Rishi Fights Back!?

6.30 a.m. Tuesday. I seem to be waking up later and later each morning, most likely because as we get to the end of August, it gets lighter later and later. 

10.05 a.m. I decided to go to the Esso station in Childs Way to put diesel in my car, so it's ready for the trip to Worcester on Friday. I waited till the traffic was clearer after nine and then I discovered that they were resurfacing the road and there were cones at the entrance to the fuel station, but the actual entrance was clear further on. It was something of a shock to realize how little I managed to put in the car, due to increased fuel costs. The gauge on the pump seemed to rack up the amount very quickly, but if I was driving to Worcester, it was no good leaving Milton Keynes with a fuel tank half empty. But it's now done and one less job to deal with on Friday.

I have managed to find someone to, hopefully, look after Alfie over this weekend. The lady is the sister of my neighbour in Dexter House and lives in Loughton. I took Alfie to her bungalow this afternoon she has a small dog and Alfie seemed happy there, so I am optimistic that I can leave him there so I can drive off on Friday morning.

Wednesday. 10.30 a.m. I was a little shocked and surprised when I got a parcel delivered yesterday containing the replacement FitBit. I spent some time attempting to get it to sync with the app on both my iPad and iPhone. It's all about getting Bluetooth on both devices to communicate with FitBit. This morning, after a further attempt, I did actually get it connected, and, as I write this, the thing is working successfully. There are more apps to set up, but they can wait as they aren't that important at present.

Thursday. 6.15 a.m. What's that wet stuff which is falling from the sky this morning? Could it be . . . . rain? It was certainly a shock to find that it was raining when I took Alfie out at around 5.45. I don't think Alfie was over-impressed by it, as he dislikes getting wet, but we definitely needed it, because everything is so dry and parched. I don't expect it will take longer for the grass to revive, but it will mean we have sustained downpours.

Rishi Sunak, one of the two prospective candidates in the Conservative Party leadership election, (the result of which will be announced at the beginning of September.), has said that he does not think the scientists, who were responsible for the information which the government was given regarding the covid pandemic which lead to two years of lockdown, should have been allowed to have so much power over such matters. He attempted to air his views that such lockdowns were likely to cause financial problems, alongside damaging children's education when schools were closed. He was not allowed to have an opposing viewpoint and was shouted down whenever he attempted to mention the matter at various cabinet meetings. It would appear that this policy, of closing down the economy and putting companies' employees on furlough, is what is partly responsible for the rise in inflation, rising fuel prices and businesses struggling, along with millions of households. Not only that, but by 'protecting the NHS' so it wasn't overwhelmed by people with what I will refer to as 'Wuflu', it put off people going to their doctors to check out symptoms of cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. My view is, those scientists who were, in effect, controlling the government, weren't democratically elected, so why were they given so much control over matters? 

Now some firms are finding it difficult to persuade their staff to return to work, even with the successful delivery of several doses of the vaccine. The government used 'nudge' tactics to get the public to conform to the various regulations which were bought in to control the virus. Psychological use of fear in particular, with such terms as 'don't kill your granny' and other fear-filled propaganda. You can't expect one minute to have your population gripped with fear,  stay in what was more or less 'house arrest' and then, once things are considerably safer(which I don't in any way believe was 'unsafe' in the first place.) to suddenly revert to a new normal and immediately return to their workplace. If Sunak had his doubts about the lockdown consequences, why on earth didn't he do something about it, for example, go to the media? No, on second thoughts, if he had, it would have fallen on deaf ears, because most, if not, all the media, BBC, ITV and most of our press, were in favour of more tight lockdown restrictions. So, when people start complaining about the rise in inflation, they should stop and think, if we hadn't had two years of lockdowns, we might not be in this situation.

One Law For Them . . .

Saturday 15th January. 8.15 a.m. I was somewhat surprised by thick fog as I took Alfie out this morning. As I write this, the BBC Breakfast weather forecast has said that there is 50-100 feet visibility. I can believe it. I don't have to go anywhere in the car, so I won't have to drive through it.

Sunday. 7.45 a.m. A dark and dreary morning. I took Alfie out as he kept on scratching on the bathroom door when I was using the toilet. I took the little pocket torch with me. We weren't outside long, so the torch wasn't necessary. It needs a new battery installing because the light from it is too weak to be of any use.

It looks as if Boris Johnson's tenure as PM is on the line. There have been revelations about Christmas parties being held in 2020 when we were in lockdown and, under Government laws, such gatherings weren't supposed to take place. Boris is attempting to wriggle out of any responsibility for such events (there are several which have come to light, but one clearly showing him attending one in the garden of Number 10. ) There is an inquiry underway, but as it stands, Boris is still PM and as such should have taken responsibility as a leader. One minute he goes on the Downing Street press conferences and announces new measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and behind the scenes, he is allowing gatherings. Real hypocrisy. A definite case of 'do as I saw, not what I do', or, 'one law for them and one for us.' Only time will tell whether he leaves Downing Street as Prime Minister.

2.30 p.m. I've been to church this morning. Sunny and bright as I drove up Chaffron Way. It's still extremely sunny as I took out Alfie. The hall was packed. Phase 2 of the building project (for the Oaktree Centre.) has been revived. 

I got back from church, parked the car, and I thought I heard the fire alarm going off within Dexter House. I hoped it wouldn't be that, but as I walked inside, it was all too obvious that it was. The doors along the corridor leading to my flat had shut (which they do automatically when the alarm goes out, presumably to contain smoke if there is a genuine fire.) I'm never sure whether it's an emergency or some sort of fault with the system. There was definitely no sign of smoke or even flames, no smell of burning. Had someone burnt their toast, left a cigarette burning in an ashtray, or forgotten something in their oven? You never can tell. The sound is deafening and as I entered the flat, Alfie started barking. He really doesn't like the noise. I have to admit it is deafening. I suppose it has to be if it's going to wake people if they're asleep if there's a fire. We're supposed to remain in our flats if there is a fire. Which I'm not doing. That was the instruction given to the tenants of  Grenfell Tower in 2017 and look what happened to them when there was a terrible fire? I have always taken Alfie with me when the alarm goes off, and we go and stand outside the front door until the fire service gives the all-clear to re-enter the building. The din continued for several minutes, after which I pressed the emergency alarm and was told that someone was coming to sort out the alarm, and around 5 minutes later the noise stopped. No doubt it was caused by a fault with the system, which it always seems to be, unfortunately.

Monday. 1.45 p.m. It was icy when I took Alfie out as usual around 7.30 this morning. I intended to go to Sainsbury's, as I needed items to form my lunch when I go to Camphill tomorrow, so I had to spend a good ten minutes defrosting the car. Fortunately, I had bought a fresh can of antifreeze spray from Homebase when I went there the other day, so it didn't take too long.

I am continuing with my writing, which requires transcribing onto word processing. It may have to wait until I can rely on my MacBook to behave itself. It seems fine at the moment, but it has a habit of shutting itself down. I have no idea what's causing this, but I still think the only solution is to purchase a new model which will have the newest version of all the software on it. Unfortunately, the MacBook doesn't have enough memory to install the latest version of the operating system. It is over seven years old, which is supposed to be the average life of a computer, so I reckon I've got plenty of work out of it over the years and it has done good duty.

Revolting Tories

Okay, okay, it's a bit overdone to use that for a blog post title, but I will explain later.

9.50 a.m. It was cold and windy yesterday.  As I've mentioned in earlier posts, Alfie doesn't like cold, wet, windy, rain, and so on. You can't blame him. Yesterday I took him out mid-morning. He wasn't out for more than thirty seconds, turned tail, and beetled back indoors. But part-way along the corridor he did a naughty on the floor! Not like him at all. Not even as a puppy. He was easy to house train. But as an adult? No! He has had accidents in the middle of the night, but not outside the flat. I had to pick it up and we head to dispose of it in one of the bins within the boundaries of Oldbrook Green. (why can't there be a bin for this use further back towards Dexter House?) Quite a jaunt, but nevertheless, it had to be done. 

This morning, around 9.15, we went out again and Alfie did his business on the grass. I was in the process of picking it up in one of the disposable bags I carry in a pocket in my trousers, was just turning round to walk along the path to the bin across Oldbrook Boulevard and onto the Green, when a young man shot towards me on one of those electric scooters. I barely had time to stand aside as he hurtled past, narrowly avoiding being hit midships and possibly causing real damage to my person. No attempt to slow down, apologize or take evasive action. It really shocked me, particularly as you can't hear these scooters as they rush about. Just dangerous.

