapline stating the obvious. The scribbles:from the Islington Wine Cellar:

    SIR – The withdrawal from Afghanistan is not a military defeat; it is an abject political surrender by President Biden.

    America is back in the malaise of isolationism, and this has implications for its leadership of the free world (if that exists any more). How is Nato to be taken seriously now? And how are we to face an ascendant China, or growing belligerence from Russia and Iran?

    Keith Punshon
    Thirsk, North Yorkshire

    SIR – The only surprising thing about the crisis in Afghanistan is that anyone should be surprised.

    People ask how the intelligence services could have been so wrong in their assessment of the Taliban’s strength, and of Afghan troops’ ability to defend their country. But this is not about intelligence failures: it is a clear case of an American president washing his hands of the responsibility for finishing what his country started.

    Pulling out of a conflict area without securing the peace will inevitably allow opposition forces to fill the vacuum. The decision to take action in Afghanistan 20 years ago was justified, but removing troops now is wrong. Seeking domestic political support, Joe Biden chose to ignore the likelihood that the Taliban would regain control, with all the ramifications this has for the Afghan people, and the risk of further terrorism in Europe.

    The other consequence is a growing lack of confidence in America’s commitment to global policing. We should take note as we parade our aircraft carriers around the world, sabre-rattling with US support.

    Group Captain Alan Ferguson (retd)
    Ipswich, Suffolk

    SIR – Saigon, 1975; Kabul, 2021. America’s shame.

    Dominic Shelmerdine
    London SW3

    SIR – Boris Johnson’s recent statements on Afghanistan are hollow.

    First, he says the country must not become a breeding ground for terror – but, with the withdrawal of Nato troops, the West will have little influence over that.

    Secondly, he claims that the sacrifice of British troops was not in vain. The relatives of those who were killed in action must surely wonder for what purpose their loved ones died as the country falls once again under the dark shadow of Taliban rule.

    Lt-Col Jeremy Prescott (retd)
    Southsea, Hampshire

    SIR – I sympathise with the view that lives and effort have been wasted with the decision to abandon Afghanistan.

    However, once the US decided to pull out, the British Government had no choice but to withdraw troops, too. To leave them there on their own would have resulted in something like Singapore at best; more likely it would have been an Isandlwana, in the Anglo-Zulu war. It would be no comfort to grieving families to see more lives lost in hopeless rearguard action.

    Tragically, the writing was on the wall 20 years ago when we tried to send divisions to Afghanistan and Iraq at the same time but did not have enough troops to hold the ground that had been taken.

    The Taliban have been creeping back into areas they lost ever since, and we – the whole coalition – have never really had enough troops in theatre to secure gains made by gallant infantrymen.

    Colonel Mark Rayner (retd)
    Eastbourne, East Sussex

    SIR – Following the humiliating withdrawal from Afghanistan, admittedly led by the United States, it is a sad reflection of Britain’s standing in the world that our response is to seek a debate in Parliament.

    This will no doubt result in a lot of huffing and puffing – and not much else. The Taliban must be shaking with fear.

    However, I suppose it is better than seeing the Foreign Secretary setting out his demands on Twitter.

    Roger Cousins
    Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire

    SIR – It took the Taliban less time to assume control of the whole of Afghanistan than it will have taken Britain to recall Parliament.

    Dave Alsop
    Churchdown, Gloucestershire

    SIR – Harold Macmillan was a world statesman, a former soldier and certainly no appeaser.

    According to his biographer, D R Thorpe, the former prime minister in retirement – he died in 1986 – would frequently tell his audiences: “First rule of politics: never invade Afghanistan.”

    Norman Cowling
    Newton Abbot, Devon

    SIR – After serving British troops loyally, the Afghan interpreter known as “N” was found guilty of theft and sacked.

    Refusing his application three times for evacuation to Britain, the Ministry of Defence, in a very pompous letter, used these grounds effectively to upgrade his punishment to a death sentence for him and his three small children.

    With friends like us, who needs enemies?

    Doreen Tamplin
    Birchington, Kent

    Checks on gun owners

    SIR – In the old days, when my shotgun and firearms licence came up for renewal (Letters, August 16), two police officers would visit me at my house.

    They would look me over, ask if I still needed the weapons and check to make sure that the gun safe was up to standard and securely fixed. The chat was good-natured but deadly serious and lasted at least 40 minutes. It left with me a good sense of who they might be permitting to have guns.

    Now there is no home visit. A police officer just phones me. He can’t even be totally sure who he is talking to.

    A P O’Brien
    Newcastle

    SIR – It is right to ask how Jake Davison came to have a gun, and why his mother’s calls for help were not met.

    But the question no one seems to be asking is: how has our society created cohorts of young men who feel their lives are so meaningless that they see extreme violence as the only outlet?

    Alexander Gordon
    Oswestry, Shropshire

    SIR – The police giving back a shotgun in Plymouth had tragic consequences.

    However, the control of these guns in Britain is generally very strict.

    Last year nearly 300 people were shot in London. How many of those guns were known to police?

    Terry Randall
    Wantage, Oxfordshire

    Squashed out

    SIR – Could anyone tell me why squash is not an Olympic sport?

    It is played around the world, and most towns have squash clubs.

    Edward Tomlinson
    Duffield, Derbyshire

    DVLA breakdown

    SIR – The situation at the DVLA (Letters, August 16) is outrageous. There must now be thousands of people waiting to receive renewed driving licences. I have made 27 calls to Swansea with same result every time: “All our advisers are busy, please try later.”

    When is the Transport Secretary going to get to grips with the situation? Staff at my local post office told me yesterday that even they could not get through to renew vehicle tax documents.

    Ian Crimp
    Pangbourne, Berkshire

    SIR – The DVLA appears to be dead in the water. I can get no response from it as to the status of my driving licence application submitted months ago.

    Perhaps this is the moment to close it down and relaunch it in a workable and effective form.

    Michael Sheasby
    Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire

    When the music stops

    SIR – The final bar of a piece of music is often a chord followed by several silent beats (Letters, August 13). Audiences should respect that notation (although there are exceptions – the last page of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is surely designed to be played with the accompaniment of a clapping and cheering crowd).

    Some Radio 3 presenters (Suzy Klein, Sarah Walker, Petroc Trelawny) leave a few seconds’ respectful silence after the last notes of a piece have died away before telling us what the music was and who played it. Others, such as Sean Rafferty, talk straight away.

    Richard Holroyd
    Cambridge

    Why GPs are failing to diagnose cancer in time

    SIR – Amanda Pritchard, the new NHS chief executive, recommends that people make an appointment to see their GP should they develop common cancer symptoms.

    In my area one cannot make an appointment to see a GP. In spite of government guidelines, there are built-in delays in the assessment of some potential cancers. Does this explain why some 20 per cent of colorectal cancers present in A&E departments, and why Britain features poorly in cancer survival rates in the Western world?

    Dr Nigel Legg
    Norwich

    SIR – Robert Graham (Letters, August 13) wonders why we are still taking doctors from overseas despite training up to 9,000 per annum here.

    The answer is simple. The medical selection and training process provides little if any preparation for coping with the psychotoxic inferno of working in the modern NHS. The result is that many newly qualified doctors simply flee.

    In 2018 a report by the General Medical Council found that only 
42 per cent of British medical graduates continued to higher specialist training. The remainder either chose equally demanding but more satisfying careers in banking, for example, or continued medicine in countries with medical systems that value their workforces more, such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

    Rather than fix the holes in the leaking bucket, successive governments have chosen to increase the flow of water into it.

    Dr Adam Kowalczyk
    Cirencester, Gloucestershire

    Parishes bear the cost of Church bureaucracy

    SIR – Reading that the Archbishop of York says the Church of England remains “committed” to local parishes (Letters, August 13), one wonders if that is the wrong way around. Are the parishes still committed to the archbishops and the bureaucracy they have created?

    After all, it’s the parishes that pay for the archbishops.

    Alastair Muir
    Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire

    SIR – Lord Carey of Clifton, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, talks of the Church of England’s “special place at the heart of the nation”.

    This “special place” no longer exists. With less than 1 per cent of the population attending a regular Church of England service, and with ever-increasing numbers of bishops more concerned with minority rights and sub-Marxist politics, his Church has become little more than an irrelevance to the lives of the vast majority.

    It is time the Church of England was disestablished and bishops removed from the House of Lords. Any religion happy to “manage” billions of pounds’ worth of assets and employ numerous officers with meaningless job descriptions, while closing parish churches and ignoring its parishioners’ needs, deserves no special status.

    Simon Baumgartner
    East Molesey, Surrey

  11. 336884+ up ticks,
    Morning Each,
    I never ever thought in a month of Sundays I would ever say this but have WE, being in such an odious state as a nation ( self inflicted in the main )
    any right to judge others ?

    For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

    In our case let us hope some leniency can be found.

    Tuesday 17 August: America’s decision to abandon Afghanistan casts doubt on its fitness to lead the free world

  12. This is worse than Saigon. Spiked 16 August 2021.

    The Afghan humiliation is not only a military failure – it’s a political and moral one, too. Extraordinarily bad political decisions have been taken by the US, including its willingness to trust the Taliban and its belief that this brutal, misanthropic, misogynistic movement could be a player in the ‘international community’. Even now, Washington seems completely out of touch with events on the ground in Afghanistan. Its intelligence officers said the Taliban could take Kabul within 90 days. That was four days ago. They know nothing. One gets the impression of a confused, decaying empire looking with bamboozlement upon even those parts of the earth it rules.

    The West is rotting from within though this is not all a natural evolution. A great deal of it is down to Cultural Marxism the pernicious doctrine that has perverted the moral and common sense of the Political Elites. Its followers have consciously destroyed Christianity, the religious and cultural foundation of the European Hegemony which gave it the Rennaissance and the Enlightenment. This lack of a Central Core of belief will eventually lead to further oppression as the Elites try to maintain order and serve the Globalist Cause. Whole nations, particularly in Europe, will collapse into anarchy under increasing immigration and Islam as the only viable alternative will eventually take over.

    https://www.spiked-online.com/2021/08/16/this-is-worse-that-saigon/

  13. This is worse than Saigon. Spiked 16 August 2021.

    The Afghan humiliation is not only a military failure – it’s a political and moral one, too. Extraordinarily bad political decisions have been taken by the US, including its willingness to trust the Taliban and its belief that this brutal, misanthropic, misogynistic movement could be a player in the ‘international community’. Even now, Washington seems completely out of touch with events on the ground in Afghanistan. Its intelligence officers said the Taliban could take Kabul within 90 days. That was four days ago. They know nothing. One gets the impression of a confused, decaying empire looking with bamboozlement upon even those parts of the earth it rules.

    The West is rotting from within though this is not all a natural evolution. A great deal of it is down to Cultural Marxism the pernicious doctrine that has perverted the moral and common sense of the Political Elites. Its followers have consciously destroyed Christianity, the religious and cultural foundation of the European Hegemony which gave it the Rennaissance and the Enlightenment. This lack of a Central Core of belief will eventually lead to further oppression as the Elites try to maintain order and serve the Globalist Cause. Whole nations, particularly in Europe, will collapse into anarchy under increasing immigration and Islam as the only viable alternative will eventually take over.

    https://www.spiked-online.com/2021/08/16/this-is-worse-that-saigon/

  14. ‘Morning, Peeps.

    Dr Le Fanu has also rumbled the misleading ‘statistics’. The rest may also be of interest:

    “The pandemic has generated more statistics than any other event in the history of the world, though too often their interpretation tends to the obfuscatory rather than illuminating.

    Last week Sarah Knapton, our award winning Science Editor, rumbled the new NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard “massaging the figures”. Her alarmist claim of a fourfold increase of “really unwell” young adults being admitted to hospital turned out to be suspect on several counts.

    The figures Pritchard cited could not apparently be independently confirmed, as “the age range chosen is not one recognised in official data sets”. Next, while the proportion of the young in hospital has certainly risen, this is only because, thanks to the vaccination programme, the numbers of the elderly has collapsed, down 90 per cent compared to the winter peak with most being discharged after just four days.

    This is no mere nit-picking. There are several good sensible reasons for encouraging the young to be vaccinated – cajoling them to do so with dubious statistics is not one of them.

    International comparisons can be similarly misleading. The marked discrepancy, more than tenfold, in Covid mortality rates between the countries of Western Europe and South East Asia is frequently cited as evidence of governmental incompetence in not having acted fast enough in imposing lockdowns and similar restrictive measures.

    Thus in Japan last year 3,290 people died from Covid (compared to our toll of more than 70,000) but this was more than offset – if astonishingly – by 7,000 fewer deaths overall than would normally be expected. This pattern of “negative excess deaths” also occurred in several other South East Asian countries including, inter alia, Korea, Ireland, Taiwan and the Philippines – but cannot be attributed to their greater success in curbing the pandemic.

    According to researchers such as Professor Yuji Aoki of Matsumoto University, it may point to a profound difference in racial susceptibility where the populations of these countries are in some way protected against the worst ravages of the virus.

    Why sodium is key

    The chemistry of the blood is a marvel, its 4,000 circulating salts, hormones, metals and vitamins miraculously maintained for a lifetime within the same very narrow limits on which their efficient functioning depends. They are all essential but sodium especially, vital for the propagation of electrical impulses down the nerves and, by the process of osmosis, ensuring the correct balance of fluids in the compartments of the body. Too much sodium and the cells become dehydrated, too little and water passes inwards causing them to swell.

    The concentration of sodium in the blood is very important, but for many older people it is indeed too low (technically known as hyponatraemia) – a major cause of confusion and impaired balance, predisposing in turn to falls and fractures.

    The main culprits (predictably) are the medicines they are taking, particularly thiazide diuretics. Being cheap and effective, these are routinely prescribed to millions to lower the blood pressure and promote the excretion through the kidneys of excess fluid responsible for the breathlessness and swollen legs in patients with heart failure.

    Their tendency to cause hyponatraemia is increased yet further when taken in combination with other commonly prescribed drugs such as antidepressants and the acid suppressant PPIs.

    “The diagnosis of hyponatraemia really matters,” observes geriatrician Dr Roy Soiza of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, not least because its potentially serious adverse consequences are reversible by the simple expedient of discontinuing the culprit drugs. All taking thiazides should have regular blood tests to check their sodium levels are within normal limits.

    Mysterious pain

    This week’s medical query comes courtesy of Mr KG of Plymouth, who, for the past couple of years, has been troubled by pain in the anal region ranging in intensity from mild discomfort to the excruciating. Despite consulting several different specialists and numerous investigations, no abnormality has been identified.

    He has been advised his pain is probably neuropathic, for which he has been prescribed Amitriptyline but would be more than grateful for suggestions as to a more effective remedy.”

    I suggest that the pain in the rear end is caused by our non-Tory government!

    1. This is proctalgia fugax an intermittent often excruciating pain in the anus which is really a kind of cramp of the anal muscles. I used to have it. Recently anal electric stimulation has its advocates and there are plenty of toys available (so I’m told)

  15. Remind me again how “free” women are in Saudi,Qatar,parts of Indonesia……………
    When are we invading all these countries to “free” them??
    The likes of Suzanne Moore whine about us leaving AfGaf a country whose OWN army won’t fight for it as she demands more blood and treasure is spent to support her whims at the same time she is happy to import Islamist filth in unlimited numbers……….
    You couldn’t make it up!!
    Meanwhile our cretins in government will be posturing in parliament on wednesday about “what to do” the answer being “fuck all” we aren’t a world power any more except of course arranging to flood the country with more refugees!!
    Pity they couldn’t find time to debate clotshots for children and pregnant women or domestic vaccine “passports”

  16. Joe Biden walks off after 20-minute speech defending US withdrawal from Afghanistan. 17 August 2021.

    The American President has been under immense pressure after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan as US troops pulled back. Instead of accepting responsibility for the country’s demise, he pointed the finger at Afghan officials for its collapse in a 20-minute diatribe.

    And instead of facing scrutiny and taking questions from the press “Sloppy Joe” sloped off to the amazement of many of those present.

    How can he take questions from the press? They had to dope him up just to make the statement!

    https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1477766/Joe-biden-storm-off-speech-video-Afghanistan-US-military-Taliban-Kabul-latest-news

      2. 336884+ up ticks,
        Morning AWK,
        The Americans have NOT cornered the DANGEROUS buffoon market in overseers by a long chalk, the United Kingdom is a country mile ahead.

