13th February, 2021. 336 days of lockdown/isolation.

BBC journalist’s are still not speaking the queens English on TV. Tautology, ending sentences with a preposition and they still cannot pronounce words like “acceptable” saying instead “exceptable”. These errors are perpetrated by some of our newsreader “heavyweights”. Maybe I’m too much of a pedant but I find it appalling in this day and age. And…”How are you?” They answer “I’m good”. I have to ask ” Good at what”. We are all speaking American “English” now!!!

Cousin Petra’s colleagues at work in Kiel, Germany are unprotected. They happily go to the office without wearing a mask. One only has to look at the vaccination figures to see that Germany is falling behind the UK and we are accelerating. Fortunately, Manfred is working at home. A worrying time for Petra, nevertheless.

Sally and Jim have been decorating pottery and learning their instruments and dieting to fill in their time. So all productive. Granddaughter Thea has also been teaching herself the guitar so there maybe a possibility of an online trio concert.

Jenny’s Kindle Fire 8 died. RIP. So we ordered a new one on Thursday night. It arrived on Friday afternoon. And that was without Amazon Prime. I think the Christmas rush has worn off! Well done Amazon. So stop asking me to join Amazon Prime. I’ve got Netflix and your free delivery service is fast enough already. When the pandemic is over, we shall do more shopping just to get out. And we shall use the bus!

I was born just after the war but even so I knew that Churchill was a giant of a man. He had his flaws and which leader hasn’t, especially at he moment. But to judge a man born in 1874 by 21st century sentiments is absolutely absurd. This applies to many historical figures who have made us what we are today. Is this what wokeness is all about? If so, then bollocks.

10th February, 2021. 333 days of lockdown/isolation.

I have spent some time on my “new” Dell laptop computer. I have had trouble linking it to my HP printer. Not only have I fixed that now and can print stuff off, I have found all the photos which Curry’s had taken off the old tower and put onto a 1 terrabyte hard drive. As there is not enough capacity on the laptop, they must all be in the cloud which I had subscribed to but did not know how to access.I can now try to bring my photo library up to date to include all those in my Nikon camera and on the iphone. Rather alot I think.

Watching Rick Stein on his travels down the east coast of Spain. Of course, it is really a cooking programme on wheels. Starting up north in Catalunia, he seemed to cook only fish and lots of stuff in shells from land and sea. The snails looked particularly unappetising. But then lamb appeared on the menu. Simply cooked but done on an open fire for three hours and looked absolutely fabulous. I do miss some Spanish food but eating outside with glasses of cold red or white wine with lunch, is absolutely unmissable. And I miss it!!!

At last it looks like the government is taking a hard line on those people who come into the UK and especially those who lie about where they have come from/been. James O’Brien tweets “If you lie about travelling during lockdown you could be jailed for ten years – under a law introduced by the same politicians who queued up to defend Dominic Cummings”. Strange that. And Jonathan Jones, a former head of the government’s legal service has said “If anyone is EVER sentenced to ten years for lying on the form, I will eat a face mask”. I’d pay good money to see that.

I think we can wave goodbye to Germany in May/June. I may join the local Green Bowls Club.

8th February, 2021. 331 days of lockdown/isolation.

Another weekend over and it is snowing. It is not quite the “Beast from the East” but it is cold enough to keep us in the house. I don’t think that with the blizzards of light snow we would have gone out in the car, even if we had some where to go. I think we will get more of the same tomorrow. We are watching the forecast closely.

Most of our friends that qualify, have now had their first Pfizer vaccine, including Nick who was starting to worry. Bill and Irene are still waiting but things are not as quick in Scotland. The number of vaccines (1st dose) in the UK is in excess of 12.2 million. Also 2nd doses are also ongoing but there are no details yet. Deaths are going down as are new cases and hospital beds taken up. All positive. Except for the way some describe one of the new variants as “Variant Anglais” but never never ever refer to the original virus as the China Virus. Oh no! But it was discovered in Kent which is the normal route when travelling from France. Et voila!

It is useful to get the daily vaccination figures but the number of anti-vaxxers who refuse their invitation, or just do not turn up, is never given. I think we should be told. Especially as the vaccination gets close to the end. If any one of those is infected at any time, they must be made to pay for their treatment. Have you seen how many staff are involved in the treatment process and the banks of monitors and other equipment used? It would prove very expensive for them. We should find the anti-vaxxers quite easily as they will be the ones without a Huawei tracking chip in their blood stream and they won’t have a third eye growing in their forehead.

