An excellent result once again for the Scotland side last night. Written off before the tournament as having failed to deliver on their potential at the last tournament they have dealt that criticism a blow now. Clarke was finished, the team too old, the tactics woeful, all true as it happens, but things have changed well this time round.
Having to deal with Portugal and Croatia, both containing one of the football greats of the day, and a strong Poland side with another Scotland were given no hope of success. However, they have managed. Wins against Croatia, we ought to have beaten Portugal, and last nights late, late show against Poland has seen us in a decent position after all. OK, third is not great, but another goal in the right place and it would be even better. But that's football! As it is Poland are put down to the 'B' division, and Scotland now have a play-off against someone as yet unknown to find out if we follow them or remain where we are. Soon we will know. On the whole, things are looking up for Scotland whatever happens.
Allison Pearson's troubles with the police have filled many column inches in the 'Daily Telegraph' and other right-wing papers. 'Freedom of speech' is at stake, 'Stasi Police,' and other comments designed to indicate her innocence. However, nothing is being said now when a racist crime may have occurred. This means we cannot mention the situation as it may go to court but she is not being treated harshly by the Fuzz.
In my humble view the lassie is indeed racist in many of her tweets and comments in the paper, she shares the outlook of the far right, defended the 'Farage rioters,' and may end up in court if the CPS agree.
The question is, 'Are we heading for a police state?' Well yes we are. The law that allows police to stop people praying outside abortion clinics which kill healthy babies, encourage them to (often quite embarrassed by this) come to your door regarding a possible non criminal hate crime, one in which you don't know who complained or why, or even what the problem is, is indeed the beginning of the 'Stasi State.'
When you lose the sense of right and wrong, when men dressed as women can be called women, when politicians can party while pandemics kill the populace, and when no discipline is found among our leaders you can expect the world to fall apart somewhat.
The thing is we are only at the beginning of this!
Not exactly a new programme, however, it gives a good lowdown on how the lowdown English stole Scotland and its resources. The English Parliament at Westminster still today steals all Scotland's resources for England's benefit, using the term 'UK' when they mean 'England. This is supported by English business who put English 'Union Flags' on all their produce, including the ridiculous 'Bells British Whisky' which appeared in recent days. I imagine Bell's sales have dropped in Scotland.
From a historical point of view this is a good programme, well worth watching. Nothing has changed.
Tonight the Scotland side begin another adventure. Usually this ends in failure, often glorious failure, and hopefully we can go one better tonight, qualify for the next round and get some satisfaction for the travelling fans.
Naturally all the leading men are there, as you would expect. Alex is here with other Alba folk, the FM is round the corner with many of his lot in tow, and a wide variety of true Scots are in Germany for the party. As expected a party has been in swing since they arrived and most Germans are quite happy to have them bagpipe playing, singing and dancing in the main squares. Not counting one man who grumbled about being on nightshift!
All those Scottish shirts filling the town remind me of my reaction when moving to London. All around me people wore England shirts, now while I expected to see this I was also somewhat taken aback at the time as it seemed to me so unusual. It took me three or four years to get used to being surrounded by England shirts, flags and all, though this is how it ought to be in London, but it still was a strange sight. Just as strange was the sight of working men getting excited by a cricket score, this time it was Essex they supported, and this made me giggle. No working man to my knowledge in Edinburgh mentioned cricket, though some did indeed play it.
There are still many people who do not realise that moving 'down south' is moving to another country, there is NO 'United Kingdom' and there never has been, there is only two nations with one dominating the power over the other. It is time that was ended and Scotland independent and able to make mistakes by themselves.
Whether this would improve upon Steve Clarks Scotland side is however, a debatable matter.
Naturally, when Scotland play, let alone when they play England, 'rain stopped play!' Stopped being the wrong word as it did not start at 3:30 as promised, the start waited for almost an hour before we got going. Now it has stopped again for rain. However, once they got going the Scots batsmen got going! Tearing into the feeble English bowling and reached 60-0 by the time the rain came. A good start but only a start. Hopefully much more to come from this.
One point that must be made is that this international World Cup game is being played in Barbados!
Barbados! One of the sunniest places in the world and rain stops play! Now if this happened in Raeburn Place, Edinburgh nobody would notice, indeed it would be expected, but Barbados! Sun, sea and rained of cricket, it would not make a good tourist poster would it?
