Wednesday Blether.

Bumbling Boris is claiming to have achieved a deal with the EU.  A deal worse than the one he and his ERG rejected not so long ago.  As normal he has sold people out, this time it appears to be the DUP who are not happy with the Irish situation.  This may be because it interferes with their control in Northern Ireland, it could however be because the deal is just Bollocks!  
It appears we now go to the House to get backing, hopefully this will fail but we never know do we...

 
Well done the people of Canning Town!
The absurdity of Environmental Protesters hindering Londoners trying to get to work has shown the depth of stupidity within this so called movement.  Like Brexit this is manipulated from a centre by the rich desperate for a cause.  This week it is the environment, last week the homeless, that did not last, again a new cause will come and carrying the Guardians close to them they will call out those listening to their fears and ignoring reality.  From needless blocking of streets, accompanied by the workshy or those with sufficient money income to live on the streets and by Thespians desperate for publicity they hinder the world turning and accomplish nothing with regard to changing politicians minds.  The middle class at play, nothing else.  We ought to praise the people of Canning Town and elsewhere for dragging these nutters from the trains and offering appropriate advice regarding their movement.
So who are XR? Who is leading this? Why are we not told?  Are we to believe that an organisation that begun last October could reach this level without a guiding hand?  Who and what is behind this?  Clearly they do not care about the environment.  For them blocking the streets and bringing sad people to do their work for them is very Steve Bannon in my view.  There is much more to this than meets the eye and we ought to be told who is running this.

ITV

Now here is a cause the protesters can follow.  The Franco like abuse by police on those unhappy with Madrid's abuse of the Catalan politicians jailed for having a referendum.  The harshness of the sentence reveals not only the judges closeness to the government but also the fear in Spain of the country breaking up.  That fear will be realised by the treatment offered here.  Franco tactics indeed but Franco no longer is in control.  The Catalans will obtain their wish democratically and Madrid will not stop them. 

The latest Trump saying. "America and Italy go back thousands of years!" 

Healthy Me...?

I reported as ordered to the nurse for the 'Old man's health check.'  
Reporting in dead on time the receptionist stopped cleaning her knuckledusters long enough to inform me I had to 'Log in' at the screen 'over there.'  I went 'over there' and confronted the blue screen (of death?' I thought) and began to answer the inquisition presented before me.  It is a good job I could remember my date of birth!  At last it recognised me, ordered me upstairs, and switched off.
Clumping upstairs, ideal I though for my knees, and more so for the older man with bad knees and walking stick awaiting his turn to fall down them, I found the waiting area and entered.  All things are down on screen these days.  Ahead of me a largish screen ordered return of unused medicines, demanded measles were vaccinated against and with a loud 'Ping'  ordered Mr Patient to Reception room 'A.'  As he was downstairs I cannot tell if he obeyed but I suspect he will.
I waited.
Refusing to sit as I expected to be called any minute I stared out the window at the new view, last time in here I met the witch doctor who disposed of me to quickly to allow me a glance out the window.  A jumble of buildings erected after the war, nearby some had been destroyed by bombing, the square practical but dated buildings looked so modern beside those aged hulks confronting the main street erected in the 19th century, some before that time.  Why do aged buildings look better than modern ones?  I read of Charles Dickens grumbling about the new Public houses that were springing up, either through new building or by renovation.  These he thought ghastly and criticised them all.  Now we are up in arms with anyone who wishes to destroy them!  Cheap labour helped obtain better looking buildings in the past, but often today we appear to build only monstrous edifices.  
I also noticed how the surgery had taken over several off the offices in the square build opposite, just above the pharmacy.  This small square surgery hopes to move to a monstrous needless new build in the town centre the council is spending £11 million of its own money on.  A Hotel we do not require, housing, restaurants and a doctors surgery will be built in spite of nobody wanting this and with money better spent where it is required.  The Tory council however will build whatever we say.
Last time I had a problem I saw the Nurse Practitioner, a kind of lesser doctor, who was excellent but having to make use of a large cupboard to see patients.  Some remedial work has been done but the space is too small.  That said if they move and make me walk 5 minutes to them rather than one minute I will not object.  However as this building will remove one car park and the taxi rank replacing them with nothing whatsoever I doubt those who have to travel by car will be pleased, the parking here is bad enough.
The 'Ping' came and at last my name appeared.
I crossed the floor into Room 5 where I met an attractive personable young lady who, like all nurse, can kill at 30 paces.  I followed instructions, I heeded comments, I accepted the Blood Pressure thing strangling my arm all without complaint.  The needle in the fingertip "You might feel a jab," said she, and she was right.  Wiping the blood of the ceiling we continued.
These days all measurements are made by these little computers.  Surprisingly they informed my my Cholesterol was 4.3 which is considerably down from 5 years ago!  'Benecol' margarine has helped, she said that lowers cholesterol by 7%, and that is helped by eating other things like porridge.  She knew about porridge having a Glasgow mother she had seen a lot of that!  Sugar was 5.3, and as my blood pressure was normal, only the need to lose a stone and exercise more was required.  
I was amazed!
Before I entered in trepidation I expected a list of horrid foods to eat to alter my diet,  a telling off for being a 'Fat slob' as last time, this lass was, er..plump herself, so maybe that is why she kept quiet, and here I was being informed that in spite of it all I was healthy!
Right, pasta tonight, veg tomorrow, then chocolate....

