Remembering October 7th.

There were recent ceremonies all over the world in memory of those who were slaughtered on October 7th. One was in London.

WARNING: This link shows 'some' of the horrendous Hamas killings that are broadcast-able, but it's viewing is not for the sensitive. Most of the footage that the Hamas terrorists themselves filmed is too horrific. Hamas/Pro Palestine supporters might like to see some of what their heroes are capable of.    

https://fb.watch/v/gC1R7BHET/

If you were ever in doubt about why Israel wished to hunt-down each and every one of those killers involved; now you know! 

At the recent Oct 7th 'Palestine Action', 'pro-Hamas', memorial protests in London, The Revolutionary Communist Party were seen waving their red flags, and there were plenty of anti-Jewish Nazi salutes. The demonstrators were not ashamed to show their true colours! They kicked the Poppy wreaths from London's Battle of Britain monument (below), and they seemed to support everything that was anti-Jewish, and anti-British. What a charming bunch. I'm amazed that they didn't all wear swastikas.

Presumably the above video shows what sort of ideology and behaviour these 'Free Palestine' people truly support. One really has to feel sorry for them. We know who they are; they are WRONG, GULLIBLE, and SICK.

Trashing a British monument dedicated to those who defeated the Nazis, tells us all we need to know.

Has he gone totally bonkers?

 

All political leaders have a duty to look after the welfare of their own countries first and foremost, but not at the expense of blatant hypocrisy.

We all know that Russia is the aggressor in the Ukraine conflict, and Trump has always previously accepted this. So why, now that the USA is short of Diesel Oil, does he suddenly do a U-Turn and begin to side with Putin? 

In order to please US Diesel users, he is literally bankrolling the slaughter of innocent Ukrainians.

There is plenty of Diesel around, even Canada has lots. So why would Trump contribute to Putin's war fund, and buy from Russia. His actions are morally bankrupt.

Why would he also suggest that Zelenskyy should resign? One minute he insults him, the next he is friendly, and now he thinks he should go. He even had the cheek to suggest that Zelenskyy 'could have finished the war years ago'.

This isn't a children's playground where you side with the strongest. In 'grown-up' life, morals count more than simply backing whoever is of the most useful. What ever happened to 'Right and Wrong'. Where are 'Decency and Honesty'?

We all expect our own governments to look after our own economies before that of others, and Trump's US economy is 'expanding at a moderate pace'. So why is he now helping Russia? Has he some ulterior motive in mind?

And let us not forget that just TWO MONTHS AGO Trump was threatening to penalise all countries who imported oil from Russia. What happened during the interim???

Boris has suggested that we send gunboats to intercept the Russian tankers, but I think that MIGHT being going a tad too far, and would cause even more trouble from both Russia and the USA. 

Is it now just Europe that sticks by high moral standards?

We have always known that Putin was an evil bast*rd, but Trump now seems to be joining him.

DB

Footballers are not known for their elegance. They are more likely to be seen driving their Ferraris wearing a pale grey tracksuit ensemble, rather than anything that has come from Savile Row.

But ex-Footballer David Beckham seems to have broken the mould.

His suit is well cut, the collars on his crisp white shirt are cut at the right angle, his protruding shirt cuffs are at the correct half-inch exposure, his tie is tied (I think) in the standard 'Four-in-Hand' knot, and his elegant shoes are well buffed. It would have been difficult for an ex-Footballer to have been better dressed.

The only thing that lets him down are his heavily tattooed hands.

Beckham's wife, Victoria, is a self taught 'Fashion Designer' with a successful label of her own. No doubt she gives advice to David, and it pays!

Well done Dave!

 

Holborn & St Pancras by-election.

 

It's all over. The long anticipated by-election to replace Sir Lacklustre Starmer MP has been and gone, the ballot papers have all been counted, and everything ended-up as expected.

The Drug-friendly, Jew-hating, Leader of the Green Party, Zack Polanski, failed in his bid to become an MP, being beaten by Left-wing Somalian refugee Ms Sagal Abdi-Wali. That's her with the gleaming white teeth, taking a 'selfie'. It was all a very jolly occasion!

There was a dire choice of candidates at Holborn. Amongst the 'also rans' was the darling of the Marxist-Leninist brigade, 'Gorgeous George'  Galloway. He will now, no doubt, be rushing off to his second-home in Portugal; tail between his legs. 

