It’s fairly obvious here in St. Mary on the Wold that the mainly middle income, middle management, public sector workers have had, so far at least, a quite reasonable lockdown, with many private-sector middle management types also still on furlough. The area has been fortunate in so far as yet having few ‘cases’ of the virus, so life has gone on much as normal can be in these times.
Audi Avenue is busy with contractors doing the sorts of things that contractors do; large home extensions abound, now with the must-have dark grey framed patio doors across almost the entire elevation. How that squares with our latest insulation criteria and our worries about using fossil fuels is not really clear. Homes so endowed all seem to have owners not worried about the cost (or projected cost) of energy as they supplant that in many cases by burning wood imported chips or wet logs in their must-have, but now so last decade, wood-burning stoves guaranteed to pollute the air with smoke. Which is apparently carcinogenic, containing sooty particles released into the atmosphere and, as research has shown, into the home.
Not that any of that appears to worry many people despite research telling us that burning wood and coal releases fine particulate matter called PM2. which is experts say the most worrying form of air pollution for human health and not good for either their long-term health, their children, or their neighbours.
At any rate, the government announced last year that although it is not banning wood or coal-burning stoves, the sales of bagged traditional house coal will be phased out by February 2021, as will sales of wet wood of less than 2m cube which will have on larger amounts display advice on how to dry it before burning. The sale of loose house coal direct to customers will end by 2023. How many of us remember the coalman calling?
This is all very well for homes in densely populated urban areas but makes little sense in sparsely populated rural areas where many residents are more than unhappy, seeing it as an attack on rural families. But then, as rural communities find themselves providing more and more land for housing, much of it high density, one could be forgiven for thinking that this government wants to burnish its green credentials and that some restrictions, if not an outright ban, may well be on the cards.
What is becoming more and more evident is that ‘country life’ in the form that many would think of it, is under attack as never before. More houses, fewer green fields, more people – often from urban areas with a hazy idea of how life with what used to be called ‘country folk’ is lived, more traffic and – unnervingly – more crime, high-value farm equipment is targeted by thieves. Now, according to police, ‘county line’ drug operatives have moved into rural areas.
It’s a far cry from ‘The Archers’ of Walter Gabriel of years ago and their everyday country folk stories. These days, it’s more likely to feature people trafficking, drug lines, and rural crime along with domestic disputes. These days few residents actually work on the land or for local companies, and many are retired (often early) or commute to jobs in urban areas.
This means that many villages are almost deserted for much of the day during the working week. Children are transported to schools by parents in towns often several miles away and then drive on, usually to jobs in the same area. As far as the Wold is concerned, most middle-income jobs tend to be in the few local private sector companies but more often in the public sector in the form of local government, the NHS education, and emergency services.
It’s interesting to talk to neighbors and acquaintances in the Wold, just how many are retired from these institutions and just how many have children not living locally but who, when able and old enough, have moved to the city or at least urban life. Asked why – and this is purely anecdotal, of course – they will often tell you, that as they grew up, friends moved away, or they wanted to live ‘where it’s at’ in the city, or mostly because although they would, probably given the chance as they grow older and raise families of their own, if they can afford it, like to move back, and live fairly close to mom and dad.
Of course, they will have to find a fairly hefty down payment deposit on a home in the Wold as the average cost is around five hundred thousand. One of those delightful new country homes advertised and built on several greenfield locations all seem to be between five hundred and fifty thousand to a whacking eight hundred thousand pounds – and as local estate agents will tell you – they are mostly very quickly sold off the plans.
It’s noticeable that sales were very quiet during the tiered lockdown, but houses continued to sell – not always quickly – but completion seems still to be very slow in some cases. Maybe the economic effect of lockdown three is starting to have an effect, and people are nervous about the future. Who knows? But the signs are there that the present situation of working from home and banking all the ‘savings’ or being furloughed on generous terms may be coming to an end. Certainly, reports show tens of thousands of jobs are at risk, many in the entertainment, hospitality, and service sectors. As we all know, high street retailers have had a particularly difficult time with many going out of business.
It’s a bit gloomy for many, let alone those living here out in the sticks. One wonders if, at the moment, rumours of tax hikes, negative interest rates, and inflation of fuel and heating prices are starting to worry people. It’s difficult to say when the mainstream media carries stories about a spending bonanza on the horizon as lockdown ends, and people begin to spend their lockdown savings on whatever takes their fancy, from new cars through to summer holidays. Maybe the mainstream media has not yet noticed increasing unemployment, thousands living on universal credit, and lengthening queues at food banks, time will tell,
Maybe these working from home and comfortable furloughed people are confident that things will spring back to normal and that ‘their job’ won’t be at risk. One could surely be appalled at their optimism, but somehow, to me, it’s not well-founded, or maybe I’ve just been vaccinated against optimism.
