WEEKEND

Being retired I find it hard to remember what day it is – and this Bank Holiday has thrown me – I woke convinced it was Saturday. Oh well. neighbours have huge marquee with industrial sized mega speakers. What should I play to drown out the National Anthem? Hendrix I think. I have just made a nut loaf and some vegan Fairings. Next up will be some vegan cookies – coconut and apricot and dates with cinnamon I think. And then some vegan scones – I might do these in the morning with vegan smoked applewood cheese.

Pageantry

The Trooping the Colour Pageant is ok for tourists and OAP’s, but has no relevance to modern society. The abundance of flags is more sinister. Some streets in our cities resemble fascist rallies. promoting nationalism and nostalgia are all this government has left to offer. With poverty rife, prices rising, a chaotic mess for a government they want us to look back. But obviously not to carefully – top rate of tax in 1952 was 97.5%, public services were nationalised, dentists and the NHS was free. Maybe we should look back and see what the good things were that we have lost. Not TB and polio, rigid social norms, racism and homophobia, misogyny and intolerance.

I think what we have lost most of all is hope. Climate change is upon us, and still being ignored. The rich manipulate news outlets to develop fear amongst the population and promote the policies that benefit the status quo. Culture wars and anti-woke campaigns try to undermine harmony and tolerance.

Wave the flag and develop a kind of mass hysteria promoting nationalism and the status quo is the way forward for the government of ineptitude, or should it be the government of incompetents.

Garden

Weather has been good for growing – regular light showers and warm although it could have been a bit warmer. Tomato plants have first flowers, as do the lemon trees. just made lemon pound cake – nice. New plants soon!

FIRKIN BONKERS

The government moves on from the parties to important things like promoting imperial measures. Bonkers! what is the reason for this? The papers arevtrying to make it anti-EU even though the move to metric had nothing to do with the EU and is not banned by the EU. Align with the USA makes no sense as their measures with the same name are actually different e.g.a ton.

INFLATION

We have the highest inflation in the G7. Inflation is caused by a variety of factors. Oil and gas prices have soared due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this has and will also hit grain and fertiliser costs; Brexit has resulted in a labour shortage and the increase in trade costs has spiralled; Climate change is also affecting commodity prices.

POLICE

Whilst I have sympathy for the Police it seems that there is need for major overhaul, especially of the Met. Racism, misogyny, class bias and lack of staff are the 4 major problems I can identify from an observers point of view. Racism and mysogyny need stamping out immediately – officers found to be racist by an properly independent body would be dismissed without compensation/pension rights. Class bias is presumably exercised at the highest levels so promotion routes/interviews need to be reorganised to ensure ability takes precedence over school/uni/friendship. the lack of staff has been a deteriorating scenario over Tory rule – the public want burglary investigated immediately, not in a weeks time if at all. I am sure many police officers would have valid and useful ideas regarding reorganisation and greater efficiency.

And how did party gate cost £450000? No interviews, a few questionnaires, documents readily available for perusal. And why did it take so long?

RECIPE LIST

Blueberry Honey Bran Muffins

Cheddar & sage scones

Mango chutney baked feta with lentils

Layered aubergine and lentil bake

Tomato and chickpea bake

Spicy cheese and sun dried tomato bake

Cheese and tomato pasta bake

Vegan lemon cake

Blackberry & apple oat bake

Baked ginger & spinach sweet potato

Aubergine, tomato & parmesan bake

Garlic mash potato bake

Baked falafel

Sweet potato, avocado & feta muffins

Vegan pasta bake

Nut roasthttps://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/coconut-cake

Crispy new potato bake

Spicy cheese & tomato bake

Coconut loaf cake

Cheese & rosemary biscuits

Cinnamon twists