Tuesday 6 May: In an increasingly volatile world, Britain must be prepared for war

Posted on by Geoff Graham

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

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

556 thoughts on “Tuesday 6 May: In an increasingly volatile world, Britain must be prepared for war”

  1. Good morning chums. And thanks, Geoff, for this morning's NoTTLe site. First!
    Wordle 1,417 4/6

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

      1. Because the French have always done what they feel is best for France, irrespective of what people think of them?

    4. Caroline asks if this is the chap that Tunisia refused to take back? If so, he's back in France!

    1. Morning, Phil. Just having coffee before taking the Springer out for an hour.

      1. Dolly has just had her breakfast and is now asleep. I couldn't possibly wake her up. That's my excuse and she's sticking to it.

    1. Only 6% of the UK's population are Muslim? Good grief! Have they stopped breeding? We obviously need to import a few million more! (Sarc.)

      1. Please, Please no encouragement even in jest. Remember the left, collectively, have absolutely no sense of humour.

      1. Look at them from both sides…..
        There's a song in everything 🤗😉

    3. Everywhere they are Everywhere they arrive at and Everywhere they
      settle they cause problems, its their reason for existence. But as he says the head in the sand attitude accelerates the problems.

      1. Why are they even here? Why can we not simply remove them? How did these parasites get into this country?

        1. By sea, and escorted by the French, wibbling, until our Royal Navy and the RNLI can escort them the rest of the way.

        2. By sea, and escorted by the French, wibbling, until our Royal Navy and the RNLI can escort them the rest of the way.

  9. Morning, all Y'all.
    Sunny. Not a cloud in the sky. Must be that the wind has blown them all away…

    1. Big Cat returned in a foul mood last night, then scratched the bedroom door to get in. Once admitted, proceeded to jump onto the bed & walk all over us for hours… eventually captured and evicted. Now, two adult humans need a good 8 hours zed to catch up!

      2. Orange cat lives in the conservatory, as far away from the bedroom as we could put him. He loves it in there and often asks to go back during the day (his hobby is 'chattering' to the garden birds through the French windows).

        No animals permitted in my bedroom!

        1. Didn't your lady ever tell you that you were an animal in the bedroom, Grizzly? Lol. (Memo to self: must stop cracking these intimate jokes, or young Grizzly might never speak to me again.)

          1. Indeed, I have been told that a few times, Auntie Elsie.

            Problem is: on one occasion that 'animal' was an anteater; once it was a giraffe; once it was a chameleon; and once it was a giant pangolin!

          2. Your daily avatar change assures me that you are definitely a chameleon!

        2. It’s normal they are not allowed in, but he was fit to rip the door off it’s hinges and throw it at us – and a 15kg cat has the capability… send packing after a while.

        3. I like to hear the dogs’ gentle breathing (and snoring). I find it comforting. They are generally very good once they have settled. The rule is, I don’t sleep in their bed and they don’t sleep in mine. Even Oscar and Winston grasped that pretty quickly.

    1. Defence team had a bit of a set back over the weekend when key character witness was withdrawn.

      A man, aged 24, was detained under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023 in Rochdale suspected of being "involved in foreign power threat activity".

    2. The usual arm waving do nothing exercise until the public are bored and distracted. How our legal system seems to work.

    3. for some reason, not as urgent as jailing anyone connected with the Southport protests.

    2. It's taken far too long to admit your terrible mistakes wether deliberate or not. Now too late to make ammendments.
      Typically or British politics. Every single thing they all come into contact with…….

  12. 405043+ up ticks,

    There should now follow a a head bowed, in shameful remorse parade, attended mainly by these treacherous MPs and peoples
    of Council member status, those of the "best we forget" the war dead and survivers of our Countries conflicts.

    NOT leave our ex forces plus under viaducts in view of 5* accommodation of foreign enemy enemas.

    https://x.com/Suffragent_/status/1919449932701794725

    1. If the dindus were used as cannon fodder not a problem. The problem is government has done so much damage that until it is removed and common sense restored.

  13. 'Morning All
    Medley Time
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/af06d2c036291dd7d4f377ad254ff1be9b4c653b962f661cd6146edf271cc134.jpg
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3a7541adf58018378d551f03e9fd35cde35e68a8d1e38b770ae951606c9185b6.jpg
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    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0bbbd2183efa067f76f0662cfb0ac5812c957706edc5e43a052cc0b013b9af4b.jpg
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/abffeda1ff8c0627bbecc346203d1927c4aa4ed878379a5d078ad677bf72c529.jpg
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0bb93380cb01bf354c31061559ba509bc81ec1a157b98668d84a58bc2a1435a9.png
    https://x.com/Wire1626254Wire/status/1916845590681424290?t=dd7tBhQHOqbb_xAkYXkKrw&s=19

          1. Ever since I gained one of my many badges in the scouts, I’ve been good with rope. I can make a good noose.

          1. Pierrepoint said the calculation was the most difficult part. Perhaps someone will come up with an app to help with that. Possibly get quite a few subscriptions…….

          2. It is essential that the neck (spinal cord) is broken causing instant death.
            If the calculations are wrong it could lead to either them hanging there, conscious and not dead; or it could result in decapitation; neither a good outcome.

    4. I can sympathise with the dog one. All three flopped inn the front room like 3 large black mounds whuffing away. Opened a window a bit as it was getting a bit fragrant down there.

      The problem with the freedom one is that the EU desperately wants to control what you can do. Blair made that law, with government the only provider of 'freedoms'. Freedoms it then set about trying to erase.

      1. Our government signed up to the code napoleon which means if there is no statute to permit it, it’s forbidden.

  14. Bridget Jones author 'routinely groped' while working at the BBC

    HELEN FIELDING, the creator of Bridget Jones, has alleged she was routinely groped while working at the BBC in the 1980s.
    The 67 year-old claimed it was commonplace at the time for men at the broadcaster to touch women’s breasts during conversations.
    Describing an alleged culture of harassment, she said: “I worked at the BBC when I was in my 20s, and you just got used to the fact that people would actually put their hand on your boob while they were talking to you about work.”

    The author’s comments, first reported by The Mail on Sunday, were made at the annual Soho Summit at Soho Farmhouse, Oxon, last week. Speaking at the rural retreat, Ms Fielding claimed women at the BBC had grown resigned to the behaviour. “It just seemed to be what you put up with,” she said.

    The author found fame with her bestselling Bridget Jones novels, the first of which was published in 1995, and later adapted into a series of popular films starring Renee Zellweger. Reflecting on the era, she added: “I first wrote Bridget pre-#metoo, and when I look at that film now, I can’t believe that that stuff was going on.”

    In scenes in the novels echoing her own experiences, Ms Jones regularly ‘You just got used to the fact people would put their hand on your boob while talking to you’ fends off inappropriate advances – including from her boss Daniel Cleaver, played by Hugh Grant in the films, who gropes her in the office. She is also sexually harassed by Mr Cleaver’s manager “Mr Fitzherbert” – nicknamed “T–spervert” – who openly stares at her breasts.
    Ms Fielding claimed sexism remained deeply entrenched in the film world. “I honestly think it’s still there in the movie business, it’s just under the parapet,” she said. “I think there has to be a constant awareness of not being unequal in the way women are treated.“You still have to fight much harder as a woman, even a successful woman, and you get treated in ways that men would not be treated.”

    Her first BBC role after graduating from the University of Oxford was working behind the scenes on Jim’ll Fix the children’s show later at the centre of a scandal when its host Jimmy Savile was unmasked as a paedophile. Ms Fielding has previously said she had concerns about Savile. She said in 2019: “We always said, ‘Don’t leave Jimmy alone with the children’. “But we were sort of 23, and you know… I am sure the producers must have known. We didn’t think he would do anything. But he was so creepy. We always stayed with the kids.”

    She joined the BBC as a regional researcher in 1979 on the news magazine Nationwide and later produced documentaries in Africa for the first two Comic Relief broadcasts. Ms Fielding went on to write for national newspapers before launching her anonymous Bridget Jones Diaries column in The Independent in 1990s. The dispatches struck a chord with single women and led to four novels and major film adaptations.

    A BBC spokesman told The Mail on Sunday: “‘We’re sorry to hear of these experiences. Attitudes and behaviours have changed significantly in the last 40 years and the BBC – like the rest of society – is [a] very different place now from what it was then.”

    "Attitudes and behaviours have changed significantly in the last 40 years and the BBC – like the rest of society – is [a] very different place now from what it was then.”

    You're not wrong there, mush. The Beeb has got progressively worse!

    1. The rot set in when the announcers stopped wearing evening dress.

    2. The Beeb employs heterosexuals?
      You can learn something new every day.

      2. Off topic: I was driving to my GP's practice this morning, and on the road en route there was a Mercedes car with a number plate of
        GP76 DOC, which quite amused me.

        1. I saw a modest saloon car near me with the registration number MR5NGH – Mr Singh, driven by a man in a turban.

          1. Was it a Jaguar (yes I know Singh means lion but it’s a cat, isn’t it?)?

  16. * Waltzes in * Good Morning, chilly again, I'm sure spring will turn up again at some point . Time for a cup of tea and breakfast

    1. When it arrived last week it was condemned as horrible climate change, global warming and the hated very hottest hour of the year so far. 🤗😊😉

      1. "When the rain comes
        They run and hide their heads
        They might as well be dead
        When the rain comes.

        When the sun shines
        They slip in to the shade
        And sip their lemonade
        When the sun shines

        Rain – I don't mind.
        Shine – the weather's fine."

