Laugh? Maybe...

 

Oldie

Not Quite as Dreich a Day

 

The sky has been gray all day.  However, exercise was taken, twice!  This entailed walking around town and across the park and home again.  Later in the day I vetured out in similar fashion and now wish to sleep for 14 hours.

 

 

I wandered through the Public Gardens, having noticed these Bees outside the Congregational Church enjoying the flowers.  There were quite a few Bees crawling on the pavement looking the worse for wear also.  Possibly the weather, possibly they are reaching their end.  Lying so small on the pavement will not help them.

 

The gardeners, all volunteers, were being ordered about by the female sergeant major as I passed.  Interesting how I see no Butterfly's these days.

 

I mentioned to one that I had not seen this type of Poppy before.  There were many around, tall and colourful in the gray air.  It is a pity there was no sun as these would look very good in sunshine.   The sergeant interrupted and the woman, like the rest, all retired folks I suspect, hastened back to work.

 

Since the actual gardener retired some years ago a company has been employed a couple of days a week to tend the gardens.  I am not sure who opens and shuts them on other days.  However, whoever is responsible has done a great job in continuing the varied plants on show, colourful and always worth a look.  Especially when the mums have got the little brats out of the way.

 

At the War Memorial I noticed all the wreaths from last November had been cleared away.  What remained however, were the stones left by schoolchildren.  It appears to be the thing these days to paint stones for a variety of reasons, schools here encourage kids to do this for Remembrance Sunday. 

I think this a great idea, simple, enjoyable, and remains in the memory for the kids.  It is also cheaper than a wreath!

Now it is time for the football.  I am full of confidence, actually it is Haddock but that's another story...

 

Funny

Dreich Day

Today, as you know, is the first day of Summer.

It rained all day, clouds cover the earth, 

and may do similar tomorrow.

 

The Auld Enemy

 

It is quite normal for Scotland to go down to Wembley and win.  After all we have been doing that for almost 150 years and as we invented the game, developed it through 'scientific football,' and provided the best players the world has ever seen, though Pele, Eusebio and Maradonna were all right, if you like that sort of thing, it will come as no surprise to see us put the arrogant imperialists back in their box.  So, needing to win at Wembley last night was not something to worry us.  However, having displayed all the intellect of one of Boris Johnson's cabinet members, we threw away our chances of going through by losing badly to the Czech's a few days before.  Therefore, we needed at least a point and in the end hard work, team work, and individual brightness brought us a no score draw, and I think this was two points dropped.  

England, as the English press have it, were not very good.  Nothing is said re Scotland outplaying them?  England, the manager tells us, "Got the point that ensures qualification," which is true.  What manager Gareth Southgate did not mention was the vermin of the English press would have savaged him, a decent bloke, had he lost to what they consider an inferior product.  His team and tactics reveal a sensible man.

However, this is just England.  The game used to mean a great deal, not now.  From 1872 until 1972 the Scotland v England clash provided an outlet for national pride, now it means little.  Scotland has long lost interest in these games apart form the points. Certainly we wish to win, but for me Scotland require to develop a team that can take on European sides and win, beating a 'British' side like England means little.  Our loss to the Czechs showed we need to play a style that can beat such sides, power and strength against England means little.  The game against Croatia, who desparately need to win to avoid the wrath of their own fans, will reveal both our managers tactical ability as this level and our ability to play against such teams.

Forget England, Scotland requires to amend the league structure, change the way TV covers the game and how such cash is used, and develop young players who can make it at international level.  We need to get players once again who can get the ball down on the grass and beat the opposition, players like Bobby Walker, Tommy Walker, Jimmy Johnson and Jim Baxter.  We are way short of this today.

We also must ask, how do Wales do it?  No league of their own to speak off, players spread across many nations, yet they continue to play in all tournaments, qualifying more often than Scotland.  Having one man earning £600,000 a week in Spain cannot be the reason, he is only a part of that.  

Scotland must ask why Wales are better than us?

  

Nothing to Say

Nothing has happened.

Football is taking up too much time.

Rain is falling.

Nothing to say...

 

Tummy Trouble

I have been very careful concerning what I eat these days.  Now my being slightly under 16 stone rather than well over it is in my opinion a good thing.  A not so good thing was one of those NHS online things that claim to tell you what you ought to way to avoid disease or instant death, this claimed I was 4 stone overweight.  Surely, thought I, only 2 stone?  

A study of their healthy breakfasts, lunches and so on convinced me I was going in the right direction.

However, it is clear these meals were prepared by a middle class women with lots of fancy kitchen gadgets, not just a pot or two and a microwave.      

My carefully controlled diet went a wee bit off course last night as I was invited out to the SPAM meeting at the local Liberal Club.  Spam, as you know, is the church men's meeting, or at least those men who's women allow them out at night.  This club is not a political club, just a place to gather in safety among decent folks.  Many of the men know their wives can drop in at lunchtime in perfect safety here, and they do, gossipping always being on the menu.

Now of course Covid restrictions are in place and we cannot wander about the club as before and so now table service has been introduced, this makes it even better!  No more going back and forth to the bar, she comes and delivers.  Then at the end off the night she asks you for the money.  Good idea, saves handing too much cash and after a drink or two who cares about the cost?

The main problem last night however, was Ian!  

Ian has always been keen to get everybody enrolled into this club, last night, before I had sat down, I found myself filling in a form promising to spend £20 for a years membership.  In my opinion this means I now must make my way to the bar club daily when I have better things to do.  You see, if I have paid £20 I must get my money's worth from it and that means breaking my routine to go outside and meet people.  Well, I may avoid that part...

 

Look!  Football is on! 

