Supsliskans in lockdown. Weeks 29-33, 21 September-25 October 2020

Ian 22 September 2020

Hello Everyone.

Is anybody there? Nothing from anyone for more than a month. Is it general despondency about the continuing situation? Has nothing been happening? 

Anyway I got a piece of news from Peter Miles in a phone call yesterday. He is sill a member of CILIP and received the AGM papers recently. For the first time it included a list of members who had "passed away" in the last twelve months and John Warmington was on the list. No further details as to where he worked and what carried him off, Covid or something else. As he was really the one who brought us all together, I was sorry to hear the news and feel that we should raise a socially distanced glass to his memory. I promised Peter (who is keeping well, all things considered) that I would let you all know. 

Not much news to report from us. We still manage bus trips out - yesterday to Shaldon, a beautiful fishing village on the other side of the Teign Estuary. A beautiful day with lunch in a well-organised restaurant, sitting at a table overlooking the estuary, Teignmouth and the hills and cliffs beyond. We relished the idyllic scene and realised that we may not have so many such experiences with the tightening restrictions, the breaking of the weather after the Indian summer and the passing of the autumnal equinox with the ever shorter evenings. And all just as we seemed to be emerging. We spent a couple of days overlooking Land's End in a holiday cottage with Kate and family in August followed by a couple of nights in an almost empty campsite nearby. There were quite a few holiday makers around but keeping their distance. In some ways things seem to have got worse since the return to school, crumblies like ourselves making the buses and seasides more crowded as they enjoy the remaining days of summer. 

I have finally got involved with the Exeter UNESCO city of literature project. They don't actually seem to have got very far since the award was announced at the end of last year but I have offered them my collected work on book history of the past fifty or more years - starting I suppose with the lectures that fascinated me from Sigrid Mandahl and Roy Millington, although I no longer have the notes for these. They appear to have accepted them with gratitude and relief, but how they will use them I'm not sure. We also got out to Lewtrenchard Manor, the home of Sabine Baring-Gould, to work on the library there. The hotel is now open and seems to be quite busy, but many other organisations in the tourist and heritage sectors seem to be suffering. The Devon Heritage Centre is open for pre-booked visits and I have made a couple, pre-ordering documents which they are not always able to locate and, although there is a maximum of six for each two-hour session in the large reading-room face coverings have to be worn. 

So, we soldier on. Keep safe everyone, and don't forget to raise a glass to dear old Warmingpan.

Ian

Jane 22 September 2020

A coincidence! I sometimes think I have a little bit of second sight as I just thought this morning that I had not heard from any Supsliskans for a while and should send an email.

Sad news about John Warmington. I am fairly sure that he worked at Sherborne School at one point but presumably was retired by now. No doubt data protection prevented any useful details being published by CILIP. An old school friend (whom I met a couple of years ago for the first time since we were at school) was married to a Warmington (for a short time I suspect!) and I asked her if she was related by marriage to John. But she thought not. A glass will be raised.

We escaped on 12th (David's first venture outside the centre of St Andrews since March) for dinner, bed and breakfast in the Peat Inn, the posh 'restaurant with rooms' about 5 miles from town, to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. It was an excellent trip, rounded off with champagne for breakfast organised by elder son (who was surprised to learn that we drank it all there and then). But I am still cross that we could not have a proper party for that or for my significant birthday in May. And now Our Nicola has decreed today that we cannot even invite a friend for coffee in the flat - presumably just to be a little different from Boris. I watched the English experts yesterday morning (it came after 'Homes Under the Hammer' when I have coffee and do the Times quick crossword - multitasking) and the map of the virus hotspots showed only England yet they talked about the UK. No wonder Scottish independence is rearing its ugly head.

Students have returned to the town and following huge parties on all three beaches during the first two weekends of the month, there are now 7 cases of Covid in the University. The Principal asked them all to stay in their rooms this last weekend, and town was certainly quieter. Hermann the German (that was how he introduced himself) a postgrad, arrived in the Attic flat on 1st, and I gave him the Watkinson introduction (where the bins live and when they are emptied) after I happened to meet him on the stairs. The next day he appeared at our door with flowers for me. I gave him a few apples from our tree - and the following day he handed in an Apfelkuchen. Tall, handsome - and he can bake!! The new tenants in the 2nd floor - 3rd year Economics lad and 4th year mathematician girl - are OK too, so far. At least they cannot have noisy parties at the moment. We had a month of disruption in August, with up to 10 workmen at any one time, while the flat was refurbished and the lad was most annoyed to discover that there was no longer a bath, only showers in the ensuites. I suggested he ask for a reduction in rent. After two letters to the owners, the 'common parts' were finally swept and washed but there were still grease spots on the stone stairs, so another cleaner came last week and put some white foam on them. We now have bright pink spots. We made several comments to the owners, to which we have had only the reply that they are relieved to have had the opportunity to refurbish the flat 'to add value to the block'. An interest in the whole building would be welcome. A broken chair was dumped beside the bins and when we asked for it to be removed, it was put over the wall in the nextdoor yard. Another sharp email to the owners and it was gone.

Douglas and family and Rosie the dog spent 40 hours with us, enroute from Portrush to Bath. They managed to fit in all St Andrews has to offer apart from the Himalayas putting course (pre-booking needed and your own equipment but we have only one putter)  - a walk on the beach, Toppings bookshop, Jannetta's ice cream and the posh baker's fudge doughnuts. Fortunately Pizza Express had just re-opened so we could have a meal there. And Rosie barked at the workmen every time they went up and down the stairs, to my delight. When we will see the family again, or Peter and Laura, is anyone's guess.

So Darby and Grumpy Joan are back on their own for the foreseeable future. David has written an article on a St Andrews Provost for the Preservation Trust newsletter, and 'zoomed' and 'teamed' on various meeting of Trustees, while I seem to have been mired in domesticity and gardening with the occasional foray into the 17th century and 20th century rum-running. A huge pile of ironing is menacing me at this very moment.

Hope all is well with you all and look forward to your news. Love, Jane

Sylvia 22 September 2020

Funnily enough, I was thinking about sending out another round robin, but then decided that people might have had enough, since I'm often the one to start the ball rolling again.

Sorry to hear about John Warmington, or Widmerpool as my father used to refer to him.  (Those of you who have read "A Dance to the Music of Time" might recognise the reference, although it was probably my descriptions of what John got up to, which made him reach that conclusion.)  Interesting that you say he got us together, Ian, given that he was never a part of any group when we were in Sheffield and as far as I'm aware, sank without trace afterwards.  I've always been grateful to you and Jane for getting/keeping the ball rolling for the last 50+ years.

Life goes on here.  Things which seemed mundane in the past can seem quite exciting now - walks with friends, an actual meal with my walking group a couple of weeks ago, just before the Rule of 6 came in, brief visits to people's gardens, and FaceTime, Zoom or Skype sessions with family.  

However, just when we think it's getting easier, we seem to be hit with another sledge hammer.  The latest one for me is that my choir went back to rehearsals last week, albeit under very strict conditions and in a "Covid secure" venue, and I've just had an email to say that Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has stated that “Due to the rapid spread due to [repetition!] social contact, I’m afraid we can no longer permit exemptions for indoor grass-roots sport & amateur performing arts and choirs”.  So, after one week, we're back to square one and will be meeting on Zoom again, which means we can't sing together, although we do sing (muted) to various CDs we've made in the past.  Obviously, I won't argue with anything which will keep everyone safer, but I still feel every decision which is made is copied from the back of an envelope.

Luckily, I'm still able to contribute to the online transfer of the Herefordshire local archive catalogue, as it's sent to me at home.  It's more laborious than when the hard copy of the catalogue was in front of me at the Record Office, but it's much better than nothing.

