Spring has Sprung!

The chill wind sneaking across Essex from the North Sea did not hide the fact that Spring has Sprung and brightness is upon us.  We can look forward to more light, longer days, blossoming flowers and concentrate on such things while ignoring Brexit.  The birds chirp in the trees while eating the new buds as they appear, the wood pigeons chase each other keenly and the Sparrows have worked out how to hang onto the feeders.  
I contemplated this a wee bit as I trudged down to church to be renewed in spirit and cheered by all the young women ("cough") asking after me.  I had to be there as I was reading.  I made use of my best North Edinburgh voice in between coughing fits bringing a 'thumbs up' from one, a 'cracking voice' from another and 'Scots git' from one of the Ukip persona.  Tee Hee, she does not like me interfering with the Ukip stuff he puts on facebook, she attempted to bite me twice!  I was glad she was in a good mood.  

I was a bit worried last night when I noticed the early Sunday papers were suggesting a coup would take place removing Mrs May and replacing her as 'temporary' Prime minister one Michael Gove!
Michael, the man who stabbed Boris in the back because his wife told him to, has become famous for his weasel ways and interesting ideas.  Some make sense, most do not appear thought through and those that are become presented simply to make him look good, they will never be put into action.
Even worse appeared this afternoon when Theresa called a meeting at Chequers her PMs country hideaway.  Several important personnel were invited to push through the next step of the plan she does not have.  Who attended?  These are who:-

Boris Johnson, the would be PM with the integrity of a louse.

Dominic Raab, the one who did not understand how important Dover was to the economy.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the millionaire member forthe 1700's who has already mad several million from Brexit and advised his people to put their money in Dublin, where his now lies.
David Davis, the Brexit secretary who did not read his briefs, or any paperwork or indeed do anything but got well paid for it.
Iain Duncan Smith, dearie me where do we start....?
Damian Green, fired for watching porn on his Westminster laptop, many others 'history' was cleared soon after, and a May loyalist.  
David Lidington, in theory next in line to PM but does not wish to be PM.
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay, who?
Chief Whip Julian Smith, didn't he whip the party and then voted against last week?
Conservative Party chairman Brandon Lewis, have you heard of him?
Steve Baker, ?
Alistair Burt, ?
Oh and it appears Rees-Mogg brought along one of his sons to take part or nick things is not clear.

The big cars sit in the drive, the millionaires with little comprehension or care re normal people cogitate and fight for position inside, the people await the result, knowing it will change as soon as the cabinet meets on Tuesday.  
I wonder if Kim Jong Un could drop one of his missiles on Chequers?

The Venomous Bead sums things up well.

On a brighter note Scotland beat San Marino by two goals to nil today.  This is the fourth time they have played them in San Marino always winning by two goals to nil.  Better teams than tonight's have obtained this result but people still complain the manager is bad the team is bad and they know what to do about things.  They don't actually.  This is the same nonsense we always have because Scotland considers itself a Big Team but it in these days merely middle ranking.  However we are supposed to stuff little teams by many goals, something we have rarely ever done.  Certainly there are glaring problems but removing the failing manager will not answer those.  Many changes required behind the scene, these will not be happening and we had better hope we produce a higher quality of man or just get used to things being as they always are.

Friday Frolic...

Not much of a frolic merely a walk up to B&M's to buy seed for the birds.  At least under the gray skies these daffs were still blooming.  The brightest things to be seen on a dreich day.
I took a couple of pics of things only to find that Microsoft had 'updated' the 'Photos' ap thereby making it difficult to play around with the pictures.  All the usual things are still there but now they are shifted around and difficult to find.  The obvious things are hidden and it is unclear where anything is.
Why do 14 year old geeks get allowed near these things?
'Photos' was a reasonable system yet now it is confusing and clearly not improved by someone who actually uses the thing.  I not 'Outlook' was updated recently and again the first thing you look for is not in an obvious position it is hidden or placed in an out of the way part of the system!  
Have these drugged up geeks not heard about KISS?  I suspect most have yet to hear about women to be honest, 'Keep It Simple Stupid' or 'do the obvious thing' and all will be well, that of course does not go down among the lads in silicon valley....

