29th June, 2021. Days 108 and 109 of isolation.

ENGLAND 2, GERMANY 0.

I suppose I must support England now. (Joke) They played very well, tactically and just about deserved to win but if a couple of German chances had gone in, it could have been oh so different.. But they didn’t so I am celebrating with a Weitzen Beer. I may follow up with a Cobra. Shame about the booing during the German National anthem. Disgusting actually.

Called to see Mum yesterday and today. She was sat on her bed yesterday having lunch. She seemed OK on Tuesday but not too good memory wise. She was however very talkative which is good. I took her washing back today and she was much better and sat in her chair.

Not much pain in the knee today although during the night I woke up a few times. It looks like I am going to get no action from the NHS who are (rightly) reluctant to operate because of the danger of necrosis. So I will try to deal with it as best I can by managing the pain starting with an elastic support bandage.

Spoke to Sally today who is getting ready to go to Crete on Friday. For two weeks!!! Lucky devils.

The Cottingham Under 11 cricket cup final tomorrow has been postponed. We have no idea why yet.

28th June, 2021. Days 102 to 107 of isolation

Went to watch Ronnie play cricket at Hessle on Thursday. He batted and bowled well but was notable for the Gareth Bale tuft that Maisie had fashioned on the top of his head. He definitely scored a hit with it but thankfully, it has now gone.

The Matt Hancock scandal has overshadowed all other news this week. Who is it that governs us? Complete idiots and crooks I think. At least Hancock resigned (I suspect he was pushed) and he has been replaced by Savid Javed. Another MP with less than savoury background and connections. Who isn’t dodgy in the Tory party? The worst thing is that they have over 3 years to go in power before we can bring them to account at a general election. The British public may have forgotten all this and the Brexit fiasco and if the pandemic is solved, they may still get enough people to vote this cohort of evil back in! I despair.

The holiday green light system does not work. Boris can allocate the green light to as many countries as he likes but if they (and the amber countries) won’t let us in anyway, then we can still not travel. There is an exception in Spain where they are desperate to get us over there to spend our money. The main asset that Spain has which will never run out is the sun and we British love the sun. As long as the Spanish can get their hands on our money, the ingrained racism of some against the Brits will be temporarily suspended. Most Spanish love us and will welcome us and appreciate us visiting but many don’t. Mostly the older (Franco) generation and their immediate offspring, many of whom work in the civil service.

Sadly the Clarkes from Spain had to cancel their trip to the UK. The restrictions imposed by Spain and the UK meant they could not reasonably fly over for a long weekend to visit Pete’s parents and us. Instead, they have booked three separate trips to Mauritius, Egypt and Antigua. Let us hope that it is all systems go.

It was a drizzly weekend but we managed to put some new plants in our various pots, watched a great cricket match with David (who was the appointed scorer again) and went to Bishop Burton to watch David take part in a 10k race which he completed in under 55 minutes.

Auto stop on Kuga now totally inoperative. Not bothered as I never had that facility before and I won’t miss it. I did however buy some new floor mats for he car.which was a better purchase.

On Sunday we had Sunday lunch here with David and the kids. I cooked 6 lovely lamb shanks and we established that Ronnie doesn’t like mint. Silly boy!

On Saturday,I went to Hill Top to watch Cottingham 1st Cricket Team play a league game for a couple of hours. Mike G. was there for a presentation which I did not stay for. John Ewans was awarded a memento for 25 years service to the club. A real achievement.

22nd June, 2021. Days 88 to 101 of year 2 of isolation.

It has been a while since I updated this Blog. It may seem that I have had enough of doing it but that is not the case. Time is not a problem but as each day starts more or less the same and lack of motivation is the reason. I think the length of the lockdowns and isolations and the wearing of masks etc may be getting to me. How long do we have to wait for the chance to see Sally and Jim and other friends and family without restriction or care or having to adhere to strict rules? How long before we can go and watch the grandchildren at swimming training? How long before we can mix with hundreds of others at shopping centres or football matches or on public transport? How long before we can flcy in a plane or go on a ferry or take the car into Europe? We will always stick to the rules and take our vaccinations but can understand (a bit) those that are losing patience. The European football Cup has highlighted the problem of each country having a different view on how the (restricted) travel rules should be administered and this has resulted in our friends, the Clarke family from Spain not being able to come over next weekend. I don’t know how much we can lay the blame at the door of Brexit and the rest of Europe punishing the UK but surely this is part of the reason. Even Scotland (Nicola Sturgeon)has banned people from Manchester and Salford from going to Scotland. She says it is because the infection rates in Manchester are too high. But they are allowing dignitaries from Europe, which has a high infection rate, to come to Scotland for the football. Well, thank you Nicola!However, there have been some highlights over the lat 10 days.

