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.
LEADING
Ministers say government should not lead on health recommendations. Who is supposed to counter the excess sugar and salt produced by the mega-corporations? And is the cost to the NHS from obesity and related harm not their duty?
BLAME GAME
Public blamed for food insecurity due to lack of cooking skills. Nothing to do with the the billions spent on advertising by mega-nationals then.
FARMING
Firstly it should be protected from the import of inferior produce with duties and protective legislation. (Taking back control!). Secondly there needs to be a distinction between family farms and those run for investment purposes and pure profit. Third it may need support to change to restorative techniques. Fourth the land owned by farmers should be excluded from property development.
FOOD
The cost of living crisis is NOT essentially caused by food costs going up, but by the high cost of housing (mortgages and rents). For too long the landlords and property owners in Parliament have allowed these costs to soar.
COOKING IDEAS -sweet
Strawberry cheesecake with strawberry coulis – recipe from Jane’s patisserie p32
Gin and tonic cake – Coffee and walnut cake – carrot cake – Choc chip cookies – oatmeal raisin cookies – white chocolate strawberry scones
Coconut dream Bars – Skillet cornbread – cinnamon raisin swirl cake – New Orleans beignets
TAXES
Some basic points. The overall tax base cannot be cut without a fall in government expenditure. This can either mean a cut in the services provided by government or an increase in the economy. The latter is increasingly unlikely!
At present we are seeing virtually all sectors of the economy hit by increasing inflation of costs, and higher taxes. This does not appear sustainable. The only sector seemingly immune is the financial sector where record bonus payments have been made, and those who profited from Covid and recent energy rises.
Wages have to go up for most of the population so the answer would seem to be fairly simple. Firstly reverse as much of Brexit as possible. Secondly reduce corporation tax to encourage investment. Thirdly introduce a 60% income tax on all net individual earnings.
Then the whole council tax system needs sorting. Second home owners should pay a premium rather than be exempt if they do not occupy for long enough during the year. People need to rent and let rather than buy to ensure/reflect economic mobility. There needs to be inspectors who can set a fair rent – if the landlord does not like it they can sell. With a fair rent tenants and landlords can be happy. Business tax is destroying the high street by not levying a fee on the likes of Amazon. High Streets provide local jobs and the knock on. Globalisation is anti-localisation. Society needs to rebuild on local levels after covid, with help and community words to the forefront and profit and greed relegated to the bin.
We can build a better society in which we all participate if the media stop creating hate and jealousy.