Tuesday, 30 June 2015

Something Stinks

Watching Newsnight last night from Athens and I wondered just how many folk were on the hotel balcony with Evan Davies. ..Ive noted of late that reporters and anchormen alike are now trooping off to the best hotel close to the site of the news. That is as long as its the nearest Holiday Inn, Hyatt or Continental Hotel to the "story" in order to get the loyalty points. Yesterday the Anchorman for Newsnight was in Athens and the BBC was in Tunisia.. I do not mean the reporter for the Middle East was in Tunisia, I mean just about the entire news desk was in Tunisia and Newsnight was presented from a hotel in Athens. We are now frequently getting entire programs presented from the nearest five star hotel balcony to the event, which is nice for the presenter.

Once upon a time intrepid reporters wondered off with a camera man and sound engineer to gather and find the news and roughed it. Not now.. Now the entire bloody news office troop off to get some air miles to whatever they deem to be the news from the nearest resort or hotel. Why? Most of the action has already been sent to the London, New York etc Office by twitter, skype or mobile phone! One hardly needs a reporter to do anything these days, so how are they getting away with it. Most of the time you could sit on your PC and just watch the "feeds" and if you want balance and not what the big four deem to be news then I suggest you do that. Other wise you get what they want to present and will never know the half of what goes on over this sad wee planet.

I never cease to laugh at some reporter standing on a balcony with the remains of his/her club sandwich still evident on the chest interviewing some poor sod or other fresh from the carnage often a long way down the road or even adjacent country. Sometimes there the only danger they are in is fear of collapse of the structure when they get four or five figures having a argument about this or that. Athens a week ago was  good example, it nearly lost the south side of the Olympic Hotel when Evan Davies of Newsnight had five angry Greeks arguing about Grexit and probably the bill for the taheni.

Another view of  the news on the rampage "from a five star hotel near to the story" and getting a tan was the recent Tunis tragedy where the news teams stayed in the same hotel as the tragedy and could report from the very spot or the sun lounge at any rate.  Its nothing new of course. The site of a dismal reporter stood outside 10 Downing Street or the Foreign Office for the simple reason that they wanted you to think they were at the heart of the story, when actually they knew less than you did is an everyday site on the news. But the backdrop looked good and makes you think "he has his fingers on the pulse". Pure bullshit of course. "We now go over live to our reporter outside the white house" means just that. The prat is outside the white house... Not in it!

I think in these days of health and safety and hijack the intrepid reporter with his note book and pen are probably over and so we should get used to News by way of Trip Advisor and now back to the studio bar!

Monday, 29 June 2015

Time?

Well, what a week!. Everywhere one looks its evil on the rampage. Africa is a total mess and could become the first failed continent. Soon nowhere will be safe from the madmen/women who wish to kill, maim and torture anyone who has any different views on God or a prophet! I wonder how long it will take for the person to arrive who will stop this rot and mobilise the forces of good. So, much for the first commandment!

There was one bright spot, in an otherwise frankly frightening week, the three (estimate) gay pride marchers who appeared to be in support of ISIS at a Gay Pride March... Super, really had me in hysterics to learn that at least three actively suicidal specimens have departed for Syria in order to join and fight for that happy band of all inclusive brothers... Well, good luck with that lads. The more the merrier eh! I wonder what the authorities will make of it, should the slim possibility exist that the Gay call to Jihad takes off and UK ports and airports become deluged with Pink Pride members mincing off to war. Dont forget the sunscreen my dears.

As if that wasnt enough to prove that the lunatics really are in charge of the asylum, Cameron this morning is blabbing on about taking on the bad guys.. I hope he does not mean with the military.. I mean Minitary. No chance, there  is only just enough for the annual service days and Queens birthday parades. As for the RAF, thats for ceremonial purposes only. The Navy......well im not sure what they do..?

Perhaps the PM means another round of sound bite banter on chat shows and some minor initiatives in Bradford Primary schools. God what a mess we are in. No doubt he will fix it with another superb meaningless tirade to camera like the 5,000 doctors he will soon magic up to fix the GP service. Never mind Cameron you burk, it takes ten years to train a GP and most do not wish to be one.. So, please do tell where these GPs are coming from. Dont tell me, Syria..Part of the EU quota after Greece bails out.

I still cannot believe the EU are playing hard ball with Greece. I guess there by hangs the rub. Bankers and Lawyers now run the world and that means we are well and truly stuffed. Nothing will ever be done that could cost money to the bankers or not cost money to argue about till the cows come home for the lawyers. I only hope when the day comes that the talking has to stop and some action take place that we can put someone in charge who thinks like me that bankers and Lawyers should be the first to go into battle to save the system they so love! A cull of (whats the collective for Lawyers) "Argument" of lawyers would be a real fun thing and positive start. There are simply too many of them....







Friday, 26 June 2015

List of Huntingdonshire Cabmen week ending 26 July 2015

The following Cabmen have been awarded:

First Gear:
Arch Bishop Randolph P.  Rancid Moped DFC
Arnold Angle-Iron.
Brian Drillbit

Second Gear:
Sir Cedric Humpback River-Estuary KCB
Harvey Harvest-Festival
Malcolm Zed


Third Gear:
William Wimbledon-Dogtrack

Fourth Gear:
Hyacinth Vegitable
Capathia W Blunderbus
Sean Particulate-Ponder

Overdrive:
Count Manfred Von Heineken-Dragonpuke
Percival Prude
The Very Rev Reginald P. Cumberland-Sausage.

R.I.P.
Cyril Crushed
Rebecca S. Neatly-Sliced.


Monday, 22 June 2015

Cheek over Greece

This interest payment owed to the various banks by Greece makes me wonder at the cheek of Germany.

