Frost

This from Saturday past, following the very similar snap from about ten days ago at reference 1. No frost this morning and I am told none are due in the immediate future. Maybe that is it for a while?

In any event, I can report that the excess loft insulation above the study does seem to make a difference, and it is now probably the warmest room in the house despite having two windows. Maybe that is why I spend so much time there.

PS 1: hopefully the Germans will manage to contain their outbreak of foot and mouth, reported at reference 3.

[Smokers in China have a wide variety to choose from © Rolex Pena/EPA]

PS 2: while, according to reference 4, the Chinese authorities are being a bit half-hearted about cracking down on smoking, as per WHO directives (which they have signed up to) - with the snap above being something we have not seen in this country for a long time. Partly because it is a big earner for the government, accounting for 7% of the central government tax take. Partly, perhaps, because central government is backing off unpopular (if healthy) measures when things are already a bit sticky. It seems that China accounts for around one half of the world's tobacco consumption, largely home grown. While reference 5 talks of a third. A much more recent habit in China than in the west, and much more a male habit, although this last may be changing. I wonder what the story is in places like Russia and North Korea?

[Research Briefing: Tax statistics: an overview - House of Commons Library - 2024]

Well under 2% here in the UK. But I dare say it was once a lot higher.

References

Reference 1: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2025/01/dover-patrol-three.html.

Reference 2: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2022/09/roof-insulation-first-round.html.

Reference 3: UK bans meat imports from Germany after foot-and-mouth outbreak: Government says there are no cases in Britain as it vows to do ‘whatever it takes’ to protect farmers - Madeleine Speed, Financial Times - 2025.

Reference 4: China’s smokers light up global tobacco sales despite bans: Authorities reluctant to clamp down on crucial source of central government revenue - William Langley, Haohsiang Ko, Financial Times - 2025.

Reference 5: Tobacco: The growing epidemic in China - Richard Peto, Zheng-Ming Chen, Jillian Boreham - 2009. Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU), University of Oxford, UK.