John Holland
@johnhollandoaktree.bsky.social
Retired Accountant. Father of two grown up sons. Married. Football fan NCFC and non-league. Into music and comedy as well
I can't work out what's happening. We have a tree in the garden which shed it's last leaves last week but has buds for next year already. Seems odd but I'm no botanist. However, I am noticing Spring flowers arriving almost a month earlier than they did 35 years ago
December 15, 2025 at 12:49 PM
I can't work out what's happening. We have a tree in the garden which shed it's last leaves last week but has buds for next year already. Seems odd but I'm no botanist. However, I am noticing Spring flowers arriving almost a month earlier than they did 35 years ago
Strangely I saw a bee in the heather last week. I haven't seen one that late before. Not sure whether it's a positive sign of survival or negative sign of the warmer climate
December 15, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Strangely I saw a bee in the heather last week. I haven't seen one that late before. Not sure whether it's a positive sign of survival or negative sign of the warmer climate
Similar to where I live but a lot cheaper than where my son lives. What it proves is that minimum wage is at the right level for large parts of the country and massively under for a number of hot spots
December 15, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Similar to where I live but a lot cheaper than where my son lives. What it proves is that minimum wage is at the right level for large parts of the country and massively under for a number of hot spots
I haven't seen trees do that but over the past 40 years I've noticed Spring flowers coming out 3 to 4 weeks earlier than they used to. Also we had hedgehogs in our garden 15th December so that's a significantly delayed hibernation. Daily temps up 1 degree over the past 20 years
December 15, 2025 at 12:43 PM
I haven't seen trees do that but over the past 40 years I've noticed Spring flowers coming out 3 to 4 weeks earlier than they used to. Also we had hedgehogs in our garden 15th December so that's a significantly delayed hibernation. Daily temps up 1 degree over the past 20 years
A lot depends on where they live. Minimum full time net wage roughly £1,900 per month. Rent in grim London flat £1,500 pm. Rent of two bed detached round here £900. Maybe the minimum wage should have a London weighting
December 15, 2025 at 9:46 AM
A lot depends on where they live. Minimum full time net wage roughly £1,900 per month. Rent in grim London flat £1,500 pm. Rent of two bed detached round here £900. Maybe the minimum wage should have a London weighting
That's the reason why my son and his friends working in the London area have to share property, it's not ideal but they are not eligible for benefits. That's part of the reason behind recent increases in minimum wage
December 15, 2025 at 9:43 AM
That's the reason why my son and his friends working in the London area have to share property, it's not ideal but they are not eligible for benefits. That's part of the reason behind recent increases in minimum wage
This is the part that needs to be made to clarify the OP. It's not the minimum wage, it's the number of hours or the loopholes that avoid the minimum wage
December 14, 2025 at 7:24 PM
This is the part that needs to be made to clarify the OP. It's not the minimum wage, it's the number of hours or the loopholes that avoid the minimum wage
Worth a listen, couldn't work out whether his message was "you are the true believers" or "I've been asked to do this and I want to make a few things clear but in a very oblique manner"
December 14, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Worth a listen, couldn't work out whether his message was "you are the true believers" or "I've been asked to do this and I want to make a few things clear but in a very oblique manner"
Having watched it, I HOPE that the message in his sermon is "bring our religion into your politics" rather than the other way round. I'm not keen on overtly linking politics and religion so the whole concept seems strange and the political motives seem unsavoury
December 14, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Having watched it, I HOPE that the message in his sermon is "bring our religion into your politics" rather than the other way round. I'm not keen on overtly linking politics and religion so the whole concept seems strange and the political motives seem unsavoury
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December 14, 2025 at 9:59 AM
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Pun intended but the CofE is a politically broad church, I've known 2 local politicians who were preachers, one was Labour who defected to SDP and another Tory who opposes the idea of merger with Reform. Anyone political comments in their preaching would have been very oblique
December 14, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Pun intended but the CofE is a politically broad church, I've known 2 local politicians who were preachers, one was Labour who defected to SDP and another Tory who opposes the idea of merger with Reform. Anyone political comments in their preaching would have been very oblique
I did a quick search last night on the subject and found a Christian new site which had a link to the speech. I intend to listen to it later today.
