Many years ago a friend of mine recounted a conversation that he had overheard in a pub, between two old gentlemen. From the details of their exchange he could tell that they were both well travelled and had lived and worked in a variety of places across what was then the British Empire. Based on their experiences, they were considering different locations they thought would be suitable for the latter part of their retirement. One was asking the other about a variety of different countries for this purpose, but each time he suggested somewhere his friend rebuffed him. Brazil No. Mexico? No. India, China, Burmah? No, no, no. Eventually the man making the suggestions asked in exasperation: “Well, what about England?” The reply was:

“If God had intended man to live in England he would have given him gills.”

After a day like today I find myself agreeing…

Todays ‘stone of the day’ is tiny. No bigger than my thumbnail.