7th December 2020

7th December 2020: UK deaths: 189. Current Market Harborough infections: 226. Down from last week: 222. Hospitals in the UK are getting ready to begin vaccinating those over 80, front-line health staff, and care home workers tomorrow.

A bitterly cold day with temperatures hovering around 0°C. I spent my morning delivering Christmas cards to friends and neighbours on my bike. My fingers froze despite the exercise, but at least it got me into the festive spirit! Meanwhile, Sue was off playing petanque with her U3A group, and, no surprise, she won again! She’s quite the champion at that game.

If it weren’t for this blasted pandemic, I doubt I would have paid much attention to the antics in the USA. But the recent election and the ongoing chicanery and mendacity of its president have provided a welcome distraction from the relentless doom and gloom of infection rates and death tolls here in the UK (and beyond). Yes, I’m well aware I add to this by including depressing data in this blog daily, so I’ll skip that part today and instead share a rather amusing thought I had this morning.

A few years ago, I became mildly hooked on a show called The Walking Dead. It’s an American post-apocalyptic horror series based on the comic book by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The premise is simple: survivors of a zombie apocalypse try to stay alive while constantly being attacked by zombies, or “walkers” as they’re known. It was probably news of Rudy Giuliani contracting COVID-19 this morning that got me thinking, and his request to a woman testifying at an election fraud panel to remove her mask, a mere four days before his positive test was confirmed, made me wonder: Why on earth would he do that? And then, like a light bulb switching on, I realised, of course! It was all part of the plan.

The real question, though, is whether Trump supporters have a brain and are truly alive. Recent events seem to bear a striking resemblance to The Walking Dead. Let’s look at the evidence:

• Both the ‘undead’ and the ‘Trumpkins’ share an unwavering, mindless devotion to one singular idea: seek and convert others to the cause, regardless of reason, debate, or the right to think differently.
• They stagger through life, muttering incoherently, desperately trying to make sense of things beyond their comprehension, driven by an insatiable desire to obliterate individuality and enforce blind conformity. A classic Trump quote: “COVID-19 affects ‘virtually nobody’”. Well, a zombie would say that, wouldn’t they?
• Both refuse to wear the mask of life, preferring instead to flaunt their morbidity for all to see.
• Trumpkins and zombies are both easily vanquished by a hit to the brain. The only difference is that one can be taken down with an axe, while the other might require a dictionary. I’ll leave it up to you to decide who needs what.
• Both want to destroy civilisation, devouring anyone who stands in their way, tearing apart diversity, honesty, and democracy in their quest for power.
• And, let’s be honest, both are probably products of Russian influence.

And then, a more chilling thought: are we absolutely sure that 74-year-old Donald really survived a virus that predominantly affects those over 70? Or was he already undead before COVID-19 even came along?

What about the dark-coloured liquid leaking from Rudy Giuliani’s head on the very day the election was called for Biden? Could it really have been hair dye, or perhaps… brain juice?

Could it truly be incompetence from the leadership of the wealthiest and most advanced nation on Earth to have the highest COVID-19 death toll? USA, 288,906 deaths with a population of 328 million. India,. 142,994 deaths with a population of 1.353 billion. Or could this be part of some darker design?

And finally, it takes one to know one. Is there any hope left for the US?

So, there you have it: conclusive proof, in true Trumpian style, that zombies are indeed deceased, and brainless, staggering through the USA: the Undead State of America.

I briefly considered including a poll for readers of this blog (“Trumpkins are zombies: YES/NO”), but given the inevitable recounts and litigation, I’ve decided to let sleeping wraiths lie.

8th December 2020: UK deaths: 616. Current Market Harborough infections: 201, down from 202 last week. Grandmother Margaret Keenan, 90, has become the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine as part of the vaccination programme.

Sue spent a chilly morning with a U3A walking group, rambling through the countryside around Kibworth and Smeeton Westerby, while I waited at home in vain for a parcel for Jamie. Yesterday, there was an attempted delivery while Sue and I were out, we know because the courier was caught on the house cameras. Today, however, the courier failed to appear and cheekily checked into his office, claiming no one was at home. I, and my cameras, do not lie. The parcel is now scheduled for tomorrow, and I look forward to our meeting.

9th December 2020: UK deaths: 533. Current Market Harborough infections: 375, down 14 from last week.

Two NHS staff members who received the jab on Tuesday experienced allergic reactions. Scientists have reassured the public, saying that allergic reactions to vaccines are “not unexpected,” and emphasised the overall safety of the new COVID-19 vaccine.

