I learnt nothing new
from 'The Establishment' and agreed with every word. Reinforcing already-held
assumptions among lefties the nation over. He does write well and with an
incisiveness and clarity. Whether he can be fairly called ' The Orwell of our
times', as Russell Brand does, is another question entirely. He does appear to
be utterly hated by commentators at The Spectator website though, which has to
be in his favour.
I'm fully invested
in Knausgaard's fascinating epic now. It does remain the story of his life in
the minutest detail, which no-one can possible remember, so it has to be
fictionalised. And yet. . . He opens up his soul, exposes his weaknesses and
has ruined his own family life over the writing of these books (or has he?). 'H
is for Hawk' is a similar confessional, and 3 stories intertwining; a story
about the training of a goshawk, the story of the author's grief for her dead
father, and the biography of TH White. Goshawks appear to be great, but they're
no badgers.
Freddie and I have
been regularly doing the Woking Park Run since Christmas. He's up to the full
distance and getting steadily quicker - 11 minute miles now. More to the point,
he seems to really enjoy it and it's a lovely thing to do together. His keenness
to do it every Saturday may also be influenced by the treats lavished on him by
an indulgent father if he manages a PB too, of course. Helen is running too, on
a 'Couch to 5K' programme. She's finding it touch, but every time she goes out
she gets a bit better. I'd love to see her and Fred to a Park Run (3 miles)
sometime this summer. She's convinced she's embarrass herself though, so I'm
encouraging her as much as poss. Fred would be so proud to do it with her.