In an interview with BBC, he admitted that he hasn't been vaccinated and then gave the reasons before completely destroying his own argument.
I admire the way he looks after his body. He works out what is good for him and what is bad and analyses everything from the food he eats to the water he drinks. This has to be applauded and many of us could benefit from a similar food and drink regime.
But that's the primary reason he hasn't been vaccinated. He wants to be in control of whatever goes into his body. And that's where his arguments break down. There is little or no evidence that the vaccine is harmful. There is plenty of evidence that COVID is harmful. Yes it's his right to make his own decisions but he seems to have made the non vaccine decision for the wrong reasons as he goes on to say that it is the responsibility of everyone to fight this pandemic - and of course that means getting vaccinated.
He then admits that being vaccinated is a good way to get immunity - but then refuses to be vaccinated himself.
Then his principles get the better of him. He states that he would prefer not to play tennis rather than be vaccinated and would give up the chance to be the greatest tennis player of all time in order to keep his decision not to have the vaccine.
He doesn't seem to understand that by refusing to be vaccinated he is putting himself and others at risk. On one hand he is happy that the vaccination is the best way to fight the illness but then fails to give any real reason for not being vaccinated other than this nonsense "everyone has the right to choose." idea. Personally I hope that Mr Djokovic doesn't become the greatest tennis player of all time. Personally I don't care whether he plays another tournament. His views are ridiculous and have consequences.
* * *
I see they are making a film about The Friends of Neptune. This will be the latest in a long line of lovely feelgood British films that bring a furry glow. Think Fishermen's Friends and many more including the wonderful The Man Who Went Up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain.
Who are The Friends of Neptune I hear you say? Well they are a group of people from Yorkshire who took on the authorities and the Government after being worried about the amount of sewage in the sea in Scarborough in the 1980s. They turned their attention to other parts of the country with a number of eccentric stunts including sailing a home-made boat down the Thames with the boat capsizing.
It's the kind of eccentric, small man takes on the authorities kind of film we all love. Today of course the Friends of Neptune are all part of the establishment as our awareness of ecological problems has blossomed. They work together with Yorkshire Water to improve water quality and the environment. I'm sure in the not too distant future we will have a film about the Post Office mess-up I mentioned yesterday.
There's already plans for a film on The Bank of Dave which saw a very extrovert man from Burnley open his own bank for local people with astonishing results and of course we have The Duke starring Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren which is about the theft from the National Gallery in London of Goya's painting of the Duke of Wellington. It was stolen to raise money for charity and comes into the bonkers British film category.
* * *
I mentioned yesterday frequenting independent coffee shops and tea rooms. We found an interesting one where we were staying in the village of Lyminge in Kent.
The owners were very friendly and welcoming but the opening conversation was rather bizarre.
We asked if we could sit anywhere. The owner said:
"Yes that's fine grab a table," which we did. He then looked at us long and hard:
"It's ok we are dog friendly," he said.
"Oh good," we replied eyeing up a very docile Jack Russell sitting still near the counter.
"Yes you can bring a dog in here," the man said.
"Oh good," we replied, sitting down.
"He doesn't have to stay outside," the man said. At this we cottoned on.
"We don't have a dog," we said in unison.
"Oh I'm sorry I was certain I saw a dog with you."
Throughout our stay in the cafe this became a running joke. When we went up to pay the man said "excuse me" as he wanted to get past.
"Mind our dog," I replied.
"It's ok I stepped over him," he quipped.
I can only assume that he mistook our hiking sticks for dog leads - an easy mistake to make. Unless of course we had an invisible dog friend with us - a kind of aura.