Covid - here we go again perhaps?

 November 27^th 2021

 

Well it looks a bit like here we go again. Latest news is that infection rates continue to rise in the UK. The really bad news is that there is another variant which the powers that be are very concerned about at present. It has already been given a name OMICRON. Predominantly present in South Africa but has been identified in Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel. It’s only a matter of time until it reaches here. The UKs red list is back, and several SA counties are on it. This means that people from the countries are not allowed to enter the UK unless they are Irish Nationals or UK residents. Arrivals will have to pay for and self-isolate in a government approved hotel for 10 days.

Countries across the world have also announced restrictions.

The authorities are tracking people that have arrived for SA in the last 10 days.

 

Austria is in a 10 day total lockdown as infection rates are very high there. This is in the main due to a very poor vaccination take up rate.

 

Here in Marlow things are looking rather grim. In North Marlow alone there are 118 cases and the rate per 100k is 1342.7. Great Marlow school reportedly has only 6 teachers working as either they are ill or self-isolating. Kids are SFH (Schooling from Home) again, well that’s if the parents can get them to. Ian & I had noticed a lot of teenagers around in the past week, that’s the reason why. There are not even enough teachers to hold zoom classes or monitor the SFH. 

 

The wearing of masks is a personal choice at the moment, we are wearing ours all the time when out and about. We had to venture into Reading on Thursday and were horrified by the lack of mask wearing. I would say that less than one in 10 people were wearing masks. We were sharply in and out of there.

Despite the raging infection rate in Marlow Dahhling, the High Street was packed to the rafters on Thursday night for Chris Evans to turn on the Christmas lights. He did a count down from 100, I bet that was so exciting. You would think he would have better material to keep a crowd entertained than a 100-1 count down.

 

Ian and I are fully vaccinated now, having had our 3^rd jab on Saturday 20^th November. We had the Moderna vaccine it gave Ian a couple of days of feeling a bit off and both of us had very sore arms for 3 days.

Jeremy had the same vaccine on the 25^th and had sweats and shivers that night, feeling quite poorly but was ok in the morning.

 

What will happen, will we have a normal Christmas, will Boris impose restrictions before then or at all?

 

In the UK 68.8% of the population have been fully vaccinated and worldwide only 42.7 of the population. Yesterday there were 160 new deaths and 7633 people in hospital.

 

Other news.

 

I have a cold….. grr.

Rhiannon has broken her Fibula and is in a cast for 6 weeks. Weve had a couple of trips to the hospital and a back seat in the car covered in plaster of Paris.

Our new log burner is lovely we are very pleased with it, especially as the cold weather has arrived.

The patio has been completed and is fabulous, the garden is a complete mess, but it will have to wait.

Terrible weather in the UK today. Very high winds 90mph in the north 58 or so in the South west only about 20 here. It’s very cold and damp we have even had a flurry of snow this morning.

Willow is still here, older and skinnier but still a happy chap, sleeping in the best places most of the day.

 

I will be keeping this updated now, if there is anyone out there still reading.

Chillier days are here.

 6th November 2021

 

It’s been a long time since I posted not a lot really has changed. The Autumn has been magnificent, lovely and warm in fact some days have been hot. In October we could catch the warmth of the late afternoon sunshine in the garden. Ian has only just stopped wearing shorts it’s been that warm and sunny.

This week we have seen the weather turn much colder with early morning frosts followed by sunny blue-sky days. Leaves on the trees are turning red and gold now and as I look out over Winter Hill it is tinged with gold as the setting sun catches the trees.

This week we went to the Cotswolds for a day out. It was a great decision and the day was a crisp sunny autumn one, perfect for viewing the honey warm colours of the Slaughters and Bouton on the Water.

