“I don’t know how much more I’ve got to give to the NHS. We’re not getting the respect and now pay that we deserve. I’m just sick of it” (Jenny McGee)
Proceed with Caution
During a tidy up Monday morning, I searched bags for masks. 5 out of 10 still missing, it remained a mystery where half had gone. After posting blogs and starting a draft of the next episode of the journal, I went to the co-op, dodging busy traffic on the main road and screeching kids cluttering up the shopfloor. Waiting at the kiosk, I turned round to ask a young man standing close behind me to move back when the cash-desk suddenly looked free. But on approaching, my mate said he was still serving. Oops! Phil had disposed of all the rubbish while I was out. Chores done, I sat in a patch of sun on the garden wall, admiring bluebells and raindrops on leaves. Sleep was mediocre that night even with the meditation soundtrack.
The next step of the waymark reached, pub sales promptly jumped (2% higher than the same day 2020). Train companies added 2,500 services and bus capacity increased to 60 passengers. Additional ‘freedoms’ enabled trips to museums, cinemas, and foreign lands, albeit a limited number. BBC breakfast showed planes queueing on the runway to fly to Portugal, while metro reported airports were quiet. Go figure! In the familiar mantra of pushing responsibility onto the public, the government instructed us to ‘proceed with common sense’ and ‘a heavy dose of caution’, said we shouldn’t be going to amber countries and condemned tour operators for putting on extra flights. So why was it legal then? In Wales, indoor hospitality and entertainment were allowed as the alert level dropped to 2. In Scotland, 6 people could meet, except in Glasgow and Moray. The NAO cost-tracker revealed £172bn was spent on dealing with the pandemic so far (the total forecast was £372bn). Of 2,322 instances of the Indian variant, 483 were in Bolton and Blackburn. Newsnight discussed the upsurge with 2 local MPs. Yasmin Qureshi, Labour MP for Bolton SE, said people weren’t ‘choosing’ not to have the vaccine as The Cock irresponsibly suggested; the issue was access. Originally only 1 hub in the town centre with 6 vaccinators, she’d asked ages ago for community facilities. Mark Logan, Tory MP for Bolton NE agreed take-up wasn’t the problem as transmission occurred in younger people. Both lauded the recently introduced mobile unit which administered 6.200 extra jabs over the weekend. A 100 extra testing volunteers were also welcomed but local lockdown measures weren’t. Adam Finn of JCVI warned immunisation didn’t have an immediate effect and was no good for firefighting; they needed to think about the whole country and stick to the vaccination strategy. So, I wondered, how come they stuck to the age groups in Bolton but reportedly immunised all over 18’s in Blackburn? Poet Laureate Simon Armitages appeared at the end of the programme. He’d obviously spent lockdown eating pies!
Further to The Cock’s comments, metro’s ‘refuseniks’ headline and Andrew Lloyd-Webber calling people selfish for not being vaccinated, had me spluttering into my morning cuppa on Tuesday. The privileged git seemed to think his tawdry shows were the most important thing in the world! Receiving reminders for our second jabs, Phil said he’d be less worried afterwards. “It will take a few weeks to be effective,” I warned. “True. And rates will still go up, especially with young people doing that silly thing again.” “What? going to the pub for face-licking?”
I worked on the journal until 3, when I decided we needed to get outdoors in the warm sunshine and suggested a spot of gardening. I tore bindweeds out, hacked at brambles and filled another pot with soil from the old compost bin (itself turning into compost) to plant more wild garlic bulbs. Meanwhile, Phil poked at worms and planted the Christmas tree seeds I gave him (second time lucky?) In the evening, I left him watching highlights of Leeds United winning on MOTD to have a bath and set the alarm for 8.00 a.m. On a still night, I drifted slowly into slumber.
