To the hard working and appreciated SL staff and all active members.

The OBE and MBE are nothing more than sick jokes - what Empire ?

https://tinyurl.com/4ts6cuzh

"The positive news for an increasingly violent and confrontational world is that democratic societies in 2022 withstood assaults from dictators, demagogues, environmental destroyers, and election deniers. Life globally and locally did not get much better, but outcomes could have been immeasurably worse.

Vladimir Putin believed his tanks would roll into Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv within days of Russia’s offensive on February 24. As happened at the turning point of World War II, 80 winters ago, Ukraine and its NATO allies have demonstrated that democracies, for all their messiness, can mobilize to turn back authoritarians.

He struggled, but France’s President Emmanuel Macron took nearly 59 percent of the vote in defeating far-right challenger Marine Le Pen, to the dismay of Putin and to the immense relief in the European Union. In Brazil, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva barely defeated the extreme right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro.

Why should we care? Well, take Brazil. The rainforests of the Amazon, extending into nine countries, are the lungs of planet Earth. They have been cut down and burned at an unprecedented rate, with Bolsonaro encouraging the environmental carnage. Amazonia, instead of sequestering carbon, threatens to become a carbon emitter.

In our own country, media forecast sweeping victories for Trump-backed candidates in the mid-term elections, fueling the would-be Caudillo in his bid for a return to the White House. Instead, most of the election deniers, the “We are at war” nominees, were defeated.

Trump came away demonstrating truth to an old adage: The empty drum bangs loudest."

Reprint of article by US journalist Joel Connelly

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11577247/FIFTY-drivers-DAY-caught-using-mobile-phone-wheel-despite-tougher-penalties.html

Barking & Dagenham, no surprise there.

https://www.mylondon.news/news/property/londons-worst-place-live-ranked-25861497

Has anyone been watching?

I don't usually watch reality TV but I was hooked from the first episode.

PLEASE, if you watched and have seen the end, DON'T SPOIL IT FOR OTHERS BY NAMING PEOPLE. This was just to see how many watched and whether they enjoyed it

Nairn's Dark Chocolate Chip Oat Biscuit 200g

There are 4 pouches of 5 biscuits in the pack.
I have never tasted a biscuit like these before, they are delicious.
Sweet and tasty, but not sugary with a lovely predominant chocolate flavour. Just fabulous!

Mainly due to warmer than normal weather temperatures and lower demand economics.
The vertical price scale is in Euros/megawatt hour.
Source FT.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11579649/Tesla-owners-blast-Christmas-car-charging-chaos-dozens-forced-wait-THREE-HOUR-queues.html

I will make time to write reviews for guidance for other people. I am fed up sending clothes back and paying postage. Liked a pair of trousers from M & S.Glad I took the time to read the reviews which were mostly about wrong length, too tight, shoddy quality.
Found the same with food, commends used to buy not anymore. Can understand a few, not everybody has the same taste but a lot of people can not be wrong.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-63474448

Cannot find how to use this without having to upgrade to premium.
It's supposed to be free with ads, but when I try to watch a programme all that comes up is 'watch with premium' and then you have to give your card number.

I just signed the petition "The public should not have to pay for Boris Johnson's legal fees"

You can read more and sign the petition here:

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/we-have-to-pay-to-defend-the-biggest-liar-in-british-political-history?share=f6c03ad0-8b86-4dd8-8d61-8762994e04ff&source=&utm_campaign=blast2022-12-16&utm_medium=socialshare&utm_source=

https://tinyurl.com/yw2sswbx

https://tinyurl.com/49w7uyys

https://www.bleacherbreaker.com/trending/quiz-can-you-name-these-iconic-actors/?utm_cpc=0.057000

Apparently Cadburys have withdrawn their boxes of Milk Tray off the shelves as customers were complaining they tasted of bleach it applies to one's bought before @ 2/11/22. I was given a box from my neighbour so I thought I'd just try one to see if mine were ok, YUK they are awful they smell and taste of cleaning fluid, apparently Cadburys are blaming the cardboard packaging and say they aren't a danger to health so people can't get a refund or replacement which is disgusting. Just thought I'd warn you all as I was looking forward to tucking into mine they've now gone in the bin, I'll have to start on the Quality Street instead.

