Helping the BHF

 

My friends, I’m sure you will all remember those dark days of lockdown through Covid and before the vaccine. I posted my Covid Chronicles most days highlighting both the global situation and events. I added my personal situation and spoke of the need to stay positive to survive while showing compassion and consideration for those who lost loved ones. I shared memories with you all because they are important; the one thing we can never lose. Many of you read my scribing hopefully through interest or maybe boredom. Some contributed comments and suggested publication. I am happy to tell you that the document has been accepted by the world premier British Library as an electronic donation. They will be available for future generations who wish to research Covid .decided to look for an archive for them as a primary history source for future generations. Consequently, they have been edited accordingly with comments removed. I am offering them in Word doc to anyone who would like them either as a reminder or to pass on to descendants . They are free but I thought it would be nice to help a charity. I have set up a page for donations to the BHF if you would like to make a contribution but is not obligatory. https://gofund.me/bb77af67 If you would like a copy please leave a message in the comments.

LOCKDOWN 1

Hello Everyone,

As is my custom I am preparing this blog on Tuesday 22nd for Friday. Thinking. Yesterday was Day 455. 455 days since we went into lockdown last year for a period of 21 days. Well, that was what we were told initially. I am still writing about the pandemic in lockdown although it has now become the Covid Chronicles and is around the 300,000 word mark or about the length of three novels! At least I have been active and constructive during our confinement. Had our Boris's roadmap been on course Sunday would have been my farewell and Monday 21st June, the Summer Solstice, was to be our first day of freedom. Our first day without shackles. Alas, it was not to be! We continue for another month. We have been assured that lockdown will not go on any longer than that. However, observations... cases and deaths are rising in numbers. So, what will happen next month? My guess is that there will be a new kind of tier system under another name. In that case, I shall still be writing because somewhere in the UK it will be lockdown and shackles. In 400 years time, I see myself seated on a cloud in deep conversation with Samuel Pepys. We will be discussing the diaries we have left for the world to devour. I thought this week I would go back to those first days and share my early scribing and first blog on Lockdown with you. Enjoy!

                                                            ***********************

Well, these are unprecedented and dire times which we are living through. I am a writer! So, when we heard the PM's announcement on Monday evening what did I decide to do? Write a daily log of thoughts, ideas, plans and my daily life. After the elderly and vulnerable were advised to self-isolate for 12 weeks I made a list of things to do. Keeping occupied and positive will help our sanity through trying times. I decided to change my planned blogs and do special ones on Lockdown sharing my days and thoughts hoping they will put a smile on your face. 

Lockdown  time

Good morning. It is 11.23 Tuesday morning, 24^th March 2020. I am reclining on the sofa with my cuppa (no not wine, well in a week or two, maybe!) of coffee and watching Holly and Phillip on television. ‘This Morning’ they tell us has been declared essential in these trying times. The sun is shining, soon I shall go out and collect the bins. I heard the bin men come earlier and that is about all that is normal in this unprecedented situation.

Last night at 8.29 Boris Johnson, our PM, made an announcement. He explained the dire Coronavirus situation and desperate measures of isolation which must be taken in order to save lives. We already had restrictions in place, working from home where possible, self isolation, public places where peeps socialised advised to close, parks and open spaces staying open for exercise but we must stay two metres a part. Sadly, we have idiots in our community who decided to see the pleasant weekend as a holiday. They rushed to holiday spots and got as close to each other as they could. So now, we are in lockdown. Pretty soon, I guess most countries will be in the same situation. Some already are.

As many of you know I am a night owl. I rise late and am awake until the small hours. So, it was 10.30 when I strained myself to get out of bed on auto pilot. I walked into my library and looked out on to our little street which by this time of day is normally a car park. Today, just residents cars. No cars on the distant Tesco car park and very few vehicles on the road. At last peeps have heeded the warning and are forced to conform. Once dressed I visit the computer for email and games on FB. Was there a life before social media? Where would we be now without it?

