To cross the Atlantic for a moment... it's notable in that graphic that the level of the stock market isn't considered an important indicator, which goes back to the discussion between @Casino_Royale and myself yesterday about whether Trump is delivering a strong economy. On those metrics, Trump is failing badly, which is why I expect the 2026 midterms to be very bad for the Republicans (if democracy isn't eroded by various dirty tricks).
I am getting more despondent about the chances of the midterms being a fair vote. Irrespective of any gerrymandering.
I think it's possible they could be stolen outright.
How? Congressional elections are administered by state election officials, not the Federal government.
Not even the most red of states would have all state election officials willing to falsify an election either
A few more "emergencies" like the one in DC, and anything is possible.
On the upside I have found a use for my pair of exquisite lengths of Bhutanese silk which I bought in Bhutan from the Queen of Bhutan’s official silkweaver in her atelier in the Himalayas
I couldn’t find anywhere to “show them” so they have become the world’s most extravagant drawer liners in an old Italian chest
And during my renovations I found a massive bag of raw frankincense tears that I bought in a village in Oman direct from the Empty Quarter
So I have put some raw frankincense (enlivened by drops of eucalyptus oil) in small cast iron Japanese pots and put a pot in each now-silk-lined drawer. So when I open the drawer I get this intense aroma and it’s like opening the drawer of a quietly but massively gay cardinal in Rome who likes Yemeni boys and is weirdly obsessed with cheaper Chinese AirPods
Well-used knife, but not a Great Dane disemboweller !
Speaking of inflation, and for those interested on the prior thread
So far I've spent about £3000 on repainting the bedroom, hall, kitchen, including quite expensive paint. Also about £2k on furniture upgrades, new curtains, new appliances, new ART PHOTOS etc. Still got the living room and bathroom to go, maybe another £4k including new furniture, bespoke blinds, cushions, etc
So that's £9k for a total revamp of my small but desirable flat, turning it into a kind of weird personal shrine?
I don't believe that is insane for a complete transformation, especially as it is will be THE TEMPLE OF LEON by the end
It depends on "small" and "complete transformation". Is this "Changing Room" in Camden - "make quarters for the master of the seraglio"?
The only serious refurb I looked at in London was a 1 bed 400sqft flat in EC2, that I was being offered for 70k + lease extension to get a mortgage back around 2000.
I was being quoted 20k for a fullish but not complete refurb including rewire, kitchen, bathroom etc. I did not have the £100k to hand, unfortunately. They are now about £450k.
Not really news and he did say "...But if the Europeans want to step up and actually buy the weapons from American producers, we’re OK with that, but we’re not going to fund it ourselves anymore"
Speaking of inflation, and for those interested on the prior thread
So far I've spent about £3000 on repainting the bedroom, hall, kitchen, including quite expensive paint. Also about £2k on furniture upgrades, new curtains, new appliances, new ART PHOTOS etc. Still got the living room and bathroom to go, maybe another £4k including new furniture, bespoke blinds, cushions, etc
So that's £9k for a total revamp of my small but desirable flat, turning it into a kind of weird personal shrine?
I don't believe that is insane for a complete transformation, especially as it is will be THE TEMPLE OF LEON by the end
It’s also about 1/4 of the median pre-tax salary. Now you could argue that an interior refurbishment has a 7 year life span so you are not spending much on housing… but most people won’t see it like that.
I suspect that a 7 year lifespan for interior refurbishment is optimistic. Or pessimistic, if you are thinking how far to spread out the cost.
(In terms of public realm, it implies 2 cycles since 2010, to pick a not-at-all random date.)
Most leasehold contracts work on 7 years interior and 10 years exterior.
(I’m currently at 9 years interior and it’s getting a bit shabby).
7 years!!! I'm 12 years into our interior decoration and I don't wanna think about a redo for at least another five!!!!
I’m thinking a lick of paint… kitchens and bathrooms about once every generation…
Speaking of inflation, and for those interested on the prior thread
So far I've spent about £3000 on repainting the bedroom, hall, kitchen, including quite expensive paint. Also about £2k on furniture upgrades, new curtains, new appliances, new ART PHOTOS etc. Still got the living room and bathroom to go, maybe another £4k including new furniture, bespoke blinds, cushions, etc
So that's £9k for a total revamp of my small but desirable flat, turning it into a kind of weird personal shrine?
I don't believe that is insane for a complete transformation, especially as it is will be THE TEMPLE OF LEON by the end
It’s also about 1/4 of the median pre-tax salary. Now you could argue that an interior refurbishment has a 7 year life span so you are not spending much on housing… but most people won’t see it like that.
But as you say, this revamp will last me easily 5 years, probably 7
So it's just over a grand a year to live in a flat I find much more pleasing. Or I do it cheaply and get depressed at the paint scheme
Also, the IKEA really HAD to go
Sure. It makes sense and you can afford it. But it’s not a small amount for most people
That's the problem with the upper classes. Don't know how the other half lives.
I always find “class” a fairly arbitrary definition. I’d rather focus on the individual and whether they are people I want to hang out with.
Speaking of inflation, and for those interested on the prior thread
So far I've spent about £3000 on repainting the bedroom, hall, kitchen, including quite expensive paint. Also about £2k on furniture upgrades, new curtains, new appliances, new ART PHOTOS etc. Still got the living room and bathroom to go, maybe another £4k including new furniture, bespoke blinds, cushions, etc
So that's £9k for a total revamp of my small but desirable flat, turning it into a kind of weird personal shrine?
I don't believe that is insane for a complete transformation, especially as it is will be THE TEMPLE OF LEON by the end
There's a thing called Checkatrade to help older people from getting tucked up by dodgy tradesmen.
I accept that this a very dull topic - but then it is also ON topic - cost of living
Do you honestly think I'm being ripped off? Under £10k to entirely transform a flat? Including much furniture and bespoke blinds, curtains, etc?
I don't believe it is. But if it is I am intrigued how the rest of you habitate. Do you simply slap more daub on the wattle?
The mantra in our house was "never pay a tradesman". My father who for a maths teacher was quite an accomplished cabinet maker taught me everything from fixing a tap washer and wiring an electric plug to changing a clutch and servicing an Austin 1300. Painting a wall falls into the wiring a plug scale of DIY tasks. Mind you I f*****' hate DIY.
To quote a great unsung (ahem) comedy group:
T'was on the Monday morning, the gas man came to call, The gas tap wouldn't turn, I wasn't getting gas at all; He tore out all the skirting boards to try and find the main, And I had to call a carpenter to put them back again!
Or Bellloc:
Lord Finchley tried to mend the Electric Light Himself. It struck him dead: And serve him right! It is the business of the wealthy man To give employment to the artisan.
That’s the one I was actually thinking of, but couldn’t be bothered to try and find it…
Speaking of inflation, and for those interested on the prior thread
So far I've spent about £3000 on repainting the bedroom, hall, kitchen, including quite expensive paint. Also about £2k on furniture upgrades, new curtains, new appliances, new ART PHOTOS etc. Still got the living room and bathroom to go, maybe another £4k including new furniture, bespoke blinds, cushions, etc
So that's £9k for a total revamp of my small but desirable flat, turning it into a kind of weird personal shrine?
I don't believe that is insane for a complete transformation, especially as it is will be THE TEMPLE OF LEON by the end
It’s also about 1/4 of the median pre-tax salary. Now you could argue that an interior refurbishment has a 7 year life span so you are not spending much on housing… but most people won’t see it like that.
But as you say, this revamp will last me easily 5 years, probably 7
So it's just over a grand a year to live in a flat I find much more pleasing. Or I do it cheaply and get depressed at the paint scheme
Also, the IKEA really HAD to go
Sure. It makes sense and you can afford it. But it’s not a small amount for most people
Nine million people across the UK have no savings and another five million have less than £100, according to new research from the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). Overall, a quarter of UK adults have less than £100 put away.
