Search found 4577 matches

by PDQ Mobile
17 Mar 2024, 4:20pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: What Has Made You Laugh Today ?
Replies: 1465
Views: 95961

Re: What Has Made You Laugh Today ?

Biden joked about Trump’s mental fitness at Saturday night’s Gridiron club dinner, a traditional “roast” attended by politicians and journalists dating to the 1880s.

“One candidate is too old and mentally unfit to be president. The other one is me,” the president said.

From:-
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/202 ... -bloodbath
by PDQ Mobile
17 Mar 2024, 10:15am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: BEVs
Replies: 2121
Views: 108226

Re: BEVs

In the survey, 14% have stated their reason was to be able to run such a vehicle on their own "produced at home" energy.

I am interested to know more.

Is there anybody on here that ENTIRELY charges their BEV using renewable leccy sourced from their own solar , wind or hydro (or any other)?

And are they using said BEV for an average/low annual milage of say 5000.

What kind of vehicle do they use?
How much generating capacity does it need?

Real life experiences are always better than sales bumf.
by PDQ Mobile
13 Mar 2024, 7:34pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: UK Politics
Replies: 933
Views: 72496

Re: UK Politics

This fellow in trouble over his £10 million donation is, as I understand it, the big boss of the NHS's software system(s).
And also those systems of the Prison Service.
(80 million on his database(s) apparently!
A lot of sensitive data!!)

Seeing as those entities are largely funded by the taxpayer, is he not merely giving the Conservative Party our tax cash to fund their election machine?
by PDQ Mobile
10 Mar 2024, 2:13pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Take These (Supply) Chains from My Heart
Replies: 806
Views: 43228

Re: Take These (Supply) Chains from My Heart

tim-b wrote: 10 Mar 2024, 8:20am Shane Brennan, (2023) Chief Executive of the Cold Chain Federation looked at this twelve months ago
(Snip)

"There is always opportunity in adversity. This may be the point at which post-Brexit realignments in how we source our food will fully play out. For some the hope will be greater reliance on domestic production, others will see a rebalancing of our import trade away from the EU suppliers to other places in the world. Whether the result is good or bad for the UK economy, our climate goals, or UK consumers, remains to be seen.
This is perhaps the last Brexit-transition sticking plaster that we have to rip off, but don’t believe them when they tell you it’s not going to hurt."
https://ukandeu.ac.uk/what-do-the-new-b ... od-supply/
"...ALWAYS opportunity in adversity".
Well I am not sure about that.

And opportunity for who, is the logical second question?

Then this other tosh about whether it will be better for climate goals to ship food even further, obviously it's neither good for the climate or for the freshness of food.

There is a tunnel which can bring food by carbon neutral train from the EU.
And shorter distances by other methods

We (general population) are poorer because of Brexit.
It's not going to get any better (see Budget!) even into the medium term.

Throw in substantial loss of freedoms and I struggle to see any benefits whatsoever.
by PDQ Mobile
5 Mar 2024, 9:09am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Conspiracy Theories
Replies: 27
Views: 1150

Re: Conspiracy Theories

pwa wrote: 5 Mar 2024, 6:47am Perhaps not quite conspiracy theory, but rubbish anyway, is the notion of ley lines. For anyone not familiar with the idea, these are basically straight lines drawn on maps, between ancient sites of spiritual significance (Stone Henge for example), and locating yourself or other things on those lines is supposed to be auspicious in some way. I once worked with a bloke who espoused that stuff and he tried it on me one day. He started off explaining to me how we were working close to a ley line, and why he thought it important. I didn't want it to go on for too long so nipped it in the bud by interrupting him and saying something like, "Chris, you do realise, don't you, that this is all b......t", which stopped him in his tracks and he never raised the subject again. Sometimes you have to tell it like it is.
There are, thank goodness, a few mysteries out there.
Some things we don't fully understand.
Particularly but not only regarding the "natural" world perhaps.

It is my view that the campaign to Leave the EU should be viewed as a conspiracy.
It's not even a theory!

Have a gander at this below.
Seven minutes in deals with immigration if one cannot stomach the rest.

Tell it like it is?
Some of the comments do.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oL4di32phXw
by PDQ Mobile
2 Mar 2024, 8:28pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: UK Politics
Replies: 933
Views: 72496

Re: UK Politics

The quote below was in an opinion piece in the Guardian.
It was a broad critique of Gove by Andy Beckett.

