A competition the lorry won years ago. But do some maths. A train will take up to 50 containers say from Bristol to Manchester. One driver and lets pay him £200 for half a day(possibly night shift). At each end it will need 50 lorries to distribute at a time cost of 2 hours (loading/unloading delivery. So @ £30 an hour that is another £1500 taking the total to £1700. So lets add in £300 admin. I have no idea about the cost of rail or road haulage but at present we have about £2000 or £40 per container.
THE WINTER AHEAD
In line with recent times it looks like this winter could be ‘interesting’. Fuel prices are definitely going to be higher – by how much we do not know yet. The impact on commercial coal firms is already hitting with CO2 production slashed which has an impact on meat processing and fizzy drinks, as well as the NHS whose supply the government says is safeguarded. So food and drink supplies are likely to be disrupted rather than curtailed. Power supplies should be OK but it might be touch or go at times if we have overcast high pressure reducing wind capacity and leading to low temperatures.
GARDEN
Things are winding down now – only 2 tomatoes ripe this morning, Bright orange chillies have been good with about 30. I have had 2 red peppers and might get another couple. I also have cranberries ripening – hopefully enough for Christmas dinner! Quite a lot of parsley if anyone wants – I could dry some I suppose.
HURRICANE NICHOLAS
With speed up to 110kph and 25mm of rainfall this tropical storm is dying down and although he rainfall could cause problems should not cause a major problem. There are no more imminent tropical. storms at the moment.
Insulate Britain
Campaigners bring M25 to a halt this morning. Forget the anti campaign who state the pollution caused by 10 mile tailbacks. The campaign is in the headlines – it really is shameful that we have not acted o this years ago.
ROAD PRICING
Government is in a bind over loss of tax as more cars go electric. Estimates of the tax loss are £10 billion by 2030 and £30 billion by 2040. It can hardly put tax on electric cars, at least until they are the norm, and cannot replace the fuel tax as electricity is ubiquitous. We already have road pricing of sorts with the congestion charge in London, and the Motorway Toll road.
ENVIRONMENT
it is time we got some accountability from government. it was sadly better when we had nameless bureaucrats in Europe running the show. There have been numerous International Conferences and Treaties over the years, but none have resulted in accountability. We expect teachers to report on the progress made under their tuition in numerous subjects and social ares. Why not the same for each ministry.
PASTA CONCERNS
The hot dry spell has hit the durum wheat crop in Canada, whilst the wet spring has already affected the Italian crop. Climate change hitting spagbol and pizza is a real crisis.
Prices for pasta are expected to rise by 50% in line with recent price rises of the wheat. I shall stock up on ‘OO’ flour.
HURRICANE LARRY
Likely to lash into Bermuda later today, at the moment is too far north to affect USA. 9th of September is early to have reached L in the alphabet of storms and there are 6 or 7 weeks of potential hazards to go.
EDIBLE FLOWERS
I know this is pretentious nonsense but have just made a salad with chicory flowers (blue), pot marigold (orange) and nasturtium (yellow and red). I might use the marigold flowers to dye some cakes or even cheese straws later! The flowers are lovely so I will limit my consumption and leave most for the insects. I especially like the chicory flowers which have self seeded from one plant last year to 3 this year.