Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Commons Speaker, tells Waspis "Parliament is out of control" but he has a plan

It's been a while since I last wrote anything, but today was as good a day as any to make a comeback with a subject that is close to my heart!

I have just returned home from attending a meeting with Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Commons Speaker, and a number of my fellow Waspi 2018 colleagues and friends.

In 2017, we had a similar meeting with Lindsay at which he pledged to support the Waspi cause and suggested that if the Government wanted to help, all they needed to do was add a penny or two to the cost of fuel and the problem could be solved. He also suggested that a change of Government would help to speed up the resolution process. 

So, five years on and given the current "cost of living crisis" affecting the country, we were interested to find out if Lindsay, now in his role as Speaker of the House of Commons, would have anything further to add to his previous statements, or be able to give us some words of advice going forwards. 

None of us were prepared for what he had to say! According to Lindsay, Parliament is out of control! 

These are not his exact words but the gist of what he told us is that he finds the current situation in Parliament "scary" with a bunch of loose cannons on the take, for the benefit of themselves and their friends, with not so much as a thought for the problems the country is facing. He says that there is currently a state of paralysis because of the Tory party leadership votes and there is no money left in the coffers to pay for any form of social assistance.

So, if Parliament is out of control, what possible chance is there of any kind of resolution for the Waspis, and more to the point, I have to ask myself, if he can't control them as Speaker, then who can?

We did digress, when he was asked how, if we have no money, we can somehow support Ukraine with billions of pounds worth of ammunition, and he pointed out that all we are actually doing is taking our existing munitions off the shelves and throwing it at them. At some time there will come a point where we have no ammo left and no money left to replace it!   

In spite of this being one of the most depressing sessions I have attended with Sir Lindsay, he did offer us one glimmer of hope and the seed of a plan based on his previously recorded suggestion of a possible change of Government, which, according to him, may come sooner rather than later, given the current shambles.

His suggestion is that the signing of The Pledge is not in itself, enough. Anyone can pledge their support for our Cause but this does not mean necessarily that they will do anything about it even if they get into power.

What is needed from the current opposition, who will be looking for our votes to get into power, is a statement of intent as to exactly how they would ringfence sufficient funds to be able to make fair and fast payments to all of those affected. This would then behold them to come good with their pledges as they would have a plan to solve the problem rather than just the will to support us. 

They would have to come up with a new source of income from which to pay us our compensation, whether this be a few pence on income tax or a windfall tax on the energy companies, ringfenced for the Waspis, but one that is a definite plan of action to take immediately they get into power.

Only by making this happen, will the Waspis stand any chance of receiving any compensation for our losses. 

So, as of now, we need to start to meet with those at the top to ask them to put in their manifestos a specific clause and plan to help resolve the Waspi situation...and the sooner the better!    

  

 

 

      

Jimbo is no more

I'm sad to tell you that my partner, Jim, is no longer with us.

He gave up his fight against cancer on the 27th April after a long 14-month battle.

He was a trooper to the end and a great ambassador for CBD oils.

He will never be forgotten!

Anyone wishing to know more about Jim's legacy can read all about him here

Medicinal Cannabis, CBD and Jim's Legacy

Even though the high-strength version of CBD is now legal in the UK, as medicinal
cannabis, we have learned that not one prescription has yet been issued for it. This
is because N.I.C.E will not recommend it due to the lack of research into its use and
potential benefits. Neither will they accept the results of existing studies and
research from the United States, because their testing systems are not deemed to
be sufficiently rigorous.

If Jim, along with many others, had access to medicinal cannabis, it could help to
alleviate their suffering and potentially extend their lives and it should be a priority
for the Government to put money and time into cancer research with particular
emphasis on studying the health benefits gained from the use of cannabis-derived
medications.

Jim feels that if more people were informed of the potential health benefits benefits
of CBD and plant based diets, they too could improve the quality of their lives and
increase their survival outcomes, with or without chemotherapy and wants this to
be his legacy to other cancer sufferers.

Jim, aged 72, was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer in Feb 2018. He was offered
chemo but after thinking long and hard about it, decided not to have it. He was concerned
that the side-effects would be worse than the benefits, as his oncologist told him that each
session would not provide a cure and at best would only give him about three extra
months of life. It is a known fact that chemo' destroys the immune system at the same time
as it attempts to destroy the cancer, and it can also lead to a very poor quality of life, giving
very little in return.

Jim had learned about CBD (cannabinoids) when his mother was suffering from cancer
and had used it with some degree of success to help reduce the tumours on her arm.
Sadly, she passed away in November 2017 from old age.

