How Times have changed (pun)  This will be of staggeringly little interest to my readers  but I wanted to record the fact that for the first time in about five years I went out and bought a paper, The Times no less.

The last time I bought such a copy was back in the 70s when the front page was covered with  personal advertising. I can hardly believe what I am writing but that’s where I advertised my community venture London Village, regular meetings at the Grosvenor Hotel on my Victoria, London. ‘Meet Interesting People’ was my slogan.

Today’s edition of the newspaper, £2.80,  has 68 pages + 12 pages of insert called Times2. Just in case I’m writing for other ex newspaper readers, this is to bring you up to date with the cost of newsprint in 2025.

For the record

the Sun costs £1.10,
the I £1,
Daily Star £1.10,
Daily Mail £1.20,
Daily Express £1.70,
Mirror £1.70,
Guardian  £3,
Telegraph £3.50,
and finally … the Financial Times, £3.70

So how did I find the experience. How long did I spend reading? Am I any the wiser? Will I buy another paper tomorrow?   The problem here is that I already spend far too long on social media, specialist articles and GB news. Long story short I spent about 30 minutes.

I was motivated to buy the paper by something I saw on GBNews “The polite-isms for saying what we don’t mean”. Among the examples given where the following ones which I find very amusing and do ring true.

Sorry, could you say that again.
I completely disagree with you.

With all due respect
you are wrong, and here’s why.

I hear what you are saying.
I completely disagree with you.

Can I just squeeze past you.
get out of the way.

I’ll bear this in mind
I’ll forget about this immediately.

Not to worry
this is a disaster but I’ll pretend everything it’s fine.

It could be worse.
it’s pretty much the worst thing that’s ever happened.

Sounds fun, I’ll let you know
I’m not coming

And my favourites

‘Lets do Lunch
I will probably not see you again

Sounds interesting
sounds boring

To be perfectly honest with you
Normally, I lie through my back teeth

As for the content of today’s Times there can be no complaint about the lack of quantity and subject matter. The front page headline (3rd April 2025) was

‘Trump piles on the tariffs.

Some of the other headlines bore me to death for example
Harry’s demand for taxpayer funded security goes to court.
My response: who does he think he is?

Boujis boys return with new London super club.
My response:  who the hell are they.

Obsession with Feeling cheated goes to childhood. My response they’re trying to show a correlation between Trump’s childhood and his current behaviour. I find that of very limited interest. Early experiences create types of behaviour that you have to learn to live with and use for constructive purposes.

Heathrow bosses were told of power risk days before shut down,
My response: you mean people didn’t take any notice of early warnings, this must be the first time in history that this has happened.

Parents Support abandoned smartphones at school.
My response, when will common sense finally prevail.

Tate Britain artist admits shoplifting – but not every time.
My response: yawn

Chagos Islands deal to be rushed through in weeks
My reaction:  <groan> in how many more ways will our government tax us to the hilt and then give away the money to white elephants.

Boss sent exorcist images to worker suffering seizures wins a harrassment claim after her boss sent her pictures from the Exorcist of a girl foaming at the mouth and floating above a bed.
My reaction some people have no sense of humour

Surgeons deserve jail for gender Ops on teens.
My reaction: couldn’t agree more.

Vegan kidnapped lamb, put it in nappy and nearly killed it.
My reaction: oh no not another fanatical vegan. We can do without them. Can I just remind people that they are mainly composed of meat.

YouTuber sues over poor breast surgery
My comment:  my deepest sympathy goes to her, narcissism is a bad disease.

We are still failing the white working classes
My reaction Now tell me something I don’t know.

Russia’s women ask – where are our sons and husbands?
My reaction I don’t think the answer is too difficult

Is it worth reading the papers?

I do not expect every article to be relevant to me, some are to be absorbed word for word, some noted for future reference and some ignored. Maybe I’m just learning where the next set of fear mongering  is coming from. I wonder whether what is happening behind the scenes bears any relationship to what we are  presented with.

If we are better informed about chaos then are we wiser? Maybe I should spend more time reading in-depth material which lies at the heart of human behavior and less on the material often detritus-like that is produced.

Headlines sell newspapers but I’m not sure whether truth does.

REAL on the ground news

Very often the most interesting news, that which exercises me comes in snippets. Here is a snippet from a Yorkshire correspondent on social media:

” what about this for a disgrace that boils my blood. A lovely little village in Yorkshire called Gargrave, one of our favorites when traveling through on our narrow boat, it has everything you need for such a small village. A chip shop, an Indian restaurant and it has three lovely pubs and a co-op, one of those pubs called The Anchor Inn.

This is also a Premier Inn hotel. This hotel is now home to loads of illegal immigrants. The other day a few of these illegals entered the coop and emptied the shelves of all its alcohol and just walked out.

A local resident said that the guy behind the counter was asked ‘are you not going to ring the police or do anything?’ He said no, we are not allowed to, we have been told just send the bill to the Premier Inn and it just gets paid. He said it happens most days.

Apparently the police are aware of this and just let it happen. How the hell can that be right? Not only are we putting them up but we’re paying for all the criminality too! This is just so wrong on so many fronts”

This sort of communication which takes the temperature on how things are going is far more significant to me. I feel like in a sinking ship but at least I know.

Are you feeling sorry for yourself?

I recently wrote to a contact that I wanted to invite to a social network gathering around my birthday in June; the letter I received in reply reminded me to give thanks for my health, and stop complaining about aches and pains.

It would be so good to be able to join your birthday bash, I would have so much like to say yes, unfortunately I have a badly disabled right  leg from a motorcycle accident in 1966 that has needed constant nursing, my quadricep muscles were torn away and it was impossible to be given a prosthetic leg because of no flap. 

 I have had to drag  the old leg around on crutches for all these years. I have no knee bend and a built up surgical boot nearly 4 inches because of loss of the thigh bone. Most of the time my leg needs to be elevated because of oedema swelling and I would be away from home for too long. I occasionally go out – with help.

I wrote back

Thank you for your sobering response to my invitation. I know that you will be with us in spirit and that is all I can ask. You had the accident when I was 22 years of age so that means quite a lot of years without mobility so all credit to your spirit for surviving.

In a strange way this accident could have served as a learning tool. We will not know the truth until we pass into heavenly realms.

He replied:

Yes, I have been a long time disabled but have enjoyed many hobbies using my hands that I will tell you about when we meet up in May. In the past I have also sat behind many BNP tables in the streets and chatted to people. We foresaw the problem we now have today. I have led the most active life I could and thank God for that.