Barnacle Bill

Trains, shares and MPs.

2012-01-29T08:26:00.000Z

The innocence and wonderment at discovering new things of young children is one of the joys of being a grand parent. It's probably the only bonus in these dark times where family life is concerned.

So it was we had an enjoyable time yesterday with my youngest grandson as he joined my other grandson and I on our regular Saturday haunt.

It was back to reality upon our return home when his father told us that the week's work he had thought one of his agencies was offering him for the coming week had been whittled down to one day now.

Whilst the row rumbles on about Stephen Hester's bonus payments at RBS, the chairman of RBS (Sir Phillip Hampton) has declined to take up his share offer bonus, an honourable move?

Or does he think the shares not worth holding!

However, have shareholders in persuit of the short term gain lost sight of the long term health of the companies they hold shares in?

For every pound that goes out in bonus payments is a pound lost for future investment; both in capital projects and in a company's greatest asset - it's workers.

Our politicians seem to be detaching themselves ever faster from the needs and aspirations of the electorate than ever before.

The "we're all in it together" mantra our political elite wails at us fails to match reality. Expense troughing continues, food and drink subsidised in the workplace, no redundancies to match the work now transferred across la Manche.

So I've a little job for General Sir Jackson before he goes south to reclaim the Falklands for us.

Round all the piggies up down in Westminster, then invite each one in for a little chat, along the lines of if they wish to continue to be an MP they will be taken outside and shot. However, if they would like to give politics up they will be released and allowed to go free with all their ill gotten wealth.

Those of course who select the freedom option will instead be sent back to their former constituency for public execution. It might just encourage the rest!

Right, I opened my big mouth yesterday by saying I would cook a proper Sunday dinner for everyone, better get my apron on!

Dummies guide to the Euro crisis.

2012-01-28T15:32:00.000Z

I found this on on reszatonline's blog, I loved it that much I had to share it with you, the old unifrorm cap is doffed in reszatonline's & Tim Coldwell's direction

Helga is the proprietor of a bar.

She realizes that virtually all of her customers are unemployed alcoholics
and, as such, can no longer afford to patronize her bar.
To solve this problem, she comes up with a new marketing plan that allows
her customers to drink now, but pay later.
Helga keeps track of the drinks consumed on a ledger (thereby granting the
customers’ loans).
Word gets around about Helga’s “drink now, pay later” marketing strategy
and, as a result, increasing numbers of customers flood into Helga’s bar.

Soon she has the largest sales volume for any bar in town.

By providing her customers freedom from immediate payment demands, Helga
gets no resistance when, at regular intervals, she substantially increases
her prices for wine and beer, the most consumed beverages. Consequently, Helga’s gross sales volume increases massively.
A young and dynamic vice-president at the local bank recognizes that these
customer debts constitute valuable future assets and increases Helga’s
borrowing limit.
He sees no reason for any undue concern, since

he has the debts of the unemployed alcoholics as collateral!!!

At the bank’s corporate headquarters, expert traders figure a way to make
huge commissions, and transform these customer loans into DRINKBONDS.These “securities” then are bundled and traded on international securities markets.
Naive investors don’t really understand that the securities being sold to
them as “AA” “Secured Bonds” really are debts of unemployed alcoholics.
Nevertheless, the bond prices continuously climb!!!, and the securities soon
become

the hottest-selling items for some of the nation’s leading brokerage
houses.

One day, even though the bond prices still are climbing, a risk manager at
the original local bank decides that the time has come to demand payment on
the debts incurred by the drinkers at Helga’s bar.

He so informs Helga.

Helga then demands payment from her alcoholic patrons, but being unemployed
alcoholics they cannot pay back their drinking debts.
Since Helga cannot fulfil her loan obligations she is forced into
bankruptcy.

The bar closes and Helga’s 11 employees lose their jobs.

Overnight, DRINKBOND prices drop by 90%. The collapsed bond asset value
destroys the bank’s liquidity and prevents it from issuing new loans, thus
freezing credit and economic activity in the community.
The suppliers of Helga’s bar had granted her generous payment extensions and
had invested their firms’ pension funds in the BOND securities. They find
they are now faced with having to write off her bad debt and with losing
over 90% of the presumed value of the bonds.

Her wine supplier also claims bankruptcy,

closing the doors on a family business that had endured for three generations, her beer supplier is taken over by a competitor, who immediately closes the local plant and lays off 150 workers.

Fortunately though, the bank, the brokerage houses and their
respective executives are saved

and bailed out by a multibillion dollar no-strings attached cash infusion from the government.
The funds required for this bailout are obtained by new taxes levied on
employed, middle-class, non-drinkers who have never been in Helga’s bar.

Thanks lads for that - it made an old cynic smile!

A modern Yorkshire tale.

2012-01-28T06:42:00.001Z

Yesterday when I was over at the girlfriend's home for coffee we had one of those "perfect storms", all five of her sisters turned up as well, luckily she has a large kitchen table and enough chairs for us all to sit around it.
As you can imagine it was quite a lively discussion!
Now I have known this family for years, very much one of the old large working class Yorkshire families, but all of the sisters have done very well for themselves.
One ended up as head of the accounts department for a well known fizzy drinks maker. Another had been head buyer for an industrial clothing supplier. One of the others with her former husband had run a very successful commercial plumbers. Whilst the youngest had been boss of the sales department for a well known Yorkshire biscuit manufacturer.
They'd all left their working class background behind and made it into the middle class. A credit to both their parents and Yorkshire as a whole.
Then last year their worlds began to fall apart, redundancy, enforced changes to contracts, even bankruptcy has blighted their lives. One of them was even asking about Jobseeker's Allowance, the first time in her life she had been forced to seek aid from the State.
Quite a lot of moaning as you can guess, but what struck me was that none of them could see any hope on the horizon. Nor did they feel that "them down south" even understood their plight. Or have a clue about putting us back on course again.
They also felt it was something that would continue to affect their families for a long time to come.
Now I've blogged about my contempt for our political elite and what I'd like to see happen to them. But even Harriet Harperson would have cringed if she'd been a fly on the wall in that kitchen yesterday!
There was genuine anger in the air.
So if our political elite don't get off their expense fattened arses, hurriedly come up with a cunning plan to sort things out, they might find the lynch mob being led by some very upset Yorkshire lassies!

One of the sisters was almost in tears in how she was struggling to keep working, her employer had changed from providing a company card and fuel card, to making them use their own cars and claim the fuel back.
Only trouble was she was averaging about £140 a week in fuel, even changing her car to the most economical diesel she could afford, yet having to wait a month to six weeks to get her money back.
And all Cast Iron / Miliband worries about chocolate oranges!

Of chocolate oranges, hairy bikers and SEALs

2012-01-27T07:48:00.000Z

I fear that for once Ed Miliband might have uttered the truth in his observation's of Cast Iron and cut price chocolate oranges.
Perhaps the question of what to do about discounted chocolate and real oranges should be a required answer from potential PMs?
Although I doubt nuLabor could come up with a sensible solution at the moment. Ed would probably want to legislate against selling chocolate in anything other than a plain wrapper with a prescription from your local GP before you were allowed any. Whilst Blinky Balls would just see it as a "green" excuse for a chocolate tax, regardless of it having a bigger impact on the poorer end of society than the Ferrero Rocher end.

Last night I did something unusual for a change, I actually put the goggle box on to watch a couple of programs on Beeb Two.
The Hairy Bikers showed the Beeb at it's best, both entertaining and educational, I almost felt like breaking the pots and pans out after watching them. It's also surprising they have survived on the Beeb, I mean can you imagine all those do-gooders cringing as the pair ended up in that sweet shop - all that sugar!!!
The second offering I wanted to watch after the Hairy Bikers was Saxon Hoard: A Golden Discovery, with "TV historian" Dan Snow.
I'm afraid to say it failed to stimulate my TV taste buds, it neither entertained, nor did it really educate me. I couldn't make out if it was about the Saxon hoard, or trying to teach us a bit about the history of the Kingdom of Mercia?
In the end I just had it on as background noise and was glad to switch my goggle box off when it ended. Dumbed down Beeb Two I'm afraid to say.

I don't agree with the drift of Con Coughlin's piece in the Telegraph that appears to point the finger at our Armed Forces instead of at our politicians over the lack of action in rescuing our hostages.
My feelings over the matter are best summed up by sebastian2's comment, which I will quote in full -

"If our Government was as able to grant permission as our troops are to carry out hostage rescues, then hostage taking would become a thing of the past. The sea bed around Somalia would be littered with sunk pirate vessels; on-shore pirate bases reduced to charred dust; and pirates' delinquent children would be warned to behave or the black-clad and silent SAS will come for you. Problem solved.
When reason fails (And who can reason with pirates?) quaking fear and the certainty of destruction are potent deterrents.
At least they could be if, as I guess, the Government weren't so anxious about the mohammedan Somali backlash from the substantial (and growing) Somali community in, for instance, my own home town. So hostages may be sacrificed for the sake of a certain domestic constituency formerly invited into Britain under NuLabs compulsory multiculturalism and now resident here - resident but not integrated at all.
Such presences in Britain surely compromise our ability to act when necessary against the backward and primitive societies - Somalia; Pakistan - they've migrated from but now are permitted to replicate (shar'ia law; corruption; polygamy; bigotry; mohammedan areas; drugs; honour killings; female circumscision; grooming) on our own soil. Government wouldn't want to provoke trouble from these immigrant quarters by giving their "brothers" the kicking they so often richly deserve and should get.
I suspect this has a role in our reluctance to sanction the very action actually needed. Along with simple, MoD cowardice, of course.

Either way, it's pitiful."

One has to wonder how much this "background" influence affected nuLabor's foreign policy when Tony Wot's His Name was in charge. We were all certainly aware of the Scottish factor when the Bufty frae Kirkcaldy took over!

Yesterday evening I enjoyed a very pleasant family meal at my youngest daughter's home, with my eldest and her son present as well; she was giving her partner time off from celebrating his thirtieth birthday the day before!
It was good to see my youngest appears to have put her tragedy behind her, we did speak about it on Wednesday, hopefully that chapter is finally closed in our family history book.
This afternoon I shall be putting my grand dad's head on, better start bomb-proofing my flat, I hope you all have an enjoyable day.

The curse of the early escape - strikes again!

2012-01-26T08:26:00.000Z

So I managed to get home yesterday whilst it was still daylight, but instead of it being just after lunch as I had been hoping, it was just before tea time!

Every time I get the chance of a flyer something comes along to trip me up!

We crew changed in Hull yesterday, so only an hour away from Barnacle Towers, my opposite number even decided to come back a couple hours early. However, he was bringing the off going chief engineer's car, whilst I had to wait for the on coming second engineer to get his hire car.

Unfortunately his original hire car was sat outside my front door!

Yes our office had mucked it, thinking I was going back, hence the hire car being left in the courtyard at Barnacle Towers. So they had to hurriedly re-arrange another hire car for him yesterday morning. Which had the knock on effect of delaying my escape by another couple hours.

So what's been the big story whilst I've been away?

Not yesterday's economic data, I've said it before, I'll say it again; we are only just into a lost decade in this country. Be prepared for many more years of the UK bumping along the bottom of any economic graphs.

The Falklands might be the troubles of "the kind that blindsides you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday" as far as Cast Iron is concerned.

Having decimated our Armed Forces to the extent that the Ugandan Navy maybe bigger than our Royal Navy, Pope Benedict XVI has a larger army with his Swiss Guards than us, Cast Iron could go down in history as the Conservative(?) PM who lost us the Falklands.

Instead he's got his underwear in a twist over the wording/timing of the Scottish independence referendum!

This from a man whose word we can't even trust on a far more important referendum!!!

Is he scared that once we see how successful Scotland can be with-out the yoke of Bruxelles holding it back, we'll want the same?

As for the Beeb, talk about hysterical over-reaction, I almost took a club hammer to our bridge radio over their coverage!

How are the Scots going to manage with-out being able to use the English pound?

Will they be forced into the Euro?

I seem to remember Scottish pound notes, I'm sure the plates to print more are safely tucked away under Alex Salmond's bed.

No I reckon the Beeb is scared of the number of licence payers it will loose if Scotland goes. After all they wouldn't be stupid enough to go on subsidising all that southern biased propaganda when they wave farewell?

Right I've got to arrange the collection of two hire cars from Barnacle Towers today, and a few other things, so I'll wish you all a pleasant day for now.

Once more au revoir.

2012-01-03T21:04:00.000Z

Yes time has flown by again, with my three weeks leave ending tomorrow as I wend my way back down the old Roman road (A1) once more.

Whilst it has been nice to spend a Christmas with my family our festive season has been in the shadow of the passing of Sophie May.

Tomorrow her little body will be laid to rest in a simple ceremony, I shall be thinking of her mother at that time, the courage she has soon has been both a revelation and inspiration to the rest of us.

Perhaps we were all given a special present this Christmas.

For the rest of us it looks like the coming year will be like the weather outside now, blustery, let's hope we will also have some sun to warm our souls along the way.

So until I return, may you all enjoy good health, with perhaps some wealth as well.

Au revoir.

Decorating lamp posts - The Sequel.

2012-01-03T19:22:00.000Z

As an update to my moan about the piggies wanting more from us to subsidize their trough at Westminster.

This epetition is now available for you to sign, it calls for an end to alcohol sales within the boundaries of the Palace of Westminster.

If it's not for sale then it won't require us to dig in our pockets so that our poor piggies can afford to buy it.

Also bit of a laff if they have to debate it, breathalysed before they can speak?

Decorating lamp posts anyone?

2012-01-03T08:43:00.000Z

Well from a lovely day yesterday I awake this morning to find the weather echoing my mood on my last day at home - depressed.

Now I'm even more depressed and angered to learn that whilst we are facing increased living expenditure, with a further lowering of our living standards in this coming year, the piggies at the trough want more from us.

This is just blatantly extracting the urine.

My employer does not subside (let alone pay for) my living expenses whilst I'm either at work or on leave. In fact our victualling allowance on board has not been increased for two years now. Nor have we had a pay rise in that time, with no sign of one on the horizon for this year either.

Yet where's the "all in it togetherness" of this?

Talk about the contempt we hold our politicians in, if they cannot see that actions such as this increase this disdain, then a few lamp posts need decorating.

I always felt that we let our political elite off the hook too lightly when their plundering of our pockets was exposed. Seeing them flick two fingers at us over their continued troughing only re-enforces that belief.

With out some shedding of blood it looks as if are political elite are now beyond our control.

On that happy note I'll wish you all a nice day.

I wonder if we'll see "troughing" make it into the OED this year?

America: Starting 2012 as they mean to go on?

2012-01-02T09:05:00.000Z

I should have added one further caveat to yesterday's post about when to start implementing your survival plan; when the MSM try telling you everything will be okay should put you on amber alert!

It's worrying to see that our American cousins are starting 2012 by sabre rattling in the direction of Iran.

You would have thought they should understand by now that force does not solve anything in Afghanistan and especially the Middle East. The chaos that Iraq is descending into illustrates the legacy our cousins have left behind them.

Let us hope Cast Iron does not grasp hold of our cousins coat tails, as they cast themselves into the Iranian melting pot, to deflect our growing anger with his EU treachery.

Something I hope we will be able to curb in 2012.

Well I ended up doing New Year's Day brunch for eight yesterday. So I'll have to re-stock my survival rations tomorrow!

It's looking like a fair day outside, so I think I'm off for a roam after I've taken my eldest grandson home., have a nice day yoursleves.

2012 - Year of the survival plan.

2012-01-01T07:48:00.000Z

Firstly I wish you all a Happy New Year and all the best for 2012, it looks like it will be a bumpy ride.

I'm not going to make any predictions for the coming year, you all know my success rate in that department, just offer a piece of advice.

Ensure you have stockpiled enough supplies to keep you and family going for about a fortnight. As if things do go breasts up it may take those "left in charge" about that long to get a rescue operation in place.

Also don't rely on the utilities being there during that period. So stock up on water, portable lighting; root that old camping stove out from under the stairs and get it working again. Keep the car filled up with a couple spare cans of fuel stashed away.

Have a survival plan and ensure the whole family knows what to do.

Your key to putting it into operation is when our political elite start telling us there is nothing to worry about.

Well maybe there will be some fun in 2012 for us to look forward to. We may even see the Buffty frae Kirkcaldy in a US court trying to explain his part in the HBOS scandal. I don't think an American judge will be impressed with his "... it all started in America ..." excuse!

Anyway enjoy the first day of the New Year.

Drinking dens coming to your street soon.

2011-12-31T07:29:00.000Z

So once again the letter from the Palace failed to drop thru my door but that's okay as I know Liz is saving the big one for later.

If Cast Iron wants an example of where his minimum alcohol unit pricing will lead he only has to look at the increase in fake vodka production in this country.

But just like the man made climate changers and anti-smoking zealots, he will ostrich like, ignore any common sense debates/warnings on this matter.

Hence in about a decade from now we'll have the senior accountant moaning about the increasing cost to NHS plc of treating victims of fake alcohol products.

Whilst Eastern European gangs fight turf wars openly on our streets, our police (privatized by then) will be pondering which form to use to prosecute all these victims.

