Local generation might not suit the big energy companies BUT ….. it seems to me to be so sensible. In my village we have the potential for wind with a couple of turbines on the hill, there are solar farms around anyway, and more houses could have them. And then there is a small stream which had a mill long ago. I doubt that the village would be self-sufficient 24/7 but with battery storaage I am sure that the summer months could be covered – especially with increased efficiency, and lastly Hinckley is just down the road! And finally small scale tidal islands could be created on the Severn Estuary.
GARDEN
Hanging baskets planted with mixed begonia – I will not hang them quite yet – it should rain a little later and once hung they have to be watered everyday. Heater is on in the greenhouse for the tomatoes – so they will need waterint every day! Snake plant given to Aaron – below
I will split the remaining plant and the one in the bedroom to grow more!
Temperatures of 5C night to 16C day. So I might risk a bit more planting basil, sweet peppers, and then maybe buy a cucumber plant or 2. We are due a hot summer.
I have rosemary and lavender plants to put out tomorrow – by the path I think. Roses are looking good too – maybe 10 different ones, from almost black to deep red and also yellow and pink. Herbs are looking good, well rosemary and sage and bay are, the rest need a little more time – I need to weed/repot mints and then wait and see what else comes up – I think fennel will reseed (it was growing along the road in the gutter! and I hope the chicory and evening primrose make a welcome appearance.
Saw 2 brimstone butterflies yesterday which was great – I need to put the bee hotel up – by the kitchen side window I think – facing east for early morning warmth and avoiding heat of the day during our long hot summer.. On which, will the water companies whose reputation is trashed already by sewage and rising costs, cope with the negative publicity when they impose hosepipe bans and worse?
NET ZERO
Climatic events can occasionally be violent and sudden’ish. However the main global events will be gradually but even more devastating. Sea level is creeping up putting nations such as Tuvalu and the Maldives under threat of inundation. The melting of floating ice will not in itself cause a problem but allow glaciers to deliver ice to the sea more quickly. Melting glaciers is a much more dangerous and unpredictable. 2 billion people rely on glaciers indirectly for their water supply. E.Africa has lost 80% of its glaciers; Europe 40%; Andes 40%. Melting and retreating glaciers reduce the albedo effect and lead to greater warming. Permafrost is also melting, releasing methane and destabilising communications and buildings. Highly populated regions such as the valleys of the great rivers sourced in the Himalayas are in danger of fluctuating water supply which would devastate agriculture and thus human survival. These are facts not supposition – the World Meteorological Organisation published its annual State of the Worlds Climate last week.
But – hey, all this is irrelvant to those wanting to make political and financial gains like our right wing political parties and basically most of Americas! According to Ed Milliband the government is set on meeting its green commitments. This makes absolute sense. Until we large scale storage we will always rely on other energy sources during grey windless periods – but the rest of the time we have cheap green energy. A no brainer!
FACT CHECKING
We all have access to the internet – a friend mentioned why he did not want to purchase an EV Car. On fact checking – his arguments were not always correct! Cost of servicing, battery life and charging availability were all false. He does have genuine concerns that are relevant, but his argument against is no where near as strong as he made out!
Today we see in the news Badenoch spouting ignorance and hyperbole about net zero by 2050. So a fact check for you https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-how-scary-sounding-numbers-are-being-used-to-mislead-the-uk-about-net-zero/
Her argument for not meeting it is that other countries will not. That is LAME. The same argument is used against recycling. But every little bit helps!
Tomatoes
Weather is still freezing at night – frost last night, but looks like warming up by Wednesday 17C day time and 5/6C at night, so I will get planting seeds – I have a heater for the greenhouse if necessary! – so that will be the tomatoes, red pepper, and some herbs like basil. I also have ordered some pots for the snake plant which needs splitting. The size they are at, are going for £125+ online at at the garden centre! I have given a couple away to Holly and Kate, and Aaron has asked if he can have one. They make a great present as they are quite prectacular when over a metre high with a dozen leaves. I am not being tight but it costs me a pot and soil, and the reciepiant things the world of them!. Martin is coming round to cut the top off the wisteria before it takes the roof off – but the smell of that and the honeysuckle it cohabits with is amazing at dawn – worth standing by it for a few deep breaths to strt the day.