I wonder how much people owe Buy Now Pay Later like Klarna?
Talking of decor - and money saving - by sheer coincidence my extravagantly beautiful and very expensive bespoke velvet bedroom curtains have this minute arrived from John Lewis
Only “problem” - they’ve made me two sets of beautiful velvet curtains not one. I’ve got a free set of curtains. Worth hundreds. What do I do with it? Keep it spare?
Maybe keep it spare for when one gets dry cleaned
I promise to return to non decor related discussions before the end of the summer
Do you have the space to store a spare set of curtains?
Suggest you have them made up into matching cushions / bed spread / dancing cape / whatever
On the upside I have found a use for my pair of exquisite lengths of Bhutanese silk which I bought in Bhutan from the Queen of Bhutan’s official silkweaver in her atelier in the Himalayas
I couldn’t find anywhere to “show them” so they have become the world’s most extravagant drawer liners in an old Italian chest
And during my renovations I found a massive bag of raw frankincense tears that I bought in a village in Oman direct from the Empty Quarter
So I have put some raw frankincense (enlivened by drops of eucalyptus oil) in small cast iron Japanese pots and put a pot in each now-silk-lined drawer. So when I open the drawer I get this intense aroma and it’s like opening the drawer of a quietly but massively gay cardinal in Rome who likes Yemeni boys and is weirdly obsessed with cheaper Chinese AirPods
Well-used knife, but not a Great Dane disemboweller !
That’s a Fallkniven Jigged Stagbone Tre Kronor folding hand knife!
Speaking of inflation, and for those interested on the prior thread
So far I've spent about £3000 on repainting the bedroom, hall, kitchen, including quite expensive paint. Also about £2k on furniture upgrades, new curtains, new appliances, new ART PHOTOS etc. Still got the living room and bathroom to go, maybe another £4k including new furniture, bespoke blinds, cushions, etc
So that's £9k for a total revamp of my small but desirable flat, turning it into a kind of weird personal shrine?
I don't believe that is insane for a complete transformation, especially as it is will be THE TEMPLE OF LEON by the end
It’s also about 1/4 of the median pre-tax salary. Now you could argue that an interior refurbishment has a 7 year life span so you are not spending much on housing… but most people won’t see it like that.
But as you say, this revamp will last me easily 5 years, probably 7
So it's just over a grand a year to live in a flat I find much more pleasing. Or I do it cheaply and get depressed at the paint scheme
Also, the IKEA really HAD to go
Sure. It makes sense and you can afford it. But it’s not a small amount for most people
Nine million people across the UK have no savings and another five million have less than £100, according to new research from the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). Overall, a quarter of UK adults have less than £100 put away.
I wonder how much people owe Buy Now Pay Later like Klarna?
Buy Now Pay Later, isn't that just a catalogue, like my mum had in the 1970s?
Isn't it the master plan - Putin takes Alaska and Trump takes Canada? All nice & cosy together.
After Trump has taken over Canada, let’s see how he handles Putin invading British Columbia.
Even most Republicans don't want to take over Canada and nor is Putin that interested in Alaska, more the greater Russia of the early 20th century and USSR
I am getting annoyed about clicking links to the telegraph and finding it is behind the paywall. It's bad enough buying copies of the mail for my wife without having to pay for right wing propaganda of the Telegraph as well.
I could gift you the story but it is all over the other news sites too.
Speaking of inflation, and for those interested on the prior thread
So far I've spent about £3000 on repainting the bedroom, hall, kitchen, including quite expensive paint. Also about £2k on furniture upgrades, new curtains, new appliances, new ART PHOTOS etc. Still got the living room and bathroom to go, maybe another £4k including new furniture, bespoke blinds, cushions, etc
So that's £9k for a total revamp of my small but desirable flat, turning it into a kind of weird personal shrine?
I don't believe that is insane for a complete transformation, especially as it is will be THE TEMPLE OF LEON by the end
It’s also about 1/4 of the median pre-tax salary. Now you could argue that an interior refurbishment has a 7 year life span so you are not spending much on housing… but most people won’t see it like that.
But as you say, this revamp will last me easily 5 years, probably 7
So it's just over a grand a year to live in a flat I find much more pleasing. Or I do it cheaply and get depressed at the paint scheme
Also, the IKEA really HAD to go
Sure. It makes sense and you can afford it. But it’s not a small amount for most people
Nine million people across the UK have no savings and another five million have less than £100, according to new research from the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). Overall, a quarter of UK adults have less than £100 put away.
I wonder how much people owe Buy Now Pay Later like Klarna?
Buy Now Pay Later, isn't that just a catalogue, like my mum had in the 1970s?
Yes and no. You couldn't do that on literally everything you buy from Deliveroos to Dishwashers and the credit checks are very relaxed and once you have done your wod on Klarna there are a load of others you can use. Klarna are so widespread you could live your whole life buying everything tapping on your phone and selecting Buy in 3/4 easy payments.
Speaking of inflation, and for those interested on the prior thread
So far I've spent about £3000 on repainting the bedroom, hall, kitchen, including quite expensive paint. Also about £2k on furniture upgrades, new curtains, new appliances, new ART PHOTOS etc. Still got the living room and bathroom to go, maybe another £4k including new furniture, bespoke blinds, cushions, etc
So that's £9k for a total revamp of my small but desirable flat, turning it into a kind of weird personal shrine?
I don't believe that is insane for a complete transformation, especially as it is will be THE TEMPLE OF LEON by the end
There's a thing called Checkatrade to help older people from getting tucked up by dodgy tradesmen.
I accept that this is a very dull topic - but then it is also ON topic - cost of living
Do you honestly think I'm being ripped off? Under £10k to entirely transform a flat? Including much furniture and bespoke blinds, curtains, etc?
I don't believe it is. But if it is I am intrigued how the rest of you habitate. Do you simply slap more daub on the wattle?
I am planning a 'back to bare walls and begin again' refurb on a small one bed Edinburgh flat. New plumbing, electrics, modest kitchen and soft furnishings . As I'm planning on having some professional help in the design, my budget is £30-40,000. Plus two or three months in a short term let, which could be the difficult part.
Not commenting on the particular cost (Edinburgh is Edinburgh and I don't even know the area), or what a "full refurb means" For me it would be new windows / doors, floor up, insulate and replace, possibly plaster skim, insulate walls, new bathroom / kitchen, new heating, water, electric systems including fuse box, then carpets and redecorate - but normally that would have had nothing done for 30 years, and I would want it to last 20-30 years without more than a small further refurb. The last also need half of a new roof, which I had not expected For that I would probably be on £650-750 per sqm of floor area in 2025.
BUT, I will note:
1 - Find out what you need to get to a EPC of about 73-74, that is mid-C. That is what you will need if it is ever to be rented out (or it soon will be in England). You need mid-C because the algorithm changes every few years. One tip is that at present shower heat-recovery devices get you a couple of cheap extra points if you are nearly there.
2 - Lots of sockets, enough so no one ever needs an extension lead or multiplug extension. Normally a double can become 2 doubles. Make one or two per room a "USB included" charging double. 8-10 doubles in a small kitchen, plus all your appliance ones below worktop level.
3 - If you are going back to plaster look at insulating walls to save bills. For me this normally means 75mm of celotex on external walls, and under floors if possible.
4 - Sound insulation?
5 - IME the places where extra space is really noticed in a small place, and make it feel more luxurious are
a - Walk in shower with a screen not a door, and not a cubicle. It needs to be big enough for two comfortably. Put a garden chair in it. I normally work with a bath footprint. Do the grab rails and things now properly. b - A large cooker hob - 5 burner.
I'll shut up now, unless these are useful enough for you want a couple more.
