I am confused

Can someone explain why a woman who did not go to a party, sorry, cheese and wine business meeting, has to resign because of it when she left before it did not happen? Also, why does a man need an inquiry needed to find out if a party happened (or not) where he lives?

The explanation is that Allegra Stratton was being frivolous during a time when people were facing hardships and dying.  But she was not alone.  The others in the video seem to have kept their jobs.  Were they being serious when they brought up this matter in a private practice session about answering questions?

In addition to this, when this matter was brought up in PMQ's, the Prime Minister accused those doing so of playing politics.  Which begs the question "were Ant and Dec were playing politics when they raised this last night?"  

 

What could be more damaging is the question by Catherine West, which related to other parties.  If parties were taking place when they should not have, then the chance of one being proven to happen is greater.

Back at work!

Woke up this morning to find a text sent at 0602 that my PCR test was negative!  The same was the situation with my wife, but as expected, by son was positive.  This meant that we both had to carry out lateral flow tests and as both were negative, we could return to face to face work.  It meant a hectic start to the day, but it was nice to see patients on a face to face basis again, not that I have been away from this for long.  

Sadly, my son appears to have taken a turn for the worse.  Nothing too bad, but he has had issues with a headache and sore throat.  Fingers crossed that things are not going to be too bad for him.

Semi-isolation

It is quite strange that my son is in isolation, but the rest of us are not.  My wife, son and I went to Ipswich this morning to have our PCR tests.  She and I need them so that we can continue to work (assuming we test negative) on a face to face basis.  My son sat in the back wearing his face mask for the trip, other than when he did his test.  Afterwards, I worked from home, my work day having had to be changed at short notice to allow this.  

My daughter has felt nervous about her brother and also is wary of spending time around us, only being downstairs with us for a short period of time before returning to her room where she had less risk of infection from the rest of us.

If my wife and I test negative, we can return to work having daily tests.  If my son tests negative, I am not sure how we will feel as the evidence is that if you have a positive lateral flow test, then you have COVID.  

On the plus side, he does not appear too unwell and hopefully, that will continue.  His main concern is that he will infect the rest of us, though him keeping his bedroom door shut would help to protect us!

Ruth & Alex

First of all, my son has tested positive on his lateral flow test for COVID. We have no idea how this happened as since he was sent home from school on Thursday, he has not left the house.  We think that he must have caught it on the last day of school.  Needless to say he is terrified that he will give it to us, but being triple vaccinated, we have reassured him that this is unlikely.  My wife has booked his test for tomorrow morning and we have let our places of employment know that we will not be coming in.  For me, this means working from home, but this is not an option for my wife at this time.

We found out about this late in the day as he took his test when I was out on the evening dog walk, Leia busy trying to kill some foxes when I was told about this.

Earlier in the day, my daughter and I had put a sofa together and later, my wife had watched Ruth & Alex (5 Flights Up in the USA),  This would never be described as a classic film, but it was really nice to watch this with the love of my life.  Watching films like this reminds me how lucky I am to have her, and considering what happened with the characters, the two children. And also Leia.

Anyway, fingers crossed for our test tomorrow.

Bicester Shopping Village

Today, my wife and I went to Bicester Shopping Village.  I have not taken all my holiday, and coming up to the end of the year, this was one of the few days that I could take off.  So we took advantage of being off midweek and took Leia with us.  My son was left at home as he is waiting for his test results so obviously cannot leave, but we were not sure if he would look after the dog.  Leia loved it there and having the dog kept me busy as I ferried shopping from my wife to the car.

We shared the journey there, I drove for the first part, my wife for the second, and on the way back, I drove the way home while she got some much needed rest.  In addition to spending time together, a good thing was that my daughter finished her mocks and my son got the all clear for his COVID test!

Fingers crossed

My son has been sent home from school today.  We got a call that he had been placed in isolation due to a persistent cough.  He is quite often ill, and we have had to take him to see out GP due to his attendance at school, an issue I am sure is not helped by his hygiene and refusal to dress in a warm manner.  My wife took him for a PCR test this afternoon after I collected him from school in the morning.  Here is hoping that he does not have the plague...

When is a party not a party?

The answer to this question is when the party never happened, or if it did, when all the guidelines were followed.

It is alleged that a party took place in 10 Downing Street, when parties were banned for everyone else due to the COVID restrictions designed to reduce its spread.  During this time, people could not be with loved ones as they died, and of course, many died of COVID.  

But I think that the government is right, and so long as they can find a way to keep his out of the news, they will get away with this, just like they have got away with corruption, ambulance waits, record in work poverty and so many other things. 