So, he started using “over the counter” CBD oils and vapes and began a regime of using
alternative plant-based dietary supplements. Herbal teabags (8 different ones in a pint pot
including turmeric, echinacea, ginger, garlic and others twice daily), herb-based tablets
containing the same and cut out dairy foods by using alternative vegan products. His
oncologist said that these would not harm him although he was sceptical that any of it
would help with his cancer, but agreed that they may help to boost his immune system, or
at the very least, help his body to cope with any side-effects. When asked, he said that he
could not prescribe CBD because he did not know enough about it.

In April 2018, he told Jim that, in his opinion, he had only 6 months to live and then, in
October (by which time he should have been dead), they found a 0.5cm metastasis in his
brain. In spite of this, Jim was still feeling well and had experienced no side-effects.

However, the oncologist advised us to cancel our planned holiday to Tenerife because he
was concerned that Jim may have a “fit” on the flight, or become seriously ill whilst away.
The holiday was called off.

In November, he started to have problems with his coordination and dragging his right leg.
He was prescribed steroids to help to shrink the brain tumour and the oncologist
reluctantly discharged Jim from his clinic as he felt that he could offer little in the way of
further treatment. He told us to start planning for “end of life” care and Jim was referred to the palliative care team, but, as he was still feeling "well" two weeks later, all options, including hospice intervention, were temporarily put on hold.

The improvement on the steroids was almost immediate. Jim's walking improved and he
was able to enjoy and good Christmas with friends and family. In his own words, he felt “on
top of the world”! At no time until very recently has he suffered any pain and he stated that
he did not feel as if he had cancer.

He still manages to have a good social life and in particular enjoys participating in his
weekly “karaoke” sessions. Not bad for a man with terminal lung cancer!

Three weeks ago, on Jim's request, his oncologist agreed to a further appointment and was
amazed! He said that it was wonderful to see how well he was doing, especially as
he had not had any chemo. He also said that Jim had proved to be an inspiration
and given him food for thought about the use of alternative therapies. He prescribed
him some antibiotics for an outbreak of oral thrush (a side-effect of the steroids), took his
bloods and arranged a further chest x-ray. He has also had a further CT scan on his brain
and will go back to see the oncologist on the 11th March to discuss the results.

We don't know what they will show - it may be worse or it may be better - either way, we
are prepared to deal with whatever comes. What we have seen is a complete turnaround in the way the oncologist is dealing with Jim. No longer is he pessimistic, but rather very optimistic and happy to do whatever he can to assist Jim in his quest to remain "chemo-free"!

Jim decided to go his own way, choosing “quality of life” over “quantity” and in doing so
has beaten all the odds by surviving stage IV lung cancer with brain mets for over 12
months, without chemo. His positive outlook and sheer stubborn attitude are what has
got him through it. He is determined to beat it and at the very least "go down fighting"!
Positive mental attitude and a willingness to keep up his strict regime have gone a
long way in winning the battle. With the help of CBD and his plant-based remedies,
his immune system has been able to keep the symptoms of his cancer under
control.

Jim, aka, "OldGitJimbo" is my partner.

Government Apprenticeship Scheme and the WASPI Woman

In the summer of 2017, the Work & Pensions Minister, Guy Opperman, managed to cause outrage and indignation to many, if not all, WASPI women, by suggesting that they should take out an apprenticeship if they were having difficulty making ends meet.

He recently re-iterated this in the House of Commons during his statement on pensions in response to a question from a member of the opposition on behalf of the WASPIs.

Here's an extract from the publication by the House of Commons library No 06113, 4^th January 2019 which show the actual take-up of apprenticeships by people (not just women), in 2016/17.

Only 4,000 people, both men and women, aged 60+ signed up for an apprenticeship in 2016/17. That's only 1% of the population!

Not only that. Another publication by the Department of Education, a survey on Learners and Apprentices 2018 shows the numbers of people who failed to complete their apprenticeships and their reasons for it.

      Note the small print at the bottom - “it was already known that many            learners and apprentices do not complete their training.”

     

        Here is a summary of the official statistics as stated in the summary

Note how many more women than men cited “personal or domestic problems” as their reason for not completing. More evidence of inequality!

 The final sentence clearly states that “these issues disproportionately impacted on women and those aged 25 and over.”

If ever there was proof enough that apprenticeships for WASPIs do not and will not work, this is it!

 And here's more evidence of personal challenges faced by these older apprentices.

 So, Mr Guy Opperman, Work & Pensions Minister, you already know that your so-called solution simply doesn't work, but then again, we could have told you before your department spent all that money commissioning the survey!

What do you think? The evidence clearly shows that there is no benefit whatsoever for a WASPI woman in taking up an apprenticeship. Unless, of course, she is 100% fit and well, leads an extremely quiet and non-disruptive life, has not experienced a recent change in employment, is fully able to understand and absorb new information, is not physically disabled and has no mental or emotional difficulties.

