Nov 2025 – sillysocksonfriday

Lift up your hearts

This is an echo of my Catholic foundation, but in those days the words were in Latin: Sursum Corda

It is followed by the call to give thanks and praise.

Well in the western hemisphere whole countries pause and families gather to give thanks together. It is a fine tradition which the rest of us should follow with at least the respect and enthusiasm we give the banal Halloween, over-hyped Festive Season and chocolate coated Easter!

You may have noticed the absence of any rant or mumble in recent months – I have not been inspired or agitated enough to stir my stumps…

Perhaps there will be peace in Ukraine this Christmas. It will be an achievement of note, notwithstanding the apparent pandering to the acknowledged aggressor. That is cause for jubilation.

Israel and Gaza have slipped off the media interest scale, although still simmering. Let us give thanks and praise!

Good news is often not sensational, so it is downscaled by most media, sadly – it doesn’t sell as well as blood on the front page.

But here are some things we should be happy about:

AI is revolutionising medical diagnosis. …
Ocean cleanup projects are making waves. …
Mental health support is going mainstream. …
Renewable energy is breaking records. …
Gene therapy is curing ‘incurable’ diseases. …
Cities are becoming wildlife havens.
Food waste is being tackled with smart solutions
Global poverty continues its historic decline

Yeah! They do look good. Thank you

sorry … bit of a mumble space filler..

The book I am now reading…

The Reverse of the Medal by Patrick o’Brian

O’Brian is highly talented storyteller who uses sophisticated techniques to entertain but also inform on the themes, values, fashions, attitudes, humour, politics and sociology of the 19th Century Royal Navy.

The story is a continuation of the Aubrey and Maturin saga. It consists of 18 volumes, which should be started at the beginning.

This is my third or fourth reading – I look forward to many more.

Woe king

Sadly, that’s what I think of Charlie 3.

His younger brother is a hound, always has been, by repute. Probably undone by an unhealthy streak of aristocratic arrogance. Somehow extending the divine right of kings to include a suspension of decency.

It is a common tale of misfortune which resounds amongst the ranks of scions of families with inherited wealth. Too much money and regard for status seems to lead to the belief that rules of society and decency do not apply.

But he has not been accused of any particular crime. Years ago a claim was settled with the girl who claimed the prince had taken took advantage of her when she was a minor. Inappropriate, undesirable behaviour but no crime.

The media hullabaloo has ebbed and waned. There has been a recent resurgence of the same allegations and the girl has died.

So…. HRH the Charlie sees fit to cast his brother out; cancelling all the honours and privileges traditionally accorded to a child of a monarch.

This is a weak act of virtue signalling in keeping with the woke generation. That is a clear indication that the Palace has succumbed

Google says:

A king is symbolic of power, authority, and leadership, representing the nation’s identity, continuity, and the rule of law. He can also symbolize a connection to divinity or the ultimate source of justice…

Justice requires appropriate consideration of evidence and the opportunity to defend oneself at trial. There are no accusers – just noisemakers and a compliant puppet.

No wonder there are no real leaders in the UK, with such a weak monarch.

His mother had more balls.