Spring. It’s official. And other things springing back to life.

 Today is the start of what they are calling “meteorological spring”. Presumably this refers to the arbitrary dividing up of the year into equal parts and labelling them spring, summer, autumn and winter. Despite the profusion of crocus flowers all over the place it doesn’t really feel much like spring yet. Today is alternately drizzly and sunny. Well, to tell the truth “sunny” is something of an exaggeration. The sun manages to show itself through the clouds briefly from time to time. The wind however has a cold edge to it. But, as a friend I ran across in the market this morning said, it could be a lot worse. 

At the market Richard, the Fruit and Veg Man, was warning of an imminent shortage of carrots and onions. So much for the advice that we eat what can be grown here. He explained that in the past growers would protect their rows of carrot plants by banking them up with straw, as traditionally happened with strawberries -hence their name. With strawberries, as I have always understood it, the straw was to raise the plants above ground level and thus prevent them from going mouldy. With carrots the straw is supposed to be like a blanket to keep the plants warm. Straw is now too expensive, Richard, the Fruit and Veg Man, told us and the bitter cold weather in December over-chilled the carrots. 

I wonder what alternative to carrots and onions certain politicians can suggest to us. Today is Saint David’s day, he national day of Wales but not a bank holiday. It is to be hoped there will not be a shortage of leeks or daffodils. 

In the meantime, here is a suggested alternative explanation for the shortage of tomatoes. 

On the subject of the gentleman in the photo, no longer allowed to stand as a Labour Party candidate in the next elections, here is a letter to the Guardian:

“Monday 27th Feb

I was not a supporter of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. I did not vote for him in either of the two leadership elections in which he was a candidate. I have, however, known him for more than 40 years, and I regard him as a thoroughly decent human being. I deprecate the way in which he has been treated by the current Labour leadership. He is a member of the Labour party. He has an outstanding record as a constituency MP and he has every right to put his name forward to the Islington North Labour party as a candidate at the next election.

In April 2020, Keir Starmer said of Corbyn: “He’s a colleague, he’s a friend and he’s led us through some really difficult times in the Labour party … I respect him …” I stand with the Starmer of April 2020 and not the Starmer of February 2023.
Chris Mullin
MP for Sunderland South 1987-2010”

Not everyone agrees with that point of view, of course. So, in the interests of balance, here’s another letter:-

“Jeremy Corbyn was right on Iraq and austerity, but wrong on almost everything else. If he has the country’s best interests at heart, he will accept that his role in frontline politics has ended and urge unity.
Des Senior
Aylesbeare, Devon”

It will be interesting to see what happened when elections come around. In the meantime,when he’s not carrying large boxes of tomatoes (buying in bulk?) Jeremy Corbyn seems to be getting on with things, attending and speaking at rallies and so on. 

Mr Sunak has been getting very excited about the opportunities now available to Northern Ireland as a result of his latest bit of diplomacy. It has led to a host of reactions like this one:

“Sir, it is wonderful that that the people do Northern Ireland have access to the both the EU single market and the UK market. This arrangement sounds like something the whole of the Uk once had.”

There we go. 

And, finally, here’s a chess joke.

 

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone.