Ancestry and Nicola

Another month has raced by, I did not really notice it as it passed by so quickly.

Another day spent trawling other people's findings on Ancestry to enable me to speed up the search for my friends family.  All very interesting, but so much information is missing.  However, I am back to 1777 which, some of you will remember, was a good year with the English army being defeated by the American rebels.  No tea was hurt in the making of these battles.

This family had a hard life at all times.  Mostly agricultural labourers, with some losing several children before they were 10.  Not unusual for the time however, losing a 5 year old and a 7 year old six months later must have taken a toll.

So I slogged away at this, quite warm as the laundry was drying on the heaters, and gave up before my head exploded.  Almost immediately an e-mail arrived with info regarding the Great War memorial.  A wee bit confused so that will be the task tomorrow, my mind has stopped now.

Not a fan of the ex-First Minister, however, from what I have seen of the Covid Inquiry yesterday there was little attempt to uncover facts, just unmitigated assault on a woman they all fear.  Both Alex Salmon and Nicola Sturgeon are powerful politicians, and Westminster fears them.  They know either could enable Scotland to lose its colonial position, a move that would weaken England greatly, so all media was brought to bear on Nicola.  

The English fear and loathe her because of their fear.  I was dropped from one 'Daily Mail' column because people disliked my support for her stance.  Tee Hee, how they hate easily.  The imperialist English cannot cope with Scots putting them in their place, and you can bet there is much more of this to come soon.

    My router keeps failing so I may find myself in this position sometime soon...

 

Friday Frolics...

 

Another day of speculation, blame and buck passing passes after Nicola's resignation from office.  Naturally, the facts are blurred, lies and deceit abound, and yet she remains in office at least until the new man is sworn in, and the Stasi in the SNP are deciding which one will it be?  It is unlikely to be either of the girls who object to the genderbending, they do not fit the image, nor will it be lesbian Joanne Cherry KC, as she speaks out too often against to many of the Stasi.  She has stood down as she claims too many obstacles lie before her, this may well be true.  However, she would seek independence, and this may upset some in the SNP.  By March 27th the next lackey will be chosen, then what?

Another day seeking info on the man I sought info on yesterday.  This appears to have reached an end, though there are one or two more areas to search.  I wonder how I managed this a few years ago?  I find it all so tiring now!  This man we know a bit about, hence the search, but I laid it aside as Covid and remodelling of the Home Museum up north meant nothing could be done.  I then forgot about it.  The info once gathered will be posted to Margaret, who opened the search.  The one question is whether she herself remains about!  

This lad joined up with a 'Home' Battalion.  This means they did not venture overseas, but passed through this town on their way to Ireland.  This was after 1916.  While here, he was billeted with a family in South Street, and wrote to them when in Ireland.  Clearly they got on well, this was not uncommon at the time.  Many young men far from home were looked after by mothers missing their sons, many of whom did not return.  This man was 26 when here, obviously popular with the family and made this clear to his sister up in Darlington.  

During 1918 he somehow made his wat to France.  I suspect this was after the last great German Push in March 1918.  Desperate measures were called for and as far as I can say he moved from his 'Home' Battalion to the 'Overseas' one and took his place in the front line.   There, during September of 1918 he fell during the attack on the slowly retreating enemy.  

At the time he was called a Private, but it appeared from various sources he was a Lance Corporal and had been awarded a Military Medal.  A sis so often the case nothing could be proved, not all MMs were recorded as they ought to have been.  Also he fell as a Private, so where did the promotion come from?  The war diary, as always, does not mention his name, only officers or those with very special merit are named, but clearly during the last battle it was decided by his officers to regard him a s a Lance Corporal, and put him in for a posthumous Military Medal.  This takes time and sources never catch up for at least a year in the circumstances.  

This is all very well, but more is required, and tomorrow is football day, beginning tonight.  Margaret may have to wait a bit longer...

Nicola News

 

Surprising news indeed.  Nicola Sturgeon steps down from office as First Minister.  

There can be no doubt that the loss off trust among the Scottish public regarding 'Trans prisoners,' that is violent, often rapist, men pretending they are women, being placed in women's prisons has led to this change.  This is unfortunate as there is no doubt Nicola was indeed a powerful First Minister.  Many think she would be better as a Prime Minister than any of the last five who have occupied that office.  After the next election it is possible the SNP could form the official opposition in the House of Commons.  If she stood as an MP she might yet make it!   

