The Magazine Contents

 

The post thudded onto the dingy mat late this morning. I raced downstairs to collect whatever vitaly important epistles were awaiting me.  Instead there was a single plastic bag containing a magazine, or so I thought.  Upstairs in my high quality shanty I opened the plastic, piled it onto the recycle pile and began to sort the mass of adverts accompanying the magazine.  

All wanted money.

Most were charities.

All get dumped.

 

"Do I think Leprosy is a thing of the past?"  No! It is regretable, recycled.

'Dignity in Dying.'  'Please donate so we can arrange to remove that aged relative from you.  They will be pleased, their pain ended, their cash in your account.  We supply our own pillows.' 

'Royal Hospital for Neuro-Disability.'  "Please support..."  If you are a 'Royal Hospital,' can I suggest you ask Her Majesty to stick her hand in her fat purse and provide a few million to keep her citizens well looked after?  She can take it from one of her slobby sons.

"Doctors Without Borders."  Indeed a trusted, well respected charity.  The middle classes can pay.

'Womankind Worldwide.'  Again, ask the women middle classes that are always shouting about what they want to decide to make a donation!

'Emmaus UK.'  Too late, I help my friend who works amongst such homeless.

'Rotary International.'  Ask your friend of business, Rees-Mogg for help.

 

All these in one mag?  How much do they think people can afford?  Seven charitable adverts, though 'Dignity' is no charity, and how can anyone caring enough to care choose which to help?  I am more choosy where I put money these days, and would check out each one, especially the 'Royal Hospital,' with no Royal cash.

However, it does not stop there, I am offered "One of the best hearing aids in the world." Very tempted as my hearing has endured too much AC/DC for its  own good.  However, with gay abandon it goes on the recycle pile also.  

"The Lady."  Not sure this is aimed at myself.

Also a Private Health plan is offered.  Not suitable for one who worked in the NHS when it was a proper NHS!  It still continues.

A thin glossy magazine falls out offering a huge range of expensive but Historical items. "Museum Selection."  Expensive tat with a Historical edge.  Binned.

'PostScript,'  The thinner still glossy magazine offering second-hand books at cheap (they say) prices.

 

By the time I have sorted out the charity drops, the sales bumf and scanned the two skinny selling magazines I have no time to read the actual Magazine!  Ah well, it sits in the loo usually anyway.  I will get round to it soon.  

OOPS!  I almost forgot, an offer for a cheap magazine "The Week."  Which, if memory serves me right, and I may be wrong here, is a right-wing mag which offers independent and unbiased information.

Hmmm...  

The Oldie Magazine

 

 

 

 

 

Slithering Pavements

 

Early today, as the snow was fading, I slithered, skated and stumbled my way to Tesco.  How nice to be outside as a scattering of snowflakes fluttered to the ground.  How not so nice to be in Tesco in the middle of the day when others are also there!  Who let them in? 

The walking on icy pavements which lay under a thin blanket of new snow, was hard work.  Walking on the clear damp road was easier, apart from being near all the busses who thought the road was theirs of course, and by the time I got home I was knackered.  This lockdown has affected my fitness, not enough exercising outside in the cold.  As I approached home the snow came down with great intensity, yet as I looked out an hour or so later the pavements were begining to turn to slush!  Make up your mind!  The weather men are offering snow tonight, but from tomorrow it is very cold with sunshine, I am glad!   So tommorrow I will wander abroad risking wet streets and even worse, meeting people!  Maybe I ought to stay in and do the ironing?

Snow Bound

 

 

Snow bound all day, such a shame.  Have to remain indoors while others struggle outside in the freezing world.  They have my sympathy, I have my heaters.  

 

 

There may be more tonight, maybe I shuld turn the bedroom heater on now...?

 

Spring Snow...

The weatherman warned of snow, naturally it did not arrive.  Instead it rained, and it rained a lot!

All night it rained and while the snow kept away by 9:30 it was beginning to showitself.  Bravely I moved my feet close to the heater, where they have remained all day, and watched the slight scattering of white lying across the world.

By the time Hamilton Academicals had dropped two points at home tothe Blue Bigots proper snow had appeared.  This however, did not deter those who thought they could, or needed, to drive around in it as it appears many cars are still out there in spite of it all.  Had I not been wrongly banned from Twitter I could find out how many accidents are occurring in this region because of the snow!  Bah!

