If you can. Please consider making a donation to this appeal for Ralph who needs to go to America for the chance of this operation

His parents have been on tv this morning to ask for help after their family and friends have been trying to raise the money on their own.

https://gofund.me/7231eaa3

One of the nicest stories

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/california-girl-unicorn-permit-b2242006.html#comments-area

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/dec/17/millions-of-women-are-suffering-who-dont-have-to-why-its-time-to-end-the-misery-of-utis I had no idea about this and it seems some GPs haven’t either. Older women here (a lot of us) take note.

. . . has admitted that she stands to benefit from tens of millions of pounds of profit from personal protective equipment (PPE) sold to the UK government during the pandemic by a company led by her husband, Doug Barrowman.
In an interview with the BBC, the couple apologised for denying their role in the deal for more than three years.
But a defiant Baroness Mone said: "I don't honestly see there is a case to answer. I can't see what we have done wrong."

'So why did you deny it for more than three years?' is an obvious question.

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/family-find-baby-owl-living-in-christmas-tree-13031464

They have been sending millions of dollars to Hamas to keep them in power, until recently.

https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-security-forces-escorted-suitcases-cash-hamas-qatar-report-2023-12?r=US&IR=T

Beans https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/alert/fsa-prin-46-2023 and stuffing https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/alert/fsa-prin-45-2023

How can you admit you’ve told lies but say you weren’t trying to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes? https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/dec/18/michelle-mone-house-of-lords-tory-minister-media-ppe

click on

From 1976, the lyrics from this song are still so touching and should remind us all how lucky we are to be free to celebrate Christmas in peace

https://youtu.be/yTYeYNUshhg?si=zjPDKUyDwRLV_K4M

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-67736145

Another case of someone gone missing near water.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sanctioned-trustee-removed-and-charity-closed-down-following-investigation

Boy found

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1845624/british-boy-Alex-Batty-found-france/amp

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/gang-attack-scots-motorbike-garage-31667303

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/government-scraps-dedicated-minister-for-disabled-people-13030214

Now loaded onto a junior minister alongside their other roles.

Have you got a favourite Christmas song or carol?

Have to admit I hadn’t even heard of ‘I’m a little star’

https://youtu.be/vxRhhvo-nCU?si=j1m7bne0raaRihcO

You don’t have to chose one from the ones on the link - unless you a few hours to spare 😳

After intervening in an attack

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67701507.amp

Interesting that another paper gave the impression he was on his own

Leading to money being given for Conservation cut by 15%

🤨 interesting

https://amp.theguardian.com/politics/2023/dec/15/inflation-pay-deals-scottish-ministers-budget-black-hole

https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/geminid-meteor-shower-uk-dates-how-to-see

But then they give a ‘three year grace period’

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-ban-eating-dogs-2023-11-17/#:~:text=Eating%20dog%20meat%20has%20been,the%20prospect%20of%20a%20ban.

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/jimmy-tarbuck-house-hit-and-run-b2462981.html

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67656220.amp

Reports coming in

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-67710494

Anyone who has a Nectar card will know that from time to time at the Sainsburys checkout you will get a printed voucher offering extra points if you buy the product advertised. Also about 50% of the time the advertised product is not on sale in the shop. At least that's the case in Orpington.
Up to now, if its not been in the Orpington shop, I have always found it in the larger Locksbottom shop. But now I have a voucher for something they don't sell in either Orpington or Locksbottom.
The voucher is for 200 nectar points if I buy 180g pack of Arla Bob mature cheddar cheese.
So the search is on. Tomorrow I'm going to my next nearest Sainsbury's in Chislehurst. I have an Oyster card so there is no travelling cost.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/great-yarmouth-hippodrome-circus-acrobat-31670324.amp

Let’s hope he is ok 😢

https://news.sky.com/story/man-who-raped-woman-in-front-of-other-passengers-on-london-underground-jailed-13028524?dicbo=v2-srngyRZ

https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2023-12-12/calls-for-police-probe-into-biggest-deaths-crisis-in-nhs-history

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/russian-presidential-hopeful-vows-champion-peace-women-humane-105541931

Wouldn't the world be a better place if all future leaders had these values?

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/weather/topstories/latest-weather-map-shows-huge-chunks-of-uk-covered-in-snow-on-christmas-day/ar-AA1loTzQ?ocid=weather-verthp-feeds&cvid=f7d27435b2264b56965ee7ebf01d2e22&ei=49

After he soaks homeless man’s sleeping bag

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-67674981

Why don’t we take a look at shrinkflation


https://m.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20231213000100

After knocking a nurse down

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/american-driver-secret-service-uk-crash-b2461897.html

https://sundayguardianlive.com/news/mysterious-white-lung-syndrome-cases-reported-worldwide

It’s taken a while to get to court
Due to all the backlogs

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/west-country-mum-ex-partner-8944974?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=organic

One constant ahead - in three weeks time the days start getting longer.

Are you counting?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-67687565 On TV tonight. I'm feeling it might be too depressing to watch, though!

https://abcnews.go.com/US/man-jailed-after-6-minute-video-emerges-beating/story?id=105416522

Will they act soon or say when it happens “we will learn from our mistakes” !!!!




https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-67654008

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-67674987

What a shock, those gorgeous little boys. Abandonment and manslaughter

https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-russia-war-latest-putin-sky-news-blog-12541713

And a safeguarding review after a vulnerable adult killed

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67497063

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-67666072

Have just seen a post on Nextdoor about the cost of visiting some Santa's Grottos locally.
£30 at Ruxley Manor , £40 at Bewl Water were quoted. So I decided to google where was the most expensive. Depending how you view it,
Harrods grotto is only £20, but only after you have spent £2,000 in store.
Hamleys grotto is in The Ritz hotel. Entry is £250 or a family of 3. Extra children can be added for £75.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/boris-johnson-grimsby-town-hat-b2461256.html

One of my many grandchildren has recently told me that people have to be careful what colours they wear together as it can give an impression of their gender/sexuality dependent on the flags of those choices/lifestyles

Pink, blue and white - Trans !!

Did everyone else know this . Am I so behind the times?

https://outrightinternational.org/insights/flags-lgbtiq-community