I woke up to find that Boris was still in intensive care but improving.That was followed later by the  news that he was no longer in the ICU and had been moved to a ward. That is good news. I’m not a fan  of his but he is our PM and we should hope he is the man to get us all through this crisis.

The virus will be beaten, I am sure of that but what will happen to all the workers who have lost or will lose their jobs? I was talking to a friend of mine whose company grow strawberries for M&S. That is bad enough but there is nobody to pick them. Not only that. If the fruit is not picked then the plants will die off!! If they are lost then the company could go under. His pension fund has already gone through the floor as it is linked to the FTSE.  Totally depressing.

Managed a good walk today calling at the post office and an empty (of customers) shop for a few essentials, Wagon Wheels, Toffee Crisps, Mars Bars and Yorkie Bars. Totally essential.

At 8pm we went out to applaud all the essential services, NHS, lorry drivers, pharmacists and all others who are literally risking their lives to keep the country going. I also gave a metaphorical two fingers to those who are not taking the quarantine advice etc, thereby putting our lives at risk. Do they not watch the science on the tv when it is explained? To be fair, they are probably too thick to understamd it anyway!

UK deaths   881

After the slight euphoria of a slight downward trend in deaths for a couple of days, we were brought down to earth with the next two daily UK death tallies which increased to just under a thousand. Despite the expert scientists assuring us that the graph curves are showing a stabilising trend, the number of victims succumbing to the virus is frightening. Add to that the fact that Boris Johnson is still in intensive care (although stable), these are worrying times indeed.

Still, we soldier on with our basic daily routine, boring though it is. We always watch the news hoping to see the beginning of the end announced. Of course, nobody can out guess a virus although the Chinese seem to be making a fist of it simply by locking cities down completely. It could be the answer in China because the chinese people are petrified of defiying the state. It would probably not work in he UK because we have too many idiots who know better than the experts. For example, families loading the family car with kids and their bikes and going to the seaside for a day out and a picnic. Twits!!!!

We went for a walk into the village today to collect a prescription for Jenny. There was an orderly queue outside, nicely observing the two meter rule (or six feet as our Queen would say as she doesn’t do metric). Walking and observing the two meter rule can be dangerous. If you come across some one coming the opposite way, someone as to step out into the road. Fortunately, there are very few cars about nowadays.

UK deaths Tuesday   786

UK deaths Wednesday   938

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I have left this blog for a couple of days as, apart from the death figures, each day is very much the same. Over the weekend we have had two good walks and are feeling very healthy. The weather has been great and we have done little bits in the garden to prepare for planting. We want to plant lots of colour although actual landscaping on the plot has taken a backseat for now. We hope that on sunny days we can spend lots of time sat in the garden with a cup of tea and a book. in Spain we would be close to using the pool and we would certainly be outside and no longer living full time in the main house.

We had another food delivery from our local garden centre. Lovely fresh vegetables, bread and butter and two large bags of flour and yeast for some baking. We got some biscuits as a treat. Once things have settled down we hope to go and do a supermarket shop although we are still absolutely fine for the basics such as soap, toilet and kitchen rolls. We should also be able to select all our plants for the garden soon too.

Sam our plumber agreed to come and fix our upstairs toilet flush as we could not use it without the aid of a full bucket of water. Having just one fully functioning toilet was, however, good for exercise. In the end he had to completely replace the flushing mechanism. When he arrived, we stayed in our lounge whilst he had the run of the route to upstairs. It worked very well and we left payment by the front door for him to collect as he left. For the complete mechanism, 45 minutes labour and his callout time, he only charged £60. A bargain.

I was 72 years of age on Sunday and was innundated with cards, messages and phone calls. David called on WhatsApp and the granchildren sang “Happy Birthday”. Thea did her best to play it on the Ukelele. Thankfully they all seem to be in top form and are not in the least bit bored. Sally and Jim called too and we were able to link up via Zoom which is the latest communication app and is able to be used for conference calls etc. It was excellent and did not seem to suffer from time delay. They had both composed and recorded five different instrumental versions of “Happy Birthday” which I was able to pick up from sound files on Email. Brilliant work and clearly they are able to find plenty to do.I quickly rang my my mum who is very well and continues to be looked after by carers four times a day. When you think about it, she is getting more stimulation from talking to more people each day than the rest of us. As for actual birthday celebrations there clearly were none. I did have a Martini in the evening but the best present is still to be fit and well each morning.

I really enjoy our Queen’s speech. sensible and inspiring. Yes, it may have been part written for her but from the many documentaries I have watched she has more than a little input and I felt as if she was talking directly to me. I think she should do a weekly broadcast. Let us hope she stays well. We sometimes forget she is 94, like my mum.

Sadly, our Prime Minister has come down, badly, with the virus. He is not, at the moment, on a ventilator but is in intensive care and is clearly not well. I have little time for Boris and to some extent I believe he has brought it on himself. His hand shaking with absolutely everyone just a couple of weeks ago did not show common sense and I believe he announced the lockdown far too late. However, he is our leader and we need him to be fit and at the helm. At the moment, I cannot think who would replace him although we are always surprised when someone steps up to the plate and does a good job.