I seem to remember they owed the Allies after the first world war a bob or two in reparations for the four years worth of damage to Allies for four years of rampant death and destruction rained on the world by German militarism. They were let off most of the payments in the 20s and 1930s because of hardship caused by the recession of 1929.

Then after another five year binge of destruction which wrote off over 26 million Russians, 1 in 3 poles and 6 million Jews, laid waste to most of europe and for that they got a massive injection of cash from the Marshal plan that kick started the whole of west germany and is the reason why we all like VWs and BMWs.

Shame they cannot extend the same magnanimity to Greece a country also laid to waste and a million dead Greeks at the hands of the German Army. Mind you, mention that in Berlin and you'll get the standard reply "ya but that was 70 years ago" my reply to that is ... "only 70 years ago"

Once again, another illustration of the bankers greed and the Greeks need coming a very poor second. It really is time we changed the system.

Women... You cant live without them and you cant shoot them. Not fair is it. Why are women so complicated and why is it when your trying to do you best by them, they think your up to something. I recently told my favorite sprog not to bother seeing me this weekend on account of the fact that she is in love with a young man and I would prefer it that she spends the time with him. I said this simply because she can see me any old time and her boy friend and her work. For this consideration I get busted.. Its a frame up judge.


Sunday, 21 June 2015

Austerity Britain

On the weekend that saw a mass protest in cities across the UK against austerity my mind has concentrated on some of the effects of austerity on a tired and now mainly poor population. I have also watched the stand off in Europe with Greece. How the hell you can hold the poor in this country (and others) responsible for the banks loosing 1.8 trillion pounds is beyond me. Im sorry I dont get it and with figures that enormous how come no one is chasing the idiots that actually lost it?

I just cannot fathom how chasing some poor, disabled and lonely old person for tax owed on her spare room can be ethical or help the general good. Its almost vindictive and how the populace can re-elect the bastards who designed and impose it is beyond my ken. Its almost feudal in its severity and cruel to impose it on the elderly and frequently disabled who frankly have enough to contend with.

Once again its an alarming illustration of  the Government chasing those they should be protecting, in this case,  from the excesses of the banks cock up. It is not the elderly's fault and so why should they have to and the rest of those we deem disadvantaged have to pay for the rich totally messed up attempt to get richer. How can they justify chasing someone for £50 over payment of disability benefit for example, or those who have an empty bedroom and not chase the arse holes that lost 1.8 trillion.????

I for one wonder at the silent majority and their ability to soldier on and accept such bad governance.  I know many are worried about the gulf that now divides us from those who are supposed to lead us. Never was it so wide.. These idiots in the Westminster bubble have no grasp of reality. They really think we worry about Scottish independence and leaving or staying in the EEC more than zero hour contracts and ever increasing cost of living.

Beyond that is the amazing lack of any kind of direction in the EU and the USA on the current problems that stem from half of Africa being at war.

It seems the man in the street worries more about the world in flames with racial,tribal and religious turmoil than the UN. We worry about the 99 percent of the population being far poorer than the 1 percent who own the world. We worry about the lost values of tolerance and fair play we once believed in and that acted as the glue that held society together. We worry about the United Nations now being totally unable to cope and unfit for the purpose for which it was created and we worry that even the Pope has pointed out a few simple truths and as usual been totally ignored. Thus, what will serve as notice to those who lead us to get off their self opinionated, self centered arses and do something.

The world is a beautiful place and we have to face a choice soon as to whether the basic principles of democracy still apply. Whether the endless pursuit of wealth has any value in a world where most of us will never amass any wealth and its source is so finite and owned by so few. Whether it is time to sort out the worlds ethnic, tribal and religious differences in a more simple way than the AK47 in the hope that good will triumph over evil?

If we do not, then I think we will not be here much longer. In the absence of a forum in which to discuss these issues without the clout to enforce agreements I think wise men now need to pray for peace and prepare for war. Many believe this war is coming and it really could be the last war of good against evil upon the horizon... I  remain hopeful that wise council will prevail.. But its going to be close for social cohesion is weakening and we are polarising along ethnic and religious lines as always happens at times of threat. Its natural and inbred in us and no amount of political correctness or multiculturalism will stop that from drawing the battle lines. History proves this Im afraid.

I spent over four years in the former Yugoslavia watching the process from start to bloody conclusion and I pray for another outcome but doubt it.

Friday, 19 June 2015

List of Huntingdonshire Cabmen Week ending 19th June

Validation of the following Cabmen has been received:

Award fist gear
Herbert Hermitage-Wolverine
Prunella Pineapple-Pemberton-Pratt
David Davies-Davis


Awarded Second Gear
Helmet Halfshaft
Grundleweg the Flatulent
Lady Daisy Daily-Mountjoy


Awarded Third Gear
Nelly Pledge
Bertram P Walrus-Testicle


Awarded Fourth Gear
Captain Horatio Bedspread DSO Rtd.
Morris Minor
Austin Cambridge


Awarded Overdrive
Rev Up
Lay Shaft
Stanley Entwhistle-Ganderblast

Sadly departed
Mamaduke Mouse-Ear
Basil Basic-Banderfast

Why do I feel its somehow my fault??

A family goes to Syria with the kids and the media go potty...how does that work? The media go banging on about it likes its the end of the world. Muslim Members of the Lords start saying "its an all Muslim problem to be solved by us", the home office are under siege and the authorities are held to account for letting them go.. That then opens the flood gates of emotional repressed anxiety driven by thoughts that we (white anglo saxon) may be xenophobic and should instantly convert to Islamic law or pay penance for not getting involved in the current round of lunacy in the middle east.

SHUT UP!

