Gordon Cree seen knitting on Game of Wool. Photo: Channel 4

UK: Shetland Organisation of Knitters “Shocked & Saddened” by Representation in Channel 4 “Game of Wool” Show! (7.11.2025)

Small patterns in Fair Isle are referred to as “peerie patterns”, but Leask has said they “would never” refer to them as “peeries”.

“That’s never been used by a Shetlander,” she said.

“A lot of Shetlanders have said they have never even heard of that.”

Leask described the misinformation in the show as “frustrating”, and said knitters locally spent a lot of their time having to clear up similar confusion with visitors to the isles.

SOK worries now that Game of Wool will have a further damaging effect on misinformation around Shetland knitting.

“The SOK are having to stand up for ourselves,” Leask said.

“The term Fair Isle is going to be lost. Fair Isle is being used when what they are making is not Fair Isle. It’s appropriation.”

And she also railed against Game of Wool as a whole, calling the first challenge – to knit a Fair Isle tank top in 12 hours – “just unrealistic”.

Rutland - Market Overton - Ancient Village Stocks!

Rutland: Ancient Village Stocks & Whipping Post on Market Overton Green! (25.10.2025)

In the old days, the local Courts would often sentence local people to a set-time in the Stocks. With their hands and feet firmly manacled into the device – the interested village population could take it in-turns to throw rotten fruit and vegetables – together with animal waste and other such horrible substances, at the condemned. This was at a time when long sentences of imprisonment were not yet used as a punishment. This treatment was designed to be so humiliating that a villager would not dare commit a similar crimnal act in the future – or at least that was the intention.

St Nicholas Church (Sutton) - Exterior

Sutton: St Nicholas Church – Stain-Glass & Stones Exhibition! (14.9.2025)

The history of England lies primarily within the grounds, buildings, and written records of its local Churches, who dealt with this information a long time before the Secular State developed – or was able to do so. The Local Authorities of Sutton possess a peculiar attitude toward local history – as if time started again in 1965 (and all previous history was wiped-out when Sutton was part of “East Surrey”) – when Sutton became part of Greater (South-West) London. Of course, for a price, Sutton Library might help you via an online enquiry – but this data is free during a personal visit. Whatever the case, always be on the look-out for local open-days and local historians.

Two Rectory Eagles Restored!

Sutton: St Nicholas Church – Where Stone Eagle’s Dare! (13.9.2025)

Why did a Sutton Town Planner come up with the idea of a) demolishing the Old Rectory (which should have been a listed building), and b) placing the Gate-Eagles on two-plinths jutting-out of Council Flat walls? Was this an example of Free Masonry gone mad – or madder than their usual schemes? I spent about 15-minutes talking with a local historian in St Nicholas Church, Sutton, during an exhibition of the stain-glassed window and various stones. He told me that the Rectory Gates were originally in West Street – but the eagles ended up on the main road situated on the exterior walls of the new Council Houses – now named “Beech Tree Place” – effectively around the corner in a different street.

Priest House - Easton-on-the-Hill - Family

Easton-on-the-Hill: Priest House [Chantry] 15th Century! (28.7.2025)

Although we have visited the general area a number of time – we had never seen this exhibit or been told about it. As we are currently staying in the locale – this place came-up in an internet search about something else. Like many such attractions, even at the height of Summer, there is only ever a trickle of visitors – which is a good thing for all concerned. We were handed the key, instructed to be careful on the old spiralling stone staircase, and turn-off all the lights when we are finished. There is even a toilet on site that is accessed with a key. Everything was perfectly clean, tidy, and in good order. Our two-daughters watched a short video film about the area, its history and industry! The photographs will tell the story of what we saw. A truly magnificent historical site that emerged out of the single most important and Revolutionary event (the “Dissolution of the Monasteries”) that forged modern Britain and the world!

Sutton is a Wealthy Borough with a Well-Managed System of Corruption!

Inside Croydon: Surrey, Lambeth and Bromley Beat Croydon as Rotten Boroughs! (23.7.2025)

The Council, by law, must then offer you a chance to contact the ombudsmen and explain to you how you go about doing this – an email is the simplest method). Individual taxpayers, however, possess the right to refer their complaint to the ombudsmen for judication. Most of these referrals (which do show-up on official statistics) are dismissed – with the ombudsmen often arbitrarily ruling on behalf of the Council. The Council and ombudsmen know that most people who complain possess no financial resources to hire a lawyer and hold the Authorities to account – so the process of complaint will often halt here. Of course, there is always the chance that an individual’s case might be taken-up by a charity – so Councils must tread carefully whilst trying to prevent this. One tactic the Council uses is the fake apology. Bear in-mind that an apology runs the risk of admitting liability – something a lawyer could take advantage of later on in a “no win – no fee” scenario (another way that ordinary people can acquire legal representation).

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