GEOGRAPHY LESSON

I guess those at Eton, etc. are doing the history of the empire and how to exploit people.

A measure of equality os essential for social harmony and economic growth. When disparities occur both between social groups and between geographical regions the result is a collapse in society and the countries infrastructure. Let me concentrate on the geographical aspect. On a regional level there is huge disparity between regions of the UK – a report today

What is the point of this government?

They do not seem to be managing anything? I accept there is a difference in definition between governing and managing, with the former implying an element of control. However neither seem to apply to this government. Other than laws to prevent criticism and restricting votes for those who are unlikely to follow them, I am unaware of any other positive moves. Police numbers are to be increased rapidly (probably with less vetting?). TBH the lack of vetting of the police is unbelievable – as a teacher I was not allowed to take photos of students from 40m away in a rainstorm with everyone wearing full wet weather gear – but a police employee does not seem to have to do the more vigorous checks.

Water companies continue to pump shit into our rivers. Public services are closing down.

There seems to be a conflict here. Is Government for the benefit of society or business? I realise that the two are not mutually opposed.

RUMOURS

Johnson supporters leak info about Zahawi and in return Sunak supporters leak into about The BBC post and Johnson’s loan. Meanwhile there are strikes, National Grid is paying people not to. use electricity, and government ministers deny that anything is wrong – in fact it could not be better!!

UKRAINE

Daily Mail is trying to deflect news away from Tax Evasion and BBC scandal by promoting the criminal Johnson and increasing UK support for the war effort. ( Do I hear “land of hope and glory” in the background or more likely the theme from “Dads Army”. War is never nice and the Ukrainians have been propelled into this situation by Putin and a sector of Russian society that would like to rebuild the USSR. With absolutely no military experience or knowledge, it would seem transparent that Putin’s Russia will not capitulate on the battlefield anytime soon. Any NATO backed offensive would almost certainly be seen as an escalation and treated as such by Putin with serious consequences for Eastern Europe.

WHAT NEXT?

Sunak seems to have little power. Zahawi and Braverman are protected by the right wing. Sunak cannot settle the strikes as he is powerless. Johnson is stirring up as much trouble as he can with visits to Davos and now the Ukraine. He also has questions to answer regarding Richard Sharp at The BBC, and why Bamford is providing free accommodation. Truss and Kwarteng are also setting up lobby group for lower taxes. Red wall Tories are crying out for funding. Sleeze-Dogg is on GBNews stirring the pot some more. And party grandees like Clarke, Major and May are calling for a more centrist path.

As Abraham Lincoln said “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time”. Truss and the ERG had a go at fooling all of the people some of the time – and what a disaster that was (Costing the country in excess of £50billilon). Sunak is not even fooling some of the people some of the time. Increased use of twitter does not change a lie – it is still a lie, but seen by more people. Gove saying that Zahawi has done nothing wrong is still wrong, even if repeated on BBC. Brexit is still, and will be for ever more, a disaster.

So crystal ball time. Johnson will continue to enjoy his paid for antics for the rest of the year and past the next election. Surely he is not so stupid as to think he can win the next election? The ERG will continue to hamper any hopes of an economic revival by ridiculous claims of tax cuts. Sunak might be pushed out, but the tories would find it hard to justify yet another PM in one Parliament. Johnson unlikely to risk it – he will wait for Labour to struggle with both the mess they will be left with, and with the regressive legislation that will need repealing! Johnson will have built up a large war chest by then, the MSM will be all over him, criticisms will be washed aside with positive (albeit meaningless words). So it will be the election after next which is the crucial one! Will Starmer move to the left enough to gain the public support that Corbyn had before being crucified by his own party and the MSM? Meanwhile have the LibDems and Greens given up and gone home? The Looney Right will also have their moments – are there enough to cause irreparable damage to the Conservative and Unionist Party. The SNP seem to have a hold on Scotland which can only be softened by the SLP, The Scottish Conservative Party seems to be a minority in all ways since Ruth Davidson’s brave last stand.