Enough.. If they (Muslims) wish to have a major inter religious punch up for reasons that are:
A none of my affair and that we should (British) should take no part in.
B I dont understand or frankly care over much.
Then that is for them to sort out.. If they choose to sort it out by killing each other then whats new about that and why should it by our problem.

The point is; Why should the state interfere in movement of its subjects in anyway and particularly interfere in transit of anyone on religious or ethnic issues particular to that ethnic group.. That would be racist.

And if you think I am being radical check this out:

If there is was a major punch up in Britain effecting my kith and kin and I lived abroad would I expect to be stopped in returning to UK to take part in the fight? No, so why do the UK authorities get involved in this??

Its two faced.. Allow folks without let or hindrance do as they wish... within the law and apply that law equally.


Thursday, 18 June 2015

Bad rears are ears!

Keep your back straight and bend your knees is good advice for lifting anything heavy. But now I find it hard to bend at all. Yesterday I went to the Doctor to have a word of advice concerning this and that and ended up with a list of things to take and people to see that quiet took my breath away.

However, thank goodness to counter the pain in  my back I was given some pain killers that really are like having ones brains beaten in with a velvet covered brick.. I took one and had to sit down.. As a method of pain negation they are really spot on. Simply take one and good night!

Old Bob the dog has an ear infection and had to go to the Vets at the same time as I yesterday. Luckily two dear friends took him and once again proved that a few good friends are worth an army. Bob, although well behaved, may have disagreed now that he is subjected to twice daily ear drops. He will not speak to his girl friend Faith since she administered the drops last night.

This morning it was my turn to play Judas and to add just the right amount of farce to the proceedings i have a broken toe and another without toe nail. This and the bad back mean pursuit of Bob at "drop time" was and will be at best a slow affair and with Bob having a definite edge when it comes to speed of avoidance. However, old age and treachery will out wit youth and inexperience every time and this time was no exception. I got him when he was asleep. Well, when I say got him.. I got one ear while he was dozing. The second one was administered when he was hiding under the table. Should prove interesting given he has to have them twice a day for 3 weeks.

As if that wasnt enough to make keep one occupied he also needs a hair cut. As he has been blacklisted by one dog groomer, I have to do the necessary and I am no dog groomer. Hence his arse and nether regions look like a fur covered pelmet and his legs like hairy plus fours. This residue from the first hair cut has to be addressed and one wonders whether to avoid the chore and not add to the boys burden. Do I really want to spend a fur covered hour wrestling with a cocker spaniel on the kitchen floor????? But he looks such a cocker!










Tuesday, 16 June 2015

God and Faith

Well, interesting day. I went to a meeting at which my local Padre had a discussion about faith and God. Who we thought he/she was and so on.

It was interesting to listen to one "learned" individual wax lyrical and show great knowledge as to the scriptures and contradict a rather promising avenue that encompassed Steven Hawking and his God Particle explanation.. Why not... if God is everywhere then there must be particles of him/her everywhere right?

Anyway. it all proved a stretch to far.

Then tonight I was talking with an old friend and this is her take:

I think god is a dog!  Well he/she can be because all good qualities are in dogs, they watch us, they comfort us, they make us get up , they keep us calm and they give pure love – just like god/dog.  He/she can be everywhere and nowhere, as dogs creep about and at night they snuggle you so that you are kept safe.  Dogs see the good in everyone and are loyal to all and only leave when they lose faith in you.   Dogs look out for you even when they are not there anymore as they are forever in your heart and they offer no judgement or cast no evil upon you and they don’t like fire which means they don’t like the devil.  Oh and another thing they only ever cry when they want your attention or to drink out of the tap and they love to play when you are at your lowest ebb just to make you happy!!!

Think about it…. Dogs know everything and say nothing – they offer a knowing stare and whiff of distain when they are disgruntled or you lock them out of your room because they stink and also they look after the sick and needy, the less fortunate and also everyone who turns to them.

I tell you – god is a dog!

QED!

Eat more fruit

Tis a strange world, but nothing is more truer than the statement "rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men".

We are living in an age of rules to the point that self determination is becoming a thing of the past. I think kids are so hamfisted now with rules and directives that their every waking moment has to be regulated in order to satisfy the Nannies states dread of being held up as failing to protect its citizens. No wonder they lack initiative. Its been almost surgically removed by the internet and over protective parents, schools etc.

The same for all age groups really, our freedom has been eroded to the point where one is scared to mention some word on the internet in case it triggers big brother into having a look at our virtual world. So monitored are we with CCTV that it is possible to be "clocked" 40 times a day simply going to work. Naturally, all because we have forgotten that the state loves to hold its citizens under control. Because, that is the real power of the state. Subjugate your citizens and all things become possible. So, good has the state become at telling us this benevolent surveillance is a good thing that one hears even sensible people say "I have nothing to hide and so nothing to fear" thus totally missing the point that free thought and expression are totally the corner stones of freedom.

Yes I know about the unrest within and the threat without. Ive been listening to that lame duck argument since I was knee high to a grass hopper. But think of this. Chuchill got rid of ID cards immediately after the war simply because he thought it an affront to our liberties to have to prove who we are. Further he brought in the court of human rights in order to bolster up those rights given to us under Magna Carter. Those same rights we now wish to dismantle for no good reason I can fathom. He hated the thought of an all powerful state.


If history proves anything it is that the more you oppress the more dissent grows. Perhaps thats why we are so angry as a civilisation. No doubt it is more complex than that. But as a seed I have watched these last sixty years grow I cannot but think that oppression if not the cause has without doubt been fertilised and allowed to grow into the anger we now see around the globe. If you link it with tribalism and xenophobia its a powerful brew and a hard thing to dismantle.

Next time you see a camera stick two fingers up at it. Makes you feel better! And eat more fruit.





