Posts

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PLANTING

It may be a bit late but I am planting the seeds I have been given from Hauser and Wirth; Carthusian Pink; Pale-purple Coneflower; Hungarian Echinops; Button Snakeroot; Sweet Coneflower; Mexican feather grass; Chinese meadow rue and some Zinnia.

Hanging baskets begining to look good, Californian poppies from last year have appeared, lemon verbena not showing signs of life though. Mulberry trees looking healthy – perhaps this year there will be some fruit. Apricot tree has taken ok. I watered the vine which I keep forgetting about. Elderflowers are nearly ready for picking for cordial or wine! I am not sure how many apples I will get after my big prune last winter? Roses are looking good – loads of yellow ones, Shropshire lad pinks and the old reds and the climbing white by trhe gate all looking good. A couple of the bush ones are slowly growing – I need a trellis for the summer jasmine. Fuschia might be a bit dead? Raspberries are taking over.

It sounds like I have a huge garden but really it is not – just a 1950’s estate with lawns at front and back (except my lawns are no more! Britains lawns = the size of Somerset I read! I wonder how much electricity or fuel it costs to cut them once a fortnight? A lawn that is used is great, and woodpeckers love them too! But when they are just for – actually I do not know what! they do not look particulary nice – the ones opposite with a profusion of buttercups are much prettier, and the dandelion clocks are lovely.

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WEATHER 2023

I have no actual records but! it does seem that we have had more Easterly winds this year? It has not been bitingly cold here, just colder than it should be due to the wind? Today is another example – dry and bright sunshine, but a little chilly in the wind.

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70th BIRTHDAY

Lovely to have children and grandchildren together at the ROTH in Bruton. A lovely setting with nice garden, superb shop and lovely restaurant, although to be honest I was not that impressed with the food. The company however was excellent. Erin and Adam are developing into witty nice adults, I mean nice in rthe nicest way – they interact fantastically with Corinne and Ottilie. These two are just a bundle of fun with smiles never far from their faces. So well behaved despite a long wait for lunch and also in the car on the hour long journey. Felix step son of sorts was also cahtty although I knew nothing about his immense knowledge of gaming and computers and cartoons/films.

The parents, my offspring were lovely as were their partners. It was lovely to see them all interacting so well together. No bitching or point scoring – just genuine friendship. Where to go next year? Or later this summer?

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MIGRATION

As usual the racists are out and complaining about the figures. A more detailed look shows a down turn on migrants from the EU. yWhen part of the EU migrants could arrive at will, and many did, but many also returned home after a relatively short stay. Migrants from furtheer afield are less likely to return home after a couple of years? Thesame with students – most will return after getting their qualification and I would guess we should be pleased if these skilled people decide to stay? Of the 203780 Ukrainians mist will hope to return home at some point in the future. India provides 343713 migrants – ofwhom 140000 are students. India is a fast developing economy and will attract people back home in the long run.

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UK ECONOMY

So Sunak thinks the IMF are brilliant! A predicted 0.4% rise in GDP does not sound particularly brilliant to me. Food inflation at 19+% and with interest rates rising we, well most of us, are worse off. Energy costs will fall but for how long? (Qatar thinks not long!). Labour shortages continue yet nigration figures are higher than ever – again Sunak goes for the easy target – students: Foreign students pay exorbitant fees and contribute to university funds in a big way, but Braverman and Sunak are happy to sacrifice this income for their own political gain. If the total migration figures can come down they will be chuffed – whatever the cost to the economy in general.

Coffey says we should get into the fields to pick crops – I enjoyed doing that as a teenager (underage as 14 was the limit and I think I was 12!), I earned a few bob and was happy until Ann Richmond who. had got me the job told me off for looking so young and staring at people)! But 4 hour picking sessions for teenagers could be used?