So instead of wandering across the world I have watched football, stuffed my face, fallen asleep again, and spent much time looking for a small piece of paper.  As you may understand, there are lots of those lying around this house, we are not all computerised as yet...

 

Nothing

 

It's a Disgrace!

 

It's a disgrace!

For no reason at all, well, for a small reason, Twitter have banned me!

They use the word 'Suspend' but I know what they mean.

I logged in this morning and found a complaint, whether from a real person or from Twitters automatic responses I know not, but I think the latter, re a gentle suggestion I made to a woman having problems with her 15 year old son.  

"Give him a slap!" 

I suggested.  

However Twitter thinks this advocates violence and not required discipline.

Tsk!

Had she used such sensible options previously it is likely the brat would have behaved himself innit?

Twitter is however, to 'woke' for that sort of thing.

I tried to get back in, followed the order on the email that I eventually found, but could not get a response while following orders.  I went to query this and found I must enter my mobile number, but I have no wish to do so, I returned to email and found instructions to ...enter mobile number.

Modern technology has its limits.

So, I logged in a new Twitter site.  This meant a different email, a search for important contacts and long minutes waiting for little response.  

Eventually I was sort of happy, ready to explain the new name etc.

However, in playing about with this I logged out of the new Twitter and when I try to get back in the blasted thing will only go to the one I am suspended from!

Ah well, maybe someone is telling me something...

 

Truth

Today I enlivened my trapped indoors life by indulging in Twitter fighting.  This is great fun, especially if I am the one who is the Troll.  However, today was simply speaking truth into a sad, female dominated society, that is females worldwide who have never done a day's work in their lives and wish to tell the rest of us how to live.  

A Japanese individual, I canny be bothered looking up the story and his name now, commentated correctly that women in meetings 'Talk too much.'  "One speaks and the others decide they must also speak and meetings drag on." 

For reasons difficult to comprehend many women have objected to this and demanded his resignation.  

My comment was simple, "He is right!"

It is fair to say many women also commented in similar fashion and I was reminded of the BT advert in 1995 where it was said men stand while on the phone to get the business done, while women sit cause they will talk longer.  All the women in the ASA, where I then worked in between chasing off said women, agreed with this, none felt it wrong.  Todays women however wish to change reality, they want it to be said this is not true and men talk just as much.  While this may be true of football commentators it certainly is not true in the every day world.

Much time was filled here today, indicating truth to the world and getting a long list of more enemies worldwide.  Political Correctness, worldwide, has blinded so many to reality.  In the UK the 'Woke' live in such a world, a world far different from reality and one that while working in real businesses will cause them much harm.  Too many appear to think they can replace gravity by just stating 'It will be different.'  Gravity, like other realities, will disagree.

 

 

Gormless Shopper...

This miserable repast is what counts for lunch today.  There have been many mistakes made in recent days, the major one being daft enough to stand on the weighing machine early in the morning, screaming "It's broken, I need a new one!" and discovering it was not broken after all.  The lack of exercise is taking it's toll.

Therefore, action was instigated, less fattening stuff eaten, fruit much used, and no difference recorded.  There are other problems however, as this eating regime does not supply sufficient nutrition to the brain and therefore results in strange effects.  

Here is an example of this.  Today, as the sun was waning at lunchtime, I crossed the park seeking exercise and whisky.  Our curate has at last found a church (five actually, all under him!) to accept him as Vicar, and we are all pleased about this.  Crossing the park, avoiding others, I made my way to Tesco and acquired a special whisky and a bottle of sherry.  I thought if he is a Vicar soon he will need to have a bottle on the table so he can offer this to those who do not drink, charity and thrift you see, all in one.  The queue was long at each checkout, so I headed to the self-service machines, which we love!  Now whisky in boxes (even if on offer as here) means you collect an empty box, thus detering thieves and making you wait while someone gets a box with a real bottle inside for you.  I got to the machine, it spat at me, I think I must have used this one before, and began the long operation of filling a bag.  First I gave the young chap the box to fill, then put the sherry through the machine and into the bag along with all the other stuff.  When he returned I thanked him, added the whisky and pressed 'Pay.'  Naturally it all went wrong.  Eventually, with a young lassies help, I paid, left and headed out.  As I left the shop the magic alarm bells rang for theft as I wandered through the door!  I carried on, all things being well and nobody responded.  Glad my fight with the self-service machine over I headed home for what you see was a substantial lunch.  

