3rd June 2021 MAY BANK HOLIDAY

UK Deaths: 1. Harborough Infected: 14. The number of Covid-19 vaccines given out across the UK has passed 50 million.

After a better night, poor Alice seemed much brighter when we made a video call to the family in the evening. She appears to be well on the way to returning to her usual smiley self.

As is typical for a Bank Holiday, the weather took a turn for the worse! The day began dry and chilly, but by late morning, the wind and rain had arrived, putting paid to any outdoor plans. Nevertheless, I managed to complete my bike ride before the weather turned, and Sue won her U3A Pétanque competition before the weather witches cast their spell (yes, she won again).

Last night, Jamie travelled down to London with his friend Tommy and enjoyed a very sumptuous dinner at the Oxo Tower Restaurant. Today, they squeezed in a bit of sightseeing and were amused to discover that the River Thames has a small beach. Later, Jamie met up with Ruth and Joey, and they headed to the SnowDome in Tamworth for a snowboarding session.

4th June 2021: UK Deaths: 4. Harborough Infected: 14.

 

The early morning saw another U3A ramble for Sue, this time in the Langtons, while I embarked on an extra-long cycle ride. I arrived home first, just before midday, to find Charlotte taking a much-needed break in the kitchen before heading out again for afternoon work. Sadly, she had already left by the time Sue returned.

During the afternoon, I potted on a few more Cape Gooseberries, then helped our neighbour begin replacing the fencing between our properties. Little Alice continues to improve rapidly and even managed a smile during a Messenger video call.

5th June 2021: UK Deaths: 27 Harborough Infected: 12

India’s official count of coronavirus cases has now surpassed 20 million, with reported deaths exceeding 220,000. However, the true figures are believed to be significantly higher. In response, India’s neighbouring countries are closing their borders. Meanwhile, UK tourists visiting Gibraltar will not be required to take coronavirus tests when foreign holidays resume.

Despite a turbulent afternoon, Sue’s U3A ramble centred around Braybrooke managed to dodge most of the showers, apart from a brief hailstone squall. I spent the morning hoeing around the vegetables and, somewhat riskily, planted a few sweetcorn before returning to help the neighbour with the fencing in the afternoon.

6th June 2021: UK Deaths: 13 Harborough Infected: 11

India’s entire delegation to the G7 summit in London is self-isolating after two members tested positive for COVID-19. It does little to inspire confidence in the Indian government’s ability to manage the pandemic currently ravaging its citizens,  but perhaps explains why the crisis there has escalated so dramatically.

Meanwhile, Joe Biden’s administration has voiced support for waiving intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines, a welcome and morally sound move. It’s hard to imagine Donald Trump’s administration ever sanctioning such a humanitarian initiative. Whether the US Congress will support it remains to be seen.

Today, Sue and I exercised our democratic rights by voting for our local Councillor and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicestershire. Judging by the sparse turnout at the polling station, far fewer seemed to be doing likewise compared to previous years. Perhaps people are still wary of infection in public spaces, or maybe they’ve simply grown disillusioned with politicians. I can’t imagine why!

The main topic of family conversation today was the school’s rigorous hand-washing regime. Poor Ellis has developed very chapped and sore hands from having to wash them constantly after each activity. Aside from the frequency, the quality of the soap and hand sanitiser has come under (quite detailed) scrutiny.

7th June 2021:  UK Deaths: 15 Harborough Infected: 9

European Union leaders have turned up the heat on the US for proposing a waiver on COVID-19 vaccine patents. Quite frankly, how on earth does the EU think this isn’t a good idea? If their leaders were chickens, they’d be headless!

Today felt rather significant, not only was it the day of the election results, but it was also vaccination day. I was initially booked for an 8:30 am appointment, and Sue for 9:20, but a last-minute call from the surgery (due to a delayed vaccine delivery) rescheduled mine to 9:10. As it turned out, neither of us experienced any delays, and we were both jabbed promptly, home again by 9:30 am, rubbing slightly sore arms. Unfortunately for Sue, hers became quite painful by the evening.

She wisely took it easy for the rest of the day, which turned out to be quite pleasant, and spent time delving into her family history, amazingly, tracing it back to the 1300s. I kept busy in the greenhouse and mowed the lawns.

8th June 2021:  UK Deaths: 5 Harborough Infected: 8

The Government has released a list of twelve countries and territories included on the “green list” for quarantine-free travel from 17th May: Portugal, Gibraltar, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and the Falkland Islands.

A wet and windy day. As with her previous vaccination, Sue had a restless night and woke feeling decidedly unwell. Thankfully, by the evening, she was feeling a little better.

Given last season’s bumper crop of shallots, we’ve been left with quite a surplus. So, what better way to occupy a dreary indoor day than by making another batch of our splendid pickled onions? Supplies have been running dangerously low!

9th June 2021: UK Deaths: 2 Harborough Infected: 8

A third of UK adults are now fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

In today’s news: a British woman claims to have been abducted by aliens 52 times, and has the bruises to prove it. Meanwhile, Nicola Sturgeon declared that the latest results show a second independence referendum is the “will of the country,” warning that any Westminster politician who blocks it is “picking a fight with the democratic wishes of the Scottish people.”

It’s difficult to gauge which claim is more delusional.

A milder and drier day than we’ve had for quite a while. In the afternoon, Sue paid a long-overdue visit to Charlotte’s, taking some chocolates for the boys and a set of pens she’d bought for Lucas’s schoolwork. She was keen to make up for the time that had passed since her last visit.

I’ve been delving into the Palmer family tree again and decided to ring Aunt Josie to share some recent findings, particularly about a relative connected to a story she once told me. Years ago, when she was just sixteen, she had a curious encounter with someone who might have been an unknown family member. Our chat reignited interest in that thread and led to further research into other ancestors. We ended the call with a promise to go over the tree together properly during my next visit.

Today, we also finalised plans to meet up with Philippa and Paul in Tenbury Wells to exchange long-overdue Christmas and birthday presents. COVID-19 restrictions had scuppered our usual timing, but with travel now becoming easier, we’ve booked a hotel stay and will make the most of the trip by also visiting an old family friend, Sheila.