Gaza ceasefire

At this time (and indeed at ANY time) I fail to understand why Hamas fires rockets into Israel .Although the ceasefire is supposed to be extended by another 24 hours, the Israelis are likely to retaliate against Gaza and more  innocents are likely to die. Far better to keep peace hopes alive and keep talking in Cairo.

Stowaways entering Britain

The situation of people trying to enter the UK illegally is chronic. I feel sorry for the genuine people who are trying to reach Britain because the conditions in their home countries are so dreadful. I don't agree with people just wanting to come here because we are a "soft touch". Personally, I would filter genuine needy immigrants (true refugees) and turn away all others unless they are people we need because of skills shortages.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-28841545 .

Family day

With grandson Edward.

Today we went to Canterbury (and back) on the train by day return from Cambridge. Using our railcards, it is not expensive and parking is also good value at the station on Sundays. We are now back home after having a good 4 hours with them all.

From behind, the two grandchildren

UK growth

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28800141 .

UK.growth puzzles me. Apparently the economy has now passed the re-recession peak and the economy is growing nicely/faster compared with other economies. Is this true? Are we really better than all those other economies that are so much more efficient?

What about our deficit? We still seem to be borrowing astronomic amounts and, as a nation, living well beyond our means.Surely,  in the end, we have to be living as a nation and as individual citizens within our means? This is clearly not the case at present.

Emotional pain

For reasons I don't want to discuss here, I am reminded that we simply cannot know the inner emotional pain that others are suffering at any time. In the same way, others have no idea what we might be suffering quietly. We should always be kind to others as inside they may have all sorts of issues to deal with. They are reflections of us.

Gettting Ebola under control

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-28807281 .

See álso: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/ .

The medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) which is working in West Africa believes the deadly Ebola virus will take 6 months to bring under control.  I hope it can be quicker as drugs to treat the condition seem a long way off still and this is a condition that could spread world-wide with modern transport means like planes and ships. Transmission between humans depends on a mingling of bodily fluids and this may help us. Infected people can be isolated to stop the disease spreading. West Africa is a place best avoided for now.

Where have our red-legged partridges gone?

http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/redleggedpartridge_tcm9-18426.jpg?width=530&crop=(282,326,936,694)

Until about a week ago, for at least a year, there was a pair of red-legged partridges always to be seen in our Close and in the garden. Then a third bird appeared - maybe a rival male?  Since then, all have disappeared. It is a total mystery. Birds have bird minds and bird brains, but I for one miss their presence.

See http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/r/redleggedpartridge/ .