River of Life - The Cunliffe Report & Us

Adults should drink 2 - 2.5 litres of water a day. Afraid I don't, but I do probably drink that much tea, with a coffee thrown in first thing. On the other hand approximately 2.2 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water. 115 million people rely on surface water. 3.5 billion people lack safely managed sanitation, and 419 million practice open defecation. 

No river in England is free from pollution, with only 14% of England's rivers in good ecological health, and 83% show high levels of sewage and agricultural pollution. The Cunliffe Review, published in June this year, exposes just how bad things are in England & Wales & just how Ofwat, the Environment Agency, the Drinking Water Inspectorate, Natural England and Natural Resources Wales have let us all down, 36 years after privatisation by the conservatives under Mrs Thatcher. A privatised system needs strong regulators, but that hasn't happened, not just in the water industry. Cunliffe makes 88 recommendations. That shows just how bad things have been allowed to get. 

 

We have made the mistake of taking plentiful clean water for granted. We waste huge amounts, as do the water companies in leaks, because the infrastructure hasn't been maintained properly. But in comparison to much of the world we are so lucky. We have allowed our rivers, lakes & seas to be polluted to the point where it is unsafe to swim in them & some are effectively dead. 

We have all taken our eye off the ball, but the regulators & the politicians are culpable. What the hell have they been doing for 36 years? Basically they have allowed privatisation to run down what was a profitable, reasonably well run, industry to drain away vital income into the pockets of hugely well paid senior managers & shareholders. I actually think it is criminal. 

Now the public will have to pay. Again. 

  

 

Empty phrases - "How Are You"?

The art of conversation seems to be becoming very formulaic. I am really fed up with listening to radio 4 programmes where interviewees monotonously say "thank you for having me" & "how are you"? to the interviewer. Neither party is there for a friendly conversation. They are there because something is newsworthy enough to be on radio 4 & there are questions that need to be answered. Hopefully both parties are well informed & have something worthwhile to say.

If you say "how are you" to someone I feel you should actually be interested in the answer & be prepared to give it the attention it deserves. It shouldn't simply be a glib, not expecting a proper answer, conversational gambit. We all play the game. We all respond, "I'm fine how are you"? & don't expect any real information. It's like Brits conversations about the weather, utterly pointless.

Similarly "thank you for having me". What on earth does that actually mean? How can you "have" a person? Both parties are in the interview in order to convey information. The phrase is transactional, facile, superficial. They need eachother & are there for a specific purpose. Generally the BBC does not pay members of the public for interviews. There can be exceptions for experts, consultants, or those involved in high-profile news stories, but the standard practice is not to compensate individuals for participating in news interviews.  

Conversation should, of course, be polite. There is nothing worse than interviewer & interviewees speaking, or even shouting, over eachother, although it does happen more often than it should. It defeats the object of the listener being informed & getting information & is extremely irritating. Personally it makes me turn the radio off. 

The most empty phrase of all time has got to be "like". It's a filler word like um & er, it's how we make time to formulate a thought or word. Goodness knows how it has become so prevalent. People don't seem to be able to tolerate silence any more. Silence allows us to think. But I feel we have lost the art of thinking before we speak or act. Some people just want to be the one speaking, even when they actually don't have much to say.

 

Lifestyle

I'm not at all sure that I have a "lifestyle". What exactly does it mean? It's such a nebulous term. Does it mean that there are rules or patterns of behaviour? Wikipedia says it is the interests, opinions, behaviours, and behavioural orientations of an individual, group, or culture. So I have to wonder how you become a member. How you find out the rules that apply.

More importantly, why do individuals want to join a particular "lifestyle club". 

I suppose that a lot of it is dictated by social media, advertising & influencers. That puts me off for a start.

The key to my unease is the word dictated. Where is individuality in all of this? Where is the value in being different, following your own beliefs & interests. Why don't we value our individuality, our difference? Why are we determined to be a member of a group, without being able to diverge from the behaviours or mores of that group? Why should we allow ourselves to be so influenced by someone else. Often someone that we don't even know?

I'm trying to work out what my lifestyle is. I'm old, I live alone, I have a house, but no pets, I have an interesting & busy life, I don't have a big family, but I have lots of friends, I have a routine, but I do like unplanned things, I enjoy doing lots of things, I'm never bored....

What group does that put me in? A granny, A retiree, A pensioner? Well no, I don't think I conform to the image any of those names conjours up. I hope not, because I think those names categorize & are dismissive & I don't want to belong to a homogenous group.

I want to be me far more than I want to "belong". I don't want to wear what old people are "supposed " to wear, or do what old people are "supposed" to do. I wish I had realised that when I was young & did try to fit in with others & their expectations. Now I really don't think that is the way to be. 

 

It is important to know what matters to you, not try to conform to what matters to other people. 

My Territory

Some Bolshie idiot. (I use the term advisedly, you'll soon get why), parks his car in my driveway. I don't know him & I certainly haven't given him permisson to invade my space. I'm both surprised & annoyed. It's very inconvenient. What right has he got to do that - none whatsoever. 

So I remonstrate. Strongly. But he is very aggressive & belligerent. Its a war - of words. But he is a bully.

All the neighbours can see what is happening & in various ways most support me. I need help from an organisation with clout to enforce the rules - the police. But the police sympathise & just monitor the situation. They don't forcibly remove him or charge him.

So I ask Citizens Advice what to do. They just advise mediation. But the mediation will be just the mediator & the man who has parked in my drive. I will not be invited to attend my own mediation.

It's ridiculous right? It would never happen. There are laws & people have rights that can be enforced.

Well, think again, because that is exactly what is happening between Russia, (the agressor parking his tanks unlawfully) & Ukraine (the landowner trying to defend himself).

If anyone had asked me whether this could happen when I was young I would have simply laughed. But the Jugoslavian war opened my eyes to how ineffectual enforcement of international law is. We have not prepared any better for dictator bullies. We have many leaders who appease rather than confront. We do not act together as a proper international force. 

What is happening shames us all. Ukraine is not perfect. But it is a sovereign state that has defended itself bravely in the face of terrible cost in destruction, injury & death against a very wealthy & powerful aggressor. 