Okay. Boris Johnson gave another of the by now regular press conferences regarding the pandemic from 10 Downing Street. We are going to have to endure the reintroduction of some restrictions and new regulations, such as the wearing of masks in confined spaces, such as in shops (also, within the common areas in Dexter House.) Also, he said we have to 'work at home where possible.' You have to wear a mask in shops and offices, 'but don't cancel Christmas parties.' This doesn't make a lot of sense. Why in shops, offices and indoor areas? This includes theatres, which I trust doesn't mean the performers, just the audience. But I hear that some of Boris' Backbench MPs are threatening to rebel against the new restrictions. Why is the reason for my blog post title? 'Revolting Tories.' We shall have to wait and see how this plays out. Meanwhile, we will have to put up with 'Plan B' as these new restrictions are called, as they will be in place until around the end of February, all because of the omicron variant of the covid virus. Such is life.

So, if there's supposed to be a 'plan B,' and that doesn't work, does it follow that we can expect a 'plan C,' a 'plan D' and so ad infinitum? Please tell me NOT. We can't keep panicking when a new variant comes along. As mentioned before, all viruses mutate. That's the nature of viruses. We just need to stop this aimless race against a hidden 'danger.' There are dangers all over the place. Just crossing the road is a danger, so in getting in a car, walking along the street. You can't possibly live totally risk-free. So let's just get back to some sort of normal.

Then we have 'Partygate.' It has been discovered that there was a Christmas party in 10 Downing Street over the Christmas period, 2020 when the country was put into Lockdown. A video was discovered which showed staff laughing and mocking the fact that a party was held, regardless of lockdown, and seemingly not under social distancing restrictions. Boris Johnson has attempted to deny anything happened, but after the various gaffes, he has made it's difficult to believe the man. I think his days as Prime Minister are limited and it has now been revealed that there were TWO More parties held over Christmas 2020, one being at the Ministry of Education. Heads will roll and have started to roll. Is Boris going to come clean? I fear not.

Friday. 1.05 p.m. Not quite as cold as earlier in the week. The sun is shining, but there's a slight nip in the air.

Monday. 10.15 a.m. I'm going to rest this blog until after the Christmas break, so, once this post is completed, I won't be continuing with it until well into the New Year, so goodnight and God bless. Have a lovely Christmas!

A Red Sky In The Morning . . . Boris' Trousers on Fire

 Sunday. 10.15 a.m. Another cold and blustery day. The cough is still causing problems. I continue to take the cough mixture, and it seems to help. I didn't go to church because of the cold and the effect it would have on the cough. I took a dose of cough mixture and then attempted to watch the SCF service via Facebook, but the whole thing froze up and wouldn't work properly. Furthermore, I imagine it's got something to do with the church broadband connection. Several other people who were watching posted that they were finding the images were freezing or at least juddering. It really needs dealing with, unfortunately.

Monday. 8.10 a.m. It's cold again this morning, but I could see a bright red sky from my window as I was having my breakfast. What do they say? 'Red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning. Red sky at night, shepherd's delight.' Not sure how accurate, but let's wait and see whether it gets colder or even windy. Storm Arwen has done its worst and calmed down and disappeared, but next, we have to expect Storm Barra. Don't ask me where they got the name from.

Wednesday. 7.45 a.m. Alfie is definitely not one to like cold, wind, rain or generally wet in any form. This undoubtedly this morning when we went out and the little tyke was in and out as quickly as possible and back tucked up on the sofa, but, as I write, on my bed, probably under the duvet.

11.10 p.m. I was just getting off to sleep when the merry sound of the fire alarm went off. No doubt someone in another flat within Dexter House has either forgotten to check their oven was on with their oven chips or something, a fag-end was left smoldering in an ash-tray, or else they burnt their toast. Either way, it's deafening which means I moved from the bedroom into the lounge, and Alfie's looking at me as he doesn't like the noise. Who can blame him? Whatever it is that set the confounded thing off means I get to write a bit more of this and Alfie's attempting to climb on my knee which is impossible with the laptop in the way. There is a fire engine outside in Dexter Avenue as I can hear the engine running and I could see the flashing blue light when I look out of the window, not that easy as my Christmas tree is in the way. I just hope they manage to discover the reason for the alarm being set off as my ears are ringing from the sound of the alarm and giving me a headache.

Incidentally, on a different matter, has nobody realized that omicron is an anagram of moronic? Or that the two words delta and omicron spell 'media control'? Too right. The conspiracy theories regarding the pandemic and the virus just go on. Boris Johnson now attempting to wriggle out of the latest scandal regarding the Christmas party which was alleged to have taken place in Number 10 Downing Street last year after pandemic restrictions were introduced and not adhering to the aforementioned regulations and making a mockery of the whole situation when the rest of us were in lockdown and not supposed to attend any sort of party. Totally contemptible. Makes me wonder how much longer Johnson can last as Prime Minister as he is rapidly turning into a liability, to not only the Conservative party but also the country as a whole.

11.30 p.m. The alarm is still going and no sign of the wretched noise coming to an end. What exactly IS going on? I can't see smoke emanating from any window or anywhere else, so we'll just have to endure it I suppose.

11.55 p.m. By around 11.40 I'd had enough. The fire engine has gone. So, what set the alarm off? I got dressed as Alfie was beginning to get stressed. He can't cope with the noise. We went out through the front door near the SHO's office and there were two men fiddling with the fire alarm keypad, looking as if they were aimlessly pressing random keys on the pad. I don't know who they were, but by the time we'd walked around to the other entrance on Strudwick Drive the alarm had stopped, so we went back in and returned to my flat. Thank goodness it was over and silence reigned once more! I presume there is a fault with the alarm system.

Freedom Come and Freedom Go

Okay, okay! Blog post title from a Fortune's hit single from 1972. It just seemed appropriate for the current pandemic situation. Are we going to be released from lockdown or not? It appears to be neither one thing nor the other.

So, will things be relaxed today? It's both yes and no, which is going to confuse so many people.

Monday: 6.20 a.m. Phew! What a scorcher! It is excessively not. Even with all the windows open and an electric fan working, the flat is very warm. I woke up in the night really wringing wet. Poor Alfie can't find a place to keep cool. We didn't go out until late yesterday evening, but even at around 7 o'clock, it was bright and sunny and very warm.

3.55 p.m. I may or may not have mentioned the online surveys I take part in. I think I've mentioned Consumer Pulse, where I put into a website everything I buy such as books, CDs, DVDs, and clothes. I have been with several of these online sites for several years and earn vouchers and cash which accrue and can be banked in your current account or your PayPal account. A lot of what I've earned goes into my Nationwide savings account, but some are converted into retail vouchers. One such is Maximiles. Today I had £50-worth of Marks and Spencers vouchers arrive in the post and, with £16-worth of M and S vouchers from two other survey sites, I went into the Milton Keynes M and S and bought two more of their polo shirts and cargo trousers, which I had been searching for elsewhere without success. 

It was great not having to wear a face mask in the shopping centre or M and S! Just make life far easier. I think generally people seemed far more relaxed than on previous visits.

I have an idea that the government is attempting to get the population to get herd immunity by freeing up society by lifting social distancing and not legally being required to wear face coverings. Boris was on television, but he sounded as if he was isolating in a cupboard in Chequers, where he has gone to self-isolate. It just sounded weird. Probably in the bathroom or in a drain.

Tuesday. 5.35 a.m. Yet another hot and sticky night. I had to change my top several times. Alfie settled in next to me. I'm not sure what the weather is going to be like today, but if it's hot I'm staying indoors.

There is an Amber warning from the met office. For the next couple of days, it's going to be extremely hot. For someone like me, who has a heart-health problem, it can be dangerous. So I won't be going out in it, staying indoors.

Is It Over And Out?

Monday. 6.00 a.m. So, Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health, has resigned over breaking social distancing regulations that he helped set up. All due because he was caught kissing his aide which was caught on CCTV camera. It wasn't necessarily the kiss that has caused the uproar, but the fact that they were in a clinch and obviously breaking the social distancing regulations. All this makes a mockery of the rules on this and is like rubbing our faces in the dirt, those of us who have gone along with what we've been told, kept strictly to the rules. It's a certain hypocrisy  amount of which is so unbelievable, a case of 'do as I say, but not as I do.' So, it would seem it's definitely 'over and out' for Hancock. The question everyone is asking, was he pushed, or did he jump? 

