This Thing...

This thing has taken all my attention today.  Adding things, swapping from one to another, working out what went wrong and why, then attempting to put it all back together again.  I am just glad I did not buy one of those expensive laptops, some approaching £1900!  This was vastly cheaper and I obtained a discount to make it almost bearable, almost.  

Because of the busy day, I also had to eat and sleep, I dd not venture out into the blazing hot sun.  Instead I remained trapped indoors.  Occasionally I looked at the park and there, at great distance, I managed to capture a reasonable shot of this Thrush looking and listening for worms and beasties rummaging through the undergrowth, or is that underground?  The birds are fattening up and soon eggs will appear.  Already my feeders are emptying quicker than usual and soon it will be filling them daily I expect.  Of course as I have been in when the sun shone it will rain tomorrow when I am in the museum with hundreds of kids/mums and others.  Half term brings them out and rain brings them in!

 

The other day our boy Trump walked out of a  meeting forgetting to sign the Bill he went there to sign.  The next day we read he might resign because of testimony regarding Russia that a man is willing to offer, today we read he is instead going to nuke North Korea or share a hamburger with the Dear Leader, or is it Young Leader?  Every day is something new, never safe but certainly new.
Theresa May, the imitation Thatcher but without the intellect, has once again been cunning with the
EU people.  She first threatened to use EU nationals as bargaining chips then run from that one, next she threatened to withhold security information, and that was put down, yesterday Lord Howard ('Something of the night about him') one time failed leader of the Conservative Party blustered about Theresa 'Going to war with Spain over Gibraltar like Maggie did with the Falklands.'  Good grief!  Clearly this has come from No 10 yet it is so daft as to make you wonder what is happening to world leaders.
Putin the gangster is dangerous and mad, Trump is innocently madder, Theresa knows we need the EU yet rushes into leaving it with no plan, the French have a liar and a fascist as potential leaders, the only sane one in Germany has overstepped the mark and suffers for it, and who really knows what is going on elsewhere?  I really am beginning to see the end in sight.  Judgement is falling by allowing such as this to lead us.  Return to morals stability before it is too late and elect proper politicians who rule for the sake of the people and not the lunatics I say!

 

Busy

Life in the pre Brexit world has been busy.  
On Saturday I spent the full day at the museum and much enjoyed being on my feet all day. 
My knees are now informing me of their opinion on this.
It was busy and I had spent the days before this running around.
One deed was to buy a new laptop, the old one giving too much trouble, slowing down, bits beginning to fall off, and other glitches that annoy.  It is a few years old now and I suspect unable to get the best out of updated software.
So on Friday morning I spent much time installing things.
The wi-fi would not connect, the plug fell out, the wrong connection appeared, I mistook another for the right connection and spent several long minutes fighting with it before I realised my mistake.  Eventually I got connected and had to follow the Microsoft blue pages asking if I wished to be kept private or be connected direct to the FBI/CIA?/Special Branch/Scotland Yard etc.  After a short lifetime I got things going and now slowly I am converting it for my use.  Sadly some things, such as 'Live.com' are no longer available and I used their gallery for my pictures.  Now I need another way to connect the camera to the laptop without using their phot thingy.  No doubt other problems will arise.
So I have one suitable picture on here, taken in 1844 from Edinburgh Castle looking east.  The new Walter Scott Memorial can be seen sticking up into the sky, gleaming white stone, now somewhat blacker ebven though cleaned in the 70's.  On the hill in the distance Nelson's Monument, an upside down telescope you notice, standing high above on Calton Hill.  In the foreground the early Waverley Station takes shape, the buildings under the camera soon to be destroyed, I wonder how rotten they were by then.
Today I made it to St P's, had a good time, wandered back to watch the Heart of Midlothian lose to Celtic and fell asleep.  The Spring sunshine tempts me outside, well the evening aor now does that, but sleep will be a better idea.  You may be surprised to know that I need my beauty sleep.
Day off tomorrow, I may just sleep on...

 

 I was sent this....