  17. Joe Biden walks off after 20-minute speech defending US withdrawal from Afghanistan. 17 August 2021.

    The American President has been under immense pressure after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan as US troops pulled back. Instead of accepting responsibility for the country’s demise, he pointed the finger at Afghan officials for its collapse in a 20-minute diatribe.

    And instead of facing scrutiny and taking questions from the press “Sloppy Joe” sloped off to the amazement of many of those present.

    How can he take questions from the press? They had to dope him up just to make the statement!

    https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1477766/Joe-biden-storm-off-speech-video-Afghanistan-US-military-Taliban-Kabul-latest-news

  21. Good morning, all. Raining. Busy day – MR to the GP for blood and then to Narridge for Dentistry.

    Taliban got here yet?

  22. Has anyone in the gang of charlatans posing as a government told us where the tens of thousands of Afghani “refugees” are to be sent to live?

    4. Best send them somewhere with mountains and crude, backward inhabitants. Scotland ticks all the boxes. Helpfully, the SNP official immigration policy says that immigration is great.

      1. That comment has gruesome resonance, thanks. A few hundred years ago parts of Scotland were much like Afghanistan today. In Edinburgh there was the Enlightenment and in the Highlands the feuding clans cut each other up.

    5. Norfolk. Once they have concreted it over. Thrown in a load of rubble and a few goats for entertainment.

  23. After 20 years in Afghanistan Boris and Biden have left the country in the same condition that they found it.

    2. ‘Morning, Bob.

      I’d be surprised to learn if either had spent 20 minutes in Afgan, let alone 20 years.

    3. 336884+ up ticks,
      Morning B3,
      Apart from the fact they have improved their armaments somewhat.

      1. Not really. We didn’t give the Afghan army our level of tech. Besides, the Taliban can buy last generation Russian weapons.

        What I found genuinely funny is that the Afghan air force didn’t fight the Taliban, they ran away in their planes.

        There’s a lot of waffle on the Western media that the army should have stayed to fight. Most people don’t understand how the Taliban operate. They then complained that women’s rights should be respected. Again, ditto. Another twit rambled on that the men should let the women evacuate first. They haven’t understood that under Muslim women are just above cattle.

        It is a sad indictment when folk here assume that everywhere else is ‘the same’.

  25. ‘Morning again

    Headline in today’s DT:

    “Taking a pay cut has affected my attitude towards BBC Ten O’Clock News, admits Huw Edwards

    Veteran BBC host hits out at corporation’s ‘clumsy’ handling of stars’ salary disclosures, while revealing he his considering his future”

    Ho ho….Teddy has been slung out of the pram by a petulant, overpaid autocue reader. Oh dear, how sad, never mind…

    Edit – at the risk of damaging Nottlrs blood pressure (further) here is the full article:

    Huw Edwards is considering his future as the presenter of the BBC’s Ten O’Clock News, as he admitted that taking a salary cut had affected his attitude to the job.

    Edwards expressed frustration that colleagues had received “large pay rises” while he faced a “huge” reduction.

    He said it was “a nightmare” and “very tedious” to have his earnings disclosed, adding that no one had a licence “to stick their nose into other people’s business”.

    In an interview with the BBC’s Welsh language radio station, Edwards hit out at the broadcaster’s “clumsy” handling of the decision to publish star salaries.

    The 59-year-old said: “It has angered me, to be honest. Not because I’m embarrassed about pay, especially because I took a huge cut years ago anyway.

    “I don’t expect anyone to feel sorry for me. But if you do get a huge pay cut, it’s certainly going to affect you, your psychology, and your attitude towards the work.

    “Especially if you see co-workers getting large pay rises and you don’t quite understand why.”

    When the BBC first disclosed the pay of its top stars in 2017, Edwards was near the top of the list with a salary of £550,000-599,999.

    The list provoked fury among the corporation’s female presenters, and he was one of several men who agreed to take a pay cut.

    His salary has been reduced every year since, and currently stands at £425,000-429,999. However, he remains the fourth-highest name on the list of top earners, behind Gary Lineker, Zoe Ball and Steve Wright.

    Over the same period, some women have seen their pay rise significantly, either through the BBC “levelling up” their salaries, because they took on new roles, or a combination of the two.

    Emily Maitlis did not appear on the list in 2017, earning less than £150,000 per year despite her high-profile role as one of the hosts of Newsnight. For the most recent financial year, she earned £325,000-329,999.

    Sophie Raworth and Naga Munchetty, both in the £150,000-199,999 bracket in 2016-17, now earn £280,000-284,999 and £255,000-259,999 respectively.

    Some men have also seen their pay boosted. The Today programme’s Justin Webb, another omission from the 2016-17 list, now earns £255,000-259,999.

    Others to receive pay rises since 2016-17 include Laura Kuenssberg, Mishal Husain and Dan Walker.

    Away from news, there was uproar last year when it emerged that Ball was handed a £1 million pay rise when she took over the Radio 2 breakfast show. The disclosure left her feeling “uncomfortable” and she volunteered to take a cut, yet still earns more than £1.13 million.

      1. Obviously it wasn’t enough ‘cos he’s still here. One more cut should do it!

        ‘Morning, PA.

      2. And Lord Hall said that taking on the funding for TV licences for the over 75s was “a good deal for the BBC” – seems that neither of them feel they have to be consistent!

    2. Morning Hugh

      I must admit I grinned at that little headline.

      The curl of Huw Edwards lips , sardonic swine that he is , won’t be missed in this household.

      1. When he’s on, I’m off! There’s enough going on without adding to the long list of massively overpaid Beeboid irritants.

        ‘Morning, Belle.

          1. He obviously has no idea what many people think about such vast and totally unjustified salaries. I reckon his view is typical of the average Beeboid – deep-seated arrogance and a strong sense of self-entitlement.

      2. In my yoof Trevor McDonald read the news. He was grave and serious when he needed to be, calm and dispassionate at other times and during the lighter articles would have a slight wry smile which said ‘this is nice, but I’m a professional’.

        And do you know? It never once flickered that he was black. He was just Trevor McDonald. Oh whata cosseted childhood I had, not knowing how oppressed he was.

      3. Why on earth watch ANY news/politics/current affairs on beeboid (or any other) television? Or listen to them on the wireless.

        I haven’t since June 2016 – and fell all the better for it

      1. Jambo, Ndovu.

        The male presenters have to look smart too. Can’t wear the same tie twice.

      2. ‘Morning, N. I believe that they have a clothing allowance (or whatever it is called).

    4. Rather than raise pay for the women, the BBC should have drastically cut pay for the men – that would have “levelled up” the pay instead of which they are now paying an obscene amount to both “genders” [yes, I know!]. I also don’t appreciate the use of “earn” – none of them earn that amount, they just get over paid! And as for the crisp salesman ….

      1. Hmm… they should have ignored it entirely. The whole ‘wimmins wants the same’ is stupid and sexist.

        Pay is based on competence, experience, qualifications, expertise and ability. Nothing else. Suggesting a woman suddenly should e paid the same as a man doing the same job is daft if that man is better at it.

      2. Long ago and far away, in Leicester, the company for which I worked had a branch. Our operation was small. We had four people in the warehouse and one of them was the supervisor. On the same site our separate parent company had their warehouse. They employed 30 people in the warehouse and 3 were supervisors. They were paid more than our supervisor, although we all worked for the same company. Jobs were assessed and benchmarked and graded. Each grade had a salary range. Our supervisor complained that he was paid less than the other supervisors next door. He asked for a pay rise. We said “no”. “If you like, you could ask for a transfer to our parent company.”
        He stayed.

    5. I agree, oddly enough. It is no one’s business what people earn. The BBC could publish bands of pay as councils do, with the number of people at a certain level – it’s always 150-200,000 or higher with that lot – Huw Edwards deserves a degree of privacy.

      Publishing them just to have idiot women complain that they wanted the same is just facile. They are not him. I’d bet you anything that if the role were reversed that would not be demanding he be paid the same as them.

    6. He said it was “a nightmare” and “very tedious” to have his earnings
      disclosed, adding that no one had a licence “to stick their nose into
      other people’s business”.

      Said a BBC News reporter.

    7. BBC presenters have long since claimed that they could easily jump ship to independent broadcasters and earn more money. Well, if such well remunerated posts actually do exist, it’s likely that they will be occupied much of the time, not held open in the hope of securing a BBC exile.

      When BBC salaries were revealed, astonishment was expressed by observers that no independent broadcaster could match the £700,000 that Jeremy Vine as paid.

      Not one of the aggrieved female presenters jumped ship for more money, killing the myth of independent broadcasters paying more.

    1. 336884+ up ticks,
      Morning Rik,
      They are angling for intake being via the back passage
      already I believe to be in the experimental stage, as in
      when the patient was leaving the surgery the doctor noticed movement in the patients trouser seating and
      asked,that movement at the rear any problems, only to hear NO problems, just chewing a toffee.

    2. I fear Grizzly is right – the level of intelligence is falling, especially among politicians and Government “spokes”

      2. This diktat sounds stupid and is meant to be stupid by those who devised it. It is a further attempt at control and the authorities will observe how many stupid people comply. The IQ of the politicians isn’t at question here,that’s a very different matter for a different time, the politicians are testing the IQ and resistance of the people.

    3. It does sound stupid. But the real agenda is to eventually outlaw all drinking. Sharia says so.

  27. Taliban mulls flooding the West with heroin to shore up Afghan economy. 17 August 2021.

    The Taliban is ascendant. Ashraf Ghani and his Government have fled Afghanistan.
    But as hardline Islamists form a government for the first time in two decades, they also face a looming economic crisis and the risk of a sudden halt to the aid payments which have sustained the country for years.

    The opium fields, which have long been a crucial source of cash for the Taliban, could now become a vital replacement for those international funds – sparking a new surge in heroin across the West.

    There is not yet even a Taliban Government which will require considerable negotiation and they are “mulling” over flooding the West with Heroin? This is just propaganda as such a situation already exists. It is a trade that has made most of those Afghan traitors now fleeing to the west very rich. It is just one of the many reasons that they have no support among the people. They were as corrupt as any native government is under the Americans.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/08/16/taliban-mulls-flooding-west-heroin-shore-afghan-economy/?li_source=LI&li_medium=liftigniter-rhr

    1. I’m willing to take a share. If the stuff ceased to be illegal there would be fewer problems.

  28. 336884+ up ticks,
    Looks like some of the strain will be taken from the DOVER illegal intake campaign, the UK overseers will be surely up for block bookings.

    Dt,
    Live Afghanistan latest news: Kabul airport reopens as thousands try to escape the Taliban

      1. Jambo AW.

        Do those bods perched on top of the plane think they can ride it like a train?

      2. I can’t tell if they’re morons who think that a plane is like an Indian train, or just stupid for not arranging to leave the country earlier.

        All we need to d o now is deport the invasion forced illegally dossing at Dover and ensure that not one of them ever gets to the UK.

        2. Well ,the Islington chatterati are planning to bring to this country all the Afghans that went to come.

  29. Good morning all from a dry, bright but overcast Derbyshire.

    Another Government scheme is going to cost us citizens a fortune:-

    Energy bills could soar under ‘green gas’ hydrogen homes plan

    Subsidy to pay for hydrogen boilers could come at a heavy price for consumers, even as experts warn that the expense may be ‘pointless’

    By
    Emma Gatten,
    ENVIRONMENT EDITOR and
    Rachel Millard
    17 August 2021 • 12:00am

    Homeowners face higher energy bills to pay for greener gas that could be used to heat just 10 per cent of the country’s homes.

    The Government will announce on Tuesday that it wants a subsidy scheme to help fund its ambition to produce 5 gigawatts of hydrogen for use in heavy industry, transport and home heating by 2030.

    The scheme will be modelled on subsidies that were key to boosting the UK’s offshore wind industry over the past decade, which are levied on electricity bills.

    The plans could see bills rise for everyone, although hydrogen is likely to play only a niche role in meeting the Government’s targets to cut the carbon emissions produced by home heating. Alternative plans could see costs added to general taxation.

    The Government expects hydrogen to provide enough energy for 67,000 homes, or 0.2 per cent, by 2030, rising to meet up to 10 per cent of domestic heating demand by 2035.

    Experts on Monday said there was a risk that bill payers could be locked into paying for the development of “pointless” technology.

    The Government is currently carrying out trials to prove the efficacy and safety of hydrogen as a like-for-like replacement for gas boilers and said it would make a decision by 2026.

    But it warned in its hydrogen strategy against “delaying action” to decarbonise home heating, suggesting that proven technologies such as heat pumps should be used instead in the immediate future.

    Hydrogen can be made either using methane, with the emissions captured and stored, classed as “blue”, or through electrolysis, considered “green” if renewable electricity is used.

    It is likely to be in high demand in industries that will struggle to decarbonise through electrification, such as shipping, steel manufacturing and fertiliser use, and the use of hydrogen for home heating is expected to be concentrated near industrial clusters.

    Juliet Phillips, an energy expert at think tank E3G, said: “The risk is that gas payers end up paying for what’s used in a few industrial clusters. That doesn’t seem very fair or progressive.”

    2. Nothing ‘progressive’ takes us forward. Nothing ‘fair’ from government is.

      You could replace hydrogen boilers with [any climate change policy] and the sentence stands. The state is using the lie of climate change to soak tax. That’s all. Destroying our economy and throwing us back to the Dark Ages will make no difference to the planet whatsoever. All it will do is cost a fortune we do not have, annihilate our way of life and cripple this country. For nothing.

      1. Good point, Wibb. The greatest scam in our lifetime is about to cost us even more, both in energy bills and our inability to compete for exports, although the latter has been underway for some time now. Add to this the fact that hydrogen is very good at finding leaks in our mostly aged gas network, and its molecules react to steel…

        What could possibly go wrong?

    3. The main point of hydrogen as a fuel is as a storage technology that is better than batteries. The problem with batteries is that Lithium is a dwindling resource, reliant on exploiting the poor and violating the environment, and Graphene capacitors hold their charge for less than a week. Hydrogen can be stored in bottles indefinitely and its supply is limited by the amount of water in the oceans.

      That way, spare capacity when the wind is blowing or the sun is out can be used to provide energy when they aren’t. It is ridiculous to use it as a main stream substitute for direct energy, because it is inefficient and expensive.

      As for controlling the carbon cycle, as I have been ignored many times, wouldn’t it be far more effective to tackle the destruction of the great forests in Brazil, Indonesia, Siberia and potentially central Africa and the threat by China and the Islamic World to undermine all our endeavours because they are taking advantage?

      The remedies are political, and we do not seem to have the political capacity even to set up a non-corrupt administration in Afghanistan, let alone take on China. When are the Americans going to have a constitution whereby they can elect a decent president?

    6. Why should the consumer pay for reducing our greenhouse gas emissions in order to allow China and India to carry on increasing pollution.
      This climate change scam is total bollox and getting out of hand.
      The earth needs CO2 so why do we cut down trees to transport wood pellets half way round the world to burn for electricity and why are the Scottish forests being cut down when it’s them who are absorbing the CO2?
      MADNESS!

      1. 14+ million Scottish trees were / and are cut down to allow the construction of roads to higher parts. This allows big lorries carrying Windmill parts to be erected and I nearly forgot the Big Concrete carrying lorries and lo-loaders carrying the cranes / diggers to assemble the foundations and built the superstructure needed to hold up the large windmill blades.
        https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2020/02/29/herald-hopes-we-cant-see-the-trees-for-the-wind-turbines/

    7. More, “Following the Science”, from a scientifically illiterate bunch of no-marks. Looking at a problem and either do nothing or select the most expensive and inappropriate solution.

      This government reminds me of the old, very old joke, “A hole appeared in the road and three council workmen are looking into it.”

    8. Here’s a good idea!
      Lets take electricity and convert it to hydrogen, with significant losses, then move that hydrogen to domestic homes and burn it to create heat, at significant losses, to warm the house.
      At least, cut the losses at the conversions and just send electricity to the houses and use it directly to create heat!

  30. Good morning all

    Grey overcast morning here , breezy , and it feels quite Autumnal .

    How long would it take the Muslim hordes in this country to overcome us, ie as in take over?

