19th of February to the 26th of February 2024
Dog Bob, notes on Ukraine, a hike along the Lark, anti-chrysanthemum.
A few notes on the second year of Putin’s war against Ukraine
I don’t hate anyone as such, except for Putin, I hate Putin with all my heart.
The Ukrainians are the most courageous and resilient people I know.
I’m proud my country is a staunch ally of Ukraine.
A hike along the Lark Valley Path
The dog, Jeffery, and I took a train east to Bury St Edmunds on Saturday. It was a bright brisk day, the going was probably going to be a little muddy but we weren’t worried about that.
The path follows the River Lark through west Suffolk from Bury St Edmunds to Mildenhall. It largely stays with the river bank though some sections veer away from the water due to lack of rights of way.
We walked about 12km up to the village of Culford where we visited the delightful St Mary’s church, set in the lush grounds of Culford Park. After a sandwich lunch we caught a bus back to Bury. All-in-all a fine day out on the trail.
Against chrysanthemums, mountains and Switzerland
Of his1 tastes and opinions I can qualify none as prejudice, unless it be his dislike of chrysanthemums ; but there were proclivities and avoidances as characteristic and as amiable as the best of prejudices. I do not think he had any love of the sublime in nature ; I have heard him avow a distaste for mountains, and he never spoke of Switzerland except as a natural obstacle.
From The Portrait of a Scholar & Other Essays Written in Macedonia, 1916-1918 by R.W. Chapman2
A name is not given, it is tempting to go off on a long goose chance in search of this but I do not have the time or will at this moment.
R. W. Chapman, was a British scholar, book collector and editor of the works of Samuel Johnson and Jane Austen. Sounds like my kinda fella.
On point 3
How staunch an ally is our country when the previous 2 prime ministers have in the last month written an op-ed saying he wants Trump to win (Boris) or visited Steve Bannon to go full Deep State conspiracy (Truss)
It’s hard to say ‘staunch’ when they’re this blase about it (Boris) or outright using Putin language (Truss)