Hidden from the main road is this old chapel.  Originally owned by the Quakers it is now in possession of the local Sally Ann.  It lies behind an undertakers that at one point in the late 19th century worked as a 'Beer Shop,' not a pub just a place to buy beer.  This was a haphazard system to stop people drinking Gin which was ruining the nation.  People drank less gin but more beer and drunkenness became a problem!  Who would have thought...?
Next door is a house I would have loved to buy if I had money.  It also sits far back from the road and goes back well into time.  Sadly the person selling wanted thousands of pounds for this and the loose change in my pocket did not cover it.  Further along another building, this time commercial, also sits back from the road, I am left wondering why?  Possibly I will never know.

From Brexit to Figs

Having remained indoors desperate to hear information concerning our glorious leaders trip to Brussels (again) I am forced to reuse old photos lying about the laptop.  This makes a change from politicians lying about Brexit.  I also signed the 'Cancel Brexit' petition which has gathered over a million signatures, remember you only need 100,000 to demand a debate in the House, and while the PM will refuse to 'Revoke Art 50 and Remain' at least it gets the nation talking and doing something.  I note the 'Daily Mail' has immediately done something it has suggested that all the signatures come from North Korea and Afghanistan!  Nothing like decent journalism there.  It is clear the lack of decent journalism in the 'Daily Mail' has gone a long way to encourage Brexit and the hate of foreigners that pervades the country.  Last night a man smashed mosque windows in Birmingham and how much of the tabloid racism fed into that?  I would like a police investigation into Paul Dacre while DM editor and also the other racist led tabloids, that would be interesting but I doubt it would be allowed.

Sitting in here staring rather vapidly and the laptop has been very enjoyable.  I managed some housework, not much, and stuffed myself with figs from the storage cupboard.  I did this once I had noticed the 'Eat by' date was the 27th of February!  Tomorrow I finish another bag dated 20th March!  I really ought to check that store a bit more often.  There again if I do I may have to eat considerable quantities of I know not what and that may cause problems.  I bought these so I could chomp them, or indeed the dates I also possess, instead of chocolate.  This was to save my teeth, though both are sweet, and better for me, although not if eaten a bag at a time I suspect.  Only now after two long months am I getting things back into order and shopping for healthy stuff has to start soon.   This is not to say chocolate is not on the menu as it, like other bad stuff, sometimes slips through.  

Tuesday Twaddle

It's been a gray day here in the land of fun and frolics.  The cloud has hung over us all day offering a bit of chill also and this has led me to seek out a sun filled photo from the past.  How lovely to be by the sea where the sun shines, the aid is filled with romantic aromas and people smile at you as they pass, sometimes.
Instead I sat in the museum cutting a yard length of wool and rolling it into a wee ball and adding it to the thousands already made for s project the schools now enjoy annually.  Thankfully people came in to annoy me as doing this drives one bonkers!   One lass brought her young toddlers and once again it amazed me how many arms a child has.  No matter what he did to him he always managed to get his mitts on something we wished he would avoid.  They at least enjoyed their day, this lass comes often, and indeed spent money, so I smiled a lot.  
I might have mentioned my virus, and today one lass from the church came looking for items to send to the USA.  She also made me aware why so many people didn't speak on Sunday, most ran off early as indeed did I.  So many if them have my bug, or are in hospital or some other condition which made them disappear quickly.  My prayer list is longer than I wish.  Add this to the others I already have there and this could be a full time work.  This virus has taken several out, others like me have gone through it, and I suspect others yet will suffer it, I hope none of the kids get it.  I suppose a church will lots of elder individuals will suffer this way when bugs are around.  
In between people offering donations, buying stuff or just coming in to chat I managed to return to my wool work and returned to seeing spiders crawl up the wall after doing this for a while.  My Lawyers 'Grabbit & Runn' will be notified.
Brexit we hear is to be postponed for three months, maybe two years, or not as the case may be.  I am not convinced this will cheer up the EU dignitaries who are already tired of Theresa's visits.  Maybe they will demand she fills out visa applications if she wishes to go again?  

