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COST OF LIVING CRISIS
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?
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’.
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?
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.
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.
Just testing
Some photos of my garden
More photos
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.
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?
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.