Then, I staggered down the stairs, something which is getting harder with age. Breakfast time and turn on downstairs television and iPad. The first thing I do and have done for a week is look at the updated number of  Coronavirus cases locally. Depressing and frightening. Today, it’s 31. What will it be tomorrow?

Before the second cuppa I decided to go out at the back of my property and bring in the bins. I looked down the street and someone was taking the opportunity to clean her car but too far down to engage in conversation. Then another vehicle came round the corner, an opposite neighbour. Apparently, he had been out for essential items like milk and found it extremely difficult to find any. One of the supermarkets had an unimaginable queue of peeps clinging to trolleys at a safe distant apart. He eventually bought milk from a corner shop. Yes, we had social intercourse but were two metres apart.

After the second cuppa I returned to the library and worked at the computer while admiring the outside world. It was like being in that parallel universe I frequently talk of. So few vehicles and I observed two buses pass both without passengers. I guess the usual ones are senior citizens with passes and they are all in self isolation.

Later, I came back downstairs and opened up my porch/conservatory for the summer. During the winter months I only use it as storage. Soon, it will be full of beautiful plants with room for a chair so that I can sit in it and enjoy our glorious summer which will come at the end of this insanity.

For the rest of the day I have played games and watched television. I made one phone call. Part of my survival programme is to phone one person each day. I predict the telephone will make a come back and peeps will actually talk as opposed to texting. Right now, I’m watching a rerun of ‘Midsomer Murders’ with a glass of wine. As of yet I have not succumbed to the chocolate but tomorrow who knows?

Soon, I’m going to enjoy a bubble bath before retiring. Hey we’ve survived day one of lockdown and to quote Scarlett O’Hara , ‘tomorrow is another day’.

Day 2,

Good morning! The sun is still shining. First things first, do I have a temperature or cough? No, so thankfully I have not yet succumbed to this virus. Thank you Lord for sparing me. If you remember, peeps, I lost my insignificant other to Cancer last September. He was a medium and I recall what he said after the 911 terrorist attack. It was the beginning of many bad things, there would be more attacks, floods and disease. It was going to be like the plagues of Egypt all over again and when it’s over the world will be a better place. Is this the last of the ‘new plagues’?

Breakfast time and I check the local number of cases, it is still 31. I guess that’s some good news for now. The breaking news is that Prince Charles has contracted the virus, even royalty is not immune. I wonder what would be on the news if there were no Coronavirus?

My plans for the rest of the day? First, second cuppa. Still no wine at breakfast time but I did finish a bottle off last night. Then, I’m gonna get the car out of the garage and clean the interior, maybe the outside. That depends on how energetic I feel. Later, I shall continue repotting or taking cuttings from my plants and put more of them into my summer conservatory. Yes, I’ll be watching television and on the computer. I shall also make my daily phone call. Have made a list and will phone Shirley, someone I met on hols a few years ago. I have decided to plan each evening for what I intend doing the next day. I may not stick to it but it’s worth a try.

As a writer I am used to solitude and self isolation so you would think this lockdown would be easy for me. No. The difference is one of choice. My freedom and freedom of choice have been taken from me. In one sense we are being treated like prisoners. Loss of freedom through no fault of our own or if we are suffering new plagues maybe it is our fault for choosing materialism over humanity during the last decades. We have become selfish and greedy people as opposed to considerate human beings. Just look at the empty supermarket shelves.

I’m now thinking about prisoners. Are they thinking, 'now you know how we feel?' Anyway, we must all stay positive and united through this madness.

Here I am again. It is 7.15 and I’m watching ‘Emmerdale’. The day has gone pretty well, all things considered. The car has had an interior clean and the surplus grime has been removed from the exterior. Full wash? Too energetic and not essential in these trying times. Yes, more plants are sorted and looking pretty in the conservatory. The birds have been fed. 

