Old Man By the Sea

  The Chalice Well. Our second favourite place in the whole world is Glastonbury, Somerset. Since the late 90s, we try to get there at least once a year (although this past few years visits have been slightly longer apart). We spent a couple of days in the town this week and, whilst it rained quite a lot, it was still enjoyable. Glastonbury is known for its other-worldly presence. Many people believe that there is a deeper, spiritual connection to the place rather than just an old, medieval town steeped in legend. To me it's very peaceful and full of a diverse range of people, which makes it interesting to someone who has always held more than a passing interest in Sociology (if I have regrets one of them would have been not studying Sociology at A-Level/degree). The smell of incense and spices flood the streets. As well as grass!!! I did stop and warn a young lady toking away on a rather pungent smelling spliff in a doorway that there were two police officers literally coming roun...

  Imagine if COVID was actually a much more deadly virus created in a Chinese laboratory by a shadowy cabal of World Leaders, the ringleader of which bares a strong resemblance to one Boris Johnson. Imagine again if the lead scientist of the project decides not to go through with the deadly virus but to destroy it and replace it with a much less lethal virus that changes a person into a thoughtful, compassionate human being...until the deadly gas is released. That's the premise of Kill Them With Kindness - the latest book from Will Carver. It's quite the page turner, especially with the memories of the pandemic still fresh in people's minds, but it's also incredibly dark. The humour is very, very black. Not at all laugh out loud. Each chapter seems to drip with cynicism and you turn each page with a feeling of dread and anticipation but also strangely feeling like you're reading a cosy murder book or another "Before The Coffee Goes Cold". Like Sam Holland ...

The Harrier Hide This week is World Wetlands Week and the WWT were giving away free entry to their sites. We decided to travel up to Martin Mere in Burscough, Lancashire. A great day was had (with lovely humus and carrot sandwiches!). We saw a Ring Necked Duck that had been blown in from America (probably escaping the madness over there!), Whooper Swans, Ruff, Pintails, Pochards and a lovely Kestrel flying near the Harrier hide (above).