    Considering the rapidity of the takeover of Kabul, where did the Taliban appear from , or were they always there under cover, or did they creep in from Pakistan .

  31. Britain’s fourth Afghan war is a replay of the first infamous retreat 170 years ago. 17 August 2021.

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f40ca889e6cca45d0d091199f6e4f2d1e9b1c543c8edad2171bbaf495c6ea902.jpg

    The Last Stand at Gandamak.

    For many years the mass slaughter of the Retreat from Kabul acted as a deterrent to further adventures. As one veteran, George Lawrence wrote just before Britain blundered into the Second Anglo-Afghan War thirty years later, “a new generation has arisen which, instead of profiting from the solemn lessons of the past, is willing and eager to embroil us in the affairs of that turbulent and unhappy country… Although military disasters may be avoided, an advance now, however successful in a military point of view, would not fail to turn out to be as politically useless… The disaster of the Retreat from Kabul should stand forever as a warning to the Statesmen of the future not to repeat the policies that bore such bitter fruit in 1839–42.”

    I knew about the dangers of invading Afghanistan long before I graduated to politics and serious history. The story was a perennial of my childhood, frequently appearing in comics and children’s adventure literature. This has continued into adulthood; George MacDonald Fraser’s accounts in his Flashman books are easily the equal of any Academic History. Why do politicians not heed these warnings? Well Arrogance and Vanity are their frequent failings and of course as we see with Blair and Co they never pay the price. All honour to those who did!

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2021/08/17/britains-fourth-afghan-war-replay-first-infamous-retreat-170/

      1. He does indeed Mola and they are, unlike accounts of the present, accurate as well!

        1. I was at school with someone who claimed his good grade for history A level was entirely due to reading Flashman!

      2. Good historical novelists can really educate you.
        I have learnt more detailed history from MacDonald Fraser, Robert Graves and C.J. Sansom than any number of history lessons.

        2. I’ve always liked Graves, but I’ve never read any of Sansom’s books. I will perhaps try one.

          1. Sansom is brilliant. His novels/whodunnits are set during the Reformation under Henry VIII. Apart from learning a lot about the closing of the monasteries and the political tensions, he walks that very difficult tightrope when it comes to dialogue.
            You are aware that he is using a older speech pattern, but he avoids the dreaded ‘pish-tushery’ that blights so many novels set in the Tudor period or earlier.

    2. And, most recently, the Soviet adventures in Afghanistan, and how they ended, should have been a clear warning.

    3. There is a suggestion that the Taliban had been training in Pakistan and just popped across the border for the romp/ All kitted out and ready to go.
      Did our government sell or even gift our army surplus to them ?

      1. The Americans were more generous than us Brits. They gave them a BlackHawk Helio. I wonder if the Russians or Chinese would be interested in buying it for a fist full of dollars. That should keep the Taliban swimming in goat curry for a while.

  32. New Zealand had a case of Covid in the last day or two. The authorities are considering what to do. It could cause serious problems if contacts get the infection.
    BBC Radio 4 News.

      1. 336884+ up ticks,
        Morning NtN,
        May I insert “Dangerous” , on par with lab/lib/con coalition she / party has a majority following.

      2. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ca9a47b5988e3ea0d17e2d8d816ae4d882aad8c8c04a9ffa681edce63c852a6f.jpg Good morning, Tom. Nearly as gruesomely horse-faced as my tyrannical former boss, who was known universally as “Shergar”. Her teeth are not shown on this photo, thankfully.

        The head of one department uttered, during a training session, “We must get things right; we don’t want to upset The Horse, do we?”

        She can’t sue me for libel or slander: the chain-smoking, power-crazed tyrant died of lung cancer a decade ago.

    2. She seems to be under the impression that lockdowns work and also that vaccination actually makes people immune. Both have been disproved many times over all over the world. I suppose she will keep NZ isolated for ever.

      1. 336884+ up ticks,
        Morning N,
        Surely the question then is, as with the United Kingdom
        emergency measures MUST be taken to remove him/her/it & party from office, alternative being
        suffer….forever, as the Brits have been doing, day by day getting worse, for the last three decades.

      1. 336884+n up ticks,
        Morning KtK,
        Obviously she has never witnessed roots vee concrete, its a cracker.

  34. A couple of days (or so) ago, someone posted a recent picture of Bliar – with him saying that “his people had been embedded in all govt departments”.

    I can’t find it. If anyone has any clues, I’d be grateful. The MR doesn’t believe me. Again!

    1. Morning Bill – look up “Tony Blairs Institute for Global Change” and you will see his Global Change objectives. He claims to be advising local leaders globally. I think I read somewhere that it is a non profit institute.

      1. Thank you – but that doesn’t reveal his “embedded” quote – that was here on Nottle in the last few days.

  36. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5dfacee0980e523b01d010261cfabb592579646cb9fe54718236aea3602a781f.png I think that you will find, Mr Tomlinson, that the IOC, these days exists as a purely political entity. Any sport (Squash Racquets included) wishing to be included in the Olympic curriculum must have a loud enough and rich enough lobby pushing for its inclusion. That is why the Olympic Games, which was founded upon amateur Corinthian ideals, has now been hijacked by the powerful and wealthy. This is the reason why wholly inappropriate sports, such as Basketball, Golf and Lawn Tennis (among others) are now included, as if those professional sports do not get much wider exposure elsewhere.

    1. And skateboarding? It’s gone beyond a joke and desperately needs to get back to basics. But it won’t happen.

    2. Perversely, elite squash players are some of the most complete athletes around due to their combination of strength, stamina and flexibility.

      1. I thoroughly enjoyed playing squash. For me the major problem was that it only required a small difference in skill to ensure the weaker player was extremely unlikely to win. I was usually that weaker player.

        1. After i gave up playing football twice a week i let squash into my life and thoroughly enjoyed it for years. In Oz it was very competitive especially if they knew you were a ‘pommy b8stard’. I Played B grade for the club at Christies Beach south of Adelaide. On recent but old TV programme called Chateau Chunder about Ozzie wine i noticed one of my old team mates Ron Dunstan then a university lecturer, now a prof.
          I also played at Mil Hill Squash Club and at WGC. For a warm up I could never stand on the T and on the volley hit the ball fore hand to back hand from RH front corner to LH front corner. You needed to be A graders for that.

          1. I was a reasonably competent sportsman unless hand eye coordination was involved, although I wasn’t bad at Rugby fives, probably because I was equally bad/good with either hand.

            My silly trick when playing squash was to swap hands to make a shot I couldn’t reach with a backhand. Most times, when playing someone new, it won the point until the better player worked out what I had done.

            I spent years thinking I must be one of the world’s worst players until I started playing for my round table when the team was short and I volunteered to make up numbers. It was at that point I discovered that there is a bottomless well of people even worse than I was.

          2. One of the guys in the league at WGC was an out and out cheat, he use to run into you and call a let, the best thing to do was change tactics to beat him plenty of cross court high lobs that died in the back corners. Then about 5 years later I built an extension on his home for him, I then found out he suffered from Asperger’s syndrome. What a pain in the a8se he was but let bye gone’s be bye gone’s he was very happy with the finished job. I still see him occasionally, he has a lovely old and of course immaculate, MGA In his garage.
            Our games teacher at school was Welsh, he played for Wasps as an amateur and was of course mad keen on Rugby, but we use to muck about too much for him to be able to form the serious rugby team he wanted. One day out of the blue he chucked the school goal keepers jersey to me and said right you’re in goal. I had no idea I would be school keeper for two seasons before I left. And after for Old Hendonians, North London Neamian League second team, the first team keeper was much taller then me and played in goal for London Transport, I had no chance for promotion but for a few games because of injury.

          3. I ended up playing in goal for a school hockey team because they couldn’t find any volunteers.

            I had played ice-hockey but never the grass version, so said I would have a go. They must have been pleasantly surprised, we went the season unbeaten and I didn’t let in a single goal.

        2. I used to play regularly (several nights a week) at university first time round (we had our own squash courts). That was the fittest I think I’ve ever been.

      2. I am certainly one of the less complete athletes but I enjoyed squash even though I was a rather mediocre player! I am a great believer in the adage ‘if a things worth doing it is worth doing badly‘ which means that if a thing is worth doing you should try to do it even if you are not talented or good at it.

          2. Sorry, but I disagree.
            Sour wet things, not even good for throwing at people. Don’t have a lovely colour like raw aubergine (not the cooked khaki slop they become).
            Courgettes should be made int loofahs that you can clean between your toes with.

          4. I always salt the flesh of courgettes and leave to stand while the salt draws out the bitter juices. Then rinse, pat dry with kitchen roll and cook.

            Agree about the “khaki slop” of aubergines when I have cooked ratatouille. Most unappetising so I now substitute mushrooms for aubergines.

      1. Though having watched the skateboarding girls I could see it does involve a high degree of skill.

  37. Here in our Darzetty places , white flight from London, big cities, home counties and elsewhere is very evident , including many many homes now being sold as sealed bids .

    However we are certainly not as expensive certain parts of the Home counties or Poole where the nouveau riche lurk in their cocaine ridden world

    Some one posted this wonderful mouthful of stuff that many newcomers seem to moan about!

    These days many wealthy city folk are moving to the country. Fair play and good luck.

    However, it is an unfortunate fact that many find it hard to assimilate. One of the major reasons for this is the actual countryside is a place where people live and work, not the large leisure park most city people have experienced thus far. Thus the reality is not always what our new neighbours expected to find and, often, they don’t like it as much as they thought they would.

    In the spirit of public service, then, here is your handy print-out-and-keep guide to a comfortable new life in the sticks.

    1. The Roads: They are covered in ****. This is a function of drainage ditches being full, of animals on the roads and of large agricultural machinery dropping muck everywhere. This is fine. It is not “a matter for the Parish Council”.

    2. The Parish Council: This will usually be made up of folk who’ve lived in the village for years and also some newer blood. That’s a good thing. It is not a replacement for your Kensington bridge club, or meeting your girlfriends in Harrods, and there is no need for you to join it and try to change everything in order to fill your long afternoons. Unbelievably, we’ve managed so far without you for more than 500 years!.

    3. The Village Pub: A fine and wonderful place which is to be treasured and used. The best thing about it is it’s a real leveller – doesn’t matter who you are, you’ll be judged on how you treat others and nothing else. If you’ve got anything about you, you’ll come to love this about it above all else. On which note, then, please don’t come in and grumble about dogs running around, or about the fact you can’t get St Tropez scallops fried in yak’s butter at 4.30pm or that they may not be able to make you a Brandy Alexander. Also, best not to only come in twice a year, the second occasion being Christmas when you address the landlord like an old friend and loudly call him by his Christian name to impress your friends visiting from Hampstead.

    4. Animals: There are loads, and we kill and eat quite a lot of them. Many are quite noisy, especially cockerels. This is also not “a matter for the Parish Council”. Equally, some are a problem and will be killed by your fellow inhabitants from time to time; others will be killed by each other or by cars. There is not a “little man” who comes along to pick them up. Just drive around them. Finally on this one, please don’t feed the foxes. They’re not “cute” and they kill all our chickens. This makes us all quite angry.

    5. Your New Dog: Obviously you will have bought a pedigree mutt to go with your new house. Enjoy. However, it’s worth taking the time and making the effort to train it properly so it doesn’t chase sheep or deer, or dive in to areas of nesting pheasants. In the north of the country somebody is likely to shoot it for chasing the former, in the south for chasing or doing the latter. Despite having a Kennel Club name longer than most people’s address, your dog will still be turned inside out by a hand-loaded .243 cartridge. If it’s a gun dog and you intend to work it there’s no need to pay someone £3000 to train it for you. Ours are all rubbish too.

    6. Your New Gun and Togs: Over the years you’ve enjoyed a bit of corporate shooting, and good for you. However, you now have a bit of an issue. Your £18,000 English side-by-side and the £7,000 worth of kit you bought from William Evans on St James’s mean you really need to be able to hit a cow’s arse (NB: cow – large bovine animal found in fields and, occasionally, running down the road for no obvious reason) with a banjo. Actually nobody cares if you’re rubbish, so long as you can laugh at yourself and take a bit of ribbing, so pop the expensive stuff away and go and buy a working gun whilst you get your eye in.

    7. Your Trousers: Those yellow or blue cords from Oliver Brown on Sloane Street don’t make you look like landed gentry, they make you look like a derivatives trader on a long weekend away. Just don’t.

    8. Your New Community: A village is just like a city, only smaller and therefore more intimate. That means it’s made up of people from all sorts of backgrounds. This is a good thing. If you take the time to get to know them you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the breadth of experiences and knowledge. Lamenting loudly that nobody you now know has been to see the Chuck Close at Tate Modern is not the best way to achieve this. Nor is making rude assumptions about them and living behind your closed front door all week until the next set of visitors from London arrive for the weekend. You’re missing the best bit of being here, the people.

    9. Your Nickname: Everyone in the village will have a nickname. Most are well meant, if a little brusque. When you discover yours is “Honking Giles” don’t move house, it’s a sign of acceptance. It’s the people without one who need to worry.

    10. Finally: None of the above points apply to towns like Clun where the FTP (******* Tipping Point) has already been reached.

    2. Ain’t that the truth! Mind you, Clun is in South Shropshire – have they moved it? 🙂

        1. My experience was that it’s no “stand-out character” place, just a pleasant and cosy area of the UK, with solid red-brick buildings, fogs, pleasant beer & food, and pleasant people. A bit grey, if you see what I mean, neither one thing nor the other.
          I liked it there, not so crowded as the South, less windswept than the North, but if I were ever to return to the UK to live, it’d have to be somewhere North – Pickering would be OK, Whitby, somewhere like that.

    2. Don’t read too much into it, Grizz. Remember Hull was awarded City of Culture. They probably just thought they might give the North a bit of a boost. :@)

      Actually i have the greatest respect for Chefs like Nigel Howarth, Lisa Goodwin-Allen, Simon Rogan and Mark birchall. They are 100% committed to what they do.

      1. “Hull was awarded City of Culture.”

        I used to make sure that I bypassed the place en route to Spurn Head.

        1. I only ever saw it once and that was from the other side of the river. Turned round and headed back South. I don’t think i missed anything interesting.

          Spurn Head…. Watching the birdies?

        2. I spent a year in Hell Hull doing my PCGE. I have never wanted to go back, even though they’ve built the Humber bridge now and you can actually drive THROUGH it to go places. I used to drive up in the early hours of the morning and when Goole hove into view it was like driving into Hell; the sky was sulphurous yellow and the smell – ugh! When the wind was in the wrong direction in Hull you got the full effects of the fish glue factory.

    3. Given that the evening menu starts at £195, I doubt many normal people will be eating there.

        1. That’s why they are attracting southerners to spend their dosh (and extra for the necessary stop-over).

          1. The only reason i haven’t been already is distance. But now that we have a mutual friend who lives in that part of the world i could probably blag a sofa.

    4. Good that the award endorses and advertises a Spanish lager-type beer, George. That must be the icing on the cake and the cherry on top.

      As for London, I cannot speak for today but my time there in the 70s, was surrounded by an abundance of good food and, buying for the club at 04:00 at Covent Garden, Smithfield and Billingsgate, introduced me to a further abundance of fresh food. None of it poncy nor over-priced to portions whose size one dictated to the vendor.

      1. London was also notorious, Tom, in the 1970s for the proliferation of crap quality, overpriced tourist-trap abominations such as the omnipresent Angus Steak House travesty.

        On the only occasion I entered one (yes, I was a tourist with no inside knowledge) a waiter asked me, “How did you find your steak, sir.” I replied, “I simply moved a pea aside on my plate and there it was!”

      2. London was also notorious, Tom, in the 1970s for the proliferation of crap quality, overpriced tourist-trap abominations such as the omnipresent Angus Steak House travesty.

        On the only occasion I entered one (yes, I was a tourist with no inside knowledge) a waiter asked me, “How did you find your steak, sir.” I replied, “I simply moved a pea aside on my plate and there it was!”

    5. But as any one knows Grizz, it all depends who is eating the product. I expect all of us have seen the poncey people on TV making a big deal out of the most minute of details.
      Clare Smyth use to run the Gordon Ramsey in Chelsea, we had lunch there once and it was excellent. So much so I had to asked the waiter to stop grating the truffle onto my starter.

