Looking at trains. Organising Christmas. Havoc in the wider world.,

Yesterday’s road trip to York turned out to be less rainy than expected. In fact, the closer we got to York, the better the weather got. Hardly spectacular but at least not actually raining on us. To avoid the possibility of rain we had booked a slot to visit the Railway Museum in York. Or rather, Granddaughter Number Two had done the booking, as she had arranged to book us a table at Pizza Hut.

So we had a look at the fine railway engines in the Railway Museum, admiring the replica of Stephenson’s Rocket and the wonderful old station signs. I suspect that the high point for the smallest member of our party was going into the play area and making friends with other small people, but that is ever the way of five-year-olds. Here are some photos.

The Mallard set a world speed record for steam engines.

While we were happy that it did not rain on us in York, it seems that Wales was seriously battered by Storm Bert. Floods have once again caused havoc. And we have once again come off lightly. And today, so far at least, is dry, but mostly dull with occasional attempts by the sun to break through. So it goes.

Christmas is rushing towards us. I have been trying to coordinate various family visits: our son and family from Buckinghamshire and my Spanish sister and family from Cadiz. Both groups are making short visits and the logistics of getting everybody together at the same time is becoming rather like herding cats! 

Meanwhile, the wider world is still in turmoil. Russia and Ukraine remain daggers drawn. And here are a few Michael Rosen comments on the Israel - Palestine situation:-

“I'm worried that Netanyahu has said his case will end in the same way as the Dreyfus trial? Does he mean he's going to be sent to Devil's Island? Does he mean that technically, even if a state says he's innocent, the people who found him guilty will never exonerate him?”

A poem

“I suppose 

if you spend years 

saying that the people you're living amongst

(or next to) 

don't exist,

at some point

you'll try to make it happen - 

even if there's a slight contradiction

in trying to eliminate

what you said didn't exist.”

And this: 

“Haaretz editorial:

'The decision by new Defense Minister Israel Katz to halt the use of detention without trial against Jewish settlers living in the West Bank is apartheid by all accounts: One law for Jews and another for Palestinians.'

I wonder if God is involved.

Did He figure out that, as of now, detention without trial in 'Judea and Samaria' should only apply to Palestinians and not to Jewish settlers?”

That’s all. 

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!