Category: Garden

Posted on

HERBS

I do not know why I am a little obsessed with my herbs – I just bought 5 diferrent thyme, some golden oregano and a rosemary, also got some parsley seeds to grow inside., oh and a chaya! I filled my 200ltr water butt from a hose – just incase there is a hosepipe ban in the next week or so. I feel a little guilty as this seems selfish – but I have invested in my wilderness. Butterflies are supposedly doing well this summer – I have nettles and buddleja, together with herbs and flowers, but have only seen, skippers, whites, meadow brown and a blue so far, maybe they will appear later.

Andy Burnham to become Prime Minister – a remarkable event, Labour MP’s must be wondering what they lack in charisma to not being challenging him! 401 are seen to be not worthy as a newcomer sweeps the board! Is he worth the hype? The left are likely to be disappointed – he is part of the establishment, albeit with some nice ideas.

Posted on

WARMING UP

Temp at 09.30 is 28C – should top out at 32C this afternoon. I woke up at 0415 and decided to get up and do things early, so all plants watered and greenhouse, drink for later made (mints, ginger, lemon and honey). Pillow cases in wash with t-shirts, etc., Football watched on catch up (France look very good). papers sorted at shop, and paper read – all before 0730! Fan is on – thank goodness for the solar panels!

News is depressing as usual – Iran -Israel/USA continues, oil prices hike again, more accusations of Israeli execution of an aid worker, and also of children. At least Andy Burnham admits that Labour got it wrong on Gaza – we will see if he puts substance to words. farage is now being investigated for further dodgy contributions and money laundering – it seems highly probable that should he win the byelection he will be suspended and another byelection called – this time with all the major parties. Even posh dicks like him, Tice and Jenprick have to obey the law.

My garden is seen by some as a weed invested mess – but then beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It is certainly wild in areas, but I have planted things to diversify, and allowed intruders like evening primrose and chicory to flourish – fennel is self seeding and had been seen growing in the roadside gutter 5 house fronts away, along with pals, the last 2 mentioned. I have planted a few roses (red, white, yellow, purple, orange, pink) and a few herbs. I might make a video and post it of a suburban wilderness.

Posted on

FARAGE

So he has resigned as an MP – will anyone notice? His video appeal – designed to avoid awkward questions regarding money laundering, said that the byelection would be a chance to stick 2 fingers up to the establishment; a desperate measure designed to appeal to knuckle draggers and those whose personal education prevents them from achieving a satisfactory income – yet these people are stupid enough to ignore his many homes and £5 million plus ‘gifts’. His main opposition maybe Count Binface! the pseudonym for a comedian named Jonathan Harvey, With none of the main parties offering a candidate his humiliation could be epic? Fingers crossed. A Clacton businessman on a radio phone in says he regularly sees Farage in and around the town – he must be hallucinating as Farage is mostly in America and does not have a normal MP’s surgery – ever! he got 21225 votes last time – anything less would be catastrophic for him. He will need to manufacture a racial drama involving a migrant, to jack up his support,

Trump was ridiculed in the Belgian press and in the instagram account of the PM’s cat – Maximus. Trump himself was announcing that the ceasefire was off again – its on and off more than a Belisha beacon! Like Farage he is just a fucking embarrassment. His latest diatribe consisted of more threats to Greenland (which is surrounded by Chinese and Russian boats!), and saying that Europe must be careful with immigration and energy or it would not be Europe anymore! I accept a degree of logic regarding immigration, but energy? Is he squeling like the orange pig he is because oil companies and the American control over the MiddleEast oil producers may be collapsing. Without the petroleum dollar American influence is much diminished.

Heat wave here – fans on, greenhouse and all plants watered, tomatoes still not ripe, mulberries soon, raspberries second crop getting ready, herbs growing brilliantly, roses good, and hanging baskets good.

Posted on

PEOPLES WORLD CUP

People get very nationalist about their countries participation in the FIFA World Cup – but a closer examination of the facts is revealing. 99 players in squads were born in France – only 23 are in the French squad. When Morocco played Brazil, none of their players at one time, had been born in Morocco. European born dominate (England 49,Netherlands 67, Germany 48, Belgium 36, Switzerland 34, Spain 36, Austria 31), 53 were were born in Paris! So it is not surprising when players do not sing their national anthems – except for te Spanish whose anthem has no words! Many players have had the option of chosing the country they play for due to birth, parentage and residency. As the famous song went “the world is just a great big melting pot” – and the flag shaggers can just fuck off with their racist comments. Yes have a flag for the tournament but do not go over the top! Englands two hero’s play in Germany and Spain. However do not mention this if you are in a pub at 5am tomorrow and England lose on penalties (again)! But seriously football is a global game and one that could bring about a better world without FIFA President with his head up Trumps arse.

Oh and was yesterday the 4th July- USA celebration of independance – hardly even acknowleged in the UK. Main news from the U.S. was about Trump using the precedency to enhance the wealth of him and his family! In the UK a bill is going through Parliament to restrict donations from abroad to £100000 – this seems weak, but better than nothing as muppet faced Farage squirms whenever asked why he did not reveal a £5mill “gift”. Which sent him running to the Treasury to promote crypto-currencies, no conflict of interests obviously.

Sunny here, and about to make strawberry jam, I might add some mint? Dry for the next month is the forecast – hopefully my water butts will be enough? Tomatoes are forming – hopefully next week?

