Author: Richard

So the reaal work starts today with The King’s Speech where Labour will outline plans for new legislation. All ver positive – no diatribes about Rwanda and other failed Tory policies. The Daily Express leads with an article about boat people – who actually gives a fuck any more. We know Labour will come up with sensible policies in time – proposals for asylum visas to allow legal entry until processed seems practical and sensible and also allows management. Presumably this type of policy needs collaboration with our European neighbours, which may occur at the meeting at Blenheim Palace of 45 European leaders at the meeting Of the European Political Community. Whilst this is “yet another summit” it does allow European leaders to open up channels of communication (something Sunak should have considered when spurning D Day opportunities). This is needed ever more importantly as America seems to be headed for a period of Trump induced isolation and revisionism. Europe remains a very diverse political landscape despite some gains by the right.

What I will be hoping for are some real moves on climate change. Arguments about China’s coal power stations are irrelevant, especially as China invests heavily in wind and solar. Therewillbe announcements regarding housing and planning regulations. This will result in a right wing frenzy as the NIMBY element smacks in! I am in two minds regarding this – with the population likely to fall in next 50 years is there an argument for high quality radical temporary homes which can be expanded of dismantled relartively easily? Does evryone need their own outdoor space – a radical rethink needed before Barrat Homes build thousands of rabbit hutches in the countryside. The aspect of communting to work also needs consideration. Tory landlord MP’s voted down control of rents and minimum quality standards – can these be re-aired?

The prison situation needs urgent attention, but plans seem to be afoot as Labour has been planning for the takeover day for a year! Two more huge budgetry problems are Councils who have seen budgets cut at the expense of services as their responsibilities for care have increased. Universities also need urgent attention. Maybe a parental tax for university students? Parents are happy to pay £50000 per year for Eton, etc. but then get Oxbridge and others free! This is fraught with difficulties as I know having Tams going through University having just divorced – but doable!

Oh and then there is the water industry shit shower! I know Labour want to attract foreign investment (even home grown investment would be good -as a report decried the lack of investment in tec firms in the UK), but maybe those set to lose heavily (as they should) could be offered percentage holding in the companies that could pay out theoretically in the future? Mean time, interesting artical which suggested Londoners could/should be charged for covering gardens with concrete. Waffle style driveways and even side roads would allow infiltration and stop the subsidence that is already affecting London? I read something about London’s water table a while back which suggested that tower blocks may be facing problems as the water table reduces/

BUT I am still mega positive – the future is bright despite Trump

Well I always have thought of myself as a caring, sharing sort of person who would try to think the best of anyone. Then Trump survived an assassination attempt – I would have shed no tears if he had died. However what might have happened in the USA would possibly have been akin to a civil war? Perhaps that what the perpetrator was hoping for? If Trump had been killed I am sure that thousands of others would have lost their lives so I reassess my initial thoughts and am pleased he has survived! However smarmy Nige is on his way so all is not yet lost!

This actually is as fucking hilarious as Johnsons wedding suit! I post my wedding photo here so I am not adverse to personal criticism! I must have borrowed the tie, my last one was used to tie up my exhaust that fell off in Oxford Street!

Why does Farage think that Trump gives a fuck about him? Is this an extreme trait of narcissists? Perhaps Charlie Mullins will join him and then they could flat share in Manhattan?

Already the NIMBY’s are bleating. A new solar farm that will give clean energy to 92000 homes for the next 60 years is called out by a tory MP who is “utterly appalled”. Is it the clean energy that has her so appalled? References to farmland are a concern, but a solar farm can easily be removed if necessary and will protect the farmland from chemical and physical degradation by the agricultural industry. People in the countryside must come to the realisation of what harm food production at cheap prices is doing to the ecosystem. Sunny morning – all the right flowers in the garden and number of butterflies = ZERO.

The government has not said if it will reinstate subsidies for private home owners or introduce legislation for house builders. The downside of solar energy is that 80% are produvced in China – but presumably this could change? Also the benefits to homeowners will not affect those who are stretched to the limit by current energy prices. And we await the battery revolution which would enable thousands or even millions to go off grid! A use for the garages that have never housed a car! Or even for the unused chimneys and fireplaces?

Which makes me think – do we need a radical rethink of housing design? From runoff to grey water disposal to heating equipment. Underfloor heating invented by the Romans would finally become common. Will houses also benefit from shutters to keep unwanted sun out? Many houses expand their kitchen areas so a new design of kitchen/dining areas would seem sensible? And why are house builders so set on providing a set format – surely we have reached a situation where the buyer can dictate the house design to a much larger extent. House builders profits of approx. £50000 per property seem extortionate. Could blocks of flats be designed to include communal facilities that could be booked via an app and allow filmed entry to avoid misuse – thinking here of washing/drying, even lockers for outside clothing and bikes? Time to think outside the box and have some blue sky thinking (are there more modern crap phrases?).

Communal areas in all large new housing developments makes sense. Green areas for play, BBQ areas – I am thinking of the wonderful area by the river in Lostwithiel where the council have provided a couple of brick BBQ’s and a couple of tables – nothing earth shatteringly expensive. The communal part of society has disappeared. I am not particularly friendly, or solitary! I go to the local shop every morning to sort out the papers and supplements at the weekend. My garden, is I admit!, different! But other than a brief wave I have not spoken to a neighbour for several months. Are they, like the fear of witches in the past, frightened of me and my herbs? Maybe I should get a black cat and really freak them out! I ahve offered free herbs to all and no one has taken it up! I know cooking skills are crap nationally, but really! Rosemary, thyme, mints, basil, marjoram, bay, and for the more adventurous there are nasturtium, evening primrose, rose patals, lemon basil.

It was funny this morning, trying to explain the concept of reducing prison numbers – the guy seemed to have problems with the word rehabilitation! He repeated it a couple of times like it was a foreign word!

A sunday morning – I phoned Tams and she told me she was just doing day 23 without a day off! She was also positive about the weather despite starting a glamping business! Maz has a maternity cover as a first teaching job and Martin has just got a promotion as an electrician. On which he was talking to a 22 year old electrician who had trained straight from school – was working for an agency and getting £38000 pa! Not bad!

So the MSP are trying to say that Labour are releasing violent criminals – to be honest it all seems a bit halfhearted – everyone knows the problem was created by a totally incompetent Sunak government.

The appointment of Timpson seems inspired. At a minimum of £50000 per year to incarcerate a prisoner, and with a reoffending rate of 25% or more makes a transfer of money to Probation staff, education and community schemes makes 100% sense. If they want tips on how to do it – Visit Holland! And in case the knuckle draggers who advocate locking them up at every opportunity forget – every reformed and rehabilitated offender equals less victims of crime.

I am not sure of the answer but it ain’t right! Why should bills go up and dividends and bonus’ paid out when the companies are so publically failing. I would say nationalise them. Is it not a basic rule of capitalism that investing in a company is a risk? These companies have shafted customers for £billions. They are obviously failing so let them fail. If teacher pension funds have invested unwisely they too will have to take a hit. (Just like councils had to with the Icelandic Banking Crisis – when guilty parties were imprisoned!). And if that means me – I accept it! Capitalism at the edge is a cruel beast. PS.Any teacher who loses part of their pension will hardly be poverty stricken!

So let them go bust – take over the roles and employ the workers with no loss of wages. Water rates may still need to up to fill the gap in provision left by the greedy bastards! Will this affect companies investing in the UK – why should it? If successful the investment will make money, if not we (the public) will not subsidise the investments any more. The any more is important! Ever since privatisation the water companies have had a monopoly on supply and a guaranteed income – no risk capitalism does not work!