7th November 2020. 237 days in lockdown/isolation.

It’s taken some time to get there. After much soul searching and late nights, I have passed the 100 mark of Corona blogs and in celebration, the USA has at last (almost) elected a new president, Jo Biden. He seems a thoroughly decent chap. Someone we could warm to and work with. The only obstacle would appear to be our own dear leader, Boris, who was a pal of Trump’s. Let us hope that Biden does not hold that against us.

There are hundreds of funny little films on facebook etc. completely depicting Trump as the twerp he is. He has held up two fingers at the rest of the world for too long. It’s our turn now. History in the near future will make him the butt of many jokes and comedy routines but in a few years he will be largely ignored. He will be a period in history we want to forget and future generations will say “What were you thinking about”. Fortunately not a question I will have to answer.

We had a surprise visit today. David brought the kids as he had things to do and apparently we were baby sitting/engaging in childcare, which, apparently, we are allowed to do. So we got out the bacon and had a great pile of bacon and fried egg sandwiches followed by cheese cake with squirty cream, all washed down with coke or hot tea. How decadent.They did not stay long as they had to get back to their mothers. It was great to see them and we were able to give Maisie her birthday presents a few days early (11th November). Who knows when we would see them again. Strange times. She loved the Fitbit watch and had it all programmed in as soon as she got home.

Jenny and I went for a 3000 step walk later, to work off the bacon. It probably didn’t work and any way, I limped around too slowly for it to have done any good.

On my visit to The One Stop Shop this morning, they had no bread or full skimmed milk. The staff told me that customers were panic buying again but not to the same extent as the last lockdown. So I went to Sainsbury’s and there was no problem. So clearly things are not as bad as before. Thank goodness.

Sally and Jim have got the use of a friends car for three months. How I wish we could jump on a plane and go to Bucharest. Easy jet flights from Doncaster are plentiful. The price doesn’t matter but isolation at both ends would not be good!

We got our bowel cancer test results back today. All good and they will contact us again in two years time. It is good to know that some routine work is still being carried out by the NHS. It is good to know. Bless ’em.

I think a bottle of Chardonnay is called for tonight while we wait for Trump’s “acceptance of defeat” speech. FAT CHANCE.

earlt

6th November 2020. 236 days in lockdown/ isolation

The furlough scheme has been extended to the end of March 2021. This is bad news if the reason is that the government doesn’t expect the crisis to be over by then. That’s another 146 days of restrictions. How many businesses can survive this? The only winner I can think of is Amazon and many many delivery companies. The government should, as far as is possible, let businesses trade and/or more importantly, support them. If they don’t, there maybe no businesses left to trade in March!

It’s looking more and more like Trump is going, regardless of any legal challenges. He is clutching at straws. He knows he is going to be remembered as a “one term” president who achieved little that is positive outside the USA. His negative achievements have been many from our point of view. The Republicans would argue that they are positive achievements but they are to the detriment of the rest of the free world, in particular the UK, Europe and China. Ask the Mexican people if they see him as a good President. As Trump has often said “America First”.

Took the afternoon off from my “Trumpwatch” and had a walk around the village. When I got home I did some more landscaping at the front and used up all the gravel bought so far. I will need 3 more bags. I’d done too much I think as my back and right knee are in a painful state. I’ve put off getting an appointment at the GP’s because I know there are worse off individuals than me but I can’t carry on doing one hours work and be out of action for 36 hours. I will give the GP a call on Monday.

Just as I go to bed the USA election has moved on. Arizona has been called as a win for Biden so at the moment it stands as:- Biden…264. Trump 214. So Biden just needs 6 more seats to be the next POTUS. We will know tomorrow.

4th November 2020. 234 days in lockdown/isolation.

I couldn’t sleep and woke up two hourly and was able to watch the progress of the American election. We shouldn’t care less but hopefully I will start to see the demise of Trump. I switched the TV on each two hours with the following progress.

