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.

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.

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.  

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! 

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!

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.  

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.