        (John Lennon)

    1. Our usual English unpredictable seasons, morning Bob.

  18. Morning again all 🙂😊
    Grey and chilly needing some rain please up there.
    We have our own war brewing on these shores unless the idiots in Wastemonster can reach obvious decisions and come to their combined senses. Gone is the time when all their stupid mistakes are every one else fault. They need to accept and face up to their responsibilities and start the deportation process.

  19. Just leaving. That youngest Wales child needs his bottom smacked. It infuriates me that the papers regards his appalling behaviour as "cute".

    See you tomorrow.

      1. An enjoyable day. Three hours standing near to the Charles 1st. statue was a test of stamina. The wind was bloody cold, but as the crowd built up, it became cosier. For once, being a dwarf came in handy. Sonny Boy Snr is 6'3", so I was well sheltered.
        There was near riot when security funnelled through later arrivals into the Mall ahead of the doughty ones who had been waiting since 10 o' clock.
        The procession should have started with a band to get people fired up, but first was the gun crews trotting past to no accompaniment. I would like to think that the paucity of the parade would get people thinking.
        Noticeably, ShowSec who provided the security was nearly all ethnic; as the loudspeakers broadcast Timothy Spall declaiming WSC's speech, many of us looked around and thought …. h'mmm.
        Nice lunch at the Strand Palace. Sadly, Simpson's is still shut and any work appears to be in abeyance.

          2. Not when they re-open no. He sold off the trollies and a lot of other stuff.

        2. The overall impression was of ‘sparseness’! I won’t watch Al Beeb, so we were stuck with sky! Gawd, it was dreadful! Giggly women and not a fact between them!

  21. Oh well time to get out of bed, get some breakfast and try and get back to normal (whatever that might be) after my weeks off line health episode.

      1. I think I am Conners, thank you.
        Gastroenteritis is pretty nasty.
        There are a lot of these easily picked up viruses out there at the moment.
        I’m glad you’re feeling better.

        1. Thank you. I have had gastroenteritis some years ago in the run up to Christmas. I passed out and the doctor (old fashioned family country doc) came out in the early hours of Christmas Eve in freezing fog for a home visit. Those were the days.

  22. Michael Deacon on the ball in the DT. His satire is becoming ever more biting.

    Sir Keir Starmer knows full well how angry the public is about the grooming gangs scandal. So why didn’t he sack Lucy Powell for the jaw-dropping comments she made on Radio 4? According to the BBC, it’s because “Downing Street accepts Powell’s apology and her explanation that her comments did not reflect her views on the issue”.

    Surely, though, there’s a far simpler reason. The Prime Minister couldn’t sack her, because he’d previously made a very similar comment himself.

    Let’s compare the two. First, here’s what Ms Powell – a senior Labour minister – said on Any Questions? last Friday. When her fellow panellist Tim Montgomerie, a member of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, asked whether she’d seen a new documentary about the grooming gangs, she snorted: “Oh, you want to blow that little trumpet now, do you? Let’s get that dog whistle out, shall we, yeah?”

    Now let’s remind ourselves what Sir Keir said in January. When asked by journalists about the highly inconvenient return of the grooming gangs scandal to the public eye, the Prime Minister claimed that his political opponents were “calling for inquiries because they want to jump on a bandwagon of the far Right”.

    Like Ms Powell on Any Questions?, Sir Keir was plainly suggesting that conservative figures who dare to raise the subject of the grooming gangs must have some dishonourable, and very likely racist, motive. If anything, Sir Keir’s comments were more insulting than Ms Powell’s. “Jump on a bandwagon of the far Right” is stronger language than “dog whistle”.

    At any rate, given that Sir Keir did not immediately resign in disgrace, he could hardly have expected one of his ministers to do it. So at least, for once, he’s being consistent.

    All the same, I somehow doubt that many voters will give him much credit for it. Instead, I suspect, quite a few voters will read her comments, recall his, and say to themselves: “This is what they all think, isn’t it? Maybe not all of them are stupid enough to say it out loud. But in private, I bet they all think it’s a ‘dog whistle’ even to mention the mass rape of white, working-class girls. And I bet they all think it’s ‘far-Right’ to want a full national inquiry into how it happened, and why it took so long to expose. Which presumably means they think most of us plebs are ‘far-Right’, too.”

    1. Every time Lucy Powell appears in public from now on, she should be met with a blast of whistles. The Acme Thunderer would be a suitable choice.

    2. KS has longer form than this, going right back to around 2008 when Anne Cryer Labour MP for Keighley brought it to his attention, when he was DPP (apparently defending some of the accused).

    3. The left will do anything to shut down discussion of the pakistani muslim paedophile rapists. Their terror is seeing the entire cover up be exposed and destroying their entrenched attitude. If they are so utterly discredited with thousands of councillors, social workers, police officials all marched into cells and their Left wing proclivity exposed publicly Labour will never see office again.

  23. Good Morning!

    Following on from yesterday FSB continues the discussion on Reform, this time saying that for all its faults, Reform is our best chance of change. Please read I'm Sticking With Reform and let us know which side of the argument you are on.

    Yesterday Tortopani told us why he's left Reform for Ben Habib's new Integrity Party. Please read Why I left Reform and Joined the Integrity Party and let us know if you agree with him.

    In Englishness as a Brand Graham Cunningham looks into why some find Englishness such a problem. Please let us know if you agree.

    Energy watch 08.00: Demand: 32.57 GW. Total UK Production: 24.55 GW from: Hydrocarbons 30.3%; Wind 13.3%; Imports 25.6%; Biomass 9.2%; Nuclear 11.1%. Solar: 7.6%

    They have classed the current situation as 'moderate' carbon intensity – seemingly their sole criterion for what passes for an energy policy. They can do this, even though 'renewables' provide only 20% of our power requirement, as they are importing over 25%, mainly from France which is classed as low carbon. Dirty imports from Belgium and Denmark are, along with biomass, classed as 'other'.

    freespeechbacklash.com

    1. Diesel engines, once the solution to CO2 emissions, turned diesel into a dirty word. Now, since the Iberian blackout, solar has become a dirty word.

      1. Personal, rooftop solar is entirely sensible. Ours practically pay for our daily electricity from dawn to dusk. If we had a battery no doubt we could go days without actually paying for electricity.

        Where solar doesn't work is at much larger scale. Covering a field with solar panels is just a stupid waste of land. Covering buildings with them is a good idea. What we need to think about is the Tesla solar tiles and battery installations, with more imaginatively designed solar panels for odd shaped rooves and, yes, different colours.

        1. Agreed, personal solar makes much more sense and with battery storage one can almost be self sufficient in electricity.
          This has been evolving for some time now and is termed ‘microgeneration’.

          With all the redundant solar panels that will be coming on the market here’s how to repurpose them:

          https://youtu.be/mFJt95NEc9Y?si=NgzskyjcxSeqNGw4

        2. Not different colours, surely, wibbling. They look ugly to start with, let alone having rainbow ones on a typical street.

      2. There cannot be a solution to a CO2 problem Angie, as CO2 is not a pollutant, but an essential gas for live on earth, with which the earth is well able to cope – and rises in CO2 lag temperature rises. They do not cause them.

        1. There would be much more of a problem with no CO2 – as plant life would be severely curtailed.

        2. I used to monitor the % CO2 output of my petrol car.
          The monitor became redundant when I moved to diesel.
          The diesel became redundant when the Government decided it couldn’t pass emission standards. I bought an electric vehicle to avoid emission testing.

          The Government has decided to ban battery powered vehicles being parked below Parliament due to Fire Safety requirements.

          1. If you click on the Palace of Westminster parking regulations, you may be able to see that the download is 1)partly censored/redacted and 2) uses a security font. Last year the ban was simply a rumour, but it now confirms that the minuscule risk of an EV fire in an enclosed carpark is still too high.

          2. I wouldn’t like to be the Guy who tried to park an EV in the parliamentary underground car park

    2. That's all the country needs even more division on the right side of politics.

      Are Reform our best chance? Maybe to form a genuine alternative party to vote for (as the Tories and labour are practically the same policy wise) but I am not seeing what they will actually be doing.

    2. What a cute little boy, can see the similarity to his Grandpa who also looks very smart today. Well done Grizz x

          2. I see the similarity 🙂 my mum same age, same smoking, aneurysm. She was the first person to offer me a cigarette (I was 14). Coming round from aneurysm operation she indicated by puffing she wanted a cigarette. Years later, my second baby in pram indoors, mum sitting there smoking, baby started sneezing, mum said ‘close that window’ (it was a very small one, several feet away)..I said maybe the smoke from your cigarette, just in a thoughtful way, not being critical. She didn’t reply but I never saw her smoke again. Died years later from second aneurysm, similar place to first one – which was done by Miss Carys Bannister who has since become quite famous surgeon. A lovely person. Don’t smoke, folks!

          3. Fortunately, I've never enjoyed smoking.
            And I enjoy giving the government any more of my money even less.
            I'm a non-smoker because I'm mean and a wimp; not because I'm virtuous.

          4. It’s best never to start. I’d smoke again in a heartbeat, having recently given up alcohol.

          6. I’m a non smoker because it makes me cough and my eyes run (and I don’t want to give the government more money than I have to.)

          7. I can never understand why non-smokers hook up with smokers. Surely, for the non-smokers kissing must feel / taste like kissing an ashtray.

          8. I can never understand why non-smokers hook up with smokers. Surely, for the non-smokers kissing must feel / taste like kissing an ashtray.

          9. My mother was a smoker but when she found a packet of fags on me — when I was 17 — she gave me a slap!

          10. I don’t hold with physical violence as a rule, Grizz…but I think she was right on this occasion 🙂

          13. I remember my father exploding with rage when as a child I pretended I was smoking using a sweet cigarette and him telling me never to smoke. He died aged 65 years and two days with lung cancer when he coughed his lungs up in little black pieces.

