Holiday Walk
One of my new books for Christmas. A book of walks derived from closed railway lines. Interestingly we saw an episode of the series on TV5 which featured a walk in Devon.
Our number 1 walk is in north London:
My first time in Finsbury Park and to Alexander Palace. Very nice area of the city.
Brexit Deal
Celebrating
And more football news- more success for Brentford
Brentford
- Home team scorers
- Josh Da Silva 66
Newcastle
- Away team scorers
Newcastle out as Josh Dasilva sends Brentford into Carabao Cup semi-finals
Still, at least Newcastle can concentrate on the league now. On a dank and dreary night, they were handed a lesson in invention and ambition by a Brentford team who can now celebrate the first major cup semi-final in their 121-year history.
Now just have to see who we play next: Man City, Man U or Tottenham
Crisis, what crisis?
Supermarkets airlifting fruit and vegetables to UK amid shortage fears
Shops and suppliers take action as border issues persist despite end of French blockade
Supermarkets and their suppliers are planning an unprecedented airlift of fresh fruit and vegetables into the UK next week amid fears the lifting of a French blockade will not prevent some shortages in stores.
One major supermarket, which declined to be named, said it had already begun flying in produce from Spain and north Africa and another said it was considering doing so, while the Lufthansa landed 80 tonnes of fruit and vegetables at Doncaster airport on Wednesday.
Note report of airlifts by Germany- the Berlin airlift in reverse?
An this is before Brexit chaos- though the much touted deal is apparently imminent.
All Change
Another late decision as the number of cases increase. So after all the confidence and bonhomie of planning for normality, the reality again imposes itself and restrictions to deal with the latest surge must be tightened.
So EQ stays in Scotland at least. Parcel services are to be used to quickly send presents up north. I expect there is a lot of misery across London and the south-east.
“Perhaps we should call this new Covid-19 variant the “Grinch strain”. As coronavirus in a mutated, more contagious form scuppers plans for festive gatherings, the front pages can do little to hang a bauble on the news. At least you could buy a copy of all today’s papers to keep you occupied during the times of suppressed joy ahead. Puzzle specials, added sections and other extras abound in these final Sunday editions before Christmas …”
First visit to ‘new Griffin Park’
The first visit to watch Brentford – of course in the time of the pandemic. As London is ‘tier 2’ of restrictions then attendance at sports events is allowed with a restriction of 2000 on the size of the crowd.
As tickets are only open to season ticket holders and based on priority of seniority I did not get the offer for the first match. But the second game was my chance, a surprise, as I thought it would be game three. I suppose there are more people than I thought who would give up their season ticket in these times of trouble and maybe some who do not want to go to games currently: for of infection or inadequate atmosphere with a small crowd?
So first game for me was against Derby County who have not started the season well. first manager has been sacked and now Wayne Rooney is in charge. Then beginning of a bright coaching career?
Anyway, the game was a disappointment, 0-0, a missed sitter in front of goal, but overall a lack of action. To me the formation does not look right- almost an old fashioned formation with 5 forward line, with big gaps behind and no connection. Some players look out of form.
So, currently placed just outside the play-off slots- which I think is a fair reflection.
Until the next time-which may be a while as rumours of London moving to tier 3 and so no more crowds at matches.
IQ and his rugby team
Joining the world’s first gay rugby team changed my life. So I made a film about it
At school, the homophobic bullying was worst on the rugby pitch. But the Steelers helped me rediscover my love for the game – and myself
‘Over time the Steelers won the respect of these straight burly British men because not only did they beat them on occasion, they showed them that we’re all pretty much the same.’
So you can imagine my surprise when years later, a rugby club would go on to change my life. Not just any rugby club, the world’s first gay rugby club, the Kings Cross Steelers in London.
Current times
A few of cartoons to describe the current situation.
The Torygraph (maybe less so the Borisograph) takes on the anti- social controls perspective to the pandemic response. It is all too much to have social restrictions when I presume there are pubs that need costumers to spend money. The commentators libertarian perspective is that the controls are undemocratic, possible unBritish(or is that now unEnglish), and that the response is killing the economy (that is the money side not concern about the people side. It is seen as an either/or and not that if the pandemic is raging then people will be sick/ not at work/ and not keen to socialise anyway.
With the recent focus on money with the mini Budget announcement, apparently austerity is not back – unless you are a low paid public sector worker of course or if you were a beneficiary of overseas aid. Moral compass and soft power out of the window.
I like the ‘Chum Aid” reference, as lots written about contracts and jobs for friends in the pandemic response. Known as corruption otherwise.
The issues grow and nil looks good.