Monday Maudling

Another day of joy and gladness passes by.  This time the joy comes from visiting the happy smiling lass in Tesco, getting home before the sky turned a dark gray and rain hammered down for a while. Joy yesterday came from trundling down to the church and getting a lift home rather than walking into the stiff chilly breeze.  
How nice to get out again and get back into the old routine.  Speak to friends, get up to date news, place IOU in offering bag, the usual things on a Sunday morning.  Unfortunately I then had to watch far too many poor football games.  I managed however....
Tomorrow is museum day and while I would rather lie in bed still I suppose I must go.  It means I do not have to watch John Bercow put Mrs May in her place.

 

Good old John has dug out a law dating from 1604 that will not allow May to run the same question through parliament for the third time.  Poor May, maybe she will be glad about this, maybe she will seethe.  Either way it is good for the nation.  

But what will happen?  What is going on behind the scenes?  Again the DUP in Northern Ireland are holding out for money, again bribes are on offer, again lesser parties are helpless and again the elite line their pockets while the people suffer.

By the way I notice Mr Farage has launched his 'Walk from Sunderland to London' in support of 'Leave.' I was somewhat surprised, but not much, to learn that he is walking via his helicopter (who pays for that?) while the 'people' follow on the ground.  There is something of the Moseley about Farage, rich, pompous but unlike Moseley he fails to get elected anywhere so why does he get so much publicity I wonder?

   

Friday Mutterings

2GB

At last a break from Brexit, or is it?  A mass shooting in far off New Zealand might not at first sight be connected to the rich ERG clan lining their pockets via Brexit but the effect of the racist outpourings from their side of the debate results in such actions.
The 'Far Right,' a term that covers a great many who lean that way or take violent action for it, are predominately those who claim a form of white supremacy, a false Christian ideology (merely to oppose Islam), and a desire to chase all foreigners (mostly black ones) out of 'their' country.
Where does the ideology come from?
How does it spread?
In the UK this arises from media misuse.  Paul Dacre, who edited the 'Daily Mail' for 25 years spent a great deal of time attacking the EU for reasons of his own, he happily accepts millions in handouts from the EU for his farm up north however. Dacre also made a splurge on immigration, especially black immigration, constantly feeding the people reports of Pakistani born criminals and ensuring large 'ugly' pictures of these criminals were prominent in his media.  Slanted reporting, biased commentary, and pandering to the growing number of English who feel bereft for whatever reason and ensuring immigrants and Muslims are seen as responsible, clearly or indirectly ensured a growth of resentment especially in the south of England.
Is 'Dacre' an English name I ask?
Other papers spouted similar views, objective study of the situation replaced by fear and emotion. There are many English who believe all immigrants have been in jail, half are terrorists and they get first choice of houses and live off the dole without having paid a penny in.  It has also been claimed the will not sell you alcohol in supermarkets and attempted to ban Christmas, both proven lies spread about via social media.
Add to this real terrorist actions, 9/11 in the USA and several amateur and somewhat successful attempts in the UK by ISIS inspired dafties then it is inevitable that a white nutter will arise and make an attempt to settle scores.  There are many willing to sign up.
An abundance of videos by Farage, Moseley and I suspect many US white supremacist groups will provide ideology and instruction to those willing to follow blindly.  I can only give thanks that most of us have avoided being dragged into such a mindset.  It is very easy to be a follower.
Such outrages bring out the usual responses. Platitudes and denunciations from appropriate leaders follow, as do the public's response of condemnation or support.  This may not be outright support just the usual 'whataboutery' mentioning Islamic attacks elsewhere.  Murdering innocents for a cause is not justified by murdering innocents for a cause.  Hardening opinions will be seen, many will not be seen but will be hidden away ready for the day they will arise.  That will not be a good day for the world.
Brexit comes into this as the perpetrator of this crime informs us, remember he is an Australian of English, Scots and Irish ancestry (someone got around then?) operating in New Zealand, blaming Brexit “That it was the British people firing back at mass immigration, cultural displacement and globalism, and that’s a great and wonderful thing,” he said.  He has a point, little englanders did not want johnny Foreigner, especially the black ones, coming into their area.  UKIP support is very strong in areas with little immigration to be seen.  Only now that thousands are losing jobs do these folks realise their mistake.  Interesting that as an Australian he did not consider pushing Aborigines or in New Zealand Maori's about as 'mass immigration or cultural displacement' that he may be able to justify though whether Aborigines or Maori's agree is another thing.

