Sad news tonight that Captain Tom has died. His fame may not have spread beyond these islands, but here he became a hero last year, walking up and down to raise money for the NHS. He turned a hundred in 2020, just as my own father would have done had he lived. Yesterday we learned that Captain Tom was in hospital with pneumonia and had tested positive for Covid 19. He died this afternoon. The flag over Downing Street has been lowered to half mast. I’d like to think it was true respect, but I fear it’s more likely to be PR. I don’t know if it’s lockdown or age that makes me more emotional, but I cried when I heard the news.
Until late last year I had never knowingly eaten millet. I thought it was something budgerigars ate. Then I came across a recipe for red kidney bean stew and a millet pilaff. First I tried the red bean stew despite not liking red kidney beans much, and to my surprise I liked it. Liked it a lot. But I had it with rumbledethumps, not millet. Then I bought a small amount of millet and tried the whole thing, well more than the whole thing as I added green veg as an accompaniment. I liked it even more. I had it again tonight. In fact I need to buy more millet. It’s a good thing I don’t have a budgerigar.
Isobel (and Cat)'s Blog 
The Captain Tom stuff makes me so angry. The poor man was used for months and couldn’t even die in peace when he’d be a useful distraction. What other COVID deaths got a flag at half mast? If the government cared, all flags would have been at half mast since March! 😡
Nice to know you are still reading, even if you are angry!
Oh, I’m about! I’m so bored of my own mind, I don’t want to inflict it on too many 😂
Oh go on! Siobhàn McSweeney is going to be on Graham Norton on Friday, that’s enough to make anyone’s week!
I love her!
I think we all do! I even watched the Great pottery Throw once. But only once.
We’ve just heard about the death of Captain Tom on the TV3 evening news a while ago. We are so sad about this news!
During th lockdown we had known about his constant walking up and down in his garden to raise money for the NHS. People here respected and loved him.
We have lost a most valuable person. RIP.
So sad to hear of Captain Tom – we knew his story even in these blighted lands. A dear colleague of mine, our Office Brit, had a fourth heart attack on Sunday and died. This year will be reaping as many souls as the last, I fear.
Yes it is very sad, but Johnson and so on jumping on his death and using it to promote their agenda sticks in my craw.