Jenny had me go into the loft yesterday to look for cookery books. I found what she needed vey quickly and had a bit of a tidy up too. I found a box of bank statements etc that need shredding. We will never need them now. I have ordered the shredder from Amazon fo £30.

UK daily death figures seem encouraging but let’s not be complacent.

UK deaths Saturday   708

UK deaths Sunday      621

UK deaths Monday     439

First news of the day was a real shocker. “Fab Fish” has announced it is closing down from today for at least 10 days. So no fish and chips today so Jenny is making liver and onions with red cabbage and mashed potato. That will do.

We had an Amazon delivery today which, on the day I ordered the three items, the estimated delivery date was the 29th of April. So, 26 days early. We should use this company as a barometer for how things are going in these strange days. Not too bad then?

We tried to order a new ceramic hob today but the shop did not answer the phone. I shall try again tomorrow. We could use someone else but Hanson’s also install and do not charge for delivery. There is no rush but the dismantling of the existing gas hob has been arranged for next Thurdsay.

The world situation has worsened today, except for China, of course. In the UK the extra hospital spaces in the Nightingale Hospital will be a godsend. Other new hospitals are well on the way throughout the Kingdom. There seems to be an acceleration in the manufacture of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and that should help matters. Many companies are on board including Burberry. Good for them and it should encourage others.

UK deaths 684

Oh good. Only 6 deaths in China today. So glad they have all but beaten the outbreak. Perhaps they will tell us how they did it?

Mum’s downstairs toilet is on the blink. I had a plumber lined up but after someone dismantled it,  it was decided to leave any repair until the virus is beaten to avoid “strangers” potentially bringing infection into the house. The carers are to use a bucket on each visit as she can still use it and not have to go upstairs. I cancelled the plumber I had on standby!

I heard from German cousin Eckart about things in Germany. They are self isolating which is reflected in the figures so far. Germany have 50,000 more confirmed cases so far and about one third of the deaths. Although the confirmed cases will be due to the higher rate of screening, they must be doing something right. Despite being a global pandemic, nobody seems to want to work together. This is why China’s figures are at best doubtful and the virus did not jump across the border to North Korea at all! What kind of world do we live in?

Back in the kitchen this afternoon. Jenny is making banana cakes and I’ll try some scones without strong breaded flour. We’ll see how that works out.

Lovely.  I also had a go at cookies. They tasted lovely but were not very big. I’ll stick to scones.

In the evening at 8pm we went outside to applaud all workers who help to keep the country running. It was quite emotiotional. After that we came back inside and had a video call with our daughter in Romania where all is well. It was our pal Bill’s 73rd birthday so I had a glass of wine and made a video call to him so we could raise a glass together. Isn’t technology wonderful?

The deaths today were almost unchanged so fingers crossed.

UK deaths 569

The optimism of yesterday has evaporated after today’s figures. Although the increase in deaths was not, apparently, unexpeced, it is still a body blow to hopes of a sustained improvement. I shall not try and out guess the statistics in the future and just keep fingers crossed instead. What is also alot clearer today is the pressure the NHS is under, even more than before. Hopefully the news that our local Hull Company, Smith and Nephew, has won a contract to start manufacturing ventilators. They start this week and this news could not have come at a better time.

We continue to do the usual things at home but managed to get a 3 kilometer walk in during the afternoon. We walked past Aldi and although there was a very long queue, it was orderly and all customers were in ones and were obeying the two meter rule. We did not need to join it. We are OK for provisions, except biscuits. A good job that Sally is not here.

One of the initiatives parents have been getting their children to take part in, is to draw a scene with a rainbow in it to support all NHS workers and display them in their front windows. We have seen dozens as we walk around the village. One of our grandchildren, all of whom did a drawing, won’t put hers there as she believes people may think she is a lesbian. I think she is getting mixed up with the Gay Pride symbol.

Good to see Prince Charles is on the mend.

Only 7 deaths in China today and 36 new cases. Yeh, right!!

UK deaths 563.

I will start today by reproducing a copy of a tweet sent to me. The original writer will remain anonymous and I have taken out the naughty words.

2020

The year that the upper and middle classes realise that they are not ******* needed and the supposed “lower classes” are what keep the country going. Dont EVER look down your nose at the shop workers, delivery drivers and healthcare workers ever again. This is where your money means **** all and if you’re at home because your job is counted as non essential. then show some ******* respect!!

Not alot one can say about that. It is fairly self explanetory.

There seems to have been a slight improvement in the figures on Sunday and we are all hoping this continues today. We will see later. The best news is that Italy also seems to have improved figures. Along with many people, I dont believ the figures coming out of Russia or China. In fact there is a reported suspicion that China’s figures could be FOUR times worse than those declared.