Margaret, it was lovely to have a phone chat and I promise to ring you again soon.  Jane, if I hadn't spent time proof reading this email, I might have beaten you to it!  (Haven't read your contribution yet.)

With love to all, Sylvia

Val 22 September 2020

Hello!

 

Glad everyone’s ok & interesting to hear how you are all getting on.

Sorry to hear about John, I suspect we made his life a bit of a misery which I regret now!! A glass will definitely be raised!  Thanks for letting us know, Ian, & please give my love to Peter when you next speak to him. It seems amazing that he has never had a computer & so misses out on exchanges like our Supsliskan musings, amongst many other things.  Well done for keeping him in the loop. Congratulations, Jane (& David!!) on your 50 years!  We made 45 years on the 13^th September. I chortle at your run ins with students & landlords, you’ll get them all licked into shape one day!! I’m hoping you saw something of your family in real time, Sylvia, before the “rules” changed again. Ian & Jill, glad you’re getting out & about & had a few days away…….at Sennen??

 

We managed a week in Northumberland with Victoria & family, not quite the booked two weeks in Florida Disney World for the whole family (we got all the money back!!), but very nice none the less. The weather was fantastic & we were on the beach most days & it’s very easy to socially distance on Northumberland’s beaches as you can imagine, even though everywhere was very busy. We ate some extremely good seafood meals in well managed restaurants in Amble & area. The only wet day was our pre-booked visit to the Alnwick Garden. It was all a very good week, but as it can be done in a day from here one doesn’t really feel you’ve gone away!   Not like our customary 0530 start to drive to the far North of Scotland.

 

We have seen a lot of Charlotte & family & Victoria & family either here or at Linton on Ouse & York. Roger has made a couple of probably illicit trips from London! The girls have been back at school since May half term part time as Victoria was in, but it’s full time & attendance is averaging 98% & the Ebor Trust are not intending to close for anything!!

 

This has ground to a halt again as County Durham & surrounding counties are now on restricted everything again, though better than lockdown, it’s still a pain. It’s only because a few North East councils requested it.   Others such as Darlington & Teesside didn’t so weren’t added in. Lots of people go to work or school from here & other places to Darlington & vice versa, so who knows!!

 

Barney is rammed as it always in in August & September, but more so. It’s particularly bizarre to inch past the crowds outside Specsavers taking photos of each other  (I kid you not!!!) Also waiting at the traffic lights at the County Bridge whilst people nip out & take selfies with the Barnard Castle sign. The local economy is booming & even Oxfam had prints of the Castle for sale in the window with a sign saying “This is what Dominic came to see if he could see”!!

 

Chris’s work is all online now which he hates as he likes to walk around & interact when lecturing & doing workshops. I’m busy in the garden a lot still whilst the weather is so good, although there was a frost on Sunday morning, it’s never been so tended!! Well, that’s probably enough about us,  so will finish now & look forward very much to some more instalments from you all

Keep well all of you. Love to all, Val

Jane 23 September 2020

Hello - it's me again!

I googled Warmers and he is there under The Old Shirburnian Society - with photo! Born 1942, he was indeed Librarian at Sherborne School, 1985-1996, previously Deputy Librarian at Westminster College, Oxford, and died suddenly in December last year. I am sure I sent an invite to one of our Reunions to Sherborne and am sorry not to have had any reply. I am afraid he pulled our group together because he annoyed us - what an admission!

Love, Jane

Anne 23 September 2020

Hello everyone,

Just to say I think it's rather sad that the only news we have of Warmers after 52 years is that he died. I know Jane made an effort to contact him and he obviously didn't react. I'm so grateful to you all in this group for keeping in touch all these years and especially in this year. This evening in my 1st lesson with one of my VHS groups after 6 months when discussing the pros and cons of lockdown, Covid-19 etc I told them how cheered I had been by contact with you all. In fact, interestingly enough, most found more positive aspects to report.i

Good night, Anne

Margaret 24 September 2020

Hello everyone!

How nice to be in touch again.  But I agree with Anne about John W. Actually, he has connections with Wolvercote and is a distant relative of John Stockford who was born at The Plough, local pub, and has lived in Wolvercote all his life. I once mentioned John to him and he dismissed it remarking “we don’t have much to do with that lot”.

Well, I have settled down to life at home on the ground floor in my garden room with a live - in carer. I am very well looked after by Juliana from Cameroon and she is a super cook - not desserts, though, so I sneak a couple of Gu’s into my Ocado order. Currently I have Josephine living with me while Juliana has a break - much needed when working a 7 day week. She is also good and a nice calm presence. J is very worried about the situation in Cameroon and periodically can become quite hysterical which is a bit alarming. I just keep quite calm until she recovers. She has lived over here for 8 years with one of her daughters n Northampton but has family over in Cameroon.

I have rather surprised myself at how happily I have settled down to life at home in one room. But then I am not missing much out there as nothing much is happening! It’s amazing how the days go by and don’t drag as things happen and friends pop in. Daily reading of The Times fills most of the morning and then I do the difficult SuDoku usually getting it right but not always.It is good as it makes me focus. Currently I have 3 books on the go, all quite different.

I think that’s about it and I look forward to the next contribution to this current spate of emails.

With my best wishes, Margaret

Angela 25 September 2020

Hello Everyone

Thank you Ian for getting the e-mails flowing again. Poor old John Warmington. At least we did all remember him! I can recall him sitting at the front of the lecture room, always the first to ask a question with Jim Bragg patiently and kindly sitting next to him. A number of glasses will certainly be raised to John.

Congratulations Jane and David on your 50th Anniversary and glad you were able to have a celebration. Your new students seem really nice which must make life more pleasant, though the influx of university students generally must be concerning. I feel very sorry for them starting off University life with such uncertainty. It must be very frustrating Sylvia to get so near to resuming your choir too but great that you manage to get together on Zoom. It is lovely to chat to you Margaret and to hear that you are settling in so well to your new routine and becoming an expert on your iPad. I loved Val's description of the 'Cummings effect' on her local area. Good for Oxfam!

I think the slowing of e-mails generally indicates that we have started to gradually feel our way towards more sociable lifestyles with various outings and get togethers. Unfortunately the latest restrictions have pulled us up a bit. Still, with today's weather in Cley with lashing rain and 70 m.p.h. winds, I am quite happy to stay inside with the heating on!.

It is good to hear about the various family get togethers as having proper contact does help a lot. We saw Heather and family a few weeks ago when we went down to Hertfordshire and had a nice couple of days in Hanwell and Knebworth in lovely weather, before Freya went back to school. The relatives of our next door neighbours in Knebworth, who had been shielding in our Knebworth house since lock-down, moved back to their London house at the end of August. We were not sure what to expect in the house when we went back, but we had a wonderful surprise as the place was immaculate with some outstanding DIY jobs done and the sleepers in the garden which needed replacing all finished and painted. It was their very nice thank you for letting them stay as guests. They can come any time again after that! We also caught up with friends in Hertfordshire and Leo even managed a game of badminton with his 'old' group there and got to the Brent Reservoir for the annual bird count there. We were planning another quick trip down there next week, but will have to see what the latest restrictions are with London having a question mark over it.

Back in Cley when the weather was so good we had quite a few outside garden meals with friends locally, though the last one did require lots of layers and blankets! It's back to the quieter life here now with minor excitement provided by visits from the local mole catcher whom we now think must be on the side of the mole as h has had zero result. We hate to be so mean to the poor animal, but he has been systematically wrecking our lawn for weeks now and enough is enough! We decided he must be deaf as the solar powered mole deterrents which have worked brilliantly up to now have no effect on him.