Normal Service Has Been Resumed

 

 Hindustan Times

 

 

Grumble...

While reading that Microsoft are close to Windows 11 release I find they have updated Win 10 and now have inserted an uncalled for addition to the page.  At the bottom right we see the weather offered, click on this and a whole new experience of needless rubbish is thrust at you.  

I ask for this?  

Will I use it?  

No, there is nothing on it I do not already have or in fact require.  

Do I need a lot of celeb stories?  

Do I need info on the money markets?  

Who decides what a 'Top Story' is?  It certainly isn't a grown up.

Why do we have such useless rubbish dumped on us unwanted and of no use to anyone?  Surely if they wish to alter Win 10 all they have to do is ask - preferably someone over 45.

 

The heat is having an effect round here....
 

Wednesday Wittering

 

 

Just on Nine I slogged my weary way to Sainsburys this morning in 67%F of heat (that's about 19C to foreigners).  Three days in a row the sun has shone, this, as you will realise, is a clear indication of a storm to follow.

At the supermarket I took a basket as always and perused the shop for the few items I needed.  The picture above claims to be representative of the most popular trolley in supermarkets.  I always take a basket, partly because these days I can only carry so much but also because it makes progress around the store much easier and quicker.  To pass aged men with no idea what they are doing, bar obeying orders of 'she who must be obeyed,' and women with trolleys packed with expensive shopping most of which they could easily avoid, you require a basket.  For many years this has speeded up the shopping trip.  Certainly it can get heavy, but a well organised basket can carry a fair amount, at least that is what the cost at the checkout indicates to me!  £20:18 for that lot?  There again this is cheaper today because of the diet, without the cakes, beer and other fattening items omitted once again I am saving money.

Once again I noted the indifference to the checkout operators from those pedalling vaccines.  There ought to have been an urgent requirement for such as these to be vaccinated first.  These people meet the public daily, as indeed do postmen, bus drivers (several of whom died from the virus) and dustbin collectors alongside other council workers.  We realise NHS workers and care staff ought to have been offered the 'jab' first, but how many received it?  In Scotland they did do the care homes first, one good thing from Nicola, but how many missed out?  It is 'unfortunate' that these other front line workers, who face us daily, are considered so unimportant.

 

We can ask here how many missed out taking the 'Jab' because they believed the anti-vax nonsense spouted by many who fell for conspiracy movements?  Why do people think a virus would contain a bug that transmits your details to Bill Gates?  He already has all your details through Microsoft, as indeed has Google, Facebook, and all sorts of other organisations, let alone those 'official' government departments that can look you up if required.  Why believe the Bill Gates lie?  Do you really think he needs to know about your boring life?  

This I suppose belongs to the politicians need to polarise the world to advance their personal position.  One of the oldest political motives, 'divide and rule,' this has been around since the dawn of time.   How many have died by avoiding the 'jab' because of such polarisation? 

 

One of the most obvious examples of 'Divide & Rule' is found here, with Rupert Murdoch.  He, in all his grubby papers, along with the 'Daily Mail' and 'Daily Express,' have encouraged their readers to believe the country was flooded with immigrants, all the fault of the Labour Party, and that such immigrants were given priority over housing, benefits, and opportunites, all of which were being denied to the indigenous white 'working class' population.  

This has worked.  

In similar fashion lies re the EU has led to many Labour people voting to 'Leave' because they felt hard done by.  However, the benefits regarding tax dodging for the owners of such papers was not made clear, or ign ored altogether.  Now, a collapse of the UK economy which will hit the white, and indeed immigrant, population very hard indeed has arrived, will the Brexiteer white understand why he is laid off?  Or will he blame the pandemic?

We see how successful 'Divide & Rule' has been.  The areas of northern England, once industrial heartlands, now desert like places, has seen the Labour voting population not just die off but change their voting habits and support the new incoming Conservative member, why?  Do they agree with Tory policies?  Do they know what those policies are?  This is highly unlikely, however, they have heard that the Tories will 'Control immigration,' and protect the local natives from a Muslim takeover.  

That is all that was required.  

Lies about Muslims, frequent in the 'Yellow Press,' re immigrants, mostly black, and the EU citizens flooding in also, (no comment ever made re the 3 million UK citizens in the EU by the way) all added up to a fear campaign that benfits the Tory party but not the voter. 

The result of this lie, added to the inept situation in both the Conservative and Labour Parties has led to a feeble government since 2010.  With no opposition bar the SNP who cannot have sufficient influence in the Hosue, and the dead Labour Party, there is nothing to stop the Tories doing whatever they wish.  Add also the instability withing the party producing Boris Johnson as Prime Minister and we are left with a chaotic situation unsurpassed in UK history.  It times of strife in the past serious politicians came to the fore, today none can be found.    

I have just discovered what the amendments to the constituencies will mean if allowed to go through, a vast number of increased Tory seats, and Boris and his mob ruling for ever!

Glory?

 

 

Psalm 36

 

 Psalm 36
 

 Psalm 36 For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD.
 

An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: [1] 

  There is no fear of God before his eyes  

For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin.
The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; 

  he has ceased to be wise and to do good.
Even on his bed he plots evil; 

he commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong. 

Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, 

  your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, 

  your justice like the great deep. 

O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.
  How priceless is your unfailing love! 

Both high and low among men find [2] refuge in the shadow of your wings.
  They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;

  in your light we see light.

Continue your love to those who know you, 

  your righteousness to the upright in heart.
May the foot of the proud not come against me, 

  nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
See how the evildoers lie fallen-- 

  thrown down, not able to rise!

    [1] Or heart: Sin proceeds from the wicked.
    [2] Or love, O God! Men find; or love! Both heavenly beings and men find