Great news to see the back of Zia Yusuf. No place for a muslim Chairman in a party one of whose major tenets should be anti mass immigration and preservation of the British way of life.
Aistro is quite right – have a problem – ask the blog. So much knowledge, and willingness to share that knowledge, very refreshing. I often in my mind liken
I like France, I have spent a lot of time there since my first trip in 1963. I have always got on with the French and admire their architecture and their engineering skills.
Over the last few years I have had a hell of a time with cars and regret having sold my Daihatsu Terios which I thought was a great car.
After my latest vehicle disaster I bought a 10 year old Citroen C4 1600 cc diesel. Made what I thought was a good deal with the garage that scrapped the last car.
It has more bells and whistles than a convention of clowns and Morris dancers. I have owned many cars and motor homes/camper vans over the years but have never understood all of the ins and outs of their operation.
This has more warning lights, cameras, proximity sensors than you can shake a stick at and it is taking me a while to recognise what it all means.
It is weird not having a physical handbrake and a start button instead of an ignition key.
I am impressed, however, with the blind spot warning system; I was intending to filter to the nearside lane the other day when out of nowhere a car started to undertake me – the blind spot indicator light lit up to warn me. All in all I like the car and it’s performance.
A far cry from my first car; an early series mini. I decided it needed a decoke. I co-opted my best mate and we took the head off, did a bit of scraping, replaced the gasket and put it all back together again. He knew as much as me about cars, and I know sod all. Anyway, it seemed to run ok but we were left with a few unused nuts and bolts!
Interesting to read that 1917 menu for diabetics – appears to be quite close to today’s keto diet. It is very true that we are what we eat.
Past Memories note about TSR2 struck a chord. I heard of it at the time of course but have just read through the whole saga. An opportunity missed, but procurement is a very difficult area and there appears to be fault on many sides. Nevertheless, we should celebrate British innovation and skills. We have lead the world in so many areas.
I giggled when I read that soy boys were suggesting that RSMs should not shout at recruits. In my day RSMs were gods (c.f. RSM Lord), I reached that rank, but in a different area (administration).
It was expected that RSMs would shout. I recall once, as battalion orderly sergeant, I was summoned to the RSM early morning. He stood outside his room in the mess, stark bollock naked and gave me a rollocking for some misdemeanour or other. Part and parcel.
Love GQ’s military stuff postings though my heart bleeds for all the poor sods who never made it home. On this day, the anniversary of D Day I salute their courage and sacrifice. I stayed a while at Arromanches and have visited some of the D Day beaches. Sobering thoughts.
I look at all sorts of information sites – what strikes me about those from America is that the host, often a woman, has an awful speaking voice. Grates a bit.
Starmer is deluded. ‘War Footing?!’ what a prune.
© Gillygangle 2025