Red Notice

Today, I had a day off work.  My wife and I had it planned for a while and decided to continue even though Omicron is now spreading. Our rationale is that if there is a time to risk exposure, it is when the prevalence of it is low compared to it possibly/probably being higher in the weeks to come.

We took the train to London, and noted that most people were obeying the rules to wear a face mask on the train, though there were a handful who did not.  When in London, we visited Spitalfields Market, a place that we have been to on several occasions before the pandemic. We have not visited it so early before and the great thing about this was that it was a lot quieter than it was in the past.  Great for us, may be not for those selling things there.  

Lunch was at The Alchemist, a much anticipated return from our first trip many years ago.  The drinks were amazing, and the food was good as well.  

Once back we continued to relax by watching Red Notice.  As a film, it was fun.  Not a classic, but one I am glad to have watched with my wife.  Ryan Reynolds had managed some product placement in it, and while the film petered out towards the end, it still was fun.  And while I expected a twist, I was surprised at the nature of it.  Anyway, time for bed now.

Into the woods

I have had a lot of this week off work, well Monday and Tuesday, as well as today as my daughter has her mock exams.  I took Leia for a walk into the local woods today.  She loves walking with any of us, but loves walking in the woods the most.  While here, she got to meet other dogs and explored.  Needless to say, she was quite tired when she got back!

Fear Street Part Two: 1978

Another good film.  I liked it, lots, and it made me wonder what is to come in the third.  This series has hooked me in, though with some of the more intimate scenes, it was awkward watching it with my daughter.  I got home from work to find her revising for her mock exams next week on the sofa downstairs and she was willing to end her studies to.  My son is not a fan of horror, at least for now, and made a decision not to watch it with us. 

It may be that I will need to watch all three again once I have watched the final one, though if I do, the soundtrack will be a reason as well as working out how well the plot melds.

While it can be argued that the film is predictable, that is only in that there is going to be a huge body count, especially as we know this from the first film.  The deaths are full of gore, though are more disturbing as they do involve children. 

I was talking earlier today at work, who does not like the sick and twisted films that I am attracted to, about how I like a film that is put together well.  This is one of them.

Congatulations

My daughter did really well in her interview last night.  It was one for the sixth form college locally.  She is not too sure if she wants to go there or not, and I have made her aware that her chances at reaching her potential for her grades is greater if she stays where she is, but that she will encounter a wider range of people if she switches.  However, while she may enjoy things more there, I suspect that she will not get the help that she may want if she is there, help that she will get if she stays where she is now.  

But that is her decision to make, and I will support her with it.

Our Prime Minister appears to think that he is above the rules

On repeated occasions, our Prime Minister appears to have shown evidence that there is one rule for the many, and one rule for others.  Today was an example where he showed that he likes to ignore and then bend the rules.

I disagree with the stance that Labour has on second jobs.  My view is that I have no issues with MP's having a second job.  I just do not want them to be involved in corrupt behaviour, this including lobbying for a business that an MP works for as part of their second job, or contracts being awarded to friends, or being part of a task force on COVID prevention and pushing through a measure that will not protect people.

There is no doubt that this government have come across as corrupt and have lost the moral standpoint to question other nations about this.  I understand the reluctance of the Prime Minister to avoid this, but to repeatedly break the rules of Parliament in PMQ's is even less acceptable than his usual refusal to answer difficult questions posed to him.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Finally! we got to watch this.  Though I was not sure if I would be able to.  My wife and I drove to London for her course and I stayed with my mother and had lunch there while I worked and had a chat with her as well as being fed lunch.  It was nice to have home cooked food from my childhood again.  My brother was not at home as he was over at his partner's.  The drive to her course was an easy one, it being Sunday and early morning, though the drive there in the afternoon was more interesting and I had to put my London driving head back on.  

It was great picking her up afterwards as she was buzzing.  It is sad in a way that this was a date, but it was great spending time with her.

Once at home, it was household chores, ironing for me and my wife cooked (I said that she should relax).  And we watched Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.  Well most of us did, one child left after an argument between the two resulted in them being asked to leave.  They had the chance to watch the end which they had missed later, but declined.  

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was a film I liked.  My wife was not too fond of the CGI, but I thought that the film was put together quite well.  Predictable in places, but a well told story and another Disney success.  I am looking forwards to watching the films that are to follow from this!

But before we watched it. my daughter and I watched this...

