Wales

 

Wiki

 

I was watching a bit of the Wales v Scotland ruby match this afternoon when I recalled these three 30 minute programmes on Wales on BBC Radio 4 by Jeremy Bowen. Jeremy is better known for being shot at by various peoples out in the Middle East where he normally works as a BBC foreign correspondent.

These three interesting programmes give an insight into the growth of Wales as a nation, the historical background and present day realities.  All from a man who was born and bred in Cardiff.  

We all know Scots history, a thousand years of English oppression and all that, but nobody knows Wales.  Wales is just that bit on the end of England, annexed by Edward the Thug a thousand years ago and ignored ever since.  sScots empathise with the Welsh quite easily, Wales rugby fans have always found a welcome in Scotland, it's the Scots rugby fans we refer to as 'Hooray Hamish's.'  Having an oppressive neighbour next door does bring a shared understanding.  Wales however, is not Scotland and the story is a very different one.  These three programmes are well worth a listen.

 

The Lights are Going Out...

 

 

I'm sitting here watching the room slowly darken around me.  For February the day has been surprisingly bright and sunny, though I was hobbling about too much to do anything much about that.  Outside it remains quite bright, inside darkness gains ground.  

Like many others today I am making the natural light last for as long as possible, I have seen the last bill from the electicity people!  I am not one to complain, however, with BP and the like claiming billions of profits (Just who is paying for all the social media telling us to return to work?) and our prices increase I wonder why this government, which appears to be in the pay of everybody from BP to Putin, does not make use of a 'windfall tax' and get these companies profits to pay for my gas and electric?  If memory serves me right Labour under Blair did this at least once, am I right?

I did manage to hobble up to Sainsburys, though only because I had to, and found the half dozen things I obtained just as expensive as always.  I wonder how it is possible to tell if Sainsburys prices have increased, they are always needlessly high anyway.  Tesco is just a bit far for my back at the moment, and their boss has maintained prices will rise by about 5%, this while Tesco made billions of profits thanks to Covid.  I wonder what his bonus will be this year?   I am not against profits, but with the constant cry of people doing without it all appears Boris and his 'divide and rule' policy is baring fruit, that is if we can afford the fruit and if it is not locked up in a lorry queuing for days at Dover.

However, I had one or two bits of coloured paper that were printed out last time I visited this shop.  The young lady logged them into the machine and I gained several points from this, I reckon I may have made 8 pence all in.  Rejoice!

After 5 pm and while the sky outside is light (the sky usually is outside) I am relying on the laptop screen for light indoors.  

Looking for ways to cut down I found instead I had to do a washing, this means electricity, gas and water, plus routine things like cooking.  I am glad for the microwave there.  I also found the more I seek to cut the more I find reason to use things!

You will recall 'Mean Mr Mustard,' a man in the late 60's who's wife divorced him because he was er, thrifty with the lights.  He would switch of the lights while listening to the radio as you do not require light to listen, he shaved in the dark and that year had given his wife only £1.  Now she had a job but still.  This all sounds fine to me, especially as I have not shaved for a week or two, my back was making bending difficult, but soon it will be required, I might try this in the dark!  I wonder where the 'Elastolast' is kept?

I of course can survive well enough but I wonder how others can manage?  We were always struggling when kids, yet we had more than enough, I wonder if the demands for things is greater amongst some today than it was back when we were used to only having what we needed?  Cutting back is possible for many, though if you have kids their demands may be proving too much, and we all want to keep up with the Jones's.  How hard it is, when you have had plenty, to do without?

Well, I have cheered myself up with that.  Now I must go and find a candle...

 

 

Points to Ponder

 

 

Isaiah:6:1.  In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: with two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:

‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.’

4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 ‘Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.’6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, ‘See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for. 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’

*****

Luke:5:1.  One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding round him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’

5 Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’ 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’ 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.’ 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

************

I had a short, sort of polite, debate on twitter with a chap who claimed to be an atheist. However, in the usual manner of most atheists he did not declare this at first. On Twitter people often jump on Christian type posts and make a few points, often not worth commenting on. This one however, appears to be a genuine and in some ways a thoughtful individual, though how genuine is his claim to have ‘studied’ Christianity we have to take as read.

