CORONAVIRUS WEEK 35: ENGLAND (NOT THE UK, PLEASE) MOVES TO FULL LOCKDOWN

While Scotland has been in partial or modified lockdown since mid-September, the numbers continue to rise but not as bad as England, it seems.  England has a much denser population, of course.  So headlines saying UK is in Lockdown are, as usual, incorrect.

Be that as it may, in Scotland all the places that were closed in March are still closed.  Pubs and restaurants are having stricter rules  applied now (those not serving food have to close early), curfews being imposed.  Socializing with a limit of 6 people in still in force.  No visiting one another's houses.

This week we had a funeral on our street as it is not allowed to forgather in a church or crematorium.  It took the form of the hearse arriving at the house (our neighbour's)  and a piper playing Highland Cathedral out on the street while we (and other friends and associates of the deceased) stood in observance.

We thought the piper would be the grandson of the deceased who is in the habit of playing on the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle perhaps for a 21 gun salute as he is in the military forces (as were his father and grandfather).

[Source: Regimental Piper magazine]

Iain liked the occasion because once it was over and the cortege slowly made its way down the street with a man in a top hat in front of the hearse, he simply returned to the house and got the kettle on.

I had heated up some Marks sausage rolls (tested out the grandchildren earlier in the week and given the thumbs up) and shared them from my picnic basket with the remaining folk on the street. You simply can't have a Scottish funeral without sausage rolls. 

* * * * * * * GREAT BRITISH BAKE-OFF CONTENDER - WATCH THIS SPACE! * * * * * * 

Harriet and Ellie were over Saturday morning (as they are part of our 'bubble').  I made some bread dough (from lovely fresh yeast given to me by Otillia) and had it in readiness as the weather was wet with strong gusting wind.

This is Ellie giving it 'welly'.  The video that should be here may or may not work; the above photo may have to suffice.  She has absolutely got it for using a rolling pin as well as kneading dough.  (That is not pastry but white bread dough in the photo.)  So I said to her "Now give it some 'welly ', Ellie!"  which she thought was extremely funny. 'Welly' is Glaswegian for 'put your back into it'!

A recent quote from her when decorating a cake with Smarties:  "I get the last Smartie 'cause I'm a busy baker."  She certainly makes us laugh!

Our other source of delight, of course, is Harriet, 7.5 years old.  She is not into baking ... which is fine ... so she set up a cafe in the kitchen. 

This is her notice on the glass door next to Grandma's Height Chart.  Just to make sure there was fair treatment between them I took a picture of her sign on the door in order to record her neat writing.  Without realising it the photo of the sign was totally blurred (this one I took later) but... helloo-o-o-o-o! Just look at the photo of her watching me take a photo of the sign ....

.... a moment caught when not posed... a definite  'keeper' !

* * * * * * * AM I JUST GETTING OLD?   * * * * * * 

Prior to a dental appointment this week I was asked to fill in a form ahead of time. I recall doing this before and it did not work; it did not work this time either (so I didn't spend any more time trying to enter the 2 simple fields: Name and Date of Birth).

I turned up at the dentist and was offered an iPad to fill in the form which consisted of about 40 questions.  Above is one series to do with diet. The question highlighted is:  "Is your diet high in sugar/or high frequency?".  Does anyone ever check these things over before they are put out?!!!

And then there are banks.  I am obliged to use my iPhone for banking with HSBC.  I Must.  Full Stop. Apart from feeling very insecure about doing this, I can't help wondering where this is all going to end? Too many bells and whistles; too much to go wrong, I reckon!