Did a small shop at Sainsbury’s yesterday. I only went for some provisions fo my mum and will take them today, avoiding contact, obviously. She didn’t need much but I managed to get toilet paper and bleach. There was one idiot in the shop trying to buy six packs of carrots. The staff soon put him right and he sheepishly put four of them back. Another married couple had been told that shoppers should be in ones and not twos, even if they were married. They rounded on the member of staff who polnted this out. They were already at the till so were let go but was there any need for that behaviour. I went shopping with Jenny but we had made a list so she stayed outside so we could follow the rules. I hope we know nobody like those idiots. On a positive note, almost everything anyone might need, was on the shelves.

Took some essentials to Mum and whilst there I repaired the smoke alarm as it had started beeping and needed a new battery. She wanted to chat as usual but, I had to tell her it was not possble because of the Corona Virus. I think she thinks she is invincible.

The news of a sharp increase in deaths today is a real blow. It looked like a downward trend had commenced but it proved to be a false dawn.  On the way to Mum’s house, it was clear that people were staying in. Although the supermarket carparks were half full, there was very little queueing. Petrol at one filling station was £1.23 a litre and the next nearest, Morrisons only one mile away was £1.02. How can that be jusified? It equates to a difference of about £10 for a 55 litre tank. Ridiculous.

So let us hope for better news soon and a big well done to all those involved in building the temporary hospitals.

UK deaths Sunday, 180

UK deaths Monday 381

This has been a terrible weekend for UK deaths. A total of 469. Despite the countries best efforts, we seem to be heading towards what is happening in Italy. All our family are OK but we still need to be vigilant, especially when going to the shops for provisions, especially for my mum. It is my turn to go to the supermarket to deliver anything she needs. As it happens, two of the products needed, we alredy have. Bleach and toilet paper. I am awaiting orders for ready meals and sweet treats. I already have marzipan. We are both missing the grandchildren but realise we should not risk seeing them even thouh they live just 3 miles away.

I am keeping my brain alert by reading and doing crossword puzzles. We are not walking as much as we would like at the moment. It is very cold and windy and although we are eating smaller, balanced meals, the lack of excercise means I am not loosing weight.

Both Jenny and I are in good health and are showing absolutely no symptoms of the Virus. We have had no direct contact with any one for nearly a full week and will do our best to continue on that path. My cousin Petra and partner Manfred are OK in Kiel in Germany and can walk on a cold Baltic coast and get some lovely fresh air. Sadly, the Karl Mai Festival in Kiel has been cancelled this year and the tall ships fesival (Kieler Woche) has been put back to September. Who knows, we may be able to go???

The fan in our oven is broken as is the front door house alarm and together with the broken flush in the upstairs toilet, we are hoping we can get the tradesmen in to repair them but these are not normal times. The plumber and the burlar alarm technician promised to come by this weekend but so far there has been no sign of them. They may have good reason.

UK deaths 260 (Saturday).

UK deaths 209 (Sunday).

Total  death so far, 1228.

So, Boris has tested posive as has the health secretary. We need someone at the helm so whatever we may think of Mr Johnson, I have a feeling he may come good in this crisis. Rather him than the numpty he defeated in the last General Election.

One bonus for me while we are stuck in and around our home, is I am able to catch up on my music listening. Either,, cds which I have not listened to yet or those I have not heard for ages. Ry Cooder, Paul McCartney (and Wings), John Lennon, Leonard Cohen, Joanna Newsome and Jeanne Michel Jarre are just some artists on the list. Along with my World Music cds, I am well sorted.

The applause for the NHS at 8pm last night was heartwarming but we should not forget them once this madness is over. These heros and heroines should be amply rewarded with better salaries, less hours and more staff  and more hospitals etc, etc. Do not let this opportunity pass us by Boris.

In Germany things are just as bad. The numbers are different but stupidity is international with panic buying and gatherings of  people on the beaches drinking beer, for example. Do people not see the news about Spain and the problems they have there? We are so glad to be back in the UK. We have been so lucky, as have many of our friends to be back in the bosoms of our families. All our friends and family that are out of the UK are in our thoughts.

Todays figures are frightening so be careful out there.

UK deaths 759  (181 in 24 hours)

There were alot of announcements today, especially about how the government is going to pay benefits to employees and how everyone who qualifies will get help with mortgage payments, rent and overdrafts. The self employed were not forgotten and our new chancellor outlined the cash which would be made available to them. In the main, this involves calculations based on averages of profits taken from the last three years accounts. This is of little help to those who have recently become self employed or who have not filled in their tax returns or submitted any accounts. One group that may get caught short, are those tax evaders who have supressed their takings showing less profit than they have actually made. There will be thousands of them!!! Well, it serves them right.

David went to see our mum (his nana) and had a conversation through her front window. I was on the phone with her at the same time and she was very cheery and totally positive. She is 94 and a credit to her generation and always has her cup half full unlike many who only see the difficulties. Yes, things are bad but being miserable will not help. We will get through it all, in time.

We have got the huge cactus in the front garden cut down and we now have an uninterupted view.  Now we need to dig up the root. Jenny has done more work at the back which is looking really good. We will not be spending £8000 on landscaping as per the estimate received. We may not be professional but we have time and will plant lots of colourful flowers etc. The estimate did not include a single plant.

UK deaths 578.