Lionel

The producers can make a female lead Bond movie but whether it will cover it's costs at the box office is another matter. Maybe, a one off female lead will hugely damage the brand, the franchise. There's a lot more at stake than just a feminist issue.

'Lets go back in time!' Wild, my arch moderniser friend, to read that from you staggers me. Are you alright, mate?

She is a Russian Jewess. Even Russian Jewish men can't live with these women let alone a poor Polish Jewish boy! Russian Jew ... think Elaine Stritch on steroids, and then some.

We can't possibly know what goes on behind closed doors. But we can know that the press is full of speculation. If we accept that as fact then ... Hitler is still alive, Elvis is a grave digger in El Salvador and worse, the EU really is the fourth Reich.

Nice to know you're fit and well and living happily ever after. Sounds a lot like my first wife. Even the Mossad couldn't stop her!

Wilf ... Wilf ... Are you still there? Two hours is a long time to be unconscious. Which A and E are you in?

No it is not unconstitutional at all. Johnson is well within precedent and therefore acting within our constitution. I might add it seems to me he's about the only one in Westminster who is acting lawfully!

Not being a social media user, apart from Surfers; not watching much TV and living far away from billboard advertising I guess I'm in the happy position of making my own mind up.

10/1 on, at least

Cruiser, that's the best comment, the most accurate rendering of our present situation. Perhaps you should write more here, a breath of fresh air. My own view, that we are headed for a civil war, has made me a most unpopular figure, but the signs are in place. It's all there awaiting a match to the blue touch paper. It will be dreadful, father against sons, mother against daughters ... this scenario may be seen all over the world where people have been betrayed by their leaders. Just wait, it's coming to a town near us all. May God have mercy on us.

Hello Peter, and a warm welcome to Surfers. I've lived and farmed on many different parts of this country, each time entering a new native community and each time finding it very difficult to integrate. I've learned the hard way, just because I live in an area don't think the locals will be welcoming or even friendly. They most certainly are not! The genuine locals around my present home are not friendly towards incomers. In fact, although born and reared in West Norfolk, 70 miles away and speaking the patois of my home area and now this present home in North Suffolk, I am still an outsider. It's taken 20 years for my wife and I to be accepted. That is a tacit acceptance based on the fact I'm an East Anglian by birth and can talk about all aspects of farming. You may be thinking about moving from Brighton to Norfolk but, beware. It could take 20 years for you to be accepted among the local folk who control parish councils and all things affecting your well being. Even local doctors will almost certainly give preference to a local chap. Moving here is one thing. Being accepted outside the local ex-pat community is another. Even for a Norfolk man it can be very hard going with people just south of the Norfolk/Suffolk border. That historic divide really is a them and us. Peter, I would give it a huge amount of thought and prayer before I moved again. To find local people in direct opposition to you and your plans is a bad place to be. Offend one and you offend them all. Nowhere to go but somewhere else. I live in a small hamlet, just 29 houses in the entire parish. It's remote. Well off the beaten track. A chap and his wife bought a house; they came from Romford in Essex. They demanded street lights, pavements and a host of city stuff. At first it was their car tyres and then... they put their house up for sale. I could go on but it will only serve to demonstrate why this hamlet is just Norfolk/Suffolk people. Peter, please be aware, moving to a rural area is not as the TV shows it. No, it can be very different. Notice, if you will, no TV show ever does a follow up. Of course, in the end it's up to you. I've given a warning note, all may not be as it seems.

David S71 ',Can you give me one example of something that will be better?' I will. British agriculture. Want to know more. Just ask.

Of course he did, take no notice of remain types. They've been either brain washed or bought. Just consider Britain in 1937'38. Many, many of the aristocracy,so called intelligentsia and their acolytes wanted to appease Hitler. Today we would call them remainers. It wasn't o long before that dark angel and his henchmen showed us their real strengths. War, rape, pillage, mass murder ... I could go on. And our so called clever ones, including royalty wanted to sign us up to that? Let's get out before the e`utopian fan gets too sticky.

And they ruined British agriculture in favour of it's far less productive European counterpart. Don't forget that bit.

Owt for nowt! Good old Yorkshire saying and so true. However, whilst some voices for the NHS say otherwise, it is over stretched in part at least by the extra burden on visitors, shall we call them. I believe it to be a truism that we only value what we pay for. That which causes us to make a sacrifice to obtain. It is true of Christianity and almost equally true of public services. The fact that less than 40% of the working population now pay tax means non-payers won't ever appreciate that which the state supplies them, including the National Health Service.

