I have not mentioned the beautiful game for some time! liverpool have deservedly one the league but now have some key figures to start planning to reolace as they get older. man City are in a similar but worse position. Arsenal should be second but mathematically there are 9 teams who could qualify for Europe. Surprise teams of the year are Nottingham Forest, Fulham, Brighton and Bournemouth; with Crystal Palace and Brentford putting a good show. Disasters are ManU and Spurs and also WHU. The 3 promoted teams last year have gone straight down again, will the same fate await Burnley and Leeds and whoever wins the playoffs.
POLITICS – WHERE AM I?
Well I am not sure! I have always wanted to vote Labour but have resorted to Lib Dems to keep Tories out at times. It seems like socialism is my natural home although Green Party is appealing, or would be if it stood a chance. I was even part of a Green Party campaign in Lewes back in 1980’s. Blair was OK but Iraq was a disaster then we had austerity and Tory mismanagement and corruption. Corbyn was brilliant in many areas but made too many diplomatic mistakes – I apologise for criticising a politican for speaking his mind, however Jeremy had the Labour Party in the right place, even if he did not possess the charisma necessary to carry his views forward against the combined wrath of ALL the major newspapers (yes I enclude my beloved Guardian here). Starmer is the very opposite to Corbyn – he got riled by Tories commenting that he worked for Corbyn, whilst he should have relished those comments. Starmer appears to revel in being a statesman whilst appearing to be berefit of ideas at home – the very opposite of JC. Ultimately it seemed that the 270000 jews in the UK were instrumental in bringing Corbyn down. Their covert influence is immense – and I am not being anti-semitic in saying this – The BBC and media generally are very sympathetic to Israel.
So here I am – waiting for Sir Keir Starmer (why did he accept a knighthood? (staus and power?)). The Green Party needs to find a voice.
OMG
I have just had my first Cheddar strawberries of the year – OMG how can a fruit be so … sweet, pretty, scrumptious? It is an hours round trip for me to get to Draycott – is it worth it? Do bears shit in the woods? Will you need a sprinkling of caster sugar? Definitely not. Personally I would not diminish the flavour hit on the palette with cream, maybe authentic Cornish clotted cream if you must. They are so …. ridiculously fantastic that I am not scoffing them – just saviouring each one and then contemplating when to have the next!
RECIPES
Some ideas for a bbq!
A lentil burger which I may adapt!
Spicy chick peas recipe
Cypriot afelia – pork marinated in red wine with coriander seeds +
Feta and potato, sweet potatoes.
Fried sesame cheese bites
Spanaki recipe
TOMATO PLANTS
I have just planted up into big pots the first 8. A second lot will be done early next week – I will see how these get on. Lemon coriander and nasturtium doing ok. Chillies not so good. hanging baskets slow but it has been chilly at night. Apple blossom good, vine has leaves, as do the mulberry trees in the front. Apricot not flowering this year – maybe next. Wisteria in bloom – lovely. Lily is doing ok after mouse attack just one of three destroyed. Bulbs do not like me so summer collection have not sprouted – yet?
Yet to plant are coriander and basil. I might try a wild flower mix in the paper/card trays that have come with pots in the post. If I plant them in the greenhouse, then put out on the grass when they start to fall apart, the roots should grow through the board? Worth a try?
LABOUR
What a disappointment they have turned out to be. Water companies continue to pollute our water and make profits and dividends and bonus’; small companies are penalised with NI increases; benefits are cut; child poverty increases; NHS reforms are so far just ideas?; Defence spending is up; dissent on the streets is increasingly being penalised and dragonised; DOGE style cuts are being made; Starmer seems to be giving in to Trump at every turn; tax relief for American Tech giants; Only Ed Miliband seems to be holding the line regarding the environment.
And Reform with the horrid slug in charge is dictating the narrative. I voted labour in the belief that it had a socialist heart rather than the cowardly blue one that Starmer epitomises. Fuck financial restraints – socialist investment in green infrastructure can boost the economy and offer hope to the young and disenfranchised. Stop pandering to the right wing wrinkles – of course unearned housing in value ncrease should be taxed if it means making housing more affordable for children. Come back Jeremy Corbyn! All is not forgiven but your country needs some radical imput to stop the rot from the right spreading!