CYNICISM

At the age of 69 I am entitled to. be a cynic I think? I would rather be an optimist but this is getting harder! Charlie Boy the Turd has asked for people to volunteer on his Coronation Day/weekend. So he will be expending £millions of taxpayers money and expects people to also give up their time for nothing! What a schlicthz! London will be presumably grid locked with road closures that make Extinction rebellion look like rank amateurs!

Murdoch papers are trying to resurrect Andrew Winsor who is trying to reclaim the £12+millions he paid to Virginia Giuffre – whom he said he never met! It is clear that he was a privileged toff using his status for sex, whilst the tax payer coughed up £250.000 a year for him. TBH why is he now still getting a royal pension? He is a disgrace.

On which research has found that police regularly victim blame women in rape cases. Prosecutions down to 1.6% Lets do some maths here. In most cases 95% the assailant will. be known (and 4% could be easily identified by others at the bar beforehand – this is not victim blaming – plying with alcohol/drugs is still rape). Why is the prosecution rate so low? One case made the front pages recently of a woman who falsely accused a man – HOW FUCKING DARE THESE PAPERS IGNORE THE 98% OF RAPE VICTIMS.

The establishment is a litany of misdemeanours and actual crimes. Morality must have been ignored in their education. Zahawi forgot to disclose £3 million tax payment, Johnson thinks the laws of this country do not apply to him, conservative donors get pretence for contracts, Lady More walks away with millions. But the workers are told to accept payouts!

RECIPES

I might try the lemon surprise pudding from Felicity Cloake in todays Guardian, although it looks bit of a faff! More from Felicity here

Then some recipes of my own! Olives, garlic, chilli, avocado spread? Possibly with anchovies? Mustard? People in the shop will. not like as they are anti-fish! But spread on a warm freshly baked baguette – my mouth is watering. I think everything finely chopped with parsley or basil?

Making soup at the moment with what ever is in the fridge , leeks, spring onions, garlic, plus lima beans, tin tomatoes and either marmite or soy sauce. And some rosemary and thyme.

Lasagne in this weather is a must! Then Melissa Thompson veg one for latter in the week when I will make the lasagne sheets myself.

Lemon drizzle cake

APPLE TREE

I have taken out the main branches in the middle and will cut the long thin ones rising to the stars later. I also need to cut back the bush near to it. I do not kniw how that will affect the harvest though – we will see. I may get another apricot tree to replace the one which has died (now a bird feeder support).

The greenhouse needs final clearing and cleaning so I can start planting in March.

I also need a haircut but that will have to wait until it has warmed up! Very cold this morning, fingers were numb and then tingling as they warmed up. I might have to reorder some mints that have not made it through the winter, and possibly lemon verbena?

WRONG – RAAB

This is so wrong at any level. If a drunk sot stated this in a pub near closing time I would be appalled, and probably get hit – my mouth is stringer than my body! For the Deputy Prime Minister to state this has to be unacceptable in a modern 21st Century democracy.

Dominic Raab has clarified his views on misogyny in an interview on LBC News. He said “Misogyny itself isn’t a problem if the woman consents. Some women like it and that’s fine, if it’s consensual.” Mr Raab emphasised that rape is never acceptable, “Even with consent.”

Does it need me to state what “consent” means in either sentence? Misogyny is a word which I am sure he does not understand. To be frivolous it is not just an occasional “dominant” play game, but a 24/7/365 belittling situation. As for rape – oh Raab you are such a moron – rape denies consent therefore cannot be with consent.

RESIGN NOW!

And he says this the days after a serving Met Police Officer has admitted 48 cases of rape and 1000 met police employees are being investigated for sexual or domestic violence.

LEMON POPCORN

I liked it and Aaron did get a bit addicted although he thought it too lemony! Recipe was 50g popcorn 1tbsp brown sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. So less lemon and more cinnamon next time. Sweetness was good.