    6. Having now had a chance to ruminate fully on the list, I have to dispute your claim for the North, George, as 46% are in London itself and a further 13% are South of the Watford Gap so, only 41% remain North thereof.

        1. But you DO support it, George, “We northerners have always know that our snap is better…” despite evidence to the contrary.

          …and that should be known but that’s just Peddy pedantic.

        1. In better reproductions of the photograph there are quite a few women to be seen. Just because the Taliban are thugs does not mean that all Muslims are the same. The fact is that the concept of chivalry towards women and the idea of romantic love are both Arabic concepts that were imported to the West by the Crusaders.

          I am very anti-Islamic, as my remarks show. But I lived in an Islamic country, grew up in one, and I have to say it is very wrong to demonize these people because of the actions of thugs. The vast number of Muslim men love their wives and children and care for them just as much any Westerner and, I have to say, it is a stain on us, that we understand so little about them that we casually smear them as if it were an amusing or valid thing to do. End of rant!

          1. Yo jr

            We know that a lot of Westernised Oriental Gentlemen, in many of our towns that have a high immigrant population, just luuuurve our young children, well mostly the girls

          2. Perhaps if your life and been saved by a Muslim, and a very devout one at that, at risk of his own life, you would not be so cavalier in your opinions.

            I have consistently pointed out that I vehemently oppose Islam, but that doesn’t mean I have to take the low road of smearing 1 billion people in order to feel a false sense of superiority. Especially when your remarks suggest that that sense of superiority is false and as bigoted as the bigotry you seek to project on all Muslims.

          3. ‘Morning, JR, I think the reason that most people, me included, have a down on Muslims is for their slavishly following the instructions of their prophet and the Imams and seem to abdicate the ability to think for themselves and maybe ask themselves, “Is this right?”

          4. Good morning NoToNanny. It has been my experience that many, many Muslims have doubts. However because of the structure of the ideology they are trapped in they find it impossible to speak those doubts. The unfortunate reality of Islam is that violence against doubt is the first response not the last. This behaviour is sanctioned by the Koran which actually says that one should remonstrate with a doubter only if you cannot resort to shutting them up by force.

            Millions ask themselves: “Is this right?” But because of the above problem they cannot show it in the way that you or I can. In Iran where a huge majority of the population is disillusioned with Islam they show it in subtle ways. A favourite is that on a Friday, when you are supposed to go to the mosque, thousands of them in every city of Iran, go for an “innocent” picnic instead.
            Then thousands have also, out of sight of the authorities, started practicing their ancient religion again, Zoroastrianism. They gather together and practice out of sight of the Mullahs. And others have secretly converted to Christianity. But the problem is that when you do such things your fate is most likely to be hanging from a crane by the neck. So, it is easy for us to be so cavalier about what people in Islamic communities have to put up with but then we are not threatened in the same way, are we? And frankly, given the craven behaviour of so many people with the Covid nonsense. I doubt that many of those who criticise Islam with casual insults, would not behave in exactly the same way as people do in Islamic communities if faced with the same reality.
            Rule. Walk a mile in someone’s shoes, then criticise!

          5. Our son’s oncologist is a Saudi Arabian who has lived and worked in Britain for nearly twenty years.
            I suspect he’s not going back!

          6. Thanks, Johnathan, but I wouldn’t walk a mile in a Muslim’s shoes since he’d have thrown them at me and that, I understand, is a big Islamic slur upon one.

    4. And……….. where are they all going ?
      Also nearly all young men, the very people who should have been protecting their much loved country.

  41. Government sees hydrogen as the way forward to power our homes and industry:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58238367.amp

    However this piece does not address the issue of the many types of colourful hydrogen that are potentially avaliable.
    The extinction rebels will not eccept anything other than green hydrogen but there just won’t be enough electricity left to produce the stuff when we’ve shut down all the fossil fuel and nuclear generators.

    Here are some other practical colours avallable,

    https://www.ewe.com/en/ewe-group/shaping-the-future/hydrogen/the-colours-of-hydrogen

  46. Exciting! Just signed a new contract of employment for a Norwegian company. The existing (German) employer is going to be pissed, though.
    Oh, well, can’t be helped. He should have done something to keep me if he wanted to, not pretend I didn’t exist for the last 9 months.

    2. Good luck, stagger them with your brilliance.
      failing that, show them your brilliant stagger. };-O

    3. Congratulations.

      Though i would have contacted the old boss and asked him what he intended to do about it. If he stumped up all well and good.

      1. Not for me.
        Money can’t compensate for boredom.
        In previous employment, dropped a rank from Vice President to Senior Manager, to return to Operations and not strategy, as there was too much talk & not enough doing.
        Now I’m dropping pay to get back to the action I loved and am good at, working with people I respect. New pay is OK, though, and the drop is mitigated by a 50% tax rate, so really it’s half the headline difference. From excellent to good, I can live with that.

    1. Once, in an African village,
      a native man walked up to a missionary with a look of fury on his face. “My wife gave birth today,” the native growled, “and the baby is white! And you’re the only white person within 100 miles of here! ”
      The missionary glanced around guiltily for a moment but quickly regained his composure. “Look at those goats over there,” the missionary said, pointing at the village’s livestock. “All of them are white, except for that black one over there. Sometimes nature works in mysterious ways. ”
      The native’s eyes widened, and he nodded at the missionary. “I understand, sir. I’ll stop talking about the white baby…” and here his voice dropped to a whisper. “… And you stop talking about the black goat. “

  48. Last week I posted here that the motor car was the most liberating thing for the ordinary person in the 20th century and that the Covid restrictions imposed by the government have more to do with control than about health. The government is trusting that people will be used to having their movements curtailed by the time impractical, over-expensive electric cars put an end to the freedom of mobility that the ordinary person used to have.

    I was glad to see that Neil Oliver on GB News last night agreed that our politicians are far more interested in controlling the plebs than either Covid or the environment.

    1. IMO white goods were the most liberating, allowing women to go to work and provide money for a far higher standard of living. Arguably, without them most people/families would not be able to afford a car and demand would not have driven the progress in quantity, quality and price that we’ve seen.

      1. Women’s freedom relies on a reliable supply of affordable electricity, which makes up for their physical weakness and the time consuming nature of keeping a family clean and fed.
        I wonder if any screeching female Greenie has ever though this one through? (Rhetorical question.)

      2. When we were liveaboards, the modern comfort I missed most was the washing machine! Doing the family washing (for four) by hand took up most of the day. I did have a hand-turned tub (that we called Sputnik) which took some of the hard work out of the whole business, but even so. The added problem was the amount of fresh water required, particularly for rinsing; and of course drying took a long time because we couldn’t spin dry – nor did we carry a mangle on board.

        https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3094c3a9b3f989e799f0c9613d6a7b74e65ebac49c4d6cb2fbd1e9796bb14291.jpg

        The photo shows our younger son, Henry, then 13, turning Sputnik – a hundred turns, then a rest, and an hour later another hundred turns: that’s the method!

        2. Our elder son had one of those when he was at Bristol University. The clothes took so long to dry that they acquired a musty smell.

      3. All labour-saving household devices were liberating for women. The humble bicycle had a liberating effect before the car and it was more affordable to the working classes. At the advent of reliable cycles, the distance at which people intermarried became significantly wider, increasing the availability of a varied gene pool.

  50. Garden of Eden
    It was the day of the judgement and God was really happy with what USA has done in its short time on earth. In fact God was so happy that it decided to allow all the presidents and first ladies in the garden of Eden for eternal happiness.

    And so one by all presidents and first ladies present and past started entering the majestic garden. All but one couple. Who you ask.

    Well many of you might think it would be the Trumps, with valid reasons. Some might point out the Nixons and other presidents of the past with considerable sins. But alas, God works in mysterious ways and it was in fact the Obamas who were not allowed entry into the garden.

    Why you ask.

    It was because once while having breakfast with the family of the VP, they ate the ‘for Biden’ fruit.

    2. How about a shorter version?: Q why doesn’t Trump//Harris eat apples? A because the bible says their for Biden fruit.

  51. Academic sues university after she was sacked over ‘racist’ tweet

    Aysha Khanom dropped by Leeds Beckett University, but says tweets describing political commentator as a ‘house negro’ were not sent by her

    “Black radicalism” is a protected belief system, an academic will argue in a legal battle against the university which cut ties with her over a “racist” tweet.

    Aysha Khanom lost her advisory role with Leeds Beckett University (LBU) following tweets from her organisation describing a political commentator as a “house negro”.

    She is now suing the university, arguing that her dismissal discriminated against her belief in critical race theory and black radicalism, an academic movement which broadly upholds that race is a social construct which is used to oppress minorities. The case is believed to be the first of its kind in Britain.

    Professor Kehinde Andrews, who branded Winston Churchill a “white supremacist”, has supported her fight in an open letter, arguing that terms such as “house negro” are not necessarily “racial slurs” but “concepts that come out of struggles for racial justice”.

    Ms Khanom founded The Race Trust, a not-for-profit organisation that offers “racial literacy” training to schools.

    On February 14, The Race Trust account posted a tweet directed at Calvin Robinson, who is an occasional contributor to The Telegraph, saying: “Don’t you feel ashamed that most people see you as a house negro?”

    During an appearance on the BBC’s The Big Question that evening, Mr Robinson detailed abuse he has endured for being black and Right-wing, saying: “For example I have been called Bounty, Uncle Tom, house negro for not having the right opinion.”

    The Race Trust account subsequently responded to a critic of its remarks on Twitter, calling them a “coconut”.

    The term “house negro” is used to describe a person of colour who shirks their own cultural identity in order to assimilate into a white society. The term “coconut”, largely regarded as a derogatory phrase, describes someone who is black but aligns themselves predominantly with white people and culture.

    Case centres on ‘freedom of speech’, says academic

    Ms Khanom worked for LBU on an advisory basis through its “Centre for Race, Education and Decoloniality”, but the university severed ties with the academic following the remarks.

    In a statement at the time, it said it was ending its association with Ms Khanom, adding that it condemned “the use of racist language”.

    On an online fundraising page which has been created to raise £5,000 to cover her legal costs, Ms Khanom claimed she was the victim of a “network of alt-Right activists”.

    “LBU’s conduct towards me suggests that academics should be looking over their shoulder before they make statements about Israel and Palestine, or about critical race theory.

    “That is why this case and LBU’s role in it is not just about me and my reputation as an anti-racist. Fundamentally, this is an important issue of freedom of speech.”

    Ms Khanom maintains that the controversial tweets were not sent by her.

    She added on her fundraising page: “No academic should find their contract terminated so publicly in the absence of a fair and thorough investigation.”

    LBU has been contacted for comment.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/08/16/black-radicalism-protected-belief-system-claims-academic-sacked/

    1. If you have to explain and define the terminology used, it is then seen to be couched in terms that only a ‘select few’ would understand and, as such, cannot be deemed offensive to hoi polloi.

      1. Yo NTN

        BLMers etc can be as offensive as they like to Whitey, but they have made us use a whole new Lexicon,

        when we talk, write (and even think) about virtually any subject in UK now

        1. I take the British Army view on that, OLT, and call them ‘stills’, meaning they’re still ni**ers, no matter what you might refer to them as.

    3. FFS don’t these people know their terms? Coconut refers to someone with a brown skin. Choc ice is the correct term for black people.

      Anyway, the terms aren’t racist, because white people don’t use them – racism is only a stick to beat white people with.

  52. 336884+ up ticks,
    Essex has thrown itself in front taking in Afghanistan refugees whilst IMO throwing a segment of these Isles under a bus.
    Why does not the fat controller ( tory ino leader) who is a great believer in deals do one with a country that has pro muslim leanings, a deal that cannot be refused, then it would be a simple case of
    potential troop / people movement.

    Talk about clasping asps to the nations breast wholesale.

    Treachery is in the hands of the current overseers, big time.

    https://twitter.com/NKrankie/status/1427572651590049795

    1. Having delivered leaflets round the army married quarters, there are certainly plenty of empty houses in that area.
      I suspect they will be temporary arrangements. It is a difficult one; we do owe some loyalty to these people, I just hope we don’t import rotten apples amongst them.
      We should never have got involved in the first place, but we are where we are. Possibly Blair has room to accommodate many them in his 8 (?) houses – none of which are exactly rabbit hutches.

      3. Given the depletion in the Armed Services, I’m sure that there will plenty of ‘rooms’ available in the Army’s ‘Glasshouse’.

  53. Good Moaning (just).
    Grey, cold ….. sunspots …. climate change …. all our fault …..

    1. Good morning.
      I’m installing daylight bulbs everywhere to stop me from going into hibernation.

      1. Afghanistan was never a sovereign country but a mountainous desert populated by competing warlords. The military intelligence knew this and that the army would dissipate on the withdrawal of foreign troops.

        Somehow this message was lost on the asterisk President Sleepy Joe.

        1. TBF – western politicians are an historically ignorant bunch of petty bureaucrats. Just what we DON’T need at the moment.
          You can see how demands for a Man of Destiny (or even Steel) become irresistible. An Iron Lady would be very welcome.

    2. Millions spent on training them what to do – without thinking if they have the guts to do it. I’ll assume they all believe they’ll end up here in the “Land of the Free” everything.

      1. Rather like teaching people with no academic ability whatsoever to study for “A” levels. The difference being that when tested Afghan soldiers ran away but the “A” level students were given A grades.

    3. Mr Walsh is putting his attitudes on Afghanistan. He simply doesn’t understand how they work.

      1. It is no suprise to me. a totaly different culture that the left think they can change. They hate history and refuse to learn from it. Its this same attitude that let Hitler and Stalin do what they did.

    4. Is “sort of” amazing different from bog-standard (and inescapable) amazing?

      Why is everyone perpetually astonished at everything these days?

    1. I can’t believe she is allowed near children, especially with her attitudes toward teaching them those categories.

  56. One for Grizz? I love articles that combine new information with the downright bizarre. The positive side of the Nazi threat!
    An article from this week’s Spekkie.

    Mark Solomons

    Will Sizewell C see off the avocet?

    From magazine issue: 14 August 2021

    “There are many reasons why birds disappear — and why they return. The avocet, however, is probably the only one that owes its resurgence to the Nazis.

    After a 100-year hiatus in Britain, this elegant black and white wader reappeared after the second world war. Four pairs were found in Minsmere nature reserve and another four in Havergate Island, both along the Suffolk coast. These areas had been flooded to prevent a German invasion, making them ideal nesting grounds. The avocet had taken flight from parts of Holland damaged by the Nazis, travelling 100 miles or so here across the North Sea.

    Amid headlines about the Cold War and the H-bomb, the news of returning avocets was greeted with much fanfare. In February 1948, the Daily Mail reported: ‘In a suite of old-fashioned offices… a group of men are anxiously waiting to hear of an air invasion of Britain. The news will come to them from watchers along the East Anglian coast, who are keeping as alert a look-out as they did in 1940 for the Germans. But this time, instead of looking for aircraft with black markings, they are hoping to see streamlined Recurvirostra avosetta, which have white, as well as black, markings. Unlike the Luftwaffe, these invaders will be most welcome.’

    More than 70 years on, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds last month reported in excess of 400 avocets on the Minsmere reserve. It is a remarkable achievement — the arrival of 58 chicks was widely celebrated at the same site just six years ago. But the journey here has not been a smooth one.

    After the avocets were discovered in 1947, the RSPB leased 1,500 acres of land from the Ogilvie family, who built the quirky nearby village of Thorpeness as a place for their friends and family to stay during the summer. At first, the avocets did not breed because reedbeds grew and expanded into areas that would have made potential nesting sites. So the warden of Minsmere, Bert Axell, took up the cause. Despite opposition from what he saw as the bureaucrats at the RSPB (who later adopted the avocet as their corporate logo), he decided to create a wetland area called a ‘scrape’: a large body of water dotted with islands and shrubs to encourage nesting waders and gulls.

    It took until 1963, though, for the avocets to begin breeding again. The typical pair lays two eggs a year, and as the population grew it expanded into other areas of the country.

    There have been blips along the way. When BBC’s Springwatch broadcast from Minsmere in 2014, their cameras recorded a badger getting through the fence to the scrape, swimming to the islands and devouring most of the eggs in nests there. A reinforced fence was put up and has helped the breeding pairs go from strength to strength.