My treatment was FREE as it was the NHS.  

   

This however is what an American paid, in the 'Land of the Free,'

 for treatment on a knee infection.

Protest the Rain in Spain...

With monsoon like rain teeming down I was forced, last night, to walk miles in the rain to attend, under compulsion, the St Paul's men's meeting 'SPAM.'  This spiritual gathering, in the Liberal Club, occurs every month, it is a crime to miss it.  Having no wish to be forced to sit on the 'Cutty stool' and be preached at by the prelate for an hour concerning my sin of not obeying I attended, in spite of the rain coming in through the holes in my worn out shoes.
As the gathering progressed we discussed the NHS, the Great War, painting and decorating according to the wife's instructions, the Holocaust, the use of metres rather than feet and inches, all the while attended cheerfully by the barmaid attendant of the premises.  To enable discussion nourishment was provided, 60/-, 70/- and 80/- was noticed and indeed the spirit was abundant in one quarter also.  These short get togethers bring about a feeling of 'team spirit,' a binding of personalities, a warmth of companionship and a question as to the genuineness of the prelates insistence that today was 'Buy the Priest a Pint' day.  I hope he got home all right...  
These rich men, 40 years of paying into a pension has paid dividends for some!  My £10 a week from the NHS pails into significance besides them.  This also enabled them to ensure a wife was given driving lessons so she could collect them after the meeting had ended, the end coming when one wife arrived and threw us out, thereby proving her worth and his displeasure.  
I sloshed my way home in the dark, fumbled my way upstairs and collapsed in a warm spiritual contentment.

Guardian

While the media concentrates on Trump's latest farce, the Turks invading Kurdistan, less attention is given to the Spanish 'Franco like' approach to Catalan independence.  The English media play this down implying the Spanish are doing the correct thing, indicating their willingness to do the same to Scotland, and even worse is the lack of criticism of this disgraceful jailing of Catalan politicians who dared to separate  from Madrid. 
While the EU leaders are quick to condemn the Turks under their somewhat desperate leader Erdogan, they have said nothing regarding the Spanish inquisition.  One Scots MEP spoke in the European Parliament but nothing has come of that as far as I can see.  Riots followed the 13 year sentence handed down by the Spanish 'Judge Jefferies' and I suspect these may continue for a while. It may indeed be a proper referendum next time, and where will Spain be then?  Sensitive political handling is required, Spain has not offered much inclination that that in recent years.  Fear of the nation splitting, Franco's memory and the division that leaves, short sighted politicians all combine to offer an unstable future which ham fisted handling will not ease.

Bumbling Boris has been told to fix things by midnight tonight.  The question is, who will he sell out to get himself an agreement - if he gets an agreement?  Does he care, will it happen, will it go on....?

At last the Met is doing its job.  The children and fantasists are being removed from the streets, roads are being opened, and London returns to its normal terribleness.  What has been achieved?
Nothing!
Police costs have mounted, vast number on overtime and all to be paid.
Crime risen around London and probably much of that not reported as there is no-one to report it to, they are all in central London confronting men dressed as Brussel sprouts!
Streets blocked and much hindrance to daily traffic, many small businesses losing money.
And the environment effect?
None.
Planes still fly, taking the celeb protesters home.
China still builds faulty Nuclear power stations and faultier cola fired ones.
India does no stop kicking Muslims and Christian around to turn of their smoking power stations.
Trump continues...well that's a big environmental health risk!
The USA continues to allow polluters to buy Presidents and candidates.
So what has the protest movement achieved?
Nothing.
There is a grown up way to protest, this was not it.
Lock them all up!