Following reports of 150 flights to France, Greece, Spain and America on Monday, the PM’s official spokesman briefed the press that travel to amber countries was only permitted for strictly limited purposes (work, essential services or compassionate reasons) and underlined the message of shifting the onus: “we are moving to a situation where the public can take responsibility for their actions.” But Useless George told us while we shouldn’t go on holiday, we could go to see family and friends, as long as we observed quarantine rules. Nick Thomas-Symonds retorted that borders had ‘unravelled into dangerous chaos’ within hours, with “a lack of strategy, which has meant the UK government, and their own ministers, are giving out conflicting advice.” Total relaxation on 21st June looked uncertain. The Bumbler said as vaccines built a ‘wall of defences’, he didn’t “see anything conclusive at the moment to say that we need to deviate from the road map.” But caution was required, the situation would be ‘closely observed’ and we’d know more in a few days. However, a source reported the chances of restrictions being lifted as planned were ‘next to nil’. Speculation mounted that if outbreaks were limited to specific areas, local measures might return. When would they learn that didn’t work! The nurse who looked after Boris when he had Covid last year, resigned. Jenny McGee cited a lack of respect for the NHS.
Indoculation
The volume too low, I didn’t hear the alarm Wednesday morning. I leapt up in panic, to be told by Phil I was ‘daft’. “There’s no need to be nasty!” I snapped. A hasty breakfast, coffee and cursory wipe of coffee tables preceded checking bus times and going for one due at 11.29. The bugger sailed past displaying a ‘not in service’ sign. As we awaited the next one, rain showers came, not becoming heavy until it arrived. A bit full for my liking, I huddled in my seat until we reached our stop. Thankfully, the rain had stopped too. At the health centre, we waited briefly before being admitted to the consulting room together. The staff friendlier than the previous visit, my arm hurt immediately after the injection. The doctor laughed and said it was quite normal. Unlike the first time, the HCA wrote our names on the cards. They let Phil take photos of syringes and me take tissues, which I’d forgotten in my haste to leave the house. We stood outside the exit door to assess symptoms. Phil agreed the jab had been more stabby but felt okay. We lingered in the carpark decorated with small apple trees in blossom (see below), then went in B&M for secateurs and came out with a basket-full. On the way to the market, Phil searched for a cash machine, finding only 1 where there the used to be 3, no longer attached to a bank. In fact, there was no longer a single branch in the whole valley! We stopped to chat to The Biker and his partner outside a small pub. “Are you coming in?” he asked. “No, we’re still being careful. We’ve just had our second dose.” Theirs due next week, we compared notes on side-effects. Word on the street was they could be worse after the booster shot, but we found the opposite. On parting, I again promised to pass on photos of his barge when we next walked up the canal. In the market hall, the excellent café was open and still cheap.
After ordering, Phil started to feel weird and went to spend 20p at the public convenience. Gone awhile, I fretted in case he’d passed out but the delay was caused by trying to navigate doors without touching anything. Putting masks back on for 10 seconds to get outside, we rested in the community garden, noting fat jackdaws gadding on lush grass studded with dandelions. Graffiti etched into the picnic table featured acrostics made of the word COVID – Cunts On Various Indoculation Drugs and similar witticisms. We took the back streets to Lidl, sped round and I used the free loo before going back to the bus stop. Less packed, we sat well away from 3 women who wore masks as chinstraps as they gassed.
Back home, Phil carried bags to the kitchen and went straight out again for baccy while I sorted groceries. We reflected we’d achieved a lot during our outing but hated the continual donning and shedding of masks. “I don’t fancy that just to go in a pub!” Inevitably tired, I dossed on the sofa and then in bed. Phil still spacey after a lie down, he threatened to have a pill to feel more weird. During a disturbed night, I shifted around to prevent lying on my achy arm. The sounds of chainsaws suggested yet more tree-felling on the railway. I dropped off when there was a pause in the noise, but it annoyingly re-started in the early hours.
