Proportional Gifts.

A Lib-Dem motion regarding Proportional Representation using the 10 minute rule passed today by 138 to 136.  Naturally, this will go nowhere.  Such motions are often successful but unless the government of the day wants them to succeed they will disappear in one of the Commons back rooms.

However, this has shown a good degree of support for the idea, and as a start it needs to be given more publicity on social media and elsewhere.  Maybe in time a government will find it useful. 

Of the recent orders I ordered only one appears to be outstanding, this one!  Today I noticed why, it is coming from China!!!  Why do I not read these things properly?  Not only does this take time, possibly two more weeks, but the last tech item I got from China blew up my laptop!  

Now I have just discovered that another gift I ordered is coming from the USA!  What?  The address is UK but the goods come from far away!  By the time they get here they will be too late to post for Xmas.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr........

Bah Humbug!

Christmas Shopping

Pulling aside the filthy curtains I espied the day.  An occasional workman, you could tell by his outfit and his bag with sandwich lunch, a woman with several bags heading for the supermarket not knowing how she will carry them back when they are full, and a couple of young girls heading to school grumbling about how boys behave yet wearing skirts up round their arse.  

So the day begins as the sun shines and the rainclouds gather for their afternoon appearance.

I sit here drinking coffee and staring at Twitter.

Considerable time passes before I stir.  

This is not because of knowledge obtained by searching the social media on offer, it is just sloth.

Staring at the boxes, papers, cheap gifts covering the couch I desire to get out and start searching for the missing cards, missing gifts, and missing cash to pay for it all.  

So, off to the town.

Browsing the cards in number one shop I fall into conversation with old woman (possibly younger than me).  We agree that there is far too many cards and not one suits the person we buy for.  Isn't this always the problem?  Anyway, I got items that will do the job for most, headed on to three other shops, buying here and there, before travelling around the large B&M shop seeking cheap stuff.

The cheap stuff came to exactly £23.

This included a small frying pan to save me using the large one all the time.  Once home I removed the label inside held on by a sticky substance, attempted to remove same from the bottom, and spent an hour struggling to scrape the blasted stuff from the pan.  What do they use?  Superglue?  

The shops were full of mums with prams, the toddlers helping by taking all the shiny things from the shelves.  I wandered up and down the aisles seeking something marvellous, other than a small frying pan, little could be found.  I continued falling over pushchairs and mums, women going the opposite from me around the aisles, gathered my precious junk, and found an almost empty cash desk.

Interestingly, no shop was playing Christmas music! 

The mums impressed me.  The kids looked happy, well dressed, and the mums were easy to get on with as we all fought the early morning crowd, who became the early morning crowd to avoid the crowd of mums with pushchairs.   

Hobbling home via the park I met only rain.  This was disappointing as on my way out I had met a French Boxer who forced herself upon me.  The owner and I chatted happily tearing the dog from me and heading for another breakfast. 

By the darkening afternoon sky I had completed three boxes for posting.  Being a cheap type, they look better than they actually are.  Tomorrow I head for the Post Office, hoping the young lass that smiles at me is on.  Once that is done only the big box for my sister remains.  A box full of variety.  They have all they need so they get whatever I find, sometimes useful sometimes rubbish.  However, it usually goes down well.  

I have solved one card problem.  I managed to work out how to make cards on 'WORD.'  So this afternoon I practiced and eventually obtained the family cards.  This was simple, just find a useful picture, fiddle with it until it fits, and print it off on glossy paper.  Not quite professional level but it worked!

Naturally, what I put in the cards has run out, so they still sit here waiting!

Now I am just knackered.

St Andrews Day

 

Old Cameras and Suicide

It was the Christmas shopping wot done it.  

There I was, happily seeking items on various charity shop site when cameras came into view.  Now I have not been out and about enough to warrant seeking old cameras for a bargain price, but I looked anyway.  

So, much later on eBay I saw some of the ilk I desired, and cheap too I thought.  Discounting the many that said 'Please Read,' or 'For spares,' I ploughed through the offerings all the while ignoring the crazy priced items.  My eyes lit upon a prime suspect and for some hours I pondered as to whether I ought to spend money in a needless fashion, I did!  However, when I went for the thing it had gone!  

Somewhat deflated, it was cheap, missing only a battery, and I thought it worth a look.  The other suitable ones were either being bid for or were too expensive.  I pondered a wee bit, the craze of a new, wee camera upon me, and offered myself to buy one that looked good, but twice the price.  I bought and thought that was it.

