Avoid the Chinese swab tests!

 January 26^th 2021

 

It’s a bleak day weather wise, cold, frozen snow, slush and grey sky complimented with a cold wind or gentle breeze as the BBC describe it. At least I can see Winter Hill today, quite pretty being highlighted here and there with snowy patches.

Andy the window cleaner pays us a visit, its blimmin freezing to be outside cleaning windows and there are still a few inches of snow on the flat roof. However, we have to do our bit in helping others, he has not been able to work for 8 weeks due to weather, Covid and he fell off his ladder just before Christmas. I deliver a steaming mug of coffee for him and then spend ages bleaching the mug after he has finished, much to Ian’s amusement, he says he is surprised there is any pattern left on it.

We then sneak out under the razor wire to Laceys farm to get some meat and also to get out of the house. Hillside road is now nearly clear of ice and snow, well the road is the pavements are not. Seymour court road has large patches of icy stuff on it, the type that makes a car skid. We make it safely onto the main road and have a pleasant journey to Lane end through the snowy countryside. A visit to Riverways farm is also on the agenda as we have run out of eggs and now no other eggs will do. The Reindeer are very happy and are mooching around in the snowy fields. Chickens and Geese are still under lockdown due to Avian Flu, the big piggies peer at us through the fence in the hope we may have brought them something to munch on.

Driving through Marlow High Street, I am pleased to report its still quiet out there and the roads are quiet too.

Willow has been hiding under our bedcover as the man with the ladder was here this morning, he is still there when we get home. Can’t say I blame him, its snuggly under there.

After a sausage sandwich for lunch we tackle cleaning the big oven. I managed to bag the easy bit cleaning the racks whilst Ian tackles the oven itself. I am finished way before him and have escaped upstairs to do my diary.

Boris is doing a daily briefing today and another grim milestone is about to be reported. I will update on this tomorrow.

 

Last Night’s Dinner was Spag Bol.

Tonight, we have Roast Chicken, left over from Sunday.

 

After several attempts Ian found some music to accompany the oven cleaning and diary writing todays choice is: When you were young – Del Amitri.

 

 

Jan 27^th 2021

 

As I expected the news was not good last night as over 100,000 deaths have been reported. Boris looked downtrodden and said he was truly sorry. As usual the media were there saying things should have been done differently and perhaps somethings could have, but I noticed not one of them mentioned the people that have blatantly disregarded the rules. Remember all the packed parks and beaches last summer. BBQ’s and parties in gardens not to mention the Christmas gatherings and people travelling abroad on holiday. Those people have a good deal to answer for as well.

 

Well the snow has disappeared and a grey, but much warmer day is here. We walk into town for some fresh fish and then down the very quiet High Street into Higginson park to the river. The grass is littered with the remains of dead snowmen, I counted 27 in one part of the park. It must have been very busy down here on Sunday. Mist rises off the river and although the general feel is a grey winters day it is quite atmospheric, and it is pleasant to be out.

Carrying on across the road we check out the church spire for Peregrines none to be seen, down through the alleyways past the deserted Two Brewers and onto Lock Road. Stopping for a little while to gaze mesmerised at the flooded river and the swirling mist and spray from the weir. We wander into Mill road and down through Gossmore to reconnect with the river again, you can see how high the water is here as the benches are nearly completely under water. Flocks of Tits twitter about in the bushes and a Great Tit calls noisily overhead.

Continuing along Gossmore lane, over the Donkey line and Newtown Road.  Here is where one of the Marlow vaccination units is and there are a few stewards out and about on the road helping and directing people, it however does not look very busy in the unit itself. It is very quiet on the roads and traffic is much reduced, flagging a bit now we pass Rhiannon’s and make it back home. It was a good walk; we got our steps in and some fresh air too.

We have a click and collect order at Aldi tomorrow, so we placed our order online which was new for us to do. I must admit this not going to the shops has its benefits but at the moment it also has its downside as it was always something to do.

The Ateca is booked in next week for a service, its due its 1^st MOT but only has 14508 miles on the clock. Luckily the garage will collect it and drop it off for us.

Joyce has got her jab on Saturday; she is very happy about that.

Boris is doing another briefing today, but we think it is to talk about getting the schools back. The papers say schools will not go back before March.

Our bins have not been collected today, must find out what’s going on there.

 

 

Sea Bream, creamed leeks, peas and crushed new potatoes for dinner.

 

No music!

 

28.01.21

 

China are recommending that instead of throat swabs for Covid testing, anal swabs are used. I have not checked it out but there are videos showing you how to do this. I read it on the BBC so guessing there is an element of truth to it. Hmmm this might be a deterrent for people going out and mixing. hahahaha

 

Our Aldi click and collect experience was top notch, very good indeed. We got almost everything we wanted. It was ready to collect on time and wheeled out to our car, we put it in the boot and hey presto that was it. Ian is still hankering to go shopping but is very pleased with the click and collect.

I went for a run, quite shocked at how out of breath I got. When we were starting off this C25K I didn’t get breathless but today there was a bit of a headwind which must have been the cause (yeah right). I was puffed by the time I got home. Never mind at least I did it.

 

Later Ian & I laid 9000 litres of bark chippings in the top garden hard work but very rewarding. A few years ago, I would have managed this myself but now need help or it would have to be broken down over a couple of days. #gettingold.

A much warmer and a little brighter today, the sun even peeped out a bit at one stage while we were gardening.

