It is remarkable that the day after it emerged that several parties took place in Downing Street, whilst the rest of London and the UK was locked down, and yet looking at this morning's front pages, apart from The Daily Mirror who broke the story, only The Mail mentioned the story, and just a denial.
Make no mistake, if this was a Labour Government, the papers would be saying nothing else, but as they're on Team Boris, they say nothing.
In addition, the BBC's Political Editor, Laura Kuenssberg, would not confrm or deny if she had an invite or attended the parties.
53,945 fresh infections in the last 24 hours, and yet the Prime Minister says we should celebrate Christmas as normal. Whatever normal is. In the meantime, companies have been postponing Christmas parties anyway. Wearing of masks seems to have increased, but there is a hardcore, incluing some MPs, who refuse to think of others.
Meanwhile, former Health Secretay, Matt Hancock, appeared on TV to try to defend himself on the charges of helping his friend ge a £400million PPE deal. As was pointed out by Jess Phillips, usual suppliers could not get a contract and yet his mate, the pub landlord, could.
His defence yesterday that the Department for Health could not influence who a supplier could sub-contract work out to was rather destroyed fromt he contract issued by the Department he was Minister for, expressing in the contract that his mate's company was the only one that the contract could be sub-contracted out to.
One wonders if he will be invited once again to correct the record by the Speaker, as his defence yesterday has been shown not to be just misleading, but actual lies.
Thursday, 2 December 2021
The Prime Minister Method
I can remember in the 80s, watching a program on method acting, where some actors would live and breathe their characters in rder to be more believeable and deliver a better performance.
We have a mthod Prime mInister now, with his character being "Boris".
Prior to a Boris appearance of speech, Johnson looks into the mirror, ruffles his hair and is good to go.
The real Johnson is a rare sighting, though. We did see it at COP26 when he gave a long, sober speech about the crisis mankind finds itself, while at the same time driving policies that contradicted his very words, but that's another lie for JOhnson.
The real Johnson care only for himself and his political survival, says what he thinks needs to be said, even if it the opposite he told or promised someone else minutes before.
The one truth is that he will always let you down. You just have to wait your turn.
Last year, London was in Tier 3 lockdown, where organising a social event that broke guideance would land you a £10,000 fixed penalty. No day in court, no mitigation. Nothing.
There was guidance that no gathering that wasn't work related, and certainly no parties were allowed.
It comes as a shock, therefore to find on at least two occasions, maybe more, maybe wekly on a Friday night, Downing Street staff held social events where games were played, booze drink. But don't worry, the mood was down.
Meanwhile the rest of us were banned from visiting family for Christmas, and did as sked, as Johnson told us we were in this together.
Only we were not.
Johnson has not denied that parties took place, but stated no rules were broken.
As Starmer says, both cannot be true.
Johnson waves his privilege in your face, and expects to to doff your cap to him.
We have a mthod Prime mInister now, with his character being "Boris".
Prior to a Boris appearance of speech, Johnson looks into the mirror, ruffles his hair and is good to go.
The real Johnson is a rare sighting, though. We did see it at COP26 when he gave a long, sober speech about the crisis mankind finds itself, while at the same time driving policies that contradicted his very words, but that's another lie for JOhnson.
The real Johnson care only for himself and his political survival, says what he thinks needs to be said, even if it the opposite he told or promised someone else minutes before.
The one truth is that he will always let you down. You just have to wait your turn.
Last year, London was in Tier 3 lockdown, where organising a social event that broke guideance would land you a £10,000 fixed penalty. No day in court, no mitigation. Nothing.
There was guidance that no gathering that wasn't work related, and certainly no parties were allowed.
It comes as a shock, therefore to find on at least two occasions, maybe more, maybe wekly on a Friday night, Downing Street staff held social events where games were played, booze drink. But don't worry, the mood was down.
Meanwhile the rest of us were banned from visiting family for Christmas, and did as sked, as Johnson told us we were in this together.
Only we were not.
Johnson has not denied that parties took place, but stated no rules were broken.
As Starmer says, both cannot be true.
Johnson waves his privilege in your face, and expects to to doff your cap to him.
