The New Coffee Room

Looks idyllic. I could retire to a house with a view like that

Well that's a worse "new biginning", but hardly unexpected

Did you all notice at the visitors book signing...

"It's a new biginning"

He keeps going off script, you can tell the pre written formality in contrast; but kudos for 79 he's got stamina. Love him embarrassing his team.

Ditto, and on radio now. Thank God all live hostages out.
Bibi speaks well.

Fingers crossed for peace to continue.

What's all this about Hamas having appointed 5 governors, and something about a policing force?
Rumour only?

Who's next, China?

What does this mean?
That I ought to buy those Pokemon bedsheets from Lidl right now for Christmas presents, or is it OK to wait?

He quite obviously shaves

Super photo(shop) of what it may have looked like when new; nonetheless true
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/spain-uncovered-megalithic-monument/

Watching the 2 year remembrance vigils of the murderous incursion into Israel, one thing seems certain, that the Palestinian Hamas (& other) terrorists got more in return than they expected.

Having slaughtered 1200 Israelis and kidnapped another 240, I guess Hamas were prepared for Israel to go into Gaza gung-ho, within days, and fairly unprepared for the defensive tunnels and tactics they could provide.

Looking back with two years of hindsight, the long 3 weeks of attrition by Israeli aerial bombardment, a pause which must have allowed for considered & substantial planning, made the eventual Israeli response quite effective... except in finding and extracting the hostages.

I maintain that Israel has had every right to respond the way it has; respond to the Palestinian Hamas written & spoken genocidal intentions and its prolonged genocidal actions against Israeli citizens.
Kill the Palestinian terrorists by any & every means possible, in Gaza and wherever they may hide in our world.

What else can an elected democratic state do to protect its citizens and respond to such hatred.

What remains surprising to me is the lack of real response from Arab neighbours (Lebanese terrorists notwithstanding), some maintaining a faux neutrality, others like Qatar spreading propaganda and appealing to western human rights which of course the Palestinian terrorists do not share in any way.
And the Egyptian border with Gaza closed and still so.

Does anyone know what has happened to the Gazan tunnel network?

Signed on in part, from what I've read.

Will they allow others to govern? Will they disarm?

None of those are on my bucket list. Am I missing out?

Yeah, these people don't know how to enjoy themselves. When life gives me snow I make snowmen

Me too, endless things.
But I do enjoy chilling sat with a packet of biscuits or honey roast peanuts and watching reruns of Cheers, and Frasier.

Looks delicious Mik.
We had a very poor blackberry harvest this year, a mouthful. Mostly small and went brown before developing, probably due to lack of rain over summer months.

However its been a mast year for oak and beech, with acorns and beechnuts in abundance, crunching underfoot. Also apples & plums. That must be to do with the spring weather?

For years just to send a stamped postcard I had to lick the backside of Her Majesty.

My former employer would pay for you to go to a couple of privately run 'preparation for retirement' seminars. Voluntary of course.

In England I notice a lot of retired men taking on low risk security jobs, for example in larger supermarkets.

No regrets getting away from London commuting/management/rat race and retiring at 58.
Plenty of hobbies and a feeling my body was aging and needing more daily rest.
Covid and then buying a fixer-upper house has meant plenty to occupy our
minds, and neither of us have got to grips with all our planned activities & hobbies.

However our new next door neighbours here both retired two years ago. He was 67, active, and has had greater difficulty adjusting. Three unpaid jobs (council auditor, prison inspector, court usher) and took up painting, joined a gym briefly, cycled for a few months; also gets involved with local council activities. Really nice chap, luckily he has a wife, grandchildren and a mother in law needing his attention.