To cross the Atlantic for a moment... it's notable in that graphic that the level of the stock market isn't considered an important indicator, which goes back to the discussion between @Casino_Royale and myself yesterday about whether Trump is delivering a strong economy. On those metrics, Trump is failing badly, which is why I expect the 2026 midterms to be very bad for the Republicans (if democracy isn't eroded by various dirty tricks).
I am getting more despondent about the chances of the midterms being a fair vote. Irrespective of any gerrymandering.
I think it's possible they could be stolen outright.
How? Congressional elections are administered by state election officials, not the Federal government.
Not even the most red of states would have all state election officials willing to falsify an election either
The Presidential elections are also administered by State election officials, and we saw what happened in 2020
Biden was elected once the votes were counted.
Does Trump even care about midterms anyway? He didn't in 2018, unless he or a member of his family is on the ballot I don't think he is really that bothered. Hence why he roused his supporters in 2020 in DC but not 2018.
If a whole load of GOP Representatives and Senators lose their seats next year I doubt Trump will care, he will blame them for being insufficiently MAGA. Remember the GOP was always just a vehicle for Trump for his presidential ambitions, he was a registered Democrat until 2009 although he had backed Reagan in the 1980s but not massively so
I imagine Trump was a New York Democrat for the same reason he was a mate of Epstein – because it granted access to the great and good, the movers and shakers, providers of finance and planning permission.
Isn't it the master plan - Putin takes Alaska and Trump takes Canada? All nice & cosy together.
After Trump has taken over Canada, let’s see how he handles Putin invading British Columbia.
Even most Republicans don't want to take over Canada and nor is Putin that interested in Alaska, more the greater Russia of the early 20th century and USSR
If I remember correctly (it's been 50 years or more) Nabokov's Ada was set in a fantasy north America that had been conquered from the west by Russians and from the east by Irish, meeting fruitfully at Old Man River.
Isn't it the master plan - Putin takes Alaska and Trump takes Canada? All nice & cosy together.
After Trump has taken over Canada, let’s see how he handles Putin invading British Columbia.
Even most Republicans don't want to take over Canada and nor is Putin that interested in Alaska, more the greater Russia of the early 20th century and USSR
Today's Russian press is full of reminders that Alaska used to be Russian, as posted on the last thread.
Not really news and he did say "...But if the Europeans want to step up and actually buy the weapons from American producers, we’re OK with that, but we’re not going to fund it ourselves anymore"
This is from the administration trying to decide the future of Ukraine. Europe needs to step up and tell them, politely or otherwise, where to go.
The reality is that the US already has pretty well stopped funding Ukraine.
Not really news and he did say "...But if the Europeans want to step up and actually buy the weapons from American producers, we’re OK with that, but we’re not going to fund it ourselves anymore"
This is from the administration trying to decide the future of Ukraine. Europe needs to step up and tell them, politely or otherwise, where to go.
The reality is that the US already has pretty well stopped funding Ukraine.
Europe is still buying US weaponry as Zelensky needs it
It sounds like a place we should build a high wall around and just lock them all in, for the benefit of the country. If we have Vance, either lock the cynical lying bugger in or send him back to his home up Trump's anus.
It's a good job I'm not living there, and the police asked me . The last time I had one of those was being searched in 2007 at St Pancras Station under Blair's terrorist powers, where a WPC looked me and the girlfriend in the eye and said "yes, I believe you could be terrorists." We had loitered with intent for 30 seconds looking at the local map on the wall.
Time for the UK to rejoin the EU and kick the US into touch. Inasmuch as we need a powerful new nuclear ally China would seem to fit the bill. Sort out Ukraine by agreeing to them joining the EU but not joining NATO which in any event would be disbanded. The US are an unreliable partner
Since there are so many reporters in the briefing room listening to Trump ramble and rant and gaffe and dissemble, I assume there are going to be tons of stories about how mentally compromised the United States President is.
Not really news and he did say "...But if the Europeans want to step up and actually buy the weapons from American producers, we’re OK with that, but we’re not going to fund it ourselves anymore"
This is from the administration trying to decide the future of Ukraine. Europe needs to step up and tell them, politely or otherwise, where to go.
The reality is that the US already has pretty well stopped funding Ukraine.
I don't understand how that works. How do you make Europe pay for the defence of Ukraine.? So easy to say but we all know it ain't gonna happen anytime soon.
As L.A. was a couple of months ago, D.C. is an excuse for Trump to continue normalizing the use of federal law enforcement and the U.S. military to police Democratic cities. The implications for local self-government, civil liberties, and the 2026 and 2028 elections are obvious.
On the upside I have found a use for my pair of exquisite lengths of Bhutanese silk which I bought in Bhutan from the Queen of Bhutan’s official silkweaver in her atelier in the Himalayas
I couldn’t find anywhere to “show them” so they have become the world’s most extravagant drawer liners in an old Italian chest
And during my renovations I found a massive bag of raw frankincense tears that I bought in a village in Oman direct from the Empty Quarter
So I have put some raw frankincense (enlivened by drops of eucalyptus oil) in small cast iron Japanese pots and put a pot in each now-silk-lined drawer. So when I open the drawer I get this intense aroma and it’s like opening the drawer of a quietly but massively gay cardinal in Rome who likes Yemeni boys and is weirdly obsessed with cheaper Chinese AirPods
Well-used knife, but not a Great Dane disemboweller !
That’s a Fallkniven Jigged Stagbone Tre Kronor folding hand knife!
Talking of decor - and money saving - by sheer coincidence my extravagantly beautiful and very expensive bespoke velvet bedroom curtains have this minute arrived from John Lewis
Only “problem” - they’ve made me two sets of beautiful velvet curtains not one. I’ve got a free set of curtains. Worth hundreds. What do I do with it? Keep it spare?
Maybe keep it spare for when one gets dry cleaned
I promise to return to non decor related discussions before the end of the summer
Bin them. No use to anyone apart from you and you already have a set.
You can't sell them because they won't fit anywhere else.
When I sold a flat some time ago I'd had some lovely silk blinds made for the windows which cost a fortune and when it came to selling the flat I offered to sell the blinds for £100. They offered £50 and I was so outraged I refused and the blinds spent the following 10 years in the attic of my new place before I finally threw them away. Lovely, they were and it's a tragedy.
So bin them now and save the palaver.
They are honestly too gorgeous to bin. Bespoke crushed velvet in this kind of rusty orange
Oooooh
I just can’t chuck em, psychologically
I shall keep a set spare for emergencies and cleaning or maybe just rolling around in naked
Think big - have another window put in for the curtains.
Great to see an interview with one of Britain's oldest soldiers, getting ready for the 80th anniversary of VJ day on Friday. He was a mule-wrangler with the "forgotten army" in Burma.
Ashley Neal has an interesting new type of video - rapid reactions from him to dash cammers; it's an interesting things because is sane and comments on both sides.
Potentially a way to talk about improving driving to a different audience.
On the upside I have found a use for my pair of exquisite lengths of Bhutanese silk which I bought in Bhutan from the Queen of Bhutan’s official silkweaver in her atelier in the Himalayas
I couldn’t find anywhere to “show them” so they have become the world’s most extravagant drawer liners in an old Italian chest
And during my renovations I found a massive bag of raw frankincense tears that I bought in a village in Oman direct from the Empty Quarter
So I have put some raw frankincense (enlivened by drops of eucalyptus oil) in small cast iron Japanese pots and put a pot in each now-silk-lined drawer. So when I open the drawer I get this intense aroma and it’s like opening the drawer of a quietly but massively gay cardinal in Rome who likes Yemeni boys and is weirdly obsessed with cheaper Chinese AirPods
Well-used knife, but not a Great Dane disemboweller !
That’s a Fallkniven Jigged Stagbone Tre Kronor folding hand knife!
Not really news and he did say "...But if the Europeans want to step up and actually buy the weapons from American producers, we’re OK with that, but we’re not going to fund it ourselves anymore"
This is from the administration trying to decide the future of Ukraine. Europe needs to step up and tell them, politely or otherwise, where to go.
