FICTION: A day on the water

Here is a short story I wrote if you're bored over Christmas.

Please tip if you can and you like it.

I have been writing reviews on Medium, if you want to check out the link on the side of the blog.

Xposed

 Xposed re-emerged yesterday at Southwark Playhouse for another set of seven LGBT plays.

The Xposed event showcases emerging talent in LGBT productions.

This year's collection was strong all round.

From tales of young gay men attempting to lose their virginity to lesbians pontificating about getting married in churches.

Xposed arcs humourously through a variety of everyday stories of LGBT life and has showcased some great writers to watch for the future.

Tickets will be available for another Xposed this time next year, keep your eyes peeled.

FICTION: Bathed in Green

I have written a slightly off kilter short story on Vocal.

I hope you enjoy!

If you like it please tip if you can.

Raise income tax cowards!

The government has just raised National Insurance contributions to pay for improved social care provision in the UK, this is one of the most unfair choices they could make.

National Insurance, as many will know, is a flat tax: meaning it does not take account of income, but rather is a standard increase for all.

This means all of the working population takes a share of the burden, but those workers who earn more pay a smaller percentage of their take home pay.

Many have argued that this will hit the young hardest, as they are normally on the lowest incomes and do not necessarily benefit as directly from the tax rise.

This argument misses the point somewhat, this tax will disproportionately burden all low paid workers, while those earning more will take a lighter hit.

Income tax and/or capital gains tax would have been a fairer way of distributing this load, asking for a more significant contribution from those most able to pay.

I asked a young security guard who lives locally what he thought of the tax rise and he said while he was initially a bit sad he recognises the need for the tax to protect vulnerable groups and him in his old age.

When I suggested they could have taxed income instead of National Insurance he indicated that they would never do this.

He was being huge!

While I applaud his community mindedness, I do not think that the burden for this crisis should be landing so heavily on his shoulders.

The government should ask from people who have the greatest means to pay progressively, it is the fairest and most sustainable way to fund the welfare state.

Owen Jones has released a video on this:

Credit to Owen Jones

This morning's marriage proposal

"Sarah, I want to marry you. I'll give you £5,000..."

How would you respond?

I suspect it was a joke, but it wasn't very funny.

I said: "Oh, go away!"

This coupled with yesterday's literal begging from another man.

"Please, I'm so horny."

Delightful.

And for all those people who clothes shame I was not that revealingly dressed.

Here's a message to all men: Do not do this!

It is never appreciated and just weirds women out.

If they are considering you at all, this will put them right off.

Get to know them properly, ask them out for a drink first.

Behave like a sane person!

Rant over.

This sadly is not fiction.

FICTION: As beautiful as a marigold

Here is a rather over romantic piece of short fiction.

Enjoy!

If you like it please leave a small tip, it is really appreciated.

A day of protests

Hundreds gathered at Parliament Square yesterday to protest the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill currently working its way through the Lords.

Protester at Kill the Bill Rally

Shami Chakrabarti and Bell Ribeiro Addy were among the speakers at the rally. The organisation of speakers was a little shambolic, as two sets spoke concurrently for no apparent reason on the same subject.

The demonstration then made its way to Trafalgar Square. Where they were permitted to share space with a Haitian event already rallying at the Square.

As they rallied a demonstration of thousands protesting the current situation in Afghanistan passed the Square and proceeded down Whitehall with signs that read: Save Afghan Women and Stop a Proxy Afghanistan War.

Protesters demonstrating about the situation in Afghanistan

Had it not been raining I wonder if turn out for all the different events may have been larger. Although perhaps the police bill and the situation in Afghanistan feel like a done deal to many.

FICTION: An unwelcome surprise

Not everyone wants the same things, check out this short story.

Enjoy! 

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Tom Daley and Matty Lee diving for Gold

If you were ever in any doubt why I included Tom Daley's work out in my blog post on fitness.

Here is his latest blog post on his Gold medal win.

Tom Daley and Matty Lee Olympic champions

It is lovely to see Team GB doing so well, but it is great to see Tom Daley win a well deserved Gold.