As I went through the system, after having paid for my goods, I found the one I wanted still there!  They had hidden this from me.  In high dudgeon, and not mentally well, I bought that one also!  When it comes to shopping I am always in control except when I am not.  

So, my friendly postman has delivered two fine cameras, on looks at least.  Now to discover the battery I have does not fit.  Back to online shopping, battery ordered, quickly delivered.  Battery installed but no battery charger, that too is on order, as is a memory card, the ones I have are not working here!  So, day after day, in between looking for others stuff, I am spending money on myself.  This bugs me as I do not wish to do this.  At least it is second hand goods, sorry 'pre-used,' as they say now.  I am not spending hundreds on new items.  I boast about this as many professional photographers will tell you that is how they got their cameras, though of course they actually know what they are doing.

Now I have set up one of my cameras, the cheapest one, and it is not great but will do for carrying around.  The best camera can rest easy until important stuff is required.

Among the collection on view are the Russian cameras, Zenit and Zorki. These were cheap but efficient copies of other better brands and a great many of us learned photography on them.  My brother gave me a Zenit E, which cost him £5 in the 1970s, today I saw one on sale for over £200.  These cameras, dumped once digital took hold, were worth nothing for soo long, the Russian ones on view cost me around £2 each! I looked for a lens for one of them and found they could cost at least £20 and up to whatever you are willing to pay! 
I missed out on a good earner there!  

A cold icy and heartless morning is followed by the news that after a too short debate in the House MPs have voted to allow assisted suicide in the UK.  This is a disgrace!  Just as allowing abortion for the sake of a handful of women dying in backstreet abortions in 1967 so this bill will allow hundreds to die before their time under the pretence of 'care.'  

The aged and disabled, the mentally ill and those who have few friends will soon find themselves offered murder instead of care by the NHS, an NHS which is very keen on killing babies and will soon find it easy to dispose of those who are considered of no value to society.

Care and compassion replaced by an easy option with no care whatsoever. 

Murder Grannie for Her Cash

The sun graced us with its presence now and again today.  The blue of the sky being similar to the blue of people's hands as they trudged across the park with their dogs.  I remained indoors awaiting the return of the postman who I am making work this week.  

The pile of cards to my left, none of which suit the four people I must send one to, did not distract me from noticing the many Twitter posts objecting to the assisted suicide bill being voted on tomorrow.  Usually the House misses Friday as MPs, well not Farage, return to their constituencies, tomorrow however, a strange time, has been set aside for this badly written and unwelcome bill.  The sad fact is that many will vote for this bill because the PM wants them to.   Starmer wants them to because Esther Rantzen told him to push it through!  This is not a method to run a country!  The vote for murdering your old/sick/mental/anorexic or otherwise unwanted, especially if the old gran has money in the will, will end many lives.

The desire for this is based on Esther's selfish behaviour and the desire to end the pain of long time suffering people.  Many long time sufferers have opposed this bill.  The truth is human value is of no account.  People are of no worth if they do not earn the nation cash, and long time sick use cash.  The desire to end others lives, for their sake, is nothing more than accepting people have no intrinsic worth just by being alive.  This boll, like the one that allowed women to kill babies, is unhuman and has many precepts in Hitler's Germany, Stalin's Russia and Mao's China, people are not important, we, the ones in control, are!  

This will be a good way for the 'elite' to cut costs and remove the lower orders.  It must be opposed.

The first four cards have been posted!  However, my niece beat me to it, her parcel arrived yesterday.  I am trying to see what is in it but cannot succeed.  It will not be worth much, that is certain!

Hobby?

 

I have always said that having a hobby is a good idea.  The satisfaction of building something from a kit has always pleased little boys, even if my 'Airfix' model aircraft were always unfit for flight.  Adults can enjoy model railways, women needlework or drinking red wine, according to some I have known.  However, while writing may be a good hobby, even if not profitable, these books on offer here do not strike me as that useful in the real world.  No I give you that such a hobby as on offer would be useful in some places in which I have found myself, I will not go into details, some of them may have dug themselves out of that hole, but there are people who would drive you to learn these arts.

Serial killers do not fascinate me but I sometime wonder what goes on in their heads.  A sudden situation could lead to an individual lashing out, but to kill and kill again, usually deliberately rather by accident, is unusual.  Some kill a few who they know, others, usually doctors, kill hundreds whom they do not know.  When they die they usually refuse to say if there are any other bodies out there or where they are buried, a kind of victory for them.  Not much of a victory when they open their eyes and find Jesus standing there before them mind.

