21st December

What a mess.

What a complete and utter mess the UK is in.

Saturday we saw the inevitable roll back of freedoms granted by Boris Johnson at the beginning of the month. He announced in early December that we could have 5 days of getting together with up to three households over the Christmas period.

It was after thinking about the practicalities and probable impact of this that led us as a family to decide it wasn't safe to do so. I'm so glad we did.

Others have made all sorts of plans which have had to be scuppered... but the worst part is the huge rise in rates  over 35,000  new cases yesterday.

We now have Tier This is like a proper lockdown, London and the southeast as far as Bedford are now all Tier 4 and no-one should travel.

The result? A stampede for the trains on Saturday evening... and more anger and distress for everyone.

I read part of a letter written by someone to the Guradian (I think...) and it summed up for me exactly what Boris Johnson does.

When faced with taking a course of action he delays...he delays until things are completely out of hand and then, because his hand is forced he says he ,didn't have a choice'. In other words - it is not his fault.

It is a total abnegation of responsibility and leadership.

He has never, right from the very beginning, made a decision in a timely way to protect us. It has always been two or three weeks too late... and then, of course he has had no choice so poor him.

I mentioned in an earlier post that I had no regard for him whatsoever... I think he should pass on the job to someone who is willing to take difficult decisions at the right time... how much illness and how many deaths could have been avoided is heart-breaking to consider... and it all happened on his dithering watch.

On top of that, I woke to hear about France stopping all travel from uk, several other countries joined that ban... we  are in such a total mess, and what we hear from Government is how wonderful we are and world beating we are.  it is sickening.

I wrote the above yesterday... today 1500 lorries waiting on the road to Dover... and 40 countries stopping UK travel...

18th Dec Catch up

 18th Dec Catch up!

Well I never! The time has flown and I never did get round to completing the second part of my last blog. Never mind!

Now we are here - 18th Dec and the decorations are up!

I am sitting in my extension in the semi dark! It is about 9.15 am but outside it is pouring with rain, it beats against the windows and I am glad I have no reason to venture out today!

The lockdown that we were in until the 2nd December was hardly different from how things were... except there was no golf... and no meeting up with other folk in their houses.

Since then Cornwall has been in Tier 1 which means that we can meet up in groups up to 6 and from different households... and can also do that inside too. That meant the ladies who felt comfortable to do so could have a Christmas lunch  at the golf club ... and it was lovely!

We sat in groups up to four and stayed at our tables... quite difficult when we are usually such a sociable lot but even with the restrictions it was very enjoyable...

The whole week, from Sunday through to the Christmas lunch on Saturday, I had been celebrating!

Brandi and Phil were married on Friday ...early morning our time, and it was lovely to feel a part of it all. Tim did a brilliant job of sending photos...

Setting off!

What a fabulous happy thing to celebrate... and what celebrations we have had... and will have when we finally get together!

Lots of the ladies at Golf joined in the celebrations because they know Phil from the bike ride and  three of them have met Brandi too.

Anyway - all in all it is wonderful and has been a fabulous week.

It took us away for a while, away from the grimness of our country and awful impact of Covid.

We, as a family, decided that we would not risk getting together for Christmas and it was a relief to me. The thought of Bridgie and Keith... and Tim trying to travel safely in a short window of time was worrying.

We asked ourselves the question... would we be thinking of meeting up if it wasn't Christmas... and the answer was a resounding no! Infection rates are high 25,000 new cases yesterday and over 500 deaths!

There is no way we would consider it (unless an outstanding need) so in many ways it was an easy decision to make. It would be different if we all lived near each other.

So we will zoom a lot (if the internet is strong enough!) and will celebrate together in person one day if all is well.

A catch up...  being back on the golf course with everyone is great.

Some brightness among the green!

And our Coop has reopened. Much bigger and such a useful place to have close by!

and of course, we've had some beautiful sunsets!