Yesterday we woke up to a temperature of -2º but I think that the wind may be very slightly less strong and thus it may feel a tad less cold – but it is still bitter. For a reason that escapes me, I started to think about the term ‘yummy mummy’ and wondered whether it was a derogatory term or one with which some women would quite enjoy. I am going to try it out on my Droitwich friend when next I see her and she how she feels about it and indeed whether she feels flattered or insulted. From what I can gather, in its neutral sense it refers to mothers who are still sexually attractive, fashionable and take a pride in their appearance and therefore provide a sharp contrast to the ‘dowdy’ image sometimes associated with motherhood. On the other hand, I did come across one interpretation with decidedly negative interpretations which is funny: ‘Yummy mummies come from Primrose Hill, they seat their bratty children in pushchairs the size of cars, they never wear sunglasses except on top of their head, wear scary amounts of beige, bring their own carrot sticks and celery sticks to the pub, and are oblivious to all other people inside and outside their field of vision.’In any case, this term has entirely dropped out of popular culture and probably the vast majority of the younger generation would not know how o react to the term. Turning to much more serious matters, Donald Trump has now signed into law the directive that all of the Epstein files should be released by the FBI within 20 days. Some of the details that must be released are extraordinarily wide ranging and would include flight logs and travel record of any aircraft, vessel or vehicle operated by Epstein, individuals named or referenced in connection with Epstein’s criminal activities, civil settlements, immunity or plea agreements, or investigations and even material relating to Ghislaine Maxwell. In passing the legislation, Trump went on one of his usual rants casting blame upon the Democrats whenever he could and repeating the extraordinary claim that the whole was a ‘hoax’. But we shall certainly see prominent Democrats exposed as well as Republicans so this might prove to be an unwelcome Christmas present for many members of the American elite. On the domestic political front, Westminster is bracing for the publication of the COVID inquiry’s module two report, which is about political decision-making during the pandemic. It is expected to focus not just on the decisions of key politicians, but also those of key officials, many of whom are still in government. Again, this is expected to make uncomfortable reading for many but it is taking far too long for this necessary post-COVID to take place and it could be that another pandemic overwhelms all of us before we have learnt the lessons of the last one. As I did my shopping the day before, it will be interesting to see how today pans out and how many of us will turn up for our weekly ‘Tai Chi’ class. Thee are about a dozen of us with about three men and the rest women and most people find it extremely relaxing (although I do not think I am quite at that stage yet). Co-ordinating the breathing with the movements is a skill to be mastered but no doubt this will come in time. I found that today I was a little further forward on my ‘Tai Chi’ journey because I observed closely the particular move that our tutor was making and then closed my eyes and did what felt right for me (which is what she instructed me to do at the conclusion of our class last week) After the class was over, my banker friend was not in evidence for which I was secretly relieved as I needed to go to the garage to check out my type pressures. I had an instrument reading which told me that my type pressures were low so I went to the garage and checked over the pressures. The trouble is that even though you may have re-inflated the tyres, the system does not automatically remove the ‘low type pressure warning’ system from the console so it feels as though you have not done anything. I know that there will be a setting somewhere to turn this warning ‘off’ but I have not managed to find it yet – I know that in the Volvo, I had the same issue and it was a little complicated to find. I got back home after my class because I knew that my Droitwich friend was due to call around and she was going to work on her laptop in my house, which arrangement ]we had set up the other day. Then the hairdresser called around which I actually had remembered from my planning board. Later on in the day, my chiropodist called around, again via a pre-planned appointment so all in all, this was a day of comings and goings. My friend had to go off to a doctor’s appointment whilst I was left at home as a sort of ‘house husband’ starting to cook the simple meal which we had scoped out for ourselves earlier in the day. Later in the day over our meal we can no doubt unburden ourselves a little to each other which is why we are good friends and enjoy each other’s company.
There is a report circulating that the USA and Russia between them have been negotiating a plan to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This plan has been hatched up without any reference to the Ukrainians or any other European nation and looks as though it is going to ‘reward’ Russia by granting Russia swathes of territory over and above that which has been occupied by it in any case. This arrangement cannot possibly work and, no doubt, the Ukrainians will say that they have to fight on, with the support of Western European allies but with America totally taking the Russian’s side. Even if this plan were to be enforced on the Ukraine, it is not at all clear that there is any force that would discourage the Russians from seizing even more territory as the Americans would never put the boots of their soldiers ‘on the ground’ between the two opponents. So we have all of the makings of a conflict that may well rumble on for years but one has the horrible premonition that there is no way that Russia will get much of what it wants, despite the cost to the Russian economy and military.