"It's a boy!" I shouted, as I ran from the Thai brothel.

There have been some interesting discussions about the death of Hugh Hefner and how he exploited women through pornography.  And this brings up the issue of those who work in pornography and the sex trade.

There is no doubt that too many adults, and children have been exploited to work in both, and actresses like Shelley Lubben has spoken out many a time on her experiences as a pornographic actress.  But, some are willingly drawn to working in pornography or prostitution.

Prostitution has been described as the worlds oldest profession, and going back in time, where women have had less rights than now, I have no doubt that exploitation occurred then as well.  I do not like the idea of women selling themselves for money.  But in my work, I have encountered women who do so, one being a pornographic actress who despite the help she was offered, wanted to work in the business, but also people who were working and those who have worked in the past as sex workers.  But, we have to remember that this is not just an issue where women work in the industry.

Listening to women who have been brave enough to talk about the work they have done as sex workers (or strippers) there is no doubt in my mind that this work should be legal and that those women who work in the trade should be not only offered protection, but also to help workers leave the trade.  And when it comes to regulation, this is to reduce risks to those who work in the trade as well as to reduce the risks of people being forced to work in the sex trade as well as stopping those who are underage being forced into it.
And while some of the customers of sex workers that I have met have expressed views that I find to think of anything other than loathsome (though this has not changed the treatment that they are entitled to or what I have given), the customers who use sex workers are varied, and some, have no other real choice in life.

Hitler and the Nazi party were not left wing

There is an argument, spread by those on the right that the National Socialist German Workers' Party, i.e. the Nazi Party were socialist. But they were not. Looking back on the interwar history of Germany, while they initially spoke against big business, they were against the works of Marx.

Once in power, Hitler and the Nazi party cracked down on socialists resulting in many being sent to Concentration Camps where they would be allocated red triangles.  

I have seen threats against those on the internet who criticise the far right here, a concern as if given the chance, I am sure they would lock people like me up.

Pokemon Rainbow

I had to work from home today.  On waking up, I saw what the wind was like and felt that there would be no chance of cycling to work today.  So, after my daughter went to school, we walked to his, with a slight detour to catch Pokemon.  I have to say that I am impressed with how keen he is to walk now.  In the days before this App, he was not at all willing to walk.

After school I got to walk back with him, and while he was disappointed that we had not cycled, it did mean yet more Pokemon.  Or would have but his account kept crashing.  My daughter came home later and on the high that she was, combined with being tired, she talked at a million miles and hour. 

Later, on, my son and I went out to catch more Pokemon.  It was only afterwards that I realised I had not made dinner when my wife, understandably annoyed rang me!  And on getting back home, I found that I had ruined the peas I had made earlier.

It has been a while since I made anything so bad!

Heritage Day in Colchester

Today was heritage day in Colchester.  And we took advantage of this.  First of all it was a quick drive around town for Pokemon Go, but after breakfast we explored one area we had not been to before.

Following the local politicians on Twitter I learned that a local private school had its doors open to allow people to take in the view from its battlements.  Three girls from my daughters old school go there, so she was understandably curious and my son and I both were as well.  And it was worth the walk there.  The staff there were pleasant and friendly teaching us a lot about the history of the building and allowing us (and others) to take in the view.  She is glad that she got into her school, but if she had not, I imagine that she would have loved to go there.

After that, it was a walk down to the boys Grammar School and again a tour where we learned about the history of the school which was fascinating.  My son would love to get into the school, and time will tell if he can or not.

Anyway, we ended the day watching Strictly Come Dancing and the kids are getting much needed rest.  I say we ended, as I have stayed up to watch Arsenal on Match of the Day.  It is always great to see Arsenal play, though this game against Bournemouth did not really test our suspect defence.

Things that go bump in the night

The kids are back at school.  When I say back, that is my son.  But my daughter has started a new school, having technically not belonging to any school for six weeks.  She seems to be enjoying things, though she has been very tired in the two days that she has been there.

And this meant that my son got to ride his bike into school today, something he has wanted to do for a while.  And he did well, cycling up a slope for the first time.  I think that he enjoyed it and I think that he is looking forwards to this again next week.  Well that is what he told me anyway.

When it came to me and my cycling, I had to do more than usual for an after school meeting (though not at, or anything to do with school).  That meant cycling home, collecting my son, cycling home, waiting for my daughter, and then a trip to the meeting, again by bike.  And now my thighs hurt.

And the post refers to my daughter falling out of bed last night!

In Arsène we trust(ed)

Sorry, but I am having a crisis of faith.

I used to think that Arsène Wenger should stay, but my thoughts on this have become less certain.  And when I say this, I do not wish to say that Arsenal does not owe him lots.  As does all of English football really for the way he has transformed how football is played in England.

But now it may be the time to go.

He is still a great manager, winning the FA cup so many times is not the mark of a failure, but I honestly think that we have a team capable to winning the league.  Or if we do not now, we certainly did two seasons ago when Leicester City won the league.  We were top of the league that season but blew it, only finishing in second place thanks to a surprise result on the last day of the season.

It may be that I am being too premature, as Chelski did not do well at the beginning of last season, and still won when people thought that it was not possible.  But they did not have a defence that had conceded eight goals in the first three league games.

If he leaves, things may not be any better, as only one team can win the league.  And for the record, I would love him to prove me (and other Arsenal fans) wrong.

However, I do feel ALL Arsenal fans should support the team on the pitch and NEVER boo them off.

Invasion Colchester 2017

We had a great day today in Colchester.  Today was Invasion Colchester and it is something that I have been looking forwards to with my son for ages.  My daughter, when I had first discussed it, was not too interested in it, but she changed her mind on this.  So my son walked in with us, dressed in a jacket we got him a few years ago when The Force Awakens came out.  Although he had wanted me to dress up in something, I had refused but did wear a Star Wars T shirt while my wife and daughter wore normal clothes.  

And of course, this meant that we played Pokemon Go while my wife was very patient and did not complain at all.  We split up when my wife and daughter went into a shop and my son and I continued walking about to catch more Pokemon, but later, we met up again.  But this was in the town centre itself, and my son and I had encountered some of the characters invading the town.  This included two Predators, and later I had my photo taken with Wonder Woman (no not my wife, the other superhero).  

My son of course had no idea what the Predators are, and of course, being so young, he is not going to find out for a few years.  But he was in ecstasy when we saw an Ewok.  Culver square was full of other people, including Batman and Harley Quinn as well as the Joker, but we had to meet up with the other who, who had encountered some Wizard and Witches.  Both my son and daughter were sorted into houses, sadly neither into Slytherin, but time will tell.

Later it was a walk to Castle Park, where a Pokemon raid was to take place.  My daughter, now she has seen some of those who play Pokemon, is not as keen on it as she was before, but this means that I might get access to her account!

Anyway, she met up with some friends and left us to shop with them (a first) while my son had us by himself for two hours.  Later, we ate at Mamma Mia, a restaurant three of us had been to before, but my daughter had not and we had an amazing meal there.  

Once at home we rested and watched The X Factor. There were some good singers, but this one is amazing.


And last of all, while the kids have not played chess that much, I have continued to do so, and I have realised that I have not continued to post much on it.

So, my performance includes the following finishes.
1st place
12th place out of 19 players
203rd place out of 507 players
2nd place out of 100
19th place out of 100 players
52nd place out of 100
5th out of 99 (I was annoyed to come so close to a top three finish!)24th place out of 99 players
150th place out of 533
9th out of 16