    Today, visitors to Minsmere would be hard pressed not to see an avocet during the summer, and nationally they are no longer listed as endangered. But there are fears of a new danger to their continued success — the proposed Sizewell C nuclear power station. The ten-year construction of the plant will involve major disruption to water levels in the area, threatening a huge range of wildlife. So, despite avocets’ recent triumphs, the future may not be so black and white for these beautiful monochrome birds.”

  57. Good afternoon from a Saxon Queen with blooded axe and pursed longbow

    I don’t usually bother with M&S apart from socks ( assuming I can’t find any from seasalt.
    But thought I’d look for a couple of plain t shirts. Apart from 2 blonde women all the models were predominately black or asian and all posing at strange angles stetching out these tshirts
    with their fingers trying to look cool, diverse and appealing to 20 year olds who’d not be seen dead buying things there. I soon logged off .
    Utter nonsense.

    1. Was in an M&S store earlier this year, glanced at a rail of heavily discounted men’s shirts, all slimfit. South East Asian youngsters might be able to wear them, but even they would need to be skinny.
      Another day I had to politely interrupt a conversation between a supervisor and an assistant in order to inquire about stock. After a quick ‘no’, it was instantly obvious that they had no intention of trying to sell me anything, and frankly didn’t care less.

      1. The shirts you were looking at were the discounted leftovers. All the ‘normal’ sizes had already gone. It’s the same with ‘bargains’ online.

        1. 50 years ago M&S shirts were delivered in fixed ratios – 15.5″ & 16″ were the biggest sellers – the ones that were normally left were the 14.5″s and anything above 17″.

          That said, the “mill towns” in Yorkshire and Lancashire were allowed top up orders of 14.5″ – immigrant population.

          I am sure these days there will be a lot more 17″ & 17″+ I saw an advert the other day (on-line) for XXXL, IVXL and they were not cheap!

          1. Cottontraders go up to 5XL on some lines.
            As I never wear a tie, I don’t pay any attention to collar sizes.

          2. Same with da wimmin’s clothes. The racks are always full of sizes 8 – 12 and 20+, but never enough of the normal, frame sizes of 14 – 18

    1. Someone is welcome to correct me, but I was told that all post WWII steel is ever so slightly contaminated with radiation. For high faluting pure scientific stuff you need pre-1945 steel if you work with delicate instrumentation.

      1. Not something I had heard before.
        Is that due to the bombs being tested or different production methods? Presumably if due to bombs, or nuclear melt downs, even the pre WWII should be similarly affected.

      2. everything on this planet was irradiated to a degree with our above ground testing at Trinity and their use at Nagasaki and Hiroshima, the ones that worried me where the Fission Fusion weapons tested at the Atolls as their combined load was FAR greater and the nuclear fall out circulated the planet on the jet stream so everyone got a taste

  59. The Taliban are controlling the entrances to the British airport. The Brits decide what people are likely to get through the Taliban checks at the entrances and then take them to the airport. There are less people at the airport now. It is going to be a long job to get the people out now. BBC News report

      1. AS – The Taliban have invited civil servants to return to their offices, promising their safety. I don’t think many will take up that invitation. The Afghans know what to expect from the Taliban and do not trust them.

        1. I’d trust a Taliban promise MORE than a UK govt promise to cut/stop immigration. There is a chance of the first one – – NOT A CHANCE of the second.

        2. I think they said it was entirely safe to go to work; but getting home that day might not be quite so easy.

  60. This government , in fact all politicians , lack statemanship qualities . What a shallow lousy bunch they all are ..

    They don’t give 2 F’s for our armed services .. They subjected daughters and sons to the wickedness of hidden traps , limbs blown off .

    There has been no purpose or meaning in the sacrifice of their lives fit young British troops were subjected to in Afghanistan .

    All of us here should feel very worried , yes very worried indeed .

    I am here living one mile from the Royal Tank regiment .. here in our village we see young men in uniform all the time , we hear them practising with their tanks on the ranges , we hear their huge gun practise , we see them fit and busy and enthusiastic , many wear different cap badges and insignia .. We have a Royal British Legion club in our village and in Bovington .

    Older ex service men have many things to say, especially those who served in Ireland and of course the hellish heat and fearsome Iraq , Afghanistan and the rest .

    Look how quickly the Taliban took over, look how quickly the head honsho of Afghanistan left the country for Oman with bucket loads of money .

    Sorry to go on , but what a pigs ear of a mess we are in .

    1. Aymen, Sister.
      I can only hope this is a wake-up call to woke, smug, bedwetting Blighty.

      1. You, too, live in an unreal word, old dear.

        Nothing, NOTHING will happen – part from thousands of unwanted, male, slammer, Afghanis arriving to a big hug from Priti Awful. I expect Carrion will be leaning over backwards to find room for them at No 10 and at Chequers.

        1. Don’t be silly. They might mark Carrie Antoinette’s wallpaper or spill red wine orange juice on her sofa.

    1. How far have the Kiwis fallen.
      The land of the All Blacks and rugged pioneering farming types ends up with that as prime minister.

    6. And one case has been found at our local airport – the baggage handlers are trying to get it back to its owner.

  62. And so it begins….

    ‘Chinese state media has seized on the chaos of Washington’s exit from Afghanistan to taunt Taiwan that the United States will not come to its aid if Beijing invades.

    “After the fall of the Kabul regime, the Taiwan authorities must be trembling. Don’t look forward to the US to protect them,” tweeted Hu Xijin, the editor of the Global Times, and known for his nationalist views, on Monday night.

    “Taipei officials need to quietly mail-order a Five-Star Red Flag from the Chinese mainland. It will be useful one day when they surrender to the PLA,” he added, referring to China’s People’s Liberation Army’

    1. Tempting though it might be, I hope China has the sense to stay clear at the moment.
      I could see Biden completely over-reacting to any provocation after this recent humiliation.

      1. Perhaps China senses that this is its best opportunity to take Taiwan. Biden has shown himself to be weak, rolling over on Nord Stream 2, losing control of the southern border, the Afghan debacle. Better now, at the start of his presidency, than later, when he may have to consider what the voters think of him.

        1. By over-reaction I mean WW3, with nukes.

          His next election is the mid-terms. With luck sufficient Republicans will be elected to stymie the Democrats’ constitutional changes.

          1. That’s what I mean too. I think China would probably take a punt on Biden not opening the football regardless of the level of provocation he is presented with.
            I think I would too.

  63. French populist party leader Marine Le Pen has criticised the Biden
    administration after the rapid fall of Kabul to Taliban forces, stating
    it demonstrates the United States’ inability to defend the free world.

    1. I’m sure he (Macron) really wanted to sell white flags and had the country not capitulated quite as quickly, he’d have sold lots.

    2. I’m sure he (Macron) really wanted to sell white flags and had the country not capitulated quite as quickly, he’d have sold lots.

  65. 336884+up ticks,
    Heard a chap on the perpetual whine show saying he is clearing out the spare room to accommodate refugees, what struck me was you mean a room a veteran could use in lieu of using the curb as a pillow, that room ?

    It will never come about whilst the lab/lib/con coalition have the shout and fools keep supporting / voting for more of the same, but I want to see a spokesMAN come forward to rhetorically state a worldwide pledge to Afghanistan, one act of terrorism on United Kingdom soil and for starters
    your poppie crop ( poisoning UK youth) plus your harvesting @rses will be liquidated.

    Poppy cultivation soars
    Yet even during droughts and wheat shortages, when wheat prices rocket, Afghan farmers have grown poppy and extracted opium gum that is refined into morphine and heroin. … Three of the last four years have seen some of Afghanistan’s highest levels of opium

        1. Daughter/grandaughters etc – ones who would NOT be happy being left in a room with the new arrival.

  66. Instead of threats…..

    China, for instance, will no doubt be eyeing Afghanistan’s substantial mineral reserves. A few years ago, the Chinese won the rights to exploit the copper deposits at Aynak, in central Afghanistan, which are believed to be the largest in the world. Until now, they have been unable to put these rights into practice. But if the Taliban can provide order, mineral resource extraction may at last become a real possibility.

    This should benefit Afghanistan as well as China. The country is in desperate need of funds, and Chinese investment could provide a valuable replacement for lost Western aid. Russia, meanwhile, may have something to offer in parts of northern Afghanistan, where the Soviet Union previously helped in the construction of industrial projects such as the Sheberghan gas field and the Mazar-i-Sharif nitrogen fertiliser plant.

    2. I got a three day facebook suspension for calling the SNP, National Socialists, so it must be true.

        1. Shows what Facebook think of themselves though – a 3 day suspension is a PUNISHMENT in their eyes – full of their own self importance.

  68. John Redwood Fact checking the BBC

    August 17, 2021

    85 Comments

    I was surprised to receive an email from the BBC after my interview
    on Monday of last week. It asked me to prove that German carbon dioxide
    emissions were twice as large as the UK’s, a claim I made in my
    interview. I was surprised because I would expect the BBC to know the
    main sources of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide as practically every
    BBC news show and comment show has to have a climate change item on it
    these days. I sent him back couple of sources that a simple google
    search yielded. I had of course checked my recollections of the numbers
    before doing the interview so I knew they were correct. He expressed no
    interest in my allegations about China which accounts for around 27
    times as much CO2 output as the UK.

    He returned to the issue having consulted someone else to point out
    that if you looked at consumption patterns rather than at where fuel was
    burned and things made the Uk would have a worse figure and Germany
    as a leading exporter of carbon dioxide drenched products would have a
    bit better figure by transferring some of their CO2 to the importing
    country. Germany would of course still be the larger emitter. I
    explained that I was talking about COP 26 and the global Treaty
    framework. The whole basis of the international conferences is to get
    countries to pledge to cut the CO2 that is generated on their territory,
    as that is more subject to their control. Surely the expression
    Germany’s CO2 output means just that, the CO2 they produce.

    He agreed that the figures used were correct but felt he needed to
    write an additional essay about how perhaps we should use consumption
    based figures instead of the agreed international output based figures. I
    objected to this being done in the name of a fact check on what I had
    said when it was obvious I had cited accurate normal figures.
    Nonetheless the BBC fact check then posted a long essay which did begin
    by quoting another source to show my figures were accurate before going
    into a long apology for Germany and a representation of figures to cast
    Germany in a better light. Why? Why does Germany have to be protected
    when her business model includes digging out plenty of brown coal and
    burning it, and producing millions of fossil fuel burning vehicles. In
    contrast the UK has all but phased out coal from the mix. Why no mention
    of Germany’s rows over extending open cast coal mining, her refusal to
    eliminate coal this decade, and no mention of China, the world’s
    largest carbon dioxide producer?

    From John Redwood.

    2. Nigel Farage was interviewing the founder of Extinction Rebellion on GBNews the other day and asked him about the level of carbon emissions from volcanic activity. The guy said that he didn’t know anything about that and seemed not to understand the point of the question.

  69. 8 August 2021 – Five teenage boys have been killed in a car crash in New Zealand’s worst road accident for two years.

    Has Jacinda banned cars yet?

    3. Drugs, alcohol, excess speed, showing off, no seatbelts…?

      Terrible for their families but at least they didn’t kill anyone else.

  70. 336884+ up ticks,
    So the real question should be how many deaths will there be among United Kingdom youth resulting from a bumper crop of Afghanistan poppies ?

    1. Opium is probably safer than graphene oxide, Ogga. There’s certainly more long term data.

      1. 336884+ up ticks,
        Afternoon SE,
        Years ago the first pictures of glue sniffing was enough for me.

      1. 336884+ up ticks,
        Afternoon HM,
        Yanks plus, even so the current overseers are still going to coin it via the fields & harvest it will still exit and do damage.

          1. 336884+ up ticks,
            Evening HM,
            The product don’t change and it is not a popularity contest, but while it is in being the UK should be threatening its production, using that as a bargaining chip.

            In my book if peoples want to inject sh!te into their arms
            imitating the political overseers that is their prerogative.

            As things stand currently and seemingly with the peoples / parties consent a boatload of pushers riding white HORSES could come ashore at DOVER

          3. 336884+ up ticks,
            HM,
            Not in the least, there are a multitude of ways without resorting to physical violence, all you need is the right type governance in power.

  74. A Taliban spokesman contacted The BBC today to confirm they are now in
    control of Bradford, Oldham, Luton and Rochdale and expect to be running
    London by the weekend.

    1. Not far off the truth. Still, I hope they butcher Sad Dick, the present Caliph of Londonistan.

  75. We’ve seen the rise of a regime that forces women to cover their faces,
    prevents children from going to school and denies people their basic
    human rights.

    And the Taliban are even worse.

  76. Mods ! Help !

    FUMING !!! CAN ADMINS OF THIS GROUP DO A BETTER JOB OF MONITORING WHO IS
    ALLOWED IN HERE PLEASE?! WE HAVE A NEW MEMBER, AN ELDERLY WOMAN. SHE’S
    BEEN PRIVATELY MESSAGING MEMBERS, SENDING THEM NAKED PICTURES OF HERSELF
    IN NASTY POSES ALONG WITH CLOSE UPS OF HER UNMENTIONABLES. SHE IS
    OFFERING AN IPHONE 8+ IN EXCHANGE FOR SEXUAL FAVORS. I AM ESPECIALLY
    BOTHERED BECAUSE IT TURNED OUT TO BE AN IPHONE 6 AND OBVIOUSLY
    SOMETHING’S WRONG WITH IT CAUSE ITS SUPER SLOW AND THE CAPS LOCK IS
    STUCK ON !

    1. Why isn’t she wearing a mask then, while that close to the one at the side of her – I don’t get anywhere near that to my neighbours.

  79. So are we heading towards to utter downfall of the West as Middle Eastern savage cultures with the help of China and Russia build a new world order? The end of days .

    2. End of days report..
      Did the West do a;
      A. Good job.
      B. An average job.
      C A bad job.
      If B or C..what could have been done better.

      2. You mean, “did the West do:
        A A good job
        B An average job
        C A bad job”?
        don’t you?

      1. Hello Mr Viking. It seems a new dark ages looms and axes of the faithful must be ready .

        1. I keep mine ready for taking the heads off Dover Soles (which I’m planning for the weekend).

          1. I used my longbow to catch the seabream ( planned for Sunday ) Saturday it’ll be duck legs . Not had Dover Soles for ages, i must see if the fish man has them next time I visit.

          2. Pesky Fish have Dover Sole on a regular basis. That’s where I’m getting mine, using my Visa card as tackle.

    4. Probably. I hope we can hold out another 30-40 years until I pop my clogs but I am worried about the country my neices are going to inherit.

      1. Thank goodness, Stormy that in 30-40 years I would be 107 or 117. I know it’s not impossible but, given my lungs after 60 years of smoking, I doubt I shall survive.

        However, there was a French woman who lived to 120 years. She gave up smoking at 117!

    5. If anyone will be the “saviour” of the West it is Russia. It is our politicians stupidity that they have chosen to use Russia as a whipping boy for every false bit of propaganda that they can muster. With Russia we can make common cause and I have no doubt that they would willingly reciprocate. It is not Russia fault that they are leery of us, it is ours as our behaviour toward Russia after the fall of the USSR proves. We fell upon the country like the proverbial ravening wolves hoping to pick it clean. It was Putin that stopped it and that is why he is hated in the West.

    1. Wonderful reporting. Guantanamo is a bay on the coast of Cuba. It is not an island. The USA has had a base there since 1903, that is, on the mainland of Cuba.
      (It is interesting that Cuba under President Castro honoured the Treaty of 1903 and made no attempt to seize the US base, or remove the US forces. Had the positions been reversed would the US have honoured such a treaty?)

  83. Every cloud has a silver lining.

    “Duke and Duchess of Sussex left ‘speechless’ after Taliban seize power in Afghanistan”

    1. So speechless they have to tell the world they are speechless.

      Of course the social climbing gits won’t call out a sitting President. Invites might dry up.

      Obama 60th party lol.

      1. The pair of them are beyond the pale .

        They better watch their step , I expect the pair of them are being watched carefully now, the Taliban are not very forgiving .

        1. Hal and Meg should go out and have strong words with the Taliban about their treatment of women. I’ll even pay their air fares for them as they do so enjoy their freebies.

