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Saturday 31 July 2021

Ashes to Ashes


Today was interesting. We travelled to London to spread the ashes of my father.  We met my mother and brothers and instead of travelling to South London, we drove around trying to find somewhere to spread them. We did find one place, but the tide was out which meant that the water was too far away.

Tempers were an issue in our car but in the end we arrived in our original destination of Woolwich and got to release the ashes of my father in the Thames.

It is ironic, as this is where I lived when I was younger.  The down sides of this was that my mother wished my brothers and I to forgive him before his ashes were spread.  My father the atheist I doubt would have cared what we thought, but she managed to get some religious elements in his departing.  My son was instructed to help spread his ashes but apparently my daughter was not good enough to do so, which begged the question of why she had to be there.  

The thing is, my father who had three sons wanted a daughter and if he met my children now, as amazing my son is, I suspect that he would favour my daughter just because he never had one.

The kids are with my mother-in-law (and father-in-law) for a few days.  After the television incident, we felt that we needed a few days with them.

Thursday 29 July 2021

The Fox and the Cockapoo


I forgot to mention last night that on taking Leia out for her evening walk (no one else will do it), she saw a fox across the road from us.  The fox was probably bigger than she is, but she was off like a shot and ran across the road, the lead I was holding taken out of my hand before I had a chance to react!

This morning, on the walk, the first thing she did was to investigate where she had last seen it.  If she had got it, I am not sure what would have happened considering that it was bigger than her.  Mind you, it did not wish to find out as it ran away as fast as it could!

Wednesday 28 July 2021

Can we trust our children?


This evening, my wife and I went out on a date.  We had not been there long before I got called by my daughter.

While we were away, an argument took place. My son did not listen to his older sister and the end result was that my daughter broke our television when in a scuffle with my son.

I have no idea how to punish them for this…

Monday 26 July 2021

Lust and the American Right.

Saw this video where Seth Rogen talks about how he learned that Donald Trump had sex with Stormy Daniels before he started his presidential run.  It is interesting as it talks about him cheating on his wife before he became a political force.  I have discussed the double standards of those on the right about the family values they claim to hold dear, but this was before allegations about Matt Gaetz, sex outside marriage, drug use and of course, the allegation that he had sex with someone under age.  One day, someone will explain they those concerned about family values vote and admire those who just pay lip service to them.   

13 Reasons Why; The Smile at the End of the Dock

This is my least favourite episode from series two.  It is still a good series, but not as good as the first. This episode undoes or rewrites a major issue from the first series.  Taken alone, ignoring the first series, this is a good episode, but it is not meant to be watched in isolation really as its context is lost.  The best bit of this episode is that the series is not as bad now, and also that I got to watch it with my son again!

Sunday 25 July 2021

Vaccine trials


Apparently, I need to go on trial.  Yesterday, I was mixing Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines for the vaccination clinic that was being run.  Sadly, the take up for COVID vaccines has not been as good as before, but people are still coming.  We had a few no-shows, mostly those who had booked in for their first vaccines, but surprisingly, there were some who had their first dose who did not come for the second.

I guess risk perception is a factor here.  But it is frustrating.  We managed to use all the doses in the last vial which is a good thing.

However, I now know that apparently, I should be put on trial and hung for preventing the spread of this dangerous disease.  A friend sent me this tweet and we discussed it soon after.  I told him that I felt these people were being opportunist and were deliberately distorting the truth for their own ends.

He later won the argument by sharing what else was discussed in the demonstration

a) - The presence of a conductor in the vaccine.  Technically, water will conduct electricity (with a high enough voltage).  Does that mean that we are conductors as well?

b) - Face-masks cause pneumonia.  Face-masks have been used for ages in medicine and has not been associated with an increased incidence of pneumonia. 

c) - 5G is an energy weapon.  There have been concerns about the safety of mobile phone masts and electricity substations (and powerlines) but nothing conclusive has been proven.  Remember that 5G is present in New Zealand which has a low rate of COVID and is not as prevalent in nations like Brazil and India which suffered greatly due to this.

d) - The virus is a hoax. It is not. It is all too real.


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 has yet 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. 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
 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 are lower have the highest numbers of COVID.

Saturday 24 July 2021

Cruella

I think that as a family we agree that this film is great. It passes the test that I would pay to see it in the cinema, saying that, we did pay to watch it.  It was a film we all watched together. The characters were played very well, and while I have not seen many incarnations of Cruella de Vil, this was the best one.

Unlike films like Maleficent, this does not appear to rewrite Disney history.  A big factor in my love for this film was how much of it was set in London.

But the best bit of the film was how we all watched it together and loved it all as well.  Last of all, what a great soundtrack. One I think that all of us appreciated.

Tuesday 20 July 2021

Jesus was an undocumented child refugee

Yesterday, there was a record for the number of people crossing the Channel.  Some are going to be refugees, some are economic migrants.

