Fashion?

I have always thought (maybe mistakenly) that fashion should enhance the look of either the women or men who wear stylish clothes. Traditionally women are supposed to look the shape of an hour-glass, and men the shape of a carrot or parsnip. The clothes they wear should normally enhance that.

But these days, all that seems to have been waylaid. In these days of gender fluidity, one is more likely to see the promotion of men's clothes for women, and women's clothes for men.

Figure hugging, sexual stereotyping, and flattery is despised by many of the new wave of Woke trans designers. They like to see androgenous models, and his-n-hers styles. Good old fashioned male/female delimitation is frowned-upon.   

I have to say that if I invited a young lady out for the evening, and she turned-up looking like the above; I'd head for home. No thanks!

What are these people thinking???

 

UK Farming.

 

Dear UK Farmers.

I simply want to let you know that I am 100% behind your actions.

I wish you all the best, Cro xx

Jean-Louis Aubert - Merveille (Live)

One of the biggest French bands of the mid to late 70's (that you've never heard of) was called Téléphone.

The oldest son of my next door neighbours (FR) was their manager, and the Téléphone lads, and lass, would come down from Paris for weekends in the countryside. They became part of the scene of our tiny 3 house hamlet.

FR later went on to manage Marianne Faithful, who also used to visit, which is why she came to my 50th birthday Party. Oh yes!

Téléphone were as big a French pop band as they could possibly get, they were France's very own version of The Beatles; but without the same talent.

The band broke-up in 1985 or 86 (I think), and the singer Jean-Louis Aubert went his own way with a very successful solo career. He became France's version of Mick Jagger.

This is one of his better songs (give it time).

I was very surprised to hear this track on English radio recently. It was chosen by Celia Imrie on the short Radio 4 Extra programme called 'Inheritance Tracks'. Imrie, like me, is a serious Francophile, and the track brought back wonderful memories for her.

I only saw Téléphone live once, and frankly I wasn't too impressed. For an Englishman it was all very tame and a tad dull. Of course, the French LOVED them.

Hives of Activity.

 

You can imagine my surprise when I encountered a man in full Bee-Keepers outfit coming out from behind the church. The hives are in a fenced-off area, I don't know if you can see them, it's a terrible photo. 

I'm used to encountering hives in France, in amongst the Chestnut trees, but I'd not known them to be placed behind the church before; especially at this time of year.

I wouldn't have thought that there was much pollen out there at the moment for the bees, but whatever there is; they'll find it.

I wonder if they'll be selling 'St Nicholas Church Honey' at some time later? I will definitely buy some if they do. I shall have a word with Father D.

Winter Pickles.

It's that time of year again.  I need to begin making my pickles for Christmas.

I always do my Onions reasonably early. They benefit from being in vinegar for at least a month.

I use a very simple, hit-n-miss, method. I almost fill with vinegar, add a few dried chili flakes, a couple of good soup-spoons of Sugar, then top-up the final few milliliters with water (2%).  

                                    

I shall do my Pickled Red Cabbage about a week before Christmas. Unlike the Onions, they don't require the same amount of 'maturing'. 

Nearer the big day I will also prepare some Onion and Cucumber Pickle. This is sliced onion layered with sliced Cucumber, then semi-preserved in a sweet pickle mix. It doesn't last, so it is prepared one or two days before needed.

I'm getting there!

Haddock's End (a.k.a. 'Haddock's)

My old veg' patch went through many changes over the years. Here is an old drawing from 2007 showing all the varieties of the fruit trees, etc. Haddock's is on the extreme left, showing its original three section layout. I originally used the whole area of the little plot.

Over the years it changed into a more manageable four section plot, which made annual rotation much easier.

                             

It stayed like this right through to when I was forced to abandon my growing. Something happened, and my plants began to die, I have a feeling that poisons were seeping through from a new building detritus dump on my 'builder' neighbour's side of the wall. Nothing would grow as before, and I was eventually forced to abandon it.

The same neighbour's dogs killed all my hens as well.

I really miss Haddock's. It provided all our vegetables, both fresh and preserved. It was highly productive, and I loved it. There was never a day, in either Summer or Winter, when there wasn't something to eat.

These days it is simply home to several fruit trees, lots of grape vines, and a few Artichoke plants. I am still thinking about what we'll do with the small area. My favourite current idea is to create a party area, with a summerhouse and BBQ; plus a few more Peach trees. I even planned to take some electricity down there for night-time lighting. But, somehow, I doubt if it'll ever happen.

Comrade Putin.

In terms of the world's most evil people, this man must currently be securely placed at No 1.

His illegal invasion of Ukraine, and all the subsequent killing and destruction, has ensured his place amongst the most evil tyrants the world has ever known.

Latest figures from the war front suggest that Russia is losing 1,500 soldiers EVERY DAY as they advance metre by metre. On one recent day the toll rose to 1,770. The death-count is appalling, yet he seems untroubled. The total Russian loss of life so far during this war is over 710,000. When he runs out, he simply gets more cannon-fodder in from other countries, such as N Korea.

Much to Kim Yong Un's annoyance, many of his loaned troupes were wiped out recently whilst advancing towards Alaya Loknya.

In the Middle East the Israeli's had little problem locating, and killing, the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah. One really would have thought that something similar could be done in Russia.

This man is single-handedly dragging his country into the mire; and for what?

Surely the Russian people must soon turn against him. The death toll is horrific, and all in the name of occupying a country that they're doing their best to reduce to rubble.

In my book that amounts to complete and utter evil and stupidity.