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Monday 27 May 2024

Vicissitude

 Uncertain times


Good old Albion doing what it 'does best' internecine conflict. Runners have left their starting blocks in the race to July 4th.

2024 the beginning of July is likely to be fraught in Britain. Europeans were already committed to days of polling in June 6th to 9th. Lots of brouhaha.

Now the Tories have dissolved Parliament in order to go to the Hustings. I.e. the campaigning that goes on before Polling Day.  


Tory party campaign image.

Unlike the U.S.A. which goes thro' seemingly endless contortions for months on end; the U.K. can and does decide in as little as 6 weeks.

Time for a bit of History.

The Labour Party was created in the early years of the 20th century. Previously, the two main political parties were the Tories and the Liberals.

Our late and much lamented Queen Elizabeth II saw the comings and goings of numerous Prime Ministers.

Winston Churchill (1951 – 1955) Conservative

Fellow Conservative 1955-57 Sir Anthony Eden 

Another Conservative 1957-63 Harold Macmillan 

Next, 1963-64 Sir Alec Douglas-Home 

Since the Conservatives had been in power for some 12+ years, voter boredom kicked in. Time to try the other lot. Labour

1964-70 Enter, Harold Wilson – Won the October election with a majority of just 4. Resulting in a rise in unemployment and inflation

1970 - 1974 Edward Heath - Conservative - A period of great industrial upheaval and economic decline.

Back to Harold Wilson 1974-76 Labour 1976 Britain’s economic situation was dire.

1976-79 James Callaghan also Labour went cap in hand to the IMF for an emergency loan.

Return of Conservatives -  

1979-90 Years of oppression and warfare. Thatcherism. Falklands War and industrial unrest.

1990-97 John Major – spent billions trying to protect his pet economic policy – membership of the Exchange Rate Mechanism.

Labour years of Teflon Tony.

1997 - 2007 More acts of warfare invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, and an invasion of Iraq in 2003.

2007-10 Non-elected successor Gordon Brown, former Chancellor of the Exchequer. 

2010-15 Tory David Cameron – Britain’s first coalition government since World War II, with the Liberal Democrats - commonly referred to as the ConDems. 

2015-16 David Cameron brought about his own demise by holding a Referendum.

2017 succeeded by non - elected successor Theresa May.

John Major had been the grey man of politics, Theresa became the grey lady. 

2019 the turbulent Prime Ministership of Boris Johnson. Covid. 2022 forced out by Social Media. Trial by Social Media.

2022 replacement Liz Truss did a lot of damage in her very tumultuous 45-day tenure. Turned Britain into a proverbial disaster area.

Followed by Rishi Sunaklike Gordon Brown, a  former Chancellor of the Exchequer.

History repeating, after over a decade of Tory government, trial by Social Media has resumed. 

Ennui has driven the election. Typically, Conservatives hold Prime Ministerships for over a decade. Electorate also suffer from ennui. Tories fed-up of being pilloried by the Opposition and Social Media have 'gone to the Nation' and triggered a General Election.

Nothing in politics is ever plain sailing. Recently, the Boundary Commission have done a shake-up, moving and manipulating constituency boundaries.

Taking Halewood as an example. Part on Knowsley, hived off to form a constituency known as Garston and Halewood. Unsuccessful, since Garston is part of Liverpool.

Now, Halewood has been tagged on to part of Cheshire without the benefits of a Cheshire post code.

Halton constituency has been erased. Boundary Commission have created on paper Widnes and Halewood.

Halton included Widnes with Runcorn


2024, Runcorn removed whilst Halewood and Cronton tacked on to Widnes.

Tory pledges





 



 



Friday 3 November 2023

New ways

 June 2023 GP asked for Consultation.

September 12th 2023 appt with Consultant #1

He said he'd write to another Consultant

Scan ordered - scan date 28th Sept.

18th October Consultant #2

November the wait goes on and on...

In the meantime, as per recommendation, bland diet, very restrictive

No

Raw vegetables or salad

Vegetables that may cause bloating such as onions, peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage

Tomatoes and tomato-based products, e.g. passata, tomato pasta sauces

Dried fruits, e.g. raisins, prunes, apricots

Citrus fruits, e.g. oranges, lemons, grapefruit

Wholegrains or bran cereals, e.g. Weetabix, Bran Flakes, All Bran

Wholegrain bread, wholewheat pasta and brown rice

Spices and strong seasoning e.g. garlic, chilli or curry powder

Seeds and nuts

Tough fibrous meats e.g. steak

Smoked meats or fish

Fried or greasy foods including takeaway pizzas, fish and chips, high fat Chinese and Indian takeaway dishes

Caffeinated drinks


Sunday 13 August 2023

August yet not august

 Sometimes months become known for events. This August has become a month of loss.

Genealogy dates  the loss of my Great great Grandmother soon after the loss of her new-born daughter. Then there are two birthdates, one for Neville and the other for Doris. Bringing to the fore remembrance of loss.

Moving on to 2023 and the chasm that has opened up with the final departure of Becky.

"She was an amazingly clever woman who fought so hard to live as normal a life as possible. Always witty, talented in so many ways, sharing her life with us here on Facebook."


Becky with Katinka, constant and much-loved companion.

Thursday 23 February 2023

TITANIC MILL Linthwaite

In 1911, the RMS Titanic was launched. Lowestwood Mill, Linthwaite was so large; it became known as the Titanic.

Just as the valleys of East Lancs., became known for cotton and whose mills dominated the towns...so, the West Riding of Yorks. was dominated by woollen mills.

Either side of the Pennines, labourers with transferable skills. 

Shawcar Mill

 

Titanic Mill


Lane Top, Linthwaite
1861 census

Typical 'mill' family

Mother, widow, age 43

Sons age 15, 13 and 11

Jobs:-

Burler - removes loose threads, knots, and other imperfections from cloth

Feeder - feeding through yarns

Piecer - joining together of pieces or threads

Mill Hand - general labourer


More details