Zombie Madness Updates

 As I type this I can hear rainfall through my bedroom window  as it's now warmed up a fair bit and is six degrees c rather than minus five which is pretty good going so although it's winter still, it's okay.

It is getting on for about ten months of this Zombie Madness so the mass media have been doing a looking back reflective thing of which the sobering thought is over 100,000 people have died with covid as a cause of death although because of big differences over how you conclude what is a covid death it may be our figures are not as high compared to similar countries at first glance although no one can ignore the very real loss behind the statistics.

There are those who want to put the government on trial for it's handling of this and no one can disagree with the proposition mistakes were made but it is important to remember this virus is nothing like we've had before so the scientists are playing catch up getting to grips to it, not always having the full facts and even at odds with each other and it's that which feeds into public policy by politicians. Mistakes will happen is such situations.

Moreover if we seriously wish to make those responsible accountable in the courts, how about going for the Chinese Authorities, the Christmas skiing people who together with all those who went to Italy, Spain and France  brought it back with them in March, the travel business that pushed it, the thousands who haven't even tried to follow the rules having house parties, raves, wedding events for hundreds, refusing to wear a face covering without good reason and so on?

I suspect this is politically motived.

We all have a part to play in bringing covid to heal, not just the politicians and our actions do impact on how quickly we can. 

If you want less deaths and a quicker end to the madness, you know what to do.

Our vaccination program is going well with over 7.1 million people having at least the first dose making us one of top countries for the percentage of the population protected because we worked with the companies to get the certification program done efficiently while keeping the robustness needed to ensure it is safe and placing the orders well in advance.

The issues bedevilling the EU's program has been laid bare, a program this government was criticized for not going along with when we could with delays in certification and ordering.

Now the EU are demanding to take from the allocations for our own country made here by AstraZenica to make up for their losses and to take from supplies that may be for third world countries who would struggle without it.

Everyone understands vaccines are like gold dust, that people should get what they need within a agreed time frame from ordering but to go to grab another countries order just because you say "our need is greater" is wrong as then President Trump's grapping of PPE made in the states but sold commercially around the world was. 

Canadian health care ppe was robbed by him.

Economic nationalism, grabbing another's orders just because you need it is morally wrong and shameful, not worthy of what progressive bodies like the EU see themselves as.

We placed our orders when we did to secure them, that was the entire point of acting quickly (for once) when they did not so to be told that actually you shouldn't expect that seems odd.

Yes between the companies and the EU a way needs to be found to deal with supply issues (you can't order huge supplies and expect it all ready to-there's always a lead in factor) because Europeans do have a need, a right to receive vaccinations - god knows we all do - but this kind of grab is not the way to do it.

To be really free from it we need world-wide inoculation's, not just the rich countries of Europe, Austrasia and North America and this kind of action leaves a bad taste.

On other hand we know Zombie Madness will run until end of February when some kind of review will be done to see any any relaxations are possible like having schools full open and so on.

Inaugural edition

I'm like forever having deja vu moments one being being asked this time in 1981 to write a reflective essay on what I thought of Ronald Reagan becoming president by the Head Mistress of our school for marking.

He was as some of you might recall a bit controversial and some even questioned of he was really suited to the office.

As with most things to with the Presidency it's all rooted in the Constitution and the actual act of being sworn in is the same.

This is a picture showing the Inauguration - President and Vice-President making of George Washington, the first President of the Republic.

Wednesday January 20th of course was the Inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice-President Elect Kamala Harris after four years the likes of which I have not seen before and hope never to see again.

As with everything around most of the World in 2021 and indeed the previous year the event was impacted by Covid so people needed to stay away, their place being taken by the Stars and Strips planted and all attendees tested before being admitted.

Because of the insurrection of January 6th security was extremely tight and even that was vetted in case of any infiltration by forces who would disrupt the inauguration ceremony. 

Presidents are for ALL Americans, young and old, black, latino or white of any and no politics and like some of us did here youngster do follow these moments as they learn about how their country is run and their part as citizens within it.

This theme was amplified in his inaugural address not least because of the sharp division not just between the contenders but of supporters who even at times have very different "facts" even regarding the outcome.

Now is the time for Unity not least in dealing with this god awful pandemic and it's impact on lives and livihoods to ensure measures to control it, vaccination programs and support happens.

Equally further action is needed to tackle the sin of racism and racial disadvantage with care so everyone is taken along understanding the measures needed and that the lives of all do indeed matter, not disregarded in the way we have seen some black lives by the police in the recent past.

No society can function effectively when sizable chunks are left on the sidelines struggling with education, housing, health care and getting the equal opportunities they are entitled to being able to progress in their and their families lives.