Also there are some funny smells coming from your next door neighbour's newly extended garage and they seem to be very popular on an evening!

But I do wonder if Cast Iron isn't doing a Broonie on us; as when he withdraws this regressive alcohol tax proposals, we'll all be too relieved to notice the offspring of unmarried parents have stitched us up on something else!

Well I'm hoping the weather will moderate a bit for my grandson and I as we ride the rails on the Mince Pie Special later today.

Enjoy the last day of 2011 yourselves!

A blogging-lite day, today.

2011-12-30T07:56:00.000Z

Yesterday I really enjoyed myself, even the mince pie tasted delightful, I couldn't quite put my finger on why I was getting such pleasure. Then it dawned on me I hadn't got LB with me, still I suppose granddads are allowed a day off!

Shock! Horror! Beeb caught out censoring Panorama!

Well at least back then they were listening to the government of the time. Nowadays they are operating to their own anti-government left wing agenda, so bias they make a bent corkscrew look useful and completely untrustworthy with their news output.

No wonder I gave up paying the licence tax years ago!

I see the Betfair Leopardstown saga is still rumbling on, with it now hitting it's share price, I'm surprised the boys with basebats haven't paid a visit!

Right it's going to be a bit of a blogging lite day, my last weekend at home is looming over the horizon, so I'd better start on my to-do list I had when I came home.

Just as an experiment I've increased the font size on this post - any better?

A mixed pie special for today!

2011-12-29T08:32:00.001Z

Yesterday free of family responsibilities I had a wander over the far western reaches of this great riding. Although I made the mistake of collecting in person a couple Yeadon's Registers I had ordered before Christmas. I went into the shop to collect two books and came out an hour later with four!

Like General MacArthur and the Philippines; I have a feeling - "I shall return."

I don't know about brainless fish being discovered in the waters around Scotland. It would appear that perhaps Cast Iron's braincells are letting him down. His use of the health/social issues as an excuse for his proposed minimum alcohol unit pricing plans smacks very much of the Buffty frae Kirkcaldy's use of "Green" concerns to cloak his fixation for increasing taxation upon us.

Although as Leg Iron points out this maybe a cunning plan by Cast Iron to close down the NHS and do away with the entire medical profession. How's that for sorting out the nation's debt/deficit and being a true blue, cutting Conservative at the same time!

I would love to know the identity of the punter who was offering odds of 28-1 against the winning horse in the Leopardstown's Christmas Hurdle race even as it crossed the finishing line?

Although much to the said punter's relief and the state of his underwear, BetFair have voided all the betting on that particular race, citing a technical error as their excuse. Still who would be as foolish as that, plus have a limit of £21m on his account?

Sounds like a former Scottish banker out for a day at the races to me!

Once again we are reminded that we're not "all in it together" as this government ignores reforming the morally corrupt rent-to-buy sector. By dismissing a call from the Office of Fair Trading for action our political elite show their contempt for those being ripped off by these deals.

Of course they have never been faced with these choices, they have the gift that keeps on giving, their expenses stolen out of our pockets!

I wonder when we'll see the headline: "UK - US Extradites Man Accused of War Crimes in early 2000's"; instead of the headline we see in today's IHT in regard of the Bosnian conflict?
Of course you know of whom I refer to!
Well the weather doesn't look too good outside, nor is it forecast to be very favourable, but I think I might treat myself to a ride on the Mince Pie Special today. I wish you all a pleasant day.

Where's the next JFK?

2011-12-28T07:21:00.000Z

Yesterday afternoon upon my return from dropping my eldest grandson off at his mothers' I was idly channel hopping when I came across NASA's Greatest Missions on the Freeview channel Quest.

Well I went from merely looking for some background noise to sitting there glued to the box till it all ended at 9pm. Which included a hastily cooked TV meal during the commercial breaks.

A lot of the Mercury mission footage was new to me, I suppose I had been too young for it to register, also as children our television access was very strictly monitored by my mother. It was really interesting to see how the participants had aged.

Then we were into the Gemini mission, which I was quite familiar with, but there was still a lot of footage that I had either forgotten, or never seen before.

Finally, we got to the Apollo program, the one that put men upon the Moon, mankind (oops I'll have the PC brigade after me!) actually landing upon another planet. Which to be honest I don't think my children will ever see in their lifetime.

I can vaguely remember the shock of the ill fated Apollo One pre-launch fire that killed the entire crew. With some very poignant shots of that tragic scene last night. Followed by the euphoria of watching Neil Armstrong take those first footsteps on the moon.

In fact I was surprised how much it affected me last night watching it all again.

I can remember my father so taken up by the drama of Apollo 13's unlucky flight that he camped out in our lounge with the radio and television on 24/7 till they were safely home; and that was someone who didn't rate our American cousins too highly!

Re-living it all again I reflected that John F Kennedy was certainly a very visionary leader when he challenged America to put a man on the moon. I realize he had other faults but I doubt we'll ever see anyone as inspiring leading this country - they're all pygmies.

His "... ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country." speech is something our politicans should be forced to learn by heart before they take office.
Leaving that to one side, it was also a great time for mankind (oops there I go again!) to be living thru, with it looking as if our dreams could come true. Life seemed colourful then.
Now we're back to a grey. cold world led by pygmies, vain selfish ones at that; who only want to control our lives not enrich them by reaching for the stars.
So as we look towards a New Year I ask you: "Where's the next JFK?"

Hunting, iPad 3 & Brazil Nuts.

2011-12-27T07:21:00.000Z

My eldest grandson and I did not encounter any hunts when we were out tramping across the countryside yesterday in the balmy weather we were enjoying oop north.

I could never understand all the political blood, sweat and tears Tony Wot's His Name invested in pushing his anti-hunting legislation thru Parliament. Now in the light of nuLabor's underhanded immigration policies, the rubbing of the Right's face in it, I realize now it was pure spite on his part.

However, I would far rather hear of hints being dropped about moves to review the anti-smoking laws than ministers off the record talking about the hunting ban. The smoking prohibition has had more impact upon both the economic and social fabric of this country than stopping fox hunting.

Followers will know my crystal ball gazing skills are on a par with Cast Iron keeping his promises.

Despite that the Grand Seer of Barnacle Towers, having consulted the chicken bones, predicts February 24th will be an important Apple event day. Steve Jobs' birthday would be the suitable commemoration to launch iPad 3 upon us.

So don't spend everything in the sales, and you heard it here first!

I'm certainly not getting my underwear into a twist over Brazil over taking the UK in the table of global economies. Especially when one looks at the assets and potential a country the size of Brazil has. Also they were not stupid enough to put all their eggs in one basket like nuLabor did when it sucked up to the financial industries sector upon gaining office.

If we had had a more balanced business base the financial sector's implosion would not have left us in such a bad state as we find ourselves today. Another nuLabor legacy to be thankful for!

Well if you're returning to work today, I hope it's not too stressful; if you're still holidaying - have an enjoyable day.

China plates broken on Boxing Day?

2011-12-26T09:51:00.002Z

I hope you all enjoyed a pleasant Christmas Day wherever you ended up and whomever you were with. Ours' was a quiet affair, which I found quite satisfying; it was also nice to see my youngest daughter with a smile upon her face.

My eldest daughter's partner, although he is not a great lover of vegetables, certainly managed to do their household proud with the spread I was presented with. I'm afraid the Christmas pudding didn't make an appearance, bulging waistlines couldn't accommodated another course!

The weather oop north hasn't entered into the Christmas spirit, although it was windy yesterday it certainly wasn't a White Christmas, pleasantly mild in fact.

As for Boxing Day, I've switched the central heating off this morning.

I wonder how many of us will be tempted out to the Boxing Day sales, or will the thought of still to pay for yesterday's excesses keep us in front of the box instead?

Around the other side of the world they are scratching their heads in China over how they are going to pay for all their exorbitant spending, both in the state and private sectors, of the past few years. With it looking as if the provincial players might be the ones that could bring the house of cards tumbling down.

Also if your markets in the West are in recession who is going to buy all those lovely things you have been making in the past?

Because if you can't afford to re-pay your debts now, deferred payments are only kicking the can down the road a bit; as for borrowing now to pay the interest due, that's really building on quicksand foundations.

So is China actually bankrupt?

Quietly China has been following the Kirkcaldy Economic & Fiscal Plan (KEFP) to inflate it's self into the powerhouse we think it is. KEFP is based upon ignoring saving for a rainy day whilst your economy is producing a surplus, instead one relaxes banking regulation, applies for as many credit cards as you can get; then maxes them out immediately.

China also thought it was onto a winner by collecting US Dollars, but the Yanks have a cunning plan to inflate their way out of that one, which in turn weakens China's asset base.

Having experienced the successes of KEFP in this country, our own political elite might want to be a bit more prudent in hoping the Chinese seventh cavalry will come galloping to their rescue any day soon. In fact 2012, the Chinese year of the Dragon, might be the year the dragon meets it's slayer named Debt.

Well enjoy your Boxing Day.

Nadelik Looan ha Looan Blethen Noweth*

2011-12-25T07:58:00.000Z

*Cornish for -Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Which I send out to everyone this special day, I hope Mr. Claus brought everything on your wish list and wherever you are you have an enjoyable time.

Now where did Santa put the keys for that Volvo XC90 I'd pencilled in on my wish list?

Dukes, breasts and sabre rattling on Christmas Eve.

2011-12-24T08:10:00.000Z

It is a shame that Her Majesty's Christmas has been upset by Prince Philip's heart problems. Really the pair of them should have retired years ago, but I suppose with such a bampot for an eldest son, they've been keeping control of things for as long as they can.

Anyway I'll wish Mr. & Mrs. Windsor (Snr) a Happy Christmas as they've earned it.

I sincerely hope that budgetary concerns are not playing a hidden part in our government's advice over the French breast implant scandal?

I find it a sad indictment of our modern society that so many women undergo this procedure for purely cosmetic/vanity reasons, although I do feel it plays an important part in reconstructive surgery for those whose lives have been blighted by breast cancer.

However, a lot of Frenchmen might be suddenly finding out there is "less" of their wives, girlfriends and mistresses in the new year than they originally thought there was!

I would advise Cast Iron to check his war chest before he starts sabre rattling over the latest threat to the Falkland Islands.

He got away with sending HMS Westminster to Libyian waters with only four Sea Wolf missiles on board, but thinking of a "lite" sequel to the last Falkland's conflict, is only asking for a disaster to hit our forces.

Especially as we have now sold all the remaining Harriers to the US Marine Corps.

Still I suppose if we pay for a bit of overtime we could have our aircraft carriers in place sooner.

What a state our Navy is in!

A Christmas hamper tale.

2011-12-23T21:15:00.000Z

It's been an indoor sort of day here, with the heavens opening up just as I was delivering my girlfriend's table and the rain then following my grandson and I homeward.

Whilst my grandson was watching children's television I caught an ad for a Christmas savings firm. Which in turn reminded of another Christmas savings firm that went bust a few years ago, Farepak.

I was amazed to see that things are still unfolding in the Farepak saga, although not to benefit of those poor customers whose Christmases were ruined five years ago, with the administrators having now wracked up costs and fees that are more than any monies the victims can expect to receive.

I bet the BDO Christmas office bash was still a lively affair this year!

I seem to remember at the time there was a lot of sympathy from the then government, but very little help from the man in charge at the Treasury. Which contrasts sharply with his later actions during the time he was prime minister, when first his beloved Scottish banks, followed closely by the rest of the bunch south of the border were going breasts up; then he couldn't throw enough of our money at them!

I wonder if the three Ghosts of Christmas will be venturing north of the border this Yuletide, or is the Buffty frae Kirkcaldy passed redemption?

Table mover for hire.

2011-12-23T08:16:00.000Z

I must admit that as I ran my eyes over the Beeb's headlines the "New earthquakes rock Christchurch" one it only made me think a few people on our South Coast might be needing a change of underwear this morning!

I certainly got that one wrong, just as David Mills did with his claim that the former Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berluscon, bribed him. A fairy tale he was trying to sell to HMRC back in good old nuLabor days. I wonder if Mrs. Mills (Tessa Jowell) might now be able to recall some of her husband's other financial dealings, like their mortgage?
Meanwhile from another infamous nuLabor coupling we have Blinky saying he would not use the children for any photoshot opportunities. Yet I seem to recall the Testicles used where their children went to school as a deciding factor in their first/second home troughing options.
It would appear that not only was the health service in Staffordshire not fit for purpose, but also the police force as well.
I was surprised to learn that the four senior officers involved have not been suspended from duty. Especially as the investigation centres around supposedly perverting the course of justice. Where better to perhaps cover one's tracks than from one's desk?
Talking of questionable police conduct, we are still none the wiser why the Norfolkish plod had to come oop north to seize a local bloggers computers. Although it would appear the soup is thickening with regards to who is involved.
Having safely brought a dining table up from Cornwall last Sunday, my table moving skills have been called back into service this morning by the girlfriend, although I think my grandson might be a bit too small to help me with it!
So have a safe and enjoyable day.

A bit of everything for this morning.

2011-12-22T08:16:00.001Z

Unfortunately the weather yesterday prevented my grandson and I from greeting the sun on Yule Day down at our local henge. I suppose the time of year, being so close to the River Aire, all added up to the misty conditions we encountered.

(Looking out my kitchen window it looks like we will have the sort of sunrise I was hoping for yesterday; but celebrating Yule Day +1 doesn't quite have the same ring to it!)

Whilst most eyes were focused across la Manche on the continuing Euro fiasco, over the other side of the Pond our American cousins were quietly clocking up a new record. The US of A now has triple digit debt to GDP.

Good job the US Dollar is still a reserve currency, otherwise we might be trying to figure out where to put the US of A in the PIGS acronym!

First we had the persecution of those who denied the earth was flat policy, next it was those who did not believe the earth was at the centre of the Universe, with the ongoing conflict between religions always with us.

Fast forward to this century, now it looks like latest persecution victims will be climate change deniers. Even to question the data and methodology of the various groups promoting man-made climate change risks one being labelled a denier.
The whole climate change theme has now been so corrupted and hijacked by that many vested interests, that even to raise an eyebrow, risks one being called a denier.
We have whole organizations and university departments suckling at the teat of government funding. Politicians using it as a smoke screen for increasing taxation upon us. Companies using it as a means of charging us more or, promoting questionable technologies at our expense.
Oh what a muddy pool we now have?
Now with the latest episode in the persecution of climate change questioners it looks as if an "I am Spartacus" moment will soon be on us. So watch out for a blog name change!

For those of you following the sad saga of my youngest daughter the latest news is that she came home last night, whilst Sophie May is now the youngest star shining down on us all.

Of Apples & Blackberries on Yule Day.

2011-12-21T06:31:00.002Z

Probably like myself the management team at RIM, the Blackberry maker, couldn't see the point of the iPad when it first appeared upon the scene.

Now having invested in a "pre-loved" 32GB model with mobile internet connection earlier this year, I've ditched my Blackberry for an iPhone, whilst I am seriously considering retiring my MacBook Pro from it's travels.

Hence I think the shareholders at RIM might be regretting in 2012 that Amazon did not make a formal offer for RIM.

I think that the disaster RIM made of the launch of it's own tablet, the Play Book, linked to the decision to upgrade it's operating systems at the same time have put RIM into a fatal tailspin. With Amazon deciding instead to pick over the pieces at the crash site later in 2012.

Returning to the iPad, I'm amazed to see that both my grandsons understand the basic operating of an iPad.

Whilst the youngest one at sixteen months is a bit hit"n"miss, he certainly knows the right areas to poke at, whereas the eldest at just over four years old is quite competent. Now I don't want to encourage either of them to become "couch potatoes", but it is pleasing to see them expanding their skills base.

So they're not my games on my iPad, they're the grand childrens' - mind you "Cut the rope" looks interesting!

I was certainly dismissive of the iPad when it first appeared, thinking it was another Apple ploy to empty our pockets, I never had the foresight of where it might end up.

Recently I saw a surveyor from a major classification society go to get his rule book out, whilst he was on board completing an interim survey, only to pull out an iPad. Upon which he not only had the latest up to date rule book but all our ship's history as well which he had downloaded in his car before coming on board.

I was drooling and scheming as it was an iPad 2!

No news from my youngest daughter in hospital, although we all know what it will be when it comes, we can only hope she is home before Christmas.

Right an early call for my eldest grandson, who I'm looking after whilst his mother is away, we're off to greet the sun down at our local henge.
Have a happy Winter Solstice or Yule Day!

A sad day.

2011-12-20T09:45:00.000Z

I am just back from taking my youngest daughter and her partner to the hospital where the final episode of her unfortunate pregnancy will be take place.

Hopefully it will soon be over for them, although discussing it in the car going over there they are still undecided whether to have a funeral for "closure", or to allow the hospital to deal with everything afterwards.

Watching the sun rise this morning reminded it will be the Winter Solstice tomorrow. I had planned on celebrating it at our local henge, now I wonder what I will be celebrating?

Safe to walk in the woods now?

2011-12-19T18:16:00.000Z

I suppose I should not have been surprised that David Halpin's attempt to re-open the inquest into the death of Dr. Kelly should have run into the buffers in the High Court today.

