Coronavirus

[studentforever]

It's good to hear other people being in the same boat but still remaining positive. I'll try to be glad for people like my recently bereaved (not Covid though) neighbour who will be able to see his children and grand-children who live nearby even if not all at the same time. Can't eat chocolate (it sets off my arthritis for some unknown reason) but got some lovely fruit jellies and nougat and treated myself to a gooey coffee flavoured swiss roll to perk me up over the next few days. I've bought my Christmas cards and ordered another 3 'hieroglyph masks' from my Egyptology group. They are very nice, washable, masks with option of added disposable filters and printed with a hieroglyph design. Bright and cheerful and DIFFERENT. So these will be added to some Christmas cards to favoured friends. I've also stocked up on printer ink for the Christmas letters which will have to wait until I'm feeling a bit more positive.

[jil]

Still waiting to see what the rules will be for England when Lockdown 2 ends on 2nd Dec. For the last few years I've gone on a walking holiday in the Lake District over Christmas. If Lancashire goes back into Tier 3 restrictions I won't be able to do that but hopefully will be able to form a bubble with some friends. I'll definitely put the decorations up, it always cheers up the dark evenings, and have already started on the Christmas food, I'm most of the way through a panettone and a packet of lebkuchen!

[ggordon]

It occurred to me this morning that even though I have had many trips to doctor appointments and shopping, I have not been sick once since masks in public were mandated here. I'm guessing the masks are helping prevent the spread of other diseases too.

[Randi]

The German videos are great! I am hoping the US will start a public service campaign soon. I had been on the look out for someone we could all put our trust in. Young, Old, regardless of politics or location. We have a couple comic strips with perennial couch potatoes. Mickey Mouse is not quite right- Maybe Elmo from our Children's programing. Or the National Basketball League.
Stay Well, All.

Just found

(https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyl ... l_optimist)
Not couch potatoes, but the right idea!

[AvastMH]

Well done Charlie Brown and well done Snoopy
Everyone's getting nervous about what will happen when the current lockdown ends (last day = 2nd Dec). The police have now decided to stop fining people £10,000 for large gatherings because they are not sure if it is truly legal to do so. Perhaps the people taking such anti-social actions could simply pay for a few of the consequent funerals that they cause?

[Randi]

[Morgan]

Of course! Who doesn't trust Snoopy, or his little friend Woodstock. Not Lucy, of course.
Thanks for the smile, Randi.
Morgan

[AvastMH]

Love Non Sequitur, Randi. Amusingly pointed

[Randi]

While collecting material for Today in Naval History, I found a reference to the Balmis Expedition.

The Balmis Expedition, officially called the Real Expedición Filantrópica de la Vacuna (Royal Philanthropic Vaccine Expedition) was a three-year mission, from 1803 to 1806, to Spanish America and Asia led by Dr. Francisco Javier de Balmis with the aim of vaccinating millions against smallpox. Vaccination, a much safer way to prevent smallpox than older methods such as inoculation, had been introduced by the English physician Edward Jenner in 1798.

I joined OW to help with climate research, but finds like this are my favorite part

[Michael]

Me, too!

[jil]

I can't even find a pharmacy that will take my money. They are all still just dealing with those who normally get a free NHS flu jab. (For those outside the UK, normally you get a free jab if you're 65 & over or have other health issues or work in health care. Earlier in the year the Government said they were going to also include anyone aged 50-65, just not straight away...) Basically I'm too young & fit and I don't get to say that very often, if ever!

Had my flu jab today (and free as well). Just needed to be more patient

[Randi]

Poem: In the Time of Pandemic

Background: The story behind ‘And the People Stayed Home,’ the little poem that became so much more

(This is the first I heard about it)

[studentforever]

With our politicians the only comment is 'You couldn't make it up!'

We were told - 3 households, 5 days. 'Don't have to go for maximum, don't mix bubbles, same bubble over whole holiday. Fine, people started to order food, book tickets etc. Now, oooh dear, cases going up, maybe we got it wrong, nooo, people were promised, Scotland will consider its needs, should keep 4 way agreement, because you can then you don't have to take maximum relaxation of rules, put Christmas back to Easter, summer... So who knows what will be decided and will it still hold on 23rd Dec.

Meantime, 1 week to go, arrangements made by many people, especially those with dispersed families and politicians in usual state of disarray. I had just about got used to idea of solo Christmas when relaxation of rules. Brother, only close relative, wanted to get together as usual. OK, 240 mile drive but mainly motorway, main problem traffic jams. Don't plan on entertaining anyone else Apart from Covid resistant church service, only meet people if weather dry enough to tempt us out for a walk and the last minute shop on Christmas Eve - mainly to collect pre-ordered meat from butchers. But regulations now 'under consideration'. Latest seems to indicate reducing no of households - no problem, distance travelled -oh dear, too far and across Scotland/England border, reduce no of days - is it worth the drive? So, I join the band of people restricted, promised release, lock down again. At least I haven't paid megabucks for train tickets which I suspect may not be refundable unless you bought the most expensive ones.

Season of goodwill - I think I'll exempt politicians

[Randi]

No better here

[studentforever]

We now have a generous helping of fudge to sweeten our Christmas Festivities. It's OK we aren't going to change the rules but unless it is ESSENTIAL do not visit the vulnerable, stay overnight in another house or travel outside your immediate area. So, yes you can do what you planned under the rules as given but unless you are young, healthy and live locally you will have a guilty conscience. Translation, yes we said it, now we regret it, we can't cope with any more political aggro so we'll just play on your conscience.

Well, I weighed up the pros and cons and yes, the risk is non-zero but low enough that I'll accept it.

[Randi]

Well ... I'm glad that you will get to see your brother. I assume that he has been as responsible as you.

[studentforever]

He too lives alone. He sees more people than I do because he's heavily involved with the local Council but their meetings use Zoom and the project he's involved with is outdoors (a revamped games area) so mainly outdoor inspections. He's pretty good about social distancing and is well supplied with masks so reasonably safe. I wouldn't have gone if he'd still been working because I wouldn't have been convinced about the ventilation systems in the building and there were quite a few people who, like him, had to go into work. So, non-zero but low risk at the moment and I think it's worth it. I'm driving down so again, slight risks at the service station loos but manageable. I stayed with him in September when these things were allowed and we went for a short holiday together so I'm pretty relaxed about him.

[studentforever]

Well that is any Christmas celebration OFF. No cross border travel allowed, limited contact on Christmas day only so that leaves me out. Goodness only knows if churches have to close again, back to tier 4 restrictions from Boxing Day. The ironic thing is that round here cases had halved and remained fairly stable over the last week. I'd better plan some shopping next week as my supplies of fresh fruit and veg were planned to last till Wednesday. Stuff in the freezer so I won't starve but some nice fresh berries etc help to make life less miserable and I don't like frozen sprouts.

Well folks, I hope your Christmas goes more according to plan. I can only hope that 2021 is better than 2020 (a fairly low bar).

[Randi]

I thought of you when I saw that announcement

[AvastMH]

Well that is any Christmas celebration OFF.

Little Louise upstairs is heartbroken because she was hoping to have granny and grandpa around for 5 days. It's been tears all evening.

No cross border travel allowed, limited contact on Christmas day only so that leaves me out.

Nightmare...my dear friend just drove from Aberdeen down to Whitby today and heard the news just as he pulled up outside his mum's. He's thinking to turn around and go straight back tomorrow.