In the meantime what do they do? They talk about ENGLAND of course. Run the clips from other natches and return to talking about ENGLAND again. Are you surprised?
The money making grifter has after all returned. Having decided not to stand again as an MP, and having made clear he has better things to do that spend Friday nights in Clacton, he had decided to dump the prospective Reform candidate for Clacton and replace him with himself. How very Nigel! Having 53% of the Reform Party, it is more a company than a party, Richard Tice has only 33% and has been rudely shoved aside and Nigel has taken over. Clearly the fear of being in the USA and following Donald into jail has spooked him. Much better to hide in the House! What chance has he got? He has failed to be elected 7 times already, this is his best chance, but will he win? We all hope he fails. We shall see.
It's the bright lights, the excitement, the meeting people that make travel so wonderful. While there is hassle getting there and back this is usually worth it at the end. What can be more exciting than stepping outside and heading off into the unknown? At least that is what crossed my mind early this morning as I left the abode and headed of to Tesco!
My best niece and my best great niece are sitting half asleep in a New York hotel bedroom at this time while I gather overpriced milk and bread from the shop. The excitement of travel!
If I become adventurous I may make the Post Office tomorrow.
Humza has gone. Brought down by unelected MSPs under Westminster instructions. The interference from our colonial overlords is no surprise, and this interference runs much deeper than many comprehend, but the success cannot be allowed to stop the drive for independence.
The racism and Islamic hatred spewing out from a divided England towards Humza can be seen everywhere. English nationalism, not just the Tommy Robinson kind, hates Scotland for having the temerity to refuse to bend the knee to them. All media, including the likes of the so called 'open-minded and thoughtful' types at the 'Guardian' and 'Private Eye,' cannot withhold their glee whenever an indy lover is brought down by Special Branch. 'Private Eye' itself has never investigated the murder of the SNP lawyer Mackay all those years ago on his way to the 'But 'n' Ben. That would not help their cause.
The 'Daily Mail' rejoices with several ignorant and slanted articles. The desperation of the English to keep Scotland under their control is getting deeper, they know their time is up.
A new SNP leader will arise, two names are being banded about if they wish to try, one who will be flimsy, and a woman who may be strong but a devolutionist, not a nationalist. She also has a Tory husband which does not help. We shall soon see who has the strength, the policies, and the party support. Hopefully one who rejects the absurd elements of the Green Party views.
Daffodil season is upon us once again. In the gloom caused by ongoing rainstorms we see the council daffs beginning to emerge and brighten the greenery opposite. Soon grasping young mums will be encouraging their kids to steal them to brighten their homes. Most will claim they cannot afford the £1 required in Tesco's!
I bought one bunch from Sainsburys, these however failed to produce properly. On Tuesday I bought a large bunch of three tied together, some, as you can see, have begin to respond correctly, others are dubious, and the third lot remain staring mournfully at the window. We will soon see what will happen.
I like the bright yellow flowers on the desk, it is a cheery sight, especially on dreich days like this, and comparatively cheap, though clearly the shops will be making a packet from them.
Lindsey Hoyle, the Speaker of the House, has been apologising and offering talks and debates after last nights gamesmanship. The SNP and some 49 MPs of various colours, have signed a 'Motion of No Confidence in the Speaker,' and will no doubt try and bring this to the House.
A shambolic night, and with a shambolic Tory government who ran away when Sunak, like Starmer, saw he would lose a vote! There can be no doubt that the SNP were suffering a racist backlash from the English colonialists also.
On the subject of Scotland as a colony, I had a Twitter fight with a man from Aberdeen who disagreed. The fact he flew a Union flag, supported Rangers, and lived in Aberdeen, made me realise he had little History knowledge, in spite of the word 'History' being on his intro. As it turned out his history knowledge was not very good, written by some English Historian, and wilted when I offered him the list of bribes paid to the Scottish Lords. Sadly, many Rangers fans believe in 'Britain,' instead of Scotland simply because their football team tells them to. Those indoctrinated by the armed forces have similar outlooks. History knowledge is still poor, there is so much we do not know, and the subject is not taught well enough, though needless things are, and leaves the way for decent History programmes on the BBC, but their unionist owners would not allow this.
With Xmas approaching, you may have heard about it by now, I have been scouring the second hand book market for items suitable for the lassies up north who can read. This is a suitable talent as it means they can explain the big words to their men.
