A pressing problem for No 10 North.

 

The 'professionals' who criticise Government spending seem to be concentrating on the cost of 'Care for the Elderly'.

There are never easy ways to balance the books, but there are always ways to stop waste. There is always only so much in the coffers, the NHS wants a good chunk, National Defence is always after more, Education has recently been given self-inflicted wounds (which they are perfectly happy about), and of course the 'BENEFITS BILL' is astronomical.

I just did a tiny bit of research. It seems that the amount of people requiring 'Care' in the UK is round about ONE MILLION (figures vary hugely). At the same time we are housing, and paying generously, another ONE MILLION illegal immigrants.

The annual bill to pay for all the illegals is about £5.5 BILLION per annum (nice hotels, pocket money, etc. Prison costs for all their criminals are a different matter). Whilst money to pay for the care for our elderly seems to be running out, and no-one has a solution. Meanwhile the illegals continue to arrive, and we even send boats out to mid-Channel to bring them here.

Now, I have to admit that my knowledge of Government Finance is sorely lacking, but even I can see that something ain't right. We are giving huge sums to people who have no right to be in our country, and have NEVER paid into the system. Yet we haven't enough to pay for our own citizens who have probably paid-in ALL THEIR LIVES, and need some help in their final years.

I haven't yet heard the new boy 'Aye-up Andy' offering any solution to the problem, and somehow I doubt if I will. He is more interested in other matters, such as moving Downing Street up North so he can be closer to his Mum & Dad.

So, let me have your thoughts on this matter. I am genuinely very interested.

Who should we prioritise?

Walnut Oil

I've shown this short video before, but I think it's worth showing again.

This a nearby farm with it's own ancient press for making Walnut oil. I drink a soup-spoon of oil every day, in the same way that the Greeks drink Olive oil. It is filled with health benefits, and I would recommend it to everyone.

This particular bottle (below) was bought from a really lovely old chap at our local Saturday Market who has a small press on his farm. I forgot to ask him where he came from, I know of one farm in our village where they have a press; maybe he's from there. 

The oil is unfiltered and delicious, and comes with a delightfully hand-written label. Before returning to the UK, I shall certainly buy a few more bottles for the coming Winter.

The oil is superb; the real McCoy.

 

Planning.

 

We have been presented with a really worrying dilemma.

My oldest and best friend and his daughter, who are local farmers, own a nearby field on which they want to build a house. Kimbo was at school with the daughter so I suppose she's HIS oldest friend too.

Our tiny hamlet consists of three very old, and very beautiful, stone houses, set amongst perfect agricultural land. It has amusingly been known as the village's 'Riviera' on account of its spectacular location, and of being a bit 'posh' (non-farmers).

I am the doyen of both our, and the adjoining hamlets, and ever since I bought our tiny ancient ruin back in about 1976, I have ALWAYS been given the assurance that land here could NEVER be developed, on account of it being for agricultural use only. I was assured that nothing could ever change!

If they get the go-ahead, it would open the flood-gates for people to build on other bits of agricultural land elsewhere. A precedent would have been established.

On the above map the plot is measured in yellow, and the house behind it is the most beautiful (and expensive) of our three. The proposed building plot is right opposite the house. Haddock's is plot No 0413, and our house further off to the right.

This Million Euro house has just recently been sold, and the new owners are very pleasant, but I have heard that they (like us) are NOT HAPPY. The proposed new-build is literally a few metres from their front door. Their perfectly tranquil view would be instantly ruined. I cannot imagine someone building in the field in front of us!

I'm not going to fall-out with my friends, but I shall certainly let them know my feelings. We all feel as if we've just been slapped around the face.

I shall, of course, oppose the building request in writing (already done); I value the beauty and privacy of our lovely little hamlet too much. Our house is probably the least affected by the proposal, but I shall say 'NO'; more on behalf of the other two home owners, than ourselves.

THIS CANNOT HAPPEN.

Londonshire

 

With our new anti-London and anti-South East England Prime Minister (some bloke called Aye-up Andy) wanting to move the UK's seat of power up to some northern town, I would like to propose that London and the Home Counties declares UNIVERSAL INDEPENDENCE a.s.a.p. 

