Keep Your Rifle By Your Side

 

Just some song.

Sound advice, what? I'd bet the monkey on it.

2A,

LSP

The War Goes On

 

All you war pundits may have noticed UKR sent a flight of drones to Novgorod with a view towards destroying Putin's state residence. Good call and right on the eve of preparatory peace negotiations at the White House. What can I say? 

Obviously someone wants moar war and, in fairness, Kiev's been promised boatloads of Euros going into 2026. So worth it, EU and UK taxpayer; fund the war being fought with people's bodies other than your own so that Blackrock et al can become even more massively rich beyond anyone's wildest dreams. But maybe the Russkies aren't too pleased with this latest gambit, Sergey Lavrov seems to think so:

LISTEN to Lavrov’s full account of Ukraine’s ‘terrorist attack’ on Putin’s residence

91 drones used, none hit their mark

BUT ‘given the final degeneration of the criminal Kiev regime…Russia’s negotiating position will be revised’ https://t.co/6QEfMFk4y0 pic.twitter.com/xDkXwlNg9i

— RT (@RT_com) December 29, 2025

Don't say Oreshnik, anyone, or Belarus. Russkie retaliation aside, what do you think Western vested interests would do if Russia, say, advanced to the Dnieper and took out Odessa to boot? Just a hypothetical as Russia continues its grindingly slow advance, but  what would our beloved rulers do if that continues.

Write the whole thing off as a partial loss, pretending it never happened, Afghanistan style? Set up Werewolf resistance in western Ukraine to continue the war, small scale? Or go to war, big war, against Russia. All the PR signals from beloved Ursula von der Leyen, Chancellor Merz, Gay Bonaparte Macron and Two-Tier Kier seem to be pointing to the latter option. But surely this is bluff.

The UK, Germany and France are currently nothing militarily without the US and, let the reader understand, our new European Warlords don't have any industrial capacity to fight a war even if they wanted to, they offshored it all to China to make themselves even richer. 

Imagine, Two-Tier calls up Xi, "Please make us 10 zillion rounds of 155, 10,000 hypersonic missiles, and a new rifle because the one we have doesn't work because it's rubbish. Oh, we need ammo for all the rifles you'll make for us because we don't have any ammo factories left. Not green, you see." Xi thinks about it for a moment and, remembering Palmerston (all hail) and the Summer Palace, says, "No."

Who knows, maybe the Russkies will fold in the face of massive European Rainbow Union threat. Maybe the UKR proxy pawn will fold under the weight of what appears to be cumulative Russkie pressure on the front. Maybe our beloved overlords will burn it all down rather than lose. Me? I'm inclined to think they'll walk away and pretend it never happened. Not unlike a cat, when you think on it.

Arma virumque cano,

LSP

Belisarius Interlude

 

You're all aware of the remarkable late Roman general Flavius Belisarius, but did you know he took out the Italian Goths with around 6000 men? Something like that, which says a lot for professional Roman troops and not much for the wretched Goths.

You'll also recall that Justinian's general routed the Vandals in Spain and associated territories. He evidently recaptured the Standards disastrously lost at Adrianople, which were duly paraded in Constantinople at the last classical triumph. But I won't bang on, here's a song, perhaps too Eastern? Your call:

And what can I say?

Roma Aeterna,

LSP

A Short Sunday Sermon

 

Our Gospel text this morning was John's Prologue, In the beginning was the Word... read it, it's not long and, for me, the most majestic passage of Scripture. Such unfathomable depth expressed with such simplicity. John's Prologue alone is a testimony to the Apostle's holiness and sanctified vision.

That said, it's a fearsome text for the preacher to approach, how to do it any kind of justice. So I marched up to Doctor X at Mission #2 who writes books like I like to buy firearms, which is often, and asked, "Herr Doktor, would you like to preach this morning on John 1?" He looked me straight in the eye, grinned, and said with professorial candor, "No." 

So it was up to me and I gave it a safe shot, asking the people why and to what end did the Word become Flesh. Answer? To reconcile us to God, demonstrate divine love, provide a model of holiness and make us partakers of the Divine Nature. That said, here's Chrysostom, and with it a sermon:

What shall I say! And how shall I describe this Birth to you? For this wonder fills me with astonishment. The Ancient of days has become an infant. He Who sits upon the sublime and heavenly Throne, now lies in a manger. And He Who cannot be touched, Who is simple, without complexity, and incorporeal, now lies subject to the hands of men. He Who has broken the bonds of sinners, is now bound by an infants bands. But He has decreed that ignominy shall become honor, infamy be clothed with glory, and total humiliation the measure of His Goodness.

For this He assumed my body, that I may become capable of His Word; taking my flesh, He gives me His spirit; and so He bestowing and I receiving, He prepares for me the treasure of Life. He takes my flesh, to sanctify me; He gives me His Spirit that He may save me.

Come, then, let us observe the Feast. Truly wondrous is the whole chronicle of the Nativity. For this day the ancient slavery is ended, the devil confounded, the demons take to flight, the power of death is broken, paradise is unlocked, the curse is taken away, sin is removed from us, error driven out, truth has been brought back, the speech of kindliness diffused, and spreads on every side, a heavenly way of life has been planted on the earth, angels communicate with men without fear, and men now hold speech with angels.

Why is this? Because God is now on earth, and man in heaven; on every side all things commingle. He became Flesh. He did not become God. He was God. Wherefore He became flesh, so that He Whom heaven did not contain, a manger would this day receive. He was placed in a manger, so that He, by whom all things are nourished, may receive an infants food from His Virgin Mother. So, the Father of all ages, as an infant at the breast, nestles in the virginal arms, that the Magi may more easily see Him. Since this day the Magi too have come, and made a beginning of withstanding tyranny; and the heavens give glory, as the Lord is revealed by a star.

To Him, then, Who out of confusion has wrought a clear path, to Christ, to the Father, and to the Holy Spirit, we offer all praise, now and forever. Amen.

Merry Christmas,

LSP 

Boxing Day 2025

 

Boxing Day was a lot of fun, with family and friends in Dallas, a delicious rib roast bought at what passes for a bargain these days, Yorkshire pudding, obvs,  and all 'round good cheer. Great result and so good to see some old friends of the family from England.

I asked one, over the roast beef of Olde Texas, what he thought about the preparedness of the UK's submarine fleet. He thought for a moment as the magic of a perfect Yorkshire pudding did its trick, then replied with commissioned naval exactitude, "A bloody disgrace." He's a retired submariner who remembers the old Navy, back when Britain still had ships. Who knows, maybe it will again, which would make sense for an island.

Submarines aside, we finished off with plum pudding and relaxed in that Boxing Day interregnum kind of way, replete with great feasting. And now? Back at the Compound in the balmy warmth of a Texan evening. Dogs bark, an enormous possum just climbed up the perimeter fence, yawned at the chickens and waddled off seeking whom he may devour. So all's well with the world.

Tomorrow? The mystery of the Mass at Missions 1 & 2, followed by leftover roast beef. I'm fixing to reheat it without drying the beast out, which can be done. Maybe an opportunity for more Yorkshire puddings too. I use Gordon Ramsay's recipe and it works, especially with free-range/farm eggs. More on that anon.

Cheers,

LSP

The King's Speech

 

What can I say? Behold the King.

MP @RupertLowe10's barnstorming Christmas message. He says the "Country is built on Christian values. Britain needs its farmers more than its politicians.

He pays tribute to the small business people who are the "lifeblood of our towns & economy."

The whole video is fantastic. pic.twitter.com/QjxSFZ3vKC

— David Atherton (@DaveAtherton20) December 25, 2025

Imagine, if you can or care to,  all those Guardian readers throwing up in their mouths, breaking out in hives and swallowing their bifurcated tongues as they hear Lowe preach it on Christmas day. He's clearly King, or should be, monarchist loyalty notwithstanding.

Cheers,

LSP

Ho Ho Ho!

 

My old boss or "Guv'nor," MCP, is in India being Father Christmas before adoring crowds of children. Why? Because of course he is, and is that the Delhi Gymkhana we see in the background? Has that look. Regardless, good to see the Raj alive and well in 2025, what an excellent result.

Good work, MCP, spreading the joy. He, by way of context, was of no small help during a difficult couple of years in the LSP timeline. Long ago now, but still, I'm grateful for that, as are Santa's helpers in India today.

I post this by way of festive cheer.

Merry Christmas,

LSP

A Communist Christmas

 

Sometimes, dear friends, it's better in song, don't you think?

Hodie Christus Natus Est,

LSP

Merry Christmas!

 

Please don't scorn me; the Masses are done even though it's not yet Midnight, and Felix Navidad floats on the air in that Mexican way as fireworks boom out across the stratosphere like the guns on Ostfront. It's all good, worship Christ our newborn King, and that's exactly what we did tonight.

