Wednesday 17 September: The Tories need to hold their nerve in the face of defections to Reform

Posted on by Geoff Graham

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580 thoughts on “Wednesday 17 September: The Tories need to hold their nerve in the face of defections to Reform”

  4. I posted this earlier this morning. A podcast i was listening to on the scandal of our religiously-slaughtered meat. From the podcast “Nick [Buckley] Talks” – an interview with Catherine Blakelock. Not not the faint-hearted and I am going to have to clarify with my butcher exactly where his meat is sourced.

    …“You said this is the grooming gang scandal for animals. And once you said that, it all made sense.

    This is exactly what it is. This is the breaking of the law, the suffering of, in this case, animals, where everybody knows what's going on, but no one's got the balls or the backbone to do anything about it, in case they're called racist, in case they get attacked, and everybody, again, is looking out for their careers and their pensions, and nobody wants to do the job we're paying them to do. This is spot on.

    I think this is the grooming gang scandal for animals.

    Well, it's also the same thing. Immediately, you bring it up, you get all the lobbies. Oh, well, we've got this many exports, et cetera.

    And we're exporting, and it will affect all of this. And there were very, very few Halal videos possible. There's nothing really on YouTube.

    There is one which I have a link to. And I don't think that was even shot in this country. That was shot in Belgium.

    It's just horrifying. I mean, we, you started off by talking that we are a country of animal lovers[…]”

    From Nick Talks: Shocking Cruelty, Law Breaking, Special Rights & Even TB, 16 Sep 2025
    https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nick-talks/id1643721749?i=1000727093422&r=1028
    This material may be protected by copyright.

    1. Our local elderly butcher died, and his shop was bought by a young chap .

      Some of the variety of meat changed , some good quality , and locally sourced , but the previous butcher sold the most delicious family sized steak and kidney pies , made locally.

      A few years ago now , I shopped there and asked for a steak and kidney pie, the shape had changed and the pastry was not short crust.

      I asked where he sourced his pies from.. Shock horror in my eyes , Birmingham , I asked why , and he said in his opinion the pies were better value .. I groaned , and asked him whether the pies were Halal , and if they were why?

      His answer to me was yes, and then said , why, are you a racist ..

      The shop is just down the road , in our village , convenient, but I haven't shopped there since .

      1. What has halal got to do with being racist? As a butcher he should know perfectly well what the issue with the slaughter is.
        It is very wrong of him to be selling people halal slaughtered meat without them knowing.
        I asked our butcher the same question and he said, "no, we don't sell any of that"

  6. Good morning all.
    A dull, miserable & bloody foul start to the day, dark overcast with heavy rain and a light wind and a tad over 12½°C.

    That's my plans for shifting the concrete blocks and sand scuppered for now, but it is forecast to ease off in an hour or so.

    2. Good morning BoB,
      I reckon it's time to put the heating on, even if it's just for a couple of hours, morning & evening.

      1. Just turned the Rayburn on as there's a load of washing to be dried and I'm also stewing apples to put into large jars to preserve them.
        As well as the old Newton Wonder having an excellent crop this year, I took 3½kg off my Egremont Russet, it's best crop yet and half stripped the Aldi Special of a similar amount.
        Next door's Lord Derby is also heavy laden.

        2. This year, our very old Bramley tree has a bountiful crop, but unfortunately, many have 'extras' inside.
          The Discovery was laden with decent apples. Not too many with 'added protein.' Unfortunately, I hadn't been in the best condition to make the most of the Discovery crop, so now we (well, I) have masses lying rotting on the ground, waiting for me to bag them up for the bin.
          Given how dry this summer has been, I was surprised so many big apples were on each tree.

  7. On the Tube today because i’ve been ill the last two days and don’t feel like cycling into work. I hate people. Especially the man who sat next to me but thinks he should have a monopoly on our shared arm rest. I would normally play nicely, but his aggressive stance when he sat down really riled me. Entitled. Arrogant.

  9. Good morning all, late on parade today I'm afraid. A Wordle Bogey.

    Wordle 1,551 5/6

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

    1. Good morning, Sue Ed, and thanks for the upvote. Extra information added to this post just now: I've just realised that next year is another World Cup year. So if you are fully recovered by then you can represent England in the World Cup team. On the other hand, if you are not quite fully recovered by then for such strenuous activity, you could perhaps enter the Egg & Spoon race. There, I hope that has brought a smile to your face.

    2. Good morning Elsie
      Anyone who gets this word in 1 or 2 is just reckless IMO!
      Wordle 1,551 4/6

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

  10. 412971+ up ticks,

    Morning Each,
    This judge needs a serious coat of checking out,he deems it to be of more importance that ONE illegal does not return to paris and possibly face destitution against, mass destitution facing the indigenous tax payers of the United Kingdom.

    Every day we suffer negative action on deportation is a positive day for illegal infiltration as in potential troops / welfare leeches, tis in reality only a matter of time until anarchy erupts BIG TIME.

    Dt,
    A judge granted a 25-year-old Eritrean man a temporary last-minute injunction, stopping him from being removed on a flight that had been due to leave at 9am on Wednesday, after he claimed he would be made “destitute” if returned to Paris.

    1. If it's so much bother refusing entry visa to one man trying it on, then what chance of deporting several million of them?

      1. We only have to look at the West Bank of the Jordan to appreciate the Cowboys & Indians scenario where the settlers take legal precedence over the indigenes.

          2. I have no sympathy for the Hamas supporters. Presumably there are Gazans who don’t support Hamas, just as there are Londoners who didn’t vote for Khunt and Britons who didn’t vote for Starmfuehrer’s mob or prior to that Bliar and his evil team; but we all have to live with the consequences.

      2. 412971+ up ticks,

        Morning JM,

        Via successive governing bodies and the polling stations there has never ever been, for decades, any intentions of stopping the inflow
        NOW the realisation has set in, as in, party before country (the toxic trio being equally odious) and we are giving succour to foreign paedophile rapist and abusers the cry is “get them all out”

    2. Morning Ogga

      Migrant on disability benefits housed in retirement home with his family vows to use human rights to fight eviction… unless they are found a bigger home.

      A Bangladeshi father of nine who receives disability benefits says he will fight against being evicted from a retirement home where he lives with his wife and young twin daughters – unless they are found somewhere bigger.

      Shahidul Haque, 59, who claims benefits for sleep apnea and depression, moved into the single-room flat in David Smith Court, a complex reserved for residents over the age of 55, last July.

      But just five months later he moved his 28-year-old wife Jakia Sultana Monni and their three-year-old daughters into the property.

      Mr Haque said he did not realise he was not allowed to move his family into the specialist accommodation for the elderly, because he does not speak enough English to understand the tenancy agreement.

      Now he is battling his eviction, claiming that kicking his family out of the accommodation would breach his rights under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) – which protects the right to a family life.

      Digging his heels in, Mr Haque complained the property is too small for a family of four – and has demanded they be rehoused somewhere with more space before he agrees to leave.

      Residents of the retirement complex in Reading, Berkshire, have complained constantly of 'excess noise' and 'anti-social behaviour' from the family, including the children repeatedly pulling the emergency cord and disturbing people living there.

      Officials at Southern Housing, who own the retirement complex, have told Mr Haque he has breached his contract agreement – and taken him to Reading County Court to claim back the flat.

      https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15104797/Migrant-disability-benefits-housed-retirement-home-human-rights.html

      1. He'll get a bigger house – no question. He may not 'speak enough English to understand the tenancy agreement' but he certainly knows enough to realise how to game the system.

  11. Good Moaning.
    Hah! It was worth the young people adding the Crumblies to their quiz team.
    WE WON!!!!!!
    And now Granddaughter and Co. have a £20 voucher to spend on Guiness next Tuesday evening.
    (p.s. the clincher was the word Ibis; as in leggy bird and, crucially, hotel chain. Modesty forbids me from mentioning who gave the answer.)

      1. If that ibis thought he would find crayfish deep in the mud of a marsh he must have been deluded, not to mention disappointed..

    2. My guilty secret, when I lived in the UK, was going to pub quizzes at pubs where I'd never been before and taking on the resident team "who had never lost" (usually of teachers) and giving them a sound thrashing.

      One such team complained that they had never lost, so the results must be in question. I simply sidled up to them, gave them a wicked grin and said, "Not only were you beaten; you were beaten by a team that knows much more than you think you do."

      They were not impressed.

      1. Many moons ago we held a quiz in our Unit bar. My new Flt Lt wasn't happy about his team of officers losing to our SNCO team. He made an empty threat, reminding me who wrote my annual reports. I offered to help him with the big words, as the Sqn Ldr chuckled behind him.

  12. To add to today's miserable weather, The Times puzzle page has been buggered about so that when ne prints a puzzle it is in mouse sized type and is almost impossible to fill in. Grrrrr.

    1. Good morning OLT

      Damp, very windy and a surprising 16c .. No downstairs radiators on or needed . Unlike the past few mornings when there has been a chill in the air .

      Moh being optimistic and dressed for a damp golf game , on his way already.

  14. Good Morning!

    Nothing can divert our minds from the grim reality of the Starmbot's UK like the arrive of intergalactic aliens from an infinitely superior civilisation. And today we have an inside account of the second visit of Lord Farscrape and his mission to harvest earth's valuable carbon dioxide. Lord Farscrape's Back! is a well-crafted, well-written and slyly witty piece, ideal for a welcome break.

    Back to earth with a bump, former soldier and policeman John Surtees gives us the dirt on the Metropolitan police's dirty squad in The Territorial Support Group – The Antithesis of Policing With Consent . This mob was seen in action on Saturday, and reportedly causing the violence that Paul Sutton mentions in his report on The Unite The Kingdom Rally – The View From The Street .

    Energy Watch: Over the last 24 hours: Britain's average power requirement was 31.1 GW, sourced from Gas, 14.1%; Solar, 7.1%: Wind 49.8%; Imports, 12.9%; Biomass, 4.4%; Nuclear 8% and Miscellaneous, 3.7%.

    freespeechbacklash.com

  16. DT headlines

    Sadiq Khan attacks ‘autocratic’ Trump ahead of State Visit

    POTUS is not even worth a "Mr"

    Revealed: The text messages where Charlie Kirk suspect ‘confessed’

    "On Tuesday, prosecutors laid out the formal charges against Mr Robinson and revealed messages sent to his former lover which they claim form part of a confession".

    However, the man suspected of killing Charlie Kirk is called Mr Robinson throughout the article

    1. "We don't need Nigel Farage, he's rubbish! He changes his things like he changes his socks!"

      Of course, Farage is a politician. I do not trust ANY politician.

      1. They all seek power, influence and enrichment, Grizz….with one or two notable exceptions eg Frank Field.

        1. Both Ben Habib and Rupert Lowe are of the same mind as Cincinnatus. They would rather not have anything to do with politics but feel obliged by what they have learnt about the state of politics in this country and the low calibre of our politicians. Both of them have said they would be happy to turn over their positions and retire, if someone came along they could trust.

          2. Ditto TR. He didn’t chose this route. He was standing up
            For a family member who was caught up in the grooming/rape gangs.