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JOHNSON SCHADENFRAUDE

So he had to submit his diaries to receive £240000 of tax payers money to defend his case against charges of misleading Parliament. Then the diaries reveal more possible breaches of the law! His sister also unwittingly provides firther evidence against him by claiming ‘ Covid protocols were followed at all times’ during her visits -What was she doing there in the first place? We have yet to see the examination of Hancocks handling of the pandemic and possible corruption charges. With Braverman also possibly breaking the ministerial code (for what thats worth nowadays!), things are not looking good for Sunak!

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WILDLIFE GARDEN

It is still looking a bit scruffy! Thehage sage has had a die back but some californian poppies have reappeared. I am waiting to see if the evening primrose, lemon verbena and chickory reappear – I seem to remember them being late last year. Fennel is growing again and thyme is in flowers with the rosemary. Apricot tree seems to be doing ok and raspberries looking healthy, as are the stinging nettles! Forget-me-nots have appeared from no where and a healthy crop of dandelions. Yellow bush rose is flowering with the hot lips but the red rose is still just buds. In the back garden the wisteria and honeysuckle are the usual delight. June berry is growing tall, and budhlia growing, also some thistles. hanging baskets beginning to flower.

Regarding wildlife – very little! 2 butterflies (small tortishell) and a few bees but nothing of note since the sparrow hawk was seen above with what looked like a blackbird!

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BRAVERMAN

Not a major mistake but reflective of te attitude of some in Government to the rule of law, she was just mimicing the ex-PM Jihnson in thinking she was above the law. However this should be just the excuse Sunak needs to get rid of her from the Cabinet.

Meanwhile Chris Heaton-Harris Secretary of State for NI has called for the return of Storming. Sein Fein recorded 30.9% of the first prefence vote, DUP 23.3%, Alliance 13.3%, UUP 10.9%, SDLP 8.7%. The key here is that the DUP have less than a quarter of the vote but are able to paralyse the NI Assembly. Could the UUP and Alliance parties form an alliance to oust the DUP from its dominant place at Stormont?

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SUNDAY 21 MAY

Sunny – I was up early and watered the greenhouse and made ginger cookies before going to the shop to do the papers.

Football – Arsenal lose 1-0 at Forest despite having 82% possession. So ManC win the league for the 5th time in 6 and 3 in a row.. I know I should begridge the way that their money has bought them success – but their football is so majestic and beautiful! Guardiola really must go down as one of the best managers of all time (other contenders are Herbert Chapman, Alex Ferguson and maybe Brian Clough. PSG have shown that money and buying the best palyers does not = runaway success! Maybe Newcastle will go to buy Mbappe for next season? Who can challenge ManC next season? They do not have an aging squad like Liverpool last season, or one in need of major implants like ManU, Arsenal may be able to strngthen a young squad, Spurs and Chelsea are in a bit of disarray! AVilla have the funding behind them to make a proper impact after a good end to rthe season.

If Luton beat Sheffield Wednesday in the play off final they will have a huge bill for refurbishment of Kennilworth Road to pay that will restrict their expenditure on players. Odds on favorites to go down next season if they make it up. Next season could see all 3 relegated teams looking like favorites for promotion, although Everton might face restrictions on recruitment? How will Plymouth get on in the Championship?

Politics – Sein Fein win in NI council elections with socialist policies. When will NI leave the UK? Will it be before Scotland? Even Wales – heavily populated by the English may leave? Could London become a city state for a while (before its inherent corruption brings it down. Will England then become a pariah state? Are there enough English people who are not racists or fascists?

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ELECTIONS – NORTHERN IRELAND

First results seem to show small gains for Sein Fein and similar losses for the DUP whilst the Alliance Party seems to be holding up and the SDLPand UUP in decline. These are early results, but it appears that little has changed in the polarised environment of NI politics. Latest results show same pattern with DUP holding its own but SDLP and UUP having losses. Only SF seem to be gaining. how this will affect things I am not sure – I guess it will meed to be evaluated when the conrollers of the super councils are revealed? The Green Party has lost seats and appears to have no traction here.

Overallk it looks good for Sein Fein with the DUP holding steady, but losing some of its influence? What impact will this have on the UK Government and the Good Friday Agreement? And the possibility of a return of Stormont?