Springtime

Both our children and grandchildren have collected conkers from these old horse chestnut trees in our churchyard. No doubt children from countless generations have done the same. The trees were planted to celebrate the Battle of Waterloo (1815). Spring has sprung.

Norwich

Yesterday we went by train from Ely to Norwich, which is one of our favourite cities. It has some fine old buildings, a really lovely old fashioned market and a great Norman cathedral.

BREXIT Blues

If you live in the UK I expect, like me, you are sick and tired of BREXIT and the apparent inability of our elected MPs to agree on anything. A petition on the UK Government website calling for Article 50 to be scrapped is reported to have over 3 million signatures already. Experts think it very unlikely this is due to bots. Most votes are genuine.

No, most people in the UK and EU are appalled by our apparent lack of ability to agree on anything. There is no doubt that leaving the EU has terminally affected UK politics. A radical re-alignment of UK political parties seems highly likely in the next 10-20 years. I have little doubt that the EU will miss us, assuming we do leave.

BREXIT is going to have far reaching consequences. In the end, I am sure the UK will be fine, whether inside or outside the EU, but these next few years could be difficult as things change.

Cambridge Market

These flowers were on sale in Cambridge Market on Wednesday. Next door was a stall selling sweets. 

Kings Flowers

At this time of year the flowers on the Cambridge Backs look splendid. The ones in the photo were on the approach to Kings earlier today.

Alboran Island

Since childhood, small isolated islands have fascinated me. Until yesterday I had never heard of Alboran Island or the Alboran Sea.

See http://www.evs-islands.com/2008/02/isla-alboran-sp-isolated-mediterranean.html .

Daffodils

For a few weeks my wife has wanted to see the daffodils at Hare Park, Chippenham, Cambs. Today we went.  A few weeks ago there was a splendid carpet of snowdrops. The daffodils were disappointing; several clumps had no buds. Although there were daffodils in flower, there were far fewer than we expected.

Tree Trunk

We saw this on a recent walk. The pattern is great.

Returning Summer Bird Migrants

Slowly, the summer bird migrants are returning. Already in Devon there are wheatears, sand martins and swallows. At first just the odd one, whereas by mid April, many will be commonplace once again.

Newmarket

This is our "local" town where we do most of our food shopping. Considering it is world famous as the home of racing, it is actually quite an average sort of place that could do far more to make it look better.

There are lots of short people (jockeys) and drivers of "Chelsea Tractors" who own studs or racehorses or train these.

Considering the wealth some of these people must have, I am quite surprised Newmarket isn't a really splendid town. The photo shows Newmarket High Street on an average weekday.

HIV/aids Treatment Coming?

A UK patient with HIV who also has cancer is reportedly showing no detectable traces of HIV after undergoing stem cell treatment. I believe this the second reported stem cell success in the battle against HIV/aids. A proper treatment may still be some years away, but there is hope. Already drug treatments have changed HIV/aids to a condition that some people live with rather than die from.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-47421855 .

Nest Building

There are signs of nest building in the trees in our churchyard as the photo shows. These birds at least think it is spring. According to the weather forecaster it is from March 1st.

BREXIT - what next?

This is anyone's guess!

There are several big and important votes in parliament next week and it is in everyone's best interest that a deal is struck. The EU sells us more than we sell to the EU. No-one wants a "no deal" ending.

It seems to me like a game of "who blinks first", except this is no game. Actually I think the EU is miffed that we have the audacity to leave and is scared others might follow if the UK's deal is too good.  No doubt all will be clearer in a few weeks' time.

Holme-next-the-Sea, Norfolk

Last summer we spent a week in North Norfolk at Holme-next-the-Sea, where the photo was taken. The weather all week was perfect. Where we stayed (house and village) could not be better.

Eye, Suffolk

Back in the autumn we visited Eye in Suffolk which is a fine village with a splendid church. We ate at a little café on the LHS of the road leading down to the church (see photo). Café food was simple, tasty and low cost. We have eaten there more than once.