There is a danger such attitudes will proliferate, hate is easier to spread that Love.  Fear brings hate and the encouragement of immigration over the past fifty years while disregarding the opinions of the native population and indeed regarding them as 'racist' has led to them becoming 'racist!'  The world requires thoughtful immigration and border controls not short term emotional ones seen recently.  UK, France and the US have over a hundred years mucked about in the middle east and recent wars have resulted from this.  ISIS sending a million or two into the EU at one go has encouraged the far right tendency that has always lived in parts of central Europe.  Mismanagement here has led to much pain and newspapers fanning flames have not helped. 
It is disappointing that the UK government is not in a position to advise friends elsewhere in this situation seeing as they have little idea how to operate the Brexit shambles that lies in front of us now.  That resumes next week.

Round Midnight.

The phrase ‘Round Midnight’ brings to mind smooth jazz from John Coltrane say or the dark ill-lit streets after an evening’s entertainment ‘up town.’  Workers in hospitals or hotels might find a quiet descend over their premises as sleep replaces the hassles of the day.  The night watchman enjoys the quiet after midnight and settles down to doze his way towards morning.

In this house things are done differently.

I sit wrapped in a blanket coughing loudly hour after hour filling my night with listening to the depressing news, it is always depressing the news, or watching late night adverts on ‘teleshopping channels.’  Just who is buying non-stick frying pans at this time of night?  Amongst the late-night offering is an abundance of Brexit news, unfunny comedy, unfunny US comedy, mediocrity and repeats of films and programmes long past their prime.

Depressing.

Late night radio offers avant-garde on Radio 3, news or discussions on news, local radio joined together to save money and playing bland empty tunes, many stations offering music, either bland or meaningless pop.

Depressing.

This does not please the cough, a cough which now adds a special new headache to the joy.  Sleep, the only relief is not to be found, especially when trusted up like this! 

Yet this morning I was telling someone I thought the end of the virus was here, by lunchtime I found out how wrong I was.  A check of the diary to where I cancelled the museum meeting shows the virus has lasted 8 weeks and still counting!  Eight long weeks and there appears to be no end.  If it’s not the head it’s the stomach, if not then it’s the chest, then back to the head, I am not in love with this virus!

I glance in the fridge, the milk is running out, food uneaten is going off, and what exactly is that black thing in the plastic bag?  I need to eat but my body does not wish to, I need to sleep and my eyes will not shut, if they do the cough returns.  So I sit here in the East Wing so as not to annoy the man downstairs, if indeed he has not run off to one of his women to avoid me. 

This is minor, but very injurious.  I know of many with harder experiences, one who cannot walk as the foot will not heal, others with infections that cripple them, still others whose bones are crumbling while yet another awaits a fearful operation. 

I am grateful I am not they.

So I give thanks for that and await some form of slumber while resisting the temptation to watch ‘Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmare’s USA’ or ‘Love in the Countryside!’

    

Google IT!

It is hard to believe that the World Wide Web is only 30 years old.  1989 is just the other day and yet it is an entire world away from where we stand today.  In the year 1989 small mobile phones, CD's  and fax machines were becoming popular while today few use fax and some have never heard of them.  There has been an outstanding revolution under our noses that equals the creation of writing, the growth of railways and the discovery of penicillin.
In 1994 a chap at the place I worked spoke several times about the 'International highway' and we all stared blankly at him.  By the time I was resident in the wilderness of Essex two years later I had bought, at great price, one of these 'home computers' which enabled me to travel the world from my desk, or chair as it was at the time, I could not afford a desk.  Today people carry these things in their pocket, phones with computers which are much more powerful than the one I paid an  enormous amount of money for in 1996,  now that machine operates as a stool for my feet!
The WWW has been a great benefit to us all, that is how we met, and while it can be abused it is a brilliant invention.  So where will this lead?  It will enable those who control us to keep their eyes on us 24 hours a day, unless we stop using such devices and return to pencil and paper.  Each time we open up to watch a football match someone somewhere knows we do this or is able to discover our viewing when this is demanded.  How the Gestapo would have loved such ability, they might still be around.  Maybe they are?  The only answer to oppressive governments is for people to vote for decent candidates, if any stand, and to hope no fiddling of the count occurs as it does in many places.  The day may not be far off where Europe has the opposite of capable 'liberal' democrats in charge, it may be here already. 

