Parliament under scrutiny

A sunny day with occasion short cloudbursts, more like spring than autumn. After breakfast, I drove Ann to the station for her return journey to Felixstowe, then responded to new incoming messages, sent out the readings for next Sunday and tweaked next week's Sway edition before doing my share of the housework. Then I wrote to my GP about a repeat prescription or alternative treatment for the facial wart which hasn't gown but also hasn't shrunk in the year since I last consulted a doctor about it.

Clare cooked delicious hake for lunch. As I didn't get quite enough sleep I took an armchair siesta after eating and slept for an hour, then went for my usual circuit of the park. Having prepared Morning Prayer for St Francis' Day I worked on a reflection to go with it ready to record when I get quiet time to do so.

In the evening we watched an interesting documentary about painter Henri Matisse on BBC Four, and then Laura Kuenssberg's account of the resignation of Boris Johnston and the premiership of Liz Truss. 'State of Chaos' has been a valuable account of the past four years of Conservative government, through interviews with participants in the drama, giving their own interpretation of events, with Kuenssberg as story teller. 

The bottom line according to Simon McDonald head of the diplomatic service who resigned in 2020 is that despite a chaotic and messy process, the British constitutional system succeeded in dispatching two successive Prime Ministers unable to govern with the confidence of Parliament and the public, and see through a change in Head of State and Prime Minister in the same week without this being due to a coup d'état. Evidence of the robustness and resilience of a rules based system based on historical precedence without there being one binding formal written legal document 

Just as well it worked in my opinion, as the established way of conducting political life in Britain, flawed and complex though it may be, started to deteriorate after Prime Minister David Cameron announced Brexit referendum and over the years since then continued to spiral into this state of chaos in which the government lost both integrity and credibility.  It has exposed the unfitness for office of elected members whose self serving motives, moral weaknesses or sheer incompetence have contributed to the chaos, and hopefully these will not be re-elected if they dare stand for Parliament again.

Will it be possible to reverse this decline in Parliamentary relationships and discourse when a new and hopefully different Parliament is elected next year? I hope and pray it will.

Chaos recalled

Overnight bouts of rain petered out after sunrise, the clouds dispersed and a day of sunshine ensued, with gusts of wind. Slightly cooler, but quite refreshing when I finally went out for my afternoon walk in the park through Llandaff Fields and down to the river. The woodland path wasn't as muddy as I expected, so the wind did its job, drying out a long line of washing as well in the afternoon.

After breakfast, housework, then the rest of the morning spent on preparing this week's Sway edition and issuing the relevant reading texts for Sunday's Eucharist. I also finished recording and editing Morning Prayer audio for Michelmass Eve, and after lunch made the video slide show for posting to YouTube. A satisfying four hours worth of work before my daily round of exercise. 

I was annoyed to discover while editing that I'm only getting an audio signal delivered to one earphone of my headset. It took me a while to eliminate possible reasons. Was it a possible software glitch either in the Audacity sound editor I use, or the Windows operating system it works on? No. Was it an earphone fault? I needed to test them with the same sound file running on my phone and the Chromebook, to find out the headphones aren't faulty. Only one conclusion, the laptop headphone socket is faulty. It's happened before, and then righted itself, then started playing up again. 

With a set of Bluetooth headphones I'd get stereo, but is it worth the expense? The alternative is to shift to my office workstation upstairs, but it's not such a comfortable environment, it's a long way to the kitchen, and less convenient for a short break to make a drink, or even multi-tasking, making a meal while writing or editing. There's also the trouble which arises when passing through three different doorways plus stairs in between office and kitchen, and forgetting what you've set out to do. Yes, it really does happen to me nowadays. Anyway, I checked out my desktop workstation after supper, and can do all the editing work I need to, and listen to audio via headphones or through my office sound system.

Clare is thinking of spending some time in voluntary work, and went to visit the day centre for refugees that has recently moved into St German's Church Hall while work is done on the place normally used. It's still fairly new and temporary, so there's not been much contact yet with any church members, and they'd welcome more interest in their work, so I must see what I can do about this when I'm there next. 

This evening we watched the second part of Laura Kuenssberg's documentary 'State of Chaos', this week's episode was about the events of Boris Johnson's time as Prime Minister before and during the pandemic and the disturbing fanaticism and influence of special adviser Dominic Cummings, determined to subvert the work of civil servants government institutions and the established constitutional order. Johnson gave away too much of his power to Cummings, and defended him when his behaviour was indefensible. Doing this he undermined his own position and it contributed significantly to his downfall. But, the story of the political chaos in Britian over the last five years has yet another chapter to tell, and that's for next week.