Sadly, I think that the least worst option is to criminalise these people and ensure that they know that they face jail time for making such crossings.  I do this, knowing the hardships that they face, not just economic for those coming to our nation for work, but also those who are fleeing persecution.

However, they are coming to our shores from a safe nation where they can claim asylum. If we do not act, there will be more deaths in The Channel, but also, this will be used by those on the right to stoke up resentment and hatred.

It is silly really as we claim to be a Christian nation, and Jesus himself was an undocumented child refugee.  I do think it is more important to act on the people smugglers but it is even more important to offer refugees more legal avenues to seek asylum here.

Monday 19 July 2021

Freedom Day


Also called #UnfreedomDay or #FreeDumbDay, social distancing measures have now been relaxed, even though cases of COVID are rising at huge rates.  Needless to say, this will result in more infections, and many think that the government do not care about the effect that this will have in terms of death, Long COVID, the ability of the NHS to carry out normal day to day work and also the effects on the economy.  In fact, I have come back from one of the nursing homes we help to look after and they have had two staff infected with COVID and have several staff in isolation as a result.    

Our Prime Minister and Chancellor both were pinged by the NHS track and trace app and while both were to continue to work as normal, they have now decided to follow the lead of most of the nation to work from isolation after the issues with one rule for them and another rule for the many was raised by many people.

Needless to say, I am not going to go crazy and am concerned that the changes mean that my family and I are more at risk of this disease.  I am hoping that if we do get infected, that the double vaccinations that my wife and I have had protect us, and that the two children are not affected too much.


Sunday 18 July 2021

Black Widow


We watched this last night.  When I saw we, my daughter had watched it before in the cinema (a place my wife and I are nervous about going to ourselves).  She had wanted to come down for the final scene as she missed the end credits, but due to a slight argument (she had returned from a sleep over and therefore had not slept that well), it was felt best not to call her at the end.   

My wife had to go to bed so my son and I watched it with Leia (though she was not too interested in it).  We both loved the film, he feeling that his favourite character was the younger sibling as he identified with them the most, and I loved the father the most, because he was the coolest. 

The film was a long time coming and it was great to get some of the back story to such an iconic character.  I know many comic fans already know the official background to this, but I have not read a comic in decades and did not have the money to keep up with the story lines when I wanted to read them.

In a time before COVID, I would have paid to watch it in the cinema and would have had no issues doing so.  Hopefully my wife will get to watch the rest of it as it was an awesome film.


Saturday 17 July 2021

A dog named Pickles who we renamed Trump

My son appears to enjoy isolation, though my wife and I are concerned at the effect that this may have on his motivation.  Today, she got a bit jittery and we went for a drive to Long Melford to the nethergate brewery.  We have been here before, but we took my daughter and Leia.  

My daughter had a sleepover last night (and had undertaken a lateral flow test before going) but was happy to join us.  I drove there and back, as while I love the beer there, I needed to keep some energy as I have not been sleeping well recently.  Nothing serious, just watching too much television!  When there, we ordered using an App to get table service for drinks and later ordered some food from a mobile restaurant that is there as well.  

Leia met another lockdown puppy, this being called Pickles.  She loved meeting him and played until he did a wee on her head!  Well, it was time to bathe her anyway.


But the best bit of the day for me was the walk my wife and I took at Brightlingsea.  I had taken Leia for a walk earlier, and while on the walk, my wife rang me that we would walk together.  We got some breakfast from a bakery there, also getting things for a friend who is in isolation and then went for a walk hand in hand.  It has been too long since we did this and I hope we keep doing this again.  

Friday 16 July 2021

Fifty Shades of Grey


There is a difference between grooming and seduction.

The film is in essence a fairy tale, and one with adult scenes.  Flights in a helicopter, fancy restaurants and clothes.  I can see why many find this film to be so dangerous however.  I may watch the other films, but I may not.  Saying that, they may not be on Netflix for me to do so! 


Thursday 15 July 2021

Loki fest


Last night, my son and I caught up with Loki.  He had been getting spoilers from friends and as a household, we all agreed to watch it on Wednesday and that if anyone was not to watch it, tough.  My wife did not watch it with us and may decide to watch it at a later date.  Surprisingly, my daughter did not like it, which is odd considering the character of Female Loki is so well acted and written.  

Compared to WandaVision this is better.  I felt that the last episode of that series was a disappointment, especially after such an amazing build up.  But I do consider it to be better than The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.  Saying that, all three were great to watch and I may watch Loki and WandaVision again in the future.  

I cannot state too much without spoiling the series, but I loved the ending and my son and I are looking forwards to the next series, whenever that is to be.  I do hope Sylvie is in it though.  She was awesome!