Monday, 15 June 2015

Check your Bank Account. daily

I woke up the other morn, made a brew, told Bob to shut up barking at the Postie and sat down to read the mail.

First Letter was from the AA who kindly told me that I had just paid £240 for a years house cover and need not bother or worry, the money would be taken on the 3rd of the month from my account. Erm I thought I have a roof that looks fine to me and why cover it.........erm.......and why the AA dont they take you there when you break down.... Home Recovery isnt it! Have they branched out and now take your house to the broken down car....Mind bogggles.

Then a letter from Scottish Power welcoming me to there kindly monthly payments on a projected annual cost of around £1030. Once again the payments would be automatically taken... kindly just fill out he attached.  Erm... strange I cannot recall asking to join them I thought?

Then a letter from AA again telling me my car recovery had been increased this year to £180 to cover last years first year reduction and would you believe I need not worry.... Soooo, does that mean they will take my car to my home or my home to my car or cover both???????

Then just to make my life complete I opened another letter and was told I had been paid £980 too much by the DWP, please pay it back and they were also fining me £50 for not telling them they had over paid me... What the F...k! I thought.. And off to the citizens advice I did go. Only to be told the DWP were right even though I have the copies of the letters I sent them telling them that which they now deny I should pay up!!!!!!!!

However, before, I left they told me as a Veteran I may be able to get SSAFA to help me. So I rang and was told no they could not or would not and further more could I furnish them with a letter telling me who said they would because they were going to get stroppy with the CAB for telling me that they could.. At this point, I had to pinch myself thinking I was in a very poor French farce.

But I am nothing if not determined and I rang up the RAFA and asked them for help with the damp my house suffers with. Because. I am property rich but extremely cash poor. I have no doubt they will pass me on to the council at which point I may hang myself.

Because, it was the council who started all this when they reminded me to tell the DWP I was getting a small pension and council tax relief... Oh and the connection with the damp I hear you ask.. Well, my house front door alights directly onto the street. For street purpose the street does not start until a distance approximated to be beyond the councils damp course responsibilities and so therefore the Parish Council has determined that I can pay for the damp course and pavement work to be completed by me.. Soooooo kind and if you follow all of that then boy your doing better than me. The obvious question is how far is the distance from my house to the highway.. They would'nt say?

What a week... You really have to keep an eye on things or you could:
End up owing money they paid you and you didnt tell them when you did.
Fined for the above and still have no idea why.
End up living in a house has a legally flexible perimeter and the pavement your responsibility to both construct and maintain.
Have your house covered or removed to the site of the projected break down site of your car. While your car is being recovered to the site of you former and now mobile home.
Paying a Scottish Company you had no idea had you custom for electricity you didnt know you were going to use.

But, dont worry you do not need to do a thing...

Erm
xx.


Sunday, 14 June 2015

Thought for the day-cars!

Im sat here waiting for a young lad to come and have a look at a mate of mines car. I sat here all day yesterday waiting for the same man. He is a nice man, but frequently a bit vacant. His wife complains of this rather dubious quality also. Indeed, she is yet another of those folk who are kind of emotionally blackmailed into staying with what otherwise would appear to be a bit of a pain in the arse for a husband. Love blinds us sometimes to the less than attractive side of our chosen mates.

I know that I will shortly give up on the chap in question and continue with my day.. I think 36 hours for a "no show" is enough. Its a shame mind you as I was trying to do a favor for a friend, but by now I should know that cars can frequently cause trouble. Im already in the poo for making a mess of the lady in questions drive when we changed the oil the other day, by allowing most of it to pour onto her brindle brick.

Im reminded of a time long ago now when a friend of mine Tim brought a monstrosity of a Triumph Herald

that had seen much better days. I think it would be safe to say it was a loose collection of panels held together with rust. However, beggars could not be choosers on £10 a week and one weekend Time and I, who both lived in Nottingham, decided to go home from RAF Cosford where we were being trained.

Amazingly we negotiated the bull ring and managed to get eventually onto the right road and get home. Here our Triumph Heralds expired outside my door.

Saturday morning found me under the bonnet with Tim looking none the wiser like me at a Haynes manual. We eventually deduced it was a timing chain to replace and tensioner. So off to the shops we did walk and pick one up. Then with spanner in hand we spent most of the day doing a simple job the hard way due to lack of expertise and knowledge. But, we did it and whats more on the sunday we got back to camp and with some swagger to I might add, at our obvious automotive engineering ability.

The next weekend however proved to be our undoing as basically the old heap decided it was time for the scrap yard. Naturally it let us know this on the sunday evening before return to camp. God bless my dad who took us back to camp on the monday morning and had a word with the Sergeant on the gate who allowed us into camp without fear of being charged AWOL.

Now every time I see a "Classic" triumph herald I wince.Funnily enough I brought another one for fifty quid when I was a policeman because its all my new wife and I could afford. It was a total heap, but the engine just kept going and for six months kept me and my wife likewise.....going! They really good thing about them was you could take the entire front off and then had loads of room to work on them. Something you did a lot if you owned a herald or its sporty cousin the Spitfire. Which we also owned.  KGB 325D was a green Spitfire Mk3  I brought for no good reason other than it was a sports car..

It was fun car to court in and we had some fun in it.. It had what is known as a live axle on the back and could be very tail happy, as was proved when we saw an oak tree three times on a leafy road once.. On another occasion I went to pick my wife up from the station. She had flue and was not the happiest chap on the planet. The roof on the spitfire was not really much good and frequently leaked. My wife got in the car, slammed the door and 2 pints of water dumped over her as the roof collapsed. We sold it shortly there after!

