Dreich!

Dreich!  It's always dreich at Christmas.  The cards may show lots of snow scenes, snowmen, and winter joy, but in the real world December is a daft month to have a celebration.  

Now, we all know the reason we have Christmas in December, it was a monk's idea to limit the excesses of the long '12 Days of Christmas,' actually based on the winter solstice and the 'I think I'm smart' people keep telling us this as if we didn't know it, that led to debauchery and much drunkenness, possibly in his monastery.  All that resulted was a religious festival that resulted in 12 days of debauchery and drunkenness.  

Scotland of course banned Christmas,  Cromwell attempted this also but with less success, the English like to be drunk, and it left England with a Christmas binge and Scotland with a secular one at Hogmanay.  Clever people observe both.

Celebrating the turn of the season's is understandable.  Prehistoric man did this, he was no fool, and knew that from now on, well December 21st for us, the days get longer and there is hope for Spring to, er, Spring.  For most today the hope is for a successful family gathering, that Uncle Joe will not get arrested for fondling the neighbours dog, for presents that keep the kids happy, and money to be found to pay for this.  

The government, having today attacked the WASPI women, will continue to save money by ignoring the poorest, but at least, while Christmas is on they will not be making public mistakes, just hidden ones that will come to light some time later.   

Another week before the big anti-climax for many.  Can you stand the suspense...?

Cat

 

Christmas Market 2024

Dreich Market

So, I wandered out unwillingly once again just in case something special and indeed useful could be found in the market.  Failure did not surprise me.  I, being half dead mentally, forgot most things I wanted in the shop, trailed a wee bit through the handful of stalls, and raced back home via the park.  A wee walk among green is always good for the mind.  What?  Who said 'You need to visit a jungle in that case?'  Who?

It was indeed a bit dreich.  The clouds behind me much darker than seen here.  This of course did not stop the dog walkers, not that the dogs would allow them to remain indoors whatever the weather.   
I was trying out this wee camera I bought cheap.  It appears to do the job but it is not great.  I wanted it as a wee camera in my pocket but it is in fact quite heavy a much bulkier than I had thought.  It also demanded a new battery, which I thought I had but did not, which meant awaiting one in the post.

Similarly, I now required a battery charger which I did not have, the one I possessed did not fit this type.  Not unusual to find tech problems in this house.  However, it may work better when the sun shines, which may happen next week, or the week after...

Happy Monday

 

A Storm in Syria

We are enduring another storm with a silly name today, Storm Darragh!  Winds blow things across the west of the country, while we endure strong gusts and rain.  This is not to bead here but I remain indoors.

Once again graphic warnings were made, not to avoid catastrophe but to ensue no politician or weatherman is blamed for not warning of a storm.  If he fails a storm arises and they don't like that, especially when it is a 'Daily Mail' fake outrage storm.

Once upon a time we were warned a storm was approaching, it is December after all, and we sat it out.  Why do we need all this fuss?  We need less fuss and more action, and less silly names for a storm.

Daily Telegraph

 

A lightning attack in Syria might mean the end of the Syrian war, a war that began in 2011 with a local uprising.  The Assad regime has held on since then with Russian help, help that may be lessened by the war in Ukraine.  

It appears in this fast moving situation Aleppo and now the important city of Homs have been taken by the rebel alliance, an alliance if several Islamic groups and some with support from Turkey.  Fighting continues and reporting is rare at the moment  as journalists cannot enter some areas, and rumour always speaks louder than fact.

Israel's attacks on Hezbollah and Iranian backed groups has weakened Assad's control.  With Iran losing power and Russia looking for other ways to continue its influence Assad himself may have to flee.  Those Arab states that recognised his power have been very quiet, a disagreeable situation for him, and the loss of friends means the loss of control.

There are 27 million refugees in the world, a few million of them coming from Syria, many living in tents for many years.  Maybe, just maybe, there is a chance for them to return home.

But what then?  Israel is happy with a weak Assad regime, they will not be happy with a contentious Islamic gathering in Syria.  What happens now?

Prejudice

A clip on Twitter offered the sight of an elderly middle class woman making a point about migrants.  She did not want any.  And when asked re those who flee war she stated that there was too much emphasis on war, giving the impression she did not believe them, or was just heartless. 

In truth, she was just indicating what she had learned from the likes of Farage, the 'Daily Mail,' and other right wing liars.  It is likely she had not investigated whether things printed were true or not, and this was a truth she wished to accept.  The woman is just another who cannot accept the world she grew up in is changing.

