While distractions were taking place in Westminster, a vote which caused cries of foul, resulted in most MPs voting against Labour’s motion to introduce a ban on fracking. However, despite this, the International Energy Agency warned that no company will risk investing in the development of UK shale gas projects given that “the next government is almost certain to pull the plug.”
 
Net Zero Watch Director Dr Benny Peiser said: “The evident failure to embrace fracking is destroying the most promising chances of enhancing Britain’s energy security while driving up energy costs. MPs have been playing into the hands of Vladimir Putin as Britain will now be forced to rely increasingly on costly gas imports rather than its massive shale resources.”
 
“If the Westminster bubble think the current economic and political crises is bad, they are in for a shock next year when energy bills go through the roof and businesses go under.”
“In the absence of Russian gas supplies, European countries will face an even worse energy crises after they have depleted gas they have stored for this winter”, the International Energy Agency has warned.
 
It is an outrage that Animal Rebellion activists get away with pouring milk onto the floor of high-profile shops such as Harrods, Fortnum and Mason and Selfridges.
 
Why was the QEII Dartford Crossing closed when two climbers from Just Stop Oil were spotted dangling from the 275ft high masts in makeshift hammocks?
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This closure caused huge delays while the police showed more concern for these idiots, than the rights of commuters. Why were they not just left there? How can it be right that minority extremists can be allowed to cause such chaos?
 
Meanwhile in Germany a group of nine scientists who glued themselves to the floor of Volkswagen’s Autostadt facility to protest about climate change, were left to themselves overnight as VW locked the doors, turned off the lights and heating.
 
According to the protesters VW supported their right to ‘protest’ but failed to offer them facilities to urinate whilst glued! Surely the UK could learn a thing or two.
 
At the time of filing my copy, Rishi Sunak has just been declared the new leader of the Conservative party, therefore the next Prime Minister.
 
Penny Maudant was hanging on by a whisker despite lacking experience, or the support of the majority of her fellow MPs.
 
Boris did the decent thing, and his support for Rishi is crucial. The country requires unity and stability, as do conservative members who will approve.
 
It is depressing that the stable of quality leadership candidates in all parties is shockingly empty. As they say, “too many Indians and not enough chiefs”. However, in this case we have a PM who is of Indian descent which should be celebrated. I wish him success in his mission, he certainly has a rocky road to navigate.

There are plenty of organisations, columnists and interested parties offering energy saving tips. The government is right not spend millions on what is surely just common-sense. Those capable of running homes or businesses, can make changes without being spoon fed at the Taxpayer’s expense. 
 
A recent article encouraging people to ‘adopt’ a dog from rescue centers caught my attention. However, to be accepted by most rehoming centers is well known to be almost impossible. It is easier to adopt a child or a granny than a dog.
 
Many families and single people offering to rehome are repeatedly turned away. If your fence is too low, you have children or don’t’, have other dogs or don’t, are too old or too young, you are turned away. Why do they make it so difficult?
 
Most of our dogs have been rescued. We don’t have fences, we do have other dogs, neighbours, and livestock. Our latest ‘rescue’, Daisy, is an enchanting, gentle greyhound pup who came from the National Greyhound Centre, Horley. We heard about her on a Friday, visited and met her on Saturday and I collected her on Sunday. The whole process was thorough, efficient, and caring. The team at the center were clearly all in love with her and tears flowed when she left. That was five months ago, since when they have called regularly to check she is well and happy. Two of the girls even dropped in on a Sunday in their own time; she was thrilled to see them. This is the way to run a rehoming charity, not by turning people away.
 
It is shocking that residents in Blackpool are being terrorized by a gang of 11 – 14-year-old thugs ‘running riot’, smashing windows, vandalizing property, and vehicles, and assaulting locals including the disabled. What on earth is going on? If their parents cannot control them and the police have obviously lost the plot, then surely it is time to introduce some discipline.
 
These feral children clearly respect no one, least of all themselves. William Golding’s Lord of the Flies comes to mind, which explores the dark side of humanity and children’s behavior. When left to themselves they can turn into uncivilized savages. 
 
It is perhaps time to re-introduce corporal punishment, if only to humiliate. These youths are out of control and if not taught lessons now, will end up as isolated, uneducated, undesirable adults, either dead or in prison.
 
The Prime Minister deserves better than the small minded, bitter, disloyal, anti- growth, anti-low tax, Remainers, the BBC and useless Bank of England.
Those out to destroy her, as they did Boris, a man elected fair and square by the electorate, are no doubt realising the error of their ways. God help the country.

