Fire Boat Festival (Lai Heua Fai), marking the End of Buddhist Lent on October 7, 2025. Coinciding with the full moon of the 11th lunar month

Laos: Rainy Season Retreat Comes to an End for Buddhist Monks! (13.11.2025)

Beyond the spiritual rituals, the festival grounds came alive with vibrant activity as local vendors showcased a wide array of goods, ranging from traditional foods and drinks to handmade crafts, clothing, and household items. The lively marketplace added a festive touch, transforming the event into not just a religious celebration, but also a vibrant community gathering.

Well-organized and secure, the event provided a safe and joyful environment for all attendees. It stood as a testament to Laos’ rich cultural heritage, while also promoting environmental consciousness and community unity.

As the glowing boats drifted peacefully down the Mekong and candlelight danced in the night breeze, the Fire Boat Festival once again proved to be a captivating blend of faith, folklore, and festivity—a timeless tradition that continues to illuminate the hearts of those who take part, year after year.

Heavy Horses Toil the Dust!

Rutland Farm Park – The Visit! (28.10.2025)

Unlike the City Farms or the bigger commercial entities – the atmosphere is relaxed. Indeed, a cadre of very alert geese provide the security detail – patrolling the grounds and showing the guests which way to travel in and out of the park! I remember once reading in a book at school (a very long time ago) that Celtic people used to live on the top of mountains and hills – and that it was geese (and not dogs) that used to warn the inhabitants of any approaching strangers! Geese “honk” really loud, and are physically brave, being willing to protect their owners with their lives! Brave little fellows they are!

17th Century Safe - Old Wooden Safe - Built In2o Bedroom Wall!

Market Overton: 17th Century Wooden Safe – Built into Bedroom Wall! (26.10.2025)

Anyway, I digress. This morning, and for the first-time in decades, I heard a local Parish Church ring the church-bells – summoning the faithful to worship on this crisp Sunday-morning! I am literally sat in the epicentre of history! Probably far more so than usual. As you can see above – in the bedroom I am frequenting – there is a wooden safe built into the wall. The wood does not seem that secure to me – and I know I could easily place my fist through the door – it seems that thin (not that I would do such a thing). Years ago (in Hong Kong) when I had to punch objects whilst holding an egg in the palm (which had to remain “unbroken”) – the objects I had to hit were far more “stout” than this structure. I cannot not discern any writing on the casing of the safe – but such a craftsman’s signature might be immediately adjacent to the inner wall structure.

A Tribute to Walter Rodney!

A Tribute To Walter Rodney – Why Are We Assassinating Our Greatest Thinkers? (13.9.2025)

Once that “something” is resolved – the label of “Whiteness” will disappear. As a label, we all inherit certain responsibilities regarding its symbolism. Blatant or shallow “reaction” is very common – but it is not helpful. Adolf Hitler is the arch-reactionary and his disorganised intellection is no answer to the historical crimes of the capitalist ideology. In this sense, we are ALL victims in the broad sense. In the narrow sense, victims and oppressors are identified. Where should the lens of visibility focus? Even within Whiteness there are internal victims and oppressors (every girl and woman reading this will understand what is written). The middle class oppresses the working class, the rich crush the poor, and so on. Then, the White monolith imposes its collective will beyond its own geographical boundaries – upon those who are not “White”.

Highgate Cemetery - Carrying the Red Flag!

UK Workers Carrying the Red Flag! (21.8.2025)

If the Working Class is not yet free – then carrying the Red Flag represents hope and defiance of the status quo – whilst simultaneously serving notice of the intention of the Proletariat to seize the means of production. The Red Flag is not a statement of allegiance to a (fake) bourgeois notion of nationalist belonging. The Red Flag is not a confirmation of an ethnic or religious outlook. The Red Flag is not a statement of gender or sexual orientation. The Red Flag represents much more than all these passing things. Workers are first and foremost Proletariats – as we have nothing to sell but our labour. Only after this “Internationalist” and “Collective” identity is acknowledged do things like countries, religions, identities, gender, and sexual orientation, etc, come into play.

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