Local Gilbert and Sullivan

Every spring (Met office summer) in mid-June the Swaffham Bulbeck Summer Theatre puts on a G&S production in a local barn. It is a village highlight. We rarely miss going unless we are away.

"Patience" Gilbert and Sullivan

This year it was "Patience" and, as always, it was very good. All the cast are locals and non-professionals but you would never know. We went to the Saturday matinee. Luckily we bought tickets on the internet this morning as they nearly sold out.

http://www.sbsummertheatre.com/Patience%20Poster%20Small.jpg

It was good to be able to go today and be "normal" again - the stroke did not stop me enjoying myself although normally I'd have a glass of wine and was unable to today. Maybe next year, God willing.

Iraq chaos

Since before the fall of Saddam Hussein I have been completely against western intervention in Iraq.  The cynic in me says we only were interested because of oil. Were it some tinpot non-entity in Africa we would have let them sort out their own future. My son and his then girlfriend attended the anti-Iraq war rally in London years ago. I am proud of them and their stand.

As it is, we have the worst of both worlds: Iraq deaths during and after the war have been huge and now it is on the brink of outright civil war. Saddam was bad but the chaos that has followed is arguably at least as bad. For the same reasons I fear for Afghanistan.

Some are even saying Tony Blair (the UK Prime Minister who took us into the war) should be prosecuted for war crimes. He is certainly leading a very nice lifestyle now as a so called Middle East Peace Envoy. It seems a million miles away from his so-called Labour roots. Sorry Tony but your lavish, truly capitalist, lifestyle makes your days as a Labour PM ring very hollow to many including me.

Ely Physio and garden

Today I had to go to Ely for more physio to help my balance. The physio keeps telling me I am making progress although I am finding it hard to detect. I have written to my doctor to tell him about something I found on the Internet that may be relevant to one of my symptoms. I have another MRI scan June 30th.

When we got home we did some gardening. My wife did some more planting and I got the hose out to do some watering. At the moment the garden is looking good. Tomorrow my brother-in-law and his wife are coming for lunch.

Indian rape

The recent rape and hanging of young girls in rural India is horrific and another reminder of just how far some countries have still to come to become truly civilised.  We in the west were just as bad not long ago. We have to remember this, but in this global age there really is no excuse for such barbarism. Countries like India , Pakistan and similar have a long way to come.

The world is judging you by your actions. Civilised nations don't allow such acts to go unpunished.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-27807539 .

Son and granddaughter

This afternoon our son came to see us with our granddaughter. We went for a meal at the  La Hogue farm shop where our granddaughter played on the slide and the toy tractors. She really loves these.

Amandine on the slide

As my brother had cut the grass, our son did not have to cut the grass this week. Our laurel hedge along our front wall is growing quite well now. It was given a  bone meal feed about 6 weeks ago and this has helped revive it as it looked quite yellow a little while back.

Front lawn

Brother and sister-in-law go home

My brother at home in our kitchen

Me with my sister-in-law (Jo) and brother (John) in back garden

Today my brother and his wife returned home to Devon. They were good company and did a great job in our garden, tidying up the hedges, flower beds and lawns.  We will miss their company.

My brother John cutting front hedge

"Our" windmill over hedge (from back garden)

Brother and sister-in-law

With Jo and John in the back garden

Tomorrow my brother and wife go back to Devon. It has been good to see them and they were busy yesterday helping to tidy our garden (front and back). John did the hedges and Jo trimmed to lawn edges. Today we went to Ickworth near Bury-St-Edmunds.

Back garden