The Brighton penalty award

It was a disgrace.  Arsenal drew this weekend and we should have won.  While we lost a goal thanks to a penalty which should not have been given.  To be fair, when I saw it in real time, I though that the decision was a penalty, but we have VAR for a reason and the decision should have gone our way.

I have given up on the idea of Arsenal winning the title, but I would like Arsenal to finish in second place if we do not win a trophy.  

When it comes to the family, we took our Christmas decorations down today.  My daughter and I also went for a dog walk today.  She does not do this that often and considering that she will be leaving next month, I should treasure walks like this more.

Jess Phillips, Elon Musk and Stephen Yaxley-Lennon

 

I think that Jess Phillips is amazing. I love the way she communicates, I love her honesty and I love the way that she stands up against intimidation and injustice.

Elon Musk disagrees. Instead, he backs a stalker who has convictions for assault. Tommy Robinson has other convictions as well including fraud and travelling on a false passport. 

When it comes to British values, I know who represents our nation best and I am proud to be born in the same nation as Jess Phillips.

Should the Conservatives blame themselves for not investigating child abuse in Oldham?

The organised abuse of children in Oldham is in the news. What happened was horrific and evil. One of those involved was meant to protect the children who were vulnerable and abused. A report was published after this, detailing how the victims were failed.

But thanks to Elon Musk, a man who is supporting a convicted stalker, it is in the news again. The Conservatives have jumped on the bandwagon, but it turns out that the Conservatives decided not to commission the investigation that they are now calling for. 

Musk has been honest in what he wants. He wants Starmer to be out of office. He has managed to weaponise Twitter (sorry, X) and a lot of people now hate Starmer and probably will not vote Labour again in the next election, unless Labour can make the change they have promised, and more importantly, show the benefits of the changes. 

For now, I think that more attention should be paid to how Musk is supporting Tommy Robinson. Remember that this man, who is also called Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who has convictions for assault, fraud and travelling illegally using a false passport. A record that people should be reminded of. 

Nosferatu

Yesterday was a busy day. We went down to see my mother for her birthday l which meant we also got to see my youngest brother and his partner as well. The older of my two brothers has communicated with me on WhatsApp but has not spoken to me in a while, which is better that what has happened with my Mum as he has not spoken to her in ages.  

My Mother did ask me to get my brother to speak to her, but gave up when I told her not to keep annoying him. She then asked my wife to get him to speak to her, but my wife explained why she could not do so.  But is was a nice get together.

Later, when back at home I went out to watch Nosferatu. I only knew it was a film about a vampire.  I do like watching films knowing little about them, but I should have learned before that this was a remake of a film based on the book Dracula, which explained the many similarities to the film (I have read the book decades ago and cannot remember all its details to compare).  

It was shot very well, the plot essentially is the same as Dracula, but there are some differences. When comparing this to the film from 1992, there are some bits which are better, and some which are not. In fact, I would find it hard to pick which film I would rather see. 

It was interesting that many of the people who went to watch it met a stereotype, which I do not meet, well, to look at anyway. I had asked the rest of my family if they wanted to watch it and they declined. That was just as well as when I booked my seat, there were just a few left and if they came, we would have been sitting in different parts of the screen, or would have been right at the front. And not meeting the stereotype, we would have stuck out like sore thumbs! I know my wife would not have liked it as much as I did. My kids may like it in years to come, but again, I doubt that this is a film for them. 

Happy new year

Greetings all! It is the first day of 2025 and I am the only one awake in our house. Weather permitting, we are to travel to London later today to see my mother for her birthday. We had friends round to see in the new year, Leia having Louie round and they two got on mostly, until I set them off!

My wife had been in Elvedon the night before and I slept badly as a result, which meant that I passed out after midnight. But, I made it till then. My son had friends round and they left in the early hours of the morning, my daughter is probably sleeping off her celebrations last night!

I hope that all goes well this year. While everyone can say that the last one could have been better, I am grateful for the last year for others across the globe have had a worse time than me.

Anyway, happy new year to you all! 

Heretiks

This film is also called The Covenant and it is hard to find reviews due to there being other films with this name.

I liked it. But, I doubt I will ever watch it again. It is slow, it builds up to what is to happen, creating an air of mystery, but when the horror starts, the limits of the budget on special effects is obvious. But those limited do not detract from the enjoyment of the film.

With the film being about a nun, it will be compared to others, an example being Immaculate, and if I had to pick, most days, I would pick the other film. But the reason I say most days is that this is almost as good. 

I am glad I watched it, and it has given me ideas for the role playing games I am in charge of. 

How Brexit brought the EU together

Technically, the title of this post is misleading.  The EU has differences and has had some big problems, notably with Hungary.  BUT, many eurosceptic parties in EU nations have changed their mind on leaving the EU after seeing how the UK imposed economic sanctions on itself by leaving it.  

Basically, Brexit has been such a nightmare, that other nations have decided they are better in the EU rather than going it alone like we have in the UK.