Posted on

SPOILT WHITE MEN

What do Boris Johnson, Donald Trup and Nigel Farage have in common – well the list is long and contains expletives that should not be used often! But I was thinking along the lines of privileged, rich, arrogant and going down in history as such. Trump has been condemned by the Supreme Court as a rapist, and the latest is a $billion crypto currency scandal, whilst Farage is struggling under a £5million ‘gift’ from a crypto billionaire – and Boris! All believe themselves to be above the law that determines a civil society. And there are many others who believe the same – but in general they are all white, priveged and rich. And all self grandising con merchants.

Pages: 1 2
Posted on

DOMESTICS

Just made pickled beetroot and am drying herbs. Maybe get strawberries tomorrow for jam, I would like to make raspberry jam but despite my raspberries spreading across the former lawn, I never have enough for jam (it might be my fault for snacking on the way to the greenhouse every morning! Tomatoes not ready quite yet, and chilli plant is thriving but no flowers yet. About to make a foolish for baguettes and maybe add basil and parmesan before baking tomorrow morning?

Pages: 1 2
Posted on

DROUGHT

This heat wave is not accompanied by a drought like in 1976. However it is likely to be fiercer; so the water companies have no grounds for complaint. Schools should close to protect the students and staff – it should be easy to switch from uneducational visits to nothing! Parents could off set the cost of childcare where necessary – but where is our community spirit? Churches and other buildings that are traditionally cool could be opened up.

And then my garden – I have planted several rose bushes and a few herb so my former lawn is in average 1m high – all has a cooling influence despite the plethora of neatly clipped lawns that dominate 95% of the street. No one ever plays on the neat lawns, a few may be used for parking, but wasted energy – in mowing and then without the impact of cooling. And the joy of butterflies and bees.

Posted on

BRITAINS EBOLA

Britain is being attacked my an insidious disease – racism. After it seemed that racism was on the decline, Reform and Restore have again made it acceptable to publicly repeat racist comments, facts are irrelevant as the two parties via to be the most vile. Disadvantaged youths can join in the fun by revealing that although their brains are addled by the lack of cushie jobs – no hard labour please! their muscles are fine, especially when it comes to throwing bricks at police officers trying to ensure that the rest of us can live in a civilised community. For Farage it is a welcome diversion from questions about his questionable lies regarding funding – foreign cryptocurrency billionaires are not giving him millions for fun – they will expect a return, one which will do absolutely nothing to enrich the wealth or lives of the poorest 90% or society! Voting for Brexit was an act of gross stupidity, voting for Reform or Respect is sheer lunacy!

So back home, I have had an electric fire on this morning as it was a tad chilly, no cost as I have solar panels and they paid for themselves 5 or more years ago. I have watered the greenhouse where the tomato plants are beginning to flower, basil seeds are growing as are the greek basil. I am making herb, garlic and olive bread at the moment and might make some oat cookies with nuts and dried apricots later? I have also just deadheaded the roses – I am deciding whether to cut the wisteria that has come in the window of the conservatory – all it have blooms, the scent is divine.

FIFA World Cup will start at 8pm on Thursday, so we can expect genuine flags of both England and Scotland, (the only large flag I have is Mozambique with an AK45 on it!). and can we expect the gutter press of the Mail, Sun, Express and Telegraph to find some sordid little misbehaviour by an English footballer (preferably black) to attract buyers by eclipsing real front rage outrage at Farages perfiious nature and the convictions of white thugs for throwing bricks at the police in Southampton. No mention of WAGS this time – although there is still time. The weather may play its part too – FIFA rules that any thunderstorm within 8 miles must result in the suspension of a match (one of Chelseas in the USA for the World Club Cup was suspended for over 2 hours with just 6 minutes of full time to go! Pubs and bars may have to stay open later? Scotlands first game is at 3am so migt not be finished by breakfast?

Posted on

FOOD

Experts are expressing concern regarding food supplies if Trump’s war carries on for much longer. Plants need fertiliser (we are told) and oil produces most of the worlds fertiliser. Why are we taking productive farm land out of production for housing, data centres and solar farms? Surely it would make sense to encourage organic food production and healthy diets with emphasis on local produce (although it is not always the most efficient! so a variable answer). Imposing price caps on essential foods is not supporting the supermarkets or the poor – but would benefit the middle classes where one partner can stay at home and cook! OK – i am confused! My local shop does a good trade in hot food and sandwiches for workers who stop on their way to work. Why not make your own sandwiches? Healthier and cheaper? Why is there a larger number of fast food outlets in working class areas?

Oh well the British public are thick – a report today revealed that most people thought migration to Britain has increased whilst in actual fact it has dropped by 75% since the General Election. When their doctors are unavailable due to non-existence, and food rots in the fields due to lack of workers, maybe then there is a small glimmer of hope that the majority of the public will see the sense in a sensible discussion regarding migration. Numbers have dropped from nearly a million to 250.000 – a substantial reduction. Latest stats today, show net migration to be the lowest since 2012 at 171000.

I was talking to my daughter about the overt racism of my youth with ‘Until death us do part’ and the “Black and White Minstral Show”, schools where children were regularly caned, homosexuals were referred to as ‘bum boys’ and ‘perverts’. Hopefully our society has moved forward although comments by Reform followers suggest a regression.

Meanwhile in dull Somerset we wait for the heat wave! It was dull, cloudy and a little cold this morning. However the garden welcomes the rain and late afternoon heat.