Day 281

This might be my last post for a while? I am fed up with all I read, hear and with my own and others reaction to it! 

So one last rant to finish with for now.

I saw a video online by Happen.net entitled The New Normal. It espoused many different issues regarding Artificial Technology, the Covid vaccine amongst many others. How tech companies are dominating, China is the world leader in robotics and AI.  Lots of Doctors and scientists and other learned people talking about the future and how we will be affected both good and bad. For example one man talked about how intelligent transport will take over and we humans will not be allowed to drive any more because they will be safer, quicker and more efficient. Another one espoused how the Covid vaccine is delivering in a different way, to the immune system, than those from the past? Jobs will disappear as Robotic and AI take over the workplace? We will live in a Smart world (as if we don’t already?). All sorts of technology could be used for us and within us! There is a whole movement about Reset, a movement set to reboot the world and change the fundamental way we live now. We are apparently in the fourth industrial revolution? Very very wealthy people like Bill Gates and Elon Musk are bidding to control more and more alongside other such wealthy billionaires. There is of course the fear and obvious concern this vaccine will have side effects for some, of course it will, all vaccines do! Is the effect large or small? Is there enough current data to base any number on? Make your own mind up, just know that you will be pushed and pulled one way or the other, until there is irrefutable proof, we just don’t know!

Well so what? Big deal! Personally I don’t give a shit! Let them inject Nanobots into me, what will they do and really who is going to go to that expense? My data is out there anyway and if you seriously want to track me I have a device that you can already do that with despite what ever “settings” I chose to stop it! If we are going to have automated transport, great, as long as it gets me where I want to go, fine, I don’t enjoy driving anyway and there are to many unsafe bastards on the road! For years humans have wanted to find a way of not having to do certain jobs, so if they can be done by robots, quicker, more efficiently and with less cost, fine. If there are those out there who believe we should reset the globe, great, I’ve been supporting that for years! 

Now all of that was written with a tiny bit of my tongue firmly in my cheek. Of course there are consequences that will have a massive effect on humanity. However to those who think that there is a cabal of wealthy men and women, governments and others who they believe want to control us, where have you been it has been happening for hundreds of years anyway, what good has it done “them”? And yet I still ask this question, if it is true, why? Why would you want to control billions of people anyway, what possible advantage would it give you when you are wealthier than you could spend in twenty lifetimes, this is not a James Bond film! I personally have nothing to fear, I can only control my infinitesimal part of the world. Humanity has always advanced, often not in a good way but advanced it has. We must resist the overwhelming temptation to believe that any and all progress is detrimental to our freedom, health, prospects and families. We simply don’t know, nobody really does, whether they are an supposed expert or not! There is always some truth in most stories but in todays world they hinge on which bias and agenda those who publish them have and our bias and agenda then pushes us towards what we want to believe. Look at what is happening all over the world and particularly in America right now. Take it all with a large grain of salt. Do what you think best? Don’t be unduly influenced by those that want you to be afraid. We live in world changing at a rate never seen before, no wonder we struggle to make sense of it. There is far too much information and much more misinformation . It is almost impossible for ordinary people to know what is good and bad. One day the expert says one thing and the next another contradicts it, we bounce around and the info gets whispered and passed around until nobody knows the real truth! Unless you’ve read every report or statistic, listened or read every full speech, how do we know the context. I don’t say they do not raise legitimate concerns but it is very easy to edit a presentation to give a particular angle. Do you believe those fanatical Trump supporters really research their beliefs or are that just predisposed to want his brand in the first place? Do they truly believe the election was rigged or are they just blindly following because they don’t like the result and because Trump tells them it was? Who is really stirring up these idiots? 

Frankly it is all vastly overrated and unimportant. I’m coming to the final chapter of my time and in many ways I am glad!

We are all susceptible to those who promote our pre-conceived beliefs, it’s human nature! What if the vaccines are the answer? What if technology, AI, Robots, automated transport do make our lives better? What if “resetting” is what we need? What if we can address climate change and the many problems that beset our world? What if wealthy billionaires are helping to make things better? What if, what if, what if!

Optimism is the faith to hope things will be better. We just have to have that faith?

Thank you to all two of you that have stuck with this blog but after 281 days I am going to sign off for now.

Goodbye and stay well.

