If we had a Marcus...

Hi Everyone!

The government says no to Summer School Holiday free lunches when asked for by the Leader of he Opposition Keir Starmer.

Marcus Rashford, a superb Manchester United striker, (soccer), asks for the same and the Prime Minister orders a U-turn!!!!!

We need a famous supporter to outline the bigotry we receive on a daily basis. The press is not friendly and that transmits to public opinion. We are the last bastion of the free hit from bigots and in most free nations of the world it is happening daily. We are held up as some kind of joke faction of the LGBT community and all of us are viewed and portrayed by certain politicians, press and media as being radical and troublemaking, when nothing of the kind is true of the vast majority of transgender people.

We need a Marcus Rashford!!!!

Celia xx

Rashford is indeed a superb player and I usually find it easy to recognize him when he plays. The BPL returns next week and while I don't want anyone to get COVID-19 simply for watching, there is only so much time one can spend at home doing nothing. (I am also really glad that my favorite, Formula 1 returns next month!!!!)

It would likely take a communications specialist to describe why the voice or imagery of a celebrity is more valuable than that of a 'simple' constituent. But, that is life. Most politicians want to surround themselves with celebrity because it justifies their presence.

When you walk into a politicians office, and in my case, usually a local council member or mayor, the photographs on their walls are typically those of the office holder together with a statewide or nationwide politician. It seems to be a 'trophy' to have your picture taken with a president, senator, ambassador or well-known governor. Sometimes, as in the case of Silicon Valley, where I live, a prominent company owner.

I have yet to see a photograph of the office holder with an ordinary constituent hanging on the wall.

I have never understood celebrity. Maybe that is a fault with Michaela, but when my school mates would ooooh and ahhhh over someone, maybe a singer or musician I would simply move on. I remember when on my aircraft carrier when it was on station in North Vietnam waters, a movie/singer named Martha Raye came onboard to regale my shipmates. Her career was waning at the time and whatever physical beauty she had in the past was difficult to discern when she was on the stage. I was less than interested in seeing her - but, I briefly checked in, just long enough for her to say to the crew: 'at least I have round eyes!'. The crowd on the hangar deck cheered. I left and found the time sleeping to be more than worthwhile.

I have seldom even cracked a smile when a racially charged comment or joke has been made. Having 'round eyes' was a joke definitely directed at our then enemy, the Viet Cong and Northern Vietnam Army. I left immediately after hearing good old Martha comment on how our enemy was somehow less than someone with 'round eyes'.

I suspect psychologists may justify making an enemy a lesser person as a way to handle having to kill them, but I still find them to be humans - just caught in a situation most would not want to be in.

Hi Miki!!!

Give me a moment, just gonna look up Martha Raye, Hold the bus!!!!

Oh, big mouth? Cute enough i suppose, I guess.

The small-time politician thing is quite true, I'd never really thought of that before. Actors do that too, when on a long term West-End show or Panto. They fill their room with photos of themselves with bigger stars. I know that from one man I knew, I shall not name him.

Yes, the round-eyed thing is not nice, but maybe she felt vulnerable and might actually regret that if faced. Wartime is strange. My late Father, born in '35, fell out with me a long time ago.

He was very sharp with answering any slight. He took me one day on the back of his Goldwing to a British Legion Club, for a beer for him and shandy for me, it was about '75. My Father was both in the RAF and the British Army.

As we dismounted, a be-medalled old-boy shutting his car door having arrived at the same time. The man, beret and all, said to him he disliked the fact he rode a Honda, a Japanese Motorcycle. QUOTE AS I REMEMBER: "That thing was built by the slitty-eyed bastards, that many of my friends went through hell in Japanese POW camps!".

My Father looked at his car and walking with me into the club, replied, "And those that made your car killed my Grandmother in Norway."

It was a BMW.

Celia xx

Time has a way of curing a lot of malevolent memories.

My eldest Sister's father-in-law was offered the West Coast distributorship for Volkswagen, This was in the early '50s and WWII was still fresh in the mind of many potential customers. He turned down the offer, and also, unknowingly, the chance to be a VERY wealthy man - but who can accurately predict what will happen tomorrow.

For the longest time, Mercedes could not break into the Israeli market because of what they did to the Jews and others during the Holocaust. Now, there are Benz' everywhere in Israel.

I wish you and your Father had a chance to mend - but it is often very difficult to change one's mindset.

Hi Miki!!!!

I remember you telling me about that franchise.... he missed bigtime there. I guess the Israelis had every reason not to, but the war is long past now and though the loss of life should be remembered, it has been time to forgive long ago..

I liked the Beetle and I like older Mercedes, luckily Helga is far enough away not to read that!!!!!

For I don't think you can beat the Gothenburg built Volvo, it is reliable and the space in the Estate/Station wagon is second to none.... there is a Volvo in the USA that has done 3 million miles, it is the world record!

The car still looks good, it was built in 1966....

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/highest-vehicle-mileage

Celia xx

One of the good things (and they can be counted in single digits) about my first marriage was buying a new 1971(?) Volvo.

It was a nice car, drove comfortably and towed my then 18' heavy (read large lead keel) sailboat. One of the many, many bad things about my marriage (and they can be counted in multiple digits) was that she didn't want to pop the extra couple hundreds Dollars for air conditioning.

The only problem I had with the Volvo is one of the lobes on the camshaft went flat during the first month I owned it - it was quickly repaired.

hi Miki,

What are you driving now?.... you did tell me, but I forgot, I have a feeling it was one of the Asian brands....

See, if you had kept your Volvo and did not go sailing off all over the place, you might hold the record!!!!!!

Celia xx

Two cars (both bought new), Wife drives a 2003 Audi A4 with about 175,000 miles that is well past its junk yard drop-off status. I am driving a 2006 Porsche Cayenne S that has 135,000 miles and is running well. Some cosmetic damage in and out, but still drivable.

Oh, that was it, the Cayenne!!!! I remember us talking of that. But your wife's Audi should last for quite some time, if she looks after it. It may seem garage bills mount, but think of the price of a new equivalent? And that's green Celia telling ya. Keep your car, resist the thrills of new buttons and bells. It's best for Mother Earth, keep her goin'..... the eco footprint is quite mindblowing of having her Merc crushed and a new one built.

If you like a car there is no earthly reason to replace it. It is better for the environment, because the footprint of a new car build is massive. best to keep something going than replace it..... but they won't tell you that.

Oh and Lithium is a frickin' nightmare. Future generations will laugh, {well maybe not actually), their socks off and their distant future dismay can be heard across the mystical sounds of time to me, they are saying.......... hold on.... I'm getting something.... they are saying.... "keep the old things going, dont dump Lithium upon us!!!!!!!"

But governments love Green tax and they will keep the Lithium digging going. There is no easy answer, no greener person could there be than I. But Lithium electric cars are NOT the answer...., best to maintain what we got than that

Celia xx

Ironically I used to work with a Marcus, good person, sadly wasting their life with alcohol problems, Hopefully they can climb out of that rut sometime soon, good people are to rare to have them waste their lives that way.