How many WASPI women do you know who can satisfy all of those criteria?

Answers on a postcard........!

Why Banning The Burka Wouldn't Help Integration

Image by IB Time UK

Unless you've been asleep for the past week, you will know all about the furore unleashed by Boris Johnson's comments on women in burkas.

Opinions currently differ over whether banning the burka is a good thing or not - some say that an outright ban would be the solution. Take away the problem and then we can all forget about it. Others, including myself, feel that it should be a woman's right to choose how she dresses, so long as she is making the choice of her own volition and not because she is forced to.

However, I have recently experienced something that has made me question the whole subject of the integration of ethnic minorities into our western culture and I have come to the conclusion that it is not that these group of people are unable to integrate - they simply don't want to!

Just last night, my partner and I were leaving a friend's flat, in Blackburn, Lancashire. She is Blackburn born and bred, British and white. She lives next door to an Asian family and they share an access pathway to their respective flats.

As we were leaving, a car pulled up outside on the road and a young Asian lady, in her late twenties, wearing normal western clothes, got out of the car and walked up the pathway towards the flats. My partner, who is always polite, said "Good evening" to her and she totally ignored him. Personally, so far as I am concerned, if someone chooses to ignore you, you don't bother to push the issue, but Jim being Jim, said to her "Why are you ignoring me?".

The young lady immediately flew into a rage and shouted at the top of her voice "Why are you speaking to me? I don't know you!" to which Jim replied, "I was just being polite by saying "Good evening" to you."

Immediately after this, the front door to her flat flew open and a very angry young man stormed out and verbally attacked Jim whilst shouting "Why do you speak to my sister? You have no right! You should go!"

Again, Jim calmly replied "I was just being polite. I said "Good evening".

By now, I was becoming slightly concerned for his welfare. He is 71 and has terminal cancer. I ushered him into our car and as he got into it, the Asian man flew at the window, which was open, and grabbed Jim threatening to hit him!

By now, there was a group of about six people, all Asian males, stood on the pathway, shouting and gesticulating about how upset they were because Jim said "Good evening" to the Asian lady.

Fearing that they might damage my car, or worse still...Jim, I started up the engine and as I did, the original young man stuck his face into the car and shouted: "Get the f**k out of here!". So we did...in haste, unfortunately, leaving our friend, who presumably knows them, to try to pacify the baying crowd on her pathway.

It was very scary and I can only draw the conclusion that, in this particular instance, this group of people simply did not want to have anything to do with us. So, even without the burka, how on earth are we going to get certain "ethnic minorities" to integrate into our society when they really, quite obviously, don't want to!

Could someone please explain what is so wrong about saying "Good evening" to someone, even if you don't know them? Is it really so wrong to be polite to people? Or am I missing something?



     

 

In Which Countries is Euthanasia Legal?

Presently,  human euthanasia is legitimate in the Netherlands, Belgium, Colombia, Luxembourg, Canada, India and South Korea. Assisted suicide is lawful in Switzerland, Germany, South Korea and Japan.  In the US states of Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Hawaii, Vermont, Montana, Washington DC, and California, assisted suicide is also legitimate.

An assisted-dying scheme in the Australian province of Victoria will become effective in mid-2019. Assisted suicide will be dying with the assistance of someone else, usually a doctor. The term is frequently utilized conversely with physician-assisted suicide (PAS), which includes a specialist “knowingly and intentionally providing a person with the knowledge and means required to commit suicide, including counselling about lethal doses of drugs, prescribing such lethal doses or supplying.”

Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Switzerland allow doctor involvement in the patient’s death. In the United States, six states permit medical assistance in passing on.

Euthanasia is portrayed as a non-treatment decision (NTD), which incorporates withholding and pulling back life-sustaining treatment, followed by death from the underlying illness. It is designed to assist the person to die rather than carry on with persistent, intolerable pain. The lawfulness of this varies throughout the different nations. It is defined as willful, non-deliberate, or automatic. Willful euthanasia is legal in a few nations. Non-willful killing (patient’s assent inaccessible) is illegal in all nations. Automatically euthanising without the patient’s consent or against their will) is also illegal in all nations and is typically considered to be murder.

In April 2002, the Netherlands was the first country to legitimize euthanasia and assisted suicide. There are very strict rules and conditions: the patient must be suffering considerably, they must be terminally ill and the request must be made in “full cognizance” by the patient.

Belgium passed a law in 2002 legitimizing euthanasia, becoming only the second nation on the planet to do so. The law says specialists can assist patients with ending their lives when they openly express a desire to die if they are enduring interminable suffering. Patients can likewise be euthanised where they have overtly expressed it before entering a coma or comparable vegetative state.