A quick look at his own timeline indicated the type of atheist posts that younger, often gay, men offer. Usually with Boris Johnson like short phrases to catch attention and defeat all arguments. Well, that’s what they intend.

The brief debate brought to mind Isaiah and Simon. Their experience reveals what many miss, the supernatural revelation of God. The study of scripture ought to bring the reader into the presence of the Living God, however, for many this is a wearisome affair, and the less sincere reader will happily accept interpretations that ease his life and end further study. For others such study may be seen as Historically worthy but God himself appears difficult to accept, many parts are confusing to a modern reader and therefore thrown out rather than an understanding sought.

Isaiah appears to have been a man of learning, well versed in scripture of the day, and he may well have been in the Temple when God met him. Peter likewise was brought up on Jewish beliefs and appears to have followed the Law as he knew it all his life. Though both had an understanding of God and his works in the nation it was when both men were brought up by the revelation of their sinful nature that they truly ‘Knew God.’ No more was he a distant figure, no more words on a page, he was God, the supernatural one outside of our experience and control, he was Lord indeed! Both men now knew this.

All believers have an experience similar to this. The circumstances may vary, it may arrive in one revelation or it may occur over time, but the personal meeting with the Living God changes everything.

Most people appear to live only in the here and now, no allowance is made for the supernatural. This is a fault we all made. We all once saw religion as unimportant, thus the church attendances fail, until Jesus turned up at our door and pointed out the difference between, what we once called the ‘righteous and the wicked.’ It was that moment when we realised for the first time that we are never going to be free of ‘wickedness,’ for want of a better word. Our nature is corrupt and we will stand before Jesus in judgement and can do nothing about this.

It is also at that moment when we can appreciate Jesus finished work on the cross. We can now understand that he took our nature when he gave himself on the cross for us. That he died to cover our sin, that he died in a personal manner for me! That sacrifice can be made available to us and our response has to be to give ourselves to him, or we have failed to comprehend our situation.

“We love, because he first loved us.”

The cold world of the atheist cannot compete with the warm loving but difficult life that Jesus has to offer. He is the centre of his world, we cannot control much yet the Christian knows that whatever the situation that Jesus is Lord and we see all too often that he is in control. This person Jesus is always with us by his holy Spirit.

This is not a religion, this is not fancy, often boring ceremonies, this is a relationship with a friend who is always with us, both now and forever.

Individuals might have a few friends during their life, but life’s events take them away, circumstances change and our control over them is feeble. The atheist, highly intelligent and hard working, often a caring person has only himself. The one who is brought by the Holy Spirit to see his need, understand his situation, and brought to the cross can face the world knowing he is forgiven and his friend Jesus will always be beside him and never leave him.

This only fails when we choose to go our own way or return to the empty world around us.

Jesus however, always satisfies.

 

 

Today's Non Post

Caesar: The Conquest of Gaul

Having bought myself a (cheap) Kindle for those occasions when I will travel again I needed some reading material for my delight.  Caesar was obviously one of those books we need, indeed must, read,

if only because all the clever people claim to have read this long ago at school, at the same time as I was perusing 'The Beano,' 'The Beezer,' and 'The Victor!'  

The idea of the book is simple, Julius Caesar, a man going places, had wangled his way into a very important position in the Roman heirarchy, and was given control of much of Gaul, now known as France, and also what we now refer to as Albania as Governor.  His ambition ensured he would seek to control and dominate all of Gaul, which he did eventually, and on the way he made attempts at curbing Germanic intrusion, and even an attempt or two at taking that strange offshore island Britannia.  He went too far beyond his authority in German territory and returned with little to say about this, therefore offering a description of the locals instead.  He also failed to conquer the Brits, though most of them were probably Belgique, but don't tell the Brexiteers that as it will upset them.  Clearly the Romans impressed the people of the island, we can tell this by the manner in which they moved away from him, and had he thought it through properly Julius may well have succeeded in a victory long before Claudius's forces managed to bring their elephants over some considerable time later.

