Edinburgh

 

Roam and Stroll make these videos and they are well worth watching 

Recently I came across these videos of bus rides through Edinburgh.  These are interesting to me and useful for those visiting the great historic city.  Though much of the scenery is of those parts no visitor will ever meet.

Since I moved away a few things have changed though the overall look remains the same.  That is while the main streets and ancient buildings have not moved many new buildings, vast estates, some good some bad, and huge industrial areas have arisen.  As the bus moves around slowly we can take in the sights, at least those in front of us, and get a glimpse of the surroundings.  

I found them rather exciting these bus journeys, this is because each one, bar those in the south side which I rarely ventured near, bring back memories and as we tend to do, I remember only the good things, forgetting for the moment the bad ones. 

This journey on the number 19 bus, which still covers some of the route it used to cover, begins at home, that is Granton Square.  Naturally we see nothing of the square as we drive out of it!

Granton is what the family considered our home.

This is because when dad was 5 years old his mum moved the family down here to a tenement not far from the square.  She had dumped granddad, he had lost his 3rd job in 7 years through the drink, and she had thrown him out.   They had both been widowed and he was about 50 something when they met and three children were produced  in a flat just of Dalry Road.  A better flat than the one in Granton maybe but we take what we can afford.  The tenement flat contained two rooms, a bedroom and a large family room as it would be called today. In between the two was a toilet, no bath, and apart from a coal fire in both rooms, and at the front window a cooker on one side, a sink on the other, there was nothing else to be seen.  A typical layout for the time, and better than a great many elsewhere.   

John, my dad's brother, lived in that flat until he died in 1964.  It is still standing though somewhat modernised today.

The memories this bus offered me begins as we leave the square.  On the left we see the small gothic inspired school building that dad attended.  We cannot see from the bus, but there are two doors, one for GIRLS and one for BOYS, a feature from the days when we were educated properly.  So many advances in education today but we miss out allowing girls and boys to learn among their own sex, at least two days a week ought to be given for this, as too often it appears to me education is leaning towards females and 'working class' boys suffer somewhat.

Dad was a milkman in those days, and remained one until 1954 at least when we had moved from Granton to a Miller built flat some distance away.  At that time he found work closer to home in the wire works at Granton.  This house move did not stop us being sent back to Granton to attend school, though we were placed into a 1932 modern, light filled primary, a marvel for the time, rather than dad's old one. 

Just up the road there is a turning to the right, this was the road leading to the long gone 'United Wire Works.'  Dad worked there until he died in 1969, having been moved into the Lab after an injury at the weaving put a bit of wire into his knee resulting in several days in the Western General Hospital.  He was never happy about this, considering himself a 'working man,' and the Lab a place for 'better people than himself.'  He got on well there and took to doing night shift mostly for the extra money.

Passing further up the road we notice the whitewashed one level building on the corner, the Anchor Bar.'  This, with Granton and a housing estate of 15,000 working people, was the only public house around.  It was a bit rough.  A second was built in the early 50's, but this too was insufficient for the population.  Of course most took the bus up town on Friday's and Saturday's, and most avoided the Anchor.  It looks closed, and while the cost of living and Covid have affected such places it may well be that an incident did not help bring customers to the hostelry.  

A few years ago a man involved in drug selling, and we are talking big gangsters here, was approached from behind by a man with a gun. He shot the gangster dead, having come through from Glasgow to do the deed.  Several Glasgow men have done similar in the past.  He was quickly identified and now is serving time in a prison somewhere far from the Anchor.

What a daft way of life.

The bus then goes all round the houses, doing what a proper 'service' transport ought to do, serve the people's needs.  Thatcher, remember her, deregulated the buses in an effort to make money and removed the service element to such an extent that throughout the UK people were trapped in their homes or forced to obtain a car to get around.  Since then things have improved but not everywhere.  Basic transport needs being met are an economic aid in a country, not a burden.  Edinburgh appears to have continued to supply good bus services, though always someone will complain.  

I enjoyed this part of the route as I have never been here before!  This was considered rough when I grew up, so we rarely went near it!  It looks OK to me now, but I wonder if having sold most of the council houses this has had an effect here?  I noticed several churches, possibly all in use, and that shows how rough it once was!

Past Crewe Toll where Ferranti once had a long red brick building, now replaced by fancy modern building belonging to BAE Systems and others, who took over large parts of the company when it collapsed in 1993.  

Further up the road we pass the mighty building that replace another red brick establishment, the Western General Hospital.  Now this vast enterprise features some of Scotland's best doctors, and resident doctors here are paid better, without strikes, than in England.

On up Orchard Brae, brae meaning hill in Scots, we reach Queensferry Road.  This road takes you to the Queens Ferry, across the Firth of Forth.  The ferries, of various types down the years carried many across the Firth until189 when the Forth Bridge opened up for traffic.  The most famous railway bridge in the world.  

