Rickety Ramshackle

Rickety Ramshackle past, present...Future?

2011-12-19T15:19:00.009Z

Rickety Ramshackle 1, Bradgate, Leicestershire

Rickety Ramshackle began as a small business in Bradgate Park, Leicestershire, deep in the heart of Charnwood Forest. We opened our small, open fronted, wooden hut one snowy Good Friday, selling a range of craft items and gifts, alongside Tracey's artwork.

The success of that little hut spurned us on to open our first retail store, in the Welsh coastal town of Barmouth, in Snowdonia.

Rickety Ramshackle 2, Barmouth, Wales

After three years we moved to Cornwall to persue new ventures for ourselves, and our children.

However, in 2002 we followed our hearts and returned to Wales, where we opened our third Rickety Ramshackle, coincidentally in the exact same building as that second incarnation. I guess it was fate!

Rickety Ramshackle 3, Barmouth, Wales

That store was incredibly popular and very successful. However, we closed in 2007 to pursue our artistic careers - Go take a look:

www.RobThomasWriter.co.uk

and

www.TraceyJayneThomas.co.uk

But that's not the end of the story. Because there's a longing.

Rickety Ramshackle was enjoyed and loved by so many people, can we REALLY let it disappear forever?

Watch this space, or check out

www.RicketyRamshackle.co.uk

Australian Election Results Special

2010-08-24T20:26:00.001+01:00

The Brains Behind The Coalition

2010-08-19T11:26:00.001+01:00

He's Fouling Our Country!

With thanks to Hastings Borough Council

The World is NOT over Capacity

2010-05-27T18:41:00.002+01:00

Cameron & Clegg's Historic Balls Up

2010-05-26T16:51:00.001+01:00

Digital Image Manipulation by Rickety Ramshackle

'Artificial life' breakthrough announced by scientists

2010-05-20T19:20:00.001+01:00

'Artificial life' breakthrough announced by scientists

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/science_and_environment/10132762.stm

Old news, I thought...

The See-Saw Psyche

2010-05-20T13:07:00.003+01:00

Developing upon Freud’s trinity of the psyche, I would like to propose a notion which I term the ‘See-Saw Psyche’:

Repression of unconscious primary drives and their physically manifest base traits is governed by adherence to conventional social and cultural values.

Consequently, should an individual’s observation of such conventions and value systems diminish, there follows a reflective, reflexive augmentation of primary drive force expression-often to the level of prurience. It may indeed be a pro-rata rate of exchange.

You may recall, as a child, riding a see-saw. Whilst in the air, it’s often difficult to muster sufficient force to return to the ground. However, once sufficient energy is exerted, momentum takes control and the balance promptly tips. This is so within the See-Saw Psyche.

Once the action of the psyche begins to tilt sufficiently in one direction, a psychokinetic momentum takes control, accelerating the psychic drive with increasing cogency towards its alternate expression.

Furthermore it is interesting how within such a scenario, no necessity exists for conscious, proactive inclination towards libidinous activity. I believe mere rejection of normative social values (i.e. not in direct response to primary drive influence) is sufficient to initiate psychokinesis, driving the individual towards a subordinance to (sometimes-extreme) social deviancy, effectively by default.

Consider the rejection of social values that establishes subcultures. Many are marked out by their affinity with libidinous gratification; ‘Sex, drugs and rock and roll’ being a defining anthem for innumerable subcultures of the past decades.

Within this thesis, as an individual increasingly moves away from observing societal values, psychic balance is maintained through greater cohesion with the Id. Most people, no doubt, oscillate between degrees of domination by each force, the ratio of manifestation to latency of each internal drive, dependent upon innumerable psychosocial influences.

It seems that Western society may presently be undergoing a moment of acceleration towards the libidinous. We can no longer accept a delay from gratification; we must have everything straight away.

Moreover, we always want more. People ‘gorge’ on food until obese, and they gorge on drugs. This is complemented by the media, through which we gorge on more channels, and more programmes now serialised daily, rather than the traditional weekly. Furthermore, every commercial success is marketed far exceeding reasonable potential for consumption.

Has the psychokinetic momentum gathered a pace now which is unstoppable?

Great Britain...

