kevinjohnsonmbe

Have a look at this weeks gardeners world on BBC iplayer. There was a short piece on woolly aphids.

They certainly found me, and the dog, today.... Walked over a ground nest in the woods this afternoon. I didn't get stung on the way through but the dog did, although I thought the frantic ground rolling was 🐺 💩! On the way back the little bar stewards were waiting to ambush! I got about a dozen hits, mainly hands but also inner thigh, neck and, unbelievably savage, 🏀 bag! Hands have felt like throbbing boxing gloves all night. Mrs thinks it's hilarious but I'm not quite so chipper. Was quite worried about the dog for awhile, she went downhill quite badly. I think she got a couple of dozen hits judging by what I combed out. Nasty little bleeders buried right down through the fur to hit skin.

Was going to say it's an 👽 comms unit but cats out of the bag now! Dyson air purifier. Little one suffered with congested air ways if she got a cold when she was a baby. Saw us in ITU several times. As she's grown it's become less problematic but there's nothing I wouldn't have tried to ease it if I thought it would. Had air purity tests at home in case it was the dog, the fire or me covered in POL contam and saw dust.

That's what I was thinking! Should be classed as slow cooking in the cooking on wood burners thread!!

I found this one yesterday, too late for eating but since it's on a standing stem that previously threw out the crown, I was thinking it may be one to watch for later felling and perhaps trying to gently lower to avoid shake. The thrown top should provide a cracking gate post if I get the Alaskan on it! http://www.first-nature.com/fungi/fistulina-hepatica.php

First one yesterday! Couldn't stand the whining anymore!

It could have been written by a pollertishun Kevin Bob Fair one, but, it's just a point of view, it's Saturday night, I "could" add references to support the maybes, but it's not happening (a) because we (humans) only tend to believe what we want to and (b) see above, it's Saturday night!

Reforestation of current barren shooting grounds, as an example, might mitigate future rainwater run-off and soil erosion, would likely provide greater and higher levels of diverse, enduring and long term employment and a cash crop of timber to contribute towards GDP..... Whilst still, potentially, providing all of the hunting / shooting benefits (mindful that I am DSC1 and SGL holder) albeit perhaps not suited to the mega rich daft bustard who wants to pay 1000's to stand in line and have dozy birds driven towards his gun, and probably still fail to bag them. Barren shooting grounds? kinell Kevin we dont have any of those around here, all harvested sites are mulched and replanted. Any of the racks we cut through scrub to assist beaters are paid for by the shoot and not government coffers, its just another industry and probably best left alone. Bob I know, I can go off on one sometimes..... No expectation that it'll change anything but it helps to get it off the chest sometimes!!

Good OP and a good idea to keep it refreshed.

At the risk of getting too channeled on a single topic at the expense of the broader subject, they are pretty lame justifications guys..... Clearing upland areas of vegetation (a state subsidised activity) is a directly attributable contributory factor to lowland flash flooding which in turn results in greater centralised expenditure on flood defences / mitigation. Burning grouse moors is neither historically nor ecologically justified, paying the land owner from tax revenue whilst, as was pointed out earlier in the thread, there are some who don't know where the next pair of kids shoes are coming from, any amount of money to do it, rather than fining them for doing it, is perverse in the extreme. I can't see how that could be interpreted in any other way by a sane man? Reforestation of current barren shooting grounds, as an example, might mitigate future rainwater run-off and soil erosion, would likely provide greater and higher levels of diverse, enduring and long term employment and a cash crop of timber to contribute towards GDP..... Whilst still, potentially, providing all of the hunting / shooting benefits (mindful that I am DSC1 and SGL holder) albeit perhaps not suited to the mega rich daft bustard who wants to pay 1000's to stand in line and have dozy birds driven towards his gun, and probably still fail to bag them. Richard, you know well enough from our previous heated but well intentioned exchanges that I have no sympathy for the feckless or ne'er-do-well! You appeared to be blatantly offering a blame-shift there without commenting on the topic at hand!

How about the absurdity of paying landowners money gathered from tax payers to maintain grouse shooting grounds? I'll but a pint for anyone that can provide a credible justification for that!

Bloody hell.... I haven't got past the intro yet! Too busy or not using my time properly

What do you mean by scale 3 to SO2?

I kind of think that's the point (at least in part) of the article..... Acquiring land IS taxed, as you describe above. Passing it from generation to generation - wether that be grand estate ownership or farmland (which is also exempt inheritance tax, business rates, reduced council tax on generally large detached country houses, rebated diesel, state sponsorship colloquially referred to as 'subsidy' to name but a few, without wishing to go too far out on a tangent.....) is 'excused' tax because it might put a tiny dent in the vast fortunes of the landed gentry. It's perverse in the extreme!

