Proportional Gifts.

A Lib-Dem motion regarding Proportional Representation using the 10 minute rule passed today by 138 to 136.  Naturally, this will go nowhere.  Such motions are often successful but unless the government of the day wants them to succeed they will disappear in one of the Commons back rooms.

However, this has shown a good degree of support for the idea, and as a start it needs to be given more publicity on social media and elsewhere.  Maybe in time a government will find it useful. 

Of the recent orders I ordered only one appears to be outstanding, this one!  Today I noticed why, it is coming from China!!!  Why do I not read these things properly?  Not only does this take time, possibly two more weeks, but the last tech item I got from China blew up my laptop!  

Now I have just discovered that another gift I ordered is coming from the USA!  What?  The address is UK but the goods come from far away!  By the time they get here they will be too late to post for Xmas.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr........

Bah Humbug!

Packet of Fury

There is of course little connection between a 'wise man' and myself.

One day recently, I was sitting happily scrolling through E-Bay looking for one thing when I came upon some Chinese tat that might do.  As you know, shiny things attract, and I was attracted to the cheap price.  Only once it was ordered did I realise it was coming from China.  Usually these things are stored in warehouses here all along.  Tsk!

Anyway, I was notified the tat had arrived in the UK 48 hours later and would soon reach me.  This was Friday, the goods should be here by Tuesday.

On Wednesday, I began to wonder.  Then the E-Bay info said it was posted and on it's way.

'Yodel,' the carrier, did not have this on their site, however.

Nothing happened.  

On Thursday I checked again, I made use of the 'Live Talk' button and talked live to a human being with a Pakistani name.  It's on it's way, they said.  

Then, the driver could not find the address!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I may have mentioned somewhat surly like that the house has been here for 200 years and the road itself for over 3000 in the middle of town, and he could not find the address! 

The person on the other side tried hard to be polite and helpful, they did not deserve me.

Friday, I waited, I waited, the Yodel site did not show the packet was coming out.

By lunchtime, I fumed myself into a tizz and emailed the man who sent the goods.

Not in Chinese I should say.

I pointed out that the packet had taken 48 hours to come from China several thousand miles away and 7 days to come to me from Ipswich 33 miles up the road!  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!  I said Grrrrily.

In a much nicer manner than I had the two days previously with the customer service folks who probably were in Pakistan.

I sat back irked out.  

I had told them! 

30 minutes later, the packet arrived at my door. 

Hmm....

China Tightens Persecution of Christians Once Again.

Wiki

The point of the bible, a collection of books, Law, letters and literature, 'God-breathed,' that are intended to reveal the Living God to his people, and his way, through the death and resurrection of Jesus on the cross, to reconcile a sinful humanity to the perfect Holy creator.

Thus it is important that those who believe must translate the scriptures into a many languages as possible, and often suffer the consequences from dictatorial enemies of God.  One such enemy is the intellectually weak Chinese President Xi Jinping.  Desperate to keep control, possibly because of economic troubles and the growing 'Cold War' between the USA and China, he is attempting to secure his back, and to do this means he must ensure nothing that veers from his desire is allowed to function.  Hence the decision to attack the freedom of churches to exist.  Throughout the country churches are being closed down, sometimes knocked down, in Zhumadian, Hena province, a pastor and his wife were both bulldozed by developers wanting the church removed so they could build.  The pastor managed to dig himself out, his wife was buried alive.  This is repeated in many area of China, the churches are closed, only certain controlled congregations are allowable, few Christians will join these.  Indeed, such is the control, even these churches are watched constantly by the authorities.

  

Wiki

This of course is not the first time Chinese governments have cracked down on those who would not 'bend the knee.'   President Xi Jinping was himself a prisoner under Mao many years ago, though not for attending church.  Today he feels free to use similar brutal tactics to stop any who will not accept his dictatorial rule.  Such rule lasted for years under Mao, how long can this president remain in power?  His support is lessening in the party each time he squeezes opposition, in time honoured Chinese style he will suddenly fall, if a strong man arises within China.