Garden
22 April – 50 tomato plants now 10mm high – labels are awry! so a bit random – plum, cherry, normal – whatever! I will put them 2×2 into pots in greenhouse = 16, then another 10 in pots out front and on patio. So about 30 to give away – Aaron and Kate have had a couple so far, Matthew might like a few and then the children. I also just put in basil seeds. Nasturtium are doing ok. Pretty woman lily seems ok, and bird of paradise lily slower, no sign of flame lily yet. Lemon trees are looking OK’ish. Wall flowers are blooming lovely. What else will come up? Exciting to see if evening primrose and chicory reappear this year. Rose plants look ok so I hope to have yellow, red, black, white, pink and more.
FORGIVE ME!
With the death of the pope I thought I would investigate the difference between catholics and protestants – I am not sure I have sussed it. The differences I came to hardly justify the horrible deaths by both over the centuries. It seems that protestants are believers in the bible per se – whilst catholics see the pope as being able to modify – seems sensible. Then the Eucharist – catholics believe it is the bodyand blood of christ and not a chunk of bread or biscuit and some wine – fucking stupid! So that is the difference? The catholic church is obviously mega rich thus making views of compassion for the poor rather empty, and the same is true for the protestants.
RELIGION
In the interest of getting my arguments correct
In England and Wales, the 2021 Census revealed that 46.2% of the population identified as Christian, while 37.2% identified as having no religion. Muslims make up 6.5% of the population, and Hindus represent 1.7%. In 2021, 271,327 people in England and Wales identified as Jewish, representing 0.46% of the total population. The majority of “Christians” that actually go to church and follow is about 8%. What is interesting is the weight exerted by Jews. My religious history is weak but I think it was Jews who were behind the death of JC. Whatever, but why the influence on the media – pro-Palestinian protests are castigated by the RW Press, why?
I cannot be a Christian as I do not believe in the bollox in the bible, however I do adhere to the rule of law that has developed, in no little part to the influence of the church. Despite the fact that greedy fuckers claim to be Christians whilst ripping the rest of the population off. I quite like the serenity of ancient churches, whilst still questioning if the money and time uwed to build them would have been better expended on the people! A visit to Pembroke made me ponder whether the church towers were actually rocket launchers! I was told the towers used to be white washed to make them stand out.
I am also a little jealous of those who believe – “something fucks you right off” – have a prayer and god will sort it! I am not so bothered by life after death – if god requires subservience he can fuck right off – misogynist twat!
Well I had better stop – greenhouse watered and at least 50 pots of tomatoes ready for a scorching summer and a bumper crop. I will plant a dozen in the greenhouse, but also another dozen in pots in the garden – this year will be hot!I think the labels are a bit muddled – cherry, plum and normal – whatever, those who get them free can have an interesting time watching them. Nasturtiums are also growing – I actual really do like the flowers! Lillies are doing ok, but not sure about last years “Flame lily’s”.
just made a lemon drizzle cake and took some down for the workers in the shop. Yesterdays herb, parmesan and chilli bread sticks were good.
On a hot summer – I have my fan. I am getting a new battery for the car tomorrow and will then get petrol and go to Draycott for jam strawberries – it is time to make jam for the family and friends again. maybe a double lot and visit Sainsbury’s in Cheddar for jam sugar.
POPE
Can it be true that Trump states that he should be elected the next Pope as he is the most qualified and cleverest person for the job!
Of course I made that up – but it is believable!
On the tariff front a Chinese airline has returned a new Boeing 737 Max – price tag $55million. With 20% of world market China is a major customer – and it has imposed a 125% tariff on American goods thus sneding the price rocketing. This could be good news for Airbus but I doubt they could increase production at the required rate? However Boeing has been struggling of late so this could mean a big problem, and the absolute reverse of Trump’s intentions to build American manufacturing.