Yesterday think I qualified for membership of Jane's GOW group. We regularly have high flying very noisy jets from the US airforce base in Lakenheath circling Cley as they do training runs along the coast, but the flights are usually quite spaced out and only last a few hours. For well over a week now, however, we have been treated to days of non stop noise going on from early morning to past 6.00 pm. We realise they have to do training flights, but yesterday one of them flew very fast and low over Cley Marsh reserve which considering the tragedy a few years ago when 4 helicopter crew were killed by bird strike doing the same thing, seemed completely mad. I was moved to phone up Lakenheath base but of course was just given a very curt 'We can't discuss anything because of security' reply which I thought would happen. Today though, the wind has put paid to flying!

I am continuing doing online fitness sessions and have worked out that I am actually doing more than I did before lock-down as it so easy - no travel and sometimes done in pyjamas! Ballet classes on Zoom have restarted and today our 'Silver Swans' ladies were joined by a 'Silver Cob' - a brave chap, complete with tights and ballet shoes but still managing to look quite manly. I suspect he once did ballet before. He reminded me of Eddie Izzard!

Well , not many exciting happenings to report up here, but perhaps that is just as well! Keep safe an well and keep the news flowing.

Love, Angela

Sue 27 September 2020

Hi Everyone

Yes, many thanks, Ian, for getting us all talking again. And yes, Angela, that's how I remember John, as a back view, sitting at the front of the class with Jim on his left.   I guess that would have been during those sessions when we scientists joined the rest of you. The lads, I think, were mostly in the back row (was there a window seat

there?), many sporting waist-coats, with Ian apparently taking copious notes, but actually creating another witty strip cartoon.

However I don't think anyone should beat themselves up over John.  After all we were only together as a group for about 9 months out of his life-time of 77 years; either he would have got used to dealing with reactions to his eccentricity, or perhaps his eccentricity was his way of coping with the world; who knows!

I don't envy you the roller-coaster of UK life under the twin threats of Covid and Boris.   It sounds as though Germany  is coping better, Anne, though no doubt you've hear that NZ is booting out 3 of your countrymen who tried to sail in - "As much as our country is known for its hospitality, New Zealand cannot become a maritime Covid-19 safe haven for everyone in unfortunate circumstances."  Actually there are heaps of yachties who live permanently on their yachts trying to find a safe haven as the cyclone season gets underway in the Pacific.   I guess it is being hard-hearted that has been an important part of NZ's Covid policy - that, and having a small population.   The attached was taken last week; could be a few more on the beach this coming week as there are camping sites nearby and the school holidays are starting.

Great to hear that you are all managing to keep in touch with family and friends, and even meet with some of them.   So far I haven't made it to Wellington to see Toby and his family; I guess I'm a bit nervous about the cleanliness of planes, given that they are being used to ferry returning folk to and from isolation destinations, and I'd hate to think I'd picked up the virus as I travelled to see them.

Speaking of picking up the virus, you probably already know all of this, but I gather there is now acceptance that the virus can survive in aerosols for some time; nice snippet from a physicist with specialist knowledge of the dynamics of aerosols that Covid has also been found in pooh, so it is important to avoid creating aerosols in the bathroom by ensuring that the lavatory seat is down when you flush...  is this too much sharing? ... try telling that to a newly toilet-trained tot...

Love the Barnard Castle updates, Val, and congratulations on the 50th, Jane  - yours was a lovely wedding.   Good to hear that you are well looked after when Juliana takes a break, Margaret.   I envy you the interesting tasks you pick up to keep your mind-working, Sylvia; far more stimulating than enrolling folk into pottery classes!

Stay well, everyone -

Love

Sue

Sylvia 27 September 2020

Thanks Jane for pointing us to the Sherborne School website, where there’s the photo of John.  Despite the white hair, he would have been instantly recognisable anywhere.

A friend came round yesterday evening and we got a fit of the giggles when I mentioned my abiding memory of a couple of lectures we had outside on the lawn at Claremont Crescent.  I think they probably didn't include the scientists, but I might be wrong.  As always, John sat in the middle of the front row, blocking the view of some of us behind, but allowing us to see how his chair gradually sank into the lawn under his weight.  Anyone else would have stood up and moved the chair to more solid ground, but John sat stubbornly on while the rest of us tried hard not to laugh.  There was more than one instance of this and on one of them, one bit of lawn must have been softer than the rest, and he sank lopsidedly, still refusing to stand up until he was in danger of falling off.  If John had been the class clown, we could have laughed out loud, but as it was, handkerchiefs in mouths was the order of the day.  Sadly, I can't remember who the lecturer was or what their reaction was.  Maybe someone else can?

Sue, thank you for your sympathy with our situation in the UK.  I sometimes feel as though I'm sitting on a spinning top, waiting to see which way it will be pointing when it stops.  As I type, our choir practices are on again, but given that we aren't due to meet until Wednesday, things might have changed yet again by then!  If we do meet, we will have to wear masks for the whole session which can't last more than one hour and we will have to wear our coats as all doors and windows in the lecture hall will have to be open.  It should make for an interesting sound!

Jane, it looks as though Covid has come to the university.  I hope the students around you aren't affected, particularly Hermann, who sounds the typical polite German.  Let's hope the Apfelkuchen keeps coming!

Vally, I loved your description of visitors to Barnard Castle doing the Dominic Cummings thing.  At least something good is coming out of it, if only locally!

Keep up the messaging, folks. Love to all, Sylvia

Jane 27 September 2020

I did wonder about writing a letter of condolence to the School asking for it to be passed on to any family, but in light of what Margaret said, perhaps not! I had forgotten all about the sinking seat episodes - presumably summer so I might hunt out my diary for that term and see if it is recorded.

Glorious sunshine today and St Andrews was very busy, not with students but with visitors of all ages who have idea how to behave. I feel sorry for the students as the majority are being sensible, but we are enjoying the lack of noisy parties locally.

Gin time now!

Love to all

Jane

Janet 9 October 2020

Dear All

Sorry for the long "absence" but, back in July I was too bursting with happy news about our grandchildren to dare setting fingers to keyboard as Jane had declared she might explode if anyone mentioned any such thing. And then other stuff happened. However, Jane has now seen some of her family so it may be safe to report that we had a brief but happy socially distanced get-together with our daughter and family on 1st August at the home of our son and daughter in law in Woking. 

My daughter Penny and family had been due to visit us in April but lock-down had prevented that so they had re-booked for October and abandoned any thoughts of their usual July visit, instead going to nearby France for a self-catering holiday in a rural holiday-let with private indoor pool. But then Penny suddenly realised that everything might be locked down again come October and that it wasn't really very far from where they were staying to the Eurotunnel and from there to her brother Peter's house and so it might be nice to have a family get-together on 1st August in anticipation of her 50th birthday on 3rd August. We weren't sure if Pete and Ali would agree to this as Ali had recently had surgery on her neck (to release a trapped nerve) and so they were still shielding her very conscientiously - as they had been for months whilst waiting for the op. However, it was agreed it could be done if we all took very stringent precautions. No-one was to enter the house (other than Pete and Ali themselves, obviously). Instead, we were to travel down in Dora, our campervan, which has all necessary on-board facilities, stopping only for contactless fuel purchases, and to use the side gate for access to their back garden. Penny and family were to stay in a Travelodge nearby and to use Pete & Ali's own motorhome, Caspar, with full on-board facilities, as their base for the visit and access the back garden through the gate between the house and the garage. We were all to wear masks and/ or face-shields except when eating and to make copious use of hand gel and our own hand-washing facilities. There was more besides but I think that gives the idea!

