Monday 23rd November 2020

Dr Who's and Jools' 57th birthday.

And poor Jools has to go to work on her birthday. Though on a positive note, she is enjoying her five day weekends.

Dawn gets later with each passing day, meaning we have to wait longer and longer for the signs of the new day in the south east. By the time that happens now I have done a session on the cross trainer, have cooled down, stretched and am preparing breakfast for when I have the morning meeting.

As you can see my working week is pretty regular now, same things, mostly each day, week after week, month after month.

There is no news. No gossip. Just friendly banter and swaping news on what we did over the weekend.

And then to work.

I put on some music and the day bobs, bobs along. Slowly.

I guess the biggest news was that Mum's estate is to be wound up. We have been waiting for a cheque to be re-issued, whch has been dragging on for 6 months, and a hundred quid here and there makes little difference.

Just to throw a spanner in the works a cheque, a different one, arrived in the post, and so needed to be sent on to my solicitor. This meant finding an envelope and then a stamp. After the joke junk mail I sent to John using all the old 2nd class stamps meant we only had a couple for large packets. It might get there quicker, I thought.

I walked up to the post box on Collingwood. Just a few minutes walk, along to the end of the road, up Station Road and ten yards up Collingwood.

I take a shot of the letter being posted, and that was that.

On the way back I go over to the large field to snap the straw bales in the bright sunshine, using only the compact which I had with me, so the results were poor.

Back home to work, lunch, more work.

And once the working day was over and I clocked out I went to do a second session on the cross trainer. Again, not an enjoyable experience again, but I get it done.

For Jools' birthday dinner I did something unusual: when we were n Rye I went to the wet fish shop beside the river and bough a whole side of smoked haddock. I had tried to do this when we were back in Lowestoft last month, and failed. Anyway, I cut the fillet in half and shallow fried to warm it up, served with curried rice and fresh corn.

And it worked. The haddck was wonderful, properly smoked and no colouring used, went well with the rice.

For the evening, I listened to John Vigar's third and last lecture on Kent churches via Zoom. I now have an extended list of more churches to visit once the madness ends.

I round the evening off watching Wolves v Southampton, ended 1-1, was quite good.

One day early

In a metaphor for his Premiership, the day in part ended with it being unclear when the lockdown in England was to end. The legislation currently in force says it ends at midnight on the 2nd December, news outlets were carrying news that the "new" three tiered system would begin at midnight on the first. The Sun even carried both in its reports.

But in the end, the current restrictions will end a day early, at midnight on the 1st, although another legal loophole will have to be closed to remove them off the statutebook rather than the calender doing that 24 hours later.

But that the legal texts were available for review the day of the announcement show that there has at least been some forethought, though for the most part the texts are little changed from the ones in force at the end of November before the lockdown begun. One of the major changes is that up to 4,000 people can gather at outdoor sporting events, and some indoor events can go ahead too. The outdoor sport thing never made sense, so hopefully this will correct some of that.

But on the negative side, even in the very high areas, shops can stay open, even no essential ones. And at all elvels pubs cannot serve just drink, they can only serve booze with a "substantial" meal. This is will add further pressue on an industry that is reeling after nearly 9 months of restrictions, not sure if this makes sense.

And then there is the plan for several days of easing over Christmas. No news on the exact rules on that, but blowing any gains made in the lockdown for 5 days of patying seems dumb as Greyling to me.

Like my Maths teacher, I would like to see the working out of the these regulations, the scientific advice backing some of these new laws, and they will be laws. In order for people to obey them, they will have to feel they are just and in accordance with science.

For Johnson, it was a jolly wheeze: "Tis the season to be jolly careful" he japed about a virus that has killed 70,000 plus UK citizens. The papers have, this morning, lapped it up. Again.