The environment and concerns about Climate Change do not have a "except the the U.S. card" -  these issues effect everyone on the plant regardless of race, religion and politics and rejoining the Paris accord and planning to reduce emissions matter.

After four years of instability, at times idiotic comments and sheer chaos I wish the New President and Vice President all the best in trying to tackle America's pressing issues and restoring civility to political life.

Things I'm doing this wet day

It's not the best of weather today as I am sat here typing this weeks blog having just stolen a few only moderate showers moments to go out for a bit of permitted exercise before firing up the machine.

What she has to say is something I readily identify with preferring at times like thirty minutes ago to put thick pair of grey shorts on to go out in as you do need pockets at times and deep ones at that that rather than the sort that won't been take a handkerchief or your front door key.

What is it with fashion designers who work on girls and women's wear who seem to ignore such things? 

Between the wet spells I've been re-doing a few things for my music players and this one was one I got a copy of as the last time I had this was April 1988 which is an awful long time but it rounds up the Boston M.A. J Geils Bands output for EMI America from 1978 through 1982 which included Centerfold, a world-wide hit.

While I had the lp record version of Lights Out by the J.Geils Band lead singer Peter Wolf for a long time this only had a limited cd release and I had spent ages trying to track down this title and was able to get the US issue of it which included the hits Lights Out, I Need You Tonight and the fun space song Mars Needs Women.

Chillin' Friday

 Brr It's another cold week here, yew can feel it in your face if not your hands too if you haven't any gloves on with the streets still icy not unsurprisingly given it had been minus three degrees yesterday. 

That put a few restrictions around where I could go as the pavements were slippery with chunks of ice the size of pebbles as well as sections worthy of the accolade "skating rink" but I did dress for the weather and get out, seeing birds and squirrels apart from going on my swing a bit for fresh air and exercise apart from reading the odd comic or two.

That helped keep my mind less anxious not just with all this Covid stuff but the disgraceful scenes at The Capitol on Wednesday which rightly received world-wide censure from people of all political views who respect democracy and the rule of law.

Twelve Months on That Boarding School Girl 2020 edition

One reason this blog continues to exist is the need to have a space for more middle or even grown up things at times having deliberated at times the need to keep it going with having the littles one.

We normally publish a kind of review but as I have said before this year has been in such a state of flux it's been no sooner than I had a planned and at least partially written blog ready then it's been all change so it's different than the planned one.

The year had began on the face it fairly normally with a music review and a piece on Brexit although we were getting noises of an infection in China in the news and some talk of it taking hold on continental Europe by February.

By little more than a month we all saw what will in future be seen as an historical announcement on Tv that informed us that things were going to be very different thanks to Covid which while being found in China we'd assumed was likely to stay around there but that wasn't to be.

That was going on as unexpectedly I was returned for a couple of weeks to the world around which my old job revolved and while doing a little investigating on foot the  best route to get there and having done that a bit of shopping in the City centre I was taken quite ill within a couple of hours for a few weeks with symptoms' that in hindsight did match Covid.

I wrote across the year about the need to draw from the lessons of our pasts as we all struggled with coping with restrictions which varied sometimes quite rapidly with fluctuating emotions and how the virus affected the things we wanted to mark such as VE day and so on.

It continues to be a struggle as I write this as Staffordshire with Stoke On Trent and the Black Country being in Tier 4 restrictions as of yesterday with non essential shops such as hairdressers and clothes stores shut.

That said there is cause for hope as at long last the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine that is less fussy about how it stored, being able to use a standard fridge has been approved for use with plans starting January 4th next week to really ramp up mass vaccination as the only way out of restrictions is to immunize people even if some infection control measure will be needed for a period such as mask wearing and social distancing.

School returns for most English primaries will be as planned from next week but because of concerns around older children and staff at English high schools, most will be returning from January 18th with exceptions for exam year group children and vulnerable children all with testing.

Online schooling just did not deliver for a significant number so realistically schools need to kept open as far as possible apart from the welfare issues of children unable to have contact with peers.

We marked on January 31st the signing of the act that would have the United Kingdom leave the European Union regardless of any agreement being reached or not.

That time is up, a agreement on trade and goods has been made voted and signed on Wednesday, not perfect by any means but one that removes tariffs, makes trade as easy as can be expected while restoring our nation's soveignity to the satisfaction of both the EU and ourselves.

Brexit can be seen as like marmite as an issue but the will of the people not least the the feeling resetting the entire post war settlement was needed here in the Midlands needed to prevail as much as some of you disagreed with it strongly.

That argument is over with, things changed this morning and everyone needs to work towards making our future that still includes being a part of Europe with travel, trade and other relations but on terms we have decided and not belonging to an economic and political institution that believed in ever closer union work.