They had spent the week setting out socially distanced tables and chairs under gazebos and tarpaulins and we had all put in our orders ahead of time for a fish, chip and/ or burger take-away so no-one would have to cook. Plus there was a birthday cake. So we (or, rather, John) drove all the way to Woking and back in one day for a five-hour get-together with son & daughter-in-law, daughter, son-in-law and three grandsons, with no hugging (not even by means of individual duvet cover PPE), and a chance to wish Penny a happy 50th birthday in person. But it was sooo worth it. And even more so now that their October trip has had to be cancelled, too. Pen and her boys, having driven so far, did have a bit longer with Pete and Ali - they went back next morning for brunch and a bike-ride before setting off home to Switzerland. They were also able to collect some Christmas presents from all of us and some birthday presents for Philip, who will be 15 next week, just in case this was our last chance to give them. Who knows when visits will be possible again.

Apart from missing visits with family and friends, we have been doing fine and, like everyone else, have been keeping busy in the garden and having Zoom meetings and Skype sessions with family, friends and fellow U3A-ers. Sadly, there have been two funerals to attend. Whilst these have not been directly attributable to Covid 19, we feel that both deaths were hastened by it due to lack of normal social contact with family and friends. One was in a Covid-free nursing home not allowing visitors and the other was living independently but alone in a large house and ended up in hospital with dehydration which we felt was due to not having friends popping in and not having the usual trips out to the shops nor even the weekly visit from the cleaner cum carer due to shielding on both sides.

Lets hope they can get the testing and the track and trace system sorted so that everyone except those actually infected or in quarantine can get back to a more normal life. But, meanwhile we'll be staying at home as much as we can and trying to stay safe.

Do keep sending your news as it's lovely to know how everyone is getting along. Love, Janet.

Supsliskans in lockdown. Weeks 22-28. 10 August-20 September 2020

Week 22 10-16 August 2020

Anne 13 August 2020 

Dear Supsliskans

I assume no news is good news?

I'm just wondering how everyone is doing, coping with 2nd wave of the virus, the heat, the storms, going out or staying at home? I miss all your contributions, do stay in touch.

You may have read that Covid-19 has appeared in various hotspots in Germany, especially Bavaria, but thankfully not where I live. Our local region, which has a population of about 100 000, has of today 2 known cases. However, the hop harvest is due to begin in a couple of weeks time and I am slightly worried. Normally foreign helpers come in, mostly fom Poland, some from Rumania and I understand that it isn't even clear at the moment whether or not they will be allowed to come, whether or not they will have to be tested on arrival or go into quarantine. Their sitution will not be as critical as that of the cucumber harvesters recently There were far more of them and their living conditions were much more unhygienic than the hop harvesters experience.

More disturbing are the demonstrations by 1000s of people for their "freedom", refusing to abide by the regulations, not wearing masks etc Holiday makers are crowding the beaches on the North Sea coast and the lakes and mountains here in Bavaria. I believe it is the same in UK. My reaction is to stay at home, or only go out when I am meeting friends and /or when I think it's safe. The present heatwave limits my activities anyway. My Fell pony doesn't like the heat and the horse flies like him too much so he prefers to stay in the shade of his shelter. I must say I thank Ray every day for his foresight in installing air conditioning in the living and bedroom.

So what is the situation where you are? Sue, NZ now has some new cases but has reacted quickly. Margaret, how are you coping? Still enjoying the meals with chives? Jane - raining in Scotland? Ian - heatwave in Devon? (I still have Exeter on my weather app and it was as hot there as here the other day - poor you), Howard - still corona-free on Sark? Pat - enjoying your garden? How is your son's romance developing?

So many questions, do keep writing, keep cool and stay healthy, Anne

Pat 13 August 2020 

Hello Anne and everyone,

You guessed right - not a lot is happening. What I’d really appreciate short-term is a big thunderstorm so that I don’t have to water the garden for a bit. It is promised but all we’ve had so far are five minute wonders of rain showers. My veg could do with a deluge. 

Got myself a taster of culture just now by watching a lecture on Zoom from the Churches Conservation Trust on English stained glass. It was sort of ok, but what can you do in an hour beyond pointing out a few examples? I am tempted to say “Ah, but haven’t you seen such and such?” Hmm, mutter mutter.

I’ll finish my grouses with my second cataract op being put back from Sept 12th last week (I could just about hang on that long) to Oct 10th this week. The first one was done in January and my sight is quite unco-ordinated and I’ve got into the bad habit of closing the eye that’s been done when reading and writing. Bah humbug.

Yes, Anne, my son’s romance has been entertaining to watch. He started off all enthusiastic in the first week, wooing her with fruit, veg and flowers from the garden on the first date, followed by cooking a roast dinner for her and her kids and taking it round on the second. After that he begun to have his doubts as he got to know her. He doesn’t want the three kids, who still live with her, as part of the deal as he’s gone through all that himself and what is worse is that she doesn’t seem to have a sense of humour, or at least doesn’t get his. He’s laid down his position but she’s not giving up easily. He’s a bit soft as he doesn’t want to hurt her, but on the other hand he wants time to himself. I’m not doing a Margie Proops act here - I say nothing.They went to Glastonbury yesterday at her request as it was her birthday. Hey ho. 

Have any of you been watching Michael Mosley On C4 and his 800 calorie diet with willing guinea pigs meeting weekly for three weeks in his house and garden? I bought his wife’s recipe book as my average blood sugar tested last week, although normal, is quite near the pre-diabetes range. I can’t believe I’m going to follow the diet to the letter but the low carbs idea makes good sense. Tried a smoothie for breakfast on the first morning made with avocado and cucumber and it was disgusting! The one with strawberries and blueberries the next day was more palatable. 

On a positive note my son took me out on Sunday on a long circular drive through villages south and south west of Bath. Very hilly terrain, so wonderful countryside views and idyllic villages. One we stopped in near Bath is called Newton St Loe. It is owned by the Duke of Cornwall, ie Prince Charles, so you can’t buy a house there. All the properties look pristine, as you can imagine. I took a photo of a lovely old wooden studded front door which was the old free schoolhouse, founded in 1698. We had a coffee in a pub called the Fox and Badger in a tiny village off the beaten track called Wellow. We started and ended the loop in Pensford on the A37 road to Wells, where there was an old lockup and next to it a bench dedicated to Acker Bilk., the jazz clarinettist, who was born there in 1929. It was so good to get out. Apart from venturing down the road to Tesco Metro, I hadn’t made a substantial journey since May. 

Yes, I feel the same about all these gatherings on beaches. I saw the scene from the main street in St Ives on the news and it was heaving. A friend told me it was the same in Bourton on the Water in the Cotswolds. The police won’t stop these crowds. Bad for the economy of course, but you’d think people would have more sense and not think it’s all over. 

On that cheery note I’ll end and look forward to hearing how others of you are faring. Keep safe and well, Love from Pat 

Sylvia 13 August 2020 

Dear Pat (and everyone),

You really should be careful what you wish for. Until yesterday, I too was praying for rain as the predicted storms were all bypassing Hereford. Not only did we have storms for about six hours yesterday evening, but my garage and covered side passage leading into the kitchen flooded to a depth of about three inches. It was just one massive downpour which lasted about half an hour and then subsided into heavy rain, but the drains couldn’t take it. As some of you who have visited me will know, the road slopes down to my drive which slopes down to the garage, so it was like a river which ran to the back of the garage and out through the side door into the passageway. Two hours of sweeping and mopping cleared it and the heat has more or less dried everything out. There hasn’t been any appreciable damage, but it was no fun.