          14. Sorry to read that, Elsie…so was your dad a heavy smoker? I remember those sweet cigarettes, imagine the outcry today if they were still sold.

      2. Grizzly's grandpa used to run around in short trousers and bootees? Lol.

        1. I was just kidding him, Elsie…one is Grizz very young n cute, the other is Grizz Grandpa (perhaps he still runs around in short trousers and bootees…perhaps we should be told…? 😆

        1. Yeh that’s me, sitting here in front of this keyboard/screen…dog in his basket, snoring…now I’m off to make a sarnie for my lunch. Talk about the high life…😂😂

  25. If i didn't let Dolly and Harry into my bedroom they would be scratching at the door all night, whining.

    I have wooden floors so any 'accidents' are easily cleaned up.

    1. Rather ditto. If the dogs can't get in somewhere they lean against he doors whine and scratch.

      On one occasion Junior's door was caught on a rucked carpet and wouldn't open properly. Mongo just went through the middle when he didn't wake up to let him in.

    2. ‘Accidents’ on the bedding are not so easily cleaned up.

      Trained dogs do not whine. They know their place.

      1. While he's right, and the point is very well made I ask you – what will he do about it? What are the next steps to resolving this invasion?

        He has already said deportation isn't possible, so what's the plan to actually get rid of the vermin?

        1. 405043+ up ticks,

          Morning W,
          That will be still be in the
          " what can I get away with rhetorically" stage.

        2. The burning question, wibbling – which he can’t swerve for much longer. Illegals (10%) should be able to be deported, many are seemingly in hotels so could be found fairly easily, but if forewarned likely to scarper. Legals (90%, here under ECHR) – we have to leave ECHR which is embedded in NI Agreement – however, Conor MacGregor getting a lot of support in Ireland for doing just that. So another burning question – which politician/party has the bottle to do this? The same question being asked in Europe – Italy, Germany, France especially (Meloni, Weidel, Bardella). What’s needed are answers, asap.

    2. A TENSE exchange? Which one: past … present … or yet to come?

      With apologies to Charles Dickens.

      1. Grizzly, you are Ebenezer Scrooge and I claim my Christmas turkey. Lol.

      2. Grizzly, you are Ebenezer Scrooge and I claim my Christmas turkey. Lol.

  29. 405043+ up ticks,

    Would it be to our advantage if we, the peoples, approached President
    Putin with our terms of an unconditional surrender
    offer.

    Dt,
    Starmer prepares for attack by Russia
    Officials asked to update 20-year-old contingency plans that would put UK on war footing after Kremlin threats

      2. Not a patch on The Weather Girls' original version.

        That was much funnier too.

  30. Cripes! I just read what Grok says about me on X

    "Ndovu, known on X as @hoglet3
    , is a UK-based wildlife campaigner who’s outspoken about trophy hunting, environmental degradation, and political issues. They’re a vocal critic of practices like littering and policies they see as harmful to nature, often clashing with what they call “wokey” ideologies. Ndovu pushes for referendums on contentious topics like net zero policies and assisted dying, reflecting a libertarian streak that emphasizes individual choice and skepticism of centralized control.
    Recent posts show Ndovu slamming Labour’s governance, particularly on economic and environmental fronts, while engaging in debates over cultural issues like trans athletes in sports. They’ve shared petitions, like one to raise the UK income tax personal allowance to £20,000, signaling frustration with fiscal policy. Ndovu’s rhetoric is sharp, often targeting perceived hypocrisy in politics and activism, while championing wildlife preservation and personal freedoms.
    No further details on Ndovu’s real-world identity or specific campaigns beyond X are readily available, as their presence seems centered on the platform. If you want me to dig into their recent posts for more context or analyze specific tweets, let me know! "

      1. It’s the X version of AI (I think)

        Edit: the latest Disaffected is a must listen to/watch with respect to Artificial Intelligence.

        Search “out of alignment: episode 221” – Josh Slocombe, Disaffected, May 4th 2025

    4. Well deserved recognition for being a caring person of both humans and animals.

      1. There's more……..

        Ndovu, a UK-based wildlife warrior, fiercely campaigns against animal cruelty and champions petitions to protect endangered species like Javan rhinos and Amboseli's elephants.

        Hoglet3's been slamming Labour, litterbugs, and "wokery" while backing petitions and traditional values on X.

        Petition: Raise the income tax personal allowance from £12,570 to £20,000
        -@hoglet3

  32. That's a problem with the toilet fixed, now off to post a letter and then Matlock.

  33. Read it and weep.

    “SIR – As we celebrate VE Day, I am minded to remember a young trooper, James Audsley of Sussex, who served in 44th Royal Tank Regiment. He was the last member of his regiment to be killed in action on April 26 1945, as the tanks fired their final rounds capturing the German port of Bremen.

    His battle casualty card simply records his death as “killed in action”. Poignantly, it also notes that his young wife, Audrey, and his parents, William and Nellie, were only informed of his death on May 7, three days after Field Marshal Montgomery had signed the first surrender document on Lüneburg Heath, and one day before Churchill’s famous VE Day announcement. I can’t begin to imagine the intense heights and depths of emotion that this family must have experienced in those days of tragedy for them, but relief and joy for the nation.

    Trooper Audsley’s name is recorded alongside 11,500 others displayed in the Royal Armoured Corps Memorial Room in The Tank Museum at Bovington, Dorset. These men were all husbands or brothers, fathers or sons. At this distance, it is difficult to comprehend the sheer scale of sacrifice made by so many in the service of their country.

    Perhaps, at this moment of celebration, in a world again riven with geopolitical uncertainty, we should reflect on the words of Pericles, written in about 430 BC: “Take these men as your example. Like them, remember that prosperity can be only for the free, that freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it.”

    John Colton
    Chairman, Royal Armoured Corps Memorial Trust
    Bovington, Dorset”

      1. During much of the cold war, things were a lot less uncertain than they are today. Russia and the US both had cooler heads in charge than today. Then there is China. Napolean cerainly called that one right.

    1. Wes Streeting was being interviewed on the BBC Breakfast show this morning. It was mostly on the NHS, but interviewers always take the opportunity to question ministers on other topics involving the government or other ministers. Last week's by-election and council elections were brought up, but not a peep about Lucy Powell and her appalling remarks about the victims of the Pakistani Muslim rape gangs. It would seem that the Beeb (and probably most of the rest of the MSM) are side-stepping the issue and going easy on Labour.

    2. No, she does not think child rape is a "dog whistle". She thinks that drawing attention to it in the way that some do is not so much about concern for the welfare of and sexual exploitation of children and adolescents and rather more to do with stirring up animosity against a hated group of people. Nonetheless, she was foolish to respond in the way that she did because it allows others to falsely accuse her of indifference to the plight of youngsters who have been neglected and exploited in various ways.

        1. Because she upset people whose votes she and her party will be calling on in future elections.

          1. 405043+ up ticks,

            DW,
            I’m hoping with tighter security crime syndicates will find it difficult to operate from incarceration.
            Future votes are a pipe dream for many a long year, that is, if the peoples value their & their children’s / elderly’s health & safety.

      2. I think you are being a bit generous there. It seems that both Labour and Conservative politicians would just as soon this whole issue was buried deep enough that it can't bite them. But, it will continue to fester until there is a proper investigation as to how and why decisions about these young girls and their treatment were taken – and people held responsible. Like most bad news, it's best to get it over with.

        The other calculus of course, especially for Labour, is that they definitely do not want to upset the "community" responsible, as they rely on their votes.

        1. Better to lance a boil than have it turn gangrenous, which happened to a friend of my dressage client.

      3. At best, her comments were ill-judged. At worst, callous and uncaring. It was also the tone of her voice which was sneering. She would do well to reflect that she and her party are refusing legitimate requests for a Public Enquiry and that her remarks can be interpreted as defending a section of her core voters – Pakistani Muslims, in order not to alienate them.

        1. She was saying the quiet bit out loud. This, like anti-Semitism, is the policy of this incarnation of the party that calls itself the Labour Party. Never admit to rank injustice, call your opponents nasty names and if they don;t STFU then imprison them. Above all, lie your head off in the process.

    3. I hope you've digested your breakfast, along with La Powell's words.

      https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/JCO/Documents/Judgments/sentencing-remarks-r-v-dogar-others.pdf

      Couple of snippets; 2013, so presumably even the slowest reader amongst MPs have had time to read the judgement.

      47) In November 2006 when she was 14 you took her to Nanford House for sex. She agreed. There came a time she wanted to go. However after taking cocaine, you would not let her go. She made it very clear she wanted to go home. Her mother would be worried. You insisted on further sex knowing that she was no longer consenting. You subjected her to a prolonged assault involving sexual and physical violence, degradation and humiliation. In particular, you became very angry. You jumped on top of her, pulled her hair, and forced her head onto your penis. You penetrated her vagina twice and ejaculated. At one stage, she could not breathe because your hands were tight around her neck and she felt that she was being throttled. You told her you were going to kill her. You also pushed her in the shower and urinated upon her. No doubt because you wanted to punish her and humiliate her.

      53) You, Mohammed Karrar, prepared her for gang anal rape by using a pump to expand her anal passage. You subjected her to a gang rape by five or six men (count 30). At one point she had four men inside her. A red ball was placed in her mouth to keep her quiet. Not only were you both involved in the commercial sexual exploitation of GH, you also used her for your own self-gratification. You both raped her when she was under 13. When she was very young, although it is not clear whether she was under 13, you both raped her at the same time (oral and vaginal/anal). It happened on more than one occasion (Count 28).

