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Travel vicariously

July 7, 2020 by notjustagranny

One of the benefits of this particular assignment are the books. I started reading a travelogue yesterday: Southern Cross to Pole Star – A. F. Tschiffely. It’s an account of 10,000 miles in the saddle through the Americas from Argentina to Washington in the early 20th century. Its absolutely fascinating and I am hooked. One of the features of the book that attracted me, was the cover – the illustration shows a detail of ‘Blue Putas’ by Marianne North (1830-1890). You may or may not know that hundreds (nearly 1000 in all) of Marianne North’s paintings are exhibited in a special gallery at Kew Gardens – well worth a visit when next in the area….its a visual smorgasbord of floral scenes from around the world; Marianne herself being an intrepid explorer in the 19th century. At a time when it was unheard of for women to travel on their own she visited places like Australia, African countries, the Pacific Idlabds, the Americas and many others. It’s an extraordinary collection of oil paintings and I delight in spending time there whenever I’m at Kew, and the gallery is open.

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In summary

June 9, 2020 by notjustagranny

Today is Monday 8th June 2020.
Boris Johnson announced 10 days ago that the lockdown would ease a little from Monday 1st June and we will be able to meet in an open space as a group of up to 6 people 👨‍👩‍👦👨‍👩‍👧 (not from the same household). Social distancing must still be priority and we must still keep 2 metres away ⛔️🧍🏻‍♀️➖🧍🏼‍♂️

Face coverings are now recommended in all enclosed areas 😷 to help protect you and others. They don’t have to be medical masks but just something to lessen any chance of catching or passing on germs. 🦠

The main message is still to keep washing your hands 🤲🏼 It’s recommended you don’t wear 🧤gloves but do use anti bacterial wipes, sanitizers or even better wash your hands 👏🏼

You are now allowed out of your homes to do shopping but also to exercise 🚴🏼‍♂️ as much as you want in an open space and currently with one other person from another household 🎾

Those shielding are still being advised to stay home and stay safe for now 🏠🧓🏻

On Monday Primary schools reopened 🏫 for Nursery, Reception, Yr 1 & Y6 ages only. They will prioritise the key workers children & the vulnerable first. You will not be fined for not sending your child/ren if you chose not to do so. Secondary schools are due to open to year 10 & 12 on the 15th June.

For everyone else parents are home schooling 👩🏼‍🏫 and teachers are doing remote learning using the internet. BBC bitesize is being used to help teach children who don’t have work or who want more help etc.

Some non essential shops will re-open from 15th June but details are yet unclear 💸 Takeaways are now open and some restaurants have adapted to offer takeaway services 🥢🍴

Last Thursday evening was the last 👏🏼👏🏼 for the NHS staff after 10 weeks of doing so. Standing united on our doorsteps, balconies and/or through open windows applauding and cheering for all our amazingly brave NHS staff 👩‍🔬🩺 who so courageously and selflessly battle to try and save as many lives as possible ❤️

The Excel in London (known as the NHS Nightingale hospital) currently hasn’t been used yet and has now been closed and will stay dormant until it is needed 🏥

There is still a shortage of PPE 😠

The new way to chat with friends and families has been by using apps like Zoom & MS Teams 👩🏽‍💻🧑🏾‍💻as well as the usual Whatsapp and FaceTime.
Live experiences are now available to watch anything from a live theatre performance 🎭, a safari 🐘🐅🦒 or an interesting chat in a museum 🦖

Petrol ⛽️ prices are currently £1.04 per litre for unleaded and £1.11 for diesel.

The current statement from the government has changed from Stay at Home, Stay Safe to Stay Alert, Stay Safe ⚠️

We are working towards lowering the “R” number and keeping it below 1. As long as we keep doing that then lock downs will ease 〽️We are currently between 0.7 & 0.9.

Tape on the floors at supermarkets & shops is a normal sight now 🏬 to help distance shoppers 🛒 from each other. Essential service workers & NHS staff are given priority in supermarkets at certain times.

