A BREAK IN THE LAKE DISTRICT.

As the author is now nearer eighty than seventy, I'm conscious about the delights of my own countryside, which presumably will eventually become a trip too far, requiring at least one final viewing. In the spring we took a trip to refresh ourselves of the attractions of North Yorkshire; sheer delight. In the autumn it will be the turn of the south coast. However, last week it was Cumbria. First of all we have to establish the fact that one doesn't approach such a trip expecting wall to wall sunshine. The sun does shine, but rain is evident in equal measure; hence the lakes.

Apart from the beauty abounding around every corner and over each summit, it is wonderful to see the many foreign visitors. Japanese and Chinese, incidentally, all speaking better English than most Brits. Irrespective of the weather, the places are buzzing with the intrepid fell walkers of all ages. There are also plenty of varied and quality eating houses. One complaint though, whenever enquiring about beer (ale), the first response is the offer of a range of Walloon juice. For anybody in doubt, the area is bristling with breweries. Nevertheless, the trip was well worthwhile.

An additional reason for staying on the island this year, was the anticipation of the return of the 'pinko' strikers; knowing that they are rearing to conjure up a confrontation with the rest of us. Something organized by their Union's overpaid General Secretaries.


THE TIME HAS COME TO HURT THE STRIKERS WITH SWINGEING COSTS.

THREE RINGED NECK.

Even as a child, I never showed much enthusiasm for the circus. This was not directly a concern for animals, but the possibility of maltreatment was always present.

The author does, however, get interested in the subject when a stout Tory backbencher is instrumental in getting a vote through Parliament, banning animals from circuses. The MP concerned, the clean shaven Mark Pritchard, author of the bill, continues to be maligned by sycophantic Cameroons. One in particular, the scruffy chinned former army officer, Tobias Ellwood.

The real interest in this story probably lies in the fact that Pritchard thought seriously about his political affiliation; having been fostered in a council estate home, realizing that prudent conservatism was the way to go; whereas the arrogant sounding Ellwood is, more than likely, an automatically processed Tory.


TO MR. ELLWOOD I WOULD SAY, "GET SMART, GET A SHAVE".

TALKING OF MEDICATION.

Having mentioned biologist William Donald Hamilton in the previous posting, the writer read a remarkable obituary following the death of a certain Bill Haast. Haast, an American, born in New Jersey, spent most of his life studying venomous snakes. During his lifetime, he survived over a 170 bites, 20 of which would have killed most victims. His aim in life was the study of saving life by collecting snake venom. For 60 years he injected himself daily with a cocktail of 32 different venoms, and went on to live to be a hundred years of age.


OBVIOUSLY HAAST AND HAMILTON HAD DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHIES.

IS HUMAN NATURE DESTROYING ITSELF?

We have mentioned, previously, the Rebecca Costa book, The Watchman's Rattle; a piece that deals with civilisation's ability to survive. Posing the questions about keeping pace with their own inventions.

Well, lo and behold! The BBC recently came up with an incredible series entitled: 'All watched over by machines of loving grace'. The first programme dealt with the Russian Jewish emigre` Ayn Rand, who arrived in the USA in the twenties. Her philosophy was based on the world's population being one entity, without national boundaries, existing as one global community. The sixties Hippy/Flower Power movement was an attempt at playing out this theory. Rand formed a school of thinkers pursuing these theories; one of it's members being Alan Greenspan, former head of the Federal Reserve Bank in the US, who practised his global banking views during the Clinton presidency, only to find that it destroyed a number of SE Asian economies. His recommendations had been, that the markets would look after themselves. Europe is currently endeavouring to cover for failing national economies, which is bound to hit the buffers. Chasing the debt is never a good option. These examples are not the same; the freedom as distinct from the meddling of European politicians on the other, proving that both can go wrong, indicating the ups and downs in finance.

The most enthralling aspect of the aforementioned BBC series occurred in the third instalment. This looked in depth at the work of the biologist W.D Hamilton. He, evidently, advocated that we should not tamper with human nature. For example, he disagreed with us defending ourselves against disease, as this obviously flies in the face of the survival of the fittest. Hamilton was sure that the most important consideration was not the continuation of the human race, but of the continuation and reproduction of the genes.

ALL OF A SUDDEN THE NHS APPEARS TO BE SURPLUS TO REQUIREMENTS.

WHEN BOB CROWS TWICE, WE SHOULD DENY HIM IN THE FIRST INSTANCE.

As a small percentage of the public sector Unions vote for strike action, hoping that the rest will join in their inaction; the first proper clash with the Coalition Government is about to take place. It always amazes the author, that the left wing insists on a two, or multi-tier system regarding their terms of employment, retirement and pensions. How strange, that they presume that workers in the private sector should pick up the tab for their retirement. Well, it is high time that they got in step with the real world by paying their own way.

We do understand here that Bob Crow is not directly involved in the above Unions, but his opinions influence the officers of the public sector Union bosses. This is, as advertised, a concerted effort by Marxists to undermine the economy. What is difficult to understand about such methods, is that our creditors will pull the rug, regarding our debt. This will bring about a similar situation to that which is being played out in Greece, and the kind of financial suffering which the Irish brought upon themselves.


STRANGE HOW NOT ONE BBC ( SO-CALLED ECONOMIC) EXPERT, EXPLAINS THIS.

