Tag: Coronavirus

A Covid-19 Christmas & the Winter Flues

Well since I have returned from Ireland the new Covid-19 variant seems to be travelling through to new countries and lighting up warning lights of all those across the globe that it seems to comes into contact with. There seems to be an attempt in the UK to resist the locking down of society until we have spent enough festive season money in order to give our retailers and leisure industries enough time to make enough cash to still hopefully be in a position to remain viable business even if the economy needs to lockdown again in the new year.

You hear on the news, health professionals advising us to get another jab of the antivirus, work from home and wear masks and reduce mixing in public and they also advocate the introduction of further lockdowns in order to reduce the spread of covid-19 and reduce the pressure on our health services and reduce the risk of death for citizens.

But it seems a little mad to type, let alone contemplate an opposite to a health professionals view but you have others on the opposite side of the health advocacy spectrum saying continue to go to work, party and buy presents. Because if we don’t we might risk the collapse of our economies which would result in even greater suffering and potential lose of livelihoods and lives.

I hope that there is some kind of middle ground rather than a crash and learn approach which seems very popular by UK government politicians. I think we should already have some kind of covid-19 passports and proof of covid-19 status in place as they have in Ireland for when entering hospitality venues. Ireland is very much more restrictive than the UK. I believe they have now implemented bars being closed and people out of them by midnight. Table service for no more than six people.

We do need to learn to live with covid-19 but at what cost to our economy and/or health is still to be measured. I have yet to have a booster jab and I know as I am in a vulnerable group I need to book one in at some time in the next month or two. But I feel very guilty for the luxury afforded to me living in a modern rich county on how I am pampered with covid-19 jabs and it feels slightly sickening to be being offered my third when many people in poorer countries have yet to even be offered their first chance of having a jab.

Also many on those counties have no access to healthcare services to find out if they have covid-19 let alone getting treatmetn for covid-19 and even if they could find out if they have it might have to continue working with it for risk of losing a job or having a job that if they don’t work they don’t eat. It also feels like these are all fixable situations buy wealthier nations make a calculated choice to not to help others with as much help as they could or should.

The wealthy nations or the world that I happen to live in one of are in no way free nations, when it comes to poorer nations, they are not free to trade with us as equals or to travel to us as tourists, or live amongst us as equals. They are not able to have free access to the medical benefits and advancements that we have, and they certainly don’t have as much stability in their lives as we are blessed to have due to the place we were born into not due to the people we are made up from.  

I fear if covid-19 sticks around in the long term, it will just be used as another economic statistic to prove how great wealthy countries are compared to poorer nations that will be made to suffer greater under its rain of infectious terror.

COVID-19 Outbreak World Map Total Deaths per Capita

Gabrielle Aplin – Happy Xmas (War is Over)

Trip to Dublin in Ireland

Just come back from a wonderful visit to Dublin in Ireland. This visit has been booked and planned for since July. We stayed on the other side of the river from the Temple Bar pictured above.

Memorial to Lead singer of Thin Lizzy – Philip P Lynott

Managed to do some sightseeing, and visited the Guinness Brewery. Listened to lots of live music in a few bars or from buskers on the street, tasted some of the local cuisine and drank some world-famous Guinness as well as some local beers too.

My pint from the Gravity Bar at the top of the Guinness brewery building

I travelled over with a friend called Matt and the last time we were both able to go to Ireland at the same time was about 20 years ago so it was a great opportunity for us both to go there again.

View from the Gravity Bar at Guinness Factory

Due to Covid-19 restrictions in bars and restaurants I think it was also just as well that there were not to many of us going at once. Table service was taking places in most bars and restaurants and it was easier for them to find a table for the two of us instead of a big group.

Guinness mascot the Toucan

The above photo is of some of the collection of Guinness marketing memorabilia taken from inside the Guinness factrory tour that we went on.

I really was hoping that the world was getting used to managing the Covid-19 pandemic by now, but with the new variant now blowing up and daily announcements getting worse and worse while we were in Ireland it was a little unsettling at times to be away from home.

It really is a treat to travel and I am so glad we were able to go and make memories and take a few photos, but being back home safe and well is also something to be savoured.

