Too Sluggish to Cogitate

Been sluggish all day, still catching up, too much football, too many emails, too much red wine, too many books to read,  which mean I have no thoughts tonight.  This will not change much in this world.

Great is Thy Faithfulness (Tune: Faithfulness - 3vv & chorus) [with lyri...

'In Xanadu' A Quest

WOB

 

At last!  One of the many books toppling over and crushing passers-by has been finished. This took a while as I just could not fit it in with my busy schedule...

In 1271 Marco Polo, along with his father and uncle set out on an expedition to Xanadu and Kublai Khan.  His father and brother had been there already, as mercantile traders they had worked their way across Asia and China, lands for the most part unknown in Europe.  They returned with messages for the Pope, as the Mongols had by this time a form of religion and such diplomatic communication was advisable to prevent war. 

William Dalrymple, a young Scot studying at Cambridge, for reasons of his own decided, accompanied by a thrusting, domineering young female, to follow the old 'Silk Road' and retrace the journey.  This book follows his efforts from Jerusalem to Xanadu and the details of the travels therein.

The journey during 1986 includes adventures in Iran, Pakistan, and misses out Afghanistan as the Russians had sealed the border with layers of landmines which even the Afghans could not cross.  Into Communist China and with 'help' from the security forces to their destination, the crumbled, flattened remains of the Khans Summer palace, where there was not much left to be seen.

Some of the travel was via bus, lorry, even Chinese army truck, and the manner in which the author claims to have avoided the security forces is often hard to accept.  His attitude throughout is not uncommon among certain types of well educated Scotmen.  

The book describes the History, architecture, climate, surroundings and people of the places passed through.  It is interesting to note great differences at the time between people often living close ot one another yet so different in their culture.  Islam dominant in one form or another except in Communist China where among other things the clocks are all based on Peking time, three hours different from some areas far distant.

In one sense the book is 40 years out of date, in another it captures the 'feel' of the time.  I suspect economic growth and the creation of concrete dwellings approached along vast motorways now predominates where camels and donkeys once shared the potholed rough tracks with the ageing lorries and buses.  However, I wonder have cultural attitudes changed much in the distant regions in that time, wealth creation or not?

I quite enjoyed the book, written when the author was 22.  His travelling companion left half way through in Delhi to meet her boyfriend and another was found to finish the trip with him.  I can understand how he finds women so easily...

The book is worth a read, and an insight into far flung past ages.

 

Nothing to Say

 

Thursday Sunlight

It is a great delight to wake in the morning and note the lightness in the sky.  The sun has not quite risen but the sky these past couple of days has been bright and cheery.  All this indicates that in spite of the cold outside Spring warmth awaits us. Only the other day it was dark still at 7:30, now it is light before then, cloud cover permitting.  All jolly good for the 'mental health' as they say these days.

 

 

I had a quick look regarding elections, it appears the 5 year election remains but there is one or two options remaining.  I found this on Here

The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 (FTPA) introduced fixed-term parliaments to the United Kingdom, with elections scheduled on the first Thursday in May of the fifth year after the previous general election, unless the previous general election took place between 1 January and the first Thursday in May, in which case the election takes place on the first Thursday in May of the fourth year after the previous general election.^[16]

Removing the power of the monarch, on advice of the prime minister, to dissolve parliament before its five-year maximum length,^[16] the act permits early dissolution if the House of Commons votes by a two-thirds supermajority. Parliament is also dissolved if a government loses a vote of no confidence by a simple majority and a new government is not formed within 14 days.^[17] Alternatively, a bill requiring just a simple majority in both Houses could be introduced to establish in law an earlier date for the election, which is how the date of the previous general election was set in 2019.^[18]

Thus, the next general election is due to take place on Thursday 2 May 2024, unless it is triggered earlier.^[19] Under the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 parliament would be dissolved 25 working days before this date on Tuesday 26 March.^[20] Under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, the Prime Minister may schedule polling day up to two months after 2 May, subject to approval by both Houses.

 

Sadly this appears to mean we cannot have an election soon, the gangsters would avoid this today.  That sad news sets the sun on my day.  Now off to bed and football!  What more could you want?

Bye the way, I have been banned again on facebook for 'encouraging violence.'  This from an organisation that refuses to remove white supremacist, racist, porn and other 'stuff' that appears decent?  Tsk!  I suppose algorythms cannot tell a joke from a threat.  Bah!

