Another mild day of cloud and sunshine, down south but colder weather is on its way down from Scotland by the weekend. The Russian government, driven by President Putin has made a move to acknowledge the independent republics of Donbass and Luhansk in Eastern Ukraine and it looks as if they are about to send 'peace-keeping' forces to support insurgents already unofficially sustained by Russia in an eight year long separatist campaign in these two Russian speaking regions of Ukraine. The Ukranian president has now declared a state of emergency and called up army reservists.
Western governments are imposing economic sanctions in response to the violation of Ukranian borders and the abandonment of a cease-fire treaty. The German's have stopped work on a new gas pipeline for conveying Russian gas to Europe. Gas and oil prices will rise even further now than is expected - we've just been notified of a nearly 50% rise in our energy bills, there'll be more to come.
Putin is confident that Russia has enough of a 'war chest' in financial reserves to carry out his strategic aims regardless of economic sanctions imposed by the international community. His actions threaten the stability of the global economy already stressed by the pandemic. He is gambling that everyone else will pull back as he steadily and persistently encroaches on neighbouring states. It's a very disturbing affair.
There were eight of us at the St Catherine's Eucharist this morning. Ann, Marlene and Paul were absent as Paul caught covid so Ann and Marlene have left him to look after himself until he's over it. What bad luck! Paul is a keen cyclist, out in all kinds of weather. Hopefully, fitness and vaccinations will get him through this without too much distress.
After church I went and collected this week's veggie bag, then cooked a veggie pasta dish for lunch. It turned out just right for both of us with different ingredients, and a mixture of ordinary and gluten free pasta whose difference in cooking times I wasn't sure of, but my best guess timing was satisfactory.
I needed a siesta again after lunch. I don't know why I seem to need so much sleep, when I'm feeling quite well. Even if I'm not bursting with energy currently, and walking a bit slower, I'm not exactly dragging my feet. I suppose I can always blame it on the changeable weather.
Ruth's weekly email briefing about the material for Morning Prayer came in, and flagging up a change in selection of readings from an New Testament to an Old Testament passage. We'll follow the Joseph saga for the next few weeks, as is traditional in the Daily Office readings for Lent. It will make quite a difference to the reflections I write! The change will do me good. Other people too I hope.
Walking in the park this afternoon, and St Catherine's churchyard this morning, I noticed snowdrops and masses of crocuses are starting to fade away. Big patches of daffodils have appeared and are flowering where only a few were present from mid January. Several different varieties are now flourishing. It's something to do with the milder weather and longer days I suppose. Winter flowering trees are looking spectacular now, and in a short while the fat buds of the Magnolia trees in next door's garden and in Thompson's Park will burst into flower.
Another fascinating 'Digging for Britain' programme on BBC Four this evening, the only thing worth watching. I spent time beforehand reading my novel in Spanish again. The more I do the easier it gets, even though there's still lots of vocabulary I have to guess rather than look up to maintain a reasonable reading pace.
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