Times and Places.

I read today of Trump’s ongoing attempt to militarise American society in furtherance of his personal agendas. It’s the turn of Portland, OR this time, and as usual is accompanied by the most hilarious tirade of patently absurd and transparent rhetoric from the would-be dictator and his entourage of simpering minions. I wonder whether anybody has yet warned Trump to beware the Ides of March. 

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A woman I encountered in the lane this morning told me that I shouldn’t be concerned about what is happening around the world because we live in a comfortable corner of the English countryside and the world’s troubles needn’t concern us. No world view there, then. I wonder whether she knows where Portland, OR is, and whether she realises that the state of American politics has tentacles capable of reaching even the most unlikely places around the globe.

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On a parochial and much friendlier note, I gather those in control of our little corner of England have decided to include a splashpool in Ashbourne town centre as part of the refurbishment work. (I assume a splashpool is what we called a paddling pool back in the day when life was simpler – a shallow water amenity where children can paddle and splash each other with much glee in warm summer weather.) The work is due to be finished in November. Good timing, eh?