Well, that's over. Can we now get on with our lives? No, you can't. You've got to be good and do as you're told. Or you'll be arrested and have to pay a fine.

I was surprised that it was raining when we went out at 5.50 a.m. Alfie didn't stay outside too long when he realized it was raining. 

I'm currently watching the recent BBC1 adaptation of 'Les Miserables', the version which was shown over Christmas and New Year 2019. It's adapted by Andrew Davies who has made a successful career out of adaptations for television of classic novels, including the 1995 'Pride and Prejudice', which had Colin Firth as Mr. Darcey in it and has become the definitive version of that novel. Having seen the musical version on stage twice, once in the West End at the Place Theatre and then two years ago when the touring version visited Milton Keynes as well as seeing the 2012 film adaptation as well as reading the Victor Hugo novel (some 1500 pages or so.) I think I know the story very well. This is a more faithful version that has six hours to tell the story and can therefore go a good deal deeper than a 3-hour stage or film musical can possibly manage. 

Tuesday. 6.45 a.m. Another somewhat overcast day. It seemed dry enough when I took out Alfie for his usual walk.

Still in Groundhog Day. Now that Hancock has gone as Health Secretary we have a replacement, Sajid Javid, former Chancellor of The Exchequer. His approach to the pandemic is a good deal less 'Nanny State' and insists that we return to near-enough normality on 19th July. Thank goodness! I just hope that we can at least not have to wear face coverings and social distancing is either entirely removed or somehow relaxed in some way.

Wednesday. 6.00 a.m. I was out with Alfie around 5.30 this morning. Well, if you're awake and you have a very lively Yorkie that's got a need to go out, why not just go for it? Not warm, but still mild and fairly pleasant.

There was a certain amount of noise coming from The Cricketers (well, I presume it was there.) as I did washing up yesterday evening. I think it was because England had just beaten Germany in their game in the Euro football game. I'm not interested in football, as you will have realized if you follow my blog posts. But it's good that there's something positive to give people a lift after near enough eighteen months of lockdown and misery which it's caused. The outside of this pub has been decorated with flags of all nations in celebration of this football competition and certainly adding a touch of colour to the area around Chadwick Drive and Oldbrook Boulevard.

I have a new iPhone 12 arriving sometime today! My contract with Sky Mobile has finished and because Sky had a very good deal on iPhones (other mobiles are available, even if they're not as good as iPhones!) I decided it was too good to miss. I won't be paying much more per month than I am currently with around the same amount of data. I will return the old iPhone 7 back to Sky and get a credit on my new contract and, with the data I have used each month 'rolls over' and can be used to get a discount on the contract. So getting excited about it arriving. Red iPhone 12. Now I have the fun of transferring the SIM card from the old mobile into the new iPhone, which isn't difficult but very fiddly getting that tiny little chip into the little tray that slides out of the side of these mobiles. This is because I will be keeping my phone number as I really don't want to change it. I ordered a case for the new case which had arrived in the post from Amazon. I always get cases for my various gadgets because I want to look after them. My iPad and this MacBook air which this is being written on have their own cases. If you're going to buy expensive gadgets, then it makes sense to me to keep them in good condition.

Life's Little Mysteries

This blog post is the 1550th. I can't believe that I have managed to reach this landmark. I know a lot of what I write on his is just mundane, but I bet Samuel Pepys, who kept a diary, had days when he had to write mundane things to keep his famous journal alive, and just think how valuable that has become to historians, giving a vivid insight into life in London between 1660 and 1669, which included mention of the Great Plague, which in some ways reflects with the current covid-19 pandemic and lockdown. He also mentioned the Great Fire of London. What a time to live through! Can the same be said of this current time? Maybe not, but someone in, say, 200 years will be intrigued by all this.

Why is it, when you do washing, you almost always find one sock that doesn't get washed and is left alone in the basket when you've started the machine? By which time it's too late for it to go into the machine because you can't open the door to put it in? Again, why is it when you do washing up (incidentally, I don't have a washing-up machine, so it has to be done by hand.) there's invariably one or two items of cutlery, usually teaspoons, which get left at the bottom of the washing up bowl once the job is over? Is it some freak of nature that these things happen? 

How many of you out there have trouble with child-proof bottles? They are usually how many medicines are packaged. I bought Robitussin cough syrup a few weeks ago. I think I told you I bought some in Boots (no, not that sort of Boots! I mean the high street chemists. Doh!) I really needed to open the bottle, but you really have to press down on the cap and twist to get it open. If I can't open the thing, what about someone who has arthritic hands or other problems with their hands. No chance of a child would be able to open the bottle. The same on the plastic box in which my washing gel tabs come in. I know you don't want your child to eat these things, but that box is difficult to open.

It's not just child-proof bottles. I had bought some raspberry jam a few days ago and when I came to open it, or at least I attempted to open it, I had real problems. I assume these bottles are put on and tightened by a machine. The only way I could open it was to stab the thing with a sharp knife, which released the pressure inside and the lid was then easy to open.

Why do those wretched television commercials for carpets and furniture have to have voice-overs that shout at you? Is it the only way they can communicate their lowbrow products to people who can't comprehend basic English? Brash, loud and totally horrible. It seems that some of the lesser digital channels have this sort of advertising because they can't get space on any of the other, mainstream channels. Then these companies have obvious names such as Carpets 4 Us or Oakwoodfurniture.co.uk Can't they come up with more original names. Oakland, I think it's the name of a furniture company, presumably sells furniture made of oak. Am I right? Why not call it MDF World or chipboard world. Would that put people off investing in such pieces of furniture. Well, IKEA furniture is made, generally, out of MCF and chipboard, but they don't make a big issue out of the fact. How about Put-it-together-yourself.com, or Flatpackworld.com.  Trymaypatience.com, when you find the instructions which come with the flatpack furniture extremely difficult to understand and when some of the bits go missing, like the screws or bolts which keep the whole thing together.

Just thinking of when they audition for the voice-overs for those furniture adverts where they shout. How does it work, do you think? Do they expect the voice-over actors to stand the opposite side of a field and shout? They wouldn't have to have amplification. Why not get someone like Brian Blessed to do it instead? He has a voice that's so loud he wouldn't need a microphone and if he did, his voice would probably break the recording equipment.

Please Release Me!

Okay! 'Please Release Me', blog post title is taken from a song title. A song sung by Englebert Humperdink in the 1960s. Very appropriate when considering relaxing lockdown.

Monday. 7.20 a.m. Alfie and I were out around 5.45 this morning, really early I know, but I'm definitely not one to lounge around in bed, particularly when it's sunny and bright with the birds singing their little heads off outside my window, which is wide open. As I write this I can hear pigeons making their stupid noise. 

I was out early because I wanted to be back in time for the opening of the new news channel GBN, which officially came on the air at 8p.m last night but their first breakfast show began at 6 a.m. A totally new way to present news, not with 'rolling news, which is how the BBC News channel works, or Sky News. Interesting to see they have a set that is dark, compared to the light and airy sets chosen for ITV's Good Morning Britain or BBC Breakfast. I think it suggests a more serious approach, with bookshelves filled with books on a range of topics, art, science etc., wine glasses, and other artifacts which subtly reflect the type of audience they want to attract. The presentation style is intelligent but light. I'll have to wait and see how things develop before I can give a more nuanced assessment.

We're being threatened by the thought of yet another month of restrictions being imposed by our totalitarian government. Why is it, with infections falling, a vaccination programme being rolled out and reaching some 60-70% having had either one or two doses, do we now have to endure further lockdown? At this rate, we'll be stuck in this limbo more or less permanently. The scientists who deliver doom and gloom are working with flawed computer modeling, and results from testing aren't exactly accurate. It's the 'risk factor' which is playing such a large part here. The fact of the matter is that all life is a 'risk.' From the moment we are born, we have to encounter 'risk.' Being born is a risk, probably not as much as a risk as, say, if you were born in the Middle Ages, where ideas of hygiene and cleanliness were more or less unknown. Crossing the road is a risk. Getting in a car is a risk. We should be able to make our own  'risk assessments' and just get on with our lives. As things are and have been for the past almost eighteen months, we have managed, to a certain extent, to live with covid and it would seem it's not likely to disappear overnight. Humans have lived with viruses for thousands of years and survived. So, what is different with the coronavirus, covid-19, or whatever you want to call it? It's the fact that it's mutating, so we now get the 'Kent Variant'', the 'Indian' or 'Delta Variant. The virus is going to keep on mutating because that's what they do. Are we going to forever keep running away from it, in a sort of endless race, a sort of marathon of sorts? Just not going to work. Some scientists are now saying that lockdowns don't work. Well, I suppose they might be right. We need a certain amount of what they term 'herd immunity,' which is how we deal with such things as viruses. We've probably got this natural immunity now, which means we will build up natural immunity and probably more so with the various versions of vaccines.

