US-EU Tariff Slanging Match. UK-EU Posturing Prior to Next Negotiations. A New Cooker Arrives.

There is a bit of a slanging match going on re tariffs between the US and the EU, mexico, Canada and other Countries. 'Well if you are going to increase tariffs, so are we! Nyaa, nayaa!'

The posturing re the brexit negotiations between the UK and the EU has also been shaping up since Prime Minister May gave her speech on her vision of brexit and the relationship with the EU. "Lacking substance and double cherry picking" is the reply from across the Channel.

There was also news in the FT that secret aviation negotiations between the UK and the US stalled because the offer being made was less favourable to the UK than the current EU ones. The main issue of the day is however the possible poisoning of a former Russian spy and his visiting daughter in Salisbury, both in a critical condition in hospital.

Kim Jong-Un has unexpectedly announced that his country is willing to give up nuclear weapons if North Korea's security is guaranteed and military threats are removed. Is it manipulation or have President Trumps threats of massive retaliation made an impact?

Big event in our household was the arrival of our new cooker from AO. One slight problem yesterday, we're told that delivery today would be within a set 4 hour slot - which we would first find out via their app today - with deliveries starting at 7am. So early to bed and then waking at 5am to check for our slot - sometime between 4 and 8. Was this am or pm? The A14 and a late pickup came to our rescue in delaying an apparent possible 7:30 am delivery to beyond 8:30 am, allowing a shower and breakfast beforehand.

We had made the effort to move out the old cooker and remove the decade of hidden accumulated grime yesterday and the exchange of old for new happened quickly. What was unexpected was the necessity of having both ovens on full power for half an hour to remove whatever coating there was inside. The acrid perfume permeated the kitchen despite open window and exterior doors, and still lingers. No doubt it will take time to to clear. At least the scent did not penetrate into our sausage dinner and new loaf baked in the oven.

We suddenly have at least three books that have been consuming our time nearing completion, the pressure is due to ease at last.

Milton Local History Group meeting this evening with an update on village residents at the 1911 census. Quite a number of widows and forgotten street names. This was followed by a session where we split into groups extracting data from records of the fallen in WWI.