The bomb hoax

Mid-morning on Wednesday. A group of half a dozen farmers wives are standing by the village hall deep in conversation. The local schools have been hit by a wave of bomb threats. The same thing has happened in Ulster and, on an even bigger scale, in Italy. Some mothers want to drive down and collect their youngsters, others are relaxed and see it as a hoax. Last week it was the airlines who were forced into making emergency  landings. The BBC tells us a ' hostile foreign state ' is suspected.

It's dark by four thirty and as soon as the sun sets the mercury starts to plummet. The little BMW has taken on its winter persona and has taken to informing me that it's three degrees and I should be aware of ice. It does this with a repetitive teutonic fervour that could drive you insane.

Thousands and thousands of crows are overnighting in the fields around the last wee house before Denmark. At first light, or whenever the first of the village dogs pass by, they take off in a vast crawing flock . They circle three times before spliting into smaller groups of a thousand. After half an hour they divide into pockets of five  hundred or so and head off in different directions. There must be some method to their madness.  Some sit on the roof and engage in animated conversation with each other. The sheer numbers are breath taking. The process is reversed at sunset.

Diesel remains at just under £2 a litre. It seems to have been that price since February. Unleaded is 10% cheaper.

Things I didn't know: https://x.com/itsolelehmann/status/2119921162054504747

Gullivers Travels is having a big anniversary :https://www.commonreader.co.uk/p/shruti-rajagopalan-the-political

Update on India :https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/india-is-quietly-doing-great