163 days since lockdown/isolation.

There seems to be a lot of mass protests/rioting at the moment. All over the world people are taking to the streets. Hong Kong, Wisconsin USA, The Lebanon, Spain, Bolivia, Egypt, Iraq, Bolivia and others. The reasons have been varied ranging from corruption to climate change to a lack of democracy. Many of the protests have been legitimate and peaceful. At least that is how they begin. It doesn’t take long for trouble to break out (anarchists, right wing extremists etc.) and extreme violence to ensue. Occasionally resulting in deaths. I have never been on such a march and even if I had, at the first sign of any non-peaceful/extremist group participating, I would have been hurrying home. These people will take any opportunity to further their cause by turning to the protests from peaceful to violent. My view is have your march but keep it short and go home. Leave the police to deal with the trouble makers.

I have been busy in the kitchen. I have made a massive chilli split into seven freezer packs. I did the same with a huge chicken curry the day before. Jenny also made two huge shepherds pies destined for the freezer. We will not starve, that’s for sure.

We took advantage of the “Eat Out to Help Out” scheme yesterday. Just before the deal ceased. We each had steak pie with chips and vegetables, two soft drinks and Jenny succumbed to a sticky toffee pudding. All for £11. A bargain. Some restaurants are going to continue offering the half price meals as their restaurants have been full Mondays to Wednesdays. We ate in The Duke of Cumberland in Cottingham which was packed with customers.

I went to see Mum yesterday for my weekly visit. She was very well. Her favourite carer, Elaine was there too. It was nice to see her. I went for a second visit in mid afternoon to coincide with a visit from a district nurse who came to do a regular blood test organised by mum’s medical practice.

The weather has been awful for the last few days with some torrential rain which kept us in the house for a while. The plants in the back garden and the hanging baskets are on their last legs and we will take them out soon.

Our garden/paving contractor ran to say he will be coming mid September to pave the front of the house. He apologised for the delay but he has been having difficulties sourcing materials. One thing he will be doing is removing the “triffid” from the front of the house. We have cut it right back twice and it has grown back each time and is currently 4 feet high and growing. I will leave it now, until Jim comes and he will dig it out and put it in a skip.

We took a bus ride (with masks) to Beverley the other day. We bought a new frying pan (a really good expensive one} and had a coffee and cake at a cafe for just over £4. We didn’t realise that the half price government scheme would apply to cafes. Nice one, but sadly the scheme finishes on Monday.

160 days since lockdown/isolation.

What is going on now? Anyone on holiday abroad or who may have booked flights (in our case, well before the pandemic) must be totally confused. In our case the final destination is Austria but we land with Easyjet in Germany (Munich). In the case of both countries we must isolate when we get back which we can accommodate but can we go between Germany and Austria in the hire car? Our accommodation is in Salzburg so should we cancel and book accommodation in Germany? And we must take into account the wishes of our friends who are travelling with us. And will Easyjet even fly and, more importantly, fly back to Manchester where our car will be parked? I have messaged my friends Andy and Lindy, with whom we are going, and we are keeping an eye on the situation.

Being in relative isolation means that your day to day routine is very boring and leaves a lot of time for reflection. A few years ago when I went to sleep I would hope to feel a bit better when I woke up in the morning. Now, at 72, I just hope to wake up. And all the things I looked forward to doing, when I was younger, I can no longer be bothered with, unless it involves sitting down. Like listening to Test Match Special, which I am doing now.

Maybe we could try “glamping” like our esteemed Prime Minister. It looks fun but where is there space for the bar and the jacuzzi hot tub? Why is Boris even there? Churchill had his faults but I am pretty sure he never took time off during times of crisis. Which this is!! The situation changes daily and the public really do not know what they are able to do. Can they go camping in Northumberland or fly to Greece without the fear of lockdown/isolation when they get back? And where is Dominic Cummings in all this? He has kept very quiet of late.

Is Cummings behind the shambles involving evictions? Is he quietly going to protect tenants at the expense of landlords? It is correct to look after tenants who cannot pay their rents through no fault of their own. However, landlords need the rent to pay the mortgages which many of them still have on their properties without getting tax relief on the mortgage interest which has been withdrawn in recent years.