Nicola entered Holyrood during 1999 and rose to the position of Deputy Leader in 2004.  When the SNP took leadership of Holyrood Alec Salmond the leader remained a member of the House of Commons, as such his deputy, Nicola, ruled the Scots Parliament.  

The failure of the 2014 Independence debate (Don't even begin to ask about the corruption here) led to Alec resigning as leader, something the Conservatives need to emulate, and Nicola became First Minister when the SNP won the next election.

Alex Salmond scandal:  During 2019 Nicola attempted to smear Salmond with a court case alleging harassment of female employees.  The female judge, the Scottish jury of 15, dominated by women, quickly noted that the women called to witness had been coaxed to speak against their own will, possibly by Nicola and Leslie Evans the top civil servant.  There was no case to answer and the court awarded Salmond £500,000 at the end.  Neither Leslie Evans or Nicola stood down as they ought to have done.

Quite what brought this about may not be clear, but the only other politician who could match Nicola is of course Alex himself.  There are no quality MSPs or MPs available at the moment to replace either as far as I can see from here. 

There is of course the matter of some £600,000 that appears to have gone missing.  The dubious 'loan' from her husband, which she knew nothing about apparently, of £100,000 or thereabouts, and the real possibility of the constabulary now entering the fray to ask questions.

Now Nicola has stepped down among much rejoicing from Unionists. I avoided her goodbye speech as I suspected it would not be pleasant, we must find a new leader for the Scottish National Party.  One is required who will move away from the misandry of recent years, the support for gays and trans, and concentrate on reviving the economy under Westminster interference, continue sensible social policies, and seek a properly thought out independence procedure.  All this within two years or less!

I do not think such a person exists!

So, now we await the election, possibly slanted to Nicola's preferences, and possibly opening up wounds kept quiet for some time.  We wait and see.

Monday Morn Sun

The day began brightly, the clouds were red tinged and the sky was blue.  This meant the temperature must be about freezing, and it was.  Having wiped the condensation from the windows, stuffed aged 'hot cross buns' down my throat for breakfast, I switched on the heater and wrapped up.

This was a day where the light tempted me out and the cold tempted me back in.

I remained in.

I worked through another chapter of the book of Amos and wondered how nicely this book fits in with the government of the day.  Both Westminster and Holyrood, and indeed Wales, have corruption at the centre these days.  Being in power is on one hand an opportunity to do good, it is also something people do not like to let go off.  The Westminster power does not appear to have the intellect or political savvy to hold their position, not heled by Boris and Liz obviously.  Nicola has some talent, she ought to be PM not FM, but her weird obsessions may bring her down.  Her gender failure may be too far from Indy for many.  

Next I spent a few minutes pretending to exercise, I will feel the aches in the morning.  And followed this up by dusting!  The stour flew all around, thick clouds filled the house, lost items were recovered, much more exercise was involved, and after this was over I considered hoovering to finish off.  However, instead I made lunch and spent the rest of the day seeking out live pictures from various parts of the world.  I had to, the effort had worn me out.  I realised the bug that hindered my earlier this year was still hanging around.  An underlying weight hindering life.  This has hit the UK hard this year, and while I am quite used to suffering this was for months on end it has come as a shock to all those who used to call me lazy.

I give them no sympathy.

So, I sit smugly here, happy with what has been done, planning tomorrows day, and seeking a decent football game to finish of the day.  As I wait I watch the Blue Tits flitting through the trees, I note the happy attitude that comes with the shorter nights and brighter mornings, and an expectation of Spring soon calling us from afar.  This keeps the news of the Chancellor, multi-millionaire he, who is going to increase our energy prices come April once again.  The Conservatives, the party that cares...

Boring, Cloudy Bank Holiday Monday

Being the August Bank Holiday it is inevitable that the weather would be dreich.  Cloud covers the land, warm cloud but dreich nontheless, and so I remain inside in the dim light.  Nothing exciting has been laid on for kids or else.  The results of Covid I suppose, all are afraid to organise anything.  Those that have gathered at music festivals and the like appear to be happily catching Covid!  Could this be because they have not bothered, nor had the chance to get a jab?  I wonder.  It is the younger folks, as well as the now well advertised anti-maskers who are dying from this virus.  Why do people not listen?

