PANIC!

 

Lady M: Shreek Shreek Shreek !!!!

Cro: What the hell's going on?

Lady M: Look, over there, by Billy's bed. There's a huge Spider!

Cro: Hang on, I'll roll-up some newspaper.

Lady M: Quick Quick, it'll get away.

Cro: Where is it?.

Lay M: There, there, over by Billy's bed.

Cro: Ah, I've been looking for that. That's my black scarf! 

Lady M slinks off to find her Girl Guides Ladybird Book of Creepy Crawlies. Red faced.

Oxo-Shmoxo

I just happened to notice this small packet of Oxo cubes at my supermarket recently, and it brought back memories. I had no idea they were still made, so I bought it.

When I cook green vegetables (usually Broccoli) I keep the cooking water and often make myself a hot drink mixed with either Marmite or Bovril. This may sound a bit strange to many, but I don't like to throw away all that vitamin packed cooking water (vegetable stock).

Oxo cubes are funny little square cubes of Beef flavoured compressed powdery 'something-or-other'. They crumble when squeezed. They also melt into hot water very easily. I notice they contain NO ARTIFICIAL PRESERVATIVES; amazing.

Often during the day I don't feel like Tea or Coffee, so finding these little cubes was fortuitous. They make quite a pleasant hot drink which I did actually rather enjoy. I must have last tasted them over 60 years ago.

When I was small, Oxo cubes used to come in roughly 6 by 4 by 3 inch red metal tins, which were much prized as sandwich tins for coal miners. You'd probably find them in antique shops these days.

Does life get more exciting that this?

Cro's verdict as a hot drink. Pleasant enough with good Beefy flavour. 7/10

 

The Paris Olympics.

Did I hear correctly? Did someone say that 'Break Dancing' was to play a part in this year's Olympic Games in Paris? Surely not!

I did also hear that Surfing, Skateboarding, and Sport Climbing will also now feature.

I'm not really all that interested in the Olympics. I had always thought of the games as being Running, Jumping, Throwing, Cycling, and Swimming, etc; events where people compete against each other to achieve faster and higher goals. I'm not sure how Break Dancing fits in with 100 Metres sprinting or Pole Vaulting.

Above are my two Aussie Grandsons contemplating their appearance in the Quarter Mile dash to McDonald's.

Let's hope they bring back a bun-shaped burger-flavoured medal.

On a very different and darker note, we're all keeping our fingers crossed (as are the French) that there won't be a repeat of the 1972 Olympics massacre in Munich, where Palestinian 'Black September' terrorists murdered athletes, and took Israelis as hostages (remind you of anything?). The French are taking the current threats extremely seriously.

It's a huge black mark on the UK's recent history that the previous leader of the UK Socialists, Jeremy Corbyn, is known for his support of terrorism (IRA, Hamas, Hezbollah, etc), as well as his antisemitism. Corbyn (in white shirt below), is seen here praying, and wreath-laying, at the graves of the 'Black September' bosses Salah Khalaf and Atef Bseiso, who organised the 1972 Olympics terrorist attack. I believe that 11 Israeli athletes were murdered that day.

Corbyn still sits as a back-bench MP at Westminster. Shame on him!

Luckily Corbyn was replaced as Labour party leader in 2019 by his own 2015 leadership campaigner, Sir Keir Starmer. 

It will be interesting to see if Corbyn has any support for his actions. 

Visit Africa.

The threat of sending illegal immigrants to Rwanda is supposed to stop the constant flow of overcrowded illegal boats arriving from France. Well, let me tell the initiators of this crazy scheme that it will quite possibly increase the arrivals.

Who in their right minds wouldn't want to be lodged in this lovely hotel in the African sunshine (below); totally free of charge! The hotel boasts a very good restaurant, tennis courts, landscaped gardens, and all the luxuries one finds in an averagely good hotel.

Those we intend to send 'on holiday' will receive spending money, on top of having everything paid for by UK taxpayers. It's almost worth taking a day trip to France, buying an inflatable boat, and being escorted to Britain by the nice Border Patrol folk; before being sent off to Rwanda on a jolly.

