Monday Mixture

Rubbish Day.

Early weather lousy when I am out.

Sun now shines when I am in.

Washing done, drying washing done, nothing else done.

War in Israel.

Everyone blaming the 'other side.' 

Boris planning to curtail votes for Labour by using ID cards when voting.

Boris planning to curtail Judicial reviews to stop people attacking him.

Boris tightening his grip Fascist like.

Boris to ban 'Conversion Therapy' thereby making criminals of Christians everywhere who will continue to pray for healing of gays.  This because 'Stonewall' advised the government.  'Stonewall' a lobby group with many friends in high places, each willing to follow similar fascist paths as Boris.

Good news!  St Johnstone to beat Hibernian in the Scottish Cup Final soon.

 

Banging and thumping indicates John the Handyman has come to fix something somewhere.  Soon fixed, he banged and thumped his way out again.

More banging, gentle this time, almost ignored, then I glimpse a van outside and realise it is an Amazon man.  

An Amazon man, from Eastern Europe, who knocks on a door because he is scared to ring the bell in case he catches a virus!  So many do this that I miss them!  

Of course this is not for me, it is for next door.  They work awkward hours and I take in their deliveries.  She gave me some Polish chocolates the other day for being nice, and very nice they are too!

More banging, this time downstairs as the neighbour has come home and wants me to know he is there.  He is on early shift with the Polis and leaves around 2:30 am.  

Recently I was watching football in the bedroom, as I usually do, and upset him as he tried to sleep down below.  He made banging noises, which I ignored thinking it his woman cleaning the room, and next day he played loud, bad music for a couple of hours.  However he never thought of knocking on the door to inform me that he was on earlies.  Some Polis?  How would I know his hours?  Should I change a ten year routine for him?   Usually I am considerate but that evening the Dunfermline PPV was loud I admit, but how do I know he is sleeping?

Anyway, the game was drawn and Raith Rovers won the second leg.

Right, now I'm off to upset someone else...

 

VE-Day and Alex

I find it a little strange that those posting on Twitter re the end of the Second World War talk as if this is something people know little about.  They speak of the war as if it were distant History.  For many it appears to be just that, something from the far past, yet to me it is part of my life, and I was not even there when it occurred!

The generation gap over the past 80 or so years is quite noticeable today.  A 19 year-old in 1945 would be 95 years today, unless the cigarettes so freely donated at the time have got to him first.  His children, if any, would be in their 60's and 70's, and they with children and grandchildren and possibly great grandchildren themselves.  A very likely situation in parts of Essex I can tell you!  There is a wide variation in understanding between the five generations.  Good grief, my dad could not comprehend the 1960's, though cancer did not help his understanding, how can the younger generation today understand the war.  'The War,' so many adults talk about, reading almost daily in the gutter press memento's of days they did not see.  The attitudes, an understanding of life, has changed considerably, but not for the better, in so many ways.  Many economic improvements can be seen, but moral ones disappear rapidly. I suppose we call this 'freedom,' though the results are rarely magnified by the 'free press' who encourage such 'freedom.'

Few will notice VE Day today, the election has seen to that, and of course attention has been averted to the ongoing 'War with France' occuring in the Channel Islands, even though the 'war' does not exist.  I am told French and Royal Naval vessels fill the Forth of Forth at the moment on combined exercises, I am not sure how this affects Boris's 'War.'  Schools do tend to offer reasonable history concerning the two wars, the museum had many primary classes attending for that purpose alone, so while not ignorant of the event how can people under 60 comprehend the war and the after effects today?

 

Sadly the ALBA Party has not done well in the elections.  I suspect two reasons for this.  

The first is the deliberate decision by the media to ignore Alex.  Clearly the best politician in the land and as a danger to the rest he has been blocked from transmission, and therefore ignored by the pubic.  

The other reason is the deliberate and calculated smear campaign waged by Nicola and her acolytes.  In spite of being cleared by a female judge and mostly female jury and awarded £500,000 the smear was continued throughout. The result was Nocola's women came out and voted SNP.  Nicola makes a point of appealing to women, always claiming to be on their side, offering many opportunities for women.  Men are clearly seen as bad, and this appeals to many of today's 'women.'  As a result she keeps her job.  Well done Nicola.  

So for the time being Alex and his many followers are out in the cold.  They will be back, especially when it becomes clear Nicola does not wish for Indy after all, the many and varied excuses to 'wait' are already being offered by her people.  Alex would not agree.   

 

Lies will Succeed

It appears to me, sitting here in my garret, that there are two reasons for the debacle that has occurred to the Labour Party in England.  One is the poor leadership of Keith Starmer.  Though at heart a talented Barrister and determined to make a better society than the one offered across the Despatch Box he has failed to make a mark on the gangster Boris Johnson and his cohorts.  

