Broken Britain and an Apple Crumble Problem
Hi Everyone
If you find yourself in a social group, meet a friend in Aldi, read a newspaper or watch TV, you will often hear the words “Broken Britain”. NHS waiting lists - broken, care for the elderly - broken, the prison system - broken, the court system - broken, Royal Mail - broken, the probation service - broken, and that does not include the potholes, which incidentally are still there at the bottom of our lane seven weeks after the man with the pot of white paint appeared. Then there is an energy crisis, climate change, funding for defence, and a ballooning welfare bill. But hold on, we now have a new chancellor eager to put everything right with his first budget in a few days time. Whatever he says or does will be praised or rubbished in equal measure. All I can say is good luck pal; you have my sympathy.
Forty one years ago, we planted a Bramley apple tree in our garden. It was a silver wedding present from the Main Contractor's cousin and his wife. I mention this as I have been peeling apples for the last few weeks. In past years, I have climbed into the tree to pick the apples. Now, as we approach middle age, we have to wait for them to drop. Now, in the middle of October, many of them are still up there; some of them are no doubt waiting up there to drop on our heads as we pass under the now very large tree.
As a boy at the Fruit, Vegetable, Flower, Game and Lolly at this time of the year, I would go to with the Junior Partner to Mr Critchlow’s small holding, which was full of bramble apple trees. For me, the main attraction was not the apples but the chance to ride round the orchard in Mr Critchlow’s car. It was a large black, old Armstrong Siddeley car with the doors and seats removed, except for the driver’s seat, with plywood fitted into the bottom of the car. I would then ride round with him, collecting the boxes of apples before transferring them to our car. This was usually a twice weekly trip at this time of year. Back at the shop, nearly everything was seasonal, so the Senior Partner had no trouble selling the apples at the usual inflated prices. The Junior Partner had other ideas, as we had a cellar under the shop which he packed with the carefully wrapped and boxed apples. They remained there through the winter before being rescued from their ‘hibernation’ to be sold at even more inflated prices, as none of our competitors had any fresh, crisp Bramley apples.
Putin - you are a monster who, for the last thirty years, has repressed your people, eliminated, or imprisoned those who oppose you, and started an illegal war that you must not win. The question is why. No one needs or is planning to attack you. You have a massive country with an abundance of minerals, making you easily capable of being a rich country with a great standard of living for your citizens. Instead, you choose to be feared and hated by many of your own people and by millions across the world. As Oscar Wilde said, “Some men improve the world only by leaving it”.
Just a Thought:
If the world was ending tomorrow, the British public would look out of the window, sigh deeply and say “Well, at least it is not raining
What do Peter the Great and Putin have in common? Both lead Russia to the eighteenth century.
PS. Got to go now. Eating too many Bramley apples are having an effect.
Brian
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