I really do think that it's about time that both 'Gorgeous George', and Zack Polanski consider stepping down from their loony left parties, and take-up knitting, or crochet. Their crazy policies have no place in a modern democratic country. They should be trying to make life better for us Brits, not dragging us down into the gutter.

Mr Polanski is a vegan teetotal. Maybe he should start eating meat, and drink some wine; he might find that people would take him more seriously. No-one likes a pretend saint.

I have no idea about Ms Abdi-Wali's politics, but I've heard that she is definitely on the 'Corbyn' side of The Labour Party, and that she has the 'thumbs-up' from Lord Sadiq Khan; London's Mayor, which is NOT GOOD. The People's Republic of Holborn now has an interesting and colourful new MP; and thank goodness it is neither George or Zack..  

I've heard her speak, and she does sound very lucid. I wish her well.

What goes up, must come....

 

HOORAY, our scaffolding has now come down.

Scaffolders are always keen to erect their ugly structures, but very reluctant to remove them.

When I phoned our man to inform him that the work was finished, he gasped in amazement. I think he was expecting it to be in situ for a month at least. Just one week was unheard of!

I don't know if it's the same everywhere, but here certain bits of the scaffolding actually touch the walls, making it impossible to paint about 8 small circles of the old paintwork. Without any prompting, our nice man informed me that they would paint over the un-painted bits as they dismantle. And they did.

I really don't like seeing scaffolding everywhere (we have more going up two houses away), and it's good to be able to see our new bright paintwork in all its pristine condition. Suave Harve did a great job.

Whilst the scaffolding was in place I took the opportunity to re-paint the flat bit of roof above the Bay Window with Bitumen, and also to re-touch the lead covered roof-ette over the Portico. So now, not only is everything painted, but all is waterproofed for the next few years.

We were trembling in our boots about having to pay some tradesman 'Loads of Money' to do the job, but in fact by doing all the work ourselves we didn't suffer too much. Just under a £grand for the whole caboodle. My wine merchant will be very happy!

An EU disgrace.

 

I expect everyone has seen this 'statue' by Danish artist Jens Galschiot.

Entitled 'The Orange Plague' is it 8ft 5ins tall, and has been sitting inside the European Parliament Building in Strasbourg, France.

Whatever one thinks of Donald Trump (I, myself, am no big fan), I don't think it is seemly for a foreign Parliament to exhibit such an insulting image of a leader of one of the world's greatest powers (of whatever party he/she belongs), and one of Europe's greatest allies. 

In fact I would say that its exhibition is a total disgrace, and if they think it'll improve relations with the USA, then they are very wrong. Such 'statements' are more suited to satirical magazines, or TV Comedy shows; not National Parliaments.

I wonder what Ursula Von der Leyen would think if a fat, naked, highly unflattering, gold-leafed statue of HER was exhibited in The House of Representatives in Washington; or in the UK's parliament in London?

This is 'gutter politics', and has no place in a European (or any) Parliament. I believe the statue was in situ until Oct 8th, so has now probably gone. Where to, I have no idea.

Would the EU have exhibited an insulting image of either Vlad Putin, or Xi Jinping? I very much doubt it!

Marmalade.

 

It's Autumn, and Lady Magnon doesn't feel right unless she has her hands on a wooden spoon, stirring something seasonal in a big preserving pot. Recently she set her sights on Marmalade, and was determined to make something as good as (if not better than) our favourite Cooper's Oxford Vintage. 

Unfortunately there were no Seville Oranges in the shops, so I bought ordinary Oranges and Lemons instead.

I was also instructed to buy Dark Demerara Sugar, and (if I could find it) some Jam Sugar.

Usually she follows Mary Berry recipes, but I'm not sure if she did with this. However, she boiled the fruit for a couple of hours, then, when cool, cut it up into reasonable (not too fine) pieces. The rest was just the standard Jam-making process.

There was enough for five full jars, and one half-full. I just happened to have some really nice fresh Sourdough bread, so I could hardly wait to try the result of her hard work.

Verdict. 10/10 (I would say that wouldn't I) It was also very close to the flavour of Cooper's Oxford. 

Well done, Lady M. Delicious.

N.B. The word Marmalade come from the Portuguese word Marmelada meaning Quince.