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.