It is sad to see long-standing successful family run businesses close down. Last week the headline on the front of The Argus was: “Goodbye after 37 Years”
 
Terry Murrell an exceptionally experienced butcher, is retiring from running Choice Cuts Organic Food Store, Preston Drove, Brighton. He is hanging up his butchers’ cleavers and apron, much to the disappointment of his many loyal customers.
 
Terry has for many years, been one of my best customers selling Ote Hall Farm grass fed Sussex Beef, in his popular butcher’s shop.
 
Terry was also remarkably kind, each Christmas donating turkeys to the Wivelsfield Better Together Christmas Day Lunch.
 
Terry’s family run business: his daughter and grandchildren were involved in running the shop, living on site, and keeping the ‘show on the road’, was special. Throughout Covid the shop remained open, going well over and beyond expectations, Terry ensured his customers were supplied with all their needs.
 
I hope Terry can now enjoy a well-earned rest and healthy retirement. I look forward in due course to hearing tales of his and his wife Sarah’s travels abroad, and for the first time in 37 years, they can enjoy Christmas.
 
The relationship between traditional livestock farmers, Ote Hall included, with private retailers such as Choice Cuts, farm shops and local and London butchers is essential. Particularly those able and willing to take whole beasts as opposed to pre jointed, processed, and packaged meat, as many butchers purchase today.
 
Most butchers either do not have the skills or are unwilling to handle a carcass. It is hard work but worthwhile if you want top quality traditional cuts and joints. Sadly, proper butchery skills will soon be confined to the history books as colleges fail to teach basic skills properly.
 
Wind and solar are well known for being ‘incompetent’ sources of energy. This is increasingly evident particularly in Europe, where supplies ‘hang by a thread’ of natural gas – exposing the whole continent to Russia’s weaponisation of energy supply.
 
The target of net Zero is at last being recognised by the UK Government to be unattainable and a positive danger to national wellbeing and security.
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Ministers must now be brave and far sighted as they set about the long haul ensuring better, safer energy supplies for the future.
 
By admitting 2050 is out of the question they must go about stabalising fuel supplies. Increasing unreliable re-newables weakens the energy sector and exposes the country to outside threats.
 
Government must re-commit to fossil fuels by granting consent for new combined gas turbines, a fleet of coal fired power stations using ultra-super critical technology, support exploration in the North Seas and onshore fracking, and scrap Sizewell C using the funds to construct small modular reactors – awarded by competition.
 
The UK needs to lead the way by showing common sense when it comes to keeping the lights on, the ‘wheels turning’, and Putin firmly in his box.

I was asked what if anything keeps me awake at night. My answer - Slugs!
 
We drilled the barley and just as the plants started to grow, along came the pesky things. They have clearly been waiting just below the surface ready to munch their way through the juicy stems of the tender plants. They just love this warm damp weather.
 
A few ‘slug traps’ soon give their presence away. The treatment adds to our costs but unless we act quickly, they can destroy a field overnight, which would require resowing at considerable cost.
 
The government is promising lower taxes, and the energy price freeze. Cancelling the NI rise, and next April’s rise in corporation tax, essential for business and to encourage foreign investment.
 
More housing, easier fracking, cheaper childcare, changes to stamp duty and self-employment rules, and lighter regulations, including scrapping much of the red tape controlling farmers day in and day out.
 
They also plan to increase the number of seasonal agricultural workers. We already knew the British don’t ‘do’ skilled farm seasonal work. So, we must once again rely on smart, motivated, and very capable Europeans as we have done for decades.
 
The plan to drop the top rate of income tax would have encouraged top earners to declare their income in Britain, which, along with bankers’ bonuses, would have paid for itself and boosted the economy, helping to make London increasingly attractive to foreign investors. Why would anyone prefer Labour knowing they always wreck the economy?
 
Those yet to be convinced that the UK transport system can depend solely on battery-operated vehicles powered by electricity should look away now. A huge lithium factory is to be built in Teesside, thus reducing our dependence on China. That is of course good, but I am still to be convinced that the country will not grind to a halt if we are solely dependent on electricity to keep the lights on and the wheels turning. 
 
It will surely be decades, if at all, before the combustion engine becomes redundant and confined to the history books.
 
Why do people move into the countryside, and then complain about church bells, cows mooing, tractors working at dawn, and cockerels crowing?
 
Pig farms have been shut down when residents in brand new housing developments have complained about the smell. Why should the countryside be sanitized to accommodate people trying to urbanize the countryside? Surely, they should stay away if they don’t like the natives.
 
The RSPCA is threatening to ban greyhound racing. Why would an organisation that’s mission is to ‘ensure animals have a good life’, stop these dogs from doing what they love? Greyhounds are born to run and chase anything which moves, so why stop them? No doubt if they are successful with this latest move, their next target will be horse racing.