Limited numbers of people are allowed inside shops🧍🏼‍♂️➖🧍🏼therefore queuing outside the store doors is the norm, 2 metres apart ✅

Businesses were told to continue to work from home unless unable to, then as long as the safety measures are in place, you may return to work 🚫

The Government is paying 80% of wages to all employees across the country who were furloughed due to Covid-19 💷 Furlough has been extended to October with employer contributions starting in August which some companies are unable to take advantage of so redundancies loom 😔

Cruise ships 🚢 are at anchor ⚓ while they’ve paused operations. Many airlines are still grounded ✈️ but any travel abroad must now be followed by two weeks quarantine 🔒

Parks are now open for exercise but playgrounds remain closed 🏃🏼‍♀️

You are advised not to use public transport unless necessary and if you do, then you must wear face covering 😷 A maximum of only 20 people are allowed on a bus at any one time.

No masses are allowed as churches ⛪️ 🕌 are still closed 🚫

Weddings 👰🏼🤵🏻 family celebrations 🥳 are cancelled for now.

Funerals ⚰️ are limited to only 10 guests 😪 all socially distanced so lots of funerals are now being shown online.

Entire sports ⚽️ 🏉 🎾 seasons have paused.

Premier League football ⚽️ has just been announced to continue from the 17th June behind closed doors. Golf⛳️ has now restarted in 2 balls. The Olympics have been postponed to 2021🥇🥈🥉

Concerts 🎫 tours 🚌 festivals 🤹🏻 entertainment events 🎭 are all cancelled and all theatres are closed for the foreseeable future.

If you are fortunate to have a neighbour who is a singer or in a band 👩🏼‍🎤 then you might be lucky enough to get some free entertainment live from their driveway or balcony👂🏽

Panic buying 🛒 of toilet paper, flour and pasta happened in the early days but now all are readily available again.
Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses 🏢 have switched to make visors, masks 😷 hand sanitizer 🧴 and PPE 🧤

Fines have been established for breaking lockdown rules.

You are still not allowed to visit or stay anywhere else other than your own home 🚷 but you are now allowed to drive to an exercise place (like a bigger park area) but preferably within 25 miles of your home 🚐 Public toilets🚽 aren’t open yet so don’t venture too far!

Seeing people wearing masks 😷 and gloves outside 🧤has become “normal”.

Air pollution has improved ☁️ Rivers are running clear💧 City & traffic emissions reduced ♻️ You now hear constant birdsong 🐦🎶 It feels like the Earth 🌎 is healing again…..

Until some people spoil it, forgetting how precious ALL life can be 🚶🧍🏿‍♀️🐴🐟🌳 and leave the area not as it should be, but covered in their rubbish no matter how big or small 🤬

Press conferences are held daily from either the PM 👨‍💼 or other government 🏛 officials. Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths ⚰️

Total cases: 6.6 million

Total recovered: 2,729,955

Total deaths: 393 000 – 40,465 in the UK 😢

This is Covid-19, Novel Coronavirus 🦠 declared a pandemic by WHO on March 11th, 2020.

Why do I write this status?

One day it will show up in my memory feed and will be a yearly reminder that life is precious and we should not take life or those and the things we love for granted 💕

In these past 10 weeks, I have learnt that I can do without many ‘things’ but people, experiences and memories are to be treasured 💛

Be thankful and be kind to each other always 🥰

Stay Alert, Stay Safe ❤️

I’m adding this to my status so that every year it will pop up on my memories so I will NEVER forget the way the world changed in 2020 🌍

I cannot take the credit for this post as I copied it from somewhere else but it is so true!

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Lockdown Day 46

May 8, 2020 by notjustagranny

VE DAY 75

What an emotional day. Naturally as soon as I got downstairs this morning I switched over to BBC1. They really do the whole patriotic big commemorative event thing so well, and they didn’t disappoint today.

By 10am I was already in tears. Seriously, I’m almost certain that I’m a reincarnation of someone who lived during the 2nd WW. It never fails to move me – listening to and watching footage from that period.