Later. I'm up to episode 5 of 'Clarkson's Farm' on Amazon. I have to say that I have found Jeremy Clarkson incredibly annoying in the first few episodes. He just throws money around on goodness knows what, great big tractors which are really impractical. For example, it's too big to fit in his shed. He grows potatoes and then has to leave them in the ground because he doesn't have anywhere to sell them. He builds a farm shop and doesn't follow the planning rules and puts the wrong sort of roofing material on the building. He opens the farm shop and hasn't got a properly surfaced carpark, so when customers eventually turn up, and they turn up in droves, virtually blocking the surrounding roads with their cars, and then these cars get stuck in the muddy carpark and have to be towed out by Caleb, the young man who is employed by Clarkson and is only 21, but knows more about agricultural practices than men three times his age. In my opinion, he's the sort of hero figure in this show and I trust he gets paid properly by Clarkson because he manages to get him out of no end of problems. But by episode 5 we begin to see Clarkson growing into his job as a born-again farmer. When he has to get stuck in (and, in some ways, literally stuck in.) when the ewes begin to start lambing. He takes a while to get the hang of being a sheep midwife, but I have to admit he eventually becomes rather adept at delivering lambs. He starts off rather badly in episode one but as the series progresses he seems to rather enjoy his newfound place in the world. It's good storytelling. He begins his farming journey not sure whether he will like working as a farmer. He does, however, begin as a complete novice, but by episode five he says he enjoys the life, watching the lambs being born and actually contributing something to society with the food he produces. It's around this point that the pandemic starts and the first lockdown is introduced. It seems that it's the fulcrum around which the rest of the story-arc will be built and Clarkson changes from rank amateur to almost professional.  It's worth watching and because I had ancestors who lived in and around the area where it's filmed, Chipping Norton (some brave ladies, called The Ascott Martyrs were arrested for attempting to get their husbands to join a union and were imprisoned in Oxford Gaol. This was the 1870s and in some ways, things have hardly changed. Decent living wages being only one of them.) I have more than a passing interest in the show.

Everything’s Coming Up Roses

Here we go again! Another post title utilizing a song title from a musical. Any guesses? It’s from ‘Gypsy.’ Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, music by Jule Styne, book by Arthur Laurents. I only recently discovered that it’s based on real people. 

Sunday. 9.50 a.m. It's another really fine and beautiful morning here in Milton Keynes. I was out well before 6 a.m. and since then I have been out again with Alfie. The whole place is heaving with people jogging and exercising. Mind you, it's too hot for that for me and is expected to get even hotter as the week progresses.

I have had ideas of how to continue my writing and thought it best to put pen to paper and get it down before it disappeared like snow in sunshine. I should really say pencil to paper as I never write with a pen. Similar, I find, to Roald Dahl, who always used a specific brand and type of pencil.  The brand was Dixon, Ticonderoga Artist Pencil No 12. They are yellow with an eraser on their tip. He used to have six, ready sharpened, with an electric sharpener, because he didn't want to leave his writing shed once he started writing. He used to throw unused pages of writing in a dustbin that overflowed with paper because he was so finicky about the quality and just wanted to get it perfect. And who can blame him?

I have another three sides of A4 written. Writing is like dealing with the wind. You have to go with the flow before a gust of wind blows your thoughts away and get it down on paper because it's gone if you forget what you had thought of, which is why keeping a notebook of your ideas and thoughts is so important. When I move from the house in Eaglestone I, unfortunately, mislaid two such notebooks, which were full of bits and pieces, jottings, notes, ideas, characters, plot ideas. All of it lost forever unless some kind soul finds them and they are returned to me.

It is definitely hot! Alfie doesn't like it, and I'm not over-fond. I don't mind it being dry and bright, but when it gets too hot, like now, I find it very difficult to keep cool. I think I prefer a more temperate climate, cool, without rain, with a bit of a breeze. Being indoors is really the order of the day.

We are now being told that lockdown restrictions are likely to remain in place until spring! I can't believe our beloved politicians are even listening to the doomsayers, the scientists. Even a month more is too long to wait until Freedom Day, but around NINE MONTHS! I think in all honesty, the population of the United Kingdom will revolt. We have several vaccines and around 60% of adults have had at least one dose, probably more have had two and they're about to vaccinate children. We have good immunity, built up by having the vaccine and probably from herd immunity, and they are considering having more lockdowns??? PLEASE not more! There are some business owners, those who run hospitality, hotels, bars, B and Bs, and similar premises, who are threatening to SUE the government if this happens. They have ordered stock, food, drink, and so on, which would go to waste if they can't sell it. It would be the same in the entertainment industry, where theatres have been dark from late March 2020. Actors, technicians, and all those who are involved in some way in the theatre industry have been building up to reopening on 21st June. Rehearsals for shows which have been closed down because of lockdown restrictions will be all for nothing if there are to be no audiences to watch their shows.

One hopes things are 'coming up roses', but we will know later today whether lockdown will be relaxed. Come on Boris! We want our lives back.

Bank Holiday Monday

Sunday. 7.00 a.m. It's a cool and misty morning. 

I've now taken Alfie out twice, the first at around 6.15 a.m. and then 9.30 a.m. He did his usual staring at me and what I call 'clucking' sort of chicken noises, which generally alerts me to to the fact that he needs to go out. So, we trotted down Strudwick Drive (I say trotted, but more of an amble and excuse to sniff virtually every leaf and blade of grass and we went along (I mean Alfie and not me, you understand.) He did need to 'go' as I politely refer to 'it' and 'it' was disposed of in its biodegradable bag and put in the bin at the entrance to Oldbrook Green. We walked home and I decided to sit down and read my book. It was then that Alfie began to clank around in his feeding bowl, which is hidden behind the sofa under my desk, along with his drinking water bowl. I attempted to ignore him, but it was virtually impossible, so I put my book down and thought I'd put some food in his bowl. He usually only gets fed in the evening, but on this occasion I thought he must be hungry, attempting to glean a morsel of food from the bowl, which is why he was pushing it about on the floor and making the clanking sound. I put a dry mixer in as I usually do and then food from one of the pouches I keep stored in the kitchen. When I put it back down for him on the floor, he soon scoffed the lot and returned to his place to lay down on the sofa, and as I write this he appears to be asleep. Problem solved and perhaps I should give him food in the morning as well as the evening.

3.40 p.m. I didn't go to church this morning. I would have like to have gone, but wearing a mask isn't exactly helping with the confounded cough I have at the moment. I mentioned this in a few posts back, caused by taking oxybutynin, but now stopped since I mentioned this to my doctor a few weeks ago. I was told that it would take a while for it to disappear completely, as soon as the medication is out of my body. No sign of that at the moment. Wearing a mask means you are breathing in your hot breath and that sets of the cough. Apart from that, it steams up my glasses. Just not pleasant having to wear the things for any length of time. Regardless of all this, I managed to see the service via Facebook. I have discovered that if I set things up correctly if I open Facebook on my iPad and set my television with the Fire Stick set up, then I can 'cast' the live video to the television. Surprising what you discover when you least expect it.

Monday. 5.20 a.m. Well, I'm wide awake and already done all my usual morning routine things, shaved, dressed, done my Bible reading, dressed, and even done washing-up, so the kitchen is tidy. I always feel that if all this is done, I can start my day better. Particularly shaving. I don't feel right if I miss a shave in the morning. When I was in the hospital the last time, after my second heart attack, I had none of my own things with me, not even clothes. I didn't have shaving items, so I had to endure several mornings without having a proper shave. I ended up being given a disposable shaver by one of the nurses on the ward, but it was like shaving with a blunt tin lid! (not that I have actually done that!). It wasn't pleasant. 

6.20 a.m. I took out Alfie at 5.50. It must be the earliest we've ever been out. It's still misty and quite chilly, but I have a feeling it will be warm today, and as it's a Bank Holiday, quite a rarity, as most Bank Holidays are wet and miserable. Add to all that the fact that lockdowns are being lifted gradually, it would appear that tourist areas will be crowded. But then the question is, will that mean that there will be an increase in coronavirus infections as a result? Only time will tell. PLEASE, can we avoid further lockdowns? I don't think the British people can take anymore. Patience is at a low point, but surely with so many people vaccinated we can climb out of this hole and ESCAPE!

