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Yep! Thank you so much. That's the one...though I still can't find the programme, which ought to be on BBC Sounds, ot the iPlayer or somesuch. She also co- authored 'The Limits to Growth' in the early '70s.. a book which was part of the 'reading around' for my degree and a cursory look at which made me sit up and think. It's such a crying shame that such people fall under the general heasing of 'experts', of whom our mighty leaders tell us we have 'had enough'.

Today I will mostly be doing a bit of plastering above and below the new gas fire. And while that's drying I'll be shooting into St Helens to have a look at a new opticians, organise an eye test etc.. as I'm well overdue for new specs. Life is just so exciting.

Nonna, your experience seems to me to be a perfect example of the way that world political/economic and climate issues are affecting us all in terms of migration, but also how much more southern Europe is affected simply due to proximity to instability in Africa and in Eastern Europe. I heard the tail end of a fascinating programme a few weeks back on BBC Radio 4. It concerned a famous theorist, whose name I don't recall ( much to my annoyance) The famous theorist was concerned with 'Systems Theory'. I won't go into that too deeply, mostly because I've only ever touche

What people 'seem to' do and what the rules are in reality, are two very different things. It's important to check the facts before speading misinformation. Let's not forget that many people here believe that 'immigrants' (let's not even open that can of worms here...) 'get a house and a car and a telly' and other stuff amounting not only to 'free stuff', but to 'preferential treatment'. Also not true. In brief summary, we have reciprocal arrangements with some countries, we have rules concerning all sorts of people coming here depending on their status and origin, we have rules f

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I've been using the Stoke/Uttoxeter route between Nottm and here for decades, but I don't recall the exact sequence of new road openings. The first bit that struck me was the concreted stretch between the roundabout in Uttoxeter, and the one just outside Stoke. The road surface was awful and incredibly noisy. Much of it still is. Back then the route through Stoke was a bit convoluted and I recall a long hill through housing. The section from Uttoxeter to south of Derby seemed to get gradually straighter and faster. I don't blame the Doveridge residents one bit for complaining, beca

Yep. Gower Street still has some old terraces, but is largely what looks like recent builds. It's not really a part of St Helens I know well.

There's a strange irony in that...

SentEllins eh? Whereabouts? I spent much of my working life in and around 'Tellins and it's still my nearest town of any size, though the centre, like many, is a mere shadow...

Many years since I drove past the Salt Box. Am I correct in thinking it was on the Nottm> Stoke road before the A50 was developed to its current state? They must have lost a lot of business when that happened. If I recall, the last time I passed the place was on a drive from here down to a 'Professional Development' course in Leicester.. probably early '90s, when I chose entirely the wrong route and it took me hours longer than it should have... On another occasion, when listening to BBC Radio 2, there was someone who phoned in for a request or somesuch and said she was a

'Spaghetti Junction' is overhyped.. it's pretty benign really. For sheer terror, little comes close to this lot, as thousands charge downhill way over 70 mph and jostle for position over about a hundred lanes... https://www.google.com/maps/@53.4879548,-2.3769189,15.17z?entry=ttu A close second, is the Irwell river crossing on the M60/M62.., between Jn 16 and 17 locally nicknamed 'Death Valley'. On the map it's a straight run. The reality is rather more 'exiting'.. All manner of traffic howls downhill and over the river, and it would be easy to

Tebay is OK..ish..buy it's very expensive for the basics... Must be to pay for the extra 'e'.

If only there was a Junction for 'Bal..Ham...'

I clearly stated that I was referring to the present Govt. I.E, the one which has been in power since 2010, under 5 different Prime Ministers. No one doubts that overall living standards have improved since WW2, but there has also been a relentless widening of the 'wealth gap', between the poorest and the richest in UK society, which is mostly, and self evidently, a result of Tory/Neo Liberal policy making. It's not just in jest that people refer to Rees-Mogg, the most blatant exemplar of that trend, as 'The Minister for the 19th Century', because he represents that whole a

Not really Marg. First time round I was quite happy with being 'zonked out' on some heavy duty Benzodiazepines. First my own supply of Diazepam to get me through the door, then the Midazolam kindly administered by the Anaesthetist, which kept me blissfully unaware for most of the procedure and pretty indifferent to the bits I did wake up for. Anaesthetist I saw today was of the opinion that we should 'keep it simple' again. Incidentally, he was of the opinion that 'We don't have you down as in Heart Failure'. I told him I have few symptoms, but that my own

Presently sitting in 'pre- op assessment' at Wrightington Hospital..again..waiting to see an Anaesthetist..

