19th April 2021 UK Deaths: 4. Harborough Infected: 13. Travel from India to the UK is being banned for non-UK and non-Irish citizens from 4 am on Friday. More than 10 million people in the UK have now received their second dose of the vaccine. Today, quarantine-free travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand began.… Continue Reading

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… Continue Reading

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… Continue Reading

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… Continue Reading

22nd March 2021 UK Deaths: 17. Harborough Infected: 70. A stand-off between cat and badger. Last week, I rang Leicester General Hospital for an appointment to investigate a problem I was having with the vision in my left eye. It was a recurrence of a problem I had had a few years ago and was… Continue Reading

15th March 2021 UK Deaths: 64 Harborough Infected: 67 Germany and Italy have now joined Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium in halting the use of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine, following reports of blood clot incidents. I listened to an interview on the BBC World Service with the Norwegian medic responsible for pausing vaccinations. He openly admitted… Continue Reading

8th March 2021 UK Deaths: 65 Harborough Infected: 75 The new ‘Declaration to Travel’ form comes into effect today, requiring passengers travelling overseas from England to complete and carry this exit permit. Ellis and Lucas returned to school today. Both will be undergoing two Covid tests each week. Ellis will be tested at home, while… Continue Reading

1st March 2021 UK Deaths: 104. Harborough Infected: 199. In complete contrast to yesterday, we met up with Sarah, Lee, and Alice in Welford for a short walk on a very misty and bitterly cold morning. Not surprisingly, we met a few people braving the miserable conditions during our 1.8-mile stroll, which included a single… Continue Reading

22nd February 2021 UK Deaths: 178. Harborough Infected: 171. Boris Johnson revealed his ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown: Pupils in England’s schools will return to class from March 8, and from April 12 at the earliest, shops, hairdressers, nail salons, libraries, outdoor attractions, and outdoor hospitality venues such as beer gardens will be allowed to reopen.… Continue Reading

15th February 2021 UK Deaths: 230 Harborough Infected: 205 The new variant of the coronavirus first detected in the UK last autumn is not only more infectious but also 30-70% more deadly, based on a study by the UK government. As if by magic, our week-long winter wonderland, its white, powdery landscape blanketing everything in… Continue Reading