I am mystified, most of the time, I cannot wrap my mind around the events that continues to happen and the comments that splash all over the media everyday? I shake my head in disbelief as yet another stupid, idiotic statement is made and I wonder how any of these people ever got the oxygen of a public forum? I know the is a wide breath of human personality but I am perplexed how so unsuitable ones   rise to positions of prominence? How do people get duped into voting for them if they are standing for any election? What is the correlation between being entirely unsuitable to do a job and yet getting promoted to do it? I am no angel or necessarily the most intelligent person but I am damn sure I have the brains to do a  better job than most of them. I feel we are living in some alternate reality where chaos reigns supreme and the world is run by fools and liars who have nothing but contempt for the people they profess to represent! Worse is the knowledge that we are not listened to or really have any control! I sit with Wendy and almost everyday as we peruse the news, we exclaim that we commented on a story months ago saying, that is exactly what  would happen. If we can predict, then why can’t those who are supposedly surrounded by all sorts of experts do so? We have become a reactive country and no longer understand the pro-active! We have been following for so long, dragged kicking and screaming by events we seem unable to control, that nobody knows how to lead! What a shambles! Do you have the distinct feeling, that Covid aside, most of the last decade or more could and should have been much much better? Do you like me think that we have so badly conned and mismanaged that any of us could have done a better job and things could be a lot better!

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Has Brexit been a success? The very loud answer is no! Since we left the EU can you think of one thing that has become better or is a success due to no longer being a member? Much has been written and said about this stupendously appalling decision , not least by me and most of it has been negative! As things have unwound we have come to see what a terrible mistake it has been and many of those who were firm supporters of this madness have now seen the error of their ways. Not all of our troubles are down to Brexit but I would hazard that the vast majority of them are! The Northern Ireland border is a typical example of the ridiculous situation we have placed ourselves in since “leaving” . The amount of problems engendered by going are too long to list here but we all know what they are. Nothing is a perfect or even a halfway decent way of being governed but the simple truth is that our “independence” was never at risk by being in, any more than any member. Enough people were fooled by the usual suspects into fearing stuff that was and never has been a threat. Can you honestly say we have are better off? Has one advantage that all those Brexiteers told us, come to pass? Now, should there ever come a time when we are united enough to ask to re-join, in some form, how do you think the EU will react? Would the welcome us with open arms back into the fold and just forget that we had left, not a chance. We certainly would not have the same influence and power within the block we enjoyed originally! We are now a tiny, weak, pathetic country whose trade and influence has waned into misery and divisiveness. 

This is the country you live in after 13 years of Tory governance. We will not even vaguely recover in my lifetime if indeed we ever will. Ironically, I have never been so well off since Brexit, although it has nothing to do with leaving. I still deeply resent loosing my European citizenship and the ability to travel freely throughout the EU. My plans were radically altered because you cannot reside for more than 90 days at a time in an EU state. To say we shot ourselves in the foot is an understatement. I hope you’re enjoying your independence?

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 I haven’t smoked since i was 32, which is 38 years ago. I grew up in a different time and we were not yet so aware of the dangers! Once my first son was born, that was it and I never smoked again. Naturally I became anti smoking and now can’t even stand the smell. What I fail to understand is vaping? What a waste, just a dying tobacco industry, way of continuing their profits, as smoking cigarettes declines. Why both are not banned is beyond me? I know it would not stop and be driven underground. It still generates substantial revenue for the government. Why do people want to engulf themselves in some concoction of sweet smelling smoke? More importantly why do they want me to be enveloped in their perfumed trail of puffed vapour? In Kettering there are at least 4 Vape Shops! There is now evidence that the youngsters are vaping as a fashion and of course, surprise , surprise it is not as safe as had been predicted. Surely it is obvious that inhaling any kind of smoke is not good for humans! Why are all the vape shop owners bearded hipsters?

So we are smack bang back into a Cold War, as Putin postures and threatens. In the 90’s as the old Soviet Union collapsed we lived with the hope that the West and Russian enmity would virtually disappear but Putin obsessive need to recover territory that he believes should be Russian has blown any chance of peace to bits! If he succeeds in Ukraine where will he go next? don’t think for a second he will stop at Ukraine. We have stop him, we have no choice. Nobody wants to fight him, nobody wants to contemplate the consequences but sanctions and empty threats will not deter him. He is bound and determined to continue. He cannot stop or all his power will evaporate. Lies and spin are being peddled and any hint of protest ruthlessly eradicated. I fear that worse times are ahead!