Morning Has Broke

Stupidly rising long before I ought I thought to myself that riding the bike in the quiet of the dawn might be good for my knees.  So at 6:30 I trundled somewhat shakily down the road heading straight into a fabulous sunrise.  One thing that cannot be missed is the number of aircraft coming, going or passing over up above at this early time.  I fail to comprehend what time people have to leave to board a flight in far off places if it brings them into one of London's overcrowded airports at six or seven in the morning.  Fine if you have come from China but not so good if the departure point is say Vienna.  

 
There again the standard of public transport in this land is such that to leave from Stansted Airport at six in the morning and having to be there long before boarding means arriving the night before to await your flight, possibly delayed, or get some family/friend who owes you one to drive you there in the middle of the night. This of course is not helped by the dozen or so protesters who made it through the fence (again) to block a flight to attempt to stop a deportation.  Several flights delayed, this would affect other airports and a wee bit annoying for those catching connecting flights elsewhere.  I suspect these passengers will hope the courts decapitate the protesters rather than merely fine them.

It was difficult to tell, when slowly heading up the wee slopes, who was creaking most, the bike or me.  I suppose I must put some oil on it, maybe rub some on myself, and judging by the mushrooms growing on there this morning I think I may need to clean it also.  Still much to my surprise it worked and there was sufficient air in the tyres, just.

Half an hour on the bike and still stiff but now stiff all over.  Riding a bike in the quiet of the morn is a delight, unless you are wrapped in a Hi-Vis jacket and heading for work.  I always cheerfully greet such men. (Note no women passed dressed this way - again!)  Back to bacon rolls and seeking what I have failed to do on this laptop for the museum.

Down the Pan!

So the Prime Minister who opposed Brexit because it was foolhardy and would destroy the nation has handed in the notice and is racing to enforce Brexit before anyone can stop her.  She does not believe in it but is doing it just to keep her job and spite Boris and the other public schoolboys.
Of such attitudes are nations destroyed.
Scotland will have a proper referendum soon, Northern Ireland will demand one soon and seek union with Dublin, Wales will so as it's told as it has nothing to fight back with and the little englander racists in this area will rejoice - until they lose their jobs and then blame everyone else!
I have written off to my friend Nicola asking when the Scots passports will be issued.  Then when mine arrives I will boast to the locals trapped in UKIPland that I am off to Torremelinos or Majorca while they will be visiting Skegness or Scarborough.  (Actually I will go somewhere interesting but tell them that to let them stew.)

I'm fed up with all that so here is a relaxing video well worth watching.

   

Enjoy this, it has kept me sane for hours.

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!

Bored!

 

A Saturday without football is boring!

Nothing to do but shop and mope around the house.

My knees don't need exercise they ache well by themselves so I only wandered round the corner.

Nothing to see bar kids filling the park and spoiling the view.

TV dead.

News still on about the bad guy though some jeering Trump failing to remove Obamacare as promised.  Tsk!  This man is so used to bullying folks in his business he has not yet got round to the ways of the real world.  Politics is not like his world, these folks have power also.

L.B.J. was the greatest US president since the war.  He knew Congress and how to make use of the people he knew in it.  Urging them with near threatening late night call, three in the morning was a good time, enforcing his ideas and getting them to do his will by almost any means he forced through radical legislation.  JFK gets the plaudits but in a remarkably short time LBJ done the work.

He failed in Vietnam simply because of a Nixon dirty trick.  LBJ had arranged an armistice but at the last minute Nixon convinced the South Vietnamese to withdraw claiming he could get a better deal.  He failed, or just lied, and the war went on costing 20,000 more US lives.  LBJ gets the blame.

Trump does not have that sort of ability.  He can bully his own but not Congress.

 Our friend Mo recently took off for a trip to India and returned with a second blog this time about the school there where she taught them photography, and some excellent photographs came out of this.  The blog is Children of the Illam and worth a look.  Some of the pictures are better than any I ever took and many of the kids are indeed young!  It's no fair!  I blame them having sunlight all day, that's not always the deal here as you know.