The reality is that the US already has pretty well stopped funding Ukraine.
I don't understand how that works. How do you make Europe pay for the defence of Ukraine.? So easy to say but we all know it ain't gonna happen anytime soon.
Not really news and he did say "...But if the Europeans want to step up and actually buy the weapons from American producers, we’re OK with that, but we’re not going to fund it ourselves anymore"
This is from the administration trying to decide the future of Ukraine. Europe needs to step up and tell them, politely or otherwise, where to go.
The reality is that the US already has pretty well stopped funding Ukraine.
I don't understand how that works. How do you make Europe pay for the defence of Ukraine.? So easy to say but we all know it ain't gonna happen anytime soon.
That was part of the deal reached a few weeks ago - NATO countries paying for US arms, and the US agreeing to supply eg Patriot missiles.
One of the thoughts is that it is abotu managing Trump, and gives him a positive reason ("lots of business for the US") for engaging with supplies to Ukraine, and a downside if he pulls out.
On the upside I have found a use for my pair of exquisite lengths of Bhutanese silk which I bought in Bhutan from the Queen of Bhutan’s official silkweaver in her atelier in the Himalayas
I couldn’t find anywhere to “show them” so they have become the world’s most extravagant drawer liners in an old Italian chest
And during my renovations I found a massive bag of raw frankincense tears that I bought in a village in Oman direct from the Empty Quarter
So I have put some raw frankincense (enlivened by drops of eucalyptus oil) in small cast iron Japanese pots and put a pot in each now-silk-lined drawer. So when I open the drawer I get this intense aroma and it’s like opening the drawer of a quietly but massively gay cardinal in Rome who likes Yemeni boys and is weirdly obsessed with cheaper Chinese AirPods
Well-used knife, but not a Great Dane disemboweller !
That’s a Fallkniven Jigged Stagbone Tre Kronor folding hand knife!
Can’t get em anymore in that super robust style
Look nice for outdoor eating, if sharpened well.
Sorry - "looks nice".
"I forgive you. I only hope my neurologist feels the same."
What a ghastly racist country Israel has become. The news footage on Ch4 is heart breaking. The five murdered journalists look as genuine as any you are likely to see. His viewing figures are huge. There are 140 million Arab speakers world wide who watch him.
But who would believe Netanyahu and his rabid racist country anyway.
What a ghastly racist country Israel has become. The news footage on Ch4 is heart breaking. The five murdered journalists look as genuine as any you are likely to see. His viewing figures are huge. There are 140 million Arab speakers world wide who watch him.
But who would believe Netanyahu and his rabid racist country anyway.
Evil as they are they are still fighting terrorists who are holding hostages (if they are even still alive). What’s stopping Hamas from ending this?
Speaking of inflation, and for those interested on the prior thread
So far I've spent about £3000 on repainting the bedroom, hall, kitchen, including quite expensive paint. Also about £2k on furniture upgrades, new curtains, new appliances, new ART PHOTOS etc. Still got the living room and bathroom to go, maybe another £4k including new furniture, bespoke blinds, cushions, etc
So that's £9k for a total revamp of my small but desirable flat, turning it into a kind of weird personal shrine?
I don't believe that is insane for a complete transformation, especially as it is will be THE TEMPLE OF LEON by the end
There's a thing called Checkatrade to help older people from getting tucked up by dodgy tradesmen.
Sites like Checkatrade have a reputation for deleting poor reviews. It costs the tradesman £40 to £140 per month for membership.
What a ghastly racist country Israel has become. The news footage on Ch4 is heart breaking. The five murdered journalists look as genuine as any you are likely to see. His viewing figures are huge. There are 140 million Arab speakers world wide who watch him.
But who would believe Netanyahu and his rabid racist country anyway.
The IDF knew exactly where they were based and murdered them for publicising the deliberate famine and associated ""Hunger Games" killings.
Yet our government can't understand why so many support Palestine Action.
What a ghastly racist country Israel has become. The news footage on Ch4 is heart breaking. The five murdered journalists look as genuine as any you are likely to see. His viewing figures are huge. There are 140 million Arab speakers world wide who watch him.
But who would believe Netanyahu and his rabid racist country anyway.
The IDF knew exactly where they were based and murdered them for publicising the deliberate famine and associated ""Hunger Games" killings.
Yet our government can't understand why so many support Palestine Action.
Is there anything Hamas could say that you wouldn't believe?
A propos very little, I was out and about on Saturday morning primarily to get the Racing Post (yes, I know I can read it online but I'm a bluff old traditionalist) and saw my local neighbourhood Police Officer with another officer taking a shoplifter into custody.
While there are no doubt many who shoplift simply because they think they can get away with it, it's also clear a number of shoplifters have mental health and/or addiction issues.
It's easy to tar all who transgress with the same brush and regrettably it seems attitudes to mental health problems and addictions have hardened in recent times.
As a further aside, the closure and subsequent sale of East Ham Police Station by the London Mayor at the time, Boris Johnson, has been catastrophic for law enforcement in this part of London. From the other side of the capital, I read Wimbledon MP Paul Kohler is leading the fight to prevent the closure of Wimbledon Police Station.
This act of blatant stupidity by the Met is for me unforgivable and indeed I'd support a London Mayoral candidate committed to restporing a Police presence in High Streets.
On the upside I have found a use for my pair of exquisite lengths of Bhutanese silk which I bought in Bhutan from the Queen of Bhutan’s official silkweaver in her atelier in the Himalayas
I couldn’t find anywhere to “show them” so they have become the world’s most extravagant drawer liners in an old Italian chest
And during my renovations I found a massive bag of raw frankincense tears that I bought in a village in Oman direct from the Empty Quarter
So I have put some raw frankincense (enlivened by drops of eucalyptus oil) in small cast iron Japanese pots and put a pot in each now-silk-lined drawer. So when I open the drawer I get this intense aroma and it’s like opening the drawer of a quietly but massively gay cardinal in Rome who likes Yemeni boys and is weirdly obsessed with cheaper Chinese AirPods
Well-used knife, but not a Great Dane disemboweller !
That’s a Fallkniven Jigged Stagbone Tre Kronor folding hand knife!
Can’t get em anymore in that super robust style
The jigged bone is discontinued but the TK3 is very much still available
What a ghastly racist country Israel has become. The news footage on Ch4 is heart breaking. The five murdered journalists look as genuine as any you are likely to see. His viewing figures are huge. There are 140 million Arab speakers world wide who watch him.
But who would believe Netanyahu and his rabid racist country anyway.
The IDF knew exactly where they were based and murdered them for publicising the deliberate famine and associated ""Hunger Games" killings.
Yet our government can't understand why so many support Palestine Action.
Is there anything Hamas could say that you wouldn't believe?
Hamas are a death cult. They are pure evil.
Israel is, and should be measured by United Nations adjudicated metrics. Ben G'vir, Smotrich and Netanyahu are running Israel as a rogue state.
What a ghastly racist country Israel has become. The news footage on Ch4 is heart breaking. The five murdered journalists look as genuine as any you are likely to see. His viewing figures are huge. There are 140 million Arab speakers world wide who watch him.
But who would believe Netanyahu and his rabid racist country anyway.
The IDF knew exactly where they were based and murdered them for publicising the deliberate famine and associated ""Hunger Games" killings.
Yet our government can't understand why so many support Palestine Action.
Is there anything Hamas could say that you wouldn't believe?
That's the trouble - we can't know for sure because the IDF keep killing journalists in Gaza. There's a reason we aren't getting nightly updates on the famine (or lack of one) from Clive Myrie on the ground.
We have to rely on satellite imagery or journalists sneaking phones onto IDF surveillance flights.
