5th April 2021

Easter Monday. UK Deaths: 26. Harborough Infected: 133.

We woke to snow flurries and a biting wind. Sue had been expecting to play pétanque with her U3A group this morning, but thankfully the session was cancelled due to the weather. In the afternoon, she visited Doreen at her flat, as Doreen had been troubled by unpleasant smells coming from the bathroom drains. Sue confirmed that the odour was indeed coming from the shared drainage system.

Monday mornings usually see me picking up Peter’s post during my cycle ride. I scanned it and sent it to him via Messenger so he could respond from New Zealand. Today, peering through the window, I noticed someone had cleaned and tidied the flat. It made me wonder: has Peter decided not to return to the UK when travel becomes possible again?

6th April 2021: UK Deaths: 20  Harborough Infected: 123
Promising news on the vaccine front: The new Valneva COVID-19 vaccine, which is set to be manufactured in the UK, has shown “fantastic” results in trials. It was reported to be “highly immunogenic,” with over 90 per cent of participants developing significant antibody levels.

After yesterday’s disappointment, Sue joined one of her U3A rambling groups and enjoyed an excellent morning amble from Middleton. Though the sun was shining, it was bitterly cold, as confirmed when I had to break the ice on the water butt to water the emerging broad beans.

In the afternoon, I retreated to the greenhouse to pot on some Cape Gooseberries in its welcome warmth. While I was at it, Charlotte called in to share some exciting news: after the weekend viewings of their house, three out of the five viewers have made offers.

Later in the day, Harborough was hit by a return of winter with a full-blown blizzard and white-out conditions. Unsurprisingly, the grapevines are showing no signs of leaving dormancy; perhaps they’ve remembered the harsh lesson from last year’s devastating late frost.

7th April 2021: UK Deaths: 45 Harborough Infected: 111
People aged 18 to 29 in Britain will now be offered an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, following reports that 79 individuals developed blood clots shortly after receiving the jab. Meanwhile, the first UK dose of the Moderna vaccine was administered to a 24-year-old in Wales. On a more sobering global note, Brazil has recorded over 4,000 Covid-related deaths in a single 24-hour period for the first time.

Another chilly day and another ramble for Sue. A short tramp up Farndon Hill with a small group of hardy hikers proved an excellent way to spend a brisk afternoon. I, once again, preferred the protection of the greenhouse, contentedly potting on those plants whose roots were ready for a new home.

Meanwhile, in preparation for her return to work next week after extended maternity leave, Sarah took Alice to the child-minder for a three-hour visit. It seems Alice thoroughly enjoyed herself, particularly the novelty of playing with other children. Sadly, as a Covid baby, she’s missed out on the usual opportunities for social play that most little ones take for granted in more normal times.

8th April 2021: UK Deaths: 53. Harborough Infected: 96.
The Health Secretary has advised that everyone should take the vaccine when their time comes, reassuring them that the risk of experiencing a brain clot is no higher than “taking a long-haul flight.”

On a much milder day, Sue joined her U3A nature group for a walk to explore the flora and fauna around Middleton. One of the highlights was the early emergence of bluebells, seemingly oblivious to the recent Arctic conditions!

I, however, again preferred the shelter of the greenhouse, where I sowed sweetcorn into pots, despite next week’s forecast of returning winter frosts. All week, I’ve been protecting the seeds already sown by lighting the paraffin heater overnight and covering them with fleece. To further back this up, I’ve placed a large black-painted barrel of water in the greenhouse, following the theory that the water will absorb and store the sun’s heat during the day, then release it slowly overnight. A quick test revealed that it raises the temperature of the water by 20°C.

9th April 2021: UK Deaths: 60. Harborough Infected: 79.
The Prince of Edinburgh has passed away at the age of 99. It’s a shame he didn’t quite make it to 100. Philip was a complex figure, having come from a dysfunctional family and married into another equally flawed one. Despite a life that was at times cantankerous and privileged, in his later years, he became a significant supporter of many charities and is remembered fondly by many throughout the world.

After a rather inconvenient lunchtime dentist appointment, Sue and I spent the afternoon re-modelling the circular-walled flower bed around the pear tree. We dug up the overwintering plants, potted them up, and covered the surface with pea gravel. However, we didn’t have enough gravel or pots to relocate all the plants.

Earlier, I had received a message from my friend Andy Spencer, offering four demi-johns that he no longer needed. In exchange for these, I brought a bottle of wine as an appropriate swap. I made my way to Desborough, stopping by Braybrooke to see if Roger Woolnough had any spare plant pots. Luckily, he did. My next stop was in Rothwell to pick up a tub of pea gravel from Charlotte before heading to Andy’s on my return route to Harborough.

When I arrived at Andy’s, I found him on crutches after having fallen on ice 10 weeks prior. He had broken his femur in two places and was waiting for an operation to insert some metalwork. After collecting the demi-johns, I returned to Willow Bank, but the rain had started, so the gravel laying and potting had to wait until after tea. Seemingly reluctantly, the rain clouds disappeared, allowing us to finish the task later.

During the early evening, we had a surprise visit from Jamie, who arrived with two splendid jumbo artisan pies (lamb and beef). He was on his way to Ruth’s in Bottesford but had deviated from his journey to drop them off for us. What a lovely way to finish the day for a Yorkshire tyke! Lots of free booty and not a penny spent.

10th April 2021: UK Deaths: 40. Harborough Infected: 65.
The UK has now passed 32 million first vaccinations, with over six million people having received their second doses.

It was another Saturday, and as usual, I spent the day watching rugby on TV, confined by Covid restrictions. Jim came over to share a beer and natter about important issues such as “Who should be in the upcoming Lions tour to South Africa?” We also watched the Tigers beat the Newcastle Falcons.

Meanwhile, Sarah took Alice to a birthday party for her friend’s 3-year-old. Earlier in the day, the family had driven to Nottingham to pick up a three-man canoe that Suraj had bought online. At the same time, Suraj and Charlotte also picked up some pea gravel (and other items) from a warehouse in Wellingborough to supplement Sue’s re-modelled pear tree flower bed.

11th April 2021: UK Deaths: 7. Harborough Infected: 59.
Malta is planning to offer foreign visitors up to 200 euros if they stay for at least three days on the Mediterranean island this summer. It seems they must be desperate for tourists to take such a bold, risky step.

Just before 10 am, I dropped Sue off on the outskirts of Harborough so she could join one of her U3A rambling groups for a walk to Great Bowden via Dingley and Sutton Basset. I then drove on to Rothwell to collect the pea gravel that Charlotte and her family had picked up the previous day. Around midday, I picked up a tired-looking Sue from Great Bowden.

In between snow and hailstone showers, I spent the afternoon tinkering around in the garden and chatting with Ian and Val from next door. I potted up a Buddleia plant to help attract butterflies to their garden.

Meanwhile, Sarah and Lee worked on taking the roof off their patio in preparation for replacing it with a new, thicker covering.