 

 

 

Cyclists Boris...

 

If you look carefully between the branches you can just make out lots of lycra and Hi-vis jacket clad cyclists.  They gather here, helmeted all, before making off towards the old railway line and heading who knows where.  There always appears to be a fair number off them and clearly they are happy to gather week by week in this way.  Personally I am not sure I would like to be part of such a throng, especially as I would lag behind everyone, and possibly on my own or with one or two others it might be more sociable as there would be more chance to veer off in your own choice of direction.  Not that this matters today, my bike has not been touched for two years now.  At least I avoided cycling with the wind and possible rain falling today.  The trees are shivering, the gray clouds keep passing by, the cyclists were all well dressed for such weather but sitting here with my feet over the heater I am happy enough today.  

 

His days are numbered but he is still here, lying, acting, bluffing, refusing responsibility, and awaiting the ERG killing him off, once they have their man in their pocket.  I still say that if I were he I would call an election.  The Polls say Labour would win, however, Boris can claim many loyal Tory voters outside of the House, they will follow him still.  Many are disillusioned but others loyal yet.  For Boris it may mean the loss of some of the ERG, one or two of them will fall, it may keep him in a job.  I doubt he will be so brave however, sadly this will continue for a few weeks yet.

 

Slow Monday

Slow Monday, which got slower.

Toddle up to Sainsburys, how exciting is that?

Few people about, though many cars in the car park.  Shop itself quiet, only two checkouts open, no real queue.  Of course if the man in front had stopped her from talking so much we might have got out quicker.  

Road traffic quiet also.  

People are wary of the virus, most wearing masks, even many outside.  Yet Boris the rogue is talking of ending restrictions rather than loosening them, no matter how many bodies pile up!  

I suggest Boris calls an election.  Tell him the Polls are always wrong, John Major was not fooled by them, why should someone as noble as Boris fear Polls?  

We can always dream.

 

Nothing else happened, did it?  

If it did I never noticed.

Someone must be having an exciting life, and I don't mean those being house trained by their dogs.

Out there excitement blossoms, somewhere...

 

Slow Sabbath

 

Not the best Sunday today.

The morning was OK, I was given a lift to Kirk, and there most things went well.  I spoke to all those I needed to, whether they needed to speak to me was not asked.  Normal behaviour from the congregation, a four year old 'Power Ranger' attacked me till his Grannie saw him off, pretty girls (the term 'girls' can be stretched a bit here) surrounded me, some spoke of their or their families problems, others wondered where this person or that one had disappeared too, and a group of men discussed 'mens stuff' and worried that the local team was now bottom of the division and the manager about to get shoved out.  Normal serious discussions.  

However, that was fine, a lift home also fine, dinner imitation Forfar Bridie and beans. Now I find I cannot take a picture of the moon correctly.  The camera must be bust!

Now music problems, loud, just too loud for someone in that room below, clearly done to annoy but I cannot see why.  She is female and therfore who knows why she plays such bad music, and it is terrible music, loudly.  Is there a reason?  Why not say what it is?  The landlord may know soon.

Football not great, tea not great, my need for sleep great.  I kept waking every hour last night.  This enables me to remember part of the dreams I was having but is a bit of a pest just the same.  Nice colourful but absurd dreams I have, a result of a twisted mind I say.

I think I may go off early and find some more...

 

Fog, Town, Djokoviv, Farage

 

A slight touch of fog this morning.  A slight touch that did not remove itself until around 4 pm, at which time the sun had already gone down behind the trees and people were considering what was for tea tonight.

 

I therefore stumbled up to the shop noticing how quiet the town was, though a million people were wandering about the shop itself while few appeared at the checkouts!  Maybe they got lost in the fog?

Anyway, I obtained my few needs, hobbled home down the remarkably quiet street, and continued dissipation for the rest of the day.  It's what Saturdays are for.

 

 

I did peruse the press hoping for excitement, none came.  Loud screaming headlines, all the right-wing press slanting things their way, some trying to avoid blaming Boris by blaming the BBC, the secretaries, the civil servants etc.  Others pointing the finger and bellowing 'His time is up!'  He however, remains.

I was rather hoping his apology to the queen which contained no apology would annoy her so much she would call him in and sack him, which is the one constitutional right she retains.  This however, is one she would not use lightly, I think Charles however, may encourage this.