Copycat Hypocrisy

Friday night, when Rangers James Tavernier went to take a 'throw in,' while playing Hibernian at the Hibs ground in Leith, a helpful young individual ran down the steps from amongst the home support, jumped the wall taking the security man by surprise, and helpfully kicked the ball at Mr Tavernier.  Mr Taverneir  was somewhat surprised by this, this was the first time anyone from the Hibernian persuasion had actually made an attempt to take the ball from him!  This individual was immediately restrained by the displeased security man and two keen constabuls and 'assisted from the ground.'  
Such things occur at football matches. 
The media immediately jumped into 'offended' mode. 
The cry was 'protect the ball players' from all side.  Ban the thug from football, jail him and throw the key away.  Set an example of Hibernian, close the ground, fine the club, hang the chairman!  All Scots papers, and one or two sections of the English media also, jumped in eyes closed with a froth of disgust at the horrid event.
None mentioned the sectarian singing emanating from the Rangers fans in the ground, none the broken seats thrown onto the pitch, none the coins and cup flung also in the direction of Hibs players.  The media you see make money, clickbait style, out of the Glasgow bigots.
Today the Glasgow press continue their one sided approach to the matter all the while ignoring the wrongs at their club.  Individual fans from both clubs, and others also, contribute a 'thoughtful' opinion on the deed while always ignoring their own sin and concentrating on the others.  
Thoughtful debate is not the correct term here.
Saturday arrives, somewhere in Birmingham tow local English sides meet in a 'derby' encounter.  The usual name calling and unhelpful suggestions are offered to either side by the supporters.  One of the Aston Villa team, the visiting side, went to take position and a copycat eejit ran onto the field and helpfully fetched him one across the back of the head.  The player helpfully fell down while others from both sides plus security came to his assistance.  In both cases the performance of the players was unharmed, Taverneir continued to blunder as he had done all game, the Villa player scored the winning goal.  Both the visiting individuals will appear in court, indeed the chap from Birmingham has just begun a 14 weeks imprisonment sentence, and will pay £100 compensation to the man he assaulted.  14 weeks sounds rather short, in wrath remember mercy but the type of individual who does this may well be used to prison and short sentences may not deter!  For this individual it will but what about others.  I await news of the Hibernian eejit.  
A third incident occurred at Arsenals large ground on Saturday when a like minded copycat squared up to a Manchester United player.  This did not wake the player up and led to this eejit being removed, I suspect his name will appear in the magistrates list shortly.
These three are like many noticed on the Essex Police Twitter account, they tend not to be the brightest, even though they often have decent jobs, their outlook on life is limited and with the chap of Hibernian persuasion I wonder of drugs played a part.  He did not look like he would one day appear on 'Mastermind' or reach a high level of intelectual ability.  He after all supports Hibernian and appears to be a fan of the 'trainspotting' generation.  Or does he?  Is he what is called a 'real fan' or just one who tags along with his mates because they go their and saw this as an excuse to keep in with them?   
After all we all do daft things when young...        
The copycat media have been joined by the copycat self important in football jumping in to condemn such actions.  It is head shaking all around, exaggerated claims that "Knives might be used next" and a wide variety of absurd answers to the question how to stop it, armed police  as one man suggested might be going to far at this juncture!  The great and the good condemn, but forget the many other incidents now forgotten that had less publicity as they were not in the public eye or involved smaller sides.  Glasgow clubs always offer a wide selection of offensive behaviour but rarely this appears in print.  The Birmingham featured clashes before the game but with no pictures we hear little.  Yet whenever a story fills the screen there is faux condemnation, 'tut tutting' aplenty and as always in the end nothing is done.  All clubs will improve security, all will say the right words and all others will then seek the next thing to be offended by.
Oh one other thing, if payers get into a 20 man stramash with fists flying and heads bumping why is this referred to as 'handbags?'  If clubs and players took some responsibility for their actions maybe we would not see these numpties clambering over the wall to attack players...just a thought.