Desks

We tried to relax today as tomorrow I am driving my wife to London for a course.  We got my daughter a desk for her room, I went and did a bit of man shopping, that is my wife gave me a list and then I did not get what was on it (pictures help).  My son wanted to watch Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and got annoyed when we did not.  Which was ironic as he did not know it was on until we told him!  We had wanted to watch it in the cinema before, but were too nervous because of the pandemic.

My daughter wanted to assemble the desk so I went to her room to supervise her, but ended up doing it all as she collapsed exhausted from revising for her up coming mock exams as well as staying up to watch this video!

Eternals

The family insisted that we watched this on the weekend.  My daughter has a friend who watched it and would tell her spoilers.  My son wanted to watch it as well, even though he had to go to a firework display afterwards and this would cut it fine.  I had said I would watch it midweek with him.  I do prefer watching films on a Wednesday as there are less people there.  The person next to me only sneezed six times, but that was six times too many.  Apparently, the person next to my daughter coughed on occasions.  

As with most Marvel films, this was another classic and well worth watching.  I loved it and would certainly watch it again, in fact, I will be watching it again on Disney+ when it is out.  A great story, good acting and I loved the characters.  I do not want to say too much as I do not want to spoil the film, but we all loved it.

Afterwards, my son was a bit stressed as he did not realise how late it finished, but he met up with his friends to go to the firework display and had a great time there.

Dune

Cinema time was yesterday.  It was the third time that we have been to the Curzon in Colchester, though by we, this was my daughter and I to watch Dune.  My wife had no interest in watching it, and while my son had expressed an interest in watching it before, he changed his mind.  

He may have been a bit stressed about the exams that he had earlier in the day, this being an SPAG English assessment (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar).  He has been a bit more stressed, getting lifts in from my wife and I so far this week rather than riding his bike into school.  He is happy to walk back with his friends, which is fine, so long as he lets us know this in advance.

Anyway, the film.  I do remember bits of the 1984 version of Dune from many years ago when I was a lot younger.  I do remember being told that it was a complicated film and this one appears to have overcome the constraints of changing the book into film by filming it over two parts.  Yes, at the beginning, the film was a bit ponderous, but it did speed up and I am looking forwards to the sequel.  I cannot really comment on the plot as it is based on the book, but the acting and directing made the story make sense.

Just one thing, how have the inhabitants of Arrakis lived so long if Sand Worms are attracted to movement in the sandy wastes of the planet? 

Cash For Questions

In PMQ's today, Angela Rayner tore Boris Johnson apart about corruption.

This is an issue that has been raised over an MP who acted in a matter that while many view as legitimate, was seem to benefit a company that he has been paid for.  The allegation is that the process that made the decisions is unfair and should be reformed with Owen Patterson then to be investigated under the new rules.  

Angela Rayner referred to a proposed change in the rules relating to how Rob Roberts was readmitted and how they wished to change the rules and review his case under the new rules.  Personally, while I think that the actions of Rob Roberts was wrong, a retrospective change of rules after a gap in the law has been found is also wrong.  I think that it was wrong for Labour to push for that in his case, just as I think that the same is wrong for Owen Patterson.  

The issue of cash for questions harmed the Conservatives under John Major, but so far, Boris Johnson and the Conservatives have avoided numerous allegations.

One relates to the holiday by Boris Johnson in Mustique.

Another relates to how COVID test contracts where handed out.

There are issues relating to the refurbishment of the Downing Street flat where Boris Johnson lives currently. 

And there are the issues with how PPE contacts were awarded, this appearing to include contracts of PPE that could not be used!

It is sad how the the population of the UK appear to be happy with this sleaze.  Many blame Keir Starmer for this, rather than the media who do not really hold this government to account.

The Predator

Disappointing.  I had got home late last night and decided to watch this.  If you wish to watch The Predator, do not.  Terrible directing and a disjointed plot, this was nothing like the first two films in the franchise.  Saying that, it has been years since I watched them and I may not enjoy them as much as I did back in the past.  

The plus point of the film is that it makes me appreciate other films more.

Do not watch it.  

The Forgotten Battle

First of all, the most important issue, family.  My son went out last night to Trick Or Treat with a friend and appeared to have fun dressing in my vampire cloak doing so.  My daughter had been out with friends earlier in the day to go to the local Escape Room.  Considering that yesterday was the last day of freedom before they return to school after the week off for half term, they both deserved it.  We handed out sweets with tongs to reduce the risk of COVID contamination when people came round.