 

 

It is amazing what people will believe without factual confirmation.  Some happily believe in aliens and UFOs from distant planets, even though astronomers, both professional and amatuer say no such thing has been discovered.  Others accept social media statements that the vaccine is harmful or an attempt by Bill Gates to control you.  I read somewhere that a third of the US population thought they had been lifted up into a spacecraft by light ray and, er, investigated by aliens.  A third sounds a great number, but there must be quite a few who believe this in the US, some in the UK also I bet.  People will believe what they wish to believe whether it is true or not.  This covers religions, historic patriotic events, usually propaganda rather than fact, aliens, beliefs about incoming foreigners, and stories about that woman down the road, the one with the funny headwear.  Once a belief gets into someone facts may be difficult to insert, just ask a Brexiteer.  

In fact I had similar arguments at the weekend with Celtic fans.  After the match Rangers fans, all in black, marched through the streets singing 'The famine is over, why don't you go home.'  Having a dig at Celtic fans and their Irish origin.  When I pointed out correctly that sectarian behaviour arises from both Celtic and Rangers fans I met a barrage of disbelief - all from Celtic fans.  It is woven into them that the fault is all 'over there.'  They are not sectarian, and anyway it is anti-Irish racism, not sectarianism.  As if that made a difference.  'Racism' is the new, trendy, word, it was never used in the past, only sectarianism, and it certainly comes from both sides.  The 'famine song' by the way has one small problem with it, the 'protestant' ethos espoused by the rangers fans comes from the early Rangers fans who came from Northern Ireland.  These men came, with their 'Orange Order' parades from Belfast, so if that lot ought to go 'back home,' I suggest the choir we saw on the streets could go 'back home,' also.

Nothing of course will be done.

 

A book: 'Break Up,' the story of the fall out between Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond, is about to be published.  Alex is not pleased.  He knows this is just another step in Nicola's desperate attempt to remove the threat he offers to her position.  She fears him as he is the only man who can truly bring independence.  Alex has reported the 'Times' for printing elections of the book, these detail information banned from publication by a Scots judge.  He will be bringing action soon, well, probably in two or three years, you know how slow the courts are these days, and then we may find out more of the infighting within the SNP.  

Interestingly the writer is one David Clegg, once editor of the 'Daily Record,' and known to be well in with the Scottish government.  It is thought he has obtained information from a source, known to some, within the SNP government and included this, and this in spite of legal rulings.

Nicola is desperate to lose the threat of Alex, he is however, still a far better, more devious, politician than she.  We may see an end to her cabal before long.

Maudlin Monday

 

 

After a restful football day yesterday, I fell asleep in every game, I wandered out twice today to grasp the sun and feel the chill of the northern wind.  Not really exciting but it meant I could avoid the no-news that filled the news today.  Indeed, almost more talk was of some bloomers in a Cop show on last nights TV than on real news.  Of course much space is given over to attacks on Nicola by the English news men (all news is Englsh owned) because she is the only opponent Boris has. The sight of so many demanding she resigns while not demanding this of ANY front bench Conservative from Boris down is a level of hypocrisy even the House of Commons has not seen before.

 

Easter approaches, therefore I have bought sufficient eggs for my many women.  If I fail to meet any, as I intend, I will have to dispose of them in a simialr manner to their Christmas chox.  Hmmm...My teeth are falling out!  The choice was somewhat limited I thought, overpriced and for reasons that make no sense a wide variety of expensive Bunnies are to be found.  Another commercial US money grab!  I refuse them. The use of eggs as a symbol of new life was around before Christ rose from the dead, so his early followers took it on.  I am not sure they had chocolate ones mind.    

 

My thoughts on Easter bunnies...

 

 

Media Flapjacks!

