Making the most of the good weather.

 Covid Diary Saturday November 14th. Lockdown V2

Good morning readers. What a foul day it is today weather wise anyway. Lashing with rain here in Marlow but temperatures on the mild side for this time of year. Well it gives me time to write my diary and escape from cleaning the kitchen floor AGAIN.

It’s been a bit of an up and down week as it started off with me still feeling under the weather, but I soon bucked up and by Tuesday was feeling much better. Another trip to the physio has greatly improved my psoas muscle so I am able to once again increase my level of exercise. Ian is till suffering and we are both religiously doing our exercises in an effort to improve things. Well it keeps us busy too.

We have been out in the fresh air as much as possible. Ian managed a walk to Hurley and back with Max. It’s nice for both of them that they are allowed to go out together and it did Ian a world of good to get away from me for a few hours. I ventured down to age concern and filled the green bin with fallen leaves. Not a lot to do there but as it is so quiet there it was nice to escape reality myself for a while.

Ian has been on Kingfisher watch again this week but no luck. We also went to the Spade Oak yesterday in search of a Bullfinch and Treecreeper which many of the local photographers have been lucky enough to see. We were needless to say were not so lucky. It was also very muddy, and wellies were required it was very nice to get out and do a spot of birding. I saw a lovely little Goldcrest among a large flock of long tailed Tits and my first Redwings. Building of the Star Wars film set continues and is now quite visible as the leaves fall from the trees.

Friday afternoon we set off to find some wonderful sculptures up at Harleyford golf club they had been reported on Facebook. I soon checked out how to get there on the public footpath and a new walk was discovered. Walking down the track opposite where the Hare & Hound pub used to be following it along until it bends towards Temple go straight over into Harleyford estate and follow the footpath until you get to the clubhouse. It was eerie up there as no golfers around and the whole place was closed up but the sculptures were stunning. The light was getting bad so the photos I took on Ian’s phone are not so good but hopefully the ones he took will be better. I just loved the Lions up the dead tree, it took a while to notice all of them and the sharks that seem to float in the air. So very very clever.

Marlow continues to be busy. The high street is full of cars and people, what they are up to is a mystery. Several shops are open in the high street. 2 opticians, food shops, cafes and pharmacies and W H Smiths. Other places are doing takeaway food and beer too. I have heard that White Stuff are doing click and collect and any excuse to call yourself essential or key worker is used to enable any sort of trading. Well if that’s what local traders need to do, I’m all for it but it does seem excessive. So, it does not feel like there is a lockdown at all here. Only one thing, at night it is very quiet again, hardly any traffic and still limited air traffic.

Speaking of opticians, I thought I was being covid safe and went to the Marlow branch of Boots Opticians instead of Wycombe where I normally go. Bad move, as they did not have my records or anything to compare with, it set alarm bells ringing and the flaming woman has scared the living daylights out of me with talk of diabetes, high blood pressure and enlarged optics nerves. Well I know my optic nerves are odd, but I have been to the hospital and it’s all ok. My blood pressure is fine (well it was) and I really don’t think I could be diabetic. Anyway, the silly moo went and referred me to the Drs before getting any data from High Wycombe to check things out. I am less than impressed to say the least, but I will get another MOT and hopefully she is just reacting impulsively. On top of all that in my state of shock they stung me for another pair of glasses that I am not sure I really need. Grrrrrr.

 We passed the tragic milestone of 50,000 coronavirus deaths this week and this is a stark reminder of what we still have to face this winter. Cases continue to rise although there are report of levelling out in some quarters. There has been a 15% rise in Buckinghamshire in the past week.

Vaccine or no vaccine that is the question that people are now asking.  Would you have it? For months the cry has been vaccine will be our saviour and now there is a glimmer on the horizon its hmm I’m not sure.  Someone I know who has been clamouring for a vaccine since the get go, told me she is definitely not having one as it could be very dangerous. I think she is of the injecting you with false DNA school.

Strictly has also fallen foul of the virus as one of the professionals is asymptomatic and one of the judges is having to self isolate.

A massive drug and cash raids were carried out at dawn by Police on the 12th November in High Wycombe, Flackwell heath, Bourne End and Marlow. A total of 19 houses were searched following a yearlong operation. Drugs, cash and goods were seized.

Mr. Trump has gone to ground although he did make an appearance yesterday, he is like a deflated balloon but has yet to concede defeat.

Christmas lights have gone up in Marlow high street and today is Diwali. Ian is cooking a Rendang for dinner tonight.

Other meals.

Halibut Basque style (Tomato, pepper, paprika) Delicious.

Sea Bream, green beans and baby pots.

Cold beef, Potato and parsnip mash with sprouts and carrots.

Stir fry.

Toulouse Sausages mash, cabbage.

Must away now as I have to hack into Rhiannon’s Amazon prime account to watch the rugby.