Whenever I hear Winston Churchill’s voice I literally get goosebumps from head to toe and tears well up in my eyes. I remember my visit to the War Rooms in Whitehall many years ago. I was meandering around the rooms looking at everything when suddenly his voice boomed out over the tannoy with his famous “We shall fight them….” speech. OMG I was rooted to the spot, tears pouring down my face…felt a bit of a twit, but fortunately it’s quite dark down there and no-one noticed.

The Spitfire flypast over the White Cliffs of Dover had me in tears once again, and how magnificent the Rex Arrows over London….oh how much I would have loved to see them for real.

Damn you Covid-19…

During my break I walked around the village capturing images of the decorations and bunting, and one street really got into the whole thing with flags, and bunting, tables and chairs out on the front of houses, tea sets and scones, champagne and the National Anthem…I chanced upon that just as it rang out from a huge speaker on someone’s lawn 🇬🇧👏👏👏👏 God Save the Queen 👸🏻 ❤❤

I got in a decent 3.49km and managed to walk along as many cut through as I could find…..added to my Hadrian’s Wall challenge 👏👏😀

This evening’s programmes were equally as moving with snippets of interviews from around the country…its really impressive to realise just how many 100+ year olds there are in this country.

The Queen’s speech at 9pm was equally as moving and as always she was perfect; her look, her words, her delivery. How lucky we are to have her.

I compiled a short video of all the decorations and hope you enjoy it.

Stay safe, and long live the Queen

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Lockdown Day 45

May 7, 2020 by notjustagranny

If I say I’m really tired, that would be an understatement 😜😜

So tonight I shall keep it short.

I’ve spent way too much time reading articles on Facebook and trying to keep up with developments and news, but my brain hurts. It’s all just going round and round, and at every turn the bloody government hack things up. PPE from Turkey- fail. Tracing app – fail. Care homes – fail. And the number of deaths keep going up.

I feel quite sad that we’re unable to celebrate VE Day tomorrow, but I dug around my client’s cupboards and found a flag that I shall hang out the window tomorrow. I saw a few out on other houses

So the current full moon is known as a flower moon and is the last supermoon for 2020. I took a walk up to the mound this evening in the hope of seeing the moon as I did last night but it was nowhere to be seen 😔😔🌕 Instead I got to see a spectacular sunset…bonus.

Late update 😀😀 I was already in bed and noticed how bright it was outside, so gown and slippers on and quietly down the stairs and outdoors to see the moon!! 👏👏🌚🌚 obviously not brilliant photos, but I’m happy I saw it

Apparently my grandson has started counting, but he’s decided that 1-7 are worthy of no more than a giggle, and goes straight 8, 9, 10 🥰🥰🥰👏👏

We had our weekly clap for carers again tonight and it was lovely to see everyone out. I was going to use my client’s bell, its huge and makes a noise, but I chickened out 🤣🤣🤣🐓🐓🐓

I did however go pit for a walk this afternoon but spent so much time on the phone with the agency trying to sort out my next job that I ran out of time to go far. I did see the lovely rainbow in the header photo though…🌈🌈🌈

Take care all…..catch you tomorrow

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Lockdown Day 44

May 6, 2020 by notjustagranny

Don’t miss this!! https://www.meteorwatch.org/iss-international-space-station-times-uk-may-2020/

So enjoyed watching Sir Keir Starmer at PMQs today. Wonderful to listen to calm, reasoned questions with no bluster or sulky undertones. I did enjoy his question on the statistics….he prempted Johnson’s reply and had his rebuttal ready 👏👏👏 in the form of a hard copy of the government’s own figures. Hah!!

I watched the BBC1 Michael Ball tribute to Capt. Tom Moore and cried all the way through. I think that, above all else, has defined the true spirit of people, and how one person can become the hope of a nation…he will go down in history as the little light in the darkness of this time 🕯

It was a fantastic day in Somerset, so I took myself out for a walk, followed my favourite route and along the way I stopped off at the corner of quiet contemplation…..at that point we had a grandparents facetime with the boo. He was meant to be eating his lunch…but that went by the wayside with all the attention 🥰 . I am so grateful to my daughter for these calls, they have kept me sane.

