Quite. We all know of Mandelson's dodgy past and he was forced to resign from two previous government posts for improper dealings so should never even have been considered for another government position. Starmer is either naive, incompetent or mendacious. Not what I'd expect from an ex DPP.
Black and white cat lounging in a chair cuddled up against a big stuffed toy orangutan
Two Black and white cats lying together on a garden patio chair
Rufus looks like a heavyweight hunter 😅 My two are very keen hunters so keep the rabbit population under control taking out babies and Zack has eradicated the moles but could do better where the rats are concerned. Though Zack did bring a live one into the house the Christmas Day before last!!!
I bought our two cats for that but our rats are very wily. They use the wood cladding of the barn and garage to move around so are difficult to get at. The dog has managed to get a few and the cats have caught baby ones. Can't use bait as dog got hold of it once and they ignore all traps tried 🤬
Ooh not had a black redstart. My garden is full of bird song and after its absence this morning when I let the hens out the song thrush is back making a lot of itself!
Sorry you're having to rest up Eleanor. Hope you'll be back in your feet soon. You must be itching to get out in the garden and get sowing.
Morning Ben. Already replied to Clare's post as didn't see yours till now. Sunny but nippy here but birds singing their heads off. Off to Diss to chiropractor this am and will call in to garden centre too. Have checked my pots and lots need replenishing and I could do with indoor plants too.
I've just found a seller in Fakenham who fully vaccinates his hens which, having had a couple of home bred ones develop Marek's, I'm pleased about and they deliver. So watch this space!
Yes I'm at home most of the time and I do enjoy seeing them in the garden. And it's part of my dog's routine to let them out and lock them up at night which she enjoys. It's just the winter that gets me down with the mud in their run (though better with bark chips down) and the bloody rats!
Morning. Sunny start but chilly. Hen run looks empty now down to just two so trying to decide if I want to give up keeping hens when they've gone or get new flock 🤔 If so rescue or point of lay. Decisions decisions. Finally got OH to decide on the car he test drove. He's worse than me! HAGD all.
There's a farm I pass that sells it and there are always people there buying it. I've seen and heard interviews by the farmer who says how the cows are regularly tested but it's not enough to convince me that it's safe. And why is it supposed to be more beneficial? Why take the risk?
I'd rather not. I hate seeing me in glasses let alone inflicting it on others! Will be trying on new ones on Friday when have contact lens in as couldn't see what I looked like in the ones I did try after my eye test as blind without them!
Morning. Sunny but nippy out there again. Hen run looks very empty now down to just two. Can't decide whether to give up keeping or get new flock of point of lay pullets or rescues 🤔 Chiropractor this morning then Morrisons and garden centre to get plants. OH finally decided to buy the MX5 he tried.
Thanks Hilary. Yes they do all have their own unique character. Rescue hens are very endearing. Always undaunted and busy. Husband said when I first got some they are the most "dog like" of all the chickens I've had 😄
I checked this too.
*20 seconds* of Reform logo display.
*No other* party logo displayed.
In local election purdah.
This is not normal. At all.
This is appalling. Nothing will happen though as Johnson watered down the Electoral Commission powers so much that they are toothless 😡
Thanks Louise.
Thanks. At least she went quickly and had been enjoying life until mid afternoon yesterday.
Exactly. He's either naive or completely stupid. Neither is a good look when you're trying to demonstrate you're a safe pair of hands. Brought it all on himself.
Well he's not wrong about Johnson but even a stopped clock is right twice a day 😅
Beaker is so pretty and Brix is turning into a very handsome boy indeed. Love his long feather duster tail. Bernoulli being his usual daft self and Bunsen being steady pack leader. I'm sure Brix will win Ginger over. Eventually 😄
Well duh. Of course he shouldn't. Lots of us were saying so at the time. Couldn't believe that anyone would considered him suitable for a diplomatic appointment.
He'd have saved a lot of this bother if he'd remembered that Mandelson has always been dodgy and was sacked twice previously and not even considered him for the appointment. Naive or stupid?
Adorable as kittens and adorable still. My two are only a year younger and seems like they've been with us forever. Hope we both get many more years with our cats.
A couple of friends have mentioned seeing the advance guard ones but ours haven't turned up yet. Hope they do as they left earlier than usual last year and only had one brood. One of the two pairs that nest in our barn sadly died so that may have spooked them. 🤞Haven't gone for good.
Sadly gone now. Died in my arms so she knew she was loved and cared for.
Of COURSE he's insider trading. He's a crook, he's ALWAYS been a crook, he's using the presidency to make billions.
He ran to stay out of jail, to make money and to feel powerful, because that's what a narcissist like him gets off on. It was never about helping people.
Effective 2025 federal tax rates paid by these corporations:
Alphabet: 8.01%
AT&T: 4.6%
Meta: 3.57%
General Motors: 3.09%
Amazon: 1.37%
Exxon Mobil: 1.31%
Disney: -1.57%
CVS Health: -3.88%
Income tax rate paid by the typical American: 14.5%
This is what a rigged system looks like.
The Evening Standard employed 364 journalists and staff when Lebedev bought it for £1 in 2009.
It now has 16
pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/r...
Letter in today's Financial Times co-signed by CEOs of Octopus, E-ON and EDF:
"...ministers need to move levies away from electricity bills and shield households from any unnecessary grid upgrade costs"
Here is a good summary to help the 10:03 monologue.
bsky.app/profile/balr...