We have seen Ronnie’s Cottingham under 11 cricket team progress through the quarter and semi finals of their league cup competition. He produced two very good performances scoring significantly in both games and taking 3 wickets in his allotted overs. Both matches were won in two great team performances and we are awaiting details of when the final will be played. We think, against Beverley.

David and the kids came on Sunday when we did a bid spaghetti bolognese which went down very well. They left us a little bit that we could freeze for a snack one day. We don’t waste anything nowadays.

We have just got back from a great weekend in Chapelhall near Airdrie in Scotland, With Bill and Irene who were celebrating their 52nd Wedding Anniversary in lieu of their 50th, which they were unable to celebrate. We arrived last Friday for fish and chips. (Very nice but Fab Fish need not worry). On Saturday we went to the Falkirk wheel which was absolutely amazing and to see The Kelpies which were really astounding. We then went for an evening meal at a nearby restaurant which was really tasty.I had a “hot American chicken special” with jalapenos and chilli which nearly burnt my tongue off. Lovely.

On Sunday, Anniversary day, we went for a special meal with their family and close friends. We were honoured. The food was brilliant. We knew most of the guests and were introduced to Irene’s brother Pat and his wife Betty. We had heard of him, of course but never mat him. He is allegedly quite well off having owned the Franchise on a few McDonald’s Burger Restaurants in Scotland. He was a real gent and very enjoyable company. We stayed 3 nights altogether. The journey was around 520 miles return so less than a tankful and the car averaged around 48 mpg. When travelling to and from a foreign country, it is tradition to bring back duty free. So I brought back 24 cans of Bellhaven Bitter. About the best bitter I have ever tasted. I got it at Tesco in Airdrie so I will see if they do this lovely canned Scottish Beer in Tesco’s in Hull.

I’ve visited Mum twice in the period and she is keeping very well. A family member of Bill’s suffers from dementia and rang him yesterday to accuse him of stealing a bucket. Obviously untrue as she lives an hour away and Bill hasn’t seen her for a while. I am so glad that Mum is not at that stage.

I watered the plants today. They have been used to a soaking at least every other day so it has been 6 days so I got the hose pipe out. And promptly broke the fitting to the tap. I quickly found a spare part which will suffice until I buy a new “unit”.

England go through.They are boring!!!! Scotland are out.

9th June, 2021. Day 87 of Year 2 of isolation.

I see the EU is now apparently trying to take charge of our export of sausages , and more, to Northern Ireland. How can they now stop us trading with our own country? I know it is all to do with hard and soft borders and that Boris seems to have agreed it at some point. Are we going to have problems sending Yorkshire Puddings to Cornwall? This is another example of revenge by the EU interfering in our domestic trading arrangements. It all makes my blood boil and I will be minimising buying EU goods in the future.

David came for a cup of tea whilst the kids are swimming. So for his turn to have them for two days, they are either at school or at swimming training. They are just with him for an evening meal and to sleep. It’s enough to test anyone’s sanity.

I went to Mum’s today to take her clean washing. I also put a new battery in the upstairs smoke alarm. I think I may as well replace the battery in the other upstairs alarm next week, just to make sure. She is blissfully unaware and unaffected by all the EU shenanigans thank goodness.

A big row is brewing over the naming of Harry and Megan’s daughter. The name they have chosen is Lilibeth, a nickname given to the Queen by her father when she was a child. The argument in the press is whether or not the Queen was asked and gave permission. Harry says yes but a palace spokesperson says no. Who cares. I am not a fan of Harry and (in particular) Megan but in my view they needn’t ask for permission. And when you look at some of the names parents give their children, Lilybeth seems to me to be a sweet choice. Good luck to them. They could have named their daughter Fi-fi Trixabelle. Imagine the press uproar then.

8th June, 2021. 86 days of isolation/shielding.

I went to watch Ronnie play football on Saturday morning but the match had been cancelled last Wednesday. Nobody had told me so it was a wasted morning. Still, it was a nice day.

We spoke to Bill and Irene recently and arranged to go and see them in Scotland as soon as we can. It will be nice to have contact with old friends again. We also had a message from Manfred and a photo with him and Petra having a beer with Isa and Clause. The first one for ages. Maybe things are getting better. However, Covid infections are back on the increase.

Multinational companies are to pay at least 15% tax on profits to each country they operate in. This was agreed at a G7 meeting. It seems like a breakthrough but I don’t think it includes China, Russia, Brazil and others. It all seems a bit optimistic if not everyone has joined the club! Facebook, Amazon and the like are saying that they welcome the change, but I wonder. Paying tax to the country profits are made, is not something they are used to doing so I await to see how it will work. The UK should benefit by hundreds of millions of pounds. Right?

