Then and now

 

Our Barn in 2023, the day before before we sold it.

The Barn two weeks ago in 2026.

I don't wish to tell people how they should live their lives, but a certain amount of respect for a newly purchased property, and even the environment, wouldn't go amiss.

Before we sold it, I looked after the barn and its surrounding gardens on a daily basis. I had already worked for two years on the interior, and had created the whole garden from scratch; including the orchard. It was a great pleasure for me seeing it looking 'pristine'. However, the new owner obviously sees things differently. It now looks overgrown and abandoned, and is a total MESS.

And, yes, he does live there permanently. If he can't be bothered to do the work himself; get a bloody GARDENER!!!

Bloody thieves

I've just received my Car Insurance renewal papers.

As you can see, my premium has jumped from £415 to £509. A total disgrace!

The less I drive, the more my premium rises. What on earth have I done to warrant this increase? I've made no claims, I've had no accidents, in fact I've been the perfect client. I pay them cash and they give nothing in return; nor have they since I first began to drive! They should be falling at my feet, and offering me free coverage for the next decade, in the knowledge that I'm one of the safest drivers in Europe.

As with Road Tax, there is no escape from Car Insurance other than to sell my car and become 100% pedestrian. For the moment I cannot exist without my car; especially in France, so I need to continue to pay these scoundrels whatever they demand.

Bah; humbug!

 

UK Referenda

 

The leaders of Scotland's SNP, N Ireland's Sinn Fein, and Wales's Plaid Cymru, have all recently got together to talk about their mutual desires for independence from England.

At present the only member of the four nation 'United Kingdom' to NOT have it's own Parliament is England. Scotland, N Ireland, and Wales each have their own Parliaments, where English MP's do not sit. It really is about time that England had it's own Parliament as well.

Personally I am all FOR their independence. It would save England VAST amounts of Tax-Payer 'Barnett Formula' money. The three newly independent countries could all remain members of The Commonwealth (if they wished), but would not be eligible for 'Foreign Aid' from England.

I would suggest that all major English companies that are presently installed in any of the three other countries should return to England. Each of the newly independent countries would need to raise their own taxes, pay for their own defence, pay for their own unemployed, and pay for their own schools and hospitals. 

They would also no longer benefit from the BBC, The NHS, The Passport Office (they'd need to have their own), or even The DVLA.

If, after a referendum, the three countries voted to remain in the UK, may I also suggest that England holds its own referendum and becomes a unilaterally independent country; leaving the others to go it alone. 

It's about time that N Ireland, Wales, and Scotland all stood on their own two feet, and didn't rely on the generosity of England to keep them afloat. It would be fun to watch how they get on!

Observations.

 

We've been back in Brighton for a couple of weeks now, and my first observation has been how friendly people are. It used to be like that in France, but something has happened, and there is now a feeling of 'gloom' everywhere. Here we can hardly walk a few metres without someone stopping to chat, and they're not always people we know.

Our lives are not that different to how they are in France. We tend to eat much the same, we drink the same wines, and our time-table is not that different. In Brighton we see Foxes every day, but I would say that is the only noticeable daily difference.

I always like to compare my two supermarkets. In France, Leclerc is still excellent, but some shelves are regularly empty; I have no idea why. Here at Sainsbury's the aisles are littered with people filling baskets for online shoppers, and they do hamper one's movement. It's a big store but there must be between 20 and 30 people permanently filling huge trollies with online purchases. Not good.

Pickles. France has a huge love-affair with pickled Gherkins (Cornichons), but nothing else. There is a huge variety of sizes, shapes, and presentations, but they're still all Gherkins. There are no pickled Onions, Red Cabbage, or even Piccalilli on regular sale in France. Nor are there 'Branston' type pickles, or Chutneys. The UK is far more adventurous. 