Neither in The Netherlands nor in Belgium is there a necessity that the patient is at death’s door. The two key components of the laws in the two nations are that the misery must be (subjectively) “excruciating” and that there (objectively) is “no prospect of change”.This potentially opens up euthanasia for those who are chronically and mentally ill. In The Netherlands, there is a lower age limit of 12 years, but there are no such limits in Belgium.

Colombia’s Constitutional Court decided in 1997 that “no person can be held criminally responsible for taking the life of a terminally ill patient who has given clear authorization to do so.”The court characterized a “terminally ill” individual as one with sicknesses, for example, “cancer, AIDS, and kidney or liver disease being the “cause of extreme suffering”. The decision particularly declined to approve euthanasia for individuals with degenerative diseases, for example, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or Lou Gehrig’s illness. The nation’s parliament passed a bill legitimizing euthanasia on 20 February 2008.

In Canada,”doctor-assisted dying”, is legal for all people over 18 years old who have a terminal illness that has advanced to the point where natural death is “reasonably foreseeable.”

In every one of the six American states above, a patient may request doctor-assisted suicide on the basis of having only six months to live.

Physician-assisted suicide (PAS), involves a specialist “knowingly and intentionally providing a person with the knowledge and means required to commit suicide, including counselling about lethal doses of drugs, prescribing such lethal doses or supplying.”

Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Switzerland enable doctors to physically aid the demise of patients. In the United States, six states permit therapeutic assistance to die.

Doctor-assisted suicide is frequently mistaken for euthanasia. In instances of euthanasia the doctor oversees the methods for death, for the most part, a deadly medication. In doctor-assisted suicide, it is required that a man of sound mind intentionally communicates his or her desire to die and demands a sufficient dosage of medicine that will end his or her life. The main defining adjunct is that doctor-assisted suicide requires the patient to self-administer the medicine.

Assisted-suicide is legally supported in Switzerland’s penal code, even though there is no law about it. A specialist must analyze the patient and compose the deadly solution, however regularly does not take an interest past that. Rather, the patient is given control by a right-to-die organisation  (like EXIT), which at that point utilizes its own particular strategies to help the demise.

Recently, the UK Supreme Court has decided that where a patient is in a lasting vegetative state, or minimally conscious, specialists may, with the agreement of close relatives, pull back sustenance and water to enable the patient to die. As this is simply starving the patient to death this controversial law will most likely prompt dissent from pro-life associations in view of the length of time it can take for the patient to die – in some cases up to a month from the sustenance being withdrawn. No-one can deny that this is a horrible way to die, even if the patient appears to be unaware of the process. It is euthanasia in all but name and no doubt further discussions and possible legislation will take place in the future.

What Do Rabbits Eat and Drink?

So, you’ve got yourself a rabbit and you’re asking yourself, what you can safely feed it? Or maybe you’re just randomly interested in what rabbits like to eat and drink. If you want to have a happy, safe and friendly bunny, read on.

Water

The most important thing your bunny needs is fresh, clean water…and lots of it. Water is the ONLY liquid it needs to survive. Ideally, it should be changed twice daily and served in a ceramic bowl that cannot be tipped over. In warm weather, you can also add a couple of ice cubes to it. Without water, your rabbit would be dead within three days…that’s how important it is!

Rabbits need water to keep their vital organs functioning and their blood healthy. It also helps their digestive systems and flushes away the excess calcium that they build up. They do drink a lot of water, but if you notice that they are drinking excessively, it is possible that they are in pain or in distress. It is always a good idea to take them to the vet to be checked over.

Hay

80/90 per cent of your rabbit’s food should be fresh hay. It gives them fibre and also helps to wear down their teeth. Not only that but it helps to keep them occupied. You could also add some foraging material in the form of tree bark, twigs and sprouts, seeds and small amounts of fruit (but only as a treat). In addition, you can feed them with certain plants, herbs and weeds. If your rabbit has his own enclosure, you could even have some live plants growing there for him.

Herbs, Vegetables and Plants

You can ring the changes by feeding a variety of fresh, pesticide-free vegetables on a regular basis. Feed him approximately 1 cup of vegetables per 4lbs of body weight daily.