Naturally there is a need for cash to keep the project going.  The photography does not just give them pleasure it can open a real opportunity in life for them.  Many have problems that require care and this can develop their minds and give a chance not always available. Have a read and see what you think, it is a genuine need without money being wasted on 'administration' rather than need.

 

Our Oscars

The early evening was spent surrounded by dolled up lads and lassies for the Volunteer Oscars at the Museum.  This is one of those 'get together' ideas to help us meet those we rarely see, even though one or two could not make it so we didn't see them!
Oscars were awarded for shop work, handyman work, children's work and the like.  Naturally I expected the 'Miserable Git of the Year' award of course but that was not on offer this time, "Not enough competition," I heard someone whisper.  I did get the 'Social Media' Oscar simply for passing on the posts we offer to all on facebook.  I also do things on the laptop at home, sometimes for the museum...

This was a short but enjoyable time and I took lots of pictures of people feigning humility while grasping their award, all well deserved I say.   A few slurps of imitation Champagne and some round things with dead things upon it to go were on offer to please the peoples.  Then, dressed up to the nines. we headed for our next appointment or home to play about with the pictures and fall asleep.
The deep blue sky as I came home was irresistible, this is one shot that I had to try (on AUTO) as the sky was deep blue and the RC church had lights on.  

Trapped!

It is almost ten this morning and I sit here trapped!  Trapped while I await a man to fix the boiler that worked OK this morning but that he claims requires a new part.  This he decided after a brief view the other day.  Hmmm, good job the landlord is paying.  On the other hand he might be right, the water does not heat as it ought so maybe he has found something by his cursory glance.  We shall see if he is right.
However as he comes from the far distant coast of this county (clearly cheaper than the local guys) and I suspect he has also 'found fault' with one or two others in the building I am now sitting here in an almost clean but not quite slum while I await his presence.  This means I canny go out, I canny begin those jobs that require doing until he has been, and worse still I cannot dare to fall asleep again as I so wish to do.  I wait, and wait and wait...

Eventually he arrived!
Triumphant was I as he and his mate unpacked their heavy bags and began work.
Then we ran into trouble.  He produced a large round, red item which he claimed was to be inserted into the boiler, replacing the burst one.
"Did you not fix that two or three years ago?" Asked I.
"Yes I did," he said memory slowly coming to him.
Out came the phone as he called his brother (the one who came last week to check the boilers).
Several calls and many minutes later we reach the conclusion - he ought to be next door!
So the goods were picked up again, the left for next door and I reset the residence back to the normal mess in which it resides.
All morning I waited in for nothing!  The only good thing was the postman bringing Amazon's latest offering, that is Amazon the book folks not Amazon the woman down the road we all avoid bumping into!  
If the boiler goes off tomorrow there will be trouble...

    
While waiting the TV offered the usual non stop repeat of all the information from yesterday plus the debate in the House of Commons.  Once again we hear from people who were not actually eye witnesses but 'heard something' often from a distance away.  Quite what the purpose of these non witnesses can be I fail to understand.  
The story becomes clearer, the usual 'loner' with a family and surely someone who aided him as yet unknown to us.  The swift police operation raiding premises in Birmingham and elsewhere as the net widens and energetic police take action.  All this is good and acceptable.
What is less acceptable is the people offering their half baked opinions, TV celebs telling us of their 'Terror' or 'Horror' or anything else to get their name involved.  It certainly appears to me that we did not respond like this to IRA outrages, and there were many of those, the population today is steeped in emoting as opposed to reacting.  Let us know your feelings rather than an objective thought.  
Maybe it's just me.   
Anyway while the social media is full of praise for the police and their wok we all know that in a few days they will return to being "Pigs!" and "Have you not got a Muslim to find?" When they stop a dangerous driver using his mobile phone while driving.  Once again our 'Brave Boys' will become the ones who 'stop our fun' or 'do not appear when we need them.'
See my cynicism is out again.

