It’s been a good week with some really nice days toward the end. Thursday, Friday and Saturday were glorious. Warm(ish) or at least pleasantly mild with bright blue skies, puffy clouds and a gentle breeze. It does feel a bit autumnal in the mornings and evenings and many of the trees are already showing what passes for colour in these parts (but that could partly be a result of how dry a summer we had). Let’s hope for more of the same.
Poor Daisy has almost finished her isolation for kennel cough. She’s not been badly affected by it at all but she has severely felt the not being able to mix with all her doggie friends. The vet said she needed to wait five days after her symptoms had cleared before mixing with other dogs again – by my reckoning that’s probably about Wednesday. I wonder just how excited and absolutely looney she will be.
And speaking of Daisy, we were watching Frozen Planet on television the other evening and at a couple of points in the proceedings, Daisy took an intense interest. She approached the screen and peered intently at the foxes, polar bears, seals, birds and all.
And, while we’re at it . . .
Thankfully, the Queen’s funeral is done and dusted and you will be amazed to discover that all those issues which were put on hold “out of respect for the Queen” are still there and still problematic. What are the chances of that?
On Monday morning, the day of the funeral, 8 out of 10 of the BBC’s “most viewed” items related to the Queen and the funeral. That’s not a reflection on the BBC but rather a reflection on the collective insanity of the British public.
Now that the country can finally return to “normal” the “new” government has hit the ground running. Too bad their ideas seem to be absolutely bonkers. That sound you heard on Friday was the pound crashing to its lowest level in more than 35 years as the “new” chancellor announced tax cuts for the very rich at the same time as massively increased borrowing. The Bank of England, the international financial community and just about everyone else reckons this is real bat shit crazy stuff. Interestingly, at several points various ministers proclaimed that they’ve only been in government for two weeks. Imagine how surprised they’re going to be when they realise that the idiots who have been running the country into the ground for the past 12 years has been them!
Penny and I were very sorry to read of the death of Hilary Mantel last Friday. We’ve lost a great author and sadly won’t have the joy of reading anything new from her. Honestly, if you’ve not read the Wolf Hall trilogy get on with it. I know it’s dauntingly long but it races by – I don’t think there’s a wasted word to be found anywhere.
I have to confess, I’m not a great reader. I read almost exclusively in bed and, of course, I fall asleep after about three pages and then, the next day, I can’t remember what I’ve read so have to read it again. You can see that it takes me a long time to finish anything. My criteria for a really good book is one which I look forward to reading each evening. By this reckoning, the Wolf Hall trilogy definitely fall into the great books category.
We’re looking forward to the arrival of my older sister Sallie and her husband Rod on Tuesday for a week’s visit. They’ve been in Croatia and, if you follow her on Facebook you will have seen some fabulous photos – makes us even more determined to visit there sometime soon. We’ve got a couple of (hopefully) good outings lined up for when they’re here.
That’s it for this week, I think.
Meanwhile, keep happy, keep smiling, be careful, wear a f**king facemask in crowded places and keep your distance. And keep safe. And be gentle to wasps and bees.
Lots of love to you all,
Greg