New chairs

Maybe the long-running repaving of our market square is grinding towards a conclusion. The two storey builders' cabins might still be in place, but the new trees have been planted, the old horse trough has been given a new home, and a battery of new benches has arrived - on custom built pallets. It looks like rather more benches than we had before, so what with global warming and trees, the market place might become a pleasant place to sit of an evening - with just the odd foray into the nearby Wetherspoon's for a beverage - as I imagine that while sitting on the benches and smoking will be frowned upon, sitting on the benches and drinking will be banned.

TB - aka 'The Blenheim' - no arms, as the reference is to the horse of that name, not to the palace or to the Duke of Marlborough - has also embarked on a refurbishment involving closure - perhaps the third or fourth in the 25 years we have known the place. Perhaps they will get some new benches too? Perhaps Greene King were unable to come to a sensible deal with the council, whereby they built a small block of flats on this substantial site with a more sensibly sized bar below - with the present bars being far to big for present needs.

While still nearer home, a burglar alarm on the side of a house was going off. Phone up the number on the box to be told that we just put the thing in. Nothing to do with us when it goes off. With the support of another neighbour, have a poke around the front, with no sign of disturbance, apart from a couple of bits of decorators' gear. No signs of life when we ring the bell. By which time the alarm had stopped, so we let it go at that.