Looking back.

When you've been a Veg' grower for as long as I have, and it suddenly all comes to an end, it leaves a gaping hole in one's life. This was Haddock's 10 years ago, when it was still in full production.

I see Red Onions, Caulis, Red Cabbage, Aubergines, Peppers, Tomatoes, and probably Broccoli in the background. There are also a few Hens in the ramshackle run. It was the sort of garden that all country folk aspire to.

In a lower section (out of sight) there were Courgettes Pumpkins and Butternuts. And elsewhere there were Apples, Plums, Raspberries, Cherries, Figs, Globe Artichokes, and Rhubarb. No space was wasted.

It was amazing how much I grew from such a small plot of land. One doesn't need several acres in order to be self-sufficient (or almost). One simply needs to be well-organised, and prepared for a lot of weeding!

One of my greatest pleasures of living out in the countryside (in S W France) was growing things. I still grow fruit, but not vegetables. With only three months at our home each year these days, there really isn't time, although I do intend to ask Kimbo to plant some Tomatoes for us, and I shall grow some Bok Choi; which I believe grows quite quickly. We shall see.

I loved seeing my cupboards filled with preserves; we made everything we possibly could. It must have been a very good year for Cepes (top, pale jars). What better in Winter than a Cepe omelet! Also plenty of Tomato based preserves, and Jams, with two other cupboards filled.

Sadly my veg' production is now over, and Haddock's has been given over to fruit growing. I shall plant some Peach trees there this year; and maybe build a small Pagoda/Summer house. Already it gives us plenty of fruit for jam in the Summer months, but you can never have enough Peaches.

Meanwhile we enjoy our 2025 jam; which seems to be disappearing very quickly.

 

The Centenary of a Sussex Hero

 

Back in 1923, the young Scott, John Logie Baird (above), invented the very first TV in his rooms in Hastings, E Sussex.

It was a rustic affair, comprising of bits and pieces that he found around him; including an old hat box, some scissors, darning needles, a tea chest, and some sealing wax. A machine worthy of Heath Robinson.

Baird 'perfected' his 'Televisor' over the next few years,  and EXACTLY 100 YEARS AGO presented his invention to 40 members of London's prestigious 'Royal Institution' in an upstairs room in Soho.

Little did he know quite what his experiments would lead-to. 

He died in Bexhill in East Sussex, just one month before I was born.

This (below) I believe was his very first transmitted image.

So, thank you Johnny; you changed our lives for ever! For the good and the bad.

Fly Tipping.

Fly Tipping has become a real problem in parts of the UK. Unscrupulous land owners are making fortunes by allowing industrial scale dumping on their farm land; usually amidst woodland, where they hope it won't be seen. Other land owners (real farmers) are suffering from daily (nightly) secret dumping.

It takes place on hidden farm tracks, and even on quiet roads, where builders and clearance-people simply dump their detritus in order to save a few £'s. Some of the scale of this Fly Tipping is horrendous.

This particular example below, is actually on a public road. Unbelievable!

The UK's punishment for people who drive too fast on the M25, or steal whiskey from Tesco, is lenient and forgiving. But it should be severe for those who blight our lives by their litter (and worse). They should be put in the stocks, flogged, and tattooed with the word SCUM on their foreheads. Then they should be chained inside a very large dustbin outside their own homes, where people could empty all their vilest of trash (mostly baby's nappies)!

Yes, I'm very lenient when it comes to Fly Tippers.

 

Starmer on Tour.

Sir Kreepy Starmer is in China, his sidekick Rachel from Accounts was supposed to be accompanying him, but she's been misbehaving and has been left at home. Starmer is visiting his paymasters chums.

So, what further deals can they clinch? China have already flooded our market with their EV's. We've finally given-in to their plans for a MEGA-Embassy-Spy-Centre. They will soon be in control of our massive new home solar-heating drive. They have considerable control over our Nuclear power, Gas and Electricity provision, Heathrow airport, our Greatest Universities, Real Estate, and Telecoms.

In fact, just about everything that keeps the UK running seems to be part, or fully, owned by Beijing.

They're no fools the Chinese; however, they always presume that others are!

So what, we ask, can Starmer be trying to achieve by his visit (which was only sanctioned after the Mega embassy deal was approved). Sell them a few pots of Colman's Mustard, or maybe a few bottles of Vimto? Or just sign off a few more deals allowing yet more massive Chinese 'investment'.

Watch The News; the UK's humiliation will possibly be revealed in the next few days!

 

Carry on De-Camping

 

When my late Father-in-Law finally quit his life travelling the world as a diplomat, he settled in Crowborough in Sussex.

You may have seen Crowborough on The News, every day for the past month. It is a genteel, small town, typical of many such East Sussex locations. Not much happens, there is little crime, and it has an aura of well-heeled respectability.

Outside of the town, on the road to Uckfield, is a large Army Training Camp, which was used to train Army Cadets. This has now been closed, the Cadets removed, and an exciting new use has been found by the government's Woke-Folk.

The camp is to hold 600 charming illegal immigrants, and the entire population of Crowborough is UP IN ARMS. They DON'T WANT 600 young swarthy foreigners, of whom they know absolutely nothing, roaming the streets of their small town. They are frightened that what has happened so often elsewhere, will now happen on their own doorsteps. They are locking-up their wives and daughters, reinforcing their home security systems, putting locks on their outdoor buildings, and installing CCTV cameras wherever they can.

But most of all, they simply want them to GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! 

Preparing for War

It is so reassuring to know that we have a government that cares for our health and safety; especially in preparation for nuclear war.

The UK government has now advised all UK citizens to make certain provisions in case of being attacked by Putin (I imagine).

According to the government's 'UK Prepare' website, we should keep five particular things in the boots of our cars, just in case we happen to be driving along to Sainsbury's when the bomb drops! A First Aid Kit, A Fire Extinguisher, A Warning Triangle, A Reflective Vest, and A Tow Rope. This (below) is their official picture.

These five things, we are assured, will protect us from any WW3 attack.

Well, I would like to thank our government for their advice; I feel much safer now. 

In case of a nuclear blast here in Brighton I will try to put-out any fire with the extinguisher, offer the wounded a sticking plaster, wear my Hi-Viz jacket just for fun, and erect the warning triangle in case no-one has noticed that we've been attacked. I'm still trying to think of a use for the tow rope.

As well as the above we are also encouraged to keep a good supply of the items below inside our own homes. 

Bottled water, tinned foods, torch and batteries, matches, warm clothes, Swiss army knife, radio, passport or ID, money, and a compass and maps. I think I have all of those, as well as the car stuff.

Well, I don't know about you, but if WW3 is declared, and Putin starts throwing Nuclear weapons at us, I shall open my best bottle of Champagne and sit outside until the blast hits me.

A post-Nuclear world wouldn't be worth living in.

Exercise

At the moment, the only exercise I get is a couple of half-hour walks a day with Billy. By the time each half-hour is up, I am usually hardly able to walk. The strength in my hips and legs has gone. It is worrying.

The best exercise for me, and the one I enjoy the most, is swimming. That DOESN'T mean going down to the sea, or a local pool, but swimming at home in France.

Our pool isn't big, it's 9 metres long by 4 metres wide. Big enough for us, but not for Olympic competitions.

Every time I enter the pool (usually 3 or 4 times a day), I do 10 or more lengths. I'm sure that it does me good. Swimming exercises all parts of the body, and is (mostly) painless.

I'm sure it helps with my mobility, and is preferable to 'going to the gym'. 

My only problem is that I'm in England, and it'd be too cold to swim anyway! But I can dream.