Is It Over And Out?

Monday. 6.00 a.m. So, Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health, has resigned over breaking social distancing regulations that he helped set up. All due because he was caught kissing his aide which was caught on CCTV camera. It wasn't necessarily the kiss that has caused the uproar, but the fact that they were in a clinch and obviously breaking the social distancing regulations. All this makes a mockery of the rules on this and is like rubbing our faces in the dirt, those of us who have gone along with what we've been told, kept strictly to the rules. It's a certain hypocrisy  amount of which is so unbelievable, a case of 'do as I say, but not as I do.' So, it would seem it's definitely 'over and out' for Hancock. The question everyone is asking, was he pushed, or did he jump? 

Well, that's over. Can we now get on with our lives? No, you can't. You've got to be good and do as you're told. Or you'll be arrested and have to pay a fine.

I was surprised that it was raining when we went out at 5.50 a.m. Alfie didn't stay outside too long when he realized it was raining. 

I'm currently watching the recent BBC1 adaptation of 'Les Miserables', the version which was shown over Christmas and New Year 2019. It's adapted by Andrew Davies who has made a successful career out of adaptations for television of classic novels, including the 1995 'Pride and Prejudice', which had Colin Firth as Mr. Darcey in it and has become the definitive version of that novel. Having seen the musical version on stage twice, once in the West End at the Place Theatre and then two years ago when the touring version visited Milton Keynes as well as seeing the 2012 film adaptation as well as reading the Victor Hugo novel (some 1500 pages or so.) I think I know the story very well. This is a more faithful version that has six hours to tell the story and can therefore go a good deal deeper than a 3-hour stage or film musical can possibly manage. 

Tuesday. 6.45 a.m. Another somewhat overcast day. It seemed dry enough when I took out Alfie for his usual walk.

Still in Groundhog Day. Now that Hancock has gone as Health Secretary we have a replacement, Sajid Javid, former Chancellor of The Exchequer. His approach to the pandemic is a good deal less 'Nanny State' and insists that we return to near-enough normality on 19th July. Thank goodness! I just hope that we can at least not have to wear face coverings and social distancing is either entirely removed or somehow relaxed in some way.

Wednesday. 6.00 a.m. I was out with Alfie around 5.30 this morning. Well, if you're awake and you have a very lively Yorkie that's got a need to go out, why not just go for it? Not warm, but still mild and fairly pleasant.

There was a certain amount of noise coming from The Cricketers (well, I presume it was there.) as I did washing up yesterday evening. I think it was because England had just beaten Germany in their game in the Euro football game. I'm not interested in football, as you will have realized if you follow my blog posts. But it's good that there's something positive to give people a lift after near enough eighteen months of lockdown and misery which it's caused. The outside of this pub has been decorated with flags of all nations in celebration of this football competition and certainly adding a touch of colour to the area around Chadwick Drive and Oldbrook Boulevard.

I have a new iPhone 12 arriving sometime today! My contract with Sky Mobile has finished and because Sky had a very good deal on iPhones (other mobiles are available, even if they're not as good as iPhones!) I decided it was too good to miss. I won't be paying much more per month than I am currently with around the same amount of data. I will return the old iPhone 7 back to Sky and get a credit on my new contract and, with the data I have used each month 'rolls over' and can be used to get a discount on the contract. So getting excited about it arriving. Red iPhone 12. Now I have the fun of transferring the SIM card from the old mobile into the new iPhone, which isn't difficult but very fiddly getting that tiny little chip into the little tray that slides out of the side of these mobiles. This is because I will be keeping my phone number as I really don't want to change it. I ordered a case for the new case which had arrived in the post from Amazon. I always get cases for my various gadgets because I want to look after them. My iPad and this MacBook air which this is being written on have their own cases. If you're going to buy expensive gadgets, then it makes sense to me to keep them in good condition.

Things Can Only Get Better!

Sunday. 1.10 p.m. I thought the title of this blog post seemed really appropriate with how things are going, regarding the pandemic and with the easing of some of the lockdown restrictions. It is the title of a pop song by D:Ream, not that I'm particularly interested in pop songs, but it was the theme music used by the Labour Party at the time of the 1997 General Election which swept Tony Blair to power with a landslide victory. Not sure all the hullabaloo and fanfare which greeted the New Labour victory was exactly carried through into however many successive governments they formed after 1997 or that their promises got fulfilled, but it was definitely a memorable song. How many politicians promise so much in their election manifestoes and then keep them? I think you could write a complete essay on that subject, but I won't on here. 

More people are now allowed in church! Full to capacity, but still socially distanced, but now we have tea and coffee, served in the courtyard area outside. A few months ago we had the Freedom In Christ course on Zoom. I met one of the guys who was one of the participants for the first time this morning and it was odd seeing him 'in the flesh.' We have got so used to only meeting virtually, via computer screens. Although it is amazing to be able to communicate using digital technology, it is certainly not the same as meeting someone face-to-face.

