Covid Regulations Lifting

Saturday. 7.30 a.m. Today is the 1st of May! It's incredible to believe that we're almost halfway through 2021.

 It seems that the covid vaccines are working and reducing infections and thankfully, deaths. This means we are gradually coming out of this pandemic lockdown and even more so, HOPEFULLY, we won't have to have any more in the 'relatively near future.' On the 21st June, as part of the Government's 'roadmap' out of this situation, we can get back to some sort of normal.

Sunny and bright out and really pleasant. Let's hope it stays that way.

I took Alfie out at gone 2 o'clock. Sunny and bright. There were lots of people on and around Oldbrook Green. A group on the far side playing cricket. Children playing football, or at least kicking footballs into the goal in the tarmacked area on the 'Cricketers' side. There is a board which has 'Oldbrook Green' emblazoned on it and a list of 'does and don't (More don'ts as you would expect from a beaurocracy, Campbell Park Parish Council.) One of them says 'no cricket,' 'no organized games.'What about disorganized games? But, please explain what you mean by an organized game? So, what on earth is the point of this large piece of grass if it's not for playing games? I must say it was great to see people enjoying themselves and not being locked up in their homes because of the pandemic. So, what happens if you get caught playing cricket? Not that I'm a fan, but I'd love to see how they could stop this sort of thing. Sounds a bit like life under Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans. Would you get arrested and shoved into a van with handcuffs on? Staring out through bars? Clapped in irons? Makes you wonder. Would be mean you get a criminal record? Look a bit silly on your record: arrested for playing cricket. Who makes up these rules, and why?

Later. 10.00 p.m. I've been watching a musical version of 'The Wind In The Willows' on BroadwayHD. It has music and lyrics by Styles and Drew who did the additional songs for the Cameron Macintosh/Disney stage musical of 'Mary Poppins.' Book by Julian Fellowes, who wrote the ITV series 'Downton Abbey' and did the adaptation of 'Mary Poppins.' Bright and breezy and very clear story-telling, At least the animal characters aren't dressed in obvious costumes. Suggestions that they are a particular type of animal by the addition of hats, ears stuck on, tails, etc., while the actor's faces are kept clear. No real attempt to be 'realistic' which includes the set design.

Sunday. We have to book tickets for church through something called Eventbrite. As we can only have 40 people in the hall, including musicians, it seems the best way to keep control of the numbers, to make sure we adhere to the government's regulations. I thought I had booked my ticket, but it turns out that I hadn't. Just can always trust technology.

Tiers For Fears

(Monday)  Sorry, just couldn't resist using that as a title for this blog post! The fact is, Boris Johnson and his lot have been scaring us to death over this covid business. We can't meet up over Christmas for fear of killing granny or grandpa. The virus is transmuting into something more horrible than you could possibly guess. We can't visit, go  to shops which sell non-essential items (which must be hard to define.) Theatres are boarded up (pity!), restaurants and pubs also. It's like living under a facist regime. All the changes, a bit like dancing the conga ('in out in out and shake it all about!') Boris turning into Oliver Cromwell and cancelling Christmas. And now we're supposed to have a new variant of the coronavirus, although it's not supposed to be any more infectious as the original covid-19 virus. But surely they would have known that it was likely to mutate.

It's inevitable that  I will be stuck here at Dexter House on my own in the flat (with Alfie as support. Can't leave the little fellow out.) There will be other people around, but it's not going to be a 'normal' Christmas by any means. I have been to get a few more bits and pieces from Sainsbury's. I needed to get something for Alfie. It was relatively busy for the time of day. Probably people doing what I was doing, getting last-minute shopping done before Friday.

And to cap it all we in Buckinghamshire are now in a new tier, Tier 4, which is the highest tier, so we're having to lockdown every more severely. And this after Boris said that Christmas would be as normal as was possible.

I've been to Aldi at Bradwell Common. I haven't been there since Carol died. We used to shop there quite a lot. Very god value. I think I will shop there far more. The only problem is that you need a £1 coin so as to use the trolleys and I rarely have a coin. I will have to make sure I have one in the car and keep one in the car for this use. Amazing bit of Stilton (which I love!) About three times the size of a bit you would buy in Sainsbury's and probably a third of the price!

The Christmas Day service at Shenley Christian Fellowship will be on-line through Facebook because of the latest pandemic restrictions. I think it was felt that it was too risky with infection rates rising. A great shame, but I suppose it has to be done.

(Wednesday It has been raining for most of the morning. I didn't wake up until around 7.45. I don't think I've woken that late in years. I got dressed and took Alfie out as I normally do and then came back for my mug of tea and cereal in front of BBC Breakfast. Shots of HGVs parked up on an airstrip (I suppose it would be, but not sure.) Seems like thousands. Doesn't look real somehow. It's because France won't allow lorries in because of the new variant of the virus. It now seems they are doing rapid testing of the drivers and they can cross the channel if they test negative for the virus. What with that issue as well as a possible 'no deal' Brexit, things couldn't get much worse. And on top of that the possibility of the entire country being put into Tier 4. Lockdown under another name if you ask me. But don't.

Alfie taken out at 9.30ish. As soon as he realised it was raining, he high-tailed it home as quickly as his little legs would carry him.

On the pavement along Strudwick Drive there is a rather nasty puddle. Not the best way to describe it. It gets worse when there is rain (probably because the water has nowhere to run away to.) But one of the paving slabs is a bit loose and when you tread on it, you get your feet wet. Just unpleasant and if you need to avoid it and walk on the grass, you have to walk in mud (more mud than grass.) More unpleasantness!

Later. It's now worse than ever. The path is now more or less completely engulfed. It's been raining for most of the day, so no wonder. To cap it all, my trousers have split! 'Now missis, don't laugh!' (In Frankie Howard voice).' Titter not!' I bent down to pick up after Alfie (no more description needed.) and there was the sound of rending cloth, in a most embarrassing place, and I have to say, that puts paid to that pair. Unless I can find someone who is good with a needle and cotton.

Later Still. 10.45p.m. There is a strong wind blowing and whistling around outside (well, I just hope it is, and not inside, otherwise there would be a window open.) I just can't get to sleep with that noise going on, hence sitting here typing this. I think Alfie is attempting to sleep and has come into the lounge from the bedroom. He had got really cozy next to me but followed me and is now on the sofa next to me.