A Strange Saturday

Yesterday was a strange sort of day in many ways. By the end of the day, I had managed to resolve an ongoing long term problem. About a year ago I was commissioned to do a series of paintings for a person who was/is developing a property, and who wanted some art work to decorate the show house/flat. I duly did the paintings and they were taken away sometime towards the end of August last year, on the premise that they had to be approved by other people before payment would be made. I know, without being told, that I was pretty stupid to hand over the goods without payment, but it was done and there it was! Needless to say payment was not forthcoming, despite the fact that I had been informed that the paintings had been given approval; there were of course many, many promises that the money would be forthcoming “next week” (the equivalent of the old adage “the cheque is in the post”), however, it never seemed to materialise.

I got to the stage where I was prepared to write it all off to experience; but then I got angry about the whole affair and was determined that the “asshole” was not going to get away with it. By this time events had moved on and this thieving git was no longer to be found at his address has it had been repossessed. So yesterday morning after a Tesco trip we headed north out of Edinburgh to try and locate either the “asshole” or one of his minions to recover the paintings; but on arrival at the site there was no one to be found. So we decide not to let the day be a complete waste of time and as our walking boots are always in the car we decided to take a walk from the Den of Alyth. The walk was brilliant, but more about that can be found here, and gave us some much needed exercise; we walked about seven miles in just over two and a half hours.

On returning to the start of the walk we decided to return to the development site before returning home on the off chance as the git is known to sometimes spend the night there, and we thought that given his lack of an address we thought that this might be distinctly possible. This time we were lucky to find him there, or at least is car was outside, but on knocking there was no answer. That is, until I hammered the door so hard the whole building shook. To say he was surprised to see us would be an understatement. To cut a long story short, I came away with the paintings on the back seat of the car; so all in all it was a pretty successful day on both counts of getting the paintings back, and getting some much needed exercise, but as I said at the beginning, a pretty strange sort of day.

Clarke Has To Go!

I know we are all saying it, but there is one who is saying it more eloquently that anyone else, and if you read nothing else today go and read Rachel’s brilliant post.

The Day I Was Born

I recently did the Wikimeme which I found very interesting, so interesting in fact that I have come up with a variation of it. Take the day that you were born, not simply your birthday but you complete date of birth, i.e. 22 March 19xx, and find five interesting things that happened on that day.

Here are my five:-

1. South Africa beat England by an Innings and 14 runs at Cardiff Arms Park.

2. The United Nations Concilliation Commission for Palestine had its 217th meeting.

3. There was an air crash in Maceio, AL (Brazil).

4. RMS Caronia makes a return cross channel trip to Le Havre.

5. The Polish cultural attache in Paris, Czeslaw Milosz, asks the French government for political asylum.

Your task is to go and find five things that happened on the day that you were born, and I am sure that they will be much more interesting than the above…

Slight ammendment:

You don't have to restrict yourself to Wikipedia for this challenge, that just makes it too difficult; it is difficult enough without any such restrictions.

An Anthem For England

Well folks, I am claiming back my right to wind up the loonies. I have just had the biggest laugh of my life! I found the website an Anthem4England; now this is another of your typical English Nationalist sites with all of the usual stuff, except that it has a poll where one can vote for a new English anthem, and this is what gave that laugh that I mentioned; one of the options is “Swing Low Sweet Chariot“. Now I am not sure if the people who set this up are aware of exactly where this song comes from, but I have been aware since my Grandmother told me at a very early age that it is in fact a Negro Spiritual (yes I know that “Negro” is not politically correct, but then that is the sort of person that I am; take it or leave it) which I would have thought runs against the whole ethos of English Nationalism!

A Takeover Bid

I thought that I had cornered the market in “winding up the loonies”, but it seems that BondWoman is muscling in on the market. I just checked and she really has fallen out of her tree by posting this; does she not realise that the loonies will be circling even as I write.

A Girl with A Mission!