Of course we are headed in the other direction!

We cross a bridge also, the Dean Bridge, with the Water of Leith running far below it.  This cannot be seen from our camera but on the bridge are metal spikes, put there to stop people jumping over to their deaths.  A favourite spot for this on many occasions, and it is a long way down.

This leads to the West End where we can be blinded by the sun, a novelty in Edinburgh, and almost miss the castle high above on the rock.  St John's Episcopal Church has stood on the corner since 1818.  Episcopal means it is an Anglican Church in Scotland, but they do not wish to call themselves 'The Church of England,' here as people react!  Behind that we just about glimpse the Parish Church of St Cuthbert, a Church of Scotland building.  There was a church here they say in the 7th century, when Bede was writing in Northumbria, and Irish monks, called Scots, were establishing churches everywhere.  It was recorded in 1128 when David I gave it to Holyrood Abbey.  The present building arose in 1894.  I was in there once, around 1968 for an evening service.  The sides men wore tails, and it appeared just to posh for me.  Who knows what it is like now?

We move from the West End to the East End, with the gardens on our right, the castle high above, and a variety of shops I canny afford on the left.  Originally these were all houses for the wealthy escaping Edinburgh's old town, now they are shops, clubs, hotels, and all overpriced.  The art galleries to the right and with the North British Hotel (now called something else) ahead telling us it is 20 minutes to 9 in the morning, hence the empty streets, and lying to us as the clock is always three minutes fast.  This is because below the hotel lies Waverley Station and with a flight of very wind swept steps to hurtle down you do not wish to be late for that train.    

The view is magnificent mind! 

As we come to a close we stare ahead to the Nelson Monument.  This upturned telescope was built in his memory and difficult to see has a ball on a pole at the top of it.  Originally this was so that sailors at Leith docks could get out their telescopes, look up to the ball on the pole, which would fall down exactly a 0ne pm each day.  Marvellous idea as all sailors required an exact time to enable their navigation workings.  Naturally with Edinburgh being covered by the haar (the cloud that descends over the city) most days, it was not always successful.  Hence the introduction of the One O 'Clock Gun!  Today, if you are passing, at that hour the gun will be fired, ready or not, and sailors in the port of Leith would hear, if not see the gun being fired.  Only on Sunday does it not go off.

Journey is over, time to change buses, or go into that gleaming new shopping centre for things you do not need.  Or find a café and stuff breakfast down you while watching other rush to work. 

Tesco Eggs

Looking at the long shelf filled with what we used to call 'Easter Eggs,' I was struck by the choice and the prices.  All appeared vastly overpriced, and I am aware of the failure of the cocoa crop in east Africa, but clearly Cadbury and Tesco and all the rest are attempting to make a bomb out of this.  It is noticeable that all are marked down from higher prices, and all are still too expensive. 

On top of this the word 'chocolate' is not always found on these boxes.  'Chocolate,' requires at least 20% cocoa to be branded as such, and it ought to be more but manufacturers pressure told, and few are much above, and some less than 20%.  Palm oil and vegetable oil plus sugar and other muck now fills the chocolate gap.  

Thus the reduced prices, as customers are refusing to pay such a cost, with UK residents annoyed at the US manufacturer changing the recipe and adding Palm oil which has terrible effects in various parts of other nations.  Some object simply because of that nice Mr Trump.

I had a brief look, though I will only be buying one or two myself.  I understand, but have yet to check, that 'Lindt' chocolate contain more actual chocolate but are much more expensive.  This limits my desire to check the contents.

As my teeth are disintegrating quickly I may not bother with one for myself.

Middle East War

Flightradar24

 

Looking at Flightradar I see five US tanker aircraft flying from Tel Aviv circling over the Gulf meeting various aircraft awaiting them.  The B-52's which passed by the other day were glimpsed for a moment, then disappeared.  Whether they worked is not reported.  B-52's are highly praised for their ability, however, they bombed Vietnam to destruction many times, and still lost a war to men on bicycles if I remember correctly.  Here again we see a similar result occurring.

The US mentality is to bomb heavily, smash the opposition and wipe them from the earth.  Subtlety was never in their mind.  It has not worked in Iran ether.  Iran was preparing a defensive wall, the real damage has been to their cities, not their defences, especially those hidden individual missile launchers that remain.  

The much praised US military has spent billions a day damaging a wasteland while getting nowhere militarily.  So many predicted this, including their own generals, yet here we are, Trump following orders from Bibi and getting trapped in an unwinnable war.

Once again he claims he has spoken to Iran and they are getting somewhere, so he will cease firing for five days.  Once again Iran deny this claiming he is only manipulating the oil markets.  I believe Iran before the child rapist.

There is another thing, everyone knows he is a child rapist, yet he remains in office, why?