Some facts to replace rumour. Thank you.

The Electoral Commission. Mmm. Another corrupt quango, but this one showed it's hand in chasing spurious allegations against Leave organisations, thus revealing their hand. I wouldn't take too much notice of the if I were you.

Jeanmark, the fact you've pointed out is true no matter which side of the Brexit debate we examine, People say mind over matter. Well we've got the matter, where are the minds?

Quite right Vera.

Mike Harding, isn't he a sidelined comedian, or says he is a comedian? If you want to quote Germany in the 30's I'd suggest you study the entirety of history from the end of the First World War to 1939. I have. It puts a whole new complexion on todays affairs. What goes around has already come around.

Common sense and truth, both now sadly so uncommon. Thank you.

Rubbish!

Quite right, RevJ. One may only conclude this mess suits the purposes of an unseen minority with huge vested interests. No who could that be? Answers on a postage stamp, please.

Wilf, so few people these days know just what a fascist might be. It's a term being bandied about so frequently it's lost all relevance. Just to make the point, how is Bris Johnson a fascist? He's a rank and file Tory, may even be Conservative!

Even more sad is that so many seeming Brits want to sell out their country, the land of their birth, to a foreign power. Is it fair and just to term such people British? I don't think so.

Yvonne, you're quite right. I believe most of our politicians have proved an often said point. If you're no good at anything become an MP. There are some good men and women in the Commons, but not enough to make a difference.

I don't agree Wilf. That's unusual for us, don't you think? It seems fairly certain the EU has been meddling in our affairs by offering substantial bribes to feed what was in the beginning quite a small remain voice. Some of our politicians are just too pro-remain for anyone's good and I can't help but wonder why. I'm sure it's not a dedication to the welfare of this nation since the Labour lot spent ten years ruining what once was. I believe it's fair to say our politicians, unless independently wealthy, just follow the money.

It was ever thus, MrsPat. We went for 'O' and 'A" levels to give ourselves a shot at whatever it was we wanted to do. I know I did. It was a gamble, yes, but worth taking if success gave us a leg up.

Rubbish! Utter rubbish. Life is of it's very nature utterly stressful; sometimes there's no getting away from it. Sometimes we ask ourselves if it's ever going to get better. These youngsters have been given every possible advantage in education, even down to lowering the pass mark to a point where in my day it would have been a fail. On top of that a university place offered for straight F's? Yep! In yesterdays press. Stress? Do me a favour 'guv. From my rather stressful retirement I'll sit back and watch how they handle the first few years of work; competition for jobs against better educated Czechs and Poles, internships and zero hours contracts. Gotta say, when they worked their way through that lot they can look me in the eye and say they know about real stress.

No, the reference to that rallying cry - it was uttered by British Colonists in American in response to our monarchy enacting the Tea Act, taxing the stuff in America when it's citizens had no representation in England. The start of the American War of Independence. I mistakenly thought it would be recalled from our school days. Rather than reference the usual suspects as reasons for the abhorrent violence in Western countries, why not look deeply at all those nations. Unrestrained drug cultures, disenfranchised peoples, vast tracts of populations rebelling because their voice is not heard, unrestricted social media, TV, movies and computer games pumping out the unreality of hyper violence - hideous violence without a personal consequence. Little wonder the less mentally able and disaffected among our society support so called direct action. If just for once we could get away from addressing the individual's ills or deficiencies and examine the real world effects of a a liberal society gone wrong we'd be in with a chance. But, sadly, I'm not optimistic. Placing restraints on personal behavoiur is never going to be a winner at the ballot box.

Evidently, people taking the right to execute mass killings on a whim is the result of a very angry people who have no voice in the legislature which continues on it's less than popular path no matter what. No taxation without representation. We've got little real representation in either USA or GB and yet we still pay heavy taxes for the privilege. An angry people is a very hostile people. Stand by ... what happens in America happens here too!

