A sunny April

A profusion of irises this spring - more to come

 This is a roundup before we set out on a break with family for a fortnight or so.  This weekend we are looking forward to a wine tasting with our regular circle of enthusiasts, then we have a varied and busy week - culminating in a concert for Mary in the nearby Temple de Mus before we set out on our travels

My head is reeling today after the forced entry on police into Westminster Friends' Meeting house and the arrest of half a dozen women peacefully meeting there.  With the scarcely credible paranoia over the Atlantic, it is still a shock to find a British govt led by an ex-director of public prosecutions engaging in this kind of gross over-reaction.  Though to be honest, since people protesting by climbing on motorway gantries incure draconian prison sentences I guess nothing should surprise me.  As an avid reader of history books I see parallels in past events, but more fool me for thinking that we are more humane or civilised now.

This really belongs inthe wine blog, but since I am writing here I'll mention a great outing, these days quite rare to a wine produced north of here wiht our wine tasting group yesterday.  I can do no better than copy the report Luc wrote of the visit - above, with apologies for fuzzy quality.  But Luc's friendship (with hhis loavley partner Jacqueline) and expertise over many years has been one of the highlights of our time in France.

We are in a bright and very breezy time, the Mistral blowing hard yesterday, a cold wind which can take you unawares.  Yesterday I left a door open, and heard a crash like breaking glass, it was almost my entire toolkit  falling off a set of magnetic racks.  Luckily not glass, just time taken to pick the .... lot up which is good for my bending.

A welcome phone call from Ed has taken our attention, so I'll finish now and try not reflect too much on the ills of the world and the stupidity of the human beings who seem to be in charge.