Hare Park, Chippenham, Cambs

Hare Park, Chippenham, Cambs

Today we took Lis's brother and his wife to the Open Weekend at Hare Park in Chippenham, Cambs. There were lots of snowdrops and aconites in flower.  The gardens were a picture of late winter, early spring. Luckily we missed the rain that came later.

Ukraine ceasefire

Has the bear won? After marathon peace talks about the conflict in East Ukraine, a ceasefire is agreed.  I hope this is a fair and just outcome and not Russia being a bully to its, ex USSR, neighbour. Putin comes over as a bully, although I am sure the western press may be biased against him.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-31435812
and the Russian side? See http://rt.com/news/ .

East Anglian Churches blog updated

See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ . Today we visited Wymondham Abbey in Norfolk. I have updated our blog to include this visit.

Last USA hostage dead in Syria

So tell me, how does killing an innocent aid worker, Kayla Mueller, guarantee "paradise" in an after life?

These barbaric people need treatment as most Muslims think they are just doing evil deeds. Nowhere I am told, does the Prophet say such deeds are permitted.  In our age, such barbaric acts have no place and win no friends. A change is needed. Peace and love always conquer evil.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-31375445 .

Cambridge on a winter Tuesday

Bridge Street, Cambridge

Every Tuesday I travel into Cambridge for my weekly U3AC course called "Digital Maps in the Computer Age".  I am enjoying the course very much.

Cambridge Punts

Usually I drive to the "Park and Ride" car park at Newmarket Road and get the bus into town. The U3AC course is at the U3AC headquarters in Bridge Street, which is about 30m from where the punts are on the River Cam. From here you can punt right up via St John's, Trinity, Clare and Kings College. The secret is not to leave your punt pole behind. It is easily done. Luckily the Cam is not too deep.

Mill grindstone

Outside "our" 200 year old windmill next door are a couple of very old grindstones once used inside the mill to grind corn. They hope to grind corn in the mill again later this year. I expect they will use new grindstones.

This is a photo of one of the original grindstones.

Debts UP since the crash

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31136707 .

Despite everything and plain common sense, the level of debt in the world has gone up since the crash and we risk yet another financial melt down. It seems to me that governments, companies and individuals all have to reduce their debts and live within their means. This means pain and some hardship. The trouble is it is possible to borrow money at very low cost at the moment. When this is no longer possible we'll all be in deep trouble.