1pm…Biden 44 seats….Trump 26 seats

3pm…Biden 86 seats….Trump 72 seats

5pm…Biden 140 seats..Trump 150 seats

7pm…Biden 220 seats..Trump 213 seats

There are a lot of votes still to count and Trump has said he will challenge the result before all the votes are counted. Of course, Biden will have the same option! Goodness. What a country. Democrats hate Trump and Republicans hate all those that hate Trump. Americans are now so polarised, I foresee trouble ahead if either side do not accept the final result. Watching the BBC coverage I was very impressed with Malcolm Rifkind, the ex Foreign Secretary, who talked a great deal of sense and left me lamenting the loss of him an other “heavyweight” politicians as opposed to people like Dominic Raab and Matt Hancock who. by comparison, are weak and unconvincing.

9pm… Biden 227 seats.. Trump 214.

I’m bored now. Even Twitter has gone quiet. I hope Trump loses but I cannot believe that the American public could not have found a more credible opponent than Biden. It just shows what a bit of money can do. Now we find their are likely to be appeals to the Supreme Court which is 6:3 Republican. It could be weeks before any resulting recounts etc. are resolved.America is slowly developing into a worldwide laughing stock.

Dusted the Wii machine down ready for a new exercise regime. Jenny had her last gym session today. Our Gym closes down from tomorrow. We will therefore save about £70 for one month at least.

3rd November 2020. 233 days in lockdown/isolation.

Today started well. I woke up to prizes of a total £100 from ERNIE. It will go straight into our holiday fund. It will be a while before we can spend it.

I went to see mum and everything was as I am now beginning to expect. She had eaten her breakfast and was busy doing her Wordsearch puzzles.

Today and the next couple of days will be really weird as the election in the USA takes place. Despite the polls showing a big lead for Biden, I worry that Trump will force his way to the front. Another 4 years of stupidity on both sides of the Atlantic is more than any law abiding citizen could bear. But if Biden, who is relatively old, gets in, he has at least go the better vice president in Kamala Harris. “Pence ain’t worth a dime” and he strikes me as being a bit of a twit.

Went into the village centre this afternoon to go to the chemist and was struck by the lack of people about. Even Sainsbury’s seems quiet but stories feed back about large Hull supermarkets having long queues and they were bulk buying the usual suspects. Milk, kitchen roll and toilet paper. Barmpots!!

Had a text message from a friend of mine recently confirming that we are all in the same boat emphasising that we should all keep in touch otherwise we will go mad. So even though we can’t go for a pint, we can still catch up with news of each other. Apart from this blog I use email and WhatsApp to their full extent. We speak to our daughter in Romania regularly, using WhatsApp video calls and my cousin Petra and partner Manfred I contact by email. Modern technology eh? It all keeps me sane and I don’t pay for a stamp.

stamp.

2nd November 2020, 232 days in lockdown/isolation.

We are, at the moment (Monday), in Tier 2 but move to total lockdown on the 5th (Thursday). It is too complicated to think about what is allowed and what is not. We feel it is best to hunker down now as if w are already in lockdown. Jenny is making soups for the freezer although finding space will be a challenge as both freezers are quite full. We have enough toilet roll and kitchen roll to last us. For some reason, many people thought we would run out last time and the supermarket shelves were emptied. When the lockdown was announced this time, queues immediately formed outside the major supermarkets. These idiots probably still have toilet rolls from their last panic buying in March.

I will try to do some baking later. I will probably do savoury scones with cheese and maybe some onions. They freeze very well.

Mum should be OK during lockdown and her lifestyle should not be affected too much as long as the carers visits are maintained. She is fully aware of Covid 19 and is happy to stay in her home. She continues to be aware that she should never answer the door and I am confident that she always hangs up the phone on scammers. Nevertheless it is something we all must watch in the future as scamming increases.

I have spoken to Petra in Germany and the situation there is about as bad. Manfred, unfortunately, has lost his job, like thousands of others. I did not ask if he receives any benefits but they are fortunate that Petra has a good job but it is as secure as any job/career can be in these times. Both they and us are itching to visit each other and we will certainly do so as soon as there is a window of opportunity. We miss them alot and we all need cheering up.

Pete and Donna in Spain are also trying to visit the UK to see Pete’s folks and us but have had to keep revising dates. The latest date for us to visit them in the Midlands is 17th December. It is after the 4 week lockdown period but who can tell if that will change? I am very pessimistic and guess that they will not be allowed to come until some time in 2021. It is no consolation to Pete’s parents that 1000s are in the same boat.