One beautiful and highly intelligent niece has always had a thing for King Robert the Bruce. As a lass she forced her mother to trail around Dunfermline, where he is buried, and elsewhere looking for a sight of him, or something connected to him. While it is possible she may already have this book dumped in a cupboard somewhere, I thought I would include it in the box I will send.
The late David R. Ross wrote quite a few books about Scotland and her people, this is the only one I have actually read. It combines the history of the man with a tourist guide to places connected to him. Ross has done his best to visit all the connecting castles, battlefields, houses and such like that are believed to have seen the great Robert pass by through touring them on his motorbike.
The known genealogy is traced, his two wives, both dying before him, their suffering under the terrors of Edward I and his brutality, their imprisonment, and following successful births his son.
Edward, like all Englishmen, consider Scotland to be theirs, they are very wrong! Bruce endured much pain and loss, his brothers dying, sometimes barbarically under Edward's thuggery. However no matter how he tried Edward could not control Scotland, William Wallace ought to have made that clear to him! And happily Edward the Brute died near Carlisle once again attempting the impossible, to control Scotland. Three cheers!
This book details the failures as well as successes. The guerrilla warfare, the main battles 'God bless Bannockburn!' and the suffering of those imprisoned. What cannot be known, but only guessed at, is the response of the soldiers on both sides. Some English Knights left writings, some Scots nobles, but the man in the army could not do this. Enthusiastic they certainly were, and very willing to risk all for the cause, but we do not know what they actually thought, this is sad.
Edward II was disposed off by his wife and Knights, Edward III attempted war, and lost, and the ravaging of the north of England put many English nobles off the idea of war. In the end economic loss, an understanding they could not win, caused Edward III to seek peace.
Bruce then established his Kingdom and Scotland was able to flourish without barbaric English interference. At least for a while, the inbuilt English imperialism and arrogance remains with us still!
The 1707 bribery and the intimidation at the referendum see Scotland stuck under the English Jackboot still. This will not last. Another Bruce will arise, and Special Branch will not defeat that one, and Scotland will once again be free!
Anyone wish to argue?
At last I can look forward to breathing fresh air once again. No more bleach on every suitable surface! The landlords woman came today. She was quite happy considering she got locked inside one flat. I wondered if he in flat No 6 was having a strange turn, but it was the broken locks on the door meant she could not get out. When I found her she was with two locksmiths attempting to put right all that flats locks.
She came, she wandered about taking a picture here a picture there, all the time telling me to stop licking her feet. I am off the opinion she ought to have removed her shoes first. The inspection was short, friendly, and we discussed one or two things, but not the things I remembered long after she had departed! Why is it always like this? No complaint was made, not even from other tenants!
The bar of Christmas chocolate donated to her also made her happy, always a success with women is chocolate, and she left me with no threats of drastic action, as yet anyway. Now, I must uncover all the hidden things and put them right before she comes back!
I could not discover what the game was. I canny understand this inspection. Of course during the previous years the boys have been working on the flats so problems have been obvious to them, if any. Now I just await any comeback from this. Back at HQ they will inspect the pictures, lay plans for the cheapest option on any proposed action, but so far all appears well. However, as we get on well, and her man is one of the boys who fix things and he is good, and the mess has been cleaned up, it all may pass over. Also she never mentioned anything out of place, so maybe all will be well.
Unless something is afoot down at HQ.
It is however, difficult to move when you expect a visit and the place is clean. I was scared to touch anything in case I had to scrub it again! Now I can relax, but I actually like it clean, I wonder how long it will last?
Subscribing to this young lass would be good, if that is you find this interesting and entertaining. She is very clever, she told me this herself, and mum and dad are so pleased after spending so much money educating her!
The author is one of those travel writers who makes her way around the globe scribbling about what she encounters. Having been to Scotland, or bits of it before, she decided to take an 3 month trip and 'discover Scotland' for herself, at least the Scotland far from tourist sites.
That is the basic idea at least, and she works her way around the country, Berwick, Edinburgh, Fife, and so on, describing what she sees, mentioning a bit of history or a story re a place, and eating scallops and lobster and drinking whisky. She loses me at the eating I must say. Boiling a creature alive is vile, and shellfish is not for me. Fish much have fins and scales I say. Whisky, we soon discover, is something she likes and personally I begin to understand why the whisky industry is doing so well, she is a major customer!
