To start with identifying these is easy. NHS and blue light workers. But these people need to get to work so add in public transport workers. Parents need their children to be in school so add teachers and education staff. Shop workers – mainly food shop workers but then add chemists – and supermarkets sell other stuff so in the name of fairness all shop workers. Then financial workers to keep the payment system working.
BRAGGING RIGHTS
Internationals, but I thought I would keep it to 10 matches.Playing Friday: Czech Rep vs Wales: Latvia vs NetherlandsSaturday: Switz vs N.Ireland: Faroe Is vs Austria: Scotland vs Israel: Andorra vs England: Hungary vs Albania: Poland vs San Marino.Sunday UEFA Nations League Final: Belgium orFrance vs Italy or Spain: 3rd Place as before (Semi Finals on Weds and Thurs. Total number of goals could be interesting.
VERY BLACK COMEDY
GOING GREEN
We will see how it goes but the Green Party have made a positive choice in Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay as its new leaders. Committed to election success I hope they leave the oddballs on the edge of the party. Extinction Rebellion founder Amelia Woman is still deputy leader but missed out on leadership.
SIMPLE MATHS
Why is there surprise at the shortages in the labour market? Basic demographics in the UK have shown a falling birth rate for years. Certainly less than the birth rate of the baby boom 60 years ago. So more people are retiring than are coming into work force = labour shortage. This was offset formerly by the EU free movement of labour.
GLOBALISATION
LABOUR HAS GOT IT WRONG!
Th Labour Party Conference has been manipulated into being a single track party all behind Starmer. This is wrong. Labour is a broad church which should be a coalition of the left. With discussion and debate the party could come up with policies that could be tolerated by all. Purging the party of Corbynites was and is wrong, as is total dismissal of Blair and the progress that was made in many areas.
PASTY
Following yesterdays apple turnover good but as ever presentation let me down despite my best efforts. So today it is cheese, potato and onion pasty.
And maybe an experiment on the above by adding ??? (to be filled in later!). – I am thinking basil, garlic and maybe a touch of chilli?
And maybe a variant on the apple turnover by adding almonds and raisins?
APPLE TURNOVERS
Ingredients
- ▢ 2 cups small diced (peeled) apples
- ▢ 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- ▢ 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- ▢ 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- ▢ 1 (17.3-oz.) package frozen puff pastry (2 sheets), thawed
- ▢ Flour, for dusting work surface
- ▢ 1 large egg, whisked
- ▢ Crystal sanding sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpats.
- In a large bowl, stir together the apples, brown sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice.
- Unfold the puff pastry sheets onto a lightly floured work surface. Using a rolling pin, gently roll over the pastry to seal any perforations then cut each sheet into 4 squares.
- Using a slotted spoon, scoop a portion of the apple mixture into the center of each puff pastry square then fold the pastry across diagonally to form triangles. Using a fork, crimp together the edges then transfer the turnovers to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them at least 2 inches apart.
- Cut three small slits in the tops of each turnover then brush them with the egg. Sprinkle the turnovers with the sanding sugar (optional).
- Bake the turnovers for 17 to 20 minutes or until they’re golden brown and puffed. Transfers the turnovers to a rack to cool then serve warm or at room temperature.
MESSI
Lionel Messi again showed what a great player he is. His goal was made to look simple, a 30m run, a one-two with Kylian Mbappe, and a passs into the top corner. Genius. The only other sports person to show such composure in my opinion was Michael Jordan who seemed to have air hooks when playing basketball.