Quiz night

Busy day today at work, but we had agreed to do a quiz with some friends for the local children's hospice so I had to get home quickly.

The quiz was fun though with our Conservative MP running it, the children had some interesting names for teams, one being The 100,000, the other being 100,000 and more.  There were suggestions that I should have worn my Labour Party T-shirt as well.  With many people involved, watching some not get to terms with how to mute themselves was frustrating, but the kids made comments about Conservative voters which was unfair as I am sure this is an issue with voters of all parties.  

All in all, it was a great day, one where the entire family came together, and while it may not have been as ideal as the kids would have wanted, it was fun for all.     

Killers the 2010 film, not the band.

It has been some time since my last post, but before I move onto the family this is the film that we have watched since then.

I have to say that it was a disappointing film with lots of continuity errors and plot holes.  As a fun film where you literally need to switch your brain off (most of the time) it is almost an okay film.  I would have to argue that it is not worth watching in the first place.  I had issues with how the two main characters fell for each other with no real chemistry present between the two, but also with the vanishing woman in the passenger seat of the red car at the start.  Not only that, there were issues with a high body count and no police presence let alone how everything was explained at the end of it all.

The kids have been schooling at home.  With my wife and I being key workers, we could send both in, but with the severity of the COVID pandemic being what it is, we have felt that doing so is too risky.  A friend of ours has sent the two children they have in as the definition of what a key worker is in this lockdown is different to what it was in the last one.  We see that with how the streets are busier than they were in the first lockdown and my wife and I have been incredulous to find which shops have managed to open compared to others. 

The downside of this is that there have been arguments and on a Tuesday, which is the long day for my wife and I, that is when most of the arguments have taken place.  My wife often is in her space suit so the children normally let me know by text what is going on.  One argument developed while I was in a meeting.  Luckily it was not that important a one which allowed me to try to intervene in this.

But things have been good in the last few days.  The only downside is that Leia now favours my wife over me.  I realised this on Monday when my wife and I came downstairs to let her out of her crate in the morning to find that she trotted past me to shower my wife with love!  Am there was I thinking that I was the alpha!   

Sit!

First thing.  My New years resolution included a desire to close my exercise ring on my Apple Watch every day.  That failed yesterday thanks to a glitch on my phone.  What was more annoying, is that I was one minute off closing it, but it would not register a walk in the garden that I took with Leia for that reason!

On the topic of Leia, my daughter has taught her how to sit with a hand gesture.  The hand gesture being giving her the middle finger.  It is strange to see my daughter giving her the middle finger and then Leia sitting, looking at her with complete love in her eyes.  But that is proof that she is my daughter.  And this tale has made many at my work laugh!

Tag

I was vaccinating today.  Well, I was preparing the vaccines, others were vaccinating.  It is hard work, and I am impressed by those who are able to do this all day.  Ensuring that the vaccines are not mixed too vigorously is challenging and I had to discard two vials after I dropped them.

My wife who is a front line worker is eligible for this and I had my fingers crossed that she might be able to have one, but sadly this did not happen.  

My wife, daughter and I watched the film Tag.  It had been recommended to my daughter by a friend of hers and it was a very enjoyable film which we all loved.  It was a shame that my son did not watch it, but there is nothing to be gained by making him watch a film he does not want to.  The kids today were getting on together well which was a lot better than yesterday when they fell out and one physically attacked the other.  Going back to Tag, it was not as predictable as I thought it would be and it did appeal to my sick and twisted sense of humour, but was mainstream enough that it would not put others off watching it.  Based on a real story, I am tempted to find out more about the real game on another occasion.  

Dinner was a takeaway which was not as good as we hoped.  We branched away from our usual Thai restaurant and regretted it as the food was not up to the standards that we are used to.  We did enjoy dessert though which we ordered after the disappointing dinner.  

Leia is doing well, but sadly has decided to start doing a poo inside.  I am hoping that this will not continue.

Good night all, stay safe!

10 Things I Hate About You

This is a morally reprehensible and disgusting film which children should not be allowed to watch.  The language used early on in the film by the budding author should have been censored out, and the only truly moral part of the film was the views and actions of the father in it.  

My daughter loves the film and it has made me want to watch The Taming Of The Shrew.  Being based on a play by the greatest playwright ever, it would be hard to ruin.  I had wanted to watch this film many years ago when it had first come out, but never got round to doing so.  Watching it now, it is from a different perspective as I am from another generation.

My wife joined us during the film and I think that she liked bits of it.  Maybe, she will watch it all and we can enjoy it as a family.  

Saving All My Love for You

Yesterday, I got home late.  On doing so, as normal, I took of my clothes in the hall to put in the wash and showered.  After dressing, I went downstairs where Leia was ecstatic to see me.  As I was getting ready to eat, she went to the back door so that I could take her out into the garden to open her bowels.

My wife kindly offered to do this for me and put on a coat to brave the icy cold, but Leia followed me as I went to the table to eat.  Later, she went to the back door and barked, this time my son took her out where she did a wee in the garden.  But on getting back in, she barked again, and we realised that she wanted me to take her out.  My food was quite hot, having come out of the microwave, so I took her out (and completed my exercise ring on my watch for the day) where she did the poo that she had been saving for me.

This was an issue on Monday night as well, but then, my daughter had taken her out, and Leia did a poo for her.  While Leia will open her bowels for all of us, it appears that she prefers to save all her poo for me! 

How the The Confederate States of America were allowed to take Washington DC

Yesterday, the confederate flag flew in the capital of the USA.

Trump spoke to peaceful demonstrators, stating that the election held last year was stolen from him and his supporters. 

During the initial rally, Trump encouraged his supporters to "fight like hell" and "take back our country", and asked his supporters to march to encourage the elected representatives to ignore the election results of November 2020.

"You'll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength and you have to be strong. We have come to demand that Congress do the right thing and only count the electors who have been lawfully slated."

Rudi Giuliani called for them to engage in “a trial by combat” and they peacefully marched on the United States Capitol. When they got there, things changed.  They violently forced entry into the seat of the US government.  The last time that happened was then the forces of the British Empire did so, this being a feat not possible for the Confederate States of America in the US civil war.

During June, protests were held across the USA. Those demonstrating peacefully were cleared in a violent manner to allow Trump to walk to a church. People across the globe saw how Martin Gugino was pushed to the floor by the police (he sustained a fracture and issues with walking after this). And the National Guard were called upon to defend the Lincoln Memorial in June 2020 as well.

Not all the protests in June 2020 were peaceful, violence and damage to property took place and was met with a robust defence, this including when the public safety building in Kenosha was attacked. The violence in June 2020 was disgraceful and not excuse is present for causing damage which requires public funds to repair that could be spent on helping people instead.

The difference in how these protests were defended against was shocking. Peaceful demonstrators are tear gassed, and other than the tragic death of Ashli Babbitt, the world sees the white protestors getting away with violence that would never have been tolerated if this was a left wing protest movement or one in support of people of colour.