2010-05-19T10:30:00.001+01:00

The Country with an Arse for a Prime Minister

Image Manipulation by Rob Thomas

Your Licence Fee Pounds Hard at Work...

2010-05-13T14:47:00.002+01:00

i-aye Sir

2010-04-03T19:15:00.004+01:00

This Blog entry has been moved to...

http://abergabber-reviews.blogspot.com/

The Importance of Being Harry

2010-03-26T10:39:00.001Z

This blog entry has been moved to...

http://abergabber-reviews.blogspot.com/

The Truth Will Out...

2010-03-25T11:26:00.002Z

No words today, the picture says it all...

Image manipulation by Rob Thomas

What I reckon...

2010-03-24T09:53:00.002Z

Image manipulated by Rob Thomas

Just a brief word, I've launched a new blog - http://abergabber-reviews.blogspot.com/ - where I'll be reviewing Movies, books, web sites, shops, restaurants, hell, anything that I've got an opinion on that I think may be of use to you. And, inevitably, it will also include some opinions which are of no use to you whatsoever, but if you read the blog, you'll get them like it or not, so there!

I'll be posting here again later today, just thought you'd like to know about my latest blog.

Lay Down and be Counted...

2010-03-15T16:51:00.011Z

There's nothing quite like a British education.

I see that Scots schools are now giving teenagers lessons in sleeping.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8567407.stm

Wake up, pay attention, YES, I said SLEEPING!

I assume this is just a precursor to a whole raft of new subjects to be taught to teenagers...

GCSE Moaning all the time

GCE 'O' level in keeping your bedroom in a disgusting, unhygienic state.

'A' level slovenly mumbling and feet dragging.

National diploma in doing sod all.

National certificate in demanding respect whilst giving none yourself.

GCSE head stuck in games console.

'AS' level in talking like a moronic twat.

Diploma in not giving a shit about anyone but you and your 'mates'.

The new academies will be offering two new diplomas in failing to grasp anything from any other lessons and being essentially very very thick.

Of course, those that pass two or more of these new courses are automatically entitled to join one of the new apprenticeships in extended inappropriate behaviour in town centres.

Makes you proud, eh?

Gordon Brown is Well Sick

2010-01-12T11:24:00.005Z

I aint dead sure who that Gorden Brown iz but e iz defo well Sick:)

he sez Im gunna get a wicked new Laptop an broad band an evryfink so me n me matez can go on Facebook an Myspace an stuff. I wonna join some groups I seen on there like 'i am a fan of frowin dog turds at old ladies' an also wot will be defo Sick iz checkin' out the new bandz an' downloadin loads of shit an stuff!!!!!!

o yeh sweeeeeet i get to check owt loads of free porn!!!! :)

Fank U gordon!!!!!!!! :)

See the full article about Gordon's excellent £300,000,000 investment here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8449485.stm

Sweet Home, What a Bummer

2010-01-05T10:02:00.024Z

Home Sweet Home

So, 2010. What do you have in store for me, for my family and friends, for anyone on this slither of dirt we call home?

Well, those of you thinking of purchasing a property for the first time in the UK, perhaps a home for your future, may want to think again. Because I doubt it will happen for very many of you.

When it comes to property, Britain is a combination of a befuddled Alzheimer's patient, and an arrogant, self-righteous, property developer.

Take this current economic crisis. What do we use as an indicator of the ebbs and flows of the financial downturn? House prices. It is plain and clear on the pages of the press, broadsheets and tabloids alike, and on the lead stories of the BBC's News 24 and it's competitors, that house prices falling is 'bad', and any rise in house prices is leaped upon as a sign that good times may be just around the corner. That fabled 'economic recovery'.

Then along stumbles Mr Alzheimer's to pass on the good news that at last, at last, property is affordable to first time buyers in 39% of the UK.

Now, you can bet a few pennies, I'm sure, that Mortgage lenders have not got more generous this past twelve months. And you can be sure as hell that wages haven't risen. So house prices have clearly dropped. Yippee! People can actually afford to buy a house! No, wait, that's a bad thing. Isn't it? ...What?! I'm confused. Put me in a cupboard and feed me porridge every hour.

Of course, it's not really that good news. It turns out that by 'affordable', the housing market analysts mean that first time buyers, where both members of a couple are working full time on the average wage (NOT the minimum wage, get back behind the checkout you lot) can afford to buy the cheapest property in their area, IF THEY HAVE A £30,000 DEPOSIT.

