The Argentineans are revolting.

Cristine Kirchner, the newly elected glamorous, kohl-loving President suddenly noticed how much money the farmers were making from turning their cattle-grazing fields over to the humble yet far more profitable soya bean and, Gordon Brown-like, decided to increase their taxes ferociously. The farmers roared their disapproval and after weeks of escalating muttering have taken to the roads to make their complaints known.Starting in the campo (the countryside) they have been blocking the major roads in and out of the cities, including Buenos Aires, with trucks and lorries. Cars have slowly been allowed through, usually by driving on the hard shoulder, but in most cases this comprises of gravel, grass or ditches, so progress is slow.

On Tuesday the demonstrations spread to the cities as people took to the streets at 8 o'clock in the evening, banging saucepans and pan lids with metal spoons and blowing horns.They are now protesting every night from 8 until about midnight, blocking roads and making lots of noise.The protest feels quite safe though; the majority of demonstrators are families and it's very good-natured, we've been down and mingled with them as they are only a block away from our apartment. Anyway, there's little point staying indoors struggling to watch a 20-year old Morse episode when the dialogue is inaudible due to the tinny clanging and shouting that drifts up from the streets below. Also, the television crews are out and of course we don't want to miss our possible moment of fame. We don't hang about though as I'm not sure our eardrums could stand prolonged exposure to such a racket. Haven't they heard of writing snotty and adjective-laden letters to the popular press, like the Cheltenham Bugle, for goodness' sake?

Rumours now abound of imminent food shortages as the blockades start to bite and deliveries stop, meaning those saucepans may stay empty for a little bit longer, so we are stock-piling tins of tuna and packets of alfajores in case the situation deteriorates. Feel free to send us foodstuffs in case of emergency. Like chocolate, for example.