The travel details re eating, hotels and B&Bs etc is as good as you would expect. Those following in her footsteps (by car) would find helpful info here, though she did travel during 2017 so much may have changed. Brexit and Covid will have worked their hindrance.
One complaint was too much time was spent describing eating and drinking, and the other was her tour through the Isles. Helen clearly loves island life, and indeed the people were helpful and friendly. However, for me, chapter after chapter on the island description, the glowing sunset, the water, the hills, the ancient standing stones, and the whisky became very boring as it was repeated page after page. Having seen such sunsets, enjoyed the hills and occasionally the people, I thought this bit was over done. The lassie did however, find many distilleries there and managed to obtain bottles from the shop. I wonder if these bottles are empty yet? I was beginning to think she is in a van, not a car.
The overall tone of the book is of a woman who has almost no understanding of Scotland, but was intent to seek out the place for herself. Did she discover Scotland or not? She discovered acceptance in spite of the accent, joy and happiness from the people she met, but was this real Scotland? There were no trips into Livingston, no sights of the Foodbanks that were beginning to rise up, far to little contact with the 'everyday' Scot.
Clearly the hotels and B&Bs were good to her, not just because of the cash. Scots tend to be friendly usually. However, while attempting to miss the bagpipes she was mostly visiting tourist sites and interesting places, no visits to factories or warehouses, police stations or those nasty areas we all wisely avoid.
The result is a good book that will encourage many English to visit Scotland, and they will enjoy themselves. But it is a holiday Scotland they will meet, and that is no bad thing.
One point I note, her lack of understanding re the relationship between the nations is clear. The author refers to the 1707 Union of Scotland and England as a 'union of equals.' Nothing can be further from the truth. It is to be hoped that now she has loved Scotland so well that she has forced her husband into buying a flat in Glasgow (Not Edinburgh?) that maybe she will come to understand much more clearly the falsehood of a 'United Kingdom.'
However, that said, I recommend this book. Any chapter can be taken on its own and read as an essay. This will be fruitful and well worth reading. With climate change the nation might even be warmer and the sunsets more glowing today! Visit now, while you can!
I have been half asleep all day. I woke early, half asleep, had breakfast half asleep, and scribbled a couple of emails before 8 am, half asleep.
I may not get a response!
There has been a lot of scribbling, but not much progress. The hoovering, like the exercising, has not got itself done. There again neither has the ironing.
However, the last washing has been attended to.
A blanket required a scrub, this was done. After a long wash, like they all are these days, 2 hours and 6 minutes! The blanket came out. Though after it finished I forgot to remove it for two hours again.
Unfortunately the rim of the blanket has problems. This I discovered when a cloud of white specks formed around me and remain, even now, on the filthy floor. A white carpet of woollen bits that is getting everywhere!
They can wait until tomorrow and the hoovering will finally get done...
The football at least returns tonight. We play the Greek side PAOK hoping to do better than Hibernian did last night, losing 5-0 against Aston Villa. Whatever happens, I just hope we make a game of it.
Again I am amazed by the wonder of it all. I can sit here watching on a laptop a football match taking place 400 miles away. A short time lag, sometimes as much as a minute, may occur, but it is amazing that I can see this game live. In days of yore we relied on the wireless to hear a commentator at a game. Before that we could only read newspaper reports, never trustworthy at that. Now I can watch the game almost live.
During the period from the mid 70s until the late 80s I saw little football, and what was available was always English. It was as though I was living in a foreign country, not a United Kingdom. Newspapers were rare then, radio and TV information almost unheard off, and nobody in this nation cared. There is no United Kingdom, Scotland is just a colony of an imperialist England. Without Scotland England would die, and they know it. It is time to ensure this happens.
This short, and very acceptable story of one female witch and her trial, is well worth a view.
Research by the University of Edinburgh claims that some 4000 people, mostly female, were tried for witchcraft. Witchcraft was between 1563 - 1736 a capital offence in Scotland. 'Scots Law' is of course very different from the 'Law of England & Wales.' At least 1500 were executed, strangled then burnt, and the conditions in prison were toxic, brutality and disease widespread.