4.50 p.m. I'm sitting here writing this with my Macbook Air on my knee. Alfie has had his dinner and has been whittling to get a couple of treats. I asked him what he wanted so he glanced at the tin which is on the top of the bookcase. I took three out of the tin and put two on the edge of the coffee table and another on the back of the sofa. He finds the two on the coffee table. He sticks his nose up over the edge of the coffee table and manages to grab one of the treats but doesn't find the second one. He then jumps up onto the sofa (which can cause him problems, probably showing his age.) and soon discovers where the third treat is. He eventually sniffs it out and has to reach up by standing up on his back legs and snaffles it without any problems.

It's been extremely warm and sunny today. What a real Bank Holiday Monday should be like. Walking around Oldbrook Green earlier this afternoon and there are people all over the place, even laying sunning themselves on the grass. The same old same old, men not having any idea they look ridiculous in shorts (not all by the way.) but that's just my opinion. Shorts only getting worn when the sun shines and they (and myself!) not always brave enough to wear for the first time this summer (I believe we are now in summer, officially.) But those infamous shorts not always in perfect order, often worst for wear and not up to standard in the fashion or sartorial stakes.

6.45 p.m. Just been watching Wallace and Gromit in 'A Close Shave.' I've seen all these brilliant animation films I don't know how many times, but it's so clever and imaginative. All of the Ardman Animation films are so well made and creative. It's all the little details that make them special, some things that you don't notice the first time around and add to the fun, for example, the headlines you see fleetingly in the newspapers that Wallace reads or the books they read.

Watching BBC news, which came on after Wallace and Gromit. There are some scientists who say that the 21st June deadline to end lockdowns may need to be postponed until data suggests that the Indian variant of the coronavirus is under control. Oh please, no! I think that if that happens and for a length of time there will be civil unrest. I think we've had our patience pushed to the limit. Surely, with the vaccines being delivered so successfully and the possibility of people not being infected, then there is no need to have further lockdowns.

I watched an episode of 'Miranda', the sitcom performed and written by Miranda Hart. I have seen it before, but it's so funny. She talks directly to the camera, 'breaking the fourth wall' in much the same way as Lovejoy did in that great series (I worked on quite a few episodes, filmed in and around Norfolk and Suffolk.) She is very self-deprecating, making comedy about her height and tripping over things. A great deal of visual comedy, which we don't get nowadays. They also showed an episode of 'Fawlty Towers.' One of the classic comedies of the 1970s. It must be because the BBC doesn't have enough new material to put out due to the pandemic.

'Cautiously Optimistic'

Wednesday. 6.25 a.m. 'Cautiously optimistic' was how Prime Minister Boris Johnson described how his infamous 'roadmap' out of lockdown which is supposed to be lifted on 21st June.  That is, unless there is a sudden rise in infections or something else to scupper the plans. He also said it about the Brexit deal that had been agreed with the EU. So, are we going to be celebrating our freedom from being bossed around? That is, if the by now more than a little bit famous Indian variant of the virus doesn't get a starring role over the next few weeks. 

Boris Johnson is a bit of what you'd describe as a 'loose cannon.' He is somewhat unpredictable and he doesn't work like any other Prime Minister I can think of.  The matter of making statements about letting dead bodies pile high rather than implementing lockdown, may or may not have been said by him. Also, the business around who paid for the alterations to his flat in 10 Downing Street, which  seems to have disappeared from being mentioned in the media, He gets away with all sorts of things that anyone else would be in court for. I see him as a combination of Winnie The Pooh, Bertie Wooster and Mr Toad, he of 'Wind In The Willows.'

As for the former political advisor to Number 10 Downing Street, Dominic Cummings, who has today been grilled by MPs in a Commons select committee about the Government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, or perhaps that should be, lack of it. He was removed from his post in No 10 back in November and it seems he is attempting to stab people in the back in a sort act of revenge, worthy of something out of a Shakespeare tragedy, such as Othello, with Cummings in the role of Iago. He's definitely not the sort of person you'd want as a friend. As someone said, 'with friends like these, who needs enemies?" He's stuck the knife into several government personnel, not least saying that Boris Johnson wasn't fit for the position of Prime Minister. Well, someone also said that 'you get the politicians you deserve', and in some respects that's totally true. It was American President Thomas Jefferson who came out with that one.

Today would have been Carol and my 14th wedding anniversary. It's no good dwelling on things and she would expect me to get on with my life, which I am, except that it's all been cancelled due to the covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.

I was up and out before 6 o'clock with Alfie this morning. A bit overcast and it looked as if it might rain later, but one hopes not.

I have received a letter from the Nephrology department of  Milton Keynes Hospital. I have no idea what nephrology is, but never mind. I'm always keen to learn new words, so his is another to add to my growing collection.  It's regarding the 'incidental finding of a small renal angiomyolipoma' in one of my kidneys when they did the ultra scan. I have no idea what an angiomyolipoma is, but, having spoken to my doctor on the telephone recently, it isn't malignant, like a cancer. When I first heard about it I did panic, really as a response to not knowing clearly what it was, because of my memories of when Carol was first diagnosed with bowel cancer. The letter goes on to say that I should have an ultra scan done every 4-5 years just to keep watching it and seeing how it behaves. I shall be discussing this further when I speak to my doctor on the telephone on 11th June.

Normal Life? Don't Bank on It!

Thursday. 6.45 a.m.  So, what are the chances that we might return to some sort of normal life with lockdown restrictions being lifted, or at least, some of them? Let me think. Probably not going to be quite as 'normal' as one might expect, because there's still going to be the threat of further outbreaks of coronavirus infections. So, tomorrow (Monday) the first of the lifting of restrictions are going to begin.

My lovely daughter, Chloe, has just given birth to the fourth grandchild, a girl, Rosie Alice. Born 10th May, weight 7lb 15oz. Just hope I can go and visit them soon in Worcester. The three other boys, George, Eddie, and Arthur will no doubt make a real fuss of her! I can't wait to go and visit them. It's been so long since I went to see them. In fact, it was Christmas 2019 when I was last with them.

Friday. 7.00 a.m. It's overcast and mild. It was wet yesterday, so let's hope it remains relatively dry today.

During his Downing Street press conference the other evening, Boris Johnson was talking about how we will be able to cuddle once some of the lockdown restrictions are lifted. It was all mentioned with a very serious look on his face. The same could be said of the reporters who have been covering all of this on BBC News,  BBC Breakfast, and so on. How on earth they managed to avoid bursting into laughing I can't imagine. To be honest, it really would do no harm to let go and at least smile when discussing it. It is coming over rather like a sketch on Monty Python's Flying Circus or The Goon Show. Things have been pretty grim for the last year and more, so a guffaw or titter wouldn't hurt. 'Oh er, madam! Titter not!' as Frankie Howerd would have said. 'Cuddle not! Ooh er, Missus!' 

The other thing which might put the cat among the pigeons might be what they call the 'Indian Variant' of the coronavirus which has been identified within the United Kingdom. But we must get out of this current situation and we can't go on running away from this virus. We all know that viruses mutate and this one is no exception. 

Saturday. 8.10 a.m. Quietly sitting and working on the laptop. I've been out with Alfie, as normal. It's raining, but not heavy. A light shower, almost like a mist. ('mist-like would be better.) Then my ears are assaulted by the fire alarm going off. Just so loud it hurts my ears. It can't be a test, because that is done during the week when our S.H.O. is here, and it lasts about 30 seconds. Alfie barks and doesn't stop barking. Nothing for it, but to go outside. I abandon what I'm doing on the laptop, scoop up Alfie in my arms (which stops him barking. I suppose it's difficult to do so if he's being held.), and walk down to the front door and stand under the awning to keep out of the rain. Alfie is heavy to hold for any length of time, so I put him on the ground. He shakes like a leaf. I suppose, because dogs can hear higher pitch sounds than humans, it must hurt his ears, hence his barking. After around five minutes we can hear a fire engine approaching, and it roars up with lights flashing and one of the firemen gets out and I have to let him into Dexter House with my keys because the automatic door doesn't open without. (This needs repairing urgently and causes some annoyance and inconvenience.) It turns out someone left something cooking in their oven and it was that that set the fire alarms off. After around 15 minutes the noise went off and we could return to my flat. Panic over!