It was later that I realised a problem.  Around the sherry bottle was a large tag!  It appears that being concerned with the whisky, being malnourished, and being gormless, all at the same time, I had not noticed the electronic tag on the bottle, one which a checkout girl would have removed.  That explained the alarm bells when I left!  

What an idiot!

Back home I tried to undo the tag, this is not possible, and after several poor attempts I decided to leave it, drink the blasted stuff myself and get the man a bottle via the checkout later.  

Anyone for nutritious sherry....?        

Sunday Sunshine

 

After days of gloom people came out to see the sunshine today, dog walkers, joggers, old folks, couples and those with children.  I avoided them all!  

 

These Daffodills have been coming through since December, the rain, and now sunshine might tempt them to show themselves in the chill northern wind.  End of January, Spring getting closer, clouds getting thinner (Ha! fat chance) and the days getting longer!

The socially distant were enjoying the day.  I was just glad to get outside, the first time since Friday, and walk around.  The clever people tell us it may be two or three years before enough people have been properly vaccinated and the threat dealt with.  Many are unhappy with that.  Hmmm...some places in Africa and elsewhere they are in danger of all sorts of disease, they appear to cope better than we do.

The pandemic has shown how wealth has eroded our ability to cope with stress.  The nation does not knwo how to suffer, therefore nonsense about the virus not existing, or being dangerous continue, crowds form, partygoers party en masse, and the virus spreads.  We have been knocked out of our routine and do not like it.  Maybe the routine was wrong anyway?

These guys were knocked out fo their routine, their ambitions altered, their hopes dashed also.  We call them 'Heroes,' and wonder why we are different.  We are no different, they just had to get on with life as it is, so do we.

Anyway, when I go out, I dress like this, just in case...

Saturday Rain

Another Saturday with nothing better to do than watch football.

Outside sleetish rain is falling, and has done since late last night, occasionally turning into snow and failing to lie.  

A normal Scots day I would say, in June!

The weather also hindered the few brave enough to make for the town centre, I was not aware of excessive Saturday traffic today, and with the town apparently a leading one where the Virus is living (though whether in the streets or in Care Homes is not made clear!) people are taking great steps to avoid needless crowding.  

There was no crowding in here today.

Instead I attempted to upset people on Twitter and failed, previous Bots failed to appear and thus there was nothing to do but eat and watch football.  The first football was mediocre English rubbish, so I fell asleep, but at three in the afternoon the Heart of Midlothian appeared to thrash Dunfermline Athletic at Tynecastle Park by one goal to nil.  That was good enough for me.  

I did grumble at the needless absurd camera shots throughout the game, why did we require constant views of the Pars number 3?  Did the director fancy him?  I would think it may well be female as clearly the director did not understand football.

Anyway, this was disturbed by rumblings from below.  It appears neighbours have moved in!  Not being nosey I have no idea who they are, but listening outside it was clear they are young!

How terrible!

No doubt noise from bad music and soap opera TV will soon appear! 

However, they may be human after all, but I doubt anyone under 40 is human these days.

Look, the six O' Clock game is starting, I wonder who is playing tonight...?

 

Holocaust, Abortion

While we rightly remember the Holocaust in which 5 million Jews and over a million others were gassed, let us not forget other Holocausts such as the Armenian one, nor forget the nine million children murdered by abortion since 1967 in the UK alone. All human life has value, all!

 

Free Press

 

I note that Rupert Murdoch, who recently opened 'Times Radio' in an attempt to create a 'Fox 2' has been unhappy with the squalid output.  He may be happier with Andrew Neil, one man who can ask questions of politicians properly, in his new venture of a 'Fox TV' station.  The problem with Andrew is his far-right views, his connection to 'The Spectator,' and his UK 'British' station being paid for by foreign money, plus UK money based in the Cayman Islands.  This does not to me imply independent journalism.  I suggest what we will oeffered is another failing attempt at 'Fox News' style coverage with a UK branding.  You will recall they tried 'Fox Tv' here for a while but this failed, the US scene was of little interest to the 'Daily Mail' viewer, however a UK based TV station will reach the 'Daily Express' and 'Telegraph' reader, although I suspect the man who reads the 'Sun' may be left out somewhat with the big words.  

Whenever this station begins the audience will be there for it.  Whether they can keep that audience will be interesting.  Another problem may be advertising.  They will require the dumb adverts for lawyers, Life Insurance, dog charities and the like to pay for the station, but these people can no longer afford to advertise on TV, Covid has dented their income also.  I hope those Arab sheiks have lots to offer Andrew.

 

 

Not too much done today, having got up late again, finished a burnt breakfast, then the study, such as it was, there was little time left to start something before the van came.  Then I spent some time cramming all the pies into the freezer and fridge.  One went on lunch and now it is time for tea, lucky me.

 

 

Soup, Burns and Woke.

Epitaph for James Smith

 

LAMENT him, Mauchline husbands a',
He aften did assist ye;
For had ye staid hale weeks awa,
Your wives they ne'er had miss'd ye.

Ye Mauchline bairns, as on ye press

To school in bands thegither,
O tread ye lightly on his grass,—
Perhaps he was your father! 

 

Rabbie Burns

Poem Hunter 

On 'Burns Night' it is the thing to celebrate the Bards birth by eating haggis, reciting 'Address to a Haggis,' and gulping down whisky all night.  Whichever one is the most important aspect varies from house to house.  I suspect however the majority of Scots have not purchased a Haggis for tonight, though some have the whisky, and many a Scots child is refusing haggis and choosing instead a home made 'MacDonald's' for tea instead.  Personally I had a haggis over the weekend and did not find it very enjoyable.  Too dry, I did not find it gave me energy, and I was somewhat disappointed with it.  Maybe my Forres butcher makes a better one?  Anyway tonight, having spent time breaking apart the chicken bought from Tesco, I should have killed it first, and then making soup, better than last weeks but not great, I cared little for haggis, or indeed anything else.  So chicken and chips flung together with scraping of veg had to suffice.  It was not great.  I would like to hear Rabbies poem based on that!

 

There is something to be said for that cartoon.

I took time out from my busy day to upset the 'woke.'  

The Urban Dictionary describes 'Woke' as being:

 

'The act of being very pretentious about how much you care about a social issue.'

Now I am not saying these people do not care but I am saying their care was not 'Love.' 

This came re an item about those searching Edinburgh for people involved in the slave trade in the distant past.  Now we all agree, today at least, that this was a repugnant occurrence.  We also agree that many in Scotland, especially in Glasgow, were involved.  However, I am not one who is convinced those pointing out, indeed writing books and leading tours, round houses built or lived in by those benefiting from such trade is done for the correct reasons.  Some wish to remove statues, some wish to knock down houses, others want the present day descendents to 'cough up the cash.'  Fat chance! 

You cannot change History, you cannot forget it.  However, this History was not taught when I was young, though the slave trade was abhorred.

Naturally lots of white, middle class 'woke' are jumping on the bandwagon.  These I encountered today.  I indicated that Scots miners, my family among them, were enslaved by the Lairds of their day.  This of course was rejected as irelevant or off a 'different hue.'  I am not sure my folks in Fife digging coal deep down with no prospects to speak off would agree however.  

The point that annoys is the eagerness to join the mob, not from love of black slaves, white slaves exist also, but belonging to the right crowd is what matters.

These folks share the same causes, join the same protests, believe the same things, none of them stopping to really consider what they are doing, indeed their limited world does not allow this.

Of course we have all done similar in past times, that is why we see it for what it is.  I have joined the cause, then realised it was the wrong way to do things or indeed a wrong cause.  Have we not all been there?  I am left wondering how many of these anti-slavers will pay money to those fighting slavery today?  It never fails to amaze me how such enthusiasm disappears when cash is required.  

Another example comes to mind.  For long years a protest stood outside the South African embassy in London.  Fight for freedom they said, free the black man in South Africa.  After Mandella was released they all went home.  However, when Zimbabwe leaders were killing black and white men no protest appeared.  Black led nations could go to war, no protest was found.  Why was this?  Because these people did not 'love their neighbour' they just took up a popular cause.  

When they gather together to stop todays holocaust, the murders of the unborn child, then I will believe they really care about slavery or any other cause today.

 

Boring Saturday

When I crossed the park yesterday the chill wond tore through those brave enough to exercise in the sunshine.  They claimed it was 50% I say it was 5%!  Today however it is much warmer, and the cloud cover keeps away the frost while depressing those venturing outside.  

Another Lockdown Saturday, another day with no end in sight.  This is managed well enough in my house but the media is convinced half the population are going mental.  Maybe it is just those in the media?  

This morning I braved the cloud cover to once again, against my better judgement, head for Tesco as I needed bulbs for the lamp.  This leaves me clear to do nothing for the weekend but watch three football matches tonight, and one or two tomorrow.  Whether they will be as interesting as Arbroath and Dundee last night we have to wait and see.  However, as I have just paid £18 to watch the Heart of Midlothian on PPV it had better be worth it or the manager will hear about it!

We play them again on Tuesday, what a grubby system.  I realise that arranging games under Covid is difficult, I understand the pressures, but playing the same team so close together is not wise in my eyes.

 

Bumbling Boris has been to see the floods up north, though I see no photographs of this.  Possibly he remembers the last time he visited a flood plain late, he got cat called from all sides and ran away.  Maybe he went at night when none could see him?  The environment secretary did visit flooded areas, but will he listen?  Will it make any difference?  Will money arrive for new defences?  No, is the simple answer, it always is.

Meanwhile, while fighting the new 'English' variant of the virus Matt Hancock now tells the world the 'South African' variant is much, much worse!  Ah, that light at the end of the tunnel, it is the 13:47 express after all!

 

National

 

The 'Spy Bill' is going through the Commons at this time, yet little is said about it in the English based Tory controlled press.  I wonder why?  Joanna Cherry, an SNP MP has been making noises in parliament about this, naturally the Tory government ignore her.  She may one day lead the SNP, we might need to know more about her.  

The Peoples AS30 case in the Court of Session has begun.  This is an attempt to prove Scotland does not require permission from Westminster for an Indy referendum.  Good luck with reading the reports.

 

Another Day...

 

 

Another day of joy and happiness has passed by.  An early trip to Tesco, so early half the staff had not arrived yet.  A few masked individuals sauntered around, most on the way to what work is still working these days.  Having gathered all I could carry home the nice lady at the checkout took as much cash from me as she could with a smile, then sent me on my way.  

A good time to shop in Tesco, not in Sainsburys as their bread is always late.  Few people, the sky lightening, birds singing, little traffic, not counting that involved in the never ending new road layout and needless 'white elephant' hotel building works.  The feeling is a new day ahead, except for those working obviously.  All day lies before us, the sun appears lifting our minds, the rain does not fall, enough fell during the night, and nothing bar the grumpy bus drivers steeling themselves for the day disappoints.

Then I get home and realise what I forgot!

I had a list!  Everything was on the list!  But open the fridge door and find spaces unfilled.  Too much trouble to go out again, sun or no sun.  My knees said no, breakfast awaits, what?  No breakfast?  Bacon still in freezer?  Sadly the energy did not return, the laundry required doing instead.  

Suddenly, in spite of careful observation it was tea time!  How did that happen?  A moment ago it was light, now it is darkening.  Lunch was being considered and suddenly it's tea!  What was I doing while all this time passed?

 

Clearly it is time I had a maid!

Someone to control the food stocks, shop, cook the dinner, wash and iron the clothes, dust the house, and all those other things women were made for.  This could only benefit my health.  Better feeding, cleaner atmosphere, no life wasted worrying about what to eat like the birds have to do.  I can only benefit from this.

Do the council supply them?  I wonder if I can get a grant?  Mind you, she would have to shift when the football is on.  We do not want interference in important things.

 

 

New President

 

 

So, Biden takes charge.  Much work to do worldwide to change the image of the USA.  Much work to do at home to deal with the Freedom loving, Flag waving white supremacists who range across the wild west, usually in the less populated states.  A President for all people, but half the nation do not want him, many are armed, many still believe in QAnon and its lies.  Reason will not help here.

The biggest problem worldwide is China.  How to establish an equal footing there.  The biggest problem at home other than racists is the virus.  The say 400,000 US dead, many more to come, many not obeying the medical advice, many still thinking this is a hoax.  China is easy in comparison I think.

