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Excited by my latest recipe! Nectarine Jam. I got a box of nectarines from https://www.crowdfarming.com/en/private-zone/my-order/info/64a18f483bb70ac228d0e0ab?app=false
So i decided to make some jam –
10 nectrines pitted and sliced, juice of 2 lemons and 1kg jam sugar – result the “nectar of the gods”. Ps. I added a little sprig of oragnge mint!
Tomatoes are ripening and I am weighing the produce (sad I know) but now upto 1090g and largere tomatoes are yet to ripen!
A shit noght for the Tories, despite holding onto Uxbridge with a tiny majority they were stuffed by Labour in Selby and the LibDems in Devon.
Labour and Khan need to consider the impact of the ULEZ. Whilst being implemented for the best of reasons, without a scrappage scheme, reasonably priced second hand electric cars and plentiful and reasonably priced charging points it is just another financial burden on the poorest in society at a time they can least afford it. Financial support is essential if it is to be implemented across the board – otherwise a phased introduction is necessary.
LibDems in Devon, the scale of their victory shows the great dissatisfaction with the tories in Southern England. Starmer cannot take too much succour from this result though as it would tend to point to. a potential coalition? The result in Selby was more stunning for the size of the swing from Tory to Labour. I think most thought this one would be closer than the humiliation it became. The drop in Tory votes of 26% in Selby and 30% in Somerton and Frome are an indictment of the governments performance over 13 years. Sunak is trying to put a spin on the ‘only 7% drop in Uxbridge but it is cler that without the ULEZ controversy (which Khan will surely now reconsider), Labour would have won easily. His government are without ideas, ficus or ambition.
He is likely to have a reshuffle of his cabinet, possibly as soon as today, but the paucity of ability, together with the continued prescence of the ERG means he has few options.
There was no evidence of support for the Rwanda Policy, or anything else!
I have just made some nectarine jam – at foirst it did not set properly but hopefully another blast on the heat will do the trick. It tastes rather wonderful! I. might make some lemon thin biscuits, or scones to have it on later. I will also make some more baguettes – I will just spray a little water as the last ones were tasting a bit waterery. I have just ordered olive oil from CrowdFarming – I love the fact they pront a label with JamJam on ot for the tins and whilst just over £10 ltr is expensive it seems ok for organic and kniwing all the dosh goes straight to the farmer – in this case Finca Bardomus, Fernando Agramunt. I guess I need to make some more strawberry jam – the last lot was rubbish, did not set and I used it to flavour home made yoghurt and oat cookies. I have noticed the abscence of insects whilst making jam – which is good but a little concerning.
I have also just received a box of lemons from Carmen Valasco at El Carrascal with a winter varieties called fino and primofiori. Organic which means the zest can be used. More baking stimulated, and also aioli on salads.
Neighbour cutting grass I am hemmed in but across the road 3 neighbours have let trhe vetch flower and two have let ragwort and chicory flower, it would be so nice to see wildlife return to the sterile lawns – although I accept that some birds such as green woodpeckers and corvids like the lawns! Like everything a mix and diversity is good.
Tomatoes are coming on 670g so far but this should escalate next week as the plum tomatoes and striped ones and normal ones ripen. I think/hope 10kg should be possible this year. Most mints are doing great – basil seems to be bolting a bit (hopefully as I use more with the tomatoes, it will bush out a bit). Mints are blooming and I will dry some more to make herbal teas. Flame lily continues to astound. Lime and lemon by front door looking good. New apricot tree seems to be getting established ok and the grape vine that I thought I had killed by lack of care seems to have new leaves and forgiven me after Martin moved it to make it easier to water.
A fall in the rate of inflation is nice, that’s all! The cost of things is still 7.9% more expensive than a year ago – how many peoples wages are that much higher? Food and drink inflation is 17.3%. Perhaps the word inflation needs replacing with “more than a year ago”. Food from the rest of the world is also klikely to be hit by the climate crisis, sugar is up 54% and olive oil up 44%. I think I am correct in saying that further Brexit restrictions for food and plants come in in January. The new Russian restriction on Ukranian products will also have an impact on bith supply and prices. Besides the Mediterranean, Southern USA and China are both experiencing extreme weather conditions which will affect their production and export of food stuffs.
Kerry needsd to tell the Chinese to act now to cut emissions. The arguement put forward by China about historic emmissions is just not valid in the present crisis. They are correct that the west gained an early advantage by burning coal, oil and gas, but the crisis is here, and now, and every country needs to face it.
Right wing politicians across Europe with nationalist agendas also need to look closely at their use of the climate crisis in culture wars and anti-woke measures. History will not be kind to them.
Obviously not a science but several things have been pointed out recently. First that giving public sector workers a 10% pay rise would have little effect on inflation as the cost of teachers, nurses, doctors, etc. are not passed on.
The second was new to me, and is verified by Bank Of England documents. That is that if the extra money printed is used to increase productivity and health it is not inflationary. I admit that I do not understand the printing money bit! But it would seem, if the 2 pieces of information are true, that a new government could invest in the NHS and education, new green infrastructure and projects without it being inflationary. Maybe Starmer understands this, and also realises that it is beyond the comprehension of many voters (especially the older, no university education, ones!). Abolishing the 2 child benefit would produce no discernable benefit to society. Increasing child nursery places would.
Just folding the dough to make baguettes!
of politicians? The seas are at record high temperatures, Greece and Spaon have huge fires, temperatures in China exceed 50C and in southern Europe and the USA heat warnings are issued. And our government is passing laws to make it illegql to walk slowly with prison sentences. It is like Westminster and certainly Downing Street have become lunatic asylums! There is no hope of a vaccine or a quick fix to solve the problem, and the jabbering idiots do nothing, except allow water companies to fill rivers and the seas with shit in case we thought we could get a quick cooling dip. It is CRIMINAL INEPTITUDE.
Forget the “Heat bomb” in Mediterranean Europe, it is the unprecedented sea temperatures that are of the greatest concern together with the lowest amount of Antarctic sea ice ever recorded. Whilst I am super critical of this government for just about everything, Starmer’s Labour Party is looking to be no better when it comes to climate change. Starmer talks about economic growth at every opportunity. Even with greater emphasis on green investment ‘Growth’ equals more CO2 and other pollutants in the atmosphere. Surely a Labour Party should be talking about greater social equity? There is enough wealth in society for everyone to be more than comfortable. Public sector pay should be pegged to a multiple of the basic wage in the sector – the arguement that Council leaders are responsible for a multi million 3 business does not hold up when most of the expenditure has been sub-contracted. How many in the health service earn more than the PM? University leaders are on ridiculous money. Of they are that good let them move to the private sector and increase efficiency there! Increase in applicants in the private sector should also reduce top wages?
Could Labour also reduce the tax allowance on share dealing? A ‘Robin Hood Tax’ on transactions in the city would also help public sectors.
Elon Musk entering the electricty generation market and Dale Vince starting an airline – both could disrupt the status quo for the sectors involved to the benfit of the environment
Southern Europe reaches temperatures of 48C, over 100 million Ameriacns are faced with temperature warnings next week with temperatures in the 40C’s. India and China are also. facing record temperatures.
Whilst the UK is experiencing a run of depressions bringing rain to most parts, I would love to know what the government plans are for a heat wave? With COVID everything was reactive rather than proactive! Will we have to wait for bodies to be piled up outside hospitals before action is taken. What plans are there for street sprays, opening up museums and libraries with air con. Or will the government give inflated grants to friends who purport to set up electric fan companies? What plans are there to limit petrol/deisel engines? What plans to support fire and ambulance services?