The Wanderer Returns.

Both in Cyberspace and Real space.

On Wednesday (31/7/19) I embarked on one of my seemingly biannual trips to visit my mothers.

While there we made a special effort to visit the refurbished and reopened Bishop's Mill pub;

https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2019-04-05/pub-re-opens-following-novichok-poisoning/

Not for its notoriety. It's actually a very nice pub. Particularly in the summer.

It has a large, dog friendly beer garden. Which sits slightly set back from one on the main thoroughfares in the town. Making it ideal for people watching without the hustle and bustle of everyday life intruding too much. It also has a river running through it. Providing natural air conditioning on hot days.

I took its enforced closure as a personal insult.

The main purpose of the visit though was to see my mothers. Along with my sister. This involved leaving Wiltshire for the Hampshire Agricultural and Country Show. On Thursday (1/8/19).

The Hampshire Show seems rather similar to last Sunday's (28/7/19) Garlic Festival. In Gilroy, California, US.

In the sense that they both seem to be fenced off, mini-villages. Made up of vendor tents, produce stalls and cooking displays. The Hampshire Show differs in the sense that it is built around numerous parade rings. To show, primarily, livestock.

One of my mothers and my sister have both spent pretty much their entire lives around horses. Despite this I think it's fair to say that none of us were particularly interested in the farm animals. Concentrating instead on the "Country" aspects of the show. Hunting, fishing, falconry and working dogs etc.

This area of the show is very much dominated by the British Association of Shooting and Conservation (BASC). The Gun people.

It's an area we find particularly interesting because my mothers own a Cocker Spaniel. Which is a type of Gundog.

However neither of my mothers shoot. Leaving their dog as something of an unemployed hooligan. Making up for the boredom by constantly charging about causing havoc. She can't even be let off the lead due to her tendency to attack other, often much bigger, dogs.

As soon as she sees the people from the Gundog kennels though something switches in her brain. She suddenly becomes quiet, still and obedient. Focused entirely on her next mission.

They also had an open, fun-run scurry course for Gundogs. Which she won. Easily. Although I think she was the only actual Gundog to take part.

I did also run in to one of British Transport Police's (BTP's) Explosives dog and handler. The ones who went into the Manchester Arena to make it safe after the May 2017. Which to me is sort of the ultimate doggy celebrity.

Obviously leaving Khanistan unattended for an extended period presents a bit of a security concern. On account of all the murders.

It was of particular concern on this occasion. If you've been listening to my phonecalls and reading my SMS messages you would know that I was debating staying over Friday (2/8/19) night and returning today. As any police officer will tell you Friday and Saturday nights tend to be peak times in terms of violent crime.

In my very specific part of Khanistan there has been a slightly elevated threat profile recently. Really from about June 6th 2019 (6/6/19).

This has involved groups of about a dozen or so young men congregating around a couple of cars, in the middle of the street, late at night. In itself this is not illegal nor particularly threatening. It is though somewhat subtly intimidating.

Particularly when you consider one such incident was on June 29th (29/6/19). While the Kelly Mary Fauvrelle murder was occurring a couple of streets away.

Another such incident occurred on July 19th (19/7/19) amid the seizure of the Stena Impero tanker. Despite there being really heavy rain throughout that night.

So I can't say I appreciated having my plans telegraphed globally at the start of the week.

It was though the only week where being blocked by Twitter was a positive advantage. Rather than having to maintain the pattern of life I was able to go to bed at a time more fitting with getting up at dawn.

As it turns out my slight bacterial lung infection has not completely cleared. It's nothing serious. It's just enough to make everything seem like hard work rather than fun. So I actually returned on Friday (3/8/19), at around 16:00.

It would be nice to pretend that my failure to mention that at the time was part of the security discussion. The truth is I came home, sat down and decided I couldn't be bothered.

Apparently there is no detail of my life during these little trips which is too inane to mention.

So in that vein I should point out that on Friday (3/8/19) I was wearing a rather nice light blue checked shirt. I picked it up in the madness of a closing down sale years ago. Only to decide it was a bit much for city wear. I've since discovered the brand is basically the countryside equivalent of Armani.

Also on Monday (29/7/19) I burnt my forearm on a shelf in the oven. Ironically while distracted by looking at long sleeved oven gloves. Wondering why anyone would ever need those.

Again it's not in anyway serious. However in preparation for spending a day around farm animals I decided to cover it with an adhesive wound dressing. Basically a big white sticky plaster.

Despite my naturally white skin I don't think anyone who caught sight of it found themselves thinking;

"Wow! That looks natural."

19:45 on 3/8/19 (UK date).

Edited at around 16:25 on 5/8/19 (UK date).

At the show there was a Kids Zone. Essentially a place for parents to drop off their toddlers. This all seemed to loud, colourful and sticky for me to go anywhere near.

However next to the Kids Zone there was one of the several British Army recruitment stalls. Which I thought was rather cynical.

Aside from the battle field weapons on display this stall's main attraction was allowing people to dress up. In ballistic helmets and body armour.

It shows the difference age makes. My first thought was that on a hot day like that the last thing I wanted to be doing was putting on body armour. Although, in light of the Garlic Festival, it was nice to know it was to hand.

So you might get the impression the Skripal poisoning was a piece of performance art.

At which Russia was a mere bystander;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-49232807

I couldn't possibly comment.

At least not until Britain sorts out these Internet hate sites.