Pryor Book

Amazon

Francis Pryor became famous as part of the 'Time Team' archaeology series on Channel 4.  Pryor's speciality being prehistory, the 'Bronze' and 'Iron Ages.'  His own work is based near Peterborough in the 'Fens.'      
'Paths to the Past' however, is not about prehistory though it may be mentioned, this book covers much of the land and seeks out specific areas with something to tell of times past, and not too far past at that.and
Beginning way back at 'Star Carr,' and then the 'Orkney's,' we move through 'Avebury,' 'Hadrian's Wall,' and on a few short pages at a time.  Thus enabling five or ten minutes to be spent considering one aspect of UK heritage. 
The four or five pages given to the subject, be it 'Romney March' or 'Ironbridge,' are a very good example of constructing a short story which covers much ground.  An excellent overview is given of the subject and at the end of the thin book there are further reams to study if wished.  
Whether you agree with his opinions or not the view from 'Birkenhead Park,' to 'Kings Cross & St Pancras,' is well worth looking into.  A book of short chapters, well written and full of interest, well worth a read.

 

Rain!

I am supposed to be out this afternoon and its raining.
The weather girl, the one who refuses to come and do my ironing, cheerfully informed us the rain would pass over 'late tonight,' but cheerfully added that it will be 'back tomorrow.'
Nasty things women!
A male weatherman would have ensured sunshine for the weekend.
Bah!

'Plusnet' Speed dropped recently from around 57mps to just under 30.  I was not amused.
This still gave a workable speed but I am paying for the lot and wish to obtain all of it, even if not required. 
I contacted them via the site, a response came, then nothing for a week!
I contacted the 'Plusnet Help' on Twitter and soon had a reply.
At their end there was no fault, indeed they claimed I could get 72!!!
So he offered a plan.
By making use of the Ethernet cable I tested again and lo and behold all returned to normal, right up to just over 57 mps again.
I was intrigued how this use of a cable could sort this problem.  What caused it?  I may never know.
Still, it is now fixed and if he rain stops in 20 minutes I may leave and go to the 50th anniversary party of the St Paul's Church.  That is, 50 years since it became an independent parish.
Church folks will do anything for a nosh up.
It does mean I miss some football however...

Friday, Pay and Railways.

Friday night, rain or not, the citizens of this municipality are running around unconcerned by the Turkish invasion and possible genocide in Kurds land, the Irish discussions re Brexit that so dominate the media, nor indeed the 'TERROR' attack as the 'Daily Mail' put it in Manchester.  This is Friday so it is time to enjoy the end off the week they say.  Who can blame them, possibly those who have to work Saturdays I suppose.  It can be very annoying to see the majority enjoying the 'normal' time off when you are left working.  During pleasantries with the lass in B&M yesterday I mentioned how she would soon be free for home.  Her somewhat disgusted reply informed me she finished at 8 pm!  The poor lass, she still had so many hours of joy ahead of her.
B&M are one of the shops who have a large turnover of staff.  'Basic pay,' very possibly poor management, certainly not much fun with many of the customers, and little sense of 'fun' to be seen from the staff members.  Other shops local to this have similar turnover and I suppose they care not as there is always someone desperate to try a short while working here.  There is not a great deal of choice!
Sometimes I wonder at the poor work I have done, the inept management, sometimes corrupt and self seeking, at other times very efficient and capable but not with money to spare.  I wish I had trained in something when young but when young I cared not, to be honest I would have soon been dumped anyway as I lacked what was required until Jesus came along and gave me a kick.  Then I chose low paid work like Hospitals and charity work, unpaid!   I enjoyed that more than lining my pockets however.  Some things are worth more than cash even if I did little.  I am now a 'Jack-of-no-trade' and fail to fix everything I break.  This is a regret but too late now.  
I sympathise with those looking to another ten years or much more in such work.  I doubt Bojo's latest wheeze will do such people much good, in the EU or out of it.  The Hedge fund managers, not on low pay, will be encouraging him however by flashing cash in front of his face.   

I suddenly feel the need for a railway picture.  This one is of Edinburgh Waverley Station in 1914.  It is to be regretted that all the trains have left for their destination, on time I expect, and as the photographer, whoever he was, coaxed his glass plates into place several would be steaming through the tunnels beneath his feet in either in or out direction, on different tracks I hope.  

