24th January, 2022

673 days since our first lockdown day.

David and I went to watch Ronnie play for Tickton on Sunday at Longcroft. They beat Bridlington 7-0 . Ronnie scored one and had an assist. Generally he played really well, considering his hair was always getting in the way. He needs to get his fringe cut. He will definitely need a trim before the cricket season, and training start next month.

After I got home and got ready for lunch at the Bella Rosa in Anlaby to celebrate my Uncle Raymond’s 90th Birthday.Along with Auntie Phillis, Pamela and her kids were there. Also, A goodly crowd who all enjoyed wonderful food. We bought the biggest vanilla slices I have ever seen at the delicatessen next door and had them with coffee at home. Goodness, they filled us up!

Went to Carol’s in Bilton for a ride on Monday and were treated to bacon and sausage sandwiches for lunch. I managed to drive there and back without any problems and indeed my next eye injection is not until the 2nd March. A gap of 6 weeks, extended from 4 weeks. Things are looking up. I have however terminated my volunteer duties with the East Riding Theatre. At least for now.

BJ is now in real trouble with the Police…..at last. The Civil Sevice Report has been handed in to the Metropolitan Police and Cressida Dick has been forced into action. It took her long enough. I think the report will be publlshed tomorrow or Thursday. Johnson must go. Now!

22nd January, 2022

671 days since our first lockdown day.

The weekend is here and Boris Johnson is conspicuous by his absence. Apart, that is from a couple of the usual publicity shots with his sleeves rolled up at a hospital or research facility. He doesn’t fool me.He’s keeping out of the way until the “independent” report into the lockdown partying by his Downing Street staff (and himself?) . He will no doubt take the opportunity to examine the report in advance of anyone else to prepare for what cuold be a disaster for him. Even though it is being investigated by a “favoured” civil servant. Now, in addition, the Tory party whips are accused of bullying, intimidation and blackmail. This includes allegedly telling rogue MPs, that funding and grants for their constituencies, would be withheld if they did not “tow the line”.

We have now booked a hotel so we can attend the funeral of Jim’s sister, Gillian. We have decide to travel by car and hope to spend a full day down in Croydon. I will need to research how to pay on-line to get over the Dartford crossing.

So much time given by the BBC, to the death of Meatloaf (I never was a fan) and the cancellation of Adele’s Las Vegas concerts.And they were the first items on. No mention has been made of the long, 7 or 8 vehicles across queues of lorries going to Dover being held up by Brexit Paperwork. Apparently. the queue can be seen from space! This is a typical tactic by the BBC, hiding all the bad Brexit news behind something else, or ignoring the Brexit stuff altogether. Independent BBC? My arse!

I had my 6th eye injection on Wednesday afternoon. It was the most painful so far but the pain, which was like a piece of grit was stuck behind the eyelid, cleared after a couple of days and a lot of eye drops. There is still a visible black spot and vision in the right eye is improving slightly but still poor. I fear more injections will be forthcoming.

Hull City have a new owner. I know nothing about him but he has no non-financial connection whereas Mr Allam has lived here in the Hull area for over 50 years, after leaving Egypt, and is a real philanthropist having poured millions of pounds into NHS facilities. He sold the club after unsuccessfully trying to change the name to “Hull Tigers”. He was effectively hounded out by the fans who clearly did not have his vision and spent many seasons demonstrating. I would have taken my bat home if I were him and maybe put the prices up. In fact that’s what he did. I think he will be missed .

All restrictions are to be eased this weekend but we are still going to continue wearing masks and keeping our distance from others. Sally and Jim are going away “up country” in Romania for the weekend and if things continue to improve we hope for a visit soon. Probably when things warm up a bit. We still have hopes of visits to France and Germany. France is OK at the moment but Germany’s “bad” numbers are on the way up.

Our local “One Stop Shop” closes down today. It will be refitted during the week and will become a Tesco Express. Great news. Prices should be less than now, cancelling some at least, of the inevitable increases due to Brexit.

To those who voted for Brexit but are now vaccinated and wear a mask, what changed your mind ?

