Back again

 I am sorry that it has taken me so long to return to my blog. This is for four reasons:

1) No one reads it

2) I despaired when Britain got their own version of Trump.

3) I despaired when Putin invaded Ukraine

4) Covid made me despair

The problem is that all the things that were problematic in the world back in 2019: Brexit, Theresa May, Donald Trump, etc HAVE MADE THINGS 10 TIMES WORSE because those things happened. 

Just one example: Russia was not worried about America anymore (because Trump was his best friend) and thus invades another country and China says: "we'll stay your friends". Any similarities to the Axis? YES.

Another example...

Johnson lying all the time. He has parties during lockdown because he can - don't you know - he was the prime minister and nearly died. He has every right to attend a 'work do' and drink gallons of wine. What about all those people who did die even when they were obeying the rules of lockdown. I write this knowing that Johnson is in front of his peers right now and is lying AGAIN. 

He says he is a principled man. Here are some principles a world leader should follow:

• A bedrock of principles
• A moral compass
• A vision
• The ability to build a consensus to achieve that vision

Johnson (or Trump for that matter) do not have these. They are both caricatures and very frightening caricatures. Frightening because people BELIEVE them. And they walk all over "plebs" like us.

When Covid hit, I was happy to try and trust Johnson - he'll be advised by the right people, etc. I was very worried when he became 'seriously' unwell with Covid-19 - frightening. However, to lie and lie again when it is plain to everyone but his greatest supporters that he is lying! This is more frightening. 

Please can someone help us to climb out of this ABSOLUTE mess? Not a saviour. Just people who cares about other people and not being in the history books - tries to find peace in a difficult world map. Any chance please? And then - can we concentrate on the thing that will kill us ALL: Global Warming; Plastic pollution and all these other man-made disasters. 

June - Half Way

We're all half way into 2010, and I've no idea where my path is leading. I've been so terribly busy with so many silly and pointless things - so I've no idea where the time went. I'm nearing 70 this year, and I want it to slow down. Men don't last very long and women completely outlive us, so our time is more precious.

Talking of time - have you looked at your family tree any time soon? See here - amazing service. I can't tell you how much they showed me about my ancestors history. I was so impressed.

Finally, I was starting to like Gordon Brown (our former Prime Minister), but now we have this strange government that no one voted for. I heard someone yesterday call them the ConDem government. How potentially apt. Unfortunately, they are a populist movement at the moment, so it'll be a couple of years yet, till we see how rubbish they are. But, then maybe that's all politicians? I mean, we all know Blair was rubbish now, don't we? Terrible person.

See you soon!

The Gurkhas win their rights to settle in the UK

I am very pleased with the news that the brave Gurkhas (pre 1997) who fought for our country are to be granted the opportunity to settle here. This started because Gordon Brown LOST a Commons vote on the matter (the first for a long time in Parliament) and has now finally granted them this wonderful justice.

The Government's response was as follows: "For many years, the Brigade of Gurkhas have shown bravery, commitment and dedication in serving this country, and continue to do so on operations today.

This Government has done more for Gurkhas than any other. It was the first Government to grant settlement to Gurkhas and the first to equalise pay and pensions, with over 6,000 former Gurkhas and their families already given the right to live in the UK. In April we took steps to increase the number of Gurkhas eligible to come to this country by 4,000 or, including families, 10,000 people.

The House of Commons has now expressed a clear view that all Gurkhas should be entitled to settle in the United Kingdom if that is what they wish.

This Government respects the will of the House of Commons and recognises the strong feeling and public support for this cause. Consequently, we have announced today that all former Gurkhas who served for longer than four years will be eligible to apply for settlement in the United Kingdom. They will also be entitled to bring their spouses and dependent minor children. There will be no time limit on applications.

This scheme recognises the unique nature of the service given to the UK by the Brigade of Gurkhas and is offered to them on an exceptional basis.

We believe that in announcing the new policy today, we have met their concerns and those of Parliament." See here.

Whether we can believe their statement about doing more for the Gurkhas than any other government or not, we know that common sense has finally prevailed.

Duke of Edinburgh

After proudly discussing our wonderful Queen in one of my Blogs, I hadn't realised that her Consort, the Duke of Edinburgh was nearing a record himself.

Prince Philip has become Britain's longest serving royal consort and has overtaken the record of 57 years and 70 days set by Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III.