Wednesday, 1 December 2021
Tuesday November 2021
News came yesterday that Andy, Jools'boss, has cancer of the blood, but not leukaemia.
Next comes analysis as how fardeveloped the disease is. Usually life exectancy is about 8 years, but we shall see.
Andy is gaunt and thin, which is to be expected, and is now pondering his choices as to wat to do, whether he wants to, or needs to come to work, or even if that is possible.
Treatment is to be planned, and I guess we shall see.
Jools has now been holding the fort in the office for three months, nearly. She was called back into the office the day I was in Cambridge, she was on a week's holiday too, and so had just five hours off. Everyone has a breaking point, and although the company are being very kid and considerate, she needs a break before she breaks.
She is due to have a week off from the 13th, and is now focussed on that. Really that should be her for the working year, as holiday is banked according to how many hours she works, so now has a huge amount. She needs the rest more than any money.
Next week was going to be worse, as I was due to travel to Denmark, but the rise of Omicron meant that after a meeting on Tuesday, the trip was cancelled. Mainly because of the transit through Amsterdam, a giant hub, and the risk of contracting it there from a passenger from anywhere else would be high.
The trip wasn't business critical, so all cancelled, which means I will be home and cook dinner, so she won't have that to do when she comes home. At least.
So, the week after, I will be home alone for at least four, if not five days. I promise not to have a party or five.
So lots of news, and surprisingly, my boss took the news and decision well. A trip over is now set for "some time next year".
I don't know what to say about Andy, I mean he is about five years younger than me, but has smoked and not taken his health seriously, but then do I? Its no age to be told. Sadly he has a wife who is 15 years older than he, and needs care, so who will care for Andy? Life can be very cruel sometimes.
But ours goes on.
As does work. Though I am not trying to belittle Andy's position. And those those who know and love him. Like us all, he has his faults, but the good points heavily outweigh those.
Jools is up again early, she feeds the cats and put the coffee on. I wake up to find Poppy alseep on the pillow beside me. She rolls over for a belly rub before going down the stairs for some scran.
I mooch about, make a second coffee and make some toast, and get on with the business of work, with two hours of meetings to start the day.
So it goes, so it goes.
Not much really to report. Outside, it was cold a cloudy, but would warm up later, though by the time I finished work, I didn't feel like going for a walk, anyway it was already getting dark just after three.
Lunch is cheese on toast, as the bread was by then quite stale.
Cats sleep through the day, sometimes chasing each other. And Scully or Mulder acting as guards by the back door is easily avoided by Poppy asking to be let out the front door, which I do, and she trots away quite happy. Though Cleo has a problem with her tail. Later I would grab her for an inspection with Jools as you can see a gap in the fur, and it looks like an abcess has burst, so an appointment to the vets is to be booked. Other than the contant licking of the wound, she is fine, and bright-eyed.
I pack away work, with a deep, deep sigh.
Dinner is to be fishcakes, stir fry and noodles. Easy peasy, but I have to delay cooking because of heavy traffic to the port which delays Jools.
Once I see the car reversing down the drive, I leap into action, ccoking the fishcakes and boiling the water for noodles.
There is football in the evening: Norwich away at Newcastle, the teams in 19th and 20th place. I'd have taken a point at the start. But as Newcastle had a player sent off in the 9th minute, we really should have gone on to win. But, football is never easy, at least the Norwich version. We concede a goal from a penalty, then just as I had given up, Pukki vollied the ball into the net.
Not a win, but not a defeat either, and we end the month unbeaten.
Next comes analysis as how fardeveloped the disease is. Usually life exectancy is about 8 years, but we shall see.
Andy is gaunt and thin, which is to be expected, and is now pondering his choices as to wat to do, whether he wants to, or needs to come to work, or even if that is possible.
Treatment is to be planned, and I guess we shall see.
Jools has now been holding the fort in the office for three months, nearly. She was called back into the office the day I was in Cambridge, she was on a week's holiday too, and so had just five hours off. Everyone has a breaking point, and although the company are being very kid and considerate, she needs a break before she breaks.
She is due to have a week off from the 13th, and is now focussed on that. Really that should be her for the working year, as holiday is banked according to how many hours she works, so now has a huge amount. She needs the rest more than any money.
