The olive branch

Peace puts forth her olive everywhere.
William Shakespeare. Henry IV, Part 2, act 4.

These small baskets of carved olive wood were brought back from Palestine by Mrs Talpa's maternal grandfather, while he was saving in the Royal Navy, during the First World War.

The olive-branch is, of course, a traditional symbol of peace. I just wish that it could perform its magic in the Middle East. The current suffering of the innocents in Syria, Palestine and Israel is truly appalling and my heart bleeds for them all.