It's the way I tell 'em

Frank Carson was a Northern Irish comedian renowned for bawdily irreverent humour and his catchphrase, "it's the way I tell 'em" and that catchphrase is something Keir Starmer needs to take on board. The questions and issues that he raised in PMQ's were very relevant, but his delivery was below par and as pointed out by Rishi Sunak after one question, quite longwinded. He, like many Labour politicians, needs to think up catchphrases that can be used in PMQ’s which the electorate will respond do. Like the Conservatives do. 

I do understand why many think that there is no point to PMQ’s, but it is thanks to the scrutiny that the PM is put under, that consequences can arise. It was a question that was asked on the 8th of December 2021 by Catherine West that may result in Parliament acting against Boris Johnson for his answer and the way he misled Parliament. 

When they go low, we go lower

 

It looks like Labour are to fight fire with fire.  It may not be the moral thing to do, but the moral thing did not work out in 2016 when Trump defeated Clinton by telling lies and generating hatred and division.  Sadly, too many voters remember catchphrases, Boris Johnson used this to great effect in the 2019 General Election when his promises, despite being torn apart by the media, won over the electorate.

Rishi Sunak has stated that Starmer is on the side of people smugglers. Suella Braverman has claimed that 100 million refugees want to come to the UK.  The Conservatives are basically telling lies, but these lies win over voters.

I do not like Labour fighting dirty, but I do think that if the Conservatives continue to punch below the belt, Labour should do the same and punch harder. 

Arsenal players look like they will not be able to keep dogs, as they cannot hold onto a lead

 First of all, family. We took the children to see their grandparents.  My mother was first and this song is for her as the issue of how the UK sells arms to be used in Yemen was discussed.  She was under the impression that few knew about it, whereas I have known about it for a while, and my children listen to a song about this.  

After that, we went to see my wife's parents and after our trip home, my wife and I went out for an amazing time together.  All in all, a lot was packed into our Saturday.

Sunday was more relaxed, I watched Grey's Anatomy with my son and went for a dog walk with my daughter.  I did not get to watch Arsenal draw to West Ham and essentially throw away our hopes of winning the title which is why I was in a good mood for most of the day.  

  

If anyone had asked me at the beginning of the season if I would have been happy to finish in the top four and also finish above the Scum, I would have taken it.  But the thing is, I started to think that we could win it...

Dead Poets Society

 First of all we had a trip to Aldeburgh as a family. We woke up late because we had Nick and Lyndsay over the night before for drinks, food and company, my son taking Leia for a walk in the morning. 

My wife had booked a place for lunch, and we had intended to arrive in good time to go for a walk on the beach, but we arrived late. Besides, it was quite foggy when we got there. 

The meal was a good one, sadly my son was not able to enjoy it fully, but he got better later and was able to go for a walk with me along the beach. Later I did the same walk with my daughter, the dog liking both walks. It was nice to have a change in scenery, and with the sun coming out when we had lunch, we appreciated it all the more so.

We stopped over at Snape Maltings on the way back where Leia got another walk while my son and wife looked at things in the shops there.

We got back in time for me to watch Arsenal lose a two goal lead against Liverpool. When I started watching it, we were one goal ahead with the second half just starting. A draw is better than a loss, and it was a loss that I feared before the game. But a draw means that the odds are that we will lose the title on goal difference. Considering where we came from last season, finishing second will be amazing, but to be top of the table most of the season and then not winning the title will be hard to take.

Later, I watched Grey’s Anatomy with my son, and then in the evening, Dead Poets Society with my daughter. My son has to listen to my rants about how Grey’s Anatomy shows how bad news should not be given and is getting used to my biology lessons during it. 

Dead Poets Society is a film I have meant to watch for quite a while. My wife did not watch it with us, having watched it in the cinema when it first came out. It was a good film, and for the time, I imagine an excellent one. The message had been told many times since then, but its core message is one that was been told well and few films have told it as well since. 

Murder Mystery 2

 A watchable film. It does not tax your intellect, has likeable characters and great scenery. It was not meant to compete with films like Three Thousand Years of Longing, and does not. What it does do is offer a similar film to Knives Out. Basically, if you liked the first film, you will like this. It can be a stand alone film, in that you do not need to have watched the first one to appreciate this. The plot will have you guessing at times, but is not a taxing one. As a whodunnit, it is great for watching with your wife, which is what I did. 

As for the children, they are enjoying the holidays. My son made dinner a few days ago, but now seems on sucking any ice cream that he can find up. My daughter has some friends over having been to a party last night. They were still talking when I went to bed at 0120 so I do not know what she will be like today. Hopefully we will be able to enjoy some of the weather today and have something more substantial to update tomorrow. Saying that, I also had an enjoyable dog walk with my daughter yesterday.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

 

This was not terrible. The previous Dungeons and Dragons film from 2000 was truly awful. This was not. It was good to see some places from the Baldurs Gate games and it was lovely to have the adventurers from the Dungeons and Dragons cartoon present as well.  It was fairly true to the Dungeons and Dragons that I knew, though the game has since evolved and I was able to recognise quite a few of the spells that were cast.

If you are a fan of D&D, this is a must see film. I have to be honest and say that it will offer less to normal people, but should still be fun to watch.

Three Thousand Years of Longing

 

We loved this film. My wife and I watched it on Amazon last night. I thought I would like it. I did not realise how much. I am not sure that it deserved a six minute standing ovation, but this is a film I would certainly watch again and would have been happy to pay to watch. In fact, it is a film that I would recommend to others who like a story well told.  While a fantasy, it is not your typical fantasy film with action, magic and monsters, but rather has a magical setting (as well as an enchanting story). 

It was great to see people wearing face masks, something that I think more people should wear in public spaces, but it was filmed last year and times change.