Independent Thinking: Admiral's Advice: Market Moves: Larkin About.



Grant Clan


The above tartan belongs to the Grant Clan, which through a tenuous link on my Late Mother's side, I  am entitled to  wear.

So, were I able to,  I would certainly vote YES in the Scottish  Referendum to gain Independence. Oh  to live the dream and taste the air of freedom.

Independence is the only logical route onwards from devolution, to gain full control in the government of  your own country.

Scotland has resources of oil,  gas and also water, which is becoming  an increasingly important commodity. It has a skilled workforce and an excellent export business  with whiskey, and jam  to name but two.

What then will stop this leap of faith? The answer is fear and fear alone.

The ' big hitters ' will be out in force to persuade the Scots of their folly. They will talk about debts ; currency values; of the ability to join the European Union and so on.
They will parade the Scots sporting superstars; Sir Chris Hoy; Andy Murray ( now 1/ 40 to be Sportview's Personality of the Year ) and others of their ilk.

 It was noticeable today ( 30 / 11) that in a round-up of last week's business news, Sky spoke of First Minister Alex Salmond's plans to break up the United Kingdom; not you will notice,  to seek public approval for independence and so it continues.

The Scots should take heart and remember the Baltic states of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, whose national flags fly confidently in the street and where national decisions are made by the national parliament.
Of course the road to Independence will not be trouble free, but as Mr Salmond quite properly says they have eighteen months from the referendum to full independence and that should be long enough to sort out problems.

So be bold,  vote yes,  and beat the bookies who are currently  quoting  9 / 2 for a yes vote and 1 / 8 for a  no. ( source Paddy Power )

GgggggggggggggG


. Cheltenham expects-----" If you can accept losing, you can't win. " Think about it. COYR

GgggggggggggggG


Last Sunday ( 24 /11 )   D. visited Gloucester Quays, where a traditional Victorian Market was held. Here are some of the photographs she took.




 She found a large crowd there.




Costumes gave a authenticity to the occasion.





Interesting vehicles were seen.






Victorian crafts were also seen.



GgggggggggggggG


On the 20th of November 2013, the city of Hull won the U K City of Culture for 2017. So unlikely was this result that the local bookmakers ( yep bookies again) quoted on the 19th,  odds of 11 /4 against.
A famous victory indeed.

One of Hull's favourite sons was the poet Philip Larkin (1922- 1985 ). Here, as a tribute to the winning city, is his poem  " Modesties "

"Words as plain as hen-birds' wings
Do not lie.
Do not over-broider things -
Are too shy.


Thoughts that shuffle round like pence
Through each reign.
Wear down to their simplest sense, 
Yet remain.


 Weeds are not supposed to grow,
But by degrees
Some achieve a flower, although
No one sees."


From "Uncollected Poems "
1940 - 1972.



GgggggggggggggG


So December  starts  next week and Christmastide beckons us onwards. Trusting you survived ' Black Friday, ' with credit-cards largely unscathed, enjoy the week ahead and write out those lists. To end, here is a photograph  of a tranquil Thames  from  London's South Bank.

Cheerio,
Ck.


 Photo A.C.  (11/ 2013 )

Comments

Post a Comment

please feel free to comment and point out faults.
glad to have you aboard .

Curlykale.

Popular posts from this blog

Further along the way: spot of cricket.

Image
On Tuesday D. and I went from Buckle Street ( Jackdaws Castle )  back along the Gloucestershire Way  to our last finish point in the woods near Condicote. "Jackdaws Castle" is the  horse racing establishment, run by Jonjo O'Neill. Read more at: Jonjo The Way  continues opposite these gates along a metalled bridle path/track leading,  after a  half mile to Ford Hill Farm. The path loops around the farm and soon emerges on a pleasant bridleway. This is a very quiet stretch and I agree with our guide writer Gerry Stewart, who describes it thus: "  This open ridge-top provides a great sense of kinship with the early people who once traversed these tracks." ( p.91) After this bridleway, the path continued  through a field of yellow rape seed, until turning left,  we espied our former end position amongst the woods of Hinchwick. Another link in the  Way  had been made. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ...
Read more

Jimmy Uttley: God's Spring Blessing

Image
  Saturday 16th February Hi All, I want to start with a bold statement: we are all selfish. The more we age, the more we want to cling onto life. It's the old survival instinct. That's why it's important to pause at each Valentine Day and realise how important our family and friends are. The love and support they give us and hopefully we return; slows down that selfish gene and makes us glad to be human.  To love and be loved; makes us humble, content and lucky. VvvvvvvvVvvvvv My synapses, as you have probably figured, fire strangely.  Example: lucky made me think of gambling- having a bet - favourite jockeys; which led me  to Jimmy Uttley . Jimmy As  you can tell, if you clicked on the above link, jockey Jimmy Uttley, as far as I know,  only rode over hurdles, rather than fences. He will always be associated with the great Persian War, on whom he won three champion hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival 1968 - 1970  I have tried to l...
Read more

In The Smoke with Turner: Lest We Forget: Curlyfit to Drop.

Image
Last Tuesday ( 11/ 11 ) D. and I visited London to see our daughter L. and to view the " Late Turner " art exhibition at Tate Britain. In a jokey fashion, I have always referred to London as " Up The Smoke "  in celebration of its industrial past. It was therefore interesting to note that the artist Joseph Mallord William Turner ( 1775 - 1851) not only lived in  this industrial period, but also used it frequently in his paintings. He was, for example,  the first major artist to use the steam train as a subject and delighted in smoke, fog and mists through which he could express the properties of light so effectively. The exhibition marked the last period of his life from 1835 when he was sixty years of age. He constantly travelled widely in Europe drawing sketches at all points on his journey. He was drawn to water and therefore especially loved Venice, with its natural mists and shadows. He was famous for his sea views and in fact developed the idea...
Read more