Abandoned!

 

I feel abandoned. 

OK, I have one grandson studying in Oxford, and another studying in Hertfordshire, but otherwise it's just me who's representing the Magnons in the UK. All the others are overseas.

Kimbo and Susie are in Egypt, Lady M, Wills, Boo Boo, and The Cherub are in Thailand, my daughter Tenpin is in Oz with her two boys, and my sister is in NZ; leaving just me to hold the fort, here in our ancestral home of England.

Like many families these days, we do tend to spread our wings. Even I (the stay-at-home-lad) have managed to live more than half my life abroad; even though it was not far away in Southern France. I quite expect that very few families have all the members 'at home' these days.

So, I've been making sure I descend the stairs carefully, cross the road cautiously, and do not pour boiling water over my feet. I don't want to be found having 'passed-away' without anyone knowing.

Lady M has been away for over a week, but will be home in a couple of days!

Eddie the Eagle.

With The Winter Olympics and The 'inspiring' Paralympics now coming to an end, it's timely to remember England's (very amateur) Ski Jump hero; Eddie Edwards.

Regardless of being someone who came LAST in most of his competitions, he was seen as a 'National Treasure'.

He represented England's attitude towards sport of all sorts. 'It matters not who won or lost, but how one played the game'.

Eddie may never have stood on a podium, but he stood high in everyone's esteem.

There's even now 'The Eddie the Eagle Ruling', which states that competitors in the Olympics must have reached a certain high standard in their chosen sport before being allowed to compete. So, no more Eddies. What a shame.

These days Eddie has returned to his original trade, and is a Plasterer!

Eddie, we salute you!

National Mourning.

I suppose the most iconic UK Radio 'soap' of all time must be The Archers; a simply story of country folk. I believe that it is also the world's 'oldest soap'.

The action takes place in the village of Ambridge, where the Archer family run a farm; 'Brookfield'. As with all UK 'soaps', much of the activity is centred around the village Pub'; The Bull.

The BBC programme's mythical Pub', is based on a real one; The Old Bull in Inkberrow, Worcs. England at its finest!

Sadly, like so many Pub's in this 'New England' of ours, The Old Bull is about to CLOSE. This lovely old 17th Century Public House will close its doors thanks to excessive taxation having made it uneconomical. New taxes imposed on businesses everywhere have forced unimaginable chaos, and closures, and The Old Bull is one of the latest victims. Pubs are closing by the dozen all over the country, and no-one in government seems to mind. Let's just hope that its closure is only temporary, and that it will re-open when we have a more realistic government; otherwise it would make the most wonderful house (I do hope not).

It is a strange inditement of government policy that these days, the more a Pub' stays open, the more it loses money. Most only survive by providing 'Pub Grub'.

The Archers radio programme started on 1st January 1951, but The Old Bull had been serving beer since the early 1600's. Its closure is a GENUINE national tragedy. 

High Taxation is a vicious circle. Increased unemployment has to be paid for. To pay for it we have to increase taxes. The increased taxes causes more unemployment; and so it goes on. The enormous ensuing 'Benefits bill' is said to be rising by an extra £18 Billion this year alone! Dreadful.

Quad erat demonstrandum. RIP The Old Bull.

 

I am H.A.P.P.Y.

I've mentioned several times on this page, that I am very keen on Breast of Lamb (Lamb Ribs).

A really nice new 'Deli' has recently opened nearby, and whilst visiting my Pharmacy (Boots) I popped in to say hello.

I was able to buy several things that I can't find elsewhere, and the people were both friendly and charming; which is a bonus. 

The two pieces of Lamb were cut for me directly from a whole carcass, by a pukka Butcher, and I was amazed to see that they cost just £5.93.

My favourite way of eating the Lamb is cut into two pieces, cook on the BBQ, and sprinkle with Cumin powder before serving (or Ras el Hanout, which I also bought yesterday). In the Summer I serve it with a simple Tabouleh. There's not a lot of meat on the ribs, but they are delicious. Have a roll of Kitchen tissue handy; this should be eaten with fingers!

Otherwise it goes into an Irish Stew, or a Lamb Tagine.

However it's eaten, it's the tastiest cut of Lamb..... and the cheapest.

I am very happy to have an excellent nearby supplier.

 

What Special Relationship?

Trump has described Starmer as being 'No Churchill'. In fact Starmer has dithered so much recently that both the French and the Spanish have had to step-in to defend our presence in Cyprus. He's no Churchill indeed.

Meanwhile at home, a Hamas supporter has daubed paint over the statue of Churchill outside the Houses of Parliament. He has been arrested.

It's a very sad state of affairs when some a misguided fool should desecrate the statue of one of our greatest wartime leaders. It just shows how low some of these people can descend. 

As for the UK/USA Special Relationship; our government is doing its best to distance themselves. We recently ruined our relationship with the EU, now we're doing the same with the USA. However, Tru*p is partly to blame by imposing crazy tariffs on our exports. Not a friendly gesture!

I also remember back in 1965 (?), when the USA were fighting in Vietnam, Lyndon B Johnson phoned Harold Wilson to enlist the support of the UK. Wilson refused, and said that he'd never heard such obscenities over the phone from a US President. The Socialists aren't too popular across the pond!

Sadly a country that once was a World Power-House, is now seen as WEAK. We need another Churchill. One can but wonder what Starmer would have done during The Falklands Crisis?

Yes...... Nothing!

Bears

In the animal 'cuteness' stakes, Polar Bear Cubs must be top of the list.

Most of us, of a certain age, have always loved Polar Bears on account of Rupert. He was an adolescent bear, with a mother who always wore an apron, and a father who wore plus-fours and smoked a pipe. Just an every-day family of Polar Bears in amongst a world of humans.

I know that most Teddy Bears are gingery/beige colour, and they are named after a Bear that was probably darker, but I would like to suggest that the very best Teddy Bear imaginable would have the face of a Polar Bear Cub, and the body of a traditional early Steiff.

I didn't have a Teddy Bear as a child (just Alphonse), but I do occasionally buy them as gifts for new-borns. One baby, who was born at the height of Winter received a Polar Bear 'Teddy', which was almost as 'cute' as the one's above.

However, when going around all the shops that sold Teddy Bears, I was amazed to see how very few traditional Bears there were around. Mostly they were horrible Japanese objects that would have scared most small children to death! I probably should have looked online; although even there it's disappointing.

All three of my own children had proper Bears.... Bryn, Mrs Pins, and Harry. 

 

It's all right for some!

Some people have all the luck. If you can call it 'luck' flying in and out of The Middle East.

My son Kimbo is a constant traveller. He has recently been in Dubai (lucky escape), and is just about to go to Egypt.

I have suggested that he takes a Flack Jacket, and Armoured Sombrero; just in case. I believe he is going where it is considered 'safe', but you can't trust those crazy Iranians. 

Meanwhile, Lady M is building sandcastles on a small Thai island with Boo Boo and The Cherub.

I am staying at home with Billy, and crossing my fingers!