Apart from that and my daughter Helen and I choosing the only cold day in two weeks for me to join the family in their garden last Sunday, when we all froze, all is well here. I’m now venturing out to do my own supermarket shopping and also had my hair cut today. It’s the first time I ventured into the city centre and it wasn’t too bad, although I sometimes felt I was having to do a dance round people who made no effort to keep their distance.

I read your email about dieting while eating the first of 10 cheese scones which I had just taken out of the oven! I’m going to have to freeze most of them so that I’m not tempted to demolish the lot in short shrift. I haven’t put weight on during Covid and am happy with my weight, but cheese can be my downfall.

Anne, officially we haven’t got a second wave of Covid, although it probably isn’t far away. I think we are probably mirroring what’s happening in Germany and the pub-crawling young are fuelling the spread. My “shopping angel “ has been stood down but if we have a second lockdown, it’s a comfort to know she’s happy to shop for me again. Lucky you with the air conditioning! Today my bedroom is registering “only “ 25 degrees. On previous nights it’s been up to 28!

I’ll look forward to hearing from others. Love to all, Sylvia 

Jane 13 August 2020

Dear All,

Come and live in the cool breezes of this northern town beside the North Sea aka German Ocean! We have sat out in the garden several times but it has never been unbearably hot, and winds and haar [a cold sea fog on the east coast of England or Scotland] are frequent. We also had thunder and rain a couple of nights ago but no damage in the immediate neighbourhood, unlike elsewhere in Fife where chalets slipped down hillsides and roads and railways were flooded. And of course there was the awful train accident near Stonehaven which should never have happened as that stretch of line is known for landslips. Under normal circumstances that train would have been packed with commuters and holiday makers.

The problem in town now is People. Visitors and the young have no idea how to show respect to the elderly residents by allowing us past on pavements at a safe distance. The harbour and beach are no-go areas for us during the day so we go for walks early in the morning. Fife Council have been given pots of money for 'Safe Spaces for People' some of which they planned to spend in St Andrews on banning parking and pedestrianizing roads in the centre - until shopkeepers rose up in arms and the elderly contacted councillors. So plans are on hold for the moment but pubs and cafes are being given permission to set up tables on the pavements and some parking spaces, which means we have to risk life and limb by walking on the road which cannot be closed as it is a main thoroughfare. The secondary school went back today which will have made town worse at break and lunchtime as the Rector said there was no guarantee they could keep pupils away from the junk food available in town. Lock them in, I say! And University students will be back in the next few weeks so we will be in danger of being knocked over by some of them glued to their phones. One of the roads due for a ban on parking has had double yellow lines on both sides since 1983 - proof that those dreaming up the plans in offices in Kirkcaldy or Glenrothes have never been to St Andrews.

Nearer to home, we have endured, without warning, a week and a half of noise and dirt while the kitchen and both bathrooms were replaced in the second floor flat. There were up to 10 workmen in the flat none of whom wore masks or gloves on the stairs because apparently the 56-page document from the Scottish Government did not say they had to, only in the work area. We think the work is now finished as cleaners were in yesterday afternoon. They did not clean the stairs so stiff emails are being composed to the owners, and agent who told me they could do what they liked with 'their property' without telling anyone else in the building. She will have common courtesy explained to her. I met the agent for the attic flat (who was there to show a potential tenant round - a handsome young man) and asked her to contact the other agent to ask for the stairs to be cleaned, but I have to say her reply was a bit lukewarm.

And our lovely neighbours have moved out - two lads who have been in the second floor for three years (and left a beautiful crystal vase of flowers outside our front door when they left with their girlfriends) and Flaminia, the Italian PhD student, who has lived in the attic flat for a couple of years (and when she came to clear the flat, brought us a bottle of wine to thank us for forwarding her post). We are really sorry to see them all go but the lads at least will be back next year for a proper graduation ceremony, this year's having been on line. In the meantime, we expect to have three new students to train - where the bins live and when to put them out for collection, and bring them in, warn us when they are going to have a party so that we can retreat to our ground floor flat, not to have too many guests at the parties as our sitting room shakes when the room above is full, keep the music down, and please make sure the front and back doors are locked without letting them bang!

I had my first trip out of town on Monday for an appointment at the hospital in Dundee for laser treatment on the eye which had developed 'capular hazing' after the cataract operation several years ago. My brother came for the weekend and took me to the appointment. On the way back we stopped at Dundee airport and Leuchars for him to spot planes. I thought he had grown out of that. I was very apprehensive about the treatment but it was quick and painless. I expected to feel tired and emotional thereafter so felt slightly done out of the cossetting which I planned when David could see there was nothing wrong with me. Sight in the eye is now better than in the other one so not sure what the next stage is. At least I can watch television without spectacles again - although that might be partly because we bought a new set with a huge screen.

David has wandered through so I think he is looking for food and I should take the hint. Hope you are all surviving well and not getting as Grumpy as I am on occasion. 

Love, Jane

Anne 13 August 2020

Oh Jane, lovely to read your grumpy moans again; send me some of your cool breezes, though I think we're in for a drop in temperature soon or maybe even some thunderstorms, though hopefully not as fierce as experienced by Sylvia. I suppose it could have been worse.

Anne

Sue 14 August 2020

Hi All

Many thanks for getting the conversations going again, Anne, I'm so relieved to hear you are not in a hotspot. Great to get your updates,Jane, Pat and Sylvia. Glad the laser zapping went well, Jane, hope you get as nice students upstairs this time round. Wow, flooding in the midst of a heat-wave, Sylvia, you would be different! What a lovely tour you had, Pat, good luck with your cataract operation, and many thanks for bringing Acker Bilk to mind after all of these years.

Speaking of jazz, anyone remember hearing Ian Carr's band playing in one of the parks whilst we were in Sheffield?

Meanwhile down here we are all in something of a state of shock. After 102 days of no new cases, other than those that were identified amongst returning kiwis (and therefore already isolated) we've had a cluster pop up with no clear link to inward travel. So the experts are a bit puzzled as to where the new infections have come from - perhaps it means there have been asymptomatic folk spreading it all along. And the family at the centre of this had recently visited Rotorua and Taupo, and even an aged care facility, so plenty of places to check out.

Of course there are huge efforts to try and stop the spread, but NZers are so aware of the way Melbourne got swamped so quickly by its "second wave" that the realists amongst us are not optimistic. Currently Auckland - by far our most populous city - is at our level 3, with the rest of NZ at level 2. Level 2 means out comes the hand sanitiser, physical distancing and contact registers of one kind and another. Definitely a move towards face masks in Auckland at any rate.

A quick flurry at the pottery group to conform with level 2, including taping shut the cupboards in the kitchen so no food or drink can be prepared on site. Instant emails to our pottery class students to say only the first five out of nine can come to Thursday's class, as otherwise physical distancing can't be observed. Not sure how we will proceed next week, much will depend on the news from this afternoon's briefing. And we have extensive roof repairs to the elderly building scheduled for the end of September thanks to a grant of $10,000 (=approx £5,000); our rent-free tenancy from a philanthropic trust requires us to keep the building weather proof.

And like the US we have an election looming, though ours is scheduled for Sept 19, and will probably be postponed. The opposition party (Nationals) have been somewhat in disarray as their recently elected new leader resigned and they are now onto their third leader, with some very negative publicity involved, and the current leader - Judith Collins - even so has a fair number of enemies in her own party. It will be interesting to see how the whole thing plays out, as there is still a considerable amount of support for Jacinda for the clear messaging and decisive action, so much of the electioneering will likely hinge on the economic costs and future planning, but with a second wave threatening even that could be difficult.