Spring Has Sprung!!

Life during the last year, caused by lockdown to prevent the spread of the covid-19 virus, has been turned totally upside down. Just sitting in a small room, with only a little dog for company and rarely seeing another soul, except on Zoom or FaceTime, isn't my idea of how to spend your time. I'm used to be outside doing things, such as going to Camphill on a Tuesday, or even at church, generally going places. As a child my mother would never allow us to stay in doors during the day when we were on school holiday. The idea of daytime television would be totally frowned upon. In fact, I don't think we turned the television on until around 5 o'clock when children's television started. (Mind you, I don't think in the 1960's children's  television probably sorted somewhat earlier. 

(Tuesday) A mild and sunny morning here in Milton Keynes. Not much else to report at the moment (7.45a.m.)

Later. 9.55a.m. I've just got back from Sainsbury's. I had to collect meds from the in-store Lloyd's and I had a shopping list prepared so to kill two birds with one stone (sounds cruel, but never mind.) I thought I might as well get the things until I get paid next week. It's a good deal easier when there aren't lots of other shoppers in the store. It's still bright and sunny and reasonably warm. It's the sun which is encouraging the trees to burst forth with leaves and the flowers to bloom. So, you might say that spring has sprung at last

So warm I'm considering opening the windows and wearing my shorts! My goodness, what ever next?

 6.00p.m. Just heard on BBC News that it's been the warmest March day since 1968. People going mad in a Nottingham park. Crowds of people not paying attention to social distancing. Well, having been locked up for months on end you can hardly blame people for this sort of behaviour.

One of my all-time favourite film directors, Alfred Hitchcock, is reputed to have said 'Drama is life with the boring bits removed', or words to that effect. That's what is probably this blog is probably NOT, because I tend to write more or less everything which happens to me during the course of the day, mundane and interesting. It's really intended to be a sort of observation of human life, such as it is at the moment, and probably more so since all these lockdowns caused by the covid-19 pandemic. People are fascinating and I continue to be intrigued by those I observe. A good basis for my writing. 

I'm shocked to find that, on taking Alfie out for his mid-morning trot around Oldbrook Green, how much litter there is today. Yesterday, probably because some of the restrictions have been eased, was more like a Bank Holiday. A more carefree atmosphere, but people are being somewhat lax in their litter-dropping habits. The same can be said about the amount of dog fouling (sorry to mention it, but I must.) Not nice when there's children playing on the grass. And amongst all the plastic water bottles, coke cans, sweet wrappers and so on, I have to report that a large amount of discarded face-coverings seems to be getting worse. Surely it isn't to difficult to put them in a bin or even in your pocket until you can dispose of it in your rubbish when you get home, but apparently not it would seem,

Really warm and sunny. I actually went out WITHOUT MY JACKET this morning! I'm sitting here at 11.20a.m., busily writing this with the window open and the electric fan on next to me. It has got incredibly stuffy in this flat. The fact that the kitchen is boiling hot because you can't turn the heating down (which I think I have mentioned before on here.) doesn't exactly help. Have it warm when the temperature drops below freezing, when there's a hard frost or show outside (which we had for a couple of days during the winter months.) but is totally unnecessary to have it so warm. It means I can't leave some food items out, such as milk, because it will go off, or bread, and it goes stale faster. There should be some sort of control to turn the heating down, as you would have with central heating.

I mentioned the Zoom market research I did on Monday morning. I've already been paid, and it's in my bank account. I wasn't expecting it to be my my account so quickly, probably a week or two, but not days after the work was finished. I'm now having problems attempting to get into the on-line account to keep an eye on the balance. The number of passwords and 'security codes, etc is really annoying. I realise it's to keep things secure, but it is driving me crazy. Then it tells me 'account frozen' because I've made too many attempts. But I will get into it soon. My Nationwide account is so much easier to get into, with a card reader, into which you put your PIN number and then it gives a series of numbers which you put into the site and then you can see your statement. Easier than for the Metro account.

Been out and walking round Oldbrook Green. Groups of people sitting on the grass. The litter is worse than ever. 

(Thursday) A mild morning. I woke up and then went back to sleep and then didn't wake up until around 7.30a.m. It's not like me to sleep so late. I took Alfie out and we came back inside as we usually do. I took him out again at 10.00a.m. but we didn't go far as there was the possibility of rain. I felt a few drops and the sky was clouding over so we went back to the flat.

Another Day Older

(Tuesday) Today is the first anniversary of the beginning of the first lockdown bought in as an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Covid 19. And what a year it has been! It's no exaggeration to say it has had an enormous impact on life in the United Kingdom, although why on earth Scotland and Wales, and possibly Northern Ireland, have different rules and regulations I can't understand. Surely it would be better to have all of the rules and regulations the same throughout the United Kingdom because some people would live in one country, for example, Scotland, but work over the border in England. Nicola Sturgeon would have different rules just to be awkward and because she doesn't like the English and wants desperately to be independent. I should leave it at that and not get into a debate on the pros and cons of Scottish independence.

It's turned out relatively mild today. Thank goodness the wind has calmed down.

I've got to really enjoy a great television show on BBC1 which has been running for a couple of years. I think it began on BBC2, but because it become so popular those in charge of these things at the BBC decided it ought to reach a wider audience, so it transferred to BBC1. It is usually on during daytime, at 4.30pm., where the latest season is currently and on every day during the week. It is also on during peak time, around 8p.m. on a Wednesday. What intrigued me today was an item which was bought into be repaired. a Kenwood Chef food mixer. My mother had one of these exact machines, being given one by my grandmother after she had been married for ten years. There was an earlier model, with a more rounded design, which was replaced by the more modern and squarer model. I do remember that the attachments, which included a mincer, juicer and a bean-slicer, worked on the original model, but when the later model came along the attachments wouldn't fit on the new model because the new model had metric screws, whilst the earlier model had imperial, so the attachments were somewhat redundant.

(Wednesday) 7.10a.m. Mild and dry this morning, but quite foggy nevertheless. I woke up and then went back to sleep and didn't wake up as I usually do and then immediately thought 'I ought to take Alfie Out!' and got dressed. I walked through to the lounge, at which point Alfie would normally have been barking and expecting me to slip the lead on his harness and take him out, tucked under my arm to carry him out, but he was asleep in his bed near the television, but as soon as I got close to him, it set him off on his usual noise.

2.16p.m. At last! After nearly seven months my Driving Licence arrived in the post this afternoon! Very late delivery I must say, but at least it's arrived and sorted out. I didn't think it would ever arrive and it still makes me wonder what on earth happened to the original Licence. Lost most likely.

Oh no! Yet another wretched Coronavirus press conference from Downing Street this afternoon. This means the BBC1 schedule is disrupted so there's no edition of The Repair Shop and Pointless moved to BBC2. I really don't want to have to endure another of these confounded doom-laden conferences, so I prefer to avoid them by watching BBC2 while I eat my evening meal.

(Thursday) Out with Alfie really early, just gone 6a.m. It's mild. Thankfully, none of that horrible wind and no sign of fog. So what does the day have in store? Probably the more of same.

A Roadmap Out Of Lockdown?

 (Monday) 7.30a.m. So Boris Johnson is to unveil a 'roadmap' out of lockdown later to day. Another of the infamous press conferences from Downing Street at around 7p.m. I just hope it's a road that has no hold-ups, with men in the road putting down cones and then you have to drive off the Motorway onto narrow country roads and then stuck behind a slowly-moving farm implement like an enormous combine harvester and then you go off down a narrow country lane and end up in a very muddy farmyard. Sorry for the mixed metaphors, but I just couldn't resist. I just hope that Boris has the roadmap the right way up and he has some sort of sense of direction so we don't end up in a cul de sac or even stuck under a bridge like a double decker bus whose driver doesn't have any idea of the route he's taking. Any more puns based on 'roadmap' write on a postcard or email to me.

I opened the curtains and looked out. Quite dry on the weather-front. There's a white van parked immediately outside and it has 'Bathroom tiling' emboldened along one side. It's obviously had a former life as it has 'Motorway Maintenance' on the rear with red and yellow stripes, the sort of vehicle you see going up and down the M1 or any other Motorway. Or is it (my stupid sense of the ridiculous.) an individual who is a motorway maintenance operative who does bathroom tiling on the side? Just hope he doesn't get the two jobs middled up and start tarmacing some dear old ladies bathroom or then tiling the hard shoulder of the M25 by accident. . . 