If you ever feel the need to enquire as to what has been released from the Epstein files then search this Twitter link.   Epstein  This holds thousands of files, emails, pictures and videos.  Now I do not usually agree with warnings that items on TV or Radio etc may offend, however, I warn you that looking at the stuff found here may lead you to find the videos repulsive and lead to violent responses.  Some of the offerings are vile.  And these are redacted!

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Railway Trip

 

Wednesday was supposed to see me once more heading at 100 miles per hour down to Liverpool Street station.  There I would meet another old friend, though not from so far away as the one I met here the week before.  

I was feeling a bit rough, those little virii annoy so, yet I wanted to meet a man I had not seen for a couple of years.  As I prepared I checked the train times, and whether all was well.  The Twitter feed soon informed me off a wee station just outside of town that had a signal problem.  Oh dear.  This meant trains arriving, only one, and that is an hourly service, could only travel slowly, if indeed they travelled at all.  

On top of this, further down the line a train had left a major station on route and come to a halt.  This required workmen to check the train, once moved other workmen had to check the wires overhead, which means switching of the 25,000 volt wire.  There may be blue flashes otherwise.  All this leads to masses of early trains, all the way back to Norwich, being delayed, held, cancelled and sometimes disappearing from the face of the earth.  

So, if a train arrived here in the outer limits it might be late.  Being an emergency there was no bus replacement service.  Normal bus services would not cope with the numbers affected anyway.  All this considered I called and cancelled our meeting, probably in Costa once again (he paying).  

This was annoying, and as I called the broken train moved, but too late for me.  So I missed out on the journey and had no choice but to visit Tesco instead.

As I did so the railway fought to get the trains back on schedule, some cancelled, others early, but all rejoicing in normal service once again.  Except that a man got in front of a train in the other direction thus creating  different blockage that way.  Again delays, slow trains and hold ups. 

A new date has been set, April Fools Day!

St Patrick's Day

 

The Weekend

Nothing I like doing better than forcing myself up early on a Saturday morning to visit Sainsburys.   

I jest.

This however, I had to do as I wished to buy all the heavy stuff in one go.  So, off I hobbled, paid £1 for a trolley, and forced it unwillingly round the shop before the Saturday crowds arrived.  

Arrive they did, but not before I was home again.

As I pushed past women who could not control the trolley as badly as I the price rises in recent weeks caught my eye.  Nans costing £1:25 last week are now £1:50, coffee that was £3:90 not long ago is £4:30, and so on.  The recently arrived manager has moved everything according to shop owners theory and made it difficult to find what is wanted.  I suspect he will be gone soon and the next manager will return everything back to where it began. 

For once the customers were friendlier here than normal, at the checkout the women behind me was laughing as I struggled to get everything out of the trolley.  She followed in similar fashion.  The things one does when the servants have a day off!  

I paid the price willingly, I had my eyes closed at this point, and struggled down the poor condition, sloping pavements back home.  The 10 year old lad who passed in the opposite direction tried hard not to laugh as I began to slide onto the road.  Then followed the struggle to lift the bags out, stop the trolley running away, and after returning the brute, carrying all those bags upstairs and hiding everything.

For some reason I have done nothing else since.

Donald is at it again.  First he declares a war Bibi ordered, then he grumbles about lack of support from the UK, then claims he has won the war and Iran is defenceless.  No he demands the UK and others defend the Gulf for Iran who are defenceless as they are shooting at ships. 

What a mess.  Many military men made clear fighting Iran was a mistake, they are prepared for defence, the US is not prepared for attack on Iran.  Now he is stuck.  This is not helped by the attacks on Israel, which we are not allowed to see, yet have damaged a great deal of Tel Aviv, and possibly has resulted in the death of Bibi Netanyahu.  This of course has yet to be confirmed.

A president who has sex with children, a Russia with those videos of him doing this, an Israeli leader desperate to avoid jail, and we have the recipe for war.  The UK leadership have taken the Israeli cash to obey orders.  Sovereignty I suppose.

The Hidden Ways,

This is a travel book, travelling along roads that no longer exist, or are overtaken by modernisation.

Alistair Moffatt walks along Scotland's 'forgotten roads.  These include the 'Invasion Road.'  This brings us over the Lammermuirs and Cheviot hills following the road developed by Gnaeus Julius Agricola, the then governor of Britain, he thought.  Around the year 78 AD Agricola brought some 10,000 men north, half of them along this road through the hills.  His intention was to conquer the northern arts of the island, and like many who followed him, he would claim success but return home empty.  From Chew through Pennymuir, and over the Tweed at Trimontium and finishing at Lauder, the author attempts to follow what remains of this road.  Few outlines can be discerned on such roads, farming and age wearies them, but occasionally the line can be found and followed, with some objects from a distant past to be found.  Just walking in such a road could be a historical experience in itself.

Many such roads are followed in this book.  The ancient road north of the Tay, the pilgrim road to St Andrews, the 'Herring Road,' where fish would be transported from Dunbar into the hills, often on women's backs, to Lauder and all places in between.