If we are not able to stop this without the aggressor benefitting from his aggression we are all not only shamed but we will open Pandoras Box for future generations.

 

Reality TV

There is more than one kind of reality TV. The obvious one is programmes like "The Apprentice", "The Traitors", "Dragons Den", "Race Around the World" - all BBC. On ITV there is "Big brother", "Love Island", "Britains Got Talent", "TOWIE". 

The other kind is the reality we see in daily news & documentary programmes. 

Then there is the reality of our own individual lives. How do we process reality tv & real events we can see at a safe distance? 

I seriously wonder if we truly understand what reality is. We are bombarded with the "reality" of social media & "influencers" as well as reality tv. What we see is carefully curated & edited. The people we see present a persona & we have no way of knowing how real that is. I suspect in many cases it is worlds away from the reality most of us experience.

The reality of disaster & war is removed from us. We watch, but do we really process & empathise? When people are actually involved in traumatic events that is light years away from watching it on a screen. Distance allows us to see it almost like a drama, because it is too hard to fully engage with what is happening.

I am concerned that we are becoming inured to events that should motivate us to action. Our own lives are so complex & busy that we cannot allow ourselves to become too involved in the lives of others. The daily grind, whatever that is, occupies our minds & energy to the extent that we possibly tolerate things that are intolerable. In fact it is all to easy to "other" people so that we don't feel personal responsibility to take action. This is evident in the way refugees & migrants are portrayed. If we were to acknowledge their equal humanity to ourselves, how could we describe them as illegal, a flood, an influx, an onslaught, mass migration......The language we use risks dehumanizing individuals and conflating legal status with identity. 

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/aug/02/language-on-immigration-in-uk-news-and-politics-found-to-have-shaped-backlash-against-antiracism

https://www.runnymedetrust.org/publications/a-hostile-environment-language-race-surveillance-and-the-media

 

Today we have the ability to know more of what the reality of living in other places is. We cannot say that we didn't know. If you accept that, then don't you have to do something about the unacceptable reality that millions live with? 

Titles

I'm reading a novel by Richard Coles. He was in The Communards in the 1980's. After that he was a C of E vicar. He was also a radio presenter. Now he writes novels. So, multi talented. It made me think about titles & wonder why, when he left the church because of it's stance on LGBTQ+, he still uses the title Rev.

Then I wondered why, when I have been widowed for 16 years, I am still Mrs....

That led me to the Monarchy & Aristocracy. Why do we accept that, simply because of an accident of birth, some people are given higher status than others. They haven't done anything to earn their status. They may not be particularly intelligent, or skilled, or have valuable experience or expertise. They cannot necessarily be thought of as having done anything to merit their exalted position other than been born to privileged parents. 

Then there is the vexed question of the Honors List where politicians & the monarch raise people to higher status. If it were only done because the recipients had done something exceptional to merit the honor, I wouldn't mind. But that isn't necessarily the case. The Conservatives apparently gave out 10 times more honours than Labour since 2010.

OBE, MBE, CBE - These are the most common honors and are awarded twice a year (New Year and King's Birthday) for contributions to various fields like arts, sciences, public service, and community work. I'm struggling to justify why, because someone has been talented in sport or the arts for example, that warants an honor. I certainly can't justify celebrity honours. 

Knighthoods/Damehoods -  Are higher honors given for supposedly major contributions at a national or international level. Many of these are political. A significant portion of these honors are tied to political service, donations and influence. Some are directly awarded by the Prime Minister upon resignation, and others are given to those who have held public office and contributed to national life. There has been an expectation that politicians & civil servants are almost entitled to these. Many people object to the degrading of these, for example by Boris Johnson & especially Liz Truss after being Prime Minister. 

Personally, while I am always interested in meeting new people, I struggle to defer to anyone. Honour means high respect, great esteem. If someone has done something outstanding or above the norm I would obviously respect that. But that does not seem to be how our Honors system always works. The system is inherently flawed & debases those who genuinely deserve to be recognised. 

It needs to change. Titles are not the answer. It just perpetuates the British class system. We need to be a genuine meritocracy.  

 

Fairness & Injustice

I don't know why, but fairness is really important to me. To me fairness does not mean that everybody gets what they want. Rather it means that everybody in the group has an equal opportunity to benefit. It's fundamental. It's one of the reasons I think that, as individuals & as a state, we should do everything to ensure that an accident of birth does not give some an unfair advantage & consign others to poverty.

Injustice, in any form, really gets to me. So much so that I simply cannot remain silent about what I perceive to be injustice. I also think that everyone should voice their concerns about unjust speech & actions. It isn't good enough to simply ignore unfairness & injustice. If we believe in a moral compass at all, we must be prepared to uphold it, even if that comes at a personal cost. 

We humans have been given a conscience. We have an internal voice & insticts to help us make judgements about what is fair & what is unjust. However we are also able to ignore those voices in order to avoid any adverse effects of speaking or acting. We can convince ourselves that what we do or don't do is of no consequence in the grand scheme of things. 

It isn't true. Atrocities can only happen when people stay silent. 

It seems that our world today is full of injustice. There seems little evidence of fairness. The news is full of negativity. Negative news sells newspapers & gets clicks on social media. How often do we see good news? We do need to shine a light on wrongdoing, but sometimes it seems that there isn't enough balance. 

I'm not sure I can see a solution to this conundrum. I have heard quite a few people say, for example, that they no longer listen to the news because it is so dire. That cannot be the way to go. We all need to face up to the things that are unacceptable & need to change. We can't be ostriches with our heads in the sand providing our little lives are OK.

We have the means to make our voices heard collectively. We need to use them wisely & loudly. We must not stay silent in the face of the dreadful events currently unfolding in our world. If Unfairness & Injustice prevail we all loose. 

The UK government is introducing a Crime & Policing Bill that includes measures to criminalise some protest activities. This bill, along with previous legislation like the Public Order Act, significantly expands police powers to restrict and penalize protests, even those deemed peaceful but disruptive. 

I think we should be very wary of accepting this. 

  

Neurotypical - Neurodiverse

Neurotypical -  Having characteristics and traits that are considered typical in comparison to other people in society.

