History at 70MPH?

30 December

There’s a government plan to allow ‘selected’ learner drivers to drove on the motorway if their driving instructor says they are able to do so. Even experienced drivers get caught out on there, as seen with a coach has over turned on the M40. So now the motorways will be even more dangerous when that one comes in. Imagine a learner driver driving at 70mph when someone is in trying to escape from cops and comes flying past at a ton or more with several cop cars trying to intercept. I can see the learn panicking and all the instructor can do is to give instructions and maybe use his break peddle. Who thinks up these crazy ideas. And speaking of crazy ideas …

Mad Maggie, she of poll tax craziness, failed to fill in her poll tax registration form and was warned she could be fined for not doing so. It took two attempts to get it done cos the council sent her the wrong form to start with. This is an interesting little story,  http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/margaret-thatcher-received-a-warning-to-pay-up-her-own-hated-poll-tax-reveal-secret-cabinet-papers/ar-BBxHMv8?li=AA59G2&ocid=spartandhp a footnote to her final fall from grace, which was the whole poll tax idea. She had been warned about bringing this one in and yet being the arrogant person she was, she ignored them – and paid the price for it; oh dear, how sad, what a pity, never mind!

These papers, realised at long last, show just one instance of pollical folly, but it makes me wonder how many more there waiting to be discovered. How many more prime muppets have made such monumental cock-ups of that sort. I’m sure at some time in the future there will be more such stories to come out about what happened in Downing Street. What was the truth behind the death of that scientist found dead in Oxfordshire? What were the real reasons that lead Terrible Tony to pick a fight with Saddam? How about the truth about the Falklands War and the miner’s strike? And don’t forget the death of Diana, Charlie’s first wife.  All these answers won’t be forth coming in our lifetimes and maybe won’t be of interest to those who will get the chance to read them.

The real interest in these papers is with historians, not the general public. I know people who consider history as being a waste to time and boring. ‘After all,’ they say, ‘there’s nothing we can do now that it’s all done and past us is there?’ I find that really sad. My BA hons is in history so such an attitude makes my blood boil. History is something that I have always enjoyed, even back in school, and of course, I still enjoy it. I just wish I could remember everything I have learned and read over the years. One Sunday I mention this to a teacher friend of ours and she that it was impossible to remember everything you have read and learned. That put my mind at ease somewhat; and yet, and yet … … …

Jan turned up here yesterday with three sprogs in tow. Actually, it didn’t go as bad as I had thought it might. Mind you, I did put my head phones and played an ELO CD and the Beatles Revolver so I didn’t hear much at all. But I did keep an eye on though. I think it was a useful exercise in that Billy and Vicky now know there is not enough for all three of them every other weekend. As it is Kile sleeps on a camp-bed beside the front door, which is not ideal but is workable.

No go, sorry but the uploader isn't working for some daft reason, so no photo for today.

Today’s funny …

'Grandad, do you know how to croak?'
‘I don't think so, Steven, why?"
'Because Dad says he'll be rich when you do.'           

Election rigging

29 December

This afternoon could be interesting; Jan is off to collect Kile and Billy to come down here for a couple of hours. Vicky might want to come down as well. We’ve never had so many people in here at one time in here so I’m hoping that I can cope with them all. We’ll soon see …

What do you think about the idea of some of people being asked for ID when they turn up to vote? The postal vote system is being tightened up at the same time, something that has needed doing for a long time, far to open to abuse. The usual cage rattling is being done by various civil liberty groups and individuals who have too much hot air in the lungs to be taken seriously. Thing is, a lot of what this is being brought in for will clash with various culture systems in places like Pakistan and Bangladesh. Some of those involved will not see what the problem is because they are just doing the same as they would back home.

I’m expecting a backlash at some point – and not just from the communities being targeted. In theory postal votes are a great idea on the face of it. There are a lot of people in the UK with dementia, enough to possibly have an effect on a general election. It might not seem so obvious but the odd vote here and there soon adds up to a significant number. That is perhaps why action is being considered. For example; My mother didn’t have a clue what was going on around her. Dave could have applied for got a postal vote for both of them, but he didn’t simply cos he was too lazy. Anyway, if he had bothered, mother could see or hear anything so how would she know and understand what she was being asked? She couldn’t, that means it would be down to down to whoever filled in the vote for her, and that is where the fraud comes in.