          My good deed to everyone everywhere.

          2. This is where it gets a bit tricksy. A lot of Afghans have blue eyes and paler skin than Meg.

          6. When I hired a car in Syria in 2000 (imagine doing that today!!) the chap at the Damascus city office of Europcar was ginger and looked Caledonian. A descendant from a Crusader, I imagine.

        2. I could not bear the maudlin drivel that would ensue if something happened to them.
          But now the DofE has gone, they’re probably safe.

        1. Oh they wouldn’t worry about a little something like that even if it meant Harry betraying his Afghan veteran buddies.

          An invite to Martha’s Vineyard Trumps everything.

  84. To show how wise the New Zealand PM is:

    Statistics.

    18 months deaths from cancer 16,000
    18 months death from heart disease 8,700
    Total deaths from covid (18 months) a shocking 26

    Are they not so lucky to have her at the helm?

    1. And how many of those other deaths might have been avoided if the lockdowns hadn’t interfered? Come on ICC, put the horse on trial!

    2. And in how many of those 26 were there serious underlying conditions and/or extreme old age?

    3. We have no idea how many died OF covid here.
      The ” within 28 days of a positive test” statistic is ridiculous.
      Our hospitalised cases includes everyone who went there for something else and tested + after they got there.
      It would be useful to get some meaningful information.
      Fat chance.

        1. But what of OF CoViD, without terminal cancer, aged under 75, etc?
          … and that page shows more with covid on the death certificate than within 28 days of a test ? When we know most of those who had a positive test, recovered and then they died anyway. Surely there should be far more of these 28 dayers… no?

          1. You don’t expect the Dr to do a PM do you? If the person was in hospital (or at home ) and had a chest infection or similar, then Covid goes on the death cert.

          6. The whole nonsense of this could be demonstrated by making the same criteria used for vaccinations and people who died within 28 days of being vaccinated. The total might well be even be higher than that for Covid, given that far more people have been vaccinated than have had Covid.

    1. Because the people we worked with all lived miles apart, none of us knew what each other’s wives/girlfriends looked like. One day it became the topic of conversation, each of us describing our other halves. All going ok – then one said – mine looks just like Jo Brand. Nobody knew what to say.

      1. Jo, just like a lot of women with her political views, stereotype men when they don’t or can’t match up to what they think men want. Thin with flowing locks FFS.

        There are lots of men out there who like larger sized women and are put off by the self involved vacuous Barbie types.

        To steal a phrase from Pratchett. Kisses don’t last but good cooking does.

    2. Jesus H. She looks like those scary photos showing the sub-dermal effects of sun exposure.

      2. It’s a feminist thing. Unadorned. No make-up. No sun screen either. Too much faff.

        She was going to burn her bra but thought better of it as she would topple over.

    3. I don’t think that men necessarily want “thin girls with flowing locks” but I do think they are averse to the Jo Brands of this world that look like two bulldogs having an altercation in a sack.

  86. Just heard that my husband’s youngest cousin has Covid,
    the youngest smug vegan cousin who made us eat nasty vegan food at a party to prove a point. She’s a councillor, lib dem voter, feels sorry for poor refugees .. sainted Gemma,
    of course out of all of them it had to be her. Sorry for the lack of sympathy..

      1. Tough as old boots ( in her 40s so not so old ) she’ll be fine and besides she’ll dine on it for ages .

      1. Not sure but believe she must have due to having elderly parents and her job, hmm ,
        she’s also a goody two shoes, so I’d imagine so.

        1. Presumably it will be blamed on an “unjabbed” who wasn’t shouting “unclean unclean” and ringing a bell.

    3. Trying times for all concerned.

      I know how difficult it is for me to retain my Christian principles when faced with such a situation…..and not laugh.

  87. HAPPY HOUR – Who will replace Hugh…?
    Hugh Edwards to quit…
    As Edwards signals the end of his reign on News at Ten, Huw will replace him? (Don’t put your money on any old white guys)
    It’s no surprise the favourites internally to replace Edwards include the aforementioned Bruce, Sophie Raworth, Mishal Husain and Reeta Chakrabarti.
    ttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9897943/DAN-WOOTTON-Edwards-signals-end-reign-News-Ten-Huw-replace-him.html

    My money is on Mishal Husain.

  88. It wouldn’t surprise me if what is happening in Afghanistan wasn’t all part of a globalist plan all along and not down to incompetence.
    They are such devious buggers it never pays to take anything at face value.

      1. There will be every chancer on the planet claiming they are fleeing Afghanistan – and while they are “checked out” – vanish.

      2. There will be every chancer on the planet claiming they are fleeing Afghanistan – and while they are “checked out” – vanish.

      3. Nah – the “government” says they can come WITHOUT PASSPORTS – so they just get on a plane or a ferry. No need to pay zillions to the traffickers.

  89. Drug-dealing teenager, Emeka Dawuda-Wodu, 19, who stabbed rival to death days after dismembering jazz trumpeter, 53,
    and burying the body parts is jailed for minimum of 31 years     D Fail

    One of the Windsor/Barnes Dawuda-Wodu’s – Didn’t Manfred Mann do a song about them? Out in 31 months if he promises not to do it again.

    https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/08/17/15/46740069-0-Drug_dealer_Emeka_Dawuda_Wodu_who_is_facing_a_life_sentence_for_-a-43_1629209921858.jpg

        1. The trumpeter’s house was the meeting place and drug dealing centre. He objected to them torturing his cat so ‘they’ killed him. I say ‘they’ because none of them were found guilty of his murder, only chopping him up and hiding the bits.

    2. I feel SOOOOOO enriched that he is in the UK. Now costing us thousands a week. The death penalty is the ONLY thing for things like this.

        1. There were three other ‘thugs’ associated with these murders and at least one other attempted murder. The death sentence was abolished because of a couple of possible miscarriages of justice and some police incompetence. In cases like this there is no doubt who are the guilty parties and they should be dealt with accordingly – electrocuted, injected, whichever is cheapest.

          2. But wot abhat the elf ‘n safety? Wouldn’t want a govt employee waving a lethal weapon about without a team of safety experts and NHS support… an wot abaht the mess afterwards?

          3. Get a chap from France. Worked well when Henry VIII needed to get rid of a difficult wife.

          4. Ten days in quarantine and half a dozen Corvid tests before he could even get past customs. Fred Dibner could have done it with his steam roller but he’s kicked the bucket.

          8. Oh, I don’t know.

            Out in a coffin tomorrow morning for him would be early enough from my point of view

          11. I’m sure we could get a gang of far right hooligans to blow on the windything and get it moving. On the other hand, if the lefties turn up in their usual numbers, just talking would drive the whirly into reverse and suck all the electricity out of the system. Perhaps you are right.

    3. I would love to put him in a chimpanzee enclosure , and watch with pleasure what the chimps do to him, or perhaps hyenas, no a few grizzly bears , hang on , a tank full of cobras, no a pool full of pirhanas… he needs to be punished .. the way that the JUNGLE punishes , remind him of his roots with no pity!

    4. One of the Stansted, Essex, Dawuda-Wodus. Possibly sent from Nigeria by affluent parents for a UK secondary education. The Courts seem to use the expression ‘no fixed abode’ when they don’t want to cause problems for the family of the accused.

  90. My general assessment of the global situation at the moment is that the West is under a globalist coup with every nation being led by incompetent rubber stampers occupied with running their countries into the ground with adopted insane agenda like net Zero Carbon and Covid Vaccine Passports and the rest of the world that has been oppressed by the West for centuries are about to take advantage of our guard down weakness and give us a bloody good kicking.

    1. Not forgetting the World Economic Forum saying that covid can be used to fast track the transfer of wealth from rich to poor countries.

      Global Socialism. Everyone starves. Except for members of SPECTRE Davos.

      1. I’ve noticed the similarities with NWO and Spectre – would the globalists be stuck if they didn’t have Bond film plots to follow?

        2. The billionaires are racing for the moon and the stars. Not to save humanity but for their chosen ones. Everyone left behind with be their farmers.

          The film Elysium.

  93. Evening, all. Who has ever thought America was fit to lead the free world? In statesmanship experience they are still teenagers.

      1. Hello, Bill. Fine, thanks. Oscar seems to be more relaxed and today, after I’d had a bit of a clear out and taken some stuff to the charity shop, we went for coffee at a dog friendly cafe. He chilled out (after he’d knocked his water dish over trying to get at my cake – he’d got his own parkin courtesy of the management, for heaven’s sake!) and I flicked through a “what’s on” type magazine for ideas of where to go for a day out. It was very pleasant. No rush, no stress, no worry as to what I’d find when I got home.

        1. I hope you are not finding the sorting out, admin, undertakers etc too wearing.

          What a stroke of luck that Oscar found his way to join you.

          1. The undertakers were very efficient, the surgery less so (they haven’t sent the paperwork for the death certificate to be issued). I am taking the sorting out of things to get rid of slowly and only doing a bit at a time.

          2. I recommend you get numerous certified copies of such things, the world and his aunt appears to deem it necessary to have them and they don’t like to return them.

          3. I will, sos. Several people have given me that advice and, given the way bureaucracy works, it seems like very good advice that is not to be ignored!

          4. Scan a copy, too. Email is often accepted, and is a damn sight quicker than snail mail.

          5. Will do. I would have done that anyway, as I like to keep an electronic copy of documents.

          6. Being out of touch for a few days I missed your news.
            I would normally wish condolences on a sad loss, but in your case I think she was lost to you a long time ago, so it will be more of a blessed relief largely tinged with regret for what ought to have been.

            So, I will wish you good luck for the future and god Bless.

          7. Thank you, Bob. You are correct; it was a blessed relief all round. MOH hated the effects of dementia, struggled to accept it and longed for death, while I worried about how I was going to pay for everything once I finally couldn’t cope any more. It was a peaceful end, which was a blessing, and I’ll be solvent to get my life back on track.

        2. Keep up the good work!
          Any chance for you to have some “me-time” with the Connemara ?

          1. No, I keep them apart. Oscar has met my friend’s cat and new kitten, though, and all went well. We knew he’d be fine with the dog (he likes dogs), but felines were an unknown quantity.

          1. Thanks, Paul. Oddly enough I read a bit in the magazine about how to deal with the end of lockdown – you may feel deflated and at a loose end … It fitted how I felt now I no longer have to look after MOH. Fortunately, the advice given (give yourself time, relax, eat properly, etc) chimed exactly with what I’m doing.

          2. After a period of very hard work and great stress writing up my Ph.D thesis, it took weeks to settle down after submitting the thesis (with about 2 hours to spare from the deadline) and not feel weird / guilty / at a loose end in the evenings when I didn’t have to do anything.
            It wore off after a while.

          1. Yes, he’s definitely independent and opinionated! He does seem to be coming around to the idea that I need to do things to him to clean him up and he should let me, though, which is progress.

          2. I missed this bit:
            “Origin: Old Norse. The meaning is: Divine Spear; a fighter for God.”

          4. “Origin: Old Norse. The meaning is: Divine Spear; a fighter for God Dog.”
            My Oscar is dyslexic.

          1. Really, I am starting to breathe a bit now. I have done some work in the garden, harvested my raspberries and tomatoes (I had so many I shared some with my neighbours), cleared out a cupboard, burned a lot of paperwork that was no longer needed, taken a couple of items to the charity shop (I will have more once I’ve gone through MOH’s clothes) and thrown away things that were no longer of any use. It felt quite cathartic.

          2. None of my business I know, but consider sending stuff to auction rather than the charity shop, you might be very pleasantly surprised.

          3. I have a roomful of vintage computers. I think I will try sending them to auction as the National Museum of Computing doesn’t seem to want them (they never bothered to reply when I emailed them to offer a donation).

          5. I would if I knew how to use it. I have never bought or sold anything on Ebay and wouldn’t have a clue.

          6. There may be a more local site – something like “Exchange & Mart” that’s worth looking at.
            In Norway, we have finn.no, which basically drowns out all others and is very good.

          7. It really IS worth the effort. The MR has a very successful book selling thing on there. And other domestic items.

            If you can ride a horse and make it conform to dressage – you can do E-bay. Really!

          8. Well, if the pretty one can do it, Con – anyone can!

            Takes shelter to avoid incoming

          12. I’ve bought and (to some extent sold) on Ebay for years. Currently I have a feedback score of 702. Mostly for buying. Selling can be tricky – cars especially. Buyers are likely to disappear.

          13. I would steer clear of ebay, because buyers have such a lot of rights that can be abused to sting you. I think you have to be up to all the scams. My son sells things there, but he knows all the ins and outs.

          16. Those might produce a VERY pleasant surprise.
            Don’t let the auction house sell them as job lots, insist they are done separately first time around, if they don’t sell only then allow them to amalgamate lots, unless the house knows there might be more than two collectors interested in a complete set.

            We sold a kimono that I bought in a Tokyo flea market as a dressing gown for HG for few quid.

            It fetched £70!

          17. I do know, from looking at sites, that some of them, even though they are fairly common, are worth about £100 each.

          18. Auctioneers are real bastards these days – with 20% plus buyers premium etc etc. And trotting and mixing lots and all their other tricks.

            I used to buy ad sell a lot at auction. Not any more.

          19. I admit to being well and truly stung on a couple of lots but buy (ho ho) and large we’ve been pleased.

          20. My laptop is that old Windows doesn’t have “calculator” on it – – it has abacus.

      2. Hello, Bill. Fine, thanks. Oscar seems to be more relaxed and today, after I’d had a bit of a clear out and taken some stuff to the charity shop, we went for coffee at a dog friendly cafe. He chilled out (after he’d knocked his water dish over trying to get at my cake – he’d got his own parkin courtesy of the management, for heaven’s sake!) and I flicked through a “what’s on” type magazine for ideas of where to go for a day out. It was very pleasant. No rush, no stress, no worry as to what I’d find when I got home.

    2. Not the first time they have upset global stability and given the opposition a foot-up. US interference in the Suez Crisis was one of the greatest cock-ups – it was done to spite the French, British and Israelis and curb Old World dominance in the Middle East and the rest of the world. Stupid, stupid!

      1. If they hadn’t rebelled against their lawful King they could have been part of that old world dominance.

  94. That’s me for this dreary, wet, cold, miserable day. They claim it may be dry tomorrow – but, then, they said it would take weeks for the Taliban to take Kabul.

    So have a jolly evening – and a drink or three.

    A demain.

    1. My GP said i have to drink three liters of fluids a day. It is hard going. I might have to change from Gin to Vodka.

      Have a pleasant evening.

      1. Really strange day here , was cold and windy up untill 2pm, then the sunshine broke through and it was very warm.

        Moh is playing golf in Lyme Regis , team game .

        Hope he does well , won’t be back until much later .

        1. Hope he does well , won’t be back until much later

          Are you saying that if he doesn’t do well he’ll be home earlier than you would like?

          };-O

      1. I have been thinking about that , so were the Afghans divided .. and there were Talibans just waiting incognito , did they rush in from Pakistan ?

        If that sort of stealth happened s quickly , what about here, and don’t you remember how quickly the BLM riots happened here last year, and law and order and the new reset and trashing of our own culture happened ..

        The Woke brigade are the similar to the Taliban .. they are destructive and enforcing laws .. Blimey who the hell would have imaganined anyone in authority taking the KNEE 3 years ago , yet look what has happened .

        We have a healthy strong new import of young Arab men , thousands of them .. Is this an example of the Taliban entering by stealth, they WANT to infiltrate the world , don’t they .

        1. They are being ferried in from France, welcomrd, housed etc – and now we have our own govt saying none need passports, so as I put somewhere else – every single one arriving will claim to be from Afghanistan, despite undoubtedly not being able to find it on a map, nor speak a word of the language. And of course, they will be released while they are processed and checked, never to be heard of again. Boris has clearly opened the borders to anyone and pulled the trigger on the end of this country, its people and its culture. Hope him and everyone who has supported this, live for all time – in screaming anguish.

        2. We have a Prime Minister, a Foreign Secretary and a Home Secretary who – collectively – appear to be on the side of potentially dangerous invaders.

          Who is controlling them/ paying them?

          1. Good evening Lacoste,

            I do say some dumb things sometimes , but may I suggest …. China..

            There are certain things that are slipping into place, and I believe that CHINA is the global paymaster .