Here are a few suggestions to try:

• Artichoke(leaves)
• Asparagus
• Baby sweetcorn
• Basil
• Borage
• Broccoli (leaves only)
• Brussels sprouts (limited)
• Butternut squash
• Calendula
• Chamomile
• Carrot (tops, but sparingly as they contain a lot of calcium)
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Chickweed
• Clover (leaves and flowers)
• Coltsfoot
• Comfrey
• Coriander
• Courgette
• Cucumber
• Dandelion leaves
• Dill
• Fennel
• Green beans
• Kale (a little)
• Lavender
• Dark leaf lettuce (not ice-burg)
• Mint
• Nasturtium
• Nettle
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Peas (including leaves and pods)
• Peppers(all colours)
• Plantain
• Pumpkin
• Radish (tops, limited)
• Rocket
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Spinach (occasional)
• Swedes
• Thyme
• Turnip (occasionally)
• Watercress
• Yarrow
• Plants
• Agrimony
• Apple (leaves and twigs)
• Blackberry (leaves)
• Burdock
• Calendula
• Echinacea
• Hawthorn
• Hazel
• Lemon balm
• Pansies
• Raspberry (leaves)
• Roses (leaves and flowers)
• Strawberry (greens)
• Tulips

Pellets

These can be purchased at most supermarkets and should be high in fibre and low in protein and not mixed with anything else. As your rabbit gets older you should reduce the number of pellets gradually. Just a small handful daily is sufficient.

Fruits

These should only be fed in moderation and as the occasional treat, up to two tablespoons a day. This is because they contain a lot of sugar which is not good for your rabbit’s health, but they really enjoy the taste!

However, don’t give them any pips, stones or plants unless it is in the preceding list.

Try some of these:

• Apple
• Apricot
• Banana
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Cherries
• Grapes
• KiwiFruit
• Mango
• Melon
• Nectarines
• Papaya
• Peaches
• Pears
• Pineapple
• Plums
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes
• Watermelon

Forbidden foods (Never to be given)

Bread, crackers, pasta, pretzels, yoghurt chips, chocolate, milk or cereal. Potatoes, avocado, daffodils, rhubarb, lilies, mushrooms, sweet peas, iceberg lettuce, broad beans, buttercups, kidney beans, jasmine foxgloves. All of these can make your rabbit very ill and sometimes it can be fatal.

So, as you can see, your bunny doesn’t need much to keep him healthy, but by feeding a varied and interesting diet he will be one very happy bunny too!

Health Benefits of Turmeric For Dogs

Many of us know of the health benefits of taking turmeric, in moderation, as part of our daily routine but have you ever considered that is can also be good for your furry friend? Yes, even dogs can benefit from a daily dose of turmeric in their diet and it certainly won't harm them!

The healing part of the turmeric herb is in the root. Turmeric contains the compound known as curcumin, which also gives it its bright yellow colour. It helps to boost the immune system and can also help with the following conditions:

• Inflammation of the joints
• Infections
• Heart conditions
• Cancer
• Aids digestion
• Parasites
• Eye health
• Diabetes
• Liver health
• Allergies
• Epilepsy
• Pain-relief
• Diarrhoea
• Memory

With all these possible benefits, turmeric truly is a wonder-herb! Many dogs, particularly older ones, suffer from joint diseases like hip dysplasia and arthritis. Turmeric's anti-inflammatory properties can significantly help to reduce the symptoms and give pain relief. Studies have also shown that cancers, allergies, dental disease, digestive disease and more can be treated with the herb, which helps the immune system to heal the body by increasing the number of white blood corpuscles. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26007179

It has been shown to effectively shut down the blood vessels that feed cancer and can also help to shrink and kill the cancer cells Cancer Research UK  Turmeric is extremely beneficial for dogs as well as humans, but, like everything else, too much of it can be bad for your health so you need to be aware of the possible side-effects and take the necessary precautions.

If your dog is on blood-thinning medication, please be careful as turmeric is a natural blood thinner and too much could cause internal bleeding. ALWAYS consult your vet if in doubt! In any event, the best way is to start with small doses, as little as a quarter of a teaspoon daily mixed in with his food until you begin to see results and then increase slowly until you reach the optimum dosage.

If your dog becomes nauseous, constipated or excessively hot then he, or she, may not be a suitable candidate for turmeric therapy. Also, turmeric and aspirin should not be taken together so do not give both of these at the same time.

Turmeric Paste Recipe for Dogs

Ingredients

½cup turmeric powder

2cups water

¼cup coconut oil

1½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

Method

Warm the turmeric powder, water, and coconut oil in a pan on a low heat until it thickens. 

Add the black pepper when cooked and extra water if too thick. 

Allow cooling. The paste can be stored for up to a month in your refrigerator.

Mix a small teaspoonful with your dog's normal food on a daily basis and increase gradually depending on the results. The maximum recommended dose for larger dogs is one teaspoon daily.

A visitation from beyond. Coincidence...or not?

My dad died suddenly, in January. My personal belief is that the soul continues to survive in death and that our loved ones will always find a way to let us know that they are still with us, in spirit.

