Toms midnight clash of the titans & green shoots of spring at last

Much to my surprise one morning, Sally told me of being woken in the night by what was obviously cats fighting downstairs.  She had heard this racket and got out of bed to see Sainsbury the tabby by the bedroom door with eyes like saucers, hes not a fighter by any means!
On turning the downstairs light on she heard the cat flap bang as what we suspect was the "interloper" making its escape.  Tom was obviously agitated and soon followed it out but cam in not long after.  Toms getting a bit old for fighting but what can you do? 

I see a teacher is behind a campaign to hold street parties over the death of Margaret Thatcher - - - Ah free speech is a wonderful thing  - hey?

There have been a number of stories about boats and other things being washed up on the coast of the USA from the 2011 Japanese Tsunami.  An amazing story though recounts how a fish, presumably washed "on board" one of the ships at the time was still "alive" when the vessel was inspected on the Washington coastline not long ago.

North Korea has been in the news recently with lots of "sabre rattling" going on which has been taken seriously by the USA and Russia!   The story however reports a number of "incidents" which make you wonder how much support Kim-Yong-Un really has!

Back home it appears some of our Country pubs don't want walkers with muddy boots darkening their doors.  We used to frequent a local pub (The 3 Stags) where walkers would come in with plastic bags on their boots while other would take them off outside rather than "dirty the carpets".  It all shows lack of foresight i think in the eyes of the pub landlords/managers as to who the customers base really are!

The pub mentioned above has changed hands with alarming regularity in the last 10 years and all the incumbents have failed.  While still open, for now,  the huge "For Sale" sign above the gable end does not inspire anyone as to the quality of its "gastro pub" menu. 

I heard the other day that "it is rumoured" another of our past "locals" "The Church" with its "never run a pub before" couple have handed in their notice.  Their attempt at making it a gastro enterprise just hacked off the locals and they lefty in their droves. 

On the other hand our favourite lunch spot, "The Grouse" at Froggatt has not changed its menu since we have been going there in 16 years.  It has a healthy "specials" board and is well patronised.  Whats that old saying "If its not broken  - don't fix it"  alas some people subscribe to the twisted logic of, "If its not broken - fix it until it is!"

Finally - - - We can see "the green shoots of spring" in our seed trays shivering away in the greenhouse.  In desperation not long ago and with the snow still around we filled up the pots and trays in the greenhouse in the forlorn hope that "spring was just around the corner".
Here's a pic of our first "seedlings"  Sally checks them everyday so if these are (now) only 2 days old we might be in for some very big courgettes!

Enjoy the day

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