I have written about this in textbooks (geog.123). But we seem to have reached a tipping point. Like bigger and larger factories and industries were supposed to lead to economies of scale; globalisation was supposed to create an ever cheaper source of goods for consumers. However like most things in life neither has occurred. Bigger and larger factories leads to discontent. Have we reached peak consumerism yet? I know my daughter and others are downscaling on plastic toys (sales reduced this year). Minimum wage jobs do not lead to job satisfaction. I would rather pay maybe twice as much for a product that has already reached peak efficiency (washing machines, dish washers, irons, cookers, etc. are unlikely to get some revolutionary makeover – so let me pay extra for one which will last 50 years? My best example is the Kitchen Aid (Oh so expensive) but oh such a wonderful friend in the kitchen!
GOVERNMENT
seems to have given up! They seem to be just waiting for the next scandal to arise/be found out about. Just go – General Election now!
SATURDAY 28 JAN 23
Rather chilly again – but no frost, but grey. O made some more baguettes and all have gone already. I will make more tomorrow. I am still unsure about the dough being so wet, but they are turning out good despite not following the recipe!
Apple tree largely done, but need another go at it next week and the fuchsia next to it. Then onto tidying up the raspberries and around the greenhouse. It should be warmer next week, maybe 10C by Friday! With possibly some rain tomorrow and Tuesday (both 50% chance). I might have a go at a lemon drizzle cake tomorrow, or a new recipe for a lemon surprise cake.
HS2 – super fast
but not as far as Euston! What is the point of it if it not reaching the heart of London? There will no time saving overall, and at a cost of ££££???? The phrase about couldn’t organise a piss up in a brewery comes to mind. Which poor suckers will be wheeled out to explain what a brilliant scheme it is?
CLOTHES I HAVE LOVED
When I was about 4/5 I remember having a Ladybird yellow sweatshirt. Then a couple of year later I had a Scotland Football shirt. (I have no Scottish relatives and have never been there!). In my teens I had a yellow t-shirt with flared arms. Later I had some light blue suede boots. Then my wife had some incredible jeans. I like my Patagonia coat and a Nepalese coat.
JANUARY
has not ended yet, and we have Raab and Zahawi fighting for political lives, Johnson brazening out another financial mess, the recent appointment Chair of the BBC under investigtion. Thames Water is pumping sewage into rivers without pause. A major investment in battery manufacture goes tits up.
Brexit bonfire of red tape. Government announce 280 point plan to subsidise environmental improvements in farming. Seems like a lot of red tape to me. And a lack of joined up thinking. Surely geographically cohesive areas need all farms to participate. Could a farmer get a grant for e.g. skylarks in one field whilst spraying the rest with pesticides? Same for neighbouring farmers?
At the Met the Commissioner has said that the public should expect 2 or 3 police officers to go on trial PER WEEK!
Braverman is suspiciously quiet at the moment – something to hide?
GEOGRAPHY LESSON
I guess those at Eton, etc. are doing the history of the empire and how to exploit people.
A measure of equality os essential for social harmony and economic growth. When disparities occur both between social groups and between geographical regions the result is a collapse in society and the countries infrastructure. Let me concentrate on the geographical aspect. On a regional level there is huge disparity between regions of the UK – a report today
What is the point of this government?
They do not seem to be managing anything? I accept there is a difference in definition between governing and managing, with the former implying an element of control. However neither seem to apply to this government. Other than laws to prevent criticism and restricting votes for those who are unlikely to follow them, I am unaware of any other positive moves. Police numbers are to be increased rapidly (probably with less vetting?). TBH the lack of vetting of the police is unbelievable – as a teacher I was not allowed to take photos of students from 40m away in a rainstorm with everyone wearing full wet weather gear – but a police employee does not seem to have to do the more vigorous checks.
Water companies continue to pump shit into our rivers. Public services are closing down.
There seems to be a conflict here. Is Government for the benefit of society or business? I realise that the two are not mutually opposed.
RUMOURS
Johnson supporters leak info about Zahawi and in return Sunak supporters leak into about The BBC post and Johnson’s loan. Meanwhile there are strikes, National Grid is paying people not to. use electricity, and government ministers deny that anything is wrong – in fact it could not be better!!
UKRAINE
Daily Mail is trying to deflect news away from Tax Evasion and BBC scandal by promoting the criminal Johnson and increasing UK support for the war effort. ( Do I hear “land of hope and glory” in the background or more likely the theme from “Dads Army”. War is never nice and the Ukrainians have been propelled into this situation by Putin and a sector of Russian society that would like to rebuild the USSR. With absolutely no military experience or knowledge, it would seem transparent that Putin’s Russia will not capitulate on the battlefield anytime soon. Any NATO backed offensive would almost certainly be seen as an escalation and treated as such by Putin with serious consequences for Eastern Europe.