These ancient roads, that arose out of need, now lie still, often untouched by modernity.  They do offer an insight into the lives of those who crossed them, whatever their driving force. Walking while carrying a pack on the back, is indeed hard work.  People had to be tough to survive, and they reveal just how soft we modern people are today.  While we are healthier, they are much fitter and very much stronger.  Sitting around while we travel does not keep us fit.  Working until death did not do much for those of the past either I suppose. 

While claiming to originate from a council estate the author gives clear information as to his now middle class lifestyle.  For instance, 'The Road to Ruin,' a walk down Edinburgh's High Street, the 'Royal Mile,' gives clear indication of where he is now.  As he worked for the Edinburgh Fringe office on the high Street he was close to the long history before him.  He chooses however, to limit what he sees.  While occasional references to rugby are noted in this work when discussing the inset for the 'Heart of Midlothian,' placed where that old building once stood, he deliberately ignores much of Edinburgh. The author mentions the old tale that people would spit on the inset as they passed, remembering the old prison that stood there, purposely ignoring that today no-one remembers that.  Instead they spit because this is the badge of the Heart of Midlothian football club, and other clubs followers spit for childish spite, not because of a long gone prison.  Murrayfield and Scotland's rugby is remembered however.  In my view, and I suggest the view of many others, this weakens his claim to be seeking Scotland's past.  When putting your nation under English rule you are not supporting Scotland.  This devalues the historical aspect of his writing.

The book is however, worth a read.

Saturday Gourmet

Another Saturday improved by Pea Soup.

There is great joy in mashing peas badly, adding double cream to the pot, and then supping it while all around are watching bombs falling in the middle east.  Well, all bar those watching football obviously.

With a mere 10 minutes work, not counting the time I kept forgetting what I was doing, five bowls of the stuff have been prepared.

Tonight I am making a mess of macaroni cheese also.  

Simple foods for simple people.

Liverpool Street Meet

Wednesday morning found me sitting on a quiet Greater Anglia service for London Liverpool Street.  The £25:35 I paid, making use of my old man's ticket, gave me a smooth journey to my destination.

There I met a pink boiled maggot and headed for Costa for coffee (£7:10 for two!)

It has been a year or two since we last met, she coming from Costa, me from the local wilderness, and using Costa for coffee was appropriate.  I always inform people that coffee originated in Costa Rica, hence the company name, some believe me!  

The usual million people thronged around us, though not for us of course.  Trains arrived and trains departed, very smoothly today I must say.  However, one whistle blew at one point and I realised how much I miss hearing a whistle blow when trains depart the station.  They no longer give two sharp whistles as the leave either, and I think this sad really.  The departure time on both trains arrived and we smoothly and quietly began to head for our terminus.  All very efficient today, no hindrances, no leaves on the line slowing us down, no jammed doors, no suicides, no lorries hitting the bridges we cross, all was well.  On our line at least.  

Much renovation and future work in the area and including this station itself.  A great huge, and probably empty, towner block is to be built above it, possibly to launder someone's ill gotten gains.   

The original station is disappearing as we look.

Early pillars holding up the roof are still in place.

And the colossal Great War memorial of Great Eastern Staff who perished one way or another is still well kept, though two police bikes parked at the bottom tended to block the lower memorial items.

With worry for Fly's health I sought a coffee shop inside the station.  I did not wish her to walk too far. I was somewhat surprised, but should not have been, that on leaving she was off on a bus to John Lewis to spend money.  I needed to do the gentleman thing here, so naturally I mentioned my war wound, hobbled away, and let her get on with it.  

The surrounding area gets higher every time I pass here.  What is it with those people who wish to build ridiculous sky scraper office blocks that companies cannot afford to use, and with most people working better from home, do not wish to use?

Some old sights remain, such as this place.  I did not enter, it has a good and filthy reputation but it also has London prices.  I do not work in one of these towering office blocks so I cannot afford to enter.  If I earned their money I would need a security guard to accompany me everywhere.  

I have no intention of mentioning the incident where Fly took her stick, placed the hook in the hood of the young man who bumped into her as he passed , and pulled him under that bus.  The young policewoman, are they not all young today, was very kind and helpful to Fly here.  I wonder if he is still under that bus?

Home, still breathing, and glad to have gone down there,  A good day from my point of view.  I wonder if fly is still in John Lewis's?

The Drowned and the Saved

This is quite a good book if you like sinking in a hurricane force storm.

The story concerns the sinking of two ships, the damage done to two others, and the response of the islanders on Islay.

It is 1918, the war is heading towards its end, and US troops (called 'doughboys' far too often in this book) are crammed into ships crossing the Atlantic.  One, the Tuscania is sunk by U B-77 with a successful torpedo strike in February 1918.  The other is the larger ex-liner Otranto which in a heavy sea was struck by another convoy ship, the Kashmir. 

