Friday, February 20, 2026

Dominating the news.

The morning radio bulletin abuzz with the Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor story. Listeners are told that there may now be a period of quiet while the police conduct their investigations. This will disappoint those tumbril drivers who are proponents of instant 'justice'. There is a sense that this is the biggest constitutional crisis since the abdication of Edward VIII and quite possibly since the unpleasantness with Charles 1st. One Edinburgh based commentator wonders if the closest example isn't the arrest of Mary Queen of Scots by Elizabeth . Arcana rules ! Days of deference are long gone and the monarchy must now struggle to adjust to a world of social media instant judgements. The rule of law applies equally to all in the UK which may not be the case everywhere. Mounting tensions with Iran are squeezed in at the end of the broadcast almost as an after thought although the American President has demanded the use of British bases rather than requesting it. This brusqueness is not a diplomatic norm and may be a story for later in the week.

Here in the village all this seems far away. Aconites are bursting into bloom. First the snowdrops, then the aconites and soon the daffodils. 


We buy prawns and lemon sole from the fish mongers. Scottish fish, meat and vegetables perhaps unsurprisingly score 10/10. France was close behind with an 8.5/10. However, finding good fresh fruit this far north is difficult. France got a  score of 10 but Scotland ( strawberries , apples and raspberries excluded ) gets a 2. Everything has to be frozen or chilled to get here. We dream of fresh peaches. 


The fishmonger has fried egg flavoured crisps. These do not appeal. Perhaps it's the time too early in the day ?


The farmshop has carrots. The mud that cakes them is still damp.

1 comment:

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari Om
Later in the week? I feel Angus, like me, has trouble keeping with the fact that we are there already! ... and I find myself thinking that fried egg crisps should be ideal for the breakfast-end of the day... YAM xx