What a ghastly racist country Israel has become. The news footage on Ch4 is heart breaking. The five murdered journalists look as genuine as any you are likely to see. His viewing figures are huge. There are 140 million Arab speakers world wide who watch him.
But who would believe Netanyahu and his rabid racist country anyway.
The IDF knew exactly where they were based and murdered them for publicising the deliberate famine and associated ""Hunger Games" killings.
Yet our government can't understand why so many support Palestine Action.
Is there anything Hamas could say that you wouldn't believe?
Why have Israel banned journalists from entering Gaza? What have they got to hide?
What a ghastly racist country Israel has become. The news footage on Ch4 is heart breaking. The five murdered journalists look as genuine as any you are likely to see. His viewing figures are huge. There are 140 million Arab speakers world wide who watch him.
But who would believe Netanyahu and his rabid racist country anyway.
Evil as they are they are still fighting terrorists who are holding hostages (if they are even still alive). What’s stopping Hamas from ending this?
What a ghastly racist country Israel has become. The news footage on Ch4 is heart breaking. The five murdered journalists look as genuine as any you are likely to see. His viewing figures are huge. There are 140 million Arab speakers world wide who watch him.
But who would believe Netanyahu and his rabid racist country anyway.
The IDF knew exactly where they were based and murdered them for publicising the deliberate famine and associated ""Hunger Games" killings.
Yet our government can't understand why so many support Palestine Action.
There's a lady on Mastermind right now: Hunger Games as specialist subject.
What a ghastly racist country Israel has become. The news footage on Ch4 is heart breaking. The five murdered journalists look as genuine as any you are likely to see. His viewing figures are huge. There are 140 million Arab speakers world wide who watch him.
But who would believe Netanyahu and his rabid racist country anyway.
The IDF knew exactly where they were based and murdered them for publicising the deliberate famine and associated ""Hunger Games" killings.
Yet our government can't understand why so many support Palestine Action.
Is there anything Hamas could say that you wouldn't believe?
Why have Israel banned journalists from entering Gaza? What have they got to hide?
Not really news and he did say "...But if the Europeans want to step up and actually buy the weapons from American producers, we’re OK with that, but we’re not going to fund it ourselves anymore"
This is from the administration trying to decide the future of Ukraine. Europe needs to step up and tell them, politely or otherwise, where to go.
The reality is that the US already has pretty well stopped funding Ukraine.
I don't understand how that works. How do you make Europe pay for the defence of Ukraine.? So easy to say but we all know it ain't gonna happen anytime soon.
Plenty of European countries are already doing it
So problem solved?? I wonder why Europe is still friends with Trump if we don't need him. The mystery deepens.
What a ghastly racist country Israel has become. The news footage on Ch4 is heart breaking. The five murdered journalists look as genuine as any you are likely to see. His viewing figures are huge. There are 140 million Arab speakers world wide who watch him.
But who would believe Netanyahu and his rabid racist country anyway.
The IDF knew exactly where they were based and murdered them for publicising the deliberate famine and associated ""Hunger Games" killings.
Yet our government can't understand why so many support Palestine Action.
Is there anything Hamas could say that you wouldn't believe?
Why have Israel banned journalists from entering Gaza? What have they got to hide?
They don't want to have to rescue more hostages
They don't want the truth reported is the right answer.
Misuse of "vigilante" is a bit risky by the Telegraph there, particularly if charges are brought.
A-5.
. .
I see your Vigilante and raise. NR-349 - the proposed three engined version. Because, why not?
The cancelled XF-108 was the fighter version, supposed to escort the XB-70 supersonic bomber. A couple of XB-70s were built before the project was cancelled, leading to no XF-108s being built at all.
Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is set to have a press conference at 3pm today, after President Trump declared an emergency and said he would be federalizing the DC police.
What a ghastly racist country Israel has become. The news footage on Ch4 is heart breaking. The five murdered journalists look as genuine as any you are likely to see. His viewing figures are huge. There are 140 million Arab speakers world wide who watch him.
But who would believe Netanyahu and his rabid racist country anyway.
The IDF knew exactly where they were based and murdered them for publicising the deliberate famine and associated ""Hunger Games" killings.
Yet our government can't understand why so many support Palestine Action.
Yvette is out of her depth.. She doesn't realize that things have moved on and Israel are not viewed as they once were (erroniously to thiose who have been following and know the country and their real history)
This is the face of Israel. A short interview with Jeremy Bowen but for anyone with even a little finger still in the Israel camp worth watching
What a ghastly racist country Israel has become. The news footage on Ch4 is heart breaking. The five murdered journalists look as genuine as any you are likely to see. His viewing figures are huge. There are 140 million Arab speakers world wide who watch him.
But who would believe Netanyahu and his rabid racist country anyway.
The IDF knew exactly where they were based and murdered them for publicising the deliberate famine and associated ""Hunger Games" killings.
Yet our government can't understand why so many support Palestine Action.
Is there anything Hamas could say that you wouldn't believe?
Why have Israel banned journalists from entering Gaza? What have they got to hide?
They don't want to have to rescue more hostages
There's only one thing to be done.
Recognise the West Bank as a sovereign Palestinian State, withdraw all support for Israel to settle it, get the settlers out, evacuate the Gazans there, and just give Gaza to Israel.
Talking of decor - and money saving - by sheer coincidence my extravagantly beautiful and very expensive bespoke velvet bedroom curtains have this minute arrived from John Lewis
Only “problem” - they’ve made me two sets of beautiful velvet curtains not one. I’ve got a free set of curtains. Worth hundreds. What do I do with it? Keep it spare?
Maybe keep it spare for when one gets dry cleaned
I promise to return to non decor related discussions before the end of the summer
Bin them. No use to anyone apart from you and you already have a set.
You can't sell them because they won't fit anywhere else.
When I sold a flat some time ago I'd had some lovely silk blinds made for the windows which cost a fortune and when it came to selling the flat I offered to sell the blinds for £100. They offered £50 and I was so outraged I refused and the blinds spent the following 10 years in the attic of my new place before I finally threw them away. Lovely, they were and it's a tragedy.
So bin them now and save the palaver.
They are honestly too gorgeous to bin. Bespoke crushed velvet in this kind of rusty orange
Oooooh
I just can’t chuck em, psychologically
I shall keep a set spare for emergencies and cleaning or maybe just rolling around in naked
Think big - have another window put in for the curtains.
Rusty orange is a 1970s colour !
Especially perhaps from Habitat.
Ford Capris, I think? Burnt Orange is certainly a Ford colour.
What a ghastly racist country Israel has become. The news footage on Ch4 is heart breaking. The five murdered journalists look as genuine as any you are likely to see. His viewing figures are huge. There are 140 million Arab speakers world wide who watch him.
But who would believe Netanyahu and his rabid racist country anyway.
The IDF knew exactly where they were based and murdered them for publicising the deliberate famine and associated ""Hunger Games" killings.
Yet our government can't understand why so many support Palestine Action.
Is there anything Hamas could say that you wouldn't believe?
Why have Israel banned journalists from entering Gaza? What have they got to hide?
They don't want to have to rescue more hostages
There's only one thing to be done.
Recognise the West Bank as a sovereign Palestinian State, withdraw all support for Israel to settle it, get the settlers out, evacuate the Gazans there, and just give Gaza to Israel.
Reports from many Ukrainian sources of a potentially catastrophic Russian breakthrough toward Dobropilla in Donetsk region, with advance Russian troops cutting off the Dobropilla-Kramatorsk road. Unless stopped rapidly this has the potential to have very serious consequences.
Reports from many Ukrainian sources of a potentially catastrophic Russian breakthrough toward Dobropilla in Donetsk region, with advance Russian troops cutting off the Dobropilla-Kramatorsk road. Unless stopped rapidly this has the potential to have very serious consequences.
A propos very little, I was out and about on Saturday morning primarily to get the Racing Post (yes, I know I can read it online but I'm a bluff old traditionalist) and saw my local neighbourhood Police Officer with another officer taking a shoplifter into custody.
