What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells,
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs, -
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.
What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.
The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing down of blinds.
Wilfred Owen
It is as well to remember when kings and politicians glorify war that they are not the ones who pay the price.
Grandad, what are you doing with the laptop?
Making a Book
Politicians will vote for assisted suicide because they will not spend the money on palliative end-of-life care. What a shower.
This is not an abstract debate. It is a direct threat to people who are old or ill. Call them worthless. Make them believe they are a burden. Then offer them assisted suicide.
I have received a reply from Becky Cooper MP which is available on this blog.
https://derekmcmillan1951a.blogspot.com/2024/10/becky-coopers-reply.html
Why not write to your MP? It could be your own life you are saving!
“The nation wants food, work and homes… It wants a high and rising standard of living, security for all, against a rainy day…”
“Friends, that’s a quote from the 1945 Labour Manifesto, written in the shadow of death, destruction and debt, caused by years of war.
“A manifesto of hope.
“Written at a time when our debt to GDP was 270 per cent. Nearly three times higher than it is now.
“Yet, no mention of cuts, no mention of austerity and certainly no mention of making everyday people pay.
“Labour then knew, that to make Britain more equal, they had to think and act differently.
“They knew to make it count. To make a real difference, Labour could not simply be better managers, they had to make lasting change.
“They promised: jobs, homes and education. And built a national health service on the back of crisis.
“Their story wasn’t one of tightening belts or making some of the poorest in our society pay.
“Friends, people simply do not understand, I do not understand, how our new Labour government can cut the winter fuel allowance for pensioners and leave the super-rich untouched.
“This is not what people voted for. It is the wrong decision and needs to be reversed.
“Friends, we are the sixth richest economy in the world. We have the money. Britain needs investment, not austerity mark two. We won’t get any gold badge for shaving peanuts off our debt.
“These fiscal rules are self-imposed and the decision to keep them is hanging like a noose around our necks.
“Friends, our public services and British industry need investment now. It’s no good having sympathy for workers at Grangemouth losing their jobs. They don’t need pity. They need Labour to step up to the plate and not allow a billionaire, who buys a football club as a hobby, to throw these workers on the scrap heap.
“We cannot leave Britain at the whim of footloose corporations.
“Hoping for them to invest is a prayer not a plan.
“Yes, Britain is broken. Yes, the Tories have left a mess and yes, they are to blame.
“But Labour is now in Government, and we can't keep making everyday people pay. Friends, I keep hearing, ‘a wealth tax is too difficult, would take too long’.
“I say absolute rubbish. We seem to be able to get workers paying their taxes in a matter of weeks!
“The system is rigged and the country knows it.
"Friends, let's hold up our heads and be proud to be Labour. Let everyday people know - we are on their side. Let's put our arms around the working class and make lasting change.
“Solidarity, I move.”
Hello there. I write to say how much I have enjoyed listening to the iterations of "Brevity". Recently I finally got round to listening to the audiobook version of "Murder From Beyond The Grave" and very much enjoyed that too, so much that I write to ask whether the other Durrington Detective Agency stories are, or will be, available on audio CD?
The deterioration of my eyesight over recent years means that reading is now difficult, time-consuming and not pleasurable. I am enjoying getting back into stories via audiobooks. The fact that the other Durrington Detective Agency tales are short stories is no problem, they could all go onto one (or more) CDs. It would simply need a list of the stories just the same as a book has a Contents page. Please let me know how this idea appeals to you. With many good wishes, John Slater.
I sent a link to the only existing Durrington Detective Agency CD. If it sells by jingo I will record more!
"You're looking very pleased with yourself."
"I've just got my essay on phonetics back from Doctor Fox. It is an alpha."
"Bravo, Charlie. I only got a Delta. He said it was unoriginal, like an echo of the textbook."
"I wouldn't worry about old Fox, he's a Trot you know."
"Fox? Trot? Is that why he was excluded from the golf hotel?"
"Anyway never mind about that. I've met a new girl from India. Her name is Juliet."
"Oh I know her, big girl isn't she?"
"Only 81 kilo or so. Mike from Lima used to go out with her but she ditched him in November."
"Oscar?"
"No Oscar wouldn't go near her because he said his papa in Quebec, between you and me he is a bit of a Romeo, he forbade it."
"Why are you travelling on the bus anyway?"
"The old Sierra is in the garage to have the engine looked over. What is that you are drinking?"
"Tango. Victor gave it to me. You know I can't resist a man in uniform."
"Victor eh. Remember how we ribbed him because he couldn't spell whisky?"
"Well, you wouldn't need an x-ray to tell he was a Yankee. Even though his grandmother was a Zulu.
"Anyhow this is my stop. Catch you later."
Tuesday 13th August 2024
Sussex Alerts - Sussex Police arrest nine people in connection with recent protests
Sussex Police arrest nine people in connection with recent protests
Sussex Police has arrested nine people in connection with a number of protests across the county last week.
Following criminal disorder seen around the country, commonly fuelled by misinformation and threatening language online, Sussex Police and its partners have carried out a huge amount of work to protect our communities and identify those involved in linked unlawful activity.
Nine people have now been arrested as part of that operation.
On 4 August, a 43-year-old man from Bognor Regis was arrested on suspicion of publishing or distributing written material about racial hatred. He has been released on bail.
On 4 August, an 18-year-old man from Haywards Heath was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence and released under investigation while enquiries continue.
On 7 August, 45-year-old of Hayling Rise in Worthing, and a 42-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of sending offensive messages by public communication work, following concerning social media posts.
The first male was jailed for 14 weeks on Friday (9 August). The second man was released with no further action.
On 8 August, a 53-year-old man from Aldwick was arrested on suspicion of racial hatred in relation to a YouTube video sharing the locations of hotels housing asylum seekers across the UK. He has been released on bail.
On 9 August, a 40-year-old man from Crawley was arrested at a protest in Crawley on suspicion of threatening/abusive behaviour contrary to the Public Order Act. He has been released on bail.
On Saturday, 10 August in Crawley, a 30-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of sending false information with intent to cause harm. He has been bailed pending further enquiries, with strict conditions not to post on social media.
On Saturday, 10 August, a 62-year-old man from Seaford was arrested on suspicion of publishing written material to stir up racial hatred and released on bail while enquiries continue.
On Sunday, 11 August, a 53-year-old man of Old Mill Close, Portslade, was arrested and charged with affray, assaulting an emergency worker and common assault, relating to a counter protest in Brighton on Wednesday (7 August).
He pleaded guilty to all charges at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Monday (12 August) and will appear for sentencing at a court to be confirmed on Tuesday (13 August).
The National Pensioners’ Convention is calling on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to reconsider her shock decision to end ‘universal’ winter fuel payments.
The move will hit millions of older people who are just above the income threshold to qualify for pension credit - effectively imposing a harsh means test on those already struggling next winter.
NPC General Secretary Jan Shortt said: “This is devastating news for millions of older people whose income is literally just a few pounds above the threshold to receive pension credit.
“These people are already barely able to make ends meet – this move effectively wipes out any benefit they receive from the triple lock increase on the state pension.
“I seriously believe the Chancellor has underestimated the harm her decision will cause to older people still struggling with energy costs, and facing higher rates in October. It is absolutely shocking that the new Labour government should treat older, vulnerable people in this manner. The triple lock alone will not enable them to keep up with energy bills.”
The millionaires have plenty. Why pick on the pensioners?
