The Fir Tree, tea room.

 There are few better places in the world for afternoon tea than the redoubled Fir Tree, tea room in Penshurst, Kent. It’s been going for 41 years and the menu is full of delicious things to enjoy and in addition - they do my favourite tea Lap Sang, which is so delicious and refreshing. I first went there in the summer of 1995 as I had a cottage on the Penshurst Estate and it was my local eatery. I spoke to Caroline today and she - told me it was - “time to move on”. I will greatly miss this exceptional place for afternoon tea, sandwiches, cakes and of course my Lap Sang. 

Ed Miliband.

 There is an excellent in depth profile by Will Lloyd of Ed Miliband in the current issue of The New Statesman. Miliband has a good backstory as the son of the leading Marxist academic writer Ralph Miliband (1924-1994). I was at the LSE when he taught there and would go along to his inspirational lectures on Marxist economic theory and the class struggle in Britain. I used to go to a small restaurant on Regents Park Road in north London and - occasionally saw him there with his family, including Ed as a young boy of 5 or 6. So to understand this fascinating leading political figure in the Labour Party and government, this article is a good place to start. 

The erratic Trump.

 As each day passes, it’s impossible to predict the erratic president. His attitude to so called - allies is increasingly rude and unpleasant. The so called - ‘special relationship’ is basically dead and is unlikely to be resuscitated any time soon. Moreover his attitude to president Macron, of France is disgraceful and unwarranted. In The Guardian today Simon Jenkins, suggests that the world should ‘wait him out’. But Trump can do a lot of damage between now and - when he leaves office in January 2029. Moreover such a policy is rather supine and thereby arrogates too much power to him. We cannot just - sit on our hands for another three years. 

Simpson’s on The Strand.

 I went for breakfast today at the recently reopened Simpson’s on The Strand - after a major refurbishment. It was - like meeting an old friend after a long illness. I went there first with my parents way back in 1959 for my 17th birthday. It’s one of the grandest eateries in the capital and - never disappoints. Jeremy King, is the propriety of this august establishment. He is the renowned maitre de hotel of many of London’s best restaurants, including the Arlington. In the past London was seen as the - poor relation when compared to Paris, Vienna etc, but not any more. We have stolen a - march on these other capitals. So if you have the opportunity - do go along and enjoy a fine meal. In fact I go back tonight with an old psychoanalyst friend from university - some 55 years ago. 

An unhappy divorce.

 There is an increasing gulf between members of NATO and the Trump government. His constant criticism and denigration of many countries, including Britain, has made it an uncomfortable relationship. From the formation of NATO after WW2 has been an alliance that has largely worked, despite many ups and downs. However the current crisis is of a different order and magnitude. Trump’s obvious ambivalence about supporting Ukraine is a clear example of this. We across Europe must take our collective security seriously and work more closely together - as we are interdependent on each other. Paradoxically a world without Trump, might be more secure in the long term. Let’s hope this divorce isn’t - too unhappy. 

Britain’s National Parks.

 If you want an uplifting series of programmes, then watch on BBC One Inside Britain’s National Parks it will make you feel good about life. There are 15 Natural Parks created in 1949 across the country. The series concentrate on four of them: Dartmoor, Northumberland, Pembrokeshire and the New Forest. The actor Alex Jennings, provides a wonderful voice over that manages to capture the - thrill and beauty of the parks. Wild life is plentiful and the Osprey has made a welcome return after many years of absence. 

Hanna Spencer MP.

 Hanna Spencer at 34 - is the young plumber and plasterer who stormed recently to victory for the Green Party - in the by-election in Gorton and Denton on 26 February. She said in a thoughtful interview by Zoe Williams in The Guardian today ‘how do you counter the misinformation - when it’s so wrong and it spreads so quickly’? There was much misinformation about her and whether she was really a plumber and plasterer or not? She is. It’s a mark of her tenacity and determination that she is now an MP. We should celebrate the fact - rather than trying to denigrate her obvious success. Let’s wish her well in her new career as a politician.