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What a shallow pathetic miserable apathetic country we have become! Our development has become static and moribund. What happened to our dynamism, ambition, drive and happiness. We languish in a fog of dread and muted hatred of our situation all engendered by our own stupidity and a ruling class that keeps us nailed down in case we do something they don’t like! Like most if you I am sick of our politics, it is a cesspool of dirty tricks, wasteful, mean, nasty and with few redeeming traits. The odd person who seems decent but generally speaking the poison seps into our politicians and the fall prey to the disease of being in a position of power. Starmer, whom I once had some hope for has become so fixated with the middle ground, so as not to upset anyone and loose, what should be a clear cut win at the next election, has forgotten that Labour is a socialist party with deep roots in working class Britain. I have said many times I am not a natural Labour voter but our main priority is to get rid of this disgusting Tory stranglehold and see them suffer a huge defeat. I am concerned that Starmer lack of policy and unwillingness to promote Labour values will drive people back to the status quo and continue to vote Conservative. 

Wouldn’t it be nice to write something positive about our politics, to say from once what a good job they are doing and how much it has improved my life. That they are really looking out for the “ordinary” people and we are living in with an enlightened government that understands what is needed to improve our country! Tell me the last time you read or heard positive news about them? We have become collectively miserable and our complaint quotes is through the roof. It is true that the British are a nation that likes a good moan (and I am living proof!!!!) but we are in a  “golden” age of complaining!

One last thing, today, I saw some of Question time yesterday, a home office minister was rattling on about the asylum seekers crossing the channel in small boats provided by the traffickers and saying that by tightening our stance on preventing people to come, we will stop their criminal trade. It made me laugh (not because it was funny)  criminals could care less about laws or blocking of routes, they are only in it for the money and will continue to take these peoples money no matter what the circumstances are! They could care less about rules and regulations, they are fucking criminals!. The only way to stop them is to catch them! I am sure this is being done but that is where the resources should be spent. Refuges, asylum seekers and criminal element will keep coming no matter the circumstances, if this is where they want to be! 

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 I joined an art gathering yesterday at the Kino Lounge in Kettering. A group of amateur artist who meet each month to compare notes, chat and drink coffee. It was no surprise that most if not all were, shall we say of a more senior age! They were kind enough to compliment my efforts. I did not see much of their art but as usual comments were expressed regarding their lack of confidence in their own ability, even though their pictures were good! Like many who draw and paint, in splendid isolation, it is easy to be hypercritical of your work. As you might expect I have no such qualms, I have no illusions that i am a great artist but that is no the point. Do you enjoy it? If the answer is yes then what does it matter how good or bad you are! I can assure any budding artist that with time and practice you will always improve. I have now completed 3 art courses on a site called Domestika. My skill level has increased immensely. Art is a therapeutic, meditative skill, which I can attest to as I have burnt the dinner twice while absorbed in a drawing! 

I would encourage anyone to draw, all you need is a piece of paper and a pen or pencil and you can start creating whatever comes into your mind. It could be a scribble or complex architecture, it does not matter. I have often just drawn a few random lines and then turned them into a patterned drawing. I would call myself a “gifted” doodler. You will be amazed that once you start, with an open minded attitude, you will soon be drawing on a regular basis.

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 It is quite remarkable how we have witnessed numerous Conservative MP’s involved in corruption and fleecing us the tax payer to line their own pockets. To the best of my knowledge not one of them has yet been prosecuted let alone sent to jail for these criminal acts? If it was an “ordinary” member of the public we’d have been banged up without hesitation. You can commit fraud and theft with impunity if you are an MP, no matter how often the facts are broadcast nothing happens! I would name all the culprits but it would be boring and the list is too long. It is beyond my understanding and yet in no way are any of us surprised! It is not exclusively limited to Tory politicians and I am not ignoring that others are guilty of misdemeanours, the temptation to dip into the filthy pool of greed is to great for many at their level to ignore. The proportion of millionaires in Parliament is way above the level in the rest of society. These wealthy men and women blame all the ills of the country on those who have much less and are just trying to live their lives the best they can. how dare they strike or ask for better conditions and pay? They are holding the country to ransom? It is easy to condemn when you have plenty and are getting a pay rise or an uplift in expenses every year! Yet there is a proportion of our electorate who vote Tory no matter what, I expect it from those who are protecting there own status but I fail to understand why ordinary working people do. I know the reasons are not always about standard of living and can range from tough on crime to keeping immigrants out and other reasons. It is baffling! Well there you are  a conundrum wrapped in a mystery clothed in an enigma! My mind is discombobulated by the whole messy nonsense! We seem incapable, unwilling or just plain apathetic to do anything about it?