Although she is a record breaker, poor Charlotte did not have a happy time as Consort, because she had to look after her husband. George suffered from “madness” for a long period of his life, which is now believed to be porphyria. She remained supportive of her husband until her death on 17 November 1818, though she feared him every time she visited. George died, blind, deaf, lame and insane, fourteen months later.

Their lives are certainly not similar, and Prince Philip has worked tirelessly with his wife for the benefit of the UK, and the Commonwealth, since 1947. And, they have clearly been in love for many years, see below.

Philip was made the Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich by King George VI shortly before his marriage to Princess Elizabeth in 1947. The Queen made Corfu-born Philip a Prince of the United Kingdom 10 years later.

Even after so many years of service to the country, Prince Philip shows little sign of slowing down. He undertook more than 350 engagements in 2008, and is patron or president of some 800 organisations.

Well done, Philip. Keep up the good work.

How they got together:
Elizabeth—who was Philip's third cousin through Queen Victoria, and second cousin, once removed, through Christian IX of Denmark—fell in love with Philip and they began to exchange letters. Eventually, in the summer of 1946, Philip asked the King for his daughter's hand in marriage. The King granted his request providing any formal engagement was delayed until Elizabeth's twenty-first birthday the following April. The engagement was announced to the public in July 1947.

Louis Mountbatten urged Philip to renounce his Greek and Danish royal titles, as well as his allegiance to the Greek crown, convert from Greek Orthodoxy to the Church of England, and become a naturalised British subject, all of which was done by 18 March 1947. Philip adopted the surname Mountbatten from his mother's family. The day preceding his wedding, King George VI bestowed the style His Royal Highness on Philip, and on the morning of the wedding, 20 November 1947, he was made the Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich of Greenwich in the County of London.

How complicated, but I suppose he did it for love (and safety!).

The Queen of England

I was watching repeats of "Monarchy" last week on the new channel, Blighty. Over the years, the Monarchy has had to change what it does and how it does it, to such an extent that it has survived. And isn't it wonderful! Not only that, this programme has served to remind me that our Monarchy, and our great Queen really does have a wonderfully important purpose. She is a unique and special ambassador to our country and works every day for the good of the UK and commonwealth. Also, there is no doubt in my mind that she loves her countries very much.

Yes, it's true - I am a Royalist and proud of it.

Did you know that our Queen has been on the throne for so long, that her reign surpassed those of her four immediate predecessors combined (Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, and George VI), after which she became the third longest reigning British or English monarch, the second-longest-serving current monarch of a sovereign state (after King Bhumibol of Thailand), and the oldest reigning British monarch.

So that she breaks records and becomes the longest-living British head of state, Elizabeth would have to live until 29 January 2012 when she would overtake Richard Cromwell.

To overtake Queen Victoria and become the longest reigning monarch in British history, Elizabeth would have to live to 10 September 2015, when she would be 89. To surpass the reign of King Louis XIV of France, and become the longest reigning monarch in European history, Elizabeth would have to live until 26 May 2024, when she would be 98.

It's very possible too, after all, the Queen Mother lived to 102.

God Bless, the Queen. Thank you, Ma'am for everything you do for us.

You see, I don't need to be grumpy all the time. :O)

Straw targeted by online fraudsters

Sorry for not being around for a while, but I’m not sure anyone actually reads my blogs!

However in case someone does, I’ll return every two weeks or so (if not more), however I am finding my time is much more precious suddenly. I think my blog has become a place where I like to talk about the current news, and I especially like this idea because there’s so much interesting gossip out there.

This week, the Honourable Jack Straw is in the media – for the usual dodgy African scam. Justice Secretary Jack Straw has been targeted by Nigerian internet fraudsters. Requests for money were sent by email to hundreds of the Blackburn MP's contacts, claiming that he had lost his wallet while on charity work in Africa and needed 3,000 US dollars to get home.

No one falls for these kinds of scams any more. Or so I thought. A friend of a friend had and sent 500 Euro’s to some “princess” in Nigeria. Guess what? He never saw it again. MADNESS or DESPERATION.

Anyway, suffice it to say – no one fell for this scam, although Mr Straw received many phone calls: "I started getting phone calls from various constituents asking if I was really in Nigeria needing 3,000 dollars. It was an issue for constituents, not the Government. We are checking all that and I am assured there's no evidence that confidentiality of constituents was affected."

I bet that was annoying for him. :O)