 Day 280

Words of the day: IPSEDIXITISM Insisting something is true because someone somewhere said it was. QUOCKERWODGER (19th century) a puppet like individual whose strings are pulled by someone else!

Each day this government is eroding our rights and removing protections, that have been hard won whilst members of the EU. It is almost as though they were rubbing their hands with glee waiting for January 1st with a list of EU legislation they could get rid of and now they are ticking them off as they go! Workers rights are being looked at, our human rights being slowly eroded just too name two. I urge you to protest to your MP as they are now talking about wiping a £1000 a year from Universal Credit which will affect up to 6 million, as well. These are the people who most need this assistance, they are not all lazy scam artists living off the state! The EU maybe a bureaucratic heavy weight with lots of faults but they have also enacted much that has been beneficial to us all. With the Conservatives in power our rights and freedoms have been sold for the imaginary price of sovereignty and a fear of immigration! 

I read a comment on Twitter this morning which was apposite, it is attributed to Matt Haig (I don’t know who he is) “The rise of opinion news rather than fact based reality news is one of our problems” I could not agree more and have been saying so for some years. I have recently taken a bit more notice of the news channels, especially surrounding the events in America. I have been watching CNN. They number of people they interview, almost exclusively against Trump, is bewildering. There is so much “opinion” you are no longer sure what the actual facts are. Now that is a little bit of an exaggeration because they show all sorts of footage and have reporters stationed all over but you are no longer sure whether they have actually investigated what they report or are speculating on what is happening? They seem to have a lot of information on what could or should happen but your never sure what actually could or will happen? 

I believe everyone deserves a second chance and therefore it is only fair they impeach Trump for a second time!

Stay well 

 Day 279

Did you spot yesterday’s deliberate mistake? Wrote 268 and it should have been 278!

Now Jacob Rees-Mogg.  Fish maybe rotting on the key side but not to worry their happier because they are British! Even if said as a humorous throw away line it is insensitive and crass in the extreme. Remember this man is the Leader of the House and a government minister! There is little more to be said just another example of the men who the British electorate think should be leading us! I am at a loss to understand how! Personally I feel insulted every time he opens his mouth. I shan’t go on, I’ve said all before and I am exhausted doing so!

Friday 15th of January 2021, how’s the year been for you so far? If the first 15 days are anything to go by then it’s not looking great is it? On the bright side I did fit mudguards to my new bike yesterday, in spite of not needing any of the fittings that came with the bike and finding out that the instructions were useless. I worked it out for myself. I am not a pessimist by nature, far from it but I am not convinced this year will be much better than the last. I hope I am wrong! 

This last year has been a bumper one for misinformation on subjects from Covid to Vaccines and just about everything else. I am beginning to wonder if the internet is really worth the bother? Although I am rather disappointed I’ve never been trolled? I am not naive but what is the point of it? What pleasure does it give to anyone including the person who posts the insult? Another indication of human behaviour that makes you wonder why we think we are so important? We are nothing more than balls of energy as indeed is the whole planet born from the Sun and nothing more than an infinitesimal tiny speck of nothing!

Stay well

Day 268

 Word of the day: CIRCUMLOCUTIONIST one who constantly speaks in a roundabout way in order to avoid addressing the question directly!

We watched the second programme about inside Obama’s White House which showed the almost impossible task he and his administration had in getting his “Obamacare” passed into law. You could already see the seeds of what Trump later stoked into his supporters, as almost exclusively white Americans, protested against what they claimed was governmental take over of their health system and what they saw as socialism and even communism. This shows a complete lack of understanding that the many Americans have of what “socialism” actually is but thats for another day! Never mind that this was to help millions who fell through the health insurance cracks and were prevented from getting health care and that all health insurance in America is underwritten by the federal government anyway, they simply could not bring themselves to endorse anything that a Democrat President might enact. Republicans were against it in most cases because it was a Democrat plan. And here is my point, politics today is no longer about what is best for all but drawn up along party lines where the merits of the actual plan have nothing to do with the opposition being against it. It is to a degree the same here in the UK though here the people are less likely to riot against what they don’t like? I shook my head in despair as to why these people protesting could not have the decency to understand that it was to help their fellow citizens? We live in a time where the divisions between those with opposing views are far wider than at any time since WW2. It is the reason why we have left the EU, it is the reason why America is in such turmoil and almost in the grip of “revolution”! These divisions, encouraged by men (very few women) who see it as a way of gaining power and furthering their own agenda. Plenty talk about “healing” the divisions but from what I can see there is precious little actually happening to try! I have said this countless times and I do not apologise for repeating myself, until we understand that inclusion and working together is not a dirty impingement on our freedom, we will continue to be divided and the bitterness will continue to fuel those who wish to sow the seeds of discontent and violent protest!