Boris last night announced that the earliest schools would return would be the 8^th March 2021, he said this is totally reliant on infection rates dropping, how the vaccine is working and how the NHS is coping and capacity in hospitals. So, a lot of ifs. They are not sure what effect the vaccinations will have on the rate of infection and as I have said before they don’t know if the vaccine will prevent transmission of the virus.

 

Glastonbury Festival has been cancelled again this year and the Chelsea flower show has been postponed until the Autumn. This is the 1^st time in history it has not been in May.

 

Chicken a ’la King with rice tonight.

 

29^th Jan 2021.

 

It is a foul day, lashing rain misty and grey early morning, hoping it will clear up later. Actually, just as I write that it brightens a little and Winter Hill suddenly becomes visible. It’s the Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend but the weather is shocking and any bird with any sense will be hiding away somewhere warm & dry. We have stocked up the feeders but are not holding out much hope for a good count.

Ian is better today he has been feeling a bit down, bored and fed up with the monotony of life at present. We are sick of walking in & around the streets of Marlow, even though we alter where we go it’s all getting a bit samey. Countryside walks are out as it’s so muddy and wet, the torrential rain last night and this morning will only have added to the problem, we really can’t face another walk round the block and the temptation to travel a little further afield is great.

Another UK vaccine has been announced which is showing signs that it is effective against both the UK and South African Variant.

Vaccination Volunteers are to be given a vaccination.

North Marlow is now well below the national average with just 11 cases in the past 7 days.

Sea Trout, Broccoli, fine green beans and new potatoes for dinner.

 

Saturday 30^th Jan 2021

 

It’s so dark, more rain, rain, rain and wind. It’s an easterly wind so I am guessing its colder out there too, it’s too wet to find out. Needless to say, I am getting a bit fed up with this now and for me the worst month of the year is arriving in 2 days’ time, or perhaps it’s come early. Deep joy another bad weather day in lockdown, never mind just get on with it at least we have the Staying Inn later today.

I got up and did a Joe Wicks workout, well tried to at least and then did a dance class and a warm down class, at least I have attempted some form of exercise today. It does make me feel better.

The EU are trying to stop our vaccine supply but have had to do a massive u turn. Boris is getting huge praise for the vaccination roll out here and there have been 2 more vaccines developed which the UK have placed big orders for. One of which is a one jab deal but is only showing 66% effectiveness  

The Russian vaccine is called Sputnik V doesn’t fill you with confidence, I know it’s only a name, but it just sounds dodgy and we all know about Russian jabs.

Ian is prepping tonight’s dinner, Pork in beer with Chorizo one of our favourites, it’s a Spanish recipe.

Last night on the news is showed huge crowds at border control in T5 Heathrow airport. I am not sure what is causing people to move about at the moment I thought I heard something about Dubai but can’t find anything on it now. All these people entering the country should have had a negative Covid test in order to travel, its still worrying that such a large amount of travel is going on. The Easterly wind this morning meant that we heard the early morning arrivals today quite a few of them too.  France are going to close its borders next week to non-EU travellers. Chinese New Year looms (12^th Feb) but movement in China is said to be low at present.

 

 

The latest R number is reported to be between 0.7 and 1.1

 

The FTSE closed down at 6407.

 

Music by Gavin James and Coldplay avoiding radio2 as it is musicals weekend enough said.

 

A terrible milestone to have to report.

 January 26^th 2021

 

It’s a bleak day weather wise, cold, frozen snow and slush and grey sky complimented with a cold wind or gentle breeze as the BBC describe it. At least I can see Winter Hill today, quite pretty being highlighted here and there with snowy patches.

Andy the window cleaner pays us a visit, its blimmin freezing to be outside cleaning windows and there are still a few inches of snow on the flat roof.  We really don't need the windows cleaning however, we have to do our bit in helping others get by, he has not been able to work because of Covid, bad weather and he fell off his ladder. I deliver a steaming mug of coffee for him and then spend ages bleaching the mug after he has finished, much to Ian’s amusement, he says he is surprised there is any pattern left on it.

We then sneak out under the razor wire to Laceys farm to get some meat and also to get out of the house. Hillside road is now nearly clear of ice and snow, well the road is the pavements are not. Seymour court road has large patches of icy stuff on it, the type that makes a car skid. We make it safely onto the main road and have a pleasant journey to Lane end through the snowy countryside. A visit to Riverways farm is also on the agenda as we have run out of eggs and now no other eggs will do. The Reindeer are very happy and are mooching around in the snowy fields. Chickens and Geese are still under lockdown due to Avian Flu, the big piggies peer at us through the fence in the hope we may have brought them something to munch on.

Driving through Marlow High Street, I am pleased to report its still quiet out there and the roads are quiet too.

Willow has been hiding under our bedcover as the man with the ladder was here this morning, he is still there when we get home. Can’t say I blame him, its snuggly under there.

After a sausage sandwich for lunch we tackle cleaning the big oven. I managed to bag the easy bit cleaning the racks whilst Ian tackles the oven itself. I am finished way before him and have escaped upstairs to do my diary.

Boris is doing a daily briefing today and another grim milestone is about to be reported. I will update on this tomorrow.

 

Last Night’s Dinner was Spag Bol.

Tonight, we have Roast Chicken, left over from Sunday.

 

After several attempts Ian found some music to accompany the oven cleaning and diary writing todays choice is: When you were young – Del Amitri.