Proxy voting can be abused too. My dad used to vote for me in all our elections while I was in the army. It was dad because I knew that I could trust him to vote the way I wanted. Every so often I’d try winding him up by saying I wanted to vote tory and not labour, he’d bit every time and Dave and me would be giggling at his antics when I said it. But perhaps you can see how easy fraud becomes with such on open system. And don’t forget that in some cultures women do not have the freedoms as do our British women.

Most of us cherish our right to vote, and yet few of us know that the right for all men over 21 to vote is less than 100 years old. Women over the age of 30 could also vote at that time and it wasn’t until 1928 that all women over 21 were given the vote. It was 1969 that the voting age was lowered to 18 years of age for both sexes. These rights were hard won and we should cherish them, and use them! So is it really surprising that that when we hear of frauds happening in our voting systems that people are getting uppity over it? No, of course not. Why should these people get away with what is in fact, a criminal offence? Proving it might be a bit of a problem though.
Today’s photo …

Kingsbury Parish Church.

Today’s funny …            
A Truck load of prunes has been stolen.
Police are looking for a man on the run.

The death of democracy perhaps?

28 December

This ‘ere celebratory malarkey is not all it’s cracked up to be, is it? Another two of them have kicked the bucket over Christmas. There’s been quite a few of them taking the last bow this year, and there’s three more days to go yet. Maybe there is something about being a celeb that attracts it in some way. But there again, it comes to us all at some point, it’s just that when it’s Joe Public very few of us are interested.

For example; a man has been arrested in Bristol over the death of six month old baby on Christmas Day. Yesterday in Brum, I man sitting in a car was shot in the head and died. Did you know about those two? I did know about the one in Brum cos it was on BBC Midlands Today last night, but not about the dead baby until I just read it on MSN news feed. See what I mean? Yesterday I bought a Daily Mail and around six pages of it were taken up in the George Michael story. OK, he was a popular singer, however, just how many of us really did like his work? Jan and me didn’t for a start, and neither did my brother Dave. And yet that baby doesn’t even get a small paragraph.

Mrs Lizzy Windsor apparently supported Brexit and can’t understand why we can’t just leave right now. That means she is thinking in the same way as I do, and fair number of people too. And don’t forget, that lady is no drug sniffer idiot, she is a very clever and well informed lady, (and I’m usually willing to support what she says and does remember). So, if she really thinks that, then what is the government farting about at? Or is the delay just another excuse to line their own pockets before we leave? Whatever, the sooner the better for me.

Did you happen to see the photo of Bob Geldof shouting abuse at Brexiters in the papers yesterday? I’m not over keen on his as an entertainer either, but the way he looked in that makes me wonder if he is still pushing his punk rock message after all these years. But what can we expect these days about the whole Brexit issue? On one hand we have remainers who warned of dire consequences if we leave the EU, but now they say they have changed their minds, ex-Bank of England chief Melvin King. Our economy isn’t plunging into unknown depths since the vote, and yet there are still people coming forward claiming it will be a serious problem in the future. Some people just won’t accept the majority vote, will they? I don’t know what will happen but I still feel we will be better off out there than in. I just wish they would get on and get us out.

Obama claims that the Labour party is falling apart. I have to agree with him too. The problem is within the parliamentary party, again because we have a group of people who will not accept the vote of the members in backing Corbyn as the party leader. What hope is there for the local party if top level won’t accept voters’ wishes? Very little methinks. As it is, I don’t see Corbyn as a future Prime Muppet any way, but hey-ho, there’s another three years before the next general election so they have time to sort it all out – at least I hope they do!

Today's photo ...

Kile sitting in the sun at Kingsbury Water Park, just a reminder on this frosty, foggy morning.

Doctor, doctor. Every time I stand up quickly, I see Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy.
Ok, how long have you been having these Disney spells?                

Post Crimble ...

27 December

That’s Crimble over for another year, only 363 days to the next one. Ours was the usual quiet time with nowt much happening and us not going out anywhere. One year we will fulfil our dream of away for the Christmas and New Year, somewhere nice and warm. Anyway, Last night we sat and watched one of our favourite DVDs, Stardust. What I hadn’t realised until last night is that the original book it’s based on was by Neil Gaiman. I’ve read one of his, now it looks like I shall be book hunting again soon.

Another strange dream last night; this time it was about a strange beastie in large man-made lake. Suddenly there were two of them, and then hundreds of the little beasties. That was when they began to change and start to eat anyone near the water. They were sort of sting ray shaped with three long tails, the shorter central was the killing one. Pretty soon they had begun to spread and became a series problem for everyone. The investigations into what they were and where they came from ended, and the best way of killing them became to key focus. And another novel idea is set out ready to be worked on.