Second, Arsenal.  Aaron Ramsdale was amazing. I thought (and still think) that Leno is great, but this youngster hopefully will be the future of Arsenal.  This game was one I expected to lose.  After all, we have not travelled that well and were up against a decent side.  To win in the way we did brings about hope for the rest of the season, and to make things better, the scum lost as well!

Finally, the film.  This was on my Netflix recommended list and I thought that it was worth it.  It was a battle that I did not know too much about and I felt that this carried across some of the horrors of war very well.  The acting and directing were great and this is a must watch for those who are interested in good quality war films.  

Fear Street Part One: 1994

My daughter and I finished watching this last night.  We had started to watch it before, and I have to say, I was shocked to find her cheering on the killer when the film started, but I loved the film. 

While I think that the best bit of the film is the soundtrack, that does not mean that I did not enjoy it. It had gore, twists and appealed to my sick sense of humour (though it is not a comedy).  While we watched it on Netflix, I would have been more than happy to have watched this in a cinema and I am looking forwards to watching the second part.  I felt it was written, directed and acted well and it will be interesting to see if the sequel stands up to this. 

The Addams Family

Our Halloween film today was The Addams Family.  My children has got the decorations out  from the loft and put them at the front door along with decorating the door itself.  They also discussed which film we should watch and the agreement was to watch Hotel Transylvania today and a Monster High film tomorrow.

However, me son changed his mind and wanted to watch The Addams Family, so I put it on, but tricked him as he had wanted us to watch the animated version.  To be fair, he stayed and watched it, even though he was tempted to leave before the end.

I knew I liked he film, but did not realise how much of it I had forgotten.  Yes, the CGI is dated, and parts of the plot were predictable, but this film is a great one, well put together with some classic scenes.  In fact, we all liked it, and especially as family film experiences are becoming rarer, that was the most important part.

Protesting about the Climate Change that is harming our planet

My daughter went to a local march for action on climate change today. I had wanted to go, but I am so tired from a late night out last night in Southend and also, I need to catch up at work (am typing this before I head back home).  I do hope she enjoyed herself there as she added her voice to the many who are trying to get our leaders to make the changes that our planet needs.  

At present, I am discussing this on Twitter with someone who refuses to acknowledge the seriousness of this.  Put simply, over millions of years, carbon dioxide has been locked away out of the atmosphere.  We need to act to drastically reduce the amount of fossil fuels that are putting this back into the atmosphere as well as looking at methods of carbon capture that means that we can take it out of it as well.

 

The French Dispatch

As a family, we went to the local cinema to watch The French Dispatch yesterdat.  I have to say I was surprised that my son decided to join us for this as I did not think that this would be his type of film and he has been absent during parts or all of many films that we have tried to watch at home as a family.  

The children said that they enjoyed the film, as did my wife.  I did enjoy it in parts, but I have to say that I am unsure if I would recommend it.  It told stories in a different way to how I have watched them on film in the past, and did make me laugh at times but I suspect that the deficiency in appreciating the film lies with me rather than the film itself.  

I know that this is a film that I will not be watching again.  What surprises me is that I think that this is the first film of Wes Anderson that I have got round to watching (I have wanted to watch others before).

The Tomorrow War

This film appears to be made to market a game. As a film, it is okay, though it is not one I would watch again but may be worth watching on the big screen.  I am glad that I did not pay to watch it considering the Time Travel Paradox that is present, and the way that the film skips from a war that may be won to one that is doomed so quickly.  There are better films to watch and I would rather I had watched them rather than have watched this. 

No Time To Die

Finally, a film in a cinema.  We watched No Time To Die with a friend and I have to say, I did enjoy it.  I will want to watch this again, but after watching the previous Bond films.  It started well, in typical Bond style and fabulous locations.  At over two and a half hours long, I did not notice how long the film was.  It had some of his classic lines and obviously, the gadgets.  

On the downside, he drinks and drives (but he drinks and fights as well), and the typical issue of leaving your car unlocked, as in many films, is also present.  There was a scene where there was an awful lot of firepower in the middle of nowhere and of course, there is the need for the villain to have the showdown with Bond.

But ignoring the minor issues, I would still watch it again.  And will do so when it is on a streaming service.

 

13 Reasons Why: Let the Dead Bury the Dead

First of all, we are back at home.  We got back yesterday and while the kids stayed at home, my wife and I took my brother out for lunch to the Lexden Crown. I like eating there and the food was good, though nothing compared to the Italian that we had eaten the night before. It was good to catch up, though he came out as a Spurs fan! Still, he ain’t heavy, he is my brother.  I drove him to the station after, but it was a rail replacement service to take him from Colchester and due to his ticket, I could not take him down towards London to get the train where he would swap back onto the train.