A quick glance through the front pages of the papers, as seen on the BBC website, reveals the sad state of journalism in this nation.  Both the BBC site and the BBC Scotland site offer the front page of the press, the front page is occasionally different in Scotland.  These offer large bold headlines with little story to accompany the headline. The story offered is of course not the main story of the day, it is the main story the owner wishes you to read, his Oxbridge select editor may well disagree with almost everything he publishes but will print it anyway as the money is good.  Facts, integrity and, gulp, journalism will be difficult to find.  What a sad state of affairs.

It has of course always been this way.  Know what your audience wants and give it to them, even if it is junk!  In recent days we have seen such media scream for Nicola Sturgeon to resign, the failure of the Scots committee to nail her to the wall leaves the press the next day avoiding the failure and looking elsewhere for distracting stories.  How disappointing for them.  While demanding she goes none demand any of the Conservative cabinet go, no matter how many lies they offer.  Today Pritti Patel's bullying is revealed to have cost the government £340,000 in compensation, plus the costs, yet she is still in place, how can this be? Until the PM's men indicate she must go the right wing press, which is all we have left, will keep quiet about her misdemeanours.  

The judge in another case has declared Hancock failed in his duty to publish details of PPE and other contracts within the specified time.  Those bringing the case were awarded £85,000 towards costs.  Hancock has lost, will he resign?  No, those days are now behind us.

The BBC is now controlled totally by the government, no condemnation, no journalism allowed if it exposes Boris and his men.  The others, SKY and ITV are also submissive to the controlling elite, we must ask why?  

It is now a requirement of those who wish to know more, to find journalism, to find facts, that an internet search is a daily slog in the hope of finding information regarding the days dealings.  This is a risky business as the web is flooded with false information, biased newsrooms and foreign interference.  It is however the only way to go.

However, we must ask why we have such a poor, crooked government elected?  How did they get there?  Clearly the Brexit lie helped, the Brexiteers closed their eyes to the cost, many still do, and emotion won the voctory.  But a vast number opposed this and the opposition party did not make use of their grumblings, why so?  

So we have corrupt government, feeble, indeed, missing opposition, a lying press living off this bunch of gangsters, and now a pandemic on top.

Something is going on, and this is not clear to any of us at the moment.

 

 

Are 'Flapjacks' meant to look like this....?

I feel I may have misjudged the recipe amounts.  First I put in too little, then too much, then altered it and within minutes I could smell smoke...

I had made er, shortbread, shortly before this so the oven was quite hot.  This, er, flapjack, does have a sort of taste, mostly Stork Margarine, and with the burnt edge removed it is quite edible.  

Flavour of course is not an option...

 

Burning...

After several days of sloth I decided to bake today.  I have been planning this for a while now and finally got around to it.  In days past I often made my own oatcakes, flapjacks and shortbread.  I gave this up after finding the flapjacks delicious and putting on half a stone in a relatively short time.

Today I had a go at the oatcakes and as long as I can cope with a burnt topping, crumbling mess and putting on weight I think I did OK, though why it does not stick together I know not.  

The picture above comes from a different recipe, one I will try next as it looks simpler than mine.  

The mess left behind is completely out of proportion to the feeble burnt offering produced.  Far too many items require washing up, far to much of the bunker is covered in a variety of er, stuff, and I need to eat all produced to give strength to clean up after cooking.  How come people do this for a living?

 

 

The Chancer of the Exchequer produced yet another budget making the poorest pay for the richest. He did not mention those who live abroad as tax exiles, failing also to mention if his wife does this, nor did he pay anything to the NHS as promised.  Indeed it appears he is cutting their cash, to benefit US private health companies I suspect.  The usual blether from the right wing press, there appears to be no other today, supporting this great man, much to Boris's indignation I would suggest.  However, it makes little differnce to the poor like me, though you rich people out there might find your tax cut, if you bring in lots of 0000's in your wages.

 

 

The Tory press is quite quiet today having failed to cause a war within the Scottish National Party and failing to create a situation with which to force Nicola to resign.  The clamour for her resignation was loud in all right wing English owned media and threats of 'confidence' votes were heard, today nothing!  

The media calling for resignation are the same media that do not call for Boris or Sunak or Hancock to resign over their lies, corruption and deceit, I wonder why?  Now I actually am not a fan of Nicola, I prefer Alec, and much in the way the SNP is run worries me.  However, when she gets the Indy vote through, when Scotland is independent the Scots government will run things in their own way, parties will change, personnel will change and hopefully we can return to arguing with one another properly without English interference.