Update:  Our hero in Leith has indeed made an appearance in court.  He has been banned from all football grounds in Scotland while he awaits the final sentence which will be handed down next month.  I hope he likes prison...
 

Welsh Whisky?

Indeed it's true!  The Welsh (should that be 'Welch?') are making whisky and know how to charge for it at that.  Is nothing safe?  In fact little is safe in this world, I fund out about this a long time ago that they were at it.  In fact one man relatively near me attempted to sell 'clear whisky,' colourless fluid with a kick.  However that was not allowed by those that run the authorisation for whisky, whisky has to have colour, usually a sort of golden amber colour. 

Not far from Merthyr Tydfil is a wee place called Penderyn where the distillery there will gladly charge you over £48 for this bottle featuring a Welsh hero.  At least that includes delivery!  Lesser prices are available.

 
This, with slightly damaged cork, was bottled over a hundred years ago at a lost distillery.  You can have this proud beauty for a mere £6,000 or so.  There are not many about.  I am not surprised!

Whisky, a grain based spirit, usually Barley in Scotland, these days can be made in many nations.  Scotland and Ireland are famous for this product, correct spelling is used in Scotland if course, 'Whisky' not 'Whiskey,' the word coming from the Gaelic for 'Water of life.'  Today Japan produces the majority of whiskies, India, Taiwan, I believe even Denmark has had a go but 'Scotch' is the right term to use surely?  
The 'Welsh Whisky Company'  like so many other things was not in fact Welsh, it was English owned and just happened to be built in Wales.  Beginning in the 1890's they released their first whisky too soon but they did manage to obtain a visit from Queen Victoria and later her son Edward thus ensuring royal patronage and fashionable people buying the stuff, it was after all the English market they wished to enter, not the Welsh.  Things however did not go well.  The product did not sell well, Irish drinkers were 'frosty,' one Scots commentator referred to "Scotsmen drugged with bad Welsh whisky," and little else is said. 
By 1900 the liquidator was offering the buildings for sale.  Some attempts were discussed at restarting but never happened.  Welsh whisky, an intruder on the market from the Scots and Irish viewpoint, was dead.
It appears another Welsh whisky company is coming to life, this however will not produce sales until 2020 at the earliest.  Some claim four distilleries are found in Wales today but I found little evidence, maybe there is a Still hidden in the bushes near where the Paratroops train in the hills?  That would not surprise me.

   

Grump!

It's been a grump day indeed in this house.  The bug has reinstalled itself Microsoft fashion.  I didn't ask it just came back.  Last night I felt not to bad but coughed a lot trying to sleep, I slept little, woke early with headache and return of symptoms and wondered if I had died.  It took most of the day before the headache went, the rest slightly dying down.
This bug began seven weeks ago at least.  Four weeks of coughing which still remains.  Now I hear from all around folks elsewhere have the same problem.  Typical!  What sort of bug is this? 
I blame Putin!

International wimmens day again.  Another day for middle class wimmen to fill the airwaves with their hard luck stories telling us how hard their lives are and that men get paid more than them.
I feel for them.
On Sunday a team of yellow clad men will be moving the telegraph pole outside my house to a safer position, I suspect no female will be found working alongside them.  I suspect those filling the pages and the airwaves today will not have much regard for the checkout lass who will appear beneath too many of them, she however actually works for a living.
When is it international man's day...?

