WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[Marilyn]

Fair enough too at his age.
With all that spare time on his hands he might buy a ride on mower and spend his days mowing the palace lawns?
( one does wonder why this decision needed such a meeting called in the wee hours though...maybe there was a sale on ride on mowers on EBay?)

[Stanley]

Just heard from my mate at ABC that's what's happening. Lot of fuss over nothing!

[plaques]

Has he been put on a Zero hours contract?

[Stanley]

I can't help wondering whether there is more to this than meets the eye. Is Brenda thinking about retirement? Is Charles getting excited?

[Marilyn]

Adverts on the TV saying that Kraft Cheese Slices will now be renamed Dairy Lea...though nothing will change inside the pack.
I always suspected...
Hubby and I call it "plastic cheese".

[Stanley]

Sounds more 'homely and natural' Maz. You're right, it will still be processed cheese!

[Marilyn]

Today is World Nude Gardening Day today.
Just wondering if you will be out harvesting your front garden Mint without your kit on, Stanley?

Saw a few bare bums on the TV this morning. Boots and socks are allowable.
Febby was dancing about naked this morning, threatening to pop out and mow the lawn.

[Stanley]

Too bloody cold for that Maz.
The election results, not good.....

[Stanley]

How much more cheerful I am today.... Three hours in the shed is wonderful therapy!
I am gearing up for my free leccy day, washing and cooking all ready to go! More peas in to soak, I'm on to the new crop now so Maz can relax, no more eight year old dried peas...... By the way, under the new regime I have ditched the idea of replacing the 10kg of stone ground, kiln-dried oatmeal, good though it has been.

[Stanley]

Susan saw Phil at Winsor where she is a house guest. She says he is not stuffed and Wilf, Mick's brother, is doing well in the carriage driving competition.

[Wendyf]

I'll bet he is still driving with his team of Fell ponies!

[Big Kev]

Interesting to see that Facebook is addressing 'Fake News' stories

BBC News Story

[plaques]

I like this bit. "Last month Conservative MP Damian Collins asked Facebook to tackle fake news in the run up to the UK general election on 8 June.
"The danger is, if for many people the main source of news is Facebook and if the news they get on Facebook is mostly fake news, they could be voting based on lies," he told the Guardian. Is he being satirical?

[Stanley]

Just totally blinkered P. BBC Panorama addressed the Facebook question last night. I was shocked at the scale of the problems they described. I flagged spin and manipulation up the other day but had no idea it was on this scale or that so much money was being made out of it.
Janet warned me two years ago about five companies she had identified who were building the capacity to 'take over the world' by manipulation of Mass Data using sophisticated dedicated algorithms. Facebook and Amazon were two of them.... It looks as though, yet again, she was on the money!
The fact that the 72nd anniversary of VE day (Victory in Europe. 8th of May 1945) passed with no comment as far as I can see. Some of us remember it well!

[Stanley]

How thin the standard Tory excuse is wearing. How often do we hear them respond to accusation of underfunding by saying that spending is at 'record levels' whilst ignoring the fact that so are the running costs.
The brilliant full moon this morning and the promise of full sun all day. I'm actually getting the impression that even in Barlick, Spring is getting into gear! Lovely.....
Even though I used a good face mask yesterday I can detect the effects of the grinding dust on my chest. Dangerous stuff! It killed my old mate Arthur Entwistle.....
The tragic death of the girl yesterday who fell into the waters of the ride at the theme park whilst on a school trip......

[Marilyn]

Announcement today that drug testing will commence on all recipients of unemployment payments.
Excellent! ( if you aren't doing anything wrong, there is nothing to fear is my stance).
If found ""positive", the payments will be stopped and rehab commenced.
I can't clap loudly enough...

[plaques]

Are they going to get breathalysed for alcohol and checked for tobacco inhalation? Soon no unemployed.

[Marilyn]

What it means, Plaques, is that those on unemployment will be fit to turn up to job interviews...which seems to be difficult for those addicted to drugs and alcohol.

[Cathy]

The testing is random, but even so there wouldn't be enough re-hab places for those who test positive. There aren't enough now.

[Marilyn]

Yes, I agree, but I think it will mean that in practical terms their unemployment payments will be suspended until they return clean tests and are therefore deemed able to look for work. Unemployment payments are for those actively seeking work. They shouldn't be for people who have no intention of working or are unfit for work because of lifestyle choices.
I also heard that being an addict is not criteria for being on invalid payments either.
I find the whole thing very fair.
It is not illegal to be an addict, but you can't claim you are fit to work and therefore entitled to payments if you are an addict.
Fair enough, I say.

[plaques]

Perhaps I was a bit flippant with my first comment. Drug addiction is a terrible thing. Not only does it wreck the users life but often wrecks all their close families lives. I doubt if anyone chooses to become an addict in the true sense of the word. I agree its nonsense to support someone who chooses not to work but once they get to a point where the drug use makes them totally unreliable and trustworthy, would you employ such a person? then it becomes a different ball game which is beyond my understanding.

[Marilyn]

The "cashless" welfare card appears to be working in some areas. People can buy food, pay rent and bills with it, but cannot buy alcohol or cigarettes.

[Stanley]

Nice. Associate drug addiction with unemployment in the public mind....
Spam email saying I have spent £105 at Next and it's coming out of my Paypal account. They'll have a job, I haven't got one. No doubt a phishing attempt. I shall not lose sleep!

[Marilyn]

Not all unemployed are drug addicts.
Not all drug addicts are unemployed.
But if you are unemployed, and a drug addict, nothing is gained by handing you money from the public purse, as you are not fit for work.
One cannot demand rights without accepting responsibilities.

[Tripps]

Just had my haircut at the village barbers. Luck of the draw, and I got the lady hairdresser. Grit your teeth and hope for the best. I think I'm old enough to be allowed say such things.
I asked her if she was Italian like all the other staff - 'no' she said 'I'm Lithuanian'. I confessed deep ignorance about the country - except for knowing where it was. She told me the capital was Vilnius, and the population was 1.9 millions. This produced laughter from the other barber who said 'and 1.6 million are in UK'. 'No' she said 'there are only 300,00 over here'.
Nice conversation - usual barber talk - weather, holidays, or lack of them .She said her dad was Russian, and her mum Lithuanian - she spoke both languages, and English of course. I think she said she had been on the Russian cycling team for six years. A life enhancing experience I'd say - and I didn't need to be nervous - it was about the best haircut I've had for a while.
I've since found that the population is in fact 2.9 million, and interestingly, neither mentioned Brexit at all.