Soon the President will visit the EU, Merkel (why was she not born in the UK?) and Mr Johnson also I expect.  With the PM he will possibly mention Boris claiming Obama was born in Kenya, then he will visit Ireland again as US presidents must.  He must however go to China, he cannot wait for the Chinese Emperor coming to him.  

Now we await the impeachment exhibition for Mr Trump.  We also await his new Twitter ramblings on Russian backed forums.  We await the many legal niceities that may come forward for him, many goverment ministries investigations and who knows what will come from under the carpets in the White House?  His wife can now take advantage and dump him before she is jailed.

I watched the ceremony, more to see the Qanon revolution taking place, however this did not happen, the Marines did not arrest the leaders, no show trial is taking place, and no Police unit baton charged the Biden hordes.  All very disappointing really...

 

Women's Work!

 

The brief glimpse of sunshine that entered via the grubby kitchen window today revealed the dust that not only swirled in the air as I walked but also lay in thick layers on various items of furniture.  This surprised me as I dusted, hoovered, swept and polished two weeks before christmas and cannot imagine how it became so dusty this quickly.

So, instead of doing useful things like reading and playing solitaire I splashed bleach across the bathroom, 'Brillo Padded' the sink, and much of the floor, rubbed, pushed, sweated and struggled until it was half clean.  The Loo floor, where much rubbish landed, can wait.

The dust was scraped from the unused TV and the various bits attached, much to the spiders dislike.  Dust circles around me still!  Tops dusted, here, there and everywhere, and only the hoovering to do to make the place look habitable.  However, as I have lost one piece from a new Jig-saw that my niece gave at Christmas, this comprised an old photogrpah she found turned into a jig-saw, I therefore cannot hoover until I get down on my hands and knees and search all the floor first.  This could take some time.  

Ironing, it can wait, though it does require dusting again...

Then it was the kitchen, the Hob was polished, the metal shelving inside the cooker was scrubbed with the wire thingy, and the cooker itself will be done soon, honestly.  

So, where are all the women helpers?

My back aches, my arms ache, everything else wabbles a bit, and there is still much to do.

Do you remember the 'Flash' advert in the late 50s?  Here a woman with a black and white tiled floor pushed a mop in a straight line across the floor.  A clear distinction was noted between the bit 'Flash' cleaned and the grubby floor around.  Many women fell for this, even if they did not have such floors.

Of course the stuff did not clean any better than what other cleaners offered, and today I saw this in action.  Another powerful cleaner that, if left for 15 minutes, will clean the grubbiest grime.  

No it will not!

They forget to remind you about the muscular effort required!

Even then it is not perfect.

These things are all the same, only the amount of detergent or soap bubbles varies, the results depend on your effort and the regularity of use.  

That however, explains the bath...

Sky News

Parliament Square is choc-a-bloc with Scottish fishing Lorries protesting about the death of their trade caused by Boris and his 'treaty.'  He has been on promising delights in 5 years time, money to support now, and once again lying in his teeth as another aspect of his work falls apart.  Still, the media will support him, Brexiteers will swallow this, especially those living in France and Spain!

 

 

On facebook, that source of knowledge not found anywhere else, I placed a picture of two books I wanted for Christmas. This was good as soon one of these books arrived, then another, and today a third copy of the same book!  How do you keep this from three people?

Three copies, and Mike Smith did not write any of them, sitting proudly on the shelf.  The book is good, I finished it quickly, and the photos were wonderful, however I do think families ought to communicate together better. 
Anyway, the other book is still missing...

 

Snow Saturday

 

 

As promised, we had a touch of snow today.  Nothing like that experienced in Scotland of course, still, this little lot will cause havoc with the local traffic.  This did not stop me reaching Sainsburys however, but it does encourage me to sit by the ehater all day watching football and reading books.

 

 

Unfotunately, I was unable to read books today.  Instead I made soup, probably one of the worst soups I have ever made.  Lots of veg involved so it is healthy, taste wise it reminds me of hot dishwater after use.  I was forced to eat two servings while it was still in the pot so I do not have to eat it every day this week.  What started as a good idea did not finish that way.

