Category: Garden

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LABOUR

In 2 weeks Andy Burnham has done more to install pride in Britain again than any politican in this century. Education, defence, care homes, energy bills, pubs, even football have benefitted from his attention. I still wait for an announcement about the genocidal government of Israel though. But so far – so good!

Watered everything outside and greenhouse today – inside tomorrow! I might leave some herbs to seed – and then collect it – why? I guess the answer is because I can! Tomatoes – doing well, I should have a kilo tomorrow.

Council tax changes – introduced in 1993 there have been no significant changes to council tax since then. House prices have changed massively – so a need for change is obvious, why should a mansion in Kensington pay the same as a house in Bradford? This is an easier way to implement a wealth tax, the rich can move abroad if they wish, but their obligation to pay the tax is still the same, as is moving assets offshore. Stately homes with more than 250 days access should be allowed a discount if they agree to conditions! I am sure the RWPress would make hay about this – but fuck them>. I might have to pay a litte more, but I am ok with that, and by the way, houses left empty should be charged the same (some allowances made for bereavement!).

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FUN

I love it when politicians make fools of themselves, and like Noah’s Ark they come in 2 by 2. Firstly the brave Chris Philp defies the might of France and a pistol discharged in the opposite direction to claim it was directed at him – pussy!; Then Zac Polanski – whom I like and admire, makes a fundamental error in reposting a t-shirt with Farage and a guillitine in juxtaposition – reposting is for imbeciles like Trump, not serious politicans- polanski and the Greens are losing in polls after the momentum created by Polanski and Hannah Spencer. They will not be the last, thats for sure.

Apple is the wotlds richest company at $5trillion – largely because it has not invested huge amounts in AI! Which is interesting? In the UK Andy Burnham continues to impress; his education plan has been widely welcomed by most; his plans for a meeting regarding care, with Badenoch and Davey is quite ground breaking, consensus politics rather than the adversarial ones of the last century at least (War coalitions exempt). Obviously there will be tax implications and the RW Press are getting ready to condemn any positive ideas. But a good start?

Meanwhile – earthquake in Japan is huge, but sensible building regs seems to have limited damage and loss of life. In Europe the flames continue. Gaia is obviously not happy.

Tomatoes are good and herbs thriving!

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MOANING

My turn, I put the radio on, only to hear people complaining abut the poor bus service and how unfair it was. They have to be fucking joking, Firstly most areas with poor bus services are rich areas with high car ownership and with a low rental population – so people chose to live there despite the poor bus service (or I could go further and suggest it is beacuase of the low non-car ownership that attracts people). Often there is a regular bus service, just not one they can summon at will. With capitalism it is all about demand and supply – fewer cars on the roads should mean cleaner air, less noise and fewer accidents. With a nationalised bus service it would also mean higher income and less subsidy. With the cost of a car being between £4 and 5 grand per year without parking charges, a saving of £2000 per year would go a long way to decreasing the so called ‘cost of living crisis’. So that’s it for my moan about moaning.

£16666 per term is the cost of sending a child (boy) to Eton College. I would suggest a new council tax base it on a revised net worth housing assessment with the average cost being the same, but the introduction of higher bands at £200000 for each one and an increase of 10% per band. The rich fuckers can afford it! They could sell up and leave the country – good riddance. But I would also increase, impose a tax on private air flights, maybe through aviation fuel, so it they decide to come and go it costs them! Local authorities ould fund schools better, and care homes. 24% of Burnhams new cabinet attended private schools, compared to 8% under Starmer; I have no quibble about the number who went to Oxbridge being 55%, up from 38% they are supposed to be the best Universities in the country, and score well internationally. I am not against private education per se, maybe I am! but I hate the privilege that goes along with their £16.666 per term. Many schools are close to competing on results, despite the disparity in class sizes, where the divergence occurs is in the displays of arrogance/confidence and ability to project themselves. Sorry Maz!