So a steak for lunch with roasties, carrots, broccoli and courgettes fried in garlic butter, I have also made baguettes which are hopefully rising so I can cook them when he leaves and gets home with them still warm for Felix (who loves them – more than me!)
I just entered my FIT – solar panels reading which looks quite small for the last 3 months, but hopefully we will have a sunny spring. I still do not understand why the clocks go back at the start of November – approx 45 days before winter solstice, yet go forward in 2 weeks – over a hundred days after the WS!
TRADE
Trying to understand! If Trump is protecting US steel and aluminium production then Ican see the point. However there are better ways (subsidies?), so this just seems vindictive. I assume that much of the imported steel and aluminium is for processes that add value to the product. The tarriffs will just add to the cost of these products – which if then exported will cost more? Canada is already cutting or adding a tariff to electricity exports. The increased nationalism caused by Trumps actions will also cut trade and therefore wealth between the two nations. Mexico looks more vulnerable, although as a looser and less regulated economy it may find that it can adapt more easily – although the impact of US and other international companies will have a significant impact on tax returns and thus the ability to police migrants and drug traffic?
The EU is responding to sanctions whilst the UK has no plans? Why not? For F sake Labour – stop worrying about the Daily F’ing Mail and do something positive for a change. All we hear from Labour are cuts to benefits, cutting Civil Service jobs and quango’s. Now all these might be necessary – I have no idea, but positive action is needed too. The last govenment earmarked £950 million for EV charging roll out – none of which has been spent! Do it!
And then do some sums! If a householder creates a mini-generator (Solar or wind or water) at their own cost, then they should be guaranteed a fixed price that will repay them in no more than 10 years – yes it is that fucking simple! As a home owner I would then be able to manage my finances accordingly. I am putting up the capital cost which means the govt. does not have to. My village is built largely along a road that is East-West – therefore most houses could have solar panels? The population is reasonably wealthy. This village, with some wind power, could be almost enrgy efficient with little outside cost and energy bills cut massively.
ABSURD
There is a debate ensuing about electrcity pricing! On one side the firm Octopus advocates local pricing supported by Ofgen whilst the rest of the energy companies are opposed. My thinking is driven by geography! The least populated and also some of the poorest parts of Britain are situated near sites suitable for wind turbines and tidal power and have space for solar. If energy became cheaper it would attract industry and alleviate the stress on the South East. The National Grid is undergoing a multi-billion pound refit which will probably still be needed, but maybe less pylons will be necessary if more energy is used locally. We need to avoid the situation where we shut down and pay for wind turbines to be shut off when it is windy, and at the same time import electricity for Norway!
Greater local energy production would also make the country less vulnerable to either physical or cyber attack.
London and the south east have less ability to generate electricity. I am sure the energy companies are happy with the status quo that delivers them large profits. I am also sure the RWP are preparing ludicrous arguments for either option Milliband choses!
I hear people complaining that it is Labours fault for rising energy prices (this is partially the fault of Labour which pledged to reduce the costs). However it is a no brainer economically to not back renewables! Only those who have shares in energy companies and pension funds would disagree.
My own example of solar panels works here. I was fortunate enough to be able to have the cash for the panels and installation – it took 7 years to write this sum off with lower energy bills. So a government scheme that added the cost to a mortgage with maybe 5% interest would take maybe 9 or 10 years to pay off. Oh and I am on a guaranteed sum from the govt. The sums get confusing, but if people are willing to put up the cost of power generation as individuals, it makes total sense to guarantee them a price that rewards their investment – I believe that nuclear power plants are offered nearly double the guaranteed price.
SUNDAY
Welcome to a new world. Trump has said that he will get Greenland by whatever means! China says it is prepared to fight a trade war or any other type of war; Ukraine is under increasing attack by Russian drones whilst Trump suspends arms aid and intelligence (he really is on Russia’s side).
So we have a new world order. USA/Russia: China: and Europe. I am not sure where that leaves economic giants like Japan and S.Korea, or the growing might of India? NZ post Ahern is firmly placing itself in the USA camp and Australia is avoiding the limelight for now! South America is a mix of swinging left/right governments and has not gained attention from Trump – yet! Renaming the Gulf of Mexico is firstly pathetic but might make him turn attention to the European affiliations of many of the Caribbean Islands. What does American isolationism mean for Taiwan, or perhaps more imminently the disputed islands in the Sea of China? Should Indonesia and Philippines be concerned? I guess Africa is just seen as a source of minerals – but China has been making progress in many countries. South Africa appears rooted in Europe.