 

The football did its job, eventually.  While some cynical types considered our team a wee bit wan and empty when the teamsheet was announced I was always confident in victory.  This confidence evaporated as the game went on.  Eventually however we managed to secure another win and fool ourselves into thinking we are about to be champions.  I suspect we may be but clearly 'Must do better,' needs to be written on the report cards here.

A quick look out the window shows just how much I need to clean them.  It also reveals the rain has taken the place of the snow and soon all that white stuff will vanish again.  No loss I say, bring me sunshine not snow, warmth, not cold, gentle breeze, not the north east wind shaking the windows.

Icy Rain

 

 

I had hoped to step out early this morning and wander round the corner to Tesco and check the vegetable stocks.  However, I was hindered by an inability to get out of bed until almost eight!  When I did draw back the manky curtains I noted the rain, which had poured down all night, was still pouring down at lunchtime and would continue until this evening.  Indeed, it was supposed to turn into sleet, then snow, then dry up for a bit.  I think the roads will be icy tomorrow, whatever it turns into tonight.

However, I perambulated around to Tesco in the afternoon, as the rain was deciding whether to be rain, sleet or snow, and found it had lessened while it made up its mind.

Tesco shocked me, the vegetable shelves were heaving as always, this when the Northern Irish shops have been dumping rotten fruit and veg!  Clearly we are at the moment obtaining supplies, possibly by rail, flight, or containers at Felixstowe Docks.  Most other items were in stock, at least all I wanted, but for how long?  

I noticed the EU lorries were changing 1.50 Euro an hour but have raised this to 10 Euros as their lorries take so long at the border checking paperwork and delaying them.  I can understand why they react this way. 

Meanwhile, the 'British' fishermen, who sold what they caught to the EU, are not able to sell into the EU because of paperwork problems.  One man has lost £40,000 worth of stock, many more are going under.  The French I saw on one news item are struggling to find the fish they wish.  EU boats, often in 'British' waters, sell their fish to the UK!  At least they would if the paperwork is filled out properly.  The Customs do not know what needs to be on the forms, how can the fishermen?

Some of course indicate the fishermen voted for Brexit so they could make a killing.  They, like the farners who have also been lied to, may not deserve much sympathy for not thinking about what Brexit meant.

This is Boris at his best.  It appears today that he has not read the Treaty he rushed through the House, surely no-one can be surprised at this news.

I obtained some fish, how old I ask?  And plenty of veg, including frozen, just in case, and am set to restart the diet regime that lost me half a stone before Christmas, but which has returned somehow since.  Fish, in tins, veg, proper meat, and exercise.  

I give it till Saturday! 

 

Last night, in search of proper football, I have had enough of the English, Spanish and Italian dross, I made use of Livingstone's PPV to watch their game against Aberdeen.  This PPV is the way to go with football, dump Sky and the hangers on and use PPV to get the money for the clubs.  Livingstone charge £20 a go for the pleasure.  I was a bit doubtful re the price, however, when looking at what else was available I spent my money and sat back and awaited the game.

It never happened.

When I tuned in I saw the referee running around the pitch, accompanied by the 'Fourth Official' as they tested the pitch for its health.  Heavy rain hammered down as he did so, the same cloud that covered us probably, and it was clear there were problems with the pitch.  Livi have an artificial pitch, something many dislike, however the water usually disappears quickly.  This time however a layer of ice had formed all across the pitch and the sudden heavy downpour meant the rain lay on top if this ice and the water could not disperse and thus lay in puddles everywhere.  The ball could not bounce, the ball did not run well over ten yards and it was clear this was not playable, add to this the danger to players giving their all!  So the game was off, so were the media, and so was I.  

£20 to watch a referee postpone a game.  I thought I had lost the cash.  When I used to enter Tynecastle Park, the 'theatre of dreams' above the doors at the Wheatfield entrance were the clear words, "BEWARE OF PICKPOCKETS," and "NO MONEY REFUNDED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES."

However, today I recieved an email from Livi returning the £20 I had donated to them, and ensuring it will be in my account as soon as the banks have stopped using it for their own bonuses.

So well done Livi!  I wonder if all clubs would do this today?  Is it law?  Is it an SPFL order, surely not, is it only Livi that do this?  Whatever, well done to them for efficiency.