Why whales don't speak Cockney, an' that

What a week for very odd news! I remember well from years in newspapers how journalists struggle at times to find a story - any story - that might make the front page.

It sounds like we've been having that sort of newsless week. Suddenly great concentration is placed on the PM apparently seeking improved trading deals with China.

For years, the cry has been China's unfair flooding of markets with goods that are so much cheaper than capitalism seems able to produce.

Now, suddenly it seems, we want more Chinese goods here, and, oh, more of our goods on the shelves over there.

Apparent contradictions

Brexit seems constantly slotted into news broadcasts, to be followed the next day by apparent contradictions in the great Conservative mystery.

We even have our dear lady leader breaking away from Chinese clinches to add to the Brexit muddle.

Oh, and here's another odd news variation. For the first time, I read and hear that the lady's dutiful husband is along for the Chinese junket. There he is in prominent news columns, and we can be sure it will be for a specific reason. What it is, I fear to guess, but in a news hungry week, there are many possibilities. Watch this space.

There's an old journalistic standby. When humans aren't creating real news, bring in the animals.

Killer whales? Tut tut ...

And what could be more gripping for Radio 4 listeners than to enjoy the sounds of whales at play? Yep, a news hungry week indeed.

Continues on the blogs for my sailing adventure story, Sailing to Purgatory, at SailingToPurgatory.com