Today's Thoughts

DM

The afternoon has been taken up with failing to make Macaroni Cheese the way mum used to make it, though mine will bring a lump to my throat, and watching the ongoing constantly repeated coverage of the incident at Westminster.  

Here it appears a gent, large,brown and violent, drove an SUV car into people on the bridge hitting many, forcing at least one into the River Thames, and then crashing into more, possibly a policeman near the entrance to the House of Commons.  From the car he, and possibly one other, entered the MPs entrance waving a knife, two officers stopped him, one was knifed and died at the scene in spite of efforts to save him.  The assailant was warned twice by armed officers then shot.  He also died at the scene.

There is a possibility another man, possibly white, was involved and searching continues around the massive complicated Houses of Parliament.  The House itself ceased work and all members were ordered to remain in the chamber, no-one to move in short.  The Scots parliament, involved in tough Indy2 debate, also ceased work when the news reached Edinburgh.

Now we must cut down another forest to allow the gutter press to talk for days about the 'Terror,' 'Shock,' 'Fury,' and 'Outrage' that will allow them to enjoy smearing as many as possible and giving no thought to those involved.  They will only be seen as opportunities for sensational or sentimental stories rather than treated as people.  

The usual suspects have already blamed Muslims and are demanding they are all sent home, whether he is Muslim is not yet clear though from what I can make out it is likely.  The inept attack, the wild crashing into random crowds, the knife attack all speak of amateur responses to ISIS videos rather than an organised considered attack.  The truth will be known soon enough, I suspect the police already known where he lived and have the place stuffed full of officers.  Muslim people are also quick to provide information, though this is not always mentioned by the media.  I suspect it would be better to keep that info secret.

  

London will carry on as normal in such circumstances, most places would do so.  Such attacks hurt a few, cost the life of the attacker or end up in long prison sentences.  On no occasion does it alter government policy.

That policy lies behind such attacks however.  While this man may be Arab he possibly is Pakistani.  We cannot tell, there are so many places he could originate from.  However the British then the US abused the Middle East giving no concern for the people and caring only for the oil.  In recent days Iran caused worries, then Iraq, now we have left Iraq broken, Syria devastated for no reason and Iran and Saudi thinking of waging war directly.  We either bomb them or encourage them to bomb one another, why should they care about the west?

  

Now there will be tears and wailing throughout the West yet almost nothing concerning the starving in Yemen, a war we allow them to continue with, or Somalia, they are just a waste anyway is that not right?  Millions may be starving at deaths door but this event will take what little is on the screen off and allow us to concentrate on poor us - for a change.

How we suffer.

First Day of Spring

The Year's At The Spring - Poem by Robert Browning

The year's at the spring,
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hill-side's dew-pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn;
God's in his Heaven—
All's right with the world!

Poem Hunter

I made it back home from St P's today about 30 minutes before the delightful Spring rain hammered down across the land.  I now wake about six in the morning which is good and the day is almost bright, bar the gray clouds that is. 

Spring - Poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Birds' love and birds' song
Flying here and there,
Birds' song and birds' love
And you with gold for hair!
Birds' song and birds' love
Passing with the weather,
Men's song and men's love,
To love once and forever.

Men's love and birds' love,
And women's love and men's!
And you my wren with a crown of gold,
You my queen of the wrens!
You the queen of the wrens --
We'll be birds of a feather,
I'll be King of the Queen of the wrens,
And all in a nest together.
Poem Hunter

Today, without telling the Scots, Theresa May spoke of the date she begins the Brexit process.  The condescending selfishness of the woman is giving many Scots the desire to vote indy!   Today I notice May, in her three hundred pound trousers and several hundred pound outfits posing for a glossy magazine.  How nice to take time of to present yourself, no man would do such a thing.  Arrogant, ignorant to and off Scotland, failing to accept the losses that will accrue she rushes into leaving the EU with no trade deals of any sort ready.  
Disaster awaits.

Oh and there is this!

Stronger in Europe!