Shortly there after Triumph made a bloody awful Stag and then the TR7 and went bust.. Not surprisingly.. I had one more Triumph a Blue Dolomite. Which was for £80 did the job, but for reasons I never really understood used to wind up my girl friend at the time. She totally hated the thing. No idea why... Ive noted this with women. They can take an instant hate to a car for no valid reason. I had a lovely Mercedes 190E that used to wind up another girl friend I had. On reflection I should have kept the car and got rid of her.







Saturday, 13 June 2015

List of Huntingdonshire Cab men June 2015

Awarded first gear
Albert Anthill
Bertram P.Womble

Awarded Second Gear
Terrapin Gracefumble
Glock Cock
Margery Mongoose-Kneedlework
Hunter Gathering

Third Gear
Master Blaster
I.P.Weekly
Lady Groundwork-Mounsteady KCB

Fourth Gear
Blodwyn Leander Class-Frigate
Percival Grungefuttock

Overdrive
Mortisher Lock
Hermitage Weeeeeeeeeeeeee

Sadly departed
Count Von Grubenstuben Ritter Krozz  Mit kotofel salat  unt Musli Klusters. Munich Chapter
Arthur Brain -  Epping Forest branch

Quote of the week (overheard in a small cafe in the Lincolnshire Wolds)

"No, yeah, no really, no see, If I get blocked up I could die in ten days"



In other new:
Amazing to think that a friend of a friend is a Children's Protection Officer. You would think a job with some security given recent sad events! But no, she has to be re-interviewed every year for her own job as the annual cuts to local government drag on.

They then prune one officer off the active list to save 20K or so and at a time when children's services and particularly children's welfare has been so much in the news.

Imagine the hit on ones moral to have to do be put under that pressure every year and of course the effect it has annually on staff moral. To know one will be up against ones colleague for a job that, lets face it, requires total motivation and commitment and a particular skill set that is hard to find. Amazes me why anyone would wish to do the job in the first place given that  its the absolute definition of cursed if you do and cursed if you do not.

Stupid bloody government again trying to make cuts in an area where retention of motivated and skilled staff is essential. When will they leave alone things they do not understand.. Government must be the last place on earth where a totally unskilled twat can be put into a position of such power and influence and be out of their depth totally. There to wreak havoc on the public purse and frequently with the power of life and death.

I think of Blair and Iraq here! Indeed, what better example could one sight. Churchill said "no one should become Prime Minister and have the right to put men to war who have not smelt gunpowder and been in battle". He was of course right and we really do suffer because of it. Chamberlain and his generation did all they could to avert world war two because they remembered the carnage of the western front  in which they had served as soldiers.








Wednesday, 10 June 2015

Peace in our time!

Appeasement today raised its ugly head in two different guises. The first was a young lady who told me her husband was a brick off a full hod and she had left him some years ago. Fair enough! Then she went back to him because he kept banging on about topping himself if she did not. Now she is trapped, with a man who will not confront his demons, is giving her secondary trauma and she just lives for the days he is not being savaged by his depression. Sad and no way to live is it. But many of us do it and emotional black mail comes in many forms.

The second was once again a lady and friend who is being blackmailed into doing the dutiful thing by her less than beguiling sibling. However, she has friends, which mean its not a lonely experience and sooner or later she is going to loose her chuff with the person concerned. Something to look forward to in one respect, in that she has not lost her temper since 1982... so should be something to watch. In this case it is the sibling thinking he is owed something that in actuality has been repaid many times in many ways and is now wearing thin. I half wish I could watch the lady concerned going "nuclear" I bet some stuff, long repressed, comes out that day.. Phew!

Its a funny thing about people, many of them love to have an edge over others for reasons of ego, self worth (or lack of it) or just good old fashioned psychotic behavior. One sees the most marginal talents being used to Lord it over others and the only reason the looser gets away with it is because the recipient has no wish to face the bully (for that is what they are) down or cannot fight back because the abhor confrontation, or lack self worth.

Do not think it is all women being down cast for it is not and many a man is bullied on a constant basis. It is not well understood and usually goes unreported simply because the man feels ashamed. I should no for a while I was bullied by a women and its not a nice experience and not easy to rectify. And yet I expect I've bullied in my time to. I can be a right arrogant arsehole sometimes. Although, not for the want of ego. In my case its that I get wrapped up in the argument or the moment and sometimes I dont know when to shut up.  Hence no doubt the need to Blog.... erm there is a complicated thought.

I was working on a car today and came across something I had not seen in a while. A totally rounded of bolt on a VW. Now VWs are very well built and the steel used is very tough. To round a bolt off like that must have been some task or performed by a gorilla in a very bad temper. I just hope I can find another way to save the lock im trying to replace or its going to be very interesting.


I have a friend in Canada who lives on the Canadian side of the Rockie mountains. Its a wild and remote area and she frequently finds big bear in her back porch..She just sent me a lovely photo of a wild mustang at the bottom of her garden which sums up the beauty of the area she live in.

I met Sue at Talbot House in Belgium and very interesting women she is. She helps veterans with PTSD and has written a book concerning the first world war.

Sue also has an uncanny ability to tap into the paranormal. I once took her to an aircraft museum she had never been to or knew anything about and she told me a certain plane had a presence. She was of course correct. I knew it but she could not have done. Very impressive. Sue also uses some old native american ways to heal veterans called the way of the warrior. Makes for interesting reading and Sue is well thought of in Canada by the military there and stayed with me for a while a couple of years ago.




Monday, 8 June 2015

Woman's Hour

Why cant we have a Man's hour on radio four. I love radio four but the morning is all collapsed arches and IVF. Not fair, sexist clap trap. How about mans hour from the shed in BBC Blue Peter Garden. Subjects are wood turning for beginners and how to mix french polish.



