Foul February has arrived!

 02.02.21

I forgot to mention yesterday that there is a great deal of activity with the bird box. Both Mr. & Mrs BT were checking out the accommodation and are active again this morning. 

Sunshine was forecast for this afternoon and I got quite excited about it as the temperature is set to be 12 degrees. The dawn breaks and yet another grey day appears, then a watery sun tries to make an appearance, the forecast is gloomy as the promised sunshine has gone. However, I am holding out some hope as I can make out some blue sky out the back and hopefully the cloud is thin enough to dissipate later on.

Ian went for a walk; I cleaned the house and did a bit of washing and got changed to go for a run that’s when the rain started. So, I had a coffee and a chocolate biscuit and then went for a run accompanied by some sunshine on the way. I am hoping that the sun gets out a bit more as I plan to sit in the garden (Summer House) a while and catch some happy rays.

Matt Hancock did last night’s briefing, mostly it was about the South African Variant which is causing some concern. There is not much of it about at present, but it is about in various parts of the country, they are trying to contain it and households in those areas are being asked to stay home and take a test. A list of postcodes was read out where this applies.

Another Vaccine has been developed and if approved will be manufactured in Scotland. The UK did not have any manufacturing plants for vaccines prior to the Pandemic and now has 3 or 4. We have over 400 million vaccines on order.

The AZ vaccine (produced in the UK) is available worldwide @cost.

We did manage an hour in the summer house getting some sunshine and a welcome change of venue and scenery, all 3 of us enjoyed it too. Willow has an in built radar as to when someone is in the summerhouse and high tails it in there and bags the best seat.

03.02.21

Weather much better than forecast, no rain so we nipped out for a quick walk. Popped into the Age concern garden to see how things are progressing, there are some signs of life but its still quite dormant. I will pop down and weed a bit if it ever brightens up again.

Higginson park is flooded as is much of the river area in and around Marlow and Cookham. Swans paddle around on the cricket area and swim around benches half submerged into the muddy river water.

We sit on a bench (not a half submerged one) for 20 minutes or so watching the comings and goings and manage to feel a bit of warm sun on our faces, it was lovely.

Foul Fourth of Feb 2021.

A heavy mist / fog hangs in the air, no sign of Winter Hill today. I had planned to do some gardening but at present can’t see it happening. In fact, can’t see anything much, visibility poor.

Usually we are bound for sunnier climes at this time of year and I am really missing it. Every day is the same, bad weather and nothing to do except mundane tasks which are requiring an inordinate amount of motivation. I think I might go into hibernation for the next 3 weeks, only wake me up if it's sunny or I get a jab date please.

My friend Sara works on the vaccination project and has had a jab as she is now classified as a front-line worker, she is type 1 diabetic and so is extremely pleased at the age of 46 to have got it. 

Over 10 million people are now reported to have had the jab and Boris last night was visibly relaxed his demeaner was so different and even one or twice rested his leg on the base of the podium in a very relaxed manner. We may have reached the peak in fact got over it, but they are very cautious as the rate of infection is still dangerously high, much higher than the peak in April.

A trial is taking place to see if doses of the vaccine can be mixed for 1st and 2nd doses. When this was fist muted several weeks ago it was not an option.