          3. Yes indeed. I suppose at this point I should think of Tommy as a politician although it seems weird to me.

        2. Both Ben Habib and Rupert Lowe are of the same mind as Cincinnatus. They would rather not have anything to do with politics but feel obliged by what they have learnt about the state of politics in this country and the low calibre of our politicians. Both of them have said they would be happy to turn over their positions and retire, if someone came along they could trust.

    2. What angers me about Camilla Tominey and her ilk is that her position on Tommy Robinson is either wilful ignorance or just plain malicious in the full knowledge that she knows what she is saying is false. Either way, people like that are purveyors of evil inviting and encouraging violence.

      1. One reason to support Tommy R is his name – looks like of English lineage, unlike those such as Habib. Damn carpetbaggers!

        1. Ben is half English, his mother was a Vicars daughter. So not fair at all to call him a 'carpetbagger'.

  18. Morning all Y'all.
    Dull today – but enough of me, who has a day off work today to attend a memory clinic! I can't remember why…

      1. I'm on intramuscular injections of hydroxocobalamin every 10 weeks. I perk up a bit a couple of days after receiving it.

        1. Thanks, mola…hadn’t heard of it, sounds positive – so far I seem to be managing on supplements. Article I read suggested that the NHS may be stopping some injections and moving patients onto supplements – guess why, cost-saving.

          1. On the phone the doctor mentioned cost when I asked for a 10 week interval instead of the original 12 week schedule.

          2. Guessing that’s your GP, mola? I think they all have a budget dictated by government. Receptionists seem to be the main target for irate patients, GPs seem to be letting them take the rap.

          4. Our (five) receptionists are all female. GPs are all male, shouldn’t hide behind either receptionists/keyboards/telephones.

      2. Been taking B12 and D3 supplements a while now. D3 has prevented any kind of cold or sniffle.

        1. Will look into D3, give it a whirl – thanks Paul x Sniffles, flu making a comeback – perhaps we need a very cold winter to knock a few bugs out?

    2. The clinic near me is running a Schizophrenia awareness course – I've half a mind to attend…..

  19. Two senior SAS soldiers have been arrested on suspicion of murder following an alleged unlawful killing in Afghanistan, it has been reported.

    The men – who are believed to be a lieutenant colonel and a warrant officer 2nd class – were detained by military police at the elite unit's HQ near Hereford last week.

    The allegations are understood to relate to an unlawful killing in Afghanistan in 2009.

    An insider told The Sun that the claims originate from a former Afghan solider who was part of a unit that went on missions with the British Special Forces.

    According to the newspaper's report, the suspects have been released on bail and one has already been told he is no longer part of the investigation.

    A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence confirmed the arrests had taken place. However, they provided no further comment.

    It comes as an inquiry into claims the SAS committed war crimes in Afghanistan is being held at the Royal Courts of Justice by Lord Justice Haddon-Cave.

    The probe was ordered after evidence emerged suggesting 80 or more unarmed Afghans were executed by SAS soldiers from 2010 to 2013.

    This murder investigation falls outside of the inquiry's time frame.

    SAS soldiers launched a legal fightback earlier this month as they accused Haddon-Cave of acting 'unlawfully' and breaching 'open justice'.

    In a bid to obtain eyewitness evidence, Haddon-Cave ruled that whistleblowers can provide testimony without anyone else in court, save for a skeleton legal team.

    The soldiers, some of whom could face possible murder charges, have argued this could lead to evidence being untested and taken on face value.

    Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former British Army commander, said: 'It is imperative allegations of this severity are subjected to appropriate scrutiny.

    'The SAS's legal representatives rightly want to defend the soldiers' interests. They are also right to question how much weight can be given to anonymous accounts.'

    The Independent Inquiry Relating to Afghanistan has already been sitting at the High Court in London for two years and is not expected to return a judgement before 2027.

    The secret sessions, known as Green Hearings, are expected to hear SAS soldiers shot a Taliban suspect while he was asleep.

    According to the laws of armed conflict, and the soldiers' Rules of Engagement, he should have been arrested and detained.

    The Ministry of Defence's Witness Legal Team claims the judge's ruling breaches the Inquiries Act 2005.

    The legislation is supposed to protect the legal rights of witnesses who may later face criminal charges.

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15105547/Two-senior-SAS-soldiers-arrested-murder.html

    Prince Harry boasted about his kill rate in one of his books , didn't he .

    Why on earth were our troops out there anyway .. lost cause , and a waste of young brave British soldiers lives .

    1. Was that Taliban sleeping? Who says? How do they know? or, is it all made up for effect?
      The only solution is for all the serving SAS soldiers to resign, and fuck the Army, if that's how they are to be treated by people who weren't there and have no understanding of what being a SAS member entails.

    3. Blair, TMA…he later said 'it was a complete waste of time, and he regretted involvement'. To be a fly on that wall when he meets his Maker.

          2. If you aren’t my husband, you are definitely related. I claim my fiver (he’ll pay it, when he’s finished his current daily rant….)

    4. Murder charges in a warzone. For goodness sake. The point is to kill the enemy. To kill so many, so fast that they stop fighting.

        1. Handsome is as handsome does. Wouldn't care to challenge that look 🙂 (his coat looks well groomed x)

        3. Little Cat, real name Viggo, is a Forest Cat and looks almost identical to yor beautiful Fritzie. Amazing thick, soft fur over a heavy, well-filled frame… very affectionate!

          3. Yes, he’s a forest cat but in grey tabby & white. Real name is Njål, but he was very big. Hence the nickname… he has tootl problems and lost a lot of weight and condition, poor old thing. He’s an absolutely lovely cat, looks good, lovely person/catonality.

    2. Brilliant. I was first up this morning and had the, "Oh, it's you…" treatment. They declined to come in for breakfast and remain sulking in their baskets…..

      1. As servers in church trying to get people to present for Communion in an orderly manner, we always reference “herding cats”!

        1. Is it the wine wot does it, Sue 😀 ..my husband has also referred to me as ‘the only catholic I’ve ever met who isn’t actually a Catholic’….

        1. I’m divorced and re-married, Paul 🙂 we all have our dreams, I’m no exception…thanks for kind words 🙂 Kate xx

  21. Morning all 🙂😊🤗
    Stuck in hospital at the moment. Hopefully back in full circulation soon.
    Slayders 🤔 Have fun..

    1. Oh, man.
      Hope you're out soon, free to have a quiet pint, Eddy.
      I'm out at the pub this afternoon with Second Son – wil raise a glass to you! Cheersh!

    3. Get well soon, and back home soon, Eddy. All the best, hope you getting some good r&r – hospital can be noisy, my experience x

        1. Sincerely hope this won’t be Eddy’s experience in hospital. My grandfather had a set of books, one of which was Oliver, I read and loved them all.

    4. You were admitted? Hopefully cause and remedy are going to be identified and a plan put in place. All the best!

    1. DT likely being diplomatic, can't really tell reporters what he actually thinks. He loved QE2, will be respectful towards her son, and our monarchy.

    3. Ogga. I think it is called being diplomatic.

      And, to be fair, we have no idea what the king says out of the view of the public. For all we know he is plotting and scheming against Der Starmer Fuhrer. He might actually be urging Trump on in the free speech debate. Which, apparantly, is at the top of Trumps agenda in talks with the Weasel of 10 Downing Street. And, with regards to that, since Charlie Kirk and the President were close friends, I doubt that Trump will be in the mood to take the Weasels prevarication on the subject.

    4. Political niceties used aren't worth the breath they waste. Therefore, better not uttered IMO.

    5. Charles lll, The Idiot King, was not exactly welcomed when he came to the throne but at least he was given a fair chance.

      But he has squandered this chance and proved a complete disaster; he has turned even the most committed monarchists into republicans.

  25. Good morning, all. Wet, very wet.

    The Starmer Mandelson saga doesn't appear to be going away if the number of comments on social media is any guide. Unless and until the truth is admitted, unlikely, I know, we will not know what level of briefing was given and understood by Starmer & Co. However, sending in a junior minister to face the flak isn't a good look.

    Leadership, Starmer style?

    https://x.com/TalkTV/status/1968006295543242967

    1. Yes, but I fear that the government in unremovable and even if we get rid of Starmer we're stuck with a descending spiral of incompetence for the next 4 years.

      1. The solutions to reverse this farce are not magical. They're terribly simple. The state just won't permit it.

  26. https://hs-146483074.f.hubspotemail-eu1.net/hub/146483074/hubfs/G09KCBNWUAA3YPM.jpeg?width=1120&upscale=true&name=G09KCBNWUAA3YPM.jpeg
    EXC: Miliband Allies Blamed for No10 Implosion and Trying to “Destabilise” Starmer

    He may not be able to generate enough electricity to power a lightbulb, but former Labour leader Ed Miliband is blamed by senior Labour figures – Guido can reveal – for the crisis currently engulfing Downing Street. And you thought he was just a windmill-loving chump…

    Red Ed is back like a blast from the past, reportedly on major manoeuvres after Starmer tried to remove him as Energy Secretary last week. A rash of newspaper briefings recounted how Miliband “defied” Downing Street and managed to cling onto the brief – removing him was meant to be a key plank of the doomed ‘phase two’ reshuffle…

    Miliband’s personal politics are to the left of the No10 apparat around Starmer. He is seen within Labour special adviser circles as a key orchestrator of the ‘soft left’ tendency in the PLP. It will not have gone unnoticed in Number 10 that Miliband has endorsed Lucy Powell for the Labour deputy leadership, not Downing Street’s candidate Bridget Phillipson. Insiders suggest Miliband’s invective against Starmer is powered by the fantasy that he may make a return, or be the kingmaker in the appointment of a ‘soft left’ leader such as Burnham or Nandy…

    Multiple senior Labour figures pointed the finger at the Miliband camp over inflammatory briefings aimed at undermining Starmer’s authority. The shadow of the Ed stone is looming over Downing Street…

    September 16 2025 @ 09:46

    2. Just think, if these arseholes spent as much effort on governing the country properly as they do on intrigue and petty politicking, how fabulous the UK would be – as opposed to being a 3rd tier country?

      1. We ought not to let ourselves be distracted by it either – it's a succession of dancing, juggling squirrels in hats.

    4. Milliband is a cancer more deadly than the Coronavirus disease. His every action causes severe hemorrhaging of the British economy and the demise of civilised society. He should be exiled to a location more in keeping with his perverted mindset – Bradford or Brent, perhaps?

      2. I'd prefer Siberia but I doubt Russia would want to agree as Miliband is doing such a good job of destroying Britain!

  27. Good morning.

    Vigilant Fox reports that French and German hospitals have quietly been asked to prepare for war footing by March 2026.

    A German contact tells me that all GenZers born after 1.1.2000 have been sent letters inviting them to go for a medical examination,fill in a medical questionnaire about diagnoses, chronic illnesses, allergies etc* after which they may or may not choose to sign up for military service.
    But here's the kicker – for men only, born after 1st Jan 2004, the medical questionnaire is compulsory.
    Young men are protesting sexism. But the sea change is coming from above, from the highest level and is happening in lockstep across the west.