An old colleague of mine, Rhys Hobley, died last week after suffering for some years from Motor Neuron Disease. I posted his passing on an Inland Revenue facebook page and was astounded at the huge loving response. He was a lovable rogue much admired and liked by all. He was 74 and will be sadly missed. We ought to be more thankful that we are in reasonable health and can still enjoy a wee dram of malt whiskey now and again.

Sally and Jim have been having a wonderful time in Spain and Sally flies home today. Jim is staying on in their apartment and will fly home in a week or two to avoid the height pollen count in Bucharest at this time. They have sorted out our Mitsubishi during their stay, sorting out road tax, insurance, MOT and a repair. All the more reason to try to get out there and see some old friends but that is not going to be until November at least.

David took the kids to Beamish last week but it was a little disappointing as many of the attractions were closed. They made up for that with a day at Flamingoland where they had a great time.

I have found an old school photo from when I was 8/9 in Miss Solly’s class and have been trying to fill in all the names of my classmates. I am only about three short with one or two I may have got wrong but what is interesting is the class numbers. There were 36 pupils (more than once I was 35th or 36th in exams at the end of term) and we never thought about it being too many. I wonder where they all are now?

Stay safe!

156 days of lockdown/isolation

We had a lovely day on Saturday, our Golden Wedding Day. 9 visitors called for coffee and cake and some buffet food prepared by Jenny. Not the celebration we had planned for next Saturday with a lovely venue and food and a bar and the wonderful Henry Priestman, Les Glover and friends providing fabulous live music. None the less we got some lovely cards and presents. Thank you very much everyone. Watch out for our Diamond wedding anniversary.

Sally and Jim are having a great time in Spain. We wish we were there too. The weather is fantastic and we miss the fresh orange juice.

There has been a lot of rain over the last few days and my plant watering duties are suspended. Our new wall baskets are all planted and are starting to look good. The same cannot be said about the rhubarb which is looking decidedly limp. I know the feeling.

I am pleased that my children are not having to worry about A level results and the grandchildren are too young. What a debacle. How worrying for the students. Jenny and I predicted a u-turn and so it turned out. They should have trusted the teachers to be close to reality when predicting grades. What a group of idiots our politicians are!!!!!

It’s been a decent few days of sport on TV for English sportsmen. Louise Hamilton wins F1 in Spain and Ronnie O’Sullivan became World snooker champion. Although they are both “personalities” in their own way, I would not invite either of them to my “dream” dinner party. In their place I would rather have Giles Brandreth and Joanna Lumley. Now THEY would have some great stories to tell.

We have ordered a new “fit bit” for Jenny and if its OK I will order one for myself. I lost my other one. It will probably turn up at some point but I cannot wait for ever to replace it.

Still no news on our Easyjet flights to Munich.They are still flying at the moment.

As for the Covid virus the only real news is that it is not about to go away. Masks have to be worn in more places and isolation is compulsory after visiting a growing list of countries. Surprise, surprise.

153 days of lockdown/isolation

After all the sacrifices and changes to our daily life that we have all endured, we at least can look forward to our 50th wedding anniversary tomorrow. It won’t be as we planned. No big party with great food and live music. All were cancelled a few weeks ago and although things have changed slightly today, It was the right decision and sad though it is, there are a lot more people who are worse off. Those who were getting married, for example, almost had to do it behind closed doors with no guests. Funerals became very unusual with few mourners allowed. Services lasted 10 minutes only. Very surreal. So compared to those people in those situations, we have got away with it lightly. We can start planning for our 75th anniversary. I will be 97 then so I think we should aim for our 60th anniversary Which is the diamond anniversary.

We’ve managed to get more gym visits in and have been using our guest passes to good use allowing David and his 3 children some valuable swimming time. As well as that, Ronnie is getting some games of football and cricket so we are keeping them fit.

The latest source of public complaint is the isolation requirement when returning from some countries, including France. Many won’t make the deadline to get back and are a bit miffed. Hang on! Did they not think something like this could happen. Have they not learned anything over the last 6 months? Good grief. We have accepted the situation and have probably lost two holidays but that is the situation and the times we live in. These people should get over themselves, get a life and prepare for 2021 because for enjoyment purposes, 2020 is a write off. I can’t see and end to the pandemic this side of Christmas.

I feel sorry for the many students who have lost their university places because some unknown “expert” has marked down the expected grades determined by those who know them best. Their teachers!! Hopefully they will appeal and get their A level grades back.

My sister Christina has just called to wish us “Happy Anniversary” and bought us a lovely yellow rose for our garden. It was lovely to see her.