The Archers, I thought that was a typical country tale. Well, I live about as country as you can get and its nothing like life around here. We have a few odd balls. Sue for example who takes her horse for a walk, instead of riding it! Graham who lives in a huge old garage and has worn the same overalls since VE day.

But nothing like the bollox that is trolled out ever day on the Archers. Im not sure focus groups are the way ahead in creating the plot. Mind you it explains why  the plot always sounds like a load of women guardian, single issue feminist alternative vegans have put their wellies on to get "into the feel of it". Try asking a farmer sometime about life in the country, or Graham or Sue.. No... too dull?



Nice thing about being in the country is you can leave your washing on the line and if it rains someone will spot it and take it in. The first time this happened I thought someone had stolen me washing. About an hour later Peg from next door had folded it and brought it around. Bless her. Its stuff like that, that makes it a very good move living out here. I would say it reminds me of Britain circa 1960. But, with the advantages now of having proper drains. Mind you in Norfolk they say the place went to the dogs when they got gas. All the townies came in and brought the places up. Now locals cant afford to buy and most Norfolk towns are full of cafes, wine bars and antique cellars. We have chips shop, pub and second hand shops. I know which I prefer. We also have the highest number of Grammar Schools in the country, so whose daft then?

But my favorite story so far on country folk and townies was last winter when a Yuppie stuck a brand new Range Rover in a ditch and stood there practically in tears. I stopped and pulled over in my clapped out suzuki wondered over and as I approached the car a young farmers wife I know drove passed in her clapped out Astra. She took one look at the scene and wound down the window. "Steve she said can you get her out" I grinned "Spect so" I said. "get something you can drive yer silly cow" shouted the lass and drove off. I popped her into the right drive "marked Snow" and got her back on the road.



Sunday, 7 June 2015

Senior Moments

Ever stuck a cup of tea in the fridge and found it a day later? Ever wondered why your in the bedroom with a lettuce? Your having a senior moment. I have them a lot these days. I found when I moved to Lincolnshire that I had time to stand and stare at the everyday things people take for granted. Trouble is I do it a bit too much sometimes and become one of the things myself.

Bob my dog has a very significant amount of good sense and allows me about five minutes before he sniffs loudly, which is cocker spaniel for "Time to move on old lad, or we will get a ticket".

As long as you never put him on a lead he is perfect to take for a walk. Just keep him away from cars as he has a bad habit of jumping into them and scaring folk half to death. If you open a door within two nautical miles of him, there will be a black flash and he is in and probably securing his seat belt before you scream.

He did this neat trick last week outside my house when a nurse visiting an elderly outpatient pulled up in her Mini opened the door and Bob dived over her into the passenger seat. Always up for a Mini adventure is our Bob. The Nurse however was not and probably had a damp seat for the rest of the day!

Back to the senior moments. Its amazing how often I go shopping and come out with totally the wrong things and not the things I went in for. Even when I go in with a list this happens. Besides being basically stupid, what is that about? I went in for Milk this morning and came out with the Sunday Times and a fruit and nut bar. Ive been drinking black coffee all day now.

Back of a fag packet!

I was standing and staring (something I do a lot now) and wondering at the beauty of design to be found in the natural world when it came to me that design in the human world is sadly lacking in form today. Everything seems lacking in dare I say grace?

I mused on the design icons of the last century and thoughts such as "if it looks right it will fly right" and "designed on the back of a fag packet" came to mind. Before computers, it seems to me, designers designed with pencil and blank sheet of paper. Great design always starts with someone musing and sketching, or used to as there was no other way. I love the way the Jaguars of the 40s turned into the e-type over time. Apparently at one point Bill Lyons asked the kids near his house what they thought of the XK150 he was driving and one kid said "dont like the back end mate.. too fat init". and thats probably why the E-Type has such a lovely bum!
In aircraft design R.J.Mitchell took his inspiration we are told for the Spitfire from the seagull. Indeed if you look at a spitfire you will be hard pressed to find a straight line. Great man was Mr Mitchell he died pretty much of exhaustion getting the Spitfire completed in time for the war he knew was coming.

Bill Lyons of Jaguar was famous for messing about with napkins and a pen. As was Issac Issigonis father of the mini and morris minor. Very interesting guy was Issigonis and a design guru. He worked for Lord Nuffield that great man who would not let the bean counters dictate price on his cheaper cars. He lost sixpence on every Morris Minor he sold because he wanted to keep the price down so that everyone could afford a good car. If it was not for Lord Nuffield half the University and Hospitals in Oxford would not exist. He lived in a very small house and was a genuinely nice guy.  Likewise Issigonis lived a modest life and was infamous for designing cars on the table linen in the staff canteen.
Lucky he did or we would never have been blessed with the Mini. But its not just the mini is it.

The London Cab the RMT London Bus, the Telephone box and mail box and many many more icons of the 20th century easily spring to mind. But what of note springs to mind after say 1970??

Besides a few bridges.....I cannot think of a really good design that stands the test of time? Even the old ocean going ships such as the QE2 have now been replaced by ships that somehow do not have the grace and form of the old girl. They have replaced form and grace with practicality and economy it seems to me.

Or, is it lack of courage in not telling the bean counters to shut up and go ahead and just do it. Would we now have the courage to design the Saturn Vb and go to the moon. The Saturn Vb was the largest rocket ever built and could only just support its own weight when full of fuel. It never ceases to amaze me that they flew to the moon with a computer with less memory than a modern pocket calculator on top of a semi controlled bomb. .
I was looking at a Range Rover and it is a case in point. The first Range Rovers had a functionality and one could see the point. The modern version looks like a mobile Cheshire mock Tudor estate complete with more lights than Blackool. Form has been replaced by a mobile brash statement of wealth bordering on tacky.
 I suppose simplicity of form and function has been replaced by aspiration now that we all strive to live in a world driven by not who we are but who we wish to portray. Mind you for the likes of me there is an upside. I get to drive the cars the public no longer consider worthy of their driveway or posing in. But more of cars another day.