Smile!

Stay well

 Day 277

For your amusement: Eggs used to be called CACKLEFARTS Penguins ARSE-FEET your eyes were OGLES!

Everyday I read yet another ridiculous quote from a government minister. Granted I have not heard the full interview and I don’t always know the context but even so the remarks made are crass, unhelpful, confusing and just plain mad! Is there a minister who is capable of giving a straight answer that is backed by actual facts. It is almost as though they have got together and collectively decided to speak as confusingly and mislead the public on purpose! I read that they have awarded a £100 million contract for school laptops to a Tory donor. Now if this donor makes the best laptops, on time, delivered, fine, no problem and maybe they will but once again it has the whiff of corruption and it seems the Conservatives are unapologetic about the these awards going to their “friends”! I am sorry to keep going on about this government but they have proved they are untrustworthy, corrupt liars, who seem to have no shame in doing whatever they want whilst telling us not to! 

Do you know anyone who has had the vaccination? My daughter-in law has but she is a Matron and a frontline worker. Whether you want the jab or not compared to many countries we are mightily inefficient at rolling out this vaccine when it is the greatest emergency we have experienced? A friend of Wendy’s is a retired Doctor has volunteered to administer the jab but the questionnaire and training she has to go through is just unbelievable. For instance she has to state she will not radicalise anyone or be radicalised herself. The ethnicity requests are just weird and also there are questions about her family? She says she went through all of this training not long before she retired! I understand the need to be careful but this is a vaccination that takes les then a minute, what do they think will happen?

Stay well

 Day 276

Words of the day: PANURGIC (19th century) ready for anything. RAMFEEZLED (18th century) exhausted, befuddled and overcome!

Well I am always panurgic but I must admit that I am also ramfeezled as well! 

We are in the process of moving. I spoke yesterday with the conveyancer/lawyers who are advising that the current estimated timetable for conveyancing is 16 weeks. This would take us well past the March deadline for stamp duty and capital gains into May? I suspect the chancellor will extend it but whilst I personally am relaxed about the situation, I know both my buyer and the vendor of the apartment we are buying want it done by then. There is some conflicting info regarding searches and I am sure they are lowering expectations but be warned if you are thinking of moving house, the property market is booming and the players involved are very busy!

Banning Trump from social platforms brings up a thorny issue. Don’t get me wrong I am very glad that they have the man is evil and should be locked up where he can no longer ever speak to anyone again! Having said that it is a free speech problem. I would not condone a single syllable that comes out of Trumps mouth but I would have to defend his right to speak. Yes he’s the President and has to be held to a higher standard. Here is the problem, this is the first time in our history we have giant tech companies dictating what is acceptable writing? They are not under any control by us, other then our protestations at what is acceptable and pressure from governments. One should never support or condone hate filled content that promotes violence and prejudice and it must be controlled but in all honesty it worries me. Balance is everything and the question where do we stop with censorship? There is no doubt Trump incited his followers and that the violence at the capital was as a direct result of his prompting. I read there are plans for more protests and that law enforcement and the national guard are on stand by. It is difficult not to wish that all those who promote that which you hate are banned from ever having the right to speak but without free speech we are no longer free! Let me be very clear I am delighted they have stopped Trump from posting and I hope they indite him for all the crimes he has committed and throw the key away but we must be vigilante that we don’t overreact and tilt the balance towards draconian censorship!

Meanwhile back in NI they have shortages in their supermarkets and checks are being carried out on shipments, which only proves once more what a liars Boris and his cohorts are. Those who live in Spain are waking up to the realities of what Brexit really means. Brits travelling are surprised that are no longer waived through and who can blame customs in EU member countries for having some small delight in our discomfort when we voted to leave?  I will never stop saying what a terrible mistake we have made and I will never apologise for doing so!

Stay well

 Day 275

Word of the day: DESDEDIRIUM (desse-deer-um) The longing for something once possessed but now lost!