The other is the acumulation of anti-migrant and anti-EU propaganda spewed out by the Conservatives for the past 30 years.  Constant attacks, usually lies, in the Right-wing press on the EU and migrants, often from Boris Johnson himself, with little if any evidence to show, has led to the lower middle classes and white working classes feeling 'Left out' by Labour policies which are perceived to be in favour of incomers at the indigenous populations expense.  The result is the 'Sun,' 'Daily Express,' and 'Daily Mail' reading public convinced they are on the losing side, so they reach out to the Tories to save them.

 

The Tories have learned much from Goebbels, possibly with the help of Steve Bannon, one of the neo Nazis of today.  Point the finger over there - at the Jews in the Nazis case, and if you repeat the same lie long enough, a simple straight forward lie, people will become convinced of its truth.  It worked in the 1930's it has worked again here.  The thinking middle classes, usually University educated and full of themselves, are less likely to follow the Tory line.  Electricians, engineers, small shopkeepers and artisans, often wise and sensible people, however see some substance in the Tory message, one perpetrated via the press and the Tory run BBC, the channel the majority watch.  With no mention of Boris's corruption, no questioning of Brexit, no desire to make politicians accountable the man in the street has little knowledge of what is going on.  Many are happy with this, the effort to seek out varied opinions does not trouble them.  

The results will soon burn the voters.  Tory councils will be approached by many wishing to build houses in the voters backyards, objections will get little support.  The disabled, the hungry, the unemployed, the local NHS will soon start to show the cracks of Tory policy.  

The question then will be, can the nation recover from this?       

Jab, Vote and Home

 

Last night's sunset as seen through the filthy window in my filthy living room.  The bright sun glowing over the horse meat factory in the industrial estate, industrial as in closed by Brexit that is, and brightening the evening sky.

Today, as I looked out the window, clearing away the lunchtime crumbs, I noticed dark clouds pushed past by the wind eager to drop rain as they knew I was about to hobble up to the hospital for the second Jab.  I was not pleased, it was cold, wet and windy, so l donned my winter garb, prepared myself for the jab, and walked out into bright, indeed, hot sunshine!  Typical!  I sweltered as, being late, I rushed gasping along the road.  Almost twenty minutes it took to get there and I had to get there on time.  Strict time is an important part of these Jabs.

There was the well usual organised set-up.  A minutes wait, questioned by the volunteer Stasi, then a short socially distanced queue before being sent in to Nurse Number 2.  Efficient and capable, both nurse and admin, swiftly I was questioned, jabbed, informed and thrown out the back door so as not to upset the ones waiting outside.  Simple efficient and no hang up's, so far.

And I then had to go elsewhere. 

 

 

I hobbled round to the museum Hall, used as a Polling Booth to vote, followed the instructions and waited at the door chatting to an attractive, efficient young woman, who was acting guard.  However, I was choking as walking down the street unmasked I swallowed a fly, or some such object, and was none to pleased with life.  Neither indeed were the people trying to avoid me as I coughed, all of them thinking I had Covid when in fact I had a wee beastie trying to kill me.  So, uncomfortable as I was I entered to meet the usual crew, including the Museum boss who acts as local election agent.  Money goes to money!  Marking my X in the required spot, the spot marked 'anyone but a Tory,' I placed both forms (County Council and Police Commissioner) in the box knowing both would support the loser.  The Conservative sheep were slowly passing through, all placing their X dutifully for the man who would soon vote to remove all the amenities they use because 'the Council cannot afford them.'  Their expenses will increase soon enough mind.

 

 

 

So it was time for home, food and WHAT!?  No football tonight?  This canny be right!  But it is.  The end of season means so few games left now.  One or two leagues still to finish, one or two play-offs to go through, then nothing!  

I may start seeing spiders climbing up the wall soon.   

Dearie me, even Fridays have little, only an English game there.  Tsk!

 

Alex For Me

 

National

 

This is the man who will get my vote tomorrow!  Sadly, he will not be represented on our voting paper.  For reasons unclear to me I am unable to vote for seats in the Scottish Parliament while 400 miles away.  This appears to me to be very discriminatory.  

The return of Alex to politics has upset Nicola's women and the Trans lobby that he claims have too much influence with the leadership of the SNP.  I believe he is correct in this.  I agreed with Alex on Twitter yesterday to find outrage from the Trans fraternity, many agreeing with those who dislike Alex, and abusing me for telling them he 'speaks the truth.'  Such lobby groups do not like hearing truth.  The number of 'He/she and Him/her' or whatever, who posted also shows they come in groups, partly to support their man/woman but mostly to justify to themselves their opinion.  I find trans and gays rarely come alone.  Brow beating is their speciality.