… Bristol Fashion is being proofed for me so I thought I could get on with Arathusia; as it worked out the new Alan Parsons came to the fore, and had around 350 words added before I came to a shuddering stop! Arathusia is being hand written and then typed up, however both version, typed and hand written stop versions end in places that are so different I’m lost as to what to do with it. It will get sorted though, they always do. All I need to do is get on with and do it, and that my friends is not so easy at times. Lack of motivation is far more real than writers block in my view … or are they same?

Different writers have different ways of beating it. Some prefer the idea of writing anything, anything at all as long as you are writing. OK, fine, but what do they do with all they produce I wonder? Others say that they structure their writing days, and lets face it, a writer who writes to earn a living has no choice in it. They get up early, go for a walk, have breakfast and then go to their office/study and start work, breaking for regular tea breaks and so on. Fine, I can see that working for some folks, but not for me, simply because I don’t have a particular writing area apart from in our living room where I’m sat now. Jan is also sat here too and as much as she enjoys playing game on here lappy, she like to have the telly on too. When that happens, all thought of working go out the window.

I can’t see me getting much done today either; we are off out pretty soon now, heading for B&Q in Binley and across the road to Morrisons after that. Jan is also on about going to B&M to look for lamp shades. That is my idea of going to Astley Book Farm is out for today too, ah well … … …

So it’s time for a photo …

What better than my Crimble dinner; that’s right, no turkey. Neither of us like turkey all that much, so we had a chunk of beef instead, and very nice it was too.

Today’s funny …

How many waiters does it take to change a light bulb?
None. Not even a burned-out bulb can catch a waiter's attention.      

It's nearly Crimble ...

21 December

We read fairly often, or hear on telly about the word tracking software that GCHQ uses to pick up when certain words are used. OK, fine; I personally don’t have problem with them doing so but I’m well aware that there are people all across the UK who do mind. They see this monitoring as restricting their own personal spaces. My response to that is to wonder just what they are doing for them to worry about what others are thinking of them; oh dear, how sad, what a pity, never mind. Some folks do things on-line that they need to stop doing, then there wouldn’t be any worry about what they are doing. There are others who are so busy worrying about is being done to others that they forget to live their own lives to the full.

Our Plan for today is to get over to Asda in Walsgrave for our last bit to shopping before Crimble. We don’t need much, just a few items really, but it gives us a chance to get out for a few hours before the weather breaks. We may look to see if we can a few new DVDs to watch while we’re in Asda, been a while since we bought any. Last year we went up to see Kile, Billy and Vicki on Christmas Day, but right now they are still busy decorating after moving in, but Jan then had the idea that perhaps it might be better if we left alone this year because it’s their first one in a new home. Add in the decorating and it makes sense.

So then, with that in mind, this will really be a short blog today; not only that but I shall a few days over the weekend and come back on Tuesday. Jan and wish you all Merry Christmas.

Today’s photo …

Part of the winter land set up in Milton Keynes a couple of years ago.

Today’s funny …

Why is it always so cold at Christmas?
Because it's in Decembrrrrr.       

Imagine ... Lennon was right!

20 December

For want of anything else we watched The Golden Compass again the night before last. The critics slated it when it first came out, but I find it hard to see why. It’s not the best film I’ve seen, but it’s far from being the worst one as well. I’ve not read the books it’s based on so I can’t compare them, but I may well give them a go. Having said that, the last time I watched it I remember saying the same thing, and I’m still saying it. The film didn’t give me a very a very good night’s sleep with the result that it was around 3.30pm before I became fully functional.

Last night wasn’t a lot better. Around 1.45am I had a thought come to me about those silly idiotic clowns jumping out at people and frightening them half to death. Our son Tom, shared a FaceBook video of a similar thing but this time it’s young men running up to and hitting strangers with a pillow, then running off laughing. Someone will get really pissed off about it one day and the attacker will be seriously hurt. Perhaps that is what is needed to stop these silly games. However, there’s always someone on hand to film the attack, so they are not so random as it first seems. That camera operator should also be duffed up.