I found this today thanks to the Pedant General, and I have to admit that it is the funniest (I have an odd sense of humour), maybe even the weirdest thing I have come across in ages. I suspect that now us bloggers have found her him that she he will undoubtedly reach her his target, and that her his girlfriend will have to eat her words, or something…

Update 20:52pm

Some amendments had to be made thanks to Pat The Chooks.

So Where is the Justice?

Edinburgh pensioner rapes an 11 year-old and only gets five years. Apparently the abuse began when the girl was seven, and he first raped her when she was eleven; what justice system in its right mind could only give such an evil bastard five years for the many years of torment that he has visited on this, now, young woman. The experience has blighted her life to the point where she has already tried to commit suicide:

“She has to take insulin on prescription, and recently, after describing the abuse that she suffered at your hands, she overdosed on her insulin, apparently as a result of not wishing to be alive.”

The experience has not only blighted her life but will continue to do so for the rest of her life! Now there is justice for you; he gets five years, and she gets a lifetime of misery… Is it any wonder that young girls and women are reluctant to report incidences of rape? They not only have to endure the physical abuse of the rape itself, but then they have to endure the mental torment of reliving the whole expereience throughout the investigation and subsequent trial, that is if it gets that far (in some areas the chances of a rape accusation reaching the courtroom is as low as 1%), only to see the perpetrator get a ridiculous sentence like this one!

A Prickly Problem

Disappearing hedgehogs are causing some concern in ecological circles. Personally, I love these little creatures, well most of the time anyway; but anyone who has had these little buggers shagging in their garden will agree that, at a certain time of year, they can simply be a bloody nuisance with all of the noise they make!

I would urge anyone interested to go to HogWatch and help preserve these beautiful, ancient creatures; go on get over there and help…

That's my "social conscience" bit for today.

Helping The English in Scotland

Sorry folks, this is a long one! OK, it seems that the CoSG Forum is back, don’t know what happened there! Here is another topic, complete with my comments after each post of the thread:-

Helping the English in Scotland.

Not sure if this has been addressed yet.

You get politicians and activists who dedicate their lives to representing the interests of their own people or group in a particular country such as Galloway represents the Muslims for instance in Parliament,

The Scottish Parliament is elected on proportional representation not first past the post making defensive representation easier.

Is there any reason why someone representing the interests of the English people, a beleaguered and often violently suppressed minority, should not be elected on that ticket.

While the English are afraid to speak out for fear of violence they can quietly put an X in the box of someone who will fight their corner.

Well I know a few English people up here and they don’t feel themselves as a “violently suppressed minority”, in fact they feel quite welcome here, as do I, but then being Cornish I suppose that could be put down to the Celtic brotherhood at work. I don’t actually see how the English can see themselves as a “violently suppressed minority” when in fact they make up the majority of the population!

Well what might spark it off is a thread which exposes anti-Englishness in Scotland where people can write their experiences which we can forward to politicians and the press.

In fact this would be a good thread in Campaigns. We could write to the Scotsman saying it exists and that English people in Scotland should write in.
_________________
There is only one
English region
She is called
ENGLAND

Again I am not aware of “anti-Englishness” in Scotland, usually any problems that the English encounter up here is of their own making, by bringing their preconceived stereotypes of the Scots as drunken thugs across the border with them…

Funny how we take for granted and tolerate groups such as ‘London Irish’ or ‘London Scottish’. Can you imagine equivalent groups such as ‘Edinburgh English or ‘Glasgow English’ in Scotland? I can’t! I simply do not believe that they would be tolerated. Any building accommodating such overtly English groups would have its windows put in and be subject to other kinds of damage.There would be difficulty in arranging insurance cover.

I guess that it’s because the English tolerate this refusal of the Scots to integrate and their insistence upon remaining distinct from the English in England that, even though they do not reciprocate in Scotland, they feel free in government to insist that we English also tolerate the differences immigrants bring to England, and their remaining as distinct and unintegrated as Scots!
_________________
Seeking true democracy for England & the
English.