Leia was overjoyed to see us and could not contain her excitement. My brother taught her a few things and she will now fetch a ball to us and will sit again.

And I watched the final episode of the third series of 13 Reasons Why with my Son. I had watched it before with my daughter and knew who the culprit was, but my son had cheated and had looked it up on the internet. I think that Bryce was on the path to redemption, my son disagrees.  We will have to agree to disagree on that one. Though neither of us shed a tear over the death that occurred to another character.

Anyway, time to get out of bed and walk the dog around the garden as I have this week off.

Locanda Locatelli

Last night was amazing.  We went to Locana Locatelli.  We have not been here in some time.  I am not sure we have taken my son here, but we have been here since my daughter was born.  My wife and I love it here, and although last night was expensive, it was worth it.  She was a bit stressed about getting there on time as we had to leave the restaurant by a certain time (they had a booking after us) but we got there and that is when the experience started.  The service is warm and at the same time, professional.  The food is amazing and I was slightly annoyed that I had too much when my son and I had our late lunch.  Unlike Friday, the nice version of my son had joined us and I would like to think that we all enjoyed ourselves.  I know that my wife and I did, and I am sure my daughter did as well.

It will be a long time before we can put money aside to return here.  I am hoping that this will be for my birthday next year though!

Dishoom Carnaby

The day is not over but it has been a much better day for us all than last night was. 

First of all, we went to Dishoom, just parallel to Carnaby Street.  Like the TARDIS, it appears smaller on the outside, and like the TARDIS, it is full of surprises.  We loved the food, but my favourite was the chocolate Chai.

After this, it was shopping and while I had promised to take my daughter to the Doc Martens shop, we passed a place selling them. In addition to my daughter walking out with a pair, I did as well. My son had wanted some shoes, but sadly, it was not his birthday weekend and he had no money saved for this, but we may return in March and if they are still available...

Later, it was a journey to Brandy Melville, a store that has one size only.  I consider it the hell mouth as I think that it encourages eating disorders by only having one size.  My daughter knows my views on the place, but the day is about her rather than me.  So, she ended up with a jumper and a skirt.  

We met up with my wife who spent the rest of the day with my daughter, while I walked about town with my son.  He was keen on eating at YO! Sushi and we had to travel to Selfridges as some places had closed and one was fully booked.  Anyway, time to go as we are to have dinner soon.  It should be a good one! 

Pastaio, Carnaby Street

Today was the first day of our trip to London. We booked a place to stay for two nights.  We did not get here at the time we wanted, but got here early enough to make it to dinner at Pastaio.

The food and service here was just what we needed after what was an exhausting drive for my wife.  Things were complicated as my wife and son had a disagreement. She moved on from it but he stayed in a bad mood, which resulted in him wanting to return to the flat, and also at times, talked about returning to Colchester. 

One of my brothers had come up to Colchester to look after Leia as she is in season (and we do not want puppies) which meant our dog sitter was not able to look after her.  I communicated with him by text to ask if my son could stay with my Mum, in his room. However he reminded me about the spare room.  Hopefully this will not be an option that we need to take up, but is need be. 

Finally, the flat is amazing, the view fantastic and the location is superb.  We may see if we can use this place again in the future.

13 Reasons Why; And Then the Hurricane Hit

It is good getting back into this with my son.  And it was good again, which is not guaranteed when it comes to every episode this series.  It is building up to the climax with the identity of the killer of Bryce Walker becoming known.  

The most important part is the bravery of the characters when it comes to addressing issues of assault.  I am not sure that would happen in a school setting but I think it is important to show as it will mean those who watch it will be aware of how people should react.

Free Guy

Awesome!  I loved the film, though it did become a bit too Disney in parts but redeemed itself in a superb manner.  My wife watched it with my daughter, and while my son did not watch it with us, I do think that this is a film that he would appreciate.  

We watched it on our new TV so the picture was very clear.  I would imagine that this would be awesome to watch in 3D, but with COVID about, this is an experience that we have decided to pass on for now.

I would not consider this film to be a classic and I would probably watch it again if it was on television or with my son, but despite enjoying it, I doubt I will watch it again otherwise.  Ryan Reynolds is probably the best male actor for this and Jodie Cormer was fantastic in this.  I have to say that I am just amazed at the range of characters she plays.

Yes, the plot was partly predictable, but the solutions that were encountered were a surprise. I would have been happy to pay to watch this in the cinema, and it may be that that is the best place to watch it.

