1    This morning the BBC news programme that we listen to every day, Today, had a very interesting Guest Editor, P J Harvey, and her programme was brilliant! You could listen to clips here if you wish.  There were several poems included but this one stopped me in my tracks. What an oxymoronic thing to do – to fight for peace.

THEY FIGHT FOR PEACE

Peace they say.
Peace of mind?
Peace of earth?
Peace of what kind?

I see them talking arguing, fighting –
What kind of peace are they looking for?
Why do they kill? What are they planning?

Is it just talk? Why do they argue?
Is it so simple to kill? Is this their plan?

Yes, of course!
They talk, they argue, they kill –
They fight for peace.

Shaker Abdurraheem Aamer, Guantanamo detainee

Shaker Abdurraheem Aamer is on hunger strike in Guantamamo. He has been accused of nothing and we feel very angry that he is there at all.

2   We went next door for mince pies and met their new cats for the first time. What beautiful creatures. I am looking forward to sharing them!

Nooka

3   It’s D&A’s last night with us. They leave on the 10 o’clock train in the morning to fly home to Barcelona, the last of our family to leave. Terrific storms are forecast, just like the day they arrived, so we are half expecting the trains not to be running in which case we will drive them up to Bristol and have a couple of extra hours with them!