I made that phone call and, I think, I brightened the day for someone. She seemed to think it was a good idea. I have another victim ready for tomorrow.

Today, we have all been aware of the best and the worst of people. Over 400,000 have answered the Governments call for help. At the other extreme there’s profiteering and those trying to steal NHS workers identity badges to get priority at supermarkets. On a positive note it does seem that the message is hitting home. Fewer people congregating and more staying at home.

Somehow, we will get through this. I have plans for tomorrow.

Day 3,

Good morning peeps,

It’s about 11.00 and I’m enjoying breakfast while looking at the sunshine. It’s not raining and that’s something to be thankful for. Each morning and actually throughout the day I’m checking my forehead. Am I feverish? Now, I had a slight cough before this pandemic. Like most things I put it down to old age but each time I cough I ask myself the question, Is it a dry cough? Then I check my forehead again. So far, I’m fine. I’ve checked the local casualty list and that’s not so good. It has gone up to 50.

Hey, positivity is a must in these situations. Firstly, staying at home means staying at home but your home includes balconies, gardens, drives and patios! Also, we are luckier than in previous decades because we have television and social media. Think back to the days of bubonic plague.

What are my plans for today? Enjoy it, make the most of it and get through it. I will be spring cleaning, carrying on potting plants, washing up and I will be doing a special blog for tomorrow. Next weekend my little booklet LIFE IS… will be on free download. The book designed to cheer people up. Later today I will make the daily phone call and at 8.00 pm I shall be applauding our NHS workers.

Stay safe and well.

That is my first three days of ramblings, activities, positivity and even without ice cream. I would like to share one further thing with you from my JUST BE POSITIVE post last year.

All of my New year blogs are optimistic and offer positivity for the future. I've suggested taking new ideas and opportunities; taking each day as a new beginning. Looking at life as an exciting adventure; seeing every day as a holiday. Always looking for the good and the advantage of every situation or dilemma. So, I would like to leave you with this blog in the hope that if you are going through a difficult time you may find something positive besides a smile to help you through the dark days.

                                                  ****************************

Love to you all, Lady M xxxx

Lockdown 3

 

Hello Everyone,

The Singing Horses and I would like to wish you a Happy 2021 despite these trying times. We need to keep smiling and stay positive. Okay, maybe I am getting a little repetitive but you know it makes sense. Misery, worry, anxiety leads to depression and is a downward road. Happiness will keep us going even if, and as I fear, 2021 will not be much better than 2020. It will come to an end and so will this dreaded lurgy. As I write this, we in England are back in lockdown. We are back to square one, exactly where we were last March. How many more lockdowns? I think another two and a third wave. Hopefully, I am wrong but I have been right so far. If I am right even more reason to stay cheerful. Our Boris spoke to the Nation at 8.00pm last night, Monday, and gave us this sad news, not that we were not expecting it. Our 'R' rate is above one, our NHS is struggling. Schools must close. We must stay at home apart from essential shopping, medical reasons, exercise... We have heard it all before. Holiday abroad? Forget it. All foreign travel for pleasure is banned. Boris has a reputation for tardiness but I will say this about him, he has got balls! He has been close to death after contracting Covid-19 but survived and keeps going or thriving on energy from somewhere. He has a positivity and optimism throughout and how did he conclude his address last night? We have a vaccine. We are injecting to full capacity and hope to have the top four categories inoculated by Easter thus summer should be normal. Right or wrong Boris will come through smiling and so must we!

The Singing Horses | Book| Austin Macauley Publishers

The Singing Horses: Amazon.co.uk: Marilyn L Rice: 9781528950251: Books

Stay safe everyone. Lots of love, Lady M 💓💓💓

Covid Chronicles 7

 

Hello Everyone,

Hey, guess what? After almost two years in publication and a lot of hassle my next book has a publication date for 10th December, that's next week folks. Just thought I would share the cover pic with you so that you get used to seeing it. It is available for pre-order on Amazon.co.uk but the delivery date is late January apparently. I know, everything is slow these days except Covid which is really, really, speedy.

