Diary summary week ending 9th JANUARY 2022

[KGarrad]

There are lies, damned lies, and newspaper reports!
One of the reasons I never buy a newspaper

[Roobarb]

RTL, presumably it was the usual attention grabbing headlines of The Sun, although not an accurate reflection of what was actually said:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/politics/17236149/britain-could-be-back-to-normal/

Lots of "hope" and "could" in the report. Well who knows, I "could " be the next Prime Minister. 

[Viktoria]

I am truly amazed, people who have tested positive have to do tests for some time after the official period , but where can they get tests from?

I went online and did all the rigmarole ,was given a collection code and the names of our two local chemists where I could get tests so I can test every few days as I now do a bit of shopping etc.
Neither have any and no idea when they will have.
I could have made two unnecessary journeys in a blizzard ( well some snow)
had I not spent hours on the phone .
My friend’s grand daughter has it and will need to test before returning to school —- ?

Well on a positive note, a tiny little shoot has appeared in the plant pot where
I planted just one hyacinth for indoors ,the rest are for outside in pots and are in my little greenhouse.They will be sunk in the garden in Spring .

Laughed so much this evening , Last of the Summer Wine.
Compo says of an old school friend who has got on in life , that he owns his own home and has a deposit in a Eunuch ‘s Truss!
“ I think you mean Unit Trust “ says Foggy.
And little Wally ,Norah’s husband ,not wanting a new suit ——-

Well,need to go into Ramsbottom tomorrow ,but as yet no gritting done so
will see how things are in the morning ,milder weather is forecast but rain with it.
Hope all are well,sore thumb getting better ,etc.
Look after yourselves .
Viktoria.

[Ruskie]

I hope everyone’s loved ones who are unwell, recover quickly.

Covid is spreading nicely here. No Lateral flow (Rapid Antigen) tests available in the shops. The odd one or two online with postage costs pushing the already high price up, and likely delays to delivery due to lots of people in the supply chain ill or isolating. This is also affecting supermarkets with empty shelves, and purchase limits on some foods. Bit of a mess all round.

General talk here too about omicron seeing the end of covid in a few weeks. Doubt it.

Despite omicron allegedly being “mild” covid covid hospitalisations are increasing, some elective surgery cancelled, and some restrictions brought in in NSW. Too little too late? I feel sorry for the medical staff who shoulder the burden of this.

OH had his booster this week. Mine not due till the end of February. Time before booster is currently four months, but apparently from Jan 31 it will be reduced to three months. Think I will try to book in earlier, as am not feeling too comfortable with omicron running rampant.

Dog had her teeth cleaned before Christmas - a very traumatic experience for her. And for us ($$$$!!!) Ear infection discovered so disgusting oily drops have had to be administered - took two weeks, but finally got the all clear.

A bit humid but temperatures very mild for this time of year. Some grey skies and patchy rain over the past few days. Quite pleasant. 

[River Tyne Lass]

KGarrad  . I still hope it is not all 'damned lies' and that there might be a bit of truth in those reports somewhere.  I really do hope Boris is hopeful.  I feel like I haven't got a clue what is going on.  One minute it sounds bad and the next things sound good.   I cannot resist keep looking at the headlines though.

'No, Roobarb it was written about in a couple of other newspapers .. can't remember now which ones.  You are right though, the reports definitely didn't imply it would be set in stone.
It would be nice to think that we might get out of the worst of this, this year.  Perhaps it might be around forever, but it would be something if the impact could be reduced to that of the common flu.
Those headlines did spark a bit of optimism about it all in me.  But I suppose it really is a matter of just take one day at a time and wait and see. 
I am sure you would make a very good Prime Minister and perhaps Boris might be thoroughly sick of it all by now and would be happy to hand over the reins to you.  What a time to be a Prime Minister!

[Viktoria]

Just downstairs with a beaker of hot all milk instant coffee.
Check in with RootsChat to see what I am missing etc.

I am due at the Dentist on Tuesday, not the good expensive one,the unsatisfactory one so dear anyway.!
I kept the appt in case the good one would not have me back ,but he did .
I will cancel today if they are open.
I can’t get any tests so not fair to them either ,but can’t have two Dentists.

I feel quite confused about it all.
To set up a service online to aid in obtaining tests then for none of the outlets to have tests is barmy.It means people are visiting venues unnecessarily ,that can’t be sensible when we should be limiting movement .
Noy everyone can go online ,once again people are being ignored as they are not computer owners ,ie mainly the older folk.

