Ukraine Pottage

As I wandered sleepily across the park this morning I wondered about the Ukraine flag blowing in the stirring east wind.  All around us we see people supporting Ukraine, many by donations of clothes and money for the refugees, others by displays of flags at football games or elsewhere.  This is good, people see Ukraine as the injured party and wish to reach out in support of the underdog.

However, this is a Conservative, Brexit loving area, why has the council placed this flag, and boasted about it, in front of their offices?  Could it be support for Ukraine, or could it be Conservative Central Office instructions for whatever reason?  I supect other Tory councils are doing the same, and such things tend to be organised from the centre, rarely as a knee-jerk reaction at home.  

Boris is running about informing us how he, sorry, the UK, is 'leading' in everything concerning Ukraine. This is very good, however, the EU has done more, offered 100,000 Ukrainian refugees 3 year visas with no questions asked, while the UK waits a fortnight before grudgingly allow a few to come in.  The UK has certainly trained the Ukrainian Army, but so has the US and who else?  We have supplied weapons, but no aircraft (we don't have any), but the US has given much more, and this does not account for what the French and  other EU nations have given.  Could it be this flag waving, which Boris is keen on, is all part of the propaganda that is so beloved of dictatorial states?  Boris fits that bill, and in spite of the war we all wish to see the Boris controlled Met police charge him regarding 'Partygate' and very soon!

 

I trekked through the town to see what was happening at the Saturday market.  So little was about that even the regular fruit stall was not to be seen.   I know they do tend to take holidays in winter, so as to get profit in Summer, and that may explain their absence.   I noted Batman and Spiderman, several in fact, in various sizes, at one end of the high Street.  I would have taken a picture but there were too many kids, and I try to avoid pictures with them.  The purpose of the exercise I think was just to advertise a nearby newly opened shop by getting the kids to pose with these 'heroes.'  

Not many stalls today, none that attracted my wallet anyway, so I wandered down the gant.  Gants, as you know, are the name given to the alleys around the town centre, alleys that grew up with the increasing number of buildings that arose as the ancient market developed.  The name derives from the Flanders weavers who arrived way back when, mostly down Bradford Street in Bocking, across the other side of Stane Street, and many of the old houses contain remnants of their operation there.   This gant was given the name in memory of a Beer House, these operated during the 19th century in an attempt to draw people away from the damage gin was doing to the populace.  This was successful, Gin consumption dropped, while alcohol problems increased as Beer drunkeness grew.  

Another great government idea!

The Towm Historian gave the gant this name, just next to where I stood was a Beer House operating, probably, from the back of a shop.  Pottage, spell it as you like, is a type of stew, or soup, used to feed the poor.  To be honest I forget the rather murky tale re the 'Pigs head in the Pot' itself, but it is not a tale that increases either your knowledge or good fortune.  The gant today is a rather grubby lane, running behind an ancient building that has stood there since at least Tudor times if not before.

 

Having lurked enough I return for a healthy 'pigs head worth of pottage' and a night of football.  What else could anyone wish for?