I have been watching a production of 'The Importance of Being Earnest on Broadway HD. It is a recording of a production that was in the West End  a couple of years ago and had Sophie Thompson playing Lady Bracknell. I know the play very well, almost as well as I know 'Hamlet,' and seen it in various productions, live on stage, television productions and both the 1952 film version with Edith Evans in her iconic role as Lady Bracknell and probably the one version others have to use as a blueprint, particularly in her infamous intonation of the line 'A hand . . .bag???' Also, the more recent film version with Judi Dench as Lady Bracknell and Colin Firth as Jack and Rupert Everett as Algenon. It was partially filmed at West Wycombe Park, a National Trust property which I have visited with Carol in the past. It is used as a location in several films and television series but is probably used far too much, but supposedly it's convenient to London and nearby film studios such as Pinewood and Shepperton. Why does Lady Bracknell have to be played by an actor who is ancient? What age is she supposed to be? If her daughter Gwendolen is around 18-20, it would mean she must have been around 25ish when she was born, so she would be around 45-50, but generally, she is played by someone around 75-80ish, which doesn't really compute. It's probably down to casting an actor who is suitable to play such a central character, which might explain why she is generally made out to be older rather than younger. Just my thoughts on the matter of her casting.

Monday 6.55 a.m. At least it's a good deal lighter each morning earlier and earlier, so my outings with Alfie are likewise earlier than, say, a month ago. Another mild and relatively fine morning.

Hooray and yah yaddley-hoo! I (sounds like something the character played by Hugh Laurie would play in 'Blackadder. Probably Prinny in the one set at the time of the Regency.) know that's nonsense, but something has to be said to announce the fact that more places are being opened up and free of restrictions. It's a bit like 'The Sleeping Beauty, where the castle and it's inhabitants have been put to sleep for one-hundred years by the wicked fairy who wasn't invited to Princess Arora's christening, so she puts a spell on the child and the entire castle, so they fall asleep for one-hundred years if the girl pricks her finger. Then, exactly one-hundred years later, the dashing prince rides in on his snow-white charger, battles through the brambles and thorns which have grown up around the castle and inside he eventually discovers the princess, asleep in the top-most turret of the tallest tower and kisses her and as she awakens, the entire castle plus inhabitants wake up . . .  The whole place having been put in lockdown.

Just as I was going to settle down and do some writing (which, by the way, is going exceedingly well.) some delightful soul sees fit to start hammering in one of the flats below me. Probably hacking tiles off a wall to refit the kitchen, but not sure what it is. But just so annoying. Unless, of course, they have a very bad infestation of deathwatch beetle. But I don't think so, but you never know. Someone just trying to get attention? Probably not. Still infuriatingly annoying whatever it is.

Later. 12.35 p.m. I had to go to Central Milton Keynes Medical Centre to have blood taken. I got to the carpark far too early so had to wait. You are told to arrive no more than five minutes before your appointment, but I went in a bit earlier. Always a chance I will be seen earlier so it's worth it. You have to speak into an intercom on the door, give your name and whether you've had any coronavirus-related symptoms. Well, I haven't, so I went inside and sat down, having applied sanitizer to my hands from a bottle near the door. I was soon called in by the digital display board. I have to lay down on the bed thingy (what is the correct name? Can't think at the moment.) The nurse who was going to take the blood sample had real problems finding a vein in my right arm. I just happen to have narrow veins which is one reason why there is a problem with me when they come to take blood. Then she decided it was probably an idea to take it from my left arm, so I had to turn right around so she could get at my left arm. Eventually, she was able to find a vein and the sample was taken, but she said earlier that perhaps I would have to book another appointment, which I really didn't want. One reason for it being so difficult might be that I was somewhat dehydrated. Apparently, you get dehydrated overnight and as a result, I should drink more. I did actually have a drink before I left home, but I should perhaps drink considerably more than I do.

Incidentally, just as a coda. Today is the 15th anniversary of my first heart attack. Not that I really want to remember it, but still worth mentioning.

Kingsman: Golden Circle filming at Althorp when we visited

It was yet another warm but not too sunny day today (Sunday) so we chose to visit Althorp, using our H.H.A. membership  (Historic Houses Association) to gain free entry. It's no more than a 45-minute drive up the M1 and off near Daventry (following the instructions given by our Garmin SatNav.) Carol went there around 10 years ago to see a Bryan Adams concert around the time we first met. An impressive drive into the estate and we were surprised to see a lot of vehicles parked, which then got me thinking it was rather familiar, having worked as a television and film extra and 'Walk-On.' It turned out to be a film unit and we discovered, having asked a member of the crew what it was and it turned out to be for a film called 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle." I have never heard of 'Kingsman' as I'm not a follower, particularly of Hollywood films. I think it must be the sequel and it turns out (having searched on I.M.D.B. that one of the stars is Colin Firth.)

The house and gardens didn't open until 11 a.m and so we had to wait 10 minutes. A number of other people turned up and we stood around until we were let into the grounds. A half-mile walk then followed to the house, quite a pleasant enough walk, but why didn't they put the carpark closer. There was one couple walking along, the husband (I presume he was her husband, but who knows.) seemed in a world of his own. He walked along the middle of the road and a vehicle, presumably from the film unit, came up behind (we were walking along the path next to the road, so we were clear of any vehicles which came along.) and the old man was totally oblivious of any vehicle and one of the men in this vehicle got out because he wouldn't move out of the way, and had to go up to him to get him to move out of the way in order to let the vehicle through.

