Not tempted to take a dip in our dirty waterways

Many among us will have watched, and been horrified by, Mr Attenborough’s revelations about the deadly state of our seas and, indeed, the entire planet.

I can only speak for myself but, although I was concerned about the fates of plasticenveloped turtles and fishnet-entrapped whales, I have long regarded our domestic waterways certain to provide us with a relatively clean, health-giving environment.

Wrong! According to a recent report, every one of our nation’s lakes, ponds and waterways is polluted to a level higher than the level stipulated by EU law - to which we are still subject in this respect.

So, I spent a little time with my friend Google in order to reassure myself that our Southern Water - who declare that ‘a key part of our mission is protecting rivers’ - would prove to be an exception to that rule but, nope! It seems that in recent years they have been subject to many pollution charges with incidents of sewage escaping.

In addition to this, of course, our rivers and streams play host to an amazing cocktail of nitrates, pesticides and all kinds of other nasties many of which flow from urban drainage systems.

Fancy a swim, anyone?

We all look for signs of ‘normality’, whatever that is these days

I’ve been pleased to see that increasing numbers of people are wearing face masks as they walk through the streets. I know this is not mandatory and that there are many valid reasons for individuals not to wear them but I can’t help thinking that the more masks are worn, the better chance we all have of escaping the dread Covid.

We all look for signs of ‘normality’, whatever that is nowadays. For me, one such sign is the ever-cheerful Marcella carrying on selling her Big Issues. There she is through sunshine and rain, at her pitch by the High Street entrance to County Square, unfazed by the way so many people walk by, ignoring her as though she were merely a bollard or some other piece of street furniture. I believe too many people consider her to be begging, rather than carrying on a legitimate business; buying her stock of magazines and selling them just as any other trader does.

As it happens, the Big Issue is a pretty good read and well worth supporting.