Day 158

Today we have this word from Susie: TERGIVASATION (terg-i-vasation) The making of conflicting statements or the switching to one principle or another through constant changing of mind!

I am an Atheist. An Atheist is a person who does not believe in any Gods or deities or the existence of any. As opposed to an Agnostic who is a person who does not know if there is a God or whether one exists? Let me tell you why I am an Atheist. Firstly a complete lack of any evidence that such a being exists. There are those who would claim that our very existence is proof of a supreme being. I believe the exact opposite. How we came to be is a mystery but I am sure it is routed in science and nature springing from the cosmos not the work of one or more all powerful beings. Secondly if such a God does exists would any such being under any any circumstances leave their creation to fall in to such disrepair and chaos simply because we have been left to “get on with it” and as proof of out devotion and faith in such a being? I completely understand people’s need for belief and faith. Who would not hope there is some other place after death? The concept of heaven and hell is simply the manifestation, a projection of good and bad. I will not re-iterate my assertion of all the harm that has been done in the name of various religions, it is well documented and I you don’t need reminding by me! Perhaps my antagonism towards faith stems from my strong dislike of being told what to do or what to believe. Since I was a young boy I have always been determined to make my own mind up about the religious side of life and at the age of 7 or 8 I rejected any belief in Gods or organised religion. There was for me something creepy about figures who purported to be “men of god” (there were no women minsters back then) Dedicating yourself to the worship and faith of one all powerful deity seemed pointless and counterproductive to me! Not to mention all the trappings and wealth and in the Christian faith the worship of a single figure who is supposed to be the son of God? And the main image of him nailed to a cross seemed to me to be one of the worse representations you could display for the faithful to have? There are fine sentiments within most religions but they are logical rules by which we should live and without any religion existing those same life guides would exist, they is no religious framework required! 

If you believe fine and I will respect your choice. I only ask you have the same respect for all those who choose not to have any!

Stay well

Day 157

https://t.co/GZAOfCk7Ed  This is an article on Boris Johnson and says it all I encourage you to read it.

The stupidity of the human race never ceases to amaze me. Sometimes I think there are only a few of us left who are sensible and reasonable people. During this recent time I have never witnessed so many protests and gatherings. It’s ironic considering the nature of the pandemic we are experiencing! Some protests are for good reason, some for reasons so alien to many of us that you are bewildered as to why such gatherings take place? And then there is the aggression and violence, which often breaks out, when large groups form and becomes inevitable. I mention all this in light of yesterdays protest in Trafalgar Square by as many as 100,000 people who believe that Covid is a conspiracy, a hoax, a con, perpetrated by the media, 5G, Mickey Mouse, Aliens and fuck knows what else! Lead by the beacon of good sense and carful analysis, David Icke (who I thought had disappeared, never to be heard of again) What possesses people to believe such nonsense, to be so gullible? If it were a few dozen people, you could understand but nearly 100,000? I’m sure there were many attending for other reasons or motives but even so. Is it me or is the sheer illogical foundation of such conspiracies so far fetched that that you cannot understand how even people whom in all other ways seem pretty intelligent go in for this bollocks. When the evidence is overwhelming and undeniable how can you stand and shout that this is all a hoax, a conspiracy, fake news? I am no expert and have no understanding of the consequences of technology and it’s effects on humans but I do know this one is electronic man made engineering and the other is a Virus. Now (and nature is cunning) unless nature has suddenly become able to mutate into electronics than these theories are nothing more then fantasy. One last thing, what do these people hope to gain from these outrageous statements? Just because they are that idiotic do they actually think the rest of us will suddenly go bloody hell their right we are being conned? We are already being conned by those who are in legitimate power, the real conspiracies are being perpetrated by our own government and leaders all around the world and that is not conspiracy theory or paranoia! I hope good sense prevails but I fear it has no room to breath anymore, it is drowned by those who shout the loudest and care little for the norms that the rest of us strive to uphold!

Enjoy your Sunday!

Stay well

Day 156

Todays word a nice gentle one. DIMPSY The soft glimmer of twilight or dusk.