My corner of quiet contemplation

afterwards I walked around the mound, first the ramparts, then the moat, then I climbed to the top of the mound for a stunning view of the countryside. I will miss this very much.

Another 3.5km to add to my Hadrian’s Wall challenge 👏👏😄

The best news today was that Richard Branson’s begging bowl was not filled with money from the public purse – money that is needed for the public. However, my sympathies go to the 3,000 staff he is now effectively kicking out of his company. Let’s bear in mind that these same people have enabled him to continue to live on his private island, in the luxury to which he is ‘entitled’, but of course it’s not convenient for him to now support those same people, despite him falling into the category of ‘billionaire’. He has argued that the billions aren’t lying around in a slush fund, but rather tied up in paper shares….and of course there’s no opportunity in these difficult and trying times to convert some of those into cash in order to support his staff. He offered to put his island up as as collateral for the required loan from the government, so why not do that in order to support his ‘valued’ staff. I used to admire RB, but when a billionaire puts his hands out for a loan from the public purse, is when my respect goes down that stinky drain. I have 2 of his books in storage….when its suitable, I shall have a bonfire…they’ll make good kindling.

And so to bed perchance to dream….

Before locking up tonight I stepped out into the courtyard and saw the moon 🌕 so beautiful

Nearly a full moon

Take care folks….

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Lockdown Day 43

May 5, 2020 by notjustagranny

I really really need to finish working soon…..I woke up this morning straight into a full-blown panic attack. Scary. I struggled to breathe and my heart felt like it was going to jump out my chest. I’m not sure why!! Is it because I’m beginning to feel really closed in (despite being able to get out for walks), or is it my underlying stress of travelling next week? I don’t know. Or is it because the true reality that life post-lockdown is never ever going to be the same again, is starting to sink in.

Frankly, I’m really glad the planet is getting a chance to recover, that pollution levels are down, and the skies, rivers and seas are benefiting from less traffic, and animals are enjoying the freedom of less humans. But it’s the underlying fear of being in contact with ‘other’ people who may or may not have been exposed to the virus, the fear of inadvertently coming into contact with a smidgen of the virus left by someone else on a bus rail, supermarket trolley, underground escalators and so on. My grandson, although he doesn’t know it yet, is going to grow up in a world where hugging and playing with his school mates is going to be fraught with anxiety, a world where he will be wearing a mask….the most sinister aspect of this whole scenario (besides the virus itself), the worry of hugging my daughter and son-in-law when I visit – the inherent possibility of inadvertently passing the virus on, of entering someone else’s house….are they as hygienic as what I am? Do we still hug family when we see them again? Do we allow anyone to kiss us…even on the cheek? Being tactile could be the death of them or me!! Fortunately I’m not a very sociable person anyway and seldom go to places of high-density gatherings anymore, but there are still times when BC-19 we could just freely and easily mingle….especially the many wonderful London events I used to attend. Will all the amazing historical events go by the board? The annual traditional events around the country? Will I ever get on a plane again? All of these thoughts jumble around in my head…day after day. I leave here next week. I know I’ve been absolutely militant about keeping the house as uncontaminated as I possibly can (even upsetting the district nurses as I’ve said before), but I’ve got to work again…a new client, at new premises….has that environment been kept sterile? And then there’s the fortnightly travel from ‘home’ to work. I feel like just decamping to a remote island 😜😜😜

The fact that the UK’s death toll is now the highest in Europe doesn’t help either. And I’m not even sure we can trust that the government is giving us the full picture. They did a sneaky job of not reporting the care home deaths in the first few weeks, leading us to believe its less than it was….I’d rather it was less, much less, but to under report the true situation is just dishonest.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-coronavirus-death-toll-highest-europe-cases-covid-19-italy-spain-a9499181.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1588669521

After all the misinformation and inconsistencies he has made so far in relation to the true number of deaths (under-reported) and the correct number of tests done by 30th April (over-stated), I for one will treat this statement with the suspicion it deserves: “Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there is “high privacy” in the coronavirus contact-tracing app.” So no go app… https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/breaking-uk-now-highest-coronavirus-21975258

I won’t be downloading it. I simply do not trust anything they say, anymore.

