iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Wow, a Stephen R Donaldson reference. Not on my Bingo card for today.

red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Reform is a limited company. As a director of a limited company, Nigel Farage has is bound by Directors’ Duties under the Companies Act 2006. UK company law treats intentional ignorance as: - wilful blindness - negligence - breach of statutory duty - failure to act with reasonable care

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Circle? Didn't you mean Pentagram?

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

The other post was an assumption on my part that as part of your work with the London homeless you had met with James Cleverly and were speaking from experience.

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Ah, Sorry, the term 'Merkin' was born out of when I was working with Americans. The American insisted on calling us 'Limeys', so in the spirit of light hearted banter, we started reciprocating by calling them Merkins.

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

I'm sorry, have I said something to offend you?

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Perhaps it is a personal fault of mine, but I do try to remember that *everyone* has feelings and deserves a modicum of respect. You mustn't demonise people because they have different views or culture.

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

I met him once at a conference. He was affable, slightly awkward and charming to everyone, regardless of their political tribe.

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Ah so you speak with personal experience of James Cleverly and can state categorically that he has no redeeming qualities as a person that would allow him any respect or categorisation as 'nice' even in an ironic sense.

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

James Cleverly became Mayor of London’s Ambassador for Young People in January in 2009. He helped establish the Heron Unit at the Feltham Young Offender Institution which saw a 20% drop in reoffending amongst inmates who went through that project.

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Not even for his military career and his work London youth re-offending rates?

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

In the context I wrote the post, I would have hoped you would have detected the ironic context of 'damning with faint praise'. Do you happen to be one of our Merkin cousins?

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

But surely it demonstrates my points about him not allowing himself to be distracted by ethics? I'm sure in his own mind he thought he was making a charming self-deprecating witty repost.

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

James Cleverly always seems to be a nice man with a kind of gentle charm who drifts through life untroubled by inconvenient facts and never allowing himself to be distracted by ethics.

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

I can't help thinking that Trump has painted himself into a corner on this ridiculous trade war he initiated with Canada. The world is going to watch how Trump reacts and if he missteps now, it could result in the world taking the lead from Canada.

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Poor Aunt Mabel. She still can't wear short skirts.

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

The last time I was in Edinburgh, I was struck by how all the passing buses smelled like Fish & Chip shops. Isn't that a very Scottish form of air polution?

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

I’m not necessarily against water companies having surge pricing in times of drought…. *BUT* Water companies should also be forced to reduce charges when they dump raw sewage into rivers, especially in times of drought.

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

You are incorrect in this instance. There was a very credible threat that Farage would be photographed amongst his opponentsdressed in ridiculous costumes and this humiliating photograph would be beamed across the world. That would make Farage look a very silly billy.

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

There is a group of presenters on TV that should be particularly worried about the hot weather. I’m finding the heat is making me increasingly intolerant of condescending mediocrity. Or maybe it’s just me.

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Hmmm, I suspect that Root will be stepping out into the Nottingham sunshine next June for the toss.

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Then win the toss, come on as first change bowler. Skittle the Aussies before lunch before scoring an unbeaten double century before the close...

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Oh come on now, Ian. Are you telling me that you've not been a little bit merry, a little bit bored, a little bit antsy and you have never had the urge to experiment after opening a kitchen cabinet ?

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Honestly, when a Clacton voter looks at the (record length) ballot paper and vote against the "establishment", when they look down the ballot paper, what single name on the ballot paper could be considered "establishment" and therefore be the one to vote against?

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Can't help but think that this is the equivalent of the Chairman of the Club telling reporters that the club manager has the total support of the board. Infantino will be gone before the next home game. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

bbc.co.uk

US President Donald Trump issues backing for under-pressure Fifa chief Gianni Infantino

US President Donald Trump says it would be a "terrible mistake" if under-pressure Fifa president Gianni Infantino was ousted.

