The UK takes further action against Israel

One of the many times that I am proud to be British has been when it comes to the actions of this government in imposing sanctions on the illegal occupation of The West Bank.  As discussed before, I disagree with the term Genocide when it comes to how the Palestinian people are being treated, but I do consider Israel to be engaging in Ethnic Cleansing.  

I was full of hope when The Oslo Accords were signed.  I still want them to be honoured, with settlements and their inhabitants being allowed to remain, but under the control of The Palestinian Authority with an end to segregation, allowing Muslims and Christians to live in them side by side with Jews.  

Parliament has spoken, mostly with one voice. More action can be taken, I have discussed this with my daughter, and I have been clear that I think that F35 fighter parts produced in the UK should still go to Israel.  But I do think that the military aid we give with flights out of Cyprus should end. 

Do all lives matter?

The term All Lives Matter is one that is controversial.  I think that it applies right now in the UK.  Plastic patriots have been taking to the streets to protest against Farage Boats crossing The Channel.  The RNLI has been something that they have not liked for a while, a service that many on the left have funded.  

Patriots need to remember that the numbers of Farage boats has increased since Brexit and if they wanted them to stop, the best way to do so would be to re-join the EU.

Political violence in the UK

I have been clear on many occasions that political violence in the UK is wrong.  Nigel Farage and Reform UK Ltd have shown appalling double standards when it comes to this.  Violence to any politician is wrong, that includes throwing a milk shake over Farage. But that also includes violence to a heckler.  I do not think that the Right to Protest should interfere with the Right to Free Speech, even when it is funny, but violence to solve it is wrong. Unless it is when John Prescott is punching someone who started it, that being because it was his right to retaliate when faced with a physical attack. 

Donations to Reform UK (Ltd) again

Reform UK Ltd are in the news again.  Over donations, again.  It was not too long ago that there was the issues about a five million pound gift.  That drowned out the other donations, including one from a donor who "earned" a pardon from Donald Trump.  

There is nothing patriotic with a political party being funded by millionaires from abroad. 

Return of the daughter

Our daughter is back from Albania. She had travelled there with a friend and was meant to return during the week, but when abroad her phone died.  We give our children hand-me-down phones and she pointed out that the phone she had was older than the dog. On occasion the phone will turn on, but will be green. I think it is communing with The Matrix. Needless to say I have been told not to tell her that! 

My wife and I drove to Heathrow with our dog in the back of the car to collect her and her friend. Having only one phone between them, the two wished to return from a nation, which while beautiful, was culturally quite different in their behaviour towards women.

Anyway, it is the twenty first birthday of our daughter next month, so I have bought her a brand new iPhone which will arrive tomorrow, which will be her early birthday present. She has promised to pay her friend back for the early flight home so will be returning to working for two days later this week. 

Welcome to Luton

We returned to Luton today. To be fair, when I have been there, it was to fly from the airport. Today it was a pickup for my daughter and her friend who had travelled to Croatia for a few days. Our dog was not keen on the trip but loved seeing Eve and my daughter.

We arrived early and went into the town to get food for them. We only skirted the outside, but it was depressing. On the plus side, we have both our children at home. She is due to travel to Albania soon, taking advantage of the money she has earned over the summer holidays. 

Practical Magic

When my wife suggested watching this last night, I did not expect to enjoy the film as much as I did. It turns out neither of us have watched it. 

Films now are different to what they were back in 1998. While new ground was being broken in the mainstream with Buffy The Vampire Slayer, I expected this to be more vanilla in nature, it is described as a RomCom after all. I was wrong and this reminds me that assumptions can make an arse out of me. (Yes, I know it is meant to be ass, but I am British.) I now want to watch the sequel when it comes out, but I fear that it will be hard for it to be as good as the original.