Month: August 2025

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BBC APOLOGISES

For not calling Robert Jenrick an absolute prick? Nothing more to say!

Whilst calling out pricks – Trump, Putin and possibly Zelenskyy. Netanyahu and his cabinet colleagues must be included together with all involved in Sudan and wars elsewhere. Starmer and Lammy have applications for the pricks club pending!

Enough negativity – it rained last night (a little) and the sun is shining. So time for another list – todays are favorite kitchen condiments and I have tried an approximate order!

Sea salt – rainbow pepper corns – chillie flakes – coriander – cumin- mixed herbs (although I have fresh most of the year, rosemary, sage, marjoram, thyme, basil))- cinnamon- bay – za’atar – cloves – paprika. I seem to collect many others that are rarely used too! Actually the 3-10 positions change with the seasons and my taste buds!

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COMFORT FOODS

What are the UK’s most popular comfort foods. i.e. ones we turn to when we want a quick and easy ‘nice’ meal. So here goes; quickest and easiest are beans on toast or cheese on toast or both! A little more effort is spat bol or pasta tuna mayo. I will often turn to a can of tomato soup with added pepper, then there is a bacon sandwich with egg, mushrooms and tomatoes and even fried onion. If more time there is the baked potato with cheese and then possibly roast chicken. And a quick if out and about – a baguette with dairy lea spread with fingers! Out and about preference would be a pasty. This list needs sorting! Beef stew is a late addition!

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ILLEGAL THINGS

I have done! Every day the iPaper publishes a list, that whilst not always logical or sensible, starts discussions on a wide variety of topics. So I thought I would start a new list.

My illegal acts started whilst at school – 1. I did not qualify for a bus pass, but most of the bus did – so we would distract the bus conductor (memories of the past) and pass the passes around. 2. Then I learnt to drive so firstly speeding 3. drunk driving – disualified for a year – guilty as charged (but, a very small but, it was the morning after! 4. Driving with bald tyres (I was booked into the garage – honest). 5. Smoking canabis – is there anyone born in the 1950-60’s who didn’t? (Sad fuckers!). 6. I am struggling now! – argh theft from a supermarket – getting outside and realising that there was an item under the bags that was not scanned – I think it has happened twice and neither time did i re-enter the store to pay. 7. I honestly cannot think of one – it has been suggested that I add under age drinking – is that a crime? Serving the drink maybe, but drinking it?

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CLIMATE CHANGE

Governments are unbelieviably stupid! Anyone with half a brain could have predicted this summers weather. If not this summer it would be next summer or/and the one after. No new reservoirs or supplies yet a population increase of 10% in recent years. The ‘drought committee’ met yesterday – a bit fucking late. reactive is poor management. Only Devon, Cornwall and London, Kent and Surrey seem to be OK. Much of the South-east gets its water from aquifers and are thus protected somewhat by vaguries in supply. Areas that rely on rivers or reservoirs are susceptable to changes in the weather.

Housing design should also take into account these changes in water supply. I have 3 water butts totalling 350ltrs. The largest and most used has now run dry – I wish I could channel bath/shower water into usable containers for the garden (and toilet flushes!). Hopefully my plants will survive the drought conditions as they mostly have deep roots and have become well established (and moderate the climate of my house and garden).

However it is not a case of just inconvenience – Southern Water took time from counting their wages and bonus’s to apply to take more water from one of Britains almost unique chalk streams famed for its biological diversity. Bastards.

Elsewhere – Switzerland is suffering from glacier melt and rockfalls affecting many villages – presumably the same is happening in Austria, France and other mountain regions. But do not worry – Reform deny climate change as do MAGA supporters in the USA and BP shareholders and the rest of the fossils

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PERSEIDS

The meteor shower is reaching its zenith on Wednesday – well timed for the cool of evening it is good to be awestruck by the heavens above. Also look out for Despite being millions of miles apart, Venus and Jupiter will look as if they’re close to bumping into each other in the night sky this month.Looking up is something many have forgotten how, the sky at night is awesome, but so are the clouds. Too many people spend their time looking down at their phones – it is no wonder that so many phones are stolen in broad daylight. The world is much bigger and more interesting than the microism that is the world of our phones. Apparently stealing handbags is the latest trend in Paris where there is a market for leather designer handbags.

Are our streets safe? 50 years ago there were places I would not wish to walk alone at night – this has not changed. Phones should be kept in a pocket or a bum bag, and not used whilst walking the streets. Handbags used only for cosmetics and hygeine items. That would cut down on the street theft statistics. Jenprick and Farage would still try to incite violence against migrants anyway.