Of course he never conquered Scotland.

He did however, conquer and gain complete control over Gaul.  While renown as a merciful victor, occasionally this went against him as some pacified elements would once again return to the fight when called upon, only at one rebellion did he slaughter somewhat ruthlessly in an attempt to prevent another uprising and that near the end of the wars.  

There is one flaw in the book, it was written, for the most part, by Julius himself!

He would settle down in the winter and write the report for the folks back in Rome, thus ensuring he was remembered and also making clear he had been successful.  It appears no alternative story was on offer.  The last chapter was written by friends after his untimely demise but is clearly influenced by his outlook.

Julius Caesar did eventually reach his goal of King in 49 BC, and was a successful dictator until 44 BC when the Republican sympathisers bumped him off undemocratically.  

The question that kept running through my mind was "Why?"  What was the point of taking over Gaul? The only reason was Roman pride and self importance, plus Julius's ambition.  Rome could have survived without this war.  Empires rise and fall often because of ambition, sometimes to prevent attacks on themselves and occasionally for wealth and resources.  All this raises pride, cries for 'freedom' and ends in mass slaughter, not always to the victors advantage.

Of course I was reading this late at night as I drowsily slipped into the nightly coma, so maybe I ought to have read it during the day?  I think the results would be the same.  

As well as an insight into the ways of the Gauls and Brits of the day it can also be seen as an insight into the Putin's and Johnson's of this world mind. 

I recommend it, for leisure reading... 

All Steamed Up!

 

I have not been getting out as my back still aches, so here is a picture of the wee trains that once ran around this area.  My back was loosening up so last evening I hobbled up to Sainsburys for one or two needed things and considered all was well.  This morning I found I was incorrect in that opinion and my back had stiffened up just like a couple of days ago.  Bah!  This means I have to be careful for the next day or so once again.  Tsk!

 

 

Instead of anything sensible I this picture of a short train (pulled by an F5 engine as you will realise) running towards Braintree in the days of long ago.  When the line to Colchester reached Witham there was a demand, loudly from the Courtaulds MIll people and many other industrialists and farmers, to branch the line to our door.  This arrived in 1848, I was not present, and remains to this day with an hourly service, hold-ups permitting, daily.  Eventually, in 1869, the line was continued to Bishops Stortford, and a variety of trains, both passenger and frieght (we used to call that 'goods') trains ran along the line.  This was fine for a while but after the Great War bus and lorry traffic increased, many ex-army lorries took the goods produce, and a Charabanc or two would carry people right into their villages.  

By 1951 the last passenger train left, by 1972 the last freight.  A sad loss to many, but with the middle classes owning cars by the 1930's, and now most have to have a car in this are, railways such as this were not going to last.  They served their time, though the real purpose of this line was to prevent another company cutting through and offering competition to the GER Colchester to Norwich line!  This line was always small beer.  

There is always talk of reopening the line as Stansted Airport is at the other end, however this would cost more than it may be worth, including a huge flyover at Dunmow.  This is a pity, maybe I should try and get Boris interested in this.  It would appeal to his publicity needs and while the end result may fail it would benefit the area, if it happened, though at a cost of £100 million it probably won't.

 

Thursday Space Filler...

Not long now.

All the rats are deserting the sinking ship, all attempting to suck up to the next leader, all happily lying in their teeth Boris style in the hope of getting something from whoever wins.  Clearly smoothie Rishi is in the lead, however, having no understanding of anything but money, he was one of those that brought about the 2008 world economy collapse, and he is only likely to care for the rich, so this will limit him, and as for Liz Truss, well...

 

 

Boris smearing the opposition leader went well.  Several MPs have written their complaint letter, other backroom staff have resigned, probably to join Rishi, and Boris is the one smeared by this.  Are we taking bets on how long?