It is the end of another week and a Bank holiday weekend, how will you spending it? Personally I’m not doing anything other than that which I always do. Retirement is a strange word it implies that you have given up work to do all those things, apparently, you never had time for. It is true one has more time for those activities that you may not have paid so much attention to. You have more time to spend on those things you may always have done. I worked for 47 years, well when I say worked what actually mean I went to jobs that paid me and tried to avoid doing very much at all. Don’t misunderstand I worked hard from time to time but as most of my working life was based on my ability to talk it really wasn’t that difficult. Yes there was physical work, I’ve sweated and lifted and moved stuff but then haven’t we all? Now with time to do whatever I like or do nothing at all life is easier. My generation were brought up with the work ethic drummed into us, though I would be a liar if I said I took much notice! I worked to earn money nothing more there were very few jobs I really enjoyed. I was always thinking of how I could get off the treadmill and stop and the older I got the stronger that desire became. Like many the opportunity never presented itself and I stopped as so many do, one year after being able to collect my state pension. The work/life balance is skewed to much in the direction of working because without money it is very difficult to survive but that is a whole other discussion! I like having each day to myself. Okay I have a comfortable life without the daily struggle of many just make ends meet. I have enough money, my home is mine and life frankly is easy. If you can I would recommend stopping work as soon as you are able it’s a joy. Now as the song I have just been listening to sang “I ain’t got nothing but time”

Stay well

Day 155

Word of the day BALATRONIC a rare 19th century word meaning “like a Buffoon” and we have so many to choose from!

I can’t let Trump’s assertion that Biden will destroy the American dream pass without stating the bleeding obvious that he has already done so! 

Wendy and I try very hard to be positive about the world but in the face of the news one reads each day it is not easy. Assuming you can believe what you read as accurate or truthful it is a unrelenting cascade of horror and mismanagement. Unfortunately it has been this way for many years and yet I don’t recall feeling quite so pissed off about world events as I do at present? The sheer amount of lies and distrust that pervades almost every platform has become so endemic that we no longer trust what we hear or see. Politicians who are supposed to set some form of example behave in such a random and cavalier fashion that not a single word that they say any longer seems to be trustworthy. We have know idea if we are being told the truth indeed our default position is that we aren’t! When trust of another or the integrity of those who report has been lost we have are in deep trouble and that is where we are now! Take the Maguire story. I have no idea who is telling the truthful story. Reports from Greece tell an entirely different tale than the one reported from the interview with the Man United player this morning. Now in the great scheme of things what has happened to this footballer and his friends and family is not that important however upsetting it may have been. We will probably never know the truth as each side spin it in their favour. I suppose it has always been this way but with the immediacy of todays news it is so easy to distort the story instantly! Frankly I don’t really care what happened to a millionaire footballer while on holiday and it is only reported because of who he is anyway!

I hope you have a good weekend bank holiday and....

Stay well

Day 154

Todays words Eggs were once known as “cacklefarts” and hankies as “snottinger” 

All Trump can do is make the American people afraid of the Democrats when what they need to be is terrified of four more years of his Presidency. He never says anything supportive or conciliatory just tells them what to be fearful of in the manner of a man who is unable to string a coherent sentence together. Perhaps he is so “loved” by his supporters because they are as incoherent and idiotic as him.

Johnston, could this man be any more of an embarrassment? What he reportedly said the the students about the algorithm is beyond belief! I am in despair that this man is our PM and baffled, confused and bewildered how any sane right thinking person could possibly support him let alone vote for him? 

Stay well

Day 153

Todays word from Susie......Autumnity a quality that hints at Autumn, as in the shift form warmth to an early chill

It will come as no surprise to my two readers that I cannot resist from writing about Johnson having thus far avoided commenting on either him or you know who this week.