One of Dublins own bands – Thin Lizzy with Whiskey In The Jar

Gaia Theory

Are we living on a conscious planet known to some as Gaia or described as mother nature by others?
What does she want and what is she prepared to do to get it?

Have we taken her for granted are we at risk of killing her (and ourselves) if we do not learn from our industrial holocaulistic ways of mass murder of biodiversity and nature on a daily basis what will be the consequences?

Interesting article below

https://theweek.com/articles/899439/coronavirus-environmental-wakeup-call?fbclid=IwAR2wqF9QmZIUlJ2YJcdXkIWAdKf69pQaEiFd-P4vJgveY-slzHQMgsHZPhE

Earth and coronavirus.

3 Daft Monkeys – Astral Eyes

Mad world on life support

Well social isolation for all except those that work in the serve us sector the cleaners, the shelf stackers and carers are prity much keeping society on life support from now on and they are the so called low skilled and certainly low paid.

Sheding tears for fears

The Fear Phenomenon

I’m really struggling to write down the thoughts in my head at the moment. So many thoughts but afraid to say them out loud. We very much are living through a time which history will remember for good or ill. The story that is unfolding for the planet, humanity our economy and our present, past and future has so many sides to be viewed from its octagonal!


Capitalist economic way of life on hold, stock markets smashed and crashed, local small businesses could be about to shut up shop and make their staff unemployed for months. People becoming afraid for themselves their families, the streets are quieter with less people on them and talking and walking, people are afraid to embrace each other.


The necessity of a resilient and well funded social structure and health service is becoming clear for all to see. Social investments are being made and social policies are being adopted across the world to help turn the tide against Coronavirus, no one’s calling these measures socialism but that’s exactly what it looks like to me. Lives are being lost, slowly so far but not clear yet as to the long term outlook. I kind of wonder who do I know who I might lose?


I got offered a new job this week so going through the process of getting references and stuff sorted for that. A little concerned about if I hand in my notice at my old job and then can’t start the new job due to lock down and being at home where do I stand with being able to pay my rent and affording to eat. The job will still be there it’s not going anywhere it’s just a question of whether I am aloud to start to work in it, due to work restrictions.

I believe that this outbreak is a natural phenomenon and is a delicately dark and yet simple and effective way for mother nature to flex her muscle to show us all in a very short space of time just how fragile our way of life is and how easy the rug can be pulled from under our feet and is forcing everybody to stop and reflect.

Coronavirus Advice UK

This article contains information on general guidance, stay at home guidance, advice for commmunity buildings, advice for community groups, protecting the isolated & vulnerable and advice for community transport.

Catch it Bin it Kill it

A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. Typical symptoms of coronavirus include fever and a cough that may progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Generally, coronavirus can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease. Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China.

The NHS website has more information about how coronavirus is spread and answers common questions about the virus.

The following symptoms may develop in the 14 days after exposure to someone who has COVID-19 infection:

  • Cough
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Fever

GENERAL GUIDANCE

As the information about Coronavirus is ever-changing, everyone should follow all advice from Public Health England and the NHS and keep up to date with any new developments. 

Common sense is key in a situation like this and are things you can do to help stop germs like coronavirus spreading:

  • Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel
  • Wash your hands more often than usual, for 20 seconds each time with soap and water or hand sanitiser, especially when you; Get home or into work, blow your nose, sneeze or cough, or eat or handle food. 
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
  • Avoid close contact with people who are unwell

Please find further information, from the following sites:

Coronavirus: latest information and advice 

NHS advice on reducing risk

What to do if you’re asked to self-isolate

STAY AT HOME GUIDANCE 

This advice is intended for people with symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), including those with a diagnosis of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, who must remain at home until they are well.

  • If you have symptoms of coronavirus infection (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started
  • This action will help protect others in your community whilst you are infectious
  • Plan ahead and ask others for help to ensure that you can successfully stay at home
  • Ask your employer, friends and family to help you to get the things you need to stay at home
  • Stay at least 2 metres (about 3 steps) away from other people in your home whenever possible
  • Sleep alone, if that is possible
  • Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, each time using soap and water
  • Stay away from vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions as much as possible
  • You do not need to call NHS111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after 7 days contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.

