CONTROL

is the control of the rich slipping? Probably not, but their control of most of the UK media outlets is becoming less significant. the circulation of papers has fallen massively. The politicians are desperate to control the BBC and sell off Channel 5.

SAJID JAVID

“We will throw everything at Omicron” – as long as it is only vaccines. And even then we will water down the rules for a vaccine passport. Also an interesting amount of money @ £22 a shot! Schools are unaffected by Omicron apparently and do not need extra ventilation – where are the air quality testing kits? Regardless of covid I can list many classrooms that need better ventilation full stop – influenza, etc. and with supply teachers costing £180 a day it is worth schools investing in health measures to keep teachers safe (obviously these measures benefit all the students too).

POLITICS

It has become increasingly clear that our political system is not fit for purpose. The Tories are ripping the party apart with the rabid right wing undermining the centrist element, whilst the same is true of the Labour Party with the Corbyn left being marginalised.

COVID PLAN B

So there will be a vote on the new restrictions next week with leading tories like Fox, Davis, McVey and Clark stating that they are unnecessary band too harsh. Meanwhile Scotland and Wales are considering even stronger rules.

Pepparkakor (Swedish Ginger Cookies)

Ingredients send grocery list
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/4 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger (be generous)
  • 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon allspice (if you have it)
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (to your liking)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • egg
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon water
Directions
  1. In a medium bowl, sift the dry ingredients together. 
  2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars together, then add egg, maple syrup, and water. Beat until fluffy. 
  3. Mix in dry ingredients about 1/2 cup at a time slowly, so the dough doesn’t get too stiff.
  4. Remove from the bowl and form a big ball. Separate into quarters and refrigerate, covered, for 2 to 6 hours. 
  5. When you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350° F. 
  6. Working with 1/4 of dough at a time, roll out the dough (I like to do this between plastic, but you can also use a floured surface), until it is about 1/8-inch thick. Use your favorite cookie cutter to cut out shapes and place them on parchment-lined cookie sheets. 
  7. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes, but watch the first batch carefully! You want the cookies to get toasty and golden, not too dark.

TORNADO – USA

Over 100 people may have been killed as a series of tornados that have hit the southern states of Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, Missouri and Arkansas. The death toll is amongst the highest recorded.

COVID

Omicron variant likely to suck the fun out of Xmas. It is still hard to interpret the information coming out. predicted doubling time is 2.5 days at present. New cases is highest since January with deaths being constant’s at 120 per day. This last figure needs elaboration please – how many would normally die from influenza, and how many of these deaths had covid as a subsidiary cause?