I had been asked to score for Cottingham Over 50s Cricket team and buddy Mike Gibson picked me up. I can’t say I enjoyed the afternoon. First we were beaten easily and second, my skills as a scorer have left me. If it was not for the opposition scorer, a lovely lady called Val, I would have made a right dogs breakfast of the whole thing. I politely turned down a £10 fee offered to me. Third, it was a boring afternoon, not helped by not knowing all but a couple of our players. As it happens we are busy for the next three weekends and so aI m unavailable anyway.

On Monday we renewed our burglar alarm insurance. Just as well as it had started setting off for no reason. The engineer identified the fault and repaired it. Free of charge, of course.

I visited Mum today and picked up her washing. I will return it tomorrow and take a new battery to repair the failing smoke alarm. She looked really well and had a good chat. Also with Sue. One of the carers.

Andy and Lindy are coming to stay over on Sunday and to have lunch. We should be able to go for a couple of pints too. We are looking forward to their visit when we can also talk about next year’s visit to Germany.

We are none of us sure about travelling restrictions but Sally has suggested that we meet up in Ireland. Either flying or by car (from Anglesey or Liverpool). We may discuss it tonight when she makes a WhatsApp call. It sounds feasible. Approximate Ferry price, return, £360 from Liverpool to Dublin.

Moving Portugal into the Orange group of countries has caused chaos at airports with people trying to get home before the rule change. It begs the question, “Why did they go?” The whole thing has been a bit risky. So fair enough. Take the risk but then don’t bleat about having to rush back or worse, having to quarantine on return. It is very sad for Portugal but it was almost inevitable. Everyone is guessing what the situation will be in the next few weeks and probably guessing wrong. We are thinking Germany may be a possibility but as we would have to travel through Holland and into Germany and maybe through France, Luxembourg and Belgium, we would not take any chances. There is no rush.

For those who watch “Pointless”, I have just got a pointless answer. Thank you Richard Illingworth.

4th June, 2021. 82 days of isolation/shielding

Watched another unmissable documentary this week about Antivaxxers which quite frankly frightened me to death. It is called “The Anti-Vax Conspiracy” and I watched it twice on Channel 4 catch up channel, after I realized it was not about vacuum cleaners. If you thought conspiracy theorists were few and far between, this programme will really open your eyes. The campaign is led by a “defrocked ” English doctor who pedals the theory that the pandemic is a fraud and created by governments to gain/keep control of us, the people. Disgraced struck off doctor, Andrew Wakefield heads the Anti Vax campaign. He hasn’t done well with his theories in the UK after he fronted a campaign here to discredit the MMR vaccine which he maintained caused Autism. Of course he is a fraud but people like him will always find an audience. After being struck off in the UK, he moved to the USA where, as a much more gullible nation than anywhere else in the world, gave him his audience. They reckon that 1 in 3 Americans are being swayed by his (very high profit making) assertions. I could go on but JUST WATCH IT.

David has had a great weekend away in Skegness with the kids. They have been to a zoo, wall climbing, go-kart racing and playing lots of swing ball. David did message us one evening, “Gins and tonics and swing ball. What could go wrong?” They have all had a great time.

WE have booked a week in Bavaria but not until 2022. We are going with Andy and Lindy and hope to go by car. I have booked a wonderful pair of apartments, bang in the middle of Berchtesgarden very close to the railway station (for going to Munich). It seems a long way off but it will pass quickly and is something to really look forward to!

I went to see mum on Wednesday. I could’t make Tuesday. She was particularly well. She had eaten her breakfast and was looking forward to her lunch. Her memory was spot on and I don’t think it has deteriorated at all in the last year. There had been a problem with the loss of keys for her passage door (lost by the gardener) but James has put a new lock in the door and all is now well. Well done James.

Had a video call from Sally and Jim. Their travel restrictions have become stricter. We are still restricted from flying either way and a meet up in Germany is still a way off. Many flew out to Portugal this week as it had “green” status but that has now changed. Our friend Sue, Went to Faro last week but left yesterday anyway so she just made it but still had to have a couple of tests.

Mike G rang me tonight to ask if I would be the scorer for the over 50 Cottingham team tomorrow. Foolishly I said yes despite not having done it for 25 years. I may have to do it “on line”. Help! We’ll see how we get on, Where are my coloured felt tips (fine nib).

Had two invitations for afternoon tea on Thursday. We managed to get them both done but felt a bit like “The Vicars of Dibley”.