There is currently a conflict over fishing rights between the UK and France. Maybe not a surprise as there have already been conflicts elsewhere. The UK government has sent the RN to add support and maybe power.
Jonty’s Jottings puts some context and the last sentence I love:
‘The UK has been reduced to the Millwall of Europe, “no one likes us, we don’t care” and firmly in the second division.’
Des pêcheurs français s’étaient rassemblés aux abords de l’île britannique depuis jeudi matin. Ils réclament le droit de pêcher dans ses eaux poissonneuses, comme prévu dans l’accord conclu dans le cadre du Brexit.
French fishers back in Granville, France after their protest in Jersey waters on Thursday. Photograph: Siegfried Modola/Getty Images
New restrictions and deep cuts to allowances mean both French and Jersey boat owners feel betrayed by BrexitJon Henley, Lisa O’Carroll and Steven Morris in St HelierThu 6 May 2021 18.08 BST
Last modified on Thu 6 May 2021 21.20 BST
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Dawn was still four hours away and the small Normandy port of Carteret was alive, some boats hurriedly unloading their catch for a rapid turnaround, others turning on their lights and firing up their engines for the first time that night.
Thank you for contacting us with your feedback about BBC Radio.
The passing of HRH The Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh was a significant event which generated a lot of interest both nationally and internationally.
We acknowledge your complaint about the level of coverage, particularly in relation to the BBC News Special programme which was broadcast across all networks. We do not make such changes to billed schedules without careful consideration. The decisions made reflect the role the BBC plays as the national broadcaster, during moments of national significance.
We are grateful for your feedback, and we always listen to the response from our audiences. Your comments have been shared with senior management.
Yesterday at the age of 99, Prince Philip, ‘Phil the Greek’ died. It was not unexpected as he was clearly old, and had recently spent a significant time in hospital.
As expected there has been ‘wall-to-wall’ coverage. It has been excessive and totally in keeping with the traditional obsession with service to royalty. It has driven me made but as the same time, it seems, many others too:
BBC flooded with complaints over Prince Philip death coverage
Corporation opened dedicated complaints form on its website to deal with high volume of comments
The BBC curtailed dozens of broadcasts on Friday, taking the nation’s most popular television and radio channels off air.
Within six hours of Prince Philip’s death being announced the BBC had received so many complaints about its wall-to-wall coverage of the news that it opened a dedicated complaints form on its website, as television viewers turned off and went elsewhere.
The BBC curtailed dozens of broadcasts on Friday, taking the nation’s most popular television and radio channels off air and reducing dozens of other broadcasts on stations across the country, to provide uninterrupted coverage of tributes to the Queen’s husband.
BBC One played a series of pre-recorded shows, including Philip’s children paying tribute to him, while BBC Two scrapped its schedule and simulcast the same shows as its sister channel. Friday night staples such as EastEnders, Gardeners’ World, and the final episode of MasterChef were taken off air to make way for more tributes, an approach also taken by ITV.
So, to keep up the momentum I decided to make my complaint too. What particularly annoyed was the universal broadcast of I think Gyles Brandreth as a royalty history expert or maybe a documentary he made.
All of this has echos of the death of Diana when again we all had to fall into line with national mourning and a group expectation of sadness. Again tv schedules were changed and radio was replaced with nothing or dirge music.
Here is my short complaint:
I am complaining regarding the response of the BBC to the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.
With particular respect to the radio I found it inappropriate that each national radio station that i tried was broadcasting the same programme. As such there was no choice in whether I wanted to participate in the remembrance. I found it unacceptable and I would expect younger people who tuned into Radio 1 would have bemused.
The BBC is not meant to be an organ of the state and blanket coverage of the same programme and then funeral music after , an for how long, is not acceptable.
In conjunction, the over- indulgent coverage of the death on BBC television excessive for me and I am sure a significant proportion of the population who do not feel a sense of obdedience to the idea of royalty.
Brentford’s manager, Thomas Frank, celebrates with Mads Roerslev after the win at home against Sheffield Wednesday in February. Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images
Head coach discusses promotion ambitions, social media and changing plans to see Ollie Watkins score for England
Fri 2 Apr 2021 11.00 BST
Last Thursday evening Thomas Frank was at home in south-west London, watching Denmark’s Under-21s on his laptop when, a few miles away, Ollie Watkins was brought on for his England debut at Wembley. It was the cue for the Brentford head coach to fetch the remote. “I turned on the telly and saw Ollie score,” says Frank, who worked with the striker for three seasons. “The story of Ollie is remarkable, from League Two to the Championship and now the Premier League and the national team. He is humble but worked very hard. With that you can get very far.”
Frank is hoping to guide Brentford to the top flight after coming within one game of promotion last season. The international break allowed him to recharge the batteries, a little respite from a gruelling campaign that began only 33 days after losing the play-off final. Getting off the hamster wheel, as Frank puts it, is tricky but the change of pace and spending a few hours with family, exploring Netflix or walking through the woods with Torben, a cross between a Shar Pei and an English bulldog from Battersea, was much needed. “I watched After Life. I tried to find something where I can laugh and cry a bit, and I did both.”
With nine games to play Brentford are hoping tears of joy lie ahead. Before visiting Huddersfield on Saturday they are fourth in the Championship, in the midst of what, ostensibly, is a three-way fight with Watford, whom they face in their penultimate game, and Swansea for the second automatic promotion place. “We are definitely getting into the last part of the race, so maybe we are not sprinting yet but we are definitely increasing the tempo, or trying to.
But at same time the matches are slipping:
Huddersfield Town 1-1 Brentford: Mads Sorensen earns point but Bees’ promotion hopes take hit
3 April 20213 April 2021.From the section Championship
A mix-up in the Brentford defence gave Lewis O’Brien the opportunity to open the scoring with the Terriers’ only shot of the first half
Brentford’s automatic promotion hopes were dealt a blow after a draw which edged Huddersfield closer to safety.
Lewis O’Brien took advantage of a mix-up between Bees goalkeeper David Raya and defender Mads Roerslev to put the hosts ahead after seven minutes.
Brentford equalised five minutes into the second half when Mads Sorensen turned in Vitaly Janelt’s cutback, before Ivan Toney hit the post.
Both sides had chances to win it late on but had to settle for a point each.
The point moves Brentford up to third on goal difference but they remain nine points behind Watford in second, albeit with a game in hand, with the draw edging Huddersfield eight points clear of the relegation places.
On Saturday I had the second dose of the vaccine. A good thing.
Did my body know about it!
After about 12 hours I experienced the body aches and then in bed had shivers, fevers and total body pain. The next day I slept for hours.
This was just like having the real thing again- a flashback to 12 months ago.
With a reaction like that after 2 doses of vaccine and the real infection one would hope this shows my immune system is truly primed and ready to fight if needed.
A walk today that started from Trafalgar Square. The above was taken in St. James’ Park.
We walked from B. Palace to Westminster. In Parliament Square there were all the flags of the Commonwealth on display as part of a current celebration.
Later, after walking along the Southbank and then back across the millennium bridge and a moody image looking downstream.
The beginning of the walk from Streatham to Crytal Palace of the way to Nunhead
I seem to be struggling with the format of this thing currently, but here goes.
On Friday, the walk we followed was as action of the Capital Ring and the Green Chain Walk; the latter component of which did seem to be that much more pleasant.
In total the walking was about 22 Km, a little more than planned.
The end stop was Nunhead cemetery which has been close to admissions for many years and nature has reclaimed the area, and so it is very beautiful. However, there are a number of war graves sites, which of course, continue to be maintained.
