Dictators and Dinners

I know, not the subject you want to start a good blog but let us get it out the way and enjoy the rest.

Putin wins again but he still has to live in a bunker, Putin has a bunker, yep, it is not just a bunker-like Hitler had. This is a state-of-the-art luxurious bunker. Actually, he has two, one for his wife and family and one for his current concubine, young, maybe mid-twenties, not there by choice. 

Getting back to his bunker. The £1bn palace is located on a verge overlooking the sea and takes up a 190,000 square-foot area. It even has its own church, where he watches his family and members of his inner circle, worship his statue. It has an ice rink, casino, only Putin wins, and a hookah lounge. Under this huge palace is a state-of-the-art bunker. Putin does not use a mobile phone or the internet, meaning his knowledge of events is filtered via the secret services - and what he watches on state-controlled Russian TV. Hang on, he tells the State TV what to say, no wonder he does not need the internet.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/putin-secret-bunker-black-sea-b2342623.html

Matilda’s godchild, Mary, needs to lose the headbands, what is that all about? I declare she needs to scrape her knees, live and get to know her boundaries. Matilda has had a few scars in her life and

Gemma needs to embrace the Kilometer’s ethos. Brian knows full well the dangers and has survived, just, he works for Amazon. (Names have been changed to protect something)

In my last blog, I had a little rant about some cultures and my esteemed brother sent me a slight rebuke, point taken and I edited that section out. Good to know he is still reading my blogs and sharing them amongst his friends and family. I will be rewriting that section, taking into account the sensitive nature of the subject, hopefully, the new version will be more accommodating to friends and family. History can be a cruel master, I like the dreams of the future better than the past. Do not fear the past, but dream a better future.

Stand strong and remember your family, given patience and understanding, will only grow wiser.

Things for me to be getting on with include reminding Susan to do a clear up and clean up of the garden in preparation for the coming spring. Thinking about when to tidy up my garage and also, almost forgot, get my wheel alignment checked on my car. I was walking back in the rain from my swim this morning, yes, this morning, Susan is away and the hound has to be walked. Anyway, back to the soggy walk, I noticed Micheal’s ex-employees were doing the preparation work to install the RNLI lifeguard hut on Sandbanks beach, where has the time gone? Looking at the deserted beach I did wonder if they are not a little premature with this project, it is only a handful of cold water swimmers at the moment and we all swim at the Haven beach.

In case you were wondering, the image below clearly shows how busy the beach can get and there is barely room to swim. Sea temperature today was 8.4 degrees C, warming up yet, no, but we can always look on the positive side, there was no sewerage discarded in the harbour. Nasty things discharged and they do tend to be pulled out to sea with the tide going out. Horror upon horror, they float by while swimming.

Another thing to remember, Matilda did promise to clear out the loft. They do not have a loft and really enjoy storing all the out-of-season clothes in ours. Matilda is jetting off down under this weekend, I will remind her when she returns, a nice little task for her to be getting on with in the spring. Is it just me or are those shoes quite large?

Talking of Matilda, she washed up tonight and then booked tickets for their trip to America before bidding me a fond farewell, with a hug. She is off to her home town and then she is having an operation. Scary times and let’s all hold her hand through this challenging period of her life. She is strong and we will be Waltzing Matilda within no time. 

Weekly Menu

The whole world seems to be guessing what our weekly dinner menu is. Well, to put the records straight;

Monday - Pasta and salad

Tuesday - Chicken Thighs, homemade chips, broccoli and butternut squash.

Wednesday - Steak, French fries, peas and egg.

Thursday - Fish, sweet potato and a green vegetable of any nature.**

Friday - Beef and Chicken Burgers on this traditional Burger Night with a Charcuterie board with fresh, warm baguette and baked camembert cheese. 

Saturday - Curry or Leftovers. Sometimes curry is made from the leftovers, how clever is that?

Sunday - Roast Pork or Gammon with all the trimmings.

** Matilda has put forward a motion that we change Thursday from Fish to Mexican, Enchiladas etc. This has been put to a panel of experts and we expect their decision by the end of July. This does have an effect on a growing international audience, so must be deliberated with caution.

Now onto the most amazing scoop, Angela, my favourite daughter is now a master of education. Yes, she has a master's degree in teaching all those mommy’s little darlings how to read and write. I do declare, that she should start with those mommy’s, they are a handful and they arrive in their fancy cars and think they know everything. Transpires, they need someone like Angela to help them, to help their children to do their homework. 

Angela has successfully raised three of the most obedient children, Lily is my favourite granddaughter and managed to study for a Masters's Degree. Words fail me and as I have just learnt this news and after 2 glasses of wine, you must excuse me as I am not as proficient in my praise. Angela, the whole GMSBlog association applauds you and we are waiting for the news of a possible PhD. As of now, we will address her as Master Angela Dickens of the County of Australia. One day she will be Dr Angela Dickens, teacher extraordinaire and honorary member of the County of Dorset. What an achievement. Quick round of applause for Ang to Pang, great achievement and we are all so proud of you.

Moving on, Susan has just returned from China and has quietly confessed to me that if she sees a bowl of noodles again she will kill someone. It turns out the Chinese are not into rice as much as we believe, no, noodles are the best. For breakfast, lunch and dinner, noodles are a staple part of the Chinese dynasty’s diet. Eaten in pots, on eggs, in water with ginger and chilli. They can do most things with noodles, some we will not mention in this family blog.

Talking of Susan, one day she was complaining, she had messed up at work. I said to her, embrace your mistakes and she gave me a hug. So sweet.

If anyone wonders I would like one of these t-shirts for my birthday.

Just a final note about Brexit and “take back control". The new passports are now being issued by the home office and it is made by a Franco-Dutch company in Poland using Italian software to print Spanish ink onto Finnish paper. You couldn't make this stuff up!