Holiday? What holiday!

I suppose most people would think we're on holiday; but we're not.

For us it's simply being at an alternative home. We do much the same, we eat much the same, and I do my shopping on the same days in the same old way, in the same car, at the same style of supermarket.

Here we have more outdoor space, but otherwise it's much the same. Of course we have a pool, which is nice, but it also brings a lot of extra work.

I purposefully landscaped the pool to become part of the house and garden. I can't stand pools that are built apart, away from the house, with a nasty wire fence around them. As you can see above, there is foliage everywhere; much of which falls into the pool. It's a daily task cleaning-out the skimmers, but I wouldn't have it any other way. It's a pleasant area to sit and read, even if one isn't swimming.

The weather, since we've returned, has been very 'on and off'. We've swum a bit, but not every day. We've had a lot of rain, and the sitting room wood-burner has seen plenty of action. The plus side has been a daily crop of mushrooms; both Girolles and a few Cepes.

However, mostly we've been coping with the results of our burglary. Cleaning, discovering what's missing, and generally tidying-away all that was strewn around the house. Burglars are not known for being tidy, or educated, individuals; and ours certainly was true to type. Lady Magnon lost some jewelry, some valuable watches, and a lot of smaller antique silver items. The TV's and Hi-Fi kit we don't really care about. I suppose one might say that it was our fault for leaving things here, but that's how we've always lived; by trusting people, as we would have them trust us.

Nothing much has changed here since last year. We have a new (and rather uninteresting) new neighbour behind us up at the barn. Our nearest restaurant seems to have new people, but is no better than last year. And my very good friend J seems to be coping well with his various ailments. 

No-one has died, got married, or been sent to prison. All is well with the world, and with any luck it'll remain that way for a while.

Had enough of politics? So have I.

Disappointed!

 

Firstly I'm disappointed with the Tory Party for getting themselves into such an unmitigated mess; all of their own making. Their losses were merited.

Secondly I'm disappointed with the public for believing Labour's promises; it's not unlike those famous Turkeys voting for Christmas! And what a Christmas it's going to be.

However, the UK still remains the world's 6th biggest economy, has a very low inflation level of 2.3%, and is currently the fastest growing economy in the G7. So, don't believe all that Labour has been telling you; Britain was doing quite well.

However, illegal immigration has been constantly increasing, and Rishi has continued to try to "Stop the Boats", whilst at the same time sending our Border Control boats to bring them in. The French just take our assistance money, and twiddle their thumbs. If Le Pen has any say, we can expect immigration figures to rise massively, and Labour will welcome them.

It's been far too easy for the Socialists to constantly vote against every serious proposal, but now they need to put their money where their mouths are, and show us how it should have been done. I suspect we might now see many of those Tory policies (that they previously rejected) being given a new pink tinge.

I for one will be extremely interested to see what happens. If they manage to achieve even a small part of their promises, without going broke (again), I shall be mightily impressed. But don't hold your breath. 

It's true that Starmer has attempted to shift the Labour Party to the right (as did Blair before him). He has expelled some of the more extreme left-wingers, and has 'attempted' to control Labour's traditional antisemitism, but let's now wait and see how this manifests itself in the real world. Corbyn is back in tow, and that says a lot.

However, I must admit that Starmer isn't all bad, and he definitely has my approval on two counts. Firstly he's a fellow confirmed atheist; and secondly he has two Jewish children, which means he cannot allow himself to be a Hamas supporter, unlike most of his other Labour Party members (and his buddy Corbyn, of course).

So, over to you, Keir; and good luck!

Election day.

Always keep ahold of Nurse, for fear of finding something worse.

A sorry sight.

It was with huge regret on our part that our newly renovated tobacco drying barn has been sold.

I had spilt blood sweat and tears working on the interior, and, without wishing to sound pompous, I did a bloody good job of it. It became a lovely eco family home, that almost anyone would have been happy to live in. It just happened that my youngest son, who owned it, had just built a fabulous home in Thailand, where he's now living (he's now building a second), and he didn't need another one in France.