On the whole I think I would prefer a more sedate hobby.

Monday Shopping

 

You will have heard of the petition, signed by 2 million apparently, for a General Election now!

Clearly this is Musk inspired, a quick look at the readout here reveals who exactly is signing this petition!  Musk will have his goons, and their bots working to sign up, and it is possible some of the Farage rioters, at least those not 'inside,' will also have signed.  Somewhat tersely Mr Starmer has said they will have to wait 5 years for one.   Musk has not yet commented.  However, this does indicate what outside interference in the UK will be like under Trump and his beloved.  All sorts of daft ideas, many online, most absurd, will soon be appearing and demanding answers.  I suspect they too will fall on deaf ears.

I've been browsing for Christmas presents and obtained one or two for myself.  This, I think, is good going.  I am looking for a wee camera like this one among the cheap sites, and have found a possible which is lacking a battery.  This is OK as I can obtain one cheap, or reuse an old one I have here from this broken one.  One fault is the lens jams, and while I now have info on fixing it I am not technical enough to give it a go at present.  The complicated insides means I will have a thousand wee bits all over the place and the thing worse off!

So, money is spent.

I did buy one thing for one of the kids though...

So, amongst other things I obtained a few cards online, some of which are Christmas cards, while huge gaps remain on the list.  I was glad to sit here browsing as I had been taking what is laughingly called 'exercise,' then running about Sainsbury's, struggling down into the basement for the electric meter reading (having, in block capitals informed the online query regarding 'Smart Meters' as to why they cannot work here as their engineer reported to them years ago.)  I may have been tense at the time.  I then visited the wee corner shop full of odds and sods to browse and buy cheap tins of chopped tomatoes.  After which my knees made me sit and spend vast amounts of cash through 'PayPal.'  

Christmas has only begun and already I am going out to play Bob Dylan in the High Street!   

Christmas Card Shopping

I was hobbling away from the card shops when I saw the sun was going down.  Normally this is hidden from my sight by trees and unless I venture outdoors I miss it.  Quite nice tonight, the storms tomorrow may offer something different.

I had been in three card shops today for Christmas cards.  Now, I have dozens of cards, I bought them online from an Etsy shop, WordPlay Design.   I like these cards but naturally none of them fit the family!  

I got the Christmas list out, ensured it was correct, then looked through all the cards, including last years leftovers and rejects, and attempted to fit them to people.  This was OK concerning non family folks, and they can be sorted tomorrow - or later, but not one fitted the family and their twisted sense off humour.  Thus I trekked out unwillingly this afternoon to visit the cheap but good card shop.  

Here luck was in for some, I obtained a few cards but nowhere near enough.  Also I needed three kids cards for one lot and another for the boy.  The problem is, one mum has two wee girls, so cards etc are required for both.  Then, on Boxing Day, one of them becomes a 2 year old, thus requiring another card and gift.  The mum of the boy will soon tell me what I am buying him, thus making life easier, until I see the cost.  Naturally, I forgot to buy a card suitable for him and will have to go out again in the next few days.  The latest storm is apparently falling on us tomorrow so it may be Monday before I get out.

Anyway, I tried three different shops and failed to find what I wish for.  Thus I may have to go back to Etsy for a rummage through their cards again.  The problem here is finding cards that are funny yet not filthy as too many are at the moment.  Wit has been replaced by four letter words in what are often funny cards, but not suitable for my audience.  Typical!

So I end the day with one card complete, a long list to go!

Men!

Did you notice the fuss about this yesterday?  No?  Neither did I.  The reason for that is  because nobody bothered about it.  International Women's Day gets massive coverage on all social media, the press, TV and Radio, and yet where men are concerned only one post on 'Twitter' was found.  Men in today's world do not count.  

Of course the media, newspapers, TV and Radio do not care about women, they care about sales.  Anything regarding women is 'clickbait,' and many will fall for it.  Men talking about being men goes nowhere, because they don't.  The 'Loose Women' TV programme features women talking about men, women and mostly themselves.  A similar programme called 'Loose Men,' will talk about football, cars, beer and possibly remarks about the kids, but little else though the news of the day will bring pungent opinions.  I say Channel 4 ought to run such a programme, it would be a winner.   

