The evening before last, having watched the Gary Oldman depiction of Churchill, I tuned for the later stages of the European Song Contest. This was won by Bulgaria in a nail-biting finish in which it looked as though until the last moment, it was possible that Israel might win the contest. If this had happened there might have been a riot as the displeasure felt amongst some sections of the crowd was manifest when Israel topped the leader board. Five nations (Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, Netherlands, Iceland) had already boycotted the competition but in the event Bulgaria pulled it off with a typical European song (‘Bangaranga’) which captured the popular vote. Sometimes I do not watch this competition but the counting of the votes is always quite exciting because sometimes the favourites of the bookies (this year, Australia and Finland) get overtaken by the popular vote. In the afternoon, I had to exercise a degree of will power to go out and get the front greened area mowed and it really needed it as the dandelions has started to run amok but the cold weather had militated against an earlier cut. But I was fortunate to get it done as it rained just after I got in so fortune had smiled on me. I watched the last quarter of the Cup Final which was Manchester City vs. Chelsea where I did not really care who won but would not have minded if Manchester City did not sweep all before them, But City scored a goal which exhibited some footballing brilliance and thus won the final but I could not bear to watch the excessive celebrations that would have taken place afterwards (it might have been different if Leeds had not been beaten by Chelsea in the semifinal) The day has dawned to quite a nice, bright day and, according to the weather forecasters, the cold air sweeping across Britain should be replaced by warmer air from mid-week onwards and we shall start to get something approximating to some spring-like weather. I was pleased to note that after the huge couple of demonstrations in London yesterday the police had done a good job in keeping the two ‘sides’ well apart but it is a sign of the fragmentation of UK politics that these protests draw upon well springs of opinion that are not represented in our major political parties. But the organisers of the Palestine demonstration were keen to point out that their march is not anti-Semitic and indeed there are some Jewish voices, even including Holocaust survivors, who take their place on the march. Somewhere within the hierarchy of the police, decisions have to be taken as to which placards are judged to be anti-Semitic and the slogan ‘From the rive to the seas’ (Jordan to the Mediterranean) is judged to fall into this category. But I noticed one placard in the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ (far right) demonstration which read that ‘Anti-Zionism is Anti-Semitism’ but this is itself is contentious. A Google search reveals the following contribution to the debate: Whether anti-Zionism is inherently antisemitic is a subject of intense and ongoing debate, with no single consensus. Broadly, it is viewed as a complex intersection of political discourse and prejudice, where the line between criticising a political ideology or state policy and expressing hatred toward Jewish people can often blur
So after attending my normal church service, I took myself off to the Parish Hall to enjoy coffee and biscuits as is my wont. I sat myself next to a lady who recognised me from a U3A meeting so am now in the happy position of ‘wheels within wheels’ She, like myself, had lost her spouse about a year ago so we talked to each other about the ways in which we were both using U3A ventures to fill the evident gaps in or lives. I shall probably bump into her again on the day trip out to Derbyshire next Wednesday as well. Then whilst was on the road, I tried to buy some roasting bags for the chicken I am about to cook for my American friend and I. Having tried three retail outlets and not finding any of these, I gave up the search but when I returned home and searched Google, I got the message that these bags are readily available and sold in al of the big supermarket chains (which did not accord with my experience) I got some of my living money out of an ATM, filled the car up with petrol and then returned home to cook the chicken dinner. Whilst things were cooking, I saw the Italian women’s rugby team demolishing the Welsh. When this had concluded, I finished off my cooking and my American friend called round. I opened a bottle of Asti Spumante which I have not drunk for years but at which I was pleasantly surprised. Then after lunch and an extended chat, my friend and I watched the concluding moments of the France v England rugby and were more than happy to see that the Red Roses (England team) had built up an unassailable lead and beat the French, whilst securing the championship as a whole. After more chat and some light tea, we watched the concluding sections of the Margot Fonteyn/Rudolph Nureyev performance of ‘Romeo and Juliette’ made in 1966. So all in all, we had a very pleasant day together eating some good food, enjoying the wine and particularly happy with the TV that we watched. There is a meeting and talk of the U3A group which I shall attend (late on Tuesday as my Pilates commitment rather clashes with this) after which I have the Derbyshire visit on Wednesday and the postponed visit to Harvington Hall on Friday next. My friend had brought a delayed birthday present for me which is an illustrated history of the first 100 years of the National Trust. I lent my friend a copy of ‘Watching the English'(by Kate Fox) which I trust my friend will find both fascinating and absorbing as the book is an anthropological examination of the characteristics and quirkiness of the English at home and at play. I have bought several copies of this book and generally given them away to friends who can fully appreciate what an odd lot the people of England can turn out to be. For example, the English generally love in peace and harmony with their neighbours, but when it comes to boundary lines, hedges and fences, then English neighbours can fall out with each other and escalate matters as far as the courts.