This, That and t'other

Under a week to the election.
In an earlier life I would have been as busy as buggery working as I did in the Electoral Registration Section at Harrow for the first two years of my working life, Two of the happiest I must say but my thoughts are with the good souls who are running the election with so much to be got right by the day.

The bullshitters are saying the Corbyn is gaining on May but I suspect that's just the clever boys on the right making sure their voters don't get complacent.
I'm a Corbyn man this time round though he's not one I would normally go for but like so many I'm fed up with some of the dodgy game-players who can see no further than the next election. Things need stirring up a bit particularly in terms of the next generations and he's always been a stirrer, idealistic I know but look where the pragmatists have got us.



If Corbyn had a chance who knows. Unfortunately not only is he fighting the right wing press who have been so organised in their vilification of the man you'd think somebody was paying them! Or perhaps a gong for their trouble. He is also struggling against the previous milksop Socialists who were in power before and wasted such a great opportunity to change things rather than get us further involved with the Middle East.
Oh for a fresh approach and stir things up. I am depressed that I have reached the age of 70 and all the basic things that were wrong when I started voting are still wrong, the same buggers hold the purse strings and  we still have a class system that should have collapsed by now.

 I'll be dead and gone before anybody sorts out the NHS (and the economy/education/housing problems)but the insidious manner in which that great legacy from our parents is being ballsed up by the profiteers should have us out in the streets and them with their heads on  poles. Except of course all the Poles are going home.

Allegedly I'll be wasting my vote in Berkhamsted by voting Labour. You could put a donkey up with a blue rosette and he'd get elected -even if he had been guilty of a slight mis- remembering of his carrot allowance a while back.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9684441/Minister-in-cash-row-keeps-27000-profit-from-sale-of-second-home.html

He was obviously a perfect candidate for a Treasury job which is exactly where they put him.

Anyway at least I'll be voting. Who knows one day everybody who thinks they wont bother because the vote will be wasted will bother and they will all make a difference. Surprises happen. It's nearly a year since the referendum. Maybe time for another shock.....don't trouble the bookie though

In the meantime the press  continue to bash Corbyn for having the effrontery to think differently. You might not like all he says but for God's sake haven't we had enough of the old guard. Let's give the world a shake.

Sat here in my (very untidy) front well looking at my (very untidy) mooring I'm pondering that whilst I've been moored here over 20 years it's the last two that have seen the most change. I suppose that is due in part to old tempus fugit in that June and David (June Rose) and Bill and Sue ( Kings Ransom)   have both given up their moorings because time has taken its toll. Others( Peter and Christine, Jim and Sue) have changed boats to suit changing requirements. So Wessex has gone and  Swallow has arrived and Owl has been sold and Hampton is currently undergoing extensive (and expensive) works before returning to Cow Roast.  And, of course, the Griffin with Mac and Carrie moving oooop north will cut a lonely sight for long periods of time. My mind wanders to my own situation. My use of Independence as a pleasure boat rather than a domicile is waning and with the passing of the years, assuming I have any left, it will become harder to maintain and afford both boat and mooring. I'm in need of a big injection of oooomph to either crack on or sell up. But for now I'll finish my tea and watch the ducks.



Life on board has definitely changed from Winter to Summer mode with kindling, logs and coal no longer taking precedence over everything else which means more space and less mess. The cut is very busy with half term and a rapid turnover of boats on the towpath moorings.The weather has been good for the half term break but is a bit blowy and wet today....maybe I'll keep a few logs handy just in case. Today was a roll over and back to kip day. Not only did we have an early birthday celebration for Natalie (Lamb PH/Chilli/Champagne/wine/Gin Rummy/More bubbles) but the rain and wind are demotivating to say the least.

Here's a picture of the Cow Roast Inn I haven't seen before. I love the little triangular refuge in the middle of what is now a busy A4251 and was an even busier A41 before the bypass was built.

" Mr. G. Buckle's team to play the return of a match contested at the Cow Roast. A very interesting game of two rounds was played in delightful weather, and resulted in another victory for the home team. The game was watched by a number of spectators. After the game, players and spectators adjourned to the Hotel, and, reinforced by a few friends, discussed a bountiful repast prepared by Mr. and Mrs. Buckle." (Bucks Herald, Aug 1902).
The Cow Roast PH with white fences in foreground (from Wharf Lane)..."

What a lovely world it must have been, reinforced by a few friends, to discuss "a bountiful repast"





The syphilitic ratbags have hit London again with the London Bridge and Borough Market attacks. We are staying  at The London Bridge Hotel in a couple of weeks to attend a Thames party for friend Catherine's birthday and anniversary followed by Ronnie Scott's for lunch on the Sunday. Fingers crossed it all goes well.

I see from the headlines that part of Theresa Might's response to the outrage was that we need to "tackle Saudi Arabia over terror funding". Such cant and hypocrisy are breathtaking.

Successive governments have been aware of the evil of that regime for decades and have continued to crawl up their palace steps without criticising but with plenty of arms sales; arms that have killed our own soldiers. Bit  late Theresa.

Over the weekend I pottered around behind Pam doing odd bits of gardening including assisting in removing a rather large weed that was choking a rose. Apparently it was a teasel and I grabbed hold of it to yank it out. Bad move. The damn thing was covered in sharp spikes and didn't budge an inch. We had to attack it with spade and fork and trowel and foul language before it gave up the ghost.

I wasn't going to bother too much with gardening on my mooring this year; lack of ooomph again. However it seem to be evolving bit by bit and would look very nice if I got off my arse onto my rheumatic knees and tidied things up a bit. I've even planted some runner beans, courgettes and a few leeks+ tomatoes and peppers for our annual competition later this year. Maybe tomorrow, the rain will stay away long enough for bit horticulture, before I take Mike Paine out for the weekly, weakly SAGA/GAGA meeting at the George and Dragon.
For now I think another cuppa will suffice.