I have always suggested to my mum that, if she ever needs to contact me, she use my dad's mobile phone, rather than the house phone which comes up as a private number and which I would choose to ignore as a spam call.

I had just finished reading a book on healthy diets, "How Not To Die" by Michael Greger M.D. as part of my research into anti-cancer food therapies. In the book was a paragraph on the benefits of blueberry juice. My dad was always drinking the stuff and was 80 when he died. I remembered this and was thinking about him when my mobile started ringing. I looked to see who it was and it came up as "Dad mobile". Assuming it was my mum, I answered the phone and...... Nothing! Not a sound! Thinking that there was something wrong with my mum, I called the number back and it went to voicemail. So, I rang Mum on her house phone.

She answered it and I asked if she had rung me from my dad's mobile. She hadn't. All she had done was take it out of her bag and put it down on the table.

Spooky.... Or what???

To me, just more proof of yet more that we just don't comprehend. I'd like to think that Dad knew I was thinking of him and responded in the only way he could.

Like me, you may have concluded that Mum may have accidentally touched the speed dial button as she put the phone down. 

Well, I am not too high up on her speed dial list - there are at least three others who she keeps on the list.

Surely, if that was the case, I would have been able to hear her in the background but there was only absolute silence! And why me, at that precise moment???

Have YOU ever had a similar experience? Please share your comments here and if I get a good response I'll write a book on the findings.

An Audience With Kevin Maguire

This was a fairly informal event hosted by The Word, library in South Shields, Tyneside on the 25th May, a date that had been firmly booked in my diary since early March. As I huge fan of this unflinchingly outspoken Trump-hating, anti-monarchist, politically opinionated but lovable “leftie”, this was one date I was not going to miss, even though it cost me a 300-mile round trip to be there!

I've met Kevin only once before, at the Hugh Cudlip lecture in London where he was chosen to give the presentation and after that encounter, I was hooked!

Our hostess for the evening was the very lovely, Anna Foster, from BBC Radio Newcastle and she certainly kept Kevin on his toes, but he answered all her questions with complete honesty and openness and more importantly, without hesitation and for once, it was nice to see him dressed down for the occasion, wearing jeans and trainers and looking very relaxed.

The evening began with questions about his early life and school days. One of six children born into the family, he never considered himself “special” in any way, but he enjoyed his early life and being at school, and considers himself lucky to have been selected to go onto university where he found out that there were definite “class” divisions. He earned himself a degree in Politics. Could this have been the beginning of his anti-establishmentarianism and Republican leanings?

Having his degree would, he thought, be a guarantee of work in his chosen field of journalism, but he was wrong. Having applied for 60 jobs which included one fruitless interview, he moved to London in search of opportunity and for a time was employed as a security guard. Frustrated, but undeterred, he then applied to Cardiff University for a place on a journalism course, and finally, his persistence was rewarded with a three-year job for a newspaper based in Plymouth.

Almost 40 years later, he is rarely off the television and in huge demand from many radio stations, but he admits that BBC Rado Newcastle is his favourite, no doubt because it is close to his beloved South Shields where, he says, his heart belongs. Although Kevin and his wife, the successful novelist, Emma Burstall, live in suburbian Kingston-upon-Thames, when asked if he had ever thought about moving back “home”, he replied that he had but his wife would probably never agree to it, because he would just go back to his roots and spend most of his time in the pub with his mates. So, for now, he visits as often as he can, up to twelve times a year, to catch up with his “mam” and family and friends. Watching him chatting with some of them in the pub after the event, it was very clear to me that this is definitely where he feels the most comfortable and “at home”.

During the course of his one and a half hours of intense scrutiny from Anna, he entertained us with anecdotes and personal recollections of some of the politicians he encounters in the halls of Westminster and the tales he wrote about in his book, “Great Parliamentary Scandals”, that he co-wrote with Mathew Parris, the Conservative MP. Well-known characters like Piers Morgan, Andrew Neal, Boris Johnson, John Prescott and even the new Countess of Sussex were all up for grabs, along with the Duke of Edinburgh to whom he refused, as a matter of principle, to bow, much to the disdain of the Duke. This disdain, is quite obviously mutual, with Kevin stating that they live in a world apart from the common man. “They know little of us, and they care even less”.

He talked about his late father, who was a miner, and the Durham Miner's Gala which is a regular annual jaunt for Kevin and a large number of Labour politicians, including, of course, Jeremy Corbyn. I got the feeling that Corbyn has gone up in Kevin's estimation in the past couple of years, especially after the relative success of the General Election 2017. When I met him in London, he was not sure that Corbyn was the right material for the Labour leadership.

