Category: Uncategorized

OK I am sitting in the garden looking at all the jobs I ought to do -deadhead a rose bush, clean the patio, sort out the brambles (although that can wait for a month to see if the blackberries are lush or not!), and then the apple tree – lots of new shoots, should I cut them back? And then sticking stickers on the apples for the sparkles – peel them off and they have apples with their initials on! I was thrilled to see a bright red moth, which I think was a cinnabar moth as I saw a couple of cinnabar caterpillars on some ragwort. Also I have never planted evening primrose but am pleased to see it back again – a goldfinch spent several mornings last winter harvesting the seeds. And the chickory is back, growing out of the driveway. Is my garden a mess? Most – I would go for 96% would say so, but the mown laawns are like deserts up and down the street, I have even seen the application of chemicals – but they do not sit on their lawns or play on them, or even camp on them. Green wastelands.

This is a Pretty Woman Lily – smells gorgeous and is by my patio door, so I have to go in and out as much as possible. I think I will put some outside in the garden next year rather than a pot.

https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/feast is well worth a look today!

An interesting discussion this morning – a friend mentioned that he and his boyfriend has been shocked to see so many young girls wearing very little at 2am in Bristol. His comment was ‘what were they thinking being dressed like that’ and secondly that they were ‘asking for trouble’. On the first point I countered that they were not dressing provocatively (in many cases) but were just reacting to societies demands and social media and peer pressure. On the second point – men/boys should have more respect and control. I am sure there is an element of being commented on positively and even hoping for a snog/cuddle at the end of the evening. But not sexual assault. There is also a time and a place – a bikini on a beach and a miniskirt in a night club are ok, but walking home at 2am is, whilst not asking for trouble, foolish. Our society, social media and pornography have a lot to answer for..

So I think my friend was right and wrong. Thus an excellent discussion. This is where debating societies and competitions get it wrong. It is not about winning but becoming aware of the nuances involved

This is phenomenal.

Sea surface temperatures are >5C above average to the west of the UK and around Iceland. It’s the strongest area of anomalous warmth on the planet at the moment.

It’s the warmest in recorded history for northwest Europe. More details from the BBC follow on next page. Warmer seas cause expansion and thus coastal flooding. Todays Guardian also has a report on octopus catches booming from 200kg this time last year to 36.000kg last Thursday. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/may/26/the-seabed-is-full-of-them-english-fishers-enjoy-surprise-octopus-boom.

This is a rewrite from yesterdays Guardian ‘Pass Notes’. Written as Tesco executives.

Down the pub with some mates talking about what to get Dave and Lindsay for their wedding. “I bet he is shitting himself, and she is in a right sweat organising everything – ‘he is useless unless it involves kicking a round ball about’. Light bulb moment! “We know they have a massive mortgage and her being pregnant means a lack of the readies”. “Why not get them a practical box – we could start with a five pack of toilet paper and shower gel”. The others add their ideas. 2 tubes of toothpaste (one each; bin bags for his kit; conditioner (come on guys, girls have long hair and care about it!); kitchen rolls for the mess he makes and some hand wash for her after retrieving his undies from under the bed! Cool – I will price it up and add an extra £10 as it is for a wedding – maybe add a bow or something, and gift wrap! £63 sounds reasonable for such a useful wedding gift! Oh and “A toast to love package’ we could do a series from champers, to prosciutto and a bargain one for the pregnant or nutters – £39 for 6 packets of biscuits and some tea!

I am not kidding – these things are on offer at Tesco, although a search of their website was fruitless! But then I found this! https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-14727001/Tesco-launches-wedding-gift-registry-couples-ditch-fine-china-toilet-roll-bin-bags.html

Only the finest strawberries and organic Spanish lemon juice with jam sugar. Perfect.

So tomorrow many places will vote – the polls predict loses for Labour and Conservatives whilst Reform are winners. Presumably Labour polls have sussed this out already. What will their responce be? Please God do not let the Labour right wing shift it further to the right. There is more at stake here with the UK under economic attack from Trump, misleading naratives regarding migrants and the EU. Positive statements are needed, not appeasement.

Also of great interest will be the demographics of those who vote. Are the younger ones turned off completely by politics? Will the grey parade triumph with facist tendencies? Will the non-white section vote at all? Will there be a geographical split? It seems that the Conservatives may take a bigger hammering than Labour with Reform leaching their gammons!

Up early today, greenhouse opened to the warm weather and watered, hanging baskets watered – rosemary transplanted out although whether they survive is doubtful as I could not get into the soil so topped up with grow bag stuff! Strawberries hulled for the next round of jamjam making, washing done and out. Tried to go to Post Office again – but fucking shut again! it has a 4 day week yet serves approx 10 thousand people!

