I could weep
So the Russia Report tells us that, as early as 2014, the government knew the Russians had been trying to influence the British electoral process but didn’t do anything about it. Nothing. They let it run, unchecked. And then, when the report was ready in the autumn last year, His Borisness not only purposefully delayed the publication of the report, in its own way influencing the result of the general election and getting the withdrawal agreement through parliament, but actually lied about why he couldn’t release it. Four times, with different excuses each time.
Personally I don’t think the Russian report (or a lack of Russian influence) would have changed the result of the GE. Johnson was too affable, Brexit was a mess which Johnson was offering a solution, and Corbyn was as close to hopeless as any opposition leader could be. But, I do believe that if the Russia report had been out there before the rigmarole of getting the WA through parliament, there would have been much more of a fuss and maybe, just maybe, the government would have fallen – as they were very close to doing – and a national unity organisation would have risen from the ashes. And that may well have led to a second referendum … which may have changed what every commentator now believes will be a disastrous Brexit. And Johnson did that.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt so disenfranchised in my life. Brexit, the awful response to covid-19, the lies, the bluff, the incompetence and the ‘other actors’ – oligarchs, media moguls etc, all having an influence in mine and my family’s life. It really does, at times, make me want to weep.
Oh well.
[image error]new table, mmmmm
What’s new? Well I’ve finished the new table for Doris. I have to say I’m really pleased with it. The anglepoise lamp normally sits on the table with a huge round, heavy base. I’ve replaced that by drilling a hole in the (second hand) table top and fitting some washers to make it look fab.
Oh, and the Focus had a puncture. A screw straight through the main thread. Kwikfit (there’s none quicker – searches for a music emoji, but can’t find one) charged me £25 to fix it, which I thought was good value. And that’s good, because we’re off for a long walk in the Mendips tomorrow, meeting up with an old school teacher friend of ours, Nicky and her dog. It’s meant to be hot tomorrow, but not the 30+ temperatures we had when we did the Seven walk a few weeks back. And then we’re having tea with other teacher friends of ours in Wells. It should be a good day.
Finally, I’m still waiting on two beta readers to come back to me with comments on, Of Black Bulls and White Horses. Both are millennials and I really want them to say they liked it. Three out of three so far, but these two are key. Then it should take me about a week to turn it round … and then off to my friendly publisher. Fingers crossed.
Stay safe everyone. And get your masks ready … Friday’s the day.