ADVICE FOR VILLAGE HALLS & COMMUNITY BUILDINGS

As it stands at the moment, halls can remain open, however Village Hall Management Committees running charitable halls have a duty of care in providing a safe facility for the community to use.

Your committee must bear in mind that extra precautions need to be made as your hall provides a activities for those groups who are most at risk from the virus.

PRECAUTIONS INCLUDE:

  • Take notice of the Government and Public Health England websites and keep up to date with the ongoing situation
  • Keep the Hall very clean and ensure that soap and/or hand sanitiser is available, paper towels are available and hand driers are working efficiently
  • Avoid the use of hand towels for the time being
  • Put up a notice about hand washing, particularly in toilets and kitchen areas. Poster available here: Catch it bin it kill it
  • Advise hirers that they are expected to act responsibly and take notice of Government and Public Health England advice which includes who is and isn’t allowed to be in public spaces
  • Regarding cancellation of any bookings follow the steps in their hiring agreement and activities in the event of the hall having to close, we suggest that you contact your insurance company to discuss what may be covered under your insurance policy regarding cancellation of events

USEFUL RESOURCES

Public Health England have produced a range of sample posters and it would be wise to use one of these as the basis for putting on the front door a poster asking people who have possible Coronavirus symptoms not to come into the hall.

Resources can be found at: PHE Resources. 

ADVICE FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS

  • Group members must advise the rest of the group if they are self-isolating
  • The importance of hand hygiene – See general guidance above
  • Cancellation of events:
    • If your group is an planning event which will bring together large numbers of people, keep your plans under review. If your events depend on volunteers, be aware that some may prefer to stay home.
    • If you are hosting a formal meeting, such as an AGM, plan for reduced attendance or the need to move locations and times meetings and refer to your organisation’s governing document to see what it says about remote participation and quorum
    • Check cancellation policies for venue bookings you’ve made or are about to make
  • Hosting a group meeting: Some members may prefer not to attend a group meeting, therefore consider:
    • Is the meeting is really essential or can it be cancelled or postponed?
    • Consider electronic alternatives such as Skype, WhatsApp, FaceTime. No one should be made to feel that they must attend

PROTECTING THE ISOLATED AND VULNERABLE

Neighbourhood Watch has produced comprehensive guidance on protecting the isolated and vulnerable. Please click here

GUIDANCE FOR COMMUNITY TRANSPORT 

The Community Transport Association has produced a document called Coronavirus/COVID-19: Guidance for Community Transport for Community Transport Groups to use. This document includes useful information such as:

  • precautions you should take
  • cleaning your vehicle
  • cancelling services.

Please click here to view. 

Mother Nature proving just how puny we really are

The industrialised and calculated damage to the planet and to the plants and animals that live on it and how humanity seems to think it can carry on regardless without consequence is truly being tested this decade. We have had record temperatures, flooding, fires and now Coronavirus. The flooding , fires and temperatures records didn’t really seem to get under the skin of the corporations, billionaires and governments running our show globally.

Even though we have seen a lot of mass marketing by governments organisations and billionaires concerning how much they care and what great lengths they are going to in order to help our species continue to industrially manipulation the planet, butcher wildlife to make more room for the crap we buy before it goes to landfill whilst worshiping at the altar of capitalism it just does not really feel as if anything has changed.

That is until Coronavirus came along, everything seems to have changed now and people in charge are mobilising as if war has just been declared. It really does feel like it has got under the authorities skin. My chances of living or dying in this world dont seem to have changed that much and someone living in a piss poor country trying to escape to a better life to a richer continent, their life chances don’t seem to have changed much. But for our leaders and people in charge they now realise more now then ever before that like us all are just mere mortals and only human.

When I was a child at school back in the early 1990’s my geography teacher started to tell us about climate change, the industrial deforesting and destruction of biodiversity in the Amazon rainforest and the amount of undiscovered by man, species we were losing by the bucket load. She darkly commented ‘well of course it won’t affect my generation but it will of course affect yours’ and then laughed and carried on with the lesson. Even back then and still to this day I very much knew she was right.

I don’t know whether to fear Coronavirus or to be in awe of its simple deadly efficiency. Well only time will tell.

Mumford & Sons – Wilder Mind