The other attack on Alex always implies he is 'creepy.'  This is because of his situation in court regarding women.  However, the Lady Judge and the mostly female jury (15 members in Scotland) cleared Alex of any wrong doing, with the judge implying the female witnesses had been put up to it by the unnamed Nicola and her Civil Servant friend, who still has not resigned.

Tomorrow however we will know which Poll has got it right.  It is likely SNP will once again take the majority but who will support them?  The Greens will, if they have enough seats, and Alba will also make their presence felt if they too get at least 6 seats in the House.  I hope so, the SNP have many internal divisions stemming from Nicolas and her support acts, Alba will bring Indy back to the people.

 

 

DMCA

The knees gave so much trouble at the weekend I have done little since.  I attempted to exercise, shop, walk and do other things all in one go.  I suffered for this as it appears I am no longer 25.   So, little has been done but annoy the neighbours while watching football, drink tea and argue on Twitter.  

That is all that is required surely?

Bank Hol, Henry Jackson and Ted.

May Bank Holiday Monday, a day to celebrate the united workers of the world, if any are left, naturally it is freezing.  Very high winds from the southwest bring rain clouds, people huddle together in the park pretending they are enjoying the day off, the early tree leaves hang on grimly as the branches are tossed about, pigeons wonder what has happened to Spring sunshine?  Nothing has happened, this is normal!

I cling to the radiator, spending time annoying people on Twitter who tell me there is no Coronovirus, that mask wearing is wrong, and do not wish to listen to the African doctor who opposed mask wearing and did not beleive in the virus from which he died.  

Some of the beliefs spouted online amaze me!  The confusion in the minds of many also amazes me.  It is as if there is an attack on the nation by a secret government organisation, or Bill Gates or Communists, or 'leftists,' a new term for anyone you disagree with, or someone out there.  This reminds me of the old 'Avengers' series of the 60's when John Steed and his woman in black found underground armies and power mad scientists.  

In truth it is more simple than that.  This is just very rich people confusing the issue through many and varied means to ensure they hold the levers of power and make money.  Something Bill Gates does not need to do.

In days of yore we did not know what these many and varied people thought, but the internet allows them space to speak.  What was once a bore in a bar or a strange workmate now appears daily on Twitter!

Funnily enough I am on there daily...

 

Interesting this tale of Iran interfering in Scots politics.  Interesting, not because it may be true but because the 'Henry Jackson Society' have made a report on it.  'Henry Jackson Society,' is a US paid for right-wing organisation with very right-wing tendencies.  A powerhouse of neoconservative opinion in the UK and not known for their care for Scotland.  They have not mentioned the interference in Scots politics by fake internet accounts generated by No 10.

 

Also mentioned in the unfortunate invasion of Old Traffford last night which led to the postponement of the game between Manchester United and Liverpool.  These two teams were of course leaders in the 'European Super League' which fell to earth at the response of the fans and jealous clubs not invited to join.  I think the intention was to highlight fan disaproval of both clubs abuse of the fans with this idea, and wandering about the pitch as they did this certainly made everyone aware of what the fans opinion of the greedy club owners.  

Of course other clubs would join if invited, but only if they had enough fans!

 

 

I spent some time this morning attempting to online shop.  I have used the Nat Galleries Scot  before but as always the internet caused me headaches.  Possibly it was too early for me, it may be I am just stupid, what?  However, it took four attempts before I worked it out.  So, being a Holiday Monday in Edinburgh as elsewhere I sat back and waited for confimation tomorrow that the order was being processed.  This afternoon I got a reply saying the order had been posted and it was too late to change!  Posted, on a Holiday?  

This email is now standard in so many companies, taking from you the chance to change your mind.  I am sure it is illegal, and while this order needs to go ahead it bothers me that one day it will cause bother.

 

 

Usual Saturday

While I saw some of this today I really saw little else.

Unless you count two and a half football matches, and a few minutes of another...

Saturday, the season hotting up as it draws to a close.

 

Hullo...It's gone dark, where has the day gone...?

A Breeze in the Graveyard

Lies!  All lies! These weather people lie!  

'Gentle breeze' they say as the wind from the north hammers my window.  Today the wind has dropped but still comes from the north, and they call it 'gentle?' 

Can we sue?

So, I must close my windows tight tonight, they promise 'gentle breeze' and 'clear sky,' so I will look out for high winds and rain storms.

I braved the 'breeze' while what sun we found came out today and crossed over to the graveyard.  

I find it so cheery...