In 1951 the 'China Inland Mission' was removed from China by Mao, the missionaries feared for the churches they left, scattered all over the vast China hinterland.  Small and large churches existed in every city, many towns and villages, and they were expected to suffer.  Indeed they did!  Eventually an 'Official Church' existed in China, all under central control, even the powerful Catholic Church was restricted.  However, the vast majority of believers did not exist in these churches.  Throughout China the churches grew, not diminished under persecution.  Millions among the vast population gave themselves to Jesus and saw the back of Mao and the present prosperity in the land.  Of course many suffered, from persecution and through the dubious ideas of Chairman Mao.  Chairman Xi will also see similar results now as he attempts to kill of the 'word of God.'  He will find, as others before him found, that in time he will disappear yet the church will remain and flourish. 

Jesus is not beaten by Chinese or any other President, He is Lord of All.

PikBest

Flying Saturday

As I scribble high above me, at around 17000 feet a large aircraft heads towards China.  The many passengers have avoided delays by eco warriors (it now appears), passed through security checks, customs, many uniformed rude staff and now settle down gladly for the long trip across the world to the cheery despot now playing Emperor in Peking, sorry Beijing.  Another at similar height heads gracefully, I hope, towards Poland.  This reflects the air traffic above us as aircraft head for or leave Stansted airport or Luton just a wee bit down the road.  Those leaving Heathrow after mush airport stress pass over also.  At 35,000 feet we can occasionally note travellers from China, Canada, or further away above us as they seek a landing somewhere in Europe, Paris or Berlin perhaps.  This explains why our skies are filled with vapour trails daily, bright and clear against the blue above but unhealthy to eco warriors of various types. 

 
I wonder how many MP's are up there heading of to exotic (paid for) holidays?  I wonder also who is paying for them and what questions will they ask during the next parliament, if we have another one in this Tory rich kid dictatorship.  Hmmm... maybe going to China would not be so bad after all?  
Possibly Michael Gove and that Raab fellow will be aboard the plane looking for ideas?  
The 'Daily Mail' which can be trusted (note the sarcasm) has named two people as responsible for the drone attack without actually blaming them.  There is something about 'guilty until proved innocent' that does not appear to matter to the hacks, I wonder why?  Of course if this couple are indeed the people who have delayed 140,000 souls from flying off they deserve ten years no matter the cause.  Better that than being dragged into the airport concourse and greeted by those you have delayed I suspect.

   
Another Saturday, another pre Christmas show in the town.  Here an all male choir (are these allowed by screaming feminists?) entertained, although when I suggested to the security guard that he joined in he refused steadily.  Possibly he did not know the words of 'Little Donkey?'
I did not join in either having fruit and veg to collect...

Thursday Fun.....

Judging by the absence of slow moving traffic tonight many have already hopped it for their Christmas holidays.  I notice the House of Commons has departed for 17 days off (99 days to Brexit!) and the schools are out as many dear sweet children are filling the shops to their parents delight.  
I had the pleasure of an early morning trip to Sainsburys, then filling the washing machine for the last wash before Xmas and forgetting to switch it on, having a lunch date cancelled as the other was sick (before Xmas!) and then going to B&M for bird seed (again) and then switching on the machine while ironing the last few shirts, with another now hanging up drying slowly.  Does it ever stop I ask?

 

On top of this I realise the mouse had returned so I was there again shifting furniture and poking steel wool into holes (which he had pushed aside) and hoping to stop his reappearance.  I will know tomorrow if I have succeeded or not.  It is at times like this you realise how much stuff there is in the house.  At least I managed to get the postman and other deliveries when they arrived, unusual for me, and yet another bottle of whisky has been granted me, 'Highland Park,' same as last years.  The previous bottle is not yet finished so I am attempting to do so now, this may not be wise, and I am sufficed with a warm glow at the moment in spite of the open window.  I believe all my goods have arrived, no more goodies of any worth to come and my wallet is showing signs of wear and tear.  Hopefully I need only by things that matter now, meat, milk, bread....