I have am spitting mad. I have just read that our government is going to overturn EU legislation that stopped farmers using pesticides that are harmful to Bees! We know how vital Bees are to the ecological food chain, it has been loudly trumpeted for some long time. I have written, once more, to my MP and I urge you to do the same. This is typical of a party and government that has little or no understanding or simply don’t give a shit! No doubt this is to keep some donor somewhere happy because their chemical company profits have been hit by the ban? 

I try very hard to be calm and positive in my morning scribbling but when you read nothing but misery and bad news it is not easy! 

I urge you to look at Arnold Schwarzenegger video address regarding the current crisis in the US. Yes he’s an actor and knows how to deliver lines but it is very powerful!

Stay well

 Day 274

Word of the day: MALACE (17th century) dead calm a complete absence of wind!

I like sport, perhaps not as much as when I was younger but I still follow it. Having read how it is being affected by Covid in recent days it must stop. I know the authorities both sporting and governmental are reluctant to halt it but safety must be the priority. A constant testing is not an accurate barometer of whether you are positive or not. Why take the risk. Look what has happened already? Money and results have to be put to one side.

Michael Gove has said that following Boris’s “deal” there will be significant delays at the borders! To which I simply say had we not left there would not be!

If you think the trouble from Trump supporters has now finished, think again! It is being fuelled by the far right and others who are continuing to stir up those who believe the election was rigged and Trump won. These people are so deluded they are now believing Trump is being held hostage in the White House! It comes as no surprise when viewed from the historical perspective of a country that has had many weird cults and a number of strangely based religions. I said right from the beginning that if Trump lost he would never go quietly, with any semblance of dignity and he would rile up his supporters and never apologise for any of it. 

There are thousands of conspiracy theories floating around in every part of the world. Some no doubt have the whiff of truth about them, most are pure nonsense. In our current world of mass information and available platforms it is easy to get sucked into a goose chase of misinformation and agendas simply done to incite and misguide the unwary. Many are so good, because they often appeal, to that which we privately may believe and it confirms our suspicions and makes us think we are right? There is much going on that is corrupt and illegal, all sorts of things are being slipped by us without our noticing, rights get eroded everyday but just as much good happens hopefully to balance the scales. If you believe in a certain “theory” than that is your right and your perfectly entitled to do so, however if you then subscribe to passing it on, be prepared for the backlash from those who disagree and pour scorn on your assertion! My advice ignore them all, don’t go looking unless you are prepared to do your due diligence and really research the premise!

Stay well

 Day 273

Word of the day:OCHLACRACY mob rule Other cracies KAKISTOCRACY government by the worst of citizens ARISTOCRACY government by the best of citizens later the elite IDIOCRACY Government by idiots DEMOCRACY government by the people!

Wendy and I are fed up! Just generally fed up, I know we are not alone. There is little in the way of anything at present to cheer ones soul! 

Here is one reason why. This pandemic will not be solved simply by the application of a vaccine and those who think it will be are sadly labouring under the misguided idea that soon we will be back to life as we knew it! The underlying problems of our and many other countries has been brought into stark relief during this viral attack and they have not been addressed nor will they be, no matter how much this shambles of a government says it has helped! The UK is fundamentally broken as indeed is the USA and it will take more than just bland words and billions of pounds or dollars to solve it. The list of changes is far to numerous to write about here and most of us know what they are. You must not feel powerless to help with change we are all responsible!

Here is another. I am fed up with being labelled being a liberal, namby pamby, left wing, who believes in fairness. What is wrong with wanting a fair and equitable society where EVERYONE get an equal opportunity? Whats wrong with wanting politicians at the sharp end who are trustworthy and honest? What wrong with wanting to eradicate prejudice? I am unapologetic about being on the moral high ground, I am unapologetic about being constantly critical of those who wave their privilege in our face and then tell us to do what they say! I will not be silenced simply because we voted to leave the EU and I disagree! I am unapologetic in pointing out the mess we have put ourselves in. I am unapologetic about voicing my opinion and encourage you to do the same (as long as unlike a certain President you are not inciting violence). I encourage you to air your views but do not do so and then get upset if others disagree! “Right minded” people do not really exist, one persons “right mindedness” is another’s anathema. It is wonderful to have looked after number one and made a success of your life, well done but not everyone can  for many reasons and we should help each other, indeed it is imperative that we do so. Can any of us say we have gone through life so far without help? I know I can’t.