 

Nigel Farage is upset.  The Australians have once again detained the tennis player Djokovic for his attitudes to vaccines and playing fast and loose with the virus.  Nigel is upset the Australians have made use of a policy regarding immigrants that he wishes to bring into the UK on Djokovic and says they must not use this draconian policy that he wishes to use on UK immigrants because it is dictatorial and inhuman.  Hmmm...   

I also read someone saw a YouTube advert featuring our Nigel claiming Brexit failed but this insurance company can help you.  I wonder if anyone else has seen this and I also wonder how much he is making from this?  Such a tart this man.

 

Sun, Boris, Andy

An uninteresting and boring picture.  A vain attempt to indicate the brightness of the sun yesterday morning and today again.  The fact that Jack Frost still lay across the fields as I passed is hidden here.  I am unable to get out.  The scanning photos takes time, plus I must eat, watch the African Nations Cup when it is on and read books.  This does not leave much time for anything else, bar needful housework, the caring helpful women still avoid me!  

This also means I have spent little time watching Boris run away and hide (aparrently a relative' with Covid has been close) and he is avoiding the people who elected him.  It seems the TV and radio have been full of Cabinet members defending Boris, each trying to keep his job as they know Sunak will dump most of them.  Sunak himself is of course not a good choice.  I read recently he was part of a group in at the deep end in 2008 when the economy collapsed, yet he never mentions this.  His love of the rich and his lack of knowledge of anyone below Millionaire does not speak well of a man capable of leading the nation, and on top of that he has few friends in powerful places.  This means Liz Truss may be next in line!  

 

We stop there to let that sink in...

 

Talking of success, I note Andrew has reliquished all his honorary titles.  The media report this as 'Queen dumps Andy.'  Whether this is the queen or others in the royal house is hard to tell, but leaks will occur, and certainly they are ensuring Andy must face this alone.  All done to protect the monarchy.  What the monarch thinks about it is hard to tell. Andy was her favourite, but Andy has got into bother and even the elite cannot protect him now.  Only a judge refusing the US demand that he attends the US court can stop him facing action over there.  Good luck with that!

With Boris back against the wall, Andrew desparate for an escape it is easy to join in the crowd yelling and pointing.  There is however, something not right with the witchhunt even of the fallen hero or the guilty man.  A more sensible, none tabloid approach is required and hard to find.  

There again, had both men admitted to themselves any wrong doing, confesses and faced the music honestly I suspect attitudes would be different.  Denying clear wrong, as Boris has done, and hiding in Windsor like Andrew, has not been good PR.  Confession is good for the soul.

 

Photo Scan Time

 

Got myself a job!

My brother died a few years ago and with his widow now moving near my best, most attractive, and highly talented niece way down south the house has to be sold to pay the care home bills.  My brothers office, full of interesting thngs, was off limits to me in case I nicked bits.  Now however, I have been donated some of his old pictures from the days of long ago.  

Most were of his time in the RAF, this aircraft is situated somewhere in the middle east (Sharjah)where he was stationed during 1971 (Can you remember that far back?).  There are a lot of pictures of aircraft that I cannot identify, it being so long ago most have long since been scrapped.  Being the RAF they were probably on their last legs anyway, buying the latest and best for 'our boys' has never been important to our politicians.  

So, now I am attempting to scan three albums full of pictures.  Some look interesting, some boring, some fading with time, and all are off pin sharp clarity!  Using RAF cameras, and often his own (probably) second hand cameras, twisting knobs and fiddling with lenses my brother, RAF Photographer, manages to get sharp pictures while I, with my fancy dan Lumix cannot!  Bah!

 

 

These look like Hawker Hunters to me, so that dates the pictures.  This was the time the UK was withdrawing from 'East of Suez,' for financial and 'end of empire' reasons.  That said, it is no surprise to know the better aircraft, Phantoms for interest, were deployed in the UK and across Europe where they were needed.  

Not sure if below the aircraft we see the base beneath or the local town, either way I like the idea of a house surrounded by a wall with a central courtyard.  That way you remain hidden from view, rooms all around, yet have space to do your thing, I think this is very middle eastern.  I like the idea and will seek such accomodation once I am a billionaire.  Not actually in the middle east mind.

So, nothing else has been done, and probably will not be done tomorrow or until I get fed up of scanning pictures.  That will be quick mind...