It also had lots of land, a well-stocked orchard, plenty of room for a pool, veg patch, etc, and a magnificent huge ancient Oak tree. There was also plenty of extra space for a Granny Flat.

Anyway, it was sold, and the new owner doesn't seem to be interested in country life. The grass everywhere is a metre high, and not a single plant has been touched or pruned since he moved-in. 

Having tended the garden myself for several years, it is now a total mess. It won't be easy to return it to how it looked above. I can imagine the whole place becoming totally overgrown in no time (actually, it already is). He didn't even pick his wonderful Cherries; what a shame.

I really don't know, but I imagine the new owner is a townie, and has no understanding about living out in the countryside. I even wonder if he'll stay there for very long; it doesn't seem to suit him. I believe he is a single music teacher; but I have no confirmation. What he is doing, in such a big house, way out in the Styx by himself, I have no idea. Usually people who move to the country are desperate to embrace the whole lifestyle; but not this man. 

Above is how it is today. I haven't yet met the new owner, nor, it seems, have any of my other neighbours, so I'm not about to cast judgement. We've only been back a few weeks and so far he hasn't made much of an impression, other than throwing stones, and shouting at Billy. I've had to cut back the excessive growth from his side of our part-mutual entrance driveway, so I can get the car in without scratching its sides, but I shall do no more. It's HIS garden now, and he can look after it himself. 

I've said it before, but I think townies should stay in towns, and leave us country bumkins alone. 

Russian/Ukranian deaths.

 

Statistics in times of war are never reliable. When looking online for the number of Russian Soldier deaths in Ukraine, I came across all sorts of estimates; some quite low, others unbelievably high.

Probably the most reliable current figure is 508,780. This comes from an 'official' source. The figure is almost approaching Napoleon's 600,000 disastrous number of deaths in Russia in 1812. 

The number of Ukrainian Soldier deaths is given as 31,000. This sounds unreliably low!

Damage to buildings, businesses, industry, and agriculture is inestimable. Who, I wonder will rebuild?

It's a strange war. Very one-sided. I fail to understand why Moscow or St Petersburg haven't been bombed; not unlike the Falklands War where the British kindly allowed Buenos Aries to remain untouched. I wouldn't promise the Argies that that would be the case if they attacked again.

Putin and the Russian people must have very thick skins. They are losing vast amounts of men and kit. It must be costing a fortune, and Ukraine itself is being reduced to rubble, where or what is the advantage?

It's about time that the Russian people experienced what the Ukrainians are having to endure; maybe then they will understand what their 'heroic leader' is doing.

What is the purpose; other than Communist expansionism? 

Slightly pissed-off

This electrical box has been annoying me for the past 4 or 5 years.

It was attached to the back our house to provide a temporary electrical connection to a house about 200 metres away. It was to be there for a MAXIMUM of 6 months. It's been a very long six months!

The red pipe comes from our house, into the above box, then out across a public footpath; ending-up at the man's house. It is above ground and has already caused one municipal grass-mower to nearly lose his life (having mowed over the live wires). Nothing was done. The wires were mended, and left as they were previously. A quick shrug of the shoulders, and that was that.

When we returned a couple of weeks ago, the box was exactly as you see it above. The door was open, plants were growing inside, and it all looked a bit of a mess. I looked inside and saw that the spinning meter-reading disc was not moving; and hasn't moved since. I have to presume that, without having said anything, the man has since got himself a permanent connection somewhere else, and has simply abandoned the bloody box and wires behind our house.

I had a word with the Mayor; he wasn't interested. No-one seems bothered that it's still there with live wires in it. I've even been told NOT to touch it.

How long do you think I'll have to wait before anyone comes to remove it? We've just had about 100 horses and riders passing by yesterday; I was hoping they'd do the job for me, sadly they didn't!!!

My telephone/internet cable had been left lying on the ground for the past few years. They put in a new post, but forgot to attach the wires to it. I've now done it for them. That's one problem solved; now for the bloody electrical box!

I ain't holding my breath.