Rant:
With Jamie and the family spending New Year’s in New York, it feels apt to reflect on the ongoing debacle in the United States, specifically, the alarming prospect of Donald Trump being permitted to stand again for the presidency.

Despite his sustained and aggressive attacks on the legitimacy of democratic institutions, the judiciary, the media, and the electoral process, Trump remains a viable candidate. He exerted pressure on state officials to overturn the results of the 2020 election, openly admired autocrats, undermined the free press, and made repeated attempts to centralise power in his own hands. These are not the actions of a democratic leader but the hallmarks of authoritarianism, reminiscent of the likes of Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un.

What value do freedom of speech and individual liberty hold in a nation led by such a man? His rhetoric is abusive, divisive, and inflammatory, and he has been accused, credibly, of inciting violence. He poses a direct threat to the democratic fabric of the United States.

Section 3 of the 14th Amendment explicitly bars anyone who has taken an oath to uphold the Constitution from holding office if they have engaged in “insurrection or rebellion”. Like many around the world, I watched in disbelief as, on 6th January 2021, Trump addressed a crowd and effectively incited them to storm the Capitol, an act designed to halt a constitutionally mandated process. If this does not constitute insurrection, what does?

So why have only two states taken steps to bar this would-be despot from office? And more to the point, why is he not behind bars? Trump was a fraud before he took office, a criminal during his presidency, and a traitor to the Constitution ever since.

On the penultimate day of December, I received another injection of Lucentis into my left eye. It had been sixteen weeks since my previous treatment, and I was pleased to find that my vision had not only remained stable but had actually shown slight improvement during the eye test and retinal scan.

My appointment was at 8.30 a.m., and by 9.30 a.m., we were already leaving the Royal Hospital in Leicester. Although the hospital itself was noticeably quiet, the waiting area for eye injections was quite full. Even so, I was surprised and impressed by how swiftly and efficiently everything was handled. Well done, NHS.

Weather-wise, the end of 2023 and the start of the New Year were thoroughly miserable. Rain fell daily, compounding the already waterlogged ground and leading to widespread flooding across the country. The River Welland, which runs past the house, has repeatedly overtopped its lower bank, flooding the small field opposite all the way up to the base of the willow trees beside the estate road.

On several occasions, the badgers have failed to appear for the fatballs and dog food we leave out for them each night. We worry that their sett, located in the field across Welland Park Road, may have flooded, raising the heartbreaking possibility that the poor creatures have perished.

Rocky and Nala, ever keen at the start of their walks, set off with their usual unbridled enthusiasm. However, this eagerness fades quickly once the cold and wet take hold. As soon as they sense we’re on the homeward stretch, they pick up the pace and practically drag me back to the house.

New Year’s Eve was cold and damp, enough to put off those members of the clan still in the UK from ringing in 2024. Most chose the warmth of a duvet and the promise of sleep over a rendition of Auld Lang Syne. Not so Jamie, Ruth, and little Joey, who had flown to New York to experience a Yankee New Year in Times Square.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On yet another sodden day, Sue, the Rothwells, and I travelled to Newbold Verdon for New Year’s Day lunch, hosted by Sarah and Lee. While the guests were happily entertained playing with Alice and Archie, our hosts prepared a superb meal for the ten of us, plus a greyhound and a beagle.

With appetites thoroughly satisfied, it was decided the dogs were in need of a walk to burn off some of their festive energy. As our own two canine guests had been left behind at Willow Bank, Sue and I returned to Market Harborough to take them on yet another soggy doggy walk.

On Wednesday, the 3rd, Jamie, Ruth, and Joey returned from New York. They arrived at Willow Bank just as Sue was heading out to the cinema in Harborough, and I had just returned from walking the dogs. They stopped briefly to repack their cars with various dog and rabbit paraphernalia before setting off for home.

The following morning, I met Sean and Jim for breakfast at the Sugar Loaf. I’d passed the pub several times during my morning dog walks that week and had been astonished to see that they were offering a full English breakfast with unlimited coffee refills for just £4.95. At that price, I couldn’t resist testing the quality for myself.

Happily, it didn’t disappoint. After four cappuccinos and a very respectable breakfast, we left with comfortably full stomachs, declaring we wouldn’t need to eat again until the evening.