18th January, 2022

667 days since our first lockdown day.

We have now got the funeral date for Jim’s Sister Gillian. It is on 11th February, so it has been a long wait. As we have plenty of time, we are considering going for two or three nights to spend some time with the Pywell family and Sally and Jim who we hope will be there from Romania.

Grandson Ronnie has tested positive for Covid as have a lot of his school pals. It has meant a period of isolation for David. Jenny and I have also isolated and taken daily Lateral Flow Tests. I can do them OK but it is great fun listening to Jenny baulking in the toilet when she shoves the swab to the back of her throat. We have had 7 days of negative tests so all OK so far.

The Boris Johnson Circus keeps giving concern. And why not with loonies like Doreen Norris who seems to want, ultimately. the privatisation of the BBC. The Torys are into privatisation and I am sure that Murdoch and others would be fighting each other to get control of our national institution. There is here say evidence that America is being feted to buy chunks of our NHS. We must resist all of this or we will end up paying a fortune, just as we are about to with heating costs. Those institutions were state controlled but are now owned by foreign countries, including Spain, Germany and France. You know? Our EU mates!!

Thea is growing up ! She has got a paper round to earn a bit of cash. Good for her! The round is on Molescroft and she will do it on her bike, using Davids Beverley house as a base and bike park. She is her own girl and makes up her own mind without “outside” influences. We are very proud. She is still a Billie Eilish fan, so not perfect. David hasn’t Maisie since Boxing Day when she effectively walked out. Very disappointing for David that she appears to be as cold as her Mother.

Jenny went to Hull and found a seamstress that would increase the waist band of three pairs of trousers. She got them back today and I now have four pairs of trousers that actually fit. Having got rid of some shirts that were very tight too, I have lots of space in my wardrobe. I need some more clothes now. I think I will wait until summer.

With our self imposed isolation, we hardly see anyone so it is really lovely when Sally and Jim make their regular WhatsApp calls. We are looking forward to seeing them soon. We could even meet halfway. I found some return flights to Hamburg from Manchester at the end of February. We shall keep an eye on that. Of course it depends on flights from Bucharest.

And in other news….more lies from the government. What is worrying is that, thank goodness, I think Johnson will resign but who will take over. All the candidates are tainted, either corrupt or thick or both. Please, help. Somebody!

Eye hospital tomorrow. sixth one so far. Also blood test shows my B12 levels are back to normal and a blockage in my right ear causing total right side deafness has all but cleared.

10th January, 2022

658 days since our 1st lockdown day.

Sadly, and with little warning, Jim’s sister Gillian, died last weekend. Along with loosing his mum in December,It has been a bad few weeks for the Pywell family. Sally and Jim had to go back to Romania but will travel back for the funeral. We send to them all our deepest sympathies. Gillian was a lovely lady and we always enjoyed her company. She will be greatly missed.

Some more thoughts on Bojo’s government include the broken promises (lies) about HS2. First the spiralling cost which was 1st estimated at £32 million but are likely to be nearer £100. We will be paying for it for years to come. Add to that the fact that they have broken promises (lied) about the “Northern Powerhouse” which would have included East Yorkshire which will now get very little, even electrification of the lines meaning we will still have to suffer those awful diesel engines.

Where are the promised extra police? We were promised those but they have not materialised. Even if some ha been created, it was only replacing the reductions made during the Tory’s tenure. More lies.

Bojo just cannot help himself. He even lied to the Queen which just a few centuries ago would have resulted in a beheading for him and many ministers.

They have presided over a track and trace fiasco which has cost the taxpayer billions of pounds while at the same time enriching many of his rich friends with undeliverable contracts. As a consolation prize others were elevated to the House of Lords.

The social services system is near to collapse. OK, maybe due in no small part to the pandemic but mainly to their flawed immigration policy leaving many foreign workers with no choice but to go home, mostly in tears. Doctors and Nurses are really stretched and are really suffering. Those front line workers who are still toughing it out are to be applauded. Like we used to every Thursday night. Recruitment was to fill the gaps of thousands of workers who are leaving. Where are they? More lies.