These attacks are premeditated in as much as one of them is going out with a pillow ready to hit another person with it. That is surely an arrestable offence? However, unless someone actually makes a complain to the cops over it, there’s little the cops can do. There are no injuries sustained either, so no evidence of the attack apart from the video taken by the accomplice. And while all this is happening …

A Russian diplomat is shot in the back by a police officer in Turkey. I don’t think the Russians are nice group of people to deal with, at least the politians and so on, but what the officer was totally uncalled and unnecessary. How can any diplomat from any nation feel safe when they are out and about on their official duties after this attack? Have you thought about the damage this attack might cause? In 1914 a minor prince was shot dead. That incident lead to millions of young men being killed in the trenches of Europe and elsewhere. Take the thought deeper; Russia  is ruled by a very anti-West man, and Turkey is part of the NATO alliance.  

An attack on Turkey by Russia is likely to be seen as an attack on NATO, and don’t forget, both sides now have nukes they throw at each other. And yet again we see the falsehood of the ‘peace dividend’! It’s even worse now with Bonkers Boris and Farter on the international scene. How are they likely to react I wonder; not good I think.  

Twelve more innocent people are dead because yet another follower of the peaceful religion drove an artic lorry into a crowded market area in Berlin. If that is ‘peaceful’, we already know what Jihad is like, just look at what ISIS has been doing. How many more will die because them? One thing I am sure about though, is that an all-out war against Islam will not work. It was tried hundreds of years ago and it didn’t work then (although that was more a war of greed sanctioned by the Pope of the day), it won’t work now either. I have to say it again, Enoch Powell told it true. Rivers of blood are flowing on the streets; but Powell was speaking only of Britain, these rivers are flowing throughout the world.

Today’s photo …

Are they about to rule the world?

Today’s funny …

Your dog just chased the postman down the road on his bike.
You must be mistaken my dog hasn't got a bike.               

18 December

Kids, who’d have ‘em eh? Well, they are great aren’t they; I love ‘em when they’re tucked up fast asleep in bed, or perhaps playing on the fast lane of the nearest motorway between 10pm and 2am with all other lanes closed to traffic. Last night I found another way we can all enjoy having kids around. In GoT5 a knight says that kids should be wrapped in swaddling clothes and from hooks on the wall until the girls start to grow teats and boys need to shave. I like that one, as long as it’s not my wall they hang from that is.

When our TIVO box up playing and we had a new one installed, we lost all our recorded shows, Jan went through the listings and set a load of things to record. Since then we have been watching a lot of shows that we didn’t have before – now then … one of them is UK Border Force and that one isn’t so bad at all, even if they are around seven or eight years old. One episode we watched yesterday showed 16 Afghanis in the back of a lorry, and not the most that has been caught in just one truck either. Those 16 young men though, they all looked well fed and reasonably clean, their teeth were all brilliant white, and they were all so happy, smiling and laughing in front of the cameras.

Why was that I wonder? Think about it a wee bit, they had no papers but claimed to Afghanis, so why were they so happy to be found? The French police were called and they took all of them away outside the port area, which they claimed was as much as they could do with them. OK, this show was filmed in 2008/9 so the Jungle camp at Calais was in full swing and we all know that it has now been flatten. From memory of the crisis in Greece and Italy over illegals, a lot of those young men filmed were fit, well fed and happy too. I thought at the time that it was an easy way to get ISIS fighters into Europe, you may remember me mentioning at the time. But what about all those across the channel?

A lorry is stopped with a load of illegals in the back. It takes some time for them all to be processed and while that is happening how many more will get past while the staff is so caught up. Perhaps at the time they might have been ISIS fighters, perhaps they were just trying it on. Those 16 though looked more than a little dodgy to me, yes, I know, of course they are trying to get into the UK by the back door. However, I began to think that might have been some sort of system on the go where a number of guys were allowed to be found so that even more can get through without being checked. Perhaps the ones found were top of the list for the next group to slip through undetected? Yes, I know, I’m a cynic!          

Bloody hips … My left hip began kicking up again yesterday just after I posted the blog. They both kick up and seem to take turns on who will hurt the most on a daily basis. Whatever, it’s a walk into the kitchen for some pain killers, which I had hopped I wouldn’t need any more … some hope eh?

Today’s photo …

Coventry city centre precinct, part of it anyway. Do you see that smallish blue stripe in the centre? It’s a circular café that Grade 2 listed and that had to be protected when the all the upgrade work was done. It was claimed to be either the only one, or one of very few such building in the UK. I’ve heard that one before …

Today’s funny …

"Surely you're not going to drive that car," said the policeman, advancing on the motorist who had just staggered out of a bar.
"Well, offisher, do you think I'm in any condition to walk?"