16th May 2020
Now that we are allowed, perhaps even encouraged, to go outdoors, what is the risk? A recent study found that simply talking can release thousands of coronavirus droplets, which can remain suspended in the air for eight to 14 minutes. However, the risk of inhaling those droplets is lower outdoors, provided you maintain at least a two-metre distance from others. A light breeze quickly disperses the virus, and if someone nearby is infected, the wind will scatter the viral particles, exposing others to a much lower concentration, one that is less likely to cause harm.
The key factor is viral load. A single virus particle won’t make anyone ill, as it will be destroyed by the immune system. It is believed that an individual needs to inhale a few hundred to a few thousand SARS-CoV-2 particles to overwhelm the immune response. While outdoor transmission is rare, it is not impossible. A study of over 7,300 cases in China found just one linked to outdoor transmission, when a 27-year-old man had a conversation outside with an infected traveller. A week later, he developed symptoms of COVID-19. The risk outdoors is lower but not zero. It increases when people remain stationary and close together for long periods, on a park bench or beach blanket, for example, compared to brief encounters with passers-by.
Today, taking the government’s advice, we ventured out together in the car. Jamie, Ruth, Joey, and Nala had travelled to Bottesford last night for the weekend and had asked us to feed Maddie, the mad rabbit. Late in the morning, we drove to Desborough to tend to the spoiled creature. True to form, the ungrateful beast greeted us with an indignant thumping of its hind leg, making its displeasure at being left alone abundantly clear. A nice hot casserole would undoubtedly benefit from its presence!
Leaving the rabbit to stew in its own temper, we collected a large joint of silverside beef from the fridge, something Jamie had forgotten to take with him and had kindly donated to us.
Fixed and strengthened.
Man and dog.
We drove on to Rothwell to see Charlotte, Suraj, Lucas, Ellis, and Harry. We hadn’t seen them all together since the end of February. We stood at the end of the front path, chatting for a while, though Harry the greyhound was the only one who failed to observe the two-metre distancing. The family hadn’t changed much since we last saw them, except for Ellis’s longer hair and Suraj carrying a little extra lockdown bulk, no doubt a consequence of sitting and working from home.
Part of the chassis on Ellis’s hoverboard go-kart had bent, so I put it in the car to fix later at home. We handed over the joint of beef for their Sunday dinner and took our leave.
In the afternoon, I repaired the chassis in the garage. As it was made of mild steel, I could see that it wouldn’t be long before it bent again after straightening it. To reinforce it, I found a length of tempered steel, which should now help it withstand even Ellis’s roughest treatment.
While we were out, the postman delivered another PIR sensor. After fixing the chassis, I programmed the PIR and tested it before installing it in the garden shed. Now, at least, I’ll know when the spiders are on the move!
From the photo on Messenger, it looks like Jamie has taken Nala to see the sea. I wonder what she made of it?
Meanwhile, the Rothwells’ bath still isn’t fixed. It looks as though the tiling and fittings may need to be ripped out to access the offending plughole. The insurance is still quoting, so it could be a while before they can enjoy a proper bath again. Fortunately, they do have a shower, and they’re not too far from the River Welland!
Mia
Nala
17th May 2020
Ministers and officials from every nation will meet via video link on Monday for the annual World Health Assembly, where discussions are expected to be dominated by efforts to prevent rich countries from monopolising drugs and future vaccines against COVID-19. As some nations buy up medicines thought to be effective against the virus, causing global shortages, and the Trump administration strikes deals with vaccine companies to prioritise America first, the urgency for international cooperation has never been greater.
There can be no solution to this pandemic without unity. It must be Homo sapiens (Latin for wise man) first, and personal advantage last. For the sake of humankind, let’s hope sense prevails. The future may record that 18th May 2020 was the day the nations of the world chose not to walk on the other side. Time, and our children, will tell.
Ironically, the key to defeating the coronavirus may lie in something as simple as lazily chewing on a carrot. A study published last week in the journal Cell found that antibodies in llamas’ blood could offer protection against the virus. In addition to larger antibodies similar to ours, llamas produce smaller ones capable of sneaking into spaces on viral proteins too tiny for human antibodies, potentially neutralising the threat.
