I did watch the news today and heard how there are now two variants to the COVID-19 virus and much of the south of England needs to be in Tier 4. I also watched, in distress, how the lorry drivers – thousands of them – are stuck, either on the motorway or in a lorry park near Dover. Most of them have no prospect of hanging up their stocking for Christmas; nor do they have appropriate facilities and they are hungry. The Sikh community is coming to the rescue with food, which is a wonderful thing.
But, here in Balsall Common, we are getting ready for Christmas in some form or other – collecting the turkey, the ham, the sausages and a tree of sprouts; delivering parcels, listening to carols and watching Arthur Christmas and Fred Claus from the safety and warmth of our cosy sofa. Feeling guilty? You bet.
We recognise that, at our age and state of health, we are no longer influencers, movers or shakers, and can do very little to help. We watch, helplessly, from the sidelines and pray for better times – and perhaps better governance. Arguments rage about how best to tackle the crises that emerge and perhaps no-one really knows, but it does feel, to me, that we should be doing better. I mean, lovely as it is, is it really the best we can do – to ring a bell on Thursday to show support for lonely people?
Anyway, despite my angst about the situations across the country, we have managed a ‘tidy’ day, as Ness, from ‘Gavin and Stacey’ would say. John has really set to and had a jolly good look at the shower cubicle again; been disappointed that the bit he glued didn’t stick because I’d moved the heavy weight to keep it down; and he’s unhitched some of it to re-shape it. One day it’ll be finished. Maybe tomorrow?
I was up early, fumbling about in the dark, to get to Oakes’ and the butchers to collect the meat and trimmings for Christmas day. They had a brilliant queuing system, but even at 7 o’clock in the morning the queue was beginning to snake out of the door.
Once I was back, I sorted through the parcels and loaded the car with the gifts for the Kenilworth Sleaths and trundled them across to them there. It was wonderful to see Paul and Freddie for even a few minutes. Freddie’s’ gorgeous little face looking up into mine and clearly pleased to see me, wanting to run into my arms but hesitant, as Paul said, “Remember, not too close.” I couldn’t help but stroke his face though, as he stood before me, disappointment clouding those eyes for a moment.
Back home, I cooked the ham ready for carving cold on Christmas Day at tea-time, before sitting down on the sofa for a rest. That was when the afternoon films kicked in and we watched a bit of light entertainment.
There was also some light entertainment in the form of a WhatsApp phone call, too. We’d just finished our tea, when my phone rang. It was Anita. She was phoning, not only me, but all the girls in the College crew. We had a laugh. She wasn’t sure how it happened, but four of us stayed on the line and had a four-way chat. We were delighted for Anita that Jo and her fiancé, Rob, had made it out of London to spend Christmas with her and she wouldn’t be on her own after all. Not sure what they are going to do now about getting back though, as London is in Tier 4. Wait and see, I suppose. Wait and see.
And we commiserated with Sue P who has had all her plans scrapped because Jenny and the family can’t come now as they are all in Tier 4 or going into that tier. A shock for Sue, who was in Tier 2 only yesterday. Gosh, it’s hard, isn’t it?
This evening was Quiz Night and fun was had by all. The questions were brilliant in many ways, because they made you think and dredge your brain for long-lost facts. Or, alternatively, made you smile wryly as you knew you had absolutely no clue whatsoever as to what the answer might be. I am now going to try and learn the Periodic Table……
So, with a heavy heart, I record the figures for the day.
- 39,297 people have been infected with either the original virus or its English variant today
- There have been 744 deaths from the virus in the community
- And 245 deaths in hospitals in the last couple of days.
- We are trying to sit tight in Tier 3 and are on Day 7 of our second go at it, but Day 22 since the beginning of this tier.
- And it’s Day 280 since we started this malarkey.
Take very great care everyone. God bless.