Made In Italy

My wife and I watched this today. Or rather finished watching it as we had started to watch it last night.  It was lovely to see Italy again, not just because we have not seen it for years, but may not return for years.  As a film, it was one with a mostly predictable plot, and my wife felt over acted in places.  But it was sweet and also refreshing to watch.  

My daughter spent the day revising and my son enjoyed the first day of the long weekend by continuing to relax.  Over this time, I took Leia to a part of Highwoods Country Park that she had not been to.  And I found a section of the park that gives her the Zoomies that Cockapoo’s are famous for.

Now, we are watching The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.  Marvel have done it again.  An engaging series, though much darker than Wandavision.  It is going to be interesting who ends up being on the good side of grey and those who are on the evil side.  I am missing bit of the plot hough as I need to watch he films with Captain America again.

13 Reasons Why; Tape 5, Side B

Another episode watched with my son.  This was watched after a few hours walking Leia in Highwoods Country Park. She loved the walk but at the end was all too wiling to get into the car.  With the sun out it was great for both of us. As before she loved to meet with other dogs.  I met with the mother of one of my son’s old school friends and her new partner, her dog trying to hump Leia.  He had been neutered and was trying to dominate her, she did not mind, but we quickly stopped it.

Getting back, my son and I watched 13 Reasons Why.  The episode again did not live up to the book when it came to Hannah Baker herself, but looking at those around her this portrayed how the survivors of suicide have to live on with grief.  He liked it and I am looking forwards to watching more episodes with him later this month.

The invisibility curse

My blog as vanished from the Bing search engine.  By strange coincidence, I am having a discussion about various matters with what appears to be employees of a Russian Troll factory.  I may be doing them a disservice saying this, as they be nothing to do with Russia.

The discussion started about how Russia was responsible for the destruction of MH17 (they blame anyone but), but has evolved into one on sexual assault.

I am not sure how long my blog will be invisible on Bing.  Hopefully not for too long and I hope that they do not get to hack it.

The To Do List

My daughter loves this film.  Comparing it to American Pie, I think that this comes up short, but that is a film looking at adolescent sexuality from a male perspective, while this is from a female one.  I do want my children to be open and honest about sex and issues about it with me.  Watching this with my daughter was a bit traumatic for both of us, more so for me though.

It was an enjoyable comedy and I can see why she, and I suspect her friends like this so much.  I am not as sure that parents would want to watch it, especially with children in the room.

Where has the squirrel gone?

This morning I woke up late, but that was taking into account the change from daylight saving to summertime hours.  My son woke with Leia, though his aim was to go on the switch,  this was fine as he had agreed to go to ASDA with my wife in the day.  My daughter had planned to wake in the morning to accompany me to work, but as she was sleep, once my son took Leia out into the garden for her toilet break, I took her to Highwoods Country Park.  However the walk for Leia was cut short as my son changed his mind and I returned home to accompany my wife to the click and collect point for our supplies.

I went into work to catch up with some overdue items to find that despite being on holiday, some people have been giving me work to do! So I spent an hour doing that work instead.  Later, my daughter and I returned home for a very late lunch with my wife (my son had eaten at a more sensible time) and then my daughter and I took Leia back to Highwoods Country Park for her walk.  My son was invited but decided to stay at home instead.

Leia loves the park.  My daughter, who had recently finished watching all the Criminal Minds episodes did not want to walk too far ahead of me in the woods, but I think enjoyed the walk with Leia.  I have a week off left and am not sure if I should exercise in my bike, or by taking Leia back here more often.  Leia loves chasing squirrels but appears to have forgotten that they climb trees, running around the tree to search for them.  This is despite her seeing them run up trees in the park before as well as watching them do that in our garden.  Maybe she is not that smart after all...

Anyway, the evening was finished off by watching Line Of Duty with my wife.  It appears that another police officer is being blackmailed into being corrupt.  I hope, as this was an issue used before, that they turn the tables on those blackmailing them.  Watching Bloodlands earlier this month was enjoyable, and to be fair, I have liked all the productions of Jed Mercurio. 

13 Reasons Why; Tape 5, Side A

Just finished watching this with my son. A truly horrific episode.  He is already aware of the importance of consent, and also of the case of Brock Allen Turner with the sentence he was given.  After watching it, we discussed victim blaming and how that has occurred even when there has been photographic/video evidence that the woman was not able to give consent.  

On a lighter note, I took Leia to Highwoods park again today.  She loved it.  It was a shorter walk than before only being an hour, but she enjoyed meeting other dogs as well as the different environment. I think she caught sight of one squirrel today but I cannot be certain.

In addition to this, we did a bit of work dismantling the climbing frame today.  It is now down, and I will need to complete the job over the coming week.

Domestic violence is wrong

Today I was reminded of the violence that I saw at home growing up.

My parents both loved me, and while my father did not care to contact me when I was over the age of 20, I am grateful to what he taught me as a child.

He also taught me how not to be.  

He used to hit my mother, and it was always her fault.  My children know that I do not like violence at home, and when younger, they quickly learned not to blame the person they hit for hitting them.