Last Saturday we hosted our first wedding celebration since 2019. What a perfect day it was for our charming bride and groom, their families, and friends. Somehow, they even managed to see off the rain which had been threatening their day all week.
 
The theme was The Greatest Showman, and what a show they put on. The climax being the most amazing ten-minute firework display set to music. (My apologies to the locals who complained, but it was all over by 10.20)
 
The red and white striped marquee set the circus theme for what was to come. Magic, games, spectacular lighting, and all sorts of fun – Congratulations to the happy couple for bringing life, normality and joy back to Ote Hall.
 
As far as tractors go, a Lamborghini is not exactly my idea of a sensible workhorse, but I am sure some of the ‘diesel heads’ amongst my fellow farmers, and clearly Jeremy Clarkson, could argue that until the cows come home. But I am with Kaleb who said it is the worst tractor anyone could have!
 
What a triumph for British agriculture as Jeremy and his exceptional support team, including Kaleb Cooper who deserves an Oscar. Jeremy’s girlfriend Lisa Hogan who is equally gifted at bringing the man down to earth. Land agent Charlie Ireland who tries to keep Jeremey’s spending in check, and Gerald Cooper who clearly says what he thinks but quite frankly I do not understand a word.
 
Jeremy shows a surprising passion for the land, the countryside, the environment, and his sheep. Why anyone but a masochist would entertain using sheep to ‘mow the grass’ when a perfectly good topper or a small herd of beef stores, would have done a much better job with less hassle, anguish and cost.
 
This series is bringing a brand-new audience into the countryside and hopefully giving them an understanding of the hard work, time, commitment, battle with the elements and red tape, and costs which farmers cope with day in and day out to produce food and manage our beautiful countryside.
 
No one under the age of 70 watches Countryfile or the other poorly presented and skewed views of the real countryside and farming. Jeremy already had a natural following of millions who have watched him and his co-presenters tearing up tyer rubber across continents in all manner of vehicles. This transition into a completely different way of life and pace, alongside his natural humour, intelligence, perception, and practical ability to take on a challenge, is obviously drawing his fan club into another dimension. Good for him.
 
I am offended and I demand the BBC does something about it. Just as the BBC’s Pride Board which comprises LGBT staff, demand to attend commissioning meetings and play a role in ‘editorial processes’, so to vet transgender news stories before they are aired on Radio 4's flagship Today program, I too want the same right to have actual experienced farmers on hand whenever farming, food production, the environmental and countryside matters are discussed.
 
I dare say the medical profession, industry, fishing, house builders, educationists, the police, fire fighters, and Uncle Tom Cobbly and all, feel exactly the same. What is so incredibly special about the seemingly elite LGBT and Pride people?
 
The amount of ill-informed garbage which is spouted time and time again by individuals brought into the studio from God knows where, with presenters fawning over their every word is cringe making. You can as they say fool the public some of the time but surely it is not right to do so all the time.
 
So, until we get a BBC’s Farming, Food and Countryside Matters’ Board of real farmers, which is consulted on who and what goes out on air between 6am and 9am, I and my fellow farmers have a right to remain deeply offended.

There are rumours the Government is hoping that the surge in the take up of vaccinations, may allow the restrictions to ease earlier than expected.
 
It is safe to say that the delay was not what the Prime Minister wanted, but he has followed the advice from the experts and the data.
 
Last week the numbers of young people infected by the DELTA strain rose alarmingly, with escalating numbers presenting at hospitals.
 
Let us hope for all concerned things continue to improve and by vaccinating as many over 18-year-olds as possible, the spread will decline.
 
Surely it is wise to insist those working in the care sector, including the NHS, should be encouraged to get vaccinated. They have a choice, get the jab, or find an alternative job which does not involve face to face contact with the elderly and ill.
 
The result of the by-election was hardly a surprise. HS2, the ‘levelling up’ of the proposed Planning Bill, and not forgetting the anticipated Environment Bill, are all matters which touch a raw nerve with voters in the Chesham and Amersham constituency.
 
