The Olde Sweet Shoppe - Kingston-Upon-Thames - Londn!

Kingston: Xmas Joy – Gee’s Birthday & Big Game – All on the High Street! (6.12.2025)

The greedy amongst us could still exercise “individualism” – whilst the workers sought a collective path to inner and outer freedom. Oh, how lucky we were! We all thought a Socialist Revolution was just around the corner and the UK would become a Soviet State! Then, the ogre of Thatcherism hove into view and hit us hard – and the workers lost all the hard-earned gains made with our blood toil before and during WWIi! Our children listen and ingest this deep meaning. Today, the Olde Sweet Shoppe is owned by an Asian family – but the male owner treated me with respect – and in so doing – he earned my respect. As an Englishman, I thanked him for treating my family with respect and politeness. Unlike the fascist, I don’t particularly care about who takes my money and processes my order. I wamt to transform the process away from exploitation – and not harm those who are active within it. There are many “White” English who are as ignorant as sh’t out there! They do not get a Free Pass from me just because they happen to have been born “English”. English people should behave to a higher standard – not lower.

Stevenage Labour Disability Discrimination in Action!

Stevenage: Grotesque Labour Discrimination Exhibited at Xmas Lights Switch-On! (25.11.2025)

In a statement, the borough council’s two Reform UK representatives, Cllr Mason Humberstone and Cllr Rob Henry, called on the mayor and the cabinet member for equalities to resign “for the shockingly disrespectful way Logan and his family were treated”. 

Cllr De Freitas said that she is “aware” of their statement but declined to comment further.

It is understood that neither Cllr De Freitas nor the mayor, Cllr Chowdhury, was involved in the planning of the Christmas lights switch-on event.

Stevenage’s Labour MP, Kevin Bonavia, was at the switch-on and said he had since spoken to Gemma and to the council to “ensure lessons are learned”.

He said: “What happened at the Stevenage lights switch-on was deeply disappointing for Logan and his family.

“Logan was invited as a special guest in his own right, and he deserved to be at the heart of that moment.

“Many constituents have contacted me about this, and I share their concern.

“I will hold the council to account to make sure that this does not happen again to any other SEN child.

“Inclusion is not optional, and despite having no role in the procedure of the event, I feel a personal duty to stand up for Logan and ensure his family feels the strength of support out there for them.

“This must never happen again.”

Digging into the Trench!

Sutton: St Nicholas Church – Feeding Squrrels & Pigeons! (21.9.2025)

We visited the Church-yard of St Nicholas Church on the 14.9.2025 – a pleasant Saturday afternoon in South-West London (formerly East Surrey). At the moment we are experiencing what we use to call an “Indian Summer” – providing this is still an acceptable analogy (who knows – the ground upon which we stand keeps dissolving into loose sand). Either way, communing with wild animals teaches children empathy, sympathy, and kindness. This is inter-species communication – a very important aspect of a civilised upbringing and education. From a superstitious Buddhist view – all life is karmically inter-related following endless cycles of rebirth (bundles of life-habit living through all different life-forms until the realisation of enlightenment breaks the cycle). Is this real? I have no idea – but the Buddha seems to think rebirth is a Brahmanic myth – but it is a myth which he uses to convey his teaching and make his point, etc.

Trump Makes His Mark in London!

London: Chinese New Year Dim Sum (Yum Cha)! (26.1.2025)

We knew that the Saturday before Chinese New Year would mean that London’s Chinatown (Gerrard Street) would be packed so we got early (ish) to get out on the road by around 10am (early for a Saturday). We drove to Morden Tube Station (Northernline) and headed into Central London (Leicester Square). Actually, although busy, I think the crowd numbers were down on previous (pre-Covid) years! Still, less crowds equals less stress – although the staff of the New Loon Fung Restaurant were on edge – expecting a massive influx for “Dim Sum” (Chinese breakfast)!

Da's Army

Torbay: Dad’s Army [1975] BBC Appearance – Seaside Special! (12.11.2023)

Dad’s Army ran for 9 series and 80 episodes between 1968-1977. The 8th series of Dad’s Army ran between 5.9.1975-10.10.1975 (containing 6 episode) – with this appearance by two of its stars happening just one-day before the second episode was broadcast! Indeed, there would be NO Dad’s Army series for 1976 except for a Xmas Special. This had happened before when there was NO Dad’s Army series for 1971 – except for a Xmas Special – but this year also featured a cinema film for the cast! The year 1975 would feature both a Dad’s Army series AND a Xmas Special!

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