 

 

Jan 27^th 2021

 

As I expected the news was not good last night as over 100,000 deaths have been reported. Boris looked downtrodden and said he was truly sorry. As usual the media were there saying things should have been done differently and perhaps somethings could have, but I noticed not one of them mentioned the people that have blatantly disregarded the rules. Remember all the packed parks and beaches last summer. BBQ’s and parties in gardens not to mention the Christmas gatherings and people travelling abroad on holiday. Those people have a good deal to answer for as well.

 

Well the snow has disappeared and a grey, but much warmer day is here. We walk into town for some fresh fish and then down the very quiet High Street into Higginson park to the river. The grass is littered with the remains of dead snowmen, I counted 27 in one part of the park. It must have been very busy down here on Sunday. Mist rises off the river and although the general feel is a grey winters day it is quite atmospheric, and it is pleasant to be out.

Carrying on across the road we check out the church spire for Peregrines none to be seen, down through the alleyways past the deserted Two Brewers and onto Lock Road. Stopping for a little while to gaze mesmerised at the flooded river and the swirling mist and spray from the weir. We wander into Mill road and down through Gossmore to reconnect with the river again, you can see how high the water is here as the benches are nearly completely under water. Flocks of Tits twitter about in the bushes and a Great Tit calls noisily overhead.

Continuing along Gossmore lane, over the Donkey line and Newtown Road.  Here is where one of the Marlow vaccination units is and there are a few stewards out and about on the road helping and directing people, it however does not look very busy in the unit itself. It is very quiet on the roads and traffic is much reduced, flagging a bit now we pass Rhiannon’s and make it back home. It was a good walk; we got our steps in and some fresh air too.

We have a click and collect order at Aldi tomorrow, so we placed our order online which was new for us to do. I must admit this not going to the shops has its benefits but at the moment it also has its downside as it was always something to do.

The Ateca is booked in next week for a service, its due its 1^st MOT but only has 14508 miles on the clock. Luckily the garage will collect it and drop it off for us.

Joyce has got her jab on Saturday; she is very happy about that.

Boris is doing another briefing today, but we think it is to talk about getting the schools back. The papers say schools will not go back before March.

Our bins have not been collected today, must find out what’s going on there.

 

 

Sea Bream, creamed leeks, peas and crushed new potatoes for dinner.

 

No music!

Yay its been snowing!

 23.01.21

 

Wowzer, woke up this morning to thick fog which is still clinging to the river at 11am. As I look out of the study window there is not even a suggestion that Winter Hill exists or anything beyond South View road. Looking out of the back window is a different story, sunny blueish sky and bright. Also, it’s absolutely freezing cold although the outdoor thermometer says 4 degrees its more like minus something.

We are staying tucked indoors today and tomorrow as the weekend mud wallowers will be out churning up the walks and complaining about the mud in the countryside.

 

Our birdbox camera has been playing up, well more of the WIFI connection me thinks. For 2 weeks it has been driving me insane, I have reset, repaired, turned them off and on again many times, got really frustrated and gave up. Very upset that we won’t be able to watch any BBTs this year. Yesterday morning I was checking out the wildlife in the garden aka the bird feeder when I happened to glance down and hey presto 3 lights on. Everything working hunky dory and we were even treated to a BT in the box this morning.

 

Last night there was a briefing from Downing Street and hurrah I think, Boris is going to announce that lockdown is working and that the Rate is coming down, well he did but and it’s a big but. Evidence is suggesting that the new variant may lead to a higher risk of death and as we know it is much more contagious that the other version.

 

 

North Marlow has now entered the below average area of infection. It Is very noticeable that nearly everyone wears a mask even in the street. Ian & I stopped to don ours the other day as we were entering an area where there could possibly be more people as we feel safer all round by doing so.

 

24.01.21

 

Eight o’clock this morning not a flake of the forecast snow, an hour later 4 inches of enchanting white stuff. Huge downy goose flakes drift down from the laden sky and blankets the garden. Which is soon transformed into a beautiful place, untrodden and unblemished.

Willow is however less than impressed, he does venture out for a toilet break but is soon back in with a snow covered back and a pitiful cry. Bless.

2pm and it is showing signs of melting a little, the road however is starting to get compressed as it does up here and usually remains a skating rink for several days after everywhere else has thawed.

 

Headline news this morning is that schools are possibly not going back until April. The education secretary will make an announcement within the next few days.

 

Ray had his AstraZeneca/Oxford jab this morning.

 

BBC reports there are 77 cases of the South Africa variant in the UK.

 

25.01.21

 

We were woken this morning at 5am by Kev next door scraping the frozen snow off his car and then driving down the frozen road. It sounded like driving over a million frozen packets of crisps. Soon went back to sleep only to be woken later by Donna doing the same thing. Poor Kev, bad enough having to go to work but at that time in the morning in these conditions.

 

A large bright golden orb of light is rising over the top of Winter Hill as I write. It’s so low and so bright I can’t look at it, what a glorious thing to behold. One of the ponytail swishing, Sweaty Betty clad runners has just passed by. That’s brave, the roads are heavily rutted with frozen ice & snow and the pavements are an extreme slip hazzard, she is headed to Oak Tree road which for those of you that don’t know is a steep hill, wish I could watch how she is going to get down that. Temperature on BBC says -3 feels like -6. Brrrr.

 

What the Papers say.

 

France are contemplating having a third lockdown.

Protests in the Netherlands over the new Covid restrictions. There is to be a curfew after 9pm.

Australia suspends travel bubble with New Zealand as a case of CV19 (South African variant) has been confirmed in NZ.