I know that my doubts about Dr. Kelly's demise and belief that the "Establishment" has stood in the way of the truth being uncovered will lead many to consign me to the tin foil hatted brigade.

However, under nuLabor truth and honesty were impediments to many in high office, to be trampled under foot and distorted both for political and personal gain. With Dr. Kelly's passing leaving a very unpleasant odour after it.

Whilst I would not accuse Tony Wot's His Name of being directly involved, I do look upon it as his Thomas Becket moment: "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?" With those around TWHN the rest is history, or at least a history we have yet to be allowed to uncover.

Revelations that the Prince of Shirt-Lifters was prepared to do business with the discredited Egyptian President Mubarak only days before he was ousted from office, remind us once again what a sordid and sleazy administration nuLabor turned in to.

Back oop north.

2011-12-19T07:32:00.000Z

I am now back oop north for the rest of the festive season now I hope! Arriving back home just as the frost was beginning to form on some of the parked car's windscreens and the ice warning system on my car bleeping at me.

It didn't say anything about the table on top of my car but from the whistling thru the ropes holding it on I knew it was still there. Quite surprising how much affect even a table will have on my car's fuel consumption but at least we have a table now to sit around on Christmas Day!

My sister and her partner managed to make it for lunch yesterday, so we were able to exchange news and presents.

I went to church with my mother, it was their "Family Christmas" service, quite a few new faces in the congregation. It was sad sat there celebrating the coming birth of one child whilst at almost the same time my youngest daughter was embarking on the first steps to end her doomed pregnancy.

I noticed there were not as many Christmas presents in the usual place at my mothers'. I should imagine this will be being repeated in many homes this year. Although Cribbs Causeway was packed when I called there for fuel and a stretch of my legs. I wonder how many were only looking rather than actually buying?

Also I wonder how many were having one last credit card(s) spree before reality hits them in the New Year?

The "Sales" have certainly started early this year!

I have now taken over looking after my eldest grandson, whilst we all hope his mother will be out of hospital before Christmas, so blogging maybe a bit hit & miss for a while.

Looks like it's a "wrap up warmly" day out there this morning but whatever you're doing I hope you get to enjoy the day. Catch you later!

A flying Cornish Santa visit.

2011-12-17T09:01:00.000Z

Well despite the sadness that has come to visit our family this Christmas life must go on as they say.

So it was that I travelled down to Cornwall yesterday, good run, for a Friday traffic was quite light. I've brought all the presents from the oop north side of the tribe down with me.

Hopefully my sister and her partner will make it for lunch on Sunday. Then I'll be able to go back with all the presents from our scattered family.

I'm also taking a table up for my eldest, I'm having to take it back fully assembled, the Swedish craftsman that built it decided to glue as well as secured with screws every joint. So I'll just have to remember not to go under any low bridges.

My youngest daughter and her partner have decided to end her pregnancy in view of the problems with the baby already and future complications. So she is booked into hospital now (Tuesday) hoping that she won't be in there still come Christmas Day.

Because of the length of her pregnancy she will also be getting a birth certificate along with the death certificate. They have decided they will use the name they had chosen for a girl to go on both certificates. They are still undecided about a funeral for closure or to just let the hospital take care of that side of things.

Well it looks like I might have brought some good weather with me, so I'm off out for a stroll to see if the old place has changed as since my last visit.

I'll wish you all a pleasant Saturday - don't get into too many scrums out shopping today!

Land of the Free?

2011-12-16T08:23:00.000Z

I don't think I shall be including the US of A in the list of possible holiday locations for the next coming few years. Just in case Paddy O'Bama decides I'm a terrorist the moment I set foot over there. Then handing me over to the military for an indefinite vacation at the Guantanamo Bay Travel Lodge.

I think it's about time the Statue Of Liberty was blindfolded as it would appear the Land of the Free is only for an elite few. Whereas the majority will soon be herded south of the Mason/Dixon line to serve out the rest of their enslaved lives.

It would also appear that even over here, oop north, I would not be immune to the long reach of upset American authorities. I notice our police have not raided the University Of East Anglia to confiscate their computers.

Which makes me wonder if our American cousins are scared that some big names over there will be exposed as being involved in Climategate?

What links piggies, geegees & Sir Fred?

2011-12-15T08:07:00.000Z

Peter Oborne reminds us over in the Telegraph that the piggies in Westminster are up to their usual tricks over increasing their troughing. Personally I think the whole bunch of them should not have been allowed to stand at the last general election. Guilty by association at the very least. With the new piglets being subject to the same rules the private sector works to and policed by HMRC.

We've just been told in our company that lower grades will be only getting a 2 per cent pay rise next year. Whilst those on my grade and above will be getting nothing. An MP is certainly getting more than I am yet I don't see any "sharing the pain" coming from them!

I have a friend who is a cook/steward in the same company, on the same leave rota as myself, who would bet on two rain drops running down a window pane if he could find someone to accept the bet.

Yes he has had some spectacular wins but privately he will admit he looses more than he wins. However his bets are peanuts when you look at the amounts involved in the latest scandal to disgrace horse racing.

It is a pity that the Department for Business is not staffed with people of the same calibre as the British Horseracing Authority. If it were we might be seeing Sir Fred the Shred doing the "perp walk" on our screens before Christmas this year.

Which in turn could lead to a certain Bufty frae Kirkcaldy answering questions on the part he played in the whole RBS fiasco.

Another piggy who won't be "sharing the pain" this Hogmanay looking at the obscene amounts he is earning from not doing the job he was elected to do. I wonder if the bampots frae Fife realised they were electing an after dinner speaker and not an MP?

The answer to my title's question is they're all easily corrupted - Have a good day!

Home

2011-12-14T21:15:00.000Z

Well amazingly I was actually off the ship on time, on the road by 12:10, and apart from the usual queues at the Dartford Crossing the traffic was relatively light.

Why do the put those "Queues Likely" signs up at the Dartford Crossing?

Made it to my youngest daughter's place by 4pm, walked in the door to find the eldest daughter and her son there as well! Anyway managed to fit everyone in the hire car, the eldest had brought her child seat and we found the bumper seat for my other grandson. Then we all went off for a family meal at our usual eatery.

We were actually joking that they must have us posted up on their calendar as we always seem to end up there on my first day home!

So the jollity continued, I went to raise the subject that had been upmost in my mind driving home (see previous post) but my youngest said that was for later and she wanted to enjoy the moment.

A bit surreal with my two healthy grandchildren romping around us, whilst the third as yet unborn and never likely to enjoy life like they were there with us as well.

I have found a web site that I hope will help my youngest, Softuk, in fact I think the whole family will find something positive in what it offers.

When I drive home I always listen to Steve Wright in the Afternoon, I have this thing of picking one of his plays as the song/theme of my coming leave, in Slow Moving Millie I think I have found the one for this leave. Her new LP, Renditions was downloaded as soon as I got back to my place.

To those of you have commented, thank you.

Now I'll wish you all a good night.

It is with sadness ...

2011-12-14T00:32:00.000Z

I had hoped that my return home today might have been brightened by the knowledge of whether I could look forward to another grandson, or a grand daughter in the coming new year. As my youngest daughter was due to have a scan on Monday (12th) when we would all get to know what she was carrying.
Instead yesterday after further tests she was told her unborn child was suffering from Edward's syndrome.
So I am afraid what should have been a happy homecoming is now blighted by this news. I also fear this will cloud our festive season celebrations this year.
I can only guess at the anguish my daughter and her partner are going thru at the moment. As a parent my heart is broken by this news. Let us hope something positive will come of this sad event.

Of packed bags ...

2011-11-22T19:42:00.000Z

Oh deary me, it's that time again to bid you all a fond farewell, or at least au revoir.

Just been out with my eldest daughter and youngest grandson to see our local Christmas lights switched on. The return of the over commercialized festive season has caught up with us once again.

Unfortunately I shall be off for it this year - Bah humbug!

So it is with a certain amount of sadness I say good night to you all. I hope you've enjoy our little ride this time I've been back. Maybe next time back the Euro will only be a distant memory!

Au Revoir.

It's immigration not construction that wants sorting Cast Iron!

2011-11-22T09:51:00.000Z

Well my last full day at home has opened somewhat foggy, although not as bad as it was on Sunday, I can almost make out Casa del Balls up on the hill.
Cast Iron's announcement that the Coalition is going into the sub prime mortgage business yesterday was almost a bit of déjà vu; is the Bufty frae Kirkcaldy still sulking in the basement of No.10?
I'm not going to go into the economics of yesterday's foolishness, Alister Heath does a far better job of it than I could, but I will address the elephant in the building problem.
Immigration.
Common sense tells us that if you allow more and more people into this country we will have a housing crisis. Both in the social sector and in the private sector. Especially when you have a clandestine and politically motivated policy of unchecked immigration as we had under nuLabor's rule.
Unfortunately we are no longer rulers of our own borders so we can't put a "Sorry, the UK is full, no spare houses." sign up at Dover.
We do know that immigrants do tend to pack more people into a home that your normal Anglo Saxon family. So how about legislating that for every two new immigrant families that come into this country, the government has to build/pay for one new home for the social housing stock?
This could even be extended to for example every hundred new immigrant families the government stumps up for a school, every five hundred a new hospital somewhere.
I realize this is only a back of a fag packet idea, but until we can get our politicians facing up to sorting out immigration, any proposals they come up with to sort this or that out will not succeed.

Cast Iron to join the Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac Appreciation Society?

2011-11-21T18:14:00.000Z

One has to wonder what was in Cast Iron's head when he first went thru the doors of No.10?

A few cuts here and there to keep the markets happy, win a war (note to Hague: Find a cheap one we can win) to keep the proles happy, pick an imaginary fight with the EU to keep the backbenches on side and bish bosh the job's done. Feet up till the next general election.

Unfortunately the Dummies Guide to being a Prime Minister that Cast Iron was using hasn't been of much help to him.

Also it appears that at Eton learning from other people's mistakes is not in the curriculum.

Sub prime mortgages were basically at the root of all the evils that blew up in our faces in 2008. Yet now Cast Iron wants to get our government into the sub prime mortgage market with his announcement of the mortgage indemnity scheme.

Sure go ahead and build the houses but put them under local government control, or housing associations if you don't like local councils.

Governments should not use our money to get into the business of underwriting risk. It was bad enough bailing out the banks with our futures. Now it looks like Cast Iron wants to bail out the housing market.

Hasn't Cast Iron heard what a success Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were across the Pond?

Of windmills, electric cars & the Frankfurt Group.

2011-11-20T08:14:00.000Z

I wonder if Prince Phillip's comments on the uselessness of wind farms will be our "Emperor's clothes" moment?
When finally people wake up to the con job that has led to this lemming like advance of wind farms on and offshore.
I expect to see Prince Phillip's mental condition questioned by the usual suspects, look out for his age being emphasised greatly in any Beeb reporting, that's if they even mention it in the first place.
I wonder what the Prince thinks of Frau Merkel and the French Dwarf!
Keeping to the green theme, I had never thought about it till I read this piece over on Bloomberg, that the batteries in these new electric cars are a potential danger in the event of a crash.
Are our emergency services over here being trained in dealing with this threat?
I suppose we'll be able to tell from the number of Highways Agency staff with curly hair and singed eyebrows.
Fresh back from his triumph in ~~Munich~~ Berlin Cast Iron would do well to read Ross Douthat's column in the New York Times.
We are going to be stitched up to save the Euro regardless of any papers Cast Iron waves outside No. 10.
Instead of gaudy uniformed SS storm troopers threatening our democracy, we now have the sharp suited Frankfurt Group quietly achieving what Herr Hitler failed to do, whilst Cast Iron's no Churchill to save us.
If we don't cut our lifeboat free from the rapidly sinking Euro wreck, we'll be pulled under by the vortex from across der Kanal; now who's got a trusty Swiss Army knife to do the deed?

Forget the Pound save our pubs instead Cast Iron!

2011-11-19T08:40:00.000Z

Yesterday my eldest daughter and I noticed three public houses that had recently closed down, you could tell by how shiny and graffiti-free were all the shutters, on our return journey from Wakey.

These were not small, one couple operations but quite large establishments where you would have expected a number of people to have been employed. Especially as they offered cooked meals.

It's a shame to see these places getting closed down, as from my limited experience they never ever re-open, just sitting there decaying. I pass one example on my way across to see the girlfriend that is now just a burnt out shell.

Yet once it's location next to an A-road, the canal and with-in walking distance of the nearest village seemed to offer it some hope of getting by as the economy began to go breasts up.

And why were they struggling even before the bankers conned us into covering their gambling debts?

It was the smoking ban.

The blanket nature of the smoking ban crippled our public houses in a way that almost guarrantee'd they would all become extinct in our lifetime.

An hidden agenda perhaps?

If we were to say those three public houses employed say five people each, part or full time doesn't matter (well it did to those who lost their jobs!), that is now fifteen people out of work.

Fifteen people who we are probably supporting now, plus you have to take the knock-on affect in the community of these job losses. Multiply that by the number of public houses closing/closed over the country as a whole. I should imagine it comes to a sizable figure.

I believe Cast Iron mentioned there would be a review of the smoking ban under this government?

Well Cast Iron here's an opportunity to do some good for this country, instead of pretending you can do a David & Goliath against Frau Merkel, getting moving on sorting out the smoking ban.

Give the few remaining public houses a chance of surviving, you might have lost the battle over the Pound, but here's one British institution that even you should be able to save.

"This morning I had another talk with the German Chancellor, Frau Merkel ..."

2011-11-18T10:55:00.000Z

Like Neville Chamberlain will Cast Iron be appearing outside No. 10 waving some papers, saying:-

"My good friends, this is the second time in our history that there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honour."

I know one thing he will not be saying anything upon, that's the possibility of a referendum in our time, we all ready know that's been veto'd in the Reichstag.

Nice to know we're also being stitched up by our German cousins over this, as well as by our own major political parties back home.

Perhaps Boy George is a bit more switched on than I had given him credit for?

His timing of the sale of Northern Crock now may. as events unfold both across the Pond and der Kanal, be seen as fortuitous.

Our European cousins are soon going to run out of wallpaper and paste for the cracks in the Euro. Especially with Frau Merkel insisting the German piggy bank isn't getting broken into.

Whilst our American cousins continue to turn a blind eye to the fraud and racketeering going on in Wall Street. With Paddy O'Bama more interesting in keeping his feet under the desk in the Oval Office. He isn't about to go upsetting his backers.

So forget the peace in our time!

Rejoice taxpayers - Boy George pulls a fast one on Virgin!

2011-11-17T10:14:00.000Z

Whilst Mr. Fawkes was musing upon "an idle Thursday morning" Boy George was showing us once again he still hasn't mastered/matured into being the Chancellor, or even schoolboy economics yet!
Selling off Northern Crock when banking shares are at their lowest would be the folly one would expect of a Bufty frae Kirkcaldy, not a hard nosed, business toughtened Tory.
Oh sorry I forgot Mr. Osborne hasn't got any experience of the real business world.
You can also tell that from how willy old Richard Branson managed to buy Northern Crock plc but leave us holding onto Northern Crock Asset Management.
So even if we do get up to a billion out of the deal we're still left being owed twenty odd billion by Northern Crock.
Brilliant deal for us Mr. Osborne, talk about being fleece'd - again!

ps
I still think we should be told which MPs had mortgages and on what terms with Northern Crock before it hit the rocks?

The IMF believes in aliens!

2011-11-17T08:39:00.000Z

The Economist brings us an interesting observation that globally we exported $331billion worth of goods more than we imported last year?

Which of course raises two questions, the first have little green people been visiting us during the near continual sales we see on our high streets?

Whilst the second is probably more nearer the truth, can we have any faith in these figures?

I'll answer that for you to save any head scratching this early in the morning - NO!

Where do these figures come from?

Well none other than the good old IMF, the very same IMF that our lovely Mr. Osborne believes will not use any of our money to prop up the Euro, the very same IMF whose European head has suddenly announced his resignation.

(I hope it's nothing to do with his former ties to Goldman Sachs)

Surely the officials at the IMF don't believe in alien abduction?

And we're giving money to the tin hat wearers!

Life's great - For some!

2011-11-16T20:29:00.000Z

I am at an age now when I probably have a decade of working life left till I can hope to retire.

A period in one's life that should be relatively golden, the mortgage should have been paid off if I had one, the children should have fled Barnacle Towers and settling down to their own lives, the joys of being a grand parent; generally I should be enjoying life.

Instead I find myself hoping I might have some sort of pension to retire upon, putting my hand in pocket to help provide the basics for my children's famillies and trying hard not to think about the future my grand children are going to have to endure.

Yet when I look about me, those I hold directly responsible for the mess my life seems to have become, don't appear to be suffering as we are.

I don't see their pensions being cut, I don't see them worrying about if their job is safe - there's always a nice directorship waiting just incase, I don't see their over generous expenses being paired back.

In fact for them life seems to be rolling merrily along as if nothing has happened!

Now they are asking us to fund their political play time as well.

I'm sorry that would just be extracting the urine too much, it's about time we were all really in this together and it's beginning to look like pitch forks might be the only way to achieve equality!