The church has stood here since the 1700s but is based on a congregation that unlawfully met many years before this.  Not far up the road a farmer, John English, let people congregate on Sundays in his barn to hear the word of God according to biblical fashion.  This when Charles II was King and it was illegal not to be in a CoE church at the time.  Bishop William Laud, a man who leant heavily towards the Kings way of operating, dealt savagely with any who opposed his authority.  However, that said, preachers came to the barn to preach, including, it is said, John Bunyan, and out of the two towns population of around 5000 souls some 800 met at the barn to worship God properly in spite of the fear.  When the worst was past, the congregation continued to grow, and a new building was erected, in the 1800s this new one took its place.  A division did occur, it frequently does in churches, and from the gathering two churches arose in the town, a Baptist, which survives, and this one taking the title name as 'Congregational.'  This church survives with a few members, LockDown has not helped the ageing gathering, and work is now being done on the roof.  I suspect someone has nicked all the lead from there!  Hopefully the church will continue, 400 years of service ought not to end like this, Bishop Laud himself would not approve, especially after his head was removed from his shoulders by the puritans.

Not unusually some make use of the ground when others have gone.  What might be called 'the less fortunate' gather at nights, some sleeping here, and clearly leave their lunch tins behind them.  This tends to spoil such places and not all who attend accept the help they have been offered.

 

I took a couple of shots on my new Canon and headed back home for feeding time.  The breeze is still breezing, 'gently,' and the temperature is dropping, not so gently.  It was good to be photographing things badly.  Hopefully we will get out and about soon.

 

Stolen Warnings

 

Sunday Sunshine

The weekend is almost over, that is, I am running out of football! 

On Saturday,as expected, the Heart of Midlothian sauntered past Inverness Caley, ths upsetting their manger who was sent to the stand.   Suggesting he would 'Knock our managers block off,' is not really the done thing these days.

The Scottish Cup, played at odd hours for the sake of TV money, is played this weekend, without ,as we considered we had won the trophy often enough in recent years and felt lesser teams ought to have a go.  

Two games down, two to go, one about to start and one on Monday evening.

 

While the sunshine is worth having around I was freezing after church.  We could only gather, at a distance, outside and the cold wind was chilling my back something awful as I listened to one of my women's woes.  It is good to have a few minutes with people, just to remember what they look like!

Not much time to talk mind you.

 

Today, 25th April, is ANZAC Day, when we commemorate the Australian and New Zealand forces in the Great War. For some this was the event that made both individual nations, seperate from the Mother Country.  Their adventures during the conflict have not been forgotten.

We see here an astonishing picture I think.  An off side portrait, the view behind, the face of a man who may well be happy to be alive, and I think it makes a striking picture.  "Alsatian prisoner of war captured by New Zealand troops. Photograph taken probably near Colincamps 15 April 1918 by Henry Armytage Sanders."

Weekend Filler

 

Wandering the streets yesterday I came across this hanging around outside the Institute.  I call it 'Institute' though it has not been one of those for many years.  Built by the Courtauld's for the sake of artisans seeking encouragement it is now a combination of 'Arts Theatre' and antique shop.  Today I noticed, she had gone and had been replaced by a table of unknown price.  I have never actually ventured inside, I fear I may buy something, so I canny speak of the quality of goods to be seen.  It has been operating for some years now however.   At Christmas the hall is made use of by local actors for their pantomime or other theatrical offering.  I have not ventured inside to watch those either, though they are usually popular.  

 

 

Nothing else has happened.  It's the weekend so football rules.

Thursday TittleTattle

 

The excitement of the day yesterday featured an appearance of the Hospital Helicopter.  I heard one flying around above, and naturally took it to be the Police one, but could not see it.  This was because the thing had landed right in front of me in the park.

The crew wandered down the street somewhere and I never saw them for an hour.  Then they sauntered back, without wearing all the clobber, and headed off into the sky.  This leads to lots of questions such as who were they visiting?  Why did they not take them aboard?  Were they too late? And again, who was it?  Do I know them?  24 hours later and I still have no idea who they visited.  This is very annoying to a nosey person like me.  Flying a helicopter to an emergency, and not making use thereof is a lot of money to waste if nobody is carted off by the helicopter.  It is not the first time it has landed here and with an ambulance station half a mile away to the west I wonder how serious the patient was that they were called in?  

I may never know.

I must say Murdoch's 'Steak Pies' are very good.  I got some of his 'Chicken Curry' pies this time also, but I am not as keen on them as on the others.  Time will tell however, I still have 5 of these to get through and my opinion might change.  

For some reason my weight has reached 16 stone once again, and two of my jackets, plus old jeans, no longer fit me.  I blame lockdown!  This appears to have shrunk outfits everywhere.

 

Orbital Today

 

Today is 'Earth Day!'

Did it make any difference where you live?

Nope, not here either.

Nothing will improve the earth, it is broken and will continue broken, however, better management, less abuse of natural resources and less greed will of course help to sustain the earth and sustain those living thereon.

I hope the kids leaving their rubbish strewn across the nations parks are not joining in those various 'Climate Change' demand groups.