Life in the fast lane

There is an extreme heat warning south of the border. In London todays  temperature is forecast to hit 35. Up here such things can only be dreamt of although we may see approach the mid 20's.

Last night we go to an unairconditioned lecture theatre to hear an American man in a tweed suit ( when was the last time you saw a three piece tweed suit with a waistcoat ?) give a lecture on the 'pig war' of 1906-9. This was an attempt by the Austro-Hungarian government to subdue neighbouring Bosnia-Herzegovina by the imposition of tariffs. The plan went disastrously wrong. The Bosnians sought out new markets, forged new alliances and the resulting antagonism between the two states set the scene for 'unintended consequences' for the whole world in 1914. From the size of the audience and the questions afterwards I'm guessing modern day parallels aren't too hard to find. We are left with the feeling that the nice man from Boston has been slightly taken aback by the level of interest in his 'specialist subject '.  I would say 'every dog has its day ' but that somehow sounds slightly impolite.

The chicken wire put around the gaps in the farmers garden fence has failed . Puppy is out and about again enjoying her freedom. At least the tracker allows the farmers wife to see where the little darling has wandered off to. It has to be said that Puppy lives her life exclusively in the fast lane.

I was about to dig out the dark mulleins in the garden but they have, suddenly and inexplicably, decided to burst into bloom. This has happened just as everything else in the garden is getting into autumn mode and dying back.

The combined wealth of Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake has failed to get the old cinema repurposed as a sports bar for the summer season. Will it be open in time for the arrival of 10,000 thirsty students ? Failing that what about Christmas ? The installation of a second Portakabin on the street outside suggests that the whole process will take rather longer than originally planned. The lack of workmen ( presumably they're all on holiday ) may make the summer of 2026 a more likely opening date.

Down by the harbour the wispy clouds hint that some of the good weather being enjoyed in England may make its way up here. The fun fair ends tonight. By mid-week our end of town will be becalmed in that peculiarly quiet period between the summer schoolers leaving and the students coming back. The other, golf mad, end of town will of course be thronged.

Our breakfast table conversation opener :https://robinjbrooks.substack.com/p/the-amazing-resilience-of-the-us

This is alarming - if you live in Texas :https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/08/texas-prepares-for-war-as-invasion-of-flesh-eating-flies-appears-imminent/

The things you learn :https://www.the-scientist.com/ancient-dental-plaque-unearths-prehistoric-people-s-lifestyle-73245

Those were the days ... or were they ? :https://chroniclesmagazine.org/columns/the-rich-and-the-vulgar-in-venice/