Later. I was supposed to have an electrician or someone come to do a safety check of the power points or something this afternoon. It was booked some while ago and I forgot about it but then it was rearranged for this afternoon, but I got a telephone call to say the workman was ill or something so it's had to be rearranged yet again. March 10th in the morning. I shall have to make sure I'm in when they come.

Later still. 'A one-way road to freedom' is how Boris Johnson has described the infamous 'roadmap' out of lockdown. I hope it is 'one way' and that there will be no u-turns. To mis-quote Margaret Thatcher, 'the gentleman's not for turning!' It's going to be cautious, but we must get out of this deadly ambush of our freedoms.

Could this possibly be aforementioned 'roadmap'? Bumpy road ahead, with one or two diversions for roadworks methinks, perhaps?

Later. I took Alfie out at around 2p.m. We went out through the door directly into Strudwick Drive and as I opened the door the wind made the door make a weird vibrating sound. I must say, the wind is quite strong at the moment, but to have a door making odd noises is really amusing and somewhat strange, but at the moment it's probably good to have something odd to take my minds off the relentless boredom of lockdown.

Back to reality, if that's possible. Now completed 26 pages of writing. Contemplating whether to transcribe it into word processing or not, the thought of it not a good idea as it's not my favourite job. I enjoy the actual writing (which, by the way, I do in pencil as it means it's easier to change as I go.

Wednesday 24th February. It's mild but windy this morning. Alfie curled up in his bed. He seems to like it as it's his own space.

I ordered a side unit on Amazon. It is small enough to go in the space currently take up by a red IKEA coffee table which I bought to the flat from the house in Eaglestone. It has drawers and shelving in it and should be an idea replacement. It was ordered on 3rd February and is supposed to arrive today, but I still can't understand why it's taking so long to be delivered. Generally if you order things from Amazon they take around a day to be delivered (I have Amazon Prime so you usually get preferential treatment regarding delivery and post and packaging. Also, you don't always know where an item comes from when you order. Goodness knows where this piece of furniture has come from and why on earth it's taking three weeks or more to arrive here.

All In A Day's Work

(Wednesday) It doesn't feel like Wednesday. If that's the case, what makes it FEEL like Wednesday? There is no definable feeling, but I think it's due to being in lockdown, where each day seems like the last one and the next and so on. Each day, even at the weekend, just blends into the last one like a sort of piece of film, going round and round in the projector. I suppose, a bit like the film 'Groundhog Day.'

(Thursday) We're now being told that lockdown can only be lifted when infection rates and deaths decline. I suppose that's obvious. But being infantilised doesn't help matters. Being treated as if you had half a brain does in my opinion.

(Friday) I went to Sainsbury's after I'd done washing. Not my most favourite occupation, but it has to be done. Infection rates from the coronavirus are falling, which is a really good bit of news for once. Anything positive at the moment is a good thing, meaning that we are another step closer to life returning to anything like normal.

It's windy but very mild today. I've written over 20 pages, which equates to around 8,000 words. Produced over several weeks, but at least I've written something. Going better than expected. It will obviously need editing and sections rewritten, but that's to be expected. Then I will transcribe it onto word processing, which takes quite a long time and patience.

(Saturday) Just not a great deal to report at the moment. i'm sure I will be able to think of something soon. As I write this (11.20a.m.) the sun is out, but also a fairly strong wind. Surprisingly mild for the time of year.

(Sunday) Out with Alfie before 7 o'clock this morning. It's really mild although a slight rain.

Moonflower which has bloomed for the first time in the  Cambridge University Botanic Garden which has caused great excitement. The gentleman on BBC Breakfast this morning described the scent when it first came out was like 'gardenias or honeysuckle, but now smells like public toilets,' which is a bit of a shock and I can't imagine anything else being described in that way!

Later. It's funny that Alfie goes bonkers if he sees a cat in the garden when I lived in Eaglestone, but if one is seen more or less close up, he doesn't seem to bother. I imagine it's to do with territory. We went out at around 9.15 and I saw a squirrel on the opposite side of Strudwick Drive. It hopped into the road and scuttled across and then over the path, but Alfie took not a blind bit of notice. A bit wet and it looked to me as it it was going to pour with rain, so I said to Alfie 'Home?' and he was quite happy to turn round and make for home. Not so sure whether it was going to rain or not, but I didn't want to risk getting a soaking.

Completed around 24 pages of writing. That done over the past month or so, but not bad considering.

Any Day Soon?

 (Tuesday) Seems like we'll be out of lockdown any day soon. Watch this space!

Not so cold this morning, but rather wet underfoot as I took Alfie out at 7.15. 

10.50a.m. I've been to Aldi to get milk and other items. Just resisting going to Sainsbury's as it's so much cheaper. You have to remember to take a £1 coin to be able to use a trolley. It wasn't too busy. I go as far as saying it wasn't busy at all. I find having someone outside begging somewhat intimidating. I'm afraid I didn't have any change. A lady who was coming out of the store warned me of his presence. I don't know what to make of this 'begging' as he looked well enough dressed and quite well spoken (sorry if that makes a difference.) But there must be an underlying reason why someone does this. Milton Keynes has plenty of jobs at the moment, so there's no excuse, even more mundane jobs such as working in a warehouse or working on a production line (I've done it myself, so I do have an idea what's entailed.) Or if he needs food, there is a food bank he can use, even if it for a short while. I'm not criticising or judging, but he may even have a mental health problem which means he can't work, or is homeless. In that case the Council can help. But does he know about these services? I think it's the intimidation that gets to me. Someone sitting or standing outside a supermarket or, as in the case when I lived in Bedford, at a narrow place, an alleyway I had to go through to get to the Post Office, making you feel guilty, which is unfair, as you walk past.

I came back home with my shopping which I unloaded and put away. I took Alfie out, as he was doing his staring act. Which tells me that he really needs to go out. The merry sound of chainsaws coming from a distant, somewhere near Oldbrook Boulevard. It's Council workmen hacking bits off trees. Perhaps hacking is the wrong word as I don't think they exactly hack, more like 'trim.' But it's a distinctive sound.

'Cautious but irreversable' is how Boris Johnson has described any 'roadmap' out of lockdown. I think he's just been bounced into making some sort of route we take to get back to some sort of normal by the 60 plus Backbenchers who more or less demand something is done to get the county to some sort of normality. 'Lockdown 4' is a no-go, thank goodness. Please, Boris, just get us out of this! I realise we have to be careful so that there are few infections and deaths, but being in lockdown is like stagnation. Turn into very ripe cheese at this rate, or wine with an extremely high alcohol content.

I read this morning that those in the 80-plus age group are showing that they have antibodies to defeat the coronavirus, as a result of having the vaccine. This shown by giving them blood tests, so this is great news and shows that we are at last on track to end lockdown. Who would have believed this would be possible a year ago? Amazing that there are several effective vaccines which we didn't have at the beginning of this pandemic. Even news this morning on BBC Breakfast, that venues, such as concert halls and theatres could reopen if there was the use of rapid testing before audiences could be allowed, as well as all performers, musicians, actors and other staff. As theatres have been closed for almost a year, it would be great to have them open and performances to be restarted. A devastating blow to the theatre industry to have to close theatre doors and have so many being dark. It will take a long time to recover from this awful crisis.

1.55p.m. I've done a good deal more writing. I'm doing it a little bit at a time, which is a good way to go with this. A couple of lines at a time, even less sometimes. Better I reckon than struggling and in between it give me time to think what I will write next. Around fourteen pages at the last count, which is really amazing considering. I realise it will need to to be edited heavily, but that's better than not having enough written and it's a bit like when you're making a film or television programme, better to have plenty to play with in the edit, meaning you have more choices with how you want the piece to go. Once it's done I shall put it away for a while and come back to it. Reading it immediately will not help. Time is good to allow you to take a different view on what you've created.

The electronic Oxford Dictionary I have and which proves to be extremely useful when I'm writing showed on the digital screen which I used when I'm writing, told me that the battery was about to fail, so I had to put a new one in and fortunately I had some spare AAA batteries available, so things were not held up. Easy enough to replace. I've had that gadget several years and it's the first time I've had to replace the battery. I remember going into W.H.Smith's in the main shopping centre with Carol to buy it. I think it might have been a birthday present, but it saves a lot of time, rather than using a paper dictionary.

