Posts

Posted on

ENVIRONMENT

This government has made a positive start to ensuring that the UK has an environment fit for the future with a pledge to plant at least 500000 trees. Trees can reduce temperatures in cities by up to 4C in summer, they also have a warming input in winter, a mature tree can intercept 15000 litres of rainfall whilst the roots enhance infiltation and thus reduce flooding. At least 150 different species of insects can live on oak trees thus being brilliant for wildlife. My road would have been wooded at one time, but now has only a half dozen trees, plus my two mulberry trees! I am sure back gardens have a few more but if every front lawn, that are unused biological deserts, had a tree of any variety, the road would be a feast of wildlife. So put away your lawn mower – which contributes to climate change and plant a tree (blossom, fruit or other). And hey farmers, supplement your income by allowing people to sponsor a tree in the more unproductive parts of your fields, do not wait for a govrnment grant but be proactive and get locals involved.

Wetter and windy is the prediction of the cheif meteorologist at the Met Office, 6 million homes are at risk from flooding and it is estimated that 2 million are unaware of it. Recent developments of houses and infrastructure may mean that areas that have not flooded before are now at risk. Antarctic sea ice has shrunk – the 4 lowest extent on record are the last 4 years. Sea ice does not in itself affect sea level, but it does have an impact on glaciers entering the sea, so if you live near the coast – be aware that coastal flooding may have little to do with rainfall, October and Merch are the real danger months although spring tides in any month can be a hazard. Glaciers melting in Switzerland are also causing concern regarding water supply, and another mountainous state is also suffering from landslips and potentially disasterous floods due to climate change -Nepal.

Posted on

FARCE

The farce of Fairford continues. Apparently one of the arrested men dialled 999 well before the farmer did so. No explosives or weapons were found, just a quantity of fuel/. It seems likely that the guys in the 3 vans were up to no good, probably stealing diesel from farms. They must have been well shocked to find that they had attracted global notoriety and had armed officers arresting them at gun point. However the police are still looking for evidence of major espionage, probably at the behest ofthe Americans who were very fast out the blocks to blame Iran. The trash papers also joined in, no doubt there will be a cover up and a spread of false news, whilst a few fuel theives are castigated. They should be congratulated at the revalation of such lax security at a major air base.

Talking of a farce – the Football League has basically admited to gross negigence by admitting that Manchester City and its Abu Dhabi management over spent the rules by a staggering £830.69 million. Der Spiegel first reported on this 8 years ago, but it has taken until now for the figures to be release. Oh how the rich manipulate the probably/possibly innocent adminstrators of sports. Not noticing a sum of that size is, I would suggest, impossible. The fall out will be considerable with clubs already queueing to place compensation claims, yet football will recover, Whether that will be with Manchester City F.C. or not is for the Football League to decide (they are prevaricating as usual), And as it is Abu Dhabi that iss involved it will become a government matter – but at least we have a football fan of true belief in Andy Burnham, an Everton supporter – if ManCity were punished in a commensurate way to that handed out to the Toffees the deduction would be in excess of 200 points).

Burnham has been firing up the Labour Party conference in a way Starmer may have dreamed about. First up – the triple lock on pensions will be replaced – not before time. OK I am a pensioner and appreciate the extra wealth afforded by the triple lock, but I also have a Teachers Pension and an extra I paid into (and lost a chunk on divorce – willingly I might add). But with young people struggling with shite jobs and astronomical student loans – the rise in pensions (20+% above earnings) was needed, but is no longer affordable (the OAP’s who read the Telegraph, Express, Mail and Sun will be apolextic). The problem for pensioners I would surmise, is rents; many pensioners like myself will have paid off the mortgage and therefore the pension money is basically, fuel/energy costs and food/fun money, so it is the rise in rents that is a major problem, and then care home costs – drive out the hedgefund investment in them.

Secondly he suggested a reform of voting to a fairer PR system. Interesting, this would benefit Reform and the Greens and LibDems, but hit Labour and especially the Conservatives – so we can expect lots of bile and rancid comments from the RWPress. Thirdly he mentioned the need to draw closer to the EU – a no brainer for anyone with a few brain cells left, especially with Trump in the White House.

South West Water fined £8million for horrendous sewage discharges -nationalise the bastards, but maybe get the money in fines before! Whilst Aviva states that many new homes could be uninsurable. But now sunny today.