Nicola Floods

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Nicola has shuffled her cabinet once again.  The unfortunate minister forced to leave for grooming a young bot chiefly responsible for this.   Once again we see Nicola standing outside the world's centre posing with her cabinet, or at least some of the female members thereof.  Now she has a cabinet dominated by women, she must be happy.  Interesting that while men are involved nine are in the picture.  Once again we see the big failing in Nicola, her  inability to cope with being female.  

Most photos of her feature women, rarely she is seen with males.  Her cabinet is now dominated by women but will it work?  There is no doubt that many of the males involved do not set the heather on fire, possibly they are limited by the chain of the leader?  

Margaret Thatcher was unwilling to have inept women around, how many were members of her cabinet?  Theresa had them in hers but probably ignored much of what they said, she did have trouble listening.  However Nicola has a real problem with men.  She chooses people by their sex not their ability who knows what this will lead to.

She ought never to have read that copy of 'Spare Rib' in the library in Irvine that time.  It has left a mark.

BBC

Floods in Wales, floods in Scotland, floods all over the north of England, people are now asking "Where is Boris?"  A minister responsible for such things, whoever he was, appeared on TV this morning claiming Boris had asked him to 'represent' Boris while touring the floods.  This is acceptable up to a point, however Boris, or at the very least Michael Gove ought to show face here.

Of course they will avoid this, not only is it not in Surrey or Oxfordshire it is also an opportunity to 'Meet the people' and Boris knows what happens when he meets the people!  So no visit will be planned.

David Cameron did visit his constituency in Oxfordshire when floods rushed along the expensive houses there.  He claimed we ought to be able to do something about floods as "We are a rich country."  He did not visit the Somerset Levels which also flooded to a greater extent as far as I can see.  I am not sure if anything has been done there.

People flooded out, nothing to do with government mate, anyway Dominic says "Don't go."

Monday Prattle

How nice to get out in the sunshine again.  Much of the time I have been holed up in this aroma filled dwelling so walking in the park has been a delight.  I realise we have had enough Daffodils but in truth there are billions of them lying around at the moment, one of the councils better ideas, and each park and green space has a variety of them livening up the day.  These ones poking through the park bench are good I thought. 

The introduction of the new Pound coin that begins tomorrow caused me to examine the fancy designs on the coins in my possession.  It was then that I noticed this on the back of the Fifty Pence piece.  Here we have a coin of the realm, on one side as always the head of the monarch and on the reverse either a tribute to 'Beatrix Potter' or Jemima Puddle-Duck one of her characters!  These are the coins of the realm with fictional characters on them!
A quick squint online shows some folks might wish to purchase these in time to come so they will rest on my shelf for a while to see if price rises.  As nobody is clear as to how many are out there I may be in for a fat profit, possibly a new pound perhaps?  But really, children's characters on the coins, what next, Jane Austen's people?  

Jemima and her mate did not appear too fussy about being on the back of a coin.  Happily settled into the pond in the gardens these two would prefer people not to throw 50p coins to them as they find them hard to digest.  

I note Theresa May attended Scotland today to ensure Nicola Sturgeon does as she is told.  The few comments noted afterwards indicate intransigent Theresa did not realise that Nicola comes from Ayrshire, I think she knows now.  Clearly a second referendum, IndyRef2, is on the way, Theresa by her continual high handed attitudes will ensure a YES vote far more sure than anything the snooty David Cameron could have produced.  People fell for the lies last time, they surely can tell the lies this time around.  BBC & SKY I note have placed this story reluctantly on their agenda trying to put the Westminster madman as more important even now.  Hmmm that tells you much.

Today I had to march against the biting east wind in an almost hot sun to St Paul's for the last of our Monday meets for a while.  The knees do not like exercise these days, how come it has come to this?  Tomorrow I have a full day at the museum, which means missing my siesta, something that means much to me these days, and assisting with the many 'art lovers' drawn in to hear the talk in the afternoon.  Too many folks on holiday at once in my view.  I suppose we ought to be glad so many showed up for the 'Oscar Ceremony.'

Oh look, more Council Daffs!