The paper that told us about the Ghost of Kyiv, the defenders of Snake island, the Auschwitz style gold teeth and the Russian soldiers given Viagra tablets for industrial rape has fallen for yet another Ukrainian hoax. It brings you pictures of North Korean soldiers sent to die for Russia and they are birds!. Except…

On a day when Jaya joins me on the school run, after picking Joshua up from Kings we stop off at a BP/Asda service station. I get a black coffee and the kids share a sandwich and chocolate bar in a £3.75 meal deal. It is now a ritual. Today as I waited for my coffee to pour another Kings boy came up to Joshua and started talking.

This is Quincey and a photo for cat lovers everywhere.

As long term readers know, almost every year I plant a newly purchased Christmas tree in a large wooden pot, hoping that it will survive Christmas and then flourish outside until I can bring it in for the following Yuletide. On one occasion my tree lasted two years, most years including 2024, it died before getting a second run out and became part of the bonfire night celebration.

I explain why the new policy is not only wrong but will not alter the course of the Ukraine war while creating new risks for all of us.