Kevin also made his views clear on Trident – a waste of money, and Terrorism – don't give in to it. When asked if he had ever considered going into politics himself, he told us that Gordon Brown had once asked him to work for his government and that, in his opinion, the next Labour Leader would probably be a woman. Angela Raynor is his current favourite. One got the impression that he would rather be writing about it that actually involved in it.

He discussed his working relationship with his well-known colleague and nemesis, Andrew Pearce, and promised to try to arrange for him to accompany him should he ever come back to The Word for another session. They are obviously the best of mates off-screen despite their political differences of opinion.

Afterwards, I was delighted to come across him in the pub where he was as charming as ever, and although we didn't quite get to exchanging telephone numbers, I feel sure that our paths will cross again very soon. In summary, a very interesting and entertaining couple of hours in the company of an unassuming, highly approachable and “grateful” gentleman who, in his own words, got lucky.

Fame and fortune apart. Mr Maguire is still very much “one of us”. Hopefully, one day he may get his wish and go “home” to South Shields for good, but I am sure he has many more places to visit and people to talk about before he finally lays down his notebook!

Local Hero Raises £800 For Eye Cancer Charity

On Saturday 5th May, from 12 noon until 12 pm, at The Plough, Chorley, a Charity “Dartathon” was held. The event was organised by Keith Thomson, a darts player for Chorley District Darts and Dominoes Singles League in aid of OcumelUK Patient and Family Support Group.

OcumelUK is a registered charity offering support to patients and families who have been affected by a rare form of eye cancer, ocular melanoma.

The event was supported by local businesses who donated raffle and tombola prizes and the generosity of personal and business sponsors. A total in excess of £800 was raised for the charity.

Keith, who personally scored five 180's and a 12 dart leg during the twelve-hour session, said, “We have had an excellent afternoon and evening. Andrea Brannelly, the landlady at The Plough, made it feel like home from home”. He is now planning to organise another fund-raising “Dartathon” on August Bank Holiday which will run for 24 hours, also to be held at The Plough.

Further information on the charity is available at www.ocumeluk.info  

CBD and Your Dog - Is It Safe?

Many people including some vets have recently said that CBD has had beneficial effects on dogs.

In the case of humans, we already know the benefits of CBD. Among others, CBD oil has been prescribed to help with conditions, for example, uneasiness, dependence, melancholy, incessant agony, joint inflammation, seizures, and the sky is the limit from there!

As we become acquainted with the benefits of CBD for humankind, we sometimes ask: Could CBD help our dogs? Logically, canines (and most well-evolved creatures) have comparable life structures to people. The endocannabinoid framework can be found in many warm-blooded animals. As CBD works within this framework, we should be able to assume that it will also work on our pets.
Will CBD HELP OUR DOGS?

Early research and recounted tributes demonstrate that CBD has helped pets in a wide range of ways. Here's a preparatory rundown of different conditions that CBD has been found to help treat (or potentially cure):

Hypersensitivities

Tension

Hunger

Joint pain

Malignancy

Perpetual Pain

Weakening Quality of Life

Stomach related Problems

Tumours

Glaucoma

Homeostasis

Irritable Bowel Disease

Aggravation

Joint and Mobility Issues

Fears (Fireworks, Thunderstorm)

Seizures

Skin Problems

In more broad terms, input from pet proprietors demonstrates that CBD can be utilized to calm your dogs.

One of the greatest cases that veterinarians are starting to see are dogs with joint problems that have a tendency to get worse as they age. Hemp CBD has been discovered to be "helpful in treating intense infirmities like sprains and strains, torn tendons, bone breaks, and in helping to diminish swelling, torment, and solidness."

More than anything, the most encouraging part of utilizing CBD is the way that it could enable your puppy to get off manufactured medications, which can cause adverse reactions. Regardless of whether it can't completely supplant the customary medications, hemp oil could enable you to bring down the amount that the aminal needs to take.

HOW CBD WORKS ON DOGS - THE DOG'S ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM

Research on how cannabinoids (counting CBD) influence the human body has demonstrated that they mostly cooperate with our endocannabinoid framework, a sensory system that exists all through our body.

This endocannabinoid framework, additionally called ECS, has now been found to exist in all vertebrates, including warm-blooded creatures. Creatures, for example, canines were particularly found to share very nearly 70% organic homology with people. In this manner, it can be circumspectly reasoned that CBD connects comparatively in canines as it does in people. Like how CBD collaborates with receptors in our ECS, cannabinoids tie to receptors inside the canine's body. One examination specifically found that the CBD "ties to these receptors for a more extended length [in dogs], and brings out dependable remedial reaction without causing poisonous impacts."

Starbucks - One of the Most Successful Brands Ever?

