2nd May 2026

 More home news than worldwide news.  Well I tackled two things this week, one was getting a new passport for a proposed trip to Switzerland this September.  I tackled the online version of it and it was so easy, just yeses and noes.  Expensive though.

The other thing was my postal voting paper for the council representatives.  Three candidates to choose out of the thirteen candidates who were more or less evenly spread.  So I broke them down into a 2/1 measurement, which meant for me either two greens and one Labour or visa-versa.

I am very pleased that the Greens are winning hands down in many councils, we need them.  But I am also impressed by our Labour politician Josh Fenton-Glynn, he works hard and though very nervous in The House when he speaks out, obviously is dedicated to his job.

I have a slight problem with Zac Polanski, the Green leader, he is London based and therefore a towny too close to the political skullduggery of Westminster. He is though an able speaker for the Green Party, quick on his toes.

The Green movement I belong to is not as well represented but there again the social side is just as important.  He also has a 'big mouth' see the latest on his unfortunate slip when he accused the police of beating up the man who injured two Jewish men.  Never quote verbatim from remarks that are flung so easily on to social media, always verify first.  He is being mobbed by the media at the moment but that is the penalty you face when you take on public life.

Two people returned home late last night from London, Andrew who has been looking after his ill mother whilst his father had a respite in Brighton, we shall probably go down sometime this month to see them.  The other person is Lillie, off for a couple of days Scout camping, so we shan't be seeing much of her.

I tried another collage, and then realised that the main photo should be of Tom and Ellie in their wedding pose.  Instead I chose the one of us meeting all up at a town somewhere in a cafe, because the train from London stopped there.  As we only had one car between us Andrew had to chauffeur us a couple of times down to the wedding venue.  The family look so happy though at this latest adventure, that it is a favourite of mine.

I have also taken a leaf out of Steve Reed's book, or camera.  I shall give up my rather clumsy bridge camera and buy a cheaper instant simple one, that will  fit more easily.

1st May 2026

We need rain ;)  the farmers in the East are complaining about the lack of rain for growing crops, Farming is feeling the pinch at the moment, what with nitrogen being held up at the Strait of Hormuz.  We of course  will not suffer as much as the poorer countries in the world, someone on the radio said there would be billions of missed meals.  Think on that before you start wars.  

It is beautifully sunny outside, a crisp cold feel to the air, and of course it is May Day, time to dance in the summer and whirl round a May Pole.  Though a lot of that isn't done now - times move on!

Borrowed photo

Fire will be lit on the Hill of Uisneach, the mythical sacred centre of Ireland.  Bealtine will be celebrated for the month of May.  It is, according to sacred myth, the burial place of the Earth Goddess Eriu and also the Sun God Lugh. It is the Axis Mundi  of Ireland and a place, if you are Irish, you can escape from the modern world.

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 I have just watched Senator Sara Jacobs, a young Jewish woman in California take down Peter Hegseth, Secretary of Defense and she refused to be shouted down by him, that was the wonderful bit, every time he intervened she slapped him down.  Probably you will not be able to find the video, as far as You Tube is concerned, it has been taken down, but somewhere out there in America is a woman fighting for her community and it gave hope, as did King Charles lll heroic and softly spoken use of our English language pulled Trump so gently down, he didn't even feel the bump.  When this wretched man finally departs, will America be able to recover though?  

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On May Day, which is today, we should rejoice in the natural world and take a pledge to preserve as much of it as we can, now who was the bear that did exactly that? Smokey Bear, I think the following quote comes from Gary Snyder,

And he will protect those who love the woods and rivers, Gods and animals, hobos and madmen, prisoners and sick people, musicians, playful women, and hopeful children: