Running in the rain. Fickle weather! Food crisis! Possible power cuts!

I lay in bed early this morning watching raindrops gather sufficient momentum to roll down the skylight windows. It wasn’t raining enough to make the kind of white noise of rain that some people need to help them fall asleep. Indeed at that point it may not have been raining at all. So eventually I decided to get up and run.  

Of course, by the time I was out there, with my raincoat over my running gear, it started to rain with a vengeance. It had clearly just been waiting for me to emerge! My feet were soon pretty wet from the water streaming down the pavement and therefore there was little point in avoiding the path through the wooded area. It was very muddy! At least, however, there were some nice views of soggy Saddleworth to be snapped!

At some point in the middle of the morning, for a brief, very brief, period the cloud shifted, some blue sky was visible and the sun even came out. That didn’t last long! The grey day resumed its course! We’ll see how it goes later.

At least we personally don’t have to worry about food prices going up, although I am monitoring prices of stuff I buy regularly and maybe will comment on it at a future date. Many are not in our fortunate position. According to the Office for National Statistics it’s poorer families, as ever, who are nearing the brunt of the crisis: 

“UK consumers are facing significantly bigger increases in the price of some budget food items including pasta, crisps and bread, new experimental data shows, as poorer families bear the brunt of the cost of living crisis.

Highlighting the challenge for low-income households, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed prices for some low-cost groceries increased at a much faster rate than general inflation in the year to April.

The price of pasta jumped the most from a basket of 30 basic food items compiled by government statisticians, with an increase of 50% from a year earlier – more than five times the headline rate of inflation of 9%the for the same period.”

Some people question the impact on poorer families, pointing out that some things such as potatoes and apples have come down in price. Jack Monroe, food blogger, has criticised supermarkets for “stealthily” removing value food ranges from their shelves. The Telegraph, it seems, published an article saying that Jack Monroe was wrong about the price rises. She has replied in her own blunt fashion: “Writing on the social media site on Monday afternoon, Monroe called out the newspaper for publishing “a steaming pile of misdirected shit” – and accused it of not paying her for articles she’d written for them two years ago.”

Somehow I think Jack Monroe might be more in touch with the people suffering most from the crisis. 

Nobody seems to be blaming Brexit for any of it. 

On top of food price rises, we might be in for power cuts. Sky News warns us:

“Under plans drawn up by ministers, electricity could have to be rationed for up to six million homes at the start of next year, mostly at peaks in the morning and evening.”

The Times follows suit:

“Six million households could face blackouts this winter because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, ministers have been warned, as they look to bolster electricity supplies by prolonging the life of coal and nuclear power stations. Look out for power black outs this winter.

Kwasi Kwarteng business secretary has asked owners of Britain’s three remaining coal-fired stations to remain open longer than planned.

The Times has been told that the government’s “reasonable” worst-case scenario, which has been drawn up by officials from across Whitehall, says that there could be widespread gas shortages if Russia goes further in cutting off supplies to the EU.”

“The last time something like this happened was in the 1970's. Will there be a winter of discontent I think so.”

It’s a good job we have a plentiful supply of candles! Perhaps ai need to look in the shed for the old camping stove, just in case! 

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!