Men are only there to be ridiculed by women, very often women who have failed to catch a man, and the immense work a husband does for his wife and family are downplayed by a society determined to make women play second fiddle.  Clearly they have never worked amongst the women in Leith!

We have lost any comprehension of what a man or a woman is and can be, instead the confused offerings are based on the opinions of writers with little experience outside of their own circle.  This as we know, is not good for any of us. 

Men are downplayed too often, except when they dress up as women and enter women's sports, there they can be regarded as more important than women.  How ridiculous can this world be?  I can tell you it will only get worse, not better.

A sign from the confused world in which we live today...

And another...

Happy Tuesday

An excellent result once again for the Scotland side last night.  Written off before the tournament as having failed to deliver on their potential at the last tournament they have dealt that criticism a blow now.  Clarke was finished, the team too old, the tactics woeful, all true as it happens, but things have changed well this time round.

Having to deal with Portugal and Croatia, both containing one of the football greats of the day, and a strong Poland side with another Scotland were given no hope of success.  However, they have managed.  Wins against Croatia, we ought to have beaten Portugal, and last nights late, late show against Poland has seen us in a decent position after all.  OK, third is not great, but another goal in the right place and it would be even better.  But that's football!  As it is Poland are put down to the 'B' division, and Scotland now have a play-off against someone as yet unknown to find out if we follow them or remain where we are.  Soon we will know.  On the whole, things are looking up for Scotland whatever happens.

Allison Pearson's troubles with the police have filled many column inches in the 'Daily Telegraph' and other right-wing papers.  'Freedom of speech' is at stake, 'Stasi Police,' and other comments designed to indicate her innocence.  However, nothing is being said now when a racist crime may have occurred.  This means we cannot mention the situation as it may go to court but she is not being treated harshly by the Fuzz.  

In my humble view the lassie is indeed racist in many of her tweets and comments in the paper, she shares the outlook of the far right, defended the 'Farage rioters,' and may end up in court if the CPS agree.  

The question is, 'Are we heading for a police state?'  Well yes we are.  The law that allows police to stop people praying outside abortion clinics which kill healthy babies, encourage them to (often quite embarrassed by this) come to your door regarding a possible non criminal hate crime, one in which you don't know who complained or why, or even what the problem is, is indeed the beginning of the 'Stasi State.'  

When you lose the sense of right and wrong, when men dressed as women can be called women, when politicians can party while pandemics kill the populace, and when no discipline is found among our leaders you can expect the world to fall apart somewhat.

The thing is we are only at the beginning of this!

Sunday Watching

Daniel 12;1-3

‘At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people – everyone whose name is found written in the book – will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.'

Daniel, living and working for the regime in Babylon at the time, continued to stand for his God Yahweh.  He had faced opposition yet continued in faith in the living God.  At time the Lord himself gave him messages, prophecies, for the people around him and for the world in general, that is you and I.  This is one such.

One day the life around us will end, Jesus will appear, and our world will be seen to belong to the creator Yahweh after all.  Our conception of life will end and he will be seen to be Lord of all.

Mark 13:1-8

'As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!’ ‘Do you see all these great buildings?’ replied Jesus. ‘Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.’ 

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, ‘Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?’ Jesus said to them: ‘Watch out that no-one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, “I am he,” and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth-pains.'

Jesus himself made clear the biblical story.  God created the earth and the heavens, through him, and one day will reclaim ownership.  Not only has he used a nation, the Hebrews, to teach the word about himself, though they failed, the Son of God, fully God and fully man, arrived on earth to take the wrath for our sinful natures on the cross, so opening a way to reconcile us to him who has no sin.  

We tend to see Jesus as weak and 'nice,' while he is in fact none of that.  Much of what he said was in anger against wrongdoing because he is Holy.  His Love shows in that he is patient and forgiving, but still will judge us one day for all our actions.  

The only way to safety is via the Cross of Christ, yet we look elsewhere.  Those who's names are found in the 'Book of Life' will be those who turn to Jesus now.  The end will come so we may as well be ready.  Life is for living and Jesus came to bring abundant life.  Let's take it now.

 

 

I made use of the day by watching as many football matches as possible.  All were dreich!  None worth the money I did not pay for them.  However, by using Viaplay International all watched so far had no commentator to babble nonsense all the way through.  This is good!  It is time all games had a switch to prevent us hearing these talkatike indivisuals and allow us to see the game properly I say.

Saturday night, on Shed.