Donna is on the verge of selling her business in Spain. I hope it works out and give Donna some peace of mind. It will also release her to help Pete in his insurance business which is really working out for him. Having Donna alongside him will, hopefully take them both from strength to strength. It would be nice to hear of a success story in these troubled times.

The sun is shining today so I have planted the small succulents in the new rockery at the front of the house. If I am OK and it doesn’t rain, I will also lay the anti weed membrane with gravel on the top but it is too windy at the moment. That will complete the front subject to an odd bit of extra planting. Then we can start planning the design of the back garden. Work to start in the spring of 2021.

Wrinkly thought for the day:- “Plenty of exercise and a healthy diet can add years to your life.Unfortunately they are always added on at the end when you are too old to enjoy them”.

31st October 2020. 230 days in lockdown/isolation.

So here we are. Boris announces a full lock down from next Thursday, 5th November to December 2nd. Rather appropriate. What would Guido Fawkes have made of it all? There will be fireworks. Details of what non essential shops, gyms etc are to close, are yet to come. The devil is in the detail. What is certain is that there will be panic buying until then when England will go back to the 3 Tier system. The government, and in particular, Boris, have realised that a medical and moral disaster for the NHS needs to be avoided. And that doesn’t even acknowledge the mental and physical well being of the public. There will be fighting in the aisles of supermarkets and still large groups of people partying without masks and ignoring social distancing. Morons abound in the UK and the rest of the world and they could be the death of us all.

The government have done really badly. In fact it has become embarrassing. They have lost their way and have been found out and many people who supported them have become sceptical and are saying “why do we even bother”. To me it stated with Dominic Cummings, Boris’s own personal narcissist. The episode in the garden at number 10 was proof of Demonic’s controlling power over Boris. He was even half an hour late and didn’t care. And we all saw it!!

We did our own little bit to help the situation when we went for a fish and chip supper last night to celebrate Ronnie’s 10th birthday. There were 10 of us and we shared a table for 4 with Maisie and Thea. It was a lovely night especially as they all came back to ours for a drink and to open Ronnie’s presents. He particularly loved his new Smartphone.With the aforementioned lock down, we may not now see them for a month.

Spent over £90 at Morrison’s yesterday. We haven’t spent that much in months but the freezers are now full. As it turns out, there should now be more than enough to feed a couple of pensioners for a month.

One consequence of the new lock down is that we will not be seeing the Clarkes when they were to visit in November. It’s looking like 2021 now. Like so much else we have had to cancel this year, we need to be philosophical about it all. there are many who are worse off than us!!!

celebrate Ronnie’s 10th birthday

29th October 2020. 228 days in lock down/isolation.

Well, here we are. The second wave and our area has now been promoted(?) to Tier 3. Oh what fun! I will not be tempted to say  “I told you so”. As luck would have it, David took the girls to Hornsea on what is one of the worst days of the year. Just in time too. But they still had fun, bless ’em. They all went to see mum on the way back home. Nice one.

Now we have to prepare for more restrictions. Panic buying, for surely it will come, and lots of baking. Long periods without seeing our loved ones. Forever watching boxed sets on TV. (We already are). I’m sure I can understand the Scandi languages. Thank goodness the bathroom is finished as is the front of the house, apart from some moderate planting of succulents and alpines.

We (that is, mostly Jenny) will still be able to go to the gym. WE wil still be able to go for walks. Wrapped up in winter woolies of course. We need to be aware of all the Covid symptoms and keep a lookout for them in our daily lives.

Our friend, Wrighty, called for a coffee this afternoon. It was good to  see him but as we are now in Tier 3, It may be some time before we can arrange a night out with him and Maggie. In the same vein, it looks like our trip to Derby next week to see Pete and Donna, will be a non starter.

Donald quiet today. Boris quiet today. Dominic quiet for ages. Something must be happening. I don’t like it.

28th October 2020. 228 days in lock down/isolation.

It has been a funny and confusing 5 days since my last blog. I suggested then, a possible flexible 5+ tier system which Scotland seems to have taken note of. In England, the situation is not so clear although the government seem certain that the higher tiers should be imposed on more and more northern regions. There are even discussions to “elevate” Hull to Tier 2 with it’s accompanying restrictions, which will certainly be ignored by many.

The thing about isolation is that it gives you time to reflect, worry about things like health and general future prospects and age. Every little ache and pain becomes a major worry and a potential serious medical problem.

I’ve been twice to see mum a couple of times and she is well. Each time her meals have been devoured so there is no problem with her appetite. Her teeth don’t look brilliant so I will have a word with Angela at some point. I think a dentist visit is necessary. The gardener was there and I must say. it is all looking lovely.

Brexit gets ever closer and despite the pandemic, we should start to think about it will affect every one of us. Hull’s main hope seems to be making a virtue of the space available to park lorries on Humberside (north and south) whereas in Kent they would be parking on the M2. This is clutching at straws. Even if it were a possibility, it would take years to build the infrastructure. And have you seen the size of the container ships that go into Felixstowe? East Anglia has plenty of land for lorry parks and no wildly tidal waters which would limit the big container ships landing their cargo.

Sally and Jim had a great trip to the Sibiu region of Romania with their friend Maxine. I really envied them. With luck we should be able to plan to go and see them in the new year.

I went with David to watch Ronnie’s march on Sunday. We missed the first couple of minutes but nevertheless saw him score a hat trick in 10 minutes. Brilliant.

23rd October 2020. 223 days in lock down/isolation

It’s been a week of confusion with the new “Tier System” numbers 1,2, and 3. Oddly, the 1st tier,#1 is described as medium risk. To my mind, it’s a bit odd that there is no Low risk and strangely no “Nil” risk to me this shows a distinct lack of confidence by government that a vaccine will dispatch Covid 19 to the history books. I feel that the government Pyramid should have had 5 tiers (for now) starting with “0” equals no risk and the end of the pandemic. “Tier 1” could be very low risk with a vaccination programme in full swing. Tiers 2,3 and 4 would be the current 1,2 and 3. It would be easy then, to add tiers if required culminating in near extinction. Hopefully, mankind would sort it all out by then.

David called to the house the other day with Jo and her daughter. Sadly Jenny missed them.

David and I went to watch Ronnie play football last Sunday. His side were far too good and ran out 9 or 10 – 1 winners. We lost count after a bit. Ronnie played mid field in the 1st half and the second half in goal where he achieved another clean sheet. He seems to be comfortable playing anywhere on the pitch.

Sally and Jim video called from Sibiu in Romania where thy had gone for a few days. The Air b&b was VERY Rustic but looked great. There were only 6 houses in the village including a hotel and restaurant. Corona restrictions had not affected their trip to a new part of Romania. I would love to jump on a plane to join them but sadly that is not possible. On that note, WIZZAIR have announced that Doncaster Airport is to be their UK hub with 12 or 13 new routes. We must keep an eye on that one!!!

David and the kids came for lunch on Sunday. The pork steaks went down very well but my spicy apple and pork stuffing was a challenge for Maisie. There were no empty plates though. Thea did leave the plate pattern.

The big news for us this week, was the completion of the shower room upstairs. It looks absolutely great and the shower is very good and the addition of a folding seat will be of great benefit to me in the future. Many thanks to Dave Green for a cracking job which came in on budget and was about £3000 less than a couple of estimates we had received. Dave had done the bathroom of Nick, a dear friend of ours, to a very high quality and it goes to show that recommendation is the best way to find a good and trusty workman. Thanks Dave!!

In the news today, Spain announced that it was introducing a nighttime curfew from midnight to 6am. At the moment this only applies on the Costa Blanca, Just up the road from where we used to be. There will be lots of Brits brassed off with that rule. Well get used to it because I know the Spanish and the area for curfew is bound to be extended. Mostly to big tourist areas for British visitors, and residents.

Shame on all the MPs who voted AGAINST the provision of meals to children who during term time, would have got free meals during term time. Would they have voted that way if there was an impending election.

Has Trump finally blown it? I hope so. Boris must follow in due course. Not only is he weak but most of his “generals” are inept. AND, he has fallen out with Andy Burnham. Good luck with your Northern votes at the next election, Boris. Northeners remember!!!!!!!