It has been three days of various home deliveries by Amazon and Royal Mail. At least six items arrived, all of them on time and in some cases, earlier than predicted. Given the millions of parcels being delivered daily, it is a remarkable feat. One that they surely cannot sustain. Also, whether late, on time or early it is likely that the house holder will be at home. So if they don’t want to lose the advantage they have gained, they must deliver when they say they will as in the future, when this madness is over, customers will rely on the timings to make sure someone (or a neighbour) is at home.

Jenny is still knitting a quilt. She has also learned to crochet. Clever girl!

5th February, 2021. 328 days of lockdown/isolation.

Mum had her first vaccine on Wednesday, 3rd February. A District Nurse called about 15:30 and gave her the Astra Zenica vaccine. She could not give a date for the second jab as it was a surgery led operation and they could not yet make the appointments. At least she is now starting to have some protection from Covid 19 and any of it’s mutation. And we know she is in the system.

I had my chiropractic consultation last Monday. Although I only went to them to look at my right knee, they looked at my whole “frame” and took lots of readings and measurements. Not a bad thing, if they are to be believed, to look at my posture, standing, sitting and laying down to see if any improvements can be made. I will book four sessions with the actual chiropracter starting on Monday 15th February at 8am. Yes! 8am!!

ERNIE paid us £75 this month and together with winning £30 in the Cricket Club draw, this is looking like a good month. We are also saving £70 each month on the cancelled gym memberships. These will not be renewed, I would guess, until at least June/July. Goodness knows how much we are saving on fuel. My tank is still half full and I had filled the car up on 30th December for about £60. That should last way over two months.

The longer the pandemic goes on, the less likely it is that we will be going to Germany on 31st May. They may only just finish vaccinating everyone by then and although Boris would like to get everything normal by then, I don’t think it is feasible. I don’t think anywhere in Europe will let us in yet anyway. We would be travelling through Belgium, Holland and then Germany. I don’t think I would let us in!!!

Our concert tickets to see Andy Fairweather low have been shifted to April next year. Is Paloma Faith’s concert on 7th October safe? Possibly not.

I am looking at Twitter more and more nowadays. Although it is a good read and I “like” and “retweet” a lot, I don’t comment much. I am neither that politically motivated nor bright enough to make any meaningful contribution. I do love listening to James O’Brien’s broadcasts though as I find myself in agreement with most of his views and comments.

Hull City Council has just announced that the Hull City Hall is to be converted to a mass vaccination site. Things certainly seem to be accelerating. No date for commencement has been given. At the moment, the nearest such centre is in York.

Jenny and I drove into Hull this morning to bank a check in an outside ATM which allows deposits, I nearly forgot that bus lanes are operating all day now and guess what? We never saw a bus. And Hull was like a ghost town. Except for groups of losers gathering in numbers. I know they are bored. Get Netflix!!!!

2nd February, 2021. 325 days of Lockdown.

Rest in Peace, Sir Captain Tom Moore. What a final year. What a star!!!

31st January, 2021. 323 days of isolation/lockdown.

The row about the UK pre-ordering vaccines has escalated with an announcement by Ms Van der Bossy that the EU should not allow our contractually agreed supplies to come through Northern Ireland. They want our orders to go to other EU countries who did not have the foresight to order as early as we did. I don’t understand all this stuff about hard borders etc. but I can understand that the EU is acting in a bullying manner and it turns out , most of the rest of the world appears to be on our side for a change. Even the troublesome Barnier has told the EU to step back from the “vaccine wars”. Miss Bossy’s statement was withdrawn in a couple of hours but the damage had been done. Yes, we will have millions of doses more than needed but we have contractual arrangement with other countries to supply them and I believe it is the UK’s intention to help out other poorer countries. Say what you like about the UK but that is what we do.

The UK are famous for standing inline and queuing. Please understand it’s a tradition we honour, but jump that queue and we will surely let you know.

That statement, having been made by Miss Bossy, will not easily be forgotten. I always said that the EU would punish us one way or another and it is happening. All the paperwork needed for exports and imports they now require (up to 400 pages to export lobster to the EU from Bridlington for example), extra taxes for having a second home in Spain, restrictions on the time we can stay in 2nd homes in Spain and now they try to dictate our buying policies and we don’t even belong to “the club”. What sort of a deal was struck with the EU that they think they can legally interfere? I voted remain and am still a Remainer as I still firmly believe I am a European but many are now changing their minds and I wonder how much more emphatic the Brexit vote would have been, had we known the shenanigans the EU would be up to after the agreement was signed. Clearly they hope to kill off what is left of our fishing industry.