Lots of people out sledging here and other snowy places yesterday. Posts on Marlow FB sites calling for kids to stay indoors.

Nearly half a million vaccinations were carried out yesterday.

One bit of worry not CV related is hidden or increased charges when buying goods from the EU. The Financial times reports that Mastercard are to introduce a fivefold  increase when a shopper uses a debit or credit card to buy from an EU based company. Also, I have read about Couriers charging fees for delivery to cover duties and extra paperwork at ports.

Take care when shopping online.

The Mail online leads with the headline Summer holidays scrapped. (No need for this at this moment in time)

Right Ian’s cooking my porridge, so I had better get downstairs pronto. Not sure what today will bring but I guess its day 3 indoors unless this beautiful sun melts the freeze.

Making the most of the Sunshine

 Thursday Jan 21^st 2021.

 

Oh, the joy of a good night’s sleep. A bright blue sky and beautiful sunshine greets us this morning all is well. We decide to go for a run, well I decide that I am going for a run, Ian is floundering beneath the duvet and saying but it is blowing an 18 mile an hour wind out there. I can always come home I say and prepare to go. Next Ian joins me for the pre run kitchen warm up. Lots of leg swinging, lunging and gentle stretching with the accompanying face grimacing is performed. Suitably attired we set out, Ian has ditched his thermal baggy leggings and is now proudly wearing in his compression running leggings. He is soon leaving me behind as we run along Hillside rd. The morning sun is very low in the sky and is directly in my eyes, so I have to slow down, well that’s my excuse anyway. Just a short run out for both of us, just easing ourselves back in until we have rebuilt our stamina and preventing any injuries.

Wow do we feel good afterwards! Undisturbed sleep, sunny day and some exhilarating exercise. We topped it off with a quick walk just to make the most of the sunshine. We pass many walkers and plenty of show off runners swishing their ponytails, talking to their partners and running fast uphill. Unlike me this morning, working up to a gentle trot, bed hair a red face and frosty gasping breath.

Catching up with Rhiannon later via FT she tells me they had an inauguration party, just residing family all perfectly legitimate and safe, she had got hold of a life size cut out of Joe Biden who was presiding over the goings on. There was an American themed quiz, American diner food music and some line dancing. Yep she is still as mad as ever, but as she says what else are we to do and there is 6 of them and the cat. If you don’t make an effort to do things together everyone just sits staring into screens be it TV, phone or ipad and all in different rooms. I take my hat off to her.

The excitement at No 62 is almost palpable, we are getting our first Sainsburys home delivery, it’s like waiting for Santa! Trouble is our delivery slot is between 21.56 and 22.56. Luckily it arrived just after 10pm all was fine except I had ordered the wrong size bread and some of the potatoes were bad, nothing that wasn’t quickly sorted out the following day.

 

Friday 22^nd January

 

Jack Frost has been very busy during the night and a thick frost encrusts everything. Sunshine creeps across the lawn slowing melting the snowy white crystals away.

After a warming breakfast of porridge and banana we venture out. Ohh we are going out in the car, 1^st stop to pick up Ian’s prescription and then to drop off Max’s shopping. Max has bought us a big bouquet of flowers and 2 lottery tickets to say thank you for looking after him whilst he was poorly.

Munday Dene looked strikingly beautiful this morning. Clean fresh air fills our lungs and the sun warms our backs as we stroll along, listening to the birds singing away and we watch a Red Kite that has landed in a field and is trying to prise some food out of the frozen ground.

Spent an hour or so in the garden later just doing a bit of tidying and was delighted to be greeted by the glorious scent of Daphne Jaqueline Postil, one of my favourite garden plants. They are expensive but so worth it for the pretty flowers and the perfume that fills the garden at this time of year.

Ian made some Celeriac soup for our lunch, it smells lovely.

 

 

Tonight, we have a zoom with Martyn, Sue, Pauric and Coleen, it will be nice to catch up with them as we have not seen them since before Christmas.

Right I had better go and sort my hair out as it has been stuffed under a bobble hat for the best part of the day, can’t go on a zoom call looking like this.

I am pleased to report that todays diary was accompanied by T Rex Electric Warrior, fab album, great music.

 

Oh before I get told off again, here is this week’s menu.

 

Chicken Curry, Dhal and naan bread.

Roast Pork, stuffing, Roast Parsnips and Potatoes, Carrots and Broccoli.

Cold Pork, mashed Swede, parsnips and potato, green cabbage.

Teriyaki pork stir fry.

Cottage pie, cabbage and green beans.

Spag Bol.

 

Have a great weekend folks and as usual Stay Safe.

It's a grim news day.

 Monday January 18^th 2021.

 

A Coronavirus patient is admitted to hospital every 30 seconds we are informed by the BBC. NHS staff are getting desperate and some patients are being moved from London to Newcastle or where there is capacity. This is the fallout from Christmas and New year. A man in intensive care said he had 10 people round on Christmas day & they all got it. 1 died and several of the other ended up in hospital. 1 in 10 people were infected in December.

It is now feared that when people have had the vaccine, they will think that they can return to normal life. Whilst the vaccine will prevent you from becoming ill it will not stop you from contracting the disease and it is not known at the moment if it prevents transmission. 

 

 

Here’s the science bit.