The Tuscania attempted to lower lifeboats, some went into the sea, others were badly handled by young, inexperienced and frightened crewmen, often on their first voyage.  The gale force winds, rearing seas high and violently did not help the escape pattern.  Eventually a destroyer arrived and with difficulty took many men of the ship.  Others in lifeboats were picked up, sometimes hours later, by trawlers working as minesweepers.  However, in spite of the rescue attempts a great many lifeboats made it to the coast of Islay and were dashed against the rocks.  Smashed lifeboats, raging seas, rocky shore and high cliffs led to many perishing on the coastline.  

On shore the locals rallied round in a rescue attempt.  Some risked their lives in the water hauling men from the waves, others climbed the cliffs to rescue stranded survivors, all took part in reclaiming the bodies washing up on the shore line.

Survivors were tended in farmhouses, school buildings, and sheds.  The local women spent many hours baking scones for the survivors and tending them in their beds.  Locals, who had already lost many men in the fighting in France and Flanders were keen to aid the US wounded lying before them.  It cost the all they had, but they would not ask for recompense.  These islanders knew the sea, and knew the cost of sailing on it in storms.  

Graves were dug in several places and the dead buried in solemn fashion.

During September 1918 another convoy of green US soldiers set sail.  The convoy followed orders by zig-zagging along the route to lessen the opportunity for passing U-Boats.  However, by the time the convoy rounded the north of Ireland with Scotland to the east a gale blew up.  A force 11 gale, that is hurricane force, lifted the seas to 40 feet heights.  Soon the ships in the dark lost what little sight they had of one another and it was up to the experience of the captains to make for their port.  It was not inevitable but accidents were likely, and by misjudging their position one turned to port while the other turned to starboard.  Neither noticed the other until it was too late. 

The Kashmir hit the Otranto midships, cutting a huge V-shaped wedge into her side.  The shock, in such waves was enormous.  The ships were disentangled, the Kashmir then made for her port desperate to avoid her damaged front taking in water.  She survived just.

The Otranto was badly damaged and attempts to lower lifeboats were hindered by inexperience, high seas, and boats turning over in the waves.  Eventually, one destroyer did make a foolhardy attempt to rescue men.  HMS Mounsey, who had seen action at the Battle of Jutland, attempted to come alongside.  The Otranto's mster demanded the Royal Navy back off before losing their ship also, but Lieutenant Craven, the man in charge, replied that he would take survivors or both go down together.

So began a frantic rescue operation in the dark, with high waves, a gale force wind, amid a rescue only a desperate man would attempt.  Craven attempted it.

Eight times he crashed his destroyer into the side of the liner, each time men tried to jump onto the Navy vessel.  Many fell between the ships and were crushed, others made it on board and were grabbed inside by the crew, held on tight to anything nearby, or were washed overboard by the sea.

This mad effort did rescue several hundred men, while others who had got into lifeboats made for the Islay coast.  So, several months after the last disaster Islay folk were once again finding bodies on the shore.  Once again they tended what survivors there were, very few this time, and once again they gave what they had to feed the living and bury the dead.  Some bodies, in dreadful state, did not land for several months.  

Of course once the need was known help came from the mainland eventually.  The second time they were better prepared and supported by the UK and US army.  The US Red Cross provided much support and material, replacing what the locals had lost.  A connection between the Islanders and the USA began that lasted for manty years, survivors returning long after the event to see again the Island people and the severe coastland.  

This is worth reading because of the response of the islanders alone.  They gave all they had to support the men who landed alive.  Such an example of giving that we possibly could not match.  They would have done the same for a German ship also if a submarine had floundered I suspect.  

Well worth a read, but it is harrowing reading during the rescue attempts. 

War in Middle East

The emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1914, commentated on the cheering that arose when war was declared, "They cheer when war begins, but not when the bodies come home."  Now I may have paraphrased that somewhat but the meaning is clear.  I remember the noise in the House of Commons when they debated sending troops to the Falkland Islands, the cry was for blood, and all sides supported it.  None of those present, as far as I know took part in any fighting there.  

Once again, to keep out of court, Bibi Netanyahu has taken Israel and the USA to war, this time with Iran.  Once again Donald Trump has no idea what he is doing, once again we do not know what the outcome will be.  

The huge force gathered by the USA and Israel has failed to remove the Islamic regime.  It appears that as they attacked Iran, using Chinese equipment, jammed the aircraft radars which ensured many were shot down or useless.  The devastation is not one sided, as a well prepared Iran, both militarily leadership wise, is ready for a war in the air, on land and at sea.  Resources are not infinite and Iran is well prepared for the next step.  Donald Trump is not.

Missiles are falling around the middle east, nothing will stop them but negotiation and no-one wants that!   Finger pointing is everywhere, the UK government are awaiting orders from Florida, where Trump is hiding out, and he awaits orders  from Israel and Moscow.  The fact that the man who started the war has run away and hidden himself in Germany surprises some.  He has left his people to take the drones falling around Israel while he sits in a bunker in Germany.  Somewhat ironic I think.  Reports slip out that some US generals are demanding an end before it is too late.  Remember that Cheney and Rumsfeld were wishing to attack Iran and the generals stopped them.  "This is not Iraq," they said.

