Wednesday, 9 July 2025
Bee keeping autrefois, and other matters.
Tuesday, 8 July 2025
Hard boiled eggs
I'm beginning to get really frustrated. I've been having a real problem with hard boiled eggs for our lunch salads recently. I find that the shells refuse to come-away from the eggs cleanly, leaving a rather pitted and bedraggled looking egg, that is most un-appealing (unna-peel-ing, geddit?).
I've been told that the eggs shouldn't be too fresh, or that one should plunge them into ice-cold water when cooked, or even to put baking soda in the water. Whatever method I use there are always one or more of the little bast*rds that refuses to peel properly.
Actually I've just cooked a couple and they were fine, but generally this isn't the case.
If anyone has a foolproof method, I would love to hear it. Maybe I should ask someone who works in a pickled egg factory; theirs always seem to be perfect.
I usually serve ours cut in half, with a squirt of Mayo and a tiny sprinkling of curry powder (as above). Looking nice is as important as tasting nice, and some of mine recently have looked almost scrambled. A dreadful mess.
Monday, 7 July 2025
Flower gardening
Sunday, 6 July 2025
Reform UK, the manifesto.
When I read that Nigel Farage's new political party, Reform UK, were doing so well in the polls, I genuinely wondered why and how!
At present they are allegedly more popular than both Labour and The Tories. The reason for this must be their proposed manifesto; it can't be for any other reason. They are a brand-new party, they only have 5 MP's, and no track record.
I don't have time, or interest, in showing you their complete manifesto, but here are just a few of the more 'catchy' proposals.
No-one will begin to pay Income Tax on a salary/wage below £20,000.
They wish to scrap Stamp Duty on house purchases below £750,000.
They will abolish Inheritance Tax on all legacies under £2 Million.
They will reduce Fuel Tax by 20p per Litre.
They wish to cut Foreign Aid by 50%
They will ditch all attempts at Net Zero.
And, of course, they will stop illegal immigrants, and deport all foreign criminals.
Well, I wouldn't be surprised if people voted for them if all this was achievable. But somehow it all seems too good to be true. Where is the money coming from to pay for essentials such as Defence, Education, and Health? I failed to see any policies that would raise enough money to pay for all the promises.
However, voters don't really care about practicalities. Just a year ago the country voted for a party that promised 'change'; now they've seen what that 'change' actually looks like, they're all jumping ship and looking for someone else to vote for next time. That person seems to be Nigel Farage.
So, who is Farage? He was educated at Dulwich, after which he worked in The City for various firms of Commodity Traders. He later became an EU-sceptic MEP, often making controversial speeches in Brussels. He led the UK Independence Party from 2006 to 2016, and was elected MP for Clacton in 2024, when he founded his Reform UK party. He's also a friend of Tr*mp.
Now he wants to become the British Prime Minister. It might well happen! PMQ's would certainly be more entertaining.
p.s. I now see that Reform UK are being predicted to win 290 seats at the next election. THAT remains to be seen.
Saturday, 5 July 2025
Single Mom DEMANDS Disabled Spot
Friday, 4 July 2025
One year already; how's he doing?
It is generally understood that Labour always 'rob Peter to pay Paul', but now those Peters are quitting the UK in their droves, and taking their £Billions with them. The wealth creators are leaving the sinking ship; and who could blame them. Shipping tycoon John Fredriksen being the latest to make his intentions known
Starmer recently tried to take-away certain benefits from the disabled, as he had with the OAP's. His aim was to deprive scroungers of welfare money, saving around £4.25Billion. His backbenchers saw things differently and he was forced to back-down (these people are their constituents). Now those £Billions will need to be found elsewhere by Rachel (from Accounts) Reeves. Their answer....Yet another Wealth Tax, which means more wealth-creators leaving for more tax-friendly climes.
In fact, the abuse of the 'disabled benefits' system is infamous, and Starmer was right to try to filter out the crooks. Scroungers are everywhere, and the bill is HUGE. Almost anybody seems to be able to claim incapacity or disability benefits without any questions being asked. After his U-Turn, we can now expect that number of claimants to rise even more.
In yet another U-Turn, even the OAP's are to have their 'Winter Fuel Payment' reinstated this year. It should NEVER have been taken away.
And while I think of it, we've seen a record 20,000 new illegal immigrants crossing the channel already this year. Worthy of The Guinness Book of Records methinks!
You can't keep-on bashing the elderly and vulnerable, raising taxes, filling the country with illegal immigrants, closing down schools and businesses, and making the rich leave the country, if you want the economy to thrive.
The Office of National Statistics tells us that unemployment in Britain is the highest it's been for four years; since the Covid crisis. Those figures will only rise further with this group of amateurs in charge. Student style economics are all well and good in a College Common Room, but not in Downing Street.
Historically, unemployment has ALWAYS increased after a period of Labour government. It's what they do best!
A recent LBC poll says 30% regret voting Labour, and 61% think Starmer should go, leaving Angela Rayner to occupy No 10. She could even bring back Corbyn. What an absolutely HORRENDOUS thought.
I put 50p on Starmer having been ousted by the end of last year; I lost my 50p. However, I'll place another 50p on his being ousted by the end of this one! He's simply not up to the job.
Labour needs another (more honest) Tony Blair; but I don't see one anywhere!