Anyway……

I didn’t go out today, decided to have a sleep instead….either read or sleep in times of trouble 😜😜 and afterwards I had a marvellous facetime call with my little family again….my grandson, albeit only 15 months old, is very astute. Normally either my daughter or son-in-law will give me a call and the boo will be with them or running around….but today Mummy was in the bath when she called and added Daddy and the boo to the call….he found it absolutely hilarious that he could see her in the bath and on the phone…..he immediately picked up the absurdity of the situation and went into gales of laughter. At one stage he closed the door between himself and the bathroom as if to say “I’m not getting involved in this silliness “. He’s such a divine child. We laughed so much at his reaction.

I’ve been watching the BBC1 programme ‘Life and Birth’ 🥰🥰🥰 its so extraordinary watching those babies being born, I cry each and every time. It truly is a miracle. Each time I see that little life come into the world, I’m reminded of the extraordinary day my grandson was born….being there to watch him make his way into the world, was an experience beyond all others. Truly we are blessed.

And that’s it really…a relatively quiet day…..cooking, cleaning, preparing cups of coffee and….et al. I love routine, but its beginning to wear on me now….5.5 days…

As a matter of interest, if you have the time, I’d be interested to know whether or not you would download this new app they’re talking about?

Take care folks and be safe.

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Lockdown Day 42

May 4, 2020 by notjustagranny

Never in my wildest imagination did I think that when I started blogging my Lockdown mullings and meanderings, that 6 WEEKS later we’d still be in lockdown! And as yet no definitive date for easing.

My ‘work’ lockdown ends next Monday and once again, despite looking soooo very much forward to my family, I’m approaching the date with trepidation. 🤔🤔🤔😣😣

I finished 2 projects today 👏👏👏 1 small and 1 large.

I walked all the streets, roads and closes on the west side of the village during my break today- hoorah

Which brings me up to 24% of my Hadrian’s Wall challenge completed.

Anddd finally after 38 hours of knitting, spread over 16 months 😜😜, I finished the baby blanket my daughter ordered in 2018…..its been a huge undertaking and I didn’t realise just how much time it would take. I could have finished it months ago, but as it got bigger, so it got more and more heavy and my hands would ache after a few rows. The pattern rows took 8 minutes to knit from one end to the other, and the plain rows 5 minutes. But now its done and I’m so proud of it. It looks amazing… different perhaps to what was expected, but I added my own little twist by using up the oddments of wool I had left over from all the little cardigans I so lovingly knitted for my grandson’s layette. I’m not sure that people who don’t knit can really appreciate just how much goes into a hand-knitted item. It was a labour of love. I’ll post a photo of the full blanket once my daughter has seen it.

Knitted with so much love

And talking of birth and babies….I just love love this story 👏👏👏 https://www.channel4.com/news/wild-stork-chicks-to-hatch-in-uk-for-first-time-in-over-600-years

I chatted to my sister and brother-in-law in Cape Town this afternoon. He’s making steady and good progress recovering from the heart-attack he had last month. Although considered a mild attack, its still knocked them for six and they are both in recovery….

I told my client today that I would be leaving next Monday and she’s quite upset. Bless her, she thought I’d be here till after lockdown is lifted…and at least 5 or 6 times today she’s asked me “what day is it you’re leaving?” and when I remind her, she says the same thing “that’s awful, I’m really sorry you’re leaving I’ve really enjoyed having you here. ” Its really interesting, but she has absolutely no recollection of the first 5 days….I’m still traumatized 😜😜😜 But I’m glad its all worked out well in the end. I try to never leave on a bad note, although that does sometimes happen…mostly cause I don’t tolerate abuse….regardless of the situation, and sometimes it isn’t even the client but the family who are the nightmare. Thankfully not in this instance.

