Western Canada and the USA are continuing to suffer from extreme temperatures, not just hot but life threatening. The concerning thing is that British Columbia is in a very similar geographic position regarding latitude and proximity to ocean currents and continental air mass. So there are no geographical or meteorological reasons why the UK could not suffer a similar wether pattern. Politicians – you have been warned – so act now!
A EURO RECIPE FROM SOMERSET
HARD TO BELIEVE
Vaccinators have been threatened, and centres have had to deploy staff to explain why they cannot give a second job earlier than 8 weeks. Security guards have been hired in some places. Has the population of this country always been so selfish that they would threaten staff whose job and ethos is to save lives, for their own gratification of a week or two in the sun with a hangover? No sign of Whakapapa here! Maybe we should just cancel return flights!
WHAKAPAPA
GARDEN
Tomatoes and cucumbers join strawberries and raspberries and redcurrant that I have got from the garden this year – along with all the herbs.
Making strawberry jam later with strawberries bought from Draycott, maybe add a leaf of a mint near the end?
geog.3 5th edition
I have just received my copies of the book. Very proud.
FREEDOM DAY
On July 4th in the USA more than 180 people died from gun related incidents as reported by CBS. The freedom to carry a gun. 200 people die every year in the UK from drink related driving incidents. The freedom not to wear a mask – deaths not calculated yet. The freedom to travel to and from India after restrictions were placed on Pakistan and Bangladesh, thus allowing the Johnson strain to spread, deaths still rising (TBC).
COVID FACTS
I am assuming the following are true. Case of Covid could reach 100.000 a day (Secretary of State for Health); cases in Central Oxford – a university student area- have reached 2011 per 100.000. Other university towns and cities are also reporting higher levels of the virus, Students have not been prioritised for vaccination. the Secretary of State for Transport has not published research into Covid connections with amber list countries. The Secretary of State for Education has not had a positive thought regarding education, probably ever. The NHS is cancelling operations due to increased numbers of covid cases, and staff having to self isolate. Covid is affecting people from poorer areas and BAME backgrounds disproportionately. The WHO has recommended that all countries lift restrictions slowly.
FOOTBALL FANTASIA
Oh the poor press! It seems that they have not had anything exciting or positive to report for months, maybe even years. The hyperbole has however gone through the roof, it is just a game guy’s! Could we please keep sport to the back pages, and possibly centre pages. The government used yesterday to announce the reduction of the £20 extra Universal Credit.
JULY IN THE KITCHEN
After a failure due to over ambition with strawberry jam making, I am now doing 1kg at a time which also gives room for experimentation! I also bought some greengages to make some green jam, and might see if there are cheap apricots of the amber. Traffic light jam might work, make the three jams a day apart to allow for cooling in the fridge? I am also on the look out for gooseberries before the blackberry and apple season. Redcurrant jelly has set nicely – and is lovely and clear due to not squeezing the jelly bag.