Spring Sunday

I cheered myself up considerably this morning by not reading any of the lying online papers.  This was a good idea, though one or two things that appeared on facebook did niggle.  The woman at the Kirk who follows slavishly the UKIP line was close to getting my thoughts this morning but I managed to control myself and twice avoided expressing my opinion.  Coffee time would not have been so enjoyable for some if I had  mentioned my opposition to the hate filled messages she thinks acceptable.  I must write something biblical about this, it shouldn't be too difficult. 
The morning was good otherwise, these people are becoming family to me now, whether they see things that way I would not like to say but "You know how awful family can be," is a phrase I have heard in my presence...   

Plodding home from Kirk I noticed the Spring weather at its best.  Sun bright over there, black clouds over here scudding along at speed.  The football in Manchester I watched today began in teeming rain and soon afterwards the sun was shining, typical Spring weather.  Tomorrow I go out in sunshine but if the weather report is fulfilled I will drown on the way back. 

 
Is there nothing but Daffodils in this country?
These I believe are nearer the colour of the wild daffs that Wordsworth saw when wandering 'lonely as a cloud' though I have yet to see a lonely cloud in this country myself, usually they come with many friends.  
Small flowers, blossom on trees, milder temperatures in spite of high winds and occasional blue in the sky indicate better prospects.  Life is getting better.

  
It is noticeable how scared Westminster is of the IndyRef 2.  The media campaign is well under way already while the problems with the failure of Brexit negotiations and the Northern Ireland danger are pushed aside while Scotland is attacked on all sides.  The referendum has not yet got a date you notice!  England needs Scotland to keep it afloat yet will not accept this.  Instead the usual lies are offered and the usual suspects brought before the biased TV and radio programmes.  Today, in the week the SNP had their Spring Gathering the Andrew Marr show offered the leader of the Scottish Conservative Party, not someone from the SNP!  Possibly they were at the Conference "cough."
There is however a great deal of hope for Scots, the greatest weapon we have still exists, Theresa May!  Her patronising attitude, her intransigence and contempt for Scotland will offer Scots an insight into England's understanding of Scotland.  I see that here all the time, and this from well meaning folks, they have a total ignorance of Scotland and its people, a total misunderstanding of why Scots require to be a nation again.   With their media being what it is this can be no surprise.

With the lighter mornings I am awakening at six these days.  This means I must begin to get to bed earlier for my much needed beauty sleep.  As it is past eight at night I suppose this would be the right time to head off for that is around the amount of 'beauty sleep' I require!

Lee is at Fault.

It is not my fault we have yet more Daffs.  Oh no, all I had to do was get up long before I was awake and cross the park to capture the daffodils in the early (ish) morning sunshine that's all I had to do.  This because she who must be obeyed insisted!   A lovely Spring morning, just right for entering the supermarket early on...

The day has been taken up with important things but I put them aside to listen to Theresa May the English Prime Minister talking down Scotland and watching how the English media have given her unstinting, and dare I say it unthinking, support.  Not only the media but the slaves of the comments forums have been once again bringing out their old insults, lies, false facts and abuse.  How lovely to meet old friends again.
The Tory press slants its coverage with little attempt to hide the bias.  The Scottish versions of the papers do have different slanted stories however, just in case these offend I suspect, and this added to the Glasgow based BBC Scotland (full of unionist Labour serfs) with the biased journalism (sic) that they offer it is clear the desperation of the Westminster elite to keep Scotland under the thumb has not diminished.
The usual scribes appear in the comments sections, the usual phraseology indicating 'copy and paste' is much used to abuse Scots and lie about independence.  Rarely do these creatures indulge in debate, they cannot as they merely earn their money by spouting what they are told, and all under several names freely provided and used to give the false impression that vast numbers oppose Scots independence.  Surely this lie has been seen for what it is by now.
The question I ask, and never receive an answer for is 'Why does England wish to keep Scotland if the Scots cost her so much?'  No-one answers as Scotland keeps England going.
How amazing that Theresa wishes to leave the EU without offering answers to the questions that are daily asked re trade deals and financial deals yet claims Scots cannot have a referendum as such questions re Scotland have not been answered!  Silly girl.
Another strange item is the number of Englishmen who fail to understand Scotland's situation yet feel free with their comments, I suppose such arrogance comes easily to them.  I have had to rebuke several and am used to doing that living in this wilderness as the knowledge of most here re Scotland is as a holiday place 'up there' somewhere where they went twenty years ago.  The clarity of the situation ought to appear as they look at the strain on Theresa's face when talking down to Scotland. 