Another chilly day. Sue went rambling again, this time with her group following the Fleckney Millennium Walk. The conditions were muddy, and when she returned, she looked as though she’d been through a battle on the Somme, but she insisted she had enjoyed it. I, on the other hand, waited again for Jamie’s parcel, which finally arrived after lunch. In the meantime, I washed Sue’s car (since she was using mine) and chopped up some pruning from the large apple tree. Jamie arrived in the evening to pick up the parcel, only to discover it was for Ruth (lucky girl!).

One of the large elm trees by the riverbank near the drive is rotting and at risk of falling into the river, so today, a couple of tree surgeons spent most of the day felling it. Our pet pheasant wasn’t too thrilled about this, as their presence stopped him from having lunch, which I had thoughtfully scattered under the Scots Pine near the lounge. To top it off, one of the cameras caught a fox munching on one of the fat balls I’d put out for the birds last night.

10th December 2020: UK deaths: 516.  Current Market Harborough infections: 381.  UP from last week: 117.

Today is Lucas’s 14th birthday, and unfortunately, with the restrictions in place, it’s the first time we haven’t been able to celebrate his birthday together.

On a cool, damp day, Sue joined the U3A Nature Group for a visit to Sywell Country Park to spot some wildlife. Unfortunately, the woods were out of commission as they were undergoing renovation, so the group had to make do with spotting water-based wildlife from a track around the lake. Not quite the woodland adventure they had hoped for, but nature still provided some entertainment!

On my morning bike ride, I came across a stray bullock on the towpath section between Great Bowden and Harborough. He seemed friendly enough, so I took a moment to ask him where he’d come from and where he thought he was headed. Unfortunately, I got little response, aside from an occasional request for me to “moooove on,” which I eventually did. However, he seemed to take a liking to me and trotted along behind me obediently for about a mile and a half.

Further down the canal, we crossed paths with several couples out for their morning stroll. Feeling the need to clarify the situation, I explained to them that although it might appear that he belonged to me, he didn’t, though he was friendly; his conversational skills were somewhat limited. Hoping he’d stay with them, I sped off, only to be stalked again. I finally managed to create some distance when he paused to munch on some grass.

Leaving the towpath behind, I decided to shorten my route and head into town to report my stalker to the Police Station. I gave them a detailed description of the bullock and its last known location, leaving the matter in their capable hands.

The rest of the afternoon was spent with my leaf blower, collecting the last of the leaves from the driveway and garden. Mr Cow did not make any further appearances, though Jim and Bridget stopped by to drop off their Christmas card.

11th December 2020: UK deaths: 424. Current Market Harborough infections: 380. UP from last week: 140. Quarantine for contacts of a positive coronavirus case and travellers to the UK is to be reduced from two weeks to 10 days.

A quiet day at Willow Bank. We had a late-night visit from Mr Badger, who was apparently making the rounds. Ellis also won a term achievement award at school, which has us all bursting with pride. Grandparents included, of course.

12th December 2020: UK deaths: 519. Current Market Harborough infections: 370. UP from last week: 119. Meanwhile, the US had its deadliest day yet, with 3,309 COVID-19-related deaths, marking the most lethal day of the pandemic. On the brighter side, the newly-approved vaccine was hailed as a “monumental moment”, a small glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak time.

Another damp, miserable day kept Sue and me close to the wood burner, which was working overtime to make the indoors cosy. Jamie and Ruth are in London for the weekend, attending to some FX Learning business. Meanwhile, Santa Claus and his merry band paid a visit to Alice, bringing a little festive cheer and some treats.

Sarah and Lee managed to catch up on a long-overdue task: filling in a giant wall map with all the places they’ve visited. There are still a few continents left to tick off, though, and I can only hope that once this present virus has run its course, they’ll get the chance to fill in those final gaps. Fingers crossed!

13th December 2020: UK deaths: 144. Current Market Harborough infections: 376. UP from last week, 145.

Last night, I caught a programme on the BBC World Service (The Science Hour) about the spread of COVID-19 in the Amazon. I was quite shocked to learn that 76% of the population in Manaus has been infected with the virus, with the first death in the city recorded on March 16th. Sue and I had been in Manaus at the end of January for a couple of days. At the time, we were vaguely aware of a virus outbreak on a cruise ship off the coast of Japan, but we didn’t give it much thought. Now I’m wondering, was the virus already on board with us? The ship was undergoing a thorough cleaning regime, the onboard hospital was packed with patients suffering from coughs and temperatures, and there had already been several deaths. Could we have brought the virus to Manaus? It certainly makes you think!

As for today, it rained… and rained… and rained, so for the second day running, we stayed firmly inside. Sue made a delicious Sunday lunch, and I spent the afternoon catching up with friends on the phone. The rest of the family joined in on a Christmas quiz over Messenger, and Sarah met Chloe in Nottingham to exchange Christmas presents.

QUOTE: “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.”