‘jurors: you have an absolute right to acquit a defendant according to your conscience’ (seaside towns day four)

here horsemouth repeats a half-truth. this is apparently not the exact legal position. 

it is groundhog day. at some point (6.30am ET so 12.30am uk time) punxsatawny phil will prognosticate (as will all the other groundhogs and marmots and such like consulted). 

and then we will know how much more of winter we will have to endure. 

horsemouth is back from a meeting this morning and later diner at his brother's (thanks for feeding him). in between he snoozed and read (but mostly snoozed). that's a four mile walk in the morning followed by a two mile walk in the evening. he drank a bottle and a half of pale ale and exchanges some tunes with his brother (he's particularly taken by the bill evans). 

today (maybe) a visit to howard (out in far off east ham) or perhaps that has to be delayed. 

the young go off to work. horsemouth contemplates a patrol round the neighbourhood. he has his coffee and he's sat up in bed (more coffee is a possibility).