 

Trying BlueSky

I've decided to try 'BlueSky' as an alternative to Twitter.  So many have been indicating that is where they are moving, so I joined them!  As expected the US election has driven many yanks from the Fascist Musk's 'X,' and droves have joined BlueSky.  The UK is no different, many have tried 'Threads,' the 'Instagram' version of Twitter however, BlueSky has been created by the owners of the original Twitter, has a similar layout to the original, and appears at first to be a more enlightened place to post.  Not that I have much to say of course.

Many of Twitter's followers have moved over, many more like me remaining on both for now.  There are advantages to this, those I wish to read but not follow I can see on the 'X' files.  Few I follow there have followed me here.  Typical innit?

Anything that offers an alternative to Trump, his right wing monopoly, his deranged policies, his clear danger to society now he has an unofficial position in the US cabinet.  Only 'Official' positions can be fired it appears.  The increasing blatant porn, some quite notable, the removal of followers from those who post things Musk disagrees with, and the idea that a Putin inspired Musk has only joined so as to kill Twitters influence in the world.  

For now BlueSky is a decent alternative.

At the Station

As I have nothing to say, and some people like old foto's of railway stations, here is one from the past of Tunbridge Wells station.  Stupidly I have not noted the photographers name, which is not unusual for me, but it is a simple yet powerful photograph.  It certainly looks very Bert Hardy.

There is something about railway stations and railways in general that entice photography.  Possibly it is the light and shade as seen here, especially when done in Black & White images, and there is just so much to take pictures off.  

The stations and their environs, the buildings, some almost 200 years old, give opportunity for the camera.  The Sheds round the back full of items of which few understand their uses.  The wagons, the engines themselves, and those in Heritage railways give special pleasure when noted, make for super photography.  Add in the weather, whether bright sunshine or dark overhead clouds, a bot of steam or colour and a picture appears.  

The people also, if they do not notice you and belt you one, can give great pictures.  Excited kids or dogs, less excited mothers fussing around, bored passengers awaiting, the items carried and these days the dress sense, or lack of it, make pictures.  With Heritage railways it is mostly 'look a like' men, stomachs reaching out further than the camera lens they carry.  'People watchers' can enjoy large stations for hours.  

I must get on a train soon...

11th Nov 2024

November 11th falling on a Monday meant a quick walk round to the town centre for the two minutes silence led by the British Legion.  A short, sharp service, a command or two, a bugler, silence, bar the people still wandering around looking either guilty or questioning what was going on.  Most however, stood their ground.  

For the British Legion this is their moment.  The more you see them you realise that this means a great deal to them, not just remembering individuals, but this is their occasion.  When I tried to contact them for the 2014 exhibition I received no reply.  On preparing the museums WW2 exhibition the curator tried again, no response.  They wish to keep things under their control, hence the occasional glare towards me and limited answers to my questions when I speak to them.  I am an outsider, however, it could just be me.  

There is no doubt pride in their continuing these services, though they did omit one for D-Day after all.  Clearly no member participated in WW2 though one man did serve in the Korean War.  Possibly he goes back further than the rest, and he was still there yesterday while age is catching up on him.  Like all soldiers he is not one to talk, there is an attitude of bloody-mindedness about soldiers which has less to do with fighting spirt and more to do with mental attitude.  It was often noted in many occupations since the war, an attitude that was not responsible, not his business, and try over there type of thing.  Just like answering an officer.  I've often come across their bad attitudes in time past and it does not breed good working relationships.  RAF men were often better to deal with as they had a more open attitude, however, as the middle class dominated the RAF during the war snobbishness did occur.  Douglas Bader, a 'war hero' and knew it, treated his batman appallingly, especially when in Colditz.  That attitude was seen again after the war.  

Today brings an end to Remembrance for the year.  Thankfully many more have taken to grumbling re the 'event' attitude that has sprung up since BREXIT came on the scene.  Remembrance of the war dead was replaced by many as 'English Nationalism.'  Remembrance became a time to look back on 'England's Glorious Past,' that is 'England's, not 'Britain's,' you will note.  Instead of a poppy and a silence we had exhibitions everywhere.  Now some were very good and carefully done, many were to say the least 'tacky.'  A great outburst of national emotion in 2014 for the commemoration of the beginning of the Great War led to a huge number of exhibitions all over the place.  Though this has calmed down a certain element appear keen to turn Remembrance into another Halloween.  This must not be allowed to happen.  

Braintree & Bocking Remembrance 2024