Saturday (mostly)
Coo look, Parliament is, very, very slowly, becoming more 'representative'. Now if they'd just work for the good of the whole country instead of merely talking about it, then saying 'we haven't the money' and bringing in more cuts, which inevitably affect the poorest . . .
The Prime Minister has reshuffled her cabinet a little, bringing back Michael Gove as Secretary for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Gove has always seemed to me to be a smug, posh-boy, privileged type (very unrepresentative of the country in general.) Let's hope he really respects the environment and is up to proposing, shaping and keeping strong environmental protection legislation. Various Green campaigners are registering opinions from 'Not Impressed' to 'Appalled'!
Unfortunately Jeremy Hunt (another seemingly smug, posh-boy, privileged type) is still Health Secretary. The NHS could, I suppose, be in less safe hands (Vlad the Impaler?) It could equally be in a lot safer hands. Hunt has gone on record that he thinks the way 'forward' for the NHS is increased privatisation of 'services'. Gah!
James Brokenshire is back as Northern Ireland Secretary. An appropriate name, I thought, for someone in charge of dealings with the province!
As I said, the knives came out for Theresa May this weekend, with George Osborne saying on BBCTV that she was 'a dead woman walking' and on her way out! Obviously he hasn't thought things through that clearly (see previous entry. Maybe he's still sore at being removed from being Chancellor?) Boris Johnson, the man tipped to be favourite for the PM job at some stage, has said that he backs Mrs May.
* * *
Meanwhile we took advantage of the sunny weather on Saturday and headed for the Front. Not, you note, the beach. We are not 'beach' people; that and our beaches are gravel anyway. Although after 36 years on gravel beaches the times we've visted sandy beaches I've come to appreciate gravel.
Gravel doesn't get everywhere - in your hair, in your clothes, in your bags, you don't get 'gravelwiches' - sandwiches though . . . And should you venture into the water (either exceedingly gingerly over the somewhat painful stonework, or wearing some form of foot protection) you don't get covered with sand when you come out. Nor when you reapply your sunscreen.
Mind you, I've yet to find a way of building gravel castles that look like anything other than a heap, or even finding the little channels you can water engineer on sandy beaches!
We went to H's favourite café, Southsea Coffee Co, where we had lunch. This time we tried the Summer Squash Bruschetta, which was very nice, then coffee and shared a Cinnamon Bun. Then on across Southsea Common to the Front, round the Sea Life Centre, round Southsea Castle (non-stop this bit as it was a bit 'brisk' and with the high tide the occasional wave would 'sploosh') on down into the Rock Gardens.
These are, mostly, recovered from the deluge of sea water back in the winter. A few small conifers have evidently succumbed and are sitting there all disconsolate, brown and crisp awating removal. Everything else appears to be doing well. There's been an outbreak of red opium poppies (that's opium poppies which are red) and echiums (which are well worth seeing. I've marked out those nearest the paths so I can maybe collect some seeds later on in the season. Our back yard may have limited area but it still extends to the sky!)
We sat a while by the pond - pumped out, refilled with fresh water, restocked with plants (including a red waterlily) and (quite large) Koi carp. Then on and back across the Common to Southsea Coffee for more coffee/peppermint tea, and back home again. Things are improving. I wore the tubular bandage so my left ankle kept quiet (w00t) and my left hip only considered muttering once or twice. Though I shan't be winning any land speed records yet. Not even in the 'tortoise' class!
And even though I forgot to take my latest 'travel' project with me Saturday, I am definitely a knitting addict. No, it's quite all right, it's under control, I can manage a day out without my knitting (see above) and I haven't killed anyone*. The last alone is a big plus!
Hope you had a good weekend, Dear Reader. Y'all have a good day now!
*See the badge popular with committed knitters - I knit so I don't kill people!
The Prime Minister has reshuffled her cabinet a little, bringing back Michael Gove as Secretary for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Gove has always seemed to me to be a smug, posh-boy, privileged type (very unrepresentative of the country in general.) Let's hope he really respects the environment and is up to proposing, shaping and keeping strong environmental protection legislation. Various Green campaigners are registering opinions from 'Not Impressed' to 'Appalled'!
Unfortunately Jeremy Hunt (another seemingly smug, posh-boy, privileged type) is still Health Secretary. The NHS could, I suppose, be in less safe hands (Vlad the Impaler?) It could equally be in a lot safer hands. Hunt has gone on record that he thinks the way 'forward' for the NHS is increased privatisation of 'services'. Gah!
James Brokenshire is back as Northern Ireland Secretary. An appropriate name, I thought, for someone in charge of dealings with the province!
As I said, the knives came out for Theresa May this weekend, with George Osborne saying on BBCTV that she was 'a dead woman walking' and on her way out! Obviously he hasn't thought things through that clearly (see previous entry. Maybe he's still sore at being removed from being Chancellor?) Boris Johnson, the man tipped to be favourite for the PM job at some stage, has said that he backs Mrs May.
* * *
Meanwhile we took advantage of the sunny weather on Saturday and headed for the Front. Not, you note, the beach. We are not 'beach' people; that and our beaches are gravel anyway. Although after 36 years on gravel beaches the times we've visted sandy beaches I've come to appreciate gravel.
Gravel doesn't get everywhere - in your hair, in your clothes, in your bags, you don't get 'gravelwiches' - sandwiches though . . . And should you venture into the water (either exceedingly gingerly over the somewhat painful stonework, or wearing some form of foot protection) you don't get covered with sand when you come out. Nor when you reapply your sunscreen.
Mind you, I've yet to find a way of building gravel castles that look like anything other than a heap, or even finding the little channels you can water engineer on sandy beaches!
We went to H's favourite café, Southsea Coffee Co, where we had lunch. This time we tried the Summer Squash Bruschetta, which was very nice, then coffee and shared a Cinnamon Bun. Then on across Southsea Common to the Front, round the Sea Life Centre, round Southsea Castle (non-stop this bit as it was a bit 'brisk' and with the high tide the occasional wave would 'sploosh') on down into the Rock Gardens.
These are, mostly, recovered from the deluge of sea water back in the winter. A few small conifers have evidently succumbed and are sitting there all disconsolate, brown and crisp awating removal. Everything else appears to be doing well. There's been an outbreak of red opium poppies (that's opium poppies which are red) and echiums (which are well worth seeing. I've marked out those nearest the paths so I can maybe collect some seeds later on in the season. Our back yard may have limited area but it still extends to the sky!)
We sat a while by the pond - pumped out, refilled with fresh water, restocked with plants (including a red waterlily) and (quite large) Koi carp. Then on and back across the Common to Southsea Coffee for more coffee/peppermint tea, and back home again. Things are improving. I wore the tubular bandage so my left ankle kept quiet (w00t) and my left hip only considered muttering once or twice. Though I shan't be winning any land speed records yet. Not even in the 'tortoise' class!
And even though I forgot to take my latest 'travel' project with me Saturday, I am definitely a knitting addict. No, it's quite all right, it's under control, I can manage a day out without my knitting (see above) and I haven't killed anyone*. The last alone is a big plus!
Hope you had a good weekend, Dear Reader. Y'all have a good day now!
*See the badge popular with committed knitters - I knit so I don't kill people!