Getting up in the morning. The ongoing madness of the world. Whuppity Scoorie.

 Unlike other mornings, on Wednesdays I can get out of bed having snoozed the alarm only once. In that way I can organise myself to leave the house in time to walk a good way down the road, catch a bus at some point on the way to Uppermill, buy fresh fish at the diminishing market, fruit from the Italian greengrocery and maybe the odd item from the co-op, and be on the bus for home with my purchases just after 9.30. It’s good to know I am not a total slugabed! This was a good morning for a brisk walk first thing: blue sky and sunshine make everything more cheerful.

Amidst the ongoing madness of the world Donald Trump has declared he will have no more trade dealings with Spain as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez won’t let him use Spanish airbases to facilitate attacks on Iran. Good for Señor Sánchez! Our own prime minister is still doing a bit of fence-sitting. Despite he fierce Kemi Badenoch urging him to let the RAF attack Iran, he won’t agree to that. “What I was not prepared to do on Saturday was for the UK to join a war unless I was satisfied there was a lawful basis and a viable, thought through plan,” he says. “That remains my position.” However, he also says the government is taking action by sending reinforcements to Cyprus and allowing the US to use British airfields. Ben Jennings’ cartoon suggests that Mr Trump is not entirely satisfied.

Another bit of madness is the fact that US military commanders are reported to be encouraging their troops to take action against Iran with enthusiasm because it’s ‘all part of God’s divine plan’. One noncommissioned officer, complaining to the watchdog group the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, reported that their commander had “urged us to tell our troops that this was ‘all part of God’s divine plan’ and he specifically referenced numerous citations out of the Book of Revelation referring to Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus Christ”. “He said that ‘President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth’”, the NCO added.

Bring on Armageddon! Good grief!

In a lighter vein, I read about an alternative to Carnival in Lanark Cross in Scotland. 0n Ash Wednesday when the church bell rings 6.00pm a crowd of children, and more than a few adults, run three times clockwise round the church, swinging homemade balls of paper on string above their heads as they run. A bit of craft work there, making the paper balls - all good - and some healthy but seemingly harmless outdoor activity. Having fun without the need to hire expensive carnival outfits. Hurrah! It’s called Whuppity Scoorie, a traditional festivity dating from the early 19th century to celebrate the start of spring. It is no longer a competitive race, a change made to allow younger children to join in the fun safely.

0n Ash Wednesday when the church bell rings 6.00pm a crowd of children, and more than a few adults, run three times clockwise round the church, swinging homemade balls of paper on string above their heads as they run. A bit of craft work there, making the paper balls - all good - and some healthy but seemingly harmless outdoor activity. Having fun without the need to hire expensive carnival outfits. Hurrah! 

It’s called Whuppity Scoorie, a traditional festivity dating from the early 19th century to celebrate the start of spring. It is no longer a competitive race, a change made to allow younger children to join in the fun safely.

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!