    All my life, we have been forcibly pushed down a left wing extremist, self destructive path, and now, just at the point where the financial reset can't be put off any longer, society is being brutally re-aligned to point back towards sanity.
    I fear they will push us deliberately to go too far the other way.

    *edited

      1. Please don't start with that anti German WW2 stuff again…it's all the EU leaders that want to distract from the coming financial chaos by taking the continent to war. I don't believe either the French or the German people want to attack the Russians.

    2. If all male GenZers have been sent letters and have to have compulsory medical examinations, the media would be all over over it yet there has been nothing.

      1. I checked again with my source who is very reliable, and she says that it is mandatory for men to answer a questionnaire about their health (not for women), but the medical examination by a doctor is only if they then choose to volunteer.

        So there is a mandatory and medical element for men only, but it is a list of questions about the man's health, diagnoses etc. I misunderstood her explanation in German before.

    3. According to some Leftie Think Tank, forget which one.. Donald has all but abandoned Nato. LOL It's better to fight Russia in Ukraine than on home soil in return for their know-how on drones, jamming & acoustic sensors. And the apocalyptic vibes from Ai & China point to a crescendo in 2027-ish.
      All the report needed was a model from Prof Lock-me-Down.
      Watch out for the movement of nepo babies as a good indicator. We all fondly remember the Blairs tearfully waving off Euan during the Iraq war as he chose Yale then onto Washington working for Republican congressman 5,000 miles from the frontline.

          1. Who were the mystery khaki-clad troops who appeared to put down the trucker protest in Canada? Who spoke no words to the protesters and had no identifiers on their uniforms? And what was the UN jet doing in Canada at the same time? Genuine questions.

    4. According to some Leftie Think Tank, forget which one.. Donald has all but abandoned Nato. LOL It's better to fight Russia in Ukraine than on home soil in return for their know-how on drones, jamming & acoustic sensors. And the apocalyptic vibes from Ai & China point to a crescendo in 2027-ish.
      All the report needed was a model from Prof Lock-me-Down.
      Watch out for the movement of nepo babies as a good indicator. We all fondly remember Euan Blair signing up to fight by chosing Yale then onto Washington working for Republican congressman during the Iraq war.

    5. I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
      The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
      The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
      I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
      O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
      But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
      The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
      O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

      I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
      They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
      They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
      But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
      For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
      But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
      The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
      O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

      Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
      Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
      An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
      Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
      Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
      But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
      The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
      O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

      We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
      But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
      An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
      Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
      While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
      But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
      There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
      O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

      You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
      We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
      Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
      The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
      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;
      An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
      An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool — you bet that Tommy sees!

    6. They are not having my son. Try that here and i am prepared to go to jail for it.

    1. The edstone was intended to say 'I so believe these nebulous, wavering and vague suggestions that I have carved them in stone – at your expensive. '

      Trouble is, the text was utterly inconsequential and so open-ended it could have meant anything. It was, like just about everything those fools do; a lie given the pretence of substance.

  32. Phew! The rain has eased but it's still a bit wetter than I want to work in, so I'm peeling & coring apples to stew and put into jars.
    Nearly filled my pan but have just had to go out and get some more off the tree.

    2. She's got a son who looks just like her. See clip of him activating at Nadhim Zahawi about trans issues at Warwick Uni, I think it is.

      1. We are definitely in the End Days, when people have the time and resource to “activate” about such preposterous things, whilst others in the world are hungry and/or cold etc.

  34. What a palaver.

    Dogs to the Vets for check ups, vaccs and prescriptions then cutting it fine to the dentist. Dolly has dropped a kilo in weight. Hurrah ! Can't call her fatso any more. :@(

    I'm exhausted. I don't travel well.

    Looking forward to a lunch of a plate of smoked salmon and iced vodkatini to go with it. Dolly can watch.

      1. Also put a big dollop of smoked mackerel pate on the plate. Dolly sits by my side glaring at me while growling.

          3. Dolly has short legs being a Chi and can’t reach the window. I stay with the neighbours for a while until she goes to sleep.

          5. I have a long hair Blue who goes by the name of Harry. He is intact and tends to double deck Dolly. Though a quarter her size he doesn’t have the reach !!!

            Her Dollyship is the daughter of a Cruft’s best puppy winner.

            His kennel name is Veejim Deltaforce at Tarradonna.

            We call him Archie.

            These little beings are the most important things in my life.

          6. I had a Harry..euthanized 30thMay, liver cancer, 16 years. Patterdale Terrier. Now just the Border Terrier she’s 14 and my shadow. Had a dog over 70 years, started to wonder if I should stop with this one. Yours sound lovely, esp long hair Blue. My terrier has a long KC name too. You may not agree but I hate Crufts. Once asked my vet which breed he thought best for physical health he said mixed breed. A long time ago, best vet I ever consulted. Not so much the ones I see now.🦮🐕‍🦺

          7. I have my doubts about Cruft too. I know what you mean about having another dog. They bring so much joy.

          9. I came to dogs later in life. My neighbour said when i got Dolly as a puppy my nature changed. I became happier. And it was noticed.

          10. Good to read:-) Focus changes when you have a living thing to care for. Some dog owners take their pet into care homes, really perks up the residents.

  36. Wednesday 17 September: The Tories need to hold their nerve in the face of defections to Reform
    (Today's DTs Letter heading)

    What destroyed the Conservative Party was the fact that the remainer, well left of centre members of the party did not defect to the Lib/Dems before the 2024 general election.

    The more pro-Brexit, right of centre members of the party who defect, the higher the percentage of left of centre, remainer members there will be and the more impossible it will be for the Conservative Party to survive.

    1. I'm very sorry to admit I voted for Badenoch. Jenrick and Philp seem to have stepped into the breach, I like both. Reform seems on target to destroy the CP, reported Farage always said he would do that when Central Office didn't want him as a potential candidate. If true, what a mistake.

      1. I would be an avid supporter of the Reform Party if Rupert Lowe were its leader rather than Farage.

        1. I like RL too, and wonder at the reasons Farage/Tice have for defenestrating Hopkins, Habib, Lowe. Suggestions seem to be around finance, but I’ve read no actual proof of anything.

  37. Who said it was impossible to do it in three? No clues, no cheating:
    Wordle 1,551 3/6

    ⬜⬜⬜🟩⬜
    ⬜🟨⬜🟩🟨
    🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

    1. I have had the Pfizer vaccine regularly since it was first available. Only "side effect" (maybe) is that I have not a had a cold or the flu since.

      As far as I know, it was only the Astra Zeneca vaccine that was "flaky". It was never used in the US due to lack of approvals. And they don't make it any more. Wonder why??

      2. Does it not seem strange to you and a little sinister that Pfizer wanted their “research “ kept secret for 75 years?

  39. I heard a tribute to the late Robert Redford on Radio 4 yesterday. I believe he was a very talented actor, producer, and director and apparently very good looking, but the homosexual slavering, the continuous obsequious adulation , the brown-nosing sycophancy was more than I could describe.

    R.I.P Robert, I hope you never meet any of the bootlicking Rsoles that drooled over your artistic talents.

    1. He directed a film in 1980 that, unfeasibly, won the Oscar for best film.

      Ordinary People was the most tediously boring film I have ever suffered. Its 'star', the lamentably talent-free but terminally irritating Mary Tyler Moore, was, as in all things she appeared in, unwatchable.

        1. I saw and enjoyed Butch Cassidy at the cinema all those years ago but I don't think I saw any more of his work. He was a good-looking guy though.

        2. I've only ever seen a couple, All the President's Men, and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. In the former, the actor I always recall was Jason Robards as Ben Bradlee the Post's then editor.

        3. I've only ever seen a couple, All the President's Men, and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. In the former, the actor I always recall was Jason Robards as Ben Bradlee the Post's then editor.

      2. On rotten tomatoes the critics were negative about the film but the audience scored it 88%.

        Anything over 70% audience score regardless of genre is worth a watch in my book.

        Perhaps you should stick to Die Hard films and leave the sensitive more nuanced films to the adults.

        Bloody thick Northerners. :@)

        1. I am not actually tempted to debate this with you.

          As Mark Twain remarked, "Never argue with stupid people; they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience."

    2. That is the most ridiculous excuse. I imagine that Trump couldn't care less either way, he has his own agenda.

    2. As Thomas is fully aware; the concept we know as 'stupidity' never occurred anywhere before the rise of Homo sapiens sapiens.

      No other species of living things has ever exhibited stupidity.

        2. Not so, Del. As BoB (below) says, that Disney film was a load of over-emotive fakery.

          The same with Bison and Walruses falling off cliffs. All BBC-contrived rubbish.

        1. They have really poor eyesight, but good hearing. Often dazzled by headlights. Badgers similarly, both more or less wiped out wherever regular traffic.

          1. The big stag they got our car just bolted right into it. He took out the front facia and lights, plus the electronics behind the grille, then got pivoted around and an antler then stabbed through a door panel. Then he ran away. Didn't stop to exchange insurance or anything…

            What got me, was I had seen movement a few moments earlier and stood on the brakes, and had almost stopped. Nothing looked that bad until the repair guys started digging in and listed everything that needed fixing.

          2. Good grief, jack…must have been a red’un, that size. Stabbed through a door panel, wow……I have a few discarded antlers, points are very sharp. Used to have a good number of roe deer, mostly been shot (don’t hear that much any more).Glad we’re not in N.France, think they’ve re-introduced wolves there. Seen a couple of hares recently, first for several years. And still no rabbits – mixy got most of them. So what was the final cost, if you don’t mind me asking….

        2. Cur the suite of jokes about deer:

          What do you call a deer with eyes?
          What do you call a deer with no eyes and no legs?
          Etc etc

        4. You see, everyone mistakes intelligence (or lack of it) based on human values. Deer are not 'dumb'; they, like most other wild animal species, cannot get their head around the destruction of their natural environment by the building of roads, etc by humans. They rely on their instincts for survival so running across a road is not something they recognise as humans would.

          Animals also use their natural instincts to eat only species-appropriate food. You would never see a leopard eating carrots; nor would you see a squirrel eating fish! Their innate instincts tell them which food items are suitable for their weellbeing and survival.

          Thick-as-pigshit humans willingly consume all manner of crap that is not species-appropriate; this is because they lack the necessary intelligence. This stupidity, caused by eating crap, even makes them force their children to go against their natural instincts and eat vegetation, 'food' that repulses them. No other animals species would ever dream of doing that.

          1. I think current dog may even eat me if/when I drop down dead, Grizz….she loves her food, and she loves me. Currently snoring away now she’s had her dinner, but if she hears the rattle of her lead be on her paws in seconds…I’ve had a dog for 70+ years, can’t imagine living without one x

  43. The UKs latest technical listening device to be deployed on southern beaches in an attempt to intercept and discourage boatloads of illegal immigrants. What will they think of next?
    https://scontent-cdg4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/468554981_10162544161784954_1453355950300552083_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=cnjT8ZvtTacQ7kNvwEUmvCh&_nc_oc=AdkB4u0Wt8uil45v8KIPbFA4BiSXfunhmjLxT-qD9TOnJ-h-wNJd-snMYo_8JllBwaIsIMOELOAE9aVkYNfSvEjs&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-cdg4-1.xx&_nc_gid=ZpMly__FpacFCG4jOXl_YQ&oh=00_AfZaqPw1XrinSXIDu7fXNznjp5twaFfOgQpff3foJrkw8A&oe=68D065BD

  44. There seems to be a upsurge in support for Ben Habib.

    I wonder why this is? He left Reform last year after falling out with Farage. He has now formed his own political party, Advance.

    So far, so good. But won't this be yet another vote-splitter? Possibly allowing Labour a second term?

    [Edited]

    2. Given that fewer than 20% of the eligible electorate voted Labour, if the Apathy Party could be persuaded to lend their votes, a rightwing coalition government should be possible.

      1. That is a wonderful idea in theory. However, in practice politicians' self-importance and self-interest generally tends to rule out effective working coalitions.

    3. I sent them (Advance, not Reform) a small donation, got a nice reply and asking would I like to read their newsletter (or similar). Yes I would, not heard from them since. Accounts and secretarial staff need to be on board as much as politicians do, otherwise likely to fail.

    2. When we lived in rural Essex, one wet weekend we heard a kind of loud scuffling noise, looked out and there was a semi inverted Reliant Robin in the ditch. Went out with a couple of neighbours and put it back on its wheels. Guy got back in and drove it away. Didn't even offer to pay for a beer for us. Ingrate.

        1. I probably annoyed him. I owned a Reliant Scimitar at the time, which was parked in plain view, and I may have let slip something about needing to get a proper Reliant…

  46. Phew!
    One pan of apples peeled, cored and put on to stew, dinner put on and then the weather improved, so five bags of sand duly filled and carried up to the worksite and a couple of concrete blocks before I decided to come in and check my culinary efforts.
    Now going to put the stewed apple into a couple of large jars.

      1. I am house trained. Ask anyone. Except Grizz, Sosraboc, the boss Geoff Graham and almost everyone who has ever met me…um
        I seem to be under some sort of misconception…

        1. Good news, nothing worse than an untrained pet. Hope it’s not too uncomfortable under that misconception…x

    1. The old gravy train moving on, eh? Where else will the totally talentless get well remunerated for doing nothing that requires anything remotely like hard work?

      1. Hopefully they won't and they can all revert to the jobs they can actually earn via talent…oh that's right, there aren't any that AI hasn't pinched, because your average gravy train passenger is more stupid than AI. UBI it is then – and lucky they won't get the same treatment as their counterparts in pre-revolutionary China…

  50. New experience this a.m. – went to the local Imaging Services clinic to get an MRI, in search of the cause of nerve pain in one leg.

    Very loud, but somewhat offset by the music coming from the headphones – they were scanning the lower spine. It actually warms the body slightly, all that energy has to go somewhere.

    Still, zero complaints – MRI ordered last week, and the spinal specialist visit scheduled next week. Hopefully they will find something definitive. Whether I want them doing anything radical to the spine at my age is another question.

    1. It sounds similar to my sciatica, jack…may I ask if the pain is in your left leg, or your right? (mine is left, sciatic nerve stronger/bigger on left side of body). Had it many years, tried all sorts of help – painkillers, special cushion to sit on etc. I control it now with exercises.

      1. Right leg. The only time it "bites" is when I am standing with weight on that leg. Normal walking, even going up and down stairs is fine. I notice it most when I first get up. Laying down or sitting – no pain at all. The orthopedic guy I saw reckoned from his X rays (they do them on site) that it looks like I have a disc at an angle, which may be irritating the nerve, hence the MRI order to confirm.

        1. Doubt sciatica in that case, jack (sciatic nerve in left leg more powerful than right leg). MRI should confirm, and hopefully treatment soon to sort it. Living in pain not cool. Good luck, Kate x

          1. Got the test results. All I need to do is work out what it means. Full of medical terms. Hopefully the spinal guy will know…

      2. The only time I had really painful sciatica was for a couple of weeks before my elder son was born. I've never had it since. I had trouble walking and had to crawl up the stairs…….

  51. I’ve been out to my German network (we all have boys born in 2003/2004 albeit most, but not all, still live in England but they all have dual passports). Most have not heard but one friend has replied:

    “A letter to all boys and girls turning 18 has been sent. My understanding is that it is a short questionnaire asking them about their attitude towards military service.”

    Let’s keep a watching brief. My lad won’t be caught up in a German call up but i am not having him being sent to Ukraine!to further the profits of the War Industry.

    1. I'll post a copy if I can get hold of one. Though I don't have a direct contact in the cohort for whom the questionnaire is mandatory.

  52. 412971+ up ticks,

    All this palaver io what purpose ? are we being set up
    to become the fifty first state, an early warning station
    under the cover of the indigenous peoples I'm sure if the price was right the eu and the other Brit governing bodies would come on down in agreement, with royal seal.

    Trust NO palace inmates, political / others.

    Royal family plan to turn state visit into ‘Trump fest’
    President to be flattered with large turnout from the Armed Forces, a carriage tour from the King and Queen and a flypast

    1. It may be ongoing, ogga. Been a lot of controversy. I can't actually find anywhere online to say its going ahead, although I suspect it will eventually.

        1. Thanks, sos. What I read was prior to that, Daubney from yesterday so that will be the latest. Between Dumfries and Lancaster, we can see the direction of travel.

    2. This has nothing to do with needs for a large mosque and everything to do with showing how powerful their religion is.
      Rubbing the locals' noses in that fact.

      1. Yes it is!

        You honestly do not see a lot of Asians up here – I'm about 15 miles from Dalton (which is on the way to Barrow) where it is being built and it was largely influenced by a number of the medical staff (about 40-50 I understand) of Asian descent from Furness General Hospital in Barrow.

        It's a joke, there have been a number of protests but nobody is listening…..

        1. I'm sure the locals could slaughter a few pigs on the site in the halal manner, so that they bleed everywhere.

    4. Attractive. The five-times-a-day call to prayer will go down well with the tourists (who don’t like Church bells).

  56. You wonder why the mid-wits are at number 1 spot as biggest risk to UK, above radical lefties & Islam.

    The march, opines Dan Hodges, must be confronted honestly. A football hooligan and an American Ketamine user do not speak for the British people. So the majority – the decent, moderate silent majority that have always defined our national character – must speak instead.

    The march on London was not organised by people who love their country, but people who despise it.

      1. Commentator Mail on Sunday. "Worst political pundit in the West" – G.Greenwald. "Clown Prince" – D.Cummings. “A plausibly sociopathic nepobaby” – O.Jones

    3. It seems a perverse argument but of course for Dan and his ilk, the empathy my father called “the permissive society”, is their definition of decency. Yet the Latin decentia, “being fitting”, requires boundaries. Thou shalt not. The marchers despise what our country has become. Rightly.

    4. Yeah rightt

      When are they going to ban the old marching powder in the Houses of Parliament and Al Beeb?

    5. The march on London was not organised by people who love their country, but people who despise it.

      I didn't know the march was organised by Starmer, Lammy and Miliband. You learn something new every day.

  57. Well, the steady and persistent rain continued right until we arrived home. When it stopped. Still, we saw Booton Church (google it), a pub lunc at the Walpole Arms, Itteringham (why pay less?) and then Wolterton Hall – fascinating (apart from the unbelievably hideous display of "art" by Maggi Hambling). If a child of five had done it, you'd think it was a waste of paint and paper….

    G & P continued their day long slumber. They haven't eaten today – o were clearly out on the tiles last night…..

      2. Looks like one of Ben Maton's churches, he visits old ones, usually plays the old church organ whilst he's there. Think his brother goes with him, does the sound and vision. He's on YouTube, good to see and hear.

        1. A beautiful building. I wonder how he, the rector 1849 to 1900., paid for it? Definitely worth a visit if I'm ever in the area.

          3. I passed through once a week-or-so. Never stopped there.

            [I often popped into the King's Arms, in Reepham, for a dish of lasagne and a pint of Timmy Taylor''s Landlord.]

          4. I (and my quiz team) got a personal invitation to visit the Taylor's brewery. It was getting dark when we got there. Tim opened the main door, said "You've seen breweries before – lets go get some drinks". Closed the door and took us to the bar for free drinks for the rest of the evening.

          5. Drool!

            I went into a Timothy Taylor's pub in Haworth, some years back, and discovered that they had at least seven different cask-conditioned Taylor's ales. I'd never seen (nor drunk) bog-standard TT bitter before — nor since — and it was deliciously quaffable.

            Landlord seems to be their only product that travels and enjoys widespread acclaim.

          6. I used to drink Landlord when stationed in York in the 80s. At the social club I am a member of here, I usually drink Wye Valley Butty Bach. One evening, when ordering the second round, I noticed that Landlord was the guest ale. To my disappointment, it was so popular, it was sold out. 🙁

          9. Wasn't born there though. 2010 article: The Victorian Norfolk home in which actor Stephen Fry grew up is on the market for �995,000.The impressive seven-bedroom Booton House, near Reepham, was in the Fry family from 1965 to 2000.

    2. The Walpole Arms was a favourite haunt of mine when I lived in Briston. Wonderful beer and delicious food.

      I also like The Saracen's Head at Wolterton.

    3. When I was at UEA we used to go and have tea at Itteringham Mill which was run by a cheerful bearded poet called Derek Neville.

      https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/04ed5ce3f413eff269c96c01e2575eac7f3677a249432158a7dfe0fb91da4828.png
      https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fbf6563745ddfcfd5c71981b168397f70e9c1e6ecd41a32a14be812af5e15224.png

      I Live On A River : Derek Neville

      I live on a river,
      And I watch the universe every day,
      There, in the water,
      As it flows to the ocean.
      I watch the flow of the universe.
      I see how the dust is caught up,
      The chemicals assembled,
      The forms put together,
      Man-made or nature-made,
      It is all the same!
      For man is only a sub-contractor
      For God.
      He puts out some of his work,
      And pays, not by the hour, nor by the year,
      But on the basis of motive.
      I see the movement of the planet,
      This little electron swinging in its atom
      With the sun for a nucleus,
      And I marvel that men are so blind
      That they cannot see that all outward things
      Are on the move.
      There is nothing still,
      Nothing that does not flow as surely as this river.
      The outward world is simply the energy of God
      Made manifest in time and space.
      And whether we know it or not,
      We all live on a river.
      Pavements, perhaps, instead of rushes.
      The wild forget-me-nots gone,
      And a block of flats where the Mimulus-might-have-been;
      But it is a river just the same,
      Cement, or steel, plastic or plasterboard,
      City or mountain, slum, suburb, or Ascot,
      It is a river flowing to the Eternal,
      Out of the invisible,
      Into Time and Space,
      And back to the Invisible.

  58. Well, the steady and persistent rain continued right until we arrived home. When it stopped. Still, we saw Booton Church (google it), a pub lunc at the Walpole Arms, Itteringham (why pay less?) and then Wolterton Hall – fascinating (apart from the unbelievably hideous display of "art" by Maggi Hambling). If a child of five had done it, you'd think it was a waste of paint and paper….