13 Reasons Why; There Are a Few Things I Haven't Told You

It has been a while since my son and I watched this.  And this was a very important episode when it comes to the issues of addressing the acceptance of misogyny.  Hopefully it will not be as long until we watch the next episode together.

Help with Jodie Comer

I loved this.  Loved maybe the wrong term to use considering the subject matter, but overall, it reflected a lot of what I saw.  Saying that, I did not see anyone from primary care wearing the full body suit as shown in the film and while our surgery tried to do things on a remote basis when possible, this was to reduce the risk of bringing infection into, or spreading infection around, the home.

Sadly, we know that the shortage of PPE did contribute to the premature deaths from COVID of those in care homes.  Exercise Cygnus had raised this as an issue before, but the government did not act on this.

Just a reminder if there is any doubt about COVID. 

 1 - COVID kills. I have treated people who survived as well as too many who died. A nursing home I am involved in looking after took ages to become full again after COVID killed many of the residents there last year. I have seen nothing that killed so many so quickly before.

 2 - Face masks save lives. Not just by reducing the risk of spreading it if you have no symptoms, but as seen by those working in healthcare, myself included, face masks prevented many from catching this when treating those with COVID.

 3 - Funeral homes were overwhelmed over the wave of infections seen in the winter surge of infections earlier this year. I know as I had to visit a few. One had issues coping despite the increased capacity that they had built. Speaking to someone who works in a funeral home, they said that they had never been busier during the winter wave.

 4 - People with no symptoms can spread COVID. We saw that with the super spreader events held by President Trump last year.  We have seen other diseases spread through those with no symptoms, a famous example of the past being Typhoid Mary and we also see that today with HIV.

 5 - Just because Boris has dropped restrictions, this does not mean that we can act like we did in 2019. Our local hospital is under pressure again, though not let to the point like they were this winter when things were limited to life and death operations only.

 6 - Vaccines work. We have seen that in the USA. The states where vaccination rates were lower had the higher numbers of COVID than those were vaccination rates were higher.

 7 - There are those who have spoken out against vaccinating people who have changed their minds once infected.  Those that survived that is.

In season

Leia has come into season now. It is expected as we knew it was coming, but it is frustrating as we have a few things planned, and she will not be able to go to the dog sitter as normal.  Which means I will have to find a way home tomorrow 

Arsenal and frustration

How can a team that took Spurs apart with ease play so poorly against Brighton? I know that Tottenham let us play, while Brighton did the best they could to frustrate us, but there was a huge difference between the two games.

I hope that we play like we did last weekend more often, but my faith in our ability to do so is limited.

Keir Starmer At Lab21

Today, I took a break from work at lunch to listen to the speech from the leader of the Labour Party. 

It was one that the Conservatives would have loved.

The most memorable part of the speech was the heckling that took place.  I suspect that will cause as much damage to the chances of Labour being elected as the high profile resignation before.  After all, I do not remember much of what Theresa May said in 2017, but I do remember her being given her P45.

Saying that, Labour have forgotten that part of politics is advertising.  The brand of Labour was damaged due to the worldwide economic crash of 2008 which both the Conservatives and Momentum have blamed on New Labour.  But further damage to the brand occurred under Jeremy Corbyn.  I still stand by my view that the damage was caused, not just by a manifesto that appeared to be out of touch, but also occurred due to the actions of some who supported him, but ignored his call for Kinder Gentler Politics.  Under Tony Blair, easy to remember sound bites were used, Education, education, education being one.  The Conservatives understand this and in the last election, repeated the mantra of more police (but not enough to replace the way they defunded it), more staff for the NHS (despite increasing vacancy numbers) and the like.

Boris Johnson will come across as having a united party next week, and I doubt that he will many hecklers distracting from his message.

GP surgeries are open

“GPs must bring back face to face consultations with their patients. We need to get back to our workplaces.” Jacob Rees-Mogg said that in Parliament being unaware, along with our Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care that surgeries have been seeing patients face to face since the pandemic began.  

It is frustrating as before the pandemic, it would be common to be sitting next to someone in the doctors waiting room who had a viral respiratory tract infection.  Just before the first lockdown, many GP’s moved to a system of triage by telephone before seeing patients and this recommended by medical institutions. Patients continued to be seen, but what could be dealt with by telephone was dealt with by telephone.

In the surgery I work in, much more face to face activity is taking place, but people still slip through the net, coming into the surgery with symptoms of infections.  Staff are now vaccinated and social distancing takes place, putting them at far less risk compared to last year.  However there is a risk to them still, and more importantly to other patients.