On the domestic front Starmer seems to be doing OK as a world leader – however we have had a poor team for years, to compare him with! Johnson, Truss, even Sunak appeared disinterested! And Cameron appeared like an Eton School Boy in a debating competition! Fortunately for him it has taken the spotlight off domestic policy – which is what he needs if his plans are to come to fruition?
NHS and Civil Service reforms will take years to have an effect – trade deals with whoever, hopefully Europe, will also take time to bear fruit. It is also interesting that the farmers are still protesting – the RWPress seem to think this issue is worth pursuing despite evidence to the contrary! In general they seem to have tasked “journalists” with finding obscure cases of migrant misbehaviour or criminality, and stating this as government policy or promoted by the ICJ? That or having a go at Meghan for being coloured, divorced, annoying, a woman, whatever! We should get this one sorted and give them DNA tests!
Oh and Alfred is casusing mayhem in NSW, and https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/2024/
Weather
WEATHER IS SHITE AGAIN!
I know it is February a.k.a. winter – but it is cold and damp and dull. Spring will be here soon though!
So planing planting.
I now have enough roses if all have survived the winter.
Tomato – maybe some plants although the ones grown from seed did well at the front- so maybe have a look at the catalogues? Maybe a couple of cucumber plants and chilli and then something different!. Raspberries have been cut back and when a bit warmer/drier Inwill cut back some of the other stuff!
I might go get more onions to pickle it the weather stays like this! And also make some lentil burgers. Electricity for sockets has blown so no tele – I do not watch much but standard lamp for reading is also out. I can use my phone as a hotspot but do not want to over do it as I have no idea what my contract is! Martin has said he will be out next weekend – electric heater also out so free boost to temp missing, although CH working, as is the kitchen!
Football was good with the Pilgrims stuffing the red Scouse! The FA Cup is great, where the great and rich can be taken down by the commoners! Even when losing the Leyton Orient goalscorer will remember his goal for his lifetime! North of the border also saw the mighty Glasgow Rangers humbled by Queens Park (and they had a last minute penalty saved. These teams may have taken a calculated risk in playing reserves, but they would still have reckoned on progress (its the money – stupid!). And at the moment the top teams out are Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Nottingham Forest
Super Bowl was won by Philadelphia Eagles who prevented Kansas City Chiefs from a Patrick with a 40-22 trouncing. So Trump and Swift both losers! Last year it was watched by 123 million – huge advertising revenue. Wait for UEFAvand FIFA to start marketing the finals of Europa and the World Cup in a similar way! Football does not have the breaks for adverts – yet! Combine Woman’s football finals and they could have a real money printer!
Politics – a labour minister resigns after posting inappropriate things. As Health Minister you should not wish death on anyone! Muppet. At least Starmer is quick off the mark to dismiss these morons!
And fuck me – the Guardian leads with a non-story about an ex-diplomat says something controversial to make some money! I might have to un-subscribe from the paper if it moves down the sensationalist, no fact back up path. The Observer has also just been sold off! I will then be left with just the byline Times and online.
GEOGRAPHY
For all the durhh brains out there. The EU is so much closer than the USA. So it makes total sense that we trade more with the EU. This is not rocket science! Eventually, perhaps sooner! the world will make transport pay for not just the fuel used for transport, but its environmental damage. On which the seed heads of Evening Primrose are proving to be very popular with one goldfinch!
On the EU I have to comment further. Since we left migration has gone through the roof. I am not sure how they calculate the figures, but (OK!) to my little brain it would seem that we had a lot of EU migrants who stayed for a while, made some money and then went home. New migrants from more distant parts, come, like it and then bring their families over! This was what Brexit was voted for? I do not believe most people who said the vote was about freedom from Brussels and independence – most were voting based on racism.
Taking control ws only an imaginary issue – the world is so interlinked that it is the likes of Musk who determine policy. Strangely it seems that the companies most at risk from the orange peril are the MNC’s in manufacturing. If DT wants to make America great again, maybe he should subsidise American industry? This would encourage american companies to compete rather than his vindictive tarrifs.
Interestingly Kate mentioned that Canada was a member of the Commonwealth, but before I criticised this, I realised that Canada actually has more ties with the UK than the USA. Also interesting is that Canadians are targeting products from “red” states to retaliate.