    G & P continued their day long slumber. They haven't eaten today – o were clearly out on the tiles last night…..

  60. North East set to become new AI Growth Zone – creating potential for more than 5,000 jobs and billions in private investment – as well as major deal struck between British firm Nscale and leading American firms NVIDIA and OpenAI to deliver a Stargate UK
    As part of the US President’s State Visit, the UK and US have agreed the Tech Prosperity Deal, focused on developing the fastest growing technologies like AI, quantum, and nuclear.
    The partnership will turbocharge the build-out of new nuclear power stations to secure jobs and growth in the UK and US.

    2. This is already happening in the EU. Someone I know had to register for the digital id to get child benefit.

  62. Police are looking for a man who installed Sir Keir Starmer loo paper in the Portaloos at last Satrurday's march.

    1. If people clubbed together to raise enough funds to build a substantial church in Saudi Arabia would the Saudi Arabian authorities allow it to go ahead – and if not, why not?

    2. My comment copied from below.

      You honestly do not see a lot of Asians up here – I'm about 15 miles from Dalton (which is on the way to Barrow) where it is being built and it was largely influenced by a number of the medical staff (about 40-50 I understand) of Asian descent from Furness General Hospital in Barrow.

      It's a joke, there have been a number of protests but nobody is listening…..

      It's a show of strength, letting us know who's boss.

    1. Duly noted.. this is a tip-top priority and must be written into The Constitution by King Charles.
      And rest assured there is no way such information will be used in a malevolent way.

  67. THE DODO

    by: Hilaire Belloc (1870-1953)

    The Dodo used to walk around,
    And take the sun and air.
    The sun yet warms his native ground—
    The Dodo is not there!

    The voice which used to squawk and squeak
    Is now forever dumb—
    Yet may you see his bones and beak
    All in the Mu-se-um.

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/df21890f4a928826619eb8552333ad2895a096417318bdff6d4cdee84a55ead5.png
    Scientists are one step closer to resurrecting the dodo after creating gene-edited chickens that could lay eggs carrying the extinct bird.
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09/17/dodo-one-step-closer-to-returning-from-extinction/

    1. If they put them into commercial production, then one day they may supplant the dreadfully taste-free turkey as a standard Christmas roast.

  68. Wordle No. 1,551 3/6

    ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨
    ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨
    🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

    Wordle 17 Sep 2025

    Fangs for Birdie Three?

    1. Oh well done. Par for me.

      Wordle 1,551 4/6

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

    3. You did well to get it from there! Just a par today…….

      Wordle 1,551 4/6

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

    4. Took me a while to put them back in.

      Wordle 1,551 5/6

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

  72. Was this featured on here last week?

    Blades fall off 250ft wind turbine

    Residents reported hearing a 'thunder-like' sound just before the incident on Friday morning

    Simon Johnson, Scottish Political Editor
    12th September 2025, 6:04pm BST

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8db4088c13e4950638bad87476bed19b95b27e7a85d4e3ef922b213ecdab28dd.png
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/90685946fecd8873b96814d0f20eb1d13fdadab603b03d1b361ed55b6b9a04b6.png
    The blades of a controversial wind turbine standing more than 250ft tall have broken off and crashed to the ground after being in use for less than a year.

    The incident happened in the early hours of Friday at the insurance company Aviva's building at Pitheavlis, Perth, with the blades left lying wrecked on the ground. While no one was injured, residents reported a loud "crashing" noise just before 1am. The wreckage fell near a public footpath.

    Aviva said an "engineering fault" was to blame. [Away with ye! Was it no the woodsprites?] The company was granted planning permission for the 253ft (77m) wind turbine in 2022 as part of its net zero efforts.

    It was officially opened last November by John Swinney, the First Minister, and Amanda Blanc, the insurance firm's chief executive. But some residents living nearby had voiced opposition to the plans and a local Tory MSP demanded an "urgent inquiry". Mr Swinney, who is also the MSP for Perthshire North, said the incident was "highly unusual" but agreed the cause must be "fully investigated".

    Scotland had an installed capacity of more than 10.1GW in onshore wind in the third quarter of 2024, almost two-thirds of the UK-wide total of around 15.5GW. But SNP ministers have introduced a new target for a minimum installed capacity of 20GW by 2030, doubling the current operational total north of the border. Their latest planning framework relaxed controls on building more turbines, with protections for unspoiled wild land watered down.

    A resident living near the Aviva turbine told The Courier: "I heard a thunder-like sound [early on Friday morning] and then looked out and was surprised when I couldn't see the blades on the turbine." She added that "a lot of people" would be happy to see the blades of the controversial turbine gone.

    An Aviva spokesman said: "Our on-site security team observed that the turbine arms had detached from the wind turbine shortly before 1am this morning. Thankfully no one was injured in the incident, and of course safety remains our top priority. The local fire brigade was called to attend the scene to ensure there was no physical or fire risk on the site, and were able to establish that there wasn't.

    "From initial investigations it appears that this is the result of some type of engineering fault. The area has been secured, and we are working with the supplier to establish the root cause of this incident, as well as on a plan to repair the turbine and restore it safely to operation."

    A spokesman for the firm later said: "As part of the repair and recovery operation, the wind turbine tower will be taken down in the near future, likely over this weekend, weather permitting. This will enable us to expedite our investigation in terms of what went wrong and start developing a plan to restore the turbine to full operation as quickly as possible."

    But Murdo Fraser, a Conservative MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife, posted on X: "This is unbelievable. I have had many local residents raise with me concerns about the visual impact of the turbine which dominates the area, and now this. Fortunately there were no casualties but it could have been much worse. We need an urgent inquiry."

    Earlier this year, it emerged Aviva had been forced to shut down the turbine on occasions due to "shadow flicker" affecting nearby homes. This is a visual phenomenon where rotating wind turbine blades cast moving shadows on sunny days, causing annoyance to neighbours.

    Mr Swinney said: "This is clearly a troubling incident, and I am very much relieved that no one was injured. While such events are highly unusual, it is vital that the cause is fully investigated and that lessons are learned to ensure this cannot happen again. Aviva must also engage openly with the public and make certain that the site and surrounding areas remain safe for everyone."

    A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "We were alerted at 2.01am on Friday, Sept 12 to reports of a damaged wind turbine at commercial premises in Perth. Operations control mobilised one appliance to the scene. There was no sign of smoke or fire and the crew ensured the area was safe before leaving."

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/09/12/blades-fall-off-250ft-wind-turbine-perth-aviva

  73. Was this featured on here last week?

    Blades fall off 250ft wind turbine

    Residents reported hearing a 'thunder-like' sound just before the incident on Friday morning

    Simon Johnson, Scottish Political Editor
    12th September 2025, 6:04pm BST

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8db4088c13e4950638bad87476bed19b95b27e7a85d4e3ef922b213ecdab28dd.png
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/90685946fecd8873b96814d0f20eb1d13fdadab603b03d1b361ed55b6b9a04b6.png
    The blades of a controversial wind turbine standing more than 250ft tall have broken off and crashed to the ground after being in use for less than a year.

    The incident happened in the early hours of Friday at the insurance company Aviva's building at Pitheavlis, Perth, with the blades left lying wrecked on the ground. While no one was injured, residents reported a loud "crashing" noise just before 1am. The wreckage fell near a public footpath.

    Aviva said an "engineering fault" was to blame. [Away with ye! Was it no the woodsprites?] The company was granted planning permission for the 253ft (77m) wind turbine in 2022 as part of its net zero efforts.

    It was officially opened last November by John Swinney, the First Minister, and Amanda Blanc, the insurance firm's chief executive. But some residents living nearby had voiced opposition to the plans and a local Tory MSP demanded an "urgent inquiry". Mr Swinney, who is also the MSP for Perthshire North, said the incident was "highly unusual" but agreed the cause must be "fully investigated".

    Scotland had an installed capacity of more than 10.1GW in onshore wind in the third quarter of 2024, almost two-thirds of the UK-wide total of around 15.5GW. But SNP ministers have introduced a new target for a minimum installed capacity of 20GW by 2030, doubling the current operational total north of the border. Their latest planning framework relaxed controls on building more turbines, with protections for unspoiled wild land watered down.

    A resident living near the Aviva turbine told The Courier: "I heard a thunder-like sound [early on Friday morning] and then looked out and was surprised when I couldn't see the blades on the turbine." She added that "a lot of people" would be happy to see the blades of the controversial turbine gone.

    An Aviva spokesman said: "Our on-site security team observed that the turbine arms had detached from the wind turbine shortly before 1am this morning. Thankfully no one was injured in the incident, and of course safety remains our top priority. The local fire brigade was called to attend the scene to ensure there was no physical or fire risk on the site, and were able to establish that there wasn't.

    "From initial investigations it appears that this is the result of some type of engineering fault. The area has been secured, and we are working with the supplier to establish the root cause of this incident, as well as on a plan to repair the turbine and restore it safely to operation."

    A spokesman for the firm later said: "As part of the repair and recovery operation, the wind turbine tower will be taken down in the near future, likely over this weekend, weather permitting. This will enable us to expedite our investigation in terms of what went wrong and start developing a plan to restore the turbine to full operation as quickly as possible."

    But Murdo Fraser, a Conservative MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife, posted on X: "This is unbelievable. I have had many local residents raise with me concerns about the visual impact of the turbine which dominates the area, and now this. Fortunately there were no casualties but it could have been much worse. We need an urgent inquiry."

    Earlier this year, it emerged Aviva had been forced to shut down the turbine on occasions due to "shadow flicker" affecting nearby homes. This is a visual phenomenon where rotating wind turbine blades cast moving shadows on sunny days, causing annoyance to neighbours.

    Mr Swinney said: "This is clearly a troubling incident, and I am very much relieved that no one was injured. While such events are highly unusual, it is vital that the cause is fully investigated and that lessons are learned to ensure this cannot happen again. Aviva must also engage openly with the public and make certain that the site and surrounding areas remain safe for everyone."

    A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "We were alerted at 2.01am on Friday, Sept 12 to reports of a damaged wind turbine at commercial premises in Perth. Operations control mobilised one appliance to the scene. There was no sign of smoke or fire and the crew ensured the area was safe before leaving."

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/09/12/blades-fall-off-250ft-wind-turbine-perth-aviva

  74. All those predicting that Farage and his party will ride into Downing Street on a white charger remind me of little David Steel when he crowed to his Limp Dim annual conference, "Go back to your constituencies and prepare yourselves for government."

    My arse laughed nearly as much then as it is laughing right now.

    1. I can't say I've heard anyone "predicting that Farage and his party will ride into Downing Street on a white charger", and I'm a Reform UK member.

  76. Driving east across yer Narfurk today, we were shocked at the thousands and thousands of acres being made ready to be despoiled by solar panels and effing windmills. A1 arable land ruined at a click of Miliband's fingers.

    2. Awful news, Bill…hadn't realised it had got so bad, it's a place I love. It shouldn't happen, will be a disaster to nature – high winds, storms etc. To say nothing of the imports the UK will need to replace lost crops, likely for a generation.