Democracy? No it's a financial-fascist tyranny!

2011-11-15T18:31:00.000Z

"If those who made the bets for their own private gain aren't forced to absorb the risk, then we don't live in either capitalism or democracy; we live in a financial-fascist tyranny."

Reading thru Charles Hugh Smith's post on a possible solution to the Euro Zone crisis I was struck by the pure simple truth contained in that sentence.
A tautology that should have been carved on the foreheads of our politicians before they went into battle with the bankers.
The very same politicians who should have been the upholders of our democracy, arm wrestling with the supposed zealots of capitalism, the bankers. Instead behind closed doors they chose to become despots together over us mere proles.
One party betraying us for their love of power and it's beguiling trappings, whilst the others were lured on by their lust for more of the golden stuff.
We don't offer state funding to those poor souls addicted to gambling to pay off their betting debts. Even when we know for some it will mean the break up of their families. Whilst for others it could be even broken limbs they have to endure as interest re-payments.
Yet our politicians have entered into a Faustian pact with the biggest gamblers every known to mankind. Giving them the keys to our treasuries to fund their losses. Mortgaging our children's futures so that these finance abusers can have another throw of the dice.
It's about time a few legs were broken then!

David "Vidkun Quisling" Cameron speaks.

2011-11-15T05:52:00.000Z

Sunday morning in the drizzle my eldest grandson, potential son-in-law and I attended a Remembrance Sunday wreath laying ceremony at a small village near to where we all live.
Fittingly it was at a cross roads, whilst in the background was an old bridge, crossing the river that flowed at our backs during the commemoration of that special day.
I think my grandson gained something from it, I was also impressed with the way my younger companion treated the whole event. Then again like my two daughters, he has also known school friends who have not come home, or are hobbling around on crutches now because our politicians still glorify war.
Perhaps it was filled with his own self importance from attending the Cenotaph ceremony that fueled Cast Iron's speech in the City of London yesterday?
Pumped up by the thoughts of previous victories over the Hun, does our boy-leader in his short trousers, think he can emulate the former long trouser statesman who led this country to victory the last time against the cunning Boche!
As for dressing it up as a foreign policy speech, isn't Cast Iron aware of the fifth columnists already encamped in our parliament?
Then again he's doing a very good impression of Vidkun Quisling at the moment himself.
Cast Iron must be made to realize there is only one way for this country to go. The Euro is doomed and along with it all that the EU federalism was trying to impose upon us. Down the plug hole with all the other European lemmings is not the way for the UK.
If Cast Iron will not face reality then a successor must be appointed who will and if that entails another Towton - so be it!

Least we forget!

2011-11-12T09:45:00.000Z

I hope John Redwood will have done the honourable thing when he lays his two wreaths tomorrow by putting his own hand into his own pocket to pay for these wreaths?
The one that will be laid at mother's church tomorrow only cost them £17, it was a reasonable sized one, so £34 is not too much to expect the Right Honourable Mr. Redwood to find from his salary.
How many I wonder though of his honourable colleagues will be putting their wreaths on expenses?
I will be taking my eldest grandson to one of our local services tomorrow, whilst he is too young to understand the full concept of Remembrance Sunday, I'm hoping an impression will be made.
I paid my respects yesterday as I was driving home, I pulled off the M5, got out of my car and stood to attention with my hat clasped across my chest at 11o'clock for the two minute silence. When it was over I was surprised to find a lorry driver had done the same in that lay-by. A brief nod of our heads and we resumed our journeys; I hope he had a safe one.
When our politicians go on about giving us a "British" Bank Holiday, they would do well to think about choosing the 11th of Novembre, a day when we remember all our Fallen Heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice for this fair country.

Far-called our navies melt away—
On dune and headland sinks the fire—
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

It takes two to tango - Two what though!

2011-11-09T20:22:00.001Z

My mother often forwards on to me some of her more interesting emails, the link to the YouTube one below came with the comment that the Tango was originally a dance between men?

How intriguing and worthy of a post I thought!

Well after some digging around on t'internet I think I can see where my mother's friend arrived at such a conclusion.
It would appear the Tango came from the brothels of Buenos Aires.
Due to the shortage of prositutes in the South American bordellos it was very common for queues to form as the girls tried to satisfy all their customers. The canny brothel owners used to employ musicans to keep the waiting lads entertained. Which in turn led to the lads practicing their dancing whilst they waited and as there weren't any spare girls to dance with they danced with one another.
Which I hope explains the impression my mother's friend had of this beginning as a male only dance!

Gon' Fishin'

2011-11-09T09:37:00.000Z

I was going to hang a "Gone Fishing" sign on the blog for the next couple of days, but I don't feel I can treat you like that, so I'll leave off the normal rants for the rest of the week.

Instead I'll try to find a few non-controversial items to blog on.

Apart from the drizzle/rain that seemed to follow me yesterday, I had a good run down the motorways, no sign of the carnage on the M5 near to Taunton.

The Nigerian plastic bottle house is an interesting concept, certainly one way of re-using all those plastic bottles and very low skills demand as well.

I should imagine the insulation properties would be just as good in northern latitudes as down nearer the Equator.

How many bottles would I need for a three bedroomed semi?

With the added attraction, come the revolution, it's bullet-proof!

Have a nice day!

A vile trade - Organ trafficking.

2011-11-08T08:28:00.000Z

I don't know if my mood this morning is matching the weather outside, that horrible fine drizzle which seems to penetrate right to the centre of one's soul, or like Leg Iron I'm suffering from a bit of blog burn-out?
Yesterday I seemed to be surrounded, I had both daughters and one grandson for lunch, then one daughter and her son for dinner last night. All very enjoyable from a family point of view, but a distraction from blogging.
So in line with my mood this morning I will point you in the direction of an article from Bloomberg on the increasing criminal activities in organ trafficking.
A vile trade.
One we should hang our heads in shame at, which unfortunately will only grow in proportion to the increasing gap between the rich and the poor. Both in that between individuals and countries as well.
For what else have the rich to spend their monies, they've got all the money, houses and yachts they'll ever need, but good health?
Whilst the poor are never going to get out of the poverty they are in with the way politicians and financiers all over the world are mortgaging their futures.
Perhaps it is time for us to seek an international answer to this problem, let the Red Cross administer a global database of organ donors, with agreed fees and standards of aftercare.
After all we are never going to eliminate this horrific trade, so let's bring some humanity to it instead?

PS
I'm shooting off to Cornwall for a few days - perhaps a change of scenery might help!

"Ask not what your MP does for Europe ..."

2011-11-06T21:58:00.000Z

William Hague's assertion that "... the UK should be in Europe, but not run by Europe" basically sums up the public lie fed to us proles by the major political parties in this country.
However, increasingly we are seeing what is uttered in public does not match what is being done to our country behind closed doors both in this country and across the English Channel.
Too many times we see MPs from all sides stand up in parliament to decry the increasing stupidity infecting our land from Bruxelles and Strasbourg.
Yet it is the very same MPs who troop thru the "Ayes" lobby who are allowing the sovereignty of our country to be stolen away from us.
Our very own elected MPs are turning into EU Fifth Columnists before our very eyes.
Whilst the betrayal by former political leaders of this country, one-time Ministers of State and right down to previous MPs almost matches that of the present occupants of our parliament.
The problem of Europe comes not from across the English Channel but is centre'd on Westminster.
Whether it is the attraction of being granted access to the EU gravy train, or just the simple fatal attraction of power, Europe has turned our parliament into a viper's nest of present day "British" Quislings.
So before you throw another 46" plasma screen TV out of the window in response to the latest madcap EU Directive. Or vow to never eat another German wurst because of their bullying of the spendthrift Greeks. Or kick the wife's French poodle because the French Dwarf has said some nasty things about our very nice Mr. Cameron.
Stop and think to yourself what has your MP done to oppose the latest piece of madness wafting across the White Cliffs of Dover?
So ask not what your MP has done for Europe, but instead tell him/her what to do for their own country - or else!

Sunday's sizzlers!

2011-11-06T08:03:00.000Z

Things must be getting bad in the economy when there are reports of fake bus passes in circulation!
I must admit it is Metro bus passes and not the free ones as given to old biddies. Although the Beeb's original headline led me into believing it may have been the senior ones'.
I suppose next we'll have fake TV licences in circulation?
To liken the M5 crash to daily life in Afghanistan is to be belittle the conditions facing both our Armed Forces and the poor inhabitants of that country.
Not driving at a speed appropriate for the conditions and maintaining a safe braking distance can be listed as the causes for the majority of the cars involved in that pile up.
I've always found the M5 to be more stressful to drive on once I get south of Junction 16. As for the Somerset Levels where this happened, it's usually like Brands Hatch, especially around rush hour.
So HMRC is finally getting around to investigating Bernie Ecclestone and his involvement in bribery?
Whilst this case involves Mr. Ecclestone and his adventures abroad it would be sweet if it led back to this country. After all Bernie's smoking advertisement/nuLabor funding problem was Tony Wot's His Name's first public scandal.
One that should've alerted us to what a morally corrupt PM we had been conned into electing.
Will we have a functioning Greek government tomorrow, or might we see EU Commissioners being flown into Eleftherios Venizelos to "manage" the country?
One thing we have learnt is that whilst George Papandreou might be "dangerous", he's also a very cunning old political fox.
I know who I would put my money on if it came to an arm wrestling competition between him and Cast Iron, especially if it was the best of three, not the younger man!
Finally, I wonder if we would be celebrating twenty-five years of Sir Alex Furguson if he managed a Mexican volley ball team?
ps
To those of you wondering, I did manage to survive my double grandson day out yesterday!

Beware of Greeks fixing markets!

2011-11-05T07:04:00.000Z

The good lads (& lassies?) over at the EU Referendum site put the kernel of an idea into my head about "poor" Greece with their corruption post yesterday.
It is now flashing fecking big light bulbs inside my head as I am greeted this morning with the news of George Papandreou's victory in a vote of confidence in the Greek parliament last night.
Have we just witnessed the most blatant and public fixing of markets by the Greeks in these past days?
I've got to doff the old uniform cap in their direction if it was. Can you imagine our very own Bufty frae Kirkcaldy trying this?
With the curse of Jonah upon him it would all go wrong and he' be exposed for the small time Scottish mincer he really is!
Today my eldest grandson and I will be off to our usual Saturday haunt, only this time I am also taking my youngest grandson with us, Baby Jake.
Am I taking too much on?
Well the weather's not helping much, I can hear the rain gurgling down the drainpipes here at Barnacle Towers!

The 81 Group - Piggies in a poke?

2011-11-04T07:58:00.000Z

So will there be a Greek government still in power by Monday, or will we see the Panzers rolling around the E75 Leoforos Kifisu to quell the protesting locals?
The Greek finance minister, Evangelos Venizelos, revealed he would make a good Quisling leader for the EU and knew which side his political psomi was buttered on. Stabbing Greek PM George Papandreou in the back almost as soon as the PM's feet regained Greek soil from being summoned to Cannes.
It would appear that finance ministers/chancellors undermining their leaders is not only a UK political thing. Anyone know if the Bufty frae Kirkcaldy has been holidaying in Greece recently, or if brownshirts Blinky Balls or Tom Watson have been over on parliamentary business?
Now are the Greeks going to have a general election on the referendum question, or are they going to have a referendum on the election?

We certainly live in interesting times, or at least the poor Greeks do!

Talking of referendums this brings me nicely onto my thoughts on the "81 Group" as the Tory rebels have decided to call themselves.
We hear great things from them, like their plans to vote against any more of our cash disappearing across la Manche, to act as Cast Iron's Eurosceptic rudder. A desire to put their country first and party second when it comes to representing their constituents.
Are we seeing the Tory Party finally waking up, coming home to Maggie?
I fear we are being sold a pig-in-a-poke by our political elite, a sop to keep the proles happy whilst they continue to gore themselves at the parliamentary trough.
Everyone knew that as soon as Milibanana & Blinky decided nuLabor was to vote with the Tory-led coalition the referendum vote was a stitch-up at Parliament. So Cast Iron could be privately relaxed about the number of Tory rebels that surfaced during the vote.
The Lib/Dems are Cast Iron's key to the door of No. 10 and not eighty-one Tory rebels at the moment. As he seems to be a yellower shade of blue keeping the Lib/Dems happy shouldn't trouble his Conservative(?) conscience too much.
Finally Cast Iron is a veteran survivor of the corrupted years of nuLabor's parliaments. Where the MPs expenses scandal revealed they were all tainted by their time in the Westminster bubble. From those who blatantly stole from the public purse, to those who said they were only following orders, to those who chose to look the other way.
So Cast Iron knows like turkeys having an aversion to voting for an early Christmas, the eighty-one, with a little behind the scenes explaining which side their parliamentary bread is buttered on; will be putting trough before country when push comes to shove in any vote that threatens to topple Cast Iron's coalition.
Anyone hoping we had seen the first stirrings of a true blue Spring in Westminster are going to be sadly disappointed. It's only our political masters playing with us.

First edition home - The ranting one!

2011-11-03T08:22:00.000Z

Well I'm back!
Two hours late home because someone missed their train yesterday, which really annoys me, as my relief had made it on time. But the Great Yarmouth pilot launch, where we crew changed yesterday, decided to wait until the late guy turned up before they would come out with the next part of our crew change.
So I got caught on board for those couple hours, arriving at my youngest daughter's home in the dark for a rather late tea, and only just catching my other grandson before his bedtime.

Then I had that lovely drive home from Great Yarmouth!
I usually take the A47 to Peterboro' as I think it's a faster route than continuing on the A17 to get to the A1.
Whichever way you come it's a frustrating mix of dual and single carriage way roads. That always gets my BP raised as I muse upon the idea that with all the taxes that us motorists paid under nuLabor, then all A-roads should have been brought up to dual carriageway standards before they got kicked out.
Instead the financial dimwit from Fife fleece'd us to indulge in his pet political, potty ideas - like saving banks!

Which basically all the trouble in the Euro zone is about - saving German and French banker's behinds.
At least the Bernanke had enough sense to let MF Global go down the plug hole, even if it held primary dealer status.
Then again using your customer's money to go betting in the Euro casino probably isn't something the Bernanke would approve of, even if he does a bit of it on the side with federal funds!

And where do I start on referendums?

On our own debate in the HoCs, whilst you could say the rebels lost the battle, the war still goes on as far as I'm concerned. Cast Iron has certainly pushed me towards UKIP now.
Although we should do an EU by keep presenting this question to our MPs until they give us the answer we want!
Also we should push for every MP that voted against allowing an EU referendum to be de-selected by their local constituencies. Threaten the piggies time at the parliamentary trough and they'll soon come running.

As for Greece's Prime Minister George Papandreou cunning austerity referendum plan, I wish he was our Tory Party leader, we might be seeing a completely different response from the UK government.
Oh sorry I should've said Tory-led coalition government!
I don't think we will see the Greek government doling any handouts to the IMF in the immediate future. I just wish Cast Iron would learn that charity should begin at home!!!

I notice the Beeb has been it's usual impartial self upon all this!
The Beeb's Greek World Service department must be working overtime beaming out propaganda to the poor Greeks warning them what a "No" vote will mean.
They certainly had wall-to-wall IMF officials and others of the same ilk on Radio 4 since Papandreou announced his cunning plan.

Finally, to end this first edition back rantings I see the tree huggers want us to go back to sail, or perhaps even slave powered triremes!
As the Committee on Climate Change want to included ship's emissions in the UK's total emissions package.
Has anyone really sat down and worked out what this country will look like with an 80% cut in it's emissions by 2050?
I should imagine there is some troglodyte tribe in darkest Africa laughing at us over that one!

One dictator down - Another one to follow?

2011-10-20T20:51:00.000+01:00

Well before Cast Iron breaks open the champagne to celebrate the death of Towelhead Gaddafi, he should pause and meditate on the true meaning of democracy, because the way he's going on the EU referendum debate he could be facing his own "Winter of Discontent".
To impose a three line whip on his MPs for the debate is really giving the electorate the finger.
After all the spectacular failures our political elite, on both sides nuLabor & nuBlues, have foisted upon us. To lecture us that they know best is at the least poor judgement and will not go down well at the next general election.
Well if they refuse us a referendum this time around, we will have to do the old EU trick and get them to vote again and again, until we get the right answer!
So don't go celebrating too soon Cast Iron you might be the next dictator to feel the wrath of the people!

If you're interested we should be back in action tomorrow night, probably off down Channel to dredge a load back into the Thames. That should give the gear a good work out!

"Rick, I think we've got a big problem!"

