I noticed today that I’m really not fully recovered from Covid. The effects linger. Talking on the phone I found myself croaky. We went for a walk this morning, which was a big effort that made me feel weak and I’ve been completely washed out all afternoon. I am continuing to sleep really deeply. Weird. I wonder how long this is going to last?
I also wonder what this would have been like if we hadn’t been fully vaccinated. I dread to think!
Today it was sunny so we decided to nip to the coast and take a walk by the sea. Scudding clouds, big waves and a keen south-easterly wind. We were going to get some fish and chips but the place was shut so we went home.
I’ve been working on publishing my 25th book of poetry – I’ve called it Toxic Times. These are indeed Toxic Times. They seem to get more and more toxic by the second! I have to write this quickly before we receive a nuclear strike!!
When not sorting my book out I have been listening to some early Donovan and reading another Jasper Fforde book.
Meanwhile, out in Coronaland, I despair that our stupid electorate are backing Johnson. His popularity is rising. What is up with people? Are they completely gullible? Do any of them really think this clown is doing a good job?? What has happened to the MET report?? What has happened to the Sue Gray report? What about the Russian money propping up the Tory Party? What about the Russian Peerages for cash? What about the appalling lying and treatment of the Ukrainian refugees???
It seems that for a lot of people none of this matters. We see Zelensky leading his people and showing us what a leader looks and sounds like. He mimics Churchill and sounds like a statesman. Our clown is obese and slouches around like Churchill, pretends to be Churchill and looks and sounds like a clown.
The nastiness of the Tory Party seems to have gone mainstream. People seem OK with it. It is as if Brexit has unleashed a right-wing selfishness.
As for the war in Ukraine it goes from bad to worse. The Russians pound civilian areas with artillery and missiles. They even destroyed a hospital today. They can’t beat the Ukrainians on the ground so they have gone for the inhumane tactics they deployed in Syria and Chechnia.
There is something extremely flawed in human nature. We have the capacity for violence, for cruelty and heartlessness.
Johnson says there is a surge to process the thousands of Ukrainians in need of help and shelter. They sent a table, three guys, a box of crisps and a box of kit-kats. That’s Johnson’s idea of a surge!! Poland takes in a million and we manage 50!! It stinks!!
Is this what Brexit looks like?? The racist element in our country wanted to kick out all the foreigners, all the Eastern Europeans, who came over here to pick fruit and veg, to drive lorries and work in shops, restaurants, as carers and in hospitals. It started up that vicious hostile environment.
Is that the mean-minded Britain we want to live in? Not for me!! I hate this small-mindedness! I hate this racism. I really hate this racism! I hate this closed-off little Britain.
I really do not like what Britain has become!! They deserve these Tories!!
Putin threatens us with a nuclear war and our clown quakes!! No planes!!
So where are we with this pandemic that no longer exists?? My sister’s husband went down with it today. He’s feeling very rough. There were another 62,407 new cases with 213 deaths. It’s not going away is it? It’s getting worse! Ignoring it has not solved the problem. So what are the long-term plans?? What is the strategy? If we had a leader perhaps we’d know??
Opher – Covid is still circulating, and several I know have reinfections…all are triple jabbed. Like you, I also don a mask, and maintain a little space where possible, when out and about. It just makes sense. I wonder if the number of people with long Covid is increasing? Many report some minor, lingering after-effect or symptom. Mind you, there’s a lot of flu about as well, and symptoms are sort of similar to Covid.
25th poetry book…not a bad effort that!