    3. BIG announcement on American AI investment.

      Clearly the due diligence hasn't looked at UK electricity prices.
      Unless they are also installing their own nuclear generators.
      https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7016ljre03o

      Meanwhile, when asked about the massive energy resources required to power AI, Mr Huang said solar power would contribute, and he was hoping for more gas turbines in the short term that could be put "off the grid so we don't burden people on the grid".

      He added that AI itself would design better gas turbines, solar panels, wind turbines and fusion energy to produce more cost-effective sustainable energy.

      The campaign group Foxglove has warned that the UK could end up "footing the bill for the colossal amounts of power the giants need".

    4. Seems there are a few typos at the end. Shouldn't it read:
      'ruined by that dick Miliband's figures'?

  78. The chimney sweep will be visiting us in a couple of weeks .

    I saw this really sad story about boy sweeps.

    THE BLANDFORD CHIMNEY SWEEP TRAGEDY
    The Crown Hotel, Blandford, is reckoned to be one of Dorset’s oldest hostelries. Yet its most tragic day, during a long history, must surely be when a young chimney sweep lost his life. The chimney sweep, who was just a child, suffocated and was burnt to death in a Crown Hotel chimney which had been alight a little while before.
    ‘His cries were dreadful and no-one could give assistance. Part of the chimney was taken down before he was got out.’ (Salisbury & Winchester Gazette 27th March 1780).

    The lad had gone up one chimney and attempting to go down another had become stuck. At the time children were used for climbing up chimneys to clean out soot deposits. With hands and knees, they would shimmy up narrow dark flue spaces packed thick with soot and debris.

    After the 1731 Great Fire of Blandford it was realised that it was important to sweep chimneys regularly, while many rebuilt houses had narrower ones. Smaller chimneys and complicated flues were a potential death trap for children. The sweep master would take on homeless boys or from destitute parents and would teach a young child the trade.
    Chimney sweeps, also known as climbing boys, often died in adolescence from what was known as chimney sweep cancer. This was an aggressive form of testicular cancer commonly known as ‘soot wart’ or ‘sooty balls’. A boy sweep would be lucky to see his fortieth birthday.

    Things finally changed with the passing of the Chimney Sweeping Act of 1875 whereby the Police had to regulate the employment of children as climbing boys. A classic piece of English literature, the Water Babies, written by a former Pimperne clergyman, Charles Kingsley, had helped to bring to an end the tragic use of young boys as chimney sweeps. Kingsley's chimney sweep in the novel, Tom, is reckoned to have been inspired by James Seaward, a real life sweep. Looking back on his early life, Seaward said:

    "I have known what it was to have straw lighted under me and pins stuck in the soles of my feet to force me up a chimney. And I have known too what it was to come down with blood and soot, and climbing with my knees and elbows."
    There has since been one report of a guest at the Crown Hotel in Blandford seeing a sweep’s flat cap and waistcoat in a fireplace close to where the young boy perished.
    Credit: Blandford Express.

  79. Pupils must learn about the Battle of Britain

    sir – Robert Jenrick makes an important point about the teaching of the Second World War in schools today ("The Battle of Britain should be taught to every child", Comment, September 15).

    Forty years after the end of the First World War, my history teachers were covering its causes and effect on Britain. At that time, many of its veterans were still alive.

    Now, more than 80 years after the Battle of Britain, I am astonished that it does not have a prominent place in the curriculum – especially as there are dwindling numbers of Second World War veterans left to tell the story.

    Nick Kester
    Wattisfield, Suffolk
    ________________________________________

    SIR – I support Mr Jenrick's call for all pupils to be taught about the Battle of Britain. However, vital though that success was, we should not forget the much longer battle that began on September 3 1939 with the sinking of the liner Athenia and ended only in May 1945: the Battle of the Atlantic.

    David Costigan
    Gosport, Hampshire

    _________________________________________________________

    The Battle of Britain should be taught to every school child

    Acknowledging the greatness of our history is the first step to building a more united nation

    Robert Jenrick
    15 September 2025, 6:00am BST

    On the night of December 29, 1940, my grandmother, Dorothy, reported for duty as a wartime volunteer fire-watcher in the City of London. She'd battled many fires before then. The 114th night of the Blitz was different.

    That night the German bombers homed in upon Christopher Wren's masterpiece: St Paul's Cathedral. Twenty-nine bombs fell on or around St Paul's, including incendiary bombs on the Cathedral's dome itself.

    On the ground it was saved by those volunteers who, under the direction of Winston Churchill himself, devoted everything to preserving St. Paul's. Herbert Mason's photograph of its great dome emerging from the billowing clouds of black smoke, taken from the roof of a newspaper office on Fleet Street, made it a symbol of national togetherness and survival.

    Growing up, Nana lived with us, so I'd occasionally hear talk of that night. To this day, I have the tin helmet she wore sat on my desk. She was a hero, though that was not a term she would have accepted. One amongst some six million Britons who volunteered as fire-watchers.

    The heroics of the wartime generation used to be known to us all. Our parents and grandparents told us, and our schools taught us, of the time when in our darkest hour, we stood firm.

    Yet today, even if it remains in living memory, the story is slipping away from us. A poll I commissioned last week found that nearly two-thirds of under-40s didn't know what the Battle of Britain referred to.

    Eighty-five years on, the finest hour of the greatest generation is fading from our national memory. When so many of the next generation are ignorant of our history, and led to believe that is a source of shame, is it any wonder they are so susceptible to Left-wing agitators who tell them that Britain and the West are the source of evil in the world? Is it any wonder that a poll earlier this year found that just one in 10 young people would fight for this country if once more we were plunged into war?

    For far too long our history, heroes, flags, and culture have been objects of denigration, not veneration – even as the rest of the world still looks to us with admiration.

    "It's an unhappy country that has cause for heroes", wrote the playwright, Bertolt Brecht. I disagree. Unhappy is the country that loses its historical and moral bearings. Unhappy is the country that loses the frameworks of belief in which heroes can flourish.

    Bravery and self-sacrifice occur because there are beliefs and human bonds which warrant these qualities. Acknowledging the greatness of our history and of those who forged it are the first steps to building a greater and more united Britain.

    In the summer of 1940 Britain stood alone. If we fell, so would the free world. If we prevailed, there was hope. The assault on Britain began in July. By then, Hitler had vanquished all major opposition in Europe. The Nazi air force chief, Hermann Göring, was handed the job of finishing us off. The armada of planes he assembled for the job dwarfed anything prior in history. 2,550 Luftwaffe aircraft were devoted against an RAF force of 1,963.

    Round-the-clock attacks ensued. In their way stood young British pilots with scant training who climbed into the cockpits. Joined by Commonwealth and Polish volunteers they raced into the sky.

    Over the course of just under four months, the RAF fought back with a tenacity that turned the tides of both the war and human history. By the end of October we had prevailed against the odds. The Nazis restricted themselves to nighttime raids. We had time to breathe, to rebuild, to recover. From there, we began the long march to victory.

    But it came at a high price. Of the 1,963 aircraft that began the battle, over a thousand were shot down. More than 500 fighter pilots were killed. At the height of the battle, the life expectancy of a fighter pilot was just four weeks.

    That story – of triumph in the face of hopeless: victory over darkness – is near the pinnacle of our Island story. Yet it isn't treated as such. The national curriculum rightly says that some historical events are so essential that every child in Britain ought to be taught them. They include 1066 and the Holocaust.

    Others are reduced to optional topics: inexplicably, the Battle of Britain is amongst them. It sits in a list of subjects like "the History of the Welfare State" that may or may not be taught.

    That means a child can attend 12 years of school in our country and not once learn of how we prevailed over the Nazis. In its stead, teachers can tell our children only the "bad" elements of our history. No more. Every child should learn of the greatness and uniqueness of Britain's wartime contribution.

    We must recover their heroic spirit – and recover the view of Britain that made such heroes possible.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09/15/battle-of-britain-should-be-taught-to-every-school-child

    Dear Mr Jenrick, it's a worthy sentiment but a large proportion of the UK's population (more than one-sixth) has no connection to the wartime generation and would object to such lessons.

        1. It is as though the Nazis were some race that came from another planet. Makes me sick that yer Germans are let off the hook.

    2. No, Mr Jenrick, your grandmother Dorothy was not a hero, she was a heroine. After all you didn't call her your female grandparent, did you?

  80. Pupils must learn about the Battle of Britain

    sir – Robert Jenrick makes an important point about the teaching of the Second World War in schools today ("The Battle of Britain should be taught to every child", Comment, September 15).

    Forty years after the end of the First World War, my history teachers were covering its causes and effect on Britain. At that time, many of its veterans were still alive.

    Now, more than 80 years after the Battle of Britain, I am astonished that it does not have a prominent place in the curriculum – especially as there are dwindling numbers of Second World War veterans left to tell the story.

    Nick Kester
    Wattisfield, Suffolk
    ________________________________________

    SIR – I support Mr Jenrick's call for all pupils to be taught about the Battle of Britain. However, vital though that success was, we should not forget the much longer battle that began on September 3 1939 with the sinking of the liner Athenia and ended only in May 1945: the Battle of the Atlantic.

    David Costigan
    Gosport, Hampshire

    _________________________________________________________

    The Battle of Britain should be taught to every school child

    Acknowledging the greatness of our history is the first step to building a more united nation

    Robert Jenrick
    15 September 2025, 6:00am BST

    On the night of December 29, 1940, my grandmother, Dorothy, reported for duty as a wartime volunteer fire-watcher in the City of London. She'd battled many fires before then. The 114th night of the Blitz was different.

    That night the German bombers homed in upon Christopher Wren's masterpiece: St Paul's Cathedral. Twenty-nine bombs fell on or around St Paul's, including incendiary bombs on the Cathedral's dome itself.

    On the ground it was saved by those volunteers who, under the direction of Winston Churchill himself, devoted everything to preserving St. Paul's. Herbert Mason's photograph of its great dome emerging from the billowing clouds of black smoke, taken from the roof of a newspaper office on Fleet Street, made it a symbol of national togetherness and survival.

    Growing up, Nana lived with us, so I'd occasionally hear talk of that night. To this day, I have the tin helmet she wore sat on my desk. She was a hero, though that was not a term she would have accepted. One amongst some six million Britons who volunteered as fire-watchers.

    The heroics of the wartime generation used to be known to us all. Our parents and grandparents told us, and our schools taught us, of the time when in our darkest hour, we stood firm.

    Yet today, even if it remains in living memory, the story is slipping away from us. A poll I commissioned last week found that nearly two-thirds of under-40s didn't know what the Battle of Britain referred to.

    Eighty-five years on, the finest hour of the greatest generation is fading from our national memory. When so many of the next generation are ignorant of our history, and led to believe that is a source of shame, is it any wonder they are so susceptible to Left-wing agitators who tell them that Britain and the West are the source of evil in the world? Is it any wonder that a poll earlier this year found that just one in 10 young people would fight for this country if once more we were plunged into war?

    For far too long our history, heroes, flags, and culture have been objects of denigration, not veneration – even as the rest of the world still looks to us with admiration.