2011-10-19T19:53:00.000+01:00

Well we're in Chatham Docks for a bit of R&R, not the rest and recreational drugs sorts, more the repair and restore activities.
As at the moment there is an eighty odd mile gap between the end of our draghead and the rest of our dredge gear!
Whilst must of you were all huddled up safe inside Monday night watching Corrie or Eastenders, we were out in that short sharp gale that blew thru Monday evening, trying to get a load in for Dagenham.
Just got turned in at about quarter to nine when I got a call from the bridge:
"Rick I think we've got a big problem!"
By the time I'd got up there the big problem had shown it's ugly face, the draghead was hanging vertically from it's gantry, the pump was hanging sort of okay from it's gantry, just there wasn't any pipe connecting the two!
Anyway because of the risk of the draghead swinging about and putting a hole in the ship's side our office decided we should cut it adrift. So I spent an exciting half an hour or so getting soaked from all the seas that were trying to put my burning torch out whilst I cut the draghead free.
Then we limped into the Great Nore anchorage where we attempted to get the bit of pipe still hanging over the side on board. You wouldn't believe it but when you want a bulldog grip you can't find one of the right size. The bosun had plenty but they were all the wrong sizes. In the end I had to use some of my old N. Sea anchor handling skills but we got the pipe on board just in time for lunch!
So after discharging what cargo we did have on board, we are now here in Chatham getting it all put back together again.

As for Dr. Liam Fox; I wouldn't go upsetting the MSM if I were you Dr. Fox, they might do a bit more digging. They may have ignored Steven Purcell but a nice Tory led scandal will do them nicely!

Une fois de plus il est temps de dire au revoir!

2011-10-11T20:21:00.000+01:00

Yes once again my three weeks home has passed by quicker than a faster than light speeding neutrino!
Unfortunately here at Barnacle Towers time only travels forward so I won't be able to go back to meet myself coming home three weeks ago!
However, I have a sneaky feeling Dr. Liam Fox might be back to his home before I am to mine next time.
On reflection it's not been a bad leave, I haven't got everything done I had planned, but it'll all be waiting for me when I return no doubt.
I suppose next leave Christmas will be rearing it's ugly head, demanding to know what I'm going to do about presents etc ...
We've already been discussing where we shall all be spending Christmas dinner, whichever permutation we come up with, someone is going to be disappointed. Is it just me, or do Christmases get more complicated the older you get?
As you can guess I'm from the "Bah, humbug" school of Christmas enjoyment!
Well I've said my goodbyes to all the family, my bags are packed, the hire car is parked up in the courtyard. All that remains is to thank you for visiting, I hope you'll come back again, until then go safely and in peace in your daily lives.
Au revoir!

Gold - It's a funny old market ain't it?

2011-10-11T11:23:00.000+01:00

Most of us can remember with horror the Fifeshire financial dimwit's decision to sell over half our gold reserves, even to pre-announce those sales, so that the more smarter traders could drive the price down before the auctions started.
A period now called Brown's Bottom.
The Bufty fra Kirkcaldy told us all at the time this wise decision was taken to diversify the UK's holdings in foreign currencies, and because of the volatility of gold.
Of course pre-announcement of these sales would have nothing to do with said volatility!
One currency that benefited from Broon's largess was the fledgling Euro, very much in need of support, as it tried to establish it's self. Now what if the Bottler's actions were to improve the attraction of the Euro before a UK referendum upon joining it?
I only ask because with Broon one always had to look for the ulterior motive, in the end it was only because Tony Wot's His Name was for the Euro and the Fifeshire Feartie's hatred of TWHN that kept us out!
Interesting to note Brown's Bottom lost us about £15 billion, which would have come in handy during the rainy days of 2008, however the Bufty frae Kirkcaldy never saved anything for a rainy day - only his gold plated MP's pension!
Fast forward to 2011, one can say both the gold and silver markets have been volatile in the past few months. Although I haven't heard Blinky Balls calling for the rest of our gold reserves to be sold off to even out this volatility - yet!
Also it's not the Fifeshire financial dimwit so openly manipulating the gold market, now we have other forces at play.
Just take a bit of time to watch and digest what is presented here by Cheviot asset management, a previously unknown to me UK company, but one that is becoming increasingly concerned about the shenanigans going on in the gold and silver markets.
Yep it sure is a funny old market at the moment - in more ways than one!

Last day's round up - The cheer you up version!

2011-10-11T08:24:00.000+01:00

As it is my last complete day at home I thought for a change I should give you something(s) cheerful to brighten up what looks like a grey old morning out there.

I should imagine the champagne corks are a popping over at Odyssey Marine Exploration, with the discovery of a second silver carrying WW2 victim of the U-boats.
Although she was only carrying 20 tonnes of silver it makes a nice little earner to pick up before having to do the Christmas shopping.
If you watch the video you can see how strong the currents are, even on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean!
I've always been intrigued by what drove those Victorian explorers that spent years of hardship searching for something we would regard as a bit obscure nowadays.
Plant hunters are one such breed, so I shall be keeping my eyes open for a "pre-owned" copy of Seamus O'Brien's book on Augustine Henry, the Irish planter hunter.
I hope Mr. O'Brien has included some of his adventures in the book as well, he seems to have had a few experiences during the researching for it.
Yesterday my youngest daughter and I enjoyed a peaceful lunch out whilst LB was at nursery all day.
I fancied the Ham & Pea soup, it was just the right sort of soup for the weather outside, it came with a piece of warmed ciabatta bread and one of those butter portions.
Upon which in rather large letters was writ -
"Butter - Allergy Warning - May contain milk products."
I just had to shake my head, although in reflection looking at the education standards under nuLabor, perhaps those that had to suffer them do indeed need to have such warnings?
So Catch 22 is fifty years old this year?
I'll agree with many of the comments, it made me laugh out loud, and I'll have to rout out my copy to read it all over again.
Personally I prefer Tom Sharpe's humour; one of the scenes in Riotous Assembly where he describes Konstable Els with the elephant gun in the bunker has me in stitches every time I re-read it!

Right I shall be back later with an interesting post, but I hope this one cheered you up a bit!

John Profumo - The last honourable cabinet minister?

2011-10-10T08:24:00.001+01:00

I was at that tender age when the full implications of the Profumo Affair were muttered about in my presence but I was not worldly enough to grasp the full implications.
The one thing that did make an impression upon me at that tender age was that John Porfumo, the then Secretary for War, had to resign because he had lied to the HoCs.
Just think about that statement for a moment.
He'd resigned not because he had been porking Christine Keeler, nor because he may have unintentionally disclosed some of our nuclear secrets, but because he had misled the HoCs.
Mr. Profumo was not only an honourable man as his subsequent actions show, becoming a toilet cleaner at Toynbee Hall (not Polly's London pad!), but also a courageous man if one looks at his war record.
Not for him a dodgy dossier and an enriching career afterwards.
Fast forward to this morning where we have two Cabinet Ministers that have both been caught out lying, maybe not to the HoCs, but to the Court of Public Opinion though.
One, Chris Huhne, the Energy Secretary is facing a police investigation into a possible charge of perverting the course of public justice over a speeding offence.
Not content with that he is also smearing his fellow Coalition Cabinet Ministers behind their backs.
Whilst the other, Liam Fox, our Defence Secretary thinks that a weasel worded apology will be enough to save his place at the cabinet trough.
At least John Profumo didn't have Christine Keeler working in his cabinet office, unlike Dr. Fox did with his friend Adam Werritty!
And these toerags want us to call them - "The Right Honourable Member for ..."
No, sorry, for me John Profumo was the last Honourable Member of the HoCs.

Sunday's slate scribings.

2011-10-09T07:52:00.000+01:00

I'm afraid the weather put rather a damper on yesterday's dose of steam. Although as we were bumping along the moors from Haworth to Oxenhope, in an old double decker in the mist and the drizzle, the lady behind me remarked it gave one a better idea of what it was like to survive up there.

Fatty Watson refusal to consider giving up his membership of the HoC's Culture Committee, once again shows the sheer arrogance of nuLabor, even when they are in Opposition.
Although I suppose having opened Pandora's Box with regard to the phone hacking scandal, Fatty Watson believes he had better stay on the committee to try to manage the outcome, as I fear a lot about Fatty could be exposed if the MSM had the cajones?

So not only are our MPs stealing from us by creative expenses, we now learn the Beeb is also enriching them with our money, not bad having two stabs at the public purse!
Although I wonder if the Beeb's remit of impartiality extents to making sure all parties receive the same, or has nuLabor been getting more?
I think the Telegraph needs to do an expose on this with a complete breakdown of who got what and where it went after the MPs got their grubby mitts on it?

Well here we are another weekend nearly over (my last at home I might add!) and the Euro is still with us!
However, a previously unheard of Belgian bank Dexia and the Slovakian government might put it out of it's misery today.
It would be good if it is all settled by tomorrow then we can get on with our Christmas shopping!

In the week in which Steve Jobs left us, one cannot but notice that the Mac is like Marmite - you either love it, or hate it, no middle ground!
Hence the comments left under Henry Porter's Cif piece.

Well I hope we have a bit of break in the weather today, I'm hoping to get some shots of Middleton Railway's newly restored Y7 in action, but whatever the weather I wish you all a pleasant day.

Who's really in charge of the USAF's drones?

2011-10-08T08:40:00.000+01:00

It is a shame the good weather we have been enjoying has not lasted till today at least, my last weekend at home, as it is our usual Saturday's haunt Autumn Steam Gala.
Also it is reported that this weekend will see Middleton Railway's Y7 in action for the first time since it's restoration.
Then yesterday when planing the route for my mother and her partner to take from here to their next stopping point, we found out it is the Great Central Railway's Steam Extravaganza, with a S&DJR theme to it.
So much steam this weekend!

Well let us hope that the drivers of all these steam locos thundering along the rails are more in control of their steads than the US Air Force's drone fleet is at the moment!
Wired has reported that the USAF's drone network is affected by a virus.
Presently the virus infecting the drone's network appears benign, but despite attempts to wipe it off the network it keeps reappearing, so it must be a worry to the USAF that it may change from benign to malicious.
Then the Americans might find their drones coming back to sting them on their own tails!

Right I think a flask of you know who's tomato soup should be included in today's picnic hamper which I'm now off to do.
Have a nice day yourselves - even if it is steam-free!

QE Part Two - The Legacy Sequel?

2011-10-07T07:38:00.000+01:00

Mervyn King is only three years late in realizing this is the worst financial crisis the world has ever faced. Lack of activity and poor guidance given to the government by the BoE hasn't helped matters either.
The best piece of advice he could have given to the Fifeshire financial dimwit when deciding what to do about our bankrupt banks was: "Let 'em sink."
Three little words that could have saved this country from being in the state we are now.
What have we gained for the BoE's first hosing of about £200bn of QE into the financial sector?
Bugger all! & Why?
Because the banks have been using it to prop themselves up ready to meet Basle III's capital reserve requirements. Mr. King knew all along our banks were bust and probably still are if they had to mark to market some of the so called assets they are kidding us they hold.
Here we are just about to fall down the trouser leg of history marked "End of the Weimar Rep. - The UK Sequel".
Yet he just wants to throw them some more of our money - the man's a bampot!
Thinking of the legacies that were left to Germany after the Weimar Republic did collapse in on it's self: I can't but help wonder what will be the legacy we leave our grandchildren from this Depression?
Of course I'm not advocating we elect the BNP and invade Poland?
However one thing Mr. Hitler did do for the future well being of Germany was improve it transport infrastructure. The Autobahns were built, the rail network was improved and the canal system expanded.
So instead of just frittering this new tranche of QE down the banker's drain pipes why don't we have a ten year to make say 90% of all A roads in this country up to dual carriageway standards?
Or if the Greens object too much we'll do some canals for them to use with their horse drawn barges.
But let us at least have something we can look back on with pride when we do finally get out of this tunnel of doom & gloom!
Not just a load of bankers swanning about on their yachts in the south of France, enjoying their QE inflated pensions!!

Right I've got to nip off and get the frying pan flashed up - eldest daughter and grandson number two are coming for breakfast.

Don't upset Paddy O'Bama - He'll put you on the Kill List!

2011-10-06T20:51:00.002+01:00

Well American administrations have always had a penchant for assassinating those foreigners they didn't like rather than actually having them appear in a court of law.
With "extreme prejudice" was one of the catch phrases to cover this federal pastime.
Now it seems under Paddy O'Bama even American citizens are fair game to be put on the "kill list". Which is a bit ironic coming from the man who was so critical of the Chimpanzee-in-the-White House record of illegal activities before he got his feet under the desk in the Oval Room!
So watch out you don't upset Paddy, even if you've got an American birth certificate (where's yours' Paddy?), he'll put you on his list!

Sad day all round.

2011-10-06T13:23:00.000+01:00

Being greeted this morning with the news of the demise of Steve Jobs was the start of a rather sad day for everyone by the look of the news.
Funnily enough I'm resurrecting (once again!) a friend's iBook for her today, one of the early G3 ones, which she has had from new. Insisting it's good enough for her modest needs and keeps chugging along with a bit of TLC.

For the masses the news of both a footballer being arrested in a betting probe north of the border, and a soap star being nicked for a suspected child sex offence, must shake their beliefs in the opiate they have been dosing themselves up on all this time.

It's also a sad day for the economy with the announcement that the BoE is going to re-start it's own QE programme. More debt for our children and their children to have to pay off.
The only ones with a smile on their faces over this must be the bankers who are getting their hands on another bail out with our money.
Far better if the £75bn had been spent on some infrastructure projects, but no the banks will just sell the government back some of it's own debt, whilst using the cash to make sure they finally have enough reserves to meet Basel III.

The sooner everyone faces up to the fact we are going to have little or no growth in the UK, let alone the West, for at least a decade; the sooner we can get on with our lives. Regardless of how miserable they are going to be - thank you the Bufty frae Kirkcaldy for spending our rainy day cover!

iPhone 4s - The hedge fund breaker?

2011-10-06T05:29:00.000+01:00

With all the uncertainty of being able to earn an honest dollar anywhere else in these turbulent markets, hedge funds piled into Apple shares in such numbers that they made it the world's second most traded company after the American oil major Exxon Mobil.

However, the announcement of an upgrade of the iPhone from 4 to 4s, instead of a brand spanking new iPhone 5 which the market had hyped it's self up over, saw a seven per cent fall in it's share price.

Now on top of this hedge fund managers and their robot partners have to digest the impact of Mr. Jobs sad demise on the share pricing.

I mention robot partners there because as Mark Buchanan points out High Frequency Trading (HFT) is only making matters worse in already volatile markets. Here we are talking about trades executed in milli-seconds not minutes!

So will the disappointment over iPhone 4s, with some HFT/flash crashing thrown in for good measure, Apple's already sky high share value; and now the death of Mr. Jobs break some of the hedge funds invested in Apple later today?

The SEC report alluded to by Mark Buchanan has been picked to pieces by Nanex, with their conclusion -

"Something is very wrong here."

Steve - I'll miss you.

2011-10-06T04:25:00.000+01:00

The flags at Barnacle Towers will be placed at half mast when they go up at sunrise this morning, as a mark of respect towards Steve Jobs, who has left us for the big orchard in the sky.
I had hoped you might have a few years to enjoy your semi-retirement when you announced you resignation as CEO after revealing in 2004 you had pancreatic cancer.
You never knew me, nor my family as it grew up and expanded, but you played a very positive part in all our lives. For that you have my eternal thanks.
May your god look after you forever now.

Do the honourable thing Cast Iron!

2011-10-05T07:04:00.001+01:00

I had hoped we would see a more honourable approach in all it's dealings when we got this Tory-led coalition.
In fact I will go further by stating if we had an entirely Conservative administration I would not be posting on this subject. The Tories would have known what to do, done the honourable thing; however is their moral compass's deviation caused by their Lib/Dem partners?
What am I burbling on about?
The decision by various bodies/companies to charge for their services when Wootton Bassett is granted it's Royal charter later this month.
Whilst I am more than willing to put my hand in my pocket to make a donation towards these costs. I would far rather see a campaign to shame these people into changing their minds on charging Wootton Bassett.
We are after all talking about a town that did more to honour our Fallen Heroes than any of our political elite ever did.
A local community that gave more support and succour to the grieving families of our Fallen Heroes than any Jobsworthy in local government.
A people that gave their time and effort free to show that respect as our Fallen Heroes passed by.
No I'm sorry Cast Iron you can lecture all you like about people paying their own personal debts off, but here's one debt you could pay from your own pocket, let alone from the public purse.
So show you're still an honourable man, leading an honourable coalition, and announce your government will pick up Wootton Bassett's tab.

If local MP James Gray can identify anyone associated with this decision to charge Wootton Bassett, I would be more than willing to "name & shame" them on here.

Forget the oral sex, men - Light one up instead!

2011-10-04T19:47:00.000+01:00

Well it's going to be interesting to see how the anti-smoking brigade spin this one?

Researchers have found that a virus spread by oral sex may cause more cases of throat cancer in men than smoking would!
Although I would point out that the researchers only looked at 271 cases over a twenty year period to arrive at these findings. Also being an American report one has to look for the Corporate America interests hidden away in it.

But you might suggest to the girlfriend she buys you a packet of twenty tonight instead of just three!

May's pussy excuse fails.

2011-10-04T16:18:00.000+01:00

Talk about egg on your face Mary May, I said on Sunday you would do better to make sure your officials were doing their job properly, rather than shouting your mouth off about the Human Rights Act.

What do you do in front of the faithful?