And it ended;
"If the Tories go into opposition, he will probably still be a public presence, giving fluent, upbeat interviews about the future of Conservatism to all the journalists he knows, while offstage he flits between the party machine and the rightwing thinktanks. But for many who have to live in the country that austerity and Brexit built, his brand of Toryism will probably be remembered for two things: fanaticism and misplaced confidence. To adapt a quote from his hero, Winston Churchill: never in the field of British politics was so much damage done to so many by so few."
by PDQ Mobile
1 Mar 2024, 9:11pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Take These (Supply) Chains from My Heart
Replies: 806
Views: 43228

Re: Take These (Supply) Chains from My Heart

It's very interesting.
I can only see the Wikipedia page as my old device won't open your link.
More power to your mattock!

Even has a Welsh name!
A Raven here is "Cigfran" - roughly "Meat Crow"

TB not ever been a problem locally but it is getting closer.
The place is quite well populated with Badgers- always has been.
They have eaten my carrots on occasion. :evil:
by PDQ Mobile
1 Mar 2024, 8:59pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Sellafield
Replies: 37
Views: 1547

Re: Sellafield

Mike Sales wrote: 1 Mar 2024, 6:17pm Tony Oliver, known to us as a frame builder, used to work as a health physicist at Wylfa Magnox station. I never discussed nuclear power with him, so I may have got his job title wrong.
He gave up and moved to a Scottish island for health reasons I think.
But ironically from the exposure to the fumes of brazing frames. :shock: :shock:
Just saying.
Became a photographer.

I always had a hankering for one of his tourers,
Paraffin (for Primus) tank in the down tube job.
Seen a couple around but not lately.
Beautiful finishes.

I enjoyed his book on Touring Bikes, though it's dated now.
Like me!
by PDQ Mobile
1 Mar 2024, 2:07pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Take These (Supply) Chains from My Heart
Replies: 806
Views: 43228

Re: Take These (Supply) Chains from My Heart

Paulatic wrote: 28 Feb 2024, 1:25pm
PDQ Mobile wrote: 26 Feb 2024, 10:11pm [
Perhaps the farmers now sense there will be stricter approach from the Welsh purse? Maybe?
Isn’t the Welsh purse controlled by Westminster?
This whole campaign is to shift blame to the Welsh government the Tories hate devolved parliaments and will stop at nothing to bring them down. Gareth Jones looks pretty pally with Rishi to me.

You highlight what is wrong with all these incentives for change with grants. They all run out of steam and policing and the policing can depend on how pally you are with the policeman. Looking back I can’t see what was wrong with marketing boards and guaranteed payments or maybe New Zealand had the right idea.

I managed over 4500 acre of hill ground finding 450acre of it to plant would have been a pleasure. A lot of it got planting approval in the late seventies and 240 acres were planted with MMBS ( more miles bloody spruce) Whilst providing some tax relief along the years it was recently harvested and not without considerable expense and difficulty.
Paulatic,
((No idea about how much is controlled by Westminster, though Sunak has been saying he "has the back" of Welsh farmers in another context. (Which is about political point scoring and little else))

Anyway, I thought the below article relevant/ interesting and if you hadn't seen it that you might too.

The situation described sounds so similar to a great deal of Meirionnydd woodland, though some stands here are larger both in size of tree and area.

I wish Mr Shrubsole (what's in a name!) every success in his quest.
He has a name and publicity on his side, helpful.

There are many "unique and special" places here too.
One notes the spokesman for Natural England (!?) seems committed to carry on grazing.
I personally wonder about this.

There are woods here owned by the Woodland Trust (!) that continue to be quite heavily grazed, regeneration is almost nonexistent (both acorns and any saplings are eaten) and some are SSI,s.
There are rare bryophytes etc apparently.

I think a twenty year exclusion of sheep would be of more benefit, otherwise the woodland is eventually doomed.

Given the above though, it is my view that properly returning most of the existing and depleted woodland to ungrazed environments would be almost as good as new plantings, though I would dearly like to see some new stands of deciduous, especially on Bracken infested land, there's plenty of it!

Why do you think Natural England, the CCW (or whatever they now call it!), and the local National Parks Authorities have been so reluctant to police grazing by sheep, even where they themselves have funded fencing etc?
(Well actually some of it was them spending EU money :roll:)

(I have yet to question my neighbour on his stance about the 10%, though I have seen him. He is in the middle of TB testing and it's a worrying time.
But I will never fear.)



https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... ampaigners
by PDQ Mobile
29 Feb 2024, 6:37pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Sellafield
Replies: 37
Views: 1547

Re: Sellafield

Mike Sales wrote: 29 Feb 2024, 5:59pm
I was reminded of the time I was on a train in Blaenau Ffestiniog Station, waiting for its journey to Llandudno Junction to start. A train of nuclear flasks from Trawsfynydd on their way to Windscale stopped alongside. I wished that I had had a Smiling Sun/Nuclear Power, No Thanks, sticker to hand. I could have reached out and stuck it on a flask.
You should have a look at Edge of Darkness.
The flasks feature in it as do quite a few scenes shot in (and under!) Blaenau.
The original with Bob Peck and Jon Jo Baker, not the Mel Gibson remake. (Cheese and chalk)
Soundtrack by Clapton.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=A4UxyFuhc ... Bpc29kZSAx
by PDQ Mobile
26 Feb 2024, 10:11pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Take These (Supply) Chains from My Heart
Replies: 806
Views: 43228

