Enjoyed your article SB. I follow these four vlogs:
- Domaine Sauvage
- Diego Leon Utube (not the footballer)
- The Irish Homestead
- Our Small holding Adventure
These are not strictly off-grid but they use some of the elements. I have looked at others who have been totally off-grid and I am amazed at the resourcefulness and just plain capability these people show. My DIY skills (lack of) are a family joke but I can live vicariously through the sites.
I miss having a garden and am trying to find alternatives as I believe growing your own is one of the ways forward; we had a lot of success in France but that foundered on my partner’s lack of drive and vision.
There is an organisation called YardYum which tries to marry those with unused land with those seeking land. Here in Swansea there is a ‘Community Farm’ which has it’s attractions but to my mind it is too sprawling and difficult to manage.
One great point about the farm is that they actively promote the inclusion of mentally handicapped volunteers, give them something to look forward to and support them to make a contribution according to their ability. Watching the proud handlers taking the donkeys out to pasture is a lovely sight.
Another avenue here is a garden attached to the Maritime Museum. It is like a very well organised allotment with most vegetable beds raised quite high which is a boon to those of us with limited flexibility. All comers day is Friday and about half of the volunteers are old, one even has to support himself with a walker.
In short I think we should all be trying to engender some aspect of self sufficiency.
But back to the real World. TTK preening himself – oblivious to the reality that he has been played. The rent boys saga is just confirmation of his vulnerability – what a plonker! Would be funny if it were not so serious.
Gave a great Guffaw at the Dempsey and Ringpiece comment. Puffins, I love you all!
Thanks also to Spa on the hill re pizzas. I am not a great fan of them – on two occasions in France last year I went along with a couple of friends wishing to eat at an Italian Pizza restaurant. Overpriced and a great more dough than filling so to me it was Meh. Ah well, each to his own.
Re-reading a Val McDirmid novel and this sentence leapt out of the page – ‘A single particle spinning though the constellation of other peoples’ lives.‘ Isn’t that how friendships, relationships and contacts with others start?
Have not really been following the assisted dying debate (though I begged the doctor to give my wife an overdose of morphine when she was suffering so much pain in her last days), but reading Fester Rantzen describing the proposed process as ‘strong and safe’ struck a discordant note
There appears to be some talk of Rupert Lowe joining the Tories – not sure what to think of that, the Tory Party is dead so it makes no sense.
I read a lot of online content but I find some contributors hard to follow, their persona grates. One such is Simon – generally good content but his voice and scruffy style is off-putting. Another is PJ Watson – his prominent lips and delivery style means I don’t like to watch him and then there is Andrew Lawrence – content is spot on but again his voice and delivery means I don’t follow him nowadays.
Glancing through the headlines today I was struck by reference to electricity prices. Apparently we have the highest industrial prices in the world and rate fourth most expensive for domestic supply costs.
Reading the article my mind was biggling – The CCC wants to see lower electricity prices so it suggests removing the levies from electric and transferring them to gas or general taxation!
I did not know we had so many geniuses running these things. How about these extracts for clear thinking and sound reasoning?
CCC ‘The overall point we’re making is that cheaper electricity will mean that using electric products – for both households and businesses will become cheaper.’
A Government spokesman :
‘Our clean power mission is the route to energy security. Protecting families by bringing bills down for good and creating good jobs.’ We will continue to work together with all the devolved governments to deliver our clean energy superpower mission and accelerate to net zero in a way that treads lightly on peoples’ lives.’
So, transferring costs to gas or general taxation to make the cost of electricity cheaper is the way forward? No mention of cutting overall costs, no mention of making savings in the billions spent each year on waste and inefficiency’ Truly we are blessed to have this Government on our side!
Saw a roadside sign about test matches. Loved watching (and playing) cricket but have lost interest in the modern test match series. Don’t even have a clue as to who is playing whom, where or when. Long away from the days when tests were shown on BBC and Test Match Special on the radio was a delight to listen to. How about this from Johnners : ‘Well I can tell you the bowler’s Holding, the batsman’s Willey.’
When I heard the woman commentator talking about the ‘batters’ I gave up on it all.
Said hello to Fred Trueman when he was on the rubber chicken circuit many years ago. It was a stirring sight to see him and Statham bowling in tandem and skittling all and sundry!
© Gillygangle 2025