I’ve been to see the optician at Boots who told me I may have a detached retina and should keep monitoring the black floaters that are in my right eye. If they get worse I should go straight to them or if they are shut I should go straight to A & E in Hull. All a bit worrying.

Sally and Jim are having a good time in Spain but worryingly there is a problem with our old Mitsubishi. It lost power and they were stuck for a bit. They managed to get it going and will get it to a mechanic in Alhama asap.

149 days of lockdown/isolation

It’s been a while since my last post. I think I am suffering from a bit of lethargy and post dental apathy. Whatever it is, I feel only a little motivation for most things. I think it is starting to hit me how much our life has changed and how it is having a day to day effect. I still do all my jobs around the house but getting the toolbox out and all the right screws, for example, is a real pain, as is putting it all away again. Although we do see David and the grandchildren and my mum occasionally, it is not the same as going when you feel like it, to see them. The freedom to make a quick visit is gone and much preparation is needed in advance. We see none of our other friends at all and the regular WhatsApp calls have reduced to a trickle. We all feel the same and have the same stories to tell. We report insignificant events such as having a toothache which is not a major news item. We report the progress of our hanging baskets and inform everyone of the visit by the plumber or the delivery of a couple of packs of wine (although that turned out to be quite interesting). Does any one need to know all this or are they even interested or are we just marking time until a vaccine is found for this pesky virus?

We are fortunate that we have had decent weather and can manage the occasional socially distant coffee in a friends garden. I have even been able to watch Ronnie play a bit of cricket and football and Thea and Maisie have been able to swim as guests at our gym which is now operating again. But it all papering over the cracks of a situation which shows no sign of abating.

We watch the news, but not like before. Daily briefings have gone so at least we don’t have to watch the lying Boris or the incompetent Hancock any more. The figures we get and all the ones we had before have become meaningless. Originally they were fine but all we want now is an end to it all. Somebody, please find a vaccine. On top of that, the virus is still around and the idiots who crowd the beaches and other tourist spots are deluded if they think it will be OK. One student and his pal were interviewed and one said “He’s not infected and neither am I and we go to the same uni so we don’t need a mask”. Well, it’s good to know that the world’s future is in such intelligent people’s hands. Still, they are probably vegetarians so probably think they are saving the world and are doing their bit by only eating lettuce! The powers that be are now realising, slowly, that the young should not be exempted from all the restrictions but so what! They will be opening the schools as normal because they miss their pals. Well they will if they die!!

Pete in Spain sent me a link to order lovely red and white wines from Jumilla, and that even with delivery charges it worked out at €4 per bottle, so we ordered 12 of each which qualified us for 6 free wine glasses. The red and the glasses arrived a couple of days later so I sent an email saying one box had not arrived but then it did on the following day. So, I emailed them again thanking them for the completed order. One week later they sent 12 more reds and 12 more whites and 6 glasses. What do I do about the moral dilema? I’ll wait and see what happens. Maybe nothing.

We have had an estimate for a new walk in shower and bathroom renovation which should happen early next month. That should be quite exciting for a week. How easily we are pleased nowadays.

Only a few days to our Golden Wedding day (15th) but with the venue and the musical entertainment now cancelled, it will be a quiet day. At least we won’t run out of wine!

My mum is still going strong and although she just watches tv and does “Word search Puzzles”, she is very content and generally remains healthy. I’ve been regularly and the carers are still seeing to her every need although they have told me she is not eating much. This is not surprising as she cannot work up an appetite sat in an armchair all day. At least she is safe. David and the grandchildren went last week and as it was a lovely day, they got her into her wheelchair so she could sit in the garden. That will have been a nice change for her.

Jenny is now going regularly to the gym. As much as 5 times per week. I have also started and have twice been on some equipment, running/walking machine, rowing machine and prone cycling. 10 minutes on each. I am easing my way in so no swimming yet. Also as I had to see the optician about a possible detached retina, chlorine water in my affected eye is not recommended. `No treatment or medication has been prescribed but if the large black “floaters” in my right eye increase in size and/or multiply or I start to see flashing lights, I am to go straight to the optician or if they are shut, A&E. Worrying. Maybe I should cut down on the sugar/marzipan/jelly babies.

People are still dying and becoming infected.

I’m seeing spots on my tablet screen. Like a pretty snowstorm.