After yesterday’s almost continual drizzly rain and then a good deal more rain overnight, it was with some trepidation that I opted to run round the village this morning, following my usual route along the footpath past two former mill ponds. On the early stages of the footpath the muddy puddles were back, not too seriously but sufficiently messy to need some leaping over and circumventing. So things did not bode well for THE GREAT MUD PUDDLE, the one I have moaned about on numerous occasions.
Imagine my surprise, nay, my delight, when I discovered that the path has been fixed. The whole stretch has been resurfaced. Even the point where they path has been crumbling into the pond, in serious of disappearing altogether, has been shored up and resurfaced. I spoke to a friend at that very point one day last week, expressing my intention - never carried out, I confess - to write to the local council and complain. She had already done so, she told me. Maybe others did the same. In any case, the path is fixed! Huzzah! And in some places nettles have been cut back also. Nothing like a bit of complaining to get some action. I am impressed!
I thought briefly that we might be escaping the bad weather sort of promised by the weathermen. It was supposed to be mainly further south and we did seem to have a sunny(ish) start to the day.
By midday, however, the grey clouds were back. My half formed plan to cycle to my granddaughter’s and make her go for a walk, depending on what time she managed to log off from work, had to be put on hold. We shall see!
Out in the wider world, chaos continues. Chaos continues here but my world is rather smaller at the moment and I can do a little more to control it. Yesterday’s solution was a mass baking session. Pies and cakes now take up space in the freezer.
Here and elsewhere Coronavirus cases continue to rise. Restrictions are increasing.
“Residents of Spain’s infection hotspot, Madrid, are to be barred from leaving except on essential trips under new rules to fight the coronavirus resurgence, Spain’s government said on Wednesday.”
This is causing some controversy and protest but ...
“The capital city, home to more than 3 million people, and nine surrounding municipalities with at least 100,000 inhabitants each, are to see borders closed to outsiders for non-essential visits, the government said.
People will be allowed to cross boundaries for work, school, doctors’ visits or shopping, but not for leisure. Bars and restaurants will close from 11pm, widening a previous curfew of 1am, and parks and playgrounds will be shuttered.”
Oh, boy!
And Italy is considering extending its state of emergency until the end of January. My friends from the Italian conversation class and I are still keeping our fingers crossed for our proposed, planned, paid for but postponed visit to Sicily. Maybe next spring. We shall see.
This virus crisis just goes on and on. And now into the mix comes the EU once again, with threats to take legal action against the UK for breaking the terms of the treaty. Oops! This will give further ammunition to the Brexiteers who blame the EU for every ill. No doubt they will now say that the EU is being deliberately difficult. That too goes on and on.
Now, newspaper article often refer to people by their full name initially and ever after just by their surname. I often find this annoying and a little confusing. Sometimes I have to look back to earlier paragraphs to remind myself who this Smith or Jones or Whoever really is. It’s as bad as acronyms. Even worse though is the tendency to refer to certain of our politicians only by their first name, especially the prime minister.
Don’t call our PM Boris! Please! His name is Boris, certainly, but Boris Johnson. His predecessor was not referred to as Theresa but always Theresa May or Mrs May. Her predecessor was not spoken of as David but David Cameron. As a rule, politicians are referred to by their surnames, not by their forenames. Calling Mr Johnson Boris suggests he is somehow your friend, that you know him well socially. He is not our friend. He’s certainly not MY friend. He is our prime minister.
Similarly, the other evening I heard a commentator speak of the Education Secretary as Gav Williamson. Now, maybe this person knows him well but to most of us he is Gavin Williamson and should be referred to in that way.
Yes, I know a load of people spoke, indeed still speak, of Jeremy Corbyn as simply Jeremy. That’s not really on either. And even those who took to chanting his name always sang, “Oh! jeremy Corbyn!”
How are we to take politicians seriously if we take away all their gravitas. And some of them need to be given gravitas!
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
No comments:
Post a Comment