And a me me me moment. I have maybe 100 plants in my garden that need watering – I have 3 waterbutts totalling 350 ltrs, but it may not be enough. I have paid for, and cherished these plants that bring pleasure to some. Various water companies have been negligent in managing new demands such as data centres, why should I be fined if I use a hose pipe, or a mother lets her children play under a sprinkler – do golf courses have a similar ban? And how is a maximum ban of £1000 fait – I send my kids to Eton and stopped worrying about 6 figure sums – why should they care?

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MIXTURE

Todays post covers everything and nothing!

First my last comment on the World Cup. Not for the performances on the pitch – Spain could and should of scored a hatfull, it would then have been applauded as a great final, instead the pundits who, in their day, generally underperformed, had to have their critical BS noted. The fnal was a debacle for the half times and hydration breaks. Then we had the Argies living uptown their name in a disgraceful show of petulance after the full time whistle, then the Trump had to be ushered away by Rodri as he tried to get some reflected glory – even Lamine Yamal showed contempt for the POTUS. High points for the series were Cabo Verde and Curacao generally holding their own, generally great stadiums, and the competion for the golden boot. low points – the cost of tickets and transport and hotels (some suckers paid $1million for a pitchside seat at the final!); and the kick off times were unfriendly to the European market who provided 75% of quarter finalists. It is all over now!

Second – my tomatoes are coming in at a rate, I have picked basil and garlic with olive oil as a basis for a salad, new potatoes with a mint dressing – and I am waiting for my Chaya tree to arrive – do I pot it or plant it out? I have bags of herbs drying in the GHouse.

Third – Trump, again! has lost patience with Iran and is bombing their infrastructure – nice man! Petrol is creeping up in price as, again the Straits of Hormuz seem to be blocked, and Iran is asking its proxies to do the same with the Houthis blockading the entrance to the Red Sea. Trump did not think this one through – or for that matter the Gaza plan, which is virtually none existent (despite rich boy Tony Blair’s input)!.

Fourth – Burnham is playing a cagey game with his main appointments to the Cabinet, no left wing revolution but still some hope? Israel will be a key denominator for me, moving the UK away from world gas prices will also be important and nationalising Thames Water and others.

Fifth – the weather, its still getting hot, but lovely at dawn! Record ice melt in the Arctic, Donald is a ‘twat’.

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COVID

An official report states that the Conservative of the time wasted £10 billion on unusable kit, I know it was a panic time but contracts were handed out without even a glipse of common sense – but the papers ignore this and complain about a present government spend of £10 million on advisors. I think it is proper that such sums are scrutinised to avoid waste, especially at times of public hardship. I know people who are complaining about hardship and the rising cost of living whilst driving a new EV, getting various work done on their house and going out regularly for meals – some hardship. Round here the hardship is well hidden – it often has in rural areas, but there is no evidence of poverty. Only a poverty of caring for others. Parents are quick to blame teachers and schools for their offsprings antics and rarely castigate themselves for poor parenting.

An excellentbresult in Dallas last night and the England football team showed what it could have been. Tonight we will see the masacre of the beautiful game by FIFA greed and American commercialism, half-time by the regulations stipulated by FIFA should be 15 minutes, yet the final will have a 30 minute show with advertising and a star line up, on top of the hydration breaks. Half time is when fans go for a slash, get a cuppa and a pie before returning to their seats to moan about the referee!

Ann Widecombe murder – the accused perpitraitor had his arrest extended for 7 days – and we wait for actual news, Farage says the guy hated him, anything to seize back the news and concentrate it in the muppet himself. Trumpy is having an anger fit again against the Iranian people, this time by bombing their bridges and thus making life even more difficult for people, especislly the poor, and ensuring they will support their despicable government.

So tomorrow we start to learn how different the country will be under Burnham rather than Starmer, to whom I offer my hopes for a great retirement and that he shuts up about destroying the Corbyn Labour Party. Burnham has a difficult job to do with the Labour Party, let alone the government – BUT only the racists and fascist knuckle draggers will not hope we can stop talking about broken Britain – and embrace hope and dreams.

Warm again – and how do brambles grow so fast?

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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.

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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.

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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.