I’ll miss village and the quiet easy days in the countryside, although I suspect that once lockdown is lifted, its not going to be quite as ‘sleepy’ as it has been the last 6 weeks. Already there’s been an increase in traffic and the nights are not as quiet as before. The neighbours have been lovely too, and today one of the ladies dropped off some lovely cupcakes

But on the upside, I’ll be seeing my family, and that overrides everything else 🥰🥰🥰

I saw some beautiful flowers on my walk again today and got to wondering which flower has the smallest petal …..I did some research and found this “The world’s smallest flowering plant, the Wolffia Globosa, has come in to bloom at the Tsukuba botanical garden in Japan. The plant, more commonly known as Asian watermeal, is so small that to the naked eye it is impossible to tell if it has flowered” – not quite the smallest petal, but the blooms weigh the same as 2 grains of salt. Wowww

One thing I am looking forward to as well is breakfast at our favourite cafe; Beaches in Broadstairs….

Meanwhile: Couldn’t agree more!!! Support small local businesses. I refuse to support Amazon as a matter of principle, but I’m going to double my efforts to support local businesses going forward

I’ve been following some really interesting articles about Covid-19 and our not so esteemed government. Hmmm. The fan is beginning to spin and the spin is not working too well…

“The countries that moved fast have curtailed the epidemic. The countries that delayed have not. It’s as simple as that.”

Dr Richard Horton, editor in chief of The Lancet medical journal, is even more damning: “The handling of the COVID-19 crisis in the UK is the most serious science policy failure in a generation.” https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/biggest-failure-in-a-generation-where-did-britain-go-wrong-20200428-p54o2d.html

“In the past 24 hours, ministers said just under 76,500 tests were carried out, a drop of more than a third on the 122,000 tests carried out on 30 April.” – let us consider that Hancock didn’t promise to continue with 100,000 tests a day AFTER 30th April….especially consider that they bumped up the number of tests done, with tests sent out but not yet confirmed…a typical ‘pull the wool over your eyes’ strategy…a one trick pony. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52522936

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/04/rival-sage-group-covid-19-policy-clarified-david-king?CMP=share_btn_fb

https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/coronavirus-government-complains-to-bbc-boss-over-panorama-show-about-ppe

In closing…. point #1 especially

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Lockdown Day 41

May 3, 2020 by notjustagranny

Okay so perhaps the term should be changed from lockdown to lockup…

Okayyyyyy. Time to call the men in white coats. 1 slice toast….half marmite, half marmalade. So eating the first half…expecting marmalade, but kept thinking hmmm it tastes so much like marmite? Had a closer look…seems I smothered the marmite half with marmalade 🤪🤪🤪 we had a place in South Africa called Tara….if you’re looking for me, that’s where I am 🤣🤣🤣🤔🤔🤔🤔

Happy 100th Birthday Captain Tom 🎈

It’s so cool the the Post Office has recognised Capt. Tom with his own blue post box. Reminds me of the Olympic 2012 gold post boxes…I hope he gets out to see it.

“We are celebrating Captain Thomas Moore’s 100th birthday with a special postbox in honour of his incredible efforts to raise money for the NHS. The postbox is painted ‘NHS blue’ and includes a golden balloon and birthday greetings in honour of Captain Tom’s 100th birthday. The special postbox is located on Bedford Road, MK43 0LA in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire close to where Captain Tom lives.”

Although it was quite overcast and misty today, I pushed myself out the door and went for a lovely walk around the village…I decided that since all the country paths would likely be a muddy quagmire after the rain…I’d walk around the village and along every street, road and close on the east side…I can say for sure, some people are definitely not in the same boat…crikey some of the houses 😮😮😮 and they have the audacity to include the word ‘cottage’ in the name….🤪🤪 I didn’t photograph the houses, but I did capture some colourful flowers….can you imagine such colours and just how tiny some petals are. I loved the caterpillar face. I got in just over 3  kms and that makes me a ‘trail blazer’ on the Hadrian’s Wall challenge👏👏😃😃

The tone of the Covid-19 stories are starting to become more accusatory. Started off with the general tone of confusion and dismay, then informative and riven with horror as the number of deaths and infections escalated, and now…slowly they’re becoming increasingly questioning and accusatory…. Covid-19 has laid bare the longterm failure of our collective governments to build a secure economy and future that is fair for everyone.