Johnson has made little or no public statements for a while but he could not resist having a dig at the BBC for the Last Night of the Proms. Surely there are more important issues for his small mind to grapple with? Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia are traditional rousing music and there is no harm in them being sung in a good spirited way. The lyrics evoke a time when Britain had an empire and are meant to impassion the populace to stand together, nothing wrong with that but it was a different era and the jingoistic themes and glory are not applicable for our time. Public school, entitled, rich, privileged, Johnson would like to hark back to those times and invoke their spirit. Unfortunately they reflect on a time when we ruled over millions and destroyed millions of lives mostly in the pursuit of wealth and vain glory. This myth of the heroic Britain going out into the world and spreading enlightenment and civilisation is just that, a myth. I have no objection to the two songs being sung, though I understand the reasoning behind the decision. I do object to Johnson trying to stir up patriotism and a forlorn belief in the greatness of our United Kingdom. He has no understanding of the real plight of much of the population or any care other than for those who will help him to hold on to power. He is an idiot disguised as a PM with an intelligence that has no practical use or understanding of us. The only “cringing” embarrassment in this country is Johnson. Just read his language if your are in any doubt of his attitude or apparent superiority! Instead of criticising, as it so easy to do, he should be supportive and conciliatory but he does not have the intelligence to know when to keep his mouth shut. Yet another example of his and the Tory Party’s complete ignorance of how to conduct themselves!

Stay well

Day 152

I am sorely tempted to write about you know who and you know what but I am gritting my teeth and ignoring the whole ugly mess!

I have more time than normal for a Tuesday as the rain has stopped play. So what shall we discuss? There are many subjects that I have never touched upon either because I know little about them, they are not prominent at present or they simply don’t interest me. 

Watched the first episode of Mortimer & Whitehouse Gone Fishing. It is a gentle funny half hour about two men who go fishing. They visit beautiful places and if caught always return the fish to the water. It has an air of peace about it and provided a picture of tranquility and we all need a little of that. I heartily recommended it and it matters not whether you like fishing. Personally fishing is not my thing, although I can see the attraction of fly fishing, which is what they were doing on the river Tay in Scotland.

Also watched an old film called Ball of Fire starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck who revelled in the name of Sugarpuss O’Shea. It’s what used to be known as a screwball comedy! They really don’t make movies like that anymore. There are few nice gentle funny comedies made these days? Unless of course they “gross” comedy! I suppose films are made for the times they are in, which says it all! The same goes for British TV comedy series which just aren’t funny anymore. There is the odd exception but by and large they are dreary and far to angst ridden. We have found a few good international series which are brilliant. Let me recommend Call my Agent on Netflix a very funny French comedy about a talent agency and it’s mishaps. I Never Ever Have also on Netflix is good narrated by John McEnroe and starring a teenage girl in A US high school from an Indian Asian family and all the trouble she gets into! We have also just started to watch a tele-novella in Spanish (subtitled) it is the series that Ugly Betty was based on if you remember that. It is funny and dramatic with no let up also Netflix called Betty in NY.

There that was not so difficult almost completely ignored the orange baboon and his British cousin the blonde ape (Though I apologise to Baboons and Apes for that description)!

Stay well

 

Day 151

Ignoramus,Mysoginist, sex predator, liar, bully, con-man, charlatan, predator, bankrupt, idiot, wanna be dictator, graceless, hopeless,insulting, uncaring, antagonistic, foolish, clown and that is just one man and you know who I mean!

I was heartened yesterday. I was briefly watching the European Tour golf and even the professionals fluff a chip or spray their drive wide into the heavy stuff, knock it in the water  and put putts well passed the hole. Of course that only do it rarely where as I do it all the time!

I am not one of those who as an older man likes to blame the younger generation for being irresponsible. when I was younger I’m sure I behaved that way. The young think they are bulletproof and generally they are compared to those who are much older. There is no doubt from many places in the world that the young have been responsible for much of the spikes that have occurred since lockdown was eased. The are not to blame for it all there are many many idiots who have no sense and have made life difficult for others by congregating and gathering together against all the current advice. Wendy and I have decided to minimise any and all contact, we are not self isolating but we are not risking contact if it is not necessary!I am furious with the ignorance and stupidity of those who take part in any large gathering and don’t understand the consequences! 