At first glance it is tempting to regard this as the beliefs of an ignorant people. However, King James VI & I also took to investigating such activities. It is said that he was on a ship that encountered a storm, this, for reasons unknown, he put down to a 'witches curse.' Personally I reckon a storm of the coast of Scotland is something to expect, rather than blame on witches, by that is only my thought. James took this so seriously he produced a book on the subject and participated in witch trials at one point himself. It took a while before he lost interest in the subject.
But James was an educated man, he considered himself an academic. At one point he had begun to translate the Bible into Scots, and later forced a full translation once based in London. This was not an ignorant man from the backwoods, yet he took this 'witches' thing seriously.
A glance at a bible concordance will show the number of mentions regarding 'witches' as no more than a handful. Various translations of course may vary, but 'witches,' 'mediums,' and 'spiritists,' are often lumped together in one section. All are condemned, the reader is informed to beware of them and avoid them at all costs. Once in the 'Promised Land,' the people of Israel were told to evict such as they, and if found later to destroy them.
The New Testament merely informs the saints to avoid contact with such people. This, in a superstitious Roman society that contained many, of various kinds, that were very popular and found on many a street corner.
The reason is clear, both then and now, either these people are frauds lying to their hearers, or possess a supernatural power of demonic origin. Jesus finished work on the cross defeated Satan and his demons, however, he still has space on this earth to manifest his work both quietly, like an angel of light, or publicly through witches and mediums. The purpose is clear, these are all meant to turn the hearer away from the cross of Christ and salvation, which is found nowhere else.
The society around us today contains many who are more than willing to follow such offers, most who have little bible understanding, or indeed concern for bible understanding, are well open to manifestations of supernatural power.
Imagine Scotland in the 1600s. The reformation had encouraged reading, so individuals could understand the 'Word of God,' yet, when someone falls into a coma, or an unexpected illness arrives the cry 'witch' appears, and people in village and town go looking for a suitable candidate.
It appears women, young and old, were usually designated 'witch,' because they were different from the crowd. This could be their age, their chosen way of life, a blemish, or if they had some hindrance such a mental 'slowness' or epilepsy. Possibly mere jealousy from those around them could single them out. We know how 'catty' women can be to one another. The economic conditions, or the plague passing through, long lasting bad weather, all could contribute to a desire for an easy fix to the world around people, so a witch has to be found.
It is of course also possible some of these women were indeed working with evil arts, but few wish to accept this today.
How did an educated people, well versed in scripture accept such a widespread belief in witches? As stated scripture mentions them, mostly in passing as it were. The real message is for people, individually and together, to worship the Living God, Jesus, who died for your sins, and avoid all that hinders knowing him. That I can tell you is life indeed!
We in the UK have a society that has lost its centre. Liberal thinking has continued into the absurd, where men can call themselves women because they say so, perversion of all sorts is regarded as normal, when it clearly is not, and a lack of central authority that seeks what is right for the nation has ended. Boris, under Farage tuition, has created a divide, removed the lax boundaries that until recently held firm, and allowed concern for doing what is right to end, so some can get wealthy.
"Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction." Pr 29:18.
It took until 1736 for the law to change banning witch-hunts, and only then when the needless Union of Parliaments had occurred, though the scare had fallen away quite a bit by this time. Today society pretends witches do not exist, or are harmless, how wrong they are, while with-hunts of various kinds arise and fall constantly, among a people with no vision, no solid place on which to stand.
I stand of Jesus and his work, there is no solid base elsewhere.
The rain began just as I returned from the shop. Light, fiddly rain, the type that makes you feel you are walking in a cloud. This, nor the harder rain that followed, did not stop the dogs taking their people for a walk. There will be many a dog towel in use today. And another on the owner I suspect.
Meanwhile, 'Blaze,' is seen here taking his owner on holiday. A week up north, in a place they have visited twice before, Scots beach, mostly empty, sea, cottage, and the man of the house left behind to give them peace. My niece and her daughter, in the daughters car, with one delighted dog leading the way. He loves the car, loves driving around, and loves being on holiday way up north. Considering his health problems he is always keen to get out and about. This will be a good week for them, rain or no rain, and let's face it, these three are well used to rain.
This 'X' is the new Twitter logo.