Two sides of the same coin…different headlines, different stories….same difference….look at who our countries are run by!!

When Covid hit, the United States was also among the vulnerable, and the virus has exposed so many of its long-term ailments – its income disparities, racial inequality, democratic sickliness, inoperative government, toxic polarisation, decline of reason, the downgrading of science, the lessening of its global influence, the absence of global leadership.

“Britain has not been exceptional in much, except in its refusal to inform and debate with the public over lockdown. It has behaved like an old-fashioned centralist bureaucracy, with ministers and officials mouthing slogans and giving orders. What is the matter with the government? Why can’t we sit on a bench?”

And on the subject of PPE – I do hope that there will one day be a time of reckoning – I will sign every single petition that calls for a public enquiry .

Ending on a more positive note – how cute is this : helping hedgehogs.

Again today we caught up on facetime and it was a party…I finally figured out how to capture a screenshot…so here’s the blur kissing Mummy

Now to sort out my expression 🤪🤪

Take care folks. There’s talk of UK schools opening on 1st June. Way too soon in my humble opinion, and from the comments on Facebook, many parents feel exactly the same. The 2020 school year should just be written off…let the schools open on 1st September and start over. All that’s going to happen is an increase in stress, fear and unhappiness….and children who are already emotionally affected by the whole situation are now going to be pushed to catch up, causing even more stress. Its mad.

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Lockdown Day 40

May 2, 2020 by notjustagranny

I’m getting tired now. After almost 6 weeks of working I’m tired. I nearly broke my big toe this evening walking up the stairs to the bedroom…I misjudged the height and whacked it good and solid. Ouch. 8.5 days to go…

On the meal preparation front, I outdid myself with tonight’s supper…a sweet and sour fish curry. OMG. I wasn’t really in the mood for cooking and just chucked all the ingredients into the pan….and if was delicious. Fortunately I made a huge batch of the curry sauce, so tomorrow night we’ll have it with Quorn mince. Yum.

So today I continued compiling my post-lockdown travel list:

Lavender Farm
Thames Rib Experience
Visit Hungarian family
Zip line in Wales
Finish the Pilgrim’s Way
Walk St Cuthberts Way
Walk the Two Saints Way
Walk Hadrian’s Wall
Start walking the South Coast Route
And enroute Walk around The Isle of Wight
Walk the coast of Wales
Visit Skye
Visit the Lake District

Except for one, all local. The international trip I’m planning to do by train and have already been looking at routes. It’ll take much longer, but I want to avoid air travel as much as possible, and besides which, the scenery would be amazing. I may even take an extended trip back and stop off in different countries enroute.

I didn’t get out for a walk today instead I spent a good half hour facetime with my grandson 😃😃😃💙👶🏻😊 He’s so cute. Then I had a snooze and continued reading the latest book: The Pure in Heart by Susan Hill that I started yesterday. Its actually the book before the one I read already, but I’m still enjoying it…

I watched a nature programme on BBC2 earlier, about different apes. They featured macaques and oh my gosh, they are so like humans its extraordinary.

I barely watched the news today, I just cannot bring myself to listen to the lies and fabrications anymore. Learning that the testing targets were reached by inflating the numbers and including tests sent out but not yet returned and checked is beyond sickening. The Tories are playing politics with people’s lives. The litany of errors and missed opportunities due to incompetence or arrogance is astounding.

