and they cannot take responsibility for their own incompetence. The rail strike was not called by Labour, the wage rise requested is lower than inflation. Effectively the government dictates what the rail companies can do (due to subsidies) and they told the rail companies not to negotiate. Everything about the current situation is down to this government and the Brexit it lied about to get the public to vote for it.
SCABS
The government will make it legal to bring in agency staff to replace workers. How long before all employment is zero hours? When will union membership become illegal? The doff of a cap essential, the Emperors new clothes!
BREAD
Just making basil and olive bread. And reading Jessica Elliot Dennison “Salad Feasts”.
Start is great for planing – A base (pasta, rice, potato or a pulse); a contrast, something with a tang or taste (cheese or a cured meat or smoked fish?); crunch and texture (nuts or seeds or croutons); and a dressing.
GARDEN -JUNE 20
Planted Erigeron karvinskianus ‘Sea of Blossom’ many thanks Holly and Martin for the plant which should spread. Evening Primrose in blossom (also one plant in the road gutter where it joins barley and fennel!) with sage, thyme and rosemary blossoming and also cornflowers, fetch, dandelions, night scented stock and morning glory. Fennel doing well. basil on window sill has something attacking it – the same as the chillies in the conservatory. Red basil and lemon basil and coriander and greek basil all coming on.
I will get new soil and repot mother-in-laws tongue as both are about a metre high. I think others may need repotting. Tomatoes are forming – maybe a week or 10 days. A few raspberries
AN ENVIRONMENTAL GEOGRAPHY PROJECT
Workers can’t expect wages to go up with the lost of living.
Just think about this government statement. Prices go up so someone is making more money. Company profits are going up, directors salaries and bonus payments are going up. BUT it is the workers who have to suffer. if they get a cost of living rise the rich may have to acknowledge their existence.
EXAMS
Students are now taking GCSE and GCE Exams with 15-20 different exams. Why so many? Surely an exam in English – written and oral, and one in Maths should be enough. Other subjects could be assessed by competencies (especially the arts and practical subjects). Humanities subjects could be assessed by a reasoning paper with access to internet.
COVID
Has not gone away. Numbers increasing, as are hospitalisations. The government plan? Wait and see what happens. Plans should be made now for booster jabs for vulnerable. Mask wearing in doctors surgeries and chemists should be compulsory. Sick pay should be increased.
WARMING UP – My Diary
Temperatures here to reach upper twenties by Friday (and then fall again). I just picked marjoram and thyme to make some focaccia with olive and sun dried tomato and garlic stuffing. Then some strawberry cheese cake. And then some strawberry cookies with ??? apricots and coconut? Tomatoes in GH are beginning to form – hopefully next week will see first crop. Nit having much sign of life from seeds I put in a few days ago, Korean Mint, Red Basil and Lemon Basil. I have even sprayed them with warm water and spoken nicely to them – maybe they need a bit of Pink Floyd? I have had a raspberry! and some wild strawberries.
Bought more stuff from BAM – in the sale – I must throw out my old stuff, socks and threadbare jeans and shirts.
RWANDA
Johnson talking bollocks on LBC this morning. Stopping the people smugglers is commendable – but this cruel policy is vindictive and racist.