29th March 2021

UK Deaths: 23. Harborough Infected: 105.

Today, six people, or two households, are permitted to meet outdoors and in private gardens. The government has also signed an agreement for up to 60 million doses of the Novavax vaccine to be manufactured in the North East of England by GlaxoSmithKline. The UK has set a new daily vaccination record for the second consecutive day, with 844,285 jabs administered on Saturday.

 

On a day when schools are closed for Easter and restrictions on socialising have eased, the weather gods, for once, conjured up a fine spell, with temperatures reaching a balmy 20℃. However, still feeling stuck in a Covid rut, Sue and I didn’t venture far; apart from my morning cycle ride, we stayed at home, happily pottering about in the warm, sunny garden, carrying out a bit of maintenance. Mundane, perhaps, but safe.

30th March 2021: UK Deaths: 56  Harborough Infected: 111

With temperatures today reaching a glorious 24℃, it seemed the perfect time to start planting potatoes, and that’s exactly what I did. Two rows of Wilja (second earlies) are now tucked snugly underground, wrapped in a cosy blanket of garden compost and soil.

Sue met up with Linda Keane in town for some much-needed fresh air and a catch-up. In the afternoon, I installed Paddy’s Amazon Echo (Alexa) in his lounge so that he could chat with his son Mark in Florida. It wasn’t without its hiccups. Paddy doesn’t have a smartphone, and his iPad is so old it wouldn’t support the Amazon app. However, I managed to get it working by using my own Android tablet.

Sarah had an exceptionally busy day. First, she painted the summer house and decking, then took Alice for a picnic by the lake. Splendidly, Ruth achieved a First in her latest degree assignment. She’s now completed her final dissertation and only has the exam left before becoming fully chartered.

31st March 2021: UK Deaths: 43  Harborough Infected: 117

Meanwhile, Germany appears to be turning to Russia for vaccines, following its decision to restrict the use of the AstraZeneca jab in under-60s. It’s perplexing that Chancellor Merkel would prefer to place her trust in the Sputnik V vaccine, produced in a country often liberal with the truth, especially in matters of science and chemicals (Novichok springs to mind), rather than in a European-developed vaccine, created under far more transparent conditions.

On the hottest day of the year so far, I planted another couple of rows of potatoes. Sue joined a ramble with a newly formed Wednesday afternoon walking group. Bridget came along too, and the group enjoyed a gentle 3-mile amble along the newly laid Adam’s Mile path, taking in the Judith Stone on their return to Harborough.

While Sue was out walking, I planted strawberries in the planter, then decided it was high time to set up one of the garden sunshades. I followed that by dragging the garden chairs out from their winter hibernation in the shed and arranging them around the patio table. Bring on the guests, six at a time, if you please.

Charlotte popped by briefly on her way home from work to collect some of the jigsaws that Sue had recently completed.

1st April 2021: UK Deaths: 51  Harborough Infected: 126

France has gone back into lockdown, with schools closed and all internal travel banned for a month. Meanwhile, Pfizer has accused the European Union of hindering its vaccine production; apparently, 280 components are required, sourced from 86 suppliers across 19 countries. New EU rules on the free movement of goods are now damaging its ability to manufacture and export the vaccine. Given that it’s April Fool’s Day, the old idiom “cutting off your nose to spite your face” seems particularly apt.

Of course, the moment I set up the garden furniture in preparation for entertaining under the now-familiar ‘rule of six’, the weather witches got to work, stirred their cauldron, and sent the temperature plummeting—snow is even forecast in the coming days! Still, despite the chill this morning, I managed to plant another two rows of potatoes and picked a tasty clump of ‘forced’ rhubarb, destined for future crumbles.

Ellis has saved up his pocket money from the grandparents to buy himself a Spinosaurus tooth. Sue has long had a fascination with fossils (she did marry me, after all!) and has carefully nurtured Ellis’s own interest by bringing him a variety of curious and ancient treasures from our holidays.

2nd April 2021: UK Deaths: 52  Harborough Infected: 131

Worryingly, the number of infections in Harborough has been creeping up over the past couple of weeks. It may be a blessing in disguise that the Easter break is forecast to be bitterly cold; perhaps it will deter too much social mixing.

Tragedy struck Willow Bank on yet another chilly day. Returning from town, I spotted Mrs Pheasant lying in the road at the end of the drive. Sadly, sometime earlier that morning, she’d been run over. Her body was crushed, and the yolk from the eggs she carried was smeared across the tarmac. As always, and entirely unaware of the catastrophe, Mr Pheasant had been calling loudly from the riverbank since first light, expecting her to join him beneath the Scots pine for breakfast. He continued to call throughout the day, oblivious to the fact that she would not be emerging from her hiding place in the long grass.

I gently picked her up and laid her near the entrance to the badger sett by the bridge. The badgers often visit the pine each night for their supper. It was a heartbreaking gesture, but in its own way, her death may go on to nourish the lives of her nocturnal neighbours.

Late in the afternoon, Jamie, Ruth, and Joey (with mutts in tow) came over for an Easter Egg hunt. Ruth quietly placed the eggs around the garden while Jamie kept Joey distracted with a game of football. Unfortunately, no one informed Nala or Rocky that they weren’t part of the game, and doggy noses proved far too advantageous when it came to sniffing out chocolate. After Rocky discovered one hidden in a bush, which Nala promptly scoffed at, the dogs had to be kept occupied while Joey resumed the hunt! Once all the eggs had been found, warming drinks were the order of the day before they headed back home to Desborough.

3rd April 2021: UK Deaths: 10. Harborough Infected: 135. 

It was a busy afternoon for the Palmer clan. Sue joined a U3A ramble around Farndon, while Jamie, Ruth, and Joey travelled to Newbold Verdon to visit Sarah and family, then headed off for a ramble in Bradgate Park.

Meanwhile, Charlotte’s real estate agent showed several prospective buyers around their home. The family also squeezed in a ramble of their own before heading out later in the afternoon to view a property in nearby Rushton.

Left to my own devices, with suitable snacks and refreshments on hand, I happily indulged in watching four back-to-back rugby matches on the telly!

4th April 2021: Easter Sunday  UK Deaths: 10  Harborough Infected: 142
Italy has entered a three-day lockdown, with all regions now designated as “red zones”. Meanwhile, the infection rate in Harborough continues its slow but steady rise.

This morning, Sue joined one of the newly restarted U3A rambling groups and took part in a walk from Rushton.

We enjoyed a brief spell of warm weather today, just ahead of the forecasted Arctic temperatures due to roll in overnight. Keeping within the ‘rule of six’ regulations, the Newbold Verdons and Rothwells gathered for an Easter Sunday lunch at Charlotte’s. On their way home, Sarah, Lee, and Alice popped in with a lovely selection of small cakes for us to enjoy and mark the occasion.