Un-noticed

Another sunny day to wake up to. Disturbing to hear the news that Trump has ordered the suspension of military aid to Ukraine in his misconceived effort to force Zelenskyy into peace deal negotiations. It's unthinkable, when Putin has not changed his aim of conquest and removal of sovereignty from Ukraine. European leaders have re-iterated with determination their support for Zelenskyy and the upholding of international law violated by Russia's invasion. This creates a serious policy rift between NATO allies and weakens their position, something Putin will find ways to take advantage of. Is this what America thought it was voting for when electing Trump? 

After breakfast, Clare went out to her study group. I made the video slide show for next week's Morning Prayer, prepared lunch for cooking, then went and walked in the park for an hour. Clare returned just after me, and between us completed the cooking. Walking in the park gave me the germ of an idea for a Sunday sermon, so I resisted the temptation to nod off after we'd eaten and drafted something suitable in a couple of hours. Then I went out and walked for another hour and a half, enjoying the sunshine.

Clare went out to meditation group at six and I devoted the rest of the evening to watching the rest of the 'Dope Girls' crimmie. The majority of the actors in it were women, naturally in the light of the story told. I looked hard at the crowd scenes but failed to recognise Rhiannon, either because she was well made up, wearing a mask, and filmed in a poorly lit room. Many of the participants were out of focus. 

It was a story that touched upon several key issues in the changing world of 1920s London, but I found the presentation somewhat disjointed, with sordid reality and fantasy intermingled. Several scenes of intimacy and cabaret song 'n dance routines added little to the progress of the story apart from atmosphere, even if they added to the emotional intensity of relationships between women or were were well performed song and dance numbers. The sound track seemed mismatched to the ethos of the story, reflectiing the early 21st rather than 20th century. I wonder why? 

An interesting period piece, but rather self indulgent. It's being compared to 'Peaky Blinders', a similar multi-series crimmie set in the early 20th century, but there's no news of another series yet. It all depends how well 'Dope Girls' is received on live telly and iPlayer.