Another picture of my favourite village tree, from our walk. I didn't quite get it right but I was conscious of trying to stay two metres away from approaching pedestrians.
Thursday 30 April 2020
30 April 2020
The highlight of the day was going for a walk. It's sunny but there is a cool breeze. Estimated coronavirus deaths by the FT have now reached 47,000 😢
Another picture of my favourite village tree, from our walk. I didn't quite get it right but I was conscious of trying to stay two metres away from approaching pedestrians.
Another picture of my favourite village tree, from our walk. I didn't quite get it right but I was conscious of trying to stay two metres away from approaching pedestrians.
29 April 2020
The weather has turned. It's getting colder and more rain is expected later. To be honest we could do with it and I'm getting fed up with watering the garden.
Now here's a photo. This is me playing football at junior school. I'm the one at the back nearest to the teacher. I was really annoyed because my Mum bought me the wrong kit I wanted Manchester United!
Now here's a photo. This is me playing football at junior school. I'm the one at the back nearest to the teacher. I was really annoyed because my Mum bought me the wrong kit I wanted Manchester United!
27 April 2020
We have been getting a weekly veg box with milk and eggs which is pretty good although recently we've had an excess of red cabbage which I'm not a great fan of. I'd like to pickle it but we don't have the kit. But now I've managed to get a delivery of beer at last! This is from Iceland which isn't great but its the only weekly store delivery we've been able to get.
In case you are wondering the news is still grim total deaths, still not being issued by the government, have been estimated by the Financial Times to be about 40,000.
The news here today is that it's raining!
Here's a family picture taken by me in 1995. We're smiling but it was a sad occasion, the funeral of my Uncle Clifford. L-R Helen, Carol (my step Mum), Simon, Teresa, Irene, Susie, Jack, Cath and Geoff (my Dad)
In case you are wondering the news is still grim total deaths, still not being issued by the government, have been estimated by the Financial Times to be about 40,000.
The news here today is that it's raining!
Here's a family picture taken by me in 1995. We're smiling but it was a sad occasion, the funeral of my Uncle Clifford. L-R Helen, Carol (my step Mum), Simon, Teresa, Irene, Susie, Jack, Cath and Geoff (my Dad)
26 April 2020
Still spending most of my time gardening. I've had some successes but also a few annoying failures. Of the peas, I've planted only about 1/3 have sprouted. Really annoying I've never experienced anything like that. Also, the dwarf french beans, coriander, chilies, and parsnips I planted haven't grown at all. I have no idea why.
Still, I have some lovely bluebells in my garden.
Still, I have some lovely bluebells in my garden.
25 April 2020
Saturday, though it doesn't feel like it. Adrian and I are still grappling with Anchor, a podcasting app, and hoping to produce our second podcast soon. I find this much more difficult than the videos we did which were entirely unscripted in any way but I think we are getting there.
The weather is still sunny and dry but getting colder. The number of coronavirus deaths in hospitals has fallen but the figures from care homes are grim. The government is still failing on all fronts, particularly testing and PPE.
Rio the cat is enjoying the garden though.
The weather is still sunny and dry but getting colder. The number of coronavirus deaths in hospitals has fallen but the figures from care homes are grim. The government is still failing on all fronts, particularly testing and PPE.
Rio the cat is enjoying the garden though.
Friday 24 April 2020
24 April 2020
Guess what? We have two sinks downstairs, one in the utility room and one in the kitchen. Both have dripping taps and both have faulty pipework under the sink so both are leaking! That could only happen to me.
A plumber is coming later and we have to manage social distancing. At least it's a distraction from Covid19.
A plumber is coming later and we have to manage social distancing. At least it's a distraction from Covid19.
23 April 2020
Good day. Managed to get the first podcast with Adrain done using Anchor despite the fact that its neither very intuitive or good at giving you help.
Still more deaths and rows about PPE and how to end the lockdown. Saw a report that Vietnam, with a population of 96 million and proximity to China has had no deaths so far!
Still more deaths and rows about PPE and how to end the lockdown. Saw a report that Vietnam, with a population of 96 million and proximity to China has had no deaths so far!
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| Spot the cat! |
Wednesday 22 April 2020
22 April 2020
Weather continues to be dry and sunny but a bit of a cool breeze. Lots of watering required for the garden.
The news today is that the Financial Times has calculated that the real coronavirus death toll in the UK is 41,000 using figures from the ONS. The government's official figure is about 17,500 (NHS only).
Here's a picture I took last week of the local farmer driving one of his collection of vintage tractors.
The news today is that the Financial Times has calculated that the real coronavirus death toll in the UK is 41,000 using figures from the ONS. The government's official figure is about 17,500 (NHS only).
Here's a picture I took last week of the local farmer driving one of his collection of vintage tractors.
Tuesday 21 April 2020
21 April 2020
The weather is still fine, dry sunny and warm. There has been a bit of a chill breeze.
Two bits of news yesterday. One is that the government announced on Saturday that there was going to be a delivery of PPE from Turkey on Sunday. It was then revealed that the order hadn't been made until Sunday! Also, a report from Sky News that the number of deaths in care homes has been underestimated by 41%!
Here are some recent photos.