      2. The muslim pakis should have been castrated using an electric saw and flogged, their tongues torn out and them thrown into a lime pit.

      3. 405043+ up ticks,

        Afternoon Anne,

        I can only hope that rough justice is eventually dealt out in one form or another.

    4. An open inquiry would see Labour, and all the hangers on, cronies, chums, councillors, wasters absolutely ruined. It would have endless hundreds of thousands charged with aiding and abetting crime: the rape of children by pakistani paedophile muslim.

      It would end the Left and likely lead to public riots where plod simply wouldn't be able to exert any measure of control.

      1. 405043+ up ticks,

        Afternoon W,
        So,we need a starting date, as for the police they will have their hands full covering their own guilty arse’s.

        The concealers are as guilty as the perpetrators I would say more so as they are allowing continuation by their actions / in actions.
        The sooner this inquiry is triggered and saves ONE child’s suffering the better.

        This issue is strongly linked to “Stop the boats” and needs, express urgent attention.

  35. It seems the Russians are responsible for cyber attacks. They obviously think that M&S and Co-op are of strategic importance to the wellbeing of Britain.

    1. When the news broke the co-op said people's data was safe. Right up until the hackers gave the BBC proof they had succeeded in downloading the customer data base.

      The hackers now have my email, telephone and home address.

      The co-op said it wasn't considering any sort of compensation.

      Goodbye co-op. It was nice knowing you.

      1. I ditched the coop years ago. Their “ethics”didn’t coincide with my ethics.

  36. Good mid-morning, all. Overcast and very chilly.

    Researchers…
    https://x.com/john077333/status/1919691285838917812

    Latest attempt at scaring the unthinking herd. The presenters are excellent at keeping straight faces and serious tones of voice when they are asked to spread this information.

    However, Big John may have a valid point. Some farmers in the USA are reporting high levels of aluminium in their soil which is proving detrimental to non-GM crop growth. Are there people out there capable of poisoning the World's soil for personal gain?

    Since when has 400 molecules per million been a "record". Serious climate scientists have found much higher levels existed in the past. On those findings we are in a carbon dioxide famine.

        1. Very true. I hate zoos, circuses, animal parks…end up crying, but then I do when I hear/watch pipe n drums. Must be something wrong with me 😂

          1. There's something about the pipes that does that……..
            No animal should be in a zoo, and certainly not a circus.

          2. Only the human ones, N. Just been reading Steynonline, as ever he has a point but amusing with it. One of my fave journos.

    1. The next time it happens that will be the 666 of election wins/losses.

      I used to smoke Player's No. 6 … when I was young and foolish.

    1. 60 was a great liberation for me. Free prescriptions and no longer considered an idle waster when "actively seeking work".

      The transition was from a grumpy middle-aged git to a grumpy old git. Do I get my own colour on the rainbow flag?

        1. Yes. Sinbad our Lhasa Apso left us a few years ago. He lived to the age of 15 but suffered some serious disorders in later life. We both still miss him.

    2. Such a poor 'little girl' they even had to adopt both daughters…..🤫

      1. The two Obama daughters were both adopted, Eddy? I never knew that.

        1. They were conceived by in vitro fertilisation after Michelle Obama learned that she would have difficulties in conceiving naturally, but both girls are the genetic offspring of the couple. Social media posts claiming otherwise are just mischief making.

        2. Oh yes Elsie.
          I can’t post photos on here, but I’ve an old one of him and him before they spent time getting Michael’s appearance altered to fit in with the way of life they had planned to lead.
          If you can send me an email address I’ll try and send it. Leave it until tmz as soon as if I can send it I’ll delete it.

      1. Looks like he can’t make up his mind if he is cold (fur coat) or hot (sun glasses). Lol.

    1. Being an "empty nester" apparently. Something we all are when our children grow up and leave home.

      1. She was also complaining about having to buy her own food when the Obarmies were in the Whitehouse. I bet that resonated well with the electorate.

        1. Apparently the West Wing has a subsidised staff cafeteria. They could just have taken their meals with everyone else. I wonder what the food and drinks bill is for 10 Downing Street.

          2. Ah, but look at the quality of our MPs and Lords and Ladies. They are worth it.

        2. The presidential salary is $400k, plus obviously rent free accomodation. Plus a $50k allowance for expenses. They have to pay for their own food, but not for the staff that cook and serve it. And they don't need a car, and someone else does the vacuuming, so not a bad life.

          1. They don't need to pay for their own aeroplane, security detail and other fripperies of office.

      2. I don't remember ever having any problems.
        Each stage of life has its plusses and minuses.
        I enjoy the boys' company for very different reasons compared with (cough, cough) years ago.

        1. I seem to remember almost beginning a new relationship with Alf after our second left home to get married. Although he had spent most of his time at his girlfriend’s. I was a handy launderette! It was a bit like starting all over again.

          Anyway we survived and thrived And thrived. 😉😉😉

          1. You are very tolerant, vw. If my husband lived with his girlfriend most of the time and presumed to come back to do his laundry I would tell him to do a running jump and would certainly not start all over again with him, nor thrive. I think I must be more mean-minded than I thought.

          2. I think vw meant that she and Alf renewed their relationship after their second SON moved out.

          4. I’m sorry opopanax I haven’t made it clear obviously. It was our son that that spent most of his time with his then girlfriend (now wife). I’m happy to make clear that Alf and I are glued together and always have been!

          5. No I'm sorry. Even if the correct end of the stick is offered to me I have a tendency to grab the other! This is what puzzled me so much as your Alf is particularly prominent in the uxorious Nottler stakes.

  41. I like your avatar today, Grizzly. Are you trying to be one of the long-haired Beatles in their Imagine / White piano days?

    1. No dramas, Auntie Elsie. I'd gone bush down in Ocker, mate, on that snapshot.

      She'll be right!

  42. Many congratulations to young Zhao Xintong, the first ever world snooker champion from China (and from Asia).

    Let's hear it for the lad …

    Xintong, xintong, xintong, xintong, xintong, iddle I po
    Xintong, xintong, xintong, iddle I po, iddle I po…

      1. Yes he was a breath of fresh air on the snooker scene – much needed new blood to oust the usual winners. Unfortunately I missed the end of the final and I was out at a musical gathering with my keyboard

      2. His skill levels take me back to the days of Joe Davis, John Pulman, Rex Williams, Ray Reardon and Alex Higgins.

        All the old professionals were equally skilled in billiards (many were world champions)and it was from that sport that they learnt positional play. The equipment the old timers used was also far inferior to the kit they are blessed with today.

        Young Zhao would have held his own in that vaunted company. Few others from the past 40 years would have been able to do the same.

        1. Some of the extras they seem to use now might even have made the oldies better.
          I don’t think I quite agree with the extensions they use.

    3. I'm not a snooker fan/addict but I watched yesterday's final, glued to the screen, it was fantastic. The skill of both players was outstanding. Just a shame, like all competitions, someone has to come second.

  43. Many congratulations to young Zhao Xintong, the first ever world snooker champion form China (and from Asia).

    Let's hear it for the lad …

    Xintong, xintong, xintong, xintong, xintong, xintong, iddle I po
    Xintong, xintong, xintong, iddle I po, iddle I po…

    1. If they did, the entire Left wing agenda collapses. Obviously the EU wants the pollution here.

    1. Starmer's probably arranging the tickets, and the hotel accommodation.

  46. Starmer's latest wheeze to dampen down the immigration row.

    Visa applications for some nationalities could be restricted

    Visa applications from nationalities thought most likely to overstay and claim asylum in the UK could be restricted under a new government crackdown.

    Under Home Office plans, first reported in the Times, external, people from countries such as Pakistan, Nigeria and Sri Lanka may find it more difficult to come to the UK to work and study.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0wd75ne82o

    It will be about as effective in changing public opinion as Cameron's concessions from the EU prior to the referendum.

    1. Hasn't got a clue. Never had a clue and never will have clue.
      And Not fit for the job.

      1. More 'doesn't want a clue'. The interest in actually stoppiing the invasion of this country by foreigners is of no interest to the Left whatsoever.

        Why would it be? A guaranteed welfare block, utterly dependent on the state, massive demand for services such as housing, bennies, intensive users of public services, with huge demand for police – for their criminality, translators – because they don't integrate, education – because they have none, social workers because they're effluent. Gimmigrants are the ultimate parasite to excuse a big state, high tax agenda.

    2. Cameron, for some odd reason kept going to the heads of state. This was plainly flawed, as they could not negotiate. He had to deal with the EU itself.

      As the EU would have told him to sod off – and he knew this – it was all clearly a farce.

    1. It's notable that it's the first thing Lefties throw out – then you point out all the things they believe in were also those the Nazi – national socialists – believed in.

      Lefties really hate history. It undermines their ideology without even blinking.

  49. It just won't go away.

    More political dogwhistling and a little trumpet blowing from the faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar right in a vote grubbing exercise.. or an expose of the horrendous grooming gang rapists network.

    GBNews reveals network.. mapping 50 towns & cities from Plymouth to up north. Ziltch convictions of those covering up.
    At least R Lowe is showing commitment unlike the rest of the evil scummy politicians.

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

  50. If we're to prepare for war why is the government letting in tens of thousands of rapists every month? Why is it forcing ever more unreliable energy sources? Why is it punishing farmers? Why is it making fertiliser expensive? Why is it pushing away allies and conceding to enemies?

    Someone? Anyone?

