Status-Q

John has a lovely post on his blog about Karen Spärck Jones, who died on Wednesday.

She was a good friend. We had a couple of arguments - no, not arguments, debates - which we both enjoyed greatly. She was right more often than I was; sometimes I knew this from the start but it was fun playing devil's advocate with her.

Some loved her, some admired her, some found her infuriating. But whatever your viewpoint, the world is a duller place for her passing. And that's not a bad epitaph for anybody.

In just under three months, England will go smoke-free. No more smoking in public places. I, for one, can't wait. But it raises a dashed sticky question...

In the past, many decent chaps were saved from dastardly bullets by having a cigarette case in their top pocket. If fewer of these chaps are in the habit of carrying such things, what is to become of England?

Fortunately, a new form of personal protection has arisen in the form of the iPod. Kevin Garrad (3rd Infantry Division) apparently had his life saved - or at least avoided a nasty injury - by carrying one of these newfangled devices.

Another beautiful National Trust property.

In case you’re wondering, it’s pronounced “item”!

Sheep and lambs on the Fairlawne Estate in Kent. They belong, or at least the grass they munch so assiduously belongs, to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.

This image has been doing the rounds - and I think it's wonderful. I'm not sure of its origin, so my apologies if I'm violating anybody's copyright here. Many thanks to Jonathan Jeacocke for showing it to me.

This should help you keep things in perspective...

Friends and family wanting a laugh should have a look here.

A rear view of Bateman’s.

Excellent news. Starting in May, you'll be able to buy some higher-quality DRM-free music from iTunes for an extra 30c. This is an EMI intiative - I wonder if the other labels will follow suit. More info on the BBC and on Apple's site.

I quite like this chap, seen this morning at Bateman's, Rudyard Kipling's former home.

Rose and I had a very pleasant weekend exploring parts of Kent and Sussex. I'll post a few more pics here over the next few days.