While there are no doubt many who shoplift simply because they think they can get away with it, it's also clear a number of shoplifters have mental health and/or addiction issues.
It's easy to tar all who transgress with the same brush and regrettably it seems attitudes to mental health problems and addictions have hardened in recent times.
As a further aside, the closure and subsequent sale of East Ham Police Station by the London Mayor at the time, Boris Johnson, has been catastrophic for law enforcement in this part of London. From the other side of the capital, I read Wimbledon MP Paul Kohler is leading the fight to prevent the closure of Wimbledon Police Station.
This act of blatant stupidity by the Met is for me unforgivable and indeed I'd support a London Mayoral candidate committed to restporing a Police presence in High Streets.
You are saying that the Met has committed an act of blatant stupidity?
Hmmm
You are aware that their moto is “Primus Inter Stultos”?
What a ghastly racist country Israel has become. The news footage on Ch4 is heart breaking. The five murdered journalists look as genuine as any you are likely to see. His viewing figures are huge. There are 140 million Arab speakers world wide who watch him.
But who would believe Netanyahu and his rabid racist country anyway.
The IDF knew exactly where they were based and murdered them for publicising the deliberate famine and associated ""Hunger Games" killings.
Yet our government can't understand why so many support Palestine Action.
Is there anything Hamas could say that you wouldn't believe?
Why have Israel banned journalists from entering Gaza? What have they got to hide?
They don't want to have to rescue more hostages
There's only one thing to be done.
Recognise the West Bank as a sovereign Palestinian State, withdraw all support for Israel to settle it, get the settlers out, evacuate the Gazans there, and just give Gaza to Israel.
A propos very little, I was out and about on Saturday morning primarily to get the Racing Post (yes, I know I can read it online but I'm a bluff old traditionalist) and saw my local neighbourhood Police Officer with another officer taking a shoplifter into custody.
While there are no doubt many who shoplift simply because they think they can get away with it, it's also clear a number of shoplifters have mental health and/or addiction issues.
It's easy to tar all who transgress with the same brush and regrettably it seems attitudes to mental health problems and addictions have hardened in recent times.
As a further aside, the closure and subsequent sale of East Ham Police Station by the London Mayor at the time, Boris Johnson, has been catastrophic for law enforcement in this part of London. From the other side of the capital, I read Wimbledon MP Paul Kohler is leading the fight to prevent the closure of Wimbledon Police Station.
This act of blatant stupidity by the Met is for me unforgivable and indeed I'd support a London Mayoral candidate committed to restporing a Police presence in High Streets.
You are saying that the Met has committed an act of blatant stupidity?
Hmmm
You are aware that their moto is “Primus Inter Stultos”?
Barkingside in Ilford North lost its police station quite a while ago.
As a Zionist, I support Israel’s right to exist within its originally approved 1947 borders. I understand and sympathise with its territorial expansion in 1948 and 1967, though I do not endorse those changes. Like many, I was horrified by the events of October 2023 and understood the strong reaction that followed. However, this has now gone too far. Israel has lost almost all of its friends, and frankly, I doubt it will exist in thirty years’ time. I believe this outcome is exactly what Hamas intended. They wanted Israel to kill tens or even hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. They cared nothing for the suffering or deaths — their aim was to provoke an overreaction that would isolate Israel completely. And, by Jove, they have succeeded. Israel has walked straight into the trap.
A propos very little, I was out and about on Saturday morning primarily to get the Racing Post (yes, I know I can read it online but I'm a bluff old traditionalist) and saw my local neighbourhood Police Officer with another officer taking a shoplifter into custody.
While there are no doubt many who shoplift simply because they think they can get away with it, it's also clear a number of shoplifters have mental health and/or addiction issues.
It's easy to tar all who transgress with the same brush and regrettably it seems attitudes to mental health problems and addictions have hardened in recent times.
As a further aside, the closure and subsequent sale of East Ham Police Station by the London Mayor at the time, Boris Johnson, has been catastrophic for law enforcement in this part of London. From the other side of the capital, I read Wimbledon MP Paul Kohler is leading the fight to prevent the closure of Wimbledon Police Station.
This act of blatant stupidity by the Met is for me unforgivable and indeed I'd support a London Mayoral candidate committed to restporing a Police presence in High Streets.
You are saying that the Met has committed an act of blatant stupidity?
Hmmm
You are aware that their moto is “Primus Inter Stultos”?
Barkingside in Ilford North lost its police station quite a while ago.
The rank and file in the police regard the SMT with all the love that Roger has for Netanyahu.
Quote from Project 2025. You should check it every time as it's Trump's checklist
One school of conservative thought holds that as Moscow’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine drags on, Russia presents major challenges to U.S. interests, as well as to peace, stability, and the post-Cold War security order in Europe. This viewpoint argues for continued U.S. involvement including military aid, economic aid, and the presence of NATO and U.S. troops if necessary. The end goal of the conflict must be the defeat of Russian President Vladimir Putin and a return to pre-invasion border lines.
Another school of conservative thought denies that U.S. Ukrainian support is in the national security interest of America at all. Ukraine is not a member of the NATO alliance and is one of the most corrupt nations in the region. European nations directly affected by the conflict should aid in the defense of Ukraine, but the U.S. should not continue its involvement. This viewpoint desires a swift end to the conflict through a negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia.
The tension between these competing positions has given rise to a third approach. This conservative viewpoint eschews both isolationism and interventionism. Rather, each foreign policy decision must first ask the question: What is in the interest of the American people? U.S. military engagement must clearly fall within U.S. interests; be fiscally responsible; and protect American freedom, liberty, and sovereignty, all while recognizing Communist China as the greatest threat to U.S. interests. Thus, with respect to Ukraine, continued U.S. involvement must be fully paid for; limited to military aid (while European allies address Ukraine’s economic needs); and have a clearly defined national security strategy that does not risk American lives..
What a ghastly racist country Israel has become. The news footage on Ch4 is heart breaking. The five murdered journalists look as genuine as any you are likely to see. His viewing figures are huge. There are 140 million Arab speakers world wide who watch him.
But who would believe Netanyahu and his rabid racist country anyway.
The IDF knew exactly where they were based and murdered them for publicising the deliberate famine and associated ""Hunger Games" killings.
Yet our government can't understand why so many support Palestine Action.
Is there anything Hamas could say that you wouldn't believe?
Why have Israel banned journalists from entering Gaza? What have they got to hide?
They don't want to have to rescue more hostages
There's only one thing to be done.
Recognise the West Bank as a sovereign Palestinian State, withdraw all support for Israel to settle it, get the settlers out, evacuate the Gazans there, and just give Gaza to Israel.
I think that makes sense too.
Fill in the sea. Make more land.
It will cost a few hundred billion. Cheaper than 50 years of war in the region.
As a Zionist, I support Israel’s right to exist within its originally approved 1947 borders. I understand and sympathise with its territorial expansion in 1948 and 1967, though I do not endorse those changes. Like many, I was horrified by the events of October 2023 and understood the strong reaction that followed. However, this has now gone too far. Israel has lost almost all of its friends, and frankly, I doubt it will exist in thirty years’ time. I believe this outcome is exactly what Hamas intended. They wanted Israel to kill tens or even hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. They cared nothing for the suffering or deaths — their aim was to provoke an overreaction that would isolate Israel completely. And, by Jove, they have succeeded. Israel has walked straight into the trap.
How did Hamas know that so much of the rest of the world would believe and propagate their propaganda?
I see Morris Dancer has been giving Trump history lessons.
Trump said that during their conversation, Hungarian PM Orbán ruled out a Ukrainian victory over Russia, claiming that Russia “doesn’t surrender in wars” and historically emerges victorious.