The discovery owes much to a llama named Winter, a four-year-old resident of Belgium. Her antibodies had already proven effective against SARS and MERS, and researchers speculate they could work against the virus behind COVID-19. In cell cultures, they have shown promising results. Scientists are now preparing for clinical trials.
“If it works, llama Winter deserves a statue,” Dr Xavier Saelens, a virologist at Ghent University and study author, told The New York Times.
Tree?
Painted
Sue woke with a sore neck and back and, apart from preparing Sunday lunch, had a very quiet day, spending most of the afternoon in bed with her laptop.
In the morning, I trimmed the hedge alongside the vegetable plot before checking on the grapevines. Depressingly, they were in a sorry state; early growth had shrivelled and dried. No doubt they will survive and sprout fresh shoots, but we’ll need an Indian summer if the grapes are to ripen enough to develop their sugar levels.
While Sue rested upstairs, I spent the afternoon listening to Traffic on my WiFi headphones, lazily rocking in the sunshine on the swing chair. I may have dozed off for a while.
They are there somewhere
Jamie returned to Desborough and planted a tree in the front garden, while Sarah spent the day painting the new trellis they had bought. Charlotte and her family went for a long walk after finishing the chairs that Ellis had sanded a few days ago.
18th May 2020
The UK’s coronavirus hospital death toll has risen to 28,533 after 134 more fatalities were reported in hospitals. In reality, the total death toll is over 34,000 when including deaths in care homes and the community. Dismal statistics, but encouragingly, the numbers have significantly dropped from the 600+ daily deaths just a few weeks ago. With greater freedom and improved weather, let’s hope this lift to the country’s spirits doesn’t come at the cost of more unnecessary lives before we rid ourselves of this blight.
President Donald Trump’s son, Eric Trump, has come under criticism for making baseless claims about the coronavirus that contradict expert health projections. According to the younger Trump, the virus will “magically” disappear after the November election, allowing the country to fully reopen. The idiot gene is clearly well-distributed throughout the Trump family.
Cycling around the outskirts of Harborough, it was noticeable that the large building sites encircling the town had begun to stir. Most activities seemed focused on preparing for a safe return to work, with new signage and designated pathways in place. There was no sign yet of the main workforce, bricklayers, plasterers, plumbers, and electricians, but no doubt they will be arriving soon enough.
We had planned to visit Sarah today, but although Sue’s neck was much improved, we decided to reschedule for tomorrow.
The council dump reopened today after being closed during lockdown. A friend called to ask if I had any spare tomato and cucumber plants, and in the course of our chat, he mentioned his ongoing struggle to book a slot to dispose of a large pile of accumulated refuse. He had spent days trying online without success, only to be told after several phone calls that the council’s website had crashed due to excessive traffic. Their advice? Try again later tonight or send an email, or even a letter, requesting the next available slot. Good luck with that, I thought.
I dropped off the plants early in the afternoon, suspecting they would be the only successful request he managed to fulfil today.
Late in the day, Sue and I basked in the warmth of the sun, lounging in the swinging chairs by the greenhouse. Bridget must have been at a loose end in isolation in Cyprus, as she messaged Sue, and they spent half an hour or so catching up on lockdown life in the hotel. Their conversation ended when Bridget’s evening meal was delivered, and Sue got up to prepare ours.
A little while later, Jamie popped by to borrow some spanners and returned a couple of hours later with Ruth, Joey, Rocky, and Nala to drop off a birthday card for Sarah. They didn’t stay long, heading off for an early evening walk near the leisure centre to make the most of the balmy weather before heading home. Charlotte and her family had the same idea, taking advantage of the pleasant conditions to explore some nearby woods.
Meanwhile, Sarah shared photos of her newly painted trellis on Messenger. She seems to have been busy in the greenhouse, raising quite a collection of plants. I suspect she plans to sell them. I do hope she has a card machine, as most places, for obvious reasons, no longer accept cash.
Palmer Family 
Keep them coming Dave! We’re learning more about Covid 19 from you than main stream media here in Spain.