 

The Ancient Wall of London

 

I stumbled across this video today and was intrigued, not just by the video itself, nor by the fact it is quite short, about a dozen minutes or so, but also by the way London has changed architecturally since I lived there.  

Jago, for it is he, takes us around the remains of the ancient wall that once surrounded the small port of Londinium.  The dates vary, certainly most of the wall was erected by the Romans, at places the red Roman tiles can be clearly seen, and while amended, reconstructed, and bombed occasionally much of it remains visible.  Jago tells a good tale, he is clearly good at this, knows his history, is easy to listen to and the only spoiler is the advert that comes too soon and remains too long.  

 

 

I do like short but informative videos, and when I have actually seen and photographed some items shown in the film, and touched and walked beside them I am truly quite happy.  This may not reflect an active lifestyle of course.  

However, it was the intrusion of modern buildings that really irked.  When we see old churches dating back a thousand or so years overlooked by a concrete and glass construction that bears all the clear hallmarks of an architect with a drug problem then I despair.  At one point some semi-circular building leans out across the busy street looking like something momentous found half buried on a Normandy beach.  What was the point of that?  All around gleaming monstrosities glare down their snooty nose at ancient buildings, or their remains, that speak of humanity and culture (well apart from the Circus, the scaffold, the slaves I mean) and the inhumanity of London life is revealed in glass.  

OK, I know it was not all humanity, kindness and agape love in the past but really these modern buildings reaching up to heaven are either people seeking to 'make a name for ourselves,' or laundering rubles or some other currency that ought to have remained back in its own country.  I suspect our Nige does not object to such immigrants as this.

 

 

This beam is a remnant of a Roman wharf dating from the good old days.  Whether this one remembers Boudicca arriving and burning the place to the ground, slaughtering everyone she found and moving on or not I cannot say with any guarantee, however, it has been there for a while happily outside this church at London Bridge.  

I suppose this Iceni woman is responsible for the wall more than anyone.  She also created jobs at St Albans and Colchester where some of the wall remains in place.  Yet in spite of these jobs the history books, at least those written by Romans, did not speak well of her.  

I recommend this video, and a search through his other ones, especially if you have a contact of sorts with London.  A great metropolis, full of humans with all the god and bad attitudes found in any other vast city, though life is much healthier now so many are working from home.  For walking tours it is great, if you don't mind people crushing you, and history is everywhere, but I would not move back without a lot of money and quiet and cheap home in the centre!

 

WHO IS THERE LIKE YOU - Stuart Townend [HD]

Wet Market Day

So excited to be out in the rain I took my wee camera for a spin.  The real need was for bread and milk but I wandered into town in the rain to find the market almost deserted.  I then remembered that after Christmas many market stall holders take a holiday in the sun, probably Hawaii at their prices, at this time off year.  And add in the rain falling all day, and quite strong it was at that, only the Car advertising driving lessons and one cake stall arrived to seek cash from a very small congregation.  

I strolled through a near empty Tesco, half the checkouts empty, no customers queuing for long anywhere.  Cupboards maybe still full after restock but weather keeping folks in, I obtained a few things, congratulated the lass on not charging me as much as they usually do, and hobbled home in the wet. 

 

I suspect when the pubs open, mostly to watch football as it is English Cup day again, then many more will rise and shine.  Difficult to tell how many shops had remained shut, though most were open.  

Because my diet has been er, slack over the Christmas period I kept away from the cake stall.  His prices also enabled me to keep my distance but I doubt he made a fortune today.  

 

 

I was too early for the museum this morning, this is a shame as they have advertised a sale with 70% off!  I always told her the prices were too high!  Later in the week I will pop in and seek next years Christmas presents...

For now, it's football time.

 

Never the Twain

National

 

The other day, when in conversation with two of what I took to be highly intelligent men, I realised once again that I live in a foreign country.  It was clear their knowledge of Scortland was limited, and their reaction to Nicola Sturgeon reflected a message poured out by the 'Daily Mail,' 'Daily Express,' and BBC News.  This was disturbing but not unusual down here.

A hatred for Sturgeon that they cannot adequately explain is based on false information and a desire to oppose independence.  Yet some of these people voted for Brexit! and what they called and English independence.  

Sturgeon is no favourite of mine, however, she has handled Covid better than England, that means Boris, has attempted to protect people at all levels and while surely has made mistakes, though who would not in the circumstances, has been seen as a competent politician, one Boris dare not face.  