Our son and his wife are getting used to giving lectures which are live streamed to the students who can't be in Wellington, and, for those who can be there, the lecture theatres are sufficiently empty for physical distancing to be observed. Exams will be (randomised!) on-line multiple choice and only available for limited periods. It sounds as though the UK school exam results have been a bit of a bumpy ride for all concerned.

The local library now has a couple of free streaming services available (Kanopy and Beamafilm); their catalogues have both old and new movies and some TV programmes. We recently enjoyed an evening of nostalgia with "A hard day's night", but I'd have to admit that watching "La dolce vita" after all this time was hard work. I'm sure it is the thin end of the wedge as far as the library is concerned and we will likely get fewer new DVDs bought. I wonder if your libraries offer similar services; perfect for that big new telly of yours, Jane.

Take care every one and stay safe, Love Sue

Ian 15 August 2020

Hello Supsliskans

Interesting to hear all the updates which have been arriving in fits and starts since I last ventured into print more than a month ago. Lots going on, some things quite alarming, such as Sylvia's flash flood, not as disastrous as the flood that caused the railway accident in Scotland though. Jill can sympathise with those who have been having eye treatment - her ocular shingles is still having its side-effects and it has sapped her confidence in driving and even walking as she has to keep her eyes firmly on the ground to avoid stumbling on the uneven flagstones resulting from years of austerity. At least we have not been suffering from haar - I had to check that up, Jane. It has been overcast and humid down our way but little rain, and the heat was sometimes intolerable last week, up in the mid-30s. The grandchildren hoped to camp in the garden last night but the threat of thunder storms (which failed to materialise) meant that had to be a sleep-over indoors together with our daughter. Today we are exhausted!

After our first tentative venture masked-up on the buses to Exmouth mentioned in my last, we have finally come out as members of the LGBT community (local grey bus transport, that is), brandishing our free crumbly cards to ride to Dawlish, Budleigh Salterton, Sidmouth, Tiverton, Powderham and Crediton. Crediton included meeting up for coffee with a work colleague who used to manage Exeter Library but was made redundant during a round of austerity cuts. He's as happy as Larry running the excellent Crediton Community Bookshop, now open again. We have also met up with another friend who used to run Okehampton Library in her garden. (I realise that came out wrong but you know what I mean). We have also had some quite lengthy walks.One along the clifftops from Budleigh to Exmouth was seven miles - alarming how the Jurassic Coast is crumbling away. Another from Powderham along beside the Exe Estuary to Exminster was five miles and we arrived in the village to see our bus disappearing. Gasping for a drink, we went into the pub for a coffee each and were charged £2.20. We discovered that we were inadvertently "eating out to help out". We had thought that Rishi Sunak's gimmick was a grossly misdirected use of taxpayers' money (or rather leaves from the magic money tree), but we have since joined the other pigs at the trough on more than one occasion. Generally crowds of holiday makers and shoppers have not been too bad where we visited, but we sometimes put masks on outside when the streets are too busy. We also wear masks in restaurants, except when we are eating of course, and even then if we are wearing lettuce masks. Some people have strange ideas over how to wear masks, looking on the presence of a mask somewhere in the vicinity of the face as a sort of talisman or lucky charm regardless of whether or not it covers the nose or mouth. 

I peg away at my various bibliographical projects and have also become involved in this year's Heritage Open Days, putting together a walk round lockdown Exeter for the Exeter Civic Society. You may remember it as similar to the walk I devised for your group last year, Anne. 

The "new normal" as we haltingly emerge from lockdown is not starting very well. The announcement of A-level results is a shambles and manages to insult teachers and students and leave the universities uncertain as to how to respond. Quarantine regulations come and go with bewildering rapidity and the return to school looms ominously with implications for increased infection rates as winter approaches. Despite all this we do not see why we oldies should be locked away indefinitely and are determined to learn to live with the virus as positively as possible. 

We hope you all are too, while staying safe of course.

Best wishes, Ian and Jill

 Sylvia, ‎16 August ‎2020

Good to hear how adventurous some people are being!  I'm afraid I'm being quite cautious still, although I have now been to a couple of non-food shops to buy essentials and will venture out to another in a day or two to buy doormats and a new bucket and mop, all of which were damaged irreparably in the flood.  My neighbour across the road has sent me the attached video which he took at the height of the storm.  My house is the one with the red car and the water pouring down the drive!  I'm girding up my loins to tackle the council tomorrow, demanding sandbags for the garage plus a drain across the top of my drive, even if they refuse to insert an extra gulley where even they agreed there should be one many years ago.  Wish me luck!

Sue, I wish NZ all the luck in the world with your efforts to control this recent outbreak.  Somehow, I think you'll manage it since it was managed so well the first time.  I still think you should be the benchmark we should all aspire to.

Pat, I'm wondering if you ever got your rain.  Everywhere is sodden here.  How ridiculous is that?

Jane, keep chuntering on.  I love it!

Love to all, Sylvia

Margaret, 16 August 2020

Hello everyone!

I'm enjoying all the tales from far and wide. So on Friday I decided it was time I got my Smartphone out and attempted to get my little finger moving. I had got quite a way into an email when, for no apparent reason I lost it. I tried all the usual clicks to retrieve it, all to no avail. Then I gave up in disgust and it's only now that I have felt the urge to start again.

Sylvia, I hope you are recovering from the flooding. It must be awful and leave you dreading further heavy downpours. We have had rain here but nothing exceptional and the odd flash of lightning. Living between the Cotswolds and the Chilterns we are sheltered and often on the edge of a storm.

My Cameroon carer continues to present me with gourmet meals. Tonight it was chicken a la pisces - how does a Smartphone produce an accent? or for that matter inverted commas?  She had somehow made the chicken fish - shaped,but not fish - flavoured and then stuffed it with herbs and slices of spring onion - delicious.

I have been feeling the need for a bit of  physio so rang St Lukes. They are not able to visit patients in their homes but I can go there  for a session in the gym. I went last Monday and found it very worthwhile so am going again tomorrow. I have to do exercises in between. I am certainly feeling a lot better in myself and all my visitors remark on it.

It is good that lockdown is easing and I hope that there will not be a second flare-up.

The A level results are a fiasco. Penny,s son Jasper has got a place at Manchester, his first choice so all is well. But Serena, Manda,s daughter, who is  living in Malta, has been turned down by UCL and Warwck, though she  has been top of her form in Malta. She's going to appeal.

Well, I go to bed early these days and Juliana has appeared so I had better sign off before I lose it .

With love from Margaret 

Angela 18 August 2020

Hello Everyone

It is so good to hear what people have been up to - we certainly do cover a large geographical area between us.

It was lovely to chat to you Margaret the other day. You certainly do sound very bright and great that you are re-starting physio now. Your video of the flood was horrific Sylvia. Hopefully it is sorted now. I have great sympathy with people having eye problems, hopefully they too will be sorted soon. It was a relief to hear that you are not in a viral hot spot Anne. I hope that continues. New Zealand's response to the latest outbreak news is as always reassuring. Pat's trip to the villages sounded lovely.  

I admire  Ian and Jill's determination not to be locked away indefinitely and learning to live with the virus. 

We are also venturing out a bit more, but we are also aware that not only ourselves but the local friends we are now meeting up with, though  active,  are on the 'older' side and some of them have underlying health issues. It is much more of a balancing act now, making judgements day by day, but on the whole we are gradually getting out and about quite a bit more now.