Clearly they have no time for Sir Kier Starmer, and many probably held their noses whilst putting their cross against the Lib Dem candidate’s name. The result will not stop HS2 which Boris inherited when he walked into No 10, the seeds of which were sown in 2009 by PM Tony Blair and well advanced when Boris had to sign the final documents in 2020.
 
Could our right to free speech be saved after all? With the birth of GB News under the chairmanship of Andrew Neil, and Boris championing his own version, there is hope after all.
The public are clearly turning against ‘wok’ warriors, the ‘cancel culture’, and left-wing teachers, and university lecturers brain washing our young.
 
Good for them and if we continue to say what we mean without looking over our shoulders wondering if the ‘thought police’ are on our case, we should come through this period when free speech is being silenced or deleted by this weird minority of dangerous backward thinking, poorly educated but clearly self-opinionated bunch of bullies.
 
It sounds as if the vice-chancellor of Cambridge is about to receive his P45, and about time too. Prof Stephen Toope, a Canadian lawyer, clearly thought he could turn Cambridge University, an 800 year old seat of learning, into an Ivy League look alike. He clearly does not understand the peculiarities of our nation, any more than the monkeys in Brussels do.
They really do not get the British or what it is that makes us stand out as being quite unique and in a class of our own.
 
The second reading of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill happens in the House of Lords this week. We have had animal welfare laws in this country for 200 years, and our animal welfare standards go far beyond the minimum set by the EU.
 
Animal welfare in this country was not advanced by membership of the EU or the principle of sentience that it introduced.
 
The ethics of animal sentience are already recognised in UK legislation. So, the question arises as to why an entire act of Parliament creating an Animal Sentience Committee to scrutinize government policy on welfare of sentient animals is necessary? Some peers, including Baroness Mallalieu and most people with common sense, suggest it is not.
 
It is suggested that gesture politics is part of the motivation for this Bill, to enable the Government to say to the electorate: “This is what we did for animals”. It will probably do little for animals directly.
 
This Bill is totally unnecessary; the government could just amend current legislation and scrap the dodgy Animal Sentience Committee which is in danger of becoming weaponised by animal rights extremism, and open to a challenge by judicial review.

The sun is shining, the British countryside looks stunning, and the crops appear healthy with potential to yield well at harvest time. John took advantage of the rapid regrowth of grazed pasture, to ‘make hay while the sun shone’, and we now have some hay bales in what was an empty barn.
 
I was reminded at the weekend just how important our close friends and family are when it comes to recognising what is enormously important to our lives.
 
During lock down we have been content within in our restricted bubble. We tended our fields and livestock and dealt with the routine of farm life. What a privilege it was for those of us not confined to four walls but had the glorious countryside on our doorsteps.
 
However, last Saturday my family decided we had a variety of reasons to ‘celebrate’. This took the form of a lunch in the garden on a perfect day. We were joined by God parents, God children and close friends we treasure and who have over the years made our lives richer. Although sadly some were missing, this special gathering reminded us just how much we have been missing them.
 
Now it is time to halt this ‘blame’ culture, and the digging up of words said during adolescence or in private, and now used to destroy current and future careers.
 
I am bemused as to why it is newsworthy that a young white person whose past utterings, which today may appear less than sensitive, in this pathetic period of ‘wok’, should be weaponised, and used to destroy their career.
 
We are all guilty of saying what we may believe because we assume we live in a country where free speech is still allowed, but sadly today our words are whipped into a frenzy of accusations and hate.
 
I think it wise to reflect upon the words of The Bible in John 8:7 “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone..”
 
I am curious to know why racial and sexual insulting verbal attacks made by non-white British, are totally ignored, and assumed to be acceptable. You do not need to dig deep to find ‘different’ MPs and broadcasters, who regularly insult their white colleagues or interviewees who remain unchallenged.
 
It seems there is one rule for these minorities and another for the rest of us. If you want to escalate division amongst our diverse population, which clearly some do, this is the perfect way to create unrest.
 
It is time to ‘let it go’, move on, look to the future with optimism and passion. Stop this obsession with the digging up the past, finding blame where there is none.
 
