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.