It would be easy to fall into the trap of adding to the doomscrolling that I seen to have fallen prey to over the last two weeks. I’ve not even checked the Covid numbers having obsessed about them for nigh on two years.
Instead I’ve tried to distract myself where I can. I’ve started two books, one a memoir by a vet ‘Don’t Work With Animals’ which seems to echo with my daughter’s experiences. As ever there is both humour and sadness involved but mostly what comes across is how these professionals manage to cope with umpteen species and two levels of client, the animal and the owner. It makes being a medical Doctor seem like a doddle.
The second, another by Ann Cleeves who writes very good detective fiction. I suppose they fall into the police procedural genre and if you’ve not seen Barb Taub’s explanation of how that genre works, there’s a link here. It is priceless.
Talking of my daughter, she treated the Textiliste and I to a trip to the O2 to see Simply Red. It was originally set for mid 2020 (lockdown) then late 2021 (the band got Covid) then February 2022 (Storm Eunice ripped the roof off the O2) and finally, after some speedy patching it was last Wednesday.
I loved Mike Hucknall and his voice back in the 80s and enjoyed follow ups but they’ve been split for a while so it is easy to forgot how many great numbers they have. It did mean that having my not quite 30 something daughter there brought the average age of the audience down to about 87 but there was a lot of energy generated, some not exactly familiar shapes being made in the crowd and the inevitability that several knee and hip replacements have been accelerated.
This weekend we’ve managed to find some time to go to Suffolk. The weather is that sort of raw cold that feels like it is seeping into your bones, but inside, with Dog knackered from a Sandy walk and chasing rabbits in his dreams, the fire fizzing and popping away and no excuse not to write it feels very indulgent.
I suppose I can’t not comment on the terrible events out East. So much has happened, is happening and every time something new occurs – now seemingly involving nuclear weapons going on standby – you can’t help wonder why Putin is acting so. I heard on the radio that someone has speculated it may be his mind is frazzled because of the steroids he’s taken to create his cartoonesque physique. That led to another commentator hoping that, if that is true, when the war is over he’ll fail a drugs test and be disqualified. I almost laughed but then I asked myself are there some situations where humour is inappropriate? If so then this must be one.
Maybe you’ll permit a limerick
One consequence of the war in Ukraine
Will be a world shortage of its fabulous grain
Which is one reason to put the boot in
On that a***wipe Vladimir Putin
Again and again and again and again…
Yes, it’s been a wearying week; as always the pets have the right idea..
TanGental 
Marvellous share
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It’s a good couple weeks to be a pet. And Simply Red! Haven’t thought of them in years, Geoff. Although who had the knee and hip replacements? Just the audience or the band, too. Wonder if Pete Townsend can jump around and smash a guitar like he used to? Not that I agree with guitar abuse. 🥴
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Hucknall looks like a hobbit that’s been it in the sun too long.. he’s overdone the heroin I believe. They were excellent though
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😂🤣
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It looks like Simply Red is more like Simply Grey, although they still sound good. I recall going to see the Beach Boys a few years ago and felt like they needed to be called The Beach Grandpas. Nice to get out to see these older bands though. The pets got it right!
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Brian Wilson when I saw him about 5 years ago looked like he’d had a full body botox given his lack of animation..
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The mask mandate here is over today, except for school children, which I don’t understand since they hardly get sick with Covid. Love your doggerel – will someone please put Putin out of his misery and mania? The sad part is that the Russian people apparently believe him and have no idea of what is going on because he controls the media. In any event, I’m with Dog – a walk and a snooze!
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The news from Ukraine is very bleak. The call for a no-fly zone over Ukraine is a call for WWIII. No one wants that so that Zelenskyy will get zero takers. Let’s hope some of the Mig 29s being sought for the Ukraine Air force will arrive in time.
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Hope they get some help. I can’t really get why the press keep asking why mo no fly zone. Its been explained many times. I agree it would be bonkers
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I agree.
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I’ve heard a theory that Putin was traumatised by the fall of the Wall, the subsequent collapse of the Communist system, and the end of everything he believed in. Not that it’s a good reason, but might explain. Even so, must be unbalanced. I mean, since when did doing something for the good of another country involve bombing its people and destroying cities and towns?
Rationing consumption of news is necessary, though. Once or twice a day max.
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I’m with you on the need for distractions. Seems to get harder and harder.
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What a great time you had over the past days. Simply Red, yay!! And such a lovely walk.
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Yay indeed.
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Simply Red! I have a couple of his albums. Oh, now I’ve dated myself. LOL! You know, I read somewhere that Putin has the beginning signs of Parkinson’s. If that is true, he could be living in an entirely different world than the rest of us. I think he wants to be Tsar… that is not a good plan.
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I suppose a Tsar with Parkinson’s is rats by any other spelling…
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LOL! I don’t know that for a fact, but it would make sense why he’s more irrational than normal.
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Did the cat go to Suffolk too, or is that back home?
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Back home. Cat doesn’t travel these days.
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Well quite a week, glad you enjoyed the concert, Simply Red were on my radar back in the day. The break away, another bonus. As to Putin I think I said enough on him! 🇺🇦🇬🇧
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I hope we can putin him in a bin soon…
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Oh! I do hope so 😉😉
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Can’t help doomscrolling, though I try to limit it. Oh to be as oblivious as Dog and Cat.
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I know. They rise above or below it…
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I think distractions are the thing that helps us keep our mental health through this very challenging time in history. Right on, Geoff, or should I say write on, Geoff.
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Ah I’ll try both, Pete. Thank you
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I think its fine to laugh at the joke. Gallows humour is part of what keeps us sane in insane situations.
Bravo to Dog and Cat. 🙂
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Yes, I’m just a feeble minded bloke who can’t decide
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You hit the nail on the head all the way through this post, Geoff. Well done!
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Thanks Jennie.
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You’re welcome.
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