Overcast and cold rain to start the day with. Housework after breakfast, then I started work on next week's Wednesday Morning Prayer and Reflection. Clare cooked lunch and afterwards we went out to the shops together for the week's essential groceries. Then I walked for another hour in Llandaff Fields, arriving home just before sunset, now at 5.18pm. The thick low cloud gave the impression it had set before five.
Veronica emailed me to say that she and John would be driving to England from Spain mid September and staying in Kent. We're planning to meet half way. Chieveley Service Area at the M4/A34 junction is half way. There are hotels and restaurants four miles away in Newbury where we can meet for a meal. It's something to look forward to. Meanwhile I'm planning a spring visit to L'Escala. Vueling flights from Cardiff start again in time for Semana Santa, the third week of April this year, so early May looks like the best option, "before the silly season begins", as Veronica says.
Hamas has suspended hostage exchanges alleging ceasefire breaches by Israel. With Trump openly talking permanent removal of Gaza's population to somewhere he imagines them having a better standard of living and the US 'owning' Gaza, whatever that is supposed to mean his ethnic cleansing proposal acquires a little more coherence. Some Israeli fanatics are excited about the idea of having the entire Holy Land to themselves with Trump's support, so it's not surprising. Hamas holds on to whatever shred of power it has to defend Gaza and Palestinian people. He ignores the fact that Palestinian Arabs have been at home in Gaza for over two thousand years. The Arab world would never agree to any deal disinheriting them, let alone the rest of UN member states.
After supper I watched another couple of episodes of 'The Sketch Artist', and made an effort to go to bed half an hour early. I really need to make an effort to advance bed time, so that when the clocks go forward it will be easier to make the adjustment to summer time.
We habitually listen to 'The Archers' at suppertime. After a dull week about the love lives of Ambridge youngsters, we were witnessing a serious farming crisis unfolding. Torrential rain brings more than just floods, nothing new in the world's longest running soap opera, the local sewage treatment is overwhelmed by rainfall. The river Am overflows with sewage into the yard of Bridge Farm, leaks into the dairy, ruining some cheese stocks, although much is rescued, thanks to neighbours pitching in to drive away the toxic effluent. This story will have a lot of consequences for the Bridge Farm organic brand and revenue. It's true to life, reflecting what's happening around Britain due to climate change and outdated waste treatment infrastructure. As the drama 'Mr Bates and the Post Office' drew public attention to one major injustice, I hope this fictional drama will raise debate about our environment and the threats faced by agriculture to a much higher level.
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