Bojo has presided over more disasters:-

Afghanistan, A foreign policy disaster.

Brexit. Not going too well.

Covid. Massive death rates. Something he can claim to be good at.

Farmers and Fishermen. Betrayed.

Grenfell fire. Promises followed by inaction for four years now.

Justice.A court system in crisis. A crap Justice Secretary.

NHS. Enough said. Why was Sunak having supper in the states with rich people who would love a slice of the NHS cake.

The police. Even the Police Federation has passed a vote of no confidence in the Government.

Welfare, Universal credits cut pushing more people into poverty whilst voting themselves a pay rise.

Youth Services have been slashed.

Anti Vaxxers have been let off the hook. Make them pay, for everything.

Johnson tries to be everyone’s mate, or so the photo opportunities would indicate. He’s had affairs and used public funds to further that hobby. He’s responsible for tens of thousands of deaths. He’s a liar, devious and amoral and has blood on his hands. All allegedly, of course.

In the real world I took Ronnie to watch Hull City v Everton in the FA Cup. He really enjoyed the whole experience including the Meat Pie and hot chocolate. City lost 2-3 but it was a great game enjoyed by all.

We are applying for and getting regular supplies of the lateral flow test kits, keeping us and David and co well supplied.

Jenny and I continue with good non-covid health. We try to avoid the pandemic by staying in where possible and always wearing masks when not. We went to see a play at East Riding Theatre. It was quite full but all covid rules were observed. As a Volunteer, our tickets were free.

I have had a blood test and am awaiting the results. I also have my sixth eye injection next week. I have started driving during daylight hours. After next week’s injection I may ease myself into driving in all conditions. Fingers crossed.

Just got another box of Flow Tests. We only ordered them on line yesterday. Very efficient considering there is supposed to be a shortage.

Mum is still well but her short term memory continues to worsen. I’ll check on her tomorrow.

If you want to hear a great song, try this one:- I’t ain’t Easy When You Walk by Ian Hunter. It is much better with the volume UP.

1st January, 2021

649 days since our 1st lockdown day.

It’s been a reasonably warm day today with time, once again to reflect on what 2022 might bring.

It is clear that the pandemic will stay with us and that we will have to learn to live alongside it for a while yet. It seems strange to remember that when the arrival of Covid 19 was first mooted, nobody took it really seriously. Indeed I thought it may be restricted to China and the far east, but I and everyone else were completely wrong. We soon realised that it would need a great effort to repel. The world did it/s best but we were still not ready or equipped to deal with the Omicron variant which spread like wildfire in December 2021. People we know are coming down with it but at least it is relatively weaker than previous variants. But those who have not been vaccinated form 80% of those hospitalised. Have they not learned? Apparently not. The antivaxx campaign continues unabated.

This campaign in the UK is led by Jeremy Corbin’s brother Piers. A one time eccentric weatherman, he spews out nonsense as bad as the worst of Donald J. Trump supporting redneck trailer trash. One of them, when asked why he supported Trump said “He’s a Genius. That’s what the “J” in his name stands for”. Oh dear!! But Trump has now had his booster jab. Enough said!!! Trump seems to be lining himself up for another go at the presidential nomination. I predict that he will do just that.

Higher prices are coming. Especially household heating bills. We have been told that. But I have noticed a steady increase everywhere else. We went for an Indian teatime meal with our friends Mike and Maria recently. The cost for an all in special price was £13.95. This an increase of £2 since November. Groceries are creeping up in price and diesel is now £6.75 a gallon. Holidays are also going up and that is without the cost of all the jabs and tests, which can be very pricey.

Last night we went outside to see (and hear) the fireworks at midnight. Many neighbours were also outside and it was nice to wish them a happy new year. Especially Jackie and her daughter Andrea from next door.We also had a lovely WhatsApp call from Sally.

I had a bit of a worry today as I realised I had not taxed the car which was due today. I managed to do a full years road tax on-line though.

More thoughts next time.