TEMPERS FRAYING

Well that was a shock this morning! Doing the papers we were chatting about the rise in Covid round here. I had noticed someone going into the shop without a mask. As he came out in my discussion I said that the rise might be due to people not wearing masks and becoming more relaxed about the restrictions. Next I knew I was being threatened by this guy who said he was exempt (no problem then?) and should knock my fucking head off for making a sarky remark.

The Daily Debacle

Hancocks turn today! Happy to claim (boast about) all the credit for the magnificent NHS vaccine programme he refused to explain how the shortage of vaccine had occurred. GP’s claim they could have jabbed more if the vaccine had been available. Marcel Levi issues a dating statement about our crumbling and leaking hospitals, an over dependance on foreign staff and stress on staff.

Johnson hides from enquiry into management of pandemic.

SEEDS

Pots prepped ready for seeds tomorrow – I am writing labels out for each pot this year! Long pots will be field flowers, night scented stock, Californian poppy. Sweet peas I have not decided yet, or the sunflowers – I think individual pots – maybe right under the kitchen window – once they are 10cm big? If they came up between the hanging baskets that would be great!

Ok so I have planted 5 pots of each type of seed, then I can either split them and pot them individually, or plant some more if they do not germinate. Sunflowers need to go straight into pot to be used so I need to think about that? Maybe a green trough would do for 4 plants.

I seem a bit addicted as I rather fancy some Peruvian lilies and some phlox? But I guess it is best to wait and see what comes up? Patio can have a pot of night scented stock and some Californian Poppies.

I just checked and I seem to have enough plants for night-time moths – I will check later.

WHAT!!!

Increase in Trident missiles? Why? Increasing budget on cyber security is absolutely necessary and sensible. I am not sure the comments about China are necessary. Diplomacy is best done behind closed doors.

LIME CHILLI GINGER CHUTNEY

Ingredients used in

• Limes – 5 numbers.
• Green chilli – 4 numbers.
• Ginger (small pieces) – 2 numbers.
• Salt – to taste.
• Sugar – 1 tea spoon.
• Mustard powder – 1 tea spoon.
• Turmeric – 1 tea spoon.
• Hing /asafoetida – 1 tea spoon.
• Mustard seeds – 1/2 tea spoon.
• Oil – as required.
• Fenugreek seeds – 1/2 tea spoon.

Method:

  • Cut the limes into small pieces seedless and with the skin on.
  • In a bowl add lime pieces, green chilli pieces, ginger pieces, salt to taste, sugar, mustard powder mix it well.
  • For tempering: Heat oil in a pan add mustard seeds, when mustard seeds splutter switch off the flame. in this add fenugreek seeds, pinch of turmeric, hing.
  • Pour this tempering on the top of the chutney mix it well

ROYALTY

Who gives a f***? The Sunday Mail had 14 pages on it? Surely most of that must have made up bullshit? Even the Observer had a double page, but to be fair it was more about racism. Given that the Mail is the top selling newspaper round here does that mean that the readers are all interested? Or have the Mail over done it. We know the readership of the mail mainly white middle class and femail.

COVID STATISTICS

Stats for the week to the 8th March are on next page. If this was a board game it would be fantastic! Unfortunately peopler still dying so that would be a bit sick.


27.095.1119.115.122.17.121.1284.215.222.214.3
N.Som311773041422563723682391731388139
Cornw20479025173324258176157814212
Bristol4635048016821740843430625817612350
Chelms419115010987810585733282471417535
Exeter28312816810214722624412661377322
Braintr425810910491011605524063031548147
Ply3015022563219221327208118634932
IoW104178292539166473822261225014
Liverp5163302769724261180951634826217052
Manch
46637217520835144332929722518784
Sunderl27430941216126751442632632727018673
Newca44528444915614723528422617413211471
Swans
39723136840043120211487676131
Cardiff
3011562474604702821681229310438
Glasgo
286275147194318325258207158130115
Aberde
41586117127923614880503036
Belfast
31721310922550428422917514311582
Newry
1991181132567564473062101458046
Sandf



20132018922624871590
W.Bod



62287437387337262137100
Lostwit



19030838134941763810

Some observations. Firstly West Bodmin is 8 cases, so not as bad as it looks. Also looking at the government map of small areas, only 5 places in Cornwall are shown on the map (less than 3 cases) BUT the total number is 68 cases in last week. The inference here is that the virus lurks in almost all places. To some extent this correlates with what seems to be a levelling off in the fall of positive tests. Whilst from a much smaller base the r number seems to be around about the 1 mark. How can this be interpreted? The stats are before the schools fully reopened (that will be interesting and hopefully positive). People with the virus must be passing it on, hopefully they are asymptomatic and not just evil. Now is surely the time for test and trace to start working properly. For instance if there are 8 people who have tested positive in Congresbury and Kewstoke, that is just 8 people to ensure contact is made immediately and all contacts of these people also contacted.

In the south-west I would say we are in a position to virtually eradicate Covid, but then we have tourism which is essential to the economy. Some difficult personal liberty issues need to be made, and fast. Should vac passports be mandatory, could under-30 camp sites be established?

There is light at the end of this shitty year, but a way to go yet. Has Johnson the balls to see it through?