Next week was going to be worse, as I was due to travel to Denmark, but the rise of Omicron meant that after a meeting on Tuesday, the trip was cancelled. Mainly because of the transit through Amsterdam, a giant hub, and the risk of contracting it there from a passenger from anywhere else would be high.
The trip wasn't business critical, so all cancelled, which means I will be home and cook dinner, so she won't have that to do when she comes home. At least.
So, the week after, I will be home alone for at least four, if not five days. I promise not to have a party or five.
So lots of news, and surprisingly, my boss took the news and decision well. A trip over is now set for "some time next year".
I don't know what to say about Andy, I mean he is about five years younger than me, but has smoked and not taken his health seriously, but then do I? Its no age to be told. Sadly he has a wife who is 15 years older than he, and needs care, so who will care for Andy? Life can be very cruel sometimes.
But ours goes on.
As does work. Though I am not trying to belittle Andy's position. And those those who know and love him. Like us all, he has his faults, but the good points heavily outweigh those.
Jools is up again early, she feeds the cats and put the coffee on. I wake up to find Poppy alseep on the pillow beside me. She rolls over for a belly rub before going down the stairs for some scran.I mooch about, make a second coffee and make some toast, and get on with the business of work, with two hours of meetings to start the day.
So it goes, so it goes.
Not much really to report. Outside, it was cold a cloudy, but would warm up later, though by the time I finished work, I didn't feel like going for a walk, anyway it was already getting dark just after three.
Lunch is cheese on toast, as the bread was by then quite stale. Cats sleep through the day, sometimes chasing each other. And Scully or Mulder acting as guards by the back door is easily avoided by Poppy asking to be let out the front door, which I do, and she trots away quite happy. Though Cleo has a problem with her tail. Later I would grab her for an inspection with Jools as you can see a gap in the fur, and it looks like an abcess has burst, so an appointment to the vets is to be booked. Other than the contant licking of the wound, she is fine, and bright-eyed.
I pack away work, with a deep, deep sigh.Dinner is to be fishcakes, stir fry and noodles. Easy peasy, but I have to delay cooking because of heavy traffic to the port which delays Jools.
Once I see the car reversing down the drive, I leap into action, ccoking the fishcakes and boiling the water for noodles.
There is football in the evening: Norwich away at Newcastle, the teams in 19th and 20th place. I'd have taken a point at the start. But as Newcastle had a player sent off in the 9th minute, we really should have gone on to win. But, football is never easy, at least the Norwich version. We concede a goal from a penalty, then just as I had given up, Pukki vollied the ball into the net.
Not a win, but not a defeat either, and we end the month unbeaten.
Hulk. Must. Smash.
In Government figures released yesterday, one country of the Union of the United Kingdom was recovering quicker than the rest.
That is Northern Ireland.
NI.
This is mainly because they are in the EU SM and CU for some goods and services, and so have been spared the shortages seen in other parts of the UK.
Trade between NI and Ireland and the rest of the EU has increased, while trade with Britain has dropped.
NI was told by Michael Gove when the WA and NIP was agreed, that NI would have the best of both worlds.
Which is true.
Which is why the NIP must be smashed. As it is showing how Brexit is performing as expected by the experts Gove would happy have us ignore.
Brexiteers have now turned their attention to the European COnvention of Human Rights (ECHR) and the 1951 Convention on Refugees.
This is where we are as a country, and where Brexit is leading us, as predicted. Rather than protect rights, Brexit is smashing them.
Finally, JRM, the Leader of the House, who lead the vote to overturn Owen Patterson's conviction for breaking standards and the introdocution of a less than independent version of the one we have now, has now be revealed to be under investigation by the very regulator he wanted replaced.
Funny that.
That is Northern Ireland.
NI.
This is mainly because they are in the EU SM and CU for some goods and services, and so have been spared the shortages seen in other parts of the UK.
Trade between NI and Ireland and the rest of the EU has increased, while trade with Britain has dropped.
NI was told by Michael Gove when the WA and NIP was agreed, that NI would have the best of both worlds.
Which is true.
Which is why the NIP must be smashed. As it is showing how Brexit is performing as expected by the experts Gove would happy have us ignore.