Neurodiverse - the natural variation in how the human brain functions & processes information. A wide range of ways that people think, learn, and behave. It is estimated that 15% - 20% of the world's population is neurodivergent. That's more than 1 in 7.

I have just done 4 interesting tests to assess whether I am neurodiverse. It turns out that I possibly am. I seem to be somewhere relatively low down on the Autism spectrum. It hadn't ocurred to me. As far as I am concerned I am really normal - it's the rest of you that are odd. It was quite a surprise. I think it's important to focus on the strengths and unique perspectives that neurodivergent individuals can bring, rather than solely focusing on challenges. But I could possibly be biased.

Further it seems likely that I inherited it from my mother, who I definitely thought was different, but for other reasons. Around 80% of autism cases can be linked to inherited genetic mutations. Autistic people exhibit differences in social interaction, communication, and behavior. I suspect we all think we are normal, but how often do we tell family or friends what we really think about them? 

Autism presents differently in females, often leading to underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis due to masking & different symptom presentation. Women and girls are more likely to mask their autism symptoms, consciously or unconsciously mimicking social behaviors and using scripts to fit in.

https://www.oxfordcbt.co.uk/female-autism-checklist/ 

Anyway, I'm taking this revelation on board. In my apparently autistic way, I'm researching it & finding out as much as I can. The thing is, however honest you can be with yourself, you are hardly the most reliable judge of your own personality traits. 

Maybe the main thing we all have to live with is that human beings are wonderfully different in looks, in intelligence, in philosophy, in temperament, in everything you can think of. That is a good thing. Difference is to be cherished, not used to isolate or intimidate people. Humans do have a tendency to form cliques & to exclude outliers, even torment & bully them. 

We need alternative ways of thinking to get us out of the mess we are in. We should all be more accepting. I think I need to work on that!

 

Cause & Effect - Lines on Maps

The boundaries of countries have been decided by a combination of historical claims, treaties, wars, colonization, and negotiations. These boundaries can be natural, like rivers or mountains, or artificial lines agreed upon by the nations involved. They are arbitrary & change over time. For example Hungary & Poland lost a lot of territory to Cezchoslovakia & Romania post WW2. Similarly, tribal Africa was remapped by European colonisers, primarily between the 1880s and 1914, with little regard for existing political structures or ethnic boundaries.

The area of Israel & Palestine at the time of Jesus was historically tribal, but was then under Roman rule. God had supposedly given the land of Canaan to the Jews. Scholars today use Canaan as a geopolitical entity corresponding to the modern states of Israel, the West Bank/Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon, and southern Syria.

 

Palestine was historically part of Canaan, then later included the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah. After the Roman conquest, it was known as Judaea, and was later renamed Syria Palaestina. 

So it is complicated. Both Israel & Palestine have a legitimate claim to the land. But the thing is that borders do not exist in the landscape in reality. They are created by people, usually men, with vested interests. They are fluid & change over time. Once we create borders we create conflict & the cycle of fighting for territory begins. It is a male thing. Generally women fight to defend people, not territory.

 

In microcosm we put boundaries around our houses - fences, walls & hedges. We are in effect saying this is mine, keep off unless I invite you in. Land ownership is at the root of class hierarchy, the aristocracy, the middle classes & the working class. Britain is probably still one of the most class ridden societies in the world, apart from India, which has the caste system.

 

The territorial dispute between Israel & Palestine has been ongoing for a very long time. Logic says that there needs to be a negotiated settlement about a 2 state solution. But attitudes on both sides are entrenched. Politics & religious zealotry has mired logical discussion in a morass. So a solution seems a long way off.

 

In the meantime Gaza is almost totally destroyed & the death & injury toll is unacceptable - at least 59,029 people killed and 142,135 wounded. Putin continues to be at war with Ukraine. There is civil war in Sudan, Ethiopia, Myanmar & the Sahel. The rest of the world seems unable to impose logic on anyone.

 

This does not simply affect the warring countries. The impact is worldwide. Peace is in everyone's interest. 

 

 

Denial

Denial - The refusal to acknowledge or accept the truth of something despite evidence to the contrary. It's a psychological defense mechanism where individuals unconsciously avoid confronting painful or uncomfortable realities. For example, refusing to admit to a personal problem like addiction or rejecting the reality of a traumatic event. Our brain is remarkable & can prevent unpleasant or anxiety-provoking thoughts and feelings from reaching conscious awareness. Sometimes denial can help us to process the initial shock of trauma or loss. While denial can give temporary relief, it can also be detrimental in the long run. 

Plausible Deniability -  Politicians & people in power use this to deny knowledge or responsibility for actions, even if they were involved or had knowledge, by creating ambiguity, (ergo lying), or using indirect language creating doubt. This allows them to distance themselves from potentially damaging consequences, while still benefiting from the action. I'm sure you can think of examples.

Denialism - A phenomenon that goes beyond individual denial. It is the rejection of established facts and evidence, often for ideological or political reasons, e.g. Holocaust denial. 

Individuals can be in denial about personal life experiences or macro events. I may not want to accept that I have a serious illness or have done something very wrong or harmful. I may be misled by spurious conspiracy theories about world events, the death of President Kennedy for example. There may be plenty of evidence supporting the truth & precious little supporting the conspiracy theorists, but my brain does not want to accept the truth. It is easier to believe something else for some reason. There may well be conspiracies going on in the world, but there is also a huge amount of misinformation & downright lies, often spread by social media. 

We live in an information age where access to facts & evidence is easy because of technology. But that access works both ways, we also have immediate access to post truth information designed to mislead. Some politicians & political parties rely on that to stay in power. There have been huge international corporations that have had a very questionable relationship with truth, the Sackler family & the OxyContin scandal for example. Or closer to home the Post Office scandal. 

More & more it is our responsibility to verify what we believe to be the truth. We have the tools. We should all use them.

 

Or we will be lambs to the slaughter - possibly literally. 

Famine - Genocide - Ethnic Cleansing - You Decide

Famine - The most severe kind of hunger crisis. Extreme widespread scarcity of food. Not enough food for a great number of people, causing illness and death - children and adults within a certain area dying of hunger on a daily basis. Famine is preventable and, therefore, a choice. 