It is chaos at our Pharmacy - All staff changed and Lloyd’s couldn’t give a toss!
Hitherto very efficient and friendly helpful local staff but now!
They do not order repeats anymore but did not inform customers so people are without essential drugs that must not be stopped !
So dangerous, I had a replacement which had difficult side effects and was in part why at the last moment I did not see family at Christmas.

Are some outlets charging for test kits?
That will cause hardship for some which means there are those who won’t test because of the cost .
Masks in Tesco are £5 for I think 7.

I just wonder if it has been decided to let this compatively milder strain run its course in the hope it gives immunity to other more virulent strains.
But flu is not like that hence a new vaccine every year.
A couple of years ago I had ,despite having the vaccination ,the most awful flu,nine weeks of hacking cough ,fever,cold and exhaustion.
It was blamed on a bad batch of vaccine ,but many feel it was a form of Covid
I can remember so well, I ‘d had to have my little dog put to sleep ,her condition worsened suddenly ,pancreatic cancer , …
and I thought how I would not have been able to walk her in the state I was in had she still been alive.
Many feel they had Covid 19 before we ever knew of it.

I hope all keep well and good recoveries for those not in full health.
So many operations cancelled ,there will be a back log of those to deal with.
If ever there was a case for health and care  workers to be seen as very
special and being treated accordingly it is now, the figures are staggering.
Eight hour waits for ambulances to hand over urgent patients ,that “ Golden Hour” after strokes and  heart attacks when recovery is good ,lost .

We can only do our best , but it galls when football matches etc are seen as important ,holidays are advertised , etc etc.
I just hope our young families get some normality back in their lives safely .
I want to cuddle Flash Harry and Baby Dumpling . I wish I knew how to send photographs to RC.
Cheerio,I will brave the weather and get a bit of shopping ,try again with my collection code for some tests and then come home and be warm .
Viktoria.

[River Tyne Lass]

Ruskie & Viktoria, your mention of cancellations and medical staff has got me thinking on things.
I think a lot of things are probably being cancelled in order to cope with things and I dread to think what the outcome of this might be further down the line.
I was due for my 3 yearly routine breast scan  last year but an invitation hasn't been forthcoming.  Last time I went in 2018, I was recalled and had to have a biopsy but thankfully everything turned out best case scenario at that time.
I remember my DiL (who is a nurse) saying before Christmas that she feels like 'crying before every shift'.  This does concern me to hear something like that.  She said that some people have had enough over the past two years and are leaving.  I see this is being written about in newspapers too.  I have no doubt this must be having a huge impact on the mental health of NHS staff and that this should be addressed.
About a week ago, I got a new book out the library called 'Intensive Care' written by a GP in Scotland about his experience of working front line during first year of covid.  I read this at breakneck speed as it was such a fascinating read, in a sort of macabre way.  Although, I work as a keyworker in the care field, I couldn't help thinking I am very glad I am not at the very front line and don't have to face or know as much as medics do.  When I was reading the book, I remember thinking 'this might give me nightmares' and sure enough it did.  I didn't regret having read it though, it wasn't written in a horrific way, just matter of fact, and it was such a extremely fascinating read but sounded almost like science fiction. I have felt from the start this whole time feels like science fiction although it is true.
I don't envy the medics, even just from the aspect of having to be at the forefront of knowing as much as they do.  I feel I just have to know the basics and I remember in the first months limiting what I took in via the media at times when it all felt like too much.

Grey miserable weather here today, very cold and lots of rain.

[louisa maud]

I am just hoping and praying my very good friend of over 50 years will get her op in about 2 weeks time, she has had the first round of chemo, it has done the job and now she is due to have an operation which will clear everything,  the consultant said in 3 weeks,

I feel for anyone awaiting operations, we might be very important to our families but we are really only a number when it comes to the NHS

A friend of mine seems to be getting a whole load of positives, over a week now, she is wondering if they are false positives, she feels fine but while she is like this she can't visit her mum wow 100 in a care home and her poor mum is getting fretful as she doesn't really understand it

Take care everyone, I am sure it will all be ok in the end

LM

[Ruskie]

Your mention of the book you read about front line workers RTL made me think of this film which I watched last year. Harrowing but very good:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13649036/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_2