Okay, the situation in the UK is that we are out of our second lockdown and back in the controversial tier system. So, no change. I will share with you my scribing's for last weekend. Enjoy and have fun. Remember, nothing lasts forever and one day Covid-19 will be a distant memory.

Day 249 27^th November 2020. Lockdown 2/Day 23. Black Friday.

Hey peeps, you know I have an uncanny habit of being correct about things. I am just very clever (smart arse!) or psychic. I am predicting a third wave and that 2021 is not going to be much better than 2020. We have to wait for another couple of years before we have a better new normal. The old things will have passed way, into oblivion, forgotten and not missed. I also said that I feared anarchy in our society as a result of our freedom being taken from us. It reminds me of the old days of highway robbery, (No, I am not that old but I learned all about it in that little school I loved; the one that closed in 1989.)I am thinking of Dick Turpin, “Your money or your life?” with a revolver in hand ready to fire. The 2020 version is, ‘your freedom or your life’! However, it is not society that is causing anarchy yet, but our government that is revolting. Yes, the word, ‘revolting’ is open to interpretation. Boris’s Conservative government are giving him grief over the new tier system which defies both belief and understanding. Yesterday, I said I would not explain it because it was complicated, and I just gave a general summary. Our MP’s are asking for a clear explanation as to why many areas are in top categories when the majority of the area does not have many cases. Why are Liverpool and London in 2? Why has Kent switched from 1-3? Why are 99% of the population still in a strict lockdown? Actually, I would like to know the answers. Although, I am not surprised that my area has gone to 3. We were in 2 and we do have a high number of cases. I can share with you the rules relating to tier 3 from the government website.

Tier 3: Very High alert

This is for areas with a very high or very rapidly rising level of infections, where tighter restrictions are in place.

In tier 3:

·        you must not meet socially indoors or in most outdoor places with anybody you do not live with, or who is not in your support bubble, this includes in any private garden or at most outdoor venues

·        you must not socialise in a group of more than 6 in some other outdoor public spaces, including parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, a public garden, grounds of a heritage site or castle, or a sports facility – this is called the ‘rule of 6’

·        hospitality settings, such as bars (including shisha venues), pubs, cafes and restaurants are closed – they are permitted to continue sales by takeaway, click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery services.

·        accommodation such as hotels, B&Bs, campsites, and guest houses must close. There are several exemptions, such as for those who use these venues as their main residence, and those requiring the venues where it is reasonably necessary for work or education and training 

·        indoor entertainment and tourist venues must close. This includes:

·        indoor play centres and areas, including trampolining parks and soft play

·        casinos

·        bingo halls

·        bowling alleys

·        skating rinks

·        amusement arcades and adult gaming centres

·        laser quests and escape rooms

·        cinemas, theatres and concert halls

·        snooker halls

·        indoor attractions at mostly outdoor entertainment venues must also close (indoor shops, through-ways and public toilets at such attractions can remain open). This includes indoor attractions within:

·        zoos, safari parks, and wildlife reserves

·        aquariums, visitor attractions at farms, and other animal attractions

·        model villages

·        museums, galleries and sculpture parks

·        botanical gardens, biomes or greenhouses

·        theme parks, circuses, fairgrounds and funfairs

·        visitor attractions at film studios, heritage sites such as castles and stately homes

·        landmarks including observation decks and viewing platforms

·        leisure and sports facilities may continue to stay open, but group exercise classes (including fitness and dance) should not go ahead. Saunas and steam rooms should close

·        there should be no public attendance at spectator sport or indoor performances and large business events should not be taking place. Elite sport events may continue to take place without spectators

·        large outdoor events (performances and shows) should not take place, with the exception of drive-in events

