A map of the Milky Way has been produced by scientists at Cambridge using data from the ESA Gaia satellite over the last 7 years. It maps nearly 2 billion stars. Read article
COOKIE UPDATE
Off to a flyer this morning. Cookies made by 6.25am together with dough for bread rolls later. Cookie very well received at shop, chocolate, walnuts, raisins, and coconut blossom sugar as well as oo flour, butter and oats – a substantive meal in every bite!
QUIZ TIME
TOWN CENTRES
Interesting times. Debenhams and Arcadia are the latest to go. So High Streets will be changing. Weston-super-Mare High Street has nothing to offer me, and parking is a nightmare, difficult and costly. And has nothing to offer – chain stores, phone shops, charity shops, betting shops, tattoo parlours, etc. Apart from Boots, Waterstones and Smith’s there are no shops worth a look.
My ideal High Street would have craft shops and individual outlets, some cafes with own baked produce. But being realistic – the town centre is, as the name says, the centre of the urban development. So it needs great communication networks. I personally think we will move from large buses to smaller people carriers powered by batteries (8-10 people), which are very frequent, or summoned on demand?
So let me think – getting to the town centre; I can park outside the city and get a quick regular service into it. Why should I go there? Hmmmmn. I have not been to a town centre this year so I am probably not the right person to ask. But I would go to Wells or Glastonbury type centre for bespoke presents. Maybe town centres need to be seen as centres for young people?
COVID STATS
Not the full set, but interesting change – Bristol has dropped dramatically, is this a testing thing (it should not be as the figures are for a week), but they are down from 325 to 187 in a week, and North Somerset only down 209 – 173 (national average is 129). Does Bristol figure reflect pubs and restaurants, or home mixing? Or schools? Or scotch eggs!
BREXIT
Deal or no deal. To be honest there cannot be a no deal at this late stage without mayhem at the ports. Of course we all want a deal. Unfortunately I think it will leave everyone disappointed. Remainers like me are already disappointed, but the leavers will be too when they realise what compromises have had to be made to secure our security and trade in the future. Will Europe let Johnson have a minor victory over fishing whilst ensuring that on other issues the status quo will remain. It seems that the one thing that probably tipped the balance – migration – has become a non-issue! International travel has almost stopped, the few who make it across the channel are insignificant numerically. Sovereignty has been surrendered to cronyism and massive financial mismanagement of contracts.
And look what that odious little man called Farage is doing now! Is his new party called Covid Rules?
A WINTER PICNIC INSIDE!
Water biscuits or spicy rosemary thins. Homemade chutneys, a variety of cheese, avocado and lemon mayo, a nice red wine. Perfect for a windy wet day, or a cold frosty one, or a grey day – basically any day!
Xmas Lights

A QUESTION?
There are people on social media stating that the the restrictions proposed by government are curtailing freedom. Well Mr. and Mrs. Moron – what definition of freedom entitles you to endanger my life?