Just put your big fat foot in your gobby mouth by trying to use a cat as an excuse for your underlings not following the law correctly.
Okay you might try to weasel out of the main charge, of being in command of a dis-functional department, by saying it didn't happen during your watch.
But are you sure the useless feckers got the boot for such incompetence, or are they still enjoying the perks of Civil Service life?

Because if Cast Iron finds out they are still there, you and your pussy should be the next ones deported from the Cabinet, regardless of your feline rights!

Bank of England to seek IDAs with it's creditors soon?

2011-10-04T08:20:00.000+01:00

Well I don't think so, but the way the continuing bank disaster is going we may see such an headline - soon!

It is a continuing crisis in the banking sector, one that should have been fixed back in 2008, but due to the incompetency of, and fear about the too big to fail bankers, our political elite let us proles down.
Or they just didn't really want to join us in the belt-tightening austerity that was to follow?

However, what we have here is third parties betting amongst themselves about the continued existence of certain banks. I doubt very much if any of these traders/hedge funds are actual holders of the bank's bonds that they are betting against.
It's this third party betting that is causing all these fears in the market place, instead of CDOs we now have CDSs, and we all remember the problems caused by CDOs.

At least we should, but the bankers made sure we were too confused/cowered to use common sense in this matter!

CDOs should have been outlawed after the last banking crisis, as well as letting those banks that were bust go under, now their bastard offspring CDSs are poisoning our financial markets.
All for the sake of banker's bonuses not the financial well being of those they bet against.

A very simple solution is to legislate that only actual holders of bonds can seek insurance for them. Not the mickey mouse situation we have at present where anyone can.
Otherwise we might see the BoE brought down by the punters!

Tuesday treble.

2011-10-04T07:43:00.000+01:00

Well I couldn't tell you if yesterday's broadband failure on BT's network had any affects 'oop north, or upon my life in general. As along with my mother, her partner and my girlfriend we were all out enjoying the delights of the NYMR, Grosmont and Pickering.
Your humble barnacle even beat the Duke of Gloucester to unveiling the plague to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the Whitby to Pickering line and the new roof on Pickering station.
So if you do go to Pickering and see a sign that says the Duke did it today, it's wrong I did yesterday and I have the photos to prove it Dukey!
Anyway a very enjoyable day was had by one and all, I hope you were likewise unaffected by it.

The weather still continues to puzzle the forecasters.
Last night it was a bit spooky driving home on the A19; dusk just coming on, temperature outside had actually risen to 24˚C, then the wind got up.
At one stage when we were stopped in the queue formed behind yet another slow tractor, the sound off the leaves being blown under the car sounding like running water, as for the dust being blown everywhere!

I have a better idea for Inspector Simon Gray, of Essex constabulary, instead of the expense of trailing only five known burglars; why not invest in a load of big heavy iron balls and leg irons.
First conviction on goes the leg irons and one of the balls - second offence rate falls dramatically!
As for the burglars human rights, Inspector Gray has himself covered -
"The Human Rights Act requires us to balance the rights of the individual and the rights of the community, and time and time again, the rights of the community not to be burgled and have their lives turned upside down always wins."
Mind you if we were allowed to bear arms I think we would not see as many burglars alive on our streets for the police to follow on their next outing!

Sorry this post is a bit "lite" this morning but my next inspiration is a bit too weighty to include.
Also the headline wouldn't be as witty, I'd be pestered all day by some moron with an ISP address in Kirkcaldy telling treble means three not four - as if his maths was any good!

Is your child's packed lunch compliant with the menu cycle?

2011-10-03T06:01:00.003+01:00

I should imagine the School Food Trust (SFT) was a bit peeved off when the Bufty frae Kirkcaldy and his minions got the boot. Because if the mon-ocular Scottish moron was still in office then along with it's children's packed lunches report, we would have had proposals for the introduction of packed lunch inspectors and outreach workers to help those families whose packed lunches were not part of the "compliant menu cycle".
I didn't realize we had a "compliant menu cycle" in school's meals until I was poking around the SFT website. Where I found the phrase on their page about international recipe menus.
Nice to know my grandsons have the delights of Caribbean curried goat and rice to look forward to when they start school dinners, certainly something we never had!
Whilst it all appears very nice and a good idea, it smacks too much of the Nanny State to me; surely a lot of this work should have been done by the Department for Education?
Or was it case of generating some nice sinecures for the faithful when the Fifeshire financial dimwit was in office?
So it is good to see that from this year -
"... the Trust will cease to be an arms-length body, continuing its work as a charity alongside the creation of a new community interest company."
It's a bit concerning that in these times of austerity the government is forming a new community interest company (any Tory Party donors/retiring Civil Servants on it's board?) Far better if it was to cut this ~~quango~~ charity completely adrift to let it survive amongst all the other good causes.
However, do check your child's pack lunch is compliant before they go to school today - you don't want them being sent home!

Utilities giving away wind produced electricity!

2011-10-02T16:22:00.000+01:00

I doubt if we will ever be so lucky in this country to enjoy what some German electricity consumers did earlier this year, when not only were they given free electricity, but they were also paid by the producers to take it!

However, where this madness will impact upon the UK, is in keeping the lights on in the future on days when the wind doesn't blow and the sun has gone to bed for the night.

No utility is going to invest in the cost of new generating capacity, be it coal, gas or nuclear; if they are never going to be sure when they will be able to recoup their initial investment.
Which is basically what will happen if they are forced to give first preference to electricity generated from wind or solar power. Their brand spanking new plant will have to sit idle as they feed all the "re-newable" electricity into the grid.

Already the number of proposed new nuclear plants has fallen from ten to one, we're going to need that spare capacity, otherwise the Three Day Week will seem like a picnic in the park.

Interesting to see from that Bloomberg there is already a hedging and spot market in electricity. I suppose the next financial crisis after the Euro has gone down the plughole will be in the electricity CDO / CDS trades!

Conservative's Cloud Cuckoo-land Conference.

2011-10-02T08:55:00.000+01:00

One has to wonder if the Conservatives are holding their conference in the same world as us plebs, let alone in the same country, what with some of the reported ideas in this morning's MSM.
Theresa May's call for the Human Rights Act to be scrapped is pure politicking, as long as we're in the EU she should know this is a non-starter: so shut up woman just tell your officials to find better loopholes in it to exploit than their opponents.
Whilst Cast Iron's floating of the idea of extending "Right To Buy" is a bit more credible, with the proposal of building one council house for every one sold, but how about the funding?
Why not go ahead and just build the houses now, the demand is there with-out selling anymore off, and our construction industry could do with some help in this depression.

Although with Cast Iron's record in office already, if he does go ahead all we'll see are Dutch and French companies winning the tenders, then shipping loads of Eastern Europeans in to complete the contracts!

Meanwhile William Hague's dismissal of the elephant in the conference room, an EU referendum, will be the elephant that comes back to bite the Tories on their very exposed behind at the next general election.
By 2015 the problems we in the UK are experiencing and paying for in trying to prop up the Euro now, will see like children squabbling over pocket money in comparison with what lays ahead of us in three years time, if the Euro is still with us on continued life-support.

So enjoy your love-in with the Lib/Dems whilst you can William, we may have another view of it come the next general election!

Yesterday it was quite busy on the KWVR but mainly because they had a couple parties going on, I think one was a wedding reception from the church bells they had ringing out from the platform speakers at Oxenhope!
Their Black Five was rostered engine this weekend; I'm beginning to believe the tales that some loco drivers could identify a particular engine just from hearing it. The Black Fives certainly seem to have a distinctive "bark" to their exhaust sound.
They have their Autumn Steam Gala next weekend, so see you there!

Saturday's sonorous soundings.

2011-10-01T08:29:00.000+01:00

Well we will take it that Matthew Norman did not mean homeless when he used the word gamine during his article proposing that Mrs. Blinky Balls maybe a front runner to lead nuLabor; as we know the Balls have at least two homes subsidised by us tax payers.
I also think a street urchin would have a better moral compass than Mrs. Balls, so he wasn't thinking of her in that sense.
Which only leaves: "A girl or woman of impish appeal"; well she might be an Imp's idea of a desirable woman, but to me she's just another two-faced, past it, lying nuLabor twat.
Tainted by her previous record in nuLabor's administrations, as for her trying to take on a Northern accent, it's just another smoke & mirror trick learned from her and her husband's very good friend - the Bufty frae Kirkcaldy.
As for leader of nuLabor?
She'll get my vote if she promises to lead them off over the nearest cliff - reet away oor lass!

I sincerely hope the Quartet have another job for Tony Wot's His Name should he get the sack from his present sinecure.
Like slopping-out janitor at the Guantanamo Bay holiday camp, Air America could render him there special first class, if he's worried about costs!
We certainly don't want him back here, unless it's for a caged re-match with the Bufty frae Kirkcaldy!

I wonder if the fall in Kodak's share value was brought about by an attack of Chinese CDS traders?
Kodak is very much an American iconic corporation; so how humbling would it be for Paddy O'Bama in the run up to his attempted re-election, to see this icon of Corporate America bankrupted, with the pieces shipped across the Pacific?

Beginning of a new month but will it be the Euro's final one?
For agency workers today marks the introduction of rules designed to equalize rights between them and regular employees.
Our company has chosen to flag out it's ships rather than pay it's agency workers (Polish) the same as us. Which really tells you what they think of their employees, we're not an asset to them, just a cost to be avoided as much as possible!

The good weather continues so it will be interesting to see if this Indian Summer draws the crowds to the seaside, or to our usual Saturday haunt?
Whether you choose to head inland, or off to the beaches, I hope you have an enjoyable day.

Friday's Fancies.

2011-09-30T07:58:00.000+01:00

Along with the increase in spiders, the "Indian Summer" we are enjoying, we are also having some very subtly beautiful sun rises on a morning.
However, their delightfulness is too ephemeral to catch with any of my digital cameras. I've tried altering the settings but the resultant shots when viewed on the big screen don't match the enjoyment I've just had watching them.

Two items on this morning's Telegraph front page (is it still a front page on t'internet?) jump out screaming, "We're doomed if we don't leave the EU right now!" to any sane person.

The first concerns the EU's move into our own welfare and social security policies, in this case concerning benefit tourists, which I for one would like to see eliminated not just controlled.

The second Telegraph piece is almost a lament for the City, as it is looking increasingly likely that control of the derivatives markets will be passing to Bruxelles.

What with all the problems of papering over the cracks in the Euro, the EU version of a Tobin Tax looming on the horizon; Europe when viewed from this side of la Manche, does not look like an attractive dance partner, no matter how low you turn the lights down.

Mark Wadsworth points out Cast Iron could have a very good hand at the poker table if he plays his ratifying Decision 2011/199/EU cards correctly.
Although I fear Cast Iron's ambitions lay more with the Holy Grail of an EU Commissioner's job than his country's future welfare.

Hungary's present government looks like it is more on the side of it's people than our own by the way it is attacking the bankers.
Not content with just cutting by three quarters it's central bank governor's salary, it is now forcing the banks to adjust the payments on foreign currency based mortgages for Hungarian borrowers.

Some interesting survival tips from across the Pond - just incase this Indian Summer is followed by a Siberian Seizure!

No Mrs. Dromey I'll not forget, nor forgive you!

2011-09-29T18:49:00.000+01:00

As someone who will bear the scars of the last NuLabor government for the rest of my natural life, I'm not prepared to stop accepting your pathetic apologies Mrs. Dromey. Nor will I move on from reminding anyone that will listen the long term damage the last NuLabor administration has done to my family and this country.

I've seen my pension that I was working hard to contribute to raided, I might not feel so angry if the proceeds had been used to some good for the country as a whole, instead they wasted financing Broon's fantasy-football economics.

Then I saw the lies, spin and that dodgy dossier that were used to take us to war, but I never once saw a NuLabor politician pay their respects, nor honour our Fallen Heroes as their bodies came home in increasing numbers.
Where even taking a walk in the woods could be dangerous to one's health.

I watched as a purer than pure NuLabor government sank into the sewers with it's sleaze and spin, the cloak of morality slipping from it's charlatan leader. Drowning our hopes for a better way of life for our families and their families under a flood of immigrants.

I can remember trying to console my eldest daughter as she voiced her fears for her job as her factory was inundated with workers from Eastern Europe.
While my other daughter with my unborn grandson saw newly arrived people from foreign lands being given the best available houses, all freshly renovated, as she camped out on my settee.

Whilst in the background there lurked the psychological flawed leader-in-waiting. Who in his battle to become leader poisoned the very soul of the Labour Party with the use of minions like Damian McBride.

I'll remember Mrs. Dromey your support for both leaders of your party, one who's hands were soaked in the blood of our youth spilled on foreign lands to appease his vanity; whilst the other took my children's and their children's future prosperity away from them to mortgage it so his Scottish banking friends could enjoy another round of bonuses.

So Mrs. Dromey you'll never be able to apologise enough to me!

Triple legged trousers of history?

2011-09-29T07:10:00.000+01:00

Like the characters in Terry Pratchett's Discworld I think we are about to go off down another trouser leg in history. Only in this case it's a three legged pair of trousers!

One leg of these triple legged trousers will see us and the Euro tumbling down it; taking it will lead to ever increasing integration/federalization with our continental partners, as we all keep endlessly trying to prop up the dead duck Euro.
The attraction for our political elite in this country is that this leg leads them onto the EU gravy train.

Another leg takes us across the Pond to Uncle Paddy O'Bama and his backers, Corporate America, where their concern for the future well being of themselves only extends as far as 2012's presidential election.
The Founding Fathers must recoil in disgust at how much a cesspool politics in their country has become in it's slavishness to Big Business demands of the legislature, both at state and federal levels.
Everything Paddy does now should be viewed knowing that the real and only aim is to get him re-elected, he and his cohorts are already falling down this leg of history, they just want us to help them achieve it's selfish aims.

The third leg is the more interesting one, but it would take a brave, visionary leader to take their country down that leg and I don't see any of those around at the moment?
It's the leave the EU leg, as it has become a club we can no longer afford to stay in, both on monetary, political and cultural fronts.
Leave our continental cousins to get on with it, they're mostly joined already by land borders and one currency. Also they probably wouldn't notice we had gone till it comes to the next Euro bail out divvy up.
As for our American cousins, we should probably start collecting for food parcels to send them, because when Paddy's house of cards collapses it's going to make the Great Depression of 1929 look like a nice Sunday walk in the park!
Anyway they'll probably be that busy sending drones across the Pacific to attack their latest enemies, they won't notice the Special Relationship has resulted in divorce.

We're already an island, so let's get back to putting the Great back in Great Britain, and you know which leg of history that means taking?

Non!

2011-09-28T18:22:00.000+01:00

With the prospect of having to reach even deeper into our pockets to fund the bail out the faltering Euro, of course it won't be spun to us as such by our very own political elite, now another threat to any hope of getting out of this depression looms from across la Manche.

The EU's hastily and ill conceived version of a Tobin Tax, or financial transaction levy; which whilst I agree with the concept in principle, it must be applied on a global and not at a European level as our masters across la Manche want. Otherwise it will only be another obstacle along our path to recovery from this depression.

Still I needn't worry as the EU supine Beeb reports the UK Treasury will "absolutely resist".

Which I suppose in Cast Iron's & Gormless George's cases will mean sticking their fingers in each other's mouth, holding them out in front of their respective faces, shrug of the shoulders and "Okay"

Absolute resistance over, back to filling in their advance EU Commissioner's application forms.

With all the shenanigans going on across la Manche to fudge together something to save the Euro, which just lately seem to involve us having to dip into our already NuLabor-emptied coffers and the increasing politicalization of what was originally just a farmer's market.
The time has come when we should cut the Continent adrift otherwise we're all going to be pulled under when the Euro goes down the plug hole.

Cast Iron should use this latest EU proposal as the last straw, link it's adoption with an In/Out referendum on EU membership and be remembered as the PM who saved the UK.
However, all I fear we will get is another example of failure by our political elite to think of what's good for their country and not their own selfish interests.

PS
You have to respect Le Général, he always put his country's interests first and above any personal ambitions, unlike our politicians today.

Wednesday's Weathering Highlights.

2011-09-28T07:10:00.000+01:00

The flags at Barnacle Towers will be at half mast today as a mark of respect for the miner killed over at the Big K yesterday.
Whilst I never agreed with Arthur Scargill's politics I did support the miners during their strike, as I felt there was more at stake than just his own personal battle with Margaret Thatcher; often taking a tray of bacon & egg and sausage sandwiches up to the miners on the picket line at some of the berths we called at during the strike.
When you look at the devastation to the local mining communities when the pits were closed I often feel it is another example of the political Labour movement failing it's members.
The strike was a mistake but as we can't re-write history let's just beg to differ and pay our respects together instead.

I'm sure there is some old country adage/saying that will explain it, but I have never seen so many different variety of spiders before on the couple walks out on the stacks my grandson and I have enjoyed together since I got home this time.
Even back in our courtyard on one wall we have three different types of striped spiders.
Now as a bit of an arachnophobic it's not a welcome development however, is it a sign of things to come weatherwise this winter?

I suppose Paddy O'Bama will be asking the Irish Central Bank for advice on his fiscal problems next?
As the Irish Times reports that Irish banking officials have been over to Athens to advise the Greeks.
Blind leading the blind or, are the Greeks and the Paddies cooking up a cunning plan between themselves to poke Angela Merkel one in the eye?