What an insult that graduate students voted to remove a photograph of HM Queen Elizabeth from the student common room at Magdalen College Oxford. They justified this action by noting in the minutes of their meeting that “for some students depictions of the monarch and the British monarchy represent recent colonial history”.
 
As Gavin Williamson responded, “During her long reign the Queen has worked tirelessly to promote British values of tolerance, inclusivity and respect around the world.”
 
My late father went to Magdalen College, and I am sure that he and many thousands who attended this historic seat of learning, are turning in their graves. Clearly the standard of ‘education’ had fallen, as these ‘students’ show a shocking lack of understanding of British history and our current monarchy.
 
This whole destructive movement within our society which is trying to whip up dissent does little to earn the respect of their peers. The majority of those who are ‘different’ are delightful, hardworking, and down to earth members of British society. They are the very backbone of their communities and no doubt as disgusted by these individuals as we are.

Liz Truss has again confirmed that a trade deal with Australia will not allow hormone-injected beef into the UK.
 
There is a 15-year transition period, and Australia, compared to the EU which has tariff-free, quota-free access to the UK, is a much small beef producer.
 
Trade deals with countries outside the EU are what we wanted. Now that Liz Truss and her team are opening these valuable trading markets, surely, we should be looking at them as opportunities not threats?
 
We need confidence in our products, which I never tire of saying are the best in the world. If any are found to be sub-standard then we must up our game.
 
The world is our oyster and now that we are out of the stifling clutches of the EU, we should look to the horizon, and aim high with pride and confidence.
 
It seems that eyes are opening regarding the flaws in the woke agenda. Slowly but surely, it has become recognised for what it is; unhelpful, biased towards the majority, stifling, undemocratic and in many cases incendiary.
 
Joanne Cash, chairman of Mind Gym, which advises blue-chip companies on workplace culture, said businesses should stop investing in “ineffective but expensive” strategies such as unconscious bias training, and focus instead on realising the potential of new leaders from non-traditional backgrounds.
 
She added that training strategies intended to combat racism and sexism can risk making wealthy white men feel they are “being told off for who they are”, while ignoring issues such as childhood trauma, bereavement and mental health.
 
From my experience, having attended several ‘training sessions’ over the years, they had the opposite effect to that which was clearly intended.
 
Having sat through hours of being told how I should feel about everyone, everything and anything, my frustration and outrage escalated to point where I had to make my excuses before I told them exactly what I thought of their session. I was never alone as several of my fellow ‘victims’, followed in my wake.
 
It is certainly time to stop this attempt at brain washing the population in a feeble attempt to curtail free speech. The British have always been a nation which has embraced peopled of all backgrounds, ethnicity, gender and political views. We judge our fellow man on how they behave. We expect good manners, hard work, kindness and generosity of spirit.
 
We do not care whether you are green, yellow or rainbow coloured. If you abuse our laws, criticise our constitution and independence, history, church of England, our Monarchy and Royal Family, you will feel the full force of our wrath and reap the consequences.
 
As the whole country rushes towards zero carbon and green energy by going all electric, it is certain there will be a disparity between supply and demand.
 
It is therefore encouraging to know that scientists are a step closer to a limitless supply of clean energy, which will not litter the skyline with wind turbines the height of the Eifel Tower, or cover our green and pleasant land with solar panels.
 
As reported in The Times, scientist believe they have made significant advancements towards near-limitless clean electricity through smaller, cheaper and more efficient nuclear fusion devices.
 
Professor Ian Chapman, chief executive of UK Atomic Energy Authority, said Fusion is a tantalizing goal not just because it is clean, but because it is so high yielding.
 
Nuclear fusion is the process that powers the sun. Unlike fusion, the reactor used in today’s nuclear power plants, it involves joining rather than splitting atoms, meaning there is almost no radioactive waste.
 
British nuclear Scientists are trying to solve the problem of making these reactors commercially viable.
 
There is still a long way to go but it is certain that ‘going nuclear’, is the future.

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