25th May 2020

The UK’s coronavirus death toll across all settings has risen by 121, bringing the total to nearly 37,000. From 1st June, outdoor markets and car showrooms may reopen as soon as they meet COVID-19 secure guidelines, while all other non-essential retail could reopen from 15th June, provided the government’s tests are met.

Annoyingly, for the second time, I find myself agreeing with the First Minister. Nicola Sturgeon has accused Boris Johnson of prioritising political interests over the public good in a damning assessment of his support for a controversial adviser.

The First Minister said she is “very concerned” that backing Dominic Cummings, despite his breach of travel restrictions, undermines life-saving guidance. I understand that losing a trusted adviser at the height of a crisis is difficult, but when the choice is between that and the integrity of vital public health advice, the latter must come first. That was the conclusion I reached, and, to her credit, Catherine Calderwood did as well. The Prime Minister and Cummings should do the same.

Another fine day in Harborough, one degree warmer than Cyprus, and on a Bank Holiday too!

The most exciting event at Willow Bank today was a visit from Jamie, Ruth, and Joey. They arrived late in the morning to collect my Sevylor inflatable canoe for a paddle. After inflating it on the driveway, we took it up to the Grand Union Canal in Harborough, where I helped launch it onto the water. I watched them paddle in circles for a while before heading home to paint another three fence panels.

A couple of hours later, having made it as far as the bridge on the edge of Great Bowden, they returned to their launch point. I collected the canoe and took it home. After enjoying socially distanced cool drinks in the garden, the three of them left to buy charcoal for an evening BBQ, and I reluctantly returned to my fence painting.

Sarah is growing ever larger. Lucas, unhappy with the length of his hair, persuaded his mother to cut it. Despite having had two and a half glasses of wine, Charlotte did a rather good job. They got the blow-up pool out in the afternoon.

26th May 2020

On 25th May, 118 coronavirus-related deaths were recorded in the UK, bringing the total to 36,793. Only the US has a higher confirmed death toll, with 99,805.

A government minister, Douglas Ross, has resigned over Dominic Cummings’ lockdown trips, adding further pressure for the Prime Minister’s top aide to be sacked. Ironically, Matt Hancock took to the podium for the government’s daily press conference and appeared to suggest that fines issued to those who had travelled under similar circumstances to Cummings might be reviewed.

It seems the UK is not the only country grappling with politically motivated accusations. On Tuesday, Spain denied that it had dismissed a senior police official as punishment for criticising the government during an investigation into the approval of a rally in March that may have contributed to the spread of the virus. Meanwhile, Spain has announced that from 1st July, tourists will be able to visit without having to quarantine for two weeks.

I woke early, forgoing my morning cycle, and got stuck into the vegetable patch at 7 am, keen to finish before the predicted heat of the day became too much for a northern hemisphere gardener. With the hedge trimmed, plants watered, and weeds consigned to the great compost heap in the sky, I wrapped up just in time to join Sue for lunch and Bargain Hunt.

My favourite presenter, Charlie Ross, was in charge today, delivering another fine and entertaining performance. I love his sense of humour and his easy-going, relaxed way of handling the contestants.

Running dangerously low on cooling drinks in the hot weather, I made a quick dash to the Co-op in town before settling down to complete my outdoor clock repair project. With the garage fridge now well-stocked with these essential lockdown provisions, I returned to my task.

By the afternoon, the clock was nearly finished, with only the hands left to attach to the mechanism, when Charlotte arrived from her gardening work. With some refreshing Co-op supplies in hand, the three of us sat outside, socially distanced, under the shade of the cantilever umbrella on the back patio, chatting and unwinding.

Sue’s back had been sore since the morning, and she had likely aggravated it further with her relentless battle against the fallen leaves and other debris that mysteriously accumulated overnight in the garden.

Charlotte left clutching two more cucumber plants and a sunflower for Ellis. Her chickens had devoured the previous ones I had given her a week or so ago, and she was keen to have replacements. She has loved cucumbers since she was very young. Many times in the past, I would discover that a ripening fruit had mysteriously vanished from the greenhouse, snaffled by my little girl.

Jamie posted a photo on Family Messenger of a tuna and sweetcorn cone he was eating at work. I thought it was an unusual but possibly delicious combination for a cone. The rest of the family vehemently disagreed, but I say, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. I’ll be making one for myself soon.