    1. The only answer can be that NWO (Specter) have given an order to destroy the culture and surroundings of the people who have worked hard brought up families for many, many decades in the UK. And as a culture has had many, many other obvious influences around the world. The only reason I can think of is pure and absolute hatred for our existence. What are these people expecting to achieve by doing this. And why are our useless political classes carrying out these given orders?

    3. The only explanation that makes any sense at all is that it is what they want. If that is the case (and I can see no rationality at all in their actions otherwise) then things are very dark indeed.

    4. The UK admitted about 1,200,000 immigrants in the year to June 2024, 100,000 every month, many of whom will be women and girls. The idea that tens of thousands of the men and boys admitted each month are – or will be – rapists, is fanciful, to say the least.

  51. If we're to prepare for war why is the government letting in tens of thousands of rapists every month? Why is it forcing ever more unreliable energy sources? Why is it punishing farmers? Why is it making fertiliser expensive? Why is it pushing away allies and conceding to enemies?

    Someone? Anyone?

  52. Docs suggested seeing pharmacist. Not too keen on that, so wangled an INR for my warfarin tomorrow and will ask the nurse's opinion then.

    Yes, it's cheating but it seemed sensible to me.

        2. Eh? "blood test for clotting time" is BTFCT (a five letter acronym), corimmobile. What is INR?

          2. INR, standing for International Normalized Ratio, is a blood test that measures how long it takes for blood to clot. It’s used to monitor patients taking warfarin, an anticoagulant medication, and is a way to standardize prothrombin time (PT) results across different labs. An INR value of 1 indicates normal clotting time, and higher values mean it takes longer for blood to clot.

    2. I stopped taking Warfarin several years ago following a hospital stay.

      The doctors and pharmacist in Addenbrookes put me on Apixaban. The advantage is blood tests are six monthly which saves “an armful”.

      1. I'm already on Apixaban but if I have the valve replacement, I'm told that Warfarin is preferred.

        1. Does the particular valve matter? I have a porcine valve at the base of my ascending aorta and I've been taking Apixaban just about every day since.

          1. Yes, I’m told that I ought to have a mechanical valve, which lasts longer but necessitates warfarin. I will question the surgeon and see what he says.

          2. This conversation about Apixaban and Warfarin sounds very unpleasant to me. I'm so glad I need neither of these two.

  53. 6th May 2025
    Dave Sergeant
    Happy Birthday
    and many joyous returns
    Best wishes
    Caroline and Rastus

    Travelling from England to France today, so no access to computer and using a Smartphone!

      5. Happy Birthday, Dave.
        Apologies for the weather, but I couldn't get through to the Boss.

      9. Hope you had a great day, Dave, and many happy returns! 🎊🎈🎁🥂🍾🎂🍧🎉

  54. What has worried me for the entire time of the conflict is that Europeans seem happy to root for war, when we know the awful consequences, rather than put in the effort to produce a peace plan. It is a far cheaper option as well, but its only taxpayer money and egos need to be kept inflated. Dreadful, the lot of them.

    2. I am just reading “Dunstable at war” first hand accounts. The thing that struck me was how disruptive it was even without any bombs being dropped. The accounts of the evacuees’ schooldays show alerts and all clears throughout the day.

  55. Possibly a civil war, wibbling (when they're far enough on with the revolution)…

  56. Toilet fixed, letter to Van Insurers sent "to be signed for", shopping in Matlock done and dinner cooked & eaten.
    Not a bad morning, all in all.
    Fried four chicken breast fillets with some onions, then added a couple tubs of "Tomato and Vodka(???) Sauce Wirksworth Co-op here flogging off cheap and got Grad. Son to do some ocen chips.
    One bit of chicken left for Welder Son to have when he gets home.

    1. I must have missed the saga of the lavatory. Glad to hear you have something to go on now.

  57. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/britain-russia-attack-plans-updated-b1226052.html
    Britain 'secretly preparing for attack by Russia' as decades-old emergency plans are updated
    British officials have been asked to update a 20-year-old contingency plan in case of threats of an attack, reports say.
    The Telegraph reports that classified documents will lay out how the Government would respond if war broke out, with plans including bunkers to protect the Royal family and Cabinet members, public service broadcasts and stockpiled resources.
    That's nice. Here in Norway, there are shelters for pretty well everyone, not just those more important than others.

    "Earlier this year, the Prime Minister warned that Vladimir Putin’s Russia was already “menacing Britain’s skies, waters, streets and national security”. – yeah, the country bled dry in Ukraine, so much so it has to use Koreans as cannon-fodder, and has run out of it's own soldiers and munitions.
    Why would Putin attack the UK, unless the UK was doing something stupidly provocative… ?

      1. We wouldn't be in the fix we're in if we'd already left ECHR, taken some back to France. Watching Conor MacGregor's progress (or lack of it) in Ireland, he can do so can UK. (Take it easy for a few days, btw..)

    2. 405043+ up ticks,

      Afternoon O,

      Some good could come from it on the English front I think there is a discussion taking place
      whether to move the illegals out of *5 hotels and swapping them with those indigenous seeking shelter under viaducts.

      The political PTB AKA the, arseholes, deem it safer for the illegals.

    3. Alex Christoforou of The Duran podcast(s) remarks that the supposed US/Ukraine minerals deal merely establishes a fund, based and operating in Ukraine, which is a means to continue the grift we witnessed under Biden.

      The proposed fund will be an enormous slush fund whereby Ukraine can rely upon arms and financial support but from which much of the so-called investment will wind up back in the pockets of Washington and its deep state donors.

      Trump is beginning to disappoint.

    4. It was the same in London when the Blitz started, hence the mass invasion of Mayfair club cellars and occupation of the Underground. We have never counted.

  58. 4045043+ up ticks,

    Our politicos seeking to represent the open formation of the forth Reich via a flag that is in the design stage, to be flown from buildings other than those that make up the Reform ( we will take some type of action shortly) party, I am led to believe.

    Meanwhile in the land of "I wanna be free" decent peoples action shows through.

    https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1919728156472385759

    1. Re the flying of flags. I’ll vote for whoever promises to reinstate black and white crossings rather than LGBT-coloured ines.

      Won’t anyone think of the horses? Or the guide-dogs?

      1. There's one in Gloucester, near the council offices – it annoys me every time I see it.

  59. Afternoon, all. I have arisen from my sickbed (I went down with something on Saturday and was floored on Sunday and Monday. I am only just staggering round now). Having read the local rag and the headline I wonder why I bother. The Lib Dems (now in charge of the dysfunctional county council) are trumpeting “change starts now!”. We’ve heard that before and look where it’s got us. The local rag is telling us the government is warning of power cuts and has a couple of articles on the best things to buy to prepare for it. Now the headline letter is telling us we need to prepare for war! In addition the damned NT has a picture of a raghead and her owner over the injunction “become a member “. What with English Heritage prioritising foreigners over the indigenous I feel unwanted in my own country.

    1. Change for better never happens Conners the political classes are quite simply habitual and pathological liars.
      What illness have you been suffering from ?

        1. Covid – I expect. Masks- 6ft distance – 14 day quarantine – DON'T go to the GP…etc etc.

          Hope you can still drink. Take care of yourself.

          2. Thanks, Bill. I have only recently been able to face eating and drinking. I never thought anorexia would trouble me.

          6. It’s all one can do. It’s times like that, when one is incapacitated, that living alone causes problems. The dogs, unfortunately, can’t make me a hot drink when I need one (not that I was able to face any sort of a drink for nearly 24 hours).

        2. Sorry to hear that, Conners. I hope you are slowly getting better.

    2. Well – I hope you're feeling better but that won't have done your recovery any good!

      1. I felt like going straight back to bed and hiding under the blanket! I had too much to catch up on, though with losing three days.

    3. Never mind powecuts, the Canadian government have just come out with instructions for finding shelter in disaster – as in hide under a desk.

      I am not expecting much from todays meeting between Carney and Trump but planning for an invasion is worse than I would think could happen.

      1. Will have to go out shortly to sign my acceptance papers after I was reelected.

        2. Parish Council or the Papacy? Did the doggies drag you out of your sick bed to tend to their needs?

          1. I am afraid they did. They didn’t get a walk as I was too ill. They were not best pleased. They got fed and let out. I have lost half a stone because I felt too ill to eat.

          4. It felt like full-blown influenza. Not just a cold. I am up and about today, but with a hacking cough and feeling decidedly weak and shaky.

    5. Hi Conners sorry to hear you are unwell.

      My mega deep-cleaning efforts left me with a very hurt left arm – have had an issue with it for a few months but the pain has moved and was excruciating.

      At my friends’ and husband’s bagging, i put in for a doctor’s appointment and was surprised to get one. Just pain killers, on prescription. I got them anyway although i normally prefer to suffer through.

      This evening’s entertainment is to go through my new painkillers and the remnants of previously-prescribed pain killers and try to understand what i’ve got and when i could use them.

      I had to pay £9.90 for one drug that i could get over the counter for £3:00, but she wouldn’t let me.

      1. So stupid isn’t it? One of my ex pupils was at the polling station. I still had to show ID!

        1. Well we have to do everything we can to combat fraudulent voting.

          Except, of course, put any controls in place to ensure the integrity of postal voting.

          1. Strange how personation (voting as someone else) is still a punishable offence (not that anybody would follow that up because we all know who tends to do that).

        2. To be fair, why did we have to have a class registration every day? the teacher could have just counted the kids and any shortages would be pretty obvious.
          Gawd, I still remember it. "Alan, Bell, Blues, Brown, Campbell…"

          1. Because your register was checked to see if you’d completed it correctly, Ours was Ainsworth, Allen, Bridgewater, Bucknall (always called Barry, although his name was Graham), Clarke, Dunn …

          2. Five rows of six desks and chairs. All full, “I see we’re all here today.”

    6. Presumably you're feeling better as you've arisen from your sickbed rather than merely crawled!

      1. Well, I am upright, sort of, although as I took the dogs out, their enthusiasm at being allowed to beat the bounds nearly had me on the floor a few times because I was weak.

