PATRIOTS AND FLAG SHAGGERS

nlike some, I've never been one to get misty-eyed over a flag. The St George's Cross, the Union Jack, any of them – they just don't stir any deep sense of national pride within me. That isn't to say I'm unpatriotic or a traitor, but the idea of 'my country, right or wrong' has always felt strange. I'm just a bloke who doesn't quite get the whole national pride thing.

BETRAYAL OF THE VULNERABLE

his week, the government unveiled proposals to overhaul the welfare system, with a particular focus on those with illnesses and disabilities. In my opinion, and that of many others, these measures represent a deeply damaging attack on the most vulnerable members of our society.

2401.24 THE NEXT GENERATION

Our lives are full of milestones, points in our lives that map out our very existance. When we meet the love of our lives, the birth of our children, the arrival of a beloved pet. Of course these are just some of the positives - this is what I want to concentrate on today...

2312.25 THE CAPTAIN'S YULETIDE MESSAGE

Another year in the bag and the big news is that I didn't die (well this would be the definition of irony if I fail to survive the next week). The shitstorm continues with high prices and low wages ravaging those of us on below average wages but we struggle through. The world is full of war and climate distasters, I feel so bad for those affected. Maybe one day the power hungry megalomaniacs will get their heads out of their (or each others') arses and work to solve these solvable problems although I'm not holding my breath.

2310.22 TIME FOR JUMPERS

It's been unseasonably warm this season which is currently in the process of change. Weather isn't always a cyclist's friend, the cold and wet together with wind and ice sometimes make the rides dangerous or just plain unpleasant. As I write this Storm Babet is battering the country (it's safe to say I didn't cycle to work today - Friday).

2309.23 CATCHUP TIME

It's been a while since I did a blog post,  So I'll attempt to go over a few of the thing that have happened recently, it's difficult because bugger all has really happened. 

2210.24 NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT

Where do I start? As I write this the conservative party are selecting a new leader, the 3rd in less than 2 months.

2209.19 GODS SAVE THE KING

It's a sad time for our country. A sad time for the commonwealth and for many across the world. It's also an historic point in time, We have lost our Queen but with that we have a new King.

2207.18 BYE BYE BORIS

The Prime Minister has finally quit after years of lies and basically taking the piss out of the British people. But I have to talk about night's out, birthday celebrations, bike racing and of course, the weather!

2204.26 THE WAITING

What a dreadful time we are living through, the world is in a sorry state with climate change not being addressed and war in Europe for the first time. Closer to home, we have a cost of living crisis, and of course, the pandemic is still bubbling under the headlines.

2110.07 HAPPY PLACE

I don't blog enough. I know this, I feel a little overwhelmed at the moment. Work is really been getting me down, the pandemic is still bubbling around as well as all the usual life worries we carry. To eleviate the stress I'd planned a trip with my beloved Morticia to our favourite place.

2101.28 GAME CHANGER

Once again I find that I am plodding through this lockdown with very little in the way of direction. Still things move forward and there have been some changes.

2004.06 KEY WORK

So I've been back at work now for a week (6 days actually) and things are slowly returning to normal. Except its not. The new normal is different - the world has changed overnight and everything has become almost like a bad apocalypse movie. 

2003.12 OUTBREAK

It's worldwide news, everyone's talking about it. No, not 'Love Island' or whatever the current reality TV fad is, I'm of course talking about the outbreak of Coronavirus.

2002.03 STRESS, SNEEZING AND SHOES

It's been a manic few days, we had a serious thingy happen at work which has turned everything upside down.

2001.01 THE ROARING TWENTIES

As another decade closes I can't help look at the time that has passed. So whilst looking back on the last year I also find myself going back over the last 10 years, and some of it was very painful.

1912.25 THE CAPTAIN'S YULETIDE MESSAGE

As I usual I like to take an opportunity to look back at my year as it disappears in the 'rear view mirror'. The post is published at the same time as the Queen gives her speech, and as she does I've prepared it beforehand, I'm guessing at the moment it goes up I'll be tucking into our seasonal feast.

1902.25 TONY GOT A FLYPAST

On Friday there was a substantial event in my home city of Sheffield. If you've following it on the news (particularly BBC Breakfast) it's the story of a man who tends to a memorial in a local park that came to light when on of the Breakfast presenters came across him whilst he was walking his dog. The man wanted a flypast to commemorate the 75th anniversary of a USAF aeroplane that crashed there. We couldn't make the flypast that morning but we still thought it important to pay our respects.

1901.23 BREXI-McBREXFACE

I'm a passionate remainer. I make no apology for it, I believe that the path this country is on is wrong. Problem is I'm surrounded by "Brexiteers", it's difficult to have a decent conversation.

1812.25 THE CAPTAIN'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

I like to take this opportunity to look back on my year at this time. As usual I'm publishing this post at the same time the Queen gives her address to the commonwealth. In reality I'm probably eating my dinner at this point, if you're catching up later I'll probably drinking beer.