Wolf Winship

I have written about the recent hot spell of weather in UK and Europe. I know a lot of people are still affected by the heatwave and even wildfires. You have my sympathy. As do the farmers, whom I feel for the most.  But in my part of England we have had cloud and even rain for a couple of days now.  So please excuse me while I bask in the joy of taking a walk in the cool of the afternoon and feeling the wet of the spattering rain on my bare arms. It's refreshing to say the least. It isn't a down pour but rather that gentle wispy but on-going kind of rain - the kind you get regularly in Ireland and the lovely locals stand around outside, chatting to one another without the least care. I'm enjoying the change now because I suspect it is but a brief interlude and we will soon enough have the heat again. I'm wishing you all a bit of the same. Any respite is good. Wolf Winship 

 My thoughts go out to the hundreds  thousands of people affected by the wildfires in France, Spain and parts of Britain.  It is a tragedy on a grand scale. I pray for everyone's safety, including the fire fighters and emergency services.  Significantly, in terms of global warming, out of all seven continents of the world, Europe is warming up the fastest.   This summer alone, I have noted that there are some days when parts of France, Italy and Spain are actually way hotter than Mumbai, India or Nairobi, East Africa, or the Canaries with temperatures in main land Europe exceeding 37 Centigrade (98.6 Fahrenheit).  I keep saying (and I'll say it again): This is not a one off. It's becoming a regular thing now, worldwide. We've got to be better prepared for this; prepare for the heatwaves, the water shortages and the wildfires. Wolf Winship 

  Congratulations Spain!  On Winning  The World Cup 2026 Football As I live there five months of the year, I am especially happy  Wolf Winship

 I can't bear to watch Andy Burnham and listen to him drone on about... Well, nothing actually. What are his plans for the country? Does he know? The United Kingdom hasn't even elected him. This very fact should grate against his soul every time he looks in the mirror at the smarmy geezer grinning back. Andy Burnham - like so many people in politics today - wants only to be Prime Minister and the perks that come with the job. I don't hear him saying he CARES about BRITAIN. Rather, he goes on and on about the Labour party and how much he cares about it! Frankly, that disgusts me. And here is the very simple reason why: We, the good people of Britain, care about this great nation more - much much more - than we do the Labour party. Infact, we don't give a toss about that party or any party. Why the hell would we? All we want is a Real Leader (from any party) to Lead the country to better times. More Productive times. This country should be Excelling. Instead, we seem to b...

 Did any one actually watch England play France last night?  I didn't even bother. I mean, come on! We can't watch our players give their all just to come third, at best...because coming Third was never our aim! We went to WIN!  The pub near me which was packed for the game against Argentina some days ago, was not showing the game as it was predicted no one was going to turn up anyway. And quite rightly, no one showed.  I caught the result of yesterday's game late last night on the news and I thought: meh, so what? I also thought: why the hell didn't they play like that against Argentina - the game that mattered like anything to us?! Disappointing doesn't even come close.  I understand fans didn't show up at the airport for some of the players that returned today.  That says it all. Oh well. Rest assured I'm not going to mention it again. It's too unpleasant.  Wolf Winship 

So Nigel Farage has resigned over the scrutiny of gifts given to him. How naive of him to think that in 2026, he wouldn't be put under the microscope for that (and anything else, for that matter).  It's quite right that he's resigned. Why do I say that? Well, it's only going to get tougher from here on for him and if he can't stand the heat now, then he should definitely get out.  (As a side note: Over a week ago, the word on the grapevine with people in the know, was that Farage was leaving anyway. Make of that what you will.)  I guess Nige has discovered that being a British MP isn't such a doddle as being an MEP in Brussels.  And the unfortunate people of Clacton are discovering a vote for Farage (and Reform) is at best a wasted vote and at worst, like shooting yourself in the foot. I doubt they will vote for him or Reform again. They need, like all of Britain needs, a real leader.  Sadly, there isn't one leader of calibre in the UK at present. There hasn...