And I forgot this Public Service Announcement -- it is US Absentee Voter week. If you are a US citizen who lives abroad (like me) you can vote in the Federal elections, but you do need to fill out the paperwork.
From the email from the US embassy: "Voter registration deadlines vary by state. Some states require voters to be registered 30 days before an election. Check the Federal Voting Assistance Program website (www.FVAP.gov) to find more information on the deadline in your state. Whether you are a first-time voter or have voted absentee in previous elections, you should complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) each year to ensure you are able to participate in elections as an overseas absentee voter. "
Love the apple press. There is a resurgence here to return to making basic foods. I think it’s the combination of high prices and the low quality of most of our packaged goods. I’m learning how to can. My family did it for years but I never learned. Also making pasta, sourdough bread and yogurt.
Adorable photo of Paddy!
There is a rumor flying around X that in England they’re letting people out of jail before their sentences are complete in order to put people in who wrote things in Facebook. Is this accurate?
It is not as simple as that -- but yes they have let people out of jail who have not completed their sentences. Normally people are having to do 1/2 -2/3 of the their sentence (time off for good behaviour) but the overcrowding is such that they are letting people out much earlier -- this was planned before the riots btw. (what could possibly go wrong?) They are supposed to be the non-violent but many include domestic abusers. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/10/hotels-could-be-usedhouse-released-prisoners-mahmood/ or https://archive.ph/BVNGi
Most of the newly available spaces will be taken by people who have committed violent crimes.
The long term solution is to build more jails, something that the Conservatives avoided doing. They could also release many of the non-violent female prisoners with electronic tags and re-purpose some of the female prisons into male ones (making the walls more secure etc). While keeping one or two prisons for violent females (downside is the travelling for prisoners' families)
I have never canned. I do make chutney and jams. Pasta is fun to make as are sourdough and yogurt. Sourdough can be a tyranny as you do have to keep making the bread once you have the starter going. My longest lasting starter was about 5 years. But making basic food can be fun and it is a skill. The food does taste so much better and you don't get the additives. You can also tailor make the food to your requirements.
I'm glad I asked you because I figured there had to be more to it. I couldn't imagine that they were really swapping out a grandma who wrote something off on FB for a violent criminal, but in today's world there are more than a few backwards thought processes so you never know.
I was reminded how much better basic food is when we went to Greece and came home determined to make more, and I already cook a great deal.
Greek food can be amazing. So can Cypriot. They use fresh ingredients. People take pride in producing some for others to eat.
And yes, there is far more to do it re the prisoners. But many of those released will end up straight back as they will get drugged up and commit crimes...
Ah the tyranny of sourdough starter! But really a lot of made from scratch foods are like that. Just like a garden, just like livestock, consistent labor and commitment is required. This is why so many of the older generations embraced fast/fake/convenience foods in the first place. They grew up as 'slaves' to farming, canning, bread baking, etc. I heard these conversations many times in my youth, Ie how great it was to go to the store and buy margarine rather than have to get up in the dark, care for and milk the cow and churn butter, etc etc.
Yes there is that. I was v glad when we converted the Aga from solid fuel to oil. My hands were constantly black and I had 10 hours between each filling of the hopper with coke (aka smokeless fuel). It was heart breaking to see the last few coals go down as we arrived back too late...and then to have to start all over.
Chores were called chores for a reason.
I enjoy being able to do some things but having the option of going to the store if needed. Much of the innovation was in domestic work, including the very early things like the loom and the spinning wheel. Drop spindle spinning has a certain rhythm which can be soothing but my goodness, the time it must have taken to make a piece of cloth.
Apparently Wadhwa is becoming a car salesman -- something to do with providing electric cars to the masses. It is thought that it is Wadhwa's husband's company. As long as Wadhwa stays away from traumatizing vulnerable women, all is good. The directors who appointed and enabled also need to go.
My fingers are crossed for Kemi. If she gets to the members, I suspect she will win. It does depend on what the MPs decide though.
And I forgot this Public Service Announcement -- it is US Absentee Voter week. If you are a US citizen who lives abroad (like me) you can vote in the Federal elections, but you do need to fill out the paperwork.
