Cares melt when you kneel in your garden.
Okakura Kakuzo
“Be there early and no staying out late on the lash!” said Gangmaster Greenfingers ahead of last Saturday’s big dig.
It was time to plant the main crop of potatoes and I was reminded of numerous Saturday mornings of years gone by, waking to check the weather Gods.
We had several egg trays full of chitted seed potatoes and the sun was trying manfully to breakthrough. Adopting a Mao Tse Tung approach, I was nominated as hole digger and Greenfingers the planter.
On muddy knees like peasants under the watchful eye of Bombastic, we worked methodically down the two big plots, a plank to keep us on the straight.
Several passers-by marvelled at the synchronised dig-plant, dig-plant, dig-plant; Bombastic went for a snooze.
Meanwhile, the Lesser Spotted Fireman was absent yet again as The Good Wife loyally defended his stout contribution to the patch, pointing to a small area of turned earth.
“Is that the new birdbath?” I asked.
With our peasant-like efficiency, soon we had over a hundred potatoes planted and took a well-earned rest on the company deckchairs just as Thommo arrived with the salivating Fraser seeking his daily doggy treats.
“Is that all you lads do, sit around all day in the sun?” he asked. We knew much better.
City of Culture
The judging panel was in town this week being whisked around Bradford quicker than a leper colony, presumably not to get a whiff of the local growth industry.
To date they have blown some £3m in pursuit of a gong that, should we win, will only go to prove you cannot polish a turd.
And how about this piece from the T&A on the very same day. Several people were arrested and one person was charged with being drunk and disorderly in a public place during an anti-social behaviour police operation in Bradford city centre.
Perhaps the local drunks were treated to a day at the seaside on the council as the great and the good patted each other warmly on their public-funded backs?
And how about this for a bit of unintended irony from a Facebook post.The panel split into two groups…where they met some of the district’s leading voices…including Bent Architect…
Free Speech
Tory MP Lee Anderson caused a stir this week for what, in my opinion, was simply stating the bleeding obvious. He claimed the poor should “cook from scratch”, which would mean meals costing as little as 30p.
“Once somebody finds out they can actually cook meals relatively cheaply… it’s a lot cheaper than spending money on… junk foods and takeaways and the chip shop.”
Cue outrage. But what did he say that was so wrong?
For the record, he posted this as even his own party distanced themselves pathetically.
I did not say poor people cannot cook or there is no need for food banks. I said there is not the need currently being parrotted out by the MSM (mainstream media). Today I challenged the whole Parliamentary Labour Party to come to Ashfield to visit the food bank I work with. They give food parcels away on the condition they enrol for cooking and budgeting lessons. I have done several events at the foodbank where we batch cooked food on a budget. My offer stands. Come to Ashfield.
Them And Us
I was watching the pomp and ceremony of the opening of parliament this week and could not fail to wonder what people on the breadline would make of this; if they were watching of course.
The Blusterer is right when he says that the government cannot protect everybody against what are global forces. But a country that can afford such largesse has the moral duty to try a bit harder.
There are tough times ahead but, with an election in only two years, you can be sure the money tree will be shaken. Then again, people could try cooking.
The Beautiful Game
Although attempts at forming a European Super League floundered, you could argue it is happening by stealth – see here.
The number of teams in the Champions League group stage will rise from 32 to 36 from 2024-25 under changes approved by Uefa. Under the new format, each team will play eight games over 10 match weeks.
Just as with the Euros and World Cup qualifiers, this is simply to feed the insatiable appetite of television and further the riches of those at the very top of the game.
As such, so many games are meaningless no-contests. That’s entertainment?
M T Leahy says
Re the State Opening comment.
So are you suggesting “we” sell the crown & other bits of finery. Plus the antiquated costumes, they might make a bit of money in a charity shop.
When that money is gone what do we sell next ?
Steve says
No Michael but it simply caused me to wonder at the disparities in modern Britain.