Sunday sunshine. Crisis criticism. Crisis nostalgia. Soaps.

As forecast, the sunshine is back today but the wind is cold. Not much sunbathing going on then, but a good day to hang the washing on the line.

There is something odd going on with the right wing press: some of them are busily telling us all the ways in which Mr Johnson has mishandled the crisis. What is the hidden agenda? Do they want to replace him? Who do they fancy replacing him with? Michael Gove? Goodness me!

Meanwhile, the lockdown has provoked an odd attack of nostalgia. There’s the queen making her broadcast to the nation and assuring us that “we’ll meet again”. Trigger lots of old songs and much Vera Lynn, now an amazing 103! And then a rash of programmes on the radio about the blitz spirit reminds us that we have been through this sort of thing before and come through it all successfully and bravely. So today’s children can’t have play dates with their friends and won’t see their grandparents for a while but think of the children who were evacuated in the early days of the Second World War!! And let us not forget the old chap, 99 years young, walking up and down his garden raising money for charity. Good old Major Tom - oops, Captain Tom! No, I am not denigrating his marathon walk in any way. I am just amazed at the wave of nostalgia, promoted by the media, clearly aimed at making us all feel better!

Nostalgia is about to hit that oldest of soap operas The Archers. So far the broadcasters have been relying on already recorded episodes, reducing output somewhat, so that the world of Ambridge is no longer in synch with the real world. Some people have apparently been confused to find Easter Sunday moved to Tuesday. These must be the people who think that Ambridge is a real place. Quite how they can think that when Ambridge is the only place in the UK not in lockdown is one of life’s mysteries. But when they run out of pre-recorded material the BBC plans to give us bits of vintage Archers - weddings and funerals and bits of high drama. Will Nigel have to fall off the roof again? Will Helen be provoked to stab her abusive husband again? And will any of the soaps ever be able to return to normal output again?

The Tour de France has been postponed but the cyclists can still become our heroes. Here is a story about Geraint Thomas from yesterday’s news:-

“He has conquered some of Europe’s most challenging mountain climbs on his bike and is a former Tour de France champion. Now Geraint Thomas has completed a feat of a different kind, finishing a 36-hour indoor cycling stint to raise more than £300,000 for the UK’s National Health Service as it continues to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The Welshman rode three 12-hour sessions, each designed to emulate the length of a NHS worker’s shift, in the garage of his Cardiff home to raise funds finishing his last yesterday. “No exaggeration, the last two hours were the hardest I have ever had on the bike,” he told the BBC on Saturday. “I could barely sit down,” he added. As of writing, the sportsman has raised nearly £334,000.””

Eat your heart out, Peloton!

There you go! Not quite as spectacular as Captain Tom but pretty good.

In my grocery delivery the other day was a bag of chopped mixed vegetables. I wanted mixed veg but not ready chopped. Such is the problem of online shopping. I am afraid I much prefer to select my own fruit and veg. Anyway, this chopped veg needs using sooner than unchopped stuff would . So on today’s menu is a chicken and vegetable pie.

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!