It was wet and windy when I got up this morning, wondering whether or not I was going to cycle to the market. I decided to leave the bike where it was and walk there instead. As I went through the square in Dobcross I spotted the lady whose garden we often stop at admire. She was at the bus stop so I asked did she know what time the bus was due. Any time now, she told me. I considered keeping her company but in the end opted to continue walking. Some 15 minutes later as I arrived on the centre of Uppermill she was just getting off the bus. We greeted each other again and laughed at the timing of things.
The market was moderately busy but the fruit and veg man was missing again. Maybe he has held,good to his threat from a few weeks ago. He was complaining about the regularity with which it rains on a Wednesday morning and declared that he is getting too old for this game. “I might need to become a summer trader”, he said. Mind you, around here Wednesday mornings can be equally wet and windy in the summertime!
I see that the government is pushing immigration, or rather anti-immigration, legislation through parliament. Someone commented to me that not a single Tory MP voted against the Rwanda plan. Surely they don’t all really believe it is a good plan!
Here’s a link to an article about Nicholas Winton’s involvement in the Kindertransport bringing Jewish children to safety in the UK. Wul hebstill be able to do it in today’s clinate? I wonder.
And here’s Michael Rosen again on the evil in the world:
'We defeat evil by being good, don't we?' said the King.
'Yes,' said the King's tutor, 'except when we defeat evil by being evil.'
'Won't that lead people to say we're evil?' said the King
'Yes,' said the tutor, 'but we know we're good so they're wrong.'
'I see,' said the King.
And a comment on it:
"And besides" said the tutor "The Emperor says that we are good, and nothing else matters at the moment. Look at all the swords he sends us!"
Meanwhile people are getting into trouble for expressing support for Gaza and other causes. Cricketer Usman Khawaja has been wearing shoes with messages on them, messages such as “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right”. The ICC has said he can’t wear such shoes for matches. “The ICC have told me that I can’t wear my shoes on field, because they believe it’s a political statement under their guidelines. I don’t believe it is,” he said. “I will respect their view and decision but I will fight it and seek to gain approval.”
Others have made what seem to be political statements without meaning to:
BBC report 12 December
“Zara is facing a backlash about an advertising campaign which some people claim resembles images from the Israel-Gaza war.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said it had received 50 complaints about the social media campaign called "The Jacket".
One image shows the model holding a mannequin wrapped in what appears to be white plastic.
Zara declined to comment.
In a series of images, the model is pictured against a background of cracked stones, damaged statues and broken plasterboard.
Some on social media have suggested they are similar to images emerging from Gaza following Israeli bombing in retaliation for the 7 October attack by Hamas when 1,200 people were killed.
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza has said Israel has killed about 18,000 people.
The campaign for Zara's Atelier line is no longer on the company's app or website.
The BBC understands the advertising campaign was conceived in July and filmed in September, before the Israel-Gaza war began.”
So it goes.
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
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