I won't preach, but here's Farrer with sublime wisdom:

WHEN Mary laid Jesus Christ upon her knees, when she searched him with her eyes, when she fed him at the breast, she did not study to love him because she ought, she loved him because he was dear: he was her Son.  His conception had been supernatural, perplexing, affrighting; it had called for faith in the incomprehensible, and obedience beyond the limit of human power.  His nativity was human and sweet, and the love with which she embraced it was a natural growth, inseparable from the thing she loved.  She was blessed above all creatures, because she loved her Maker inevitably and by simple nature; even though it needed the sword—wounds of the Passion to teach her fully that it was her Maker whom she loved.  The Son of Mary is the Son of all human kind; we embrace him with the love of our kind, that we may be led up with Mary to a love beyond kind, a selfless love for the supreme Goodness, when we too shall have climbed the ladder of the cross.

 

Have a very Merry Christmas, punters. 

God Bless,

LSP

Light Hearted Kix

 

Dear Friends, is Vladimir Vladimirovic not the greatest troll of all time? 

RU PoV: Russia Today has published a Christmas Eve video for EU citizens
byu/gem4ik2 inUkraineRussiaReport

But this is nonsense. Russia, through its own ineptitude, corruption and sheer lack of giving money to Whitehall is going to crash and crash hard into the steppe, whilst mighty climate warriors advance on autocrat Moscow.

Imagine their victory. Rainbow flags over the Kremlin, a triumphant Pride Parade through Red Square, Gay Marriage at the Kremlin's Church of the Nativity. Imagine that and more, as your tax bucks send it. A truly multicultural Russia, in which diversity is their strength.

Just like here, what?

Your Pal,

LSP

Are We At Peak Skulduggery?

 

Did you know, dear friends, that the UK has a Brigadier General, yes, a Brigadier, admittedly retired, entirely devoted to Climate Change? You didn't? Now you do, and I think I've met him over a chop at some Club. Yes, Lieutenant General Richard Nugee CB CVO CBE. Here, check out his UKGOV bio:

Richard was appointed as Non-Executive Director for Climate Change and Sustainability in March 2021. Before this appointment he spent a year leading on the Climate Change and Sustainability Strategic Approach at the Ministry of Defence.

Prior to his work on sustainability, he spent 4 years as Chief of Defence People. His military career of 36 years includes joint, single service and international appointments.

Appointed MBE in June 1998, CBE in January 2012, CVO in September 2016, and CB in January 2020, he was awarded the US Legion of Merit for his services in Afghanistan in 2014.

 

Chief of Defence People, I guess he wasn't retired in that auspicious role. Good heavens, just imagine all those Defence People charging out to defeat the Mahdi or anyone else. But that was in the past, now CB CVO CBE Nugee will spearhead the UK's war, yes, War, against the Weather. Against the Weather, that most fickle of adversaries.

Here at the Compound we wish this Commander of the British Empire success and glory in his tireless pursuit of climate justice and look forward to his victorious defeat of our common adversary, the Weather. 

Perhaps, avid readers, you're wondering how what's left of the UK's armed forces can kill people the environmentally friendly way, the green way. Don't say corporate lobbyist backhanders, that'd be unpatriotic. Peak skulduggery anyone?

Arma et Virumque Cano,

LSP

Worship God Ye Heathen

 

Dear friends, you may have missed it, but Mass was celebrated on Sunday December 15 according to the traditional Ambrosian Rite in the Basilica of St. Ambrose in Milan for the first time in 50 years. Yes, in half a century. So what, you say with disdainful lip and dismissive eye. So a lot.

For 50 years the ancient liturgy of the West, our worship of God, has been cheapened, bowdlerized, denigrated, mocked and even banned. You see, what happened was this. Satan wasn't able to subvert the Western Catholic Church's teaching, the Magesterium held firm unlike the genius of Anglicanism, but he was able to demolish its worship.

Pan to guitar playing nuns, nylon vestments, and 1970s attack language removing all sense of the sacred or numinal from the worship of God. Pretty effective strategy, crash the worship, crash belief and go figure, RC congregations have been tanking ever since. But maybe that's changing, see the Ambrosian Mass in Milan. A harbinger of things to come?

We hope so, here at the Compound, and know this. Wherever faithful Christians truly worship God, I advise the Ancient Rite, they will be truly blessed. Not kidding, Guinea on the monkey and a safe bet.

Ad Altare Dei,

LSP