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?

MONTY DON

Has joined me in trying to put the closely cropped lawn in its place! The squealing has already started with the National Trust leading the way. I have no problem with a lawn that serves a purpose like sport or even picnics, or even as part of a heritage house/garden.Hopefully my patch will have a variety of flowers and attract insects.

Whether it looks good is not something I am concerned with. To my mind it is like comparing a piece of all with uniform white paint with a painting by Constable, Turner, Breugel, da Vinci or thousands of others, right uptown Banksie (his walls are much more interesting than a magnolia wall). And whilst one could argue that my method is a lack of method and design, I believe that nature will sort out the ultimate design, with maybe a little help from me next autumn?!

COALMINES

Should be a thing of the past, certainly in this country. Do we need the coal for steelworks to build wind farms? I do not know the answer. But the Government is also spending millions on new Trident Missiles and reportedly increasing the defence budget by £80 billion. Can we have a drugs raid on Westminster and Downing Street please?

WAITROSE

So I went to a supermarket for the first time for over a year (ignoring 2 click and collect). Not too busy, everyone wearing a mask and old like me! Social distancing good. So maybe in another couple of months! I stocked up on odd things like razors, sardines (why are they so expensive in the local shop?), shampoo, and rather a lot of other stuff! I was surprised to see a queue at the fish counter – I know it is Friday, but did not know anyone cared about that anymore!

COOKING TIPS FROM COMPLETELY PERFECT – BREAKFAST

Hard boiled eggs – cold water, bring to boil and simmer for 7 1/2 minutes, rinse under cold water for 2 mins.

Soft boiled eggs – lower into boiling water, turn down and cook for 4 minutes.

Poached eggs – crack egg into sieve to allow runniest parts of egg to go. Whisk boiling water in saucepan with drop of vinegar, lower jug into water and tip egg out, turn down and cook for 3 minutes. Or put egg into lightly greased cling film in a ramekin and twist like a goldfish at the fair, and then dunk in boiling water.

Scrambled eggs – crack straight into cooking pan with butter and salt. Stir and leave 10 secs, stit and leave until how you like them. Take off heat and a know of butter or creme fraiche to stop cooking process. Mix with whatever you like – smoked peppers, mushrooms, dried toms, cheese, bacon, fish, herbs, whatever!

Granola – has an egg white, why? But flour, nuts seeds, honey, coconut oil, coconut flakes, cook 30 mins at 170c. Add chopped fruit after cooking.

WILD AND WINDY

Why is the wind so noisy? Certainly blowing at the moment! I have repotted the planyts that arrived yesterday and will give them a day to acclimatise, hoping that the slugs will not get them. And then planting Papaver plats tomorrow. Old shirts selected for hanging baskets!

OBVIOUSLY

I did not watch the prat show on TV last night. Whilst I think she is rather pretty and he seems ok, it is odd that a 2nd or 3rd rate American actress and upper class nob can be so interesting to at least 2 nations! Nottinghill Part 2.

It is interesting that a bunch of obscure people known as the firm, or institution, can hold such sway over a technologically savvy country in the 21st century! All this would be totally irrelevant were it not for the race issue. Yet again we are seeing how racism and sexism are still undermining much of `British Society. Whilst the press seem to be able to write forever on this topic I have not much else to say. Whether they stay in USA or not, whether the heir apparent talks to them on the phone is basically irrelevant and boring!.

RECIPES FOR A WEEK – 7 days a week!

Breakfasts: Home created muesli; scrambled egg; toast and cheese with avocado mayo; toast and marmite; toast and honey or homemade jam; blueberry muffins; omelette.

Main – oh, I am so confused! What do I want? Being by myself I tend to have to live with whatever I cook for at least 2 days! So, I am thinking salad. So coleslaw, hummus, potato salad, garlic bread, salad nicoise, French dressing. And then a nut loaf, quiche or pasta cheese bake, and maybe smoked mackerel pate. So that is at lest 3 days.

I also fancy a really good ragu bolognese, so maybe spag bol, and then chilli con carne? – that’s another couple of days.

So 2 to go. Lamb with a flat bread and salad might use up left over salad with raita.

So my shopping list is : eggs, lamb chunks, beef mince, bread rolls, white cabbage, smoked mackerel – it is probably sad that I have everything else.

And for the days when I can’t be bothered my comfort foods are : tinned tomato soup, baked beans and tinned sardines in tomato sauce.

And just obviously I am not following this already 15 hours later. Making a salad as the weather is wet, windy and chilly! So spicy chick peas, hard boiled egg in avocado mayo with smoked paprika, baked potato,

I might do a pizza with stripes tomorrow (Red Leicester and cheddar and mozzarella. Rye bread dough in bin – it did not rise at all!

And then deserts – I tend not to do these so perhaps one a week – lemon drizzle cake this week I think? I am not brave enough for meringues yet!