In the end, as Starmer pointed ou, returning to the 3 tiers means a return to a system, a plan, that failed through the late summer and autumn. The only way areas exited one tier was to enter the next strictest. As a plan, it has totally failed, but more of the same is what we have going forward. The PM talked about testing and vaccines, but nothing about track and trace, nor could he explain how it has currenty cost 20% of the annual NHS budget, but, apparently, has delivered good value.

So, lockdown will end next Monday night, and we can go and get our hair cut, nails done and so on.

But the virus never sleeps. Is always out there, waiting to exploit our weaknesses.

Sunday 22nd November 2020

It would have been easy to kick back and do less than I actually did on Sunday.

But workouts don't workout themselves, more's the pity.

And Monday is Jools' birthday, and the grand plan was to have Jen over for lunch and card action.

Which is why Jools was to go to the butchers on Friday, though in the last minute change of plan to get rack of lamb too, it got forgotten, until Jools realised and so she went back for three rumps. Or slices of rump. Or one and a half. Or something.

We laid in bed until it was getting light, then I rose to feed the cats and make first coffees.

I knew if I delayed it any longer I would make an excuse not to phys, so I went up and did 15 minutes. Not the twenty I used to do, but the action and position are different on this machine than the previous one. But I get it done, and then stretch and cool down outside.

I lightly oil and then rub cracked pepper into each steak on both sides, and let them rest in the oven to reach room temperature.

Its all about the preparation.

I have a shower, get dressed, and before the early afternoon game on BBC, we have cheese and crackers and me a glass of wine.

Once again I can't remember who I watched: wait a minute, its coming bac to me now. Fulham v Everton, and although there was 5 goals, 3-2 to Everton, it was poor fayre, but once Jools went to pick up Jen, there would be no time for football.

We have a coffee, a game of meld, then it was time to cook, I zap the potatoes, then slice them before frying until crisp. At the same time, corn was steamed and garlic mushrooms cooked, and the three steaks griddled.

You will not be surprsided to hear it was a triumph, steak done to a turn, and potatoes crispy to the point of perfection.

We eat well, have fizz too. Toast Jools and yum yum yum.

We tidy up, have another game of Meld, by which time it was half six, and time for me to take Jen home, to get back in time to see Liverpool v Leicester.

Should have been a cracker, but was stale, Liverpool took a 2-0 lead, and never looked in danger, even when they lost a couple of more players. They scored a third and that was that. By that time I was on the sofa watching train videos at the same time.

As you do.

Goodnight

Why are we waiting?

For two weeks now, a trade deal between the UK and EU has been 95% done.

So what is the hold up?

Well, in the end, Johnson has to decide whether to betray his backbenchers or business.

Brexiteers have never been satisfied with what has been offered, and soon will always demand more and more, which is why it is now Government policy to break international law, and whatever domestic law gets in their way in relation to Brexit.

In short, this is bat shit crazy, and although it would be nice to see a return to rational politics, the chances, as I see it, are slim.

Balancing whether it is better to keep his party together for another few months or shaft industry doesn’t seem much a choice. But then Johnson finds it hard to make a choice.

If no deal is the result of not making a choice, then it is the most likely outcome. But then no deal would not be a the final state, as trade would have to continue, and talks would soon start up on how to return things to something close to normal. With the exception of the UK being a “stressed” negotiator and needing a deal to be done. The UK would have little choice than to accept whatever is offered by the EU, but then that was always the case. Dress it up however you want, the larger party with most leverage gets to decide terms and it is up to the smaller side whether to accept or not.

And this will not change. Not with the EU or with other potential trading partners.

Much was made this weekend that Liz Truss had negotiated a continuation deal with Canada. Or in other words, things staying the same, not getting better for the UK, just what we have as an EU member. This is actually a good result for Truss, who doesn’t strike as being the sharpest knife in the drawer, but her and her team has managed to not get a worse deal than we had as a member state, unlike with Japan.

If there is a no deal, and things go bad in January, then what kind of deal will the EU offer? Well, one that includes what are the sticking points now: fishing, level playing field and mediation. For starters. If the UK is lucky, then it will be just that. But in the world of international trade, it is each bloc and country for themselves, and if the EU can get extra concessions, then why wouldn’t they?