Stay well

 Day 272

What shall we discuss today? There is so little going on! I can’t remember (in my life) when we have had a news cycle dominated by one or two subjects for so long? The world has not stopped, all the stuff that was going on is still happening. Tragedy abounds all over the globe and happy things too. So in an effort to cheer us I have decided not to rant or complain, moan, criticise or generally comment on the usual suspects and try to be upbeat!

We have a lot to be thankful for, we are alive for a start! We are always better off than someone else! We have enough to to eat. We live in a warm home. We have enough money. We share the same dislike of those people who are idiots! It is wonderful to be around in a time so full of discovery and wonder. (I’m trying here!) Science is making unbelievable advances and our lives will improve exponentially in a myriad of ways? The future looks bright and the world will be ours again. Progress will be made on climate change (I’m really trying, it’s a strain!) We will wake up and and vote for better leaders (Oaky I’m stretching incredulity!)  Life will be immeasurably better and this pesky virus will be a thing of the past? so don’t be depressed over our current situation it is just the calm before the bright future that lays before us. (Excuse me while I go and be sick!) Smile, be happy, rejoice, life is beautiful!

Stay well

 

 Day 271

Todays word:SEQUACIOUSNESS (17th century) The blinkered and unreasoning and slavish following of another, no matter where it leads!

What can you say? It was always going to end in tragedy and farce. Trump supporters prove themselves to be everything we thought they were. Trump, if any proof was really needed, proves himself to be the worst of Presidents. This is not just America today, divided, rioting over the result of the election, this is the prevailing mood of the world. With Trump we should not be surprised, his relationship with his so called supporters has always been tribal. His entire Presidency has been one of confrontation and divisive rhetoric. We can only hope that once Biden is sworn in that some order can be restored. It is going to be difficult to build trust and faith in the democratic system, after the damage Trump has caused with his continued failure to accept the result. We shan’t discuss the obvious irony of his stance and the thousands of contradictions that riddle all of his arguments. There is no doubt that both he and his closest allies, stirred up and incited his supporters and that this attack on the Senate was almost inevitable. Trump must be removed, even though he has a only two weeks left, it must be done in order to show their citizens and the world that a demagogy cannot remain in power, no matter how long they have left. His pathetic and frankly encouraging responses to the protesters only confirms that he supported everything they have done! 

I notice that not one Conservative UK politician has condemned Trump only condemned the rabble that attacked Washington, they are cowards!

The world is a tragic place at present, riddled with Covid and a collective loss of faith in any system democratic or otherwise but history shows us that we will get through it, don’t lose hope, in my experience the silent majority usually win and good sense prevails, eventually. It is up to all of us to be responsible and never give up!

Stay well

 Day 270

Todays word from Susie: PREVARICATE to behave indecisively and avoid important decisions from the Latin “praevaricaeri” to plough crookedly or haphazardly!

It seems that no one has a good word to say about our government, including many of their own MP’s, I wonder why? Has it really come as any surprise that Boris Johnson is hopeless at being PM. When he was Foreign Secretary, he appeared on a programme about Westminster and it was obvious that his staff had to keep reminding him what he was supposed to be doing and what he should say. He appeared not to have a clue and seemed to find it all very amusing! There is little more that can be written about his disastrous tenure as our PM. We must be a laughing stock throughout the world, with others asking how did a supposedly intelligent civilised country like the UK vote this idiot in to power? America can say little as they themselves fell foul long before we did! For those of you who supported him and worse voted for his party, aren’t you glad he is in charge? Inept, does not cover it, he just does not get it and neither do his ministers. They have no idea what the population is going through and how many are suffering irrespective of the added fear of Covid! Until we get a government of any stripe that actually understand the real problems nothing will be done or change and unfortunately I do not think that will not happen. 

If you think leaving the EU was a good idea and you voted for it and still believe it was right, boy are you in for a rude awakening as more and more disadvantages are revealed. This won’t just be the big stuff of trade and international law etc but all the tiny, yet vital cogs, that people need in order to run their lives. We have no understanding of the many apparently unimportant small things that we took for granted that will no longer be available and will require re-negotiation and in lots of cases will just disappear. The trouble is neither do our so called government, they never have! The EU was is not a perfect Union but then no such thing exists but as our rights slowly erode and we find out more and more what “leaving” actually means, you watch as the tide turns!

