Looking forward

We used to arrive at our home with the grass about a metre high; it was a nightmare. It took days with a small mower to tackle it.

These days, we have found someone who is prepared to look after things for us, and we now arrive to nicely mowed lawn and paddock, even Haddock's is given a trim. The battery on 'Rory', our mower, isn't too reliable, but otherwise our man has no problems. Below is a photo he recently sent; all looks OK. 

I'm looking forward to being in the countryside again. As much as I love Brighton, I'm a country boy at heart, and I like nothing more than the peace and quiet of open fields and woodland.

My fingers are crossed that there will also be some mushrooms about, but it's never guaranteed. I shall be keeping an eye on the weather forecast over the next few weeks. Rain means mushrooms.

I have just one project for this year, and that is to put a handrail on the stairs. Two years ago, I came a cropper on the lower steps, which wasn't pleasant. Both of us now need something to hold onto.

Otherwise I shall be sowing some Bok Choi and a few Salads, and hopefully planting a few Peach trees. I also hope to make plenty of JAM. Our supplies ran out too early last year, and we probably need double the amount. We make Plum, Apricot, and Greengage jams. I shall NOT be making more Blackberry jam.... it wasn't good.

The BBQ will be dusted down, Oysters will be bought by the 'box-full', Snails will be eaten, Restaurants will be visited (They're getting better again), and favourite Charcuterie will be devoured in abundance.

We are also thinking of buying a big green 'Garden Bell-Tent' to accommodate excess Gen-Z'ers. Not too sure about it yet! 

 

And so, it continues.

The Prince of Darkness is rarely out of our News. The Mandy farce has been going on far too long; all we're waiting for now, is for J Corbyn Esq himself to criticise Starmer; everyone else has !

However, here is Corbyn's ex-girlfriend Dianne Abbott (below) putting her pennyworth into the Mandy affair.

Heaven forbid that anyone should think that I am a supporter of the fragrant Ms Abbott, but amazingly she has (at last) got something right. 

I think it's reasonable to say that Mandy has chased after the friendship of the rich and influential throughout his political life. His two sackings were caused by his dealings with dodgy millionaires, and his friendship with Epstein would never had existed had JE been 'poor'. 

Mandy was a member of the Young Communist League, and his dealings with both Russia and China are suspect, and have been widely criticised.

There's not much more to be said about Mandy's ridiculous appointment to Washington, but to have heard Abbott criticising Starmer's judgement is the very amusing 'Cherry on the Cake'.

Some Migrants are certainly more welcome than others.

 

Not all illegal immigrants are criminals, but sadly many are; and with no real vetting system some real badduns slip through whatever safety net there is.

The BBC News was awash last Thursday with the story of an appalling rape here on Brighton beach, carried out by these three young illegal immigrants (below), one of whom was a runaway murderer from Egypt; he had also been convicted of criminal damage whilst in England. The other two were simply 'every day criminals' from Egypt and Iran.

The details of the rape were harrowing. They filmed her, they spat on her, and they kicked her. The poor young woman will never be the same again; she has been left in fear of ever leaving her house. I notice in the image above, that a lot of the smiling 'Woke' marchers are women, and one really has to wonder what they felt about this case; and of their own open-arms welcome to such people into Britain ?

I don't know the names of these three young men, and, frankly, I wouldn't print them even if I did. All three were housed at the beautiful and historic 3 star Cisswood House Hotel near Horsham (below); to the North of Brighton. Very nice too !

They will now serve long prison sentences, and will be deported at a later date (unless they claim that it would be against their 'human rights'). Their own countries will then decide what to do with them. I think we all know what will happen to the runaway Egyptian 'Murderer'.

Nigel Farage has suggested that we stop benefits to all these people, stop giving them nice hotel rooms, stop giving them mobile phones, and charge them for any use of our NHS. Someone I was talking to recently also suggested that they should receive the same punishment here for any crime, as they would back in their own country. Hmmmm; somehow I don't see that happening!

I hope all three are treated with the respect they deserve whilst in prison.

Meanwhile, it might be a good idea to stop importing such people into Britain.

Mint Sauce.

When I was a wee sprog, like most small children, I was given simple jobs to do.

On Sundays, if Father was going walking/climbing, I was given the job of putting 'dubbin' on his boots. I loved it.

Sunday lunchtimes also involved small jobs. If we were eating Beef, it was my job to mix the Mustard. If we were eating Lamb, it was me who made the Mint Sauce.

The Mint grew in a large patch at the bottom of the garden. I would go down, pick some Nettles or Bracken, and return triumphantly to present it to my Mother, before revealing the actual Mint from behind my back. I continued doing this hilariously funny game for years.

I loved chopping the mint, using a large rounded knife to perform a rocking movement over the Mint to chop it as finely as possible. Then it was just a matter of adding the Vinegar and some Sugar, before filling our glass Mint Sauce Boat.

We ate Roast Lamb last night, hence the sauce. Delicious.

WOOPS !

Jeremy Clarkson (who is always right) informed us yesterday (The Sunday Times) that the funniest thing in the world is watching someone fall over. In fact, in his Sunday Times article he even mentioned this particular video.

I don't think I've ever just fallen over as such, but I do remember bumping into a lamp post by not paying attention to what I was doing. I can remember the event as if it was yesterday; and I was only about 6.

This man above deserved everything he got; plus the continued humiliation of having become a YouTube sensation !

Do watch the whole video; it's worth it. But be prepared for some rather fruity language !!!

 

Mother nature

This must be the most beautiful, and uplifting, time of year.

Forget January 1st, this is when the year really starts, with fresh leaves appearing on the trees, and birds singing their little hearts out.

As I walk around, I can feel my lungs being anointed by the healing elixir of fresh air, and I feel rejuvenated.

Of course, I do enjoy the warmth of Summer, the sadness of Autumn, and the crisp morning air of Winter, but what stirs the blood the most is now; Spring.

With Billy in Tow, for our early morning walks, I feel really glad to be alive, and I'm sure Billy does too.

I'm not a tree-hugger, like our current King, but I do love trees and treat them with respect. These old Elms in the churchyard are magnificent. I don't know how they managed to avoid the Dutch Elm Disease that killed so many throughout the country, but they are thriving.

What wonderful weather we're having. It's perfect.

 

Aston 'Family Man' Barrett.

There seems to be nothing but bad news at the moment.

News often arrives Chez Magnon quite slowly; I have only just heard that Aston 'family man' Barrett had died. In fact he died back in February of 2024, but no-one told me.

Here he is in my garden in Brighton, enjoying a 'puff' in the sunshine with my friend, the writer, John Masouri.

Since hearing of his death I also came across this record 'Aston is the Man' by The Melbourne Ska Orchestra. It's not one of their better songs, but it is in honour of the great man.

Aston was a member, and the unofficial manager, of Bob Marley's Wailers. He also found the time to have 41 children; 23 girls, and 18 boys. Not bad going, eh ?

So, a belated 'Farewell' Aston. Your music influenced several generations, and continues to do so.

The voice and music of Bob Marley and The Wailers will live forever.