Scots who dislike Nicola do so because she favours the absurd 'trans' and 'gay' ideology, or is failing to seek independence.  It is likely she is happy with the situation just now as she remains happily in charge of her Cabal with no opposition.  However, 'Indy2' appears not to bother her whatsoever.  

In England dislike is based on tabloid media and ignorance.  Such ignorance includes a failure to understand how Scotland has been abused by England since the Lords took bribes and kept their lands by selling out to England in 1707.  This brought continued the peace brought by James VI & I taking the English throne (and ignoring Scotland) but almost killed Edinburgh and was rightly refused by the people.  No benefits accrued to Scotland until Scots took power in England's parliament.  Only then did money shift north, and probably into only certain pockets.

Financial figures, misreported and misunderstood seek to make Scotland a failed economy yet Denmark, Ireland and others with smaller populations succeed.  Joining the EU helps, but Scotland's  trade will improve without the Brexit folly hindering her.

Scottish nationalism is not based on hatred of England, as the London press keep repeating, but on love of country.  English nationalism is however based on xenophobia, hatred of foreigners and a belief they are still a 17th century imperial power.  This clearly is not the case.  Since Brexit all power has been lost, the English importance rotted away and all that matters is the pigs with noses in the trough, the nation, flag waving or not, matters not and is dying.

Will the English ever understand how Scots are second class citizens in their own country.  They will never understand why the BBC refers to 'British' football fans when talking about 'English' ones.  They note a tennis star who was 'Scots' until he won Wimbledon and became 'British,' and numerous daily occurrences similar to this.  I queried one newsreader when she mentioned the train leaves Kings Cross for Scotland.  "Where is this station called 'Scotland'?" I asked.  The next time she appreared it was amended to Edinburgh though she missed out the 'Waverley' bit.  Unconscious racism is bad when we are black, but not when we are Scots.  

Boris Johnson himself is known for his antipathy to Scots and has published many such statments in his writings.  Possibly action ought to have been taken here?

Scots know much more about this foreign country than the English know of Scotland, for a 'United Nation' we are very disunited, may it become permanent soon.

 

WoS

Energy Chancers

 

The chancers are at it again.  Both EON, now called 'E.on Next' for no good but certainly a costly reason, and the British Gas people, now called 'British Gas Evolve,' again for no good, but certainly costly reason are asking for a meter reading every month.  This apparently is to ensure you are up to date and able to control your costs, though I notice they do not allow you to reduce those costs as you wish on their websites as they once did.  So, to save costs, I have had to read the gas meter, in the rain, and today, clamber up and down stairs to read the electric meter in the basement (which was warmer than my condominium).

As you may remember I cannot have a 'Smart Meter' as there is no signal in the basement, and therefore I must monthly clamber about to save these grasping chancers from employing men to do so as they once did.  This saves me money?  Cutting their costs, lowering their high salaries and big bonus's to chancer directors, removing this government, and nationalising gas, water and electricity, alongside rail and bus as well as the NHS might help my costs.  I doubt reading meters monthly will do so.  

There is of course no alternative to these large powerful crooks.  It is indeed true there have been problems with gas supply, especially from that nice Mr Putin, who probably has shares in these two companies, yet the smaller companies that still remain are struggling and no cheaper now than this lot, whatever name they use.

Brexit has not helped either, we have lost the collective deals we once shared, and nobody reckons the UK now.  Prices to increase soon, but I am confident that nice Mr Johnson will enable a good deal for us all, unless he is at a party that is.

Return to Normality

I did not leave the house today.  The need for an after Christmas clean up and the need to avoid the rain trapped me happily indoors.  I cogitated on the washing as the machine whirled the mixture around.  My mother did not have a machine until the 1970s and then a hand-me-down from a woman she worked for.  Until then all the washing was done by hand.  She must have grumbled often about the hard work, even though as kids we often er, helped.  Using the mangle was fun even if we avoided the hard part of the work.  She however, was lucky!  

Just imagine washing in Victorian times where much more clothing was the fashion, and not just much more of it but much larger outfits for the women.  All this done by hand.  The soap in those days was usually a long red block called 'Sunlight,' or 'Lifebuoy,' or some such.  It meant the woman had to scrape flakes of the end and mix them in water, washing the kids in the same fashion usually also, but maybe not at the same time.  It was the flakes that helped make William Hesketh Lever famous.  He and his brother worked with a local chemist to develop the soap, based on Palm Oil, he noticed the scraped flakes and an idea came upon him, he put the flakes in a box and 'Lux Flakes' were born.  This became the common soap powder, of various brands, we used way into the 70's.

