Lindum Colonia

I jumped on the train to Lincoln on Friday. Walking up Steep Hill (I'd forgotten just how steep it is) I clocked a nice caff and made a mental note to stop for a brew on the way down. But not till I'd reached the summit and paid my respects in what some call the Minster but most of us know as Lincoln Cathedral. On the day when the reputation of our armed forces forces was been dragged through the mud by the POTUS I thought it was only right that I paused for a moment of quiet reflection in the chapels within the cathedral commemorating our fallen soldiers, airmen and sailors. Brave servicemen and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country, their fellow men, and democracy. We shall never forget them.

Lincoln mod

The year is barely two weeks old and already the news feed is grisly. Whether you're looking at matters domestic or globally it's pretty much armageddon meets mutually assured destruction. And 99.9% of the blame for this collapse in humanity can be laid squarely at the door of one man. However, I'm not going to give him the oxygen of publicity on here as this year I'm going to be too busy talking about trees and trains, maps and stamps, postcards and pens, art and artists, music and musicians, family and friends, knobs and knockers, pubs and clubs, beer and sandwiches, pie and peas, coffee and cake, blogs and bloggers, films and film stars, geography and psychogeography, buildings and building blocks, books and bookmarks, land and landmarks, radio and radiograms, Hi-Fi and Lo-Fi, phone boxes and post boxes, gigs and digs. And a whole lot else besides. Like caffs. And launderettes. And, of course, photography. Always photography. Photographs of anything and everything; anybody and everybody, Speaking of which, I'd love to do a Photo Challenge throw out where we all take a photograph of someone we know really well. Or not at all - asking a complete stranger if you can take their photograph is something I suspect some of you wouldn't be entirely comfortable with, but I think it's got legs. Maybe a totally optional PC we slide in between the main challenges. Thank you for your attention to this matter. JRM. 

Ballroom blitz

Donald Trump has torn down one of the most historic buildings in America. He's demolished the East Wing of the White House; to build a ballroom. Imagine, just for a minute, if the Democrats had done that. Imagine the shit storm that would have ensued.

Trump said ahead of the construction works that that any building works to said ballroom would not impact upon the East Wing, "a building that he loves"; the East Wing has been razed to the ground. Further proof, if further proof were needed, that Trump is a liar. And further proof that Donald Trump is a cunt.