 

Genocide - coined in 1944 genos, meaning race or tribe, and the Latin suffix cide, meaning killing. Systematic murder, targeted actions aimed at the destruction of particular groups of people. An international crime. 

Ethnic Cleansing - coined after the 1990’s conflict in the former Yugoslavia. Not yet recognized as an independent crime under international law, why? Possibly because there is no precise definition of the concept or the exact acts to be qualified as ethnic cleansing. Interim report S/25274 defined as "… rendering an area ethnically homogeneous by using force or intimidation to remove persons of given groups from the area." In report S/1994/674 the same Commission described ethnic cleansing as “… a purposeful policy designed by one ethnic or religious group to remove by violent and terror-inspiring means the civilian population of another ethnic or religious group from certain geographic areas.” The Comission of Experts stated that coercive practices used to remove the civilian population can include: murder, torture, arbitrary arrest and detention, extrajudicial executions, rape and sexual assaults, severe physical injury to civilians, confinement of civilian population in ghetto areas, forcible removal, displacement and deportation of civilian population, deliberate military attacks or threats of attacks on civilians and civilian areas, use of civilians as human shields, destruction of property, robbery of personal property, attacks on hospitals, medical personnel, and locations with the Red Cross/Red Crescent emblem, among others.

https://www.un.org/en/genocide-prevention/definition

I simply can't see that any of this does not apply to what the Israeli government & IDF are doing in Gaza & the West Bank. Please note, I have not said Israeli's or Jews, because I do not believe that what is being done is in the name of all Israeli's or Jews. There is dissent against the way this war has been fought. There are moderate people who are standing up against the actions of an extreme right wing section of the Israeli population. 

What I do not understand or condone is that the international community seems to, yet again, be watching on the sidelines, as it did in Jugoslavia. What is the point of international law if it isn't enforced? What is the point of the United Nations if it allows veto's by vested interests & bad actors to stand in the way of justice? 

Can't Stand the Heat

We have quite a few sayings about heat - "if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen", "the heat of the moment", "the white heat of technology", "as hot as hell".....  We have a very mixed relationship to heat, sun & heatwaves. Some love it. I actually dread it because, like many elderly people, I find it really difficult to cope with. I have to virtually shutdown & stay in the coolest room in my house which is North facing. 

We are now experiencing the third successive heatwave this summer in the UK. We have amber heat alerts with temperatures in the 30's & 3 areas now have hosepipe bans. The highest temperature so far was 34.7 degrees. According to RoSPA “Heat is no longer just a holiday perk, it’s a growing public health risk".

If you have pre-existing health conditions heat exacerbates the symptoms. Conditions like heart disease, respiratory problems, kidney issues, and diabetes can be worsened, leading to a higher risk of complications and even death.The body's attempt to cool down during heat exposure puts extra strain on the heart, potentially leading to chest pain, heart attack, or even heart failure in individuals with pre-existing heart conditions. Hot weather can worsen breathing difficulties & reduce oxygen intake. Heat and dehydration can strain the kidneys, potentially leading to acute kidney injury, especially in individuals with existing kidney problems. Some medications, such as diuretics, beta-blockers, and drugs for mental health, can interfere with the body's ability to regulate temperature and maintain proper fluid balance, making people more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses.

People like me with chronic health conditions need to take extra precautions during heatwaves, such as staying hydrated, avoiding strenuous activity, and seeking shade or air-conditioned environments. Actually I find there is no choice, because I simply do not have the capacity to do anything even slightly energetic. So the ironing remains unironed, the plants aren't watered, the bed is never made & the washing up sits and looks mockingly at me.

But I don't mind that. It will all get done eventually. What I mind is the enforced inactivity. The constant discomfort. 

But I am fortunate because I can & do swim, which is a temporary respite & makes sure I do get some exercise. I have family living nearby & friends who keep in touch. So many people are struggling with the results of climate change who aren't as lucky. 

The Climate Emergency needs to be taken far more seriously by everyone. We can see the evidence clearly, not least in the wildfire statistics. 

https://gwis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/apps/gwis_current_situation/index.html

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0m9gm3jwljo 

Heat is a killer, in more ways than one. 

 

Homelessness

My husband & I started married life in a rented council terraced property in Bracknell. When our daughter was born we had enough money for a deposit on a semi detached house & could just about afford the mortgage. It was a financial stretch & there were weeks when we had egg & chips several times for supper.

Over our life together we moved up the property ladder as we both had professional jobs & our salaries increased. We ended up in a valuable property & mortgage free. We both worked hard, but we were so lucky.

Homelessness in the UK is a blight on all of us. We are a relatively wealthy nation, yet we seem to tolerate this epidemic. In March 2025, an estimated 3,438 people were sleeping rough on a single night in England. This represents a 2% increase since December 2024 and an 11% increase compared to the same period last year. There are other forms of homelessness, such as those in temporary accommodation, which brings the total number of homeless people to at least 354,000.  

Poverty, unemployment, lack of affordable housing, relationship breakdown and systemic barriers in welfare support are understood to be significant systemic primary drivers of rough sleeping. These underlying causes can often be exacerbated by personal vulnerabilities like poor health or substance use.

Poverty can arise from low wages, unemployment, and the rising cost of living, making it impossible for some to afford basic necessities like housing. Low-income individuals and families can't find suitable, secure & affordable accommodation to rent or buy. Eviction from private rentals, often due to rising costs or 'no-fault' evictions, is a major trigger for homelessness. Cuts to welfare benefits and inadequate support systems can leave vulnerable individuals with limited resources to meet their basic needs and prevent homelessness. Family or relationship conflicts, domestic violence, and the loss of a support network can lead to sudden homelessness. Mental health problems and substance abuse can significantly impair an individual's ability to manage daily life, maintain employment, and secure housing. Young people leaving the care system often lack the necessary support network to transition to independent living, making them vulnerable. Individuals leaving prison may face challenges finding housing and employment.

https://www.crisis.org.uk/ending-homelessness/about-homelessness/causes-of-homelessness/ 

It isn't a simple problem to solve. We need more affordable social housing. Charities like the Salvation Army have innovative projects like "Nap Pads" https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/homelessness/nap-pads

 

Rough sleeping will be decriminalised next year under government plans to scrap the 200-year-old Vagrancy Act which outlaws rough sleeping in England and Wales. Given all the drivers of homelessness & rough sleeping I think this should have happened ages ago. 

