12th April 2021

UK Deaths: 13 Harborough Infections: 49

As restrictions eased, pub gardens, shops, hairdressers, gyms, and zoos reopened in England. Shoppers flooded the High Street, with long queues forming outside many retailers.

Meanwhile, millions in India are travelling to celebrate the Maha Kumbh Mela, despite soaring coronavirus rates. This month-long festival draws pilgrims to northern India, where many take a dip in the River Ganges. One can only speculate where the next COVID-19 hot spot in India will emerge, and how it might spread further as participants return home. Perhaps the UK and India share more in common than initially thought.

This morning, Sarah returned to work after her maternity leave.

It was a sunny yet chilly day when Sue joined the eager crowds, indulging in long-awaited retail therapy. With schools reopening after the Easter break and shops back in business, I shouldn’t have been so surprised when my morning cycle ride encountered just one lone walker. My usual companions of dog walkers, cyclists, and ramblers seemed to have exchanged their healthy lockdown exercise routines for queues outside shops, all wearing masks.

Later in the afternoon, I met Jim and the dogs for a brief ramble to Farndon and back. Inspired by Bridget and Sue, who had walked the same route a couple of weeks ago, Jim was keen to follow in their footsteps, and I willingly accompanied him. Unfortunately, his troublesome knees, courtesy of his long rugby-playing career, struggled with the rough terrain. Upon our return to Willow Bank, we rested in the garden, enjoying a couple of beers that offered some relief. Despite this, he hobbled home in considerable pain.

13th April 2021: UK Deaths: 23 Harborough Infections: 41

Pentagon scientists have reportedly developed a microchip that, when inserted under the skin, can detect COVID-19 in a patient before symptoms appear. Additionally, they have created a revolutionary filter that can remove the virus from the blood using a dialysis machine.

14th April 2021: UK Deaths: 38 Harborough Infections: 33

A UK study investigating the use of different Covid-19 vaccines in two-dose inoculations is expanding to include Moderna and Novavax shots.

Both Sue and I had a productive morning. Sue drove to Kibworth to participate in a historical treasure hunt organised by one of her U3A groups, while I drove to Uppingham to meet John Lee for a ramble. This was a walk I had originally planned to do with Sue before the second lockdown.

Our 6.5-mile circular route was planned to explore sites of historical and natural significance, including the remains of a Motte and Bailey castle, Wardley Woods, the village of Wardley, and King’s Hill. However, in reality, we paid little attention to any of them. After more than a year without our regular rambles (which are essential for debating and solving the world’s and the country’s problems), we had much to discuss, and the landmarks passed us by unnoticed.

It’s a route I fully intend to revisit with Sue at a later date, and I’m confident we’ll take the time to appreciate its features more thoroughly.

When I eventually returned home, Sue had finished her morning activity and was at her long-anticipated hair appointment. It never ceases to amaze me just how long it takes to cut a woman’s hair, on this occasion, more than two hours! I didn’t dare ask how much it cost; the last time I did, a defibrillator was nearly called upon to revive me!

15th April 2021: Deaths: 30. Harborough Infected: 26.

Sarah had the day off work today, so Sue and I took the opportunity to visit the family in Newbold Verdon. We arrived early in the morning to find scaffolders setting up platforms around the house in preparation for the old rendering to be chipped off and replaced.

Sarah and Alice were at the swimming baths for a toddler’s swimming lesson, but Lee, busy as ever in his study, handed Mia over for our customary dog walk.

After a short drive to Bagworth Woods, we set out on a route I had walked last spring, which included the village of Bagworth and the lake. Although the day was bright and sunny, a very chilly wind made the shelter of the forest a welcome relief.

While most of the trees had yet to burst into life, the undergrowth was beginning to awaken from its winter slumber. Splashes of colour from bluebells, primroses, violets, and dog’s mercury brightened our ramble. After just over an hour of walking, we returned to find Sarah and Alice back home.

After a light lunch, we explored the garden, spending time on the decking of the chalet. Alice was delighted as we pushed and spun her on the apple tree swing, filling the air with her giggles. Keen to see the family’s work on their allotment, Sarah, Alice in her pushchair, and I took a short stroll to their plot. Upon arrival, an allotment holder informed us of a large pile of free wood chips near the entrance. Equipped with wheelbarrows and a spade, Sarah and I spent half an hour spreading the wood chips along the paths around the raised beds. Meanwhile, Sue kept Alice and Mia entertained as we worked away, successfully reducing the woodchip pile to ground level.

16th April 2021: UK Deaths: 34 Harborough Infections: 20

Bridget is spending a week at a therapy respite centre in Leicester, leaving Jim with the dogs and the house to himself until her return next Thursday. To keep him company, I paid a short visit in the morning. He was busy putting up curtains when I arrived, but was happy to take a break, crack open a beer, and chat about gardens and rugby.

During the afternoon, Sue and I took charge of Nala and Rocky. Jamie and Ruth are set to join an organised ‘Supercar’ road trip in the Cotswolds early on Saturday morning, so the dogs will be staying with us over the weekend. After their evening walk (a ‘poop’ stroll, as we call it), they settled down for our usual Friday cinema night. Both were no trouble at all and, after a few peanuts, promptly fell asleep during the film.

Meanwhile, Sarah and Lee had a sleepless night as Alice’s ninth tooth made its breakthrough.

17th April 2021: UK Deaths: 35 Harborough Infections: 16

The worldwide death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic has now exceeded three million.

After an early frost, the day turned warm and sunny. While Jamie and Ruth headed off to the Cotswolds, I took the dogs for a long walk, returning home around lunchtime. In the afternoon, the mutts were content to lounge in the sun, keeping a watchful eye on me as I sowed a variety of seeds into trays and potted on some seedlings.

We took a brief break to watch the funeral of Prince Philip. The dogs, however, seemed uninterested and soon wandered back into the garden to investigate the plants. It was a fine display of British ceremony, one that Sue and I hadn’t planned to watch, but there’s something about a warm, lazy afternoon that has a way of shifting your mood.

While Jamie and Ruth enjoyed a picnic in Bourton-on-the-Water, Charlotte and her family were indulging in the delights of Rothwell’s pop-up food market.

Later in the evening, Jamie and Ruth stopped by Willow Bank to pick up Jamie’s crash helmet, preparing for a speed test at Santa Pod Raceway the following morning. The dogs were delighted to see them, but didn’t seem too upset to be left behind when they departed.

18th April 2021: UK Deaths: 10 Harborough Infections: 14

Over 9.9 million people in the UK have now received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, while nearly 33 million have had their first dose. India is currently recording 150,000 COVID-19 cases daily, a trend that has persisted for the past three weeks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The grand finale to Jamie’s ‘Supercar’ weekend was a speed test at Santa Pod Raceway. Having had the R8’s engine re-mapped a few weeks ago, I wasn’t surprised to hear that, among all the high-performance cars on the track, only a McLaren could beat its impressive 11.6-second time over the straight mile.

Meanwhile, at a more relaxed pace, Sue rose at the crack of dawn to attend the first car boot sale of the year near Saddington. The dogs and I opted for a lie-in before taking a leisurely walk to Lubenham.

Later in the afternoon, Jamie and Ruth collected the dogs before heading home for a BBQ. Afterwards, Jim joined us to watch the Tigers narrowly lose to Bath. Over at the allotment, Sarah and Lee spent their day planting potatoes, while I plan to plant my main crop variety in the coming week. Suraj kept busy re-modelling their lower garden, adding a patio, benches, and a BBQ area.