Editor’s Note: This is Part 1 of a two-part series that concludes tomorrow.
Surely there is a National sickness pervading this land……..a few insane hundreds are disputing the creation of A SINGLE COALMINE,
which is a minuscule but very essential part of our future National Power structure if we are to survive in any meaningful way into the next century.
Shock and horror from the few thousand Green morons, who have probably not done a hard day’s work in their lives…….
WHERE ARE THEIR STRIDENT COMPLAINING VOICES AND DEMONSTRATIONS ABOUT THE FACT that China have THREE THOUSAND OPERATING COALMINES AND CURRENTLY BUILDING SEVENTEEN MORE?
We and many other countries are simply becoming satellites for Chinese over-polluting industries
Infact we have just sanctioned probably the biggest Embassy in the world , in London, of the Chinese Communist Party……costing .£750million.
Now, I wonder why they should spend such an enormous amount on an Embassy in our country ……?
My view is that everything dystopean is now in train. Nothing can now stop it. It’s no longer worth trying. For every word we may utter or write here, there are a thousand just know better. All that reality has to offer is not convenient.. The people believe that industry ( Which is how they dignify big business , who they mistakenly believe invents things and progress ) will somehow solve the problem and simultaneously pay good wages.. What the Chinese think they are doing I have no idea. Although self interest now tomorrow or next century, must be being considered. But I would suggest that only the Chinese will be considered. Every day we continue to try and fight nature with pitiful vaccines is just kicking the can.
I have dozens of suggestions for what our government SHOULD be doing. — No sign of anything at all even as an insignificant step to avoid alarm. I have been waiting for ten years now. Although I have noticed Individuals doing odd things that make sense so maybe there’s hope via other chanels.
However we know they are working on how to increase taxes, and also how to build a lot of houses. So we know they’re busy.
How can we hope that those self-satisfied elitists in Parliament can possibly lead this country to a successful future?
Leeches feed off the body of the victim……….they only EXTRACT the life-blood of the victim.
I repeat….25% of them are Barristers/Lawyers. ONE working-class Member.
Millions of working-class people are suffering unbearably and more than most due to the effects of the Covid Virus ………..AND the mishandling of it.
In these pages I hear the frustrated voices of those who are CLEARLY ‘of the Right’……and hear their plaintive cries for the day when they may see true representatives for their cause………..sadly? A pipe-dream. Not a chance in Hell.
Yes, new Parties HAVE emerged who suit the mood of ‘the Right’.
And where will it end?
It will NOT lead to any appreciable amount of power……..In fact the more Right Wing Parties there are, then the chances of achieving that power we so fervently crave actually decreases.
My previous pleadings have fallen on deaf ears……..BUT,
Unlike, it seems, my readers ( those misguided few, for I have hear very little or no support!) , I am under absolutely no illusions…….until and unless there is a National and boldly organised coalition of The Right throughout our country NOTHING WILL CHANGE. NOTHING!
Power is there for the taking,………more especially at this time in our history, due to the ineptitude of those who currently populate Westminster, the seat of power.
How long will we continue to suffer from the insanity of those proven cretins in Westminster who govern us……..the opportunity for Freedom, self-determination and the breaking of the EU shackles which our country voted for ………is gone……..wasted by the queers, lawyers and other self-serving arrogant ‘junk’ that we, like leemings, blithely put our trust in TIME AND TIME AGAIN……only to be systematically betrayed.
Meanwhile? Acquiring power and influence? Dream on………I suppose there is no harm in dreaming …….but it is as clear as day that self-deception is a favourite pastime of the delusional Right,……..”…….We are such stuff – as dreams are made on;”……
Re burning wood.
The problems arise when the wood is wet and poorly designed stoves. (One factor is glass doors, no stove with a glass door can be efficient), There are lots of other factors too. Plus lots of dangers.
The proposed government regulations concerning selling only dry wood are a waste of time, dry wood can soon become wet, few people store their wood properly. The twee little dog kennels you see about the place are a waste of space.
Houses.
I can only see a property price crash in the nearish future. It’s a case of supply and demand. Lots of new houses being built..
Lots of forclosures looming as employment crashes after the furlough ends. Also the stamp duty holiday to end shortly. (may even be increased).
Now is the time to downsize IMV before the crash happens.
The Green Madness will destroy life as we know it; probably as intended since there is no scientific justification of it that doesn’t require manipulated and deliberately falsified “data”. Real pollution is a different matter which has undoubtedly been increased on a world basis by exporting our key industries to China.
We must stand up to it or consign our descendants to a truly Orwellian future.