I wouldn't be surprised to hear that the Calais 'people smugglers' are charging extra for the possibility of being sent to Kigali. It might prove to be a very popular selling point. 

 

Industrial Pud'

I've had this pud' in the cupboard for months, and had almost forgotten about it.

I've been a fan of the Fray Bentos steak and kidney pies since I was a student, but the puds only appeared after the microwave was invented (I think).

I know, I know; such things are a bit naff, but just occasionally they hit the spot perfectly. Yesterday Lady Magnon was away for most of the day, so I took the opportunity to allow it to have its moment (for my lunch). 3 mins in the microwave, and Bob's your uncle. 

I don't know where else I would get a Steak and Kidney Pudding (unless I made it myself), so this one had to suffice.

Frankly it's not as good as the FB S & K Pies, but I enjoyed it anyway. The suet pastry is far too stodgy, but the overall taste is there. I don't think I shall be buying another one for a very long time. However, one in the cupboard for emergencies is not a bad idea.

Cro's Verdict: Not something you'd wish to eat too often. 6/10

 

Surrey Vandalism

 

It's not often that the press report simple mindless vandalism, but this particular case has recently made the headlines.

My native village of Lingfield in Surrey is very close to both the villages of Godstone and Oxted; two venues that are currently suffering from regular bouts of serious hooliganism from marauding gangs (above). They smash church, house, and car windows, kill animals, and have even blinded Swans on Godstone village pond; a pond I know well. They generally cause mayhem by firing catapults whilst others are asleep.

It is difficult to understand why some people commit blatant vandalism and cruelty. It has been alleged that the perpetrators are from an ex-traveler community, but this is no excuse to behave badly. Many people have financial or social problems but they don't go around killing pets or smashing windows. 

Some people are simply prone to vandalism, it seems to be in their blood. I imagine it's a question of 'they have what I don't, so I'll smash it'; not unlike keying expensive cars.

Some while back I wrote about the possibility of reintroducing some form of National Service, to give such people a purpose in life. I now see that the idea is becoming spoken about across the board, and it does look as if it will be introduced some time in the not too distant future.

Maybe swapping their catapults for more modern weaponry on a shooting range will help heal their inherent woes.

I do find it very odd that the good folk of Godstone are able to photograph these people, yet PC Plod fails to arrest them. What more do they need?

The Veg' Patch.

I cannot tell you how much I miss Haddock's; my old vegetable garden. Especially at the moment which is the beginning of the growing season.

It not only grew all our vegetables, but it also had a huge Fig tree, an Apple tree, a Plum tree, a Cherry tree, a large patch of Globe Artichokes, Tayberries, red and black Currants, and various Vines. It was only a smallish area, but it produced all we needed.

A Veg' garden requires constant attention. Weeds must be tackled daily, watering must be regular, and a strict rotation scheme adhered to.

I didn't attempt to grow anything too exotic, just the basic vegetables that we used on a daily basis. Many of these would be stored and saw us through to the next year's crop. Any non-lasting vegs would be bottled or frozen.  

The satisfaction one receives from successfully growing one's own food is almost second to none. Good critical reviews from an exhibition is up there with the Tomatoes or Aubergines, but that basket-full of fresh, straight from the garden, fruit and vegetables, beats all.  

Something went awry with Haddock's about 6 years ago. My crops suddenly started to fail. My neighbour, slightly above Haddock's, had invited all his builder friends to dump 'hardcore' to build-up an area to make a parking space. I noticed very quickly that they were dumping a lot more than hardcore, and I think much of it must have seeped down, through the dividing wall, and into Haddock's; poisoning the soil. There was nothing I could do but abandon my growing. Maybe in years to come it will have healed itself. We'll see!

Last year I did manage to grow a few Courgettes, and I'll try again this year. I now have a Polytunnel, so maybe I'll put them in there.

Haddock's had always been the vegetable garden of our 300 year old cottage, and it's a shame to see it no longer used.