IF ONLY IT WERE THAT SIMPLE.

In listening to the deputy Governor of the Bank of England, Paul Tucker, currently flitting from one TV studio to the next in fairly rapid sequence, I'm not sure what his message is, apart from jockeying to become the next Governor of the BoE. In the writer's humble opinion, he needs to brush up on his history. During one session, he suggested that it only takes one person in authority to stave off the kind of disaster from which we are currently endeavouring to extricate the economy. Well, Mr.Tucker is overlooking the example set at the period leading to the Wall Street crash of 1929; when another Paul (Warburg) had been warning of the certain calamity to which the US economy was heading; being encouraged by the so called 'sure-fire' certainty of the stock market continuing upwards and onwards. Warburg, one of the instigators of the Federal reserve system in the States, was both castigated and ostracized by his fellow bankers, who wanted the good times to keep rolling.

Paul Warburg, as history records, was correct. His argument, no doubt, was his opposition to borrowing in order to create wealth. Such borrowing is only advisable to a limited degree, although it remains difficult to show an example of where Maynard Keynes was 'on the money'. Paul Tucker, we would suggest, when push comes to shove, would turn out to be a Keynes disciple, sticking with a borrowing philosophy (deferred taxes).


WE'RE PETER, AND HE IS PAUL (TUCKER).

GREEN GLOW THE BLUSHES OH!

At least the 'Green' supporters should be showing contrition for their short-sighted infantile folly, which is currently flying under the banner of climate change, following the failure to impress brighter folk with global warming. They will naturally have to come up with many new titles to pacify their diminishing followers.

Not before time, scientists, such as Drs David Evans and Bennie Peiser, along with the heavyweight political figure Lord Turnbull, are beginning to realise how dangerous this new mythical religion really is. The worthless pursuit of wind turbines is mind boggling. By next winter, some folk will start to suffer from hypothermia, due to bills increasing dramatically because of the inclusion of a stealth charge (tax) to pay for this blight on our countryside. The greatest affect, however, will be the decimation of what remains of our manufacturing base, as it emigrates to foreign shores to avoid carbon charging; as though these countries are on another planet, in a different atmosphere.

As with many policies emanating from Brussels/Westminster, politicians must be held to account. We, the electorate, need to take control.


FROZEN CORPSES IN PURE AIR, IS NOT A SMART OPTION.

PINKO, PRELATE AND DIM-WIT: THE NEW THREE IN ONE.

Along with a backward self-professed bunch of so-called economists, who recently aired their unfounded opinions, the Archbishop of Canterbury, a neophyte of incredible proportions, joined in this lack of economic sense. Living in this country of milk and honey, particularly for those who don't find the need to labour for anything, the aforementioned gang think everyone else should stump up more funds, or the nation needs to add to the current £5 trillion debt. How can these clowns possibly sleep at night?

What is intentionally overlooked regularly by these simple, so-called academics, whose sole consideration is to pacify the unions and the left generally, is the fact that we can only extricate ourselves from this ridiculous legacy of debt by working our way out of it. We wonder how long we can assume that other nations will purchase our (gilts) government bonds. Of course, folk paid by the state cannot grasp that we have be responsible regarding our national finances.

It was noticeable at the beginning of the week that the BBC was leading every newscast as though the International Monetary Fund would be advising George Osborne to have a plan B; something, that little boy, the metaphorical son of 'Incapability Brown' 'All Ed' (Balls), had been rushing to every broadcasting studio, spouting about. Naturally they were disappointed.


THE FACT IS THAT WE ARE NOT SAVING ENOUGH.

TOXIC TOKSVIG.

Much has been said of the disgraceful, so called humour of Sandi Toksvig, on the BBC's radio 4 during a News Quiz programme. There is little doubt that Toksvig has an intellect, so why doesn't she use it? Instead we get a diet of looney left wing clap trap; hoping to impress a wider audience with some verbal 'shock and awe'. She, Toksvig, is only one of the many foot soldiers employed by the disreputable broadcaster, which is the BBC. Stephen Fry comes to mind, along with a host of boorish, would be comedians. Incidentally, there was never any attempt at making jokes about the overspending during thirteen years of New Labour.

We have made the point in these columns in the past; the BBC has to be regulated by the public. It cannot extort money from the public and then insult a large proportion of us, acting as the media arm of the left wing. The message is quite clear, any undemocratic slip, and a small select, unbiased group will pass judgement on such occasions, deducting percentage points from the following year's licence fee.


THE LONGER WE LEAVE IT THE WORSE IT WILL GET.

SHARON SHOESMITH DOESN'T DO DESIGNER FOOTWEAR.

It is difficult to understand the ins and outs of the sacking of the former Haringey council's chief of the Children's Dept. In looking to follow the letter of the law, the then Schools/Children's Minister, 'All Ed' (Balls) overstepped the mark in removing her from her post, as apparently it was not within his remit to do that. It is not easy to remember the facts, and far be it for me to be giving support to a Labour minister; I do seem to recall, however, the national outcry calling on him to take action over the appalling situation, following the death of a young child, who's life was dependent on the local council, and Sharon Shoesmith in particular.

What is now a difficult pill to swallow, is the suggestion that the former head of department could be in line for a substantial pay off. How can this be so? We would suggest a figure of £5 maximum.


AND THAT'S MY FINAL OFFER.