Seen from the other end, the southerly direction via Berwick and on to Newcastle and London, we have a picture from I think the 1870's.  It may be the 1890's however as some fool has forgotten to mark the date on this one.  My grandfather was driving engines at that time while living nearby, possibly one of these.  The 1881 and 1891 census has him listed as 'engine driver,' a highly skilled and dangerous operation.  At that time drivers might work 12 or more hours, in all weathers, on passenger and goods trains.  Both could be troublesome and both had timetables to obey.  Passenger safety was very important to the railway companies, they said, but as you see the carriages are short, made from wood, had no heating it appears from these pictures and I cannot tell if these had gas lighting or oil lamps installed.  They might just be 3rd Class of course. 
The drivers and firemen joined 'ASLEF' 'Associated Society of Locomotive Steam Enginemen and Firemen' rather than the 'NUR' the National Union of Railwaymen,  as they wished to be seen as slightly above the common railwayman.  Class is not something that comes from above but from within!  Together they changed the pay structure and hours of the men but the ability to get yourself fired, for almost anything, was great, and the dangerous working conditions for many improved only slowly.  There is no way conditions and working practices of the 19th century could be imagined these days in the UK, Brexit of course might bring them back.

Nothing...

Coffee Time

I ventured into one of the many local coffee shops that are rising and falling all the time.  A friend from the museum and I met to discuss the place now that it must be missing me.  Apparently my not being there has not yet been noticed by those that matter.  This I cannot believe as there will be no individual so willing to moan about they way things are if I am not there.  The rest fail to grumble when they ought and just get on with things.
Anyway we went to a coffee shop that has recently opened, nice decor, very nice chocolate fudge cake that cost £1:75 but convinced me I ought to be eating much more of that day after day!  I nearly cut my tongue by licking the knife they give you with it.  However, nice though the place was, decent the service from the people, possibly Albanian, and certainly busy after lunch I wondered if a place as small as this could survive.  The previous owners also have a coffee shop in the public Gardens and possibly could not keep two places afloat, I hope the man in charge today can keep this one going as we will be back next month.  Once again there is a needless choice of coffees with names that make no sense to me so I plump for American each time as it never appears to disappoint and did not do so today.  In fact I benefited as the Americana cup is larger than the others.  
There are now at least seven coffee type places, plus two greasy spoons, in the town centre that I know off.  Soon a large empty shop will be turned into a 'Bistro' whatever that will be, much to the annoyance of those who demand major shops move into town.  The fact that this town is too small, major shops are dying, and those who grumble did not use the shops that have closed down because Tesco etc were cheaper does not yet appear to have registered with some folks.  You wish a market and lots of shops, vote in a council that cares, one that does not charge too high a rate and then use them I say.  The coffee shops survive because people use them.
However we put the world to right and I left some £8:50 less wealthy!  I knew there was a reason I rarely ventured into these places.

 BBC 

Tact and integrity is not something you associate with Boris now is it?  So when you hear No 10 'sources' leaking information regarding phone calls between Boris and Angela you comprehend how untrustworthy the Junta can be.  Private calls require confidence is kept, clearly not in this case.  
We await the next page in the drama.  I hope no-one is writing a book about Brexit as it will be longer than David Cameron's buck passing thousand pages, reduced to 800, which few have bought bar those who may be mentioned within.

  Guardian

As it is raining I expect the Sourdough bread chomping 'activists' will have departed for their trusty steeds and headed home by now.  This does not include those who blockaded Smithfield Market while also queuing up at 'Burger King' for lunch, not many vegans at Smithfield?  Protesting for show is all very well but if it rains you go home and watch pictures of yourself on Channel 4 News.

Protest Nonsense and Kurds

DM

The pavement dwelling middle classes, fed by Cinnamon Muesli and boasted by green tea, have been out on the town again.  Rather than confront the Chinese embassy over their building of coal fired power stations, or indeed the Indian Commission asking them to stop kicking Muslims in Kashmir around for a while and cease the pollution the nation is churning out, these well dressed protestors (What is their apparel made from?) instead block the streets.
Having removed the plastic straws from their homes, but retained the TV's, Stereos, mobile phones and the containers they use at picnics and equestrian gatherings, they have decided to squat on the pavement, hindering real people from movement, and added millions to the police costs which make it harder to police the end the knife crime haunting the nation at the moment they pose happily for the media scramble persuaded this waste of time is not a waste of time. 
Indeed no change will come of this.  Brexit is all and politics is not about planet saving.  Deciding to have a 'jolly' while Boris is trying to save himself not the planet is rank bad timing.  There is no chance anyone in No 10 will have noticed this demonstration of adult stupidity and callousness, it may be they reckon this has come over from the EU to cause trouble, but will ignore it anyway.
You do not see people such s these protesting about 'Universal Credit,' the Homeless or the number of Food Banks in the nation.  They rarely leave home, bar to shop for 'must have' items found in colour supplements or visit a coffee shop or wine bar to discuss the worlds problems, especially the possible loss of the 'John Lewis' shop.  Possibly there is a reason for this small minded outlook?   
A people with no God look for a purpose, anything will do as long as it does not cost!  Each year these people chase one cause after another, anti-hunting this year save the whales the next.  Fixing real problems take time, take a great deal of work, cost money and often friends also.  Sitting on the street with aged unbalanced Hippies does not cost and you can go back smug in the knowledge you have made your protest to save the planet, even though it will have no real effect.
Enjoy your Hummus, Focaccia, Black Olives and Pheasant Eggs tonight...