Two bits of news yesterday. One is that the government announced on Saturday that there was going to be a delivery of PPE from Turkey on Sunday. It was then revealed that the order hadn't been made until Sunday! Also, a report from Sky News that the number of deaths in care homes has been underestimated by 41%!
Here are some recent photos.
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| Rio is not enjoying lockdown |
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| Wild garlic in my garden. I planted it three years ago and its beginning to spread. |
Monday 20 April 2020
20 April 2020
Right, I have broken all the rules of this blog. I have missed out 14 days. Why? Because I tried to update it last week and couldn't get photos to upload so I gave up in disgust.
Its also not so easy to blog when so many days are the same. We are still in lockdown and its difficult to get much variety in photos.
Yesterday's news was bad as ever. The NHS is running out of PPE and the number of hospital deaths reached 16,000. It's still not clear how many deaths there have been in care homes but it's about 7,000. That means the UK is on course to have the highest number of deaths in Europe and possibly the highest number per capita globally.
When this nightmare is over there will have to be some kind of reckoning with criminal prosecutions. We can't allow the usual inquiry whitewash that we get in the UK.
The first two are pictures of the pink supermoon we had early last week taken on my old smartphone. The third is my neighbour passing me something through the hedge in his improvised device.
We are a bit stir crazy but remain in pretty good spirits.
Its also not so easy to blog when so many days are the same. We are still in lockdown and its difficult to get much variety in photos.
Yesterday's news was bad as ever. The NHS is running out of PPE and the number of hospital deaths reached 16,000. It's still not clear how many deaths there have been in care homes but it's about 7,000. That means the UK is on course to have the highest number of deaths in Europe and possibly the highest number per capita globally.
When this nightmare is over there will have to be some kind of reckoning with criminal prosecutions. We can't allow the usual inquiry whitewash that we get in the UK.
The first two are pictures of the pink supermoon we had early last week taken on my old smartphone. The third is my neighbour passing me something through the hedge in his improvised device.
We are a bit stir crazy but remain in pretty good spirits.
Monday 6 April 2020
6 April 2020
Good to see the broad beans are coming up. We always have a decent crop. Pick 'em young and they are very tasty you can use them raw in salads.
5 April 2020
The big news today is that Boris Johnson was taken to hospital for 'tests'. He's had the virus for 10 days and isn't doing well. I hope he's OK but I also wish he hadn't made such a hash of the fight against Covid19.
The Queen appeared on TV with a message. I didn't watch it. Meanwhile, I'm trying to sort out my pots of herbs.
The Queen appeared on TV with a message. I didn't watch it. Meanwhile, I'm trying to sort out my pots of herbs.
4 April 2020
Saturday - though it doesn't feel like it. Very quiet around here with people observing social distancing rules. I had to shave off my goatee because it was itchy and I'm trying not to touch my face.
Here is a picture of my friend John who lives in America. It was taken a couple of years ago when he came to visit us.
Here is a picture of my friend John who lives in America. It was taken a couple of years ago when he came to visit us.
3 April 2020
There's little point in repeating the awful news that comes every day. We are still in isolation. So this diary is being driven now more by memories of better times.
Here's one of my best photos. Its a sunset over Eaton Lane which is close to where we live.
Here's one of my best photos. Its a sunset over Eaton Lane which is close to where we live.
2 April 2020
More and more gardening! Its good to be out in the fresh air and chat with neighbours over the fence.
I've been writing a blog post on isolation called 'My Prison Dairy'. That made me think of Gramsci. Gramsci was the general secretary of the Italian Communist Party. He was imprisoned by the fascist dictator Mussolini. Whilst in prison he wrote a series of essays that were published as The Prison Notebooks. He suffered from health problems all his life and dies in a clinic after being released at the age of 46.
I've been writing a blog post on isolation called 'My Prison Dairy'. That made me think of Gramsci. Gramsci was the general secretary of the Italian Communist Party. He was imprisoned by the fascist dictator Mussolini. Whilst in prison he wrote a series of essays that were published as The Prison Notebooks. He suffered from health problems all his life and dies in a clinic after being released at the age of 46.
1 April 2020
Gardening continues apace and the lawn has never been so well-trimmed. Not much to report as there is little change or improvement in the situation.
My uncle James Thorp fought in WW2, in one of the most difficult theatres of the war, the Baltic convoys. He was a great bloke with a wonderful sense of humour. Here is a photo of the medal he was awarded posthumously.
My uncle James Thorp fought in WW2, in one of the most difficult theatres of the war, the Baltic convoys. He was a great bloke with a wonderful sense of humour. Here is a photo of the medal he was awarded posthumously.
31 March 2020
We are still struggling to get online deliveries but have some really helpful neighbours who are getting some deliveries for us. Thankfully we have a weekly veg box with milk and eggs.
We went for a social distancing walk in the village.
We went for a social distancing walk in the village.
30 March 2020
As you can imagine I'm spending lots of time in the garden. Thankfully it has been dry and sunny. Lots of watering to do are sorting out raised beds.
The coronavirus news is as grim as ever. Deaths in the UK rising in line with Italy's trajectory and the NHS still under severe strain with a lack of PPE and ventilators.
So here is a picture of Rio who seems very chilled.
The coronavirus news is as grim as ever. Deaths in the UK rising in line with Italy's trajectory and the NHS still under severe strain with a lack of PPE and ventilators.
So here is a picture of Rio who seems very chilled.
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