Day 3 in Devon & Man On Fire

My daughter is a dirty rotten ice cream thief. But more on that later.

I woke late. Or rather I got out of bed late. Leia woke my wife and me early, but as I had been up late watching Man on Fire with my daughter she woke and looked after her while I slept.  

Man on Fire is an awesome film. I watched it many years ago, twice in fact. Once an edited version on a plane, and then a few months later with friends. I had bought it on DVD but it is in a box at home, but I have watched it and the deleted scenes.  It is an amazing film, one that still brings me to tears. It is the masterpiece that the character Creasy decides to create.

Anyway, after doing some shopping with my wife, we returned home. I hid some ice cream in the freezer to surprise my daughter with. We went to South Moulton to return to a shop that the others like while I took Leia for a walk.  After this it was a trip to North Moulton for lunch.  Lunch was okay, but nothing compared to the meal we had yesterday.

For dinner we had a takeaway, when there I bought some treats for my son, well for all of us, but it is my son who likes them the most.  I had chosen badly, and instead ate some ice cream that had been hidden. That was when my wife told my daughter about the other hidden ice cream. It is Strawberry Shortcake flavour and is one of my favourites. I was to let me daughter know about it later, but when she heard it was in the freezer, she found it, and then to ensure that I would not eat it, licked the top of it!

Anyway, I am about to take Leia out for a nighttime walk so she does not wake us up in the morning again. Good night! 

Day Two in Devon. Wedding Season

Today we watched Wedding Season. One of the children chose it. As a Rom-Com, it was okay, good even.  The issue I have with them is that they are predictable fairytales.  What I look for in them is how well they are out together and if there is anything new.  With this being an Indian romance in the USA, it did offer something not often seen, at least by us.  While not a masterpiece, I do recommend this for light watching on Netflix.

We retuned to the Pyne Arms again today. After today’s meal, we hope to return as we had a great time. My wife was not as keen on her main course, but the vote was that the Wagu beef burger was the best burger I have ever tasted.  Each of us want to try something different when we return.  It was an amazing day when we got there and the image was taken near the pub.

Last of all, Arsenal. I have finally got to watch the game.  It was a match I was very nervous about considering the score last season. From the highlights, we were lucky to win and our defence will be tested against better teams, but it was good to get the three points.  Hopefully our youthful team will pull through the challenges that they will face and finish in the top four…

Day one in Devon

Everyone is asleep right now.  We have had a long day and I am trying to keep my eyes open to watch the highlights of our win last night,

Unlike other years, we left earlier today, getting up at 0330.  My wife and I took turns with driving and sleeping.  Leia has been looking out for the cows that were present last year, but so far, no joy for her.

I do have more to discuss, but I am knackered and have to go to bed (and watch the Arsenal highlights tomorrow).

Lightyear

The kids are enjoying the school holiday. My son has been helping with tidying the house a bit.  Both claim to be studying for next academic year.  I am sure one is and I am sure that the other intends to do so.

In the morning before work, I took Leia for a walk in Highwoods Park, which as usual, she loved.  It is relaxing for me to take her there, though on one part where I took her off the beaten track, I did have to carry her over some brambles.  She loves walking through the undergrowth, just not where her paws get hurt.  Later in the day, I returned to the park, but in a different area  of the with my daughter for her evening walk.  I had asked my son if he wanted to come but he declined. Leia loved the walk, not just because rabbits came out at dusk (though she did see and chase one in the morning), but because she was with more than one of us.

We all watched Lightyear.  We had intended to watch this on the big screen, but, like with Minions, we did not get to do so.  Most of us liked it, though not all.  We already had some idea about it from Toy Story 2.  I felt that it was an enjoyable fun filled film with an amazing character.  Not sure that there is scope for a sequel, and the end was a bit too corny for 

me.  Overall, a shame that we did not get to watch it on the big screen.

A love story

Once upon a time, there was a girl who was in love with a boy.  They broke up. He met someone else.  She made an amazing album.  I was told about the latest addition to this story on the weekend. Enjoy.  

Where the Crawdads Sing

First of all, family.  My son was in a mood with me for most of yesterday.  This did appear to lift when the rest of us got back from the film, but I was going to bed.  Still, I much prefer him being in a good mood than not.  This did mean that we did not watch Grey's Anatomy, but we did watch Ms. Marvel.  She appears to be his favourite superhero at present.  Not mine, but I did love the final episode and I do think that she is a great character.  If pressed, I would probably say I enjoyed it more than Thor: Love and Thunder.  I think.  

My daughter has started to read about biology in preparation for her A-levels.  My wife is still hoping that she will attend Colchester County High School for Girls for her sixth-form education, but I have accepted that this is very very unlikely and that she will be going to the sixth form college.  My wife and I agree, that the standard of teaching and the support that she will get is not going to be as good at the sixth form college, but I do think that this will be an experience closer to university than remaining at her current school and this may aid her when (or if) she goes to university.

My son did not join us in watching the football, though again my wife and daughter watched it (along with Leia at times).  It was frustrating at times, notably once Germany scored as we were hoping to watch the end of the game before we left to watch the film.  It is not often my daughter watches football with me, though my wife will watch the major matches and we do have fond, but sad memories of them.  We had to leave once extra time started, but were very happy to get the alert by text that the Lionesses had won.  At least, a trophy for English football since 1966!

Right, the film.  I have not experienced such depression and despair watching a film in a while.  I loved it and I cannot understand why it has not been appreciated.  True, I did wonder why the body of Chase had not been eaten by alligators after his fall, but I felt that the film conveyed how Kya felt really well.  It may be that the film does not match up to the book, or it could be that the trailer ruins too much of it.  Like with most films that I want to watch, I did not watch the trailer before the film and this may have meant that I was able to appreciate it more than the critics.  I am very glad that I watched it and I will be watching this again when it is on the small screen. 

The Tavistock gender identity clinic and trying to make the right decision

Sadly the Tavistock gender identity clinic is to close. NHS England have promised to replace it, but working in the NHS I have repeatedly seen big differences in the aspirations of what NHS England have, and the reality that results.

The wait for treatment at the clinic is ever increasing, and by increasing, I mean in a manner faster than the way NHS waiting lists have increased under the Conservatives. 

I do feel sorry for those working at the clinic. There is a huge and increasing demand for assessment, and all those who want to be seen, at the time, are convinced that they need to transition.  But, Keira Bell has stated that the gender clinic 'should have challenged me more' over transition. Patients should not have to wait as long as they are having to, for these assessments, and the service should be given the capability to assess patients as well as is reasonable so that there are less people like Keira Bell, but also less people who should transition on the waiting list.  

I am also concerned that the new Conservative leader is going to put more barriers in the way for people to get these assessments, an example of why I have these concerns being the refusal to ban conversion therapy.

I have posted my views on gender identity before and recently have taken part in a discussion on Twitter about it. Sadly, when challenged, this person decided to withdraw from the discussion, but now appears to have their account suspended. They had asked me to look at a video about what JK Rowling had said, and my views on this can be seen here.

None who are in favour of all men being allowed to enter safe spaces for women so long as they are, or claim to be Trans have answered if this should apply in a local school which has been challenged about rape culture and misogyny. To put it simply, what I and JK Rowling are concerned about is the threat posed by a minority of men, not a threat posed by TransWomen.