Cases rose by 2,696 but only 3 deaths were recorded. Amidst the confusion over travel rules, 150 departures a day flew to amber list countries and the EU looked likely to say we could go to the continent if we’d had 2 jabs. Covboost planned to use 7 different vaccines in trials on 3,000 randomly selected volunteers. Phil considered applying for Leeds or Bradford but didn’t get round to it. An entire tower block in Velbert, Germany was quarantined due to some residents testing positive for the Indian variant. The inflation rate doubled in April thanks to price hikes in fuel and clothes. 10 days since the start of hostilities, the latest death toll stood at 219 Palestinians versus 12 Israelis. Biden told Israel to ‘de-escalate’, while anti-Semitic vitriol and attacks included a Rabbi being bricked in London.
Waking early on Thursday, I wondered why that hadn’t happened the previous morning when I had to be up! Wary of my achy arm, I did some exercise and helped Phil change bedding before bathing and working on the journal. Cold and rainy all day, I put on extra layers but still needed the central heating. Unable to focus on any more writing, I pottered about before going for a lie down. Barely able to keep my eyes open while reading, I enjoyed feeling dozy and cosy when Phil made a racket coming up; banging doors, stomping upstairs and singing in the loo! Irked, I made allowances for the space-headedness making him less conscious of his actions.
Covid dropped to 9th place in the cause of death league even with 2,874 new cases and 7 more deaths. Andrew Hayward was ‘very concerned’ about the spreadability of the Indian variant and warned of a third wave: “this strain can circulate very effectively…it’s more transmissible than the previous variant.” He urged the UK not to ‘waste the opportunity’ vaccines provided by allowing widespread travel. As 34-35 year olds were invited for a jab, Van Dam said the rate of injections would determine the feasibility of lifting restrictions on 21st June. Variant case went undetected for 3 weeks (21st April-11th May) in 8 local authority areas, resulting in people self-isolating rather than quarantining, due to a software upgrade of the TIT system. Equating to 800 cases across the UK, Blackburn was worst affected with 294 cases, followed by Blackpool, York, Bath, NE Somerset, Southend and Thurrock. Downing Street denied the glitch was linked to surges. Jeremy Hunt called for test and trace to be local and a surge of 32% in cases in Huddersfield (not all caused by the Indian variant) led to it being declared an ‘area of concern’, targeted testing and a vaccine drive.
Three years since the timetable debacle, Shats finally announced changes to the rail network. GBR (Great British Railways) would control infrastructure and private operators awarded concessions. “Delete ‘Great’, seeing as we’re not, take ‘ways’ off the end, and what have you got?” asked Phil. “British Rail! It’s not nationalisation though!” Flexi-tickets such as season tickets allowing travel 2 days a week and oyster-type cards were muted but mayn’t necessarily be cheaper. He echoed pleas to not holiday in amber countries, saying it was a lot of costly hassle. A vigil in Swansea turned into a riot and was branded ‘disgraceful’ by Nasty Patel. Peace broke out between Israel and Palestine but how long would the ceasefire last?
QT discussed ‘should we go on holiday?’ Nick Thomas-Symonds parroted the ‘slow, slow, slow’ line. Nads Zahawi tried to defend the government position. The Man from Iceland, Richard Walker, was perversely planning a trip to Greenland but wasn’t sure now. Most of the panel agreed unclear messages caused confusion over the amber list, some wanted red and green only while Devi Sridhar said the traffic lights didn’t work at all. She pleaded instead for patience until October when everyone was fully vaccinated and had Covid Passes, as happened in other countries (without specifying which ones).
Waxing Lyrical
Phil still felt weird Friday morning but improved later in the day. My arm not as painful, I managed a fair few exercises. Computing slow, Phil resorted to turning the internet off and on again while I went to the co-op. Staff re-stocking shelves ludicrously obstructed every aisle, oblivious to teenagers puzzling over the coffee machine let alone those of us just trying to get groceries. Although not a big shop, I couldn’t even lift the bags with my bad arm. I waited outside with a laden trolley for Phil to come and help as yet another shower descended from the leaden sky. Still no sign, I rang to prompt him to get a shift on. In the afternoon, I whizzed through the Eurovision songs. The Slovenian entry was so Euro I had no idea how it didn’t make the final. Strong competition from Lithuania, Serbia, Moldova, Italy and France, gave the UK no chance.