I was always impressed by the effectiveness of the screen wash pump on one of many Simca 1100s I had in the 70s. I kept one on a shelf and last year, it finally came in useful for pumping out excess oil from my daughter's car. I keep forgetting to flush it clean with some solvent or other, then just detergent, so it can go back on the shelf for another 40+ years...

In a similar vein.. Whilst attempting to clear my garage.. I came across a small cheap electric screwdriver, in a fabric case. Mrs Col bought it in Lidl when my previous one began to suffer from a fading battery. I gave the old one to my daughter and her partner, (who are STILL using it several years on) ..and the new one took its place. I liked the new one. It was some obscure never heard of brand from the far east, but it worked, was controllable etc. Then one day it started to go very wrong..the gearbox inside sounded like the proverbial 'bag of spanners' and it wouldnt turn

I've been trying to figure out what it is about Kuenssberg.. I mean, apart from the known (and pretty obvious) Tory sympathies..what it is about her journalism that I find disturbing? I think it comes down to this... Her 'journalism' is as much about her, as it is about the facts. She revels in the whole 'soap opera' aspect of Politics and loves to be seen to be 'in the know' and on first name terms with so many of these characters. As such, she can give the impression of weight and substance to her 'journalism', but what it lacks is true analysis or scrutiny, much le

Yes, so was I a bit. Yet what I massively missed was Kuenssberg's total lack of surprise. More on her later. Yes. At the risk of being accused of misogyny, she comes across as little more than a classic 'bimbo'. She clearly adored Johnson, though God alone knows why.. I suspect both will receive more coverage in Episode 2. Indeed, though I think on reflection, I've been rather too generous to her. That was certainly pointed out to me elsewhere and I can't disagree.

Well.. did anyone watch? I found the reminder of the bizarre blend of anarchy and near dictatorship that we suffered pretty sobering. She wheeled out lots of 'players', mostly Tories from both camps, plus Civil Servants. The usual lines from the likes of Rees-Mogg and the terminally thick Dorries. Uk Government and Parliament have operated on the basis of 'convention' for centuries, and that relies on fundamental respect for those conventions. I think Kuenssberg covered the collapse of those 'conventions' driven by the extreme end of the Brexiteer vote and how they would stop

It's complicated Margie.. Lot's of stuff is just tools which need putting back into their proper places.. All my fault, although I'm beginning to wonder whether I still need a load of 50 year+ old and worn spanners etc., which I used to use on cars and motorbikes. I don't do such work these days. Lots is stuff which comes under the heading of 'TARDIS FILLER'. in other words stuff which Mrs Col has declared .. "That can go in the garage", when I've responded.. "It needs to go, and the Garage isn't a TARDIS!!! " only to decide it's just easier to comply.... The rest is stuff belo

Today I will embark on a Mighty and Noble Quest! This is a quest which has grown in stature over many years, and has thus also been years in the planning.... But today.. I'm going to start clearing my garage!! Wish me luck..

Just a 'heads up' for anyone interested in UK Politics. Starting tonight on BBC2. 'A State of Chaos' with Laura Kuenssberg. It seems she has investigated the background to Govt. behaviour over the last few years, including the handling of Brexit and Covid. I'll be watching with interest, but also with a close eye on Kuenssberg's impartiality She seems to have been rather more careful recently, but as well as her known Tory leanings, she has a proven track record of false reporting. It will be interesting to see how we respond to this programme.

In other news.. My youngest Daughter came over with her little dog, and our youngest grandchild 'Soleil', yesterday, to spend the afternoon in our garden. Her partner was working.. It's hardly the Hanging Gardens of Babylon..but at least it gets the Sun. It was lovely to see them. Also a couple of days ago, Mrs Col's cousin posted a video on Facebook, of her Son (i.e. Mrs. Col's nephew) executing a perfect landing after piloting his first Jet 2 flight from Palma into Manchester. A very proud moment. He's a lad who started out his working life as a joiner, but fell off some sca