Wednesday 14 July 2021

PMQs, taking the knee and my son being in isolation


First of all, my son is in isolation as someone in his form has tested positive for COVID19.  My daughter has managed to escape so far in her school, but with the numbers of those affected by COVID increasing, it is only a matter of time before she is exposed.  At work, several staff have to work from home due to being contacts themselves, or having children who are contacts.  My daughter has a friend who was in isolation due to being a contact and then tested positive two days before her period of isolation ended.  Another friend is in isolation as one of their parents has contracted it despite them being double vaccinated.

The issue of increasing numbers was brought up in PMQ's today as this is not just putting strain on the NHS, but it is also causing issues for business.  A friend of ours has had to shut the business they have as one staff member tested positive which meant that too many had to isolate as a result.  


But the main issue was the question about if it was right for Conservative politicians to speak out against footballers taking the knee, or to refuse to condemn fans who decided to boo their own team for doing so.  Thanks to changes in the law, a protest can be deemed illegal if it is too loud.  To be fair to the Conservatives, some are open about how they were wrong to condemn this and argue that the party needs to change its attitude.  I like many consider the refusal to speak about against 'fans' booing their own team as being linked to the racist abuse that many of the team have faced, notably the three players who missed the penalties. If politicians had spoken out, it would have reminded all that there are issues with racism and that they need to be addressed.  Instead by ignoring it, people have not been reminded that racism is not acceptable.  

The abuse that has been directed to our black footballers is inexcusable, but the love that they have been shown is also amazing.  

Monday 12 July 2021

That final


Heartbroken.  We were so close.  I do not know if we are going to have a better chance to win a major trophy again.  England were by far the better team in the first half, but Italy deserved to equalise and I said that they would do so a few minutes before they did.  

However, I think that they should have finished with ten men.  The professional foul by Giorgio Chiellini on Bukayo Saka deserved a straight red card for dangerous play.

I love Italy, I love the Italian people.  I have always hated football there due to my view that there is too much cheating and cynicism, and I hate Italian football even more.  On the pitch, that act ruined a thrilling game.

It would have got a lot more coverage but for the stupid actions of racist morons after the penalties.  I hope those three players do not lose heart over the misses or the abuse.

Sunday 11 July 2021

Godzilla: King of the Monsters


Have taken Leia out for her walk today and have finished watching Godzilla: King of the Monsters.  Overall, it was a bad film and is not one that I would pay to watch.  As to if I would have been disappointed if I had paid to watch it, I am not sure.  The film was bad at points, terrible in others.  But once I remembered that this was a film set on an alternative Earth, where the rules we have do not apply, it became more bearable.  It had good special effects, but a predictable plot.  For its genre, it was an okay film.  Much better than some of the other terrible films that I have watched this year, but overall I would have to say, not even average in quality.

Anyway, I have to iron, mow the lawn and assemble some flat pack furniture before the final tonight.  I believe!  





Monday 5 July 2021

Luca

This was our family film yesterday.  And I liked it.  Yes, I would have paid to watch it at the cinema if this was available without the plague being about.

There was a discussion in the house about if this was a 'gay film' or not.  I argue that it is not, but rather is a film where there is a bromance, but there is also friendship between the boys and a girl.  It is unusual for a Disney film in that there is no romance other than that of the parents, but the bromance between the two is just as 'gay' as that between Woody and Buzz, or Maverick and Goose.  

It did bring a tear to the eye of my wife, but she and I are watching the film from a different perspective to our children.

But it was great to watch it as a family together.  Something that is happening less often as the children grow older. 

Great opera in it, and the children did not complain when they listened to it! 


Sunday 4 July 2021

Patriotism is more than saying you are patriotic


I was disgusted this morning.  I took Leia for a walk after she woke me up early in the day.  I was knackered, but following our amazing victory over Ukraine I was in high spirits.  I had intended to take her through the town centre to Castle Park and then to the duck pond that she loves so much.

But, there was so much broken glass about.  Issues of patriotism have been discussed before this match and was a topic on Any Questions.  I am sure all who talked about it would agree that patriotism is not getting drunk watching England and smashing up bottles on our streets afterwards.

An idiot sends abuse to a young girl seen crying on television when her team loses.  A patriot does not.

A patriot accepts that England has a team that reflects the multicultural nature of our nation, and does not seek to divide based on skin colour.  

I am hoping our fans behave better on Wednesday night, if we win or lose.


   

Thursday 1 July 2021

Good on paper


As soon as I saw this, I knew this would be a good film. I have watched many of the YouTube video’s of Iliza Shlesinger and had watched one where she had told this story.  

The film did bring it to life more.  In the original video, she had brought across the angst  of her relationship with this man very well.  This film adds to it, for it is not just about how she gave herself to a man (who proved himself to be a turd), but it is also about friendship.  

After the last film I watched, this was great. I loved it, though I am not sure how much it will appeal to those who are not her fans, or those of Margaret Cho.