Oh dear, the Colombian people, those who did vote in Sunday's referendum, have voted to reject the peace agreement.  By a very narrow margin.  Like 0.2% of the vote.

A little background: Colombia has been involved in civil war between the (largely right wing) government and the (largely left wing) FARC rebels.  For fifty-two years ( Read more... )

It was warm yesterday round here, though H said there was a furious ten minute downpour where he works just before lunchtime.  When he went out fifteen minutes later the ground was bone dry - told you it was warm yesterday.  I'm glad we weren't in Gravesend, they recorded temperatures of 34.3°C, the highest for September since 1973.  To be fair ( Read more... )

Yes, well, by dint of keeping the curtains mostly drawn and not moving much, I managed to stay comfortable yesterday.  H also remained comfortable - apart from when he was out in the direct sunlight.  There are advantages to having had a heart attack within the previous twelve months.  You feel the cold, not the heat!  He should survive this summer ( Read more... )

Apparently a group of 300 prominent economists are calling for new global rules to force companies to report taxable activities country-by-country.  The UK is being urged to 'take a lead' in the push for more tax transparency, including for tax havens.  Note that the UK is responsible for a number of Tax Havens - the Channel Islands, the Caymen ( Read more... )

What is going on?  While I was at university there was Dutch Elm Disease - a fungus carried by wood-boring beetles, imported into the UK on elm trees in their bark.  There are still elm trees in the UK.  A few.  Nothing like the thousands which used to stand out in hedge rows and other places ( Read more... )

Did you see the blue moon last night, Dear Reader?  When I looked out, around 11pm, it was more goldeny than blue.  Had I looked out around moonrise (about 8.30pm here) it might have appeared more pinky.  But then, we know what the term Blue Moon means, don't we?  If you've forgotten try looking at the first para in yesterday's entry ( Read more... )

Emerging from the Closet.  (Be very scared!)

OK, I'll admit it, I'm a closet Trekkie.  Like from when the BBC first showed TOS back in the late 60s-early 70s, in BW (cos we had a BW telly then) when I was at secondary school.  I remember it was shown on Tuesday evenings & Jane, a friend, & I would while away the walk back to school from the Weds ( Read more... )