My point is simply that with the exception of architecture, where there is still passion, I cannot think of an area of endeavor where the accountant can be pushed into second place by the designer.







Saturday, 6 June 2015

Its hard sometimes to find something good.

Lest say your 60 got a bad case of this and that and basically disabled, through absolutely no fault of your own. Now lets say your a person who has just lost your long term partner. Now lets say your already paying the bedroom tax and you have had your sickness benefit turned into ESA. You have no savings (you spent all of those on food, rent and gas) and you have no dependents or people who will look after you as you deteriorate into old age.

So, you apply for Personal Independence Payments and get told that that will take the now privatised civil service six months to process. In the meantime your using wonga loans and food banks to survive. Plus, your lonely feel sad and not in the best of health. Still must'nt grumble eh!

Now imagine your marginalised by society for being old, ironic considering that same society will be old itself soon enough, and the health service you paid into all your life is crumbling at the seams because this overcrowded little island cant say no to economic migrants intent on a bit of free health care. Leaving you at the back of the cue to see a Doctor if you can get one.

How would you feel. Well, get used to it because one day you probably will be facing a situation even worse.

 Point is that unless we, that is all of us, start to take and interest in the other people around us then as a society we simply cease to be. Society implies being sociable, try it next time you see someone in need, or the person next door is sick. You never know we may get the hang of it and it could catch on. Wouldnt that be nice. There is no other way, because the Government sure as hell are not going to improve things.. Far from it, they have not even started on the austerity package they have tucked away.

Now I am no pulpit banging church goer, but I know a good man when I see one and Pope Francis has been daring to have yet another go at the utter stupidity of mankind and its hell bent drive into conflict. Its a shame no one listens, but the converted. Same with the Arch Bish of Cant.Bless him, he goes on about the terrors of a free market global economy and how the rich get richer and the poor get bloody poorer and he should know he was a city trader before seeing the light But, is anyone listening. Nope

We are a selfish breed and few listen and most have to experience a dollop of being poor before they "get it".

My ex runs a charity for kids with brain injuries and you would think that easy to generate funds for. No way, she has to adapt to the world the way it is and most of the money she manages to use for the children comes from shit head lawyers who chase ambulances. I guess in a way she is a poacher turned game keeper and in other ways a clever Robyn Hood. She takes from the rich by making them richer and gives the surplus to those in need. Tis a strange world when the Government we choose to look after us cannot look after the poor, the sick and those in need. So, what do they do???

Phones really area large pain in the arse... Every where one goes people are on the bloody things. Now you can have a virtual life on your hand top device and escape reality altogether. There is not a thing you cannot do with an Ap downloaded you could peel spuds or divert floods im sure. But, it cant get you a life.

Case in point a young girl I know very well (name with held for good reason) could not get a boy friend to save her life. Now she is a very good catch, funny, bright, affectionate, considerate, good cook and very pretty but it seems unable to find someone with a pulse and the ability to string a sentence together and have a conversation. She has to go on line and the nearest match lives 100 miles away... dear me, it seems our pursuit of the ultimate in communications has robbed us of the simpler way of face to face speech. how crazy to think one has to go 100 miles to find someone. I much prefer the old way of just meeting folk.

Without doubt the funniest thing I have seen for a while along these lines was a couple of months ago. I was in a dentists waiting room with about 20 other people. All were earnestly looking at there hands and the device therein. Not a word was spoken until a lady of about my age walked in, took one look around her, saw me and wondered over. She said "can I sit next to you, that lot scare me". We just chatted about this and that for the time it took to be called forward. It only struck me later how lucky I was. For I had met someone and simply chatted for a bit and the others had not and probably would not ever get to do that simple thing. They are, if you will, condemned to a life inside there own little bubble. They will never appreciate just what it is to be blessed with a normal upbringing free from bloody phones and be able to simply chat..

Have a phone free day sometime and see if you survive. If not worry!!!

Thursday, 4 June 2015

Charles Kennedy RIP

Bad news today at the death of Charles Kennedy. Nice guy and an honest broker. The house of commons could do with more not less of his ilk. I remember when he resigned as leader (well pushed) because of his drinking problem. Bless him he carried a big burden. He could express ideas and touch the man in the street. He stood against the invasion of Iraq and won much support from the public on that issue. I for one totally agreed on his stand and to this day we are watching the horror of that terrible decision to invade Iraq with no clear exit strategy. The whole affair casts a big shadow over those involved and there is still much to question concerning Blair and Bush over the reasons for it.

Time will tell whether Afghanistan was a similar cock up of monumental proportions. A secondary effect of these interventions was of course a massive drain on the defence budget, a waist of lives and a legacy of wounded service personnel. The British Forces also lost its reputation as a major player when it had to be bailed out in Helmond and required the assistance of those it opposed in Basra to evacuate to the airport at the end of that ill advised expedition in Iraq.

Thursday:
I see the Conservatives are off to a good start with the budget cuts.. Austerity for the poor and tax cuts for the rich. Yes indeed, the peasants cant afford to revolt as they are all on Zero Hour Contracts, so the fat cats are home and dry. I wonder how long it will take for a revolt in the commons and morality overtakes party loyalty.. No time soon I bet. Nice to see one or two of the more morally robust MPs have decided to give their pay rise to charity. Pay rise, while Granny pays for the luxury of having a spare bedroom. Dear Lord where are we heading.

Peg my next door neighbor has a superb ability to make up new words. She has an infected ear and told me today that she had tititus and that a hot wheatbix had done the trick. She meant tinnitus and a hot wheatbag!