Billy, as usual, you've nailed it. We've lost our way. We've let go all that was once good and wholesome. We no longer live by the seasons which regulated our lives, no longer have anything to look forward to ... And most certainly yes, we've lost our simplicity, the wonder of things. We have a Collie pup, to fill the space of two very old Collies we lost in June. That little mite growing up, exploring her very rural world, finding a way to get on with our 13 year old Collie ... It's all a wonder to me. And that after birthing thousands of animals on farms. It's all a wonder to see. I still live by the seasons. They give a framework in which I can live. Last week, in 35C I was cutting firewood for winter. (Standbŷ for snow and very low temperatures in January and February - yes, I can read the signs in nature around me, just as the old countrymen who taught me. I didn't want to cut wood in that heat but neither do I want my wife and dogs cold in winter. Then, I'll be very thankful for that wood. I'm very thankful for the weather wisdom given me but who now is there for me to teach? No one. Thatcher's consumerism has brought about a deep seated greed among most people, an all pervading selfishness. Today, the framework of life is made of bubble gum: it's so flexible ... what can I have next and I'll have it now thank you. (thank you is heard if you're lucky). Nothing has any personal value anymore. There's just nothing to treasure. It's everything all of the time. And people are so PC. Christmas is an offence, just give the goodies. Easter is about Creme Eggs and fluffy bunnies. Mustn't offend anyone, yet I'm not allowed to be offended. It's not winter fest it's CHRISTMAS. Our Christmas. Don't like it? Tough, P & O ferries are taking books, there's a port nearby. Yes, I guess I'm getting old too. I remember all the childhood things you write of; they shaped both you and I although we were so many miles apart. Sadly, my step grand kids saw Christmas as just, what have you got for me? Your post moved me because it came from the heart, a sad heart, just like mine.

I too agree.

Violet, yes indeed, it is a Christian religious celebration, and an important one too! But that is the point. These days almost anything is permissible by way of destroying any semblance of our festival. Business is about money, profit. These days anything, even desecrating one of the core festivals of Christianity, is acceptable so long as a profit is made. But there's another price to pay in the end and money won't buy a way out.

Doesn't seem to be an issue to me. I've always taken an International Licence with me when driving outside the UK. It was an absolute must when entering the old Soviet states of Czech and Poland just after the Wall came down. East Germany was a similar case. They were meticulous about paperwork. The slightest infringement resulted in being banged up until someone official vouched for you (usually for 200 Marlborough cigarettes!) Even with an International Licence crossing from East Germany into Czech in 1991 at Rozvadov first the Germans wouldn't let me out then the Czechs wouldn't let me in. A $10 bill can work wonders.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Not quite an on the hoof treat ... Baked Alaska with lashings of fresh cream. Decadent, delicious and very morish.

Well said Billy. Two things bother me about this sort of lunacy. First, how easy it is for a single member of the public to so greatly influence general opinion. Too easy. On social media any sort of hogwash can pass as educated, informed opinion and be generally accepted as a fact. But no one may be held to account. Second, I just wonder who will take responsibility when all this rubbish comes home to roost; being found out for what it is but far too late? If I had been caught clipping my step grandson around the ear (can't do it now, he's a full foot taller than me) then the law would step in and nail my backside to the nearest church door. But his mother following Dr Benjamin Spock or later lunacies would receive a peerage for being progress and innovative. OK, the Lords is full of that sort. What do you think Billy?

Maybe I'm old fashioned but shouldn't we be equipping our young folk to deal with the world they'll one day inhabit? Wherever we look it's not a nice world. Nowhere, it seems to me, is there a place for the tender hearted youngster, or the weak. Nowhere for the fragile soul or one raised to believe the world around them is no more menacing than Disney on steroids. Surely, adults bickering about which word ought to be used to children to mark their bad behaviour is just being more child like than the kids they're suposed to be disciplining. I'm by no means suggesting we should be turning out villainous, knife wielding barbarians, no, but surely we ought to be gearing them up to face real life, life as it is and not life as we would want it to be for them. Best idea? Sack all the experts and rely on that ancient, mystical art of, wait for it ... Common sense.

Ah, yes. Ghosts. I've replied to so many desperate people only for them to disappear into thin air. When I joined about three and a half years ago just launched into Speakers Corner and got stuck in. Much the better way. But there, what do I know? Yes, the dawg ... We were first callers to the small kennels so got pick of the litter. In just twenty four hours the pup has proved to be just the material I can work with. Stubborn, single minded, very intelligent, athletic and fearless where the older dog is concerned. The very qualities I was looking for. The old dog, as you say, will do much of the heavy lifting. We're in the chewing phase now. Last night she clamped her teeth into my big toe shedding blood everywhere. Later she bit the old dog's nose. Being a canny old boy he just lay in wait behind my chair. Pupski cockily jogged beside my chair going into emergency launch mode when he let our a roar full in her face. Yep. I think he'll do a better job training her than me.