Have you heard of cheap Grace?

No, I'm not being heartlessly waspish about a lovely but lustful lass who is, on balance, perhaps rather too generous with her many kindnesses - given market conditions. Apparently.

I'm referring, instead, to a good old Protestant proposition. It was first expounded by my earthly hero, Martin Luther, the ultimate denominational disruptor. The idea is a condemnation of people taking a position that seems principled and brave, but is in fact a massive cop out, involving no risk or effort whatsoever.

Younger readers may know of the concept by the hip term of virtue signalling. We've certainly been experiencing a great deal of signalling in recent weeks, both with and without the adjective.

There's been a virulent outbreak of self-righteous indignation about National Grid's plans to replace the old pylons along the Bramford to Twinstead route with new ones. Some of these constructivist giants even have the temerity to come close to bisect the routes between our town and places like Layham.

Led by James Cartlidge MP and Mick 'Macadam' Fraser, there is a bandwagon of wealthy folks braying for the transmission lines to be stuffed underground, regardless of the 'not cheap at all' cost.

The real cost they're interested in is the price of their bijou residences which they reckon are being diminished by such outrageous features of modernity.

It's not as if Hadleigh is lacking in other things to worry about. Drug dealing, child poverty, youth unemployment and a lack of affordable housing ain't going away anytime soon - not without some leadership from Rishi Sunak's bag carrier. Or maybe the effort would be just too costly for him to contemplate as he tries to accelerate his way up the ministerial pecking order?

Onto matters Macadam: did you notice the flourishes of roadwork signalling around the town in the weeks up to 6 May? Yet since polling day, they've virtually all but disappeared. Just like that.

It may well be a coincidence, of course, but this rash of hardcore activity can't have hindered Macadam's re-election campaign to Suffolk County Council in the face of 'Grandone' Grandon's challenge.

Many of these patch up jobs are already breaking up. Some of the holes in Pykenham Way are now large enough to qualify as Olympic swimming pools. Time to crank up the asphalt machine again, Macadam?

The results of the Town Council byelections saw four of the six seats being won by non-Hadleigh Together candidates. Although Maritime Minns can still call on the immediate loyalty of most councillors, his shrunken majority signals residents' desire for a slightly less partisan atmosphere.

Giving priority to getting a Neighbourhood Plan drafted and approved would certainly signal a renewed seriousness of intent from Maritime.

The natural world's been busy signalling as well. The martins, swallows and swifts are back in numbers - a sure sign that summer is a-comin' in, as the ditty has it.

However, the Taylors have yet to hear those ultimate harbingers of the season of dodgy barbecues, inappropriate shorts and second degree sunburns - nightingales and cuckoos. I wonder if others have been more fortunate?

The easing of the lockdown is certainly being signalled by lots of local business activity as pubs and restaurants prepare for indoor custom.

Imagine the unaccustomed joy of being able to pop into one's local unannounced and without having to complete the administrative equivalent of a day trip to North Korea?

In a fascinating interview for Hadleigh Nub News with the hugely impressive George Double, the re-opening of the Hadleigh Jazz Club signals a further return to the good times.

Not my kind of music you understand - I'm more into crumhorns, shawms and hautboys (no sniggering at the back of the pews). But Master Double's optimism is infectious, even if his flowing and swarthy locks and fashionable beard - sixteenth century fashionable, you understand - reminds me of the folks who did for me on my bonfire.

In another signal of things getting better, I see that the editor has acquired another significant character from Hadleigh's past to spread the Gospel of provocative writing.

Guthrum was the original Scandi Noir and I'm enjoying his contributions to date (good, short sentences as befits a onetime pagan), although I pray for his soul as he regales us with his less salubrious opinions.

There are rumours, which I've just made up, that we might be joined by an additional, similarly illustrious, columnist: the Krays.

King Guthrum, Rowland Taylor and Ronnie & Reggie: Hadleigh's ultimate three graces.

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