Musk, or is it 'Mush?' has changed it amidst a flurry of propaganda attempting to pretend this is important. It is in fact nonsense. He paid £34 Billion pounds for Twitter and is losing cash hand over fist. The loss of advertising, at a time when all suffer such a loss, is I am told about 50% of the total. Memories of course may vary. The constant tweaks, the daft changes, the stupidity of buying something, sacking half the staff, and then desperately trying to make it pay is quite sad.
I wonder if Putin put him up to it, just to attack the west?
Struggled to wake this morning, forced myself up, and breakfasted on a stale roll. Some folks have less than this of course. I cogitated on the day and decided I wished it to be a restful one, except of course I had the parcel to post. Another birthday, another waddle down to the Post Office at the corner shop, I go there because the young lady always smiles at me, unlike the miserable dragons at what laughingly, is the main Post Office in town. So, sun cream applied, desert hat on head, off I hobbled.
There is a wind at the moment but the sun was about 70% as I headed east. I could feel it on my face, in spite of the hat, and my absurd appearance meant several vans and cars slowed down to let me cross the road when required. They needed the laugh I suppose.
After this my day was over. Groomed and fed I just dozed away for a while.
This is the Longest Day, and the sky has been bright since very early, which I did not see.
The reason for the sloth this morning was easy to find. Last night I began to watch Scotland playing Georgia, a 7:45 kick off time. However, before the game began there had been an almighty cloudburst and 6 days worth of heavy rain fell in a couple of hours. Now, major football grounds have systems to remove rainwater falling during a game, this was too much for Hampden however, and some decisions had to be made before the game went ahead.
In spite of Michael Stewart constantly referring to having played in worse, which was a lie, the water was forming huge puddles, the ball did not run, bounce or flow, there was indeed now ay to play in such circumstances.
UEFA however insisted the game went ahead.
Players splashed about in dire conditions, Scotland even scored a goal, but the ref then left the field and we began well over two hours of debate as to whether the game ought to continue, or be abandoned and play again the next night in Paisley. Any sensible person would play the next night.
UEFA insisted the game continued.
So we saw the ground staff, ball boys, volunteers aplenty attempt to brush the excess water from the field. Eventually, well after 9:15 pm the game restarted. Georgia were far from pleased, and quite rightly, and they were even more unhappy when Scotland scored a second goal and eventually ran out winners by 2-0.
The game finished at 11:20 pm, at lest what I made it, the crowd had remained throughout, they had paid their tickets and no information was forthcoming thanks to UEFA, and many a child was late for school this morning, many a man was asleep at work, and all considered it worth while.
During the waiting time the announcer played music over the Tannoy. Above we see the list of songs played, many enthusiastically supported by the crowd joining in. 'Don't let it rain on me,' by a Glasgow group, the favourite of the night.
The view the pigeons up there in the loft have includes The Old Manor House.
As far as I know, there is little information regarding this building. The timber and plaster built hose was erected in 1550, during Tudor times, and that is a period in which this area is devoid of information. Those who choose to study the Tudors round here find almost no information whatsoever.
However, that year the imperialist English were involved in the 'rough wooing,' which began when Henry VIII sent his failing army to invade Scotland, to force a marriage between Mary, Queen of Scots, and his young son Edward VI. He failed, and an agreement was reached at Boulogne, where he also had troops attempting to steal French land, though by the time of the peace Henry himself had passed on.
John Napier was amongst those born that year, you know how he created Logarithms and so upset schoolchildren everywhere, especially me. Who needs such things? Thomas Cranmer's 'Book of Common Prayer,' introduced the previous year, was now in use everywhere in England. The reformation, caused by Henry's desire to bump off his wife, had taken over the land, and while some of a Catholic persuasion led short lived revolts in the south west, the reformation persisted. The 'Ale Houses Act,' licenced such premise's for the first time, much to landlord's joy. It continues bringing joy to licensees still.
Abroad, the Spanish were taking over South America, leaving Brazil for the Portuguese. Chocolate is introduced into Europe, by the Spanish I suspect, so women everywhere rejoiced as never before. The 'Society of Jesus,' is created, so you can expect a knock on your door any time soon.
The family of Sir Thomas Moore, indicate how the rich were dressed in the 1550's. Lower orders were dressed according to class, including the type of headgear allowed them. Of course even if you were wealthy, having the head cut off, or being burned at the stake, were occupational hazards in those days. It was fine to gain enough money to build a nice house, have a wee estate, but ensure you keep in with whoever was winning, and this meant following the Kings religion, or you were headed for the block. Politics was a hard place in these days.