Brexiteers have now turned their attention to the European COnvention of Human Rights (ECHR) and the 1951 Convention on Refugees.
This is where we are as a country, and where Brexit is leading us, as predicted. Rather than protect rights, Brexit is smashing them.
Finally, JRM, the Leader of the House, who lead the vote to overturn Owen Patterson's conviction for breaking standards and the introdocution of a less than independent version of the one we have now, has now be revealed to be under investigation by the very regulator he wanted replaced.
Funny that.
Tuesday, 30 November 2021
Operation Save Christmas, part 2
Last year, Johnson went against medical advice to partially unlock and loosen restrictions for Christmas. This created a surge in January and February of new infections, hospitalisations and deaths that cost 30,000 extra lives.
So, there is quite some cost to "save Christmas".
The message from Number 10 is the same this year: carry on and enjoy Christmas.
That is the message in today Daily Mail.
On top of that, there is the demand now that all adults over 30 years old be given their booster by the end of January. This is quite the task too.
This will mean that the NHS across all its facilities will have to focus on this rather than anything else; less cancer treatment, monitoring and preventitive actions which will have long term effects on excess deaths, which was always going to happen, and is a function of a pandemic.
Had the Conservative Governments since 2010 not cut NHS spending, stopped nursing bursaries, made it clear that EU workers were not welcome to work here, and the privatisation by stealth, then maybe, probably, the UK would have been in a better position to tackle COVID. On top of that, incorporating the Lessons Learned from Operation Phoenix and other drills and practices that showed gaps.
When the Government was more focussed on grifting for themselves, their friends and backers rather than on the only talks they should have been, public health, no wonder we are here.
No lessons learned activ ities have been undertaken after each of the three previous waves, so we will blunder on, and more and more people will die before their time.
So, there is quite some cost to "save Christmas".
The message from Number 10 is the same this year: carry on and enjoy Christmas.
That is the message in today Daily Mail.
On top of that, there is the demand now that all adults over 30 years old be given their booster by the end of January. This is quite the task too.
This will mean that the NHS across all its facilities will have to focus on this rather than anything else; less cancer treatment, monitoring and preventitive actions which will have long term effects on excess deaths, which was always going to happen, and is a function of a pandemic.
Had the Conservative Governments since 2010 not cut NHS spending, stopped nursing bursaries, made it clear that EU workers were not welcome to work here, and the privatisation by stealth, then maybe, probably, the UK would have been in a better position to tackle COVID. On top of that, incorporating the Lessons Learned from Operation Phoenix and other drills and practices that showed gaps.
When the Government was more focussed on grifting for themselves, their friends and backers rather than on the only talks they should have been, public health, no wonder we are here.
No lessons learned activ ities have been undertaken after each of the three previous waves, so we will blunder on, and more and more people will die before their time.
Monday 29th November 2021
Amd just like that it was Monday. Again. And thanks to a mess up with the alarm, we were awake at half four, same as on Saturday! So, after twenty minutes we get up and get ready for the day.
It was darn cold in the house, as outside there was a hoar frost, and so the central heating needed to do some hard work, until then I put on my socks and jumper to keep warm.
Jools had a shower and got ready, and once again before six was gone to work. I had time for a second coffee and some toast before work.
There's not much to tell, really. About work, that is. No mails waiting, so just meetings and writing the recommendations on an audit report, before I could send it off.
Outside the clouds cleared, the crescent moon hung high above the house, just about bright enough to cast shadows, while in the south, the horizon lightened in preparation for sunrise.
So it goes, so it goes.
The day progresses, and I get on with work, play music and listen to podcasts, all in all, I kept busy, or at least look as though I was.
Although it was just the cats that could see me.....
Early in the afternoon, I decide to go for a walk, putting on my shoes and grabbing a camera or two to head out onto the rolling downs above Chez Jelltex.
Nothing much seen, just walk up Station Road to the first track, cust past the war memorial.
I mean, I wanted to do more, but my back had started a low grumble, so we agreed I would cut down back through the estate to home, just to be safe.
I made it back, and my back expressed its happiness, and let me get up to make a brew.