ONS data showed Covid infections going up, but not alarmingly (yet). Rates were highest in Yorkshire & The Humber, the North East and South East, and lowest in the South West. 49 cases of a new variant detected mainly in Yorkshire & Humber, were ‘under investigation’. On Look North, Kev Smith of PHE said there were about 3,000 mutants worldwide but only a few merited concern. The Indian variant thought to be 30% more infectious, the NHS aimed to administer a first dose to all adults by the end of June, a month ahead of schedule. The WHO found all vaccines worked on all strains but said social-distancing remained important. Dr. Hans Kluge warned: “Vaccines may be the light at the end of the tunnel but we cannot be blinded by that light.” Boris pledged to join the WHO’s Global Pandemic Radar; setting up a network of surveillance hubs by the end of the year, to ensure the world wasn’t “caught unawares again by a virus spreading among us unchecked.” Having warned of thousands of deaths, sage scientists now said a third wave was unlikely to overwhelm the NHS. Mobile vaccination centres moved into Blackburn and Bedford. The EU set to introduce covid travel certificates for its citizens by 1st July, Spain would welcome tourists from Monday even though it was on the UK’s amber list.
Starting grey on Saturday, the weather remained fine and the sun re-appeared late afternoon. Phil went to town for shopping and photography. I took a pile of recycling out, greeted a couple of neighbours and was busy pruning when he got back. The new secateurs proved effective on the shrubs at the back of garden which had gone rampant, as too had the creeping buttercup. Lovely yellow flowers they may be, especially in the wild, but the root tubers were a nuisance. I hacked at the worst of it until I got hot and tired.
Phil broke the cafetiere jug while washing up. The protective rubber rings long since lost from the tap, it was an accident waiting to happen. In the evening, we watched the shiny waxing moon cross the sky and the Eurovision Song Contest. My opinions altered slightly on a second hearing and San Marino gained cred points with guest artist Flo Rida waxing lyrical. Switching to Netflix when the interminable voting started, we subsequently discovered Italy won, France came second and the UK were bottom with nil points. Nothing to do with Brexit!
Rising late Sunday morning, I helped Phil find a replacement jug for the cafetiere and placed an Ocado order before drafting a haiku. The weather changeable all day, there was a brief bright spell late afternoon. I considered going out when it became cold and rainy again. Instead, I patched another pair of jeans while Phil rooted out a handy repair kit to put rubber rings on the end of the kitchen tap to guard against further breakages. On a manic last day of the football season, Leeds finished a creditable 9th in the table.
72% of adults now had 1 dose and 43% had 2 vaccine doses. Over the weekend, discovery of the Indian variant in more places led to surge testing in West London and over 18’s being offered jabs in Rochdale. Self-isolation pilots were coming to Newham, Hackney, Yorkshire & Humber, Cheshire, Merseyside, Manchester, Peterborough and Somerset. A PHE study demonstrated protection of up to 80% after 2 doses of AZ or Pfizer. Even so, Germany called the UK an ‘area of variant concern’ and banned travel, effective Sunday midnight. The Scumbag blogged that ‘herd immunity’ was the Plan A government strategy at the start of the pandemic and Plan B was “bodged amid utter and total chaos.” Nasty Patel came on the Marr to repudiate. The plot was to thicken in the coming days. Belarus effectively hijacked a civilian Ryanair plane flying from Athens to Vilnius. They told the crew there was a bomb on board, scrambled a MiG-26 fighter jet and ordered them to land at Minsk. Activist Journalist Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend Sofia Sepaga were promptly arrested. As Mike O’Leary claimed there were KGB agents on board, western leaders expressed outrage. But what action would they take against the sky piracy of the despot Lukashenko?
Reference:
i. My haigas: https://wordpress.com/posts/mondaymorninghaiga.wordpress.com
The Corvus Diaries 