Greedy, mad, swivel eyed loons
This week the share price of Lloyd’s Banking Group went over 60p and so the government has reached the break even price for it’s shares. Royal Bank of Scotland made some gains too, so the government could get it’s 66 billion back that it pumped into those banks. (more…)
The midweek ramble
That’s Redhouse Park in the picture. It’s about 6 miles from here. I didn’t really want to drive that far, but I’m running out of things to photograph here. People seem fascinated by travelling. It must be some primitive instinct.
Spooky
I’ve used a spooky picture of the churchyard to begin today’s post. I think the original church was built about 700 years ago, replacing a castle and maybe some kind of pagan church. I can spend more time writing my Sunday ramble today, because I don’t have to cook Sunday lunch; it’s already cooked.
Am I getting paranoid?
I’ve used a picture of an English summer from 2011 today. Remember summer? Last year; it was rain, rain and more rain. There was a rumour that they were messing with the weather, trying to stop it raining on their Jubilee and Olympics.
The English eccentric
Today’s picture is of the River Tame, here in the Black Country. There are millions of flowers growing down the sides in Spring; this was last May. Only an English eccentric would know something like that. I shall check again this year and see if they grow along the Tame in Sandwell Valley.
The mid-week moan, again
It would seem that Britain is more divided than ever today. It will be interesting to see whose side everyone is really on when it comes to the crunch. The elitists are having a funeral for their heroine. She saved Britain; gave us Google, Iphones, Windows 7, Tesco value beef-burgers and Wonga.
Mid-week moan | Times are a changing
Do you remember hand carts? People used to sell flowers from hand carts years ago. They often grew the flowers in their gardens and they made a living out of selling them.
Treasure in the Black Country
This could be the only treasure map in existence with a motorway running through it. You may remember that I wrote about Princess Ethelfleda’s hoard of gold in my post just a year ago. We’re still looking for it. It could be buried at King’s Hill, there is a park there that’s suitable for scouring with a metal detector.
Spring in the heart of England
Today’s photo is of Spring. No, not this Spring! This was last Spring, the sun was shining and the River Tame was lined with millions of flowers! There were bluebells in the woods, blossom on the trees and it was Spring. What do we have this year?
Looking forward to Spring?
Yes, it’s the Spring equinox in just four days! If you’re hoping for summer weather forget it, but we can expect blossom on the trees, tulips and daffodils and bluebells in the woods. I’ll be out there enjoying the fresh air and watching nature begin a new year. How about you?
Living on a pound a day
I read about a Lord this week who tried to live on a pound a day for food. He tried to do it for five days. That isn’t too difficult if you’re healthy and can eat anything. It’s only five days.
Saturday ideas and thoughts
I don’t usually do sky pictures, they’re boring, but this one is unusual and I’m a bit desperate today. If you look carefully you can see the moon breaking through the clouds. We had another week of financial bad news. Both banks that are partly owned by the tax payer posted losses. Not real losses that would send them into administration like so many High Street businesses; these are just millions and billions lost ‘on paper’.
Who has all the money?
I have money in my wallet and money in the bank. We all think that we know what money is and how to use it to buy goods and services. Do we really understand the world financial system? It does seem to have become very complicated. Governments around the world are complaining that they are not only broke, but trillions in debt. What’s going on? (more…)
Sunday thoughts and giant goldfish
What do you think of today’s picture? It’s only a tree, but I think it’s artistic. It’s better than that pickled sheep they had in Walsall art gallery last year. I’m back to writing my Sunday rambles on Sunday morning. I was scheduling all my posts and writing them in advance. It was confusing writing my Monday psychology post on a Saturday, I kept forgetting what day it was.
39 days and 39 nights
Yes, there are 39 days and 39 nights to go before Spring arrives. I wonder if I should have written this post yesterday? Nay, I always write these on a Sunday. That reminds me of the news this week, which was about horse meat; yet again. I think it’s time the authorities got the bit between their teeth and reined in this problem before the whole nation gets the galloping trots…
My birthday blog – I wish…
Yes, it’s my birthday and so a special birthday blog today. Today’s photograph was taken in Moorcroft wood. That might look like a lake, but it’s a hole in the ground left by open cast mining that filled with water. It was the coal that was mined here that fuelled the steam engines of the Industrial Revolution.
54 days to Spring
The snow’s gone! We have blue skies and sunshine this morning and the overnight rain has washed most of the snow away. There are just 54 days to go now to Spring when I will be able to go out to Moorcroft Wood and see the blue bells. There will be daffodils around too. This is the key to coping with winter, look forward to Spring. Make plans, make resolutions and have goals.
beef burgers and snow
This week we have seen Blockbusters in the news as the latest retailer to go into administration, following other famous names like HMV, Jessops and Comet. Then there was Tesco with it 30% horse-meat ‘beef’ burgers. Then there was the snow…
Thrifty Thursday ideas
The super-six at Aldi this week are; parsnips (500g), avocado, new potatoes (750g), button mushrooms (150g), red onions (1kg) and butternut squash. They are all 49p each. It’s cold here and it’s a good idea to cook a home made soup or stew to keep out the cold. We need a little more fat in our diets, this weather.
Nearly Christmas 2012
I have started with a snow picture today, just to remind you what it looks like. I read this morning that it’s really hot in Australia. It was stormy here this morning, but the sky seems to be clearing now and we have sunshine. I have one of two things to do today and so I want a little nice weather.
The Christmas short story
My Christmas short story is finished, at last! You can read it by clicking Christmas short story. I shall be reminding you to check that out again over Christmas. Please comment and tell me what you think of it. Did you find it funny? I shall be blogging all over the Christmas so please pop in and check the posts out. There is also the comment box, if you feel the need to share Christmas greetings!
Nostalgia and the 21st century
Do you every feel nostalgic and find yourself yearning for a simpler life? We have lots of technology now and people do like their smart televisions, smart phones and smart lifestyles. But is it enough? Are we all lacking something and aren’t quite sure what? Is life just too stressful, too greed driven, too selfish?
The era of peace and love
The Sixties
The sixties were supposed to be all peace and love. It was an interesting time for young people. We had different music, Elvis was still quite popular and he showed many others the way. He was followed on this side of the pond by lots of groups and solo singers. I remembered as I watched recordings of the Rolling Stones on television last night.
The Sunday lunch ramble, rich and poor
Today’s photo was taken by Simon James and I’ve cropped it and added the text to it. It looks like a postcard! This is my usual ramble on a Sunday, when I have little to write about and so ramble on about whatever is on my mind. At the moment that’s lunch! (more…)