Northampton is in danger of further lockdown and is largely due to the young who understandably have explored the freedom they enjoy and done what the young do! I am sure there are just as many who have behaved responsibly. How do you stop them? There are many who have little or no respect for society and certainly none for those who might suffer because of their recklessness. I know these are difficult times and I am trying to be reasonable but it is a further example of how society no longer functions in For the good of all!

Stay well

Day 150

I never thought I’d still be writing after 150 consecutive days but here we are still under severe pressure from a virus! I set out to write each day of this pandemic to just record my thoughts. I, like many was hoping we might have it under control by now but that was a forlorn hope based on ignorance and wishing! The prognosis is that it will never disappear and we will have to live with it and if a vaccine is found continue to get vaccinated every few years? Science is advanced but nature is far more advanced, we are always playing catch up. You can’t blame nature for trying to kill us off, we are the biggest threat to this planet it’s no surprise it is defending itself in any way it can! In the distant future none of this will matter because there will be nobody left to know about it the human race will have ceased to exist. 

Meanwhile back at the ranch Tonto disguised as a door had his knob shot off! 

Todays word is WINDOW which apparently we are indebted to the Vikings for, whose word for a hole in a roof or a wall was “Vindauga” “eye of the wind” Before window the Anglo-Saxons used “thirl” which derives from “nose hole’ Not as exciting as others words I’ve told you about but interesting nevertheless!

Stay well

Day 149

Today’s word curtesy of Susie Dent: UNASINOUS United in stupidity (from the Latin for “one ass”) 

I don’t know if you are aware of Raul Malo and The Mavericks. This man could sing the phone directory and it would sound great. He has one of the best voices ever. The Mavericks latest album En Español is utterly wonderful find it listen to it and enjoy!

Today I am going to be kind and nothing will be written about .......well you know!

A joke. How do you know when your being chased by a gay Shark? 

Der dum der dum der dum dum de dum de dum dum de dum!

How you doing today? Full of the joys of life? Happy, smiling? Feeling good? I hope so. Find something to laugh about, that makes you smile, does not matter what it is! Life maybe a bit of a pain but a good laugh is great medicine! Choose happy!

Stay well

 Day 148

Irrespective of whether America believes Biden is a better choice than Trump surely any other choice is better than Trump? Of course not withstanding he is 77 he must be a better choice. I’ve just watched a video of Trump wittering on about something to do with Sharks and I did not comprehend a single word he was saying. It was like listening to a man recovering from a stroke and learning to talk again! I’ve said and written much about Trump over the years as he rose to become President not a single thing has been complementary, I have insulted him in every way possible using language from the profane to the reasonable. I genuinely have never disliked anyone in the public arena as much. Thatcher, Farage and Johnson have come close but Trump trumps them all even though he is the “leader” of another country! Every single appointee that he started with has been indicted or found guilty of some type of misdemeanour or corruption. Yet the man himself who we know is corrupt and has committed all sorts of horrors has remained in power! If he does not loose we are doomed. 

Like me have you found in spite of the enforced lockdown and restrictions that time has flown by if anything even faster then usual? Time is a man made measurement and does not really exist in the way we perceive it in seconds, minutes, hours and days! It is nearly the end of August and yet it seems very little has changed since lockdown was announced? The virus is still rampant and dominates our lives and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. It could be come a permanent way of living and change us forever, if hasn’t already? 

I’ve read about all sorts of perceived hardships that people have suffered because of lockdown some of which are so pathetic that you wonder how fragile people are? I read today of a guy who works for a IT company having suffered anxiety because he has no human interaction with his colleagues will working from home. Now he may well do but please get some perspective, you have a job your not ill and you are in IT, get a grip. If that does not read like my normal tolerant understanding self so be it but really!!