Unless you are agoraphobic or chained to your bed you cannot possibly have missed the fact that Starbucks Coffee houses are just about everywhere! For over 40 years Starbucks have been successfully building their brand all over the world and are probably one of the best known of all the “coffee-on-the-go” providers on the planet.Their mermaid logo is recognised all over the world even though it has changed four times over the years. 

So, where did it all begin and how have they evolved?

It all began in Seattle, Washington at 2000 Western Avenue, in 1971, where three friends, Jerry Baldwin, an English teacher, Zev Siegi, a history teacher and Gordon Bowker, a writer, opened their first store selling roasted whole green coffee beans. The name Starbucks was inspired by the name of the chief mate in the book Moby Dick.

By 1986 they had expanded to six stores in the local area and after selling the chain to one of their former managers, Howard Schultz, in1986, he further developed the brand and opened a total of 46 stores across the Northwest and Midwest of America by 1989. When floated on the stock market in 1992, Starbucks had 140 outlets worth $73.5million. 

In 1994, Starbucks bought The Coffee Connection and with it the sole rights to produce the Frappuccino beverage which accounts for sales of over $2 billion per year. 

In 1996 Japan was the first country outside America to have a Starbucks. It was located in Tokyo and followed quickly by the Philippines in 1997. They launched in the UK in 1998 with a takeover of the then Seattle Coffee Company and re-branded all the outlets as Starbucks.

In 1999, Starbucks entered the tea business by acquiring the “Tazo” brand for $8 million. Tazo was recently sold to Unilever for almost $400 million!   

In 2002 came Mexico which now has over 800 locations, and Peru, in 2003. Russia was next, in 2007, followed by Vietnam, in 2013. This also coincided with Starbucks launching their own mobile app and 10% of all sales worldwide came from customers using it.

In 2008, the company expanded to Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Portugal.

In 2009, they began adding healthy salads and baked products to their menu and introduced  “Ready Brew”, a line of instant coffee packets, and continued their expansion into Poland, the Netherlands and Sweden.

In 2010, Starbucks started selling beer and wine in addition to coffee in some of their USA stores, expanded into Hungary and ElSalvador. They also opened their first Starbucks at sea on the “Allure of the Seas” by joining forces with Royal Caribbean International. 

In 2011 they introduced their largest cup size, the Trenta, which holds31 ounces. They also began selling coffee in Norwegian food shops and opened their first Norwegian coffee shop. They opened in Beijing, China at the Beijing Capital International Airport’s Terminal 3 and this was their 500th store in China.  

Then, in 2012, they started selling iced beverages containing extract of green arabica coffee beans called “ Starbucks Refresher”, and also purchased the tea beverage company Teavana for $620 million.They also started selling espresso and instant chocolate machines called Starbucks Verismo. At this time they also opened in Finland.

In 2013, they began putting calorie counts on menus in US stores for drinks and pastries. In 2014, “Fizzio” handcrafted sodas were launched and in 2015, a slightly dubious “coconut milk” was offered as an alternative to dairy milk. A deal was also brokered with the biggest retail company in Denmark, DanskSupermarket. They also opened up in Bolivia and Azerbaijan.

In 2015 they opened up in Panama and expanded their openings in Walt Disney World to 9 locations including Disneyland, Paris. Guernsey was also opened. In partnership with the Finnish company, Kesko, a further three stores were opened next to K-Citymarkets and a further store opened in Kazakhstan.

In 2016, Starbucks Canada introduced EvolutionFresh cold-pressed juices. The company had been purchased by Starbucks in 2011 for a mere $30 million! Three stores were opened in Bratislava along with 2 in South Africa. 

By July 2016, Starbucks was in 6 continents and 75 countries and had total locations of23,768. It was also announced that Starbucks would be opening in Italy by 2017.

A limited edition of two speciality drinks came along in 2017, Starbucks barrel aged coffee. The unroasted Starbucks Reserve Sulawesi beans are aged in Whiskey barrels sourced from Washington D.C. Starbucks also announced that they would be opening up in Jamaica and they opened their biggest ever store in Shanghai, China.

As well as successfully building their brand, Starbucks has also embraced technology and in some of their outlets have installed automated drinks systems allowing users to choose from a possible 280 different drinks combinations. They also offer free Wi-Fi in most of their outlets and added mobile phone charging points for their customers and in partnership with Apple and Spotify, they offer music sales.

Keen to promote a “greener environment”, in 1995  Starbucks introduced a “Grounds For Your Garden” initiative offering their used coffee grounds to anyone who could use them in their compost. In 2005, they were awarded the National Recycling Coalition Recycling Works Award after they introduced 10% recycled paper into their beverage cups.

In the US, since 2010, they have been donating leftover pastries to local food banks and since 2016 have been donating 100% of this through a programme called FoodShare.

Now…anyone for coffee?