Bunzena

Agree that the Tories version of Austerity wasn't popular. However, there's a real risk that Labour will cause Austerity 2.0. And that could be worse and have a bigger impact on all of us over the longer term. Even then the OBR reckon that household disposable income will fall, by the end of the parliament, by the second largest amount since the war. There'll be a 'sugar-rush' of money coming into the public sector - probably too quickly for it to be utilised efficiently. When the effects of that run-out [OBR is predicting within 2-3 years] - the government will have to come back for more. Perhaps a lot more. [Look after your pensions - folks.] Then there's the debt. However the government wants to account for the borrowing rules - it's still debt that UK plc has to pay interest on. After funding the NHS - this is likely to become the largest cost the government has to bear. All this might work and turn the country around - but it might not. No-one should be in any doubt that Labour are taking one almighty, humongous gamble with our money. Although he's not universally popular - there are days when I wish Martin Lewis was the chancellor. 😉

Understandably a lot of people wanted a change from the Tories. Add-in the rise of Reform UK in England and decline of the SNP in Scotland and we've now got a landslide Labour government - that was voted-in without anyone knowing their policies. I don't think this lot are like Blair's New Labour - I think they are more like Kinnock's bunch. More left-wing leaning, more ideologically driven. That might be okay [if that's your politics] - but unlike Blair/Brown - they are far more incompetent. The run-up to the budget and the budget itself seem to show this up. Removing the winter fuel payment from those that fall just outside of the benefit cut-off, settling strikes without any kind of reform of working practices, lobbing billions at sprawling public services, stifling longer-term economic growth. Not just my view - but the opinion of the IFS and the OBR. It's the unintended consequences of what they are doing that is really stupid. We deserve better - whether Labour, Conservative or any of the other parties. And it's not just here - trying to name a politician or party anywhere in the world that "is doing a good job" is almost impossible. Just look at the US for a prime example. The right people aren't going into politics. Those with a measure of commonsense, with real business experience, with a social conscience, who really give a damn about things - rather than themselves or their mates. I'll get my coat.....

Looks like this to me... JA031-2_XUZHOU SUNSHINE FOUNDRY CO., LTD . SUNRAIN-STOVES.COM

Smart meters. Then tax the electricity specifically used to charge vehicles.

One of the very last, great, radio DJs.

BBC Sounds BBC Sounds - Sounds of the 70s with Johnnie Walker - Available Episodes WWW.BBC.CO.UK Listen to the latest episodes of Sounds of the 70s with Johnnie Walker on BBC Sounds.

Long shot - but California Bay? Umbellularis californica.

Cage traps all day long. Round here squirrels seem most active just after dawn and in the late afternoon and a trap is never off duty. Catching 30-40+ a year and this does make a dent in the local population. I will also shoot using an air rifle [.22] but they are quite wary and hard to get close to. Takes a lot of time and trouble and it's not many added to the total. Like GarethM have tried the CO2 cartridge traps and had absolutely no luck with them

Thanks Nepia - drilling a hole to drain the water is a really great idea. Thank you.

Thanks Peds - more pictures attached. Reassuring that Apples are tough!

"Inherited" and old apple tree that's had a major branch cut off a while ago. The junction has now rotted back to create a significant hole just above (and now into) the main trunk. The hole fills up with rainwater and is rotting further - causing a black 'dead' track on the trunk itself. Doesn't look good. Tree is around 4 meters high, trunk is only 20 cm in diameter - hole is around 8-10 cm deep. We'd like to try and preserve the tree for as long as possible (has sentimental value) - so wondering what - if anything - could be done to help. Fill the hole? Cover the hole? Further surgery? Any ideas - gratefully received. Thanks.

I've got a pair of Timberland branded AV gloves - had them about 10 years. Still available online. They're padded and weighted and assume they work on a similar principle to the handlebar grips and weights that motorcycle handlebars use. Do they work? Yes - sort of. They seem to reduce some of the higher frequency vibration but it's not night and day. As an absolute guess it feels as if it's down by 25-30%. They are thick, they are hot - so only get used very occasionally with machinery that vibrates a lot. Mainly a two-wheeled tractor that's got a large, 'vibratey' single cylinder engine. If you've got £70-80 to blow - might be worth a try. If I lost mine - would I buy again? Not really sure.

So what do I mean by TLC at the start? That mulching - needs to be nice and deep. Maybe deeper than I can see on the photo. Keep it away from the base/union - and top-up regularly. Keep it well watered. In the summer - depending on conditions - at least once a week or more often. A thorough soak of the root-ball and the soil around and further out to encourage the roots to spread. If it's in scorching hot sun - consider some shading for the first year or so. This can be a real faff - but it's something we do if we start to see leaf-tips browning. We erect a bit of shade fabric on some stakes to give that shade. I would also keep it staked. I know you've removed the stake - but it's a tall tree with [what looks like] a small root-ball. It needs enough support in the short-term for those roots to bed-in. I'd drive a short, stout stake in at 45 degrees near the base and then tie/strap it in there. This will leave the majority of the stem to whip around in the wind - and the base nice and anchored. The trunk will then stiffen and grow properly - and the roots will be able to do their stuff.

To be really pernickety - this is not a Japanese Maple [japonicum, dissectum, palmatum, etc.] - it's Acer rubrum 'Redpointe'. In my experience, it's a good deal more robust than most true Japanese Maples. So you could deal with the roots as you see fit - and it should cope okay. However - I'd just leave it. There's a lot of misinformation about Acers and problems with girdling. Almost all Japanese Maples sold in retail are in pots that are too small. As Stubby points out - they are typically very pot bound. So this sort of root issue is very common. None of the ones I've bought that have root systems like yours have succumbed. They may need a little more TLC at the start - but that's all. Instead, make sure it is well staked and well mulched up to the edge of the ring of stones you've planted it in. That way any new fibrous roots will spread out and the tree should be fine. It should go on to make a beautiful specimen.

We use Eufy. No subscription and easy setup and to use. We have the older 2K system and it's been pretty faultless over the past 3/4 years. Cameras, indoor movement sensors and window/door monitors - all good. Phone app is easy to use and allows a good deal of clever customisation. The base station comes with [I think] 32GB of storage [enough for tons of clips] and has good wireless range. Often deals available on Am4zon