  60. Afternoon, all. I have arisen from my sickbed (I went down with something on Saturday and was floored on Sunday and Monday. I am only just staggering round now). Having read the local rag and the headline I wonder why I bother. The Lib Dems (now in charge of the dysfunctional county council) are trumpeting “change starts now!”. We’ve heard that before and look where it’s got us. The local rag is telling us the government is warning of power cuts and has a couple of articles on the best things to buy to prepare for it. Now the headline letter is telling us we need to prepare for war! In addition the damned NT has a picture of a raghead and her owner over the injunction “become a member “. What with English Heritage prioritising foreigners over the indigenous I feel unwanted in my own country.

  61. Back much earlier than expected.

    Euston Hall was a real treat. More paintings of the Stuarts than any other private house – apart from Windsor Castle. Fascinating. Very cold, though…. The present family – Fitzroy – the Dukes of Grafton – descend from one of Barbara Villiers' bastards by Charles II. Obvious it can pay very well!!

    My sour comment this morning was about the third child of Prince Woke – who should not be let out on state occasions until he has been taught to behave himself. I expect the modish excuse will be that he is "on the spectrum". Well a smacked bottom might cure that….

    Did I miss any news?

    1. Ah, the Duchess of Grafton was Mistress of the Robes to the late Queen? I know Fitzroy means the King’s bastard. Didn’t know anything about Euston Hall. Thank you. There’s a Yorkshire connection. George Howard of Castle Howard married Lady Cecilia Fitzroy.

  62. Wordle No. 1,417 2/6

    🟨⬜🟩⬜🟩
    🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

    Wordle 6 May 2025

    Eyrie for an Eagle!

    1. Very well done, Rene! I didnt take enough time on this one and missed out on a birdie – I imagine there will be a number of low scores from the ADIEU starters, it's had a good run of late!
      Just a par…..

      Wordle 1,417 4/6

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

    2. Very good.

      Wordle 1,417 4/6

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

      Edit. Spot the schoolboy error on 3rd line.

    3. Ooh Inpressive!

      I had twice as much fun.
      Wordle 1,417 4/6

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

    4. I just made it.
      Wordle 1,417 6/6

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

    5. Well done! Par here but should have been a birdie. I initially rejected choice four as less likely than three. Doh!

      Wordle 1,417 4/6

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

      1. Fancy that!
        Wordle 1,417 4/6

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

  63. And another thing – why did some of the royals choose to dress like re-enactors? It wasn't their day – it was the nation's.

  64. Savvy Starmer has just negotiated a belter of a trade deal.. up there with the statecraft of Theresa May.

    Unlimited Indian nationals on temporary visas and their firms will not have to pay any 'social security contributions' plus UK will lower tariffs on clothes, shoes and food from the subcontinent, in exchange for reciprocal cuts for some whisky and cars.. both of them.

    Cracker. That's just managed to pee off the unions.

    1. If the leftie unions moan.. then they too are.. faaaaaaaaaaaaaar right.

  65. Savvy Starmer has just negotiated a belter of a trade deal.. up there with the statecraft of Theresa May.

    Unlimited Indian nationals on temporary visas and their firms will not have to pay any 'social security contributions' plus UK will lower tariffs on clothes, shoes and food from the subcontinent, in exchange for reciprocal cuts for some whisky and cars.. both of them.

    Cracker. That's just managed to pee off the unions.

  66. I have just vomited – the paper has a photo of Cur Ikea Slammer and Lady Victoria Sponge snogging. UGH.

    2. Were tongues involved?? OK sorry about that… it cant be unseen…….

    1. Yes. I seem to remember reading that.

      One day i’ll write to my council about it!

    2. Yes. I seem to remember reading that.

      One day i’ll write to my council about it!

    3. I saw a brief report on YT about police horses in London, where they showed the yard of their stables had common road markings painted on the tarmac in order to get the horses used them. In addition to pedestrian crossings etc there was also a rainbow crossing.

  68. Then don't for heavens sake cut your self or have a nosebleed. The blood flows for hours and is most distressing.

  69. Was looking up Ann Cryer as she is often mentioned with reference to her early calling out of the “grooming gangs” and her subsequent silencing on the issue.

    Imagine my surprise to discover she was briefly married to our Vicar (when i lived in Wolverhampton- i left in 1985) in 2003/2004 before he died.

    What a small world.

      2. They're different shoes! I always thought she just put the same pair on the wrong feet – she's managed to take two left shoes from different pairs (that dont actually look that alike!) and put them on……. my titanic regard for her has taken a serious hit!…..

    3. Oh damn. Poking my eyes out with a sharp stick those days.

    4. HelLO – Diane Abbott is not an African Visionary Leader – she has spent her entire career at the expense of the UK taxpayer!

      1. I kept meaning to – and will sleep all the better tonight for finally getting round to it!

  72. A little boy and his grandfather are raking leaves in the yard.
    The little boy sees an earthworm trying to get back into its hole.
    He says, "Grandpa, I bet I can put that worm back in that hole." The grandfather replies, "I'll bet you five dollars you can't.
    It's too wiggly and limp to put back in that little hole."
    The little boy runs into the house and comes back out with a can of hair spray.
    He sprays the worm until it is straight and stiff as a board.
    The boy then proceeds to put the worm back into the hole.
    The grandfather hands the little boy five dollars, grabs the hair spray and runs into the house.
    Thirty minutes later the grandfather comes back out and hands the boy another five dollars.
    The little boy says, "Grandpa, you already gave me five dollars." The grandfather replies, "I know. That's from your Grandma."

  74. * Swirls in * wearing a warm jumper, still very chilly today, good evening .

    1. Yes, more than a bit cool in Matlock when the sun went behind the clouds!

      1. What do you mean "Fairweather"? Haven't you heard of Global Boiling???

        1. 405043+ up ticks,

          Evening BT,

          I believe Andy was blowing in the wind before the GW scam for fools was created.

      2. You're correct, ogga. My first thought was Don McClean of American Pie and Vincent fame but I bow to your superior perception. That said, it's hard to believe the two images, 48 years apart, are of the same person.

      3. Ah yes, thought at first that chap with Small Faces (not that I can remember his name either…cue the ones who can…

        1. Steve Marriot? I thought it was probably Bill judging by the reactions. A lot of nudge nudge wink wink from the more seasoned nottlers on here that I fail to twig. :-))))

          1. You’re not alone. Can only guess🤔🙄😄…they know something we don’t…night opopanax..got a bit of a shock earlier, someone had upticked an old msg I’d sent to Peta from around 14 months ago 😢

    3. I must admit he doesnt look 'Wide-eyed' on either pic, let alone 'legless' – another disappointment…….

      1. For the past 30 years-or-so, AF-L has been a non-singing rhythm guitarist for Eric Clapton, touring with him. I saw them live at the Sheffield Arena back in the late 1990s. They were superb.

        The lead backing singer was the beautiful Katie Kissoon.

        1. I liked AF-L in all his manifestations, including Amen Corner – Paradise!

          When I was a young buck I regularly went to the top nightclub in Blackburn (everything’s relative….) – The Cavendish, latterly Peppermint Place.

          One night we went there when Mac & Katie Kissoon were appearing – only Katie had fallen ill so Mac, God bless him, did the set on his own – although one man singing ‘Sugar Candy Kisses’ on his own left a little to be desired. I dont think we cared at the time though….

  76. Since no one responds to my comments – I am off!! A moment of sunshine now after a bitterly cold, cloudy (and drizzly) day.

    Tomorrow – similar BUT a bonfire in the offing – to get rid of the last of the debris before the north wind veers to the "warm" south…

    Have a lovely evening.

    A demain – de temps en temps.

    2. But, but…we agree with your comments, Bill. I’ve just bought a hot water bottle. My heating went off on 1st May, as per the terms of my lease and the building loses heat slowly but this weather doesn’t help. Down to 22c indoors. Better for sleeping of course but in a studio flat, the living room and bedroom are one and the same.

      1. I have a hottie all year round, no matter the deep snow and freezing ice or sun cracking the flags. Dog loves it, some reason puts his chin on it.

        1. I wish to make it clear to all NoTTLers that I have never had any physical relations with Mr. KJ200. "Hottie" indeed!

          1. Ah hadn’t made that connection, Elsie..sorry..it’s how my husband and children have always referred to them …name’s Kate btw…x

          2. Thanks, Kate, for that. Perhaps I should have written "Lol" after my post.

        2. I have hot water bottles – and I've had to light the Rayburn again. Global warming? Where is it?

          1. 😆 been hot and sunny here today..oak trees more or less fully in leaf…ash not so much….oak before ash bit of a splash ..’Night Conway (I have hot water bottle too) x

    4. No responses? Phizzee must have dozed off or been eaten by the doglets.

  77. From Coffee House, the Spectator

    Duolingo claims that it is ‘the world’s best way to learn a language’. The app – which has tens of millions of users – boasts a ‘science-backed approach’ that it says ‘delivers measurable results’. I’m not convinced: it seems to me that time wasted on Duolingo would be far better spent doing almost anything else.

    Busy people, of course, can’t be expected to learn languages the most efficient way: dropping everything to spend some time in a foreign country and learn by immersion. But flicking through one of those kitsch phrasebooks, or listening to a podcast in another language, slowed down to 0.5x speed if necessary, is probably more likely to help your language skills, in a way that is better tailored to your abilities and interests, than five minutes a day on Duolingo.