There are undoubtedly people on the streets who cause a nuisance due to associated behaviours like begging, street drinking & anti social actions, which can negatively impact communities. But I have seen anti social behaviours by non rough sleepers too, far too often. People can be needlessly confrontational & aggressive, rude & abusive, in public. Dealing with bad behaviour is very difficult & it is all too common. I have had intimidating neighbours I actually thought were capable of violence.

We should also consider the many people living in unacceptable, mainly rented, housing. In 2022-23, approximately 3.5 million households (14%) in England lived in homes that failed to meet the Decent Homes Standard, according to the Gov.uk website. This includes 2.1 million households (9%) with at least one Category 1 hazard and 1.0 million households (4%) with damp.

Human beings are such a mixed bunch. We need to learn what to tolerate & what to confront. We also probably need a dose of empathy & understanding for the many people less fortunate than we are. I do worry about the knee jerk, very right wing, political responses to problems like this because we are in dire financial straits as a country because of poor previous political decision making. 

As humans we need to learn to care for people. Homelessness isn't a "lifestyle choice". We shouldn't just pass by on the other side of the road like the Priest & the Levite in the story of the Good Samaritan. 

 

Life & Tennis

I learned to play games at grammar school - netball, hockey & my favourite, tennis. I can't remember when I started watching Wimbledon, but I do clearly remember the Rosewall / Laver era in the 60s & 70s. I really got bored knowing that Laver was going to win almost every time. I also remember the beginning of the open era in 1968. I have been lucky to watch decades of tennis in which the game has changed in every way possible, not always for the better in my opinion. I got very fed up when the hard serving, baseline, game came in & there was very little nuance or skill. Just blasting your opponent off the court - Not engaging to watch. 

Watching tennis has taught me that there is far more to sport than physical fitness. Tennis is a game of the mind, psychology is really important. Personality matters. Not as some sort of icon, but in the sense of how you win. You do need to be competetive, but you also need to respect your opponent.

Among other good matches I've watched this week, the Cilic / Draper game has stood out. It was wonderful to see Cilic triumph over the difficulties he has had for a couple of years. You had to admire such skill & determination. 

Life is a game of tennis in many ways, full of challenges & opportunities. You have to be able to adapt to the unexpected. You have to persevere & fight back in adversity. You aren't necessarily in control. If you make mistakes & fail - and you will, you have to be resilient & learn from every experience. Moving forward with enthusiasm is more positive than looking back to the past with regret.

I'm not a fan of the change in rules that allows coaching from the box during a match which started last year. The point of tennis for me, especially singles, is that its a test for each player to show what they are capable of on their own. I'm also always disappointed when players, usually when they are losing, take a very long "comfort break" in order to upset their opponents rhythm. I remember the eras of skill & personality. The current trend to fist bump at every point won & look to the box for approval sets my teeth on edge. Watching good players who just get on with the game, like Fritz & Alcaraz is so much more in the spirit of sportsmanship. 

What is important, in tennis & in life, is how you win. Not to win at all costs. 

 

Bodies - Love them or hate them?

I recently watched "Good Luck to you Leo Grande" starring Emma Thompson.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13352968/

It was a brave movie for a woman of a certain age to make. Especially the final scene where she literally bares all. It made me think about body image & sexual mores. 

A large proportion of adults are either overweight or obese in the UK, and the issue disproportionately affects those in more deprived areas. Obesity is associated with a range of health problems, including increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer, which places a substantial burden on the NHS and the wider economy, with rising costs for treatments and care. Obesity rates are also high among children, with a notable disparity between children from more and less developed areas.

I am not suggesting that Emma Thompson is obese or has any form of body dismorphia. 

At the other end of the scale the prevalence of anorexia (trying to control your weight by not eating enough food, exercising too much, or doing both), bulimia (losing control over how much you eat and then taking drastic action to not put on weight) & binge eating disorder (eating large portions of food until you feel uncomfortably full) seems to also be high. At least 1.25 million people in the UK are living with an eating disorder. That's more than 1 in 50 people – but the real number could be even higher.

Cosmetic plastic surgery & enhancement procedures seem to be on the rise in the UK to address perceived flaws or insecurities. The portrayal of "perfect" bodies and faces by influencers and celebrities on platforms like Instagram and TikTok can create pressure on young people to pursue cosmetic enhancements to achieve similar looks. Reality TV shows featuring individuals who have undergone cosmetic procedures contribute to normalizing and even glamorizing surgery, making it seem like a readily attainable option. The negative impact of unrealistic beauty standards perpetuated by media and social media is really worrying & the "treatments" can be risky. Especially as the sector isn't well regulated.

It is normal to have a wide variety of human body shapes. To my mind it shouldn't be normal to put a huge strain on your body & organs because of excessive weight or extreme thinness. I sometimes look at faces, buttocks & breasts of some women who have had fillers & feel that we have gone too far in our manipulation of what we look like. While it is good to make the best of what nature gave us, we should feel comfortable in our own bodies. Who are we trying to please, ourselves or others?

There are people who really need the help of clever surgeons, children who are born with cleft palates for example. Most of us really don't. We should be able to understand that what we look like does not determine who we are. We need to value ourselves enough to be confident & not abuse the bodies we have. 

 

 

Disability, Poverty & Labour Values

Although I have several co-morbid health conditions I don't think of myself as disabled. Currently I'm having an unusually long flare up which is painful & makes walking & doing normal things diffficult. But I'm not defined by my conditions - Just frustrated by inactivity & fatigued by pain. It know it will improve in time.

It does make me empathise with genuinely disabled people though. Although I am too old to do paid work, I know that I would struggle, even with my level of incapacity. So I am at a complete loss to understand why the Labour government has been targeting the much less fortunate among the UK population to raise much needed money - The elderly, the disabled & children.