·        places of worship remain open, but you must not attend with or socialise with  anyone outside of your household or support bubble while you are there, unless a legal exemption applies

·        weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees – 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions are not allowed, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, 15 people can attend linked commemorative events

·        organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue, however higher-risk contact activity should not take place

·        organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes cannot take place indoors. There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s

·        you can continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, but should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible

·        avoid travelling to other parts of the UK, including for overnight stays other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. You can travel through other areas as part of a longer journey

·        for international travel see the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for your destination and the travel corridors list

 

I think it is lockdown! There’s nowhere to go cos most places are closed.  Presumably I can’t travel abroad. All travel abroad for pleasure as opposed to business is banned until December 2^nd. That’s interesting. Our lockdown was for a month, but it looks like Boris’s month is 27 days.

The Covid-19 data has passed the 60,000,000 mark and that, in September, was my second estimate for Christmas. Germany has passed the 1,000,000-mark making it the twelfth country with more than a million cases.

 

Other news today? Diego Maradona’s funeral has taken place in Buenos Aries. Brexit talks are continuing, and it really is Black Friday!

Okay, peeps I am off to be happy because I choose to be, and give myself festive cheer decorating two more Christmas trees and putting up other décor. Then, because the world looks better through rose coloured glasses, I will open another bottle of rosé wine before I settle down with fajitas for dinner and the goggle box. Goodnight all.

 

Day 250 Saturday, 28^th November, Lockdown 2/Day 24 Another weekend!

Good morning peeps! No, I do not have a hangover. In fact, I am quite happy because I choose to be and wait for it…peeps! I have just been onto Amazon and discovered that my next book is already on it with the facility to pre-order it. The publication date is December 10^th, but you may check it out now, “The Singing Horses”. Wow!! Je suis content!

I have not completed adorning my abode yet. I shall do a little more later. A brown envelope has dropped onto my doormat. Oh dear. My friends we all know I am soixante-neuf and that another milestone is approaching. Trust the DVLA to remind me of the inevitable; they have sent me the reminder to renew my driving licence. Have I really had it for almost half a century? Some of you will remember that I renewed it only yesterday, or three months ago to be precise. Yes, over the years the rules have changed. I had one stolen in August 2000 and consequently purchased a new one. In the UK they only last for ten years before renewal and must be renewed at the age of 70 regardless. From then on, I think it is every three years. Memory alert. I remember my first car, a white mini. VJV 654K. I loved that little car and I remember the first time I drove on the road by myself. It was February 7^th, 1975 and I drove out of the school gate (I was a teacher!), turned right, drove down to the junction. Turned right again, to the island. Round the island. Parked. Went into the bank. Then drove back to work. What an achievement. Happy day!

Okay, it is second cuppa time and time to make my daily phone call. Today, it is my number one fan’s birthday. I could tell you her age, but I won’t. (She reads everything I write!) I dial. No reply. I redial. No reply. Er, where is she? No one is allowed out. We are in lockdown. Try later.

What is newsworthy? Restrictions during the five days freedom during Christmas. No board games. No singing. No dancing. Do not sit opposite people. Be careful about handling cutlery. If possible, have a different toilet for the different family bubbles. So, if we cannot experience a traditional Christmas why are we having the five days of permitted travel and seeing families? I guess kissing under the mistletoe is verboten. Our Asian brethren have had Eid after Ramadan and Diwali. Those two are the main times of celebration in the Islamic and Sikh religions. There were no concessions for those. Does this mean that we will have anarchy from our Sikhs and Muslims because they were not allowed to celebrate in their customary way when Christians are permitted gatherings for the Christmas period? Covid and chaos rule in harmony.

Anti-lockdown protests are taking place in London again and Arcadia are in administration. Apparently, that is the company that own Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge, Wallis, Burton and… actually, I thought that one had already gone under. Must be confusing it with another company because there are so many of them. Enough. Time to try the birthday girl again.

