EU

Stop playing silly games and get us closer to Europe. There are at least 2 sticking points – one is fisheries policy. Johnson negotiated the current one which runs out soon, A lot of the fish caught goes to the EU anyway. Youth mobility is seen as a problem – I am not sure how? Young people travelling and living in each others countries is surely a great thing? America is for the next 31/2 years at least, unreliable and fickle. It also a long way over the ocean – transport costs should surely start to soar as the climate crisis deepens. Get ready for a ridiculous outpouring of rage from the RW Media and Reform. The majority of people in this country accepts that Brexit was a disaster – some might argue that it was because of the general incompetence of the Tories who did not take advantage as they should! If I was negotiating for the EU I would demand payments towards the cost – we used to pay £xxx per month towards the costs of the EU. Why should we get the benefits of deals without paying into the system. This may become more important as parts of Eastern Europe lurch to te right and Moscow – Poland, Romania, Hungary, Serbia. Back to your people travelling – I sometimes wonder how Jelena from Subotica has lived her life? I met her in Brighton for a brief time (I was stoned) in 1970.

In the paper today – one story got my full attention! A tin of crisps for £26! and a bag printed like a crisp packet for £1450! The article was stunning but saved by the head chef at Toklas who admitted liking Pickled Onion Monster Munch the best!

Other items – Israel continues to slaughter innocent people – including children – without facing the wrath of politicians, the press or just everyone! And Trump has made it illegal to boycott Israeli products. Wanker!

There are 156 billionaires in the UK – tax the bastards. Good to see Ratcliffes wealth diminishing as he screws ManU. The king (not Elvis silly) has increased his wealth bu a few hundred million. The list says this is his personal wealth rather than the state bit and the 14 castles/houses we provide for him and his family. What do any of these very rich fuckers do to help others? Absolutely fucking nothing of note.

I mourn the death of a great leader Jose Mujica, former President of Uruguay. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/uruguays-former-president-mujica-dead-89-2025-05-13/ A truly humble man, whereare the politicians like that in the UK.

WATER

So Thames wanted to pay bonus’ to senior executives related to performance? Well fuck me – being shit at your job, polluting rivers and seas, running out of water (later this year?), raising customers fees by 59% and then get a bonus = to at least 50% of your 6 figure salary! The mind set is stated by the Chair of Thames who said “We have a bonus scheme to protect our most precius resource, which is the senior management team”. This comment needs some analysis. Their most valuable resource should be water, clean and wholesome and delivered to customers. Protect them – from what? Inflationary rises on yachts? And they are shit at their jobs – otherwise why would they have accrued a £20 billion debt and come to within days of being nationalised. Yes – a great idea, and whilst at it offer them back their jobs at 25% less with no perks or bonus payments unless they increase efficiency and reduce customer bills. If they think about leaving they have to repay their bonus payments for the last 5 years.

I think SMT’s must have some sort of training indoctrination – school SMT also thought they were better than everyone else! They surround themselves with sycophants and expect everyone to respect them – “emperors new clothes syndrome”. One of my favorite games whilst on field duty at lunchtime was to see how close I could get to the head without having to speak to him! Traversing the field with precision timing to just avoid collision of interception. teachers used to come out to watch the game! Personally I did not respect any of my headteachers apart from the first one , his introductory speech to newcoming staff stated that as head he would have to make decisions which we did not like, but he hoped we would not hate him. The rest were just arrogant arseholes.

Back to water – reservoirs are not full – estimates vary. This summer could be long hot and dry – we are due one like this. When it rains it is likely to be convectional (fast and heavy), and will thus run off rather than replenishing groundwater (Uk 30+% but south east and London approaching 100%). I fear for the quality of rivers such as the chalk streams which are likely to be innundated with shit before they run dry due to over extraction. Farmers too, have to accept part of the blame.

DESPOTS

Are you a despot who rules a country with no democracy? Expect a visit from Trump iminately. Have you posted anti-Israel views on line and are travelling to the USA – expect to be detained by Homeland Security for an unspecified time and then deported. This is the new world we live in. A UK Prime Minister elected with support from the centre ground of politics makes a speech that has been compared to Enoch Powell, the same PM who cuts welfare benefits rather than raise tax on the mega rich. A narcistic rich twat is surging ahead in polls in the UK whose policies are racist, misogynistic and regressive. Welcome to a fucked up world.

SPRING

Elderflowers are ready – at least 2 weeks earlier than last year. I have also just made another batch of strawberry jam. 5 jars ready for their labels! I hope this lot sets – I take temperatures and use a plate from the freezer, but still get a semi-liquid. Tastes good though!