 USA Today

The nature of the US President is revealed clearly in the report today that he is abandoning the Kurds who removed ISIS from Iraq, with little help, and removing his troops from the region to allow Turkey, under the dictator Erdogon, to move in with massive force to annihilate as many as he can.
What sort of man does this, indeed, what sort of man does this publicly and even boasts about his deed?  
Why is he doing this?
Turkey is a member of Nato and borders the unsafe Russia.  However Putin and Trump go back a long way, who knows what is going on between those two, yet as he backed Syria Putin might like to look good backing the Kurds.  Trumps daughter has money in Turkish businesses and that may play a part.  Something more is involved here, this will get out of hand, nothing in the Middle East is simple.

Jab Boris and Donald in Abbey Road

I rose early this Saturday morn and scrubbed myself clean.  I then breakfasted on what they call 'Mediterranean Bread,' a type of bread I doubt would be recognised anywhere in the Mediterranean precincts, swallowed half a cup of tepid coffee and reported at the surgery as ordered for my 'Flu Jab.'
Here I was somewhat surprised to be confronted with what I thought was the local 'Derby & Joan' club outing.  The lace was 'choc a block' with aged people either struggling to take off the jackets or replace them.  Walking sticks crashed to the floor while others fell over handbags left lying around, grumbling and smiles swapped places, chairs were filled with grim impatient faces, men no longer as young as they feel jauntily left the premises confident they would survive another year unlike their forefathers in times past.
I reported to the young Fuhrer at reception.
She logged me in, handed me a piece of paper with details regarding the vaccine, ordered me to remove my jacket and go round the corner and sit down.
This latter order I obeyed after clicking my heels and goose stepping away though I did not realise there were seats 'round the corner.' In fact the addition of two ex-shipping containers it looked to me had given them additional spaces and renovations now meant seats were placed where a nurse used to terrify patients.   
I took my place apart from a miserable looking couple in their 70's,  others entered, fussed with their sticks, handbags, removing jackets and sitting down to be called immediately and fussed with their sticks, handbags and standing up to wander slowly away as the nurse called for them a third or fourth time.  
We sat watching, no one moved.  
The caring society watched as receptionists aplenty wandered about seeking people who did not answer as they had sat elsewhere, nurses also called for victims as those who had been jabbed happily exited to waste their lives enjoying themselves in the worlds pleasure gardens which fill this area.  
A nurse in a red top called my name, I moved swiftly removing my jacket exposing my cheap short sleeved shirt, an item similar to one almost all the men wore while the women came dressed for the chilly weather, and entered treatment room 2.
Having almost tripped on the slight incline on the short path the nurse, probably a retired one called in for such a day as this judging by her age, commentated on this giving the impression this was a regular occurrence.  I sat where I was told, between the receptionist logging me onto her screen while preventing my escape and offered my arms to the nurse.  Flu jab in left arm, "This one might hurt later," said the nurse reaching my other arm with the Pneumonia jab she offered in such a way that I could not refuse.
 "Later?" I thought just as I said "Ow! I felt that."
She smiled the smile nurses have when they enjoyed others pain as he receptionist giggled.  Clearly I was not the first!
"Told you," she said gleefully then threw me out.
I struggled to get past half coated people of various sizes, some making their way in to the seating area, some attempting to leave while fastening jackets again.  I exchanged pleasantries with another satisfied customer as we left, both amazed at the efficiency of the staff and the number of aged persons in the confined area.  We did not attempt to guess how many were regulars but I suspect most of the women were.
I know have two stab marks on my arms.  I am protected from Flu and Pneumonia and will be sick with colds all winter.  You wait and see!

Politico

What with Donald Trump possibly impeaching himself and Boris Johnson magnificently celebrating his wonderful 'Deal' which fell apart in around 24 hours we might be in a position to see changes in the higher reaches of society.  Donald has been tweeting constantly regarding those who are 'against' him according to his view of the world, and Johnson has gone into hiding with Carrie this weekend (unless he has found someone else).  Either way the media are more upset with a US 'Diplomat' who drove out of an American Airbase, well RAF actually, drove on the wrong side of the road, killed an innocent Motorcyclist who was in the right and fled back to the US to avoid justice.
The 'Special Relationship' does not mean a lot to some Americans.  Hopefully she will return to face the Law of England and Wales, a much superior law to that of the Vengeful US law.   At the moment she is not showing much concern for the relatives of the young man however.   I hope Boris leaves Carrie long enough to chat to Donald about this. 
Meanwhile Trump i unabashed at asking the Ukraine to investigate his feared rival and has apparently also asked China and I believe Thailand also to help 'dig the dirt.'  I am sure Chinese laptop users already know more than Trump does about his man.  Boris has not been asked it seems, maybe Trump thought that was a waste of time?  Boris has of course got the time to investigate, he had intended to meet the EU but they would not as his deal was flat so he has been studying hard at No 10 instead.  Hmmm I bet...