    "It's an unhappy country that has cause for heroes", wrote the playwright, Bertolt Brecht. I disagree. Unhappy is the country that loses its historical and moral bearings. Unhappy is the country that loses the frameworks of belief in which heroes can flourish.

    Bravery and self-sacrifice occur because there are beliefs and human bonds which warrant these qualities. Acknowledging the greatness of our history and of those who forged it are the first steps to building a greater and more united Britain.

    In the summer of 1940 Britain stood alone. If we fell, so would the free world. If we prevailed, there was hope. The assault on Britain began in July. By then, Hitler had vanquished all major opposition in Europe. The Nazi air force chief, Hermann Göring, was handed the job of finishing us off. The armada of planes he assembled for the job dwarfed anything prior in history. 2,550 Luftwaffe aircraft were devoted against an RAF force of 1,963.

    Round-the-clock attacks ensued. In their way stood young British pilots with scant training who climbed into the cockpits. Joined by Commonwealth and Polish volunteers they raced into the sky.

    Over the course of just under four months, the RAF fought back with a tenacity that turned the tides of both the war and human history. By the end of October we had prevailed against the odds. The Nazis restricted themselves to nighttime raids. We had time to breathe, to rebuild, to recover. From there, we began the long march to victory.

    But it came at a high price. Of the 1,963 aircraft that began the battle, over a thousand were shot down. More than 500 fighter pilots were killed. At the height of the battle, the life expectancy of a fighter pilot was just four weeks.

    That story – of triumph in the face of hopeless: victory over darkness – is near the pinnacle of our Island story. Yet it isn't treated as such. The national curriculum rightly says that some historical events are so essential that every child in Britain ought to be taught them. They include 1066 and the Holocaust.

    Others are reduced to optional topics: inexplicably, the Battle of Britain is amongst them. It sits in a list of subjects like "the History of the Welfare State" that may or may not be taught.

    That means a child can attend 12 years of school in our country and not once learn of how we prevailed over the Nazis. In its stead, teachers can tell our children only the "bad" elements of our history. No more. Every child should learn of the greatness and uniqueness of Britain's wartime contribution.

    We must recover their heroic spirit – and recover the view of Britain that made such heroes possible.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09/15/battle-of-britain-should-be-taught-to-every-school-child

    Dear Mr Jenrick, it's a worthy sentiment but a large proportion of the UK's population (more than one-sixth) has no connection to the wartime generation and would object to such lessons.

  81. DAN HODGES: Now's not the time for cowardly silence. We have to call the Unite The Kingdom rally exactly what it is. Saturday's march on London was a radical far-Right rally. The event was divisive. It was deeply un-British. And it needs to be called out for what it is.
    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/columnists/article-15106825/DAN-HODGES-cowardly-silence-Unite-Kingdom-rally.html

    A false dawn!

    Just when you thought Glenda's li'l lad was beginning to develop independent judgement and common sense you find that he has sold out to the mainstream MSM.

    2. I'll play devil's advocate. Ultimately, the movement has to be led by someone capable of attracting more support than will TR and NF. I suspect a lot more people are behind the idea than the media would have you believe but are wary of TR at least.

      I read that Ban Habib also got a bit carried away on Saturday, which is sad.

  84. BBC Live coverage of Trump Coalition march in opposition to the US President with dozens of groups such as; SWP, Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace, Amnesty, expecting hundreds if not tens of millions to turn up protest Trump visit.

    Sir Sadiq Khan said, "When he came to the UK on his first state visit, I highlighted how the president had deliberately used xenophobia, racism and ‘otherness’ as an electoral tactic."

    Using Otherness is defo a crime.

      1. Obviously none of them have work to go to. My father worked 7 days a week for many years to bring up his family.

      1. They're performing at Windsor Castle tonight after the Ladies have retired and the port is circulating.

  86. That's me for today. A very nice day out with GD and the MR. Shame about the weather – but it is wonderful to be with a confident, clever young woman (or, indeed, two such!!)

    Tomorrow morning to the market with GD; then to elevenses with the widow of a colleague of the MR who died last year.
    He was a brain on legs, as well as one of the nicest people you could meet. Widow wants to give my GD – who goes up to Oxford next autumn – some of her late husband's most valued books on English literature. Keeping the light burning, is how she puts it.

    Have a spiffing evening.

    A demain – eventually.

        2. Lovely College, renowned for its beautiful grounds – quite close to my own alma mater – Balliol – I played Rugby against them a couple of times and once had a particularly good session in their College Bar! (they were all male when I was there, like most Colleges).
          She'll have a fabulous time – I did!

    1. I'm a huge fan of Douglas – it's only because of him, and Rod Liddle and Julie Burchill, that I keep my subscription to the Speccie! (although tbh I have only been paying £1 per month for about 12 months as I keep cancelling and getting the same deal!).

    2. White people.

      The sooner we get rid of the terms “black and brown” people and “white” people, the better.

      And also the term “yellow people”. Wait what? We can’t say “yellow people” because it’s “racist”? Say it ain’t so!

  89. Man creates the human rights laws.
    Man gets elected PM,
    Man decides he wants the deport illegal immigrants, one in one out.
    Man gets thwarted by his own human rights laws.
    Man thinks nobody will notice

    1. Clearly deliberately time wasting.. and with the new rules Governments will concede power if they hold onto the ball for more than eight seconds starting this session in a significant change to the laws of politics.

    2. Scumbag creates the human rights laws.
      Shitforbrains gets elected PM,
      Hypocrite decides he wants the deport illegal immigrants, one in one out.
      Turd gets thwarted by his own human rights laws.
      Keir Starmer thinks nobody will notice

  90. When one looks at all the cretins that Starmer has had to surround himself with as his cabinet, forced on him by the internal power blocks, one has to have a smidgeon of sympathy.
    HAHAHAHA!!!!

    2. ON THIS DAY IN 2026

      David Lammy; As your prime minister I state dogegorically

      "Ed Miliband was a Bigger Threat Than Putin and Hamas"

    3. Oh, So glad to hear that.

      Anyway, i have more important things to do. My toenails need trimming and i seem to have acquired some belly fluff.

      1. Ugh…. too much information…..unless you can create an artistic 'installation' using said belly fluff and the toenail clippings.

        Sorry, I think I'll have to go and have a lie-down now….

      1. Sure, if there's room for me. Am fully recovered from the lurgy that hit me the w/e before your Rules gathering.

        1. There is always room for you, Michael.

          Rules was not that good. Hopefully this time will be better.

          If not…i will pocket all the silver ware.

          Anne Allan has the details. And the swag bag !

    5. "..One of the things most terrible.. this man is Lord Chancellor and wears the same robes as Thomas More. I thought when David Lammy sat in Lord Palmerston's desk as Foreign Secretary this was the final indicator of the collapse of Great Britain. But when this man wears the robes of The Lord Chancellor you can see behind him Thomas Wolsey, see behind him Thomas More… weeping weeping weeping."

      David Starkey

    6. FCS I suggest a man who can't find a policeman when one is standing behind him, or who goes on Mastermind knowing full well he likely won't know the answers, is not one who should have any power over anyone else. At all.

  92. Watching the Trump visit on the News just now I was struck by two things;

    – We may be in decline as a nation in most areas but we do Pomp and Pageantry better than anyone else on earth, my heart soared watching the parades and fly-past. Well done lads!

    – It annoys me when these idiots go on about welcoming Trump. We're not welcoming Trump, we're welcoming the President of the United States of America – it's the position we are honouring, not the individual – and that makes a lot of sense given the billions of investment today announced by US BigTech for AI development in the UK.

      1. Yes, absolutely!! I agree with both positions you describe…. (although Charlie did well today!).

        1. Agree…can't warm to Camilla, let alone think of her as Queen Camilla…..sorry it all hangs on Wills n Kate and family.

          1. I did wonder at Camilla being too sick to attend the funeral of the Duchess of Kent yesterday but fine for all of the formalities today?

          4. A little better each day. 4 g paracetamol each day but no codeine and it’s still early days. Just 3 weeks. I’ve had an Edwards Inspiris Resilia 21mm valve put in, if it interests anyone. It’s a bioprosthetic valve made using treated bovine material. Expected to last longer than earlier technology.

          5. Good news, luckily OK with paracetamol, reportedly safest NSAID… valve is to resist calcification? AI says so:-) I’m amazed at how well you’re doing, things come a long, long way since Christiaan Barnard, a great pioneering surgeon, many lives changed/saved due to him and team. Keep doing as you are, read, rest, take your meds…follow orders..you’ll get there x Kate

          7. To be fair she’s on a hiding to nothing, given the background, and I think she disports herself very well.
            It’s obvious she hates the limelight but I think she comes across as very genuine, as evidenced by her impressive performances doing the ‘meet and greet’ stuff her position demands.

          8. They were lovers a long time before they married, I do believe a love match. I’d probably hate the pomp and ceremony too, but it goes with the badge and there it is. Why Andrew ever allowed back I don’t know, he’s a right drip. I very much like Wills, Kate and family, seems like all on their shoulders, Harry being what he is and Meghan worse.

    2. I continue to believe the UK punches above its weight, G4, I love my country in spite of the current set of nonentity politicians, better ones will surely come. I like and respect freedom of speech, and that includes supporting and welcoming POTUS and FLOTUS, representatives of our greatest ally.

      2. However, the new ballroom is vastly bigger than this, if the scale of the proposed development is true.

    7. In the 1970s I had a girlfriend who worked as a secretary in Prince Philip's office in Buckingham Palace.

      The Royal Family gave a dinner dance for all those working for them who were asked to bring a partner – and so I went to Windsor Castle. This party was attended by The Queen, Prince Philip and Princess Anne.

    1. Sashimi is a Japanese dish consisting of thin slices of high-quality raw fish (or meat), not just raw cod.

      1. No, Kate. I don't make sashimi either but my personal troll — someone who has no life but to lurk on this forum 24/7 to personally nitpick — picks up on everything I say these days.

    3. Our cats don't get food like that – a can, sachet typically, or leftovers.
      You spoil your moggy!

      1. Indeed. He gets canned and sachet food as well, but for frukost (breakfast) he has raw fish. It is not only nourishing and delicious but easy to eat since he had a good number of teeth removed (gum disease) in the spring.

    1. No, just doing unto you what you do unto others.

      You can never resist the chance to tell us all how superior you aren't.

      You leap upon such things, you arrogant know-all.

    3. What's then deal with the surrounding Arab nations? Don't they have health care? Isn't Qatar minted with oil money?

    3. More important – beg the president to make sure that the Chagos deal is scrapped. There is still time left but only just.

  100. All these Lefties now making use of the Monarchy, Windsor Castle and all the Pageantry to try to placate the leader of the free world after they have insulted him for years.
    If the Left had their way back in the day we wouldn't have the monarchy, all the pomp and royal palaces and castles.
    Windsor castle would now be an HMO, Buckingham Palace a Mosque, Trump would be met by a scruffy old man in a donkey jacket up in his allotment

    1. Have you ever heard the saying Bob…'if you're not a socialist in your teens you have no heart, if you're not a conservative in your twenties you have no brain'…I think quite a few never grew up…witness the women in their 50s/60s gluing their faces to the road for 'Climate Change'.(Disclaimer: I'm an old bag in my late 70s).