This video will be great if you missed it.

What it doesn't show you is Daley and Lee positioned firmly for the silver, until a fatal Chinese error that allowed Tom and Matty to edge past them to winning position.

Now the jubilation seems even more pent up, right?

What the win means in their own words at the press conference

FICTION: Death by Chocolate

Here is a piece of ludicrous fiction I wrote.

Enjoy!

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Over £44k raised from the NHS Big Tea

Over £44,000 has been raised for the NHS Charities Together through the NHS Big Tea, which took place on the 5th of July 2021.

This is the current total raised through Virgin Money Giving.

The break down of the total is £39,209.06 in donations, plus £5,633.99 received in addition in Gift Aid.

This may not be the final amount, but it shows how deep British people are willing to dig into their pockets for NHS Charities at a hard time for the country. 

The NHS Big Tea had to take place online up and down the country due to Coronavirus restrictions still being in place, this hampered some of the fund raising initiatives slightly.

Three Lions

English Football can be beautiful, but it can also be ugly.

Following England toppling out at the last moment of Euro 2020, some "football fans" showed their ugly side.

Many will now have heard of the racist abuse directed at Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho.

Why do England "fans" do this?

You have twenty-two men representing your country to the best of their ability, facing the spotlight and winning time and again in real style.

Then the minute they lose you unleash the ugliest side of yourself to attack them anonymously online.

Why aren't we past this?

Rashford, Saka and Sancho are now the three lions of English football in my mind, standing up against the basest English instinct and representing a diverse and beautiful England full of colour and diversity.

Continue to roar guys.

Tempting Tapas at El Patio

 Recently I had the pleasure of dining at El Patio in Clapham Junction.

There are tonnes of Tapas places out there now, but this really does live up to its OpenTable reputation of "awesome".

They offer Pimientos de Padron (Roasted Padron peppers and Himalayan salt), some spicy, some not, a treat not available at every Tapas place.

Their Octopus dish, Pulpo a la galega Galician style marinated slices octopus with paprika served with potatoes, is also great for the adventurous fish lovers out there.

They do a wide selection of Tapas choices for vegetarians and meat eaters alike and also offer substantial meal plates, though I can not vouch for those.

The atmosphere is lively and a little kooky at the moment with the building works next door.

The staff are friendly and helpful, in a beautiful rustic restaurant.

Go! Now!

FICTION: New Purpose

I have written a very short piece of dystopian fiction.

Enjoy!

If you like it please leave me a small tip.

Fast cars

Today two girls crossed the road before the red light, but as they reached the other side of the road a car came up, tooted and drove fast past.

The first reaction was concern for the two girls, as they had narrowly escaped a hit.

But then my thoughts turned to the driver.

He or she hadn't slowed down or slammed the break, they had just narrowly whistled past.

If you see kids crossing dangerously, slow down! 

Thousands demonstrate against austerity in London

A march in London against austerity and for a socialist alternative congregated at Portland Place today at midday.

Several thousand rallied and set off at around 1pm down Regent Street and on to Parliament Square.

The march represented a wide cross section of British society including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and Jews.

The cry that often could be heard on this intentionally anti-austerity march was “Free Palestine” and indeed there were many Palestinian flags on display.

Zarah Sultana MP spoke at the Parliament Square rally, lending support to a 15% rise in nurses wages.

The march passed off peacefully and in good humour.

Musical Beauty

 Feel like the world needs more of this song at the minute:

Wellbeing and fighting genuine obesity is an important thing, but it's worth remembering that beauty comes in so many forms.

Stay fit the healthy way

There is a lot more going on in the world than your midriff at the moment that saddens me and probably you to think about, but as Mental Health Awareness draws to a close a healthy body breeds a healthy mind.

The BBC has reported on a new weight loss drug Apetamin with dangerous side effects that I would urge you not to try.

Instead you can stay fit and healthy and quickly change your body shape with short exercise regimes online.

Slim your waist

The one I have tried and tested twice at a healthy weight is Lucy Wyndham-Read's seven minute, seven day challenge to lose one to two inches off your waist.