   

A Cough in the Park

With the sun shining, the sky blue I took my cough across to the gardens to see some Spring.  This was the furthest I've roamed for weeks and it was a typical English Spring day, cold!  There was warmth in the air when the wind ceased but as it failed to cease much and blew from the east it hurled a chill at those fooled into thinking it was Summer.  When does Spring start and end I ask?  The official date appears to vary with metrologists and various others disputing what starts when.  I suppose in the UK it makes no difference anyway, it will not resemble a tropical land anytime soon.  
One thing that was clear was the Englishman's desperate desire to take his clothes off!  Not too bad today but all around I saw men and a few women in T-shirts when the weather was not yet warm enough for this, I helpfully coughed loudly in their direction to inform them of their next couple of weeks endurance test. 

Our cretinous leaders have pulled a great one this week.  Not that long ago they opposed tariffs on Chinese steel imports as George Osborne was desperate to get his hands on the Chinese cash, now said steel is flooding the market and 15,000 UK jobs will be lost.  Not only but also the steel produce still made in the UK will now have tariffs of around 42%  placed on it by the Chinese!
Selling the nation to the Chinese, Russians or Arabs of any type appeared to be a winner for George Osborne, now like almost everything else he touches it is falling apart.  Poor George his hopes of becoming Prime Minister are fading.

 
How nice to see the daffodils swaying in the wind today.  So many varieties of one flower were on view.  The council ones were darker and brighter than those planted long ago by the gardener in what once was a school garden but individual daffs seen in a variety of gardens had various shades of yellow.  None I suspect were similar to those seen by the poet that time up in the hills of the Lake District, those would be wild daffodils and not the type manipulated by green fingered peoples in greenhouses.  Such a variety of yellows, as indeed there were varieties of green to be seen.  Soon however the buds which have appeared will blossom and the world will smile once more.


"I WANDERED LONELY AS A CLOUD"

          I WANDERED lonely as a cloud
          That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
          When all at once I saw a crowd,
          A host, of golden daffodils;
          Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
          Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

          Continuous as the stars that shine
          And twinkle on the milky way,
          They stretched in never-ending line
          Along the margin of a bay:                                  10
          Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
          Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

          The waves beside them danced; but they
          Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
          A poet could not but be gay,
          In such a jocund company:
          I gazed--and gazed--but little thought
          What wealth the show to me had brought:

          For oft, when on my couch I lie
          In vacant or in pensive mood,                               20
          They flash upon that inward eye
          Which is the bliss of solitude;
          And then my heart with pleasure fills,
          And dances with the daffodils.
                                                              1804.   William Wordsworth

Wet Wednesday

 

Dull, dreich, dismal day today.  Rain from early morning, cloudy drizzle thereafter, just the ideal day to stay indoors and catch up on the repairs the place requires. The night had been short however and I did not sleep too well for unknown reasons, rising early was also not good and the day has been passed in a blurry haze.  The blurry haze may be the reasons the work I began have failed miserably, others look to follow and work planned for tomorrow is looking very unattractive.  Maybe instead of letting all this go to waste I ought to write a play about an incompetent doing DIY?  The slapstick effects will be wonderful, that reminds me where is the paint?  

On top of this the workmen, who bodge it better than I, are coming to fix a Carbon monoxide detector in the house, something landlords must do by law now, and the plumber made it clear to me our boiler which sticks pout through a hole in the wall does not require one of these, but the law says install one anyway.  The new smoke alarm makes sense and mine must be getting old by now so that is a good idea.  I suspect they will arrive when I am walking in tomorrows rain towards the post office, my tea levels will be drained by the time I return!

 

A nice picture of the unelected English queen asking the democratically elected Chinese dictator how much he is willing to pay for her house at Balmoral.  He may as well buy it as he has bought her government already.  What a sight to see, English Conservatives selling everything to the Chinese as they have no idea themselves how to make money.  Will there be a 'special relationship?'  There will certainly be no questions about the thousands of lawyers recently imprisoned, the thousands of Christians imprisoned the churches torn down or the threats to Japan and other south east Asian nations.  There will however be money in George and Dave's pockets, so that's all right then...