There is no doubt life is difficult for us all when we see our world change and change out of our control. Poor and deliberate bad journalism will not help, facts on all sides are misused to suit the opinion sought.  And when our world changes it can be difficult.  Whether the villages she claimed were 'scared' because of all the incomers we cannot tell, she was not asked to name such villages, though they may exist.  They may also be just another report from a housewife's gathering of course.

I notice changes in this small town also.  There are quite a number of single young men appearing, mostly of middle eastern/Turkish appearance.  Where do they come from?  Where do they stay?  Why are they alone?  Alone apart from those they accompany, and who are they?  Are they trapped in some modern slavery trap, though I doubt they would be running on the streets.  Did they come across on a boat?

There is no doubt it takes some getting used to when many foreign types arrive.  During the war such was inevitable, US airmen black and white, spent 3 years in the town, usually finding a warm welcome.  In the same way Italians built a POW camp outside the town, the wall erected to keep people out, not keep them in!  Germans took over that camp later.

The town survived, though these men, and they were all men, could have caused trouble.  A war situation may have opened hearts a bit, however, war and conflicts everywhere ought to open our hearts also.  Certainly it is easier to accept women refugees than men, they usually have children also, but questions must be asked re so many single men arriving.

The Farage's of this world will not stop lying, that is what he is paid for, and truth is not published by the daily press, so how are we to know the facts of immigration and 'the boats?'  Facts of course do not always change minds, our opinion does not always like facts.

  

Armband War

For some time now the English FA have been pushing 'Pride' down the throats of English football.  This comes not for concern or support for gay individuals but for a concern to keep their jobs and avoid controversy caused by a gay backlash.  The desire to keep in with the worlds opinion being more important than truth and doing the right thing.

'Rainbow Laces,' is a 'Stonewall' idea to propagate gay life through football, they idea being we are all normal and everyone is accepted.  The truth however, is that most people accept all others at football, few knowing what abnormal behaviour their neighbours indulge themselves in.  So why does the English FA tolerate this?  They tolerate this to avoid loud minorities objecting to their opinion and causing trouble for themselves.  

Captains of English football teams have been given by the English FA 'rainbow' armbands to wear at games, the armband used today to indicate he alone is captain and therefore allowed to confer with referees over decisions.  There was a clear note that individuals could refuse for reasons of conscience, the English FA being well aware of the number of Muslim and Christians playing in the top division from Africa and elsewhere.  One man, the Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, wrote "I 💓Jesus" upon his armband, and has drawn the ire of the English FA officials for this.  

Now, football authorities everywhere do not allow religious or political messages to be displayed on players shirts, or indeed armbands, and 'words of advice' are to be given Guehi for this.  Refusal to accept such words could lead to him being banned, or his club getting into bother.  Ipswich's Sam Morsy did not wear the armband, he is a Muslim, and he avoids trouble because of his Muslim faith.  Individual choice is allowed and such individual choice also hampered Manchester United at the weekend.  The players were given shirts promoting LGBT and one Muslim player, rightly, refused to wear this.  His teammates therefore also turned it down to avoid him standing out and gaining controversy.  How ridiculous a situation!  You cannot promote Jesus but you can promote abnormal sexuality and on  football shirt!  How many of these would be sold in Indonesia or the middle East I wonder?

Guehi, the Crystal Palace captain is to be told off for standing up for Jesus while 'Rainbow laces' is forced upon football to promote 'Stonewall?'?  Guehi's father John, who ministers to a South London church, supported his son.  They play 'God save the King' at international matches which mentions God, and 'Abide with me' before the English cup final yet they have a go at my son?  

What we see here is the English FA supporting a political organisation, 'Stonewall,' in its propagation of gay life, yet opposing a religious message.  Both political and religious are barred, yet one is acceptable and another is not.  

This from an organisation that allows men to play women's football, in spite of the injuries to opposing women, and bars Jesus from the armband.  How mixed up can they be?

What we have here is yet another reflection on the mixed up nation we now inhabit.  By failing to follow Gods way we support perversion and oppose what is right.  We lose the sense of 'right and wrong' to follow a moral code that changes day by day, all dependant on the loudest voice.  What we see today has been coming for some time, and what we will see in the future will be accepted by many, partly because they are scared to stand up for what is right, partly because we are all numbed by such behaviour.  Our personal moral code changes too often also.

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!