It really does reduce your waist line in a week at a slightly rounder healthy weight, her testimonials show it's not just me.

Ten minute fit

You can couple this with a short all round ten minute work-out from Tom Daley to really keep in shape.

Tom Daley's is a bit more challenging, but keep at it and keep a walk in your day and pretty soon you'll do it with ease.

You don't need to change your diet, just try not to crazy on the sweet stuff and you will feel the results.

Here's to a healthy summer tackling the world's injustices.

International female clothing laws

This international women's day the Swiss have banned the burka, this caused a lot of trouble in France when it was instigated.

Banning a burka is a bit like banning a mini skirt, it reveals nothing but intolerance.

Whatever your feelings about revealing or covering up your body enforcing it on someone else without a really good reason is foolish.

As Aung San Suu Kyi has found herself yet again facing the gun in what should be a democracy I will add this: in some parts of the world flip-flops are banned on building sites.

There is a reason for regulating attire on a building site, there is little for wandering about wherever you may find yourself.

Plastic rumours in Britain

It has been alleged by Mark Hall that a rumour is circulating yet again in some undefined part of Britain that burning wheelie bins can get you high, he is at pains to point out that this is not true.

The rumour is dangerous because of the effect it may have on cocky people in search of a cheap high.

Many people know that burning plastic is very, very hazardous in more ways than just inhalation.

Moreover, if you do so in Britain you could be charged with arson.

This is partly why plastic recycling is so difficult and separating your waste where you have the facility to is so important.

He as the head of his company Divert.co.uk is trying to encourage British people not to do so by sending a release from his company on this topic.

He owns a private company and as so is not in charge of bin collection up and down the country.

Part of the newest alleged rumour is, he claims, “...different dyes used to make coloured bins give off different fumes." 

This is as he is trying to point out, completely false, the fumes are from the plastic itself.

Mark Hall’s message is: “stop right now, thank you very much”, with regards to the supposed practice of burning plastic wheelie bins to get high.

Myanmar coup condemned

The Myanmar military has reportedly staged a military coup due to alleged voter fraud.

This shows how fragile Myanmar’s democracy still is.

Aung San Suu Kyi has come in for her criticism of her treatment of the Rohingya internationally, now Myanmar’s whole democracy is in peril.

The military action will not protect the Rohingya and in the context of what is happening in Hong Kong this sits within other democratic challenges in the region.

The US has responded with violence to some of their own democratic challenges, but there has been no coup.

Biden and the UN has spoken up, but this still leaves Myanmar’s democracy in a very dangerous situation.

The military needs to cede control immediately and allow another vote if fraud is really suspected.

Some thoughts from the past

One book of any religion never answered everything, it simply may have started some people's journeys.

It will not tell you all the mysteries of a man or a woman's soul or what brings them together and tears them apart. 

But to remove varied books, to remove art, to deny people free expression. 

To halt learning, to divide people that care for one another. 

The very soul of life will vanish. 

You can guide a mind, but eventually you have to give it wings.

What do you do?

Ever been asked at a party what do you do?

Have you ever felt uncomfortable about giving an answer?

Did you lie?

Did you tell the truth?

Were you judged for your answer?

Did the fear of judgement alter how you answered?

Or did you want to see how someone would react to the answer you actually gave?

Or did you not like the person that asked it?

How easy is it to tell the truth when you know you're being judged?

How dangerous is the truth?

How dangerous is the lie?

Nile Wilson signing off

If you've read earlier posts you will be aware of Nile Wilson, one of the Olympic Team that won bronze at the London Olympics.

He has released endless Vlogs charting his gymnastics journey and various challenges to promote gymnastics and fitness.

At the beginning of the Pandemic he made his new fitness programme free.

Sadly now as you will see in the below video he is quitting competing.

In such a difficult time for the country this just adds further sadness.

Nile Wilson isn't a nurse or doctor, he can't cure Coronavirus.

However, he has provided a role model for facing challenges and has shown that you can come through things.

Hopefully he can find a role in his future that uses his talents to help others, as he already has.