 

When germs, such as the virus that causes COVID-19, invade our bodies, they attack and multiply. This invasion, called an infection, is what causes illness. Our immune system uses several tools to fight infection. Blood contains red cells, which carry oxygen to tissues and organs, and white or immune cells, which fight infection. Different types of white blood cells fight infection in different ways:

• Macrophages are white blood cells that swallow up and digest germs and dead or dying cells. The macrophages leave behind parts of the invading germs called antigens. The body identifies antigens as dangerous and stimulates antibodies to attack them.
• B-lymphocytes are defensive white blood cells. They produce antibodies that attack the pieces of the virus left behind by the macrophages.
• T-lymphocytes are another type of defensive white blood cell. They attack cells in the body that have already been infected.

The first time a person is infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, it can take several days or weeks for their body to make and use all the germ-fighting tools needed to get over the infection. After the infection, the person’s immune system remembers what it learned about how to protect the body against that disease.

The body keeps a few T-lymphocytes, called memory cells, that go into action quickly if the body encounters the same virus again. When the familiar antigens are detected, B-lymphocytes produce antibodies to attack them. Experts are still learning how long these memory cells protect a person against the virus that causes COVID-19.

How COVID-19 Vaccines Work

COVID-19 vaccines help our bodies develop immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19 without us having to get the illness. Different types of vaccines work in different ways to offer protection, but with all types of vaccines, the body is left with a supply of “memory” T-lymphocytes as well as B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight that virus in the future.

It typically takes a few weeks for the body to produce T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes after vaccination. Therefore, it is possible that a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and then get sick because the vaccine did not have enough time to provide protection.

Sometimes after vaccination, the process of building immunity can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal and are a sign that the body is building immunity.

So, we all need to still abide by the rules. Hands, Face, Space and Stay home.

Bad weather is forecast later in the week so we decide to venture out while we can. I make a decision to walk the towpath towards Temple Lock, a bit of a dangerous decision as it can get very busy along there, but we have not done it for so long and need a change of scenery. Plus, its Monday so usually quiet. I was right and we had a lovely walk almost making it to the lock, but the footpath became so waterlogged and muddy we had to turn back despite having our walking boots on. Again, I managed to get covered in mud and had to wash my boots when I got home, along with the socks and trousers, I had to scrape the mud off my trousers before getting them into the wash. We really enjoyed the walk and managed about 5 miles all in.

 

 

19.01.21.

 

Widespread Flooding is forecast, storm Christoph is coming to an already sodden UK. Wales and north England will get the worst of it but there is an amber warning across the Midlands and flood warnings in place. Heavy snow in Scotland by the end of the week.

I have also just read that there is a global suspension on cruising until April 30^th 2021. Our Alaska trip is looking very unlikely and quite honestly at the present time we hope it is cancelled.

 

Today it’s a dull and windy day but we go for a walk around the block before the rain sets in. we are glad we made the effort as the fresh air and the spot of rain was quite refreshing even if we were just pounding the pavements again.

Just walking the roads, we still contact with nature and it is heartening to hear the birds sing, Great Tits are calling loudly already, Robins sit on any available perch and belt out their glorious songs. Red kites circle overhead and Mrs Blackcap continues to visit our garden feeders. There is always something positive to see or hear if you just spend a bit of time to stop look and listen for it. It does me the world of good.

Max is much improved and apart from needing to regain a bit of strength and weight is nearly back to his normal self. He also has a date for his vaccine jabs, so jolly good news all round. We are doing his shopping for him but via click and collect.

 

Donald Trump leaves office tomorrow and is issuing pardons like sweets. One pardon will possibly be Businessman Sholam Weiss who was sentenced in 2000 to 845 years in prison - the longest white-collar prison term in the US. He faced 78 counts of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering related to a huge insurance fraud scheme. He too may see his sentence commuted. ??

It is also rumoured that Trump will pardon himself, his sons and his personal attorney.

20.01.2021

 

Storm Christoph raged through the night, gales and lashing rain. It’s no better today and we are living in perpetual twilight. No walking today. Some nice food, warm fire and relaxing.

 

Some grim reading in the news today I afraid. It’s not good but I want to document it so skip this bit if you are feeling low.

 

 Total deaths 91,470 with 37,946 people in hospital but 4,266,547 vaccines administered. Daily cases of the virus are still over 30,000 a day and the average deaths per day is still over 1,000. Yesterday it reached 1610 in a day.

On the BBC news every night there is a video report by Clive Myrie from the Royal London Hospital where 12 out of the 15 floors are occupied with covid patients. It is a sombre report, I can hardly watch it, it is distressing. One Dr was asked if she felt angry because people had broken the rules and caused this problem, she said it was just human nature. This was just after she had to tell someone that her husband in his mid 30s could likely die. The mortician broke down in tears as she was finding the amount of deaths and bodies to deal with overwhelming.

The damage has been done, Christmas gatherings seem to be to blame for this horrendous peak, but people still seem to be flouting the rules. Ian read yesterday that National Trusts Lacock Village in Wiltshire is just as busy now as it would be in the summer. 

I am sick of these people that don’t believe this is real or just apply their own rules when required. It makes me agitated and irritable.

 

Anyway, Trump is gone today, so that’s good news. Perhaps we have heard the last of him, but he is such a thick skinned, narcissistic bully he will continue to believe in himself. 

Will he hide away with his tail between his legs whilst sucking his dummy or will the Trump dynasty return. Let’s hope not.

 

Hopefully some better news tomorrow.

 

Uplifting Skylarks singing.

 16.01.21.