 

 

It is not often that I enjoy an 'Old Firm' match but last night was worth watching.  To see the Huns ripped apart like that was most enjoyable.  Missing a centre of defence they were taken for fools constantly, most delightful to watch especially as for a few pounds they could have had one at the weekend.  Maybe he will play on Sunday and show them what they missed?

The only problem was the team beating them, the other half of the sectarian twins, Celtic.  It is true that they are the best team we have played this season, they ripped us apart in the first half but we came back and would have got a draw had Mr Boyce not missed a penalty!  How on earth did he do that?  We deserved a draw that night. Clearly Celtic are the team in charge, but can we catch them?

On Sunday afternoon we play the blue bigots in Ibrox, I wonder which Rangers supporting ref will be chosen for this?  I expect if we are winning a sending off, or indeed the famous 'Penalty for Rangers' cry will be heard.  I'm looking forward to be cheated in this one.

 

 

Red Skyish...

Thisis a poor effort, attempting to reflect the pervading red glow across the sky this evening.  If 'red sky at night' brings 'shepherds delight,' then tomorrow will be some day.  In fact, what the BBC tells us will happen are strong winds, around 50% F and gray clouds all day.  I am not sure what the red glow then is proving.

Boris is hiding in the Ukraine, pretending he is a Prime Minister.  Back home, the ERG are arguing as to who will replace him.  The public do not get a say sadly, though many have mentioned that Jimmy Saville donated to the Conservative Party, and recieved a Knighthood for his 'good works,' though few Tories have replied to that.

By the way, it is now February, already the year is heading to a close. 

 

Venus, The Morning Star

At seven this morning I glanced out east at the bright morning star.  

The picture is not as clear as I would like, I remained stiff, the open window was allowing the frost laden wind to enter, and I was still half asleep.  I still am.

The 'Morning Star,' is usually the planet Venus hanging about just before sunrise.  Occasionally its place is taken by Mercury during July to September, or Sirius at other times.  

Jesus is of course referred to as the 'Morning Star,' and John Wycliffe was called the 'Morning Star of the Reformation.  'Morning Star,' was the name of a Cheyanne Leader, also known as 'Dull Knife,' though I suspect not to his face.  The USA, as you may have expected, has several small towns called 'Morning Star,' for reasons unknown and I canny be bothered to look.       

Several Ships have carried this name including six Royal Naval vessels dating from a Dutch Ketch captured in 1672 to an 'M' Class Destroyer launched in 1915, and a Broad Guage locomotive was built by the Great Western Railway in 1839 and called by this name.  This was intended for sale to the USA.

'The Morning Star' is of course a somewhat left leaning London based paper.   Known once as the 'Daily Worker,' it was unashamedly Communist, now under the new name it struggles to survive and leans towards the Labour Party.  I suspect none of the 'Workers' involved come from a working class background.  Most true Socialists today are Middle Class and have never done a proper days work in their lives.  Just saying like.

Films and TV have made use of the name, songs abound as do albums, musicals and even a variety of cannabis, though you will know more about that than I do.  

This reflects the effect the 'Morning Star' has upon the people when we see it rise.  The fact that the vast majority have never seen it, most not rising before sunrise, is not worth considering.  The sight, not reflected very well by the picture, of a bright shining Morning Star against a deep blue background, sometimes accompanied by a crescent moon can live in the memory.  Maybe that is why this is replicated on the Pakistan Flag?

Now I have scribbled this I am back off to bed...

 

 

Stiff Sunday

 

Feeling good I decided to up the exercise.  That night I slept with the satisfaction of a good job well done.  The next day there was a bit of stiffness, ignored by me, and I just got on with doing very little in the usual manner.  For some reason stiffness after exercise takes longer to make a show off itself!  So this morning, as I rose and shone to the world, my back ached!  Slovenly I creaked about, struggling to get moving.  My knees were not happy, but that I could manage OK.  The back however, stiffened badly.  There was no point in going out, my head was not awake anyway, so I refused the offer of a lift as I could not move properly, instead spending some time walking around trying to loosen the back.  This I reckon should work by Tuesday.