As a pensioner I do not need or want the winter fuel allowance. So I am delighted that it will be targeted at those who do. But Labour was forced to reconsider. Bridget Philipson has suggested cutting back universal free school meals for children. Maybe this should also be better targeted, I'm not sure. Disabled people need protection & essential support to live with dignity and independence.The Universal Credit & Personal Independence Bill was going to remove that from a substantial number of people & put thousands into poverty. Again the government has been forced to reconsider.

The high success rate at tribunals indicates a significant number of initial PIP decisions are already incorrect or not fully supported by the available evidence. Approximately 7 in 10 PIP appeals are successful at tribunal hearings, meaning the original decision to deny or reduce PIP is overturned in favor of the claimant. This translates to around 70% of appeals being won by claimants. Many disabled individuals don't appeal due to stress, ill health, or lack of faith in the process. This cohort are least able to be able to go through the process.  

My questions are why has the government made such difficult to justify choices, which were bound to be controversial at the very least? Was it hubris to think that with a big majority they could railroad anything through? Who on earth is advising them? 

There are always choices, but these choices targeted the wrong strata of society.

Taxation as a percentage of GDP was 33.5% in the UK in 2021. The Nordics are well known for high income taxes, with the highest rate of tax topping 50% in Denmark. In 2023, taxes in Sweden amounted to 40.7 per cent of GDP. 

See the 2025 chart - https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/eu/top-personal-income-tax-rates-europe/

The only reason I can see for not increasing income tax on everyone, simply & fairly distributed, is that politicians are afraid of losing their jobs. The decision is not about getting us out of the black, ever increasing, borrowing hole we are in. It is not about funding health, education & all the other necessary state run departments properly & efficiently. 

It's purely about political expediency. So the government, of whatever hue, always go for the low growing fruit. In this case it's the poor & disabled instead of the well off & wealthy. 

 

 

Taxation & the Welfare State

I have just watched "Scandinavia" with Simon Reeve. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002cg5l He is a travel journalist I admire far more than any celebrity travellers, because he is actually quite brave in facing difficult issues & situations. He is always informative & interesting.

Scandinavian countries are credited as being better run than the UK. Probably because of a combination of factors - a more robust welfare state, lower income inequality, & a focus on work life balance. These countries generally have higher levels of social trust, lower corruption, and stronger social safety nets. Universal access to healthcare, education, and social security is funded by higher taxes, but the benefits are widely distributed. There are shorter working hours, generous parental leave, and a strong emphasis on leisure and family time. 

The crux of success seems to be attitude, to eachother & to the government. There is a sense of communal welfare & willingness to pay for that through taxes. As a lifelong liberal socialist I would expect those values to be present in a Labour government. But the UK is not like Scandinavia. We have lost our way. 

We did not do what Norway did when oil & gas gave them a windfall. They established a substantial sovereign wealth fund. Instead of investing our profits for long-term benefit as they did, we used the revenue to fund tax cuts & government spending. We didn't diversify the economy and develop new industries. We privatized many state-owned assets, including those related to oil and gas, rather than retaining them for long-term national benefit. Thatcher's government inherited the emerging riches of North Sea oil & pioneered 'carbon neoliberalism' – a model of managing public goods for private interests. 

Nothing has changed as the recent 13 years of conservative government showed. 

I believe that the conservatives are responsible for the financial "black hole" we are in. They have decimated public services through cuts & underfunding. Privatisation has not worked. This was the inheritance bequeathed to Labour. 

But we need to accept that we choose our governments. We should be all prepared to pay higher taxes if we have a good income. The wealthy should be prepared to pay an equivalent proportion of their income to ordinary working people, rather than taking advantage of tax havens around the world. Data from the Office for National Statistics 2024 showed that the poorest 10% of households in the UK are still paying a higher proportion of their income in tax than the richest. 

The poorest 10% of households paid on average 48% of their income in tax in 2022/23

The richest 10% of households, however, paid on average just 39% of their income in tax

It's about fairness & community. It's about caring for the disadvantaged & providing equal opportunity for all. The UK has got a lot to catch up to, but we all need to be paddling in the same direction for the good of all.

 

Consequences

If I disagree with someone & I lose my temper & begin to shout & interrupt or override what they are saying there are consequences. What might be a simple difference of opinion escalates into a shouting match or real argument. If I canot control my emotions I might become violent & physically push them away. That is assault & they may well retaliate physically. The consequence of differing opinions is a fight which could result in real injury or worse. Road rage is a good example.

I once saw a young man shouting at a young woman & pinning her against a wall in the centre of Oxford late at night. I intervened & told him to stop, fearing for the girls safety. Both were possibly the worse for drink. The girl rounded on me & told me to mind my own business. Intervention in other peoples affairs has consequences. I walked away. 

Micro or macro actions, or even inactions have consequences. I would do the same again, but I would be more aware of the possible consequences. 

The consequences of argument & disagreement are much more dangerous on an international scale when individual leaders have huge amounts of power, armaments & money. The ultimate deterrent that is supposed to be keeping us all from the brink of annihilation is the nuclear bomb. I'm rapidly feeling that with the madmen in charge now, who have their fingers on the button, we are all in danger. The Doomsday Clock is currently at 89 seconds to midnight. Nuclear war can be triggered by both intentional and unintentional actions. Miscalculation of risk is a distinct possibility when you have volatile & unstable conditions & political leaders like today.

I remember the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962.I was in the common room of my hall of residence in college. I was convinced that the world as we knew it would cease to exist. You would hope that Mankind learnt from experience, but no. Mankind simply repeats the testosterone fuelled patterns of behaviour over & over.

History tells us that war has dreadful consequences & does not work. In the end there has to be a negotiated settlement. That settlement may or may not be just & fair depending on who "won". There are usually compromises. The Treaty of Versailles after W W 1 is considered a poor settlement. Possibly  the consequence of that was W W 2.

 

We need to find a better way of co-existing as human beings & understand that we do not own the land. Humans are temporary occupiers & custodians. Fighting is often territorial, but we created the boundaries on maps. They don't exist in the real landscape.  

Instability

Currently I am very unstable. Yesterday was the first day for over a week I didn't use a stick. Fibromyalgia & Arthritis flare ups are a b......  But at least you do know that in the fulness of time things will improve.

