August Bank Holiday

Bank Holiday Monday. It's grey, drizzly and chilly. I'll be glad when this poor excuse for a summer is over.

I haven't written anything for a while, mainly because I'm so worn down by what's going on that I don't know what to say or where to start.

Covid rumbles on. The threats and coercion continue as politicians go into overdrive. They're having to keep this nonsense going because they don't know what to do to get us out of a situation they created. You have to feel sorry for politicians - their small brains really aren't up to this.

The next 'wave' is being predicted once children go back to school after the summer holidays. Phrases like "cases will spiral" and "we may see record highs" are being bandied about. Unsurprisingly.

At the beginning when Boris et al were trying to scare people witless, they did such a good job that they've now found it's impossible to bring normality back. Many people have become accustomed to their fear, they've found they actually like the rules and regulations, they like being on furlough, they like being told what to do. The Govt is reaping what it sowed.

This country is now on the verge of jabbing 12-15 year-olds. I never thought I'd say that; I can't believe any sane parent would accept this for their child. Giving the jab to adults who can weigh up the pros and cons is one thing; giving it to children, when there is no long term safety data for a medication that could affect them for the rest of their lives, is another thing entirely. I am horrified at this. We'll see.

Afghanistan is now in the daily news mix - yet another shambles caused by woefully inadequate politicians. It's been in and out of the news in one way or another for most of my adult life - it will continue to run and run.

Eric Clapton, god love him, has a new single out to download "This has gotta stop". He is not a happy chap about the way Covid is being dealt with. I've loved Eric's music since I was in primary school, I've seen him several times at the Royal Albert Hall and once at Wembley stadium. A long, long time ago, back in the day, "Clapton is God" was spray-painted by graffiti artists on bridges and walls. They were right. He is.

Bring on another crisis

When Covid started I always thought the only thing that would knock it out of the limelight would be another crisis. Step forward, Afghanistan. It's all kicking off over there... as we knew it would, eventually.

This country, and most of the world, has been concentrating all its efforts on eradicating a virus. While they had their eye off the ball, wittering about Covid cases and vaccinations, the Taliban were quietly beavering away until they were ready to strike. The only people surprised at this are the world leaders, who couldn't see it coming.

Expecting the numpties in Westminster to deal with anything effectively will always lead to disappointment. It's lucky for them they're MPs - no-one else would be stupid enough to employ them. 

The sight of them in Parliament yesterday all vying to look the most pious and concerned was nauseating. I'd be amazed if any of them could point out Afghanistan on a map - there's not a dozen brain cells between them. 

Ghastly as the Afghan situation is, at least it gives us a break from Covid constantly hogging the headlines.

On the subject of Covid, we now have the unedifying prospect of people being called imminently for their booster jabs. When on earth will this ever stop? Do we just keep jabbing people again and again until Covid dies out? It'll do that on its own if we just stop panicking and give it time - that's what viruses do, they change and mutate. Someone should tell Boris.

I'm waiting for a journalist to ask Boris or Javid a question to which I can't seem to find a sensible answer: If more than 93% of people have Covid antibodies, either from previous infection or from the jab, why are cases rising at the moment? Seems to be the more people have the jab, the more cases there are. 'Vaccine' not all it's cracked up to be, maybe?

I'm currently still hobbling around, with both bloody ankles now affected. I'm not at all convinced it's tendonitis so I am seeing a GP tomorrow. Yes, a genuine GP in the flesh! He tried valiantly to diagnose the problem over the phone today, not easy when he couldn't see me, but realised the futility of it and gave me an appt to see him tomorrow. See... they can do it when they want to.

Fruitcake anyone?

I seriously worry about the brainwashing that's gone on to get us to this point in the Covid story. I'm not really surprised at the comments on Twitter and messageboards but I am a bit sad. Some of them are really nasty about anyone who's refused the jab. 

Those who've had the jab are so sure they're right - anyone who isn't as sure as them is an 'anti-vaxxer', 'idiotic', 'dangerous' and 'needs a good slap'. Brian May thinks I'm a 'fruitcake'. I understand why they feel that way but how will this play out for the future? Will there always be a them and us divide? I suspect there will. The propaganda that's been put out has been so devious, so insidious, it's almost impossible to counteract.

I'm grateful that my family have accepted my position on the jab, but not everyone will be as lucky. This has the potential to tear some families apart, especially now the jab is being offered to 16 and 17-year-olds. It really is not the role of Govt to drive a wedge between loved ones. It's shameful what they're doing.

Just for the record I am not an anti-vaxxer. In my life I've had a multitude of vaccines, including a few that most people haven't had because we lived abroad for three years. I am anti this particular jab; I refuse to even refer to it as a vaccine. If others choose to have it, I respect their choice; I just wish they'd respect mine.

I sense a similar attitude emerging to mask-wearing. There were a few sideways glances thrown my way in M&S today by people wearing masks. I was not, I stopped wearing one when the Govt said they were no longer mandatory. If others choose to be masked, good for them, as far as I'm concerned they can wear a wetsuit, flippers and a diver's helmet... I choose not to. Choice seems to be an alien concept to some, it's so much easier to control people if you take away their choices...

As I was sitting here typing I just saw the date in the corner of the laptop... 09.08.21. It is exactly 50 years ago today that I met Mr S-V for the first time when I started work in the same office! 50 years... dear god, where did that time go? Blink and you'd miss it.

A mixed bag of stuff

I can't get my head round where this Covid situation is going; it's so far fetched, it's like something you'd see in a really bad sci-fi movie. Between the politicians and the 'scientists' it's a toss-up who's worse. Nearly 18 months in it still makes no sense - it still seems like an exercise in control and power rather than the management of a so-called deadly virus.

It's like they're playing with us. Every day there's another little tweak to the rules, another bribe or threat to coerce people into having the jab, another dire warning of what you won't be able to do if you don't get jabbed, another scare story of 'possible' variant on the horizon. Oh and, not forgetting my favourite, another report of some random in hospital, sad-faced and gasping for breath, saying "I wish I'd had the vax". Well, how lucky are we that there just happened to be a reporter and photographer there to pass on his words of wisdom...!

Thing is, I don't believe any of their crap any more; I now start from the point that they're all liars. It saves me so much time - I don't have to weigh it all up, do my research, then decide for myself whether there's any truth in it. There isn't. End of.

Bad news on the gardening front: We discovered earlier in the week that all our tomato plants have blight... damn it. I've picked a few that don't look to have been affected and I hope to get a few more if the sun comes out, but most of them will go in the compost bin. I'm so disappointed. Oh well, better luck next year.

I hobbled round the kitchen yesterday (bloody painful tendonitis in my ankle all week) and made a new recipe. I saw something in a magazine for Vegetable Biriyani. It looked nothing like any biriyani recipe I've ever seen, but at least it was quick and simple - just as well, because I can't stand for very long! I changed the quantities and tweaked it a bit - it's well worth doing for a quick weekday meal.

It's completely inauthentic, more of a pilaff than a biryani, but it tasted great and it was all store-cupboard stuff and very easy.

I'm putting it on here or else I'll never remember how to do it again!

1tbsp vegetable oil

200g small cauli florets

200g potatoes, diced

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

1 tbsp tomato puree 

1 garlic clove, crushed

1/2 tsp chilli powder

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp ground coriander

3/4 tsp turmeric

2 tsp curry paste

150g basmati rice

350ml stock

1/2 cup frozen peas

15g butter

chopped coriander

Put the vegetable oil in a lidded frying pan and add the cauli and potatoes; cook on a medium heat for 7 or 8 minutes; add the onion and cook for another 5 minutes.

Add the tomato puree, garlic, spices and curry paste. Fry for a minute then stir in the rice and stock. Bring to the boil, pop the lid on and cook over a gentle heat for 8 minutes, gently stir in the peas and butter, cook for another 2 minutes then turn off the heat and leave to stand for 5 minutes. Stir in the coriander and serve.

We had it with onion bhajis and samosas (shop-bought - I can't stand long enough to make my own, even if I wanted to) and a goodly dollop of mango chutney. It was a cross between a pilaff and a cheat's version of a biryani; I'd definitely make it again. Might add half a can of chickpeas next time.