Are we becoming vegetarians? This week I have made Glamorgan sausages (leek based) and Kenyan masala chips with fried leeks as a side. All very tasty. We will have some cod patties today and had fish and chips on Friday to balance things up. The Glamorgan sausages were tasty but complex to make. I hate separating eggs. The Masala chips were simply fabulous. They were a bit spicy (less chilli next time) and very simple to make. Only one mixing bowl for preparation. I will make them again, definitely. (YouTube…”Kenya Masala Chips”)

There has been a fair bit of live football on TV recently and with the pandemic, I thought I would be watching most of it. I have to say that without the crowds there is so little atmosphere that the deliberate falling down (AKA cheating), the histrionics and childish celebration are highlighted even more so I now can’t be bothered to watch any more.

Went for a walk today to “prepare” my knee for the chiropractor tomorrow. It is so much easier to describe the problem whilst it is actually there.

26th January,2021. 318 days of isolation/lockdown.

Went to visit Mum Tuesday and Wednesday. She was fine but had not had her Covid injection yet. Confirmed by carer, Jenna, later. Leaving any telephoning will be left to Angela who has called them a couple of times. We don’t want to be a nuisance. Angela persisted though and we now know that Mum will get her first jab on Thursday 4th February at 2.30pm. I will probably be there and will check when her 2nd vaccination is due.

Arguments are raging in the EU over the UK stealing a march on getting 1,000,000 vaccines before them. Tough. As it happens, Germany has done separate deals with the pharmaceutical companies forgetting they are all in the same club. It looks like it’s every man for himself. But we are alright Jack!

Scotland wants to go the opposite way to England by being independent and then joining the EU. Well, good luck with that! I wouldn’t trust the parish faced Nicola Sturgeon as far as I could caber toss her. With the Alec Salmond affair I think there is a lot more to come out there. Something is very fishy with those two and they want to take Scotland into Europe. Bon chance!

Sally and Jim called tonight. They are starting their powdered diet tomorrow for two weeks. They are still busy with lessons and Jim has been doing and passing teaching courses.

David had to have a covid test yesterday, work related. The results came today and it was negative. Grandson Ronnie also had a covid test through school and the results will be available in a day or two. Hopefully it was just a cold and sniffle. He’ll be eager to get back to lessons. Won’t he?

25th January, 2021. 317 days of Lockdown/Isolation.

Vaccination Day!!! Yesterday, Jenny and I were vaccinated against Covid 19. It was the first of two and the NHS staff at the Castle Hill hospital, confirmed that we would receive our second on the 4th April, 10 weeks away. We were given the Pfizer version of the vaccine. There is talk that some might like to reduce the gap between injections by half. We would have no problem with that. The vaccine experience was actually very pleasant and very well organised. The nursing and administration staff were very kind and chatty. My nurse had just completed seven days on the trot. Bless her cotton socks. We had walked there and back which meant my knee was useless until I had a night’s rest It’s not so bad at the moment and am looking forward to my appointment with a local chiropractor.

Sally and Jim had their injection cancelled for this morning. Apparently because of shortage of stocks of the vaccine. They are now awaiting another appointment. Our friend Val had hers yesterday. Nick now panicking. He still hasn’t had the call. Sister in law Carol, has had her first as will Graham and Liz, our friends near York, on Wednesday. Things seem to be moving quickly now. Especially in Yorkshire, and the North East. Long may it continue. With the programme going well, it is so frustrating to listen to the garbage uttered by the antivaxx people. They are entitled to their opinion, of course but they should be held to account for their actions. Obviously, we cannot prove how many deaths they are responsible for but it is about time some action should be taken. I believe that everyone who does not turn up for the vaccination or refuses to go for he vaccine, should have to pay for all costs to the NHS once they contract the virus. Which of course, many of them will, eventually.

There was a nice surprise for Jenny yesterday with the delivery of lowers. They came from David as Jenny had been and tidied the grandchildren’s bedrooms. And done a couple of loads of washing. It seems my putting up shelves must have been included.

Uncle Raymond was 90 on Saturday. Visited his house to deliver his card and a bottle of malt whiskey. Enjoyed a chat (socially distanced outside the front door) with him and Auntie Phyllis and cousin Pamela for 10 minutes. Hopefully the days when we can cll for a cup of tea and a bun, will return soon.

I called to see Mum on Friday as there had been some concerns about her behaviour. visit. I found her to be positive and generally content. Still no news about her vaccination. If we do not hear anything soon, we will have to contact the NHS. We should not but all three of her children have been vaccinated. We are 72, 70 and 62 years of age. She is 94 and housebound. I think we need to be told why or that the doctor WILL be calling soon.

It’s a beautiful day today with nothing to do. We may start the Jigsaw today. I took a frozen chicken curry out of the freezer and supplemented it with carrots and chicken from yesterday. The chicken from Sunday was lovely and with a breast, leg and two wings still to go, it will have lasted us 3 days. In fact topped up with potatoes, peppers and mushrooms, I think we will still be eating it on Wednesday.