I was going to ramble on at length in this blog about why and how all of that information adds up to a completely ludicrous, hopeless, depressing and sad situation, with massive implications for the future of my children, your children, this whole mess of a nation. But I'm not going to. Because it's SIMPLE. And if you can't see that, then I'm clearly wasting my breath.

Don't even get me started on rented accommodation. Other countries embrace that system. Not here. We treat tenants as second class citizens. No, worse, as a society, a culture, we have normalized the inadequacy of those in rented accommodation to such a degree that we don't treat them that way, we believe they are second-class.

Oh, it's okay when we watch re-runs of 'Friends' and dream of living in loft apartments like the gang. But here, well we don't think of our tenant neighbours with quite the same level of warmth.

Apparently, renting a home is 'throwing money away'. Good point.

So, all of you people out there who want to raise a family in the UK have to follow a few simple rules:

1) Get a job with a wage well in excess of the average wage (Again, get back behind your checkouts you lot, I obviously don't mean you). For 2009, the average WEEKLY earnings for full-time male employees was £531. For women, £426. To save you grabbing for a calculator, that's a joint income of around £50,000 a year.

2) Be prepared to both continue in full-time work. Probably forever. A tried and tested system since the days of our beloved Thatcher, guaranteed to create a nation of caring young people.

3) Save up £30,000. More, preferably. Not sure where you'll live whilst doing this bit. With Mum and Dad I suppose. You can't rent as that's just throwing money away. And tenants are scum-bags.

4) Buy a house. Well done.

5) If you want to raise a family, whatever you first bought will be too small. So, generate a craving for a continual rise in house prices, so that you can profit from the sale of your first home so you've got more to spend on your next home. Obviously that house would equally have risen in price too, so I'm not sure how that works. But we keep being told it's good, so, it must be. Right?

6) Now comes the easy bit. Just keep working, both of you, forever.

Now, where's the problem?

Nurse, how long before my next medication?

If your leaving my blog, please exit via one of the ad links - Every little helps!!

Criminal Justice

2009-11-14T18:46:00.007Z

Image Manipulation by Rob Thomas

As is often the way on a lazy Saturday, I found myself cradling yet another tepid coffee and watching News 24 performing it's never-ending ludicrous loop of abject absurdity.

A great deal of broadcast minutes today were occupied by the story of how many communities are clubbing together and purchasing the services of private security companies to patrol their streets.

Of course, the question being asked, by the BBC if nobody else - was 'Is There A Role For the Private Sector in Policing?'

http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=7233&edition=1&ttl=20091114185218

Now, this might seem a big question. So I thought I'd help out.

The primary focus seemed to be that these rent-a bobbies have no 'powers'. The media always refer to it as 'powers' like they're superheroes or something. I assume what they mean is 'authority'.

Now, today's streets are, often almost exclusively, patrolled by 'Community Officers' of which there are undoubtedly some excellent examples out there (There are, I've met some of them).

However, these community officers also have no 'powers'. Do they?

Well they do actually, they have the same 'powers' as you and I.

Did you know that if you know a crime has been committed, and you have reasonable cause to suspect someone of that crime, you have a 'power' of arrest?

So, if some arse is in your front garden, nicking your kids bike, or if some yob is spray painting the wall of your local train station, etc etc etc, then you, or anyone else, can arrest them. Including a private security guard.

I wouldn't necessarily suggest that everyone does leap in and try to arrest an offender. However, I also know that the time honored process of phoning the police can be either a waste of time at that moment (They'll not turn up, turn up late or do virtually nothing when they do arrive), or it can be a bigger wast of time later. (They'll fail to charge the person after keeping you at the station making statements for longer than the offender, they'll do a deal with the offender to clear up some other crime (Oh yes they do, I've been there when it happened) or they'll 'caution' them. The old wrist slap. Then, of course, if it does go further, the Crown Prosecution Service or the judiciary will arse it up in a quite spectacular fashion. There are many stages to justice in the British system, and at every one of those stages the process can and does get arsed up to varying degrees.

So, is there a role for the private sector in policing?' Well, that's up to you.