What else – Gaza. The fascist government of Netanyahu has plans for the Palestinians that they will not like. No fucking surprise there, and israel threatens the UK with a travel ban – no shit! Whilst there were over 500 arrests at a pro-Palestine demo in London (49.9% over the age of 60! – maybe my generation were not all bad!) there was also a small demo to promote the plight of the hostages. I have sympathy for them – in buckets – but what choice does Hamas have, but to keep them as hostages? They are probably at more risk from the IDF and air raids than Hamas anyway. But from the Hamas point of view the hostages are the only bargaining power they have left? We assume that destroying 69% of buildings and conduction over 50000 bombing missions that the Hamas military structure is fucked? 70000 deaths as well. The world stopped giving a fuck about Palestinian children long ago!

I know I have been swearing a lot more recently – but the world is fucked up, there are too many pricks with penis envy ruling the people sphere.

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PRICKS ALL AROUND!

First off Robert Jenprick – stating that ‘We MUST protect our children!’ warns Robert Jenrick as Britain’s women and girls ‘endangered by migrant crisis’. What a prick! There is a crisis in our society and it is caused by pricks like him. Domestic violence is rife in areas that support right wing aggressors. So RJ – my advice to you is to shut the fuck up until you have something positive and sensible to say. I guess we have a long wait … striped paint anyone??

Next up is Yvette Cooper – Minister for Israel and wasting police time. I am not a supporter of Palestine Action or some of their activities. But when did it become an offence to make and display a cardboard poster with I oppose genocide on it? The is an ass! I suspect that many of the more than 400 arrests will be challenged in the courts, thus screwing the judicial system even more, and for longer. We have more than enough laws in the UK that can be used against activities deemed to be against society. Even slow walking is an offense, but invoking the Terrorism Act with upto 14 years in jail – is beyond ridiculous. I suspect that most people were protesting, peacefully and quietly against the gross cowardise of our government against the genocide in Gaza, the continued supply of weapons and the continued non-recognition of the state of Palestine. Arresting people for having more compassion and bravery is bordering on fascism. And a Labour Government. The Police have better things to do than wheel and assist pensioners into the meat wagons!

TBH – I sometimes wonder why I was pleased to see the back of the nasty Party. There was something fulfilling about opposing the dreadful last government. But when hope and optimism disappear we are left with dispare. There are good people in the Labour Party – still. Angela Raynor is OK, Ed. Milliband too. and a few others of lower profile. But the cosying up to Israel and the USA of Trump and Vance is distasteful – like sicking up a mouthful of bile before propelling it into the toilet! The Labour Minister for the homeless having to resign due to exploiting tenants. Same old Westminster crap.

And Badencunt and Jenprick repeat the same old crap – what did they actually do whilst in power? Labour are enabling the immediate deportation of offenders – there may be civil rights issues here, but why did the tories not only do FA about it, but increaed immigration to record levels? Can we also see the voting records of those wet wipes going over to Reform?

Nice weather – although main water butt has run dry. Just oicked mulberries – but only a few; Pickled beetroot made and a fresh pineapple cookie. Next up is bbq spring onion wrapped in streaky bacon.

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DOMESTIC ABUSE DAY

I understand that there will be right wing demonstartions outside many asylum hotels today. the police will be busy, but hopefully they will arrest lots and give their poor partners a night off from abuse! We will recognise the people – lots of muscle and tattoos, a lot of searing and abuse. They will be violent to the police – who are there to prevent criminal activity. These people are too thick to realise the hypocrisy and stupidity of their actions.

Meanwhile – JDVance will visit London which he says ‘Is not English anymore” – neither is America! He should just fuck off, The USA Ambassador to Israel has also condemned Starmer for wanting to recognise Palestine, whilst also reverting to incredibly childish remarks about Dresens bombing in WWII – which many historians see as a huge mistake, possibly a war crime? Why Americans think they have a right to tell us what to think is ridiculous.

Meanwhile – Labour MP’s and Cabinet members have rental property whist claiming a philosophical allegiance to the poor, and working class people. FM – they include the Chancellor and the Foreign Secretary. I have nothing against landlords, but … anyone claiming to be a socialist should not be making money from unearned income (I know that many landlords work hard to create … actually I don’t). They should resign! Lammy has cossied up to Vance in a ridiculous manner – is he supporting his attitude on abortion clinics, London, free speech? We need to know. Should I be kind to him because he is black – so is Kemi Badenoch – and Jenrick, Tice, Farage at heart!

I am planning on growing some roses from hips – let me know if you want some and if they are successful you can have some.