Posted on

STRANGE

goings on in Welford near to RAF Fairford. The base did not answer a phone call from a concerned local, the police took 15 minutes to arrive (surely they would have alerted the base and the response would have been quicker. Only 5 men arrested when the witness said there was a large group of men with balaclavas – and 3 vans surely they would have shared the lift? They were then bailed by the court – not terrorists presumably? Marco Rubio, American Secretary of State said that there was obviously a foreign player involved, but refused to give further details, probably due to him making a political statement rather than a factual one; Trump siad he was surprised that the 5 men had been bailed (in America they would have been shot or at least fitted up with false evidence! Local residents who were evacuated have been told they can return ‘but to stay indoors and take no photos’ – strange instructions if there are no explosives? And the press are there in force with their fancy cameras recoding every twitch. There is also a strong police cordon around the vans and the base – why? So many questions and no answers or facts, that did not deter Farage from making a statement that it was all due to Iran sending operatives across the channel in small boats, rather than as tourists on a plane where their credentials would be less scrutinised than after a small boat crossing. But then he is a traitor of the first order who will do anything to bolster his reputation with the flag shagging knuckle draggers, misinformation and sowing discord and hatred is his reason d’être.

trumps illegal war with Iran continues to worldwide ramifications, with diesel breaching the £2 litre mark, in this country we can expect to see the impact of this on inflation, and later on prices needed by farmers.

Extreme Temperatures Around The World

@extremetemps

·

EXTRAORDINARY WORLD RECORD AGAIN We are witnessing something crazy with thousands of records smashed allover Asia every day of the month. 47C again in KJWAIT today MINIMUM 34C Kuwait City Port LATEST 34C MINIMUM EVER RECORDED IN NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

Posted on

RAF FAIRFORD

So, despite Trump’s assertion that he had had the possible assailants ‘under view’ for a long time, it still took a local resident with a seeming 6th sense, in the early hours of the morning to be suspicious. She tried calling the base – who did not reply – and then dialled 999, the police arrived in 15 minutes (which would seem to be rather tardy in the circumstances?). It appears that no prior intelligence was involved and the police must be commended for a brilliant job. So Trump is talking out of his arse again!

Back home Burnham seems determined to grasp the elusive problem of care homes. This will definitely require a tax of some sort, but is a problem that has been hanging around for way too long. Philip for the Tories bangs on about a ‘death and dementia tax’ – he is determined that he gets his inheritance! and offers no alternative, which is no surprise – years of tory rule and talking about the problem resulted in ‘diddly squat’.

the long range weather forecast for the next month is for high pressure and lower than normal rainfall. I hope it is not a lull before the storm situation. A high court judgement has been passed allowing a housing development in an area identified by the Environment agency as being in a category of highest risk. I hope Persimmon Homes will cover the insurance claims for the new residents of Yatton. Basically, what is the point of the Environment Agency if their objections can be so easily overridden.

And well done the Republic of Ireland mens football team for making a point about the genocidal regime of Israel before winning 3-1. Football has a lot of politics going on at present – a multi-billion enterprise cannot hide behind glib phrases like ‘keep politics out of sport’. Russian athletes are currently banned from the Olympics but that is likely to change with pressure from the next hosts President – yes it is Trump! i agree that sport should occur as an honourable activity between opposing players/sides, but life is becoming ever more complicated. From expensive, advantage giving footwear and body suits in athletics, to financial chicanery in football, the situation is barely better than in the last century where Soviet ruled/influenced countries athletes dominated some athletic results with records that still stand. Sport will do well to maaintain its integrity over the next few years.

Posted on

SUNDAY

Yep, and the world is settling down for a quiet day, I hope. New York and New Jersey have declared a state of emergency as a nor’easter brings havoc and coastal flooding. What I meant by the opening sentence was that Trump and his followers have not thrown up any bile so far today. Although … apparently Trump has invited Putin to the G20 hosted by the USA in December – the UK and EU should refuse to attend, simple.

Weather is decidedly autumnal today, overcast , damp and windy, but not cold. I filled the green wheelie bin with cuttings from the roses and the bay tree, Its full and waiting for tomorrows collection when I will continue with the bay and start on the mulberry tree and the apple. Then the brambles that seem to shoot out overnight.

Reading books is a passion, but not classics – my latest ‘find’ is Brooke Skie, I love her portrayal of buildings as sentient beings and the ginger cat ‘Hemingway’ is a star. I am a sucker for the feel good romantic stories so don’t give me shit about it! Millie Johnson, Katie Fforde and Jo Thomas are also good!

Posted on

FOOTBALL FOR THE UNENTHUSED

All the talk is about what happens next, well it has taken a very long time already but League rules state that any appeal, and there will be one, should be done in 14 weeks. Why does it matter to non-football lovers, well two players at ManC paid over £35 million in tax between them, so the squad between them pay at least £100m in income tax, without the taxes paid bybthe club itself. So football lovers of other teams should not be too hasty in wishing the teams demise; livelyhoods of many in Manchester are dependant on the team.

Jonathan Watts, writing in the Guardian today, casts doubts on predictions for the UK. Personally I am not so sure and think that the super El Niño will have an impact, just where is in doubt.

OMG – I just read that it is only 20 months since Trump was elected – how can anyone fuck up so much in so little time and still spend time whacking a golf ball around and writing nonsense on his media outlet. He is getting weirder, he threatened to demolish the Kennedy Centre if not allowed to add his name, threatened Iran with annilataion at the UN (an establishment founded to create peace!). Bring on the mid-terms, especially as his attempts to thwart postal voting (but not by himself) have been stopped by federal courts.

