I must have done something bad

As I said yesterday, this morning actually but hey what’s time between friends? Another post to make up for ignoring all of you wonderful people for the last few weeks. I don’t mean to take up too much of your precious and valuable time so I will keep this post brief and to the point.

They say that everything happens for a reason, people come into your life because you need them, for one reason or another, and once they have served their purpose they will leave again. I mentioned on here that I had had no contact with a close friend for over a year (it’s now over 4 years) and I was worrying about him since the last time I saw him he was due to go into hospital for an operation and would probably end up in a care home if anything went wrong. I still haven’t heard back from him, however, I did find out a few months ago that his email is still active (I received a delivered report from the last email I sent).

Because of this I can only assume he is no longer interested in maintaining our friendship, or is unable to. This is another blow to an already fragile egg-shell like ego. You see I have two children from two different mothers and neither of them can be bothered to stay in touch for whatever reason. I understand my daughter is still mad at me for my actions in 1997, when I had less than 3 hours to find somewhere to live or survive on the streets. Because of this I headed North to Sunderland to live with my, then, wife’s dad. Since this was arranged in a hurry I was given the task of collecting her son from school while she packed things up we needed. I went to school then down to the pub where Sara spent some time with my ex-wife but neither of them were there.

I called in to the dole office to pick up a giro which I cashed before heading back up to my mother-in-laws to grab our stuff and head back into Basingstoke to catch the National Express into London in order to get the overnight bus to Sunderland. This upset my daughter immensely and she has never forgiven me for not seeing her and giving her the opportunity to come here with me.

My son used to come and see me every week while he was living with a foster mum in Longbenton but after he moved out of there aged 16, it started getting longer between visits. Then they stopped completely 3 years ago. Since then I get one or two texts a year usually on his birthday and New Years.

Have I really been that terrible a person to force both my children out of my life? Or could it be that they no longer need me in their lives and they are happier without me?

Carpe Diem

A short(ish) post today since it is almost 2a.m. here in Newcastle. I have been amiss over recent weeks due to having a lot to ponder (I have officially retired but need a job to make ends meet) no one is hiring old fogeys like me, however, the companies who do tend to hire retirees are worried about the effects of Brexit on their businesses so are not taking anyone on at the moment.

There are people out there in the UK who look on their peers as the only truly intelligent people living in the UK (the likes of Johnson Sr (and presumably, also) Jr.) If he was wanting to be elected (for the first time by the masses) he is going about it the wrong way. He is lying (and being found out quickly) blaming single mothers for the teenage gangs roaming our cities and towns, when he is refusing to pay the mothers of his children anything at all to bring them up with no input from him.

Of course when all else fails he is blaming the poor immigrant who came here to work, pays taxes and National Insurance so is paying into the British economy. I think the great British public have had enough of the Etonian “Born to rule” BS so he will have his ass handed to him on a platter come December 12, 2019. When ex-Cabinet ministers are advising people to vote for anyone except their own party it is pretty clear he is doing something wrong.

Anyway, enough ranting for one day, I may come back on later today to brighten this blog up by writing a happier post, keep your eyes peeled and wait without holding your breath because I still don’t know what the day has in store yet.

Leader debate cancelled 24/11/19

I understand why Channel 4 have decided to cancel the leadership debate because BoJo has cried off attending. However, I am of the opinion that if he is too chicken to face Jeremy in front of the cameras they should go ahead with the debate facing Jeremy off against an empty chair.

In the last few chances for the current PM to own his comments and his parties wrong doing he has blustered, waffled and wasted every opportunity. He is coming across as a serious nobody trying to hang onto power which he doesn’t deserve but feels he is owed. On the other hand, Jeremy Corbyn comes across as having well-costed policies, doing his best for everyone except the 1% who have wasted the last decade by taking from the poor and giving it to the wealthy.

They keep saying it will sink it down through the wealthy to the poor in jobs and pay rises. Wages have stagnated over the last decade, no new jobs have been created and the number of job losses since 2016 has been growing month on month. Brexit was not costed at all, those pushing for it, including Farage and Cummings, lied, cheated and overspent to make a mockery of the outcome. Because of this I am all in favour of giving the people the final say on a fully costed deal with Remain firmly on the poll so that if people have changed their mind they can stop the madness and division.

Every time BoJo spouts his racist rhetoric there is an upsurge in race crime, similarly when he spouts his crap against women then they become a target. He will never accept responsibility for his actions and the FibDems will go into an election backing whatever policies will gain them votes and seats. They have publicly said they will only form a coalition with the Tories and this will mean that the more seats they occupy the bigger the BoJo majority in a hung Parliament enabling him to forget his crazy deal (which is exactly the same one given to May just made idiot proof by the EU) and go for a no deal Brexit.