I can't say that about the current state of international affairs. Instability really doesn't cover it, it's more volatility. When elected leaders like Trump, Netenyahu, Putin, the Ayatollahs et al are more interested in power grabbing & their own self interest than the people they supposedly serve we are in dangerous teritory. 

These are boys with big toys who will use those toys indiscriminately to further their ambitions. It's "willy waving" on a grand scale & it's their populations that suffer while they are in their palaces or bunkers. This is testosterone or religion fuelled autocracy that has no interest whatsoever in the devastation, death & injury they cause.

What makes men, and it is usually only men, behave like this? Is it their disfunctional childhood? Are they simply corrupted by wealth & power? They often seem to share personality traits like a strong desire for control, a preference for obedience, and a tendency to view dissent as a threat. High dominance, low agreeableness, and a tendency to be authoritarian are common traits. They consolidate power by undermining democratic institutions and silencing opposition. They weaken or dismantle democratic institutions like the judiciary, media, and civil society to consolidate power. They suppress or eliminate any form of opposition or criticism, often through intimidation or violence. 

They really are extremely unpleasant individuals with few if any redeeming features to their personality. 

In simple terms they are schoolyard bullies. On a micro scale if you allow bullies to get away with their bad behaviour they just carry on & get worse - Encouraged by the lack of opposition & sanction. In international terms this is magnified exponentially. The international community thus far has pussyfooted around these autocrats & allowed them to flaunt the rule of law. There have been sanctions, but they have not had any appreciable effect. 

Abasement, appeasement, & political cowardice have not worked. Modern warfare is technology based with drones & fighting men in bunkers, rather than face to face as used to be how wars were fought. Killing huge numbers of people without actually seeing them must be easier than shooting or knifing them. Especially for a generation who have grown up with gaming. Modern warfare is all about money & how big your arms supplies are.  

So where do we go from here? At the moment it is all escalation & the "willy wavers" digging their heels in regardless of consequences. 

It makes me sick to my stomach. If this carries on we won't have a population problem. Malthus viewed war as one of the "positive checks" that limit population growth. 

  

The world has many big problems to solve. If war takes our focus away from those, then we are all going to suffer the consequences. It really doesn't bear thinkng about. Our democratic leaders need to get off the fence or their backsides & act decisively together to stop this madness in it's tracks. 

Self Awareness - Bezos & Trump

Jeff Bezos is marrying Lauren Sanchez in Venice this month. Hundreds of their obscenely wealthy friends will occupy the best hotels – the Gritti, the Danieli, the St Regis and the Cipriani, each booked out in its entirety at an average of $500,000 a night. Some will be staying on Bezos's yachts. Water taxis have also been booked out. Venice already feels swamped by hoards of tourists who destroy it's charm & ambience. The nuptuals will go on for almost a week. The lavish, multi-million dollar ceremony could shut parts of the famous city down & the natives are not happy. Unsurprisingly they plan to demonstrate. They plan to disrupt the festivities by jumping into the canals to hinder the water taxis and blocking various calli, (Venice's narrow streets), to prevent the wedding guests from reaching the venue. 

 

I don't blame them. A better venue for this tasteless invasion would be Disneyland or Beverley Hills. 

Trump has just hosted a big parade, coincidentally on his birthday, supposedly to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the army. It was not as well attended as the "No Kings" parades across America. Possibly a couple of hundred thousand went to Trumps parade & the army refused to do the normal "lockstep" marching in protest. Millions protested at the largest mass demonstrations in the nation’s history. The parade was held while the conflict between Iran & Israel escalated dangerously & while Israel is breaking every international convention in Gaza & the West Bank. Both supported by the US. At home Trump sent the National Guard in to Los Angeles - a decision that should have been the Governors. Americans against Americans!

 

Both these men are powerful & excessively wealthy. They are not alone. Apparently there are 902 billionaires in America. The highest number in the world. Bezos is the world's third richest person, with an estimated net worth of $220.9bn. Trumps actual wealth is not publicly known, after all he has filed for bankrupcy several times. Obviously the "Art of the Deal" doesn't always work. 

The point is that in today's world of Climate Emergency, War, Famine, Homelessness, Lack of the basic necessities of life, (water, healthcare & education for example), Persecution.....there is so much good these individuals could do. But they don't. Why? Because they have no self awareness whatsoever. They are blind to the way ordinary people live & the difficulties they face. Or, maybe they simply don't care. 

But there is a groundswell in many countries against the powerful super rich because most of us are only too aware of how unbalanced & unacceptable this all is. Push people too far & they will rise up & make their voices heard.

I do hope I live long enough to see it.  

Crypto Currency & Self Destruction

My understanding of finance is fairly basic. In order to function in society you need to work to earn money, which you can then spend or save for a rainy day. Your money can be in a bank, in investments, or under the matress. Banks are there, backed up by collateral, to keep your money safe, accessible & earning interest. Investments may do well & earn you profit, or badly & you lose money.

Modern finance is way beyond my understanding. Since we sold off half our gold reserves between 1999 - 2002 at the lowest gold price in 20 years, we no longer have as much actual wealth to underpin banking. Stability is crucial for national economies, as gold helps preserve wealth and purchasing power when other assets may lose value. In addition, these gold reserves act as a safety net for Central Banks and help ensure they meet their obligations during times of financial crisis. 

Quantitative easing, where banks purchase financial assets, and essentially increase the cash flow in the economy, literally seems to me like printing monopoly money. But what do I know? It can lead to asset inflation, wealth inequality, and potential for long-term instability. It can also lead to distortions in the housing market, devaluation of currency, and difficulties in reversing the policy. 

Crypto currency is way beyond my skill set. Crypto exists digitally or virtually and uses cryptography to secure transactions. Crypto currencies don't have a central issuing or regulating authority, instead using a decentralized system to record transactions and issue new units. This is a public ledger called blockchain, a record of all transactions updated and held by currency holders. Bitcoin came first in 2009. Now there are thousands of crypto currencies. To me that is "mumbo jumbo". Individual cryptocurrency projects or platforms, but seemingly not all, can be fraudulent and resemble Ponzi schemes. Some cryptocurrency projects, particularly Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), have been falsely marketed as investments offering high returns with little risk, resembling Ponzi schemes. Warren Buffett called the digital currency Bitcoin “probably rat poison squared.”

