Big boys’ toys. Motorbikes. War.

The fine weather over the last week or so has brought out all the not so young boys in their big boys’ toys, snazzy little two seaters with the roof rolled back. Some of them have been very pretty vintage items, such as this one that broke down outside our house recently. 

There aren’t so many of the about today as it’s very overcast and has been trying to rain, although very warm, indeed muggy, as though we might have a thunderstorm.

Today has been the day for motorbikes: not great big “hairy biker” or Hell’s Angels motorbikes, but smaller, probably 2-stroke affairs. As I waited for a bus to go to the hardware shop in Uppermill about 30 or more of them went noisily through Delph Crossroads and on through the village, all of them laden with what looked like basic camping gear. Very smelly they were too. I witnessed two or three more groups of the same kind roaring through Uppermill, some of them with flags, but I was unable to see what flags indicated.

Someone at the bus stop suggested it was connected to “Yanks Weekend”, commemorating the end of World War II and incidentally celebrating the filming of the 1979 film Yanks with Richard Gere. Some of it was filmed in Dobcross and Uppermill and we’ve been dining out on it ever since. There’s some kind of children’s fair going on in Uppermill park in connection with Yanks Weekend. However, we all agreed at the bus stop that the motorbikes putt-putting past us were not of that era. But something is going on somewhere for motorcyclists … and a few on Vespa motor scooters!

Meanwhile, war still goes on elsewhere. This is a report from this morning:

“Dozens reported dead in Israeli strike on Gaza school

As we just said, dozens of people have been reported killed and injured after an Israeli strike on the Tabeen school in Gaza City overnight.

Here’s what we know so far:

• The Hamas run government says more than 100 people were killed in the strike, with many others injured
  Gaza health officials, however, put the death toll at around 60
  The Israeli military said in a statement that its air force targeted a command and control centre where Hamas commanders and operatives were hiding
  The IDF said it had taken steps to reduce the risk of harming civilians, “including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and intelligence information”. It did not immediately comment on the casualty reports from Gaza
  Three missiles ripped through the school and the mosque inside, where about 6,000 displaced people were taking shelter from the war, said Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesperson for the Civil Defence first responders who operate under the Hamas-run government
  Bassal added the death toll was expected to rise.”

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!