Althorp House

We got to the house and went into the front hall (or 'Salon' as it was called.) to wait to go on a guided tour of the house. Lots of chandeliers and a very grand staircase leading to the upper floors of the house. About 20-30 people gathered and we sat in a circle waiting for the lady who was going give us the tour and then we moved off around the rooms for about an hour. Interesting what we learned and I wasn't aware that Althorp had so many historic connections. I was aware of course that Diana, Princess of Wales, had lived there, and was buried there, but not that Winston Churchill was connected to the Spencer family. We saw,  no end of paintings of the Spencer family over several generations. I don't think we would have visited if we hadn't been members of the H.H.A. because the cost for an individual adult to enter was £18 which seemed to be a bit steep considering there wasn't really a great deal to see. It is an interesting enough property and we didn't have to drive far to get there, but nothing special. Also, if it hadn't been for the SatNav I doubt we have found it, knowing our inclination to get lost when attempting to find places.
We didn't see any filming. I don't think there was any going on. I reckon they were setting things up for filming later in the week. We saw a lot of cables running across a lawn from a generation truck and black drapes over the windows of one section of the house which presumably was being set up for filming, but that was all. A lot of staff wandering around, with clipboards etc, from the film unit and other paraphernalia.

We sat and had our lunch sitting in a picnic area and left for home. Not over-impressed by the place but a nice enough day out.

Strictly Come Dancing and Saturday Television

Oh dear, what's happening? I sat and watched ALL of 'Strictly Come Dancing' yesterday evening. I'm not exactly a fan, although Carol loves it. I find anything 'celebrity' orientated, or 'reality television' totally awful, but this is somehow engrossing. I have never seen what was so interesting in seeing a group of really boring individuals sitting around in a house (ie. 'Big Brother') or a load of celebrities in the middle of a jungle doing really stupid things, but the dancing in 'Strictly' is quite good. Although the prospect of someone like Anne Widdecombe or Paul Daniels making a complete fool of themselves on the dance floor is quite amusing. At least she doesn't take it too seriously and is really self-deprocating. Anyway, what is so wonderful about 'celebrity' and what is a celebity, anyway? They're just people doing a job, but in the public eye. In general they're just self-promoting individuals who know how to play the Public Relations game. The show is really just a way of selling tabloid newspapers, because everytime something happens to them, such as them falling over in rehearsals or saying something awful about someone else, it appears in the newspapers the next day. I'm not over-keen when the judges say something nasty about the contestants, particularly Craig Revel-Horwood. He's really negative about most of the dancers. I'd love to now what his qualifications are for actually being a judge on this show. I don't think the audience actually like him, because they always boo whenever he says anything negative about any of the contestants.

Yesterday we did some shopping, and I have to report that Christmas is coming! We saw Christmas cards, and the usual pre-Christmas junk which the supermarkets foist on us three months before the actual Festive period. Asda, where this was seen, has an aisle which you can't avoid as you enter the store, which is currently fully of Hallowe'en tat. This is where the 'Seasonal' goods seem to go. It may be Bonfire Night items one week, Valentine's Day items around about Mid-January, Easter eggs, or in this case severed arms, legs, and other mutifarious bodyparts which constitute good taste for Hallow e'en.Who really wants a false severed arm, covered in blood? What do you do with it?? Or, in the matter of Christmas items, puddings, mince pies, wrapping paper, chocolate Christmas tree decorations??? Are we expected to store these things somewhere in our homes, for three months until Christmas Day? We've got little space to store everyday items, such as cleaning materials, toilet rolls, and all the things you don't generally want just lying around your home on public display, but all this Christmas tat, where are we supposed to keep it? And do the food items (ie, puddings, chocolate, mincepies) have a long enough 'best before' date that they don't deteriate before the 25th December.)

Before I sign off this post, I must just mention that I haven't had any work from Casting Collective. I did mention towards the beginning of this blog, it must be back in October or November last year that I was going to sign up with this film/television extra Supporting Artiste agency in London. Well, I have had not a single day's work out of them. They have texted me on several occasions for work, and 'put me forward' for several things, for example, a film with Colin Firth called 'The King's Speech', another, a Disney movie called 'John Carter of Mars' but not a sniff of a day's work on that. There has been a Channel Four series being made in Oxford called,  I can't remember the name, but I didn't get chosen for that, and quite a few more bits and pieces, including a commercial for Bulmer's cider being made in Henley on Thames and 'Johnny English 2' which was being made in Milton Keynes, which would have been good as I wouldn't have had to drive far, but not a sniff, sneeze or otherwise on actually being used. So that lets you know what happened with that agency. And they emailed me to ask if I was interested in continuing with my membership for next year. My answer will be a big no, unless you cast me in something DEFINITE and actually USE ME!