If it wasn’t for our NHS staff who are working tirelessly, we would be in a more serious situation. K saw this beautiful image on Facebook today, and although it depicts the Australian medical profession, I think it can apply to any country

Thank you 👏👏👏💙💙💙🌈🌈🌈

I hope you are all well and keeping safe. All the best…

Posted in around the UK, gratitude, Health | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

Lockdown Day 39

May 1, 2020 by notjustagranny

So this is what Lent feels like…I haven’t had physical contact with a single person for 40 nights and 40 days. May as well live in the desert…

I suddenly realized today that I haven’t had any physical contact with anyone since 22nd March when I said goodbye to my daughter….its bizarre. I’m quite a tactile person and even when I was walking the Camino on my own in 2017, I still had loads of hugs from fellow pilgrims, albergue owners and sometimes just a fist bump with a random stranger.

Much as I’m really glad the earth is getting a chance to heal, I’ll be glad when lockdown is over, although I suspect that hugging and fist bumps will no longer be on the agenda. How awful its going to be, to be afraid of hugs. 😭😭😭😭

I just hope that we won’t lose much enjoyed hugs between family. Talking of family I had a delightful facetime with my daughter and grandson today. Gosh he’s adorable. I was talking to him and blowing him kisses, so he took the phone away from his Mummy and walked around kissing my face 🥰🥰🥰💙👶🏻 oh my gosh it was so cute. All I could see was his forehead and the adorable curl on his head…my daughter was beside herself with laughter…he’s a real charm.

My days in Nether Stowey are numbered now, only 9 to go and I’m off….although of course, all being well I’ll be back in July. Weirdly I’ve been quite happy here and although I’m desperate to see my family, and I’m really quite tired now (and sick of meal planning 🤪🤪), I’m quite sad to go. It’s a lovely area and once we got past the initial issues, I’ve gotten on quite well with my client. I am not looking forward to the journey though. Its going to be long…I just hope there will be trains 🤔🤔🤔

I’ve started a new book; The Pure in Heart – Susan Hill….one of my favourite authors. So this will be the 9th book I’ve read since being in lockdown.

Had a lovely long walk today; 5.4 kms. I just felt like I really needed to stretch my legs, and the area is so beautiful its hard to resist…although of course I have done quite a lot of that 😂😂

My sister mentioned that the SA government has now started on phase 4 ; a lifting of the lockdown is in progress…means they can now actually go out for a very short walk. It all seems very organized and puts our shambolic government to shame

To see how the number of deaths is mounting is quite terrifying, and seeing how the government is putting a spin on everything is disgusting. I’m so sick of their dishonesty. Even one of the most fundamental issues of getting a grip on this virus; testing, has had their warped spin applied

https://www.hsj.co.uk/quality-and-performance/revealed-how-government-changed-the-rules-to-hit-100000-tests-target/7027544.article#.Xqw3EoFpNi4.facebook

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/01/ministers-accused-of-changing-covid-19-test-tally-to-hit-100000-goal

I truly hope there will be a public enquiry and that certain members of the party will….I’d like to say hang, but I guess that’s a bit harsh…however if you consider the number of people who have died due to their incompetence…well…perhaps drawn and quartered might suffice.

Piers Morgan wrote a very accurate piece on the Covid-19 timeline and how the Tory government seriously missed so many red flags….while our emperor was cavorting with his latest piece of fluff, Rome, so to speak was burning….or in this case the UK. And now we have the 2nd highest number of deaths in the world, the most shambolic distribution of PPE and a bunch of bald-faced liars who pump up the numbers to make it look as if they’re being ‘successful’. The day of reckoning will come. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8275365/PIERS-MORGAN-Boris-boast-wants-death-toll-tells-real-story.html?ito=facebook_share_article-bottom

I’m not (usually) a Daily Mail reader and I’m not actually a fan of Piers Morgan, but by golly he’s hit the nail on the head.

And do another day goes by…who knows what the future might hold. With all the saber-rattling going on in the White House, I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw nuclear warheads flying overhead between Beijing and Washington one of these days.

Stay safe folks…

Posted in around the UK, book reviews, family and relationships, gratitude, It's my life, me and Peanut, walk 1000 miles 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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