Yesterday when I went out early (well, quite early) it was already warm, verging on hot! As I crossed the bridge in the village centre I met one of the many people with whom ai have what used to be called a “nodding acquaintance”. One of the results of running round the same route most days is that people grow used to seeing you and eventually start to greet you and even have conversations. This chap is a little overweight and was huffing and puffing as he crossed the bridge. As we exited the co-op store he was complaining that he did not know how he was going to manage to walk back up the hill to his house. It’s not really a hill, more a bit of a slope but if you’re overweight and unfit even a slight slope is hard going.
Phil and I walked out later in the day. Having had a few days without significant rainfall, the footpaths around the village had mostly dried up and all the mud puddles almost gone. But the cloud had moved in and the temperature was considerably lower than it had been first thing in the morning. But it was still fine and dry. However, about an hour later we had quite torrential rain. I had been thinking that now that the days are longer we were getting to the time in the year when we could resume early evening, after-dinner walks. No chance if it’s going to rain in the evening!
Today is dry and bright again but not as warm as the start of yesterday. We shall see!
Here’s an old quote from John Lennon:
“Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we’re being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I’m liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That’s what’s insane about it.”
It’s more than forty years since he was shot but he might be describing modern life.
Last night came the news that Hamas has accepted a proposal for a ceasefire. Now we need Israel to agree. But just a couple of days ago a friend sent me this:
"Haaretz (Israeli daily newspaper) reports that Netanyahu made the comments during a meeting with representatives of hostage families, and quotes him saying “the idea that we will end the war before achieving all of our objectives is unacceptable. We will enter Rafah and obliterate all the Hamas battalions there – with or without a deal, to achieve total victory.”
Meanwhile there’s this from Michael Rosen:
“'When is a truce not a truce?' said the King to his tutor.
'Good question,' said the King's tutor, ' a truce is not a truce when we decide it's not a truce.'
'That sounds fair,' said the King, 'though I am interested in the idea that a truce is between two 'parties' as our lawyers put it.'
'What's that got to do with it?' said the tutor.
'Only that I thought two parties have to agree on what it is or isn't,' said the King.
'That's where you're wrong,' said the tutor, 'we define the terms of the truce. If the other side say that they disagree with our terms it's not a truce. If the other side agree with our terms, but we no longer agree with our terms, it's also not a truce.'
'O that's very good,' said the King, 'I really hadn't thought of that.'
'Thank you,sir,' said the tutor.”
And as people have once again had to flee from Rafah, a UNICEF spokesperson, James Elder, ata press conference in Geneva, has given a list of reasons for wanting, indeed needing, a ceasefire:
“- Half of all Gaza’s children are currently in Rafah
- If safety is defined as “freedom from bombardment” and access to “safe water, protection, food and medicines” then there is nowhere safe in Gaza
- There is only one toilet per 850 people in Rafah, and the provision in the area that Israel is defining as “safe” – Al Mawasi – is worse
- Rafah has Gaza’s last remaining functioning large hospital
- A military assault on Rafah will “greatly complicate” the provision of humanitarian aid
- People are exhausted, malnourished and sick
- Many children with disabilities, medical conditions and injuries are being asked to move again"
He finished his speech this way!
“This has to change and this is the last moment for that to change. Aid must flow. Hostages must be freed. Rafah must not be invaded. And children must stop being killed. We’ve pleaded, we have implored, countless times, and we do so once more. For the children of Rafah we need a ceasefire now."
So … we’ll wait and see.
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
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