After all these years I should know better.  I suffered this when working often enough, then however, I could keep moving so it did not hinder me, now I just sit slumped after another period of what some call 'loosening up.'   

This means tomorrow I must get back to exercise in the afternoon, as the only way to beat this is to keep moving.  This time of course I must also stretch better than before, that helps avoid this ache.  

'Age shall not weary them,' I know now what this means...

 

Another 'Nothing to Say,' Evening

 

I began this early in the morning after I came back from the shops.  However, I had nothing to say at the time so I left it.  Now, having watched two football games, washed and shaved, eaten badly, and ache all over with trying to exercise away my aches, I find I have even less to say.  A quick run through the media shows there is nothing to say there either, a search of the tv schedules reveals absolutely nothing worth watching and the radio iplayer may be searched out soon.  So, it's another 'Nothing to Say' evening.

Tesco and Sue

 

 

The pink in the few clouds early on tempted me outside this morning.  Luckily however, my head was not awake until much later.  Long after 10:30 I stumbled downstairs and sauntered through the town centre streets to Tesco.

In spite of Boris's absurd determination to kill us all by claiming masks were no longer required the vast majority inside Tesco were masked.  Some also, aged and possibly infirm, wore masks outside.  This town has lost many to the virus, though strangely enough few people I know can speak of any friend or neighbour who has died from this virus.  Still, Tory lovers or not they do not believe Boris and would wonder where Chris Whitty and his men are these days, why have they been removed from the media? 

Toddling through the crowd, actually for a Friday a very small crowd in the shop, I obtained my wishes, ensuring I glanced at the list I had made, filled my basket, I always use a basket as it is easier than a trolley and enables me to get past women with trollies much easier, and headed for the young lass at the checkout.  It was only as I unpacked the bag back home that I remembered the things some old fool had not bothered to put on the shopping list!  I think matron needs to have a word.

 

National

 

A trapped fox is less cunning that Boris.  Or is that less desperate?  

With the Sue Gray report on his illegal parties about to be published we find the Met Police now insisting she avoids all mentions of parties because this may prejudice their investigation.  This, Twitters lawyers appear to say is unjustified and an interference in her work.  I wonder who put Cressida up to this?

Journalists, something no longer found in the UK media, investigating something may well publish their information.  Police, taking this to court, will soon find no media mentioning the item until the legal work is complete.  So, why should Sue, on whom the nation leans, not publish a full report?

No reason, just another Boris cover up.

 

Algrithim Vengeance

 

So, my nephew's girl posted a picture on FaceBook.  This is not unusual.  

What was unusual was that I looked at it without dismissing it as rubbish like so many of them posted by those two are.  A picture of a young lout driving around in the snow, late at night, in a supermarket carpark.  The blurb with it claimed 'They are only having fun, let them be, and only their car or themselves will be hurt.'  

This ignored the neighbours who have their eardrums burst by the noise of course, or the damage done to the furniture in the car park, or any costs for damage, which they will not pay as they run away.  Being young enables you to be thoughtless towards others and completely taken over by whatever you are doing.  Tsk!  We never did things like this when we were young.  Of course we had no cars, only one young man amongst us had a car, and his folks had money, but that does not matter.  

Round here similar gatherings have seen dozens of cars meet, create chaos, intefere with those using the many late night facilities, and creating a huge noise nusance.  The police have cut this down, fines, bans have had an effect on the people responsible, growing up, finding work, and a girl friend has also limited the gatherings somewhat.  

All that apart, I considered a quick, appropriate reply to this facebook post, 

'Just shoot them,' I said helpfully.  

When I went on facebook later it appears I am banned again 'for violence' this time.  How can removing such youths in an efficient manner be considered 'violence,' when the US cops, and that is where facebook originates, do this daily?  It all appears confused in my mind as white supremacists, anti-vaxxers lying about Covid, or flat earth people and politicians are never removed 'for violence,' at any stage.  

It now is revealed that I am also banned from a variety of groups and other luxuries that I may miss by the time the 29 day ban has ended.  Or maybe not as the case goes. 

A close examination of all the six reasons to ban me all involve humour, only an algorithm would do this, no human reader, and all are harmless, usually posted on Twitter without a problem, also elsewhere.  

I suppose it means I will have to find other means of causing arguments, Twitter today, and somewhere else tomorrow.  Maybe I ought to visit a town centre pub tomorrow night?

 

Waterloo to Southwark - Most Excellent London History Walk

Mr Putin and Hot Water Bottles

 

With that nice Mr Putin sabre rattling along the Ukraine border, well I suppose as he has the Crimea he is actually sabre rattling inside Ukraine, I have come up with a winning idea to end his power, this is based on his gas pipeline.

Hot Water Bottles!

This excellent article in the 'Low Tech Magazine,' leads me to believe by artful use of these devices we can save the world. All we need to do is give every citizen two Rubber Hot Water Bottles and immediately see the gas and electric bills come hurtling down.  A hot bottle at the back, one at the feet, a cup of tea and a wee blanket over the knees and the majority of the citizens (or 'subjects of Her Majesty' if you are a royalist) will find the cold weather no longer a problem.  Their heating bills will end, their various body ailments will resolve themselves quicker, and the only cost will be heating the kettle to fill the bottles.  That will not cost much, though the water companies might become confused if they find more money coming in, this may lead to them investing in infrastructure rather than pouring sewage into the local rivers and beaches.  

By using an old kettle alongside the one for making tea it would be possible to keep reusing the water also, this too would save money.  Kerchiiing!

Of course the bottles will have to come from China, this may upset the balance of payments but I doubt anyone would notice as under this government Brexit has already destroyed the economy, apart from the bit where Tory donors have made a killing.  

A slight problem may also be the ship loads of containers required being held up at Felixstowe.  

For a start the ship will have to wait outside for many days before unloading, then there is the paperwork, much of which being in Chinese will be easier to understand than the paperwork written hastily by a tired civil servant somewhere in Whitehall, more probably at home while fighting the children, the dog, the cat, the wife).  Several long days, not counting weekends, Covid staff shortages, shortage of lorries, trains delayed by staff shortages, and computer failure later the bottles may well be on their way.

Councils, the NHS, and friends of Boris will be willing to help ensure the right people get the bottles.  The Councils and the NHS will be diligent in their operation, quite what will happen to the  containers sent to Tory donors in Norfolk and Suffolk where the rich live might not make the BBC news.  

This is such a good idea that already I am looking forward to my knighthood, or even better, seat in the House of Lords.  A Peerage would be the least of my rewards, especially as I have given the Boris Party £50 as a bribe donation to ensure this project goes through.  

All around the nation will be warm, and as I sit dozing at £350 a day on the red benches, I will be comforted by the many letters, e-mails, newspaper columns and TV and Radio personalities congratulating me on my winning idea!  Warm tinglng toes around the nation everywhere, except gas and electric energy companies of course, they might be shivering a wee bit.

Tsk!

 

FreeImages

 

Instructed to 'get some fresh air' to remove sluggishness I opened the windows.  This, I expected, to bring a fresh cleansing breeze through the house.  However, with a west wind all that was brought was the colossul amount of pollution that London, further to the west, emits.  Clearly congestion is not easing in the big city.  

Instead, I forced myself for a walk, masked but not from Covid, just to keep warm, and wandered across the park, into town and spent money in 'Poundland.'  Such a useful shop, I am so glad they do gift cards, it saves money at Christmas, but it was sad to see the shelves half empty.  I am not sure if this is caused by a lack of goods coming from China, though as most of their stock begins there that is likely, or whether they are considering closing down.  Imagine 'Poundland' going bust?  

 

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.