 

Having said all of that, my major beef is that, along with Streaming & AI, Crypto is really bad for the environment. Each bitcoin transaction generates carbon emissions roughly equivalent to driving a gasoline-powered car between 1,600 and 2,600 kilometres.Crypto high energy use often leads to increased greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change. In 2018 the level of emissions produced by Bitcoin sat between the levels produced by the nations of Bolivia and Portugal combined. Crypto's complex Proof of Work (PoW) process, requires substantial computational power. If electricity fails blockchains would be unable to verify transactions.

Basically, we are not Lemmings running over the cliff. We are human beings on the road to perdition & self destruction. 

Neurodiversity

 

In the UK it's estimated that 15 - 20% of the population is neurodiverse. That includes people with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia. Around 6.3 million people in the UK, or about 10% of the population, have dyslexia. This means roughly 1 in 10 individuals experience difficulties with reading, writing, and spelling. It may well be more. That makes it normal in my view. Yet the majority of us don't really understand how dyslexia affects individuals.

There are 4 types of dyslexia include phonological (auditory) dyslexia, surface (visual) dyslexia, rapid naming deficit (difficulty naming a letter, number, color, or object quickly and automatically), and double deficit dyslexia (deficits in both the phonological process and naming speed).  

Dyslexics do not just have problems with reading & writing. They may struggle with navigation & map reading, they may be disorganised & forget instructions, they may suffer from anxiety, they may suffer from lack of confidence & self esteem. 

Dyslexia does not impact intelligence. Dyslexics may have a different cognitive profile, with strengths in areas like problem-solving, creativity, and communication. Famous individuals like Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, Alan Turing and Leonardo da Vinci were dyslexic and demonstrated high intelligence and exceptional talent in their respective fields. UK intelligence agency, GCHQ, has valued Dyslexic Thinking for over 100 years. It recruits 4x as many dyslexics to its apprentice scheme than anyone else.

We all need to understand far more about neurodiversity & value difference. It seems that humans are fixated on being like everyone else. Being in a team, a clan, a group. That can lead to at best teasing & at worst bullying. We can see it everywhere, in all societies. 

Fortunately there is now more focus on neurodivergence & we know far more about it. When I was teaching it wasn't accepted that dyslexia even existed. There are books, dramas & documentaries about dyslexia. We also need to understand the other forms of neurodiversity better & be open to accepting & tolerating difference. We aren't all the same. Difference & diversity is beneficial.

Be Prepared - Emergency Planning

My husband was a Boy Scout. The Scouts aim is to help people aged 4-25 develop skills for life. Founded in 1908, their motto is "Be prepared"

https://www.scouts.org.uk/about-us/strategy/

 

It isn't a bad motto for all of us to follow in the current unstable world. In order to be prepared, you have to have some idea what you need to be prepared for. Because our world is so volatile, that isn't at all easy. There are things that are known & things that are unknown, both in the macro & micro. 

I know that I am ageing, so I can be prepared for the known fact that I will die. However, I don't know how, so the possibilities are quite wide. I can't be prepared for all of them - an accident for example. I can be prepared by leaving my life in order. Not hoarding, having a will & LPA's.....

I also know that we are in a climate emergency that threatens the existance of many species, including humanity. I can do as much as I can to mitigate my contribution to carbon emissions & try to live sustainably. I won't join the bunker mentality by living off grid. I don't feel that my individual life is that important.

Regarding big political decisions I have a vote & hopefully use it wisely. But politicians are possibly the least prepared people to make important decisions. They are short termist. They only think as far as the next election & trying to stay in power. Many become ministers with little or no experience, expertise or skills to bring to their position. They have to rely on the advice of civil servants, advisors & lobbyists. It's a deeply flawed system. They may only be in their position for a short time & then are moved on. "Churn" is a problem. 

Many chickens are coming home to roost in the UK, where decisions have been made which have had disastrous consequences. There are numerous commissions looking into the results of poor planning, short termism, protectionism....We do not have a Forward Planning Ministry set up to draw together all the information looking into future consequences, which is needed to make good decisions.

We are not prepared. So we suffer very poor outcomes which harm people, cost vast amounts of money & often take up years of time. We end up simply fire fighting because we weren't prepared. It is possible to give people the skills needed to be prepared. We just don't do it. 

 

Generating my own Electricity

I am quite excited. I feel I've done something really positive.

Last Wednesday scaffolders came & erected a complex network over my extension. They were very skilled. I thought it was quite difficult because the extension is clad with powder coated metal & the flat roof is covered with sedum. So the scaffolding couldn't touch any of it. 

On Friday a team of 3 came to install the solar panels, control box & battery. They too were very good at their job. The electrician in particular was really thorough & painstaking. He had to come back on Saturday morning. 

So around lunchtime on Saturday I started generating my own electricity. There is an app, of course, which tells you everything you need to know about the system & how it's working. It was generating even though it was cloudy. 

Because I live alone & don't use a lot of electricity I will be sending electricity to the grid which I will be paid for. The battery will just ensure that I use as little from the grid as possible.  

Yes it is expensive & I got nothing from the government to encourage me to do it. Yes, it is possible that I may not live long enough to recoup my investment. I'm willing to take that risk. I didn't do it to make a profit or break even. I did it because it is something positive I can do towards making the UK energy secure & combat climate change. It's important.

I simply canot understand why there has been no legislation or incentive from any government for householders to do this for years. It's a no brainer surely. Why would we willingly give up land for solar "farms" when that land is needed for both farming & housing? I actually think it's almost criminal. Even now the legislation making house builders install solar won't come in untill 2027. That could have been done decades ago.

It has been noisy & disruptive. It certainly is expensive. But my solar array will be there generating electricity long after I've gone. I would have to live to 105 before the guarantees end. 

It's worth doing something as an individual. None of us should sit back & wait for others to solve the energy & climate crisis. Mike Berners Lee says that "solar panels could be the best carbon investment you ever make" in "How bad are Bananas".

P S

https://theecologist.org/2025/may/30/ai-storm 

https://www.opportunitygreen.org/publication-data-centres-threaten-energy-systems-climate-goals