The Cherry Orchard

Looking north west from the house to where the Florence road disappears into the fog and snow on its way to the Consuma Pass. The ranked trees are a cherry orchard the burns red in autumn colours.

Last night we watched on Twitter as the assault on the Capitol took place. Was it as bad as it seemed at the time? Probably.  Was it fascism in action? Seemed more like a right wing/extreme right wing mob tirelessly egged on by the ultimate insider/outsider.  Did it have any unintended positive outcome? It threw down the gauntlet to Republicans who should have known better a long time ago. Some responded bravely and with dignity. Others didn't. America's already tarnished image took a thumping. When Erdogan's Turkish government offers to help out via Twitter you know you've got a long way to come back.

I heard someone say on Radio5Live that peak tribalism and polarsiation in the US has passed , that maybe Biden's task is not as monumental as it might seem. It still looks a long and often thankless hill to climb. But with majorities in the House and Senate, even if narrow, there looks to be a way for some forward momentum and rebuilding.

The tweet that really messed with my mind was the report that Trump was watching the assault on TV in the White House. I don't know if it was verified - there has been a tweet circulating today claiming erroneously  that it shows Trump and family watching TV footage of the assault but this seems to be pre rather than post  his speech.

In other news I went to the supermarket in Subiano, the Boss went up over the pass to Florence braving the fog and freezing temperatures and a foot of snow by the roadside. My new black leather slippers arrived. Colder weather is moving in tonight. And the cheques and tax filing co-ordinated through last minute couriers and emails across two continents seem to have at least left for their destination with a day to spare before the deadline.