    Millions have been taken in by Duolingo and its marketing gimmicks

    Yet millions have been taken in by Duolingo and its marketing gimmicks. One of its most recent stunts involved the demise of Duo, the site’s green owl mascot, who was hit by a Tesla Cybertruck. In death, as in life, Duo stayed true to his reputation for emotional manipulation. The app’s users were told that they would have to obtain 50 billion XP (experience points) – that is to say, to go on the app more, and thereby increase its revenue – in order to resurrect him. They succeeded; he is risen. ‘Faking my death was the test’, the owl tweeted smugly, ‘and you all passed’.

    What does this annoying PR strategy have to do with learning languages? Nothing, of course. But perhaps this is fitting when you come to realise that Duolingo resembles not so much a language learning app as an online game – and a rather dull one at that.

    Duolingo likes to boast that it is better at teaching languages than typical university instruction, which might tell us something about the poor state of academia. But surely even signing up at a second-rate university – and going on a placement abroad – is a better way to learn a language than using Duolingo?

    Social media is certainly full of people complaining about Duolingo’s inefficacy. One user’s 1,810-day streak on the Japanese course left him unable even to write ‘thank you’. Chris Stokel-Walker bemoaned in the Times of his 300-day Duolingo run that he ‘still can’t talk German to my in-laws’.

    ‘What am I doing wrong?’ he asks. Using Duolingo, we might cattily answer.

    The classic defence of Duolingo is that it’s better than nothing, or that it’s just a starting-point. But might using Duolingo be actively harmful to prospective learners? Duolingo – like so many gamified education tools, with its bright colours and insecure jokes to keep you from dozing off – gives its users the impression that grammar doesn’t really matter, and that learning languages is just a question of recognising odd words, sometimes joined together in sentences. This approach seems to cause special problems in languages which use other scripts, like Japanese or Hebrew, and languages like Latin whose underlying systems (cases, declensions, and so forth) need to be thoroughly explained. In short, Duolingo is dishonest about what it actually looks like to learn a foreign language.

    Even on the vocabulary front, some of its sample sentences are so deliberately absurd – ‘My horse collects teeth’, ‘The shrimp eats the bear’, ‘In this stage we must eat insects’ ­– as to be of little practical use (this, too, is a nifty marketing gimmick, inasmuch as it creates ‘viral moments’).

    Duolingo sets itself up as the antithesis of ‘old-school’ language-learning: it is the flashy, modern alternative to flicking through dusty textbooks, verb drills or chanting declension tables at dour schoolmasters. In doing so, it obscures the fact that learning languages requires hard mental work, often of an unsexy kind. The reality is that an hour with an old-fashioned grammar text – you can get loads for free online, and even the Wikipedia pages for most languages have impressive offerings – will do more good than fifty hours on Duolingo. Those dour schoolmasters might have had a point all along.

    Aside from the app, Duolingo also hosts an online English test, which its website boasts is ‘accepted by thousands of institutions worldwide’. Britain is home to 120 of those institutions, including prestigious universities such as Imperial, York, and the LSE, though the latter only in cases with ‘extenuating circumstances’. The test, it should be noted, is not on the government’s approved list of language tests for visa purposes. It isn’t hard to see why. The Duolingo test is visually almost identical to the app itself, with the same characters and ‘Corporate Memphis’ aesthetic. Unsurprisingly, it appears to share many of the app’s fundamental problems, especially its strong bias towards straightforward recognition of random vocabulary at the expense of grammar.

    The app is representative of so much that is wrong with modern-day education: gamification, style over substance, endorphin rushes instead of hard knowledge. It stands for a very modern tendency that everything ought to be ‘fun’ – even things like grammar, which are probably best left dry and boring.

    It is said that Walt Disney accidentally killed an owl when he was a boy, and that this formative experience was responsible for much of the creative genius that followed. Deleting Duolingo from your phone might produce similar effects in would-be language learners. If you want to learn a language, let the green owl die – and this time for good.

    WRITTEN BY
    Samuel Rubinstein
    Samuel Rubinstein is a history student and writer currently based in Paris. He studied history at Cambridge

    1. When I was in Junior School there was an experiment to see if we could learn a foreign language by ear in the same way that we learn our native language. It didn’t work. In French class no English was allowed and nothing was written but we couldn’t make out what was being said and wanted to ask, “How do you spell that, Sir”?

      The French teacher told me that my failure to grasp that language would determine the class I was assigned to in Secondary School. I told him that I was going to a Secondary School that didn’t teach any foreign languages. Sad to say, it was true. He took it badly.

      1. My husband thought he spoke fluent French until we went to France where he tried to have a conversation with a French chap (many years ago, children were very young, they almost collapsed laughing).

          1. The children were very young. The French guy was laughing as much as everyone else. I should have been more clear, sorry. Whole thing was good natured.

          2. Would have.…. how many times do I have to tell you ¯_ಠ_ಠ_/¯ ???

            Hope you're well BTW!!

          3. Which demonstrates how easy it is to communicate without sound grammatical grounding.

        2. Children should have been scolded.
          I hear people trying to communicate in foreign languages all the time. Nothing funny about it. There are people who pretend not to understand foreigners. That may have been the case here.
          I get the impression he returned home with his tail between his legs never daring to speak to another Frenchman again

          1. Not really the case. We were in a car park, he got out the car and asked a passing French guy for directions. They managed to communicate well. Girls were very young, in the car with me, giggling because they’d never really heard French spoken before. Scolded? No. Perhaps you took offence where none was intended, sorry if that’s the case.

      2. Can you learn a foreign language by ear? Of course you can. But it isn’t an experiment for a few months.
        My children went to a bilingual school Spanish/English. The lesson time was divided between the two languages. Thus the children became bilingual. Not so common thirty something years ago but now many state schools in Spain use the same system. My son lives in California and my daughter in law teaches Spanish culture (in Spanish) in a bilingual high school on the University campus. Bilingual education is all the rage in LA public schools too. Even trilingual, some schools.
        It isn’t something that can be introduced and then abandoned after a short time. But bilingual education will render the desired results.
        Some pupils may never master the intricacies of grammar, never know why they use one tense or other, may confuse adverbs and adjectives, but their easy comprehension when listening to conversation, lectures or movies, their accentless pronunciation, easy replies will compensate their poor technical knowledge.
        I don’t know if this has been introduced into the UK. My impression is that they are still more obsessed with old fashioned, unattractive school uniforms,smart haircuts and morning assembles,( those are my memories of England).
        Being bilingual in important languages is an enormous advantage for a young adult in today’s world and my own children have benefitted enormously.

          1. Because of my memories of English schools? Very possibly.
            My impression is that teaching and teachers have much improved over the years.
            Here in Spain, where I have lived for so long, I spent many years teaching Spanish teachers of English. Years ago the level was very low even amongst some university teachers but things are quite different now.

    2. When I looked earlier, comments were less than complimentary about Duolingo….

    3. I lasted less than a day on duolingo. 🤣 It treated me like a hyperactive toddler, which really got my goat.

    4. ‘In this stage we must eat insects’ own nothing ­and be happy, surely?

    5. As a linguist, I know that if you don't know the grammar to underpin the vocabulary you're going to be struggling, particularly with languages that don't follow the SVO (Subject Verb Object) rule.

      1. A good working knowledge of grammar is an invaluable tool when learning foreign languages. Also in the use of one’s own language, a good grounding in grammar helps self expression in prose and speech.
        But so many people forced to learn to speak new tongues, without the benefit of formal education, do manage to communicate with some success without much knowledge of grammar.

        1. I've done it both ways; traditionally and audiovisually. It's the traditional method-taught languages that I still remember best. The other variety is patchy and the spelling is a bit dodgy. I do have a good accent, though (but then I'm a mimic and that helps).

  78. So if every elected councilor has to go through Net Zero, inclusivity and diversity training (code for brainwashing in my book).
    Then that means that no matter whom you vote for, whomever gets elected they will all be singing from the same hymn sheet.
    Resulting in no diversity of thought whatsoever, so literally doing the opposite of what it says on the tin.
    I assume MPs have to go through the same process.
    No wonder all our politicians are doing and saying the same things.
    Reform are right to reject this agenda.
    They don't want to become Stepford Councilors and MPs, just like all the rest.

          1. Could be tricky if they make it a requirement. I shan't be volunteering, that's for sure.

    2. One of the things our dysfunctional broke county council should ditch, along with the diversity, inclusion and its associated officers and translators, is nut zero. With the limp dims now in charge of the asylum, there is no chance of that.

  79. From the Telegraph

    VE Day is the last bit of British history that hasn’t been cancelled
    VE Day ought to serve as a reminder: our national story should be a source of pride, not shame

    Annabel Denham06 May 2025 5:22pm BST
    Every year, VE Day gives the British public the rarest of gifts: an opportunity for unapologetic, unabashed pride in their country. Britain’s self-loathing is deep and pervasive. We tiptoe over virtually every aspect of our past, but on May 8, we’re permitted to wave flags, watch parades and enjoy a moment of licensed patriotism and unity.

    It’s also a celebration of predominantly white male heroes. Sanctimonious halfwits will spend the rest of the year attempting to shred former glories – tearing down statues of Edward Colston in a bizarre display of solidarity with “Black Lives Matter”, besmirching Winston Churchill, without whom Hitler would likely have prevailed, and reducing the legacy of Admiral Nelson to his moral failings by modern standards. But on VE Day, the great men of our history are safe.