The effects of Brexit are being felt everywhere and in particular with imports and exports and travelling in Europe, not including the Covid difficulties. Spain are leading the way in taking revenge on those pesky Brits who dared to leave the EU. They are already introducing laws which make it awkward to own a holiday home there. Do they not realise how much money their country will loose? We can live without chorizo and Spanish wine but can they live without British tourism? No!! They won’t notice it this year but when things are back to normal, we will just go somewhere else. I don’t know the Spanish for “numpty” but maybe “tonto” will suffice.

City win. Top Div. 1

21st January, 2021. 313 days of isolation/lockdown

Unbelievably, we have got our dates for the Corona Virus Vaccine. We get our first on Sunday, 24th January and the second on Sunday 4th of April, one day before my 73rd birthday. Thank goodness! Mum has not yet heard anything but we know that the GP will be doing it in her house. It is a real relief to get on the list but we recognise that we still need to be careful as we can still carry the virus despite being more or less immune. We have just heard that Sally and Jim get their first vaccine jab in Bucharest on Sunday morning so they will beat us by a couple of hours. We have also now heard that sister in law Carol has her vaccine appointment on Friday and our dear friend, Val, on Saturday. Things are gathering pace and I can now see light at the end of the tunnel. I can’t however, see us going to Germany in June. It also seems that the powers that be want to divert our stocks down south as we are racing ahead in the north. So we are delayed here to allow the slow south to catch up. What north/South divide?

The news of our vaccination came just after Northmore Garage had been to fit a new battery in the Ford Kuga. The mechanic was unable to jump start the car with the old battery still in place. Obviously no power whatsoever left. So he had to do the job on site and it proved very difficult and time consuming to get the old one out. With the bonnet up it was even difficult to see the damn thing but after all sorts of cables and tubes had been detached and moved out of the way, it slid out easily enough. Again it was difficult to put the new one in but he managed it. The car started first time and he did warn me that these batteries could be twice as expensive as a normal one. I went to the garage next day and found the charge for the actual battery to be £150. With labour and VAT the total cost was £234. Ouch!!

Apart from signing a dozen or so executive orders. Mr Biden has been very quiet since his inauguration and the predicted “trouble” from Republican supporters has not materialised, thank goodness. Trump is in Florida on holiday. Well, he really deserves one having masterminded winning the title of “The worst president in USA’s history”. The idiot is keeping a low profile at the moment but I can’t see that lasting. He thrives on being in the limelight even if it is to incite the trailer trash mob, to riot.

I have no idea what Boris is up to. I tend to go and make a coffee as soon as he is on the news. It is a more productive use of my time. Even in lockdown.

Jenny went to David’s house today to do some cleaning and I have no doubt bring some washing back. I will go another day to adjust some shelving I put up to accommodate Ronnie’s TV and X-Box.

We got a lovely belated Christmas card from our friend Diego in Murcia. He is looking forward to us going to Spain as soon as possible so we can celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary and Vega’s birth. We look forward to it. Whenever it might be.

19th January, 2021. 311 days of isolation/lockdown.

Had a bit of a drama with the car today. I was going to see Mum in the pouring rain and the car wouldn’t start. Nothing at all and the steering wheel was stuck in the “lock” position. As I went back inside the house, the key fob lock would not work, for the same reason. I wasn’t worried as we were insured for homestart etc. I rang the insurance company and all was well until the final bit when they informed me that the car was untaxed. I had been driving around for 10 months untaxed. It is amazing that we have not been stopped in all that time by the police. I therefore had to ring DVLA who were excellent and allowed me to pay the arrears with no penalties. I have also paid up for the next 12 months. I rang the insurance company to tell them but they responded that I was not covered at the time of my call when I was effectively untaxed and they told me I would have to call out a garage. I understood the logic and rang Northmoor Garage who told me it sounded like the battery had died suddenly which is what they can do so they will come out tomorrow with a new battery. They were too busy to come out today. The car will have to remain unlocked on the driveway all night in the pouring rain. I therefore had to go to Mum’s by bus.

At the bus stop, I saw two people picking up litter in the rain. It looked like something they did regularly and I shouted my thanks across the road. When I got home, I posted on the Cottingham Community Facebook site what I had seen and that they were real troopers. So far there are in excess of 70 likes. They deserve high praise.

I went to see mum who seemed well but a bit confused. We talked about Covid and her getting injections at home by the doctor. Later on Angela reported that Mum had been mean to her on the phone. Apparently it can be a symptom of a water infection and the doctor has prescribed medication which will start tomorrow, administered by Elaine a really good carer. Let’s hope it it not the start of something worse.

Last day for Trump tomorrow. Hooray!!!! Sadly, Boris has a long way to go.