A dog named Pickles who we renamed Trump

My son appears to enjoy isolation, though my wife and I are concerned at the effect that this may have on his motivation.  Today, she got a bit jittery and we went for a drive to Long Melford to the nethergate brewery.  We have been here before, but we took my daughter and Leia.  

My daughter had a sleepover last night (and had undertaken a lateral flow test before going) but was happy to join us.  I drove there and back, as while I love the beer there, I needed to keep some energy as I have not been sleeping well recently.  Nothing serious, just watching too much television!  When there, we ordered using an App to get table service for drinks and later ordered some food from a mobile restaurant that is there as well.  

Leia met another lockdown puppy, this being called Pickles.  She loved meeting him and played until he did a wee on her head!  Well, it was time to bathe her anyway.

But the best bit of the day for me was the walk my wife and I took at Brightlingsea.  I had taken Leia for a walk earlier, and while on the walk, my wife rang me that we would walk together.  We got some breakfast from a bakery there, also getting things for a friend who is in isolation and then went for a walk hand in hand.  It has been too long since we did this and I hope we keep doing this again.  

Fifty Shades of Grey

There is a difference between grooming and seduction.

The film is in essence a fairy tale, and one with adult scenes.  Flights in a helicopter, fancy restaurants and clothes.  I can see why many find this film to be so dangerous however.  I may watch the other films, but I may not.  Saying that, they may not be on Netflix for me to do so! 

Loki fest

Last night, my son and I caught up with Loki.  He had been getting spoilers from friends and as a household, we all agreed to watch it on Wednesday and that if anyone was not to watch it, tough.  My wife did not watch it with us and may decide to watch it at a later date.  Surprisingly, my daughter did not like it, which is odd considering the character of Female Loki is so well acted and written.  

Compared to WandaVision this is better.  I felt that the last episode of that series was a disappointment, especially after such an amazing build up.  But I do consider it to be better than The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.  Saying that, all three were great to watch and I may watch Loki and WandaVision again in the future.  

I cannot state too much without spoiling the series, but I loved the ending and my son and I are looking forwards to the next series, whenever that is to be.  I do hope Sylvie is in it though.  She was awesome!

PMQs, taking the knee and my son being in isolation

First of all, my son is in isolation as someone in his form has tested positive for COVID19.  My daughter has managed to escape so far in her school, but with the numbers of those affected by COVID increasing, it is only a matter of time before she is exposed.  At work, several staff have to work from home due to being contacts themselves, or having children who are contacts.  My daughter has a friend who was in isolation due to being a contact and then tested positive two days before her period of isolation ended.  Another friend is in isolation as one of their parents has contracted it despite them being double vaccinated.

The issue of increasing numbers was brought up in PMQ's today as this is not just putting strain on the NHS, but it is also causing issues for business.  A friend of ours has had to shut the business they have as one staff member tested positive which meant that too many had to isolate as a result.  

But the main issue was the question about if it was right for Conservative politicians to speak out against footballers taking the knee, or to refuse to condemn fans who decided to boo their own team for doing so.  Thanks to changes in the law, a protest can be deemed illegal if it is too loud.  To be fair to the Conservatives, some are open about how they were wrong to condemn this and argue that the party needs to change its attitude.  I like many consider the refusal to speak about against 'fans' booing their own team as being linked to the racist abuse that many of the team have faced, notably the three players who missed the penalties. If politicians had spoken out, it would have reminded all that there are issues with racism and that they need to be addressed.  Instead by ignoring it, people have not been reminded that racism is not acceptable.  

The abuse that has been directed to our black footballers is inexcusable, but the love that they have been shown is also amazing.  

That final

Heartbroken.  We were so close.  I do not know if we are going to have a better chance to win a major trophy again.  England were by far the better team in the first half, but Italy deserved to equalise and I said that they would do so a few minutes before they did.  

However, I think that they should have finished with ten men.  The professional foul by Giorgio Chiellini on Bukayo Saka deserved a straight red card for dangerous play.

I love Italy, I love the Italian people.  I have always hated football there due to my view that there is too much cheating and cynicism, and I hate Italian football even more.  On the pitch, that act ruined a thrilling game.

It would have got a lot more coverage but for the stupid actions of racist morons after the penalties.  I hope those three players do not lose heart over the misses or the abuse.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Have taken Leia out for her walk today and have finished watching Godzilla: King of the Monsters.  Overall, it was a bad film and is not one that I would pay to watch.  As to if I would have been disappointed if I had paid to watch it, I am not sure.  The film was bad at points, terrible in others.  But once I remembered that this was a film set on an alternative Earth, where the rules we have do not apply, it became more bearable.  It had good special effects, but a predictable plot.  For its genre, it was an okay film.  Much better than some of the other terrible films that I have watched this year, but overall I would have to say, not even average in quality.

Anyway, I have to iron, mow the lawn and assemble some flat pack furniture before the final tonight.  I believe!  

Luca

This was our family film yesterday.  And I liked it.  Yes, I would have paid to watch it at the cinema if this was available without the plague being about.

There was a discussion in the house about if this was a 'gay film' or not.  I argue that it is not, but rather is a film where there is a bromance, but there is also friendship between the boys and a girl.  It is unusual for a Disney film in that there is no romance other than that of the parents, but the bromance between the two is just as 'gay' as that between Woody and Buzz, or Maverick and Goose.  

It did bring a tear to the eye of my wife, but she and I are watching the film from a different perspective to our children.

But it was great to watch it as a family together.  Something that is happening less often as the children grow older. 

Great opera in it, and the children did not complain when they listened to it!