Crimean war 1856 Russo-Japanese War 1905 WW1 1918 Polish-Soviet war 1921 The Cold fucking War 1989 The Afghan war 1989
What a ghastly racist country Israel has become. The news footage on Ch4 is heart breaking. The five murdered journalists look as genuine as any you are likely to see. His viewing figures are huge. There are 140 million Arab speakers world wide who watch him.
But who would believe Netanyahu and his rabid racist country anyway.
The IDF knew exactly where they were based and murdered them for publicising the deliberate famine and associated ""Hunger Games" killings.
Yet our government can't understand why so many support Palestine Action.
Is there anything Hamas could say that you wouldn't believe?
Why have Israel banned journalists from entering Gaza? What have they got to hide?
They don't want to have to rescue more hostages
There's only one thing to be done.
Recognise the West Bank as a sovereign Palestinian State, withdraw all support for Israel to settle it, get the settlers out, evacuate the Gazans there, and just give Gaza to Israel.
Short of killing every Palestinian abroad as well as in Gaza and the West Bank Israel is just creating a diaspora wanting to return to their ancestral lands. Surely Jews should understand that? After all their own diaspora kept that desire for 20 centuries. Why should the Palestinians feel differently?
As a Zionist, I support Israel’s right to exist within its originally approved 1947 borders. I understand and sympathise with its territorial expansion in 1948 and 1967, though I do not endorse those changes. Like many, I was horrified by the events of October 2023 and understood the strong reaction that followed. However, this has now gone too far. Israel has lost almost all of its friends, and frankly, I doubt it will exist in thirty years’ time. I believe this outcome is exactly what Hamas intended. They wanted Israel to kill tens or even hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. They cared nothing for the suffering or deaths — their aim was to provoke an overreaction that would isolate Israel completely. And, by Jove, they have succeeded. Israel has walked straight into the trap.
How did Hamas know that so much of the rest of the world would believe and propagate their propaganda?
And how is the Israeli "genocide" of Gazans so absurdly inefficient?
Misuse of "vigilante" is a bit risky by the Telegraph there, particularly if charges are brought.
A-5.
. .
I see your Vigilante and raise. NR-349 - the proposed three engined version. Because, why not?
The cancelled XF-108 was the fighter version, supposed to escort the XB-70 supersonic bomber. A couple of XB-70s were built before the project was cancelled, leading to no XF-108s being built at all.
Talking of decor - and money saving - by sheer coincidence my extravagantly beautiful and very expensive bespoke velvet bedroom curtains have this minute arrived from John Lewis
Only “problem” - they’ve made me two sets of beautiful velvet curtains not one. I’ve got a free set of curtains. Worth hundreds. What do I do with it? Keep it spare?
Maybe keep it spare for when one gets dry cleaned
I promise to return to non decor related discussions before the end of the summer
Bin them. No use to anyone apart from you and you already have a set.
You can't sell them because they won't fit anywhere else.
When I sold a flat some time ago I'd had some lovely silk blinds made for the windows which cost a fortune and when it came to selling the flat I offered to sell the blinds for £100. They offered £50 and I was so outraged I refused and the blinds spent the following 10 years in the attic of my new place before I finally threw them away. Lovely, they were and it's a tragedy.
So bin them now and save the palaver.
They are honestly too gorgeous to bin. Bespoke crushed velvet in this kind of rusty orange
Oooooh
I just can’t chuck em, psychologically
I shall keep a set spare for emergencies and cleaning or maybe just rolling around in naked
Think big - have another window put in for the curtains.
Rusty orange is a 1970s colour !
Especially perhaps from Habitat.
Ford Capris, I think? Burnt Orange is certainly a Ford colour.
As a Zionist, I support Israel’s right to exist within its originally approved 1947 borders. I understand and sympathise with its territorial expansion in 1948 and 1967, though I do not endorse those changes. Like many, I was horrified by the events of October 2023 and understood the strong reaction that followed. However, this has now gone too far. Israel has lost almost all of its friends, and frankly, I doubt it will exist in thirty years’ time. I believe this outcome is exactly what Hamas intended. They wanted Israel to kill tens or even hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. They cared nothing for the suffering or deaths — their aim was to provoke an overreaction that would isolate Israel completely. And, by Jove, they have succeeded. Israel has walked straight into the trap.
How did Hamas know that so much of the rest of the world would believe and propagate their propaganda?
What a ghastly racist country Israel has become. The news footage on Ch4 is heart breaking. The five murdered journalists look as genuine as any you are likely to see. His viewing figures are huge. There are 140 million Arab speakers world wide who watch him.
But who would believe Netanyahu and his rabid racist country anyway.
The IDF knew exactly where they were based and murdered them for publicising the deliberate famine and associated ""Hunger Games" killings.
Yet our government can't understand why so many support Palestine Action.
Is there anything Hamas could say that you wouldn't believe?
Why have Israel banned journalists from entering Gaza? What have they got to hide?
They don't want to have to rescue more hostages
There's only one thing to be done.
Recognise the West Bank as a sovereign Palestinian State, withdraw all support for Israel to settle it, get the settlers out, evacuate the Gazans there, and just give Gaza to Israel.
Short of killing every Palestinian abroad as well as in Gaza and the West Bank Israel is just creating a diaspora wanting to return to their ancestral lands. Surely Jews should understand that? After all their own diaspora kept that desire for 20 centuries. Why should the Palestinians feel differently?
How many of them can countenance the existence of Israel next door?
What a ghastly racist country Israel has become. The news footage on Ch4 is heart breaking. The five murdered journalists look as genuine as any you are likely to see. His viewing figures are huge. There are 140 million Arab speakers world wide who watch him.
But who would believe Netanyahu and his rabid racist country anyway.
The IDF knew exactly where they were based and murdered them for publicising the deliberate famine and associated ""Hunger Games" killings.
Yet our government can't understand why so many support Palestine Action.
Is there anything Hamas could say that you wouldn't believe?
Why have Israel banned journalists from entering Gaza? What have they got to hide?
They don't want to have to rescue more hostages
There's only one thing to be done.
Recognise the West Bank as a sovereign Palestinian State, withdraw all support for Israel to settle it, get the settlers out, evacuate the Gazans there, and just give Gaza to Israel.
Short of killing every Palestinian abroad as well as in Gaza and the West Bank Israel is just creating a diaspora wanting to return to their ancestral lands. Surely Jews should understand that? After all their own diaspora kept that desire for 20 centuries. Why should the Palestinians feel differently?
What a ghastly racist country Israel has become. The news footage on Ch4 is heart breaking. The five murdered journalists look as genuine as any you are likely to see. His viewing figures are huge. There are 140 million Arab speakers world wide who watch him.
But who would believe Netanyahu and his rabid racist country anyway.
The IDF knew exactly where they were based and murdered them for publicising the deliberate famine and associated ""Hunger Games" killings.
Yet our government can't understand why so many support Palestine Action.
There's a lady on Mastermind right now: Hunger Games as specialist subject.
What a ghastly racist country Israel has become. The news footage on Ch4 is heart breaking. The five murdered journalists look as genuine as any you are likely to see. His viewing figures are huge. There are 140 million Arab speakers world wide who watch him.
But who would believe Netanyahu and his rabid racist country anyway.
The IDF knew exactly where they were based and murdered them for publicising the deliberate famine and associated ""Hunger Games" killings.
Yet our government can't understand why so many support Palestine Action.
There's a lady on Mastermind right now: Hunger Games as specialist subject.
Purge
Wasn't that so they could eat more to show off their wealth?
Comments
The only serious refurb I looked at in London was a 1 bed 400sqft flat in EC2, that I was being offered for 70k + lease extension to get a mortgage back around 2000.