(Wednesday) Quite wet when we went out at 7.10a.m. I wasn't sure whether it was raining, having looked out of the kitchen window, and it was, which Alfie didn't like, so we soon went back inside in the dry. We'll have to go out a little later. Never mind, it's only water after all. But, saying that, it's surprisingly mild.

Later. It was sunny when we went out at 10.20, which made a change from what it was earlier. Workmen cutting hedges and generally tidying up around  Oldbrook Green. I suppose it's important to keep on top of that sort of work otherwise hedges particularly get overgrown and then impossible to manage.

A Very Merry (Bah! Humbug) Lockdown Christmas!

(Saturday) I went to Aldi this morning, the branch in Bradwell Common and opposite my doctor's surgery. There are things they sell which I can't get elsewhere and as their prices are around a third of the major 4 supermarkets, then I thought it was worth going. I also had a £1 coin for the trolley which I don't always have on me, otherwise I couldn't shop there. I was in and out so quickly, and going so early made it easier as there were very few other shoppers in the store, making social distancing easier as well as being able to find a parking space in the car park

(Sunday) So the pandemic lockdown rules have been changed. Bah! Humbug! As Scrooge would have said so succinctly. Boris Scrooge Johnson as he should now be known. This area, the South East of England, which includes Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes, will move into a new Tier 4 tomorrow (Sunday) which means tighter regulations around meeting other people and no travel in and out of other areas with different tiers. And Boris is now considering a THIRD lockdown! All I can say is, lockdowns don't work. Or so it would seem. So, with data regarding those who are infected with the virus and those who have died, which is inaccurate, I'm inclined to not believe what we are told. As it is, restricting people's liberty, the whole thing should be debated in Parliament and given these restrictions scrutiny.

I went out with Alfie at around 9.15 this morning. As usual we walked along Strudwick Drive (or, I should be more specific, the pavement, or is it actually a path. Don't be so pedantic, Murdoch!.I'm not so stupid as to walk on the actual road.) We crossed over Oldbrook Boulevard as usual and walked around the Green. Alfie takes ages as he has to sniff every lamppost and tree, and then we came back to where we started and crossed back over Oldbrook Boulevard and as we did so I saw one of the Starship 'pods' coming towards us along the pavement. It had its lights on and as we approached we stopped directly in front of it and it stopped. It made me think of something out of a science fiction movie, 'Star Wars,' 'Star Trek' or even 'Doctor Who.' (Strangely similar to 'K9', the robot dog which was The Doctor's companion in the early, original version of the show, although he did return in one of the episodes of the rebooted version.) Then I stood back and the pod (for want of a better name.) trundled on and I watched it stop at the kerb, as if undecided what to do. It was obviously waiting to make sure the road was clear and then moved forward, but then stopped on the island in the centre of the road and, again, seemed to be checking for any vehicle and then moved forward and disappeared off along the path around Oldbrook Green. I could see it's yellow flag as it went off from the other side of the road. Funny little thing. They are a bit like miniature refrigerators on wheels or those cool boxes you can get to put your food in to keep it fresh on a hot summer's day when you go out for a picnic, but with wheels and a bit of an attitude. They do have personalities. Well I think so.

(Monday) Alfie kept wanting to sit on my knee and hanging about under my feet. This was around 6.30a.m. I was busy on my iPad and was ignoring him, but it suddenly dawned on me that he was desperate to go outside, so I quickly got dressed and we went out onto the grass area along the side of Strudwick Drive. Poor little dog, he would otherwise have had an accident (do I have to describe exactly what? No I don't.) Fortunately I took my little torch with me, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to clear up things. Its been really useful. It was raining (it probably is still as I write this.)and we had to go to the bin on Oldbrook Green before returning home. Alfie, totally bedraggled, looking like a wrong-out mop, went totally bonkers, attempting to get dry by charging around the flat. His coat goes crinkly when he's wet, looking as if he's been permed. Never mind, problem solved and back in front of the television watching BBC Breakfast on television.

Wet and Windy

We are almost into November. (Well, we were when I began to write this blog.) The clocks have changed so that it's now light earlier in the morning so I can take Alfie out at around 6.30a.m. The leaves are falling fast and there's a carpet of them on the grass at the side of the path we walk along at the side of Strudwick Drive as we approach Oldbrook Green. The  leaves on the trees are rapidly turning colour, some bright orange, others yellow and a whole range of hues in-between.

(Saturday) It's wild and windy out on this Saturday morning. I have taken Alfie out but we didn't get far because, when he realised it was raining, he turned tail and bought me back to the flat! I bought myself a raincoat off the Regatta website. It's dayglo yellow and a week or two later I decided that Alfie should have a waterproof coat of his own and bought one on the Regatta site, but I made sure I measured him before ordering. It arrived really quickly and it fits perfectly and even has a button hole so that the ring on his harness can be attached to his lead. Absolute perfect fit. But it didn't really impress him when we went out in today's wind and rain. I think King Lear would be in his element (pun intended!)

Boris Johnson is giving a news conference later this afternoon. Because coronavirus infections are growing (I don't believe a word of this.) he will have been told by his scientist advisors that a further national lockdown will be needed in order to slow the virus down. So, more social distancing and more regulations. Which just tells me that it's not working and as a result the economy is being destroyed along with people's mental health (mine included.)

(Saturday 13th) I am finding it increasingly more and more difficult to find anything interesting to put in these blog posts. 

During the evening I heard fireworks being let off and when I took Alfie out for his first walk of the day at around 7 o'clock, the remains of fireworks would be seen stuffed into the rubbish bin as we got to Oldbrook Green. Don't the people who do this not realise that November 5th is Bonfire or Guy Fawkes Night? It's too late to be letting them off on the 13th November (unlucky or not.) I've since discovered that it might not be connected with Bonfire Night but more likely Dwali. Which is the Hindu festival of light. I know nothing more on the subject.

(Thursday 19th November) It is sunny as I write this (at 1.15 p.m.) but it has been raining and Alfie doesn't like it. I took him out for his early-morning walk but we didn't stay out too long and then two more jaunts, but by then it was raining, so he turned tail and we came home to the flat.

(Friday) So, will Christmas be cancelled this year? It's in the air. Boris is self-isolating in 10 Downing Street and we're supposed to come out of Lockdown 2 on 2nd December. 

Restrictions On, Then Off and Then . .

Some of the pandemic lockdown restrictions have been lifted. We can now visit 'non-essential' shops, get our hair cut and a certain number of attractions, gardens and so on, have re-opened (I think these include National Trust properties, zoos, etc etc.) But if you visit a shop you need to wear a face covering (supposed to cover your nose and mouth.)

I went into the Milton Keynes main shopping centre to meet my friend Nick who lives in Northampton. Unfortunately not everyone is obeying the social distancing regulations nor is everyone wearing a face mask. I took mine, one of the handful I purchased in Lidl a few weeks ago. I don't particularly like having to wear one as it makes my face hot and my glasses steam up. You can't see people's faces clearly and it would be easy for someone, if they were inclined, to do something criminal, say, rob a bank or be objectionable to staff in a shop, and nobody would be able to recognise them, for example, on C.C.T.V. cameras.

Church is having a picnic on Sunday near Furzton Lakes. I have been attempting to find some sort of folding chair to take with me and went on the internet to have a look. I had hoped that Argos might have had some in stock. I looked at there website and sure enough they had quite a range but when I attempted to buy I kept being told that the Milton Keynes store had none in stock. I had an idea that Tesco would have these types of chairs. Whatever I buy needs to be folding, so that it will fit into the back of the car and then be stored in the flat in a corner.

(Friday) The Renault Captur was due for it's MoT in August. I rang Bleakhall Motors on Wednesday to book it in for this annual test and got an appointment for 4.45 yesterday afternoon. I drove there and the test went ahead. I waited in the waiting area and it was completed by 5.30. Thank goodness it passed without any further expense being necessary but they said that it would need the diesel emissions looking at before next year's test. I imagine it has something to do with the exhaust filter or something so I may ring them and ask what it entails. So, that's another year of driving. The tyres may need air in them, but considering that it hasn't been far in the last five or so months since lockdown, it's no surprise as there can't be much wear on the car in that time.

(Saturday) It seems there is an increase in infections of the coronavirus in some areas of the north of England, so some of the lockdown restrictions have been reintroduced. Some people are unhappy about this, but if we're to return to any semblance of normality then this has to be done. Five months of lockdown and a gradual reduction in infections nationwide. People must just adhere to the regulations and not become lazy, particularly with social distancing.