We have everything we need. A world-respected seat of government in one of the world's greatest cities, a very strong economy, and a population who have already worked hard all their lives, or are currently doing so. Our streets are clean, and we have very few unemployed. We have no need for some silly, and unnecessarily expensive,  'No 10 North'; we'll leave all that nonsense to Union members, strikers, and the work-shy. 

Andy can try his best to get them to pay for all his Socialist dreams; some bloody hope! But leave us Southerners out of it.

Down in Londonshire we'll get-by with Twickenham, Wimbledon, and Hickstead. We'll go to Ascot, Henley, and the Chelsea Flower Show. We'll go shopping in Harrods, Fortnum's, and Liberty's. And we'll take our children or grandchildren to visit The Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and Lords Cricket Ground. We have little desire to visit abandoned coal mines, disused metal bashing factories, or Whippet breeding farms. 

To be a citizen of Londonshire, people will need to speak The King's English; and be easily understood. Londonshire will have very strict behaviour and decency rules. Ethnicity will not be a problem, but proof of assimilation will be essential.

Passports and residency papers would be strictly controlled, and entry to our highly desirable new country would only be granted to those who have the necessary requirements.

Anyone attempting to reach the British Isles by rubber boat, will need to land at Liverpool, Scunthorpe, or Grimsby. 

In future, Dover and the whole South Coast will be CLOSED.

India.

I suppose one of my major regrets in life; is that I didn't visit India.

Everything about India fascinates me. The people, the architecture, the culture, and of course the food.

We don't have actual TV here in France, but I do have a plug-in device that is filled with a variety of favourite programmes; including all of Rick Stein's travel/food shows.

Possibly my favourite of all his shows is the series on India. On a rainy afternoon, I will watch an episode for the 100th time, and enjoy it as much as I did on the 1st. Above is just a taster!

The only country I've visited that had an entirely different culture to ours was Morocco. Just across the water from Southern Spain, one finds this country where everything is so completely different to life in Europe. However, I don't think that feeling of 'difference' could compare to that of India.

I should have gone when I was a student, but, who knows, I might never have come back.

My Uncle Reginald who was Tea Planting in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) only returned to the UK after he contracted Para-Typhoid, and had to be repatriated. Otherwise he too might have stayed.

Stein makes his India programmes whilst staying at a small lakeside 'bungalow'. I could have imagined myself living in such a home, with a cook and a housekeeper. A bit fanciful maybe, but very do-able with Indian costs being so much more reasonable than The West.

Sadly, too late now!

 

Alma Mater

I know I'll get a lot of 'stick' for posting this video, but it has just been sent to me by an old school chum, and it brought back so many wonderful memories.

I've never previously seen aerial film of my old school, and I must admit that I find it totally fascinating. I am posting it here so that I don't lose it. That long medieval building at 0.20 is where I spent four years of my life between 1960 and 64. The building itself is said to be the oldest continuously inhabited domestic building in Europe.

Situated not far from Cambridge, and predating the University by a couple of centuries, the school was officially founded in 970 AD, but is probably much older. At 1,056 years old, it is amongst the world's oldest, and led the way for all other similar schools to follow.

It isn't like a modern school with one main building and a 'playground'. There were separate buildings all over the place, and one had to walk a long way to get to certain classes or events. It was almost like being in a small medieval village.

As well as school life there was the ever-present Cathedral. It dominated everything, and we attended every morning, and twice on Sundays. I feel so privileged to have been able to wander around the interior whenever I liked. I explored hidden corners that very few people ever get to see.

I'm showing the video partly for those who have heard about such institutions, but not really known much about them. Mine was an academic school, and I was very fortunate to have passed my entrance exam. These schools have both good and bad reputations; I think I was extremely lucky with mine!!!

Birthday Boy.

 

Today is my birthday; I am 80.

I don't like being 80. I was perfectly happy being 79.

I'm trying to be positive, and to think of the benefits of being so ancient; but frankly it's all a bit gloomy.

So, Happy Birthday to me. I hope that people will NOT try to 'wind me up', let me enjoy my day without incident, and allow me to commiserate with my inner self, in peace. 

p.s. I have woken this morning with a very sore throat, a bunged-up nose, a burning sensation in my chest, a headache, and a general feeling of being unwell. Poor old soul !!! Still; I shan't let it spoil my day.