  95. VERY LAST POST – Tip of the iceberg. Austria starts – all the others will follow. (From the DT)

    “Austria has put an expiry date on arriving travellers’ vaccine certificates amid fears of waning immunity from the jabs.

    The country won’t accept vaccine certificates from UK travellers who received their second doses more than 270 days (approximately 9 months) earlier, meaning that passes for the few who were fully vaccinated in January will expire in October. Those who were double jabbed by the end of April would have a valid pass until the end of January.

    Alternatively, UK travellers are able to show evidence of a negative Covid test or recent recovery from Covid to gain entry, but must also self isolate for 5-10 days if not fully vaccinated within the 270-day window.

    The news is the latest blow for fully vaccinated holidaymakers, who will have hoped to have seen their travel rights increase, not curtail. Over the weekend, a government source warned that Britons who have received two doses of a Covid vaccine may no longer be considered ‘fully jabbed’ and exempt from quarantine once the booster roll-out has begun.

    The leak, who is reportedly close to talks about Covid certification, told The Mail on Sunday: “The assumption is that you will be required to have the most up-to-date health passport… So if the advice is to have a booster six months after your second jab, then that is what you’ll need.””

      1. Exactly. Most of our inner cities provide a foreign holiday experience, crime, strange food and feeling out of place. What’s not to like.

        1. Exactly why I avoid inner cities (or, indeed, cities of any sort) like the plague they are infested with. Give me countryside any day.

    2. But… but… I thought there were no borders in the EU, and countries were to be abolished…

        1. They do seem to be very strict. Even the waiters in the coffee houses behave like sergeant majors.

      2. I have to say I am a big fan of Austria for both winter and summer holidays. Daughter #1 is about to move out there for a year or two in Oberösterreich as a teaching assistant. The move is considerably more challenging this time around than it was when she did a similar thing three years ago as part of her degree course.

        1. Das weise ich ganz gut Unserer Mann, I lived in Germany for 3 years in the 60s but was in the Royal Air Force, so workaday was always English but I enjoyed the freizeit with the indigenous Germans, few of whom spoke English in those days. I did find learning German somewhat challenging as most was by ear and Platdeutsch at that but sitting around a table auf bierhaus was a good education for us, being so young.

          I hope your daughter enjoys herself.

      1. I suggest you try to get back all the money you have spent on your Safari holiday.

        I lost over £3,000 over two diff holidays to Malta last year. Being 2019

        Many others have had losses on the Costas and elsewhere on several occasions this year ! because of the continual changes from red green and we have no idea what we are doing covid crap.

        1. I think we will have to postpone it again. Also BA cancelled our flight home last week without offering any alternative or a credit or refund. Nick’s away this week but we’ll have to make a decision next week. We’ll need to get a refund from the airline. They are devils to deal with.

          1. Make a note of everything. Emails. Telephone calls. Letters. Booking slips. Payment from cards. Insurance. And anything else you can think of. You keep hammering them with all that they will eventually decide to do the honourable thing which they should have done in the first place.

  98. Well, colour me surprised. The UK is to send hundreds of troops to Afghanistan to safeguard the departure of the leavers. (Lucky Black Watch – again.)
    I would not be surprised if the Taliban took this badly. They might even intervene, by shooting down the arriving transport planes, or just killing them all our troops after they get there. It is one of the stupidest, most blatant, and most useless interventions ever.
    After all, if you say that you are leaving, you are supposed to leave, not turn up in force.

    1. Some years ago, Firstborn was keen to join the British Army.
      After finding out that a Sergeant was paid less than FB was then earning as a contract inspection planner aged 18, despite the years of age difference, responsibility, expertise and risk management requirement, let alone the possibility of being maimed and mentally damaged, I dissuaded him. For that piss-ant pay, it’s not worth it.
      Edit: And then, to be shat on by the politicians…

      2. You’re not black are you.

        There for a son and a son that listened.

        There must be something wrong with you, you racist !

        ©D Lammy.

          1. Yeah…thought there was something wrong with you.

            ***To receive absolution and carbon credit greenshield stamps donate all your money money to…this charity i have just set up.

    2. Some years ago, Firstborn was keen to join the British Army.
      After finding out that a Sergeant was paid less than FB was then earning as a contract inspection planner aged 18, despite the years of age difference, responsibility, expertise and risk management requirement, let alone the possibility of being maimed and mentally damaged, I dissuaded him. For that piss-ant pay, it’s not worth it.
      Edit: And then, to be shat on by the politicians…

    3. The Taliban stated today that ALL foreign troops have to be out by Sept. 11th.
      After that they will be regarded as an enemy.

    3. Considering their ethnicities and that this sort of disgusting method only came about with the massive import – by Labour – of the dross – it’s clear that gimmigration has given us absolutely nothing apart form horror.

    4. Looks like she said no and rejected him. I’m sure there is more to it but his actions go beyond the bounds in this country. At the moment.

        1. I suppose it is. Chucking a glass of wine in someone’s face used to be the thing if your date upset your sensibilities.

          Perhaps the lesson is …don’t go out with anyone whose culture is to kill women because they don’t like your hairstyle and have access to hydrogen peroxide.

  100. On radio – Just heard a (translated) message from the Taliban – – women’s rights will be protected “within the limits of Islam”.

    1. Just a half inch thick stick for the daily beating as opposed to the one inch thick stick. St Jacinda will be so pleased.

          1. Having been sitting on them for years they will be covered in solidified shi’ite and thus incredibly thick.

        1. The Imams have already agreed on the thickness and flexibility of sticks. They did do a thorough consultation and the wives agreed. The ones that were asked of course. A bit like a YouGov Poll.

      1. Only if they have misbehaved. Like looking at another man or showing an ankle.

        Arabs and their entourage visiting 5 star hotels in London. The hotel staff were ordered not to look any of the women in the eye. Even when delivering room service.

        Now i understand being deferential to guests but this places the server in a position which would not be the norm in our own country.

        1. “… Like looking at another man or showing an ankle….”

          This the women or the goats?

          1. You tell me Wibbles.

            I thought that the call ‘wibbles !’ was to bring the goats in from pasture. :@)

        2. A friends daughter became an air stewardess and told us she loved the flights to places lie USA, Canada, Australia etc, but the ones to Islamic countries she hated, because of the way the male Muslim passengers treated her.

          1. With disdain from the polite ones. Like shit in economy. Erm…that doesn’t sound too dissimilar.

    3. That means very little indeed since a woman’s testimony is worth half that of a mans.

        1. Hi Conway! Yes as much as that and it means that unless there is a witness that can testify with a woman a man can get away with murder, literally. My father tried to help a women in Libya who had been divorced by her husband and, in the process he had poured boiling water over her. But since there were no witnesses, only her assertion, he got away with that and, when she died eventually from septicaemia. He got away with that too. Her testimony was worthless.

          1. With respect to your post to me earlier.

            When Islamic law becomes ascendent in whichever country, any moderate, friendly or well intentioned muslim must obey on pain of pain.

            It is all very well to respect the customs of others but they should never be all encompassing unless you as an individual sign up to it.

            Forgive me if i have misunderstood.

          2. I’m not sure what specifically you are referring to. So you will have to clarify. With regard to Sharia, which I assume you are thinking about, I have never come across a Muslim that actually obeyed it in full. Just as most Christians pay lip service to the commandments etc. It is a very rare bird that obeys the law as written out. The thing about Islam is that it is not a religion of guilt but shame. Christianity is a guilt culture and thus to transgress is a matter of personal failure. In Islam there is no guilt but the shame of being caught out. If you can get away with things all well and good. What matters is being shamed in public not being a hypocrite in the Christian sense. I’m not sure if that answers your question?

          4. We do. We also stopped burning people alive and shopping their heads off. Damn…I meant chopping. Wrong order of business. Must go back to my religious books. Bugger…burned them all the last time my wife disagreed with me. Had to use a lot of goat fat to get her alight.

          6. Well, I would say that what I’m indicating is that the problem is a lot more complex than appears to be on the surface. That is you assume the Muslims are thinking on parallel lines to a Christian and that, as I said, guilt is important. It isn’t. So imposing your criteria doesn’t work. It is rather like saying all thing that fly must have wings and therefore a helicopter is not a flying machine. That’s to say that behaviour is not always motivated by what we assume it to be. That is especially the case for other cultures.

            Now, if you are saying that you think I approve, I do not. I have made it clear that I am vehemently opposed to Islam. I think it evil and that it has corrupted every culture it has touched. That does not mean, however, that I don’t have sympathy for the people trapped in it because I do believe, out of experience, that the vast majority of Muslims are good people that have been enslaved by a corrupting ideology and that they are good in spite of that. In turn that gives me a rather optimistic view of human beings. That even when corrupted there innate goodness wins out.

          7. Ah, but helicopters DO have wings; they just rotate 🙂 It seems to me that islam (it does mean submission, n’est-ce pas?) intends to control every aspect of life and thus all muslims, and does so through fear. Apostacy is death, after all, and punishments seem to figure often in the sura.

          11. Yes. Like a lot of series they run pilots and when the money doesn’t come rolling in they axe them. Seen it so many times i tend not to bother.

          12. It is the handbook of an authoritarian state who wants to rule you, body and soul. It is not primarily a religion.

          13. I agree. It is a political philosophy with a religion attached. Its purpose is control.

          14. Thank you for sharing all of that. It does take some courage to do so.

            Try that in a state like Saudi Arabia and see how long you last.

            Catholics do the guilt trip. Most Christians though they may follow the teachings of Jesus do not let them rule their lives to the point that they condemn others.. Look at the the countries which have succumbed to extreme muslim beliefs. Even Buddhists end up losing their rag !

          15. “… condemn others…” – there’s a saying about motes, planks and eyes that warn against that.
            And “Judge not, lest thou be also judged”.

          16. Those were my teachings but apparently worthless in the face of militant Islam. For me an eye for an eye is old religion. The Taliban who are muslim STILL gouge them out.

          17. “Try that in a state like Saudi Arabia and see how long you last.” But you see that points to the complexity of the problem and the fact that Islam is not a monolith in which you can take aim and lump them all together. I lived in Libya. Libya was founded by the Sanussiya, a Sufi sect. In Saudi Arabia you are likely to be executed for being a Sufi. It is to the Wahabi, heresy of the worst sort, un-Islamic and to be condemned. Then, of course, you have the Ismāʿīli Shias, headed by the Agha Khan, who do charity work without regard to the recipients religion at all and dole out million of dollars every year to every conceivable charity including the Red Cross.

          18. With your appeasing of so many different sects is the problem. You sound like our ABC. Either that or you are being disingenuous. Which also happens to be an Arab trait.

          19. I am not Arab, I’m thoroughly English. But not blinded by irrational ideology but guided by real experience. It is very easy to demonize “The Other” human beings have been doing that for centuries to each other. The out come is always disaster. I prefer to put effort into understanding and thereby finding solutions. Not standing on the side-lines making snide, cowardly, and dishonest remarks because you have nothing to add other than your prejudice and willingness to see others as less than human than yourself. A rather unpleasant movement in Germany did that. Apparently a lot of people have failed to draw the obvious conclusion from that but indulge the trait rather happily as if it were a virtue. Such as your use of “Oriental Gentleman” which you know very well is an insult and not worthy of a decent person.

          20. They have a lie for every occasion and their “good book” encourages them to use it.

          21. It depends. There is the first part of the book and then there is the second part of the book. The latter part contradicts the first part. The first part is pretty decent, conciliatory, tolerant in attitude. The second part is vicious, vengeful and just plain nasty. Many Muslims prefer to follow the advice in the first part of the Koran and ignore the second part. People like the Taliban prefer the second part and we can all see what that leads to.

          22. Mo stole it from Judaism and Christianity and claimed it was dictated by an angel.
            Ha bluddy ha.

          23. ..and the hadiths. The many interpretations. The ones taught now in Western schools? How long do you think you can keep this up for?

          24. Keep what up? You seem to be so dishonest you are now trying to imply that I am a Muslim. Is that your game plan? To smear because you don’t like what I’m saying although it is the truth?

          26. No. You are being insulting and I believe it is deliberate because you have no honest comeback.

          27. The reason i have no comeback as you call it is because i have stopped reading your posts. I will be blocking you now.

          28. Fine. I feel no desire to communicate with a person who makes gratuitous rude remarks.

          30. Jonathan, with respect, your experience of islam has been the face that muslims show to westerners. I have lived and seen behind the public face, and it is a lot darker, more anti-western and plain stupider than you think.

          31. I grew up in Libya. And as I said it depends on what Islam you are talking about. It is not a monolith and it is a very bad misunderstanding of Islam to think it is. I am not unconscious of the “darker” side of Islam in the least. I just wrote an example of it just now. But you cannot point to one Islam and say that is typical Islam. Because each time you do, you will have a hundred other Islam’s contradicting you. And to repeat myself. I think it an unmitigated evil, a corruptor of peoples lives to be condemned. But in order to defeat it people need to understand what is going on. Not just project their (understandable) prejudices on to it as if they understand what is wrong.

          33. Perhaps you should educate yourself about the progress of Western Christianity throughout the world. It has not exactly been a glorious history. As an Orthodox Christian I don’t exactly have a high regard for the sort of behaviour that the West indulged in with regard to religion. That the West is sort of over that now, is a good thing, that the Muslims are still at it is a bad thing. But complaining about the conduct of others that you, have been guilty of in the past is not a solution. It is simply to bury your head in the sand and refuse to look for answers.

          34. There is only one islam, and it is dangerous to think otherwise, because most bad muslims will follow the siren call of islam when a “good” muslim shames them in public, even if they privately disagree.
            Would the people you knew in Libya have come to you and openly celebrated the attack on the US after 9/11? I’m betting they wouldn’t (I saw it though). With muslims, there is ALWAYS a side that they keep hidden from non-muslims as long as we seem to be in the majority or in a position of power or wealth.

          35. Quite simply, you are wrong. There is not one type of Islam, there are multitudes, far more varieties than there are of Christianity. I suggest you do some research, I have been doing that for over 50 years and the problem with your approach is that when you lump a phenomena that has a multitude of forms, you cannot find an answer to the conundrums that you are faced with.
            My acquaintance with Islam goes back more than 50 years, it is now almost 70 years and the mind set of Muslims that you describe did not exist at that time. Circumstances have changed and with it Islam as it has been corrupted by Wahhabism and its consequent off shoots. What you are describing is a particular mentality that does not automatically exist amongst Muslims. I know that as a matter of fact. Not as a matter of ideology but as a matter of life and living with Muslims.

            In Libya, throughout the Ghaddafi period and after his fall, the Libyans still, gratis, preserved and looked after the graves of the British dead. After they were destroyed by sympathizers with ISIS, the Libyans promptly repaired them and put the graveyards back together again. They also preserved and looked after ‘The Lady of Gharian’ and continue to look after it. A painting from the point of view of ‘intolerant Islam’ that would not be countenanced for 5 minutes, let alone preserved since 1945.

            There are Muslims and Muslims, as I point out with the Agha Khan and of course there are the Tasawwuf much persecuted by Wahabi Muslims and other of their ilk even though they comprise a major strand of Islam. So much so that almost every great Islamic philosopher has belonged to them. and the Ahmadiyya much persecuted by mainstream Muslims and murdered on a regular basis by the intolerant bigots of Islam.

          36. No, I think I have a deeper understanding. I’m well aware of the stories about preserving graves. They have a simple explanation; the Libyans who did that have a stronger attachment to their own traditions than to islam. There is a saying “islam ends where berberity begins” to describe this culture. Islam has not been corrupted; it was always like that.

          37. I disagree. And perhaps we should leave it at that. But I would say that your perception of the Libyans is correct and it actually supports my view that people are good in spite of Islam and I would also say it is why the Libyans, rather than becoming conventional Sunni’s chose to follow the Sufism of the Sunussiya.

          38. Islam vs berberity is the biggest political question of the region – far bigger than islamic politics.. The first question you want to know about someone is, are they an Amazigh speaker or an Arabic speaker? Or if you’re jewish, are they a secret Jew?
            The primarily islamic ones follow any shyte, they have been fully involved in the violence over the last decade or so.
            I am quite happy to agree to disagree.

