Alarming statuary and Kamalas alma mater.

 

The clocks move at the end of the month. After that it starts to get dark by three thirty. We're up early determined to use these last long pre-winter days to their utmost. 

The garden centre has had a delivery of statues. The rutting stags that used to dominate the lobby seem to have been sold although we have to wonder who in their right mind would have bought them. A large, and rather alarming , bronze eagle now has pride of place by the cash registers.

The rest of the new statue intake straddles the zone where bad taste morphs into kitsch.

The colour Orange figures prominently in the garden centres Halloween displays. This is probably what passes for a New England look in most of the world. Closer inspection shows that everything, as in everything, has a small 'Made in PRC' label. 

Back in town the Howard University teams are squeezing in a last round before heading off to the airport and the flight back to Washington. A gentleman introduces himself as being on their coaching staff.  We discover that Kamala Harris was a graduate of Howard and that fees - pre scholarship - are $57k a year. The American youngsters have wrapped up well against the cold but I'm betting they'll be happy to get back home.

We'd assumed that British Airways would prove to be reluctant to pay for the hotel room in London and the lengthy dinner we had when they cancelled our flight to the States. Imagine my delight when they pay in full - including the bottle of wine we had but which I had removed from the claim. They also paid for the Uniqlo wardrobe we bought when our bags went missing. 10/10 for good reputation restoring corporate PR - quick and hassle free. 

Amoretto and Orange Popcorn in the farm shop. This is presumably a niche product.

A hidden tomb :https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/archaeology/petra-hidden-tomb/

And another discovery -although probably not as dramatic as the article would suggest :https://www.indy100.com/science-tech/lost-civilization-india-harappan-2669415503

On the car radio this morning . Very Spanish :https://youtu.be/UMwwsUsuqOo?t=54