I reiterate that most of the English in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Scotland generally; they are not tolerated, they are welcomed. Again those who have trouble probably attract it with covertly racist remarks about the Scots. The Scots do not refuse to “integrate”, however, can one blame them for wanting to distance themselves from the worst excesses of the daily tabloid mentality that is being shown here?

Lance Dragon wrote:
“Well what might spark it off is a thread which exposes anti-Englishness in Scotland where people can write their experiences which we can forward to politicians and the press.”

In fact this would be a good thread in Campaigns. We could write to the Scotsman saying it exists and that English people in Scotland should write in.

Anti-English sentiment in Scotland eh? ive got two lagre scars on my hand due to 6 knobhead scots and one getting to eager with a mad dog 20/20 bottle, luckily my hand was covering my face otherwise the scars would have been elsewhere. I have many more examples. perhaps a thread on the matter may not be a bad idea.
_________________
Unsheath your swords all Englishmen,
Great winds of change are blowing,
King Alfred strides his land again,
And Drake’s loud drum is rolling.

I notice that it didn’t take long for the abusive remarks (6 knobhead scots) to begin, what can I say, except I wonder what he said to provoke such a violent reaction.

KnightofStGeorge wrote:
Lance Dragon wrote:
“Well what might spark it off is a thread which exposes anti-Englishness in Scotland where people can write their experiences which we can forward to politicians and the press”.

“In fact this would be a good thread in Campaigns. We could write to the Scotsman saying it exists and that English people in Scotland should write in.”

Anti-English sentiment in Scotland eh? ive got two lagre scars on my hand due to 6 knobhead scots and one getting to eager with a mad dog 20/20 bottle, luckily my hand was covering my face otherwise the scars would have been elsewhere. I have many more examples. perhaps a thread on the matter may not be a bad idea.

Whilst in the Army the scots regiments were known as “POISON DWARFS”
_________________
Love of own Country and own Folk is not a
crime! (England Awake, we have a job to do)

Well, I think this speaks for itself…

The Scots regiments are very selective of whom they let in Englishfolk are generally encouraged not to join and ones who do hear about it, you would think they were not apart of the British army or so the adverts tell me anyway the line at end “Scottish Infantry - forward as one”

Sooner we separate the better then the dwarves can direct their poison elsewhere
_________________
Unsheath your swords all Englishmen,
Great winds of change are blowing,
King Alfred strides his land again,
And Drake’s loud drum is rolling.

Seems to me that the only ones directing poison here are the English…

In the largest numbers are recruited in the North of England, would you believe!
_________________
Seeking true democracy for England & the English.

Surprising, I would have thought it to be the South East…

you got to laugh…..you guys are upset about anti-englishness in scotland when this site lives and breathes anti-scottishness!!! Unbelievable. And again confirms my view that this hypocritical site serves only to undermine the worthy cause of English Independence. With your attitudes, you ain’t going to get very far.
_________________
When that last colony Scotland has the courage to break free from English control, both Scotland and England will be truly independent.

At last a lonely voice in the wilderness…

Watch out! Watch out! there’s a troll about!
_________________
Seeking
true democracy for England & the English.

They really don’t like the argument brought to them, especially when it is the truth!

The anti scottishness seen on this site, is in response to the anti Englishness
brought about in the flesh for English people living in Scotland.

Now I
know you did crap after pop idol, but that’s not our fault, and you probably got
the Scottish vote that made you win it anyway.
_________________
This is
England

The first bit of this is absolute and utter rubbish, I am not going to repeat myself. The second bit, well I am at a loss to know what this person is ranting about…

The English antagonism toward Scotland is a recent phenomenon.

English hate is a deep rooted, genetic and an institutionally reinforced national
requirement in Scotland.

The recent English reciprocity is a reaction; it is a revelation.

The Jocks don’t like it but sadly for them they will have to deal with it.

Any Jocks looking in can get a cure for them there chips etc here:

This is just so ridiculously racist that it merits only the briefest comment…

so english jac and tommy england admit they and the english are anti-scottish and racists.

Proves my point. This is a racist website full of hate towards scots (and other nations who are not english).