Sarah and Lee have once again been attempting to encourage a premature birth. Today, they visited the wood yard, bought more posts and trellis, and painted them. I’m now convinced that Trellis would make quite a unique name for a little girl, and a rather fitting one too. Imagine, in the future, when asked how she got her name, Trellis would have such an interesting tale to tell!

27the May 2020

The UK’s official COVID-19 death toll surged from 412 to 37,460, almost double the number of hospital fatalities reported on Tuesday. Matt Hancock has officially launched a new test and trace programme, requiring anyone displaying symptoms to report themselves to officials from 9 am tomorrow.

Despite a YouGov poll showing that 71% of respondents believed Cummings had broken the rules, and 59% thought he should resign, Boris Johnson continues to stand by his top aide, risking both the credibility of the government’s COVID-19 strategy and confidence in his judgement.

Sue’s sore back had improved enough for her to suggest some exercise. The U3A walking group she enjoys so much has had to abandon its regular rambles for obvious reasons, but last week, the group leader sent out details of a circular walk from the nearby village of Medbourne, and she was keen to follow it.

After breakfast, I downloaded the route onto my GPS, and by 9 am, we were on our way to this picturesque Leicestershire village in the Welland Valley.

We parked by the little bridge over Medbourne Brook, in front of the Neville Arms, a two-storey ironstone building in the Tudor style, dating from 1863. The inn was built by Capt. G. H. Nevill, brother and heir presumptive of Cosmo George Nevill, owner of the Holt Estate, was to replace the previous building, which was destroyed by fire. Sue and I have visited this charming hostelry many times in the past, but its days as a pub are now over; it currently operates as a restaurant and café.

The route was one we had walked before, but the Welland Valley is always a joy to explore, especially on such a glorious day.

Leaving the village via the road toward Uppingham, we cut into the countryside along a well-used trackway, passing a small wooded area that held special significance for me. Some twenty years ago, at the request of the Forestry Commission, I had spent a couple of days here with my class, planting hundreds of tiny saplings. It was delightful to see them flourishing. I wondered whether any of the children who had dug so many holes and stamped soil around fragile twigs had ever returned to see the fruits of their labour.

Along the way, we passed dog walkers, runners, horse riders, and fellow ramblers, many of whom, like us, were enjoying the newfound freedom to bend the lockdown rules just a little (courtesy of Mr Cummings), without the guilt imposed by nine weeks of Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.

Engaging in pleasant conversation with a gentleman and his dog, he asked if we had seen the carved Viking on the waypost at the top of the hill. Now we had an objective beyond exercise, and we quickened our pace toward the yellow-topped post visible in the distance. We arrived at the same time as two women on horseback and waited for them to pass before investigating the carving. And there it was! Oooooo, the mind does ask questions when confronted with such a mystery. Why was it there? Who carved it? A little enigma in the landscape.

The next highlight of our walk was passing through the small, pretty village of Nevill Holt and the grounds of a locked-down Nevill Holt Hall. The existing great hall dates back to the 14th century, with a later front addition. A manor house certainly stood at Holt in 1302, when the property was divided between the four sisters of William de Kirkby. Many of the alterations to the house were likely the work of Sir Thomas Nevill (formerly Smyth) between 1591 and 1636.

As we walked past, a team of gardeners was busy planting a long hawthorn hedge along a steep, south-facing slope. The views were magnificent, but with the heat now quite fierce, I didn’t envy them their task.

Returning to the car, we unpacked our picnic lunch and settled on the bank of the brook beneath the welcome shade of a cherry tree. Cheese and tomato sandwiches, tangerines, and fig rolls, just the right fare after a gentle ramble like this.

With lunch finished, we set off in search of a Geocache hidden near a pair of double gates opposite the church. After fifteen minutes of ferreting along the base of a metal fence, always keeping an eye out for nosy muggles, we finally found it.

Later in the evening, the family gathered (virtually, via Messenger) to scan the sky in anticipation of spotting Elon Musk’s SpaceX launch alongside the ISS. Disappointingly, bad weather in Cape Canaveral forced an aborted launch. Like Elon, we’ll try again on Saturday.