JULY 2002
You don't get something for nothing
You can't have freedom for free
You won't get wise
With the sleep still in your eyes
No matter what your dreams might be
What you own is your own kingdom
What you do is your own glory
What you love is your own power
What you live is your own story
~ Rush, "Something for Nothing"
Britain is rapidly descending into insanity. The inmates at Westminster have taken over the asylum. I fear we have already reached a point where it is impossible to return to any resemblance of normality. The last few years have been a harrowing experience.
We are now being blamed by the Government for not putting aside enough money for our retirement, as we can't expect the state pension to see us through our old age. And why not you may well ask? One reason might be that the Chancellor is raiding the pension funds to the tune of a cool 5 billion pounds a year; it's like being told by a burglar that we really have to leave more money around the house or it won't be worth his while to visit.
It's official; Britain is now the crime capital of the Western World according to a UN report, with more than 500 reported crimes per 1,000 inhabitants. When it is estimated that only about 20 per cent of crimes are being reported these are truly staggering figures.
Looking at the crime figures, the state of the NHS, the transport system, the pension scandal, education and just about anything else it is becoming clearer every day that the Government is the main obstacle to any solution. I have been looking over the figures and as far as I can see most people could afford a decent private education for their children, decent private health care for their whole family, the possibility to actually defending themselves against criminals without having to go to jail, a good retirement package that suits the individual etc., etc., if the Government would only stay out of their hair. In fact a lot of people are doing just this at great financial sacrifice, as they still have to pay through horrendous taxes for services that are not there, or are so bad that no sane person will use them if there is a choice.
Talking about pensions at least our masters in Westminster are setting the rest of us a good example by putting aside more money for their retirement according to Tory MP John Butterfield. Quite. Somehow he failed to mention that the extra money put aside is provided by the taxpayers.
It is obvious that most people connected to Government, whether national or local, inhabit a different planet than the rest of us. This morning we received a letter from the East Riding of Yorkshire Council stating that the Stav Heimbu Fest could go ahead on the local Green just a year after we first applied; after sending 2 new applications because they somehow lost the previous ones; just 2 weeks after we informed them that we had to cancel because we couldn't get a decission; hopefully we can use this permit next year, but that is perhaps being too optimistic.
"Skill without imagination is craftsmanship. Imagination without skill is modern art."
Anonymous
Moggy rules OK.
Deshi, the apprentice cat, returned home one afternoon looking a complete mess.
Half his face was bitten away, and he was limping badly on one leg; we're not
quite sure if it is fractured or not. A dog, belonging to a family that has
just moved into the neighbourhood, is the prime suspect. Anyway, next morning
as I was on my way to the news agent to pick up my paper, there was a frantic
barking from the dog which soon changed into wimpering. A few moments later
Moggy, the Heimbu cat, came sauntering round the corner. We are refusing to
pay the dog owner's veterinary bill.
The annual Great East Yorkshire Pig Race is on tomorrow. It is one of the major events in the local sporting calendar, with book-makers doing a roaring business from punters. The 3 favourites are Road-Hog, Beck-Ham and Lester Pig-let. Honest.
The Queen visited Beverley last week on her Jubilee Tour. The East Riding Council had been given £100,000.- from Central Funds for expenses. And how did they spend it? £75,000.- went on sprucing up County Hall, the rest on flower decorations along the Royal route. The Police Authority picked up the tab for providing security. The flowers were flogged the next day.
It seems we have only 17 years left of "life as we know it". An enormous piece of space rock is supposed to hit the Earth on 1 February 2019. Anyone surviving will surely be in for an interesting time.
"I am always willing to learn,but not always willing to be taught"
Sir Winston Churchill
I see that the Dear Leader is warming to the idea that taxpayers should fund the political parties. The People's Party is at the moment £6,000,000.- in the red.
As I am writing this I am preparing to depart on a trip back to the Old Country to spread the word about Stav at the annual "Norwegian Martial Arts Congress" I will (hopefully) be back in time for our own Summer Course. These are rather exiting times for Stav (though it doesn't take much to get me worked up these days.)
I feel I should just mention that today (1st August) is Yorkshire Day. Some
of us are still keeping the Flame of Independence burning; Eirik Bloodaxe still
remembered as the last King of a Free Yorkshire. Cheers.