For the Sheba cat food recently received for my many rescued cats..
Also received some flowers left outside my door from M&S but the card was blank!
Kitten wet food always welcome.
Thank you for helping me help kitties in need.
Sadly someone took pleasure in slashing one of my new car tyres on night of 23rd. This prevented me from going looking for a reported stray mama and her new born kittens as could not order new tyre till today.
The cost is punishing the rescued cats that would have benefitted from the money spent on them…
23 is often an unlucky number for me so not looking forward to 2023!!!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64074797

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAzOL1PB2q0

Please read the following Guardian Article.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/dec/12/the-ethical-christmas-gift-voucher-that-lends-with-care

You can do this any day of the year.

My kids and Joanna Lumley endorse it!

Wishing you all a Warmer Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !!!

I ordered a turkey breast for £10.94, my on line bill before delivery shows a substitute for £7.93 but the bill total is still the same.
Phone call could not get them to understand the bill total was wrong - so sent an email [awaiting reply]
When the delivery came what they had sent was a large turkey breast for £13.76 but this is not what is on the bill.

I now have six, all installed - and waiting for the electrician to connect up! Thanks to the Mayor of London's warmer homes scheme - for which I'm very grateful. I didn't think I'd qualify as being on a 'low income' with my pensions, but they deduct any rent or mortgage (which I don't have) and Council Tax, too. All free of charge - so I'm well pleased with my Christmas present. If in doubt - do apply!

He believes in Santa
He doesn't believe in Santa

He is Santa!

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/weather/topstories/us-winter-storm-map-weather-forecast-after-warning-arctic-bomb-cyclone-will-bring-snow-and-extreme-57c-cold/ar-AA15BaWU

It’s been ruled that sharing passwords for Netflix and other sites is illegal

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/warning-issued-anybody-uk-netflix-25812864

Did you know ?

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Washington served as a poignant reminder to Americans that Ukraine’s fight against Russian invaders is a battle pitting defenders of freedom against autocrats like Vladimir Putin bent on grabbing power through conquest and subjugation.

In a plea to President Joe Biden and the U.S. Congress, Zelensky eloquently laid out the stakes for Western democracies if the Kremlin leader prevails in his unprovoked war ravaging Ukraine. If Putin defeats Ukraine, Zelensky said, he would continue his quest for a new Russian empire...

“Your money is not charity,” the charismatic Ukrainian leader said of $50 billion in military and humanitarian aid already provided by Washington. “It’s an investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way.”

Zelensky’s address to a joint gathering of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives evoked comparison with a similar appeal by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in December 1941, the last address to Congress by a wartime ally."

Really hoping it has the same result.

Article source
https://www.postalley.org/2022/12/23/masters-of-our-fate-zelensky-takes-washington-by-storm/

Even by Clarksons standards the comments published the other day were as bad as anything I have ever read about a fellow human being.

I think she did exactly what I would've done.

https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/mum-pushchair-bus-stop-queue-7958134

An old friend died yesterday, hadn't seen each other for years but kept in touch, she had battled 3 lots of cancer for 43 years but this 4th lot got her, still raised her family and was always smiling.

There are many blood glucose test meters on the market, I use a FineTest Lite meter.

The readings are invariably in mmol/l, whereas the modern readings taken by UK medical authorities are in mmol/mol (HbA1c).
For example, a meter reading of 6.5 equals an HbA1c reading of 40, in the good acceptable control range.

To convert your meter readings into HbA1c simply use the following links, which you can save conveniently on you computer etc.

https://www.diabeteschart.org/bgc10.html
Also see -
https://tinyurl.com/3kcxjcy4

Just washed my nets and cleaned windows, when up pops an ad for nets, liked them so have ordered. been meaning to get new for ages.
But if only the ad had come up earlier I wouldn't have bothered with these old ones - typical.
Did they see me doing them 😂

To all of you who have kindly helped me help rescue cats and those thinking about it! It is a costly and time consuming never ending business. Your financial help has been very much appreciated. Every £1 helps. Suzy P doing her best to fundraise. Struggling as too many to help with the compliments of irresponsible owners.
Enjoy Xmas
I still prefer to ignore it as i am not religious and do not eat turkeys and do not believe in father xmas and do not have children.

Within the past week, my bank has introduced a security check when buying online items. It applies even to my groceries shopping.
You have to select your mobile number, a text is then sent giving a code which you then have to enter on the panel together with your ID, before payment is accepted.

I find it highly inconvenient, but recognise the security aspect of it.

Have other members experienced this ?

