Saturday, 15 February 2025

2060 ?



I am assured that the English polymath Sir Isaac Newton was a genius of exceptional rarity.

We tend to associate him with the science of gravity, but a letter of his (above) has recently come to light where he predicts the date of the End of the World.

In just 35 years (2060) all will end. He predicts that a war between God and the Kings of the earth, will reek total destruction.

My basic maths tells me that I should reach the age of 113 in 2060, so not much chance of my witnessing the event, however I can almost believe Newton's prediction which doesn't seem too outrageous or far-fetched.

We have so many loonies who can't wait to press the nuclear button that a disaster is bound to happen at some time or other. If indeed it does happen in 2060, I'm just pleased I won't be here to witness it.

 

Friday, 14 February 2025

St Jock's Day


Today, as well as being St Valentine's Day, is also St Jock's Day.

My old friend, the infamous Jock Veitch was born on February 14th, so I am never able to forget it. It's a bit like being born on Christmas Day.

Here we were (below) together at our favourite restaurant in France. We went as often as possible. The photo was taken when I still wore a watch, and smoked Gauloises.


So, Happy birthday Jock (in absentia). Gone but not forgotten. RIP. Unfortunately his obit is no longer available without a subscription to The Sydney Morning Herald. 

May I also be so bold as to wish a very Happy St Valentine's Day to Lady M, and all the lovely ladies out there in Blogland who read this page. xx

 

Thursday, 13 February 2025

Cephalopods


I'm a big fan of both Squid and Octopus. Sadly such things are only rarely available fresh here in England; unlike in France where they are commonly sold everywhere. I wonder why this should be? Fish needs a regular and quick turnover, so if there is no market for it, it would soon be curling at the edges. I presume that's the explanation.

However, I do often buy jars of mixed Octopus/Squid in oil (below), but frankly it's not that wonderful.

I think the English have a problem eating anything that doesn't look like a maiden's buttocks. Anything fishy that has tentacles, eyes, or looks as if it was once alive, is a no-no. I cannot tell you how many times I've heard people saying "Oh, I couldn't eat that!" whilst looking at something that isn't perfectly round and beige. Hide it under batter or breadcrumbs and it's OK, but people are reluctant to eat it if it looks like what it actually is.


It's a well known saying that people first eat with their eyes, but this is nonsense. It's taste/flavour that counts. Personally I couldn't care less what something looks like as long as it tastes good, and Octopus certainly passes that test.

Just ask any Greek person.



 

Wednesday, 12 February 2025

Modern day France.

 

Last year, after our burglary in France, Lady M and Kimbo went over to the house to change the locks, tidy-up the house, and try to make the place secure again.

After a few days work they returned home having turned everything off, locked-up, and mostly cleaned off a white sticky film that covered everything, after the idiots had let-off a couple of Fire Extinguishers all over the house.

Before they locked-up, they drained the water system (it was mid Winter, and there was a risk of pipes freezing), and turned off the main outside tap, leaving the kitchen tap open (as is recommended). 

(N.B. The above photo isn't our meter, but a stock photo as illustration only)

Little did they know, however, that the outside tap, on the far side of the meter, which belongs to the French water Co (SAUR), was broken and didn't close properly. When we returned in June, water was running from the kitchen tap.

We phoned SAUR, and they sent their plumber. He replaced their tap, and all was well. Before leaving he wrote on his report that the fault was with THEIR tap. I joked with him about not wanting to pay for all that lost water, as it was basically their fault; he assured me that we wouldn't.

About two weeks ago we received our water bill from SAUR. It was for £1,500.

Since then we have tried to reason with SAUR, but they will have none of it. The water came out of our tap, so we HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.

You can't fight these people, they are typical effing French bureaucrats. When my son went to see them recently he was insulted and in effect told to 'eff off'. So we have decided to pay-up, try to forget about it, and look forwards.

Even so, it makes my blood boil knowing how they've actively cheated us. We did everything right, the broken tap was THEIRS, yet WE have to pay.

I can only imagine what would have happened to us if it had genuinely been our fault!!! The Guillotine?

I'm really beginning to dislike France; and it used to be such a lovely country (50 years ago).


Tuesday, 11 February 2025

Breakfast with Kimbo.

 

We've been doing this for quite a while. When work allows, Kimbo and I will have quite spectacular breakfasts together, at about 6 am, or before; usually on a Wednesday.

Before catching his early train to London, he will pop in for a 'Full English', and we sort-out the world's problems for 20 mins or so. It's become something of a tradition.

Kimbo's been down in S W France for a few days. He flew to Bordeaux, picked-up a hire car, spent a few days at the cottage, then returned to Bordeaux on Sunday evening. He was staying overnight in Bordeaux, so I suggested he visit Rick Stein's favourite restaurant La Tupina. Anyone who has seen his programme 'Long Weekends' will remember him visiting La Tupina. He ate Grattons with radishes, and their famous Côte de Boeuf. Kimbo sent me an amazing photo of their wine list which included two different vintages of Pétrus. I think he plumped for a good Péchamant instead. Here he is (below) at the restaurant chatting with the new lady chef.