With the waiting rooms kept quiet, the risks posed to other patients is reduced (at our surgery, we see suspected respiratory tract infections in our hot room).  If general practice is opened up to the levels seen before the pandemic, in the same manner, then more people will catch infections in the waiting rooms, and of those, some will be COVID19, and of those, some will die when they would not have if the triage system was in place,

Sadly, the Conservatives forget the pressure that Primary Care was under before the pandemic, let alone the increased pressures it faces now.  They did promise to recruit more GP's in 2015, and failed.

So when Jacob Rees-Mogg speaks about GP’s seeing patients on a face to face basis, he either is unaware that this never stopped, or that he wants waiting rooms full of ill patients infecting each other.

Why I am wrong to call Conservatives scum.

Our nation has record levels of In Work Poverty, rising Child Food Poverty and the government are to cut Universal Credit.  Apparently this is acceptable, as is referring to women in certain forms of Muslim attire as letter boxes, being racist, being homophobic, conspiring to beat up a journalist, cheating on your spouse as well as lying to your employer, electorate and other politicians.

Angela Rayner was unprofessional when she called the Tories scum.  But I have done the same, normally when I have dealt with someone who has been affected by the policies that the Conservatives have brought in.  Often after and during listening to interviews with Conservatives redefining black as white I will rant about how much I hate them.

I know that many honestly are unaware of the hardship that they cause, but I honestly think that is because they refuse to see and hear the truth.  

However, it is wrong to refer to all Conservatives as scum.  I would consider it accurate to say that they have done some scummy things and those in power appear to have no morals and seem to turn a blind eye to corruption if not engaging in activities which do not appear above board.  But not all Conservatives are like that, and due to this, I have been wrong on the many times that I have called them scum.

Zombieland

Last night, I finished watching Zombieland.  And I enjoyed it.  I still think that Shaun Of The Dead is one of the best Zombie comedies around (along with Braindead) but this was fun and I am glad I watched it.  Full of gore, and black humour, it was a much needed lift to the day. 

PMQs and our COVID vaccinations

First of all, family.  We have had our COVID vaccinations today, the kids having their first ones, my wife and me having our third ones.  However, I did get worried when my daughter had a headache later.  It did improve with paracetamol though though did not do away.  My son had wanted to have time off PE due a sore arm, but he asked us this before he had his vaccination and forgot to mention it afterwards.

Anyway, PMQ's.  Angela Rayner put in a spectacular performance, asking Dominic Raab about his comments on British workers being amongst the worst idlers in the world as well as the trade deal our Prime Minister had said we would get with the USA. He gave credit for the USA dropping travel restrictions to the UK to Boris Johnson, even though the USA had decided to do this for Europe and was considering this before PMQ's.  However he did not answer the question posed about British workers.  She referred to the issues that many face about In Work Poverty, missing out on how things are at record levels.  Dominic Raab did list a range of things done which he said was to improve the lot of those who are poorly paid, but he ignored how things are worse under the Conservatives.  I did not get a chance to listen to the rest of it, but the main event was enough.  

Get Out

I am knackered.  This morning my son took Leia out for her walk.  I had intended to cycle to work, but instead started to put our TV together.  My wife and ordered a television and had mentioned the size of it to me, but I had not realised how big it was to be.  Yesterday we realised that what we put the TV on was not big enough for it.  So this morning, after doing some cleaning in the house, I got to putting the TV together.  My wife had been trying to get a new item of furniture for the TV yesterday and after I put the TV together, we went to collect an item that she managed to agree a deal on.  

I took my daughter with me and it was a pleasant drive to Manningtree to get it.  She was of great use helping to put it into the back of my wife's car as well as taking it into the house when we got home.  After that, it was a case of disconnecting the old TV and reconnecting the new one after moving furniture about.

Needless to say, this was quite exhausting which meant that when I did go to work, it was late and I had no energy to cycle into work.

On getting back, my daughter and I watched Get Out on the new huge television.  The picture is amazing.  And I have to say the film is great as well.  I had worked out that I had wanted to watch this before and therefore had done my best not to find out much about it.  My view is that most trailers spoil films.  I have liked Daniel Kaluuya since watching him in The Fades and he was just as good in this film.  It was well worth watching.  And the video is for those who have watched it, or are never going to.

In Work Poverty and PMQs

The government are going to cut Universal Credit. Or rather, not cut it, but instead allow he temporary uplift in it to expire. Over the last few years, we have seen the rise of Child Food Poverty as well as In Work Poverty.

