19th March 2026

 Is there any good news around I wonder?  Well 147 showjumping horses have been airlifted out of Qatar....And before some of you get on your high horses and remind me of the tourists stuck in the Middle East, yes I know....

The evacuation of 147 elite horses from Qatar to Europe was a high-stakes logistical operation due to the closure of Qatari airspace. The horses were transported by road to Riyadh and then by air to Liège Airport in Belgium. The operation involved specialized padded "jet stalls" for the horses, a team of veterinarians and grooms, and a coordinated effort from the Doha Equestrian Tour, Qatar Airways, and local stakeholders. The horses, including those ridden by German show jumper Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann, were moved safely to Europe, ensuring their welfare.

What else? The long Distance England Coastal Path has been officially opened. 2000 miles of coastal path, probably the longest managed path in the world.  But note Scotland and Wales are not part of it which is a shame.

Nearer to home: We had a gas scare yesterday afternoon it was out in the street, so they had to go into the end empty terrace house next door and turn the gas off there.  And as we have all woken in one piece this morning, they must have made it safe.  Anyway their barriers have only joined up with the barriers on the main road, goodness knows what they are doing, but it has resulted in streams of cars through the town because of the traffic lights.

Then there is the saga of parcels.  You may know that Andrew and Karen just love ordering stuff.  But who gets to answer the door for these parcels? me.

I complain bitterly of course, especially last week whilst they were away as books kept arriving, luckily I have most of the delivery people just putting the parcels inside the back door.

This time I had been warned to look out for a specific parcel, it went next door, and I, fed up, said to my daughter by email, "bloody parcels you can get it yourselves".  Of course the parcel was my Mothering Day present - so I apologised.

And guess what if you go to the Canary Islands you can shop at Lidls! No exotique fruit then I said.  Also Karen managed to find me Miso paste for my soups yesterday in Manchester, I am definitely going Japanese in my cooking.  I think because so many of the sauces are sweet.

And one last piece of happy news, (I know it never lasts) is land being planted with trees in Frome for the  happiness of future children.  Also yesterday the government has brought out a New Plan to Reshape how we protect and manage our land .  Do hope they leave the scruffy bits in though.

One other: It was a surprise to see Coltsfoot on Codlins and Cream blog.  A plant I believe whose flowers appear before the leaf, must look that up.  I remember them as a child, probably the first plant I took an interest in then.