Around a hundred years later, England was in the middle of yet another war, this time a civil war, though how 'civil' the people were to one another is unclear. This town was a Parliamentary Town, that is, they sided with Oliver Cromwell and his 'roundheads. Indeed many men from here may well have been part of his army. This county has always been a rebellious one. I myself have met many a revolting peasant round this way.
During 1648, Sir Charles Lucas led his royalist troops into Braintree seeking the weapons stored there. These had been removed by the parliament supporters in the town. Lucas moved to Colchester and the next day Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron, arrived in the town. It is believed, though no real evidence has come to pass, that these men, or possibly the townsmen, damaged the royal sign above the door of the Old Manor House. Being so badly damaged no-one is quite clear as to who the sign represents. Then followed the Siege of Colchester, which killed many and lasted a good time.
But I have no idea who built the house in the first place. As Henry VIII died in 1547 it is clear the builder had chosen the protestant faith, young Edward VI was very much in favour of the reformation.
After him came a time of trouble, with Mary I ascending the throne eventually much death and trouble arrived for the protestants. It is always possible that the builder of the 'Old Manor House' was exiled, or dead within a few years. So far we do not have evidence for his life.
It has been a boring day. Rising with the dawn, almost, and working through some of the jobs that have been left undone has not been exciting. The 'Chick Pea Soup' appeared to be a grand idea this morning when I began making it. The 'Somme Mud' that I ate disheartened me a little. At least it is good for me, bar the taste.
So, to get out of myself I went back to 'Tenement Town,' and read through the lives of those Edinburgh worthies who have gone before. Normally, the media is full of people's private lives and I spend little time reading about what celebs and the famous get up to. However, the brief tales dragged from old Edinburgh papers do make me want to know more.
These tenements are far from where I grew up, the picture above is the tenement far from the centre of town, where I first trod the earth. Edinburgh is full of them and I suspect the tales offered in the website are no different from the tales that must have taken place amongst the residents here.
One thing stands out, the 'Demon drink!'
Men and women take to drink very easily, in these tales here we see much abuse from violent men, often in tears of regret when sober, hardship for children, the worse this becomes the further back we go when no social assistance was available, and then there are the accidents, falling out of fourth floor windows and the like, all caused by drink.
The next major item that appears in my mind is the illnesses. Tuberculosis being often mentioned, and other diseases that we no longer have, because of vaccinations and a proper NHS, something this Tory government wishes to kill. So many people, children to adults, die from sickness unheard of today in the UK. Occasionally, a worker is forced to work in terrible weather while suffering some illness, this results in a heart attack, does this, I wonder, upset the boss? Accidents happen, young workers falling down hoist lifts, children under cars (1913) holding the axle and letting go only to be run over by a taxi following. Children, as we know, can invent new ways to kill themselves without any adults aid.
Overall, I just felt so depressed that so many people appeared to have such unhappy lives. Not just long working hours, poor pay and conditions, being worse the further back you go, but so many find alcohol the only fun they have, or indeed an escape from either pain or life. Others find escape by crooked dealings, one by renting a flat, then renting it out himself, after pawning flat items, and then jumping on the London train. He got 60 days! My favourite man is the one who lost a £1 note, (1881) and put an advert in the paper asking if anyone had found it! For many, £1 was almost a months wages, for the skilled man a reasonable weeks.
Anyway, reading about this lot made my day in some ways. Human beings do not change their nature. Down through time we do not change. Our culture is motivated by our understandings, and clearly, Edinburgh, in times past had some very confused people, groping through life seeking some satisfaction. No change today I expect.
This is one of my highly intelligent, beautiful, and clever great nieces. This one obtained her parchments in Archaeology, and has begun to make short video's of Edinburgh and Scotland's history.
I am so proud of this lassie. Good looking, wise, clever, with bouncy personality, knowledgeable, and well able to put over her knowledge to inform and entertain us.
Sunny Sunak visited his Scottish colony the other day. He was attending the Scottish Conservative get together. However, it appears he was about the only one attending. They could not fill the 360 seat hall.
A press conference was to be held but trouble came when only a handful of press, all from the right0-wing papers, 'Sun,' 'Mail,' 'Express,' etc were allowed in. Trouble followed, a vote was held, and even the men from the 'right' papers refused to attend unless all could come to the press conference.
