I'm not in this photograph, but this is exactly what myself and my mates were like in sunny Bootle. Pretty much all we did every day was play football, either in North Park, or in a cinema car park.
Happy days indeed, but unfortunately l wasn't good enough to become professional.
This is an old Egyptian mural. I don't know what these people have got wrong with them, or what the doctors are doing, but it all looks a bit dodgy to me.
Matt Hancock is today giving evidence at The Covid Enquiry, and has said he is very very sorry.
My thoughts and best wishes are with him at this dreadful time.
I've been off work and watching the Glastonbury footage, while in the meantime, Mr Parrot has managed to pull out the kettles wires from where l unplugged and hid them, and naturally enough, bitten through them. I've ordered another kettle, but in the meantime, l've separated the wires, and have been dancing with death every time l make a cup of tea. Wish me luck.
Toodle pip
These magnetic sock buddies look fantastic, and l was tempted to buy some for Christmas presents, until l saw the $37 price. However, should you wish to buy some, look here.
Toodle pip
This was interesting, but not unexpected. By Michael Marmot in The Guardian (full article here).
In the meantime...
Unicef reports child poverty among 41 OECD (mostly rich) countries. It uses a relative measure of poverty: children living in households at less than 60% median income. On this measure, the UK ranks 31 out of 41 countries (1 is the best); the US ranks 38. Using the same measure, where people are relative to others, child poverty in England, after housing costs, rose from 27% in 2010 to 30% in 2019. The government prefers an absolute measure of poverty – one that bizarrely takes relative poverty in 2010/11 as the standard – because that looks more favourable. A better absolute measure is the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s minimum income standard. Under this measure, 39% of children were in poverty in 2008/9; 40% in 2020/21.
Not only is child poverty high, and rising, in the UK; we don’t spend very much on young children. The same Unicef comparison looks at public spending on child education and care for children aged nought to five. The average for OECD countries is $6,000 per child per year. Norway and Sweden spend around $12,000, France close to $9,000. In the UK, we spend $4,000, limping along below average. The US is worse, at $3,000.
In our evidence to the Covid inquiry, Clare Bambra, professor of public health at Newcastle University, and I concluded that we entered the pandemic with “public services depleted, health improvement stalled, health inequalities increased and health among the poorest people in a state of decline”. David Cameron and George Osborne, the architects of a decade of austerity, looked at the evidence of the damage their policies had caused – and rejected it.
Toodle pip
There's quite a few who have turned out for Elton John at Glastonbury tonight. I'd pity the people in front of me if l was there as l'd be pissing down the back of people's legs. Let's face it - you can't just pop out to the loo, and l'm not getting any younger.
Good job l'm watching it from the comfort of my settee.
Serves me right for foolishly leaving paper items about. I should have learned my lesson by now.
Toodle pip
As l had an appointment in Northallerton on Thursday morning, l naturally went second hand (and cheap) record shopping afterwards. This was the result.
Once again - I need a bigger house
Toodle pip
I've replied to tweets before, but this is my first tweet. Look at me moving with the times (many years behind the curve)
It looks like King Charles is doing a boxing move here. Good job he's got his boxing gloves on.
Toodle pip
I was in my local pub last night and all the people l was with (apart from myself and another lad) had a bet on Witch Hunter at Royal Ascot, as it was such an outsider. Some of them managed to get bets on at 100/1, while the lowest was 50/1. It then romped home to everyone's delight. Apart from me of course.
Bitter? Me? Of course not.
Bastards!!!!
Toodle pip
Last night's BBC Question time was made up with an audience who all voted for Brexit, and no-one prepared to come forward from the government to defend it on the panel. I agree with Alastair Campbell that people were lied to, but these ignorant, racist, small minded fuckers, are the reason l have had to put up with the consequences of Brexit, so as far as l am concerned, they got what they voted for, and l hope they are all suffering for their idiotic actions and viewpoints. Just look at this audience. That would be a nightmare night out at the pub. Fuck them all (not that l'm bitter or anything).
Our glorious leader woos the crowds yet again. I bet it took some persuading (or threats) to get those people to sit and listen.
Toodle pip
I nearly walked into this beast the other day, first thing in the morning. It's not on the door, it's hanging down from the ceiling. To say it made me jump is an understatement, but l certainly woke up pretty damn fast.
It has since ceased to be. It is an ex spider.