Posted on

FLOODING

I expect the papers and TV to show weeping people indignant that their houses have been flooded, it will happen, and is reasonably predictable. So unless a dam bursts or there is an exceptionally heavy thunderstorm, people should not be surprised. How many will have taken mitigation measures – moving valuables up a level, laying in flood supplies like water and dried fruit; ensuring safety of pets. Afew simple measures will not prevent a flood but could mitigate the damage, at least mentally. Past photos have shown that new housing can be particularly vulnerable, build by people and planners with no understanding of georaphy and hydrology. Nice BBC website https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy9zvw47v90o. which shows how warm and dry this summer has been for your post code.

Whether particular areas suffer from extreme rainfall and flooding will depend on the tradectuary of the jet stream, at present it is bringing rain, byt not floods, to the north of England and west Scotland, but all could change. How many water companies and farmers are taking measures to prepare for a possible bout of very hot, dry weather next spring/summer. A government subsidy for water butts would seem sensible, together with farmers encouraged to contour plant. possibly with regular breaks around the slopes for water loving plants? Listen to the land!

Lisening to the land may mean a move from animal husbandry to a more vegetarian diet containing more legumes, which would also be healthier. Personally I love cheese but am willing to embrace new a changed diet. Although I think venison should become more acceptable as the population of deer in the UK is at record levels. Living sustainably should be the mantra, not veaganism or vegetarianism, just sensible balance.

Posted on

REFORM

To paraphrase the late, great Manny Shinwell when called out by the Speaker for calling all Conservatives ‘liars’, “Not all Reform voters are ignorant, racist, morons – just most” – I am not sure the first word and the last two apply truthfully! I suppose applying the sentence to 25% of voters is a little extreme – but justified!

Google estimates that 22.7million litres of fuels is used to mow UK lawns – use of electric mowers lowers this but still results in tens of thousands of CO2 emissions per year.

Posted on

CRUELTY

So the tories want to stop benefit recipients spending the money on fags, alcohol and betting.  This may seem virtuous, but for those addicted it will be cruelty and cause more crime and domestic violence.   Oh the rich really do have a control freak syndrome.  Basically we need a certain level of unemployment and it is well known that the Thatcherite policies pursued by various tory governments meant that our manufacturing base was destroyed and hard working people put onto benefits.  Their children and grandchildren now have the choice of unskilled work at minimum wage levels in call centres or shopping warehouses, often on zero hours contracts.  At least Labour are trying to reverse this slide into hopelessness with new GCSE’s, already being criticised as providing a second class education for the poor – by tory rich parents, are they worried that a technical qualification may become more prized than a pseudo-academic one?

The outgoing Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres’s parting shot was to emphasise the need for action on climate change.  However world leaders seemed more concerned with petty squabbles and point scoring than address the extreme weather affecting our planet.  On which, Ed Milliband has released a full unreacted report by the Joint Intelligence Committee of the uk which had been suppressed under Keir Starmer (why?).  Milliband pointed out that climate change provided a challenge not just for climate and environmental ministers but foreign policy makers and  national security.  He was presenting to EU foreign ministers and other countries.  Maybe we will take a world lead in environmental matters.

Posted on

TRUMP – again

So the United Nations is his choice of venue to state the quandary he has ‘whether to do a treaty with Iran or annihilate it”. Irony has never been in his lexicon! He also failed to see the irony of asking Zelensky to stop bombing Russian oil facilities as it was putting up the cost of petrol/diesel, when it is his illegal war with Iran which is hiking up the cost of oil products. All the while boasting that the USA and Venezuela control 60% of the worlds oil i am puzzled! He further went on to boast about the deprivation he was causing in Cuba. He also had a belated ‘go’ at the agreement the UK has made over the Chacos Islands – which of course the trash papers at home made a big deal about, rather than threats to annihilate civilisations. Has Andy Burnham been clever as hell with his deal with Saudi Arabia? He has agreed to provide a plane/ maybe 2 to refuel Saudi jets that never venture far enough to be refuelled! Burnham seemed to come out of the meeting with the man-baby unscathed and unbowed, and did not offer him a state visit either. he also refused to rule out rejoining the EU. With Britain being beholden to the USA for the last century, the relationship between the two has slipped from special, to frosty at times, it therefore makes absolute sense for us to rejoin Europe.

EV’s are a better buy with high mileage – a study of 47.4m MOT’s showed that over 90000 miles EV’s were 25% less likely to fail, although tyre wear was greater (come on buffs, find a way to take tyre and brake pad wear/dust out of the environment Car manufacturers should whole heartedly embrace the technology and start to really compete with Chinese firms, no more pleading for time, its running out, to stop climate change.