Stay well

Day147

I going to moan but I am moaning about my own constant moaning. I am fed up complaining about all the wrongs they are reported everyday and the stupidity I see with my own eyes. It’s exhausting! I want to write something positive each day but it isn’t easy. When I come down in the morning and sit to have breakfast I open up the BBC news site and it’s downhill news wise from there. No wonder so many avoid the it, even at the risk of being ignorant about the world! Sometimes I wonder if going “off grid” might not be a bad idea. When I go on holiday I try not read what is going on but it does not last long. If I was honest I don’t really care what is going on unless it has a direct impact on me and my family or friends. And yet and yet, I can’t stop and I do care. I am far to lazy to anything other than write about all the trouble rather that actually get off my arse and do something! We watched a programme on the development of Manchester yesterday evening and it was further evidence of how the rich get richer and the people get pushed to the outside with little or no housing available at an affordable price and a waiting list so long you can’t see how they will ever get accommodation? I can only speak for myself when I watch these programmes but it upsets me when I’m living in a country that seems incapable of providing a simple thing like a home and the disparity between the haves and have nots is so enormous. 

Now a word about the migrants. Our governments attitude towards them is disgusting and as for the news’s channels following craft holding out microphones and shouting questions is some of the most disgusting scenes I ever witnessed. Help them you ignorant fuckers not hound them hoping for a news item or a sound bite! We are a civilised country who have welcomed people from all over the world many who were from countries we once ruled over. Are we so selfish and heartless that we can’t hold out the hand of friendship to a few desperate people fleeing from war, persecution, death and a desire to find a peaceful life? As somebody wrote nobody puts your family on the water unless the land behind is unsafe! What is wrong with us, when did we become so horrible and uncaring. If you were fleeing for your life you would want someone to offer you safety and a home not vilify you for fleeing in the first place and complain about what damage you might do to that country! What a bunch of mean spirited nasty uncaring bastards we have become, don’t even understand the word compassion.

Stay well

 Day 146

Todays word Psittacism (Sita-sism) A mechanical and meaningless repetitions of words without any real understanding from the Greek for “parrot”

Trump says he did not read the report that confirms there was Russian collusion in the last election! Nothing more needs to said about that! I understand that when Trump supporters are shown on TV and in various clips it is deliberately to show how nuts they all are but it cannot be a coincidence that every time you see Trump voters they are ignorant ranting nutters, much like the man himself!!!!!

Well who can our wonderful government fuck up next? They’ve screwed most of society so there is not much more to work through but I’m sure they are coming up with their next phase of let’s stuff this up. Their mismanagement and blustering incompetence is only matched by their ability to tell us how well they are doing. I have seen some incompetent ministers over the years, many who have no grasp of the department they are supposedly running. I have never seen so many ministers who are totally unsuited to their office or any office, lead by a man who has all the gravitas and sense of a slug! I understand there are a lot of younger people who voted for him because “I quite like him” well he’s screwed your future and so you only have yourselves to blame! 

Ah well Wednesday and on we go skipping gayly!

Stay well

 Day 145

Word of the day:  SORRY-GO-ROUND a repeating cycle of depressing events or news

I have been expounding on the ineptness of our government since we’ve had them in power. After yesterday if you need any further proof of there duplicitous and total bungling of events then there is something wrong with you. And to those who say well done for changing your mind and doing the right thing, the decision to use an algorithm to determine the outcome was misguided at best and utter idiocy at worse! We are being lead by a group who even a class of students could do better than in spite of the not knowing much about what was required!

I have little to say today. My usual verboseness has left me, the muse has gone and there was little to inspire a rant or comment. It is the same old story each day. Each day I scan the news less and less and spend less time reading what is going on. Perhaps at last I am slowly turning away. For every happy or good story there are a hundred sad or bad ones. 