Rachel rang up to tell us that Jasmine has been in hospital for an operation on her jaw, to fix a problem due to the wearing of a joint, which has gone untreated until now. She'll be recovering for a few weeks and then, hopefully, back to playing her saxophone once more. We sent her 'get well' messages via Instagram's Direct Messaging facility, one of her favourite chat channel like millions of teenagers world wide.

Shutting the stable door ....?

After breakfast, the battery on Jasmine's camera needed recharging, but we didn't have an adapter for the American charger, so we went into town on the 61 bus to visit Cardiff Camera centre, and sure enough they had a European one in stock for twenty quid. We walked around for a short while, and I took Jas into St John's, where she was baptized in December 2007. I must dig out the little video I took to show her while she's here. She's not been brought up in the faith of the church, but it is part of her story I want to be sure she is acquainted with. Maybe one day the Spirit will awaken a desire for God that will lead her to lay claim to her spiritual heritage, even if I don't live to see that day.

After lunch, I drove Clare and Jasmine over to the University Music department in Corbett Road Cathays for a Jazz Master Class, then visited the School of Optometry nearby to see if I could get an appointment to get two pairs of intermediate range specs made. I was lucky that a member of staff who arranges orders and fittings happened to be free, so I was seen without needing to book an appointment. As a regular client my last eye test details were available to process the order, so I didn't even need to produce the prescription form I took with me. In ten days time I'll have two new pairs of reading specs. It will make life a easier, and reduce the amount of time I spend chasing around the house looking for a proper pair of glasses to use.

When I got back, I spent an hour writing, did the regular Monday housework, then cooked lentils and veg for supper. It was ready just as Clare and Jas came through the door at seven thirty. After supper Jas and I went to Thompson's Park to check the moorhen nest in the pond by the statue. It's still occupied and hasn't been disturbed, which is good news. I wonder which will happen first, pond lily flowers coming into bloom, or chicks hatching?

After five hours of debate this evening the recommendations of the Parliamentary Privileges enquiry into the 'Partygate' affair were approved by the House of Commons sanctioning Boris Johnston, even though he resigned his seat in order to avoid punishment. Although some MPs claimed his resignation had made this a pointless exercise, the purpose of the debate was to affirm the values and standards by which Parliamentary government is exercised. Is it a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has gone? Or an penitent aspiration to renounce dishonest pragmatism in politics and restore standards of truth and integrity among members and civil servants? Time will tell.

The question of how the electorate could be persuaded to vote for a persistent pathological liar whose brexit campaigning deceived a slim majority of voters into making a decision which is proving to be more to the detriment of the country than its benefit has yet to be debated credibly in any public forum. Nobody likes to admit when such a massive error of judgement has been made, making fools of people who were so adamantly sincere that that had the best interests of the country at heart.

Big issues not to take for granted

A good start to the day with the first of this year's Reith Lectures on Radio 4 after breakfast. Recently retired Supreme Court member and historian, Lord Jonathan Sumption is examining the changing relationship between Law and Politics, with clarity and thoroughness. He argues that the tendency to over legislate and then to litigate on all sorts matters of concern is a symptom of a growing weakness in the political sphere, reflected in an inability to reach consensus, exercise discretion or debate in an open manner in which people on all sides may indeed learn from each other and alter their positions. It's very relevant indeed given the current parliamentary crisis over brexit.

It was interesting to hear what he had to say about the Supreme Court being castigated by the editor of the Daily Mail as 'Enemies of the People', declaring war on democracy, in ruling on the necessity of a Parliamentary vote to trigger Article 50 to initiate the EU departure process legally, in November 2016. Historic precedent for dealing with such attacks on the country's highest legislating body is the responsibility of the government's Attorney General, issuing a public rebuke in defence of the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. The Attorney General at the time was silent in the face of media aggression and pretension to speak for the whole electorate. 

It's an example of the way broadcast media and the press are far too influential on political processes in Britain. This narrative has been familiar to me since I read John Simpson's history of journalists and the news media from the Boer War onward a few years back. Freedom of speech is one thing, but without moderating criticism and discussion it risks becoming a a license to control affairs, and this invariably benefits the few and not the many. I look forward to hearing how Lord Sumption thinks it's possible to redress this critical public concern, now that Britain and Europe faced a worrying return of extremist and populist politics. Democracy is under critical scrutiny and it can all to easily be undermined. It cannot be taken for granted.

Another issue which caught my attention yesterday and got me thinking was listening to a discussion about gender bias in medical research. A lot has been said in recent years about the disproportionately large number of men over women in science, and the scandalous gender pay gap running through most employment sectors, but these weren't the issues being considered. Look at a standard anatomy textbook - the archetypal human image is that of the male body, possibly accompanied by a vignette of a female pelvis and reproductive organs. Why not male and female archetypes show side by side? 

