It's not coming home

Evening All, 

This time next week. This time next week eh. Yes. Freedom. Hopefully. Next Monday, 19 July 2021 in the UK will mark the ending of lockdowns and an end for all COVID restrictions. Bozza Jozza's plans for the final unlocking of restrictions in England after the final stage of reopening on 21 June was pushed back, will finally come true. I truly hope so anyway, because I honestly don't know how well I or the rest of the British public will act should another country-wide lockdown happen, and god knows that Prime Minister Boris Johnson can't really go back on his word yet again, U-turning. 

In recent news, it has been reported that we have now fully vaccinated nearly 35 million people. That is 66% of all adults. 66%. A huge achievement and even more have had the single-dose awaiting their second one in the coming weeks. The success of the vaccine roll-out has meant that, despite the new Delta Indian variant of Coronavirus, there have been many days now where there have been zero COVID-related deaths. 

As Boris Johnson made his announcement during the press conference this evening he urged caution, saying the pandemic is not over and that deaths and hospitalizations from coronavirus would continue. Health Secretary Sajid Javid (Long story but basically Matt Hancock got caught cheating on his wife with some hussy from the labor party - an opposing parliamentary party, talk about sleeping with the enemy?!) has said although cases will continue to rise and he did not "believe that infection rates will put unsustainable pressure on the NHS". The BBC outlined that recent data suggests that the vaccination program has reduced hospital admissions and deaths, with fewer than one in 1,000 infections now estimated to result in death - compared with one in 60 during last winter. This time next week I will be talking to you from a face-mask-free, hugging and licking appropriate zone where everyone can go out clubbing and dance at weddings.

However, maybe it is just what the country needs, especially after the big Euro's finale everyone watched last night. The Three Lions, appearing in their first major men's final for 55 years, were agonizingly beaten on penalties following a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes. Having absolutely no interest in Football and (successfully) not writing about sport of any kind (at least to my knowledge) in the last ten years of writing this blog, I had to do some research and fact-checking for tonight's blog post. On consulting BBC Sport, England reached their first men's European Championship final by topping their group, then defeating Germany, Ukraine, and Denmark in the knockout stage. 

But sadly despite the hype and the chants and the hope and dreams of a nation, it simply wasn't meant to be. They were the only two goals of the game, and Italy edged home 3-2 on penalties. I watched from behind a pillow as the final few shots at the goal took place, Mr Warehouse on the edge of his seat too. England's Euro 2020 final defeat by Italy was "incredibly painful" but the players gave "everything they possibly could", said manager Gareth Southgate. 

I did half expect after all of the efforts made, albeit in vain, for there to be a lot more abuse and sadly racial slurs and hatred spread online about the young players, several of which were young black men, one I was surprised who was only just nineteen years old. But with some gentle encouragement from their manager and some good old-fashioned cuddles too from teammates and supports, I think they will be OK. I mean I am sure all those millions and squillions in their bank account help no end. "We are all together. They have given the country some unbelievable memories," Southgate said on BBC One with Captain Harry Kane said the defeat would "hurt for the rest of our careers but we should be extremely proud as a group of what we have achieved," adding "I couldn't have given more, the boys couldn't have given more. Penalties are the worst feeling in the world when you lose. It wasn't our night but it's been a fantastic tournament and we should hold our heads high." 

I won't lie, I did worry about Bukayo Saka, the little black teenager crying his eyes out on the pitch after having his goal saved by the opposition and probably feeling like he let the whole country down. It's certainly going to hurt for a while, but my concerns were for some of the nasty comments and vicious tweets that can and sadly and inevitably will come after such a loss. 

However, on opening my news feed early this morning and scrolling through whilst pouring my coffee I saw nothing but admiration for those young lads. Tweets and Instagram posts heralding them as heroes and for doing nothing but giving their all. Now don't get it twisted, I am the first one to criticize and say that they are paid FAAAAR too much for running around a pitch and kicking about a ball of air (in days gone by it would have been a natty old pigs bladder) and how nurses and paramedics are paid annually less than a quarter of a footballer's weekly income is. 

But with that being said I have noticed a change in the wind. These boys are doing far more for their country than playing a poxy game. Rashford (Marcus) campaigned heavily throughout last year for free school meals for the most vulnerable children and when the government offered some measly half bananas, jam sandwiches, and an egg (yes as little as that) Marcus Rashford stood up and said "No, this isn't good enough". At nineteen I was more worried about holding down a job long enough to keep a roof over my head and afford to go out and get shit-faced and meet boys let alone taking shots in a Euro Final which could change history. How many other people can say they were doing something that great at 19! 

I am sure that the racism and disgusting comments and hate are there, but I am glad that the British public saw what I did yesterday. A kid. A kid who had tried his hardest. A kid who played his heart out. A kid who is probably more dedicated than some fully grown men double his age. 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou x

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