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

That is what I meant by the engineering challenges of transporting water from areas of high rainfall to low by canal. Bristol is facing challenges with its own water supply due to the Mendip reservoirs being insufficient and variable water quality in the Severn due to storms and pollution. (End)

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Water will also be lost through evaporation. Moving water evaporates faster than still water because motion continually replaces the humid air at the surface with drier air, increasing the evaporation rate. Still the K&A is only 87 miles long. (12)

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Then you have the water treatment plants along the route. Yes, they do exist. And no, the standards that our nice water companies apply to those plants is no better or to higher standards than they apply elsewhere. (11)

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Then you have the beautiful agricultural lands the canal goes through. Bucolic fields of cows and wheat that stir memories of the green and pleasant land. Except for those pesky run offs from the land. But they won't cause issues I'm sure. (10)

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Then you have the issue of what is hidden in the sediment of the Kennet and Avon canal. The canal runs industrial areas between Bristol and Bath and back in Victorian times it was seen as a handy dumping ground & sewer. Still, I'm sure that flowing over the sediment won't disturb the nasties. (9)

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

So, where could you put the staging posts, for water along the way and how many would you need to ensure predictability of supply? Tricky that, especially when you get to Bath and the Caen Hill flights of locks. (8)

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

In truth the figure will have to be higher because of all those pesky pleasure boaters who keep wanting to get downhill and sending all that cool. clear, water back to Bristol where it would need to be pumped back again. (7)

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

For each pump to work, electricity have to be available to power the pump at each of the 104 uphill locks. That supply will need to provide enough power to refill the lock about a dozen times an hour. That is about 17-20 Kw. Multiply that by 104. Hmm, big number, but renewable source, hey ho. (6)

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Now between Bristol and its limitless supply of cool, clean water and Reading there are 104 uphill locks. To get water to flow uphill requires a pump. And to get water to Reading, it would require all 104 pumps to be working and staging points to store water to cater for pump outages. (5)

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Let's make another handy assumption that we have a handy water treatment plant in Reading on Thames capable of handling the extra 2,000 m³ per hour that would be the peak load in an hour for 100 000 homes (*homes* not industrial use). (4)

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Even more good news, the Kennet and Avon canal is renovated and in use as a leisure facility and it is all downhill from Crofton to Reading. I'll even make the assumption that Bristol has an unlimited water supply. (3)

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Well good news. There is a handy canal that runs from Bristol to the Thames at Reading, the Kennet & Avon Canal. Bristol mainly gets its water from the Mendip Hills reservoirs, and the River Severn, piped in via the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. (Yes, they already use canals). (2)

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

It *sounds* easy, doesn't it? Yet the engineering challenges are much greater than you expect. Let's do a case study. How about getting water from the West Country to Reading using canals? (1)

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

What us English want and probably what all Brits want is a bit of optimism & hope. To have confidence to look forward and see a better future. You Scots are lucky. You can paint a picture of hope through independence. Ironically, that was what Brexit sold us. Look where that got us.

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Yes. Very noble. This public that the PM is going to reconnect with, would they happen to be selected very carefully by his spin doctors and the consultations be made handily presented to the media in meticulously choreographed vox pops?

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Fine. What was I thinking? Canals are a fantastic idea. If we can get Jock in Inverness to set up a water pump at the bottom of Neptune’s Staircase, the taps of Greater London will flow forever.

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

All I was pointing out was that the engineering and logistics are not as simple as it sounds. I was simply trying to make you aware of the challenges. It would be far easier to consider reverse osmosis and desalination.

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

BTW the only Lake District canal, the Ulverston Canal is not connected to the network. Only the Llangollen Canal in Wales is connected to the inland network → Hurleston Junction in England → Shropshire Union Canal → Grand Union Canal → The Thames → London. Llangollen is 6 miles from the border.

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

For example. Ripon to London is: Ripon Canal → River Ure → River Ouse River Ouse → River Trent (via Humber) River Trent → Grand Union Canal system Grand Union Canal → River Thames → London

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

OK, So how do you resolve the issue of the interconnectivity of the canals? Scottish canals join inland cities to the sea. But English canals are interconnected by rivers... (1/2)

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

But, if memory serves, the most northerly point of the inland canal system that connects to London is Ripon in North Yorkshire

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red1hols.bsky.social @red1hols.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

So, why is it then there is a water shortage in London? The Thames runs right through it.

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