OBSCENE

Trump signs a £107 billion defence deal with Saudi Arabia. WTF! Oh and there was reportedly another $400 billion in other deals! Just think of the poverty that could be eradicated, the education programmes, the health centres. But no the men with small cock syndrome have to go for the biggest weapons. To my knowledge neither the USA or Saudi Arabia is under no threat of invasion or war. Oh, and he has cut the American aid programme – what a complete and utter bastard.

On a good news story Everton FC have turned their old stadium of Goodison Park over to the womans football team. Whilst the capacity will be drastically reduced from 39000 it is great that the women will have a Premiership quality ground of their own, rather than a soulless housing estate. Sunderland have got through to the playoff final by the skin of their teeth. Whilst it would be great for them to bank the money that the Premiership doles out, they are not a team that can compete in the big league. All 3 sides promoted last year have been relagated despite some premiership sides being crap.

Labour are being slated from left and right regarding migration. I have already stated that I find the whole issue more complicated every time I look at it. Taking in 900000 migrants in a year is way too high, but also the vacancies in the NHS and Care system are way to high. Without doubt there are many people making extortionate profits from the NHS and Care systems, and also emergency housing for migrants. Care work is generally at minimum wage and the costs of a resident in a care home are also way too high, and would be unaffordable for many. family units and ties are also virtually non-existent – so family care is not possible.

Moving Civil Servants jobs out of London is a great idea – London has a vibrancy and momentum of its own, and spreading skilled jobs around the country is a great idea.

Cyclists – a newspaper report states that Paris has overtaken Amsterdam and the best city for cyclists. The accompanying photo was revealing. No lycra clad 30’s – just young people on bikes with baskets. How different to the cycling situation in the UK.

CLIMATE

Numbskulls abound. It is not only the primary elements and the publicised secondary effects, So I thought I would list some of the less visible impacts.

  1. Sea level rise by millimetres – this has a greater impact.  During a storm those millimetres may mean the difference between inundation or safety.  Flood defences are not updated often – there are concerns regarding the effectiveness of the Thames Barrier.  Erosion is also increased – this has had huge impacts in Alaska and closer to home – they might have to move the Beachy Head lighthouse inland again, sooner than predicted.  I suspect there is a lot more to add here.
  2. Sea temperatures changing.  This impacts in a variety of ways, coral bleaching is the most apparent, but it can also impact on the habitats of sea creatures – Sharks being the most apparent. But it may have an impact of ocean currents (The day before yesterday scenario that was laughed at).  
  3. These changes could have an impact on the jet stream and lead to a markedly different climate for W.Europe and especially the UK. The fuckwits and knuckle draggers will rejoice in sunny weather for the beach until the beach is eroded and winter sub-zero temperatures become ‘normal’
  4. Nature is a jigsaw of interlocking pieces in all dimensions. (I do not understand concepts about more than 4 dimensions – but thought I would cover my back).  Earlier summers – elderflowers are def 2/3 weeks earlier to flower – may be a topic for polite discussion – but for migratory species it can mean that their food source is no longer available.  Are chemicals really to blame for the absence of insects?  We have been using them for a long time, but the disappearance has been quite sudden.
  5. Glaciers provide much of the human worlds water supply, as they melt – and the evidence is horrific – much of Asia fed by the great rivers, Yangtse, Indus, Mekong, Huang He,Ganges, Irrawaddy, Salween, Brahmaputra will face drought and environmental disaster – and their only hope will be migration.
  6. As permafrost melts methane is released – a very harmful greenhouse gas.
  7. I am sure that there will be many, many more subtle changes that will be harmful.

PAYING THE PRICE

So Labour will announce a new immigrant policy next week. They cannot win. They are associated with the lack of or ludicrous policies that saw immigration bloom. Reform just need to spout some racist and unfounded nonsensence for the numbskulls and knuckle draggers to hoot with joy and cheer them.

Some facts – migration to the UK is more expensive than to other countries. We need migrants to fill jobs in the NHS and on farms. Our Universities need them for their fees and their brains.

The Tories managed, with a compliant press to keep the emphasis on the ‘small boats’ rather than the mass migration that swamped many areas. It is too late to turn back the clock so Reform will continue to make headway due to the Tories lack of legislation. I am sure Labour will make it mandatory to advertise jobs locally before employing migrants – my local shop will be interesting! Migrants from India are sponsored by the owner and have to work 48 hours a week to reach the required threshold. One says that he will work for 10-15 years and save enough money to retire comfortaably to India with the Standard of living difference. He should beware as this gap is closing..

WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT AND THE TAPS RUN DRY

It is unlikely to be soon, but is inevitable. The taps could be this summer and the lights in a few years. That is unless the government is brave and nationalises water and the national grid. Water is the greatest danger of collapse. A hot dry summer will increase demand and cause further stress on the environment of rivers as they are used to extract water whilst also being used to dump sewage. Reform state that they will do all they can to undermine Net Zero aspirations. Note the undermine bit – I would have some sypathy if they suggested that the plans need to be modified whilst technology catches up, but no they are thick as shit climate deniers. Who will they blame for the lack of rain? Brussels, woke clouds? Or they just try to confuse the issue with lies? There will also be localised thunderstorms which will cause localised flooding which will strengthen their pathetic arguements.

For sure pylons do not look great, but a) they are better designed than in the past, and b) the cost difference between pylons and underground is staggering. So objectors should just shut the fuck up! keep the lights on with clean energy and avoid international fluccuations in price and supply. It is acknowledged that fossil fuels will be in the mix for decades – but as of now – I actually mean this minute Renewables are providing 50.2% whilst fossil fuels 8.6%. Obviously this changes at night until we get other renewables on stream – me I am loving the sunny weather – solar panels power up between 6am and 8pm – so washing and dish washer are free to use. To those who say orientation of new houses is not condusive to solar panels my answer is change the orientation or change the roof design – burgh!

India and Pakistan – I am actually horrified by the glee of the Indians in the shop. I have thought many to be thick, but has nothing about our tolerant country rubbed off on them? They extol Modi as if he was not a Putin image. The news blackout imposed by India seems to be following Gazan experiences. Both countries are still basically 3rd World – they have nuclear weapons and top grade scientists and entrepreneurs, but most of their inhabitants are thick as shit peasants. In this context I mean thick as shit, as in having received little education.

WOKE MARXIST POPE

This is the detailed analysis from Trumps Office. Surely the office of Pope is by definition woke? And according to the right wing anyone who cares for the weaker and disadvantaged and economically poorer is a Marxist! Are they upset as they have nothing to intimidate Lea XIV with? Trump is now doing trade deals based on – well he threatened everyone with tariffs and is now basking in the fame caused by people wanting to reduce the damage done to its citizens. He boasts about people wanting to do deals with him, thus revealing that he cares little about MAGA or the American people. Heather Stewart in the Guardian sums it up “In effect Trump has stolen everyones lunch money – and is now exacting concessions in return for handing some of it back”.TBH it appears that the Labour government has done a fine job in negotiating a deal that seems to be fair – the detail may change with Trumps pernicious behaviour. Next up is a deal with the EU which will have the RW idiots squealing like little piglets. It make eminent sense to make deals with our nearest neighbours – quite why any deal will be vilified by the Telegraph and Mail is ????? Fucking insane comes to mind.

I also want to make a statement about the Pope – in essence I should not give a shit as an atheist. However I am aware enough to realise that the Popes words and actions are important, to varying degrees, to 1.4 billion people. Will he have an influence in Gaza or Moscow? Or Khartoum, Teheran, Naypyidaw, Mogadishu, New Delhi or Islamabad – to name a few. Unlike Trump he cannot bully, but he can negotiate from a position of strength – based on humility and kindness. maybe I am over optimistic – but the world needs a voice of reason that transcends countries, nations and religions. One has to search for the positive in todays fucked world!

At home we are told that rainfall this winter has been down 70% in parts of the country. The water companies are also talking up £2000 bills in the near future. Whilst I totally agree with hosepipe bans to water vanity lawns, my greenhouse (at present watered by water butts, may need a hosepipe to enable me to provide tomatoes to family and friends? I totally realise the impossibility of allowing me to use a hosepipe – if necessary I will use shower water! But WTF have the water companies been doing with the extra income from new housing. Nationalise the bastards with no compensation now – or maybe fine them loads first!

TRADE DEAL

OK – I am writing this before any announcement by Trump at 3pm. What to expect? As ever with Trump it is almost impossible to predict. i would hope that Starmer has not agreed to lowering agricultural standards. A lowering in tec companies tax seems inevitable, The USA has a positive trade balance with us so Starmer should have had a strong case, especially regarding services. British car exports are also skewed to high end products so do not compete directly with US cars? It is also unlikely to be a trade deal as such, unlike the India one signed yesterday. It is more of a tariff reduction deal, so will be limited in scope and time. It would seem unlikely to include filming and artistic products?