I find it hard to believe there is no Brexit news on the front pages, instead full of Royal dogs, Princess Diana and saving Christmas.

The end of lockdown is near

Since lockdown 2.0 was imposed, it is obvious that at some point it had to end. To that end, the Government should already have the drafttext of the bill that is to be presented to Parliament to replace the lockdown.

The original 3 tier cannot be remimposed that the lockdown replaced them.

The question will be, at what point will the text be released, not just today's announcement of the headline measures?

Beacuse if there had been a plan, the text will already exist.

And will Johnson all Parliament to scrutinise the bill, or will they sneak them out as SIs or some other workround?

Whatever gains this lockdown will have brought, they are to be thrown away with 5 days of almost no restrictions over Christmas, with more lockdowns to follow until the end of January.

That's nice.

Wouldn't most of us sacrifice one Christmas for the nation's health?

Apparently most newspapers wouldn't, as they are leading with "Christmas IS saved" and other such made headlines.

Nothing on Brexit, of course, its a trivial matter, but again most papers are leading on a dog owned by the Royals dying.

70,000 people have died in the UK: nothing. A dog dies: banner headlines.

Saturday 21st November 2020

Each weekend comes round and we have to deicde how we are going to spend the two and a half days. In the past it would have been churchcrawling, maybe a trip to that London or further afield. And now that we are moneied, we could go away for a long weekend or two.

But these are not normal times, now having the time and money to travel, we cannot travel. Such is life in 2020. And with Jools have a five day weekend two day working week means that any chores can be done by Friday lunchtime, giving us the whole weekend to do whatever we want.

Not that there is anything to do, really. Travel is allowed for exercise for two people from the same household. I belive that's correct.

And I believe walking round a town counts as exercise, as long as we keep distancing rules, we should be OK. Which is how we come to be driving to Rye over the border in East Sussex Saturday morning.

Rye sits on a rocky outcrop of the North Downs, overlooking the Romney Marsh, and can be seen rising from the haze from as far away as Folkestone, if the weather is good. Even the windfarm just in front of it can be seen from the white cliffs north of Dover, as the coast swings south through Greatstone to Dungeness.

We had coffee, croisants and half a second coffee, so our bladders wouldn't be full. But even then we needed a comfort stop, and found the facilities in Rye open, at least. So that was nice.

We drive out of Dover, up the A20, only to find the roundhill tunnels, London=bound, we closed. No issue at half eight in the morning, we simple took the offramp, turned up past Cret Road and drove through Folkestone and out through the Leas to Sandgate and along the coast road through Hythe. Later there would eb four miles of james heading along the A20 after a ferry or two had docked, but coast bound there were no issues, and we cruised past.

The coast road meanders through Dymchurch, New Romney before heading out over the Marsh to Brookland and the Sussex border. I kept to the speed limit, others didn't, and we were tailgated by a 20 year old Astra for miles. He got past only to be jammed behind another car keeping to the limit for a few more miles.

All churches are closed now, so no need to got to New or Old Romney, instead pass by at 60 mph, heading to the sharp bends at Brookland where the Woolpack is also closed for the month, though it being only just gone nine, would be closed anyway.

Into Sussex, over two level crossings, over the river and park at the roundabout in the mostly empty car park.

Above us, the town rises built up on the rocky outcrop, with the walls of Ypres Tower at the top poking above the red tield roofs.

Welcome to Rye.

We walk up the steep path, avoiding a family walking down, and above us the thich walls of Land Gate towered over the shops built beside it. Along the street there were numerous parking spaces, and through the arch the main road was mostly deserted too.

The new normal.

I took shots, we walked through and along Tower Street, see some good new places to eat and drink when things get back to normal, before taking the cobbled path back to the High Street.

As there have been less people about grass was growing up between the cobbles, giving the appreance of a stoney lawn between the ancient houses.

I go on a shop to buy Jools a birthday card. I also get a Christmas card too, so two more boxes ticked.

I also get a small chocolate bars, which we much while looking at the display in an art shop.

Living the dream.

Up to Ypres Tower, then along past the parish church, which was open, or the door was, but I knew wouldn't accept casual visitors, so I don't bother asking. We walk to Mermaid Street, the most attractive thoroughfare in the town,a nd there's some stiff compition, to snap the 15th century pub and street, before walking back to the car down the path once again.

We had been an hour, done what I wanted, and had lots of photographs.

From there it is a five minute drive to Rye Harbour for the nature reserve, but what I wasn't expecting was half of Kent and half of Sussex being there too, mostly walking their dogs off the leir lead.

I like Rye Harbour, it has a north Norfolk coast feeling, but with hundreds of people, and dozens of dogs milling around, and piles of dog shit everywhere, it wasn't that enjoyable.

No path was quiet, and although I tried to eny the views over the fenced off areas, I could feel my anger rising.

And rising.

We reach the river mouth, and from the dunes I could see along the coast to Camber where dozens of kite surfers were out racing, the sky full of their multi-coloured kites.

We were not close, but with my macro lens, I got an acceptable shot.

We walk back as quick as our fat, hairy legs could carry us, back to the car. And with most shops and all pubs closed, no point in going to Winchelsea, so we head for home, back along the main road to Ashford, past the new Brexit lorry park and onto the motorway.

We arrive home at half twelve. Hungry and thirsty.

I make ham rolls whilst Jools makes brews, which we make vanish in a puff of crumbs.

And then it is the serious business of football: first follow the early Prem game which I think was Villa v Brighton, then to follow Norwich via Twitter as we played away at Middlesborough.

And what a game: Boro had a pentlaty chalked off when the player slipped and kicked the ball against his standing food. It went in, but counted as a doble kick! And them Pukki scored a penalty, no mistake, to take all three points. And as other results went our way, we ended the day top of the league. Tope of the Football League.

Well.

We dined on party food while I watch the Spurs v Citeh game, as football doesn't watch itself, and Spurs romped to a 2-0 win even though they touched the bal just four times all game. Posession isn't everthing, apparently.

So, to yet more football, watching the EFL highlights on Quest, just to see the table at the end and laugh like a drain.

A good day.

Weekend Brexit

As we enter yet another critical week in Brexit, maybe the most critical week, there is nothing on Sunday's front pages to give a hint as to what Johnson might do.

For the past two weeks, the Mail, Express, Times and now Mirror want to dig up the ghost of Princess Diana in order to give the BBC a good kicking. It might be true or not, but 21 years after the event, does it really matter?

Only the Observer carries the PPE scandal, while other dangle hints of the new lockdown rules coming on on December 3rd, and how that might or might not affect Christmas. Five million public sector workers face no pay rise, whilst many of us will suffer massive tax rises to pay for COVID. When the Government has "spaffed" nearly £14 billion on unsuitable PPE without going through the correct tender process. And few seem interested in the Patel scandal either.

So, what to make of what the week will bring?

Who knows?

Leaks do sometimes happen, although leaks might be distraction away from what is going to happen. Or not.

I have read analysis from well-respected commentators who have either concluded that all this means there WILL be a deal, and there WON'T be a deal.

Is this really the way to prosecute a policy on the future prosperity of the whole country?

Don't bother answering that.

So, there either will or won't be a deal.

And if there is. If. There there isn't enough time for all required legislation in Parliament to be passed, so it'll either have to be done by SIs or other workrounds, doubly so as it is highly likely that legislation for a deal, any deal could not pass through the Commons thanks to those nice chaps and chapesses at the ERG.

But remember, even in the event of no deal at the end of the week, it will not end up like that, the worse the situation now, the quicker it'll be fixed at the start of 2021.

No deal would mean a new round of talks would start, with the UK holding worse cards than it does now.

Sigh.