Language changes in strange ways, Sometimes it’s because of new inventions and therefore new words are needed, for example the whole of the computer and internet industry . Other times it’s to be politically correct and sometimes, it seems to me, for no good reason at all. I find myself slightly irritated by the statement that two people are ‘sharing a baby or child or children’. Instead of saying Jack & Jill have two children or are mum and dad to two children I read Jack and Jill share a baby or are parenting a child together. Then they will refer to the owner of a dog as the dog’s mum. Where did all this tosh come from?
Talking of tosh, the POTUS claims that having one and a half million cases of Covid-19 in the US and 92,000 deaths is something to be proud of as it shows they have good testing. He told reporters that he doesn’t look on the figure as a bad thing but as a good thing because they have more testing than anyone else (back to mine is bigger than yours). He also defended his decision to take the anti malarial drug in spite of health professionals stating that there was nothing to prove it would prevent or cure the virus. The trump said it was an enemy statement There are many who hope he keeps taking it and in bigger doses.
The government’s plan to entice furloughed workers to help harvest fruit, veg and other crops got off to a bumpy start when the web site crashed soon after launch. The web site ‘Pick For Britain” was set up in the hope of replacing European workers who normally arrive in the summer. It wasn’t clear if the crash was due to the amount of traffic or technical problems but sadly it appeared to be the latter. The reason we used so much labour from abroad was because local labour preferred to go on the dole.
The UK’s hottest day of the year and changes in lockdown guidelines brought people out in droves if we can believe the photos dotted around the internet. Trouble is the pics showing crowded beaches, traffic queues and full car parks could have been taken last summer or at any time. I didn’t make it to the beach today but the previous few days was not terribly busy and the large car park I can see from my flat was virtually empty as it has been for the last few weeks. A woman who was visiting Dorset with her family said that she was shocked that so many people were on the beach at Durdle Door. For some reason she thought she would be the only person in Britain with that good idea. Bournemouth council have opened two public toilets, one just east of the pier and one just after Boscombe pier but they close at 4pm. I’m meeting my friend Margaret tomorrow and we’re taking a sandwich so hopefully we’ll manage without needing a loo as the one at Southbourne is still closed. Meanwhile it seems that Ryanair has taken to the skies in spite of their lack of bookings. Some spiteful reporter suggested that maybe it’s cheaper than refunding cancelled bookings which they would have to do if there were no flights available. As if Michael O’Leary would think up a trick like that. It won’t keep us awake though, sleep well, Night night.