From the email from the US embassy: "Voter registration deadlines vary by state. Some states require voters to be registered 30 days before an election. Check the Federal Voting Assistance Program website (www.FVAP.gov) to find more information on the deadline in your state. Whether you are a first-time voter or have voted absentee in previous elections, you should complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) each year to ensure you are able to participate in elections as an overseas absentee voter. "
Love the apple press. There is a resurgence here to return to making basic foods. I think it’s the combination of high prices and the low quality of most of our packaged goods. I’m learning how to can. My family did it for years but I never learned. Also making pasta, sourdough bread and yogurt.
Adorable photo of Paddy!
There is a rumor flying around X that in England they’re letting people out of jail before their sentences are complete in order to put people in who wrote things in Facebook. Is this accurate?
It is not as simple as that -- but yes they have let people out of jail who have not completed their sentences. Normally people are having to do 1/2 -2/3 of the their sentence (time off for good behaviour) but the overcrowding is such that they are letting people out much earlier -- this was planned before the riots btw. (what could possibly go wrong?) They are supposed to be the non-violent but many include domestic abusers. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/10/hotels-could-be-usedhouse-released-prisoners-mahmood/ or https://archive.ph/BVNGi
Most of the newly available spaces will be taken by people who have committed violent crimes.
The long term solution is to build more jails, something that the Conservatives avoided doing. They could also release many of the non-violent female prisoners with electronic tags and re-purpose some of the female prisons into male ones (making the walls more secure etc). While keeping one or two prisons for violent females (downside is the travelling for prisoners' families)
I have never canned. I do make chutney and jams. Pasta is fun to make as are sourdough and yogurt. Sourdough can be a tyranny as you do have to keep making the bread once you have the starter going. My longest lasting starter was about 5 years. But making basic food can be fun and it is a skill. The food does taste so much better and you don't get the additives. You can also tailor make the food to your requirements.
I'm glad I asked you because I figured there had to be more to it. I couldn't imagine that they were really swapping out a grandma who wrote something off on FB for a violent criminal, but in today's world there are more than a few backwards thought processes so you never know.
I was reminded how much better basic food is when we went to Greece and came home determined to make more, and I already cook a great deal.
And in a surprise to v few -- some of the recently released prisoners are already back in jail, having committed offences or broken the terms of their licences including approaching people they shouldn't. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/13/prisoners-released-early-already-back-prison/ or https://archive.ph/bWCFK
Greek food can be amazing. So can Cypriot. They use fresh ingredients. People take pride in producing some for others to eat.
And yes, there is far more to do it re the prisoners. But many of those released will end up straight back as they will get drugged up and commit crimes...
Ah the tyranny of sourdough starter! But really a lot of made from scratch foods are like that. Just like a garden, just like livestock, consistent labor and commitment is required. This is why so many of the older generations embraced fast/fake/convenience foods in the first place. They grew up as 'slaves' to farming, canning, bread baking, etc. I heard these conversations many times in my youth, Ie how great it was to go to the store and buy margarine rather than have to get up in the dark, care for and milk the cow and churn butter, etc etc.
Yes there is that. I was v glad when we converted the Aga from solid fuel to oil. My hands were constantly black and I had 10 hours between each filling of the hopper with coke (aka smokeless fuel). It was heart breaking to see the last few coals go down as we arrived back too late...and then to have to start all over.
Chores were called chores for a reason.
I enjoy being able to do some things but having the option of going to the store if needed. Much of the innovation was in domestic work, including the very early things like the loom and the spinning wheel. Drop spindle spinning has a certain rhythm which can be soothing but my goodness, the time it must have taken to make a piece of cloth.
Hello Northumberland! Good to "see" Ya.
I'm glad Kemi is doing better. And I was glad to see Wadhwa disappear.
Glad to hear the apple press is working well, and that the writing is going well. Paddy looks great.
TY, as always, Michelle.
So pleased you dropped by.
Apparently Wadhwa is becoming a car salesman -- something to do with providing electric cars to the masses. It is thought that it is Wadhwa's husband's company. As long as Wadhwa stays away from traumatizing vulnerable women, all is good. The directors who appointed and enabled also need to go.
My fingers are crossed for Kemi. If she gets to the members, I suspect she will win. It does depend on what the MPs decide though.