As it is 50 years since the Beatles 'Abbey Road' was released I listened again on YouTube to this 'iconic' album.  I was somewhat disappointed.  'Abbey Road' was never their greatest album and was completed while Paul and John fought with one another over who was boss.  To have any album was something yet they also produced the disappointing 'Let it Be' later.  However, in some ten years they had turned the music world upside down, produced a great many solid tracks, developed recording techniques greatly and become popular worldwide, not bad really.  
The tracks that sucked most I always consider were those Paul produced.  On this album some strange things appear and Paul was responsible surely for 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer,' a track of dubious quality and content.  I always thought girlies wanted baby faced Paul while men required to hear more from John, even if he was slightly round the bend (slightly?).   Many believe the wrong one was shot!  And that was in 1980!  That is now 39 years ago!  

Mean Mr Mustard

I always wondered what on earth McCartney was going on about in 'Mean Mr Mustard,' as part of the 'Abbey Road' album.  Now I know!  I came across this on Twitter, this is the story of the real man, who actually existed.
Mean Mr Mustard was a Glasgow Civil Servant who was indeed Mean!
His meanness was such that he would switch of the light when listening to the radio as "Because it was not necessary to see in order to listen."  He also did indeed 'Shave in the dark,'  This I can tell you having tried it, this is not a good idea!
Claiming he "Came from north of the border," he lived with his wife in Enfield, north London, but for some reason she, a deputy headmistress, found his behaviour unreasonable.  I see no reason why!
The judge granted his wife a divorce.

 ***

Now we know why the song was written but not why he put it on the album.  'She came in through the bathroom window' referred to a couple of girls who broke into Paul's house in St John's Wood next door to 'Lords Cricket Ground,' where they did indeed come in though the bathroom window and were arrested and fined.  Quite right!  These girls made the neighbours life a misery, here and at Abbey Road itself.  I often saw them when delivering round that way.     

The Fast and the Slow

Royal Highland Fusilier

I was perusing a 'Cab Ride' video while I awaited the plumber to check the one year old boiler.  This brought to mind those days of long ago when travelling by train to Edinburgh was part of my life.   The video that is, not the plumber.
Escaping work to sit looking at the world passing, sun shining, happy quiet coach, provisions in front of you, and hours of enjoyment ahead was always a delight.  In those days it was the 'Deltic' type '55's' which pulled the dark maroon British Rail coaches, the sun as we left meandering slowly into the Kings Cross tunnels a sharp comparison to the rather dark and somewhat dreary Kings Cross shed as I remember it.  The station, built in 1852 on the edge of London, stood on what had been land used for a smallpox and fever hospital, where did they go after that I wonder?  A wooden station had been erected at York Road in 1850 by the Great Northern Railway while the navvies built the gasworks tunnel under the Regents canal and allowed entrance to the new station.  Kings Cross was never in my view an attractive station, functional yes, but not one to set the heart racing.  It did its job and still does very well but then it appeared dull and as I waited for trains pretty crowded also.  Trains to Leeds and Newcastle, local trains round the corner and smoky diesels heading for elsewhere polluted the air.  So did the people I suppose.  Once the 'ding dong' and the garbled announcements concerning what the train was and where we were going had passed we knew a new world was about to open for us.

I wish I could say I was there in the days when Gresley's giant 'Pacific' engines made their way north, steam belching, noise waking the dead amongst much admiration from all around.  While the 'Deltic's' could produce enough blue smoke to also fill the huge shed the image was somewhat less romantic.  The aroma of railway stations filled with belching engines remains with me today, there is nothing like it.  There is no doubt today's electric engines are the way forward, no doubt they are cheaper, easier to operate and do not require the foreman to shift half a coal mine on each trip, however, we all prefer to see a steam engine pass rather than a diesel no matter how efficient.