You have just confirmed it. Thank you.
_________________
When that last colony Scotland has the courage to break free from English control, both Scotland and England will be truly independent.

The lonely voice again…

Michelle wrote:
so english jac and tommy england admit they and the english are anti-scottish and racists.

Proves my point. This is a racist website full of hate towards scots (and other nations who are not english).

You have just confirmed it. Thank you.

Monthly rant?
_________________
Love of own Country and own Folk is not a crime! (England Awake, we have a
job to do)

The lonely voice is that of a woman, so it must be wrong, she can’t possibly know what she is talking about. “Monthly rant?” is just so sexist that it beggars belief!

we are not racist, we hate every country that skives the hell out of england, now go do a jig on the edge of a cliff, or throw a log or somthing
_________________
This is England

Methinks that this person doth protest too much; if you have to say “we are not racist” that would indicate that there is some racism in there somewhere. If you are not racist it is evident without having to tell the world that you are not racist!

Michelle wrote:
so english jac and tommy england admit they and the english are anti-scottish and racists.

Proves my point. This is a racist website full of hate towards scots (and other nations who are not english).

You have just confirmed it. Thank you.

This site is NOT racist. Admittedly, there are some racist types who post on here from time to time, but it’s unfair to label all of us in the same way. As for anti-Scottish, most fair minded people here are anti-Scottish politicians rather than anti-Scottish people. I don’t have an axe to grind against the Scots, only your politicians like Blair, Brown, Falconer, Darling, Reid etc.
_________________
Home Rule For
England

“I don’t have an axe to grind against the Scots, only your politicians like Blair, Brown, Falconer, Darling, Reid etc.” But the English elected them; and they can’t deny it, they are by far the majority of the population! Sorry guv it wasn’t me, I’m only holding the gun I didn’t pull the trigger; don’t make me laugh!

Why is it that while there are some Scottish people who abuse others us English people don’t accuse the Scottish of being all hooligans and anti English they are not. There is an undercurrent of Scots who are and it is the politicians who are stirring anti English sentiment up for their own ends.

There are however some Scots, among the anti English minority who jump at the chance to accuse English people, all English people of being anti Scottish, these are the ones we need to defend our fellow English men and women across the border from.

At the risk of repeating myself ad infinitum English people in Scotland do not need defending against anti-Englishness, this is a fallacy; those that need defending usually bring it on themselves and should learn to keep their big mouths shut!

Well I’m against any kind of hatred towards other nationalities!

I’m English….and so, so very proud of it. I don’t need to intimidate or belittle
anyone to make myself feel any prouder about England.

However, most of my friends who are English refer to themselves as BRITISH! I have a few Scottish and Welsh friends, but they don’t make that same mistake as refering themselves as British!

The English people are asleep!! WE NEED TO AWAKEN THEM.

Scotland rules England!! This needs to change.

Anyway if English people feel intimidated by living in Scotland…. Then they should bloody move back to England where the grass is always greener!

I’m going to see the Kaiser Chiefs in Glasgow (mental note Tez - don’t wear the England shirt! )

Again this speaks for itself, the main argument I have with this is “Scotland rules England!!” which I think any thinking person would disagree with, but that is another far longer argument.

A friend of a friend (who knows nothing about football) went to the toilet, and a Scottish Patriotic (wearing a football shirt) said to him “huh good luck in the world cup!” The friend replied “You too!”

I think he was close to getting his head kicked in! hehe
_________________
Be England what she
will,
With all her faults she is my country still.

I rest my case, preconceived stereotype of the drunken Scottish thug! Personally I can’t see anything funny here…

Tez8 wrote:
Quote:
mental note Tez - don’t wear the England shirt!

Indeed, but THEY do not shrink from wearing any Scottish regalia in England, which just sums up the difference between the two nations.

Do remember though, that this thread is about helping the English in Scotland ie
the English who are not just visiting whether to see the KCs or anyone else!
_________________
Seeking true democracy for England & the English.

Indeed they do not shrink from “wearing any Scottish regalia” in Scotland either. I just don’t see what this person is getting at with such pointless remarks.

Take the Cross of St George off the back of the car too. Unless you like randomly modified bodywork, of course.
_________________
If you want to realise your dream,—-Wake up!

More English preconceptions, and complete bollocks to boot!

We would be better with some sort of campaign protecting the English in Ireland and Wales too! It’s not just limited to Scotland, or even the British Isles for that matter!

They would be better if they stopped whingeing about being a “violently suppressed minority” and tried sorting the problem they want solving in a rational and achievable manner. Their aims as they are at present are unachievable, however, fighting for more devolved powers to local authorities would be a much more achievable goal. My advice is, stop blaming everyone else and get on and fight your battles with government; dragging all of these internally racist side issues into the argument is going to get you absolutely nowhere, that is except being marginalised as a bunch of loonies who no one listens to!

Philosophy of Art

I embarked upon a new topic of study last night, the Philosphy of Art, apparently the subject last week (which I missed due to a vast amount of confusion about which Tuesday was actually the 18th April) was that awkward old bugger Plato and his complete down on poets; I am sure he and I would have had many a scrap over that. Last night was all about me old mate ‘arry Stottle, a much more amenable old geezer indeed, and his thoughts about tragedy, all very interesting indeed.

Coming weeks are going to be devoted to some interesting old coves indeed, people like Hume, Kant, Schopenhauer and Nietzsche to name but a few. The first two are fine, the third I know very little about, but old Nietzsche, well I think he was just argumentative and would disagree with anything even if he knew he was wrong; a bit like me really, so I should be quite at home with him.

Given all of the above it is quite possible that the intellectual content here will soar over the coming weeks…

A Strategy Rethink

I have an apology to make to regular readers, there will be no more snippets from the Cross of St George forum in the short term; I visited last night to seek out a little something for your amusement only to find a page telling me that the account had been suspended. I have no idea what has happend to them, and am quite sad at the thought of their disappearance, I figure that I now have to rethink my strategy here…

Famous Last Words

Your Famous Last Words Will Be:

"I can pass this guy."

What Will Your Famous Last Words Be?

Seaside Evocations

This post is dedicated to Cliff who brought this poem to my mind this morning. I make no apology for bringing you yet another Poem from the great man himself John Betjeman.

A Bay In Anglesey

The sleepy sound of a tea-time tide
Slaps at the rocks the sun has dried,

Too lazy, almost, to sink and lift
Round low peninsulas pink with thrift.

The water, enlarging shells and sand,
Grows greener emerald out from land

And brown over shadowy shelves below
The waving forests of seaweed show.

Here at my feet in the short cliff grass
Are shells, dried bladderwrack, broken glass,

Pale blue squills and yellow rock roses.
The next low ridge that we climb discloses

One more field for the sheep to graze
While, scarcely seen on this hottest of days,

Far to the eastward, over there,
Snowdon rises in pearl-grey air.

Multiple lark-song, whispering bents,
The thymy, turfy and salty scents

And filling in, brimming in, sparkling and free
The sweet susurration of incoming sea.

And I Thought I Was getting a Hard Time!

I have just visited one of my favourite blogs This Is Not My Country, only to find that some obnoxious loony had left a comment more than worthy of my derision; I have never come across such racist bile as this (complete as posted):-

Hello, I am happy to come to your website to see how far the hatred of Northern Europeans (Well, in your case you’re not autoctonous European of the north) but still very “assimilated” into the Anglo world, against our cultures. Let me tell you a bit about myself before you discuss or I tell you other things. I am 25 years old and graduated from the American “Ivy League”…Columbia Univ. in NYC…so I know how horrible it is to be in a multicultural city. It is for this reason that I returned to my country, that is called ESPAÑA (well, EXpaña thanks to socialist government now betraying my people)…and let me tell you, Madrid, my city, is being inundated with criminals from Morocco and South America. We spot them kilometers away, because it is so obvious they are not from here.

As for the situation in Greece, one of my best friends is Greek and is not in Golden Dawn but will vote for what you like to defiantly call “the right wing” in the next elections.