Still, it must be a common problem as I was told recently that "Lithuanian Batteries are good", Presumably Estonian ones are'nt or is a Baltic state wide thing?

I am trying to repress the urge to re-invent myself and or go abroad.. I think if it were not for my old mate Bob I would be abroad now. I have several invitations to take up and yet I am putting them off for some reason I am not sure of. One in particular is the urge to not be a burden, as most recently separated people can be. Nothing worse than a sad arse inhabiting your sofa for any length of time. So, presumably I am avoiding trips until I get my sense of humor back and my waist line. My God separation can have a devastating effect on ones diet and off course I cannot get used to cooking for one. The resultant portions are huge. Clever people would suggest freezing some of it. But im afraid all common sense fails when one cant be bothered really and the chip shop beckons. Easier on the washing up to.

Note to self: Clean the bathroom tomorrow. Thank God for my Service background.. God knows what the place would look like had it not been for the ministrations of my Drill Corporal and Sergeant who spent a good six weeks of my first year in the service throwing my kit and bed out of the window for reasons that were sometimes not exactly clear.


My Drill Instructor really did look like Ernie Bilko and his wit and repartee was equally up to his. I well remember him telling me that if my bed block (see pic) didnt improve I would be joining it on the grass in front of the block. Now as we lived on the second floor that was'nt option I much liked.



By far the best line he ever came out with was in about the second week when he stopped us on the square and broke down in sham crying. He grasped the Corporals shoulder to hold himself up as he said "Fuck me slowly, how can it be so hard..................all im asking you to do is walk smartly................I mean how hard can it be....im shouting left right left right and all that arsehole on the back row (me) keeps doing is left right left left left left... is he the missing link or something. Corporal do me a favor and take him away and kill him".

Ahhhhh happy days!

Monday, 1 June 2015

Bears are the best

Its "oh my God its early o'clock" and I cant sleep. Blogs are great for when you cant sleep. One can chunter away to no one in particular on any given subject till Bedfordshire beckons.

So, this mornings chunter is the importance, to me at least, of bears to the well being of the planet.

I naturally had a Ted with one eye and one ear back in my childhood and always had a massive soft spot for spectacle bears. But when Zoe arrived on the scene some 19 years ago I decided bears were going to be big in our house. Not only did we have a lot of bears, but we made a world of bears for Zoe to live in. Indeed, we became bears. I was Stevebear. Mum was Mumbear and Zoe was of course Zoebear. We had paws and not hands and walked on trotters for some reason. We had bear dinners and addressed each other with not hello, or good morning, but for another reason now lost in time "Row Row".

So, normal conversation went something like
"Row row Zozbear"
"Row Row Marbear hows your trotters?"
We also had signals and would row each other in the day on our mobiles to check that all was well.

Text send Row
Text Recv Row. Meant all is well. 2 Rows never to be ignored and two actual phone calls meant bear in trouble.

Then of course kids grow up and Teds get lost. However, one special Ted was in fact a Tiger. Named Micheal. And he was special in that Zoe had sucked one ear almost off and all his stripes. Micheal went on trips wherever we went and if one or other of us went away Micheal went with us. I could not see him thrown away and retrieved him from the bin bag. He sits now in my wee jeep and goes wherever I go. Loyalty to the family Tiger is essential in my view.

This is Micheal on a trip to Belgium. He is a well traveled Tiger.

And so to all you bears out there Row Row!


Brutal World

One has to wonder at the amount of violence there is in the world at present. I do not mean actual armed conflict, although that has increased ten fold since the end of the cold war, I mean common violence occasioned in every day life. Particularly being committed by women and girls. It seems to be the fashion now for women to sort problems with a good deal of violence while being filmed by "friends" for later internet consumption. The amount of this stuff on the internet is a worry to say the least. The gentle sex seem to be less so than at anytime in my history on this planet and is yet more evidence that something in society is out of kilter with the precept that we are supposed to be living in more enlighten times.

I suppose one could lay the blame at face book and its kind, which I am reliably informed  is the cause of one third of all assault's in the UK, but I think it is more a case of "Evil prospers when wise men do nothing"!

We could also lay the blame at Political correctness and human rights, erosion of basic standards of accepted behavior, lack of discipline at home and school, lack of self control and responsibility for ones actions. All true, but if we have no role models anymore then the lowest denominator will win it seems to me. Thus the pull if you will of violence. If you are being fed a diet of 24/7 violence in all its forms then it has to have an effect on formative and suggestive young minds. What this diet has done when mixed with religious extremism and intolerance is all too evident in much of the world. But thats a subject all of its own and perhaps for another day.

Well, time for a bit of light relief:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtmd8fCqJdo Cut and paste that.

Dont you love the Dutch. They are more English than the English. Really lovely sense of humor and I can honestly say I never spent a boring day in  Holland. You can always strike up a conversation on any subject. I once ended up in conversation (in English of course) with about five people at a herring store in Venlo. Also, i remember once we weighed my Mother on some big scales in the town house in I think Delft. We ended up with a certificate proving she was not a witch. It was touch and go mind you.

My Mother loved Amsterdam and I well remember he dancing with Dad to a street organ playing tulips from Amsterdam. That was back in the 1960s when the world was a bit less crowded and folk did things like that.

They like chocolate sprinkles with everything and a cafe on the side or the Izelmeer I used to go to always serves purple pears with everything..I have no idea why.

Rollmops are my particular favorites and dutch pom fritz with lashing of mayo go with a Heinekin, or Amstel very nicely.

Good King Billy is another reason to like the Dutch and of course the Dutch are the only nation to have really given the Royal Navy a good kicking twice. Once at the Battle of Texel and when they set fire to the Royal Fleet at Chatham.