   
During the late 70's the HST's took over.  These 'High Speed Trains' regularly reaching 125 miles an hour on the long straight lines in the south.  For the first month or two the guard, remember guards and not conductors, the guard would announce "We are not travelling at 125 Miles per hour."  This would produce murmurs of appreciation as we sped through stations watching to see if anyone was daft enough to stand ahead of the bright yellow line on the platform.  It was naturally difficult to know which station we were passing through, the only name board that could be read was 'Gentlemen!'

 Global Railway Review

I find sitting in a railway carriage while the world passes by a terrific manner in which to see the real world.  There is little to see or keep you awake driving down a motorway, what scenery exists is hidden behind embankments and if there is a view it soon leads into a city bypass which as you know are delightfully attractive places.  The view from the train takes you past fields with crops or animals at various times of the year, the very colour of the ploughed ground speaks volumes re history, geography and life as it is lived.  One noteable sight is the Black Earth seen around Peterborough.  Once 'The Wash' came all the way up to here, now long drained and shrunk the black earth is a result of what was washed in many years ago.  The land has to be monitored daily as the shrinking earth affects the height of the railway track.  One day it might sink in!
Once passed the flat lands around York we see changes in the line itself.  The further north we go the less straight the line as the land slowly begins to rise around us.  While crops are still seen, sheep and cattle will appear, especially if you can see the far off hills from your seat.
Buildings appear different, the brick that abounds in London is changed to stone way up north.  The design of houses built in the far past reflects local architects while more recent housing follows a general pattern of the day.  One housing estate is much like another now.

The latest 'Scotch Express' is formed by a Hitachi class 800 Azuma.  This will be somewhat faster than the aged diesels that once pulled the 20:00 hours to Aberdeen, not stopping at Edinburgh where it actually stopped at 3 am and where I left the train and the sleeping soldiers on their way to die of exposure in the Cairngorms.  That aged train had aged compartment coaches and as it was quite empty I always had one to myself, lights dimmed, feet up and joy all the slow way home.  As the Azuma does a non stop journey in 4 and a half hours Kings Cross to Waverley at least once a day I suspect it will also have a few more home comforts than the late night slow train.

Boring Tuesday

I was disturbed early this morning by a message on my ansafone informing me the appointment with the 'Health Check' lady was cancelled as she was 'unhealthy.' 
"I have wasted time having a bath," thought I," I could have left that to the weekend after all." 
So I continued using the old socks and vest and lazed about the house finding lots of things to leave for another day.  This included the difficult link in the family history that took me 48 hours to figure out.  The answer was of course right in front of me!
Having avoided the health check I decided to take advantage and change the diet again and see if the extra weight that has appeared again might disappear by the time I see her indoors.  Fruit now appears delightful though for a while after several choice portions I wondered if I did the right thing...
I checked out Tesco for light foodstuffs, apart from the Bakewell Tart that fell into my basket, so I kept it as it might be broken.  I noticed a long queue at the 'Costa Express' coffee machine and wondered if the word 'Express' was a suitable term to use.  Later I heard that today all such machines were FREE and that explains the queue.  In various parts much grumbling and complaining was heard as 1st world problems reared their heads.  The FREE coffee machines had run out!  Despair and anguish all around.  I feel for these people...
Then I paraded around town watching the clouds above gathering for a get together.  The began to look menacing as I crossed the park.

I was right!  
They menaced me on the way home and began to drench the world as soon as I got in.  Thunder gently clapped above, (Can thunder gently clap?)Lightning flashed and rain teemed down heavily for quite a while.  It was seen that the BBC had promised this on the website and they got it spot on.  Thunder, Lightning and rain they said and that is what we got, lots of it.  Car drivers did not appear to ease the speed outside my window but they are in a hurry to avoid the inevitable accident down at the roundabout.  Possibly that may be the reason there are so many accidents, but car drivers do not think that way.

The latest Boris wheeze, which he now says is 'out of date' is to put custom posts, 5 or 10 miles either side of the Border in Ireland.  This later became, 'only on the Republic side of the border.'  I think we can ask if he and his advisor's, Dominic and Carrie, are actually mentally ill?  Could it be that they have taken too many opium tablets to keep themselves going?  Could it be they are just daft?  Do they neither care or understand the situation in Ireland?  Does Boris think Nanny will fix it?
Boris is still trying to shake off Jennifer, a US lass who he managed to gift £150,000 of taxpayers money to for her 'business.'  She has hopped it to the US because off Brexit!  How did she managed to get cash from Boris I wonder?
Allowing for the Conservative Conference which is driving them to sleep, isn't it interesting how Michael Gove is keeping remarkably quiet these days?  He does appear and toe the party line on occasion but he is very quiet for him.  Is this orders?  Or is he awaiting the inevitable 'slip up?'