    This is desperately needed. Even those who ought to uphold and exalt our heritage are now denigrating it. Trump recently said that VE Day would be renamed “Victory Day for World War Two” because apparently America “won both Wars,” with “nobody close to us in terms of strength, bravery or military brilliance”. The Soviet Union suffered the loss of 24 million military and civilian lives during the conflict, 50 times America’s death toll. Yet Putin has turned that history into a grotesque propaganda tool utilised to justify aggression in Eastern Europe, repeatedly making baseless “neo-Nazi” claims to rationalise his illegal landgrab.

    Where there isn’t outright misrepresentation, there is censorship. So the gravestone honouring Guy Gibson’s dog is replaced to avoid “giving prominence to an offensive term”. The RAF Bomber Command is vilified, because soft liberals today naively believe large-scale conflicts can be fought without a single civilian casualty. As George Orwell wrote, “those who ‘abjure’ violence can only do so because others are committing violence on their behalf”.

    But those “others” are shrinking in number. Around 20 per cent more people are leaving the Armed Forces than joining each year. Yet we care more about diversity in recruitment than getting our military back to strength. The only response to a shortage of ethnic minorities is to penalise white applicants rather than thinking outside of the box.

    The consequences are plain to see. The Air Force – the very same which unlawfully discriminated against white men – is now facing a pilot shortage. A serving Marine recently warned that standards were being lowered for female trainees. Aggressive diversity schemes, more committed to social engineering and righting previous “injustices” than keeping the country safe, are alienating the core group which is likely to join the military – white males. Why serve, when patriotism is a dirty word, when others are given special treatment because of their race or gender? Why serve when Kipling’s famous words ““For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ ‘Chuck him out the brute!’ / But it’s ‘Saviour of ‘is country’ when the guns begin to shoot” ring truer than ever?

    The Telegraph this week reported that Britain is secretly preparing for a direct military attack by Russia amid fears that it is not ready for war. But the issue of readiness is not purely practical. Over 20 per cent of young people apparently now have a mental health issue – a figure likely to rise inexorably given the incentives provided by our welfare state. Ipsos polling yesterday revealed just 42 per cent of 18-34 year olds would be willing to fight for their country.

    It’s hard to see how the relentless shaming of our national story will help restore our psychological readiness for war. Wouldn’t it be better to teach our young people about Britain’s greatness? Of the achievements of white men of the past? How many young people know that Britain exported democracy, many sports, trains, jet engines, the telephone, the internet, the global lingua franca? Our economic, cultural and military triumphs?

    Speaking to Prince George on Monday, D-Day veteran Alfred Littlefield said: “It’s very important you are here today. It’s days like this that we should use to talk about things like this, so the younger generation can have some understanding.” The passing of those who lived through the war, and of those who knew people who lived through the war will be significant. Once they have gone, it will be down to future generations to uphold pride in our history. Without it, we won’t stand a chance against China or Russia.

    1. I almost stopped reading when the stupid woman writer started her anti-Putin rant.

      We need not fear Russia or China. We should fear the neo-cons in America and our own western politicians and of course the wretched unelected EU officials and its affiliated corrupted institutions.

          1. I might be you never really know.

            No you're okay, Erin's not made a move. 🤗🤭

          2. We never really know do we, Eddy. I have my suspicions about Grizzly, for example (just kidding). Erin is a lovely name, I'm sure you're looking after her well 🙂

          2. I would be financially worse off and my healthcare would have been inferior. My freedom to express myself would have been repressed.

    2. How much longer will be we able to celebrate Victory in Europe and in Japan? Yes, the Americans provided men and materiel (we had to pay for the latter), but we provided the island launchpad by keeping the UK free after the Battle of Britain. I am amazed the percentage was as high as 42.

    3. Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday. Have they been cancelled?

      1. They aren't about flag waving and celebrating victory; they're about remembering the sacrifices.

        1. The headline said VE Day is the last bit of British history that hasn’t been cancelled. Not so.

          1. But the burden of the piece was that it celebrated British history. The headline didn’t give a true picture of the sense of the narrative.

    1. Just imagine the amounts of copium Race Marxists need to smoke when facing the observations of good Mr Sowell.

      1. Hey Grizz.

        As an aside, I do wonder if AI will lead to the pendulum swinging back in favour of practical trade skills, over the mantra of 'Get an education and a student loan.' I'd be thinking that a job as an apprentice/journeyman plumber/sparky/joiner/welder/builder is far less susceptible to it.

        1. Hello, DC. It would be good to think that might be the case. I would say: without a doubt.

          When I was an apprentice (in the late 1960s) apprenticeships were common — in all manner of trades — and popular too with employers, since the government helped to fund them.
          When that funding was withdrawn, those employers had to think long and hard about whether they could afford a large annual intake of trainees. Many couldn’t and the practice died out.
          Yet another prime example of muddled thinking by those entrusted to look after the nation’s interests.

  82. So presumably the Indian workers coming here under Starmers great trade deal without having to pay NI will not be getting free treatment on the NHS, benefits, housing, that sort of thing?

    1. Just Who T F Does he think he is ?
      This could be treason. But we all know that B liar fiddled with the treason laws a few years ago.

    2. There's an easy equation to perform with Labour. Think of the proper and decent outcome. Now turn it upside down.

  83. Oh well washing up finished and kitchen tidy, rubbish bin out for the morning food waste bin out. Getting dark, too dark to see….feel I'm knocking on * bedrooms door. *
    * Heavens door * in the old Bob Dylan song. Things aren't that bad…..yet!
    Good night all Nottlers. 😴
    Did uncle Bill get the hump earlier ? No one responded to his posts. 🤔🤭😏

  85. We had a wonderful display of swift aerobatics while we were having our dinner ( a nice bit of sirloin steak and a glass of red )- the best display of flying so far this season – we now have five swifts home and the first pair (box 3 ) are cuddled up together now – and I can watch them on the telly.

    1. Well, I’m.most definitely past the toddler stage, at least… 🤣🤣

  89. Never tried it, Ashes. Must say that I do favour the Flashman method (alas, too old etc. for that now)

  90. My brother recommended it to me. He used it to learn Dutch as his wife is from the Netherlands. I think the advantage of the app is you have to pronounce the words correctly before you can move on. Hence my brother said that the little he knew sounded authentic. When he spoke to Dutch people they always responded in dutch imagining him to be quite fluent. He din’t know if this was an advantage or not as he rarely understood the replies.

  92. Slowly is the apposite word, Elsie. I think I can do more than I actually can and everything happens in slow motion.

  93. Yes, there was no way they were going to put up with missing out on a walk for four days running.

  94. Very nice, N!

    We've been building a dragonfly-friendly pond over the last year or so. I love watching their aerobatics. It's like a personal squadron of nano-drones chomping on the black flies/deer flies. 🙂

    1. The ones at Firstborn's farm (metallic green or metallic blue) sound like they are driven by clockwork when flying – tremendous rattling and clattering noises!

  95. And now it's my own bedtime. So it's Good Night all, sleep well, and see you all tomorrow.

  97. India has launched attacks on Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in response to the attacks by militants on India-administered Kashmir last month. A Pakistan spokesman says his country is responding in kind. Will this be played out on the streets of Britain by those who've immigrated from those two countries and their descendants?

  98. When do we think the penny will drop with the ordinary voter about what a nasty lot Labour and it’s supporters (inc. the Media and the so-called “Liberal luvvies” are? “Hate speech” laws only work one-way. Anyway, in other good news for Labour, Lucy Powell has go away with her vile, sneering comments. Good job she didn’t shout at a police dog, or be in the same room as a piece of cake.

    “One of Britain’s youngest councillors has resigned from Labour after claiming she was branded a racist for calling for CCTV to be installed in minicabs.

    Daisy Blakemore-creedon, 19, has left Peterborough city council’s Labour group after allegedly being bullied and subjected to anti-semitic abuse.

    She claimed she was falsely accused of racism after she raised concerns about the safety of passengers and drivers in the city’s licensed minicabs, many of whom are operated by Asian men.

    She said some councillors accused her and her wider family of “targeting fellow Asian Labour councillors”.

    The abuse allegedly began after she argued within the Labour group in favour of CCTV being installed in council-licensed minicabs, a move she says was voted down by the party’s minority-ruling administration.
    Ms Blakemore-creedon, who was Britain’s youngest councillor when she was elected last year, stated: “These accusations [of racism] are completely unfounded and deeply hurtful.

    “I have also raised a formal complaint regarding these matters, which has now been delayed twice, reportedly due to concerns about the political impact on the party, rather than a focus on justice or resolution.”

    The councillor, whose mother is Jewish, told The Telegraph she had subsequently been subjected to anti-semitic comments. The remarks appeared on the account of one prominent Labour supporter in Peterborough accusing her of being “on the payroll” of Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister – despite her never having commented on Israeli affairs.

    Ms Blakemore-creedon said: “This person used the cab safety issue to make an anti-semitic comment based on my Jewish heritage. It was horrible. I reported this to the Labour Party, but nothing has been done.

    “I’m so disappointed with all this because my morals have always been Labour. Labour is in my blood. My grandfather was a major supporter. But my entire family have been left really disappointed as well. When I argued for more safety measures in minicabs it led to a lot of ugly comments by people in the Labour group. I got messages from fellow Labour councillors accusing me of racism because lots of the cab drivers are Asian.

    “But I wasn’t targeting Asian drivers. I was talking about safeguarding for everyone, passengers and drivers.”

    She continued: “If people don’t want me as their councillor I’d have been happy to trigger a by-election. But I’ve had lots of my ward residents express their support and say they’ll support me as an independent.
    Peterborough city council and the local authority’s Labour group have been approached for comment.

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