In case it helps, I'll just give you an example of our state provided criminal justice system at its best:

A woman convicted of murder has gone on the run during an escorted visit to the shops in south London. (That's her at the top of this article)

Patricia Gillette, 41, from Streatham, south London, was detained indefinitely in 2007 for killing Mark Murphy, 38, at his home in Streatham in August 2006.

Gillette, who was being held at Bethlem Royal Hospital, was on a visit to shops in West Wickham High Street, Bromley, when she escaped on Friday afternoon.

Police described her as "dangerous" and warned people not to approach her.

Det Supt Gary Gornell said: "This individual is dangerous and we need to apprehend her as soon as possible. If anyone sees her, please don't approach her, but call police immediately."

Gillette is of large build, has moles under both eyes, a scar on the left side of her neck and another scar on her left ear, police said.

She was last seen wearing a red hooded coat, a blue jeans shirt, black jogging bottoms and black shoes.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8360380.stm

A Convicted murderer who escaped WHILST OUT AT A VISIT TO THE SHOPS

THAT'S our criminal justice system in action

And that HAS to win this weeks prize for a panic button IT'S TOO BLOODY LATE TO PRESS!

Don't go up against Gordon...

2009-11-01T20:31:00.003Z

Image Created by Rob Thomas

"Well, if you ALL disagree with me,

I'll have to fire the whole lot of you."

Career Advice for Seven-Year-Olds - A Long Way From Infinity and Beyond

2009-10-26T13:42:00.005Z

Image created by Rob Thomas

"Well little Tommy, if you want to go around with your head in the clouds, how about a career as a politician?"

"Please Sir, that's not flying. That's just falling without style!"

Children as young as seven are to be offered careers guidance under a government scheme in England. (Original Story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8322627.stm)

To Master Chef - and Beyond!

2009-10-09T12:02:00.004+01:00

Image manipulations by Rob Thomas

On a rather more frivolous note, I've been watching the BBC's 'Masterchef - The Professionals'.

Has anyone noticed how much Gregg Wallace looks like Buzz Lightyear?!

I watched the News Today, Oh Boy...

2009-09-28T12:30:00.008+01:00

Marr & Sian - An Item?

Image manipulation by Rob Thomas

Hey! I could be a BBC news Reporter! It's easy, all you have to do is read the crappy British press or listen to politically prejudiced and obviously conniving Tory tittle tattle, then churn it all out again as your 'interview', calling it 'justified and responsible journalism'.

That's right, that's how you become a real, quality journalist. I learned all that from Andrew Marr and Sian Williams at this funfair I saw them at. Honest I did. I think they may be 'an item'. Well, that's what I heard, so it's got to be a viable prospect, eh?

Thank God we've still got the good old BBC to look at the misleading crap in the Tory rags, then just read that out live on air and call it journalism, or to interview the Prime Minister and essentially ask the man, 'hey, are you on drugs, Gordon? Go on, you can tell me, are you popping pills because the economic crisis is all too much for your funny little one eyed head to cope with?'

Yep, thank GOD for the BBC and its responsible journalism.

Can't wait for tomorrow and 'Newsnight with Jordan'. Now THAT's cutting edge.

Product Placement

2009-09-14T18:48:00.005+01:00

Digital Image Manipulation by Rob Thomas

The Unpleasant face of (overt) product placement has finally arrived for UK viewers.

Is this is how it will be for ITN, in future?

The Future of Mankind

2009-09-08T14:15:00.004+01:00

The implications for the future of mankind are uncertain.

All I know is, I'm going to need a bigger pair of trousers.

More Than I Can Chew

2009-08-29T17:38:00.003+01:00

Announcing (finally) the launch of

More Than I Can Chew

Available to purchase by clicking on the

ad to the right of this screen >>>>>

Minister Stands By Bomber

2009-08-24T17:38:00.014+01:00

Headlines that are more accurate with the removal of one word.

Number one in an occasional series:

Minister stands by bomber

Original News Report:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8216897.stm

Col. Gadaffi suggests just one more Uzi, as Kenny MacAskill puts together Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi's party bag.

The Scottish justice secretary (and yes, that IS justice with a small 'j') has said he stands by his decision to free the Lockerbie bomber, telling MSPs that he will "live with the consequences".

Mr MacAskill, I can think of 270 people who would have liked to have the luxury of doing just that.