Grouchy Sunday

With darkening skies in the evening and leaves turning rustic and beginning to fall from the branches it is clear the shops are now preparing for Christmas!  This morning I rose just before 9 on the clock, tired out by late night football and family history, and watched the rain clean the streets but not my windows which require cleaning much more.  Autumnal weather, the leftovers of another US hurricane, sweeps over the land drenching some parts and pleasing only gardeners and farmers.  Those who have to walk or cycle in this are less pleased, I remained indoors.  There is no choice but to watch football on TV, I am unsure if I can cope...

Not so much hot air this weekend.  Boris does claim still that he is 'a model of restraint,' and he even kind of apologised for being misunderstood regarding his 'humbug' comment.  He clearly dies not wish to encourage violence yet Brexiteer Brendan O'Neil claims there will be 'Yellow Jacket' type violence if we do not.  He is not the only one to push that line this week, clearly on Dominic's orders.
An MP might be killed by a right wing nutjob, another may have similar trapping her staff in their office, and still others are daily threatened by the 'Blackshirts' but our PM is being a 'model of restraint.'  I missed the Andrew Marr show this morning, I usually do and I am quite glad, but Boris appeared on there and I am told he was not once asked a piercing question!  The BBC is completely under the control of No 10.

Bombast Twins.

Independent

 Boris is at it again, or should we say Dominic Cummings is at it again?  Clearly attempting to arose hate and fear Boris followed orders to bombast his way arrogantly through the House of Commons on Wednesday, avoiding contrition, avoiding consideration and attempting to polarise opinion ll day ministers famous and unheard off appeared on TV and Radio offering the same arrogance from Gove himself on Radio 4 in the morning to Boris in the house at night.  Clearly a policy driven by Cummings and wilfully led by the desperate liars in government.  The sad point is that there is no real opposition to end this farce of a government.  No individual strong enough to take control, no man of stature in the House willing to stand up for the right course of action.

Of course all this bombast might just be Boris winding up the Blackshirt masses before failing to ensure Brexit.  That way he can blame Parliament, Remainer's, the EU, Corbyn, indeed anybody but himself and get their votes at the general election when it arrives.  He knows leaving will be a disaster, he wants to pretend he is PM, he will ensure Brexit does not happen and blame everyone but himself.  The sheep will follow...

 Politico

Boris's big brother Donald has also been making waves again.  This time his decision to ask a foreign power to 'dig the dirt' on a rival's son or not get military aid was recorded on the phone readout.  Has he 'impeached' himself?

The Democrats will now begin impeachment proceedings, not because they consider this will succeed but by throwing mud some of it sticks.  Politics is like that.  There is of course a lot of mud to throw at this President, it is remarkable that he has stayed in office so long.  Indeed both Boris and Donald appear able to offer incompetence and contempt along with mistaken policies and remain in positions of power neither are fit to hold.
I suppose at least we are safe from war danger.  The last thing he wants is a war with men being killed as this will lose him support back home.  Iran can sleep easy....

 

Tsk Boris!

We welcomed the end of one of those constant US hurricanes today.  The rain battered down for a good while and will be a constant menace for a few days pleasing farmers and those with gardens but few others.  The rain also pleased the pigeon who happily made use of the heavy rain by turning it into a shower and twisted this way and that to ensure the entire body was cleansed.  Downstairs people passed by huddled under umbrellas, hats over heads, winter coats brought out of the cupboard, while the bird just sat there enjoying the weather.  I often wonder how birds and animals survive in differing weather conditions but this bird has learned how to make the most of the situation quite happily.

 
Boris fought the Law and the Law won!
Announcing the result of the Supreme Court this morning Lady Hale said:

"The court is bound to conclude, therefore, that the decision to advise Her Majesty to prorogue Parliament was unlawful because it had the effect of frustrating or preventing the ability of Parliament to carry out its constitutional functions without reasonable justification."  ITV

This decision was 'unanimous!'

This is quite an interesting step.  The court has ruled that Parliament must debate, Boris avoided this by deceit and while the court made no decision on the man himself it is clear he must go.  He has lost five major votes, kicked out 21 of his own MP's including the 'Father of the house' and Winston Churchill's grandson, and we have yet to discuss his latest wheeze with a US woman to whom he passed £125,000 for her business.  Hmmm...
John Bercow has apparently rushed back and insisted the House will resume at 11:30 tomorrow morning, not that he wishes to see an interesting Prime Ministers Question Time, but for democracy to rule!  MPs everywhere are once again packing their bags, leaving their 'paid for by someone else' holiday and returning to their constituency preparing for work.  The question 'What do we do now?'  Is the unanswered one as nobody has an answer to that.
Life is exciting but where is this taking us now?