I ought to write something. Christmas Day is nearly over. I did nip down to the shop for a bottle of wine and saw Maddie which was nice. I spoke to all family on the phone, again nice. I get a lie in again tomorrow with papers not needing doing until shop opens at 9am.
James Webb
The $10bn James Webb telescope has left Earth on its mission to show the first stars to light up the Universe. Amongst the dark days of winter clouded by covid it is a beacon of light. Human beings have the potential to make the world a better place. Happy Xmas.
PET CULL
I had not heard of this slaughter of 700000 pets at start of WW2.
A CHRISTMAS QUIZ
1. Christmas in the UK was cancelled in what year?
2. In 1571 it became compulsory, on a fine of 3 shillings and 4 pence, to wear what?
3. Where was Doggerland?
4. Britains shortest war was with whom?
5. What did Joseph Bazalgette do for the UK?
6. Name the longest London Underground Line.
7. Winston Churchill ordered British Gunboats up which estuary in 1911?
8. Malawi was formerly called what under the British Empire?
9. Jordgubb is Swedish for which fruit?
10. Which founder member of the football league is no longer a member?
11. In which country did lacrosse originate?
12. Mace is the shell of which better known spice?
13. Flageolet and mung are types of what foodstuff?
14. Betelgeuse is a bright star in which constellation?
15. Who won crickets county championship in 2020?
16. What was El Gordo, the Spanish lotteries top prize this week?
17. Who is the new face on the £50 note?
18. In 2015 the government finished paying off a 182 year old loan (£2.1 billion in todays money). What was the loan for?
19. What did Thomas Blood try and nick?
20. Which state of the USA is known as the 1st state?
21. Scott Boland makes his debut for Australia v England at cricket and is the second. Who was the first?
22. How many countries have England/UK been at war with?
23. County Mayo is in which Irish Province?
24.
CITIES
One fan was also arrested on suspicion of invading the pitch.
Can someone please explain this statement from BBC website? Did they invade the pitch or not? Or is the Met Police just announcing everything in ways to cover their backs. Presumably there were police at the game and the fan did or did not invade the pitch. Just like Downing Street Police were on duty at No.10 but have no evidence of a party – possibly because they were too pissed to fill in attendance book, and it is not their job to watch over the gatherings on the lawn of the leader of the country and officials. What are they there for? “Ah, Mr.Bin Laden – can I hold your bomb/gun whilst you take off your coat Sir? .
COVID
MADNESS
Greta Thunberg@GretaThunberg·We’re now 2 yrs into the decisive decade. Emissions should be in an unprecedented fall, instead we’re seeing the 2nd biggest rise ever recorded. We’re wasting invaluable time pretending we can solve this crisis without treating it like a crisis. World leaders are still in denial.
To those who know of my idea – why not Sky News?? Survival of the planet vs morals? No brainer.
BUDGETS
So the government has borrowed £17.4 billion in November, bringing total to £2.3trillion. Where has it gone? The vaccines which public money helped to develop are costing a lot. test and trace is rumoured to be still running. No doubt so called “NHS’ contracts are still being handed out. Brexit is causing higher prices across the board and energy prices continue to soar.
WHAT A STRANGE WORLD
we live in. Front page of Guardian today – Sunak announced a £1billion bail out package for hospitality firms across the country. AND Sheikh Mohammed has to pay £500 million in divorce package. Economics has gone mad.
OH MY – I am just reading more on the divorce. Children now aged 14 and 9 had an allowance of £10 million each! and access to a fleet of planes including a Boeing 747 and a $400 million boat and helicopters. The parents even spent £2 million on strawberries in one summer – how is that possible? Best Cheddar strawberries (which are totally scrumptious) are about £10 kg. 200000 strawberries is a lot!