We had a really lovely week with  Heather, Nick and Freya staying here two weeks ago, especially as we had only seen them once since lockdown. They had waited two weeks after Freya's school had stopped and had both been working from home so had been pretty isolated. We were very lucky with the weather so spent a lot of time outdoors, in the garden pond dipping and playing badminton and swing ball  and on Cley beach which, because it is pebbly, wasn't overcrowded as other Norfolk beaches were. For added interest, we  were involved with the rescue of a baby seal which had wandered up from the sea onto the shingle. We  were most impressed by the way people on the beach kept their distance from it until the 'Marine Medic' came with what looked like a large cat carrier and took it to the vet as although it looked more or less OK  it had  suspected dog bites. 

We have also walked to Blakeney Point, probably a one off as it is a long way  partly on shingle! and then returned there, a week later more easily in a friend's boat where we had superb close up views of seals and Terns. This year has been one of the most successful for breeding Terns and the young fluffy ones were amazing. It was a bit choppy though and I managed to avoid being a bad sailor by focusing on the horizon! 

Like Sylvia, and probably others, I feel much better after a hair cut but Leo is still happy with my efforts, despite big hints from me that he needs a professional cut. My hairdresser said  that I would do less damage to his hair using thinning scissors, but when  I tried them yesterday, rather a lot of hair ended up on the floor, which he didn't see!

Your pottery sounds interesting Sue, but challenging with the restrictions. We had one 'open air' art morning which was good, but my back wasn't happy with two hours in a deck chair, trying to draw a frog and lily pad design from a garden gate. Lots of cushions and stretches next time!  

Up here in the N Norfolk coast, we have had very little rain, apart from yesterday, but only 20 minutes from us, poor Sheringham two days ago  had torrential rain with storm drains overflowing and people were advised to avoid sea bathing. Like Jane and Anne, we have experienced North sea 'haar'. It looks and feels just like a November day and takes a long time to shift. 

One for Jane on  the grumpy front! I have had trouble paying my TV licence fee online. I got to the very end of the 'verified by Visa' dialogue when a grumpy emoji appeared on the screen with the message  'The provider refuses to connect with the website'! Not wanting to pay twice and trying to sort it out by phone I just got an   automated message but finally got to  a real person by just saying rather rude things at the recording! I think the TV Licence people have form as I remember them threatening my 97 year old aunt with a visit by bailiffs, just to get her to complete a form confirming that she needn't pay! Do keep the grumps coming in Jane, they are a real tonic! I loved the protest photo you sent! 

On   a happier note, we have just  discovered that our new holiday home neighbour, just below us,  is not now planning to  use pile drivers to excavate the sloping land beneath our house to extend his massive house to include a gym, office and garage!  It is a huge relief  as a few years ago, a similar operation just down the road using  pile driving created massive cracks in our garage. The chap is a birder, so he and Leo have common ground which should help!

I won't even get started on the Exam fiasco. Grrrrr ....  When will government learn to trust teachers!! I am so sorry for the students involved, many of whom are not out of the woods yet and for the unfortunate Universities having to cope with  virus restrictions and extra students at such short notice. 

Well, one positive thing about Covid is the way it has stimulated our wonderful exchange of e-mails!

Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts and keep well. Love, Angela xx

Supsliskans in lockdown. Weeks 18-21 12 July-9 August 2020

Week 18. 12-19 July 2020.

Jane 12 July 2020 Beware another rant from the North!

The latest in St Andrews is a plan to pedestrianise the centre 'to make life easier for cyclists and for self-distancing walkers'. I emailed a local councillor last Thursday (and have not yet had even an acknowledgement) to suggest that such a plan is madness when shops and businesses are trying to re-open now that ON is easing the lockdown. All the big national shops in Kirkcaldy closed down when the centre was pedestrianised last year. The pavements in St Andrews are quite wide enough for social distancing if everyone walked in single file when approaching others. According to a recent survey most cyclists are out on their bikes for leisure so they do not need to be in the shopping area - and as someone pointed out in a letter to the local paper, no-one is going to load their weekly shop from the little Tesco or Sainsbury's into bicycle panniers. I suggested that what should be removed from the centre of town are household and commercial bins, A- boards, and pedestrians glued to their mobile phones. I also pointed out that the plan must have been drawn up by someone who had never been to St Andrews - one of the streets marked for 'no parking' already has double yellow lines on both sides of the road. We understand the only people consulted about the plans where members of the cycling lobby, and with students away cyclists are definitely in a minority. But money for the plans has come from Sustrans among others. A better use would be filling in potholes in the roads so that cyclists don't fall into them.

We stick to having early morning walks. But yesterday afternoon I had to go to the ee shop when my smartphone froze (while playing patience) and town was heaving with pavements blocked by ambling visitors and queues for shops and take-aways. I get so cross that I think David will refuse soon to go out with me.

And if I see one more picture of, or read one more comment about, hugging grandchildren I shall scream, when ours live hundreds of miles away and we are dependent on public transport. My mother always said I would regret not learning to drive, and she is now watching me and saying 'told you so'.

Interesting that Boris decided facemasks were necessary the day after ON said they were mandatory in shops.

But the sun is shining so I am away out to talk to the blackbirds who demand porridge as soon as I appear, even hopping into our garden room when my back is turned. There is also a family of field mice who sit inside the fatball feeder with the pigeons waiting underneath for crumbs to fall.

Love to all, Grumpy Jane

Sylvia 12 July 2020

Dear All,

I was planning to send you all an email, detailing my cautious foray into the big wide world yesterday, but since Herefordshire has made headline news today, and not in a good way, I'd better address that first. It seems that a vegetable farm just west of Malvern, and therefore only just in the county, has at least 73 cases of Covid among its workers. This is going to bump up our local figures and possibly bring at least part of the county back into lockdown. Although the workers tend to live in accommodation on the farm, I'm guessing that they aren't normally provided with provisions, so have to shop elsewhere, probably in Malvern, but also in Ledbury, where it is cheaper to shop. Now, our poor council is having to provide food parcels to around 200 people in lockdown on the farm.

Back to my adventure yesterday. After much soul searching and angst on my daughter's part, we agreed that it should be quite safe for me to visit them in Church Stretton, which is 40 miles from Hereford. (My car is very familiar with the route, as under normal circumstances, I would make the journey every 4-5 weeks.) So, for the first time since February half term, I was able to see my two oldest grandsons, 13 and 10, and my son-in-law in the flesh. We spent a total of 5 hours 30 minutes in their garden and everything was very relaxed and fun. The only thing missing, of course, was hugs and kisses (sorry Jane, I've just read your comment on this), but otherwise it felt very normal. Access to the garden was via a path at the side of the house. The front door was left unlocked and I was able to get to the downstairs cloakroom from there without going through the rest of the house. (There was sign on the door saying "Granny's toilet", just in case anyone forgot.) I took a picnic with me and we all ate outside. 

All this was in contrast with my shopping experience last Friday. I had ventured to Lidl the week before on a Wednesday afternoon and felt quite comfortable doing it, wearing my mask and disposable latex gloves, but Friday afternoon was another story with people just wandering around, not observing even the one meter rule. Only one other person was wearing a mask. So, obviously Friday is a no-no and I'll be shopping early in the week in future. I feel like an innocent abroad, since my friends seem to be aware that you don't shop on a Friday!

Like Ian, I can't understand why masks aren't compulsory in shops. It would seem that we are free to pass on the virus wherever and whenever we like. I'd love someone to explain to me how making everyone wear a mask when outside their own house wouldn't reduce the risk. If wearing a mask stops you from passing Covid on, then surely everyone wearing one would reduce the number of cases significantly. I think the "common sense" approach has been shown to be fatally (literally!) flawed.

Loved your analogy with the flying ants, Ian. When the lockdown was relaxed last weekend, I was comparing the efforts to keep control with herding cats, but yours is better. 