A third lockdown now in it’s second day and likely to run until at least February. Yesterday the highest number of reported positive cases. The roll out of the vaccine, whatever your opinion, is going to be too slow because, as usual, the powers that be cannot think “outside the box” and find ways of increasing access. I don’t mind who gives me the jab. Wendy could do it she is a qualified Medical Laboratory Assistant. The point is that there are many avenues available that could assist with the rollout and not just the overworked and almost overwhelmed health service! Come to that I could do it, I used to do ear piercing, long before the electric gun was available, ethyl chloride and a sharp needle in a syringe was the method then! Okay that last one was a joke but you get it!

Stay well

 Day 269

Inevitably we are in another lockdown, no surprise it was always coming. We should have been in one since before Xmas, as they were in Greece and other Euro states. A blind monkey could have seen what was happening and reacted better. The virus is not the fault of this government, it’s handling of it is. I have said before that no government could do right for doing wrong but this shambles of prevaricating muppets are a disgrace caught between the typical Conservative rock of capitalism and the hard place of the countries safety, they erred the wrong way. Boris and his cabinet waver from day to day like a rubber ball bouncing round a room! I don’t mean to diminish the difficulty of trying to manage the situation but their inept handling has become a joke! I am sorry to say that the younger generations are to a large degree the cause of this “spike” ? The virus was always going to mutate though nobody could have predicted when. One must endorse, yet again, that until we all behave in a responsible manner, we will not gain any control, there is no doubt that the state of the nations health has not helped withstanding the onslaught! As a friend of mine rightly says until we get our health right and habits change, the underlying health issues will continue, with all the associated problems that come with that, virus or no virus! 

It has been a cry down the years to change our way of living and there has been much evidence to support it. We have finally banned smoking in public places for very obvious reasons even though for many years it’s effects we’re denied. In my opinion it should be outlawed completely. There is irrefutable evidence regarding our poor eating habits (I’m no angel) especially in regard to certain foods but rather like smoking we take far too long to grasp the nettle and the damage keeps piling up. I have always been of the view that the human race for all it’s progress is disposed to destroying itself in one way or another. I heard on Sunday the 4 babies are born in the world, every second, thats 240 every minute and so on, you do the math. The planet cannot sustain the current growth of the population and in order to do so we destroy large parts of it to feed us! I was heartened to watch Stephen Fry’s program on advances since the 21st century began. There has been much progress in ways of producing food and nutritious food in natural ways without destroying our planet, we must support this even if economic pain is felt by those that currently produce our food. Some foods are just as dangerous as smoking and some more so! There is much talk about how much methane cows produce but did you know the rice paddy fields are one of the biggest causes of it? 

The overwhelming emotions at present are those of frustration, boredom, exhaustion, disbelief, confusion, sadness, disinterest, incredulity, fear, loss and a deep mistrust of our leaders! All this and the wonder of Brexit to look forward to! In the words of Charles Dickens opening line of A Tale of Two Cities, “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times!”  Perhaps the closing lines are also appropriate “it is far better thing I do than I have ever done before!”

Stay well

 Day 268

I have written very little regarding the Trumpster since my campaign for him to be defeated was a resounding success but as his illegal misdemeanours mount up and he ends his tenure with no apparent regard for his office or his citizens, I must hope that once out of office no amount of Presidential immunity will protect him from being charged for all the things he has done illegally and he will rightly be sentenced to a prison term!

No word today but this picked up on Twitter: The indigenous Canadian Innu, Matshishaskpeu (The Fart Man) is a powerful spirit. He speaks through human farts, often ones that help tell the future, and if his angered he can kill with constipation. The world needs someone who clear it’s bowels!

Stay well

 Day 267

Two words today:

DRAGONFUTTER (German literally “dragon fodder”) an apology gift bought to appease a disgruntled spouse!

WHIFFLER (17th century) A chronically indecisive and evasive person who swings from one course of action to another!

The debate over school opening, is one of little merit and a nonsense. Under the current reasoning and tier system it is obvious they should remain closed, it should not even be a debate? If it protects all of us (and the teachers) then it is for the greater good. I understand the argument that children will yet again miss out on their education and that is undesirable but we are talking about our survival! The young are generally resilient, they will adjust. Of course I am no longer a parent of school age children and am woefully ignorant about todays education system other than to say from my observation many kids seem to be uneducated of much that is happening or has happened. I hope someone reading this will dispute that sentence? Either let this Covid have its head and run itself dry or shut us down completely, you can’t have it both ways!