What now?  

Missiles will fall for a few days more, possibly lessening.  If the attackers withdraw it may end, if not who knows what will happen.  Certainly some will be indicating that scripture, mostly in the old testament, indicates Israel surrounded by enemies before the Hebrews turn en masse to Jesus as Messiah.  They might be right.  If this war continues, China will not be happy as sales will fall as western prices rise.  Oil will not flow from the middle east, plus shipping costs from insuring ships will rise dramatically.  The west will pay the price.  Russia however, will sell oil to India and China happily.  Now we know why Venezuela was so important to Trump.

God is working his purposes out in the middle east, Israel is in the centre, and you and I ought to be seeking our position before this Jesus in case those old testament scripture interpretations are correct.

The Wee Teams

BBC

 

Watching the highlights of Stranraer's recent game reminded me of just how much joy can be found watching football.  There are hundreds, possibly thousands of clubs kicking a ball around a sodden wet pitch somewhere in Scotland every weekend.  Lucky ones get to play on cold, wet, muddy pitches in the half dark of floodlights at small out of the way grounds in midweek also.  Yet they enjoy it, the fans enjoy it, and they come back again the next week for more.

I am talking here about those small clubs that many people have never heard of.  Clubs that have been playing in senior leagues for over a hundred or more years, Stranraer for instance began in 1870, the third oldest club in Scotland.  Scotland was of course the place where football as we know it today began.  It had been an organised game for hundreds of years, often to some people's objection.  Playing on the sabbath upset some ministers, playing 'of the futbal,' upset King James I as he wanted them at archery practice.  However, the game continued.  It always will.

It is the people who support these small teams that are in my mind just now.  The chances of success are low.  Promotion from one low division to the next is occasionally possible, a cup win over a 'Big' club always to be hoped for and sometime achieved.  There again, the chances of reaching the top division and remaining there are slim.  The local population is too small for many to survive, and the costs of reaching a high division can kill a club financially.  This however, does not stop the locals turning out to support, especially against 'Big' clubs in the cup, and in all weathers rain or shine.

Since seating was introduced some 30 years ago almost all grounds have some sort of seating under cover arranged.  This brings the women out with the kids, often they become true fans, more so than those who have been there for years.  These small clubs have a sense of belonging and emotional joy when successful that larger clubs, more used to winning something, can ever achieve.  The child's joy at the team scoring, the displays of anger at what is regarded as bad refereeing, the joy of victory, all these things bring a family together, bring a few hundred, sometimes dozen, people together, and makes the world a better place. 

We will ignore the defeats in the rain that make life depressing at this point.

To watch the crowd at smaller clubs during a game is sometimes more enjoyable than watching the game.  The crowd' rising' as the ball crosses into the box, all attempting to get their head on the ball, all except the 4 year old engrossed in a book, the girl asleep on dad, or the frozen mum hoping there is no added time as she is cold.  Watching them react is great sport.  Such things cannot be noted in the same manner at larger teams with greater crowds.  All such is hidden in the mass.  

Big football cubs may have colossal turnovers of money and men, they might provide some of football 'greats,' but their fans are no better at supporting, and grumbling about, their team than the side with a regular 250 watching.  The game is the thing, the club belongs to 'us,' and it is ours, even though we laugh at it and ourselves for following the club.  Football, 'the peoples game!'  

Not Stranraer!

Spring

Spring is in the air.  South west winds have eased the clouds into France leaving us with considerable sunshine and blooming daffodils.  These brighten the park opposite and offer a promise of warmer weather.  Of course it will snow at least once before April has finished, but that is normal here.  

Speaking off bright young things, has anyone seen Mandy?  Did he go with Nigel to that Mauritius holiday?  Or has he gone with Tommy to the USA to avoid paying taxes?  He has certainly not been 'door-stepped,' by the press, though they all know where he is.  Maybe, like Andy, Mandy knows to many names, and too much info.  I wonder where he will fall through a 10 storey window?

Hold on!  

Tonight's news is reporting our hero was arrested at home, and is now 'helping police with enquiries.'

We await more news.

Trump's boy went to the Maldives to remind us all that we cannot just walk into a military base, anywhere in the world.  We can however, stand far away and point in the direction of that base and pretend the UK government has 'banned me.'  Who pays for the flight, the hotel, the 'extra's,' and remains nameless?  What was in it for them?  Certainly not the people of Clacton, some of whom still defend him.  Why?

Trump himself was somewhat embarrassed when a US frigate, patrolling Greenland, had to seek medical help from Greenland for a sick sailor.  The boat did not have sufficient medical expertise for that situation, Greenland were willing to send aid.  The boat was thankful.