Should I celebrate Carney’s win in Canada – I suppose it is better than the Conservative, but …. Interesting geography again! Prairie states with oil were conservative whilst urban areas mainly Liberal (centre right). Quebec Indepence low, as were the socialists and Greens.

In the interest of getting my arguments correct

In England and Wales, the 2021 Census revealed that 46.2% of the population identified as Christian, while 37.2% identified as having no religion. Muslims make up 6.5% of the population, and Hindus represent 1.7%.  In 2021, 271,327 people in England and Wales identified as Jewish, representing 0.46% of the total population. The majority of “Christians” that actually go to church and follow is about 8%. What is interesting is the weight exerted by Jews. My religious history is weak but I think it was Jews who were behind the death of JC. Whatever, but why the influence on the media – pro-Palestinian protests are castigated by the RW Press, why?

I cannot be a Christian as I do not believe in the bollox in the bible, however I do adhere to the rule of law that has developed, in no little part to the influence of the church. Despite the fact that greedy fuckers claim to be Christians whilst ripping the rest of the population off. I quite like the serenity of ancient churches, whilst still questioning if the money and time uwed to build them would have been better expended on the people! A visit to Pembroke made me ponder whether the church towers were actually rocket launchers! I was told the towers used to be white washed to make them stand out.

I am also a little jealous of those who believe – “something fucks you right off” – have a prayer and god will sort it! I am not so bothered by life after death – if god requires subservience he can fuck right off – misogynist twat!

Well I had better stop – greenhouse watered and at least 50 pots of tomatoes ready for a scorching summer and a bumper crop. I will plant a dozen in the greenhouse, but also another dozen in pots in the garden – this year will be hot!I think the labels are a bit muddled – cherry, plum and normal – whatever, those who get them free can have an interesting time watching them. Nasturtiums are also growing – I actual really do like the flowers! Lillies are doing ok, but not sure about last years “Flame lily’s”.

just made a lemon drizzle cake and took some down for the workers in the shop. Yesterdays herb, parmesan and chilli bread sticks were good.

On a hot summer – I have my fan. I am getting a new battery for the car tomorrow and will then get petrol and go to Draycott for jam strawberries – it is time to make jam for the family and friends again. maybe a double lot and visit Sainsbury’s in Cheddar for jam sugar.

So no rainfall for the UK until at least Saturday!. A couple of heathland fires in Scotland does not bode well for the summer. How long before our dreadful water companies impose hosepipe bans. With all the house building that has happened and will continue I have not seen plans for any new reservoirs. And with lower river flows the impact of sewage dumping will increase. I reckon I can go about a month with the watering butts for the garden and do the hanging baskets from shower water if necessary.

Tomato plants are looking good, chillies have not appeared so I moved them to the greenhouse. Planted sweet chilli and lemon coriander and Californian Poppy seeds. Plug plants also looking good. Lemon tree on patio seems to have survived but one in front not looking good. Vine also seems to be dead! Apple blossom is coming out at the same time as the bluebells, new apricot tree is later than I expected. I have still got room for more seeds so greek basil and sweet basil. i will wait and see what comes up – I am hoping that the chicory, evening primrose and will reappear and that the 10 roses will flourish. I still have the bee hotel to put up.

OK – trying to find the silver lining in the black clouds created by Trump. Less trade equals less transport pollution – ships are a major contributor to global warming. I am trying to think of another but can’t.

I bet the penguins on Heard and Mcdonald Islands must be well pissed off – to come to the attention of the world? As for the British government, we seem to be caving at every opportunity. Tax breaks for the richest companies in the world, to enable our foreign owned car and pharmaceutical companies to trade with the USA. Basically F.Off!

Stock markets crumble – are they a better barometer than politicians and the press? I would guess so – they have jobs and money on the line that cannot be covered by clever rhetoric. e.g. The government and the press thought Truss and Kwartang’s budget was brilliant but the stock market tanked it. Time will tell. The UK and Europe and others will find new markets, will China start dumping products on Europe? Will the USA policy result in a manufacturing boom in America or high inflation? Supply chains have become complicated so new factories in the US will find the cost of tariffs high. This will take months to play out, but there are unlikely to be many winners.

Well i am being a bit optimistic! I have decided to plant chillies in conservatory to start with later next week – temperatures up to double figures. So Chilli Prairie Fire; Padron; Aji Habanero and Sweet Pepper Corno di toro Rosso will be started. I will move to greenhouse when it is guaranteed abve 10 at night (I have a heater just in case).

i also have lots of herbs that I might plant at random in long pots just for fun? Most will need to wait until April though – 2 months away! I might sneak the tomato seeds in, in a couple of weeks if it warms up. Will we have a long hot summer? We are due one!