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SUDAN

150000 dead and at least 1500 massacred at a refugee camp this week. Reported in the Guardian but elsewhere? Even the BBC web site required a search to find out more. So a major humanitarian crises, but with little attention. The question I have is who is funding the war? It seems that the rebel RSF is funded by the UAE whilst the “government’ forces are aligned to Egypt and therefore possibly rhetorical west? The latest attrocities are attributed to the RSF but the government forces are not blameless. Egypt has a vested interest due to the RNile and its path is currently controlled by the Govt. forces.

The war is being fought with planes and drones so some major funding is occurring, whilst the majority of people survive on a pittance. Girls are regularly abducted and raped. And the west watches with disinterest! TBH I think the only hope is a strong USA – no, of course not fucker Trump. But Russia is embroiled in its own conflict; China too has domestic issues that prevent it from becoming a world superpower (yet?) whilst the EU is 27 countries with their won divisions and also watching the bear in the East! So with America increasingly insular it seems that the Arab Nations can fund terrorist groups with impunity. And the slaughter will continue unemcubbered by the west? “For evil to triumph it only requires good men to do nothing” Edmund Burke.

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FACT CHECKING

Do we fact check enough? I was talking in the shop and pointed out that the number of people crossing into the UK was 25000. (fact check it was 36000 in 2024 and higher this year), My colleague then said “per day” and he was serious! The publicity has distorted reality by that much. My colleague is not right wing, and would classify him as reasonably intelligent but also someone who does not follow the news. He was shocked when I said per year, genuinely shocked! Also of the 36000 about 5000 (mostly from Albania) were returned and with about 68% granted asylum. they were mostly from Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Albania, Syria, and Eritrea. 73 people died attempting the crossing.

International asylum law, primarily established by the 1951 Refugee Convention, protects individuals fleeing persecution in their home countries. It grants the right to seek asylum in another country and outlines the responsibilities of states towards refugees. Key aspects include the principle of non-refoulement, ensuring that refugees are not returned to places where they face persecution.  It is not true that they must seek asylum in the first country they visit. France in 2023 had about 167000 asylum seekers whilst the UK had 67000 in total. Asylum seekers in the UK typically receive £49.18 per week for each person in self-catered accommodation to cover essential living needs like food, toiletries, and clothing.If they are in catered accommodation (where meals are provided), they receive £8.86 per week

The latest scam by Reform is to highlight the number of illegal immigrants (those staying without permission. Obviously this number is unknown so there is a difficulty fact checking and it allows the hateful to elaborate and exaggerate. What we do know is that the last government were abject in this area, like most others. Hence this government suggesting a ID Card. Estimates put us as second only to Germany in the numbers of unregistered migrants. There seems to be some grey area here, in theory a 20 year residence in this country gives a permanent residence permission – but stories of the Windrush Generation and deportations by the Home Office vary with this interpretation! I am not sure about ID cards – they have them across most of Europe but I really do not have the info!

Statistics Showing the Impact of Immigrants on the UK Economy and Society. The economic and societal impacts of immigration in the UK are significant. According to the Office for National Statistics, migrants contribute approximately £83 billion to the UK’s economic output annually.

It is impossible to know the exact number of illegal migrants in the UK because some people successfully evade border controls and remain undetected, while others enter legally but their status becomes irregular later on. However, estimates suggest there are between 417,000 and 863,000 irregular migrants in the UK, including UK-born children.  farless than the figures quoted by Reform and Farage (the source of these stats admit that they are flawed!)

So these are the facts as provided by respected authorities.

PS. I just put inials on apples so that they rippen with my grandchildrens inials embedded in the skins as the ripen.n



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AN ISLAND IN A DESERT

Sorry to bang on about my garden again. A traditional suburban street – neatly tendered lawns, often sprayed with weedkiller are the norm. Some neighbours do have pots of flowers (but also I have seen them spraying dandelions with chemicals. So it is not surprising that wildlife is taking its time to colonise. Early spring and a goldfinch was feasting on evening primrose seeds, and I have seen lots of skipper butterflies, but few others despite having nettles and budleia plants. The mulberry trees have plenty of fruit, as do the raspberries but few visitors having lunch! I have lots of roses, herbs, chicory and fennel, and 4 hanging baskets full of flowers. Is it too far for the critters to find me?

In my dreams every garden would be like mine – and populated with slow worms, lizards, foxes and badgers visiting, flocks of birds and butterflies, and moths at night. But the tidiness gene has captured people – fed by advertising. Does my garden look neat and tidy? Defintely not – but it does offer food and sustenance for a variety of creatures – as it should!