Last couple of days....

The highlight of yesterday, Monday, was the movie 'The Hundred Foot Walk' which I saw with Pattisue.   It was wonderful, we both enjoyed it very much.   An Indian family in Mumbai had their restaurant fire bombed, the wife was killed and the rest of the family fled to Europe.  Travelling through France in an old mini bus it broke down in a village, and that is where their adventures began (apart from a brief stay in England under the flight path at Heathrow).   The father bought an old run down restaurant opposite a very popular Michelin star restaurant, which served classical French food, and he did it up as an Indian restaurant.   Oh........the nostalgia...........they don't have Indian restaurants here and I came out longing for a chicken korma with side dishes and naan bread.

 

The film is about the ensuing ups and downs, but like these tales do, it all ended happily.

 

Today I have just tidied up round the house and watched television, and there is certainly plenty going on in the news.   I like Obama but in these troubled times I think the US would have been better served with an older, more experienced guy as President.   Someone like John McCain, because Obama knows nothing at all about foreign policy, and he is so detached from reality he really thinks - he has said - that ISIS is not a threat to the US.  Someone surely must have pointed out to him how well organised they are, how well funded - they are getting $1 billion a day in black market oil revenues and donations from sympathetic governments like Qatar - they have stated their intention of taking over in the US and Europe and establishing a global Caliphate.  Hundreds of disaffected young people with western passports are flocking to join their ranks and be radicalised.   And they are only a plane flight away.

 

Well, that's my op ed, as they say.

 

Changing the subject somewhat, but still talking about planes.  There is a new gadget available on airlines.   Well, some airlines.   Or maybe just one or two.  It cost about $25 and attaches to the drop down tray in front of the passenger so that the passenger in front can't recline their seat.

 

 

That has not gone down well.   There was a serious altercation between a passenger who wanted to recline her seat and the one behind with the gadget.  The aggrieved passenger poured a cup of water over the one with the gadget (and who could blame her) the flight was diverted, and they were both thrown off.

 

It was the funeral yesterday of the 19 year old teenager who was shot by a policeman in Missouri.  Thousands turned out.   The nation's chief rabble rouser was holding forth.....

The White House sent three staff members, which is unheard of.   I am just at a total loss to understand how everyone can be rushing to judgement like they are.  We still haven't heard from the police officer, or been told the extent of his injuries.

 

And - don't get me wrong - I deplore the death of this young man cut down at 18 years of age, where he might have put his mistakes behind him, and gone on to live a useful, productive life.   But (and you might have guessed there would be a BUT here) if he had been quietly going about his lawful business instead of involving himself in a strong arm robbery, and arousing police suspicion, he would still be alive today. 

 

This day in history............1979

Mountbatten was killed by the IRA.   And don't we all remember that.    Prince Phillip and Prince Charles were heartbroken.   My heart also went out to the parents of his 14 year old grandson. and another young teenager who were also in the boat.   The Dowager Countess Brabourne died the following day.

 

I hadn't known, or realised it before, but the castle in Sligo where they were staying was always guarded during the month of August while he was there.   But unbelievably the boat was just moored in the harbour without anyone even watching, far less, guarding it.

This evening I made some mini cup cakes, which I will top with whipped cream and a strawberry, for tomorrow night's dessert.