 

Its been snowing, only a little but Ian said it was quite heavy at 6am. I missed it as fast asleep. In fact, didn’t wake up until 9 gulp. Well we were once again woken up in the dead of night this time by next doors milkman grrr. Awake for a full 2 hrs after. I don’t stress about being awake as it’s not as though I have anywhere to get up and go to these days.

I can barely make out Winter Hill through the sleety, misty view from the window. I think the word for this type of day is dreich.

There is a delay to the Pfizer vaccine as they make modifications to the plant where it is made. Or are they modifying the vaccine??

Scotland have new tighter restrictions. Customers buying takeaway food are no longer allowed inside the premises, service must be from a hatch or doorway. Only essential services can offer a click and collect service.

Things seem to be slowing down on the infection rate, but the hospital admissions are still rising and with it the death rate too. Boris has not tightened restrictions for England. In the briefing last night, he emphasized that Covid is carried on items of shopping and deliveries. Keep washing your hands, don’t touch your face and clean everything that comes into the house.

From 4am on Monday 18th January the UK will shut its borders. All travel corridors have been suspended and everyone needs a negative test for arriving in the country.

Sunday 17th Jan.

 

Woke up feeling down. No idea why as I have been quite upbeat this week. Conversations during the Staying Inn yesterday revealed that others are feeling down, fed up and bored but mainly kind of down. Weather, lack of freedom, lack of choice and unable to go to the pub a restaurant or anywhere we fancy being the main reasons. So, everything really. We all try to put a positive spin on things and keep ourselves busy, get out & about and exercise but it’s all a bit samey with no immediate end in sight.

I may have mentioned this earlier but one of the scientists last week said that even if the infection rate comes down it is not a natural reduction in the disease it has just been suppressed. The analogy that was used was you can keep it under control by turning the heat down but turn the heat back up and it will soon boil over. In other words, stay home and don’t flex the rules.

So, there I was feeling down and fed up on a glorious sunny blue-sky day. Ian says we have to go for a walk. Miserable me cannot face another pavement walk and am desperate to venture to pastures new. Not allowed that so we start off up through the Vineyard down Pump Lane into Monkton lane, across the fields towards Little Marlow. The noise from the A404 is amazing so many cars on the road with nowhere to go and no one to see, what are they all doing?

As we come into a field by Emmets farm, I stop, listen and yes, I am sure I heard a Skylark. Oh yes, I did and there was the little beauty hovering up in the sky, singing away a truly uplifting sight and sound on this blue-sky day. It made me very happy and lifted the gloom. Movement to the right catches my eye and a whole flock of Skylarks skim over the field, back and forth, lots of them, more fly up high and start their happy song.

Circling round through Little Marlow past the Kings Head and the Queens Head both tightly closed up. Down the footpath back towards Marlow, it was really muddy, and I mean really muddy. Quite a few people out and about too but not too many to make it uncomfortable and everybody seemed to be in high spirits because of the lovely day.

Ian is playing a Taylor Swift album and its driving me mad as every song sounds the same. Same words, same tune, same tempo he likes it but arrrrrghhhh.

Willow is asleep on a sunny spot on the sofa, I am going to get the washing in off the line and should clean my boots and that’s it folks the sun will soon start to go down and we will light the fire and settle down to… oh no I just remembered Ian wants to watch the football.



Have a good week everyone and take care.

 

I want fish and I want it now.

 13^th January 2021.

 

Miserable grey day, cold and drizzly.

Max is much better today; he ate a whole dinner last night. Unfortunately, it’s such a miserable day, he is best staying indoors but things are looking up for him at last.

 

We went to the fish man this morning; he has been to Weybridge and says the virus is rife there its terrible, people are very sick also the lads on the docks in Grimsby are suffering badly with Covid too. We got into the car pronto and doused ourselves with anti-virus gel. A quick trip to Waitrose for some essentials, we cannot get a click and collect slot or a home delivery. Nic suggested we try if we wake up in the night so at 1 am I tried but no joy. Anyway, Waitrose was so quiet it was fine to be in there we felt safe enough. We are now well stocked up with veg that lasts so hopefully won’t need to shop again for a few weeks.

I am getting a bit jumpy about things and will feel safer when the rate starts to come down again. Signs are that it may already be happening here but if what the fish man says is true perhaps not!

The reason we were awake at 1am is that there was a cat fight which sounded as though it was happening inside our house it was so loud woke us both from a deep sleep. No sign of any intruders but Willow appeared to be traumatised. His cat flap must not have clicked shut and some other cat got in or was lying in wait for him by the back door. He is too old to be getting into fights and being frightened. Anyway, we could not sleep as we were too worried about him, he soon settled down and was gently snoring while we were wide awake looking for grocery slots. Hmmmm.

 

14.01.21.

 

We awake to the sound of cars swooshing through a drenched road outside our window. Double rain is the order of the day and it means another day stuck indoors. 

I decide to spring clean our bedroom whilst Ian settles down to watch the test match from Sri Lanka. I get a huge pang of “I want to go somewhere sunny and interesting” when I see the match from Galle. Luckily, we have been there, so some good memories of hot sunny days keep me happy for the moment.

We have had a problem with our shower and every morning it’s been a case of will this be the day that it packs in completely. We had a booking to get it fixed but that was next Wednesday. This morning we got a call as he was able to squeeze us in this afternoon. Euphoria to get the shower fixed and abject horror at having a workman in the house. Never mind we opened all the windows upstairs and the front door to create a through draft. Poor bugger must have been frozen, but it probably made him get his skates on and he had the job done in 15 minutes. A mass sanitising programme then commenced and then once again for good measure, keeping everything crossed that safety measures were adequate.

