Thaw

This time last week, this scene would have been a snowy one; but now there's hardly a sign of the stuff save high up. Here in Leckhampton, we are just left with massive puddles.

There has been a thaw too in Burma these last years: it would have seemed impossible for Aung San Suu Kyi to feature on Desert Island Discs even a year ago, I guess! (How many BBC people did Kirsty Young need to take with her to Naypyitaw last month for the recording I wonder?)

Freedom (again)

Over supper, we've been "listening again" to the first of this year's Reith Lectures, given this morning by Aung San Suu Kyi. Such a brave lady! I was struck by her statement that, notwithstanding her Theravada Buddhism, her commitment to non-violence was not for moral so much as practical political reasons. One of several Christian references however was to Jesus' plea, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me."

Earlier, in the mass of SS Peter and Paul, the first two readings also spoke of what Daw Suu called "unfreedom" - that of the respective eponymous heroes of the day (or rather of tomorrow, since it was a vigil mass). We don't know how lucky we are; and yet how often do we pass over the opportunities so many Burmese daily make, to assert our claim to freedoms under threat?