The only people who will benefit from Brexit will be the 1%, therefore a Tory Government will, once again, shove the poor to the ground and stamp on them. That is why I would never back the LibDems unless they came second to Tory in 2017. They consistently lie saying they have overtaken Labour in second place, don’t believe them. If you believe the lies told about Jeremy Corbyn then I would beg you to hold your nose and vote Labour to oust the Tories.

It is only the Labour Government who will take back the utilities and railways into public ownership, run them for the benefit of everyone and fully fund our schools, universities, colleges and our NHS. BoJo will continue to privatise our health care service until we are having to pay through the nose for insurance which will not cover pre-existing conditions, those with mental health disabilities and those dying.

You hung me on the line

The second post in a row with music from the other half of the Beatles main songwriting duo. This time it’s from Paul’s first solo outing and is the song he wrote for Linda but can easily about any woman that every man has ever loved. Maybe that’s what makes Macca such a driving force today. Apologies if the video doesn’t play where you are but it was courtesy of YouTube which has different rules in different countries.

I know it hasn’t been long since my last post but that doesn’t mean I have been resting on my laurels, as you well know dear reader, when I have something to say, positive or negative about what is happening all around us today I write a post on here to air my views. I know not everyone is going to share my feelings but that’s okay because you can please some of the people most of the time, you can please no one all the time. As long as you can please yourself then maybe you can make a difference in someone’s life.

I am backing Jeremy Corbyn in the upcoming election in the UK, I am proud to do so because he is the only leader who is ready to get this once great nation back on track today. That isn’t what this post is about though so please indulge me for a few minutes while I state why I am backing Jeremy.

The Tory party have decimated and privatised the flagship of the Welfare Reform since the 1979 General Election, the NHS has been the envy of the world and is now struggling for it’s continuation. Lack of funding by successive Tory Governments has led to an NHS which is staffed by professionals giving their all to help others without any assistance from Central Government. Come election time the Tory leadership claims to be throwing billions at the NHS in investment but what they really want to do is continue to privatise health care in this country until we end up with the same insurance based healthcare that American’s have had for generations.

This insurance based system means that people with pre-existing conditions (most of the UK) will not be able to get insurance and will therefore lose their right to seek medical attention when things go wrong. Only Labour will put this right by investing tax payers money into the NHS to bring it back up to the standard expected by those in need. If anyone can’t see what is happening to this great nation and believes this General Election is only about Brexit they are sadly mistaken. Once Brexit has happened under the Tories it will mean the end of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland have set the wheels in motion for an Independence Referendum should Brexit go ahead. Scotland’s first Minister has made progress with the EU to allow an Independent Scotland back into the fold, she also has hinted at another referendum to decide Independence for Scotland if Brexit goes ahead because Scotland voted overwhelmingly in favour of Remain.

Okay, enough politics for this post, I was just wondering if anyone else has noticed the number of crimes being investigated at the moment by the House of Representatives in America with their public Impeachment Hearings against tRump? It is becoming increasingly obvious that the GOP are going to have to decide where they stand very soon in relation to these hearings because either they will get behind the Impeachment and remove the dumpster and his total administration from office before 2020, or go down with him because the proof is irrefutable that he has abused his power in order to amass more wealth from American tax payers and has been guilty of conspiring with foreign powers to maintain his grip on the US Senate.

Has anyone been watching Britannia 2? I was intrigued by the first season but the second is riveting drama, not so much for the story lines but the characters are opening up in new directions and nothing is taboo. So much so that I watch several episodes every day and should have it finished completely soon. Anyway, that’s all from me for this time, stay tuned as you never know when I’ll be back.

But there’s no one left at home

And I believe I’m gonna rain… Music to accompany this post is from Paul McCartney With Linda McCartney helping out. Rock’s coolest couple of all time and, just like John before him, Paul worked with Linda until her death first on Ram, then all the Wings albums and she was helping out with his solo stuff following the demise of Wings. Apologies if the video doesn’t work where you are but it is from YouTube and there are different rules for different territories.

I think I should apologise for not posting the remainder of the pictures from New Orleans, but trying to nail my wife down to get them off her phone is proving very difficult at the moment. Anyway, another apology may be forthcoming in this post since I have a lot to be annoyed about here as well. I’m not sure if everyone is aware of the forthcoming General Election in the United Kingdom but dirty tricks are once again coming into play.

For all those who thought the 2016 referendum was crooked you can rest assured it was, the report which was published in October has not been made public as the Prime Minister, our bumbling oaf of a toe-rag, refused to allow it to be published. From the leaks coming out it would appear it condemns BoJo, Vote Leave and Leave dot EU for using Russian funds to back their cheating campaign which was full of lies, innuendo and nothing even approximating the truth.

So that is out there for anyone to see, if they know where to look. The other thing that came out today is that Farbage is expecting a peerage for refusing to put candidates up against the Tories in Tory held seats, seats where the Tories lost marginally to Labour and anywhere else he feels the LibDems could weaken the vote for Labour. The rumours are that he was put up to this by the donald in the USA. Why would America want to have a Tory victory and therefore a disastrous illegal Brexit? Because his Russian paymasters also want that to happen to weaken Europe and leave the UK fragmented.