A good few potential solutions sensibly presented here: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/aug/15/queen-duke-westminster-land-value-tax-distribute-wealth-super-rich

Yes, plus there's a great piece I read recently (I'll find it when I get home) which is likely to light your fuse Mr Eggs!!

I want to write something profound & thoughtful Matty, but I'm limited to IPhone keyboard with limited signal in scenic valley of the beautiful coastal village of Polperro, whilst waiting for my big breakfast before going to the nearby art gallery to quote for some veg clearance, tree surveying and reductions. How fcking Bourgeoisie is that? I hold dear the original values of the welfare state, am frustrated by the exponential and continued rise in dependency culture and " it's all someone else's fault" which simply deprives those in true "need" of the resources to get them up and running. My "bubble" by the way, started off as a sht sandwich which I had to eat my way through before getting to the ice cream!

Are you crossing boundaries there though Eggs? If we're defining poverty as not being able to afford the deposit for a mortgage there is something desperately wrong in paradise!

I see elements of great truth in what you say. Several of our local butchers give away offal because it's cheaper than paying food waste collection. Nobody wants it because it doesn't come in a polythene tray with cling film on top from Tesco and they wouldn't know what to do with it if they did get it. The preference is for crap processed junk, with all its chems, preservatives, flavouring & artificial colouring because its "easy!"

Now there's a harsh dose of reality!

What about Pritti Patel on QT last night? (Just catching up on Iplayer) 🐺

Just heard that on the news about generational wealth, didn't they say first time since WWII? Don't know how it's measured, or what the implications in reality actually are. Surely a large part (maybe large, maybe small - don't really know?) of the problem is (notional) wealth locked up in parents house values? Maybe equity release is a part solution to assisting the yoof of today to gain a deposit? Only works if parents have a house obviously, but since that would most likely be the generation that has gained most from house valuation rises, and discounted purchases of LA stock, it seems logical that they ought to release some of that 'gain' back into the market via their young uns.

There's some great merchandise about Eggs.... Apparently, at the Labour conference, there are even JC / CG cufflinks would you believe?? How champagne socialist is that!?!

Quite possibly, I'd hope that humanity has advanced somewhat in the subsequent 100 years though. After all, what was once misunderstood as 'shell shock' or even cowardice often resulted in summary execution: BBC NEWS | UK | 300 WWI soldiers receive pardons whereas today it is at least recognised and, albeit majority charitably, funded and resourced as a tangible consequence of warfare e.g.: Introduction | Talking2Minds Help for Heroes Hidden Wounds I wonder if those neighbours really celebrated the needless slaughter of millions of young men as a glorious sacrifice or wether it actually decimated whole communities and caused untold misery for families and that COs were an obvious target for great despair, anger, hatred and expulsion which would have been better directed at the bumbling incompetence of the General officers of the field army. What difference did 16,000 COs actually make to a campaign that was focussed upon sending wave after wave of foot soldiers into the path of machine gun and artillery rounds with no greater tangible effect other than moving General Melchetts's drinks cabinet 4 inches closer to Berlin. As much as the next man (and possibly more than some), I have the greatest respect for those that have made the ultimate sacrifice - I think it takes nothing away from their bravery, valour and sacrifice to acknowledge that genuine COs also deserve recognition for their lot. The point I wanted to highlight was that the societal mentality of WWI, thankfully, is very far removed from how we might (should) approach the issue today. WW1: The conscientious objectors who refused to fight - BBC News It's not exactly as if todays society is swamped by men (and women) of principal and moral fibre sufficient to endure exclusion and revulsion from the very society that might benefit from some of the strength of character they possessed.

A total bag of (unable to use appropriate descriptive expletive!) There may be a little bit more bad news.... If you have subbies, you would have to register as a 'contractor' and a 'sub contractor.' You are a sub contractor to the main site contractor, and you are the 'contractor' for anyone that subs to you. So the main site contractor deducts your tax at source and gives you a certificate. You have to register as a contractor and deduct tax at source and supply a cert to anyone that subs to you. Also, if you register as a contractor, you have to do a periodic return to HMRC to state what payments / deductions you have made. Registering is the easy part (relatively speaking!) Try deregistering..... That's when the nightmares begin! Oh, and look out for the fines if you don't do your returns on time! https://www.gov.uk/what-is-the-construction-industry-scheme