DJ360

Fair question. I have two excellent cameras, my Canon 450 D SLR and my Panasonic Lumix TZ200 compact. The former, with more than one lens,is a bit heavy. The latter is very capable, if you can penetrate the mysteries of the menu..which I'm a bit foxed by.

Yes, correct. My apologies Oz, I forgot that Sunak used aa different questionable method to rehabilitate a failed PM with a record of dodgy dealings.

Love that Margie. And every year I promise I'll drive Mrs Col and our best friends to Treak Cliff for a nosey.. and so far it hasn't happened... Maybe this year.

Whilst you were all carousing in the boozer on Weds, I decided that I'd allowed a bit of D.I.Y. to become a substitute for proper exercise. So.. I determined to get a decent walk under my belt. I 'summitted' mighty Billinge Hill, via the North Eastern route recently opened up. Apart from a couple of brief dips, (which only mean losing height gained) it is unrelentingly uphill, with the last bit being a very steep rocky scramble. Still, on the way, it was good to spot Willow Catkins and other signs of Spring. Also, it being a sunny day, and with few leaves to obscure th

The simple explanation Oz, without the necessity to even remind myself of the detail.. is that all semblance of anything resembling the 'Ministerial Code', is gone, as far as the Tories are concerned. Activities and transgressions which would until quite recently have led to automatic resignation, or sacking, these days are all too frequently brushed under the carpet. Johnson's usual 'The matter is now closed', being a typical summation of complete Tory disdain for any sort of rules.

That's true, but as you say, the article points to a much more serious cause for concern. Put briefly, yes, it is normal for any leader to surround themselves with people whose EXISTING views and politics make them 'natural', sycophants. The activities of extreme Republicans, as illustrated by that nutjob Tommy Tuberville and others, in deliberately blocking promotion for serving military personnel whose views do not precisely align with theirs, is surely designed to try to force the Military away from political neutrality and towards political acquiescence. A very dangerous develop

Send it to Brew.. He can afford to pay Plumbers, so he must be minted..

Anyone as concerned as I am about the rise of the Far Right, might wish to read this, about US Republican attempts to politicise the US Military. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/creeping-politicization-us-military?utm_medium=newsletters&utm_source=fatoday&utm_campaign=The Creeping Politicization of the U.S. Military&utm_content=20240320&utm_term=FA Today - 112017

Some Tory MP on Politics Live actually seriously proposing that Boris Johnson should be brought back into Govt. You couldn't make it up.

So last night I idly checked my 'Euromillions' Lottery numbers against the published 'winners'.. 07, check!, 16, check!, 18, check!.. a slight rise in pulse and then..20..nope.. guess it's another win of abour 3 quid... then 32, check!! pulse rising again.. 4 out of five can't be bad.. then the Lucky stars.. I had 02 and 04.. winners were 01 and 03... So near..yet so far.. still I'm one of only 397 people who've won £22.60. I won't let it change my life...

Surely a diametrically opposed demographic.. if you want to look at it in those terms. Eitherway, even if I accept your analysis that Open Britain is 'left wing', as opposed to both pro Democracy and anti Brexit, ( Which we both are. .),this does not negate their reporting of the Ofcom findings concerning GB News.

Re: State Pension. As I said I 'm baffled by the 2 tier pension system. Especially if, as I recall vaguely, people my age had to work for 40 or 50 years to qualify for the full state pension, but at some point that changed to more like 30 years. I would certainly struggle without my modest works pension.

There are differences. Total war existed between the Axis and the Allies in WW2. I do not believe that anybody has declared war on Palestine. Many people in WW2 were able to flee the worst of the fighting, if not necessarily the bombing. The difference in Gaza is that the population is trapped and unable to evacuate and is now starving.

Me too, but I'm baffled as to why the difference exists.

It's not necessarily 'left wing'. It's pro democracy and anti the far right crooks who are damaging our democracy. As for 'stating the blindingly obvious'. It clearly isn't blindingly obvious to anything like a majority of voters in this country, which is why Open Britain exists. I still can't find any reference to a survey or Brexit.

Miracle of miracles. . I had my morning coffee sitting on the patio in minimal attire and bathed in glorious sunshine. Not quite beach weather, but warm enough for my first sunbathing session of the year. It will undoubtedly cloud up later..as ever.. but I'm still 'on' for lunch on the patio so far...

Another of your 'Blanket Dismissals' I think. There are three, pages which open, but it isn't necessary to open any of them to understand that Ofcom has found that GB News is in breach of News Broadcasting Regulations on at least FIVE occasions, by using active politicians as Newsreaders, in breach of rules on Impartiality. In fact, I didn't open any of them before posting. It wasn't necessary to open the links to share the FACTS of Ofcom's findings. I'm not sure which 'nonsensical' Survey you refer to. Let's be honest here.. anyone who has not yet worked ou

Jim, you will note that I did not endorse or otherwise comment upon the surgeon's evidence. He was interviewed on the BBC News Channel and I simply posted a brief summary of his comments. I got the impression, but cannot confirm or deny, that he has been in Gaza recently. Did you see it? I'm not sure 'pontificating' is an entirely fair representation of what he said. I've not seen that on TV. so can't comment, but Shin Bet doesn't have an entirely unblemished record, to say the least. It seems that in the current conflict, Shin Bet is largely employed in identifying

Speaking of truth...

I can't open that link but will watch it on iplayer later

Meanwhile.. I have just watched a segment on BBC News in which a Surgeon from the Oxford University Hospitals Trust spoke about Gaza. I think his name was Nick Mason or similar. He said he has worked in Gazan hospitals for many years though he isn't there at present. He claims he has never seen any evidence whatever of Hamas fighters basing themselves in hospitals. Furthermore, he claimed that when IDF troops enter hospitals they routinely destroy vital systems and kit such as scanners, oxygen supplies etc, which are of no military value. He is apparently due to give evidence

Oz. Follow the money...

All happening at Chez Col. I'm in the middle of a bathroom refurb. Lick of paint and new 'vanity unit, basin etc... plus new flooring. My knees are just about coping... This p m though I cut the back lawn while it was dry for a few minutes.

You never know your luck!

I didn't hear what she said, but I would hope that she doesn't mean PFI.