A good result today, clean bedroom, shower fixed and a home food delivery slot booked for next week.

 

15.01.21

 

Nextdoor’s roof has a thick covering of frost on it at 7.30 this morning. So, a brighter but colder day is a promise and we will get out for a walk later.

Max needed a bit of shopping I ventured into the supermarket again, we will get him co-ordinated with our big shop now he is getting better. Every day he gains a bit more ground   eating and sleeping better and he is hoping to get out for a short walk later. He is very excited about it as this will be the first time he has been over the doorstep this year. As he gets better, he starts to tell us the reality of what happened to him and how frightened he was that it was going to get worse and he would end up in hospital. He is terrified that he will contract it again.

 

 15.01.21

 

Today there is a ban on flights from the entire South American continent and Portugal from entering England. 2 new variants of the virus have been found in Brazil and is thought to be the reason for a significant rise in cases there. One of the 2 variants in Brazil has already been found in the UK. The health system in Brazil is said to be collapsing due to soaring infections.

There is concern that the current vaccines will not protect us against these variants, however they say it will only take a few weeks to tweak it.

Just for the record there is an absolute ban on leisure travel in the current lockdown.

Around the world 93 million cases have been reported and 2 million deaths. 

Another point of note I heard on the news yesterday was that China (Yes China!) reported 1 (yes that’s ONE) death the other day this was the 1st since May 2020. The WHO is in Wuhan to start a probe into the origins of the Coronavirus.

BBC news reports that some Asian communities are afraid or against having the vaccine as fake news report that there is meat or pork in the vaccine.

Snow is causing problems in the North and Scotland, but crowds of people are gathering in parks in Leeds to sledge and have snowball fights.

Vaccine administration is being ramped up all over the country but the South East and London seem to be falling short of targets.

Marlow vaccine centres are up and running but there is a supply issue at present.

 

Donald Trump has made history again as being the only President to be impeached twice. Soldiers are camped out inside the Capitol building and it is reported there are more USA forces in Washington than in Afghanistan and Iraq combined. 

 

No running today as it too cold again. We need to get out as it is going to rain again tomorrow, and the hordes of weekend walkers will be out. Good news is that rates appear to be going down in the local area at least.

 

Willow is living like a Lord. He gets freshly cooked fish, tinned Tuna and Dreamies on demand now. Good news is he appears to be putting on some weight, he is a very happy cat and takes the best spot in front of the fire each evening when his tummy is full. If his tummy is not full, we get the plaintive cry and the staring eyes until the situation is resolved to his satisfaction.

 

Some of our cooking this week.

Beef Bourguignonne

Homemade Veg Lasagne and salad (recipe needs tweaking a bit)

Liver and Onions, parsnip and potato mash, cabbage and carrots

Ian’s Minestrone soup.

Sea Bream, crushed potatoes, broccoli. (Beautiful fresh fish)

 

ACT LIKE YOU HAVE THE VIRUS

 09/01/21

 

Saturday dawns a bright and sunny morning. A very slight frost is around but it is a glorious day. Ian decides we need to do a big walk. We are missing our running but it’s too cold, I think it will be ok once we get started but its bad enough starting out on a walk with several layers, hat, scarf and gloves, perish the thought of just running gear.

We start off relatively early to avoid the weekend walker rush, and only really meet a few other walkers and er runners. Up through the vineyard to start, I love this walk at all the different times of the year, great views and it’s a treat to be able to walk through a vineyard, well we don’t have the beach so we have to try to compete with the coast dwellers and the fabulous beach pictures that get posted on FB. We are puffing a bit once we get to the top, that’s not good as we are only at the start. Into Pump Lane, our nursery running route, and take a left past the 3 Horseshoes and over the road. Mud, mud and more mud, I am not amused. Herman Munster springs to mind as I have so much mud on my boots, I can hardly lift my feet let alone walk. Once through the field and onto the footpath we are scraping the excess off our boots when 2 runners trot past us with barely a fleck of mud on them, nice day for a walk they say. Have you just run across that field I ask? yes comes back the reply as they disappear into the distance. I think they must know a secret way over unless they have special mud repellent running gear.

We wend our way down a footpath, I have never been along here before and am enjoying the new surroundings although I fear we are getting quite a way from home. We are now over the other side of Marlow Bottom and enter in Munces wood, we see a Woodpecker, several Redwings and lots of Blue and Great Tits. Loads of little birds making the most of the warm sunshine and abundance of berries.

Circling round the wood we follow the route and I am amazed at how steep the hill is going back down into Marlow Bottom, this backs on to gardens and in places is a sheer drop. I tread carefully and take my time; I don’t want to be hurtling down there any time soon.

We cross the road and head up the footpath on the other side of M Bottom, the climb here is steep and we are puffing again, we have had some good cardio exercise today despite not running. Once out of the woods we are at the top of Oak Tree road and only a few minutes from home. A lovely cup of coffee and Ian cooks us some Tortellini for lunch. The Stay Inn is opening at 3 so we had better get ourselves sorted. Not a cloud in the sky and the dreaded C word has been forgotten for a few hours at least.

 

Monday 11^th.

 

Max is in need of a few groceries, so we have to venture into Marlow to Sainsburys. It was 

very quiet, at last the residents of Marlow realise that they are not immune or excused from the virus or the rules. Max is still up and down but I think showing some signs of recovery. He is eating a little bit more and it’s a case of finding him a treat to tempt him. Today we bought him some Hot Cross buns and he had eaten one by the time we had got home. 

