It’s been a great week! Apart from the weather. We’ve had visitors visit, ventured out on a couple of outings and consumed copious quantities of food. What could be better than that? Perhaps the weather could have been better.
On Saturday we wandered up the road for drinks and lunch with some of our lovely neighbours. This was the first time in what seems like forever that folks have felt sufficiently comfortable gathering with a largish group of friends for drinks, food and a catch up. And, it was wonderful. Rest assured, in spite of the government’s assertions that Covid is behind us and that there is no need to isolate, test or have any Covid restrictions whatsoever, we do continue to test as I’m sure do most of our friends.
Sunday was the MPGC’s grand tree-planting ceremony as Moreton Pinkney’s contribution to the Queen’s Golden Canopy, part of her Platinum Jubilee. I have previously related how squeezing permission from the Parish Council for approval to plant some trees was like getting the proverbial blood out of a stone but the (limited) number they agreed to allow were planted on Sunday including the one outside Framington House.
The one outside our house is a lovely Malus/Crab apple. It’s already looking fine and as it matures it will give us great spring blossom and bright red ornamental crab apples in the summer and autumn. Lovely.
Even better, Nick, Lucy and Annabelle came for Sunday lunch which was, as always, magnificent. As it happens, Annabelle had just received one of her Kiwi Crates so she and I were able to construct a spirograph-type drawing device – fortunately she was able to keep an eye on me and put things right when I messed up.
The weather co-operated and we strolled up Plumpton Lane to see the three trees which had been planted up there. And then, after a fabulously fabulous meal prepared by our resident chef (with as little hindrance from me as possible) we sauntered down to the Lower Green for the official village ceremony – the planting of an oak with a special plaque to commemorate the occasion. There was a goodly collection of villagers, Annabelle and Penny both read poems celebrating the mighty oak, children from the village finished the planting by filling in the hole with compost and mulch, cake and wine was served and a hearty host to “The Queen” was proclaimed. And the sun shone. A splendid occasion.
The “baby” in the photos above is a village friend’s granddaughter, just turned one year old (I think). I was chatting to the mother and we both marvelled how, in eighty years’ time, she (the baby) would be able to return to Moreton Pinkney and wonder at the mighty oak which was planted when she was but a babe. Certainly, we won’t be around to see it in eighty years’ time!
Now, normally that would have been enough excitement for one week but the fun and excitement had barely started. On Tuesday we welcomed our good friends Dave & Sue and Sue & Stuart for a couple of nights. They are such good friends and a real tonic whenever we have the chance to get together. The “excuse” this time was a production of Much Ado About Nothing by the RSC at Stratford. And it was fantastic – one of the best productions we’ve seen in a very long time.
This was the first indoor production in front of a live audience the RSC has been able to hold in nearly two years and it was great to be back. I was (and still am), however, a bit concerned by the number of people who chose not to wear masks inside the theatre although everyone’s vaccination status and/or recent Covid test result was checked before they were allowed to enter. Also, the theatre was well-ventilated (so much so that it was actually quite chilly inside) so clearly the RSC were taking as many precautions as they could. There were numerous signs and announcements asking folks to please wear a mask but I guess unless the ushers fancy a punch-up with a belligerent patron, there’s not really much more they can do now that Boris has single-handedly defeated the pandemic.
On Wednesday we trotted off to Upton House near Edgehill, owned by the National Trust. I have to say, it’s not the finest National Trust property – it probably doesn’t warrant much more than an “OK” on the scale from “pretty ordinary” to “absolutely stunning.” It’s importance is mainly due to the extensive collection of paintings and porcelain accumulated by Lord and Lady Bearsted in the early 20th century. Even having said that, there were probably only a couple that any of us might have wanted on our walls although I did like the Canaletto and one or two others.
The gardens were designed by Lady Bearsted and are pleasant enough (we’ve visited them previously). The weather, unfortunately however, was drizzly and pretty fresh/cold so we never did manage to wander around the gardens. Instead, after meandering through the house for a time we decamped to the café for coffee and cakes. After all, that’s the main reason for visiting NT properties anyway, isn’t it?
Thank goodness there is no need to do anything about Covid anymore. Boris has bravely and single-handedly vanquished the pandemic and there’s no longer any need to take any precautions whatsoever. Too bad then that Jessie came down with Covid over the weekend and was very poorly indeed – we’re assuming she brought it home from school. Adam, of course, took the brunt of the care responsibilities – Ava and Julieta were relegated to an upstairs bedroom to try and keep them safe. Jessie struggled with a very high temperature and, at one point, some increased difficulty breathing. A bowl of Chinese congee (a Chinese rice porridge) with ginger seemed to help and there was no need, after all, to shoot off to A&E. After a couple of very rough nights, she seems to have turned the corner – her temperature slowly came back down and she was even able to gather up sufficient energy to send us a short video saying she was feeling much better. Almost inevitably we all expect Adam to get it and just hope his triple-jab status will ensure that it’s not too worrying. We would rush over to help out but we can’t even do that.
Exciting news – Penny saw the General, our resident pheasant, feeding amongst the pigeons, jackdaws and magpies on the ground beneath our bird feeders. We’ve not seen him since last summer and wondered, as one does, whether he had evaded those trying to shoot him. It seems he had. No photo I am afraid.
YCNMIU – Sorry, I’m not sure how I neglected to mention this before.
Supply chain issues, Brexit and other factors mean that inflation is set to rise to its highest level since the 1950s. Especially the price of fuel and energy. In addition, those lovable Conservatives have elected to fund the shortfall in NHS funding and especially in Social Care by raising National Insurance taxation which falls disproportionately on the less well off. What a surprise! It will also astonish you to learn that a promise not to raise tax was included in the Tory party manifesto at the last election (along with numerous other promises which have similarly been broken – too many to mention).
Faced with calls to do something to ameliorate the impact of the cost of living increases the Chancellor of the Exchequer came up with a cunning plan. Rather than cut the rate of VAT on energy (which was something the loony Brexiteers promised the UK would be able to do once they escaped the shackles of the EU and which they have since refused to do – see last week’s image), he decided to “loan” people £250 to use to reduce the cost of energy. The loan will be clawed back via increases in consumers’ energy bills. Now, I’m not a financial wizard by any stretch of the imagination but it seems to me if you give folks £250 and then claw it back through increased energy bills, you’re not actually addressing the hardship people will face.
Just to show you how out of touch with reality the Chancellor is, after his announcement of the £250 loan he did the round of media interviews the following morning. One commentator challenged him about loaning people the £250 and then clawing it back. He exclaimed that it wasn’t a “loan” because the recipients didn’t have to pay any interest. He then compounded his stupidity by suggesting that they could take that £250, deposit it somewhere and earn a bit of interest. So, his view is that he is giving people the opportunity to get some “free” money. Yep, these are the people running the country.
You Could Not Make It Up
As you will know, I’m sure, Penelope is a loyal member of the Moreton Pinkney Book Club. They meet once a month and read some good stuff and some not so great stuff and I frequently benefit from their suggestions. Penny’s sister J sent her the following which I thought was very cute.
Finally, Adam shared the following the other day (prior to the arrival of Covid in their household). A marvellous (and cheap) crib for Julieta.
Meanwhile, keep happy, keep smiling, be careful, wear a f**king facemask in crowded places and keep your distance. And keep safe.
Lots of love to you all,
Greg