Ladies First

We are all back together. We drove back today after collecting my daughter and loading up my wife’s car. Arriving at my daughter’s flat, we found one girl had lost her keys the night before and was to be charged for the replacement. Another parent, a mother in a Land Rover had decided to block someone in and walked off for ages leaving them trapped. Earlier she had parked just behind my wife but moved when I told her to do so. Fortunately for me, I did not ask. One person had hired a van and some men to help move him, and while they parked blocking people in, one person stayed with the van so it could be moved if needed.  

The drive back was an uneventful one, other than terrible traffic as we hit rush hour.  But when we got home, we relaxed and watched Ladies First. I liked it, my wife and daughter did not. My son who left during the film made no comment. But it appears that I am in the minority as the film was given terrible reviews by The Guardian and The Huffington Post, a score my daughter agreed with. I suspect it was more of a lesson for men, which is ironic considering the topic the film.

Bristol and the Avon Gorge by Hotel du Vin

We are in Bristol. Tomorrow we collect our daughter and bring her back to Colchester. This hotel is not as posh as the one in the centre of Bristol, but is in a lovely area for dog walking, which our dog loves. The views from the nearby Clifton Bridge are fantastic as well.  I would definitely return, but I doubt I can walk as easily to restaurants in the town centre from here. 

Does Tony Blair support Starmer?

My view is going to be controversial. I think Blair does support Starmer.  The intervention of Tony Blair in politics today actually raises awareness of what Starmer has done, in a way that Starmer has not been able to get across, to those on the left. 

Thanks to Blair, people have been reminded of the stance of Starmer on employment rights, net zero, the NHS and Trump. 

I do not know if this will bring back voters to Labour, notably from The Greens, but it is free publicity. 

Should Iran negotiate directly with Israel?

The Epstein war has yet to be resolved. Trump is viewed by many as changing his mind and not only being responsible for it starting, but also for it not ending. While I do think that is an issue, another factor is Israel. While people are looking at the Gulf, Israel has been killing in Lebanon and Palestine. I am in a situation where I am backing Iran in these negotiations, a nation with appalling human rights, over Israel, a democracy which has much more human rights for its population. 

Anyway, I think that the best way to solve this is to get Israel and Iran to negotiate directly. 

Visiting my daughter

My mother has not been to see my daughter in Bristol. So today I took her. My wife was concerned that it would be too much for me to drive there and back in one day. So, I drove to London, picked my mother up, navigated London traffic and went to Bristol. Thanks to the warm weather, I would have been able to make it to Bristol without charging. 

However, from my trip to Manchester last year, I knew how important it was to rest and sleep, so when we got to our usual charging spot, I did put some charge in the car and got a nap. My mother loved seeing my daughter. She got to see her flat and the outside of the house she will be living in next term.  I ached by the time I got home, but as tiring as it was, I am glad she got to visit my daughter.

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This was a mixed film for me. Like the Guardian review I thought it showed promise, starting well, but ended in a more disappointing manner. Labelled a horror film the gore was more comedic than scary. I am torn between agreeing or saying the Guardian was too harsh in giving it two stars. 

The best bits are the scenery and the first half, until the hunt really. For a film which showed more promise, the end could have flowed better without a change in plot.

Champions!

We are champions!  

It has been a long time since we won and I love the way the crowds came out last night. I am of course going to be unbearable at work and I actually feel sorry for the Spurs fans I work with. Especially as they may be relegated (fingers crossed).