After much squabbling this was allowed, but only one question, and that chosen by Sunak's guards.
This too was refused.
Eventually 6 questions were put, few answers, and the TV media allowed to ask 3 more.
Few answers.
This is how the UK is governed by the fascist government today.
No questions to be asked, only the right questions, no answers given.
The people, especially the English people, voted to be under this fascism.
With the May local elections due we will understand just how many will once again vote for this corrupt party. I think a great many will, believing they will be 'on the right side.' Once again they will be deceived.
Note: Little coverage of this in the press, the TV, and certainly not the BBC.
Last night Scotland deservedly beat Spain by 2 - 0 in their second game of the European Championship Qualifying stage. This was not a shock result, this was the result of an ongoing process carried out by manager Steve Clark, a process that has had it's ups and down's over the period he has been in charge. Scotland, the nation that not only invented the game of 'Football,' but developed the Laws of the game as they now stand, alongside the 'Scientific Football,' that saw them dominate the game before the Great War, has been through a tough time recently. Until Steve Clark took charge Scotland were on the way down in football levels, last night they revealed the results of hard work and team discipline which combined with decent tactics and the always required luck, saw them return to the world stage, a stage they have not appeared on since at least 1998.
There has been moments when things looked like they may improve, only for them to fall down all around us. Individual players of quality have appeared occasionally, but sadly too many lacked the quality, the managers the tactics, and hope that rose soon dissipated. Questions can always be asked regarding how some players or managers obtained their place, eyes always glaring in the Glasgow direction at such times, but today is not the time for recriminations today is the time for hope and encouragement. Hope that a renovation of the Scottish League to suit all sides rather than two will occur. Hope that clubs can develop young players, especially those who are capable of making it overseas in places such as Italy. Encouragement for those already involved, in spite of their obvious limitations, to continue to give all and develop on the field individually and together. This is a time of hope, at last Scotland can look forward into the football future with hope, much development still is required, but as a man once said, "This is not the end, but it is the end of the beginning," or something...
Humza is swearing in himself and his new cabinet as we speak. Each will have been carefully chosen to support the cabal that has undone the independence debate over the last few years. To begin with offering Kate Forbes a lowly job at 'Rural Affairs' can only be seen as an insult. Her supporters are also beginning to turn down the low jobs offered them. This cannot be the way to unite the SNP. What this man has done is to force half the SNP people who voted for Kate to one side as if unimportant. This politically is dangerous as they will then gather around her and Ash Regan, we have no idea if she has been offered a post as yet, and form a powerful opposition to Humza within the party. This sort of behaviour make the SNP look like the Conservatives and can only lead to disaster. Maybe we can ask again regarding Special Branch operations with the SNP?
I came across this on Twitter this morning, 'Which' offering an idea of the rise in prices at the major supermarkets. As they say, Aldi and Lidl remain cheapest, but still it gives a good indication of rising costs.
I noticed this as I scrutinised my bread in Tesco after reading this. The fancy type of bread I like, instead of the 'Plain Loaf' variety, now costs either £2:25 or £2:40, according to taste. It was not that long ago it cost £1:60 or £1:80. Now Brexit is too blame indeed, other factors such as rising energy prices, transport costs, slight wage increases must all be taken into account, but for me the real reason prices increase is greedy supermarkets! They have us all on the end of a lead. There is little opposition to a large supermarket, other than a large supermarket. In my reach lie Sainsburys and Tesco, up till now Tesco were cheaper, but lately they have been catching up with the crooks at Sainsburys. There is a Lidl up the road, too far to walk these days, but I never found them cheaper anyway.
Now I can survive this, I simply do not spend on what I can no longer afford, I buy the cheapest stuff if required to. Some however, suffer. Gas prices like electric are doubling for me, or at least so they say, what may happen will no doubt be different, and many will struggle to cope. Many of these will be working people at that.
Remove the government where the PM pays less tax than the workers, where MPs line their pockets on second jobs, and bring in a government of the people, for the people. Hold on, I see a problem here. The opposition do not know what a woman is, they have no policies bar getting the 'red wall' votes, and Keir Hardie is turning in his grave at what they have done to the workers. Maybe an election is not the way forward after all...?
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