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 I am limiting my exposure to the news and social media platforms. I have bored with the content. The news is depressing and the social media platforms full of people, like me, who have nothing good to say and are stunned beyond belief at the nonsense generated. History will reflect this was a time of massive change in both social and political attitudes. Whilst we have generally become more enlightened, the same enlightenment has shone a light on those who hold every kind of prejudice  and twisted view. they want their 15 minutes of fame and are from the safety of a keyboard able to spout their vitriol and send it out into the world. This is not the first time I have written about this subject, I must have done so many times. There is a simple answer and an obvious one, stop looking at it! This is advice I have given often to those who moan and complain about stuff and yet I am loath to follow it myself! 

An iPad is such an easy thing to use and alongside the mobile phone a screen is always within easy reach. My phone is not used other than for its primary purpose, to speak to people. I do take photos and text but generally I don’t look at it, other than perhaps to read a book when out and about. Yet here I am again writing on this page, which I too will send out into the ether, brandishing my opinion, as though my sage like advice is the stuff of legend! I use this medium to clear my head of the all the crap running around, although I have become adept at switching it off. When drawing or riding a bile etc.  can be a meditative state and you think of little else other than what you are doing. I do have a habit when cycling of having a tune persistently going round in my brain and no matter what I try to substitute it with it won’t go away!  

We live in a mad world full of mad people and strange events but it has always been thus.

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 My darling wife and I have recently pondered on the absence of observation. For instance how often do you look up when walking through your town? If you do you will notice all sorts of architecture. The buildings in Kettering are very interesting, once a wealthy town the diversity of design is wide. Everything from large town houses to wonderful Victorian factories. We have spent a lot of time walking around the streets and the variation of design is huge. We have at the top of our road a massive church with a tall spire, against the background of a clear blue sky it is spectacular! There is a fifties built Bus garage around the corner and the station at the bottom of our road is a handsome building of the classic style. The town centre like so many, is tired and tatty, with a number of empty shops, a deserted cinema with the homeless camped on its entrance and of course the obligatory deserted M&S! I am curious as to why these days there are so many barbers, hairdressers and in Kettering, vape shops? We still have a library and it has recently had an extension. the original building is a large brick built building probably Victorian. If you go anywhere try to take in the architecture and always look up, you will discover a great deal of interesting facades. For instance we have been to Stamford a number of times, it is a wealthy town and its mixture of medieval , Georgian and Victorian architecture is an absolute delight. Typically built with the local sandstone, the local town streets have a solid look to them. 

We miss so much in our daily lives, don’t!

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 Will you vote in the next general election? Can you be bothered to make your mark in a voting system that does not actually elect those who get the most votes? First past the post is redundant and it certainly does not reflect the way votes are cast. It seems inevitable that we will get a Labour government, remind you of anything? If you are old enough and lived through the eighties into the nineties you may remember a certain Maggie Thatcher had been PM for some time and it all ended when John Major realised Britain was tired of more Conservative government. Resonate in any way? Tony Blair came in on a wave of popularity and much of the country cheered as they anticipated change for the better? He did some good things but ultimately he was a man who could slip under a snake wearing a top hat! 

The political merry-go-round spun again and in came a coalition, which ended up destroying the Liberal Democrat’s and sending Nick Clegg into the wilderness. We got Cameron and more austerity until his disaster, needing to pacify the Eurosceptics, in his party, leading to a referendum and his resignation based on the result. Since then it has been chaos as they desperately tried to impose Brexit. On the way it tripped up May and gave us Johnston, we all knew what he was like and yet! A massive majority has meant that no matter how disastrous our, corrupt, scandalised, sleazy or lying the Tories have been, they have retained power and imposed draconian policies that take away our rights. They have failed to live up to any of their “promises” and along the way all our lives have become worse. Not withstanding the pandemic, which they mishandled badly (I not sure any govt. would have handled it well) mired in one controversy after another, charges of bullying, ministers and PM fined, corruption on an industrial scale, we now have a situation where enough of us will send them packing, or so the polls suggest? The Labour opposition has been poor and they have not handled themselves well but the Conservatives have damaged themselves so badly that any opposition would look good by comparison! I do not envy Labour if they win, they will be damned if they do and damned if they don’t! How do you reverse all those years of Tory destruction?  Starmer is playing a role, to be as uncontroversial as possible, not committing himself to to much, how can he, he and his party are not in power and until they get behind the wheel, they won’t know!

In my humble option we have to start the path back to rejoining the EU, they maybe corruption at the top and rules and regulations we don’t like but ask yourself has really been any better being out than in? Within we could have engineered change, we were after all, the second most powerful voice after Germany, that would no longer be the case as our economy is a shadow of the what it was before we left. the damage done will take years to repair assuming it even can be.