Ring. Ring. Answer. “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…” She sounded pleased to hear from me. She had been out to meet a friend earlier, but they practised social distancing, so I do not have to report her to the authorities. I told her that she was lucky to have me as a friend. What surprised me was that she agreed. We had a nice chat about numerous different things, but I won’t bore you peeps because I am going to do a little more decorating and then watch an afternoon film, “Nativity”. After that it will be dinner time and another quiet night in.

Goodnight my friends. Stay safe and choose to be happy.

 

Day 251, November 29^th, Lockdown 2/Day 25 First Sunday in Advent

I looked out of the window this morning as usual and looked for Tesco’s across the road. Alas, it was so drab, foggy, and miserable I could not see the sign. Keep curtains closed today.

Exciting news for me when I checked messages. A dear friend has pre-ordered my book. That must be my first order from Amazon. Yea, you are all free to rush off and add to the pre-order figures.

It is the first Sunday in Advent and our BBC are paying homage by putting on a special church service at 10.30. These services used to last an hour but now curtesy of Covid-19, they only last 30 minutes. I was downstairs with candles lit and brekky when it started. There was singing but the choristers were all socially distancing, and some music had been recorded prior to restrictions. It ended with “Guide me O thou Great Jehovah”. I sang along because I love that hymn. For those unaware of Advent, it means the coming of Christ and it continues for four Sundays leading up to Christmas Day.

An hour later, it was second cuppa time and “Songs of Praise”. This was a programme well away from the original ones. It was the semi finals of the male choristers’ contest or something and five young men sang a song each. I found it a little disappointing but then I am a traditionalist. Sorry, can’t help it.

This afternoon I finished all the decorations and now my humble home feels warmer and seems to glow. Also, I won’t have to dust until I take them down and the last items may well be when Antonio visits again because then it will be summertime! Guess, I’ll have to write the cards next.

What to do now? Work, rest and play until the end of the day.

News? The peasants are still revolting. Sorry, got confused. Meant to say ‘government’. Boris has his hands full. Romain Grosjean, (never heard of him. Sorry. VIP Formula 1 driver apparently) has survived a crash which split his car in half before bursting into flames. He walked away from it. Miraculous. The doctor who was treating Diego Maradona is under scrutiny regarding the footballer’s death. He denies any misappropriation and claims he is being made a scapegoat for the man’s death. President Trump has given his first interview since he lost the election. Anyone else notice he’s been quiet recently? Sore loser! Wow! Apparently, we have signed an agreement with France regarding the migrants crossing our channel. Another miracle. We are on the last stage of Brexit talks after four years. Okay, better make it quick to get a deal cos it is all over in 31 days! Enough for today.

 

Perhaps just one last thing Data! I know you want to know, and I do not like to disappoint. The global figure is 63,036,138. Last Sunday it was 58,815,000. So that is 4,000,000+ which means that it is stabilising as opposed to increasing. Good news and we need good news. Will it stay stable after Christmas? The USA has 13,731,720 cases at present but after Thanksgiving and Christmas what will it be? What is my estimate for Christmas in a month’s time now? 75,000,000 and my first estimate was 50,000,000 so that is a 50% increase. If only all peeps had used their common sense.

Off for dinner, chicken with mushrooms, potatoes and petite pois with vino and ice cream to follow.

Goodnight my friends. Stay safe.

Love to you all, Lady M 💓💓💓💓

 

Covid Chronicles 3

Memory, afternoon tea in Blackpool

Hello Everybody,

Lady M here. It is Tuesday 3rd November but when this is published on Friday we, here in the UK, will be in lockdown again. In America? I am not sure what will be happening. Today, America decides. Trump or Biden? Elsewhere, there are floods, fires, earthquakes, typhoons, rioting and shooting. Things are not good. I am sharing last weekends posts with you and I wanna say to all please stay positive and choose to be happy. Somehow, someday we will weather this storm but only by working together, by kindness and consideration to others. Stay safe, my friends.