Trump claimed to have send a hospital boat, or was that two boats, to Greenland.  I do not think they have moved as yet.  He appears to have forgotten Iran again, maybe the pills are not working?  

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

Our ex-prince, and now commoner, Andy, has been arrested and taken in for questioning.  As is normal in the UK there is no more stated than that.   Under the Law of England and Wales the police will not even name the gentleman helping with enquires, and will discuss the situation with him for, I think, 48 hours before any further statement is made.

The King, his brother, issued a statement indicating that 'the Law must take its course.'  He did not add, 'It's nothing to do with me guv.'  Parties among royal household staff are thought to have begun in earnest, but no evidence has yet been produced.

 From an old 'Private Eye.'

Johnson & Johnson

 

Johnson & Johnson are renowned the world over for their 'Baby Powder,' among other products.  This is used less on babies than it is on women, however, and here is where the problem lies.  Many women blame the ovarian cancer that they suffered on their use of such Baby Powder.  Since 1971 this corporate giant has known of the connection between their 'Baby Powder,' and asbestos.  Where talc is mined asbestos is often found within or nearby.  More evidence arose in 2005 yet this was withheld and sales of the talc continued.  

In the USA several years worth of legal fights have ensued with a great many women, or their relatives, suing Johnson & Johnson for compensation.  The majority have won their case and other cases continue to arise.  The corporates who lined their pockets may well have retired by now, the company will be paying out billions for some time to come.

In the UK similar legal action is forthcoming.  My sister died from this disease some years ago and her daughter has joined a legal group who intend to bring such a case.  Hopefully this will succeed.  My sister apparently used a great deal of talc, and the surgeons suggested this was the most likely cause.  My niece suggested I join her, or at least the lawyer woman suggested this, but I consider it best she and her own daughter continue with the others proceeding with this case.  I think a great many are joining together to fight the company.  If I joined it would just be jumping on a bandwagon, for my niece it is justice for a company that cared nothing about those who suffered.  I'm sure Farage would represent them if paid well enough.  

Our modernised, computer controlled, solar powered pillar box awaits all comers.  I made use of it today confident that the card posted will be retrieved tonight and on its way north.  I am not so sure about the other end mind. 

The problem is privatisation!  Selling the Royal Mail and every other service has resulted in less service and increased prices.  Where did the money go?  Into private hands.  Today, with many competing in the parcel delivery market, 'white van man' covers the entire country worrying Royal Mail profit grabbers.  Quite why they worry I am unsure as most of the cheaper companies spend their time not delivering goods, Royal Mail are trusted much more.  However, orders from on high, via office workers up there who have never delivered a letter in their lives, demand parcels come first.  This means letters are not delivered, for weeks they say in some places, and pillar boxes are not collected, thus NHS, lawyers, and official documents do not arrive, causing all sorts of problems.  Does anyone care?  Not in Westminster.  The last card I sent arrived, but I sent it early, we shall see how this one works.

Candle light

Times are hard.  The gas bill arrived a week ago and the heating has been off more than on, in spite of the cold chill which has been around us all week.  Until the weekend it will remain like this, so I have turned to the candle to keep me warm and save using the lights.  This is because the electric bill will follow in a week or so, and that is worse than the gas.  This made me realise several things.  One is that matches are hard to light when lying in a cupboard for several years.  Another is that in those days when the only light came from an oil lamp or candle, if available, those who wrote books at night did not do much good for their eyes.  The great William Gladstone wrote all the time, letters, reports for Victoria of the parliamentary day, his own bills, and numerous other items, all this leading to harm for his eyesight.  Getting older did not help this either.  

Consider all those books, reports, manuscripts and other literature great and small written by such light.  The UK has a lot of darkness during the year, houses were not always gifted good windows, and therefore lighting by candle or other means was poor.  Yet masses of works arrived, and many are still read today.  The drivel scribbled on the web will, I suspect, not last into future millennia.  All this will be lost to posterity, and consider how the future will suffer when it misses our writing.  

What?...oh!

Talking of work, I notice the DWP, those caring benefits people, have been ensuring that the disabled must be willing to work if they want benefits.  With the number of people unemployed reaching a high of 5.2% in the UK, but only 3.8% in Scotland, the question being asked is 'Where are the jobs?'  If those with university degrees, years of experience, and willingness to work and struggling to fond a job, what chance has a seriously disabled person?  None whatsoever.

So, the caring PM has taken another step is helping the sick, he will ensure that any one who applies from a certain date now will have the benefit cut in half, to encourage them to find work.

What a heartless, cruel and savage act this is.

All this is part of the rich ensuring the weak pay the cost while they dodge the taxes.  The same wealthy people who give large donations 'for the office,' of MPs. 