There's a hidden assumption that for the most part male and female bodies are similar. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the field of drug testing. Women and men can react differently to different medications, due to variations in body chemistry. Yet the majority of testing is done, and has been done on male subjects, not on an equal number of males and females. Treating them as if they can be presumed equivalent is deeply flawed methodology with a long history. 

I daresay in practice there is a body of knowledge and experience relied upon by those who prescribe and dispense medicine, but this hidden bias calls into question the quality of scientific evidence taken for granted. Thalidomide was thought safe to use as a sleeping pill. The genetic damage inflicted on unborn children wasn't foreseen. Drug testing has become much more rigorous and licensing new products is done with much greater precaution today. No doubt scientific methods have gone through many an overhaul in decades past, but questioning and evaluating procedures used forever remains an unfinished business, much like all good things in life we value and rely on. This too, we cannot take for granted.

  

Finally, a Hoopoe day

Another overcast day, and a morning spent reading news reports on reactions to yesterday's Law Lords' judgement on the need for the British Parliament to be consulted before the Brexit process is started. The tabloid newspapers hysterical and misleading denunciation of long established legal authority and process is deeply disturbing. If these newspaper owners and their editors claim to be the 'voice of the people' what they are doing is preaching anarchy and calling for mob rule. It's worrying to witness truth being cast aside in favour of unsubstantiated, inaccurate oft repeated opinionation, and its happening all over the western world these days. It's every bit as evil as religious fundamentalism in its many guises, and is re-enforcing social divisions by the day. So disheartening.

Finally, after lunch, I summoned the effort to shrug off worldly despair and get out for a walk. I crossed the rio Aguas bridge and then turned into the complex of hotels and apartments and golf course that are part of the prestigious Marina Club Golf resort. I've walked through parts of the resort a few times before, but this time I climbed up as high as I could, to a ridge about 70m above sea level, where there are several very classy architect designed luxury dwellings with fantastic views inland and out to sea. 

The course extends down on to the plain the other side of the ridge, cutting a huge green grassy enclave out of an inland plain of pale sandy soil. In season I guess this would be normally used to grow cereal crops. It was hard to avoid overhearing a snatch of conversation between two golfing gents talking loudly in their electric buggy on their return trip. "I spent two hundred and fifty thousand." Then "Did you say two hundred and sixty thousand ....?" Yes, it's that sort of place. But already, something else had caught my eye.

Looking out over part of the golf course on the sea side towards Puerto Garrucha, its loading dock empty since the departure of the bulk carrier 'Sun Vita' after sunset last night, a distinctive bird flew out of the shadows, then settled again on a green further away. I first saw a Hoopoe take to the air when I surprised one on a track in the pinewoods near El Chaparal golf course, La Cala de Mijas in the winter of 2013. Several times later, I glimpsed one in the foothills of the Alpujarras behind Nerja, where I got one lucky, but slightly blurred photo of the bird on the wing. It was only recognisable Hoopoe photo until now. This was among the first I took today.

A perimeter fence post at shoulder height enabled me to stabilise my trusty Sony HX50, so that I could shoot near the limit of its 30x zoom if needed. The bird obligingly allowed itself to be photographed in the company of a pied wagtail, and what I think was a Rock Pipit. Then, even better. I spotted a second and third Hoopoe foraging on the same green. I got a good clear picture of two together out of three, the other was just out of sight. 

So unexpectedly in a few minutes, a dull day turned to delight and exultation. I've hunted for Hoopoes to photograph, each duty tour in Spain for the past three and a half years, so taken was I by my first El Chaparal encounter.

Another little surprise of the past few days has been the appearance of a pair of pied wagtails around the rio Aguas watercourse. They were there again as a made my way back to the apartment, as the sun was going down. Separately, they fly out of the reed beds, alight on an isolated clump of reed in the water, then fly around in tight circles, returning to the same spot, presumably insect gathering. 

Being a bit bigger and brighter coloured than other reed bed denizens, wagtails are quite distinctive. Most of the time they are sociable. I once counted two dozen together in the Asda Leckwith car park. Not when they're mating to reproduce however. They seem to count on the absence of predators to hang out in a twosome around the watercourse at this time of year.

Tonight, I look at the photos with pleasure, but also a little disappointment. Might I have got better pics with my Sony HX300, with greater magnification, but essentially the same camera innards? Shooting at extreme zoom lengths and getting decent images is a chancy business. Now I know where to find  those Hoopoes, should I return there tomorrow with the other camera? Really, I could do with a camera with a bigger sensor as well as a decent zoom, but at this point the cost of my little diversion start escalating unreasonably. Fair quality on a modest budget is a factor in my measure of hobby satisfaction, but real pleasure is to be found in the surprise gift of a moment unexpected.