Gardening
Somewhat to my surprise there is still a decent floral dislay in the front. The red sages I planted a year ago are in full bloom, as is a solanum in a pot by the front door. One hanging basket has petunia has surfinas still in bloom and there is another on the balcony. And the argyranthemum is providing its usual golden autumn show to add to the blue and red. I planted a half dozen Nepeta in troughs in the summer and these I’ve moved across the road where they are still blooming. So it’s all looking quite good for the time of year. I’ve lifted and pruned about half the irises across the road and am not sure whether I’ll get around to the other half. I’ve decided that next year I shall no longer use troughs ; they need too much watering and I’m not getting any younger.
The allotment is ready for closing down for the winter. I’ve already culled all the tomatoes and made chutney with the green ones but there is still the celery to be had. That apart it’s ust a question of clearing out the debris, which I shall do on Saturday. The shallots, garlic and leeks for next year are already planted.
Politics Again
In France the next elections are looking like a gift-horse for Marine Le Penn or her chosen acolyte if she is not allowed to stand. It’s not clear what anyone can do about it other than by a large and broad coalition of the centre and left and that looks unlikely.
In the UK a recent poll fore cast a victory for Reform and a government headed by Nigel Farage, God help us. Fortunately a new election is 4 years away and little is likely to change that, even the saying that a week is a long time in politics. Unfortunately intermediate bye-elections are likely to see Reform gains in members of Parliament. Unless these new members make complete fools of themselves, or even if they do as is quite probable, the Reform bandwagon looks set to continue. What can stop it ?
I can think of only one thing and that is to change the current political narrative, which is all about immigration. It would mean centre and left politicians of all parties, whilst acceping that immigration is an issue, forcing a focus on economic and social issues. The economy would not be fertile ground at the moment but that could change. Social issues and the cost of living are where Reform is at its weakest and they could be a way to change the olitical narrative. But these issues would have to be forced into the debate. Invited to comment on immigration, as all MPs often are, centre and left MPs need to interject on every occasion that important social issues are not being adequately addressed and need to be. The centre and left media would need to take up the baton too.
Would that do it ? I can’t think of any other strategy that curreently could.
I believe that the immigration problem in Europe can be solved only by a Europe-wide strategy. The EU seems to be dragging its heels on this and yet the very existence of the EU could be at stake. Does the EU fully realise this ?
The Eternal Reboot
My computer printer seems to have a life of its own. No paper ? Yes there is paper in the tray ; it still insists there isn’t. Not connected ? Yes it is connected. So what do I do ? I reboot it. Then it is a happy printer. When my PC locks up (a so-called transient error : no one knows what is going on) what do I do ? I reboot it. When I have an electricity cut what do I do. I reboot it to see if it’s an appliance or EDF. I think rebooting has become an essential part of life.