December 14, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I did a quick search last night on the subject and found a Christian new site which had a link to the speech. I intend to listen to it later today.
Does this breach the restrictions about political neutrality and the charitable status of the CofE?
December 14, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Does this breach the restrictions about political neutrality and the charitable status of the CofE?
I believe there is a recording available. I haven't listened it to it yet but when I do I will emal the Rev because he's either being misrepresented or is breaking the guidelines of his job
December 14, 2025 at 9:17 AM
I believe there is a recording available. I haven't listened it to it yet but when I do I will emal the Rev because he's either being misrepresented or is breaking the guidelines of his job
Believe it or not people take on different jobs and move to different houses in the same region and therefore drive along the same roads
December 14, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Believe it or not people take on different jobs and move to different houses in the same region and therefore drive along the same roads
You must have a different experience of Google Maps than I do, it seems incapable of working out the quickest route, it seems to assume that a 100kmh limit is a 100mph limit and it assumes that American road rules apply everywhere
December 14, 2025 at 9:08 AM
You must have a different experience of Google Maps than I do, it seems incapable of working out the quickest route, it seems to assume that a 100kmh limit is a 100mph limit and it assumes that American road rules apply everywhere
Apparently a storm 300 miles to the North and West made the Channel impossible to cross for 4 weeks. This is despite the fact that we've had many still and dry days in the South East in the past 2 weeks
December 14, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Apparently a storm 300 miles to the North and West made the Channel impossible to cross for 4 weeks. This is despite the fact that we've had many still and dry days in the South East in the past 2 weeks
I suspect a lot of that was down to players not being in space in advanced positions, I remember Kenny with the ball looking for options which didn't exist. Players seem to be allowed to join the attack under PC
December 14, 2025 at 8:42 AM
I suspect a lot of that was down to players not being in space in advanced positions, I remember Kenny with the ball looking for options which didn't exist. Players seem to be allowed to join the attack under PC
It looks like he was playing players in the wrong position. Two sides of the coin, we have a very young squad, still learning and there will be tough times ahead but my goodness, let's see them in 2 or 3 years time
December 13, 2025 at 3:38 PM
It looks like he was playing players in the wrong position. Two sides of the coin, we have a very young squad, still learning and there will be tough times ahead but my goodness, let's see them in 2 or 3 years time
Wright was my man of the match and I have to ask why wasn't he played in that position under Manning?
December 13, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Wright was my man of the match and I have to ask why wasn't he played in that position under Manning?
Going back to your point about a new hero, there was something Sargelike about the goals today. A bit raw but with potential like Sarge of 2022
December 13, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Going back to your point about a new hero, there was something Sargelike about the goals today. A bit raw but with potential like Sarge of 2022
I really didn't think that Manning was the problem but the way Wright played today makes me ask why on Earth didn't Manning play him in a more advanced position when we lacked creativity. Still a lot of responsibility landing on a very young squad but we're making progress
December 13, 2025 at 3:27 PM
I really didn't think that Manning was the problem but the way Wright played today makes me ask why on Earth didn't Manning play him in a more advanced position when we lacked creativity. Still a lot of responsibility landing on a very young squad but we're making progress
"Time travel exists"
December 13, 2025 at 11:39 AM
"Time travel exists"
It's hardly surprising though. The USA driving test is regarded as one of the easiest to pass and they also normalise driving at a much younger age than most countries. I'm glad that my oldest son didn't drive until he was 21 and my youngest is 19 and hasn't considered starting
December 10, 2025 at 5:55 PM
It's hardly surprising though. The USA driving test is regarded as one of the easiest to pass and they also normalise driving at a much younger age than most countries. I'm glad that my oldest son didn't drive until he was 21 and my youngest is 19 and hasn't considered starting
When VAT on school fees was proposed, we heard that the influx into the state sector of ex private students would be difficult to manage, in reality, the fall in birth rate since 2003 means that it was easy to deal with. The bigger issue is the high number of teachers retiring in recent years
December 10, 2025 at 5:50 PM
When VAT on school fees was proposed, we heard that the influx into the state sector of ex private students would be difficult to manage, in reality, the fall in birth rate since 2003 means that it was easy to deal with. The bigger issue is the high number of teachers retiring in recent years