          39. I’m not sure what specifically you are referring to. So you will have to clarify. With regard to Sharia, which I assume you are thinking about, I have never come across a Muslim that actually obeyed it in full. Just as most Christians pay lip service to the commandments etc. It is a very rare bird that obeys the law as written out. The thing about Islam is that it is not a religion of guilt but shame. Christianity is a guilt culture and thus to transgress is a matter of personal failure. In Islam there is no guilt but the shame of being caught out. If you can get away with things all well and good. What matters is being shamed in public not being a hypocrite in the Christian sense. I’m not sure if that answers your question?

          40. A child under islam is born muslim and we all know the penalty for leaving, so there is not much wriggle room, you are signed up in the maternity suite if your parents follow the prophet. There is also only one islam as the quran is the direct word of god and cannot be changed, although where his thoughts conflict, a weighting is given according to a complicated set of rules (and who has the biggest sword).

    5. The Taliban, although ruthless maniacs, are not stupid. I think they will create a state similar to Iran. An image of Respectability at the helm, women being educated and able to work in the cities but the cloud of the sharia controlling all parts of everyone’s lives. Beheadings, stonings and the usual religious damnations will subjugate the population effectively. A kind of modern islamic society will emerge in the metropolitan areas but in much of the land and out of sight, things will be as they have been for centuries.

        1. A crane in the town square normally attracts the crowds. There will be not much on the telly over there and much better that Love Island, if trying to bonk a fellow contestant counts as lerve these days.

    1. Yes…I saw that one and thought better of it. Not funny at all !

      I was waiting for the one with just the legs stuck out from the retracted landing gear. That was funny !

      1. He he he!

        The one where the pilot didn’t want to take off because if the engines were pushed to full throttle people could die.

        Not that anyone cared about the dross, but the dead would gum up the engines.

        1. I don’t consider them to be dross. But running alongside and in front of a Military transport smiling at the cameras is just too stupid beyond words.

          The Madrassars teach them the world is flat. Not my problem any more. They have allowed that shit to be taught here in the UK. Obviously for social cohesion. Like raping young girls for the last 50 odd years.

          As Bill says…Fuck ’em.

    1. I know we’re not, as having bought the things too late, at immense cost they’re bringing the blighters home.

      As it is, the US could leave tanks there. The Taliban won’t be able to use them. They’re 1. Not bright enough. 2. Haven’t the tech base. 3. It doesn’t suit their fighting style – to pour rabid fanatics out of the back of a truck and run toward an enemy that won’t kill them.

        1. More likely Pakistan or India. Even then they don’t have the lifting equipment to get it on a truck.

          It’s a funny place. Folk think because they’ve guns and cars that they’re reasonably advanced. They’re not. Afghanistan is barely above manual farming.

    3. Demented Norwegian Methodists again. I do wish the government would get control of them.

      1. They’re everywhere these days. Especially after 1997 when Labour roamed the third world invite all and sundry into this country.

    4. A damned sight more efficient than the fabled RCMP. Something like forty churches burned and not so much as an appeal from the we always get our man brigade.

      Cynics assume that they know who did it but are keeping quiet to avoid rocking the boat.

      1. If the locals could catch them, without the RCMP, the arsonist could disappear into a lake or as a wolf pack dinner.

        1. It could be the locals that did it. Then the police would definitely cover it up while Trudeau is after re-electon.

    5. Christian Churches and Cathedrals being attacked across the whole of Christendom. Notre Dame. Oooh..someone left a candle burning in the library.

      We know who is doing it. The authorities know who is doing it. Just like child rape.

      The question is… Are right wing Nazi type people the problem or a a murderous worldwide cult who hate everyone that cannot speak arabic and recite the Koran?

      Askin’ for a lot of murdered Christians. Not that that cunt Welby gives a fuck about them.

  104. 336884+ up ticks,
    Now there’s a corker of a question,

    Dt,
    COMMENT
    Why is the Government hellbent on pushing unnecessary vaccinations on our children?
    Teenagers no more need protection against Covid than they need protection against dementia or heart disease or asteroids

    1. As a teenager I’d have loved to know about asteroid defences.

      A giant space laser? Oh yes!

      1. 336884+ up ticks,
        Evening W,
        Depending on the c 19 jab results final rake off I believe
        there is an anti meteorite jab follow up, counting on the
        number of deaths regarding peoples being hit will show as yet another success story.

  105. ‘Night All

    Nicked,Oi Laffed

    Boris Johnson was visiting a London primary school and the class was in the
    middle of a discussion related to words and their meanings.

    The teacher asked Mr Johnson if he would like to lead the discussion on the word ‘Tragedy’.

    So our illustrious leader asked the class for an example of a ‘Tragedy’

    A little boy stood up and offered: ‘If my best friend, who lives on a
    farm, is playing’ in the field and a tractor runs over him and kills
    him, that would be a tragedy.’

    ‘Incorrect,’ said Mr Johnson. ‘That would be an accident.’

    A little girl raised her hand: ‘If a school bus carrying fifty children
    drove over a cliff, killing everybody inside, that would be a tragedy.’

    ‘I’m afraid not’,explained Mr Johnson, ‘that’s what we would refer to as a great loss’.

    The room went silent. No other children volunteered. Johnson searched the room.

    ‘Isn’t there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?’

    Finally at the back of the room, little Johnny raised his hand and said: ‘If a
    plane carrying you and Priti Patel and Savid Javid and Rishi Sunak was
    struck by a ‘friendly fire’ missile & blown to smithereens, that
    would be a tragedy.’
    ‘Fantastic’ exclaimed Johnson, ‘and can you tell me why that would be a tragedy?’

    Well said Johnny, ‘it has to be a tragedy, because it certainly wouldn’t be a
    great loss, and it probably wouldn’t be a f**king accident either!’

  106. Good night from a Saxon Queen with blooded axe and pursed longbow,
    “tomorrow is another day ” as stated in a well known film.

  109. Well, my early post (tagged on to the very first post of today) has not resulted in any help, so obviously the solution to my problem was not posted here a couple of weeks ago. So I have no idea where I first read it. I reckon I may have to venture over to my local Apple Store and see if they can help me.

    And now, a good night to all from me. Sleep well!

    1. Can you get a list of installed applications on your iWhatever? Maybe a spurious application called podcasts has been installed and is asking for attention. You could just disable it or Uninstall it.

      Of course it might be some nasty piece of malicious code so the apple store might be a good bet!

      1. Thank you, Richard. My problem with your help is that I neither know how to disable nor uninstall it. Can you explain how to me, please?

        1. Just like me. I need an idiot list where tech is concerned. No disrespect to you. My crumbles will never be as good as yours. Or those extra jars of lemon curd that you half inched !.

          Seriously. You need one of the nottle techies to advise you by email to get the best …er..crust… :@)

          1. Phizzee, can you post a list of “the NoTTL techies” to me, e.g. No To Nanny and not just Tom, as – with very few exceptions such as No To Nanny, who I know is called Tom – I am not very well up on posters’ real names. If you post the list of techies as a reply to this post of mine I will be able to read your list. Thanks!

          2. I would very much like to help you but i am experiencing an unprecedented amount of calls.

            sound familiar?

            Sorry my love. if i had such a list it would be against our own Nottle privacy to publish.

            I suggest you ask the people you have contact on this blog to direct you further. I know Herts keeps a database of those who don’t mind being contacted for whatever purposes if each agrees.

            I am not trying to be difficult or obstructive.

          3. Check my latest post to you, Elsie and ask Hertslass for my e-mail and then tell me about your operating system and browser (Internet type use).

        2. Sorry, not with Apple. I know Windows android and a gazillion other environments but not apple. My guesswork could be dangerous.

    2. Good night, Elsie.

      Please be aware that early or late posts are not read by everyone. I know…some of my best jokes have been wasted !

      We have a full team of nerds helpful souls and so repeat your request at a time when the lazy laggards get out of bed revelent people can help you after lunch… ahem.

      1. Now look here! I get up at 7 and leap on to a meeting at 8 and I’m busy until 6pm.

        I’m absolutely useless until about half 10, but I’m up and about at 7!

      1. Wibbling, I don’t know how to drop you a PM. But if you change the order of the emails from “Sort by newest” to “Sort by oldest” you will see my original post giving full details of my problem.

        1. PM means personal message. If you have left your email contact details with Hertslass or another trusted friend they can relay or forward it on for you.

    4. Install both Ccleaner and Malwarebytes, Elsie, both free and use them to thoroughly cleanse your computer. Hertslass has my e-mail and I can send you what we called ‘Lazy dogs’ – a step by step guide through how to use these applications to thoroughly clean your hard drive, registry and other vulnerable parts of your system.

      I operate on WIN 7 professional and use Google Chrome for ‘tinternet. So the Lazy Dogs will be based on that.

    1. All a bit pointless.

      An army – a standing military – is designed to combat *external threats*. Not internal ones. It’s a group that gathers together and opposes another country’s aggression.

      To combat the Taliban you need civilian defence – a police force, a secret police force, investigators, infiltrators and lots of undercover special forces types to destroy the cells – and that means ‘destroy them’. Not arrest them.

      Problem is, Afghan is completely corrupt. Back handers, threats, intimidation are de rigeur. The way to weed out the Taliban involves hanging one bloke, and everyone else he has ever met.

      1. A bit like the covid app ping pandemic. Shame they didn’t provide them all with Iphones like they do with our Calais invaders.

        At the very least they could have complained on Tripadvisor that their plane/boat left without them.

        1. I do wonder what the heck they’re going to do when those 650 illegal stowaways get landed.

          Yes, there’s clearly a fair few families there but there’s an awful lot of enemy combatants.

          1. Prior to all this U.S.A usual fuck up the traffickers were taking babies and toddlers who had paid full whack at Calais to distribute to different dinghys. Some had even kidnapped and grabbed children for the crossing.

            Of course they are all asylum seekers and refugees. Bollocks !

          2. This is the fundamental problem with the Left. They so absolutely hate us that anything – anything – that we raise a query at they fervently support.

            That these illegal economic gimmigrants will probably be sold into some form of slavery, with no recourse to rights or law, indentured servitude, the abuse of families means nothing to them. It’s all abour hurting those the Left hate.

            It’s idiotic. Imagine the anger, the bitterness, the unadulterated spite you have to be consumed with to use other people – and yes, vulnerable people – as weapons in your venomous crusade?

          3. I prefer ‘one’ as opposed to ‘your’.

            ‘They’ do seem to be gaining ground. They, like all the other failed ‘projects’ will cost countless lives. Even their own children. Globalist backed charities and NGO’s don’t seem to have done much to help except to gorge themselves.

            We can only hope that the pendulum swings back on the wheel of time before it runs out.

          4. The only sensible course of action is to destroy them, wherever you find them. They wish to take what is ours, so deal with thieving, robbing invaders, as such.

            Death.

          5. Bet they’ll be putting a claim in saying there was no seating, in flight movies or trolley service..

    2. Will we be seeing that on the BBC tomorrow?

      I wonder how many people fell from the Afghan Airforce planes as they took off and fucked off.

      1. Giving them an airforce was a bit pointless. Planes can’t fight distributed infantry. It’s just daft.

        Tactically, to combat a distributed, in cover, light infantry force you DO NOT want a fast moving rocket armed vehicle a long way in the air. You want better armed heavy infantry with APC support and for even heavier support helicopters which can move slowly enough but carry heavier armaments for longer range assault.

        Heck, while it must have been nice for a crop sprayer in a biplane to get a damned sexy Marchetti plane… it’s like a spoon to drain a lake.

        1. It was pointless but that was how the U.S thought it should be. Just like the U.K sending our troops without any armour.

        2. No, Wibbles but drones and cruise missiles can be used to destroy their poppy fields and major cities.

          What fun that would be – push ’em back to their 6th century roots and let them scrabble for subsistence from burnt soil.

    3. As appalling as it is perhaps some will survive long enough not to trust anyone who says…I’m from the government and we are her to help you. By the way….you don’t mind if we bribe and corrupt your elders and betters with easily transportable currency with offshore banking options?

      1. Don’t worry – we’ll all have some living with us soon. by order. Any complaint
        – – – – they get the whole house.

        1. We have over 5,600 bods in our village, our village is a generous size .

          Where are the going to put all these people who have 7 kids each … and then we are also accepting 3 -5 million people from Hong Kong

          2. Us people of Dorset , locals .

            I was just reeling at the shock of 20,000 Afghans , the increasing pressures on councils and rural market towns and villages .

          3. For now, its good the people are ours, what happens when dog hating freeloaders arrive? Is there any way you could make yourself feel safer when taking yours on their walks? The gimmeeez have no respect for women and hate dogs – and if you are out in the countryside??? the govt have turned this from a beautiful island, into a place we fear to be out alone or in the dark.

        2. 336884+ up ticks,
          Evening W,
          I did post some time back, compulsory boardering is on the cards.

          1. He gets a lot of time out at golf and footy – doesn’t he ever look after the house and dogs and you have a day out?

      3. 336884+ up ticks,
        Evening TB,
        Far from being idiots, idiocy means they can be forgiven and voted in again, THAT is unforgivable idiocy.

    2. Obviously St Jacinda saw this coming and closed all the borders. Bad Jacinda. You will be punished. They might even send you the remnants of Macron, Trudeau and Merkel to live in your house for eternity. What a fucked up holier than thou Frat party that would be.

    1. Hah !… I have so many interesting things to say in my posts and you miss most of them. All the work i have put in to our efforts to raise our….erm… Sorry…are we married?

    1. Biden is a senile old fool. His handlers, the Obamas, underestimated the extent of his mental decline. The bastards are now trapped between propping up this senile old git and the prospect of ‘heels in the air’ Harris succeeding him in the Presidency.

      Harris is one of the most stupid snd facile politicians extant in the USA even allowing for AOC and her supporters and the useless RINO rump who care not a jot for anything other than amassing personal wealth to themselves whilst disparaging Middle America as ‘deplorables’.

      We are witnessing the ultimate conundrum. What goes around comes around. This has happened before our eyes and after a mere 7 months of the Biden presidency, fraudulently gained, and now evidently a disaster for the world.

      1. Once she has had her lady parts snipped away (scissors available at a Wal-Mart near you *Kabul Branch) and been beaten daily she might consider not to try outclassing the Men in Black. The stupid fucking….Just like the Duke and the Duchess of Woke……I’m speechless.

    1. Not true. That half naked man with tattoos and horns was really scary. It’s the only reason security waved them all through.

      Admittedly some officers died. Mostly of boredom and heart attacks brought on by their blood pressure rising higher than 70 bpm.

      Sheesh..can’t you see the big picture ?… The security were hired from Serco FFS. They were only expecting fat whiteys from Atlanta that day. Give the guys a break why don’t you !

        1. I don’t need imagination for that pile of shite that the media has been drip feeding us.

          Talking of imagination…That second picture looks like the ..ahem..Hit series ‘Friends’. Which they recently tried to relaunch after most of the actors had come out of Re-Hab. I think the idiot on the far left is Joey.

    1. The monkey and the organ grinder roles seem to have been reversed. It used to be funny !

  121. There are many pairs of things that are said to go well together – ham and cheese, love and marriage, Lennon and McCartney, for example. If I may, I will tell you of two things that definitely do not go together.

    Cats and jigsaw puzzles

    1. Dog s too. The odd piece dropped on the floor became a chew toy. I was sort of honest when i donated them to the charity shop. One piece might be missing but if you find a lumpy piece… that is the bit that is er…missing.

    1. A most Happy Birthday my dear. I would send you flowers but they would be inappropriate. All i can say is that your rendition of O mio babbino caro will stay with me forever. Much like Maria Callas gave me tinnitus. Kisses. :@)

    2. Happy Birthday, ashesanddust! Have a great day, and many happy returns of your own day!

  123. Good night and God bless to all my NoTTLing friends. I hope that I may help one or two to achieve a quiet and competent system but, above all, the wish to let you all know – We Are Not Alone – and might even be the first steps in the overthrow of these totalitarian plonkers who think that they have the divine right to rule and mould us to their whims.

  128. Sly News gets its daily truth battering – Adam Boulton @adamboultonSKY 11h – “Afghanistan is a war lost, so was Iraq, so is Syria, so was Vietnam. “We” don’t always win”

    First response “You can only win when the country is united as in the Falklands, since then the media have been doing everything they can to divide the country”

Comments are closed.