I was sadden to see groups of drunken revellers on NYE standing outside a London hospital shouting “Covid is a hoax” at staff as they finished their shifts. Inside they were dealing with the overwhelming effect of the virus and people were dying, disgusting and so typical of what I fervently hope is a small minority in our country?

Now to change the subject, I don’t know if your a football fan (frankly I could care less) I only watch Match of the Day and I hate the false crowd noise they broadcast because the stadiums are empty. Up until a little while ago I confess I did not realise that in the grounds there is no crowd noise, it is a soundtrack out on by the broadcasters, I wish they wouldn’t!

Stay well

 Day 266

Todays word: CRAMBRAZZLED (19th century) Looking prematurely aged from excessive drinking!

I don’t just write this blog and those of you who have read it will know that occasionally I publish one of my short stories or poems. (There is one below today) Since the beginning of December my creative juices and imagination to write at all (apart from this blog) have dried up. I don’t feel inspired and no subject has sparked any desire to do so. If you are a creative person (and I believe in some way we all are?) you will, now and then, have periods where the creative feel is just not working! It’s not writers block, I am not staring at a page without being able to start (I wrote the poem yesterday). I guess it’s the current situation we all find ourselves in. 

I belong to a writers group and having emailed them it seems that they too are struggling. Honestly, I sit and struggle to start this page each morning. I find it therapeutic to write my thoughts and feelings down but recently not so much, for obvious reasons! As someone who is not afraid to show my feelings or emotions it is easy for me to be smug. There are many many who struggle to either express themselves or articulate thoughts and in this time of uncertainty and danger, it must be doubly hard. The human psyche is a strange beast of unpredictability and capriciousness, constantly leading us astray, whilst bringing us joy and grief in equal measure! The human condition. 

Oh and I don’t like the the cold and winter in general. Fine if you do but I definitely don’t!

Stay well

WE ARE WALKING IN THE AIR!

I poke my nose out the door

The world is still there

Blank and grey frozen

Knees creak as we perambulate 

Zig and zag smile and nod

Curtailed by weather and natures revenge

Fingers cold in furry suede

These streets still look the same

Christmas lights twinkle and shine

Comfortable but imprisoned

Freedom is a walk to nowhere

Chilled but not stirred

Nature impassive and still

Looks on as we pass

Squirrels scurry across the grass

Trees sentinel and bare 

Dogs run round without a care

Park is a refuge but ironically full

Ghosts of past days 

Haunt the present like glorious joy

This too will end

A memory of times gone by

All things must pass

As long as it’s socially distanced!

 Day 265

So happy New Year I suppose! Finally 2020 has disappeared in the review mirror and we look forward to a better year in 2021? Don’t get your hopes up to soon we are still in a desperate race against the virus! Collectively, it is fair to say 2020 was the worse year I can remember, although, personally I’ve had worse! We must be positive and hope that by the end of this year it will all largely be a memory? 

We are no longer “Europeans”! That day that at least 48% of us did not want has arrived and we have officially left the EU. My well worn tirades against our going will not cease and I will continue to point out our folly as more and more disadvantages come to light, as I fully expect. For now I will stop!  

I sincerely hope you can have a good year. If your reading this you are still here and that is more than we can say for all those who have succumbed to this horror! Our NHS staff and front line workers are still at breaking point and all that wasted spending by our government for extra facilities, that can’t be used has done them no favours. When are the people going to wake up and genuinely protest against this regimes feathering of their “friends” bank balances? Perhaps I’m going about this the wrong way and should tender for supplying a product I have no experience of and have never made, so as I can get millions from the government! It’s easy, be related to or friend of a minister and you won the lottery! Boris must have awarded a contract to a company that has never made flags before who is a friend of a  friend of a friend who knew someone he once spoke to judging by the number of Union Jacks he has now festooned behind him. Probably awarded it to a French company as with our passports! I cannot emphasise enough how furious it makes me that we are being governed by this lot, with the exception of Thatcher I have never been so depressed about a PM and his ministers. What makes it worse is we don’t seem to care how inept and uncaring they are? I don’t know the answer, I not sure there is one but we have to try because this is not working!

Stay well