I've given up trying to share my raspberries with the blackbirds. My resident pair have just reared their third brood and they are very adept at jumping up and pulling them off. Today I noticed that the latest young have now got the hang of it too! They are looking very well on them.

The Budgen's fire must have been quite a sight, Ange. I hope that, as in Christchurch after the earthquake, some enterprising person will soon set up an alternative in some shipping containers.

Continue to stay well everyone and avoid drunks, the Lone Ranger and flying ants!

Love to all, Sylvia

Tony 13 July 2020

Hello Ian

Your trip to Exmouth prompted me to make contact.

Shirley and I were married in late November, and as a mini honeymoon decided to spend three nights at Lympstone. I thought the location was fabulous and the walks up and down the estuary quite wonderful even in early December. I’d quite forgotten how beautiful it is – with the exception of Exmouth. It’s been such a long time since I’ve been to that corner of Devon, and seaside towns are never at their best in midwinter, but I was hugely disappointed in the town.

Lympstone was interesting. The hotel was great – bedrooms and public rooms really well designed, and the grounds were fine with sculpture scattered around. The food, which I guess is the main attraction for most, was a bit fazing though. We only ate ’in’ once, largely because we can’t handle the quantity / richness too frequently, even if it is top quality. (And the prices)

If we were to return, which is probably unlikely, it would only be for the location and the wonderful walking up and down the estuary.

Cheers, Tony

Howard  15 July 2020

Dear All

I haven't contributed to our emails for some time. I do enjoy them very much.

Well what is happening on our little island? We are really in a Bailiwick bubble which means that life is seemingly back to normal. No cases here and none for three months in Guernsey. :Life is strange though as it seems like the UK is in prison and we are not. Hence we cannot visit anywhere outside the Bailiwick without self isolating for two weeks when we get back. Apart from the Isle of Man that is which forms a sort of double bubble with us (sounds a bit like a misquote of Macbeth). Few flights and ferries to anywhere from Guernsey apart from within the Bailiwick.

It is good to hear that Scotland is performing better Jane. I can worry a little less about our daughters in Glasgow. ON seems to be playing her cards well.

It is a pity that the UK Govt. is surviving, however. And lets hope the Lone Ranger comes off his horse in November.

Keep well everyone and let us hope for vaccine soon.

Very best wishes, Howard

Week 19. 20-26 July 2020

Jane 22 July 2020 New face covering

Dear All,

I have just received this from the co-ordinator of our Preservation Trust Museum gardening group. Best use of that sort of lettuce, David and I feel.

He had his hair cut yesterday and I hardly recognised him when he came home. I have an appointment for Friday. We will probably both take chills now the weather has turned cold and wet.

Not only has our cruise down the Rhone in September been cancelled because of the virus, but now the company running the 'no-fly' cruise to Canada in September next year, which we booked to cheer our selves up at the start of lockdown, has gone into administration. I am not booking a holiday ever again! We will just have a few days in our ground floor flat when we need a change of scene!

Hope you are all feeling more cheerful than us!!

Love, Jane

Lesley 22 July 2020

Well said, Janet - on the glum bit and the giggle on the lettuce-driven face mask. All steady from this northern tip of the country.

Just shown it to my son & grandson - “what a little gem of a gag” was their response!

Love to all and keep staying safe, Lesley

Sylvia 22 July 2020 

A friend of mine said it was beyond be-leaf! Sylvia 

Patricia

Today was just the tip of the iceberg. Tomorrow romaines to be seen. Pat 

Margaret 23 July 2020

All very clever. The iceberg froze my smartphone - and I couldn't get rid of that image or activate any other service - until just now! All very frustrating.

Well, life here continues much the same with my super Cameroon carer and her delicious meals, no two the same. She has discovered my clump of chives in the garden which was intended to become a herb garden but never got developed. So all meals have a flavour of chives. She is not into desserts so it's a case of fresh fruit and yogurt twice a day, which suits me fine.

Margaret

Angela 23 July 2020 

'New face covering' is just brilliant Jane, also the follow-up responses! Lettuce hope we see more like this! Angela

Week 20. 27 July-2 August 2020

[Silence]

Week 21. 3-9 August 2020

Ian 9 August 2020

During this second week of Supsliskan silence I though it might be of interest to forward this account from Chiang Mai by a library colleague who used to have a high position in Germany and has now retired to Thailand:

Thailand has now gone for 75+ days without a recorded case of local transmission. All the cases recorded since then have been in State Quarantine, in other words among Thai nationals returning from abroad. Most of these have been among Thais working or studying somewhere in the Middle East, but there have been cases of people infected in the US or Europe. There was a panic a few weeks ago when an Egyptian air force officer and the child of a Sudanese diplomat were found to be infected and not to be respecting self-isolation rules (the family, of course, not the child). These cases don’t seem to have led to local infections and the loopholes around diplomatic status are now closed.

In effect, the country has been closed to non-Thais since March, meaning foreigners with homes, businesses or family ties have not been able to re-enter if they found themselves abroad in March. Also, foreigners like me cannot leave as we should certainly not be allowed back (and I for one have no home abroad). Thai citizens are returning in manageable numbers but are confined to State Quarantine on arrival (not voluntary as in the chaotic UK). This - plus rigorous tracking and tracing back in February-March - seems to have ensured we’re Covid-free. There seems to be little support for allowing foreigners back in, and a determination to keep Covid out entirely, not just suppress it. I’m not sure how the country would react if outbreaks as recently in Vietnam should occur here. The state of affairs overseas (for example in the US, Australia or UK) is perplexing for people here.

Where it will all lead is far from certain. The Thai economy is heading for a depression, as 20% of businesses and jobs that depend on a mass tourist industry will soon disappear. Thai society is resilient (unemployment here is traditionally zero – anyone without a job returns to stay with their family) but Chiang Mai, a tourist hub, is already looking rough with boarded-up shops and empty hotels and restaurants. Unless things change radically in a few months, for example with an effective vaccine, a slump is inevitable, with all the social tensions that will cause (and not just here of course).

For British people here, there is the added horror of watching people at home apparently sleepwalking into the calamity that is Brexit -- not just a calamity in terms of the economy or society but also deeply unjust, indeed a moral outrage. Except, from here it seems no one at home feels much outrage, and protests have more-or-less stopped. British people have just been stripped of their rights (to work, travel, live anywhere in Europe) in a way that no other advanced country has experienced in peacetime – but people simply don’t seem to care or even notice. And of course, it’s the “will of the people”, or rather the large minority of our fellow citizens who support the Brexit project. But even they didn’t vote for what is now happening. And then there’s a government that is extraordinarily inept and quite possibly corrupt and seizing power wherever it can.

Frankly, it’s horrifying. And of course, deeply depressing. It’s something I wake up to every morning and go to sleep with every night, or rather lie awake. Like many (probably most) people, I really don’t know any more what to think or feel. Apart from stress and anger, of course. At least we can dismiss nonsense about Brexit’s supposed inevitability and the impossibility of changing it. In 1988, they said the same about German unity. Which came just two years later. If only people would start to push, the house of cards would collapse.

We have not travelled far from home since March, though restrictions here (internally) have mostly been lifted. No trips or holidays. There are still requirements on tracking-and-tracing. Masks are worn by everyone in shops and malls. Distancing is generally observed. Your temperature is taken at the entrance and you have to log in with an app (which is how they tracked the people in possible contact with the Egyptian, who all proved negative on testing). Restaurants have almost all abandoned even these measures – with no local cases, it’s difficult to keep them up. A group of Anglophone expats is keeping together virtually with friends overseas, and more recently meeting up for dinner.