Ratcliffe and Farage

Jim Ratcliffe, the Monaco based billionaire tax dodger, offered his opinion that "Britain has been 'colonised' by immigrants, who are draining resources from the state."  This upset many, as it was intended to do, enhanced by his comment that the population had grown by 12 million since 2020 and is now up to 70 million.  All this is meant to annoy and disturb.

Many will agree, and have raced to agree by saying, "Some Manchester people agree," which is another way of saying "I agree."  They have a point, those who emotionally run to agree without checking facts which indicate the details are wrong, may outnumber those who oppose Jim for his lack of information and blatant racism.  Both are wrong.

This is just another example of rabble-rousing.  It is easy to bring division and this is one example.  I read somewhere that Farage had met Jim Ratcliffe a day or two before his comments, and the way this has come out possibly reveals the Farage hand in this.  Since 2020 the UK population has not grown by 12 million, only by 2.5 or so million, easily merged into the nation.  The colonisation, and Scotland is colonised by England, by immigrants is Farage speech.  It is meant to divide, it is meant to cause anger, and it is meant to take the media coverage of Nigel.  Jim is not moved by this, he cares only for money, and the Dark Theology behind those running the coup on the West know he is on their side, as profit means more than anything else.  So the nation is angry at Ratcliffe, division is sown, he keeps his £4 Billion tax he dodged in Monaco, and Farage and his people laugh. 

By the way, this is interesting.  Bylines

Hope

It is easy to get depressed with the state of the world.  The impression given is one of confusion and danger, unstable governments, unstable individuals, and threatening forces that appear 'on the up' while common decency, care for others, and quiet stability are not seen.

It was ever thus.

Today people look back to the days of the 1950s as for them it was a period of peace and prosperity.  There is some truth in this, the Attlee government gave us the NHS, the best product of the UK ever, schools, houses and the basis of a strong economy with what was left after two world wars.  However, war still erupted around the world, criminals in government and in the locale were abounding then as now, while jobs were available money was still short.  The 'good old days' were no better than today.  Indeed, those who look back will never exchange their washing machines, hoover, flash TVs or cars and return to 1955 will they?  The problem is life never changes, what was, still is and will be again.  That's life.

Today the UK is spending much time on the Epstein files, the only major leader who is in danger of losing his job is Keir Starmer, and I doubt he would ever have taken a trip to Epstein Island, and if taken there would soon find a way out.  Trump, and all his gang remain, no matter what he does the US does not appear to care.  Was Trump involved with young women, aged under 16?  A 9 year old was mentioned, did he know?  So many questions, yet the millions of pages of files remain hidden or redacted, why?  

Mandelson has gone, again.  So many who knew him appeared shocked at what they heard, though the magazine 'Private Eye,' was writing about him many, many years ago, after the first of his three sackings.  Yet MPs are 'shocked?'

The connection between Trump, Steve Bannon and Boris in removing Theresa May from the PM job must be investigated by the correct authorities.  It will not be of course.  This is a criminal act, involving outside sources, hence 'treasonable.'  Nothing will happen.  The 'Labour Together' Israeli supported MPs will continue to fight to replace Keir, and promise to do nothing re Bannon and Boris or any Russian influence, because they may well be involved there also.  Billionaires leading coups in the UK and the US, supported by that nice Mr Putin, has been going on for years.  Many have known, yes Farage I mean you, where the money comes from and this includes the press.  It is such a shame we have np MSM willing to publish the truth about these things, even the Guardia, once a decent read, has joined the other side, if only there was a daily paper able to speak for the free world?

However, there is hope.

We see the fall of both Mandelson and Morgan McSweeney and can rejoice.  Two of the 'untouchables' have been touched.  Others can also be touched and brought to justice, no matter how corrupt a society happens to be.  Hitler's boys were untouchable once, Stalin died, Putin is running out of people to throw from the 10th floor, and all will be brought before almighty God one day.   

Is.19: 22. Who is it you have ridiculed and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel!

23. By your messengers you have ridiculed the Lord. And you have said, “With my many chariots I have ascended the heights of the mountains, the utmost heights of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars, the choicest of its junipers. I have reached its remotest parts, the finest of its forest

24. I have dug wells in foreign lands and drunk the water there. With the soles of my feet I have dried up all the streams of Egypt.”

25. “ ‘Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it. In days of old I planned it; now I have brought it to pass, that you have turned fortified cities into piles of stone.

The Trumps, Xi Jinping's, the Putin's and Bannon's of this world think they are in charge.  They are not.  The world is controlled by Jesus of Nazareth, now Lord of all.  Whatever plans they make will be limited by his grace and his grace alone.  Why they are allowed their moment in the sun I cannot say, but we share the same sinful nature and we too could easily follow them if we let ourselves.  Be grateful you have not been swept up in their plans.  Hitler and Stalin are long gone, many other fearful men, and a few women, have risen and fallen, gods for a while and now experiencing their eternity.  We have a better eternity, Jesus provides it, and the short term worries brought but such people need not lead us to despair.  There is hope.