Osterley Park this morning.

Auto-generated description: A tranquil lake reflecting the bare branches of surrounding trees under a clear blue sky. Auto-generated description: A tranquil lakeside scene with trees casting shadows on the ground under a clear sky. Auto-generated description: A tranquil lake is bordered by bare trees and reflected under a clear blue sky.

Robin having a bath in the rainwater captured by the cover of the kids’ sandpit.

I’ve been drinking tea and coffee without sugar since before the new year.

Coffee now tastes better than it did before.

Tea is drinkable. I have a Redbush every day, but maybe I should try something different.

What would you recommend?

Ordered some seed potatoes today. Hopefully there’s enough good soil in our compost bin to get started and we can plant them out a bit earlier than last year, weather permitting.

Big kid can breathe again.

Plan to ban smart phones in schools scrapped by MP: bbc.com

Boris Johnson has a lot to answer for.

Is he a communist spy, too?

He knew before anyone else that it was Putin who poisoned the Skripals, and held secret meetings with a Russian oligarch soon after.

He’s been stoking Russophobia ever since.

He met with the Russian oligarch again just prior to deciding that “herd immunity” was the way to beat covid-19, leading to tens of thousands of deaths.

He made the Russian oligarch a Lord soon after.

He flew to Kyiv to prevent a ceasefire three years ago, promulgating instead an endless war that will erode our defences and economy before it erodes Russia’s.

He’s a Trump apologist.

Would now be a good time to invade Las Malvinas?

Big kid brought home a June 1983 copy of National Geographic from the school library today (I said it needs an update!).

Auto-generated description: A National Geographic cover from June 1983 features an image of space with the Horsehead Nebula and list of articles inside.

Some things never change.

A comment and a response discuss perceptions of bias in a National Geographic article on the Beirut destruction in February 1983, with differing views on anti-Semitism.

Twice in the last two weeks my boss has called me the team’s anchor.

At least that’s what I think he said.

This morning’s walk.

I don’t know why this area is fenced off, but it has the effect of creating a private space for local alcoholics, drug users and homeless people to relax.

Auto-generated description: A small, partially fenced park area with a wooden bench and overgrown trees and bushes.

Water flowing through the gates into the lock.

A canal lock is seen with water flowing through the partially open gate, surrounded by weathered wood and stone.

I took a few moments to enjoy the sound of the flowing water.