Hmm. It’s been a tolerably decent week. Intermittent sunny skies although still very chilly with a biting cold north wind. The garden is slowly starting to wake up and Ms Playchute has spent many a happy moment outdoors when the rain is absent. She’s also enjoyed a number of fine walks with family and friends, i.e., not with me!
Last Sunday Nick, Lucy and Annabelle came over in the late morning. Nick had prepared a picnic and off they went for a stroll through the bluebell woods at Badby with Penny & Daisy. My mobility is still somewhat limited so I was compelled to stay home and ultimately enjoy the bluebells vicariously, i.e., through the photos they brought back.
Not quite the same as seeing them first-hand – their vibrancy never translates to a photo, although it’s better than not seeing this year’s show at all. Thanks Nick and Lucy for sharing.
I had lunch with a good friend on Wednesday. We went to The Plough Inn in Everdon about which I’ve written before. Once again, the food was absolutely wonderful – pea soup with crab and olive tapenade, followed by steamed mussels in a white wine sauce. And, there was just room for a wee rhubarb panna cotta to finish. Delicious!
We did have to endure a horde of women, about two dozen altogether, who trickled into the smallish restaurant area just after we sat down. There was some sort of celebration going on – perhaps a significant birthday for one of the women – and it was clear that several of the party had not seen one another for some time. Shrieks of greetings, hugs and kisses only a step or two from our table. There were several occasions when we had to pause our conversation or resort to shouting. It was a good half hour before the whole gaggle arrived and they were seated in an adjacent little area where they were marginally less disruptive. Still, nice to see them having such a good time.
Yesterday was the deadline for entries for the Moreton Pinkney Garden Club Spring Competition. Garden Club members were asked to submit one photo of their garden, along the theme of “in between the showers.” Members were to submit their photos to me and I have been asked to create a collage of all the entries and then forward them on to the person responsible for this year’s judging. I was delighted to receive an entry from one of our most far-flung members, all the way from Portland, Oregon. However, when I checked it turns out she has not paid her membership dues this year so her photo, sadly, had to be rejected. I’ll let you know the winner whenever I find out. I am reasonably confident, however, it is likely to be neither Penny nor me.
YCNMIU
The government finally succeeded in getting its flagship policy through Parliament. From now on anyone who applies for asylum in the UK, having crossed the Channel in a small boat, will be put on a plane and shipped to Rwanda while their asylum application is assessed. Bizarrely, even if their application is successful they will not be brought back to the UK. Apparently, this will act as a deterrent to those seeking to come to the UK. A few hours after the bill completed its passage through Parliament, five asylum seekers drowned when their small raft got into difficulty bringing the number of drownings so far this year to 14. Hmm, the threat of death by drowning hasn’t deterred the asylum seekers yet somehow the prospect of being flown to Rwanda will? Madness, all in an effort to appease the loony right-wing of the Conservative party. And don’t even begin to think about the cost of all this.
You could not make this shit up.
And finally, I ran across this cartoon the other day. Reminds me perfectly of what Penny says whenever she’s out on her own.
Meanwhile, keep happy, keep smiling, keep exercising, be good, be careful, and keep safe. And be gentle to wasps and bees.
Lots of love to you all,
Greg