The issue of if this should be cut came up in PMQ’s today.

Needless to say, Boris Johnson did not answer the questions posed to him about how he is to cut help to those who need it most.  And this was a matter that came up on several occasions.

I do think that Keir Starmer would have done better if he had used the personal examples that Jeremy Corbyn did in this role as ignoring reality is so much harder when real people are used.

I hope our MP does not vote for these cuts.  But he is a Conservative and I suspect will toe the government line on this.

13 Reasons Why; The World Closing In

Is redemption possible if true repentance has taken place?  In my view yes.  I think my daughter thought so when watching this before, but my son does not appear to agree, yet.

On a different note, my son was not able to go to school today as he vomited last night, but my daughter returned.  My wife and I spent the morning shopping either on-line or in Waitrose while he looked after Leia (his school said that there was no work for him as him being home was not COVID related).

13 Reasons Why; Always Waiting for the Next Bad News

Drugs screw up the lives of people.  And it can be very hard to kick the habit.  This episode looks at some of he issues involved, but not the deaths that I have seen due to drugs.

Hawkstone Hall & Gardens, Spa & Gym

We are home! Hawkstone Hall was amazing. I did get freaked out as there was very little mask wearing and people must have thought I was mad for wearing mine.  But a colleague caught COVID at a wedding recently and I had no intention of doing the same. It was a good meal after the speeches and later there was dancing and a free bar.  I love dancing but could not do so inside, so on occasion, danced outside with my wife.  

Come the morning, I went for a walk in the grounds.  After that, breakfast and the long journey back.  We dropped off my Mother-In-Law and then to Colchester. My wife felt we should leave Leia for one more day but my daughter and I got her to change her mind.

Anyway, time to rest and rest. 

Church Farm Guest House, Wrockwardine

Our trip continues. Today is the day of the wedding that we have travelled here for.  I am glad that the hotel we are now in was booked as the guest house has been lovely.  The children loved it here, though I am not sure if that is because we booked the place out and they have their own rooms, a novelty for them when we travel, but one we hope to continue, but not for tonight!  Breakfast was lovely, not as amazing as I have had in the past, but filling and it has kept me going so far.  I did go for a walk about the village, a habit that having a dog has made me desire and it allowed me to appreciate the grounds so much more.

The wedding we came for is now over, a sweet Catholic service where we, along with some others, wore face-masks. I am a bit nervous of the mixing considering that a GP at the surgery I work contracted COVID at a wedding she had been to two weeks before and while starting to work, is not back to full speed.

Anyway, I am taking a break from moving the luggage up the stairs in our residence for the night, but more about that tomorrow (or tonight) after the wedding reception.

The Pheasant Inn, Admaston

What an exhausting day.  My day started with the morning walk for Leia, but then we had to take her to Helen, her dog sitter who looks after her on a Tuesday.  That involved packing up her crate and as normal, she was overjoyed to be there.  My daughter took her with me and we both were a bit sad as we knew it would be Sunday at the earliest that we would see her again.

After that it was packing, and collecting the Ford Tourneo, that my wife affectionately calls ‘The Party Bus’ for our trip.  We drove to collect my mother-in-law but realised that we had left some items at home.  Once at the parents of my wife, we had to retrace some of our trip due to traffic on the M25 & M1, but took a detour to get the missing items.

My wife and I shared the driving and we soon got to terms driving it.  It was an experience, and one that makes up appreciate our cars.  She got the worst of the weather though.  Anyway, we are back at the Church Farm Guest House in Wrockwardine after eating a meal at the nearby Pheasant Inn at Admaston.  The service is kind and the food surprisingly good (I loved my chicken with potato rosti) but what freaked me out was that none of the staff where wearing face-masks.  This was something we are not used to as when eating out on holiday in Devon, and also back in Colchester, staff wore masks.

Now to bed for the wedding tomorrow.

Trusting Priti Patel

According to Priti Patel, the answer to the surge in migrants and refugees coming across the channel to the UK is to send them back while on the open seas, but only of it safe to do so.

I doubt that France will be pleased with that, or the threat to take away funding that had been agreed for extra patrols.  

Ignoring the issue of if it is right to send boats back to France if intercepted, the fact is that Priti Patel has thrown others under the bus when the heat is on, notably Cressida Dick, who obeyed her request when it came to the Sarah Everard vigil.  If any fatalities happen, I suspect that given her previous form, she will be quick to blame those obeying her instructions due to her caveat of “if safe to do so” and those who work in the coastguard had better recall her bullying nature as there is no doubt that they will be abandoned by her.