God's Vengence Caused the Floods! UKIP latest

It is rare that I am left speechless by a UKIP elected representative, but the thought that the floods were a divine intervention to punish David Cameron for allowing Gay Marriage is so 'off the wall' I really do not have a response.

He has now been kicked out of UKIP as part of  Nigel Farage's policy of  clearing out  "extremist, nasty or barmy" views". Surely on that criteria most of UKIP's members should now be thrown out?

UK has Europe's Highest Wind reserves (response to letter in the Daily Telegraph)

Dear Sir

I would suggest that Professor Michael Jefferson reviews the annual figures provided by DECC on whole life electricity generating costs. These tables are based on audited accounts for all forms of energy generation, and take account of both subsidies (which are removed) and decommissioning costs (which are added). (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/decc-electricity-generation-costs-2013)

The figures show that three types of generation are similar in costs, Close Cycle Gas Turbines (CCGT) at £80 per MWh, Nuclear at £90 per MWh, and on-shore wind turbines at £101 per MWh. However to maintain capacity during peak load demand requires Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGT), as they can be quickly turned on and off at a very high cost of £180 per MWh

On shore wind is therefore only marginally more expensive than CCGT and Nuclear, and all fall within the same cost band when uncertainties are considered. It has the advantage of not being subject to variations in raw fuel costs as they are free. The figures also do not take account of the environmental impact of greenhouse gas emissions, which is impacting on our daily lives as evidenced by the recent floods.

In December 2013 just over 14% of UK energy production was produced by wind turbines. Emerging technologies such as Power-2-Gas are delivering techniques to store surplus energy, to be returned to the Grid during peak load times, and wind is far cheaper than OCGT. Improvements in engineering are also continuing to drive down costs.

The UK has one of the highest wind reserves in Europe, as we are an Island, and it is folly not to exploit this natural resource.

UKIP need divine intervention

According to UKIP councillor David Silvester Britain's current stormy weather is ' divine retribution for gay marriage laws'. I am rarely lost for words, but UKIP seem to manage it every time.

Frack M'Lud? [Lords of the Manor rush to register mineral rights]

Frack M'Lud?  [Lords of the Manor rush to register mineral rights]

Whatever your views on fracking, we have a right to know who owns the mineral rights under our homes. News that peers of the realm are rushing to register their mineral rights has come as a shock to many in the East Midlands. Thousands of residents in Ilkeston are now receiving notices that mineral rights under their homes belong to the Duke of Rutland. What about the the other great estates in the East Midlands? Petroleum Exploration & Development Licenses licences have already been issued for land from East Leake through Wymeswold, to Melton Mowbray; yet few residents are aware of this. I think we have a right to know, and what compensation will be paid for the inevitable drop in house  prices.

Congratulations to Latvia

Latvia is now the 18th country to join the Eurozone. With an annual GDP growth rate of 4.6%, and a per capita income at 69% of world average, Latvia has come a long way since breaking away from the former Soviet Union. Its budget deficit is 1.2% of GDP and national debt is only 40.7% of GDP. Like other former Communist states it is outperforming the older economies of Western Europe; and collectively they are becoming the power house for European economic recovery. It is time to stop denigrating these nations and their people who had to fight both Fascism and then Communism, and instead build trade links for UK exports.

MIGRATION SHOCK HORROR LATEST

HEATHROW AIRPORT - Romanians out numbered by Daily Mail reporters


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Flash update - Heathrow flight was cancelled due to lack of passengers - sorry - next time I tell a tale about Romanians I'll check the facts - unlike the Daily Express

Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland , Estonia - my personal highlights

On the subject of Romania (Jan 1st 2014 the invasion that never happened)  I would recommend the following as my personal favourite holiday destinations:- The Bucegi Mountain range - in particular the route past Sinaia and Peles to the gorgeous old town of Brasov; superb mountain scenery as well as castles to visit - take the cable car to the top as there is plenty of very cold snow even in the height of Summer. Then on to Bran for the start of the Count Vlad 'Dracula' hype, great fun if a bit OTT. Sighisoara is a superb mediaeval town, worth a visit as is Sibui and much of the West. To the East try Iasi, we were lucky on our last visit as it was an Orthodox festival and all the ancient churches were open for the day.

GDP growth in Romania is better than the UK, and like much of Eastern Europe it is developing into a power house of economic growth. One day many will regret denigrating Eastern Europe, as we will look to them as potential export markets, and they might well remember how badly they were treated by our outrageous popular media and unreasonable politicians.

Though to be honest my favourite country to visit remains Slovakia, especially the Spis Region, and Mala Fatra mountains. Kia now build their cars there (near Zilina); and we risk losing our car industry to other countries should we choose to isolate ourselves from the biggest single market in the world.

The Buuk region of Hungary runs a close second to Slovakia for natural beauty for me - Eger for History & Castle - on to Silvasvarad for a great day out with the family, or try the little trains that run through Lillafured - then North to the Border and the cave regions of Agetelek and on to the Southern Slovakian cave regions - try the underground boat trip in the Domica cave system.

The best of Poland I think is the South East - Kazimierz Dolny for a trad tourist stop-off on the Vistula, via Lublin if you can for pure history, but pay your remembrances at the Madjanek concentration camp before you leave (and hopefully understand why the post-war generation established the 3 pillars of European prosperity, security and personal freedom - The EU, NATO and the Council of Europe). To the East you start getting the forests and open plains that lead to the Ukraine & Belarus. We really liked Zamosz, with its amazing star layout, but for Jewish History try the Jewish Museums in Vlodova - beauty and sadness combined. The road from Zamosz to Vlodova can be used to divert to the site of the Sobibor Concentration Camp, another reminder of why we must work and stay together as a Continent and not disintegrate back to Nationalism - Sobibor is famous for being the location of largest escape from any Nazi prison camp, when 600 prisoners escaped, of which only 150 made it to freedom.

The Estonian northern coast is stunning, especially the light and the beaches. Our main base was Lahemaa National Park, from which you can drive East to the Russian border at Narva in a matter of hours, picking up sites en route.