Anyone still in any doubt that Remaining is the best outcome for the UK? BoJo last week said on camera that Northern Ireland were getting a fantastic deal by being left within the EU. In other words, England, Scotland and Wales are being shafted by his Brexit deal, which, according to the EU negotiators, is exactly the same deal they offered to Theresa May but they have simplified it down for BoJo. He, of course, is so stupid he doesn’t realise it is the same deal he voted against 3 times when May proposed it and tried to get it passed by Parliament.

Here in the UK, people should not be fooled by the lack of commitment coming out of Scotland for this deal as acceptance. Indeed Nicola Sturgeon is looking for her party to hold every seat they took in 2017 and to add to the total by taking every other seat being contested in Scotland. This will mean that if Labour don’t win in England and Wales but can hold the Tories to a hung Parliament we will have an interesting few weeks while waiting to see if the LibDems will find a leader (Jo Swansong has a Scottish seat) who will work with Jeremy Corbyn to form an anti-Brexit Coalition. Or if they will do as they always have and say a loud “FUCK YOU” to those voting for them to scrap Brexit by working with the Tories to deliver Brexit.

My money is on the latter if Jo Swansong keeps her seat, she is only interested in power so has ruled out working with Labour under Jeremy Corbyn. She would rather be deputy PM and push Brexit through than work to uphold her manifesto and block Brexit. With our current system of first past the post the only option open to anyone wanting to end the Brexit debacle is to Vote Labour into power on December 12. They have the policies in place to restore this country to its position in the forefront of European politics and it will be paid for by taxing the supremely wealthy until they bleed. Taxing income in excess of £1m including bonuses and taxing off shore bank accounts as though they were in the UK.

That’s why our Main Stream Media (MSM) want to label Corbyn as an anti-semite, Communist, Stalinist and accuse him of taking money from foreign Governments to boost his chances of winning. He has been very publicly asking the people to support his campaign and, as has been pointed out by ITV and Sky news teams (but not the BBC who only put out Tory propaganda) the Tory war chest is sitting flush with several millions coming from Putin’s supporters in Russia.

In the USA the donald is facing Impeachment and when that starts to be televised around the globe from the end of November it will be interesting to see if the GOP senate continue backing him. Of course there is still time for him to flee the country and head to Russia before announcing his resignation on Russian television to be broadcast to the USA.

Rant over for another post, if I have talked you into looking at the evidence and following the money back to its original source, thank you for believing the truth, if not then no hard feelings.

I see skies of blue and clouds of white

Part 2 of yesterday’s post to bring more of New Orleans into everyone’s lives. Music for this post is from New Orleans very own Satchmo (Louis Armstrong) who not only has a park named in his honour but also an international airport.

Continuing with the sights and sounds of New Orleans I started the Audobon Aquarium but can’t remember where I got to so please forgive me if some of these pictures are repeated from yesterday.

That’s my reflection and it is a poncho because it was torrential rain that day

No idea who the guy was, he was trying to take a selfie with the parrot and refused to budge and let others take pics

Close up of a catfish

Took me a while to spot the snake

Some fish shine in the dark

Hope you liked these pictures from the Aquarium, I will post again tomorrow pictures from St. Louis Number 1 (including Nic Cage’s tomb and Marie Laveau.

What the people need is a way to make them smile

Music to accompany my journey to and through N’Awlins is from the Doobie Brothers celebrating music is what New Orleans does best. Even funerals in New Orleans are happy events since they celebrate the life that has gone. New Orleans isn’t called the Big Easy for nothing, if you’re on vacation (holiday) or going there to work it has a big beautiful history to it. Relax, kick off your shoes, pick up your grenade and beignets and let this visual and musical journey take you to the big easy. Apologies if the video doesn’t play where you are but it is courtesy of YouTube and they have different rules for different countries.

Firstly, my thanks to British Airways cabin crew and flight deck staff who got me there and home again safely. The flight going was turbulent but that never phased me (my wife was green around the gills though). While in New Orleans I did a few tours I missed out on last year, took in a few sites I didn’t have time for in 2018 and soaked up the atmosphere. The R Bar (those of you familiar with NCIS New Orleans will know it as True Tone) was not what I expected. The windows were blacked out ready for Halloween and the interior was mobbed with people standing at the bar drinking and waiting to be served.

On the way there we passed the LaLaurie Mansion (standing empty although the owner was expected before Halloween(?)) and the front entrance has the following scene

The placard at the top reads chop shop and Delphine was run out of town when the gruesome remains of her slaves were found. No one is really sure where she went to as reports say she was seen in New York and Orleans and Paris in France.

No statements with the next few pictures from the Audobon Aquarium.

Upside down jelly fish

Can you spot both owls?

I couldn’t either

More to follow in another post after I have a bite to eat 🙂