NuLabor's party conference has been a bit of an irrelevance, they haven't learnt anything from their defeat at the general election; whilst we have learnt Ed Miliband shouldn't be in charge of a jumble sale let alone a political party and Blinky Balls is still a two-faced, lying offspring of unmarried parents.
All we have seen is that - “... the political system has abandoned its citizens.”
So when instead of rioting on the streets of our cities, which just plays into the hands of our political elite here, are our youngsters going to engage the politicians like their counterparts abroad?

Right I'd better get my skates on or I'll have a certain someone protesting he's late for nursery school this morning!

Ivan Lewis to be licensed?

2011-09-27T16:37:00.000+01:00

NuLabor's shadow culture secretary, Ivan Lewis's proposal that journalists should be licensed, with any that ~~don't toe the party line~~/break the law in the pursuit of their profession be struck off.

Could come back to haunt him - well at least if I have anything to do about it!

It would appear to me that there is another profession in as much need of regulation as journalists - politicians. To quote Mr. Lewis himself -

"As in other professions, the industry should consider whether people guilty of gross malpractice should be struck off."

Substituting "the electorate" for "the industry" and it makes perfect sense, especially as we see how lightly MPs disciplined themselves after the MP's expenses scandal.

With this in mind I am formulating a suitable e-petition, when I have it up and running I'll post the details for you all to rush off and sign - pretty please!

Tuesday's topical topics.

2011-09-27T08:25:00.001+01:00

Well I'm glad to see that Philip Johnston has his eye on the ball as far as NuLabor's attempts to re-write history with their pathetic, fingers crossed behind their backs apologies for all their sins whilst last in charge.
On immigration there is no doubt that NuLabor engaged in a deliberate policy of unchecked, mass immigration into this country for purely party political reasons.
For this one sin alone they should never, ever be allowed back into power; disband the Labour Party, we could even nab the whole lot of them up in Liverpool if we acted quickly.
We might even use NuLabor's own Terrorism Acts of 2000 & 2006 to outlaw a party that has done more deliberate damage to the very fabric and well being of this country than any proscribed terrorist party have so far.

Whilst we're proscribing the Labour Party we'd do as well to have Polly shipped off to the Happy Farm for her own good.
However if you read the comments on her latest dribble, one begins to realize that a lot of people have finally woken up to the fact the Labour Party is no longer the Labour Party!
In fact if you look at it's record whilst in office it went out of it's way to kick the teeth in of it's original core support.
As for saying it's evolved into a Social Democratic Party, more like a get rich quick and pull the ladder up after you clique, and don't forget to give the finger to those poor sods who voted for you as you enjoy your ill-gotten gains.

Keir Hardie and Thomas R Steels must be weeping with shame up there now.

Many of you have probably never heard of Sino Forest, nor China Forestry, two less than reputable Chinese forestry companies.
Well it looks like Chaoda might be the next Sino Forest/China Forestry. Coming to a fruit & veg aisle near you very soon!
If it does it could well prove to be a sizable dent to the reputation of Hong Kong's stock exchange. Even more importantly are we seeing the dominos of big Chinese businesses beginning to topple?

I for one would not be looking east for the saviour of the world, there's too many known unknowns behind the Great Wall of China for me, with Chaoda now joining the known knowns.

Finally, are Aussie women tougher than our own home grown ones?
As Aussie women are now being allowed to serve in frontline combat along with their male colleagues.

London Gold Exchange bust?

2011-09-26T21:40:00.001+01:00

I'm surprised we have not had the Beeb's Robert Peston all over the airwaves giving us the inside info on why the London Gold Exchange (LGE) has suddenly closed for business.

Now could those rumours last week of a major European financial institution liquidating it's positions in gold because of cash flow problems been about the LGE?

Maybe not because LGE was an exchange for fiat and digital currencies, however amongst those digital currencies it traded was pecunix, a digital gold currency. How much safer than paper gold that is, is questionable in these interesting times we live in!

LGE must have had traders and customers, so what's happened to them?

With all the shenanigans rumoured to be going on in the gold and silver markets, it's certainly spooky that a business with the word Gold in it's title should just sudden close it's doors?

Lex Terrae

2011-09-26T19:00:00.000+01:00

I should doff my wig in the direction of Charon QC for bringing to my attention the piece that inspired the title for this post from his guest, James Vine's posting on a recent contempt of court incident.

Although I have been a contemnor when I was fighting for access to my child after my divorce, it is the lex terrae element I wish to use, in relationship to a Beeb report on the increasing number of polygamous relationships amongst second and third generation British Muslims.

No doubt I'll get a fatwa issued against me over this post, anyway I've set my bridge on fire, let's get over it before the whirling dervishes catch us!

What gets me is that we are not talking about people who have just arrived here and maybe ignorant of the lex terrae, but people who have been born and bred here. People who do know the lex terrae, yet they are using the cover of their religion to circumvent the lex terrae.

I'm trying hard not to appear racist in my feelings here, but sorry if you were brought up in this country, you respect and obey the lex terrae as I do.

You do not use your religion in this land as a cloak for extra hanky panky activities and to avoid all the hardships that go with a proper legal divorce. Like I had too.

Your parents, or your grand parents came to this country believing it offered a better future for their families than the land of their forefathers. Part of that belief was based upon their knowledge of our lex terrae which is as much a part of our culture and values as fish and chips, trains that don't run on time and unarmed police officers.

The lex terrae of Great Britain should treat us all as equals, in return all it asks is that we all try to obey it in our daily lives, and that's all I expect of second and third generation Muslim Britons.
No ifs, no buts ...

Monday's muted musings.

2011-09-26T09:05:00.001+01:00

I see the oxymoronic sub editor is on duty this morning over at the Beeb's news site, "Balls to get tough on debt".
Sorry about the only debt he gets tough on is when he and his she-boy wifey get together before the end of the month to submit their MP's expense claims.
Probably the one time their combined economic talents ensure a healthy surplus in their fortunes, whilst leaving us with the bottomless, black hole of NuLabor debt.

I must learn to wake up before I read some of the Beeb's headlines; this morning I read their "Physios could write prescriptions" as "Psychos could write prescriptions"
Which had me wondering if this was the latest loony, cost saving NHS move from our Lib/Dem supported coalition?

It would appear that Cast-Iron Dave is quietly breaking another of his pledges and making sure Mr. & Mrs. Blair won't have to work for £60 an hour when all their ill-gotten gains run out.
A pre-election promise to reverse NuLabor's cap on costs that innocent motorists can recover where they have been prosecuted is being ditched.
Although I was always under the impression that the judge in the case would decide the appropriation of costs. So is another cornerstone of our justice system being eroded here?

Any City slicker reading this might like to consider offering CDSs in legal fees to motorists - guaranteed bonus enriching scheme!

Mentioning CDSs reminds me that this could be the week we see CDSs in sovereign debt fall flat on their faces if Greece defaults.
Strange that sovereign CDSs for Eurozone countries trades in USDs, whilst CDSs on US federal debt trades in Euros?
One would have thought logically it was the other way around, but I'm sure there is a cunning plan at play there!

Now could the announcement of about 250 tons of physical silver about to hit the markets have been the cause of silver's recent falls?

Sunday's somber scratches.

2011-09-25T09:05:00.000+01:00

Yesterday my eldest grandson and I were back on our usual Saturday haunt; as we rumbled along the track behind their Black Five I was struck by the amount of development that had been completed, or was beginning since our last visit about a month ago.
Rabbit hutches were springing up either side of the line, at least the developers had the sense to disguise them with some nice Yorkshire stone skins.
Yet we are told the housing market is in the doldrums. Same in the aggregates industry, we're going like mad to keep up with demand, I never seen stockpiles so low in many of the places we service. Although I will admit our HQ has revised it's forecast for next year downwards by quite a bit from previous announcements, whilst at the moment it's full speed ahead?

Whilst the government's e-petition platform is a step in the right direction, it lacks any statutory teeth to make one feel it is not just a sop thrown to keep us plebs quiet.
What we should have had was an e-petition site for the CPS, where if an e-petition reached the required threshold they had to investigate the crimes/claims alleged in the e-petition.
Because like Raewald -
"Right now, I really would like to see that bloody woman and her loathsome spouse pay the proper price for their crimes."

Whilst a lot of people have been getting their knickers in a twist over the recent falls in the price of gold, another metal which is a better indicator of things to come has experienced even bigger drops in it's price - good old Doctor Copper.
This collapse in the price of copper is a good indication that the markets have decided we're not just into a double-dip recession but a continuing global depression for at least the next couple years.
So if you want to base your investment plans on anything use copper, not the instant fix sound bites the political elite are trying to con us with.

Finally, to lighten things up allow me to introduce you to Sherman's Lagoon, I've enjoyed dipping in and out of it for years.
A bit like the Perishers annual visit to the Crabs - The Eyeballs in the Sky!

Hand the baton to the Bottler!

2011-09-24T19:17:00.004+01:00

It would appear our previously glorious unelected leader is worried that his legacy to this country is not being fully appreciated by those he previously ruled over.

I almost put "by those he ruined." but I'm sure if I did my name would be added to his little list.

In fact it would seem he is more than ready to do the sequel to his first world saving actions of 2008. It just seems that no-one understood how good he was the first time he did it.
Or could it be that he's just a raving mad bufty from Kirkcaldy with an even big chip on his shoulder now?

Perhaps what the Bottler is missing is some soothing wallpaper on the walls of his residence north of the border. On his MP's salary he should be able to afford a few rolls from Barneby Gates, or they could even design a new pattern for him, maybe a repetitive linocut of daggers in people's backs?

Solar panels to trip up Paddy O'Bama?

2011-09-24T19:00:00.003+01:00

It took Moniica Lewinsky's blue dress and her special hiding place for his cigars to finally trip up Teflon Bill Clinton and bring to a sordid end his second term as US President.

So one has to wonder if something as humble as solar panels will stop Paddy O'Bama from even starting a second term as US President?

Even the Beeb has finally woken up to the Solyndra scandal.
I wouldn't go for a walk in the woods alone for a long time to come if I were a senior executive of failed panel maker Solyndra.

It's a mad, mad, mad world - For now!

2011-09-24T07:02:00.001+01:00

So the world's stock markets managed to survive Armageddon this week to lick their wounds over the week-end readying themselves for Meltdown Monday perhaps?

Meanwhile in the real world life just continues it's downward spiral for us mere mortals.

It's as if life on the planet has split it's self into two separate life forms, one just plodding along trying to survive, whilst the financial sector seems to have gone off to Fantasy Island to live.

Anyone with a bit of common sense would have realized the events and the aftermath of 2008 were not going to be over in the blink of an eye.
Yet our politicians with their belief in being able to ignore conventional wisdoms, coming up with the instant fix sound bite, thought they could ignore the laws of nature/markets (if a bank's bankrupt, it's bust stupid, let it die).

The bankers and the brokers with their eyes all fastened on the next bonus, using computer programs working to decimal point places we could never argue over in our fight with the local bank manager in extending our overdraft, to achieve that almost instant profit to keep the bonus pot bubbling. Thought they had the answer but were only foooling themselves for the sake of next quarter's bonus.

Whilst shareholders stand on the sidelines demanding ever increasing dividends from stones that have already been bled dry.

If you're up to your eyeballs in a cesspit of debt, you're not going to get out of it by borrowing more money, nor will you be out of it by the end of the week when pay day comes.
Our leaders should have been more honest with themselves and we might not be in the state we are now.

Meanwhile Armageddon is going to get nasty, why?

Because what US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner really meant when he called for a "decisive signal" from Europe over the Euro problem was:
"Hey stupid, Paddy O'Bama's got an election over here to win!"
And as we all know, especially to our cost in this country (the Scottish banks), a politician will do anything to get re-elected!

Where is the anger?

2011-09-23T19:49:00.000+01:00

When the Black Eyed Peas song "Where Is The Love?" first came out I thought it's lyrics were anti the Big American Establishment, whereas on reflection I think they're more in the Lennon/Yoko Ono theme of "Give Peace A Chance".

Just another tuneful hippy ballad?

However the video that accompanied "Where Is The Love?" seemed to infer an urban uprising was being encouraged. Looking back over events that have unfolded in this country over the past few years. I cannot but wonder why someone has not come up with a "Where Is The Anger?" theme'd rebellion?

Peter Osborne and Frances Weaver show us where our anger should be directed in the great Euro swindle we have had to endure in this country. Yet reading their expose the same names crop up for the state we find this country in now after three terms of NuLabor government.

Whilst Mr. Osborne and Mr. Weaver have an axe to grind with the Beeb over the great Euro swindle, it is to our own politicians we should look for retribution upon.

The Arab Spring uprising in Libya has uncovered the seedy dealings our NuLabor-led government was engaged in during the dark winter time of their time in power. The MPs expenses scandal happened during their watch but no MP is exempt from the collective guilt of our Parliamentarians in the court of public opinion. Then finally our grandchildren's futures were sacrificed upon the twin altars of party politics and homage to the banking elite.

I well remember the hardships and dark times we endured after the last Labour government was kicked out of office. If anyone thinks that the recession that started with the events of 2008 was going to be a mere blip in the onward and upward march of our economy - they're fooling themselves.
And back in 1979 we had a real Conservative government to sort the mess out!

So where is the anger?

Interview - Wot interview?

2011-09-23T07:50:00.005+01:00

Yesterday I had an interview for a position as Assistant Harbour Master / Dredge Master with a local authority on the east coast only a couple hours away from where I live now. It was interesting to say the least, for those of you who might be either about to go for an interview yourselves, or those who might be interviewing I'll tell you all about it.

As it had been arranged for the very first day I was home it was very much a rush to get myself ready for the interview but I arrived at the harbour office a quarter of an hour before the appointed time. I had thought about wearing my uniform but decided on one of my more sober pierrie cardin suits, the best polished pair of shoes I could find and a conservative red Burberry tie.

Then things began to go downhill, a quarter of an hour after the start of the interview I was finally escorted into the room chosen for the interview.
Now I have been both an interviewer and interviewee but the golden rule from either side of the desk is to start the interview on time.
I consider it a matter of respect on both sides of the table to start on time.

Likewise with mobile phones, I had the decency to switch mine to airplane mode as soon as I got to their offices, neither of the two doing the interview had; with the result in the first ten minutes one had a call on his, whilst the other got a text message. Both of which they answered in my presence!

They had got a crib sheet from the HR department which they sorted of half heartedly followed but it wasn't a very structured interview. Ending up with one of those pregnant silences coming from their side of the table. In fact I felt that I was sort of keeping it all going.

Now when I went into the interview I was prepared to drop my salary by about 10k if they were prepared to up the basic by 4k. Now there were extras that would go some way to making up what I was prepared to sacrifice but not enough to cover my loss. However they would not quantify nor guarantee these extras to the extent I felt happy with.

In fact it was almost as if they had made their minds up I was going to accept their terms, were quite surprised when I put my own proposals forward and even more amazed when I turned them down.

So I'm afraid it's backing to dredging big holes in the bottom of the North Sea and English Channel for now. Anyway my eldest daughter and grandson number two had a pleasant day out yesterday, and I got to see a Black Five in action!

Back again!

2011-09-22T06:30:00.002+01:00

I'm home again, we actually managed a noon crew change yesterday off Sheerness, for once no-one was late and the launch was not occupied doing something else.

I had a 2.0 CDTi Vauxhall Insignia which is not my most favourite hire car to drive. In fact I actually think the wing mirrors on them make them a very dangerous car to drive. It's amazing what you loose sight of because of the shape of them. Twice now I have nearly pulled out in front of another car with-out realizing it's alongside me!
Another issue I have with the Insignia is that the rear view mirror seems to vibrate at any sort of speed, giving one a fuzzy view of anything behind you, it can be most annoying to say the least.
Anyway it got home in one piece and in reasonable time so I suppose I shouldn't be too hard on the poor car!

Today I've got an interview for a job I was offered just after I left home to go back this time. Whilst it is the sort of job ashore I have fancied, the salary they are offering does not make it too attractive, but I am going to see if we can do a bit of arm wrestling on that score.
Being in reasonably well paid employment at the moment I think I've got the advantage at the moment!

So I'm back, I've got a few ideas in my head for some posts, but I just thought I'd let you know your favourite barnacle has survived another trip at sea!

Once again ...

2011-08-30T20:53:00.003+01:00

Once again three weeks at home seems to have gone by quicker than the three previous weeks on board, I'm sure there must be a mathematical formula for it, but it means that I'm going to have to wish you all "au revoir" tonight.

On reflection it has been quite a good leave for me, so let's hope the next one proves to be as interesting.

Thank you all very much for visiting my humble blog, I hope you gleamed something positive from venturing on it, I look forward to blogging for you all in three weeks time.

Au Revoir.

"Dear Grand Children, I'm sorry ..."

2011-08-30T08:16:00.000+01:00

The girlfriend and I enjoyed an Edwardian Bank Holiday on the Tanfield Railway yesterday. Of all the heritage/preserved railways I have visited so far we have found this one to be the most friendly and cheerful one so far. So if you're up in the North East of England, do try to visit it.

