JohnfromUK

My feelings as well. I do get them as I like the whole DS 'project', as well as enjoying Clarkson's writing - but if you didn't know what you were buying, you might be quite disappointed (to put it mildly!)

I do enjoy the Clarkson (Diddly Squat Farm) books - but be aware that each book really just the collected articles he writes for his paper column (Sunday Times?) contract. As such the 'book' is really very lightweight with just a couple of dozen newspaper columns and in big print with plenty of drawings. You can read the lot in a couple of evenings. Entertaining, but very expensive for recycled paper articles.

Indeed; the problem here is that he 'gave' £63M to the Labour party and no doubt expects his "pound of flesh" (well OK, bushel of grain as he is a dedicated vegan) in exchange. The principle that business and individuals can (and do) give to political parties that hold and propose to implement similar views (and may have policies helpful to business) is long established just as we all give our vote for those we feel best represent our views and protects our interests. Giving then expecting to dictate government policy (i.e. tail wagging dog) is not the same thing. My guess is that eco-warrior Dale Vince's phone number is near the top of Milliband's phone list and vice versa. There is BIG money in these eco energy grants. I shall continue to eat bacon, salami and other meats. The point on nitrites is taken, but I have tried the "made without" types (M&S and Naked among others do them). They are OK, not the best, but they still give out loads of water and "white stuff".

It seems that Dotty Dale Vince, one of Labour's biggest donors wants bacon top carry 'tobacco style' health warning labels. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14095335/dale-vince-bacon-tobacco-style-health-warnings.html

The other key issue is that IF the farm owner chooses to give away the property and (hope to) live for7 years to remove the Inheritance Tax (IHT) liability - there is another tax that does apply. If someone 'gives' away any property, there is (unless it is the prime dwelling house) Capital Gains Tax (CGT) due. Note that this applies on gifts as well as sales, because the tax is levied on a 'disposal'. If the farm in question is a long held family farm, the CGT is probably chargeable on the change in value from when the current owner inherited it from his predecessor to the date of the gift (and also includes inflation!). CGT is currently 18% or 28%. Hence this idea that a farm can easily be given away tax free under the "7 year rule" is NOT TRUE. It is true that it can be free of IHT, but it is very far from tax free as both CGT and Stamp Duty are probably payable. Potentially, that could well be over the 20% of IHT that would be due. In addition, there is the risk that if the owner transfers the farm to use the 7 year rule, and pays the CGT and Stamp duty, then dies before 7 years has passed, IHT will be payable AS WELL ........ so it ius a very risky thing to do for an older person.

Indeed. I will be keeping my (much hated by the green lobby) diesel SUV/4x4 for (I hope) many years to come.

Milliband is making a huge personal contribution ........ to increasing global warming (in which he apparently believes) by clocking up 23,000 air miles since the election. A fine example. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14091405/Ed-Miliband-racks-stunning-23-000-air-miles-election.html

That's a bit above Milliband's level of understanding.

Firstly congratulations on calm handling - and successful outcome for what must have been a very alarming experience. It got me thinking what I should do if faced with the same type of situation - and also in a slightly worrying way. We used to have two 'village bobby' type Police Stations, one a mile and a half south, the other 2 miles north. Effectively 24 hr service as they lived in the police house. Both West Mercia area. I know my father had a slightly similar experience to yours many years ago (confused elderly person lost) and local bobby stepped in. They both closed, but then we had local Police Stations in smaller nearby towns, one around 5 miles south (Glos Force), one around 5 miles north (West Mercia). Both initially 24 hour. They both became office hours only - then closed. Both sold off for housing. Glos have an 'office hours only' desk in the Council Offices. Don't think West Mercia have anything local but had a 'Main Police Station' in the larger town, about 10 miles from me. I drove past that the other day - and all or part of that building has a "Sale or Let" sign up. Not now sure if there is any Police presence there? The main Police HQ (West Mercia) is about 20 miles away, but not sure you can just drive up and visit? I think it's inside a 'secured area'. The only probable 24 hr stations I can think of are city centre Worcester (West Mercia) or Cheltenham/Gloucester(Glos Force). Not sure you can just drive up and get help if needed? I'm guessing neither has parking for a start. In short, if a similar thing happened to me, I really don't know what I could do other than call 999 and wait for them to come to me - which is rather worrying. I am aware of a recent 'serious ongoing crime' where 999 was called - and got the response "We will send someone when we have a team free" - Stay inside and lock all doors. No one ever attended I believe. It was reported to the Police and Crime Commissioner who 'would look into it'. As far as I'm aware nothing happened.

On the same basic subject, those planning to meet "net zero" needs to look at their own carbon usage if they are serious. Why do we need to fly 470 delegates a 5000 mile round trip to talk about reducing carbon usage? https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14091247/Keir-Starmer-Britain-delegates-climate-change-Baku.html More typical two tier Kier Starmer; You must cut your carbon usage whilst I and my officials use more. You must pay higher taxes, whilst I and my officials take 'jollies' at the States expense

I love lambs or calves liver, but it's one of the highest risk foods for a gout attack. My mother used to casserole liver with onions and smoked bacon. Lovely. Mash for me has potato, butter and black pepper. Not milk, which is for tea (or cereal for those who wish to ruin their digestion). Mustard and horseradish can also be added for variations.

Yes, I occasionally do them fried in garlic butter with a grating of Parmesan, but really only use them in ratatouille

For some strange reason, I don't think I have ever used courgettes in curry. I suppose they are very mild themselves, so I have tended to do them in a 'sympathetically light flavoured' way ........... which probably explains why I don't much like them on account of them being rather dull and uninteresting! Not very logical really. I will have to try some in a curry. I often use aubergines and very often (nearly always in a veg curry) use cauliflower ........ so why not courgettes?

It's the same every time with Labour; Borrow and tax more Pour the money into an inefficient public sector Pushes up inflation Pushes up interest rates Reduces growth Pushes up unemployment Pushes up borrowing more (to pay for the reduced tax income and additional benefits caused by unemployment) Circle goes round again Labour loose election, public pays for all their follies. Same every time.

Is that courgette in the veggies?