During the week I was searching YouTube for things to watch that required no effort.  The sea slapping against the shore, birds chattering in trees that sort of thing and i found one or two happily enough.  I also came across this Penguin Cam the Penguins at Edinburgh Zoo enjoying their day.  On the occasions I looked they were being fed, some of you with your own animals will recognise the scene.  One is fed while the rest gather around desperate not to suffer malnutrition!  It's a nice watch.

I'm Sick of Daffodils

I'm sick of daffodils, much as I love them!  I wandered out today in the hope the Spring sun might allow for some pictures.  Not only did all the wee birds hide from me, as did some big ones, but no beastie of any sort was interested in posing for me.  
The flowers for the most part comprised Daffodils, more daffodils and yet more daffodils!  I understand why the park keepers fill the park with them, the bright flash of colour is magnificent, but no other colour is appearing.  On top of this I can wander only around the doors just now and this means there is nothing new or exciting to snap a foto off.  Really annoying.  

A few purple things did appear here and there, mostly not quite out yet, and my attempts to capture the early bees hovering between them failed miserably.  Rather a disappointing flower count today but I expect many more to appear in a week or so.  

Nothing else has happened as I have been resting from my housework all day.  Having cleaned up to no purpose last week I see no reason to do any more for a month or so.  The clean up was successful in that I still cannot find half the stuff I removed from sight.  
Bored yet?
I am with having little to report.
So here is another daffodil and good luck with it!

Monday Dawdle

The day went it's usual way.  My desperate Spring cleaning that caused each and every muscle to ache so much that I could hardly sleep on Saturday was in the end a waste of time.  The Boiler man arrived right enough, just as I was thinking of leaving, but the Landlords manager never entered the flat!!!  Now I have a clean flat for no purpose! 
Ridiculous, now not only can I not find anything but the place smells so clean and pine finished.  Tsk! I canny get used to this.  Having said that I must say it is better when I can walk across the floor without dust rising and actually find a space on the settee where I can sit with out having to move things.
But what a waste of time!  Bah!

 
While waiting for the men this morning I did little else, just in case it caused mess, however I did read the facebook pages and some things stood out.  One was facebooks insistence of shoving adverts in my face again.  This happens every so often, especially after the share value has dipped, and as they keep demanding I note other people 'Who I may know' it gets a bit wearing.  I am capable of finding people I know and people I wish to know without help thanks, and the adverts all get called 'Spam' and dumped.
The other thing was my niece, her daughter is 18 today and she is the youngest in the family (though from what pictures I have seen she dresses far from young if you ask me!) and here was my niece and her friends grumbling about being 'OLD' because this one is 18 and that one is 20 and 'innit terrible.'  
How do they think I feel when I can barely remember being 18!    
I canny mind that day when I could legally drink.  This at the time was very important to me and as I worked in a brewery at that age I then got an allowance of beer free each month.  This was more than enough for me as we (my mother and I) were not drinking that much, or should I say she didn't drink except at new year.  However I suspect this allowance of four dozen cans of beer would not be sufficient for my family today.  One of them would have it away in a day or two if he was not working!
This shows how much I have changed from those far off days and the life I then lived.  Meeting together at the church this morning for our debate I realise how distant those days and now my family and I are in our lifestyles and how we see the world.  I would add 'I prefer mine' to a life centred on sitting in pubs but tonight the church men meet for a social evening in a ...anyway I must be off, the sooner I'm in the sooner I get home again...