Re: Take These (Supply) Chains from My Heart

Paulatic wrote: 26 Feb 2024, 1:38pm
Paulatic wrote: 17 Feb 2024, 1:47pm I wonder what or who is really stirring those Welsh farmers up?
I’ve browsed the proposed Welsh Sustainable Farming Scheme and the intentions look laudable. I can’t see how any of it can be onerous and like the EU LFA scheme, which we all used to our benefit, there should be easy ways to fulfill the criteria.
I hate agreeing with this chap but I do this time.
IMG_0238.jpeg
I expect to see my neighbour next week, I will ask him about it and tell you what he says.
That is, where he believes the tree planting grants are at odds with his overall interests.

I will also say there has already been a great deal of money and effort wasted in various tree schemes in my time in Wales.
Almost exclusively through not properly excluding sheep, though fires (deliberate) have taken some toll.
A toll on trees that I helped to plant on various holdings( not my own).
The relevant authorities have proved ineffectual in doing anything about such abuses.
I have tried in the past to do something about such waste of money and effort to little avail.
EU money it would seem was manna from on high without responsibility!!
Perhaps the farmers now sense there will be stricter approach from the Welsh purse? Maybe?

I have achieved my own small personal successes in the tree cover and regeneration "department" without any subsidy.
Just lots of time and idealism.


I remain however against planting on the better grazings or hay fields if that be the case.
I will clarify what the men on the ground say when chance allows.
I am not trying to mislead in any way.
by PDQ Mobile
25 Feb 2024, 1:23pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Are you "Infected by a remainer mind virus"?
Replies: 920
Views: 831614

Re: Are you "Infected by a remainer mind virus"?

And the old saying, statistics and damn lies.

The FACT is that I personally shopped in the Alsace in the last few weeks and many things were cheaper there than in N Wales.
Especially but not only seasonal veg.
A large bag of wonderful quality oranges was a third of the price and the quality was much higher.
Bread, wonderful quality ham (far better than at home) and French Cheeses were all significantly cheaper.

And that with the exchange rate really down.
by PDQ Mobile
25 Feb 2024, 8:51am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Are you "Infected by a remainer mind virus"?
Replies: 920
Views: 831614

Re: Are you "Infected by a remainer mind virus"?

francovendee wrote: 25 Feb 2024, 8:39am
Paulatic wrote: 24 Feb 2024, 6:11pm
al_yrpal wrote: 24 Feb 2024, 5:28pm

Please tell me why one country's milk isnt as good as another country's milk?
Where do I start?
In 1970, at Agricultural college, we visited West-Central France for a week looking at their agriculture. The dairy farm is still vivid in my mind. None of us had ever seen such a filthy dairy. The pipes can’t have been cleaned for weeks and the filth around the bulk tank was frightening.
I’m sure things will have improved since those days but a reminder of how things can slip without any standards to keep.
They certainly have improved and the many small, uneconomic, one man farms have been bought up by larger farms and state of the art milking parlours installed ( with the aid of government grants).

Sadly these same farms are giving up due to the low returns for their milk.
The exception being a local organic farmer who seems to be expanding his milking herd.

It saddens me to ride past these empty cow sheds. There was something quite beautiful seeing all their heads poking through the bars eating their food.

Whilst the farmers get low prices for a litre of milk it ain't cheap in the supermarkets.
These "ever bigger" economics are found right across Europe and the UK.
In Wales the dairy industry is completely changed from 40 years ago.
Milk is now transported huge distances to the big dairies from the big dairy units.
The unused milking sheds and end of entrances churn stands are everywhere.

Cost is the reason.
And it pervades the whole sector and more.
We all know this but we all still want cheap(ist) food.
It is a dilemma.
Change is tough to implement as (almost) violent protest from the farmers all over shows us.
by PDQ Mobile
25 Feb 2024, 8:38am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Are you "Infected by a remainer mind virus"?
Replies: 920
Views: 831614

Re: Are you "Infected by a remainer mind virus"?

Well I travelled through France a couple of times this winter.
Shopped in the Alsace.
And I thought many things were cheaper there than in Wales.
Ham, bread (Baguette) and many many vegetables spring to mind.
And French cheeses of course.

Wine always was significantly cheaper but I never look any more!

The weak pound doesn't help.

But you are the resident so guess you know best.

Pps.
I thought the quality was of much produce was higher in the French supermarket.