The war in Ukraine is becoming evermore despairing. Russia are committing atrocities, bombing residential areas indiscriminately, flattening cities. holding citizens hostage, shelling humanitarian corridors…the list goes on. The ruination of a maternity hospital today will not be the last war crime, there will be escalation as Russian forces attempt to advance more quickly. Putin’s campaign is murderous, and as yet, seemingly unstoppable, despite the great courage, and indomitable spirit of Ukrainians. The public are told that Russia’s war is stalling, but that Putin’s logistic problems have been resolved. Talk is now of a sudden ferocious assault on Kyiv in coming days, and all whilst Russian forces control two nuclear reactors, and have six thousand warheads waiting for deployment from Russia. Reporters suggest possibility of Syrian fighters entering the conflict against Ukraine…if it comes to street fighting, they are experienced fighters. Meantime the EU nations, and NATO members can do no more than supply weapons, apply sanctions, and support Ukrainian relief and aide. They have collectively discounted the idea of a no-fly-zone, and the U.S has rejected the idea of Polish MIG’s leaving Ramstein Airbase for conflict in Ukraine. Ukraine are left to fight on their own against great odds.
It’s very difficult to see such needless suffering and willful destruction and not have hope there is another way for the war in Ukraine to end than through continued loss of life and carnage. It is shocking, despairing.
Should Putin not be stopped – one way or another – there is possibility he will be emboldened and try to extend his reach into other former Soviet states. The fact that Putin’s next move is not known, is itself a concern for Europe, and by extension NATO. One wonders how NATO, the EU, UK, and US would react to a military strike on a NATO member? Scary times.
The U.K’s deplorable response to wavering visa’s for Ukrainian refugees defines just how nasty the Tories really are. Big on words, small in deeds, heartless, shameless, incompetent, and morally destitute. This is the ugly face of U.K conservatism. They’ll be sure to make the most of the economic impact of the Ukrainian war here in the U.K. Rapid inflation, surging petrol prices, surging retail prices, sky-high energy prices…those with investments – or accepting donations – will be in for a bonza bonus day whilst for the rest of us, more of our income will be sucked upwards. Harder times are coming, I think. Can’t wait!
DN
Looks like Putin has overextended. His army are bogged down and taking heavy casualties. His brutal tactics of hitting hospitals, schools and other civilian targets mirrors what he did in Syria and Chechnia and got away with. He’s a brutal maniac.
But I think he will look for a way out. This is costing too much. The losses are too heavy. They will make a deal, compromise and pull out. Then it’s up to the Russian people!!
The man is a war criminal!!
I don’t think Putin will back down or seek a diplomatic solution. Indeed the West are determined for him to fail in Ukraine, he has to be beaten to silence support for Putin inside Russia. He’ll escalate his assault to quicken the campaign and there are already growing fears of an imminent chemical weapons attack…400,000 people are effectively held hostage in Mariupol on the south coast. Will they fall victim to a deliberate act of barbaric depravity? It is not inconceivable to imagine a small nuclear device being the next step in escalation should regime change not come about through chemical weapons attack. Many think Putin’s logistical shortcomings have provided opportunity to regroup, repair or renew, reinforce, and revise plans for a continued assault. Time will tell, but certainly, the war is still far from over.
DN
I don’t know. I think he is getting desperate. The Russian troops are bogged down, losing heaps of equipment and many losses. The West is arming the Ukrainians like mad. Russia is in danger of losing this. The effect of sanctions on the economy is a disaster. The army is low on morale and being humiliated. I don’t think he’s in a position to do much. He could go either way. He could try for a face-saving compromise – agreement of Ukrainian neutrality, Russia gets the Crimea and two breakaway states and he pulls out, or he could try to escalate with chemicals or nuclear and risk further wrath from the West.
I think he’ll make a compromise and claim victory.
Time will tell which way Putin’s murderous campaign goes, but I think the war is far from over.
Realistically, there is no way to know how NATO would respond to Putin escalating use of extreme force: would they strike back with nuclear weapons if Russia unleashed one in Ukraine? How will the West respond to a chemical weapons attack on Ukrainian cities? Do we stand by and watch or act with force? I’m glad I’m not making these huge decisions.
DN
Well nobody has done much about Syria, Chechnia, Yemen, Somalia, Eritrea and the rest!! Syria and Chechnia have been systematically reduced to rubble by Russia with an endless sequence of war crimes and chemical warfare. I think NATO is quite content to feed arms in and allow Ukraine to severely weaken Russia. A good strategy as far as they are concerned. If they do use chemicals or nuclear it will give them carte blanche.