Day 222, 31st October, Saturday. Halloween!

Good morning!

I am half-way through my reading of the print version of my next book. So far, all is good. No serious errors. Must not speak too soon. (Bus alert! I’ve seen a few pass by while I have been seated here. Most have passengers today. Possibly because it is Saturday.)

I was thinking earlier. Who remembers Louis Armstrong’s song, “What a wonderful world”? Now, it seems to be more of a disastrous world. We have raging fires, floods, earthquakes, and a plague. What is the main news item? The US election. Where will it all end? I think my iPad is in sympathy with our dire situation; it died yesterday. I looked online for a new one. The delivery dates were for late November. Instead, I shall brave the elements and venture out on Monday to the store and hopefully purchase one. That is if the store is still open.

Covid-19. What have I always said about our Boris being slow? He is having a meeting with his Cabinet this afternoon over whether we should have a full lockdown for November in the hope of saving Christmas. This is after Belgium has followed Germany into a full lockdown and Greece is in partial lockdown. Europe has passed the 10,000,000-case figure. Will our Boris be able to make a decision? The news took us back to Boris in March of this year with his slogan “Stay home. Protect the NHS. Save lives”. Back to square one.

Sad news. Sean Connery has passed away at the age of 90. Memories. Those James Bond films and the sixties.

Okay. Back to work. Must finish reading “The Singing Horses”. I will not be back until it is complete.

Completed. Maybe one day it will get published. Publishers! They always do things in their own way and time regardless of what you say or want. Conversing with them is like the proverbial brick wall. I have had numerous conversations with authors who think the same about publishers. The whole book publishing process has changed beyond all believe in the last two decades.

Bus alert. A double decker one passed by this afternoon. They are usually single decks here.

Okay. Right now, I have the television on waiting for a Downing Street Briefing. Boris is about to announce our, not totally unexpected, full lockdown following France, Germany, and Belgium. Breaking news earlier this afternoon, as I said earlier in the week, the UK has passed the 1,000,000 mark in cases. Waiting! Waiting! Waiting! We keep being told the briefing has been delayed. First 4.00pm. Then 5.00pm. 6.00pm.

Just after 7.00pm. yes. We are taken to Downing Street. Boris and two other figures walk in and take their places behind the podiums all with the symbols and words ‘hands, face, space’ on them. I think it will be the last time we will see those for a while. Boris has done a U turn. He has previously stated that a full lockdown would be inappropriate for our country (presumably he means England, as opposed to Wales, Scotland or the UK) and disastrous for our economy despite the advice from SAGE and request from the Labour leader. All almost pleading for an earlier lockdown in September to save Christmas and lives. Now he says we must all stay at home. We may only leave for work, (if we cannot work from home), exercise, shopping for essentials, or to volunteer and care for loved ones. The hospitality industry will close apart from take-aways. The over 60’s must be extremely careful. (Oh dear! Woe is me!) There will be no shielding this time. Presumably, the government cannot afford it. Professor Whitty stated that the virus had been accelerating at an ‘extremely rapid’ pace in recent weeks. Wow! What an observation. So, action must be taken. Let us look on the bright side, we do not need to know how to escape from tier 3 anymore. Schools, colleges, and universities will stay open. Non-essential shops will close. Supermarkets will stay open. Households must not mix. This will start on Thursday 5th November and last for one month initially, it will be reviewed. Peeps. Observations. I note the date, Bonfire Night! Secondly, if you think it is all going to be over in a month, I fear you are going to be disappointed. My guess is it will go on into 2021. There will be a lull before the third wave. You heard it here first, just like FOGO and the second wave. Boris’s final statement was that Christmas would be different this year, but he hoped families would be able to be together. What happened to his roadmap indicating we would be back to normal by Christmas? The only difference I can see from last time round is that education will continue while everything else stops. The Nightingale Hospitals are on standby again and close to being used. We are back to our concern over the NHS. “Stay home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.” Who do I blame? Surprisingly not Boris for being tardy but peeps for disobeying or ignoring the rules. Those who must congregate, protest, stand outside football stadiums, and throw parties.

