I’m going to apologise because I will be repeating myself in places again. By the time I have finished writing this, and I have got round to posting it, Dominic Cummings could be old news, he may have been forced to resign, although I can’t see it as I don’t think he cares too much, and I doubt he will have been sacked as Boris Johnson needs him to help run the country. After all, he is the Chief Advisor, and many believe he is the man who actually makes the decisions, Boris is just the frontman and puppet. We’ll never know, and as with all political parties and politicians, how much goes on that we will never know about, accusations of bullying, anti-Semitism and more.
I am struggling with the Government’s handling of the Corona-Virus, on all fronts, their guidelines are flawed with inconsistencies and vague by design, people are confused, and not sure what they should be doing, and I’ll give a couple of examples.
From my point of view I want to see my daughter and her partner, not by a Zoom or What’s App video call, I want to see them in person, I know I can’t hug them or shake hands, I know they will need to stay two metres away from me, and I will take that every time, but I want to see them.
So why do I need to walk or drive out somewhere to meet them in an open space where there could be hundreds or even thousands of other people, some who don’t care about the virus and aren’t responsible, some who don’t know what they are doing? Why can’t they come to see me and socially distance? We could do that and never be within two metres of each other, we could even put face coverings on to help, and we could arrange it so that they (or anyone else) comes round when the weather is good, so we are always sitting in the garden. And again at all times, even when entering and leaving the house and garden we will be two metres apart (and more) and therefore following the Governments own guidelines – we will be sensible.
We don’t do it just yet, because we are not supposed to, so why is the Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister allowed to do what he wants and as I write this, nothing has happened apart from half the country calling for him to resign. I won’t write the details of what happened as most people know, and the information is easily found on an internet search. But I will say this based on what the Government is doing; my daughter will be allowed into my house and garden so we can sit and chat while being socially responsible.
There cannot be one rule for the Government and one rule for the people who voted for them and put them into the position of leading the nation, it is not right, and many will feel the same way, and that is why so many people will now ignore them!
It has been happening all along, since the start of the lockdown, a house close to us has had workers in since day one on a renovation project. There is no social distancing going on, I can assure you, I have seen them in the house, I have seen them entering the house, and they are not two metres apart, and there are no face masks.
And this goes back to things I have said before. My daughter is a part-time nail beautician but can’t start work yet, well she can according to the safe system of work I have created for her. And as long as the Government tells us that PPE, RPE and screens can be used in work situations, then I could have her working quite safely, certainly more carefully than the previously mentioned builders for sure. And also with the implementation of screens, and my safe system of work, I could have barbers working, and in some aspects, hairdressers too. Certainly more safely than the shoppers in my local BM Bargains store, where the aisles can’t be any more than two metres wide. So how do I pass someone in a passageway that is only about two metres wide and stay two metres away from them, that is impossible. My wife did go in but has said she would not go back out of principal for the lack of distancing. So okay in some areas when it’s not safe, it’s not okay in others when it could be safe, and it is all wrong!!
As I write this, our dogs are being groomed in our garage, as according to the Kennel Club and I quote ‘Mobile groomers may continue to operate, providing that they can maintain social distancing.’ And so we booked ours, and so dog groomers, cleaners, estate agents and even people viewing my house, if it were for sale, can come into my house as long as we are socially responsible. So why can’t we have family and friends around and be socially responsible too, it is starting to get to me and starting to annoy me.
Why is it that no-one is allowed in my house, yet TV reporters from Sky News can go into an old lady’s house or care home, to interview her because it’s her 106th Birthday. Is it an essential journey, is it an essential story – no it’s not, but they can do it. It is complete hypocrisy and confusing for the public set out by supposedly intelligent and sensible people given the responsibility of running our country, and that is not the case!
However possibly the most frustrating part of all of these goings-on, now with the Cummings fiasco and the virus itself, we also have the disappearing Prime Minister – where is the man? Even as a manager at times I has to lead from the front, I couldn’t delegate all the work, a case of roll my sleeves up and get on with it. I didn’t mind I was cleaning out cow sheds and muck, and dirty dog kennels for my Dad when I was a kid, and one of my first jobs when joining the RAF as a young trainee, housed in an old accommodation block which we had to clean and restore was to clean the toilets with a spoon!! Yes, scrape the toilet clean with a spoon – no gloves!
So we need to lead, and that is as a manager, so as Prime Minister, elected by the people, you need to be there pretty much whenever. I know he has had his health issues, but that has now gone, or we haven’t been told any differently. I know he has just had a child, and there was one article I read saying he was going to take paternity leave but why? He can’t go anywhere; he can’t go visiting their families (or can he – if his Chief Advisor can, why can’t he?)
Anyway, it is not good enough; it is after all the highest position of leadership in our country, you can’t just hide when you feel like it. He should be taking the daily brief at least five times a week, as we all need a break, but right now I can’t remember the last time I saw him, and in my opinion, it is very, very poor leadership. (as I write this he did take the brief tonight 24th May). I voted for Boris, I was looking forward to him leading us, we needed someone with a different personality being in charge, and it was the first time I voted for the Conservatives, it will, however also be the last.
As a voter, I feel let down, I put my trust in them, and they have betrayed that trust. I am very disappointed in how they have handled this, and how some have displayed a total disregard for the guidelines their very own party and Government have put in place, and that they will have played a part in putting together.
And Dominic Cummings will be around for a while longer, he has tonight been given the support of Boris Johnson, and I for one am flabbergasted! And to finish according to Boris Johnson, we can now ‘follow our instincts’, because that is what Dominic Cummings did!!
One rule for them and one for us, well not in my world. If Dominic Cummings can ignore the Governments guidelines, then so can I. This is my opinion and my decision and what I will be doing, I am asking anyone who reads this not to take my advice and not to copy me.
Thank you for reading and stay safe.