One last thing today, if I see another fucking word about Liz Truss and some kind of comeback I swear I am going to scream! She needed to fuck off and never be heard fo again. Mind I could name loads of Tory MP’s who need to do the same. How you doing Uxbridge!!!!!

Stay well

 Yesterday I accompanied my son and the lovely Hannah to a petting farm near Naseby. Full of “yummy” mummy’s and their offspring ( made me feel very old!!!) it had a menagerie of all sorts of creatures. Goats, Shetland ponies, Al packers, Llamas, more goats, pigs, rabbits, Angus cattle, turkey’s and much more. Hannah is only 6 months old so not quite able to get it yet, however my 38 year old son Adam enjoyed himself immensely. It took me back to when he was a toddler and we took him and his brother to see animals. It was delightful. There is a pleasure, that is hard to describe, of wheeling your grandchild’s pushchair, with your own child! Nothing unique about that I am not the first grandpa to feel like that. Hannah is the most well behaved, happy baby, hardly ever cries and seems to content all the time. We put on a baby swing for the first time, she did not seem too impressed but I pushed her gently backwards and forwards and it was a delight! There is little in the world these days that make you smile but animals will do it. I recommend everyone takes the time to see some, it will make your day.

We have a small family, very small, we could easily fit round an average size dinner table but I could not be happier that we do. After the trials and tribulations I hear about other families, who have a larger array of relatives, I am grateful. 

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 It is disturbing that each day, particularly since Johnston came to power, that  another Conservative MP and/or minister is mired in sleaze and scandal. I have written about this many times and am sick of the the sound of my own voice.  I have never expected any MP to be squeaky clean, they operate in an environment that has more temptation than almost any other. They are approached by all sorts of pressure groups and private companies and individuals, all of whom have some angle or agenda to sell. The further up the greasy pole you climb the more tempting and sleazy it becomes. This is not to make any kind of excuse for their behaviour or for dipping their noses in the trough! So many of them have philosophies so alien,  that we fail to understand how they were ever elected in the first place?  Worse we fail to understand why they retain their positions, unless the pressure from the media and social platforms reaches such a crescendo that it cannot be ignored. Yet there are still ministers and MP’s who retain their position how ever much is reported about their misdemeanours, in many cases proven ones! It is a merry-go -round of get sacked and then make a comeback as it appears is now being reported regarding Liz Truss? Wendy and I sit here wondering how such a dishonoured woman could possibly do so and yet we know that it could happen. Look at the disgraced Johnston parading himself around the world like some great statesman,  under the illusion that he is still the PM! 

I hope the projected win for Labour is real, not because I am a great supporter of their party or believe they can turn things around and improve our misfortunes but simply because a heavy defeat for the Conservatives would be wonderful. This Conservative Party needs a long time in the wilderness and hopefully should never be elected again after the damage that have caused and continue to perpetuate. They have become desperate and knowing that they are unpopular (to say the least) are reckless with the legislation they are passing after all why should they care anymore, they never have!

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Surely nothing highlights the gap in wealth more than the amount of money the Premier League has spent in January? At a time of the one of the worst cost of living crisis they spent £600 million! It is simply obscene! The disparity between those who pay to watch and the Premier League clubs themselves is a stark reminder of how wealth is distributed in this country. Most Premier clubs are owned by billionaires or  foreign Sheiks and princes. I have no objection of the players earning obscene amounts, that is the going rate. It is far removed from ordinary working people but they are not the ones who stack the pay structure although they are savvy enough to have agents who jack up their wage demands. You will never see a current Premier footballer who retires poor! Many professional sports Golf, Tennis, Formula 1, have wealth beyond anything that is imaginable to the average working person. Not everyone involved in those sports are rich or highly rewarded but there is a lot of money washing around. 

I got a reply to my enquiry to my MP Philip Hollobone who voted to allow water companies to keep pumping sewage in our rivers for the next 15 years. His reply was long and detailed, quoting lots of figures and percentages. I had to read it more than once to understand it and cut out the bullshit! Whilst he made some valid points the upshot is that private capitalism has triumphed once again over the health of our country. Yes there is a problem with too much sewage and how to treat and dispose of it but there are many proven solutions that can be used other than dumping it in our environment. Naturally these are costly and there in a nutshell is the problem, we could do it but it would cut into our profits and money for our shareholders! I have never had a reply, from an MP, that was not full of meaningless numbers and so called facts or that did not tow the party line. Never has anything brought into stark relief the gap between the public perception and the doctrine that politicians believe! It seems impossible that any one of them would actually express their own opinion even if they do not actually support the policy in question and that says everything you need to know about our MP’s.

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