Okay off for a late dinner. Hunter’s Chicken and wedges. Ready meal from freezer with vino. Watch the screen.

Day 223, November 1st, Sunday. Happy November (Lockdown month)

Peeps we’ve hit November. The eleventh month of the year. What happened to 2020? It is kinda sinking down a black hole but sadly leaving Coronavirus behind. Positivity… one week of the awful winter months and dark nights has gone! Furlough should have ended but it is continuing for another month. Many will be pleased or relieved to hear that. Rishi has found more magic beans.

So, I smile as I force my creaking, aching body out of bed. Look out of windows. Bleak. Dismal. Naked trees. Empty buses. Television on. The Andrew Marr show. Listen while dressing. He’s good. Downstairs. Christmas tree and baubles brighten up the drab day. Alarm off. Lounge. Draw back the drapes. Second tv set on. Kitchen. Kettle. Coffee. Cereal. Brekky time. Second cuppa while still thinking about what to do now I have finished reading my print ready copy. Relax! That is what I will do today.

The gardener was supposed to be coming but he is a no-show. Guess it will be next week now. So, upstairs to computer. Email (not exciting) Blog stats. (not exciting) Facebook and games time. Play away until “Songs of Praise”.

Several busses pass by. I need to get a life.

1.00pm. Downstairs. News. Make cappuccino, light candles, and wait for 1.15. Yea. This week it is from The Steeple Church, Dundee in Scotland. Two guest singers Barbara Dixon and Cliff Richard. I marvel at Sir Cliff; he is 80 and fitter than I and probably many fifty-year-olds. I watched and listened but found it difficult to enjoy today because all the music was songs I did not know. Again, changing times. No good old-fashioned hymns.

What next? Tackle the ironing. Iron the curtain I want to put up at the kitchen window. It used to have a blind, but it wore out about five years ago. Because I keep thinking of moving, and the kitchen needs modernising, I decided not to purchase a new one. In the summer I leave it unadorned but, in the winter, I like to hide the miserable, drab exterior and it makes the kitchen feel warmer.

Mission accomplished. Sit down. Relax. Watch “Reach for the Sky”, the film about Douglas Bader. Phone rings. I pick up receiver. Someone starts singing, “It’s your lucky day, lucky…” You see, my friends I have started a trend. Other peeps are now making regular phone calls and telling friends it is their lucky day. This lady was someone I had met on hols in Blackpool five years ago. We have stayed in touch. Chatted and then I watch the end of the film. Afternoon tea-time. Oh, it is great to be British!

Okay, I have left it to the end but what is newsworthy apart from the Trump v Biden boxing match? Wow! A typhoon has hit the Philippines, Typhoon Rolly. Four dead so far. That follows flooding in Louisiana, fires in Orange County and the horrific earthquake in Turkey/Greece area. 51 dead so far in that disaster. Midst all of this we are told that Sir Bobby Charlton has been diagnosed with dementia.

Covid-19. Today’s situation. Globally 46,788,146. Last Sunday it was 43,169,091. You do not need three degrees to see that Covid is out of control, do you? It is almost 4,000,000 more in seven days, if you wanna be pedantic it is 3,619,055. Remember in the summer when it was less than a million each week? Houston, we have a problem. I am not convinced that lockdown alone will sort it because not all peeps obey the rules. We need vaccines and a much better track and trace system. In the next couple of weeks Mexico and Peru will pass the million mark.

I am going back downstairs to watch “Pride of Britain Awards”. I bid you all a fond farewell and stay safe, my friends.

Love to you all, Lady M 💓💓💓💓