It goes without saying that Kimbo is something of a 'foodie'. He takes after his father. There's nothing we enjoy more that sitting down at table together with plenty of good food and wine.

Our tete-a-tete breakfasts usually include Bacon, Black Pudding, Haggis, Beans, Mushrooms, and a fried Egg on toast. Nothing too fancy, but plenty of calories. The next meeting is destined for tomorrow.

Anyway, I was pleased to hear that we've had no more burglaries, the roof is still on, and everything was where it should be. It makes a change from last year!!!

Monday, 10 February 2025

The Perfect Breakfast.


Take four ingredients. A slice of wholemeal bread, some butter, an egg, and some Worcessscesstershire sauce (I'm not counting Salt-n-Pepper).

The wholemeal bread is a good source of fibre, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. It is nutrient rich, containing the bran and germ from the whole wheat kernel.

Eggs are also an important food. They contain protein, vitamins, mineral, healthy fats, and essential amino acids.


Butter is surprisingly good for you. It contains vitamins, calcium, and essential Omega 3 fatty acids.

As for the Worcessscesstershire sauce, it simply contains niceness.

There you are. The perfect breakfast. A fried egg on toast with LOTS of freshly ground pepper. Quick, easy, cheap, and most of all; it's GOOD FOR YOU and tastes nice.

 

Sunday, 9 February 2025

Another week of wonderment and intrigue

 


We started the week with news that Boy George and his band Culture Club are £12 Million in debt. How on earth does that happen to one of the most iconic band's of their era? Boy George also risks losing the trademark on HIS OWN NAME. Oh dear!

We also hear that Scotland wishes to ban domestic Cats, or at least restrict them to indoors. They are not happy with the amount of wildlife that they kill (which is frighteningly high). Presumably they will also wish to ban Buzzards, Golden Eagles, Foxes, etc, who all live on caught wildlife. And whilst they're at it, why not ban cars which are responsible for the huge reduction in Hedgehog and Badger numbers.

It was Grammy Awards time in the USA, and the son of some well known person attended wearing a black cardboard 'Castle' on his head. Another person turned-up naked. It's quite pathetic what people will do to attract attention to themselves!!! Have they nothing else of interest to say about themselves?

It is estimated that 100's of farm shops will have to close in the UK; up to about 700. With the minimum wage up, raised employer's National Insurance payments, and the lowering of the threshold by which employers have to pay, has all made many Farm Shops unviable. The UK will soon be a very different place under Socialism. I preferred it before!

Trump is rarely out of the news, and, true to form. he's grabbing the headlines again. He's going to send some of the USA's worst criminals to be incarcerated in El Salvador's very tough jails. Now, why didn't the UK think of that? Our prisons are overflowing, and I'm sure the prisoners would enjoy some S American sunshine; even if they never got to see it.

Down in Bristol, The Green Party led Council has decided that they will only collect rubbish ONCE A MONTH. Critics have said it will only increase 'fly tipping'; personally I think it will only increase FLIES. Is this really what The Green Party stands for? Nothing surprises me!

I feel so sorry for Sweden, they are going through really rough times. Having always been a very liberal, and welcoming country, they are now reaping the rewards of their generosity. Sweden, who used to boast of having the lowest crime rate in Europe, is currently experiencing at least one BOMBING a day, a massive crime-wave, and immigrants making life very unpleasant for native Swedes. Also, a recent school shooting killed 11 children; the shooter killed himself. It seems as if the killer was a 'troubled loner'. Sweden has now become just another member of the European gun/knife crazy club.

The Lucy Letby case continues to grab the UK headlines. Letby was a nurse accused, and found guilty of, killing 7 newborn babies, and attempting to kill a further 6. She is currently in prison. However, there have always been those who claim that she is innocent (as she does herself), and with 'new evidence' it looks as if there might now be a future retrial.

Think what you will of Trump, but his idea of turning Gaza into a Middle Eastern Riviera is a good one. The only reasons why this has not been done before (they don't even have a port) is because Hamas spends all the money on arms, and the people themselves are not the most industrious. It could become a wonderful, peaceful, and wealthy country. The people of Gaza deserve so much better than Hamas, they deserve to live in peace, they deserve good jobs, and they deserve proper working infrastructure. The idea of creating a whole new country is interesting, but how it would work is anyone's guess. The Gazan population should surely be employed to rebuild, and must learn new skills. Everyone wants a peaceful Gaza; maybe this is the answer. It's certainly an interesting idea.

Just as a matter of interest, did you know that the word 'Bookkeeper' is the only word in the English language to have three pairs of double letters one after the other?

AND FINALLY. Yes, political correctness is still with us. Nasty, facially tattooed criminal, Daniel Reid from N Wales stole a phone. When he was finally caught he claimed that the phone was his and that it contained 'personal information'. The wonderful Welsh Police decided that it would be against his 'human rights' under the 'General Data Protection Regulations' to have to return the phone to its rightful owner. The Judge later told the Police what bloody idiots they were, and jailed Reid for 4 years.


Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...