Post 511. POWER TENDS TO CORRUPT.

 ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY.

LORD ACTON, 1887.
Yes, it was on April 5th, 1887 that those wise words were written to  Archbishop of the Church of England, Bishop Creighton, by John Dalberg-Acton, Lord Acton was a historian, politician, writer, and thoroughly worthwhile human being. He was also an English Catholic, which did not always make life easy for him. His words are particularly apposite now.
THE TORIES ARE OUT.
As predicted, it was a Labour landslide and the Tories were swept away. If you are a devout socialist, don't crow. No matter how high its majority, the new government has been left with an impossible repair job. Take a logical look at it. Health, schools, social services, local government, water, gas, electricity, transport: a shambles, the lot of it. No government could put it right in five years. For that matter, I doubt any government will ever put it right.
Perhaps Sir Keir Starmer and his crew have a chance to introduce a smidgin of parliamentary change beyond the customary playground squabbling. But I doubt that, too.

Test 'em: don't trust 'em. 
FOOTBALL
So England is through to the final of the UEFA European Football Championships, Euro 2024. 

Hurray for them. Spain is the other finalist and the bookies favourite to win. Hmm. .

TENNIS.
Great coverage on television if you are a tennis fan: a load of balls if you're not. 

New balls, please.
TELEVISION.
We watched 1883 on Prime Video. It was an ominous western miniseries starring Sam Elliott, Isabel May, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill with a superb team of fellow actors. Wonderful viewing.

HEALTH.

There was talk of another 5 radiotherapy sessions for me at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth. A nice volunteer driver called Paul took me, and a fellow patient, Robert, to the hospital yesterday. I was born and bred in Pompey. Don't know the place now. Talked seriously to the hospital team's spokesperson about my current situation. Heard the possible side-effects of  more radiotherapy. Not for me. I have two life threatening illnesses and, if I last that long, will be 94 in September. The majority of my contemporaries have long departed this world. I'll push on. 
Thanks for the offer, though, Q.A.

Good luck to you and all who sail with you.