I am desperate to get into the garden and tidy up but having compressed a disc in my back I am very limited to what I can do. I even had to let Ian loose unsupervised with a pair of secateurs the other day. Seriously I am very thankful for his help as It is tempting to get out there, but I know I will be taking a step backwards if I do. This week has been relatively pain free as I had dry needling (form of acupuncture) done and it worked a treat in relaxing the muscles in my back.

Had a visit to Age concern to apologise for my lack of attendance there and to my delight one of the Friday ladies who I feared had not faired well during lockdown was there. She was just as lively and cheerful as always, I was so pleased to see her, and then to learn that next week she is 100 years old. You would never guess it and such a positive attitude.

In September we had a week in Aldeburgh with Jon and Sarah. It was lovely to be away and enjoy the delights of the town (mainly pubs and restaurants) but the cottage we had left a lot to be desired. Nevertheless, we did have a lovely time even though it was quite busy. We are used to winter and having the place to ourselves.

We also had a cracking sunny and hot October weekend in WSM it was like the height of summer. We won’t mention the fact that we struggled to negotiate our way back to number 26 even without the additional hindrance of alcohol. Lovely weekend.

Our running days look like they might be over, I might try again but having had another fall I am not sure it’s a good thing for me. Ian’s knee is still not right so sadly it looks like he will have to hang up his running shoes. We still enjoy a walk around our running circuit to keep up with the changes in the seasons.

There has been a terrible cold going around it has laid people up for a few weeks. Jeremy & Nic have suffered and so has Rhiannon. We had it but got off lightly I think that possibly it’s because we had our flu jabs before contracting it.

Covid still dominates our day to day living but we carry on as best as we can. There are no restrictions at the moment, but the majority feeling (Friends) is that we should all be wearing masks again. Having said that not many people in the shops are doing this.

Headlines yesterday were that infections rates were at an all-time high and JVT said a hard winter ahead. Booster jabs are very important. Today however one newspaper said infection rates are plummeting. Reports are varied and very confusing. This time last year we were in zones and partial lockdown so it’s nice to see that things have improved. 

Even though infection rates are high, Hospitalisations and deaths remain low. Although cases are now rising again in older adults. Some of this may be due to parents going back to work and Granny and Grandpa looking after the kids or picking them up from school as the majority of school children remain unvaccinated.

Anti vaxers outside a school in Marlow were telling the kids that if they had the vaccine they would turn into fish.  There will be a lot of fish about then!

We have our boosters booked now and they have brought forward the dates you are allowed to have them from 6 months to 5 months from the 2^nd jab.

Still not enough people are getting vaccinated for us to reach a herd immunity state. For this 85% of the population need to be vaccinated and we are just about 67%.

 

Vax has been named as the word of 2021.

Costa Rica has made Covid jabs for children mandatory.

An anti-viral pill has been produced for the treatment of Covid and results so far are very positive.

The R number here is between 1 and 1.2. we’ve been locked down at that rate before. (Pre vaccines)

 

We are going back to Aldeburgh for a few days in a week or so and are both looking forward to that.

Willow is still with us despite getting thinner by the day. He still enjoys a good life and is happy and gets out and about. Sleeps most of the time in his various beds around the house.

Our new fireplace and stove are being fitted next week; we are looking forward to that especially as it is turning colder these nights and we are missing our fire.

 

Ooh the new bird box is up, although we are waiting for a cable extension to arrive before we can get it working. Hopefully we will have plenty of bird news and updates this year as we have changed the box and the camera. This too has not been without its trauma as a simple drilling of a hole through the wall turned into a nightmare job as the handyman decided to smash through the outside wall with a hammer. Leaving us with a massive hole and mess to patch up and make waterproof. 

 

And here’s a bit of a food update.

 

Meatball Traybake.

Chicken Cassoulet.

Chilli Can Carne.

Sea trout.

Smoked haddock on a bed of cabbage with a poached egg. 

Beef casserole.

Rib eye steak with red cabbage, roasted butternut squash and Parmentier potatoes.

Prawn stir fry

Veggie curry and Egg Curry.