Month: August 2022

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BIRDS

In April and May I thought the birds had deserted me – food in dispensers left for days – took them down and gave them a good wash. But now they are demolishing bird food like a panic run on toilet paper. One individual – a greenfinch – is quite comical. Whilst most great tits and blue tits zoom out of the apple tree to grab some food and retreat as quickly as possible, this one arrives on the feeder and instead of tucking in and making a quick getaway he (I think it is a he) lands and has a look back to the red and has a look of “I am here now so do not disturb me”. He is in no hurry and will spend 20 minutes glaring around and having the occasional seed. Comical.

Butterflies are mainly confined to small white. One peacock and a couple of gatekeepers. I am hoping for more. A couple damsel flies too.

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UKRAINE

Well the politics seem to have gone quiet now the need for The Convict to try and resurrect himself has passed! Is that harsh? Andy, you have a much better idea about the military than I do (not difficult as I start from zero or below).

Having halted the Russian initial advance a while back it seems to be a war of attrition. Ukraine relies on Western arms supplies, Russia also seems to be struggling a little. I have not heard anyone talk about peace yet? Maybe it is too early, but will need to be discussed eventually. The elephant in the room is China and Taiwan?

What has not been discussed yet, but will need to be addressed eventually is the Ukraine Governments right wing leanings. We should learn from previous excursions into territories where we previously have had limited influence (Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Somalia – probably not the best choice) – but certainly none have been particularly successful. Although I suppose that depends on the term successful? Although it would take a Tory member of Cabinet to state what an unlimited success these campaigns have been!

Russia has a compliant population big enough to sustain this war for years; its sales of oil and gas will ensure that whatever economic sanctions are taken , are fruitless. India, China, African countries will. take up the slack and ensure the roubles roll in.

So it comes to a need for a diplomatic compromise in which the UK is massively unable to participate in. The present government is only schooled in confrontational politics. The USA is fucked up to the eyebrows with abortion, Trump and gun laws. China is keeping out. NATO/EU needs to back Baltic states.

Meanwhile the climate crisis is being ignored by all. Sorry this is another mega issue that I will address separately.

Anyway, if you would like to pop round anytime – let me know. Cake and tea/coffee always available. And s ever I love the discussion! Discussion recently seems to be polarising to a y/n which I personally believe to be pathetic!

Interesting start to the football! Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea from London looking good; ManC and Liverpool (after a shaky start will be up there). Will ManU spend enough to turn their season into one of hope? Southampton did OK today, but the chances of them doing a Leicester are so remote. I suppose that is rampant capitalism for us? There is no chance of the likelihood of Ipswich, Notts.Forest or Derby winning the league again – ever; or even Aston Villa, Everton,

And I have not got onto the water and energy debacle. Or the farcical tory leadership race, democracy, unions, environment, teaching and education, NHS, respect for others, Daily Maily and other shite papers, railways, post.

So you are welcome round and will go home with organic jams and produce.

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DROUGHT-FLOOD

Absolutely no planing or preparation for events that are 100% predictable. Create mini-lakes to absorb flood waters, plant more trees and shrubs, Every Parish Council should be mandated to come up with a plan to ameliorate floods and drought. Discounted water butts and pond liners, free wild flower seeds. Cut green bin collections to 6 a year.

Increase council tax for paved over lawns. Nature should come first.

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NEW OVEN

So some recipes to try date and walnut bread

Olive bread “The Savoury Way” p36

Apricot and nut loaf Artisan Baking p114

Lemon Polenta Cake Artisan Baking p37

Banbury Cakes. Artisan Baking p68

Lemon drizzle Artisan Baking p24

Artisan Wholemeal loaf

Artisan Bread Ingredients

  • 3 cups whole wheat flour (500 g)
  • 1 tsp. active dry yeast
  • 2 tsp. salt
  • 1 2/3 cup warm water (110°F). – 400ml
  • 1 tsp. fresh rosemary, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp. fresh thyme, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp. fresh sage, finely chopped