I was being quoted 20k for a fullish but not complete refurb including rewire, kitchen, bathroom etc. I did not have the £100k to hand, unfortunately. They are now about £450k.
https://thehill.com/homenews/5445500-vance-done-funding-ukraine-war-business/
That’s the classy way to do things…
Suggest you have them made up into matching cushions / bed spread / dancing cape / whatever
Buried in The Observer yesterday was this: UK police knocking on doors demanding details of social media accounts of people, to pass to a foreign government, simply because they happen to live near where a US politician wanted to have a holiday https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/first-it-was-clarkson-now-its-vance-spare-a-thought-for-the-beleaguered-cotswolds
https://bsky.app/profile/norock.bsky.social/post/3lw47wabkek2m
Can’t get em anymore in that super robust style
Man, 52, dies after restraining incident at shop
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czr660650myo
MattW should do a header on unfeasibly narrow pavements!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Ross,_California
BUT, I will note:
1 - Find out what you need to get to a EPC of about 73-74, that is mid-C. That is what you will need if it is ever to be rented out (or it soon will be in England). You need mid-C because the algorithm changes every few years. One tip is that at present shower heat-recovery devices get you a couple of cheap extra points if you are nearly there.
2 - Lots of sockets, enough so no one ever needs an extension lead or multiplug extension. Normally a double can become 2 doubles. Make one or two per room a "USB included" charging double. 8-10 doubles in a small kitchen, plus all your appliance ones below worktop level.
3 - If you are going back to plaster look at insulating walls to save bills. For me this normally means 75mm of celotex on external walls, and under floors if possible.
4 - Sound insulation?
5 - IME the places where extra space is really noticed in a small place, and make it feel more luxurious are
a - Walk in shower with a screen not a door, and not a cubicle. It needs to be big enough for two comfortably. Put a garden chair in it. I normally work with a bath footprint. Do the grab rails and things now properly.
b - A large cooker hob - 5 burner.
I'll shut up now, unless these are useful enough for you want a couple more.
.
Mr Dalliard! We've been Activated! | A Bit of Fry And Laurie | BBC Comedy Greats
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBURlcNpfoo
sellgive away many tickets for it though.The reality is that the US already has pretty well stopped funding Ukraine.
It's a good job I'm not living there, and the police asked me
@SarahLongwell25
Since there are so many reporters in the briefing room listening to Trump ramble and rant and gaffe and dissemble, I assume there are going to be tons of stories about how mentally compromised the United States President is.
https://x.com/SarahLongwell25/status/1954931271131664535
Bill Kristol
@BillKristol
As L.A. was a couple of months ago, D.C. is an excuse for Trump to continue normalizing the use of federal law enforcement and the U.S. military to police Democratic cities. The implications for local self-government, civil liberties, and the 2026 and 2028 elections are obvious.
https://x.com/BillKristol/status/1954913337340514571
Especially perhaps from Habitat.
Bradford veteran on WW2: 'The bombs fell all around, but I survived' - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyv3m47yddo?app-referrer=deep-link
Potentially a way to talk about improving driving to a different audience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNYXz5m41EE
Nothing story, in fact.
It has already started:
https://www.politico.eu/article/netherlands-moves-first-with-e500m-pledge-to-fund-u-s-weapons-to-ukraine/
One of the thoughts is that it is abotu managing Trump, and gives him a positive reason ("lots of business for the US") for engaging with supplies to Ukraine, and a downside if he pulls out.
But who would believe Netanyahu and his rabid racist country anyway.
What’s stopping Hamas from ending this?
I'd go with personal recommendations every time.
Yet our government can't understand why so many support Palestine Action.
A propos very little, I was out and about on Saturday morning primarily to get the Racing Post (yes, I know I can read it online but I'm a bluff old traditionalist) and saw my local neighbourhood Police Officer with another officer taking a shoplifter into custody.
While there are no doubt many who shoplift simply because they think they can get away with it, it's also clear a number of shoplifters have mental health and/or addiction issues.
It's easy to tar all who transgress with the same brush and regrettably it seems attitudes to mental health problems and addictions have hardened in recent times.
As a further aside, the closure and subsequent sale of East Ham Police Station by the London Mayor at the time, Boris Johnson, has been catastrophic for law enforcement in this part of London. From the other side of the capital, I read Wimbledon MP Paul Kohler is leading the fight to prevent the closure of Wimbledon Police Station.
This act of blatant stupidity by the Met is for me unforgivable and indeed I'd support a London Mayoral candidate committed to restporing a Police presence in High Streets.
Israel is, and should be measured by United Nations adjudicated metrics. Ben G'vir, Smotrich and Netanyahu are running Israel as a rogue state.
We have to rely on satellite imagery or journalists sneaking phones onto IDF surveillance flights.
@mmcassella
The President has signed an executive order extending the U.S.-China tariff truce another 90 days, a White House official tells
@EamonJavers
.
No word as to why this wasn't agreed in Stockholm, or in the two weeks since. Truce would now expire at 12:01 a.m. November 9.
I have not dug into the difference the area DC status makes.
Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is set to have a press conference at 3pm today, after President Trump declared an emergency and said he would be federalizing the DC police.
https://x.com/ToluseO/status/1954973668703945104
This is the face of Israel. A short interview with Jeremy Bowen but for anyone with even a little finger still in the Israel camp worth watching
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj4wwxz12jko
Recognise the West Bank as a sovereign Palestinian State, withdraw all support for Israel to settle it, get the settlers out, evacuate the Gazans there, and just give Gaza to Israel.
https://x.com/wire1626254wire/status/1954977500678783378?s=61
https://bsky.app/profile/thetnholler.bsky.social/post/3lw3kzeyihc2z
https://touchuppaintfactory.co.uk/products/ford-all-models-burnt-orange-frd20005-u-z-touch-up-paint
Reports from many Ukrainian sources of a potentially catastrophic Russian breakthrough toward Dobropilla in Donetsk region, with advance Russian troops cutting off the Dobropilla-Kramatorsk road. Unless stopped rapidly this has the potential to have very serious consequences.
https://x.com/yarotrof/status/1954978445802475663
Hmmm
You are aware that their moto is “Primus Inter Stultos”?
I believe this outcome is exactly what Hamas intended. They wanted Israel to kill tens or even hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. They cared nothing for the suffering or deaths — their aim was to provoke an overreaction that would isolate Israel completely. And, by Jove, they have succeeded. Israel has walked straight into the trap.
Another school of conservative thought denies that U.S. Ukrainian support is in the national security interest of America at all. Ukraine is not a member of the NATO alliance and is one of the most corrupt nations in the region. European nations directly affected by the conflict should aid in the defense of Ukraine, but the U.S. should not continue its involvement. This viewpoint desires a swift end to the conflict through a negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia.
The tension between these competing positions has given rise to a third approach. This conservative viewpoint eschews both isolationism and interventionism. Rather, each foreign policy decision must first ask the question: What is in the interest of the American people? U.S. military engagement must clearly fall within U.S. interests; be fiscally responsible; and protect American freedom, liberty, and sovereignty, all while recognizing Communist China as the greatest threat to U.S. interests. Thus, with respect to Ukraine, continued U.S. involvement must be fully paid for; limited to military aid (while European allies address Ukraine’s economic needs); and have a clearly defined national security strategy that does not risk American lives..
It will cost a few hundred billion. Cheaper than 50 years of war in the region.
Bowser: "I think I speak for all Americans -- we don't believe it's legal to use the American military against American citizens on American soil."
https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lw5jtecxan2q
Trump said that during their conversation, Hungarian PM Orbán ruled out a Ukrainian victory over Russia, claiming that Russia “doesn’t surrender in wars” and historically emerges victorious.
Crimean war 1856
Russo-Japanese War 1905
WW1 1918
Polish-Soviet war 1921
The Cold fucking War 1989
The Afghan war 1989
https://x.com/NickCohen4/status/1954988657837769138
Even small Derbyshire Halls have large rooms, and when there's little heating following 2 years of empty, they are not very warm.
I think the colour is burnt into my brain.