Evolution

Haddock's always was the Vegetable Garden for our house. We bought it about 30 years ago, to return it to its rightful ownership. It was simply a small D shaped piece of land, that was overgrown with Brambles; it took a lot of hard work to return it to a useable plot.

Over the years it has provided huge amounts of produce, and our Winter stocks were made from the excess; mostly in the form of bottled Ratatouille. There was hardly a time when we weren't eating its produce in some form or other. Below shows the plantings at the beginning of 2021.

Sadly, this year will be its last as far as vegetable growing is concerned. The light has now been totally blocked by serious growth from next door, and without light and air it has become unviable. Things simply aren't growing. By mid July I had become totally disenchanted, and I abandoned it. I still harvest the few things that are growing, and have left the rest to nature. 

I'm not sure exactly what I'll do with it, but in the meantime I shall simply mow all the grass, and keep it tidy. I shall leave the fruit trees, the soft fruits, and table grapes, but any future vegetable growing will move elsewhere. 

I shall be very sorry to say goodbye to Haddock's, but I have no alternative. It will continue to produce Plums, Grapes, Figs, Tayberries, and Artichokes; but no Veg'.

Perhaps I'll make it into a Party Venue, with Pergola, BBQ, Fire Pit, Table-n-Chairs, etc. It deserves to have a second life.

 

Afghanistan; the Future.

There is no question that Afghanistan contains rich pickings for whoever is prepared to offer recognition, support and funding to The Taliban. They may not offer 'friendship'; but money talks!

Above is Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan, Wang Yi, in talks with The Taliban over future trade, and 'humanitarian aid'.

Bets are mostly on China to bid for expensive mining contracts. Estimates suggest that there is anywhere between £1 and £3 Trillion worth of minerals waiting to be mined.

Lithium, Copper, Coal, Gold, Iron, and Bauxite, are amongst the prizes waiting to be harvested. No doubt China will take the Lion's share. 

The Taliban might possibly build an ill-equipped hospital, a piss-poor university, and repair a few holes in the roads, but the majority of Chinese cash will go to buy military equipment, and Afghanistan will become an even more serious danger to world peace.

Mineral-rich China will then flood the world with even more High Tech gizmos, and their world domination will strengthen. The future is Chinese. 

20 years presence, $2 Trillion spent, and around 2,500 US and UK lives lost. Now we are forced out by a rag-bag army with AK47's. Possibly the worst humiliation in military history for two of the world's most powerful nations;..... and it looks as if China will go on to reap the benefits.

Seagulls.

I've always rather liked Seagulls; but less so these days because they make a nuisance of themselves. There are far too many of them, and no-one does anything about the problem. But generally they are very attractive and atmospheric birds.

My good friend Jan says 'she has no problem spotting one of my paintings because they always contain Seagulls, or a Shotgun, or both'.

This large painting shows the waves, Brighton pier, a few Gulls, and a stormy sky. I rather like it as it reminds me of a certain period in my life, when I had a wonderful studio and was still exhibiting and selling work.

As a child going to the sea, it wasn't only seeing the sea that was exciting, but seeing and hearing the Gulls too. They were an integral part of the scene.

These days the Gulls have become a menace. They swoop on children eating Ice Creams, or old folk with their bag of chips. They nest on the roofs of houses where they hold dance-parties in the middle of the night. They poo everywhere, and (I'm certain) aim their poo at people and house windows. They are very accurate.

They also always sound angry; with us or themselves, I'm not sure.

My Theatrical Career.

 

I've had a few 'mute' parts in films, and was once offered a small speaking part in 'The Countess from Hong Kong' (which, sadly, I was unable to accept), but I've only acted on stage once, and that (as I suspect with most people) was at school.

The show's producer (JM) was one year senior to me. When he first asked me to take part; I categorically refused. He continued to pester me, and eventually I said 'OK', as long as it was a very small part, and required little acting talent.

The play in question was Joseph Kesselring's 'Arsenic and Old Lace'. JM gave me the part of Mortimer Brewster; my lines consisted of about half the whole bloody play.

I learned my lines in a week or so, other than one section where I was on the phone, speaking amidst others speaking. I put my script by the phone and read my lines direct. It was impossible for me to learn when to come in amongst all the other characters who, I seem to remember, were all shouting simultaneously.

I have to admit that I enjoyed my brief acting career (2 shows). I presume that JM chose me for the leading role because of my similarity to Cary Grant, who played the part in the Frank Capra's 1944 film version. Hmmmm, maybe not!

JM went on to be a producer on Broadway, but I never received another call.

44 Scotland Street.

I recently heard one episode of a radio serialisation of this book, and was totally enthralled.

I've not bought books through Amazon before, so was a little wary of buying one that was described as 'used'.

The book cost a total of €5.12 (£4.50), and I'm pleased to say that it has obviously been unread (an unwanted Christmas present perhaps?). On the back of the cover it gives its original price as £14.99; I consider that a bargain.

I bought the book for Lady Magnon, who is running out of books. I hope she enjoys it, I shall read it later.

 

Turning The Tatin.

Despite being a World, and Olympic, Champion Tarte Tatin maker, Lady Magnon is still scared of turning them out onto a plate.

They come from the oven Pastry side up, but need to be put onto a plate Apple side up. With lots of very hot sticky Caramel about, this can prove dangerous. So, rather than put herself at risk; she calls on Muggins Cro, for whom (she imagines) red hot Caramel can do no harm.

Over the years I've managed to master the turning-over process without scolding myself; not easy for a fumbling oldie. I don't always get it to look perfect, but I can always blame Lady M's baking skills for that.

This one below came out very neatly, but it's the flavour that counts. 

We have Bramley Apples by the barrow-load at the moment, so Tatins are on the menu for the foreseeable future.

It's the world's best Apple Pie, and accompanied by a big dollop of thick cream; it's pure heaven.

 

The Nameless.

 

                                Afghan women in 1927.

The people of Afghanistan are never far from our thoughts. As an individual, I know there's very little I can do other than offer meaningless support and sympathy. Donated money could end-up almost anywhere, and with The Taliban in charge, one wonders if 'giving' would be simply funding more outrage.

One thing about Afghanistan that really surprised me recently (about which I'd previously known nothing) was the 'Where is my Name' campaign.

I imagine that most would agree that The Taliban's attitude to women is a disgrace, but I'd had no idea that their hatred spread as far as women's names.  Not only do these poor women have to cover themselves completely, but it seems that Afghan women are also only known by their relationship to men. Daughter of Mohammed X, Sister of Mohammed X, Wife of Mohammed X, etc. Women's actual names do not appear on their death certificates, or on the birth certificates of their children. They will not appear on the invitations to their own weddings, or even on their gravestones.

There was a recent case where a woman was beaten to death by her husband because her doctor had written her actual name on a prescription form.

The recent 'runaway' President, Ashraf Ghani had promised to look into amending the regulations, but now that The Taliban are back in control, I presume nothing will change.

We who live in the civilised world should give thanks every day that by a freak of nature we were not born in Afghanistan. Those women in the above photo would have been horrified by how primitive their country has become; the photo was taken 96 years ago, and could have been taken in The Luxembourg Gardens or Hyde Park. 

With the rag-bag militia now in charge, and calling the shots, it doesn't look as if life for Afghan women will improve for quite some while, but maybe they could show some decency by allowing them to use their own names. It's not that much to ask.