I check mails, and find I wasn't missed, so fire off the report and set up a meeting to discuss the findings. Much to my surprise I am told I did a great job and raised some really good issues.
Well.
At four, I was done, so pack up and as we were having pizza for dinner, nothing really to prepare.
We were both still pooped from the weekend, so after eating the pizza, I make coffee while the radio plays in the background.
News of the pandemic is grim, so I resolve to speak to my boss to get next week's trip postponed, as I would be travelling through Amsterdam, a hub, and a high risk of infection.
We shall see.
And so, to bed at nine, with football still to watch.
Well.
It was darn cold in the house, as outside there was a hoar frost, and so the central heating needed to do some hard work, until then I put on my socks and jumper to keep warm.
Jools had a shower and got ready, and once again before six was gone to work. I had time for a second coffee and some toast before work.There's not much to tell, really. About work, that is. No mails waiting, so just meetings and writing the recommendations on an audit report, before I could send it off.
Outside the clouds cleared, the crescent moon hung high above the house, just about bright enough to cast shadows, while in the south, the horizon lightened in preparation for sunrise.So it goes, so it goes.
The day progresses, and I get on with work, play music and listen to podcasts, all in all, I kept busy, or at least look as though I was.
Although it was just the cats that could see me.....Early in the afternoon, I decide to go for a walk, putting on my shoes and grabbing a camera or two to head out onto the rolling downs above Chez Jelltex.
Nothing much seen, just walk up Station Road to the first track, cust past the war memorial.
I mean, I wanted to do more, but my back had started a low grumble, so we agreed I would cut down back through the estate to home, just to be safe.
I made it back, and my back expressed its happiness, and let me get up to make a brew.I check mails, and find I wasn't missed, so fire off the report and set up a meeting to discuss the findings. Much to my surprise I am told I did a great job and raised some really good issues.
Well.At four, I was done, so pack up and as we were having pizza for dinner, nothing really to prepare.
We were both still pooped from the weekend, so after eating the pizza, I make coffee while the radio plays in the background.
News of the pandemic is grim, so I resolve to speak to my boss to get next week's trip postponed, as I would be travelling through Amsterdam, a hub, and a high risk of infection.
We shall see.
And so, to bed at nine, with football still to watch.
Well.
Monday, 29 November 2021
Doublespeak
Yesterday, the Health Secretary sttod at the dispatch box and implored the country to get a third COVID jab in order to help stem Omicron's spread.
Mask mandate will be brought back for everyone inside.
Behind him, Conservative backbenchers looked on, all unmasked.
Later, the PM and his entourage was photographed in a meet and greet, inside, with all of them unmasked.
Johnson has spent most of the last few months avoiding wearing masks he said we should be wearing.
Leadership comes from the top, leading by example. Is it any wonder we have the levels of infections we do in this country when, clearly, the PM doesn't give a fuck?
Hopefully, they will change today as the mandate came in at 04:00, but I wouldn't be surprised if JRM came up with some excuse why Tory backbenchers didn't have to.
Johnson has already caught COVID, he seems either to think he can't catch it again, or wants to?
I have no idea.
Last last night, I saw a report that in Isreal, a triple vaccinated docotor caught and passed Omicron onto another triple vaccinated doctor. I hope this has been poorly reported and isn't true. As the implications are truly frightening. But totally avoidable.
Mask mandate will be brought back for everyone inside.
Behind him, Conservative backbenchers looked on, all unmasked.
Later, the PM and his entourage was photographed in a meet and greet, inside, with all of them unmasked.
Johnson has spent most of the last few months avoiding wearing masks he said we should be wearing.
Leadership comes from the top, leading by example. Is it any wonder we have the levels of infections we do in this country when, clearly, the PM doesn't give a fuck?
Hopefully, they will change today as the mandate came in at 04:00, but I wouldn't be surprised if JRM came up with some excuse why Tory backbenchers didn't have to.
Johnson has already caught COVID, he seems either to think he can't catch it again, or wants to?
I have no idea.
Last last night, I saw a report that in Isreal, a triple vaccinated docotor caught and passed Omicron onto another triple vaccinated doctor. I hope this has been poorly reported and isn't true. As the implications are truly frightening. But totally avoidable.
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