Today, I poured a dollop of liquid into the machine, £1 a go at Poundland, and watched it go.  

The hard work for me was afterwards as I then had to try the variety of raiment that had lain there for many Christmas days.  I wondered where some had got to!  How can one person whow ears the same clobebr all week find so much in the washing machine?

This proves indeed that the Christmas Holiday is over, housework, rain, normality back, well as much as possible.  Boris lying in his teeth on TV, note the hair has been combed in an effort to make him look like a PM, children returned to school with no protection, no teachers and little hope from this corrupt bunch of gangsters.  NHS  worn out, told they must bear it as we 'are at war' while the NHS like the armed forces are deprived of proper equipment and support.  However, this does not matter, as Boris is still there and he and his people are still coining it in!

I am not sure nurses agree.

 

First Sabbath of the year

The Kirk was almost empty this morning, whether this was due to people being away or the result of too much New Year celebrations was not made clear.  I was however, given a lift home, and home before noon is always a good thing.  It would have been better to have someone make lunch for me and then do the ironing but alas that did not happen.  So make do and mend and wonder "What was that I ate?" had to do.  

First sermon of the year is always tricky.  The church has to be reminded to set its heart on Jesus, not the world, to read the book, study the book, pray without ceasing and love one another.  This was not helped one year a long time ago when the pastor turned and looked in my direction as he urged us to "Move on with no more sin and (as he looked at me) no more spiritual jerks."  Quite how neither of us responded amazes me yet.   

Once home I discovered Championship football was on today.  This meant I could use PPV TV and watch Arbroath play Inverness.  This was welcomed I must say, and so £13 was soon paid and I waited by nodding off, until the game began.  This was great fun until 10 minutes in the server failed.  It took 15 mins at least before an alternative picture was found.  Apparently the server did not expect a thousand people to log in as usually only a couple of hundered do this at Arbroath.  However, government restrictions limiting the crowd to 500 meant many logged on and all collapsed.  'Vimeo,' for it was run via them, failed to impress many of the Angus hordes!  

In the end however I enjoyed the poor game played in high wind and was really too tired to care about much else.  I have struggled to wake in the mornings and look forward to a lie in tomorrow. 

 

Happy New Year 2022

 A Happy New Year to all my readers, including bots!

 

We will face another year of Covid, there will be 'wars and rumours of wars, famines and earthquakes in various places,' terrorists and protesters, mismanagement and corruption in high places.  However, there will also be acts of kindness, efforts at peace, and for many of us good times after bad, hopefully.

In short, life goes on when the calendar changes, we can do little about the life around us but we can change the life we have now, and then we can our world for the better.  May the Lord make his face to shine upon you this year and always.

I hope your 2022 is a good one for you and yours, all the best!

 

New Years Eve 2021

Being New Years Eve I decided I had to check the shop to ensure I had those last important things that I cannot do without, especially as the shops will be closed for the holiday.  I was wrong!  Both Sainsburys and Tesco are open tomorrow, not much change in the hours either.  

This will not be the case in Scotland!  

I thought I had to buy now or struggle on until Monday or Tuesday but it appears no struggle will be required.  Having lounged, drank, eaten too much over Christmas it appears no desire is left among the local natives for similar this weekend.  How often I realise I am living in a foreign country!

 

I was glad to get out under the glowering dark clouds.  Slowly the clouds have fallen away allowing a temperature in the 50's F.  This is unusual for December and knowing similar is happening elsewhere, in the US for example, it indicates a degree of global warming that Fossil Fuel salemen insist does not exist.  Their backing, if not invention, off anti-covid fears intended to ensure people return to work, thus creating money for them, has not gone unnoticed, especially when MPs shout about this in parliament and they happen to be connected to such companies and their offsprings.  How unusual for an MP!

I wandered amongst the few, almost friendly, people out and about.  Handfuls of people prepared for cold weather sweltered around town, a surprising amount of shops remained open, though some were clearly making the most of the time off.   

Home to the usual housework ignored all week.  I am so lucky!  However, it is good to get so much done badly.  Now I am about to check my Christmas spending, this ought to frighten me somewhat and ensure next year I spend less!  Then I prepare for Hogmany, that is heading to bed....