9th March, 2021. 359 days of lockdown/isolation.

It’s been a while and lots has happened since my last blog. All our closest family have now had their first vaccines. David being the final one, today. Sally and Jim had to drive for over one hour to get theirs last weekend but it was worth it. Perhaps they will not have to travel so far for the 2nd one. The grandchildren are back at school and the two girls are getting tested there. We got David some free testing kits so he is testing Ronnie at home.

I saw a chiropodist for the first time ever and only had to go around the corner to her treatment room which was a converted garage. It had been very well done. The verruca I thought I had turned out to be a blister that had gone hard and was very painful when walking. She cut it out and dressed it and cut the toe nails and gave both feet the full treatment and removed lots of dead skin. It was a good job and their will be no further need for me to go unless there are any problems. All in all a very pleasant experience.

It’s all go in our neighbourhood. Number 25, opposite, are building a “mancave/shed”. Both immediate neighbours are respectively, putting in a new bathroom and landscaping their back garden. We feel a bit left out although we are having a kitchen designer round later in the week and may also get a landscaper in for the back garden which has been in the plans for a while.

The UK vaccination programme is gathering pace and most over 50s are now waiting for a date for jab number 2. The EU, having turned against the companies that the UK used, are now buying the Russian vaccine “sputnik” which doesn’t have full approval. I will need convincing that the EU is just vindictive against the UK but their delays are going to haunt them.

I didn’t watch the Megan /Oprah interview but it has grabbed the headlines in the newspapers and on TV. I never could stand the woman and her interview with Oprah has confirmed that dislike and mistrust. She is a second rate actress (a smallish roll in a poor US series..”Suits”) and a B/C list, celebrity. I have always believed that she was always looking for a “promotion” via our Royal Family but they saw through her. Her revenge was to mimic Diana in as many ways as possible including the upward looking gooey eyes and the clothes she wears. This is someone who complains incessantly about lack of privacy and press intrusion and then arranges/agrees to an interview with Oprah Winfrey which guarantees her maximum publicity in the US (and large sums of cash) and in the UK. Apparently there were over 11,000,000 viewers of the documentary in the UK. I don’t understand that, given that Master Chef was on the other side. During her interview (apparently) she spoke at length about our Royal Family and how they never really embraced her into the family “Firm” and even suggested they were racist. Such balderdash. Clutching at straws whilst hardly mentioning her own dis-functional family. Good riddance and with luck she and her husband will fade away into anonymity, which, after all, she maintains she craves.

David brought the grandchildren round for a quick forecourt visit and we were able to give Thea her birthday presents which included a Billy Eilish vinyl LP. I actually ordered the CD for myself at one third of the price. It’s quite good actually. Anyway, Thea was well pleased.

My visits to see Mum are all positive and she continues to be well. I told her I had made Whiskey marmalade. I had to promise her a jar and Jenna, our favourite carer, was licking her lips behind her mask so I had to promise her one too. I’ll do some decent labels and take them next week.

Our Kuga went for it’s annual MOT this week and passed. Not surprising as it’s only done just over 2000 miles in the last year. The end of February and early March is an expensive period for the car which is due it’s MOT, Car Tax and insurance all at the same time. If there are no faults with the MOT, the total cost is around £550. Still, ERNIE came up with £75 worth of winnings this month.

The authorities are predicting that there may be a surge of Covid Virus cases at the end of summer. The 2nd vaccinations are predicted for the end of October so with the relaxation of lockdown restrictions before then, there will be plenty who are still vulnerable. They will be mostly the younger population. Let us hope not but travel outside the UK will still not be straightforward. Either way, we will try to get to Romania to see Sally and Jim. It would be nearly a year by them without seeing them. Far too long.

During the pandemic I have been watching lots of sport. The live transmission of the test marches between England and India was an unexpected bonus. It proved to be an anti climax as England were awful. The European athletics championships were excellent with some great young talent shining through. Watch out for Keely Hodgkinson in the 800 meters. Football has become boring, as without the crowds, the play acting (cheating) has become worse, or at least is easier to spot.