How to Make Whole Wheat Bread

  1. Combine the flour, yeast, and salt in a large bowl and mix to combine. Add the water and herbs, if using, and mix well. The dough will be very sticky and shaggy-looking. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature for 18 hours.
  2. Generously flour a work surface. The dough will have risen and will be covered in bubbles. Transfer the dough to the work surface and dust it with flour. Fold the dough in half, and then form the dough into a ball by stretching and tucking the edges of the dough underneath the ball.
  3. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). When oven reached temperature place a lidded Dutch oven or deep heavy duty casserole dish (with lid) into the oven to preheat for approximately 30 minutes.
  4. Do NOT remove the Dutch oven kettle from the oven, just remove the lid and gently slip the dough into the ungreased baking vessel, seam side up.  Cover and bake per the instructions below. (That way you don’t lose the heat you just spent half an hour to achieve to heat the pan.  There’s no need to shake the dough once it’s in the pan, it’ll spread by itself while baking.)
  5. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake until the crust is golden brown, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the loaf from the baking dish and let it cool on a rack before slicing.

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WEATHER

So the 4 days of the latest heat wave has gone, we had about a mm this morning but unless we get a thunderstorm it is unlikely to do much. Another area high pressure is likely to build next week. I recommend https://guyonclimate.com a blog with lost of facts and sensible comment.

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WATER

Companies should be forced to produce monthly figures for reservoir , river and groundwater levels. Also number of leaks stopped, km of pipes replaced. Subsidised water butts provided and all new housing required to have them and only brown water going to treatment. No wage rises or bonus payments for those earning £100,000 or over until environmental and social targets are met (i.e. not for 15 or 20 years).

Farmers should meet certain standards too – with aid if necessary. Pollution of rivers like the Wye should be halted immediately – preferably by increasing cost of pollution to eye watering levels. If chicken costs go up, so be it – environment first. The same goes for intensive beef/dairy pig facilities.

Venison sales, especially wild, should be encouraged.

OH SHIT, what a mess we are in. The environment is still seen as a free lunch for large landowners, to be exploited and abused as they arrogantly wish. The economy is distorted massively, the financial system is corrupt (can anyone explain how a person in an office in the City of London actually increases the quality of life for the human race?

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LEMON DRIZZLE

I got give 3 out of date lemons so :225g each s-r flour, caster sugar, butter and 4 eggs. 50 min at 180C. Let cool – drizzle = 85g caster + lemon juice. Then strawberry jam and dust with icing sugar.

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1976

A similar dry summer with hosepipe bans. In 2022 the announcement of a hosepipe ban was announced with a plea ‘to dob on a neighbour’. In 1976 this came much later. In 1976 we had a government (not in 2022). Will this government make golf courses and stately piles exempt? Will it impose laws that wastage must be cut by 15% per annum with no dividends until this takes place, and no price hikes.

Of greater importance is the need to ensure a long term protection for our chalk streams and wildlife. If these waterways are in private ownership, then the owner must create access in a equable way.

Water companies must comply to environmental standards or be nationalised without compensation. They should also have to pay an environmental fee for the privilege of becoming guardians of our environment. Everyone should also be provided with a set quantity of water free. I do not know how to work this out – but 5 toilet flushes per person, 3 minute shower, 5 litre for cooking and 10 litre for washing up. Then charge.

Perhaps the same should occur for households. The first x therms free, then progressively tax (allowances made for disability recipients).

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HOLIDAYS

Seem to remember in the past that an announcement would be made that the PM was going on holiday and that the DepPM or other would be in charge. Not this shit show if incompetence. They have all either fu(ked off or are queuing up on morning TV to state how brilliant it will all be when MaryT or RishiS take over and correct the appalling mess that we are in. No mention of 12 years of Tory misrule – just arse licking for a government pension.

So inflation nearing 10%, a water crisis, a climate crisis, an energy crisis, a NHS crisis, a cost of living crisis, a crisis of democracy, a crisis created by BREXIT, and they all fu)k off to the beach, along with the shadow cabinet.