Hi
I have a couple of vegetarian friends coming for Christmas dinner.
The main course is sorted but I was wondering if I could include some vegetarian pigs in blankets. I can get vegetarian sausages and vegetarian bacon equivalent so I could make my own.
Have any of you tried this before and if so which brands of sausages and bacon work best? Any tips on how to prepare and cook them?
Alternatively, do any of you know of a supermarket that sells ready made vegetarian pigs in blankets?

Got up early for them to come from 8 - 4, waited in all day [ hence washing the nets and windows]
Never came, now I'll have to rebook and wait in again one day.
They were originally supposed to come on 9th December but came 10th November, 1 month early while I was in hospital.

can anyone tell me what it is that people are so racist about to Jews specifically I just read that they want to introduce anti - semitism to school curriculum I don’t know any Jews specifically so am curious Had a friend once that wanted to marry a Jewish girl but had to convert but he didn’t have a problem with that So am at a loss to know why this hatred carries on

A recent post talked about the pros and cons of air fryers. I don't have one but I have a couple of other kitchen gadgets which I wouldn't be without.
An electric steamer which has three baskets that stack one above the other so I can cook three types of veg at once. As the food isn't surrounded by water it ends up with far better flavour than if I'd boiled it on the hob.
A George Forman grill which is great for cooking bacon, chicken, steaks or other thin ish foods.
Add in a microwave and my oven only gets used occasionally - for example when I want to do a Sunday roast with yorkies and roast potatoes or if I want to make a cake.
All three of the above use far less energy than an oven.
Are there any other kitchen gadgets which you wouldn't be without?

On 20/21/22 December the sun is up for 7 hours and 51minutes each day.

From then on there's extra minutes accruing every day, as our world turns.

Are you looking forward to the day-light hours increasing?
If so [ expecting 100% Yes! ] what are you going to enjoy in particular?

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas (or whatever other way you celebrate the end of the year) and a peaceful, prosperous, healthy and safe new year
Cheers
Tony

click on

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64029040

Click on

what a lucky escape.
https://news.sky.com/story/toddler-survives-being-swallowed-by-a-hippo-in-uganda-12769254

"The NHS has hired “lived experience” tsars on salaries of up to £115,000, despite ministers vowing a war on waste in the health service.

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) is recruiting a director for lived experience who must have experiences of a life-altering health condition and “significant power imbalances” in their use of health services.

Its tsar will “ensure brave spaces” for people to give feedback and will be based at St George’s Hospital, Stafford, on a salary of £110,000-£115,000 per year – four times that of a newly qualified nurse or junior doctor.

They should also “seek out and heavily involve seldom heard, under-represented and/or disadvantaged groups” and be a “strategic bridge-builder”, a job advertisement says.

An NHS source said such power imbalances would include “feeling disempowered, vulnerable and that an individual’s own voice is lost” in using mental or physical secondary health services.

The trust claims it is the first such board-level position in the health service, but The Telegraph has identified at least 20 “lived experience” job titles across seven NHS trusts, being paid a total of at least £600,000. 

On Friday night, the NHS was accused of “inventing problems and creating jobs to solve them”.

Source - Daily Telegraph today

Your thoughts?

https://www.itv.com/news/london/2022-12-16/two-children-aged-two-and-five-found-dead-at-residence-as-woman-arrested

Those of you who contributed to last month £152 donation to help with my many rescued cats! Sadly more cats in need of help than homes offered. Finding suitable fosterers is a rare miracle. Finding suitable homes to adopt also very rare. Two friendly cats with me for a few months after being left behind by previous owner who moved on went to a very kind home in Highgate yesterday. Today a lovely lady is going to foster a pregnant mama for two weeks only as she is moving abroad just after. The lady who found her is moving to a new flat where no pets allowed so cannot keep her. I need kitten wet food. Kittens eat so much.
Thanks again for your help
Some kind neighbours aware that all my money goes to help cats in need have been leaving me food outside my door concerned i am not eating. Indeed that is not on my priority list as cat wet food is!
Sadly not all neighbours are considerate as those in either side appear to take great pleasure in causing as much grief as possible with never ending building work. It consists of awful noise week ends included, dirt flying everywhere, damage to property and fitting blinding security lights that can cause eye damage as well as disturb one’s sleep. On one side it has gone on for 3 years and on the other side about 8 months.
I feel better sitting in my car in the side street and worry about my poor rescued cats scared of the noise indoors and outside.
Three have been poisoned. One died. I witnessed one of the next door builders throw a brick at one who was trespassing following a fence panel left removed for over a week…
And on and on!
This world is such a sad place. I hate it
So very nice to encounter a very few kind people…
Thank you to them