The weather is grey and wet, the country is in a sombre mood, the virus can mutate, I might even put a quote from Carl Sagan on the bottom to cheer you up. And don't forget they are even thinking about messing around with Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia (Imperialism is about to meet its maker) But wait, I haven't been visited by The Illuminati, so there are some things to be grateful for! Could be because I write boring blogs. Is that reverend promising money? - another false promise.
Yesterday I bathed Lucy on the lawn, not wanting to fight her in the shower. Actually it all went quietly, having looked around for a receptacle to wash her in, espied the recycling box, which only had four very small holes in it. Expensive shampoo bar, lavender and tree tea and she bounced out curly, clean and wet but happy.
One of the places I fell in love with was Eskdalemuir, up in Scotland, we had visited it a couple of years ago taking some books up for the Tibetan Monastery there and staying in a funny little wooden cabin that overlooked the river. It really is back of beyond with houses that are falling down but the countryside was so beautiful, if I was 20 years younger I would have moved there. But I always keep an eye out for news there, and read something in my magazine yesterday.
We know that Scotland is made up of great estates with marvellous looking houses, but history also tells us of the clearances of the villages, to make these estates places for their grandees to go shooting and hunting, there is a great sense of injustice, leading to ordinary people wanting to buy back the land and the Scottish government is funding some of this buyout.
Well a group of people have got together to buy Langholm Moor, from the land owner - the Duke of Buccleuch, he is asking for 6 million pounds, and so far they have raised just under two million I think, but what strikes me how brave these people are to embark on such a project.
Why on earth should the local community have to give The Duke of Buccleuch any money at all? He and his ancestors have lived in the lap of luxury for centuries - raking in rents from all over the place. I have an instinctive aversion to the landowning gentry. When historians track back they often find that the source of the land ownership was gifts that occurred just after the Norman Conquest. Instead of paying The Duke of Buccleuch six million, he should be giving the community a couple of million to help with future plans.
ReplyDeleteDo stop living in fairy land YP, you know in this world, the rich get richer by screwing everything in sight. Scotland has had a fair dose of being ripped off by the landed gentry, even the Queen has an estate there. Would it not be nice to turn the tables on them, just as Jesus did when he was young;)
ReplyDeleteYesterday on tv local news a young local couple could not afford a church school in their village by £35,000, but do you think the church will drop the price?
I hope it is not politically incorrect to declare: I am not a fairy!
DeleteProbably, but of course there are other creatures in the mythical land like elves and goblins.
DeleteWhat I like about your posts Thelma is that you always have your feet placed firmly on the ground.
ReplyDelete;) Actually I find that a little sad Pat.
DeleteThe rich take care of the rich, the poor take care of each other, I read once on a bumper sticker,
ReplyDeleteI wish them every success.
The right to wander over the land is becoming an issue in England, Scotland has far greater freedom to wander at will but the gamekeepers chase people off.
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