I tell you that both Spain and Greece are countries with attitude and an identity, we are not like Britain or USA who are always so politically correct and afraid of people. In my country, I will not tolerate foreigners, especially “sin papeles” (undocumented) commit crimes, slit throats of my compatriots, pickpocket in the Madrid metro (And I KNOW they do it because I see them all the time) and then piss on our church altars demanding, yes, get that: THEY DEMAND, illegally, residency permits. What they should do is to simply put all those permit requests in the rubbish bin and kick out all illegals from Morocco and Algeria and Ecuador and Colombian mafia drug lords.

I have to admit something: I despise your blog, though you are of course free to write whatever you like (taking advantage of a European tradition known as freedom of speech), something alien to the cultures of Africa that you defend so much. Well, I think it is normal that you defend them…because you yourself, looking at your image, are not exactly “European”…much less of Mediterranean stock, the most beautiful people of Europe. It’s amazing how you lie about Greece. I have been to Greece many times and the people are helpful, and, most of all, HONEST…something England and America needs to learn from. I, as a foreigner in Greece, have never felt “discriminated”.

Maybe that is because I know about their culture, whereas you write with such arrogance it revolts my stomach. Just so you know, immigration control parties are rising. Look at pxmadrid (a local Madrid party claiming more immigration control is needed and the link between that and so much crime), then we have councillor Anglada, Josep Anglada, pxcatalunya who has already won! two seats at the council. And we can keep going, because recent survey: more than 60% of Spaniards know there are too many F O R E I G N E R S in Spain.

And I made a mistake going to USA…because it separated me from MY land for 5 years. But I just wanted to tell you that I am going to get into politics and teach the illegal foreigners a lesson in property: THIS IS OUR COUNTRY, OUR HISTORY and we want all criminals OUT of this land. I have met people like you before (foreign tourists from Britain and resident ones in Madrid) and my countrymen and I always put them in their place…with the respect that characterises the Mediterranean peoples, (unlike the violence of your culture and your adopted UK), and I laugh at so much ignorance they support. I doubt you have one thing that unifies your culture. Do you have identity? Do you know the meaning of the word “blood ties?” Do you know of my country’s history of the Reconquista?

you know I have to say, thank you God that I don’t live (for the time being), in a politically correct country. I am disgusted about one thing however…that I can’t see you face to face and discuss this in person…because I would LOVE to see how you react (and I am almost certain you don’t dress properly either)…for Christ sake I saw today! somebody of your compatriots in the Plaza Mayor wearing SANDALS, almost bearfoot…thinking this is some sort of third world country. And the interesting part is that as I was looking at her sandals (cheap ones also), she looked at me and smiled! Well, because she was a foreigner (and of the bad kind) she didn’t get a smile in return.

Sorry for this if this bothers you but you shouldn’t be in a place you despise…especially having a child! Recent data showed that 20% (And growing) of parents in Valencia, Spain oppose to have their children study with foreigners at school. Why do you commit child abuse like this and obligate your son/daughter or whatever it is to be in a country you don’t really like or a country that is not yours? They should report you for child abuse or psychological harm.
Ok, well, I am going to have some wine now and discuss immigration further (problems associated with it and their crimes) with compatriots.

¡Adios!

Stating the Bleeding Obvious

Talk about stating the bleeding obvious! It would not take a genius to work out that if John Lennon spoke from the other side that he would be asking for world peace, now would it; after all he spent most of his life promoting the peace message. Some might call me a cynic, even sceptical, but actually I have an open mind about such things; especially when I am told something by someone that I have never met before that they could not possibly have known. It is because something like this happened to me a few years ago that I have an open mind; I am sure that there must be a rational explanation for such occurences but we have just not found it yet. The problem is that the waters are being muddied by the charlatans out there who come up with these frequently occuring stories; like “John Lennon speaks out for Peace from beyond the grave”; most of whom are attention seeking, money grabbing people who are just exploiting the vulnerability of those who are still deeply grieving, even many years after the loss of a loved one etc..