WEEK 46 CORNAVIRUS RATE TREBLING AND NHS IN OVER-DRIVE

The coronavirus is spreading rapidly as new variants emerge.  The  number of cases being admitted to hospitals is soaring. More younger people are being admitted to hospital. Ambulances are sitting in the hospital emergency bays waiting to unload.  The death rate is up.

On the other side of this worsening situation (along with the usual winter ailments and accidents due to the icy conditions) the new vaccine (actually 2) is now being rolled out.  

We received a text from our doctor's surgery to say they are not taking any appointments.  Some weeks ago we had a letter from the Scottish government saying we would be contacted in due course by our doctor as to when to present ourselves for vaccination.  Presumably this is what is going on in the practice.

Retired NHS people are being used to help vaccinate; pharmacies offered too but apparently offer not taken up (maybe that has changed). Facilities are still being set up e.g. exhibition centres, halls. The Pfizer vaccine has been used so far and the Astra-Zeneca one is due to be used now as well. (Have been awaiting shipments.)

So we wait patiently and continue to lead a very monastic life.  The sun has been shining on recent snow and the skies remain blue.  That helps!  Iain continues his daily Route March locally; I busy myself with house and garden and lots of piano practice.  We are also getting through a pile of pleasant reading!

A friend noted that this is what it must have been like in the 1920s as people were treated in sanatoriums for TB for example. There were no antibiotics so infections and recovery was so much different than we have got used in my (and subsequent) generation.

Harriet (7)  and Ellie(6 next week) here on Saturday morning.

The Florida flamingos are my outside temperature gauge.  This one has its nose dripping so I know the thaw is happening outside.

(These flamingos were sent via Amazon from Florida and arrived in a box the size of a car tyre.  There are 2 and they are surviving outside all year round.)

Flowers in the garden porch. An absolute joy!