        1. Yep…never really grew up..feel sorry now for dear old dad, he got a bit fed up with me and my opinions – but he did like it when I argued with others :-DD

      2. I find myself looking at OAPs in something of a distrustful light after the recent Jew hate arrests. Not aimed at you here Kate. The gluing of their faces to a road reminded me, well put.

        1. Has to be one of the, if not the, oldest hates, A A . I speak as I find, and then some…a Friday’s child if ever there was one 🙂

  101. Well earlier I spent the day on the boat, winterising her. Here's the last of the summer's snaps – approaching a swing bridge ,,,

      1. No she will be up for sale early in the new year. 90 locks along the K&A, many in need of servicing, convinced me that it is a younger man's game!

        1. That said, it must have given you enormous pleasure over the years.

          How many people have joined you on the various trips?

        2. Without wishing to be nosy/rude exactly how old are you?

          PS If it's a case of I'll show you mine if you show me yours – I'm 68!

          1. 73 in April…. The Lock gates are much younger some a mere 30 years old but they can be real barstewards, as can some of the swing bridges that sometimes require 2 adults to get them moving!

          2. Well done – although it's at times like this I always have to quote Dylan Thomas (my absolute favourite bard) and his corking poem below.

            Do not go gentle into that good night,
            Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
            Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

            Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
            Because their words had forked no lightning they
            Do not go gentle into that good night.

            Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
            Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
            Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

            Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
            And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
            Do not go gentle into that good night.

            Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
            Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
            Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

            And you, my father, there on the sad height,
            Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
            Do not go gentle into that good night.
            Rage, rage against the dying of the light

      1. Your pictures always give the impression that it's in fabulous condition.
        How does it compare with other barges?

      1. I think it would have been a good idea to have included an English white wine. The Maids of Middenden if served would have proved a conversational point. (The maids were joined at the hip as Siamese twins yet both married according to local legend).

        French wines are the best. I tried to explain this to a lady friend who had not realised that the 1855 grading of French wines has not altered since the list was established. The response was that the top wines are the most expensive. Make of that exchange what you will.

          1. Indeed! New kit this year: 4 ring Induction Hob, new water pump, New bilge pump, full engine service In July. 4 new 120Ah leisure batteries last year, New set of curtains on order.

            She will make a great place to live on board in the Marina which permits long stay residence (plugged into 240v mains electricity to run the onboard washing machine/dryer, fridge, microwave, bread-maker, hob and Dyson vacuum cleaner!

  105. Watching the coverage of President Trump’s State Visit on Sky News. Coverage not a lot better than the BBC. These bloody journalists just cannot help themselves when it comes to President Trump.

    We had over 3 million people demonstrating against the current government and direction of travel of their policies. Yet today a couple of thousand utterly useless fat ugly women and zombie men are given interviews and invited to rubbish President Trump. The way to treat these buffoons is to say in a loud voice for God’s sake GROW UP!

    As to the fucking Ukraine it should be of least relevance given the wreckage of the European and UK economies its demands have wrought on all of us. Charlie boy persists in raising this in an otherwise sane speech.

    The reality is that President Trump has again placed his trust in military advisors. Those advisors are represented by a certain General Kellogg, a man with familial ties to Ukraine and who merely recites the falsehoods given to him by Zelensky who in turn merely recites the false formation given to him by his inept Army generals.

    You really would have difficulty in making this shit show up.

  106. Britain must have a united Opposition

    As the current Government appears set to do further damage to the economy, the Right cannot afford to be divided

    Telegraph View
    17 September 2025 8:18pm BST

    The first time Donald Trump came to the UK on a state visit in 2019 he was considered something of an aberration who had stumbled into the US presidency and would last no more than one term. It is true he lost the subsequent election to Joe Biden but he retained a grip on Republican politics to ensure his nomination for a second run, which he won.

    The Right in America is winning the arguments over tax, immigration and the culture wars while the Left flounders. Here, the Right of British politics is split. The Conservatives are nursing the wounds of the heaviest election defeat in 150 years and, with just 119 MP, have become something of an irrelevance, unable fully to exploit the travails facing the Government.

    The weather is being made by Reform UK, but they have just five MPs with the addition this week of Danny Kruger, the first Tory to cross the floor of the Commons since the election.

    Many think that if Labour and its political outriders like the Liberal Democrats and the Greens are to be defeated it will be necessary to bring the two Right-wing parties together. Both are resisting any idea of a merger or even an electoral pact and the prospects of a rapprochement are bleak judging by the events of Tuesday evening at London's Peninsula Hotel.

    Representatives of the Tories and Reform came together as the guests of the US president's state visit team. But rather than a fraternal outing of fairly like-minded people, it ended in a bruising encounter between two former prime ministers, assorted ministers and a well-known broadcaster.

    One witness described "real anger" in the room as the Tory heavyweights – including Boris Johnson and Liz Truss – argued over immigration, welfare reform and defence spending. Bemused Reform supporters observed that the row showed why the Conservatives no longer function as a party.

    With a chaotic Government in charge wrecking the economy and threatening to do further damage over the next few months, it is incumbent on the Right to make the case for an alternative approach.

    The Tories have a poor record to defend, despite Mr Johnson's best endeavours on Tuesday night, but are seeking to devise new policies that will acknowledge past mistakes and set a course for the future. Mr Kruger defected because he thinks they will never succeed in this. However, they are still the main opposition party and must try harder to present a united front or they really will be finished.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2025/09/17/britain-must-have-a-united-opposition
    _______________________________________________________________________________________

    Inside the furious Tory row that broke out at state visit reception

    Open spat between Conservative grandees shows why they 'don't function as a party any more'

    Gordon Rayner, Associate Editor
    17 September 2025 6:20pm BST

    It had been intended as a meeting of minds: senior figures from the Tories and Reform UK dining together as the guests of team Trump.

    Instead, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, along with former Cabinet ministers and the broadcaster Andrew Neil, astonished the company with an open spat over the Conservatives' record in government and the future of politics on the Right.

    One witness described "real anger" in the room as the Tory heavyweights argued over immigration, welfare reform and defence spending, while Reform supporters privately observed that the row showed why the Conservatives no longer functioned as a party.

    Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former business secretary, tried to smooth things over, being of the view that the Conservatives and Reform should work together.

    The event at the Peninsula Hotel in London's Mayfair on Tuesday night had started pleasantly enough. Hosted by the US broadcaster Newsmax, the dinner began with a drinks reception in the hotel's Wellington Room in honour of special guests Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, and Scott Bessent, the US treasury secretary, who are in the UK for Donald Trump's state visit.

    Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, was present for champagne and canapés as Mr Rubio and Mr Bessent worked the room, staying for about 45 minutes before heading off to another engagement.

    One attendee described it as "an impressive gathering of the conservative family, demonstrating that the White House had the power to draw them together". They added that "admiration for Trump is something that unites them".

    However, it would soon become evident that admiration for each other was in short supply.

    After the US cabinet members and Mr Farage left, Chris Ruddy, the Newsmax founder and a friend and confidant of Mr Trump, treated his remaining guests to a dinner of steak with burrata followed by chocolate cake and ice cream, served by white-gloved waiters.

    The mood started to change when Mr Johnson was invited to make a speech in which he heralded the "galaxy of stars" in the room, which included Mark Harper and Sajid Javid, former Cabinet ministers, Lord Dobbs, an author and Tory peer, Adam Holloway, a former Tory MP turned Reform member, and Greta Van Susteren, Newsmax's star news anchor.

    Mr Johnson, seated with Mr Ruddy on the opposite side of the table to Ms Truss, Mr Neil, Mr Harper and Sir Jacob, spoke passionately in defence of Ukraine and defended his record on Brexit.

    Mr Neil argued for more defence spending, Ms Truss praised Mr Trump's leadership, and Reform supporters argued about the need for wholesale change, while a pollster sitting at the table told the room that Reform's surge was real.

    By now "tensions were evident over the last government's record", the witness said, which became more heated when Mr Harper, a former transport secretary, spoke up about the need for welfare reform and immigration control.

    Why, Mr Neil forcefully asked, had the last government not done this while they were in power?

    The witness said: "At that point, Boris robustly defended his government's record. Boris argued that Brexit gives us powers to reduce immigration if we wish, and said he did reduce it. He also said we shouldn't bash the contribution migrants make to Britain."

    Sir Jacob played peacemaker with a witty and well-received speech.

    "He clearly believes Reform and the Tories should work together," said the witness, adding: "Both sides like him; he's always the glue in the room."

    The witness continued: "Otherwise, there was a robust exchange of views, and everyone defended themselves well, but real anger is obvious. The Reform attendees were of the view that this is why the Conservatives don't function well as a party any more."

    In a week when Danny Kruger defected to Reform, saying the Conservative Party was "over", the dinner will be seen as evidence that the Tories have a long way to go before they can heal the wounds of the recent past.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/09/17/tory-state-visit-reception-boris-johnson-liz-truss-trump

  108. I see on the news that the McCanns are still in the mix. There is nothing about child neglect, yet here we are several decades later being fed the same bullshit and evidently funding the never ending saga. Who are these people and why do they wield such power over the authorities and our media?

  109. Well, chums, I shall be going off to bed in about half an hour but will say my goodbyes now, i.e. Good Night, sleep well and see you all tomorrow. This is because I have been having problems upvoting many, many of your posts so far this evening. But congratulations to all who got today's Wordle, whether in 3, 4, 5, or 6. And a message for Grizzly: unlike you I was most impressed by Robert Redford's film as director which was "Ordinary People". In particular I was impressed by Mary Tyler Moore's performance. To change from her funny and loveable image in TV's "The Dick Van Dyke Show" into a truly evil mother in "Ordinary People" showed real acting ability on her part. Anyhow, I shall now post this whilst I am still able.

  110. Labour’s staggering incompetence is an embarrassment to Britain
    Were Trump less of an Anglophile, he would be dismayed by our tragic decline and impoverishment
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09/17/labours-staggering-incompetence-is-an-embarrassment-to-brit/

    BTL

    Please President Trump, if, as you say you do, you truly love and respect The United Kingdom then stop the prime minister from giving away The Chagos Islands, a part of British territory – to Mauritius and paying through the nose to do so.

    Mauritius has close links to China which is potentially the greatest threat facing the United States and the Free World. The Chagos Islands deal can and must be stopped – you are the only person who can do it and you have only a week.

    Please out of your love for both our countries act now before it is too late.

  112. A friend who moved away from the village 7 or 8 years ago, replied to a question I put to him yesterday regarding the Chagos . He was the senior Royal Naval officer on Diego Garcia for a couple of years in the late 70s (maybe 80s).

    "As for the Chagos I was gobsmacked when Starmer announced the deal. The cost to the budget of running it was minimal, the US were funding the majority of requirements as they were the principal benefactors. I was also surprised that Trump did not veto it. As you are aware the subject of ownership has been a decisive subject for many years and even suffered a ruling from the UN to return it to the Mauritians which the government refused to accept.
    It would seem we now have to pay billions to continue the status quo. In short another woke and wimpy response to pressure from a minority."

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