BEERGATE

Things must be bad for the tories for the trash papers to bang on about a non-story for so long. was there an election recently?

Cost of living crisis, war in Ukraine, Foreign Office/Hoe Office shambles over migrants, women’s rights in the USA, climate crisis on Indian sub-continent, but no – Starmer eating a curry a year ago is more important for sub species like Dominic Raab. Of course I would not expect him to understand anything regarding Northern Ireland.

POLITICS

What a load of hot air and bullshit is being spouted this morning. Labour claiming they are doing well outside London which is palpably untrue, Tories claiming that doing worse than they did in these seats last time was not a disaster and reflection on Johnson, LibDems claiming great success from a very low base, the same is true for the Greens although they are still just getting established.

WILD GARDENING

Just planted out wallflowers, French marigolds, dill, Californian poppies, calibrachoa, morning glory, and some plants that I am unsure of! Tomato plants in greenhouse doing well, sweet basil now in kitchen – I might put some out if we have a hot spell. Mints are growing after the winter with lemon balm being the most outstanding at the moment. Concerned about verbena (lemon, and golden lemon) but patience needed in gardening.

Also a sense of humour – after planting out I needed to water them – so a quick squirt with the hosepipe and top up the watering can – hosepipe fell out of said watering can and whilst the pipe eluded me the – the jet did not – effing soaked – I had to change!

Time to plant some veg in the greenhouse?

Both neighbours have shaved their lawns and not a dandelion in sight. I hope the pesticides do not contaminate my garden. Ladybirds were on borage.

AMERICA

We watch Friends and Cheers, Hollywood blockbusters, but America is a foreign land. I have not travelled extensively but felt more comfortable in rural Spain than I did in Chicago. In Spain no one spoke English but we had an unspoken companionship of a common heritage and history – obviously different but similar in patterns. In Chicago everything was similar but somehow distorted – water waiters, only black performers in blues bars with only white customers, the richest country on earth with a subway system seemingly held together with chewing gum.

Jamie Oliver

Jamie, I have 12 of your books and admire your cooking and TV progs.  And you have children to care for – but if you really cared about spreading the word about nutrition and crap food your web site would be free?  How many millions do you need?

RWANDA

Johnson blames left wing lawyers for delaying deportations – nothing to do with it being illegal then?