Stay well

Day 144

Another week begins will the news improve? It seems unlikely. The economy is tanking, jobs are going and the stupidity of people perpetuates the toll of the virus. So can I come up with some cheerful words to try to lift our spirits? Happy, smile, love, friendship, family, care, kindness, sunsets, sunrises, cats, dogs, animals, grin, laugh, sex, music, art, sport, I think you get the drift! There are many inspiring and positive things happening you just have to look for them. Spoke to my son last night and as we discussed the lack of discipline that seems to be prevalent in many of the younger generations he told me that I had been a great Dad in bringing him and his brother up and he treasures the values we instilled in them. Brought a tear to my eye you can’t ask for more than that from your offspring! My generation are the “baby boomers” and on the whole the world we will leave to our children and grandchildren is not one to be proud of. We have developed wonders of technology but our relentless pursuit of commercialism and wealth has left the Earth a poorer place. I fell helpless in being able to do anything about it but if we leave behind two sons like mine, you can’t ask for more! 

So what will your week bring? Can you rise above the general apathy and chaos? Will you choose to be happy? Will you count your blessings? Smile at those close ones around you even if they annoy you? Most of us have much to be thankful for. It is easy to moan (bloody hell my blog is full of mine!) Easy to see the negative, that this horrible affliction is ruining too many lives. Look around what are you really missing? I am sure we have more to be thankful for than to complain about!

Stay well

Day 143

Today’s word from Susie.   Malversation corruption in public office......nuff said!

Putin sneaking into Belarus? Dictators and rigged elections come and go but they keep coming even under the name of democracy. What is this strange desire to hold onto power?  Is the aphrodisiac of rule so addictive that you can’t give it up even when you know your going to loose. Once they have this power they make it difficult to loose it by changing the rule of law. Look at Trump (by the way the wrong Trump died!) and his blatant tactic of altering the postal vote by not funding the Postal Service. He says it will be rigged but what he really means it will be bad for him so he wants to curb it. I find it difficult to understand why there is not more outrage about almost everything he says or does? It is almost as though the sensible parts of America are just tired of him and hoping he’ll just go away! 

I’ve never had any power either big or small but on those occasions when I have been in charge I’ve always erred on the side of diplomacy and persuasion unless the  person involved has done something so bad that it is unacceptable and you have discipline or if necessary ask them to go. I always gave one or two chances to everyone (I have been given enough myself!) if the person still did not comply then goodbye! We are human and make mistakes, say things we wish we hadn’t, taken action we shouldn’t have, done something when we knew it was wrong! We have all come across people we despise but have to be nice to! We have all had to handle situations where we would like to disappear but have to stay and deal with! I once had a manager who was a complete arsehole, in a job I did not enjoy. Not one member of staff liked him and to make matters worse he was best buddy with his boss. He said to me one day” Paul I know you dislike me but I admire the fact that you keep it to yourself” I replied “Nobody likes you it’s good that you realise it!” We almost never spoke after that but knew exactly where we both stood! I did not stay long.

The world would be a better place if more people realised that it easier to live in peace than conflict. It maybe trite and obvious but no less true for that. If only it were that simple! 

Stay well

 Day 142

I wonder why we are so easily offended these days? The rush to drop any word or term that might be construed as offensive of upsetting to somebody has become ridiculous. You can’t erase everything that has past because it no longer fits the current dynamic. There are many words and terms that naturally disappear for various reasons. They fall into disuse because they cause offence or are no longer relevant or have meaning. Those who read this regularly will know I have a fondness for old words and there meanings particularly if they apply to the current world. I am all for equality and not causing people pain or offence (I can think of some exceptions but enough of that today) but when we force the issue as we are now does it really make any difference? An argument could be made that by eradicating certain offensive terms we will progress and maybe have a fairer society? Where will it end and how far should it go? We cannot be shorn of all offending history lest we forget where we have come from and the advances we have made. And we have made advances even though it sometimes feels as though nothing has changed. Even oppressive regimes have made some enlightened progress. We are a long way from where we would like to be, a long way but looking back it was far worse and much has been achieved. If we continue to remove offensive language that has become anachronistic simply because it might upset then we are doing a disservice to those who come after us. The truth is these adjustments are a band aid over a problem that runs far deeper and until it is eradicated from peoples minds and hearts will never be defeated! Actually keeping certain words and excepting them for what they are and not what they are often used for might actually be a good thing? We appear to have substituted the word offence for tolerance!

Stay well