Upon my return home last night, I nipped around to my eldest daughter to show her the photos I had taken of Baby Jake's birthday party; also to bore her with our Tanfield ones as well.
Only to find out my youngest daughter is pregnant, I'm afraid to say I retired to bed last night under a cloud of doom and gloom at this news.

Why you might ask?

Well firstly, I'm very pessimistic in my outlook on life, glass half empty, the less one will be disappointed if things don't go one's way etc ...
Secondly, I don't see any hope for any of my grandchildren futures', the present ones and the one to come, in this land of ours. Dwelling upon it last night I thought I would put my thoughts in the form of an open letter to them -

"Dear Grandchildren,
I'm sorry for the mess you find yourselves having to face as you start your lives in this once fair and prosperous country.

I apologize you are not going to have the same excellent education I enjoyed when I grew up. Too many politicians have interfered in our education system, all with their best intentions of course, but all it has all led to are falling standards despite what they utter in Parliament.
Teachers have gone from figures of respect, who used to dedicate their lives to the good of their pupils, now it's just a job to them not a vocation.
To allow just one child to leave school not able to read, write or do basic maths is to leave that child crippled for life, unfortunately our present education system is producing too many cripples.
I'll try to do my best to educate you as well, but I may not always be there for you.

Your futures were also stolen away by principally two men, a Mr. Blair and a Mr. Brown, and their followers of an ideology called NuLabor which they used to con us with.
In reality it was just a get rich quick scheme for them and their party, whilst your futures were mortgaged to pay for all this.

Mr. Blair was the one who kept taking this country to war, I think he saw himself as some later day Crusader, but he had to use deceit and lies to get us into those wars.
Mr. Brown was the one who wrecked our economy, his first move explains why I have so little spare money to help you now, he stole my pension and those of many more of us. Then he bailed his banking friends out of all the mad betting schemes he had allowed/encouraged them to participate in.

Together they and their followers also betrayed this country by allowing too many other people into it from foreign lands, they did this knowingly, thinking it a great joke to rub our faces into the ground with unchecked immigration.

They also presided over the greatest moral corruption of political life in this country, seeing nothing wrong in tainting our police forces with their ideology, lying and smearing to get their own way, enriching themselves by stealing from the public purse.
If they were caught it didn't matter, a smack on the wrist and a couple words of apology were all that was needed from them, whilst we proles had to face the full force of the laws they ruled us with.

Finally, they all betrayed this country by allowing it's sovereign-ship to be sold to the EU in exchange for plum jobs on the EU gravy train and pensions I can only dream of.
I'm sorry they didn't have the best interests of this once fair and glorious land in their hearts when they dealt with the EU.
Nor did they think of your futures but only ensured they would never have to suffer as we all do now.
They stole your opportunities to trade them for a better life for them and their families, and the amazing thing is we let them do it!
I'm sorry & All my love,
Grand dad."

Short Sunday Offering.

2011-08-28T08:18:00.000+01:00

Baby Jake's birthday party was a success, both for the children, and more importantly for all the adults that turned up. Luckily the weather continued sunny and the bouncy castle didn't get blown into next door's garden.
As it's my last weekend at home and we didn't get our normal steam fix yesterday, I thought I'd introduce my eldest grandson to my other steam love - traction engines. So we're off to Lotherton Hall's steam rally this morning, but back on the rails tomorrow up at Tanfield Railway.
So blogging might be a bit light the next two days.

I wonder if David Starkey had CBeebies in mind when he was talking about the Jamaican gangsterization of our young white dobbers. As at the moment the Beeb is pushing Rastamouse twice a day on CBeebies!

I'm thinking of starting a series of posts under the title of "Still extracting the urine", featuring current, or ex MPs, who are still plundering the public purse; or using their contacts to line their pockets outside of Parliament.
It would be a toss up between millionaire Culture Secretary and Conservative MP, Jeremy Hunt, and his private Chinese tuition funded by us. Yet he has been married to a Chinese woman for over two years now!
Or Jaqui (Breast4Brains) Smith, her gay porn loving husband and a former convicted fraudster setting up a consultancy business to benefit from her government contacts.
As to who would get the lead post in what will probably be a never ending series!

Apologies this is a bit of a short Sunday offering but LB has decided to misbehave!

Cookers, breeders, gold and bunkers!

2011-08-27T07:26:00.000+01:00

It's Baby Jake's first birthday today, I hope the weather is fine so that he can enjoy his party outside, LB and I will be ambling over to join in the fun later. Anyway - "Happy birthday Baby Jake".

I don't know why but I have always preferred cooking on a Rayburn stove to an Aga one. Also it is only Rayburn nowadays who offer a solid fuel burning model, although they are both manufactured in the same factory here in the UK.
However, Aga Rangemaster must be an exceptionally well run company to still have a final salary pension scheme, on top of that it has a £22.7m surplus!
It's a pity more UK companies were not run along the lines Aga has been.

Damian Thompson raises some good points over on the Daily Tee, but his most worrying one concerns figures from the Office for National Statistics, which tells us that last over a quarter of the children born in the UK had non-UK born mothers!
Unfortunately NuLabor's sneaky unchecked immigration policies now have such a momentum, that even if we were to close our borders this morning, the breeding by those immigrants already inside our borders will change the demographic identity of our island.
Probably not in my lifetime, nor of those NuLLabor traitors who mastermind those treasonable policies, but I fear my grandsons will see the clash of cultures cumulate into another civil war in this country.

The whereabouts of Libya's gold reserves, plus in whose hands it ends up in, could play an important part in the coming financial meltdown.
Officially there is 144tonnes of the stuff somewhere.
With all the shenanigans going on in the PM markets, especially the paper gold one at the moment, there are a lot of very interested parties who would love to take delivery of Libya's physical gold.
I wouldn't be surprised if Goldman Sachs and the BoE don't have their own sponsored special forces teams in Libya at this very moment looking for Libya's gold!

All the talk of the various tribes in Duncan Gardham's piece I used for the gold post above, makes one wonder if in years to come some commentator will be saying the same about this country!

As a child I had a fascination with the German Atlantic Coast bunker fortifications, my sister and I would scramble about their dark dank interiors on our holidays to the Channel Islands or northern France. lways hoping that around the next bend there might be that Schmeiser MP40 laying there for me.
It would seem that every good dictator has to have his own personal bunker as well, although Mad Dog doesn't seem to have stayed around long enough to enjoy the delights of his.
We've also seen what affect the bunker mentality can have on some one who is already slightly unhinged with our very own Bufty frae Kirkcaldy.
Anyway nowadays I far rather enjoy wide open spaces.

Well I hope you all have an enjoyable weekend, as it's my last one home this leave, I shall be trying my best to have fun.

Friday's Finest Features.

2011-08-26T07:39:00.000+01:00

I was under the impression that the agency equal rights legislation came into affect on August 1st but it seems it is next month.
It has certainly got my employers in a spin as they may have to pay our Poles the same as the rest of us.
Just before I left the ship we had an email telling us they were thinking of flagging out, the pretence was dis-satisfaction with the service they are getting from the MCA, but we all know it is about avoiding paying the Poles the same as us.
We were told over five years ago the Poles were only being recruited to the company as a temporary measure whilst they had problems finding British crews. On our ship we still have two out of the three original sailors that started with us all those years ago!
Also if you think about it five years ago under NuLabor everything was very rosy, in our sector we were going like mad to keep up with demand. So at a time when our employers were at the peak of their profitability they decided to retain an even bigger chunk of those profits by employing cheaper labour.
So I'm afraid to say I have little sympathy with those employers bleating about this.
Where I am annoyed is that none of our politicians (NuLabor nor NuBlues) appear to have put any fight into getting legislation that would suit the UK, or at least be a bit more palatable. They all seem to have just rolled over in the face of the EU federal onslaught.
Probably more concerned with not upsetting a future employer!

Yesterday Raedwald brought to my attention Timothy Spall and his barging antics on our screens.
Having watched the episode that Raedwald was pointing us at, I'm not all that surprised to see Mr. Spall and his nautical exploitsfeaturing in the news for all the wrong reasons.
I've enjoyed Mr. Spall's acting career but his one afloat has been cringeworthy to say the least.

The Sage of Omaha's $5bn investment (loan) in Bank of America (BoA) tells us firstly, how much trouble BoA is in that it cannot raise funds through the normal channels, instead it has to prostitute it's self to Mr. Buffett to raise funds to continue in business.
Secondly it should be a lesson to the Bufty frae Kirkcaldy of how the bankrupt banks should have been bailed out, by the private sector and not from our pockets!

Checking I was using "frae" correctly I came across FRAE - Fairness, Race Awareness & Equality, Fife. Which funnily enough is located in bufty country - Kirkcaldy.
A quick look at it staff members shows one thing, not a "white" face amongst them!
Then when you read some of the dross under their pictures, you realize something like this could only have evolved under NuLabor; I wonder what their salaries are and who funds them?
As for Dr. Daksha Patel having to "Deliver a Fife Mela event", she's in Scotland for feck's sake, not India!
The madness of this country under NuLabor is unbelievable!

Finally, an anniversary slipped by unnoticed yesterday, it was twenty years ago that Linus Torvalds started out on his quest that was to become Linux.
I've dabbled a couple times in the Linux pool but laziness has always seen me come back to the Mac operating system.
Anyway it's nice to know that Linux hasn't gone the way of many other Windows competitors and is still with us twenty years later.

A wet Thursday's Taxonomies.

2011-08-25T07:52:00.001+01:00

The 2008 financial crash was never a problem of liquidity it was a question of systemic solvency in the banking sector, which even Mervyn King identified from his lofty perch as Governor of the BoE; but the only real solution to this problem was only kicked down the road by the measures that the Fifeshire financial dimwit/bufty and others took at the time they were saving the world.
Now it is coming back to haunt us again and once more the financial sector is trying to con us by invoking the L-word.
At £343,540.00 for every £10m of RBS's lender bonds Mr. Osborne should do the decent thing by putting RBS into administration and out of it's misery.
It seems a bargain in comparison to the previous amounts we have thrown the banking sector, to keep bankrupt banks in the business of bonus issuing, only to come full circle again!

One has to wonder what affect the sad news from Apple will have on it's share price as markets open today?
Recently Apple was rumoured to have more cash in it's bank accounts than the US federal government!

Another area of our lives that is suffering from systemic solvency is the housing market. If it were not for the extraordinary low interest rates in the banking sector we would have seen a sharp increase in repossessions, where those house buyers who were not wearing swimming trunks would be exposed as the tide went out, as the Sage of Omaha so eloquently put it.
So Mr Cowie may have some good news for now, but in reality we can all hear the sound of the tin rattling as it gets kicked a bit further.
The great Ponzoi scheme that was the housing market, encouraged and cheered on by the Bufty from Kirkcaldy in his quest for ever more of our money to fritter away, has now ground to halt.
Just awaiting the first delicate shove that will bring it all tumbling down - again!

They just don't get it, do they?
Listening to Jaqui (Breasts4Brains) Smith defend herself over her latest moral lapse was as toe nail curling and BP raising as it was hearing her "apology" for stealing thousands of pounds from us when she was in Parliament.
It should have been her out on day release doing the painting!

Finally, a bit of humour on this dull, damp and dreary day; I know it's a bit early but have one yourself!

Steve Jobs - I salute you.

2011-08-25T05:10:00.003+01:00

I awake this morning to find it pouring down, then when I fire up the Mac Mini for the first time today I'm greeted by the sad news that Steve Jobs may not be with us for much longer.

His letter of resignation is only a confirmation of something I have been fearing for a while now, namely that his pancreatic cancer was getting the better of him. He always said -
" ... if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come."

My father had pancreatic cancer, his consultant gave him five years after they had removed over 50% of his liver, he managed to make it to seven years. Although I think in the end my father may have wanted to trade one of those extra years for some dignity in his going.

So Mr. Jobs I hope you have a peaceful retirement, you've been one of the "positives" in mine and my family's life - thank you.

Justice is stupid as well as blind!

2011-08-24T19:10:00.003+01:00

Can someone explain to me in these times of austerity, with increasing pressures upon the Legal Aid budget and our Crown Courts facing the prospect of being clogged up by proper rioter's cases; why a silly little girl from Wakefield, who posted something on Facebook should have her case sent up to the Crown Court?

It's not as if the magistrates had Ulrike Meinhof or, Leila Khaled before them, just plain ordinary Hollie Bentley from Wakey!

I'm afraid to say this sort of action by the judiciary is beginning to make it look stupid to some eyes, and vindictive to other eyes.

Middle class - No thanks!

2011-08-24T07:38:00.000+01:00

Tory MP and Prisons Minister Crispin Blunt's comments that the recent unrest in our cities was a "one off" event will probably come back to haunt him like Michael Fish's 1987 "hurricane dismissal" remarks!

"Earlier on today, apparently, a woman rang Conservative HQ and said she heard there was a riot on it's way to Reigate ... well, if you're watching, don't worry, there isn't!"

Nothing Fatuous Dave and his ilk have said or done really addresses the underlying problems that caused those riots.

However, they will be nothing compared to the middle classes when they erupted out onto our streets as the next approaching financial collapse will hit the middle classes hardest this time.

As they see the value of their little rabbit hutches tumble yet the interest charges on their mortgage spirals the other way, their pension funds hovered up to bail out the next round of banking failures,deciding which child to sell into slavery to pay their latest electric/gas bill; whilst the wife prostitutes herself just to fill the car up.

Nah, who'd want to be middle class these days?
Think I'll just miss the middle class bit out and go straight for the top class - oh sorry I'd forgotten that's only for politicians!

Osama's alive & living in Hollywood, whilst Mad Dog's hiding in Victoria St. SW1H

2011-08-23T07:14:00.000+01:00

One has to laugh at the title of a bill going through the US Congress at the moment, H.R.2819 - Stop Subsidizing Hollywood Act, but if one reads the rather brief draft of the bill the laughter quickly stops.
"To prohibit the Secretary of Defense, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and any other officer or employee of the Federal Government from providing information about the mission to kill Osama bin Laden to any person outside the Federal Government until the Inspectors General of the Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency carry out an investigation and provide a briefing to Congress on the matter, and for other purposes"
Now why should Congress need to pass a law prohibiting everyone in the federal government from saying anything about the assassination of Osama bin Laden?
After all we're been told everything by Paddy O'Bama and the termagant Hillary Clinton, so no need to silence everyone else whilst the whitewash ~~cover-up~~ - sorry inquiry is being carried out.
I mean they did get the right Mr. bin Laden?
As we've got one working in the chippy around the corner, another driving a taxi, whilst the third one I know of seems to spend an awful lot of time in our local library.

Obviously Goldman Sachs boss Lloyd Blankfein is preparing for a very bumpy road ahead as the US Justice Department continues it's investigation of GS and it's activities.
Mr. Blankfein is reported to have hired top defense attorney Reid Weingarten. No smoke with-out a blazing inferno over at GS?
Rumours have it that Mr. Weingarten is that good at getting crooked CEOs off the hook he charges an ounce of gold an hour!

So they thought it was all over yesterday?
With Fatuous Dave and Paddy O'Bama congratulating the Libyan rebels on entering Tripoli, now it appears Mad Dog Gaddafi and his sons might still be on the loose and in charge of the forces opposing the rebels.
If the rebels do succeed in storming Mad Dog's redoubt but don't find him there, I suggest they ask the Met to nip around to SW1H 0HA to see if he's hiding there. After all NuLabor was very much in love with Mad Dog, so they might offer him a place to hide up after all the past favours he has done them.

I wonder if the reason Blinky Balls has been so quiet is that he will now be found on "holiday" in Tripoli with an industrial strength shredder in his hand luggage?

Golden Monday?

2011-08-22T07:42:00.000+01:00

Wearing my latest tinfoil head wear creation I'm musing if the sudden advance of the Libyan rebels into Tripoli, after the whole thing almost grinding into an all Quiet on the Western Front stalemate, was kick-started by Mr. Chavez's request for Venezuela's gold to come home to daddy.
The 144 odd tonnes of gold the Libyan Central Bank supposedly has could go a long way to fulfilling Mr. Chavez's demands for physical gold delivery.
However, I would be interested to know if there was a clandestine surge in American support for the Libyan rebels in the past couple days.
Then again I must be mad if I believe that Paddy O'Bama and his ilk would be secretly bailing out bankrupt financial institutions.

The news that Peter Mandelson is about to close the deal on an eight million pound house purchase must stick in the craw of any true Labour supporter.
Then again the whole "NuLabor" project seems to have been designed to enrich a select few of it's followers at the expense of those it was supposedly representing.
Unfortunately the majority of those educated under NuLabor will not have the intelligence to understand how much they were deceived.
Pity as those rioters might have chosen other addresses to protest at!

What will Fatuous Dave do when Germany leaves the Euro to set up a gold back Deutsche Mark?
It is something I could see Angela Merkel doing in a huff if the French Dwarf tries to paint her into a corner with his Euro Bonds / common debt scheme.
The Germans are certainly well stocked up on gold to support a New Deustche Mark with nearly three and a half thousand tonnes of the glittering stuff!