Knifed in the Back

February rain has arrived.  A bit late but pleasing to some.  Not that I cared as I was trapped indoors again today.  Yesterday I felt better than I have for a while and trooped of in the chilly air to the museum.  While I sat awaiting Microsoft updating my slow work computer (one hour and twenty minutes it took) I watched as two men attempted to fit the electric door opener.  This, part of the fire defence, is complicated and therefore the door was wide ajar all morning.  I froze and could not get away from my seat.  Once the door was closed, round about the same time Microsoft let me back on the computer, the place instantly warmed up as the heaters work well.  Today the cough is worse than ever, I hate men who fix doors and next week I will take a hot water bottle to work with me just on case. Grrr.  

Not sure if you have noticed but there has been a lot made about knife crime in recent days.  Quite whether this has been exaggerated by the media to detract from Brexit I am not sure but we are heading for trouble if someone does not do something soon.  This is an English problem as such activities were dealt with in Glasgow by their own operations and there is a slow take up in London or elsewhere of the Scots success stories in this.  
One point frequently made concerns the PM.  While Home secretary she reduced the numbers of police, reduced their money and as PM continues to justify this today.  The fact that 20,000 police have gone from our streets and a 90% rise in knife crime and other criminal activities has resulted she will claim has nothing to do with her.  I suppose if she passed this on to 'Failing Grayling' we might believe her.  
This miserly government has reduced public cash to such an extent no public service works.  Probation, Jails, police, trains, Brexit,care homes, benefits, immigration and everything they touch has to be done on the cheap even if it does not work.  The ERG, Rees-Moggs mob, are getting richer whatever happens, the public just get conned and indeed stabbed.  We are all being knifed in the back by the Tories.

Dour Monday

As I looked out the window this afternoon my mind retreated to the pictures on Jenny's site I saw this morning. There the sun shone, the sky was blue and life was jolly.  Outside my window a great big dark cloud was looming from the west and soon after it dropped a copious amount of water on all and sundry.  I had to pity those who were wandering across the park when it broke, though I did so from behind my window pane.  At least that got a bit of a clean from the rain. This was the first real rain we have had during the day for some time, however it has been damp some nights when I am not interested on looking for it.  The farmers will not be happy.  Hot sun last year, warm winter an little rain.  Price increases all round and that on top of Brexit at that, woopee!
However I will be feeding well this week, all the buffet stuff  from yesterday fills the fridge, most of it will last several days before turning green and lots of cheese with which to give myself cholesterol poisoning.  
Having had to clean the place for her majesty's arrival I need to keep it clean and hide all the faults for tomorrow when the landlord checks the boiler.  This has only been in six months and will not take long but I am working hard at the museum, unless I can get out of it, which means they will be here alone.  If the handyman comes, which is usual that is fine but if the boss comes herself, well she is a woman and will see things I don't see - like dust.  Tonight, before the football at seven I must move things, hide things and fill the sink with bleach to make it appear clean.
I hope she does not read this.

Niece

Today I rushed up to Sainsburys for buffet food.  My niece and her man were arriving on time, they said, so I considered it wise to shop while I could.
They arrived in town after the usual weekend fare on the railways, train so far and arrive early, bus so far, wait for train, then walk to house.  Naturally she who would walk without my guidance as she knew the way got lost. There are hardly any streets in this town and she went the wrong way! Women!
He of course did not know the way and she made use of Google Maps on her phone and got lost.
How nice to see them, it is rare to actually meet the family today (most are pleased with this) and hear the news.  Then after finding out information on him, a good man for her, I threw them out so they could get home before tomorrow.     
How strange to see family after so long, last time we met was her dads funeral a year ago.  What she has gone through since.  It reminds me I must head north at some time this year, once I stop coughing, and see the ageing family up there.  This of course might be difficult as my bus pass only takes me to the border, from then on I'd have to walk the rest of the way or pay... I had better check my shoes.
Now, in spite of missing the football (He at least has the decency to support Burnley) I enjoyed my day with human beings.  I might do this again one day.
The thing is I am glad I have this family.  Too many families I see are broken up, have serious faults and do not get on with one another.  This is annoying.  I am grateful when looking at my parents, many of their ideas, the siblings and their brats and am happy with them even though one or two require  good slap now and again.  It would be terrible to come from a family that would fit into 'Eastenders.' 

I wonder if they are home yet...