Bank Holiday Monday (25/05/20)

Today we went for a walk at Pig Leg Lane. We spotted a Pyramidal Orchid for the first time this year. I did try to take a photo but it was so bright and sunny that I couldn't see what I was photographing on my phone screen! I will try again later in the week because they are quite special and something that The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust say to look out for. I have also since found out that they are the Isle of Wight County flower. This photo is from a Google search but was, at least, taken on the IOW.

(Updated 01/07/20 - This second photo of a Pyramidal Orchid was taken in June by myself at Pig Leg Lane, Ryde, IOW)

I really should ensure the proper camera is always brought out on our walks because phone cameras just aren't as good for this kind of photography!

F took his Remote-control truck on the walk which gave him the extra enthusiasm required on a boiling hot day like today. It was a lovely walk and I took some nice photos of the sky and the wild flowers that have sprung up over the last few weeks. I will upload those ASAP.

Whilst we were out we missed the press conference by Dominic Cummings (Boris Johnson's chief advisor) who is under fire for breaking the lockdown rules which he had helped devise and set for us all as a nation! I am actually quite glad to have missed it because my family group are saying it was really awful and uncomfortable viewing. I always find things hard to watch if somebody is being unfairly treated or put in difficult situations publicly. However, learning more about this situation and hearing Cummings's explanation I have to say that in my opinion he should resign as his version of events could be considered almost laughable if it wasn't such a distressing time for the tens of thousands of families who have suffered terrible hardships and lost loved ones during this crisis. The counter argument is that he and his family should not be subjected to death threats and verbal abuse as a result of his actions and that the press should act more responsibly and with compassion. There is no denying the fact that the press were not adhering to the social distancing guidelines when they were harrassing/mobbing him outside his home. If, as has been suggested, he was subjected to a 'modern-day flogging' in that press conference then I think higher powers could have stopped it and the number of press/questions could have been limited. Maybe the press should be more firmly held to account over their behaviour in these situations.

Despite this, I don't think that the anger felt as a nation is unnecessary. People are quite rightly fuming about the fact that on Easter weekend Cummings visited a 'beauty spot' with his wife and child whilst we were all being told repeatedly to 'Stay at Home' and 'Do not go out'. Law abiding citizens are understandably upset that there seemed to be one rule for us and one rule for him (The Elite) but people who have been fined during lockdown for travelling in similar circumstances are also understandably frustrated that the law has come down heavy on them but that this man is twisting the rules and apparently getting away with it! Firstly he didn't stay at home when he thought his wife had coronavirus symptoms, he went back into work, secondly, they travelled from London to County Durham to his parents farm and an empty cottage (second home?) and thirdly, he took his family on a drive to Barnard Castle over Easter. People are calling for him to resign but he refused even to apologise or admit that he had done anything wrong. He defends his choices by insisting that in London they had no childcare options for his son if himself and his wife became seriously ill. He says they drove straight to his father's property but at no point spent time with his parents or sister and nieces because the childcare was never actually required, ultimately. He defends the Castle visit as a chance for him to test his driving ability given that his symptoms had included poor vision. I don't think anybody can seriously take this explanation seriously because why would anyone concerned about their vision then willingly get behind the wheel of a car and drive for an hour with a young child in the back!? This is a huge story that is not likely to go away until something is done, either by Dominic himself or by Boris.

Update: 01/07/20 - In reference to the middle image above; I found this via Google Images. It has since come to light that no second trip to Durham was made and that Dominic Cummings was in London on 19th April!