He now admits how ill he felt and at one stage could not walk in a straight line, he also said that feeling ill for such a long time and being isolated made him feel desperate and a couple of times very down indeed. We are hoping that he will be able to get out from tomorrow, just for a bit of a walk and some fresh air.

I manage only about an hour in the garden as it is howling a gale although a bit warmer, so admit defeat and go indoors and bake a cake.

 

Matt Hancock delivers todays daily briefing.

 

Vaccine roll out is well underway, but I don’t think it is happening in Marlow yet, despite it being advertised that it would be available from the 4^th Jan.

2.6 vaccines have been administered to 2.3 million people. Even if you have had the vaccine you must continue to adhere to the rules. Talking to my brother about the vaccines and the variants he did not allay my concerns by saying that there are a lot of ifs and buts around all of them at the moment and the worry is that if won’t be effective against the variants, as they could mutate faster than the vaccine can keep up with them.

 

Average deaths over the last week were 926 a day. We are at the worst stage of the pandemic so far. Further action of toughening lockdown is not being ruled out at this stage.

The new mantra is Act like you have the virus.

Having said that the rate of Infection in North Marlow is slowing down, In south Marlow it is increasing! The rate of infection is also decreasing where my brother lives, but the interactive map of the Government website is all dark blue or worse. West coast of Scotland and the Isle of Mull look like the place to be.

 

Tuesday 12^th.

 

Listening to the radio, having a vaccine does not necessarily mean that you won’t get the virus. You can still get it but should have limited symptoms and the risk of a serious case or hospitalisation is greatly reduced.  We have been warned that certain changes to our way of life will be with us for a long while and mask wearing might become a way of life for a long time. Also, they do not know at the moment if having the vaccine stops transmission of the virus.

Debates continue around people not having the 2^nd jab as early as originally planned, more people can have some element of protection by having a single dose than people getting the 2^nd dose. Again, this is all suck it and see as it is all unknown territory.

I managed to get out of bed this morning and have a little run, felt extremely exhilarated afterwards. There were no people around and very little traffic too, the weather has warmed up, so I was pleased I made the effort as it felt so good afterwards.

The Lunatics are taking over the asylum.

 January 6^th. Wednesday.

 

Another cold day but at least the wind has dropped a bit.

Max is eating a bit more, but a cough seems to be developing. We dropped off some more supplies as have Martyn & Sue. Max is extremely grateful, he is up and about each day, but he always says he is fine and never complains so we can’t really gauge how he is.

There was a briefing yesterday to announce how many vaccines had been administered a total of 1.3 million and 1 in 4 over 80’s had had it.

From next week we are to be getting daily briefings again. More of a positive side to the briefings as they will be Vaccine related.

1 in 50 people have the virus in England and its 1 in 30 people in London.

It appears that some MPs are furious at Boris locking us down.

Out for our exercise today I am pleased to report that Marlow was very quiet although there is still a lot of traffic on the roads.

Panic buying has reportedly set in again, not in Marlow Sainsburys, no sign of a problem there. In fact, I think it’s just the media trying to instil panic in again.

Martin Tett of Bucks council has said in his weekly update that the infection rate in Bucks is now 1000 per 100,000. 

The FTSE is doing well and is currently 6818.5 it’s nice to see a graph that has positive slant (no pun intended) to it.

 

January 8^th.

 

I don’t normally talk about President Trump unless he has done or said something really stupid, well he has surpassed himself this time. It was time for the electoral votes to be verified so he incited his supporters to go to the Capitol building where the count was taking place. They stormed the building. Chanting USA USA, (What relevance is this or do they chant it to remind themselves what country they live in?) a reporter asked what they were hoping to achieve by storming the building and he replied it’s our government they can’t take it away from us. Once inside the dumb wits took selfies of themselves sitting at Nancy Pelosi’s desk and several other full-face shots in various situations. So, it won’t be difficult to find them and lock them up then. 5 people died and leaders from all over the world have condemned Trumps actions. 

I sincerely hope that once he is no longer president he is arrested and charged with something so he cannot run for President again. I for one have had enough of this man and believe that he is deranged.

He must have had his backside kicked by someone or has been administered a tranquilliser as today he is very contrite and calls for an orderly transition of power. 

There is talk for him to be removed from office, I really hope that he is, it’s time to put a stop to him once and for all. A friend of ours in Philadelphia says that Trumps supporters (Nutjobs who don’t have a brain cell between them) liken him to the Messiah. He calls Trump a Narcissistic mental patient I think that says it all.

This is a photo of the Trump supporters inside the Capitol .

I

Covid news.

 

Travellers to the UK will need to show a negative test. This is because they are worried about variants coming into the country. The South African variant is of particular concern and they said on the news this morning that it may render the vaccine less effective.

Third vaccine approved in UK, produced by Moderna it is similar to the Pfizer one.

Signs as you drive out of towns telling you to Stop the spread are being erected.

Cases risen by 1/3 since Christmas and 50,000 a day are being reported.

R number estimated at 1.2.

Cases are rising everywhere but London has the most severe epidemic with the highest number of cases.

People are getting vaccinated but there still appears to be a supply issue.

     

 

What we are cooking.

 

Homemade Cottage pie.

Quiche and Salad.

Cold Lamb jacket potato and red cabbage.

Grilled Salmon, Blitva greens and potatoes. (Crushed potaoes, greens and garlic)

 

I