Dragon day....

It's St George's Day tomorrow and in the neighbouring village of West Hagbourne (Didcot having been North Hagbourne or Northbourne until Isambard Kingdom Brunel came along and changed it) the annual dragon festival is in full swing. Dragons of every size, shape and colour are to be found peeking from behind hedgerows and trying to get into the village telephone box (a surviving K6 for telephone box aficionados). This fine specimen is to be found in the village pond where he emerges Nessy-like every year. It's good to see the sense of community so strong there, so unlike the spirit in Didcot.

It's also good to see the continuing efforts of so many to reclaim symbols of English national identity such as the St George cross from the fascist thugs and right wing xenophobes who have for so long appropriated it (and who unfortunately are so resurgent at the moment - 'twas ever thus in hard times). There's still a long way to go though before my first instinct on seeing the white flag with red cross is other than looking around for mobs of Natonal Front and EDL morons.....maybe one day. I wish the English luck in their efforts to rehabilitate it. In the meantime I do like the dragons.