On the other hand, French Charcuterie is far superior. The variety of really good products, both on the Deli counter, and on the shelves, is superb. Something the UK still has to master. The UK also continues to have a problem with Sausages. I still cannot understand why we are obsessed with 'additives' in sausages. Please, please, will someone start a company making 100% Pork sausages. Nothing is simpler, and nothing is tastier. 

Strangely, UK bread making seems to have improved hugely over the past decade. The choice of interesting breads is now far ahead of that in France. The classic, and often boring Baguette, has held them back. It is 'traditional' and they're sticking with it regardless.

The weather has changed a lot since being back, and Autumn is almost here. I am still wearing just Shorts and T Shirts, and I will continue to do so well into October. I have also bought myself my FIRST EVER pair of sandals. I was worried that they would be uncomfortable, but I love them.

Everything here is OK, and we're very happy to be 'home'. We miss swimming every day, and we miss the open countryside, but inner city life can be just as much fun.

The next big event will be painting the front and back of the house. The Scaffolding has been ordered, and grandson Suarve Harve will quit Oxford for a weekend to lend a hand. It'll be good to have it done. I shall be up there doing some of the masonry work prior to painting. Pray for me!

Student Accommodation

It's the start of the new academic year. Michaelmas term starts any day; or has already started. This means that students everywhere are moving into new bed-sits, squats, or (if their people are filthy rich) 5 star hotel suites; my two UK based grandsons are amongst them (in bed-sits).

The Young Ones (below) were classics of the ilk. During my own first year at college I shared a flat with two others. One of them once lit a gas ring with a piece of flaming newspaper, then dropped it in the rubbish bin (yes, we did actually have one). The bin caught fire, as did the curtain behind it, and had I not found it in time, and had been adept with a bucket of water, the whole house might have burned down.

The Young Ones were an anarchic bunch of 80's students, who represented perfectly many of the trends of the time. Along with Little Britain, it was one of the UK's funniest and well-loved TV comedy shows.

Rik Mayall, Ade Edmondson, Alexi Sayle, and Nigel Planer played the main characters, and all went on to greater things. 

The genius who was Rik Mayall (black leather hat) sadly died back in 2014; what an extraordinary person he was. 

 

The Fourth Plinth

 

For anyone who may not already have seen it, this is the latest offering for Trafalgar Square's vacant fourth plinth.

Works occupying the space are temporary, and usually have nothing in common with the 'heroic' theme of the square's other monuments.

This current one (above) is by American artist, Tshabalala Self, and we are told that it represents 'Everywoman'. It is entitled 'Lady in Blue'.

I really don't know what to say about it. It is cartoon-like, gaudy, and looks totally out of place. It lacks any dignity usually associated with Trafalgar Square.

Is it supposed to be sending me some hidden message? Is the person depicted someone of importance? I really have no idea. It looks as if it would be better situated outside a KFC Chicken shop.

There have been some strange occupants of the fourth plinth, and I cannot imagine what Lord Nelson would have thought about them. Not too much methinks! I hear that London's Mayor, Sadiq Khan, turned-down the proposal of a statue commemorating our late Queen, in favour of this blue woman.

This one will remain in place until 2028, when it will be replaced by (what looks like) a big lump of greenish glass, by Andra Ursuta, and is entitled 'Untitled'.

This (below) is what the fourth plinth looks like in it's unoccupied state. Occasionally it's preferable than when occupied.

In the background are The National Gallery (left), and St Martin in the Fields (right).

N.B. If you ever happen to be in central London, and are looking for somewhere interesting to have lunch, may I recommend the wonderful café in the vaulted crypt beneath St Martin's.

Family Fun

My grandsons (luckily) all adore each other, and get on extremely well, and as a result they do tend to take the pi*s as often as possible.

'Suave Harve' is the tallest amongst them, so is the prefect target for a bit of size-reduction.

The above is a classic example; I love it.

But then Suave Harve's tormentor, Finn, just passed his driving test in Oz, so Harve retaliated with THIS.

 

Well done boys; keep-up the good work!!!