Halloween preparations.

The news round-up this morning informs us that Elon Musk is negotiating a $1 trillion pay package. He has told institutional shareholders ( or 'corporate terrorists' as he calls them ) that if they vote against it at the annual meeting he'll resign. The inference is that their Tesla shares will become worthless without him. We seem to have gone from measuring wealth in millions to billions to trillions remarkably quickly. In the UK there's  some blessed relief from recent reporting overkill. This is the first time in a week that the man who used to be known as the Duke of York hasn't had a segment devoted to him and his living arrangements on the morning radio programme. Elsewhere Jamaica, Gaza and America's bizarre preference for trading with China rather than Canada are all discussed on the breakfast show.

A bright orange Halloween cake takes pride of place in the centre of the bakers window. You can be sure the students will make Friday night a night to remember.

The weather continues to be well behaved. Rain at night , sunny and bright during the day. On our way back from the beach twenty swans fly overhead. There are few sights as majestic as a flight of swans. When they start heading south you know that winter is knocking at the door.

This is our third sunny morning in a row. In Scotland you notice and remember such things. The  fishermen are making the most of the calm weather. This morning all the boats are out at sea and the quayside is empty. It seems there are some large 'Surf and Turf' devouring golf groups heading this way for Thanksgiving - a holiday that is exotically strange and unknown here.

Workmen are erecting scaffolding around the town fountain. It's been neglected for years but it now looks as if the water supply is to be reconnected and the whole thing spruced up.

Dog owners and their pooches will be having a 'dog cuddling'  night  in the bookstore near the pharmacy. This will either be a great success or mayhem. I'd bet on mayhem.

Where have all the birds gone ? :https://birdhistory.substack.com/p/dying-birds-and-the-march-of-civilization

Alien visitors :https://www.everymansuniverse.com/p/did-science-just-confirm-1950s-ufo-visits

Bill Gates on climate change :https://www.gatesnotes.com/home/home-page-topic/reader/three-tough-truths-about-climate

Poison :https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/living-world/2025/animals-deal-with-toxins

Facing your fears - or not :https://psyche.co/ideas/the-neural-reward-that-makes-avoiding-your-fears-feel-so-good