OK, It's be nice to Boris day...

And understandably so. Congratters to Ms Symonds and Mr Johnson. Impressed that Boris will postpone paternal leave until later in the year. I imagine Ms Symonds told him where his duty lay; as she seems like a lass who can keep Boris's nose to the grindstone - and let's face it, never has a chap been more in need of what Paul Erdős called a "boss." (Well apart from me that is, obvs.)

A chap on twitter who calls himself Guy Fawkes listed Boris's achievements during his short tenure as PM so far; and because of its succinct brilliance I have decided to quote it"

"In the last 10 months alone, Boris Johnson has become PM, broke the constitution, started Brexit, won an election, got divorced, got engaged, nearly died, had a baby, and buggered up a pandemic so badly that 40 thousand people died."

So a slow start for the first year then. No doubt year two of a Boris premiership will be even more exciting. I do hope Ms Symonds can get back to keeping Boris on the job properly; and soon. A good nanny to take care of the infant Johnson will be a requirement.

(I love it when one of the seven types of ambiguity works in your favour; rather than just be a tool of political obfuscation.)

Oh and happy birthday to Captain Tom and congratters on your appointment as Colonel. There have been few "credits to the mess" with such credit. On a similar note I hope young Johnson Beharry is still doing well. The extent of Johnson's original injuries will probably preclude him ever managing to be an active officer, but I would suggest, on his retirement as senior NCO that something should be done. Valour counts, even in the modern world. Colonel Tom may not have had the opportunity for Valour, but has played the hand dealt better than anyone would manage.

I have to say though it is slightly shameful that the fifth-largest economy in the world has to subsidise its Health Service with charity, and to some extent was reliant upon a centenarian's sponsored walk. Still, the inadequacies of our government give opportunities for folk to show what they are made of; and by any analysis, Colonel Tom is made of remarkable stuff.

Which leads me naturally to Her Majesty. It is bizarre that I should wish any human being I don't know as well as I wish HM. If I were a praying sort I suppose I'd pray for her. (Actually I have more of an accusatory and argumentative approach towards my dealing with the Deity - praying doesn't come into it.) I hope HM keeps safe and in good health. After friends and family and those in peril I suppose Englishfolk naturally think next for Her Maj. Some may think of that as slightly skewed. Everyone's entitled to an opinion.

Update.

So during the lockdown I've been trying to deal with the fact that the skin on my hands delaminated after an allergic reaction and I have lost four decades of guitarist's callouses on my fingertips. The ends of my fingers are now as pink and painful as those of an infant who has never used their hands. I started practicing again only yesterday after a fortnight of truly disgusting shedding. I reckon it will take a few months to build up callouses again. In the meantime playing is a set of ouch moments. I am reminded of the Hans Christian Anderson's Little Mermaid's feet; every step is like walking on hot knives - for me, right now, every fret feels the same. Time will improve this.

Been watching telly a bit. Caught Powell and Pressburger's "The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp" on BBC2. I found it retains a mesmerising quality; but I couldn't look at Clive Wynne-Candy's hunting trophies excepting in horror. I hadn't previously noted Deborah Kerr as the eternal woman figure so beloved by mainly homosexual English public school types (of which I'm one); but she certainly was meant to convey something similar. Still, the film moved me to tears on two occasions.

Also been watching Devs, which irritates me a little. I keep saying under my breath; Hilbert's Grand Hotel Paradox would enable you to grok this better and maybe Georg Cantor's Arithmetic of Infinity would give you some different structure within which to look at your idea. But I'm only up to episode four. The ambiguous depiction of folk who murder to solve problems, however, I find troubling; even if it reflects a truth. Despite the beauty of the cinematography and sets I may not stay the course. I think I prefer narratives with less violence. GoT may have been the last ultra-violent thing I watched, but it tended to telegraph the gory bits so you could look away. I'm too old for violence. I'm almost too old for sex. Maybe Monica Bellucci might tempt me beyond my competence, nevertheless...

But I'm still good to shout and rail at the bastards who would screw us over.