The solution to Safer Sex - Full Body Armour...

 

2023 has almost reached the halfway mark, and I have to say I don’t know where the times goes, it feels like just yesterday that I was making new year’s resolutions.  It may just be me but as I get older time seems to be sprinting along like Usain Bolt, when I would much prefer it to be akin to Bagpuss pace, lots of naps in between a stroll like effort. I find myself getting more like Victor Meldrew by the day (not good). But as they say time waits for no man, so I’ve been busy again this week with the team looking after my media output, developing some new programme ideas so as these come to fruition, I’ll keep you posted.

Prince Harry is back in the UK giving evidence at the High Court against the Mirror Group Newspapers and their alleged phone tapping activities whilst he was a teenager.  Regardless of what anybody thinks about the Duke’s choices of late (I have no opinion by the way), the claims he makes against MGN make for a sorry tale and I find it hard not to be sympathetic to the Prince.  Whilst Harry was always going to be the object of people’s interest, he also had a right to his privacy like the rest of us, especially whilst he was growing up.  How many of us would want our children subjected to constant intrusion by the press?  Very few, I’m sure.  I’m certain that as the trial continues, we will be able to make up our own minds about the legitimacy of the MGN’s actions in pursuit of sales at the news stands and online.

Earlier today the UK Health Agency informed us that England saw record levels of sexually transmitted infections in 2022, with gonorrhoea seeing a 50% increase in reported cases for 2021. Sadly, syphilis was hot on gonorrhoea’s heels with the highest number of cases recorded since 1948.  The report didn’t indicate whether the reason for this was caused by supply chain issues in the rubber industry.  A quick scan of the shelves at the supermarket this morning didn’t lead me to believe that condoms were in short supply…so come on fellas put your raincoats on and protect everyone whilst you enjoy yourselves!  This has just reminded me of the hilarious scene in the Naked Gun when Leslie Nielsen and Priscilla Presley practice safe sex by donning full (body) length rubber johnnies!

Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer may have scored an own goal this week as he reaffirmed Labours pledge to achieve zero carbon by 2030 if elected to lead the country. Why an own goal? Well, the Unions upon whom his party relies so heavily on were up in arms with concerns for the communities directly supporting the Gas and Oil industry.

The Unions fear a repeat of the ‘decimation to communities’ that we saw with the coal mine closures of the 70’s and 80’s.  Mr Starmer was quick to affirm that he would make sure that a robust plan would be in place to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself, although the details were thin on the ground in his response to the condemnation of the Unions.  He went on to pledge that Labour would use ‘public procurement’ to help create ‘unionised jobs’ in the UK.  It all feels a little bit like Mr Starmer is doing what so many politicians seem to do nowadays and that’s to just say what they think people want to hear…  As we draw nearer to the General Election, I urge everyone to exercise their right to vote, and before doing so that they really understand what each of the competitors is offering us by way of a 5-year plan.  Let’s be honest, it’s rare for any party in power to achieve election promises, so we should make them truly accountable by ensuring we vote.  Now more than ever it’s vital that we have a strong turnout of voters to let the politicians get a real understanding of how we are all feeling about the future of the UK.     

My heart goes out to the people besieged by war, natural disasters and manmade accidents, and this week has seen its share of all three.  The fatal train crash in India involving 3 trains shows how a simple error can result in catastrophic outcomes.  With more than 280 fatalities and still counting, this is India’s worst rail accident in a century, the images of the carriages all twisted and in some cases on their rooves left me numb. 

Haiti is once again facing the wrath of Mother Nature as an earthquake and flash flooding have left people dead and homeless.  If this wasn’t enough, the sad situation in the Ukraine continues, and they aren’t the only people living in fear of war like conditions.  Innocent Sudanese citizens and foreign students witnessed a bomb at a university in the troubled nation.  So, you’ll have to forgive me, but I think we have enough to contend with in coping with the elements and genuine accidents without subjecting each other to wars and acts of aggression.  This on the day that Iran declares it has developed a hypersonic projectile that can reach its destination completely undetected!  The people of the World are tired of battling, so leaders around the globe need to find diplomatic and permanent solutions to aggression, so yes, Mr Putin and Mr Zelensky I would like to see you and your Foreign Ministers sitting around a table working hard to find peace that could be the beacon of hope to every other nation. 

Is it me or have we lost the plot?  I’m not someone who watches shows like Britain’s Got Talent (honest!) but following the mixed reactions on social media about this year’s winner, I felt compelled to see what the fuss was all about and discover for myself who was victorious and what was so spellbinding about their act.  Oh dear…  we appear to be very easily entertained, if only I’d realised the power of the hi-vis vest I would have made more of it over the past 37 years of wearing one! We live and learn as they say.  Audiences decided that Norway has talent so Norway 12 Britain 0!  We may need to rename the show The World’s Got Talent…

The sound of the week in the office has been generously provided by The Beloved and Tori Amos.

Have your say! I’d love to hear what you’d like to see in the blog each week? After all this is all about interaction, so knowing what you think, what you’d like to see me writing about and your views of the world in general would be great!  So, if you have something you want to get off your chest or have a fab idea or two drop us a line and we will try our best to include items that spark debate.

Ideas and feedback can be submitted by using the handy form on my website, be sure to select Blog & Podcast Feedback!  I look forward to hearing from you…