With reluctance I read the headlines that are forced upon us and you know what strikes me? It is how quick newspapers, socially aware commentators and needless to say the BBC are to point to how terrible everything is, how every possible problem is seized upon and expanded on with glee and how the government has got everything wrong.

Lets descend to the real world for a moment. What has not happened? There are not rows of stretchers lined up on the pavements because hospitals have no room for them. There are not rows of body bags lined up waiting to be put in mass graves. The NHS has not said it is overwhelmed and cannot cope. The daily number of deaths has not risen out of all control. Despite the idiot hoarders the shops have not run out of food. There have not been riots in the streets, which if you think back was forecast by several newspapers, and of course the BBC.

Let’s look at what has happened. Despite papers and TV gleefully highlighting the idiots the vast majority of the population have obeyed the lockdown and accepted the need for it. More than that to the amazement and dismay of those doomsayers most people are worried it will end too soon. There have been many instances of people and communities coming together to help each other.

Exit Plan. Despite the constant yapping by the media and certain MP’s who are more concerned about pushing their names forward, about “must have an exit plan” the ordinary person is more concerned about now. Any way as the one commentator with half a brain said, how can you talk exit until numbers have started to decrease. Numbers do seem to have levelled and when there is a decrease is the time to be able to move on. The only reason they want an “exit plan” is to be able to bleat “you got it wrong” when things do not happen exactly to that “plan”.

Of course the government have not got everything right – it would have been a miracle if they had. What they have done is avoid major mistakes and have in general kept the public with them and that is what the windbags can’t stomach. Fair to say the government have tended to be slow to react and there are two genuine areas of concern. These are the availability of protective clothing and testing.

Protective clothing. With the huge demand it was always going to be a challenge but it becomes clear the real issue is getting items to where they are needed and as usual the real problem lies with public services administrators who have rejected help from private firms (and the Army) both in manufacture and distribution. Why? Because having been promoted beyond their competence level they are desperately defending their own little territory or empire and are also terrified of upsetting the boat by asking for or taking decisive action. Because of course rocking the boat might endanger their OBE (Other Buggers Efforts) or their CMG (Call Me God). One assumes they have already got their MBE (My Bloody Efforts). Just look at the news today of the Health Trust BOSS who discovering his territory was about to run out of protective clothing asked the BBC if they knew a phone number for Burberry or Barbour! Is the man actually incapable of looking up a phone number? Is he a complete imbecile? Oh and he did not want his name published!! If you wrote it in a work of fiction you would be told it was too unreal. And what about the 750,000 volunteer helpers. Their names were passed on to various health authorities and are not being used. Apparently their help is not needed and in any case it takes an awful long time to check them out. How much checking do you need to do on someone who is going to clean an ambulance so it gets back on the road as quickly as possible?

And while we are on the subject what about the test centres? So some senior genius decided to shut the test centre on Easter Monday because there might not be much demand and then justified himself by saying that anyone with sense could see it was the sensible decision. If one single member of the front line NHS wanted to turn up for testing the centre should have been opened. BUT take another centre where people who turned up were SENT AWAY. And what about the NHS worker (front line of course) who said that the testing centre is there but the administration is rubbish.

Remember that if one of these lofty well paid officials is asked by a Minister to actually put some effort into their job, to work beyond 4.30.p.m. or to make a difficult decision the Minister is bullying them. To ask them to remove their well padded backsides off their chairs is all too much. There are also far too many jobsworths at lower levels who see obstruction and delay as their role. However remember there are also many public service administrators who feel equally frustrated. When this is all over a top to bottom overhaul of the system is needed and those who cannot accept that their job is to serve and facilitate sent on their way.

And finally. I am fed up with hearing over paid so called celebrities telling us how terrible it is isolating in their extensive mansions and country houses. And telling us peasants how to manage. Try doing it in a small two bedroom flat with three children – they would not last a day.