January 1st 2021.
Last night Ian cooked a magnificent Chicken Biriyani, it was so aromatic and flavoursome. We were in bed by 10.30 but woken up by the fireworks at midnight, quite a few going off but not for very long.
After a lovely breakfast of smoked Salmon and Scrambled eggs with a glass of left-over fizz we watched the New Year’s concert from the Musikverein in Vienna. It was very strange not to have an audience this year but still very enjoyable and is a tradition for us to watch it. There were short films of someone travelling around Austria and it set the travel bug itching again.
Later the Stay Inn opened up and celebrations drinks partaken. Jeremy & Nic still isolating but thankfully no signs of the foul pestilence. Ian cooked a lovely Roast Lamb dinner and folks that was the extent of New Year’s Day.
January 2nd 2021. Saturday
Any remaining decorations and the Christmas Tree were finally banished to the loft for another year. I have enjoyed the tree and decorations this year, I think it’s because we had more time and also didn’t over crowd the place. We thought the living room would look bereft without its twinkling adornments, but it looked fresh and clean and tidy again.
We then set off for a walk, bit of a dodgy thing to do round here on a Saturday, but we were in need of fresh air. We could not walk through the vineyard as the chain of people going up the hill looked as busy as people trekking up Snowdonia, we drove up to Pump Lane and avoided the masses. Had a good walk, the weather is very fresh but sunny intervals and it was nice to get out. Max has gone into Wycombe to have a Covid test as he is still not well.
January 3rd
Walked down to Max’s to deliver some homemade Minestrone soup and get him some milk. We then walked a bit, picked up some supplies and got our steps in. It is still very cold but you soon warm up when walking.
Left over lamb dinner was delicious and I made a Blackberry crumble as Ian keeps moaning about how much room they are taking up in the freezer.
Max rang to say Covid test was positive, he is feeling a bit better today and has so far only had mild symptoms. However, no cough and no temperature so just because you don’t have these symptoms don’t think you are free of it. He is feeling very lethargic and has no appetite.
A beautiful sunny afternoon with clear blue sky, it was pleasant in the sun and out of the wind. I managed an hour or so in the garden and was lifted by the sight of Hellebores coming into flower along with some primroses and bulbs pushing through the cold earth. Willow joined me for a while but soon got bored when a Robin refused to fly into his mouth even though he had hidden himself under a bush in the vain hope he could catch it.
January 4th.
Some general boring cleaning duties completed I was forced to get some fresh air by Ian. It was very very cold as there was a fierce north east wind. Walking along Hillside road reminded us of being down at St Marys Island Whitley Bay on a winter’s day. It almost took our faces off. Just a quick one round the block today as its dull and windy. Nought else to report. The Griffins are on their final day of self-isolation and Max is OK.
We did have a National Trust slot at Cliveden booked for a different walk, but sense has prevailed and its been cancelled. Seeing how easily Max has caught this it’s not even safe to be going for a walk with someone not from your household. I am sure it would have been fine, but we are not willing to take the risk as there could be a lot of people about. I have also realised that when I am out, and people walk past I have unconsciously started holding my breath again.
The Virus round up.
Things are going from worse to worse. Rates are soaring and, in our opinion, we should have a National Lockdown. Matt Hancock has said he is extremely worried about the South African variant, but I don’t know why he has said that, will research it.
The 1st Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines were started today. I have checked out where we stand in in the listings and out of 9 criteria, we are No 8 in the +60 group. I hear tell that Sarah’s Mum and Dad are getting theirs this week, so that’s good news.
Key points:
- Boris Johnson says tougher measures to be announced - but it's unclear when
- Nicola Sturgeon announces national lockdown for Scotland from midnight after 'massive blow' of new variant
- NHS staff 'seeing something they've never seen' as COVID strain grows, says NHS England chief Stephen Powis
- Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt says NHS crisis now 'off the scale' and calls for immediate ban on household mixing and for all schools to close
- First dose of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine given to Brian Pinker, 82, as rollout begins
- Most primary schools in England reopen - but parents face 'confusing picture' on whether to send children back
A nationwide lockdown will be introduced in Scotland from midnight tonight for the whole of January, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.
Addressing the Scottish Parliament, which has been recalled, the first minister said the situation was "extremely serious".
People will be told to stay at home, with exceptions for exercise and essential journeys. Ms Sturgeon said it would be like the lockdown of last March.
She said the new variant was now accounting for almost half of the new cases in Scotland
Wales cases 'still far too high'
The new COVID-19 variant is "spreading quickly throughout Wales", the country's health minister has said.
Vaughan Gething told a press conference that cases of coronavirus in Wales "remain very high", though rates have fallen back from "incredibly high levels" seen before Christmas.
"The overall incidence rate for Wales has fallen from a high of 636 cases per 100,000 people on December 17 to 446 cases today," Mr Gething said.
Buckinghamshire
Find out more about the restrictions in your area
628
cases per 100,000 people in the latest week 24 Dec-30 Dec. The average area in England had 411.
3,415
cases in the latest week 24 Dec-30 Dec
+648
compared with the previous week
17,153
total cases to 3 Jan
505
coronavirus-related deaths registered to 18 Dec
And then came the news we have been waiting for.
Later this evening Jan 4th the Prime Minister once again addressed the country and announced that we are to once again go into lockdown. Everyone should follow the new rules from now on and they will become law at 00.01 on Wednesday 6th Jan 2021 and last until the middle of February if we are very lucky.
It is easier to say what you can do rather that what you can’t.
We may leave the house, to exercise once a day only, buy food, medical reasons, go to work if its impossible to work from home. Marriages and funerals are also allowed but no celebrations after.
Schooling of any kind or age range apart from keyworkers children is also a do it from home affair.
Rhiannon is reluctantly coming back to Marlow. Max is still feeling poorly but no worse, he is not eating which is a worry as he is getting very fatigued.
Supermarkets reporting strain as online delivery slots in high demand. There are virtual queues for online shopping.
We are planning different things to eat and hoping it warms up its blinking freezing out there today.
No doubt I will be back soon as there is nought else to do.
Keep safe folks.
No comments:
Post a Comment