12th October, 2021. 571 days since our first lockdown day.

It has been a while since my last entry so I have had plenty of time for reflection and assessment of the current state of affairs as it affects me and mine.

I have not been in 100% health recently. Not just my eyesight and orthopaedic problems but more general condition. I have struggled with balance and am often falling backwards, although I have usually rescued the situation, I really need to concentrate on my normal movements such as going upstairs or simply getting out of an armchair. I think I need a proper session at my GP surgery and pay for some proper physiotherapy. That is, if I have the energy. I am sleeping well at night, up to 8/9 hours but am also constantly sleeping during the day for anything from a few minutes to a couple of hours. That and the lack of energy and even motivation will, I think, need a proper visit to the doctor as opposed to a phone call from a locum who doesn’t know me and who is reduced to diagnosis of my knee problem as gout and doubling the dose of daily alopurinol medication. What balderdash. When I have had my next eye injection and 3rd Covid booster (both next week) I shall make the appointment. I shall also look to book some physiotherapy and or rejoin my gym and seek advice from a personal trainer to try and build up my muscle strength which seems considerably weakened of late.

I have recently given more thought to the state of the world in general both politically and environmentally. A current tv series called “The Earthshot Prize: Repairing Our Planet” fronted by Sir David Attenborough. Who Else? There are a few positives in the programme with lots of relatively small projects to reduce carbon emissions. Particularly with the increased us of solar power. However, the big players in pollution production are those that we need to convince. If it is not financial incentives for the USA that are needed it is some sort of global boycott of Chinese goods as long as they keep building coal fired power stations to meet their needs. A country that is stealthily seeking world domination with it’s money is not interested in saving the planet, to the point where they deny there is even a problem. And you can add Russia to that list. My worry is that my children and grandchildren will have to live in a world of pollution, changing weather and shortages. A bigger worry is that things are moving so fast that My generation will experience the same things, It is for us, an unstoppable consequence of all our excesses.

On Sunday we took cousin Pamela to Leeds Bradford Airport for her flight to Kos, Greece. We picked her up at 0615 for her flight at 10 am. Poor Jenny had to do the driving, We carried on from the Airport to Keighly to see our friends Andy and Lindy and stay overnight. We were happy to have the opportunity to to have a good catch up and a couple of bottles of wine. It was lovely to see them. They are really good mates of ours.

Cousin Martin was over for a flying visit last week and he, Pamela, Uncle Ray, Aunty Phyllis and us two went for a cracking meal at the Villa Rosa in Anlaby. We shall go there again. Definitely! I will put in a review somewhere Soon. 5 Star, of course.

Our son’s tribulations continue but should be resolved soon. At least he was able to watch his son Ronnie play and score for Tickton Cobras who won 4-3. Unfortunately I was unable to see him this time.

All is well in Romania with Sally and Jim but with Jim’s Sister being quite poorly and his mum showing no improvement, they, and us, are quite concerned. They were hoping to fly over but that is now unlikely. I wish we could all jump on a plane like we used to before this madness, but it is still very difficult.

We heard from two old friends in Spain recently. Ann has had her car resprayed. It looks good. The Clarkes are coming over for Christmas and we are going to do our best to go to Burton on Trent to see them. Amazing to think that Harry has just turned 21.

Boris and his cohorts are still at it. They would not keep the furlough payments going and that has now finished. They have “authorised” 5000 visas so that European lorry drivers will come and work here until Christmas. Take up so far is 127 Visas. Bah, humbug!! Pigs are having to be put into landfill as there are not enough European workers to butcher them. It looks like chlorinated chicken from the USA for Christmas. Wonderful.

The kitchen is finally done now Karl the tiler is finished. It is looking really great and we now await Luke to come and fix a new Loft Ladder. £140 all in. Bargain. He was recommended by Karl. I need to get hold of Jason to check how he is doing with his broken jaw. I also need the electrical work signed off by Ryan.

We’ve been to see Mum a couple of times. She still seems well and still looks nice after her hair cut. She has had her flu jab at home and the GP is on the case to arrange for someone to call and administer her Covid booster vaccine. I think all the family (Clarks and Edwards) have had at least two jabs but most have had all three.

On a final note today, Boris and his cabinet are being criticised for their slow approach to the Covid crisis in the early stages causing hundreds of unnecessary deaths. Get out of that one Boris!!! No doubts he and the rest will try to lie their way out of it. At least most deaths were old folk. So that’s alright then!?